Barrak claims billions in public funds siphoned off

GAZA: Palestine Liberation Organizationdelegates arrived in Gaza yesterday todiscuss unity with militant group Hamasfor the first time since their 2007 conflict,in a potential boost for Palestinian presi-dent Mahmoud Abbas. Few Palestiniansexpect a breakthrough in the deadlockthat has paralysed Palestinian politics,and many have low expectations of any

resolution to the seemingly endless duel.A deal could restore a measure of sover-eignty to Abbas in Gaza and boost hisnegotiating power with Israel in anyfuture peace talks, although such a part-nership could also provoke a backlashfrom Israel against the PLO in the occu-pied West Bank.

Continued on Page 15

SUBSCRIPTIO

N

Max 40ºMin 26ºHigh Tide06:50 & 17:57 Low Tide11:46

40 P

AG

ESN

O: 1

6144

150

FILS

3 7 25 20WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014 JAMADA ALTHANI 23, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net

Philippines embassy doing everything to help deportees

New Syria chemical claims emerge

Bader Al-Kharafi appointed to Coutts Mideast Advisory Board

Atletico frustrated by defence-minded Chelsea

Barrak claims billions in

public funds siphoned offCourt to decide next week on closure of newspapers

By Staff Reporter

KUWAIT: Coordinator of the Opposition Coalition and for-mer MP Musallam Al-Barrak revealed during an interview onAl-Youm satellite channel that a former senior official’s cashholdings swelled from $235 million in June 2007 to as muchas $23 billion in Dec 2013, attributing this to massive corrup-tion of public funds. He however did not reveal the name ofthe official but insisted that he has documents to prove hisclaims. Barrak also strongly lashed out at the governmentfor causing the closure of Al-Watan and Alam Al-Youm news-papers for two weeks, claiming this is a move to stifle free-doms.

In a related development, the lower court yesterday setnext Tuesday as the date to issue its verdict on a petitionagainst the closure of the newspapers, but refused to allowthe papers to resume publication. A judge on Sundayordered the two papers shut for two weeks for allegedly vio-lating a news blackout slapped by the attorney general. Thetwo newspapers challenged the order on Monday demand-ing that it should be scrapped and urgently asked the courtto allow the papers to resume publication until the courthas issued a decision.

Defense lawyers blamed the government lawyer forcausing the papers to remain shut after he demanded adelay in the ruling until he had read the case and preparedhis defense. The new decision means that the two newspa-pers will not be able to publish their print edition at leastuntil April 30. The original order expires on May 3. Al-Watannewspaper is owned by Sheikh Ali Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah, a for-mer minister and a senior member of the ruling family, whileAlam Al-Youm is close to the opposition.

Opposition MP Riyadh Al-Adasani threatened on Mondaythat he could include the closure of the two newspapers in aplanned grilling against the prime minister in cooperationwith MPs Abdulkarim Al-Kandari and Hussein Quwaiaan.


MANCHESTER: Manchester United yesterday sackedmanager David Moyes after a disastrous 10-monthspell that left the world-famous Premier League clubin turmoil. The English giants followed the stunningannouncement by naming veteran midfielder RyanGiggs as interim manager. Moyes, 50, succeeded AlexFerguson at the Old Trafford helm last July, but theseason quickly became a nightmare as the teamslumped to a series of embarrassing defeats. Afterfeverish speculation, United confirmed the sacking ina brief statement.

“Manchester United announces that David Moyeshas left the club,” it said. “The club would like to placeon record its thanks for the hard work, honesty andintegrity he brought to the role.” A second statementadded that the 40-year-old Giggs, “the club’s mostdecorated player, will assume responsibility for thefirst team until a permanent appointment can bemade”. United’s players reported for training as usualyesterday beneath an intense media spotlight, butthe club said that no further comment would bemade “on this process until it is concluded”.

Experienced Dutch coach Louis van Gaal emergedas the British bookmakers’ favourite to succeedMoyes on a permanent basis. The 62-year-old, whoseprevious clubs include Ajax, Barcelona and BayernMunich, recently expressed a desire to work inEngland. His contract as manager of the Netherlandsexpires after this year’s World Cup in Brazil.


Man United fire Moyes

MANCHESTER: In this file photo taken on Oct 1, 2013, Manchester United manager David Moyes (right)speaks to Manchester United’s Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs during a training session at the team’sCarrington training complex. — AFP (See Pages 14 &19)

PLO delegation in Gaza for talks

GAZA: Hamas deputy leader Musa Abu Marzouq (left) looks on while the head ofthe delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and senior figure inthe mainstream Fatah party Abbas Azzam Al-Ahmad (second left), Hamas PrimeMinister in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya (second right) and deputy head of thePalestinian parliament Ahmad Bahar chat during a meeting yesterday. — AFP

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia plans to regulate local companiesthat screen shows on YouTube, a senior official was quot-ed as saying in local media yesterday - a move that couldstifle its nascent creative industries. The kingdom is theworld’s top per capita user of YouTube. Dissatisfactionover state broadcasters’ staid programming and societalrestrictions have created a uniquely captive audience forweb-based entertainment, in a country where nearlyhalf the population is under 25. But YouTube’s popularityhas now brought Saudi Arabia’s homegrown productionhouses under the gaze of the General Authority forAudiovisual Media, a recently formed watchdog.

Riyadh Najm, the Authority’s president, told the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that his organizationwould soon issue a manifesto to organize - or regulate -the work of YouTube channels. It will include rules andconditions that would be “in accordance with the natureof society and laws in this context”, Najm said. “We areworking on embracing these talents and developingtheir artistic and technical abilities.” Licensing would helpguarantee quality, he said.

This follows a new Saudi law that defines terroristcrimes as any act that “disturbs public order, shakes thesecurity of society, or subjects its national unity to dan-ger, or obstructs the primary system of rule or harms thereputation of the state”.

Continued on Page15

Watchdog to

regulate Saudi

YouTube shows

JEDDAH: A foreign woman wears a mask as she leaves a local hospital’s emer-gency department in this Red Sea coastal city yesterday. — AFP

RIYADH: The MERS death toll has climbedto 81 in Saudi Arabia, which sacked itshealth minister as cases of infection by thecoronavirus mount in the country. A 73-year-old Saudi who suffered from chronicillnesses died in Riyadh and a compatriotdiagnosed with the virus, aged 54, died inthe port city of Jeddah, the health ministrysaid late Monday. The ministry said it hasregistered 261 cases of infection across thekingdom since the discovery of the MiddleEast Respiratory Syndrome in Sept 2012.

The World Health Organisation said onApril 17 that it has been informed of 243laboratory-confirmed cases of infectionwith MERS worldwide, including 93 deaths.Saudi Arabia on Monday dismissed itshealth minister, Abdullah Al-Rabiah, with-out any explanation. Rabiah last week visit-ed hospitals in Jeddah to calm a public hitby panic over the spread of the virusamong medical staff that triggered thetemporary closure of a hospital emergencyroom. — AFP (See Page 28)

Saudi MERS deaths hit 81

GENEVA: Drugmakers Novartis and GlaxoSmithKlineannounced an extreme makeover yesterday, unveilingmultibillion-dollar deals also involving US group Eli Lilly in amajor shakeup of the pharmaceutical sector. The string oftakeovers and ventures by the three giant healthcare groupswill see Novartis sharpen its focus on the high-grossing can-cer sector, GSK boost its share in vaccines and Eli Lillystrengthen its animal health unit. The mega deals come asthe global pharmaceutical industry is quickly shifting to dealwith a raft of challenges, including deep cuts in governmenthealthcare spending worldwide.

The fast-changing sector was also abuzz yesteray withspeculation that the biggest deal in pharma history could bein the making after a report that US giant Pfizer was interest-ed in buying its British competitor AstraZeneca for a report-ed $100 billion, sending the latter’s share price soaring morethan 6.0 percent. While that remains a rumour, marketobservers said yesterday’s deals were a logical rejigging ofthe market.

In the biggest of the deals announced yesterday,Novartis said it plans to buy GSK’s oncology (cancer treat-ment) business for $16 billion in cash, including $1.5 billionthat would depend on future performance. In exchange, theSwiss group would sell its vaccines division, excluding fluvaccines, to the British company for up to $7.1 billion, also incash. The two groups further announced a joint venture tocreate “a world-leading consumer healthcare business”focused on wellness, oral health, nutrition and skin healthand expected to book around $10 billion in annual sales.

Non-prescription drugs like Novartis’s Nicotinell prod-ucts aimed at helping people stop smoking and itsVoltaran Dolo back pain relief medication, and GSK’sPanadol pain-relief tablets will fall under the joint venture.“The geographic footprint would span all regions, withscale and commercial presence in the developed world aswell as in key emerging markets, such as Brazil, China,Mexico and Russia,” Novartis said.


Shake-up in pharma world

Novartis, GSK announce mega-deals

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan: Saudi billionaire Prince Waleed bin Talal visits this camp that hosts morethan 100,000 Syrian refugees yesterday. Prince Waleed described the situation of the refugees as “heart-breaking”. — AFP

LO C A LWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

W A N T E D

Editors & Reporters

Send CV, letters of reference and 3 writing samples to

[email protected] those who are shortlisted will be contacted

Full time, must be in Kuwait, have transferrable 18 visa

and writing experience

KUWAIT: Qatari Foreign Minister Dr Khaled bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah arrivedhere yesterday to take part in the 3rd meetings of the joint Higher CooperationCommittee. He was received at the airport by First Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and senior ForeignMinistry officials.

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Two days ago, a Kuwaiti law-maker accused the Philippine and Indianembassies in Kuwait of not cooperating tohelp with the deportation of runawayhousemaids detained at the Talha depor-tation center. But the Philippine Embassyyesterday strongly denied the accusation,saying the embassy is doing everythingfor OFWs at the deportation center withdaily official communications with the

chiefs of the deportation centers and reg-ular visits to them.

Philippine Consul General Raul Dadosaid the normal process of deportation isongoing at all times with Filipinos beingrepatriated on a regular basis. “Some ofthem, like the ones who went home lastweek in a mass repatriation did not evenhave to go through detention. The oneswho have to go through administrative

detention are being given adequate andsanitary accommodations by the immi-gration authorities. Through the interces-sion of the embassy, they are given freetickets home. The embassy also buysthese tickets,” he said.

The embassy expressed gratitude tothe Kuwait government for their humani-tarian assistance in repatriating theirworkers back home. The Phi l ippineEmbassy in Kuwait is working on case bycase basis regarding the workers’ situa-

tion. Daily newspaper Al-Jarida said in areport on Sunday that MP AbdulkareemAl-K andari , chief of the NationalAssembly’s human rights committee, saidthat Fi l ipinos and Indians make themajority of inmates at the deportationcenter. The parliamentary panel conduct-ed unscheduled tours of jails and deten-tion centers around Kuwait. The deporta-tion center alone holds 1,047 men and

385 women, many of whom areFilipino workers awaiting com-pletion of their documents. “Thereason behind this is a lack ofproper concern from theinmates’ respective embassies toreturn them home,” Kandari toldAl-Jarida.

K andari c la imed that thePhi l ippine embassy has notcooperated with Kuwaiti authori-ties to finalize the deportationprocedures for Filipino nationalslocked up in the facilities. He

also urged Philippine officials to “lookafter” their citizens by cooperating in pris-oner exchange arrangements withKuwait’s foreign ministry.

Philippine Labor Attache to KuwaitCesar Chavez said they have never neg-lected their housemaids. “We respect theopinion of lawmaker, but as far as I know,as labor attache of the Phi l ippineEmbassy and under the rules of theembassy, all of our workers undergoingdeportation proceedings are being takencare of. The Philippine Embassy’s role isjust to issue travel documents and therest of the process must be done by thehost government. If the employers do notsurrender their passports, we providethem travel documents. Probably thereport that came out recently was notverified. We do not keep pending anycase more than 24 hours at the embassy,”Chavez said.

“If the workers are ready for repatria-tion, we immediately send them to thedeportation center, and the rest of thework is done by the host government. Ifthey are endorsed at the deportation cen-ter, they are in control , not us,” heexplained. According to Chavez, thetimetable for processing runaways is nottheir concern, as it depend on the num-ber of deportees since the detainees arenot only Filipinos but of other nationali-ties as well.

“Most of the problems that take time(at deportation centers) are cases of run-away housemaids who are not from theembassy but people who were arrestedby the police at checkpoints. They shouldbe reported to us too. The local authori-ties are doing that, but sometimes it takesa long time since their employers file cas-es against runaways,” he mentioned.“Once our kababayans (countrymen) areunder their custody, the process andeverything is being taken care of by thehost government.”

Kuwait i lawmakers are seek ing todeport 1.1 million of the country’s 2.5 mil-l ion expatr iates as a way to addressdemographic issues. “The fact that Kuwaitis home to twice as many foreigners aslocals is a dangerous indication of thesocioeconomic conditions in the country,”MP Khal i l Abdul lah said in previousreports.

The Indian Embassy did not respond toa request for comment.

Philippines embassy doing everything to help deportees

Kuwaiti lawmaker comments unfair

Atty Dado Atty Chavez

L O C A LWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

KUWAIT: A murder investigation was opened in the deathof a woman whose body was found in South Surra onMonday. Police and criminal detectives headed to thescene Monday afternoon in response to an emergency callmade by a Kuwaiti woman who reported discovering ‘anAsian woman’s dead body’ in an open dirt yard. Crimescene investigators were summoned to examine the body.The examination revealed beat marks on various placesacross the victim’s body. The woman was later identified asan Asian woman who was reported missing a month and ahalf ago. The body was taken to the forensic departmentfor an autopsy to reveal the cause and time of death. Ahomicide case was filed, and investigations are ongoing todetermine the circumstances behind the crime.

Cop detained A police officer and a state employee were arrested

after they were caught racing on Balajat Street Sundaynight. The two were stopped after a traffic police officerwho witnessed the race called for backup. They were firsttaken to the Salmiya police station and issued tickets forillegal racing, breaking the speed limit and endangeringpublic safety. They were held there for two hours beforebeing transferred to the Kuwait City Traffic Department.Further investigations later revealed that one of the driversis a first lieutenant in the Interior Ministry’s State FacilitiesProtection Department, while the other works in the publicsector. The two remain in detention pending further legalprocedures.

Fugitive arrested A criminal offender wanted to serve time in jail was

arrested after he sexually harassed a woman in a mall inJahra. The woman was reportedly accompanied by herhusband when she noticed that a man was following her.She told her husband, who called the police. The youthtried to run away when he saw police approaching, butofficers were able to catch him. They performed an identity

check which revealed the suspect is wanted to serve a 7-year jail sentence over a criminal case. The man wasreferred to the authorities for further action.

Hand grenadeA man was arrested in Sulaibikhat after police found a

hand grenade and ammunition inside his car. Officers con-ducting a checkpoint on the coastal road Sunday nightnoticed a driver who tried to change route instead of stop-ping in line. Police forced the man to stop and searched hisvehicle as a precautionary measure. They found 10 bulletsand a grenade inside the car, and placed the Syrian manunder arrest. He was taken for questioning to explain whyhe had the contrabands with his possession.

Suicide attemptA teenager was hospitalized in a critical condition after

she attempted suicide at her family’s house in Abdullah Al-Mubarak. The 19-year-old was admitted in the intensivecare unit shortly after she arrived at the Farwaniya Hospital.Her father, who rushed her to the hospital, said that the girlconsumed a large number of medications in a bid to killherself. Police were informed, and they are waiting for thegirl’s condition to stabilize in order to get her side of thestory.

Student injuredA student was injured after he fell into the basement at

the New Al-Marefa School in Mishref Monday morning.According to a letter sent by the school principal to theMinistry of Education following the case, the boy managedleave school during class hours, and while he was walkingtowards the back corridor near the school fence, hestepped on a glass skylight and fell in the basement. Thekid was hospitalized after he complained of back pain andhand injury. The incident revealed a ‘passage’ that studentsused to escape from school, the principal wrote in his let-ter.

KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait sponsoredthe production of safety helmets used by students whoare part of the American Concrete Institute at theCol lege of Engineer ing and Petroleum in KuwaitUniversity.

The bank’s sales department set up a booth for twodays at the university and were present to familiarize stu-dents with the current prepaid campaign “with al Tijari Visacard ...... FIFA World cup is at your fingertips” where cus-tomers have the chance to win one of the three all inclu-sive trip for two persons to attend a quarter final games for

the 2014 FIFA world cup that will be held in Brazil by usingtheir prepaid card locally or abroad.

Additionally, sales team marketed @Tijari account that isespecially designed for Youth from the age of 15 till 21where many benefits are offered in addition to great dis-count in several stores, restaurants and youth places.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait reaffirm its continuous sup-port for all activities and events that contribute in support-ing and educating the youth community and focus on theimportance of learning to develop better community witha brighter future.

CBK sponsors productionof helmets for KU students

Homicide probe in woman’s death

Policeman detained for illegal racing

Travel Market organizers eye Kuwait tourism improvement

KUWAIT: The Leaders Group continues to eye improvement ofKuwait’s tourism sector as the main topic of the company’s con-cern, General Manager Nabila Al-Anjari said yesterday. Her state-ments came during a press conference to make the officialannouncement of the Kuwait Travel Market, an exhibition on trav-el, tourism, medical tourism and entertainment, which takes placebetween April 28 and 30.

More than 60 companies from Kuwait and the Gulf region areset to take part in the event, set to be held at the KuwaitInternational Fairground in Mishref, under the patronage ofMinister of Information Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah.

Despite expressing concern that Kuwait is losing many oppor-tunities in the tourism field, Al-Anjari expressed faith that thecountry’s tourism sector will feature great improvements in thenear future.

But that achievement still depends on active steps from thegovernment which Al-Anjari says has failed to implement a nation-

al strategic plan to improve the tourism sector since it was pre-sented back in 2005. Al-Anjari said that building airports and exe-cuting touristic projects at Kuwait’s islands can transform Kuwaitinto a touristic attraction not only for tourists from the region, butfrom around the world. “We hope that Kuwait, which exportstourists to countries around the world will eventually become anattractive touristic destination,” she said.

Leaders Group, which provides consultation and exhibitionmanagement services in Kuwait and the region, joins the organiz-ing group for the Travel Market for the first time. It hopes to copysuccessful examples for exhibitions it organized, such as the 2014HORECA Kuwait that was held earlier this week, in the upcomingevent. Travel Market is sponsored by Saudi Tourism - which partici-pates with a large pavilion featuring 30 Saudi travel agencies - aswell as the Touristic Enterprises Company, Kuwait Airways, and theTourism Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industryamong others.

What if we truly had democrats? What if we hadreal defenders of freedom of opinion andexpression? What if public opinion was molded

to monitor and guide ‘democratic’ authorities in thecountry? What if we had true journalists who live for theword, not through it, and professional newspapers withtrue media direction, not posters dedicated to promotetheir owners?

If we had all that, or at least some of it, would free-dom of opinion and expression still be going from badto worse like what happened today, a few years ago andwhat will definitely happen again in the future? Wouldthat happen while everyone is still concerned with cor-ruption allegations and biased reporting towards certainpoliticians against others?

Freedom of expression has been killed when it wasignored, and when the siege around it was ignored aswell. That siege was easy to place when the governmentallied with backward groups that have been and still areconcerned with protecting outdated heritage.

Unfortunately, everyone took part in burying free-dom of opinion and expression, including some whowent as far as filing grilling motions against ministers for‘failure’ to prosecute media personnel and close downmedia outlets. Kuwait might be the only country in theworld where the elected parliament incites the govern-ment against the people, and pushes them to take arbi-trary measures against media outlets.

Defending freedom of opinion and expression andsupporting the right of publishing and standing behindthe general opinion’s power to be able to fully monitorall authorities demand first and foremost completerejection of any kind of immunity given to an ideologyor belief (except for the Amiri immunity). It also requiresfreeing freedom of opinion from restrictions. There areno constants in democratic systems, because there ispluralism, right of being different and right of circulationof power.

All these things become impossible - or undemocrat-ic - if freedom of opinion and expression is restricted. Istopped writing a number of decades ago when theInformation Ministry banned local press from discussingthe parliament’s unconstitutional dissolution in 1976. Istopped a few days ago as well following the publicprosecution’s decision. I refuse to write about marginaltopics while readers are looking for articles that addressthe main topic of public concern.

The main topic of public concern right now is free-dom of opinion, and the fate of democracy in Kuwait.That is why I found it necessary to write this column insupport of freedom of expression, and the right of fellowjournalists who insisted to practice their right of publica-tion. — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Qabas

Freedom of opinion

kuwait digest

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

No one can blame lawmakers for acting towards thebenefit of citizens and the nation. But at the sametime, that does not give them the right to practice

discrimination against others. Last week saw two proj-ects proposed by MPs that can be classified as discrimi-natory. The first proposes that the government set upcamps on the borders where bedoons who create chaosthrough demonstrations can be banished to, and thesecond calls for removing subsidies from energy con-sumed by expatriates.

MP Nabeel Al-Fadhl’s proposal to banish bedoon ‘trou-blemakers’ to border camps reminds me of the Nazi concen-tration camps when it comes to the racist sentiment behindit. What else is left for bedoons other than protests? If theyremain silent, their decades-old miserable situation will con-tinue for years to come. And when they call for help, they arethreatened with banishment to Kuwait’s version of theAuschwitz-Birkenau camp!

The bedoons’ dilemma is divided into two parts: One partincludes those who are either Kuwaitis but are still waiting

to be recognized as such, or those who have no hope ofbeing naturalized. My question is this: How does Fadhl planto deal with bedoons who are soon to become Kuwaitis?How is he going to justify banishing them from their owncountry?

And with regards to the second part, does nationality jus-tify humiliating people? Protesters can either be peacefuldemonstrators, in which case they should be left alone, orlawbreakers in which case they are put on trial and jailed bycourt orders if found guilty.

Now we move to the proposal of lifting subsidies, or as Icall it, a group of laws meant to create restrictions on for-eigners. I do not understand the meaning of this suggestion.I was confused by MPs’ statements who sometimes say thatremoving subsidies on fuel helps reduce traffic, and othertimes they say that this decision would save Kuwait almostKD 1.5 billion annually. Which is the right justification?

Regardless of the answer to that question, I do notunderstand why we expect that foreigners are always theproblem. I know that Kuwait has a large expatriate popula-

tion, but who said that they are reason behind traffic jamsand money wastage? Waste of public funds is a result ofgreedy companies and visa traffickers who brought poorpeople from the ends of the world, which adds pressure onpublic services and damages Kuwait’s international image inthe process.

Let us put traffic jams aside and focus on the economyand waste. When Kuwaitis put their houses for rent, isn’t thata cause of waste? When Kuwaitis sell their subsidized food,isn’t that a cause of waste? When Kuwaitis are paid hand-somely to stay at home while leaving work for foreigners todo, isn’t that a cause of waste? Isn’t weak management acause of waste? When senior posts are monopolized, whenadministrative development is frozen because of outdatedmindsets, isn’t that a cause of waste? Isn’t treatment abroada cause of waste? Aren’t the failed multibillion deals a causeof waste?

If all those are reasons for wastage of public funds, thenwhy are MPs encouraged to take action only against expatri-ates?! — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Rai

Two racist proposalskuwait digest

By Dr Hassan Abbas

The United States of America is paying an increasing inter-est in the Syrian conflict. America declared a clear policyof supporting the Syrian resistance, while the New York

Times announced in its April 11 issue by its correspondent inAmman about the American-Jordanian-Saudi cooperation insupporting the resistance. Jordan, despite its weak finances,hosts thousands of Syrian refugees, and provided all facilities tohelp refugees and the Syrian resistance at the same time, as theSyrian resistance opened a front on the south near Jordan’sborders with Syria. There is an Arab-American coordination inthe operations room in Amman, the capital, and the team’smission is to facilitate military operations inside Syria by provid-ing information and military equipment as well as fighters’salaries and other logistics.

Despite all this support, there are differences in policiestowards the Syrian resistance, as its military leaders are com-plaining that the US aid is very limited, and accuse PresidentObama’s administration of being hesitant and afraid and pro-viding limited assistance that keeps the resistance going butwithout achieving any victory. The coordination team designat-ed certain areas that can be destroyed by the resistance, andthey do not allow them to hit some of the strategic locations,and the reason for this is to keep the war going without achiev-ing any victory.

Gen Assad Al-Zubi, a pilot who fled to Jordan in a plane,and is leading military operations in the south, said most ofthe American support goes to the northern front near theTurkish borders, as operations in the southern front are limit-ed, and there is control and interference in the resistanceaction.

The reporter met tens of resistance leaders in the southernfront who complained because of the stagnant situation atthe Jordan front, as the operations room in Amman controlsthe situation. For Jordan, the most important thing is to pre-vent the influence of extreme Islamism from spreading insideJordan because there is a fear of the Syrian situation influenc-ing events inside Jordan. As for the Americans, according tothe Syrian resistance views, removing President Assad is notamong their duties.

Officially, the American aid to the resistance is estimated at$260 million for non-military purposes, and this assistance isgiven to moderate powers inside Syria, yet the size of militaryassistance is not declared. The White House spokesmandefended the American policy by confirming that it did notchange as “we are supporting moderate Syrian resistance, andseek to end the bloody conflict and the suffering of the Syrianpeople, because we do not think that there is a military solu-tion to the crisis, and what we need in Syria are negotiations to

find peaceful political solutions”. The US state Department andCIA deny that they interfere with the Jordan front.

The main dispute between the Syrian resistance and theUnited States revolves around the resistance’s request forheavy weapons and antiaircraft missiles, and other advancedarms. The resistance also complains of scarce financing, aseach fighter receives $50 a month, and they all have familiesto care for. It is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabia supportsthe resistance financially and is demanding more support tothe resistance. These differences between the resistance andthe American and Arab sides forced some of the resistancemen to join the extreme jihadi forces who are supported byforeign powers that have money and weapons and care forfighters’ families.

It seems that the situation in Syria is influencing events,directly and indirectly, in the entire region. Moderate Arabcountries including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Arab Gulfcountries want to support the Syrian resistance but they areafraid of the increased influence of the jihadi Islamic resistancethat is supported by Iran. What are the options for the moder-ate countries, other than agreeing with the US and the West tofind peaceful solutions for the Syrian conflict that satisfies allpowers, ethnicities and sects in Syria. — Translated by KuwaitTimes from Al-Watan

American role in Syrian conflictkuwait digest

By Dr Shamlan Y Al-Essa

Nabilah Al-Anjari and Mohammed Najia

L O C A LWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

Kuwait Fire Services Directorate yesterday conducted a fire drill at the Muhallab mall in Hawalli. The drill comprised of responding to a fire report in one of the stores, evacuating the whole building, controlling the fire and tending toinjured people on the site. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Commerce andIndustry inspectors busted several tons ofexpired and spoiled food in an operationconsidered the largest in food inspection his-tory in the country in terms of the size of thematerial seized in a single raid.

The operation carried out Sunday coveredfour warehouses owned by a single compa-ny, said sources with knowledge of the infor-mation.

And while they indicated that the volumeof the seized amount is yet to be fully deter-mined, the sources noted that so far it isclear that the amount is the largest that min-istry inspectors have ever dealt with.

In fact, the amount was so large that theministry used help from Kuwait Municipalityand others to sort items in the four ware-houses and destroy the bad food products.The shipments were separated into parts,one sent to the MCI’s laboratories for testingand the other taken to Kuwait Municipalitylabs. The operation lasted from Sunday nightuntil Monday afternoon, said the sourceswho were quoted anonymously in an Al-Raidaily report yesterday.

The warehouses belonged to a local foodsupplier that provides various food productsto restaurants around Kuwait. Items seizedinclude meat products, fish, poultry and oth-er ingredients, the sources said.

Follow upThe case received strong attention from

Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej, Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister of Commerce andIndustry, who assigned a ministry consultantto follow up with the procedures of inspec-tion and taking samples to the public prose-cution. “The consultant’s job is to ensure thatministry personnel avoid procedural mistakesthat could be used in court to drop chargesagainst the company,” said the sources.

The monitoring process that preceded theraid also revealed that workers inside the fourwarehouses used to change expiry datelabels on food boxes, the sources added. Theoperation came as part of extensive cam-paigns on markets and suppliers to detectirregularities, including bad food and fakeprices increases before the holy month ofRamadan, which starts late June.

BlackmailIn other news, the same newspaper

reported that the Ministry of Commerce andIndustry took legal action against two femaleemployees and warned three others overaccusations that they abused their authorityto avoid paying bills at two restaurants.

The employees dropped by the tworestaurants for lunch or dinner almost daily,then avoided paying the bill every time by

threatening the managers to close the restau-rants, according to sources quoted in thereport. The officers took advantage of author-ities given to them that enable them to closerestaurants for violations, the sources said.

The managers decided to approach a lawfirm and file a complaint directly to Mudejover the issue. Preliminary investigations con-ducted afterwards led three of the employeesto confess and apologize for their actions.“They were released with a warning afterexplaining that they did what they did onceor two times without being aware of theimplications of their actions,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, the other two were taken forfurther investigations after denying the accu-sations.

They later admitted to the allegations afterthey were confronted with informationobtained through investigations which indi-cate that they ‘missed work for extended peri-ods of time’. The two face accusations thatcould lead them to get fired, the sources said.

According to the sources, the employeesobtained the license that gives them authori-ty to order restaurants closed after passing aministry-sponsored training course. Al-Raihad reported last week that the ministry’sConsumer Protection Department had plansnot to renew licenses of 140 employees “afterthey proved incompetent” for the job.

Several tons of expired,spoiled food bustedLargest in food inspection history

KUWAIT: Vice chairman of the IndianCommunity School, Kuwait (ICSK) RajanDaniel, who remained on the board for morethan a decade, was voted out of the board oftrustees of the school on Monday at itsannual meeting. Dr Narayan Nampoory wasthe other member who also had to go out ofthe board following the election.

According to ICSK constitution, twoboard members are expected to retire volun-tarily every year before April 21. No boardmember was ready to retire voluntarilybefore the stipulated date prompting theelection, sources said. In the election, Danieland Dr Nampoory garnered the highestnumber of negatives votes - nine each-paving the way for their exit, the sourcesadded. The election was held in the presenceof Indian Embassy Second Secretary(Community and Education) J S Danky.

Daniel took over as the secretary of theICSK board of trustees in 1999 following arevamp of the school administration after acorruption scandal rocked the school — for-merly called Indian School. He continued as

secretary for several years and later becamethe vice-chairman.

The ICSK board of trustees consists of 12members including chairman, vice chair-man, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer,two ex-students members and five membersof the Parent Advisory Council. In addition, afive-member Council of Elders is also thereto advise the board. The present board con-sists of Ashok Kalra (chairman), Rajan Daneil(vice chairman), Vijayan Karayil (secretary),Kamaleshkumari ( joint secretary), DineshKammath (treasurer) and members D RNarayan Nampoory, C Sunil Kumar, Bobby AMathew, Dr S Neelamani, Dr C G Suresh,Sherin Thomas Mani and Nasar MashoorThangal, Ex-student members Saji Vargheseand Benoy Thomas, nominated parent mem-ber A V Shamsuddeen, PAC members AjayGeorge, George Mathew, K V Nizar andMathews C John. In accordance with theconstitution, a new board must be constitut-ed by May with the induction of two newmembers, four PAC representatives and onenominated parent representative.

Vice chairman votedout of ICSK board

Environmental fuel projects mark Kuwait’s rebound to mega projects

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Higher Educationhas added more countries to its list of desti-nations for overseas Kuwaiti scholarships, theMinister of Education and Minister of HigherEducation Ahmad Al-Mulaifi said on Monday.

Allowances for Kuwaiti students abroadhave also received increments, and the deci-sion was made according to the increasingcosts of living in these countries, heexplained during a speech at a ministry func-tion aimed at showcasing the various sub-jects and destinations on offer.

The event is aiding new high-schoolgraduates choose the field of study that ismost suited to their abilities and wishes,while shedding light on the global educa-tional establishments which have beenadopted by the ministry, he added.

The Ministry of Higher Education is com-mitted to keeping the foreign scholarshipprogramme’s strategy in line with that ofKuwait’s development plan, referring to theministry’s five-year strategy which starts onthe following 2014-15 fiscal year.

He also emphasized how the graduatesof these programmes can benefit the localeconomy and increase the effectivity of thelocal workforce. Meanwhile, he welcomed

bringing on board the expertise of academ-ics at cultural bureaus in these countries inlight of the increasing number of scholar-ships as a benefit to these students. — KUNA

More countries added to list of foreign scholarships

KUWAIT: The Minister of Education and Minister of Higher EducationAhmad Al-Mulaifi.

KUWAIT: A report issued by KFH-Research yester-day noted that the projects’ market in Kuwait wit-nesses a new dawn through the launch of numer-ous infrastructure and construction projects, suchas environmental fuel projects worth $ 12 billion,in addition to other mega projects in the fields ofroads and bridges, including Al-Sabbiya Bridgeand Kuwait Metro projects.

For much of the past decade, internationalcompanies operating in the major projects sec-tor have found Kuwait a challenging market in

which to do business, said the report. However,the report added, there are good reasons tobelieve this year will be different with the newparliament. The significance of this change inKuwait’s political landscape for the projectsmarket was confirmed on 10 February 2014,when the Central Tenders Committee con-firmed the award of three engineering, procure-ment and construction (EPC) deals worth acombined $12bn for the long delayed CleanFuel Projects (CFP). —KUNA

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: A stateless girl told Mina Abdullah police that ayoung man whom she named lured her into accompanyinghim to a Julaia camp where he raped her, said security sources,noting that a case was filed and that the girl was referred tothe forensic medicine department pending summoning thesuspect.

* A female citizen also filed a complaint at Salwa police sta-tion against her neighbor - a citizen living in the same building- of urging her to commit ‘vice’ and visit him at his apartment.A case was filed.

* In Mubarak Al-Kabeer, a citizen reported that an unidenti-fied person had used her daughter’s identity to purchase twomobile phone lines and that the concerned telecom companycalled her demanding overdue bills for lines her daughter

does not own or use. A case was filed and further investiga-tions are in progress.

* A university student living in Rumathiya filed a complaintagainst someone she knows, accusing him of stealing jewelry,watches, various garments and shoes from her bedroom. Acase was filed.

* A citizen reported that he received an anonymous callfrom someone who claimed to be a police detective andthreatened to kill him.

* A citizen in his thirties was arrested in Ahmadi with thepossession of drugs, said security sources. Case papers indi-cate that a police patrol had suspected a vehicle, and on stop-ping and searching it, the police found the drugs.

* A fire broke out at the currently under-demolitionAmghara scrap market site, said security sources, noting thatthe fire was still ablaze at the time this report was made.

Girl raped at Julaia camp

By A Saleh

KUWAIT: The parliament’s legislativeand legal committee postponed aproposal to move the CriminalInvestigations Department from theInterior Ministry to the PublicProsecution in order to give the gov-ernment a chance to provide its finalresponse on the matter. The commit-tee discussed the issue among otherproposals during its meeting yester-day, said repporteur MP Dr.Abdulkareem Al-Kandari.

The panel also postponed a pro-posed draft law to achieve full inde-pendence of the judiciary and publicprosecution, and a similar proposal to

establish a public authority for crimi-nal investigations and prosecution.

In other news, MP Mohammad Al-Enizy announced that he receivedword from Crown Prince His HighnessSheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah,and Prime Minister His HighnessSheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah,that the current location of theAmghara scrapyard will be used toestablish a ‘model public park.’

The scrapyard, a chain of car repairgarages and body parts shops, wasrelocated to Al-Naayem area (west) forenvironmental reasons. Al-Enizy saidduring a ceremony held in Saad Al-Abdullah to celebrate the relocation,that the prime minister played a key

role in moving the scrapyard follow-ing years of delay.

In other news, head of the parlia-ment’s financial committee MP FaisalAl-Shaya refuted allegations claimingthat amendments to the build-oper-ate-transfer (BOT ) law that wererecently approved were designed toallow ‘theft’ of Kuwait lands.

“Those are baseless accusationsand repeated remarks without properknowledge of the new law,” Al-Shayasaid in statements to Annahar daily.He further challenged the criticizersto provide proof regarding allega-tions that some articles in the newlaw contain violations or facilitateprofiteering.

Panel postpones ‘Investigations Department’ reassignment move

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

India’s Modi condemns ‘evict Muslims’ remark

Page 11

Rapper-turned-jihadist reported killed in SyriaPage 10

BEIRUT: New claims have emerged that PresidentBashar Al-Assad’s regime may have launched attackswith an industrial chemical earlier this month, despitean international agreement to eliminate Syria’s chemicalarsenal. The latest evidence, cited by US and Frenchauthorities, comes as Syria plans to hold a June 3 presi-dential poll, which the United Nations and the Syrianopposition have slammed as a “farce” that flies in theface of efforts to end the country’s three-year war.

“We have indications of the use of a toxic industrialchemical, probably chlorine, in Syria this month, in theopposition-dominated village of Kafr Zita,” White Housespokesman Jay Carney said Monday. “We are examiningallegations that the government was responsible.” Therevelation follows Sunday’s announcement by FrenchPresident Francois Hollande that his country had “infor-mation”-but no proof-that Assad’s regime was still usingchemical weapons.

There have been conflicting accounts of an allegedchlorine gas attack in opposition-held Kafr Zita in thecentral Hama province earlier this month, with the gov-ernment and the opposition trading blame. Activistshave also reported other chlorine gas attacks, mostrecently on Monday in the northwestern Idlib province.The Organization for the Prohibition of ChemicalWeapons and other experts have spent months work-ing to remove Syria’s chemical stockpiles, following anagreement reached after deadly chemical attacks nearDamascus last August that killed hundreds.

Western nations blamed those attacks on the Assadregime and the United States threatened military actionbefore backing down and reaching a deal with Russia toeliminate the chemical weapons. The OPCW said lastweek that 65 percent of Syria’s stated chemical weaponshave been removed from the country. Although chlo-rine is a toxic chemical, it is widely used for commercialand domestic purposes, so Syria was not required to

submit its stockpiles to the OPCW, a chemical weaponsexpert said.

“However, as a chemical weapon it is prohibitedunder the Chemical Weapons Convention,” which Syriajoined last year, said Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, CEO ofSecureBio, a British chemical weapons consultancy. “Theopposition could very easily get ahold of chlorine...However the delivery method that we’ve seen-the useof helicopters-I am certain the opposition don’t haveany helicopters.” He also said that although chlorine is aweak agent, its use would be “very effective in this kindof warfare, in urban, built-up areas, as chemicalweapons find their ways into the nooks and crannies.”

Election amid warSyria meanwhile announced Monday that it will

hold a June 3 presidential election, expected to returnAssad to office. Syria’s first presidential election-afterconstitutional amendments scrapped a referendumsystem-is to go ahead despite violence which haskilled more than 150,000 people since March 2011.Speaker Mohammad al-Lahham announced the datein parliament, saying Syrians living outside the countrywould vote on May 28 and candidates would be ableto register from yesterday until May 1. Voting would be“free and fair... and under full judicial supervision,” hesaid. However, the United Nations condemned theannouncement, warning it would torpedo a politicalresolution of the conflict.

“Such elections are incompatible with the letter andspirit of the Geneva communique,” UN spokesmanStephane Dujarric said in New York. He was referringto an agreement on a transition to democracy as thebasis for negotiations between the government andthe opposition. The opposition, which insists Assadstep down and play no role in Syria’s future, rejectedthe election as nothing more than a “farce.” “The Assad

regime’s announcement today that a ‘presidential elec-tion’ would be held in June should be treated as afarce,” said the office of opposition National Coalitionleader Ahmad Jarba.

“With vast parts of Syria completely destroyed byAssad’s air force, army and militias over the last threeyears, and with a third of Syria’s population dis-placed internally or in refugee camps in the region,

there is no electorate in Syria in a condition to exer-cise its right to vote.” Syria’s conflict began as apeaceful protest movement demanding democraticreform, but descended into war after Assad’s regimeunleashed a massive crackdown on dissent. Half ofthe population has been forced to flee their homes,and more than nine million people need humanitari-an assistance.— AFP

New Syria chemical claims emerge UN, oppn slam June 3 presidential poll as ‘farce’

HAMA: An image grab taken from a video released by the Syrian activist group shows children being treated afterpurportedly chocking from inhaling poison released after a barrel bomb was allegedly dropped from an aircraft inKarf Zita, in Hama province. — AFP

I N T E R N AT I O N A LWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

BASRA: Election posters showing Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki (right) and parliamentary candidateFaleh Al-Khazali are seen in the southern port city of Basra. — AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (center) inspects the January 8 fishery station of the Korean People’sArmy (KPA) at an undisclosed place in North Korea. — AFP

RAMALLAH: The Palestinians yesterday playeddown a threat to dismantle the Western-backedPalestinian Authority (PA), which is Israel’s inter-locutor, if US-sponsored peace talks remain dead-locked. “No Palestinian is speaking of an initiativeto dismantle the Palestinian Authority (PA),” chiefnegotiator Saeb Erakat said. “But Israel’s actionshave annulled all the legal, political, security, eco-nomic and operational aspects of the preroga-tives of the Palestinian Authority.” Palestiniannegotiators had warned that they may hand

responsibility for governing the occupied territo-ries back to Israel if peace talks remain stalled, asenior Palestinian official said Sunday.

He said the Palestinians had told US peaceenvoy Martin Indyk that unless Israel releasesPalestinian prisoners as agreed and freezes set-tlement building, they could dismantle theAuthority, which was set up following the Oslopeace accords in the 1990s and was intended topave the way towards the establishment of anindependent state. US State Department spokes-

woman Jennifer Psaki criticized the threat as“extreme” and warned that any such move wouldaffect American aid to the Palestinians. On theIsraeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuaccused the PA of endangering the peaceprocess.

The warning from the Palestinians came aheadof planned unity talks between the PalestineLiberation Organization, which like the PA is head-ed by president Mahmud Abbas, and the IslamistHamas movement ruling Gaza, which rejects any

peace talks with Israel. “The Palestinian Authority,which yesterday was talking about its dismantle-ment, is today talking about unity with Hamas,”Netanyahu said. “They need to decide... Do theywant to dismantle themselves or to unite withHamas? When they want peace (with Israel) theyshould let us know.” Indyk is to take part in a freshattempt to salvage the peace talks at a meeting inJerusalem later on Tuesday with Israeli andPalestinian negotiators, according to a Palestiniansource. — AFP

Palestinians play down threat to dismantle PA

BEIRUT: Weakened Syrian rebels are making their last desperate standin Homs, as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad launch their harshestassault yet to expel them from the central city, once known as the capi-tal of the revolution. Some among the hundreds of rebels remaining inthe city talk of surrender, according to opposition activists there. Othershave lashed back against the siege with suicide car bombings in districtsunder government control. Some fighters are turning on comrades theysuspect want to desert, pushing them into battle.

“We expect Homs to fall,” said an activist who uses the name ThaerKhalidiya in an online interview with The Associated Press. “In the nextfew days, it could be under the regime’s control.” The fight for Homsunderscores Assad’s determination to rout rebels ahead of presidentialelections now set for June 3, aiming to scatter fighters back furthernorth toward their supply lines on the Turkish borders. Assad’s forces arebuilding on gains elsewhere - they have been able to almost clear rebelsfrom a broad swath of territory south of Homs between the capital,Damascus, and the Lebanese border, breaking important rebel supplylines there. Rebels have also capitulated in several towns aroundDamascus after blockades that caused widespread hunger and suffer-ing.

Crucial targetHoms, Syria’s third largest city, is a crucial target. Located in the coun-

try’s center, about 80 miles north of Damascus, it links the capital withAleppo in the north - the country’s largest city and another key battle-ground. But rebels still control large areas of the countryside in thenorth and south and have consolidated around the Turkish andJordanian borders. “A total loss of Homs would represent a serious lossto the opposition,” said Charles Lister, visiting fellow at the BrookingsDoha Center.

“The military has maintained a steadily significant focus on Homsprecisely due to this importance,” said Lister. “This has been all been partof a very conscious strategy of encircling, besieging and capturing areasof strategic importance,” particularly urban areas. For well over a year,government forces have been besieging rebels in the string of districtsthey hold in the city center, around its ancient bazaars. Just over a weekago, troops loyal to Assad escalated their assaults on rebel districts, bar-raging them with tank and mortar fire and bombs dropped from mili-tary aircraft. Syrian forces have so far advanced into two areas, Wadi Al-Sayih and Bab Houd.

