18 Mar

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

UN plays key role in empowering women

JAMADA ALAWWAL 17, 1435 AH

US, EU impose sanctions as Crimea turns to Moscow

Mick Jagger’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott found dead

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9 recruitment 2Foreign 13 15 set to begin on April 1 Ministry finalizes rules to regulate labor market

Max 26º Min 10º High Tide 00:42 & 13:12 Low Tide 07:14 & 19:31

By A Saleh

Co-pilot spoke last words from jet KUALA LUMPUR: The co-pilot of a missing Malaysian jetliner spoke the last words heard from the cockpit, the airline’s chief executive said yesterday, as investigators consider suicide by the captain or first officer as one possible explanation for the disappearance. No trace of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been found since it vanished on March 8 with 239 people aboard. Investigators are increasingly convinced it was diverted perhaps thousands of miles off course by someone with deep knowledge of the Boeing 777200ER and commercial navigation.

A search unprecedented in its scale is now under way for the plane, covering a area stretching from the shores of the Caspian Sea in the north to deep in the southern Indian Ocean. Airline chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya also told a news conference that it was unclear exactly when one of the plane’s automatic tracking systems had been disabled, appearing to contradict the weekend comments of government ministers.

Suspicions of hijacking or sabotage had hardened further when officials said on Sunday that the last radio message from the plane - an informal “all right, good night” - was spoken after the system, known as “ACARS”, was shut down. “Initial investigations indi Continued on Page13

SEPANG, Malaysia: An unidentified woman wearing a mask depicting the flight of the missing Malaysia Airline, poses in front of the ‘wall of hope’ at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday. — AP

MP threatens to grill oil minister Call to allow political parties

By B Izzak KUWAIT: Opposition MP Riyadh AlAdasani yesterday gave Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair a three-day ultimatum to answer a number of questions he had sent to him and to implement court verdicts reinstating three former oil executives. Adasani said he would submit a request to grill the oil minister by Thursday if he fails to answer several questions he had sent regarding the Dow deal, diesel

smuggling and a contract with international oil major Shell.

He also called on the minister to implement three final court verdicts that reinstated three top oil executives who had been sacked several months ago in a major shakeup of the oil sector. The three executives of Kuwait Petroleum Corp had contested the decision to sack them to the court which ordered reinstating them immediately in their past positions. The oil minister has vowed he

will implement the court verdicts.

The National Assembly had formed committees to probe the three controversial issues of Dow, diesel smuggling and the Shell contract but the panels have not yet completed their investigation.

Adasani also said that a panel that was formed to investigate allegations that former lawmakers received millions of dinars in bribes was useless and that he will Continued on Page13

Obama tells Abbas ‘risks’ needed for Mideast peace WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama yesterday told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas that both he and Israeli leaders must make tough political decisions and take “risks” for peace. Meeting Obama at the White House, Abbas said Israel’s release of a fourth tranche of Palestinian prisoners by March 29 would show how serious Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was about extending peace talks. “As I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu when he was here just a few weeks ago, I believe that now is the time ....

to embrace this opportunity,” Obama said as he sat side-by-side with Abbas in the Oval Office.

“It is very hard, very challenging.

We are going to have to take some tough political decisions and risks if we able to move forward,” Obama said. The US leader wants Abbas to agree to a US framework to extend peace talks past an end-of April deadline. Little tangible progress has been made in the past seven months. He said that everyone already understood the shape of an Continued on Page 13

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shake hands during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House yesterday. — AFP

US seizes control of rogue ship TRIPOLI: US Navy Seals boarded and took control of an oil tanker yesterday that had loaded crude at a rebel-held port in eastern Libya and escaped to sea, the Pentagon said. The weak Tripoli government’s failure to halt the tanker had plunged the country into one of its biggest crises since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled by a NATObacked uprising in 2011, with parliament ousting Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, who fled the country.

No one was hurt “when US forces, at the request of both the Libyan and Cypriot governments, boarded and took control of the commercial tanker Morning Glory, a stateless vessel seized earlier this month by three armed Libyans,” Pentagon press secretar y Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement.

The operation was approved by President Barack Obama and was conducted in the early hours of yesterday ( just after 0200 GMT ) in international waters southeast of Cyprus.

Continued on Page13

KUWAIT: Local companies can start recruiting foreign workers on April 1 based on new regulations that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor recently finalized.

The new instructions, meant to regulate the labor market, fight illegal hiring and ensure that employers adhere to labor laws, allow employers to hire workers freely compared to the past when a specific list of professions were exempt from a ban on issuing work permits to foreign workers.

However, the new regulations make sure that a worker is recruited for a job that matches his or her field of specialty, through academic qualifications and prior work experience. Moreover, a medical examination and clean criminal record from the country of origin are still required to obtain a work visa.

With regards to transferring commercial visas to work permits, a process that was stopped in February, the new regulations stipulate that permission can only be given to businessmen and investors ‘who execute investment or commercial projects in Kuwait’.

While private companies will have freedom to recruit labor forces that they need, the new regulations include measures to ensure that firms do not hire workers they don’t need or employ staff illegally. For example, if a worker is caught working for an employer other than his original one, then the license of his original employer will be suspended and he will be banned along with his first degree relatives from obtaining a new license for 5 years.

Continued on Page13

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LOCAL

London mayor appoints Alshaya to IBAC

KUWAIT: A group photo of the participants of the workshop held yesterday at the UN House.

UN plays key role in empowering women

KUWAIT: In the context of its work to build strong business relations and develop trade opportunities between Kuwait and the UK, The British Embassy in Kuwait has announced the appointment of Mohammed Alshaya to the Mayor of London’s International Business Advisory Council (IBAC).

The Council, which Includes nearly 50 global business leaders, collectively advise the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on how to maintain London’s position as a top global city. With increasing commercial and cultural links between Kuwait and the UK, the appointment of a well-known Kuwaiti business leader to IBAC sends a clear message about the importance both sides attach to this historic trading relationship. Alshaya’s membership of IBAC will also support the Identification of commercial opportunities for Kuwaiti businesses, particularly In the UK. Commenting on this appointment,

British Ambassador to Kuwait Frank Baker said: “I am delighted that Mohammed Alshaya has accepted the Mayor’s invitation to join IBAC. His experience, as executive chairman of one of the world’s leading international franchise operators, and as Joint Chairman of the Kuwait Britain Business Council (KBBC), means that he will bring an invaluable new perspective to the Council.

This move also shows the deepening relationships between the UK, in particular London, and Kuwait — relationships that provide real benefit, across the board, to both countries.”

Mohammed Alshaya added: “I am honoured to have been asked by the mayor to join IBAC. This further strengthens the already strong relationship our two nations enjoy - politically, culturally and economically. I very much look forward to working with the mayor and the Council’s distinguished members.”

Kuwait hosts workshop

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: On the occasion of celebrating International Women’s Day, the United Nations House held a roundtable workshop titled ‘Equality for Women is Progress for All’ yesterday.

This workshop aimed to highlight the importance of equity in favor of women and girls for the development of all fields of life.

“Promoting Legal Empowerment of Women in the State of Kuwait”. These studies addressed the following key issues: Women’s nationality and citizenship, women’s economic empowerment, women’s rights in family and marriage and women protection from gender-based violence.

Dr Mubashar Riaz Sheikh, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative said that the United Nations believes that by working

KUWAIT: Dr Mubashar Riaz Sheikh (right) with officials from the UN agencies.

— Photos by Joseph Shagra The workshop focused on the role of UN organizations in empowering women and that all women have the right to live in an environment free of violence. This roundtable discussion provided views, insights and analyses on the situation of Kuwaiti women in the context of the four legal studies conducted under the United Nations Development Programme project

towards equality for women, “we will achieve progress for women, men, girls and boys”. “This fundamental approach is the cornerstone of our activities globally and here in Kuwait. All UN agencies present in Kuwait, and those outside Kuwait that provide their expertise as required from time to time, are committed to ensuring that women participate fully in the national

Al-Ghanem hails outgoing IPU chief over democracy GENEVA: Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem lauded here yesterday the great role played by outgoing SecretaryGeneral of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Anders Johnson in spreading world democracy and bringing peoples closer.

Speaking at an IPU session to honor Johnson on behalf of the Arab group, AlGhanem said the outgoing IPU chief had devoted himself to the IPU, which brings world parliamentarians together, sponsors democracy and protects human rights.

He said Johnson, during his term, had proved high efficiency and a great sense of responsibility and had enjoyed the confidence of all the IPU members.

Al-Ghanem added that Johnson had worked in a diligent and sincere manner to develop the organization and to expand its activities and that’s why he had been elected for three consecutive terms of office.

“He played a major and basic role in helping the parliaments of emerging democracies by means of providing financial and technical support to them,” he acclaimed.

Al-Ghanem is leading the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation participating in the IPU conference which is expected to discuss key commitments on democratic values and global security.

The Kuwaiti delegation includes MPs Faisal Al-Shaya, Jamal Al-Omar, Saleh Ashour, Saif AlAzmi, Abdullah Al-Turaiji and Madhi Al-Hajri, as well as National Assembly Secretary General Allam Al-Kandari.

During a particularly high-level Assembly with 53 Speakers of Parliament attending, IPU Members will elect a new Secretary General on Thursday to take over from Anders Johnson who will retire on 30th June after 16 years in the post and 22 years working for the Organization.

Candidates include former members of parliament (MPs) Barbara Contini (Italy), Kimmo Roobert Kiljunen (Finland) and Geert Versnick (Belgium), current IPU Deputy Secretary General Martin Chungong

(Cameroon), and Shazia Rafi (Pakistan), former Secretary-General of Parliamentarians for Global Action.

Moroccan proposal Meanwhile, Kuwaiti lawmakers participating in the IPU General Assembly meeting here expressed support to the Moroccan proposal for enlisting the crisis in Republic of Central Africa (CAR) as an emergency topic on the agenda of the meeting.

MP Faisal Al-Shaya said that Kuwait support to the Moroccan proposal stems from recognition of the urgency of such an issue which has Arab and Islamic dimensions given the horrible ethnic cleansing, human rights violations, and crimes against humanity that take place in CAR. On a different issue, Al-Shaya said “attempts to persuade parliamentarians from Islamic countries by the Syrian parliamentary delegation to adopt a proposal to list for discussion the issue of combating terrorism through a peaceful solution in Syria have failed because of the unpersuasive style used by the Syrian delegation in calling for such matter.” The MP pointed out that “the Syrian delegation accused Jordan of supporting what he described as terrorism, including that of Saudi Arabia and not blaming the Syrian regime for its lack of responsibility with neighboring countries which created a sort of repulsion between parliamentary delegations,” noting that proposal was denied.

The Kuwaiti lawmaker expressed hope that such solidarity would consider the situation in Central African in front of the General Assembly meeting, despite the persistence of the European and US parliamentary bloc to discuss the situation in Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier, MP Saleh Ashour said that there is a remarkable agreement among participating parliamentarians at the 130th InterParliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly meetings on a draft that addresses role of parliamentarians and parliaments in women and children protection. —KUNA

development agenda,” he stated.

“This year, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has asked us all to focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls, not only the specific MDG related to women’s empowerment but also to ensure that women are fully and equally represented in the enjoyment of each of the Millennium Development Goals. It is important to remember that the voices of women have power and relevance not only on behalf of women, but on behalf of all members of society,” added Sheikh.

The workshop aimed to take the discussion a step further. “The products and studies will facilitate the development of a ‘Statement of Kuwaiti Women’, which will include concrete policy recommendations in support of women’s empowerment in the above mentioned critical areas. This discussion will be of great assistance to the UN country team in distilling many issues facing Kuwaiti women and girls into a single, clear, directional statement that establishes the priority issue to be addressed by the national counterparts and the UN Country Team in its work to support the empowerment of Kuwaiti women.

As the UN country team, we intend to use the statement that you will develop as a strategic planning tool in our work with national and international partners. So we look forward to receiving a statement that contains very practical and relevant recommendations,” Sheikh explained.

Sheikh then read the message of Ban on the occasion of International Women’ Day. “I would also like to acknowledge the work of UN agencies in mainstreaming gender and women’s rights through their activities in Kuwait, which will be shared with you later in the program as well as the efforts of the UN country team gender theme group in organizing today’s event,” he concluded.

Positive atmosphere during Arab Summit preparations KUWAIT: Preparations for the Arab Summit that Kuwait hosts on March 25 and 26 are going ‘in the right directions’, while the chances for high success and representation are ‘great’, senior diplomatic sources said. Speaking to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity, the sources said that the conflicts between Gulf Cooperation Council countries are not expected to affect the summit. “On the contrary, the summit could be a good opportunity to calm the situation,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, the sources confirmed that president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Ahmad Jarba was invited to attend as a guest, while his country’s chair will remain unoccupied. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will send a representative to attend the summit, while Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country is currently taking a temporary spot in the Arab League, also notified the organizers that he will not be able to attend the summit personally, the sources added.

An Arab League delegation led by Adnan AlKhudhair, the Assistant Secretary-General for Financial and Administrative Affairs, arrived in Kuwait Sunday to oversee the preparations, before a ‘large delegation from the Arab League’s General Secretariat led by Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby arrives next Wednesday ahead of the opening’, according to his statements.

Security pact In other news, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah reiterated assurances to the parliament regarding the Gulf security pact, saying in a recent response to MP Rakan Al-Nisf’s inquiries that Kuwait’s fatwa and legislative department took part in preparing it and confirmed that it does not contradict the Kuwaiti constitution.

NBK to guarantee two clean fuel projects KUWAIT: The Kuwait National Petroleum Company plans to sign contracts for the clean fuel project starting from next week. The KD3.39 billion contracts will be signed with the Thuwaini Trading Company, the Omar Center for General Trading and Contracting, and the Fuad Mohammad Thunaiyan Al-Ghanim Company.

The KNPC has recently finished the issue of bank guarantees after

the tenders were awarded last February. According to sources close to the KNPC, a National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) led consortium was chosen to guarantee two out of the three contracts for KD116 million, while a consortium led by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) was chosen for the third for KD53 million.

The NBK’s bank guarantees will cover the Ahmadi Por t

KUWAIT: Opening of the Canadian heritage photo gallery on Sunday.

— Photos by Joseph Shagra

Refinery Project, awarded to AlThuwaini Company for KD1,36 billion, and the Abdullah Port Refinery Project I, awarded to the Omar Center for General Trading and Contracting for KD1.07 billion. The NBAD guarantee covers the Abdullah Por t Refiner y Project II, awarded to the the Fuad Mohammad Thunaiyan AlGhanim Company for KD962 million.

KNPC spokesman Khaled AlAssousi told agencies last month that the Mina Abdullah I project was awarded to a consortium led

by Britain’s Petrofac, Mina Abdullah II to US Fluor-led consortium, while Mina Al-Ahmadi went to Japan’s JGC Corp-led consortium. The projects are carried out to boost capacity at oil refineries and make production more environmentally friendly.

Canadian heritage photo gallery opens KUWAIT: The Canadian heritage photo gallery opened here on Sunday as part of the celebrations marking the International Francophone Day, due on March 20.

The gallery, co-organized by Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and Canada Embassy at AlAdwani ballroom in Abdullah Al-Salem neighborhood, features 24 photos from 24 Francophone countries that portray woman struggle against hardships of war, poverty and immigration.

The event is conceived by Dr Gina Valle, a leading diversity trainer, speaker and author at diversity matters - the University of Toronto, according to a statement by the Canadian embassy.

It aims to promote respect for cultural diversity and coexistence among people with different cultural and racial backgrounds. It also aims to enhance learning the French language and culture among the Francophone countries, the statement added. —KUNA

Arab League urges clearing Arab atmosphere CAIRO: Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Araby stressed here yesterday the significance of the coming Arab Summit due in Kuwait between March 25-26.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of meetings of member states’ legal experts on an Arab human rights court, Al-Araby said: “There is a dire need to clear the Arab atmosphere and to capitalize on the convening of the summit in Kuwait and its chairmanship of the summit to discuss the matter and to attain the goal.”

He said Kuwait and the Arab League are keen to make proper preparations and arrangements for the Kuwait Summit and for ensuring its success.

He went on to say the summit will discuss a host of major Arab issues, primarily Syria, Palestine and terrorism.

The chief of the Arab League appreciated the significant role played by the State of Kuwait in supporting and promoting collective Arab action and in clearing the Arab atmosphere. —KUNA

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LOCAL

Indonesians in Kuwait to cast votes on April 4 PPLN to set up eight polling booths

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: Indonesian nationals residing in Kuwait will cast their votes on April 4 at the Indonesian embassy premises to elect the country’s new People’s Legislative Assembly. The Indonesian nationals who have the right to vote including those who live in Kuwait are eligible to cast their vote in the general elections that will be held throughout Indonesia and at all Indonesian embassies all over the world, said

head of the Indonesian Overseas Election Committee in Kuwait.

Addressing a meeting at the embassy, Alex Syafei, the chairman of the Indonesian Overseas Election Committee in Kuwait, said yesterday that the committee or PPLN will set up eight polling booths on the premises of the Indonesian embassy where Indonesian nationals can cast their votes starting from 8 am to 6 pm.

The decision to choose April 4, 2014, a Friday,

KUWAIT: Alex Syafei, the chairman of the Indonesian Overseas Election Committee in Kuwait, addressing the meeting.

for Indonesia’s general election in Kuwait has been taken in order to encourage more people to participate in the elections, said Syafei.

The vote-casting in the polls is based on the permanent list of voters and additional or special list of voters that have been updated by PPLN can be seen on www.pplnkuwait.com.

However, those who have not yet been included in the list are also welcome to come to the polls by bringing any formal Indonesian identity documents such as passports and Indonesian civil ID or KTP, he informed.

Although Indonesia’s general elections in Kuwait will be held on April 4, 2014, the vote counting will be held only on April 9, 2014 along with the national vote-counting. In 2014 general elections, voters will punch a hole on the ballot paper to cast their vote instead of mark ing on it with a pen. All votes of Indonesian voters in Kuwait will go to the Jakar ta II election area that covers Nor th Jakarta, South Jakarta and abroad with the allocation of seven seats in the People’s Legislative Assembly.

In addition to the general elections for the new members of the People’s Legislative Assembly, there will also be the presidential general elections that is scheduled to be held on July 9, 2014.

The PPLN in Kuwait, headed by Syafei, will consist of representatives from Indonesian community in Kuwait. The PPLN meanwhile called on all Indonesian nationals in Kuwait who have been married or 17 years old and above to come to the polls on April 4, 2014 at the premises of the Indonesian embassy in Kaifan, Block 6, Abdul Hameed Abdulaziz Al-Sane Street, No 29.

The PPLN also sought assistance of their employers or sponsors to allow their Indonesian workers to participate in the elections.

‘Learning for Life Educational Conference’

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: A teachers’ workshop and seminar to develop their proficiency in English as well as academic prowess will be held from March 18 to 20 in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the US Embassy cultural attaché announced yesterday. Speaking at a press conference at Radisson Blu Hotel, Joel

Todd Bullock said the objective is to provide professional development opportunities for teachers in Kuwait, especially those who are working in the Ministry of Education.

Vivian Leskes, English language specialist at the US Department of State, will conduct and participate in the seminar. “Exchanging experiences is part of our journey together in strengthening our educational

cooperation,” Bullock noted. A Fulbright scholar in Irkuk, Serbia in the field of teaching English, Leskes will be arriving from the United States today. Leskes also has extensive training experiences in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Peru, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. She also has experience of teaching and training in Russia over the past 13 years.

KUWAIT: Joel Todd Bullock, being interviewed by local media yesterday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Salwa. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

According to Bullock, there have been ongoing programs between Kuwait’s Ministry of Education and the US Education Department including the exchange of teachers.

“Currently, Kuwait has at least four teachers in the US, teaching Arabic and mastering the English language,” he revealed. The seminar and workshops entitled ‘Learning for Life Educational Conference’ will be held in various locations including Kuwait University, Holiday Inn Salmiya, American University of Kuwait and Amideast.

Education cooperation between Kuwait and the United States has existed over five decades now. With regards to acquiring a US student visa, Bullock advised parents and students in Kuwait to apply at the earliest possible time. “If you do not want delays and would love to be in the US at the appointed time, I advise everyone to apply for student visas early. While we always want quicker visa issuance, there are circumstances of delays, so please come to us when there is time. We always want to improve our services though for everyone,” he added.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace yesterday Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Nayef Mohammad Al-Ajmi, accompanied by Imam of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah Maher Al-Mueaqly.

KOC stresses importance of communication KUWAIT: The Manager Operations Group (EK) at Kuwait Oil Company Hamed AlMutairi asserted yesterday the importance of communication among Gulf national oil companies.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 34th meeting of GCC national oil companies’ production and maintenance team, he said the regular meeting discusses all problems concerning modern maintenance and technology, during which members address solutions for problems their companies face in this concern.

The meeting consists of a joint com-

mittee from all oil companies as it has an organizational structure where the meeting is held every six months in one GCC member country, he said, adding that the committee, since 1999, has been working on constant communication via the Internet to face problems, finds solutions, and exchange experiences on maintenance and production.

In addition, he explained that KOC is headed towards implementing a number of projects in order to reach 4 million daily barrels and even more, adding that there are also several projects that would help attain this volume of production. —KUNA

Dust over Africa, Gulf linked to Indian monsoon LONDON: The fate of the Indian monsoon has for the first time been tracked back to the dust particles in North Africa and West Asia. A new analysis of satellite data has revealed a link between dust in North Africa and West Asia and stronger monsoons in India.

The study shows that dust in the air absorbs sunlight, west of India, warming the air and strengthening the winds carrying moisture eastward.

This results in more monsoon rainfall about a week later in India.

The results explain one way that dust can affect the climate, filling in previously unknown details about the earth system.

The study also shows that natural airborne particles can influence rainfall in unexpected ways, with changes in one location rapidly affecting weather thousands of miles away. Dust absorbs sunlight that would normally reach the surface, warming the air instead. This warmer dust-laden air draws moist air from the tropics northward, and strengthens the prevailing winds that move moisture from the Arabian Sea into India, where it falls as rain.

Although dust plays a role in strengthening monsoons, this natural phenomenon does not overpower many other processes that also influence monsoons.

Other extremely important factors include the effect of temperature differences between land and ocean, land use changes,

global warming and local effects of pollution aerosols around India that can heat and cool the air, and also affect clouds.

The researchers analysed satellite data and performed computer modelling of the region to tease out the role of dust on the Indian monsoon.

To explore the connection, the team from IIT Bhubaneshwar used a computer model called CAM5 and focused on the area.

The model included manmade aerosols from pollution and natural sea salt and dust aerosols. First, the team ran the model and noted a similar connection: more aerosols in the west meant more rainfall in the east.

Then they systematically turned off the contribution of each aerosol type and looked to see if the connection remained.

Dust turned out to be the necessary ingredient.

The condition that re-created stronger rainfall in India was the rise of dust in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

They report their findings in the journal Nature Geoscience. India relies heavily on its summer monsoon rains.

“The difference between a monsoon flood year or a dry year is about 10% of the average summer rainfall in central India.

Variations driven by dust may be strong enough to explain some of that year-to-year variation,” said climate scientist Phil Rasch of the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. —Gulf News

Ambassador meets Malaysian investment official KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Malaysia Saad Al-Asousi met here early yesterday the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Director Arham Abdul Rahman.

Al-Asousi said that he stressed the great Kuwaiti interest in the investment opportunities provided by Malaysia, also expressing the country’s readiness to consider them closely, especially projects in oil and gas.

The diplomat offered Abdul Rahman an official invitation to visit Kuwait in turn, to be better introduced to the investment opportunities in the country.

“Kuwait has future developmental plans and huge projects, while Malaysian companies have vast expertise in the field of constriction, which could serve Kuwait’s projects considerably,” the ambassador said.

Al-Asousi promised MIDA director to work hard to enhance bilateral ties between both countries. —KUNA

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Malaysia Saad Al-Asousi meets Malaysian Investment Development Authority Director Arham Abdul Rahman.

Kuwait keen on joint work to develop youth strategies JEDDAH: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah AlSalem Al-Sabah has stressed Kuwait’s keenness on joint work with Saudi Arabia in the light of the initiatives of Saudi King for devising strategies for youth development in Islamic countries.

“Young people are cared for by all due to what they represent and their impor tant role in the progress of nations and future, the interest in youth is the road to success,” Sheikh Salman said after his arrival.

The minister expressed his pleasure for being in Saudi Arabia and in participating in the Second OIC meeting for Ministers of Youth and Sports, hoping that the conference achieves its objectives and be crowned with success.

Sheikh Salman expressed his thanks to the Saudi Kingdom for the warm reception to him and to his accompanying delegation.

For his part, the President of the Saudi General Presidency of Youth Welfare Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahad said that the Kingdom is keen on reuniting young Muslims,

pointing out that the hosting of this conference confirms that.

Prince Nawaf expressed pleasure for having all the participants in the conference under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who always support anything that would benefit all Islamic countries, adding that the conference witnessed participation of about 45 Islamic states.

Earlier, Sheikh Salman arrived here, heading a delegation to the second conference for youth and sports ministers of the OIC states, due on March 17-18. —KUNA

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LOCAL

EPA, UN bodies discuss ozone layer depletion

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday. Chairman of Khentii Province’s Citizens’ Representatives Council of Mongolia Suren Purevjav along with his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their visit to the country.

Kuwait FM defends GCC security pact ‘We will never support anything that clashes with our constitution’ KUWAIT: Kuwait’s foreign minister has defended the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) security pact to be debated by the parliament next month, dismissing claims that its provisions clashed with the constitution. Several lawmakers said that they would vote against the pan-Gulf security agreement, insisting that it violated the text and spirit of the country’s constitution.

However, the government has rejected the allegations and often stated that the pact was needed to boost the collective security of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the GCC member states. “Article One of the GCC security agreement does not clash with the Kuwaiti constitution, and there is no way that we endorse any law or decision that is against our constitution,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid said, quoted by local daily Al-Qabas yesterday.

The foreign minister was reportedly responding to a query by MP Raken Al-Nisf about provisions in the Gulf agreement, mainly Article One. Last month, Oil Minister and Parliament Affairs State Minister Ali Al-0mair said in media statements that the government would not refer anything that contradicted the constitution to the parliament. “I urge the representatives of the nation to read the articles of the Gulf agreement objectively,” he said.

“The first article of the agreement is very clear about the significance of the national legis-

lation of each of the member states. National legislation and international agreements take precedence over the Gulf agreement. The Gulf agreement clearly stresses the independence of each member state.”

The fate of the pact in Kuwait could be decided on April 3 when the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee convenes to give its opinion.

Security boost Earlier this month, the committee said that more studies and further consultations with experts were needed before the voting by the parliament should go ahead.

“We have decided to postpone the voting on the security agreement as well as on seven other bills,” MP Hamdan Al-Azimi, the committee rapporteur, told the media following the meeting.

The parliament was scheduled to debate in March whether to endorse a Gulf security agreement between the six members of the Gulf alliance amid calls from the government for MPs to give their approval.

However, the task is proving formidable as many lawmakers have publicly voiced their opposition to the agreement, promoted by supporters as a boost to regional security and to enhancing inter-Gulf relations.

Kuwait’s parliament has over the last months seemed fractured after lawmakers appeared deeply divided over the merit of the GCC securi-

ty pact. A poll published by local daily Al-Qabas indicated that 19 lawmakers were against the agreement, while only eight would support it.

The report said that 21 lawmakers had yet to make up their minds on how to vote. Pushing for a ‘yes’ vote, the government insisted that the pact was not unconstitutional, as some lawmakers who opposed it have said. Khalid Al Jarallah, foreign ministry undersecretary, said that the pact was in accordance with the Kuwaiti constitution.

“People should go through the articles of the agreement cautiously in order to appreciate them,” he said. “It clearly states that the national legislation is always sovereign. In fact, the term of national legislation was mentioned five times, which means that they take precedence and that they cannot be abolished or ignored, particularly the constitution.”

However, Al Azimi said that the Gulf security agreement was not in line with the Kuwaiti constitution and that it clashed with its articles.

“The agreement cannot be accepted under any circumstance,” he said.

“There is a need for pressure from the parliament to explain some of its articles, particularly the extradition of suspects and the definition of crime. There is a need for popular pressure to make sure the agreement is not endorsed. We cannot please some countries at the expense of Kuwait and its interest.”

KUWAIT:V The Environment Public Authority (EPA) is gearing up for various meetings with UN organizations to discuss developing the unified system on ozone layer depleting substances in accordance with the Montreal Protocol.

Chairman of Air Quality Monitoring Depar tment in the Authority Ayman Bojbara said yesterday that the meetings will be held with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in a matter of days.

The meetings will discuss legal aspects to guarantee interests of all parties related to the Montreal Protocol, he said, and prepare for GCC coordination in this regard. The meetings will also discuss implementation mechanisms, and the authority’s experts will present their ideas and proposals, relying on

Kuwait’s experience in adhering to the Protocol. The authority is cooperating with public and private sector organizations to guarantee the implementation of the amendments to the system, said the official.

Furthermore, the prohibition on use or setting of quotas for ozone depleting substances will be of positive impact on the environment, he stressed.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion.

The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1st 1989. Since then, there had been seven revisions, the last adopted in 1999 in Beijing. — KUNA

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LOCAL

In my view

In my view

GCC, Germany in Cold War

Happy birthday to Internet!

By Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

I

Harvesting the

By Labeed Abdal

fruits of his labor

local@kuwaittimes.net

O

n March 12, 1989, Dr Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. Today, the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of this historic achievement which became the dominant feature of the digital era. The quarter century of the use of the Internet has been filled with challenges and hardships, during which many concepts of humanity were changed.

One of the main issues that became a topic of debate and research since the Internet’s emergence, and continues today, is public freedoms and limits on freedoms.

No one can deny the fact that some companies and even governments have crossed the limits of invading personal privacies and obtaining personal information without permission for marketing purposes or gathering information.

The evolution of the Internet brought other challenges for the world to face, as it provided a platform to

be used by terrorists and spies and help them achieve their goals. This translates into a serious threat to countries and societies, and today has become a growing issue of worldwide concern.

Freedom of speech is another thing that came under the spotlight following the Internet’s evolution. The freedom that the Internet provides for expression of opinion brought concern for many countries, and drew attention of human rights supporters who campaign against restrictions on people’s right to express their opinions freely online.

While reasserting people’s right of freedom of expression, it is also important to point out the need to achieve balance between this freedom and expressing it responsibly. This issue is highlighted whenever freedom of expression online is misused, and becomes a harmful weapon that threatens social stability.

kuwait digest

Market’s incense

By Sami Al-Khorafi

A

local proverb says that ‘secrets are held captives within our souls, and once released, we become their captives!’. The topic of today’s article is very dangerous because it led to breaking up many families and toppling many regimes and leaders. Those capable of keeping secrets are becoming very rare nowadays. As a matter of fact, people’s secrets - or scandals - have become widely desired and attract much attention of people fond of violating others’ privacy regardless of their feelings. Various types of media are ‘gossipfocused’ and hire many reporters to investigate a single ‘scandal’.

Accordingly, the most readable page in any newspaper is the crimes one that includes enough scandals that soon spread as gossip without any due cause. In this regard, people are more interested in celebrities’ scandals though they would get nothing out of knowing about them.

Despite being private ones that should not be discussed in public, some call-in radio programs ask callers to speak about their personal family problems on air.

Some callers even discuss their own scandals most happily although Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “Everyone of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings”. This means

that if a man does something in private and exposes it himself, he has squandered Allah’s forgiveness.

We do know that everyone has his own worries and concerns and that he occasionally needs to talk about them to ‘vent out’ and probably find a solution for his problem. Yet one might do that without knowing that his secrets might be spread all over the town the following day by people we locally describe as the ‘market’s incense’ that goes everywhere and is smelled by passersby.

If you cannot hold a secret, how would you know that the one you revealed it to would do so. It had been said that one should not reveal secrets to those wanting to know them because they would soon spread them around.

We should all realize that scandals have broken many families and this is why the interior ministry occasionally classifies and writes off cases concerning scandals, which is the right thing to do because many of the secrets in such cases may break up many families, and as the Prophet (PBUH) said: “ Allah will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the defects (faults) of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world”. So thanks and may Allah reward you well, MoI officials! —Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

demographic problem

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

I

t is funny to see the government compete with the parliament on how to increase the children allowance. The reason why I find it funny is that the competition happens simultaneously with discussions over the housing crisis, and for which Kuwait hosted a special conference recently featuring international experts in the field.

Members of the government, just like their peers in the parliament, do not realize that they are the cause of the problem. While they seek foreign experts’ help to face the increasing demand on housing welfare, they actively seek increasing child birth in an unexplainable manner, resulting in increased housing needs which add to the problem at hand.

There is no housing crisis in Kuwait, but there is a demographic one. The problem is that those two issues are too related to the point it became difficult to differentiate between them. The parliament and government share the blame for complicating the problem by openly and actively encouraging people to continue having more children.

Even if we separate the housing problem from the demographic one, the reality remains that we do not have a crisis in which the Kuwaiti citizen suffers to the point that requires intervention from the state or law-

Even if we separate the housing problem from the demographic one, the reality remains that we do not have a crisis in which the Kuwaiti citizen suffers to the point that requires intervention from the state or lawmakers.

Al-Anbaa

The evolution of the Internet brought other challenges for the world to face, as it provided a platform to be used by terrorists and spies and help them achieve their goals.

Employee

The spoiled private sector

By Waleed Al-Rujaib

T

he private sector in Kuwait and its role in the state’s development has been overblown in the past few years to the point in which it was considered the country’s ‘savior’ and solution to the development, infrastructure and services problems. When the privatization law was discussed in the parliament for the first time, the plan was to privatize all state departments. The government even went as far as proposing the privatization of the entire oil sector, which is a huge sector that requires competent bodies to manage it such as the public sector. On the other hand, this task is too hard for the weak private sector to manage and develop it.

If the oil sector is privatized, the private sector would have to seek help of foreign companies, which opens the door for the return of Western dominance over our oil wealth similar to the situation before independence and nationalization. The Kuwait Airways’ privatization project is a prime example of this.

The private sector in Kuwait is weak and incompetent. It cannot stand without government support. While it calls for more freedom in the market, eventually it comes back and appeals for the government’s support. This happened several times before, and the aftermath of the Souq Al-Manakh stock market crash, in which the state injected millions of the people’s funds to save collapsing companies, is the most famous example.

Despite the fact that the government has sided with the private sector in several cases such as establishing a multibillion-dinar portfolio for real estate and renting towers for state

departments’ offices, the private sector has hardly been kind in return. It was left to freely hike rents to the point where it became impossible for small families to afford.

And when it comes to its duties towards the society, we find that the private sector does not even honor the simplest of things such as providing job opportunities for young Kuwaiti men and women. While companies are forced to hire a small percentage of Kuwaiti employees, they still prefer cheaper expatriate labor forces.

Not only that, but companies demanded financial support from the government to hire Kuwaiti employees, and the government yielded by paying part of Kuwaitis’ salaries in averages ranging between KD 250 to KD 800 per month or even higher.

The state’s allowance for Kuwaitis in the private sector reached a total of KD 393 million in the fiscal year 2012/2013. It is higher by nearly 431 percent compared to taxes that the state collected from companies, which reached KD 74 million.

Not only does the private sector avoid meeting its social obligation, it also continues to work under the rentier system. It is exempted from paying progressive tax, depriving the state from funds that would compensate some of what the country loses on supporting the weak private sector.

Before thinking of tightening belts and rationalizing spending by cutting social welfare and increasing service fees, the state should first stop wasting public funds on the spoiled private sector. Not mentioning corruption and theft of public funds. —Al-Rai

The private sector in Kuwait is weak and incompetent. It cannot stand without government support. While it calls for more freedom in the market, eventually it comes back and appeals for the government’s support.

kuwait digest

Leaders in crisis management

By Dali Mohamed Al-Khumsan

makers.

Yes, we do not have housing welfare, and that there are a lot of Kuwaiti families who live in circumstances compatible with the modern advancement and financial wealth that Kuwait enjoys. All that is correct. But what also is correct is the fact that the majority of this situation is a direct result to the Kuwaiti citizen’s nature and demands, meaning to say that the citizen is the one who created the problem.

Citizens waiting in line for government housing insist to live as close to Kuwait City as possible, and refuse to live in apartment buildings under the vertical construction concept. The citizen looks for ‘investment’ and how to turn housing welfare into a profit, and in the end they add to the problem through uncivilized and uneconomic increase in child birth rates.

Solve the demographic problem first, and resolving the housing dilemma would easily follow. Of course while bearing in mind a change in philosophy, and making sure that a government house stays a shelter instead of becoming a commercial investment.

S

trong wills make miracles. Those capable of making the right decisions that help solve problems facing the society, predict what might happen and straighten up things are known as ‘leaders’. They are the leaders in crisis management. They are characterized by strong wills, wisdom and clear visions. They have lifelong experiences - they are knowledgeable.

These men are usually made through crises and developed through experiences. Such people should be made use of as advisors and consultants for the government and various specialized bodies where their skills can be developed for the greater good of the whole nation.

Crisis management is very important for any society, regardless of its nature, be it political, parliamentarian, artistic, economical, social or most importantly, foreign or natural. Such crises should be faced and suitable solutions must be found with the help of specialized expertise and advisors who are capable, through their wisdom and insight, to remove their consequences.

Napoleon once said: “Those who were born in

storms fear not the wind”. Thanks be to Allah we have many such people who are well-experienced in various fields. They have bright minds and are completely reliable in dealing with different problems and crises. They can even solve and revert them before they take place by meticulous planning and setting good strategies to would help avoid any possible negative impacts if such problems do happen.

So it is absolutely the state’s role to take good care of such experienced, knowledgeable and inspired minds. It should consult them on any mishaps to protect the society and prevent problems from developing to unsolvable levels, even when some might advise everybody to ‘take it easy’. Such attitudes are not fit for running states and ruling peoples. Dangers must be faced bravely and the right decisions must be made on time.

May Almighty Allah protect our beloved Kuwait from all crises and inspire the devoted ones of its officials and specialized advisors to make the difficult but right decisions. —Al-Anbaa

write this week from Berlin, where I came to take part in efforts to strengthen GCC-German relations and explore new avenues for cooperation, as Germany seeks to assert its international role and the GCC seeks to expand its strategic horizons. I will write more on this next week. Today, I will explore Germany’s preoccupation with Ukraine and the beginnings of a new Cold War. Germany has the most extensive trade relationship with Moscow of all 28 nations in the EU, and as such the most to lose economically from a confrontation with Russia. That, plus its dependence on Russian gas, has limited its options. A German (unofficial) interlocutor told me wistfully: “If only we could import gas from GCC countries instead of Russia, perhaps we could take a different approach to Ukraine’s crisis. Can you supply us with gas?”

Germany has been seen as playing “good cop” with Russia, especially at the beginning of the crisis, emphasizing dialogue and trying to find a facesaving way out of it. Chancellor Merkel has reportedly spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times to try to find such a way, but later reportedly described him after one such conversation as “living in a different world!” The harsh characterization, if accurately reported, was an expression of her growing exasperation with the futility of the exchanges.

But other EU nations, especially East European and former Soviet republics, have taken a strong stance against Russia’s acts in Ukraine. They fear that they would be next if Russia succeeds in Ukraine. For those reasons, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, for one, has been quite critical of Germany’s conciliatory approach. He put it starkly: “German dependence on Russian gas could effectively limit European sovereignty.” Tusk warned that its dependence could blunt Germany’s, and the EU’s, response to threats from Russia, saying that Germany had to find a way to “correct its economic behavior so that dependence on Russian gas does not paralyze Europe when it needs to act quickly and unambiguously... at a time when we must protect Europe’s fundamental interests.”

In February, German officials indicated that Germany was going to assume a greater international role. At the Munich Security Conference, they predicted the end of an era of restraint, with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier saying, “Germany is too big to just sit on the sidelines and comment on world politics.” Perhaps part of that new approach, Steinmeier played a critical part in February in brokering a rare agreement in Kiev between the Ukrainian bickering parties.

Some western officials and experts, however, have raised doubts as to whether Germany can successfully fulfil such a leadership role; one was quoted as saying, “The EU is dysfunctional, but Berlin is the real problem.”

Initially, Germany was not only opposed to sanctions against Russia, but was also hesitant to go along with lesser measures, such as excluding Russia from the G8. However, after several futile attempts to mediate the crisis, attempts that were rebuffed by Russia, it appeared that Germany for now has decided to join other western nations in taking punitive measures against Russia.

On March 13, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Russia risked “massive political and economic consequences” if it did not change its policies. For the first time, she said that Germany, with her EU and western counterparts, supported imposing sanctions.

Speaking before Germany’s parliament, Merkel said emphatically, “We, as neighbors of Russia, would not see only as a threat. And it would not only change the European Union’s relationship with Russia,” Angela Merkel said. “No, this would also cause massive damage to Russia, economically and politically.” She added that EU members and other western nations, if necessary, were prepared to freeze bank accounts and impose travel restrictions on people and firms suspected of being involved in violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

She told the parliament: “The territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be called into question.”

Thus ended of Germany’s short-lived neutrality.

Part of what has led to the stiffening Germany’s resolve was the ominous actions taken by Russia and Russian-speaking Ukrainians, as well as Ukrainian extremists. The dangers facing minorities, whether Tatar, Russian or Ukrainian were heightened by pro-Russian secessionism.

Attempts to reach a diplomatic solution failed over the weekend. On March 15, at the United Nations Security Council, Russia vetoed a draft resolution affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declaring illegal the Russian-supported referendum on Crimea’s future. It was interesting that only Russia voted against the draft, affirming its isolation on this issue. It was noteworthy that China, torn between its friendship with Russia and its traditional support for the principle of territorial integrity of countries, merely abstained.

As diplomats were debating the draft resolution at the UNSC, Russian troops stationed in Crimea attacked and occupied a gas terminal just outside Crimea. While Russians justified their incursion by referring to the use of the terminal to supply Crimean homes with gas, others saw it as another sign that Russia may have designs on Ukrainian territories outside Crimea.

There is little doubt that a second Cold War is back, involving some of the same actors in the first Cold War. GCC countries professed neutrality during the first war and stayed active in the NonAligned Movement, although some tilted slightly westwards.

In the new Cold War, the bets are off on where the GCC as a group, or its constituent member states, will stand. While neutrality should be the guiding principle, GCC countries will be called upon to take sides. When their values and interests counsel taking sides, some will do. However, where interests and values do not converge with those of either side, they will probably sit out this conflict as some western countries have refrained from taking sides in the Syrian conflict because they had no “dog in that fight.”

TUESDAY, MARCH18, 2014

LOCAL

Gulf states finally supporting Egypt DUBAI: After three years of political turmoil, social strife, and economic stagnation, a mega-deal announced last week may ignite a long-overdue mercantile momentum along the Nile.

The deal promises Egypt $40 billion worth of affordable housing units to be built by Dubai-based contractor Arabatec, starting this summer and ending by 2020. The project will span 13 sites from Luxor through Cairo to Alexandria, and should be the largest of its kind in the Middle East.

The 40-year-old Arabtec , the largest publicly traded builder in the Gulf, has built the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, and is involved in the construction of major projects like St Petersburg’s Lakhta Center, which is planned to be Europe’s tallest building, to Dubai’s Sports City, a $4 billion campus comprising four stadiums checkered with apartment blocks. With a market cap of roughly $4 billion, Arabtec has been one of the Dubai Financial Market’s most intensely traded stocks since going public a decade ago.

The other party to the deal is the Egyptian Defense Ministry. While this may seem odd to some, in Egypt it makes sense, because the military owns considerable real estate, and in this case will be providing it free of charge.

Even so, the deal’s financial logic is debatable, and in fact cannot be understood without its political context and diplomatic rationale.

Egyptian home buyers lack a tradition of purchasing housing through mortgages, and the banking industry often lacks effective foreclosure leverage. Then again, such challenges have been overcome in many emerging markets once governments saw in them an aim. In Egypt, such political will has been lacking ever since the land reforms of the 1950s, which focused on rural rather than urban real estate, besides having eventually failed.

The Egyptian who is expected to grapple with this challenge is Defense Minister and presidential hopeful Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

Sisi has yet to formally announce his candidacy in the election that is expected sometime before June. However, he is widely predicted to run and win, having already emerged from the past three years’ turmoil as the strong man on the Nile. — Marketwatch

KUWAIT: The Cabinet meeting in progress.

Cabinet holds weekly meeting KUWAIT: The Cabinet held its routine weekly meeting at Bayan Palace yesterday under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak AlHamad Al-Sabah.

Following the meeting, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubark Al-Sabah said at the onset of the meeting, the cabinet welcomed the home-return of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah following a private visit to the US and UK, during which

he underwent a successful surgery.

The cabinet welcomed Arab delegations partaking in the 25th Arab Summit due in Kuwait between March 25-26, hoping it will lead to a further promotion and consolidation of cooperation among all the Arab countries for the common interest of the Arab people.

It also welcomed a two-day visit to be paid by Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa to the State of Kuwait today.

During the meeting, the ministers were apprised of two letters recently sent to His

Highness the Amir from Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, accepting Kuwait’s invitation to attend the Arab summit. They were also briefed on another letter sent to His Highness the Amir by UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon, inviting him to attend the Climate Summit in New York on September 23.

The cabinet was then apprised of a recent letter sent to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah from Bolivian

President, inviting him to participate in the Group-77+China summit in Bolivia in June.

Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah kept the ministers on the outcomes of the recent meeting of Arab interior ministers in Marrakech in Morocco. Afterwards, the Cabinet discussed a draft decree regulating the system of governorates and governors’ powers with the purpose of revamping public services nationwide and reflecting positive public participation. — KUNA

Haris returns jewelry box, refuses reward Drunk police officers arrested KUWAIT: A haris in Farwaniya returned a jewelry box he found in the trash to its owners, and refused to take a reward for his honesty. The man, identified in the news repor t as Mohammed Ez, an Egyptian national, found the jewelry box while collecting garbage at his building.

The haris then left a note outside every apartment, asking any tenants who had lost a box to come over to his room and describe it to collect it. The owner soon came over and received the box, containing all the jewelry worth KD 4,000 which his son had accidently thrown in the garbage bin. The tenant offered to give the janitor 10 percent of the jewelr y ’s value as a reward, but the man declined.

KUWAIT: Director of Public cleanliness department and road occupancy at Hawally municipality Abdelaziz Al-Yahya said a campaign was launched to clean areas of encroachments and obstruction of traffic movement. He said campaigns during the weekend were on cafes encroachment on unlicensed yards between buildings, and warning were issued to adjust their status. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Projects worth 1.5 billion dirhams in celebration of SICC SHARJAH: Sharjah has revealed that the cost of the 21 projects it is working on in celebration of its selection as the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014 nears 1.5 billion dirhams, distributed over new universities, monuments, Islamic parks, traditional markets, museums and libraries, as well as scientific and architectural edifices.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qassimi, Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital 2014 (SICC 2014) celebrations, emphasised that these projects translate Sharjah’s vision, which is derived from the aspiration of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to promote Islamic cultural thought and spread its goodness around the world.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee for the SICC 2014 celebrations confirmed the significance of the projects, which mirror the identity of the emirate and aim to highlight the greatness of Islamic culture and disseminate its objectives across the world.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qassimi said: “The projects complement the cultural manifestations and human heritage that chronicle Sharjah’s story of knowledge and science, promoting its status and key role in the international cultural system.”

He added that many of the SICC 2014 projects, including the Al Majaz Island Amphitheatre project, which started only three months ago, would be completed within days.

