UN's OCHA marks World Humanitarian Day in Kuwait

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UN’s OCHA marks WorldHumanitarian Day in Kuwait

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 THULQADA 9, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net

Kuwait drops 4 spots in

global competitiveness Max 48º

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State ranks lowest in FDA, IT, highest in controlling inflation, HIV

conspiracy theories

Congratulations

to the nation

[email protected]

By Badrya Darwish

Gosh, guys! I’m so overwhelmed and thrilled bythe ranking of my country in the WorldEconomic Forum’s Global Competiveness Report

2014. I was just mentioning yesterday in an articleabout the fact that Kuwait is among the world’s top 10in diabetes. And today to cream the cake, we receivedthe detailed report about all aspects of life in Kuwait.

The WEF Global Competiveness Report ranks, in sim-ple mathematics, the best and brightest among theworld’s nations in most fields such as foreign invest-ment, innovation, health, education, policy and regula-tion of governments, etc, etc, etc.

Continued on Page 13

By Sara Ahmed

KUWAIT: Kuwait dropped four spots on the WorldEconomic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Ranking for2014-2015. Falling from 36 to 40 this year, Kuwait’s eval-uation highlighted problems with inefficient govern-ment bureaucracy, restrictive labor regulations, corrup-tion, access to financing and policy instability as amongthe top issues inhibiting the state’s global economiccompetitiveness.

Kuwait recorded among the worst rankings in theGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, falling far belowthe UAE (ranked 12), Qatar (16) and Saudi Arabia (24). Itis listed as a transition economy. Other economies intransition on the global list include the Philippines (52),Algeria (79), Iran (83), Mongolia (98) and Bhutan (103).

The annual report evaluates nations using more than100 indicators of competitiveness based on 12 pillarsincluding institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomicenvironment, health and primary education, higher edu-cation and training, goods market efficiency, labor mar-ket efficiency, financial market development, technolog-ical readiness, market size, business sophistication andinnovation. Specific indicators cover the range of factorsimpacting an economy’s ability to compete at the globallevel and include such indicators as government bureau-cracy, corruption, labor regulations, access to financing,human resources and others.

Out of 144 countries, Kuwait ranked 135 in burden ofgovernment regulation; transparency of governmentpolicy making (103); quality of primary education (104);

Continued on Page 13

FNAYDEK, Lebanon: Sunni Lebanese mourners raise up their hands and weapons as others carry the coffinof Sgt Ali Sayid who was beheaded by Islamic State militants during his funeral procession in his hometownin Akkar, north Lebanon yesterday. —AP

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent written messages yesterday to memberstates of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),asking for their support for an Arab draft resolutionforcing Israel to join the nuclear Non-ProliferationTreaty.

The Arab draft resolution, which is about Israel’snuclear capabilities, is due to be submitted to the IAEA’s

General Conference in Vienna, Austria, this month.Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid stressed that Israel should

join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of NuclearWeapons as it is the only state that has not so farjoined it.

He pointed out that this move is a matter of urgencyand would ensure the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in the Middle East as a main factorto maintain stability and security in the region. — KUNA

L O C A LTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Mubashar Sheikh addresses the attendants.

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: The United Nations Office of the Coordinationof Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) celebrated WorldHumanitarian Day (WHD) at its premises yesterday. Thegoal of the event is to raise awareness on humanitarianworkers around the world in addition to engaging thelocal community in the WHD campaign. This celebrationalso aims to build a local movement to support a worldevent.

Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq, UN Secretary General’sHumanitarian Envoy, consultant of HH the Amir andChairman of the International Islamic CharitableOrganization, noted that the world celebrates this dayto remember those whose honorable humanitarianpositions become evident when humanitarian anguishintensifies; conflicts and wars rage; storms and disastersbreak out; blood becomes cheap; destruction and sabo-tage become commonplace; displacement becomes aglobal phenomenon and humanitarian crises becomeuncontainable.

“We are in this international humanitarian forum toregister the noble and honorable humanitarian posi-tions of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-JaberAl Sabah, and express to His Highness our highest andwarmest appreciation and gratitude for the strong sup-port he lends to the efforts of international humanitari-an organizations and UN humanitarian agencies. Itgives us even more honor and pride to congratulate HisHighness on the United Nations’ intention to name him“global humanitarian leader” in a few days and desig-nate Kuwait, the state of goodness and giving, as a“global humanitarian center,” he added.

This step comes in recognition of Kuwait’s humani-tarian track record, which is full of humanitarian anddevelopment conferences and summits. “These havemobilized regional and international efforts to assist thepoor and distressed everywhere; and in honor of HH theAmir who spared no effort to launch humanitarian ini-tiatives to address the repercussions of floods inPakistan; earthquakes in Turkey, the Philippines andIndonesia; desertification, drought and famine inMauritania, Somalia, Benin and Niger; the conflict inMali; the Syrian crisis and other disasters and calamitiesaround the world,” stressed Maatouq.

Remembering the deadThe event also remembered sad memories. “On this

occasion we remember those who died 11 years ago onAug 19, 2003 in a treacherous and cowardly incidentthat targeted the UN headquarters in Baghdad andclaimed the lives of 22 humanitarian activists, includingthe head of the United Nations mission at the time,Sergio Vieira de Mello, and injured tens of innocent peo-

ple,” he pointed out.An estimated 108 million people are in need of

humanitarian assistance around the world. “We, in theArab region, have witnessed a horrifying increase in thenumbers of Syrians displaced by the machinery ofdeath and destruction. The number of victims of theSyrian crisis alone has soared to 9.5 million IDPs andrefugees, according to UN estimates, in addition to thehundreds of thousands who have been killed or gonemissing,” said Maatouq.

“Aid workers continue to provide humanitarian serv-ices, undaunted by the risks and challenges, but unfor-tunately, some of these courageous individuals arefalling on a daily basis. In 2013, 155 humanitarian work-ers were killed, 171 activists were seriously wounded,and 134 others were kidnapped, according to statistics,”he noted. “More recently, UNRWA lost 12 of its employ-ees in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli aggression, andmany medical and civil defense teams were targeted asthey tried to rescue the wounded and evacuate thebodies of the victims. Hundreds of them have beenkilled by the perfidious Israeli bombardment,” heexplained.

“As the number of disasters increases, the worldneeds more heroes in the field of humanitarian action,and while it is the duty of the international communityto provide them with all forms of protection and securi-ty, the parties to the conflict must respect the neutralityof humanitarian action and help humanitarian workersto carry out their humanitarian duty,” he stated.

Alleviating the sufferingKuwait appreciates humanitarian work. “We respect

humanitarian workers around the world, and extendour hands to engage all international humanitarianorganizations in their projects in order to alleviate thesuffering of those affected by disaster - especially sincethe people of Kuwait have grown accustomed to dogood deeds and help others. They inherited these noblehuman values from their ancestors and passed themdown from one generation to the next, although thepeople of Kuwait had limited financial resources,” con-cluded Maatouq.

Mubashar Sheikh, UN Resident Coordinator-UNDPResident Representative, noted that this gathering is torecognize and honor all humanitarian workers aroundthe world who left their families, loved ones, lives andcomfort zones to extend a helping hand to those inneed, risking their lives in the face of danger and dis-eases and working effortlessly to provide a better livingstandards for others.

“The humanitarian initiative is not a strange act forKuwaitis, since the first charitable organization wasestablished in 1913. Nearly a hundred years later,

Kuwait has come a long way under the leadership of HHthe Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.The recognition the Amir of Kuwait will receive by theUN Secretary General on the 9th of September in NewYork is well deserved for his humanitarian role, generos-ity and leadership. As an example, during 2013 and2014, Kuwait has donated over $650 million to humani-tarian crises around the world,” he said.

“Eleven years ago, a bomb attack on the UN head-quarters in Bagdad caused the loss of 22 lives fromNGOs and UN agencies in the line of duty, which show-cases the risks humanitarian workers face. In 2008, theUN General assembly marked August 19 to be WorldHumanitarian Day and celebrate humanitarians aroundthe world. The slogan campaign for 2014 is “The WorldNeeds More Humanitarian Heroes”, which recognizesthe efforts and stories of those working in the field,”stated Mubashar.

“The world is currently witnessing a critical time withfour major humanitarian crises (Iraq, CAR, Syria andSouth Sudan) and some forgotten crises like Yemen,Palestine and Myanmar. In 2014 alone, 155 humanitari-an workers were killed performing their duties, andhundreds were injured or kidnapped. The safety andsecurity of humanitarians is deteriorating and constant-ly making them a target,” he concluded.

OCHA marks World Humanitarian Day

‘Amir honoring recognition to Kuwait humanitarian track record’

KUWAIT: The International Islamic CharityOrganization has translated Kuwait’s humanitarianmessage in extending a helping hand to impover-ished people around the world.

The Kuwait-based charity’s work stems from theteachings of the Islamic faith and the generosity thepeople of Kuwait are known for.

The United Nations ceremony of His Highnessthe Amir on September 9 as a ‘humanitarian leader’and Kuwait as an international humanitarian hub isthe result of many years of extensive efforts thecountry has pursued under the instructions of HHthe Amir.

The International Islamic Charity Organizationhas been one of the organs that has contributed tothese efforts.

After two donor conferences for the displacedinside and out of Syria which helped raise USD 3.5billion, some of the pledges made by Kuwait werecarried out through projects, some of which wereassumed by IICO.

The Kuwait Model Village in Turkey, a camp fordisplaced Syrians was constructed under the super-vision of IICO, consisting 1,000 homes, four schools,two mosques and two clinics, with two similar proj-ects carried out in Jordan.

Following the success of the two internationalconferences, which had been accompanied by non-government fund-raisers, Kuwait then proceeded tohold another meeting of donors under the chair-manship of UN Secretary General envoy for humani-tarian affairs, Amiri Diwan advisor and IICO chiefAbdullah Al-Matouq. — KUNA

IICO translates

Kuwait’s message

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti aid at the Za’atari Camp forSyrian refugees in Jordan.— KUNA

Homes at the Kuwait Model Village for Syrianrefugees in Turkey.

Support requested to oblige Israel on NPT

BRUSSELS: Kuwait’sambassador to theNetherlands, HafeezMohammed Al-Ajmi, metat the Hague yesterdaywith Henk Kamp, DutchMinister of EconomicAffairs. The two sides dis-cussed the excellent eco-nomic relations betweenthe two countries andways of enhancing them.

Ajmi in a statement tothe Kuwait News Agency(KUNA) underlined theimportance of the DutchMinister’s visit to Kuwait;which begins on Sundayand follows the visit of DrAli Al-Omair, Kuwait’s OilMinister and Minister ofState for NationalAssembly Affairs, to theNetherlands last June.

He added that theNetherlands is the toptrade partner of the Stateof Kuwait on the Europeanlevel, where the volume oftrade exchanges reachednearly three billion Eurosyearly. — KUNA

Dutch

Minister

visits

Kuwait

KUWAIT: Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq speaks during the event. — Photos by Joseph Shagra


By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Utopia, an Italian jewelry brand, waslaunched and introduced yesterday at 21 Damasbranches all over Kuwait. Anna Gaia, ChiefExecutive Officer of the Utopia brand, was at theevent held at Damas Arraya Center along withMohammad Gazzaz, Damas Regional Managerand Fatina Arda, Damas Public RelationsManager. Gaia spoke to local media about hergorgeous collections and her passion in jewelry.“I am excited in this partnership with Damas inKuwait,” Gaia told Kuwait Times.

“We have been together for ten years inDubai and Abu Dhabi, but only now we are mak-ing our presence felt within the Kuwaiti market,”she said. Gaia noted the approach to her designs

in Kuwait will be different to designs in the UAEmarket. “Kuwait’s market is quite sophisticated -buyers are mostly locals, so our approach here isdifferent compared to the UAE market. The UAEis Westernized - they have visitors from all overthe world - but here we will be distributingdesigns based on local tastes. Expatriates too arewilling buyers, so we shall be catering to expatstoo,” she said.

Harmonious blendUtopia jewelry collections are the result of

renowned Italian creativity, with simple butsophisticated styles - the expression of a harmo-nious blend of classical and modern that reflectsthe beauty of the jewelry and the beauty of per-son wearing it. “We want to give our customers a

modern touch of classical style pearl - more con-temporary and playful. I combined it with pre-cious stones, gold and diamonds. We even usedmulticolor sapphires, rubies, emeralds and tan-zanite which is a very intense blue color. Peoplethink of pearls as a grandmotherly or boring, butthis time they are lively and very colorful. Wereinvented and mixed them with colors, so thedesigns are gorgeous, fashionable and attractive- really a timeless symbol of elegance,” Gaia stat-ed.

Women usually match jewelry with theirattractive dresses. They also match themdepending on the occasion, mood or whetherthe event is at night or daytime. “We have kindsof pearls that will match every occasion. Peoplein this part of the world are interested in yellow

gold pearls. These are very attractive, and comefrom Philippines and Indonesia. We combinedthem with white pearls from Australia. Diamondsand gold are also included - the result is reallyamazing, just the way you see it,” she said.

Pearl productionPearl products vary depending on the coun-

try of origin and the condition of the sea/oceanbed, their temperature and how fine the weatheris. “The best pearl and a favorite of Gulf peoplesare the yellowish or golden pearls from thePhilippines and Indonesia. The white pearls fromAustralia are also very attractive and usually big.Tahiti and Polynesia produce stunning blackpearls. We tried cultivating pearls in theMediterranean Sea, but the result wasn’t good,

so we stopped,” Gaia revealed. Gaia’s companystarted in Italy by her great-grandfather after theWorld War 2. The first collection her companyproduced was called ‘Legato’ which is a criss-crossing of vine branches in Tuscan countryside.One of the most successful lines her companyproduced was ‘Bolero’ inspired by the freshnessof jasmine flowers. Gaia’s latest collection iscalled ‘Claire De Lune’. Claire De Lune is a poetrydedicated to moon. “Utopia pearls have identity -there is an imprint that is to be found in everyjewelry collection. Pearl has a soul and each oneis completely different. We want this uniquenessto come alive in our collections,” she promised.Her Utopia brand is well-known all over theworld with a strong presence in Europe, MiddleEast, Asia and the Americas.

‘Utopia’ jewelry brand enters Kuwaiti market

Range available at all Damas stores

KUWAIT: Chief Executive Officer Anna Gaia with a Utopia necklace. — Photos by Yasser Al-ZayyatMohammad Gazzaz, Regional Manager (right) with Majdi Abdullah, Damas Area Sales Manager at ArrayaCenter during the launch.

KUWAIT: The Health Ministry signed acontract yesterday for designing,equipping and maintaining the newFarwaniya Hospital expansion projectat a cost of KD 265 million. HealthMinister Ali Al-Obaidi said during thesigning of the contract with SayyedHameed Behbehani and Sons Co thatthe hospital includes all specialties,allied medicine as well as schoolhealth services, in addition to a den-tistry building which will have 100specialized clinics as well as 30 clinicsfor school health. The project includesphysiotherapy and outpatient build-ings, in addition to 27 operation the-aters and 233 ICU beds, Kuwait NewsAgency (KUNA) reported. Obaidi said

the project is expected to be finishedwithin four year.

New projectsCurrently, there are approximately

15 public hospitals in Kuwait (notcounting the armed forces hospital)with a 5,350 bed capacity. The Ministryof Health plans to construct eight newhospitals to raise total bed capacity toaround 11,000 by 2016.

Farwaniya Hospital’s expansion ispart of ambitious projects that includea new hospital expansion in Jahra,expansions of the Amiri and AdanHospitals and a revamp of Al Razi andIbn Sina hospitals as well as the con-struction of the new Jaber Al Ahmed

Hospital. The Jaber Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Hospital in South Surra willinclude a 1,500 bed hospital, staff anddoctor’s residency building, servicesand power building, laundry building,engineering workshop, medical gasbuilding, ground water tank, a multi-storey garage, and a 3-storey under-ground car park building havingcapacity of 7000 cars. The JahraHospital expansion project includesthe construction of 1,171 bed hospitalwith seven distinct buildings includingthe main building, a dental center, anadministration building, a service cen-ter, two car parks, one for public with acapacity of 2900 cars and one for hos-pital staff with a capacity for 1660 cars.In late July, Burhan InternationalConstruction Company, part of the AlWazzan Group, won the main tenderfor the construction of the JahraHospital, expected to cost around KD360 million.

Healthcare insuranceKuwait also plans to reform the

public healthcare insurance by estab-lishing a public-private health carecompany that will issue all healthinsurance for expatriates. Currently, allexpatriates are required as part of theirresidency to pay for state health insur-ance. Kuwait has also taken measuresto begin separating public health careservices provided for locals and expa-triates, with evening hours nowassigned for expats and morninghours for locals in the Jahra gover-norate health sector.

There is also a growing privatehealth sector, with more than 20 pri-vate hospitals and clinics providing arange of services for both locals andexpatriates in Kuwait.

KD 265 million hospital

expansion contract signed

Project finished in four years

KUWAIT: Minister Ali Al-Obaidi (right) and representative of SayyedHameed Behbehani and Sons Co sign the contracts. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Public Authority forHousing Welfare (PAHW) will distributethe ninth batch of ‘government hous-es’ in Sabah Al-Ahmad City, the author-ity announced yesterday.

A total of 210 houses, each of a600-square-meter space, will be hand-ed over to the citizens, PAHW said in astatement yesterday. It called on those

whose names are mentioned in theannouncement of eligible applicantsto report to the PAHW headquarters inSouth Surra, noting that they shouldcarry necessary papers with them. Theauthority warned that names of thosewho would fail to show up would bedeleted from the list of citizens eligibleto be given residential units, that the

absentee’s name would not be includ-ed in the next announcement unlessreasons for failure to turn-up havebeen clarified.

Separately, the PAHW reportedsigning a contract with a local compa-ny to establish utility facilities andpublic buildings as well as demarcat-ing separation lines of plots at the siteof Abu Hlaifa residential project.

The KD 2.194 million contract willbe implemented in 540 days, covering171 plots, each of a 400-sq-m space.Infrastructural work, as stipulated bythe contract, includes building stores,power relay stations and a mosque.

Paper price of the plot is set at KD15,000. Benefactors cannot relinquish,swap or sell the plot before 10 yearsafter taking delivery of the unit.

The State of Kuwait offers housingunits to citizens on basis of long-termsoft loans. The units are either in theform of built houses or land plots.

With population growth, residentialdistricts have been expanded and newones have been built with full, inte-grated utilities, public parks, clinicsand cooperative stores as well as othermodern facilities. — KUNA

KUWAIT: One lucky customer from The CommercialBank of Kuwait was chosen as the winner of thePriceless Arabia “Win A Trip Around The World” cam-paign from MasterCard. Hassan Habeeb Al-Qalaf wasthe only winner chosen from Kuwait to enjoy an all-expense paid trip to London, New York, Sydney andSingapore.

To be able to participate in the ‘Win A Trip AroundThe World’ campaign, a customer must spend above KD20 overseas with their MasterCard debit or credit cardand they will automatically enter the draw. Other Arab

countries like the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon andQatar also participated in the campaign and winnerswere chosen from each country to go on this once in alifetime trip. The prize contains two airplane tickets,accommodation at premium hotels, airport transfersand a guided tour in each city.

Qallaf used his @Tijari card outside of Kuwait whichled him to win this amazing prize. It should be notedthat @Tijari is a savings account designed for customersaged 15 to 21 years old with the intent to help establishtheir future and pave the way to success.

CBK customer wins

‘Trip Around the World’

Authority distributes new

housing units to citizens

Kuwait notifies WIPO of

conventions endorsement

GENEVA: The State of Kuwait yesterday delivered documents stipulating itsendorsement of the Paris Convention for the Protection of IndustrialProperty and the Bern Convention of Protection of Literary and Artisticworks.

The move will contribute to improving atmosphere for foreign invest-ments in Kuwait, said Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghanim, Kuwait’s PermanentDelegate at the United Nations, in remarks to KUNA. It will also pave theway for Kuwait to join other treaties in this respect.

Moreover, the step will help in promoting Kuwait’s approach towardmaintaining respect for rights of foreigners and boosting confidence in theintellectual rights’ system in Kuwait, the envoy said.

The 1833 Paris convention tackles diverse issues such as patents, rightsof designing and trademarks. The other treaty addresses issues concerningrights of composers, literary and intellectual producers. — KUNA


CrimeR e p o r t

Kuwait among world’s highest with foreign born residents

CrimeR e p o r t

Hit-and-run suspect caught

Ranks third behind UAE, Qatar

Search for conmen

An Arab accountant disappeared with KD 33,000 he wassupposed to deposit in his company’s account. The com-pany’s legal advisor filed a complaint and the account-ant is being sought by detectives. Separately, a Kuwaiticitizen accused her two partners of conning her out ofKD 39,000, but the two strongly denied the charge. Thecitizen told Hawally police that she owns a business ofteaching trading in the stock market, and she had a part-ner who appointed his brother as manager. She said shewas surprised by the disappearance of more than KD39,000, and accused the two brothers of manipulatingrecords. The two denied any wrongdoing and claimedthat they spent the money on the project. Investigationsare underway.

KUWAIT: A Syrian driver who hit an Indian family inDhahr and escaped was arrested and charged with hit-and-run. The accident took place on King Fahd Road. TheIndian man, his wife and their two children were takento Adan Hospital for treatment of injuries they received.

KUWAIT: According to the Pew ResearchCenter, the United Arab Emirates has thehighest share of foreign-born people (84percent of its resident population). Thenext three highest - Qatar (74 percent),

Kuwait (60 percent) and Bahrain (55 per-cent) - also are in the Arabian Gulf area.Immigrants in the UAE and neighboringcountries come from many differentplaces, but the largest numbers are from

India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The for-eign-born population has grown bynearly 500% in recent decades, from 1.3million in 1990 to 7.8 million in 2013.Based on UN Population division data.

Health area employee held for theft

Cross-dresser arrested

Police in Mangaf asked a girl to stop her car, butthey were surprised by her attempting to escape, sothey chased and arrested her. When they checkedthe ID, they were surprised to find she was a male inwomen’s clothing and makeup. He was also foundwanted on several cases. He was taken to criminaldetectives.

Wife reported missing

An Iraqi man told Taima police that his 22-year-old wifewent missing. Detectives are working on the case.