Fiercest assaultOnline video footage showed explosions as projectiles smashed into

buildings, sending up columns of white smoke. Angry rebels are heardshouting that they have been abandoned and singing that only Godcould help them. The footage corresponded to other AP reporting onthe events. Activists said it was the fiercest assault since last summer,when Syrian forces retook the rebel-held Homs neighborhood ofKhalidiya. The death toll from fighting isn’t known, because neither sidereports losses.

If Assad’s forces take Homs, it would be a major boost as he preparesfor the upcoming election, fueling the image his government hassought to promote that he is capable of eventually winning the relent-less conflict. The war is now in its fourth year, with more than 150,000people killed and a third of Syria’s population driven from their homes.Assad is expected to easily win another seven-year term in the June 3election, which the opposition and the United States have alreadydeclared a farce aimed at giving Assad a veneer of popular support.

Inside Homs, rebels have been deeply weakened by months ofblockade around their strongholds and the loss of their supply linesfrom Lebanon in March, after Syrian forces seized the border town ofZara. Hundreds of fighters surrendered during a series of UN mediatedtruces that began in November. An estimated 800 to 1,000 fighters leftalongside hundreds of civilians who were evacuated from rebel-heldparts of the city, according to activists and an official in the Homsprovince. The rebels remaining in the city are predominantly from theNusra Front, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, and other Islamist factions.

One rebel fighter in the city, who uses the nickname Abu Bilal, esti-mated there are 1,000 rebels who remain in Homs, but the numbercould not be confirmed. Like Khalidiya and other activists and rebels, hespoke on condition he be identified only by his nickname for fear of ret-ribution. An activist in Homs, Abu Rami, said rebels wanting to leave had

weakened the spirits of others struggling to bear the blockade. “Theytempted them with food and drink, and saying, ‘Don’t you want to seeyour families?’” he said over Skype from the city. “(It) really did weakenhundreds of them, and it affected the morale of the rest of the rebels.”

Trying to surrenderDozens more fighters are now trying to surrender, according to Abu

Rami and Khalidiya. The fighters reached out to contact the governor ofHoms, Talal Barazi, and Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar, who handlessuch cases. “We asked the regime if we could surrender and leave for thecountryside,” said Khalidiya. “So far we don’t have a clear answer,” saidAbu Rami, who is opposed to leaving but is helping mediate for the oth-ers. Barazi’s office said there was “absolutely no contact” with gunmen. Itwasn’t immediately possible to contact Haidar. Some rebels have esca-lated suicide car bombings in government-controlled areas dominatedby Alawites, the minority Shiite offshoot sect that Assad belongs to. Atleast five such bombings in April killed more than 60 people, one of thebloodiest months for residents in government controlled areas, a localreporter there estimated. The most recent, on Friday, killed 14. “We arekilling them, those rotting carcasses,” said Abu Bilal, the fighter.

The bombings have another aim, sparking fighting that prevents anytruce that would allow rebels to desert, Abu Bilal said. “Some of us areagainst those deserting. We are fighting so they can die in it,” said AbuBilal. Homs’ saga traces the arc of Syria’s uprising. It quickly embracedthe uprising against Assad’s rule after it began in southern Daraaprovince in March 2011. Tens of thousands joined anti-Assad protests inHoms, winning it the nickname of “the revolution’s capital.” “We carriedthe spark of the revolution and made it a flame,” Abu Rami said. Afterpro-Assad forces violently cracked down on demonstrations, some pro-testers took up arms, transforming the uprising into an armed rebellion.

Homs has also seen the ever-increasing religious dimension of theconflict, with tit-for-tat sectarian killings in the city where majority SunniMuslims live alongside Christians and Alawites. Most recently, on April 7,a masked gunman killed a beloved, elderly Dutch priest, Jesuit FatherFrancis Van Der Lugt, who lived in a monastery in a rebel-held district,staying alongside civilians who were unable to leave. Khalidiya, theactivists, said Homs is lost, now they have to save the fighters. “We aremore scared that the regime (forces) will kill everybody than we are wor-ried about the fall of Homs.” But Abu Rami said he’d rather die. “If theycome, then we are all going to be martyrs. We can lose an area, and wecan regain it. But the most important thing is not to kneel.”— AP

Syrian rebels makelast stand for Homs

HOMS: Syrian citizens walk in a destroyed street that was attacked by Syrian forces warplanes, at Abu Al-Hol street in Homsprovince, Syria. — AP

Assad troops launch their harshest assault

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi Shiite who proudly foughtSunni rebels in Syria’s civil war is now running forparliament in his home country, where the conflicthas raised already-high sectarian tensions. FalehAl-Khazali is one of an unknown number of IraqiShiites who have gone to fight on the side ofSyrian President Bashar al-Assad against a Sunni-led rebellion. There are Iraqi Sunnis fighting on theother side of the war, including for the IslamicState of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), one of two pow-erful jihadist groups in Syria with roots in Iraq.

The civil war has destroyed swathes of Syriancities and claimed over 150,000 lives, and in Iraqhas sharpened sectarian tensions that have con-tributed to the worst surge in bloodshed since theheight of the violence that followed the 2003 US-led invasion. Khazali, a 39-year-old father of four,commanded the first group of Iraqi Shiite forcesthat travelled to Syria “to free the area surroundingthe Sayida Zainab (shrine) from the takfiris,” he toldAFP in the southern port city of Basra, referring toSunni extremists.

The shrine to the daughter of Imam Ali, locatednear Damascus, is a revered site for Shiite Muslims,which Iraqis who go to Syria say they are fightingto defend. “We entered Syria a year and threemonths ago ... in a preemptive war to eradicate”the extremists, said Khazali, who is running onPrime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s State of Law list inthe April 30 parliamentary election. Iraq’s Shiite-led government has publicly sought to remainneutral, but privately seems to favour Assad, whois a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot ofShiite Islam.

Fight for ‘national security’“I was wounded in my eye in front of Sayida

Zainab and lost it, and I am delighted and proud ofthis, and I will return to Syria as the situationrequires,” Khazali said. Khazali, a governmentemployee, was also wounded in his right leg whilefighting in Syria. His public Facebook page makesno secret of his involvement in Syria, featuring pic-tures of him clad in camouflage, including oneslightly blurred shot that appears to show himholding a Kalashnikov assault rifle in each hand.

Other pictures include a montage of the SayidaZainab shrine, Khazali in battle dress giving a victo-ry sign, and a campaign poster with pictures ofhim and Maliki and the slogan: “We build Iraq.”

He is also shown lying in a hospital bed with abandage over his right eye. “Our national security,as Iraqis, requires that we go there (to Syria) todefend the holy places first, and second to defendIraq,” Khazali said. The Syrian civil broke out in 2011when Assad’s forces carried out a bloody crack-down on protesters calling for reform. Foreignfighters from various Arab states and as far afieldas Afghanistan and Chechnya have played a keyrole in the Syrian conflict, first on behalf of therebels, but also on the side of the regime.Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah hasacknowledged sending thousands of fighters intoSyria and contributing to a string of regime victo-ries.

‘Ready to go again’“There are hundreds of offices belonging to

Shiite movements in all Iraq that welcome recruitsto fight in Syria,” Abu Ammar, who has twice beento Syria to fight on the side of Assad’s regime, eachtime for several weeks, told AFP in Baghdad. “I amready to go again at the first chance,” he said. “Thefirst time there were many Iraqis and Syrians withme. We fought the ISIL organization and expelledthem from areas near the Sayida Zainab shrine.” Hesaid he fought ISIL during his second trip as well,but did not specify where.

Pictures of Iraqi Shiites killed in Syria hangaround Baghdad, while jihadist forums featureimages of Iraqi Sunnis who died fighting forgroups including ISIL. In Najaf, south of Baghdad, asteady stream of Iraqi Shiites killed in Syria areburied in the massive cemetery known as “theValley of Peace” that surrounds the shrine of ImamAli, one of the holiest sites for Shiite Muslims. Aspecial area has been allocated for the burial of“the martyrs who fought to defend the SayidaZainab shrine,” Mahdi al-Assadi, who runs a burialservice in the cemetery said. “Between 10 to 15martyrs a week (are buried in) the Najaf cemetery,”Assadi said.— AFP

Iraqi parliament hopeful fought in Syria civil war

Lost codes spark airport scramble

TOKYO: Airport authorities in Japan launched a frantic scram-ble to change security pass codes, an official said yesterday,the day before Barack Obama arrives, after an airline employ-ee dropped a memo containing the details. The news came assecurity in the Japanese capital was dramatically ramped up,with 16,000 police officers deployed in readiness for the firststate visit by a US president in nearly two decades. A SkymarkAirlines employee at the busy Haneda airport in Tokyo lost apiece of paper bearing security codes on Sunday afternoon, atransport ministry official said.

The note was found on the floor of the departure lobbyaround half-an-hour later, he said. The ministry instructed thefirm that manages the airport to immediately change the passcodes, to avoid any danger of a security breach, the officialsaid. In the city proper, a heightened police presence hasmade the sight of officers patrolling streets and stations com-monplace. Local media said a full third of Tokyo’s police forcehad been pressed into service for Obama’s two-night visit,which begins today. Left luggage lockers and rubbish binshave been sealed in some stations and thousands of securitycameras have been put into operation. Obama is due to leaveTokyo bound for Seoul on Friday morning. — AFP

SEOUL: North Korea could well be preparing to carryout a fourth nuclear test, South Korea said yesterday,citing increased activity at its main test site just daysahead of a visit to Seoul by US President BarackObama. “Our military is currently detecting a lot ofactivity in and around the Punggye-ri nuclear testsite,” defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok tolda press briefing. Kim stressed that North Korea’snuclear weapons program was at a stage where itcould conduct a test “at any moment” once the orderwas given by the leadership in Pyongyang.

North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests-in2006, 2009 and 2013 - all at the Punggye-ri site in thenortheast of the country. Kim declined to give detailsof the monitored activity, but cautioned that it maybe no more than a “deception tactic” to raise tensionsahead of Obama’s visit which is due to begin onFriday. “We are thinking of possibilities that the Northmay stage a surprise nuclear test or just pretend tostage a nuclear test,” Kim said.

Obama is visiting Seoul as part of an Asia tour, andthere has been widespread speculation that theNorth may stage a provocation to coincide with thetrip. Kim said the South Korean and US militaries wereclosely sharing intelligence and Seoul’s Joint Chiefs ofStaff had set up a special task force in casePyongyang goes ahead with an underground detona-

tion. On Monday, Pyongyang slammed Obama’supcoming trip as a “dangerous” move that wouldescalate military tension and bring the “dark clouds ofa nuclear arms race” over the Korean peninsula.Several analysts said they were sceptical that NorthKorea would carry out a test at the current time, andsaid Pyongyang was just seeking to rattle a few cages.

Slap in the face for China? Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North

Korean Studies in Seoul, said a test now would riskpermanently alienating the North’s only major allyand chief economic benefactor, China. “It would be ahuge slap in the face for China and North Korea maynot feel confident enough to deal with the backlashfrom Beijing,” Yang said. A nuclear test would extin-guish any chance of a resumption of six-country talkson North Korea’s nuclear program that China hasbeen pushing for. Other parties to the stalled discus-sions-most notably a skeptical South Korea and theUS-insist Pyongyang must first make a tangible steptowards denuclearization. “The diplomatic backlashfrom another nuclear test might be hard for the Northto cope with,” agreed Kim Yong-Hyun, a North Koreanexpert at DongGuk University. “I think this is morelikely North Korea posturing to get some internation-al attention,” Kim said.—AFP

N Korea ‘set’ for nuke test


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


SALT LAKE CITY: When a pen-wieldingdefendant rushed a witness during hisracketeering trial Monday, authoritiessaid, an armed US marshal fatally shothim. The shooting came just a week afterUtah’s new federal courthouse openedlast week, with security improvementsthat in the end could not prevent thedeadly incident. Shootings at federalcourthouses are rare, though not unheardof, around the United States. Securityenhancements at the Utah courthouseare becoming standard around the coun-try: separate entrances and elevators forjudges, defendants and the public; bullet-resistant glass and paneling; and vehiclebarricades to keep car bombs at bay.

Even the design of the courtrooms,with plenty of sunlight and space, canhelp calm witnesses or defendants inhigh-stress cases, some judges believe.Siale Angilau, 25, was shot several timesin front of stunned jurors, lawyers andcourtroom watchers. He was one of 17people named in a 2010 indictmentaccusing “Tongan Crip” gang members ofassault, conspiracy, robbery and weaponsoffenses.

The unidentified witness, who wasunhurt, had been testifying about ganginitiation when Angilau charged him, saidPerry Cardwell, who was in the court-room. Cardwell was there to support hismother, Sandra Keyser, who was punchedin the face during a holdup in 2002. Lastyear, a former police officer who toldfriends he was dying of cancer was killedby law enforcement after he sprayed bul-lets into a federal courthouse in WestVirginia. In 2012, a man committed sui-cide at a federal courthouse in Alabama,and in 2010, a man started shooting in

the lobby of the Las Vegas federal court-house, killing a court security officer andwounding a deputy US marshal. The gun-man was killed in a shootout.

Shootings in courtrooms themselvesare even less common, largely becausemetal detectors ensure armed spectatorsdon’t reach them. But defendants usuallyare not shackled when they appear at tri-

al, absent extraordinary circumstances,making their outbursts unpredictable.Courts have held that it’s unfair to defen-dants for jurors to see them restrained. It’sunclear whether the US Marshals Service,which provides security for judges andfederal courthouses, had any unusualconcerns about security in Angilau’s case.

Prosecutors say Angilau, also known

by his street name “C-Down,” was a mem-ber of the Tongan Crips, a group of menof mostly Tongan descent that are alignedwith a larger Crip culture in the westernUnited States. They have rivalries with“Blood” gangs and a gang of ex-membersknown as the “Tongan Crip Regulators,”court records show. The last defendant inthe case to stand trial, Angilau was

accused of robbing convenience storesand assaulting clerks in Salt Lake City onfive occasions from 2002 to 2007. A clerkwas shot in the final robbery. He was alsoaccused of assaulting a federal officerwith a weapon on Aug 11, 2007. Angilau’strial was among the first at the new $185million federal courthouse in downtownSalt Lake City, next door to the century-old federal facility it replaced.

US District Judge Tena Campbelldeclared a mistrial after the shooting, not-ing in her order that jurors were visiblyshaken and upset. She issued a separateorder extending the jurors’ term of service“until counseling is no longer needed.”Angilau’s attorney, Michael Langford,declined to take questions as he left thecour thouse. Angilau was arrested inAugust 2007 for a probation violation andpleaded guilty a year later to obstructionof justice and failure to respond to a com-mand of a police officer, court recordsshow. He remained in Utah state prisonuntil he was handed over to US marshalson Friday, said Utah Depar tment ofCorrections spokeswoman Brooke Adams.

Marsha Pechman, the chief US districtjudge in Seattle, noted that althoughstate courts handle many of the mostemotionally charged cases, includingfamily-law matters, security is never farfrom the minds of federal judges. In 2005,six weeks after Seattle’s federal court-house opened, Seattle police shot andkilled a man who walked into the lobbywith an inert grenade. That same year, adelusional man angry over the dismissalof his medical malpractice case shot andkil led the mother and husband ofChicago US District Judge Joan Lefkow atthe judge’s home. — AP

Death highlights violence at US courthouses

SALT LAKE CITY: Federal Courthouse employees evacuate as police investigate a shooting inside the Federal Courthousein Salt Lake City. — AP

WASHINGTON: Tens of thousands ofimmigrants who are in the US illegallybut don’t have serious criminal recordscould be shielded from deportationunder a policy change being weighed byHomeland Security Secretary JehJohnson. The change, if adopted follow-ing a review ordered by President BarackObama, could limit removals of peoplewho have little or no criminal record buthave committed repeat immigration vio-lations such as re-entering the countryillegally after having been deported, orfailing to comply with a deportationorder. The possible move, confirmed bytwo people with knowledge of thereview, would fall short of the sweepingchanges sought by activists.

They want Obama to expand a two-year-old program that grants work per-mits to certain immigrants brought hereillegally as children to include othergroups, such as the parents of any chil-dren born in the US. John Sandweg, whountil February served as acting directorof US Immigration and CustomsEnforcement, said he had promoted thepolicy change for immigrants withoutserious criminal records before his depar-ture and said it was being weighed by

Johnson. An immigration advocate whohas discussed the review with the admin-istration also confirmed the change wasunder consideration. The advocate spokeon condition of anonymity because theproceedings are confidential.

Priority list“Any report of specific considerations

at this time would be premature,” ClarkStevens, a spokesman for the HomelandSecurity Department, said Monday.Stevens said Johnson “has undergone avery rigorous and inclusive process tobest inform the review,” including seek-ing input from people within DHS as wellas lawmakers of both parties and otherstakeholders. The approach outlined bySandweg and the immigration advocatewould change the existing priority cate-gories that now include immigrants whohave re-entered the country after havingbeen deported previously, and thosewho are fugitives from immigration pro-ceedings. Such people would be takenoff the priority list.

The remaining priority categoriesfocus on recent border-crossers andimmigrants who pose a danger tonational security or public safety or who

have been convicted of crimes. Some ofthose categories might also be refined orchanged, and others could be added.“The time had come to focus ICE’s effortsexclusively on public safety and nationalsecurity,” Sandweg said in explaining whyhe pushed for the change. He estimatedthat some 20,000 deported immigrantsfell into the categories in question lastyear.

Deportation policyThe potential changes come as

Johnson proceeds with a review orderedby Obama on how to make deportationpolicy more humane. With comprehen-sive immigration legislation stalled in theRepublican-led House after passing theSenate last year, Obama has come underintense election-year pressure to stemdeportations, which have neared 2 mil-lion on his watch, and allow more of the11.5 million immigrants living here ille-gally to stay.

Many activists want sweeping actionby Obama to give legal certainty andwork permits to millions more immi-grants, like he did for those who arrivedillegally as children and attended schoolor served in the military. —AP

US government weighs

curbing deportations

White House mulls new policy

BEIRUT: A German former rapper who joined jihadistsfighting in Syria has been killed in a suicide bombing car-ried out by rival fighters, jihadist sources and a monitorsaid yesterday. Denis Mamadou Cuspert, who rappedunder the name Deso Dogg but took on the name AbuTalha Al-Almani in Syria, was reported to have beenkilled in a suicide attack Sunday in an eastern province.He was a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and theLevant (ISIL) and was reportedly killed in a double sui-cide bombing carried out by Al-Nusra Front, a rivaljihadist group that is Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate.

Messages posted on jihadist Internet forumsannounced his death. “The Islamic nation is bleedingwith the news of the martyrdom of the jihadist fighter,brother Abu Talha Al-Almani. May he be accepted byGod,” one message read. “His death is the result of a sui-cide bombing carried out by the traitorous soldiers of(Nusra chief Abu Mohammed Al-) Jolani against a housein which a number of ISIL brothers were staying,” it

added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, aBritish-based monitoring group, also reported the sui-cide attack carried out on Sunday. “Two members of Al-Nusra Front blew themselves up the day before yester-day, killing 16 ISIL fighters,” Observatory director RamiAbdel Rahman said. Abdel Rahman said a fighter knownas Abu Talha was among those killed in the attack in DeirEzzor province near the boundary with Hasakehprovince. Since early January, ISIL has been in open com-bat with Al-Nusra and other Islamist and moderate rebelgroups, who accuse it of abuses against rival oppositionfighters as well as civilians. Both ISIL and Al-Nusra havereportedly targeted each other with suicide attacks.

The role of Al-Almani-Arabic for “The German”-in Syriaattracted widespread attention and he appeared in mul-tiple videos and photos promoting the jihadist fight inSyria. In September 2013, he was reported to have beenwounded in a regime air strike on a home where he wasstaying. —AFP

Rapper-turned-jihadist killed

KIEV: Vice President Joe Biden said theUnited States stood by Ukraine’s newpro-Western leaders yesterday in the faceof “humiliating threats” as Washingtonand Moscow traded blame over the crisisin the ex-Soviet country. “You face verydaunting problems, and some might say,humiliating threats,” Biden told a groupof lawmakers in a meeting at Ukraine’sparliament.

The US would “stand with” Ukraineahead of a presidential poll scheduled forMay 25 that “may be the most importantelection in Ukrainian history,” he said.Biden’s symbolic two-day visit to Kievcame as US officials said that the onuswas firmly on Moscow to fulfill an accordstruck last week aimed at reducing ten-sions in the worst East-West confronta-tion since the Cold War. Under the dealsigned by Ukraine, Russia, the UnitedStates and the European Union inGeneva, all militias in the country weresupposed to disarm and give up controlover seized state property.

Washington and Kiev have put theonus on pro-Kremlin militants holdingbuildings in the east, while Moscow saidthe responsibility fell to pro-Westernnationalists camping out in Kiev. The splitover Ukraine was on display in a crunchphone call between American andRussian diplomatic chiefs, with each sideputting a radically different spin on theconversation aimed at reviving theGeneva accord. US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry called on Moscow to put pres-sure on the pro-Russian separatists,which Washington sees as backed by theKremlin.

But Russian Foreign Minister SergeiLavrov urged Washington to influencethe Ukrainian government, whichMoscow accuses of “grossly breaching”the Geneva deal. Kerry told Lavrov that“concrete steps” to defuse the crisis

should include “publicly calling on sepa-ratists to vacate illegal buildings andcheckpoints, accept amnesty andaddress their grievances politically”, saidState Department spokeswoman JenPsaki. US ambassador to Kiev GeoffreyPyatt told journalists Monday that “theball is really in Moscow’s court” over mak-ing the agreement work and saidWashington would take “days not weeks”to assess the implementation of theaccord.

In Moscow, the foreign ministry saidLavrov had asked Kerry to “pressure Kievto stop hotheads from provoking abloody conflict and to encourage theUkrainian authorities to strictly fulfil theirobligations”. Lavrov also accusedUkraine’s government of an “inability andunwillingness” to rein in Pravy Sektor(“Right Sector”), an ultra-nationalist

group the separatists blamed for a dead-ly attack Sunday on one of their check-points near the flashpoint town ofSlavyansk. Funerals of at least two pro-Moscow rebels killed in the gunbattlewere set to take place in the town yester-day in an emotive ceremony that couldstoke additional anger in the east.

Military moves, sanctionsUS President Barack Obama has

threatened more sanctions on Moscow ifthe Geneva accord is not implementedsoon, beyond those already imposed bythe United States and the EuropeanUnion. White House press secretary JayCarney said Monday that Washingtonwas ready to make good on its threat,warning that “if progress is not made incoming days we will impose furthercosts”. —AFP

Washington, Moscow trade

blame over Ukrainian crisis

‘We stand by you’, Biden tells Ukraine leaders

KIEV: Ukraine’s acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (right) shakeshands with US Vice President Joe Biden before their meeting in Kiev yester-day. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Wrapped in a purple shawl, Mirjanwanders downcast among the ruins of theIslamabad slum where she lived, newly demol-ished. The authorities in Pakistan’s leafy, affluentcapital have declared war on the slums, largelypopulated by Christians and Afghan refugees,saying they are illegal and havens for militants.The bulldozers came for Mirjan’s slum by a rail-way line in the city’s south last Monday, trans-forming hundreds of shacks into a sea of rubble.

The 70-year-old, with grey hair and pale blueeyes, saw the city ’s Capital DevelopmentAuthority (CDA) demolish her meagre world in amatter of minutes. “I have been living here forthe past 40 years. The CDA has completelyruined me. I am a widow, my husband died 20years ago, my two elder sons also died,” she toldAFP, stifling sobs. “I am a poor woman-why didthe CDA not listen to me?” More than two dozenslums, known as “katchi abadis” in Urdu andoften euphemistically called “colonies”, aretucked into the corners of Islamabad’s neat gridpattern.

They house tens of thousands of peopleunable to afford the city’s high rents, in flimsydwellings put up with concrete, bricks and sack-

ing. Some are located on drainage cutsdesigned to channel away the heavy rains of themonsoon, and many have no access to electrici-ty, gas or mains water supplies. The CDA, thecity’s administration, has now drawn up a list of14 such settlements it says are illegal and plansto clear-with no compensation or rehousingplan for the residents. The demolition of Mirjan’sslum came after a bombing at a nearby fruit andvegetable market killed 22 people-the deadliestattack in Islamabad since 2008.

Pervaiz Masih, who lives in a Christianslum, says the community is frightened. “Wehave no land or other property to move to, wecannot build houses even if the governmentgives us land as we have no money,” Masihtold AFP, tears rolling down his cheeks. “Thislocality was not built overnight. If it is illegal,why did CDA officials not stop the peoplewhen they started building?” he said, accusingofficials of taking bribes to let the settlementstay. Aasim Saj jad, chairman of the Al lPakistan Katchi Abadi Alliance, said the city’selite enjoy a cossetted life waited on by maids,cooks and chauffeurs drawn from the ranks ofthe slum-dwellers. —AFP


NEW DELHI: Some Indian teachers force children fromlower castes and minority religions to clean toilets and sitseparately from their classmates as part of “persistent” dis-crimination in classrooms, a rights group said yesterday.Human Rights Watch said pupils from marginalized com-munities often dropped out of school and started work-ing as laborers rather than face continued humiliation atthe hands of teachers and principals.

The 77-page study on schools was compiled throughinterviews with more than 160 teachers, principals, par-

ents and students in four states which have large popula-tions of low-caste poor, indigenous tribals and Muslims.“India’s immense project to educate all its children risksfalling victim to deeply rooted discrimination by teachersand other school staff against the poor and marginalized,”said the report’s author Jayshree Bajoria.

“Instead of encouraging children from at-risk commu-nities who are often the first in their families to ever stepinside a classroom, teachers often neglect or even mis-treat them,” she said. Children from Muslim communities

were among those often made to sit at the back of class-rooms or in separate rooms. They were called derogatorynames, were denied leadership roles and were servedfood last, the report said. The report comes as a mam-moth general election is underway which is likely to vaultHindu nationalist hardliner Narendra Modi and his partyto power after a decade of centre-left Congress party rule.

Some children said they were segregated and neg-lected because they were considered dirty, while Muslimstudents said they were called “mullahs”, a term for an

Islamic cleric, instead of by their names. India’s parliamentpassed landmark legislation in 2009 that guarantees stateschooling for children aged six to 14 and enrolments havereached more than 90 percent nationally. But HRW saidthe law does not contain punishments for those who dis-criminate in the classroom. Most education authoritieshave failed to establish proper mechanisms to monitorand track children, who were at risk of dropping out, andacting to ensure they were able to remain in school, thereport said. — AFP

India’s children suffer discrimination in classroom

BELLARY: Stooping to feed grain to a black cow asa religious offering at his unfinished mansion,Indian politician and rags-to-riches millionaire BSreeramulu may need help from the gods if he is towin a hard-fought race for the parliamentary seat ofBellary. He faces criminal charges, includingattempted murder in a case dating back to 2007,and has close links with a jailed mining tycoon fromthe southern Indian town where the scandal hasput thousands of miners out of work.

Sreeramulu’s bid for office comes as India’s 815million-strong electorate votes in a staggered elec-tion ending on May 12 that looks set to oust the rul-ing Congress party, in part because of anger overcorruption that is estimated to have cost the coun-try billions of dollars in lost revenue. The anti-graftAam Aadmi (“Common Man”) Party came to powerin local elections in New Delhi last year in a stun-ning debut, and the opposition Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP), likely to lead the next government, hasmade tackling corruption a priority. Yet it is the BJPwho chose Sreeramulu as its candidate in a signthat, for all the rhetoric about cleaning up politics,parties are willing to back figures facing criminalcharges. Decades of experience show they fre-quently win. Such candidates often have deeppockets and a reputation for getting things done inparts of the country where the state is weak, mak-ing them popular with parties and voters. Electionspending, much of it to bribe voters, can exceedlegal limits tenfold, officials say. Bellary, where aniron ore boom swelled politicians’ funds, is knownfor lavish campaigns. Ahead of last Thursday’s vote,election officers in the town raided the homes ofSreeramulu allies after seizing $1.4 million from amoney lender that was destined, they said, to buyvotes. It was the biggest haul of suspected slushmoney so far out of election-related seizures of $36million nationwide.

Just a poor manThe son of a railway station worker in Bellary, in

the state of Karnataka, Sreeramulu told Reuters thatall charges against him were false. He has not been

convicted of any crime. “I’m just a poor man. Myfather was a luggage porter,” he said, standingbeneath a picture of his children smiling next to agold, jewel-encrusted crown that was donated to atemple by his jailed associate. In fact, Sreeramuludeclared assets of $2.5 million when he registeredas a candidate in 2014, a fortune by Indian stan-dards. When finished, his imposing house will bethe size of a hotel and feature a swimming pool.

Data compiled by the Association forDemocratic Reforms, a civil society group, showsthat one in six candidates registered for the first fivestages of the 2014 general election faces criminalcharges, slightly more than in the 2009 ballot. Thesecandidates have a far higher win rate than others,meaning nearly one in three lawmakers in the out-going parliament face pending criminal cases. “Inthe absence of an impartial state which can deliver

benefits, protection and justice without bias, ‘taint-ed politicians’ can and will find support,” said MilanVaishnav, a South Asia expert at the CarnegieEndowment for International Peace.

Whether locals support Sreeramulu and otherslike him could have a major impact on the outcomeof the vote, and signs on the ground are that thecontest for Bellary is desperately close. At the lastparliamentary election in 2009, the BJP won by onlyaround 2,000 votes in the district of 2.5 million peo-ple. This time Sreeramulu is up against an elderly for-mer judge with a clean image representingCongress. “The Congress candidate is new, but he’s ajudge with no scandals,” said Shivaji Rao, an unem-ployed mine operator in a Bellary town calledSandur, who said the BJP candidate had little supportthere. “Sreeramulu has too many scandals, althoughit’s not proven, and Reddy is in jail.” —Reuters

Nexus between politics, crimeplays out in India mining townVoters town torn between ideals, pragmatism

MAHABOOBNAGAR: Indian Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi sits in a helicopter ashe waits to leave an election rally in Mahaboobnagar, some 110 kms from Hyderabad. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian election fron-trunner Narendra Modi yesterdaycondemned virulent anti-Muslimremarks by a one-time associate ashe sought to keep attention on hiscore message of development andcorruption-free administration.Praveen Togadia, head of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (WorldHindu Council), faces a police inves-tigation after a video appeared toshow him urging Hindus to evictMuslims from their neighborhoodsin western Gujarat state.

Speaking in Gujarat on Saturday,Togadia is heard saying: “We(Hindus) are in a majority-we shouldhave the courage to intimidatethem by taking the law in our ownhands.” A lawyer for Togadia said theclip was “false, malafide and mis-chievous”. Modi, a hardliner fromthe Hindu nationalist BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), said he “disap-proved” of the statement fromTogadia, an associate when bothmen were in grassroots Hindugroups in the 1980s. Modi is run-ning on a platform to revive aneconomy going through the worstslowdown since 1980s.

But half-way through a five-weekcampaign to win over the country’s815 million voters, some membersof the BJP and its hardline affiliatesare facing accusations of trying towhip up a partisan agenda. “Pettystatements by those claiming to beBJP’s well wishers are deviating thecampaign from the issues of devel-opment & good governance,” Modi,the biggest campaigner for the par-ty, said in a Twitter post. “I disap-prove any such irresponsible state-ment & appeal to those making

them to kindly refrain from doingso.” On Saturday, Giriraj Singh, aleader of the Bihar state wing of theparty, said those opposed to Modiwould have to leave India and go toPakistan after the BJP won the elec-tion and formed a government.

Television channels showed avideo in which Praveen Togadia, afirebrand member of the VishwaHindu Parishad, a sister organizationof the BJP, seen offering advice onhow to prevent Muslims from buy-ing property in Hindus-dominatedareas. Togadia denied that, sayinghe only asked Hindus to seek thehelp of police to resolve property

disputes involving Muslims. Thestatements, however, have re-ignit-ed concern about religious minori-ties under a BJP government, whichrivals say has a deep-seated biasagainst India’s 150 million Muslims.

Crocodile tearsModi himself is tainted by accu-

sations that he encouraged orturned a blind eye to Hindu-Muslimriots in 2002 in Gujarat, the state hehas governed for 13 years. Morethan 1,000 people, most of themMuslims, were killed in the violence.He has always denied the accusa-tions and a Supreme Court inquirydid not find evidence to prosecutehim. “These crocodile tears ... willnot do,” said Abhishek ManuSinghvi, a leader of the rulingCongress party, referring to Modi’sTwitter posts criticizing colleagues’statements.

People know the truthWhile opinion polls are predict-

ing Modi’s BJP-led alliance will winthe biggest chunk of the 543 parlia-mentary seats being contested inthe election, that ends on May 12,most of them show he will needallies after the polls for a majority.An anti-Muslim pitch is not onlyexpected to make it tougher for himto find coalition partners, but couldalso drive away some of middle-class voters, whose support Modi isbanking on to unseat the Congressparty. But some of Modi’s col-leagues remain defiant. BJP leaderSingh, who is contesting the elec-tion in the northern state of Bihar,said he stood by his statement. “Ihave said what I felt. I will give myexplanation.”

This month, the election commis-sion banned one of Modi’s top aidesfrom election rallies on charges ofmaking inflammatory speechesagainst Muslims. The ban was liftedlast week after the aide, Amit Shah,vowed not to use abusive orderogatory language. The commis-sion said that it would monitor hiscampaigning. Separately, a leader ofthe BJP’s alliance partner in theWestern state of Maharashtra saidon Monday Modi would teach a les-son to Muslim rioters. Shiv Senaleader Ramdas Kadam made thecomments at a joint election rallywith Modi in Mumbai. — Agencies

Pakistan capital cracks down on illegal slums

India’s Modi condemns ‘evict Muslims’ remark

MUMBAI: Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat and Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi poses for a photo-graph as party candidate from Mumbai Poonam Mahajan takes a ‘selfie’with him at an election rally in Mumbai. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani woman Mirjan stands in the rubble of her destroyed house ata slum area of Islamabad. — AFP


Opposition no-show hinders Thai election talksBANGKOK: Negotiations on a roadmap toelections in Thailand following months ofpolitical turmoil suffered a major setbackyesterday as the opposition pulled out ofrare multi-party talks at the last minute.Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ispushing for new polls as soon as possibleto bolster her precarious position in theface of a series of legal threats that couldforce her from office. The kingdom hasbeen without a fully functioning govern-ment or parliament since December, and ageneral election held in February was void-ed after opposition demonstrators disrupt-ed voting.

The nation has been shaken by monthsof political violence that has left 25 peopledead and hundreds wounded, includingmany anti-government protesters, ingrenade attacks and shootings. TheElection Commission (EC) called the talksto discuss a new election date with politi-cal rivals including the main oppositionDemocrat Party, which boycotted the lastround of voting. But a day after describingthe talks as “the most opportune time toput aside our party views”, Democrat Partyleader Abhisit Vejjajiva announced shortlybefore the meeting began that he wouldnot be going.

“I will not attend the meeting becauseof security,” he told AFP without specifyingthe nature of the concerns. “No one fromthe Democrats will attend.” On the eve ofthe meeting, Yingluck’s Puea Thai Partydecried a “conspiracy” by her opponents tothwart new polls. In a statement the partysaid certain groups and political parties“don’t want democracy” and are trying tocreate a political vacuum so they canappoint their own unelected leader. TheEC-which has been accused by govern-ment supporters of siding with the opposi-tion-says it needs several months at leastto organize new polls, leaving the countryin legislative limbo.

EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen saidat the start of the talks that the meetingwould be “important for solving the coun-try problems”. But without the participa-tion of the opposition, hopes of a break-through were fading. Representatives ofmore than 50 other political parties joinedthe talks, according to election officials.Opposition protesters have threatened to

disrupt any new polls. Dozens of anti-gov-ernment demonstrators rallied outside theBangkok hotel where the talks were takingplace, demanding “reform before election”.

Justice or power grab?Yingluck, who won a landslide elec-

tion victory in 2011, could be ordered tostep down within weeks in connectionwith two legal cases under considerationby the Constitutional Court and an anti-corruption panel. Thailand’s first femalepremier is accused of the alleged improp-er transfer of a top civil servant as well asdereliction of duty linked to a loss-mak-ing rice subsidy scheme that critics say isinfested with corruption.

Her supporters see the moves as anattempted power grab. The backdrop isan eight-year struggle between a royalistestablishment-backed by parts of thejudiciary and the military-and Yingluck’sfamily, which has traditionally enjoyedstrong support in the northern half ofThailand. Yingluck’s “Red Shirt” support-ers have vowed to take to the streetsagain to defend her administration, rais-ing fears of a bloody new chapter inThai land’s long pol it ical cr is is . Massprotests by the Red Shirts in 2010 trig-gered a mil i tar y crackdown underAbhisit ’s government that left dozensdead.

A senior figure in the red-clad move-

ment, Thida Thavornseth, urged followersyesterday to be ready for another “longprotest”. The opposition protesters wantYingluck to resign to make way for anunelected “people’s council” to overseepolitical reforms. They have vowed topurge the kingdom of the influence ofher brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who wasousted in a coup in 2006 but looms largeover Thai politics from self-exile in Dubaiwhere he lives to avoid prison for a cor-ruption convict ion. Asked yesterdayabout reports that the Shinawatra familyhad offered to quit politics if the opposi-tion respected the democratic process,Yingluck said only that she was “notclinging to her position”.— AFP

BODHGAYA: Visiting Thai army, air force and police personnel pray as they hold their newly-issued monk’s robes during a ritualat the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya yesterday. The Thailand defense personnel are spending two weeks at the temple as prac-ticing Buddhist monks.— AFP

Obama’s Asian trip seen as

counterweight to China

Crimea crisis sharpens concerns ‘US lacks the will’TOKYO: President Barack Obama’s travels through Asia incoming days aim to reassure partners about the renewedUS commitment to the region, with an eye both toChina’s rising assertiveness and the fast-growing marketsthat are the center of gravity for global growth. The ques-tion: Will it be enough? Nearly seven months after hecancelled an Asian tour due to the US government shut-down, Obama’s failure to prevent Russia from annexingCrimea has sharpened concerns that America lacks thewill or wherewithal to follow through on its much-touted“pivot” to the Asia-Pacific.

“Words come easy,” said Philippine political analystRamon Casiple. “But US allies would want to know whathelp they can get when things reach a point of noreturn.” The United States has been stepping up regionalmilitary deployments, but has made less progress onrebalancing through broader diplomatic and economicinitiatives, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a PacificRim free trade agreement. Obama arrives in Tokyo onWednesday for the first state visit to America’s closest allyin Asia by a US president since Bill and Hillary Clintoncame in 1996. He will be the first sitting US president tovisit Malaysia since Lyndon Johnson in 1966.

Territorial riftsAllies South Korea and the Philippines, the two other

stops on his agenda, are also keen to shore up securityties. US allies wonder if America has adequate capabilityto back them up in territorial rifts with China, Caspilesays, given Washington’s budget problems and preoccu-pation with crises elsewhere. “The American objective isto reassure countries that ... America is here to stay and isgoing to keep a strong interest in dealing with Chinatogether with those countries,” said Koichi Nakano, apolitical science professor at Tokyo’s Sophia University.

A report released last week by the US Senate ForeignRelations Committee urged that more effort and moneybe devoted to upgrading alliances in the Asia-Pacific. “Asuccessful rebalance must underscore the strategic mes-sage that the policy represents an enduring US commit-ment to the region, assuring our partners that we are init for the long haul,” it said. Striving to allay Japan’s wor-ries over its territorial dispute with China and missilelaunches by North Korea, during a recent Asian tour USDefense Secretary Chuck Hagel pledged two more ballis-tic missile defense destroyers for Japan by 2017.

In a further show of solidarity, Hagel rebuked Beijingfor escalating its territorial dispute with Tokyo overJapanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea thatJapan calls the Senkaku islands and China calls theDiaoyu islands. The US is obligated to protect Japan fromattack, but has sought to avoid taking a stand on sover-

eignty over the islands. Tokyo is hoping for more in theway of confidence building, says Hitoshi Tanaka, chair-man of the Institute for International Strategy in Tokyo.

“We would like to see the president make a strong,clear statement about the Senkaku,” said Tanaka. “Thereis a need for Japan and the US to work to improve thesecurity situation in East Asia.” Obama’s two-night stay inTokyo - just enough for the state visit the Japanese hadpushed for in itself sends a good message, said MatakeKamiya, a professor at the National Defense Academy inYokosuka, near Tokyo. “It’s important not only for the psy-chology of the Japanese but also for the impression giv-en to the Chinese and North Koreans,” he said.

Tokyo, Seoul at oddsThe US has 50,000 troops in Japan and about 28,500

deployed in South Korea, where it just concluded jointUS-South Korean exercises. But Tokyo and Seoul remainat odds over a separate territorial dispute and lingeringKorean resentment of Japanese aggression before andduring World War II. Getting an early start on fence-mending, Obama brought Japanese Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hyetogether for their first face-to-face meeting since theyboth took office over a year ago, on the sidelines of arecent nuclear security summit in The Hague. A visit byAbe in December to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, whichenshrines 14 convicted war criminals among 2.5 millionwar dead, irked the US and angered both South Koreaand China.

At least two members of Abe’s Cabinet, and dozensof other lawmakers, paid respects at the shrine justdays before Obama’s arrival in visits the South Koreanside described as “deplorable.” But the leaders’ atten-tion may well be diverted by a tragic ferry sinking,which left more than 300 missing or dead, most ofthem teenagers. The United States already has a free-trade agreement with South Korea, which is likely toeventually join the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Both theUS and Japan had hoped to announce “substantialprogress” on the pact by the time of Obama’s visitdespite conflicts over tariffs on farm products andautomobiles. Officials signaled Tuesday that a break-through was unlikely.— AP

MANILA: A protester is prevented by police from placing a sticker at the logo of the US Embassy during a rally inManila to protest next weekís four-country visit of US President Barack Obama, that includes the Philippines. —AP

JAKARTA: Regular police and private security person-nel are posted at the main entrance of JakartaInternational School in Jakarta. — AFP

Boy ‘sexually assaulted’ at

Indonesia nursery schoolJAKARTA: Indonesia has orderedthe nursery of a prestigious Jakartainternational school to close follow-ing an alleged sexual assault on asix-year-old boy by cleaning staff, anofficial said yesterday. The case hassparked widespread public angerand focused attention on the highincidence of child abuse at educa-tional institutions across the coun-try. Police said the youngster wasallegedly assaulted twice in recentmonths in the toilets of the nursery

at the Jakarta International School,where many of the city’s expatriatecommunity send their children. Twocleaners, who were contracted froman outside company, have beenarrested and named suspects overthe alleged sex assault.

Lydia Freyani Hawadi, a senioreducation ministr y off ic ia l saidauthorities had ordered the closureof the nursery. She said the officialgrounds were that it did not have aproper license to operate but added

that the alleged assault also “calledfor a thorough investigation”. Theschool confirmed the closure hadbeen ordered but said studentswould be allowed to remain at thenursery until the end of the currentacademic year in June. “We are fullycommitted to working with the min-istry to resolve the matter of ourlongstanding licenses fully so thatwe can resume the operation of ourearly childhood program,” it said in astatement—.AFP

Newsin brief

Militants kill three in Indian Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Militants killed two local officials andanother man in Indian Kashmir before issuing a warn-ing to Kashmiris against voting this week in the coun-try’s mammoth election, police and residents said yes-terday. The militants targeted two village councilheads in separate attacks late on Monday in Pulwanadistrict south of the main city of Srinagar, a seniorpolice officer said. “Three people including two vil-lage heads were killed by local militants active in thearea and the attack is aimed to keep the voters awayfrom polling,” Inspector General of Police AG Mir said.“The attackers belong to the local militant organiza-tion Hizbul Mujahideen, they were two in numberand we have identified them,” Mir said. Police werehunting for the attackers, who entered the home ofone village head and shot him dead in Tral area ofPulwana district. They killed another senior villageofficial and his 24-year-old son about an hour later inthe same area. Separatists have called for a boycottof the general election which ends next month whenhardline Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi and hisparty are expected to vault to power after a decadeof Congress-party rule.

