6 Feb

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

‘Illiterate’ child sells fruit on street to support kin

150 FILS NO: 16069

CAR soldiers lynch ex-rebel at military ceremony

Beckham to make Miami team global soccer franchise

London hit by travel chaos as Tube staff goes on strike

19 21 Assembly to probe KAC

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www.kuwaittimes.net

RABI ALTHANI 6, 1435 AH

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Airbus deal, Zour plant Debate on children, housing allowances delayed

Max 18º Min 8º High Tide 04:16 & 16:18 Low Tide 10:23 & 23:14

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday formed several temporary committees including three probe panels to investigate Kuwait Airways’ aircraft purchase, the Al-Zour North power plant contract and the so-called foreign transfer case. The house also formed temporary panels for human rights, alien negative practices and youth and sports, and rejected a proposal to form a probe panel to investigate alleged wrongdoings at the Capital Markets Authority. But the government effectively succeeded in delaying for one month a longawaited debate on two controversial issues to raise the children and housing allowances which the Assembly was scheduled to debate and approve yesterday.

Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh told MPs the government shares their concern to improve the living conditions of citizens but it needs more time to study the issue and come up with proper solutions that do not overburden state coffers. He requested a delay of one month. Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair said the government is prepared to debate the issue but only after properly reading the financial committee report, which arrived very late. MPs were divided on the issue, with some calling to accept the government’s request and delay the debate for a month, while others insisted that the debate must take place in the same session because the issue is an old one and the government was given ample time to study it.

Head of the financial and economic affairs committee MP Faisal Al-Sane then withdrew the committee report for further study and coordination with the government. One bill calls for raising children allowance from KD 50 to 75 per month per child while the other Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Oil minister Ali Al-Omair raises his hand during a session at the National Assembly yesterday. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Drone use spreads as cost falls LONDON: The falling cost of acquiring drones will see them increasingly used in warfare and surveillance, a leading think tank said yesterday, although it believes citizens are unlikely to accept fully autonomous deadly attacks. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) made the claim in its annual assessment of global military capabilities. It also noted a continuing trend of Asian military spending surging ahead as European defence budgets shrink. At the launch of the Military Balance 2014 in London, IISS military aerospace expert Doug Barrie said the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, would increase, although they would continue to co-exist next to manned aircraft.

He said the assumption entering the 21st century had been that autonomous drones would soon completely replace piloted planes. “I think there’s been a step back from that to some extent. I think you will see mixed use for quite some time,” he said, but acknowledged that the range of drones’ capabilities would increase. “We’re going to see more of these things. They will proliferate from the kind of system you can stick in your backpack up to full-blown combat strike,” he added.

The IISS said the increased use of drones was accompanied by legal and ethical questions, including whether attacks could be justified as self-defence and whether they constitute a proportional response to the status of individuals targeted. Discussions in Western states have included reservations about the potential use of fully autonomous armed UAVs, without humans piloting the devices from the ground.

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Oil workers warned against strike Contingency plan in place to prevent disruption

By A Saleh

Expert calls for probing ‘torture’ in UAE prisons Judiciary under ‘de facto control’ ABU DHABI: A UN expert yesterday urged an independent probe into allegations of torture in United Arab Emirates prisons, which she was not allowed to visit during a fact-finding mission. Gabriela Knaul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, also criticised “violations” and a “lack of transparency” in court proceedings in the Gulf country, where dozens of Islamists have been rounded up. Knaul called for independence for the UAE judiciary, which she said “remains under the de facto control of the executive branch of government”.

The UAE foreign ministry welcomed her visit, pledging to “study the remarks and recommendations” she made. But it complained that some of Knaul’s comments “were based on information that had no known sources and was consis-

tent with a politically motivated campaign by a group seeking to distort the UAE’s reputation”. In her preliminary report on a nine-day visit, Knaul urged the UAE to “establish an independent committee to investigate all allegations of torture and ill-treatment in detention.”

She told a press conference she had received “credible information and evidence” that detainees are arrested without warrant, blindfolded, taken to unknown places and held incommunicado, sometimes for months. She said she also had evidence of detainees being “tortured and/or subjected to illtreatment” including by being put in “electric chairs”. She said she was not allowed to visit prisons or meet with certain detainees, adding that “on one occasion, I was followed.”

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UN demands Vatican act against child abuse

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KUWAIT: Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair yesterday warned thousands of oil workers against going on strike, saying that the ministry has a contingency plan in place to ensure that oil production is not affected. “We cannot wait for too long and if the oil trade unions do not respond to call off the strike by the beginning of next week, we will take all procedures to protect our employees and installations,” the minister told reporters outside the National Assembly.

Omair said that the oil sector will seek assistance from all state departments and ministries including the national guard in addition to the interior, electricity and social affairs ministries among others. He assured that “we have employees ready to operate the refineries and production lines” to ensure that Kuwait meets its obligations locally and abroad. Omair said that Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) has reduced and not cancelled the so-called “partners in success” bonus which used to be equal to four times the salary and now has been reduced to “between one-anda-half times to two times the basic salary”.

The minister insisted that oil workers also receive a number of other lucrative incen-

tives and increments and the latest decision came to link the bonus with operational profits and with the country’s laws and regulations.

Oil workers have threatened to go on strike if KPC does not withdraw its decision to reduce the bonus payments, adding that their wages were already half of their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Kuwait Oil Workers Union and trade unions of various oil companies have held two meetings with the minister and top oil executives, both of which failed to reach a settlement as oil workers insisted that KPC must withdraw its decision. Omair however said yesterday there will be no back-down on the KPC decision to reduce the bonus payments, and said he expects a favourable response from the oil workers who make up around 19,000 workers. Kuwait is a leading member of OPEC and pumps around 3.0 million barrels per day.

The head of the Kuwait Oil Workers Union, Abdulaziz Al-Sharthan, said last week the union decided to go on strike within two weeks and he was authorised to announce the date. The union said on Twitter yesterday that it had not yet set a date and it will announce it soon.

In US, ‘natural’ food may be anything but

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Jordan hookah ban sparks outcry

AMMAN: A young man smokes a traditional water pipe at a cafe in the Jordanian capital on Jan 28, 2014. — AFP

AMMAN: There’s no smoke without ire - a ban on water pipes in restaurants and cafes has caused uproar in Jordan where $1 billion worth of tobacco goes up in smoke every year.

Under a decision based on a 2008 law that was not previously enforced, the government has announced that by the end of 2014 the licences of more than 5,000 establishments that serve hookahs will be revoked. Furious smokers and cafe owners say the move will affect their lifestyle and a $1.5 billion industry, jeopardising the jobs of 12,000 people.

“This decision will definitely have a negative impact on us and mean thousands of people lose their jobs,” said cafe manager Emran Torsha. His popular Jafra cafe in central Amman serves around 2,000 customers daily, half of them smokers. “ The government should not make decisions this way,” Torsha said as dozens of men and women, young and

old, smoked hookah with their drinks and snacks and listened to live music. “What should we do with customers who come here to escape from life’s daily pressures?”

Tourism Minister Nidal Qatamin has urged “a gradual implementation of the ban, taking business interests into consideration”. But Health Minister Ali Hiasat is adamant, vowing that Jordan will be free of hookah smoking by the end of 2014. “The government will not go back on this decision,” Hiasat says.

Amman began enforcing the anti-smoking law in 2010, two years after it entered the statute books. But it was still widely ignored including in government buildings and in public places such as hospitals and schools.

Under the legislation, convicted violators face up to a month in jail or a fine of between $21 and $35. Tougher penalties can hit people who smoke in kindergartens - they face

imprisonment of up to six months or a maximum fine of $1,400. “If the government wants to preserve public health, it should find a solution to vehicle, industrial and waste pollution,” Torsha said, adding that Jafra’s hookah licence expiresthis month.

Health experts warn that the many fruity flavours of hookah - also known as narghile, arghila and shisha - can make users forget they are inhaling tobacco. They also say that since it takes longer to smoke than a cigarette, hookah is even more dangerous. “What is the substitute for us after the government banned arghila? Where should we go?” asked Wasim Yusef, a 36-year-old employee at a privately owned firm, as he smoked hookah at Jafra with friends. “Smoking arghila has become a tradition. It’s my only entertainment. I think the ban is wrong - it should be reconsidered.”

Continued on Page 13

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s streets and buildings are decorated with lights and flags as the country is getting ready to celebrate its Independence Day and Liberation anniversary which fall on Feb 25 and 26. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Ten-year-old street vendor

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Crates of oranges, boxes of red and green apples and piles of pomegranates sit behind him on the pavement. Wearing a grey hoodie, sports pants and slippers, the 10-year-old street vendor easily haggles with passing customers over a half dinar discount but doesn’t know how to read or write. Hailing from Syria, the boy who would not give his name, has been stationed on the main street in Khalidya, selling fruits and veggies to passing motorists for several days. Despite the drop in temperatures and the cold weather, he sits on an upturned crate and waits patiently to sell the day’s load. The fruit-selling is a subtle form of begging, which is illegal in Kuwait. The boy recites prayers for the motorists who stop to ask about his wares, though most don’t buy anything.

Instead, drivers feel pity at the sight of a primary school-aged child sitting on the side of the road and give him alms. “I haven’t sold anything yet today, and I need KD 35 for all this stuff I have here to be able to return back to my home,” the young boy told Kuwait Times yesterday . The government enforces a zero tolerance policy toward street begging, which surges across the Arab Gulf states during the holy month of Ramadan. Beggars from other countries, especially Arab and Asian ones, descend on the Gulf en masse during the month of fasting. In 2012, Kuwait arrested seven beg-

gars including women and children in Kuwait City during Ramadan for asking those attending prayers for alms.

The boy selling fruits street-side in Khalidya claimed he has never gone to school and is illiterate. “I sell the fruits here every day from the morning and don’t go to school. I can’t read and write and I don’t have any siblings. My parents live in Hasawi (Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh), and they don’t work, so I have to sell all my stuff to bring money for them,” he said. The boy explained that his father buys fruit from the fruit market and then brings his son and the produce to the sidewalk in Khalidya. “He will come at the end of the day to pick me up from here,” the boy explained.

The Kuwait Municipality is in charge of enforcing the ban on roaming street vendors, as their activity is illegal and they do not have any licenses. But when children are involved, it’s not more than a ruse to cover the act of begging. “Our mission is much harder when the vendor is a child. When the inspectors see any of these vendors, they confiscate the goods they are selling, but we let them go as they are children. Sometimes they run away when they see the inspectors, but if we catch them, we call their parents, who usually promise this is the last time for their children to do such a thing and beg us to let them go. The inspectors don’t chase child hawkers and just let them go as they are afraid a car may hit him,” explained Fahd from the PR department of the Municipality.

KUWAIT: The 10-year-old street vendor waiting for customers on the main street in Khalidya. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

GCC Consultative Commission convenes KUWAIT: “These are trying times for the Gulf region, and Arab region as a whole, as it is going through exceptional circumstances which necessitate all modes of cooperation and integration to protect our countries and bolster their economic, social, political, and security fabric, and to safeguard their accomplishments and meet the expectations of the Gulf people.”

This was the sentiment expressed by Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah while addressing the first meeting of the seventh session of the Consultative Commission of the Supreme Council of the GCC, hosted here Feb 5-6.

The State of Kuwait currently presides over the supreme council while Bahrain presides over the council’s consultative commission. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled stressed the weight of the commission within the GCC framework.

“When the commission is tasked to consider issues such as a joint tourist visa, human development, and progress achieved by the GCC as a whole, this is in effect a reflection of the great trust of GCC leaders in the commission and its

proposals and views that contribute to meeting the GCC goals of development and advancement,” he stressed.

The Consultative Commission of the GCC Supreme Council was established by resolution of the Supreme Council at its 18th session (Kuwait, December 1997). The resolution was originally based on a proposal by late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, 13th Amir of the State of Kuwait at the 17th Summit (Doha, December 1996) for establishing a consultative commission to the GCC Supreme Council.

The ceremonial meeting for announcing the establishment of the Consultative Commission was held at the State of Kuwait (November 1998) under the auspices of His Highness, late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The Commission is composed of 30 members; five members from each state. The Commission examines matters referred to it by the Supreme Council only. An administrative staff reporting to the Secretariat, i.e. Office of the Consultative Commission Affairs-Muscat assists the Consultative Commission. —- KUNA

Parliament approves private nursery law KUWAIT: The National Assembly referred in its supplementary session yesterday the law of establishing private nurseries to the government after it was revoted on for the second reading, following its revision by the Committee of Legislative and Legal Affairs.

Parliament Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim had decided previously not to refer the bill to the government until the completion of its draft after it was approved by 40 out of 41 MPs during the Assembly’s 22nd session last month.

The first article of the private nursery law states that it is “any house established by a person or a legal entity in accordance with the provisions of this law for a specified or nonspecified period of time, intended to receive children under the kindegarten age in order to achieve several purposes.

“The purposes include social childcare and the development of children’s talents and capabilities, preparing them psychologically, educationally, culturally, morally and religiously in a manner consistent with the goals of the community, as well as strengthening and developing the social ties between the nurseries and the children’s families.

“The nurseries must include means to meet the needs of children in order to achieve their goals, as well as other entertainment facilities to engage in artistic activities convenient to the children’s ages.”

The second article includes the “establishment of a private nursery only after obtaining a permit from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.”

The executive regulations of this law address “the conditions and procedures for granting licenses, fees and financial guarantees that are required to repay the applicant, as well as the conditions for the establishment of nurseries and conducting of their business, administrative organization and supervision.”

The third article of the law states that “it is permitted to establish the private nurseries in private residences, investment and commercial spaces as the executive regulations determine and control the licensing.”

Article no. 10 of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor granted “canceling the license if the licensed body continues to establish the nursery in violation of this law and its executive regulations despite the signing of the preset penalty in the previous article.” Meanwhile, Article no. 34 of Law no. 26 of 1962 concerning the regulation of prisons, the 10th Article stated that “a nursery must be established in every women’s prison that includes all the requirements and specifications of this law as the Minister of Interior will issue a law stating that imprisoned mothers must not be deprived of providing childcare to their children.” —- KUNA

KUWAIT: The Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition was inaugurated recently at the Bader House. The event is organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters featuring 40 calligraphers. NCCAL Secretary General Ali Al-Youha said during the inauguration Tuesday that the works featured in the exhibition are ‘the results of a two-month workshop supervised by specialists in Arabic calligraphy led by top Kuwaiti calligrapher, Ali Al-Baddahî.

Leaders group regrets islands’ negligence KUWAIT: While Gulf states build mega artificial island projects that garnered respect of countries around the world, Kuwait continues to ignore nine islands that remain uninhabited and unutilized year after year.

This was mentioned in the monthly touristic report released by the Leaders Group for Consultation and Development for the month of February, which was released yesterday. The report quotes General Manager Nabila Al-Anjari mentioning successful examples for artificial islands built in the Arabia Gulf, including the

Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the World archipelago in Abu Dhabi, the Burn Al-Arab island and the Amwaj Islands in Bahrain “which ranked in the top four places of the top 10 list for the most attractive artificial islands in the world in 2013”. Meanwhile, Al-Anjari expressed regret for the failure to establish touristic and residential projects in islands such as Failaka, Boubyan and Warba, in addition to turning smaller islands including Um AlMaradem, Qarouh, Kubbar, Ouha, Meskan and Um AlNaml into touristic sites.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

LOCAL

Al Asimah governor holds luncheon for Amir

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 were invited to luncheon by Al Asimah Governor Sheikh Ali Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at his farm in Abdali area in northern Kuwait. Senior sheikhs, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also attended the luncheon.

Amir donates $5m to build village for Syrian refugees KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has donated over $5 million to build a village with full amenities for the benefit of displaced Syrian refugees in Jordan, Abdullah Al-Maatouq, Chairman of the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) and envoy of the UN Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs told reporters here yesterday.

To be built within the boundaries of the Al-Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, the village will boast one thousand housing units, a medical center including a dental clinic, a mosque, two schools for boys and

girls, fully equipped with desks for 800 students, said Al-Maatouq, noting that the IICO has launched recently upon the directives of His Highness the Amir a donation drive to alleviate the burden on Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Armenia. Last June, he said, the IICO opened a Kuwaiti village, similar to the one in the Zaatari refugee camp, in the region of Kilis in Turkey to house Syrian refugees.

He thanked His Highness the Amir for his gesture and applauded his hosting the second donors conference in Kuwait last month for the benefit of the refugees. — KUNA

Students visit Amir Temur mausoleum SAMARKAND: The delegation of Kuwaiti students to Uzbekistan arrived yesterday in Samarkand, the historic city of Uzbekistan, on the third day of the trip organized by Kuwait Fund for Economic Development (KFED).

At the beginning of the journey, the delegation paid a visit to Amir Temur mausoleum, which occupies an important place in the history of Turkic-Persian Architecture as the precursor and model for later great architecture tombs. Later on, they visited the Registan Square, where people used in the past to gather and hear royal proclamations.

The site is framed by three Islamic schools of distinctive Islamic architecture.

They concluded the day by attending a play in one of Samarkand’s theaters that

showed the history of customs in Uzbekistan and the different cultures and traditions in each region.

Commenting on the tour, the student Nora Al-Saeed said she enjoyed her first day in Samarkand, specially the theater visit were she learned a lot about the country’s customs and traditions.

For her part, Zahraa Falah expressed her admiration for the history of Samarkand, specially the story of Amir Temur and the stunning architectural design of Registan Square, were she also appreciated the warm welcoming by the people of Uzbekistan. Wa’ad AlMutairi said she was amazed by the details of the architectural design of the place, and praised efforts by people of Uzbekistan to develop their country. — KUNA

Major unions refuse to join oil work stoppage No plans to reinstate bonuses KUWAIT: Despite earlier reports which indicated that oil sector workers planned to go on strike after talks with management regarding scrapped bonuses broke off, the top three labor unions remain uninterested in joining the work stoppage amid reports suggesting that the government remains adamant not to yield to workers’ demands.

Around 19,000 Kuwaiti employees in the oil sector are threatening to go on strike in less than two weeks in protest after the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation took a decision earlier this year to cut bonuses given as rewards for annual profits recorded by the state-run corporation and its affiliated companies beyond those projected in the budget. A meeting with Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair last week ended without solving the problem according to the head of the Kuwait Oil Workers Union Abdulaziz Al-Sharthan.

But the government continues to insist that there are no plans to reinstate the bonuses or bow to labor demands which could spur similar protests in other sectors. “There is no turning back from the [KPC] board of director’s decision to reduce the ‘Success Partnership’ bonus,” Omair told Al-Anbaa which published his statements yesterday. “In the meantime, we hope that workers and unions understand that a strike will not be in anyone’s best interest as we plan to review all allowances and financial privileges with the Supreme Petroleum Council and the Civil Services Commission”.

Omair was referring to amendments to the method of payment after the government said that the bonuses have far exceeded what is allowed under state laws.

Basically, the amendments link the bonuses with the actual profits that are equal to the average operational

profits. For example, an employee would be entitled to a bonus that is equal to four times his basic salary if his company records over 100 percent of actual profits compared to estimated profits in the budget.

Four demands The Kuwait Oil Workers Union reportedly rejected the proposal, but a recent report suggests that it so far has failed to garner support of other labor unions in the oil sector. According to a report published by AlQabas yesterday, labor unions in the KPC, the Kuwait Oil Company and the Kuwait National Petroleum Company reached an agreement with the KPC Board of Directors in which they will not heed a call to strike as long as the state-owned corporation honors four

demands, which include suspending workers’ transfers, stopping the process of “unstudied merger of organizational structures and departments”, setting the last basic salary as the basis for the bonus instead of the first basic salary, and reinstating senior officials who won court orders against decisions to refer them to retirement last year.

The report predicts a successful bid by the government in overcoming the crisis given the volume of the three unions “which represent the excavation, production, refinement and marketing sectors”. Sources quoted by Al-Qabas and Al-Watan yesterday also suggested that ‘political hands’ could be behind the current standoff in order to distract attention away from key issues such as the Dow investigation.

Phase 1 of Wafra heavy oil project to cost $5bn KUWAIT: Phase one of the joint heavy oil project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in the city of Wafra will cost $5 billion, a state oil official said here yesterday.

When completed the project is expected to produce around 80,000 barrels per day of oil, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC) chief executive Ali AlShemmeri told reporters. The first phase will include 288 producing wells - 133 injection wells, 67 observation wells and five storm water injection wells - and will require 100 megawatts of electricity used in operating steam turbines. KGOC is current-

ly working with its Saudi partner, Saudi Arabian Chevron, on a new deal that organizes the joint relationship between both sides in Wafrah’s Joint Operations zone.

Al-Shemmeri said that the current deal was signed back in 1956 and new developments urge the need for this change.

The initial stage of an agreement between the two sides on the project has been finalized, he added, and this will aim to enhance partnerships in the field of technologies used in the area. — KUNA

KUWAIT: An awareness campaign to fight obesity kicked off yesterday at the 360 Degrees Mall under the patronage of the Ministry of Health. The event was organized by IG Events for the second consecutive year. Several clinics, pharmacies and medical equipment companies are taking part in the event which includes free medical tests and consultation offers to visitors. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

LOCAL

kuwait digest

In my view

Rationalization of spending

Housing issue in Kuwait

By Dr Bader Al-Daihani

P

By Labeed Abdal

Al-Rai

local@kuwaittimes.net

T

here are many fields in Kuwait that need to be organized and regulated in terms of quantity and quality. One of these fields is traffic and the road network. No one can deny the fact that Kuwait needs expansion projects for the majority of roads, which include building bridges and new streets in order to end traffic jams. This can effectively improve the quality of people’s daily life when it reduces the time that is currently wasted driving to school, work, etc.

Housing is another field that must be given a great deal of attention due to the fact that a suitable and safe place to live presents an essential need to everyone, citizens and expatriates alike.

If we take citizens for example, we find out that they are allowed by law to own their own place.

However, the astronomical prices of land forces newlyweds to take loans in order to build a house. And in some cases, a Kuwaiti man would lose his house when he fails to commit to his financial obligations to the bank which in return sells the house in an auction.

As for expatriates, we find out that the law does not allow them to possess accommodation, which forces them to live by renting. This makes them prone to ill-treatment from greedy landlords who own apartment buildings that they specifically rent to foreigners. In some cases, the basic human rights of tenants are violated when landlords unjustly disconnect electricity or water from their apartments.

Those landlords are mostly Kuwaiti and Muslim, yet they do not represent the Kuwaiti traditions or the teachings of Islam that consider water - for example - as an essential requirement that must be supplied not only for humans, but also for every living being. Every family needs water to drink, cook food, wash clothes and perform wudu (ablution) for prayer among other needs. Cutting water from tenants is unacceptable under any circumstances, especially when such an action could potentially endanger the lives of people with health complications, not to mention that it violates the basic principles of human rights.

I believe that the Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Real Estate Association must play a greater role to address this important issue. Coordination is required to regulate the real estate rent market and put some kind of control that helps prevent artificial increase in rents and tenant abuse.

kuwait digest

in my view

Too soon to judge gains of Arab upheavals

By Trudy Rubin

F

or those who think the failures of the Arab Spring prove the Mideast is unsuited to democracy, Jordan’s Marwan Muasher begs to differ. A scholar and statesman who’s long been a voice for tolerance in the Arab world, Muasher argues - in his important new book, “The Second Arab Awakening and the Battle for Pluralism” - that it’s too soon to judge the outcome of the Arab upheavals that began in 2011.

He says, “The Arab world never operated in a culture of democracy, so you can’t expect a transformational process in three years.” I first met Muasher in 1991, when he was Jordanian spokesman at the Madrid peace talks. He served as Jordan’s first ambassador to Israel and as ambassador to Washington; as deputy prime minister in 2005, he led a national effort for Jordanian political reform that was blocked. A Christian in a Muslim country, whose father is East Bank Jordanian and mother is Palestinian, he is uniquely suited to argue that the second Arab awakening won’t succeed unless political systems become more inclusive.

But why, when Syria is imploding and Egypt reverting to military rule, does he think this is possible? Here are the reasons he laid out to me: First, consider the initial Arab Awakening, which began in the 19th century and eventually overthrew Ottoman rule: It led to colonial overlords and then to nationalist autocrats who provided “artificial stability” for decades. “Once that lid is lifted,” Muasher says, “of course you’ll see all kinds of forces come out.”

He believes it will take years, or decades, for the results to emerge. Second, despite the apparent rise of Islamists - with election victories in Tunisia and Egypt, and militias surging in Syria - the Arab world isn’t embracing theocracy. Egyptians elected a Muslim Brotherhood parliament and president but turned heavily against them when they could not deliver economic benefits. The slogan “Islam is the answer” was popular before 2011, Muasher says, because Islamists could claim they were “clean” and had been excluded from power. “That slogan means much less today,” he says. “What Arab rulers couldn’t do in 50 years, the Islamists did to themselves in three. “The polls show that, while ordinary Egyptians may be religious, they will now judge a government by performance.

The criteria is the economy. The Arab street has shown in

Egypt that its support for Islamists was not Ideological.

“Similarly, Sunni tribal leaders in western Iraq are fighting back against al-Qaeda, as are Islamist militias in eastern Syria.

“The fight for ideas (post-2011) is only beginning,” says Muasher, “but at least now there is a chance.”His third point is that the Arab world is not monolithic. “Syria will take a long time, Iraq and Lebanon, the same. But we won’t see all new Arab governments fail. “Tunisia, where a new constitution backed by seculars and Islamists was just ratified, sets an example of success. There, a Muslim Brotherhood prime minister, with an eye to the coup in Egypt, voluntarily stepped down. I asked whether Tunisia was unique, given its closeness to Europe and well-educated population, including women.

Moreover, Tunisia’s Islamists might not have been so cooperative were it not for the military coup against their brethren in Cairo. “If Tunisia provides a unique lesson to the rest of the Arab world, that’s fine,” Muasher says. “In three years they’ve proven it was possible (to act with seculars by consensus). Is that not important?” Indeed, Tunisia shows Islamists and autocrats alike that Egypt is not the only model. “If the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt want to be successful they must evolve,” Muasher says. “They cannot rely anymore on Islam as a solution.”

Nor, he says, can Egypt’s seculars continue to rely on the generals. If Egyptians elect Gen Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi as president, as looks likely, Muasher says he will be judged by whether he delivers on the economy, which he can’t do unless he can make the country secure. He won’t achieve security unless he finds a way to reintegrate the Muslim Brotherhood - who represent a sizable minority - back into the system. “Absolute power has ceased to be an option,” Muasher says. “The only way for Arab governments - new and old - to maintain power will be to share it. The trick is to persuade people that democratic norms will lead to stability, which is good for the economy. “I believe he’s correct in principle. I question whether there are leaders in the region capable of persuading fearful publics - including minority Christians and Shiites - that pluralism won’t threaten their existence. Tunisia has such leaders, but Egypt, Syria, and Iraq currently lack them. Let’s hope they emerge.

eople will not believe the government’s rhetoric about the necessity to rationalize spending, unless they see serious and practical steps to confront corruption in all its forms, which costs the country many times the current spending, and this will not happen unless the popular participation in decision making and running the state and society affairs widens.

It is regretful to see that the popular authority is shrunk to its minimum limits lately - in fact it became a formality since the “one vote” urgent decree became effective. This is first second, the responsibility of solving the financial deficit problem is that of those who caused it, ie the authority, and the responsibility is at the level of the authority because it is not accepted to blame the financial deficit on those who were not party in causing it, and did not participate in taking the decisions related to the budget or in drawing up public policies.

The funny thing here is that those who are talking with unprecedented enthusiasm about the necessity to rationalize current spending and are exerting media and field efforts to explain the expenses of the social subsidies from which middle income people benefit, are only giving total numbers that do not show details of spending, its distribution or the type of subsidies. There is, as we mentioned earlier, unjustified spending, and there are subsidies from which those

It is regretful to see that the popular authority is shrunk to its minimum limits lately - in fact it became a formality since the “one vote” urgent decree became effective. who are not in need are benefiting.

Add to this those who are talking extensively about rationalizing spending lately, be it international bodies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the government or some newspapers and writers - they are not saying any meaningful thing about other chapters in the budget despite its inflated nature, and do not explain to people where the new revenue will go? And who will benefit from them under the current directions of the general budget?!

Not only that, but also they do not speak about the scale of corruption and its huge costs, despite the fact that corruption in all its forms, especially political corruption, is very costly socially, economically and politically. It stands as an obstacle in front of society development, deprives it from development and exhausts its wealth. It contributes to marginalize vast popular sectors and impoverishes them, that is apart from the fact that some unjustified current spending and subsidies were not to be, if they were not the price to cover political corruption and to guarantee its continuity.

Based on this, and despite the importance of increasing general revenues and the necessity of rationalizing spending in order to fix the deficits in the general budget, this will not take place correctly and fairly while political corruption remains rampant and the narrow base of popular participation in running the country’s affairs. Political and democratic reform first. —Al-Jarida

kuwait digest

Violation of constitution

New grilling

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

in my view

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

Geneva 2: What went wrong?

T

here was no merit to the grilling of Public Works and Electricity and Water Minister Abdelaziz Al-Ibrahim, especially that the grilling MP spoke about aspects that took place before Ibrahim became minister, or issues that Ibrahim has already dealt with by forming investigation committees. The grilling would have been realistic if it was presented six months from now, not 45 days after the formation of the government.

So what was the purpose behind the grilling?

Politically, it is not possible to find one goal for this grilling, and the respected MP should not have brought it up at this particular time, in addition to the fact that Ibrahim is considered one of the most

Generally, grillings that are to be presented later and target the prime minister and certain ministers aim not for political reform nor the revival of the stronger supervisory tool; rather they are highly political with a purely political goal, to hit the government and its head. transparent ministers in dealing with any issue that is brought up in his ministry. Know that MP Adel AlKhorafi is distanced from political balances and artificial conflicts, but the timing of the grilling was not right at all.

Generally, grillings that are to be presented later and target the prime minister and certain ministers aim not for political reform nor the revival of the stronger supervisory tool; rather they are highly political with a purely political goal, to hit the government and its head. My rejection of these grillings does not mean the government is good, rather because political peddling with grillings in this open manner must not continue.

Keeping the latest grilling, and the possible grillings to be presented later this month, aside, the political situation in Kuwait as a whole is not good, and all what is going on now in the way of going towards political heat up and clash between the two authorities is only an attempt to pre-occupy people away from bigger issues and corruption issues that are way too far from the upcoming grillings. —Al-Anbaa

By Osama Al-Sharif

T

he first round of the much anticipated Geneva 2 negotiations on Syria was an utter and complete failure despite attempts by UN-Arab League Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to make it appear less so. He told reporters that he had “observed a little bit of common ground; perhaps more than the two sides realize or recognize.” But in reality the two sides had agreed on nothing of substance and Damascus is yet to confirm its participation in a second round of talks in Geneva on Feb 10.

So what went wrong?

From the onset it was clear that the regime’s delegation was going to Switzerland with specific orders not to engage the opposition on crucial points; primarily the issue of creating a transitional body in Syria with full powers. Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moallem’s long-winded speech said nothing about the struggle of the Syrian people to achieve change. It was a defiant speech that blamed neighbors and others for attempting to destroy the Syrian state. It totally ignored the requirements of the Geneva I communiqué of June 2012 or relevant UN Security Council resolution number 2118.

Observers were also critical of the weak performance of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) and its president Ahmad Al-Jarba. Overall the government delegation appeared confident and resolute, while the opposition was still reeling from a wave of withdrawals that took place few days before the convening of the conference.

The government delegation raised valid questions about the credentials of the opposition who claim to represent the Syrian people and the armed rebels.

Perhaps it was a miscalculation by Brahimi that he swiftly moved to the most cumbersome point in the negotiations; the formation of a transitional body. Instead he should have concentrated his efforts on confidence building measures; most importantly achieving a ceasefire in certain areas, opening up humanitarian corridors and ending the siege of old Homs and the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. The two sides reached a provisional understanding on relieving stranded civilians in Homs but failed to agree on steps to carry out such an agreement.

What the first round of Geneva 2 had proved, if anything, was how complex the Syrian crisis has become. The regime, while accepting to discuss each point in the Geneva I communiqué, was obviously not going to agree to the formation of a transitional body or government with full powers. It reiterated time and again that the fate of President Bashar Assad was not an issue on any agenda. So now what? There are no guarantees that the second round of talks will be any better. In fact the regime

now wants a more inclusive opposition delegation and to move the talks to Damascus at a later stage. There are a number of possible scenarios that present themselves.

One, the talks will continue but achieve nothing, while fighting on the ground intensifies. In fact the regime has amplified its attacks on Aleppo during and after the first round of talks and appears to be making headway in some neighborhoods. The fighting will also continue between so-called moderate Islamist fighters, in addition to the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and the radical Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in the east and northeast. The latter has been reclaiming areas that it had lost few weeks ago. The internecine faceoff will not end anytime soon. It is depleting the resources of the anti-Assad opposition.

Second, the US and its allies will change their position and re-arm the moderate opposition in order to put pressure on the Assad regime. Regardless of what happens in Geneva, a new onslaught by the opposition will take place. This time the opposition will have superior weapons such as anti-tank missiles but not the lethal Stingers to neutralize Assad’s air force. This new round of fighting will be used to put pressure on Moscow and Tehran to convince Damascus to take the Geneva talks more seriously. It is meant to dampen the regime’s recent successes.

Third, the talks will collapse and fighting will go on unabated for few more months. This will confirm fears that Syria will remain divided and at war with the humanitarian crisis reaching unprecedented levels. Only then Washington and Moscow might agree on a new political course. A cease-fire will be enforced but the status quo will linger on for some time.

Fourth, the US will use any violation by Damascus of the chemical weapons agreement to reactivate the military option. It sounds far-fetched now but this remains a possibility in light of recent statements by US Secretary of State John Kerry calling for Syria’s immediate compliance with the agreement’s deadlines and reminding Damascus that all options remain on the table.

Without a solid US-Russian understanding on the need to implement Geneva I in its entirety, including the creation of a transitional government with full powers, negotiations will go nowhere. But one immediate step that the two can force on parties is to achieve a temporary ceasefire, allowing for humanitarian relief, while talks continue.

Syria has become one of many crucial files on the table now. For millions of hapless Syrians the political process is no more than a zero-sum game, just like the military path.

After more than 130,000 documented deaths so far, there is little hope for a quick end to this ruthless conflict.

T

he Kuwaiti citizen right now is only a consumer who consumes what others produce. While there are technical labor forces who work hard including some doctors, teachers, engineers and even traffic police officers, the fact remains that these are only performing services. Granted that these are necessary and great services, but they are still services that go in parallel with production and not as a replacement for it.

Unfortunately, the majority of these hard workers do not receive remittances equal to the work they do, as they are treated equally in pay with other citizens. The state made a commitment to find jobs for them, but failed to make a similar commitment to pay them what they deserve. This kills Kuwaitis’ spirit and the actual desire to be productive. Day by day, Kuwaitis are increasingly becoming a permanent burden on the state, with growing hunger for consumption that is hard to cure.

Work is identified by the Kuwaiti constitution as “a

This is why I believe we need immediate and revolutionary decisions to restore the Kuwaiti citizen’s humanity and dignity after these were demeaned by the oil boom. duty of every citizen necessitated by personal dignity and public good”. Meanwhile, there are some politicians who claim that the Karamat Watan (Dignity of a Nation) demonstrations saw participation from all Kuwaitis. If this was true, then why do we have thousands of unemployed citizens, hundreds of thousands of underemployed Kuwaitis, and at the same time a foreign workforce that is three times the size of Kuwaitis?

This is why I believe we need immediate and revolutionary decisions to restore the Kuwaiti citizen’s humanity and dignity after these were demeaned by the oil boom. We need to change our perception of work and start looking at it as a ‘national duty’ as the constitution stipulates, and which the state “shall endeavor to make available to citizens and to make its terms equitable”.

Notice that the constitution says ‘endeavors’, which means that the state is not obligated to provide jobs to every citizen as it is made to do right now. The constitution’s explanatory note indicates that article 41 does not give every individual the right to force the state into providing them with work. The fact that the state is ‘forced’ to provide jobs for Kuwaitis as it does today is a clear violation of the constitution.

Meanwhile, the state continues to pay unemployment allowances to those it cannot provide jobs for. In the meantime, it continues to import technical labor forces and pays them not only to do Kuwaitis’ roles, but to serve the Kuwaiti citizen who has ‘dignity and pride’. —Al-Qabas

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Firefighters in action after fire broke out at one of the Shuwaikh Port’s warehouses. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Firefighters extinguish fire in Shuwaikh Port’s warehouse KUWAIT: Firefighters have managed to put out a huge fire that broke out Tuesday at one of the Shuwaikh Port’s warehouses, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) announced.

Deputy Commander of KFSD Colonel Khaled Al-Mekrad

said that three fighters were slightly injured while struggling to extinguish the fire. He added that the fire has caused huge material damage to the warehouse. Firefighters and emergency teams from six firefighting stations have participated

in the fire extinguishing operation. He added that a probe was launched to identify the incident’s circumstances and causes. Minister of State of Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Director General

of Kuwait Ports Authority Sheikh Sabah Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Kuwait Fire Service Acting Chief Colonel Khaled AlTurkait have rushed to the scene and supervised the efforts to put out the fire. —- KUNA

Asian labor building looted in Mahboula ‘Proud’ men fight in Mishref Zain main sponsor of ‘Hala February’ music festivities KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunication company in Kuwait, announced its main sponsorship of Hala February 2014 music festivities in collaboration with Rotana, as part of its nationwide celebrations of both the 53rdIndependence Day and the 23rdLiberation day of Kuwait. Zain has been sponsoring the Hala February celebrations ever since its establishment and this year’s festivities started at Salem Al Mubarak Street on January 31stand will continue until the end of February.

The Hala February music festivities this year will witness the exceptional presence of a number of Arab stars who will enthrall the crowds over six musical nights throughout the month of February at the Ice Ski Rink Hall. The first musical night will start on the 6th of February, and the rest will continue over each Thursday and Friday until the end of the month.

Zain’s Corporate Communications and Relations Manager, Waleed Al Khashti, commented “Every year, Hala February celebrations drive the feeling of happiness within Kuwait’s people as well as the expatriate community, and Zain always considers itself a key partner in these national celebrations.

Over the years, we have had overwhelming positive feedback on these festivities, thus the company’s keenness to continue spreading joy in the hearts of the community on this very special occasion.”

Zain’s main sponsorship of the wonderful event commenced on 31 January 2014 at Salem Al Mubarak Street, and will involve a variety of segments like competitions, religious, cultural and entrainment activities, as well as Zain’s World of Children tent; an annual initiative that the company maintains to entertain children.

KUWAIT: Investigations are ongoing in search for suspects who broke into a building in Mahboula and robbed several apartments recently. Police headed to the scene after receiving reports about a gathering of nearly 50 men outside their building. The Asian nationals told police that they returned from work in Ahmadi to find out that their apartments were broken into and robbed. They added that the thieves stole money, passports, electronic devices and other valuable items. Criminal investigators were summoned to examine the scene.

Cardiac arrest A woman came back to life after paramedics managed to resuscitate her after she suffered a cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, doctors at the Amiri Hospital where the 40-year-old Nepalese was later hospitalized described her condition as stable. Paramedics had rushed to a house in Adailiya Monday afternoon after a family reported that their domestic worker had collapsed. The medical staff discovered that the woman had no pulse and that she had stopped breathing. They then administered CPR in a bid to save her life. In what was described as a ‘miracle’, the woman responded positively to first aid as her heart soon started beating and she began breathing again. The paramedics took her to the hospital

Kuwaiti students visit Kandy KANDY: The fourth day of a Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED)-sponsored trip to Sri Lanka for distinguished Kuwaiti students has taken them to Kandy, a major city located in the Central Province of the country.

Kandy is the second largest city after Colombo, and was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The students visited a KFAEDfunded project, which is a bridge built over Mahaweli river, the largest river in Sri Lanka. The government built a monument on the bridge, with an engraving reading that this bridge was funded by KFAED, and was opened by the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in July 26, 2009.

The agreement of rebuilding and rehabilitating Mahaweli River Bridge was singed between both countries in 1995, at the cost of KD 3,300,000, besides funding many other agricultural and electric power generation projects. KFAED commenced its activities in Sri Lanka in 1975, by funding a urea fertilizer project, with a loan valued at USD 23,2 million, while the latest agreement was signed in 2011, to fund the development of South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.

The students also enjoyed witnessing schools’ musical bands, playing national music and touring the streets, as the country celebrates its 44th independence anniversary, which took place on February 4.

They also visited the Royal

KANDY: Kuwaiti students visiting the Sri Lankan city of Kandy yesterday.

Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, which is situated about 5.5 km to the west from the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

The park, which attracts two million vistors annually, is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. It includes more than 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees.

This garden is also considered as a nature reserve, where a number of animals, including birds, bats, and monkeys are inhibiting the place.

The Kuwaiti students later visited a gemstone factory in which gem-

stones are being mined and processed, locally, and are later to be sold in markets inside the country and abroad. Gemstones are sold in Kandy with prices less than other countries as all the needed stages they goes through are done locally.

The students have also attended a theatrical show, performed by one of local bands depicting the folklore of Sri Lanka by playing music and dancing, wearing customs presenting the heritage of the country. The show witnessed a very high turnout by locals and tourists, besides the KFAED trip group. — KUNA

Increase in airport passenger traffic

Kuwait places big emphasis on sports

KUWAIT: Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced yesterday that the passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport increased by six percent with the number of arriving and departing passengers reaching 9, 376,618 compared to 2012.

The directorate said in its annual statistics’ sheet that the number of passengers arriving at the airport reached 4,717,532 in 2013 compared to 4,483, 141 in 2012, with an increase of five percent.

The number of departing passengers reached 4,659,086 in 2013 compared to 4, 394,742 in 2012, with an increase of six percent, noted the directorate, adding that the number of commercial flights to and from Kuwait Airport in 2013 reached 78,135 with an increase of three percent compared to 75,588 flights in 2012.

The GCC sectors recorded the highest percentage in passenger traffic with 46.4 percent, followed

by Arab sectors with 20.6 percent, Asian by 21.9 percent, European, American, and African with 11.1 percent. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Information Minister and State Minister for Youth Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud AlSabah said that the country’s leadership places great importance in supporting sports.

“Their Highnesses the Amir, the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince have placed a huge emphasis on Kuwaiti sports, and the introduction of the Ministry of Youth embodies this,” he said at a meeting of local sports clubs on Wednesday.

Sports clubs represent the main base and the backbone of sports in Kuwait, he said, hailing the efforts of Qadsiya SC chief Sheikh Khaled Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in “bridging the gaps between local clubs.”

Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) will be facing huge developments in the way it operates, taking a more observational role and with the area of sports divided from that of youth.

“PAYS will remain a state body, and we seek to maintain its objectivity,” he said. However, he added that the body will no longer be the decision-maker on sports policies, and that this role will be left to both the Kuwait Olympic Committee and relevant bodies. — KUNA

where medical tests showed that she was in stable condition.

Fight at fair site Visitors at the Proud 2 Be Kuwaiti exhibition were not so proud to see two of their compatriots engage in a fight at the fair site over a trivial matter. Police and paramedics reported to the scene in response to an emergency call on Monday night, and discovered that one man was injured. The 22-year-old Kuwaiti received treatment onsite for wounds and bruises, before a relative volunteered to take him to a medical facility for further attention. According to eyewitnesses’ reports, the man engaged in an altercation with another citizen after one of them looked at the other in a way that the other man saw as offensive. The altercation soon escalated into a fistfight which resulted in the man’s injury.

It was not immediately known who started the fight, which took place right in the middle of the P2BK expo near the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref.

Suicide attempt A man was hospitalized in a critical condition after consuming a toxic substance in a bid to end his life, according to a report made at a Salhiya restaurant.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene on Fahd AlSalem street after the restaurant manager reported

that one of his staff attempted suicide by consuming cleaning bleach. The 33-year-old Egyptian man arrived at Amiri Hospital in a critical condition, and was admitted inside the intensive care unit after medical tests showed he suffered blood poisoning. The motives behind the suicide attempt were not immediately known. A case was filed, and police are waiting for the doctors to clear the man for questioning.

Child molester Khaitan police are looking to identify and arrest a man who molested a child in the area. The boy was reportedly playing alone outside his building when the suspect molested him and escaped. The kid told his father, who immediately headed to the area’s police station and filed a case. Investigations are ongoing.

Family saved A family of five were unharmed in a fire that gutted their Fahd Al-Ahmad house thanks to quick response from Mangaf fire station. Firefighters arrived at the scene minutes after an emergency call was made, and they were divided into two teams. The first team evacuated the house of its residents who were trapped behind smoke and flames, while the second team successfully tackled the blaze. No injuries were reported in the incident. A case was filed for investigations.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

LOCAL

Japan’s top refiner eyes business with Kuwait More joint projects in offing TOKYO: Japan’s biggest refiner seeks continuous and stable flow of energy from Kuwait and greater cooperation with its oil companies, including naphtha trading, a top company official said yesterday.” Kuwait has long been a reliable petroleum supplier to Japan. I hope the country will maintain the contribution to stable and flexible supply of oil for the Japanese people, which is a goal that our company aims to achieve,” Chairman of JX Holdings Inc. and its downstream unit JX Nippon Oil and Energy Corp.

Yasushi Kimurasaid said.

“Moreover, we wish to chase the opportunities to materialize naphtha imports as petrochemical feedstock are expected to grow after we convert the 180,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Muroran refinery into a petrochemical plant,” he noted.

JX plans to stop a crude oil distillation unit of the Muroran refinery in northern Japan in March 2014 as part of efforts to reduce excess oil refining capacity, and convert it into a petrochemical plant from June 2014. Some of its petrochemical products are going to be used for a newly-established paraxylene joint venture in South Korea that will go on-stream this year.

Kimura also expressed hope that JX and stateowned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries will enhance business ties beyond mid- and long-term oil trading. Noting that his company is teaming up with Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) in oil and gas development projects in northwest Australia, Kimura said JX is keen on promoting future joint projects with Kuwait in Australia and elsewhere. According to Kimura, JX and KUFPEC began commercial oil production at the Finucane South offshore oilfield in May 2013 with output at 12,000-13,000 bpd.

JX Nippon has a 25 percent stake in the concession, while KUPEC’s Australian unit and the project operator Santos of Australia evenly own 37.5 percent. Moreover, production period of the adjoining Mutineer-Exeter oilfields, also jointly owned by JX, KUFPEC and Santos, is expected to be longer than initially estimated, Kimura said.

“Furthermore, the joint venture will start exploratory drilling this area in the near future, and I think there is great potential to discover enough oil reserves. The development projects at the Finucane South and Mutineer-Exeter oilfields are considered as JX’s operating base in Australia.

With the Australian projects as a start, we hope to build stronger partnerships than ever with Kuwait,” the chairman said.

Production system JX has the country’s largest oil refining capacity and the top share of fuel sales. Asked about the impact on oil trading with Kuwait from Japan’s declining petroleum demand chiefly due to the falling birth rate, the aging population,

and energy-saving technologies, Kimura responded, “It is inevitable that oil demand in Japan will continue to decline. Taking this into account, our company should construct a rational and efficient production system.”

JX reduced the total refining capacity at its eight refineries across the country from 1.8 million bpd to 1.4 million bpd by October 2010. With the stopping of a crude oil distillation unit of the Muroran refinery in March 2014, JX’s total refining capacity will further fall to 1.2 million bpd.

“JX’s demand for oil is expected to gradually shrink, but there will be fluctuations in demand, and I’d like to ask the Kuwaiti side to ensure stable and flexible oil supply, while sharing various information and strengthening ties,” he said.

The chairman also touched on the need for the assessment of the effects of the 2013 Fukushima nuclear accident following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Japan has increased its imports of fossil fuels as all 50 of the country’s nuclear reactors are currently offline.

Feasibility study Meanwhile, Kimura said JX is currently participating in the joint study for Treatment and Effective Usage of High Salinity Oilfield Produced Water (Kuwait)” being conducted by Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum and Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) for the fiscal year 2013.

The Tokyo-based Arabian Oil Company (AOC) was the participant of this study for the fiscal year 2012, and JX Nippon succeeded AOC’s role for this fiscal year. In addition, JX started training programs for operating staff of Kuwait’s refineries. Last June, 13 people from Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) took the course in

Tokyo and Niigata to learn Japan’s technology, according to Kimura. “We wish to have opportunities to provide Kuwait with development technology.”

Kimura, who also serves as President of Japan’s Petroleum Association and Chairman of the Japan Business Federation’s Committee on the Middle East and North Africa, highlighted Japanese firms’ keenness to offer cooperation in various areas. “Kuwait’s diversification and sophistication of domestic industry would become a pivotal issue for Kuwait itself. JX and other Japanese firms are willing to contribute to the national development of Kuwait in many fields, such as infrastructure-building and renewable energy, in which we have cutting-edge technologies. The Japanese side can present a list of ideas and information in which Kuwait would have an interest and pick up,” he said.

Kimura is scheduled to visit Kuwait early February as part of his effort to build relations of trust and to continuously exchange information with Kuwaiti officials. “I will explain the oil situation in Japan and government’s basic energy plan in order to give them a better understanding of Japan’s situation, which will help facilitate smooth business between the two sides. I believe the people in Japan and the Middle East share the same thought that highly values faceto-face communication, and creating such relations will lead to the development of future business with Kuwait.”

Kimura last visited Kuwait in August accompanying Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He also plays a key role in deepening the relations of friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries as the chairman of the Japan-Kuwait Society. — KUNA

GCC countries contribute in boosting S Korea economy SEOUL: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries work diligently in boosting the progress and prosperity of South Korea’s economy, chairman of the South Korean parliamentary Foreign Affairs Ahn Hong-joon said yesterday.

A statement issued by the Kuwait ’s Embassy in South Korea quoted Hong-joon as he was meeting the Kuwaiti Ambassador to South Korea Jassem Mohammad AlBe daiwi as say ing t hat GCC co unt r ies offered South Korean companies many opportunities to work in them, while they guarantees to continue providing the country with oil.

South Korea is looking forward to enhanc-

ing its ties with Kuwait, by strengthening mutual cooperation in various fields of cooperation, Hong-joon added.

The Kuwaiti-South Korean ties remarkably developed in the field’s health, education, besides exchanging expertise at all levels, in addition to the two countries’ diligent bids to activate cooperation in the energy and economy.

The meeting was attended by eight MPs in South Korea’s parliament including members of the country’s ruling Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party.

Hong-joon visited Saudi Arabia in November, 2013, and met a number of senior local officials. — KUNA

NBK organizes carnival at Bayt Abdullah KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) organized a carnival at Children’s Hospice project Bayt Abdullah. Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, Former Minister of Health and President of Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) and NBK family shared happy moments with children suffering from permanent and incurable ailments.

“NBK has always considered supporting the children an essential part of its social and philanthropic outreach,” said Abdul Mohsen Al-Rushaid, NBK Public Relations Manager.

“We take great pride in celebrating with our children at Bayt Abdullah.”

Al-Rushaid added: “Since its establishment 60 years ago, NBK has been at the forefront of supporting Kuwait’s community through a range of education, health, sports and social initiatives. The establishment of NBK Children Hospital at Al-Sabah Medical Area stands as one of many NBK initiatives for children. NBK donated KD 4 million to build an independent cancer center in order to expand the hospital’s capability to treat children with cancer and blood diseases.”