Al Majaz Island Amphitheatre, which covers an area of 7.238 square metres and accommodates up to 4,500 spectators, is set to host on March 26, 2014 the premiere of “Clusters of Light”, an epical theatrical performance that will launch the SICC 2014 celebrations.

Emphasising its importance as a touristic and cultural edifice, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi indicated that the AED140 million amphitheatre is fitted with the latest hightech equipment that are unprecedented in the region and poised to produce outstanding performances.

Cultural destination For her part, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al-Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Head of the Projects Committee for the SICC 2014 celebrations,

Drunk cops Two police officers face charges after they were caught drunk inside a car in Salmiya on Sunday. Patrol officers had pulled the car over for swerving, before discovering a policeman and policewoman inside, and that they were drunk.

The driver was identified as a first lieutenant, while the policewoman was identified as a special task force officer.

Backup police were called to put the couple under arrest after the man attempted to assault the patrol officers.

The two were referred to the authorities to face charges including drunk driving and offending police officers on duty.

Stray bullet A domestic worker miraculously survived death after she was hit by a stray bullet in Jahra. Investigations are ongoing to determine the shooter who fired the shot in a shopping mall in the area.

The 25-year-old Ethiopian woman was accompanying her female employer at the mall when a stray bullet hit her in the

SHARJAH: Al-Majaz Island Amphitheatre, one of Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital Projects. (Inset) Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al-Qasimi (left) and Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qassimi asserted that Sharjah, inspired by its Ruler, invests in ever ything likely to promote human thought, culture and knowledge, pointing to the sustainable nature of the emirate’s projects, which are poised to benefit generations to come.

She also pointed to the touristic value of the SICC 2014 projects, which will position Sharjah as an international cultural destination.

Among the other projects that will be completed by late March, as stated by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, are an 12.55 million dirhams Islamic park and an 8 million dirhams monument.

Another park is being built at a cost of 25 million dirhams. This will be the first of three parks to be constructed as part of the SICC 2014 projects, adding a significant aesthetic, cultural and social value to the emirate.

Islamic universities and libraries are also being built to emphasise the major role of Sharjah as the capital of Islamic culture in disseminating Islamic knowledge and enhancing awareness of Islamic civilisation and the

bright history of Islam.

The Head of the Projects Committee said: “To complement its Islamic architectural system, Sharjah, as part of its SICC 2014 projects, is constructing buildings with Islamic architecture to highlight its identity and culture.”

Citing the emirate’s keenness on its heritage and historical legacy, she clarified that a sum of 23 million dirhams had been allocated for the construction of new museums and traditional markets, as well as other heritage projects.

Among the heritage projects that Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al-Qasimi said were underway are several “heritage villages” distributed across Sharjah, including Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Al Dhaid, to consolidate the spirit of heritage by reviving traditional ceremonial practices.

Sharjah, with all its sectors, is making every effort and working in full swing to finalise its projects, which are set to enrich Islamic culture on the local, regional and international levels.

ear and left her bleeding. The woman was rushed to Jahra Hospital where she needed stitches to close the gash.

Hawally fight Two people were injured in a fight in Hawally over a parking spot. When police arrived at the scene in response to an emergency call, they found one man bleeding heavily from his ear, while the other was unable to stand up. It was discovered that the Egyptian man was slashed by a knife while his Syrian foe suffered a broken foot. The two were taken to Mubarak Hospital while a case was filed.

Home robbery Sulaibikhat detectives closed a home robbery case filed recently in the area by arresting two brothers who admitted of stealing KD 10,000 from the house.

Investigations into the break-in, entry and burglary case filed by a Kuwaiti woman led detectives to identify a prime suspect by tracking his cell phone signal.

The bedoon man, who has a history of criminal activities, denied involvement in the case following arrest, but later confessed during questioning. He gave police information of his brother who he said helped him in the robbery. The accomplice was soon arrested and admitted the crime when confronted with his brother’s confessions. The two were taken to the authorities to face charges.

Murder attempt A maid escaped death after her Ethiopian colleague attempted to stab her. A citizen went to Sulaibikhat police station and told them his Ethiopian maid threatened to kill the Indian 10 days ago and pulled the knife on another.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

St Pat’s festivities kick off amid tensions in US

Paris ready to get first woman mayor Page 10

PAGE 11

SEPANG: A Chinese girl takes a picture in front of an electronic display showing the weather information of the cities in Asia at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday. — AP

‘Malaysia, what else are you hiding?’

Chinese slam Malaysia govt for ‘talking nonsense’ BEIJING: Relatives of Chinese passengers aboard a missing Malaysia Airlines plane voiced fury yesterday, accusing the Malaysian government of “talking nonsense” and launching a cover-up while a rescue could have been carried out. “Only the Malaysia government knows the truth. They’ve been talking nonsense since the beginning,” said Wen Wancheng, following a meeting with airline officials in Beijing as the search entered its 10th day. “You hid the whereabouts from the beginning and after seven to eight days you discovered it?

That was the best time to launch a rescue,” added the 63year-old from the eastern province of Shandong, whose son was aboard the missing jet.

Another relative who left the meeting told AFP: “Of course there is no useful information for us, there never is.” The relatives’ anger came as Malaysia drew more scathing criticism

from Chinese state media and social media users. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday disclosed that the flight had been deliberately diverted, and that the plane flew for several hours after leaving its intended flight path. In an editorial, the China Daily newspaper questioned why the announcement came more than a week after the flight vanished and wondered whether Malaysia was sharing all of the information it had gathered.

“The contradictory and piecemeal information Malaysia Airlines and its government have provided has made search efforts difficult and the entire incident even more mysterious,” the newspaper wrote. “What else is known that has not been shared with the world?” Two-thirds of the passengers on board the flight were Chinese, and Beijing has been critical of Malaysia’s sharing of information-a concern reiterated

Monday as fears mounted that the plane might have been hijacked. “It is of the utmost importance that any loopholes that might have been exploited by hijackers or terrorists be identified as soon as possible because we need counter-measures to plug them,” the China Daily wrote.

Chaotic response Yao Shujie, the head of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham, wrote in an op-ed in China’s state-run Global Times newspaper that Malaysia “has lost authority and credibility” due to its chaotic response. “The lack of national strength and experience in dealing with incidents has left the Malaysian government helpless and exhausted by denying all kinds of rumors,” Yao wrote. He added: “If the search continues to be fruitless even following the new information, Malaysia would be better off handing over its command in the international rescue operation.”

China’s foreign ministry took a more measured tone, with spokesman Hong Lei telling Monday’s regular briefing that the search “is faced with even more difficulties” in light of the new information. “We hope the Malaysian side will better coordinate all the search efforts and provide comprehensive and accurate information to all sides, expand the search and step up search efforts,” Hong said.

He added that Beijing “will not reduce our search forces, but we will redirect the forces” as the situation changes. The plane’s disappearance remained the most hotly debated topic on China’s popular social networks. Many users of Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter, echoed concerns over the Malaysian government’s release of information.

“Why is it only now that they’ve confirmed it may have been hijacked?” one Sina Weibo user wrote in response to the latest revelations by Kuala Lumpur. “Malaysia, what else are you hiding?” Another posted: “I’m really getting more and more disappointed in Malaysia and their unreliable government. I’m not planning on travelling there any time in the future.”

Last week, one of the most widely forwarded messages was a posting that read: “Vietnam keeps discovering.

Malaysia Airlines keeps denying. China keeps sending rescue teams.” On Monday the meme had taken a new twist.

“Malaysia has been telling a week’s worth of lies. Vietnam has fished out a week’s worth of trash. China has forwarded a week’s worth of news,” read the latest viral message.

Australia joins search Meanwhile, Australia will take responsibility for the “southern vector” of the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, with 25 countries now involved in a huge operation to locate the plane, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said yesterday. The

Malaysian government has revealed an investigation indicates the jet was deliberately diverted and flew for several hours after leaving its scheduled flight path-either north towards Central Asia, or towards the southern Indian Ocean.

Abbott, who earlier Monday told journalists he had no information that the flight may have come close to Australia, said he was responding to a request from Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. “He asked that Australia take responsibility for the search on the southern vector, which the Malaysian authorities now think was one possible flight path for this ill-fated aircraft,” Abbott told parliament.

“I agreed that we would do so. I offered the Malaysian prime minister additional maritime surveillance resources which he gratefully accepted.” Abbott said the defense chiefs of Australia and Malaysia were discussing how to implement the arrangement. “Australia will do its duty in this matter. It will do our duty to ensure that our search and rescue responsibilities are maintained and upheld,” he said.

“And we will do our duty to the families of the 230 people on that aircraft who are still absolutely devastated by their absence and who are still profoundly, profoundly saddened by this as yet unfathomed mystery.” Asked earlier whether Australian agencies had detected the plane close to Australia, given its western coast borders the Indian Ocean, Abbott said: “I don’t have any information to that effect.

Scouring data “But all of our agencies that could possibly help in this area are scouring their data to see if there’s anything that they can add to the understanding of this mystery,” he told reporters. Australia has two Orion surveillance aircraft assisting with the search for the plane, which was en route to Beijing when it disappeared. Abbott said one of those had now been redeployed to the Indian Ocean.

Six Australians were on board the commercial flight carrying 239 passengers and crew which vanished on March 8 in a busy Southeast Asian sky, and relatives have clung to hope that their loved ones may still be alive. “I haven’t got a clue what is going on, but maybe they have been hijacked and that gives me hope,” David Lawton, whose brother Bob was aboard MH370, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday. “In this day and age and the technology we have you would think they would be able to find it, but no, apparently they can’t. “I don’t blame anybody for it, I just want to know what their fate was,” he added. Abbott said the incident could lead to changes in how aircraft are tracked. “I think that there will be a lot of analysis done of this particular event which thus far remains deeply, deeply mysterious,” he said. “And I think there will be a lot of lessons learnt, and I dare say some of those lessons will involve the tracking of aircraft.” — Agencies

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian residents light candles as they pray for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 at their village yesterday. — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

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

Egypt to try Morsi’s son for drugs CAIRO: Prosecutors referred the youngest son of Egypt’s ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi to trial yesterday on charges of drug use and possession, an accusation his family dismisses as an attempt to tarnish their image. Moumin Salman, a prosecutor in the Nile Delta city of Benha, ordered that 20-year-old Abdullah Morsi, a university freshman, and his friend be tried before a criminal court.

A date has not yet been set for the trial. According to police accounts, Morsi’s son was arrested with his friend on March 1 after a local patrol became suspicious of a parked car on the side of the road on the

Fall of Sunni rebel town in Syria polarizes Lebanon AL-LABWA: Two rockets struck a mainly Shiite town near Lebanon’s border with Syria yesterday and security forces blew up a suspected car bomb as they struggled to contain sectarian violence fuelled by a Syrian army offensive across the frontier. The rocket attack on Al-Labwa was the latest strike on a Shiite target inside Lebanon after Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces and their Lebanese allies Hezbollah recaptured the border town of Yabroud from Sunni Muslim rebels on Sunday.

The rebel defeat at Yabroud sent a stream of refugees and fighters across the border towards the Lebanese Bekaa Valley town of Arsal, and was followed hours later by a suicide car bombing against a local stronghold of Shiite Hezbollah. The border area has been steadily sucked into Syria’s nearly four-year-old conflict as Syrian troops and jets targeted rebel bases on the frontier and suspected Syrian rebels fired rockets at Shi’ite towns to punish Hezbollah for supporting Assad.

But the rebel loss of Yabroud could exacerbate sectarian tensions across Lebanon and the flight of 2,000 defeated rebels - some of them into Lebanon - would further destabilize the already volatile Bekaa Valley. Prime Minister Tammam Salam met army chief General Jean Kahwaji yesterday and called on the military to “take all necessary measures to control the situation in Bekaa’s border areas”, a statement from his office said.

When the two rockets struck Al-Labwa, a mainly Shiite town about five miles (eight km) west of the Sunni town of Arsal, gunmen took up positions on the street and others leapt into cars. Reuters journalists in the town heard sirens of emergency vehicles, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The attack on Al-Labwa followed a suicide bombing which killed three people in the nearby town of Nabi Osmane on Sunday. Two radical Islamist groups with suspected ties to Sunni Al-Qaeda militants in Syria claimed responsibility. At the site of the blast yellow Hezbollah banners were flying yesterday. “Dear criminals, our blood is stronger than your terror,” read one of them, next to the group’s logo.

The blast blew apart buildings in the area, including a barber shop where the twisted remains of a barber chair were visible through the door. A damaged grey Mercedes was in the road and the twisted charred remains of a car.

One person was killed in the same town on Saturday after several rockets were fired from near Arsal.

Triumph and trepidation Yabroud was the last stronghold of Sunni rebels on the Syrian side of the border and its capture by the Syrian army and Hezbollah triggered open celebrations in Beirut’s southern Shiite suburb - mixed with fear of imminent revenge attacks. More than 100 youths on motorbikes paraded through the district on Sunday, waving Hezbollah flags and hooting their horns, and sheep were slaughtered in front of a mosque.

Hours later, however, Hezbollah members deployed in the streets after the Bekaa suicide bombing. Soldiers blocked off entrances to the suburb and there were lengthy queues at the few open checkpoints, where cars were thoroughly searched. In the Bekaa Valley yesterday the army blew up an explosives-laden car about five km (3 miles) north of Sunday’s suicide bomb attack. The twisted and charred remains of the car could be seen in a field of almond trees on the side of a hill on the outskirts of the small town of Fakeha.—Reuters

east edge of Cairo. After a search, the officers told prosecutors, the police found two rolled hashish cigarettes in their car. The police say first Morsi and his friend refused to take a drug test, but later agreed and were then released.

The family said the charges are fabricated, and aim to defame Morsi’s family. Abdullah’s older brother, Osama, told The Associated Press at the time that he had received warnings from officials that members of the family will now be targeted for prosecution. The ousted president has been detained since the military overthrew him in July

spiked since July. Also yesterday, Judge Hassan Rashad sentenced 10 Brotherhood supporters to a year in prison on charges of holding a protest that the prosecution said sought to disrupt voting in a referendum on the constitution amended after Morsi’s ouster. Those sentenced include a journalist who worked at the group’s newspaper. It has been suspended and only has an online version.

The journalist was covering the rally, which took place in the Cairo district of Shubra. Clashes between the protesters and security erupted during the protest. — AP

Crimea asks to join Russia as West readies sanctions East vs West Ukraine conflict not a new Cold War SIMFEROPOL: Crimea declared independence yesterday and applied to join Russia while the Kremlin braced for sanctions after the flashpoint peninsula voted to leave Ukraine in a ballot that has fanned the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War. Official results from Sunday’s disputed referendum showed 96.77 percent of the voters in the mostly Russian-speaking region opting for Kremlin rule in what would be the most radical redrawing of the map of Europe since Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia. Crimea’s lawmakers also declared the Russian ruble the peninsula’s second official currency and vowed to “disband” the Ukrainian military units stationed across the region-a move that threatens to inflame the raging security crisis on the European Union’s eastern frontier. The vote was strongly condemned by Washington and Brussels, with EU foreign ministers meeting to discuss sanctions against Moscow. Ukraine’s interim president Oleksandr Turchynov denounced the vote as a “great farce” and watched from a podium as agitated lawmakers approved a partial mobilization of the army aimed at countering Russian troops’ effective seizure of Crimea that the beginning of March. The ex-Soviet nation’s acting defense minister Igor Tenyukh also firmly told reporters that the “troops deployed (in Crimea) will stay there.”

‘Strongest possible signals’ Most of the international community has rejected the referendum as illegal because Russia had vowed to respect its neighbor’s territorial integrity under a 1994 agreement that saw Ukraine renounce its Soviet-era nuclear arms. But the government in Crimea announced a series of measures to sever ties with Kievincluding seizing Ukrainian institutions and even plans to set the peninsula on Moscow time, two hours ahead.

The White House said US President Barack Obama warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Washington and its allies would “never” recognize Crimea’s breakaway vote. Obama warned that “Russia’s actions were in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that, in coordination with our European partners, we are prepared to impose additional costs on Russia for its actions,” the White House said.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said Europe needed to send the “strongest possible signals” to Russia at a meeting of the 28-nation bloc’s foreign ministers yesterday. The ministers are widely expected to approve “targeted” sanctions against Russian or pro-Kremlin Ukrainian leaders that could include both travel restrictions and asset freezes. The measuresreportedly affecting top Russian ministers and presidential aides but not Putin himself-are meant to demonstrate the West’s united resolve to punish the Kremlin for its overt show of post-Soviet might. Putin has signaled no intention to turn back on what he describes as his defense of ethnic Russians who, according to Moscow, have come under increasing attack from Ukrainian ultranationalists since last month’s ouster in Kiev of a pro-Kremlin regime by a far more nationalist but Western-leaning team.

The Kremlin said Putin “emphasized” to Obama that the referendum “was fully in line with the norms of international law and the UN charter”. It said Putin pointed out “the well-known precedent of Kosovo”-a mostly Muslim region of former Soviet ally Yugoslavia whose independence is backed by Washington but not recognized by the Kremlin. Putin today will make a special address on the crisis that will be attended by lawmakers from Russia’s two houses of parliament. Crimea’s self-declared leader Sergiy Aksyonov also tweeted yesterday that he was flying to Moscow for talks. Russia’s lower house of parliament is expected to debate legislation on Friday simplifying the process under which the Kremlin can annex another part of a sovereign state.

Thousands take to W Bank streets to support Abbas RAMALLAH: Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of West Bank cities yesterday in support of president Mahmud Abbas’s visit to Washington for talks with Barack Obama about the peace process with Israel. Demonstrators waved the Palestinian national flag as well as that of Abbas’s Fatah party, chanting “we are with you, president!” as Abbas was to weigh up an anticipated US request to extend the faltering negotiations with Israel.

“We’re here today to stand up to pressures upon us and make sure president Abbas adheres to his convictions,” said Nasser Eddin al-Shaer-former Palestinian education minister and member of Fatah’s Islamist rivals Hamas-who joined a 5,000strong rally in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Some 1,500 people turned out

following mass protests against him. He has since been put on trial on several charges, including conspiring with foreign groups, inciting his supporters to murder protesters, and organizing a campaign of violence in Egypt. Thousands of members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group to which Morsi belongs, have also been arrested and many are facing trials. But his family has largely been spared the crackdown.

Authorities accuse Morsi and his supporters of seeking to destabilize the country following his ouster, blaming them for the violence that has

in the West Bank administrative centre of Ramallah, and more than 1,000 in the southern flashpoint city of Hebron.

Abbas was to meet President Obama in Washington yesterday, having travelled to the US nearly a fortnight after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did the same, and as an April 29 deadline for the nine-month negotiations loomed.

Palestinian and Israeli leaders have been unable to move the talks forward since US Secretary of State John Kerry kick-started them at the end of July after intense efforts to bring the sides back to the table following a three-year freeze. Bitter recriminations have taken precedent, with the two sides refusing to budge on key issues such as the borders of a future Palestinian state, security arrangements in

RAMALLAH: A Palestinian boy holds a national flag, during a rally in support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, ahead of his meeting with US President Barack Obama yesterday. — AP

the West Bank, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the final status of Jerusalem, claimed by both sides as a capital.

‘Waiting for peace’ Israeli President Shimon Peres sought to clear the air yesterday, issuing a statement of support for Abbas. “President Abbas is a man of principle; he is against terror, against violence. He is a good partner and I’m glad that our government is negotiating with him,” Peres’s office quoted him as saying in a statement. “We are all waiting for peace; it is the wish of the Israeli and Palestinian people.”

The US is to propose a framework on which to base final status talks and has been calling for an extension of negotiations pending agreement by both sides on that framework. Israel has recently kicked up a new obstacle to ending the decades-long conflict, demanding Palestinian recognition of it as a Jewish state.

Palestinian leaders have categorically rejected the calls. In the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, public demonstrations were banned, but Fatah supporters nonetheless gathered at the Al-Aqsa University, a bastion of the West Bank-based movement. “We informed Fatah members of the ban on celebrations they’d demanded to support Abu Mazen (Abbas), in order to maintain public order, and fearing that inter-Fatah differences could air themselves in public,” said Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for the Hamas government. Abbas has had a spat with an exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, both accusing each other of complicity in the death of late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.— AFP

‘We’re going home’ But the overwhelming margin of victory for the pro-Kremlin camp underscores the mistrust the heavily Russified southeast of Ukraine shares for the European leanings of those who rose to power on the back of three months of deadly protests in Kiev.

Alcohol-fuelled celebrations swept cities across the diamondshaped Black Sea peninsula as Russian flags flew and refrains from Soviet-era songs filled the rain-soaked streets.

“We’re free of the occupation!” Lucia Prokorovna said amid bursts of fireworks in Russia’s historic naval port of Sevastopol late on Sunday. “Ukraine was attached to Crimea like a sack of potatoes,” the 60-year-old said in reference to the decision by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushev-a native Ukrainian-to present the peninsula to Kiev as a gift in 1954. Crimea’s self-declared premier Aksyonov-recognized by Moscow but rejected as illegitimate by Kiev and most of the world-hailed the referendum as an “historic moment”. “We’re going home. Crimea is going to Russia,” he told those gathered on Lenin Square.

‘Mockery’ of democracy Not everyone in Crimea was happy with the result. Some ethnic Ukrainians expressed bewilderment at a referendum that presented them with only two choices: join Russia or go back to a 1992 constitution under which Crimea became a de facto sovereign state. The status quo or better terms with Kiev were not options-a reality that along with the massive presence of Russian troops across the region prompted British Foreign Secretary William Hague to call the vote a “mockery” of democracy. One of the greatest uncertainties hanging over Crimea itself is how the economically devastated region that relies on Kiev for everything from energy to water can survive in the span it would take to formally be accepted as a part of Russia.

The region’s self-declared leader Aksyonov tweeted yesterday that Crimea had received a 15-billion-ruble ($410-million, 295-million-euro) aid package from Moscow. Crimean lawmakers also claimed rights to the pipelines as well as offshore oil and natural gas platforms of Ukraine’s state-owned Chornomorneftegaz and Ukrtransgaz energy firms. Russia’s finance ministry meanwhile

suggested turning Crimea into a temporary low-tax zone aimed at helping the region deal with the transition. But more nationalist voices in Ukraine are calling on Kiev authorities to cut off Crimea from basic supplies in effort to get its leaders to reverse course.

“Crimea’s access to gas, electricity, water and food staples is in danger and Russia will not be able to compensate,” said Penta institute analyst Volodymyr Fesenko. — AFP

BRUSSELS: Pro-Ukrainian activists kneel to kiss Ukrainian flags as they demonstrate during an EU foreign ministers meeting outside the EU Council yesterday. — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

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

Venice votes on cutting ties with Italy ROME: Italians in Venice and its surrounding region are voting this week on whether to break away from rest of the country and form their own state. The online vote, organized by local independence parties, is not legally binding but aims to galvanize support for a bill calling for a referendum on whether the region of Veneto should split from Italy.

The new Republic of Veneto would be inspired by the ancient Venetian republic-a

rich economic, cultural and trading power which existed from the 7th century until its fall to Napoleon in 1797. The Indipendenza Veneta party behind the bill told AFP the separatist movement was fuelled by the government’s apparent inability to stamp out corruption, protect its citizens from a damaging recession and plug waste in the poorer south.

“We no longer want to be part of a coun-

try that has gone to the wall. Nothing works anymore,” party coordinator Nicola Gardin said. “Italy is weighed down by an enormous level of public debt, thousands of businesses have closed, we have lost count of the number of people who have committed suicide in Veneto,” he said. The region pays around 71 billion euros ($98 billion) in taxes to Rome, 21 billion euros more than it receives in investment and services.

‘Re-conquering sovereignty’ The latest polls show that-of the 3.8 million people eligible to vote in the region-around 60 percent are in favor of independence. Despite protests that an attempt to split from Italy could be unconstitutional, the governor of the Veneto region has told Italian media that secession is an option under international law. “The push for independence comes from the people. It is a democratic request born of Rome’s

indifference,” governor Luca Zaia told Liberoquotidiano.

Venetians will be closely watching independence movements in Scotland-which will hold a referendum in September-and Catalonia, he said. “If Barcelona gets independence, Veneto could adopt the same method and get it too. We have knocked politely on the door of federalism, but it did not open. Now we will break down the door,” he said. —AFP

St Pat’s festivities kick off amid tensions in US NY parade draws more than 1m spectators annually NEW YORK: St Patrick’s Day festivities were in full swing Sunday with the usual merriment of bagpipes but political tensions lingered in the northeastern US, where city leaders will be conspicuously absent from parades over gay rights issues.

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio will become the first mayor in decades to sit out the traditional march because parade organizers refuse to let participants carry pro-gay signs. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh wasn’t marching in his city’s parade Sunday, either, after talks broke down that would

have allowed a gay group to march.

Still, thousands of green-clad spectators came out for the parade in Boston to watch bagpipers, and organizers of a float intended to promote diversity threw Mardi Gras-type beads at onlookers. A similar scene played out in downtown Philadelphia. In Georgia, the dome of Savannah’s City Hall will be lit green, and several thousand people braved temperatures in the teens on Sunday to march with pipe and drum bands in Detroit and Bay City, Mich.

ALDERSHOT: Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (second left) strokes the regimental mascot Irish Wolf Hound dog as she attends the St Patrick’s Day parade with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in Mons Barracks yesterday. —AFP

In Ireland, St Patrick’s Day provides the launch of the country’s annual push for tourism, a big part of the rural economy. “To Irish people by birth or descent, wherever they may be in the world, and to those who simply consider themselves to be friends of Ireland, I wish each and every one of you a happy, peaceful and authentically Irish St Patrick’s Day,” Irish President Michael D Higgins, the ceremonial head of state and guest of honor at yesterday’s parade in Dublin, said in a statement.

Ireland’s head of government, Enda Kenny, became the first Irish prime minister to attend Boston’s annual St Patrick’s Day breakfast Sunday.

But Kenny has resisted pressure, in both Ireland and America, to support the gay rights lobby’s demand to have equal rights to parade on St Patrick’s Day and he planned to march Monday in New York.

“The St Patrick’s Day parade (in New York) is a parade about our Irishness and not about sexuality, and I would be happy to participate in it,” he said in Dublin before leaving for a six-day trip to the US Parade organizers have said gay groups are not prohibited from marching, but are not allowed to carry gay-friendly signs or identify themselves as LGBT. Some LGBT groups were to protest the parade along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Monday. Others had planned to dump Guinness beer from the shelves of the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay rights movement, in protest of the brewer’s parade sponsorship, but that was canceled after the gay rights group GLAAD said late Sunday that Guinness had dropped its plans to sponsor the parade.

New York’s parade, a tradition that predates the city itself, draws more than 1 million spectators and about 200,000 participants every March 17. It has long been a mandatory stop on the city’s political trail, and will include marching bands, traditional Irish dancers and thousands of uniformed city workers. —AP

PISA: The leaning tower of Pisa is colored in green to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday on the eve of the St Patrick’s Day. —AFP

US not done with winter still CHARLESTON: Winter-weary motorists faced another treacherous commute yesterday in parts of the Mid-Atlantic as snow and frigid weather blew in just days before the start of spring. At least a few inches of snow were reported in the Washington area and parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey by early yesterday. In Washington, crews worked overnight to clear snow, but transportation officials warned that roads were still dangerous.

Heavy snow closed Reagan National Airport’s runways. Dulles International Airport and BWI were seeing many cancelations, but were open.

Forecasters urged drivers not to let their guards down and federal offices in the Washington area were closed for the day yesterday. In New Jersey, the heaviest snow was reported in the southern part of the state, where many schools were closed or delayed opening. Patience was wearing thin for many. “Never thought of March as being Spring. But snow, yeah, I’m over snow,” said Jackie Denham, who was at a grocery store in Alexandria, Va, on Sunday.

Rain and thunderstorms were expected in the Southeast, some of which could be strong. Winter’s return follows several days of spring-like tempera-

tures. With spring officially starting Thursday, people weary of shoveling snow are hoping that the latest storm will be winter’s final encore. Ricardo Contreras, an upholsterer from Harrisburg, Pa, said he was tired of the winter and had no plans to shovel whatever might fall overnight. “I’ll just let it melt by itself,” Contreras said. Engineer Bill Bingham, heading into the West Shore Plaza in Lemoyne, Pa, for Sunday breakfast, said he was most looking forward to playing some golf for the first time in many months. “I really like the winter, but I’m done with the snow now,” Bingham said. “I’m ready for spring.”

Richard Windsor of Jackson, NJ, said he was not that impressed by the new storm system.

Several previous storms this season dropped 10 or more inches of snow in the state. “With the winter we’ve had, I’m not worried about an inch or two of snow,” Windsor said as he gassed up his sport utility vehicle Sunday morning. “I figure if I made it through the stronger storms, I can handle this.”

Temperatures in many areas are expected to be in tune with spring by Thursday. But forecasters cannot say whether winter weather will finally end.

Forecasters said snowstorms are typical through March. —AP

Anti-government marchers in Caracas slam Cuban ‘invader’ CARACAS: Hundreds of anti-government protesters marched Sunday against Cuban meddling in Venezuela’s domestic affairs. Under the late elected socialist revolutionary leader Hugo Chavez, Venezuela forged tight ties with Cuba, becoming its closest regional ally and economic mainstay of the Americas’ only communist regime.

The close bilateral alliance, which includes military and security cooperation, is still pursued under President Nicolas Maduro’s year-old government.

At least 28 people have been killed and 400 injured in the student-led protests that began February 4 in western Venezuela and spread to Caracas and other cities. Oil-rich Venezuela has seen almost daily anti-government demos as tens of thousands of people vent their rage over the soaring violent crime rate, spiraling inflation and a lack of basic household goods like toilet paper.

Clad mostly in white T-shirts, marchers waved signs such as “Cuba get out of the Armed Forces,” “Get out Cuban spies” and “If we keep this up, we will be the Castrocuban Republic of Venezuela.” Marchers were called out to the streets by the Popular Will, an opposition organization led by Leopoldo Lopez. He has been jailed since February 18.

The chanting throngs, sounding noisy horns, tried to march on the Cuban Embassy to rally. But authorities blocked them from getting to their target, and demonstrators headed to La Carlota military airfield instead. The bilateral alliance also includes energy, food, defense and health care. Manuel Rangel, 24, waved a banner with a portrait of Cuban revolution icon Fidel Castro: warning “Get out Invader!”

“We completely reject Cuban involvement in our affairs, of the Castro brothers in our Armed Forces and in

our institutions,” the university student said. Some analysts say there are Cuban advisers and Cubans taking part in Venezuela’s security. Caracas does not comment on the claims. Cashstrapped Cuba depends almost entirely on Venezuela’s largesse billed as solidarity aid to keep afloat its ailing, Soviet-style centrally managed economy. Cuba’s top hard-currency earning

tions” here.

But people are mainly on the streets, Godoy said, because of the economic crisis in a country that has increasingly centralized its own economy. “We’ve been fighting on the streets for a month. So how has the government improved anything?” she asked. “It hasn’t. Everything is worse. There is nothing on supermar-

CARACAS: A demonstrator shoots a rocket at the National Guard during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. —AFP export is the $6 billion Havana earns each year from sending its medical staff overseas on government contracts.

Venezuela, Cuba’s neighborhood ATM Unless Cuba can pinpoint and exploit the oil reserves it believes it has, and fast, Havana must depend on its Venezuelan economic lifeline to survive. Maria Godoy, a 50-year-old homemaker, said “Cuban military presence in Venezuela also is to blame for the (deadly) repression at demonstra-

ket shelves.”

Workers from the subsidized foods program held a pro-government protest. “ We will defend Chavez’s legacy. It is sacred. The fascist right-wing will not plunge the country into chaos,” one told state television. Meanwhile, opposition figure Henrique Capriles, who lost to Maduro in last year’s elections, said he was discussing with the government some format to hold a debate about the current crisis. Governmentcontrolled media do not feature such debate. —AFP

Defense: General’s deal drops sex assault charge RALEIGH: In a hearing that will likely cap the high-profile prosecution of an Army general accused of forcing himself on a subordinate officer, Brig Gen Jeffrey Sinclair was expected to enter pleas in a deal that includes the dismissal of sexual assault charges. The hearing at Fort Bragg comes as the military continues to grapple with revelations of sex crimes in its ranks and political pressure to address the issue. A sentencing hearing for Sinclair believed to be the highest-ranking US military officer to face court-martial on sexual assault charges - could begin soon.

Lawyers for Sinclair said he will plead to lesser charges in exchange for the dropping of the sexual assault charges and two other counts that might have required Sinclair to register as a sex offender. The Army’s case against Sinclair crumbled in recent weeks as questions arose about

whether the woman had lied in a pre-trial hearing. At an upcoming hearing, a military judge will give Sinclair a sentence that can’t exceed terms in an agreement struck between defense lawyers and military attorneys. The legal agreement is likely to require a punishment less severe than the maximum penalties of 15 years in prison and dismissal from the Army.

Sinclair may also face additional administrative penalties from the Army, which could force him to retire at reduced rank. That could cost Sinclair hundreds of thousands of dollars in pension benefits. Retired Maj Gen Walt Huffman, a Texas Tech University law professor who previously served as the Army’s top lawyer, said Sinclair could be busted back two ranks to lieutenant colonel since the affair at the heart of the case began before his most recent promotion. —AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

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

India denies Malaysian jet ‘9/11-style attack’ theory NEW DELHI: India rejected suggestions yesterday that it could have been the intended target of a 9/11-style attack by the missing Malaysia Airlines jet. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised maximum assistance in the massive hunt for Flight 370, India’s foreign minister said it was vital that the mystery over its fate was cleared up. But asked by the CNN-IBN network about suggestions that the plane was hijacked with the aim of flying it into an Indian city, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid replied: “I don’t think we

have gone that far.” The speculation was fuelled by former US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott who tweeted that the “direction, fuel load & range now lead some to suspect hijackers planned a 9/11type attack on an Indian city”.

His comments over the weekend have been widely picked up by the Indian media and Khurshid said people needed answers to allay their fears. “We hope to come to some conclusion that is both credible and reassuring,” he said. The Times of India said security sources had

“rubbished” the idea that the plane could have got anywhere close to an urban centre and insisted it would have been detected by a naval base on the Andaman islands, more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) off the Indian mainland.

“There is no way our military radars would have missed the airliner as it flew over Andaman Sea, as there is high traffic around that time,” one military intelligence source told the paper. The US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan meanwhile

said it was not looking for the missing plane there, and Islamabad’s Civil Aviation Authority said the flight never appeared on Pakistani radar.

Indian ships and planes scoured the seas off the sprawling Andamans archipelago last week but they suspended their search on Sunday as they awaited fresh instructions from Malaysian authorities. “Operations are suspended as of now, everything is grounded,” Indian Navy spokesman DK Sharma told AFP yesterday. “Malaysian authorities will now

decide and tell us where to go. They have asked us to be on standby for now. “We are awaiting further instructions. Once we have them, we will move.” Prime Minister Singh’s office said that his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, in a phone call late Sunday, had requested “technical assistance from Indian authorities in corroborating the possible paths that the missing Malaysian airliner might have taken”. Singh “assured all possible assistance from concerned Indian authorities”, the office said in a statement. —AFP

Paris ready to get first woman mayor Crunch test for France’s Socialists in local polls

ANANDPUR SAHIB: Sikh warrior Major Singh, wearing a 425-meter long turban, brandishes a sword as he participates in a religious procession during the annual fair of ‘Hola Mohalla’ in Anandpur Sahib, in the northern Indian state of Punjab yesterday. —AP

Lankan police arrest 2 human rights activists COLOMBO: Sri Lankan anti-terrorist police have arrested two prominent human rights activists in the country’s former war zone in the latest crackdown on rights defenders, colleagues and a media advocacy group said yesterday.

Both Ruki Fernando, an adviser for the Human Rights Documentation Center, and Catholic priest Praveen of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation have been prominent in promoting human rights and media freedom in the island’s north, where government forces defeated separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009.

The charges under which they were arrested were not disclosed, according to their colleagues and the Free Media Movement, a local rights group. Sunil Jayasekara of the Free Media Movement urged authorities to release them immediately.

Attempts to contact a police spokesman for comment were unsuccessful yesterday. Sri Lanka faces criticism for crack ing down on rights activists and has rejected calls for an international inquiry into the conduct of the final months of the civil war. The United States has sponsored a third res-

olution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council calling for an international probe of alleged war crimes if the nation fails to conduct one of its own.

Last week, authorities arrested an outspoken activist, Balendran Jeyakumari, and her 13-year-old daughter who were campaigning for the release of relatives missing from the war. Military spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said they were arrested for harboring a former rebel who shot at police and fled when they tried to catch him. He said one policeman was wounded.

The United States expressed concern over the arrests and detention of the ac tivists and urged authorities “to ensure that all those detained are given transparent and due legal process, including full access to legal counsel.”

“Both previous and on-going human rights concerns have led many in the international community to push for a UN Human Rights Council resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka. With these latest actions, we remain convinced that continued scrutiny by the Human Rights Council is necessary,” the US Embassy in Colombo said in a statement. —AP

India denies Malaysian jet ‘9/11-style attack’ theory PARIS: India remains the biggest buyer of arms in the world, importing nearly three times as many weapons as its nearest competitors China and Pakistan over the last five years, a Swedish think tank said yesterday. The total volume of arms sales was up 14 percent in 2009-13 compared to the previous five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Indian imports of major weapons rose by 111 percent in the last five years compared to 2004-08. Its share of total global arms imports increased from 7 to 14 percent, SIPRI said. India replaced China as the world’s biggest arms buyer in 2010. With its domestic defense industry struggling to manufacture high-tech arms, India is in the midst of a defense spending binge as it struggles to keep up with betterequipped Chinese forces and a range of military challenges in its volatile neighborhood.

The main supplier of arms to India in 2009-13 was Russia, accounting for 75 percent of all imports-reflecting India’s need to upgrade and modernize weapons systems dating back to their close relationship during the Cold War. India has lately sought to diversify its sources, looking particularly to the United States. Figures from IHS Jane’s released in February showed that India became the biggest buyer of US weapons last year-with total imports worth $1.9 billion, and a string of large -scale purchases including Boeing’s C-17A transport aircraft and P-

8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

In 2009-13, however, the US still accounted for only 7 percent of India’s purchases according to SIPRI. India’s traditional rival Pakistan increased its weapons acquisitions by 119 percent, growing from 2 percent of the global total to 5 percent during that period.

The five largest arms suppliers worldwide between 2009 and 2013 were the United States (29 percent of global exports), Russia (27 percent), Germany (7 percent), China (6 percent) and France (5 percent).

They collectively accounted for 74 percent of total arms exports, SIPRI said. The world’s top five arms importers were now India, China, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. “Chinese, Russian and US arms supplies to South Asia are driven by both economic and political considerations,” said Siemon Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Program.

“In particular, China and the USA appear to be using arms deliveries to Asia to strengthen their influence in the region,” Wezeman said. Arms exports to Africa between 2004-08 and 2009-13 jumped 53 percent. The three largest importers in the region were Algeria, Morocco and Sudan. Imports

by European nations decreased by 25 percent between 2004-2008 and 200913. Britain was the largest importer of major weapons in Europe (receiving 12 percent of deliveries), followed by Azerbaijan (12 percent) and Greece (11 percent). —AFP

PARIS: Two women are vying to be the new face of Paris, the first time in this city’s long history that the mayor won’t be a Monsieur. The discreet, hard-working Socialist Anne Hidalgo is the favorite to win municipal elections that start Sunday, which would keep this leading tourist destination in leftist hands despite the deep unpopularity of President Francois Hollande’s Socialist national government.

“A woman at the head of one of the most important cities of the world... will have of course a very, very important influence,” Hidalgo told The Associated Press. It will also send an important message to leaders and voters in a country where women only got the vote at the end of World War II and where sexist attitudes persist toward women in power.

Hidalgo, 54, has experience on her side, after 13 years as the deputy to outgoing Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe. In all recent polls, Hidalgo leads center-right challenger Nathalie KosciuskoMorizet, a 40-year-old rising star of former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s party known by her initials NKM. The race for Paris mayor one of the most coveted jobs in French politics is one of several thousand underway across the country for municipal elections held in two rounds March 23 and 30.

Both the top candidates in the capital pledge to improve security and transport and to build more public housing in one of the most expensive cities of the world. Hidalgo, whose parents emigrated from Spain when she was 2, plays a low-profile card, arguing she’d rather meet with as many Parisians as possible than be a media star. She leads such a quiet campaign that she has been accused of “hibernating” by her conservative opponents.

“I’m very calm, very relaxed, very determined,” Hidalgo told the AP. “We are going to write a new page for our city. We’re going to take up new challenges regarding ecology, solidarity and democracy.” Hidalgo says she wants to allocate 5 percent of the city investment budget - 71 million euros per year- to finance projects from citizens’ initiatives.

Her ambitious challenger Kosciusko-Morizet, a former environment minister during Sarkozy’s presidency who hardly hides her interest in the French presidency someday, was at first considered to have a real chance to win Paris. But her campaign has been compromised by dissent in her own party. Her party lists are facing dissident conservative candidates in some districts, which could cost her some precious votes.

One the one side, Hidalgo “does not have a career at the national level and is a man’s heir,” said Gael Sliman, a political analyst with the French polling agency BVA. On the other side, he said, Kosciusko-Morizet has “huge political resources, a career at the ministerial level, and

is quite young, so she has a career in the making. But she is penalized by an anti KosciuskoMorizet rebellion in her own party.” Yet she told The AP that she still believes in a possible victory.

“Parisians want some change,” KosciuskoMorizet said while savoring a chocolate given by the shopkeeper in the touristed Montmartre neighborhood where she was campaigning.

“Paris needs ... more security, more cleanliness in the streets, and to be the city of the avantgarde that reflects its reputation and history.”

Kosciusko-Morizet, who comes from a family of well-connected politicians, tried to break her

carried out by Mayor Delanoe, such as the Velib bike-sharing and Autolib auto-sharing services, and the creation of a beachfront each summer on the banks of the Seine. But KosciuskoMorizet says the Socialists in charge of Paris for the past 13 years have failed to make Paris attractive to young people, and she wants to change that.

“There’s now a whole generation dreaming of living abroad, starting a business in London, being an artist in Berlin,” she said. She wants more stores to be open on Sunday, especially in tourist zones and luxury shopping streets while Hidalgo says she’d stick to the traditional

PARIS: In these file photos, Anne Hidalgo (left) and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet are pictured during a campaign rally in Paris. —AP bourgeois image by adopting a more casual look, with loose wavy hair. But she also made some spectacular blunders, for instance when she spoke of the “charm” of the Parisian metro.

The comment set off a flood of mockeries from subway commuters forced to deal with oftenovercrowded, bad-smelling trains.

Both have tried to spice up their programs.

Hidalgo wants to use a former railway that surrounds Paris -and even its tunnels- to create places for urban art or mushroom and fishbreeding farms. Kosciusko-Morizet proposes to convert unused “ghost” stations of the Paris metro - currently closed to the public - into gyms, swimming pools or nightclubs.

Hidalgo benefits from the successful projects

day of rest for employees.

Hidalgo benefits from Paris’ system of indirect voting, in which the mayor is chosen by the 163 members of the City Council. Voters choose council members based on party lists in Paris’ 20 districts, and Hidalgo’s Socialists are very likely to be ahead in some of the most populated neighborhoods. Image will also play a role.

According to surveys, Kosciusko-Morizet is mostly perceived as “dynamic” and “combative,” said Yves-Marie Cann, political analyst with the CSA polling agency. Hidalgo’s main assets are her ability to be “attentive to Parisians” and to unite people, and she is considered “a nice person,” he said. Such qualities may be just what it takes to become “Madame le maire.” —AP

Myanmar opium fight failing NAMPATKA: Every morning, more than 100 heroin and opium addicts descend on the graveyard in this northeastern Myanmar village to get high. When authorities show up, it’s for their own quick fix: Soldiers and police roll up the sleeves of their dark green uniforms, seemingly oblivious to passers-by. Nearby, junkies lean on white tombstones, tossing dirty needles and syringes into the dry, golden grass.

Others squat on the ground, sucking from crude pipes fashioned from plastic water bottles.

Together with other opium-growing regions of Myanmar, the village of Nampakta has seen an astonishing breakdown of law and order since generals from the formerly military-run country handed power to a nominally civilian government three years ago. The drug trade - and addiction - is running wild along the jagged frontier. In this village, roughly half the population uses. “It’s all in the open now,” Daw Li said at the cemetery, wiping tears from her cheeks. As she stood before the graves of her two oldest sons, both victims of heroin overdoses, she could see addicts using drugs.

“Everyone used to hide in their houses.

They’d be secretive,” the 58-year-old widow said. “Now the dealers deal, the junkies shoot up. They couldn’t care less if someone is watching. “Why isn’t anyone trying to stop this?” Myanmar was the world’s biggest producer of opium, the main ingredient in heroin, until 2003. The government spent millions on poppy eradication, and drug syndicates began focusing more on the manufacturing methamphetamines. But within just a few years, poppy production started picking up.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates the country produced 870 tons of opium last year, a 26 percent increase over 2012 and the highest figure recorded in a decade. During the same period, drug

eradication efforts plunged. President Thein Sein’s spokesman, Ye Htut, indicated the decrease was linked to efforts to forge peace with dozens of ethnic rebel insurgencies that control the vast majority of the poppy growing territory.

Government control Nearly a dozen ceasefire agreements have been signed with various groups, but several insurgencies, including the Shan State Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, continue to hold out. If Thein Sein goes after the rebels’ main source of income, the drug trade, he risks alienating them at a delicate time. But many opium-growing towns and villages, including Nampakta, are under government control. Here, authorities are in a position to crack down but have chosen not to.

“When I first assumed this post, I said to my bosses, ‘We need to take action to stop drugs,’” said a senior official in Nampatka who spoke to The Associated Press on con-

dition he not be named because he feared retribution. “I was told, quite flatly, ‘Mind your own business.’” He said every family in the village is now affected: “Half the population of 8,000 uses. It’s not just opium or heroin anymore, but methamphetamines.”

Ye Htut said methamphetamines are currently a bigger problem for Myanmar than opium, with the precursor chemicals flooding into the country from neighboring India, but that several recent drug busts show the government is taking law enforcement seriously. Those seizures focused primarily on meth, including the reported seizure of 1 million tablets in Yangon this month.

Though the government eradicated only about 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of opium poppies last year, barely half the total of 2012, Ye Htut said he is hopeful future poppy eradication efforts - this time with the help of the US - will be more successful. He said sanctions imposed on the country when it was under military rule made it difficult to finance crop alterna-

NAMPATKA: In this photo, addicts use needles at a cemetery in Nampatka village, northeastern Shan State, Myanmar. —AP

tives for poor poppy-growing farmers.

The No. 123 Infantry army base and several police posts overlook waves of white and pink poppies in full bloom on both sides of the dusty road leading to Nampakta, blanketing the sloping valleys and jagged peaks as far as the eye can see.

Farmers living in wooden huts dotting the landscape say the crops are patrolled by government-aligned civil militias known as Pyi Thu Sit, which hold sway over many parts of Shan and Kachin states, the country’s biggest producers of opium.

Jason Eligh, country manager of the UN drugs and crime office, said pretty much anyone with a gun has a role to play.

The militias force farmers to grow poppies, lend them money for seeds, protect fields from being eradicated and ensure that buyers collect the opium and get it to market, collecting fees every step of the way.

Soldiers and police, in exchange for turning a blind eye, get a piece of the cut, the official in Nampakta said. Dealers hanging out at the graveyard, on street corners and behind hillside homes pay security forces to leave them alone, he said, adding that some soldiers and police prefer to receive drugs as payment.