Afghan campaign worker shot dead

KABUL: A prominent campaign worker inAfghanistan’s presidential election was shot dead out-side his home in the country’s east, officials said yes-terday. The Taleban denied they were involved in thekilling. Campaign worker Esmatullah, who like manyAfghan men uses only one name, was returning homefrom visiting a friend on Monday afternoon whenunknown gunmen opened fire outside his house inLogar province, provincial spokesman DinMohammad Darwish said. Esmatullah - known asCommandor Tor for his role in the struggle against the1990s Soviet occupation - was killed instantly whilehis two bodyguards were wounded, Darwish saidEsmatullah worked as an election observer for presi-dential candidate Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf, a promi-nent Islamic cleric who is currently running fourth inthe race for the top post, according to the partialresults that have been released. A spokesman forSayyaf ’s campaign, Mohammad Fahim Kadamani,confirmed that Esmatullah was an election observerand blamed the Taleban for his death.

Zimbabwean President accepts $4,000 salary

HARARE: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe hassaid he gets by on a modest salary of $4,000 a monthbecause of the “hard times” facing the country, statemedia reported yesterday. Zimbabwe is still recover-ing from years of economic collapse attributed mainlyto government policies under Mugabe, who has runthe country since independence in 1980. “I am earning$4,000 (2,900 euros) just now, because of the hardtimes. This is what we decided on, that we should rec-ognize the hard times at the moment,” Mugabe said ina BBC interview at the weekend, according to excerptspublished in state media. The average wage inZimbabwe is $300 a month, but unemployment runsat 80 percent and most of the population of 13 millionlive in poverty. The report did not say how much the90-year-old president, who favors designer suits andRolex watches, might receive in allowances or what heearns outside government. Mugabe has interests infarming among known business entities under hisname. The president built a plush private mansion onthe outskirts of the capital Harare, reportedly worthmore than $10 million.

Italian Navy rescues over 1,000 migrants

ROME: Italy has rescued over 1,000 migrants over thepast 48 hours, the navy said yesterday, amid rising crit-icism from the political right over the high cost of theoperation. The “Mare Nostrum” (Our Sea) operation,launched last October, plucks people from flounder-ing vessels in the Mediterranean almost daily, at a costof nine million euros ($12.4 million) a month accord-ing to Italian media reports. “This expensive and mani-acal operation must be immediately stopped,” saidMaurizio Gasparri from the centre-right Forza Italiaparty, describing Mare Nostrum as “a taxi... with peo-ple smugglers alerting the Italian navy, which thenbrings in endless numbers of illegal immigrants.” Thegovernment has warned that the landings are set toincrease, estimating this month that up to 600,000migrants from Africa and the Middle East are ready toset off from Libyan shores. Matteo Salvini, head of theanti-immigration Northern League party, has alsocalled for the operation to be scrapped, saying “Italiancitizens end up financing the people smugglers andan invasion of our coasts.” The arrival in Sicily yester-day of 321 migrants, including 62 women and fivechildren, brought the number of people saved overthe past 48 hours to 1,149 according to the navy,which did not specify their nationalities.

Iran MPs seek probe into prison beatings

TEHRAN: Iran’s official news agency says seven law-makers have demanded a probe into alleged beatingsof several political prisoners held at Tehran’s Evinprison. IRNA reported yesterday that the families ofthe inmates met with the lawmakers on Monday,seeking clarification on what happened to their kin.Foreign-based Farsi language media have reportedthat the prisoners were beaten during a snap inspec-tion by prison authorities last Thursday. Prison officialshave denied any beatings, saying several prisoners cuttheir hands on glass as they were breaking windowsto protest the inspection.

KASHMIR: Unidentified relatives wail during ajoint funeral procession of Ghulam Nabi, a ruralbody head of a pro-Indian party, and his sonFirdous Ahmad at Batgund village, some 40 kilo-meters south of Srinagar yesterday. — AP

THE LEADING INDEPENDENTDAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF

ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN

Editor-in-ChiefABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN

EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432ADVERTISING : 24835616/7FAX : 24835620/1CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163ACCOUNTS : 24835619COMMERCIAL : 24835618

P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.E MAIL :[email protected]: www.kuwaittimes.net

All articles appearing on these pagesare the personal opinion of the writ-ers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibil-ity for views expressed therein. KuwaitTimes invites readers to voice theiropinions. Please send submissions viaemail to: [email protected] orvia snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat,Kuwait. The editor reserves the rightto edit any submission as necessary.

Czech party

gets tough on

immigrants

Anew Czech party founded by a Japan-bornentrepreneur is pinning its hopes on anti-immi-grant rhetoric in its campaign for next month’s

European elections. It is a strategy that helped sweepthe Usvit (Dawn) party into parliament last October,when it scored nearly seven percent of the vote in asnap election just months after its launch. The partyhas only nine regular members, including founderTomio Okamura, a well-known half-Czech, half-Japanese businessman who counts a travel agencyfor cuddly toys among his successful ventures. Usvithas tapped energetic lawyer Klara Samkova as its topcandidate for the European Parliament poll.

“We have to say no to the kind of immigration thatseeks to take advantage of Europe’s social system,” the51-year-old said this month at a party rally in thenorthern town of Jablonec, famous for its costumejewellery. “Don’t board your boats, we won’t welcomeyou,” she cried, stressing the need to “protectEuropean values that are above all Christian values.”“Immigrants bring over a completely different set ofvalues that threaten to one day destroy Europe,” shesaid while distributing leaflets.

‘Too Many Foreigners’ Her words have fertile ground in a nation where 51

percent of the population believes there are too manyforeigners, according to a March survey by the CVVMagency. Around 430,000 foreigners live in the EUmember of 10.5 million people, according to officialdata. That includes some 113,000 Ukrainians, 82,000Slovaks, 52,000 Vietnamese and 32,000 Russians. Usvithopes to send at least one representative to theEuropean Parliament to sit alongside peers fromFrance’s National Front, the Dutch Party for Freedomand the UK Independence Party. “I’m optimistic,” saidSamkova, who if elected wants to work on the parlia-ment’s Human Rights Committee, which she says iscurrently “cluttered with leftists”.

At the top of the party’s agenda are a tougherimmigration policy and the defence of national sover-eignty. Since its founding last May, Usvit has relied onstrong support in borderland regions hit hard byunemployment and social problems - concerns lesspresent in the wealthier capital. “In Prague, there aremany intellectuals who are out of touch with reality,”said Samkova, who used to be married to an activistfor the country ’s impoverished Roma minority.“People in the countryside better appreciate our poli-cy of telling it like it is.”

‘Impossible to Stop’ Led by the 41-year-old Okamura, Usvit has 14 seats

in the 200-member Czech parliament. Its deputiesoften echo the fiery rhetoric on display at theJablonec rally. “I’m going to vote in the European elec-tions and Usvit is among my favourites,” said Jaroslav,an attendee in his sixties. “I like their focus on referen-dums. I also agree with them on the immigrationissue,” he added, before complaining about hismonthly pension of 8,000 koruna ($400).

But postal worker Alena Zeniskova slammedUsvit’s efforts to organise a referendum on adoptingthe euro, fearing the proposal will be rejected sincemost Czechs are opposed. “I don’t want this beggar’scurrency, the koruna. I want the euro. If we join theeurozone, we’ll soon have the same wages as westernEurope,” the 39-year-old told AFP. A supporter of thegoverning leftist Social Democrats, she said she doesnot view “every immigrant as a parasite”. Hana, awoman in her seventies, added that Usvit’s policy is“neither positive nor constructive”. “Immigration is anatural thing, it’s impossible to stop.”

On its website, Usvit calls for “a stricter immigrationpolicy” that closes the EU’s door to “unadaptableimmigrants and religious fanatics” but stops short ofdemanding a blanket ban on immigration. EvenSamkova ultimately takes a softer stance, admittingthat she has nothing against “those who enter legallyand earn an honest living”. “We have to refer tohuman rights by what they really are, that is, an indi-visible union of rights and duties.” — AFP

Issues

By Jan Marchal

ANALYSISWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

By Matthew Miller and Yan Huang

Far from the spotlight, in secretive high-level meetingsand company boardrooms, Beijing is drawing up one ofthe country’s thorniest reforms: an overhaul of China’s

hugely inefficient state-owned industry. It shapes up as aneclectic mix of pilot projects and initiatives rather than a sin-gle blueprint, which makes it harder to judge their progressthan, for example, regulation-driven financial liberalisation.Yet taken together they probably mark the beginning of thebiggest revamp of China’s state sector since late 1990s, whenBeijing set out to shore up the nation’s industry ahead of join-ing the World Trade Organization.

In recent weeks, some of China’s top conglomerates haveannounced spin-offs and restructuring plans, local authoritieshave begun experimenting with new management struc-tures, and political sources say a group focused on stateenterprises plays a prominent role among six teams that formPresident Xi Jinping’s economic brain trust. Last week, CITICGroup Corp, China’s flagship investment company, detailedplans to inject its main operating business into the firm’sHong Kong-listed subsidiary CITIC Pacific Ltd in a $36.5 billiondeal that should improve the management and outsidescrutiny of the conglomerate.

During the last reform push, the government sold off orclosed thousands of firms, laying off 30 million workers andcutting the number of state firms to around 110,000 from260,000. That boosted efficiency, opened room for privatebusinesses and cemented China’s position as the world’s fac-tory floor. This time, however, there is no one-size-fits-all solu-tion. “The situation is now different,” Li Yining, a PekingUniversity economist and a leading advocate of privatisation,told reporters last month. He said resistance from interestgroups and institutional inertia were the hardest nuts tocrack.

There is no question that it is time for another overhaul. Inthe five years since the global financial crisis, state firms havegrown bigger and more dominant but also more indebtedand plagued by overcapacity. China’s 113 central govern-ment-controlled conglomerates alone have borrowed 18 tril-lion yuan ($2.89 trillion) between 2008 and 2013, raising theirdebt-to-equity ratio 40 percentage points to 192 percent.

That is on top of 32 trillion yuan borrowed by 110,000 firmsowned by local governments, which raised total state enter-prise debt to about half of the country’s GDP.

Scaling Back“The financial leverage at SOEs is too high,” said Steven

Sun, head of China equity strategy at HSBC Global Research.Sun calculates China’s state-owned firms have spent all thecash flow generated from business operations in the past fiveyears on capacity expansion, double the ratio for non-finan-cial S&P 500 companies. “They need to scale back, and one ofthe best ways to do that is selling stakes to strategic investorsand private capital,” said Sun.

Spearheading the government’s restructuring efforts isone of six teams named by Xi Jinping as part of his compre-hensive reform office. The team has already held severalmeetings, people familiar with its activities say. Membershipof the group hasn’t been made public, but analysts say thatvice premier Zhang Gaoli may be in charge. “This economicreform team is most important, no matter who is leading theteam,” said Zhang Chunxiao, an adviser to a state body thatoversees the top conglomerates.

Provinces and major cities are already running trials aim-ing to bring more non-government capital to the firms theycontrol and embracing new management structures andincentives. The provinces of Guangdong, Anhui, Hunan,Guizhou and Shaanxi along with the municipalities ofShanghai, Chongqing and Tianjin and the city of Zhuhai haveall announced privatisation plans that are likely to varydepending on firms’ role and market position.

In Guangdong, where state administrators oversee over 4trillion yuan in assets, provincial leaders have announcedthey will diversify ownership in 13 sectors, including trans-portation, electricity, healthcare and mining. The goal is tobring 100 billion yuan in private investment by 2020.Guangdong, Hunan and Guizhou are also allowing for thefirst time senior executives to own shares in firms they man-age.

Local governments are also experimenting with usingasset management companies to act like value-driven institu-tional shareholders rather than an extension of governmentbureaucracy. In Chongqing, the government aims to trans-

form two state firms into investment holding companies andShanghai is set to transfer more state-owned assets to threeasset management companies the city has set up since 2000.

Economists expect those local initiatives to serve as a tem-plate for national-level reforms. Eventually, China’s central assetadministrator could morph into an investment arm with adegree of independence similar to Singapore’s TemasekHoldings , said Li Daokui, a Tsinghua University professor andformer central bank adviser.

Progress and ResistanceSome of China’s strongest conglomerates are already

reshaping their operations and ownership. Besides CITIC, ChinaPetroleum and Chemical Corp, or Sinopec, has announced aplanned spin-off of part of its marketing arm that could raise upto $20 billion. China’s state rail operator has said it will seekmore outside investment and other big firms such as ChinaPower Investment Corp, and Baoshan Iron & Steel Co are alsopreparing restructuring plans. “There are many sources ofincome that SOEs can draw on, but if they don’t reform thenincome and profit will...probably fall,” He Wenbo, Baosteel’schairman, told reporters last month.

The pace of the overhaul will largely depend on Xi’s successin firming his grip on power and overcoming opposition withinpolitical and economic elites. A political source who met Xi inprivate this year quoted him as saying implementing reformshad been “very difficult” due in part to resistance from state-owned firms. Dong Minzhu, the chairwoman and president ofstate-controlled household appliance maker Zhuhai GreeGroup, now being restructured by the Zhuhai government,voiced state managers’ misgivings about being cast as thosewho stand in the way of progress. “What is right or what iswrong, I really can’t say,” Dong told Reuters in an interview lastmonth. “But if look at (who’s) paying taxes and improving thelivelihood of our country, then I have to tell you that state enter-prises may be better.”

Despite the pushback, many economists are convincedthere is no turning back. “Structural transformation is a hugeundertaking for any economy,” said Stephen Roach, a senior fel-low at Yale University and former Chairman of Morgan StanleyAsia. “In China it needs to be viewed as a journey. The train hasleft the station.” — Reuters

China overhaul quietly moves forward

By Zoran Milosavljevic

More than a decade of perceivedover-achievement at Evertonhelped propel David Moyes into

the Manchester United hot-seat but in a farmore complex and unforgiving environ-ment his shortcomings were ruthlesslyexposed. Having come from a club whereexpectations were modest and the budgetslim, Moyes suddenly found himself at aclub where second best had never been anacceptable option in 26 years under theiconic Alex Ferguson.

After 10 torturous months and withUnited not even second, but a distant sev-enth in the Premier League, Moyes wassacked on Tuesday, paying the price for aseries of self-inflicted blunders that beganalmost as soon as he took charge. In anattempt to show himself as his own man,Moyes cleared out Ferguson’s entire back-room staff, robbing himself of men whocould have provided the mortar betweenthe bricks as he set about building his ownempire.

While that was perhaps understand-able, his next move to sign former Evertonstalwart Marouane Fellaini for £27.5 million($46.21 million) raised the eyebrows ofmost United fans wondering why yetanother enforcer was added to a midfieldscreaming out for a playmaker. Predictably,the towering Belgian turned out to be acomplete misfit and his tepid performanc-es went hand in hand with Moyes’s lack oftactical vision which had reportedly alien-ated senior players in the dressing room.

Moyes seemed completely at sea whenrotating his squad, a concept Fergusonapplied so masterfully during his trophy-laden spell in charge which landed 13Premier League titles - some of them withplayers arguably less talented than theirrivals. Unquestioned loyalty to Dutch strik-

er Robin Van Persie when he was clearly inpoor form at the expense of goal-hungryMexican Javier Hernandez and shunningJapan midfielder Shinji Kagawa alsolooked poor decisions when United lackedmidfield guile and spark up front.

Accustomed to a conservative approachat Everton which produced few spectacu-lar achievements but kept the club firmlyafloat in the top tier, Moyes never quiteseemed aware of the bold, attack-mindedlegacy left by Ferguson.

Alien MentalityMindful that Moyes had been given a

huge pair of boots to fill and a squad inneed of an overhaul, the board and mostfans were still behind him at the turn of theyear, despite giving up on any realisticchance of winning domestic silverware. Thehumiliating home losses to Liverpool andManchester City in March turned most ofthe hard core supporters against the 51-year old Glaswegian, whose tame accept-ance of being second best was alien to

United’s mentality. The manner of a meek 4-2 aggregate defeat by Bayern Munich in theChampions League quarter-finals, in whichUnited were thoroughly dominated by theGerman title holders, epitomised just howfar a side once feared in Europe had fallen.Confident and assured when he rode in toreplace Ferguson last July, Moyes soonstruck an uncomfortable and confused-looking figure when he admitted that thejob of managing a club with the highestambitions was harder than he thought.

It hardly helped that Moyes also report-edly ignored advice from his assistant andnow the caretaker manager Ryan Giggs,asked to perform in a dual role amid astring of poor results while still keeping hisplace in the squad. It came across as a des-perate measure aimed at placating the fansas much as the January purchase of JuanMata, a Chelsea reserve bought for 37 mil-lion pounds to rescue a dreadful seasondespite the fact he was ineligible to play inthe Champions League.

Moyes also apparently failed to stamphis authority in the dressing room, whereFerguson’s firm hand and strict tutelagewas replaced by a manager who offeredtoo many lame excuses for defeats evenagainst unheralded domestic rivals. Thepainful defeat at his former club Everton,when a home fan dressed in a GrimReaper costume and sporting a plasticscythe taunted Moyes close to the dugout,it was an ominous sign of what lay in storefor the beleaguered manager who wassimply out of his depth at United. The OldTrafford faithful will now hope Giggs canrestore a glimpse of United’s pride in thelast four games of the season and thatMoyes’ permanent successor, whether it isthe seemingly evergreen Welshman orsomeone else, can quickly stop the rot andget the rebuilding process on the righttrack. — Reuters

Moyes pays price for self-inflicted blunders

In this file picture taken on Jan 11, 2014 Manchester United’s Scottish manager DavidMoyes is greeted by mascot Fred The Red as he takes his seat before an English PremierLeague football match between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford inManchester. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014N E W S

Continued from Page 1

In another development, MP Mansour Al-Dhafiri calledon Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabahto review the so-called security restrictions against thou-sands of stateless people or bedoons. He said that some of

these restrictions have not been verified beyond doubt andthey prevent many bedoons from going about their dailylife including obtaining a driving licence or a travel docu-ment. Dhafiri proposed that the interior ministry shouldrefer such restrictions to the judiciary to establish theirauthenticity.

Barrak claims billions in public funds...


However, Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund, anoth-er rumoured contender, ruled himself out of the running.Klopp told The Guardian newspaper:

“Man United is a great club and I feel very familiar withtheir wonderful fans. But my commitment to BorussiaDortmund and the people is not breakable.”

Moyes signed a six-year contract in place of Ferguson,British football’s most successful manager, who reignedat United for 26 and a half years. The sacking came a yearto the day after United had secured their 20th Englishtitle as a send-off to Ferguson, who hand-picked Moyesto succeed him. Moyes has endured a torrid season, withUnited slumping to seventh place in the league table andbeing eliminated from both domestic cup competitionsand the Champions League. His last game in charge wasSunday’s 2-0 loss at his former club Everton, which con-firmed that United will not compete in the ChampionsLeague next season for the first time since 1995.

The 11th defeat of the league campaign left United13 points below the Champions League qualifyingplaces and 23 points behind leaders Liverpool. In addi-tion, Moyes’s two major signings, Marouane Fellaini andJuan Mata, have struggled to make an impact. As aresult, United’s American owners, the Glazer family,reportedly felt uneasy about the prospect of handinghim the funds needed to rebuild the squad during theforthcoming close season.

Giggs, United’s record appearance-maker, wasinformed of his appointment after arriving at United’sCarrington training ground near Manchester. His firstgame in charge will be a league fixture at home toNorwich City on Saturday. Giggs made his United debutin March 1991 and has made 962 appearances for theclub, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions

Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups and one FIFAClub World Cup. He has no previous managerial experi-ence, but has combined his role as a player with a posi-tion on United’s coaching staff since the start of the cur-rent campaign.

However, his former United team-mate Irish footballgreat Roy Keane was scathing about the decision to sackMoyes and took aim at the players. “He (Moyes) shouldhave been given more time,” the 42-year-old Irish nation-al assistant coach told ITV. “Some players at the clubshould be ashamed of themselves. Seventh in theleague is disappointing but you still need help fromaround you. I don’t think some of the players gave himthat support.”

Investors reacted favourably to news of Moyes’sdeparture, with shares in the club up 2.71 percent on theNew York Stock Exchange, trading at their highest levelsince Ferguson’s retirement in May 2013. Meanwhile,Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed shock atMoyes’s dismissal. “I was a little surprised becauseManchester United don’t have that custom of sackingmanagers,” the Italian said. “In another club it would becompletely normal, but after so many years with Sir Alex,it is a little surprising.”

However, Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, oncetouted as a potential successor to Ferguson, said that itmerely reflected the cut-throat world of modern man-agement. “It is nothing new,” said the Spaniard, whoseside eliminated United in the Champions League quar-ter-finals. “For the past five, 10, 15 years at the big clubs,if you lose, you are out on the street.” Chelsea managerJose Mourinho preferred to keep his thoughts to himself.“I prefer not to comment on it,” he told ITV ahead of hisside’s Champions League semi-final with AtleticoMadrid. “I feel sorry for him like I feel sorry for all man-agers that lose their job.” — AFP

Man United fire Moyes


Novartis would also sell its animal health division toEli Lilly for $5.4 billion - turning the US group into theworld’s second biggest market of such products in termsof revenue.

“We believe the divestment of our smaller vaccinesand animal health divisions will enable us to realiseimmediate value from these businesses for our share-holders, and those divisions will benefit from being partof large, global businesses that are also leaders in theirsegments,” Novartis chief executive Joseph Jimenez said.

But more importantly for the Swiss group, the dealsenable it to secure ownership of a range of top-line can-cer drugs, as it bids to catch up with world leader Rochein oncology treatment. Two recently approved drugs fortreating skin cancer - Tafinlar and Mekinist - are amongthe medication that Novartis would own following thetakeover. Analysts at Vontobel Bank called the changes a“long-awaited simplification of (Novartis’s) corporate

footprint,” while the Notenstein private bank said theSwiss group had managed to find a solution for virtuallyall of its weaker units in one fell swoop. Analysis firm ETXCapital said GSK shareholders also had reason to cele-brate as the British firm’s oncology business had beenstruggling to remain competitive.

GSK chief executive Andrew Witty said the movesaccelerate the British firm’s “strategy to generate sustain-able, broadly sourced sales growth and improve long-term earnings”. The group said it would use proceedsfrom the deals to return £4.0 billion ($6.7 billion) to itsshareholders. Expected to be completed by the middleof next year, the deals require approval from the Britishfirm’s shareholders. Lilly meanwhile said its purchase ofNovartis’ animal health division - which posted revenuesof about $1.1 billion for 2013 - is expected to concludeduring the first quarter of 2015. Investors welcomed thedeals, which come amid signs Europe’s mergers andacquisition market is finally rebounding after years ofdoldrums. — AFP

Shake-up in pharma world


Such a broad definition reflects Saudi rulers’ unease sincethe 2011 Arab uprisings. The authorities have taken a farharsher line against many forms of dissent, jailing liberalreformers and religious critics on charges ranging from sedi-tion to jeopardising state security.

YouTube program makers in Saudi had been able to oper-ate without a licence because they were not actual broadcast-ers, with the likes of UTURN Entertainment and C3 combinedattracting more than 500 million views for their variousYouTube shows as of mid-Sept 2013. These production houseshave been careful to avoid controversy, with subtle satire often

the preferred means to critique authority.“Until we see the details, it’s a bit alarming, a threat for us,”

said Kaswara Al-Khatib, chairman and chief executive ofUTURN Entertainment. “You don’t want to be controlledbecause the whole idea is that we want to express ourselves.”Khatib said he had previously discussed the matter with Najm,who told him UTURN’s current output would not be prohibit-ed, but that the sector could no longer be unregulated. “Thewhole idea is to regulate it in a way to make sure where theareas are to be played with and the areas that should not betouched,” said Khatib. “He seems to be supportive and under-stands it’s not conventional media and that online is a totallydifferent ballgame.” YouTube declined to comment. — Reuters

Watchdog to regulate Saudi YouTube...

A woman carrying a bag on her head walks with her daughter on a street in the old part of the central east-ern Moroccan city of Tinghir on Monday. — AFP


The reconciliation mission coincided with a meet-ing between Abbas’s Fatah-led group and Israeli peacenegotiators in Jerusalem to try to extend talks beyondan April 29 deadline. Hamas and Fatah have failedsince 2011 to implement an Egyptian-brokered unitydeal because of disputes over power-sharing and thehandling of conflict with Israel. Azzam Al-Ahmed, asenior Fatah official, denied that the attempt to nego-tiate a deal with Hamas was designed merely tostrengthen Abbas’ hand in talks with Israel.

“We want to end the division whether there isnegotiation (with Israel) or there isn’t. We want tobuild Gaza and the West Bank and end the (Israeli)occupation,” Al-Ahmed told official Palestinian news

agency WAFA. “We are one country, one people and nopower on earth could dismantle this holy bond ... Wemust end the ugly chapter of division and implementeverything we have signed,” Ahmed said on arrival inGaza. Arab-brokered unity pacts reached between thetwo sides have yet to be implemented after years ofmutual blame.

But if Palestinian unity talks end with a deal, pavingthe way for elections and a national strategy towardsIsrael, not only might Abbas gain negotiating power, butHamas, hemmed in by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade,might become less isolated. “We must conclude nationalreconciliation and end the division so we can have onegovernment, one political national agenda and one sys-tem ... There is no room for failure at this dialogue,”Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said. — Reuters

PLO delegation in Gaza for talks

S P O RT SWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

LONDON: Manchester City face the unhappy prospect of being without DavidSilva for the Premier League title race run-in after the influential Spain mid-fielder was injured in their 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

The victory got the club back to winning ways after defeat to title rivalsLiverpool and a draw with Sunderland but it was tarnished by the sight of Silvabeing carried off the pitch on the stretcher with an injury to his right ankle.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini said the injury, which will be assessed by medicalstaff on Tuesday, was a recurrence of an long-standing problem that causedthe playmaker to miss last Wednesday’s match against Sunderland.

“We will see tomorrow what happens with the doctor,” the Chilean told theclub’s website. “He couldn’t recover in three days from his problem and that’s

why he didn’t play against Sunderland. It’s the same ankle.” City aresix points behind leaders Liverpool and one behind Chelsea in thePremier League with a game in hand on both their rivals, whomeet at Anfield on Sunday.

Their next match is at a rejuvenated Crystal Palace on Sundayand they complete their season with a trip to Everton and home fix-

tures against Aston Villa and West Ham United.Silva, who has already missed two months of the season with

thigh and calf injuries, has played an instrumental role in theirchallenge for a second title in three seasons.—Reuters

Silva in fitness raceNEW YORK: Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs was voted NBA Coach ofthe Year, becoming the third three-time winner of the award, the NationalBasketball Association announced yesterday.

Popovich’s Spurs posted the NBA’s best record at 62-20 to secure homecourtadvantage through the postseason as he claimed the coaching honor for thesecond time in three seasons and joined Don Nelson and Pat Riley as a three-time recipient. After steering the Spurs to a 15th successive season with 50 ormore wins, Popovich totaled 380 points, including 59 first-place votes, from apanel of 124 sportswriters from the United States and Canada. Phoenix Sunsfirst-year coach Jeff Hornacek was second in the voting with 339 points, includ-ing 37 first-place votes, followed by Tom Thibodeau of the ChicagoBulls, who tallied 159 points. The Spurs, a model of consistencyunder Popovich, were the only team to record 30-plus wins bothat home (32-9) and on the road (30-11) in a spirited bounce backafter losing an epic seven-game series against the Miami Heat inlast season’s NBA Finals. San Antonio led the NBA in points pergame differential at 7.8, having averaged 105.4 points pergame while giving up 97.6, and recorded a 19-game winningstreak that tied for fifth-longest ever in the NBA. Popovichpresided over a balanced roster, with French point guardTony Parker leading the team with a 16.7 scoring averageand 29.4 minutes played per game.—Reuters

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka head coach Paul Farbrace has resigned and isset to take up the position of assistant coach of England, Sri LankaCricket said yesterday. Farbrace made it known to Sri Lanka Cricketthat he no longer wanted to continue with his present position afterbeing offered the chance to become assistant to England’s newly-appointed coach Peter Moores. He had served only four months ofhis two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket during which time heled them to the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh.

“We had talks with Paul and tried to convince him to staybecause of the valuable contribution he has made to Sri Lanka crick-et during his short tenure,” Sri Lanka Cricket secretary NishanthaRanatunga said. “Paul wanted time till today to reach a final decisionand he has tended his resignation.” Farbrace’s name was linked toMoores when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) beganinterviewing a list of candidates to succeed Andy Flower.

He had returned to England for the Easter weekend after SriLanka’s success in the World T20 and although not among the candi-dates was subsequently interviewed by ECB.

“The (executive committee) will have to sit down and discusshow best we can find a suitable replacement for Farbrace for thetour to England which starts on the first week of May,” saidRanatunga.—Reuters

Lanka cricket coach quits Popovich Coach of the Year

OKLAHOMA: Zach Randolph scored 25points to help Memphis defeat OklahomaCity 111-105 in overtime on Monday andtie their NBA first-round playoff series atone game apiece.

Also, the Los Angeles Clippers leveledtheir series with the Golden State Warriorsat 1-1 after leading all the way for a con-vincing 138-98 home win.

Mike Conley added 19 points and 12assists for the Grizzlies, who executed theirgame plan perfectly and put themselves inposition to take control of the series inGame 3 on Thursday in Memphis.

Oklahoma City pushed the pacethrough most of its 100-86 victory in Game1, but on Monday, the Grizzlies successfully

slowed the tempo and limited OklahomaCity’s fast-break opportunities.

Oklahoma City’s stars put up big num-bers, but they worked for everything theygot. Kevin Durant had 36 points and 11rebounds, but he made just 12 of 28 shotsand had just eight points at halftime and16 through the first three quarters. RussellWestbrook scored 29 points, but he madejust 11 of 28 shots. Serge Ibaka added 15points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder,who shot just under 40 percent from thefield.

Randolph’s layup with 26 seconds left inovertime put the Grizzlies up by two. Ibakatraveled, giving the ball back to theGrizzlies.

Courtney Lee made two free throws forMemphis to make it a four-point game.Durant missed a 3-pointer and Randolphmade two free throws with nine secondsleft to put the game out of reach and giveMemphis coach Dave Joerger his first play-off win as a head coach.

After getting knocked down in theirplayoff opener, Blake Griffin and theClippers answered with a dominant per-formance in shutting down the Warriors assoon as the game began.

Griffin scored a career playoff-high 35points without a foul, and Chris Paul added12 points and 10 assists for the Clippers,who started the game on a 14-4 run andkept on going, maintaining a sizeable dou-

ble-digit lead through the final three quar-ters. They finished with franchise recordsfor points and largest victory margin in aplayoff game. Game 3 is tomorrow atOakland.

All the foul trouble that plagued Griffinand Paul in the Clippers’ four-point loss inGame 1 belonged to the Warriors this time.

Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 24points in the third quarter, when theWarriors never got closer than 25 points,while he played with four fouls. KlayThompson finished with seven points - 15under his average - and four fouls. AndreIguodala, who fouled out of Game 1, andJermaine O’Neal had four points and threefouls each.—AP

Grizzlies, Clippers winOKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) passes around Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series. —AP

COLUMBUS: Brandon Sutter, Lee Stempniak and JussiJokinen scored in a span of 2:13 of the third period togive the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 victory over theColumbus Blue Jackets in the NHL playoffs on Monday.Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven playoffseries thanks to the goals on three consecutive shots.

Brooks Orpik added a goal in the final seconds of thesecond period as the Penguins stormed back fromdeficits of 2-0 and 3-1. Marc Andre-Fleury had 27 saves.

Boone Jenner and Jack Johnson staked the BlueJackets to an early lead in the opening 3:18, with CamAtkinson getting credit for a goal early in the final peri-od that stretched the lead to 3-1. Game 4 is today inColumbus.

WILD 1, AVALANCHE 0Mikael Granlund’s diving goal 5:08 into overtime

allowed the Wild to pull within 2-1 in the best-of-sevenseries against Colorado. Semyon Varlamov stopped 45of 46 shots, a franchise playoff record for shots on goalby the Wild.

Granlund cut toward the net for a wrist shot, and ashe was falling forward took a stab at the puck to finallyput one past Varlamov.

Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves, but the Wild goalie inhis first career playoff start was just as good as his coun-terpart. Game 4 is at Xcel Energy Center tomorrow.

BLACKHAWKS 2, BLUES 0Corey Crawford made 34 saves in his third career

postseason shutout as the Blackhawks got back intotheir playoff series with the Blues.

Jonathan Toews scored in the first period and MarcusKruger added an empty-netter as Chicago bouncedback after a pair of overtime losses in St. Louis. Toews’21st postseason goal was only the second score by aBlackhawks forward in the series. Ryan Miller shook offanother slow start and made 23 saves for St. Louis.Game 4 is today.

STARS 3, DUCKS 0Kari Lehtonen had 37 saves for his first career post-

season victory as the Stars won their first home playoffgame in six years.

Dallas captain Jamie Benn skated out of the penaltybox to score late in the first period, and 19-year-oldrookie Valeri Nichushkin added a goal for the Stars inGame 3 of the best-of-seven series. The top-seededDucks won each of the first two games at home, bothone-goal results. Game 4 is today.

Lehtonen, who held up through five Anaheim powerplays, had a kick save near the end of one of those inthe final minute of the first period. That came rightbefore Benn came out of the penalty box and skatedtoward the other end for the winning goal.—AP

Penguins edgeBlue Jackets

KUWAIT: A delegation from the National Guard yesterday visited the US troops stationed at Camp Araifjjan where both sides had an open sports day activity that included soccer and basketball matches. The visit aims at exchangingsports expertise and boost bilateral cooperation.


American LeagueEastern Division

W L PCT GB NY Yankees 11 8 .579 - Toronto 10 9 .526 1 Baltimore 9 9 .500 1.5 Tampa Bay 9 10 .474 2 Boston 9 11 .450 2.5

Central DivisionDetroit 9 7 .563 - Chicago White Sox 10 10 .500 1 Kansas City 9 9 .500 1 Minnesota 9 9 .500 1 Cleveland 9 10 .474 1.5

Western DivisionOakland 13 6 .684 - Texas 12 8 .600 1.5 LA Angels 9 10 .474 4 Seattle 7 12 .368 6 Houston 6 14 .300 7.5

National LeagueEastern Division

Atlanta 13 6 .684 - Washington 11 9 .550 2.5 NY Mets 10 9 .526 3 Philadelphia 9 10 .474 4 Miami 9 11 .450 4.5

Central DivisionMilwaukee 15 5 .750 - St. Louis 11 9 .550 4 Pittsburgh 9 11 .450 6 Cincinnati 8 11 .421 6.5 Chicago Cubs 6 12 .333 8

Western DivisionLA Dodgers 12 8 .600 - San Francisco 11 9 .550 1 Colorado 11 10 .524 1.5 San Diego 9 11 .450 3 Arizona 5 17 .227 8

MLB results/standingsBaltimore 7, Boston 6; Cleveland 4, Kansas City 3; LA Angels 4, Washington 2; Pittsburgh 6, Cincinnati 5;Chicago White Sox 3, Detroit 1; Atlanta 4, Miami 2 (10 innings); NY Mets 2, St. Louis 0; Chicago Cubs 5,Arizona 1; Milwaukee 4, San Diego 3; Colorado 8, San Francisco 2; Texas 4, Oakland 3; Houston 7, Seattle2; Philadelphia 7, LA Dodgers 0.

BOSTON: Clay Buchholz allowed six runs in thethird inning as the Baltimore Orioles held on tobeat the Red Sox 7-6 Monday in the annualPatriots’ Day morning game at Fenway Park, ayear after the Boston Marathon bombings.

Trailing by two runs, Boston loaded the basesin the ninth. Mike Napoli hit an RBI groundoutbefore Tommy Hunter, Baltimore’s fifth reliever,retired Mike Carp on a game-ending grounderfor his fifth save. The game began at 11:09 a.m.,about an hour before Meb Keflezighi crossed themarathon finish line just over a mile away as thefirst American man to win since Greg Meyer in1983. Chen Wei-yin (3-1) allowed three runs andfive hits in five innings. Buchholz (0-2) gave upseven hits in 2 1-3 innings.

INDIANS 4, ROYALS 3Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley hit two-run

homers, powering the Indians over the Royalswhen a fearless squirrel ran around ProgressiveField and provided some extra entertainment.

Kipnis connected in the sixth inning offJeremy Guthrie (2-1), overcoming a 3-2 deficit.Brantley provided Cleveland a 2-0 lead in thefourth. Zach McAllister (3-0) gave up six hits andovercame three errors - one on his errant throw.Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two ofthe Royals’ six hits.

The game was momentarily delayed in thesecond inning when a squirrel ran onto the field.The pesky intruder hung around for anotherinning before it was shooed into the Indians’center-field bullpen.

WHITE SOX 3, TIGERS 1Jose Abreu and Dayan Viciedo hit RBI doubles

in the seventh inning as the White Sox rallied fora victory over the Tigers.

Chicago scored three runs in the seventh offAnibal Sanchez (0-2) after managing only one hitin the first six innings. John Danks (2-0) allowedsix hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings, but theTigers could score only one run off him. RonaldBelisario got five outs in relief for the White Sox,and Matt Lindstrom pitched the ninth for hissecond save.

ASTROS 7, MARINERS 2Matt Dominguez homered and drove in three

runs, and Dallas Keuchel struck out a season-high eight as the Astros broke a seven-game

skid with a win over the Mariners.It is the seventh straight loss for Seattle,

which is the longest active streak in the majors.The Astros took advantage of an error byMariners third baseman Kyle Seager in the sixthinning to score four unearned runs off FelixHernandez (3-1) and break a 2-all tie. Hernandeztook the major league lead with 43 strikeoutsafter recording four, but was unable to avoid hisfirst loss of the season after shaky defense putthe right-hander in a tough situation in the sixth.Keuchel (2-1) deftly navigated the Mariners forsix innings, allowing six hits and a walk, but justtwo runs.

RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 3Donnie Murphy lined a go-ahead single up

the middle with one out in the eighth inningas the Rangers rallied from an early three-rundeficit to beat the Athletics.

Sean Doolittle (0-1) allowed a leadoff dou-ble to Kevin Kouzmanoff and Mitch Morelandsacrificed him to third before Murphy’s hit.Murphy and Kouzmanoff are both former A’splayers.

Neal Cotts (1-1) pitched one inning for thewin, then gave way to Alexi Ogando beforeJoakim Soria finished for his fourth save.

Brandon Moss homered and Coco Crisp hita two-run single as the A’s went ahead 3-0 inthe second, but they couldn’t hold the lead.Oak land swept a weekend series againstHouston and lost for only the second time innine games and third time in 14.—AP

Orioles down Red Sox

BOSTON: Baltimore Orioles’ Chris Davis follows through on a RBI single against the Boston RedSox during the third inning of their 7-6 win in a baseball game at Fenway Park. —AP

PITTSBURGH: Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco can’t handle the throw asPittsburgh Pirates’ Russell Martin (55) scores from second with the walk-off game win-ning run on a single by teammate Pirates’ Neil Walker during the ninth inning. —AP

Pirates see off RedsPITTSBURGH: Ike Davis became the firstplayer to hit grand slams for differentteams in the same April, and Neil Walkerhad a winning run single with two outs inthe ninth inning as the Pittsburgh Piratestwice overcame deficits to beat the Reds 6-5 Monday.

Pittsburgh trailed 2-0 before Davis’fourth-inning homer off Mike Leake. Davishit a game-winning, ninth-inning slam offthe Reds’ J.J. Hoover on April 5 for the NewYork Mets, who traded him to the Pirates onFriday.

According to STATS, no player previouslyhit slams for different teams in the sameApril. Davis became just the third to hitslams for different teams against the sameopponent in the same year, following RayBoone in 1953 and Mike Piazza in 1998. ThePirates were behind 5-4 before AndrewMcCutchen’s leadoff homer in the eighthagainst Manny Parra.

Walker got the winning hit off Hoover(1-2) after consecutive one-out walks toRussell Martin and Andrew McCutchen fol-lowed by Pedro Alvarez’s popout.

Jared Hughes (1-0) pitched a scoreless,two-hit ninth for the win after beingrecalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier inthe day.

ANGELS 4, NATIONALS 2Raul Ibanez delivered a tiebreaking

three-run double as a pinch hitter in theeighth inning on a night that Mike Troutand Bryce Harper went a combined 2 for 8with zero runs or RBIs in their first matchupas opponents. Los Angeles trailed 1-0going into the eighth. But Albert Pujols -who went 0 for 5, staying on 498 homers -reached on the first of shortstop IanDesmond’s two errors in the inning, raisinghis season total to nine. Later, Erick Aybar’sthird hit of the night scored Pujols to evenit. After Tyler Clippard (1-2) walked thebases loaded, Ibanez doubled to left-cen-ter.Fernando Salas (1-0) won with a hitlessseventh.

Joe Smith worked the eighth andErnesto Frieri pitched the ninth to earn hissecond save, despite allowing Desmond’sleadoff homer. Frieri struck out DenardSpan with a man on second to end it.

BRAVES 4, MARLINS 2Evan Gattis hit a two-run homer in the

10th inning, leading the Atlanta Braves pastthe Miami Marlins 4-2 Monday night. DanUggla led off with a single up the middleoff Arquimedes Caminero (0-1), and Gattisfollowed with a shot into the left-field seatsfor his fifth homer of the season - and firstcareer walkoff homer.

Andrelton Simmons homered for theBraves, and Jason Heyward put Atlanta 2-1with a seventh-inning single off Mike Dunn.Anthony Varvaro (1-0) worked a scorelessinning for the win.

NY METS 2, ST. LOUIS 0Jenrry Mejia pitched four-hit ball into

the seventh inning and David Wright deliv-ered another key hit. Wright lined an earlyRBI single that extended his hitting streakto 12 games and Kyle Farnsworth earnedhis first save as the New York’s newest clos-er. On an evening when the Mets debutednew camouflage tops to salute the military,they looked sharp. The Cardinals lost forthe third time in four games.

Mejia (3-0) bounced back well from atorn blister on his right middle finger thatlimited him to five innings in his last start.The 24-year-old righty began the game bygetting Matt Carpenter to look at threestraight strikes, and rarely was in trouble.

Tyler Lyons (0-1) lost in his first majorleague game of the season. Promoted fromTriple-A Memphis earlier in the day to takethe rotation spot of injured Joe Kelly, heallowed two runs and six hits in six innings.

MILWAUKEE 4, SAN DIEGO 3Aramis Ramirez homered and Ryan

Braun drove in two runs. Wily Peralta (3-0)gave up three runs and six hits in 6 1-3innings as the Brewers improved theirmajor league-best record to 15-5. Peraltastuck out six. Will Smith pitched out of abase-loaded jam in the seventh inning.

Tyler Thornberg worked a scorelesseighth and Francisco Rodriquez finished forhis eighth save this season and 312th of hiscareer, good for 19th on the career list.Andrew Cashner (2-2) gave up four runsand seven hits in six innings.

ROCKIES 8, GIANTS 2Charlie Blackmon hit two of Colorado’s

five homers and Jorge De La Rosa threwfive efficient innings, lifting the Rockies to avictory over the Giants.

Nolan Arenado, Wilin Rosario and CoreyDickerson also homered for the Rockies,who’ve won four of the last five. It wasBlackmon’s first multihomer game of hiscareer.

De La Rosa (1-3) rediscovered hisrhythm, allowing five hits and one run forhis first victory of the season. The hard-throwing lefty tied a career high with 16wins last season.

Ryan Vogelsong (0-1) never got on trackand was pulled after 1 1-3 innings, hisshortest start with the Giants. He surren-dered five runs and six hits, including threehomers. Blackmon lined solo homers in thesecond and eighth innings. He’s now hit-ting .411 this season.

PHILLIES 7, DODGERS 0Cliff Lee scattered four hits over eight

innings, struck out 10 and retired 21 of hislast 22 batters to lead the Phillies to a victo-ry over the Dodgers.

Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run homer and atwo-run double and Ryan Howard alsowent deep for the Phillies in the opener ofa four-game series.

Lee (3-2) had at least one strikeout inevery inning he pitched and did not walk abatter, giving way to Jeff Manship after 113pitches.