Domestic violence

A citizen beat his wife black and blue because she left thehouse without his permission. The battered wife went toRumaithiya police station and told them she had to leavewith her sister. When she returned, she found her husbandat home, who was very angry and beat her. He is beingsummoned for questioning. —Al-Rai

Hawally campaign

Hawally security carried out a traffic and securitycampaign, during which 29 people were arrestedfor violating residency laws, 21 for absconding and38 for carrying no identifications. Meanwhile, 58persons were arrested and sent to the deportationcenter. In addition, 386 reports were received, 80traffic citations were issued, and 352 traffic acci-dents were handled.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Interior Ministry Authorities solved the case ofcomputer thefts from Sabah health area warehouses.The culprit is a citizen who works in the same depart-ment, and told authorities about a jakhour (animal pen)when he stashed the stolen items. He said a driver andtwo workers helped without knowing what they weredoing is illegal. A security source said all employeeswere suspected as detectives found that the warehousewas opened by a key, so all were questioned and thecitizen confessed. The citizen had stolen 68 laptopsfrom the IT center of the health ministry.

Passenger offended

A citizen who arrived at Kuwait airport accused anemployee of insulting him, when she asked him,“What’s wrong with you, are you a fool?” as shethought he did not stamp his passport. He toldJleeb Al-Shuyoukh police that the incident tookplace while heading towards the exit. Police areinvestigating.

Maids office, client row

Two citizens exchanged blows because of a disputeover a domestic helper who was reported abscondingby one of them. A citizen returned the maid to an officewhich brought her from abroad, because he no longerwanted her. When the office owner refused to take herback, the sponsor filed an absconding complaint. Theoffice owner, in order to get out of trouble, attemptedto find another sponsor. Her original sponsor came toknow about it, so he went to him and things escalatedto exchanging blows. Police are investigating.

Drug dealer in police net

Criminal detectives arrested a Jordanian man for sellingherbs, only to discover they were narcotic, and he wassent to criminal investigators. The arrest happened after acitizen told criminal detectives that an expat conned herwhen he sold her medical herbs for KD 700, becausewhen she used them, she had strange feelings includingheadache and tension. Detectives called the suspect andmade an agreement to buy his herbs. They then arrestedhim and went to his Salmiya flat and found herbal mate-rials, which they sent to criminal evidence and foundwere illicit. The Jordanian denied knowledge of the herbsbeing narcotic. He was sent to the public prosecution.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace yester-day a number of Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) offi-cials, including Director General Maj General YousefAbdullah Al-Ansari, Deputy Director General for Controland Human Resources Development Brigadier KhaledRakan Al-Mekrad, and Deputy General Manager forPrevention Sector Brigadier Khalid Al-Zaid.

Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Ministerof Justice Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah also attended the meeting.

HH the Prime Minister lauded the high efficiency anddistinguished efforts of KFSD staff towards their home-land and citizens. The officials gave Sheikh Jaber detailedbooks about developing fire safety and protection stan-dards. —KUNA

PM receives KFSD officials

Sulfur warehouse fire put out: KNPC

KUWAIT: Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC)announced yesterday that it completed the process ofextinguishing the fire that broke out at Al-Ahmadi refin-ery’s sulfur warehouse and occurred last Sunday evening.

The official spokesman the Executive Vice President ofSupport Services in KNPC, Engineer Khalid Al-Sanosi, toldKUNA the fire has been finally extinguished and was putunder control early yesterday morning.

He also explained that the fire took time to put out dueto the presence of flammable substances, adding thatthere were no injuries reported amongst the firefighterspartaking in the operation. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (right) and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah withthe KFSD officials during the meeting. —KUNA

EPA approves statement onenvironmental improvements

‘Green Line’ slams oil ministerKUWAIT: The Environment Protection Agency has con-firmed the Cabinet’s statement on Kuwait’s improvingrecord in the 2014 Environmental Performance Index,which ranks how well nations perform on high-priorityenvironmental issues.

Kuwait achieved a “quantum leap” in the report con-ducted by both the Yale Center for Environmental Law andPolicy and the Center for International Earth ScienceInformation Network at Columbia University, said an EPAstatement.

The EPA went on to stress the validity of the statementsmade by State Minister for National Assembly Affairs,Minister of Oil and President of the Supreme Council forthe Environment Ali Al-Omair, saying that any counterarguments to his suggestions “defy the truth.”

Furthermore, the full details of the improvementsKuwait has made on the report will be clarified in a pressconference on Sunday, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)reported quoting the statement.

The EPA added that it has taken legal action on thosewho have “distorted the facts” in their actions which haveharmed the reputation and international position ofKuwait, warning that information on environmental affairsshould be obtained from accurate sources.

False informationThe Green Line Group had urged the state’s prime min-

ister to suspend Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair for allegedly pro-viding false information during a recent Cabinet meetingabout the environmental situation in Kuwait. “Omair’sreport to the Cabinet was untrue and instead of gettinginformation through accredited environmental bodies, hegave false data about Kuwait’s environmental performanceindex,” the group said. It pointed out that such incorrectinformation may be misleading to decision makers andthat the minister should be held accountable for it.Furthermore, the Green Line promised to hold a relatedpress conference on Sunday and, called for considering itas a formal report to the public prosecutor and the anti-corruption authority.

Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair

quoted in local Arabic dailies saidthat by checking those companies’files on the MSAL database, theywere found idle without beingupdated and the locations of many ofthem were missing, which wouldmake them hard to inspect. Thesources said that many of the con-cerned companies did not actuallyneed all the workers they sponsored,so upon strict instructions from minis-ter Hind Al-Subaih, any company sus-pected to be involved in human traf-ficking would be immediately referred for investigations.

On another issue, a slight change was made to the conditions oftransferring article 20 visas into 18 to work for the private sectorwhich was opened Aug 17 for three months. The condition of havingto spend one year working for the last sponsor before transfer waschanged to ‘spending a minimum of one year in Kuwait’.

Meanwhile, Subaih stressed that it was time Kuwait’s demogra-phy imbalances were solved through fighting visa traffickers whobring thousands of marginal and unnecessary workers to Kuwait,which results in creating security problems and overwhelms publicservices. —Al-Jarida, Al-Rai

5,000 companies’ files permanently suspended

Visa transfer condition changedKUWAIT: The Manpower Public Authority has permanently suspend-ed the files of 5,000 private companies for violating law number6/2010 which regulates private companies’ work. Unnamed sources

Minister Hind Al-Subaih

LO C A LTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir andCrown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah held a function to welcomeparticipants in the 26th Memorial Journey ofPearl Diving at Bayan Palace yesterday.

The ceremony was attended by Ministerof Information and Minister of State forYouth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-SalemAl-Humoud Al-Sabah, and Chairman of theBoard of Directors of the Public Authority forYouth and Sports (PAYS) Sheikh AhmadMansour Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The attendants also included PAYSDeputy Chairman Ahmad Al-Khazal,President of Kuwait Sea Sport Club (KSSC)retired major general Fahad Al-Fahd, KSSCboard members and a number of Kuwaitiand Gulf boat captains and divers who par-took in the journey.

HH the Deputy Amir, Minister of State forYouth Affairs and President of KSSC deliv-ered speeches on the occasion.

Then divers displayed a number ofmemorial photos documenting their partici-pation in 26th Memorial Journey of PearlDiving. Before leaving, the attending Omanidivers presented a memorial gift to HH theDeputy Amir.

The journey is organized each year by theCommittee of the Marine Heritage of theKuwait Sea Sport Club, under the Patronageof HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It was held this year fromAugust 14 to 21.

Preserving heritageIn his speech, HH the Deputy Amir

underlined the importance of preservingnational heritage and identity. He alsohailed the activities and events that aremeant to revive and celebrate the traditionsof the ancestors who endured hardshipsand risked their lives to pursue a decent lifethrough their journeys in search of pearls inthe waters of the Gulf.

HH Sheikh Nawaf spoke highly aboutyouth’s loyalty to their heritage and their

readiness to partake in an adventure torevive it.

He also praised youth’s efforts to provethe memorial journey a real success andwished the whole team more successes inthe future. HH the Deputy Amir also con-veyed to the attendants the greetings andcongratulations of HH the Amir SheikhSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

He welcomed the participation of a num-ber of divers from the Kingdom of Bahrainand Sultanate of Oman which embodied thedepth of brotherly historic relationsbetween the GCC countries.

During the yearly memorial journey,young participants are reminded of the diffi-culties Kuwaiti sailors faced before oil hadbeen discovered, along with the traditions

their ancestors developed during thesetimes.

The young divers revisit the hardshipsfaced by Kuwait’s forefathers and celebratethe values instilled within them from theirsacrifices. Values such as patience, coopera-tion, self-reliance and having faith in Godthat holds true to this day.

Unlimited supportFor his part, Minister of State for Youth

Affairs Sheikh Salman cheered HH the Amirand HH the Deputy’s reception of the organ-izers and participants in the journey.

He also expressed gratitude for Kuwaitileadership unlimited support to the eventwhich reminds the new generations of thehardships endured by the forefathers.

He pointed out that the annual journey isa translation of Kuwaiti leaders’ directivesregarding promotion and commemorationof national and Arab Gulf heritage.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Kuwait SeaSport Club, the journey organizer, ret majorgeneral Fahad Al-Fahad said that the jour-ney, thanks to the government support andyouth efforts, has become a major eventafter its impressive success in the past years.

He added the Club is keen on organiz-ing and sponsoring events that help shedlight on and revive Kuwaitis’ sea heritageand raise awareness about the importanceof marine life and ecosystem. In this regard,he unveiled a new campaign to educatepeople about to preserve the Kuwaitecosystem. — KUNA

Deputy Amir welcomes PearlDiving Journey participants

Lessons learned from ancestors’ struggle

KUWAIT: HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, senior officials and the young divers in a group photo. — KUNA

Sheikha Hessa Al-Sabah

CAIRO: Council of ArabBusinesswomen has re-electedSheikha Hessa Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabahfor another four-year term asits president.

This announcement wasmade yesterday during thefifth meeting of the council atthe Arab League Headquartersin Cairo. Sheikha Hessa hasbeen president of the councilsince its inception in 1999.

Other than re-electing itspresident and its 24 members,the meeting also elected someof prominent businesswomenin the Arab world as honorarymembers for their supportingrole to other businesswomen.These ladies are: Sheikha Aishabint Salman Al Khalifa andSheikha Aisa bint Ali Al Khalifafrom (Bahrain), Muna JamalAbdulnasser and RawyaMensour (Egypt), Salwa SalehAl-Shibani (UAE), andAmbassador Nancy Bakir(Jordan).

The meeting also has cho-sen a number of leadingwomen as advisors in thecouncil for their long experi-ence in serving their commu-nities. Dr Hessa Majid Al-Shaheen from Kuwait wasnominated to become an advi-sor for the council’s socialaffairs and GCC relations.

As for the council’s coordi-nators, Hanan Al-Rifai, NajatAbdullah Dashti, and BushraAl-Hazeem were chosen fromKuwait to coordinate the coun-cil’s various public relationsactivities and events.

The meeting also discussedan administration report for(2010-2014) that shed light onall of the council’s activities insupporting women in the eco-nomic and trade fields.

Another report was alsotackled which focused on thecouncil’s financial matters frombudgets to investments. ArabCouncil of Businesswomen iseconomic association Arabnon-governmental and not-for-profit operating under theauspices of the League of ArabStates.

It aims at creating closerlinks and cooperation in vari-ous economic sectors toachieve Arab economic inte-gration and strengthening eco-nomic relations between Arabbusinesswomen. — KUNA

SheikhaHessare-elected


Al-Fateh News Agency recently showed a reportabout Amir Ahmed, a 11-year-old child whoseparents were killed in the recent Gaza war,

leaving him to take care of his five younger siblings.The news agency actually interviewed him while hewas carrying his four-month-old sister. He said hewould teach her to call him Mom and Dad before heinnocently remarked that he was very scared and didnot know he would face this cruel life without his par-ents. In fact, there are 1,500 other similar stories thatmatch the total number of children who got orphanedduring this recent foray or previous ones in Gaza.

Well, while we are in the process of evaluating theresults of this war, we need to highlight the differencebetween permanent and temporary ‘victories’. SomeIsraelis temporarily left their houses and returned tofind them unharmed, which is the opposite of whathappened to 17,000 Palestinian houses that werecompletely destroyed and wiped out, instantly killingtheir inhabitants. Similar to Saddam’s rockets, 20,000rockets were fired from Gaza without killing a singleIsraeli. Ben Gurion airport was temporarily closed toair traffic just the way any airport does when coveredwith thick fog, but was later reopened in full while the‘victorious’ side failed to have the ‘defeated’ Israelisallow them open Gaza airport permanently, build aharbor, release prisoners or fulfill any of the many ofthe demands they could have got through peacefulnegotiations without any wars!

People are widely complaining in Gaza because ofthe celebrations, shooting to express joy and distrib-uting sweets without any consideration for the feel-ings of over 2,100 martyrs and 10,000 wounded peo-ple and devastated 17,000 houses. Some of themeven said that ever since Hamas took over in Gaza,they have been through three wars that failed to liber-ate any lands or achieve any demands. “The siegewent on and the Strip turned into a miserable largeprison, thanks to Hamas and Israel and their wars,”they said.

Some people believe that the public execution of18 young Palestinians was meant to terrify Gaza peo-ple and prevent them from complaining or rebelling.Readymade accusations of treason are being madewithout trials and such public executions are to pre-vent inquiries about the kind of victory achieved inGaza when Israelis only lost 60 people compared to2,100 Palestinians. Celebrations have started whilethose people’s blood is still wet. What kind of celebra-tions are they when one-third of Gazans are displacedand thousands of orphans are dumped in the streets?!A big victory was achieved in Gaza for sure, but thequestion is: Was this victory over Israel or over the dis-tressed people of Gaza?!

—Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa

Gaza foray’s

other side

kuwait digest

By Sami Al-Nisf The US administration is either extremely stupid andcontradictory or is about to impose another satanicpolitical plot in the region. Either way, it is the Arab

peoples who are going to pay a dear price. The US isworking on creating an international alliance to fight ISunder a Security Council umbrella though IS is just a ter-rorist group that does not represent any country or gov-ernment. Many countries, including UK, France, Italy,Canada and Australia immediately responded to USorders in this regard and the offensives will all be stagedin Iraq and Syria, which is the bottom line of the wholething.

The US was one of the countries that supportedarmed terrorist groups in Syria for four years providingthem with financial, logistic and armament support thatdirectly and systematically pours in by Washington’sregional allies, namely from Turkey, Jordan and some GCCstates.

On the other hand, these groups grew and com-menced their terrorist activity in Iraq in the presence ofUS troops. Washington’s decision to dissolve the Iraqiarmy made some of its generals turn into a nucleus forthe IS ‘army’. This organization’s political and religiousicons were those arrested by the Americans and the Iraqigovernment to be later on released in deals and underclear political pressure to start a series of US-supervisedmeetings with these organizations in Turkey and Jordan.

US Vice President Joe Biden clearly spoke about theUS strategy to divide Iraq and oust the Syrian regime.And in just four years, IS turned into a richly-financedmilitary force claiming to get such funds from oil theymanage to smuggle from Iraqi and Syrian oilfields andexport it to Europe and the US through Turkey despitethe great experience the US and its European allies havein imposing economic sanctions and boycotts as well asmonitoring banks and accounts in their own home coun-tries and the US capability to tap even the most securetelephones and Internet used by heads of states andgovernments.

All of a sudden, the US government wants to fight ISand impose economic sanctions on it, and all of a sud-den, British and French leaders announce that IS affiliatesmight be present on London and Paris streets! If the Westis sincere in launching war against IS terrorism, why don’tthey hold a press conference to declare informationabout countries and individuals who have been fundingthose terrorists, arming them and facilitating their entrythrough borders from Central Asia to Morocco, and whohas been buying the oil they stole if the target was reallylaunching a global war on terrorism?!

What is the secret behind the US’ secret operations inSyria? Do American fighters really target and strike ISpositions or just take advantage to strike Syrian armypositions to continue the plan set by the Obama admin-istration two years ago? What is the secret behind quick-ly and intensively arming the Kurdish peshmergas forfree while a $6-billion weapons deal for the Iraqi armywas stalled though the amount had been paid in fullyears ago?!

—Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Jarida

US war on IS

kuwait digest

By Dr Hassan Jouhar

Thousands of children were killed in wars in Syria,Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, as well as Palestine inthe past few years. Last year alone, 1,200 children,

along with their parents and entire families, were killedafter Aleppo and other areas in Syria were attacked withchemical weapons. In Iraq, noone is counting the hundredsof thousands of children andtheir families who were killedin recent years anymore. InGaza, nearly 3,000 were killedduring the most recent war,one third of whom are chil-dren.

Those children, whetherthe ones who were killed andthose who are still alive inArab countries, never enjoythe level of luxury that theirpeers in Gulf states - relatively- and Western countries do.The standards of luxurious living in modern societiesinclude providing materialistic requirements of life suchas social security and healthcare, education, high livingstandards, consumer products and accessories, accessto social networks and openness to other civilizations,

as well as equality between the principles of nationalityand equality.

All that is absent from the lives of children, and evenadults, in countries were struggles continue in theirugliest shapes and forms. Diseases are spreading due to

lack of healthcare, and levelsof education, which is a rightof every child, are dropping,and kids are being deprivedfrom access to telecommuni-cation.

Children of war in our Arabstates, after the end of con-flicts, need a lot of care inorder to help them put thehideous events that theyexperienced behind them.That includes children wholost a parent, relative, friend oreven a part of their bodies.The story of children of war

needs a lot of care from researchers, therapists and phi-lanthropists do adopt their cases and establish schoolsfor them and homes that help them live a normal lifeagain, and work on building their present and future.

— Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Qabas

Children of war

kuwait digest

By Dr Mohammad Al-Shaibani

As support for the Islamist Hamas movement soars inboth the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, members ofthe rival Fatah movement charge they have been

harassed, beaten, and in some cases, even killed by mem-bers of the Islamist Hamas movement. The allegationscould threaten a unity government between Hamas andFatah that was inaugurated in June to heal the longstand-ing rifts between the two factions.

A Fatah government employee who nominally worksfor the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah but lives inGaza spoke on condition of anonymity saying that hefeared Hamas would attack his family. He said that he wasone of dozens of Fatah members who was mistreated byHamas during the recent fighting between Israel andHamas. He said Hamas gunmen threatened to kill him sev-eral times for participating in activities run by Fatah, whoseleader is Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.The government employee claims that “thousands” ofFatah supporters have been attacked physically or verballysince then. About 100,000 Gaza residents officially work forthe PA in Ramallah and continue to receive salaries,although they are not able to fulfill their duties.

The man says just before the Israeli assault on Gaza,Hamas did not allow him to leave the densely populatedGaza Strip. Still, he said he considers himself to be a luckyman. On July 25th, he says his friend was shopping with hischildren when masked men “shot and killed him in coldblood.” He is convinced the murderers were members ofHamas because they had threatened to kill the man, a fel-low member of Fatah, a number of times.

The Fatah government employee says that at least 30Fatah members were abused by Hamas during the fightingwith Israel. Dozens of Fatah supporters were placed underhouse arrest. Several were shot in the leg. There have alsobeen reports that some of the more than 24 Palestinianskilled during the recent fighting as collaborators with Israel,may have been members of Fatah, not collaborators.

“Hamas acted in the same barbaric way in 2009 and2012 without ever giving any reasons,” the man said, refer-ring to two previous conflicts with Israel. “Nobody can for-get the Fatah blood they spilled after their 2007 coup d’e-tat.”

In June, 2007, Hamas took over Gaza and fought withFatah supporters. The International Committee of the RedCross said at least 118 Palestinians, most of them Fatahsupporters, were killed, and 550 wounded. Since then,Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has not visitedGaza, fearing for his safety.

“They are just closed minded, unethical racist peoplewho discriminate against non-Hamas people,” the Fatahsource said. “Hamas supporters believe God has chosenthem to be a negotiator on his behalf.”

Hamas officials vehemently deny all of these allega-tions.

“You only have to look on the ground to see that we arehaving meetings, whether it is in Doha between (Hamasofficial) Abu Walid (Khalid Mashal) and Abu Mazen,(Mahmoud Abbas), Cairo or Gaza,” Hamas spokesman FawziBarhoum said. “What is official is the respect between us,the positive position, the understanding to work for thebenefit of all Palestinian people.”

Mending tiesBut Fatah officials say that the cease-fire between Israel

and Hamas is a good opportunity to mend the tiesbetween the two movements.

“Some mistakes were committed during the war thatare not compatible with the reconciliation we have withHamas,” Fatah spokesman Abdullah Abdullah said. “We aretelling them that these things have to stop if we are tocontinue working together as partners and respect thispartnership.”

Abdullah said that political detainees from Fatah werenot allowed to leave prison during the war and otherswere placed under house arrest.

“This was dangerous because the jails were potentialtargets for the Israeli war planes,” he said.

He also accuses Hamas of “mishandling humanitarianaid,” meaning keeping it for themselves instead of distrib-uting it to the poor in gaza.

Barhoum says that Abdullah is simply lying“Hamas did not do any of what it has been accused of

during the war. We have no involvement in what is beingsaid about it,” Barhom insisted. “Hamas has always held thehighest regard for Fatah.”

He also denied that Hamas gunmen ever opened fire atFatah members during the war and challenged Fatah tocome forward with names of those men Hamas allegedlykilled.

“Many times, we asked for their names and till nowthey have not told us who these people are,” saidBarhoum. “There are some in Fatah who want to createbarriers between Hamas and Fatah and so they come upwith baseless accusations which benefit neither side.”

The Fatah source living in Gaza challenged Hamas toconduct an investigation into their treatment of Fatah dur-ing the fighting with Israel. “Why have they prevented thepress from covering some areas in Gaza?” he asked.“Hamas should treat people better, not humiliate or hurtthem.”

Relinquishing controlPalestinian political analyst Abdelmajeed Sweilem says

he expects to see more tensions between Hamas andFatah, because Hamas has realized that it will have to relin-quish some of its control in Gaza.

“We have yet to see real unity,” he said. He also said thatHamas is more interested in “congratulating each otherover a victory than fulfilling its obligations and responsibili-ties towards the unity government but namely the people.”

A Palestinian delegation from all factions is scheduledto go to Cairo in the upcoming weeks for talks on out-standing issues such as a seaport in Gaza. Kais Abdelkarim,one of the five negotiators, and a member of the smallDemocratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, says hebelieves the rift between Fatah and Hamas is temporary.