Overcoming addiction Police work is how Naw San, a former narcotics officer, says he became a drug addict. “Whenever we were trying to get to the drug dealers, we had to pretend we were drug addicts to make sure they didn’t recognize us as police,” the 32-year-old said from The Light of the World Rehabilitation Center, a Baptist facility where he had checked in three days earlier with his wife, also an addict, and their 2-year-old daughter. The girl, Tsaw Tsaw, is happy, easygoing and possibly unaware that both her parents are so weak they can’t even hold her.

A volunteer at the center helps care for the child. —AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

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

Allegations stun border agent’s family MISSION: Esteban Manzanares was working his regular day shift as a US Border Patrol agent along the busiest stretch of Mexican border when a trio of Honduran immigrants spotted him and offered to surrender. A woman, her teenage daughter and a teenage family friend later told authorities they were taken into custody and driven away from a popular county park just north of the Rio Grande and upriver to a more remote, scrub brush-filled area. It was there, in this rugged no-man’s land between the river and a stretch of rust-covered steel border fence, that the older woman says the group was assaulted by a man wearing green fatigues who left the area with one of the girls.

Based on the woman’s description of the attacker’s clothing and his vehicle, investigators quickly concluded the suspect was likely a US Border Patrol agent, according a federal law enforcement official. More than seven hours after the older woman was first spotted Wednesday, her wrists cut and bloodied, agents from US Customs and Border Protection, the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement found Manzanares dead in his apartment from what investigators have described as a self-inflicted gun-

shot wound. The missing teenager was there, too, bound and naked.

Manzanares’ family has no idea what could have led the Border Patrol agent to his apparent suicide. They said allegations that he kidnapped and assaulted the women were even harder to comprehend. “Honestly, I don’t know,” Manzanares’ ex-wife, Susana Manzanares said Sunday. “It’s really hard to believe.” She and Esteban Manzanares met online about 10 years ago. She described him as a sweet, kind-hearted man who helped strangers. They married in 2006.

The pair divorced earlier this year, but Susana Manzanares, 30, said they remained friendly and spoke often, usually about their 6-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, both of whom have cystic fibrosis. “What surprises me is that he would leave his children,” she said as she watched her daughter, Artemis, toddle around the living room of her apartment.

Manzaneres, 32, was originally from the McAllen area and he had been with the Border Patrol since 2008, serving at a checkpoint further away from the border before transferring to a station along the border to be closer to his children, his ex-wife said.

Before joining the Border Patrol he worked as

a local jailer and served in the Army National Guard, she said.

Limited help The day the FBI said Manzanares kidnapped and assaulted the immigrants, he and Susana Manzanares texted each other about the kids. In his last message to her, about 3:15 pm, he said he wanted to help with the kids. “I want to help in any way I can but I am very limited,” he wrote. Susana Manzanares said she sent him another message at 5:23 pm to chat about plans to swap sofas. By then, according to officials who discussed the case with The Associated Press, Manzanares had left the border with the teenage girl. At some point, he dropped off his patrol truck at the nearby station in McAllen, a border city about 350 miles south of Houston. He never responded to his exwife’s message.

The details of what happened between the time other border patrol agents found the older woman near the border fence in a place called Abram and when investigators heard a single gunshot inside his first-floor apartment remain unclear. The FBI has declined to discuss specifics of the case. The Homeland Security Department has referred

questions about Esteban Manzanares’ shift and activities that day to the FBI. The federal law enforcement official and a border patrol agent who helped in the search for the missing girl told the AP previously that the woman was spotted on a border camera shortly after 5 pm Wednesday.

Agents made it to the area within about 10 minutes and started searching for the teenagers. Both the official and the agent spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the case being investigated by the FBI. Esteban Manzanares’ day shift was ending as the search started. If he had his radio on as he left the border, he likely would have heard his colleagues start the search for him and the missing girl.

Investigators narrowed in on Manzanares hours later after finding blood and remnants of duct tape inside the vehicle he had been assigned for that day’s shift, the federal law enforcement official said. As authorities approached his apartment sometime after midnight Thursday they heard a gunshot.

Since the attack the women have received medical attention for what the law enforcement official described this week as non-life threatening injuries. Their exact

whereabouts have not been released, but ICE said Friday the group was not in its custody.

Their future remains uncertain. Immigrant victims of crime can be eligible for a special visa that allows them to stay in the country to help authorities investigate a crime.

Bryan Johnson, an immigration attorney in New York, said the teens may also be eligible for green cards, depending on the circumstances of their home life in Honduras.

After the attack, the new Customs and Border Protection commissioner, R Gil Kerlikowske, apologized for the incident. “I want you to know that I consider these actions, if true, to be reprehensible and I know they are not representative of the agents of the US Border Patrol,” Kerlikowske said. “I am deeply sorry that this incident occurred and am committed to doing everything in my power to prevent incidents like this from occurring again.” Susana Manzanares’ sister, Nelly Ceniceros, said the family just wants to know what happened.

“We want the truth, even if the truth is something my sister and I and everybody else doesn’t want to hear,” said Ceniceros, an Army soldier who drove to the Rio Grande Valley from El Paso, Texas, after hearing about her former brother-in-law’s death. —AP

China rejects North Korean crimes report Report unfounded, ‘divorced from reality’ GENEVA: China dismissed a UN report alleging North Korea has committed crimes against humanity, effectively confirming the fears of human rights advocates that Beijing will shield its ally Pyongyang from international prosecution. The report, published in February, accused the reclusive country of mass killings and torture comparable to Nazi-era atrocities and said officials, possibly even Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un himself, should face the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Chen Chuandong, a counselor at China’s mission in Geneva, told the UN Human Rights Council yesterday that the independent commission of inquiry had made unfounded accusations and made recommendations that were “divorced from reality”.

“The inability of the commission to get support and cooperation from the country concerned makes it impossible for the commission to carry out its mandate in an impartial, objective and effective manner,”

Chen said. China, as a member of the UN Security Council, would have the power to veto any move to refer North Korea to the Hague-based ICC. Diplomats had already warned China was likely to object to the report, which also criticized Beijing for its treatment of North Korean defectors.

The chief author of the report, retired Australian judge Michael Kirby, had opened the debate urging the United Nations to take action.

“Contending with the scourges of Nazism, apartheid, the Khmer Rouge and other affronts required courage by great nations and ordinary human beings alike,” Kirby said.

“It is now your solemn duty to address the scourge of human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” Kirby said the team’s findings, based on testimony from hundreds of victims, defectors and witnesses, were unequivocal, and demanded closure of political prison camps believed to

hold up to 120,000 people. But Chen said the report was based on information and interviews collected outside the country, without first hand information. “The question then arises: can such an inquiry be truly credible?” The commission has been seeking a meeting with Chinese officials in Geneva, UN officials said. “We are not very optimistic that it will happen,” a UN official told Reuters.

Defector Shin Dong Hyuk, a North Korean born in a political prison camp who escaped after his mother and brother were publicly executed, told Reuters he had expected China to reject the report. But the “big purpose” of establishing the inquiry was to get the report discussed at the UN Security Council, he added.

In a speech at the Geneva debate, he noted that millions of people had been slaughtered in Nazi concentration camps during World War Two. “And 60 years later,

at this moment in North Korea, hundreds of thousands of political prisoners are waiting for their death,” he said, adding that the report could not be “thrown away like a used tissue and forgotten”.

US Ambassador Robert King, the US envoy on North Korean human rights issues, said pressure on Pyongyang would go on even if China blocked a UN Security Council resolution. “The fact that right now we may not be able to go forward as far as we’d like to go does not mean that we’re going to stop and say we can’t do anything more, and we’re not going to do it,” he told reporters. “Human rights are not a quick and easy fix and we’re not going to stop.” North Korean Ambassador So Se Pyong reiterated Pyongyang’s rejection of the report, rubbishing it as a ridiculous provocation and a fabrication instigated by the United States and other “hostile forces”, who he said should be investigated for their own human rights records. —Reuters

Too soon to say if Thai’s trafficking victims Uighurs

KAWASAKI: Shigeru Yokota (right) and his wife Sakie whose daughter was kidnapped in 1977 by North Korean agents, walk to a press conference in Kawasaki yesterday. —AFP

Parents of Japan kidnap victim hail meeting with grandchild TOKYO: The elderly mother of a Japanese woman kidnapped and taken to North Korea as a schoolgirl yesterday hailed a “miraculous” first meeting in Mongolia with her long-lost granddaughter. Megumi Yokota who was only 13 years old when she was kidnapped

by North Korean agents in 1977 on her way home from school. The secretive state insists that Yokota killed herself in 1994, an explanation that Tokyo has long refused to accept.

Yokota’s parents-father Shigeru, 81, and mother Sakie, 78 — spent five days last week with their granddaughter, 26-year-old Kim Eun-Gyong, and her family in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, Japan’s foreign ministry said Sunday. “What we have dreamt about for such a long time has come true-they were miraculous days for us,” Yokota’s mother told a press briefing yesterday near Tokyo.

“We had hoped to meet her as a family... It was a pleasing and wonderful moment.”

Yokota became a symbol of a bitter bilateral row over Pyongyang’s abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, mainly aimed at training North Korean spies in Japanese language and customs. Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it abducted about a dozen Japanese nationals over the two decades, and said eight of them had died, a claim rejected by Tokyo.

The kidnapped woman’s father said he was happy to meet Kim and her baby girltheir great grandchild-whom they were told was born in May last year. “We had seen her (Kim) many times on television, but it was the first time to meet her in person,” he said. The elderly couple said they did not ask about the fate of their daughter Megumi. Japan’s Jiji Press news agency reported Sunday that Kim reiterated to the Yokotas that her mother was

dead. The couple had previously refused to meet Kim for fear of being used as a propaganda tool by Pyongyang to establish their daughter’s death as fact.

Mother still holds out hope Yokota was abducted by North Korean agents in the city of Niigata by the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and taken to North Korea by boat. In 2004, North Korea handed over to Japan cremated remains it claimed were Yokota’s. However, Tokyo said DNA tests conducted in Japan proved the claim to be untrue. “We did not want to make the meeting with her (Kim) anything that involves political matters,” the abducted woman’s mother said yesterday. “She has grown up in that country. We weren’t sure how much of the truth she could tell us.”

But Yokota’s heart-broken mother still holds out hope that her only daughter is still alive. “I keep telling myself that she must be fine in North Korea and did not ask much about it,” the woman said. “I still hold onto the belief (that she is alive) just as I always have.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has long championed to solve the kidnapping issue by taking a hawkish policy against the secretive state, said he was “moved” by news of the meeting.

“I think it was a really good thing that (their meeting) came true, thanks to the cooperation from the Mongolian government,” he told reporters. “I am resolved to make my utmost effort towards entirely solving the abduction issue.” The meeting was arranged earlier this month on the sidelines of talks between Japan and North Korea in the Chinese city of Shenyang involving Red Cross and government officials. —AFP

BEIJING: China’s foreign ministry said yesterday that it was too soon to say if a group of about 200 people rescued by police from a human smuggling camp in southern Thailand were Uighurs from China’s restive far western region of Xinjiang. Thai police sources told Reuters that the people were believed to be Uighurs, a Muslim people who speak a Turkic language, many of whom chafe at Chinese restrictions on their culture and religion.

“China and Thailand have unimpeded channels on law and order and security cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing. “As of now the identity checks on the relevant people are still being carried out and it’s not reasonable to reach conclusions at present, (as this) lacks a factual basis.”

The US State Department said last week that they welcomed reports of the rescue of the Uighurs. Hong implied that such comments were unwarranted. “We’ve noticed that some countries have made improper comments while the facts are unclear, which is highly irresponsible,” he said, without elaborating. The latest trafficking victims brings the total number of people freed from human traffickers to well over 800 since Reuters exposed the whereabouts of the illegal camps in a Dec. 5 investigation.

The raid is further evidence that human smugglers in southern Thailand - already a notorious trafficking hub for Rohingya boat people from Myanmar - are exploiting well-oiled networks to transport other nationalities in large numbers, despite an ongoing crackdown by Thai police. Unrest in China’s Xinjiang has killed more than 100 people in the past year, prompting a crackdown by Chinese authorities.

In 2009, 20 Uighurs were deported from Cambodia to China despite the objections of the United Nations and human rights groups, who said they faced lengthy jail terms upon their return. New York-based Human Rights Watch also criticized Malaysia for deporting six Uighurs to China last December. At least 100 Uighur men, women and children are being held at an immigration detention centre in Bangkok, part of a small but growing number arrested for illegally entering Thailand, most likely overland through Laos from southwest China. —Reuters

SEOUL: People check their gas masks during a civil defense drill. A nationwide civil defense drill took place, preparing for possible terror, natural disaster and sudden air attack by North Korea. —AP

S Korea urges North to stop ‘provocative’ rocket tests SEOUL: South Korea urged North Korea yesterday to stop what it called “provocative” and potentially dangerous rocket and missile tests, a day after Pyongyang test-fired 25 projectiles into the sea. The North Sunday fired the volley of rockets into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), the latest in a series of launches in recent weeks that have sparked criticism from Seoul and Washington. The show of force is apparently intended to express anger at the South’s continuing joint military exercises with its ally the United States.

“The North should stop actions that cause military tension and unnerve its neighbors,” Seoul’s defense ministry spokesman Kim MinSeok told reporters. “Provocative action made without any prior notifications... can pose significant danger to sea vessels and aircraft passing by the area,” he added. The South’s military was closely watching the North’s troop movements, Kim said, citing the possibility of more rocket launches.

The rockets fired on Sunday were ageing versions of Russian-developed Frog rockets, he said, noting that the North fired more than normally expected. The US State Department called on Pyongyang to refrain from “provocative actions that aggravate tensions”.

Beijing expressed concern earlier this month after the North test-fired a rocket into the flight path of a Chinese airliner.

China’s special envoy Wu Dawei arrived in Pyongyang yesterday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a brief report which did not specify the trip’s purpose. The annual South Korean-US military drills started in late February and will run until mid-April.

The North has habitually slammed the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises along with other military drills south of the border-as rehearsals for an invasion. Seoul and Washington say they are purely defensive.

Last week the North’s powerful National Defense Commission threatened to demonstrate its nuclear deterrent in the face of what it called US hostility. But Seoul’s defense ministry said there was no sign of an imminent nuclear test by the North, which staged three atomic tests in 2006, 2009 and last year. As the North continues to flex its military muscle, its leader Kim Jong-Un guided an air force and air defense exercise, KCNA said yesterday.

The servicemen vowed to bring down “robber-like US imperialists” when ordered by Kim as he praised their combat-readiness in the spirit of becoming “human bombs”, it said. Separately, Kim led a meeting of the ruling party’s Central Military Commission to discuss combat-readiness and “important matters arising in increasing defense capability”, the news agency said.

The meeting also discussed the military’s “organizational issue”, it said, suggesting possible personnel changes aimed at strengthening the young ruler’s grip on the armed forces. Former members of the commission included Jang Song-Thaek, Kim’s once-powerful uncle who was executed last December for charges including treason. Hyon YongChol, who failed to secure a seat in this month’s parliamentary election, was also a member of the commission. But he is believed to have been replaced-or to be about to be replaced-after being dismissed as military chief last year. —AFP

New Thai ‘red shirt’ leader may push fight to save PM BANGKOK: The new leader of Thailand’s pro-government “red shirt” movement said yesterday that his supporters would take to the streets in support of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra if the elite or the courts dared try to oust her. The red shirts have kept to the sidelines during the past 4-1/2 months of political unrest in Thailand, while anti-government protesters forced state offices to close and disrupted an election in February.

Any further threat to Yingluk could see their patience snap, warned Jatuporn Prompan, who became leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), as the red shirts are formally known, at the weekend. Thousands of supporters attended the rally in Ayutthaya north of Bangkok to witness the change of leadership. “We’re going to fight tooth and nail to defend this government but we will do so peacefully,” Jatuporn told Reuters yesterday.

“Thailand’s political crisis will not end with these street protests. This is about the Bangkok elite denying grassroots people the right to play a part in the democratic process. We can’t let this go on.” The crisis pits protesters, mainly middle class Bangkok residents and southerners backed by the

military and the establishment, against supporters of Yingluck and her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, from the rural north and northeast.

If the red shirts were to launch counter protests it would risk escalating violence, and could further destabilize Yingluk’s government. Their restraint, however, could disappear, under the new leader. Jatuporn helped organise the uprising against a previous government that ended in a bloody military crackdown in May 2010, and supporters like his no-nonsense attitude.

He replaced Thida Thawornseth, a former member of the banned Communist Party of Thailand whose schoolteacher demeanor and lofty speeches left some wondering whether she was out of touch with the movement’s grassroots supporters.

“Thida had the theories, but Jatuporn is a man of action. We can count on him to lead us,” said Chinawoot Eak-pan, an office security guard and red shirt supporter from Bangkok. Jatuporn still faces terrorism charges related to the violence in 2010.

Yesterday, Thai army chief Prayuth Chanocha called Jatuporn “a bandit”, telling reporters that “if they (red shirts) are aggressive towards the military, I’ll be aggressive, too”. —Reuters

NEWS Co-pilot spoke last words from jet Continued from Page 1 cate it was the co-pilot who basically spoke the last time it was recorded on tape,” Ahmad Jauhari said yesterday, when asked who it was believed had spoken those words.

That was a sign-off to air traffic controllers at 1.19 am, as the Beijing-bound plane left Malaysian airspace.

The last transmission from the ACARS system - a maintenance computer that relays data on the plane’s status - had been received at 1.07 am, as the plane crossed Malaysia’s northeast coast and headed out over the Gulf of Thailand.

“We don’t know when the ACARS was switched off after that,” Ahmad Jauhari said. “It was supposed to transmit 30 minutes from there, but that transmission did not come through.”

Police and a multi-national investigation team may never know for sure what happened in the cockpit unless they find the plane, and that in itself is a daunting challenge. Satellite data suggests it could be anywhere in either of two vast corridors that arc through much of Asia: one stretching north from Laos to the Caspian, the other south from west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra into the southern Indian Ocean west of Australia.

Aviation officials in Pakistan, India, and Central Asian countries Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - as well as Taleban militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan - said they knew nothing about the whereabouts of the plane. “The idea that the plane flew through Indian airspace for several hours without anyone noticing is bizarre,” a defence ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban in Afghanistan, who are seeking to oust foreign troops and set up an Islamic state, said the missing plane had nothing to do with them. “It happened outside Afghanistan and you can see that even countries with very advanced equipment and facilities cannot figure out where it went,” he said. “So we also do not have any information as it is an external issue.”

China, which has been vocal in its impatience with Malaysian efforts to find the plane, called on its smaller

neighbour to “immediately” expand and clarify the scope of the search. About two-thirds of the passengers aboard MH370 were Chinese. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he had spoken to Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak by telephone, and had offered more surveillance resources in addition to the two P-3C Orion aircraft his country has already committed.

Malaysian Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said diplomatic notes had been sent to all countries along the northern and southern search corridors, requesting radar and satellite information as well as land, sea and air search operations. The Malaysian navy and air force were also searching the southern corridor, he said, and US P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft were being sent to Perth, in Western Australia, to help scour the ocean.

The plane’s disappearance has baffled investigators and aviation experts. It vanished from civilian air traffic control screens off Malaysia’s east coast less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian authorities believe that, as the plane crossed the northeast coast and flew across the Gulf of Thailand, someone on board shut off its communications systems and turned west.

That has focused attention on the crew. Malaysian police are trawling through the backgrounds of the pilots, flight and ground staff for any clues to a possible motive in what they say is now being treated as a criminal investigation.

Asked if pilot or co-pilot suicide was a line of inquiry, Hishammuddin said: “We are looking at it.” But he added it was only one of the possibilities under investigation.

Police special branch officers searched the homes of the captain, 53-year-old Zaharie Ahmad Shah, and first officer, 27-year-old Fariq Abdul Hamid, in middle-class suburbs of Kuala Lumpur close to the international airport on Saturday.

Among the items taken for examination was a flight simulator Zaharie had built in his home. A senior police official familiar with the investigation said the flight simulator programs were closely examined, adding they appeared to be normal ones that allow users to practise flying and landing in different conditions. — Reuters

Obama tells Abbas ‘risks’ needed...

Continued from Page 1 “elusive” peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, saying it would be based on 1967 lines with mutual land swaps.

Abbas did not directly address the Israeli government’s demand for the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a “Jewish” state. He noted through a translator that the Palestinians had recognized Israel’s legitimacy in 1988 and in “1993 we recognized the state of Israel”.

Abbas also noted the agreement that the Palestinians have with Israel on the release of a fourth batch of prisoners by March 29. “This will give a very solid impression about the seriousness of these efforts to achieve peace,” Abbas said. “We don’t have any time to waste.

Time is not on our side, especially given the very difficult situation that the Middle East is experiencing and the entire region is facing,” he said.

Israeli ministers said last week that they would have difficulty approving the prisoner release if agreement was not reached to extend the peace talks. Israel committed to the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners in four tranches when talks were launched in July. It has so far released 78 of those in three batches. Ahead of the White House talks, thousands of Palestinians rallied in West Bank cities to show support for Abbas. “We’re here today to stand up to pressures upon us and make sure president Abbas adheres to his convictions,” said Nasser Eddin Al-Shaer, a former Palestinian education minister and member of Fatah’s Islamist rivals Hamas, at a 5,000strong rally in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Obama told Netanyahu when they met at the White House on March 3 that the peace framework cannot be simply a deal agreed by Israel and the United States and then presented to the Palestinians as a take-it-or-leaveit offer. But officials also privately say that the Palestinians will be required to make concessions on issues like the return of refugees and borders if they are to secure a state at long last.

However, despite intensive diplomacy by Secretary of State John Kerry, the two sides appear to have made little progress since the talks resumed in July after a three year freeze. Abbas met Kerry on Sunday for what a senior State Department official said were “frank and productive” discussions. “We are at a pivotal time in the negotiations and while these issues have decades of history behind them, neither party should let tough political decisions at this stage stand in the way of a lasting peace,” the official said.

The most nettlesome issues in the peace process include the contours of a future Palestinian state, the fate of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements, security and mutual recognition. The Palestinians want borders based on the lines that preceded the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel captured the West Bank, including now-annexed Arab east Jerusalem. They have also insisted there should be no Israeli troops in their future state. But Israel wants to retain existing settlements it has built inside occupied Palestinian territory over the past decades. It also wants to maintain a military presence in the Jordan Valley, where the West Bank borders Jordan. — AFP

Foreign recruitment set to begin on April 1 Continued from Page 1 This measure will help fight visa trafficking which happens when employers fail to provide workers with actual jobs, thus leaving the workers to look for work somewhere else.

Before recruiting labor forces, a company needs to meet conditions of having openings in its file at the ministry’s database, having a record clear of labor-related violations, depositing monthly salaries in staff bank accounts regularly and recruiting the required percentage of Kuwaiti manpower. A work permit will only be issued after a 90-day probation period.

More details about the new regulations should become clear when recruitment opens officially at the beginning of next month, such as a requirement to pass job tests proposed in earlier reports to curb the access of unskilled workers into Kuwait.

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Subaih had also stated earlier that the ministry is studying a system of quotas for the expatriate community in Kuwait, which will organize the entry of foreign labor forces. This system is not expected to be enforced until after the establishment of the Labor Public Authority later this year to replace the flawed sponsorship or ‘kafala’ system in handling expatriates’ affairs.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

Jagger’s girlfriend found dead in NYC NEW YORK: Fashion designer L’Wren Scott, the girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, has been found dead at her apartment in New York, the rocker’s spokesman said yesterday. The spokesman said Jagger was “completely shocked and devastated” by the death of the 49-year-old Scott. US media reported that she was found hanged. Jagger, 70, is currently in Perth, Australia, where he is touring with the Stones, according to his official Twitter account.

Scott, an American former model, had dated the Rolling Stones frontman since 2001 following his split from wife Jerry Hall. “He is completely shocked and devastated by the news,” his spokesman said. New York police confirmed that officers found a dead woman after being called to an apartment at 200 11th Avenue in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood shortly after 10:00 am (1400 GMT).

“Upon arrival, officers discovered a 49-year-old female unconscious and

NEW YORK: This Feb. 16, 2012 file photo shows singer Mick Jagger with designer L’Wren Scott after her Fall 2012 collection was modeled during Fashion Week. Scott was found dead yesterday. — AP unresponsive,” a police spokeswoman respond to a “possible cardiac arrest”. told AFP. “She was pronounced dead “We cannot release any more inforon arrival. The investigation is ongo- mation before any proper family ing. The medical examiners will deter- notification,” the police spokeswoman said. The US media said the mine the cause of death.”

A spokesman for the New York six-foot, four-inch Scott was found Fire Department confirmed only that hanging with a scarf around her firefighters had found a dead body neck. No note was found, local when called to the address to media reported. —AFP

MP threatens to grill oil minister Continued from Page 1 announce the names of those involved and the amount of money they received. The case is known as the illegal bank deposits scandal.

In another development, five MPs yesterday submitted a draft law calling to allow the establishment of political parties, currently banned under the Kuwaiti law.

The bill, which was submitted by MPs Ali Al-Rashed, Faisal Al-Duwaisan, Abdulhameed Dashti, Awdah AlRuwaie and Safa Al-Hashem, allows Kuwaitis to set up political parties that should specifically defend the Arab and Islamic identity of Kuwait.

The draft law bans the establishment of political parties on the basis of religion, sex, colour or creed and banned servicemen and those working in the security

agencies from joining any political party. The bill permits only Kuwaiti citizens on joining political parties and calls for the establishment of a political parties commission to be headed by the chairman of the judicial council or his deputy that will look into applications of parties.

MP Yacoub Al-Sane said yesterday that there is nothing that prevents the Assembly from debating proposals to amend the constitution, which has not been amended since it was issued about 53 years ago. Sane has been preparing to propose the amendment of the constitution to increase the Assembly members from the current 50 to 60 mainly to improve the representation of the five constituencies and to allow the Cabinet to increase its membership. Under the law, the number of the ministers should not exceed one-third of the Assembly strength.

US seizes control of rogue ship Continued from Page 1 The Seals operated from the USS Roosevelt, a guided missile destroyer which provided helicopter support, while sailors from another destroyer, the USS Stout, boarded the tanker and prepared to sail it to an unnamed port in Libya, the statement read.

The Morning Glory last week slipped through a Libyan naval blockade of the eastern port of Al-Sidra controlled by rebels seeking autonomy from Tripoli after reportedly being loaded with some 234,000 barrels of crude. Libya’s interim government confirmed the takeover of the ship and thanked “particularly the United States and the Republic of Cyprus.” It said in a statement that the tanker was on its way to Libya and that crewmembers “will be treated in accordance with national and international laws”. “Oil is the lifeblood of the national economy and any attack on the treasures of the Libyan people is unacceptable and cannot go without a response,” it added.

Cyprus said its vessels had deployed to monitor the tanker ’s course as it made its way near the Mediterranean island, remaining in international waters and eventually stopping 18 nautical miles south of the southern port city of Limassol. However, the tanker did not ask for authorisation to moor in a Cypriot port, and early Monday Cypriot officials were notified that the tanker “was placed under the control of the US Navy and is being escorted by US Navy vessels on a westerly course”. In a related development, reports in the Cypriot media said two Israelis and a Senegalese national were questioned by police in Cyprus on Saturday on suspicion of negotiating to buy crude from the tanker. A

Cyprus court declined to issue arrest warrants as authorities had no evidence that the alleged offence was committed within the island’s territorial waters.

Local media said the three flew in to Larnaca on a private jet late Friday, hired a boat from the marina and went out to the tanker to negotiate with the crew.

Police monitored their movements and the boat was intercepted once they were back in Cyprus waters. The trio flew out to Tel Aviv on Sunday night.

The oil tanker’s escape after Libyan authorities had repeatedly vowed to take all measures to stop it dramatically underscored the weakness of the central government, which has struggled to rein in heavily-armed former rebels from the 2011 revolt. Rebels pressing for autonomy for Libya’s eastern Cyrenaica region epicentre of the revolt against Gaddafi - have been blockading the country’s eastern oil terminals since July, leading to a decline in oil exports from 1.5 million barrels a day to just 250,000.

But the loading of the Morning Glory and its escape to sea marked a major escalation in the struggle and triggered the ouster last Tuesday of the liberal-backed Zeidan, whose inability to bring law and order to Libya was highlighted by his own brief abduction by armed men late last year. The Morning Glory originally was a North Korean-flagged ship, but Pyongyang yesterday “cancelled and deleted” its registry on grounds it was carrying contraband material.

The United States has viewed the chaos in Libya with growing alarm since an attack on its mission in the eastern city of Benghazi on Sept 11, 2012, in which US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed. — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

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Issues

Ukraine casts pall over Iran nuclear talks

By George Jahn

T

ehran may have a new ally today when Iran nuclear talks reconvene - the Ukraine crisis. USRussian tensions over Ukraine could fray the search for consensus on what Iran needs to do to ease fears it could make atomic arms. Both Washington and Moscow are emphasizing that their commitment to eliminating any Iranian proliferation threat overrides their clash over Ukraine. But diplomats tell AP that Moscow and Washington are wide apart on how much Tehran needs to trim its nuclear program, a split that Iran could exploit.

Ahead of the resumption of the Vienna talks, US State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said she expects Russia to “remain an active partner” in the attempt to persuade Tehran to agree to longterm nuclear curbs in exchange for full sanctions relief. A senior Russian diplomat said his country would work “actively” to reach a deal. He demanded anonymity because he did not have permission from Moscow to comment.

But former US nuclear negotiator Gary Samore says any superpower tensions will make Tehran feel “under much less pressure to make concessions”.

That, in turn, could affect what the US sees as central goal - reducing the number of Iranian centrifuges set up at uranium enrichment sites. Iran says its enrichment program is meant only to make lower-enriched fuel for reactors, scientific research or for medical treatments. But because enrichment to very high levels creates weapons-grade uranium used in nuclear warheads, Washington wants Tehran to scale back from nearly 20,000 centrifuges to no more than a few thousand.

Demands Russia’s demands are far less strict. Two diplomats told the AP that Moscow was open to Iran keeping many more of the machines - perhaps even the status quo of the nearly 20,000 - with further negotiations on how many would be allowed to operate.

Moscow’s condition would be that Iran ratify an agreement with the UN nuclear agency that would give agency experts wide-ranging inspection powers to make sure Tehran’s nuclear program is peaceful, they said. The diplomats are familiar with the details of the closed-door talks but demanded anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them.

China usually supports Russia’s position at the negotiations, but Moscow’s stance is rejected by the United States, Britain, France and Germany. Moscow and Washington have been able to bridge previous differences over Iran. And former State Department official Mark Fitzpatrick notes that even during the Cold War, the two nations cooperated “despite many periods of intense distrust.”

Fitzpatrick, who is now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, lists Russian-US teamwork on bringing about the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and extending its reach as well as concluding several arms control agreements as examples of how common interests can override even the worst tensions. Still, he says a Moscow at odds with Washington over larger geopolitical issues could put its own agenda - including building nuclear reactors for Iran - above cooperation. Russia, he says, always “marches to its own drum.”

Samore, of Harvard’s Belfer Center, says Iran is bound to feel “emboldened” - and public statements from Tehran seem to mesh with that view. At the same time Moscow is negotiating on reducing Iran’s nuclear program, it is in talks on expanding it by building new reactors there. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said last week his country and Russia had common interests, and that Tehran was banking on “Moscow’s help to reach the final agreement.”

Iran’s Fars news agency, meanwhile, appeared to take a dig at veiled US threats of military strikes if negotiations fail and Washington believes that Tehran is working on a bomb. It republished a cartoon showing President Barack Obama peering into an empty paint can marked “Red Line”. The cartoon shows a grinning Russian President Vladimir Putin walking away, with the caption: “I think you used it all on Syria.” —AP

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.

US cites security to censor, deny records

By Ted Bridis and Jack Gillum

respond quickly,” Schultz said.

T

Sunshine Week Sunday was the start of Sunshine Week, when news organizations promote open government and freedom of information. The chief of the Justice Department’s Office of Information Policy, which oversees the open records law, told the Senate last week that some of the 99 agencies in the past five years have released documents in full or in part in more than 90 percent of cases.

She noted the record number of requests for government records, which exceeded 700,000 for the first time last year, and said decisions are harder than ever. “The requests are more complex than they were before,” director Melanie Pustay told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The government’s responsiveness under the FOIA is widely viewed as a barometer of its transparency. Under the law, citizens and foreigners can compel

worse last year than previously. “It’s a bureaucracy,” Cook said. “As often as it’s about trying to keep data from falling into the hands of reporters, it’s the contractor looking for ways to reduce the caseload. It’s just bureaucrats trying to get home earlier and have less to do.”

The AP could not determine whether the administration was abusing the national security exception or whether the public asked for more documents about sensitive subjects. The NSA said its 138 percent surge in records requests were from people asking whether it had collected their phone or email records, which it generally refuses to confirm or deny. To do otherwise, the NSA said, would pose an “an unacceptable risk” because terrorists could check to see whether the US had detected their activities. It censored records or fully denied access to them in 4,246 out of 4,328 requests, or 98 percent of the time.

Slow Motion

the government to turn over copies of federal records for zero or little cost.

Anyone who seeks information through the law is generally supposed to get it unless disclosure would hurt national security, violate personal privacy or expose business secrets or confidential decision-making in certain areas. It cited such exceptions a record 546,574 times last year.

“The public is frustrated and unhappy with the pace of responses and the amount of information provided,” Sen Richard Blumenthal said at the same congressional hearing. “There’s a common reaction for anybody who has any experience with it that it doesn’t function well.”

John Cook, the incoming new editor at the Intercept, the online magazine founded by investor Pierre Omidyar, said his experience under the open records law was “abysmal” but not especially

Journalists and others who need information quickly to report breaking news fared worse than ever last year. Blocking news organizations from urgently obtaining records about a government scandal or crisis - such as the NSA’s phone-records collection, Boston bombings, trouble with its healthcare website, the deadly shootings at the Washington Navy Yard or the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi - can delay uncovering significant developments until after decisions are made and the public’s interest has waned.

The government said the average time it took to answer a records request ranged from less than one day to nearly two years. AP’s analysis showed that most agencies took longer to answer requests than the previous year, although the White House said the government responded more quickly and did not immediately explain how it

he Obama administration has a way to go to fulfill its promises from Day 1 to become the most transparent administration in history. More often than ever, the administration censored government files or outright denied access to them last year under the US Freedom of Information Act, cited more legal exceptions it said justified withholding materials and refused a record number of times to turn over files quickly that might be especially newsworthy, according to a new analysis of federal data by AP. Most agencies also took longer to answer records requests.

The government’s own figures from 99 federal agencies covering six years show that halfway through its second term, the administration has made few meaningful improvements in the way it releases records. In category after category except for reducing numbers of old requests and a slight increase in how often it waived copying fees - the government’s efforts to be more open about its activities last year were their worst since President Barack Obama took office.

In a year of intense public interest over the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs, the government cited national security to withhold information a record 8,496 times - a 57 percent increase over a year earlier and more than double Obama’s first year, when it cited that reason 3,658 times. The Defense Department, including the NSA, and the CIA accounted for nearly all those. The Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency cited national security six times, the Environmental Protection Agency did twice and the National Park Service once.

And five years after Obama directed agencies to less frequently invoke a “deliberative process” exception to withhold materials describing decision-making behind the scenes, the government did it anyway, a record 81,752 times. “I’m concerned the growing trend toward relying upon FOIA exemptions to withhold large swaths of government information is hindering the public’s right to know,” said Sen Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It becomes too much of a temptation. If you screw up in government, just mark it ‘top secret.’”

Citizens, journalists, businesses and others last year made a record 704,394 requests for information, an 8 percent increase over the previous year. The government responded to 678,391 requests, an increase of 2 percent over the previous year. The AP analysis showed that the government more than ever censored materials it turned over or fully denied access to them, in 244,675 cases or 36 percent of all requests. On 196,034 other occasions, the government said it couldn’t find records, a person refused to pay for copies or the government determined the request to be unreasonable or improper.

Sometimes, the government censored only a few words or an employee’s phone number, but other times it completely marked out nearly every paragraph on pages. The White House said the government’s figures demonstrate “that agencies are responding to the president’s call for greater transparency.” White House spokesman Eric Schultz noted that the government responded to more requests than previously and said it released more information. “Over the past five years, federal agencies have worked aggressively to improve their responsiveness to FOIA requests, applying a presumption of openness and making it a priority to

determined that. The Pentagon reported at least two requests still pending after 10 years and the CIA was still working on at least four requests from more than eight years ago.

The AP’s request to the Health and Human Services Department for contracts with public-relations companies to promote Obama’s health care law has been pending for more than one year.

Requests for files about the Affordable Care Act and the IRS’s treatment of taxexempt political groups have languished in government offices for months.

Similarly, the AP has waited for more than 10 months for emails between the IRS and outside Democratic super PACs about tea party groups.

After Rep Paul Ryan was selected as the Republican vice presidential candidate, the AP asked scores of federal agencies for copies of letters he wrote to them. At least seven turned over the records after the election in Nov 2012.

Some didn’t even acknowledge AP’s request for Ryan’s letters until months after Obama was sworn in for a second term. Last year, the government denied 6,689 out of 7,818 requests for so-called expedited processing, which moves an urgent request for newsworthy records to the front of the line for a speedy answer, or about 86 percent. It denied only 53 percent of such requests in 2008.

The EPA denied 458 out of 468 expediting requests. The State Department, where expedited processing can save 100 days of waiting time for example, denied 332 of 344 such requests. The Homeland Security Department denied 1,384 or 94 percent of expediting requests. The Justice Department, which denied AP’s request for video its investigators obtained days after the Navy Yard shooting, denied 900 out of 1,017 such requests.

The US spent a record $420 million answering requests plus just over $27 million in legal disputes, and charged people $4.3 million to search and copy documents. The government waived fees about 58 percent of the time that people asked, a 1 percent improvement over the previous year.

Sometimes, the government said it searched and couldn’t find what citizens wanted. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, whose top official has testified to Congress repeatedly about NSA surveillance programs disclosed by contractor Edward Snowden, told the AP it couldn’t find any records or emails in its offices asking other federal agencies to be on the lookout for journalists to whom Snowden provided classified materials.

British intelligence authorities had detained one reporter’s partner for nine hours at Heathrow airport and questioned him under terrorism laws. DNI James Clapper has at least twice publicly described the reporters as “accomplices” to Snowden, who is charged under the US Espionage Act and faces up to 30 years in prison.

Likewise, Cook, departing as the editor at Gawker, was exasperated when the State Department told him it couldn’t find any emails between journalists and Philippe Reines, Hillary Clinton’s personal spokesman when Clinton was secretary of state. BuzzFeed published a lengthy and profane email exchange about the 2012 attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi between Reines and its correspondent, Michael Hastings. “They said there were no records,” Cook said of the State Department. —AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

S P ORTS

Seedorf gets Milan backing MILAN: AC Milan owner and president Silvio Berlusconi has given under-fire coach Clarence Seedorf his backing amid speculation the Dutchman could be on his way out of the club.

Milan suffered their third consecutive league defeat on Sunday in a 4-2 reverse at home to Parma having been reduced to 10 men inside 10 minutes when goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was sent off.

The result dropped Milan to 12th, a massive 40 points behind leaders Juventus and 12 behind city rivals Inter, who sit fifth and in the first available Europa League spot. Media speculation yesterday suggested Milan had already lost patience with Seedorf, who took up his first senior coaching position in January when he inherited an ailing side from former handler Massimiliano Allegri in January.

However Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, insisted: “Seedorf is not up for discussion, he will remain our coach even next year.”

Milan’s latest league defeat, their fourth in nine games under Seedorf, prompted dozens of hard-line supporters to stage a protest outside the club’s shared San Siro ground on Sunday after a brief meeting was held with Seedorf and several key players, including Kaka and Mario Balotelli.—AFP

Referee admits offside errors PARIS: Referee Freddy Fautrel admitted he was wrong to award Monaco three offside goals as the principality team claimed a 32 win at Olympique Lyon in a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday.

Fautrel and his assistants failed to notice that Monaco forward Dimitar Berbatov was in an offside position when he scored one and set up the other two goals for the visitors.

“I made judgement errors that changed the context of the game,” Fautrel was quoted as saying by sports daily L’Equipe yesterday. “There were two lads (the assistant referees) who were feeling very bad in the dressing room and a stunned refereeing team.”

Lyon coach Remi Garde opted against criticising the officials.

“I am not going to talk about it because I would risk a suspension,” he said. The win put second-placed Monaco on 62 points from 29 games, eight behind Paris St Germain, who beat St Etienne 2-0 on Sunday. Lyon are fifth on 45 points, eight adrift of third-placed Lille, who occupy the Champions League third round qualifying spot. — Reuters

Yoshida tops wrestling team TOKYO: Grieving Olympic champion Saori Yoshida said she felt the presence of her late father on the wrestling mat after leading Japan to the World Cup women’s team title just five days after his sudden death. Yoshida held up a portrait of her father Eikatsu, a coach of the women’s team, after the final and clutched a pouch containing his ashes on the victory podium following Japan’s win on Sunday.

It was a brave performance by the emotional Yoshida, whose 61-year-old father suffered a brain haemorrhage en route to Tokyo for the team’s training camp and was found dead in his car last Tuesday.

Yoshida, 31, attended the funeral and despite her grief and a knee injury she battled through the two-day event to help Japan win their seventh title. Afterwards Yoshida, with 11 straight 55kg world freestyle titles, she said she would go for her fourth Olympic title in a row at the 2016 Games in honor of her father.

“He (Eikatsu) used to sit in the stands or in the second’s corner,” Yoshida told media after Japan’s 8-0 win over Russia in the final. “Today, I felt my father was out there with me on the mat,” she said. “I felt my father’s power.”

“At the (2016) Rio Olympics, I want to go for a fourth straight title for my father,” Yoshida added.

The Japanese great started wrestling at the age of just three under her father’s guidance.—AFP

Firearms expert tells of Pistorius’ love of guns PRETORIA: Months before he killed his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius said he drew his gun and went into “combat mode” after hearing the noise of a possible intruder at home, which turned out to be a laundry machine, a South African guns expert testified yesterday at the athlete’s murder trial.

Sean Rens, manager of the International Firearm Training Academy in Walkerville town, also said he had many conversations about firearms with Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He said the double amputee runner had “a great love and enthusiasm” for guns.

Rens said he met Pistorius in 2012 and trained in a gun range with him, and that Pistorius was seeking to collect guns. In one conversation, Pistorius described how he was startled by a noise at home and decided to clear the house by drawing his gun and checking rooms, according to Rens.

“He went into what we call ‘code red’ or combat mode,” Rens said. “When he came to the source of the noise, it was the laundry or something.”

Pistorius had tweeted about the incident in November 2012: “Nothing like getting home to hear

the washing machine on and thinking its (sic) an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry!” Pistorius said he killed Steenkamp by accident before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013, shooting her through a closed toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder in his home. Prosecutors say he killed her intentionally after an argument.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked Rens to describe how Pistorius was quizzed on how to handle a firearm in various scenarios, for example when two unidentified men approach the house of a gun owner; then when they break into the house, begin to steal belongings and order the gun owner to leave; and if the men threaten to kill the gun owner, who is behind a security gate in the house.

I n each case, Rens said, Pistorius correc tly answered “No” when asked if it was OK to fire at the men. He correctly said he was only entitled to shoot at them if they advanced on him with a gun, according to Rens. Nel was trying to show that Pistorius flouted those regulations when he shot Steenkamp. Pistorius says he fired because he thought he was under threat.

Rens said he was introduced to Pistorius in May

2012, a few months before the runner made history by competing at the London Olympics. Pistorius wanted Rens to find a “specific” gun for him, Rens testified, a Smith & Wesson 500 revolver handgun.

Rens also listed five other guns Pistorius was hoping to procure under a collector’s license. They were a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, the civilian version of a Vector .223-caliber assault rifle, and three shotguns: A M ossberg shotgun, a Maverick shotgun and a Winchester shotgun.

Pistorius applied to the South African police’s National Firearms Centre for licenses to own these guns on Jan. 22, 2013, according to the center’s records, just three weeks before he shot dead Steenkamp in his home using his 9 mm Parabellum pistol, the only gun he was licensed to have at the time, for self-defense. Pistorius’ applications for licenses for the other six guns were not processed and were instead “sent back” four days after he killed Steenkamp, officials at the South African police’s National Firearms Center told The Associated Press last year.

In later testimony Monday, police photographer Bennie van Staden spoke about the images he took

when he arrived at Pistorius’ house on the night of the killing. One photograph of the runner, taken in his garage, showed unexplained scuff marks on his bloodied prosthetic limbs.

Another photograph from the Paralympian’s bedroom showed a box with a label that said “Testis compositum.” The runner’s representatives have identified the substance as an herbal remedy used for “muscle recovery.” A product by that name also is sold as a sexual enhancer. Testis compositum is marketed by some online retailers in both oral and injectable forms as a testosterone booster and sexual performance aid that contains the testicles, heart and embryo of pigs, among other ingredients.

Some retailers also say it can be used to treat fatigue. Also found in the bedroom was a box with the label “Coenz yme compositum” as well as syringes and needles. Steenkamp’s mother, June, was in the Pretoria courtroom for a second time Monday but had left by the time van Staden was describing the photos being displayed of the bloody bathroom scene where her daughter was shot. June Steenkamp last attended the trial on the opening day on March 3. — AP

Flyers soar over Penguins PITTSBURGH: Wayne Simmonds had two power-play goals in the first period as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second consecutive day, 4-3 on Sunday. Simmonds assisted on Brayden Schenn’s goal 2:06 into the game and then scored twice in a 6:54 span to give the Flyers a three-goal lead 14 minutes in. Surging Philadelphia, which beat its cross-state rival 4-0 at home Saturday, improved to 5-1-1 in its past seven.

Defensemen Brooks Orpik, Matt Niskanen and Jayson Megna scored for the injury-depleted Penguins, who lost two straight in regulation for the first time since dropping three in a row from Nov. 6-13. During the final seconds, the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby hit the post with a backhand off a pass from Evgeni Malkin while skating down the right wing.

PALM HARBOR: John Senden of Australia stands with his trophy after winning the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club. — AFP

Senden wins at Tampa Bay TAMPA BAY: Veteran Australian John Senden emerged last man standing with two late birdies to win the $5.7 million Tampa Bay Championship by one stroke on Sunday.

Senden may be noted for his stellar long game, but it was his short game that enabled him to clinch the victory as he pitched in from 70 feet at the 16th and then holed a 20-foot putt at the 17th to break clear of a logjam.

He parred the last to shoot a 70 and finish at sevenunder-par 277, one ahead of American Kevin Na at the Copperhead course at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida.

“This is the biggest win over here I’ve ever had,” Senden told Golf Channel. “My first PGA Tour win (at the 2006 John Deere Classic) was special but this you’ve got stronger players in the field and it’s a real feather in the cap to know you’ve beaten a quality field.”

Six players were within one stroke of the lead late in the final round before Senden emerged for his second PGA Tour victory and his first anywhere since the 2006 Australian Open.

The 42-year-old earned $1.026 million and a Masters invitation. Senden, twice a runner-up at Innisbrook, looked destined for another near-miss when he made three bogeys in four holes from the 12th as a combination of nerves and demanding conditions conspired to cause a series of uncharacteristic poor shots.