Lee has 38 strikeouts and two walksthrough his first five starts, after leading themajors in strikeout to-walk ratio and fewestwalks per nine innings during each of theprevious two seasons.

CUBS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1Travis Wood hit a three-run homer and

drove in four runs to back his nine-strikeoutperformance on the mound, leading theCubs to a victory over thea Diamondbacks.

Wood (1-2) gave up a run and six hitsover seven innings. His four RBIs and ninestrikeouts matched career highs. BronsonArroyo (1-2) allowed five runs and eight hitsin 5 1-3 innings for Arizona. TheDiamondbacks have lost nine of 10 gamesand have the worst record in the majors (5-17). Welington Castillo hit a two-out bloopsingle to right field to score Starlin Castrofrom second for a 1-0 lead in the secondinning.

Ryan Kalish followed Castillo’s RBI singlewith a single of his own to extend theinning. Bronson Arroyo fell behind in thecount 1-0 before Wood hit a hanging sliderfor a three-run shot into the left fieldbleachers. It was Wood’s seventh careerhome run.—AP

DUBAI: Nissan Patrol has once again proved to bethe Hero of All Terrains in Life by powering topcompetitors to success in the Abu Dhabi DesertChallenge powered by Nissan 2014.

Making a dramatic debut in the demandingdesert rally, the latest generation Nissan Patrol wonon its class at its first outing with Emil Kneisser,sponsored by Nissan, behind the wheel and claim-ing victory in the ‘T2’ category. Yahya Bel Helei, alsosponsored by Nissan and competing in the ‘T1’ cat-egory was the highest finisher of any GCC competi-tor - in fourth place overall.

Nissan Patrol also accounted for the top five fin-ishers in the ‘T2’ category and recorded bettertimes than some ‘T1’ participants.

Commenting on the results Samir Cherfan,Managing Director of Nissan Middle East, said: “TheAbu Dhabi Desert Challenge POWERED by Nissan isan internationally-recognized event attracting the

best desert rally competitors from around theworld. Against this toughest of competition, thelatest generation Nissan Patrol was able to claim aclass win on its first outing - a spectacular achieve-ment. We congratulate all winners, especially ournewest talent to join us this year, Emil Kneisser whohas demonstrated outstanding skill, strength andendurance.”

Yahya Bel Helei, said: “This year’s race was ascompetitive as ever and I’m proud to haveachieved a third in class finish against some of thebest racers from across the world. My Nissan PatrolPickup performed faultlessly and I look forward tonext year’s event.”

Emil Kneisser, said: “To come first in class in adebut race for a car is an achievement - I’m delight-ed with the result. The latest generation NissanPatrol has proved it’s got everything it takes to car-ry on the winning heritage its predecessors have

earned over many years.” Nissan has been the long-term supporter of the

rally with its flagship Patrol SUV being the officialrace car for the eleventh year. For 2014, the part-nership was strengthened with the rebranding toAbu Dhabi Desert Challenge POWERED by Nissan.The fourth and toughest stage of the Abu DhabiDesert Challenge is named after Nissan Patrol.

Nissan Patrol, the brand’s flagship SUV with arich heritage and passionate following in theMiddle East, has been a favorite choice of AbuDhabi Desert Challenge competitors for manyyears, but this year the latest generation made itsdebut.

Competing in the ‘T2’ category, for productionvehicles allowing only slight modifications to sus-pension, brakes, cooling and safety features, itlooks set to continue the winning heritage of itspredecessors.

Nissan Patrol powers top finishers at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2014

KUWAIT: ‘Helmet Art”, a competition to design a helmetfor the Infiniti Red Bull Formula One Showrun in Kuwait,took place during the month of March. The competitiongave Kuwaiti youth a chance to show their talents in thefields of design and culture. Abdulaziz Al Amir managedto win after choosing his design as the best among 250other designs.

The winning design was sent to Germany where itwas applied on a F1 approved helmet. During theInfiniti Red Bull Formula 1 Showrun, Spanish driver“Carlos Sainz. Jnr. wore the helmet, as a winning prizefor the Abdulaziz. After the event, the Spanish driver“Sainz” met the winner and signed the helmet and thenhand it over to Abdulaziz.

“I was so glad when I knew that my design won. It’san honor to be the first Arab person to design a Formula1 helmet. I was even happier when Carlos Sainz Jnr.wore the helmet during a big event that thousands ofpersons attended.” Said Abdulaziz.

He added: “The Arabic font is back to the front. Ihope that I have contributed to the cultural renaissanceof Arabic font.” Carlos Sainz Jnr. and Abdulaziz.

Al Amir wins RedBull Helmet Art

Competition


NEW DELHI: Its backers include some ofthe biggest names in Indian sport, busi-ness and Bollywood who hope it willhelp the country shed its image as thesleeping giant of world football.

But the Indian Super League, whichpromises to lure a galaxy of former starsout of retirement, is already facing scep-ticism and even downright hostility fromwithin the game some five monthsahead of kick-off. “It’s going to kill thesleeping giant without allowing it achance to wake up and get out of bed,”said Valanka Alemao, the chief executiveof Churchill Brothers, ex-champions ofIndia’s current domestic league. “This issuch a weak-structured tournament thatit’s bound to fail.”

Despite being the second most pop-ulous nation, India has long struggled inworld football and is currently ranked145th out of 207 in the governing bodyFIFA’s rankings.

The sleeping giant tag was firstcoined by FIFA president Sepp Blatter ona visit to India in 2007 but with evenwar-torn Syria and Afghanistan nowranked higher, some wags have said the

snooze has become a coma. Cricketdominates the back pages but matchesin the existing I-League domestic cham-pionship attract significant crowds insome parts of the country, and theEnglish Premiership is a major driverbehind the growth of satellite TV here.

So it was no surprise when RupertMurdoch’s Star TV was revealed as one ofthe backers of the new ISL along withother big names such as sports manage-ment giant IMG.

And in an echo of the format for crick-et’s glitzy Indian Premier League (IPL), itwas announced last week that eight city-based franchises with famous frontmenwould take part in the two month-longcompetition from September.

Co-owners include cricketing iconSachin Tendulkar, Bollywood A-listersSalman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor as wellas Atletico Madrid, leaders of Spain’s LaLiga.

‘UNTAPPED POTENTIAL’ Nita Ambani, chairwoman of the joint

venture IMG-Reliance marketing groupwhich conceived the idea of the league,

forecast that it would pave the way for“the nation’s sporting renaissance”.

“Football, with its largely untappedpotential in the country, has the oppor-tunity to grow to an unrivaled commer-cial success quite unlike any other sport,”Ambani, wife of India’s richest manMukesh Ambani, said in a statement.

A more measured assessment camefrom former national cricket captainSourav Ganguly, co-owner of the Kolkatafranchise. He said the league could be aforce for good even if it does not sup-plant cricket as India’s number onegame. “Don’t compare it with the IPL orcricket,” Ganguly told AFP. “It’s the startof something good. Hopefully, some-where down the line, things willimprove.”

As with its cricketing forerunner,organisers of the ISL hope a mixture oflocal talent and international stars willbring in the crowds. But while the likesof Tendulkar, Ganguly and South Africa’srecord-breaking all-rounder JacquesKallis graced the IPL from the beginning,no big names have yet been confirmedfor the ISL.

Those who have been mentioned arelong past their prime, such as formerFrance and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry,Argentina’s retired marksman HernanCrespo and ex-Manchester United for-ward Dwight Yorke.

Former Indian football captain IMVijayan said youngsters could learn fromlegends of the game. “I am happy for ouryoung players, who will gain financiallyand learn from top stars,” he said.

Each of the eight teams will beallowed to draft 10 foreign players, witha proviso that at least 50 of them in the80-man pool should have played fortheir national teams.

But with ISL dates clashing with thestart of major leagues around the worldand the organisers facing stiff opposi-tion from local clubs, finalising both theforeign and Indian talent will not beeasy. “Let’s face it, India is a non-entity inworld football and will find it tough toattract top players,” the country’s best-known football writer Novy Kapadia toldAFP.

“At the most, you will get second-string players, mainly from Africa, or

those unlucky ones who are not con-tracted to any club. The September-November window just does not makesense. This whole thing is a gimmick.”Kapadia was not surprised that many I-League clubs remained hesitant torelease their players on grounds that theISL will threaten their existence.

“No country hosts two (competing)leagues, because you can’t give equalimportance to both,” Kapadia said. “Theclubs could slowly be eased out.”Churchill Brothers’ Alemao said the ISLwould be “detrimental” to Indian foot-ball. “Some retired foreign players willprobably laugh their way to the bank,but without a strong youth develop-mental base, Indian football will crum-ble,” she told reporters last week.

“Interest from the corporates is verywelcome in our sport. But why are theynot tying up with existing clubs, insteadof floating a ridiculous super league?”

Similar plans last year by football offi-cials in the state of West Bengal for afranchise-based league featuring fadingstars like Crespo and Italy ’s FabioCannavaro failed to take off.—AFP

Tackles fly in on planned India Super League

MANCHESTER: When Manchester United over-looked Jose Mourinho and chose David Moyesto be the successor to Alex Ferguson, the clubgambled on a manager without a winning men-tality or experience of European soccer — andwith no trophies on his resume.

Instead, United went for someone with atrack record of loyalty and building a dynasty, as11 relatively successful years at Everton wouldattest. It quickly became apparent, however, thatMoyes lacked the gravitas for one of the biggestjobs in club soccer, that he was too satisfied witha mediocre level of performance, that he was inawe of the team rather than ready to rebuild it.In short, he was a man out of his depth.

Take, for example, the away match atLiverpool, which came three games into thePremier League season. Liverpool won 1-0. ìIthought we played very wellî was Moyesí assess-ment of what most experts found to be a poordisplay by the reigning champions. With moreperformances like that, he added, United wouldsurely finish ìin or around the top four.î It was tobe a recurring theme.

United took Moyes out of Everton, but notthe Everton out of Moyes. United great RyanGiggs will serve as interim player-manager forthe remainder of the season pending the hiringof a full-time replacement. Before Unitedís homematch against Liverpool, Moyes declared the vis-itors to be favorites. ìI was surprised,î Liverpoolmanager Brendan Rodgers remarked on Moyesílowered expectations. ìI would never say that atLiverpool - even if I was bottom of the league.î

What was to prove his last post-match newsconference also came on Merseyside, this timeat Everton on Sunday. United had just beenbeaten - actually, dismantled - 2-0 by an ener-getic, tactically aware Everton side. ìI couldnítfault how we played,î said Moyes, wearing hisnow-customary haunted look. His overall analy-sis staggered those present and had United fansfuming on social media.

United fans probably saw it coming, though.Moyes admitted on the day he was presented asthe new manager that ìthe blood drained frommy faceî when he was approached by Fergusonand told he would be the man to take the clubforward.

The job and the task of rebuilding an agingteam that Ferguson squeezed the best out of

proved too much for Moyes. Convincing WayneRooney to commit his future to United wasregarded as the most pressing item on his to-dolist. That was accomplished. He also successfullyestablished talented winger Adnan Januzaj as afirst-team squad member.

On a playing level, he achieved little else.ìCome on David Moyes, play like Fergieís boysîwas the chant United fans regaled their newmanager with at the start of the season, but thatnever materialized. With long balls, ponderousattacking play and a defensive mindset, MoyesíUnited was incomparable to the teams of theFerguson era that wowed fans across the worldwith their adventure and dynamism. Moyes was-nít averse to fielding attacking players - the teamjust didnít play attacking football.

United looked most comfortable underMoyes in the first leg of the Champions Leaguequarterfinal against Bayern Munich, when itdefended deep, relied on spirit and work rateand looked dangerous on the counterattack. Itwas very much a Moyes-type performance fromhis Everton days.

By the end of his reign, it looked like the play-

ers had lost faith in his methods. Danny Welbeckreportedly wants to quit Old Trafford; Robin vanPersie has openly complained about teammatesrunning into his space; Patrice Evra has beenpoor this season but hardly got off on the rightfoot with Moyes after the new manager courtedfellow left backs Leighton Baines and FabioCoentrao last summer. His only offseason pur-chase, Marouane Fellaini, has been a major dis-appointment, and Moyesí other big-namerecruit, Juan Mata, gave the team yet anotherNo. 10 with Shinji Kagawa and Rooney alreadythere. Often marginalized onto the wing, Matahasnít had the desired effect yet.

Chastening early season defeats were per-haps to be expected in the new era. But theyhave just kept on coming - United has lost 10 ofits 22 matches in 2014, among them embarrass-ing losses to Olympiakos, Liverpool, ManchesterCity and Everton that has sent fansí frustrationsbeyond tipping point. And it wasnít just thedefeats, it was the manner of them.

There has been no sign of improvement,either, and thatís what ultimately turned the tideagainst Moyes in the board room.—AP

Moyes lacked the gravitas to be Man United manager

Manchester United’s Scottish manager David Moyes seen in this file photo.

Ronaldo set to return for Real’s Bayern testMADRID: World Player of the Year CristianoRonaldo looks set to make his comebackfrom injury for Real Madrid when BayernMunich visit the Santiago Bernabeu fortheir Champions League semi-final, first legtoday.

Ronaldo has been sidelined for the pastthree weeks due to a hamstring injury andwill be desperate to make up for lost timeby building on his record-equalling 14goals in the competition this season. Realare set to be at full strength as left-backMarcelo has also overcome a hamstringproblem. Gareth Bale missed training onMonday due to flu-like symptoms, but theWelshman is expected to take his placealongside Ronaldo and Karim Benzema inattack.

Los Blancos will need Ronaldo and Balefiring on all cylinders if they are to over-come their historic hoodoo against Bayernin the last four of Europe’s premier clubcompetition.

In five previous semi-finals, the Germanshave come out on top four times, with a 3-2aggregate victory in 2000 on their way towinning the competition for an eighth timeReal’s only success.

However, Madrid’s previously awfulrecord against German opposition hasbeen salvaged this season as they saw offSchalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund on theirway into the last four.

And Bayern chairman Karl-HeinzRummenigge believes an away goal is thekey to his side reaching the final for a thirdconsecutive season.

“We need to score at least one goal.That’s what we learned from Dortmund’smeetings with Real Madrid,” he said. “We’reknown as the ‘la bestia negra’ (bete noire)down there. We need to show them la bes-tia negra is back.”

By their own lofty standards, Bayernhave struggled to maintain their focus aftersealing the Bundesliga title in record time amonth ago.

IMPECCABLE RECORDSaturday’s 2-0 win over bottom club

Eintracht Braunschweig was their first infour league games, a run which includedtwo consecutive defeats after a 53-matchunbeaten streak.

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola enjoyed animpeccable record of five wins and a drawin six visits to the Santiago Bernabeu infour years in charge of Barcelona.

However, the Spaniard has acceptedresponsibility for his side slacking off inrecent weeks and will be hoping meetingthe nine-time European champions bringsout the best in them, having previouslydescribed playing in Europe as “like a goodmeal in a nice restaurant” compared to the“everyday pizza or hamburgers” of the

Bundesliga. And captain Philipp Lahmadmitted the European champions need tobe at the very top of their game when theyvisit the Spanish capital, where they tri-umphed on penalties in the semi-finals twoyears ago. “We’ll show we’re always up for itin the important games, but it’s still 50-50,”he said.

“I am sure that everyone will put in a topperformance today because if they don’twe have no chance.” Other than theabsence of former Barcelona midfielderThiago Alcantara, Bayern should also be atfull strength with goalkeeper ManuelNeuer and David Alaba returning to theside after missing Saturday ’s win atBraunschweig due to injury and illnessrespectively.—AFP

MADRID: Bayern Munich’s Spanish head coach PepGuardiola (right) speaks with Bayern Munich’s Dutchmidfielder Arjen Robben (left) during a training sessionat the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. —AFP

MADRID: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (center) practices with team-mates during a training session onthe eve of the UEFA Champions League semifinal football match against Bayern Munich. —AFP

UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich 21:45

beIN SPORTS 1

beIN SPORTS 2

beIN SPORTS 1 HD

beIN SPORTS 2 HD

beIN SPORTS 11 HD

beIN SPORTS 13 HD

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

DOHA: Qatar organizers are yet todecide whether to build all 12 sta-diums outlined in their successfulbid to host the 2022 World Cup.The organizing committee issued astatement in response to reportson Monday that only eight WorldCup stadiums would be construct-ed, saying it was customar y forhosts to review bid plans beforeproposing “final host cities andstadia projects” for approval byFIFA.

“This is the same process that allF IFA Wor ld Cup host nat ionsundergo. For Qatar, the process ofselecting the final proposed lineupof host venues is ongoing,” theQatar 2022 Supreme Committeefor Del iver y & Legac y said in astatement emai led to TheAssociated Press. “The requirementis a minimum of eight and a maxi-mum of 12” stadiums.

In May last year, FIFA secretarygeneral Jerome Valcke said Qatarcould use eight stadiums, despitethe 12-venue plan required whenbidding, and to ld The AP thatongoing talks with local organizerswould be “pragmatic and we willf ind the r ight number.” F IFArequires at least eight stadiums forthe 64-match tournament, andfuture hosts Brazil and Russia opt-ed for 12. Brazi l ’s preparat ionshave been in disarray, with threestadiums still not completely readyjust seven weeks before the tour-nament kicks off.

Qatar defeated bids from theUnited States, Japan, South Koreaand Austra l ia to host the 2022World Cup, promising air-condi-tioned stadiums amid billions ofdollars in infrastructure projects.

I n 2010, Qatar submitted adetai led bid document to F IFA

which called for $3 billion spend-ing to renovate three stadiumsand build nine new ones.

Reducing that plan now couldaffect a promise to help poorercountries by sending them materi-als when stadiums are scaled backin size after the tournament.

“After the event, modular sec-t ions f rom the stadiums areplanned to be used to construct 22stadiums around the wor ld indeveloping countries,” a FIFA panelevaluating the Qatari bid wrote in2010 of the “impor tant ” legac ypledge.

Still, the December 2010 deci-s ion by F IFA’s ru l ing board tochoose Qatar has been marred byallegations that the voting processwas flawed.

There have also been concernsover conditions for migrant con-struction workers, and the swelter-ing summer heat in the tiny Gulfnation that could lead to a changefrom the traditional June-July peri-od for the tournament.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter hasa l ready suggested moving thetournament to later in the year toavoid the searing desert heat.

I n recent months, Qatar hassought to allay widespread con-cerns about conditions for migrantworkers on World Cup buildingprojects by detai l ing how theirrights must be protected by con-tractors.

R ights group Amnest yInternational called the charter a“positive, if partial” step. But theI nternat ional Trade UnionConfederation complained that2022 World Cup leaders have notdemanded changes in Qatar ’slabor laws despite mounting criti-cism from rights groups.—AP

Qatar reviewing WCup stadium commitment


1916Ronaldo set toreturn for Real’sBayern test

Tackles fly in on planned India Super League Page 19

Grizzlies, Clippers win

SPAIN: Atletico’s Diego (right) goes for the ball with Chelsea’s Frank Lampard during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match. — AP

MADRID: Atletico Madrid and Chelsea were locked at 0-0after their Champions League semi-final first leg yesterdayafter the Spanish side failed to break down their ultra-cau-tious visitors at the Calderon. Atletico, through to the lastfour of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in40 years, dominated the defence-minded 2012 winners butwere unable to carve out an advantage ahead of nextweek’s return leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, returning to the Spanishcapital after three years at Atletico’s city rivals Real, hadclearly set out to frustrate the home team and the resultmeans his side will be slight favourites to advance to nextmonth’s final in Lisbon.

The Londoners lost goalkeeper Petr Cech when he fellheavily and hurt his right elbow in the 15th minute but nei-ther his replacement Mark Schwarzer nor Atletico keeper

Thibaut Courtois were genuinely tested in a drab affair.Home captain Gabi, who was booked and will be sus-

pended for the return leg, said he and his team mates werenot happy with the result.

“Atletico wanted to win the match at any cost but theydefended very well,” Gabi told TVE. “We knew they wouldn’twant to concede a goal and I think Atletico played a muchmore attacking game.

“It leaves a bad taste in the mouth but the tie is still veryopen and we will go to Chelsea and try to win.” There wasanother cracking atmosphere before kickoff at the 55,000-capacity stadium next to the Manzanares river where thefans have been flocking to enjoy what is easily the Madridclub’s best season in almost 20 years.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone deployed an attackingformation with Diego Costa leading the line supported by

attacking midfielder Raul Garcia and Diego and Koke pro-viding the creative impetus just behind. Mourinho, by con-trast, had containment in mind, with former Atletico cap-tain Fernando Torres alone up front and defender DavidLuiz in a holding role in a five-man midfield.

The Portuguese coach had obviously instructed his play-ers to sit back and try to catch Atletico on the break andthey were happy to let the home side have the ball in a firsthalf short on entertainment.

Chelsea were forced to make an early change whenCech was knocked to the ground by a tumbling Raul Garciaat a corner and he was helped off clutching his right arm.

Australian Schwarzer, 41, making only his secondChampions League appearance, became the oldest playerto feature in the knockout phase.

With almost the entire Chelsea team behind the ball, the

hosts managed only one shot on target before the break, aweak Diego effort, and the visitors none.

Midfielder Mario Suarez flashed a long-range drive nar-rowly wide in the 34th minute and Diego Costa had a volleywell blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta but otherwise there waslittle goalmouth action.

The second half was a similarly cagey affair and therewas more bad news for Chelsea in the 73rd minute whencaptain John Terry limped off after turning his ankle at acorner.

Captain Gabi forced a decent save from Schwarzer in the76th minute as Atletico pressed for a goal but Chelsea heldout reasonably comfortably. “Everyone was right up for it,which you’d expect, and we have got world-class players,”said Schwarzer. “We knew if we could match their determi-nation our quality would come through.” — Reuters

Atletico fail to pierce Chelsea defence

Preview

SYDNEY: Guangzhou Evergrande ensured its Asian ChampionsLeague title defense progressed to the knockout stages, whileShinji Ono helped Western Sydney Wanderers reach the secondround on debut. Brazil ian midfielder Elkeson scored bothGuangzhou’s goals in the 2-1 win over Yokohama F-Marinos yester-day, helping the big-spending Chinese Super League championstop Group G.

K-League club Jeonbuk Motors held on for a 0-0 draw at homeagainst Melbourne Victory, advancing in second place on goal dif-ference. Victory, which had an upset win over Marcello Lippi’sGuangzhou squad in Melbourne last week, needed a win over the2006 champion Jeonbuk to advance.

Western Sydney thrashed an under strength Guizhou Renhelineup 5-0 to finish atop Group H, edging Kawasaki Frontale ongoal difference. Kawasaki beat Ulsan Hyundai 3-1 to knock the2012 champions out of the competition.

Needing only a draw to advance, the Wanderers opened thescoring in the 6th minute via Shannon Cole, who controlled a crosswith his chest at the edge of the area before spinning and driving ashot inside the left post.

The Wanderers didn’t score again until Labinot Haliti swoopedon a sloppy defensive error in the 75th to make it 2-0, triggering alate flurry against an under strength Guizhou team that wasalready out of playoff contention and had only three available sub-stitutes - and no backup goalkeeper.

Aaron Mooy scored with his first touch, a penalty kick in the81st minute, before Ono charged onto a ball that had beenpunched away by the Guizhou keeper and drove a long-range halfvolley into the back of the net.

The Wanderers joined the A-League in 2012-13 and qualified forthe continental championship by finishing atop the domesticstandings at the end of their first regular season. The Wanderersare still in contention for a spot in the Australian league’s 2013-14final, and into the knockout stage of the Asian tournament as well.

“It’s a fantastic feeling - to do it in that manner as well, fivegoals,” coach Tony Popovic said. “To finish on top of the group issomething special.”

By midway through yesterday’s scheduled matches, 10 teamshad qualified for the second stage. The remaining six spots were tobe decided in matches late yesterday and today. — AP

Guangzhou win

BARCELONA: Despite having lost key play-ers this season Sevilla and Valencia go head-to-head in their Europa League semi-finaltomorrow, underlining the enduring qualityof La Liga compared to the continent’swealthier leagues.

There was an exodus of talent fromSpain ahead of this campaign with manyplayers going to the Premier League asclubs other than powerhouses Real Madridand Barcelona, fought to control spirallingdebts. Despite fears of a deterioration inquality, however, they still possess fourteams in the semi-finals of Europe’s toptwo competitions.

While all attention is first on Madrid inthe Champions League with Atletico andReal hosting Chelsea and Bayern Munichrespectively, it will then switch to Sevillawhere the Andalusian side take on Valencia.It has been a difficult season of change forSevilla but after a slow start where there wasmounting pressure on coach Unai Emery,the side has responded since Christmas andnow they boast nine wins from 10 games inLa Liga and are still pushing for aChampions League place.

Manchester City-bound Alvaro Negredoand Jesus Navas were among those who leftand it took time for Emery to knit together anew side with so many fresh faces.

The team is built around the skills of mid-fielder Ivan Rakitic while on-loan signingsfrom England, Stephane Mbia and DanielCarrico, from QPR and Reading respectively,have given them solidity.

“I don’t like to make judgments at themoment because the best is still to come:

the most enjoyable and the most difficult.We will continue on the same lines andclearly in Europe is where everyone wants tobe,” Emery told a news conference ahead ofthe Valencia tie.

“A great club like this deserves to be inthis competition and from here on we willtry and show our strengths and bring peo-ple together.

“It is fine if people are excited by thegame but we are not getting carried away asit will be a contest of 180 minutes where alot of aspects come into play.”

Valencia’s season has been more incon-sistent and disappointing performances,which led to the departure of MiroslavDjukic, have at times been overshadowedby their crippling debts.

New coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has failedto provide inspiration so far and now a runof one win in five games has left themdown in eighth place in the Spanish table.The Europa League gives Valencia the pos-sibility to rescue a disappointing seasondomestically.

“We play every game to win it for thebadge, because Valencia is a great club andyou have to fight each game as though it isthe last. We are now at the doors of a final, wehave the support of the people from Valenciaand we want them to enjoy it,” midfielderSofiane Feghouli told a news conference. “Itwould be fantastic for us to reach the finaland we will try and have a good game inSevilla first. Then the atmosphere in theMestalla will be amazing but first we have atough game in Sevilla where the differencewill be in the small details.” — Reuters

GUANGDONG: Zhang Linpeng (left) of China’s GuangzhouEvergrande tussles for the ball against Shingo Hyodo of Japan’sYokohama Marinos during their AFC Champions League Group Gfirst round football match. — AFP

All-Spanish semi-final show

BusinessWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

Emaar Properties posts 55% rise in Q1 profit

Page 22

Asian shares mixed after Easter break

Page 24

Bader Al-Kharafi on Coutts Middle East Advisory Board

Page 25

Al-Mazaya inaugurates 2nd stage of ‘Queue Point’ in Dubai Land Page 26

KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom (NationalMobile Telecommunications Company -NMTC) yesterday announced its financialresults for the first quarter 2014:

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed BinSaud Al-Thani, Chairman of WataniyaTelecom commented:

“The first quarter generated not only abroadly positive start to the year forWataniya Telecom but also provided fur-ther evidence of the success of ourstrategic initiatives across its businesses.Ooredoo Algeria continues to capturemarket share, driving revenue and profitgrowth. Despite the continued challeng-ing market conditions of Tunisia,Ooredoo Tunisiana has delivered solidquarterly performance. Wataniya Kuwaitis delivering against its recovery strategy,capturing back market share as the busi-ness targets a return to revenue growthhaving invested in developing the coun-try’s leading broadband network. Ourmarkets continue to be highly competi-tive but we are making good progress inexecuting our long-term growth strate-gy.”

Review of operationsThe Group’s operational performance

can be summarized as follows:

Wataniya - KuwaitWataniya Kuwait’s customer base was

2.22 million customers at the end of Q12014, an increase of 12.1% on the sameperiod in 2013. Revenues for Q1 2014were KD 41.8 million (USD 148.4 million),a decrease of 20.2% compared to 2013 ofKD 52.3 million (USD 185.8 million). EBIT-DA was KD 9.6 million (USD 34.2 million)versus EBITDA for Q1 2013 of KD 16.6million (USD 59.0 million), a decrease by42.0%. Net Profit was at KD 2.9 million

(USD 10.1 million), compared to NetProfit for the same period in 2013 of KD9.5 million (USD 33.7 million).

Tunisiana - TunisiaThe Tunisiana customer base at the

end Q1 2014 stood at 7.39 million cus-tomers, an increase of 2.0% compared to2013. Revenues for Q1 2014 were KD45.4 million (USD 161.3 million), com-pared to revenues for the same period in2013 of KD 47.6 million (USD 169.1 mil-lion). EBITDA was KD 22.4 million (USD79.5 million) compared to KD 24.0 mil-lion (USD 85.3 million) for the same peri-od last year representing a decrease of6.8%. The total Net Profit stood at KD 7.7million (USD 27.3 million) an increase of51.8% when compared with KD 5.1 mil-

lion (USD 18.0 million) for the same peri-od in 2013. The Net Attributable Profit toWataniya Telecom for Q1 2014 was KD5.8 million (USD 20.5 million), comparedto KD 3.8 million (USD 13.5 million) forthe same period in 2013.

Ooredoo - AlgeriaOoredoo’s customer base in Algeria at

the end of Q1 2014 was 9.93 million cus-tomers, an increase of 7.4% compared tothe same period last year. Revenues forQ1 2014 were KD 85.5 million (USD 303.6million), an increase of 18.9% comparedwith revenues of KD 71.9 million (USD255.4 million) for the same period in2013. EBITDA for Q1 2014 was KD 33.1million (USD 117.4 million), an increaseof 14.7% on KD 28.8 million (USD 102.4million) for the same period in 2013. Thetotal Net Profit for the first quarter of2014 was KD 12.1 million (USD 42.8 mil-lion) compared to a total Net Profit of KD10.5 million (USD 37.1 million) for thesame period in 2013. The NetAttributable Profit to Wataniya Telecomfor Q1 2014 was KD 8.6 million (USD 30.4million) compared to a Net AttributableProfit of KD 7.4 million (USD 26.4 million)for the same period in 2013.

Wataniya - PalestineThe total customer base for Wataniya

Mobile Palestine at the end of Q1 2014was 0.65 million, an increase of 4.7%from the same period of 2013. Revenuesfor Q1 2014 were KD 6.0 million (USD21.3 million), an increase of 4.2% com-pared to the revenues of KD 5.8 million(USD 20.5 million) in Q1 2013. EBITDA forQ1 2014 was KD 0.8 million (USD 2.9 mil-lion) compared to an EBITDA of KD 0.3million (USD 1.2 million) for the sameperiod in 2013. The total Net Loss for Q1

2014 was KD 1.2 million (USD 4.4 million)compared to a total Net Loss of KD 1.8million (USD 6.3 million) for the sameperiod in 2013. The Net Attributable Lossfor the first quarter of 2014 was KD 0.6million (USD 2.1 million) compared to aNet Attributable Loss of KD 0.9 million(USD 3.1 million) for the same period in2013.

Ooredoo - MaldivesOoredoo’s total customer base at end

of Q1 2014 was 0.26 million, an increaseof 37.4% from the same period of 2013.Revenues for Q1 2014 were KD 3.9 mil-lion (USD 13.7 million) compared to KD3.3 million (USD 11.8 million) for thesame period 2013. EBITDA for the firstquarter of 2014 was KD 1.3 million (USD4.6 million) compared to an EBITDA ofKD 1.1 million (USD 3.9 million) for thesame period in 2013. The Net attributa-ble Profit for 2014 was KD 0.2 million

(USD 0.6 million) compared to the NetAttributable Loss of KD 0.2 million (USD0.7 million) for the same period in 2013.The KD to USD conversion rate used is0.28158 as of 31 March 2014.

Wataniya Telecom posts KD 182.7m revenue for Q1

Successful start of the year with growth in customers and revenue

Operational Highlights:• Total customer base increased to 20.4

million at the close of Q1 2014, versus 19.5million at the same period in 2013,amounting to growth of 5.0%.

• Revenues for Q1 2014 amounted to KD182.7 million (USD 648.8 million), com-pared with KD 181.3 million (USD 643.9 mil-lion) for the same period in 2013, equal togrowth of 0.8%.

• EBITDA for Q12014 was KD 66.8 million(USD 237.2 million), compared to EBITDA ofKD 70.8 million (USD 251.3 million) for thesame period in 2013.

• The consolidated Net Profit for Q12014 was at KD 24.3 million (USD 86.5 mil-lion), compared to Net Profit for the same

period in 2013 of KD 22.6 million (USD 80.2million).The net attributable profit toWataniya Telecom in Q1 2014 was KD 19.8million (USD 70.4 million) compared withnet attributable profit of KD 19.5 million(USD 69.2 million) for the same period of2013.

• The consolidated Earnings per Sharewas 40 fils (USD 14 cents), compared to 39fils (USD 14 cents) per share earned for thesame period last year.

• Post period: Mr Vikram Sinha has beenappointed as CEO of Ooredoo Maldives. Hehas joined on Sunday April 20. He replacesHaroon Hameed, who is taking up anotherleading role within the Ooredoo Group inOoredoo Myanmar.

Financial Highlights

Wataniya Telecom Chairman SheikhAbdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani

B U S I N E S SWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

EXCHANGE RATES

Bahrain Exchange Company

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Al Mulla Exchange

ASIAN COUNTRIESJapanese Yen 2.737Indian Rupees 4.708Pakistani Rupees 2.880Srilankan Rupees 2.161Nepali Rupees 2.945Singapore Dollar 226.380Hongkong Dollar 36.453Bangladesh Taka 3.636Philippine Peso 6.290Thai Baht 8.712Irani Riyal transfer 0.271Irani Riyal cash 0.273

GCC COUNTRIESSaudi Riyal 75.430Qatari Riyal 77.721Omani Riyal 734.800Bahraini Dinar 751.300UAE Dirham 77.033

ARAB COUNTRIESEgyptian Pound - Cash 39.700Egyptian Pound - Transfer 39.920Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.320Tunisian Dinar 179.350Jordanian Dinar 399.450Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.898Syrian Lira 2.016Morocco Dirham 35.521

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIESUS Dollar Transfer 282.750Euro 390.760Sterling Pound 471.770Canadian dollar 259.880Turkish lira 134.040Swiss Franc 320.400Australian Dollar 265.500US Dollar Buying 281.550

GOLD20 Gram 240.00010 Gram 121.0005 Gram 62.500

CurrencyTransfer Rate (Per 1000)US Dollar 282.200Euro 389.450Pound Sterling 469.150Canadian Dollar 258.100Indian Rupee 4.700Egyptian Pound 39.910Sri Lankan Rupee 2.158Bangladesh Taka 3.629Philippines Peso 6.288Pakistan Rupee 2.875Bahraini Dinar 751.400UAE Dirham 76.850Saudi Riyal 75.350*Rates are subject to change

COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFTEurope

Belgian Franc 0.007349 0.008349British Pound 0.461441 0.470441Czech Korune 0.006087 0.018087Danish Krone 0.047764 0.052764Euro 0.381493 0.389493Norwegian Krone 0.043063 0.048263Romanian Leu 0.08094 0.181094Slovakia 0.008094 0.018094Swedish Krona 0.039045 0.044045Swiss Franc 0.310235 0.320435Turkish Lira 0.132776 0.139776

AustralasiaAustralian Dollar 0.253658 0.265158New Zealand Dollar 0.236450 0.245950

AmericaCanadian Dollar 0.251923 0.260423US Dollars 0.278650 0.283000US Dollars Mint 0.279150 0.283000

AsiaBangladesh Taka 0.003251 0.003851Chinese Yuan 0.044362 0.047862Hong Kong Dollar 0.034360 0.037110Indian Rupee 0.004467 0.004868Indonesian Rupiah 0.000020 0.000026Japanese Yen 0.002657 0.002837Kenyan Shilling 0.003256 0.003256Korean Won 0.000257 0.000272Malaysian Ringgit 0.082651 0.088651Nepalese Rupee 0.002944 0.003114Pakistan Rupee 0.002619 0.002899Philippine Peso 0.006400 0.006680Sierra Leone 0.000069 0.000075Singapore Dollar 0.220725 0.226725

South African Rand 0.020747 0.029247Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001850 0.002430Taiwan 0.009226 0.009406Thai Baht 0.008372 0.008922

ArabBahraini Dinar 0.743544 0.751544Egyptian Pound 0.036855 0.039955Iranian Riyal 0.000078 0.000079Iraqi Dinar 0.000181 0.000241Jordanian Dinar 0.394580 0.402080Kuwaiti Dinar 1.0000000 1.0000000Lebanese Pound 0.000137 0.000237Moroccan Dirhams 0.024394 0.048394Nigerian Naira 0.001195 0.001830Omani Riyal 0.728383 0.734063Qatar Riyal 0.076954 0.078167Saudi Riyal 0.074763 0.075463Syrian Pound 0.001753 0.001973Tunisian Dinar 0.174650 0.182650Turkish Lira 0.132776 0.139776UAE Dirhams 0.076001 0.077150Yemeni Riyal 0.001284 0.001364

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Australian Dollar 264.56 261.56Canadian Dollar 260.21 261.21Swiss Franc 323.32 321.32Euro 392.17 393.17US Dollar 282.00 285.00Sterling Pound 473.37 476.37Japanese Yen 2.77 2.79Bangladesh Taka 3.633 3.903Indian Rupee 4.621 4.921Sri Lankan Rupee 2.158 2.593Nepali Rupee 2.940 3.475Pakistani Rupee 2.881 2.790UAE Dirhams 76.85 77.31Bahraini Dinar 750.57 752.64Egyptian Pound 39.83 40.43Jordanian Dinar 401.36 407.01Omani Riyal 733.38 740.68Qatari Riyal 77.87 78.42Saudi Riyal 75.33 75.73

Rate for Transfer Selling RateUS Dollar 282.500Canadian Dollar 260.195Sterling Pound 469.120Euro 388.830Swiss Frank 317.180Bahrain Dinar 751.900UAE Dirhams 76.890Qatari Riyals 78.475Saudi Riyals 75.605Jordanian Dinar 398.125Egyptian Pound 40.444Sri Lankan Rupees 2.158Indian Rupees 4.702Pakistani Rupees 2.876Bangladesh Taka 3.631Philippines Pesso 6.271Cyprus pound 693.875Japanese Yen 3.730Syrian Pound 2.955Nepalese Rupees 3.910

Malaysian Ringgit 86.990Chinese Yuan Renminbi 45.905Thai Bhat 9.690Turkish Lira 133.930

DUBAI: Dubai’s Emaar Properties reported a 55percent rise in first-quarter net profit yesterday,as the region’s economic recovery brought con-sumers back to its malls and shopping units, andhouse buyers returned to the market. Thebuilder of the world’s tallest tower, the BurjKhalifa, reported a profit of 863 million dirhams($234.96 million) in the three months to March31, compared to 556 million dirhams in the pri-or-year period.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast profitof 873 million dirhams. Revenue was 2.26 billiondirhams, up from 2.11 billion dirhams a year ear-lier, of which 38 percent, or 863 million dirhams,came from Emaar’s malls and shopping unit and

16 percent, or 483 million dirhams, from its hos-pitality and leisure unit. Emaar diversified out ofproperty when Dubai’s housing market pricesslumped by more than half from a 2008 peakwhen the emirate’s building boom turned bust.

Over the last 18 months, Emaar has led a sec-tor recovery, largely owing to speculative buyersreturning to the home sales market. The devel-oper has claimed huge successes at pre-sales ofits recently launched projects, as investorsqueued overnight to buy apartments and villason a first-come-first-serve basis.

Emaar said it made property sales of 5.92 bil-lion dirhams in the first quarter, nearly doublethat of 2013’s first quarter. Emaar’s shares ended

1.4 percent higher on Dubai’s main boursebefore the company announced its results, tak-ing their 2014 gains to 41 percent. They havenearly tripled in value since the start of 2013.

The company plans to spin off and sell 25percent of Emaar Malls Group through a publicoffering likely to take place in London and Dubailater this year. Investors expect Emaar’s recoveryto continue.

According to a report by consultants JonesLang LaSalle, another 40,000 new homes willenter Dubai’s property market over the nexttwo years as developers revive projects stalledafter the collapse of the emirate’s real estatemarket. — Reuters

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan farmers prepare a paddy field for sowing in Piliyandala on the outskirts of Colombo yesterday. Sri Lanka’s economy hasrecorded eight percent-plus growth for two straight years after security forces crushed separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, but growthhas slipped since. — AFP

Emaar Properties posts

55% rise in Q1 profit

Malls unit revenue up y-o-y ahead of IPO spin-off

DUBAI: The government of Dubai plans tosell a benchmark-sized, US dollar-denomi-nated sukuk with a lifespan of 15 years yes-terday, a document from lead managerssaid. Initial price thoughts on the Islamicbond have been set between 5 and 5.125percent, the document said. Benchmarksize is traditionally understood to mean atleast $500 million.

The sukuk will use the ijara structure, acommon sale and lease-back format inIslamic finance. The 15-year lifespan isunusual in the sukuk market; globally, mostIslamic bond issues tend to have maturitiesno longer than five or seven years. However,Middle Eastern issuers have sold sukuk ofup to 30 years duration in the past.

The banks arranging the transaction areDubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, HSBC,

National Bank of Abu Dhabi and StandardChartered.

Dubai last issued sovereign bonds inJanuary 2013, raising $1.25 billion with atwo-tranche sale consisting of a 10-yearsukuk and 30-year conventional note.

Investor demand for that issue wasmassive, with the order book some 12times oversubscribed; Dubai’s economicboom means demand for this week’s issueis likely to be very heavy as well, eventhough the emirate is sti l l workingthrough a pile of restructured debt leftover from its 2009 proper ty crash.Reflecting investors’ confidence, the priceof Dubai’s five-year credit default swaps,used to insure against a governmentdefault, dropped last week to their lowestlevel since mid-2008. — Reuters

Dubai to sell 15-yr

benchmark sukuk

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national homefinance company, Bidaya, may open itsdoors by the end of this year, part of effortsto raise low levels of home ownership inthe country, its founding sponsor said.

In development since 2010, the compa-ny is a venture between the finance min-istry’s Public Investment Fund and theJeddah-based Islamic Corporation for theDevelopment of the Private Sector (ICD), aunit of the Islamic Development Bank.

Bidaya is in its last phase of develop-ment prior to launch and will submit anapplication for a license as soon as regu-lations under the kingdom’s mortgagelaws are finalised, ICD chief executiveKhaled Al-Aboodi told Reuters.“Practically, we are planning to have thecompany operational by the end of2014.” A shortage of affordable housing isan economic and social issue, and asource of price inflation, in the fast-grow-ing country of about 30 million people,most of whom are under the age of 30; alack of low- and medium-cost housinghas been compounded by limited financ-ing options for home ownership.

“Bidaya will increase access to financefor middle-income home buyers acrossthe Kingdom. Bidaya is an importantproject for the ICD and Saudi Arabia giv-en its impact on the Saudi market andthe sustainability of the sector,” Al-Aboodi said.

He did not specify the number of cus-tomers or volume of business whichBidaya expected, but said the “targetsize” of its paid-up capital would be 900million riyals ($240 million). The firm willuse sharia-compliant financing contracts

such as ijara (Islamic leasing), diminishingmusharaka and hybrid structuresdesigned to meet local regulations, Al-Aboodi added.

In diminishing musharaka, the lenderand home buyer share the costs of pur-chasing a home; the home owner thenpays rent to the lender while purchasingthe lender’s share of the house in instal-ments. Capitas Group International, aninternational management firm withexperience in setting up sharia-compli-ant mortgage and real estate financeplatforms, has been helping to prepareBidaya for launch.

Home ownership in Saudi Arabia isjust 30 percent, compared to a globalaverage of 70 percent, while mortgagepenetration is estimated at just 2 percentof gross domestic product, Al RajhiCapital said in a research note in January.Mortgage loans exceed 50 percent ofGDP in many developed countries.

Home financing options offered bySaudi banks in the past have been limit-ed; for example, buyers have had homepayments automatically deducted fromtheir salaries by lending banks.