“We are in contact with both sides. We are doing ourbest to contain it,” he said. Abu Leila, as he is knownamong Palestinians, says reconciliation is not in troublebecause “both Hamas and Fatah are holding on to unity ofthe Palestinian delegation for the negotiations.”

—The Media Line

Hamas abused political rivals in Gaza

in my view

By Abdullah Erakat

Al-W

atan

Children, whether the oneswho were killed and those whoare still alive in Arab countries,never enjoy the level of luxurythat their peers in Gulf states

and Western countries do.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Abe picks China-friendly lawmakers to key posts

Page 12

Islamic militants killed hundreds of Iraqi troopsPage 8

DONETSK: Local residents watch as a column of Ukrainian tanks travel in the Donetsk region yesterday. Beleaguered Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced yesterday that he and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putinhad agreed a surprise truce in Ukraine’s four-month war with pro-Moscow rebels. But the Kremlin immediately denied any formal agreement and stressed that Russia played no role in the conflict despite Western claims that it hasorchestrated the insurgency tearing apart the ex-Soviet state. — AFP

KIEV: Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk yesterdayrejected a ceasefire plan unveiled by Russian PresidentVladimir Putin as an attempt to deceive the West aboutMoscow’s real intentions.

“This latest plan is another attempt to pull the wool overthe eyes of the international community ahead of the NATOsummit and an attempt to avert the EU’s inevitable decisionto unleash a new wave of sanctions against Russia,” he said ina statement.

“The best plan for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine hasonly one single element-for Russia to withdraw its troops, itsmercenaries and its terrorists from Ukrainian territory.”

His comments come despite Ukrainian President PetroPoroshenko saying he and Putin had agreed on the peaceplan aimed at ending the near five-month conflict in easternUkraine.

The proposal, detailed by Putin on the eve of the NATOsummit in Wales opening today, is due to be discussed onFriday by the so-called Ukraine Contact Group, whichincludes representatives of Kiev, separatist rebels, Moscowand the pan-european security body the OSCE.

NATO is planning a rapid reaction force of thousands oftroops to reinforce its eastern flank, a move Russia says is evi-dence of the alliance’s desire to aggravate tensions withMoscow.

Delivery of warship suspendedFrance said yesterday “conditions” were not in place to

deliver the first of two Mistral-class warships to Russia, amove planned later this year that has sparked controversygiven the crisis in Ukraine.

“The President of the Republic declared that, despite theprospect of a ceasefire which still remains to be confirmedand implemented, the conditions for France to deliver thefirst warship are not to date in place,” Francois Hollande’soffice said in a statement, on the eve of a major NATO sum-mit.

The situation in Ukraine is “serious... the actions takenrecently by Russia in Eastern Ukraine go against the founda-tions of Europe’s security,” added the statement, issued after ameeting of France’s defence council.

France agreed in 2011 to build and sell the two advancedhelicopter assault ships to Russia for a total of 1.2 billioneuros ($1.6 billion) with the first scheduled for delivery inOctober or November and the second in 2015.

However, Hollande acknowledged in a recent interview inLe Monde daily that “if there was additional tension and itwas impossible to find a way out, we would have to thinkabout it”.

That interview was carried out before widespread accusa-tions that Russia had sent troops into Eastern Ukraine.

The United States has already taken aim at the proposedsales, with President Barack Obama expressing “concerns”and saying it would have been better to “hit the pause but-ton” on the deal.

Since the beginning of the summer, some 400 Russiansailors have been training in Western France on the operation

of the first warship, named “Vladivostok”.

Military drillsThe concern in France, which is suffering from record-high

unemployment and stagnant growth, is that it not only losesthe receipts from this sale but also that its credibility as aweapons exporter is compromised.

Meanwhile, Ukraine will host US-led military drills laterthis month as Kiev’s army fights pro-Moscow rebels in theeast of the country, the Polish defence ministry said yester-day. The US military-led exercises, dubbed “Rapid Trident 14”,are to be held September 13-26 in western regions borderingNATO-member Poland, the ministry said in a statement.

Soldiers from fellow NATO allies Britain, Bulgaria, Estonia,

Germany, Lithuania, Romania and alliance partners Norwayand Moldova will join US and Polish troops for the annualevent in Ukraine, which is not in NATO.

“They will conduct cordon and search patrols and trainingmissions during the first week, as well as medical evacuationand convoys and the detection and prevention of improvisedexplosive devices (IED),” the ministry said. — AFP

Ukraine PM rejects Putin ceasefire plan Paris suspends delivery of warship to Russia over Ukraine

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s religious policeissued a rare apology yesterday aftermembers roughed up a British residentof Riyadh over paying at a women-onlycash desk.

The Commission of the Promotion ofVir tue and the Prevention of Vice,known unofficially as Mutawaa, alsovowed to punish the assailants, after aninvestigation prompted by a YouTube

video showing members attacking theman and his Saudi wife.

The video showed a commissionagent jump out of his car and attack theBriton and a woman in black abayacloak outside a supermarket.

The commission said in a statementthat the investigation proved its patrolhad violated instructions and “escalated”the incident after members spotted the

man paying at a female-only cash desk.Only women are allowed to pay at

females-only cash desks in the king-dom. A man accompanied by femalefamily members can stop at such desksso long as a woman deals with thecashier.

The commission said the patrol “hadno authority” to question the man’sright to pay at the desk, especially after

it was clear that his wife was accompa-nying him, adding that mall securityshould handle such a situation.

“The commission apologises to theresident and his wife,” it said, insistingthe act was an “isolated” incident. Itsaid that four members involved in theattack were pulled from the patrolsservice and posted to desk positions inareas outside the capital.

Local press said the Briton is a con-vert to Islam, a longtime resident of thekingdom and married to a Saudiwoman.

Commission members enforce astrict segregation of the sexes and havetraditionally forced women to coverfrom head-to-toe when in public. Theyalso patrol shops to make sure they areshuttered during prayer times. —AFP

Saudi religious police in rare apology after Briton beating

SANAA: Supporters of the Shiite Huthi movement with their faces painted inthe colours of their national flag shout slogans rejecting the presidentialoverture to replace the government and reduce a disputed fuel price hikeduring an anti-government demonstration in Sanaa yesterday. —AFP

BAGHDAD: Militants from theIslamic State group carried out amass killing of hundreds of Iraqi sol-diers captured when the extremistsoverran a military base north ofBaghdad in June, a leading interna-tional watchdog said yesterday.

The incident at Camp Speicher,an air base that previously served asa US military facility, was one of theworst atrocities perpetrated by theIslamic State group in its lightningoffensive that seized large swaths of

northern and western Iraq.According to Human Rights

Watch, new evidence indicates theIslamic State fighters killed between560 and 770 men captured at CampSpeicher, near the city of Tikrit - afigure several times higher thanwhat was initially reported.

“These are horrific and massiveabuses, atrocities by the IslamicState, and on a scale that clearly ris-es to the crimes against humanity,”Fred Abrahams, special HRW adviser,told reporters in the northern city ofIrbil yesterday.

The al-Qaeda-breakaway claimedin mid-June that it had “executed”about 1,700 soldiers and military

personnel from Camp Speicher.The group also posted graphic

photos that appeared to show itsgunmen massacring scores of Iraqisoldiers after loading the captivesonto flatbed trucks and then forcingthem to lie face-down in a shallowditch, their arms tied behind theirbacks.

The grisly images, meant to sapthe morale of Iraqi security forces,and the number of slain troopscould not be confirmed at the time.

Human Rights Watch said in lateJune that analysis of photos andsatellite images showed thatbetween 160 and 190 men werekilled in at least two locationsbetween June 11 and 14.

After the incident, the soldierswere listed as missing, promptingtheir families to stage demonstra-tions in Baghdad in an effort to pres-sure authorities for word on theirsons’ fate. On Tuesday, dozens ofangry family members stormed intothe parliament in Baghdad’s fortifiedGreen Zone after scuffling withsecurity guards, causing commotionand arguing with lawmakers. Theyalso forced the speaker to call a ses-

sion for yesterday on the missingsoldiers.

Execution sitesThe Human Rights Watch state-

ment said the revised figure for theslain soldiers was based on analysisof new satellite imagery, militantvideos and a survivor’s account thatconfirmed the existence of threemore “mass execution sites.” Thenumber of victims may well be evenhigher as more evidence emerges,

the New York-based watchdog said.“Another piece of this gruesome

puzzle has come into place, withmany more executions now con-firmed,” said Peter Bouckaert, emer-gencies director at Human RightsWatch. “The barbarity of the IslamicState violates the law and grosslyoffends the conscience.”

At yesterday’s parliament session,the soldiers’ families accused author-ities of “selling our sons” by orderingmany of the soldiers to abandontheir posts and leave Camp Speicherin civilian clothes. Once outside thebase, hundreds were captured, con-tended Mohammed al-Assi, a repre-sentative for the soldiers’ families.

InvestigationHowever, acting Defense

Minister, Saadoun al-Dulaimidenied any orders to abandonCamp Speicher. “Nobody issued awithdrawal order,” he said.

Also yesterday, the UN envoy inIraq called for a public and inde-pendent investigation by Iraqiauthorities into the fate of the miss-ing soldiers and the recovery of theremains of those killed.

The investigation is needed “tolocate and identify the remains ofany who may have been killed, andto undertake all efforts to securethe release of any who may remainin captivity,” Nickolay Mladenovsaid.

In his weekly address to thenation, outgoing Prime MinisterNouri al-Maliki said yesterday that anumber of “perpetrators” of CampSpeicher atrocities have beenarrested or killed and that “securityforces were pursuing” others. Al-Maliki did not elaborate.

The onslaught by the IslamicState group has stunned Iraq’s secu-rity forces and the military, whichmelted away and withdrew as theextremists advanced and capturedkey cities and towns. The militantsalso targeted Iraq’s indigenous reli-gious minorities, includingChristians and followers of theancient Yazidi faith, forcing tens ofthousands from their homes.

Since then, the Islamic Stategroup has carved out a self-styledcaliphate in the large area strad-dling the Iraqi-Syrian border that itnow controls.

In early August, the UnitedStates launched airstrikes on themilitant group in Iraq, in an effort tohelp Iraqi forces fight back againstthe growing militant threat.

On Tuesday, the Islamic Stategroup released a video showingthe beheading of a secondAmerican journalist, Steven Sotloff,and warned President BarackObama that continuing airstrikesagainst the group in Iraq will bemet with the kill ing of moreWestern captives. The footage -depicting what the U.S. called asickening act of brutality - wasposted two weeks after the releaseof a video showing the killing ofjournalist James Foley. —AP

Islamic militants killed

hundreds of Iraqi troopsHorrific and massive abuses

TIKRIT: This file image posted on a militant website on Saturday, June 14, 2014, which has beenverified and is consistent with other AP reporting, appears to show militants from the al-Qaeda-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with captured Iraqi soldiers wearing plain clothesafter taking over a base in Tikrit, Iraq. Human Rights Watch, said yesterday, new evidence indi-cates the Islamic State fighters killed between 560 and 770 men captured at Camp Speicher,near the city of Tikrit. —AP

SANAA: Yemeni Shiite rebels and activiststook to the streets of Sanaa yesterday toreject a presidential overture to replace thegovernment and reduce a disputed fuelprice hike.

Faced with increased pressure from theShiite rebels, who are also known as Huthis,and a deepening political crisis, PresidentAbdrabuh Mansur Hadi announced themeasures on Tuesday.

The government has pledged that a 30percent reduction in the fuel price hikes willtake effect Thursday, its spokesman RajehBadi said.

But the rebels, camped inside and out-side Sanaa, rejected the initiative and yester-day hundreds blocked main roads inside thecapital after calls to protest sent throughradio. Demonstrators chanted slogansrejecting the presidential offer and called formore protests.

“Escalate! Escalate! We reject the initia-tive,” read a banner carried by protesters.“The people want to topple corruption,” theychanted. The protesters cleared the roadafter a blockade that lasted more than threehours, an AFP correspondent said.

Security forces had cordoned off roadsleading to the government headquarters.No confrontations were reported but someresidents complained about disruptions.

“I am ill. I need to go to hospital but Icould not reach it,” said Mohammed Haidar,30. Speaking at a cabinet meeting yesterday,Hadi warned of “violence and chaos” andvowed that “we will work on achieving secu-rity and stability across the country and wewill not be lenient regarding the security ofthe capital Sanaa.”

The presidential initiative stipulates nam-ing a new prime minister within a week andreducing a recent fuel price hike, twodemands of the rebels who accuse the gov-ernment of corruption.

The rebels’ spokesman, MohammedAbdulsalam, dismissed the initiative as anattempt to “skirt around the demands of theYemeni people,” writing on his Facebookpage that the rebels “do not agree to it”.

Push for resignationThe initiative comes after Zaidi Shiite

rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi on Sunday

urged supporters to press on with a cam-paign in Sanaa to oust the government.

Zaidi fighters have been camped aroundthe capital for the past two weeks and heldprotests throughout much of August topush for the government’s resignation.

Analysts say the rebels are trying toestablish themselves as the dominant politi-cal force in the northern highlands, wherethe Zaidi Shiites are the majority communi-ty.

The government initiative demands thedismantling of the Huthis’ encampmentswithin and around the capital, describingthem as a “cause for tension”.

It also calls for bringing the northernprovince of Amran, where rebels haveexpanded their presence in past months,under full government control, as well asending confrontations in nearby Jawfprovince.

Huthi camps The UN Security Council on Friday also

demanded the dismantling of the Huthis’camps, and for the rebels to pull back fromareas they have occupied in recent months.

It threatened sanctions against groupsblocking the political transition of theimpoverished country.

Huthi on Sunday accused the SecurityCouncil of “supporting corruption and back-ing policies that lead to further poverty”.

Hadi’s initiative also stressed the need “tocommit” to implementing decisions reachedthrough national talks, which concluded inFebruary with a call to turn Yemen into afederation of six regions.

The plan has been rejected by both Shiiterebels and southern separatists. Yemen hasbeen locked in a protracted transition sincelong-time strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh wasforced from power in February 2012 after adeadly 11-month uprising. On the econom-ic front, the International Monetary Fund onTuesday approved a $553 million loan forYemen to help the struggling country sta-bilise its finances and boost growth.

The three-year loan aims to support thegovernment in implementing a package ofreforms, including the elimination of largefuel subsidies to reduce a drain on the statebudget. —AFP

Protesting Yemen rebels

reject presidential overture

JERUSALEM: Israel is lobbying worldpowers anew against any I raniannuclear deal that would let Tehranretain potential bomb-making tech-nologies, a senior Israeli official saidyesterday as another deadline for theinternational diplomacy loomed.

Negotiators hope for a comprehen-s ive agreement by Nov. 24 underwhich I ran, which denies seek ingnuclear weaponry, would curb its dis-puted activities in exchange for an eas-ing of economic sanctions crippling itseconomy.

The next round of talks between sixworld powers and Iran is expected tobe held later this month in New York,possibly on the sidelines of the annualUnited Nations General Assembly.

Yuval Steinitz, Israeli minister forstrategic affairs, said in a radio inter-view he would head a governmentdelegation to Washington next weekto press the Jewish state’s demandthat the Islamic republic be strippedof all nuclear capacity - somethingTehran rules out and many Westerndiplomats deem unfeasible.

While not a party to the negotia-tions with Iran, Israel wields influencein foreign capitals given its vei ledthreats to launch preemptive war toprevent Iran getting the bomb.

“Next week I will be leading a very

large delegation to two days of talks inthe United States ahead of the main,the central and possibly the last roundof talks between the world powersand Iran,” Steinitz told Israel Radio.

He saw no sign of Iran significantlyscaling back uranium enrichment, aprocess that can make fuel for nuclearwarheads, despite diplomatic out-reach by its President Hassan Rouhani.

“What Rouhani has done is concedeon all kinds of secondary issues, par-tial concessions, but protected theproject’s core, which is what threatensus and the whole world,” Steinitz said.

“This means that in substance Iran’spositions have remained as tough asbefore, and if there is no dramaticdevelopment in the coming monththen either there will be no deal - orthere will be a bad deal leaving Iran anuclear threshold state, and this is ofcourse something we are not willingto accept.” Israel is believed to havethe region’s sole atomic arsenal.

Steinitz led a senior Israeli nucleardelegation to Washington in June,ahead of the previous, July 20 dead-line for a deal with Iran, which wasmissed.

As then, Steinitz said this time theIsraelis would “share our position andour intelligence information on thismatter with the Americans”. —Reuters

Israel lobbies US anew as

Iran nuke deadline looms

EL-ARISH: Gunmen shot dead an Egyptianoff-duty policeman yesterday in the restivenorth of the Sinai Peninsula, a security offi-

cial said.The official said the 32-year-old first ser-

geant was walking home after work when

gunmen opened fire, killing him on thespot in el-Arish, the provincial capital. Theofficial spoke on condition of anonymitybecause he was not authorized to speak toreporters.

Over a dozen policemen have been shotin the same neighborhood, home to manypolicemen, since last summer.

Attacks have surged against police andsoldiers in recent months as the govern-ment has sought to root out militants innorthern Sinai. On Tuesday, 11 policemenwere killed by a roadside bomb.

The country has been battling Islamicmilitants in the area for years, but the vio-lence dramatically escalated after the mili-tary’s ouster last July of Islamist PresidentMohammed Morsi and its subsequentcrackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood sup-porters.

An al-Qaeda-inspired group called AnsarBeit al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility fora series of explosions and suicide attacksover the past year, mostly targeting policeofficers and soldiers. The group claimed itsattacks were revenge for the crackdown.

A senior militant from the group, FayezAbu-Sheita, was killed Sunday. He was sus-pected of kidnapping soldiers and plottingattacks against state and security institu-tions. The official said authorities expect arise in revenge attacks following Abu-Sheita’s death. —AP

Policeman shot dead

in Egypt’s restive Sinai

CAIRO: In this April 1, 2011 photo, activist Ahmed Douma chants slogans during amarch to Tahrir Square demanding the prosecution of members of former PresidentHosni Mubarak’s regime in Cairo, Egypt. In an unprecedented move, an Egyptianjudge has ordered prosecutors to investigate three activist lawyers over claims they“rioted” in court when they demanded to see their hunger-striking client, AhmedDouma, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for protesting. —AP

I N T E R N AT ION A LTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

RALEIGH: One of North Carolina’s longest-servingdeath row inmates was freed from prison yester-day, a day after a judge overturned his convictionbecause of new DNA evidence in the case.

Henry McCollum, 50, walked out of CentralPrison in Raleigh, hugged his mother and fatherand thanked God for his release. His half brother,46-year-old Leon Brown, also had his conviction ina 1983 rape and murder overturned on Tuesday.Brown was expected to be freed later Wednesday.

McCollum spoke briefly to reporters before get-ting into the passenger seat of his father’s car,where a reporter had to show him how to bucklethe seat belt. He had never used a seat belt of thatdesign. McCollum said he hoped to go home andtake a bath. There will be changes to which he’llneed to adjust - particularly the Internet and cell-phones, he said.

Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser over-turned the convictions Tuesday, saying the factanother man’s DNA was found on a cigarette buttleft near the body of the slain girl contradicted the

case put forth by prosecutors.The ruling was the latest twist in a notorious

legal case that began with what defense attorneyssaid were coerced confessions from two scaredteenagers with low IQs. McCollum was 19 at thetime, and Brown was 15.

Defense lawyers petitioned for their releaseafter a recent analysis from the butt pointed toanother man who lived near the soybean fieldwhere Sabrina Buie’s body was found in RobesonCounty. That man is already serving a life sentencefor a similar rape and murder that happened lessthan a month later.

The men’s freedom hinged largely on the localprosecutor’s acknowledgement of the strong evi-dence of their innocence.

New evidence“The evidence you heard today in my opinion

negates the evidence presented at trial,” JohnsonBritt, the Robeson County district attorney, saidduring a closing statement before the judge

announced his decision. Britt did not prosecute themen. Even if the men were granted a new trial, Brittsaid: “Based upon this new evidence, the state doesnot have a case to prosecute.” Minutes later, Sassermade his ruling.

The day-long evidence hearing included testi-mony from Sharon Stellato. The associate directorof the North Carolina Innocence InquiryCommission discussed three interviews she hadover the summer with the 74-year-old inmatewhose DNA matched that found on the cigarettebutt. He was convicted of assaulting three otherwomen and is now suspected of killing Buie. TheAssociated Press does not generally disclose thenames of criminal suspects unless they arecharged.

According to Stellato, the inmate said at first hedidn’t know Buie. But in later interviews, he saidthe girl would come to his house and buy ciga-rettes for him.

The man also told them he saw the girl the nightshe went missing and gave her a coat and hat

because it was raining, Stellato said. He told thecommission that’s why his DNA may have been atthe scene. Stellato said weather records show itdidn’t rain the night Buie went missing or the nextday.

Stellato also said the man repeatedly told herMcCollum and Brown are innocent. Still, he deniedinvolvement in the killing, Stellato said. He said thegirl was alive when she left his house and that hedidn’t see her again. Buie was found in a rural soy-bean field, naked except for a bra pushed upagainst her neck. A short distance away, policefound two bloody sticks and cigarette butts.

The DNA from the cigarette butts doesn’tmatch Brown or McCollum, and fingerprintst a k e n f ro m a b e e r c a n a t t h e s ce n e a re n’ttheirs either, attorneys say. No physical evi-dence connects them to the crime. Both wereinitial ly given death sentences, which wereoverturned. At a second trial, McCollum wasagain sent to death row, while Brown was con-victed of rape and sentenced to life. — AP

After 3 decades, NC man freed from prison

BAGHDAD: President Barack Obama vowed yesterday thatthe United States would not be intimidated by the behead-ing of a second American reporter but acknowledged thefight against the jihadists would take time.

Obama pledged that justice would be done to theIslamic State (IS) killers of 31-year-old reporter StevenSotloff, wherever they hid and however long it took. But hewarned that eliminating the threat posed to the region bythe group from its bases in Iraq and Syria would take time.

IS posted video footage on the Internet of Sotloff’sbeheading, confirmed as authentic by Washington, whichsparked outrage around the world.

It said the journalist’s killing, which comes on the heelsof the beheading last month of another US reporter, JamesFoley, was in retaliation for expanded US air strikes againstits fighters in Iraq over the past week.

It warned a British hostage would be next unless Londonbacks off from its support for Washington’s air campaign.