But he gave himself a pep talk as he approached his ball in the rough short of the 16th green. “I said something special’s got to happen here if you’re going to get it done,” he said. “I’ve been working really hard on that particular shot out of the long grass and (it was) lucky enough to go in the hole.

“Then I made a couple of really solid swings the last two holes. I’m just so happy to come out on top.” Na birdied the par-three 17th after almost making a hole-in-one but could only par the last in gusty winds. The American plunged off the leaderboard after dropping four shots in three holes before the turn, but showed resilience to battle all the way back to finish runner-up with a 72.

“It was a bad string of holes but I settled down, got back right in it,” Na said. “It was playing tough and I made two great birdies coming in but it wasn’t good enough.”

Left-handed Scott Langley, who held a share of the lead with three holes left, had a 70 to finish third, two shots behind.

Overnight leader Robert Garrigus was another shot back, equal fourth. He dropped five shots in the first six holes before steadying. — Reuters

SHARKS 1, RANGERS 0 Antti Niemi stopped 41 shots for his fourth shutout of the season and made Logan Couture’s first-period, shorthanded goal stand up as San Jose beat New York for its sixth straight win. Niemi and the Sharks defense were the difference in this one, unlike in the first meeting between the teams, won 9-2 by San Jose on Oct. 8. Niemi, who has 27 NHL shutouts, was particularly strong during a Rangers power play early in the third.

San Jose, tied with Anaheim atop the Pacific Division, is 11-2-1 in its past 14. In a 12-game stretch against Eastern Conference opponents that ends Tuesday at home versus Florida, the Sharks are 9-1-1.

CANUCKS 4, PANTHERS 3 Nicklas Jensen scored in the first period and added the only goal in the shootout as Vancouver earned a victory over former goalie Roberto Luongo and the Panthers.

Alex Burrows had a goal and two assists and Dan Hamhuis also scored for the Canucks. Eddie Lack made 26 saves and stopped all three shots in the shootout.

Jimmy Hayes scored two power-play goals for the Panthers. Vincent Trocheck also scored and Luongo stopped 29 shots. Luongo faced his former team just 12 days being traded from the Canucks to the Panthers on March 4. Luongo is 2-3 since joining the Panthers.

CAPITALS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 2 Troy Brouwer scored two goals and Washington scored three times in the first period before holding on against Toronto. Joel Ward had a goal and an assist, and Jason Chimera also tallied for Washington, which scored on three of its first five shots against James Reimer for a 3-0 lead.

The Maple Leafs pulled within 3-2 in the second period and it stayed that way until Brouwer’s empty-netter with four seconds left. Dion Phaneuf had a goal and an assist for Toronto and Troy Bodie also scored. The Capitals won their second straight. They begin a three-game West Coast swing Tuesday in Anaheim, California.

OILERS 2, HURRICANES 1 Justin Schultz scored a power-play goal at 9:01 of the third period as Edmonton earned a win over Carolina.

David Perron and Taylor Hall had the assists for Schultz’s ninth goal of the season. Matt Hendricks opened the scoring at 6:43 of the first to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. Boyd Gordon and Schultz had the assists on Hendricks’ fifth goal of the season. Edmonton’s Ben Scrivens made 29 saves for the win, while Anton Khudobin made 31 saves for the Hurricanes.

AVALANCHE 3, SENATORS 1 Semyon Varlamov made 38 saves and Andre Benoit, Nick Holden and John Mitchell scored for Colorado in a win over Ottawa. Varlamov was 6 seconds away from his second shutout of the season and 13th of his career until Mika Zibanejad scored for the Senators.

Matt Duchene had two assists for the Avalanche, who have won three of four and seven of their last nine. Robin

PHILADELPHIA: Sean Couturier No. #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers watches as goalie Marc-Andre Fleury No. 29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save in the second period of an NHL hockey game at Wells Fargo Center. — AFP Lehner made his second straight start for the Senators since Craig Anderson was injured last week in a loss to the Nashville Predators. Lehner made 19 saves.

CANADIENS 2, SABRES 0 Rookie Dustin Tokarski stopped 29 shots to earn his first NHL shutout in Montreal’s win over Buffalo. Brendan Gallagher and Dale Weise scored for the Canadiens, who vaulted into second place in the Atlantic Division ahead of Toronto and Tampa Bay. Tokarski improved 2-0 this season.

Tokarski was filling in for starter Carey Price, who didn’t make the trip a day after stopping 30 shots in a 5-4 overtime win against the Senators in his first NHL start since Feb. 8. Coach Michel Therrien was wary of playing Price on consecutive nights after the goalie aggravated a lowerbody injury during Canada’s gold-medal run at the Sochi Games.

BLACKHAWKS 4, RED WINGS 1 Marian Hossa celebrated his return to the lineup with a goal and two assists as Chicago defeated Detroit to end a two-game losing streak.

Ben Smith had a goal and assist, and Nick Leddy and Jonathan Toews scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who are struggling to keep up with the top contenders in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks are just 11-8-7 in 2014 and remain fifth in the conference and third in the Central Division. Hossa was knocked out with an upper-body injury in the Blackhawks’ 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh on March 1.

Gustav Nyquist scored for the injury-depleted Red Wings, who are desperate for wins as they try to get into the playoffs for the 23rd straight time.

JETS 7, STARS 2 Dustin Byfuglien had two goals and an assist and Blake Wheeler added four assists as Winnipeg cruised past Dallas. The win pulled the Jets to within four points of the Stars for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference, although Dallas has two games in hand.

Jacob Trouba, Michael Frolik, Evander Kane, Ollie Jokinen and Tobias Enstrom also scored for the Jets, who ended a six-game winless streak that hurt their playoff chances. Alex Chiasson and Tyler Seguin scored first-period goals for the Stars. — AP

NHL results/standings Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 3; Vancouver 4, Florida 3 (So); Washington 4, Toronto 2; Edmonton 2, Carolina 1; San Jose 1, NY Rangers 0; Colorado 3, Ottawa 1; Montreal 2, Buffalo 0; Chicago 4, Detroit 1; Winnipeg 7, Dallas 2.

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Anaheim 45 16 7 218 172 97 45 17 7 214 165 97 San Jose Los Angeles 38 24 6 165 144 82 Phoenix 32 25 11 188 193 75 Vancouver 31 29 10 167 190 72 Calgary 27 34 7 165 202 61 Edmonton 24 36 9 171 224 57 Central Division St. Louis 46 14 7 223 151 99 44 19 5 209 181 93 Colorado Chicago 39 15 14 231 179 92 Minnesota 35 22 10 164 164 80 Dallas 32 24 11 193 192 75 Winnipeg 31 29 9 193 201 71 Nashville 29 29 10 164 201 68 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Boston 45 17 5 215 146 95 37 25 7 174 174 81 Montreal Toronto 36 25 8 203 211 80 Tampa Bay 36 24 7 194 175 79 Detroit 30 24 13 175 188 73 Ottawa 28 26 13 190 221 69 Florida 25 35 8 169 221 58 Buffalo 19 41 8 132 202 46 Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 44 19 4 209 167 92 25 7 192 193 77 Philadelphia 35 Columbus 35 26 6 195 184 76 NY Rangers 36 29 4 177 170 76 Washington 32 27 10 201 207 74 New Jersey 29 26 13 166 176 71 Carolina 29 30 9 169 194 67 NY Islanders 26 34 9 195 233 61 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

S P ORTS

Sainz Jr. promises amazing

F1 street show KUWAIT: On March 28, 2014, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. will drive an Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One car on the streets of Kuwait, which will be the first time a Formula One car has been driven on the country’s roads.

Sainz Jr. commented: “When I was told I would be doing the show run, I was very happy. Anything you do with Red Bull is a lot of fun and I knew I would enjoy it. It will be my first time in Kuwait and I have heard it’s a great place, so I can’t wait to get there.

It’s also exciting as it’s my first Formula One Show Run and while I’ve done tests and filming, it will be a great experience to be able to drive the car in front of all the fans.”

The Red Bull Junior Team driver has plenty of racing experience behind him already but this is truly exceptional. “Most of all, being a racer I am thrilled to be driving an F1 car and especially the RB7. It is a world famous race car, one of the true greats. I have never driven it before, I drove the RB9 last year and I can’t wait to have a go in the RB7, it will be something very special.”

Fans will see the Infiniti Red Bull Racing World Champion Car on an 800-meter long urban track stretching from Bneid El Gar signal light to the Kuwait Towers. The car, which accelerates from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds, can reach speeds of 250km/h and above.

In addition to the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One Show Run, Kuwait will get a glimpse of Chris Pfeiffer, a four-time World Stunt Riding Champion and one of the best Stunt Riders in the world who will be pushing the limits with his new tricks. Red Bull Athlete Abdo Feghali will also entertain the spectators with his amazing drifts.

The hype for the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One Show Run will begin a few days before the main event, when the team’s car will be displayed and fired up around various locations in Kuwait, as well

as other activities such as the Red Bull Pitstop Game. The event sponsored by Infiniti, Pirelli, Babtain Group and Sirbb Track is held under the organization of KMRC and will take place next to Kuwait Towers on March 28 at 2pm.

It is clear that Sainz has every intention of following the same path. It has already been a thrilling journey. As his father was World Rally Champion in 1990 and 1992 it is not surprising that he stepped into 4 wheel motorsport. At 7 years old Carlos began to drive in Karts at his father’s Indoor Karting in Las Rozas, Madrid, but he started to compete seriously in the summer of 2005 when he was 10. Over the next few years he gained a huge amount of experience and success in Kart races across Europe.

By 2009 he was very much a talent to be reckoned with even though he had yet to turn 15. That year he won the famous Monaco Kart Cup as well as the Western European region of the KF3 series covering England, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Andorra and Spain.

For 2010 he was invited to join the Red Bull Junior Team. At 15 he contested the Formula BMW European Championship and took part in three races of Formula BMW Asian-Pacific Championship with the Antonio Ferrari’s Euro international team, thereby winning the Rookie Cup Formula BMW European Championship. A single race highlight was victory at the notoriously difficult Macau by 4 seconds in the Formula BMW Asian-Pacific Championship.

In 2011 he moved up to Formula Renault 2.0 and won the Northern European Cup with a superb 12 race wins and a total of 26 podium appearances through the 34 races.

In the Eurocup he finished 2nd overall. 2012 saw the Spaniard step into the intense cauldron of the British Formula 3 Championship as a member of the Carlin Motorsport team.

His schedule was quickly expanded to

include the Formula 3 Euro Series and then the tardily announced FIA European Formula 3 Championship which drew its points from some races from each of the other series.

It was a busy season and Sainz had some great races, there was the brilliant win at Francochamps in a typical Spa downpour, a total of 4 wins in British F3 on his way to 6th in the championship. He was 9th in the Formula 3 Euro Series and 5th in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship.

Youthful exuberance, inexperience and some misfortune cost him better championship placings.

In GP3 for 2013 he was teamed with fellow Red Bull Junior Daniil Kvyat in the MW Arden squad. The pair were frustrated early on with set up problems that confounded their attempts to make the tyres last the races. As that got sorted out the pressure was on to make up ground in the championship and while Kvyat eventually took the title, a mixture some atrocious luck and overly intense desire to finish in front thwarted the Spaniard. Tenth for the year was not a just reflection of his ability. He had far more fun in his Renault 3.5 outings and is happy to have that as his sole class for 2014.

Carlos’s challenge for 2014 is to win the Formula Renault 3.5 championship and the 19-year-old from Madrid is certainly one to watch. During a limited FR3.5 campaign in 2013, Sainz impressed the FR3.5 paddock by topping the timesheets in free practice on his debut in Monaco. He had only been in the car a few times but ran a combative race to finish sixth.

In 2014 Sainz Jr. joins the DAMS team in the FR3.5 championship. The DAMS team has pedigree in FR3.5, having won both Team and Drivers’ Championships in 2013, making a star of Drivers’ Champion Kevin Magnussen, now racing in Formula One.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

S P ORT S Photo of the day

DNA secrets helping athletes improve performance

A competitor performs during Red Bull BC One Cypher in Cairo, Egypt on February 28, 2014 — www.redbullcontentpool.com

Edwards leads Ford sweep BRISTOL: If two rain delays totaling more than five hours wasn’t enough, the water-logged race at Bristol Motor Speedway had a battery fly out of a car and spread a toilet paper-looking substance all over the track. And that wasn’t even the strangest occurrence Sunday. Moments before Carl Edwards closed in on what should have been the white flag lap, the caution lights were accidentally turned on from the flag stand. As NASCAR tried to figure out what was going on, the sky opened up and prevented the race from resuming.

Edwards was awarded the win under caution - a victory he was headed to before the mishap - and celebrated his third career win at Bristol with his trademark backflip on the slick concrete.

“Oh, man, I thought, ‘This is stupid. I shouldn’t do this ... It’s awfully glossy. It might be slick,’” he said. “I didn’t want to stick it perfectly and have my feet go that way and break my arm on the concrete. That would have been terrible. I was actually really nervous about that.”

BRISTOL: Driver Carl Edwards celebrates at the finish line after winning the NASCAR Sprint series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway. — AP NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said a person in the flag stand leaned on the manual override switch and that turned on the caution lights. Six seconds after the lights were turned on, the flag man waved the yellow flag.

Pemberton said that the flag man can wave the caution flag without a call from series officials in the tower if they see a proper reason. “We were scanning cars and spotters, and there’s some of us in the tower that only heard it after the

teams were talking about it because we were looking at other things around the racetrack,” Pemberton said.

Said Edwards: “No harm, no foul, let’s act like it just didn’t happen.” The victory makes Edwards the fourth winner in four races this season and, under NASCAR’s new rules, is supposed to get him into the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. “Just to have a win this early, man, it is a huge relief,” he said. Five other things from water-logged Bristol: BUMP-AND-RUN: With Chase berths conceivably on the line with a win, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was salivating at a shot at teammate Edwards when the final caution came out at Bristol. But he knew if the race went green again, his only chance would be the old Bristol bump-and-run, which hasn’t been used in years. It’s a risky move to do to a teammate, but owner Jack Roush said he expected nothing less from Stenhouse.

“When it comes time to really charge for the checkered flag, there are no team orders, there are no rules,” Roush said. “I expect them to race one another as they expect to be raced, not only with one another, but with everybody in the garage. I expect Ricky is as fierce a competition as there is out there, and if his car has the speed in it and he can get to the car in front of him, particularly the short track, you’d bump-and-run and take the prize if you could. I’d be disappointed if he didn’t have that in his mind.”

AWESOME ARIC: Aric Almirola finished a career-best third and Richard Petty Motorsports teammate Marcos Ambrose was fifth as four Ford drivers placed in the top-five - but Ambrose felt he could have gotten more. He restarted second behind Carl Edwards with 70 laps to go and had one solid chance to take the lead. If he’d gotten past Edwards, he just might have grabbed his first career victory.

“These races are so hard to win, and it was a great day for us,” he said. “I’m not disappointed at all with third, but when you see it and you can taste it and it’s that close, you wonder what could have went different.”

RIGHT DIRECTION: Tony Stewart salvaged what looked like it was going to be an awful weekend with a season-best fourthplace finish. It came after he qualified 37th, needed two Saturday practice sessions with crew chief Chad Johnston to make significant improvements to the car and needed the entire race to work his way into the top-10. “It’s a step in the right direction for sure. This is a big one. If you come out of this place with a top-five you’ve had a good day,” he said.

DISSAPOINTED FINISH: Kyle Larson flirted with the lead and was in position to race for the win until the race-changing caution with 77 laps remaining. He went to pit road third, took four tires and restarted ninth. So even though he finished a careerbest 10th, the rookie wasn’t thrilled. “It’s crazy to think it’s kind of a disappointing finish for the way we ran for most of the race, but all in all it was a good race,” Larson said.

DALE’S BAD DAY: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s strong start to the season finally came to an end at Bristol, where he finished 24th after opening with a win and two second-places. Although his Chevrolet wasn’t great all weekend, his trouble Sunday was compounded by two left-front tire issues. Once he was out of contention, he was basically just making laps for the bulk of the race. It cost Earnhardt the points lead, which went to Brad Keselowski. Earnhardt now trails Keselowski by 10 points. — AP

MANCHESTER: British runner Jenny Meadows is using a revolutionary DNA test designed to prevent injury and improve her performance ahead of the Commonwealth Games - and a trio of leading European football teams are about to follow her lead.

The test is a brainchild of London-based company DNAFit, which obtains genetic profiles - using a simple mouth swab - to identify genes that make athletes prone to certain injuries. It can also ensure they can tailor a program of training and nutrition to fit their DNA. Meadows, a world indoor silver medalist in the 800 meters in 2010, became the first athlete to publicly reveal the secrets of her DNA late yesterday.

“I only wish I’d had this information years ago,” said Meadows, who has discovered she has the gene that makes her prone to the kind of tendon injuries that forced her to miss the London Olympics in 2012. “To get to the top as an athlete, it takes a combination of hard work, luck and timing. But if I’d have known what my genetic strengths and weaknesses I could have trained more effectively.”

Dr. Keith Grimaldi, DNAFit’s chief scientific officer, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that two Premier League teams and another leading club in Europe have also commissioned genetic profiles of their players. He said they can’t be named for confidentiality reasons.

“The idea of having knowledge of genetic variation is such that we can give personalized advice on training

BERLIN: This is a Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009 file photo of Britain’s Jenny Meadows as she celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the final of the Women’s 800m during the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. — AP

Ireland win last-ball thriller SYLHET: Ireland survived an inspired spell of swing bowling from Zimbabwe’s Tinashe Panyangara to scrape through for a three-wicket win on the last ball of their group B encounter in Sylhet yesterday.

Chasing 164 for a St Patrick’s Day victory, the associate nation seemed to be cruising against their test-playing opponents after opener Paul Stirling’s 34-ball 60.

Stirling hit nine boundaries and a six and with captain William Porterfield (31) added 80 runs for the opening wicket but Panyangara’s double strike in the 15th over brought Zimbabwe back in the game. Panyangara (4-37), who was taken for 18 in his first over by Stirling, also dismissed the dangerous Kevin O’Brien (17) in the 18th over and returned to bowl the final over of the innings with Ireland needing just four runs for victory.

In the final over, Ireland lost Ed Joyce (20) to Panyangara and Max Sorensen to a run out off successive balls but managed to scamper for a bye off the last delivery for the winning run with wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor missing a run out.

Earlier, captain Taylor (46-ball 59) hit six fours and two sixes and anchored Zimbabwe’s batting as his team posted 163 for five in their twenty overs after being put in to bat.

Elton Chigumbura hit 22 off 13 balls with two sixes in the last over to take Zimbabwe to a competitive total after Irish spinners George Dockrell (2-18) and Andy McBrine (2-26) restricted them in the middle overs. — Reuters

Kuwait to host first World Police Sport and Security conference

By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: The International Police Sports Union will hold its first World Police Sport and Security Conference “Sport to Serve and Protect” on March 23 and 24 in Kuwait under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The conference is attracting a wide range of participation both regionally and internationally in the history of the union which is now presided by Lt. General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf. The union was established in Paris in 1990 by an initiative from the active Spanish and French police sports with approval of 43 countries.

The USIP aims at encouraging sports with the police force around the world and coordinate the preparations, organization and supervision of international events. It also aims at establishing social, cooperative and professional relations between police

forces. USIP strictly bans any discussion or activity of political, commercial or religious nature. The union has 54 members with Lt. General Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as president from 2010 until now.

Meanwhile president of Kuwait and International Police Unions Lt. General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf invited the President of Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad to attend the conference activities. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad said the conference which is being held for the first time confirms the competence of security and sports leaderships to organize such events, and that it is an important step for the protection of fans, secure sports competitions and confront the violence phenomena. Chairman of Kuwait Sports Club Abdelaziz Al-Marzouq lauded the idea of holding the conference in Kuwait under the

patronage of HH the Amir. He said the hosting of such international conferences is familiar to Kuwait, which is always a pioneer in hosting sports events. He said the violence phenomena in Arab stadiums in general and Kuwait in particular are less violent as is the case in the Western countries, yet “ we notice that it is on the increase lately”.

On his part Chairman of Salmiya Sports Club Sheikh Turky AlYousuf said it is important to find deep rooted solutions for the violence in sports arenas. He said there is no doubt that officials around the world try to curb the fan violence .

The conference shall have a number of main themes on its agenda such as: INTERNATIONAL SPORTS MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY 1 Recent Management Trends in the Sport Facilities Administration.

2 Legislative and Legal Frameworks of Police Sports and Security.

1 2 3 4

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SPORTS SECURITY Doping and Methods of Prevention.

Fitness life style for Police and Security Personnel.

Nutrition and Its Role in the Performance of Police and Security Personnel.

Psychological Aspects of Police Personnel.

PIONEER COMMUNITY PROJECTS

BY SECURITY PERSONNEL

1 2

KUWAIT: (From right to left) Lt Colonel Tariq Al-Sadani, USIP Vice President Colonel Abdelrahman Al-Haqqabn, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad, Lt General Ahmad Nawaf Al-Sabah and Colonel Khalid Al-Najjar

programs and nutrition and also give an idea of any increased risk of tendon injury, if there is any, so that preventative measures can be taken,” Grimaldi said.

The DNA test revealed to Meadows that she has an even split of power and endurance, making her ideally suited for 800 meters instead of 400 meters, and that the potential of her sustaining a sports-related soft-tissue injury was high, causing her to make changes to her training schedules that included reducing her running sessions and doing more cardio work on a bike. It also told her that her recovery times were quicker than average.

In winning the 800 at a meet in Prague last month in 2 minutes, 1.67 seconds, she is among the top six in the world this year and could be one of the favorites for gold in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. “The real eye opener has been the prediction that I have a high risk of potential sports injury,” she said. “This is the biggest fear for any athlete wanting to excel at their sport.”

Grimaldi said the test - it takes two weeks from taking the mouth swab to getting the results - could help football teams going to the World Cup know which players are more at risk of sunstroke or sunburn, for example. “What we are trying to emphasize is that the genetic variants are very common,” Grimaldi said.

“There’s no hint of any bad news in the results. The only thing you can get out of the result is useful and important to know.”— AP

1 2 3

CHALLENGES AND CRISES FACING INTERNATIONAL SPORTS SECURITY Challenges and Obstacles Facing Sports Security and how to Encounter them.

Crimes and Crises Facing International Sports Police and Security.

MEDIA, MARKETING AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTS SECURITY Reasons and Means of Developing Sports Media.

Marketing and International Sports Police and Security.

Role of Social Media in Sports Security (Information Technology).

‘Smart’ racket offers tennis revolution PARIS: Aluminium and graphite swept away the wooden racket that Bjorn Borg used to win 11 Grand Slam titles, but smart rackets that analyse power and spin promise a new tennis revolution.

One such intelligent racket is already on sale in the United States and will be launched in Europe in May. The Babolat Play will cost 399 euros (555 dollars), about twice the price of a classic tennis racket.

Eric Babolat, head of the French company that developed the racket, said “it is like Star Wars is coming to tennis.” The Babolat Play is shaped like any traditional racket.

But sensors inside the handle record the power of a stroke, the impact of the ball on the racket strings, the kind of stroke, the spin and game time and send the information to a smartphone, computer or other device. Babolat, whose company is one of the oldest tennis equipment makers in the world having made the first animal gut strings in 1875, is convinced that within 10 years all rackets will be equipped this way. The Babolat Play’s basic design is an updated version of a racket produced by the Lyon company already used by Chinese women’s star Li Na. The new racket only looks different because it has a blue diode light at the bottom of the handle which flashes when the sensors are turned on.

The rechargeable racket can be linked to a computer, tablet or smartphone with a cable or by wifi.

The application will, for instance, tell you how many balls were hit cleanly and how many were sliced. Maybe not all players will welcome publicising their slice ratio. Babolat plans, however, to launch a social media application that allows players to compare their success rate and set challenges.

“It could be useful for an amateur, but also for a star such as Rafael Nadal,” said Babolat’s communications director Thomas Otton.

“Maybe Nadal gets some information from courtside cameras but what happens when the ball hits the face of the racket has remained a secret.”

Nadal and French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tested the rackets at a demonstration event. But Babolat is still waiting for a player to use one in competition.

It has been accepted by the men’s Association of Tour Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) since January 1.

Jean-Christophe Piffaut, a former head of the Roland-Garros tennis museum in Paris and a writer of a book on the history of the sport, said he was mystified as to the interest of the racket for professionals. “Top level players have a coach and get a lot of information from video. I think this (racket) will only confirm what they already know,” he said.

Eric Winogradsky, a former professional and coach who now works for the French Tennis Federation, is convinced that the smart racket does have a future, however. “The information crossover is interesting,” Winogradsky told AFP. “This is the future. Lots of other sports are already doing this, why not us?” The Babolat Play will soon face smart competition. Sony Corp is developing a sensor that can be fitted to any racket. The first models will be launched in Japan in May in a partnership with the Yonex racket maker. If the smart racket gets a grip, the battle could become who can make it even more inter-active. Eric Babolat already predicts an application that allows coaches to send information back to a player. — AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

S P ORT S

Drogba vows to pile on the misery for Chelsea LONDON: Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba has warned Chelsea not to expect any favors when he makes an emotional return to his old club for a decisive Champions League last 16 clash today.

Jose Mourinho’s side are reeling after a tempestuous 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday ended their 14-match unbeaten run in the Premier League and cast doubt about their ability to cope with the pressure of the title race.

The Blues imploded in spectacular fashion as Willian and Ramires were sent off, while Mourinho got his marching orders from referee Chris Foy after stepping onto the pitch to protest during the row that followed Ramires’s dismissal.

The FA will examine Foy’s match report before deciding whether to charge Mourinho, but there was no escaping the sense that Chelsea need to quickly recover their equilibrium to stop a promising season going up in smoke.

Mourinho’s men remain four points clear at the top of the table, but they have less margin for error in Champions League, where a win or high-scoring draw for Galatasaray in Tuesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge would send the Turks into the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Istanbul last month.

In the circumstances, it will be something of a bittersweet reunion with Drogba, who is certain to be greeted as a returning hero by Chelsea fans before the match but could end up shattering their European dreams by the end of the night.

Drogba, who remains close to Mourinho and is reportedly considering an offer to return to Chelsea as a striker coach next season, won every major prize during a glorious eight-year stay in west London. He was the hero of the club’s 2012 Champions League final victory against Bayern Munich, scoring a late equaliser and then netting the winning penalty in the shoot-out to seal Chelsea’s first ever European Cup.

On the eve of his first appearance at the Bridge since his departure immediately after that unforgettable night in Munich, Drogba admitted he is nervous about how he will react to being the centre of attention.

“First of all I was happy to play against my ex-club, against my friends. But at the same time it is a very special moment because I do not know what my reaction will be,” Drogba told UEFA.com.

“You know that I spent eight years at Chelsea, so I really don’t know, I am quite apprehensive about it. “It’s the club where I experienced everything. It allowed me to get closer to the best players in the world.” Drogba makes no attempt to hide his love for Chelsea, but he would relish another run to the latter stages of the competition, even if it comes at the expense of his old friends.

“I hope that Galatasaray qualify. It will be difficult, but I think that regarding the welcome, I think I’m allowed to say that I will receive a warm welcome, because I know Chelsea’s fans and our relationship is really special,” Drogba said.

“It will be great to see them again, I am looking forward to it.” There was one piece of good news for Mourinho after the Villa match as it emerged that Samuel Eto’o is expected to be fit for the Galatasaray tie.

Eto’o sat out the Villa game, but Fernando Torres gave a lacklustre performance in his place and Mourinho is likely to throw the Cameroon striker back into the fray.

Despite Saturday’s troubling defeat, Chelsea are still firm favorites to advance to the last eight in Europe, which would be a welcome tonic for Mourinho, who has never hidden his dislike for Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini.

“In Istanbul we saw each other and only said ‘hello’. We certainly aren’t friends,” Mancini was quoted as telling Italian newspaper La Repubblica. “I don’t think Mourinho wants to have friends, or maybe that’s just the way he likes to appear.”— AFP

LONDON: Chelsea’s Senegalese striker Demba Ba (left) attends a training session at the team’s training ground in Stoke D’Abernon, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, round of 16, second leg football match against Galatasaray. — AFP

Japanese teams struggling in AFC Champions League SEOUL: Japan’s football league is generally regarded as the best in Asia, but as its clubs struggle to prove their superiority against regional rivals in the Asian Champions League, that title could be under threat. In group stage matches played last week, JLeague teams lost to Chinese, Korean and Australian opponents to continue a dismal start that has seen the country’s four representatives record a single victory out of a combined total of eight games.

Japan’s troubles are not confined to this year. It’s been six years since Japan last produced an AFC Champions League winner, and since 2010, just two of the country’s 16 teams have made it as far as the quarterfinal stage, compared to nine from South Korea.

High-paying Chinese clubs have also improved in recent years, with Guangzhou Evergrande - led by 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi - taking the title in 2013. Guangzhou trounced Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol 8-1 on aggregate on the way to the title.

“Club budgets are growing in many Asian countries, while J-League budgets are either decreasing or remaining the same,” Afshin Ghotbi, head coach of Shimizu S-Pulse and former Iran national team coach, told The Associated Press.

“Obviously, player’s salaries are a huge factor in attracting talent.”

One J-League team, Cerezo Osaka, made a high-profile signing earlier this year - Uruguay star Diego Forlan. But according to Philippe Troussier, Japan’s national coach from 1998 -2002, that was an isolated case.

“The foreign players make the difference at the moment in China, as we can see in Guangzhou,” said the Frenchman, who recently completed a three-year coaching stint with Shenzhen Ruby in southern China. “Chinese clubs are getting better than Japanese clubs because they have better foreign players.”

Despite having Forlan, Cerezo Osaka lost to China’s Shandong Luneng 3-1 earlier this month at home, with Shandong getting two goals from former Brazilian international Vagner Love.

Most disappointing for Japanese fans is the performance of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, domestic champion in 2012 and 2013. The team has failed to win any of its last eight games in Asia, though Ghotbi puts its struggles partly down to the league’s style of play.

“The trend in the J-League has been recently to defend deep and in numbers and look for counter attacks. Hiroshima has been champion playing a very defensive 54-1 organization and while this has been a successful formula at home, it has not produced success in Asia,” he said.

Ahead of this year’s AFC Champions League tournament, Hiroshima coach Hajime Moriyasu promised his team would improve.

“Last year, we were not technically or tactically inferior, but overpowered by our opponents’ physical strength,” he said. “We need to win our home games. The teams that compete in the AFC Champions League use different tactics when playing home or away. We have to get those vital three points in our own stadium.”

Hiroshima hosts South Korea’s FC Seoul on Wednesday and needs to break that winless streak if it is to have a chance to progress to the knockout stage.

In other AFC Champions League matches this week, Guangzhou hosts one of its biggest rivals, Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea.

It marks the third consecutive year that the two teams have faced each other in the group stage and, after bad-tempered clashes in the past, there is no love lost between them.

Jeonbuk, the 2006 champion and 2011 finalist, has started the season well with a 3-0 win over Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos and a 2-2 draw last week with the Melbourne Victory. Guangzhou, meanwhile, has been led by Italy international Alessandro Diamanti, who is currently the competition’s top scorer with three goals from the first two games.

Australian teams are hoping to build on their impressive results from the previous round of games. Central Coast Mariners travels to Beijing Guoan, Western Sydney Wanderers takes on Kawasaki Frontale, the only Japanese team to record a victory so far, and Melbourne hosts Yokohama F. Marinos. Ulsan Horangi of South Korea, which recorded two wins in its first two games, can take another step toward the last 16 with a win at home against Guizhou Renhe.

In the western half, Abu Dhabi giant AlJazeera faces a tough trip to Tehran to take on 2013 semifinalist Esteghlal, while 2011 champion Al Sadd hosts Saudi Arabian giant Al Hilal. — AP

MADRID: Schalke’s players take part in a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on the eve of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match against Real Madrid. — AFP

Isco could get starring role against Schalke BARCELONA: Real Madrid, who have all but sealed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after their 6-1 firstleg away victory over Schalke, could hand Isco another opportunity to prove his worth in the return today.

The playmaker has not been able to hold down a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti’s side since his big-money move from Malaga.

Isco was one of the hottest properties on the market at the end of last season after a starring role for Malaga as they progressed to the last eight of the Champions League.

He was among yet another generation of young Spanish players who had come off the conveyer belt and his success with the Spain Under-21 side meant that a place in this year’s World Cup squad was on the cards.

His strong technique, awareness and astute passes playing behind the forward line led to admiring glances from Europe’s top sides but it was Real that beat the rest to his signature for a figure believed to be around 27 million euros.

Since then, however, it has not gone according to plan for Isco who has not been able to find a role in Real’s expensively assembled squad. He has been tried on the wings, in attack and a deeper role in midfield but part of the reason is that after a slow start to the season, the Italian has found success with a 4-3-3 formation that does not ideally suit Isco’s attributes of picking the passes behind the forwards. Still, Ancelotti has far from given up on the player and believes that Isco can adapt to a new position, comparing him to Dutchman Clarence Seedorf.

“He is pushing for a starting place. I have complete confidence in him. In the past I had a similar situation with Seedorf and plugging away he was able to become a key player for Milan,” Ancelotti said earlier this month.

Isco was given the chance in midfield against Malaga at

the weekend with Angel Di Maria left on the bench as he was only a booking away from a suspension.

He struggled to get involved in the game, though, and was taken off after an hour in the 1-0 win. But striker Karim Benzema’s thigh injury, picked up in a collision with Cristiano Ronaldo, could give him a chance in attack against Schalke.

“When Isco was playing in midfield he did well and later he had to change position due to the knock for Benzema and he can do that role without any problems,” said Ancelotti.

Benzema has undergone tests to establish the extent of the injury and while it is not thought to be serious he is unlikely to be ready to face Schalke.

His target will be the crunch match with Barca in La Liga at the weekend with Real holding a four point lead at the top over their bitter rivals. — Reuters

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United slipping into mediocrity LONDON: Conceding three penalties to Liverpool at Old Trafford would have usually triggered a furore among Manchester United fans, players and management under any other circumstances but for the humiliating manner in which they lost Sunday’s derby.

Not even the fiery Wayne Rooney questioned referee Mark Clattenburg’s decisions on an afternoon the England striker described as one of the worst days he ever had in football, after a crushing 3-0 defeat left United with only a forlorn hope of finishing in the top four in the Premier League. Rooney’s post-match comments underlined a gulf in class between the two teams this season, with the balance of power swinging back towards a Liverpool side transformed by Brendan Rodgers from midtable underachievers into title contenders.

United, shockingly for their fans, seem to be heading in the opposite direction - at least in the short term. The mauling United suffered at the hands of their bitter rivals actually flattered David Moyes’s men. It is difficult to fathom how a team that won their 20th league title under Alex Ferguson last season have struggled under his successor Moyes. But the reasons for United’s spectacular fall from grace are complex.

Too many players in the squad appear to have

reached the summit of their careers last season. The partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, once the defensive pillars who made United’s rivals in England and Europe green with envy, has come to an end with the latter heading to Inter Milan and the former’s future at Old Trafford uncertain at best.

PALE SHADOW More surprisingly, striker Robin Van Persie looks a pale shadow of the player whose goals propelled United to the Premier League’s pinnacle last term and his tepid performances have raised question marks over his ability to lead the line beyond this season.

Van Persie criticised his team mates for moving into his space and not getting the ball enough to him after a 2-0 first-leg Champions League defeat by Olympiakos Piraeus, but if they did it is because his poor movement off the ball and lack of cutting edge in big games has been palpably clear.

Rooney, often asked to operate in a dual role of a forward and a midfield workhorse whenever Van Persie is deployed as the lone striker, seems to thrive on his own up front when the Dutchman is sidelined for one reason or another and Moyes is forced to give Danny Welbeck a start.

Moyes, handpicked by his compatriot Ferguson

to take over the reins on a six-year contract, seems reluctant to play Mexico striker Javier Hernandez while Welbeck has been used sparingly and mostly out of position.

Expensive acquisition Marouane Fellaini, his former Everton protege, still looks like a bewildered schoolboy in a United shirt while speculation that Moyes made a futile bid last week to lure Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford suggests that record signing Juan Mata may be more suited to playing further upfield than a playmaker United are still craving for.

A looming Champions League exit on Wednesday is still unlikely to force the board’s hand as Old Trafford’s echelons of power will probably feel they have to give Moyes at least another season to get a grip on things, having backed Ferguson’s choice to name the fellow Glaswegian as his successor. But even a Champions League comeback in the return leg against Olympiakos and United’s passage into the competition’s last eight is unlikely to be more than a flash in the pan this term unless they can somehow squeeze through to the May 24 final in Lisbon.

Judging by their current form, United will need to produce something very special if they are to get past some of Europe’s heavyweights who now look well and truly out of their league. — Reuters

Fabian lifts Cruz Azul over Tijuana

Marco Fabian

MEXICO CITY: Marco Fabian scored twice as Cruz Azul defeated Tijuana 2-1 to maintain its three-point lead at the top of Mexico’s first division. Toluca is in second place after beating Queretaro 2-0, and Pumas moved up to third following their 5-0 victory over Atlante. In other games over the weekend, Santos Laguna defeated Pachuca 3-1, Chiapas drew 2-2 with America, Morelia overcame Monterrey 1-0, Chivas won 1-0 against Leon, Tigres defeated Puebla 1-0 and Atlas won 1-0 against Veracruz.

Fabian shot low from 25 yards (meters) to equalize for Cruz Azul two minutes after halftime in Saturday’s match and handed his team the lead in the 69th minute when he struck the ball past keeper Cirilo Saucedo from the edge of the penalty area.

Richard Ruiz had put Tijuana ahead just before halftime.

Paraguayan Pablo Velazquez headed in Toluca’s opener in the 65th minute of Friday’s match against Queretaro, with Edy Brambila increasing its lead five minutes later. Martin Bravo scored twice in the first half Sunday for Pumas, with Ismael Sosa, Diego Lagos and Dario Veron getting the other goals.

Jurgen Damm scored in the 7th minute for Pachuca, but the squad struggled after Ecuadorian Jhon Pajoy was sent off in the 33rd. Andres Renteria, Javier Orozco and Oribe Peralta all scored second-half goals to give Santos Laguna the win. America came from behind twice against Chiapas, getting the second equalizer from Juan Carlos Valenzuela in the 70th to salvage the draw.

Morelia’s only goal came in the 60th from Carlos Morales, who shot a free kick into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Giovani Hernandez latched onto a throughball and finished at the near post for Chivas in the 6th. Argentine Damian Alvarez played a one-two with Alan Pulido and curled in his team’s winner in the 82nd against Puebla. Atlas’ Maikon Leite secured the three points with a finish from close range in the 24th. — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

S P ORT S

Brazil pays price for lack of goalkeeping culture SAO PAULO: Goalkeeper Julio Cesar - the wrong side of 30 and past his prime - is the weakest link in the team which all of Brazil expects to win the World Cup this July. And that is no accident: The nation of Pele has long paid far more attention to players who score and make goals than to those who save them. The country’s best-known goalkeeper was probably Barbosa, and he became famous not for a great save but for the national agony he caused by letting in Uruguay’s two goals against Brazil that won the World Cup in 1950.

The first thing Brazilian kids often do before pick-up games is play “rock, scissors, paper” to decide who gets stuck in goal. With so many outstanding strikers and midfielders in Brazilian history, few chose keepers as their childhood idols.

“If the kid is good enough with the ball, probably he will not want to play in goal,” Zetti, a reserve goalkeeper in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning squad, said in a phone interview. “Kids are usually scared of playing in goal, and most of the time parents are always trying to convince them to play in a different position.”

Zetti opened Brazil’s first academy exclusively for goalkeepers six years ago. Brazil long neglected to take goalkeeping seriously, he explained. Teams didn’t hire trainers for that position, so goalkeepers couldn’t match strikers and midfielders for quality.

But Zetti said things have changed in recent decades. Marcos and Rogerio Ceni, goalkeepers in the 2002 World Cup-winning squad, both influenced the Brazilian game with their successes and become idols for a new generation.

“Marcos and Rogerio Ceni really contributed to get more kids to want to become goalkeepers,” Zetti said. “In my academy, I can see this. Because of them there is a generation coming up that really likes goalkeepers. They are not ready to play yet, but in a few years we may be able to start seeing some results.” Marcos’ saves in the 2002 final against Germany helped Brazil secure its fifth world title. He also enjoyed success with Palmeiras, winning the 1999 Copa Libertadores with the Sao Paulo club where he played for nearly two decades.

Easy-going and known for speaking his mind, Marcos was easy to like for fans of all ages, even

those from rival teams.

Ceni was a reserve keeper for the World Cups of 2002 and 2006, where he came on as a substitute for Brazil No.1 and captain Dida late in a 4-1 demolition of Japan in the group stage.

Ceni has won three Brazilian championships and the 2005 Club World Cup with Sao Paulo, where he remains a starter. He stands out for scoring goals, not just saving them. He has netted more than 100 penalties and free kicks, by far the most for a goalkeeper.

Cesar was a reserve with Ceni in the 2006 World Cup squad before getting Brazil’s No. 1 spot at the 2010 World Cup. Fans remember his mistake in Brazil’s 2-1 quarter final elimination by the Netherlands. Obstructed by midfield teammate Felipe Melo, Cesar failed to punch away Wesley Sneijder’s cross that zipped past him into the goal for the Dutch equalizer.

At Inter Milan from 2005-2012, Cesar became one of the world’s best goalkeepers, winning five Italian championships and the Champions League in 2010. He and Spain’s 2010 World Cup winner Iker Casillas were the only goalies nominated that year

for the FIFA Ballon d’Or. But Cesar - now 34 - has been less impressive since moving to Queens Park Rangers, dropping out of the Premier League with the London club in 2013. Rob Green replaced him in QPR’s starting line-up and the club then loaned him to Toronto in Major League Soccer after he failed to find another club in Europe. Although none of this has been ideal preparation for the World Cup, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is sticking with Cesar, in part because he has few other options. Not that many Brazilians will care. From 2002, they mostly remember Ronaldo and Rivaldo, not that Marcos starred between Brazil’s posts in the 2-0 defeat of Germany.

Taffarel played well in goal in 1994, but Romario and captain Dunga are the standout names from that team. Pele, Gerson, Rivelino and Tostao overshadowed Felix’s goalkeeping for the winning team of 1970. As Brazil now attempts to win its first World Cup at home, Brazilians only have eyes for the likes of Neymar and Oscar, the creative talents they so admire. Only if he makes howling mistakes will Cesar compete with them for attention. — AP

Pirlo punishes Genoa

FRANCE : Saint-Etienne’s French defender Loic Perrin (top) vies with Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) and Italian midfielder Marco Verratti (center) during the French League football match. — AFP

Prolific Ibrahimovic sets PSG goals record PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic took his season tally to a club record 40 goals as the Sweden forward’s double inspired runaway leaders Paris St Germain to a 2-0 home win against St Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The French champions maintained their eight-point lead over second-placed Monaco, who had Dimitar Berbatov to thank for a 3-2 win at Olympique Lyon.

PSG have 70 points from 29 matches after Ibrahimovic surpassed Argentine Carlos Bianchi’s PSG record of 39 goals scored in all competitions in a single season (1977-78).

St Etienne stayed fourth on 48 points, five points adrift of third-placed Lille who occupy the Champions League third qualifying round spot.

Laurent Blanc’s PSG side predictably dominated possession but the first clear chance was for St Etienne when Salvatore Sirigu tipped away Franck Tabanou’s spectacular rising shot on the turn from outside the box in the 13th minute.

Ibrahimovic, however, opened the scoring in the 16th minute at the end of a bizarre move. The Swede played the ball into Blaise Matuidi, who was flagged offside but referee Lionel Jaffredo ignored the linesman’s call and the ball fell for Ibrahimovic who found the back of the net with a low cross shot.

TV replays showed that Matuidi had gained possession from St Etienne defender Mustapha Bayal Sall’s back pass. Brandao was lucky to escape a red card after elbowing Yohan Cabaye in the face as PSG

increased the pressure, coming close twice through Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani. Both combined perfectly in the 42nd, and Ibrahimovic stabbed in a closerange volley with the outside of his foot from the Uruguay forward’s perfect cross.

St Etienne had a clear chance to reduce the arrears after the break but Benjamin Corgnet inexplicably shot wide from point-blank range.

Earlier on Sunday, Dimitar Berbatov scored one goal and set up two more in Monaco’s win at Gerland.

Berbatov created Valere Germain and James Rodriguez’s first-half goals before chipping in the third. Lyon stayed fifth on 45 points.

Germain put the visitors ahead after four minutes from close range after Berbatov had tapped the ball into this path. The Bulgarian was at it again in the 27th minute, setting up Rodriguez from close range again.

But Lyon did not give up and reduced the arrears five minutes later as Jimmy Briand latched onto Miguel Lopes’s pass to beat Danijel Subasic.

Rodriguez repaid Berbatov’s favour by setting up the former Tottenham and Manchester United striker for Monaco’s third, a fine chip past Anthony Lopes.

Remi Garde’s team, however, were back in contention with 12 minutes left as Briand scored his sixth league goal of the season with a volley. But it was not enough as the Monaco defence, perfectly marshalled

by Ricardo Carvalho, held on. — Reuters

Williams drive out the ghosts of dismal 2013 LONDON: Valtteri Bottas scored twice as many points in Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix than Williams managed in all of last year but the Finn and his Formula One team still left Melbourne knowing they could have done better.

The 24-year-old finished fifth, thanks to the disqualification of Red Bull’s second placed Australian Daniel Ricciardo hours after the race, in a car that showed pre-season’optimism was not misplaced.

Although Germany’s Nico Rosberg took a dominant win for Mercedes at Albert Park, after team mate Lewis Hamilton had retired from pole, Mercedes-powered Williams laid down a marker for the future. They are still a long way from where they want to be but there is a new sense of optimism, and purpose, about the former champions as they fight back from the wilderness of last year.

“I think Mercedes are a standout team in terms of pace - and I still think there’s another team that’s very quick, they just didn’t really show it today or they made mistakes,” said McLaren’s Jenson Button who started out with Williams in 2000 - after the race. Both McLaren drivers ended up on the podium, with Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen second and Button third, to send that team top of the constructors’ standings.

Bottas and new Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa felt it could just as easily have been them. “If we had a good qualifying, a clean race, we had a car here to fight for the podium,” Bottas said, and Massa — whose car was rear-ended at the start by Caterham’s Japanese Kamui Kobayashi — agreed.

“I would say Australia was a race where we could

finish both cars and in a similar position to McLaren, so maybe we were going to be first in the championship,” the former Ferrari driver told reporters. Both Williams had qualified in the top 10 and ahead of Button, but Bottas dropped to 15th on the grid due to a five place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

He had climbed to sixth when he clouted the wall and had to limp back on three wheels and a rim, with the safety car coming out to enable marshals to clear up debris. The Finn dropped back to 16th - and charged through the field again.

“I’m quite mad about myself for the mistake,” he told Britain’s Sky television. “I just need to learn from it and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to do that kind of mistake again.

“The team have done such a good job here during the winter. It’s going to be a good season,” he added. Claire Williams, deputy principal of the team founded by her father Frank, said the former champions - winners of nine constructors’ titles between 1980 and 1997 - had come a long way since last year when they scored only five points.

“I think we entered the weekend with lots of high hopes and there was a lot of expectation on us from the media as well but we were really trying to dampen that a bit and not get anyone’s hopes up too high,” she said. “But coming into the race we really were hoping for both cars to get some strong points.