NBK has undertaken several initiatives to support the healthcare sector in Kuwait, including the establishment of NBK’s Children’s Hospital at Al-Sabah Medical Area, which provides medical care to underprivi-

Abdul Mohsen Al-Rushaid leged children. The hospital houses a number of clinics specialized in leukemia treatments, neurology, psychiatry and pediatrics as well as surgeries and operating theatres.

Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice was designed to accommodate the needs of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families, in Kuwait. The hospice is part of a continuum of care that offers children and their families the maximum freedom of choice without compromising the quality of that care, whether at home in hospital or within the hospice itself.

India pavilion attracts crowds at Hala Fest KUWAIT: The 15th Hala February Festival (HFF) 2014 was inaugurated on Jan 31, 2014. The festival was organized with much zeal and enthusiasm at Salem Al-Mubarak Street, Salmiya. The Festival coincides with Kuwait’s National Day and Liberation Day. HFF is being organized by the State of Kuwait since February 1999 mainly to promote tourism.

HFF organizing committee organizes art, sports, live carnival shows and entertainment events and display of vintage vehicles and motorbikes during the month. The event witnessed participation by various agencies of the Government of Kuwait and Diplomatic Missions resident in Kuwait. This

KUWAIT: Guests visiting the Indian pavilion.

year the festivities would last till the end of February.

The Embassy of India, Kuwait joined in the celebrations by participating in the opening ceremony on Jan 31. The Indian pavilion was exquisitely decorated with Indian artifacts, handicraft items, imitation jewellery, handmade Indian sarees, “Incredible India” posters, tourism material and other items.

A large number of visitors came to the India pavilion and showed keen interest in the exhibits. Many of them, especially children, took the opportunity to take photographs posing with the exhibits.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

C Africa soldiers lynch ex-rebel at ceremony

Jordanians worry about fallout from ME peace Page 8

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BAGHDAD: Civilians inspect the site after a parked car bomb went off at a commercial center in Khilani Square in central Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday. Multiple bombings rocked central Baghdad, striking mainly near the heavily fortified Green Zone where key government offices are located and killing at least 16 people, Iraqi officials said. — AP

Spate of bombings in Baghdad kills 34 BAGHDAD: A spate of bombings in Baghdad killed at least 34 people yesterday, including several blasts near the heavily-fortified “Green Zone” and a busy square in the centre of the capital, Iraqi security sources said.

The blasts came a day after two rockets were fired into the Green Zone, home to the prime minister’s office and Western embassies, and are likely to heighten concerns about Iraq’s ability to protect strategic sites as security deteriorates. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombings, but Sunni Islamist militants have been regaining ground in Iraq, particularly in the western province of Anbar, where they overran two cities on Jan. 1.

More than 1,000 people were killed in violence across the country in January alone, and last year was the bloodiest since 2008, when sectarian warfare began to abate from its height.

On Wednesday, security sources said two parked car bombs went off opposite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, killing 11. The Interior Ministry gave a different version, blaming the “cowardly” attack on a suicide bomber on a

motorcycle.“At around nine o’clock this morning, a terrorist suicide bomber riding a motorcycle tried to enter the security area of the Ministry,” it said in a statement. “A group of guards stopped him at a checkpoint and denied him access so he blew himself and the bike up.”

In a separate incident, a suicide bomber driving a car detonated himself along with the vehicle outside a restaurant close to a checkpoint one street away from the Green Zone, killing eight people, the security sources said.

An explosion near Khullani Square in central Baghdad left four more people dead, and later in the day, three car bombs blew up in quick succession in the southeastern Jisr Diyala district, killing a further 11.

“Iraqi political leaders should show national unity in dealing with such threats and unite against terrorism,” said the UN envoy to Iraq, Nikolay Mladenov, in a statement.

Falluja siege The city of Falluja is currently being surrounded and shelled by the Iraqi army in preparation for a possible

ground assault to drive out anti-government fighters, which include members of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The violence has halted exports of crude oil from Iraq to Jordan, which used to be trucked across the border through Anbar.

In a short speech broadcast on state television on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said local authorities and tribal leaders in Anbar would unveil a joint initiative to end the standoff in the coming days, without elaborating. “The goal of this initiative is to unify positions to end the battle against Al Qaeda,” said Maliki, who is also commander in chief of the armed forces. “The battle is on the threshold of conclusion.”

Maliki has appealed for international support and weapons to fight Al Qaeda, but critics say his own policies towards Iraq’s once-dominant Sunni community are at least partly to blame for reviving an insurgency that had peaked in 2006-07.

Some tribes in Sunni-dominated Anbar support or have

UN report demands Vatican act against child sex abuse GENEVA/VATICAN CITY: The United Nations demanded that the Vatican “immediately remove” all clergy who are known or suspected child abusers and turn them over to civil authorities, in an unprecedented and scathing report yesterday.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said church officials had imposed a “code of silence” on clerics to prevent them reporting attacks to police, and moved abusers from parish to parish “in an attempt to cover up such crimes”.

It said the Holy See must hand over an archive of evidence about the abuse of tens of thousands of children, and take measures to prevent a repeat of cases such as the scandal of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, where girls were forced to work in churchrun institutions.

The Vatican responded quickly with a statement saying the Roman Catholic Church would study the report and was committed to “defending and protecting the rights of the child”.

‘Continuation of abuse’ But shortly afterwards Vatican diplomat Archbishop Silvano Tomasi condemned the report as distorted and unfair, saying it did not take into account changes that the Church had made in the past 10 years or so to protect children.

The exceptionally blunt paper - the United Nations’ broadest critique of the Church hierarchy followed its public grilling of Vatican officials last

month.

“The Committee is gravely concerned that the Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed, has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and to protect children, and has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by and the impunity of the perpetrators,” the report said.

It urged the Vatican to “immediately remove all known and suspected child sexual abusers from assignment and refer the matter to the relevant law enforcement authorities for investigation and prosecution purposes”.

Pope Francis has called sexual abuse of children “the shame of the Church” and has vowed to continue procedures put in place by his predecessor Benedict XVI. The report said a commission that Francis set up in December should invite outside experts and victims to participate in an investigation of abusers “as well as the conduct of the Catholic hierarchy in dealing with them”.

“Due to a code of silence imposed on all members of the clergy under penalty of excommunication, cases of child sexual abuse have hardly ever been reported to the law enforcement authorities in the countries where such crimes occurred,” it said.

Barbara Blaine of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said the report was a “wake-up call”: “For the safety of children, we hope

every head of state on the planet reads this and acts on it.”

At a public session in Geneva last month, the committee pushed Vatican delegates to reveal the full scope of decades of sexual abuse of minors by Roman Catholic priests.

The Holy See’s delegation, answering questions from an international rights panel for the first time since the scandals broke more than two decades ago, denied allegations of a Vatican cover-up and said it had set clear guidelines to protect children from predator priests.

‘Clear guidelines’ Yesterday’s report called for an internal investigation of the Magdalene laundries and similar institutions so that those who were responsible could be prosecuted, and “full compensation” could be paid to victims and families.

It also said priests who had fathered children should be held accountable and made to provide for their upkeep. “We expect the Holy See (and the Pope) to follow up on these recommendations ... to protect victims and give them compensation,” Kirsten Sandberg, a Norwegian committee member, told a news conference in Geneva.

But Archbishop Tomasi, head of the Holy See’s delegation to the United Nations in Geneva, told Vatican Radio that the report could have been written before the Geneva hearings. — Reuters

aligned themselves with ISIL against Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government, which they accuse of abuses against their sect. Others deplore ISIL’s violent tactics and have joined forces with the army to fight against the group and its allies in and around the city of Ramadi, which was also overrun by militants last month but is now largely back under government control.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said ISIL’s acts of violence amounted to crimes against humanity, citing the recent execution-style killing of four members of Iraq’s SWAT forces near Ramadi, for which the militants claimed responsibility.

“These abhorrent killings are the latest in a long list of ISIL atrocities, at a time when civilians in Anbar province are stuck in the fighting and getting abused by all sides,” said HRW’s deputy Middle East director Joe Stork yesterday.

“Together with the ISIL car bombs and suicide attacks targeting civilians, they are further evidence of crimes against humanity.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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

Israel okays plans for over 550 E Jerusalem settler homes JERUSALEM: Israel pushed forward yesterday with plans for more than 550 new homes in three settlement neighbourhoods of annexed east Jerusalem, the city council said.

In a move likely to exacerbate tensions as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators seek to resolve the decades-long conflict, the city said it had granted private contractors permits to build 386 units in Har Homa, 136 units in Neve Yaakov and 36 units in Pisgat Zeev.

Issuing permits is one of the last stages before construction begins, with building likely to start in the coming weeks, Israel’s Peace Now settlement watchdog said. “We are talking about building per-

mits, which is really the final stage,” spokesman Lior Amihai told AFP. “It’s a shameful decision, at a shameful time. A government that wants a two-state solution would not issue those amount of permits for east Jerusalem neighbourhoods. “ Israel and the Palestinians resumed direct peace negotiations at the end of July with the aim of reaching an agreement within nine months.

But the US-led talks have been overshadowed by Israel’s refusal to rein in construction plans on land the Palestinians want for a future state. Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi condemned Israeli building policy in east Jerusalem.

“Israel is engaging in the deliberate provocation of the Palestinians to drive them to leave the negotiations in protest of Israeli violations, and therefore should be blamed for the destruction of the peace process,” she said in a statement.

According to figures from Peace Now, in the six months since the talks began on July 29, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advanced plans for 7,302 new homes, including 4,880 in the West Bank and 2,422 in east Jerusalem.

In the same period, tenders were issued for 4,460 new homes — 2,372 in the West Bank and 2,088 in east Jerusalem. Figures for the whole of 2013 show that 2,433 new east Jerusalem homes were pushed

through various stages of the lengthy planning process-indicating that almost all of them were advanced after the talks started.

Israel captured east Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

It considers all of Jerusalem its “eternal, undivided” capital and does not see construction in the eastern sector as settlement building. But the Palestinians want east Jerusalem for the capital of their promised state. They, along with the international community, consider settlement construction there as well as in the West Bank a violation of international law. — AFP

Playground bomb wounds 12 kids in Libya’s Benghazi Bomb was thrown over the school: Witness

AMMAN: Jordanian lawmakers speak during the second day of a heated debate on the US push for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, under the domed parliament chamber in the capital, Amman, Jordan, Tuesday. The kingdom is already home to the largest Palestinian population outside the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Jordanian lawmakers and others fear the Palestinians will be coerced into an accord that gives up land and leads to a new influx of refugees into Jordan. — AP

Jordanians worry about fallout from ME peace AMMAN: Israelis and Palestinians may be hugely skeptical about the US-led peace negotiations their leaders have been roped into, but the Jordanians seem worried that they actually might succeed. The kingdom is already home to the largest Palestinian population outside the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Jordanian lawmakers and others fear an accord might lead to a new influx of refugees.

The kingdom, a key US ally, is watching warily as Secretary of State John Kerry brokers the secretive talks. Protests have broken out, the media brims with disaster scenarios, and lawmakers have held anguished debate.

“Jordan stands today at a dangerous crossroad because it will be a victim of an IsraeliPalestinian peace deal,” warned tribal lawmaker Abdul-Karim Dughmi. “I do not trust Mr. Kerry because his country is biased toward the Zionists and their expansionist plans to usurp the remaining Palestinian lands in the West Bank and force more Palestinian refugees onto Jordan.”

He spoke during the second day of a heated debate on the issue under the domed parliament chamber in the capital, Amman. At the heart of the matter is the brittle situation in Jordan itself - a monarchy that managed largely to escape the Arab Spring convulsions that have enveloped much of the region, and yet is vulnerable because of a combustible ethnic schism only complicated by the recent years’ arrival of more than a half million refugees from Syria due to that country’s ruinous civil war. Another half million Iraqis also live in Jordan since dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003.

According to estimates about half Jordan’s 7.5 million people are Palestinians who, or whose ancestors, arrived in two waves. The first was in 1948-49 because of the war from which neighboring Israel emerged, and the second was in 1967, after the war in which Israel seized the area west of the Jordan River that had been controlled by Jordan - now known universally as the “West Bank,” the heartland of a would-be Palestinian state.

Despite the huge Palestinian population some believe they are a majority - most levers of power and most plum jobs are still held by “East Bankers,” composed of Bedouin tribesmen and others. Many Palestinians still live in ramshackle camps and feel like second-class citizens.

Palestinian refugees There is no indication that Jordan will be asked to absorb Palestinian refugees from Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere. The Palestinians’ longstanding demand has been that they be allowed into Israel, and Israel prefers they be given a choice to move to the new Palestinian state.

But the East Bankers are nervous. Beyond the refugee issue, if the Palestinians’ situation was addressed convincingly, as part of a wider accord in which many Arab countries make peace with Israel, the delicate balance in Jordan could easily be upset.

Political analyst Labib Kamhawi said that non-Palestinian East Bank Jordanians “are afraid to lose their longstanding monopoly on power and be forced to share it with Palestinian refugees who may decide not to return to the West Bank under a final peace deal.” The original idea was to reach a deal by April, but there are now indications the talks may be prolonged, perhaps with the added element of an American position paper presented to the sides.

Amid the fervor, King Abdullah II - who hosted key players Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Kerry recently planned to discuss the effort during a U.S. trip that began Tuesday and will include a stop in California on Feb. 14 for talks with President Barack Obama.

A government official said Abdullah will “remind” the Obama administration about Jordan’s interests in a final Mideast settlement. He said Kerry was in constant touch with his Jordanian counterpart, Nasser Judeh,

speaking several times a week. The official insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly.

His comment was echoed by an Obama administration official, who said in Washington that Jordan’s king and Judeh “have been intertwined in every aspect of this process.” He insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak by name.

Seeking to allay parliamentary fears, Judeh told lawmakers that Jordan, which shares the longest Arab border of 335 kilometers (210 miles) with Israel and the West Bank, had the right to “accept or reject” any point in the negotiations that does not bode well with its interests.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour assured deputies that “I’m keeping no secrets on the negotiations from you.” He announced that Jordan will not deploy troops on the West Bank in the Jordan Valley to replace Israeli forces there. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories captured by Israel in 1967, for an independent state. Israel’s current government wants to keep parts of the West Bank and says it will not share control of east Jerusalem, home to sensitive religious sites - although previous Israeli leaderships were more flexible on the issue. Netanyahu has also insisted that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland, a condition they say would undermine the rights of Palestinian refugees and Israel’s own Arab minority.

Financial compensation Speculation that Kerry was close to laying out the framework of a future peace deal rekindled Jordanian concerns. About 150 protesters, a mix of Arab nationalists and Islamists, rallied in the northern city of Irbid Monday, appealing to the Palestinians to reject a peace deal and demanding their government to annul its 1994 peace treaty with Israel. One of the protesters, Yahya Shdeifat, called for “conscripting fighters for cross border attacks on Israel.” The stakes are high for Jordan, which worries about instability on its Western border and the fate of more than 2 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants who were displaced to Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, most of whom hold Jordanian citizenship. Jordan insists they must be compensated and allowed to return to the West Bank. The government wants a smaller group of Palestinians displaced in the 1948 Mideast war to be compensated for losing their homes with Israel’s creation months after the war. The government also is expected to seek financial compensation for hosting the Palestinians. Officials estimate that Jordan spends around $1 billion annually for the upkeep of 13 Palestinian refugee camps across the country.

In addition, Jordan’s king, whose royal Hashemite dynasty claims ancestry to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), wants a future deal to satisfy Arab claims to east Jerusalem, which houses Islam’s third holiest shrine. The Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty recognized a “special” Jordanian role in caring for Christian and Muslim holy shrines in the Old City.

In Tuesday’s session, some lawmakers voiced concern that worsening conditions for West Bank Palestinians under Israeli occupation may force them out to seek better opportunities in Jordan, giving ammunition to Israeli hard-liners, who call for making Jordan, not the West Bank, a home to Palestinians. Others said they feared that Palestinian refugees in Syria and Lebanon would end up in Jordan, disturbing its delicate demographic balance.

Abdul-Hadi Majali, a tribal leader who heads the largest parliamentary bloc of 20 seats, argued that Kerry was intentionally keeping the negotiations secret. “Mr Kerry, the Godfather of peace, wants to use the surprise factor to impose an Israeli solution on the Arabs, keeping east Jerusalem under Israeli occupation and vacating the remaining part of the West Bank of its Palestinian inhabitants.” — AP

BENGHAZI: A bomb blast rocked the playground of a primary school in Libya’s restive second city Benghazi during recess yesterday, wounding 12 children, two of them seriously, officials said.

Witnesses said a bomb was thrown over the school wall as the children were playing.

Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Moamer Kadhafi, has seen near-daily attacks on security and other targets in recent months as the weak central government has tried to rein in former rebel brigades turned militias.

Fadia al-Barghathi, spokeswoman for Benghazi’s Al-Jala hospital, had earlier Wednesday said six children suffering “light to moderate” injuries were admitted there. Another medic later revealed that six other children, two in serious condition, were taken to Benghazi medical centre.

A security official described the force of the explosion as “weak” and said a hunt was under way for those behind the attack. “Witnesses saw an individual throw an explosive device over the school wall during recess,” the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Yesterday’s school blast came after a patrol of Libya’s Al-Saiqa special forces unit was attacked by unknown gunmen during the night in the centre of Benghazi, causing no injuries.

A security official said the armed group had then set upon a sit-in being staged by a group of anti-government protesters, torching their tents and cars. The gunmen later in the night attacked an Al-Saiqa checkpoint at Al-Jala hospital, sparking a firefight which, however, left no injuries.

The latest attacks on Al-Saiqa come after three members of the special forces were killed in a new wave of violence that struck Benghazi last week. Clashes between militia made up of former rebels and the special forces erupted in

BENGHAZI: Libyan youths gather at the scene of a blast that rocked a primary school in Libya’s restive second city Benghazi during playtime yesterday, wounding six children, according to security and medical officials said. The blast was caused by an explosive device thrown over the exterior wall of the school as the children were playing, said Fadia Al-Barghathi, spokeswoman for Benghazi’s Al-Jala hospital. — AFP the city after the son of Al-Saiqa’s commander in Benghazi was kidnapped late January.

A military source said the abduction of Ali Abu Khamada, son of military commander Wanis Abu Khamada, was aimed at pressuring the special forces to bring about the release of prisoners held by the army.

The special forces had last month announced the arrest of four suspects in Benghazi in possession of a hit list of officers to be targeted or who

had already been killed. Militants have also attacked foreign missions in Benghazi, including a September 2012 assault on the US consulate that killed the ambassador and three other Americans.

Eastern Libya has become a bastion of Islamist extremists, with authorities avoiding a full-blown confrontation with heavily armed former rebels pending the formation of a regular army and police force. — AFP

Under-fire Turkish PM rallies Turks in Berlin BERLIN: Wracked by a damaging corruption scandal at home, a defiant Turkish prime minister took his election campaign to the streets of Berlin Tuesday, seeking to rally Germany’s vast Turkish community.

“We will stand up straight. We’ll never bow down, you can be sure of that. We only bow before God,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told thousands of flag-waving Turks in the Kreuzberg area of the German capital, known affectionately as “Little Istanbul.”

For the first time, Turkish citizens living abroad will be able to vote in their country of residence, making Germany a key campaigning ground for Erdogan ahead of crunch municipal elections in March and a presidential vote later in the year.

Germany counts three million Turks or people of Turkish origin, making Germany one of the biggest electoral constituencies after Ankara, Istanbul or Izmir. In Berlin, which houses the largest Turkish community outside Turkey, Erdogan issued a fierce rallying call in a 40-minute speech. “I want you to be proud to live in Germany. But I also want you to be proud of the Turkish flag. You are the children of a great country,” he cried. He said the younger generation should “not forget their religion and their roots to become foreigners ... you are European Turks,” he told the enthusiastic crowd.

‘We admire his courage’ At home, Erdogan, 59, is facing the most serious scandal of his 11-year rule amid a major graft investigation implicating members of his inner circle and their families. But in his Berlin speech, he appeared to take aim at his critics, asking: “Can there be corruption in a country where the gross domestic product has grown from 200 to 800 billion dollars?”

He also appeared to attack his rival Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic preacher living in the United States, whom Erdogan blames for instigating the corruption probe.

“Those who want to get mixed up in politics should not do so by giving advice from afar,” Erdogan said. Many in the crowd seemed convinced by the canvassing effort.

Sangul Esmer, 29-year-old woman, veiled as were many in the audience, leapt to Erdogan’s defence. “I live in Berlin but when I go to Turkey, I notice that many things have changed for the better since he became prime minister,” she told AFP. “The majority of people are pleased with what he has done. I hope his party will win this year,” added Esmer, who was born and grew up in Berlin.

Despite the support shown on Tuesday night, the Turkish community in Berlin is usually considered anti-Erdogan and joined in mass protests last year in support of anti-government protesters in Istanbul’s Gezi park.

And Erdogan found little support from German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he sought to shore up his country’s long-standing bid to join the European Union.

At a joint news conference earlier Tuesday, Merkel said that her “scepticism” over Turkey being

ISTANBUL: A protestor holds a placard reading “Istanbul claims to Mehmet” at the gate of Istanbul’s Anatolian side courthouse yesterday. People gathered there during a second hearing to support of 19-year-old Mehmet Ayvalitas who died during the Gezi Park protests last summer in Istanbul. A heavy-handed police crackdown on a peaceful sit-in against the destruction of the city’s main green space in June left at least six people dead and thousands injured in three weeks of clashes between protesters and police. — AFP a full member of the EU was no secret. But, for Oktay Torun in the crowd in Kreuzberg, there was no question of anything but full support for the embattled Turkish prime minister. “We believe in

him with all our heart. We admire his courage,” said the 42-year-old, who came with his family. “He has built hospitals, roads. We are no longer dependent on outside help,” he added. — AFP

Morsi trial adjourned CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Wednesday adjourned the murder trial of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to March 1, to review video evidence against the Islamist. Morsi and 14 codefendants, some of them former aides, are charged with inciting the killings of opposition protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

The court also postponed witness testimony scheduled foryesterday’s session, after Morsi’s defence requested more time to prepare for cross examination. One of the witnesses was head of the military unit tasked with protecting the president at the time of the clashes.

Morsi was present in the court, inside a soundproof glass dock to prevent him from interrupting proceedings with defiant outbursts, as he had done in previous hearings.

He insisted in previous hearings that he was still Egypt’s legitimate president and challenged the legitimacy of the court. In the hearing on March 1, the court will review a report on video footage of the December 5, 2012 clashes between Morsi’s supporters and opponents.

At least seven people were killed in the violence. Morsi faces four separate trials, on charges ranging from contempt of the judiciary to plotting an elaborate conspiracy involving Iran and Palestinian militants to conduct attacks in Egypt.

He could be sentenced to death if convicted on several of the charges, which include collusion with foreign groups and incitement to murder.

His supporters say the military-installed regime has brought trumped-up charges.

Since his overthrow in July, Morsi’s once powerful Muslim Brotherhood movement is in disarray, blacklisted as a terrorist group with most of its leaders in prison. More than 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, have been killed in violence since Morsi’s ouster.

During his year in power, after the country’s first free presidential elections, Morsi faced growing resentment and accusations that his Islamist group was monopolising power. In December 2012, Morsi’s supporters dispersed opposition activists camped outside the palace in protest at a decree granting the president extra-judicial powers, sparking day-long clashes. —AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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

Pacific castaway’s story a ‘miracle’ for his parents GARITA PALMERA: For Salvadoran couple Ricardo and Maria Julia Alvarenga, the reappearance of their son after his incredible story of survival adrift in the Pacific for 13 months is nothing short of a miracle.

The couple, who last saw their son eight years ago, could barely believe that Jose Salvador Alvarenga, 37, was alive after his claim that he survived a 12,500-kilometer (8,000-mile) odyssey from Mexico to the Marshall Islands on a small boat.

“It is a divine miracle, a sign that God was compassionate with our son’s life,” said Maria Julia, 54, with tears of joy. “I kept thinking that one day he would come back to us, that God wants him to return to our house,” she said from the family’s home in Garita Palmera, on El Salvador’s Pacific coast.

Alvarenga was working as a fisherman in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas until he vanished more than a year ago. The man said he got lost at sea during a fishing expedition in December 2012, drifting for more than a year until washing up in the faraway Marshall Islands last Thursday.

Alvarenga said he survived by eating raw fish and birds as well as drinking turtle blood, urine and rainwater for 13 months, but a teenage companion named Xiguel starved to death during the ordeal.

A family, relieved Some experts say it is theorically possible to survive such a trip under harsh elements, but others were skeptical about the man’s story. His family, however,

was just happy to see him again, including his 14-yearold daughter Fatima, who lives with his parents and had not seen him in years. They have yet to speak with him since his reappearance.

“I am all emotional because I am going to get to know him,” said Fatima, who had no memory of her father’s face until newspapers published pictures of the stocky and bearded man.

The girl’s mother left her with Alvarenga’s parents and moved to Guatemala. El Salvador’s foreign ministry said it was working with Mexico to repatriate Alvarenga, who was recuperating in a hospital in the Marshall Islands. Salvadoran authorities said they will give him a provisional passport to help him go home.

The family was mobbed by the media and curious

neighbors eager to hear the incredible news. His 65year-old father, Ricardo, said Alvarenga left for Mexico 15 years ago to work for a fishing company. “He was restless when he was young and always liked fishing,” said Ricardo, a farmer who plants yuca, bananas and corn. Alvarenga would go to the beach with friends and return home with fish he had caught. In an interview with AFP from his hospital, Alvarenga said he had suicidal thoughts during his trip but was sustained by dreams of reuniting with his family and eating tortilla and chicken. His Mother is eager to oblige. ‘We will make him a big meal, but we won’t feed him fish because he must be bored of eating that,” she said.

“We will make him a big plate of meat, beans and cheese to help him recover.” — AFP

Obama, Democrats meet as struggle for Senate builds Democrats seeking ways to distance from president

TEXAS: This February 29, 2000 photo shows the “death chamber” at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas. Electric chairs, gas chambers or firing squad: American states that retain the death penalty are mulling a return to long-abandoned execution methods as they grapple with a shortage of lethal injection drugs. — AFP

Female murderer faces execution WASHINGTON: A woman convicted of the brutal murder of a mentally disabled man is poised to become only the 14th female to be executed in the United States since 1976 when she faces death by lethal injection in Texas. Barring a successful last-ditch appeal, Suzanne Basso, 59, will be executed by lethal injection at 6:00 pm local time (0000 GMT today) at Huntsville Prison in Texas. The wheelchair-bound killer, who weighed 350 pounds (160 kilograms) at the time of her arrest in September 1999, was sentenced to die for the horrific killing of Louis “Buddy” Musso” in 1998, whom she killed in an attempt to benefit from his life insurance.

Musso was burned with cigarettes and beaten with belts, baseball bats and hobnailed boots by Basso and five others. His body, bloodied and battered beyond recognition, was found dumped in a roadside ditch in Houston in August 1998, according to court documents. Despite a series of appeals which led all the way to the US Supreme Court, Basso’s death sentence has been reconfirmed over the years, meaning she will be executed in today unless the Texas board of parole decides otherwise.

Anti-death penalty advocates have condemned Basso’s looming execution however, on the grounds that her physical and psycho-

logical state-she has shown signs of suffering from mental illness-mean she poses no threat to society. “The primary criterion for imposing the death penalty in Texas is that the defendant is deemed to be a ‘future danger’ to society,” said Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center.

“It is hard to see how this 60-year-old woman, confined to a wheelchair, would be a threat to society if she remained in prison for the rest of her life. “She has exhibited multiple signs of mental illness, which may have played a role in her crime. Texas has many far more dangerous criminals serving time in prison. Executing Suzanne Basso appears both unnecessary and unjustified.”

Basso, whose attorneys have also argued she is mentally disabled, will become only the 14th woman to be executed, and the fifth in Texas, amongst the 1,366 executions carried out since capital punishment was reinstated in the United States in 1976.

“The numbers are very small because generally women do not often commit the kind of aggravated murder for which the death penalty is sought,” Dieter said. The numbers of women sentenced to death and facing execution on death row continues to remain small compared to their male counterparts, according to the DPIC.—AFP

WASHINGTON: When President Barack Obama solicits advice from his party’s senators, the voices of some Democrats may come through louder than others. Of the 53 Democratic senators, it’s the nearly two dozen facing re-election this year who are causing jitters for Obama and the party. With control of the Senate at stake, many of those Democrats are actively seeking ways to distance themselves from a president who is deeply unpopular in their home states.

After publicly exhibiting his goals for the year in his State of the Union address last week, Obama is making the pitch in more intimate settings now. A day after hosting House Democrats in the East Room, Obama will travel to the baseball stadium where the Washington Nationals play and where Senate Democrats are holding an annual private summit.

With prospects for capturing the House this year in doubt, Democrats have intensified their focus on the Senate, where their tenuous majority will be toppled in November if they lose more than five seats - out of 21 they are defending. Although Obama has had to rein in aspirations for ambitious second-term legislation due to Republican control of the House, his final years in office would be even more constrained were Democrats to lose the Senate.

Sensitive to the fact that many of Democrats’ toughest races this year are in conservative-leaning states that voted against Obama in 2012, the White House and Democratic leadership so far have given wide latitude to Democrats who have publicized their disagreements with Obama. But the criticism also serves

Exam cheating scandal hits Navy nuclear force WASHINGTON: In a new twist to a widening tale of ethical lapses in the military, the Navy is investigating cheating allegations against about one-fifth of its trainers at a school for naval nuclear power reactor operators.

It is the second exam-cheating scandal to hit the military this year, on top of a series of disclosures in recent months of ethical lapses at all ranks in the military as it transitions from more than a decade of war-fighting.

Unlike an Air Force cheating probe that has implicated nearly 100 officers responsible for land-based nuclear missiles that stand ready for short-notice launch, those implicated in the Navy investigation have no responsibility for nuclear weapons.

The Air Force probe is centered on Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., but could spread to its two other nuclear missile bases in North Dakota and Wyoming. Dozens of officers at Malmstrom have been linked to cheating on a monthly test of their proficiency in handling “emergency war orders” for potential launch of nuclear missiles.

The Navy said its implicated sailors are accused of having cheated on written tests they must pass to be certified as instructors at a nuclear propulsion school at Charleston, SC. The Navy uses

two nuclear reactors there to train sailors for duty aboard any of dozens of submarines and aircraft carriers around the world whose onboard reactors provide propulsion. They are not part of any weapons systems.

The accused sailors had previously undergone reactor operations training at Charleston before deploying aboard a nuclear-power vessel. In the normal course of career moves, they returned to Charleston to serve as instructors, for which they have to pass requalification exams.

Adm. John Richardson, director of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, said an undisclosed number of senior sailors are alleged to have provided test information to their peers. He was not more specific, but one official said the information was shared from the sailors’ home computers, which could be a violation of security rules because information about nuclear reactors operations is classified.

Cheating ring “That’ll be an active part of the investigation to fully understand” the extent of any security rule violations, Richardson said. He said the last time the Navy had such a cheating scandal involving its nuclear reactor operators

PENTAGON: Chief of Naval Operations Adm Jonathan W. Greenert, left, accompanied by Adm. John M. Richardson, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Tuesday. The Navy is investigating alleged cheating on tests by senior enlisted sailors training on naval nuclear reactors at Charleston, S.C., officials said Tuesday. — AP

was in 2010 when the USS Memphis, a nuclear-powered submarine, lost about 10 percent of its crew to disciplinary measures after a cheating ring was discovered.

Richardson said the alleged cheating at Charleston came to light Monday when a senior enlisted sailor at the training site reported it to higher authorities. Richardson said the unidentified sailor “recognized that this was wrong” and chose to report it.

The matter was still under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the chief of naval operations, said at a joint announcement with Richardson that he was upset to learn of the breakdown in discipline.

“To say I am disappointed would be an understatement,” Greenert said. “We expect more from our sailors - especially our senior sailors.”

Neither Greenert nor Richardson identified the rank of the alleged cheaters but described them as senior enlisted members. There are about 150 nuclear power reactor instructors at the Charleston site. With about 30 of them banned, at least temporarily, from performing their duties, the training program might suffer.

“I could possibly foresee an impact in Charleston,” Richardson said. “We’ll see if that is broader.” Pressed to say how many sailors were implicated in the investigation, Richardson said a “ballpark figure” was something like 12 to 20. But a short time later, another Navy official said the number was approximately 30 but could change as the investigation unfolds. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss publicly any details beyond what Richardson and Greenert disclosed at their news conference.

Richardson said he could not discuss possible disciplinary action against those involved because the probe was ongoing. However, he said anyone in the naval nuclear power program either in a training setting or aboard a ship at sea - who is caught cheating would usually be removed from the program and “generally” would be kicked out of the Navy.—AP

as a nagging reminder that Obama’s ability to aid fellow Democrats this year is limited.

“I want him up in Alaska so I can show him where his policies haven’t worked,” said Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, whose re-election race is one of the toughest for Democrats this year. “I’ll drag him up there to show him what he needs to be doing. I don’t need him campaigning for me.”

Focus on election Obama’s session with senators late yesterday will focus not on the election but on his legislative agenda, including an unemployment insurance extension, a minimum wage hike and an expansion of the earned income tax credit, White

US President Barack Obama

House officials said.

“It’s part of an overall approach, running up to and in the wake of the State of the Union address, where the president is meeting with Democrats who share his priorities and vision when it comes to taking action to strengthen the middle class and to provide ladders of opportunity into the middle class,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Still, the White House has taken steps to show it is keenly attuned to the midterm dynamic that looms over every decision lawmakers will make this year. On Monday, Obama brought Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., his campaign chairman and the head of the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee to

the White House to talk strategy for 2014. And barely a week ago, Obama resurrected the White House political office that he disbanded in 2011, tasking top adviser David Simas with overseeing a team that will look out for the needs of Democratic candidates.

For some Democrats, it’s “Obamacare” that poses the clearest threat as Republicans vow to use the unpopular law as a cudgel in their campaigns against Democrats who voted for it. Speaking to House Democrats on Tuesday, Obama took full responsibility for what didn’t go right with the rollout of the HealthCare.gov enrollment website and said the focus now should be on law’s benefits and the millions getting covered, said Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., who attended the meeting.

For other Democrats, niche issues like energy that acutely affect their states may play an outsize role in their campaigns. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana was one of five Democrats who joined Republicans on Tuesday at a rare bipartisan news conference to call on Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil on its way from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Landrieu said in addition to talking to Obama about America’s energy resurgence, she planned to urge Obama to support her push to delay a huge rate hike for flood insurance a politically potent issue in hurricaneravaged Louisiana.

“I’m hoping to convince him that if his administration could be a little more enthusiastic, it would be helpful not just to me and Louisiana, but to the whole country,” she said. — AP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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

Swiss grapple with identity, economy in immigration vote WINTERTHUR: Low taxes and good infrastructure aside, what entrepreneur Thorsten Schwenke really needs to grow his small Swiss-based business is the right people, regardless of their nationality. That’s why he is so bewildered by a vote in Switzerland on Feb. 9 on whether to impose restrictions on immigrants from the European Union, and by the proposal’s increasing popularity in a country where foreign labour helped forge a powerful economy.

“If I was forced to only consider hiring Swiss people, I would just move,” said 41-year-old Schwenke, who founded Thelkin, a maker of mechanical testing equipment for orthopaedic implants in the northeastern town of Winterthur in 2010. “For a company my size, the right people are more important than the tax benefits.”

A vote in favour of the motion, 12 years after a free movement of people agreement with the European Union came into force, could hurt an economy reliant on foreign professionals by increasing red tape and calling into question its bilateral accords with the bloc.

Hailing from Berlin, Schwenke is one in a long line of foreign entrepreneurs who have helped power Switzerland’s economic success story over the past 150 years, including German-born Henri Nestle who gave his name to the company that is now the world’s largest food

group. But with net immigration running at around 70,000 people per year on average - equivalent to the size of St. Gallen, a university town in eastern Switzerland many Swiss blame newcomers for rising rents, crowded transport and more crime.

The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which wants Switzerland to seize back control by reintroducing immigration quotas, is tapping into concerns immigrants are eroding the country’s Alpine culture and bolstering the ‘yes’ vote.

“Many people feel this is challenging their identity, even if there isn’t any concrete economic impact on a personal level,” said Georg Lutz, a professor of political science at the University of Lausanne. Foreigners now make up 23 percent of the country’s population of 8 million according to official data, the second highest proportion in Europe after Luxembourg.

Highly-skilled It’s not just the Swiss who are having second thoughts about free movement. With the economy in Europe in the doldrums and austerity policies biting, mainstream politicians across the region fear the right and far-right will gain ground as increasing numbers fret immigrants will take their jobs.

In Switzerland, the proposed curbs take aim at highlyskilled workers from the European Union, who opponents argue are needed to fill jobs at multinationals and hospitals. Italians are the largest group, followed by Germans, who typically work in IT, financial services and healthcare. Around half of the people employed in R&D at drugmaker Roche in Basel are foreign, its Austrian CEO Severin Schwan has said.

“Innovation is the driver of the Swiss economy. That’s why we need highly qualified workers inside Switzerland and from abroad,” said Hans Hess, head of Swissmem, which represents the electrical and mechanical engineering industries.

Four in every 10 new companies in Switzerland are founded by foreigners, according to business information provider Orell Fuessli Wirtschaftsinformation. In 2013, they created around 30,000 new jobs.

Foreigners are also bigger shoppers. Around one quarter of the growth in private consumption since 2008 can be attributed to immigration, according to Credit Suisse.

A survey by Gfs Bern published last week found support for the proposal had risen to 43 percent from 37 percent in an earlier poll. Opposition eased to 50 percent and 7 percent were undecided.

The shift has set off alarm bells among opponents, who fear the SVP - the country’s largest party - will manage to mobilise more of its grassroot supporters in the final few days. A ‘yes’ vote could hurt relations with the EU, which has warned it will not allow new negotiations on free circulation, a fundamental right.

Pollsters say voters without political affiliation may use the vote to vent their frustration against a perceived lack of action by the government over their concerns about immigration.

“I don’t want to live like a sardine in a tin can,” independent politician Thomas Minder, who supports the initiative, told tabloid newspaper Blick. In the town of Zug, 20 km south of Zurich, rock-bottom corporate tax rates have attracted some 30,000 companies to the once poor farming region, including commodities trader Glencore Xstrata. But a flood of rich immigrants has pushed up the cost of living and driven many locals out.

Despite their shared language, the relationship between the Swiss and the Germans is at times testy.

“Germans get the highly-paid jobs and go and buy the big houses,” said Thelkin’s Schwenke. “There’s a certain amount of jealousy and I can totally see that. If all of a sudden 30 percent of Berlin were made up of Swiss people, that would be controversial.” — Reuters

Ashton meets Ukraine leader in push to resolve crisis People in the streets waiting for solution

BANGUI: Members of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) lynch to death a man suspected of being a former Seleka rebel yesterday in Bangui. — AFP

C Africa soldiers lynch ex-rebel at ceremony BANGUI: A suspected ex-rebel in the Central African Republic was lynched by soldiers after a military ceremony yesterday and his lifeless body dragged through the streets before being dismembered and set on fire.

The brutal attack occurred just moments after the ceremony in the capital Bangui addressed by the country’s newly appointed interim president, witnesses and AFP journalists said.

Graphic pictures showed soldiers attacking a young man in civilian clothes, stamping on his head, stabbing and throwing stones at him. His body was then dragged though the streets as African Union troops looked on.

Senior government and army officials, including interim president Catherine Samba Panza, had only just left the ceremony when the attack took place.

It was a reminder of the brutal violence that has displaced around one million people since a coup in the deeply troubled country last March. The lynching against a man suspected of being a former member of the Seleka rebel movement was carried out under the noses of soldiers from the African Union-led MISCA mission, who were providing security at the ceremony.

Witnesses said the body was dismembered and burned before MISCA troops finally intervened to disperse the crowd with tear gas and shots in the air. Just moments before, Panza had told the crowd of around 4,000 troops and dignitaries

gathered at the National School of Magistrates of her “pride in seeing so many elements of the Central African Republic Forces reunited”.

The ceremony was supposed to mark the reformation of troops dispersed since the coup that brought rebel Michel Djotodia to power. He was forced to resign on January 10 under pressure from the international community, amid mounting violence between rival Muslim and Christian militants.

In Bangui, the mainly Muslim fighters of the Seleka rebel alliance have been largely neutralised by the 1,600 French soldiers who deployed on December 5 alongside the 5,500 MISCA troops.

But the French and African troops operate largely in the capital, while the MuslimChristian bloodletting continues in the interior. Even in Bangui, the Red Cross last week reported finding 30 bodies in three days. Panza assured the troops that talks were underway with international partners to secure their wages, unpaid for five months.

The ceremony was attended by senior members of the transitional government and armed forces, as well as General Francisco Soriano, commander of French forces in the country under Operation Sangaris, and General Atanase Kararuza, deputy commander of MISCA. No reaction could be immediately obtained from the government, MISCA or Sangaris forces. — AFP

Kenyatta case has ‘collapsed’ THE HAGUE: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s defence team said yesterday his crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court “has collapsed”, as judges mulled dropping the high-profile trial. “The prosecution has realised that its case has collapsed,” lawyer Steven Kay told judges in The Hague, where Kenyatta faces charges for his role in the deadly 2007-08 post-poll violence that rocked the east African country.

The ICC last month postponed Kenyatta’s trial after prosecutors said they no longer had enough evidence to put him in the dock.

Kenya’s top politician was supposed to go on trial yesterday, but instead judges were listening to arguments on whether to withdraw the charges. Kenyatta, 52, is facing five counts of crimes against humanity allegedly committed under his direction in the aftermath of the disputed elections, in which prosecutors say more than 1,100 people died.

In an apparent last bid to keep the case alive, prosecutors now want judges to rule that Nairobi has failed to cooperate with their investigation-especially in their request for financial statements which they say could prove Kenyatta’s role in funding the violence.

Prosecutor Benjamin Gumpert said the investigation against Kenyatta had run into a brick wall and that a last avenue was to force Nairobi to hand over Kenyatta’s financial records. “I don’t rule out the possibility that full disclosure of Mr Kenyatta’s financial records, if indeed our case theory is correct... might be sufficient for the case to be brought.”

But he added: “ That really is just the wildest speculation.” Kenyatta’s lawyer Kay called the prosecution’s submission a “blame-

shifting exercise onto the Kenyan state at the expense of the prosecution”.

Problems and delays Kenyatta’s trial and that of his rival-turnedpartner, Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, who faces similar charges, have been dogged by problems and delays.

This included accusations of severe witness intimidation and withdrawals, false claims by other witnesses, and Kenya’s international campaign to put the trials on hold.

“The bottom line is that (Kenyatta’s) government continues to thwart the prosecution’s efforts to obtain information that may shed light on key allegations in this case,” ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a court document last Friday.

Kenyatta’s lawyers have previously asked the ICC to drop the charges. A lawyer representing the victims of the Kenyan violence blamed Kenya and Kenyatta for obstructing the case.

“Vast sections of the (Kenyan) state apparatus were mobilised in a vigorous and energetic defence of the rights of those... Kenyans standing trial before the court, totally ignoring the rights of hundreds of thousands of Kenyan victims of the post-election violence,” Fergal Gaynor said. “Instead of acting to secure justice for the victims... the accused (Kenyatta) instead took steps to frustrate their search for the truth,” he added. African leaders frequently complain that the ICC discriminates against their continent. Arguments include allegations that the court is targeting Africans and that Kenya’s leaders need to be available to tackle Al-Qaeda-linked militants who have turned neighbouring Somalia into a major global jihadist hub.—AFP

KIEV: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton met Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych yesterday in a fresh effort to resolve a two-month crisis as lawmakers battled over a deal to curb the president’s powers.

Buoyed by support from Western dignitaries including the EU’s Ashton, the opposition has accused Yanukovych of dragging his feet over proposals to end the worst standoff in Ukraine’s history since the fall of the Soviet Union.

“The political crisis continues,” boxer-turnedpolitician Vitali Klitschko said in parliament as it debated an opposition demand for a curb on presidential powers. “People in the streets are waiting for a solution. If we don’t agree on it, there will be a new wave of escalating tensions,” he said. The protest leaders want the president to reform the constitution to take away some of his powers in an effort to defuse a crisis that has pitted Ukraine’s former master Russia against the West.

“I hope that already today we will be able to agree on a blueprint according to which we will be changing the constitution,” the president’s representative in parliament, Yuriy Myroshnychenko, told reporters. The embattled 63-year-old leader was expected to arrive in Sochi on Friday to discuss the crisis with Putin on the sidelines of the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympic Games.

Ukraine’s economy is in tatters and the government is waiting for Russia to release in full the $15 billion (11 billion euros) Putin has promised Kiev in a critical bailout that has now been put on hold pending the instalment of a new government.

The opposition for its part has called for financial aid from the West, and Ashton has raised the possibility of Western financing in exchange for democratic reforms. “During her visit she will discuss the efforts in support of a political resolution to the crisis and how the EU can assist these efforts,” said spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic, confirming that a meeting with Yanukovych had begun.

Both Brussels and Washington have threatened sanctions against Ukrainian officials amid warning the country was on the brink of “civil war.” In a concession to protesters camped out on Kiev’s barricaded Independence Square, Myroshnychenko said Yanukovych was also considering an early election before the scheduled end of his mandate in 2015.

Oleksandr Yefremov, the head of Yanukovych’s Regions Party in parliament, also said the president next week could unveil his nomination for prime minister after the previous cabinet resigned last month under opposition pressure.

But the opposition accuses the Ukrainian leader of seeking to win time rather than put an end to a turmoil that left several people dead and turned parts of the capital Kiev into a battle zone.

‘EU ready to mediate’ Ashton dined with opposition leaders on Tuesday and was set to meet them again Wednesday, along with representatives of antiYanukovych civil society movements and nongovernmental groups.

“The European Union’s high representative Lady Ashton assured us that Europe is ready to delegate high-level mediators for negotiations with the authorities,” Klitschko said.

Ukraine’s protests erupted in November after Yanukovych rejected an association agreement with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Moscow, and the turmoil has now become an all-out movement to oust him.

The president has already scrapped controversial anti-protest laws and dismissed the government but protesters on the streets are demanding a wholesale “reset” of power.

Under Ukraine’s constitution, the president now has less than 60 days to name a new cabinet.

In a phone call Tuesday, US Vice President Joe Biden urged Yanukovych to pursue dialogue and compromise as he called for the “immediate” pulling back of riot police.

The opposition says that while there are now no open clashes with the police, activists are being beaten by pro-government militias as part of a “secret repression”. Lithuania on Tuesday confirmed signs of torture on Dmytro Bulatov, a Ukrainian activist it is treating, and urged an independent investigation.

Bulatov, who claims he was kidnapped and “crucified” by unknown assailants, is a criminal suspect in Ukraine and was only allowed to leave on Sunday following intense diplomatic lobbying. — AFP

KIEV: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (C) pose along with Ukrainian opposition leaders, head of Ukraine’s Svoboda (Freedom) party Oleh Tyagnybok (L), head of the UDAR (Punch) party Vitalii Klitshko (2L) and head of Batkivshchyna party Arseni Yatsenyuk (R) prior to talks yesterday in Kiev.

Ashton met Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych amid opposition accusations the embattled leader was dragging his feet over proposals to resolve a crisis. — AFP

Pope’s Latin tweets surprise with success VATICAN CITY: Quis hoc crederet? Against all the odds, Pope Francis’s Latin-language Twitter account is a roaring success, boasting 205,000 followers-more than those following papal tweets in German or Arabic. Two months after former pontiff Benedict XVI joined the social networking site, enthusiasts of the ancient language persuaded him to open an account in Latin, without banking on it having much success. The response stunned them. Latin is “an international language, a transnational way of communicating which is still very much alive,” said American priest Daniel Gallagher, an expert in the language and member of the team in charge of translating and posting the pope’s tweets.

For its fans, the Italic language embodies “virtue and nobility of expression”, as well as “the ability to communicate across centuries”, he told AFP. While Latin is well suited to Francis’s messages in terms of their brevity, his phrases are “difficult to translate, because his style is so informal”, Gallagher said. The expression “sourpusses” had the team flummoxed until someone thought to translate it as “vultu truci”, a term taken from Roman playwright Plautus. Gallagher and his colleagues have fun coming up with inventive ways to translate the latest technological or web-based jargon.”Welcome to the official Twitter page of His Holiness Pope Francis” became “Tuus adventus in paginam Papae Francisci breviloquentis optatissimus est”. “We try not to stray too far from Cicero,” the priest said in reference to the great ancient Roman orator.

“If he saw our translation, we would want him to have at least a vague idea of what it said!” he said. Isabelle Poinsot, a follower from Paris, said she

found it “refreshing to read a small, pure thought each day” and found “the discrepancy between a modern medium and an ancient language rather amusing”.Followers are not just nerdy professors in stuffy academic offices or iPad-wielding priests.

The largest cohort are German, followed by Britons, Americans and fellow fans from China, India and Africa. “We have every reason to think that many are young students, from universities, schools or even younger,” Gallagher said, adding that some use the tweets as homework, setting out to translate them. Others are journalists, lawyers, or people nostalgic for the Latin lessons of their youth, who get a kick out of translating a Francis phrase a day. Some get so involved that they reply to the pope’s tweets in Latin. Elitism also plays its part: “Some follow the pope in Latin because it’s a way to create a group. They enjoy belonging to an unusual community, with its own code. If you are able to translate it, you are accepted into the club,” Gallagher said.

“What we think of as a modern phenomenon is no such thing. The satirical epigrams of the Roman poet Martial could have been tweets, for their brevity, conciseness, frankness and humour,” he added. The Vatican launched the Latin section of its website in 2008 under Francis’s predecessor Benedict XVI, a keen advocate of the language, which is still used for the Holy See’s most important official documents.

Knowledge of Latin was an unexpected asset for Italian journalist Giovanna Chirri, who had what was no doubt the scoop of her career in February 2013 when Benedict announced his retirement in Latin-and she was the only reporter who understood him. — AFP

ROME: A man holds a smartphone showing Pope Francis’ first tweet in front of a computer screen showing the same tweet on March 17, 2013, in Rome. Against all the odds, Pope Francis’s Latin-language Twitter account is a roaring success, boasting 205,000 followers — more than those following papal tweets in German or Arabic. — AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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

New report raises pressure on S Lanka over ‘war crimes’ COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s army led an orgy of indiscriminate killing at the climax of the island’s civil war, and has since tried to destroy evidence of its crimes, a new investigation published yesterday by foreign experts claimed.

A report released by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) in Australia claimed that soldiers committed the “vast majority” of crimes in a final government offensive against Tamil Tiger separatists in May 2009.

The probe comes ahead of a session at the UN Human Rights Council next month at which the US is due to move a third resolution pressing Sri Lanka to investigate the conduct of its troops or face further international censure.

Sri Lanka has resisted repeated calls for an international inquiry into allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed by government forces during the bloody finale to a conflict that dragged on for 37 years. The PIAC’s International Crimes Evidence Project (ICEP) report entitled “Island of Impunity?” included material from independent international experts, UN staff members and

new witness testimony.

“Certain alleged crimes committed during the final months of the war involved such flagrant and reckless disregard for the laws of war, which strongly suggests there was intent to commit those crimes,” the report said.