Obama said the whole world had been repulsed by thebarbarism of Sotloff’s murder but “we will not be intimidat-ed”.

“Those who make the mistake of harming Americans willlearn that we will not forget and that our reach is long andthat justice will be served,” he said. Obama said Washingtonwas determined to halt the IS threat to the region butwarned it would depend on close cooperation with part-ners in the region.

He has previously admitted that his administration hasyet to develop a comprehensive strategy for tackling IS onboth sides of the Iraq-Syria border.

Washington has ruled out any air strikes for now againstIS fighters on the Syrian side, where they hold a largeswathe of the east.

Obama has also ruled out any cooperation with theDamascus regime against IS, for fear that it would drive oth-er Sunni rebel groups in Syria into alliance with the jihadists.

‘Despicable act’ British Prime Minister David Cameron said the video

depicted an “absolutely disgusting, despicable act” and con-vened a meeting of security chiefs to discuss how to tacklethe IS threat.

The masked executioner in the video spoke with aLondon accent and claimed to be the same man, confirmedby UK security services as a Briton, who beheaded Foley.

“I’m back, Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogantforeign policy towards the Islamic State,” the black-cladjihadist says, wielding a combat knife.

“So just as your missiles continue to strike the necks ofour people, our knife will continue to strike the necks ofyour people,” he declares, before reaching round to cut hiscaptive’s throat.

The militant condemns US air strikes against IS fightersaround both Mosul Dam in the north and the ShiiteTurkmen town of Amerli further south, which dates thevideo to the past week.

At the end of the five-minute video recording, the mili-tant threatens another captive, identified as Briton DavidCawthorne Haines.

“We take this opportunity to warn those governmentsthat enter this evil alliance of America against the IslamicState to back off and leave our people alone,” he says.

Britain has maintained a media silence about the kid-napping of aid worker Cawthorne Haines and there werefew immediate details about when or how he was abduct-ed. — AFP

MILWAUKEE: US Rep Paul Ryan takes questions from a panel of reporters Tuesday, at the Rotary Club ofMilwaukee. Ryan blamed the Obama administration for contributing to the circumstances that led to the swiftascent of the Islamic State, a militant group that purportedly beheaded a second American journalist in twoweeks. — AP

Obama vows US will not be intimidated by new beheading

British hostage would be next

NEW HAVEN: Former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowlandis scheduled to return to federal court almost a decadeafter pleading guilty to political corruption.

Rowland faces a conspiracy trial this time around,accused of conspiring to hide political consulting workfor two campaigns. Prosecutors say Rowland was paid$35,000 for work on Republican Lisa Wilson-Foley’s 2012congressional campaign in money funneled through aphony contract with her husband’s nursing home chain.He’s also accused of trying to set up a similar deal withanother Republican candidate.

Wilson-Foley and her husband, Brian Foley, pleadedguilty March 31 to conspiring to make illegal campaigncontributions that took the form of payments by Foley toRowland.

Rowland says he did nothing wrong. He has pleadednot guilty to conspiracy, falsifying records in a federalinvestigation, causing false statements to be made to theFederal Election Commission and causing illegal cam-paign contributions. Prosecutors say the Foleys came upwith the plan to hide Rowland’s campaign role amid con-cern they would be criticized if it were discovered theypaid for advice from an ex-convict. Rowland served 10months in prison after pleading guilty almost a decadeago to accepting illegal gifts while in office.

The Foleys are expected to testify against Rowland athis trial yesterday and prosecutors say they have emailevidence that supports their contention that Rowlandwas part of the conspiracy.

“Had a brief chat with Lisa,” Rowland wrote to an email

to Brian Foley. “I get it. Let’s you and I meet.” Rowland’sattorneys argue he was simply showing that he under-stood that the Foleys wanted him to work for the nursinghome business and not the campaign.

Foley is expected to testify that Rowland approachedthe couple to offer his services as a political consultant.He also is expected to testify that the amount of the pay-ment was based on Rowland’s assertions that a rival can-didate, Mark Greenberg, had offered to pay him $7,500 to$8,000 a month, which prosecutors say also was to behidden.

“Mr. Foley responded to this prospect by offering Mr.Rowland a consulting agreement with (the nursing homechain),” prosecutors wrote in a court filing. “They thennegotiated Mr. Rowland’s rate by negotiating down fromthe rate Mr. Greenberg had ostensibly offered Rowlandfor his campaign activities.”

Rowland could receive another federal prison sen-tence if convicted. But not everyone believes that is likely.Hugh Keefe, a well-known trial attorney who has repre-sented several high-profile politicians accused of corrup-tion, said the Federal Election Commission often handlescases like this one administratively, usually with a fine.

“I think people can honestly ponder why the federalgovernment is pouring time, money and resources intothis prosecution because it’s a relatively small amount ofmoney involved and John Rowland is now a private citi-zen,” said Keefe, who is representing several potential wit-nesses in the case. “By federal standards, it’s on the lowerend of the scale as far as crimes go.” — AP

Ex-governor’s trial may hinge on cryptic email

MEXICO CITY: Tropical storm Dolly lashed Mexico’s northeastcoast on Tuesday night, the US National Hurricane Center(NHC) said, bringing torrential rain and life threatening flashfloods. Dolly was blowing maximum sustained winds of 45miles per hour (72 km per hour), but having made landfall thestorm was expected to lose strength by yesterday evening,

NHC said. Dolly, which formed in the southern Gulf of Mexicoearly on Tuesday, has already forced the closure of two ofMexico’s three major crude oil export terminals.

According to national water authority Conagua it waswhipping up waves of up to 4 meters (13 feet) along thecoast. State oil giant Pemex said in a statement that it waswatching Dolly’s progress and if needed it would suspend itsoperations in the eastern states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas,including the Francisco Madero refinery, the country’s small-est.

Cayo Arcas port had been shut since Sunday afternoonwhile the Dos Bocas hub was closed early on Monday, theCommunications and Transport Ministry said. Mexico’s thirdmajor oil export terminal at Coatzacoalcos remained open.

Dolly, the fourth named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurri-cane season, was about 25 miles (40 km) south-southeast ofTampico in northeastern Tamaulipas state, the NHC said.

Dolly was moving west at 9 mph, the NHC said. The stormis expected to bring up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain acrossareas of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon states.

“This rainfall is expected to cause life-threatening flashfloods and mud slides in areas of mountainous terrain,” theNHC said. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Norbert formed onTuesday off southwestern Mexico, and was about 320 miles(515 km) southeast of the southern tip of the Baja Californiapeninsula, the NHC said.

Norbert was headed further out to sea, churning north-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph), the NHC said, blowing maxi-mum sustained winds of 45 mph. The NHC expected it toreach hurricane strength on Thursday.

Mexico suffered its worst floods on record lastSeptember when tropical storms Manuel and Ingrid con-verged from the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, killing morethan 150 people and causing damage estimated at around$6 billion. — Reuters

Twin tropical storms flank Mexico’s coast


PARIS: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (2nd-R) welcomesMeriam Rhaiem (L) upon her arrival with her daughter yesterday in Velizy-Villacoublay near Paris. Meriam Rhaiem, 25, made headlines in March whenshe made an emotional appeal to French authorities to recognise her babygirl as “the youngest French hostage”. —AFP

ABUJA: Foreign ministers from Nigeriaand neighbouring countries met yester-day to discuss Boko Haram, as the mili-tants’ rapid land grab intensified in the farnortheast, raising fears for regional secu-rity.

The one-day meeting of representa-tives from Benin, Cameroon, Chad andNiger also includes officials from theUnited States, Britain, France and Canadaplus the African Union and UnitedNations.

Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs saidthe talks were aimed at “reviewingprogress” of earlier meetings in Paris andLondon as well as the Africa Summit heldin the United States last month. In partic-ular, it would examine “the extent of for-eign assistance, including efforts by theNigerian government, in the continuedfight to... rout the Boko Haram insur-gency”, it added.

Regional powers vowed to play agreater role against the Islamists after themass kidnapping of more than 200 girlsfrom their school in northeast Nigeria inApril, which caused global outrage.

International powers sent intelligenceand surveillance specialists and equip-ment to Abuja to help trace the missingteenagers, 217 of whom are still beingheld captive. But nearly five months onfrom the abduction, Western diplomatshave indicated that there has been littleprogress, despite a claim from Nigeria’s

military that they had located the girls.Recent weeks have seen Boko Haram

take and hold swathes of territory innortheast Nigeria, with the country’s mili-tary seemingly unable to check theiradvance.

On Monday, residents said the mili-tants took over the town of Bama, 70kilometres (45 miles) from the Bornostate capital, Maiduguri, sending hun-dreds of soldiers fleeing. But top brassdisputed the claim and maintained thatthey were still in control.

Fear in Maiduguri The attack led to fears that Boko

Haram has Maiduguri in its sights andaims to make it the centre of a separate,hardline Islamic state. Andrew Noakes,co-ordinator of the Nigeria SecurityNetwork of analysts, warned that thegovernment was losing control of vastparts of the northeast and a loominghumanitarian crisis.

“Unless swift action is taken, Nigeriacould be facing a rapid takeover of alarge area of its territory reminiscent ofISIS’s lightning advances in Iraq,” he said.

“If Borno falls to Boko Haram, parts of(neighbouring) Yobe and Adamawa(states) can be expected to follow. Partsof Cameroon along the border areawould also probably be overrun.”

In Maiduguri, where thousands ofpeople have fled violence from across

Borno, residents said they were preparingfor the worst. “We live in fear of a possi-ble Boko Haram attack on Maiduguribecause of the speed with which they aretaking over towns and villages,” said localman Babagana Kolo.

“Our concern is soldiers are not able tostop Boko Haram who take delight inkilling people.

Boko Haram has been blamed forthousands of deaths since 2009 but inrecent weeks has changed tactics, shift-ing from indiscriminate and retaliatoryhit-and-run attacks to seizing strategicterritory.

In a video obtained by AFP on August24, the group’s leader Abubakar Shekauclaimed that the town of Gwoza in Bornostate was now part of an Islamiccaliphate.

The group is now thought to hold anumber of towns in an arc running fromthe Lake Chad area of northeast Borno,around the eastern border withCameroon, to the south of the state.

It also reportedly holds at least onetown in neigbouring Yobe and Adamawastates. Independent corroboration isimpossible because of communicationand travel difficulties while the govern-ment has officially denied ceding territo-ry. Nigeria has repeatedly played upwhat it says is the regional aspect of theinsurgency, blaming foreign fighters andoverseas funding for the violence.

But while some foreign mercenariesmay form part of the guerrilla ranksand violence has spilt across borders,

some analysts say a wider mil itar yresponse risked internationalising theconflict. —AFP

Security meeting in Nigeria as Boko Haram attacks intensify

ABUJA: Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Aminu Wali (L) shakes handswith Nigerian Ambassador to the United States Ade Adefuye (C) prior toa ministerial security meeting between Nigeria and neighbouring coun-tries yesterday in Abuja. Foreign ministers from Nigeria and neighbour-ing countries met yesterday to discuss Boko Haram, as the militants’rapid land grab intensified in the far northeast, raising fears for regionalsecurity. —AFP

MALAGA: The British parents jailed after takingtheir critically-ill son Ashya King from hospitalenjoyed an emotional reunion with him at hisbedside in Spain yesterday, an official said.

Brett King, 51, and his wife Neghemeh King,45, saw their five-year-old son for the first timesince they walked free, following the lifting of anextradition order against them by British prose-cutors. But officials warned the desperate par-

ents must wait for a custody ruling to knowwhether they can take him away from the hospi-tal to seek the alternative treatment they want-ed for his brain tumour.

“They were able to see him without any prob-lem. It was very emotional,” said an official at thechildren’s hospital in the southern Spanish cityof Malaga, who asked not to be named.

The couple were detained on Saturday for

having taken Ashya, who has a brain tumour, outof a British hospital without doctors’ consent.Brett King had told reporters on Wednesday hefeared he would not be allowed to see Ashyabecause an English court has had legal custodyof the boy since last week when his parents tookhim to Spain.

He said he and his wife were longing to seethe boy again after their four days in jail, saying

“there was no minute that went by without ourhearts hurting to see Ashya”.

The hospital official told AFP the parents “canstay with him the whole time but they will notbe able to take him out of the hospital until thecustody issue is resolved”.

The top health official for the Andalusiaregion where Malaga is located, Maria JoseSanchez, told reporters her department had

been contacted by the court in Portsmouth andwould have to consult with the justice ministrybefore taking “the appropriate decisions” on cus-tody of Ashya.

The couple had been held under an interna-tional warrant for taking Ashya out of hospital inSouthampton, southern England after disagree-ing with doctors about his cancer treatment.

Authorities issued the warrant fearing Ashya’scondition would deteriorate. “We just want toshow love to him because without that there isno purpose to life,” a visibly shaken King toldreporters earlier on Wednesday, after beingreleased. “He hasn’t got too many months to liveand we’re locked away in a cell,” the 51-year-oldfather told reporters. “We are just trying to speedthings up to help him.”

Treatment and love King said Wednesday he believed the radio-

therapy treatment planned by doctors inEngland would have turned Ashya into a “veg-etable”. “It is not the answer for a child of five. It istoo strong for a child,” he said. The Kings wantAshya to undergo an alternative treatmentcalled proton beam therapy. Brett King said thefamily is selling its apartment in Malaga to fundthe therapy.

Ashya’s brother Danny told the BBC he hadseen Ashya on Tuesday and that “physically he’sfine but emotionally he’s very confused,”because he hasn’t seen his parents.

The Kings’ legal troubles prompted an out-pouring of public support in Britain, where some130,000 people signed a petition calling for theboy to be reunited with his parents.

Prosecutors had said they suspected the par-ents of “cruelty,” but the British CrownProsecution Service said on Tuesday it was with-drawing the warrant as Ashya had been properlylooked after.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wel-comed news that the case had been dropped,saying on his Twitter feed: “It’s important this lit-tle boy gets treatment & the love of his family.”

Danny King told the BBC the family hadreceived information on possible treatment inthe United States, but he expected his parentswould choose to take Ashya to a clinic in Praguefor proton beam therapy. —AFP

Freed British parents reunited with ill son

Extradition order against them lifted

MALAGA: British parent Brett (C) arrives to the maternity ward at the RegionalUniversity Hospital in Malaga yesterday where five-year-old son, Ashya King, wasplaced after Spanish police arrested his parents. The father of British brain tumoursufferer Ashya King said yesterday he was being prevented from visiting his five-year-old in hospital, despite the lifting of an extradition order against him and hiswife. —AFP

VILLACOUBLAY MILITARY BASE: A youngFrench mother whose two-year-old daugh-ter was smuggled out of the country by herfather and reportedly taken to jihadist cen-tres in Syria arrived home yesterday afterthey were reunited in Turkey.

Meriam Rhaiem, 25, made headlines inMarch with an emotional appeal to Frenchauthorities to recognise her baby girl as“the youngest French hostage”. Mother anddaughter arrived at Villacoublay air baseoutside Paris at 2:15am Wednesday (0015GMT ) aboard a plane chartered by theFrench interior ministry.

“It’s a moment of great emotion withthe arrival of Meriam Rhaiem and herdaughter Assia, after months of waiting,”said Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuvewho went out onto the tarmac to meet theplane.

He noted “the trials this young womanhas endured, fighting hard for the return ofher daughter who was kidnapped in cir-cumstances which aren’t clear.” He thankedthe Turkish authorities for their role in thefamily reunion which led to “the best possi-ble outcome”. Rhaiem, holding her child ina beige blanket and flanked by her lawyerwho was also on the plane from Turkey,made no comment upon her arrival.

Rhaiem, who lives in eastern France, hadsaid she was certain her French husband,whom she is divorcing, and who is wantedunder an international arrest warrant, wasin Syria where he was seeking to joinjihadists. The father was arrested last week-end with their 28-month-old daughterAssia in Turkey, where he is still being held,a French interior ministry source said.

Assia’s father had failed to bring hisdaughter home after spending the day

with her in October last year, and had leftFrance by road bound for Turkey, fromwhere he called his wife regularly andasked her to come and join them.

He had also said he planned to crossinto Syria with their daughter to join the Al-Nusra Front, which is Al-Qaeda’s officialSyrian affiliate.

Cazeneuve told French radio onWednesday that the father “had taken thischild into the theatre of jihadist operationsin Syria”, adding she was “in danger everyday.”

He paid tribute to “a brave mother (who)decided to get her child back.”

Radicalised in Mecca According to Rhaiem’s lawyer Gabriel

Versini-Bullara, her husband had becomeradicalised after travelling to Mecca, askingher to wear the veil, criticising her for work-ing or banning her from playing music toAssia.

Like a number of European countries,France has expressed concern over radi-calised people leaving the country to fightin Iraq and Syria, with fears that they couldpose a risk to domestic security on theirreturn.

According to official estimates, around800 French nationals or residents includingseveral dozen women-have travelled toSyria, returned from the conflict-riddencountry or plan to go there.

France unveiled a bill in July aimed atstopping aspiring jihadists from travellingto Syria. It includes a ban on foreign travelof up to six months for individuals suspect-ed of radicalisation, and gives authoritiespowers to temporarily confiscate and inval-idate their passports. —AFP

French mum reunited with son taken by jihadi father

PARIS: A heated passion, a tumultuousbreak-up and a desperate bid at reconcili-ation: for the first time, France’s formerfirst lady spills the beans about her tem-pestuous relationship with PresidentFrancois Hollande.

In a kiss-and-tell memoir, written andpublished in the utmost secrecy, ValerieTrierweiler charts the highs and lows ofher time with Hollande, whose popularityis already at historic lows and who couldsuffer further embarrassment from thenew revelations. In extracts publishedWednesday by glossy magazine Paris-Match, Trierweiler describes the bust-upin the presidential bedroom when newsbroke of Hollande’s affair with actressJulie Gayet.

“I crack up. I don’t want to hear that, Irush into the bathroom. I grab the littleplastic bag with the sleeping pills,” sherecounts in an episode run in the maga-zine.

“Francois follows me. He tries tosnatch the bag... The pills spill over thebed and on the ground... I swallow what Ican. I want to sleep. I don’t want to livethrough the coming hours... I lost con-sciousness.”

The 320-page book “is a cry of love aswell as a slow descent into hell, a plungeinto the intimacy of a couple. Two people

and nothing more: Valerie and Francois,”the weekly writes.

Hollande’s office said it was “notaware” of the book’s publication. “So bydefinition we have not read this book,” asource close to the Socialist leader toldAFP. The glamorous journalist, now 49,got together with Hollande in 2005 whilehe was in a relationship with SegoleneRoyal-herself a former presidential candi-date-and the pair began a secret liaison.

Hollande subsequently left Royal, the

mother of his four children, for Trierweilerwho became the de facto first lady ofFrance after he was elected in 2012,despite the fact the pair were not mar-ried.

Hollande ‘de-humanised’ In quotes carried by Paris-Match,

Trierweiler says that at the beginning, “itwas electric between us when we weretogether.”

But Hollande changed, “de-human-ised” as he got closer to the reins of pow-

er, Trierweiler was quoted as saying bythe weekly.

She became increasingly frustratedwith the cabal surrounding Hollande ashe campaigned for the keys to the ElyseePalace.

According to Paris-Match, StephaneLe Foll, a close advisor and now govern-ment spokesman, told her: “If you wantan evening with Francois, you have to gothrough me.”

Then once elected, Hollande pulledfurther and further away. She recalls anepisode before a state dinner, when heasks her whether it takes her a long timeto be “beautiful”, to which she responds inthe affirmative.

“At the same time, no one asks any-thing else of you,” the president tells her,according to the weekly.

Trierweiler remembers anotherwounding episode, when a voter iscaught on camera asking Hollande not tomarry the journalist, who is deeplyunpopular with the French. He just burstsout laughing, according to Paris-Match.

News of his affair with 42-year-oldGayet caused shockwaves in France inJanuary, and Trierweiler was hospitalisedfor a week after Closer published picturesof Hollande arriving for secret trysts withthe actress at a borrowed flat. —AFP

Scorned former first lady in Hollande kiss-and-tell

In this file picture, French president Francois Hollande and hiscompanion Valerie Trierweiler wait for German PresidentJoachim Gauckand, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris. —AP

PARIS: New laws make it easier to seizepassports. Suspected fighters are pluckedfrom planes. Authorities block finances andshut down radical mosques.

And behind the scenes, Silicon Valleyfirms are under increasing pressure to wipeextremist content from websites as Westernintelligence agencies explore new tech-nologies to identify returning fighters at theborder. Governments from France toIndonesia have launched urgent drives tocut off one of the Islamic State group’sbiggest sources of strength: foreign fighters.At the heart of the drive is mounting con-cern that the organization is training thenext generation of international terrorists.

Those fears have gained urgency fromthe group’s horrific methods: A British mili-tant is suspected of beheading twoAmerican journalists, and a Frenchman who

fought with the Islamic State group isaccused in a deadly attack on a Jewishmuseum in Belgium.

With each video that ricochets aroundsocial networks, the militants gain newrecruits. “If neglected, I am certain that aftera month they will reach Europe and, afteranother month, America,” Saudi KingAbdullah said Friday, calling for a stronginternational response to the onslaught inSyria and Iraq.

Britain has taken a particularly activerole in censoring content deemed to breakthe country’s strict rules against extremistpropaganda. UK officials recently revealedthey have been granted “super flagger” sta-tus on sites such as YouTube, meaning theirrequests to remove videos with grisly con-tent or that encourage terrorism are fast-tracked. —AP

Global drive to stop jihadis going to Syria and Iraq


SEOUL: Two young soldiers in SouthKorea’s special warfare unit died duringtraining, the military said yesterday, fol-lowing a series of incidents and suicidesthat have unleashed public fury over bul-lying in the army.

The two staff sergeants in their early20s, surnamed Lee and Cho, died aftercollapsing during training on Tuesdaynight, a defence ministry spokesmansaid.

They appeared to have suffocated

during a mock training exercise on howto survive when captured by enemies,said a spokesman of the Special WarfareCommand (SWC).

“They had breathing problems duringthe mock captivity training when theirheads were wrapped in cloth, and diedafter being sent to hospital,” thespokesman Lee Hong-Joo said.

Another soldier is being treated afterbeing injured during the training, he saidwithout elaborating further. During the

drill, soldiers had to spend an hour kneel-ing down with their heads wrapped incloth and hands bound behind the back,military officials said. “This is the firsttime that we adopted the programme,which has been used by special warfareunits in the US, Britain and Australia,” itquoted one official at the SWC.