“It was so disappointing for Felipe to have been knocked out on the first corner but Valtteri drove such an amazing race...I think he overtook more than 20 cars which was phenomenal.” — Reuters

ITALY: Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved a penalty and Andrea Pirlo curled in a trademark free kick late in the game to give the Serie A leaders a dramatic 1-0 win at Genoa on Sunday.

Germany forward Mario Gomez scored for the second match running to help Fiorentina beat Chievo 3-1 and AC Milan’s crisis deepened when they lost 4-2 at home to Parma after playing for almost the entire match with 10 men.

Lazio eased their problems with a 2-0 win at Cagliari, Livorno’s 2-1 win over Bologna pulled them out of the relegation zone and Sassuolo came from behind to beat Catania 3-1 in the meeting of the bottom two. Juventus forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo had two first-half goals disallowed for offside with television replays suggesting that the first decision was correct and the second was not.

Buffon, equalling Dino Zoff’s record of 476 Juventus appearances, rescued the visitors when he saved Emanuele Calaio’s penalty in the 72nd minute after a handball

by Arturo Vidal.

There was an air of inevitability about the outcome when Juventus won a free kick on the edge of the area with two minutes left and, sure enough, Pirlo curled a trademark effort over the wall and into the top corner.

Juventus, who have 75 points from 28 games and are almost certain to win their third successive title, are 17 clear of AS Roma who host Udinese on Monday (2000) when third-placed Napoli visit Torino (1800). David Pizarro missed a penalty for Fiorentina but it did not matter as Juan Cuadrado, Alessandro Matri and Gomez, back in action after a knee injury, were on target against lowly Chievo, who replied through Alberto Paloschi. Gomez also scored in the Europa League draw against Juventus on Thursday.

MILAN CRISIS Milan slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions and conceded four goals in a game for the second time in a week.Milan, who had goalkeeper Christian Abbiati sent off in the fifth minute, came to life as they clawed back a 2-0 deficit, only for Parma forwards Amauri, with a brilliant back-heeled flick, and Jonathan Biabiany to win the game with late goals.

Milan, knocked out of the Champions League after an emphatic 4-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid, are stuck in 12th place with 35 points from 28 games after their 11th league defeat of a miserable campaign.

It quickly got worse when goalkeeper Abbiati clattered into Ezequiel Schelotto and suffered the so-called triple punishment of penalty, red card and automatic one-match suspension.

Midfielder Michael Essien was sacrificed to make way for substitute goalkeeper Marco Amelia, whose first job was to pick the ball out the back of the net as former Milan player Antonio Cassano fired home the penalty.

It seemed to be all over when Cassano was given too much space and added a second six minutes after halftime, but Roberto Donadoni’s team then relaxed.

Adil Rami headed one back from a corner five minutes later and Balotelli levelled with a 76th-minute penalty, harshly awarded after Riccardo Montolivo went down under Joel Obi’s challenge.

A heroic draw or even win was on the cards but it quickly turned to disaster when Schelotto fired over a low cross from the right and Amauri got in front of Nigel de Jong and brilliantly flicked the ball in with his heel.

Milan finished dispirited and demoralised, leaving the pitch to a howl of protests after Biabiany headed the fourth with the last move of the game.

Lazio, whose fans are furious with club president Claudio Lotito over a lack of investment in the team, won 2-0 at Cagliari with goals by Senad Lulic and Keita Balde to climb to seventh (41 points).

Teenager Balde’s goal came one minute after Mauricio Pinilla missed a penalty for Cagliari, who again played in front of less than 5,000 fans due to ongoing rebuilding work at their Sant’Elia stadium.

Sassuolo’s win lifted them off the bottom to 19th with 21 points, where they were replaced by opponents Catania (20).

Bologna (23) dropped into the bottom three below Livorno and Chievo (24).

Sampdoria’s revival was abruptly halted with a 3-0 loss at Atalanta. — Reuters

ITALY : Juventus’ defender Giorgio Chiellini fights for the ball with Genoa’s forward Giuseppe Sculli during the Italian Serie A football match. — AFP

Bayern chief set for jail term as prosecutors won’t appeal BERLIN: German prosecutors said yesterday they won’t appeal the tax fraud verdict against football legend Uli Hoeness, former boss of powerhouse Bayern Munich, freeing the way for his jail term to begin. Hoeness, 62, who spent four decades at the champion club, will in coming weeks start a three-anda-half-year prison sentence handed down by a court last Thursday, which he has also said he will not contest.

The Bayern chief is currently due to serve his term in Landsberg prison in southern Bavaria state, prosecution spokesman Ken Heidenreich told AFP. That is the jail where Adolf Hitler wrote “Mein Kampf” while serving a sentence for treason after the failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch uprising in Munich. A Munich court sentenced Hoeness for having cheated the state out of 28.5 million euros ($39.5 million) after a spectacular four-day trial that riveted football-obsessed Germany.

He admitted to hiding his wealth in secret Swiss bank accounts while obsessively “gambling” on stock and currency markets for years before seeking to come clean in return for immunity from prosecution. But his January 2013 attempt to turn himself in to authorities was deemed too little too late.

Prosecutors originally suspected the tax fraud case to amount to about 3.5 million euros, but on the trial’s opening day Hoeness admitted it was more in the realm of 18.5 million euros.

A day later that figure again jumped, this time to 27.2 million euros, before the court recalculated it 28.5 million euros. The prosecution had said it would mull appealing Hoeness’ sentence, having called for a longer jail term of five and a half years, but it announced yesterday it had decided against.

“The Munich II public prosecutor’s office will, in the criminal proceedings against Ulrich Hoeness over tax fraud, not file an appeal against the verdict,” its statement said.

Bayern Munich’s President Uli Hoeness

No date has yet been fixed for Hoeness, who also runs a successful sausage business, to begin his jail term, but it is expected to start in the coming weeks.

“The district court’s verdict is justifiable,” said Florian Gliwitzky, a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office.

‘MISTAKE OF MY LIFE’ Heidenreich told AFP that he assumed Hoeness would receive the same treatment in Landsberg prison as other inmates. He was unable to say exactly when Hoeness’ jail time would begin as the prosecution service would first have to receive the written verdict.

“It will take a few weeks,” he said.

After Thursday’s court ruling, Hoeness walked out of the courtroom in the southern city of Munich, pending his initially planned appeal. But a day later, a remorseful Hoeness said he would forego appealing the sentence and resigned from his posts as president and board chairman of Bayern Munich. “Tax evasion was the mistake of my life,” he said in a statement, adding that his decision not to appeal corresponded to his understanding of “decency, conduct and personal responsibility”.

Bayern Munich have since named successors to Hoeness, with Adidas chairman Herbert Hainer taking over as interim board chairman.

Hoeness has spent more than four decades with the Bavarian sporting giants first as player, helping win then West Germany the 1974 World Cup, then as team manager and, since 2009, as club president.

Bayern became Germany’s first side to win the treble titles of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup last season.

News of the scandal sent shockwaves in Germany where Hoeness was a hero to many young fans and was seen as a moral authority as a conservative commentator on TV talk shows. — AFP

Senden wins at Tampa Bay

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

15

Isco could get starring role against Schalke

18

Brazil pays price for lack of goalkeeping culture Page 19

NEW ORLEANS: Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger (bottom) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (top) go for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP

Clippers roll as Heat sizzle LOS ANGELES: Blake Griffin had 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on his 25th birthday as the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-80 Sunday for their 11th consecutive victory.

Chris Paul had 15 assists and scored 11 of his 16 points in the final 6:04 for the Clippers, who haven’t lost since Feb. 21. Los Angeles matched the longest winning streak in the NBA this season, equaling 11-game runs in November by Portland and San Antonio.

Luol Deng scored 23 points and Dion Waiters had 15 for the Cavaliers, who lost star point guard Kyrie Irving in the first quarter to a left biceps injury. Cleveland had won on its first two stops of a three-game West Coast road trip, but never led against the Clippers.

Reggie Bullock scored a career-high 14 points as Los Angeles matched the 1974-75 Buffalo Braves for the second-longest winning streak in franchise history.

HEAT 113, ROCKETS 104 Ray Allen scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each scored 24 as Miami stopped its worst skid in three years.

Chris Bosh added 18 points for the Heat, who

won for just the second time in their last seven games. They were down 97-92 following a 3pointer by James Harden midway through the fourth, then finished the game on a 21-7 run.

Allen had 11 points during that late stretch, including a 3-pointer that allowed him to pass Allen Iverson for 21st on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Harden finished with 30 points and Dwight Howard added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who’ve dropped three straight.

SPURS 122, JAZZ 104 Manu Ginobili scored 21 points and San Antonio earned its 10th consecutive victory to become the first NBA team to 50 wins this season.

The Spurs (50-16) shot a season-high 62.8 percent from the field in their fourth victory in four games this season against Utah. Tony Parker had 18 points and Tim Duncan scored 16.

It’s the second double-digit winning streak of the Spurs, who won 11 in a row in November.

Derrick Favors had a season-high 28 points for Utah, which has lost four straight.

MAVERICKS 109, THUNDER 86 Shawn Marion scored 19 points and Vince Carter added 18 as the Mavericks stopped a sev-

en-game, regular-season losing streak to the Thunder.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points for Oklahoma City. It was his 26th straight game of 25 points or more, the longest such streak since Michael Jordan did so in 40 straight games during the 1986-87 season.

Dirk Nowitzki added 17 points for the Mavericks, who became only the third Western Conference team to win this season in Oklahoma City, joining the Trail Blazers and Clippers. Dallas’ win over the Thunder was its first since Jan. 2, 2012.

WARRIORS 113, TRAIL BLAZERS 112 Stephen Curry scored 28 of his 37 points in the second half and Klay Thompson made the goahead 3-pointer with 11.1 seconds remaining to lead Golden State to the win.

Thompson finished with 27 points and David Lee added 16 for the Warriors, who rallied from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter.

Golden State ended a two-game skid and pulled within 11/2 games of the Blazers for the Western Conference’s No. 5 playoff spot.

Damian Lillard scored 26 points and Nicholas Batum had 23 points and 14 rebounds as the Blazers, playing without injured All-Star forward

early in the second set and struggled to control her emotions at the ceremony. “I’m sorry I could run as much as I could,” she sobbed.

“But I had a great week, it was my first final here. “It’s disappointing to lose but Flavia was just playing too good today.”

Pennetta beat rising American Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals and Australian Open champion Li Na in the semis and was never in trouble against Radwanska.

She chalked up 20 winners and saved both break points she faced as she claimed the 10th singles title of her career and her first in four years.

“After so many years and so much work and everything, this is the moment I’ve always waited for,” said Pennetta. “And it’s coming when you don’t expect it, because in the beginning of the week I never expected to be the champion or to be in the final or semi-final.

“I was here and tried to play my best tennis...so for me it was something I was waiting a long time, and finally I have a good trophy in my hands.” — Reuters

been eliminated from postseason contention.

PELICANS 121, CELTICS 120 Anthony Davis set career highs with 40 points and 21 rebounds for New Orleans, and Eric Gordon made two crucial free throws in overtime.

Tyreke Evans added 26 points and Gordon had 19 for the Pelicans, who had lost two consecutive games. Gordon’s foul shots with 9.4 seconds remaining gave the Pelicans a 121-117 lead.

Davis became the first player in team history to have at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in the same game. Jeff Green scored 39 points for Boston, which lost its fourth straight game.

SUNS 121, RAPTORS 113 Markieff Morris had 16 points and 14 rebounds and Gerald Green scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix beat Toronto. Goran Dragic scored 19 points, Eric Bledsoe had 14 and P.J. Tucker 11 for the Suns, who had lost three of four before winning 87-80 at Boston on Friday.

Phoenix’s reserves outscored Toronto’s 59-11.

Kyle Lowry had 28 points and 13 assists, and Terrence Ross scored 22 points as Toronto lost at home for the first time since a triple-overtime defeat to Washington on Feb. 27.

TIMBERWOLVES 104, KINGS 102 Kevin Love had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead Minnesota to the win. Love was 3 for 6 from 3-point range, including one with 1:07 to play to give Minnesota a 97-95 lead.

Kevin Martin added 31 points for Minnesota, and Senegalese rookie Gorgui Dieng had his first career double-double with season highs in points (12) and rebounds (11). He also had five blocks.

Derrick Williams scored 26 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, which has officially

BOBCATS 101, BUCKS 92 Kemba Walker scored 21 points and Al Jefferson added 16 of his 20 in the second half to help Charlotte beat Milwaukee for its fourth straight victory.

Gary Neal added 18 in his return to Milwaukee after the Bucks traded him to Charlotte last month. Gerald Henderson scored 14 as the Bobcats matched their longest winning streak of the season, set Feb. 18-22. Brandon Knight scored 21 points and Ramon Sessions added 18 for the Bucks. — AP

Djokovic captures first title of 2014

Pennetta defeats injured Radwanska to lift crown INDIAN WELLS: Italy’s Flavia Pennetta captured the biggest title of her career on Sunday when she beat Poland’s ailing Agnieszka Radwanska in the final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

As Radwanska struggled with a knee injury, Pennetta cruised to a 6-2 6-1 victory in less than an hour and a quarter in the Californian desert.

Better known as a doubles player, Pennetta had contemplated retiring last year after tumbling down the world rankings, but the veteran Italian has rediscovered the fountain of youth. She reached the semi-finals of last year’s U.S. Open and has now won one of the biggest events outside the four grand slams.

“Today was my day and I really enjoyed this moment,” Pennetta said at the trophy presentation. “After so many years of working hard, this is the best moment.”

Radwanska went into the match as a slight favourite but was unable to play near her best because of a knee injury that severely restricted her movement.

She called for a medical timeout

LaMarcus Aldridge, lost for the fifth time in six games.

INDIAN WELLS: Flavia Pennetta of Italy poses after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the final of the BNP Parabas Open. —AFP

INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic beat his old rival Roger Federer 3-6 6-3 7-6(3) on Sunday to win a nailbiting BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells and capture his first title of 2014.

The Serbian overcame a shaky start when he dropped his opening service game, then survived a nervous finish when he failed to serve out the match at the first attempt before finally sealing victory in the tiebreaker. “Today was an incredible match,” Djokovic said after being presented with the winner’s crystal trophy.

“It was an incredibly difficult match. Roger is playing great and it’s always a pleasure playing with him.” The thrilling victory gave Djokovic his third championship in the Californian desert tournament and lifted his career tally to 42 titles.

It was Federer’s first loss in a final at Indian Wells after he had previously won a record four times. But the 32-yearold showed he was anything but a spent force as he went toe to toe with the best hardcourt player in the world.

“Personally, I’m very happy. I think I’m playing great tennis now and I’m really enjoying myself,” Federer said. “Of course, I would have liked to have more won a few more points at the end but Novak made it tough, so congratulations to him for winning.”

Federer reached the final without dropping a set and made a flying start against Djokovic, in their 33rd career meeting. Despite Sunday’s loss, Federer leads their head to head record 17-16.

INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland during the final of the BNP Parabas Open. — AFP Djokovic double-faulted twice in his opening service game as his Swiss opponent snatched the early break and went on to take the first set in 31 minutes.

Djokovic made a much better start to the second set, winning the opening point with an ace right down the middle, then broke Federer’s serve in the eighth game to lead 5-3.

He served out the set then broke Federer early in the third and had the chance to serve out the match when he led 5-4.

But with Federer chipping and charging from the baseline, Djokovic cracked. Roared on by the crowd, Federer tied the set at 6-6 to force a tiebreak, but Djokovic regained his composure to clinch the title after almost two and a quarter hours. — Reuters

Business

Kuwait jobs, salaries set to grow faster in 2014: Survey Page 22

Too-big-to-fail banks still a challenge: BoE

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

Page 25 DBS buys SocGen’s Asian private banking business

Air Arabia AGM approves 7.25% cash dividend Page 26

Page 23

HONG KONG: Pedestrians cross a road in Hong Kong’s retail heart of Causeway Bay yesterday. The southern Chinese territory was ranked the most expensive for retailers in the world by commercial real estate giant CBRE in February, as prime rents surpassed those of the most exclusive addresses in New York, London and Paris. — AFP

Russia govt admits economy in crisis Markets await full-scale of Western measures MOSCOW: Russia’s government acknowledged for the first time yesterday that the economy was in crisis, undermining earlier attempts by officials to suggest albeit weakening growth could weather sanctions over Ukraine. Moscow markets wait to see the fulls-cale of western measures over the seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea and support of its referendum to join Russia, after losing billions of dollars in recent weeks in state and corporate money. For weeks, Russian officials have said the confrontation between Moscow and the West over Ukraine that threatens economic sanctions and asset freezes would “weigh on the economy”.

Although not speaking directly about the impact from the conflict, Deputy Economy Minister Sergei Belyakov said yesterday the economy was in trouble. “The economic situation shows clear signs of a crisis,” Belyakov told a local business conference. European officials have said they are determined to hit Russia for its actions in Crimea, imposing sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on those responsible.

The United States is expected to take similar steps yesterday.

“People are most afraid of sanctions. Their volume and .. what sanctions there will be and how this will be reflected on the Russian financial system, the economy, the markets

and the largest companies,” said Konstantin Chernyshev, head for research at Uralsib in Moscow. Many economists expect Russia to enter recession and most have rushed to slash their growth forecasts as a result of the worst showdown between Russia and the West since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

“Domestic demand is set to halt on the uncertainty shock and tighter financial conditions, likely dipping the economy into a recession over second and third quarter of 2014,” Vladimir Kolychev and Daria Isakova, economists are VTB Capital wrote in a note yesterday.

“We are lowering our full-year growth outlook to 0.0 percent, and see downside risks if uncertainty remains elevated for a protracted period and/or severe sanctions are imposed.”

The Economy Ministry’s most recent estimates, issued before the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, envisage the economy expanding by around 2 percent this year.

Hefty price Economist have warned ever since President Vladimir Putin declared on March 3 a right to invade Ukraine to

defend the Russian-speaking population that the price Moscow will pay for its decisions will be hefty. The roubledenominated MICEX index has lost more than $66 billion in market capitalization and the central bank has spent more than $16 billion of its reserves to defend the ruble. Only last week, MICEX lost 7.6 percent and the dollar-denominated RTS more than 8 percent.

In a matter of a few weeks Russia has gone from being perceived as one of the more resilient emerging markets to the withdrawal of the United States monetary stimulus to one of the most vulnerable developing countries, analysts said. “Russia’s economy was struggling even before the recent rise in geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine and some softer economic data from China,” said Alexander Morozov, chief Russia economist at HSBC in Moscow. “Possible economic and financial sanctions on Russia add to the uncertainties.”

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will respect the decision of the peninsula’s people and the country’s two houses of parliament said they would work as quickly as possible to pass legislation for its accession. Putin is due to address the parliament today in what is broadly expected

Property, banks lift UAE bourses MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Property and banking shares lifted stock markets in the United Arab Emirates yesterday after Dubai obtained a roll-over of $20 billion of debt. Other markets in the region were mixed as uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis continued to prompt profit-taking by some retail investors.

Abu Dhabi and the central bank of the United Arab Emirates said on Sunday that they had agreed to extend for five years $20 billion of loans which were provided to the Dubai government as emergency aid during its financial crisis, and were due to mature this year in two tranches. The roll-over had been widely expected, but it was still good news for Dubai, and Abu Dhabi’s decision to deal with both tranches at once - rather than waiting until each one matured - appeared to suggest a determination to clear obstacles to growth in the UAE. Meanwhile, shares in Dubai’s Emaar Properties added 1.7 percent to 9.25 dirhams, testing chart resistance at 9.16-9.20 dirhams - the February and March highs - for a second day after the company announced a higher 2013 dividend and a plan to list its shopping mall unit. Many analysts have higher fair-value estimates for Emaar - EFG-

Hermes estimates 10.10 dirhams while Arqaam Capital calculates 12.00 dirhams - and any clean break of the chart barrier, in the form of a second straight daily close above it, could signal a fresh leg up for the stock. “On the monthly chart the stock is now seen heading higher to 12 dirhams and 15 dirhams in the coming months,” said Shiv Prakash, senior technical analyst at NBAD Securities.

Other property-related names in Dubai posted even stronger gains. Builder Arabtec Holding jumped 6.4 percent and contractor Drake & Scull added 3.9 percent. Marwan Shurrab, fund manager and head of trading at Vision Investments, said Arabtec was subject to “positive speculation” ahead of a board meeting on Tuesday which will review its annual financial results. Traders said there was speculation about possible profit distribution.

Developer Deyaar gained 2.5 percent after saying it had sold out the residential units at a new mixed-use project, registering 500 million dirhams ($136 million) in sales within hours of opening.

Deyaar’s big shareholder, Dubai Islamic Bank,

added 1.1 percent while another local lender, Commercial Bank of Dubai, jumped 6.2 percent.

Dubai’s main stock index climbed 1.6 percent but total trading turnover was only slightly higher than Sunday’s moderate level.

Banks also lifted the bourse in Abu Dhabi, which jumped 1.9 percent. First Gulf Bank added 4.4 percent, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank rose 3.1 percent and Union National Bank gained 4.9 percent.

Qatar Qatar’s index, on the other hand, added 0.6 percent largely on the back of a single stock, industrial services provider Gulf International Services, which jumped 9.9 percent on average trading volume.

The firm made no announcements this week.

Last week, its annual meeting approved a 20 percent cash dividend and a 25 percent bonus share issue. Qatar’s Mesaieed Petrochemical resumed sliding after it published its income statement for September-December 2013 and proposed a 3.5 percent cash dividend. The stock dropped 4.0 percent; last month it listed at levels which analysts believe was far above fair value. — Reuters

to be an official recognition of Crimea’s appeal to include the region into Russian territory.

Capital has been fleeing Russia in billions since the start of the year. Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and a series of economists see capital flight at $50 billion in the first quarter, compared to $63 billion seen in the whole of 2013. The ruble is down 11 percent against the dollar this year , continuously breaking through all-time lows.

The Russian central bank vowed on Friday to provide for financial stability after the standoff with the West over Crimea, after unexpectedly raising key rates by 150 basis points in early March to stem capital flight.

The bank, in possession of the world’s third-largest stash of gold and foreign reserves, which stand at $494 billion, has some room for manoeuvre. But if the tensions in Ukraine escalate, the bank may burn through the reserves quickly. “It has become patently clear over the last several days that the Crimean peninsula is the prelude to wider and much more dangerous geo-political tensions over the fate of the Ukrainian mainland,” Nicholas Spiro, managing director of Spiro Sovereign Strategy in London said in a note. — Reuters

Pakistan CB blocks sale of Meezan stake: Noor KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Noor Financial Investment Co said the proposed sale of its stake in Karachi-based Meezan Bank had been blocked by Pakistan’s central bank, which felt the prospective buyer had not met its standards for suitability.

Ownership of Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s first and largest full-fledged Islamic lender, may be a sensitive issue for regulators as they seek to develop Islamic banking in the country.

In a bourse filing on Sunday, Noor Financial said the prospective buyer would continue to seek approval from the regulator, with the offer set to expire on April 15.

Little is known about the prospective buyer, identified only as Vision Financial Holdings Ltd in a separate filing by Meezan Bank. Last December, Noor Financial said it planned to sell its 49.1 percent stake in Meezan for $190 million and expected to book a $24 million profit.

Regulators are stepping up their efforts to develop Islamic banking in Pakistan, aiming to double the industry’s branch net-

work and reach a 15 percent share of the banking system by 2018.

As of December, Meezan Bank had a network of 351 branches and held assets worth 329 billion rupees ($3.3 billion), a 20 percent increase from a year earlier.

There are five full-fledged Islamic banks and 14 Islamic windows in Pakistan, with several looking to grow or spin off their existing operations while new entrants are also expected. Last month, Meezan Bank said it was in talks to buy the Pakistan operations of HSBC Bank Middle East, a 10-branch business which the British lender has been trying to sell for the past two years. Pakistan’s MCB Bank plans to take a 55 percent stake in Islamic lender Burj Bank, alongside an additional investment by the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank. That deal, which still requires regulatory approval, would involve the sale of Bahraini Bank Alkhair’s 36.9 percent stake in Burj Bank, which it classified as held-for-sale in June 2012. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

BUSINESS

Emaar’s retail spin-off won’t affect rating: S&P DUBAI: Standard & Poor’s plans no rating action relating to Dubai’s Emaar Properties after the emirate’s largest listed developer announced plans to spin off its retail unit, an analyst covering the company said yesterday.

Emaar said on Saturday it planned to list 25 percent of its shopping malls and retailing unit in a public offer expected to raise around 8 to 9 billion dirhams. The move, which would see cash distributed to shareholders through a special dividend but see Emaar’s main revenue stream of recent years divested, won’t impact Emaar’s rating, which was upgraded in February to investment grade.

“They are in a comfortable funding position at the moment, hence we are okay with the fact (that) not only did they increase the cash dividend but also they announced this potential stake sale,” Tommy Trask, director of corporate ratings at S&P, told a media event.

Trask said Emaar’s strong reputation with investors for delivering projects, plus the fact

it has collected healthy deposits on the offplan developments it was planning, meant it was very cash-rich.

Emaar, which sold properties worth 12 billion dirhams last year and generated 10.3 billion dirhams of revenue, hiked its dividend payment for 2013 to 15 percent from 10 percent in the previous year, its announcement on Saturday detailed. The shopping malls, retail and hospitality unit contributed 46 percent of Emaar’s revenues in 2013 but Trask said a shift towards earning more from property development was already happening.

“A year ago, we were rating Emaar as a property investment company but last time we looked at the rating action, we looked at the prospective earnings profile and we thought the balance will change,” Trask said, indicating it was now judged as a developer.

“So in the next 2-3 years, you’re going to have more earnings coming from development and sale of properties than the income from investment properties.” — Reuters

Majid Al-Futtaim plans ME cinema expansion DUBAI: Dubai-based shopping mall developer Majid Al-Futtaim will invest over 750 million dirhams ($204 million) expanding its cinema operations in the Middle East and aims to double its audience figures by 2016, the company said yesterday.

Majid Al-Futtaim, famous for building an indoor ski slope in Dubai, will invest 190 million dirhams on cinemas in Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, Cameron Mitchell, chief executive of subsidiary Majid Al Futtaim - Cinemas, said.

In the United Arab Emirates, his company will spend 275 million dirhams revamping and expanding its Dubai operations, plus a further 290 million dirhams in neighboring emirates Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. “The budget for our Egyptian cinemas is yet to be finalized,” said Mitchell. Parent firm Majid AlFuttaim, which reported a 10 percent rise in annual revenue to 23 billion dirhams in 2013, in January said it would invest $2.3 billion in Egypt in the next few years.

At present, the company’s cinema unit

has 92 screens at eight locations in the UAE and one in Lebanon, with 80 more screens under construction and a further 78 approved but “pending landlord development works”, said Mitchell. This would give the company 250 screens by the end of 2017.

“Other developments (are) expected to be finalized in the coming six months to further increase this screen count in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and Oman,” said Mitchell, adding his firm would operate at least 420 screens across 30 locations by 2020.

He forecast his company would host more than 12 million cinemagoers annually by 2016, up from 5.5 million in 2013. “Each market is different,” added Mitchell. “In Lebanon our guests appreciate romantic comedies, dramatic films and French and Arabic releases. “Action is also popular, although not to the extent it is appreciated in the UAE and Oman.

Indian releases in the Middle East, be it Bollywood, Malayalam or Tamil are also rapidly gaining in popularity.” — Reuters

Etisalat’s Egypt unit eyes market listing CAIRO: The Egyptian arm of Abu Dhabibased mobile operator Etisalat is considering listing its shares but has not decided on which bourse to do so or who will organize the initial public offering (IPO) for the firm, it said yesterday. Egypt’s financial regulator changed its rules earlier this year to boost trading and attract investment on the country’s bourse, making it easier for companies wishing to list on the stock exchange.

The last major IPO on the Egyptian exchange was in 2010. Since then, Egypt’s capital markets have been hit by the political turmoil that has gripped the country since the uprising that swept autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak from power in early 2011. Islamist President Mohammad Morsi was overthrown by the army in July last year following mass protests. The militarybacked interim government is due to be succeeded by an elected parliament and president within months. Army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is widely expected to announce his candidacy for the presidency and win.

Egypt’s main stock index bounced back

to a five-and-a-half year high last month.

“Etisalat (Misr) is studying the best option for floating its shares on the bourse and the appropriate market for them, either on the Egyptian bourse or outside it,” the Egyptian company said in an emailed statement.

“It is expected that the study will end soon, especially after the positive indicators that the Egyptian bourse has witnessed lately.” The company said previous preparations for an IPO had been put on hold because of the political climate, but that the recent surge in stocks due to optimism that Egypt’s economy is recovering had prompted it to resume the plans.

Etisalat Misr competes in Egypt ’s mobile market with Vodafone Egypt and Mobinil, which is controlled by France Telecom. Etisalat owns a 66 percent stake in Etisalat Misr. Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest telecoms operator by revenue and subscribers, missed analysts’ forecasts with a 70 percent rise in fourthquarter net profit this month after it took impairments on Nigerian and Indonesian operations. — Reuters

Kuwait jobs, salaries set to grow faster in 2014: Survey GulfTalent predicts Kuwait salaries to rise 5.8% KUWAIT: 2014 will be a year of stronger employment growth and higher salary rises, according to a survey by online recruitment firm, GulfTalent.

The 2014 edition of “Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf”, released today by GulfTalent, shows that Saudi Arabia was the leader in job creation in 2013, with 62 percent of companies increasing their headcount last year. The Kingdom was followed by the UAE and Kuwait.

Broken down into sectors, healthcare topped the table with 80 percent of companies having created jobs in 2013, driven by heavy government investment in the sector and more countries making health insurance mandatory for employers. According to the survey, telecom and retail sectors competed for second position.

lowed by Qatar at 6.7 percent and the UAE at 5.9 percent. Kuwait and Bahrain are forecast to have the region’s lowest salary increases - projected at 5.8 percent and 3.9 percent respectively. While the salary increases are higher than the previous year, they continue to be below the levels seen before the crisis.

by Qatar’s capital, Doha. Bahrain, on the other hand, remains the least attractive destination for expatriates.

GulfTalent’s report is based on an online survey of 800 employers and 34,000 professionals, as well as 60 interviews with executives and HR professionals. The full version of the report

Most popular GCC countries According to GulfTalent’s report, the UAE has further strengthened its position as the prime destination for expatriates in the GCC. Optimism about the country’s future has increased following Dubai’s economic recovery and successful bid for hosting the 2020 Expo. Expatriates also continue to value the UAE’s stability, especially as parts of the wider region remain plagued by tensions. Not surprisingly, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the region’s most attractive cities, followed

“Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2014” is available for download free of charge from the company’s website at: www.gulftalent.com.

GulfTalent is the leading online recruitment portal in the Middle East, covering all sectors and job categories. It is used by over 4 million professionals across the region for finding top career opportunities. It is also the primary online recruitment channel for over 6,000 companies, providing them access to both local and expatriate talent.

Employment growth in 2014 GulfTalent’s survey also found that across the GCC, more companies expect to increase their headcount in 2014 compared with last year. 75 percent of companies in Qatar will create jobs this year. The positive development is primarily due to the execution of major infrastructure projects gathering momentum, partly in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. Next are companies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with 63 percent and 57 percent of companies looking to create jobs respectively. Even companies in Bahrain are showing signs of improvement in job creation as the political situation stabilizes further: 30 percent of companies expect to increase their headcount, compared with only 9 percent in 2013.

Hospitality and retail will dominate job growth in 2014. 61 percent of companies in the hospitality sector are planning to increase their headcount, as they expect 2014 to be a year of growth for the industry. As regards the retail sector, 57 percent of firms will create jobs, driven by the region’s rapid population growth and increasing penetration of retail outlets in more remote locations.

Salary increases Across most of the GCC, private sector salaries are forecast to rise at a faster pace in 2014 compared with the previous year. Oman, where employees are expected to enjoy an average pay increase of 8 percent, leads the field.

Saudi Arabia has the second highest rate with a projected average increase of 6.8 percent, fol-

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.732 4.632 2.729 2.158 2.896 223.180 36.351 3.623 6.355 8.754 0.271 0.273

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

GCC COUNTRIES 75.257 77.543 733.110 749.570 76.856

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lira Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 39.250 40.089 1.318 180.370 398.530 1.893 2.011 35.709

US Dollar Transfer Euro Sterling Pound Canadian dollar Turkish lira Swiss Franc Australian Dollar US Dollar Buying

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES 282.100 394.940 475.200 256.450 127.970 714.180 258.250 280.900 GOLD

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

240.000 121.000 62.500

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 259.05 257.62 326.02 394.72 281.40 473.05 2.78 3.622 4.607 2.157 2.894 2.788 76.68 748.97 40.42 400.50 731.82 77.71 75.17

SELL CASH 256.05 258.62 324.02 395.72 284.40 476.05 2.80 3.892 4.907 2.592 3.429 2.790 77.15 751.04 41.02 406.15 739.12 78.26 75.57

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 281.900 256.355 470.375 392.508 321.250 744.350 76.730 78.280 76.040 397.280 40.444 2.157 4.648 2.819 3.621 6.330 692.400 3.725

Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit Chinese Yuan Renminbi Thai Bhat Turkish Lira

Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

2.955 3.900 86.850 46.335 9.690 127.050

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee

BUY Europe 0.007332 0.462277 0.006264 0.048291 0.385259 0.043228 0.086667 0.008066 0.040128 0.314266 0.125432

SELL 0.008332 0.471277 0.018264 0.053291 0.393259 0.048428 0.86667 0.018066 0.045128 0.324466 0.132432

Australasia 0.246149 0.232670

0.257649 0.241170

America 0.248103 0.278050 0.278550

0.256603 0.282400 0.282400

Asia 0.003293 0.044791 0.034266 0.004372 0.000019 0.002646 0.003256 0.000254 0.082334 0.002842 0.002570

0.003893 0.048291 0.037016 0.004773 0.000025 0.002828 0.003256 0.000269 0.088334 0.003012 0.002850

0.006358 0.000062 0.219262 0.020184 0.001865 0.009189 0.008381

0.006638 0.000068 0.22562 0.028884 0.002445 0.009369 0.008931

0.741953 0.036772 0.000078 0.000181 0.393730 1.0000000 0.000137 0.024316 0.001114 0.726824 0.076790 0.074603 0.002162 0.175706 0.125432 0.075837 0.001281

0.749953 0.039872 0.000079 0.000241 0.401230 1.0000000 0.000237 0.048316 0.001749 0.732504 0.078003 0.075303 0.002382 0.183706 0.132432 0.076986 0.001361

Arab 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

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 281.600 391.900 469.750 254.850 4.633 40.090 2.157 3.625 6.330 2.810 749.850 76.700 75.200

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

BUSINESS

DBS buys SocGen’s Asian private banking business Deal to boost bank’s access to region’s super rich

A migrant worker reading a newspaper at a job market in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province. More than 100 million Chinese are to be given vital documents making them officially residents of the country’s cities under a broad plan for the urbanization that is crucial to economic growth. —AFP

East-West face-off obscures any IMF deal for Ukraine LONDON: Ukrainian bond prices are holding up better than expected in the stand-off with Russia because investors think the International Monetary Fund might not impose tough conditions in an expected aid program due to Kiev’s political importance to the West. Rather like Pakistan in 2001, which was seen as key in the fight against al Qaeda, some in markets say the IMF, from which Ukraine is seeking financial support, could hand it the money it needs to avoid a default without many of the usual strings.

By normal measures, Ukraine’s debt to GDP of around 40 percent is not high enough to arouse concerns, but the combination of its being at the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war and a tumbling currency has seen bets on a default grow. This year’s near 15 percent dive in the hryvnia has increased the debt burden and it could quickly spiral if the turmoil causes capital to flee and banks are left with funding holes the state would need to fill.

The uncertainty is rising after Crimea’s mainly Russian-speaking population voted overwhelmingly to join Russia on Sunday.

Aside from the complexities of a split, it has raised suspicions that other pro-Moscow parts of Ukraine will fall under Russian control. Rating firms have warned there is a sizable risk of default by Ukraine but markets are hedging their bets, suspecting the Cold War-tinged politics may ultimately determine the outcome.

While bond buyers are demanding more to hold Ukraine’s debt and the price of insuring it has risen in recent weeks, there is nothing to suggest a Greece-style scenario where investors lose 70 percent of their money. “Obviously Ukraine’s debt to GDP is high so they need relief. There is no doubt about that, but I think it is not a purely economic issue anymore,” said Salman Ahmed, a global fixed-income strategist at the investment arm of private bank Lombard Odier.

“In Greece there was no territorial issue in play. If the West wants Ukraine to align with them rather than Russia they will have to offer a carrot and the carrot could be better terms on the debt.”

Through gritted teeth Ahmed likened the situation to the IMF’s dealings with Pakistan in late 2001 when Islamabad got approval for a $1.3 billion loan as the West courted it as an ally in the fight against terror in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Kiev has $3 billion dollars worth of foreign currency bonds due before the end of September and though it still has sufficient reserves, the view among analysts is that running them down too far could spook investors.

The safer alternative is to call on the IMF. Gabriel Sterne at emerging market specialist Exotix, says the Fund’s current preference,

and the tactic it used in Greece and Cyprus, is rather than just give new Pakistan-style loans, to get bondholders to agree to give struggling countries more time to pay.

Sterne thinks the situation is different to Pakistan because Kiev has more debt on its books than Islamabad did, meaning a restructuring would be more meaningful.

But he feels that with so little time to organise one the result may end up the same.

“They may well just stump up the money through gritted teeth,” he said. The IMF declined to comment on its talks with Ukraine but its head, Christine Lagarde, said last week it should finish its fact-finding mission there by Friday. Kiev has asked for at least $15 billion, but officials at the Fund and places like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, acknowledge it will need to be quite a lot more.

Geopolitical pawn Markets appear to be thinking along similar lines to Ahmed and Sterne. They are pricing nowhere near the kind of pain that Greek debt holders suffered. Ukraine’s June eurobond is selling with a discount of 8 percent off of its face value whereas for the longer-term, but often more sought after 2017 and 2020 benchmarks, are showing a 14 to 17 percent discount.

“A loss in Ukrainian bonds is not really priced in,” said Regis Chatellier a sovereign strategist at Societe Generale. “The lowest they are trading at is around 82 (versus face value of 100). If people thought we were going to see a Greek-style restructuring they would be at more like 50.”

The other issue complicating the situation is the money Russia recently lent to Ukraine in the form of a bond when its former pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovich was in charge.

Kiev has far it has received 3 billion of what was meant to be a $15 billion package but Moscow’s grab of Crimea has sparked debate on whether Kiev is likely to ever pay the money back. The bond has a couple of special clauses that have added spice to the debate. Russia can demand instant repayment if Ukraine’s debt to GDP hits 60 percent and it also carries ‘pari passu’ (equal) status with Ukraine’s eurobonds.

That means that if Ukraine doesn’t pay Russia back, unless it also didn’t pay its eurobonds, Moscow could easily go through the courts to get the money. But ultimately bond market experts say it is likely to come down to a political decision - whether or not the West and the IMF dangle the easy-money carrot. “We are seeing East against West, which makes it more difficult for the IMF,” said Zsolt Papp, who helps oversee $2.6 billion of emerging-market debt at Union Bancaire Privee in Zurich. “Ukraine is just the pawn here.” —Reuters

Sovereign funds off to a slow M&A start LONDON: Sovereign wealth funds have been much slower to pursue merger and acquisition deals so far this year after a bumper 2013, according to Thomson Reuters data. Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), which invest windfall revenues from oil and other exports for future generations, sealed $155 million of M&A deals in publicly listed markets up to March 10, less than a tenth of the value for the same year-ago period.

The number of deals stood at nine in this period, this graphic shows: In the same period last year, they made 20 deals worth $2.7 billion. In the whole of 2013, sovereign funds sealed M&A deals worth $36.5 billion, their highest since 2010. That was still half of the boom year of 2007, when SWFs made deals worth $73 billion.

State-owned wealth funds have been shying away from making headline-grabbing M&A deals since they came under severe domestic pressure after losing an estimated $80 billion at the height of the finan-

cial crisis by investing in beleaguered Western banks. Some funds like Qatar and Norway have been active in making property and infrastructure investments, which are less liquid than equity or debt markets but deliver stable income with a relatively attractive yield.

Oeystein Olsen, governor of Norway’s central bank which manages the SWF, told Reuters last month the fund could expand investments in real estate, infrastructure or new asset classes.

Qatar Investment Authority is in talks to invest $200 million in residential property in India, according to a source. Azerbaijan’s $36 billion sovereign wealth fund is planning to buy real estate in Asia this year in order to further diversify its assets. “Until recently we were very conservative fixed income investors. But we’ve started investing in riskier assets, private equity and real estate,” the fund’s chief executive Shahmar Movsumov told a conference last month. —Reuters

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s DBS Bank said yesterday it had agreed to buy the Asian private banking business of French lender Societe Generale in a deal worth $220 million, boosting its access to the region’s super rich. DBS said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange that the deal “will accelerate DBS’s ambition of becoming a leading wealth manager in Asia”.

The acquisition comes at a time of growing competition to manage the wealth of Asia’s growing ranks of millionaires and billionaires.

Under the agreement, DBS will buy Societe General’s Asian private banking operations in Singapore and Hong Kong and parts of its trust business.

“This transaction is in line with one of DBS’s strategic priorities to be a leading wealth manager in Asia and will significantly increase the scale of its wealth management business,” Singapore’s leading bank said. Jean-Francois Mazaud, head of Societe Generale Private Banking, described DBS as “the most suitable choice”.

“The commercial partnership we intend to implement together will also represent a great opportunity for our private banking customers to fully benefit from the very best of the two banks in Europe and in Asia,” he said.

DBS’s clients will have access to Societe Generale Private Banking’s offerings in Europe, DBS said. It said the deal would increase its high-net-worth assets under management by more than 20 percent. “From a strategic perspective, this acquisition will propel DBS forward in its strategy to grow its regional financial services footprint and become a leading bank in the Asian wealth management industry, which is a very fast-growing segment of the global financial services industry,” said Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Global Insight.

“The concentration of acquired assets in Singapore and Hong Kong is also positive in terms of the geographic distribution of assets under management, since Singapore and Hong Kong are the two leading international financial centres in Asia,” he told AFP. Kenny Kan, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said the deal marked a “strategic positioning” by DBS “in view of the growing need for wealth management in Asia with its ever-increasing millionaires”. DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta said in an internal memo to staff it was time for the Singapore bank to accel-

erate its private banking business through an acquisition.

“As you know, Asia is growing in affluence, and minting more millionaires every day than anywhere else in the world,” he said in the memo, a copy of which was seen by AFP. Asia to have most billionaires by 2023 He said that in the 2013 financial year, DBS’s wealth franchise, including the private banking

SINGAPORE: DBS Bank group head of consumer banking and wealth management Tan Su Shan (left) and Olivier Gougeon (right), Regional Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific of Societe Generale Private banking Asia attend a media briefing in Singapore yesterday. —AFP business, reported record income of Sg$924 million ($730 million). The bank managed wealth assets totalling Sg$109 billion at the end of last year, he said. Those of high-end clients came to Sg$69 billion, up from Sg$39 billion in 2010. Calling the deal complementary, Gupta said Societe Generale Private Banking’s client base was largely focused on “ultra high net worth” individuals, many of whom come from outside Southeast Asia. DBS’s expertise is “predominantly in Asian investment products and

The number of billionaires in China alone by 2023 is projected to exceed the total in Britain, Russia, France and Switzerland combined, it said. Asia is also forecast to have increasing numbers of people with investible assets of at least $30 million-called ultra high net worth individuals-as well as those with $100 at least million, called centa-millionaires, the report said. DBS shares rose 0.38 percent to Sg$15.79 in mid-afternoon trade, as the Straits Times Index added 0.33 percent. —AFP

US factory output rebounds in Feb WASHINGTON: US factory output rebounded strongly in February after harsh winter storms caused a steep drop-off in production in January. Manufacturers produced more autos, home electronics and chemicals.

The Federal Reserve said yesterday factory production surged 0.8 percent, nearly reversing a 0.9 percent plunge in January that was due mainly to weather.

February’s gain was the largest in six months. The figures suggest that factories are poised to boost output and drive more economic growth as the weather improves.

“Assuming that the weather returns to seasonal norms, output will rise rapidly in the coming months,” Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics, said in a note to clients. Overall industrial production, which includes manufacturing, mining and utilities, rose 0.6 percent in February, the biggest increase since September. Industrial production had fallen 0.2 percent in January.

Utility output dipped 0.2 percent despite the cold weather. The drop came after a sharp 3.8 percent jump in January. Mining production rose 0.3 percent. Auto production rose 4.6 percent after falling 5.1 percent in January. Home electronic output increased 0.7 percent. And food production rose about 1 percent.

Factories ran at 76.4 percent of capacity, up one-half of a percentage point over the month and 2.3 percentage points below the long-run average.

Manufacturing and the broader economy may be emerging from a winter slump. A rebound in factory output could drive faster growth in the coming months. A private survey this month found that manufacturers received more orders in February even as production fell. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said its overall index of manufacturing activity rose to 53.2 in February from 51.3 in January.

And Americans spent a bit more at retail stores in February after pulling back in December and January.

That may mean that consumer demand is picking up, which could lead to more factory output. But some other data have been negative. A government report showed that factory orders dipped in January. Auto sales have slowed after a big gain in 2013. Sales were flat in February after a drop in January. Businesses kept up their restocking of store shelves and warehouses in January even as sales fell. That means retailers and other firms could be stuck with some unwanted goods.

Rising inventories could weigh on factory production in coming months if companies cut back on orders.

The economy will grow at about a 2 percent annual rate in the first three months of this year, economists forecast, down from more than 3 percent in the final six months of last year. But most expect it will pick up later this year to a 3 percent annual pace. —AP

Euro-zone inflation drops back to rate-cut level BRUSSELS: Euro-zone annual inflation dropped back in February to the level that triggered a surprise cut in interest rates in November, revised data showed yesterday, underlining deflation risks in the bloc. The year-on-year inflation rate in the 18 countries sharing the euro was 0.7 percent in February against 0.8 percent in January, the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said.

The reading was the joint-lowest in four years and a touch below the initial February estimate of 0.8 percent. The annual inflation print last fell to 0.7 percent in October - a decline that persuaded the European Central Bank to cut its key interest

deal flows”, he said. Gupta said the deal should be completed by the end of the year following legal and regulatory approvals.

The deal comes as Asia’s strong economic growth results in a boom in the ranks of the ultra-rich. Property consultancy Knight Frank said in a recent report that Asia will have the most number of billionaires worldwide at 809 by 2023, overtaking Europe. The number is up 66 percent from 2013.

rate to a record low of 0.25 percent the following month.

Inflation has not dropped below that level since November 2009, when it stood at 0.5 percent, Eurostat said. The ECB, which targets inflation at close to but below 2 percent, considers the risk of euro zone deflation as “quite limited”, its president Mario Draghi said last Thursday. The bank left borrowing costs unchanged at its most recent meeting on March 6.

Draghi also said the bank has been preparing additional policy steps to guard against possible deflation, and that the longer inflation remained

low, the higher was the probability of deflationary risks emerging.

But the ECB has already said it expects inflation to only pick up slowly, to 1.0 percent this year and 1.5 percent in 2016, and a minimal dip to 0.7 percent last month seems unlikely to prompt a significant policy change. “The downward revision to the February inflation figures is unlikely to be enough to trigger further near-term monetary easing,” said Martin van Vliet, senior economist at ING. “This will also require a deterioration of the activity and or a further significant strengthening of the euro.” —Reuters

NEW YORK: Trader Kenneth Polcari (right) works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange yesterday. Stocks were sharply higher in early trading following news that output at US factories surged last month. —AP

Wall St jumps as geopolitical concerns ease NEW YORK: US stocks rose more than 1 percent yesterday, rebounding from a steep drop in the previous week as concerns eased over the situation in Crimea, even as the region voted to join Russia.