Evidence ‘covertly destroyed’ Early analysis suggested that the Sri Lankan government was exhuming and destroying evidence of mass civilian deaths, the report said. The ICEP said it had obtained testimony from unidentified new witnesses that members of the Sri Lankan security forces had destroyed forensic evidence after the conflict.

“The allegations are that human remains from mass burial sites in the conflict zone were exhumed and were covertly destroyed,” the report said. “This highlights the urgent need for an internationally-mandated investigation.”

Sri Lanka’s military rejected the report as “old allegations” and denied there had been any digging up of graves to destroy evi-

dence. He said only one mass grave had been found in the former war zone and a judicial inquiry was underway.

“There is nothing new in the report. It is the same old allegations already in the public domain,” Sri Lanka military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya told AFP. He discounted charges of mass killings, torture and sexual violence, but said 17 soldiers had been prosecuted on charges of rape in the final stages of the fighting.

“We want to maintain a disciplined army and we take action when we are presented with evidence,” he said, adding that the latest report was an attempt to discredit Sri Lanka ahead of the UNHRC session in Geneva.

‘Crimes against humanity’ On Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said war crimes allegations against his security forces were not founded on “peace, fair play or justice”.

“We have acted to provide justice through the law by defeating terrorism,” he said in a televised address to mark the 66th

Obama meets top military commanders on Afghanistan Kabul holds talks with Taleban WASHINGTON/KABUL: US President Barack Obama met his senior military commanders to discuss the American presence in Afghanistan as officials in Kabul confirmed President Hamid Karzai’s government has been holding secret talks with Taleban insurgents.

The United States said it welcomed any talks that would bring peace to Afghanistan. “It’s important to note here that we’ve long strongly supported an Afghan-led reconciliation, which would, of course, be Afghans talking to Afghans,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “So the notion that we wouldn’t support that dialogue is inaccurate.”

She added that the United States was

A member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council also confirmed that talks had taken place, but was measured in his assessment of their success.

“Talks took place in Dubai three weeks ago between government officials and Taleban who flew from Doha, but we are still waiting to see the result,” he told Reuters.

Western and Afghan officials speaking to the Times also said the talks had borne little fruit so far. The contacts had not even progressed as far as opening negotiations for a tangible peace agreement, the paper said.

Obama’s talks with US military commanders focused on whether US troops

KANDAHAR: An Afghan policeman searches a man under an election campaign poster of Gul Agha Shirzai in Kandahar yesterday.

Taleban insurgents have threatened to target the campaign, and the Afghan police and army face a major challenge with little support from the dwindling number of NATO troops. —AFP not in discussions with the Taleban.

In Kabul, Karzai’s spokesman confirmed a New York Times report that the government was holding talks with the Taleban in the hope of persuading them to make peace.

“I can confirm that ... Taleban are willing more than ever to join the peace process,” Aimal Faizi said. “Contacts have been made and we are also in touch with them.”

will remain in Afghanistan after this year, as they end their 13-year mission in the country that began shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. US troops helped oust the Taleban regime from power after the Islamic militants refused to hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and have since been helping the Kabul government fight the group.

No decisions on troop levels were

made at the meeting.

No security agreement The United States would like to leave more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan for counter-terrorism and training of Afghan forces. But Karzai has refused thus far to sign a bilateral security agreement (BSA) that Washington insists must be approved before it will agree to leave the troops behind.

A White House spokeswoman, Laura Lucas Magnuson, said Obama had a useful, constructive meeting with the military officials, who included General Joseph Dunford, commander of international forces in Afghanistan; Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and other defence and White House officials.

“The president continues to weigh inputs from military officials, as well as the intelligence community, our diplomats, and development experts and has not yet made decisions regarding the post-2014 US presence,” Magnuson said.

Karzai’s relationship with Washington has come under increasing pressure since November, when he announced his intention to avoid signing the BSA until after a presidential election on April 5.

His decision to drop a deal that had taken about a year to hammer out shocked Western diplomats. The uncertainty about Afghanistan’s fate after US troops pull out has also weighed on the economy. Karzai’s refusal to sign is sapping already scant support for the war in Washington, which has halved aid for civilian assistance in the fiscal year 2014. Washington has signalled it could pull all troops out after 2014 unless a deal is signed soon. This would leave Afghanistan’s fledgling security forces to fight the Taleban insurgency alone, without US financial and military support.

The Taleban have vowed to derail the election, and have stepped up attacks in Kabul despite the peace talks. January’s tally of attacks was the highest since 2008, according to security officials, and the trend has continued into February, with two bombs going off in Kabul on Monday. —Reuters

Pakistan holds rallies on Kashmir solidarity day Pakistan must embrace Islamic law

LAHORE: Pakistani activists from the fundamentalist Islamic political party Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) march during the Kashmir Solidarity Day rally in Lahore yesterday. Hundreds of people rallied across Pakistan to denounce Indian rule in Kashmir, the disputed Muslim-majority Himalayan state divided between divided between India and Pakistan. —AFP MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistanis staged rallies and demonstrations across the country yesterday to express solidarity with Kashmiris struggling for independence from India.

Kashmir, a picturesque Himalayan region, is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.

About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 either for Kashmir’s independence or for its merger with Pakistan. In Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, around 1,000 people formed a human chain to express solidarity with what they called freedom fighters in the Indian-administered sector.

In Islamabad around 2,000 people attended a rally organised by the religious-

political party Jamaat-i-Islami in front of parliament. A separate demonstration in the capital was led by religious scholar Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who heads a committee set up

by Taleban militants for peace talks with the government.

In the southern port city of Karachi, protesters burnt Indian flags and chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Kashmir from Indian rule. The fighting in Kashmir has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians. It has been steadily declining in this decade but India says militants inflicted a heavy toll on their security forces in 2013.

Pakistan and Kashmiris stage protest rallies on February 5 every year to express solidarity with the independence movement. —AFP

ISLAMABAD: Negotiators representing Taleban insurgents said yesterday there was no chance of peace in Pakistan until the government embraces Islamic sharia law and US-led forces withdraw completely from neighbouring Afghanistan.

The tough conditions appear to deal a blow to hopes that talks with the Pakistani government could end the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgency that has rocked the nuclear-armed country since 2007. Initial peace talks failed to get under way Tuesday when the government delegation refused to meet the militants’ negotiators, citing confusion about the makeup of their team. The two sides are expected to try to meet again on Thursday or Friday, though no definite arrangements have yet been made.

Washington and Kabul have been deadlocked over a pact known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, which would allow some US troops to stay on in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is refusing to sign it at present. Its supporters say the pact is crucial to Afghanistan’s stability after the bulk of NATO forces pull out.

But Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, the head of the TTP’s three-man talks team, told AFP there could be “no peace” in the region while there were still US troops across the border. His comments were echoed by his fellow TTP negotiator Maulana Abdul Aziz, who also said the TTP’s long-held commitment to impose sharia law across Pakistan was not open to debate. —AFP

anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence from Britain.

PIAC chief Edward Santow acknowledged that the report built on what was already known about the war, but said there was also new testimony from witnesses.

“This is the most comprehensive, evidence-based report investigating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Sri Lankan conflict,” Santow said in a statement on the PIAC website.

The report comes after the government this month barred a top US women’s rights official from entering the island, just days after another US envoy raised Colombo’s ire by alleging its rights record was deteriorating.

The US ambassador at large for women’s issues Catherine Russell had been due to visit Sri Lanka ahead of next month’s UNHRC session.

The ICEP report argued that an international investigation would be the most effective mechanism for preparing a list of persons for prosecution, including military

commanders, officials and surviving Tiger rebel leaders.

It repeated previous charges that government forces executed some of surrendering senior Tamil Tiger political wing leaders as well as the youngest son of Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran who was killed on May 18, 2009.

Sri Lanka lauds its record at defeating the Tamil Tigers, who mastered the use of suicide bombers and at their height controlled nearly a third of the country’s territory between 1990 and 1995.

President Rajapakse was re-elected in 2010, largely on the back of his war record and support from the majority Sinhalese ethnic community.

The Tamil Tigers were fighting for a homeland for minority ethnic Tamils, who campaigners say face discrimination on the Buddhist-majority Indian Ocean island. The report said it also had evidence that security forces were using rape and sexual violence on civilians after the war ended, a charge made by other rights groups and denied by Colombo. —AFP

Indian oppn decries ‘election agenda’ NEW DELHI: Congress party hopes of pushing through new laws to tackle corruption stalled yesterday when the Indian parliament’s last session before a general election was adjourned amid rowdy scenes over the proposed creation of a new state.

The session, which will go through to Feb. 21, is seen as a final chance for Congress, which leads the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition, to convince voters it is taking action on graft and to showcase leader Rahul Gandhi.

After 10 years in power, its popularity has sagged in large part over a series of graft scandals as well as its inability to halt a slide in the economy. The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calls it a lame duck government that is merely making a last-ditch attempt to shore up support. It should leave decisions to the next government, BJP leaders say.

On the eve of parliament’s reopening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to all parties to help push through legislation. But Finance Minister P. Chidambaram acknowledged that might be a forlorn hope.

“I doubt whether it will pass any law.

We’ve to go through the ritual of attending parliament every day and coming back

empty handed,” Chidambaram said in a speech to students.

Congress will try to push through 39 bills, including six anti-corruption bills, to address public anger over graft. They address issues such as protection for whistleblowers and corruption in the judiciary. It will also try to pass an interim budget expected to contain some preelection sops for voters.

Worst-performing House But shouting and protests over the creation of a new southern state derailed other matters when the session began, despite speaker Meira Kumar’s appeals for calm. The new state, Telangana, would be carved out of Andhra Pradesh and should generate vote-winning support for Congress.

Members of parliament from Andhra Pradesh crowded around the rostrum of the chamber to denounce the proposed split, some carrying placards saying “Hail United Andhra Pradesh”. The turn of events was hardly a surprise and the same might happen again today.

The Economic Times urged the opposition not to block the functioning of what it called the worst-performing House since

independence from Britain in 1947.

“The opposition should also agree to cooperate in passing other important pieces of economic legislation cleared by various standing committees,” it said in an editorial.

The world’s largest democracy must hold a parliamentary election by May and the date is expected to be announced round about the close of the session.

The bills due to come up for debate cover issues that Gandhi, the fourth generation member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that leads Congress, has championed, including women’s empowerment and graft. It may be too little, too late.

Opinion polls put the BJP, a conservative Hindu nationalist party spearheaded

by Narendra Modi, ahead of Congress. The newly formed Aam Aadmi, or Common Man, Party (AAP), which campaigns against corruption and took power in the capital Delhi in local elections in December, could draw voters away from either one while a number of smaller parties are discussing the formation of a “Third Front”.

Chandan Mitra, a BJP upper house member, said parliament should not be rushed into passing bills without due scrutiny.—Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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

Relative blames food poisoning for 2 Bali deaths

GATTON: In this Jan. 20, 2014 photo made available yesterday, family and friends gather for the funeral of Noelene and Yvana Bischoff at the Gatton Baptist Church in Gatton, Australia. Bischoff and her teenage daughter who became ill and died within hours of each other while on vacation on the tourist island of Bali were probably killed by a form of food poisoning, a relative said yesterday. — AP

CANBERRA: An Australian woman and her teenage daughter who became ill and died within hours of each other while on vacation on the tourist island of Bali were probably killed by a form of food poisoning, a relative said yesterday.

Hospital nurse manager Noelene Bischoff, 54, and her 14-year-old daughter, Yvana, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland state, died last month less than a day after eating fish at a restaurant on the Indonesian island.

Their bodies were returned to the Queensland capital, Brisbane, where autopsies were performed.

The mother’s brother, Malcolm Bischoff, said forensic pathologists told the family Tuesday that preliminary results showed both died of scombroid poisoning. The poisoning is caused by high concentrations of histamine - a compound that triggers allergic reactions - from bacteria in spoiling fish. Malcolm Bischoff said he accepted that conclusion, although he initially suspected foul play.

“They said it’s a very rare thing to happen,” he told The Associated Press yesterday. “It boils down to them being very unlucky.”

“It’s an answer and it seems realistic, so I think we have to go with that because that’s all we have,” he said. The coroner’s office confirmed in a state-

ment on Wednesday that the family had been told the “possible causes of death” by forensic pathologists. However, testing had not yet been finalized, the statement said.

The mother and daughter became ill in their room at a resort in East Bali on Jan 3 after eating dinner. Both were dizzy, vomiting and had difficulty breathing. The mother died in an ambulance on the way to a medical clinic early the next morning, and her daughter died in a clinic about three hours later. There were no other confirmed reports of serious illness at the time from the same restaurant. Steve Hambleton, president of the Australian Medical Association, said scombroid poisoning rarely caused serious illness.

“People with asthma ... are more sensitive to histamine and that’s why probably in this case two people with mild asthma showed a very, very, severe reaction,” he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. “Most people have a relatively mild illness. They show a rash, they show signs of flushing, palpitations, sometimes headaches, abdominal pains, sometimes a sense of anxiety - all of these things, they probably did experience, but their reaction went on to become much more serious,” he said. — AP

North, S Korea agree to first reunions since 2010 Reunion to be held from February 20-25 SEOUL: North and South Korea agreed yesterday to hold a reunion later this month for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War-the first such event for more than three years.

The agreement marked a rare moment of cooperation between the two rivals, especially coming just weeks before the South kicks off joint military exercises with the United States that have been vehemently denounced by Pyongyang.

Officials from both sides meeting in the border truce village of Panmunjom, decided the reunion would be held February 20-25 at the North’s Mount Kumgang resort, the South’s Unification Ministry said. “We hope that the latest agreement will be smoothly carried out to ease the suffering and pain of separated families,” the ministry said in a statement. Any sign of accord between North and South Korea tends to be greeted with optimism, given their perennial inability to cooperate on even the most basic trust-building measures.

However, both sides have been here before, and observers warn that setting dates does not necessari-

ly mean the event will take place. The two Koreas had agreed to hold a reunion last September but, even as the chosen relatives prepared to make their way to Mount Kumgang, Pyongyang cancelled at the last minute, citing “hostility” from the South.

And there are widespread concerns that the families could end up being disappointed again, given the unresolved tensions surrounding the South-US military drills that are scheduled to begin late February. North Korea has warned of dire consequences if the exercises go ahead, while Seoul and Washington have dismissed any possibility of their cancellation. The annual drills are always a diplomatic flashpoint on the Korean peninsula, and resulted last year in an unusually sharp and extended surge in military tensions. Yoo Ho-Yeol, professor of North Korean Studies at Seoul’s Korea University, cautioned that the North might use the reunion agreement as a bargaining chip.

“Rather than cancelling the event again, it may try to extract concessions, like a scaling down of the joint military exercises,” Yoo said. US defence officials

SEOUL: South Korean Kim Kwang-il, 86, right, talks with a Red Cross member as he fills out application forms to reunite with his family members living in North Korea, at the Korea Red Cross headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. — AP

Indonesia to release Australian drug convict JAKARTA: High-profile Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby will learn within days whether she will be granted parole from an Indonesian jail following a lengthy bid to win early release, a minister said yesterday.

Indonesian Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin said the 36-year-old’s application was among a large batch he would decide on by tomorrow although he stressed she would not get “special treatment”.

Corby, whose case has attracted huge publicity in Australia, was sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2005 after being caught trying to smuggle 4.1 kilograms (nine pounds) of marijuana into the resort island of Bali.

She lodged her bid for early release from jail in Bali months ago but the process has moved along slowly due to bureaucratic wrangling and the complexities of the Indonesian legal system.

However a justice ministry parole board in Jakarta heard her application in private last week. Syamsuddin said the board’s assessment was among 1,700 parole applications he would examine this week. “I promise, God willing, that I will process all 1,700 within the next three days,” he told reporters in Jakarta.

He did not indicate what his decision might be on the Australia’s case, although he said: “Corby will not get special treatment. “As long as she fulfils all the requirements and has the recommendation from the parole board... she will get her rights.”

He has previously said that he does not oppose granting Corby early release, however the key factor in her case is whether she receives a recommendation from the parole board. Authorities on Bali have already recommended her early release but the process slowed down in recent months. However hopes rose when a French drug smuggler was granted parole last month. Michael Blanc is one of the few foreigners to have been freed on parole in recent years.

Corby has always maintained her innocence.

Her original 20-year sentence was reduced significantly after she received several remissions for good behaviour and a cut of five years from the president.

If granted parole, Corby would still be bound to live on Bali and obliged to report regularly to authorities. She would live with her sister and would not be allowed to return to Australia until 2017. — AFP

DENPASAR: In this file photograph taken on April 22, 2008, Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby is greeted by an Indonesian prison official during a ceremony inside Kerobokan prison in Denpasar on Bali island. High-profile Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby will learn within days whether she will be granted parole from an Indonesian jail following a lengthy bid to win early release, a minister said yesterday. — AFP

have already indicated that-unlike the 2013 drills this year’s version would not involve an aircraft carrier or strategic bombers .

Sixty years with no contact Millions of Koreans were separated by the 195053 war, and the vast majority have since died without having any communication at all with surviving relatives. Because the Korean conflict concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, the two Koreas technically remain at war and direct exchanges of letters or telephone calls are prohibited. Up to 73,000 South Koreans are wait-listed for a chance to take part in one of the reunion events, which select only a few hundred participants at a time.

The reunion programme began in earnest in 2000 following an historic inter-Korean summit. Sporadic events since then have seen around 17,000 relatives briefly reunited. But the programme was suspended in 2010 following the North’s shelling of a South Korean border island.

North Korea wants the South to resume regular tours to Mount Kumgang, which had provided a much-needed source of hard currency in the past.

South Korea suspended the tours after a woman tourist was shot dead by North Korean security guards in 2008, and it has repeatedly rejected the North’s efforts to link their resumption to the family reunion issue.

Pyongyang is also pushing for a resumption of six-party talks on its nuclear programme-a longstalled process involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Seoul and Washington insist substantive dialogue can only begin after Pyongyang demonstrates a tangible commitment to abandoning its nuclear weapons programme. Since the beginning of the year, North Korea has been on something of a charm offensive, making a series of conciliatory gestures that critics have largely dismissed as a calculated bid to assume the moral high ground ahead of the South-US military exercises. Past North-South family reunions have been hugely emotional-almost traumatic-affairs, with many of the elderly participants breaking down and sobbing as they cling to each other. The events typically last several days and the joy of the reunion is tempered by the pain of the inevitable-and this time permanent-separation at the end. — AFP

Japan should lift ban on collective defense: Panel TOKYO: A government panel will urge Japan to allow its military to help allies that come under attack, in a major reversal of the country’s ban on collective defense under its pacifist constitution. The panel on Tuesday discussed ways that Japan can improve its defense capability and said it will present its near-final draft recommendation in coming weeks, before its final report is expected after April. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants Japan to play a greater role in international peacekeeping and step up its defense posture, mainly because of potential military threats that Japan sees from China and North Korea. As China’s influence rises and that of the United States fades in the region, Japan is trying to expand its defense alliance outside of its “cornerstone” ties with Washington and has signed defense agreements with several other countries, including Britain and Australia.

The 14-member panel, headed by former Ambassador to the US Shunji Yanai, says the revision is possible if the government alters its current interpretation of the war-renouncing constitution. Formal constitutional change involves high hurdles, though Abe eventually hopes to achieve that.

The constitution, written under US direction after World War II, says the Japanese people “forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation” and that “land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.” The government has interpreted those clauses as meaning that Japan cannot possess offensive military weapons such as ICBMs or long-range strategic bombers. Abe and other supporters of the change believe that restrictions should be removed from the military, and that Japan’s current self-defense-only policy is inadequate as the region’s security environment becomes more challenging. They say US warships may come under attack while in or near Japan, or there may be instances in which Japanese troops have to fight for allies during international peacekeeping missions, even when Japan is not attacked directly.—AP

MANILA: In this file photo taken on March 20, 2012, Philippine President Benigno Aquino speaks during an interview with AFP at the Malacanang Palace in Manila.

Aquino has warned China’s efforts to claim disputed territories are like Nazi Germany’s before World War II, drawing a fierce Chinese response yesterday branding him ignorant and amateurish. — AFP

Philippine leader likens China’s rulers to Hitler MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino has warned China’s efforts to claim disputed territories are like Nazi Germany’s before World War II, drawing a fierce Chinese response yesterday branding him ignorant and amateurish.

In an interview with the New York Times, Aquino called for world leaders not to make the mistake of appeasing China as it seeks to cement control over contested waters and islands in the strategically vital South China Sea. “At what point do you say: ‘Enough is enough’? Well, the world has to say it-remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent World War II,” Aquino told the New York Times in Manila on Tuesday.

Aquino was referring to the failure by Western nations to back Czechoslovakia when Adolf Hitler-led Nazi Germany occupied western parts of the European nation in 1938 ahead of World War II. Aquino’s comments come less than two weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised the temperature in a parallel territorial dispute with China by appearing to compare SinoJapanese relations with the run-up to World War I. Japan and China are at loggerheads over the sovereignty of disputed islands in the East China Sea, raising fears about a military confrontation between Asia’s two biggest economies. China also claims nearly all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most important waterways as it is home to vital shipping lanes and is believed to sit atop lucrative deposits of natural resources.

But the Philippines, as well as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Taiwan, have overlapping claims to some of the waters, and those disputes have for decades made the South China Sea another potential trigger for military conflict. China has been steadily increasing its military and coast guard presence in the sea in recent years to assert its claim, causing diplomatic tensions to rise and stoking concerns in the Philippines about perceived Chinese bullying. The Philippines says Chinese vessels have since 2012 effectively occupied a rich fishing area called Scarborough Shoal, which is about 220 kilometres (135 miles) off its main island but 650 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass.

The Philippines launched legal action with a

United Nations tribunal last year, asking it to rule the Chinese South China Sea claim is invalid.

China has refused to participate in the UN process.

Anger over Nazi comparison China’s foreign ministry did not immediately react to Aquino’s comments on Nazi Germany but an angry commentary was released on the state-run Xinhua news agency.

“Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, who has taken an inflammatory approach while dealing with maritime disputes with China, has never been a great candidate for a wise statesman in the region,” the commentary said.

“But his latest reported attack against China, in which he senselessly compared his northern neighbour to the Nazi Germany, exposed his true colours as an amateurish politician who was ignorant both of history and reality.”

The commentary also insisted China’s claims to the South China Sea were legitimate, and that war references by Aquino and Abe were not warranted. “Despite lame comparisons by Philippine and Japanese leaders, the international community cannot ignore the fact that China has long chosen a path of peaceful development,” it said.

Aquino warned in the New York Times interview that China may pursue further territorial conquests if it succeeded in taking control of areas also claimed by the Philippines. “If we say yes to something we believe is wrong now, what guarantee is there that the wrong will not be further exacerbated down the line?” he said. Later in the interview, he said: “You may have the might, but that does not necessarily make you right.” Aquino’s media office confirmed on Wednesday the New York Times had correctly reported the president’s comments on the dispute over the South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea. “The president’s statement affirms the country’s position on the importance of upholding the rule of law with respect to resolving territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea,” presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said. “It is a principled position that draws from historical lessons, including that which he cited in the interview.” — AFP

MANILA: Residents, who have been camping out in the middle of the road after their shanties were demolished last week, gather their belongings as demolition crew began tearing down their temporary shelters yestertday at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Scores of informal settlers were finally driven away yesterday as the city government prepares to develop the area into a business center. — AP

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Jordan hookah ban sparks outcry Continued from Page 1 Smoking hookah is both popular and cheap in Jordan, where delivery companies supplying water pipes have sprung up across the kingdom.

Prices for a smoke at cafes and restaurants start from $4, while a water pipe can be bought for home use from around $11. Officials are concerned about the effect of smoking in a country where nearly half of the population of seven million indulge in tobacco. “Every year, a total of 5,000 cancer cases are registered in Jordan.

Around 40 percent of these are related to smoking,” said Firas Hawwari of the King Hussein Cancer Centre.

“Fighting smoking has become a strategic decision for Jordan. It should be implemented without any delay.”

Faten Hanaia, who heads the Tobacco-Free Jordan society, agreed, calling the ban “a first step towards preventing smoking in all public places, and we know this takes time”. Other countries in the region have banned smoking in public areas, but again many people just ignore the rules. “I don’t understand this government decision,” Amal Nasser, a 40-year-old non-smoker, told AFP at a cafe in western Amman. “I think banning arghila is the least of our worries. There are other priorities. For example, we need pavements, decent roads, parks and much more. “How about enforcing the smoking ban for real in government buildings?” she suggested. “I don’t think there’s a pressing demand in Jordan to ban arghila.

If people want to blow smoke in other people’s faces in an arghila place, let them do it.” — AFP

Expert calls for probing ‘torture’ in UAE...

Continued from Page 1 The UAE has not seen any of the widespread protests that have swept other Arab states since 2011. However, authorities have cracked down hard on dissent and calls for democratic reform, drawing criticism from human rights groups. The top UAE security court last month jailed a group of 30 Emiratis and Egyptians convicted of forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell for terms ranging from three months to five years. The 10 UAE citizens in the group were among 69 nationals jailed in July for up to 15 years on separate charges of plotting to overthrow the government.

In her report, Knaul said supreme court rulings must be subject to appeal, criticising “an apparent lack of transparency during both the investigation phase and court proceedings”. She spoke of claims that “evidence is sometimes manipulated and fabricated by the police or other security agencies and the prosecution”. “The lack of transparency is compounded when the court hearings are not public,” she added. Only selected relatives of the defendants, in addition to local journalists

and representatives of human rights groups were allowed to attend the Islamists’ trial.

Knaul also accused the UAE of “disturbing” treatment of women “who dare to file a complaint for sexual assault”. In July, a Norwegian woman was released following a pardon by Dubai ruler. Although she had filed a rape report with police, the woman found herself tried and jailed for extramarital sex, perjury and consuming alcohol without a licence. The UAE, which is home to millions of expatriates, must also “redouble efforts to allow access to justice, in particular to vulnerable groups, such as migrant and domestic workers”, she said. It should provide “quality interpretation and translation for non-Arabic speakers at all stages of legal proceedings”.

In 2010, the appeal of 17 Indian expatriates sentenced to death after being convicted of killing a Pakistani was repeatedly delayed for lack of an interpreter, drawing strong criticism from Indian human rights groups. The court later commuted the death sentences to two years in prison followed by deportation. — AFP

Newhaven Lighthouse is battered by waves during stormy weather in Newhaven on the southern coast of England yesterday. More than 8,000 homes were without power in southwest England after fresh storms battered the region, sending huge waves crashing onto the coastline and damaging sea defences. — AFP

Assembly to probe KAC Airbus deal, Zour...

Continued from Page 1 calls for increasing housing allowance for Kuwaiti couples waiting for a government house from KD 150 to KD 250 per month. The government has maintained that the increases are harmful to the state budget.

MPs then approved a proposal to form a five-member committee to study the so-called negative practices alien to Kuwaiti society amid opposition by several MPs. They also agreed to form a temporary committee for human rights, another for youth and sport and a third for women and family affairs. The tenure of these committee continues until the end of the current term late June.

Twenty-eight MPs out of 45 present then voted in favour of a proposal to form a special committee to investigate allegations of irregularities in the awarding process of the Al-Zour North power plant. A consortium comprising Japan’s Sumitomo, France’s GDF Suez and Kuwait’s Abdullah Hamad Al-Sagar and Brothers won the contract. The parliament launched a similar probe last February, but the legislature was dismissed by the constitutional court before the investigation was con-

cluded and fresh elections were held. The winning consortium signed the final contract with the government in December and construction work has begun. The consortium awarded South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries the contract to construct the power plant and tasked French firm Sidem with building the desalination facility.

The Assembly also agreed to ask its legal and legislative committee to investigate the deal by Kuwait Airways to purchase 25 Airbus planes and lease 12 others, with an option to purchase 10 more. The value of the contract was not announced. MP Adnan Abdulsamad said the probe is “necessary amid reports that the KAC board has turned down cheaper offers”, without providing further details.

MPs also voted in favour of a proposal to ask the bank deposits special investigation committee to probe alleged violations regarding the transfer of millions of Kuwaiti dinars through the ministry of foreign affairs to a number of Kuwaiti embassies abroad, which were later deposited in private bank accounts. The probe committees were given three months to submit the results of their investigations.

Drone use spreads as cost falls Continued from Page 1 “Even as software-driven artificial intelligence and ‘reasoning’ systems become more advanced, machine-based decision-making as the basis for lethal action will remain a threshold legislatures and the public will likely be unwilling to cross,” the report said.

The report said that drones were once seen almost exclusively in Western armed forces, but the proliferation of smaller systems had reduced costs, enabling greater use by private companies, individuals and countries with limited financial resources. UAVs have been used overwhelmingly in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, in effectively uncontested airspace, the IISS noted. However, such calculations may change if they were up against active air defence weapons. Russia and China have been developing GPS-jamming technology, the IISS said.

In ongoing trends, the report noted the relative shift towards Asia in the balance of military power, with defence budgets in the region rising as Western ones tighten. The United States remained by far the world’s biggest defence spenders in 2013, with a budget of $600.4 billion, the report said, followed by China ($112.2 billion), Russia ($68.2 billion) and Saudi Arabia ($59.6 billion). In

terms of defence budgets as a share of gross domestic product, Afghanistan was top on 13.8 percent, followed by Oman (11.7 percent), Saudi Arabia (eight percent) and Iraq (7.2 percent).

But in real terms, Asian defence spending was 11.6 percent higher in 2013 than in 2010, with China, Japan and South Korea accounting for more than half the increases in 2013. Total European defence spending in real terms has fallen by an average of 2.5 percent per year since 2010. “The rapid pace of capability development and the potential for accidental conflict and escalation in Asia will continue to be a matter of concern,” the report said, citing the numerous potential flashpoints in the East Asia region.

For North Korea, while its ageing aircraft could not penetrate South Korean or Japanese air defences with a nuclear weapon, “a nuclear suicide mission by a mini-submarine cannot be ruled out”. As Western forces withdraw from Afghanistan this year, the NATO alliance faces pressing issues at its September summit in Britain, working out what shape the “post-operational alliance” should take. European militaries will likely work close together to maximise value from their defence budgets, it concluded, citing France’s operations in Mali, which are being supported by EU allies to fill in shortcomings in their capabilities. -— AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

ANALYSIS

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Issues

US Congress barrier to huge trade deals

By Jeremy Tordjman

US

President Barack Obama is running into stiff opposition from Democrats in the US Congress to his ambitions to craft huge trade deals spanning the Atlantic and Pacific. With talks on both deals well under way, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid joined scores of other lawmakers last week to declare opposition to giving Obama “fast track” authority to negotiate the thorny deals without Congress picking over specific issues. The power - which Congress has granted the White House twice since 1974, the latest expiring in 2007 - would allow the White House to negotiate all the details of a trade treaty and then present it to Congress for ratification as a whole.

Having it in place now would allow US negotiators to more easily reach agreements with counterparts on the myriad details of the complex Trans-Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership pacts. Both are designed to achieve broad free-trade gains in the absence of a full new global deal under the World Trade Organization. The TPP assembles 12 countries bordering the Pacific - with global export power China notably left out - while the TTIP brings together the United States and the European Union, where negotiators have similar authority to finalize a deal before presenting it to members for an up-or-down vote.

Obama hopes both will help boost US exports and create jobs. But Congress’s resistance to giving Obama fast-track negotiating powers - officially called trade promotion authority - could hobble efforts to finalize the deals. Last week Reid, normally an essential ally of Obama, bluntly declared his opposition. “I’m against ‘fast track,” he said. “I think everyone would be well advised just to not push this right now.” That followed an open letter signed by some 150 Democrats in November opposing fast-track powers for the TPP, insisting that Congress have a deeper role in the talks. “In light of the broad scope of today’s trade agreements, it is even more vital that Congress have a fulsome role in shaping these pacts’ terms,” the letter said.

It cited specific interests of the legislators and their constituents likely to be touched on by the deals labor, copyright, environment, food standards, professional licensing, and overall industrial regulation, among others. “The United States cannot afford another trade agreement that replicates the mistakes of the past.” For Democrats, a fear is that November’s Congressional elections will see the proposed new pacts linked to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which promised great benefits for US farmers and workers but which now is criticized for exporting jobs to Mexico.

Special Powers Some experts say that refusing Obama the special powers could ultimately sink the two deals. “It’s not going to be possible to conclude either of those trade agreements without having fast track. It’s a very serious problem,” said David Gantz, a professor of trade law at the University of Arizona. According to the powerful US Chamber of Commerce, which supports both pacts, the other partners in the talks cannot be certain that the deal they negotiate will not be unraveled by Congress, with politicians objecting to specific provisions that affect their voters. “Our trading partners want to have some confidence and certainty that ... it’s not going to be torn apart in Congress,” the chamber’s international policy director Christopher Wenk. “We’re putting all of our muscle behind it right now.”

For now, the partners in both sets of negotiations have stayed quiet about the looming issue of Obama’s power to complete the deals. Speaking anonymously, a European diplomat in Washington said it is still seen as a strictly domestic US issue. The White House said it is still working on the issue, even as it faces more resistance from fellow Democrats than opposition Republicans, who mostly back agreements to make trade more free.

“We believe that Congress and the American people will support the high-standard agreements that we are negotiating because they deliver meaningful market access, create jobs, and level the playing field for our workers,” the office of the US Trade Representative, in charge of the negotiations, told AFP. “We continue to work the clock to make good on the economic promise of these agreements as swiftly as possible.” —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.

Nadella must renew faith in Microsoft

By Glenn Chapman

S

atya Nadella has to renew the world’s faith in Microsoft and then deliver on the promise if the aging technology giant is to flourish anew. Good news for Microsoft was that analysts contacted by AFP were of a mind that the newly-minted chief executive has the skill and resources to pull it off. “The first step of getting a company out of the doldrums is to make people believe,” Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group said while discussing the challenge ahead for Nadella, who was named Microsoft chief on Tuesday. “He has got to repair Microsoft’s image,” the analyst continued. “People have to see the company as an up-and-comer and not as a legacy firm that is past its prime.”

Microsoft built its empire on software such as Windows or Office licensed to computer makers or sold in packages for installation on machines in homes or workplaces.

The era of the personal computer is being sunk by broadside hits from smartphones and tablets and could be outright scuttled by “wearables” such as Google Internet-

linked eyewear and the coming of a rumored Apple “iWatch”. Microsoft’s forays into smartphones and tablets were more akin to stumbles, despite fielding compelling hardware powered by sophisticated software.

Microsoft overhauled its latest Windows operating software to make it friendly to touch-screen devices and lifestyles in which people switch from one Internet-linked device to another through the day. Apple and Google-backed Android smartphones and tablets have established strong beachheads in the mobile market with the help of “ecosystems” that involve services along with troves of digital content including fun, hip, or helpful applications. In a webcast, Nadella told partners that he intended to focus on innovating in areas where Microsoft has unique strengths that couldn’t be replicated by rivals.

Business and enterprise focus?

The choice of Nadella appears to indicate that the Microsoft board sees its future in business and enterprise offerings, where the new chief has plenty of experi-

ence. Along with getting businesses to rent popular Microsoft productivity software in the Internet cloud, the technology titan could offer additional services such as security. During the webcast, Nadella spoke of working with businesses to help keep systems safe in the face of the trend of people using their smartphones or tablets at work as well as at home.

Creative Strategies analyst Tim Bajarin has covered Microsoft for more than three decades and outlined his blueprint for the company’s future in a post online at techpinions.com. Bajarin thought it best to break the company into three parts, one devoted to business and cloud offerings; another to mobile, and the third to entertainment and games along with Xbox consoles. “By creating three distinct divisions or setting them up as separate companies each would have a clear set of goals, charters and roles with a tighter focus, thus giving them more of a fighting chance to compete especially against Apple, Google and Samsung,” Bajarin said in his blueprint.

“If they don’t do something drastic along these lines, Microsoft’s overall business will

continue to decline and their relevance in the future will be seriously in doubt.”

Challenges faced by Nadella include keeping Microsoft’s revenue from ebbing during a transition from selling lucrative packaged software to cloud service subscriptions that promise steady streams of money spread over time. Nadella would be wise to liberate popular programs such as Office from the Windows operating system, according to analysts. The fact that Office software is locked on Windows is a “fatal flaw,” one analyst argued, calling for Microsoft to release versions of the program for Apple and Android devices.

Nadella will also need to change a competitive internal culture at Microsoft that promotes torpedoing colleague’s projects instead of helping them succeed, according to Enderle. “There is only one thing they can do, and that is lead,” analyst Mer v Adrian said of Microsoft. “There is an impression they have fallen behind,” Gartner’s research vice president added. “Satya’s challenge is to reverse that in perception - and in action.” —AFP

Foreign press in Egypt running scared

By Linda Gradstein

U

sing arrests, intimidation, and a virulent social media campaign, the Egyptian government is making it increasingly difficult for journalists, both foreign and Egyptian, to do their jobs. In response, journalists have launched a campaign in solidarity with 20 journalists working for the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera network, who are accused of “aiding a terrorist group” and “harming the national interest,” according to Egyptian prosecutors.

A private Egyptian television channel aired a video this week that documented the arrest and questioning of Australian Peter Greste and Mohamed Fahmy Canadian-Egyptian, a dual Egyptian and Canadian citizen - both from Al-Jazeera English, who were arrested in late December. The video is accompanied by scary music from the science fiction movie Thor: The Dark World. A third journalist, cameraman Baher Mohammed, was arrested at his home. The three are among the twenty who have been indicted for supporting terrorism or being members of the Muslim Brotherhood. The full list has not been released and some of the journalists have reportedly already left Egypt.

In a statement, Al-Jazeera condemned the arrest of its journalists and charged the Egyptian government with trying to demonize them. It is the latest fight between the Qatar-based channel, which is seen as being close to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, and Egypt’s interim government, which has launched an all-out campaign against the now-illegal group since it overthrew former President Mohamed Morsi in July. Hundreds of Morsi supporters have been killed and thousands arrested since then.

Foreign journalists based in Egypt expressed particular concern for the treatment of Fahmy, who had a broken shoulder before he was arrested. They said he is being held in solitary confinement in the “Scorpion prison” - a maximum security facility usually reserved for terrorists - and is sleeping on the bare floor, which is exacerbating his condition. The Canadian government has tried to intervene as well, but has not succeeded. In a recent letter published on his Facebook page, the Australian, Greste, describes his confinement in Tora prison, and says his fellow

inmates have given him books, pens and papers. “This is not just about three AlJazeera journalists,” he writes. “Our arrest and continued detention sends a clear and unequivocal message to all journalists covering Egypt, both foreign and local.”

Climate of Fear Another journalist, Rena Netjes, who is Dutch, fled Egypt this week after she

before you go out. Now, when I cover a protest, I always look for an escape plan.”

She says the mood on the streets has turned ugly, and the government has encouraged average Egyptians to attack journalists. “I do worry about getting attacked on the street,” Frenkel, who left Egypt a week ago after a three -week reporting trip, said. “There is a lot of incitement. In the Egyptian press, the govern-

when I am reporting.” All terrorism suspects, including journalists, can be held without charges for 15 days - a period that can be renewed indefinitely.

Human rights groups say they are concerned by restrictions not only on press freedoms, but on all freedom of expression including the right to hold demonstrations. “There is a climate of crushing repression in Egypt today,” Joe Stork, the

Dutch journalist Rena Netjes holds a press conference yesterday as she arrives at Schiphol Airport after being accused

by Egypt of being part of a “terror cell” involving Qatari-owned broadcaster Al-Jazeera. —AFP received information that she was about to be arrested, allegedly for visiting Fahmy before his arrest. The detentions have created a climate of fear among members of Egypt’s foreign press corps. “A lot of us are worried about what these arrests portend and there’s a great deal of concern about whether or not it is safe to report there these days,” Sheera Frenkel, BuzzFeed’s Middle East correspondent told The Media Line. “You have to think twice each time

ment calls us spies and terrorists.”

Local journalists are nervous as well.

One Egyptian repor ter, who asked to remain anonymous because of concern for his safety, said he was arrested once in 2011 and interrogated. “Since then I try not to get involved with the police or military,” he told The Media Line. “There is this atmosphere that I can’t go and report on most things I see out on the street. I always get harassed by locals or cops

deputy director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch, told The Media Line. “ They ’ve got this law on protests which is draconian. The core liberties of freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression are under heav y assault.” Journalist Frenkel agrees. She has been visiting Egypt frequently since 2006, and says it is harder to report in Egypt today than ever before. —Media Line

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

S P ORTS Fresh blow for Dortmund BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund have suffered a fresh blow with Germany defender Mats Hummels expected to miss the next fortnight with a new foot injury.

The 25-year-old hurt his right foot in a friendly 4-3 win over second-division Fortuna Duesseldorf on Tuesday and Dortmund’s team doctor Markus Braun has said he is expected to be out for two weeks. The centre-back only made his return in Friday’s 2-1 win at Eintracht Braunschweig after two-months out after injuring his right heel against England in a friendly international. A scan on the ankle showed the November injury has fully healed, but the new ligament strain will need a fortnight’s rest. With Dortmund third in the table, Hummels will miss Saturday’s league match at home to Werder Bremen, plus two matches against Eintracht Frankfurt within four days, first in Tuesday’s German Cup quarter-finals, then in the Bundesliga.

Hummels’ injury is more bad news for Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp with both centre-back Neven Subotic and winger Jakub Blaszczykowski out for the rest of the season with torn knee ligament injuries. The loss of Hummels means Klopp will again be down to his fourth-choice centre-back in either veteran Manuel Friedich or teenager Marian Sarr alongside Greek centre-back Sokratis.

There was some good news for Klopp on Tuesday as attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann scored twice and new-signing Milos Jojic made his debut in the win over Fortuna. —AFP

Germany against the rest KRASNAYA POLYANA: Asked a pair of simple questions about German luge dominance this week, US Olympic slider Chris Mazdzer didn’t hesitate with his answers. So, how can Felix Loch be beaten at the Olympics? “He crashes,” Mazdzer said.

And is there a way for Natalie Geisenberger to lose? “Same exact way,” Mazdzer said. “Or not showing up.” There you have it. If the Germans - led by Loch and Geisenberger, who were absolutely dominant on the way to World Cup overall titles this season - somehow do not win luge gold at the Sochi Games, the most probable causes would likely be either a wreck or having the team somehow forget the Olympics are happening.

Sounds silly, but it really isn’t. There have been 117 medals awarded in Olympic luge to date: Germans have 70 of them, while the rest of the world has 47. A country roughly half the size of Texas is beyond dominant in sliding, winning more than half the medals awarded on this season’s World Cup circuit and almost always shining brightest on the Olympic stage. Luge has been part of 13 previous Olympics. Germans have led the medal count 12 times. And they almost certainly will again in Sochi. —AP

Wiggins children bullied LONDON: Former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has revealed that his children had to move schools after they were bullied in the wake of the Lance Armstrong drug revelations.

Wiggins became the first British winner of the Tour in 2012, seven months before American rider Armstrong was stripped of his seven victories in the race after finally admitting to extensive doping. Wiggins said that his increased public profile in Britain, coupled with the fall-out from the Armstrong affair, made life “horrendous” for his two children.

“That (winning the Tour) changed everything,” Wiggins told several British newspapers.

“I left home pretty much unknown and came home the most famous man in the country for that week.

“It was hard for me and the family. It affected them as well. The Lance Armstrong thing in January... my kids started getting harassed at school. ‘Is your dad on drugs? He won the Tour. Is he the same as Lance Armstrong?’

“Horrendous stuff. Horrible. My son getting bullied at school. I had to move my kids from that school and move them to another school. —AFP

Bruins beat slumping Canucks BOSTON: Jarome Iginla and Milan Lucic each had a goal and an assist for the Boston Bruins in a 3-1 win Tuesday night over the slumping Vancouver Canucks, who lost their fifth straight.

Daniel Paille also scored for Boston and Tuukka Rask made 27 saves against the road-weary Canucks, who were coming off 2-0 loss in Detroit the night before.

Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk added assists as Boston won for the sixth time in seven games. Roberto Luongo stopped 29 shots for Vancouver, which played its second game since coach John Tortorella came back from a 15-day suspension. His return hasn’t halted Vancouver’s slide - the Canucks lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Kari Lehtonen stopped 26 shots and Dallas beat Phoenix in a key victory for its playoff hopes.

Shawn Horcoff also scored and Ryan Garbutt added an empty-netter for the Stars, who won their second straight game and moved within one point of Phoenix and two of Vancouver, which holds the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Antoine Vermette scored his eighth goal in nine games and Mike Smith made 37 saves for the sluggish Coyotes.

WILD 2, LIGHTNING 1 Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves and Jared Spurgeon had two assists in his return from a 14-game injury absence to help Minnesota defeat Tampa Bay.

BOSTON: Tuukka Rask No. 40 of the Boston Bruins makes a save on a shot Daniel Sedin No. 22 of the Vancouver Canucks in the 1st period at TD Garden. —AFP

Raphael Diaz pulled Vancouver to 21 in the second period, one day after coming over from Montreal in a trade.

RANGERS 5, AVALANCHE 1 Rangers captain Ryan Callahan shook off trade talk and scored two first-period goals to lead New York past Colorado for its fourth straight win.

With Callahan’s future with the Rangers unsettled just before he heads to the Sochi Olympics, he staked New York to a 2-0 lead with goals 3:19 apart. Defenseman Anton Stralman added his first of the season in the second period, and Derick Brassard and Brad Richards scored in the third - with an assist from Callahan - in the Rangers’ 10th win in 13 games. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves for his 297th win, four shy of Mike Richter’s club record. Gabriel Landeskog, Lundqvist’s teammate with Sweden in the Olympics, scored in the second, and Russian Olympian Semyon Varlamov stopped 38 shots, but the Avalanche had a four-game winning streak snapped.

STARS 3, COYOTES 1 Antoine Roussel scored the goahead goal early in the third period,

Nino Niederreiter and Dany Heatley scored for the Wild, who are 6-3-2 in Kuemper’s 11 straight starts a franchise record for rookie goalies.

Valtteri Filppula scored his 20th of the season for the Lightning, who got a strong showing from goalie Ben Bishop in a losing effort.

JETS 2, HURRICANES 1 Chris Thorburn scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:03 remaining to lift Winnipeg over Carolina.

Andrew Ladd also scored for the Jets, who are 9-2-0 since Paul Maurice took over as coach on Jan. 12.

Maurice coached 920 games for the Hurricanes franchise during two stints with the team.

Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves for the Jets. Riley Nash scored for Carolina, and Anton Khudobin made 25 saves. The Hurricanes went 10-4-0 in January and had won five of six, but their offense sputtered in this tight-checking game.

CANADIENS 2, FLAMES 0 Rene Bourque scored in the second period against his former team, and Montreal snapped Calgary’s five-game winning streak.

Carey Price made 27 saves in his fourth shutout of the season and

second in four games. David Desharnais added an empty-netter for the Canadiens. Reto Berra stopped 25 shots for the Flames, who have lost four straight road games.

PANTHERS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 1 Tim Thomas made 20 saves, Brian Campbell had two assists and Florida beat Toronto to snap a three-game losing streak.

Tom Gilbert, Jesse Winchester, Shawn Matthias and Marcel Goc scored for the Panthers, who handed the Maple Leafs their first loss in four games.

David Clarkson had the goal for Toronto, and Jonathan Bernier stopped 44 shots. Clarkson returned to the lineup after missing eight games with an elbow injury.

ISLANDERS 1, CAPITALS 0 Andrew McDonald scored early in the third period and Evgeni Nabokov made 22 saves for his 57th career shutout as New York broke a five-game losing streak with a win over Washington.

McDonald’s slap shot from the point went past screened goalie Michal Neuvirth and just under the crossbar with 17:44 to play. The Islanders scored only one goal for the third straight game - but at least this time it was enough to win.

Nabokov, making his third start since returning from a groin injury, posted his second shutout of the season and is 19th on the all-time list.

Neuvirth stopped 27 shots for the Capitals, who have lost 10 of 13 to tumble toward the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, only seven points ahead of the last-place Islanders. Washington has been shut out four times this season.

SENATORS 5, BLUES 4 Kyle Turris scored the deciding goal in the fif th round of the shootout to go with one in regulation that helped Ottawa beat St. Louis.

TJ Oshie had a goal and an assist and scored to open the shootout for the Blues, who lost at home to an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time in 10 games this season. St. Louis had a season-high 50 shots but squandered a twogoal cushion in the third period and missed two chances to close it out in the shootout.

Jason Spezza had his third threepoint game of the season and capped a three-goal flurry in a span of 2:35 that gave Ottawa a 4-3 lead midway through the third. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist to give him 53 points, best among NHL defensemen.

Blues defenseman Jordan Leopold tied it at 11:08 with his first goal of the season on an oddangled shot that banged off goalie Robin Lehner. —AP

NHL results/standings Boston 3, Vancouver 1; NY Rangers 5, Colorado 1; Winnipeg 2, Carolina 1; Montreal 2, Calgary 0; Florida 4, Toronto 1; NY Islanders 1, Washington 0; Ottawa 5, St. Louis 4 (SO); Minnesota 2, Tampa Bay 1; Dallas 3, Phoenix 1.

Anaheim San Jose Los Angeles Vancouver Phoenix Calgary Edmonton

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF 40 13 5 191 35 16 6 170 30 22 6 137 27 22 9 143 26 20 10 160 21 28 7 132 19 33 6 150

Chicago St. Louis Colorado Minnesota Dallas Winnipeg Nashville

34 37 36 30 26 28 25

Central Division 10 14 12 6 15 5 21 7 21 9 25 5 23 9

205 189 168 142 161 163 142

GA 143 139 127 152 167 175 196

PTS 85 76 66 63 62 49 44

161 130 148 145 161 167 172

82 80 77 67 61 61 59

Boston Tampa Bay Montreal Toronto Detroit Ottawa Florida Buffalo

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 36 16 3 167 32 19 5 163 30 21 6 139 30 22 6 171 25 19 12 146 25 21 11 164 22 27 7 137 15 32 8 107

120 139 139 180 158 182 175 164

75 69 66 66 62 61 51 38

Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 39 15 2 178 133 80 NY Rangers 31 23 3 150 141 65 Columbus 29 23 4 167 156 62 Philadelphia 28 23 6 157 165 62 Carolina 25 21 9 138 153 59 New Jersey 23 21 13 133 142 59 Washington 25 23 9 164 173 59 NY Islanders 22 28 8 160 191 52 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Mickelson eyes Pebble Beach win PEBBLE BEACH: Phil Mickelson returns to one of his favorites venues for this week’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, bidding for a record-equalling fifth victory before taking a short break from the PGA Tour for family time.

The American world number four claimed the most recent of his four titles in the picturesque surrounds of Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2012, and has been largely encouraged by his form so far this year. He tied for second at the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship in his first start of 2014 and, though he withdrew after the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open the next week due to back pain, believes he is close to his best.

“My game is not far off, even though the score says that it is,” Mickelson told reporters, referring to his closing level-par 71 at last week’s Phoenix Open where he tied for 42nd.

“It was just a fraction off. My irons were what I struggled with but I drove the ball well, short game wasn’t bad, putting wasn’t bad. I have to go back to work on my iron play.

“The back feels great and I’m looking forward to Monterey (this week).” Two years ago, Mickelson charged to victory by two shots at Pebble Beach after firing a flawless eight-under-par 64 in the final round and he has long relished competing in the pro-am celebrity event staged on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula.