In 2012 the kingdom introduced apackage of mortgage laws to stimulatehome financing, and since lastDecember, the central bank has issuedsix real estate financing licenses to insti-tutions including Riyad Bank, ArabNational Bank and Amlak International.But commercial banks are still feelingtheir way towards using the laws in prac-tice, so authorities aim to supplementtheir efforts with financing from otherorganizations such as Bidaya. — Reuters

Saudi’s home finance

company in final stages

MANAMA: The Bahrain-based InternationalIslamic Financial Market (IIFM) will develop itsfirst standard contract template for sukuk(Islamic bonds), and aims to double the num-ber of its standards as early as next year, itschief executive told Reuters.

A standard for leasing-based sukuk will bedeveloped first by the IIFM, a non-profitindustry body which creates specificationsfor Islamic finance contracts, to help harmo-nize industry practices, said chief executiveIjlal Ahmed Alvi.

“Our aim is to come up with more stan-dards - that is the focus we are trying to pushfor. We have five standards now and we hopeto double that for next year.” The movecomes after a consultation meeting in Dubaithis week which identified a need for guide-lines covering the ijara sukuk structure, asharia-compliant sale and lease-back con-tract, as a priority.

Alvi said a working group would be estab-

lished after the IIFM’s board meeting in May,and it would also study other common sukukstructures such as mudaraba, wakala andmusharaka, as well as convertible andexchangeable sukuk. Sukuk issuance globallyreached $117 billion last year from a total of811 issues, of which 175 where based on theijara structure, according to data from Zawya,a Thomson Reuters company. The ijara sukukstandard could be ready by the end of thisyear at the earliest, although this woulddepend on the working group’s schedule,Alvi added.

The working group would include repre-sentatives from a wide range of Islamic bank-ing institutions including the Jeddah-basedIslamic Development Bank (IDB), as well asthe International Monetary Fund, he added.

While ijara sukuk are popular among cor-porate issuers, the absence of standard docu-mentation has spawned different versionswhich can limit their acceptability among

Islamic investors. A general lack of uniformlyaccepted standards in Islamic finance hasslowed global growth of the industry.

The new sukuk standard will seek toaddress a variety of issues including primarymarket issuance and the use of special pur-pose vehicles, Alvi said.

In the past two years, the IIFM haslaunched standard contract templates forIslamic interbank transactions and profit rateswaps. It is currently working on standardsfor cross-currency swaps, foreign exchangeforwards and collateralized murabaha, whilealso consulting on credit support arrange-ments in Islamic finance contracts, said Alvi.

The IIFM started operations in 2002,founded by the IDB and the central banksand monetary authorities of Bahrain, Brunei,Indonesia, Malaysia and Sudan. Additionalmembers include the State Bank of Pakistanand the Dubai International FinancialCentre. — Reuters

Islamic finance body IIFM

eyes first sukuk standard

LONDON: Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco haslaunched another round of price cuts on basicfood products and reduced online shoppingcharges as it attempts to stem a loss of marketshare to discounters Aldi and Lidl. Last weekChief Executive Philip Clarke vowed to win backshoppers with millions of pounds of price cutsafter Tesco posted a second straight year offalling profits.

In common with Britain’s three other lead-ing grocers -Wal-Mart’s Asda, Sainsbury’s andMorrisons Tesco has been hit on two fronts, bythe discount chains and by Waitrose and Marks& Spencer at the premium end of the market.Monthly industry data, published April 8,showed Tesco’s UK market share had shrunk to28.6 percent, its lowest level in nearly a decade.

Tesco said yesterday it had cut prices onover 30 popular food products. For example a

420 gram can of Tesco branded baked beans iscut by 13 pence to 32 pence, an 800 gram loafof Tesco branded wholemeal bread is reducedby 15 pence to 75 pence and a pack of six Tescosalad tomatoes is cut by 31 pence to 69 pence.

The firm also said one-hour home deliveryslots would now be available for 1 pound($1.68) compared with the previous charge ofat least 3 pounds, while click & collect grocery- where customers order online and pick-upfrom over 260 UK locations - would now befree compared with at least 2 pounds before.A spokeswoman for Tesco declined to say ifthe latest round of price cuts forms part ofthe 200 million pounds ($336 million) the firmsaid in February it would invest in lowerprices or part of the unquantified “big andbold plan” Clarke talked about lastWednesday. —Reuters

Tesco launches new

round of price cuts

B U S I N E S S


Be INSPIRED to SWITCH

NEW 2015 ... ACTION!KUWAIT : Kuwait Automotive Imports Co WLL (Al Shaya& Al Sagar), exclusive distributor of Mazda cars in Kuwaitsince 1969, proudly launched the new generation MAZ-DA3 in KFH showroom in Shuwaikh on 20 April. Theunveiling ceremony took place in the presence of KAICOand KFH management who expressed delight at hostingthe event in their showroom. The launching of the NewMazda3 in KFH showroom further reinforced the longbusiness collaboration between KAICO and Kuwait

Finance House.At the launch event Mr Ashish Tandon (General

Manager) mentioned, “Mazda engineers took Mazda3 toeven higher levels through their passion for engineeringinnovation. The New Mazda3 is dedicated to people wholove to drive and who love to make the most of life.” MrMohamed Osman (Mazda Brand Manager) urged all carenthusiasts and potential customers to visit Mazda show-room and test drive the new vehicle and experience first-hand Mazda’s exciting new technologies.

CELEBRATING SPORTS DRIVINGMazda. The name alone evokes exhilaration and driv-

ing pleasure. With styling directed by the “KODO - Soulof Motion” design theme, this unprecedented sportscompact seizes the emotions from the first glance. Thelatest in SKYACTIV TECHOLOGY enhances Mazda`s hall-mark Jinba Ittai feeling of unity with the vehicle. Plus theadvanced safety technologies actively work to maximizeyour driving abilities and increase the joy of beingbehind the wheel.

The interior design and functionality are masterful

statements of Mazda`s pursuit of both driving pleasureand comfort: the cabin elegantly satisfies conflictingdemands for a pleasantly snug driver`s cockpit alongwith an airy, relaxing space for the front and rear passen-gers.

SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY - THE EVOLUTION OF REVOLUTION

“At Mazda, if it`s not fun to drive, we just don`t buildit.” It`s this dedication to outright driving pleasure thatgave birth to SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, the revolution inevery single one of the automobile`s fundamental tech-nologies. Now New Mazda3 features a full suite of SKY-

ACTIV TECHNOLOGY that has evolved even further.Conventional engineering says an engine can be eitherextremely powerful or outstandingly fuel efficient, butnot both. In contrast, Mazda`s “Breakthrough” approachbegan by tearing up the rule book of conventional ideasin order to realize both of these conflicting goals at ahigher level.

SKYACTIV-G 2.0 LHigh-efficiency SKYACTIV-G direct-injection petrol

engines are your passport to a world of driving that isboth exciting and eco-friendly, SKYACTIV-G engines domore than just set new standards for fuel efficiency andemissions control, they also actively enhance the Zoom-Zoom performance. To accomplish this, Mazda engi-neers achieved a technical breakthrough to deliver anextraordinary compression ratio of 13.0:1 while sup-pressing the knock usually caused by such high com-pression. Taken together, the technical breakthroughsin SKYACTIV-G engines realize an astonishing increase infuel efficiency - up to 15% - as well as more satisfyingeveryday driving thanks to the ample torque available atlow- to mid-engine speeds.

SKYACTIV-BODYThe SKYACTIV-BODY is engineered to achieve two

conflicting aims: lighter weight with better safety per-formance and increased rigidity. It`s achieved throughinnovative engineering, and optimized structures andmaterials. In total, SKYACTIV-BODY is 30% more rigid,lighter, and able to meet the world`s most demandingcrash safety tests, at the same time as giving better han-dling thanks to its enhanced rigidity.

SKYACTIV-CHASSISThe SKYACTIV-CHASSIS delivers even more of

Mazda`s famous feeling of oneness between car anddriver. Total re-engineering of the basics of suspensionand steering systems achieved both lighter weight andsuperior rigidity.

CELEBRATING PROACTIVE SAFETYAll Mazdas are about the driving experience. And an

important part of the experience is feeling secure inknowing what`s going on around you at all times.Mazda3 is equipped with a host of features engineeredto keep you informed, and to help you anticipate andavoid hazards on the road. Mazda call this integratedsuite of of advanced active safety technologies i-ACTIVSENSE. i-ACTIVSENSE uses the latest sensingdevices to assist your perception and decision-making soyou can concentrate on driving. But no matter how safe-ly or skillfully you drive, accidents can always happen. SoMazda3 also includes a wide range of passive safety fea-

tures to protect you and your passengers, including theSKYACTIV-BODY that meets the highest collision-safetystandards of the world`s major assessment programmes.

i-ACTIVSENSEi-ACTIVSENSE is Mazda`s integrated suite of cutting-

edge active safety technologies, designed to inform, sup-port and protect. The Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM) sys-tem, High Beam Control System (HBC) and AdaptiveFront-lighting System (AFS) keep you informed of what`sgoing on around you, even in the blind spots to the sideand rear. The Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)supports you with a warning when you are about to driftout of your lane. And the Smart Brake Support (SBS)works proactively to help prevent or soften impacts.Better yet, unlike some other makers` systems which relyon a single sensing system such as a camera, i-ACTIVSENSE uses a smart combination of the latest sens-ing devices including milliwave radar, near-infrared lasersand cameras to cover the widest range of situations andweather conditions.

The leading edge of Human-Machine Interface (HMI)design

Route guidance from the navigation system. Hazardwarnings. Audio entertainment from a wide range ofsources. So much information constantly coming at youcould break your concentration and make your drivingless safe. That`s why Mazda endineered the cockpit witha new HMI design to prevent confusion in decision-mak-ing, minimize driver eye movements and reduce physicalstress.

The newly developed Active Driving Display mountedabove the meter hood shows the most essential drivinginformation with no need to look away from the road.Information for MZD CONNECT`s audio, communicationand navigation functions is displayed on a 7-inch LCDmounted on top of the dashboard.

MZD CONNECT, the new in-vehicle connectivity sys-tem

Internet connectivity has become an essential part ofdaily life, so Mazda developed MZD CONNECT to provideversatile connectivity with the highest standards of safe-ty. MZD CONNECT offers a huge range of infotainmentoptions from the Internet when connected to a smart-phone. The system`s Audio feature allows selection ofvarious music sources including AM/FM radio, CDs andmobile audio players, and AHA Internet Radio. TheCommunication feature reads SMS messages aloud, aswell as other Internet social networking services (Twitterand Facebook, for example) available via Aha. And theNavigation feature shows your current position on a mapalong with a route to the specified destination.

B U S I N E S S


Asian shares mixed after Easter breakHONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed yesterday, thefirst day’s trading for some markets after the Easter break,even though Wall Street provided another strong lead.The dollar eased slightly against the yen after rallying onMonday in response to Japan’s announcement of anothermassive trade deficit. Tokyo gave up early gains as the yenreversed course against the dollar, with the Nikkei ending0.85 percent lower, giving up 123.61 points to finish at14,388.77. Hong Kong ended down 0.13 percent, or 29.56points, at 22,730.68.

Shanghai closed up 0.34 percent, or 7.00 points, at2,072.83, Sydney gained 0.46 percent, or 25.1 points, to5,479.3, and Seoul added 0.25 percent, or 5.00 points, to2,004.22. Business remained thin as traders returned fromthe long weekend. Markets in Sydney and Wellington willalso be closed Friday for Anzac Day. US shares jumped fora fifth straight session Monday thanks to solid earningsreports from firms including Halliburton and Hasbro.Attention is now on earnings reports expected this weekfrom top firms including McDonald’s, United Technologies

and AT&T. The Dow gained 0.25 percent, the S&P 500 rose0.38 percent and the Nasdaq added 0.64 percent. WallStreet’s advances follow a torrid week earlier this monthwhen tech players such as Twitter and Facebook were soldoff on fears they were overvalued.

Those companies have now clawed back much of theirlosses. In Japan the earnings season gets under way nextweek with the release of reports from big names includ-ing Honda, Panasonic and Japan Airlines. On currencymarkets the dollar was at 102.50 yen compared to 102.62

yen late in New York. The Japanese unitdipped Monday after the government saidits trade deficit in March quadrupled year-on-year to $14 billion owing to the risingcost of importing fossil fuels and con-sumers rushing to buy before the April 1sales tax hike.

The euro bought 141.47 yen and$1.3800 against 141.58 yen and $1.3794.Oil prices were lower. New York’s maincontract, West Texas Intermediate for Maydelivery, was down $1.06 at $103.31 a bar-rel in afternoon trade. Brent North Seacrude for June declined 24 cents to$109.71. Gold fetched $1,291.73 an ounceat 1045 GMT, compared with $1,287.37 onMonday.

In other markets:* Bangkok added 0.14 percent, or 1.98

points, to 1,415.05. Oil company PT Tdropped 0.97 percent to 307.00 baht,while Siam Cement rose 1.88 percent to434.00 baht.

* Jakarta ended up 0.12 percent, or5.92 points, at 4,898.21. State miner Aneka

Tambang rose 1.76 percent to 1,155 rupi-ah, while Indocement Tunggal Prakarsaslipped 0.98 percent to 22,775 rupiah.

* Kuala Lumpur inched up 0.19 percent,or 3.490 points, to 1,866.42. Public Bankgained 0.9 percent to 20.38 ringgit, whileYTL Corporation rose 1.5 percent to 0.65.

* Manila closed 0.26 percent higher,adding 17.44 points to 6,784.95. SMInvestments rose 1.15 percent to 746.50pesos, BDO Unibank added 0.28 percent to89.00 pesos and Megaworld advanced2.24 percent to 4.57 pesos.

Singapore rose 0.67 percent, or 21.70points, to 3,277.53.

United Overseas Bank climbed 1.91percent to Sg$22.45 while SingaporeAirlines was up 0.58 percent at Sg$10.34.Taipei rose 0.26 percent, or 23.52 points, to8,974.71. Smartphone maker HTC added1.58 percent to Tw$160.5 while PC firmAcer was 0.26 percent higher at Tw$19.4.

* Wellington ended flat, edging up 1.59points to 5,104.94. Air New Zealand added0.48 percent to NZ$2.08 and Fletcher Buildingwas off 0.21 percent at NZ$9.60. — AFP

MUMBAI: The television screen on the facade of the Indian Bombay StockExchange (BSE) building features Chief Minister of the Indian state ofGujarat and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidateNarendra Modi, in Mumbai yesterday. The Bombay Stock Exchange’sbenchmark index or the Sensex touched a lifetime high of 22,853.03 pointsyesterday as investors hope ongoing general elections will provide a sta-ble, pro-active and reform oriented federal government by mid-May. —AFP

LONDON: Brent oil futures slippedbelow $110 a barrel yesterday butheld near a six-week high as a pactto calm tensions in Ukraine faltered,while rising US crude stockpilesweighed on prices.

A four-way peace deal signedlast week in Geneva to reduce ten-sions in eastern Ukraine has hadlimited impact so far. Pro-Russianseparatists refuse to put down armsand pull out of occupied govern-ment buildings as Kiev and Moscowaccuse each other of breaking thepact. US Vice President Joe Bidenyesterday offered to back Ukraine’seconomy and said “time is short” forRussia to make progress on its com-mitments under the deal.

Investors fear that an escalationin the crisis could lead to furtherWestern sanctions on Russia anddisrupt oil supplies from the keyproducer. Brent crude fell 48 centsto $109.47 a barrel by 1143 GMT,not far from a six-week high of$110.36 touched last week. UScrude slipped 36 cents to $104.01 abarrel. “A lot of the Ukraine tensionis priced in and will keep underpin-ning oil prices. We have been in apretty broad (price) range and weare near the top of the range sounless things change significantly,we will drift lower,” said London-based CMC Markets analyst MichaelHewson.

Investors across the board seethe unfolding crisis in Ukraine as athreat to risk appetite and saidfinancial markets remain vulnerableto more shocks.

Oil market participants await thelatest inventory data from theUnited States to gauge the demandoutlook for the world’s biggest con-sumer. US commercial crude inven-tories were forecast to have risenlast week, while gasoline stockpilesfell, a Reuters poll showed.

Taken ahead of weekly inventoryreports from industry group theAmerican Petroleum Institute yester-day and the US government’s EnergyInformation Administration onWednesday, the survey estimatedcrude stocks rose 2.7 million barrels onaverage for the week ended April 18.

Oil investors are also watchingthe progress of talks between Iranand world powers to end Tehran’sdisputed nuclear program.President Hassan Rouhani’s govern-ment confirmed speculation onMonday it had reshuffled the lead-ership of Iran’s atomic agency tosideline nuclear experts opposed totalks with the West on its atomicprogram. China’s March crude oilimports from Iran rose more than athird from a year earlier, keepingimports in the first three months of2014 close to the levels seen beforeWestern sanctions were appliedmore than two years ago.“The sup-ply situation on the oil marketremains very good, despite themissing shipments from Libya. Thisis partly due to higher production inthe Gulf states and the US, as well asthe fact that sanctions against Iranhave been eased since November,”analysts at Commerzbank said in anote. -— Reuters

Brent oil dips below

$110 but Ukraine

tensions support

LONDON: Gold edged back above$1,290 an ounce yesterday after fallingfor three straight days, as a retreat in thedollar took some pressure off the metal,though continued outflows from physi-cal gold funds curbed potential for gains.Prices fell to their lowest since early Aprilat $1,281.40 an ounce on Monday, afterpeaking above $1,330 a week before onconcerns over the stand-off between theWest and Russia over Ukraine.

Spot gold was at $1,291.70 an ounceat 1132 GMT, little changed from$1,289.54 late on Monday. U.S. goldfutures for June delivery were up $3.30an ounce at $1,290.60.

“Gold continues to suffer from small-scale profit-taking on the back of theearly April price rebound,” VTB Capitalanalyst Andrey Kryuchenkov said. “Itshould consolidate above early Aprillows, with decent support around 1278-80.” Investors are awaiting the nextround of economic data at the start ofMay before taking up positions onceagain, he added. “The physical side willremain quiet for now, with all attentionon the dollar,” he said. The dollar drifteddown 0.1 percent against a basket ofcurrencies in early trade, surrenderinggains that earlier took it to a three-week

high. A softer dollar tends to benefitgold, which is priced in the currency.

On the investment side of the market,the SPDR Gold Trust , the world’s largestgold-backed exchange-traded fund,reported another drop in holdings onMonday, of 3 tons to 792.14 tons.

Last week alone, outflows from thefund totalled 9.3 tons, erasing all thegains made in the year. Traders said per-sistent outflows from the top ETF couldaffect market sentiment and make anygains difficult to hold.

Asian demand soft Demand was soft overnight in Asia,

precious metals house MKS said in anote yesterday, a day after gold’s dis-count to spot prices on the ShanghaiGold Exchange widened to $6 an ounce.“Shanghai were sellers once again withthe Shanghai Gold Exchange (arbitrage)remaining in discount and drawing outsellers,” it said. “Any unfavorable develop-ments between Russia and Ukraine stillhave the potential to propel gold and sil-ver higher as safe-havens are sought, butwith headlines on this front diminishingand tensions seeming to ease, the met-als look to remain heavy in the shortterm.” —Reuters

Gold steadies off 2-1/2

week low as dollar falls


DUBAI/LONDON: Coutts yesterdayannounced the appointments of Saleh AliAl-Turki, Sohail Al-Mazrui, Rami El Nimerand Bader Al-Kharafi to its Middle EastAdvisory Board.

Coutts’ Middle East Advisory Board wascreated in October 2013 to help broadenand shape the firm’s ambitious plans, aid-ing hiring and driving performance bystrengthening client relationships. TheBoard continues to meet twice a year toprovide counsel to Management in theregion.

Michael Dismorr, Chairman for CouttsMiddle East Advisory Board said: “We arethrilled and honored to welcome Saleh,Sohail, Rami and Bader to our AdvisoryBoard, and we are confident that their col-lective experience and leadership will be

invaluable to us.” He continued: “This is a very exciting

time for Coutts in the Middle East, wehave a strong commitment to the regionand we are looking forward to receivingadvice on our regional growth strategyfrom these distinguished individuals.”

Saleh Ali Al-Turki is the Chairman andPresident of Nesma Holding Companyand chairs several companies outside theNesma Group. He has also served asChairman of Jeddah Chamber ofCommerce & Industry, Saudi Chamber ofCommerce & Industry and Albir Society inJeddah for over a decade. Sohail Al-Mazruiis the Partner and Chairman of Abu DhabiBusiness Hub; Senaat LLC, EmiratesConversion Industry Abu Dhabi andChairman of Dubai Investments Company

PJSC. Rami El Nimer is the CEO of the FirstNational Bank Group of Companies. Inaddition, El Nimer is Chairman GeneralManager of Capital Finance Company SAL,Chairman General Manager of Middle EastCapital Group and General Manager ofBeirut Building Society.

Bader Al-Kharafi is the Chairman, VicePresident and Board member of a numberof businesses including but not limited toZain Mobile Telecommunications, GulfBank, Gulf Cables & Electrical industriesand the British-Kuwait Friendship Society.Al-Kharafi is also an Executive Director ofthe Al-Kharafi conglomerate.

Coutts has been present in the MiddleEast for many years and opened its firstrepresentative office in the United ArabEmirates (UAE) in Dubai 14 years ago. The

firm has regional offices in Dubai, AbuDhabi and Doha and, in 2011, announcedits intention to grow the business in coreinternational markets, including theMiddle East.

Coutts is the wealth division of RoyalBank of Scotland Group. Coutts servesclients from over 40 offices across theworld offering tailored wealth manage-ment, banking, trust and tax services.Coutts is headquartered at 440 Strand,London with offices in other key interna-tional financial centres in Zurich, Geneva,Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. Thedivision includes Adam & Company pro-viding private banking services from itsbase in Edinburgh and RBS Internationalbased in the Channel Islands which pro-vides offshore banking.

Coutts expands Middle East Advisory Board Bader Al-Kharafi appointed to board

AMMAN: Oman’s economy should grow 4 to5 percent this year, underpinned by stableoil prices and the billions of dollars spent onmajor projects in the past two years, thehead of the Gulf country’s central bank saidyesterday.

Oman is spending billions on infrastructureto divers i fy i ts economy, said HamoodSangour Al-Zadjali, and it hopes to attractmore private investment. Projects include a$1.8 billion terminal at Muscat InternationalAirport due to be completed this year. “We arebuilding airports. We are building seaports, alot of roads are being built ,” Zadjal i toldReuters in an interview in Amman. “Oman islike a huge workshop now ... this is generatingincreased economic activity.”

Analysts say government spending on wel-fare and salary increases has also grown since2011, to placate protesters demanding jobs

and an end to corruption. Without the fiscalreserves of its Gulf neigbours, Oman has seenpressure growing on state finances.

The International Monetary Fund warnedOman would need to reform spending andfind new revenue sources in coming few yearsto avoid a series of ballooning budget deficits.

The current trend of oil prices above $100 abarrel should help to cover a shortfall in thisyear ’s $35 bill ion budget, which assumedprices would average $85, Zadjali said. “Withthe existing oil prices, I think the deficit will bewiped out,” he said. A projected rise in oil out-put to around 1 million bpd from the current950,000 by year-end should also improve statefinances, Zadjali.

Oman will continue to peg its currency, therial, to the dollar, Zadjali said. The policy hasanchored monetary policy and is helping tounderpin the economy’s favorable outlook.

“The rial is strong because it’s pegged to thedollar and we don’t expect the dollar to dipdown,” he said.

Foreign reserves managed by the centralbank stand at $16 billion, up almost 10 percentyear-on-year, Zadjali said. Oman’s central bankwill continue withdrawing liquidity from com-mercial banks, which are flush with cash.Deposits rose 11 percent increase to 15.3 bil-lion rials to curb inflationary pressure andensure monetary stability, Zadjali said.

Inflation was expected to average 2 percentin 2014, cushioned by expectations that globalfood prices would remain at their current lev-els, Zadjali said. It fell to 0.6 percent year-on-year in February from 1.2 percent in January.“Our inflation is imported, and we see ourimport bill this year staying as it unless therewill be a catastrophic rise in food prices,”Zadjali said. —Reuters

Oman expects 5% growth in 2014 with steady oil prices

Foreign reserves around $16bn, up 10% y-o-y

LISBON: Auditors from the EU and IMFbegin their final health check on bailed-outPortugal yesterday, a day before the coun-try faces an acid test with a return to regu-lar borrowing on the debt market.

Portugal, set next month to followIreland and become the second rescuedeuro-zone country to emerge from nearbankruptcy and austerity-driven suffering,is expected to pass both tests with confi-dence. But ordinary people complain theywill go on bearing the brunt of the radicalmeasures imposed by the European Unionand International Monetary Fund in returnfor rescue loans of 78 billion euros ($108billion).

Those measures, including a new roundbeing applied now, hacked back publicspending, cut pensions and enforced struc-tural reforms to make the economy morecompetitive and boost exports.

Vice Prime Minister Paulo Portas, com-menting on Monday on the visit by theauditors from the EU, IMF and EuropeanCentral Bank, said: “It’s the final check-up. Itis the examination which must enable us towin back our political and financial autono-my.” The Portuguese are waiting to see theback of those they call “the men in black”,but in the knowledge that the three yearsof severe belt-tightening will not berelaxed. The IMF warned on Monday thatPortugal must broaden its commitment tobudget discipline to ensure it can carry its

debt load and retain the confidence offinancial markets. The government is notyet saying how it intends to navigate out ofthe rescue program as planned on May 17.It could opt for a precautionary line of cred-it or take the route risked by Ireland fourmonths ago-an outright return to the debtmarket without any backup.

People pay the price The answer is expected before May 5,

when euro-zone finance ministers are setto approve Portugal’s exit from the rescueprogram. Trades unions say the move willnot change the story for their members.“With or without a precautionary program,the austerity policy will stay in place. It’salways the same people who will go onpaying the price,” said Armenio Carlos, sec-retary general of the main union federa-tion, CGTP.

A key test will be on Wednesday whenPortugal, having already tested the willing-ness of investors to buy its debt, will makeits first regular issue of 10-year bonds sinceit sought the bailout on April 2011.

The national debt agency is aiming toraise 500-750 million euros in a direct auc-tion to investors. “Portugal should comethrough with flying colours. This new issueis a step further on the road to emergingfrom the rescue plan without an extra lineof credit,” said Natixis bank analyst JesusCastillo. — AFP

Portugal faces key tests in turning page on bailout

MASHAR-I-SHARIF: Afghan vendors sells vegetable and fruits at a market in Mazar-i-Sharif on Monday. Afghanistan’s unemployment ratesstands at 35% in a country of 31 million, with much of the population suffering from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medicalcare, and jobs. — AFP

CAIRO: Egypt’s central bank will keep interest rates on hold tomor-row as it balances the need to fight inflation while supporting thecurrency and stimulating an economy battered by more than threeyears of upheaval, a Reuters poll showed. Annual urban consumerinflation remains high despite slowing for three consecutivemonths before holding steady at 9.8 percent in March, but it maystill be too early for the central bank to cut rates to spur on eco-nomic activity. Six economists polled by Reuters said they expectthe central bank to keep rates on hold on April 24.

Moustafa Bassiouny, an economist at Signet Institute, said thecentral bank’s Monetary Policy Committee was likely to wait untilnext month before cutting rates. “I expect the MPC to keep rates onhold until the following meeting because of the continuing infla-tionary pressures and the sluggish economic performance so farthis year,” he said. At its last meeting, on Feb. 27, it kept its depositand lending rates at 8.25 and 9.25 percent, respectively. WilliamJackson, emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, saidone problem was that inflation could rise more this year.

“The recent rise in global food prices could cause Egyptian foodinflation to pick up later this year,” he said. Egypt’s economy and thepound have suffered since autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak wasousted in a popular uprising in 2011, deterring the tourists and for-eign investors who were a major source of hard currency for thecountry. The tumble in the Egyptian pound has also pressured thecentral bank to keep interest rates high to lure funds out of foreigncurrencies. The bank has been burning up its foreign currency hold-ings to support the local currency. Economic growth in the Arabworld’s most populous nation, meanwhile, has been sluggishdespite it receiving more than $12 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia after the army oustedIslamist President Mohamed Morsi last July.

The government launched two stimulus packages worth around30 billion Egyptian pounds ($4.3 billion) each after receiving thataid, but economic growth has yet to pick up. Gross domestic prod-uct growth slowed to 1 percent in the first quarter of 2014, and thefinance minister has cut his growth forecasts for the year to 2 to 2.5percent from a previous estimate of 3 to 3.5 percent.—Reuters

Egypt CB to keep interest rates on hold: Survey

TOKYO: Japanese officials said yes-terday there was still a significantway to go before reaching a broadagreement on trade with the UnitedStates, a day before President BarackObama visits for a summit. A US-Japan agreement is critical to the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a12-nation grouping that wouldstretch from Asia to Latin America. ATPP deal is central to Obama’s policyof expanding the US presence inAsia.

Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe has also touted the TPP as amain element of his economic strate-gy to increase growth and shake offyears of stagnation. As the talksdragged on over recent days, officialsfrom both sides played down thechance of reaching an agreementbefore Obama’s visit. But the longerthe standoff goes on, the moredoubt could grow about prospectsfor the trade pact.

“We still have a lot of issues left todiscuss,” Japan’s Deputy ChiefNegotiator Hiroshi Oe told reporters.“In these circumstances, I cannot saythat we have narrowed our differ-ences.”

Oe spoke after talks with US

Acting Deputy Trade RepresentativeWendy Cutler in Tokyo about tradeterms for the TPP. Breaking a US-Japan deadlock over access toJapan’s farm and auto markets isseen as key to finalizing the TPP.

The United States wants Japan toopen its rice, beef and pork, dairy,and sugar markets - politically pow-erful sectors that Abe has vowed todefend. Japan wants a timetable onUS promises to drop tariffs of 2.5 per-cent on imports of passenger carsand 25 percent on light trucks.

Gaps remain over the size of cutsin tariffs on beef and pork as well,Japanese media have reported.Japanese Economics Minister AkiraAmari also acknowledged that themany hours of negotiations had notnarrowed the gap with the UnitedStates. The two countries will likelyannounce a strong bond at a summitbetween Abe and Obama this week,Amari said. Obama is scheduled tobe in Tokyo until Friday. A final deal,however, could be much further off.TPP negotiators are due to recon-vene in Vietnam in mid-May andtrade ministers will meet at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gath-ering in China that month. — Reuters

Japan has not narrowedtrade differenceswith US: Officials

KUWAIT: The graph illustrates the historical exchange rates between the KuwaitiDinar and the British Pound between 1/22/2014 and 4/21/2014.

KUWAIT: The graph shows historical exchange rates between the British Pound andthe Kuwaiti Dinar between 10/24/2013 and 4/21/2014.

Bader Al- Kharafi

No devaluation ofKD against GBP

By Velina Nacheva

KUWAIT: Rumours about a drastic devaluationof the Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) against the sterlingpound (GBP) last week were refuted yesterdayby employees of exchange companies acrossKuwait. According to an employee from one ofthe leading exchange companies in Kuwait, therate of the Kuwaiti dinar against the sterlingpound has been stable in the past year. “TheKuwaiti dinar has not weakened. What we haveexperienced recently are normal trends,” theemployee said, elaborating that the euro hasbecome stronger. Over the last two or threeweeks, people in Kuwait were cautious whenpurchasing pounds due to rumours that thedinar has been depreciating in value against thepound. “Nothing exceptional has happened inthe last few weeks,” a clerk at the exchange com-pany said, pointing out that the sterling poundhas been stronger against the US dollar.

The drop in the dollar has been cited as oneof the main factors for the Kuwaiti dinar’s fluctu-ation, he stressed. “The pound is stronger due tothe better performing UK economy,” he added.In the meantime, the US dollar is getting weaker.

According to another employee at anexchange shop in Kuwait, the exchange rate ofthe dinar remained stable against the sterlingpound in the last year, at an average of 0.463.Yesterday the sterling pound against the dinarwas 0.472, and the dinar against the pound was2.12.

The dinar’s value against the pound declinedby 2 to 3 percent year to year, which accordingto an employee at an exchange company, is nota “drastic fluctuation”. According to him, theyear-on-year changes in exchange rates inKuwait are not significant. The impact of thischange is not as significant considering it tookplace over a period of a year, he said.

The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) abandonedthe dinar’s peg to the US dollar and switchedover to its old exchange rate regime of tying it toa basket of currencies in 2006. According theCBK, the policy shift was driven by an effort tosuppress the growing inflationary pressures aris-ing from the Kuwaiti dinar’s weakness vis-‡-visother currencies. Since then, the fluctuation ofthe Kuwaiti dinar against the pound, forinstance, has been low, an exchange employeeobserved.


DUBAI: Al-Mazaya Holding Company - listed onthe Kuwait Stock Exchange and Dubai FinancialMarket - yesterday launched the second stageof the Queue Point project in Liwan, during apress conference held at Ritz Carlton Hotel inDubai International Financial Centre, in thepresence of the Chairman of the Board ofDirectors, Group CEO, a number of specialistswithin the real estate and construction sectorand media representatives.

During the conference, Rashid Al-Nafisi,Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Mazaya Holding Company, delivered an open-ing speech through which he welcomed theguests and announced the inauguration of thesecond stage of the Queue Point project inDubai Land. He also offered his deep thanks toall employees in Al-Mazaya Company for theirhard work over the past years, resulting in thecompletion of Queue Point, a new achievementin the company ’s track record. He alsoexpressed his thanks to all contractors whoworked on the project, as well as the share-holders and customers for their great confi-dence in Al-Mazaya.

“Al-Mazaya Company is one of the firstKuwaiti companies to have entered into thevital Dubai Market, and has been able to fulfilmany giant projects and achievements, in linewith the Sky Gardens at Dubai InternationalFinancial Centre, the Al-Mazaya Towers Projectsin Jumeirah Lakes, and more than 800 residen-tial villas in Dubai Land, with total investmentsamounting to AED 6 billion,” added Al-Nafisi.

Al-Nafisi revealed that the project nowstands at more than 75 percent complete, withrate of sales up to 63 percent, which mirrors thesuccess of Al Mazaya in the development andmanagement of this leading project.

Eng. Ibrahim Al Saq’abi, the Group CEO, gavea presentation about the project and its ongo-ing stages until present, pointing out that theproject includes 52 “land” plots, 25 of which areowned by Al-Mazaya. The company managesthe remaining plots for the benefit of otherinvestors. He also added that Al-Mazaya coop-erated with other government agencies inDubai like the Property and Land Department‘Rera’, to deliver the project in accordance withthe requirements and laws of the department,after Al-Mazaya undertook a full survey andstudy of the spaces of apartments in prepara-tion for transferring their ownership to the buy-ers.

“We are pleased to announce the launch ofthe second marketing campaign for the QueuePoint project in Liwan, which is to be made intoan integrated residential environment, stress-ing the quality of the construction and the dis-tinct location, in addition to the services andinfrastructure to be provided by the maindeveloper in the near future,” said Al-Saqabi.

“Queue Point is a distinct project whichenjoys a strategic location. The architecturaldesign study was carefully conducted so theproject can meet the needs of all target seg-

ments. The residential units include one, two, orthree bedroom units with comprehensive serv-ices,” he added.

“Al-Mazaya also equipped the sales office inQueue Point, the company’s main headquartersin the Jumeirah Lakes Towers ‘Mazaya BusinessAvenue’, in addition to the equipment of fur-nished residential units to enable buyers toselect the most appropriate unit. In addition Al-Mazaya has contracted with Options Furniturein Dubai to equip these units in the way thatmakes them more elegant, suits the project’sstatus, and enhances the selection of these resi-dential units, according to the available engi-neering designs and spaces within the project.Options Furniture offered 20 percent discountcoupons for each buyer in Queue Point, and onthe sidelines of the conference, Al-Mazaya alsoinaugurated the Queue Point Website whichwould provide all needed data and informationon the project.

Al-Saq’abi stressed that the marketing cam-paign is consistent with the economic variablesseen by the UAE in general and Dubai in partic-ular, especially in terms of the Emirate’s Expo2020 win and the current challenges of supplyand demand being witnessed by the real estatemarket. Timing is deemed as an important fac-tor for the project’s success, in light of the greatdemand by residents and investors for residen-tial units in the mid-income bracket, which is ofspecial importance as the majority of the realestate development companies are currentlyfocused on providing the market with luxuryresidential units.

Al-Mazaya seeks to provide a real estateproduct that meets the needs of the residentand investor in the UAE in general and Dubai in

particular, at very competitive prices startingfrom AED 500 thousand per apartment, in addi-tion to the provision of payment facilitiesthrough authorized UAE funding agencies likeDubai Islamic Bank.

At the close of the conference, Shlash Al-Hajraf, Acting CEO of Al-Mazaya Real EstateCompany in Dubai responded to reporters’questions and provided clarifications andexplanations with regards to the project. Healso expressed his thanks to Dubai Real EstateGroup, the main developer of the project, andthe Department of Land and Property in Dubai,for their cooperation with Al-Mazaya RealEstate Company to successfully completeQueue Point.

Ownership within Queue Point Project is anopportunity to get a dream home in Dubaiwithin a strategic location amidst the most vitalsites in Dubai, and at the junction of SheikhMohammad bin Zayed Street (previouslyknown as Emirates Road) and Al-Ain Street, notfar from Dubai International Airpor t, Al-Maktoum International Airport, Expo 2020 City,Dubai International Academic City, and othervital facilities and areas. It is also a modern areathat is currently under development accordingto high quality standards and specifications interms of services and infrastructure.

Al-Mazaya is utilizing all marketing tools tosupport its campaign with the aim to marketthe project via al l social media websites(#QueuePoint), and provide a weekly electronicbulletin about the project and its latest updatesand developments, in addition to a media andadvertising campaign through all Gulf and localnewspapers as well as electronic and audiomedia.

Al-Mazaya inaugurates 2nd stage

of ‘Queue Point’ in Dubai Land

Second stage consists of 52 plots spanning over 13mn sq ftKUWAIT: Following the conclusion of itsannual General Assembly, which was heldyesterday, and further to the 34th annualreport of the company work and results forthe financial year ending December 31st2013, Commercial Facilities Company (CFC)announced its approval on the board ofdirector’s report and an approval of the bal-ance sheet and company’s profits and loss-es for the same period.

CFC has achieved a profit of KD 12.9 mil-lion, during the financial year ended inDecember 31st 2013, and its GeneralAssembly approved the distribution of KD10.3 million on its dividends to sharehold-ers at 20 percent (20 Fils per share for theyear 2013).

The CFC market share for consumerloans reached 16 percent, while the com-pany’s share in the local finance companiesmarket exceeded 65 percent, which reflectsthe success of the business model adoptedby the company with its several brancheslocated in important areas, as well as itsrepresentative offices in all auto show-rooms in Kuwait.

Commenting on the General Assembly,Abdullah Saud Al-Humaidhi, Vice Chairmanand Managing Director CFC said: “TheCompany continued its successful perform-ance of past years in 2013. Despite a con-tinued challenging financial environmentand interest rates on the KD remaining at ahistorical low, the company was able toaccomplish a net profit of KD 12.9 million.This represents an 18.9 percent declinecompared to last year’s performance whichis a result of a decrease in released provi-sions for doubtful debts amounting to KD2.6 million as opposed to KD 4.8 milliondue to collection from the Distressed Fund.This is in addition to the low average inter-est rate of the loan portfolio whichdecreased revenue to 17 million represent-ing a decrease of 11.9 percent on previousyear”. “CFC has attracted a large segment ofcustomers, from companies and individu-als, through its continuous commitment oflaunching best solutions and financing ini-tiatives in the local market in 2013 with theaim of providing its customers the flexibili-ty of investing their needs. Three loanswere arranged amounting to KD 30 millionduring 2013 as well as another KD 30 mil-lion in credit for the coming year 2014. TheBoard of Directors is confident in the com-pany’s ability to secure further funding inthe coming year at the best possible ratesreflecting the company’s sound financialsand reputation” Al- Humaidhi continued

“The Board of Directors would like totake this opportunity to extend its sincerethanks to the company’s clients, all the gov-ernmental establishments and the financialand commercial institutions that helpedfacilitate CFC’s operations. Our thanks tothe CFC management and all its employeesfor their dedication and competence thatenabled us to achieve another year ofdevelopment and success” concluded Al-Humaidhi.

Established in 1977, CFC is the firstfinancing company in the GCC and hasmaintained its leading position in thefinancing sector in Kuwait for more thanthree decades. CFC has strengthened itsmarket position due to its high level of cus-tomer service, quick transaction processingand convenience. Today, the company hasfive branches in strategic locations, as wellas representative offices located in allmajor car dealerships across Kuwait.

Customers can pay monthly install-ments; inquire about their account balanceand next installment due date through the“CFC” renewed website www.cfc-kw.com orthe CFC Smartphone application that canbe downloaded from the “App Store” or“Google Play Store”.” Customers can submitapplications at CFC’s main office in Sharq,or at any of the company’s branches locat-ed in Hawalli, Al-Riggae, Fahaheel and Al-Jahra, in addition to 21 company represen-tatives spread between the main new andused car dealerships and by visiting thecompany page on Instagram, Facebookand Twitter as well.

CFC achieves net profit

of KD 12.9m for 2013

Abdullah Saud Al-Humaidhi

DUBAI: Al-Mazaya Holding Company Chairman of the Board of Directors Rashid Al-Nafisiaddresses a press conference.

Dividends reached KD 168.9 million

KUWAIT: Jaguar is proud toannounce that the F-TYPEConvertible is an AutomobileMagazine 2014 ‘All-Star’ for its partin redefining and modernizing thebrand. This marks the third year aJaguar vehicle has received thehonor.

“ The F-TYPE Convertible,Jaguar’s modern take on its iconic,1960s E-Type, captivated us with itssvelte body, its available super-charged V8 engine, and its exhaustnote that sounds like machine-gunfire,” said Jean Jennings, Presidentand Editor-In-Chief, AutomobileMagazine. “Did we mention itslooks? With its extravagant styling,the F-TYPE attracts the attention ofpeople everywhere it goes and hasdone more than any other Jaguarcar [or “vehicle”] to make the brandrelevant and desirable again.”

“This award further validatesexcitement surrounding thebrand’s first two-seat sports carsince the iconic E-Type,” said JeffCurry, Brand Vice President, JaguarNorth America. “We are thrilled tohave such a top-tier recognition ofthe F-TYPE by AutomobileMagazine. We are proud to havethis recognition of our strategy tobuild more new Jaguar models that

challenge the status quo in the lux-ury car market. This is an importantmoment for the Jaguar brand asthe all-new F-TYPE Coupe and Rmodels go on sale in May joiningthe F-TYPE convertible.”

For 2014, about 270 automo-biles for sale in the United Stateswere eligible for the award. The

prestigious All-Stars awards recog-nize 10 vehicles chosen by the edi-torial staff of Automobile Magazine.

The Jaguar F-TYPE Convertiblewas launched to critical acclaim in2012 and represents a return to the

company’s heart: a two-seat, sportscar focused on performance, agilityand driver involvement. The F-TYPEConvertible and Coupe are pow-ered by the new Jaguar super-charged 3.0-liter V6 engine in340hp and 380hp outputs and a495hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8.The F-TYPE Coupe debuted at the

2013 Los Angeles Auto Show thispast November, will go on sale thisspring and is available in threemodels: F-TYPE Coupe, F-TYPE SCoupe and F-TYPE R Coupe. MSRPstarts at $69,000* for the

Convertible, and $65,000 for theCoupe.

British luxury automotive brandJaguar has been awarded the 2014Kelley Blue Book Brand ImageAward for “Best Car Styling LuxuryBrand”.

The Brand Image Awards, pre-sented by Kelley Blue Book, recog-nize automakers’ outstandingachievements in creating andmaintaining brand attributes thatcapture the attention and enthusi-asm of the new-vehicle buyingpublic. Award categories are calcu-lated among luxury, non-luxuryand truck shoppers. The 2014Brand Image Awards are based onconsumer automotive perceptiondata from Kelley Blue Book MarketIntelligence’s Brand Watch study.

“Jaguar is a fast rising challengerin the luxury car market with a his-tory of designing beautiful cars,”said Jeff Curry, Brand VicePresident, Jaguar North America.“We continue to move forward witha visual appeal that has people fallin love at first sight.”

Kelley Blue Book’s Brand Watchis an online brand and model per-ception tracking study, tappinginto insights from 12,000+ in-mar-ket new-vehicle shoppers annually.