The 97-percent vote in Crimea in favor of quitting Ukraine was condemned as illegal by Kiev and the West, with the White House calling Russian actions “dangerous and destabilizing,” though the referendum passed without violence. In addition, while markets are considered to be vulnerable to further developments in what is considered the biggest crisis between Russia and the United States since the Cold War, anticipated sanctions against Russia have yet to materialize.

The geopolitical tension weighed on equities last week, with the S&P 500 suffering its biggest weekly loss in seven and the CBOE Volatility index jumping to its highest since early February on Friday.

“This is a classic example of too much fear and anxiety having been in the market. Last week’s decline more than discounted any bad news that could be reasonably expected to come out,” said Donald Selkin, chief market strategist at National Securities in New York. “I don’t think anyone believes that this could escalate into a shooting war or the US committing troops.” The advance continued a recent trend of investors using market pullbacks as buying opportunities. Major indexes have not undergone a sustained pullback in more than a year. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 182.59 points, or 1.14 percent, at 16,248.26. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 19.15 points, or 1.04 percent, at 1,860.28. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 49.35 points, or 1.16 percent, at 4,294.75.

The US Federal Reserve’s massive stimulus program has helped keep a floor under equity prices, and market participants are

looking ahead to a two-day meeting of the Fed’s policy-setting committee, which begins today. The Fed is unlikely to deviate from previously announced policies, but it could use the meeting - the first with Janet Yellen as chair - to map out its plan for rate rises. The central bank has said that the first rate rise is likely to come around the middle of next year, as long as the US economy keeps healing. In the latest economic data, the New York Fed’s “Empire State” gauge of New York manufacturing rose in March, helped by increases in new orders and inventories, though the rise was less than forecast. Separately, industrial output rose 0.6 percent in February, a far bigger rise than had been expected.

“The data gives us another kick up, since it is another sign that we’re recovering from recent weather issues,” said Selkin, who helps oversee about $3 billion in assets.

In company news, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said on Sunday it would begin the process towards a US initial public offering, ending months of speculation. Shares of Yahoo Inc, which has a 24 percent stake in the company, jumped 3.2 percent to $38.81.

JA Solar Holdings Co shares jumped 9.6 percent to $12.52 after the company posted its first profit in 10 quarters and forecast higher shipments for the year. Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Sunday its experimental liver disease drug was effective in a third late-stage clinical trial, setting the stage for the company to file for marketing approval. Shares fell 6.3 percent to $433.14.

Giant Investment Ltd will acquire Chinese online gaming company Giant Interactive Group Inc for $3 billion and take it private, the companies said on Sunday. Shares of Giant rose 1.8 percent to $11.60. —Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

BUSINESS

Asian shares mixed, Crimea vote raises tensions

SHANGHAI: Chinese yuan bank notes in China’s financial capital of Shanghai. China’s yuan traded weaker against the US dollar yesterday after the central bank allowed the tightly-controlled currency to move in a wider range in a long-anticipated financial reform. — AFP

HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed yesterday on renewed concerns over Ukraine after Crimea voted to break away from the former Soviet republic and join Russia, leading the West to warn of further sanctions against Moscow.

Investors remain cautious following a selloff last week fuelled by weak Chinese data, while eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting today and tomorrow to see if it will announce any more stimulus cuts. Tokyo slipped 0.35 percent, or 49.99 points, to 14,277.67 and Sydney shed 0.22 percent, or 11.8 points, to 5,317.6.

But Shanghai climbed 0.96 percent, or 19.33 points, to 2,023.673 while Seoul added 0.40 percent, or 7.63 points, to end at 1,927.53.

Hong Kong fell 0.30 percent, or 65.54 points. to 21,473.95. Crimea voted overwhelmingly Sunday to join Russia, further fuelling tensions in the worst crisis between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. While people in the predominantly Russianspeaking peninsula celebrated the result of the poll, Ukraine’s new pro-European leaders and the West branded it “illegal”.

The vote was organized after Russian forces seized de facto control of the region and proMoscow authorities took power in response to the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin leader Viktor Yanukovych in February. US President Barack Obama told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call after the vote that a referendum that “occurred under duress of Russian military intervention, would never be recognized by the United States and the international community”.

He said the US and its European allies were “prepared to impose additional costs on Russia for its actions”. “We’ve anticipated the results of the referendum. The key is what sanctions the US and the Europe will carry out and how Russia will respond to them,” said Masaru Ishibashi, head of the currency trading group at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

And Osao Iizuka, head of foreign-exchange trading at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, told Dow Jones Newswires: “A further escalation of military tensions would lead to more riskaverse trading.”

Yuan weakens The developments added to selling pressure in Asia following last week’s losses in reaction to downbeat trade and industrial produc-

tion figures out of Beijing. The dollar was up in afternoon forex business, buying 101.57 yen compared with 101.36 yen in New York Friday afternoon.

The euro bought $1.3880 and 141.08 yen against $1.3906 and 140.73 yen. In China the yuan weakened against the dollar after the central bank at the weekend doubled the currency’s trading band as it slowly embarks on long-anticipated financial reforms. The People’s Bank of China said it would allow the yuan to move up or down two percent daily-double the previous one percent-on either side of a mid-point set under the guidance of the bank.

The Chinese unit was trading at 6.1541 to the dollar yesterday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trading System, compared with Friday’s close of 6.1502.

On oil markets New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for April delivery, was up four cents to $98.93 in afternoon trade, and Brent North Sea crude for May fell 36 cents to $107.85.

Gold fetched $1,378.76 an ounce at 1000 GMT compared with $1,370.09 late Friday.

In other markets Bangkok added 0.36 percent, or 4.92 points, to 1,377.10. Thai Airways International gained 4.14 percent to 15.10 baht, while telecoms company Advanced Info Service rose 1.85 percent to 220.00 baht.

Singapore closed up 0.60 percent, or 18.42 points, at 3,092.14. DBS bank gained 1.14 percent to Sg$15.91, while vehicle agribusiness company Wilmar International gained 1.77 percent to Sg$3.45 Jakarta ended down 0.05 percent, or 2.46 points, at 4,876.19. Cigarette maker Gudang Garam fell 1.48 percent to 48,275 rupiah, while tin producer Timah lost 0.29 percent to 1,715 rupiah.

Taipei rose 0.14 percent, or 12.47 points, to 8,700.01.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.87 percent lower at Tw$114.0 while Hon Hai Precision gained 1.40 percent at Tw$86.7.

Wellington added 0.17 percent, or 8.70 points, to 5,088.03. Telecom gained 1.22 percent to NZ$2.48 and Air New Zealand was up 0.54 at NZ$1.87.

Manila closed 0.14 percent higher, adding 8.75 points to 6,399.99. JG Summit Holdings rose two percent to 51 pesos while SM Prime Holdings gained 1.81 percent to 14.66 pesos.

Mumbai was closed for a public holiday. — AFP

Brent falls below $108 as Ukraine fears ease SINGAPORE: Brent futures fell below $108 a barrel yesterday, wiping out earlier gains as concerns eased that fighting could erupt after Ukraine’s Crimea region voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in a referendum at the weekend. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also slipped as investors saw a diplomatic resolution to the crisis emerging even though Washington and Europe could impose punitive measures against selected Russian targets as early as yesterday. Western powers have said the referendum was illegal and have rejected the result. Brent crude dropped 44 cents to $107.77 by 0825 GMT, down from Friday’s close of $108.21. US crude futures were steady at $98.89.

Brent had climbed 10 cents and WTI 24 cents in early trade yesterday amid the risk of supply disruptions if the United States and Western countries impose sanctions on Russia, the world’s second largest oil producer.

“People realize (there is) going to be some diplomatic settlement,” to the situation in Crimea, said Tony Nunan, oil risk manager at Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation.

China reiterated calls for calm and restraint in Ukraine yesterday, while Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said a political settlement was the only way to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

“Hesitation over the implementation of sanctions on Russia could lead to a step-down in geopolitical risks,” said Tan Chee Tat, investment analyst at Singapore’s Phillip Futures.

Once tensions ease over Ukraine ease, oil

prices are likely to come off again as the northern winter comes to an end.

The potential for warmer weather in the United States and Europe is likely to ease oil demand after a long, harsh winter, said Mitsubishi’s Nunan.

“Spring is in sight. Inventories in the US are building,” he said. Oil prices were initially supported yesterday after the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) raised its global oil consumption forecast for 2014. IEA estimated global demand would grow to 92.7 million barrels per day in a report on Friday amid an improving global economy. Tensions between the Libyan government and protesters that have blocked oil production over the past few months, cutting oil production to little over 200,000 bpd from 1.4 million bpd in summer, have also supported oil prices Tan said.

But any shortfall from Libya would be “more than made up” by exports from Iran, said Jonathan Barratt, chief executive of commodity research firm Barratt’s Bulletin in Sydney.

South Korea’s crude imports from Iran doubled in February from a year ago to 294,069 bpd, up 4-1/2 times from the previous month, preliminary customs data showed on Saturday.

Investors will also be eyeing the US Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting which starts today.

Policymakers are likely to support the Fed’s earlier decision to cut its bond-buying pace by another $10 billion a month. — Reuters

Gold touches fresh six-month highs LONDON: Gold hit its highest in six months yesterday as cautious investors remained risk averse after Western countries issued warnings of more sanctions on Moscow following Crimea’s vote to break from Ukraine. Bullion has gained 15 percent this year and was headed for its biggest quarterly gain for 27 years as mounting geopolitical tensions and fears over slowing economic growth spurred demand for the metal as an insurance against risk.

Spot gold hit a fresh high since Sept. 9 at $1,391.76 an ounce in earlier trade and was down 0.1 percent to $1,380.05 by 1104 GMT. US gold futures also rose to a near sixmonth high of $1,392.60 an ounce, before trading at $1,378.80, unchanged on the previous close. “It’s definitely soft economic data, risk aversion, Ukraine and geopolitical tensions,” Societe Generale analyst Robin Bhar said.

“Also there is more of a risk now of China maybe having a bit of a hard landing, US recovery may be slower than people thought and gold is coming in on its own as an insurance policy, safe-haven bid.” European stocks edged up on Monday but still traded near one-month lows, following a fall in Asia, while the dollar firmed against a basket of currencies.

Crimea’s Moscow-backed leaders declared a 96-percent vote in favor of quitting Ukraine and annexation by Russia in a referendum that Western powers said was illegal and will bring immediate sanctions. Traders were now awaiting the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on March 18-19. The central bank is expected to announce another $10 billion cut to its bond-buying stimulus.

A series of US economic data showing

that growth has been hurt by severe cold weather has recently hit the dollar, in turn bolstering gold. A weaker US currency makes dollar-denominated assets like gold cheaper for foreign investors.

“The FOMC March policy statement on Wednesday will steal market’s attention, but until then gold will trade on risk sentiment still watching Ukraine,” VTB Capital said.

New money has been flowing into goldbacked exchange-traded funds as investors seek safety from riskier assets during times of uncertainty. Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 3.29 tons to 816.59 tons on Friday.

Hedge funds and money managers raised their bullish bets in gold futures and options for a fifth consecutive week to the most bullish stance since mid-December 2012, according to Friday data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Consumer interest in gold has been waning with the climb towards $1,400 as physical buyers expect prices to fall in the next few months. Prices in China are at a $6 an ounce discount to spot prices, indicating a sharp drop-off in demand compared with the beginning of the year when prices were at a premium of $20. “Things have been pretty quiet since the Chinese New Year holiday,” said one Hong Kong-based dealer. “People don’t want to buy now since they think prices could fall again.”

In other precious metals, silver was down 0.1 percent to $21.41 an ounce. Platinum was up 0.9 percent at $1,475.25 an ounce, while palladium rose 0.9 percent to $773.50 an ounce. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

BUSINESS

Rising Crimea tensions fuel flight-to-safety NBK MONEY MARKETS REPORT KUWAIT: Last week was quiet in terms of economic indicators. However, fresh concerns over tensions bet ween Russia and Uk raine strengthened the demand for safe-havens. Market sentiment was hit after Russia launched new military exercises near its border with Ukraine on Thursday, showing no sign of backing down on plans to annex Crimea. US Secretary of State John Kerr y said serious steps would be imposed by the US and Europe if the referendum on Crimea joining Russia takes place on Sunday as planned. AUD, EUR, GBP and USD lost some of their gains after the news.

In spite of the risk-off trade, the euro managed to rally against its US dollar counterpart, reaching a two and a half year high of 1.3967. The Euro was well supported after the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi suggested that economic recovery in the euro-zone was on track and did not require a shift in monetary policy.

Sterling fell to a one-month low against the euro and weakened against the US dollar yesterday, after a senior Bank of England policymaker said further gains by the Pound would be unwelcome. Deputy BoE Governor Charlie Bean said that efforts to build an export-based recovery would be curbed by a higher Sterling. Cable has risen for the past three quarters on a trade-weighted basis, as investors priced in chances that the BoE would tighten monetary policy in the spring of 2015 if economic data out of the UK remains solid. However, investors have shifted towards the Euro as the ECB signaled it would refrain from easing its policy further. The currency continued to lose momentum and closed the week at 1.6649.

The Japanese Yen climbed against most of its counterparts as underlining concern about a decline in the Asian economy that has sent commodity prices tumbling. Demand for Japan’s safe-haven assets was supported by the standoff over Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. The USDJPY started the week off at the 103.00 level. The pair then started to drop gradually towards the end of the week breaking through major support levels as investors fled to safety. The currency closed the week at 101.37.

The Aussie held steady at 0.9027, from 0.9016 at the beginning of the week, having reached a threemonth high of 0.9135 late last week. It lost some altitude after a sharp fall in China’s exports in February, which highlighted global outlook concerns. The Australian dollar is seen as a proxy of Chinese growth because of the countries’ strong trade links. China is Australia’s top export market. The Australian dollar then fell against most of its counterparts after a report showed a drop in consumer confidence. The currency rallied sharply against its US dollar counterpart, after better than expected employment data. The Aussie then lost some of its gains as investors moved to safer assets as concerns over the Ukraine situation escalat-

ed. The Aussie closed the week close to its opening level at 0.9030.

Retail sales increase Retail sales in the US rose in February for the first time in three months, a sign consumers are starting to shake off the effects of the harsh weather that curbed spending even more than previously estimated. Sales rose by 0.3 percent versus a 0.6 percent drop in Januar y that was larger than initially repor ted.

Similarly, Core retail sales, which exclude automobile sales, also rose 0.3 percent last month, ahead of expectations for a 0.2 percent rise.

Initial jobless claims decline The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to the lowest level since the end of November, a sign of further improvement in the labor market. Jobless claims dropped by 9,000 to 315,000 in the week ended March 8, versus economist’s expectation of a rise to 330,000. Employers cutting back on dismissals may be encouraged to take on more workers once demand picks up. Faster gains in hiring will help to boost consumer spending, the biggest part of the economy, after harsh winter weather weighed on everything from retail sales to home purchases earlier this year.

US Consumer sentiment dropped slightly in March, due to a reduction in future consumer expectations .The overall index of consumer sentiment fell to 79.9 in March, down from the 81.6 in February, well below analyst expectations for a reading of 82.The survey director said in a statement after the figure came out that , “Overall, consumers continued to demonstrate their resilience in the face of a long and harsh winter, and have not recognized any implications for the domestic economy from the Russian incursion into Ukraine.”

Europe On Wednesday, ECB executive board member Coeure said the monetary authority saw no indications of deflation in the euro area, while ECB Chief Economist Peter Praet noted that the euro area’s economy has improved over the past two years. Also on Wednesday, German Finance M inister Wolfgang Schauble said interest rates in the euro zone are too low from a German point of view. He also said he doesn’t expect deflation to materialize in the euro zone. The euro rose as markets bet that the European Central Bank will hold off on implementing stimulus measures even though recent inflation rates have come in softer than market expectations. The ECB left interest rates at a record low 0.25 percent at its policy meeting last week and implemented no new policy measures to shore up growth despite forecasting low inflation for years to come.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney signalled

fastest pace in three years, a major surprise that suggests the economy is finally generating jobs after a painful fallow period. The positive report sent the currency higher against the US Dollar as investors priced out any chance of a cut in interest rates, and even toyed with the idea of a hike late in 2015.

Unemployment held at 6.0 percent as expected, but only because the participation rate rose as more people went looking for work, a trend that often marks the early stages of recovery.

he was not concerned that Britain’s economy was close to overheating, despite a strong recovery since last year, putting himself in the dovish camp among policymakers. Speaking to lawmakers on Tuesday, Carney said the amount of spare capacity in the economy was probably slightly more than 1.5 percent of gross domestic product, suggesting the BoE can hold off on raising interest rates for longer. Carney also said Britain’s natural rate of unemployment could be less than the Bank has estimated, meaning the labor market can strengthen further without pushing up inflation. Sterling weakened as Carney spoke. The pound has outpaced many other currencies in recent months on expectations that interest rates could rise in Britain before other economies.

Manufacturing improves UK factory production rose more than forecast in January in a sign the economic recovery is gaining traction. Output rose 0.4 percent from December, when it gained an upwardly revised 0.4 percent.

Market expec tation was for 0.3 percent growth.

Industrial production, which also includes utilities and mines, rose 0.1 percent, less than the 0.2 percent forecast, as bad weather hit oil and gas output. The UK economy continues to show signs of a robust recovery yet risks remain from fragility in Europe, and the global economy.

China China’s exports unexpectedly tumbled in February, swinging the trade balance into deficit and adding to fears of a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy despite the Lunar New Year holidays being blamed for the slide. The sharp drop in exports follows a series of factory surveys since the start of 2014 that point to weakness in economic activity as demand falters at home and abroad. Exports in February fell 18.1 percent from a year earlier, following a 10.6 percent jump in January. Imports rose 10.1 percent, yielding a trade deficit of $23 billion for the month versus a surplus of $32 billion in January. Market expectations were for a rise of 6.8 percent in exports and an 8 percent rise in imports and a trade surplus of $14.5 billion.

Australia Australian jobs surged by the most in 13 months in February while firms added full-time workers at the

Kuwait Kuwaiti dinar at 0.28100. The USDKWD opened at 0.28100 yesterday morning.

Too-big-to-fail banks still a challenge: BoE Regulators must get more powers

BUSAN: A child plays on a swing beneath a poster of a policeman in Busan. South Korea’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent on March 13 for the 10th consecutive month, citing mixed signs of a global recovery. — AFP

Growth in compensation for US CEOs may have slowed BOSTON: Big US companies appear to have handed out smaller increases in compensation to their chief executives in 2013 than in 2012, mainly as a result of reduced grants of stock options, according to an early review of annual regulatory filings.

Based on disclosures from 46 companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index that had filed annual compensation reports by March 11, the median compensation increase for a CEO was 1 percent to $8.64 million. That was a slower rate of increase than this group of 46 received for 2012 when its median CEO pay rose 15 percent to $8.53 million. The median compensation for CEOs in S&P 500 companies overall increased about 5.5 percent for 2012.

The review, conducted for Reuters by proxy adviser and corporate governance consulting firm Institutional Shareholder Services, provides an early peek at compensation trends but ISS cautioned that there could be significant changes once all companies have reported and that the 46 companies may not be representative of trends for companies in the entire index. Most companies will file their executive compensation data over the next few weeks.

Some pay experts have been expecting to see slower growth in compensation for 2013 despite the bull market in stocks - as S&P 500 corporate profits only increased 6.2 percent amid a stuttering US economic performance, and due to the increasing use of performance measures to decide on levels of compensation. In the kinds of incentive plans becoming more popular, executives do not receive higher compensation just because a company’s share price rises, but rather must perform well on a series of measures - not just profit, but often including revenue, margins, cash flow, and in some cases even a company’s safety and environment records.

“They’re not going to get monster rewards,” said Alan Johnson, managing direc-

tor of pay consulting firm Johnson Associates in New York. “The indications are that companies continue to do a better job of matching up pay with performance.”However, the figures are unlikely to assuage concerns that CEOs are reaping bigger increases than those received by many Americans further down the food chain, exacerbating inequality.

President Barack Obama has been stressing policies intended to reduce inequality, such as a push for a higher minimum wage.

The study looks at what was granted to CEOs for 2013 and does not include all the compensation CEOs actually pocketed in 2013 after stock and option awards granted to them in previous years were exercised or vested. With the S&P 500 surging 32.4 percent last year, including dividends, and almost tripling from the lows it hit in the financial crisis, some of those awards from 2009-2012 have proven very lucrative. A separate review by executive compensation data firm Equilar of 44 companies in the Fortune 1,000 that filed their statements in January or February shows that the median value executives gained from exercising stock options or stock vesting was $2.1 million in 2013, up 18 percent from 2012.

Radical challenges Investor activists and proxy advisers, including ISS, have pressed companies for years to align pay with shareholder interests.

In recent weeks, a handful of companies have made radical changes in the way they reward their CEOs, including semiconductor maker Intel Corp and mining group FreeportMcMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Among the 46 S&P 500 companies surveyed, the median cash salary rose $27,584, or 2.6 percent, to $1,079,327. But the median stock award rose $337,493, or 9.5 percent, to $3,887,008, and the median cash incentive award rose $63,799, or 3.3 percent, to $1,998,102. — Reuters

LONDON: The world’s biggest banks still could not be dismantled safely more than five years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Bank of England’s Deputy Governor for Financial Stability Jon Cunliffe said yesterday.

Cunliffe said setters of international standards have made progress in reforming banking rules since the US lender went under in September 2008 but more needs to be done.

Implementing ambitious rules to make banks hold more capital and avoid needing recourse again to taxpayers’ money has been impressive but the core task of ending “too-big-tofail banks” remains, Cunliffe told a Chatham House financial conference.

He urged the European Parliament to give final approval to a new European Union law that gives national regulators in the 28-country bloc powers to wind down ailing banks.

But even with the powers to impose losses on bondholders of failing banks to shield taxpayers, further steps were needed.

“I do not think we can say with confidence now that we could resolve a failing global giant,” said Cunliffe, Britain’s former ambassador to the EU in Brussels. Last year, Cunliffe’s predecessor Paul Tucker surprised many in the financial sector by saying a giant bank could now be wound down, albeit not totally smoothly. Heads of the G20, the world’s leading 20 economies, will meet in Brisbane, Australia in November and agreeing new rules to end too-big-to-fail banks was perhaps the most important regulatory priority for the summit, Cunliffe said.

The success of the G20’s regulatory reforms will hinge on their consistent application across the world and mutual trust among financial supervisors to avoid unintended consequences, he added. The EU has expressed alarm that the United States is forcing offshoots of foreign banks to hold capital there to keep US taxpayers off the hook if a foreign lender goes bust, even as Europe introduces reforms to reduce chances this will happen.

Cunliffe echoed this European concern.

“Regulators and supervisors who cannot trust the implementation of standards in other jurisdictions will defend stability in their own jurisdictions by raising barriers,” he said. “Such action minimizes the risk of international crises, but the cost is the rolling back of financial globalization with less effective and efficient intermediation on global savings.”

Without mutual trust there is a risk of more crises and fragmentation in global markets, Cunliffe said. The International Monetary Fund and the G20’s Financial Stability Board, chaired by BoE Governor Mark Carney, can play key roles in establishing mutual trust, Cunliffe said. — Reuters

LONDON: British Finance Minister George Osborne poses for pictures outside 11 Downing Street in London, as he prepares to unveil the government’s annual budget to parliament.

British finance minister George Osborne will unleash more austerity in today’s annual budget but could deliver sweeteners before next year’s general election and Scottish independence referendum, analysts say. — AFP

Global regulators to revive securitization LONDON: Global regulators will intensify their efforts to revive a securitization market tarnished by the financial crisis and now seen by policymakers as a key source of funds for the economy, the head of an umbrella regulatory group told Reuters.

Securitization bundles loans into interestbearing bonds to raise money that banks can use to fund themselves and lend to small companies. Banks, particularly in Europe, are traditionally the main supplier of loans but have become cautious as they focus on rebuilding their capital buffers.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), which groups global market regulators, and its banking counterpart, the Basel Committee, will consider possible remedies. “IOSCO and the Basel Committee are close to agreeing on a working group to look at how the securitization markets are working, and to see whether new thinking is needed.” IOSCO secretary general David Wright told Reuters on the sidelines of a Chatham House financial conference.

The sector was tarnished when securitized products based on subprime US home loans became untradable in 2007, sowing the seeds of a global markets meltdown and banking failures.

The European Union’s executive European Commission is also keen to bring securitization out of the cold and will publish its plans next week on ways to boost long-term financing. Efforts to revive securitization have also been caught up in separate regulatory attempts to crack down on so-called shadow banking, or lending outside mainstream methods such as regulated banks.

The EU wants a greater amount of financing for the economy from market-based sources like securitization. Currently about 30 percent of financing comes from such sources, the rest from banks, roughly the opposite situation to the United States which is a model some European policymakers want to match to reduce the concentration of risks at banks and diversify funding. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

BUSINESS

BMW brings Mobile website and iDrive in Arabic KUWAIT: BMW has introduced several ground breaking initiatives aimed at providing improved customer experience to a predominantly Arabic-speaking population in Kuwait. BMW Mobi, which is an optimized BMW website for mobile devices and desktop (BMWME.com), as well as its iDrive control system, are now available in the Arabic language.

On one hand, the iDrive control system in Arabic, which is the first-ever in the industry, has up to a 10.2inch Control Display with standardized menu guidance that grants easy access to the radio/CD, telecommunication functions, satellite navigation and others. The interface for the satellite navigation system comprising maps, menus, directions, data entry and voice guidance are provided in Arabic with a male Arabic voice, and also includes an option to switch to English and other languages. The system is

available as a standard feature for most BMW models fitted with navigation.

On the other hand, the BMW Mobi in Arabic, a unique service that sets BMW apart from the competition, is a new platform with many customer-friendly options. Among its key features include the capability of offering customers a 360-degree view of any BMW vehicle to enable users to view a car from various angles. Furthermore, it allows users to choose the color and additional design packages of the car that best suit their preference and have a preview of how it looks like, a visualizer function on BMW Mobi enables them to change the cars’ body color, rims and design packages.

For the hard core car enthusiasts, an overview of all the technical data of any BMW vehicle, as well as insights about its design, driving comfort and safety

features is also available through BMW Mobi. And once users want to get a real feel of the BMW car of their choice, they could also book test drives through the website.

An added feature via BMW Mobi for BMW fans is that they can also download exclusive wallpapers and ringtones.

Yousef Al-Qatami, General Manager, Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive - the official importer of BMW Group vehicles in Kuwait - said: “In today’s fast-paced technology world, more and more customers are using their mobile devices to access information.

Therefore, I am sure the entire Arabic-speaking population in Kuwait will use and appreciate this latest update of the BMW Mobi, as well as enjoy the pure driving pleasure of their BMW vehicle with the iDrive in Arabic.”

Wataniya Telecom announces winners of 3rd weekly draw KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom, the first telecom operator in the private sector in Kuwait, announced the winners of the third weekly draw. The weekly draws are part of the exciting new draw campaign that gives every customer a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and a one chance to win the final draw on the Audi R8 V10, model of 2015. This new draw campaign conveys Wataniya’s efforts to reward its customers and grant them additional value; thus becoming closer to them.

Wataniya expressed its gratitude to all the subscribers and congratulated the winners. Wataniya is looking forward to carrying this weekly draw to keep rewarding its loyal customers with prizes because they do deserve it. Besides the weekly draw, customers will also get a chance to enter the grand draw on an Audi R8 V10, model of 2015. If customers weren’t winners in last week’s draw they will surely get a chance in the next draws. Wataniya draw campaign promises everybody a chance to be a winner by simply using their Wataniya line, through recharging and paying bills.

Every 1 KD is equal to 1 chance of winning. New customers will get 5 chances upon activating their new lines. For more information about the draw, customers can visit the website: www.wataniya.com/draw Wataniya continues to give all its customers several

chances to become winners!

Week 3 winners are Herminia Sumang, Mohammed Hattab, Soubhash Jodeisie, Ameera Mutaab, Nashaat Alatari, Mohammad Ahmed Al-Kandari, Ahmad Mohammed Maarouf, Mona Ali Abdullah, Zeida Abdulrahman, Mohammed Abou AlFatouh Fawaz, Yousef Yaqoub AlMutawa, Mona Al Anazi, Abdulghalib Khaled Abdulghalib, Aisha Ahmad Al Ali, Hussein ShahedAlah Bebary, Ahmad Sheikh Abdulghani, Mona Ismail, Jose Escander, Tigest Shomi, Sesharatanam Shomarago, Nasser Khalaf Al-Shemmari, Tigest Komsa, Saeed Hadban AlHureiji, Akbar Ali Abdulhamed, Hanan Mohammed Al-Hamli, Ahmad Barak Alazmi, Nabela Abdullatif Al-Housani, Jaleito Qasem, AneetKumar Arjun Singh, Sheikha/ Fadela Yousef AlAthbi AlSabah, Falah Sneitan AlMutairi, Imad Ahmed Almandeel, Nafela Kaled, Mohammed Ibrahim Hjaj, Salah Fairoz AlHindi, Jamal Lafta AlDufairi, Mohammad Muhmas Seif AlDosari, Ahmad Mohammed Suleiman, Moujab Morthab AlOteibi, Fatima Yousef AlEisa, Jalal Obeid Almaymoni, Suad Jomaa Alrahim, Afrah Ali Alanezi, Khaled Ali Hassan Ali, Salim Hmoud Sabeh Alfulaij, Francesca Balatzar, Sanar Marloh Alanezi, Salah Abdulrahman, Hussein Fuhaid Alajmi.

Air Arabia AGM approves 7.25% cash dividend SHARJAH: Following the conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday, Air Arabia announced that the assembly has approved the distribution of a 7.25 per cent cash dividend for the year 2013, equivalent to 7.25 fils per share. During the AGM, the assembly approved the report of the company’s auditors for the financial year ending December 31, 2013, as well as the balance sheet and profit and loss accounts for the same period. The assembly also discharged the directors and auditors of the company from liability for the financial year ending December 31, 2013, and appointed auditors for the company for the next fiscal year in order to fix their remuneration. The Board elections took place during the meeting and the names of the board of directors for the next three years are: Sheikh Abdullah Bin

Mohammad Al-Thani, Adel Abdullah Ali, Dr Ghanem Mohammed Al-Hajri, Arif Naqvi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Sheikh Khalid Bin Essam Al-Qasimi, and Ali Salem Al-Medfa.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad AlThani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “We are very pleased to be able to share our success in 2013, our tenth year of operations, with our shareholders. Our ability to deliver growth year after year stems from a highly customer-centric business model, exceptionally efficient operating systems, and a truly world class team of aviation professionals. Today, the Air Arabia growth story continues unabated as we expand our operations and fleet size, demonstrating our enormous confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the Middle East aviation sector.”

Air Arabia continues to deliver high levels of profitability and growth across the breadth of its operations. The carrier added eight destinations to its network in 2013 and served more than 6.1 million passengers, a 15 per cent increase on the 5.3 million passengers carried in the preceding year. The airline’s seat load factor - or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats - for the full year ending December 31, 2013, stood at impressive 80 per cent. Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 435 million for the full year 2013 while Turnover increased by 14 per cent year-on-year to reach AED 3.2 billion. Among the many highlights for Air Arabia in the year it celebrated ten years of success was being named “Low-Cost Carrier of the Year” at the Aviation Business Awards 2013.

Banking’s back room risk cops step into top jobs Warba encourages customers to save with ‘Investment Saving Account’ KUWAIT: Warba Bank encourages its customers to invest through the Investment Saving Account. The account, which is well-thought-of in the local market, allows customers to invest the proceeds of their savings in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Sharia. Profits are calculated at 100 percent of the account’s lowest balance.

Such percentage of profits is the highest and most competitive one in the local market, given the bank’s recent establishment as well as the presence of deep rooted local Islamic banks. The account’s profits are calculated quarterly and deposited in the customer’s account.

Speaking about the new account, Adnan Al-Salem said: “Warba Bank’s Investment Saving Account is an ideal saving product offered to customers. It allows them to get returns on their savings and invest such returns safely and in compliance with the provisions of the Islamic Sharia. Profits are distributed quarterly, which makes it possible for the customers to manage their accounts throughout the year.”

Al-Salem added: “The Investment Saving Account is part of Warba’s expansion strategy aimed at offering innovative Sharia compliant banking products of high quality and flexibility.”

Al-Salem concluded: “Warba Bank has created a significant impression in the local Islamic banking market and secured a strong market position in a short time to compete with the existing banks. We are committed to providing our customers with new innovative and quality solutions, which will complement the existing banking products in a modern way that covers numerous aspects of life, while focusing on enhancing the quality of the offered services and keep pace with the developments of market, in general, and of banking services’ sector in particular.”

It is noteworthy that the Investment Saving Account is characterized by the flexibility of withdrawals and deposits. Customers can take advantage of the account by shopping through all local and international points of sale approved by the bank, with utmost privacy guaran-

teed by Warba credit cards equipped with the ultrasecure smart chip. They can also utilize the SMS service, as well as free internet banking services to inquire about their balances, whilst inside the country or abroad.

Investment Saving Account is added to a series of banking services provided by Warba Bank, adopting the same saving strategy as the Shabab Warba youth account, and the Tala account which enables parents to secure their child’s future with a competitive profit rate.

Warba Bank is always committed to enhancing this category of banking products, so as to encourage its customers to adopt saving strategies. For more information on Warba’s Investment Saving Account, please contact the Customer Service Center on 1825555, or visit one of the bank’s branches.

Adnan Al-Salem

LONDON: Once modest of pay and profile, risk experts are being reborn as rock stars of the banking world - their status and salaries soaring as regulators force financial institutions to clean up.

Industry-wide investigations into alleged exchange rate manipulation, trading scandals at UBS, Societe Generale and JPMorgan and HSBC’s $1.9 billion fine for lax money-laundering rules have upped the ante for banks already under pressure to curb reckless behavior that led to the financial crisis.

Now watchdogs and central banks want to see a clear line of responsibility for the avoidance of such fiascos in the future, and as a result, the position of chief risk officer (CRO) has jumped up the ranks. Many CROs now sit alongside the finance director as second in importance behind the chief executive.

“The role of the CRO has become broader, higher profile and more influential,” said Anne Murphy, head of UK financial services for executive recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson.

In turn, salaries have soared. Pay in risk-related jobs rose 6 percent in 2013 and rocketed 19 percent for those who moved firms, according to a report by recruitment firm Barclay Simpson. HSBC chief risk officer Marc Moses joined the bank’s board at the start of 2014, alongside the chairman, chief executive and finance director, and could be paid 6 million pounds ($10 million) this year. Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver, who could be paid 11.4 million this year, says pre-crisis, the bank’s CRO would not have made it into the top 50 earners.

At Spain’s Santander the top risk executive Matias Rodriguez Inciarte was its second-highest paid director last year, getting 4.7 million euros. Those numbers, says Murphy, are “recognition that it’s a big job. There aren’t many people who have the skills and abilities to do it well, combined with the increase in seniority and responsibility.”

Wide remit Chief risk officers ensure that where potential dangers exist, they are monitored and kept in check. That can range from measuring how likely loans are to be paid back, how risky banks’ positions in financial markets might be, and what potential losses may be incurred from fraudulent activities. However after the financial crisis of 2007-2008 this already wide remit has become larger still, and its parameters more clearly policed.

CROs must ensure banks abide by tougher regulations

around the world, hammered out by governments that had to use public funds to keep many of them from sinking under the burden of bad loans resulting from excessive borrowing, risky investments and a lack of transparency. The new rules demand that banks take fewer risks, assess loans more closely and hold more accessible capital as a buffer against bad bets. Many CROs are now also responsible for ensuring cyber security and spotting terror financing and money laundering - so-called compliance functions that previously often fell under the remit of a bank’s legal division.

The scale of the new CRO job is reflected in the amount of time such concerns occupy at board level. Santander said its board spent 30 percent of its time last year on risk management, and Barclays’ board has spent 35-40 percent of its time on governance and risk issues in the last two years.

As a result some CROs are being invited to join the board, another notch for their status and pay packets. Juan Colombas, chief risk officer at Lloyds Banking Group since the start of 2011, joined its board in November 2013 and is one of only three executive directors. He could earn 4.4 million pounds this year.

Accountability The job of CRO comes with its own risk/reward equation: its new elevated status also brings far more accountability.

Following the introduction of new post-crisis legislation in Britain, for example, these bankers can now be sent to prison if found guilty of the new charge of reckless misconduct leading to bank failure.

“Whereas before it was a slightly techy and bookish type of job, now risk is incredibly diverse and carries a huge amount more responsibility if you are running the department, and the repercussions for the chief risk officer are profound,” said Mark Garnier, a British lawmaker who was part of a panel that last year proposed changes to make individuals at banks more accountable.

However the jump in pay and profile means that the job is nonetheless likely to tempt more candidates to fill what is currently a small pool of specialists.

Headhunters say the rising status of top risk managers could see it become a popular path for ambitious executives who now see it as a route to the CEO’s chair. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

technology

How Turla and ‘worst breach of US military computers’ are connected DUBAI: Experts from G-Data and BAE Systems recently released information about a persistent cyber espionage operation codenamed Turla (also referred to as Snake or Uroburos).

Further to this, Kaspersky Lab’s research and analysis team have now found an unexpected connection between Turla and an existing piece of malware known as Agent.BTZ. In 2008, Agent.BTZ infected the local networks of the United States Central Command’s in the Middle East, and was called at the time the “worst breach of U.S. military computers in history”. It took specialists at the Pentagon some 14 months to completely disinfect Agent.BTZ from military networks, and it was this experience that lead to the creation of the US Cyber Command. The

worm, thought to have been created around 2007, has the ability to scan computers for sensitive information and send data to a remote command and control server.

Source of inspiration Kaspersky Lab first became aware of the Turla cyber espionage campaign in March 2013, when the company ’s experts were investigating an incident involving a highly sophisticated rootkit.

Originally known as the “Sun rootkit”, based on a filename used as a virtual file system “sunstore.dmp”, it is also accessible as “\\.\Sundrive1” and “\\.\Sundrive2”. The “Sun rootkit” and Snake are in fact one and the same.

It was during this research that Kaspersky Lab’s experts found some

interesting links between Turla, a highly sophisticated, multifunctional program and Agent.btz. The Agent.btz worm seems to have served as an inspiration for the creation of a range of the most sophisticated cyber espionage tools to date, including Red October, Turla and Flame/Gauss: Red October developers clearly knew about Agent.btz’s functionality as their USB Stealer module (created in 2010-2011) searches for the worm’s data containers (“mssysmgr.ocx” and “thumb.dd” files) which hold information about infected systems and activity logs, and then steal it from the connected USB drives.

Turla uses the same file names for its logs (“mswmpdat.tlb”, “winview.ocx” and “wmcache.nld”) whilst stored in the

infected system, and the same XOR key for encrypting its log files as Agent.btz. *Flame/Gauss use similar naming conventions such as “*.ocx” files and “thumb*.db”. Also, they use the USB drive as a container for stolen data.

Question of attribution Considering these facts, it is obvious that developers of the four cyber espionage campaigns studied Agent.btz in detail to understand how it works, the file names it uses, and used this information as a model for the development of the malware programs, all of which had similar goals. But does this mean that there is a direct link between developers of these cyber espionage tools?

“It is not possible to draw such a conclusion based on these facts alone”-

says Aleks Gostev, Chief Security Expert at Kaspersky Lab. “The information used by developers was publicly known at the time of Red October and Flame/Gauss’ creation. It is no secret that Agent.btz used “thumb.dd” as a container file to collect information from infected systems and in addition, the XOR key used by the developers of Turla and Agent.btz to encrypt their log files was also published in 2008. We do not know when this key was first used in Turla, but we can see it for certain in the latest samples of the malware, which were created around 2013-2014.

At the same time, there is some evidence which points towards Turla’s development starting in 2006 - before any known sample of Agent.btz; which leaves the question open.”

Twitter CEO Costolo to make first China visit SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter Inc CEO Dick Costolo will meet Shanghai government officials, academics and students in his first visit to China, signaling Twitter’s interest in cracking a lucrative but thorny market with 600 million Internet users.

Twitter, which has been blocked by Chinese censors since 2009, described the trip as a personal tour for Costolo, who is due to land at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport on Monday and plans to spend three days in the business capital. He is not scheduled to visit Beijing.

Costolo is scheduled to meet Shanghai government officials - including representatives of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, established in 2013 to test market liberalization measures, such as looser rules governing currency conversion and foreign direct investment. But officials have denied media reports that Internet restrictions and censorship, including the blocking of Twitter, will be loosened there.Unlike at Facebook Inc, whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a frequent visitor to China and has openly spoken of his desire to enter China to fulfill his vision of connecting the world, Twitter’s senior management has played down the likelihood of seeking a license to do business there.

But Costolo’s trip is bound to stoke speculation about the company’s ambitions in the country. Major Internet companies including Google Inc and Yahoo Inc have been hampered by Chinese government intervention.

Google pulled out of mainland China in 2010, unwilling to accept what it argued was heavyhanded censorship of the Internet.

Any attempt to enter China with Beijing’s approval would be a delicate proposition for Twitter, which takes pride in its reputation for defending free speech and rebuffing government requests for private user data. In a statement to Reuters, Twitter declined to disclose what Costolo intended to bring up with Chinese officials.

“Dick is visiting China because he wants to learn more about Chinese culture and the country’s thriving technology sector,” a Twitter spokesman said.

Costolo is not expected to ask Chinese authorities to lift the Twitter ban. Twitter has flatly rejected the possibility of opening an

office anytime soon in China, which would subject the company to Chinese law.

The CEO, who has never set foot in the country, will also meet university administrators and participate in a round-table discussion with students at Fudan University in Shanghai, the official sponsor of his visa.

Circumventing censorship Costolo’s visit comes at a time when the Chinese government, two years into President Xi Jinping’s administration, persists in a campaign to clamp down on bloggers and dissident voices on social media platforms like Sina Corp’s Weibo, which closely resembles Twitter.

In June, Costolo told the American Society of News Editors convention that he would “love to be able to run Twitter as Twitter in China,” but added that “we are not going to sacrifice the principles of the platform and the way we think users should be able to communicate in order to do so.”

Even if it does not establish an official presence in China, Twitter has avenues to make money from China. For instance, Twitter’s subsidiary MoPub, which serves up ads inside mobile apps, counts many small Chinese app developers among its customers, while Beijing-based PC-maker Lenovo Group Ltd is an advertiser on Twitter itself.

Despite the official ban, Twitter, which has 250 million monthly users around the world, has maintained an active, if relatively small user base inside China. While some estimates have placed the number of Chinese users in the tens of millions, just 0.05 percent of all tweets in 2013 were written in Chinese, according to Colorado-based social data provider Gnip, which analyzes Twitter output.

Many savvy Chinese netizens and even state-run media organizations regularly use virtual private networking (VPN) technology to circumvent censorship.

Dissident artist Ai Weiwei, to name one, has tweeted more than 105,000 times and boasts more than 238,000 followers. The state-run Xinhua news agency, official broadcaster China Central Television, and Hu Xijin, the influential editor of the pro-government Global Times newspaper, all maintain active Twitter accounts. — Reuters

SUZUKA: The new Honda cars are to be powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged V6 engine paired with an energy recovery system.

Honda aims to win fuel efficiency race in F-1 SUZUKA: After a seven-year hiatus, Honda Motor Co. is returning to the F-1 circuits next year, resolving to win more races - and learn how to build “greener” cars.

Honda is particularly aiming to turn exhaust gas that is mostly wasted in F-1 or conventional cars into energy. It is technology that Honda’s F1 chief, Yasuhisa Arai, says could give Honda an edge with its mass-market cars.

Cynics aren’t buying the argument that Honda wants to use the F-1 as a technology incubator. They say Honda is trying to redeem its name after being a dud on the F-1 circuits from 2000 to 2008, when it quit the world’s premier motor sport.

Arai doesn’t necessarily disagree with that. He says Honda wants to be as successful as it was in the late 1980s when McLaren-Honda cars, driven by the late Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna and French four-time champ Alain Prost, dominated the sport. In 1988, Senna and Prost together won 15 of the 16 Grand Prix races.

“There’s no point in racing unless you win,” Arai said, strolling around a classic Honda F-1 car circa 1964 on display during a recent F-1 fan event at the Suzuka Circuit, 50 kms (30 miles) south of Nagoya in central Japan.

“That’s why we teamed up with a winning team,” Arai said referring to McLaren. Honda is set to supply engines starting in 2015 to McLaren, one of the most successful teams in F-1 history.

‘Laboratory On Wheels’ But Honda’s return to Formula One is not just about the race, either. Honda believes the new F-1 cars, which are now required to have gasoline-electric hybrid technology, offer an opportunity to make a technology leap.

The new regulations from the F-1 governing body require teams and engine suppliers such as

Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz, to use a smaller engine, enhancedby turbo-charging technology, while using braking and exhaust to re-generate energy. Teams are also being given around a third less allotment of gasoline to race, compared to the previous race rules.

The regulations came into effect with the new F-1 season that kicked off in Melbourne this weekend. Honda is particularly interested in the new requirement to use “exhaust-energy recovery” technology. Among other possibilities, it is looking at a way to use exhaust gas to spin a turbine in the car’s exhaust system to generate electricity and store it in an onboard battery. A McLaren-Honda F-1 car, starting next year, could use such regenerated energy to go faster or farther. Honda’s move reflects what Arai calls a resolve by CEO Takanobu Ito to use the sport as a “laboratory on wheels,” just as originally envisioned by company founder Soichiro Honda in the 1960s.

Establishing that exhaust-energy-recovery know-how should help Honda boost the socalled thermal efficiency of an F-1 car by as much as a third, Arai said.

Even the best of today’s most advanced gasoline engines use only 30 percent of the thermal energy they create by combustion. The rest is wasted during braking and leaks out through exhaust pipes as heat. Arai wants to improve that thermal efficiency to as much as 40 percent.

“There’s no technology like that available today,” said the 57-year-old engineer, who is also senior managing director at Honda’s R&D arm.

“It’s highly challenging, but if achieved, it could be applied in conventional cars.”

Fuel Efficiency It’s not always easy, however, to use racing as a technology incubator. Current and former Honda executives who spoke on condition of

anonymity said two forces often collide as teams prepare for each race.

“In the boardroom, managers can say all they want about the importance of using racing as a laboratory, but once the race starts, winning it becomes the No. 1 priority,” one former Honda F1 engine designer said. “New ideas often get in the way.”

Where those two forces coincide is around fuel efficiency - with Arai hoping to apply the technology developed for Formula One cars to its mass production models.

For Honda, it is also an extension of a broader effort by CEO Ito, who has held Honda’s top job since 2009, to regain the edge it once had as a daring, risk-taking automaker. Toyota Motor Corp. over the past two decades has been seen as the more futuristic company. That reputation was largely due to the success of the gasolineelectric hybrid, Prius - technology that Honda failed to initially embrace fully, though the company under Ito has since adjusted its strategy.

“Inside Honda, we call the 2000s a lost decade, void of progress and impact and momentum,” a senior Honda executive said. One of the company’s missteps during those years, company insiders say, was remaining in F-1 racing from 2000 through 2008, during which time Honda won just one race. At the time, the sport was paying little or no attention to advanced technology - even as consumers around the world demanded more fuel-efficient cars - and thus contributing little to the advancement of conventional cars.