“It’s one of my favorite places to play golf,” said the five-times major champion. “It’s just a special week. We play three of the most amazing golf courses on tour and all combined in one week.”

Phil Mickelson celebrats in this file photo.

The $6.6 million event will be played on three courses: the hosting Pebble Beach Golf Links and its sister venues Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Shore.

FAMILY TIME No matter how this week pans out for Mickelson, he will skip the next two events on the PGA Tour - the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles and the Feb. 19-23 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona to spend time with his family.

“I have two weeks off,” said Mickelson, a 42-times winner on the US circuit. “My kids are out of school and they’re both at different schools, so that’s two different spring breaks the week of LA and Match Play.” Should Mickelson triumph on Sunday, he would emulate the achievement of fellow American Mark O’Meara who won the tournament five times between 1985 and 1997 to earn the nickname ‘King of Pebble Beach’. —Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

S P ORTS

Olympic flame reaches Sochi after world’s longest relay MOSCOW: The Olympic flame reached Sochi yesterday, following a 65,000-kilometer (39,000-mile) route, the longest in the history of the games.

During the journey, the torch relay reached the North Pole, went to the top of Europe’s highest

mountain, plunged into the world’s deepest lake and was even taken into space by Russian cosmonauts.

The torchbearers included a 101year-old man.

The relay generated genuine public enthusiasm, featuring famous cultural figures, athletes

and other celebrities, and drawing big crowds across Russia.

But it also has seen some spectacular gaffes, with the flame flickering out on dozens of occasions and, in some cases, even engulfing the bearers. A look at some of the memorable moments of the Sochi Torch Relay:

IN VOLATILE PLACES In recent weeks, the relay went through Chechnya and other provinces in the restive North Caucasus, which have been engulfed by an Islamist insurgency that issued threats to the Olympics.

No incidents occurred during the relay.

RECORD-SETTING JOURNEY It started in Moscow on Oct. 7 and stopped at more than 130 cities and towns across Russia. For most of the route, the flame traveled by plane, train, car and even reindeer sleigh, but about 14,000 torchbearers took part in the relay.

OLDEST TORCHBEARER In December, 101-year-old table tennis referee Alexander Kaptarenko ran with the flame in Novosibirsk, becoming the oldest Olympic torchbearer in history. He trained for his 200-meter run by jogging with a frozen salmon in his hand.

NORTH POLE STOP The torch reached the North Pole in October aboard a nuclearpowered icebreaker. The ceremony involved torch bearers from eight Arctic nations.

FLAMEOUT The torch relay has been marred by repeated cases of the flame flickering out. The first such incident occurred at the very start of the relay near the Kremlin. A security guard quickly took out his lighter and reignited the torch. Dozens of other such cases followed, drawing mockery and sardonic observations from some commentators.

TORCH IN SPACE On Nov. 7, a rocket emblazoned with the emblem of the Sochi Games carried the torch to the International Space Station.

Cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazanskiy then took the torch on an unprecedented spacewalk Nov. 9. For safety reasons, the torch didn’t burn aboard the space outpost.

KRASNAYA POLYANA: Alexey Voyevoda, a former Olympic bobsledder, who won silver in the 4-man bobsled in Turin in 2006, carries the Olympic torch throughout the streets of the Rosa Khutor ski resort in Krasnaya Polyana. —AP

ATOP EUROPE’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN Russian mountaineers lit the torch atop Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.

FLAME ACCIDENTS On at least two occasions, in the Siberia city of Abakan in November and in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in December, torchbearers’ clothes caught fire but were quickly extinguished without injur y. Some blamed the poor design of the torch, which was developed by a factory that manufactures ballistic missiles, drawing jokes about the reliability of company’s main product.

IN THE WORLD’S DEEPEST LAKE In November, divers plunged into Lake Baikal, the world’s biggest and deepest freshwater lake, with special torches burning underwater.

TRAGIC DEATH A wrestling coach, 73-year-old Vadim Gorbenko, died of a heart attack Dec. 15, a few hours after carrying the Olympic flame in the city of Kurgan. —AP

IOC eyes Games revamp as Olympic opening nears SOCHI: While Sochi scrambles to get ready in time for tomorrow’s opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee cast its eyes past the most expensive Games ever staged and began to look for ways of revamping the global sporting spectacular.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has staked his personal and political prestige on hosting a successful Games and turning the Black Sea resort into a more attractive tourism destination.

Ratings agency Moody’s said in a report on Wednesday that the Sochi Games, which have cost a reported $50 billion, were unlikely to provide much of a boost to the Russian economy.

The IOC, who picked Sochi in 2007 despite it having virtually no venues in place, said it was time to take another look at the cost, size and bidding process for the Games.

Several cities have already pulled out of the race to host the 2022 Winter Games amid concerns about rising costs. Protests in Brazil ahead of this year’s World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics have further highlighted the problems associated with hosting mega sports events.

“We believe we should do more to support better bid cities in their engagement,” IOC Vice President John Coates said at the start of the IOC session yesterday.

“Are we not asking too much too soon (from bid cities)? Should the bidding procedure be more an invitation of potential bidders rather than a tender for a franchise? The cost of the bids concerns us all,” the Australian said.

TEETHING PROBLEMS The discussions, part of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 launched by President Thomas Bach, comes as athletes arrive en mass at the Black Sea resort.

While organisers continue to deal with teething problems including accommodation issues and an outcry over the fate of stray animals being rounded up in Sochi, teams were already hitting the training facilities. For one new Olympic event, friendship will outlast the competition.

American slopestyle snowboarder Sage Kostenburg told Reuters he hoped the sense of friendship with his fellow competitors would not

melt away when qualifying begins on Thursday in the new event aimed at attracting a younger audience. “I really hope not, we’re all pretty good friends and we get on well, so it would be a shame if all that was to change and everyone turned up tomorrow all serious,” the 20-year-old said, grinning.

“Obviously I would be so stoked to win an Olympic medal, but just the fact that slopestyle is in the Olympics for the first time is so sick. Not many people get to do this, you know?”

For some snowboarders, however, the focus is on the Olympic course that has already claimed one victim. Norwegian slopestyler Torstein Horgmo broke his collarbone on Monday and the course has since been modified after athletes expressed concern.

“The big jumps are very big, especially for the girls,” Russia’s Sarka Pancochova told reporters after Wednesday’s practice runs.

“We are very little, we have 30 kilograms difference to the guys. It’s hard to get the speed you need. It’s just a game, we have to figure it out.” —Reuters

Fairbairn takes a brainy approach ROSA KHUTOR: Canadian Olympic skeleton slider John Fairbairn has a degree in mechanical engineering and a brain painted on his helmet.

Lest there be any doubt, the World Cup medallist likes to portray himself as one of the brighter members of his squad in a sport where mental strength is key.

“I’ve always kind of been the smart guy on the team,” he said, to open-mouthed gasps and laughter from his colleagues seated alongside at a news conference at the Sochi Games yesterday.

“I’ve always been a bit of a nerd and so I’ve had a brain painted on my helmet. “A lot of people kind of get my last name a little bit wrong and don’t pronounce it quite right. We were racing at a track in Germany a number of years ago and the track announcer started calling me Fairbrain.”

A team mate, and now coach, picked up on it and the name stuck in the abbreviated form of ‘Brains’. It was only a small step from there to having a glowing human brain painted on his race helmet for Sochi. Team mate Eric Neilson took a different approach as the helmet discussion continued. “Unlike John, apparently I’m a complete idiot,” he told reporters.

“So my helmet is a demon head. There’s a fun happy-go-lucky type of guy and a guy who’s all business and really focused. The helmet is on fire, it’s got some scary teeth and stuff.”

Helmet art is a fun and prominent element of skeleton, a sliding sport where the contenders plunge headfirst down an icy chute on a sled. It is also a big feature of Canadian ice hockey, with full face goalie masks often painted with outlandish designs.

“I think it’s one of the opportunities that we have in our sport to show our own personalities,” said Calgary slider Sarah Reid, who has painted a ‘Day of the Dead’ image on hers with a girl and skulls.

Team mate Melissa Hollingswor th, the 2006 bronze medallist who has competed professionally on the rodeo circuit, will compete with a horse’s skull decoration on her helmet. —Reuters

SOCHI: Workers wash the windows of the Bolshoy Ice Dome, one of two hockey rinks in Olympic Park, in preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics. —AP

For migrant workers, Olympic dream turns into a nightmare BELGRADE/BILECA: When Sasa Matic was offered a job on a building site in Sochi, he suspected it was too good to be true. Yet he and scores of others from Serbia and Bosnia heeded the siren call of Russia’s 2014 Winter Olympics, seduced by the prospect of earning more in two months than most Serbs or Bosnians pocket in a year.

“It was a dodgy deal, but I thought: it’s only two months. The money was good, and I needed it,” said Matic, an unemployed 41-year-old from the western Serbian town of Sabac.

He was just one of thousands of migrant workers recruited mainly from ex-Soviet Central Asia but also from the Balkans to work on the $50 billion construction of the Sochi Games, a prestige project of huge importance for Russia’s image at home and abroad.

For Matic, however, it quickly turned into a nightmare. The Serbian government repatriated more than 100 Balkan workers last month after they were detained by Russian police for working illegally. Matic escaped and spent a week train-hopping and hitchhiking before finally walking into Serbia across its northern border with Hungary.

Speaking to Reuters, Matic described how after a 27-hour bus ride to Sochi, he was given lodgings in an empty room and put to work as a plasterer without a contract or the necessary visa. He rigged a light bulb in his room with a scavenged power cable.

Though promised around 4,000 euros ($5,500), he received only two advance payments totalling 600 euros, which he spent mainly on food. “We finished the job ahead of schedule and demanded our pay,” Matic said. “A Russian man came in wielding a gun. He was like the baddie in a gangster movie. We took what little money they gave us and left.”

TOURIST VISA The run-up to the Games, due to kick off on Feb. 7, has been dominated by the threat posed

by Islamist insurgents in Russia’s turbulent Caucasus region.

But it has also been tainted by complaints of systematic exploitation of construction workers and of lucrative building contracts awarded to tycoons and political cronies, drawing fire from human rights groups. Metal workers Predrag Lero, Milenko Kuljic and Miomir Stolica - all ethnic Serbs from the impoverished town of Bileca in southeastern Bosnia - were among those detained.

With their hometown ravaged by unemployment, the three were easily persuaded by a Serbian-based employment agency to head for Sochi on a monthly wage of 1,500 euros.

But they were shocked by the conditions they encountered. “We used outdoor toilets and had to pay 150 roubles ($4.3) for a shower,” said Stolica, 38. “There were only four toilets for about 200 construction workers.”

Admitted on only a 30-day tourist visa, they were told by their employers to briefly cross the nearby border into neighboring Georgia’s break-

away region of Abkhazia and then return in order to renew the permit. The level of security, however, unnerved them.

“The town was almost under siege and we were afraid that we could get caught so we decided: if something like that happens we will give ourselves in,” said 31-year-old Kuljic.

Their supervisors promised to organise the border trip, but it never happened and the workers’ tourist visas expired. Some, like Matic, fled.

Others stayed, dodging the police as best they could until their luck ran out.

Arrested and held in detention for days, Lero, Kuljic and Stolica were flown home with 120 others on a plane chartered by the Serbian government. They earned only 250 euros each.

“PROMISED LAND” Asked about the reports of mistreatment, Thomas Back, the president of the International Olympic Committee, told reporters in Sochi on Monday the issue had been addressed and resolved.

“As a result of this, 227 million roubles have been paid to workers in compensation to address this issue,” he said. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who has a major role in overseeing the Olympic preparations, said last month he was confident workers would get the money they were promised. “We will continue monitoring this until all the work is complete and all debts have been settled,” he said.

In Belgrade, the interior ministry’s anti-trafficking department said authorities have for years been dealing with the problem of migrant workers from Serbia being exploited abroad as they try to escape chronic unemployment and poverty at home.

“We had a case in 2005 in Azerbaijan where about 800 workers from the region were subjected to exploitation,” department head Mitar Djuraskovic said.

“There were also cases in Dubai and Belarus,” he added. Two years ago, police used undercover officers posing as relatives to halt a busload of workers heading for Italy and arrest the man who organised the trip.

Last month, police arrested a Serbian man from the southwestern town of Cacak and charged him with trafficking the workers to Sochi.

“The trend is on the rise,” said Elena Krsmanovic, a spokeswoman for the Belgradebased ‘Astra’ anti-trafficking watchdog.

Krsmanovic said Astra last year investigated 18 cases involving a total of 400 workers allegedly exploited while working in Sochi.

In general, she said, a growing number of Serbian migrants were being exploited around the world, up from 12 percent in 2011 to 29 percent in 2013.

It is testimony to the plight they face at home - with unemployment rates in Serbia and Bosnia at more than 20 percent - that Stolica said he did not regret trying. “If we get the chance, we’d do the same again,” he said. “For us, Russia is the promised land.” —Reuters

Something in the hair for Canadian men ROSA KHUTOR: There is something in the hair for Canada’s Olympic bobsleigh team.

Pilots Chris Spring and Justin Kripps, with brakeman Jesse Lumsden and pusher Cody Sorensen, would not look out of place behind a pack of huskies, mushing along with ice in their beards and a glint of gold in the eyes.

Introduced to the media on Wednesday as “one hairy group of guys”, although ‘mane attraction’ might also do, the four form part of a bigger bobsleigh squad that will not be troubling a barber shop any time soon. At least one of them has not cut his hair in years. “I think Tim Randall actually started it, he’s on my four man team. He’s always rocking a pretty large beard,” said Kripps.

“You know, we all just kind of picked it up and started growing it towards the end of the summer. We think it better represents the culture of bobsledding in Canada than our clean-shaven counterparts.” As he spoke, he grinned across at Olympic 2010 four-man bronze medallist Lyndon Rush - very much the odd man out with a head as smooth on top as his exposed and naked chin.

In Lumsden’s case, it will be hair today and gone tomorrow. “I’ve been growing my hair for two years now with the intent of donating it after the Games,” said the burly brakeman.

KRASNAYA POLYNA: Canada’s Sebastien Toutant flies through the air during a slopestyle snowboard training run at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. —AP

NAME GAMES Canada has a strong recent record in

Olympic bob, with two-man gold in 1998 and silver in 2006 as well as four-man bronze in 2010.

If they have flair in their hair, the men also have put plenty of spirit - or spirits into the names they have bestowed on their sleds.

Spring, who competed for Australia in 2010 and now has Canadian citizenship, has named his two-man sled Altjira after the aboriginal god of the dream time when the world was created.

“I have a lot of respect for the aboriginal culture back home and wanted to reflect through my sled,” he said. His four-man bob is ‘Phoenix’, since it emerged from the wreckage of a big crash in January 2012. “My sled went from being worth a lot of money to probably not being worth anything at all,” he smiled. “Luckily our head mechanic built a new one and used a few parts from the old sled from that crash. It was reborn literally from the ashes.”

Kripps has named his sleds after Hawaiian goddesses in a nod to his roots while Rush has ‘Deuce’ and ‘Moose’ on his.

They rhyme, but - as he explained with a smile - the poetry is more of the potty variety. “It’s a two man so deuce makes sense. But my wife calls bobsleigh ‘poopsleigh’ and so do my kids and they kind of tease me,” he said. “And poop is a number two. So I renamed the sled. “And we named the four-man ‘Moose’ because it’s big and rhymes with deuce.” —Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

S P ORTS

Lakers stumble again

BEVERLY HILLS: (From left) Trainer Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, and Tim Bradley and his trainer Joel Diaz pose at a news conference to promote their upcoming WBO welterweight championship boxing rematch. —AP

Redemption the lure for both Bradley, Pacquiao LOS ANGELES: World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of the United States and his challenger, Manny Pacquiao, will both be seeking redemption when they clash for a second time on April 12 in Las Vegas.

Bradley believes he never gained the recognition he was due after controversially beating the Filipino southpaw on a split decision when they first met in June 2012 while Pacquiao feels he was robbed with that result.

“This is all about redemption,” Bradley (31-0, 12 knockouts) said during a news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday to promote the fight. “I need Manny. He needs me.

“I’m going to beat him again. I am younger and a better fighter. Manny fights for the money; I have the hunger to win. I am a different fighter than the one who fought Pacquiao in our first fight.

“I scored our fight eight rounds to four in my favour. No way he won that fight,” said the 30-year-old American who trains in Indio, California.

“Manny is great but he is also mortal.

I’m not intimidated by him or his legend.”

Pacquiao told the news conference he was on a mission. “I thought I was leading after every round,” he said. “I thought I won the fight easily. I controlled the fight every round. I was very surprised by the decision.

“But that’s part of the game. He got the decision and my title. Now I want to get back that belt he won off of me.

Boxing has always been fun for me. This time the fun is secondary. This is a mission to prove I am the best.”

ROUND OF BOOS Bradley’s victory over Pacquiao was met by a chorus of boos from the crowd in Las Vegas after the shock split decision was announced, and promoter Bob Arum later described the judges as “The Three Blind Mice”. Judge Jerry Roth (115-

113) awarded the fight to Pacquiao while CJ Ross (115-113) and Duane Ford (115113) gave it to the American, who had been a 5-1 underdog.

The faster and more power ful Pacquiao seemed to be in cruise control for at least nine of the 12 rounds, and Bradley himself made comments immediately afterwards suggesting he had not done enough to win. While Pacquiao was stunned after suffering his first defeat since he lost to Erik Morales in Las Vegas in March 2005, he took the decision with good grace at the time.

He went on to lose his next fight, a sixth-round knockout at the hands of Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012 which prompted retirement talks.

However the Filipino rebounded two months ago with a decisive, unanimous decision victor y against American Brandon Rios in Macau, improving his career record to 55-5-2 with 38 knockouts.

“The only way Bradley can beat me this time is to knock me out,” said the 35year-old Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion. “He cannot outbox me.

I will be the aggressor.

“I will throw a lot of punches at him more than I threw against Rios - and I will land them. Last time I was too nice. This time, I will finish what I start.”

“Desert Storm” Bradley won his most recent fight in October, beating Mexico’s three-division world champion Marquez on a split decision in Las Vegas after a display that captured the attention of Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach.

“Tim Bradley is one of the toughest guys in the world and I saw that up close when he fought Ruslan Provodnikov last year,” said Roach, who worked Provodnikov’s corner that night.

“Tim looked even better in beating Marquez in his last fight. Tim is the champion and Manny and I know we have our work cut out for us to successfully challenge him.” —Reuters

Gallacher defends his title at the 25th OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic DUBAI: Stephen Gallacher became the first golfer in the 25-year history of the OMEGA Dubai Desert classic to defend the tournament’s title and he did so in dramatic fashion with an eagle on the 18th hole. The gallery at the Emirates Golf Club was kept guessing on the outcome until the final putt.

The victor finished the tournament with a total of 16 under par, claiming the lead after it had changed hands several times during the day. The Scotsman played well throughout and held off a challenge from a surging Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.

Along with the championship trophy and cheque, Stephen Gallacher was also awarded with an OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar.

On behalf of OMEGA, Raynald Aeschlimann, Vice President and International Sales Director said: “We congratulate Stephen for his consistent performance through this indeed classic and historic tournament. This 25th edition of the Dubai Desert Classic clearly demonstrated the extent to which golf in Dubai has become a

truly global sport with the presence of the tournament’s 21 winners over the past 25 editions and the sport’s top talent battling out till the end.”

This year, the field in Dubai included two OMEGA golf ambassadors, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and S Y Noh from South Korea making a second appearance.

Both played well and McIlroy, who was atop the leaderboard going into the weekend, only felt out of contention for the title on the back nine in the final round.

OMEGA is a long-standing sponsor and supporter of golf in Dubai and has been a sponsor of the Dubai Desert Classic held at the Emirates Golf Club since its inception in 1989 and a title sponsor for 8 years. OMEGA has also sponsored the Dubai Ladies Masters for the past five years.

Following the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, the watch brand now sets its sights on Sochi where, for the 26th time, it will serve as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games.

MINNEAPOLIS: Kevin Love had 31 points and 17 rebounds for Minnesota, spoiling Steve Nash’s return for languishing Los Angeles and leading the Timberwolves to a 109-99 victory Tuesday night that stuck the Lakers with their seventh straight defeat.

Kevin Martin scored 14 of his season-hightying 32 points in the opening 10 minutes to help the Timberwolves start strong, and the NBA’s highest-scoring first-quarter team surged to a 25-point lead midway through the second period.

Nash had been sidelined since Nov. 10 because of nerve problems in his back. The soon-to-be-40-year-old two-time league MVP had seven points and nine assists in 25 minutes, about 10 more than he was supposed to play.

Steve Blake also returned, coming back from a torn ligament in his right elbow that had shelved him since Dec. 10. He ruptured his eardrum during the game but kept playing on another night of bad luck and bad defense for the fallen franchise. Blake was scoreless in 31 minutes.

Jodie Meeks (sprained right ankle, first quarter) and backup Jordan Hill (headache and neck strain, first quarter) went down for the Lakers, who have been without star Kobe Bryant for most of the season. Pau Gasol sat out with a strained right groin and could be out until after the All-Star break.

BULLS 101, SUNS 92 Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Bulls snapped the Suns’ fivegame winning streak. The Bulls shot 45 percent from the field and had five players score in double figures, bouncing back from an ugly 99-70 loss at Sacramento on Monday. The Bulls shot 28 percent and were outrebounded 53-30 against the Kings.

One night later, it was a completely different story. Jimmy Butler and DJ Augustin had 18 points apiece for the Bulls, who won for the fifth straight time in Phoenix. Joakim Noah, who was ejected in the third quarter of the loss at Sacramento, had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Goran Dragic led Phoenix with 24 points. Channing Frye had 18.

PACERS 89, HAWKS 85 David West scored 22 points and Paul George added 18, helping NBA-leading Indiana get the win. The Pacers snapped a 12-game regular-season losing streak in Atlanta while improving the league’s best record to 38-10. Atlanta failed to place a starter in double figures. It had won two straight and five of seven. Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver had nine points apiece for the Hawks, but All-Star forward Paul Millsap went 2 for 11 from the field and finished with seven points.

Teague made a 3-pointer to give Atlanta a 41-35 lead with 1:06 left in the second quarter, but the Hawks were outscored 38-16 over the next 17 minutes.

Cartier Martin’s 3 cut Indiana’s lead to 86-84 with 14.9 seconds left. C.J. Watson and Danny Granger then combined for three free throws to help the Pacers hold on for the win.

BOBCATS 91, WARRIORS 75 A l J e f fe r s o n h a d 3 0 p o i n t s a n d 1 3 rebounds and Gerald Henderson added 17 points and eight rebounds for Charlotte in

MINNEAPOLIS: Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Blake (left) drives on Minnesota Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio, of Spain, during the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP Kemba Walker’s much-anticipated return.

Walker finished with seven points, seven assists and six rebounds after missing the last seven games with a sprained left ankle.

He played 33 minutes.

The Bobcats went ahead by 18 points late in the third quarter and 22 midway through the fourth. Charlotte, which shot 47.4 percent, held the Warriors to a season-low 31.2

percent shooting.

S t e p h e n Cu r r y h a d 1 7 p o i n t s a n d 1 1 a s s i s t s, K l a y T h o m p s o n s c o re d 1 2 a n d Andrew Bogut grabbed 15 rebounds for the Warriors, who have been held below 38 percent shooting in three of their past four games. The Bobcats closed out their road trip 3 - 1 a n d s we p t t h e s e a s o n a g a i n s t t h e Warriors. —AP

NBA results/standings Indiana 89, Atlanta 85; Minnesota 109, LA Lakers 99; Chicago 101, Phoenix 92; Charlotte 91, Golden State 75.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Toronto 26 22 .542 Brooklyn 21 25 .457 NY Knicks 19 29 .396 Boston 16 33 .327 Philadelphia 15 34 .306

Indiana Chicago Detroit Cleveland Milwaukee

Central Division 38 10 .792 24 24 .500 19 28 .404 16 32 .333 9 39 .188

Southeast Division Miami 34 13 .723 Atlanta 25 22 .532 Washington 24 23 .511 Charlotte 22 28 .440 Orlando 13 37 .260

GB 4 7 10.5 11.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 39 11 .780 Portland 34 14 .708 Minnesota 24 24 .500 Denver 23 23 .500 Utah 16 32 .333

4 14 14 22

14 18.5 22 29

LA Clippers Phoenix Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento

Pacific Division 34 17 .667 29 19 .604 29 20 .592 16 32 .333 16 32 .333

3.5 4 16.5 16.5

9 10 13.5 22.5

San Antonio Houston Dallas Memphis New Orleans

Southwest Division 35 13 .729 32 17 .653 28 21 .571 26 21 .553 20 27 .426

3.5 7.5 8.5 14.5

Marquez clocks fastest time SEPANG: World champion Marc Marquez posted the fastest time and emerged as the first rider this week to break through the two-minute barrier on day two yesterday of the test session in Malaysia.

The Spanish Honda rider who was quickest on Tuesday, finished ahead of compatriot Dani Pedrosa, with Germany’s Stefan Bradl third at the Sepang circuit.

Marquez and his teammate Pedrosa, who is seeking to capture an elusive first MotoGP world title after eight years in the premier class, were ahead of rival Yamaha pair Jorge Lorenzo and ninetime Italian world champion Valentino Rossi.

Lorenzo — a two-time MotoGP champion — lost his world crown to Marquez last year. Marquez, who remains the one to beat, clocked one minute 59.926 seconds in hot temperatures, with Pedrosa 0.410 seconds behind.

Bradl was third, 0.413 seconds off the pace while Rossi was fourth, 0.538 seconds behind Marquez. Spaniard Lorenzo was sixth, 0.647 seconds behind the newly crowned MotoGP champion.

Marquez, 20, became the youngest MotoGP champion at the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix in November, winning the world title in his rookie year.

“I am happy. The new rear tyre is working well.

But I feel a little nervous in the first corner. We need to improve the bike performance on the first corner. We need to be safe,” he said.

The Spaniard on Tuesday clocked two minutes 0.286 seconds to finish half a second ahead of Rossi. Lorenzo complained about the performance of his rear tyres and said he had to improve his physical strength.

“I have a smooth bike in the corners but I am not happy with the tyres,” he said adding that the fuel consumption of his Yamaha also needed to be improved.

The track was again hot and dry yesterday, yielding fast times that enabled the riders to work on improving their bike’s performance.

Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Marquez dominated throughout the day on the circuit, which is notoriously tricky partly due to its long straights and tight turns as well as to uncertain weather conditions.

Testing wraps up today, but riders will return to Sepang for another three -day session from February 26. They will have a further session at Phillip Island in Australia and at the Losail circuit in Qatar, before the new season officially kicks off at Losail on March 23. Malaysia will host the championship in October. —AFP

DUBAI: US cyclist Tayler Phinney, of BMC Racing Team, sporting the leader’s jersey, celebrates at the podium after winning the individual time race stage of Dubai Tour. —AFP

Phinney makes history in Dubai DUBAI: Taylor Phinney rode into cycling’s history books yesterday, the American claiming the first stage on the inaugural Tour of Dubai. The BMC rider won the four-stage event’s 9.9 kilometre time trial by 14 seconds from his British teammate Steve Cummings.

Denmark’s 2012 Olympic omnium gold medallist Lasse Hansen was a further 16sec adrift in third, with German world time trial champion Tony Martin, who set off last, coming fourth.

Phinney had felt confident about his level of preparedness going into this newcomer on the professional cycling circuit

after a second place in an Argentine season warm-up last month.

“I thought I was going to beat my record of watts, I reached 490. I knew I was already in good condition as I’d worked well over the winter,” said the 23year-old. Phinney, the son of two Olympic medallists at the 1984 Games, is an early starter, the 2009 and 2010 world pursuit champion finishing on the podium in last year’s neighboring Tour of Qatar.

Thursday’s second stage favoring sprinters in the peloton is a 122km run from the capital of the United Arab Emirates state to Palm Jumeirah. —AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

S P ORTS

Sangakkara’s triple ton flattens Bangladesh CHITTAGONG: Kumar Sangakkara made a career-best 319 and joined the 11,000-run club on the way as Sri Lanka took firm control of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong yesterday. The tourists, who won the first Test by an innings and 248 runs in Dhaka last week, scored 587 in their first innings and Bangladesh replied with 86-1 by stumps on the second day.

Left-handed Sangakkara’s maiden triple cen-

tury was his ninth 200-plus knock, leaving him in second place behind Australian legend Don Bradman who had 12 scores of 200 or more.

Sangakkara, a 36-year-old veteran playing his 122nd Test, also became the ninth Test batsmen to reach the 11,000-run mark.

He now has 11,046 runs in the all-time list headed by India’s Sachin Tendulkar (15,921). “As a batsman, you always look at big scores,”

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (left) plays a shot as Bangladesh’s Shamsur Rahman keeps wicket on the second day of the second Test cricket match. —AP

SCOREBOARD CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Chittagong yesterday: ( Vithanage), 7-405 (D. Perera), 8-505 Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 314-5): (Mendis), 9-533 (Lakmal), 10-587 D. Karunaratne c Mahmudullah b Al-Amin31 (Sangakkara).

K. Silva lbw b Gazi 11 Bowling: Al-Amin 25-5-81-1 (nb1), Gazi 48-4K. Sangakkara c Gazi b Nasir 319 181-1, Razzak 4-1-6-0, Shakib 34-3-148-5 (w1), M. Jayawardene lbw b Mahmudullah 72 Mahmudullah 34-2-110-1 (w1), Nasir 6.4-0D. Chandimal c Kayes b Shakib 27 16-2, Shamsur 1-0-5-0, Mominul 4-0-8-0.

A. Mathews b Shakib 5 Bangladesh 1st innings: K. Vithanage lbw b Nasir 35 Tamim Iqbal b Lakmal 0 D. Perera lbw b Shakib 1 Shamsur Rahman not out 45 A. Mendis lbw b Shakib 47 Imrul Kayes not out 36 S. Lakmal lbw b Shakib 0 Extras: (nb5) 5 N. Pradeep not out 4 Total (for one wicket, 25 overs) 86 Extras: (b21, lb6, nb1, w2, pen5) 35 Fall of wicket: 1-0 (Tamim).

Total (all out, 156.4 overs) 587 Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Silva), 2-49 Bowling: Lakmal 5-0-18-1, Pradeep 7-2-29-0 (Karunaratne), 3-227 (Jayawardene), 4-294 (nb3), Mendis 4-1-13-0 (nb2), Perera 7-2-22(Chandimal), 5-312 (Mathews), 6-402 0, Mathews 2-0-4-0.

Sangakkara said. “There are 100s, 200s, 300s and Brian Lara has even got 400. Those are things you always try and chase when you have an opportunity.

“So I am very happy to have got into the 300club at least.” The former captain said his next big aim was to help Sri Lanka play good Test cricket against the top sides.

“I have personally achieved quite a bit as a batsman, but the team’s aim is to win a lot more Test matches, especially away from home,” he said.

“Hopefully before I finish we will be able to beat some of the big countries in their own backyard. And keep playing really good Test cricket and keep improving.”

Having started the day on 160, Sangakkara hit 32 boundaries and eight sixes before he was last man out before tea attempting to force the pace.

Bangladesh’s reply began on the wrong foot when star opener Tamim Iqbal was bowled by Suranga Lakmal with the fourth ball of the innings.

But Shamsur Rahman (45 not out) and Imrul Kayes (36 not out) repaired the early damage by adding 86 for the unbroken second wicket.

Both batsmen were lucky to survive till close as Shamsur was dropped by Mahela Jayawardene on 36 and Nuwan Pradeep grassed a simple catch offered by Kayes just before stumps.

Bangladesh will still need to bat out a major part of the remaining three days to prevent a 2-0 series rout. The day was lit up by glorious strokeplay from Sangakkara, who flayed Bangladesh’s hapless bowlers on the slow pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Left with number 11 Nuwan Pradeep at the other end, Sangakkara moved from 286 to 302 with a four and two sixes off consecutive deliveries from left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

Pradeep contributed just four in the 10thwicket stand of 54 with Sangakkara, who knocked up 116 runs in the company of the last three batsmen.

Sri Lanka had begun the day on 314-5, and overnight batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage helped Sangakkara add 90 for the sixth wicket before the hosts hit back twice to make it 405-7.

Tail-ender Ajantha Mendis joined Sangakkara to add 100 for the eighth wicket before he was leg-before to Shakib for a fluent 47. Shakib finished as Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with five wickets, but his 34 overs cost 148 runs.

The hosts were dealt a double blow before play began as skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was unable to take the field due to a finger injury and spinner Abdur Razzak was sidelined with a strained hamstring. Tamim Iqbal led Bangladesh in Rahim’s absence and Shamsur kept wicket. —AFP

Ogier eyes Rally of Sweden

Brendon McCullum

New Zealand confident to upset India in first Test AUCKLAND: New Zealand are quietly confident of being able to exploit the green state of the Eden Park wicket and upset India in the first Test starting in Auckland today.

A combination of a bowler-friendly pitch and the success of the same XI, who won back-to-back Tests in similar conditions against the West Indies in December, meant the selection was a no brainer for captain Brendon McCullum.

“It’s a bit of both. It’s a nice luxury to be able to continue with the same team, and obviously the pitch as well,” he said yesterday.

It was definitely a bowl-first wicket, he added, with New Zealand intent on continuing the short-pitched attack that proved to be India’s undoing in the just completed one-day series won by New Zealand 4-0.

The home captain was also unphased by the huge gulf in the rankings between the two sides, where India are second to New Zealand’s lowly eighth.

“We know how tough a challenge it is but we’ve got a quiet confidence that if we continue to bowl and field as well as we have done this summer then we can expose some of the not-so-strong aspects of their game.”

The pitch has “a decent covering of grass” and the promise of more bounce than when New Zealand had England on the ropes here last year, only to be denied victory by a heroic century from Matt Prior on the final day.

While New Zealand were confident enough to name their side 24 hours before the toss, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was more circumspect in delaying

naming his side as late as possible.

He also batted away any suggestion that India’s well-documented failings against the short-pitched deliveries in the one-day series would have a bearing on the Tests.

“The plus point in Test matches is you can pick and choose,” he said, adding that India were hampered in the ODIs by their openers not setting a solid enough platform.

“If you don’t get too many runs in the first 10 (overs) it means the middle order when they come in have to play those strokes because the asking rate keeps on rising if you keep leaving them.”

Dhoni gave little away about India’s approach other than indicating left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja could expect to occupy one end for long periods while he rotated his pace attack from the other. Pace bowler Zaheer Khan and batsmen Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara are likely to be the only new faces in the Tests.

Pujara, boasting an impressive average of 66.25 from his 28 Test innings, will add much needed solidity to the batting line up.

New Zealand, however, by rewarding their victorious unit who beat the West Indies have retained Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford as openers and cannot be guaranteed a sound start.

Fulton and Rutherford produced a 158run stand in their first Test as an opening partnership but have drifted down to average 30.91 in 16 innings since then.

New Zealand: Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.

KARLSTAD: World champion Sebastien Ogier is hoping history repeats itself when he takes to the wheel of his Volkswagen on the Rally of Sweden’s classic snowcovered roads this week.

Ogier took the honours here 12 months ago after a tight tussle with Sebastien Loeb, the since retired ninetime champion.

Ogier prevailed over his illustrious French compatriot by less than a minute to give Volkswagen their first championship victory. And the omens of a follow up appear positive after Ogier began the 2014 season with success in the opening rally in Monte Carlo.

“Rally Sweden is one of my favorite rallies on the calendar,” said Ogier. “Last year, we claimed the first win for Volkswagen here, following a great duel with SÈbastien Loeb.

“That was probably the best rally of my career so far.

Like Loeb, we pushed ourselves to the very limit the entire time, and had to give 100 per cent every minute.

“We are now the team that everyone wants to beat.

It will definitely not be easy, but I would love to win here again.” Ogier leads the fledgling championship standings by nine points from his compatriot Bryan Bouffier, in a Ford Focus, with Citroen’s British driver Kris Meeke a further two points adrift in third. Ford’s Scandinavian driver Mikko Hirvonen retired from Monte Carlo but is upbeat about his prospects in Sweden.

“I’m really looking forward to Sweden where I think we can be competitive. We’re certainly determined to show what we can do.

“It’s one of those events where a driver needs to really attack, but in the narrow sections you also have to be very precise. “There’s a very narrow line that forms, and if you venture off that line you can easily find yourself in trouble.”

Norwegian driver Mads Ostberg has warned Ogier to expect a fight for victory in what he regards as almost a home rally.

“If everything goes well, I want to try and fight for the win. “We’ll have a lot of fans cheering us on alongside the roads. And although I am very focused on my racing line, I still notice our fans waving the Norwegian and Swedish flags!”

For Meeke, this is a debut rally on snow, and he is unsure of what to expect. “I know I’m quick on asphalt and gravel, but I have no real idea about how I’ll manage on snow.

“It’ll be down to me to learn about everything: the car, the tyres, and so on. “Our rivals have a lot more experience than we do. They will undoubtedly go very fast. I’ll just have to put that out of my mind so I can learn and progress at my own pace.

“And above all, avoid making any mistakes.” Another snow debutant is Robert Kubica, the ex Formula One driver who switched to rallying after his horrific 2011 crash.

Sweden’s frozen roads lined by banks of snow are a world away from the Pole’s former natural habitat, and he conceded: “I don’t know what to expect, but the snow-covered stages will certainly provide a new and exciting challenge.” —AFP

SYDNEY: England’s Kevin Pietersen dives to make his ground in this file photo during a run out attempt by Australia, during their Ashes cricket Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. —AP

Pietersen’s England career ends LONDON: Kevin Pietersen’s brilliant and controversial international career ended on Tuesday as the fallout from England’s woeful Ashes campaign claimed the scalp of one of the country’s most mercurial batting talents.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) brought the curtain down on Pietersen’s near 10-year spell at the top by leaving him out of the squad for this year’s World Twenty20 and limited overs tour of the Caribbean.

Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket, cited a need “to rebuild not only the team but also team ethic and philosophy”, effectively closing the door on a player frequently labelled a disruptive dressing-room influence.

“Clearly this was a tough decision because Kevin has been such an outstanding player for England, as the fact that he is the country’s leading run scorer in international cricket demonstrates,” Downton said.

“However everyone was aware that there was a need to begin the long-term planning after the Australia tour. Therefore we have decided the time is right to look to the future and start to rebuild not only the team but also team ethic and philosophy.

“England cricket owes a debt of gratitude to Kevin who has proved to be one of the most talented and exciting players to ever represent the country and his 13,797 runs are a testimony to his immense skill.

“This decision brings some clarity now for the future of the England teams and we all wish Kevin the very best in the rest of his career.”

The 33-year-old South-African born Pietersen, who played in 104 test matches, 136 one -day internationals and 37 Twenty20 internationals for England, was left in little doubt that he would not grace the international stage again.

HUGE PRIDE “Playing cricket for my country has been an honour. Every time I pulled on the England shirt was a moment of huge pride for me and that is something that will live with me forever,” he said in the statement.

“Although I am obviously very sad the incredible journey has come to an end, I’m also hugely proud of what we, as a team, have achieved over the past nine years.

“I believe I have a great deal still to give as a cricketer. I will continue to play but deeply regret that it won’t be for England.”

A swashbuckling batsman, Pietersen polarised opinion, and came in for heavy criticism after England’s 5-0 Ashes surrender in Australia, which finished last month, despite being their highest run-scorer.

Pietersen’s impact on and off the field was dramatic and a year ago he completed his reintegration into the England fold after making peace with the ECB in a row over “provocative” text messages that led to him being dropped. He even committed to playing for England in all three forms of the game until at least 2015.

However, only last month former England coach Andy Flower felt compelled to issue a statement denying a dressingroom rift. British media had claimed Flower, who stepped down last week, had threatened to quit if Pietersen continued to be part of the team’s rebuilding process.

CLEAN SLATE The supremely talented Pietersen was hailed as a “million pound asset” by limitedovers coach Ashley Giles, a contender to replace Flower, when named last month in England’s provisional 30-member squad for the Twenty20 World Cup. Yet the fallout from the woeful Ashes campaign was so stark that many pundits felt England needed a clean slate and that Pietersen would follow spinner Graeme Swann, who retired during the test series, and Flower out of the exit door.

Typical of Pietersen’s colourful career, the decision to omit him from the England set-up amid only hints of dressing-room discord, has provoked controversy.

Pietersen’s former England captain Michael Vaughan told the BBC: “The ECB need to explain exactly what KP does inside the dressing room that they can’t manage any longer. You have to manage mavericks; you can’t have clones around you all the time.

“Now it’s all gone pear-shaped they’ve got rid of him, and I can’t agree with it.” The call for answers from the ECB was echoed by another former England captain Nasser Hussain.

“There must have been things happening behind the scenes that Flower and (England captain Alastair) Cook weren’t amused with and it would be nice to know from the ECB - if you’re going to axe one of your best players - what those things are,” he said on Sky Sports.

Pietersen is now likely to turn his attention to the money-spinning Indian Premier League and other lucrative short-format competitions that were frequently a bone of contention when he was involved with England.

The batsman put his name down for next month’s IPL auction and is seeking a new franchise after Delhi Daredevils opted not to retain any of their players from last season. —Reuters

ABK sponsors bowling tourney for MOE staff KUWAIT: ABK sponsors the third bowling championship for the Ministr y of Education staff as part of its social responsibility initiatives, related to sport activities.

This event was held at the capital centre hall of Ahmed Bisher Al Rumi school for the second consecutive year, sponsored under the auspices of the Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmed Al Milaifi.

Ali Al Baghli, ABK’s Assistant PR Manager stated, “ABK is involved in supporting social programs, especially sport,

and continuously strives to participate in these, also as a means of supporting and encouraging the youth of Kuwait. Our sponsorship of this tournament comes as a result of our belief in the importance of sport and appreciation of the role of the Ministry of Education staff in the educational process.” Khaled Mulla Jumaa, Manager of the Bowling Centre thanked ABK for sponsoring the tournament for the second consecutive year and expressed his wishes for a continuous relationship between the two parties.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

S P ORTS

Beckham to bring MLS club to Miami MIAMI: David Beckham said yesterday that he will buy a US team to play Major League Soccer in Miami, confirming the worst-kept secret in world football.

The former England and Manchester United star said he already has big-name players phoning him up and pledged to create a “global team” like the huge European clubs where he became a superstar.

“I wanted to create a team where we can start from scratch,” Beckham told a packed press conference at a downtown Miami art museum, explaining his decision to bring the expanding league’s 22nd soccer club to the city.

“I know there was a team here 10 years ago that unfortunately folded, but I know that Miami is ready for football again,” he said.

“We’re planning to bring a team that will be a global team,” he said, arguing that in the past decade American soccer had made huge progress as both a sport and a business.

The former England midfielder, who wore a slim-fitting gray suit and tie despite the 82 degree Fahrenheit (28 C) weather, said one of his partners would be British pop music and television impresario Simon Fuller, who managed Beckham’s wife Victoria when she sang with the Spice Girls.

Beckham, who reportedly paid a cut price $25 million for the franchise, said his wife and family would join him in Miami. He did not disclose when the team would be ready for action, but

reports suggest it will be in 2016 or 2017.

“This is going to be a people’s team,” he told a throng of media, as a helicopter buzzed overhead and a small plane whizzed past dragging a banner that read: “Beckham, don’t trust Gimenez,” referring to local Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

The former United and Real Madrid star said he had high hopes for the MLS, where he featured for LA Galaxy before retiring last year following a stint with Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’ve seen the change over the last 10 years. I’ve seen the change in this league, the interest in this league,” the 38-yearold said, as fans chanted: “One David Beckham, there’s only one David Beckham!”

“We want to bring some of the best football players in the world, great players, to this team. Players are already interested in coming to Miami.

“We are very excited about this project. Miami is a vibrant city and a city with a lot of passion. I know this city is ready for football, for soccer. “I’m going to work hard to make this team very successful.

It’s an exciting time. “We want to create a football club that is a people’s football club. This is a dream... I’ve lived the dream.”

Asked if his former manager at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, had been in contact over a coaching role, Beckham said: “Funnily enough no, he didn’t call me or text me.”

The pair famously fell out and Ferguson shipped Beckham out to Real

Madrid, although relations have warmed since. Beckham spoke to reporters alongside MLS commissioner Don Garber, who said Beckham and the league would work with Miami Dade county to build a world-class downtown stadium for the new club.

Beckham thanked Garber and Miami Dade’s Mayor Gimenez, and said he

would not seek public funding for the team’s stadium, having raised money from private partners.

The new club-which does not yet have a name-is looking to build a stadium for 25,000 spectators, with reports suggesting Beckham is eyeing up a prominent location close to the water.

Miami has been without a football

team since the Miami Fusion folded more than a decade ago, but Beckhamwhose popularity and fame endures despite retirement from the game-will be hoping his star pulling power can be the difference. “This is the first time in the modern era that an ex-athlete is joining the ranks of ownership,” Garber said. —AFP

MIAMI: Former English soccer star David Beckham (third from left) poses with MLS Commissioner Don Garber (left) Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez (right) and soccer fans with the Southern Legion soccer supporters at a news conference. —AP

Milan unveil Taarabt, ‘Balotelli of Morocco’

Michael Laudrup

Swansea sack Laudrup after League slump LONDON: Swansea City have sacked their Danish manager Michael Laudrup with the Welsh club having dropped into a Premier League relegation battle after a dramatic slump in form that has left them two points above the drop zone.

Laudrup, who said that winning the League Cup last season ranked among his proudest moments because Swansea are such a small club compared to the European giants like Real Madrid and Juventus he once played for, now finds himself out of a job. “It is a decision we have taken reluctantly,” said Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins. “But it’s a decision made in the best interests of Swansea City Football Club and our supporters.

“It is the first time in nearly 10 years that the club has parted with a manager in this way, but we had to remove the constant uncertainty surrounding the club and Michael’s long-term future with us,” he said on the club website (www.swanseacity.net).

Swansea’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday was their sixth in eight league games, a run which has left the 12th placed team battling to avoid the drop as they prepare to host fellow strugglers and local rivals Cardiff City on Saturday.

Swansea said their club captain Garry Monk, who came on as a substitute in their League Cup triumph against Bradford City at Wembley, will take over as head coach alongside first team coach Alan Curtis for the foreseeable future.

The 49-year-old Laudrup’s departure will come as a surprise to many pundits with the promising coach having continued the precise passing game championed by Roberto Martinez and then Brendan Rodgers, who the

Dane replaced as manager in June 2012.

GREATEST PLAYER Widely acknowledged as Denmark’s greatest player of all time, Laudrup drew on his experience managing a string of clubs from Brondby to Spartak Moscow and led Swansea to a ninth place finish last season and their first major trophy. However, their small squad has been hampered by the demands of the Europa League with injuries to key players, including Michu, Jonathan de Guzman, Jose Canas, Pablo Hernandez, Nathan Dyer and goalkeeper Michel Vorm, having taken their toll.

Since beating Newcastle United in early December, Swansea had a tough run of games with fixtures against Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are all battling in the top half of the table.

Jenkins had anguished over the club’s future direction under former Denmark international Laudrup, who had a glittering career as a player and won the European Cup with Barcelona in 1992, but in the end he decided they should part ways. “I had a meeting with Michael today (Tuesday) in a final attempt to support him and establish a way to improve the work of the backroom team to secure the results we need over the final 14 Premier League games,” said Jenkins.

“However, after thinking long and hard about the best way forward, I felt it was unlikely we would achieve a stable environment at the club to allow us to get back to basics and produce the performance levels that have served Swansea City so well over the last few years. —Reuters

Malaysia fines 17 players for match-fixing KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian soccer authorities have found an entire lower league team guilty of match-fixing in the latest scandal to blight the country’s corruption-riven competitions. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on Wednesday confirmed a report in the Star that said 17 players from Kuala Lumpur FA, competing in the country’s thirdtier FAM league, had been fined 5,000 Malaysian ringgit ($1,500) for match-fixing.

Another five players and three team officials from Kuala Lumpur were handed life bans and fined in December. The 17 were given lighter punishment because they had been “victims of circumstance,” the Star quoted FAM disciplinary committee chairman Taufek Abdul Razak as saying.

“Our investigations revealed that the players had no option ... they were threatened with physical harm by the bookies,” Taufek

said. “The players have pleaded guilty and appealed for leniency. So, we decided to fine them because they fixed the matches under duress.

“The players wanted to report to the authorities but feared for their safety. In fact, some of the players were beaten up for not following the orders of the bookies.”

The Star said another five officials at the club, which has suffered back-to-back relegations from the top and second-tier leagues, were expected to be charged with match-fixing. The paper did not say which games had been fixed. FAM declined to comment further when contacted by Reuters yesterday.

Malaysia, like much of Southeast Asia, has fought a long battle with match-fixing in sport with poorly paid players and officials routinely punished for wrongdoing. —Reuters

MILAN: AC Milan winger Adel Taarabt pledged to fulfil his potential for the Serie A giants, if given the chance by coach Clarence Seedorf, when he was unveiled by the club yesterday.

Taarabt, currently owned by English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, signed for the Rossoneri last week from Fulham on a loan deal that will see him remain until the summer with the chance of a permanent deal available.

Whether describing himself as the ‘Balotelli of Morocco’ will win favor with the club’s talismanic striker Mario Balotelli remains to be seen.

But the 24-year-old, who grew up in Marseille being inspired by the feats of French great Zinedine Zidane, says he is itching to stake his claim for a place in Seedorf’s side.

“It was a dream come true signing for Milan.

It’s a big change for me and I can’t wait to make my debut,” Taarabt said yesterday.

“I’m still really young and they say I’ve got talent. It’s been a while now that people have said that I should be playing in a big team.

“During my days with QPR, I was linked with PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) but nothing happened. I’m here now and I can’t wait to show my true worth. I have an idol and his name is Zinedine Zidane, because I grew up in Marseille.”

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said: “I think I am the director who has seen the most QPR matches, even when they were in the English second tier I watched them thanks to my friendship with (former chairman) Flavio Briatore.

“I was often asked about him and he always seemed a great player to me. I don’t understand why at the age of nearly 25 he hasn’t as yet shown all his talent, but I am convinced that with us he will show his true potential.”

Taarabt’s arrival will boost an attack already boasting striker Balotelli, who is usually supported by fellow forwards Robinho, Kaka and Keisuke Honda in Seedorf’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

Despite the competition for places, the

Moroccan international hopes to show the 37year-old Dutchman-who took over from sacked Massimiliano Allegri three weeks ago-he has plenty to offer.

“I hope Milan is a platform for me to show my abilities and to give everything to the team,”

But I’m really motivated and can’t wait to show my worth in Serie A and play my part against Atletico Madrid.” After a disastrous start to the campaign Milan sit in 10th place, 30 points behind leaders Juventus, 15 adrift of the last Champions League qualifying place and six

Adel Taarabt added Taarabt. “It’s true that when Milan were interested in me, I thought ‘well, they’ve got the Italian Balotelli and now they’re going to also have the Balotelli of Morocco’.

“Milan have shown great faith in me by including me in their Champions League squad.

behind Verona in the first available Europa League place.

The Rossoneri, who host Atletico in the first leg of the sides’ Champions League last-16 clash in a fortnight, are away to third-placed Napoli on Saturday. —AFP

Pakistani sugar-seller aims at Kyrgyz glory

Antonio di Natale

Udinese inch towards Cup final ROME: Udinese moved to within one game of their first Italian Cup final since 1922 on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in their semi-final first leg clash.