Jaguar named ‘2014 best car styling

luxury brand’ by Kelley Blue Book

KUWAIT: Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons Automotive,the exclusive distributor of Chevrolet in theregion, would like to remind its customers oftheir last chance to take advantage of the com-pany’s strongest promotion , which will last untilthe end of April. The offer gives the opportunityfor customers to own the car of their dreamswhile benefiting from the best trade-in value inthe market, plus up toKD 1000 on top when pur-chasing a brand new Chevrolet vehicle.

The Chevrolet Malibu has redefined the mid-size sedan in Kuwait with its expressive styling,interior refinements, Stability Control System, aswell as its five-star safety features, making theMalibu a one-of-a-kind car in its segment. Theexterior design of the Malibu carries some DNAfrom Camaro, a feature that brings about asporty look to the family sedan. The Malibu alsooffers the smoothest ride in its segment thanksto the noise-reducing rearview mirrors, acousticlaminated front glass and strategically placednoise-absorption pads that provide a quiet andmore controlled feel. The new Malibu also comeswith a wide range of exciting features such asMyLink infotainment technology, rearviewCamera, LED tail Lamps, front HID lamps, KeylessAccess with Push-Button Start and a host of safe-ty features that, overall, makes Malibu the bestvalue car in its segment in terms of cost mainte-nance. Chevrolet Captiva comes in two availableengines: the 2.4, 4-cylinder engine that gener-ates 169 hp, and the 3.0, V6 engine that gener-ates an impressive 264 hp, making it one of themost powerful Crossovers in the market. Bothengines are mated to 6-speed automatic trans-mission, which makes the driving experiencesmooth, controlled and efficient. Captiva’s spa-cious and comfortable interiors have beenspecifically designed to accommodate the driverand up to seven passengers, providing everyonethe best driving experience there is. In addition,

Captiva also comes with an impressive range ofinterior features including cruise control, CD/MP3playback with AUX and USB port, Bluetooth(r)and standard safety features such as dualairbags, ABS braking system and rear sensorsthat provide all-around protection for the car.

The 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe is build for a singlegoal: to fulfill the needs of anyone who drives it.And it does so with legendary capabilities, safetyfeatures, and dependability. The Tahoe is pow-ered by an advanced Vortec 5300 V8 engine withActive Fuel Management technology. Tahoe’s320 hp (net), controlled by a six-speed automatictransmission, triumph over any terrain. There arefew places you’d rather be than inside a Tahoe.Indeed, the luxurious interior is quiet, refined andbeautifully appointed with leather seats, chromepanel surrounds and adjustable pedals for tai-lored driving. Striking an ideal balance betweenspace, comfort and safety, the cabin seats up tonine with head-curtain side airbags for all rows.And because Chevrolet is always committed tosafety and comfort, the 2014 Tahoe is set withunprecedented standards of safety and a longlist of features and components to help cushionand protect both driver and passengers.Standard on all trim levels, head-curtain sideairbags help reduce the risk of injuries to all out-board occupants in certain side impacts.

Chevrolet Care All customers who purchase a Chevrolet will

receive the benefits of the Chevrolet Care, whichentails new levels of post-sale support.

The Chevrolet Careis an exceptional customerservice that is based on four mail pillars: competi-tive and transparent service costs, scheduledservice appointment booking with same daydelivery, quality service by certified techniciansand 3yr/100,000km warranty with 24x7 roadsideassistance.

Enjoy Chevrolet’s best

trade-in offer: 6 days Left!

t e c hnolo g yWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

BEIJING: China has shut down more than 100 web-sites carrying pornography and closed thousands ofaccounts on social media sites in an re-newed effortto clean up the internet, state media reported.

The campaign, named “Cleaning the Web 2014”,was launched in response to the spread of onlinepornography despite repeated bans, according to acircular issued by the National Office AgainstPornographic and Illegal Publications.

Pornography is illegal in China, but some over-seas critics are concerned that the crackdown on

material deemed obscene is the latest governmentattempt to tighten its grip on the internet and willbe used in broader censorship of websites.

In the latest drive, authorities have closed 110websites and more than 3,300 accounts on China-based social networking services, and deleted morethan 200,000 items containing pornography sinceJanuary, the official Xinhua news agency reportedon Sunday. “Disseminating pornographic informa-tion online severely harms the physical and mentalhealth of minors, and seriously corrupts social

ethos,” an unidentified official with the StateInternet Information Office was cited by Xinhua assaying.

The campaign, set to last until November, comesafter a crackdown on Wechat, Tencent HoldingsLtd’s social messaging app, which has had dozens ofwidely read accounts run by outspoken columnistsshut down.

It also follows a move last year to purge onlinerumour-mongering, widely seen as a tool to punishcritics of the ruling Communist Party, which has

chilled political disclosure especially on Weibo,China’s version of Twitter.

Sina Corp, a major Chinese web portal, temporar-ily shut down its entire online reading section short-ly after the campaign was launched, because “workscontaining inappropriate content have appeared,”the company said in a statement on one of its Weibomicroblogs. Last week, a Beijing court sentenced aman to three years in prison for spreading rumourson Weibo that the court said defamed celebritiesand the government. — Reuters

China steps up purge of online porn amid wider censorship push

LOS ANGELES: Video streaming service Netflix Incsaid it intends to raise the monthly subscription pricefor new customers by $1 or $2 a month to help thecompany buy more movies and TV shows andimprove service for its 48 million global subscribers.

Investors welcomed the announcement byNetflix, which had suffered from a consumer exodusand stock plunge after it announced an unpopularprice increase in July 2011. The company’s sharesjumped 6.7 percent in after-hours trading to $371.97,after the company released plans for a price hike andposted a rise in first-quarter profit that beat WallStreet expectations.

Chief Executive Reed Hastings said Netflix hadimproved its selection of TV shows and movies andadded original series like critically acclaimed KevinSpacey thriller “House of Cards.”

With added revenue from higher prices, “we willbe able to license much more content and deliver itin very high quality video,” Hastings said on a web-cast. The company, in a quarterly letter to sharehold-

ers, said it plans to impose “a one or two dollarincrease, depending on the country, later this quarterfor new members only.” It did not name the coun-tries. Existing customers would keep their currentprice “for a generous time period,” it said.

Netflix has “room to raise prices,” FBN Securitiesanalyst Shebly Seyrafi said, because “they’re still see-ing a lot of demand” for the service. The companysaid in its earnings report it added 2.25 million cus-tomers to its U.S. streaming business during thequarter that ended in March, in line with the compa-ny’s earlier guidance, for a total of 35.7 million. Ininternational markets, its customer base reached12.7 million, a gain of 1.8 million during the quarter.Net income for the quarter reached $53 million, anincrease from $3 million a year earlier. Earnings-per-share came in at 86 cents, topping the average fore-cast of 83 cents, according to analysts surveyed byThomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

During the quarter, it released the second seasonof critically acclaimed Kevin Spacey drama “House of

Cards.” Netflix is investing in original series, such as“House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black” toattract and keep subscribers. If faces competitionfrom online video players like Amazon.com Inc andHulu, as well as on-demand content from cable oper-ators.

Netflix also said it opposed Comcast Corp’s pro-posed purchase of Time Warner Cable Inc. In March,Netflix reluctantly agreed to pay “interconnection”fees to Comcast for faster delivery of its TV showsand movies.

“Comcast is already dominant enough to be ableto capture unprecedented fees from transit providersand services such as Netflix,” the company said in itsletter. “The combined company would possess evenmore anti-competitive leverage to charge arbitraryinterconnection tolls for access to their customers.”Netflix said those fees had improved Netflix servicefor Comcast customers, but singled out AT&T’s fiber-based U-Verse as providing “lower performance” thanmany other providers. — Reuters

Netflix shares leap

as membership climbs

NEW YORK: This 1964 file photo from the World’s Fair in the Queens borough of New York shows a views of moon colony in the ‘Futurama 2’ ride puttogether by General Motors. The millions of visitors who attended the New York World’s Fair that opened in 1964 were introduced to a range of techno-logical innovations and predictions. Some of those turned out to be right on the money and others, perhaps thankfully, were way off the mark. — AP

MIAMI: In this Feb. 1, 2014 file photo, Raul Moas, center rear, executive director of the non-profit organization Roots of Hope, addresses a group during a “Hackathon for Cuba” eventrun by Roots of Hope in Miami. A group of technology experts gathered to come up withways to use their hacking ability to improve Internet access and information in Cuba. Cubaroutinely blocks Internet pages that it finds objectionable. — AP

MIAMI: Leaders with the largest nonprofitorganization for young Cuban-Americans qui-etly provided strategic support for the federalgovernment’s secret “Cuban Twitter” program,connecting contractors with potentialinvestors and even serving as paid consultants,The Associated Press has learned. Interviewsand documents obtained by the AP show lead-ers of the organization, Roots of Hope, wereapproached by the “Cuban Twitter” program’sorganizers in early 2011 about taking over thetext-messaging service, known as ZunZuneo,and discussed how to shift it into privatehands.

Few if any investors were willing to private-ly finance ZunZuneo, and Roots of Hope mem-bers dropped the idea. But at least two peopleon its board of directors went on to work asconsultants, even as they served in an organi-zation that explicitly refused to accept any USgovernment funds and distanced itself fromgroups that did. The disclosure could havewide repercussions for what has become oneof the most visible and influential Cuban-American organizations. Roots of Hope hasbeen a key player in events like Latin pop starJuanes’ 2009 peace concert that drew morethan a million people in Havana and in thepromotion of technology on the island. Itsleaders recently accompanied Cuban bloggerand Castro critic Yoani Sanchez to Washington,where she met with Vice President Joe Biden.

Chris Sabatini, senior director of policy atthe Americas Society and Council of theAmericas, said he wasn’t surprised that Rootsof Hope’s leaders had been approached by USAgency for International Development con-tractors about the ZunZuneo project, giventhe large sums of money USAID has availableand the limited number of creative, tech-savvygroups that work on Cuba issues. “I think itdoes risk tainting the group, a group that Ithink has done amazing work and changedthe discussion and mobilized a new genera-tion toward a much more pragmatic agenda,”Sabatini said.

Roots of HopeIt also comes at a sensitive time; the non-

profit is looking to help Sanchez develop anew independent media project in Cuba. Linksto the USAID program could make thatprospect more difficult, as the Cuban govern-ment views the Twitter-like endeavor as yetanother US effort to undermine its communistsystem. Sanchez herself has also beenadamant in not accepting any governmentfunding. Matt Herrick, a USAID spokesman,declined to provide the names of any individu-als employed by its contractor, but said Rootsof Hope did not enter into any grants or con-tracts related to ZunZuneo or any other proj-ect. However, documents obtained by the APshow extensive involvement at times by theorganization’s board members. Asked whetheragency contractors had attempted to spin theproject off to Roots of Hope leaders, Herricksaid only, “The project sought to attract privateinvestment to support the effort after USAIDfunding ended, but private investment wasnever identified.” The ZunZuneo project endedin September 2012.

An AP investigation published April 3revealed that the US government went togreat lengths to hide its role in ZunZuneo. Theprogram, operated by contractor CreativeAssociates International, used foreign banktransactions and computer networks.Documents show ZunZuneo organizers aimedto effect democratic change in Cuba and draft-ed overtly political messages critical of theCastro government, although the Obamaadministration has maintained the service hada more neutral purpose.

Since the AP’s investigation, a Senate panelhas asked USAID to turn over all records aboutZunZuneo as part of a broader review of theagency’s civil-society efforts worldwide. In con-gressional hearings earlier this month, law-makers debated whether USAID - best known

for its humanitarian mission - should be run-ning such a cloak-and-dagger operationinstead of spy agencies like the CIA. Roots ofHope was launched at a conference at HarvardUniversity in 2003 by a group of Cuban-American college students seeking to connectwith and empower youth on the island. Theorganization quickly established a network ofmore than 4,000 students and young profes-sionals at top colleges around the nation.

In 2009, the group focused on promotingaccess to technology in Cuba with an initiativeto collect and send cellphones and later USBflash drives. Cuba has one of the lowestInternet penetration rates in the world, thoughcellphone use has become increasingly com-mon. In each of its projects, Roots of Hopepublicly steered away from other Miami-basedexile groups known for their association withUSAID funding - part of a larger strategy todrive change on the island through non-overt-ly political means.

ZunZuneo projectNevertheless, in 2011 Creative Associates

officer Xavier Utset approached Roots of Hopeco-founder and then-executive director FeliceGorordo, whom he knew through their mutualinterest in Cuba, about spinning off theZunZuneo project. In an interview with the AP,Gorordo confirmed he’d been asked to helpidentify donors but did not know there was anagenda behind the program. “Personally Ithought it had merit. It wasn’t political. It hadthe goal of promoting shared information,”Gorordo said. “But it was not viable because itwas a government project, and we do notaccept US government funding.”

Documents and interviews show Gorordodiscussed and helped arrange meetingsbetween the contractors and potential privateinvestors. By early spring 2011 the talks fizzledas it was clear there would be no support.Meanwhile, two other active Roots of Hopemembers, Chris Gueits and Raul Moas, beganworking for Mobile Accord, another projectcontractor. Moas, a licensed CPA, was a Rootsof Hope volunteer who joined the board ofdirectors in August 2011. Gueits was also onthe organization’s board of directors that year.

For a period of about three months, Moaswas significantly involved in the now-defunctZunZuneo program, including reviewing someof the project’s test text messages to those onthe island and approaching potentialinvestors, according to the documents. Moasand Roots of Hope declined to comment.Gueits did not respond to multiple requests forcomment but did list his work for MobileAccord on two professional networking sites.Telephone and email messages to CreativeAssociates and Mobile Accord were notreturned.

One internal project memo describes a tripMoas and Gueits made to Denver to train witha Mobile Accord staffer on the ZunZuneo plat-form. “Raul has been a fantastic addition to theteam,” another memo on the trip states,adding that while one Mobile Accord employ-ee was out, “Raul took the reins and imple-mented the plan that the three of them puttogether.” An entry from July of that yeardescribes discussions with Moas aboutZunZuneo test messages.

Several emails copied to Moas and repre-sentatives from Creative Associates, USAID andMobile Accord mention problems with theprogram’s website and messaging systems.Another also mentioned Moas’ salary for themonth of July. US Rep Joe Garcia, a SouthFlorida Democrat who has supported Roots’work, said he does not believe the connectionwill damage the group in the long term. “Youare asking for purity for people who are justtrying to help Cuban civil society in a placewhere freedom of speech and other freedomsdo not exist,” he said. “Using a Twitter feed or amessaging system that allows Cubans to com-municate with each other is a good thing, nomatter who pays for it.”— AP

Apps link people

with new places

in real world

CALIFORNIA: Tired of the same restaurants and clubs? Notsure if friends would want to venture to a new cafe or bar?New apps show where people want to go, rather than wherethey have been. Superb, an iPhone app that launched lastweek, lets users create lists of popular places they would liketo visit and shows them a list of other people who wouldalso like to go there. “It’s all about hanging out in the realworld and getting offline, and the best way to do that is toknow where people want to go,” said Eddy Lu, co-founderand chief executive of Venice, California-based Superb.

The app displays full-screen images of venues such asrestaurants, museums and hiking trails. A swipe to the rightadds the venue to the user’s to-do list, while a swipe to theleft side indicates they are not interested. Tapping the mid-dle button indicates they have already been there.

It also reveals friends who would like to visit a venue.“With Facebook and Foursquare it’s all about ‘This is where Iwas’ or ‘This is where I am’ but we’re all about future intent -not the present or the past,” Lu said, referring to the socialmedia sites.

Other apps such as Yelp and Foursquare work in a similarway by creating lists of places users would like to visit. Musicapps, including Bandsintown, show users concerts theirfriends are attending, and Eventbrite, Plancast and Meetupindicate which friends are attending other events. Sosh, aniPhone app available in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago,Washington and New York, is another way to discover thingsto do in cities. “Every single person no matter their age, gen-der or location all have a question they ask themselveswhich is ‘What should we do?’” said Rishi Mandal, co-founderand CEO of San Francisco-based company Sosh. “We helpthem answer that question.”

The app curates a list of events in cities such as a guestchef appearing at a restaurant, a new show, or a specialexperience at a bar. “There’s a bar doing a Girl Scout cookiepairing menu, for example. They ask you which cookie isyour favorite, and pair it with a cocktail. So it’s not an event ora place, it’s a more elusive thing to do,” said Mandal.

After friends agree on an activity a new, free iPhone appcalled Klutch can help them manage the scheduling. “We’relosing interaction with people because they are connectingthrough technology rather than real meetups - and one ofthe biggest barriers is figuring out the details of when andwhere to meet,” said Hunter Gray, the founder and CEO ofKlutch, based in Santa Monica, California.

With Klutch, users can scan calendars to pinpoint whenand where everyone is meeting and the app automaticallyadds events to the attendees’ calendar once the plans arefinalized, including a map to the destination. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Hacking for espionagepurposes is sharply increasing, with groupsor national governments from EasternEurope playing a growing role, according toone of the most comprehensive annualstudies of computer intrusions. Spying intru-sions traced back to any country in 2013were blamed on residents of China and oth-er East Asian nations 49 percent of the time,but Eastern European countries, especiallyRussian-speaking nations, were the suspect-ed launching site for 21 percent of breaches,Verizon Communications Inc’s said in itsannual Data Breach Investigations Report.

Those were by far the most active areasdetected in the sampling, which drew morethan half of its data from victims in theUnited States. About 25 percent of spyingincidents could not be attributed to attack-ers from any country, according to theauthors of the report. Though the overallnumber of spying incidents studied tripledto 511 from total in the 2013 Verizon report,most of that increase is due to the additionof new data sources. Even looking at just thesame contributors as before, however, espi-onage cases grew, said Verizon investigatorBryan Sartin. Not all electronic spying wasblamed on governments.

Investigators from Verizon, Intel Corp’s

McAfee, Kaspersky Labs and other privatecompanies and public agencies contribut-ing data ascribed 11 percent of espionageattacks to organized criminals and 87 per-cent to governments. In some cases, thecriminal gangs were probably looking to sellwhat they found to governments or com-petitors of the victims. “We do see a slightmerging between the classic organizedcriminal and the espionage crook,” Sartinsaid, adding that he expected that trend tocontinue. If the rise of detected EasternEuropean spying comes as a surprise tothose mainly familiar with accusationsagainst China, a bigger surprise might bethe study’s findings about attacks on retail-ers.

Though recent breaches at Target Corpand other retailers through their point-of-sale equipment have dominated the head-lines and prompted congressional hearingsin the past few months, fewer such intru-sions have been reported to the Verizonteam than in past years, even as the numberof report contributors has multiplied. “Themedia frenzy makes quite a splash, but froma frequency standpoint, this largely remainsa small-and-medium business issue,” thestudy says. The report will be released to thepublic today. — Reuters

Cuban-American leaders

helped ‘Cuban Twitter’

Espionage hacking grows,

with more from E Europe

GLOUCESTER: In this Oct. 19, 2009 file photo, the AT&T logo is on display at aRadioShack store in Gloucester, Mass. AT&T on Monday said that it plans a majorexpansion of super-fast Internet services to cover as many as 100 municipalities in25 metropolitan areas. — AP

H E A LT H & S C I E NC EWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

WASHINGTON: Cow manure is common-ly used to fertilize vegetable crops, and aUS study out yesterday found it contains ahigh number of genes that can fuel resist-ance to antibiotics.

These genes come from the cows’ gutbacteria, and while none have yet beenfound in superbugs that are infectinghumans, researchers said the potential isreal. The research was done by scientistsat Yale University, who sampled manure

from a handful of dairy cows at a farm inConnecticut. In those samples, theyfound 80 unique antibiotic resistancegenes. About three quarters were unfa-miliar. Genetic sequencing showed theywere only distantly related to thosealready known to science. When appliedto a lab strain of E. coli, the genes madethe bacteria resistant to certain well-known antibiotics, including penicillinand tetracycline. Researchers said they

were surprised by the number of antibiot-ic resistance (AR) genes they found, basedon just five stool samples from four cows.However, they also noted that the levelswere lower than what is seen in chickens,which are often fed four times as manyantibiotics as cows-typically to promotegrowth.

“The diversity of genes we found isremarkable in itself considering the smallset of f ive manure samples,” said Jo

Handelsman, senior study author andmicrobiologist at Yale.

“But also, these are evolutionarily dis-tant from the genes we already have inthe genetic databases, which largely rep-resent AR genes we see in the clinic.”

Fur ther study is needed to probewhether cow manure may harbor a majorreservoir of antibiotic resistance genesthat could move into humans. “This is justthe first in a sequence of studies-starting

in the barn, moving to the soil and foodon the table and then ending up in theclinic-to find out whether these geneshave the potential to move in that direc-tion,” Handelsman said. The study appearsin mBio, an open access online journalpublished by the American Society forMicrobiology. Funding for the researchcame from the Swiss National ScienceFoundation and the US National Institutesof Health. — AFP

Potential for human superbugs in cow manure: Study

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has discovered another17 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS), as the total number of confirmed infec-tions of the SARS-like disease has jumped by athird in the kingdom in the past week.

King Abdullah replaced the health minister,Abdullah al-Rabeeah, on Monday amid grow-ing public disquiet at the spread of the disease,which was discovered two years ago and killsaround a third of sufferers.

Rabeeah said on Sunday he did not knowwhy there had been a surge but said it might bepart of a seasonal pattern since there had alsobeen a rise in infections last April and May.

However, the jump is of particular concern asSaudi Arabia is expected to have a large influxof pilgrims from across the world in July duringthe Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, followedin early October by the arrival of millions ofpeople to perform the annual Haj in Makkahand Medina. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city where many of the new cases havebeen discovered, is the main entry point for pil-grims visiting nearby Makkah, site of the holiestplaces in Islam but where there have been noconfirmed cases so far. Last year’s Haj passedwithout any new infections being identified.The 17 new cases, announced late on Mondayon the Health Ministry website, bring the totalnumber of Saudi infections to 261, of whom 81have died. Combined with the other 49 casesannounced in recent days, they represent ajump of 34 percent in the number of laboratoryconfirmed infections within a week.

Seven of the 17 new cases were in Jeddah.Six were in Riyadh, including one who died,while three were in Medina and one was in thenorthern city of Tabuk. Saudi authorities lastweek issued several statements aimed at reas-suring the public that there was no immediatecause for concern at the latest outbreak andthat it had not met international definitions ofan epidemic. However, Labour Minister AdelFakieh, who has been appointed as actinghealth minister, was shown in several newspa-

pers yesterday touring one of the main hospi-tals in Jeddah, a display that seemed aimed atcountering accusations from some Saudis onsocial media that the authorities had not takenthe situation seriously enough.

Preventive measuresRabeeah said on Sunday Saudi Arabia was

still opening its borders for foreign visitors,including pilgrims, and that the authorities weretaking “all the scientific precaution measures toensure the safety and well being of our nation”.

He said there was not yet any medical reasonto change the preventative measures already in

place, such as travel restrictions or closures ofsome medical facilities where clusters of caseshave occurred, to contain the spread.

MERS has no vaccine or anti-viral treatment,but international and Saudi health authoritiessay the disease, which originated in camels,does not transmit easily between people andmay simply die out.

Jeddah, like most Saudi cities, has areas with-in its boundaries where camels are free to graze.Fakieh has become a prominent figure in Saudipolitics in recent years after pushing sweepingreforms in employment policy aimed at gettingmore young Saudis into jobs. — Reuters

Spread of MERS in Saudi Arabia accelerates with 17 new cases

Authorities unsure of reason for surge

MINA: In this Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, file photo, Egyptian Muslim pilgrims, some wearingmasks as a precaution against the Middle East respiratory syndrome, pray after they caststones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called “Jamarat,” the last rite ofthe annual hajj, in Mina near the Muslim holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. — AP

HOUSTON: Swan Lockett stands in her Houston apartment Monday, April 21, 2014.Lockett said she was unable to get an affordable health care plan on the federal mar-ketplace. The federal health care overhaul is providing coverage for millions ofAmericans, but it has only chipped away at one of its core goals to sharply reduce thenumber of people without insurance. — AP

SACRAMENTO: The federal health care over-haul is providing coverage for millions ofAmericans, but it has only chipped away atone of its core goals: to sharply reduce thenumber of people without insurance.

President Barack Obama announced lastweek that 8 million people have signed up forcoverage through new insurance exchanges,but many barriers remain. Questions ofaffordability, eligibility, immigrant access andthe response from employers and state legis-latures - obstacles that existed before theAffordable Care Act took effect - mean con-siderable work remains to make a larger dentin the uninsured population.

Some remain ineligible for Medicaid orgovernment subsidies that lower monthlypremiums because their incomes are toohigh. Others are eligible for the subsidies butsay they can’t afford their share of plans soldthrough government exchanges. Millions ofimmigrants living in the country illegally arewithout care, prohibited from gaining cover-age under the federal law.

Some employers, meanwhile, havereduced staff hours to avoid a provision of thelaw that requires health coverage for employ-ees who work 30 hours a week. “I’m a nurse,but my employer doesn’t offer health insur-ance,” said Gwen Eliezer, 32, who lives an hournorth of Ashville in rural northwestern NorthCarolina.

During open enrollment, Eliezer’s 6-year-old son was able to qualify for Medicaid, butshe continues to go without coverage. Eliezerworks an average of 29 hours a week and isn’tconsidered a full-time employee. She said shecan’t afford the $200 monthly premium and$6,500 deductible in the plan she found onthe federal health insurance exchange - evenwith a premium subsidy. Instead, she payscash to see her doctor for gastrointestinalpain but can’t afford to get the problem diag-nosed.

Insurance coverage“If I went through an emergency room, I

can claim acute pain,” she said. “But then I’dend up with a lot of debt to a hospital.” Beforethe launch of the Affordable Care Act, about48 million people, or 15 percent of the popu-lation, went without health insurance, accord-ing to the US Census Bureau. The number ofpeople recently enrolled includes those whoswitched from previous insurance coverage,and it’s not yet clear how many previouslyuninsured people have received coverage.

A Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Indexreleased this month said the share of adultswithout insurance shrank from 17.1 percentat the end of last year to 15.6 percent for thefirst three months of 2014. The decline would

translate to about 3.5 million people gainingcoverage, according to the study.

Health advocates across the nation arekeenly aware that their work isn’t finished.California “has made huge progress with thenew benefits of the Affordable Care Act,” saidexecutive director of Health Access CaliforniaAnthony Wright. “But there’s more to do.” Theevolution of the health care law has led to acoverage gap for 4.8 million low-income,childless adults, according to a December sur-vey by Kaiser Family Foundation.

The federal government has offered to paystates nearly all of the costs for expandingMedicaid for those who make up to 138 per-cent of the federal poverty level, or about$16,000 for an individual, to account for thisgap. But since the U.S. Supreme Court ruledthat expansion was voluntary, 24 states haveopted against it.

High premiums, co-pays and deductiblesalso remain big hurdles. Hair salon owner LolaSmith of Palo Alto, Pa., about 100 miles north-west of Philadelphia, said she would havepurchased health insurance on the govern-ment exchange if it had been more afford-able.

Instead, she bought a cut-rate plan for$148 a month that helps pay for hospitaliza-tions and doctor visits. But Smith, whobecomes eligible for Medicare when sheturns 65 next year, was told her plan doesn’tqualify as health insurance under theAffordable Care Act.

“It doesn’t cover very much. It’s just basic,and they told me I would probably have topay the fine,” she said. Immigrants also facechallenges. The Migration Policy Institute esti-mated that more than 7.5 million people inthe uncovered group are immigrants who arein the country illegally and ineligible for cov-erage under the federal overhaul. For them,emergency rooms and safety net clinicsremain among the few options for coverage.California had the nation’s highest populationof uninsured residents with 5.4 million peoplewho lacked care before the federal overhaultook effect. Following the recent open enroll-ment, that number of will drop as low as 3.7million, according to the University ofCalifornia at Berkeley’s Center for LaborResearch and Education. Of those, almost amillion are living in the state without legalpermission.

“When I see there are American citizenswho don’t have access to health care becausethey can’t pay for it, I figure that I’ll have evenless of a chance to have access to health serv-ices,” said Jose Diaz, a 67-year-old day laborerin Pomona, Calif., who came to the US illegallyfrom Mexico City nearly a decade ago. “It’svery sad.” — AP

Affordable Care Act only chips away at a core goal

TAIPEI: Taiwan is setting up its first marine wildlifesanctuary, in a bid to protect its dwindling popula-tion of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, officialssaid Monday.

Local conservation groups say the dolphinnumbers have halved to around 60 in the pastdecade, due to pollution, industrial development,and destruction of habitat.

“Indo-Pacific dolphin population is a key indexto measure the health of the maritime environ-ment,” said Tsai Chia-yang, the head of theChuanghua Environmental Protection Union.

The Council of Agriculture confirmed it willestablish a vast 76,300 hectare (188,461 acres)sanctuary off the west coast of the country.

“We’re happy to announce the setting up of thesanctuary before this year’s Earth Day,” Kuan Li-hao,an official of the forestry bureau, referring to theannual United Nations event launched in 1970 andcelebrated on April 22.

Normal fishing in the area will be unaffected, asthe government said a total ban would not be pos-sible as sanctuary’s success depended on the coop-eration of local fishermen. But the government hastightened guidelines for those operating in theregion. From now on, any development projects inthe area will require government approval, councilofficials said. Under the new measures, there willbe tough punishments for illegal fishing of theendangered species. Poachers of the humpbackdolphin could face up to two years in jail and finesof Tw$500,000 ($16,530). Dredge fishing is alsobanned. Anyone caught seriously damaging thehabitat could face five years in prison. “Illegal fish-

ing has seriously ruined the coastal ecological envi-ronment, threatening the endangered dolphins,”whose main diet consists of mullet and other fish,Kuan said.

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin can also befound along the coast of Africa and in the watersstretching from India to Australia.

In 2011, President Ma Ying-jeou decided to putan end to a controversial plan to build a $20 billionrefinery and more than 20 related petrochemicalplants in western Taiwan, in reaction to a series ofprotests for the endangered dolphin species. Hesaid there was a need to balance economic devel-opment with environmental protection. — AFP

Taiwan sets up sanctuary for endangered humpback dolphin

TAIWAN STRAIT: This handout photo taken by the Taiwan Forestry Bureau on August 26, 2009and released on April 21, 2014 shows two Ido-Pacific humpback dolphins swimming in theTaiwan Strait. Taiwan is setting up its first marine wildlife sanctuary, in a bid to protect itsdwindling population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, officials said on April 21. — AFP

NEW YORK: Don’t expect powdered alcohol tohit store shelves anytime soon. A productcalled “Palcohol” gained widespread attentiononline in recent days after it was reported thatthe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureauapproved the powdered alcohol, includingvodka and rum varieties. But a representativefor the federal bureau, Tom Hogue, said in anemail to The Associated Press late Monday thatthe approvals were issued in error.

Hogue did not immediately respond torequests for further details, including how theerror occurred. In an email message, Palcohol’sparent company Lipsmark said “there seemedto be a discrepancy on our fill level, how muchpowder is in the bag.” It said it will resubmitthe labels for approval.

According to the website for the Alcoholand Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, multiplevarieties of Palcohol received “label approval”on April 8. Palcohol said in an email at around

5 p.m. EDT that it agreed to surrender theapprovals “a few hours ago.”

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and TradeBureau is a part of the Treasury Department.Earlier in the day, Palcohol said in an email thatits founder Mark Phillips was traveling andunavailable for an interview. It said it wasn’treleasing any information on distribution orpricing, and the company’s website doesn’tprovide details on how it makes powderedalcohol.

Robert Lehrman, who runs a beverage lawwebsite that initially reported on the product,noted that Palcohol had to have gone throughan extensive process before reaching the labelapproval stage.

“An oversight of this nature does not ringtrue to me,” Lehrman said in a phone interview.He suggested that the bureau may have heardback from lawmakers wanting more informa-tion on the powdered alcohols.

The concept of a powdered alcohol isn’tnew. John Coupland, a professor of food sci-ence at Penn State University, noted that therehave been multiple patents filed on powderedalcohols over the years. One by General FoodsCorp. in the 1970s says the product is made byabsorbing the ethanol onto some sort of car-bohydrate powder.

On its website, Palcohol says it plans tooffer six varieties of powdered alcohol, includ-ing vodk a, rum and four cocktai ls -Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Powderita and LemonDrop. The site says that a package weighsabout an ounce and can fit into any pocket. Itwarns people that the powder should not besnorted.

According to the site, Phillips came up withthe idea because he is an “active guy” andwanted a way to enjoy an adult beverage afterlong hours hiking, biking or camping withouthaving to carry around heavy bottles. — AP

Powdered alcohols gain widespread attention

NEW DELHI: An Indian employee makes cloth sanitary napkins from cotton and semi-cotton donated clothes at non-profit organisation ‘Goonj’ (Echo) in New Delhi yester-day. Many Indian women make do with little more than scraps of old cloth whenmenstruating, often risking their health. In 2010, the research agency AC Nielsonconducted a nationwide survey that found that 70 percent of women in India cannotafford sanitary napkins, and only 12 percent of the 355 million menstruating womenin the country use them. — AFP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C EWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

W H AT ’ S ONWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

Ilene Winour

GUST announces Dr Ilene as new

Director of Foundation Program Unit

The Gulf University for Science andTechnology (GUST) President, Prof. DonaldBates and Vice President for Academic

Affairs, Prof Ghassan Aouad welcomed Dr IleneWinokur Al Zaid as the new Director of the GUSTFoundation Program Unit (FPU) starting July2014. President Bates expressed his delight withDr. Ilene’s appointment and said: “Dr Ilene will bea great addition to the University.” Vice President

Aouad stated that he is looking forward to work-ing with Dr Ilene and commented on her interna-tional reputation and high level of professional-ism. Dr Al Zaid has had great experiences withGUST as an English instructor in the FPU, a pre-senter at the 2011 and 2012 GELL Conferencesorganized and hosted by university faculty, a peermentor to other GUST instructors and a leader onthe introduction of the new English 098 class cur-

riculum. GUST believes that her experience willbe a great asset to her new position as GUST FPUDirector and lead the unit to great achievements.Dr Al Zaid is especially dedicated to preparingstudents for their undergraduate study andcareers. Most recently, Dr Al Zaid was theManaging Director of Specialized Solutions forWorkplace Training and Development with previ-ous university experience at the American

University of the Middle East, successfully direct-ing a task-based English curriculum and manag-ing a staff of 20 teachers. She attained her B.A. inHistory at SUNY-Buffalo, M.A. in BusinessAdministration at the University of Miami, USA,ESL Teaching Certification at the College of NewJersey, USA and her EdD. in EducationalLeadership from Lehigh University,Pennsylvania/USA.

JMB hosts media to Arabic Nights

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa hosted Kuwait’sleading media personalities and professionals to thelaunch of the Arabic Nights at the Garden Cafe restau-

rant. Guests were treated to an authentic cuisine and culi-nary traditions of the Middle East, including local Kuwaitidishes. Arabic Nights at the Garden Cafe are organized

every Thursday from 10 April until 8 May from 7 pm until11:30 pm.

The supreme organizing committee of the KuwaitiSongs Festival recently held a press conference toannounce the details of this first of a kind festival in

the gulf region that is due to be held for the first time inKuwait.

Speaking at the press conference, the festival chairlady,the president of Lolwa Printing and Publication House andthe head of the Nuwair Positivity Initiative, Sheikha IntisarSalem Al-Ali said that the festival would kick off onThursday, May 1 with the aim of reviving the good oldtimes of beautiful soul-nourishing art that was built onsweet tunes and good purposeful lyrics. She added thatthe festival also aims at protecting old traditional songsfrom being forgotten as well as support new ones andpresent them in a proper way that fits the outstanding

taste of Kuwaitis. Al-Ali also announced the conditions for applying to the

competition as follows: Applicants should be good looking charismatic individ-

uals They should be good at singing in Arabic with clearphonetic skills An applicant must either have minimumsinging experience, even through studying, or be uniquelytalented.

Applicants have to, preferably, be at least 21 years old sothat they can be legally liable on application.

Applicants must preferably have varied singing skillsand control over voice tonality An applicant will sign a writ-ten affidavit expressing his/her wish to take part in the fes-tival and the organizing committee will be legally liable forsuch participation In addition, Al-Ali said that once they

passed the admission stage, the organizing committeewould take snapshots and photos for applicants to be usedfor promotion and marketing purposes. She also notedthat, if needed, selected contestants would be trained onsinging skills and tonalities to be prepared for the program.

Further, Al-Ali stressed that the festival was not meantto make profits and that it, rather, aims at discovering andsupporting nice voiced singers, good lyric writers and out-standing composers especially since Kuwait was rich insuch talents that only need some spotlights.

Notably, the organizing committee headed by artist,Tareq Mohammed includes Meshari Al-Sharekh, poet, AliAl-ma’touq, Mohammed Al-Bu’aijan, composer Ammar Al-Benni, Fadi Abdullah and Mubarak Al-Sa’doun.

Kuwait’s songs festival

Sheikha Intisar Salem Al-Ali (centre) during the press conference.

The Arab Open Universityparticipated in the fourthannual forum titled ‘Howto determine my future’,an event that provideseducational opportuni-ties for high school gradu-ates, which was organizedrecently at the CourtyardMarriot Hotel under thepatronage of Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, the Minister ofEducation and Minister ofHigher Education.

Veena maestro Sijitha Rajesh practices the Indianstring instrument with her disciples in preparationfor their musical program Friday at Bharathiya Vidya

Bhavan School, Abbassiya. Sijitha has been teaching Veena, the south Indian stringinstrument for the past 3 years. Veena is a classic Indianmusical instrument.

Veena recital,

fusion on Friday

W H AT ’ S ONWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

McDonald’s celebrated the opening of its largeststore in Kuwait to date, in the Sabah Al-Salem.This restaurant comes as number 70 during the

20 year journey of McDonald’s in Kuwait. The openingceremony began with the cutting of the ribbon in thepresence of McDonald’s management and staff, includ-ing McDonald’s goodwill ambassador RonaldMcDonald, the beloved character and icon of the brandworldwide. A large audience of families and childrenwere also present to help celebrate the momentousoccasion. The night was filled with festivities and activi-ties, and also included the distribution of many valuable

prizes, such as PlayStation 4 consoles, LED Screen TVsand many others.

And in a statement about the opening, Sherif Coutry,Marketing Director at McDonald’s Kuwait, said: “Thisopening is a landmark moment in McDonald’s Kuwait’shistory, as it marks our 70th restaurant in the country.We are proud to be an ever-growing brand and localentity, and are always looking for ways to bring us clos-er to our beloved local community. By expanding ourreach across Kuwait, our main aim is to be more accessi-ble to our loyal customers”

The new Sabah Al-Salem restaurant is by far the

largest to date in Kuwait in terms of surface area, andhas been equipped with all the elements necessary forcomfort and prompt servicing. The restaurant is alsodistinct due to its contemporary design, with the mod-ern interior adding a special touch. Another elementthat makes this restaurant unique is a digital gamesentertainment platform for kids, offering innovative andmodern fun that is not available in any of the otherMcDonald’s PlayPlaces.

“Our journey definitely does not end with this newrestaurant, and we look forward to continuously grow-ing our presence in Kuwait. The future only holds bigger

and better things for McDonald’s Kuwait,” concludedCoutry. Since opening in Kuwait in 1994, McDonaldtoday has restaurants geographically located to servecustomers in many areas across the country.McDonald’s is committed to the well-being of societywith an active social responsibility agenda, while main-taining high-quality products served in a safe andfriendly atmosphere.

McDonald’s Kuwait holds grand opening

of largest restaurant in Sabah Al-Salem

The Regency Hotel features a luxuriousand magical panoramic view of theswimming pool and Arabian Gulf in its

main restaurant at Silk Road, which is also con-sidered to be one of the finest restaurants inKuwait that serves a wide and rich variety offoods suitable for all tastes and ages.

Based on The Regency’s efforts to continu-ously introduce exciting new developments toits restaurants’ extensive culinary offerings,

guests have the opportunityto taste different dishes from all over the worldcooked by professional chefs.

The hotel launched the “Thai Food Feast”on April 20th in the presence of ambassadorof Thailand Surasak Chuasukouthip andembassy delegates including members of themedia. Invitees enjoyed dishes prepared byChef Khun Rugnapa, winner of numerousinternational culinary awards and Sous Chef of

Amari Hotel in Hua Hin Thailand. The chef wasinvited by The Regency Hotel to celebrate theauthentic cuisine of Thailand in a 10 day cele-bration, for her rich experience in the Thai culi-nary arts.

Chef Rugnapa will be preparing a flavorfuland aromatic buffet with a number of richdishes, starting off with salads and appetizers,continuing with different main dishes andending the night with a delicious array of

desserts. The Thai feast adventure will includeitems like “Tod Mun Goong” a fried shrimpcake, “Satay ruam” grilled meat with peanutsauce and more appetizers. Guests can alsoenjoy main dishes that include “Plaphadkhing”which is deep fried fish with mushrooms andginger or “Panaeng Lamb” a sautÈed lamb ten-derloin in curry sauce with kaffir lime leaves.As for desserts, Chef Rugnapa will be present-ing guests with “coconut sago pudding ,

“crispy fried banana” and much more to con-clude this culinary journey.

The Thai Food Feast with world famousChef “Khun Rugnapa” will run every night for10 days starting from April 20th until May 1st,2014 at 7:00pm at The Regency’s Silk RoadRestaurant.