Now Formula One, thanks to the new rule change, has become an “enormously challenging” battle front for new technology, Arai says. By again competing on the F-1 circuit, Honda hopes to hatch ideas that give its engines an “unknown level of fuel-efficiency,” he said. — Reuters

Amsterdam canal house built with 3-D printer MANILA: People use computers at an Internet cafe in Manila yesterday. The Philippines said yesterday it would require Internet service providers to install filters to block access to child pornography. — AFP

Philippine Internet providers to install child porn filters MANILA: The Philippines said yesterday it would require Internet service providers to install filters to block access to child pornography.

The move comes as the Philippines cracks down on online child pornography, arresting at least 13 suspects earlier this year for allegedly offering online images of children being sexually abused.

To block access to child pornography Manila will finally implement a law passed in 2009 but which required years of public consultations on how to implement it, said Edgardo Cabarrios, regulation director of the National Telecommunications Commission.

“There were experts (at the consultations) who were one in saying this will help. It may not eradicate (Internet child pornography) completely but this will help,” he told AFP.

Police say the Philippines is a key centre of the fast-growing global industry that streams live images of children forced to commit sex acts for paedophiles abroad. The law requires service providers to install filters blocking child pornography or risk heavy fines.

They will have till June to install the filters, said Cabarrios. He acknowledged that it was almost impossible to block all child pornography but said the filters could keep out the majority. “We all know that websites are easily created so (filtering them) is a moving target,” he added.

Child pornographers have taken advantage of the widespread poverty in the Philippines to recruit children to create pornography for paedophiles around the world, advocates and the police said. — AFP

AMSTERDAM: Hundreds of years after wealthy merchants began building the tall, narrow brick houses that have come to define Amsterdam’s skyline, Dutch architects are updating the process for the 21st century: fabricating pieces of a canal house out of plastic with a giant 3-D printer and slotting them together like oversized Lego blocks.

Hedwig Heinsman of architect bureau Dus says the goal of the demonstration project launched this month is not so much to print a functioning house - in fact, parts of the house will likely be built and rebuilt several times over the course of three years as 3-D printing technology develops. Rather, it is to discover and share the potential uses of 3-D printing in construction by creating new materials, trying out designs and testing building techniques to see what works. “There’s only one way to find out,” she says. “By doing it.”

She envisions a future in which personalized architecture may be custom-crafted on the spot, or perhaps selected from an online store for architectural designs, downloaded and tweaked. At the core of the project is a 6-meter (20-foot) -tall printer dubbed the Kamermaker, or “room builder.” It’s a scaled-up version of the open-source home 3-D

AMSTERDAM: A visitor passes a 3D printer, rear, as she looks at part of a printed canal house, foreground, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 13. Dutch architecture firm Dus has embarked on a project to build a 21st-century version of a classic Amsterdam canal house, printing it out piece by piece with an oversized 3D printer, and then slotting them together like oversized Lego blocks. — AP printer made by Ultimaker, popular with hobbyists.

It takes the Kamermaker about a week to print each massive, unique, honeycomb-structured block, layer by layer. The first block, which forms one corner of the house and part of a stairway, weighed around 180 kilo-

grams (400 lbs).

The blocks will later be filled with a foam material, still under development, that will harden like concrete to add additional weight and bind the blocks together. Dus expects to add more printers and change designs along the way, with help

from Dutch construction company Heijmans, German chemicals manufacturer Henkel, and anybody else who wants to participate and can make useful contributions.The construction site in northern Amsterdam is also an exhibition, open to the public for 2.50 euros ($3.00). — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Snail venom cuts pain in early lab trial WASHINGTON: An experimental drug made from snail venom has shown early signs of promise in numbing pain, raising hopes in the hunt for new, non-addictive medications, researchers said Sunday.The drug, which has not been tested yet on humans, was judged to be about 100 times more potent than morphine or gabapentin, which are currently considered the gold standard for chronic nerve pain.

The active ingredient, conotoxin, comes from carnivorous cone snails, which are common in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

The marine animals can reach out and stab

prey, injecting a venom that paralyzes fish long enough for the snail to eat it up.

A tiny protein derived from the snail’s venom has formed the basis of five new experimental compounds, said lead researcher David Craik of the University of Queensland in Australia.

A preliminary study using one of these new compounds on lab rats “appeared to significantly reduce pain,” said a press statement released ahead of Craik’s presentation at an American Chemical Society meeting in Dallas, Texas.

“This is an important incremental step that could serve as the blueprint for the develop-

ment of a whole new class of drugs capable of relieving one of the most severe forms of chronic pain that is currently very difficult to treat,” said Craik.

Animal venoms are poisons that can block certain channels in the nervous system, and act differently than opioid painkillers such as morphine and hydrocodone, which carry the risk of addiction and death from overdose.

Pharmaceutical companies have begun investigating venoms in recent years as potential sources of new drugs for managing neuropathic pain, which affects 15 percent of the US

population and can arise from cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and other debilitating diseases.

One conotoxin-derived drug, ziconotide, has already been approved for human use. However, it is not available in pill form and must be infused directly into the lower part of the spinal cord.

The five new compounds Craik and colleagues are developing would be taken orally.

“We don’t know about side effects yet, as it hasn’t been tested in humans. But we think it would be safe,” Craik said, adding that human trials are at least two years away. — AFP

Polluted Paris forces half cars off the road

GUILO: In this Tuesday, April 6, 2004 file photo, a worker collects sun-dried cocoa beans to be put into sacks for export in Guiglo, Ivory Coast. A large-scale study is being launched in 2014 to see if pills containing the nutrients in dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. — AP

Study to test ‘chocolate’ pills for heart health NEW YORK: It won’t be nearly as much fun as eating candy bars, but a big study is being launched to see if pills containing the nutrients in dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The pills are so packed with nutrients that you’d have to eat a gazillion candy bars to get the amount being tested in this study, which will enroll 18,000 men and women nationwide.

“People eat chocolate because they enjoy it,” not because they think it’s good for them, and the idea of the study is to see whether there are health benefits from chocolate’s ingredients minus the sugar and fat, said Dr. JoAnn Manson, preventive medicine chief at Harvardaffiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

The study will be the first large test of cocoa flavanols, which in previous smaller studies improved blood pressure, cholesterol, the body’s use of insulin, artery health and other heart-related factors.

A second part of the study will test multivitamins to help prevent cancer.

Earlier research suggested this benefit but involved just older, unusually healthy men. Researchers want to see if multivitamins lower cancer risk in a broader population.

The study will be sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Mars Inc., maker of M&M’s and Snickers bars. The candy company has patented a way to extract flavanols from cocoa in high concentration and put them in capsules. Mars and some other companies sell cocoa extract capsules, but with less active ingredient than those that will be tested in the study; candy contains even less.

“You’re not going to get these protec-

tive flavanols in most of the candy on the market. Cocoa flavanols are often destroyed by the processing,” said Manson, who will lead the study with Howard Sesso at Brigham and others at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Participants will get dummy pills or two capsules a day of cocoa flavanols for four years, and neither they nor the study leaders will know who is taking what during the study. The flavanol capsules are coated and have no taste, said Manson, who tried them herself.

Dummy pills In the other part of the study, participants will get dummy pills or daily multivitamins containing a broad range of nutrients. Participants will be recruited from existing studies, which saves money and lets the study proceed much more quickly, Manson said, although some additional people with a strong interest in the research may be allowed to enroll. The women will come from the Women’s Health Initiative study, the long-running research project best known for showing that menopause hormone pills might raise heart risks rather than lower them as had long been thought. Men will be recruited from other large studies. Manson also is leading a government-funded study testing vitamin D pills in 26,000 men and women.

Results are expected in three years.

People love vitamin supplements but “it’s important not to jump on the bandwagon” and take pills before they are rigorously tested, she warned. “More is not necessarily better,” and research has shown surprising harm from some nutrients that once looked promising, she said. — AP

PARIS: Paris on Monday resorted to drastic measures to curb soaring pollution levels by forcing all cars with number plates ending in even numbers off the road for the first time in two decades. Around 700 police officers were deployed to man 60 checkpoints around the French capital to ensure that only cars with number plates ending in odd numbers were out on the streets.

Public transport has been free since the weekend to persuade Parisians to leave their cars at home, and the state railway company SNCF warned on its website of packed suburban trains at peak hours due to the extreme measure.”It is sure we will have more clients today,” a delighted taxi driver told AFP. “There are people who take their car because they don’t want to be pressed up against others in the metro. Today they will take a taxi.”

The restrictions came into force across Paris and 22 surrounding areas from 5:30 am (0430 GMT). They will be reviewed on a daily basis, with odd numbers potentially banned on Tuesday if an extension is deemed necessary.

Parking will be free for vehicles with even number plates, the Paris city hall said, calling on residents to consult carpooling or car-sharing sites to work out their travel plans.

However not everyone seemed to be aware of the ban, or chose to ignore it. “You don’t have the right to drive with your number plate,” a man on a scooter remarked to another while stopped at a red light. “Oh really? I didn’t know,” the second driver replied before speeding off. Those who choose to brave the ban risk a fine of 22 euros ($30) if paid immediately, or 35 euros if paid within three days. Electric and hybrid cars will be exempted from the ban as well as any vehicle carrying three people or more.

It is the first time since 1997 that the French authorities have resorted to such a drastic measure. The government made the announcement on Saturday after pollution particulates in the air exceeded safe levels for five straight days in Paris and its environs. One enterprising website did not waste any time cashing in on the restrictions. Lending site e-loue.com encouraged Parisians with odd-number plates to rent them to neighbours who could not drive on Monday.

Ban is ‘hasty, ineffective’ The issue has become something of a politi-

PARIS: Police officers control vehicles along the Seine river in Paris, yesterday. Cars with even-numbered license plates are prohibited from driving in Paris and its suburbs yesterday following a government decision over the weekend. Paris is taking drastic measures to combat its worst air pollution in years, banning around half of the city’s cars and trucks from its streets. — AP cal football, with less than a week to go before key municipal elections.

The opposition UMP candidate for Paris mayor, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, called the measure a “fig leaf”.

Ecology Minister Philippe Martin said he understood the “difficulties, the irritation and even anger” over the move, adding: “But we just had to take this decision.”

Martin said similar measures in 1997 “had yielded results,” adding that he hoped that the number of vehicles on the roads would be “significantly lower” on Monday, without giving a figure.

France’s Automobile Club Association (ACA), which counts some 760,000 members, denounced the move as “hasty, ineffective” and “bound to lead to chaos”.

“This measure had no effect in any country where it was introduced,” said ACA head Didier

Bollecker.

“Drivers are being targeted even though heating is more polluting, but no one is asking for heating to be used on alternate days.”

By Saturday the number of pollution particulates in the air had fallen slightly after hitting a high of 180 micrograms per cubic metre-well over double the safe limit-on Friday.

So-called PM10 particulates are created by vehicles, heating and heavy industry, with the safe limit set at 80 per cubic metre.

The smoggy conditions have been caused by a combination of cold nights and warm days, which have prevented pollution from dispersing.

The pollution particulates in the air can cause asthma attacks as well as respiratory and heart problems. The World Health Organization has said finer particulates-known as PM2.5 are cancer-causing. — AFP

Five babies a day left at China city’s ‘baby hatch’ BEIJING: More than 260 unwanted children, most of them babies, have been abandoned in a Chinese “safe haven” in just over six weeks-more than five a day-since it opened in late January, authorities said.

The “baby hatch” in Guangzhou, in the southern province of Guangdong, was suspended on Sunday after the city’s welfare home exceeded its capacity to handle new arrivals.

All of those abandoned suffered from illnesses including cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and congenital heart disease, and 67 percent of them were less than a year old, the Bureau of Civil Affairs of Guangzhou Municipality said.

The facility was set up in late January and 262 children had been abandoned at it by Sunday morning, it said in a statement. The 1,000-bed welfare home was housing 1,121 residents, with another 1,274 being cared for by foster families, the

statement issued Sunday said.

Its quarantine facilities were “not enough to meet the demand” and wards that had previously held 50 children were now caring for 80 to 100, it added.

China has set up 25 baby safe havens in 10 provinces and major cities since June 2011 and plans to roll out the facilities to most of the country, the official Xinhua news agency reported in February.

The havens-introduced to reduce the risks of children dying after being abandoned in the streetusually have an incubator, a delayed alarm device, an air conditioner and a baby bed, that report said.

Welfare staff retrieve a baby five to 10 minutes after a person leaves the child and presses the alarm button, allowing families to give up the infant safely and anonymously.

Many babies are given up because parents cannot afford expensive medical bills and fees for special education, it said.

A disabled child can be a huge drain on a family’s resources, and although the country’s one-child policy normally allows parents to have another baby if their first is disabled, the restrictions can be a factor in other abandonments.

Anyone leaving a child at the Guangzhou safe haven will now be reported to police, the city statement said. Any re-opening will be announced at a later date, it added. P “Losing the care and love of the family at a young age will cause lifetime psychological damage to a child,” it cited the head of the welfare home, Xu Jiu, as saying. “And abandoning children is illegal. I hope parents who want to do so think prudently before acting.” — AFP

Second artificial heart implant due in ‘weeks’

This image provided by the BICEP2 Collaboration shows slight temperature fluctuations, indicated by variations in color, of the cosmic microwave background of a small patch of sky and the orientation of its polarization, shown as short black lines. Researchers say since the cosmic microwave background is a form of light, it exhibits all the properties of light, including polarization. The changes in a particular type of polarization, indicated here, are theorized to be caused by gravitational waves. These waves are signals of an extremely rapid inflation of the universe in its first moments. — AP

PARIS: After its first recipient died, French biomedical firm Carmat said yesterday it expected to try again to implant its experimental artificial heart in another patient “in several weeks”.

Artificial hearts have been in use for many years as a temporary fix for patients with chronic heart problems, but the Carmat product aims to provide a longer-term solution to enable hospitalised patients to return home and lead normal lives.

Philippe Pouletty, Carmat cofounder, told Europe 1 radio that a second experiment would depend on finding a suitable patient, adding that the company still had to wait for the results of an in-depth analysis of the first trial on a 76-year-old man.

The septuagenarian with terminal heart disease died on March 2, two-and-a-half months after being implanted with the artificial device.

“Currently we don’t know what the patient’s cause of death is, we are doing in-depth analyses before going on to the next implant,” Pouletty said, appearing to refute a theory that a short circuit caused the device to stop working.

PARIS: A file picture taken on December 21, 2013 at Georges Pompidou European hospital in Paris, shows an artificial heart produced by Biomedical firm Carmat. Carmat announced a new implantation will be probably tried “in the next few weeks”. — AFP

The company is hoping to trial the artificial heart in a total of four patients, and if all survive for at least one month, the experiment will be deemed a success.

The device, a self-contained unit implanted in a patient’s chest, is a mix of synthetic materials and animal tissue, and seeks to mimic the

form and function of an actual human heart.

In that sense, it varies greatly from other artificial hearts currently being used, which are cruder, mostly synthetic pumps. Nearly 100,000 people in Europe and the United States are in need of a heart transplant, according to Carmat. — AFP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

Fitness options multiply for time-pressed and money-stressed NEW YORK: Time, money and the Internet are changing where Americans work out, fitness experts say.

Time-pressed fitness fans seeking short, focused workouts are flocking to boutique studios specializing in everything from indoor cycling to boot camp, and the no-frills gyms that burgeoned during the financial recession are still thriving in the recovery.

Cedric X. Bryant, chief science officer with the American Council on Exercise, believes fitness has taken a minimalist turn that encourages smaller venues.

“From a training perspective, we’re going back to basics, away from more complex equipment,” he said. “The simpler exercise approaches of popular trends like boot camp and CrossFit and High Intensity Interval Training require less space and less sophisticated equipment.”

All of which, Bryant said, lends itself to economically sized, and priced, gyms. He expects the trend to continue because the workouts are effective.

“Time is always a big barrier for folks, so there will always be this lure to the minimal,” Bryant said.

Nearly one in five Americans is a health club consumer, according to a 2014 report by IHRSA, the International Health and Racquet Club, an industry trade association.

While membership has remained more or less steady, IHRSA reports a shift in the past few years

from large multipurpose clubs to smaller gyms, boutique or sport-specific studios and fitness-only facilities, many of which are franchised.

In the realm of no-frills gyms, Planet Fitness, which charges just $10 a month, is arguably king.

The company’s chief executive officer, Chris Rondeau, recently announced the franchise had reached a milestone of 5 million members systemwide.

Personal trainers “I always say we’re selling pizza, they’re selling cheeseburgers,” said Rondeau. “We’re geared to the first-time exerciser, the beginner, as opposed to the more fanatical exercisers and the body builders.”

To keep the price low, Planet Fitness has no personal trainers, daycare, pools or spas, and there are no group fitness classes and no plans to add any.

“We’re keeping true to our low price point,” Rondeau said.

Cost is the number one reason both men and women cancel gym memberships or refrain from purchasing one at all, according to IHRSA’s 2014 trend report. Even the big-box gyms are getting into the franchise game.

Donna Cyrus, senior vice president of programming at Crunch fitness centers, which has its own franchise model, Crunch Essentials, said these days there are many more options at lower price points.

“More people go to McDonald’s than dine at higher-end restaurants,” said Cyrus, adding that

people just don’t have to think that hard about spending $10 a month. “They forget it’s even on their credit card, she said.

Cyrus believes the financial downturn was the tipping point. “That’s when people started saying to themselves, ‘They’re taking $80 a month out of my Visa and I never go,’” she said.

Cyrus said the downside of cut-rate gyms is service and space. “You must keep the programming very limited,” she said. “There are only so many treadmills, and often only one studio or one room.”

Cyrus attributes the rise of the specialty studios at least partly to the time constraints of the Internet age.

“One-stop shopping is why small spaces are doing well. It’s often the least amount of time for the maximum workout,” she said. “These days you want to consolidate because the time you’re exercising is that much time you’re off Facebook or Twitter or whatever.”

But she noted that many successful one-note studios are beginning to diversify, with indoor cycling venues adding barre classes and yogabased programs.

“They are getting out of the box that people went to them for in the first place,” Cyrus said.

“When it’s only one modality something is lost.”

Cyrus, who has been in the business for 20 years, says fitness is like a wave: “It’s like fashion. It comes and goes.” — Reuters

PHOENIX: This Feb. 2014 photo provided by Flor Medrano shows Kevin Vicente in Phoenix, Ariz. Four-year-old Kevin Vicente’s road to recovery after a dog mauling on Feb 20, 2014, has ignited thousands of impassioned pleas, not just not for him. The animal behind the attack is now the object of a Facebook page that has garnered more than 39,000 likes on Facebook. The fate of Mickey the pit bull will ultimately be decided in a court hearing March 25 in Phoenix. — AP

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N

Mazola takes centre stage at Gulfood

M

azola, one of the leading names in the regional food industry, held a special gala dinner for its partners and distributors on February 25 at the Palace Hotel in Dubai on the sidelines of its participation at Gulfood 2014 - the world’s largest annual food and hospitality show in Dubai.

During the dinner, Abdullah Binzagr, President of the company, handed over some awards, including the Best Distributor Award. The winners of the Mazola distributors’

awards included Al Seer trading “Oman”, George & Sami Khoury& Co “Jordan”, Binzagr Company “KSA” and Raad Trading “Kuwait”.

Mazola’s participation at Gulfood included a detailed review and interaction with its partners and distributors, aimed at shaping the future roadmap in the region. Through this endeavour, the company aims to further leverage the reputation of its products and identify potential customers.

Simon Gottfried, Vice Presidentof

Basateen Foods Saudi Arabia - the manufacturers of Mazola products in the region, said: “Gulfood was a great opportunity for us to network with our partners across the region. We have achieved phenomenal growth in our sales and distribution network, and Gulfood gave us a unique chance to network with all partners on one platform. We are thankful for the support of our partners in our impressive growth.”

Basateen Foods Saudi Arabia recently announced the completion

of the new state-of-the-art, multimillion dollar plant expansion in the country. The investment reflects the company’s commitmentand strategy to produce increased volumes of Mazola products to meet the increasingbrand share, product development and geographic expansion.

The five day Gulfood was held between February 23 and 27, 2014 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), bringing together over 4,500 exhibitors and included 120 country pavilions.

GUST hosts fourth English Day

T

he Gulf University for Science and Technology was proud to host another year’s English Day. It was a day full of activities, with the single aim of illustrating English as a powerful medium of communication.

English Day evolved from humble beginnings into a unique fixture on the GUST calendar. It is a day for the students and by the students, with a helping hand from faculty.

Both students and faculty from the English Department of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Foundation

Program Unit combined their efforts to create and organize this special annual event, in celebration of English as a global language.

The day began with opening speeches by Dr Donald L. Bates, President of GUST, Dr Ghassan Aouad, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dr Piers Smith, Head of English Department. They highlighted the importance of the event to the university, its faculty and students. A grand performance by the Kuwait English School Orchestra followed, thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

‘It was great to see students so involved from start to finish. Members of the English, Media and Volunteer Clubs helped organize, promote and participated in the event.

The larger student body, notably the Foundation students, was instrumental as an enthusiastic audience. Bravo.’ Dr Inan Deniz Erguvan, Culture Committee Chair.

The day exhibited a well-balanced array of activities, featuring; an exciting Quiz Show - in which students demonstrated their world knowledge; a Speech Contest and Debate to showcase their fine grasp of spoken dis-

course; a Comedy Hour of witty comic films made by students ; Drama with our very own thespians, (Mohammad Bastaki, Mona Romana, RamziG halioum, Abrar Ebrahim and directed by Hamad Al Jenaie) in their own creation entitled “Carnage” and the ever popular Scavenger Hunt, and many more entertaining games.

The Cultural Committee would like to give special thanks to our sponsors: Boubyan Bank, Pepsi Cola, Kuwait and East India Trading Company. Well done everyone, thanks for taking part and making the day fun.

PBDIK holds blood donation campaign

P

akistani Blood Donors in Kuwait (PBDIK), a social welfare group in collaboration with Central Blood Bank of Kuwait, held their 4thblood donation drive in Kuwait on Friday, March 14th at the Central Blood Blank in Jabriya. Held with the support from the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Kuwait and Pakistan Business Council in Kuwait, the event was organized with an aim to express solidarity and gratitude towards the country while strengthening brotherly ties between both nations and extending credentials as a socially responsible community in Kuwait.

Pakistani community in Kuwait firmly believes that the blood donation is a noble cause and the event held today is a mere token of appreciation from them towards the Kuwaiti society and an opportunity to extend their sincere support while playing a productive role for the social and economic development between both nations.

The event witnessed a large attendance of over 350 attendees among which over 200people registered themselves as blood donors between short span of 4 hours. One of the

highlight of the event was an overwhelming participation from female donors. The attendees were mostly of Pakistani heritage who have been living and working in Kuwait with their families for over a well number of years and have always considered this country as their second home. The donors also included recognizable count of Kuwaiti nationals who

came forward to extend their support to the community in a move to not only serve humanity through blood donation but also to express their gratitude to the Pakistani community in Kuwait.

Hassan Wazir; Deputy head of Mission / 1st Secretary and acting Ambassador of Pakistan to State of Kuwait also attended the event. The

event was honoured by the presence of Sheikh Jaber Ahmad Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah also donated blood along with Arif Butt; a leading Pakistani business man in Kuwait.

Chairman, Arif Butt, COO Amer Hamid and senior advisor Ehsanulhaq of PBDIK attended Sheikh Jaber Ahmed Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah while he was donating blood and

extended their gratitude and thanks to him on behalf of Pakistani community, PBDIK team and Hafiz Mohammad Shabbir who is Patron inChief of PBDIK. During this conversation, Sheikh Jaber Ahmed Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah praised the role of Pakistani Community towards their second home country Kuwait and the efforts of PBDIK in particular for their humanitarian activities keeping in view their mission of bringing awareness in society on the noble cause of blood donation.

The participation also represented a strong and humanitarian message that exemplified a sincere contribution to provide support to needy individuals of the community, especially those in need of rare types of blood.

The community had exceeded the expected turnout and has responded with enthusiasm to the donation drive and expressed their willingness to take part in donating blood. The Pakistani Blood Donors in Kuwait group aspires to inspire other people among the community to donate blood and thus increasing the awareness in the Kuwait society on lives that can be saved with blood donation.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

W H AT ’ S O N

Kuwait National English School Secondary Department Sports Day

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econdary pupils from Kuwait National English School enjoyed their day out for the Sports Day on school premises. Pupils grouped by houses competed with high spirit. The winning house was the green colour “London”. Thanks to staff and pupils from Kuwait National English School.

Kindergarten graduation celebrations at Bhavans

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ndian Educational School, Kuwait concluded its 7th Annual Day celebration which was a 4 day event held on March 10, 11,12 and 13, 2014. It was a massive event in which the entire kindergarten wing of about 600 students adorned the stage.

The chief guests for the evenings were Mrs Asha Sharma, Principal of Indian Learners Own Academy, Dr. Shobha Vadhadhi, Principal of Jabria Indian School, Shanta Maria of Indian Central School and Kalyani Mukherjee, Principal of Kuwait Indian School respectively. The evenings were graced by N K Ramchandran Menon-Chairman Bhavans Group of Schools Middle East, Principal T. Premkumar, Principal of Jack and Jill Mangaf, Vice principal of senior wing Mrs Anitha Sadanand and Vice principal of Primary and Kindergarten wing Mrs Lalitha Premkumar.

The kindergarten supervisor Mrs Rajni Menon welcomed the huge gathering of expectant parents and the dignitaries to the function. She highlighted the principles of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and how the kindergarten wing of Bhavans, Kuwait strives to achieve it.

Vice Principal, Lalitha Premkumar presented the KG-annual report. She listed all the activities conducted in the kindergarten for the kinesthetic and holistic development of kids which makes this temple of learning the first choice of a little beginner.

She stressed on the importance of fun filled learning experiences including creative activities like collage, colouring, art, palm printing, vegetable printing and also field trips for entertainment which are a part of the curriculum at Bhavans.

The Principal of Jack and Jill Mangaf and the senior teachers of Kindergarten invited the honorable guests to share their views and encouraging words to make the evening a memorable one for the audience. The chief guests who graced the occasion unanimously praised the performance of the bright and talented little students of the kindergarten.

They were spell bound to watch the kids saying long speeches with utmost confidence and grace and showered their blessings upon them. Mrs Asha Sharma, former principal of IES, and the chief guest on March 10, stressed on the importance of teachers in the development of students and she acknowledged the experience the of the Kindergarten section of IES in training the kids so well. Dr. Shobha Vadhadhi and Shanta Maria, the chief guests for March 11 and 12 respectively, spoke on the importance of parents and teachers working together for the betterment of the students. Kalyani Mukherjee, chief guest for 13th March eulogized the efforts taken by the kindergarten teachers in organizing and successfully presenting a programme of such magnitude.

The cultural events presented by the little ones were a real feast for the eyes. The basic theme for the evening was ‘The Bounties of Nature’ and how to protect it by recycling. The show began with a welcome dance performed by the students of LKG resplendent in their lovely and bright costumes.

Children enumerated the endless gifts of nature in a mind boggling skit. The highlight of the evening

was the fantabulous fashion show - abounding in creativity. Tiny models draped in colourful costumes, made out of recycled waste materials such as CD, news papers, plastic bags, empty chips packets, balloons, bubble wraps, trash bags, walked the ramp and conquered the hearts of the audience with their astounding confidence.

The students of UKG attired in the graduation gowns received their graduation scrolls from the chief guests, the chairman and the principal. They bid farewell to all the teachers of Kindergarten and presented a lovely dance to thank the teachers who taught them for the past two years. As the curtains were drawn, one could see the proud parents walk with their heads held high with a smile that conveyed their happiness over the education the kids received at IES. The big show of the little ones will forever remain etched in the memories of the parents and teachers alike.

GREETINGS

H

appy birthday to our dearest Harly Theres Sijo. May God bless you with a long life. Best wishes come from parents and relatives.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

TV PROGRAMS

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Doctors New Tricks My Family Walk On The Wild Side Being Erica Spooks The Weakest Link Mr Bloom’s Nursery Balamory Nina And The Neurons Me Too! Mr Bloom’s Nursery Balamory Nina And The Neurons Me Too! My Family The Vicar Of Dibley Little Britain Eastenders Doctors The Weakest Link The Vicar Of Dibley Call The Midwife New Tricks My Family Little Britain Eastenders Doctors Call The Midwife New Tricks The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Being Erica Last Of The Summer Wine The Vicar Of Dibley Upstairs Downstairs Mistresses The Omid Djalili Show Stella The Weakest Link Eastenders

00:00 The Planners 00:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 01:35 Come Dine With Me 02:25 MasterChef 03:20 Chef At Home 03:45 Chef At Home 04:10 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 04:55 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 05:40 Bargain Hunt 06:25 Come Dine With Me 07:15 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 08:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 08:45 The Planners 09:35 Bargain Hunt 10:20 Antiques Roadshow 11:15 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London 11:40 Come Dine With Me 12:30 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 13:20 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 14:05 Antiques Roadshow 15:05 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 15:50 MasterChef 16:45 Bargain Hunt 17:30 Chef At Home 17:55 Chef At Home 18:20 Antiques Roadshow 19:15 Homes Under The Hammer 20:10 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London 20:35 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 21:00 Food & Drink 21:30 Come Dine With Me 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 23:15 Bargain Hunt

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Gold Rush Alaska Gold Diggers Gold Divers: Under The Ice You Have Been Warned Border Security Auction Kings

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Container Wars How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Sons Of Guns You Have Been Warned Flying Wild Alaska Fast N’ Loud Border Security Auction Kings Container Wars How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Gold Rush Alaska Gold Diggers Gold Divers: Under The Ice Border Security Auction Kings Container Wars North America Fast N’ Loud Ultimate Survival Wheeler Dealers You Have Been Warned Sons Of Guns How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Auction Kings Container Wars Dual Survival Survive That!

Yukon Men

00:40 The Colony 01:30 Bang Goes The Theory 02:00 Food Factory 02:25 How Tech Works 02:50 Mega Builders 03:45 Kings Of Construction 04:35 Thunder Races 05:25 How The Universe Works 06:15 Food Factory 06:40 How Tech Works 07:05 X-Machines 08:00 Building The Future 08:50 Eco-Tech 09:40 Food Factory 10:05 How Tech Works 10:30 James May’s Man Lab 11:25 X-Machines 12:20 Thunder Races 13:10 How The Universe Works 14:00 Kings Of Construction 14:50 Bang Goes The Theory 15:20 Food Factory 15:45 How Tech Works 16:10 Mega Builders 17:00 How The Universe Works 17:55 Thunder Races 18:45 X-Machines 19:35 James May’s Man Lab 20:30 Junkyard Wars 21:20 Large Dangerous Rocket Ships 2011 22:10 Food Factory 22:35 How Tech Works 23:00 Stuck With Hackett 23:25 Stuck With Hackett 23:50 Large Dangerous Rocket Ships 2011

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The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin & Ally Dog With A Blog Suite Life On Deck A.N.T. Farm

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

Wolfblood Gravity Falls That’s So Raven Jessie Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Dog With A Blog Suite Life On Deck Jessie That’s So Raven Hannah Montana Hannah Montana Good Luck Charlie Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Jessie Dog With A Blog Good Luck Charlie Gravity Falls Austin & Ally Violetta Liv And Maddie Liv And Maddie Mako Mermaids Good Luck Charlie Jessie Dog With A Blog Violetta Jessie Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Gravity Falls Shake It Up Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:00 Chelsea Lately 00:30 The Spin Crowd 00:55 The Spin Crowd 01:25 Style Star 01:50 Style Star 02:20 E!ES 03:15 Extreme Close-Up 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 E!ES 05:05 E!ES 06:00 THS 07:50 Fashion Police 09:15 Opening Act 10:15 Married To Jonas 10:40 Chasing The Saturdays 11:10 The Drama Queen 12:05 Fashion Police 13:35 E!ES 14:30 Style Star 15:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 16:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 17:00 The Wanted Life 17:30 Hello Ross 18:00 E! News 19:00 Fashion Police 20:30 E!ES 21:00 The Drama Queen 22:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 22:30 E! News 23:30 Chelsea Lately

00:35 01:30 02:25 02:55 03:25 05:15 06:10 07:05 07:30 09:20 10:15 11:10 12:00 12:30 13:25 14:20 15:10 15:35

House Gift Emmerdale Coronation Street Holiday: Heaven On Earth Agatha Christie’s Marple Ade In Britain House Gift Holiday: Heaven On Earth Agatha Christie’s Marple Ade In Britain May The Best House Win Emmerdale Coronation Street House Gift Ade In Britain May The Best House Win Holiday: Heaven On Earth Trevor Mcdonalds Queen &

BREAKING POINT ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION

’Veronica Mars’ Ultimate review: TheWrap’s Movie Critic, Senior TV Writer’s dual takes

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heWrap offers two takes on “Veronica Mars,” the movie: one from its Lead Movie Critic Alonso Duralde, who has never watched the TV show, and another from its Senior TV Writer Jethro Nededog, a longtime fan.

‘Veronica Mars’ Review: You Don’t Have to Know the Show to Enjoy This Comic Whodunit Kristin Bell’s smart and sexy sleuth gets the big-screen treatment with a script designed to bring newbies into her world of repartee and mayhem.

GRASSROOTS ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD Country 16:30 Endeavour 18:20 May The Best House Win 19:10 Coronation Street 19:35 Trevor Mcdonalds Queen & Country 20:30 Endeavour 22:20 Coronation Street 22:50 Emmerdale 23:45 May The Best House Win

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 The Big C 02:00 South Park 02:30 Out There 03:30 Raising Hope 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 05:30 Seinfeld 06:00 Two And A Half Men 06:30 Arrested Development 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 Seinfeld 09:30 The Crazy Ones 10:00 Trophy Wife 10:30 Arrested Development 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 12:00 Two And A Half Men 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Arrested Development 14:00 Raising Hope 14:30 The Crazy Ones 15:00 Trophy Wife 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Two And A Half Men 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 18:00 The Simpsons 19:00 The Mindy Project 19:30 Modern Family 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Veep 22:30 South Park 23:00 Out There 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers

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 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 Coven 23:00

Warehouse 13 Mistresses The Killing World Without End Grey’s Anatomy The Fosters Warehouse 13 Drop Dead Diva Switched At Birth The Killing The Fosters Grey’s Anatomy Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Switched At Birth Warehouse 13 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Switched At Birth Twisted Scandal House Of Cards American Horror Story:

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Made In Jersey Good Morning America Nip/Tuck Rescue Me

World Without End

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

Good Morning America Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show 24 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle Made In Jersey Live Good Morning America 24 Castle Made In Jersey 24 Castle Made In Jersey Rescue Me Nip/Tuck

00:15 Starship Troopers: Invasion-18 02:00 15 Minutes-PG15 04:00 Metal Tornado-PG15 06:00 Jesse Stone: Benefit Of The Doubt-PG15 08:00 Arctic Blast-PG15 10:00 Romancing The Stone-PG15 12:00 Shadow Conspiracy-PG15 14:00 Arctic Blast-PG15 16:00 Dangerous Attraction-PG15 18:00 Shadow Conspiracy-PG15 20:00 Breaking Point-18 22:00 Arena-18

00:00 Grassroots-PG15 02:00 Detention-18 04:00 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult-PG15 06:00 10 Things I Hate About YouPG15 08:00 My Dog’s Christmas MiraclePG15 10:00 4 Wedding Planners-PG15 12:00 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult-PG15 14:00 Asterix And Obelix-PG15 16:00 4 Wedding Planners-PG15 18:00 Spy Hard-PG15 20:00 American Cowslip-18 22:00 Grassroots-PG15

01:30 Good Day For It-PG15 03:15 The Presence-PG15 05:00 Lying To Be Perfect-PG15 07:00 The First Grader-PG15 09:00 Good Day For It-PG15 10:45 Anna Karenina-PG15 13:00 Snow Flower And The Secret Fan-PG15 15:00 The Wild Hunt-PG15 17:00 Arbitrage-PG15 19:00 Now You See Me-PG15 21:00 Barney’s Version-18 23:00 Lawless-18

01:15 Surveillance-18 03:00 The Last King Of Scotland-18 05:30 Intolerable Cruelty-PG15 07:15 Hold Fast-PG15 09:00 Alfie Boe: Bring Him Home Tour-PG15 10:30 Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You-PG15 12:45 Earth-PG15 15:00 Offline-PG15 17:00 Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You-PG15 19:00 L’amour C’est Mieux A DeuxPG15 21:00 Arbitrage-PG15 23:00 Savages-18

01:15 Drift-PG15 03:30 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15

05:30 Now Is Good-PG15 07:15 Girl In Progress-PG15 09:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 11:00 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15 13:00 Magic Journey To AfricaPG15 15:00 The Odd Life Of Timothy Green-PG 17:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 19:00 Red Dawn-PG15 21:00 The Bling Ring-18 23:00 The Campaign-18

01:00 The Missing Lynx 02:45 The Legend Of Sarila 04:30 Free Birds 06:00 Olentzero Christmas Tale 08:00 Emperor’s Secret 09:45 Sky Force 11:15 Mrs. Doubtfire 13:30 The Legend Of Sarila 15:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling 16:30 The Elf Who Stole Christmas 18:00 Sky Force 20:00 The Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep 22:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling 23:30 The Elf Who Stole Christmas

00:00 Knuckle-PG15 02:00 Gambit-PG15 04:00 Snowflake , The White Gorilla-PG 06:00 Dating Coach-PG15 08:00 The Greatest Movie Ever Sold-PG15 10:00 Charlotte’s Web-PG 12:00 Gambit-PG15 14:00 Barnyard-PG 16:00 The Greatest Movie Ever Sold-PG15 17:45 Iron Man 3-PG15 20:00 Killing Them Softly-18 22:00 The Possession-PG15

01:00 NRL Premiership 03:00 NRL Premiership 05:00 NRL Full Time 05:30 Futbol Mundial 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 LV Cup 10:00 Golfing World 11:00 World Golf Championship Highlights 12:00 Super Rugby 14:00 Super Rugby 16:00 NRL Premiership 18:00 World Golf Championship Highlights 19:00 Golfing World 20:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 20:30 Inside The PGA Tour 21:00 Trans World Sport 22:00 LV Cup

00:00 Golfing World 01:00 Premier League Darts 04:00 LV Cup 06:30 NRL Full Time 07:00 NRL Premiership 09:00 NRL Full Time 09:30 Dubai World Cup Carnival 13:00 Trans World Sport 14:00 Golfing World 15:00 World Golf Championships Highlights 16:00 Snooker 19:00 NHL 21:00 HSBC Sevens World Series 23:00 HSBC Sevens World Series Highlights 23:30 PGA European Tour Weekly

By Alonso Duralde 1- Amy Poehler once joked that her favorite show on TV is “Previously on ‘Homeland’�” and those of us who watch television the old-fashioned way (one episode a week instead of bingeing through a whole season) appreciate those little reminders of what’s already happened (and what’s going to get a call-back on this next episode) In bringing his cult series “Veronica Mars” to the big screen, director Rob Thomas (who co-wrote with Diane Ruggiero) has very cannily made this material approachable for people who never watched the show - like me - by kicking things off with the mother of all “Previously ons,” walking us through the life and loves of teen detective Veronica (Kristen Bell), and how she and her father Keith (Enrico Colantoni) made enemies by poking through the sleazy underbelly of the seemingly idyllic seaside resort town of Neptune, Calif.

But don’t worry, “Veronica” vets, there’s plenty for you, too: there are references to “marshmallows” and Kickstarter (the crowd-sourcing site by which super-fans helped this movie get made) in the first ten minutes. As the film gets underway, Veronica is living in New York as a recent law school graduate, interviewing for a job with a tony, highpowered firm. She tells us in the narration that snooping and stalking is something in her past, and she wants to leave her old gumshoe-ing behind for a life as an attorney with her fianc Piz (Chris Lowell), whose gig at NPR enables the first of several amusing celebrity cameos.

Thomas and Ruggiero’s script treat Veronica’s sleuthing as an addiction, and the first taste of the forbidden stuff comes when she goes back to Neptune to help out her exboyfriend Logan (Jason Dohring), who’s been accused of murdering their high school classmate Carrie (Andrea Estella), a famous pop star. Even though it means being in town for Veronica’s tenth high-school reunion - which brings her back together with pals Mac (Tina Majorino) and Wallace (Percy Daggs III) - Veronica keeps postponing her return to Manhattan as she gets more deeply engrossed with who really killed Carrie, especially when it appears to have something to do with an incident from their high school days. Was the assailant super-fan Ruby Jetson (Gaby Hoffman, hilariously batty here)? Rich snob Gia (Krysten Ritter)? Corrupt sheriff Dan Lamb (Jerry O’Connell)? Idiot surfer Dick (Ryan Hansen, “Party Down”)? Or any number of other suspicious Neptune-ites? The mystery consumes Veronica, no matter what the damage it’s doing to her personal and career prospects back east.

I realize I’m late on this, not having seen the show, but Bell is flat-out terrific, mixing spunk, smarts and sex in a way that brings to mind the leading ladies of Hollywood’s golden age. There aren’t a lot of people working today who merit comparison to the likes of Jean Arthur and Rosalind Russell, but Bell’s working on that level here.

The ensemble cast is generally fast and funny, zipping through the script’s clever repartee, and even “Mars” newcomers will find themselves welcome in their company, even if we don’t always know who’s an ally and who’s secretly a murderer. There’s one odd bit of casting, although saying so might be high treason to the show’s fans: Bell has lots more screen chemistry with Lowell than she does with Dohring, and it throws off the balance, turning what should be an equilateral love triangle into an isosceles one. The romance aside, however, “Veronica Mars” makes the jokes witty, the mystery challenging and the suspense and action tense. You don’t have to have tuned in to the small-screen version to enjoy it on the big one.

1- ‘Veronica Mars’ review: If sleuthing is wrong, we don’t want her to be right Rob Thomas’s much-anticipated movie based on the canceled TV series manages to bring a truly new chapter that marshmallows will eat up.

By Jethro Nededog The “Veronica Mars” movie - hard-earned by the loyalty of its fandom via a Kickstarter campaign - goes a long way to fill the void left behind when The CW canceled it in 2007.

When we catch up with Veronica (Kristen Bell), she has done a really good job of leaving the dark world of her gumshoe past behind. She’s a recent law school grad living in New York City and she even picked the “right” guy, Piz (Chris Lowell).

But one call from frenemy/ex-lover Logan (Jason Dohring) - who’s accused of killing his pop star girlfriend, Bonnie DeVille aka Carrie (Andrea Estella, who replaces Leighton Meester from the series) - pulls her back to Neptune. Even when she aims to stay just a few days, we know there’s no way that’s true. Creator Rob Thomas, who co-wrote the film with series executive producer Diane Ruggiero, uncovers Veronica’s deep addiction to making things right. It’s not a hard feeling for fans of the series to tap into as it’s the same addiction we feel when we love a TV show. What’s binge-watching if not a form of addictive behavior? So, we can quickly understand how Veronica can find herself knee-deep in Neptune’s class war once again.

As luck would have it, the trip coincides with Veronica’s class reunion so the whole gang is back too: Mac (Tina Majorino), who’s feeling her oats and ready to rub her success and hot makeover into the faces of her old judgmental classmates; Wallace (Percy Daggs III) who’s now a basketball coach at Neptune High (ahoy!); and Dick (Ryan Hansen) is back unchanged as if it was just yesterday that exploding fist pumps were the thing. Veronica has plenty of quick runins with alums who each seem to deliver a quick rundown of their history with the former teen detective. I saw these bits of expository as necessary evils to bring newbies up to speed, so I forgave them.

Bell is back in true form. Her physicality, her ability to drop the witty turn of phrases and then lend gravity to situations when needed are still spot-on. Enrico Colantoni, who plays Veronica’s private eye father, and Bell still have the great chemistry we remember from the series. He’s looking out for her, but also knows that he can’t keep her from doing what she wants. The movie does play off the raging fan war between Veronica’s men: Logan and Piz. Dohring is still excellent at pulling off dark and unpredictable, although Logan is less of a loose cannon after joining the military in the time that’s elapsed. And Lowell, whose character is being courted by NPR, still feels like a puppy you just want to shield from pain. The movie takes a good while setting up the town, the crew of new and old characters and the clues that may or may not lead Veronica to clearing Logan’s name. That story builds to a thrilling pace, though, and shows that Thomas/Ruggiero have a firm grasp of what makes this chapter worthy of being shown in theaters and not just an extended episode of “Veronica Mars.”—AP

Classifieds TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

Kuwait SHARQIA-1 RED SKY (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) RED SKY (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 9:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (13/03/2014 TO 19/03/2014)

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SHARQIA-2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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SHARQIA-3 NON-STOP (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM

MUHALAB-2 RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) RED SKY (DIG)

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MUHALAB-3 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) NON-STOP (DIG) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG)

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FANAR-1 NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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FANAR-2 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) LAMO AKHZA (DIG)(Arabic) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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FANAR-3 RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) BEWAKOOFIYAAN (DIG) (Hindi) RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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FANAR-4 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 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

FANAR-5 FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) LAST LOVE (DIG) LAST LOVE (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-1 RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) RED SKY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

FOR SALE

MARINA-2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

MARINA-3 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) NON-STOP (DIG) MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-1 LAST LOVE (DIG) LAST LOVE (DIG) LAST LOVE (DIG) LAST LOVE (DIG) LAST LOVE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-2 FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-3 RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) RED SKY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:30 PM

AVENUES-4 NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG) NON-STOP (DIG)

Chevrolet jeep - Trail Blazer - LS 2008, black color, Alghanim. Excellent condition. KM 127,000, KD 2,650.

Mob: 50994848. (C 4669) 18-3-2014 2011 Toyota Camry, white exterior, mileage 76,000, price KD 3,450. Tel: 99883645. (C 4666) 2013 Volvo SUV, brown exterior, mileage: 14,000, under warranty + 2 years, full insurance, price KD 10,300. Tel: 97227376.

(C 4665) 15-3-2014

holder of Indian Passport No. K7916639 change my name to Ali Haider Shaik, my address in India is N.T.R. Nagar, Chitvel, K. Kandulayaripalli, Kadapa Dist, AP, 516104. (C 4664) 13-3-2014 SITUATION WANTED I am looking for a job in accounts & finance, my expectation is between KD 650 to KD 1000 depending upon the position offered. I have transferable residency article no. 18 & also valid driving license. Kindly contact me by SMS with your email ID on this no.

66825635 to forward you my CV. (C 4667) 16-3-2014

CHANGE OF NAME I, Dahodwala Husain Joharbhai, holder of Passport No: K-3652329, hereby change my surname Bhabawala Husain Joharbhai. (C 4668) 17-3-2014 I, Taza, holder of Indian Passport No. K9682992 have changed my name to Murtaza Shabbir Husain Raswala, residing at Partapur, Rajasthan.