Udinese captain Antonio di Natale opened the scoring for the hosts before Fiorentina levelled through Peruvian Juan Manuel Vargas a minute before half-time.

However, Udinese edged the contest when Colombian Luis Muriel scored with a fine effort eight minutes from time.

Fiorentina will still fancy their chances of overhauling the deficit in the second leg next Tuesday.

They will also be boosted by German international striker Mario Gomez, who missed the past five months because of injury, due to return to training yesterday.

Di Natale, who has threatened to retire

because of constant criticism from the fans, broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, rounding off a counter-attack begun by Swiss Silvan Widmer.

Di Natale was removed from the fray at half-time but not till after he had an altercation with the referee, pleading that the Fiorentina equaliser should not have been allowed as he was fouled at the beginning of the move.

Fiorentina looked the sharper side at the outset of the second-half but eventually they ran out of ideas and energy and were punished when Muriel fired home.

Wednesday sees the second semi-final first leg match take place with AS Roma, second in Serie A, hosting Napoli, who are third in the league but whose form has tailed off of late. —AFP

KARACHI: Pakistani footballer Mohammad Adil is set to complete a remarkable journey and fulfil his dream of playing for a foreign club, after an impoverished beginning selling sugarcane on the streets. The 21-year-old has signed a one-year contract with Kyrgyzstan champions FC Dordoi to cap a fairytale rise that has seen him touted as one of the best players ever produced by the Pakistan Premier League.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” the winger told AFP by telephone from Lahore before his departure. “I am over the moon and very excited that my hard work has paid off.”

Even top-flight football in cricket-mad Pakistan is of a low standard and it is extremely unusual for a player produced by its leagues to move abroad.

Adil hails from a small town near the agricultural city of Bahawalpur in Punjab province, where his father used to sell sugarcane. As a boy, he would wheel a sugarcane cart to school, carrying his books and a tattered football. “Those were very difficult days,” remembered Adil. “I wanted to study and play but I had to take the cart to sell sugarcane after school and then in the little time I used to play football.”

Noticing his interest in football, his father encouraged him and Adil took big strides from small clubs to Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) — one of Pakistan’s top teams. KRL coach Tariq Lutfi said Adil was a natural talent. “Adil came to us as an exciting player, willing to achieve his football dreams,” Lutfi said.

“For the last three years he has been an integral part of KRL and we are now close to achieving a hat-trick of league titles and Adil has a major hand in it.”

Adil’s main asset is his speed which he uses to make marauding runs at the opposition and set up team-mates. He was KRL’s best player as the club finished runners-up in the Asian Football Confederation President Cup last year. He helped KRL draw 1-1 against Dordoi, then scored a scintillating goal in the 2-0 win over Palestinian club Hilal-Al Quds before they lost the final.

That, plus another fine show in a AFC Challenge Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan, caught the eye of the Dordoi hierarchy. “Luckily for me, Pakistan’s former coach Zavisa Milosavljevic (from Serbia) has taken over Dordoi club and since he liked my style he completed my signing and it would be great to play under him,” said Adil, who idolises Argentinian star Carlos Tevez. —AFP

Phinney makes history in Dubai

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Sangakkara’s triple ton flattens Bangladesh

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Milan unveil Taarabt, ‘Balotelli of Morocco’

Page 19

MADRID: Real Madrid’s goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas shouts after the third goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) semifinal first-leg football match against Atletico de Madrid.(Inset) Real Madrid’s Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria celebrates after scoring a goal. —AFP

Real burst Atletico bubble MADRID: Real Madrid took a huge step towards reaching the Copa del Rey final as they beat local rivals and holders Atletico Madrid 3-0 thanks to two own goals in their semi-final, first leg yesterday.

Atletico beat Real at the Santiago Bernabeu in last year’s final, but the hosts quickly set about making amends for that defeat as Emiliano Insua deflected Pepe’s effort into his own net after just 17 minutes. Jese Rodriguez, who was only starting because of Gareth Bale’s late withdrawal from the squad due to a calf injury, doubled Real’s advantage with a low finish from Angel di Maria’s pass just before the hour mark.

Di Maria was involved again as Real all but secured their place in the final when his deflected strike 17 minutes from time was credited as another own goal by Atletico defender Miranda.

Defeat ends a 24-game unbeaten run for Atletico and they will now need a remarkable

fightback to retain their title in the second leg at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.

In a typically intense encounter whenever these two sides meet, it was the home side who threatened first as Karim Benzema’s header was blocked just in front of his own goal line by Atletico captain Gabi.

Arda Turan then had Atletico’s best effort of the first-half as he nipped in front of Alvaro Arbeloa, but his header was palmed away to safety by Iker Casillas.

It was Real who were posing a more consistent threat, though, and they went in front when Pepe wandered forward to meet Xabi Alonso’s pass and his shot deflected off Insua and past the helpless Thibaut Courtois.

Miranda nearly restored parity moments later from Koke’s free-kick as Casillas again came to Real’s rescue. Di Maria then saw another deflected effort fly just over, whilst Courtois saved from Ronaldo and Luka Modric as Carlo Ancelotti’s

men ended the half in the ascendancy.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone reacted at half-time by introducing Cristian Rodriguez for Diego Ribas. And Atletico nearly rewarded Simeone with an equaliser as they started the second period brightly but Diego Godin headed over from point-blank range.

However, Real dealt the visitors a sucker punch of a blow just before the hour mark as Di Maria found Jese with a lovely through ball and the Spanish under-21 international’s effort squeezed under Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper was fortunate not to see another strike slip through his grasp a minute later as he spilled Di Maria’s powerful drive.

A brilliant goal line clearance from Modric prevented Godin from halving the deficit 18 minutes from time. And within 60 seconds, Real had added to their advantage when Di Maria’s long-range effort cannoned off Miranda to once again wrong-foot Courtois. — AFP

Ibra double steers PSG into Cup final PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck early and late on Tuesday to keep Paris Saint-Germain on course for a domestic double as the Ligue 1 leaders edged past Nantes 2-1 to reach the final of the League Cup. Ibrahimovic struck his first goal in this season’s competition to put PSG ahead after just five minutes at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Olivier Veigneau responded with an equaliser nine minutes from the end but Ibrahimovic popped up with his second of the match, and 31st of the season, in the final minute to send the three-time winners through to April’s final at the Stade de France.

“It was a real cup tie, the script is often like that,” said PSG coach Laurent Blanc afterwards. “In the first (period) we led 1-0. We had chances to double our lead but didn’t.

“In the second half Nantes applied more pressure, were more involved, created some chances and equalised. “But in the last 10 minutes my team stepped up a gear.

“We’re in the final, that’s what we were looking for and we’ve done it.” With PSG already eliminated from the French Cup, Blanc fielded a strong side that featured just three changes from the team that beat Bordeaux 2-0 on Friday evening. Ezequiel Lavezzi was drafted in to replace the injured Edinson Cavani on the left of an attacking three, while Marco Verratti, back from suspension, was restored to his midfield duties at the expense of Javier Pastore.

Reserve goalkeeper and cup-specialist Nicolas Douchez came in for Salvatore Sirigu, but new

recruit Yohan Cabaye was again only listed among the substitutes. Having swept the two league encounters this season, including a 5-0 demolition at the Parc des Princes just over a fortnight ago, PSG almost struck first blood just four minutes in as Lavezzi hit the outside of the post following Blaise Matuidi’s burst into the box.

Heavy rain made for a slick playing surface at La Beaujoire and it played a factor just moments after that initial reprieve as a poor clearance from Nantes keeper Remy Riou gifted Ibrahimovic the opening goal. Riou appeared to slip as he went to launch Issa Cissokho’s backpass upfield, succeeding only in sending the ball straight to Ibrahimovic with the Swede firing a first-time left-foot effort from 30 yards over the head of the unfortunate Nantes keeper.

Thiago Silva nearly added a second for the visitors inside the opening 15 minutes but Riou managed to divert the Brazilian’s fierce drive from a narrow angle away to safety.

Lavezzi then found himself in behind the Nantes backline but was thwarted by the legs of Riou on the half hour. The hosts almost drew level from their first genuine opportunity as Papy Djilobodji rose to meet Vincent Bessat’s corner only for a perfectly placed Verratti to clear off the line with referee Laurent Duhamel waving away protests for a handball.

A fractious second half produced little in the way of goalmouth action until Veigneau netted an

Ronaldo banned for three league games MADRID: Recently crowned Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Real Madrid’s next three league games after being sent-off in his side’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The score was already tied at 1-1 when Ronaldo was shown the eighth red card of his career after clashing with Athletic midfielder Ander Iturraspe 15 minutes from time.

The Spanish Football Federation handed the Portuguese the normal one game ban for a straight red card, but also added an extra two games for a gesture of dis-

sent Ronaldo made as he left the field.

Madrid still have the option to appeal the ban, but, should it be upheld, Ronaldo will be ruled out of the La Liga fixtures against Villarreal, Getafe and Elche.

However, the former Manchester United man will be free to take part in Copa del Rey semi-final, first leg at home to Atletico Madrid as the suspension only applies to league fixtures. Atletico currently lead La Liga by three points from both Madrid and Barcelona, who are locked on 54 points with 16 games still to go. — AFP

Giant-killing Blades dump strugglers Fulham in FA Cup

NANTES: Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic controls the ball during the French League Cup semi-final football match against Nantes. — AFP 81st-minute equaliser for Nantes as he slammed home substitute Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s cross.

But with extra time beckoning the hosts were undone as Ibrahimovic escaped the attentions of Oswaldo Vizcarrondo to head in Lucas’ cross from the right on 90 minutes and punch PSG’s ticket to the Stade de France. — AFP

LONDON: Third-tier Sheffield United scored in the last minute of extra time to dump sorry Premier League strugglers Fulham out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory on Tuesday.

The fourth-round replay at a rainsoaked Craven Cottage was almost completely devoid of goalmouth incident and looked destined for penalties until Shaun Miller snatched a dramatic winner in the 120th minute.

Miller ’s close -range header, from Harr y Maguire’s knock-down, gave United a second successive victory against top-flight opposition after a previous success against Aston Villa in the third round.

“It is unbelievable,” Miller told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I am delighted to get the goal for my little son, who was born a few weeks ago. I am made up for him.”

It was the latest indignity in a desperate recent run for Fulham, who have slipped to the foot of the Premier League table after a run of four consecutive league defeats.

“We know that we’ve only got ourselves to blame,” said manager Rene Meulensteen, who takes Fulham to his former club Manchester United in the

league on Sunday.

“At the end of the day, that’s what we need to do. We need to look each other in the eye and say, ‘Let’s pick ourselves up and dig ourselves out of it.’ “If you talk about this game and you say, ‘Have we hit rock-bottom?’ We probably have. OK, fine, that’s it.

“And if we have hit rock-bottom, it can’t get any worse and it can only get better, so that’s what we need to work for.” Sheffield United are themselves second from bottom in League One after a sequence of one win in seven games, but Nigel Clough’s side can now look forward to a home tie with either Preston North End or Nottingham Forest in round five.

“If you hang on in there at 0-0, you always have that opportunity,” said Blades manager Clough, who began his playing career at Forest under his late father, legendary manager Brian Clough.

“It was remarkable from the players out there. I thought we did enough in the game to get one goal.

“We had an off day on Saturday at Crewe (losing 3-0), but we put it behind us and produced a performance like this tonight. It is special, but we have to improve in the league.” — AFP

Business

Investors cling to frontiers as emerging markets sink Page 23

European shares cling to gains; jitters linger

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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Mideast bourses rebound along with global markets

Scooter boom: Women find gusto on India roads

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LONDON: Commuters walk and cycle across London’s Waterloo Bridge yesterday, on the first day of a strike by London Underground workers. — AFP

Travel chaos hits London amid rail strike Millions forced to take buses, walk or run to work LONDON: Millions of Londoners were hit by travel chaos yesterday as underground rail workers launched the first of a series of crippling strikes that have been branded “shameful” by Prime Minister David Cameron. As tempers frayed on packed buses and the capital’s streets swarmed with commuters walking, running and cycling to work through gale-force winds, Mayor Boris Johnson and powerful union leader Bob Crow traded recriminations over the latest walkout.

London’s underground rail drivers, who have a long history of calling strikes, plan to stay out for two days this week and another two days next week in a row over job cuts. Some three million people use the underground “tube” system every day and only the lucky few were able to cram themselves on to the few trains that were running.

Cameron said on his official Twitter feed that the strike was “shameful, bringing misery to millions of Londoners.”

Police were out in force at major rail stations like Waterloo to keep order in the long lines that built up at bus stops from shortly after dawn but even so there were reports of jostling as tempers frayed. Thousands of workers took to the roads on bikes while boat services along the River Thames were running extra services and the more athletic used the strike as an excuse for a training exercise and ran to work from the suburbs.

Lauren Sweeney, a legal PA, said it would take an extra 30 minutes on top of her usual one-hour journey to get from her home in Hornchurch in east London to her office near Liverpool Street in the city of London. “It’s a hassle.

Everyone has been talking about how they are going to

Microsoft’s CEO underlines Indian-bred success abroad MUMBAI: India yesterday celebrated the appointment of Satya Nadella as the new chief executive of Microsoft, seeing it as another endorsement of home-grown talent that has risen to the top of the US corporate world. Nadella, who became the giant company’s third CEO on Tuesday, was born and grew up in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad and studied at Mangalore University before shifting to America to further his studies and career.

“India makes a power point,” said a proud frontpage headline of the Times of India newspaper about the 46-year-old cricket lover’s appointment. “India has clearly emerged as the talent machine that is consistently churning out global CEOs,” said the daily.

Nadella, who has spent nearly half his life working for the technology titan, follows a string of Indian-origin business leaders who have made it to prestigious chief executive positions.

They include Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo and Ajay Banga at Mastercard, while Vikram Pandit ran Citibank until late 2012. Further afield, Anshu Jain is currently head of German banking giant Deutsche Bank. Uttam Majumdar, founder of Locuz Enterprise Solutions, a technology firm based in Hyderabad, told AFP his appointment was “a matter of immense pride”. “He can be a role model for millions of youngsters. His appointment enhances the image of India as a nation in the eyes of the world,” he said.

A talent exporter?

Vibhor Singhal, a Mumbai-based executive at brokerage PhillipCapital India, said a key reason for the success of India-origin executives was the “openness of the US economy in terms of accepting and allowing talent from outside to rise to the top”. Vikram Dhawan, director of investments at financial research firm Equentis Research, said that proficiency in the English language “also gives Indians an edge over the

competition”.

The South Asian nation produces about a million engineering graduates a year and has earned a reputation for its booming IT outsourcing business, thanks to its large educated workforce and low labor costs.

But many bright, middle-class youngsters leave the country due to a lack of well-paid jobs and difficulty in getting places at prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). In some cases, studying in the US is a choice for those who fail to gain entry to the IITs where competition is fierce for limited places. “Is the appointment of Satya Nadella a feather in India’s cap or a slap in the face for the Indian system?” asked an editorial on the Firstpost online news portal.

It suggested that, rather than celebrate Nadella, India should question why so many talented figures flower overseas instead of on home soil where family connections are often as important as qualifications.

Outside of corporate boardrooms, Indian-origin families have thrived in the United States. A 2012 report from the US think-tank Pew Research Centre showed the median annual income for Indian Americans was $88,000, much higher than the Asian American average of $66,000 and the overall US household median of $49,800.

Among Indian Americans aged 25 and older, 70 percent had obtained at least a bachelor’s degree, above the Asian American share at 49 percent and far higher than the national 28 percent, the study said.

Nadella is faced with the challenge of revitalizing Microsoft as the world shifts to a mobile Internet era, and some hope his knowledge of the Indian market could help boost opportunities for those in the industry at home. “One of the best that the East had to offer was embraced by the West on Tuesday, and back home there are great expectations that the winds of change will blow here as well,” said a story in The Economic Times. — AFP

get in to work for days,” Sweeney, 26 said. “It is pain but on this one I can understand why they are striking,” she added.

The RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) unions called the strike to protest against plans to close manned ticket offices as part of its modernization of the network. A second 48-hour strike is planned for next week from Feb 11 to Feb 14.

RMT leader Bob Crow said the strike was “rock solid” and had reduced the network to a skeleton service. The TSSA said the service had been reduced by 70 percent. “That is simply a reflection of the staff anger at attempts to bulldoze through cuts to jobs, services and safety which would reduce the tube to a dangerous, hollowed out shell,” Crow said in a statement. He added that the unions remained available for talks with Mayor Johnson aimed at resolving

the dispute. Johnson - who has accused the unions of “holding a gun to the heads of Londoners” - said he respected the rights of the trade unions to represent their workers but that the modernization plans had to go ahead.

The London Chamber of Commerce said repeated strike action could dent London’s image as a modern efficient city and affect long-term investment prospects. Based on figures from previous strikes in 2010, the business lobby said the two 48-hour strikes could cost the financial capital over 200 million pounds ($326 million). Turnout at the vote for the strike was only 30 percent, according to Transport for London (TfL), the body that runs the network, and Mayor Johnson has said he favors new rules to allow strikes to go ahead only if at least 50 percent of union workers take part in the ballot — Reuters

CBK reports an operating profit of KD 101.7 million KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait announced operating profit of KD101.7 million, up by 8.5% compared with KD93.8 million for 2012.

The net profit after provisions amounted to KD23.5 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2013, an increase of KD22.4 million compared to the net profit of KD1.1 million during 2012. In view of these encouraging financial indicators and profitability of the Bank during 2013, the Board of Directors decided to recommend to the General Assembly a cash dividend distribution of 7 fils per share (7% of par value) and bonus shares of 11%.

This recommendation is subject to the approval of the competent regulatory authorities. In continuation of its prudent policy, the bank used part of its operating profit to enhance its provisioning base. The total provisions held with the bank against its credit portfolio as at the end of the 31st December 2013 amounted to KD128.2 million and the provision coverage ratio for NPLs improved significantly to 367% at the end of 2013 compared to 169% to 2012.

Commenting on the bank’s financial results, Yacoub Al Ebrahim, official spokesman said Commercial Bank’s total assets at the end of December 2013 reached KD3.9 billion (December 2012: KD3.7 billion) with shareholders equity of KD561.8 million (December 2012: KD552.1 million). The capital adequacy ratio at the end of December 2013 is 18.38% which exceeds the minimum 12% required by the Central Bank of Kuwait, and is more than twice the

minimum ratio mandated by Basel Committee. The loans and advances grew by 8.9% and customer deposits increased by 16.5% during the year.

The official spokesman drew the attention of the bank’s shareholders and customers and financial analysts to the internationally recognized credit quality indicator, namely nonperforming loans to total credit ratio

Yacoub Al Ebrahim emphasizing that it showed improvement with non-performing loans ratio falling from 2.76% of total loans in 2012 to 1.35% in 2013 which reflects the Bank’s improving the quality of its credit portfolio by 50% during one year. The bank continues to demonstrate its cost leadership with operational efficiency, a competitive advantage for the bank, which continues to maintain one of the lowest cost/income ratios among Kuwait

banks at 24.1 % during the year ended 31 December 2013.

Yacoub Al Ebrahim further commented that within the bank’s efforts to diversify its income sources and mitigation of risks, particularly those related to geographical and sector concentration, Commercial Bank has recently extended its lending activities in international financing, indicating the upgrade by the Capital Intelligence of the Long Term Foreign Currency Rating from BBB to A- and Financial Strength Rating from BBB to BBB+ which reflects International Financial Community’s confidence on the improving financial indicators trend of the bank this year.

He pointed that the significant improvement in the bank’s financial indicators is attributed to its prudent policy adopted over the few past years by using the operating profits to enhance provisions and taking initiatives to reduce the NPLs ratio as well as reassessment of some collaterals held with the bank to be in line with the current market conditions.

He mentioned that the bank will continue to pursue a balanced strategy that will focus on analyzing available growth opportunities according to the current economic situation, with a particular emphasis on core business activities with better management of risks and risk adjusted returns. Al Ebrahim took the opportunity to thank the bank’s shareholders, valued customers and staff and regulatory authorities emphasizing that the Bank’s Management continues to take all required procedures for safeguarding stakeholders’ interests.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

BUSINESS

Business trip to Iran not ‘helpful’, US tells France French business push in Iran draws US sanctions warning TEHRAN: A visit to Iran by a large French business delegation drew a stern warning from Washington Tuesday that most US sanctions remain in place and will be enforced even against allies. The 116-strong French delegation, with representatives from major companies like Total, Lafarge and Peugeot, was the largest of its kind from Europe since a landmark nuclear deal reached with the major powers in November gave Iran limited relief from crippling US and EU sanctions.

French employers’ union vice president Thierry Courtaigne said the delegation, which arrived in Tehran Monday, wanted to assess the commercial opportunities opened up by the easing of Western sanctions. But a senior US official said Secretary of State John Kerry had telephoned his French counterpart Laurent Fabius to tell him that the visit-while from the private sector-was “not helpful” in sending the message that “it is not business as usual” with Iran.

Testifying before skeptical lawmakers, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said Washington was warning the growing number of business delegations heading to Iran that sweeping sanctions remained in place. “Tehran is not open for business because our sanctions relief is quite temporary, quite limited and quite tar-

geted,” said Sherman, who is overseeing the administration’s cautious efforts to seal a diplomatic solution to the decade-old nuclear standoff with Iran.

“It doesn’t matter whether the countries are friend or foe-if they evade our sanctions, we will sanction them,” she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Just last month, the US Treasury announced that Luxembourg financial clearing house Clearstream Banking had agreed to pay the United States $152 million to settle accusations it illegally helped Iran’s central bank access the US financial system in 2007 and 2008 in violation of US sanctions.

Beating path to Tehran The French delegation is the latest in a string of foreign trade missions to beat a path to Tehran since the November deal.

Late last month, a large delegation visited from fellow NATO member Turkey, headed

by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said the neighboring countries aimed to more than double trade to $30 billion (21.9 billion euros) next year from $13.5 billion in 2013. The French were given a warm welcome by Iranian leaders, who promised new measures to encourage foreign investment, particularly in its oil and gas sector.

In a speech to them, Deputy Oil Minister

omy. Zarif revealed he has “no authority” to discuss the war in Syria with Kerry, tacitly acknowledging the regime’s tight grip despite overtures to the West. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who revealed the Iranian admission on Tuesday, refused to be drawn on who would be authorized to speak to Kerry, only adding: “I would point you to the Iranians for how they structure their portfolio.”

Tehran has also long been accused of backing Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad by providing arms, cash and manpower to the regime as it battles a three-year uprising which has now left over 136,000 dead. The November agreement between Iran and the P5+1 - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany-requires Iran to scale back its nuclear activities for limited sanctions relief.

The six-month accord, which took effect January 20, is aimed at buying time for a comprehensive agreement that could see sanctions lifted on the oil and gas-rich country with a population of 76 million people.

The interim agreement only loosens restrictions on the export of automobiles, aerospace products, precious metals and petrochemicals, without affecting the far more damaging restrictions on Iran’s access to banks and its oil and gas exports. —AFP

Ali Majedi said Iran’s latest five-year plan, running from 2010-2015, calls for $230 billion of investment in its petroleum industry, of which $150 billion would go to upstream activities, according to the official IRNA news agency. He said nearly all downstream projects, for refineries and distribution, would be offered on a build-operatetransfer (BOT) or build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis.

Major oil companies have steered clear of Iran in recent years because of the strict Western sanctions. But the prospect of their easing in return for Iran’s scaling back its controversial nuclear program has sparked renewed interest in a country that boasts the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves and second-largest gas reserves. Kerry met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Sunday, on the sidelines of a Munich security conference, to discuss the next talks between Iran and global powers, which open on February 18 aimed at reaching a final deal to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program.

Many US allies, including Israel, have reacted angrily to America’s growing rapprochement with Iran, warning Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds the reins of power, is only interested in winning relief for the hard-hit econ-

Indonesia growth hits four-year low JAKARTA: Indonesia’s economy, Southeast Asia’s biggest, grew at its slowest pace in four years in 2013, data showed yesterday, but beat expectations and showed signs of improvement despite being hard hit by emerging market turmoil. Growth for the year was 5.78 percent, the official statistics agency said, the first time the economy has expanded at less than six percent since 2009, when it sank to 4.6 percent following the global financial crisis. But last year’s figure, down from 6.23 percent in 2012, still beat forecasts of 5.7 percent growth due to a pick-up in the fourth quarter as exports surged.

Economists said they were surprised by the stronger-than-expected figure which follows a string of recent positive data, including a surge in the trade surplus and stabilizing inflation.

“This better-than-expected figure is mostly due to a jump in exports in the last three months,” said David Sumual of Bank Central Asia, pointing in particular to more mineral shipments before a partial export ban came into force last month. Indonesia was one of the hardest hit countries when foreign funds were pulled out of emerging markets in the summer on fears the US Federal Reserve was poised to reduce its huge stimulus program.

The Fed’s bond-buying scheme, which was launched in late 2012, was credited with sparking a rally in emerging markets, with investors seeking out better returns on their profits. But as the US economy strengthened and speculation grew the program would be tapered off, investors dumped developing economy stocks and currencies, sending shock waves through emerging markets from Indonesia and India to Turkey and Brazil.

Indonesia was also affected by a slowdown in demand for exports from China and domestic factors, including a large current account deficit, surging inflation after a fuel price hike and policies criticized as nationalistic. The Jakarta stock exchange plummeted from a record high of more than 5,000 in May to below 4,000 in September, while the rupiah lost more than 25 percent against the dollar in 2013.

Authorities scrambled to shore up the economy, hiking interest rates 175 basis points between June and November-although analysts warned the aggressive tightening would weigh on growth.

They also introduced a raft of policies aimed at boosting confidence, such as easing rules for foreign investors in sectors including power plants, ports and airports. Emerging market jitters have returned in recent days after the Fed implemented a second successive cut to its stimulus and negative manufacturing data heightened fears about China and the US. A huge current account deficit has added to pressure on the Indonesian economy. The deficit widened to $9.8 billion in the second quarter, the biggest shortfall since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.

China slowdown hits exports Resource-rich Indonesia has also been hard hit by slowing demand for its key commodities exports-particularly from China, which is suffering a slowdown-as well as the end of a boom in prices over the past decade. Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and the world’s fourth most populous nation, is a major exporter of many commodities, including coal, rubber, nickel, copper and gold. Critics say policies perceived as nationalistic have also put investors off, such as a ban on the export of some unprocessed mineral ores, while looming elections have heightened business uncertainty.

An increase in fuel prices by up to 44 percent, one of the government’s major economic decisions of last year, pushed up inflation to more than eight percent and sparked violent protests across the country. Although the reduction in government subsidies was seen as necessary to help the economy, some believe the increased inflation combined with aggressive monetary tightening has hit consumer spending power and contributed to slower growth. Despite the slowdown Indonesia still has one of the world’s fastest growing economies. —AFP

NEW DELHI: A model sits on a TVS bike displayed at the Auto Expo 2014 in Greater Noida yesterday. The 12th edition of the Auto Expo takes place from February 5-11. —AFP

Scooter boom - Women find gusto on India roads percent in the nine months through December, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers data, easily outpacing the 2.5 percent sales growth of full-size motorcycles. Sales of cars, trucks and buses all fell. Still, scooters accounted for only 20 percent of India’s 14 million-unit two-wheeler market in the last financial year. Two wheelers are the most common mode of transport for millions of middle-class Indians.

Both Honda and Yamaha have identified the growth potential in scooters, and are building models designed for women and adding new plants to keep up with demand. “College-going girls and working women are really creating this demandwave in the scooter segment,” said Abdul Majeed, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers India.

“Housewives are also using scooters to drop (off) kids and buy vegetables,” Majeed said, adding that he expects strong sales growth to continue and for companies to launch more scooters geared towards women. —Reuters

NEW DELHI: ‘Plush pink’ and ‘burgundy bliss’ scooters are the new buzz on India’s roads, even as the rest of the autos market is sputtering amid an economic slowdown. The scooters go by names such as “Pleasure”, but marketing aside, this new fleet of women-friendly bikes reflects a deeper change in attitude and society in India, and has captured the attention of foreign manufacturers such as Japan’s Honda Motor Co Ltd and Yamaha Motor. Young, wellheeled and independent-minded women, who are also conscious of the perils of using public transport, are helping to propel a boom in sales of scooters.

The rising popularity of the scooter comes at a time of nationwide protests against the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in India. In one case, a young female student died after she was gangraped on a bus in Delhi. Weighing convenience as well as safety, some young women, and their parents, see the scooter as the best solution for commuting to work, going to college or simply going out to meet friends. Scooter sales were up nearly 20

News

in brief

Oman’s National Gas Co chief executive detained DUBAI: Oman’s National Gas Co SAOG confirmed yesterday that its chief executive had been detained by the public prosecutor over suspected bribery, and said the firm’s financial controller would take over as acting CEO. A source in the prosecutor’s office said earlier this week that the detention of the CEO, named on the company’s website as Goutam Sen, was part of a wider corruption probe involving Oman’s oil industry and related sectors. “The Board of Directors wish to inform that the Company has received a reply from the public prosecution regarding the detention of the Company’s CEO,” National Gas Co said in a bourse statement. “The reply received states that the CEO has been accused of bribing a government official.” The firm said its “business would run as usual” and directors “do not expect any financial implications on the company due to this development”. It said its financial controller, who was not named in the brief statement, “would be acting on behalf of the CEO so that routine operations of the company do not get affected”. Omani leader Sultan Qaboos has been pursuing an anti-corruption campaign in an effort to stem public anger about graft, which was one of the reasons behind mass protests in several Omani cities in 2011.

Independent Petroleum Group earns KD6 million KUWAIT: Independent Petroleum Group achieved total profits of KD6 million, of 42 fils per share, compared to KD5.83 million of 40.3 fils per share in 2012. The company added in a statement on Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) website that its Board of Directors recommended of distributing cash profits at 30 percent out of the major value of the share, for the company’s shareholders for this year. Total of the company’s assets reached KD342.9 million, while liabilities hit KD 260.9 million in December 2013, compared to liabilities that reached 295.4 million of the same period in 2012. Independent Petroleum Group was founded in 1976, and was officially listed in the KSE in 1995. Independent Petroleum Group is a group of companies with worldwide operations in the trading and marketing of crude oil, petroleum products, petrochemicals and fertilizers. In addition to this core activity, IPG has interests in pipelines and shipping. IPG focuses its activities on special, high-return markets in the Red Sea, East Africa and the Indian SubContinent. The company became a Public Limited Company with effect from 10 December 1995 and its shares became listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.

Former Greek bank chief arrested over bad loan ATHENS: Greek authorities arrested the former chairman of defunct state lender Hellenic Postbank (TT) yesterday on charges of money laundering and fraud, police and court officials said. Greek prosecutors are looking into loans which TT granted in 2007-2012 without proper guarantees and which may have caused the bank losses of 500 million euros ($675 million).

Angelos Filippidis, taken in handcuffs to Athens central police headquarters with a pack of reporters in pursuit, said he had returned voluntarily from Istanbul, where he had been detained on a Greek arrest warrant. He has denied wrongdoing. Greece’s foreign ministry said Turkey had deported the banker. He will appear before a prosecutor later in the day. Filippidis, who was once president of one of Greece’s biggest football clubs, is among 25 people charged in the TT affair. They include Greek businessmen Dimitris Kontominas and Lavrentis Lavrentiadis - who is already in custody pending trial over another banking investigation. Both men deny wrongdoing. Greece’s financial crisis has led to public anger with a political and business elite widely viewed as privileged and corrupt, prompting prosecutors to step up corruption investigations.

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal transfer Irani Riyal cash Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.773 4.533 2.689 2.167 2.836 222.630 36.537 3.643 6.252 8.634 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 75.684 77.982 737.270 753.820 77.292

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.150 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.323 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.324 Tunisian Dinar 177.530 Jordanian Dinar 400.790 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.904 Syrian Lira 2.022 Morocco Dirham 35.025 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 283.700 Euro 383.850 Sterling Pound 467.250 Canadian dollar 255.860 Turkish lira 125.700 Swiss Franc 314.170 Australian Dollar 249.370 US Dollar Buying 282.500 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

GOLD 240.000 121.000 62.500

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 256.83 259.34 318.26 386.56 283.10 466.63 2.85 3.642 4.527 2.170 2.842 2.688 77.15 753.49 40.66 402.92 736.24 78.18 75.62

SELL CASH 253.83 260.34 316.26 387.56 286.10 469.63 2.87 3.912 4.827 2.605 3.377 2.790 77.61 755.56 41.26 408.57 743.54 78.73 76.02

2.980 3.825 86.135 47.150 9.635 126.740

Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

0.006505 0.000069 0.220336 0.019627 0.001897 0.009237 0.008327

0.006785 0.000075 0.226336 0.028127 0.002477 0.009417 0.008877

Bahrain Exchange Company

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar Turkish Lira UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

Arab 0.745798 0.037258 0.000078 0.000185 0.395784 1.0000000 0.000139 0.024503 0.001201 0.730592 0.077188 0.074990 0.002173 0.172645 0.126091 0.076232 0.001288

0.753798 0.040356 0.000080 0.000245 0.403284 1.0000000 0.000239 0.048503 0.001836 0.736272 0.078401 0.075690 0.002393 0.180645 0.133091 0.077381 0.001368

Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit Chinese Yuan Renminbi Thai Bhat Turkish Lira

COUNTRY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen

Selling Rate 283.350 258.605 463.460 384.055 313.960 748.185 77.125 78.675 76.430 399.325 40.646 2.166 4.539 2.682 3.640 6.238 695.965 3.790

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar

SELL CASH Europe 0.007372 0.456174 0.006087 0.047309 0.377283 0.041074 0.081832 0.008134 0.039433 0.305873 0.126091 Australasia 0.243583 0.226374

SELLDRAFT 0.008372 0.465174 0.018087 0.052390 0.384783 0.046274 0.81832 0.018134 0.044433 0.317073 0.133091 0.255083 0.235874

Al Mulla Exchange Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint

America 0.250579 0.279500 0.280000

0.259079 0.283850 0.283850

Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee

Asia 0.003390 0.045415 0.034444 0.004085 0.000018 0.002715 0.003367 0.000252 0.082514 0.003080 0.002401

0.003990 0.048915 0.037194 0.004486 0.000024 0.002895 0.003367 0.000267 0.088514 0.003250 0.002681

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) 283.150 384.550 462.850 256.950 4.525 40.315 2.164 3.640 6.235 2.685 753.900 77.100 75.600

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

BUSINESS

Japan transfers frozen oil funds to Iran First oil payment since US halted transfers TOKYO: Japan this week became the first of Iran’s oil buyers to make a payment for crude imports under an interim nuclear deal, sources said yesterday, as the West eased a year-long stranglehold on revenues that has crippled the Iranian economy. Tough international sanctions over the past two years have cut Iran’s oil exports in half. US measures imposed a year ago stopped the remaining importers of Iranian oil from transferring cash to Tehran, starving the OPEC member of its principal source of hard currency and forcing Iran to the negotiating table over its disputed nuclear program.

Tokyo’s role in sending the first funds may be a boon for Japanese firms jostling for position with international rivals to invest in Iran’s oil and gas sector, should a further agreement end Tehran’s international isolation. It is unclear why Japan was the first of Iran’s oil buyers to pay. China, India and South Korea also buy crude from Iran and all have billions of dollars of cash held in Iranian accounts pending transfer. The Iranian funds were released earlier this week from an account held by the Bank of Japan, three sources told Reuters speaking on condition of

anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

One of the sources confirmed the amount was for $550 million, while another said it was likely further releases of Iranian funds would be made by Japan as they come due. A substantial portion of frozen Iranian funds are held at the Bank of Japan, one of the sources said. The funds were transferred to an Iranian Central Bank account in Switzerland, a US Treasury spokeswoman said earlier this week.

Under a Nov 24 agreement with six major powers, Tehran gets limited sanctions relief in exchange for steps to curb its nuclear program.

The interim agreement gives Iran access to $4.2 billion of its oil revenues frozen abroad if it carries out its part of the deal, while parties continue negotiations for a final agreement within a year. The next round of talks starts on Feb 18. The West suspects Iran was using the nuclear program to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says the program was to generate electricity and for medical isotopes. Some payments under the six-month deal, which officially began on Jan. 20, depend on Iran fulfilling its commitment to dilute half of its 20 percent enriched ura-

nium to no more than 5 percent enriched uranium.

Sanctions pain Until the interim deal, Iran’s importers had been steadily reducing purchases to avoid falling foul of US and European Union sanctions. The four Asian buyers together cut oil imports from Iran by 15 percent on the year to an average of 935,862 barrels per day (bpd) in 2013, government and industry data showed. The decades-long US campaign to isolate Iran has choked foreign investment and barred access to the latest technology to exploit the country’s vast oil and gas reserves.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last month that Iran was seeking a comprehensive agreement so it can develop its battered economy, inviting Western companies to seize opportunities now and promising oil executives a new, attractive investment model for oil contracts by September. Oil and other companies from France and Russia have already responded. Iran welcomed a senior French trade delegation to the country on Monday, telling more than 100 executives that the far-sighted

among them stood to win the race for business following an easing of some economic sanctions. A source close to the delegation said it was the most senior group of executives and financiers to visit Iran since the 1979 revolution.

Japanese banks and other companies have been cautious about approaching Iran because of the fear of running afoul of US sanctions if the current opening falters, bankers and officials said. Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group paid a $9 million fine in 2012 to US regulators to settle charges that it had violated US sanctions with payments to Iran that dated back to 2007. It will take some time before investment materializes and oil flows return to their pre-sanction levels. Iran cannot get its next installment of $450 million on March 1 unless the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms Tehran has done half the necessary dilution of its enriched uranium, according to a Treasury fact sheet. The following is a table outlining the payments totaling $4.2 billion and their conditions to Iran following the November agreement between Tehran and the five powers. — Reuters

Investors cling to frontiers as emerging markets sink So-called Fragile Five currencies suffer sharp losses

TOKYO: A pedestrian passes an advert of Japanese electronics giant Panasonic in Tokyo. — AFP

Panasonic shares soar 15% TOKYO: Panasonic shares rocketed 15 percent yesterday after the struggling Japanese electronics giant said it swung into the black with a $2.4 billion profit in the nine months to December. The Tokyo-listed shares soared to 1,220 yen in the first response to the announcement after markets closed Tuesday. Panasonic’s stock, which had sunk seven percent in the previous session in a broad market sell-off, briefly jumped as high as 20 percent yesterday morning.

The company-recovering from combined losses topping $15 billion in the past two fiscal years-said net profit came in at 243.0 billion yen ($2.4 billion) in the first three quarters, reversing a net loss of 623.8 billion yen over the same period a year ago. Sales rose 4.4 percent. The firm, which makes everything from appliances and televisions to GPS navigation products and batteries, credited its healthier balance sheet to cost-cutting, buoyant auto division sales, and a fall in the value of the yen.

The currency’s decline-losing about a quarter of its value against the dollar-has helped Japanese exporters by making them more competitive overseas and inflating repatriated profits. Panasonic’s results come as the country’s once world-beating electronics giants, including Sony and Sharp, undergo painful restructurings aimed at stemming years of record losses. The struggling sector has faced serious challenges in recent years,

with television sales plunging while foreign rivals such as Apple and Samsung overtook them in the lucrative smartphone market.

Panasonic has said it will abandon the consumer smartphone market and stop production of plasma television screens, in line with a broader industry shift away from plasma units.

Hitachi and Pioneer have also exited the market in recent years. Sales of Panasonic’s household appliances and digital consumer products, including its struggling television business, remained weak as it shifts attention away from loss-making divisions as part of a wider restructuring.

Analysts have been calling on the sector to dump money-losing businesses and shift their attention to profitable areas.

On Tuesday, Sharp booked a 17.7 billion yen net profit in the AprilDecember period, reversing a whopping net loss of 424.3 billion yen a year earlier. Sales jumped 21 percent on brisk demand for panels, including its popular “IGZO” displays for mobile phones, said the maker of Aquosbrand electronics. Sony, which reports it earnings today, has also returned to profit after losing money four years in a row. Yesterday, Sony denied media reports that it was in talks to sell its struggling personal computer business, under the Vaio brand, to a Japanese investment fund.

Sharp shares slipped 4.41 percent to 303 yen by the break while Sony was up 3.33 percent at 1,581 yen. — AFP

LONDON: As emerging markets tum- including the Gulf countries of Kuwait, through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) bled this year, the riskiest country Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and these have been among the first to take fright and leave, investors say. groupings on the fringes have been a have currencies pegged to the dollar.

Pegs can be a problem if central Emerging stocks are a trillion-dollar haven. Small markets, local stories and in some cases pegged currencies banks run out of foreign exchange market, of which $300 billion is in ETFs, backed by strong central bank reserves reserves to prop up their currencies. compared with less than $20 billion have shielded frontier markets from the But the energy-producing surplus under management in frontier stocks, worst of the emerging market rout. countries of the Middle East have $30- according to estimates by banks and Lebanon, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, 60 billion in reserves, and can likely ride fund tracker EPFR. This cash has headed for the exits as Qatar and Kuwait are among the out the current volatility if push came world’s lesser developed markets and to shove. These three countries make the Fed started cutting its bond-buying are outperforming more mainstream up more than 50 percent of the fron- program, a process famously described emerging markets in the most recent tiers index, helping to explain its out- as “tapering” last May by then-chairman performance. Other top-performing Ben Bernanke. “A lot of the money comstorm.

The benchmark MSCI frontiers index frontier markets this year include ing out of emerging markets is still due has eked out a 1 percent rise in total Bulgaria and Lithuania, which have cur- to tapering tantrums,” said Antoon de returns this year, but that compares rencies linked to the still relatively Klerk, fund manager at Investec. “That with a 7.4 percent loss in emerging markets and a 5.4 percent drop in developed stocks. To be sure, the performance of headline frontier indices mask the differing fortunes of an eclectic group of markets that includes Argentina, which is going through another severe currency crisis. But far from the widespread advice to be hyper selective right now within the emerging markets universe, sticking with the broad frontiers index may have been the most reliable play over the past year.

Last year too, emerging stocks, bonds and currencies fell as investors fretted about lower growth in countries such as Brazil and China and the end of the US Federal Reserve’s monetary stimulus program, which had depressed US bond yields and driven volatile investor flows to high-yielding assets. But frontier stocks and bonds rose in 2013, boosted in markets such as sub-Saharan Africa by a stronger BUENOS AIRES: A man carries an oversized framed map of Argentina in Buenos growth outlook. “We have picked up Aires, Argentina. Many Argentines note that the current economic woes are not as where we left off last year,” said Slim bad as Argentina’s financial collapse in 2001-2002. — AP Feriani, CEO of Advance Emerging liquidity would not have reached fronCapital. “The key difference is currency, buoyant euro. tier markets to nearly the same extent.” you do not have currency moves like Because of this lack of liquidity, there is No correlation we have seen in the Fragile Five.”

Frontier markets, so-called because also a lack of correlation between fronThe so-called Fragile Five currencies of the major emerging economies of of the relative difficulty of getting in tier markets and other markets, and Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and and out of them, have won far less between individual frontier markets.

Investors look more closely at local Turkey have suffered sharp losses over international investment than emergthe past 12 months, forcing protective ing markets and so have been less factors instead. The top-performing interest rate rises in several cases, on a prone to the flight of speculative hot frontier markets this year are Jordan reversal of the investor inflows of the money. Emerging markets have attract- and Lebanon, which investors ascribe past few years. Many frontier markets, ed index-tracking retail investors to improving sentiment about neigh-

Thailand’s Central Bank warns of substantial risk BANGKOK: Thailand’s Central Bank warned yesterday of “substantially increased” risk to economic growth after the weekend’s disrupted general election did nothing to restore stability in the politically polarized country. Protesters have been trying to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra since November, prompting the government to announce a state of emergency ahead of Sunday’s vote that was boycotted by the main opposition party. The ballot and the emergency order are being challenged in the courts and there is no indication of how, or even if, an election winner can be announced.

The Bank of Thailand’s monetary policy committee (MPC) warned of the effect of a prolonged crisis on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism.

The stock market has fallen more than 10 percent since the start of November. “The committee agreed that the downside risks to growth have increased substantially,” the panel said, according to the minutes of a Jan 22 meeting.

“Growth impact could be more pronounced if a prolonged unrest were to cause a switch of export orders to other countries, with a potential knock-on effects on domestic spending,” it said.

The standoff, with bursts of violence in which 10 people have been killed, is the latest round of an eight-year dispute between Bangkok’s middle class, southern Thais and the royalist establishment against the mostly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was ousted

by the military in 2006. Tourism is taking a hit, infrastructure spending has stalled and investors and consumers are uneasy.

At the Jan. 22 meeting, the committee slashed its economic growth forecast for this year to around 3 percent from about 4 percent.

A week later, central bank Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said growth could be even lower than 3 percent because the unrest had affected consumption and investment. Economic data released since the MPC meeting show continuing weakness. Factory output in December fell

6.1 percent from a year earlier, and while exports that month were up 1.9 percent on an annual basis, central bank indexes for consumption and investment kept falling.

Allegations of corruption Pressure on the government mounted on Tuesday, when a flagship rice-buying scheme vital to its support stumbled closer to collapse and the opposition filed legal challenges that could void the weekend election. The rice scheme helped sweep Yingluck to power in

BANGKOK: A Thai vendor shows a variety of rice on sale at his shop at a market in Bangkok. — AFP

2011 but is now steeped in allegations of corruption, while growing losses are making it increasingly hard to fund. Political crises have not always been a drag on Thailand’s economy despite governments being toppled, protesters shot, buildings set ablaze, and airports and shopping malls seized by demonstrators over the past eight years. Each time, Thailand’s financial markets bounced back. “The Thai economy has withstood the political rupture since 2006, and other shocks including large-scale flooding in late 2011,” Fitch Ratings said.

GDP growth had averaged 2.9 percent between 2008 and 2013, slightly higher than the average of 2.6 percent in comparable countries, it said. “Nonetheless, Fitch thinks political tensions are already weighing on economic activity - evident from a contraction in manufacturing output of around 7 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2013.” The anti-government demonstrators, mostly from Bangkok and the south, say Yingluck is Thaksin’s puppet and the costly giveaways that won his parties every election since 2001 are tantamount to vote-buying using taxpayers’ money.

They say Thaksin’s new political order is tainted by graft and cronyism and want an appointed “people’s council” to replace Yingluck and overhaul a political system hijacked by her brother, who lives in exile to avoid a jail term for graft. It was not all bad news for Yingluck. The election, if not annulled by the courts, is almost certain to renew her mandate, although it is unclear when re-runs of disrupted votes will be held.—Reuters

boring Syria, following a peace process which started last month. Tunisia has also rallied, boosted by the adoption last week of a new constitution. And just as investors cheer reform-friendly emerging markets such as Mexico, Morocco, which suffered a downgrade from the emerging market to the frontiers index last year, has shown resilience following the government’s willingness to tackle energy subsidies.

Even where frontier markets have fallen this year, it is not necessarily related to the global situation, analysts say. “The frontier currencies that are not pegged get driven by a lot of internal factors,” said Angus Downie, head of economic research at African bank Ecobank. “The global economic situation has had an impact in Africa but it’s somewhat muted - Africa is not fully integrated with global economic trade.”

The Ghanaian cedi, for example, has hit record lows, forcing the central bank to stabilize it.

But investors say this is because new energy resources in the country encouraged high levels of government debt, rather than due to global factors.

“The fall in the cedi has wholly been of Ghana’s making, it is a massively overheated economy,” said de Klerk.

However, some of last year’s frontier darlings are now feeling the heat of the global sell-off. Nigerian stocks, which soared 43 percent in 2013, have fallen 2.5 percent in 2014, the naira is trading below its 150-160 per dollar band, and the central bank says hot money remains in the system.

Mauritian stocks have fallen after rallying 20 percent last year, domestic bond yields have risen and the central bank governor said this week that rates should be raised to prevent capital flight. And even if investors like local stories, they may have to sell the bad with the good in the event of an even larger-scale sell-off, in order to meet client redemptions from their funds.

“We are seeing continuing outflows of emerging markets, week in, week out, we have seen some panic,” said Feriani.

“Frontier markets have remained uncorrelated, that won’t go on forever I am a bit cautious.”— Reuters

SIA grounds Airbus A380 after scratches found on fuselage SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines said yesterday it had grounded an Airbus A380 superjumbo for further inspection after scratches were found on its fuselage. The scratches were discovered after the double-decker plane, the world’s biggest passenger aircraft, arrived in Frankfurt on Sunday from New York, SIA said in a statement.

There were 126 passengers and 26 crew onboard. “The aircraft was subsequently grounded for checks and passengers were either transferred to other airlines or accommodated in hotels,” the statement said. “Following inspections by engineering teams in Frankfurt, it was determined that the scratches posed no safety issue and the aircraft was cleared for departure.” The plane arrived in Singapore on Tuesday after a 23-hour delay and has been grounded for further checks. SIA said the cause of the scratches has yet to be established. “Our engineers are currently performing further checks on the aircraft, and it will resume service once cleared,” the airline said. A source close to Airbus said in Paris yesterday that the scratches were probably caused by a “defrosting system” at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York. Experts say the defrosting equipment is used to remove and prevent the build-up of ice on the plane’s outer surface, especially on the wings and fuselage, by spraying chemicals using high-pressure water jets.The United States has been hit by extra-cold weather in recent weeks, with a massive storm on Tuesday bringing with it a dangerous mix of frozen rain and sleet. The incident on Sunday was the second for SIA in less than a month involving an Airbus 380. —AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

BUSINESS

Oil rises to $106, supported by cold in US

NEW YORK: A vendor stocks his corner market with fresh fruit and vegetables while people attempt to navigate a snowy sidewalk during a snow storm yesterday in the SoHo neighborhood of New York, United States. — AFP

LONDON: Brent crude rose to around $106 a barrel yesterday following gains in the US oil benchmark after an industry report showed lower inventories at the US delivery point and robust heating fuel demand from cold weather. The American Petroleum Institute’s report on Tuesday said crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma fell by 1.6 million barrels last week and that distillate inventories, which include heating oil, fell by 1.5 million barrels.

Global marker Brent crude was up 16 cents at $105.95 at 1154 GMT after three straight sessions of losses. US crude, also known as WTI, rose for a second session to $97.90, up 71 cents.

“The oil price is anchored around $106,” said Christopher Bellew, a broker at Jefferies Bache in London. “Eventually, it will probably break to the upside, supported by geopolitical considerations, possible supply disruptions in the North Sea and the colder weather in the United States.”

US crude also drew support from the US government’s granting of two licenses to re-export foreign crude to the UK and another two to Italy, raising hopes that such shipments may ease a US supply glut.

The discount of US crude to Brent narrowed yesterday to its smallest since midOctober as traders expected the startup of

a pipeline from Cushing to refineries on the US Gulf coast to drain excess oil from the oil hub.

Other analysts saw little to push Brent much higher due to higher output in Libya and the North Sea. “Rising supply is likely to continue to exert downward pressure on the price of Brent,” said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank. “In contrast, the WTI price has benefited from bullish API stock data.” On the charts, Brent has support at $105.00-$105.50, said Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital, which is at the bottom of its trading range.

Gains are limited near the top of the range at $108.50-$109.00, he said.