“There must have been some sloppi-ness in carrying out the training,” saidanother official quoted by Yonhap. Thelatest incident comes as the army faces

widespread public fury over a series ofdeaths and suicides of young conscriptscaused by barrack-room bullying.

South Korea’s army chief of staff KwonOh-Seong resigned last month to takeresponsibility for the death in April of abullied soldier.

The 23-year-old private, surnamedYoon, died of asphyxiation after beingstruck in the chest by comrades duringmealtime, with a chunk of food lodged inhis airway. Five young soldiers were later

arrested for manslaughter after an initialinvestigation showed Yoon had beenrepeatedly bullied.

The case-revealed by rights activistsin July-came on the back of two separatesuicides by army privates also in July,and a deadly shooting spree in June inwhich a sergeant shot dead five com-rades for taunting him. Conscripts, mostof them in their early 20s, account for thelion’s share of the military’s 690,000active personnel. —AFP

Two S Korean soldiers die during training

HONG KONG: Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (R) speaksduring a press conference in Hong Kong yesterday. Tung supported thestanding committee of China’s rubber-stamp parliament who on August 31ruled out public nominations for Hong Kong’s next chief executive in 2017,with candidates for the city’s top job to be approved instead by a Beijing-backed committee. — AFP

TOKYO: Japanese Prime MinisterShinzo Abe picked two veteran law-makers with friendly ties to China fortop party posts yesterday in anapparent signal of hope for a thaw inchilly ties with Beijing and a summitwith Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The change in executives in Abe’sLiberal Democratic Party (LDP) wastwinned with a cabinet reshuffle inwhich Abe gave the health and wel-fare portfolio to a reform-mindedlawmaker, kept core ministers andboosted the number of women in an

effort to polish his image.In a move welcomed by Tokyo

stock market players, Abe draftedYasuhisa Shiozaki, 63, a proponent ofan overhaul of Japan’s GovernmentPension Investment Fund (GPIF), tohead the ministry of labour, healthand welfare, which oversees GPIF.

The fund is finalising plans toboost the weighting of domesticstocks in its portfolio.

Abe also gave women almost athird of the posts in his 18-ministercabinet to show his commitment topromoting women as part of his“Abenomics” growth strategy.

But he retained powerful cabinet

members such as Chief CabinetSecretary Yoshihide Suga, FinanceMinister Taro Aso, 73, EconomicsMinister Akira Amari, 65, and ForeignMinister Fumio Kishida, 57, signallingpolicy continuity.

Abe’s new line-up faces a numberof challenges, including how torepair ties with China that have beenfrayed by rows over disputed territo-ry and Japan’s wartime history, andwhether to go ahead with a plannedsales tax rise next year despite signsthe economy is faltering.

“A positive economic cycle is kick-ing off,” Abe told a news conferenceafter the new line-up was announced.

“We’re only halfway through inreforms and we need to deal withnew challenges. I reshuffled my cab-inet so that we can tackle thesechallenges boldly and vigorously,”he added. “The biggest challengenow is ... to revive the regions ofJapan.”

In a bid for party unity, thehawkish Abe tapped outgoingJustice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki,his predecessor as LDP leader, forthe key party post of secretary-gen-eral, the LDP’s de facto election

campaign chief.Tanigaki, 69, is from a moderate

wing of the LDP that favours betterties with China. He was also an archi-tect of a plan to hike the sales tax intwo stages to curb Japan’s huge pub-lic debt. Implementation of the sec-ond stage is now in doubt due to astring of gloomy economic data.

Veteran lawmaker Toshihiro Nikai,75, who also has close ties withChina, was appointed to a secondtop party post. Outgoing administra-tive reform minister Tomomi Inada,

55, a close conservative ally of Abe,became LDP policy chief.

“He is sending a strong messageto China that he wants to improveties. Not only Tanigaki but Nikai havegood ties with China,” said politicalanalyst Atsuo Ito.

Mixed message on women?Abe has signalled that he hopes

to meet Chinese leader Xi at an Asia-Pacific leaders gathering in Beijing inNovember.

“Japan and China both haveresponsibility for international peaceand prosperity. It is vital to develop aforward-looking, cooperative rela-

tionship on common issues con-fronting international society,” Sugatold a news conference as Chinamarked the anniversary of its WorldWar Two victory over Japan.

Former vice defence ministerAkinori Eto takes over from moderateconservative Itsunori Onodera asdefence minister. He also assumes anew post responsible for nationalsecurity reform as Abe pushes aheadwith efforts to ease the limits ofJapan’s pacifist constitution on itsmilitary.

The little-known Eto, who is closeto Abe, belongs to a group of law-makers advocating visits to Tokyo’scontroversial Yasukuni Shrine for wardead, although his office said he hasnot visited the shrine this year.

Abe’s pilgrimage there inDecember outraged China, wherethe shrine is viewed as a symbol ofJapan’s past militarism. Abe has sinceavoided visiting the shrine in person.

Eto has policy expertise, politicalanalyst Ito said, but added: “He willnot have a lot of influence. The mes-sage from the appointments to thetwo party posts is stronger.”

Abe has not revamped his cabinetsince returning to office in December2012, a record for a post-World WarTwo premier. That means dozens ofveterans in his male-dominated LDPwere eager to be tapped for a post.

Abe, who has made a push to getmore women into the workforce alinchpin of his “Abenomics” growthplan, appointed five female ministers,equalling a record set by JunichiroKoizimi in 2001.

Yuko Obuchi, 40, daughter of aformer prime minister and mother oftwo, takes over as minister of tradeand industry, while LDP policy chiefSanae Takaichi, 53, an Abe ally andformer minister for gender equalityin his first cabinet in 2006, wasnamed minister of internal affairs andcommunications.

His message, however, was some-what mixed since some of theappointees, including HarukoArimura, new minister in charge ofwomen’s issues and the fallingbirthrate, are known for promotinghighly conservative, traditional familyvalues.

Abe, who surged to power prom-ising to revive the economy and bol-ster Japan’s security stance in theface of a rising China, has seen hissupport slip to around 50 percent,still high for a Japanese premierbut off early peaks of around 60percent. —Reuters

Abe picks China-friendly lawmakers to key posts

Japan PM names five women to new cabinet

TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (front row C) poses with cabinet members during aphoto session after their first cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyoyesterday. Abe named five women to his new cabinet yesterday, leading by example in a countryeconomists say must make better use of its highly-educated but underemployed women. — AFP

BEIJING: China stressed yesterday that itwould tolerate no foreign interference inHong Kong affairs, after the UnitedStates said it supported “universal suf-frage” in the territory.

The “constitutional reform of HongKong is China’s domestic affair whichbrooks no interference from the out-side”, Chinese foreign ministryspokesman Qin Gang told reporters at aregular briefing.

Qin was responding to commentsmade by State Department spokes-woman Jen Psaki in Washington onTuesday supportive of pro-democracyprotesters in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region of China.

“The United States supports universalsuffrage in Hong Kong in accordancewith the Basic Law and the aspirations ofthe Hong Kong people,” Psaki toldreporters, referring to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

The standing committee of theNational People’s Congress, China’s rub-ber-stamp parliament, said Sunday thatHong Kong citizens would be allowed toelect their next leader in 2017 — butcandidates must be chosen by a pro-Beijing committee and must win thebacking of more than half of the com-mittee members to stand.

Only two or three will be allowed tostand for election. Democracy activistssay the rules mean China will be able toensure that only pro-Beijing candidatescan contest the vote.

Britain handed Hong Kong back toChina in 1997 under an agreement

which allows civil liberties not seen onthe mainland, including free speech andthe right to protest.

The NPC standing committee deci-sion “represents an important progressin the development of democracy inHong Kong”, Qin said. “To safeguard thelasting prosperity and stability of HongKong serves the common interests ofthe international community includingthe US.”

China hopes the international com-munity will see the issue “from a positiveand objective perspective”, Qin added.Asked to react to the continuation of aBritish parliamentary inquiry into HongKong, Qin underlined that the regionwas no longer under London’s control.

“It is not the Hong Kong of before1997,” he said, adding that its matters arepart of China’s domestic affairs.

“We are opposed to any interferencefrom the outside in any forms,” he said.“ This position is resolute and clear.”Separately, Hong Kong’s first post-han-dover leader yesterday urged activists tocooperate over political reforms.

Tung Chee-hwa, the 77-year-old for-mer British colony’s chief executive from1997 until 2005, said at a press confer-ence in Hong Kong that activists shouldmake compromises and stop “pointingfingers” at Beijing.

“Hong Kong is our home,” Tung said.“We have to work together. “The onlyway out is through working togetherhand in hand. Otherwise there will be noend to the bitter squabble and the paral-ysis.” —AFP

China rejects ‘interference’ over HK after US pledges support

TOKYO: At least 15 people wereinjured yesterday after an explosionat a steel plant in central Japan, thelatest in a series of accidents at thesite. Television pictures showedclouds of black smoke billowing fromthe Nippon Steel and SumitomoMetal facility in Tokai, which employs3,000 people.

A spokesman for the Aichi prefec-tural police said the fire departmenthad been alerted to a problem at theplant at 12:46 pm (0346 GMT).

A Tokyo-based spokeswoman forthe world’s number-two steelmakersaid the blast injured its workers andthose from par tner f i rms. Al l 15injured people were taken to hospital,according to a Tokai city emergencyofficial.

“We don’t know the severity oftheir injuries,” he told AFP. Five peoplesuffered serious injuries from appar-ent smoke inhalation and burns,national broadcaster NHK reported. Itadded that police would investigatethe case over possible professionalnegligence that resulted in injury.

Factory workers were trying todeal with smoke rising from a coalstorage unit near a coke oven beforethe blaze erupted, according to NHK,citing police sources.

“There was a small explosion thatwas caused by a fire at a coke oven,”another Tokai city official told AFP.Coal-based coke is a key ingredientused in the steelmaking process. The

explosion came after other fire trou-bles earlier this year. No one was hurtin separate incidents in January, Juneand July at the same plant. The inci-dents prompted the mayor of Tokai, acity of about 100,000 people, to for-mally ask the steelmaker to draw up aplan to deal with any safety problems.

Mayor Atsuo Suzuki submitted therequest twice in the wake of separateincidents, according to local media.Four incidents this year were relatedto power blackouts, the companyspokeswoman said, adding thatWednesday’s problem was caused byanother issue.

“ The f ire broke out during theprocess right before coal is throwninto a coke oven,” she said. Unlike inneighbouring China, industrial acci-dents are relatively rare in Japanwhere safety measures are usuallystrictly enforced.

Last month, the plant announcedpreventative measures, including set-ting up a committee to investigatedetails of past incidents and over-hauling the site’s power supply sys-tems.

The plant manufactures a widerange of steel products, from high-quality steel sheets for vehicle bodiesto products for canned food as well asvarious kinds of steel pipes.

The company’s Tokyo-listed sharesclosed down 1.6 percent at 274.9 yenas the broader Japanese marketadded 0.38 percent. —AFP

Explosion at Japan steel plant, 15 hurt

BANGKOK: Thailand will assemble a peacenegotiating team by the end of the week torevive talks with Muslim separatists whoseinsurgency in the south of the country hascost thousands of lives in the past decade, the

military junta said yesterday.Udomdet Sitabutr, secretary-general of the

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO),as the junta is formally known, said talks, bro-kered by Malaysia, would “definitely move for-

ward” and that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will appoint team members to lead theThai delegation.

“We will have soldiers, lawyers and aca-demics on the team,” Udomdet told reporters.The insurgency is based in Pattani, Yala andNarathiwat provinces in Thailand’s so-called“Deep South”. Thailand is a mainly Buddhistcountry and resistance to central governmentrule in the three Muslim-majority provinceshas existed for decades, resurfacing brutally in2004.

More than 6,000 people have died sincethen, according to Deep South Watch, whichmonitors the violence. Successive govern-ments have failed to quell the unrest. Thestart of talks in 2013 was lauded by somerights groups, and academics. Others weresceptical, saying that the government wastalking to the wrong rebel group.

The talks stalled months before the previ-ous civilian government became engulfed bystreet protests late last year, in a political crisisthat climaxed with a court ordering PrimeMinister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down onMay 7.

The military seized power weeks later in aMay 22 coup. Udomdet said Malaysia hadidentified the right group to bring to the nextround of talks.

“Malaysia has found the real peoplebehind the problem who are ready to talk tous,” he said, without giving further details.“The peace talks will definitely move for-ward.” —Reuters

Thailand picks team for talks with Muslim rebels

BEIJING: Chinese children look at weapons used by the Japanese military in WorldWar II at an exhibition about the war, in Beijing yesterday. Chinese President XiJinping and all six other members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the coun-try’s most powerful body, made a rare public appearance yesterday to commemorate69 years since Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. —AFP

N E W STHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Continued from Page 1

intensity of local competition (114); effectiveness ofanti-monopoly policy (131); number of procedures tostart a business (131); pay and productivity (104) andalmost dead last for FDI and technology transfer (141).On the positive side, Kuwait ranked 1 out of 144 oninflation; mobile phone subscriptions (3) gross nationalsavings (3) and [lack of ] HIV prevalence (1).

The report is one of the most widely read on globalcompetiveness indicators. In its introduction, the WEFreport notes that the world is finally “emerging fromthe worst financial and economic crisis of the past 80years and returning to a pre-crisis situation: large inter-est rate spreads for public debt in hard-hit countries

are falling; banking systems seem more robust, even iffinancial reform has not yet been completed; andaccess to credit, while still limited, is slowly recovering.”

Though government spending on mega projectsand tenders has resulted in a growth in optimism inKuwait, the WEF report clearly indicates the manystructural problems the country continues to face intrying to develop its economy. “The leading economiesin the index all possess a track record in developing,accessing and utilizing available talent, as well as inmaking investments that boost innovation....Thesesmart and targeted investments have been possiblethanks to a coordinated approach based on strong col-laboration between the public and private sectors,” thereport said.

Kuwait drops 4 spots in global...

Continued from Page 1

It has 100 indicators and 144 countries are judgedaccording to these measures.

For Kuwait, we sucked in investment. Why should aninvestor come to Kuwait with all the doors closed in his face- starting from a 51/49 percent partnership with a citizen togetting a visa for his workers that needs a miracle to stand-ing in long queues to get a license for his company, while hecan do all this on the phone or online in the UAE forinstance. So we ranked beautifully in this, 141 out of 144countries. Bravo.

Let’s jump to another indicator - education. No need forme to tell you about education - you all know that it needsrevamping. We are using a curriculum that was developed inthe 1950s until now in our schools. We don’t want to enterinto the corruption of the education system in Kuwait. If youlive here, you know about it. We ranked something like 104out of 144 in quality of primary education, 40 places betterthan investment.

Bureaucracy, guys. Bureaucracy. Bureaucracy. We alsoranked 135 out of 144 in ‘burden of government regulation’.

Transparency of government policy making didn’t rankmuch better at 103.

Haha! Effectiveness and anti-monopoly? Everything is amonopoly. You don’t need to know the number. Keep it asecret, don’t tell the neighbors. But I’ll tell you it’s 114 out of144. There’s monopoly even in foreigners buying pickuptrucks in Kuwait, called ‘vanettes’.

There are monopolies on many things here, if you areinterested you can go to the ministry of commerce and findout about them. So if there is monopoly, how would youcreate competition? No wonder we rank so low, 114 out of144 on intensity of competition.

Technology - no need to tell you. We are a buyingnation, not an inventing nation. We ranked beautifully onthe numbers of mobiles people have - 3 out of 144.Imagine. So the nation puts its energy - since there is noth-ing else to compete with - to talking on the phone. But tocongratulate you guys, we are number one in low instancesof HIV. We don’t have it. And also we ranked beautifully innational savings - untouched and closed in world banks. Weare number 3.

So congratulations to the nation on this beautiful report.

Congratulations to the nation

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates called yesterday for acoordinated international effort to tackle the “globalscourge” of terrorism, raising particular concern aboutthe threat posed by the Islamic State militant group thathas seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria. The US-alliedGulf nation has provided backing for some of the Sunnirebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria, and its companies have made significantinvestments in Iraq. It has taken a firm stance againstIslamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhoodthat have sought to benefit from the regional tumult ofthe Arab Spring.

In its appeal, the Emirati Foreign Affairs Ministryexpressed its “deepest concerns and strongest condem-nation of terror acts and criminal practices of violentextremists.” It blasted the Islamic State group for killing,terrorizing and displacing civilians, ransacking propertyand destroying religious and historical sites. The mes-sage appeared to be directed in part at its Western alliesahead of a meeting between US President BarackObama and other NATO leaders in Wales today.

The UAE has deployed troops in support of theNATO-led mission in Afghanistan and last year becamethe first Arab state to open a diplomatic mission to thealliance. “On the eve of the NATO summit in Wales, theUAE stresses the need for cooperation and coordinationamongst the international community, taking advan-tage of the existing institutional framework,” it said. “Asterrorism is a global scourge that knows no borders anddraws from all parts of the world, the international com-munity must work towards a unified strategy to facethis issue at all levels.”

The Emirates is a seven-state federation that includesthe oil-rich capital of Abu Dhabi and the Middle East’scommercial hub, Dubai. It said it supports regional andinternational efforts to fight terrorism “and is deter-mined to stand firm against all extremist threats.” Inaddition to tackling extremist threats in Iraq and Syria, itcalled for international action elsewhere in the region

too, including Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Afghanistan -countries it said “also suffer from the radical ideologyand incitement to violence emanating from ISIL and Al-Qaeda,” using another acronym for the Islamic Stategroup.

US officials say the Emirates and Egypt were behindairstrikes against Islamist-backed militants in Libya lastmonth. The UAE has not publicly confirmed it wasinvolved, and its statement yesterday made no furthermention of Libya.

Separately, a Riyadh court jailed 24 people, includ-ing a US citizen, for up to 27 years yesterday for forminga “terrorist cell” and attempting to attack Saudi andBahrain, state media said. The defendants, sentenced toat least two years in prison, also include one Yemeni citi-zen, while the rest are all Saudi nationals, said the offi-cial SPA news agency. The US citizen, who was notnamed, was jailed for 17 years. The special court foundthem guilty of “forming a terrorist cell that plottedattacks against oil pipelines... and some citizens” anddisobeying the kingdom’s rulers, with some of themtravelling to join wars abroad.

Members of the group had also “attempted to carryout a terrorist attack in the kingdom (of Saudi Arabia)and Bahrain,” site of a Shiite-led uprising against theSunni regime. Massive protests lasted one month until anationwide crackdown which was backed by Saudi-ledGulf forces that rolled into Bahrain in support of the rul-ing Al-Khalifa family in March 2011. The defendantswere also convicted of training for armed combat andpossessing weapons and ammunition “in a bid toundermine security” as well as “financing terrorism,” saidSPA.

Their identities were not disclosed and it was unclearif their trial was linked to those of dozens accused ofbelonging to Al-Qaeda or of involvement in the wave ofunrest unleashed by extremists in 2003. In 2011, Riyadhset up specialised terrorism courts to try the extremistwho include Saudis and foreigners. — Agencies

UAE calls for global fight against terrorUS citizen jailed over Saudi ‘terror cell’

CAIRO: Egypt’s top religious body demanded yester-day that a new belly-dancing TV show be suspendedfor “corrupting morals” and serving “extremists” whocould use it as a pretext to depict Egyptian society asanti-Islamic. The call by Dar al-Ifta, the top body thatadvises Muslims on religious and life issues, followsothers criticizing the show called “Dancer”. But thedebate over it isn’t all about it being too racy for tele-vision - it’s part of a concerted effort by Egypt’s gov-ernment to show its both challenging Islamists as apolitical forces while still respecting the country’smore-conservative values.

“Dancer” aired only once on the Cairo and Peoplesatellite television network. A famous belly dancerknown as Dina was among a three-member panelthat chose the most-talented dancers, many of whomwere not Egyptians. In an advertisement, the networksaid the winner would receive the title “the best bellydancer in the world”. The contestants also shouted ateach other and fought in the advertisement in the tra-dition of Western-style reality shows. The network ranan announcement Tuesday saying it postponed theshow’s second episode over the country mourningthe killing of security forces in a militant attack innorthern Sinai Peninsula.

Belly dancing has been famed in Middle Easterncountries for centuries, though many Egyptian con-servatives now believe it immoral. Many belly dancershere say Egyptian movies - in which belly dancers areoften characters who only lust after men and theirmoney - is to blame for the negative image. Foreign

belly dancers, instructors and fun-loving amateurs flyto Egypt from as far as Japan, the United States andAustralia to learn more about the art and get a senseof the culture in which it originated.

In its statement, Dar al-Ifta said the show “servesextremists who take such matters as a justification topromote the idea that society is fighting religion”. Butthe criticism of the show goes beyond that. Critics ofthe show are clerics who also opposed IslamistPresident Mohammed Morsi and his Musl imBrotherhood group, who were toppled last year bythe military. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi,who led the ouster of Morsi after mass protests, hasportrayed himself as standing up against extremismand the political use of Islam. But while battlingIslamists, Sisi also has tried to show himself as repre-senting a “true Islam” and serving as a guardian of“society’s morals”. Sisi’s government has banned somebooks and movies to do that.

Anti-Muslim Brotherhood cleric Muzhir Shahineand a group of professors Al-Azhar, a Cairo universityprestigious in the Muslim world, issued a statementcriticizing the belly-dancing show as part of “attackson society’s values,” while also trying to compare it toatheism and homosexuality - which a large number ofconservative Egyptians perceive as taboos. The clericsalso hired a lawyer to file a lawsuit to suspend theprogram. “Why some insist on embarrassing the state... especially that the country is heading to decisiveparliamentary elections,” their statement Tuesdayread. — AP

Egypt religious body wants belly-dancing show banned

A giant wooden hippopotamus created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman floats in the Thames in Londonyesterday. The sculpture named HippopoThames is 21-m-long and is on display until Sept 28 as part of theTotally Thames festival. — AFP

By Felicia Sonmez

Beijing’s denial of open elections forHong Kong’s next leader demonstratesthe ruling Communist Party’s desire for

complete political control and its resolve toquash any opposition, whatever the cost,observers say. The standing committee ofChina’s rubber-stamp parliament on Sundayruled out public nominations for Hong Kong’snext chief executive in 2017, with candidatesfor the city’s top job to be approved insteadby a Beijing-backed committee. The move bythe National People’s Congress (NPC) drewfury and pledges of a mass sit-in by HongKong’s pro-democracy campaigners, who sayBeijing is working to weed out any potentialcritics of the Communist Party.