(C 4663)

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM

I, Thopugunta Sudheer

Prayer timings

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

04:36 05:55 11:56 15:23 17:58 19:15

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines BBC JAI KLM JZR THY QTR PIA DLH PGT ETH GFA THY JZR UAE ETD JAI TAR OMA MSR RJA QTR FDB THY DHX FDB KAC BAW KAC KAC QTR FDB KAC KAC SVA KAC UAE KAC KAC ABY ETD FDB QTR IRA GFA JZR MEA TMA UAE JZR MSR

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 18/3/2014 Flt Route 043 Dhaka/Doha 574 Mumbai 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 539 Cairo 772 Istanbul 1084 Doha 239 Sialkot 637 Dammam 858 Istanbul 620 Addis Ababa 211 Bahrain 764 Istanbul 267 Beirut 853 Dubai 305 Abu Dhabi 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 328 Tunis/Dubai 643 Muscat 612 Cairo 642 Amman 1076 Doha 067 Dubai 770 Istanbul 170 Bahrain 069 Dubai 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 157 London 412 Manila/Bangkok 206 Islamabad 1086 Doha 053 Dubai 302 Mumbai 352 Kochi 512 Riyadh 332 Trivandrum 855 Dubai 362 Colombo 284 Dhaka 125 Sharjah 301 Abu Dhabi 055 Dubai 1070 Doha 619 Lar 213 Bahrain 165 Dubai 404 Beirut 213 Beirut 871 Dubai 561 Sohag 610 Cairo

Time 00:05 00:10 00:30 00:40 00:45 00:55 01:05 01:10 01:30 01:45 02:10 02:15 02:30 02:35 02:45 02:50 02:55 03:05 03:10 03:15 03:45 04:20 05:35 05:40 05:50 06:25 06:40 06:45 07:40 07:50 07:50 07:55 08:10 08:15 08:15 08:40 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:20 09:40 09:55 10:05 10:40 11:30 11:55 12:10 12:50 12:55 13:00

KAC FDB QTR KAC SVA KNE JZR UAE QTR ETD KAC RJA UAL SVA ABY GFA KAC JZR KAC QTR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC AXB KAC KAC GFA KAC OMA MSR FDB JAI ABY IRA DLH ALK MEA ETD UAE GFA FDB QTR KLM JZR UAL JZR AIC JZR ETH

514 057 1078 546 500 472 325 857 1072 303 562 640 982 510 127 215 542 177 742 1080 786 063 678 618 166 393 674 774 217 104 647 618 061 572 129 605 636 229 402 307 859 219 059 1074 415 135 981 239 981 185 3718

Tehran Dubai Doha Alexandria Jeddah Jeddah Al Najaf Dubai Doha Abu Dhabi Amman Amman IAD Riyadh Sharjah Bahrain Cairo Dubai Dammam Doha Jeddah Dubai Muscat/Abu Dhabi Doha Paris/Rome Kozhikode Dubai Riyadh Bahrain London Muscat Alexandria Dubai Mumbai Sharjah Esfahan Frankfurt Colombo Beirut Abu Dhabi Dubai Bahrain Dubai Doha Amsterdam Bahrain Bahrain Amman Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad Dubai LGG

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

Airlines AIC PIA AXB JAI BBC KLM DLH PIA ETH THY PGT TAR UAE ETD OMA MSR QTR FDB QTR JZR FDB JAI JZR THY RJA KAC GFA THY FDB BAW QTR SVA KAC ABY KAC UAE ETD FDB QTR IRA KAC GFA KAC KAC KAC JZR MEA KAC JZR TMA

Departure Flights on Tuesday 18/3/2014 Flt Route 976 Goa/Chennai 206 Lahore 490 Mangalore/Kochi 573 Mumbai 044 Chittagong/Dhaka 411 Amsterdam 637 Frankfurt 240 Sialkot 621 Addis Ababa 773 Istanbul 859 Istanbul 328 Tunis 854 Dubai 306 Abu Dhabi 644 Muscat 613 Cairo 1085 Doha 068 Dubai 1077 Doha 560 Sohag 070 Dubai 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 164 Dubai 765 Istanbul 643 Amman 545 Alexandria 212 Bahrain 771 Istanbul 054 Dubai 156 London 1087 Doha 513 Riyadh 513 Tehran 126 Sharjah 101 London/New York 856 Dubai 302 Abu Dhabi 056 Dubai 1071 Doha 618 Lar 561 Amman 214 Bahrain 541 Cairo 165 Rome/Paris 677 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 324 Al Najaf 405 Beirut 785 Jeddah 176 Dubai 223 Dubai/Beirut

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:10 00:15 01:10 01:45 01:45 02:10 02:20 02:45 02:55 03:20 03:45 03:50 04:00 04:05 04:10 04:15 05:00 05:15 06:20 06:30 06:45 06:55 07:05 07:05 07:15 07:15 07:30 08:30 08:45 08:50 09:15 09:25 09:40 09:50 09:55 10:05 10:20 10:55 10:55 11:25 11:25 11:30 11:50 12:20 12:40 12:55 13:00 13:45 13:45

MSR UAE FDB QTR KAC KAC KAC KNE SVA KAC JZR ETD QTR JZR UAE RJA ABY SVA UAL GFA JZR JZR FDB QTR AXB GFA KAC FDB OMA ABY KAC MSR KAC JAI IRA KAC DLH DHX ALK MEA ETD GFA KAC FDB UAE KAC KAC KLM QTR KAC

611 872 058 1079 673 741 617 473 501 773 238 304 1073 538 858 641 128 511 982 216 184 134 064 1081 3942 218 283 062 648 120 361 607 351 571 604 343 636 171 230 403 308 220 301 060 860 381 205 415 1075 411

Cairo Dubai Dubai Doha Dubai Dammam Doha Jeddah Jeddah Riyadh Amman Abu Dhabi Doha Cairo Dubai Amman Sharjah Riyadh Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Bahrain Dubai Doha Kozhikode Bahrain Dhaka Dubai Muscat Sharjah Colombo Luxor Kochi Mumbai Esfahan Chennai Dammam Bahrain Colombo Beirut Abu Dhabi Bahrain Mumbai Dubai Dubai Delhi Islamabad Dammam/Amsterdam Doha Bangkok/Manila

14:00 14:15 14:30 14:55 15:05 15:20 15:30 15:30 15:45 16:05 16:55 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:40 19:10 19:25 19:40 20:15 20:15 20:30 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:10 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:50 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:50 22:50 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 490

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Delays at work are likely this morning. You have a good sense of confidence today and may want to review or proof some of your work before presenting your ideas or presentation to others. You may want to invest or use other resources with which to earn extra money. You are motivated to think about and look forward to change. One of the most important activities for the next few weeks is the activity of going-with-the-flow. It is not really your turn to make big changes in the workplace-only changes for yourself right now. A love of music, an appreciation for sensual pleasures, etc., are the signs of the cycle that has begun for you now. Enjoy the social opportunities that come your way this evening. You may need to only respond to an R. S. V. P.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You could be gaining quite a bit of attention this morning. Your expertise is of high value and you may find that higher-ups are calling on you often to teach and guide-patience. You may find yourself feeling rather proud of your accomplishments this day. It may be advisable to apply for an upgrade in your job. Now you could consider the fee or the earned amount for those days you will be teaching. This is an aesthetic and artistic time to be sure, but it is also practical and materialistic: you develop a keen appreciation for the value of things, including the money it takes to buy them. This is a good day for planning your professional life. You may receive some recognition regarding your skills. Go to new places for socializing this evening.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A rapid escape (as by criminals).

4. Lack of sophistication or worldliness.

11. (informal) Elegant and fashionable.

15. The United Nations agency concerned with the interests of labor.

16. A member of a North American Indian people of central Arizona.

17. (Norse mythology) Goddess of old age who defeated Thor in a wrestling match.

18. Lacking sensation.

20. The seventh month of the Moslem calendar.

22. Using the voice.

24. One of two or more atoms with the same atomic number but with different numbers of neutrons.

26. Thick spicy sauce made from tomatoes.

28. A public promotion of some product or service.

30. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper.

31. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld.

32. Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood.

37. Country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the isthmus of Kra to the Malay peninsula.

42. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

43. A unit of electrical power in an AC circuit equal to the power dissipated when 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere.

44. The tissue forming the hard outer layer of e.g. a fruit.

45. Tag the base runner to get him out.

46. Aromatic Eurasian perennial.

48. To the degree or extent.

50. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

51. A town in north central Oklahoma.

52. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

53. (of persons) Highest in rank or authority or office.

55. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984).

57. Curving upward.

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

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

64. God of dawn and light.

67. Correction by erasing.

71. In addition.

72. Proboscis monkeys.

75. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months.

76. A pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished.

77. North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

78. Either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye.

79. Any wingless blood-sucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap.

80. A worker in charge of a lock (on a canal).

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

DOWN 1. Ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path.

2. Scale-like structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged fly.

3. Tropical American bird resembling a blue jay and having greenish and bluish plumage.

4. A Mid-Atlantic state.

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

6. Any of various coarse shrubby plants of the genus Iva with small greenish flowers.

7. Indras's thunderbolt.

8. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

9. A sock with a separation for the big toe.

10. A Loloish language.

11. The cardinal number that is the sum of four and one.

12. A spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter.

13. A blow from a flat object (as an open hand).

14. The dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal).

19. Traditional code of the Japanese samurai which stressed courage and loyalty and selfdiscipline and simple living.

21. A commercial center and river port in western Germany on the Rhine River.

23. A prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor.

25. Large South American evergreen tree trifoliate leaves and drupes with nutlike seeds used as food and a source of cooking oil.

27. Involving two dimensions.

29. A person who announces and plays popular recorded music.

33. Small buffalo of the Celebes having small straight horns.

34. Russian choreographer (1834-1905).

35. Of or relating to a pointed conical tooth.

36. Worn away as by water or ice or wind.

38. Of or relating to or supporting Hinduism.

39. Typical geese.

40. A lawman concerned with narcotics violations.

41. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity.

47. Type genus of the Gerreidae.

49. Having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number.

54. East Indian fruit tree bearing fruit similar to but sweeter than that of the rambutan.

56. Remote city of Kazakhstan that (ostensibly for security reasons) was made the capital in 1998.

58. A minor match preceding the main event.

59. Type genus of the Caricaceae.

61. Obvious and dull.

62. The mission in San Antonio where in 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged and massacred American rebels who were fighting to make Texas independent of Mexico.

65. The twelfth month of the civil year.

66. A small island.

68. Large sweet juicy hybrid between tangerine and grapefruit having a thick wrinkled skin.

69. A sudden short attack.

70. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

73. (of champagne) Moderately dry.

74. (Judaism) Sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

After talking with a friend or co-worker this morning, some past situation is better understood. You may be sitting in on a meeting today and decide you can take charge and accomplish things faster or better than the person leading the group now. Of course, this information would be better kept to yourself. You communicate with feeling and strength. Projects and job responsibilities gain your uppermost attention. You work to complete whatever is set before you. Approach the emotional subjects another time-results will be more positive. Home-based activities are highlighted.

You may work on cleaning out a particular closet or perhaps an area of the garage this evening. This is an excellent time to work off some of your excess energy.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) The travel urge has kicked in but you might want to wait until next month, if possible, for a more satisfying trip. Your enthusiasm is contagious; you can lift spirits around you or teach a class successfully. Matters pertaining to the family, home or property will require your undivided attention-your finances may be unpredictable for a while. Some indecision can get in your way today. Get rid of any negative thinking as this is destructive and unhealthy. This is one of your best overall days. Work on clearing away any emotional baggage. Consider the library as resource for self-help books for positive thinking and merge them into your life. Spring fever will be hitting you later this month and you will be ready to escape your routine.

Leo (July 23-August 22) A long-standing problem with regard to work will be resolved. You will soon feel free to perform better than ever regarding work-related situations.

Events line up in your favor and push you over the top to succeed. Recognition for your accomplishments is forthcoming; meanwhile, just work through one project at a time. This afternoon, you show a great deal of interest in all family matters, particularly concerning the general living environment in the home. You may wish to strengthen the ties with an older family member this afternoon, not necessarily to prove yourself to that person, but to create an avenue through which you can be assured of that person’s welfare. Additional responsibilities may be placed upon you in the context of the home setting.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You may be especially self-motivated just now. There is a lot of energy and drive available for whatever you want to accomplish just now; you may have an urge to move forward too quickly. You feel a love of order and enjoy succeeding at what you set out to accomplish. This afternoon you find ways to help a loved one without being too obvious. This is one of your better days for money but take care not to overindulge. Find time to kick back and relax this evening-this could be the beginning of a busy time and finding those deep breath relaxation minutes may be hard to uncover. You might even want to schedule in a massage for you and your loved one sometime toward the middle of next week. Travel for fun will happen as a surprise; patience.

WORD SEARCH PUZZLE

Libra (September 23-October 22) It is important to open your mind to new and positive possibilities in the workplace. Round-table discussions and new research present mental stimulation that will help you achieve new ideas and new ways to achieve and grow. A project should be successful today. Something you thought was lost can be found. A problem is solved. Also, an idea set aside earlier can now be revised and reintroduced for a successful presentation. This afternoon, a future gambling or camping trip could be planned with friends and loved ones. You have energies around you now that increase your ability to clear away a recent misunderstanding. You may find yourself and a loved one watching or looking through some old family pictures this evening.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A feeling of being in harmony with yourself and others is important at this time. Stability and permanence satisfies a deep emotional need. Because you are focused you are able to achieve and move forward regarding sales, customer service and business in general. A worry over relations with a business partner, spouse or friend is needless; relax and leave well enough alone! A volunteer opportunity arises this afternoon and it is something you believe in strongly . . . Consider giving of your time to this issue. You will be able to make a positive difference. Music is likely to play a more important role for you than usual this afternoon. If you are not giving music lessons you may decide to begin music lessons this month.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Mental stimulation from others is the key for this day. Your curiosity puts you in a mood to solve problems today and you will find plenty of opportunities.

You cooperate and compromise as much as possible; however, what proves successful just now is your ability to guide or lead others in a group project. Your administration abilities are in high focus. You may decide to visit friends after work. A feeling of being confident, in control and at peace with your own progress in life is positive and you influence others. You lead and others naturally follow. Romance is possible this evening, especially with your efforts in mending fences. This may literally mean you fix a neighbor’s fence. An announcement this evening puts everyone in a good mood.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) New means of self-expression are possible. This may mean things like some personal item in the cup-holder or your name on the panel. You may find yourself moving toward the more unconventional and less traditional. Eccentricities and a different manner of presenting yourself may be in order. You should expend great zest in moneymaking efforts but show caution in your choice of activities. You are usually hardworking and ambitious on the professional level, but it may be hard to get your attention later this afternoon. It is important to develop a team attitude so as not to alienate fellow workers. Be attentive to your own needs this evening. A nice long soak in the tub or a massage would be a wonderful way to relax.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your decisions are on target today. Everything seems to be working together to achieve the finest results. There may be some business that you can do at home today; however, you may be happier to put it aside and spend time with your loved ones. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. You have a clearminded insight into your own plans now and this includes a loved one. You are kind, loving, trusting and forgiving. This attitude contributes toward the building of strong families. This is a very good time to communicate your goals and put them into words. You help a youngster with homework this evening that may take you away from the house. Take some hot chocolate and a tape recorder to keep notes.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) An interview or a story has you really preoccupied this morning. Seeing the world as no other person can see it is an exciting experience and you look forward to learning more. This could mean anything from a little scuba diving to exploring a cave or climbing a mountain. These are your thoughts this morning as you enter the workplace. These thoughts also seem to give you that incentive to think outside the box.

Reading and learning are always exciting, and you should plan to set as one of your goals this coming year to teach others about learning through reading. You will find a song, a poem or some saying that will show others how much you appreciate them. You hold your good friends close. Happy birthday!

Challenging Mazes

Yesterday’s Solution Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

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36

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Lohan wants nothing to do with her half-siblings

Cruise has solid relationship with Kidman

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onnor Cruise and mother Nicole Kidman have a “solid” relationship.

The 19-year-old DJ insisted rumors he is estranged from the Australian actress - who adopted him with then-husband Tom Cruise in 1995 - are wide of the mark and says his family mean “everything” to him. He told Australia’s Woman’s Day magazine: “I love my mum. I don’t care what people say.

I know that me and mum are solid. I love her a lot. My family means everything. Yeah, I love my music, but the family comes before everything else.” It has previously been claimed that Connor and his sister Isabella, 21, have a strained relationship with their mother because of their ties to the Church of Scientology and Nicole - who has children Sunday, five, and Faith, three, with husband Keith Urban - even admitted they don’t call her “mom” anymore. Speaking in 2007, she said: “My kids don’t call me mommy, they don’t even call me mom. They call me Nicole, which I hate and tell them off for it.” She has also spoken of her sadness that the children opted to live with Tom after they separated in 2001. She said: “They live with Tom, which was their choice. I’d love them to live with us, but what can you do?”

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he ‘Mean Girls’ star insists her father Michael Lohan’s daughter Ashley - who was born in 1995 to Kristi Kaufmann, who he had a relationship with while separated from Lindsay’s mother Dina - and son Landon, 13 months, who he has with girlfriend Kate Major, will never be welcomed into her family. Lindsay - who has siblings Cody, Ali and Michael Jr - said: “My dad has this whole other life with all these other people that he’s created...and I do not want to be a part of that.. “They are not part of my life and they never will be.” Lindsay’s comments came on her reality docuseries ‘Lindsay’ after she had a row with her father over dinner when she asked him to buy a car for 18-year-old Cody. He protested: “I have child support...that’s supposed to be for the kids.” Lindsay replied: “I do not want to talk about your two other random kids. “Out of all of us Cody’s the one that deserves something the most. It hurts me to see him not getting something that all his friends are getting... he doesn’t have a dad to take him to soccer games...he needs his father.” However, Michael hit back: “Your mother cut me out of his life.” Later in the show, the pair also clashed again with the 27-yearold star furious at her father’s criticisms of her friends. She seethed: “They’re people that you don’t think were good for people. See, now you’re getting me angry - because you weren’t good for me for a long time in my life!” Michael replied: “Well, if that’s what you believe, that’s fine, honey, I accept that though. I totally accept that.” Lindsay later added to the camera: “So my dad makes a nasty comment about my friends, it hurts me. “They may go out and do what they want to do but they’re not the kind of people who are going to do it around me, and that’s what matters to me. They’re good people. “They’ve been there for me when I didn’t have other people that were, you know, when other people weren’t.”!”

Sendy Lohan

Nicole Kidman

Sheen and Mueller celebrate twins' birthday

P Diddy puts apartment up for sale

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Diddy is selling his New York apartment for $7.9 million. The rap mogul is moving out of his 66th floor 2,300 square foot home and is currently searching for a bigger property so he can throw big parties and events similar to those he enjoys at his mansion on Star Island in Miami. A source told the New York Post newspaper: “Diddy wants to move downtown, into a larger apartment where he can entertain and throw parties without disturbing the neighbors.”

Diddy’s current New York property boasts a piano room, a Crestron system which controls sound through the entire apartment, and a living room with a built-in 90-inch flat-screen television. Diddy - whose real name is Sean Combs - previously listed the property for sale in 2012 for $8.5 million. As well as looking for a new New York base, the 44-year-old star has also been house hunting in Beverly Hills. According to gossip website TMZ, the ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ star has been looking at a $12 million 11,200 square foot home in the gated Beverly Ridge community, but is investigating the local homeowners’ association’s policies on parties before he will consider making an offer. And it may be that their rules are good enough for him, as though big parties require a valet service and security and noise regulations are enforced, the neighborhood body are said to be “flexible” as the community is home to lots of famous residents who are known for their parties. The property - which Kim Kardashian considered buying last year - was custom built for Keyshawn Johnson in 2003, but the sportsman sold it the following year.

P Diddy

Allison Williams: Engagement doesn’t feel ‘real’

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llison Williams’ engagement still doesn’t feel “real”. The ‘Girls’ star got engaged to her boyfriend of three years Ricky Van Veen after he popped the question last month and she admits she has no idea when and where they will marry, much to the frustration of her friends. She said: “Literally, we have not even started thinking about the logistics of the wedding. It’s so funny, even my friends are like, ‘So, ballpark, just tell me what time of year, just in case I travel,’ and I have no idea. “As of now, it just exists as this hypothetical thing that will happen eventually. And none of it has started to become real yet. So eventually that’ll become things that we’re concerned with. But for now, it’s just the fun part.” Allison also admitted she won’t let her engagement ring out of her sight as ‘Girls’ co-star Lena Dunham keeps threatening to “hide” it, so she will even keep it on her when shooting scenes as single Marnie.

She told People: “Lena has already threatened to hide my engagement ring, which I really hope she doesn’t do. “She’s like, ‘We’re gonna have to find ways to hide it while we’re shooting.’ I was like, ‘OK, then I’m going to hide it on part of my body that you can’t see.’ I know she’s obviously kidding.”

Allison Williams

harlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller threw a birthday party for their twins Bob and Max on Saturday. The pair - who have been locked in a bitter custody war about their children - put their differences aside to plan the bash, which took place the day after the boys’ 5th birthday. Charlie’s fiancée Brett Rossi - who also helped them work out plans for the celebrations - was also present at ‘Anger Management’ star’s house for the party, gossip website TMZ reports. The celebrations come after Brooke - who originally lost custody of the twins when she was placed on involuntary psychiatric hold at the UCLA Medical Center last year - moved back into the Mulholland Estates house the 48-year-old actor bought her.

The 36-year-old star is now taking care of her sons, rather than her brother, Scott, who was appointed their guardian before Christmas. A source said: “Brooke has been living at the mansion in Mulholland Estates since before Christmas. “The boys had been living at the house with their temporary guardian, Scott Mueller, but he hasn’t been spotted at the house lately.

“He’s been back at his house in Orange County [California] to be with his family. Brooke does have a nanny and a sober living companion also with her in the house. There just wasn’t enough room at the condominium she had been living at for her staff.” Before Scott took custody of the boys, they had been looked after by another of Charlie’s ex-wives, Denise Richards. However, last November she relinquished care of the twins as she worried their violent behavior was putting her daughters Sam, 10, Lola, eight, and Eloise, two, in danger.

David Beckham

Beckham’s nephew for second operation

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avid Beckham’s nephew is undergoing a second life-saving operation. The retired soccer star is praying his 11-week-old nephew, Jenson James, who has been in intensive care suffering from severe respiratory problems, will pull through after a stomach operation, following an emergency tracheotomy, where a tube was inserted into his throat. Jenson’s dad, Kevin Briggs, 41, told The Sun newspaper: “David calls every day and has been amazing. His mum Sandra is also a godsend. We’re praying for Jenson.” Jenson is the son of David’s sister Lynne and hasn’t been home since he was born on December 30, having been moved to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital from Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Essex. He has suffered with breathing difficulties and doctors think he could also have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), a common condition where stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and into the oesophagus, meaning he struggles to keep food down. It was previously revealed David - who has four children, Brooklyn,14, Romeo, 11, Cruz, eight, and two-year-old daughter Harper with wife Victoria was delighted to become an uncle for the fifth time but has been seriously concerned about Jenson’s health. He has been in “constant contact” with his sister and her partner Kevin since his nephew was born.

Scherzinger getting to know Hamilton again

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icole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton are getting to know each other again. The 35-year-old singer and the 29-year-old Formula One star have been dating on and off since 2006 and although they appeared to have split for good last year, rumors emerged last week that the pair had got engaged after Lewis posted a picture of them on Instagram and referred to Nicole as “wifey” in the caption. However, though Lewis has insisted they haven’t got engaged, insiders say the couple’s relationship is very much back on.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “There’s always speculation and they are very committed to one another but they have only been back together since Christmas. “They want to spend time getting to know each other again without having to worry about wedding bells.” The couple’s relationship has failed in the past as they’ve struggled to juggle their work commitments with spending time with one another, but as Nicole has decided to step down from her position as a judge on ‘The X Factor’ she could have more time to visit the racer as he competes in Grand Prix across the world. Lewis has also revealed that his relationship with his father, Anthony Hamilton, is back on track after falling out with one another following the race car driver’s decision to drop him as his manager in 2010. Speaking at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday he said: “There are no problems between us now, he even goes to some of my races and always supports me ... My dad is my dad and we have a normal dadand-son relationship.”

Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton

Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller

Minogue announces UK tour

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ylie Minogue has announced a new European tour. The 45-year-old singer’s 31-date run of shows will open in the UK in September, and will see her visit 15 countries in support of her new album ‘Kiss Me Once’, which was released yesterday Kylie will play 12 dates in the UK and Ireland, beginning in Liverpool on September 24, then calling to Manchester, two dates at London’s The O2, Cardiff, Nottingham, Birmingham, Dublin, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow and ending in Sheffield on November 13. Meanwhile, the ‘Into the Blue’ singer will perform an intimate London show tomorrow night. The gig will take place at Bloomsbury Ballroom in front of 300 MasterCard holders who were lucky enough to win tickets in an online ballot at pricelesslondon.co.uk. She said: “I love performing in the UK and can’t wait to get on stage in front of such an intimate crowd. Having the opportunity to get up close and personal with my fans is Priceless - I’m looking forward to sharing the music from my brand new album - and a fun night with my fans!” The show is part of MasterCard’s Priceless Gigs series which bring music fans closer to their idols. Artists taking part this year include British singing sensation Laura Mvula and Pharrell Williams. For updates on Priceless Gigs and other Priceless London experiences, register at priceless. com/london/ and follow MasterCard on twitter @MasterCardUK. Tickets for the ‘Kiss Me Once’ tour go on sale at 9am on March 21.

Kylie Minogue

37

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

‘Star Trek’ actor Pine pleads guilty to DUI

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hris Pine has pleaded guilty to drink driving. The ‘Star Trek’ actor was fined $93 and had his driver’s license suspended for six months during a court hearing at the Ashburton district court in New Zealand today. Chris’ lawyer, Marilyn Gilchrist, had applied for the star to be discharged without conviction after claiming he had already suffered emotionally and professionally because of the worldwide negative coverage of his crime. The judge, Joanna Maze, said she accepted Chris was “entirely remorseful” of his actions as he had pleaded guilty to the charge at the earliest opportunity and had complied with the police. The 33-year-old star was stopped by officers in a “routine operation” in Methven, Canterbury, New Zealand, on March 1 and was arrested after tests revealed his blood-alcohol level was 0.11 per cent, which is over New Zealand’s legal limit of 0.08 per cent. Chris was in the country filming ‘Z for Zachariah’ and had been out celebrating the end of the shoot, the night before he was arrested. Blue Pub Methven manager Casey Crawford said around 70 cast and crew members, and local volunteers had hired the nightspot on February 28, with the party ending around 3am on March 1, the morning the actor was arrested. Mr Crawford said previously: “Chris Pine arrived here and had his supermodel girlfriend [Iris Bjork Johannesdottir] with him.” He added: “You can see the photos behind the bar with our staff and he looked fine, I only ever saw him drinking tap beer and his partner she was just drinking sav wine.”

Chris Pine

Jolie only helm ‘certain kind of film’

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Drake and Rihanna

Drake gives Rihanna ultimatum over Brown

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ngelina Jolie admits she’d only direct a “certain kind of film”. The 38-year-old actress was previously rumored to be in the line up to helm forthcoming ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movie - which is being directed by Sam Taylor-Wood - and insists she’s better at telling “some stories than others”. Asked about what actually happened regarding talks about the adaptation of E. L. James’ erotic trilogy, she told Entertainment Weekly magazine: “I - I was just.” Before adding: “I - I think they’re just ... it’s funny, I think with directing, you just think, ‘I’m better at telling some stories than others,’ but, um, who knows?”I came very clear out of the gate after [2011’s romantic drama] ‘Blood And Honey’, if I ever directed again, it would have to be a certain kind of film.” Jolie is “looking forward” to watching ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, which stars Jamie Dornan as sadomasochistic billionaire Christian Grey while Dakota Johnson plays his love interest Anastasia Steele. The ‘Malificent’ actress added: “You know, I’m looking forward to seeing what Sam does with Fifty Shades and she’s amazing.”

rake has banned Rihanna from speaking to her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. The ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ rapper has reportedly told his beau he’ll only make their relationship official if she agrees to cut all ties with the 24-year-old singer. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “Rihanna and Drake are just having fun at the moment. Neither of them are relationship people really.

But Drake has made it clear that if things are going to get serious with them, he doesn’t want her speaking with Chris. “They are never going to get along properly.” Despite their turbulent past, Rihanna, 26, has never been able to stop complete contact with Chris, who left her bloodied and bruised when he physically assaulted her during an altercation in 2009. Earlier this year, the former lovers, who dated on-and-off for three years, began texting each other more regularly. However, Rihanna won’t be seeing Chris for a little while as he is currently behind bars after he allegedly violated a judge’s order by getting kicked out of the rehab facility in Malibu last week.

The ‘Fine China’ hitmaker was chucked out of the facility for allegedly breaking “internal rules” and, although it is not known what he done, it is not believed to be linked to violence or drugs. Chris had been ordered to spend time in rehab for anger issues after an alleged assault in Washington DC in October, which stemmed from his attack on Rihanna five years ago.

Lupita nyong’o for Star Wars VII role?

Angelina Jolie

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upita Nyong’o is in talks for a role in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’.

The 31-year-old actress reportedly had a meeting with the movie’s director J.J. Abrams ahead of the Academy Awards earlier this month to discuss the lead female part in the upcoming sequel. Bosses are remaining tight-lipped on the role Nyong’o has been discussing, but it is believed the character could be linked to Obi-Wan Kenobi, which has been described as a non-Caucasian part. However, Abrams is still eyeing up a number of stars to make the complete cast, with Jesse Plemons being one of the actors to beat for a part, but Ed Speleers and John Boyega are also in the run-in. Meanwhile, Adam Driver is in final negotiations to play an undisclosed villain in the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Nyong’o has taken Hollywood by storm after her breakout debut in Steve McQueen’s ‘12 Years A Slave’, which saw her play slave girl Patsey opposite Chiwitel Ejiofor, and earned her an Oscar award earlier this month for the Best Supporting Actress. She was most recently seen in the thriller ‘Non-Stop’ with Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Michelle Dockery.

Styles writing with Kodaline Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter returning for Alice in Wonderland sequel

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arry Styles is collaborating with Kodaline. The One Direction hunk was impressed with the Irish band - made up of Steve Garrigan, Jason Boland, Vincent May and Mark Prendergrast - after he saw them play live and decided he wanted to work with them while on a break from touring with his band. Mark told The Sun newspaper: “He came along to one of our gigs, then showed up at another in LA.” We ended up going into the studio - I can’t remember who suggested it but it worked out well.” The ‘High Hopes’ band were impressed with Harry’s attitude and insist the heartthrob - who was catapulted to the spotlight alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne following their success on UK’s ‘X Factor’ - is “just normal” and doesn’t act like an egotistical superstar. Mark added: “He’s a nice lad, just normal. There was no big entourage or airs or graces or any of that, he really just wanted to make some music.” The curly-haired hunk, 20, also teamed up with John Legend recently, to pen a track for US ‘X Factor’ duo Alex and Sierra and is said to have been interested in writing for 5 Seconds Of Summer and girl band Neon Jungle.

-Bang Showbiz

elena Bonham Carter is returning for the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ sequel. The British actress has been confirmed to reprise her role as the evil Red Queen in ‘Through The Looking Glass’ opposite Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska, who are back as the Mad Hatter and Alice respectively. According to Variety.com, the tyrant ruler will once again cause havoc after she returns from the Outlands, where she was banished by the Hatter and the White Queen (Anne Hathaway). However, details of the plot remain a mystery since Tim Burton borrowed from both Lewis Carroll’s classic novels ‘The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There’ for the first film. New director James Bobin is directing from a script by Linda Woolverton, with a release set for May 2016. Hathaway and Matt Lucas - who played twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum - could also be returning for the sequel.

Bonham Carter next appears in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s ‘The Young And Prodigious T.S. Spivet’ this summer, followed by the new ‘Cinderella’ adaptation next Spring.

Harry Styles

Lupita Nyong’s

38

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

Early George Harrison guitar leads Beatles memorabilia auction

‘12 Years a Slave’ Author’s Death Still a Mystery

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In this July 18, 2012, film publicity image released by Fox Searchlight, Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Solomon Northup in a scene from “12 Years A Slave.”—AP

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istorians know where Solomon Northup was born, where he lived and where he worked. They know whom he married and how many children he had. They know he played the fiddle and spent 12 years enslaved in the South before being freed.

What historians don’t know about the author of “12 Years a Slave” is when and how he died and where he is buried. It’s a lingering mystery in the final chapter of the life of the 19th-century free-born AfricanAmerican whose compelling account of enforced slavery in pre-Civil War Louisiana was made into the Oscar-winning film of the same title.

“That’s sort of a big blank spot in the story, for sure,” said Rachel Seligman, co-author of “Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave,” published last year. This month, “12 Years a Slave” took home the Academy Awards for best picture, best adapted screenplay and best supporting actress. The accolades have sparked new interest in Northup’s story, which was little known until recent years even in the upstate New York communities where he spent most of his life.

Northup was born July 10, 1807, in what is now the Essex County town of Minerva, in the Adirondack Mountains. His father, a former slave, moved the family to neighboring Washington County, eventually settling in the village of Fort Edward, on the Hudson River 40 miles north of Albany. Northup married Anne Hampton in the late 1820s, and the couple lived in an 18th-century house in Fort Edward that is now a museum.

Northup worked on his father’s farm and rafted timber on the Champlain Canal between Fort Edward and the southern end of Lake Champlain. The couple and their children moved to nearby Saratoga Springs when Anne got a job in one of the growing spa resort town’s big hotels. Northup found work as a musician, and in 1841, two white men lured him to Washington, D.C., with the promise of more work.

Instead, they kidnapped him and took him to New Orleans, where he was sold into slavery.

he published a memoir of his ordeal that led to a speaking tour supported by abolitionists. He got involved in the Underground Railroad, helping escaped slaves find freedom in the Northeast and Canada.

But around 1863, the height of the Civil War, he dropped out of sight and was never heard from again. Even the movie notes at the end that “the date, location and circumstances” of Northrup’s death remain unknown.

Theories abound about what may have happened to him. One scenario has him being captured and killed while serving as a spy for the Union Army. The man who helped rescue him said he believed Northup had taken to drink and was kidnapped yet again. Or Northup could have died in a place where no one knew him or cared to properly bury an African-American at a time when a war over slavery was tearing the nation apart.

“He may have just wandered around from place to place and died somewhere nobody knew who he was, and he was buried in a potter’s field,” said David Fiske, co-author the 2013 Northup book along with Union College professor Clifford Brown. “There’s no paper trail for him,” Brown added.

Fiske said Northup’s descendants also couldn’t provide any documents or hard facts, so he has followed numerous threads while trying to track down where Northup may have been buried. He checked cemeteries in communities outside Saratoga and other upstate communities where Northup’s wife and their children later lived, but came up empty. No death records have ever been found for him. Fiske, a former state librarian, points out that death records weren’t kept in a systematic form in New York until the 1880s.

For Seligman, a museum curator at Skidmore College, host of this July’s annual Solomon Northup Day, the mystery surrounding Northup’s demise and resting place is part of the allure of being a historian. “It’s what keeps historians going,” she said. “It’s just a puzzle to be solved.”—AP

n electric guitar played by George Harrison on British television prior to the Beatles’ “invasion” of the United States will go on the auction block along with a rare album cover signed by the Fab Four, Julien’s Auctions said yesterday. Harrison’s black-and-white 1962 Rickenbacker 425 electric guitar is expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000 at an auction on May 16-17 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.

Harrison, who died in 2001 at age 58, played the guitar on 1963 appearances on British TV shows “Ready Steady Go!” and “Thank Your Lucky Stars” months before the group brought Beatlemania to the United States with a series of performances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in February 1964, launching the British Invasion of rock bands. The guitarist bought the instrument in 1963 in Mount Vernon, Illinois, while on a trip to visit his sister, according to the Beverly Hills, California, auction house.

The guitar, which Harrison had painted white and black to match John Lennon’s Rickenbacker guitar, was also used during the sessions when the band recorded “I Want to

Controversial scenarios Northup endured the next 12 years enslaved on a Louisiana cotton plantation before friends in Saratoga finally won his freedom. In 1853,

George Harrison

Paul Stanley:

Future has his mind on the future at SXSW

Kiss miffed at Rock Hall over snub

In this May 8, 2008 file photo, members of Kiss, from left, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer, poses for a photograph during a news conference to promote the start of their KISS Alive/35 European Tour in Oberhausen, Germany.—AP

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aul Stanley of Kiss wants to shout it out loud: The band is miffed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not inducting members Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer along with the original lineup. Kiss is scheduled to be inducted into the Rock Hall on April 10 in New York City. But Stanley said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press that he doesn’t think the Rock Hall is being fair and that the organization has altered their rules for other acts.

“We have continuing issues with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, starting with the fact that they chose to only induct the original lineup when that’s hardly the case with other bands,” he said from Los Angeles.

“In the Grateful Dead’s case, (they) also inducted a writer who never played an instrument,” said Stanley, referring to Robert Hunter’s inclusion when the band was inducted in 1994. “Or they’ve

inducted rap artists, or they’ve inducted people who have been in the band for seven years as opposed to ... 25 years or 20 years - whatever their criteria of this week is.”

A representative for the Rock Hall didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment. Acts become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Kiss wrote on its website last month that it would not perform at the Rock Hall induction. The original members from 1973 - Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley - are scheduled for induction. Criss left the band in 1980 and Frehley left in 1982.

Other members joined during the 1980s, but the current lineup includes Singer, who joined in 1992, and Thayer, who came on board in 2003.—AP

Hold Your Hand” and “This Boy” in October 1963. Harrison later gave the guitar to friend and musician George Peckham, who played it in an appearance on UK TV show “Top of the Pops” with the band the Fourmost.

Also up for sale is a copy of the album “Beatles ‘65” signed by Lennon, Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The album is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000 because it was rare for all four members of the group to sign copies of albums after their popularity exploded in the United States in 1964. A used Hofner bass rented by McCartney in the mid1960s is expected to sell for $30,000 to $50,000, while a signed cover by the group of the 1963 album “Please Please Me” is expected to bring in between $40,000 and $50,000.

An original artwork by Lennon called “Shroud of Tourin” is estimated to sell for $20,000 to $30,000. The piece of un-stretched canvas, created circa 1966, shows a man who looks like Lennon with a Batman symbol on his chest and words scrawled across it.—Reuters

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B-52s’ Fred Schneider says don’t eat the lobster

uture had one last spot to fill on his upcoming album and he wanted Kanye West to guest. He sent over a few tracks and what happened next was completely unexpected. “He picked this ‘I Won’ track,” the Atlanta producerrapper said Saturday during a two-day stop at South By Southwest. “He did the verse in one day and sent it back. That’s rare when you get a Kanye verse back in one day, so you know it’s one of them records when he does the verse and sends it back in 24 hours. That’s the icing on the cake with the album.”

Future began to debut tracks from “Honest,” out April 22, at the annual music conference and festival on Friday and said he was excited for the wider world to hear what he feels is a very personal album. “Honest” also includes guest appearances from stars like Pharrell, Drake, Andre 3000 and Wiz Khalifa. West’s appearance on “I Won” is one of the more personal moments, encapsulating how

deeply in love each is with the women in their lives. West is engaged to Kim Kardashian and Future will marry Ciara later this year. The song compares their relationships with the feeling of winning a trophy. “When you have songs like that, they empower women,” he said.

‘Superstar’ baby “I just feel like I want to big up women just in general, from my lady to his lady, to all women, to make sure they get their light on them and just knowing they’re important.” Future has much more going on this year than just the album. He’s got a tour to rehearse for and can’t take all the outside production opportunities he’s being offered. He’s also launching an apparel line. That’s just the business side.

In his personal life, he’s preparing for the birth of a child with Ciara and trying to plan their wedding.—AP

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ne of the founders of the quirky rock band The B-52s is using the 35th anniversary of its hit “Rock Lobster” to reiterate his opposition to eating them. Fred Schneider says he stopped eating crustaceans at age 4 after going crabbing with family in New Jersey and watching them boiled alive. The lifelong vegetarian said in video narrated for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that he views crabs and lobsters not as seafood but as “sea life.”

Schneider got the idea for “Rock Lobster” when a projector displayed images including lobsters on a grill at an Atlanta disco. He said he thought, “Rock this, rock that... rock lobster!” The band jammed on the title and the song was born. The band’s other hits include “Love Shack” and “Roam.”—AP

US film director and actor Ben Stiller poses for pictures with a fan prior to the Japanese premiere of his movie “The Life of Walter Mitty” in Tokyo yesterday.

The movie will be screening in Japan from March 19.—AFP

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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Apps aid fashionistas in tracking down desired clothing, shoes

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ashionistas envious of clothing, shoes and accessories worn by strangers or seen on websites can turn to new apps for hassle-free shopping to find, and buy or rent, similar items.

Like the music app Shazam, which identifies songs based on sound clips, new fashion apps use photos and image recognition technology to find similar clothing. “People see items they like on the street but can’t really go up to the person wearing them and ask where they got them,” said Daniela Cecilio, the chief executive of London-based startup Asap54.

“Or they might see items they like on Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook or Twitter, but can’t really click through to buy them,” she added, referring to the social media websites. With the Asap54 app for iPhone, which was launched last month, users take a photo of an item, or upload an existing one, and describe what it is to help the app identify it. The app recommends something similar from more than 150 retail partners across the United State, Europe and other countries.

The Style Eyes app for iPhone and Android also uses a photo to find the desired or a similar item, which can be purchased from its catalog of 600 retailers in Britain and 300 in the United States. Mark Elfenbein, chief digital officer of Toronto-based start-up company Slyce, said its image recognition technology integrates with retail brands so shoppers can find things by taking a photo with their iPhone or scanning an image from

their desktop.

Tracking details “The way brands are trying to communicate with customers is changing. Historically, they would lure customers to their stores or websites, but now we’re seeing that brands want to create transactions in other places too,” Elfenbein said. The technology recognizes information such as how far apart buttons are, and fabric and stitching to help power visual searches.

But image recognition is still inexact and depends on the quality of the photo and other factors, such as lighting. To overcome the drawbacks Elfenbein said, Slyce uses a mix of technology and crowd sourcing to improve its search results.

Other apps making shopping easier include Pounce for Ios, created by Tel Aviv-based company BuyCode Inc It allows consumers to buy items directly from retail advertisements from stores such as Lord & Taylor and office supply company Staples, Inc by hovering their smartphone camera over an image.

With the eBay Fashion iPhone app users in the United States and Britain can upload an image to find similar items available for sale on eBay. For consumers more interested in renting than buying, Rent the Runway’s iPhone app uses a photo of an item seen in a store to find something similar that customers can rent instead.—Reuters

Lakme Fashion Week Pretty Stoned Models showcase creations by designer Payal Khandwal on the sixth day of the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) summer/resort 2014 in Mumbai yesterday. –AP/AFP photos

Anju Modi

Ileana D’Cruz

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Madame Mantis: An exquisite furniture store in Kuwait

adame Mantis, the exquisite concept furniture store specialized in bringing uniquely designed pieces of furniture, accents, fashion accessories, and jewelry, from designers around the world, recently made its grand opening in Al-Mutawaa Mall located at Shuwaikh Industrial area.

The store includes a wide range of exquisite masterpieces which are designed according to the highest quality standards delivered by the most talented, well-known and emerging designers from the US, Canada, Europe, Sweden, Netherlands, London, Italy, Spain and Germany such as, the One-of-a-kind “Head Trip Sculpture” by Kelly Wearstler, adorned with vari-

ous crystals and gems in jewelry bezel settings, and hand-toweled Venetian plaster. Other outstanding items include the beautifully painted “White Lies Table” marble table by Nick Ross, and the prickly “Silkie Sculpture” by Jennifer Maestre, made entirely from colored pencil ends and inspired from the fascinating sea urchins.

The store management expressed their happiness and satisfaction with the level of interaction with the designs displayed, and the increasing number of people who are interested in such unique and limited designer pieces ranging from contemporary and modern designs to classic and vintage ones.

Madame Mantis is a concept created by Nasser Abdulrahman Al-Eisa, a designer, and Abdulrahman Barrak Al-Babtain, a businessman, who felt that a new perspective in art and design should be introduced in Kuwait and the Middle East.

Providing customers with unique and elegant pieces is the mission of Madame Mantis Concept Store. In addition, to endorse and encourage young local designers to grow their brands locally and internationally.

Apps aid fashionistas in tracking down desired clothing, shoes

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

39

Indians throw colored powder and dance during celebrations marking Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Gauhati, India, yesterday. The holiday, celebrated mainly in India and Nepal, marks the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil.—AP/AFP photos

Indians splash colors in Hindu spring festival

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illions of Indians splashed bright colors on each other yesterday to celebrate the popular Hindu festival of Holi, which marks the start of spring. The ‘Festival of Colors’ saw revelers pour onto streets across the country, smearing and splashing powder, known as ‘gulal’, and water on others to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Many politicians, including ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, jubilantly celebrated Holi covered in fluorescent hues with party workers, family and friends.

“May the festival bring health, happiness and prosperity to all,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wished the country of 1.2 billion people in a statement on his website. Opposition prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi greeted Indians on mobile phones with an audio

Cavemen’s rock music makes a comeback

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housands of years after they resonated in caves, two dozen stone chimes used by our prehistoric forefathers will make music once more in a unique series of concerts in Paris.

Known as lithophones, the instruments have been dusted off from museum storage to be played in public for the first time to give modern Man an idea of his ancestral sounds. After just three shows—two on Saturday (March 22) and a third the following Monday—the precious stones will be packed away again, forever.

“That will be their last concert together,” music archaeologist Erik Gonthier of the Natural History Museum in Paris, told AFP ahead of the production. “We will never repeat it, for ethical reasons—to avoid damaging our cultural heritage.

We don’t want to add to the wear of these instruments.” Dubbed “Paleomusique”, the piece was written by classical composer Philippe Fenelon to showcase the mineral clang and echo of instruments from beyond recorded time.

They will be played xylophone-style by four percussionists from the French National Orchestra gently tapping the stones with mallets. The point is to highlight our ancestors’ musical side, which Gonthier says is often overshadowed by their rock-painting and tool-making prowess. In fact, he believes, there might have been a strong link between music and visual art in prehistoric caves. “These were the first theatre or cinema halls,” he speculated. The instruments, carefullycrafted stone rods up to a meter (3.2 feet) in length, have been in the muse-

um’s collection since the early 20th century. They have been dated to between 2500 and 8000 BC, a period known as the New Stone Age, characterized by human use of stone tools, pottery-making, the rise of farming and animal domestication. For decades, their solid, oblong shape made experts believe they were pestles or grinders of grain.

Notes from stone But that perception changed a decade ago, thanks to a stroke of fortune.

Gonthier, a former jeweller and stonecutter, discovered their true, musical nature when he tapped one with a mallet in the storeroom of the museum in 1994.

Instead of a dull thud he heard musical potential, and decided to investigate further. “I thought back to my grandmother’s piano and the small supports which made the strings resonate.

“I found some packaging foam in the trashcans of the museum I made two rests that I placed under either end of the lithophone, and tapped it. It made a clear ‘tinnnnggg,” Gonthier recounted.

“My heart beat like crazy. I knew that I had found something great.” Gonthier named his first lithophone “Stradivarius” after the famous makers of string instruments. The instrument was the result of a “grain-by-grain” chipping process that could have taken as much as two years to complete. Five years after his discovery, “Stradivarius” and dozens of other stones in the museum’s collection were officially recognized as lithophones, a known if obscure category of musical instruments.—AFP

message, in which he urged voters to change the fate of the world’s largest democracy when it goes to polls next month. “The country has been submerged into the color of elections. Election is the festival of Holi for the democracy. Let’s celebrate this festival of democracy to change the fate of India,” Modi said in his audio message.

In the capital New Delhi, neighborhoods were splattered in a rainbow of colors as people from all walks of life playfully chased each other with water guns, water balloons and spray paint and danced to the beat of drums in clouds of flying powder. Holi is primarily celebrated in India, Nepal and other countries with large Hindu populations. It falls on the last full moon day of the lunar month at the end of winter.—AFP