In Libya, exports from the El Sharara oilfield have resumed, while the North Sea’s Buzzard field, which helps underpin the Brent market, restarted production after an outage on Monday. Despite a recent increase, protests and unrest in Libya have been keeping more than half of the country’s oil output off the market.

A six-month blockade on Libya’s eastern oil ports continued. Overall US crude inventories rose by 384,000 barrels, according to the API, and traders will be looking to the government’s weekly supply report at 1530 to confirm the trend in stock movements. — Reuters

European shares cling to gains; jitters linger Investors stick to safety LONDON: European shares clung to slender gains yesterday as disappointing Christmas retail sales took the gloss off the best euro zone PMI figures in 2-1/2 years and calmer conditions in emerging markets. Overnight trading in Asia had been mixed despite a rebound on Wall Street, and European nerves were beginning to wobble again as a sharp drop in December shop sales added to caution before the European Central Bank’s monthly meeting today.

The euro inched lower and the FTSEurofirst 300 share index was up just 0.2 percent. It had earlier climbed 0.4 percent after Markit’s euro zone Composite PMI, which gauges business activity across thousands of companies, brightened the market mood. The survey showed the 18member bloc’s recovery becoming increasingly broad-based, with Germany leading an upswing in peripheral members and signs of a stabilization in number two economy France.

Retail data shortly afterwards disappointed, however, with a 1 percent fall in December sales compared with a year before highlighting the pressure still on consumers. “ Technically, the market is clearly ‘oversold’, and investors should be rushing in,” said Jeanne Asseraf-Bitton, head of global cross-asset research at Lyxor Asset Management. “But the problem is the global economic recovery that everyone was betting on just a few weeks ago doesn’t seem to be as smooth as expected.”

The mixed signals from Europe followed data hiccups from the United States and China, the world’s biggest economies, earlier this week. Calmer markets in vulnerable emerging nations like Turkey, South Africa and Russia also helped nerves, but dealers warned the mood remained brittle and that it a poor US payrolls report tomorrow could set the bears running again. The ADP reading on private hiring is due later, and investors are likely to react badly to any disappointment.

Wall Street soft After recovering slightly on Tuesday, futures prices foresaw Wall Street back in the red when trading resumes. As well as the jobs report, there will also be services PMI data just before 1400 GMT to enliven things until tomorrow’s payrolls. In Asia, recent strains had continued to take their toll. Demand for safety in the yen and toprated bonds grew on a roller-coaster day

for Toyko’s Nikkei while Chinese stocks suffered more losses. The Nikkei eventually closed up 1.2 percent, but swings throughout the day meant it never got close to testing resistance at the 200-day moving average. The index has shed 14 percent this year following last year’s 50 percent boom.

The under whelming bounce in the Nikkei was all the more disappointing following some bumper big-name company earnings. It led investors to again bid up the safe-haven yen, with the dollar dipping to 101.20 yen from an early top of 101.77.

“The key will be the US data, and any missing of forecasts will challenge the global recovery story and push dollar/yen towards the 100.60 support,” said Jeremy Stretch, head of currency strategy at CIBC World Markets in London.

The euro eased a touch to $1.3510 and German Bund yields returned to six-month lows, still driven by speculation that the threat of deflation might nudge the ECB into easing policy today. Sterling was also forced lower by unspectacular UK PMI data, though Tuesday’s signal that rate cuts are no longer on the agenda in Australia left the Aussie dollar enjoying the view at $0.8910 after climbing a steep 2 percent. It also rallied against the euro and yen as speculators abandoned short positions in what had been a very crowded trade.

Treasury hunt Market volatility remained elevated, although partly because battered emerging market currencies like Russia’s rouble , Hungary’s forint and South Africa’s rand extended their recovery into a second day.

The broader reluctance to take risks led to demand for US Treasuries, with the 10-year yield ticking down to 2.6185 percent , not far from a recent three-month low of 2.57 percent. Gold got a boost as it pushed back towards $1,260 an ounce.

In commodities, prices for wheat were boosted by dry weather and deteriorating crop conditions in the United States.

Soymeal and corn were both in high demand. Broad gains in grains and natural gas lifted the Thomson Reuters/Core Commodity Index by 1 percent, the biggest one-day gain in nearly a month. US oil futures rose on bets that a stockpile at a key delivery point caused by the start-up of a major pipeline would be reduced. The March NYMEX contract added 64 cents to $97.84 a barrel. Brent crude rose 42 cents to $106.20. — Reuters

Gold remains firm ahead of US data LONDON: Gold firmed yesterday as some investors bought back into bullion-backed funds, but uncertainly ahead of US jobs data and a lack of Asian demand during the Lunar New Year break kept the metal in its tightest range in six weeks. There are concerns about the fragility of stock markets after a recent heavy sell-off has piqued some investment interest in gold, with the world’s largest bullion-backed exchangetraded fund, the SPDR Gold Trust, reporting a 3.9ton inflow. Spot gold was up 0.3 percent at $1,257.80 an ounce at 1029 GMT, while US gold futures for February delivery were up $6.50 an ounce at $1,257.70. Spot prices held in a range of less than $7, their narrowest since Christmas Day. Investors are likely to stick to the sidelines ahead of US non-farm payrolls data for January on Friday, widely seen as a barometer for the health of the world’s largest economy. Ahead of that, they will be watching Wednesday’s ADP reading on private hiring due at 1315 GMT. Any disappointment will be taken badly by stock market investors, analysts said, but could benefit gold. “The market is sitting tight ahead of the US jobs report tomorrow and today’s ADP’s private sector employment survey,” Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital, said.

“Physical buyers are absent owning to holidays in China, and there’s a bit of a seasonal lull, while investors remain skeptical.” European stocks inched up in early trade, snapping their steepest two-week pull-back in seven months, but underlying worries about global growth and

emerging market currencies kept buyers on edge. Fragile confidence among investors lifted the yen on Wednesday as buyers sought safehaven currencies, while the dollar was flat against a basket of major currencies, offering little direction to gold.

Lunar New Year break Physical demand was expected to remain weak as number one buyer China stayed closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Other parts of Asia were also subdued due to the gain in prices and weakness in regional currencies. “With the Chinese not back until Friday it’s hard to imagine much action again in Asia tomorrow,” MKS said in a note. Silver was up 0.9 percent at $19.62 an ounce, while spot platinum was up 0.6 percent at $1,379.24 an ounce and spot palladium was up 1.3 percent at $707.50 an ounce.

Palladium’s rebound comes after eleven straight days of decline, its longest run of daily losses since Reuters data began in 1984. Both platinum group metals have come under heavy selling pressure since negotiations to end a wave of strikes in major producer South Africa resumed this week. “We believe the floor in platinum is $1300 - which is not that far away, but we doubt prices will get close to that level,” UBS said in a note on Wednesday. “Given the degree of selling that has already besieged platinum over the past week, positioning is now much cleaner and so we expect limited longevity to the current mood.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

BUSINESS

Giving up pound tops doubts over ‘independent’ Scotland EDINBURGH: Like many Scots, shop owner Anne McAlister is drawn to the idea of independence but cannot throw off nagging doubts about splitting from the rest of the United Kingdom. McAlister would like public policies that are more left wing than Britain’s Conservative government is going to provide. On the other hand, she runs a classical music store in the centre of Edinburgh and sells compact discs to English customers by mail. Losing the pound could make that harder.

“I would prefer Scotland to have a lot more power and a lot less of Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne,” she said, referring to Britain’s prime minister and finance minister. “But what I and my customers would find really difficult is another currency.” Businesses in Scotland - who send 70 percent of their exports to the rest of the United Kingdom - are increasingly focusing on the independence referendum due on Sept. 18. A key issue is what currency Scotland would use if the country splits from the UK. Campaigners for scrapping the 300-year-old union want Scotland to keep the pound, aka sterling. The British government says it would be highly unlikely to agree to that. Last week, Bank of England Governor Carney cited the euro zone crisis to stress the challenge of making a shared currency area work - and to show voters that Scotland might lack control over large areas of policy even after independence.

Without a deal, an independent Scotland could introduce its own currency, possibly pegged to sterling. Or it could use sterling without London’s bless-

ing, as Ecuador and Panama use the US dollar. Either could leave Scotland exposed to attack by speculators as it ventures into global financial markets. Brad MacKay, a management professor at the University of Edinburgh who has interviewed 50 firms on the prospect of independence, detects some signs of concern. Most companies are wary of alienating customers by entering the heated debate. Several he spoke to, though, have negotiated break clauses in their property leases which can be activated in the event of independence.

Power company SSE said last year that independence made Scotland a riskier bet for investment, and Royal Bank of Scotland has warned it could relocate to London. Energy giant BP warned on Tuesday of “big uncertainties”. Most of Britain’s oil and gas lies off the Scottish coast, and they would probably become a mainstay of an independent Scotland’s economy, which is now about the size of New Zealand’s. But exactly how they would be divided is up for negotiation. “This is an unprecedented scenario, and there is real and genuine uncertainty,” MacKay said. “There’s generally concern that some of these issues haven’t been worked through.”

Misplaced concerns?

Scottish nationalists argue the concerns are misplaced. They say the rest of the United Kingdom will recognise that its own interests will be best served by agreeing to a currency union with an independent Scotland, given their close economic ties. Scotland’s

First Minister, Alex Salmond, said last week that former BoE governor Mervyn King had told him that London would ease its stance in the event of a vote for independence. Recent polls suggest such a vote is increasingly likely. An ICM survey last month showed that 37 percent of Scots supported independence, 44 percent opposed it and 19 percent were undecided far closer than polls last year.

Ivan McKee, a businessman involved in manufacturing and a pro-independence campaigner, saw no need for the ruling Scottish National Party to say what it would do if it could not reach a deal with London.

Last month, Britain’s finance ministry said it would honor all UK debt if Scotland voted for independence - and seek recompense from Edinburgh - ending uncertainty that it might try to shift some government bonds to the Scottish government.

“They had to step in to calm market fears about the debt,” McKee said. “I think we will see more of that, as the real world impinges on this head-in-the-sand approach.” History gives little guide as to how any talks might play out. Scotland and the rest of Britain entered political and economic union in 1707, when physicist Isaac Newton supervised the introduction of new coins. But Scotland kept aspects of an independent state, with its own legal system and banknotes.

Business worries The impact of independence would vary among businesses, MacKay said. Some sectors, such as energy and biotechnology, would be relatively unaffected,

given Scotland’s oil and gas reserves and strong university research departments. But independence would be more problematic for other companies, particularly manufacturers that rely on British government defense contracts and financial services vulnerable to any currency uncertainty or extra regulatory costs. Owen Kelly, the head of Scottish Financial Enterprise, a trade body for Scotland’s large banking, insurance and asset-management sector, worries that a vote for independence could require the BoE to step in and provide temporary support. “If there was a ‘yes’ vote, then I think there would be some very early activity from regulators and others to address the immediate volatility that would follow,” he said. Even if the two governments did agree a monetary union, it could prove vulnerable if markets doubted their long-term commitment, said Angus Armstrong, an academic at the London-based National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

Unlike the euro zone, whose member states are bound to ever-closer union, the Scottish government has not committed itself to keeping the pound indefinitely, and investors might demand a premium on sterling-denominated Scottish debt. But although there could be short-term costs to the transition to a new country, and potentially a new currency, Armstrong said Scots needed to take a long-term view. “Independence is not an overnight thing, it is something that will last generations. It is up to the people of Scotland to decide whether it would be worth it.” — Reuters

Euro-zone business activity picking up Modest recovery gaining traction

NEW YORK: An updated phone post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange features a Twitter logo, in New York. Twitter Inc reported quarterly earnings yesterday. — AP

Twitter faces earnings test NEW YORK: Twitter releases its first earnings report since a wildly successful stock offering yesterday, in what is being seen as a critical test for the popular messaging platform. Shares in Twitter have soared from the offering price last November of $26, and analysts say that to sustain that momentum Twitter must prove it can grow and move toward profitability.

Twitter shares rose 1.6 percent to $66.32, their highest level since December.

Because Twitter has never delivered a profit, analyzing its value is a tricky task. Wall Street expects Twitter to report continuing losses in the fourth quarter. But analysts will be scrutinizing the results for gains in advertising revenues, Twitter’s user base and other metrics that measure “engagement,” or how people use the platform.

Mark Mahaney at RBC Capital Markets remains upbeat with an “outperform” rating on Twitter. “We remain positive on Twitter’s ability to become one of the Web’s leading utilities (alongside Google, Amazon, Facebook),” he wrote in a note to clients.

“Twitter has displayed very robust growth in key metrics, and we have confidence that this momentum can continue as the company develops its advertising platform... we remain enthusiastic about the company’s long-term opportunity.”

Twitter has fast become engrained in popular culture but must still convince investors of its business model, having lost more than $440 million since 2010. With 232 million users and growing, Twitter is expected to be able to reach profitability over time by delivering ads in the form of promoted tweets, and from its data analytics. The research firm eMarketer estimates Twitter will bring in nearly $1 billion in 2014 in ad revenues.

But analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald recommend “sell” for Twitter saying its valuation is

“excessive,” seeing “more downside than upside short-term.” The Cantor Fitzgerald analysts said even with strong advertising and other gains, Twitter could face pressure because more shares will come on the market after the “lock-up” expiration that prevented insider sales so far. Arvind Bhatia at Sterne Agree says in a note to clients that Twitter is likely to show gains in users, revenue and engagement but that he remains “neutral” on the stock.

“We continue to like the Twitter platform and believe in the company’s longterm prospects,” he said. “However, we remain neutral given the stock’s significant premium to its high-growth peers.”

Morgan Stanley’s Scott Devitt, who rates Twitter as “underperform,” said investors should carefully listen to management’s plans. “We look for management commentary to focus on providing insight related to Twitter’s user growth and engagement, while discussing new product developments that could drive future revenue initiatives, especially in targeting offline TV ad dollars,” he said.

More mainstream Twitter?

Devitt said Twitter must address issues of advertising, especially on mobile, and that he wants to know “How does Twitter plan to accelerate user growth and make Twitter more mainstream?” Paul Ausick at 24/7 Wall Street said Twitter may be riding the coattails of Facebook, which posted strong results last week and buoyed the social media sector. “Without Facebook’s big earnings report last week, it is probably fair to say that Twitter stock would be trading at about seven percent below where it is trading today,” Ausick said in a blog post.

“Should Twitter fail to meet estimates yesterday, company management could have a lot of explaining to do.” — AFP

Mideast bourses rebound along with global markets DUBAI: Middle East bourses rebounded yesterday on positive queues from global markets; Dubai, which posted the biggest gains, was also boosted by good fourth-quarter earnings and contract announcements from the real estate sector. Dubai’s index surged 1.7 percent to a new multi-year closing high of 3,875 points, confirming a break above technical resistance at 3,807 points, the 50 percent retracement of its fall from the 2008 peak. Union Properties, which this week posted an eightfold rise in annual profits, gained 9.8 percent yesterday. Another developer, Deyaar, rose 4.8 percent after its annual profit quadrupled.

Construction firm Drake and Scull jumped 6.9 percent after the company said it had won a contract worth 328 million riyals ($87.5 million) to do mechanical, electrical and plumbing works at King Saud University in Riyadh. Other markets in the region posted more modest gains amid slower newsflow, but

reflected a general improvement in investor sentiment, said Sebastien Henin, portfolio manager at The National Investor. “I guess if we don’t have a major international crisis in fixed income, currencies or equities we can imagine that regional equity markets will outperform both developed and emerging markets,” he said.

Stock markets in the Middle East are less vulnerable to large-scale changes in risk appetite simply because there is little foreign investment, he noted. Abu Dhabi’s index rose 0.6 percent. Shares in Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank surged 6.3 percent to their highest level in more than six years after the bank posted a forecast-beating 41 percent fourth-quarter profit jump.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark rose 0.3 percent with gains across different sectors.

Almarai, the Gulf’s biggest dairy company, was among the top gainers, rising 4.2 percent after it announced the launch of a new poultry facility.— Reuters

BRUSSELS: Euro-zone private sector business activity in January showed the best performance since June 2011, fresh evidence that a modest recovery is gaining traction, a key survey showed yesterday. Markit Economics said its Euro-zone Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for January rose to 52.9 points from 52.1 in December, the seventh monthly rise in a row. While this was down from the initial January reading of 53.2, it still represented the fastest rate of growth since June 2011, Markit said. The index is closely watched as a reliable leading indicator of growth, and a reading above the 50points growth-downturn line is positive.

“The final reading of the euro-zone PMI was down slightly on the earlier flash reading but nevertheless signals a very encouraging start to the year,” said Chris Williamson, Markit chief economist. Markit said the upturn was driven by the manufacturing sector while ser vices remained subdued in comparison, at 51.6 points in January compared with 51 in December. A separate Markit report earlier this week showed euro-zone manufacturing hit a 32-month high of 54 points in January, up from 52.7 in December.

On the Composite PMI measure, euro-zone powerhouse Germany hit a 31-month high of 55.5 points while Spain was at a 78-month high of 54.8 points. France, with the second-biggest economy in the 18-nation single currency zone and which has lagged its peers, was on 48.9 points, still in negative territory but improving.

Williamson said the report overall suggested the euro-zone economy could grow 0.5 percent in the first quarter of the year and if that is the case, then 2014 forecasts of 1.0 percent are “already looking somewhat conservative.”

“While Germany is providing the main impetus to the recovery ... the upturn is becoming broad-based, which in turns adds to the likelihood that it can be sustained,” he said. At the same time, Williamson cautioned that the “recovery is still all-too dependent on the manufactur-

LISBON: Portuguese railway workers block the rail track during a protest at Lisbon’s Santa Apolonia train station. During protest that was against salary cuts and other austerity measures, the workers scuffled with Portuguese police officers. — AP ing sector. “Although the service sector has returned to growth, its weak pace of expansion reflects still-subdued domestic demand ... in many Euro-zone countries, notably France and Italy,” he said. “A revival in consumer sentiment in these countries will be an important ingredient of a more robust upturn.”

‘Optimism growing’ At Berenberg analysts in London, Robert Wood commented: “Euro-zone growth continues to gradually accelerate and optimism about the future is growing.” He said: The euro-zone is on-track for a gradually strengthening recovery through this year, which we expect to result in euro-zone GDP (gross domestic product) growth

of 1.2 percent in 2014. With improving PMI readings, Spain could rival Germany in the growth stakes this year.”

Separate figures from the Eurostat statistics agency showed that euro-zone retail sales fell 1.6 percent in December compared with November when they had risen 0.9 percent. The euro-zone economy finally got out of a record 18-month recession in second quarter 2013 with growth of 0.3 percent but this then slowed to just 0.1 percent in the third, sparking fears the recovery was stalling. Data since then has been mixed but more recently has tended higher, showing the economy has got back on track after hitting a soft spot it hit late last year. — AFP

Satellites, electronics next in US export control reform WASHINGTON: The US government is making “great strides” in its drive to reform unwieldy export rules, and expects to unveil proposed changes covering exports of satellites, electronics and chemicals this year, a senior White House official said. Caroline Atkinson, deputy national security adviser for international economics, said an inter-agency working group had already modified regulations for 13 of 21 categories on the US Munitions list, which together account for about $80 billion in US exports and support about 450,000 US jobs. The items already addressed include aircraft, explosives, gas turbine engines, missiles and military vehicles - accounting for about 90 percent of all export licenses.

This year, the US government aimed to finish rewriting the munitions list, expand the capacity of a multi-agency enforcement center, and create a single licensing database for companies seeking to export goods, Atkinson told an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She said the group also planned to tackle export issues associated with encryption, cloud computing and cybersecurity, and sort out definitions for terms such as “public domain.” The Obama administration last year announced the first of a series of changes aimed at simplifying export licensing requirements for less sensitive items and building better protections for the most critical technologies.

US companies have long clamored for a streamlined export control process, arguing that slow processing of export licenses have cost them billions of dollars in lost sales that have gone to foreign suppliers. “Export control reform remains a priority for the president,” Atkinson said, adding that the concerted efforts under way across the government were aimed at improving both US national security and economic security.

Tom Kelly, acting assistant secretary of state for political military affairs, stressed that items formerly on the lists of controlled weapons were still subject to oversight and controls under the Commerce Department’s list. “Our goal at the end of the day is an agile, dynamic export control regime that is responsive to today’s and tomorrow’s national security and foreign policy challenges,” Kelly said. “These

new controls are going to reduce bureaucracy, they are going to accelerate goods to market for close allies and security partners, and they’re still going to maintain a very high level of scrutiny over arms exports.” Tim Hoffman, deputy director of the Defense Technology Security Administration, the Pentagon office that oversees technology security policies, told the event the various agencies involved in the effort were working together better than ever and finding increasing “convergence” on issues. The Defense and State departments were already using the same computer system, and would soon be joined by the Commerce Department, which would give all three agencies a “common operating picture” as they addressed export control issues.

Once work was completed on the munitions lists, the agencies involved would work on building a single portal for companies to use when requesting permission to export items. Kevin Wolf, assistant com-

merce secretary for export administration, told the event that he and other government officials were working hard to explain the changes to industry, and to understand and correct any issues that arose. He said the government expected to publish proposed changes for satellite exports this spring, followed by modifications for exports of electronic equipment in the early summer. He said while some satellite exports would be eased by shifting them off the munitions list, restrictions would remain in effect for commercial spaceflight, which remains governed by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR), a voluntary set of controls established in 1987 to avoid proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Wolf said US officials were aware of industry’s concerns about excessive restrictions on exports of unmanned planes, the largest of which are also covered by the MCTR, but had not yet tackled that issue in any great detail. — Reuters

MEMPHIS: Workers assemble ovens at the new Electrolux home cooking appliance factory in Memphis, Tenn. — AP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

BUSINESS

Alghanim Automotive showcases latest lineup from Chevrolet, Cadillac KUWAIT: Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the exclusive distributor of Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles in Kuwait, has recently participated in the Auto Moto Show that extended from the 21st of January till 25th of January.

Chevrolet and Cadillac stretched their muscles and showcased the latest additions to its wide range of cars. People who attended the event as well as shoppers and car enthusiasts in the mall were intrigued by the displayed cars; many individuals inquired about the vehicles and scheduled test drives, asked for quotes, and even booked cars to purchase.

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive displayed the “Super Car”, the All New 2014 Corvette with the Middle East specs, which was also the main attraction of the show.

Alghanim Automotive also displayed the Refined Malibu, the elegantly classy Impala, the sleek and speedy Camaro ZL1, the family oriented Traverse and a new edition to the range: the luxurious yet rugged and ever so strong the All-new Silverado High Country. Yusuf Ahmad Alghanim also displayed its new Cadillac Range, including the Luxurious All New 2014 Cadillac CTS, the Sporty ATS, the elegant crossover the SRX & the luxurious XTS with its new Twin Turbo engine.

Part chrome and all truck, the “North American Pickup of the Year”, the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country exhibits true, refined ruggedness and features a powerful EcoTec3 6.2L V8 engine along with unique chrome wheels and an exclusive saddle brown premium leather-trimmed interior which you won’t find in any other Truck. The Silverado’s chrome exhaust tips, chrome door handles and chrome grille insert along with body-color front and rear bumpers outline its bold stance.

A power-sliding rear window, remote start, touch-screen radio with Silverado MyLink, halogen projector-beam headlamps, a rear-vision camera system and a trailering package, advanced safety package, all place this truck above all others.

Chevrolet is redefining modern performance with the debut

of the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray. And only a Corvette with the perfect balance of technology, design and performance can wear the iconic Stingray designation.

That is one of the main reasons why the legendary car was crowned with the title of the “North American Car of the Year.”

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and a host of leading-edge technologies, the 6.2-liter LT1 V8 develops 455 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 4600 rpm - numbers that go to 465 horsepower and 465 lb-ft with the Z51 package, and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

The Corvette Stingray’s provocative exterior styling is as functional as it is elegant. The goal was a bold design statement that embraced the advanced technology of the car

Cadillac’s attention to handmade details that include the Carbon fiber & refined wood and aluminum, an element that beautifies each corner of the alluring vehicle.

The all new CTS is distinguished by a 6-cylinder, 3.6-liter engine, an element that positions the Cadillac as one of the top ten engines according to Ward’s Auto World, due to its ferocious power that goes up to 321 hp. The Cadillac CTS is also available with a 4-cylinder, 2-liter Turbo engine with 272 hp. The Cadillac sedan’s driving experience is complemented with CUE, Cadillac’s comprehensive, in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with smartphone-influenced controls and commands for information and entertainment data. The all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS is the first Cadillac to offer Automatic Parking Assist, which enables the car to park itself in parallel spaces.

US farm bill ‘doesn’t just benefit farmers’

Malabar Gold & Diamonds opens new outlets in Qatar DOHA: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading jeweler retailer unveiled one more showroom in Qatar to strengthen its presence in the region. The outlet located in Barwa Village, Al Wakrah was inaugurated by HE Sheikh Jasim Bin Nasser Al Thani along with MP Ahamed - Chairman, Malabar Group in the presence of Dr P A Ibrahim Haji - Co-Chairman, Malabar Group; Shamlal Ahamed M P - Managing Director, International Operations; K P Abdul Salam Group Executive Director; Maayinkutty C, Director on 31st January 2014 in the presence of other Directors, personalities from media and well-wishers.

The outlet in Barwa Village is the 108th outlet of Malabar Gold & Diamonds worldwide. It is the first time 2 outlets were opened on the same day by a jewelry retailer in Qatar. To celebrate the opening of this outlet, Malabar Gold & Diamonds announced fabulous inaugural offers for their customers. For every purchase of gold or diamond jewelry above QAR 3,000, the customers will get a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon through which they get a guaranteed gold coin and a chance to win up to 100 gold coins instantly.

If it is a diamond jewelry purchase, the customers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon for a guaranteed cash refund with a chance to win up to 100% cash back. The customers who buy diamond jewelry worth QAR 3000 are eligible to get both the coupons. These offers are valid at their outlets in Barwa Village, Al Wakrah till 15th February 2014.

Malabar Gold& Diamonds focus has always been on providing a wide range of choices for jewelry customers who seek excellent value for money. But, their true strength is the shopping experience, with appealing stores staffed by friendly and knowledgeable jewelry consultants who are trained to help the customers in their purchasing decisions. Their branded jewelry collection includes Era- Uncut Diamond Jewelry, Ethnix- Handcrafted Designer Jewelry, Mine - diamonds unlimited, Divine- Indian Heritage Jewelry, Precia- Precious Gem Jewelry and Starlet- Kids Jewelry. The retail chain has 108 outlets worldwide, out of which 35 are in the GCC countries. In Qatar, Malabar Group already have showrooms in Doha, Gharaffa, Al Khor and West End Park (Near Karwa Head Quarters). The company is planning to add 11 more outlets in the Middle East by the end of March 2014. The group represents the Far East with 1 outlet in Singapore and now they are looking for expansion in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The company is also planning to spread their wings to European markets starting with UK and US. When it comes to CSR activities, the group is also in the forefront. They set apart 10% of its net profit to the benefit of needy and focus primarily in five priority areas such as health, education, environment, housing and women empowerment.

while enhancing its overall performance in everything from the wind tunnel to the track. The result is a new Corvette Stingray - a fantastic car that breaks new ground yet remains true to the fundamental elements that make a Corvette a Corvette. The new Corvette Stingray interior blends fine materials and craftsmanship with advanced technologies that contribute to a more connected and more engaging driving experience.

The All New 2014 Cadillac CTS was also displayed during the Auto Moto show, Cadillac showcased the third generation of its long waited luxury mid-size Sedan. Bigger, leaner, lower and with a stronger build, it has the upper hand when it comes to luxurious, mid-sized sedans. The exterior exudes a beautifully strong, sporty spirit with its youthful grille and new elegantly lit LED headlamps. The rich interior illustrates

Senate pass nearly $100 billion-a-year measure

Qatar Airways’ Al Baker visits Airbus facilities in Toulouse TOULOUSE: Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, visited Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse to get first-hand information on the A350 program’s progress. The Doha based airline will be the first A350 XWB operator and is also its biggest customer with 80 aircraft on order. Airbus and Qatar Airways are working closely together to ensure a successful entry-into-service of this all-new aircraft from day one. During his site-tour, Al Baker unveiled Airbus’ newest flight test aircraft MSN4, branded with a special “launch customer” livery. The aircraft will soon join the A350 flight test fleet for external noise and lightning tests, avionics development & certification and training for first customer pilots & maintenance teams.

“I am pleased with what I have seen during my visit.

It gives me every confidence that the program is well on track for our first delivery in 2014. At Qatar Airways, we are eager to open a new chapter of efficient and comfortable air travel and the A350 XWB will do this for us.

The aircraft will give us that extra edge in economics and comfort to further boost our route expansion.” commented Akbar Al Baker.

WASHINGTON: It isn’t just farmers who will benefit from the sweeping farm bill that Congress has sent President Barack Obama. There’s also help for rural towns, grocery stores in lowincome areas and, most notably, the nation’s 47 million food stamp recipients. After years of setbacks, the Senate passed the nearly $100 billion-a-year measure Tuesday on a 62-38 vote. The White House said the president will sign the bill Friday in Michigan, home state of Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. Farmers in every region would still receive generous subsidies - from Southern peanut growers to Midwest corn farmers and dairies around the country. The support is designed to provide a financial cushion in the face of unpredictable weather and market conditions. But the bulk of its cost is for the food stamp program, which aids 1 in 7 Americans. The bill would cut food stamps by $800 million a year, or around 1 percent.

House Republicans had hoped to reduce the bill’s costs even further, pointing to a booming agriculture sector in recent years and arguing that the now $80 billion-a-year food stamp program has spiraled out of control. The House passed a bill in September that would have reduced the cost of food stamps five times more than the eventual cut. Those partisan disagreements stalled the bill for more than two years, but conservatives were eventually outnumbered as the Democratic Senate, the White House and a still-powerful bipartisan coalition of farm-state lawmakers pushed to get the bill done.

The White House had been mostly quiet as Congress worked out its differences on the bill. But in a statement after the vote, Obama said the legislation would reduce the deficit “without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families.” He said the farm bill isn’t perfect, “but on the whole, it will make a positive difference not only for the rural economies that grow America’s food, but for our nation.”

Obama praised the bill for getting rid of subsidies known as “direct payments,” which are paid to farmers whether they farm or not. Most of that program’s $4.5 billion annual cost was redirected into new, more politically defensible subsidies that would kick in when a farmer has losses. To gather votes for the bill, Democrat Stabenow and her House counterpart, Rep Frank Lucas, R-Okla, included a major boost for crop insurance popular in the Midwest, higher subsidies for Southern rice and peanut farmers and land payments for Western states.

The bill also sets policy for hundreds of smaller programs, subsidies, loans and grants - from research on wool to loans for honey producers to protections for the catfish industry. The bill would provide assistance for rural Internet services and boost organic agriculture. Stabenow said the bill is also intended to help consumers, boosting farmers markets, encouraging local food production and seeking to improve access to grocery stores in low-income communities. “We worked long and hard to make sure that policies worked for every region of the country, for all of the different kinds of agricultural production we do in our country,” she said. The regional incentives scattered throughout the bill helped it pass easily in the House last week, 251-166.

House leaders who had objected to the legislation since 2011 softened their disapproval as they sought to put the long-stalled bill behind them. Leaders in both parties also have hoped to bolster rural candidates in this year’s midterm elections.

Conservatives remained unhappy with the bill. “How are we supposed to restore the confidence of the American people with this monstrosity?” said Sen John McCain, R-Ariz. McCain pointed to grants and subsidies for sheep marketing, for sushi rice, for the maple syrup industry. The $800 million-a-year savings in the food stamp program would come from cracking down on some states that seek to boost individual food stamp benefits by giving people small amounts of federal heating assistance that they don’t need. That heating assistance, sometimes as low as $1 per person, triggers higher benefits, and some critics see that practice as circumventing the law. The compromise bill would require states to give individual recipients at least $20 in heating assistance before a higher food stamp benefit could kick in.

Some Democrats still objected to the cuts, even though they are much lower than what the House had sought. The Senatepassed farm bill had a $400 million annual cut to food stamps.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a longtime member of the Agriculture Committee, voted against the bill. He cited provisions passed by the Senate and taken out of the final bill that would have reduced the number of people associated with one farm who can collect farm subsidies. Grassley has for years fought to lower subsidies to the wealthiest farmers. The bill does have a stricter limit on the overall amount of money an individual farmer can receive - $125,000 in a year, when some programs were previously unrestricted. But the legislation otherwise continues a generous level of subsidies for farmers. —AP

What is the farm bill?

WASHINGTON: The huge, five-year farm bill that Congress sent to President Obama on Tuesday sets policy for hundreds of programs, including farm subsidies and food stamps. It would make small cutbacks to both, eliminating some subsidy programs and cutting the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program by $800 million a year, or 1 percent. Conservatives had proposed much higher cuts. Some questions and answers about the farm bill and its politics:

Program, or SNAP. It has more than doubled in cost since 2008 due to the economic downturn, fluctuating food prices and eligibility requirements loosened in the 2009 economic stimulus bill. In 2013, an average of 47.6 million people used SNAP at a cost of $79.6 billion. Around 15 percent of the money in the farm bill is designated for farm subsidies and crop insurance subsidies. The rest would go to conservation, rural development, renewable energy and other farm programs.

What is the farm bill?

It’s a wide-ranging bill, usually written every five years, that sets policy for government farm subsidies and some of the country’s nutrition programs, including food stamps. It also sets dollar levels for the Agriculture Department and subsidizes farmers and rural communities for a multitude of things - from protecting environmentally sensitive land to international food aid to rural Internet services.

Where’s the support in Congress?

The farm bill has always passed with the support of a coalition of rural lawmakers interested in farm programs and urban lawmakers with high numbers of voters in their districts on food stamps. Several decades ago, lawmakers combined nutrition programs with agricultural supports in the farm bill to gain those urban votes. The number of rural lawmakers has dwindled in recent years, though, and the escalating cost of food stamps threatened the bill this time around as conservatives say the SNAP program has spiraled out of control and needs to be cut.

How much does it cost?

Broken down by year, the bill is expected to cost around $96 billion annually.

Where does most of that money go?

Almost 80 percent of the money will go to food stamps for the needy - now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

How did they decide on a cut?

It was a compromise between the Senate bill, which would have cut $400 million a year, and the House bill, which would have cut $4 billion a year. The White House had threatened to veto the House bill, and Senate Democrats made it clear they

would not go much higher. The money would come from ending the practice in some states of giving recipients a minimal amount of heating assistance in order to trigger higher food stamp benefits. Some critics see that as an abuse of the system.

was released last week. On Tuesday, Obama said the bill isn’t perfect but reduces deficits “without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families.”

Who is opposing it?

Conservatives have said the food stamp cuts aren’t high enough and liberals have said they are too high. Some conservatives also have criticized the amount of farm subsidies in the bill, and the groups Club for Growth and Heritage Action have said they will use it against Republicans who voted for it in primary campaigns.

What about farm subsidies?

The bill would eliminate subsidies called direct payments, which cost about $4.5 billion a year and are paid to farmers whether they farm or not. But it uses most of those savings to create new farm subsidies and expand crop insurance.

How did the bill pass?

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, and her House counterpart, Republican Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, crafted the bill with support for all regions and lowered the food stamp cuts enough that it won support from many Democrats. Conservative Republicans voted against the bill in both chambers, but GOP leadership supported it and more moderate Republicans did too.

Does Obama support it?

The White House has stayed mostly quiet through the process but issued support for the final compromise when it

Why does govt subsidize?

Farm-state lawmakers have traditionally argued that farmers need a government safety net because agriculture is a tough, unpredictable industry and the nation’s food supply is dependent on family farms staying in business. Critics say too much of the money goes to wealthy farmers and large, corporate agribusinesses.

Are there overall savings?

The bill would save around $1.65 billion annually overall, but critics say those savings could be erased if the weather or the market doesn’t cooperate. Many of the new subsidies would only kick in if a farmer has losses, and it’s impossible to predict exactly how much the programs will eventually cost. — AP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

technology

As Sony prepares PCs exit, pressure mounts for reboot on TVs TOKYO: Sony Corp’s plans to quit making personal computers after years of losses focus a spotlight on how it intends to fix a much bigger problem - a flagship TV division that has lost $7.5 billion over the last 10 years. The pullout comes as Japan’s electronics firms look for daylight beyond the shadow of industry giants like Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co. Exiting the Vaio PC business Sony founded 17 years ago will mark the first time Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai pulls a major consumer product line. Still unclear is when Sony can catch up with local peers Panasonic Corp and Sharp Corp on the restructuring track. The pair have swallowed charges, sold off or cured many loss-making businesses, and bounced back to strong profits.

Sony is now in talks with Japan Industrial Partners, a Japanese fund that buys up businesses that are being restructured, to take over the Vaio brand’s operations in Japan, according to the plan under consideration, a source said. Financial details and final stakes in the new entity were still being discussed, the source said.

Sony is scheduled to report earnings for the OctoberDecember quarter today. The deal will follow the disposal of assets such as its New York headquarters and a major building in Tokyo last year and could presage CEO Hirai stepping up restructuring efforts, said Macquarie Research analyst Damian Thong.

“The only way to fund restructuring was to receive funds in deals like this one,” said Thong, who has an ‘outperform’ rating on Sony stock. “And if you look at the last six months, I have to say that this has been the battle strategy that Kaz Hirai has been playing.” Sony said it had not announced anything about its PC business and that it was exploring various options for the unit. An official at Japan Industrial Partners declined to comment.

Earnings interest Yesterday, Sony’s shares rose 4.6 percent as investors welcomed the news on the Vaio sale. But shares in Panasonic surged 19 percent after it more

than tripled third-quarter operating profit. Sony doesn’t break out details of its PC division’s financial performance. Analysts estimate its operating loss in the year through March 2014 will be around 30 billion yen.

Dwarfed by industry giants like Lenovo Group Ltd as well as Apple and Samsung, Sony’s share of the PC market slipped to 1.9 percent in 2013 from 2.3 percent in 2011, according to research firm Gartner. The news that Sony is preparing to exit one of its betterknown brands will sharpen interest in the performance of the company’s TV business when it reports earnings today. Analysts expect a strong showing by Sony’s financial services and music businesses to help lift operating profit for the quarter to about 72 billion yen from 46.4 billion yen a year earlier.

In the first six months of fiscal 2013, Sony’s financial unit brought home 85.2 billion yen in operating profit. But Sony logged just 51.1 billion yen in operating profit overall, revealing deep losses for electronic gadgets such as video games, audio equipment and TVs. Citing losses linked to the sale of the PC business, the Nikkei business daily reported yesterday that Sony could slip into a net loss for the year ending March 31 for the first time in two years.

Vaio hazard Sony’s progress has been hampered by its reliance on consumer electronics. With an array of business-to-business divisions, Panasonic and Sharp have been able to adjust their business models and focus on industrial products, like auto parts, solar panels or energy-efficient housing systems, instead of consumer goods. Having last turned an annual operating profit in the 12 months ended March 2004, Sony’s TV business has piled up total operating losses of 761.9 billion yen ($7.5 billion) in the meantime.

Like other Sony businesses, Vaio - an acronym for ‘Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer’ - has seen its

Google mystery barge may become homeless SAN FRANCISCO: A mystery barge being built

by Google on a pier at a former Navy base in the San Francisco Bay may be told to cast off. It turns out that officials running the base while it is in the process of being turned over to the city of San Francisco don’t have permits for the Internet titan or anyone else to construct a vessel on the shore of Treasure Island.

“This is Google’s vessel, but we are not dealing with them,” San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission regulatory affairs director Brad McCrea said. “It is the pier that doesn’t have permitting; whether they use it to build a barge or a speed boat of have a rodeo, TIDA doesn’t have the authority to do anything.” McCrea was referring to the Treasure Island Development Authority, which is running the former Navy property as it makes the bureaucratic transition into the hands of San Francisco. The state commission sent a letter to TIDA stating that it had received complaints about work on a ‘Google Barge’ and, after investigating, deter-

mined that no permits were issued to use the pier for that or any other project. If the proper permit isn’t obtained in within about a month, the authority could be hit with a fine of $2,000, according to a copy of the letter obtained by AFP. The situation could be resolved by simply moving the barge, or by getting a permit. Commission officials have met with Google, but the permit issue is a matter to be resolved by TIDA. Google is using shipping containers to turn the barge into a vessel that will evidently be used as an event space; to showcase technology, and for marketing, according to the commission. Google is also working to get the necessary approvals from the US Coast Guard for the waterborne creation. “They have been very cooperative,” McCrea said of Google. “I have every confidence this will be resolved.”

The Silicon Valley-based Internet titan has said little about the barge, which is reported to be one of four floating “interactive spaces” the company is having built on US coasts. — AFP

EU accepts Google anti-trust pledges BRUSSELS: The European Commission accepted yesterday the latest proposals by US giant Google to remedy complaints it abuses its dominant position in the Internet search market, opening the way to a settlement. “I believe that the new proposal obtained from Google after long and difficult talks can now address the Commission’s concerns,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said. The Commission, investigating Google since 2010, said the company “has now accepted to guarantee” that whenever it displays its own specialized search services, it will also display the services of three rivals in the same way to users.

This resolves one of the key complaints by competitors, which included US rival Microsoft, that Google ensured its services were more prominently displayed than theirs’, putting them at a serious disadvantage. “My mission is to protect competition to the benefit of consumers, not competitors,” Almunia said.

Google’s remedy “provides users with real choice between competing services presented in a comparable way; it is then up to them to choose the best alternative,” he said.

The 18 complainants will now be allowed to comment on the proposal before the Commission takes a decision on whether to make it legally binding on Google. At the same time, the Commission, the EU’s executive arm, will tell them why it believes the remedies

offered satisfy its concerns. The Commission said Google had already made “significant concessions” to meet other competition concerns.

Among them, content providers can get an extensive opt-out from the use of their content in Google’s specialized search services without being penalized by the company.

It will also remove exclusivity requirements in its agreements with publishers for the provision of search advertisements and remove restrictions on the ability for search advertising campaigns to be run on competing search advertising platforms. The Commission stressed as “an important aspect” that Google’s compliance with its commitments will be supervised by an independent monitoring trustee over its 5-year commitment in the European Economic Area. The Commission and Google had exchanged a series of proposals last year in the case, but each time they were found wanting.

In December, Almunia warned Google that its proposals were “not acceptable” and the time would soon come to think of penalties against the company. If found at fault in an EU anti-trust probe, a company risks a fine equal to up to 10 percent of annual sales. Google holds about 70 percent of the search engine traffic in the United States and 90 percent in Europe. In January 2012, US authorities absolved Google of anti-competition practices in a similar case. — AFP

TOKYO: Photo shows Japanese electronics giant Sony’s new ultrabook computer “Vaio Fit” which has 13-inch to 15-inch multi-flip LCD display to change form laptop PC to tablet in Tokyo. — AFP thunder stolen by Apple gadgets. The Macbook Pro has eaten up much of the consumer market for sleek, high-end laptops that had become the focus of the Vaio brand. The iPad and other tablets as well as smartphones have also battered consumer demand for PCs overall. Worldwide PC shipments are forecast to total 278 million units in 2014, down 7 percent from 2013, according to research firm Gartner.

Sony has based its fightback on smartphones,

PlayStation games, and imaging sensors for mobile devices as well as digital cameras. But analysts have mixed views on their long-term prospects, and many have been frustrated by the slow pace of progress in other businesses. “One thing is clear, electronics remains a bleeding Achilles’ heel,” said Atul Goyal, an analyst at Jefferies in Singapore who has a ‘hold’ rating on the stock. “Sony continues to struggle without an exit strategy from electronics.” — Reuters

Microsoft hopes new, old leaders can rekindle magic Nadella ‘safe’ choice but can he innovate?

SEATTLE: Microsoft Corp is betting a mix of old and young blood will revive the aging technology pioneer, but new Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella may find it tough to push change with co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer breathing down his neck. The 46-year-old India native and former enterprise business chief takes on the monumental task of exploring new directions - but with Gates as his consigliere, and on a strategy that Ballmer orchestrated with the board.

That uphill endeavor helped sour other candidates on the job, including proven change agent Alan Mulally at Ford Motor Co, sources have said.

Gates is giving up the board chairmanship to fellow director John Thompson. That, plus Nadella’s promotion, marks a changing of the guard at a 39-year-old company that fueled the PC revolution, but is struggling with its longer-term identity after missing the boat on the mobile computing revolution.

“You’ve got a triumvirate running the company: Satya as the new CEO, Bill as the product adviser and John Thompson running the board. A lot depends on how the three of them get along,” said Bill George, Harvard Business School professor and former Medtronic Inc CEO. “The big question I have is, is Satya really going to be allowed to make the transformative changes that Microsoft needs to make, both at the product level and at the people level?”

Microsoft shares closed 0.4 percent lower at $36.35 on the Nasdaq on Tuesday. The new Microsoft focuses on “devices and services” rather than licensing software, and seeks to emulate Apple’s success in marrying popular online services with attractive gadgets. Set by the retiring Ballmer last year, that vision has proven unpopular with investors hoping either that Microsoft will stop plowing billions into mobile devices - as it is doing with its Nokia acquisition - or come up with new products to take on mobile leaders Apple Inc and Google Inc. “From a bigger-picture perspective, I don’t think much is going to change,” said Sid Parakh, an analyst at fund firm McAdams Wright Ragen.

“The strategy that was put in place in 2013 is where the company is headed.” On Tuesday, Gates - who may again become a regular sight around Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, campus after pledging to spend a third of his time as the new CEO’s adviser - stressed that Nadella’s cloud computing expertise qualified him to lead Microsoft into the new arena of mobile computing. “Satya’s got the right background to lead the company during this era,” he said. “There’s a challenge in mobile computing. There’s an opportunity in the cloud.”

Nadella got a rich pay rise on his promotion, with a salary of $1.2 million, a maximum annual

cash bonus of three times that and a stock award of $13.2 million for next fiscal year. That is much more than the moderately paid Ballmer, who took home less than $1.3 million last year, chiefly because of his refusal to take stock awards, which he deemed unnecessary given his ownership of $12 billion worth of Microsoft shares. Nadella’s pay is modest in comparison to tech superstar Marissa Mayer, who got a compensation package that could total more than $70 million when she took the helm at Yahoo Inc two years ago.

Microsoft new CEO Satya Nadella Pros and cons The online element may play to the strengths of Nadella, who led the creation of Microsoft’s Internet, or cloud, services. Nadella has pushed the company in the direction of an Internet-based future, using its network of vast data centers to host products such as Office 365, a subscriptionbased online version of its ubiquitous business software. He “bashed heads together on the product teams to get them to support cloud deployment in a consistent way,” said Ted Schadler, an analyst at tech research firm Forrester. “Every software company has to engineer this shift to software as a service, because 10 years from now there’ll be no such thing as a licensed piece of software.”

Nadella is only its third CEO in 39 years, taking over from Ballmer, who inherited the job from Gates in 2000. His appointment ends a fivemonth search process triggered by the August

announcement of Ballmer’s decision to retire.

That was longer than many investors had expected. “It’s a relief this process is over,” said Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets. “Many investors view it as the ‘safe pick’ as Mr. Nadella is a born-and-bred Redmond insider. But the uphill battle continues for Microsoft on its path to growth.”

The move is also a significant shift for Gates, who along with Apple’s Steve Jobs was one of the key forces who shaped the personal computer revolution of the late 20th century, making him an icon of the new information economy and the world’s richest person in the process. Gates, 58, left day-to-day work at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy at his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he says is still his main job. He owns 4.3 percent of Microsoft’s outstanding shares.

“Satya’s asked me to step up, substantially increasing the time that I spend at the company,” Gates said in a video statement. “I’ll have over a third of my time available to meet with product groups. It’ll be fun to define this next round of products, working together.” Nadella, who describes himself as a cricket and poetry lover, called the appointment “humbling” in an email to employees. In a videotaped statement, he said he would focus on “ruthlessly” removing any obstacles to innovation.

Apart from Ford Motor’s Mulally, Nadella also beat out other candidates for the job. Several were close to the company, like Stephen Elop, set to rejoin Microsoft when its acquisition of Nokia’s handset business closes, and Tony Bates, the former Skype boss now in charge of business development. Most agree that Nadella’s background makes him a safe pair of hands to take the company forward, but there remains a question over his ability to make Microsoft a hit with consumers or with impatient shareholders. Even as Microsoft faces a slow erosion of its PC-centric Windows and Office franchises, some investors are campaigning for retrenchment and a bigger cut of the company’s cash pile.

ValueAct Capital, which led a shareholder revolt last year that culminated in Ballmer’s retirement, has pushed for the company to abandon ambitions to be a hardware maker, focus on its strengths with business software and return more capital. That means refocusing on Office and Windows and distributing more of Microsoft’s $84 billion in cash and short-term investments, though most of that is held overseas. Nadella’s immediate task may be to balance the demands of long- and short-term investors. “That’s a balance that John Thompson is going to provide,” said Parakh.— Reuters

Audi opens ‘digital’ showroom in Berlin Luxury carmakers hit shopping streets BERLIN: Audi has opened a “digital” showroom on a major Berlin shopping street, part of a shift by luxury carmakers to display vehicles virtually as they move into smaller, pricier city centre locations to woo young affluent buyers. The showroom, on Berlin’s grand Kurfuerstendamm boulevard, is a quarter of the size of a conventional dealership and displays just four models.

But it allows time-pressed customers to view and configure cars from Audi’s full 49-model line-up on multi-media screens, without having to drive out of town.

It’s a strategy also being embraced by German rivals BMW and Daimler’s MercedesBenz as, after a six-year European market slump, carmakers overhaul sales practices and look for new ways to attract customers.

“Staging the brand is becoming so much more important,” Audi’s head of Germany sales, Wayne Griffiths said. The digital showroom, opened on Tuesday, is Volkswagen-owned

Audi’s third worldwide after openings in London and Beijing, and is close to Apple Inc and BMW stores.

Like its two German rivals, Ingolstadt-based Audi is faced with the challenge of displaying an ever-growing model and technology portfolio in urban centers where space is scarce. Hence the smaller 375-square-metre showroom and the focus on virtual demonstrations, which are combined with the personal touch of a car dealer and the comfort of a customer lounge. Audi is attracting 8,000 visitors a week to its digital showroom in Beijing which opened in January 2013, and at the store in London, launched in July 2012, 60 percent of customers are new to the brand, according to Griffiths.

Audi has pledged to overtake BMW as the world’s biggest luxury carmaker by the end of the decade and shrank the sales gap with its Munich-based rival to 80,000 cars in 2013 from 85,000 in 2012. BMW outsold third-ranked

Mercedes by 193,000 autos last year, compared with 220,000 in 2012. While Audi still shuns internet-based deals, BMW is selling its new allelectric i3 city car over the Web and will also take online orders on the new i8 electric sports car, due to hit dealerships this spring, spokeswoman Birgit Hiller said. “We’re paying heed to changing buying habits,” she said. “Expanding online sales to other models is conceivable, but there are no such plans as yet.”

BMW has a series of brand stores in major urban areas such as Paris and New York and employs so-called “product geniuses” to help customers configure models online, Hiller said.