But the authorities dismiss such protesta-tions, insisting that a popular vote betweenthe chosen contenders fulfils their pledge of“universal suffrage”. Some experts say anyexpectations Beijing would loosen its grip inthe former British colony - where Londonappointed its leaders, and which returned toChina in 1997 - were unrealistic in the firstplace. The decision came as ChinesePresident Xi Jinping rolls out a national crack-down on dissent since taking office last year,with authorities suppressing online debateand detaining activists. “The mainland has itsview, which will not be shaped by the HongKong people,” said Shen Dingli, a professor atShanghai’s Fudan University.

Mainland authorities, he said, “want tohave a person that will listen to Beijing”. Thepro-democracy activists, he added, “cannotpersuade Beijing, because these people don’tlisten to Beijing”. China’s political system iscontrolled by the Communist Party, andwhile it has long permitted elections at thevillage level, it typically keeps a tight grip onthe process, with approved candidates oftenrunning unopposed. There are no direct pollsat higher levels. The State Council, China’scabinet, reasserted Beijing’s control overHong Kong in a policy “white paper” in June.

Jia Qingguo, associate dean of PekingUniversity’s School of International Studies,said the NPC decision was “absolutely neces-sary” to end debate in Hong Kong. “If the NPCmakes its decision very clear, this will helpstabilise Hong Kong,” he said. “The NPC is

China’s most powerful organ, so when itspeaks, it speaks with authority.”

‘Crisis of Governance’ Residents of Hong Kong enjoy rights not

seen on the mainland, including freedom ofexpression and assembly, as well as an inde-pendent legal system. But there are signssome of those rights are beginning to be cur-tailed, especially media freedom, with physi-cal and cyber-attacks on Hong Kong-basedjournalists critical of Beijing, and independentwebsite House News shutting its doors lastmonth. Surya Deva, a professor at the CityUniversity of Hong Kong, said Beijing wantsto “control the political governance in HongKong”.

But the NPC’s decision violated both thecity’s Basic Law and the 1997 joint declarationbetween the British and Chinese govern-ments, he argued, and was “likely to provecounterproductive”. “Hong Kong is going toface a crisis of governance in the near future if

the central government continues to behavein this way,” he said.

System ‘Cannot be Trusted’ The move is also likely to have repercus-

sions in Taiwan, to which the defeatedNationalists fled at the end of China’s civilwar in 1949 and which Beijing considers arenegade province. Beijing has a standingoffer of reunification with Taipei along thelines of the “one country, two systems” mod-el that applies in Hong Kong. But Lai Chung-chiang, a lawyer and rights activist whoplayed a major role in Taiwan’s unprecedent-ed student-led movement earlier this year,told AFP: “The example of Hong Kong hasclearly told lots of people in Taiwan that thepolitical mechanism of ‘one country, two sys-tems’ does not work and cannot be trusted.”

He Weifang, an outspoken law professorat Peking University, warned on his SinaWeibo microblog that “right now, before oureyes, we are obviously pushing Taiwan fur-

ther away”. Nonetheless the Party’s decisionwill ultimately prevail, experts say. In HongKong, Occupy Central activists initially prom-ised “wave after wave” of demonstrations,but the group’s co-founder Chan Kin-manadmitted to AFP on Tuesday that they werepowerless to overturn Beijing’s decision.

Ray Yuen, a 20-year-old student whowaited outside a Hong Kong hotel to booNPC official Li Fei, was adamant the cam-paigners would protest “until the end oftime” - but acknowledged that power restsin the Party’s hands. “I believe the Chinesegovernment will not give us true democra-cy, but we’re still here,” he said. “We knowwhat democracy means, we are not sheep.”Fudan University’s Shen insisted there wasno room for debate following Sunday’sannouncement. “That’s the end. No ‘next’,” hesaid. “Beijing announced the legal decision,so what can they do? If they protest, theywill be sent to jail. This is a country ruled bylaw.” —AFP

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A N A L Y S I STHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

By Scott Mayerowitz

Squeezed into tighter and tighter spaces, airline pas-sengers appear to be rebelling, taking their frustra-tions out on other fliers. Three US flights made

unscheduled landings in the past eight days after passen-gers got into fights over the ability to recline their seats.Disputes over a tiny bit of personal space might seem pet-ty, but for passengers whose knees are already banginginto tray tables, every inch counts. “Seats are getting closertogether,” says Sara Nelson, president of the Association ofFlight Attendants, which represents 60,000 flight atten-dants at 19 airlines. “We have to de-escalate conflict all thetime.”

There are fights over overhead bin space, legroom andwhere to put winter coats. “We haven’t hit the end of it,”Nelson says. “The conditions continue to march in a direc-tion that will lead to more and more conflict.” Airlines todayare juggling terror warnings in Britain, the Ebola outbreakin Africa and an Icelandic volcano erupting and threaten-ing to close down European airspace. Yet, the issue of dis-ruptive passengers has captured the world’s attention.

It’s getting to the point where the pre-flight safetyvideos need an additional warning: Be nice to your neigh-bor. The International Air Transport Association calls unrulypassengers “an escalating problem,” saying there was oneincident for every 1,300 flights in the past three years. Thetrade group would not share detailed historical data toback up the assertion that this is a growing problem.Today’s flying experience is far from glamorous. Passengerswait in long lines for security screening, push and shove atthe gate to be first on board, and then fight for the limitedoverhead bin space. They are already agitated by the timethey arrive at their row and see how cramped it is.

To boost their profits, airlines have been adding morerows of seats to planes in the past few years. Southwestand United both took away one inch from each row on cer-tain jets to make room for six more seats. American isincreasing the number of seats on its Boeing 737-800sfrom 150 to 160. Delta installed new, smaller toilets in its737-900s, enabling it to squeeze in an extra four seats. Andto make room for a first-class cabin with lie-flat beds on itstranscontinental flights, JetBlue reduced the distancebetween coach seats by one inch.

Airlines say passengers won’t notice because the seatsare being redesigned to create a sense of more space.Southwest’s seats have thinner seatback magazine pock-ets, Alaska Airlines shrank the size of tray tables, andUnited moved the magazine pocket, getting it away frompassengers’ knees. But passengers aren’t just losinglegroom; they’re losing elbow room. Airlines sold 84 per-cent of their seats on domestic flights so far this year, upfrom 81 percent five years ago and 74 percent a decadeago, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.That means there are fewer and fewer empty middle seatson which passengers can spread out.

Problems The latest spate of passenger problems started Aug 24,

when a man on a United flight prevented the woman infront of him from reclining thanks to a $21.95 gadgetcalled the Knee Defender. It attaches to a passenger’s traytable and prevents the person in front from reclining. Aflight attendant told the man to remove the device. Herefused, and the passenger one row forward dumped acup of water on him. Three days later, on an Americanflight from Miami to Paris, two passengers got into a fight,again over a reclining seat, and the plane was diverted to

Boston. Then on Monday night, on a Delta flight from NewYork to West Palm Beach, Florida, a woman resting herhead on a tray table got upset when the passenger in frontof her reclined his seat, hitting her in the head. That planewas diverted to Jacksonville, Florida. The passengers onboth the United and Delta flights were already sitting inpremium coach sections that have 4 inches of extralegroom. There were 14,903 flight diversions by US airlinesin the 12-month period ending in June, according to an APanalysis of Department of Transportation reports. Thatmeans 41 flights a day on average make unscheduled land-ings at other airports. The government doesn’t break outthe reason for diversions, but industry experts say the vastmajority occur because of bad weather or mechanicalproblems. And diversions remain a tiny portion of the 6million annual flights in the US - less than a quarter of apercentage point.

The decision to divert is up to the pilot. Deltaspokesman Morgan Durrant says the crew must determineif the person is going to cause harm to others or has terror-ist intentions. It can cost an airline $6,000 an hour, plus air-port landing fees, to divert the standard domestic jet,according to independent airline analyst Robert Mann.“These costs are among the reasons why airlines ought tobe arbitrating these in-flight issues instead of diverting, notto mention the significant inconvenience to all customersand possible disruption of onward connections,” Mannsays.

Ben Baldanza, CEO of Spirit Airlines, says that if airlinesinstall seats that can recline, passengers should have theright to recline. Of course, Spirit and Allegiant Air are theonly US airlines to install seats that don’t recline. “Peopleshould lose the emotion,” Baldanza says. “We’ve never hadto divert because of legroom issues.” —AP

It’s no longer safe to recline your seat

China brooks no opposition in HK clampdown

NATO has been a bugbear for the Kremlin, a mon-strous threat used to keep Russians in line, butMoscow’s nightmare is now coming true as a new

Cold War hangs over Europe, analysts say. At a summit inWales on Thursday and Friday NATO leaders are expected toapprove the deployment of thousands of NATO troops andmilitary equipment to Eastern Europe. That is a major set-back for Moscow, which since the end of the Cold War hassought an end of military blocs on the continent, then tokeep NATO weak and as far away from its border.

Russian policymakers have an almost visceral hate forNATO, feeling that the West reneged on understandings atthe end of the Cold War that military blocs would disappear.The bitterness was compounded when NATO expandedinto former Moscow-led Warsaw Pact countries in 1999.More joined in 2004, including three Baltic states which hadbeen forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union. Now NATOis pushing the limits of its 1997 agreement with Moscow tonot create bases and station troops in the new NATO mem-bers.

The reasons for Russia’s fear of NATO expanding are more“paranoid than military-political”, said Alexander Konovalov,head of the Strategic Analysis Institute, as the military readi-ness of the alliance has dropped considerably in recentyears.

Bugbear Fable “For Russia NATO has had a clear and important internal

political function - to be a bugbear,” Konovalov told AFP.“The fable that NATO is tightening its ring around Russia canbe used to explain to the population why pensions are notenough to live on in a country drowning in petro-dollars,”said the analyst. This fear of NATO is just for public consump-tion, he added, for the leadership it is a means of maintain-ing power.

And then there is the military-industrial complex. “Ourmilitary chief of staff and defence intelligence agency arepeople who served during the Cold War and have an inter-est in a confrontation along the lines of the Cold War,” saidindependent defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer. “Theyknow how to drum up money for defence, thinking upthreats,” he told AFP. But there are disturbing signs they mayhave begun to believe in those threats themselves, such as arecent ban on senior officials leaving the country. “That’sparanoia,” said the analyst, who is critical of the Kremlin.

Putin justified the annexation of Crimea in March as amove to prevent NATO from taking over Sevastopol, thehome port of its Black Sea Fleet it had been leasing fromKiev, despite NATO having long ago put Ukraine’s effort tojoin the alliance on ice.

‘NATO in our Backyard’ “NATO remains a military alliance, and we are against hav-

ing a military alliance making itself at home right in our back-yard or in our historic territory,” Putin said at the speechmarking Crimea’s incorporation into Russia. “You know, I justcan’t imagine us going to Sevastopol to visit NATO sailors.Most of them are fine guys, but better they visit us inSevastopol than we them.” Analysts say that Russia’s barelycovert military intervention in eastern Ukraine, whichMoscow vehemently denies, is aimed at keeping Ukraine outof NATO. The Kremlin “above all wants to make the Ukrainianauthorities understand that Russia is right next to them, andthat what Ukraine is doing doesn’t change its geographic sit-uation,” said independent analyst Sergei Mikheyev. But by itsintervention in Ukraine, much as in Georgia and Moldovawhere Moscow has also supported breakaway states, “we arehave achieved the opposite of our objectives,” saidKonovalov. “We are pushing them into NATO,” he said.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said last weekthe government was submitting a bill to parliament to endthe country’s non-aligned status. Yet the view from theKremlin is still that it is NATO that is acting provocatively. In asurprise announcement Moscow said on Tuesday that itwould adopt a beefed-up new military doctrine setting themilitary alliance as a top threat to the country, adding a dis-concerting new layer of tensions ahead of the NATO summit.

The alliance boosting its military presence along Russia’sborders “is evidence of the desire of US and NATO leaders tocontinue their policy of aggravating tensions with Russia,”Mikhail Popov, the deputy head of Russia’s National SecurityCouncil, told the state RIA-Nostic news agency. More thantroops, Felgenhauer said Moscow is really concerned that aNATO missile shield in Europe could easily be converted intooffensive rockets. He compared it to the Soviet concerns ofPershing II missiles in Western Europe in the 1990s. “This isn’ta bogeyman to scare the people,” said Felgenhauer. —AFP

By Richard Lein

Issues

NATO: Russian

bear’s bugbear

In this picture taken on Aug 31, 2014, Benny Tai (right) and Chu You Ming, co-founders of the Occupy Central move-ment, rally with democracy activists next to the Hong Kong government complex. —AFP

S P O RT STHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Religious comments by Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad to SriLanka player Tillakaratne Dilshan after their one-day international last Saturdayare being investigated by the Pakistan Cricket Board. While the players werewalking back to the dressing room in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Shehzad was caughton camera telling Dilshan “if you are a non-Muslim and you turn Muslim, nomatter whatever you do in your life, straight to heaven.” Dilshan’s reply was notaudible, and Shehzad went on to say, “Then be ready for the fire.” Shehzad wassummoned to PCB headquarters in Lahore on Wednesday andasked about his comments, board general manager mediaAgha Akbar told the Associated Press. “Ahmed has informedthe PCB that it was his personal chat with Dilshan, and therewas nothing more to it,” Akbar said. “What we understand isthat no Sri Lanka Cricket official or our own manager lodgedany complaint.” However, Akbar said the PCB was still investi-gating the matter. Dilshan was born to a Muslim father and aBuddhist mother and was known as Tuwan Mohamed Dilshan.He shed his Muslim name shortly after his internationaldebut in 1999 and took up the name TillakaratneMudiyanselage Dilshan with an ethnic Sinhalese-Buddhist identity. — AP

Shehzad-Dilshan religious chat under investigation

VILNIUS: Lithuania yesterday formally demanded that the InternationalBasketball Federation (FIBA) stop cutting short its national anthem at theongoing World Cup in Spain. FIBA have imposed a 75-second limit for thenational anthems ahead of matches, spiking about a quarter of Lithuania’shymn. “Cutting the anthem short shows a lack of respect for our country,and the FIBA is being very inflexible. Sports bureaucrats should come totheir senses,” foreign minister Linas Linkevicius said yesterday. The movehas sparked outrage in Lithuania, a basketball-mad Baltic nation of threemillion currently ranked world number four by FIBA. Linkevicius said thataccording to FIBA, it cuts all national anthems to 75 seconds “due to TV rea-sons and the comfort of athletes”, claims Lithuania has dismissed as beingabsurd. The foreign ministry sent a formal letter to FIBA secretary generalPatrick Baumann, saying that playing only a part of the anthem “upsetmany Lithuanians and provoked the media to express discontent”. Themen’s squad won bronze at the 2010 World Championship and were run-ners-up at last year’s European Championship. So far, they have won twogames and lost one at the World Cup in Gran Canaria where up to threethousand fans clad in the national colours of yellow, green and red arrivedto support their heroes. — AFP

Lithuania outraged by anthem cut at WCup

MADRID: Favorite Nairo Quintana was taken to hospital after abandoning theVuelta a Espana having crashed for the second day in a row, organizers said yes-terday. The 24-year-old Colombian, winner of the Giro d’Italia earlier in May, hadcrashed in Tuesday’s 10th stage individual time-trial. That cost him the race leadas he finished more than 4min down on stage winner Tony Martin of Germany todrop to 11th overall. But he went down again in a group crash just 20km into yes-terday’s 153.4km 11th stage from Pamplona to San Miguel de Aralar and decided

enough was enough. “Nairo Quintana felt pain in his rightshoulder and was taken to hospital by ambulance to

evaluate if there are any fractures,” said a Movistarteam statement. Quintana had begun Tuesday’s36.7km race against the clock with a 3sec lead overAlberto Contador and was within touching distance at

the first time check following an early climb. But hecrashed on the descent and went on to lose more than

3min 30sec to the Spaniard, who began yesterday’s stagewith a 27sec advantage over Alejandro Valverde.

Quintana’s abandonment continues a sorry season for thefavorites at Grand Tours. —AFP

Giro champion Quintana out of Vuelta after crash

MLB CAPSULES

American LeagueEastern Division

W L PCT GB Baltimore 80 57 .584 -NY Yankees 70 66 .515 9.5Toronto 70 67 .511 10Tampa Bay 67 72 .482 14Boston 61 77 .442 19.5

Central DivisionKansas City 76 61 .555 -Detroit 76 62 .551 0.5Cleveland 70 66 .515 5.5Chicago White Sox63 75 .457 13.5Minnesota 60 78 .435 16.5

Western DivisionLA Angels 83 54 .606 -Oakland 79 59 .572 4.5Seattle 74 63 .540 9Houston 60 79 .432 24Texas 53 85 .384 30.5

National LeagueEastern Division

Washington 78 59 .569 -Atlanta 72 67 .518 7Miami 67 70 .489 11NY Mets 65 74 .468 14Philadelphia 64 74 .464 14.5

Central DivisionSt. Louis 75 63 .543 -Milwaukee 73 65 .529 2Pittsburgh 71 67 .514 4Cincinnati 66 72 .478 9Chicago Cubs 63 76 .453 12.5

Western DivisionLA Dodgers 78 61 .561 -San Francisco 76 63 .547 2San Diego 66 71 .482 11Arizona 57 81 .413 20.5Colorado 55 84 .396 23

MLB results/standings

Baltimore 5, Cincinnati 4; Detroit 4, Cleveland 2; Boston 9, NY Yankees 4; Philadelphia 4,Atlanta 0; NY Mets 8, Miami 6; Toronto 8, Tampa Bay 2; Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee 1; KansasCity 2, Texas 1; Chicago White Sox 6, Minnesota 3 (10 innings); Houston 8, LA Angels 3; St.Louis 6, Pittsburgh 4; San Francisco 12, Colorado 7; Seattle 6, Oakland 5; LA Dodgers 4,Washington 1; San Diego 2, Arizona 1.

SAN DIEGO: Jedd Gyorko #9 of the San Diego Padres throws over Miguel Montero #26 ofthe Arizona Diamondbacks on a double play attempt during the fourth inning of a base-ball game at Petco Park on September, 2, 2014. — AFP

SINGAPORE: After years of turbulence,Jessica Hardy has gone full circle, returning tothe event that launched her rocky swimmingcareer. Once the world’s premier femalebreaststroke swimmer, the American has sether sights on regaining her mantle after achoppy few years when everything seemedagainst her. Hardy qualified for the 2008Beijing Olympics but never made it to theChinese capital after she was told she hadtested positive for the banned steroid clen-buterol at the US trials. The offence normallycarries a two-year ban but the Californianwas given a reduced penalty when she wasable to prove that she taken a nutritionalsupplement that had been contaminated bythe manufacturers.

But the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) lodged an appeal, demanding thatshe be given a two-year penalty and bannedfrom competing at the 2012 LondonOlympics. The case was only resolved in 2011when the International Olympic Committeeand the Court of Arbitration said she hadserved her punishment and could competein London. But then the oddest thing hap-pened, the Californian failed to qualify in herpet event - the 100 meters breaststroke -compounding her worst fears. Fuelled byanger and disappointment, she made theteam in the 4x100m freestyle and went on towin a gold medal in London, in the medleyrelay.

Now 27, her focus is back on her favoritestroke, having lost none of her confidence.“I’ve had the opportunity to break a ton ofworld records. I think 12 world records in mycareer and won 27 international medals,” shetold Reuters in an interview before the inau-gural Singapore Swim Stars meet. “So it’s notsomething I take for granted, but it kind ofgives me confidence moving forward, Iexpect that every time, so that’s what I’m

hoping for next year.” With Hardy missingfrom Beijing, Rebecca Soni stepped up andfilled the void as America’s top female breast-stroker, winning gold in the 200m and silverin the 100m. Soni won three individual worldtitles in 2009 and 2011 and defended her200m title in London before joining forceswith Hardy in the medley relay team.

Now that Soni has retired, Hardy hasresurfaced as her country’s top 100m breast-stroker and is looking to make up for losttime. “I just focused more on freestyle cause Igot a little sick of training with her everydayand always having her at every meet I wentto,” she said, with a laugh. “It was great to bal-ance myself out as an athlete to be so suc-cessful in sprint freestyle too. “I broke my first(100m breaststroke) world record 10 yearsago, nine years ago in that. So it’s alwaysbeen there and it’s always going to be therefor me.” Hardy has also found inspiration fromthe new generation of breaststrokers, spear-headed by Lithuanian teenage sensationRuta Meilutyte, who won the gold medal inLondon aged just 15.

Now 17, Meilutyte holds the current worldrecord for the event and shows no sign ofslowing down. Last month, she won twogold medals at the Youth Olympic Games inChina then hopped on a plane and flew toBerlin where she won gold in the Europeanchampionships. And now she is back in Asia,ready to line up against Hardy in Singapore, aprospect that has excited the American.“She’s great. I didn’t know who she was untilshe won medals, so it was quite the wake upcall,” Hardy said. “Every time I race her so far,she’s so gracious and she’s so appreciative ofthat. And it’s really fun to race people likethat. “And I have never raced anyone in myentire career who takes the 100 breast outfaster than me, so having someone wake meup makes that a really fun race.” — Reuters

SWIMMING

Hardy tries to retrace her roots after stormy years

LOS ANGELES: Clayton Kershaw pitched eightstrong innings for his major league-leading 17th winand the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the WashingtonNationals 4-1 Tuesday night. Kershaw (17-3) gave upone run and three hits, walked two and struck outeight to win his third straight start. He also loweredhis baseball-best ERA to 1.70. Doug Fister (12-6) losthis third consecutive start. He went five-plusinnings, giving up 10 hits and four runs. BryceHarper homered in the seventh for the Nationals’only run of the game. It was the first homer by alefty against Kershaw this season. With the win, theDodgers (78-61) moved one game behind theNationals (78-59) for the National League’s bestrecord. Kenley Jansen pitched a hitless inning for his39th save.