The Regency Hotel launches ‘Thai Food Feast’ at Silk Road

T V PR O G R A M SWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

THE LAST STAND ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION

THE GUARD ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD

00:20 Doctors00:50 Last Of The Summer Wine01:20 Me & Mrs Jones01:50 Mistresses02:40 Absolutely Fabulous03:10 Silk04:00 Last Of The Summer Wine04:30 Me & Mrs Jones05:00 Tweenies05:20 The Green Balloon Club05:45 Poetry Pie05:50 Gigglebiz06:05 Charlie And Lola06:15 Tweenies06:35 The Green Balloon Club07:00 Poetry Pie07:05 Gigglebiz07:20 Charlie And Lola07:30 Last Of The Summer Wine08:00 Absolutely Fabulous08:30 Me & Mrs Jones09:00 Eastenders09:30 Doctors10:00 The Weakest Link10:45 Upstairs Downstairs11:40 Absolutely Fabulous12:10 Last Of The Summer Wine12:40 Me & Mrs Jones13:10 Eastenders13:40 Doctors14:10 The Weakest Link14:55 Upstairs Downstairs15:45 Absolutely Fabulous16:15 Lark Rise To Candleford17:05 Eastenders17:35 Doctors18:05 The Weakest Link18:50 One Foot In The Grave

00:00 Revenge Of The Nerds II :Nerds In Paradise-PG1502:00 Slap Shot-1804:15 Ghostbusters-PG06:15 Spy Hard-PG1508:00 Scrooged-PG1510:00 Frankenweenie-PG12:00 Ghostbusters-PG14:00 The Big Year-PG16:00 Frankenweenie-PG18:00 Back To The Future-PG1520:00 BASEketball-PG1522:00 The Guard-PG15

01:15 Between Us-PG1503:00 Madea’s Witness Protection-PG1505:00 Shadow Dancer-PG1507:00 The Expendables 2-PG1509:00 The Good Doctor-PG1510:45 Lincoln-PG1513:15 Wreck-It Ralph-PG15:00 Parental Guidance-PG17:00 The Good Doctor-PG1518:45 Jack Reacher-PG1521:00 Stolen-PG1522:45 On The Road-R

00:45 Flesh And Bone-PG1503:00 Notes On A Scandal-1805:00 The Caller-PG1507:00 The Wild Hunt-PG1509:00 Ed Wood-PG1511:15 Beasts Of The Southern Wild-PG1513:00 Resistance-PG1515:00 Like Crazy-PG1516:45 Beasts Of The Southern Wild-PG1518:30 The Flowers Of War-PG1521:00 The Star Chamber-PG1523:00 Life Happens-PG15

00:00 The Runway-PG1502:00 Star Trek Into Darkness-PG1504:15 Love Birds-PG1506:00 Jesse Stone: Benefit Of TheDoubt-PG1508:00 Three Investigators And TheSecret Of Terror...-PG10:00 Standing Ovation-PG1512:00 Star Trek Into Darkness-PG1514:15 3 Times A Charm-PG15

01:00 Super Rugby03:00 Super Rugby05:00 NRL Full Time05:30 Futbol Mundial06:00 Champions Tour Highlights07:00 Super Rugby09:00 Super Rugby11:00 Golfing World12:00 Live Snooker16:00 NRL Full Time16:30 Live Snooker20:00 PGA European Tour Weekly

00:00 BBC World01:00 BBC World02:00 BBC World03:00 BBC World04:00 BBC World05:00 BBC World06:00 BBC World07:00 BBC World08:00 BBC World09:00 BBC World10:00 BBC World11:00 BBC World12:00 BBC World13:00 BBC World14:00 BBC World15:00 BBC World16:00 BBC World17:00 BBC World18:00 BBC World19:00 BBC World20:00 BBC World21:00 BBC World22:00 BBC World23:00 BBC World

00:00 Chelsea Lately00:30 The Dance Scene00:55 The Spin Crowd01:25 Style Star01:50 Style Star02:20 THS03:15 Extreme Close-Up03:40 Extreme Close-Up04:10 THS05:05 THS06:00 THS07:50 Style Star08:20 Fashion Police09:15 Scouted10:15 Married To Jonas10:40 Chasing The Saturdays11:10 The Drama Queen12:05 Fashion Police13:05 Extreme Close-Up13:35 E!ES14:30 Style Star15:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians16:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians17:00 Hello Ross17:30 Hello Ross18:00 E! News19:00 Fashion Police20:00 Giuliana & Bill21:00 The Drama Queen22:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On22:30 E! News23:30 Chelsea Lately

01:00 Bellator MMA 201403:00 Champions Tour Highlights04:00 PGA Tour Highlights05:00 NRL Premiership 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 PGA Tour Highlights09:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 10:00 NRL Premiership 12:00 PGA Tour Highlights13:00 Super Rugby15:00 Super Rugby17:00 Golfing World 18:00 NHL 20:00 Bellator MMA 201422:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 22:30 Inside The PGA Tour 23:00 Super Rugby

00:00 Commando-1802:00 Money Kills-PG1504:00 Chinese Zodiac-PG1506:00 Kung Fu Hustle-PG15

02:00 True Detective03:00 Nip/Tuck12:00 Emmerdale12:30 Coronation Street16:00 Emmerdale16:30 Coronation Street20:00 Scandal21:00 House Of Cards22:00 American Horror Story :Coven23:00 Nip/Tuck

01:00 C.S.I. New York02:00 Good Morning America06:00 Good Morning America14:00 C.S.I. New York15:00 Live Good Morning America19:00 2420:00 Covert Affairs21:00 The Glades22:00 Strike Back23:00 Hannibal

Tribeca Docs ‘Virunga’ and

‘Tomorrow We Disappear’

inspire and infuriate

The first weekend of the Tribeca Film Festivalmade a pretty good case for the wisdom of astrategy used by some frequent festivalgoers:

When in doubt, see a documentary. That’s not todenigrate the quality of the narrative features thatscreened during the first four days of the festival -it’s just a way of pointing out that the rich lineup ofdocs nicely illustrated the vital and varied state ofcontemporary non-fiction filmmaking. Highlightsranged from the music films “Time Is Illmatic” and“Keep on Keepin’ On” to the fascinating characterstudies in “Garnet’s Gold” and “An Honest Liar” tothe pointed political statements of “Silenced” and“1971” to the joyous fun of “Beyond the Brick.”

But of the 12 docs I saw between Friday andSunday, two particularly stood out in the way theycombined the personal and political, uncoveredvivid worlds and packed a huge emotional punch.Both “Virunga” and “Tomorrow We Disappear” arebeautiful, shattering works, at times hard to watchbut in the end impossible to shake.

“Virunga,” which premiered on Thursday nightand screened again on Sunday (with two additionalshowings later this week), takes its name from thenational park in eastern Congo that is home tosome of the last mountain gorillas in the world. Fordecades, the region has been ravaged by outsidecompanies eager for its natural resources, and morerecently Congo has been the site of bloody conflictsbetween government troops and armed rebels.Virunga itself is now imperiled because it may con-tain oil reserves, with the British company SocoInternational involved in explorations that couldhave a profound impact on the ecology.

Appalling violenceDirector Orlando von Einsiedel’s film focuses on

the rangers in Virunga, who try to protect the goril-las and other wildlife from poachers, but also fromSoco’s intrusion and from rebel attacks. (Whiledamning scenes in the film show people who saythey’re representing Soco offering bribes to gainaccess to the park, the company has a lengthy dis-claimer at the end of the film in which it claims thatit is environmentally responsible and that no onewho worked for Soco engaged in illegal activity.)

The first part of the film contains astonishingscenes of the bonds between one ranger and fouryoung gorillas orphaned by poachers - but as themovie goes on, the threats from poachers pale incomparison to the escalating conflict and thepotential ecological devastation. The heroes of thefilm, from park director Emmanuel de Merode toFrench journalist Melanie Gouby to gorilla keeperAndre Bauma (really, he’s a constant companionand surrogate parent to the orphaned apes), puttheir lives on the line to protect the park andexpose what’s going on. And von Einseidel’s cam-eras are on hand to capture both the spectacularvistas and the appalling violence.

The result is gorgeous and wrenching, the indeli-ble chronicle of a impossible but essential fight. Inthe Q&A that followed Sunday’s Tribeca screening,von Einseidel brought the news that de Merodewas ambushed and shot last week, apparently byunidentified rebels. (In the film, the rebels admitthey want a cut of the oil revenues, while deMerode had fought against allowing Soco in at all.)

But de Merode is apparently on the road torecovery. And at Tribeca, Bauma - who was greetedwith a standing ovation when he and Gouby wereintroduced - said that with the Congo’s civil warapparently over, a lot of the population aroundVirunga is “hopeful that we can move forward.”

Beautiful, sad and stunning“Tomorrow We Disappear” is less violent - there

are no scenes of gunfire, at least - but it also chroni-cles the devastation that can be wrought as themodern world marches on. Directors JimmyGoldblum and Adam Weber take viewers inside theKathputli colony in the Indian city of Delhi, a largeslum populated by thousands of puppeteers, streetmagicians, acrobats and artists of all kinds.

The performers’ families have lived in Kathputlifor generations, on government land - but after thegovernment sells the land to a developer who isplanning to erect Delhi’s first skyscraper, the per-formers are offered free housing in what turns outto be cheap, barracks-style dwellings.

Beautiful, sad and stunning, the film lovingly butunflinchingly documents the destructive collisionbetween tradition and modernization, betweenramshackle artistry and regimented bureaucracy. Attimes it has the vibrant spirit of a real-life “Beasts ofthe Southern Wild”; at other times it is imbued witha profound sense of loss summed up by the wordsof gifted puppeteer Puran Bhat: “I wish I could stopthe world for a moment.”

Bhat was brought to New York by Tribeca organ-izers, where he and the filmmakers received astanding ovation on Saturday from an audiencethat also included author Salman Rushdie.(Rushdie’s book “Midnight’s Children” has a sceneabout an earlier attempt to destroy the Kathputlicolony.) Both “Tomorrow We Disappear” and“Virunga” are vital in the way the best documen-taries - and the best of Tribeca - can be. They’reinspiring, they’re infuriating (in a good way), andthey’re why it pays to look for the docs on a film-festival schedule. — Reuters

00:30 Britain’s Darkest Taboos01:30 My Ghost Story02:30 I Killed My BFF03:30 Deadly Wives04:30 Private Crimes05:00 Beyond Scared Straight06:00 The First 4807:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths07:30 Curious & Unusual Deaths08:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths08:30 Curious & Unusual Deaths09:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths09:30 Curious & Unusual Deaths10:00 I Killed My BFF11:00 Beyond Scared Straight12:00 Killers13:00 Casanova Killers14:00 I Killed My BFF15:00 Fred Dinenage: MurderCasebook16:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths16:30 Private Crimes17:00 Homicide Hunter18:00 The First 4819:00 The Devil You Know20:00 Beyond Scared Straight21:00 Private Crimes21:30 Killers22:30 My Ghost Story23:30 The Haunting Of

00:30 Dual Survival01:20 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell02:10 Yukon Men03:00 You Have Been Warned03:50 Border Security04:15 Auction Hunters: Pawn ShopEdition04:40 The Liquidator05:05 How Stuff Works05:30 How Stuff’s Made06:00 Get Out Alive With BearGrylls07:00 You Have Been Warned07:50 Manhunt08:40 Fast N’ Loud09:30 Border Security09:55 Auction Hunters: Pawn ShopEdition10:20 The Liquidator10:45 How Stuff Works11:10 How Stuff’s Made

00:20 The Gadget Show00:45 How Do They Do It?01:10 Da Vinci’s Machines02:00 Rocket City Rednecks02:25 Rocket City Rednecks02:45 Mythbusters03:35 Bang Goes The Theory04:00 Bang Goes The Theory04:30 Moon Machines05:20 Smash Lab06:10 How The Earth Works07:00 Kings Of Construction07:55 Mega Builders08:45 Bang Goes The Theory09:10 Bang Goes The Theory09:40 How The Earth Works10:30 Mighty Ships11:20 Moon Machines12:10 Smash Lab13:00 How Do They Do It?13:30 Bang Goes The Theory13:55 Bang Goes The Theory14:20 Mythbusters15:10 Smash Lab16:00 Mighty Ships16:50 How The Earth Works17:40 Rocket City Rednecks18:05 Rocket City Rednecks18:30 Da Vinci’s Machines19:20 The Gadget Show19:45 How Stuff Works20:10 Mythbusters21:00 Super Comet: After TheImpact21:50 Moon Machines22:40 Bang Goes The Theory23:05 Bang Goes The Theory23:30 Moon Machines

00:30 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion01:20 Stalked: Someone’s Watching01:45 Stalked: Someone’s Watching02:10 Deadly Women03:00 Couples Who Kill03:45 Nightmare Next Door04:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner05:20 Disappeared06:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn07:00 Murder Shift07:50 Extreme Forensics08:40 I Was Murdered09:05 Stalked: Someone’s Watching09:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner10:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn11:10 Disappeared12:00 Murder Shift12:50 I Was Murdered13:15 Stalked: Someone’s Watching13:40 Extreme Forensics14:30 Disappeared15:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner16:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn17:00 Murder Shift17:50 Extreme Forensics18:40 I Was Murdered19:05 Stalked: Someone’s Watching19:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 Is It Real?01:00 Brain Games01:30 Brain Games02:00 Return of the Rhino03:00 Air Crash Investigation04:00 Mega Breakdown05:00 Engineering Connections06:00 Air Crash Investigation07:00 Card Shark08:00 Is It Real?09:00 Brain Games09:30 Brain Games10:00 Return of the Rhino11:00 Air Crash Investigation12:00 Mega Breakdown13:00 Engineering Connections14:00 Air Crash Investigation15:00 Secrets Of The Tang TreasureShip16:00 Is It Real?17:00 Science of Stupid17:30 Science of Stupid18:00 Extreme Ice19:00 Megastructures20:00 Storm Worlds21:00 Naked Science 2.522:00 Megastructures23:00 Rebuilding Titanic

00:20 Wild Wild West01:10 Monster Fish02:00 World’s Deadliest Killer Three02:50 Caught in the Act03:45 Python Hunters04:40 Africa’s Blood River05:35 World’s Deadliest Killer Three06:30 Caught in the Act07:25 Python Hunters08:20 Mother Warthog09:15 Ultimate Animal Countdown10:10 World’s Deadliest Animals11:05 Animal Autopsy

00:30 The Daily Show With JonStewart01:00 The Colbert Report01:30 The Big C02:00 Web Therapy03:00 The Simpsons03:30 Raising Hope04:00 All Of Us04:30 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon05:30 My Boys06:30 My Name Is Earl07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers08:00 All Of Us08:30 My Boys09:00 The Simpsons10:00 Trophy Wife10:30 My Name Is Earl11:00 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon12:30 All Of Us13:00 My Boys13:30 My Name Is Earl14:00 Raising Hope15:00 Trophy Wife15:30 The Daily Show With JonStewart16:00 The Colbert Report17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers18:00 The Simpsons18:30 Back In The Game19:00 The Mindy Project19:30 Modern Family20:00 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon21:00 The Daily Show With JonStewart21:30 The Colbert Report22:30 Brickleberry23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers

00:45 After The Attack01:35 Untamed & Uncut02:25 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli02:50 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli03:15 Animal Clinic04:05 Animal Maternity Ward04:55 Animal Cops Phoenix05:45 From Pound Pups To DogStars06:10 From Pound Pups To DogStars06:35 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors07:00 Escape To Chimp Eden07:25 Predator’s Prey07:50 Predator’s Prey08:15 Wild France09:10 Crocodile Hunter10:05 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli10:35 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli11:00 Animal Precinct11:55 Escape To Chimp Eden12:20 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors12:50 Wild Africa Rescue13:15 Wild Africa Rescue13:45 Wild Things With DominicMonaghan14:40 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli15:05 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli15:30 My Cat From Hell16:30 Wild France17:25 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors17:50 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors18:20 Weird Creatures With NickBaker19:15 Natural World20:10 My Wild Affair : The RhinoWho Joined...21:05 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli21:35 Echo And The Elephants OfAmboseli22:00 Natural World22:55 My Wild Affair : The RhinoWho Joined...23:50 Animal Cops Phoenix

01:00 Too Late To Say Goodbye-PG1503:00 Buried-PG1505:00 Beneath Hill 60-PG1507:00 The Entitled-PG1509:00 Too Late To Say Goodbye-PG1510:45 Buried-PG1512:45 Another Harvest Moon-PG1514:30 Class-PG1516:15 Vanishing On 7th Street-PG1518:15 Les Miserables-PG1521:00 The Place Beyond The Pines-1823:30 Neds-PG15

11:35 Dual Survival12:25 Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell13:15 Yukon Men14:05 Border Security14:30 Auction Hunters: Pawn ShopEdition14:55 The Liquidator15:20 Finding Bigfoot16:10 Fast N’ Loud17:00 Ultimate Survival17:50 Wheeler Dealers18:40 You Have Been Warned19:30 Get Out Alive With BearGrylls20:20 How Stuff Works20:45 How Stuff’s Made21:10 Auction Hunters: Pawn ShopEdition21:35 The Liquidator22:00 Treehouse Masters22:50 You Have Been Warned23:40 Head Games

12:00 Inside Nature’s Giants12:55 Croc Labyrinth13:50 Caught in the Act14:45 Python Hunters15:40 Ultimate Predator16:35 Speed Kills17:30 World’s Deadliest Animals18:25 Animal Autopsy19:20 Croc Labyrinth20:10 Caught in the Act21:00 Python Hunters21:50 Ultimate Predator22:40 Speed Kills23:30 World’s Deadliest Animals

08:00 Drop Zone-PG10:00 Sins Expiation-PG1511:45 Jurassic Park-PG1514:00 Drop Zone-PG16:00 The Last Stand-PG1518:00 Jurassic Park-PG1520:15 Dredd-1822:00 The Raid: Redemption-18

19:30 Absolutely Fabulous20:00 Silk20:50 Alan Carr: Chatty Man21:40 My Hero22:10 The Inspector LynleyMysteries22:55 The Weakest Link23:40 Eastenders

20:20 Disappeared21:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn22:00 Deadly Sins22:50 Evil, I23:15 Evil, I23:40 True Crime Scene

16:00 Three Investigators And TheSecret Of Terror...-PG17:45 White House Down-PG1520:00 Hope Springs-PG1522:00 The Man With The Iron Fists-18

20:30 Inside The PGA Tour21:00 Live Snooker

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (17/04/2014 TO 23/04/2014)

SHARQIA-1BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:30 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 3:30 PMTOKAREV (DIG) 6:15 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:15 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:15 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:15 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

SHARQIA-2RIO 2 (DIG) 12:30 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 2:30 PMTHU+MONRIO 2 (DIG-3D) 2:30 PMFRI+SATRIO 2 (DIG) 5:00 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:15 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 9:45 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:15 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

SHARQIA-3AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 12:45 PMOCULUS (DIG) 2:45 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:45 PMOCULUS (DIG) 6:45 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:45 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 10:45 PMOCULUS (DIG) 12:15 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

MUHALAB-1BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 PMOCULUS (DIG) 2:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 4:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 6:30 PMOCULUS (DIG) 8:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:30 PMOCULUS (DIG) 12:30 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

MUHALAB-2CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 1:00 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 3:45 PMSUN+TUE+WEDCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 3:00 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 5:45 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 7:45 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 9:45 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 11:45 PMNO SUN+TUE+WED

MUHALAB-3TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 3:00 PMTHU+MONRIO 2 (DIG-3D) 3:15 PMFRI+SATRIO 2 (DIG-3D) 5:30 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:45 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 10:15 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:45 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

FANAR-1AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 12:30 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 2:30 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 4:30 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 6:30 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 8:30 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 10:30 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 12:30 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

FANAR-2RIO 2 (DIG) 2:00 PMRIO 2 (DIG) 4:30 PM

RIO 2 (DIG) 6:45 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 8:45 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 10:45 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 12:45 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

FANAR-3BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 PMTOKAREV (DIG) 3:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 5:00 PMTOKAREV (DIG) 7:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 9:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 11:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

FANAR-4TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 2:15 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 4:45 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:15 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 9:45 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:15 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

FANAR-5OCULUS (DIG) 12:45 PMOCULUS (DIG) 3:00 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 5:00 PMNO THU+FRI+SATRACE GURRAM (DIG) (Telugu) 5:00 PMTHU+ FRI+SATOCULUS (DIG) 8:00 PMOCULUS (DIG) 10:00 PMOCULUS (DIG) 12:05 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

MARINA-1OCULUS (DIG) 12:30 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 2:30 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:30 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 6:30 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:30 PMOCULUS (DIG) 10:30 PMOCULUS (DIG) 12:45 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

MARINA-2TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 2:00 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 4:45 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 7:15 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 10:00 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

MARINA-3RIO 2 (DIG) 1:45 PMRIO 2 (DIG) 4:00 PMRIO 2 (DIG) 6:15 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:15 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:15 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:15 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-1AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 2:15 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:30 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 6:45 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 9:00 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 11:15 PM

AVENUES-2WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 1:45 PMTOKAREV (DIG) 3:45 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 5:45 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 7:45 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 9:45 PMWELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (DIG) 11:45 PM

NO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-3OCULUS (DIG) 2:30 PMOCULUS (DIG) 4:45 PMOCULUS (DIG) 7:00 PMOCULUS (DIG) 9:15 PMOCULUS (DIG) 11:30 PMNO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-4BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:45 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 2:45 PMRIO 2 (DIG) 4:45 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 7:00 PMNO TUESpecial Show “RIO 2 (DIG)” 7:00 PMTUEBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 9:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 11:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:15 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

360º- 1BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 3:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 5:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 7:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 9:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 11:00 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:00 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

360º- 2OPEN GRAVE (DIG) 2:30 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 4:45 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 7:00 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 9:15 PMOPEN GRAVE (DIG) 11:30 PMNO SUN+TUE+WED

360º- 3CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 12:30 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG-3D)3:30 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 6:30 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 9:30 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 12:30 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

AL-KOUT.1TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 1:45 PMCAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) 4:15 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 7:00 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 9:30 PMTRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:05 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

AL-KOUT.2BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 PMTOKAREV (DIG) 2:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 4:30 PMTOKAREV (DIG) 6:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:30 PMBRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:30 AMNO SUN+TUE+WED

AL-KOUT.3AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 1:30 PMFRIRIO 2 (DIG) 1:00 PMRIO 2 (DIG) 3:30 PMRIO 2 (DIG) 5:45 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:00 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 10:00 PMAL MA3DIYA (DIG) 12:30 AM

Kuwait

ClassifiedsWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

Prayer timings

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 23/4/2014Airlines Flt Route TimeQTR 1084 Doha 00:05JZR 239 Amman 00:20JZR 267 Beirut 00:25JZR 539 Cairo 00:30DLH 637 Dammam 00:35THY 764 Istanbul 01:40ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45RJA 642 Amman 01:45GFA 211 Bahrain 01:55UAE 853 Dubai 02:25ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:30MSC 403 Asyut 02:30JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:35FDB 067 Dubai 03:05MSR 612 Cairo 03:15OMA 643 Muscat 03:20QTR 1076 Doha 03:25THY 770 Istanbul 04:35DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10FDB 069 Dubai 05:50KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:15JZR 529 Asyut 06:35BAW 157 London 06:35KAC 382 Delhi 07:30KAC 204 Lahore 07:35FDB 053 Dubai 07:45KAC 206 Islamabad 07:50KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50QTR 1086 Doha 07:55KAC 352 Kochi 08:05KAC 344 Chennai 08:20UAE 855 Dubai 08:25KAC 362 Colombo 08:45ABY 125 Sharjah 08:50KAC 284 Dhaka 08:55IRM 1186 Tehran 09:10IRA 665 Shiraz 09:25ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:30FDB 055 Dubai 09:35QTR 1070 Doha 10:00GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40MEA 404 Beirut 10:55IAW 157 Baghdad/Al Najaf 11:00JZR 165 Dubai 11:50IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:50JZR 561 Sohag 12:00SYR 341 Damascus 12:05UAE 871 Dubai 12:45MRJ 4815 Mashhad 12:55MSR 610 Cairo 13:00THY 766 Istanbul 13:10CLX 792 Luxembourg 13:15KAC 672 Dubai 13:40QTR 1078 Doha 13:45FDB 057 Dubai 13:55MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15

KAC 546 Alexandria 14:15GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30IRC 526 Mashhad 14:30KNE 472 Jeddah 14:40KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35KNE 462 Madinah 15:45RJA 640 Amman 15:55KNE 460 Riyadh 15:55FDB 051 Dubai 15:55QTR 1072 Doha 16:15JZR 787 Riyadh 16:15ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:45KAC 562 Amman 16:50UAE 857 Dubai 16:55SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30JZR 481 Istanbul 17:30JZR 357 Mashhad 17:30JZR 177 Dubai 17:45JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50KAC 542 Cairo 18:15RBG 553 Alexandria 18:20QTR 1080 Doha 18:25KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30KAC 166 Paris/Rome 18:40FDB 063 Dubai 18:45KAC 618 Doha 19:00ABY 129 Sharjah 19:00GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15KAC 674 Dubai 19:25MSR 606 Luxor 19:30JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35KAC 102 New York/London 19:35OMA 647 Muscat 19:55FDB 061 Dubai 20:05DLH 636 Frankfurt 20:15MEA 402 Beirut 20:15ETD 919 Abu Dhabi 20:25AXB 489 Kochi/Mangalore 20:35KAC 514 Tehran 20:50ALK 229 Colombo 21:10UAE 859 Dubai 21:15QTR 1074 Doha 21:30ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45JZR 135 Bahrain 21:45KNE 480 Taif 22:00FDB 059 Dubai 22:00AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:25JZR 185 Dubai 22:55BBC 043 Dhaka 23:10JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 23:40THY 772 Istanbul 23:45

Departure Flights on Wednesday 23/4/2014AIC 982 Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05JAI 573 Mumbai 00:20UAL 981 IAD 00:25DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35THY 773 Istanbul 02:20ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45MSC 404 Asyut 03:30UAE 854 Dubai 03:45FDB 068 Dubai 03:45MSR 613 Cairo 04:15ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:20OMA 644 Muscat 04:20QTR 1077 Doha 04:25QTR 1085 Doha 05:20JZR 560 Sohag 05:35THY 765 Istanbul 06:00JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:30FDB 070 Dubai 06:30RJA 643 Amman 06:35THY 771 Istanbul 06:50GFA 212 Bahrain 07:00JZR 164 Dubai 07:15KAC 545 Alexandria 07:20BAW 156 London 08:25FDB 054 Dubai 08:25QTR 1087 Doha 08:55KAC 671 Dubai 09:25ABY 126 Sharjah 09:30KAC 787 Jeddah 09:35JZR 480 Istanbul 09:40UAE 856 Dubai 09:50KAC 117 New York 10:00ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:15FDB 056 Dubai 10:15IRM 1187 Tehran 10:20IRA 664 Shiraz 10:25QTR 1071 Doha 11:00KAC 561 Amman 11:25KAC 541 Cairo 11:30GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35JZR 356 Mashhad 11:40MEA 405 Beirut 11:55IAW 158 Al Najaf/Baghdad 12:00KAC 175 Frankfurt/Geneva 12:10JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15KAC 103 London 12:30JZR 786 Riyadh 12:50KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00SYR 342 Damascus 13:05JZR 176 Dubai 13:10IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:15MRJ 4814 Mashhad 13:55MSR 611 Cairo 14:00THY 767 Istanbul 14:10UAE 872 Dubai 14:15CLX 792 Hanoi 14:30

FDB 058 Dubai 14:35QTR 1079 Doha 14:55MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00KAC 673 Dubai 15:05GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05KAC 617 Doha 15:30IRC 527 Mashhad 15:30KNE 473 Jeddah 15:35SVA 503 Madinah/Jeddah 15:45KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15KAC 513 Tehran 16:20KNE 463 Madinah 16:30FDB 052 Dubai 16:35KNE 481 Taif 16:40RJA 641 Amman 16:55JZR 266 Beirut 17:05QTR 1073 Doha 17:20JZR 538 Cairo 17:40ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:45UAE 858 Dubai 18:15SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15JZR 184 Dubai 18:20GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20JZR 554 Alexandria 18:30JZR 238 Amman 18:45JZR 134 Bahrain 18:50RBG 554 Alexandria 19:00QTR 1081 Doha 19:25FDB 064 Dubai 19:25ABY 120 Sharjah 19:40GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50MSR 619 Alexandria 20:30KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35FDB 062 Dubai 20:50KAC 361 Colombo 20:50KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:50OMA 648 Muscat 20:55DLH 636 Dammam 21:00KAC 351 Kochi 21:05MEA 403 Beirut 21:15AXB 490 Mangalore/Kochi 21:35DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15ALK 230 Colombo 22:20ETD 920 Sharjah 22:25UAE 860 Dubai 22:25KAC 381 Delhi 22:30QTR 1075 Doha 22:40FDB 060 Dubai 22:40KAC 301 Mumbai 22:40GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50KAC 205 Islamabad 23:35KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:50

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FORCIVIL INFORMATION

Automated enquiryaboutthe Civil ID card is

1889988

112

Fajr: 03:510

Shorook 05:14

Duhr: 11:46

Asr: 15:22

Maghrib: 18:189

Isha: 19:41

SITUATION WANTED

No: 16144

24835616/7 ,24833199

FOR SALE

CHANGE OF NAME

SITUATION VACANT

I, Mohmood AbdulAbubakar S/O MohmoodAbdul Kareem of IndianPassport No. E8783786hereby change my name toMohammed AbdulAbubakar S/O MohammedAbdul Kareem R/O 12-11-659/A Warasiguda, Sec-bad,HYD - AP, India. (C 4705)22-4-2014

Driver required for Kuwaitifamily with valid drivinglicense and residence. Call:99401126. (C 4703)21-4-2014

BIG COMPANYrequires

OUTDOORSALES MAN

Must Havedriving license

REQUIRED

[email protected]: 24761284

Doctor leaving Kuwait,excellent condition, twosofas and two TVs. Phone:99598324. (C 4707)23-4-2014

Toyota Prado (4 clr) 2006,golden color, in very goodcondition. KD 3,450. Tel:50994848. (C 4704)

Camry GLX (full option sunroof ) color-gray metallic,model 2010, km 75200,cash KD 3750. Call:97800987. (C 4706)22-4-2014

An academic Arabicteacher 35 years experiencein teaching Arabic lan-guage for foreigners. Tel:99538080. (C 4702)22-4-2014


You are in a mood of self-enjoyment this morning and may express yourselfwith much confidence. You may see value in or feel love for an older person

or someone in authority. You appreciate and discover the beauty in your own life and inthose around you. At the same time, everything could take on added value and impor-tance. Be careful that you do not overspend or indulge too much just now. You may findyourself enjoying a long conversation, writing a letter or making a special phone call thisafternoon. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of oth-ers. The preparations for a get-together with your friends will show off your abilities to cre-ate a positive and beautiful atmosphere.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

STAR TRACK

Many of your friends from the past still keep in contact with you and youkeep in contact with them. It is fun to see the kids in each family grow and prosper. Havingso many friends in so many different places makes it fun to travel and visit and even enter-tain the idea of trading homes occasionally. A new relationship coming to you may bebased first on a sort of friendship. You know there are more friends to enjoy and somedaya special person will be available to share life experiences with you. All people have some-thing special to bring to the experience of living and they create wonderful challenges aswell as simple pleasures. A new friend may take an interest in making movies or you maydecide to try your hand at some form of art. Happy birthday!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You could be very popular today, especially with superiors or in relation toyour work. You may find that you enjoy your job or the responsibility it

entails more than usual. Your dealings with money will be successful as well. If your atti-tude is positive, this is what you will project and if your attitude is negative you will projectthis as well. You do not have a hidden agenda and others know what to expect from you.Make sure your feelings compliment your goodness. You may need the emotional balanceof a friendly person today. A kind of romantic longing characterizes your approach to life.This could mean a longing for a soul mate or a yearning to save the world; it could meancarrying a torch as well; patience.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Some previous plans that are finally developing into a most positive endresult will boost the mood for you and those around you today; whatever the case this is aday that is approached with high energy and an attitude that gets much accomplished.Success is easy to find. Others will notice your efficiency. Your inner resources and emo-tions are accented. This afternoon new projects come to your attention. There are interest-ing subjects for your evaluation and a relationship from the past may come to your atten-tion later this afternoon. Find time to relax and commune with nature in order to balanceyour energies before the evening begins. Avoid actively pursuing new social objectives.

There is a small package for you to open this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Work progresses fairly well today; obtaining and exchanging informationtake on more importance. To complete important work, you may need certain informa-tion from others-you can successfully accomplish this with your smooth professional man-ner. If there is someone you are trying to influence, this would be the day when you wouldbe most successful. Setting time aside this evening for family conversations makes for acloser knit family and the feeling of a good support system for all. Helping a young personwith a hobby may aid in his or her creativeness and provide opportunities for one-on-oneconversations. You work on a project this evening while this young person enjoys his orher hobby-perhaps you sew, repair furniture, etc.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Stay in touch with your own sense of direction today. Many things come toyour attention this morning and staying focused may become very diffi-

cult. Work particularly hard now to stay focused and complete projects. This is an excitingday and you could become distracted from what you really want to accomplish. Aninstinctive urge to get serious about taking care of you is emphasized now. Diet, exerciseand work become important routines now. You want to feel good about yourself and theway you do things. A healthy change in your diet and a new exercise program are positiveplans. Perhaps you can bring a friend or family member along when you exercise. You willfind this time speeds right along when shared with a friend.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

An appointment or a meeting signifies the need to be professionally welldressed. You will have respect from all you meet. Considering you set the pace for othersto follow, you will do well to keep current with trends and styles. Allocating certain respon-sibilities to trusted individuals will gain excellent results. You are in a planning mood thisafternoon and are very clearheaded and able to view all the alternate paths. You can seethe road ahead and will make the right choices. One of the most common human experi-ences is disappointment. You help a member of your family recover and learn from a dis-appointment that might be felt today. Most people see disappointment as a downer; youteach that it can be a tool for correction, learning and growth.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

A feeling of inadequacy or frustration may occur today. It is important tolook at the possibility that failures at work may not be your fault. You are, however, to becommended for your dedication and perseverance and can find answers or solve a prob-lem without the stress most would feel. You crave organization and you want to get thingsaccomplished. Good eye-hand coordination and a sustained effort make almost any taskrun well. Be aware of an impossible standard and take it easier on everyone-including you.A little humor could go a long way today. It is your responsibility to expand your visionwithout losing the innocence of your convictions. Do not lose your ability to play. Borrow arelative or friend’s child if you have none and play.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Clear some space so that you can work more easily. Hard work and trying tomake contact with higher-ups seem to take priority. Problem is-this activity

of trying to contact certain people may be a bit difficult. You have time to think throughwhat you want to say-expressing yourself is done very well. You want to get things accom-plished and this may end up a very productive day. After work your creative side kicks in asyou help share your talents in the art of sewing, cooking or gardening. You may be sur-prised at the result of your effort with this teaching. You could become a teacher or otherscould teach you. Health habits and work goals also come to your attention and you maydecide to set a few goals. A sense of harmony makes this a happy time.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Watch what you say to a new person today-you will be protecting your bestinterests in your future job security. Speculating or participating in sports

may be scheduled this afternoon. Perhaps you and your co-workers have an ongoingtournament. You may find yourself being put to good use by your friends and enjoyingthem as well. Excessive emotional energy could produce flare-ups, harsh words and argu-ments. Be aware of this possibility and when you feel yourself becoming highly emotional,take a break in order to refocus. Find ways to relax this evening by doing something reallyfunny, renting a comedy video, tickling a loved one, etc. Laughter is the best way to pro-mote a healing and get rid of excessive negative energy.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

A clear-minded thinking about your own plans and methods is availabletoday. This is also a very good time to communicate your goals. You will also

find this a good time for decision making with lots of talking to others about goals. Yourtalkative mood could get you in trouble with an older person, however, so be discreet. Animportant relationship, perhaps with an older person, may come into focus later. Therecould be some tension or sense of opposition requiring compromise or negotiation onyour part. There will be opportunities for understanding and even growth. Tonight, youmay be able to bring a group together with words or ideas that transport others, such aspoetry or music. Social involvement with friends is also fun.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Job-related subjects take precedence this morning. New projects turn outto be more successful than you had previously thought. There seems to be very little thatyou cannot do today-the day is yours. You have the energy and wisdom to tackle anyproblem that comes to your attention. A lot of personal and sensitive psychological mate-rial from a mate may be just as important for you as for your mate. You may look back onthis time as very transforming. There could be a temporary estrangement from a lovedone today but if you leave this alone it will be turned around for the positive. Being moreclosely involved with another person may well become your highest priority. Marriage,contracts and partnerships are seen as keys to success and happiness.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

CROSSWORD 526

ACROSS1. Blood cells that engulf and digest bacteriaand fungi.4. Of or relating to anestrus.12. The sense organ for hearing and equilibri-um.15. A flat wing-shaped process or winglikepart of an organism.16. Farming for the raising of livestock (par-ticularly cattle).17. The 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.18. A Black youth subculture and religiousmovement that arose in the ghettos ofKingston, Jamaica, in the 1950s.20. A puzzle where you decode a messageconsisting of pictures representing syllablesand words.21. An ugly evil-looking old woman.22. Not only so, but.23. A feeling of strong eagerness (usually infavor of a person or cause).26. Bug of temperate regions that infestsespecially beds and feeds on human blood.30. Covered with scabs.36. A silvery ductile metallic element foundprimarily in bauxite.39. A republic on the island of Malta in theMediterranean.40. Botfly larva.42. An Eskimo hut.44. Absent without permission.45. Broadcasting visual images of stationaryor moving objects.46. Any of numerous local fertility and naturedeities worshipped by ancient Semitic peo-ples.48. A workplace for the conduct of scientificresearch.50. Ending in a sharp point.53. A hard gray lustrous metallic elementthat is highly corrosion-resistant.54. A small cake leavened with yeast.56. A thermionic tube having two electrodes.59. The fleshy part of the human body thatyou sit on.62. (Hindu) A manner of sitting (as in thepractice of Yoga).65. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cageis opened and a section of a blood vessel isgrafted from the aorta to the coronary arteryto bypass the blocked section of the coro-nary artery and improve the blood supply tothe heart.69. The smallest multiple that is exactly divisi-ble by every member of a set of numbers.70. A central cohesive source of support andstability.74. The cry made by sheep.75. A compartment in front of a motor vehi-cle where driver sits.76. A small volcanic island in Indonesiabetween Java and Sumatra.77. A cgs unit of work or energy.78. A loose sleeveless outer garment madefrom aba cloth.79. Clearly apparent or obvious to the mindor senses.80. A nucleic acid consisting of large mole-cules shaped like a double helix.

DOWN1. Marked by keen caution and watchful pru-dence.2. (Scottish) Bluish-black or gray-blue.3. Melon having yellowish rind and whitishflesh.4. A constellation in the southern hemi-

sphere near Telescopium and Norma.5. A battle in 1645 that settled the outcomeof the first English Civil War as theParliamentarians won a major victory overthe Royalists.6. Half the width of an em.7. Lean end of the neck.8. At a specific prior time.9. Support resembling the rib of an animal.10. Made tough by habitual exposure.11. System of measurement based on cen-timeters and grams and seconds.12. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measureequal to about a bushel.13. According to the Old Testament he was apagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel(9th century BC).14. Port city that is the capital and largest cityof Latvia.19. 100 thebe equal 1 pula.24. A trivalent metallic element of the rareearth group.25. A plant fiber used for making rope.27. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity.28. The quantity of an active agent (sub-stance or radiation) taken in or absorbed atany one time.29. Sweetened beverage of diluted lemonjuice.31. A waste pipe that carries away sewage orsurface water.32. A gonadotropic hormone that is secretedby the anterior pituitary.33. A soft gray malleable metallic elementthat resembles tin but discolors on exposureto air.34. Be present at (meetings, church services,university), etc..35. (usually plural) A destructive action.37. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipotpalm used in India for writing paper.38. An awkward and inexperienced youth.41. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet.43. Fleshy spore-bearing inner mass of e.g. apuffball or stinkhorn.47. Filled with a great quantity.49. Of or relating to a member of theBuddhist people inhabiting the Mekong riverin Laos and Thailand.51. A bar of sand.52. (computer science) A kind of computerarchitecture that has a relatively small set ofcomputer instructions that it can perform.55. The blood group whose red cells carryboth the A and B antigens.57. A Bantu language spoken by the Kambapeople in Kenya.58. A coffee cake flavored with orange rindand raisins and almonds.60. An obsolete name for nitrogen.61. A projection at the end of a piece ofwood that is shaped to fit into a mortise andform a mortise joint.63. Someone who works (or provides work-ers) during a strike.64. A town and port in northwestern Israel inthe eastern Mediterranean.66. In bed.67. An outlying farm building for storinggrain or animal feed and housing farm ani-mals.68. Mentally or physically infirm with age.71. Alsatian artist and poet who wascofounder of Dadaism in Zurich.72. A tight-fitting headdress.73. Take in solid food.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Word Search

34s ta rs

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday Solution

p34_p34 stars 22/04/14 9:39 pm Page 1

inf or m at ionWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558

Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622

Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967

Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638

Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241

OphthalmologistsDr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426

General PractitionersDr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501

UrologistsDr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427

For labor-related inquiries and complaints:

Call MSAL hotline 128

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

Kaizen center 25716707

Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144

Khaldiya 24848075

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

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

Al-Jahra 25610011

Al-Salmiya 25616368

GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE

Plastic Surgeons

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700

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

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272

Dr. Salem soso 22618787

General Surgeons

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart

Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Paediatricians

Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 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 Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226

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

Neurologists

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

Endocrinologist

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 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 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 2611555-2622555 MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Soor CenterTel: 2290-1677Fax: 2290 1688

[email protected]

Psychologists/Psychotherapists

PRIVATE CLINICS

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kaizen center25716707

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

Iran 0098Iraq 00964Ireland 00353Italy 0039Ivory Coast 00225Jamaica 001876Japan 0081Jordan 00962Kazakhstan 007Kenya 00254Kiribati 00686Kuwait 00965Kyrgyzstan 00996Laos 00856Latvia 00371Lebanon 00961Liberia 00231Libya 00218Lithuania 00370Luxembourg 00352Macau 00853Macedonia 00389Madagascar 00261Majorca 0034Malawi 00265Malaysia 0060Maldives 00960Mali 00223Malta 00356Marshall Islands 00692Martinique 00596Mauritania 00222Mauritius 00230Mayotte 00269Mexico 0052Micronesia 00691Moldova 00373Monaco 00377Mongolia 00976Montserrat 001664Morocco 00212Mozambique 00258Myanmar (Burma) 0095Namibia 00264Nepal 00977Netherlands (Holland)0031Netherlands Antilles 00599New Caledonia 00687New Zealand 0064Nicaragua 00505Nigar 00227Nigeria 00234Niue 00683Norfolk Island 00672Northern Ireland (UK)0044North Korea 00850Norway 0047Oman 00968Pakistan 0092Palau 00680Panama 00507Papua New Guinea 00675Paraguay 00595Peru 0051Philippines 0063Poland 0048Portugal 00351Puerto Rico 001787Qatar 00974Romania 0040Russian Federation 007Rwanda 00250Saint Helena 00290Saint Kitts 001869Saint Lucia 001758Saint Pierre 00508Saint Vincent 001784Samoa US 00684Samoa West 00685San Marino 00378Sao Tone 00239Saudi Arabia 00966Scotland (UK) 0044Senegal 00221Seychelles 00284Sierra Leone 00232Singapore 0065Slovakia 00421Slovenia 00386Solomon Islands 00677

INTERNATIONALCALLS


G O S S I P

l if e s t y l e

The troubled actress revealed on the finale of her reality show‘Lindsay’ that she had lost a baby, but her parents insist she is puttingthe tragedy behind her and is doing well. Her mother Dina said in a

text message: “Lindsay is fine.” Her father Michael added to the New YorkDaily News newspaper’s Confidenti@l column: “It’s a private family matter,but she’s doing fantastic. She’s doing very well.” The ‘Mean Girls’ star madethe revelation when explaining why she had taken a break from filmingthe OWN show, which chronicled her attempts to relaunch her career fol-lowing her sixth stint in rehab. She said: “No one knows this, and we canfinish after this, I had a miscarriage for the two weeks that I took off.” After along pause, the flame-haired beauty added: “It’s a very long story,” andfailed to offer any other details, including who the father of her unbornchild was. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old star has denied giving an interview

to online publication KODE, which claimed she had drank and taken ecsta-sy at the Coachella festival earlier this month and boasted of dating a mar-ried man. Her spokesperson said: “Lindsay never spoke to any journalist atKODE. The interview was completed via email. We have no comprehensionon why a journalist would fabricate this content and distribute it in such anirresponsible way.”The publication is standing by their article, and itswriter, who is known only as The Kurator.

Lindsay Lohan is doing ‘fantastic’despite miscarriage

The ‘Cosmopolis’ actor is said to have struck up a closerelationship with the ‘Roar’ singer’s “super stylist” andconfidant Cleo Wade, and they all spent the majority

of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival together overthe weekend. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Cleo isone of Katy’s best friends, so Rob has been spending timewith their gang. It’s early days but they seem to have goodchemistry. They spent a lot of time together over the week-end.” The reports will put an end to rumors that Katy,29,had been dating the ‘Twilight’ hunk following her split fromJohn Mayer. Katy - who was previously married to RussellBrand - has previously dismissed speculation of a romance

with Robert by explaining she has a “big sister” relationshipwith the 27-year-old actor. She said: “He’s my bud, I’m likehis big sister. We just hang out. The other day, I said, ‘One ofthe things I’m most proud of is not sleeping with you,Robert’. And that’s true.” As well as Robert, the ‘Part of Me’hitmaker was recently romantically linked with Diplo asthey appeared to be “more than friends” at a Coachella par-ty earlier this month.

Is Robert Pattinson datingKaty Perry’s best friend?

The ‘Joe’ actor - who has sons Weston,23, with ex-girlfriend Christina Fultonand Kal-El, eight, with third wife Alice

Kim - was obsessed with ‘The Dating Game’as a teenager, and managed to get accept-ed for the show, despite being only 15years old, but his father refused to let himtake part. He said: “My first audition I wasunderage. Only 15. Even that young I triedto be accepted on ‘The Dating Game.’ “Iused to love seeing that, and always some-how managed to, although my father said Icouldn’t watch it. Anyhow, he wouldn’t letme do the show.” The 50-year-old star - whowon the Best Actor Oscar in 1996 for hisrole in ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ -also insisted he has a very “normal” homelife with Alice and Kal-El and is very focusedon the future, rather than reliving his for-mer glories. Speaking to the New York Post

newspaper, he said: “I’m a regular at- homedad to him-not some movie star. I play withhim, go out with him, do all those parent-child things like any other father. “I don’tplay my old movies. Don’t look to makehim see them. Don’t talk about those olddays. I intend to maintain a normal, naturalhome life. I try to look at the future, not thepast. “The same with my Oscar. I’m livingtoday. I’m a parent. I keep the totems away.My awards are safe. But they’re not in myhome. The totems are in the past.”