Mercedes-Benz has a goal of more than doubling its approximate 20 urban brand stores by 2020, when it also aims to retake the premium car sales crown from BMW. The Stuttgart-based carmaker started online sales of compact models through outlets in Germany and Poland last December. — Reuters

NEW DELHI: A worker cleans the floor near an Audi TT car during the 12th Auto Expo in Greater Noida yesterday. — AFP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Wide gap between Beijing, New Delhi smog policies Decades of booming construction

Cervical screening program at New Mowasat

By Dr Sangeeta Dhawan KUWAIT: Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix which is the part of the uterus which lies in the vagina. This is a common female cancer with a precancer stage which can start as much as 5-15 years before the actual cancer. This precancer stage is easily diagnosed and can be treated with simple surgery. Hence today cervical cancer is a preventable cancer provided adequate screening is done in the treatable precancer stage. As prevention of cervical cancer is an important health approach, many countries have well established Cervical Screening Program.

Although low when compared with the rest of the world, studies on the incidence of cervical cancer/HPV in the Middle East from 1998 to 2010 show that the annual average of the reported cervical cancer cases and HPV have increased substantially.

This alarming increase demonstrates the need for awareness and preventive screening, with use of conventional cervical smear and HPV DNA testing, and vaccination programs in the region.

Cervical cancer is the one of the commonest cancer in Kuwait females living in Kuwait, accounting for 4.6% of all cancer cases in 2002. The incidence of cervical cancer in Kuwait is 6.8 per 100,000; but can be reduced by half with routine cervical cancer screening.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities (precancer stage) which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman’s cervix (the neck of the womb) Screening is performed by taking a sample of cells from the cervix for analysis.

Most women consider the procedure to be only mildly uncomfortable.

Early detection and treatment can prevent 75 per cent of cancers developing. In New Mowasat Hospital the latest technology is used to test these cells called the ‘Thin Prep’ method .This is a type of LBC or Liquid Based Cytology test which makes it easier to view your cells; and means you are less likely to need to give a second sample.

LBC also means that the laboratory can process your sample more quickly; so you get your results sooner.

About the Test This test is referred to by various names - Pap test, cervical smear or Thin Prep test.

All women aged 20-65 years who are or who have been sexually active should have this test.

You may have this test every 1-2 years to pick up any cell changes early. The best time to have a smear test is in the middle of

the menstrual cycle or 14 days after the first day of your period.

What causes cervical cancer?

Some types of Human Papillomavirus (also called HPV), in particular HPV 16 and HPV 18, are found in over 99 per cent of cervical cancers. These are known as ‘high risk’ types of HPV. The majority of women will come in contact with the HPV at some time in their life. In most women, their bodies own immune system will get rid of the infection without them ever knowing it was there.

Only a minority who are positive for high risk HPV types will develop precancerous cervical abnormalities which could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.

At New Mowasat we offer the HPV test to detect high risk HPV, Vaccination against their high risk HPV types.

What if my cervical smear/Thin Prep test result is abnormal?

If your test is abnormal you will be referred for a procedure called Coloposcopy.

Colposcopy is the direct magnified inspection of the surface of a woman’s genital area, including the cervix, vagina and vulva, using a light source and a binocular microscope - a colposcope. This is a procedure done in the clinic and does not require an anaesthetic.

A speculum is inserted to visualize the cervix. The cervix is stained with special solutions to check for any abnormality. In cases of doubt, a small biopsy can be taken for analysis from the worst-looking area.

Women who have an obvious abnormality at colposcopy, or who have a positive biopsy result, will proceed to treatment. The most common form of treatment is a large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) which is removing a small part of the cervix using a special heated wire .This can be done under local or general anaesthetic as a day case procedure.

Your doctor will provide you with details about the procedure and what you may experience afterward.

Remember if you are a 20-65 year old female and are sexually active, getting routine cervical cancer screening can ensure that precancerous cells are identified and treated before they become cancerous.

(Dr. Sangeeta Dhawan is the Clinical Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at New Mowasat Hospital. She worked in the UK for over 25 years in large teaching hospitals where she held several clinical and management roles; and has been a Consultant since 1996. She is accredited by the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (UK), and has a special interest in diagnosing and treating abnormal cervical smears.)

China bird flu reminder of mutant virus risk LONDON: The death of a woman in China from a strain of bird flu previously unknown in humans is a reminder of the ever-present potential pandemic threat from mutating animal viruses, scientists said on Wednesday.

The new strain, called H10N8, has so far infected only two people - a fatal case in a 73-year-old and another in a woman who is critically ill in hospital. But the fact it has jumped from birds to humans is an important warning, they said.

“We should always be worried when viruses cross the species barrier from birds or animals to humans, as it is very unlikely that we will have prior immunity to protect us,” said Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome Trust and an expert on flu.

“We should be especially worried when those viruses show characteristics that suggest they have the capacity to replicate easily or to be virulent or resistant to drugs.

This virus ticks several of these boxes and therefore is a cause for concern.”

Chinese authorities last week confirmed a second human case of H10N8 which was reported for the first known time in humans in December 2013.

It has emerged as another new and often fatal strain of bird flu, called H7N9, has infected at least 286 people in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, killing around 60 of them.

Genetic reassortment Chinese scientists writing in The Lancet medical journal who conducted a genetic analysis on samples of the H10N8 virus from the woman who died said it was a new genetic reassortment of other strains of bird flu viruses, including one called H9N2 that is relatively well known in poultry in China.

Somewhat worryingly, the virus - like H7N9 - has also evolved “some genetic characteristics that may allow it to replicate efficiently in humans”, said Yuelong Shu of the

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing.

According to the scientists’ study of her case, the 73-year-old victim, from Nanchang City in eastern China, was admitted to hospital with fever and severe pneumonia on November 30, 2013. Despite being treated with antibiotic and antivirals, she deteriorated rapidly, developed multiple organ failure and died nine days after her symptoms first started.

Investigations found the woman had been at a live poultry market a few days before becoming infected. But no H10N8 virus was found in samples collected from the market, the scientists said, so the source of the infection remains unknown.

Mingbin Liu from Nanchang City Center for Disease Control and Prevention added that the emergence of a second human case of H10N8 in a 55-year-old woman “is of great concern because it reveals that the H10N8 virus has continued to circulate and may cause more human infections in future”.

John McCauley, head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza at Britain’s National Institute for Medical Research said the emergence of H10N8, and of H7N9 “reminds us to be aware of human infections from animal influenza viruses.

“Previously we did not think that H7N9 infections might be so lethal. Now we also must consider H10N8 infections as well,” he said in an emailed comment.

He added, however, that the risk of this virus spreading from person to person “seems low since the H10N8 virus is not expected to be transmitted well between humans”.

Other flu experts not directly involved in the study on H10N8 agreed it was an important reminder of the potential threat from circulating and mutating flu viruses, but said it did not appear to be a particular concern for the moment. —Reuters

NEW DELHI: Think twice before taking a deep breath in New Delhi, where worsening air pollution has drawn comparisons with Beijing, the world’s pollution poster child. On bad days in India’s congested capital, the air is so murky it slows traffic to a crawl. Conversations are punctuated with rasping coughs. Weak bands of sunlight filter through a grainy sky. Air monitoring sensors around the landlocked Indian capital have routinely registered levels of small airborne particles at “hazardous” levels in recent months - three to four times New Delhi’s own sanctioned limit, rivaling Beijing.

While it’s uncertain which city has worse smog there are various toxins to measure and methods differ, among other things - one thing is clear: China’s capital is taking steps to improve air quality but New Delhi hasn’t done much in recent years to tackle the problem, largely because there’s been little public outcry.

Doctors overwhelmingly agree that more people in New Delhi are getting sick from the air pollution, although there is scant data to show it. Air pollution is proven to exacerbate chronic lung ailments, and there is mounting evidence it also leads to stress, coronary diseases and inflammation.

“It seems incredible that the politicians and judges living in Delhi would not be worried about how their families and children are suffering from the bad air,” said Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, head of the Public Health Foundation of India. “People have to recognize the extent of the damage happening.

That’s where the outrage will come in. That’s when the action will happen.”

This week, Reddy co-chaired the first meeting of a new Health Ministry committee, formed two months ago with academics, officials and health workers, tasked with recommending ways to protect the public from dirty air.

Their report is due in a year. Comparing pollution levels between the two megacities, home to a combined 29 million people, seems natural given their iconic status representing Asia’s opportunity and growth.

They both have gone through breakneck economic development that has transformed their landscapes within a generation, raising living standards but also spewing out loads of pollution.

Decades of policies that favored economic decisions over environmental concerns have taken their toll. Cars now represent the middle-class dream for thousands digging out of poverty, and decades of booming construction has kicked up countless clouds of dust.

Black carbon There are various ways to measure pollution, but comparisons have generally focused on the microscopic particulate matter, sometimes called black carbon or soot, which can lodge in a person’s lungs and fester over time.

In New Delhi, levels of PM 10 - particulate matter that is 10 micrometers in size - have routinely bounced around 400 micrograms per cubic meter the past several months. That’s four times the city’s legal limit of 100, and well above the World Health

NEW DELHI: Vehicles move past a Delhi Metro construction site, right, in the morning in New Delhi yesterday. On bad days in India’s congested capital, the air is so murky it slows traffic to a crawl because visibility is so poor. — AP Organization’s recommended limit of 20. In 2011, the average level rose to about 280.

In Beijing, average annual PM 10 levels have declined to just above 100 last year, according to the Center for Science and Environment, a Delhibased research and advocacy group that crunched the official numbers.

The Chinese capital is way ahead of its Indian counterpart in terms of in informing citizens about the dangers of pollution. Beijing has launched a health alert system that advises caution on smoggy days, and the term PM 2.5 - particles even smaller than PM 10 and considered more dangerous to health - has become a common part of the vocabulary among citizens, with many checking smartphone apps for the hourly readings.

During high alert times, schools may be closed, industries shut down and government vehicles taken off the roads.

New Delhi has no such alert system or emergency protocols. While the city recently began offering smog data online, power cuts can cause gaps in real-time reporting. And experts say many among the migrant-heavy population are unlikely to see or understand the information.

“It is the state’s responsibility to inform people about pollution dangers,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, research director at the Center for Science and Environment. “People need to know what they’re breathing, even if only so they can demand better.”

Beijing has also launched aggressive control measures, from limiting the number of cars that ply its roads to sanctioning punishments against factories that fail environmental standards.

New Delhi, however, has seen little action since enacting a set of reforms over a decade ago, which included moving industry beyond city limits, build-

ing a subway and switching public transportation to cleaner-burning fuel.

Seasonal factors Indian authorities are touchy about comparisons between the two cities, and point to seasonal factors, such as when winds die down in the winter and let pollution pool over the capital. But Beijing experiences a rise in pollution once people start burning coal for heat while Delhi’s homeless turn to burning wood and piles of trash. “It is scientifically wrong to compare Delhi and Beijing. The way of measuring (pollution) is different. The cities’ weather dynamics are different,” said M.P. George, who heads air monitoring with six citywide sensors for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee in addition to five managed by federal authorities.

Regardless of which city is worse, experts warn that pollution is a serious health hazard. Globally, pollution-related diseases kill 3.2 million people each year, with two-third in developing Asia, according to the 2012 multi-institutional report titled the Global Burden of Disease.

In New Delhi and other major Indian cities, “we are seeing more patients than we saw before, especially children” with recurring nose, throat and chest infections, said Dr. Sundeep Salvi of the Chest Research Foundation in the southern city of Pune.

Such infections can inhibit lung growth - another problem area for India.

A study published in the Lancet medical journal in October showed the lung capacity of nonsmoking Indian adults is just two-thirds that of North America and Europe. The study did not analyze various factors, from pollution to nutrition, that might account for the difference, but doctors unaffiliated with the study said they believed air pollution was likely a major cause.

Child traffic deaths drop 43 percent over decade ATLANTA: Children are dying less often in traffic accidents: Over a decade, the number who died in crashes dropped by 43 percent, according to a new government report.

Health officials say the increased use of car seats and booster seats drove the decline. Still, one-third of the children 12 and under who died in 2011 were not buckled up.

“The first step is buckling up. Every child, of every age, on every trip,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC report focused on crash deaths of children 12 and under and covered 2002 through 2011, when traffic fatalities overall declined to levels not seen since the 1940s.

Young children traditionally have been only a small fraction of total traffic deaths. In the last year of the study, children accounted for 650 of the 21,000 deaths of drivers and passengers.

Preliminary CDC figures for 2012 show child deaths continued to fall, to 637.

“Children aren’t going drinking, and they’re not typically out at night,” said Jonathan Adkins, deputy director of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Teens and young adults account for the largest share of deaths, he added.

The CDC study was not designed to answer why the deaths of younger children declined.

But experts credited a large growth in state laws requiring car seats and booster seats, and in programs that promote buckling kids up.

But there’s been a racial disparity in how well that’s worked. Almost half of the black and Hispanic children who died in crashes in 2009 and 2010 were not in safety seats or wearing

HARTFORD: South Windsor Police Department Community Service Officer Robin Massanti helps Debra Mlinek from West Suffield secure her daughter, Eliza, five months, in her car seat during a Child Passenger Safety Clinic in Hartford. —AP seat belts, compared to a quarter of white deaths, according to the CDC. That may be related to income, experts said.

Car seats can run well over $100 and be challenging to install. Larger proportions of minority families may have trouble getting the money or help to put them in. Frieden noted there are community programs that provide help and subsidies for car seats.

Health officials urge parents to keep all children 12 and under in the back seat, and use car seats and booster seats until seat belts fit properly. They recommend that car seats should face the rear up to age 2.

Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed new regulations to better protect kids in car seats from sideimpact crashes. — AP

Tiny ‘sucker-foots’ give old bat new meaning WASHINGTON: You can call them the contrarians of the bat world.

While nearly all bats roost upside down from tree limbs or cave ceilings, two species of tiny “sucker-footed” bats currently found only in Madagascar roost head-up, typically in the furled leaves of a tree known as the traveler’s palm. But these oddballs of the bat world once were much more common than they are today.

Scientists reported on Tuesday the discovery in a desert in Egypt of the fossilized remains of two earlier extinct species of these bats - one that lived 37 million years ago and the other 30 million years ago.

The discovery indicates that “sucker-footed” bats swooped out of trees on the African continent for millions of years before being con-

signed to Madagascar, an island off Africa’s coast known for its unique collection of animals, they said. These types of small, insect-hunting bats about the size of a human thumb, with a wingspan measuring up to 6 inches (15 cm) have two unusual characteristics. They not only do not hang upside down but they possess unusual sticky footpads that help them roost on slick surfaces.

“They have these little adhesive pads on their thumbs and ankles that they use to cling to leaves,” paleontologist Gregg Gunnell of Duke University in North Carolina, one of the researchers, said in a telephone interview.

“So they don’t really hang upside down like most other bats they hang upright with these pads,” he added. “The leaves curl up, so they’re

hidden inside the leaf.”

Wet adhesion Scientists once thought the pads held the bats to the leaves by suction, but recent research has shown that the animals instead rely on wet adhesion, like a tree frog does.

Gunnell and his colleagues studied fossilized jawbones and teeth of the extinct bats that were unearthed in Egypt’s Western Desert. He said the remains were virtually identical to the jaws and teeth of the two existing Madagascar species.

Bats, in the history of Earth, are one of the three types of vertebrates to develop the ability to fly, joining birds and the extinct flying reptiles known as pterosaurs. The oldest remains of bats date back to about 52 million years ago. —Reuters

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

In US, no definition for ‘natural’ food WASHINGTON: In the United States, pre-packaged foods loaded with artificial ingredients and chemicals can make it onto grocery store shelves boasting the label “natural.”

Why? Because in America, there is no definition for ‘natural’. This gray area has led consumer advocates to threaten lawsuit after lawsuit against big food giants, alleging that their claims are misleading and illegal. “There are just too damn many ‘natural’ lawsuits,” said lawyer Stephen Gardner of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), estimating there have been around 50 in the past decade. “It only scratches the surfaces of the number of companies that are making these claims. We keep coming across them,” he said. Some lawsuits have been merely threatened by CSPI, and eventually settled out of court after the company agreed to change labeling.

Others have been filed by private parties seeking class action payouts. The latest involves Kraft Foods, maker of Crystal Light powdered drink mixes which contain artificial sweeteners and colors, a texturizer called maltodextrin and a synthetic preservative called butylated hydroxyanisole.

In January, CSPI notified Kraft of its intent to sue if the word “natural” continues to appear on products like Natural Lemonade and Natural Lemon Iced Tea. Gardner said talks with the company are ongoing, but given his experience he first sued Kraft over similar claims on its Capri Sun drinks in 2007 — he expects Kraft to counter that the word “natural”

relates to the flavor. “I am not aware of a lemonade flavor. I am aware of lemon,” Gardner said. Many consumers believe ‘natural’ claims. Asked for comment, a Kraft spokeswoman said that a federal judge in California recently dismissed a similar claim

against Crystal Light. “Our products are clearly and accurately labeled with information that is both truthful and helpful for consumers,” spokeswoman Caroline Krajewski said in an email. Foods that claim to be “natural” but clearly are not can slip past

WASHINGTON: ‘Natural’ food products are seen in this photo taken Jan 31, 2014. — AFP

authorities because the main US regulatory agency, the Food and Drug Administration, has not formally defined “natural.” However, the regulator has sent several warning letters to companies in the past, FDA spokeswoman Theresa Eisenman said.

“Although the FDA has not established a formal definition for the term ‘natural,’ we do have a longstanding policy concerning the use of ‘natural’ in food labeling,” she said. “The FDA considers the term ‘natural’ to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in the food.”

The FDA has left Crystal Light alone, and consumer groups complain that regulators are not aggressive enough, leaving plenty of room for corporations to exploit well-meaning shoppers who appear to be susceptible to packaging claims.

According to the market research firm Nielsen, “natural” products produce over $22 billion in annual sales. A full 77 percent of US consumers polled said they believe “natural” claims at least some of the time, and nine percent said they always do.

Despite the high volume of lawsuits, the matters often settle out of court and corporations avoid big payouts, said Gardner. “We stop them, but they get to keep the money they stole from consumers by fraud,” he said. In some cases, a company relents to pressure from consumer groups but is sued again by private interests seeking a cash payout to people who bought the product. —AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N

IKEA to donate €1 to UNHCR through ‘Brighter Lives for Refugees’ campaign

Labor India chairman, managing director and principal visit Kuwait

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ounder Chairman of Labor India Public School and Junior College, George Kulangara, Managing Director Rajesh George Kulangara, and Principal Suja K George are on a short visit to Kuwait.

Labor India is the vision of George Kulangara, a dream of his urge to mould globally competent students. An amalgamation of spiritual, mental, intellectual and physical development of the students is the aim of Labor India Public School. VJ George Kulangara, a great visionary, with charismatic personality believes that each student has immense potential to excel, though in variGeorge Kulangara ous fields, and all they need to do Chairman is to identify and bring it out. This is what’s encouraged in Labor India. The uniqueness of the institution lies in the fact that the ancient ‘Gurukula’ system of education is adopted & merged with the modern techniques.

Labor India Public School has attained 100 percent results in CBSE Board Exams last year despite giving admissions without any entrance test. George Kulangara’s social concern and Rajesh George commitment forced him to travel Managing Director all over Kerala with his students, collected water from the rivers, tested it at highly reputed Labs and submitted a detailed report to the state and central governments, as well as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, highlighting the urgency for immediate corrective actions to contain ongoing contamination of river waters throughout Kerala. Another project initiated by George Kulangara recently was ‘Kerala Plastic Waste Collection Campaign’; led by him Suja K George and accompanied by his 22 Principal shishyas/students, they covered a distance of 2,250 km (from Trivandrum to Kasargod) to campaign for this noble cause.

The academic year began with a work of charity. A house was constructed for a poor man with the help of liberal donations from students. It’s a school where equal importance is given to extra curricular activities along with the curricular development.

The Labor India family organizes parents as well as grand parents’ fest to seek blessings. Hence an overall development of students is ensured. Social, intellectual, traditional and cultural awareness are created among the students. George Kulangara is in Kuwait to participate in the annual ‘Parents Meet’.

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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

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KEA Kuwait in cooperation with IKEA Foundation recently launched a first of its kind “Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign”.

This global initiative is part of IKEA Foundation’s wider social initiative campaigns organized in collaboration with the UNHCR organization.

During this period, scheduled to run from 3 February to March 29, 2014, IKEA Foundation will donate €1 to UNHCR to light refugee camps, for every LEDARE/LED light bulb sold.

With over 10.5 million refugees around the world, this cause was initiated due to the lack or absence of light in many camps that have a devastating effect on the refugees safety particularly women and children, simple chores, education prospects and income. Therefore, the funds generated will improve access to

lighting, renewable energy and primary education in refugee camps across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Dunlop, Al-Babtain celebrate 30th anniversary of partnership

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unlop-Al-Babtain celebrated their 30th year anniversary by hosting a customer meet at Regency Hotel, Kuwait on January 27, 2014. More than 350 customers and distributors participated and made the event a great success. Ghazi Saleh Abdulmohsen Al-Babtain (GM-Gulf ExpressAl-Babtain Group), prior to customer meet, gave the key note message stating that AlBabtain is very proud to be associated with an esteemed brand like Dunlop and are happy to be celebrate the 30th anniversary with our esteemed customers who patronized Al-Babtain and Dunlop all across 30 years. We at Babtain will certainly continue promoting Dunlop tires with utmost commitment and passion by way of offering the most reliable and safe products through our state of art retail infrastructure facilities. We currently have 11 state-of-art retail outlets actively promoting Dunlop tires in all product segments, strategically located in prime locations, with the objective of getting closer to our customers and offering the best in class services. Our long-term objective is to further expand our retail network in years to come and continue staying closer to our esteemed customers. He also voiced that Al-Babtain offers 100 percent solution to every motorist in State of Kuwait by way of offering international products in vehicles, tires, lubricants, batteries and accessories. It will certainly make us proud to build our association with all our valued customers, which will further ensure Gulf Express’ (AlBabtain Group) and Dunlop market leadership in Kuwait.

Takeshi Adachi (Managing DirectorDunlop-SRME) stated that it is an indisputable fact that the success and market leadership of Dunlop tires in State of Kuwait is entirely dependent on the support we receive from all the motorists, dealers and corporates in State of Kuwait and we at Dunlop& Babtain in return shall strive to exceed our customers’ service expectations in terms of offering the most technologically advanced, reliable and safe products.He mentioned that Dunlop takes utmost pleasure in launching two latest products such as

Dunlop-SP LM704 and SP Touring T1 on the occasion of 30th anniversary. He expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to all the customers who patronized Dunlop tires across 30 years. He also added that the event organized by Babtain is one of its kind and the best ever that he had witnessed in the region.

A team of senior delegates from DunlopSRME ,Takashi Hara (GM-Sales), HiroshiHatada (Sr GM-Technical Service Dept), Masatada Hachiya (GM-Sales & Marekting), Angelo Nigli (Sales Manager), Sreejith Rajan (Asst Mgr-Sales & Marketing) and Mohammed Zain Ansari (TSE-Technical Service Department) attended the event.

Marketing team gave a presentation on new product line up and the technical team gave a presentation on technical features and advantages of new products launched.

Following that, we recognized and rewarded all top contributors amongst our customers and a raffle draw was held for all customers offering fabulous gifts. The event concluded with a grand gala dinner that was relished

Cine artist Valsala Menon to inaugurate Kalpak jubilee

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alpak, Kuwait is an art and literature-promoting association formed in Kuwait in 1989 and has reached its 25th anniversary. We are celebrating our silver jubilee on February 28, 2014 from 4 pm onwards at the Indian Central School auditorium, Abbassiya. The program includes various cultural items and our milestone performance full-length new musical drama. The famous cinema and serial artist Valsala Menon will be the chief guest in our silver jubilee celebration.

Kalpak at its silver jubilee year is proud to

congratulate its president and veteran actor and director Babu Chakola who has won the first Kerala Government Pravasi Kalasree Award from the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy for the achievement in the field of

drama. This remarkable, dedicated actor has contributed in the field of drama for all the cultural lovers of Kuwait for the past 22 years. He was twice the winner of the best actor award in various drama competition held in Kuwait. Hailing from Thrissur, he has dedicated his life for drama along with his business and this honest dedication has given him today this prestigious award. As a part of our silver jubilee celebration, we are also planning to honor Babu Chakola and some other prominent personalities in Kuwait in various cultural and literary fields.

Anjali School of Dance conducts classical dances

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splendid, sublime evening of pure Classical Dance, ‘Natyanjali 2014’, was manifested with splendor at Cambridge English School Auditorium, Mangaf on January 10, 2014. Sixteen students from the well-known Anjali School of Dance, after years of dedicated training under Guru, Sindhu Madhuraj, displayed a spell-binding Arangettam program in Bharathanatyam and Mohiniyattam.

Sindhu Madhuraj, the founder and guru of Anjali School of Dance

The IKEA Foundation has been a partner with UNHCR since 2010, helping to provide shelter, care and education to families and

children in refugee camps as well as the surrounding communities in Ethiopia, Sudan and Bangladesh. The partnership also supports UNHCR’s research and implementation of innovative solutions to improve refugee shelter and lighting.

IKEA Foundation aims to improve opportunities for children in some of the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, long term programs that can create a substantial and lasting change. IKEA Kuwait, together with the IKEA Foundation, works with strategic partners to apply innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in fundamental areas of a child’s life. Currently funded programs will benefit an estimated 100 million children.

has extensively trained her sixteen disciples for years, ranging from nine to six years, before they could go for their Arangettam. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Bhaskar Gupta and chief guests of occasion were Dr. Rajni Gupta, obstetrician and gynacologist, and Rathi Ravindran, The recital consisted of sixteen well-choreographed items performed by twelve Bharathanatyam and four Mohiniyattam dancers. The performers for the day were Amrutha Chandran, Anika Anil

kumar, Anuja Anil, Athira Prasad, Bhargav Chandran, Harshini Ramesh, Lilly Suresh, Madhavika Balakrishnan, Mayookha Balakrishnan, Nikha Elizabeth John, Riya Sanjeev and Sindhu Ajith Kumar for Bharathanatyam and Jean Sara Saji, Sneha Das, Varsha Nigi and Vismaya Rachel D’Silva for Mohiniyattam. The nice evening of Indian classical dance program concluded with memento presentation to performers and vote of thanks by Sindhu Madhuraj.

by all our customers and participants.

With Gulf Express’s commitment to Customer Care and the support capabilities that we offer, we are certain that all the motorists, dealers and corporates will be convinced of the quality and dependability

of Dunlop tires and value added services. We are confident that our esteemed customers will continue patronizing Dunlop tires, thereby recognizing Gulf Express (Al-Babtain Group) and Dunlop as your long-term business partners.

Liberation Village Festival at AUK

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he International Relations Club (IRC) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) is organizing an event next week titled “The Liberation Village”, during which lectures will be held over the three days of the event, where the subjects of Kuwaiti foreign policy, how the invasion changed Kuwaiti society, and the role of Kuwaiti women in Kuwaiti society will be addressed. Speakers include Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, and Under Secretary of

State for Youth Affairs Al-Zain Al-Sabah. The lecture schedule is as follows: In addition to the lectures, the IRC will provide a venue for more than 100 booths for companies led by young, Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to display their products and services, as well as larger, well-established companies, and non-profit organizations, such as the Blood Bank. The three-day event, which will take place in AUK, will be inaugurated on February 9 and is open to the public daily from 11 am until 7 pm.

W H AT ’ S O N

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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-augcc.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. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA

Kuwait Fine Arts Festival is a splash of color

T

he Kuwait Arts Association hosted the opening ceremony for the Kuwait Fine Arts Festival on Monday. The celebration took place under the patronage and attendance of Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs and Honorary Chairman of Kuwait Arts Association. The festival takes place in cooperation with the Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

India and Kuwait have enjoyed historically close, warm and friendly ties. The visit of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait to India in November 2013 has imparted a new thrust to the strengthening further of the bilateral ties. To facilitate travel of Kuwaiti nationals to India for business, tourism, medical and study purposes, the Embassy has adopted the following visa structure for Kuwaiti nationals with immediate effect: S.No. Type of visa Duration No. of entries Revised Indian Visa fee in KD(*) w.e.f 01.01.2014 (i) Business 5 Years Multiple 63.500 (ii) Business 1 Year Multiple 38.500 (iii) Tourism 6 months Multiple 13.500 (iv) Medical 1 year Multiple 38.500 (v) Student Period As required 24.500 of study (*) In addition, a service charge of KD 3 will also apply for each visa service provided w.e.f 17.12.2013.

Please apply Indian visa online at www.bls-international.com and deposit visa application, with applicable visa fee and service charge, at either M/s. BLS International Services, Emad Commercial Centre, Basement floor Ahmed Al-Jaber Street, Sharq, Kuwait city (Telephone: 22986607 - Fax: 22470006) or M/s. BLS International Services, Mujamma Unood, 4th floor, Office No. 25-26 Makka Street, Entrance 5, Fahaheel, Kuwait (Telephone: 22986607 - Fax: 22470006)For additional information, please contact Second Secretary (Consular) in the Embassy at sscons@indembkwt.org. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA South 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.

In addition, special registration will take place on Friday, 24 January 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: l Be a SA citizen and be 16 years of age and older; l Submit a valid green bar-coded Identity Document, a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (valid for 2 months) or a Smart Card; l Submit a valid SA passport; and l 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, L van der Walt and Third Secretary, MC Kekae. nnnnnnn

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, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

TV PROGRAMS

00:30 The Weakest Link 01:15 Live At The Apollo 02:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 02:45 Him & Her 03:15 Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle 03:50 Moone Boy 04:15 The Weakest Link 05:00 Me Too! 05:20 Nina And The Neurons: In The Lab 05:35 Bobinogs 05:45 Jackanory Junior 06:00 Garth And Bev 06:10 Poetry Pie 06:15 Me Too! 06:35 Nina And The Neurons: In The Lab 06:50 Bobinogs 07:00 Jackanory Junior 07:15 Garth And Bev 07:25 Poetry Pie 07:30 Little Prairie Dogs 07:40 Tough Guy Or Chicken?

08:30 A Farmer’s Life For Me 09:20 The Weakest Link 10:05 My Family 10:35 As Time Goes By 11:05 One Foot In The Grave 11:35 The Weakest Link 12:20 Tough Guy Or Chicken?

13:10 A Farmer’s Life For Me 14:00 Doctors 14:30 Doctors 15:00 Doctors 15:30 Doctors 16:00 Doctors 16:30 The Weakest Link 17:15 Monty Halls’ Island Escapes 18:05 Tess Of The D’urbervilles 19:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 19:30 My Family 20:00 Stella 20:45 New Tricks 21:35 Friday Night Dinner 22:00 Live At The Apollo 22:45 Him & Her 23:15 The Weakest Link

00:10 Cash In The Attic 00:55 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 01:45 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 02:35 Fat & Fatter 03:25 Bargain Hunt 04:10 Bargain Hunt 04:55 Fantasy Homes Down Under 05:40 Fantasy Homes Down Under 06:25 Fantasy Homes Down Under 07:10 Fantasy Homes Down Under 08:00 Cash In The Attic 08:45 Fantasy Homes Down Under 09:30 Design Rules 09:55 Design Rules 10:20 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 11:05 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 11:50 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 12:20 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London 12:45 MasterChef 13:40 MasterChef 14:35 Fat & Fatter 15:30 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 16:15 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 17:00 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 17:45 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 18:30 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 19:15 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 20:00 The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best 20:55 Come Dine With Me: Supersized 22:30 Antiques Roadshow 23:20 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds

00:30 Gangland 01:30 Psychic Kids 02:30 Psychic Kids

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

09:15 How Tech Works 09:40 The Gadget Show 10:05 The Tech Show 10:30 Scrapheap Challenge 11:25 Scrapheap Challenge 12:20 Scrapheap Challenge 13:10 Scrapheap Challenge 14:00 Scrapheap Challenge 14:50 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 15:20 The Gadget Show 15:45 The Tech Show 16:10 Strangest Weather On Earth 16:35 Strangest Weather On Earth 17:00 Europe’s Secret Earthquakes 17:55 Ways To Save The Planet 18:45 How The Earth Works 19:35 Unchained Reaction 20:30 How Tech Works 20:55 How Tech Works 21:20 How The Earth Works 22:10 The Gadget Show 22:35 The Tech Show 23:00 How Tech Works 23:25 How Tech Works 23:50 How The Earth Works

Psychic Kids My Ghost Story The Haunting Of Psychic Kids Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Deadly Wives I Killed My BFF I Killed My BFF Martina Cole’s Lady Killers Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Snapped: Women Who Kill Curious & Unusual Deaths Killers Britain’s Darkest Taboos

00:05 Alien Mysteries 00:55 The Unexplained Files 01:45 Weird Or What?

02:35 How It’s Made 03:00 How It’s Made 03:25 How It’s Made 03:50 How It’s Made 04:15 How It’s Made 04:40 How Do They Do It? 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How Do They Do It? 06:00 How Do They Do It? 06:30 How Do They Do It? 07:00 Fast N’ Loud 07:50 World’s Top 5 08:40 How It‘s Made: Dream Cars 09:05 How It’s Made: Dream Cars 09:30 Gold Rush - South America 10:20 Gold Fever 11:10 Ice Cold Gold 12:00 Destroyed In Seconds 12:25 Destroyed In Seconds 12:50 Destroyed In Seconds 13:15 Destroyed In Seconds 13:40 How It’s Made 14:05 How It’s Made 14:30 How It’s Made 14:55 How It’s Made 15:20 How It’s Made 15:45 Auction Kings 16:10 Auction Kings 16:35 Auction Kings 17:00 Auction Kings 17:25 Auction Kings 17:50 Border Security 18:15 Border Security - Series Specials 18:40 Border Security - Series Specials 19:05 Border Security - Series Specials 19:30 Border Security - Series Specials 19:55 Mythbusters 20:45 What Happened Next?

21:10 What Happened Next?

21:35 Head Games 22:25 Gold Rush - South America 23:15 Gold Fever

00:40 01:30 01:55 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:45 05:30 05:55 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:30 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:40 Jones 15:30 Jones 16:20 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50 Jones

6

00:40 The Colony 01:30 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 02:00 Mega World 02:50 Futurecar 03:45 Futurecar 04:35 Futurecar 05:25 Futurecar 06:15 The Gadget Show 06:40 The Tech Show 07:05 How Does That Work?

07:35 How Does That Work?

08:00 How The Earth Works 08:50 How Tech Works

00:00 The Do-Deca PentathlonPG15 02:00 A Few Best Men-18 04:00 Delirious-PG15 06:00 The New Guy-PG15 08:00 Falling Star-PG15 10:00 Fun Size-PG15 12:00 Delirious-PG15 14:00 The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants-PG15 16:00 Fun Size-PG15 18:00 Asterix And Obelix-PG15 20:00 Flypaper-PG15 22:00 Tin Men-PG15

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Disappeared Disappeared Disappeared On The Case With Paula Zahn On The Case With Paula Zahn On The Case With Paula Zahn On The Case With Paula Zahn Deadly Women True Crime With Aphrodite

6 6

00:00 Boogeyman-18 02:00 Shank-PG15 03:45 Snow White And The Huntsman-PG15 06:00 Hellboy-PG15 08:00 F/X-PG15 10:00 Wrath Of The Titans-PG15 12:00 Hudson Hawk-PG15 14:00 F/X-PG15 16:00 Ultraviolet-PG15 18:00 Hudson Hawk-PG15 20:00 Seconds Apart-PG15 22:00 Devil’s Playground-18

Deadly Devotion I Married A Mobster I Married A Mobster Serial Killers Disappeared Killer Kids Deadly Devotion I Married A Mobster I Married A Mobster Serial Killers I Almost Got Away With It Stalked: Someone’s Watching Stalked: Someone’s Watching Stalked: Someone’s Watching Stalked: Someone’s Watching Dr G: Medical Examiner Dr G: Medical Examiner Dr G: Medical Examiner Dr G: Medical Examiner On The Case With Paula Zahn On The Case With Paula Zahn True Crime With Aphrodite

6

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

20:00 Hudson Hawk 22:00 Seconds Apart

The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Jonas Jonas 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 Jonas Jonas Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin And Ally Dog With A Blog A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm That’s So Raven Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Gravity Falls Wolfblood My Babysitter’s A Vampire A.N.T. Farm Ratatouille

FUNSIZE ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD 12:25 12:35 13:00 Fairies 13:25 Fairies 13:50 Fairies 14:15 Fairies 14:40 Fairies 15:10 Fairies 15:35 Fairies 16:00 Fairies 16:25 Fairies 16:50 17:10 17:20 17:45 18:10 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:40 20:05 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:10 23:35

Prank Stars Dog With A Blog The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney The Adventures Of Disney Pixie Hollow Games Toy Story Toons Jessie Dog With A Blog Gravity Falls Wolfblood My Babysitter’s A Vampire Good Luck Charlie Jessie Austin & Ally Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Gravity Falls Shake It Up Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:00 Chelsea Lately 00:30 The Dance Scene 00:55 The Dance Scene 01:25 20 Acts Of Love Gone Wrong 03:15 THS 04:10 E! Investigates 05:05 Extreme Close-Up 05:30 Extreme Close-Up 06:00 THS 07:50 Style Star 08:20 E! News 09:15 Scouted 10:15 Eric And Jessie: Game On 10:40 Eric And Jessie: Game On 11:10 Married To Jonas 11:35 Married To Jonas 12:05 E! News 13:05 Giuliana & Bill 14:05 Giuliana & Bill 15:00 Giuliana & Bill 16:00 Giuliana & Bill 17:00 Giuliana & Bill 18:00 E! News 19:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 20:00 The Drama Queen 21:00 The Drama Queen 22:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 22:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 23:00 Party On 23:30 Chelsea Lately

BOOGEYMAN ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

00:15 Deadliest Journeys 00:45 The Witch Doctor Will See You Now 01:40 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 02:35 The Real Man’s Road Trip 03:30 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 03:55 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 04:25 Eat Street 04:50 Bondi Rescue 05:20 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 06:15 Street Food Around The World 06:40 David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway 07:10 Bondi Rescue 07:35 Bondi Rescue 08:05 When Vacations Attack 09:00 Kimchi Chronicles

09:25 Street Food Around The World 09:55 Street Food Around the World 10:20 Deadliest Journeys 10:50 A World Apart 11:45 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 12:40 Bondi Rescue 13:05 Bondi Rescue 13:35 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 14:30 Eat Street 14:55 Bondi Rescue 15:25 Banged Up Abroad 16:20 Don’t Tell My Mother 17:15 Banged Up Abroad 18:10 Street Food Around the World 18:35 Deadliest Journeys 19:05 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 20:00 Street Food Around The World 20:30 David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway 21:00 Bondi Rescue 21:30 Bondi Rescue 22:00 Scam City 22:55 Street Food Around the World 23:20 Eat Street

00:30 Brain Games 01:00 Wild Russia 02:00 Untamed Americas 03:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 04:00 World’s Toughest Fixes 05:00 World’s Toughest Fixes 06:00 Animal Mega Moves 07:00 The Best Job In The World 07:30 Wild Scotland: The Western Isles 08:30 Brain Games 09:00 Wild Russia 10:00 Untamed Americas 11:00 Alaska Wing Men 12:00 The Two Million Year Old Boy 13:00 That Shouldn’t Fly 14:00 Wild Russia 15:00 Lords of War 15:30 Wild Scotland: The Western Isles 16:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 17:00 Adventure Wanted 18:00 Aftermath 19:00 Salvage Code Red 20:00 Aftermath 21:00 Prehistoric Predators 22:00 Salvage Code Red 23:00 Megacities

00:20 World’s Weirdest Brains And Babies 01:10 Outback Wrangler 02:00 Swamp Men 02:50 World’s Weirdest Extreme Body Parts 03:45 How Big Can It Get 04:40 Brilliant Beasts 05:35 Unlikely Animal Friends 06:30 Animal Intervention 07:25 Caught In The Act 08:20 Fish Tank Kings 09:15 Expedition Wild 10:10 Animal Mega Moves 11:05 Animal Mega Moves 12:00 Shark Men 12:55 The Invaders 13:50 World’s Weirdest: Animal Taboo 14:45 Secrets Of The King Cobra 15:40 Wild Scotland: The Western Isles 16:35 Wild Scotland: The Western Isles 17:30 Secret Brazil 18:25 Animal Mega Moves 19:20 Shark Men 20:10 The Invaders 21:00 World’s Weirdest: Animal Taboo 21:50 Secrets Of The King Cobra

22:40 Wild Scotland: The Western Isles 23:30 Wild Scotland: The Western Isles

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Saturday Night Live 02:30 Louie 03:00 Arrested Development 03:30 Baby Daddy 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Seinfeld 06:00 Raising Hope 06:30 Friends 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 Seinfeld 09:00 Arrested Development 09:30 That Mitchell And Webb Look 10:00 Two And A Half Men 10:30 Friends 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Raising Hope 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Friends 14:00 Baby Daddy 14:30 That Mitchell And Webb Look 15:00 Two And A Half Men 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Last Man Standing 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Arrested Development 18:30 The Simpsons 19:00 2 Broke Girls 19:30 Two And A Half Men 20:00 Whitney 20:30 Web Therapy 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:00 Don’t Trust The B In Apartment 23 23:30 Whitney

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

C.S.I. New York Helix Banshee House Of Cards The Glades Almost Human C.S.I. New York Burn Notice Made In Jersey Almost Human Helix The Glades Emmerdale Coronation Street Made In Jersey C.S.I. New York Emmerdale Coronation Street Made In Jersey Franklin & Bash Suits Supernatural House Of Cards

00:00 Devil’s Bridge 02:00 Boogeyman 04:00 Shank 05:45 Snow White And The Huntsman 08:00 Hellboy 10:00 F/X 12:00 Wrath Of The Titans 14:00 Hudson Hawk 16:00 F/X 18:00 Ultraviolet

01:00 Cheerful Weather For The Wedding-PG15 03:00 The Flowers Of War-PG15 05:30 Web Of Lies-PG15 07:00 Too Late To Say GoodbyePG15 09:00 Cheerful Weather For The Wedding-PG15 10:45 Hyde Park On Hudson-PG15 12:30 Quiet Flows The Don-PG15 15:30 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen-PG15 17:30 The Presence-PG15 19:00 Dark Tide-PG15 21:00 Melancholia-18 23:15 Liars All-18

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

Angels Crest-18 The Firm-PG15 Here On Earth-PG15 Ties That Bind-PG15 The Firm-PG15 Bird On A Wire-PG15 Broken Bridges-PG15 Stomp The Yard-PG15 Bird On A Wire-PG15 Freedom Writers-PG15 Stardust-PG Cleanskin-18

01:00 Drift-PG15 03:00 The Host-PG15 05:15 Tinker Bell And The Secret Of The Wings-FAM 07:00 Bobby Fischer Against The World-PG15 09:00 You Got Served: Beat The World-PG15 11:00 The Wishing Well-PG15 13:00 A Christmas Kiss-PG15 15:00 Wild Card-PG15 17:00 You Got Served: Beat The World-PG15 19:00 The Impossible-PG15 21:00 Pitch Perfect-PG15 23:00 Side Effects-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

I Think I Do-PG15 Love’s Kitchen-PG15 A Cat In Paris-PG Surf’s Up-PG Today’s Special-PG15 Nacho Libre-PG Love’s Kitchen-PG15 3 Holiday Tails-PG Today’s Special-PG15 The Expendables 2-PG15 Butter-18 Age Of Heroes-PG15

02:00 03:00 03:30 06:30 07:00 11:30 12:00 16:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:30 23:00

Trans World Sport NFL Game Day Snooker Futbol Mundial PGA Tour PGA European Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour Live LV Cup Futbol Mundial ICC Cricket 360 Trans World Sport Inside The PGA Tour PGA European Tour Weekly Live PGA Tour Inside The PGA Tour Live PGA Tour

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 11:00 11:30 15:00 15:30 18:30 20:30 21:00

Futbol Mundial NFL Game Day ICC Cricket 360 PGA European Tour Weekly PGA European Tour Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial NFL Game Day NHL ICC Cricket 360 Live Cricket Twenty20 Futbol Mundial HSBC Sevens World Series LV Cup NFL Game Day Live NHL

Clooney directs A-listers to work in ‘Monuments Men’

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eorge Clooney stars both in front of and behind the camera in his latest film, about a little-known group of heroes who risked all to rescue stolen art from the Nazis in World War II. And he managed to persuade some of his fellow A-listers to take big pay cuts to appear in the “The Monuments Men,” which is being released tomorrow in the United States. The movie is Clooney’s fifth as a director, after 2002’s “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,”“Good Night, and Good Luck” (2005), “Leatherheads” (2008) and 2011’s “The Ides of March.”

As well as Clooney, its stars include Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray and Oscar-winning French “The Artist” star Jean Dujardin, in his second Hollywood film after Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Based on an eponymous book, the movie follows a group of experts, gallery owners and artists sent to Europe to salvage hundreds of thousands of works of art stolen by the Nazis, and to protect thousands of others threatened

by Allied bombs.

“We were not all that familiar with the actual story, which is rare for a World War II film. Usually you think you know all the stories,” Clooney told a pre-release press conference in Beverly Hills. The “Monuments Men”-about 100 in all, across Europe-were tasked notably with finding works stolen by Hitler from Jewish families and major European museums, to create his megalomaniac project of a gigantic art museum in Linz.

“We liked the idea that there was a bunch of guys that you would never expect to go to a war zone,” producer and long-time Clooney collaborator Grant Heslov told AFP. “Guys who were museum curators and artists and architects. They weren’t young. They weren’t really made for war and for such heroic things,” he added.

How our societies protect art Despite the weighty subject matter, the film is basically entertaining. “That was a tone that George and I wanted,” said Heslov. “We wanted to make a film that was in some respects a call-back to the kind of war films we grew up on.

There was always a little bit of tongue in cheek in those. So we wanted some of that. “We knew we weren’t making ‘Schindler’s List’ or ‘Saving Private Ryan.’ Those are excellent films, but they have a very different perspective on the war.” Clooney also revealed that he got actors like Damon, Blanchett, Murray and Dujardin to take a pay cut. “If you pay everybody a full boatload, it’s a $150 million film,” he told Variety, saying he managed to stay within a $70 million budget. “You just can’t do it. Everybody worked for super cheap, like crazy cheap,” he said.

Lots of the works of art stolen by Hitler were found and returned to their rightful owners after 1945. But “it is a long process, and it is a continuing process,” said Clooney.

“Sometimes it’s tricky, because it’s very hard to raise sympathy for someone named Rothschild, who had the largest private collection, because people think, ‘Well, they’re pretty wealthy and it’s not such a big deal,’ although of course you want it to be returned.”

Of his latest turn as a director, Clooney admitted: “I really enjoy it, it’s fun. I like it more than acting now. I don’t know whether it’s improving or not, but it’s certainly evolving in different directions.” He was honest about where he learned the craft. “You know, all you’re trying to do is learn from people that you’ve worked with. “I’ve worked with the Coen brothers and Steven Soderbergh and Alexander Payne. I’ve worked with really great directors over the years. So you try to see what they’re doing, and then just steal it.” — AFP

Classifieds THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Kuwait

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (06/02/2014 TO 12/02/2014)

SHARQIA-1 LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

SHARQIA-2 ROBOCOP (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG-3D) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG-3D) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-2 RIDE ALONG (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

SHARQIA-3 THE NUT JOB (DIG) THE NUT JOB (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-3 KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

MUHALAB-1 GRAND PIANO (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) MUHALAB-2 RIDE ALONG (DIG) FRI LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) NO FRI THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) MUHALAB-3 ROBOCOP (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG)

NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 1:30 PM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

FANAR-1 GRAND PIANO (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-2 THE NUT JOB (DIG) THE NUT JOB (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

FANAR-3 SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG)

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 AM

MARINA-1 THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-1 FROZEN (DIG) FROZEN (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) NO THU+FRI+SAT ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) THU+FRI+SAT RIDE ALONG (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM

AVENUES-6 LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) NO FRI (07.02.2014) Special Show “DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI)” FRI (07.02.2014) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) NO FRI (07.02.2014) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) 360º- 1 ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 11:00 PM 12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM 1:00 AM

360º- 2 SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 11:00 PM

360º- 3 FROZEN (DIG-3D) FROZEN (DIG) FROZEN (DIG-3D) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

AL-KOUT.1 THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) LONE SURVIVOR (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.2 KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) RIDE ALONG (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.3 ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.4 SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) GRAND PIANO (DIG) SAVING Mr. BANKS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-2 THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-3 KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-4 KHOUTAT GIMI I?E ???? (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI I?E ???? (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI I?E ???? (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI I?E ???? (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI I?E ???? (DIG) KHOUTAT GIMI I?E ???? (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-5 ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:15 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM 1:00 AM

BAIRAQ-1 THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG-3D) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG-3D) THE LEGO MOVIE (DIG-3D) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG) ROBOCOP (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

FOR SALE Expats leaving bargain prices king size queen beds, wardrobes bedside tables chest of drawers. TV 42” couch lounge chairs carpet, coffee tables desk, office chair, dining table, chairs, plates, pota pans curtains, washing & tumblodryer machines cooker microwave fridge.

94400865.

5-2-2014 Mitsubishi Galant 2011, silver color, (4 clr), full options, KD 1,950. Tel: 50994848. (C 4632) Nissan Altima 2008, silver color, full options, excellent condition, KD 1,950. Tel: 66729295. (C 4633) 3-2-2014

SITUATION WANTED Indian (Keralite) heavy driver 4-1/2 years experience, visa article 18, transferable, looking for a job. Tel: 55261717. (C 4634) 3-2-2014 MATRIMONIAL Marriage proposal invited for Kuwait resident, Pakistani Muslim family daughter, age 18 tall smart Hafiza, student BSc. Chemistry, from matching status boy through parents.

Email: contact9132000@gmail.com (C 4631) 29-1-2014

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry aboutthe Civil ID card is

1889988

SITUATION VACANT

112

Required English speaking driver. Contact: 99824597.

(C 4635) 4-2-2014 CHANGE OF NAME I, Asger Ali Vadliwala, holder of Indian Passport No: J4442606, hereby change my name to Ali Asger Vadliwala. Address: Mohammediya Golony Galiyakot Dist. Dungarpur, Rajasthan. Pin 314026.