TIGERS 4, INDIANS 2JD Martinez hit a three-run homer off closer

Cody Allen in the ninth inning, lifting Detroit to thewin. Martinez’s one-out shot over the center-fieldwall bailed out the Tigers, who had been unable toget a clutch hit for eight innings. But in the ninth,Torii Hunter drew a leadoff walk from Allen (5-4),Miguel Cabrera singled, and after Victor Martinezflied out, JD Martinez connected for his 19th homer.Phil Coke (3-2) pitched 1 1-3 innings and Joe Nathanworked the ninth for his 29th save. Detroit’s come-back kept the Tigers on the heels of first-placeKansas City in the AL Central. Carlos Santana hit atwo-run homer for Cleveland, which has droppedthe first two in this critical four-game series.

MARINERS 6, ATHLETICS 5James Paxton pitched shutout ball into the

eighth inning and Seattle held off a late rally byOakland, handing the Athletics their fifth loss in sixgames. Paxton (5-1) gave up three hits through theseventh. Ahead 6-0, he got chased in Oakland’sthree-run eighth, and the A’s nearly got even in aharried ninth. Seattle closer Fernando Rodney tookover with a 6-3 lead and retired the first two batters.He then gave up consecutive doubles to DerekNorris and pinch-hitters Brandon Moss and SamFuld before retiring Josh Reddick on a grounder forhis 40th save. The A’s remained 4 1/2 games back ofthe first-place Angels, who lost at Houston. Seattle isthird in the AL wild-card standings. Oakland’s SonnyGray (13-8) gave up six runs in five innings.

CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 4Adam Wainwright earned his 16th win and

matched his career best with three RBIs, carrying theCardinals to the victory. The bottom of the order wasthe difference in the fourth win in a row for the NLCentral leaders. Eighth-place hitter Peter Bourjossingled twice and drove in a run, and seventh-placehitter Daniel Descalso walked twice and scoredtwice. Wainwright (16-9) prevailed despite allowingthree home runs to match his career worst. He leftafter Starling Marte’s two-run shot shaved the leadto 5-4 with none out in the seventh. Pat Neshekpitched the ninth for his fifth save. Russell Martinand Jordy Mercer also homered for the Pirates, whohave lost three in a row. Jeff Locke (6-4) got the loss.

ROYALS 2, RANGERS 1Salvador Perez hit a scorching liner off the glove

of third baseman Adrian Beltre for a single, allowingJarrod Dyson to score the go-ahead run in the eighthinning for Kansas City. Jason Frasor (4-1) left runnerson the corners in the eighth against his former team,and Aaron Crow worked around a two-out single inthe ninth for his third save of the season. All-Starcloser Greg Holland was unavailable after pitchingthree consecutive days. The Rangers’ Derek Hollandand counterpart Jeremy Guthrie pitched to a stale-mate through seven innings before the Royals brokethrough against Michael Kirkman (0-1) in the eighth.The Royals’ Nori Aoki and the Rangers’ DanielRobertson drove in the game’s other runs.

RED SOX 9, YANKEES 4Xander Bogaerts homered among his four hits

and fellow rookie Mookie Betts also went deep dur-ing a big night at the plate, powering Boston to thewin. Daniel Nava hit a three-run shot to back JoeKelly’s first win with Boston. Betts had three hits andslumping Mike Napoli hit two sacrifice flies for thelast-place Red Sox, who have won eight of their last11 road games. A furious Brett Gardner got ejectedon a frustrating - and sometimes embarrassing -night for the Yankees, who began the day fourgames out of a playoff spot before losing their fifthin seven games following a five-game winningstreak. Rookie right-hander Shane Greene (4-2) washit hard and chased in the third inning. Kelly (1-1)allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings.

ORIOLES 5, REDS 4Bud Norris pitched six shutout innings, Nelson

Cruz notched his career-high 91st RBI during a four-run first, and the Orioles beat the Reds. JonathanSchoop homered for the Orioles, who extendedtheir lead in the AL East to a season-high 9 1/2games. Baltimore endured two rain delays totalingmore two hours and withstood an eighth-inninggrand slam by Jay Bruce to notch its seventh win innine games. Norris (12-8) allowed four hits. ZachBritton worked the ninth for his 32nd save.Cincinnati’s Mat Latos (5-4) yielded five runs and aseason-high 10 hits over five innings in his first losssince July 27.

ASTROS 8, ANGELS 3Jose Altuve had four hits for the second straight

game and Brad Peacock threw 6 1-3 solid innings,leading Houston to the win. Altuve became the first

Astro to accomplish that feat since Lance Berkmanin May 2008. Altuve’s homer in the third extendedHouston’s lead to 4-0 and was his sixth straightplate appearance with a hit. Peacock (4-8) gave upthree runs and four hits while earning his first winsince July 8 at Texas. Houston has won four of itslast five. Gordon Beckham had three hits for the ALWest-leading Angels, who had won six in a row. CJWilson (10-9) was tagged for five runs in 3 1-3innings.

GIANTS 12, ROCKIES 7Buster Posey homered, doubled twice and

drove in four runs, rallying San Francisco to theroad win. Posey’s solo homer in the sixth keyed athree-run burst as the Giants erased a 7-1 deficit toremain on the heels of the Dodgers in the NL West.He hit a two-run double in a six-run seventh.George Kontos (4-0) kept the Giants in striking dis-tance with 1 2-3 scoreless innings until the batscould heat up. Josh Rutledge had a two-run triplein the third and DJ LeMahieu followed a two-runhomer for the Rockies, who have the worst recordin the National League. Reliever Matt Belisle (4-7)got the loss.

PHILLIES 4, BRAVES 0Kyle Kendrick allowed three hits in seven

innings, Carlos Ruiz homered and drove in tworuns, and the Phillies shut out the strugglingBraves. One day after Cole Hamels and three reliev-ers threw the first combined no-hitter in Phillieshistory, Kendrick (8-11) and relievers Ken Giles andAntonio Bastardo were dominant in the three-hitshutout. The Braves, who began the night 1 1/2games behind the NL wild-card leaders, have lostthree of four. With two straight shutout losses, theyhaven’t scored in 24 consecutive innings. JasonHeyward had two doubles. Atlanta’s only other hitwas a third-inning single by Andrelton Simmons.Braves left-hander Mike Minor (6-9) allowed threeruns in 7 1-3 innings.

CUBS 7, BREWERS 1Jake Arrieta pitched six solid innings and the

Cubs handed the Brewers their seventh straightloss. Shortstop Elian Herrera made two errors thathelped the Cubs score four runs in the first inning,and Milwaukee went on to match its worst skid ofthe season. Since owning a 2 1/2-game lead in theNL Central on Aug. 19, the Brewers have lost 10 of12. Arrieta (8-5) gave up one run and five hits.Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo (8-8) allowed a season-high seven runs and eight hits in five innings.

BLUE JAYS 8, RAYS 2Jose Reyes hit a three-run homer for Toronto,

and R A Dickey gave up two hits in seven innings.Reyes’ ninth home run broke a 2-all tie in the fourthinning and sent the Blue Jays to their third win in arow. Danny Valencia also homered off Rays starterJeremy Hellickson (1-3). Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarroadded a two-run shot off Cesar Ramos in the eighth.Jose Bautista’s streak of homering in five straightgames ended, but he had two singles and an RBI forToronto. Dickey (11-12) gave up two runs.

METS 8, MARLINS 6David Wright broke out of his offensive woes

with three hits and three RBIs, leading the Mets tothe victory. Juan Lagares reached base five times,including a career-high four hits, stole two bases,scored three runs, and drove in two for the Mets,who pounded out 16 hits. Marlins slugger GiancarloStanton hit his 35th home run and second in twogames against the Mets. He drove in two runs togive him 101 RBIs, becoming the first Marlins playerto drive in 100 runs since Dan Uggla had 105 RBIs in2010. Christian Yelich had three of the Marlins’ 11hits. Brad Penny (1-1) took the loss. Jonathon Niese(8-10) pitched six innings for New York, and JenrryMejia worked the ninth for his 22nd save.

WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 3, 10 INNINGSTyler Flowers’ first career multihomer game lifted

the White Sox to the win. Dayan Viciedo hit a tiebreak-ing solo shot in the 10th against Lester Oliveros (0-1).Flowers added his second two-run shot of the nightlater in the inning as the White Sox won for just thefourth time in their last 14 games. After rookie KennysVargas gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the first with a423-foot homer, Flowers tied it in the second with his11th homer. An errant pickoff attempt allowed pinch-runner Aaron Hicks to advance to third base in theninth, but Chicago’s Daniel Webb (6-4) recovered andgot Kurt Suzuki to fly to right. Jake Petricka pitchedthe 10th for his 11th save.

PADRES 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1Cory Spangenberg’s first big league home run

came on the first pitch he saw as a pinch hitter withone out in the ninth inning and gave San Diego thevictory. Spangenberg, hitting for Cameron Maybin,connected against Brad Ziegler (5-3), sending a driveto the home run porch down the right-field line atPetco Park. Spangenberg made his big league debuton Monday, hitting a two-run single and making twonice plays at third base. Kevin Quackenbush (3-3)pitched the ninth for the win. — AP

Dodgers trounce Washington Nationals

LOS ANGELES: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (right) can’t reach asingle by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez as Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dee Gordon runsby during the fifth inning of a baseball game on Tuesday, Sept 2, 2014. — AP


ENGLEWOOD: Houston Texans punter Shane Lechler (9) leads the Texans in a stretch drill during a joint practice between the Denver Broncosand the Texans in Englewood, Colo. — AP

NFL coaches, players mingling

more in their locker roomsNEW YORK: Sean Payton walks through thelocker room to leave motivational tools for play-ers. Ron Rivera practically lives there. JimHarbaugh barges into the bathroom to rushplayers to meetings. Gone are the days whenNFL locker rooms were a players-only domain.More coaches are making their presence felt in aplace they weren’t always welcomed. “That lock-er room is our locker room,” Rivera said. “I have avested interest in the locker room.” Some coach-es pass through the locker room only occasion-ally - New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin andTampa Bay’s Lovie Smith - while some are regu-lar visitors, stopping to chat with players andsocialize with them on their turf. Rivera used tofollow the old-school philosophy because heplayed for Mike Ditka in Chicago. Iron Mikestayed out of the Bears’ locker room, leaving hisplayers to rule there.

But Rivera crossed that imaginary “Do NotEnter” line last year and became a fixture in theroom. His approach worked. The CarolinaPanthers won the NFC South and Rivera was theNFL coach of the year. “The biggest mistake Imade my first two years was not being around,”Rivera said. “I still have guys that when they seeme, they say, ‘Whoop. The man is in here.’ And,they shut up. I don’t care. It’s our locker room.”When a bullying scandal erupted amid the MiamiDolphins last year, coach Joe Philbin said hedidn’t know about it. In part, that was becausePhilbin didn’t visit the locker room. He let theplayers police themselves.

Lesson learned“I have a better rapport, chemistry, with the

players,” Philbin said recently. “I’ve spent moretime communicating with them in a one-on-one

manner and in team meetings. I’ve been doingthe bed check every single night at the hotel,and just knocking on their doors and makingsure that they’re OK, busting their chops a littlebit if they’re awake.”

The events in Miami were the focal point of ameeting between the NFL Players Associationand league officials in the offseason. The NFLwants more supervision in the locker room toensure players respect each other. “The lockerroom is part of the workplace,” Robert Gulliver,the league executive vice president for humanresources, said during a panel discussion at theNFL’s career development symposium this sum-mer. “Football is special and iconic, but we haveto treat it as a place of work.”

That means coaches have to make surethey’re aware of the culture in their locker rooms.If they see any problems, they have to addressthem immediately. “There should be no closeddoors in terms of how you do it,” PhiladelphiaEagles coach Chip Kelly said. “We’re just continu-ing to emphasize what we emphasized a yearago. We don’t have any rookie shows, never havedone that stuff. We’re trying to get a bunch ofguys who are good people.” Kelly encourages hisassistants to visit with players in the locker room.He stresses togetherness and has no tolerancefor players who don’t put the team first. “Themore people get along and share the same visionand aspirations, the more you’re going to get towhere you want to get to,” Kelly said.

Many coaches say they build camaraderie inthe locker room. After ripping into players atpractice, they find this can be a good place tosoothe bruised egos. “You go in (and say), ‘It’s justfootball. It’s nothing personal - we’re just talkingabout your football stinks; you’re a pretty good

guy,’” Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said.“You want to make sure that they know that. Youask them to do a lot of things and you get a lot offeedback when you go through there and talk tothem.” Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reidlearned the open-door policy from Hall of Famecoach Bill Walsh. Reid also connects with his play-ers through a leadership council that includes arepresentative from each position group.

“They can come to our office, we can go in thelocker room,” Reid said. “There are no walls, every-thing is free, coaches go in and mingle. Players, Ithink, appreciate that. I go in there and don’t feelany walls there, no sneaking around, and theyfeel free coming up and talking to us.” Somecoaches are more comfortable in the locker roomthan others. “I’ll go in every day just to see theguys,” New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “I mean,they get intimidated because I’ll be in shorts andthat’s about it because we have our sauna andwhirlpool and I’ll get in there. These are my guys.I’m comfortable wherever I am in that building.They’re used to seeing me in there and in the hottubs and the cold tubs and whatever.”

Payton occasionally pops into the New OrleansSaints’ locker room to leave things such as a porce-lain doll at a locker of a player he wants to exhibitmore toughness. Sometimes Payton leaves a lami-nated card with an inspirational passage from aspeech or text. Sometimes he drops off baseballbats with the inscription “bring the wood” beforegames against physical teams. Former players likeRivera and San Francisco’s Harbaugh blend innicely. “You have to get to know their environ-ment, get to know what’s going on in their worldwith Twitter, with music, socially,” Rivera said.“There’s so many things that go on with theseplayers that we didn’t have.” — AP

ENGLEWOOD: The Denver Broncos will bewithout Wes Welker for the first four gamesof the season after the NFL said the receiverviolated the league’s performance-enhanc-ing drug policy. Normally, the leagueannounces such violations on Monday.News of Welker’s ban didn’t come downuntil late Tuesday, after the league officeshad closed and the Broncos had alreadyfinished drawing up blueprints for theiropener against Indianapolis, undoubtedlywith Welker playing a prominent role.

ESPN first reported Welker’s suspension,saying the violation had to do withamphetamines. Welker told the DenverPost in an email that he was “as shocked aseveryone at today’s news.” He noted he’smeticulous about what he puts in his bodyand would “never knowingly take a sub-stance to gain a competitive advantage inany way.” The 11th-year pro who’s been theNFL’s top slot receiver over the last decadeadded that he never concerned himselfwith the league’s drug rules but now real-izes those policies “are clearly flawed.”

While it takes multiple violations of theleague’s substance-abuse policies to trig-ger a suspension, a four-game ban is issuedfor a single violation of the NFL’s ban onperformance-enhancing substances.Welker’s suspension will cost him roughly$706,000 in base salary. “Tonight’s newsregarding Wes is very disappointing, butwe understand the league’s authority inthis area,” coach John Fox said in a state-ment. “While it’s unfortunate to not havehim to start the year, I have full confidencein our wide receivers and expect that groupto continue playing at a high level.”

Welker played a key role in the twogreatest statistical offenses in NFL history:the 2007 New England Patriots and lastyear’s Broncos. He caught 73 passes for 778yards and a career-high 10 TDs despitemissing the last 3 1/2 games of last season.He returned for the playoffs and had 18catches for 160 yards and a TD. WithoutWelker, Peyton Manning will have to leanmore on speedy wide receiver EmmanuelSanders, who’s played in the slot before, ortight end Jacob Tamme, who filled the roleat times last year when Welker was out.

Tight end Julius Thomas is also better

working the middle of the field. And ifSanders moves inside, that opens up play-ing time for rookie Cody Latimer or BubbaCaldwell opposite flanker DemaryiusThomas. “I have no doubt that Wes willremain focused on his preparations for theseason and stay in excellent shape duringhis time away from the team,” Fox said.Even before Welker’s ban was issued, theBroncos were facing a daunting first monthto open the season. Kicker Matt Prater hasbeen suspended for the first four games foran alcohol-related violation of league rulesand leading tackler Danny Trevathan is outfor the first three games with a broken leftleg. Welker will miss games againstIndianapolis, Kansas City, Seattle andArizona. All four teams won 10 or moregames last season.

The Seahawks and Colts both featurephysical defensive backs that roughed upthe Broncos’ receivers at the line of scrim-mage in wins over Denver last season.Adept at getting open in 1-on-1 coverageand finding the holes in zones, Welker hit itoff immediately with Manning last yearafter spending six seasons in New Englandwith Tom Brady. Welker was excused frompractices for two days last month, appar-ently to meet with league officials abouthis pending suspension. He then played ina preseason game against Houston on Aug23, when he sustained his third concussionsince Nov 17. Welker returned to practiceMonday but declined comment afterward,saying he had to rush to a team function.

His latest head injury came when hetried to duck following a catch over themiddle and absorbed a helmet hit by DJSwearinger. Swearinger ’s hit knockedWelker from the game and drew a 15-yardpenalty and the wrath of Manning. Thequarterback raced up to say some choicewords to the swaggering safety, drawinghis first taunting penalty of his career. Hewas later fined $8,268. “Obviously, I’m con-cerned about Wes,” Manning said after thegame. “I didn’t like seeing him come out ofthe game with a blow to the head. He hadone of those last year that kept him out fora while.” Welker will now be out of actionuntil Oct 12, when the Broncos visit theJets. — AP

Welker suspended

Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker

EDEN PRAIRIE: True innovation in the NFL canbe tough. Successful schemes breed imitationsand force opponents to adjust. Eventually,even for the soundest of systems, the code isbound to be cracked. Consider the case of the“Tampa 2” defense. “You’re not going to shockpeople when you throw out the Tampa 2: ‘Oh,my gosh. How do we attack this?’ Becausethat’s all they’ve been doing for quite a fewyears now,” said Dallas assistant coach MonteKiffin, who directed and perfected the defenseunder Tony Dungy with Tampa Bay.

When Minnesota replaced Leslie Frazierwith Mike Zimmer as head coach this season,yet another team discarded the Tampa 2 as itsbasic strategy. The Vikings gave up the mostpoints in the league last year, and some veter-an players complained about predictability.“Sometimes we’d line up and Aaron Rodgersis calling out our defense as we’re lining up,”defensive end Brian Robison said.

The Vikings installed the Tampa 2 in 2006,when Detroit (Rod Marinelli) and Kansas City(Herm Edwards) were also getting it goingwith new head coaches. Chicago was playingit well under Lovie Smith, as was Tampa Baywith Kiffin, the defensive coordinator. Duringthat pinnacle season, Dungy guidedIndianapolis to a Super Bowl victory overSmith’s Bears. Kiffin and Marinelli still teach itwith the Cowboys, and Smith and Frazier havereturned it to the Buccaneers, but evidence ofthe Tampa 2’s use around the NFL these daysis scant.

Ten years ago, this was an ideal basedefense. Teams could rely on a four-man passrush up front more than blitzing. In turn, out-side linebackers and cornerbacks droppedinto coverage zones, with the middle line-backer backpedaling into the crease betweenthe safeties to make deep passes difficult.Sure tacklers from the back seven wereassigned to gaps in the line for run support,freeing the front four to focus on one each.Scoring against a Tampa 2 was going torequire patience. “We did a lot of things thatwere simplistic. We never worried about thesize. The defense was built on quickness,”Kiffin said.

Smith, Marinelli and Edwards wereBuccaneers assistants in the late 1990s underDungy and Kiffin, who took the system south

after developing it together in Minnesota. Thecatchy nickname for this derivative of theCover 2 zone strategy, defined by two safetiessplitting the deep halves of the field in passcoverage, stuck during Tampa Bay’s time as anNFC power. The roots, however, traced toPittsburgh with head coach Chuck Noll anddefensive coordinator Bud Carson twodecades before that. Dungy was a youngdefensive back then for the Steelers. “Peopleidentified it with Tampa, but there was noth-ing different. We didn’t make any changesfrom the 1975 playbook,” Dungy said. “Thereisn’t too much new in the game of footballthat hasn’t been done before.”

With tackle Warren Sapp, l inebackerDerrick Brooks and safety John Lynch, thoseBuccaneers teams had quite the backbone.“You can have the blueprints, but if you don’thave the parts they don’t work,” Brooks said.“Players play the game. Systems don’t.” Seamsin the coverage, though, were easier toexploit without Hall of Fame players like Sappand Brooks defending. Dungy and Edwardsmoved from the sideline to the TV studio. Theincrease in three-wide receiver and two-tightend sets, plus elite quarterback play, mini-mized the effectiveness of the Tampa 2.

Then there was the rule changes designedto stem head and neck injuries, with stifferpenalties for hits on defenseless receivers.Opponents, thus, became more emboldenedto run routes across the middle without anenforcer like Lynch waiting to punish them.“Lynch would knock the hell out of you,” Sappsaid. “You can’t do it anymore. That’s the ques-tion I have for Lovie. How do you plan ondoing what we did to take away the middle ofthat field?” Even during the heyday, Tampa 2teams didn’t run it all the time. More like halfof the plays, at most. Offenses are too sophis-ticated to stay the same every snap. Down,distance, time and score dictate calls as muchas anything. Smith said he’d like to blitz aboutone-third of the time this season.

Still, Frazier, eager to work with Pro Bowltackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker LavonteDavid, said he has “no doubt” the Tampa 2 isstill viable. “We feel like we have the founda-tion on this defense to make it work,” Fraziersaid. That’s the key, of course. “It’s not aboutthe Xs and Os. —AP

NOBLESVILLE: The NFL suspended Jim Irsay forthe first six games of the season and fined him$500,000 for violating its personal conduct poli-cy, coming down hard on the Indianapolis Coltsowner Tuesday just hours after he pleaded guiltyto a misdemeanor stemming from an embar-rassing March traffic stop. Commissioner RogerGoodell said Irsay is barred from team facilities,practices and games and cannot represent theColts at NFL meetings or events. The fine is themaximum allowed under league rules. “I havestated on numerous occasions that owners,management personnel and coaches must beheld to a higher standard than players,” Goodelltold Irsay in a letter released by the NFL. “We dis-cussed this during our meeting and youexpressed your support for that view, volunteer-ing that owners should be held to the higheststandard.”