Nicolas Cageapplied to be on a dating show

James Van Der Beek received a career“wake-up call” when he was asked toappear on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

The former ‘Dawson’s Creek’ actor felt heneeded to “reinvent” himself when hewas approached to compete on thecelebrity dance contest, an offer hisagents didn’t even want to tell himabout. Recalling the approach, he told‘Access Hollywood’: “That’s a wake-upcall! It’s time to do some reinvention.“[My people told me], ‘We got an offerand we legally have to tell you that itcame in [for] ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ Wedon’t think you should take it’...” When‘Dawson’s Creek’ ended in 2003 after sixyears, James, 37, decided to take sometime out but quickly realized he was nolonger as in demand as he once was andtook a different approach to his career,accepting offers he thought would befun. He added: “Right after ‘Dawson’s

Creek’ I needed to take some time out, Iwas burned out. “I was passing on a lot ofthings and wanted to play a certain typeof role and when you pass enough, peo-ple stop offering after a while.”And I gotto a point where I realized, ‘You knowwhat? I’m going to start saying yes tothings. If I haven’t done it before and itseems like it going to be fun, why not?’“And these days, the ‘Friends With BetterLives’ actor couldn’t be happier with hiswork. He said: “I’ve been lucky enough tohang around for a number of years. Oneof the things I’ve got to do is reinventand I’ve been having a great time...”I’vesomehow managed to stay out of jail,rehab and bankruptcy court and now Iget to laugh all day.”

The rap mogul has reportedly told his closefriend that he, wife Beyonce Knowles, and theirtwo-year-old daughter Blue Ivy will miss the

nuptials - which are expected to take place in Parisnext month - because they are uneasy about the factthe celebrations will be filmed for the brunette beau-ty’s reality show ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’.However, to make things up to the ‘Bound 2’ star -who has 10-month-old daughter North with Kim -Jay will throw him a lavish bachelor party at his hon-eymoon as a wedding gift. A source told The Sunnewspaper: “Jay Z would be there if it wasn’t going tobe such a public event. “Instead he’s making it up tohis mate by throwing him the most extravagantbachelor party known to man. “It will cost a small for-tune - and to top it all off, he’s chucked a It was previ-ously claimed that Kim and Kanye were so keen forJay and Beyonce to be at their wedding, they hadagreed to exempt the couple from their strictarrangements. A source previously said: “There is noway Kanye would ever even dare to ask Jay orBeyonce to sign a non-disclosure agreement, or takeaway their cell phones. He knows that neither one ofthem would betray his trust.”

Jay Z won’t be attending

Kanye, Kim’s wedding

The blonde bombshell has had her heart broken manytimes in the past, but believes the best way to dealwith the pain is to cut all ties with her ex-boyfriends.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I definitely have beencheated on. Everybody’s been through betrayal some wayor another in their life. You’re heartbroken and you have toheal that. “I personally think the best revenge is just walk-ing away and not wasting another second of your timewith someone who’s clearly emotionally handicapped. Ithink if someone hurts you in that way, it’s not your job tochange him, and it’s not your job to be there while he’sfinding himself, and finding who he is. “So I think walkingaway and being who you need to be for the rest of your lifeis the most important thing.” The 22-year-old model hasbeen romantically linked to hunky sports stars JustinVerlander, Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez in the past, butinsists looks aren’t her priority when it comes to men. Sheadded: “I love awkward, but cute. The type of guy I like, Ialways kid, I love a penguin.” Kate made a name for herselfwith sexy Sports Illustrated shoots, but is now turning herhand to acting with a role alongside Cameron Diaz andLeslie Mann in comedy ‘The Other Woman’ and admits itisn’t easy making a career change. She said: “It’s exhaustingto try to be taken seriously. But I’m willing to commit tothat - I’m willing to fight.”

James Van Der Beek’s ‘wake-up call’

Khloe Kardashianflaunts new love with necklace

Khloe Kardashian has paid homage to her new romance with anecklace dedicated to French Montana. The 29-year-old reali-ty TV star - who filed for divorce from estranged husband

Lamar Odom last year - has been spotted wearing a necklace whichbears the word ‘Karim’, French’s real name, in Arabic. The Moroccan-born rapper, full name Karim Kharbouch, and Khloe have beeninseparable since they were first seen together at a party thrown byP Diddy to celebrate his son’s birthday last month. The loved-up cou-ple have since been on a double date with Khloe’s sister KourtneyKardashian, 35, and her boyfriend Scott Disick. Khloe and French, 29,recently enjoyed a trip to New York, where they were spotted diningat Lobster House in an “intimate” scene, reports E! News. It’s thoughtthe ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ star is smitten with her newman following the deterioration of her marriage to basketball aceLamar amid drug abuse and cheating claims. However, some ofKhloe’s friends and family have questioned whether her new rela-tionship is just a “rebound”.

Kate Uptonhas been cheated on


l if e s t y l eG O S S I P

The 40-year-old singer is not averse to having the injections to get rid ofwrinkles but is trying to limit the amount she has them and has ruled outgoing under the knife. When asked how often she has Botox, said: “It

depends, every couple of months, I only have a little bit, I don’t want to getaddicted. Surgery is going too far, you see so many people who can’t see prop-erly anymore. Not too much, just a little bit here and there.” The former SpiceGirls singer has never hidden the fact she has had the procedures because shewanted to be honest with her fans and claims she doesn’t see anything wrongwith it. She said: “Why not [have Botox], it’s not permanent, I thought I’d give ita go, I’m not ashamed to say it. “I think it’s probably quite good to be honest

about it, a lot of the images in the public eye are quite unrealistic and it’sunhealthy for people to think that’s au natural when it’s not.” Mel - who hasfive-year-old daughter Scarlet with former partner Thomas Starr - turned 40 inJanuary but insists getting older doesn’t upset her. She said: “I just feel a lotmore relaxed about things, you just realize that all the things you used to wor-ry about in your 20s aren’t that important anymore. When you’re young youworry about what people think of you and how you’re perceived.”

Mel C doesn’t want to get addicted to Botox

The 64-year-old actor, who split from his wife Carey Lowell, 52, inSeptember after 11 years of marriage, recently began romancingthe ‘Top Chef’ host. A source told the New York Post’s Page Six:

“They have been quietly spending some time together. It is all very newand recent, and happened while he has been filming in New York.”Another insider told UsMagazine.com: “It started very recently and qui-etly. It’s very new. I wouldn’t even go as far as calling them a couple.They are dating. It’s the first time Padma has dated anyone since Teddy[Forstmann], and it’s something she’s been approaching very, very deli-cately. They’re just getting to know each other. They’re just having fun.”Richard, who has a son Homer, 14, with Carey, is currently filming ‘TimeOut of Mind’ in the city, a drama about a man who enters a shelterwhen he runs out of housing options and tries to reconnect with hisestranged daughter. Former model Padma, 43, was previously marriedto author Salman Rushdie for three years until 200,7 and dated billion-aire Teddy Forstmann until he died of brain cancer in 2011 at the age of71. The presenter has a three-year-old daughter, Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell, with Adam Dell, the venture capitalist brother of computer makerMichael Dell. Richard and Carey never officially confirmed they wereseparating but were said to have been living apart for some time beforetheir split. The ‘Pretty Woman’ actor was also previously married toCindy Crawford for four years until 1995.

Richard Gere is seeingPadma Lakshmi

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher flew to NewOrleans, Louisiana to spend Easter with his fam-ily. The couple, who are expecting their first

child in October, were spotted hanging out with the‘Two and a Half Men’ star’s older sister, Tausha, and herhusband, who will also welcome another child later thisyear. Eyewitness Ashley Allen told E! News: “They werewalking down Gause Boulevard in Slidell, Louisiana,going for a walk with Ashton’s family. They seemed veryhappy!” The couple also went on a Bayou swamp tour tosee crocodiles before visiting the Abita BrewingCompany, 30 miles north of the city. A spokesperson forthe company said: “They were really awesome, sweetand down to earth people.” The group were then spot-ted dining in a local Slidell Waffle House. A source said:“They were with their niece and two other family mem-bers - the door girl talked to them in passing and theytold her they were visiting family and that’s why theywere there. Ashton ordered light over easy eggs andMila ordered light over easy eggs without oil becauseshe’s trying to eat healthy for baby.” The couple, who gotengaged last month, have been spending a lot of thetime with the 36-year-old actor’s family recently. Theyacted “super lovely dovey together” at Los AngelesInternational Airport late last month, as they headed tohis hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa to see his parents.A source told InTouchWeekly.com that Ashton’s twinbrother, Michael Kutcher, is also expecting his first childwith his wife in December.

Mila

Kun

is, A

shto

n K

utch

er

cele

bra

te E

aste

r to

geth

er

The ‘Amazing Spider-Man 2’ actress has been datingher British co-star, 30, for almost three years and feelsvery lucky to have him in her life. The 25-year-old star

told the May issue of Vogue magazine: “I think I’ve learned alot by being around him. And, you know, he is an incrediblyimportant person to me.” Emma believes they would havehad a great time working together even if they didn’t endup dating after they met on the set of the first movie in2010. She said: “It’s been fun working with him just becauseof who he is as an actor and person. I think it would be fun

no matter what.” Andrew also emailed the publication forher interview and echoed her sentiments. He said: “I thankmy lucky stars that we’ve been able to be on this ridetogether. We all need companions in the mystery to get youout of your head and into your heart.” Meanwhile, Emmaclaims that she tries not to Google herself.” She said: “I don’tusually like what I find. But some of it is really funny.”

Emma Stone says

Andrew Garfield

is ‘incredibly important’

Christina Aguilerais having a ‘blissful’ pregnancy

The ‘Your Body’ hitmaker, who recently announced she is expectingher second child later this year, appears to be feeling very energeticas she is also working on her upcoming album. The 33-year-old star

wrote on Twitter: “So blissful in taking this time for creating all things blos-soming new on the horizon...album, baby & beautiful music to come.” Theblonde beauty is set to give birth to a baby girl and the tot will be her firstchild with fiancee Matthew Rutler. The ‘The Voice’ USA mentor already hasa six-year-old son with her ex-husband, Jordan Bratman and will take nextseason off from the NBC series to focus on her family. Christina announcedshe was expecting in February, a week after Matthew proposed. A sourcepreviously said: “It wasn’t expected, but it also wasn’t unwelcome. They areall very excited though! Christina loves being a mom.” The couple met onthe set of movie ‘Burlesque’ in 2010 while the Grammy Award-winningsinger was going through her divorce. Production assistant Matthewpopped the question in the backyard of their new home in Los Angeles,which is still under construction, on Valentine’s Day. Christina was said tobe completely “shocked” by Matthew’s romantic sunset proposal, for whichhe wore a suit and filled a gazebo with candles and red roses, before tak-ing her to celebrate with friends and family.

Julia Roberts still trying tocome to terms with death

The ‘August: Osage County’ star has broken her silence for the first time sinceher sibling, Nancy Motes, died from an apparent drug overdose in February,and revealed she is seeking comfort in meditation. The 46-year-old actress

told WSJ. Magazine, in a tearful interview conducted just weeks after the formerproduction assistant was found dead: “It’s just heartbreak. It’s only been 20 days.There aren’t words to explain what any of us have been through in these last 20days. It’s hour by hour some days, but you just keep looking ahead.” She added:“You don’t want anything bad to happen to anyone, but there are so many tragic,painful, inexplicable things in the world. But [as with] any situation of challengeand despair, we must find a way, as a family. It’s so hard to formulate a sentenceabout it outside the weepy huddle of my family.” The brunette beauty also admit-ted that she is doing everything she can to cope with the loss. She said:“Meditation or chanting or any of those things can be so joyous and also very qui-eting. We share and just say, ‘This is a way I comfort myself.’ “It has previously beenclaimed that Nancy - who had a “complex” relationship with her famous sibling -had left a “ranting” note prior to her death allegedly claiming the actress’ fame haddriven her to suicide. Meanwhile, Julia also claimed that she doesn’t consider her-self to be a celebrity. She said: “I don’t consider myself a celebrity, [at least not] howit is fostered in our culture today. I don’t know if I’m old and slow, but there seemsto be a frenzy to it.” — Bangshowbiz


l if e s t y l e

Mexico bid farewell Monday to itsbeloved adopted son, Colombiannovelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez,

in a national tribute filled with the lateNobel laureate’s favorite flowers andmusic. A coffee-colored urn containing hisashes was placed on a podium, surround-ed by yellow roses, in Mexico City’s domedFine Arts Palace as a string quartet playedclassical music. Dozens of guests applaud-ed when his widow, Mercedes Barcha,arrived dressed in black with their sons,Rodrigo and Gonzalo, at the cultural cen-ter, where Mexico pays tribute to its lateartistic icons. Hundreds of fans filed pastthe urn to pay their last respects to theauthor of “One Hundred Years of Solitude,”taking pictures and short videos with theirsmartphones.

Some of the guests even danced as athree-piece vallenato band played folksongs from his native Colombia with anaccordion, drum and guacharaca, a per-cussion instrument. Known affectionatelyas “Gabo,” Garcia Marquez died lastThursday in the Mexico City house wherehe lived for decades with his wife and twosons. He was 87. Visit ing ColombianPresident Juan Manuel Santos was todeliver remarks later with Mexican leaderEnrique Pena Nieto.

“I want to thank him for the pleasure hegave me in reading books,” said JoselineLopez, a 21-year-old Venezuelan medicalstudent who queued outside the palace.

“‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ will sur-vive 100 more years in our hearts,” she said,clutching three yellow roses. GarciaMarquez first moved to Mexico in 1961and it was there that the veteran journalistwrote his seminal novel, a family and his-torical saga that was published in 1967. Hewas a leading exponent of “magical real-ism,” a style of story-telling that blends fan-tasy and realistic elements. The cause of

his death has not been disclosed but hedied a week after a bout of pneumonia.

He ‘loved’ Mexico The palace was decorated with the late

writer’s favorite flower, the yellow rosethat he so often wore on his lapel for goodluck. Many mourners wore the rose as vio-lins played Beethoven. A large portrait ofGarcia Marquez hung on a wall. The val-

lenato trio offered a performance to thecrowd outside the palace. Then, peopletook turns reading pages from “OneHundred Years of Solitude.” “He loved thiscountry. He was very grateful and felt asMexican as any other person,” JaimeAbello, director of the Ibero-AmericanNew Journalism Foundation founded byGarcia Marquez, told MVS Radio.

His biographer, British writer GeraldMartin, said he understood the secularnature of the ceremony because GarciaMarquez was not a religious man. “But hewas a man who respected other people’sbeliefs, l ike his mother,” Mar tin toldColombia’s Caracol radio.

“He joked that he didn’t believe in Godbut feared him a lot,” said the author of“Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Life.” His nativeColombia will hold its own ceremony atBogota’s cathedral on Tuesday for the manSantos hailed as “the greatest Colombianof all time.” On Wednesday, to mark WorldBook Day, Colombians will have readingsof Garcia Marquez’s novel “No One Writesto the Colonel” in more than 1,000libraries, parks and universities. The familyhas not said where the author’s final rest-ing place will be but Colombia hopes hisashes will be divided between his home-land and Mexico. His wife Barcha “says thatit is a very difficult decision that will be tak-en in due time,” said Rafael Tovar, presidentof Mexico’s National Culture and ArtsCouncil. — AFP

Mexico bids farewell to Garcia Marquez

Guests play with yellow paper butterflies as they leav-ing homage to Colombian Nobel Literature laureateGabriel Garcia Marquez. —AP photos

A school teacher carries a made yellow butterfly during a symbolic funeral parade inhonor of the late Nobel literature laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Colombia’sPresident JuanManuel Santos,left, and Mexico’sPresident EnriquePena Nieto, standnext to the urn containing the ashes of the lateMarquez.

A man holds a copyof One HundredYear of Solitudeduring a symbolicfuneral parade.

Bollywood this week throws its pre-mier awards event for the firsttime in the United States, which

has quietly become the leading overseasmarket for India’s prolific film industry.The International Indian Film Academytoday kicks off four days of festivities inTampa culminating in an awards cere-mony Saturday that will bring outBollywood’s glitterati and Hollywoodlegend John Travolta. While Bollywood is

known for its extravagant song-and-dance routines, its expansion into theUnited States has been more understat-ed. Indian films are increasingly shown inmainstream US cinemas which set asidespecific screens and times.

The United States has topped Britainin recent years as the largest overseasmarket for Bollywood, fueled by demandfrom the three million-strong IndianAmerican community and the growingease of distributing movies through thedigital format. “Dhoom 3,” the latestinstallment of a thriller series which isnominated for best picture at the Tampaawards, broke US records for Indian cine-ma after it was released last year.

Set largely in Chicago, “Dhoom 3”grossed more than $8 million in theUnited States and Canada, roughly onpar with “Before Midnight,” the secondsequel to the US romantic classic “BeforeSunrise.” Indian cinema’s growth can eas-ily fly beneath the radar in the UnitedStates, which has by far the world’slargest box office and is thoroughlydominated by domestic fare. India, inturn, has the largest output of films atmore than 1,100 a year.

But Gitesh Pandya, a US-based con-sultant for Bollywood studios, said thatIndian cinema had innate advantages asit has a consistent audience of IndianAmericans who are often well-educatedand generally do not need expensivepromotional campaigns to woo them tothe movies. Indian films that just fiveyears ago would have opened at 80 to85 screens in the United States now startin more than 200 theaters including insmaller cities where cinemas are happy

to fill seats however they can, Pandyasaid. “It’s incredible growth. Theaters thatfive years ago would never think aboutplaying one of these movies are nowanxious to get the latest Shah Rukh Khanor Aamir Khan movie,” Pandya said, refer-ring to two stars whose films are consid-ered relatively high-brow in Bollywood.

Seeking a wider audience Pandya, who also manages the web-

site boxofficeguru.com, said that Indiawas the only foreign country with a self-sustaining film industry in the UnitedStates, as European, Latin American orother international movies rely onHollywood or art-house distributors toselect and distribute them. “India is theonly one that, 12 months a year, hasfilms that come in and play in theatershere in the US,” Pandya said. In additionto Bollywood films, which are in Hindi,US cinemas regularly screen movies inother Indian languages such as Tamiland Telugu.

Despite the growth, no Bollywoodfilm has won over mainstream US audi-ences and the annual awards-alwaysheld outside of India to show the indus-try’s global reach-had shied away fromthe potentially massive market. In hopesof crossing over to a non-South Asianaudience, the International Indian FilmAcademy will kick off its Tampa weekendwith a public party Wednesday in a parkaimed at introducing US audiences toIndia’s culture and film. Prominent Indianactress Vidya Balan, who will appear atthe awards, saw hope in her experienceserving last year on the Cannes FilmFestival jury. —AFP

With awards, Bollywood shows growing imprint in US

File photo shows Bollywood actors Sridevi and Prabhu Deva, left in yellow, performing during theInternational Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Macau. — AP

File photo shows actor JohnTravolta arriving for the screen-ing of “Killing Season” at the 39thAmerican Film Festival inDeauville, Normandy, westernFrance. — AP

Though he’s been acting profession-ally for nearly a decade - you mightknow him from the British edition

of “Skins” and the drama “This isEngland” - Jack O’Connell is only nowmaking his first visit to New York City.And while he’s here for work - his intenseprison drama, “Starred Up,” is playing atthe Tribeca Film Festival - he’s doingsome sightseeing, too.

“I got a chance to walk yesterday,along the waterfront, across the waterfrom New Jersey. Took some photos. Igot as far as Little Italy,” he told TheWrapon Monday, before adding two othersightseeing ambitions: “Where JohnLennon died,” which is the Dakota apart-ment building on the Upper West Side,“and that shop that was in ‘Home Alone,’that toy shop,” meaning FAO Schwartz.The latter was sort of a funny itineraryitem to hear coming from O’Connell,who wears his tough and smart workingclass roots on his sleeve and in his voice.In fact, at one point there was a chancehe wasn’t even going to be able to comevisit the United States, because of prob-lems with the law.

“I had my run-ins,” O’Connell admit-ted, alluding to childhood brushes withthe law while growing up in Derby,England. “I’m not clean as a whistle,hence my sort of overall relief that I final-ly obtained an American working visa.”While he didn’t get specific about thoserun-ins, O’Connell did admit that it tooka lot of work to overcome them.

“In my country as is the case overhere, there is such thing as a secondchance,” he said. “I really, really had todig deep to get a second chance. I hadto spend a lot of time doing drug testsand alcohol tests and even after doingthat, I was denied once. It’s just been acase of letting my actions do the talking.I know I’m not a liability to myself, I’mnot violent either. My life isn’t a struggleanymore.” “When my life was a struggle, Iwas perhaps in an environment where,I’d always argue that I was just a productof my environment, and I’m not in thatenvironment anymore,” O’Connell, whowent to a rough local Catholic academyin Derby, said. “I elevated myself, andnow my intention is to help people likemyself do the same in whatever field itis. And to not necessarily be supportedin the way that you’d expect was veryfrustrating. But like I said, I think theactions speak for themselves now.Overall, I’m grateful, everything’s workeditself out.”

Free train fareThe actor was saved in part by being

accepted into a television workshop inNottingham, which would generallyrequire expensive travel. “The only way Icould travel to and from Nottinghamwas my dad worked on the railway,

which enabled me free train fare,” heexplained. “I wouldn’t have been able toafford that if it wasn’t for my dad’s job.”

All these experiences helped himchannel the right emotions for “StarredUp,” in which O’Connell plays a younginmate named Eric who has just beentransferred to a prison in which hisabsentee father (played by BenMendelhson) resides. He is angry andbitter about his circumstances, andrather volatile, but begins to breakthrough emotionally with the help of aprison therapist (when not brawlingwith older inmates). The movie was writ-ten by Jonathan Asser, a man who spentmany years working with vulnerableinmates.

The film is bleak in its outlook on thejustice system, much more so thanhuman nature; Asser and director DavidMacKenzie work to convey the notion

that in so many cases, imprisonmentand crime comes from nurture (or lackthereof) rather than nature. “He offeredus the opportunity to meet a couple ofthe lads that he worked with,” O’Connellsaid, referring to some of Asser’s formerinmates (some of whom got small rolesin the film). “Seeing the way they operat-ed with him, with this level of immenseexpect, real gratitude you see in themapproaching him, that helped validateJonathan’s point of view a lot.”

Shooting in a real prisonOf the inmates he met and worked

with, O’Connell said, “The really frighten-ing people I met were actually quitepleasant to talk to. Sometimes they’renot even angry when they’re being vio-lent. It’s almost professional.” Gloom andsadness hang thick over the movie,which is filled with incredibly chargedperformances, brooding and spring-loaded for sudden explosion. It helpedthat they shot in a real prison, an out-of-

commission place in Northern Irelandcalled Crumlin Road Gaol, whichO’Connell visited a week before anyoneelse. “It certainly helped with the atmos-phere, the slamming doors, the walls arevery cold and very hard,” O’Connell said.“It was a hardened atmosphere. A lot ofthe times when you’re doing stunts andstuff, they cheat things and it’s padded. Imuch prefer to stay with the hard, brutalnature of it.”

He’s sure to say over and over,though, that they wanted to make everycharacter three dimensional, not just theinmates; giving guards, who can seemcorrupt, at least a fair representation wasimportant to everyone on the team.

O’Connell first opened eyes with hisrole in Skins,” and was seen earlier thisyear in the “300” sequel. “Starred Up”should also provide him some positivecareer momentum thanks to the rave

reviews it has received (released lastyear in the UK, it was nominated for aslew British Independent Film Awards).Still, he’s largely a fresh face to Americanaudiences (and people in New York), butthat should change very soon, thanks tohis leading role in Angelina Jolie’supcoming period drama, “Unbroken.”

‘Tulip Fever’“I’ve spoken a lot about her but still

don’t feel like I’ve been able to encapsu-late fully the inspiration that she offeredme,” he gushed when asked about Jolie.“Even in directing, seeing her as she con-tends with her public persona and thewoman herself, as well. Above all of thatas well, I’ve seen her engaged witheveryone on set, and that to me isimportant. And also she’s remarkablytalented. I watched ‘Girl, Interrupted’recently, since working with her, and I’dlike to see her again just to shake herhand for that. I think she achieved some-thing infinitely special.” —Reuters

O’Connell on ‘Starred Up’ and his troubled past:‘I really had to dig deep to get a second chance’

Jack O’Connell

M U S I C & M O V I E S


l if e s t y l eM U S I C & M O V I E S

(From left) Actors AliceDavid, Tarek Boudali,Philippe Lacheau andJulien Arruti arrive to the18th annual City of Lights,City of Angeles (COLCOA)French film festival in LosAngeles, California, yesterday. COLCOA willpresent 41 feature films,including three international premieres,17 North American or USpremieres, 16 West Coastpremieres and 20 newshorts throughout theweek, from April 21through April 28. —AFP

Crouching Tigerprequel to filmin New Zealand

Aprequel to the Oscar-winning Chinese martialarts epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” willbe shot in New Zealand this year, Film

Auckland said yesterday. The original movie, releasedin 2000, broke new ground in introducing Westernaudiences to Chinese cinema and Film Auckland’sdeputy chairman Alex Lee said securing the follow-upwas a major coup for New Zealand. “Over the last 18months it’s been very quiet and it’s nice we’re finallygetting traction,” he told Radio New Zealand. “It’s aproduction that will require a vast number ofresources, facilities, technicians and crew.” NewZealand is no stranger to big-budget movie shoots,providing stunning backdrops for both the “Lord ofthe Rings” and “Hobbit” trilogies.

But Lee said subsidy changes allowing major pro-ductions to claim back up to 25 percent of their budg-et as rebates were a decisive factor in Auckland win-ning the “Crouching Tiger” prequel. “It’s quite clearthat until the decision to increase the incentives forinternational films to come to New Zealand we werejust not competitive,” he said. “Crouching Tiger” madeUS$213.5 million globally, according to industry web-site Box Office Mojo, including US$128 million in theUnited States-unprecedented at the time for a foreignlanguage movie.

It also won four Oscars in 2001, including best for-eign film, and launched the Hollywood career ofdirector Ang Lee, who went on to win two best direc-tor Academy Awards for “Brokeback Mountain” and“Life of Pi”. Film industry bible Variety reported thatMalaysia’s Michelle Yeoh will reprise her role as a war-rior in the prequel, to be titled “The Green Destiny”. Itsaid Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s TheWeinstein Company is co-producing the film withNew Zealand’s Iron Knight Productions. Yuen Woo-ping, who co-ordinated the eye-popping actionscenes in the original, will reportedly direct, using ascript which has been approved by officials in Beijing.

The green light from Beijing is important becauseit ensures access to the rapidly growing Chinese mar-ket, where box office takings soared 36 percent to anestimated $1.8 billion over the first six months of2013. The Chinese market is expected to overtake theUS market by 2020, prompting keen interest fromHollywood. — AFP

Hollywood heart-throb Johnny Deppsuffered the worst box-office debutof his career while “Captain America:

The Winter Soldier” maintained its grip onNorth American theaters, final figuresshowed Monday. Despite being one of thehighest paid actors in Tinseltown, Depp’sstar power was unable to save $100 millionscience-fiction thriller “Transcendence” fromcrashing with just $10.9 million on its open-ing to take fourth spot. It was the latest in aseries of poor openings for movies starringDepp, coming hard on the heels of “TheLone Ranger,” “Dark Shadows” and “The RumDiary.”

The film, which sees Depp play a scien-tist who escapes death when his brain isuploaded into a huge computer, was theactor ’s lowest-grossing opening since2004’s “Secret Window,” which took $18.2million. While Warner Bros. were left pickingover the ashes of “Transcendence,” Disneytoasted another solid weekend from“Captain America.”

The latest big-screen adventures of theiconic Marvel superhero, starring ChrisEvans, took in $25.6 million, figures frombox office tracker Exhibitor Relations said.

The film has earned more than $200 millionin North America since its debut earlier inthe month, when it had the biggest Aprilopening of all time. This week’s perform-ance meant “Captain America” held off astrong opening from “Heaven Is For Real,”starring Greg Kinnear as the father of a four-

year-old boy who wakes up from emer-gency surgery with a story about going toheaven and back. It raked in $22.5 millionfor second place.

Third spot was taken by animated chil-dren’s movie “Rio 2,” a follow-up to the 2011hit about a family of blue macaw parrots.

The movie, which features the voices ofJesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway in thelead roles, took in $22.2 million in its secondweekend. With “Transcendence” in fourth,paranormal comedy “A Haunted House 2”jumped up the charts to earn fifth place,with $8.8 million after a month in theaters.The sequel to a 2013 film, it stars MarlonWayans as a man plagued by ghosts anddemons.

Kevin Costner’s latest big-screen appear-ance-sports drama “Draft Day”-moved intosixth place. The film, which sees Costnerplaying an American football team’s generalmanager on the day of the NFL draft, pickedup $5.7 million. “Divergent,” the dystopiantale of a young woman in a futuristic socie-ty, based on the popular young adult novelby the same name, reeled in $5.6 million forseventh place. Sinking from third to eighthspot was horror film “Oculus,” about anantique mirror possessed with evil spirits. Itgarnered $5.2 million. Rounding out the topten, biblical epic “Noah,” starring RussellCrowe, earned $5.0 million for ninth placeand “Bears,” Disney’s documentary about afamily of grizzly bears living in Alaska, $4.8million. — AFP

Depp flops, ‘Captain America’ rules US box-office

David Foster Wallace’sestate opposes biopic

Relatives of David Foster Wallace say they’reopposed to the upcoming film “The End of theTour,” which is based on David Lipsky’s 2010

book “Although Of Course You End Up BecomingYourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace.” In hisbook, Lipsky recounts accompanying Wallace, theauthor best known for his 1996 novel “Infinite Jest,” onhis book tour. Production on “The End of the Tour,”written by Donald Margulies, directed by JamesPonsoldt (“The Spectacular Now”), and starring JasonSegel as Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as Lipsky,wrapped in late March.

Lawyers for Wallace’s family and literary trust said ina news release Monday that they “have no connectionwith, and neither endorse nor support” the film. Theyadd that “the trust was given no advance notice thatthis production was underway” and the film “is looselybased on transcripts from an interview David consent-ed to 18 years ago for a magazine article. ... That articlewas never published and David would have neveragreed that those saved transcripts could later berepurposed as the basis of a movie.” There was nomention of Lipsky’s book in the release, which alsostates that “individuals and companies involved withthe production were made keenly aware of the sub-stantive reasons for the trust’s and family’s objectionsto this project.”

The estate prefers Wallace, who killed himself in2008, be “remembered for his extraordinary writing.” Arepresentative at Morris Yorn Barnes Levine KrintzmanRubenstein & Kohner, which represents the family, didnot reply to a request from The Associated Press forfurther comment. “The End of the Tour” is being pro-duced by Anonymous Content and Kilburn Mediadomestically, with Sony handling international distri-bution. Sony, Anonymous Content and Kilburn Mediaalso did not respond to requests for comment. — AP

File photo shows James Ponsoldt, writer/director ofthe film ‘Smashed,’ poses at the premiere of the filmat the 2012 Toronto Film Festival, in Toronto. — AP

Kenya Moore has broken her silenceover being attacked by castmatePorsha Williams during “ The Real

Housewives of Atlanta” reunion special, whichaired on Sunday In a statement released onMonday, Moore first addresses Williams’ arrestdue to the attack “I called 911 to report theincident,” she said. “The Atlanta police con-ducted an independent investigation, whichincluded viewing the raw footage of the inci-dent. As a result, Porsha Williams was chargedwith battery. The authorities will decide herfate, not me.”

Last Wednesday, Williams surrendered her-self to authorities. Williams was released laterthat same day on a $2,000 bond after beingcharged with one misdemeanor count of sim-ple battery. In the weeks since the taping,Moore’s castmates have talked about theattack publicly. Both NeNe Leakes andPhaedra Parks have appeared on Bravo’s“Watch What Happens Live” and said theybelieved that Moore provoked Williams intoviolence.

Moore addressed those statements, aswell: There are many inflammatory state-ments made by cast members to and abouteach other particularly during the reuniontapings. Many have made untrue, denigrat-ing, disparaging, and inflammatory state-ments against me in an attempt to provokeme, but I have never reacted in a violent way.My intellect and my brain are my most pow-erful weapons-not my fists. If people get so

angry that they lose control and admittedly“black out” and resort to violence, those per-sons must be held responsible for theiractions. Being a cast member on a realityshow does not absolve people of their rights.

Moore goes on to say that she’s trained inself-defense, but used “discipline” after beingattacked. She then ended her statement with“no matter how angry someone makes youfeel by what they say to or about you, vio-lence is never an option.”

Read the full statement below: During

the taping of the Reunion Episode for theReal Housewives of Atlanta, I was violentlyattacked by Porsha Williams.

The episode, which aired last night,Sunday, April 20, 2014, was taped in front ofan audience of over 50 people, which includ-ed cast, crew, guests and executives, whoserved as witnesses. I called 911 to reportthe incident. The Atlanta police conductedan independent investigation, which includ-ed viewing the raw footage of the incident.As a result, Porsha Williams was charged

with battery. The authorities will decide herfate, not me.

There are many inflammatory statementsmade by cast members to and about eachother particularly during the reunion tapings.Many have made untrue, denigrating, dis-paraging, and inflammatory statementsagainst me in an attempt to provoke me, but Ihave never reacted in a violent way. My intel-lect and my brain are my most powerfulweapons-not my fists. If people get so angrythat they lose control and admittedly “blackout” and resort to violence, those personsmust be held responsible for their actions.Being a cast member on a reality show doesnot absolve people of their rights.

After being repeatedly attacked by anabusive boyfriend at the age of 17, if some-one puts their hands on me, I will not just letit go. With that said, I sought self-defensetraining developed for the Israeli military. I’vealso been trained in weapons. I can takesomeone down in three moves. It took disci-pline for me not to respond in kind. As violentresponses escalate, they can quickly result insevere injury or even death.

Being the second Black woman to becrowned Miss USA, there are little girls wholook up to me. I would never want those girls,my nieces, or my future children to see mefighting anyone. That’s the lesson we shouldall want to send, especially to young people-that no matter how angry someone makesyou feel by what they say to or about you,violence is never an option. — Reuters

Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Moore breaks silence on Porsha

Ai l ing Grammy award-winning NewZealand singer Lorde has postponed herAustralian tour this week after doctors

advised she needed immediate rest and recu-peration, her promoters said yesterday.Teenager Ella Yelich-O’Connor, who uses herstage name Lorde, has been touring North andSouth America over the past few months andplayed at the Coachella Valley Music and ArtsFestival over the Easter weekend.

She was due to kick off the seven-concertAustralian leg of her world tour in Melbourne onThursday. “It breaks my heart to have to post-pone these shows as the band and I absolutelylove playing to Australian crowds, and it was nota decision we made lightly,” Yelich-O’Connorsaid in a statement issued through her promot-er, Frontier Touring. “I know I need to focus ongetting better in order to perform at my best.We’ll be with you as soon as we can, Aussies,”she said.

The teenager, whose breakthrough hit“Royals” was no.1 on music charts around theworld in 2013, also won a Grammy for Song ofthe Year and Best Pop Solo Performance inJanuary. Yelich-O’Connor told her 1.5 million fol-lowers on Twitter she had a “nasty chest infec-tion and general ill health”. Frontier Touring saidthey are rescheduling dates for Lorde’sAustralian tour. — Reuters

Two-time Oscar winnerTom Hanks is attached tostar in an untitled Cold

War thril ler that StevenSpielberg is developing todirect, an individual familiarwith the project told TheWrap.Spielberg has not committed tomaking the film his next proj-ect, but it is one of several incontention and Hanks’ involve-ment could give it a leg up onothers, which include “Robopocalypse” and“Montezuma.”

Matt Charman wrote the script and MarcPlatt is producing the film, whichDreamWorks executive Jonathan Eirich willoversee on behalf of the studio. Hanks isattached to play James Donovan, a prominent

American attorney enlisted bythe CIA during the Cold War toslip behind the Iron Curtain andnegotiate the release of GaryPowers, a pilot captured whenhis U-2 spy plane was shotdown over Russia. Hanks andSpielberg previously teamed on“Saving Private Ryan,” “Catch MeIf You Can” and “The Terminal.”Hanks, who is coming off strongreviews for “Captain Phillips”

and “Saving Mr. Banks,” is currently filmingTom Tykwer’s “A Hologram For the King.” He’srepped by CAA. Matt Charman is repped byCAA, Michael McCoy of UK-based agencyIndependent, manager Jeff Silver of FourthFloor Productions and attorney GretchenRush. — Reuters

Hanks to star in cold war thriller,Spielberg may direct

Illness spoils ‘Royals’ singer Lorde’s Australian tour

This June 30,2013 file photo

shows TV personality

Kenya Moore atthe BET Awardsin Los Angeles.

38Mexico bidsfarewell to Garcia Marquez


Cubans get Hollywood, football fix

through ‘paquete’

Black market sales of USB sticksloaded with Hollywood block-busters, pop music or football

are booming in communist Cuba,where content-starved consumers aresnapping them up to escape the drea-ry offerings of state-run media.Hungry for the Internet and barredfrom access to satellite television,Cubans have regularly swappedentertainment stored on USB sticks orcomputer hard drives.

The practice has now evolved to asophisticated new level, however, withthe rise of what is known locally as the“paquete.” Each week, a new suchpaquete arrives, and Cubans guidedby word of mouth hurry to fill USBkeys with hours of high-end entertain-ment at prices ranging from less thana dollar to five dollars, depending onthe content, which is available a lacarte. It might be a pirated Hollywoodmovie or a chance to watch CristianoRonaldo and Lionel Messi in the latestaction from Spain’s La Liga footballchampionship.

Others favor the latest episodes ofracy Brazilian or South Korean soapoperas, hugely popular in Cuba. Forthe underground distributors ofpaquetes, these bundles of digitalescapism are nothing more thanharmless fun. “There’s no politics, nopornography, nothing for the policeto get worried about,” says one distrib-utor, Jose.

‘Symptom of Yankee culture’ Authorities in Cuba have so far

largely turned a blind eye to the phe-nomenon. A notable exception, how-ever, is former culture minister AbelPrieto, a special adviser to PresidentRaul Castro, who recently decried the“trash can of the paquete,” which hesaid was a symptom of “Yankee cul-ture invading us shamelessly.”Addressing a meeting of intellectualsin mid-April, Prieto said it was time to“oppose, tear down and depreciatethe paquete ... so that people under-stand they are being fooled.” But hepointedly failed to recommend anoutright ban on the paquete.

At the same meeting, meanwhile,an official commission acknowledgedthat Cuba’s five state broadcast chan-nels were “very distant from the cul-tural, informational and entertain-ment needs of our people.”Until thatsituation changes, the paquete’s pop-ularity seems assured. Maria Teresa, a48-year-old from Holguin, 750 kilo-meters (466 miles) south of Havana,buys four gigabytes worth of enter-tainment-television series in hercase-for around 20 cents. “It’s enoughfor the whole week,” she said.Daniel,a 22-year-old law student, told a simi-lar story.

“In addition to films and TV series, Ilook for antivirus updates,” he said.Graciela, a nurse from Las Tunas, 700kilometers from Havana, said sheturned to the paquete after gettingfed up with domestic entertainment.”Iwatch some TV, but Cuban telenove-las are bad and the Brazilian ones taketoo long, it’s painful. So I buy my littlepaquete for five pesos and I’m happy,”she said. An Easter week paquete seenby AFP bore the hallmarks of increas-ingly sophisticated production tech-niques, including advertisements forprofessional photography studios andsmall restaurants.

“I hope they don’t try and ban orchange them,” said Marcos, a 50-year-old carpenter from Havana. “At theend of the day, all we are doing iswatching peacefully at home. It’s nothurting anyone.” Paquete days num-bered? - Yet change may be inevitable.The famous dissident Cuban bloggerYoani Sanchez plans to launch anonline opposition newspaper thisyear. She has said that the paper willbe distributed by mobile phone andemail, as well as the preferred meth-ods of file-sharing used by Cubans-USB sticks, hard drives, DVDs and CDs.“I hope it will appear in the paquetemenus,” Sanchez said. But Pro-Castroregime blogger Yohandry predictedSanchez’s paper may prove the deathknell of the paquete.”I told my neigh-bors and friends to buy the paquetethis week because it could be the last,”Yohandry said. “Because everythingYoani touches rots.” — AFP

A picture showsthe embroidery on

the suit of light ofSpanish matador

Paco Urena on thelast day of theFeria of Arles,

yesterday in Arles,southern

France. — AFP

Lucey is a slobbering 18-month-old poochwhose human family dreams of making hera therapy dog. Winning a pageant before her

second birthday should boost the Iowa bulldog’shopes of joining owner Dr Tiffany Torstenson inthe health care industry. Lucey beat out 49 drool-ing competitors Monday to take this year ’s“Beautiful Bulldog” pageant, a tongue-in-cheekevent designed to kick off the weeklong DrakeRelays, an internationally renowned track andfield meet in Des Moines.

“She’s just very calm and she loves people,”Torstenson, of Waukee, Iowa, said. “She loves theattention.” Torstenson, a breast surgeon at theMercy Katzmann Breast Center, she said she oftentakes Lucey to work. Lucey’s demeanor arounddoctors and patients helped convince her humanfamily that she’d make a perfect therapy dog, andshe will soon start training to become one. Luceywas certainly a hit with the crowd at Drake’sKnapp Center, besting a pair of boys named LordNelson and Zuul, to capture top honors.

“She’s is very docile and she doesn’t get reallyexcited,” Torstenson said. “Every room we go into,she’s in that room. She likes to sleep in the bed,and hog the bed. And she loves cheese.” Mondaymarked the 35th anniversary of the BeautifulBulldog event, which was started in 1979 in aneffort to find a real dog to represent the school’smascot, the Bulldogs. The pageant is meant tohonor English Bulldogs and all the slovenly traitsthat have endeared the breed to so many. Theevent has become so popular in recent years thata lottery was needed to winnow the field fromover 100 bulldogs down to 50.

Competitors from as far away as South Dakotaand Kansas made the trip to Des Moines to findout which pup would be voted the prettiest.

Costumes and props are strongly encouraged,and a dog named Capone from Center Point,Iowa, got the crowd going by taking part of histurn on the catwalk on a skateboard. The runner-up, Zuul, was named after a character in the icon-ic ‘80s film “Ghostbusters,” and he and his dad,Dan Phelps of Marengo, Iowa, wore costumesinspired by the movie.

But no one could touch the simple pink tutuand award-winning smile of Lucey, whose reignwill last until next year’s pageant. Lucey receiveda crown, a cape and a cake for winning the event,and she’ll be feted at Drake Stadium later thisweek. “She’s good with kids. She’s good withadults. She’s just been a great dog,” said Lucey’sowner, Toby Torstenson. — AFP

Lucey tops in Iowa’s ‘Beautiful Bulldog’ event

Lucey sits on the throne after beingcrowned the winner.

Tiffany Torstenson, of Waukee, Iowa, kisses her dog Lucey after it was crowned the winner ofthe 35th annual Drake Relays Beautiful Bulldog Contest, Monday, April 21, 2014, in DesMoines, Iowa. — AP photos

Miss America:

Don’t suspend teen over prom invite

Miss America is asking a Pennsylvaniaschool district to reconsider thepunishment of a senior who asked

her to prom during the question-and-answer portion of an assembly. The YorkDispatch reported Sunday that NinaDavuluri posted a statement on the MissAmerica Organization’s Facebook page say-ing she contacted Central York High Schoolto ask officials to rethink the three-day in-school suspension issued to 18-year-oldPatrick Farves.

Davuluri says her travel schedule will pre-vent her from attending the dance withFarves. School officials knew Farves intend-ed to ask her to prom and warned him notto do it. Fellow students cheered afterward,but Farves was suspended for misbehaving.He apologized for disrupting Thursday’sevent. Davuluri was there to talk about theimportance of science, technology, engi-neering and math studies. — AP

MissAmerica

NinaDavuluri

Deliylah stands after winning the best dressed dog award. Jasmine Josephine loses her wig as she walks across stage.

Stella lies during judging. Linus the Love Bug walks across the stage.