(C 4630) 28-1-2014

Prayer timings Fajr:

05:14

Shorook 06:36 Duhr:

12:02

Asr:

15:07

Maghrib: 17:29 Isha:

18:48

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

Airlines BBC JAI KLM THY JZR JZR QTR SAI GFA THY UAE ETD JAI MSR QTR MSC FDB THY DHX QTR FDB BAW KAC KAC JZR IRA QTR FDB SVA UAE FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC ABY ETD IRA FDB QTR IZG GFA MSC MSC MEA JZR SYR TBZ UAE MSR MSR FDB QTR SVA KNE GFA KNE KNE

Arrival Flights on Thursday 6/2/2014 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 574 MUMBAI 411 AMSTERDAM 772 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 1084 DOHA 441 LAHORE 211 BAHRAIN 764 SABIHA 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 576 COCHIN 612 CAIRO 1076 DOHA 401 ALEXANDRIA 67 DUBAI 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 8650 DOHA 69 DUBAI 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 529 ASYUT 617 AHWAZ 1086 DOHA 53 DUBAI 512 RIYADH 855 DUBAI 8057 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 362 COLOMBO 332 TRIVANDRUM 125 SHARJAH 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 605 ISFAHAN 55 DUBAI 1070 DOHA 4161 MASHAD 213 BAHRAIN 403 ASYUT 405 SOHAG 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 341 DAMASCUS 5483 MASHAD 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 579 SOHAG 57 DUBAI 1078 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 472 JEDDAH 221 BAHRAIN 460 RIYADH 470 JEDDAH

Time 00:05 00:10 00:30 00:45 00:40 00:40 00:55 01:30 02:10 02:15 02:35 02:45 02:50 03:10 03:45 03:45 04:20 05:35 05:40 05:45 05:50 06:40 05:00 07:40 06:20 07:50 07:50 07:50 08:15 08:40 08:55 07:55 08:10 08:45 08:15 09:00 09:20 09:30 09:40 09:55 10:35 10:40 11:15 11:20 11:55 11:30 12:30 12:35 12:50 13:00 13:05 13:50 13:55 14:30 14:35 15:00 15:05 15:35

NIA OMA QTR UAE ETD RJA SVA ABY GFA UAL QTR KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR FDB GFA KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR JZR OMA TAR FDB MSR JAI AXB ABY KNE DLH ALK FDB MEA ETD UAE GFA QTR KLM AIC FDB UAL PIA

251 645 1072 857 303 640 510 127 215 982 1080 674 618 614 774 787 777 241 257 177 779 535 135 63 217 382 118 104 176 562 786 672 788 384 546 542 185 181 189 239 647 328 61 618 572 393 129 480 634 229 71 402 307 859 219 1074 417 981 59 981 205

ALEXANDRIA MUSCAT DOHA DUBAI ABU DHABI-INTL AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA RIYADH SHARJAH BAHRAIN WASHINGTON DC DULLES DOHA DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN RIYADH RIYADH JEDDAH AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA BEIRUT DUBAI JEDDAH CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DELHI NEW YORK LONDON GENEVA AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA JEDDAH DUBAI JEDDAH DHAKA ALEXANDRIA CAIRO DUBAI AL MAKTOUM INTERNATI DUBAI AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA MUSCAT DUBAI DUBAI ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI KOZHIKODE SHARJAH TAIF FRANKFURT COLOMBO DUBAI BEIRUT ABU DHABI-INTL DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA AMSTERDAM CHENNAI DUBAI BAHRAIN LAHORE

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

Airlines AIC AXB JAI KLM BBC DLH SAI THY UAE KAC ETD MSR QTR MSC FDB QTR KAC FDB JAI JZR THY QTR GFA KAC THY JZR FDB BAW IRA QTR JZR JZR SVA KAC KAC KAC FDB ABY KAC UAE ETD IRA FDB JZR QTR GFA KAC IZG KAC MSC MSC JZR MEA KAC SYR JZR JZR MSR TBZ

Departure Flights on Thursday 6/2/2014 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 38 DHAKA 70 DUBAI 575 ABU DHABI 164 DUBAI 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 8650 DHAKA 212 BAHRAIN 545 ALEXANDRIA 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 240 AMMAN 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 616 AHWAZ 1087 DOHA 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 513 RIYADH 787 JEDDAH 561 AMMAN 671 DUBAI 8058 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 101 LONDON 856 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 606 MASHHAD 56 DUBAI 778 JEDDAH 1071 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 4162 MASHHAD 165 ROME 404 ASYUT 402 ALEXANDRIA 776 JEDDAH 405 BEIRUT 785 JEDDAH 342 DAMASCUS 786 RIYADH 176 DUBAI 580 SOHAG 5484 MASHHAD

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:15 01:10 01:45 01:45 02:10 02:30 02:55 03:50 03:50 04:00 04:10 04:15 04:45 05:00 05:15 05:15 06:30 06:35 06:55 07:05 07:15 07:15 07:15 07:30 07:40 08:30 08:45 08:50 08:50 08:55 09:00 09:15 09:25 09:25 09:30 09:40 09:40 09:50 09:55 10:05 10:20 10:20 10:35 10:55 11:25 11:30 11:35 11:50 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:55 13:00 13:30 13:35 13:45 13:50 13:50

MSR UAE FDB QTR JZR KAC KAC KNE JZR GFA KNE SVA KAC KAC KNE KAC NIA OMA JZR JZR ETD QTR UAE JZR RJA ABY SVA GFA JZR JZR UAL JZR FDB QTR GFA KAC FDB TAR OMA KAC ABY MSR JAI KAC AXB KAC KNE KAC DHX FDB ALK MEA ETD GFA KAC UAE KAC KLM FDB QTR KAC KAC

611 872 58 1079 134 673 617 473 188 222 481 505 773 501 471 613 252 646 238 180 304 1073 858 538 641 128 511 216 184 266 982 554 64 1081 218 281 62 328 648 331 120 619 571 351 394 343 461 543 171 72 230 403 308 220 301 860 205 417 60 1075 411 415

CAIRO DUBAI DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH DUBAI BAHRAIN TAIF JEDDAH RIYADH BEIRUT JEDDAH BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA MUSCAT AMMAN AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN DHAKA DUBAI TUNIS MUSCAT TRIVANDRUM SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI KOCHI KOZHIKODE CHENNAI RIYADH CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI ISLAMABAD DAMMAM DUBAI DOHA BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR

14:00 14:15 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:40 15:45 15:50 16:00 16:05 16:30 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 19:40 20:15 20:30 20:45 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 23:55 23:55

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 451

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES Now is the best time to settle down and work side by side with others.

Group meetings or department meetings may become necessary in order to create a smoothly running business. This is one day where all efforts seem to work together for the better of the whole. It could be that some incentives have been added and a new competition adds that extra push needed for success to be realized. Actions can speak louder than words and your positive actions can be as attractive as honey is to flies! A young person is impressed by your ability to work through difficulties quickly—you find the truth of a matter and have practical answers. Keep your eye on the personal goals of love and happiness with your special love—give away a pat on the back.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Be mindful not to appear too independent today. Every person deserves a listening ear—if not for the positive aspects, then for awareness. When people ask you for advice, you show the kindness and patience you expect in return. The middle of this week is a little frantic in that there are plenty of sales and new merchandise to show the public.

Everyone wants to try on clothes and it may be difficult to get all the merchandise back into neat piles. This is a problem from time to time but today seems to be an extra push for neatness. Visiting executives want to see how quickly the merchandise is moving. After work your life may take on a kind of mystical quality. Dreams and illusions, forgiveness and understanding are the things that arouse deep feelings.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. (of securities) Not quoted on a stock exchange.

4. Widespread genus or herbs or soft-wooded arborescent shrubs cultivated for their showy flowers.

12. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts.

15. A group of African language in the NigerCongo group spoken from the Ivory Coast east to Nigeria.

16. Any of various fragrant aromatic herbs of the genus Origanum used as seasonings.

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

18. An organism especially a bacterium that requires air or free oxygen for life.

20. A slight push or shake.

21. How long something has existed.

22. An Italian poet famous for love lyrics (13041374).

23. Any of various deciduous or evergreen ornamental shrubs of the genus Abelia having opposite simple leaves and cymes of small white or pink or purplish flowers.

25. Form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case.

26. A protocol developed for the internet to get data from one network device to another.

29. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

30. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element.

31. Exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health.

33. Having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range.

37. A quantity of no importance.

41. A tax levied on the difference between a commodity's price before taxes and its cost of production.

42. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

43. Medium-sized tree having glossy lanceolate leaves.

44. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

45. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

47. Informal or slang terms for mentally irregular.

49. The extreme end of something.

50. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

52. With rapid movements.

56. (Greek mythology) Son of Daedalus.

57. Found along western Atlantic coast.

60. Young of domestic cattle.

63. The sixth month of the civil year.

64. The cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one.

66. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

70. Any of several tropical and subtropical treelike herbs of the genus Musa having a terminal crown of large entire leaves and usually bearing hanging clusters of elongated fruits.

72. A member of a people inhabiting the Arctic (northern Canada or Greenland or Alaska or eastern Siberia).

74. An associate degree in applied science.

75. A town in north central Oklahoma.

76. Tall feather palm of northern Brazil with hardshelled nuts yielding valuable oil and a kind of vegetable ivory.

78. Government agency created in 1974 to license and regulate nuclear power plants.

79. Remove with or as if with a ladle.

80. An antibiotic (trade name Azactam) used against severe infections.

81. Hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) and also by nerve endings in the hypothalamus.

DOWN 1. Similar to the giraffe but smaller with much shorter neck and stripe on the legs.

2. Thick woolen fabric used for clothing.

3. A list of dishes available at a restaurant.

4. Ctenophore having tentacles only in the immature stage.

5. Large west African tree having large palmately lobed leaves and axillary cymose panicles of small white flowers and one-winged seeds.

6. Denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units.

7. Eel-shaped vertebrate without jaws or paired appendages including the cyclostomes and some extinct forms.

8. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet.

9. Either extremity of something that has length.

10. (anatomy) A fold or wrinkle or crease.

11. Naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion.

12. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

13. East Indian cereal grass whose seed yield a somewhat bitter flour, a staple in the Orient.

14. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography).

19. The Japanese art of folding paper into shapes representing objects (e.g., flowers or birds).

24. A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number).

27. Type genus of the Carangidae.

28. A serious (sometimes fatal) infection transmitted by the bite of an infected rat flea (especially bubonic plague).

32. Expel, as of gases and odors.

34. A new embodiment of a familiar idea.

35. The wood of the sabicu which resembles mahogany.

36. The stirrup-shaped ossicle that transmits sound from the incus to the cochlea.

38. Chief port of Yemen.

39. An informal term for a father.

40. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

46. An important seaport on the Island of Cebu in the Philippines.

48. An enclosed space.

51. Brazilian tree with handsomely marked wood.

53. Very light colored.

54. Wear away.

55. The month following September and preceding November.

58. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

59. Insectivorous usually semiaquatic web-footed amphibian with smooth moist skin and long hind legs.

61. Ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path.

62. An alchemist of German legend who sold his soul to Mephistopheles in exchange for knowledge.

65. Any orchid of the genus Disa.

67. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

68. Any of a group of Indic languages spoken in Kashmir and eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.

69. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

71. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

73. An enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal.

77. The azimuth of a celestial body is the angle between the vertical plane containing it and the plane of the meridian.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Opportunity knocks today and you respond quickly. Authority figures notice your success at being productive as well as your enthusiasm. Make it a point to notice any changes you can make around the workplace that will not be too hasty. You could be most persuasive with others and eloquent in speech and communication; you only need a few words. The situation is a natural for self-expression after others become interested in what you have to say. It may soon be time to become tougher in the financial areas of your life—secure a firm future. Concentrate on paying off some of those long-term bills. You may understand now how to proceed with plans and decisions concerning your life situation. Your intuition is accurate; stop and listen.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Challenges are likely today—and they are not all bad. You have the knowledge that will help you to gain the speed needed to reach a deadline or avoid a calamity.

You have special abilities that will help you accomplish your goals. During your noon break, spend some time in the library or walk around the block to diffuse any frustrations.

The afternoon is much smoother with regard to accomplishments. You realize you have grown when you see how much less time you are willing to spend in a negative situation—congratulations! Situations will unfold and can be understood easily. Someone proves to be very understanding today. You will want to take an attitude of gratitude this evening so that you can leave any problems from work, at work.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Your empathy, intuition and attentiveness is in sync with the world and ready to be helpful. Your life takes on a kind of growth at the emotional level now. Dreams, forgiveness and the understanding of human weaknesses arouse deep feelings. The business that you are in at this time may depend on others to sustain you. This could mean your work is charitable or perhaps political. So much depends on how you sell what you represent. However, you believe in what or who you represent and could help make this world a much better place. Never fear . . . You are doing a good job. The past and the future seem to come together in order to bring about a healing this afternoon. Your loved one sees who you are and expresses deep appreciation of you.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A puzzling happening in the workplace has a way of perks your interest this morning. Putting two and two together without saying much, you may be able to decipher or uncover the puzzle. Quiet and discreet conversation may open new doors of opportunity. There is a chance to become more involved in electronics today. Neighbors will enjoy your company later this afternoon. Community activities or a special interest group offers enjoyable experiences this evening. Your love relationship can blossom when you share your hopes and your dreams with each other—plan for your futures together. This is a rewarding day. Keep looking to your higher self for answers and you will be pleased by your progress. Home is where you find your heart.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) Although much can be accomplished today, an energetic person could test your concentration this morning. You might as well stop and answer questions or help guide someone with whatever they need; then you will be able to get back to your own work. By the noon hour, a feeling of being rushed or stressed will pass. Take time to smell the flowers during your noon break. Later this evening you can put your feet up and relax.

A man named John Ruskin once said, “the highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it.” work, respect, status and achievement are central goals for you as a new phase begins in your life. Indulge yourself in a favorite hobby this evening or just enjoy your surroundings.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Work routine is exasperating and you are not alone. Although you may not want to continue to be a cog on a wheel, so to speak, you take on an attitude of good sportsmanship. A joint financial venture is bound for success; don’t let an unconvinced associate discourage you. Ideas and interaction with authority figures will get more attention this afternoon. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus and someone is watching. Working with—rather than against—the flow should be easy to do. Lovers, children and other people or things dear to your heart are emphasized this evening. A relaxed attitude with the family creates a good bonding time. There is talk of selling or buying property and you see a long financial drought ending.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You enjoy a supportive partner and your close family members. After a good breakfast, most any problem today will find an easy solution through your perception. This is a positive time to obtain a loan, take a vacation, start a diet or begin a business of your own. New beginnings are important now and getting serious about taking care of yourself with regard to mind and body is of interest to you as well.

Letting go of past grievances is a key to peace of mind. There is a greater recognition of your psychic and spiritual growth as well as the ability to listen to that small inner voice that guides you. Time is passing and you are sensing the importance in getting serious with plans you have for a secure future. A networking opportunity is successful tonight.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) The weather may slow you down this day. You may not be able to locate some of the people you need to see today and this may be due to difficult weather. E-mail, cell phones and fax machines could be quite handy at this time. The process of getting things accomplished seems slow, but is of short duration. Requests from higher-ups will eventually find good results. Dig in and do your own work and expect a great afternoon. You will discover some mistakes today that seem to be consistently made by someone who is not in the office just now. You will be able to correct and make note of these mistakes for later changes. Guard against lazy bookkeeping so that auditing will not be slowed. It is important that you keep your peaceful composure at this time.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Forgiveness and understanding human weakness may arouse deep feelings. The past and the future combine and the stumbling blocks between people dissolve. This is a key to understanding and it brings about a greater psychic and spiritual sensitivity now. Your own inner need for change and growth may be threatened by someone older or by circumstances. You are able to put things on hold in order to get a better grasp on the real truth. There could be some underhanded or devious goings-on behind the scenes at work today and you will be wise to avoid being in the path of this development. You have lots of energy to accomplish your own goals. Keep up the good work and maintain good health by eating high-protein, low-fat foods.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Your energies are high through the end of this month for anything you want to accomplish. New ideas and technology are knocking at your door and you are ready. You may even take it upon yourself to teach others about the new technologies— certainly, there should be a fee for your time. There is a feeling that nothing is impossible.

You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others—you know just what to do. Within the family unit, you could see changes for the positive in the way that others look to you for answers; you are pleased. A blind date or a new friend this evening may prove to be the most enjoyable time you have had in a while. There is plenty of laughter and sharing.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 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

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22545171

Sabhan

24742838

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22434853

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22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

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24316983

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23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

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22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

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25616368

Kaifan

24849807

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24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

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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, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

lifestyle G o s s i p

George Clooney had a rifle held to his head in Darfur

T

he 52-year-old actor admitted his thirst to “shine light” on important stories led to the traumatic experience when he was making a documentary about the genocide in western Sudan in 2007. Recalling the incident, ‘The Monuments Men’ star told Variety magazine: “We got stopped in the middle of nowhere, where we shouldn’t have been. A little 10-year-old kid came over with a Kalashnikov assault rifle to my head, basically wanted to get us out of the truck.” Despite the incident, George has returned to the region many times. But the actor and producer insisted that while he feels very strongly about highlighting certain issues, he has no political aspirations.

He said: “I like the ability to shine light and make it loud.

But boy, the idea of administrating and legislating. What a nightmare.” Following the terrifying encounter, the actor co-founded the humanitarian aid organization Not On Our Watch with a few of his friends, including Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle, six years ago. George previously brushed off the ambush during an interview with Zoo Weekly in 2008 and said: “They pointed guns at us and stole what they could. It happens all the time.”

Justin Bieber to

Kylie Jenner rushed to

appear in court next month

hospital after trampoline accident

T

he 19-year-old singer has been given a trial date of March 3 by a MiamiDade County judge over charges of driving under the influence (DUI), resisting arrest and driving with an invalid license. The troubled star was detained on January 23 after police allegedly caught him drag racing a rented Lamborghini in Miami. Police officers claimed Justin, who is more than a year under the legal drinking age in the US, reeked of alcohol at the scene but his blood alcohol level was barely measurable at .014. However, it has been reported a toxicology test detected the presence of marijuana and Xanax in his system. Justin’s lawyer Roy Black has already filed a written plea of not guilty. Meanwhile, just last week Justin was also charged with allegedly assaulting a limousine driver last year while leaving a basketball game in Toronto. Justin could also potentially face felony charges in Los Angeles after an incident in January where one of his neighbors’ homes was egged, causing $20,000 of damage. Officers for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said they will soon be submitting evidence to the District Attorney, who will then decide whether to press charges.

T

he ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ star sought medical help after a bouncing competition with her half-sister Khloe Kardashian got a little too out of hand. It is not known what injuries the 16-year-old beauty sustained during the play fighting sequence, but she was not seriously hurt as she took to her Instagram page to share details of the accident. She posted a picture of herself clutching her nose, which was accompanied with the caption: “In the hospital thanks to @khloekardashian. “My mom said “never thought I would take u to the doctor for a trampoline accident at this age) this means war Khloe (sic).”

However, Khloe, 29, hit back at her younger sibling, claiming she injured herself by falling over. She posted a series of four pictures on her Instagram account, which saw the pair bouncing on the trampoline together, before Kylie tumbled and Khloe is seen holding her back.

She wrote: “Kylie this is proof you did it to yourself! Sorry not sorry! Just kidding I am sorry my little bug a boo!! Let the war continue!!!! (sic).”

Sean Penn, Charlize Theron T

he ‘Goodies’ singer got engaged to rapper Future last October and is planning to tie the knot later this year, but she’s still choosing between her friends Peter Dundas, Emilio Pucci and Riccardo Tisci as to who should make her gown for her big day. The 28-year-old beauty - who is known for her edgy look already has her heart set on a “classic and simple” frock, but is also keen on a “very American” style. A friend told the New York Post newspaper: “She doesn’t want overpowered craziness.” Ciara is due to give birth to her first child in the Spring but she’s adamant she’ll shed her baby weight

in time for her wedding. The friend added: “By summer she’ll be bikini-body ready.”

The brunette beauty is heavily involved in planning the nuptials as she wants to make sure every little detail is “perfect”. She said previously: “I think I’ll be part bridezilla, I’m not going to lie. But I want to be a happy one. I still want it to be a fun process, but I want the dress to be perfect, I want the cake to be perfect, I want the food to be perfect. We’re both looking forward to it.”

Ciara still deciding on her wedding dress designer

want to get hitched

T

he couple - who made their first public appearance together three weeks ago - have only been dating a few months, but now the ‘Milk’ star has moved in with his girlfriend and her adopted son Jackson, two, they are talking about taking their relationship further. A source told RadarOnline.com: “Sean is head over heels in love with Charlize, and her son Jackson. “He is a totally different person around Charlize, she brings out the gentle and fun side that not many people have seen of Sean. To see this previously surly grown man, romping around Charlize’s backyard with Jackson, with a smile on his face would amaze Sean’s detractors. Charlize is getting Sean to not take himself too seriously.

“The two began talking about marriage in the last few weeks, after Sean moved into Charlize’s house. She has never wanted to get married, but seeing how Sean interacts with Jackson, she is having a change of heart. “For the longest time, Charlize thought it was just going to be her and Jackson, and she was OK with that. For her to now be talking about getting married is a huge departure for Charlize.”

While it may seem like their relationship is moving quickly, friends of 53year-old Sean - who divorced second wife Robin Wright in 2010 after 14 years of marriage - and Charlize, 38, say it is to be expected. The insider said: “They’ve known each other for over a decade, and have always been friends, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that things are getting serious so fast.” And the actor - who has children Dylan, 23, and Hopper, 20, with Robin - is even talking about

adopting Charlize’s son if they marry.

The source said: “Sean is in a very good place right now. He has been single for awhile after his divorce with Robin Wright. People didn’t realize how hard he took that divorce. “He felt like a really big failure, he never wanted to be divorced. Charlize is truly the light in his life. He is even talking about adopting Jackson if they get married!”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

lifestyle G o s s i p

Paul Walker’s daughter inherits his $25m fortune

T

Perrie Edwards doesn’t think she’s too young to get married

T

he 20-year-old Little Mix singer is engaged to One Direction hunk Zayn Malik, 21, and she says they “know” they are ready to settle down and commit themselves to one another. Perrie told ‘Access Hollywood’: “We’re young, but I think when you know, you know. “We’ve been together for a while now, so it is nice.”

Perrie - who got engaged to Zayn last August after almost two years of dating says she and the ‘Little Things’ hitmaker get nothing but support from their respective fans. She added: “The fans have been amazing, they are so supportive of us.” While the couple haven’t yet set a wedding

date, Zayn’s mother, Trisha Malik, recently said she expects them to tie the knot later this year. Speaking in December she said: “Perrie is a lovely girl and I get on really well with her. “They’re thinking of the end of next year, although no date has yet been set yet. “If they have children I wouldn’t like to be so far away from them. I would really like to still be part of their lives.”

he 40-year-old actor, who perished alongside his friend Roger Rodas on November 30, when the car they were travelling in lost control and crashed in Santa Clarita, California, named his 15-year-old child, Meadow Rain Walker, as the sole beneficiary of his entire estate in his will. ‘The Fast and the Furious’ star appointed his father Paul Sr. as the executor, who has filed the will with a probate court, according to gossip website TMZ.com. He has also petitioned to have the court appoint the late actor’s mother, Cheryl Walker, as Meadow’s legal guardian and the guardian of the teenager’s $25 million fortune, as per his son’s instructions in the will. Meadow currently lives with her mother, Rebecca Soteros, but began living with her famous father full-time shortly before his tragic death. A court hearing is set to take place later this month. A source previously said that Paul was planning to give up acting to spend more time with Meadow and was thrilled she had moved in with him. The insider said: “He was happier than you can imagine to have her living with him full-time. She was the love of his life, he was an amazing dad and he was so happy that she chose to live with him because he never felt like he got enough time with her.”

Jennifer Lawrence’s life turned into a comic book

T

he ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ actress’ career from her breakthrough role in 2010 movie ‘Winter’s Bone’ to her Oscar win last year for ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and nomination this year for ‘American Hustle’ is covered in ‘Fame: Jennifer Lawrence, which has been created by writer Michael Troy and artist Ben Eargle. Michael said: “Jennifer Lawrence is a true inspiration as a talented actress and a down to earth young woman with amazing wit. I was happy to tell her tale.” And Ben found the 23-year-old beauty to be “animated”, which fits perfectly with his illustrations. He said: “It was a lot of fun working on the book just because Jennifer is such an interesting person. All the different actors and actresses that she has worked with provided a lot of interesting material. She’s a very animated person, which works with my style!” The comic is available in the US for $3.99, and has also been turned into an interactive app, which is for sale via iTunes, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore for $2.99.

Ke$ha postpones

tour to focus on health

T

he ‘Timber’ hitmaker was set to resume her five-leg Warrior world tour, which kicked off in May 2013, next month but decided to cancel the remaining two US dates after checking into the Chicago-area Timberline Knolls Centre to seek treatment for anorexia and bulimia in early January. The 26-year-old star released the following statement:”I was so looking forward to performing at

Taylor Swift T

he ‘22’ singer has no intention of stripping off for a magazine or in her videos like many of her pop rivals, such as Miley Cyrus and Rihanna, because she doesn’t think it’s necessary for her to “push the envelope” by revealing her body. Speaking in the March issue of America’s Glamour magazine, Taylor said: “I find it relatively easy to keep my clothes on because I don’t really feel like taking them off. It’s not an urge I have. For me ‘risky’ is revealing what really happened in my life through music. Risky is writing confessional songs and telling the true story about a person with enough details so everyone knows who that person is.

That’s putting myself out there, maybe even more than taking my shirt off.” The 23-year-old musician also revealed she likes to have the upper hand when it comes to dating and will often “freeze-out” guys from her life who she believes are playing with her emotions. Taylor - whose ex-boyfriends include One Direction hunk Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal, Taylor

these dates but I need to follow my doctor’s advice and get my health back on track.” Ke$ha was due to perform in Hammond, Indiana on March 15 and Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 13, but has now cleared her schedule in a bid to overcome her issues before reentering the spotlight. The ‘Tik Tok’ singer also thanked her fans for supporting her and giving her time to heal. She said: “All of your sup-

will never pose naked for a photo shoot Lautner and John Mayer - explained: “[What’s freeze-out?] You don’t respond to any of his texts or calls until he does something desperate [like] shows up. Or he calls and leaves a voicemail. Something that makes it very clear to you that he’s interested.” Taylor - who is currently in the UK on her ‘RED’ tour - can quickly tell if a guy is a game player and if she suspects a man of playing her then she will stop dating him straight away. She said: “I think everyone should approach relationships from the perspective of playing it straight and giving someone the benefit of the doubt. Until he establishes that this is a game. And if it’s a game, you need to win. The best thing to do is just walk away from the table.”

port during this time has been so amazing,” she said in the statement. “I couldn’t have done this without you all. I look forward to coming back stronger than ever on the next tour.”

Jennifer Garner’s kids take priority over her career

T

he ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ actress says she and her husband Ben Affleck always try to put their kids Violet, eight, Seraphina, five, and 23-month-old Samuel ahead of any big movie offers, and make sure to plan their schedules around their needs. Asked whether she wanted Ben to take on the time-consuming role of Batman in the upcoming ‘Man of Steel’ sequel, she said: “Of course I was in favor of him doing the part. But the kids don’t really get it. They don’t really know those films. They’ll understand soon enough but right now that’s a bit of a fog for them. Thankfully we don’t look at the year ahead and go, ‘OK I’ll work these two months, you stay at home.’ “It’s more like, ‘This has come up.’ So before we panic and say we can’t do it, let’s sit down together and see if we can make it happen. Maybe Brad [Pitt] and Angelina [Jolie] can plan their lives like that, but it doesn’t work like that for us.” The 41-year-old brunette admits compromise is what makes her marriage work and she is happy to sacrifice roles for the sake of Ben, and vice versa. In an interview with Radio Times magazine, Jennifer said: “After I did ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ I took another break because I wanted to be around for Ben when he was travelling with ‘Argo’. I felt like I needed to be there with him, which wasn’t a decision I took lightly. But Ben had been home while I was working and, really, we just try and make it work.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

lifestyle An animation is projected onto a large snow sculpture of “Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula”.

Visitors pose in front of an ice sculpture.

Japan Snow Festival

Sapporo’s local idol group, Team Crereco, performs onstage in front of a 10-metre-tall and 18-metre-wide ice statue of the National Palace Museum in Taipei during the 65th annual Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo yesterday.

The week-long festival started with a total of 198 snow statues on display and expects to attract around two million visitors.

— AFP photos

The huge snow statue entitled “Winter Sports Paradise, Hokkaido” is lit up.

‘Empire of the Sun’ internment camp forgotten in China

Four arrested in connection with drugs at Hoffman’s home

F

our people were arrested on Tuesday in connection with drugs found at the home of film star Philip Seymour Hoffman following his death of an apparent heroin overdose, the New York Daily News reported, citing unidentified police sources. The arrests came during a raid on a building in the Chinatown district of Manhattan after police traced the heroin believed to have killed the Oscar-winning actor there, the newspaper reported. A New York City Police Department spokesman told Reuters that officers found narcotics at the building in Chinatown and four people were arrested. He declined to confirm that the arrests were related to Hoffman’s death.

A second police spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday evening that heroin found in Hoffman’s apartment following his death was not cut or mixed with fentanyl, a synthetic narcotic believed by health authorities to be responsible for scores of overdose deaths in recent months. “There was no fentanyl found in the drugs,” the spokesman said. The 46-year-old actor was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Manhattan apartment on Sunday by police responding to an emergency 911 call.

Police found Hoffman with a syringe in his arm and recovered plastic bags containing a substance believed to be heroin. Law enforcement sources have told Reuters that he died of an apparent drug overdose.

Preliminary results of an autopsy were expected to be released. Hoffman, who is survived by his partner, Mimi O’Donnell, and their three children, had detailed his struggles with substance abuse in the past. The actor, who earned an Academy Award for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the 2006 drama “Capote” and was considered one of the most gifted film stars of his generation, had sought treatment last year after more than 20 years of sobriety. A representative for Hoffman said the actor, who also appeared in such blockbusters as “Twister” and “The Hunger Games,” would be buried in a private memorial service, with a memorial planned for later this month. — Reuters

N

o public memorial marks the former Shanghai internment camp made famous by JG Ballard’s novel “Empire of the Sun”, where more than 1,800 foreigners were held by the Japanese during World War II. Ballard’s fictionalized version of his experiences in the Lunghwa camp was published 30 years ago, followed in 1987 by the Steven Spielberg film starring a young Christian Bale as Jim Graham, a boy who comes of age on his own in the facility.

The site is now an elite government-run school in Shanghai’s southern suburbs, where Chinese students are unaware that internees once slept in their grey classroom buildings. The only reminder is a small, easily ignored display in a private campus museum, and Shanghai High School graduate Lucy Zhang said: “When I studied here, I was not aware of this part of history. It was not mentioned in class.” The Chinese government is embroiled in a territorial dispute with Tokyo and regularly publicises Japanese atrocities against its people from the 1930s to the end of World War II. A far smaller number of foreigners lived in China at the time, but their sufferings have gone largely ignored. An American teacher at the school, Sven Serrano, is trying to change that, lecturing on the history of the camp to foreign students in the school’s international section, showing visitors around and developing an online app about the site.

The school demolished the former G Block, where Ballard lived with his family, to make space for a swimming pool but eight other buildings still stand, including the dining hall and assembly centre, Serrano said. “I’m always concerned that I’ll wake up one morning and the wrecking ball has

This photo shows Sven Serrano, a history teacher at Shanghai High School, standing outside the main building of the school displaying photos of when it was used by the Japanese as a prison camp known as Lunghwa camp during World War II. — AFP been taken to one of our precious old buildings,” he told AFP. “I don’t see any way how we’re going to have any memorial plaque. They just don’t want to make a really big deal of it,” he said-adding one reason for the sensitivity was Japanese students attending the school.

Former internee Betty Barr entered the Lunghwa camp in 1943 at the age of 10 with her Scottish missionary father, American mother and older brother. Her most vivid memories are blistering summers, freezing winters, and an obsession with food. “I was old enough to know what was happening. I didn’t think it was a pic-

nic,” said Barr, 80, during a return visit. She still guiltily recalls taking a sip of milk produced by the camp’s only cow from a mug she was taking to her brother in the hospital. “My father rose to be the manager of the kitchen, though he could not boil an egg, because he could be trusted not to steal vegetables,” she said.

‘20 years to remember’ Japan set up more than 20 internment camps holding around 14,000 people in China and Hong Kong, then a British colony, according to Greg Leck, author of “Captives of Empire” about the Japanese

‘Japan’s Beethoven’ admits using ghost composer A

deaf composer dubbed Japan’s Beethoven confessed yesterday to hiring someone to write his most iconic works, leaving duped broadcaster NHK red-faced, and casting a cloud over a figure skater set to dance to his music in Sochi. Mamoru Samuragochi, 50, shot to fame in the mid-1990s with classical compositions that provided the soundtrack to video games including Resident Evil, despite having had a degenerative condition that affected his hearing.

Samuragochi, who also spells his name Samuragoch, became completely deaf at the age of 35 but continued to work, notably producing “Symphony No. 1, Hiroshima”, a tribute to those killed in the 1945 atomic bombing of the city. In 2001 Time magazine published an interview with him, calling him a “digital-age Beethoven.”

“I listen to myself,” Samuragochi told the magazine. “If you trust your inner sense of sound, you create something that is truer. It is like communicating from the heart. Losing my hearing was a gift from God.” His reputation grew when public broadcaster NHK aired a documentary in March last year entitled “Melody of the Soul”, in which it showed the musician touring the tsunami-battered Tohoku region to meet survivors and those who lost relatives in the 2011 catastrophe.

The film shows Samuragochi playing with a small girl whose mother was killed in the disaster and apparently composing a requiem for her, despite his own struggles with illness. Viewers flocked in their tens of thousands to buy his Hiroshima piece, which became an anthemic tribute to the tsunami-hit region’s determination to get back on its feet, known informally as the

symphony of hope. But yesterday morning the composer’s life was revealed to have been a fraud, and an NHK anchor offered a fulsome apology for having aired the documentary. “Through his lawyer, Mamoru Samuragochi confessed early yesterday that he had asked another composer to create his iconic works,” said the anchor.

“NHK has reported on him in news and features programs but failed to realize that he had not composed the works himself, despite our research and checking.” The statement, seen by AFP, offered an unqualified mea culpa. “Samuragochi is deeply sorry as he has betrayed fans and disappointed others. He knows he could not possibly make any excuse for what he has done,” it said. The broadcaster quoted Samuragochi as saying his deception had begun nearly two decades ago. “I started hiring the person to compose music for me around 1996, when I was asked to make movie music for the first time,” he said. “I had to ask the person to help me for more than half the work because the ear condition got worse.” He paid for the commission, said NHK, adding the real composer, whom it has not identified, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Japanese Winter Olympics medal hopeful, figure skater Daisuke Takahashi, has also been caught up in the row.

Takahashi’s program in Sochi includes a dance to a sonatina allegedly composed by Samuragochi that was unveiled two years ago. Nippon Columbia Co, which has sold his CDs and DVDs, said in a statement that the company was “flabbergasted and deeply infuriated” by his revelation. “We had been assured by him that he himself composed the works,” it said. — AFP

Chinese girl’s ‘cruel’ New Year gala dance sparks controversy

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This photo shows deaf composer Mamoru Samuragoch in Hiroshima, western Japan. — AFP

internment of Allied civilians from 1941 to 1945. Shanghai, an international commercial city where overseas citizens enjoyed legal privileges and comfortable lifestyles in foreign “concessions”, had 12 camps.

“Hunger and malnutrition, more than anything else, made conditions more severe,” he said. “Medical service personnel were confronted with every type of ailment... aggravated by lack of clothing, poor housing, poor sanitation, over-crowding and the stresses associated with captivity.”

On a vastly larger scale, Japan held both civilians and prisoners of war in 176 camps in its own country and 500 in occupied territories during the war. Japan was also responsible for the deaths of as many as 30 million Asians, including Chinese, his research showed.

Many former China internees have taken issue with “Empire of the Sun” over factual inaccuracies, uncomplimentary portrayals of recognizable people and the feeling that Ballard appropriated a story belonging to them. “What upset many former inmates was that his hero, Jim, admired the Japanese,” said Barr, who knew Ballard. “I didn’t mind that but felt that some of what he wrote was not related to the reality. The film was even further removed.”

Ballard, who died in 2009, said his bestknown novel was based on memories. “Some of the events that I described are imaginary, but... “Empire of the Sun” is a novel that is firmly based on true experiences, either my own or those told to me by other internees,” he wrote in his autobiography “Miracles of Life”. The novel came out 40 years after the events it depicted, but the writer explained: “It took me 20 years to forget Shanghai and 20 years to remember.” — AFP

15-year-old dancer who twirled for four hours onstage as part of China’s televised New Year gala has ignited controversy online, with some criticizing her performance as “cruel”. Wei Caiqi, the niece of Chinese dancing star Yang Liping, was the designated “time girl” at the annual China Central Television (CCTV) gala, which aired on January 30.

Clad in a flowing white gown, Wei spun nonstop on a special stage to represent “the passing of time and the changing of seasons”, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported yesterday. Many people took to China’s popular social networks to raise concerns before, during and after the performance. “What else can it be called except cruel?” wrote one user on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter. “For me, any sense of beauty has been completely replaced by a feeling of disgust.”

“A 15-year-old girl spinning there for four hours, to this I can only say it is sick, a perversion of values,” wrote another. One user wondered: “Who can tell me the point of her four-hour spinning?” The program itself is estimated to have been watched by 704 million viewers and Wei was one of the most-searched topics on the nation’s social networks in the days following the gala.

In a message posted on her Weibo account days ahead of the gala, Wei addressed the skepticism of her planned performance, which she described as a type of “meditation”. —AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

lifestyle

Allies come to Woody Allen’s defense on abuse allegations

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he long-time lawyer of Woody Allen and veteran journalist Barbara alters came out in support of the Oscar-Winning filmmaker on Tuesday following renewed allegations of sexual abuse from his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. Elkan Abramowitz, who represented Allen at the time of the original investigation into abuse two decades ago, told NBC News that the “timing is suspect,” and linked the accusations to Allen’s recent Golden Globes life achievement award.

“Nothing’s happened, they haven’t had any relationship for the last 20 years. So all of a sudden we’re seeing these allegations surface again, and one has to wonder why,” Abramowitz told NBC’s “Today” show.

“He is innocent,” he said. “The case is over - there is no case.” The campaign for Allen comes as the 6,000-plus members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences prepare to vote for the Oscars next week, ahead of the March 2 ceremony. Allen’s film “Blue Jasmine” has three nominations, including best original screenplay for Allen and best actress for Cate Blanchett, the favorite to win.

Last week, in a letter published by The New York Times, Dylan Farrow repeated her allegations that Allen sexually assaulted her in the Connecticut house where she lived with her mother, Allen’s then-girlfriend Mia Farrow. Allen was never charged in the case and Connecticut prosecutors said this week there is no current investigation into the allegations. While it is unclear how the controversy might affect the film’s Oscar fortunes, awards handicappers say they can’t rule out a negative impact. A representative for Sony Pictures Classics, the studio behind “Blue Jasmine,” did not respond to requests for comment.

Waiting for Allen’s response Allen will issue his own response to the allegations, a spokeswoman said on Sunday, but it was not clear when. Abramowitz has been the most vocal of those to speak out publicly in defense of Allen. On Monday, an ex-girlfriend of Allen, Stacey Nelkin, appeared on CNN with host Piers Morgan to discuss her former relationship with the filmmaker. Nelkin, who dated Allen when she was 17 and he was 42 after meeting on the set of his film “Manhattan,” said she didn’t believe Dylan Farrow’s accusations against Allen.

Walters specifically praised Allen’s parenting skills on her ABC morning TV show “The View” on Tuesday, saying the filmmaker was a “sensitive, loving and caring” father to his two adopted daughters with wife Soon-Yi Previn. Abramowitz said Allen’s recent recognition in Hollywood prompted the renewed claims.

“It’s a continuation of Mia Farrow’s desire to hurt Woody Allen,” he said, adding his recent lifetime achievement award at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globes “revived the anger she has toward him”. Representatives for Mia Farrow did not respond to a request for comment.

Both Mia Farrow and her son, Ronan Farrow, took to Twitter after the Golden Globes to criticize the tribute to Allen and revive the abuse allegations. Dylan Farrow specifically targeted the actors of “Blue Jasmine,” including Blanchett, and asked how they would feel if it had been “your child” who was molested. The accusations from the Farrows, says awards handicapper Tom O’Neil of Goldderby.com, could be seen as “Oscar war” and “in their battle against ‘Blue Jasmine,’ Cate Blanchett could be a casualty of the war.” He said, however, that she probably won’t take sides, making her less vulnerable in her Oscar bid.

Blanchett has spoken once on the issue, telling a reporter at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival last weekend “it’s obviously been a long and painful situation for the family and I hope they find some sort of resolution and peace.” — Reuters

A man walks past the Washington Coliseum on January 15, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Beatles performed their first live concert in North America at the Washington Coliseum on February 11, 1964. — AFP

Gris, Picasso lead way in record London auction P

aintings by Pablo Picasso, Rene Magritte and Juan Gris have pushed a sale at Christie’s to a record for London of nearly £177 million ($288 million, 213 million euros), the auction house said yesterday. Gris’ still-life “Nature Morte a la Nappe a Carreaux” (“The Checked Tablecloth”) led the way, selling for £34.8 million to smash the world auction record for the Spanish artist.

The 1915 work portrays a pile of objectsincluding a bunch of grapes and a newspaperon a checked tablecloth. It smashed pre-sale

estimates of £12-18 million, fetching almost double the previous record for a Gris work achieved in 2010 when his 1913 painting of a violin and a guitar sold for $28.6 million in New York. The second-highest sale of the night was for Pablo Picasso’s 1955 portrait of lover Jacqueline Roque (“Femme au costume turc dans un fauteuil”), which sold for nearly £16.9 million. A 1928 work by Belgian surrealist painter Magritte, “The hunters at the edge of night”, fetched more than £6.5 million. Other big sales tags included Swiss sculptor Alberto

Giacometti’s bronze work of three men, which fetched £9 million. Thirty-five works of art sold for over £1 million at the sale of Impressionist, modern and Surrealist art, which signals the start of two weeks of auctioneering in the British capital.

The auction was truncated after Christie’s cancelled the sale of 85 paintings by Spanish master Joan Miro, valued at more than 36 million euros ($48.5 million), over a legal dispute in Portugal. The paintings became Portuguese state property following the nationalization of

the BPN bank in 2008 and their sale met with fierce opposition from art lovers in Portugal.

But the cash-strapped Portuguese government has argued that the sale of the paintings would yield a much-needed injection of funds.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Portuguese court had rejected a request from the opposition Socialist party for the sale to be halted. However, hours before the first of the paintings were due to go under the hammer, Christie’s said it would not go ahead with the sale because of the “legal uncertainties” surrounding the works. — AFP

(Left) A gallery assistant poses with Piet Mondrian’s “Composition No. 2 with Blue and Yellow” (1930) during a press call for the “Impressionist, Modern and Surrealist Art” sale in London, England. (Right) Gallery assistants pose with Claude Monet’s “Eglise de Varengeville, soleil couchant” (1882) during a press call. — AFP photos

Prince plays London living-room gig W

hen Prince came to London a few years ago, he played more than 20 nights at the vast O2 arena. This time, he played a suburban living room to a dozen people. The enigmatic star flew into London on Tuesday at the start of a still-evolving string of dates in support of forthcoming album “Plectrum Electrum,” recorded with all-female trio 3RDEYEGIRL. Details are being released in a trickle, but Prince said he planned to play “iconic” venues along the lines of music club the Bag o’ Nails - where Jimi Hendrix once played - storied rock venue Electric Ballroom and Ronnie Scott’s jazz club.

“We’ll work our way up, if people like us, to bigger venues,” Prince said. His first stop was the East London home of British soul singer Lianne La Havas, who met Prince last year while she was touring the United States. The pair bonded over common musical tastes

This photo shows Prince performing in London. — AP

and a shared love of tea. In her cozy living room in front of a crackling fire, the band played two acoustic tracks of what Prince called their “funky rock ‘n’ roll,” or “funk ‘n’ roll,” including the newly released single “PretzelBodyLogic.”

Later, Prince and the band showed off its funklaced, punk-edged sound in an unannounced latenight set at the Electric Ballroom, a landmark venue in north London’s music heartland of Camden. He said he’d be back at the club on Wednesday - “a lot earlier and a lot funkier.” The trip to London, he said, is “openended.” “We’re going to be here until people don’t want to hear us anymore.” Prince said he planned to keep ticket prices as low as $10 - “because it’s a new band and you’re maybe not hearing what you’d expect.”

The tracks on the new album were developed dur-

ing epic jam sessions at Prince’s Paisley Park studios near Minneapolis. “We’ve been together for over a year and it’s perfect,” said Prince, who sipped a mug of strong tea with honey as he chatted to La Havas, her housemates and three journalists in the British singer’s brick Victorian house. “The more we play, the more fun it is, and addictive it is.”

Prince looked every inch the star in the incongruous surroundings, dressed head-to-toe in black and sporting a furry jerkin and large sunglasses. The multinational 3RDEYEGIRL is made up of Danish bassist Ida Nielsen, Canadian guitarist Donna Grantis and American drummer Hannah Ford. Ford said the band sometimes jammed for 12 hours or more in days and nights of music interspersed with games of ping pong.

“That’s our amazing life,” she said. “And we wouldn’t want it any other way. We are literally living a musician’s fairy tale, and it is now our reality. “Once you start jamming you sort of forget about the time,” she said of the band’s sessions with Prince. “A lot of the time we didn’t even know we were recording for an album. We were just jamming and vibing off one another.” Prince, she said, is “an incredible teacher in all the genres - rock, punk...”

“And ping pong,” added Prince. For 55-year-old Prince - a genre-bending musical pioneer and outrider for more than three decades - the unusual promotional tour reflects a determination to do things his own way. “I was in it (the music industry) and got out for obvious reasons,” he said. “I’m just hooking up with like minds.” He said he’s sworn off contracts and deadlines because “it’s just no way to make art.” Prince said he hoped to record the band live during their stay in London, as well as buying “some clothes - and some tea.”

Asked if - as rumored - he would play the Glastonbury Festival in June, he didn’t issue a denial, but said he was trying to “slow time down” and live in the moment. “I can’t think of the festival now.” He spoke about his decision to launch a lawsuit - later dropped - against fans who posted links online to unauthorized footage of his performances. “Nobody sues fans,” he said. “It’s just a poor way to phrase it. A bootlegger is a bootlegger, a scalper is a scalper. They know what time it is. “Just sharing music with each other - that’s cool,” he said. “It’s the selling that becomes the problem.” He claimed not to have noticed that 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of his groundbreaking album “Purple Rain,” regularly hailed as one of the best records of the 1980s. “I don’t look back,” he said. — AP

‘Little House’ star Richard Bull dies at 89

Richard Bull (left) and actress Arngrim at a restaurant in Chicago. — AP

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ichard Bull, who played shopkeeper and put-upon spouse Nels Oleson on TV’s “Little House on the Prairie,” has died. He was 89.

Bull died Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s hospital, fund spokeswoman Jaime Larkin said. The actor, a resident of what was once known as the Motion Picture and TV home, died of natural causes after being hospitalized with pneumonia, Larkin said Tuesday.

“Everyone loved him so much,” said Bull’s “Little House” co-star Alison Arngrim, who played his daughter, Nellie, and remained close to him.

“People are posting (condolences) in six different languages on my Facebook page.” Bull “was as Nels Oleson as you’d possibly want someone to be. He was calm, rational, sensible,” Arngrim said.

The Illinois-born character actor appeared in a wide range of TV shows, from “Perry Mason” in the 1950s to “Mannix” in the 1960s to Kelsey Grammer’s “Boss” in 2011. Bull played opposite his wife of 65 years, actress Barbara Collentine, in several projects.

Among the movies he appeared in were “High Plains Drifter” and “Executive Action,” both in 1973. Dean Butler, who played Almanzo James Wilder on the 1974-83 NBC series inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s novels about her 19th-century prairie family’s life, recalled his friend.

“Richard was a very generous, soft-spoken actor with a wonderful appetite for work,” Butler said. “He always made it (acting) look so easy.”

Melissa Gilbert, who starred in the series with Michael Landon (who died in 1991), tweeted: “This man will be missed. Goodbye Richard working with you was such a joy but nearly as joyful as being your friend.”

Bull and Collentine, also 89, moved to the Motion Picture & Television Fund home from Chicago in September 2012, Larkin said.

Another “Little House” cast member became a resident there, said Butler: Katherine “Scottie” MacGregor, who played Oleson’s memorable wife, Harriet. After Bull’s death, Collentine and MacGregor had dinner together Monday night and agreed “they had both lost a wonderful husband,” Butler said. Funeral plans for Bull were not immediately announced. — AP

Gris, Picasso lead way in record London auction

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Graffiti art

highlighted in NYC exhibition

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pray-painted at night on a Lower East Side handball court, the “Howard the Duck” mural showed the comic book character peeking from behind a trash can with the words: “Graffiti is a art, And if art is a crime, Let God forgive all.” That 1978 work helped propel the illicit graffiti art movement

out of the subway and into the mainstream.

So it’s only fitting that a canvas recreation of that mural (the original was painted over around 1988) is a part of a major exhibition on graffiti art opening Tuesday at the Museum of the City of New York.

“It was the shot heard around the world,”

This undated image provided by the Museum of the City of New York shows “Untitled by Sharp,” 1990 by Aaron Goodstone, known as “Sharp” who began writing graffiti as a teenager and achieved international recognition at the age of seventeen, when he exhibited his work at Art Basel.

(Above) This photo shows graffiti-covered subway cars parked in a New York City rail yard.

(Right) This image shows Lee Quinones’ 1988 oil painting “Howard the Duck,” a copy of the artist’s massive handball court mural, created 10 years earlier, at Corlears Junior High School on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and since destroyed. — AP photos

said its creator Lee Quinones, also known by his tag LEE. “This was a movement that needed a visual manifesto. . I wanted to bring that conversation that was so elusive in the subways above ground, to a context almost similar to a museum.” Only 18 at the time, Quinones became known among his generation for covering a 10-car subway train. He and an ar tist named Fab 5 Freddy were among the first to earn gallery recognition with a 1979 exhibition in Rome.

What makes the New York “City as Canvas” exhibition unique is that it focuses only on works from the city that were collected over the years by East Village artist Martin Wong, who befriended and mentored many of the graffiti artists, including Quinones, and promoted their once-renegade art form. Wong’s collection of more than 300 such works was donated to the Museum of the City of New York before his death in 1999.

About 150 are in the exhibition, which runs through Aug. 24. In addition to the “Howard the Duck ” oil canvas, which Quinones made for Wong, other highlights include a compilation of ink-drawn tags collected by Wicked Gary, founder of the first graffiti writing club, the Ex-Vandals, and a member of a collective of writers called the United Graffiti Artists who were the first to exhibit their work in a gallery setting.

Graffiti exploded in New York in the 1970s because of the subway - an expansive canvas for the young renegade artists. The seminal 1983 documentary “Style Wars” and other media attention contributed to its spread beyond New York. But only a handful of the largely teenage graffiti artists were “doing what we would call masterpieces, blanketing whole sides of trains,” said the exhibit’s curator, Sean Corcoran. They included DAZE (Chris Ellis), CRASH (John Matos), FUTURA 2000 (Leonard Hilton McGurr) and LEE - all success-

This photo shows “Wicked Gary’s Tag Collection,” 1970-72, showcasing ink-drawn “tags,” or signatures used by more than 64 graffiti artists. ful artists today - who succeeded in connecting the subculture to a broader audience by virtue of their artistic talent.

Wong “had the foresight to scoop all this stuff up when no one else in New York was thinking about it seriously,” said Sacha Jenkins, a writer and filmmaker who has written extensively on the graffiti movement. As evidence of graffiti’s growing credibility as an art form, Corcoran pointed to the public inter-

Beyond the Object Visitors pose for pictures with artwork during a photocall for an exhibition by US artist Dale Chihuly entitled ‘Dale Chihuly: Beyond the Object’ at London’s Halcyon Gallery.

— AFP photos

39

est in the elusive British street artist Banksy and the outcry over the recent white-wash of a New York City’s hotspot to aerosol art known as 5Pointz.

“Graffiti-influenced art is on the verge of a new breakthrough,” Quinones said. “We’re on the crest of the wave . there’s a number of artists, and not necessarily those who painted on subways” who are embracing the style and being signed by blue-chip galleries. — AP