The 55-year-old Irsay pleaded guilty to a mis-demeanor count of driving while intoxicatedand acknowledged during his appearancebefore a Hamilton County judge that he wasunder the influence of the painkillers oxycodoneand hydrocodone when he was arrested March16 near his home in the Indianapolis suburb ofCarmel. Irsay did not comment outside thecourtroom, but he apologized to Colts fans in aprepared statement. “I am committed to doeverything in my power to turn this whole expe-rience into a positive event for myself, my familyand the community,” he said. “In retrospect, Inow know that the incident opened my eyes toissues in my life that needed addressing andhelped put me on the path to regain my health.

I truly hope and pray that my episode willhelp in some small measure to diminish the stig-ma surrounding our country’s terrible and dead-ly problem of addiction. It is a disease.” Irsay’scase was closely watched around the NFL - notleast among players - because there are fewexamples of the league punishing an owner likeIrsay. Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand wassuspended for 30 days and fined $100,000 in2010 for violating the NFL’s personal conductpolicy following his guilty plea to driving whileimpaired. A player with a first-offense misde-meanor DUI would not be suspended and wouldbe fined no more than $50,000 under terms ofthe collective bargaining agreement with theNFL Players Association.

Police said an officer spotted Irsay drivingslowly, stopping in the roadway and failing touse a turn signal. Officers said he had troublereciting the alphabet and failed field sobrietytests. Various prescription drugs were found inhis vehicle, along with more than $29,000 incash. Irsay acknowledged in 2002 that he hadbecome dependent on painkillers after severalyears of orthopedic operations but said he hadovercome the problem. Irsay will be on proba-tion for a year and is prohibited from drinking orpossessing alcohol during that time. He must

submit to drug testing during his probation andsuccessfully complete a substance abuse reha-bilitation program. Less than 48 hours after hisarrest, the Colts said Irsay had entered a treat-ment facility.

Irsay’s driver’s license also was suspended forone year by Judge J. Richard Campbell, whoasked Irsay about his history of prescription drugtroubles. “Yes, I’ve had it in the past ... when I wasdealing with the effects after having surgery,”Irsay answered. Andre Miksha, the HamiltonCounty chief deputy prosecutor, said Irsay’s casewasn’t handled differently than the roughly1,100 other intoxicated driving cases the officehandles each year. He said the “vast majority” ofsuch cases end in plea agreements. He also saidthe terms of Irsay’s plea agreement are typicalfor a person who faced first-time driving whileintoxicated charges in the county just north ofIndianapolis.

Irsay had resumed his duties with the Colts atthe NFL draft in May and even made an unsuc-cessful personal pitch to his fellow owners onbehalf of Indianapolis’ bid to host the 2018

Super Bowl. Irsay became the Colts owner in1997 after the death of his father, Robert Irsay,and a lengthy legal battle with his father’s sec-ond wife. Forbes magazine has estimated Irsay’snet worth at $1.6 billion. He has helped build theColts into a top NFL team over the past decadebehind quarterback Peyton Manning, now withDenver, and was a key player in the drive tobring the Super Bowl to Indianapolis two yearsago.

He is working with some success to rebuildthe team behind young quarterback AndrewLuck while coping with a divorce that follows adecade-long separation from his wife of 33years. Irsay told the judge he is still under thecare of a doctor and an orthopedic specialistwho prescribe medications for him. Under termsof his probation, Irsay must provide officials withall current medication prescriptions. The NFLsaid Irsay will be subject to ongoing treatment,counseling and testing as determined by doc-tors. Irsay, who is active on social media, is alsoforbidden from discussing the Colts or NFL onhis Twitter account. — AP

Heyday over for ‘Tampa

2’: Demise of a defense

NFL suspends Irsay, fines $500,000

NOBLESVILLE: Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay enters Hamilton County court in Noblesville,Ind on Tuesday, Sept 2, 2014. — AP


MONZA: The Formula One duel between NicoRosberg and Lewis Hamilton returns to its rootsthis weekend at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.The Mercedes rivals developed their now incendi-ary rivalry when they raced karts in Italy more thana decade ago. Rosberg enters with a 29-point leadover Hamilton in the drivers’ standings - thebiggest it has been all season.

A big part of that gap was built in the BelgianGP two weeks ago, when Rosberg finished secondand Hamilton claimed the German driver acknowl-edged that he had deliberately crashed into himearly in the incident-packed race. The two driversattended a meeting at the team’s headquarters inEngland last week, where Mercedes said Rosbergwas disciplined after accepting responsibility forthe collision. Still, it remains to be seen howMercedes will handle the tensions at Monza, thefastest circuit in F1. With Red Bull driver DanielRicciardo claiming his third win of the season inBelgium, Mercedes might want to install teamorders to safely secure the drivers’ championship.Here are some things to know entering the 13thrace of the 19-event season:

Lewis looks backHamilton won the Italian GP from pole in 2012

but struggled to a ninth-place finish last year. “TheItalian Grand Prix is always a special one for me interms of the memories I have there, going rightback to my early career,” the British driver said. “Thekarting championships used to race in Italy quiteoften and it’s also where I met Nico, so that’s whereour rivalry really began. “My aim for the weekend,of course, is to claw back the gap in the drivers’championship,” Hamilton added. “It’s as big as it’sbeen all season so I’ve got a lot of work ahead ofme but anything can happen in this sport. I won’tgive up until the flag drops in Abu Dhabi and there

are still plenty of points to be won before then, soit’s far from over yet.”

Ferrari foreverFernando Alonso is tired of reading about spec-

ulation that he’ll leave Ferrari. “I don’t like certainrumors. They create stress for me and the team,”

Alonso told the Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m honoredthat other teams have stated that they want mebut I’ve been repeating for a year now that I wantto stay on with Ferrari. I’ll stay through 2016 and ifpossible even longer.” Alonso’s contract with Ferrariexpires after the 2016 season, but he hasn’t he

signed an extension yet. “We’re close,” Alonso said.“We’re working on it.” Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010and is still seeking his first title with the Italianteam. “Winning is the most important thing forevery athlete but there are also other things thatcan make you happy,” he said. “Ferrari’s passion isenough on its own to fill you with pride. And (new

team principal Marco) Mattiacci wants to changeand be more aggressive. That makes staying moreattractive.”

Full throttleWith average speeds of 250 kph (155 mph) and

top speeds of 340 kph (211 mph), Monza is thefastest circuit on the calendar, as well as one of theoldest - with the Italian GP one of only four races tohave survived from the first year of F1 in 1950. Thelayout of the Monza track - long, high-speedstraights followed by slow corners - also requiresheavy breaking. “It is extremely difficult in Monzato get a perfect lap because it is almost impossibleto hit every curve and every chicane in the way youwant,” three-time Monza champion SebastianVettel of Red Bull said.

The main straightaway in Monza was originallypart of a banked high-speed oval circuit. “Thebiggest challenges at Monza nowadays are thebraking zones,” Ricciardo said.

“The first chicane is the ultimate example: You’recoming down at the highest speed an F1 car willreach all year and you’re braking into one of thetightest corners you’ll take all year. “Added to thatyou’re doing this with the least amount of down-force you’ll have all year, which means the cartends to slide around quite a bit as well as takinglonger to stop,” Ricciardo added. “You can’t affordto lock a brake but equally you can’t lose time bybeing too eager on the pedal. It demands that youare really focused all of the time.”

Italian rootsRicciardo was born in Australia to parents of

Italian origin, so Monza is a special stop for him. “Asa kid when we watched races on TV, dad alwaysrooted for Ferrari, like all the Italians in Australia,”he said. “Although things have changed now thatI’m with Red Bull.” Ricciardo is third in the stand-ings, a distant 64 points behind Rosberg, and does-n’t expect to close the gap too much this weekendconsidering how fast the Monza track is. “I don’t seewho can give Mercedes any bother,” Ricciardo toldthe Gazzetta. — AP

Rosberg-Hamilton duel returns to its roots

SPA: Mercedes-AMG’s British driver Lewis Hamilton (left) and Mercedes-AMG’s German driver NicoRosberg collide at the Spa-Francorchamps ciruit during the Belgium Formula One Grand Prix. — AFP

KUWAIT: This weekend, the world’s best bas-ketball shooters, playmakers, centers and for-wards will put it all on the line when they par-ticipate in head-to-head battles at the RedBull King of the Rock world championship.Taiwan will welcome the world’s toughestbasketball players in 2014 when the Red BullKing of the Rock World Finals move fromAlcatraz to the prison exercise yards ofSamasana Island on September 6.

Ali Ayed the winner from Kuwait has beentraining hard for this final, he spent all sum-mer working on tactics and physical strength.“I know it’s not going to be a walk in the parkin Samasana that’s why I intensified my physi-cal and mental training and hopefully thatpays off.

I’m expecting tough competition but I’mready for the challenge,” said Ali Ayed. Now inits fifth year, the one-on-one basketball com-petition is a global sporting fixture executedin truly iconic and unique surroundings.

The players will go head-to-head on anoutdoor court using a single elimination tour-nament bracket. Each game will last 5-min-utes with running cloak and a coin toss willdetermine first possession. A 15-second shotclock and standard 2 and 3 points as per thehoops rules. A player committing 5 fouls willbe disqualified. If fouled in the act of shootinga successful basket, player gets the one addi-tional point and possession changes. Injurytime-out will be 2 minutes at referee discre-tion. A tie after regulation leads to 2 minutesovertime (coin toss for first possession). 11-0skunk rule applies game over.

Ali Ayed chasing glory in Taiwan

Ali Ayed, winner from Kuwait

BIRMINGHAM: England captain Alastair Cookinsisted he still wanted to lead the side at theWorld Cup despite conceding the team’schances of triumphing at next year’s tourna-ment were “far-fetched” following another maul-ing by India. The reigning world championsinflicted a humiliating nine-wicket defeat uponEngland in the fourth one-day international atEdgbaston on Tuesday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. India dismissedEngland for just 206, a total that owed much tonumber seven Moeen Ali’s 67.

They then coasted to victory with more than19 overs to spare after Ajinkya Rahane, whose106 was his maiden ODI century, and ShikharDhawan (97 not out) put on 183 for the firstwicket. Defeat saw England suffer a fifth loss intheir last six ODI series. England only have a dietof limited overs cricket between now and thestart of the World Cup in Australia and NewZealand in February. But their chances of liftingthe trophy for the first time in what will be 40years’ of trying look as remote as they have sincethey made the last of their three losing appear-ances in the final in 1992 - the only previousoccasion when the tournament was staged‘Down Under’.

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swannrecently urged Cook to quit one-day cricket andconcentrate solely on Tests. But Cook, whosenine on Tuesday meant he has gone 38 inningswithout an ODI hundred, faced similar calls tostand down as Test skipper from half-a-dozenformer England captains earlier in the season,only to lead the team to a 3-1 series win overIndia. Cook, asked if he would be England’s cap-tain at the World Cup, replied: “If I’m allowed tobe, yes. “I don’t have a say on selection, but I’vecaptained for three-and-a-half years with the

goal to try to win the World Cup in Australia.He added: “I know that seems a bit far-

fetched at the moment when we’re losinggames of cricket, but there are a lot of reallygood players in that changing room. “If we canimprove at the rate we need to improve, we’vegot a chance.” England, beaten heavily for thethird match in a row, will try to avoid furtherembarrassment in the series finale atHeadingley tomorrow. “Maybe for a few of theseguys, it’s the first time it’s happened that we’velost as badly as this and it’s a true test of charac-ter for the whole team, really,” Cook said.

World Cup focusFormer England captain Michael Vaughan

has criticized the team’s “old-fashioned”approach to one-day cricket. But Cook said theproblem was more fundamental than that. “Idon’t think it’s been our mind-set really,” he said.“I think it’s been our lack of execution of fairlybasic skills at the moment with our batting.” Oneexplanation often advanced for England’s poorrecord in 50-over cricket is that everyoneinvolved in the English game puts so muchmore emphasis on Test cricket.

However, Cook said: “You only have to look atthe dressing-room to see whether it matters ornot now. “Just because you put huge impor-tance on Test cricket doesn’t mean one-daycricket doesn’t count. “We’ve got a World Cup insix months. That’s our big focus now. “There isno Test cricket for six months, so it is very impor-tant.” Meanwhile India captain Mahendra SinghDhoni was left to reflect on a “complete game”.“With the World Cup coming up, it is very impor-tant we start doing well outside the subconti-nent,” said Dhoni, who led India to triumph onhome soil at the 2011 edition. — AFP

BILBAO: The guy who tells Ukraine what plays torun speaks English. So does the guy who tells theDominican Republic what their opponents will do.Yet, not much is getting lost in translation at thisinternational tournament - everyone at theBasketball World Cup speaks hoops. “We know bas-ketball terms,” Ukraine point guard Pooh Jeter said.And if that fails, there are other tried-and-true meth-ods. “I’m Italian. I use hand signals,” Ukraine coachMike Fratello said.

The Ukraine squad is symbolic of why nearlyeveryone in the sport is fluent in basketball. Jeter is aCalifornia kid who briefly played in the NBA. Fratellois a New Jersey native hired by Ukrainian federationpresident Alexander “Sasha” Volkov, who played forhim with the Atlanta Hawks. Fratello got the lan-guage concern out of the way at his first meetingwith players after taking over Ukraine’s nationalteam in 2011. If you didn’t get what I just said, hetold them, don’t nod your head like you did. “Youcan’t be afraid to say, ‘I don’t understand,’” Fratellosaid. Now it’s left up to the two assistant coaches onthe bench who speak both languages to make cer-tain players can’t mess up because of a mix-up.“Their assignment is, if you don’t think our guysunderstand what I’m saying, it’s your job to tell themwhat I just said, and if we walk out and they don’t doit and they don’t understand, it’s your fault,” Fratellosaid. Whether encouraging a teammate or trash talk-ing an opponent, no one seems to have a problem -not even players who don’t speak the language ofthe country on their jersey.

This should be advantage Besides superior talent, the Americans are one of

the few teams that only have to worry about what tosay, not how to say it, since everyone on their rosterwas raised in the United States. Teams are allowedone naturalized player, many times ending up anAmerican-born, raised or educated one who hasgone overseas to play professionally. That’s the casewith Jeter, who formerly played for BC Kyiv inUkraine and was later asked to join the nationalteam. Though not mandatory, a working knowledge

of English is helpful at the tournament, where thepublic address announcer and entertainment actsspeak it, as does the official conducting thepostgame news conference for a coach and playerfrom each team. For a team such as Finland, whoseplayers are taught English starting in the third grade,it’s an easy adjustment. But some creativity is need-ed when not everyone can understand it, such asthe case with the Dominican Republic. South Floridacoach Orlando Antigua and two members of hisstaff are bilingual, as is most of the team. However,staff members Bill Bayno and Pat Zipfel only speakEnglish, and players Juan Coronado and Victor Lizjust Spanish. So when Zipfel, a longtime NBAadvance scout, goes over the opposition during

meetings at the hotel, other team officials translatewhat he’s writing on the board for Coronado and Liz.“So if Zippy’s talking, they’re just whispering in theirear, ‘this is what he’s saying,’ so it works prettysmoothly,” said Bayno, an assistant with the TorontoRaptors. They can do the same in the heat of agame, though things are more rushed. “For thosetwo, like if I have a teaching point, I’ll tell one of theSpanish-speaking coaches, and I speak brokenSpanish, so through the course of the three or fourweeks we’ve been together I’ll have the key words inSpanish that they understand,” Bayno added. “Butanything that’s complex, I’ll tell one of the Spanish-speaking coaches, or they’ll just tell them them-selves.” —AP

Talking basketball, there isnothing lost in translation

BILBAO: Kenneth Faried (center left) and Klay Thompson, right, of the US (left) duel for the ballwith New Zealand’s Isaac Fotu (center) during the Group C Basketball World Cup match, inBilbao northern Spain on Tuesday, Sept 2, 2014. — AP

England captain Alastair Cook

England’s Cook vows to carry on to WCup

MILAN: Fernando Alonso hopes toextend his Ferrari contract beyond theend of 2016 and reckons he could have10 more years of racing in Formula One.The Spaniard was quoted on the Ferrariwebsite on Wednesday as tellingreporters at the Maranello factory aheadof the Italian Grand Prix that he had nodesire to leave, despite persistent mediaspeculation. “It’s a year now that I’vebeen saying I want to stay at Ferrari andextend my contract. That’s my wish, Irepeat it every two weeks, at the end ofevery race, yet it’s never said,” declaredthe 33-year-old double world champion.“Talk of other teams has never comefrom my lips, in fact it’s always been theopposite”.

Alonso joined Ferrari from Renault,where he won his titles, in 2010 and hasbeen three times a runner-up in thechampionship since then. However, heand the team have not won a race sincehe triumphed in his home Spanish GrandPrix in May last year and the Spaniard has

been courted by McLaren, who areswitching to Honda power next year. “Ihave a contract for another two yearsand as I always say on the subject ofrumours and to ensure calm, what I wantis to continue for the necessary years,”said Alonso. “Let’s see if that can happen,but for the next two years at least, thereis no problem.”

Alonso said winning was importantbut Ferrari, the sport’s most successfuland glamorous team down the decades,could offer a lot more than that. “There isa passion for this team, which as a drivermeans you are already proud of what youare doing, independent of the results,” heexplained. “The most important thing isto fix the things that are not going wellon the car and in the team and to doeverything that is needed. “(Team princi-pal Marco) Mattiacci also shares thisdesire to change things and to be moreaggressive in our approach to our work.This renewed will to win makes staying atFerrari even more attractive.” —Reuters

Alonso to extend Ferrari’s contract


NEW YORK: Caroline Wozniacki used her aggressivegroundstroke game to near perfection on Tuesdayand pummeled Italy’s Sara Errani 6-0 6-1 to reachthe semi-finals of the US Open. The 10th seedreached the last four at a grand slam for the firsttime since 2011 by beating Errani at her own strate-gy, engaging in long baseline rallies but using supe-rior power to open the court and find lanes for win-ners. Dane Wozniacki walloped winners of all vari-eties, belting 26 of them to just 12 for her Italianopponent, who looked dazed and confused at timeson court.

The match ended when an Errani forehand hitthe net tape and flopped back on her own side ofthe net and the strains of “Sweet Caroline” began toserenade Wozniacki over the loudspeaker. “It’s beena pretty up and down year for me,” said Wozniacki,whose two-year relationship with world numberone golfer Rory McIlroy ended this year just daysafter their wedding invitations were sent out. “To behere in the semi-finals of the US Open once again isan incredible feeling. Definitely, hard work pays off.I’m here and I’m so happy.”

The match began inauspiciously for Wozniacki,who struggled with the warm winds that blewthrough the stadium. She hit an ugly double faulton her second serve of the opening game and hadto fend off four break points to hold serve. “Love-40isn’t really a good start, but it was really windy and itjust took me a few serves to kind of get into the

rhythm and figure out where to throw the ball andwhat to aim for,” she said. Wozniacki did not takelong to adjust and ended up winning 57 points to amere 26 for the overmatched Errani.

Errani, accustomed to keeping the ball in playlong enough to profit from an unforced error, triedto force the action by approaching the net, butWozniacki whistled winners over her, past her andoccasionally right at her. Errani came to net 20 timesand won only half those points. “She is muchstronger than me physically. I think that was themost important difference today,” said the 13thseed. “She don’t miss a ball. “I tried to change mygame in the second set and come more to the net. Iwas trying but was difficult.” Wozniacki, a finalist atthe 2009 US Open, reigned for 67 weeks as numberone back in 2010 and 2011 but is still seeking herfirst grand slam crown.

Standing in her path to a return to a slam final isChina’s unseeded Peng Shuai, who was equallyimpressive in routing 17-year-old Swiss BelindaBencic in the lower half of the women’s draw wherethe leading seeds have vanished in upsets. “She’sbeen playing well. She’s playing aggressively,”Wozniacki said of Peng, who has lost in their last fivemeetings while winning one set. “She’s strong fromboth sides. She’s been serving well. It’s going to be adifficult match.” “But it’s going to fun,” added a smil-ing Wozniacki, happy to be back on the main stagewith a real shot at a major title. — Reuters

Wozniacki wallops Errani to reach semi-finals

NEW YORK: Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, returns to Sara Errani, of Italy, during the quarterfinalround of the 2014 US Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, Sept 2, 2014. Wozniacki defeated Errani6-0, 6-1. — AP

NEW YORK: Roger Federer rolled into the quar-ter-finals of the U.S. Open for the 10th time in 11years on Tuesday, while experience finally gotthe better of youth at the year’s final grand slam.Five-times champion Federer powered his waypast Spain’s Roberto Bautista 6-4 6-3 6-2, the 33-year-old raising his record on Arthur AsheStadium court to a dazzling 25-1. Facing Federerfor the first time, the 26-year-old Spaniard quick-ly found himself 5-1 down in the opening set tothe 17-time grand slam winner, who then easedoff the gas and coasted to an unflusteredstraight sets win in just under two hours.

On another sweltering day at the US NationalTennis Center, three emerging talents andpotential grand slam winners of the future werefinally ushered to the Flushing Meadows exit.Chinese doubles specialist Peng Shuai routed17-year-old Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-1, TomasBerdych thrashed 20-year-old Austrian DominicThiem 6-1 6-2 6-4, and Frenchman Gael Monfilsschooled 23-year Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-57-6(6) 7-5. Monfils put aside his showman anticsfor a more workmanlike approach to his fourthround match and it resulted in victory over theplayer dubbed “Baby Fed” for his all-aroundgame that resembles Swiss maestro Federer’s.

Frenchman Monfils, seeded 20th, returns tothe quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 fora date with Federer. “He’s got easy top 10 poten-tial,” said Federer of Monfils, who has yet to dropa set. “He’s a great mover. He’s got a wonderfulserve, really, which nobody really talks aboutbecause of his athletic movement which standsout so much. “His issues have really been just hisfitness and his setbacks he’s had because ofinjury. Then sometimes maybe not wanting toplay sometimes because of reasons only he canexplain. “I think I can speak on behalf of so manyplayers: We love watching him play.”

‘Amazing time’It was not all joy for the French contingent on

Tuesday with Gilles Simon losing to big-servingCroat Marin Cilic. Cilic and Simon have played acombined 49 five-setters in their careers so itwas no surprise that Tuesday’s meeting betweenthe two went the distance. Cilic had won a five-set marathon over Simon earlier this year at theAustralian Open and it was the 14th seededCroatian coming out on top again 5-7 7-6(3) 6-43-6 6-3.

While Cilic and Simon battled it out for overfour hours in the heat, Federer, Monfils, Berdych,Peng and 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki con-served energy by registering straight-sets wins.Peng, 28, delivered a 64-minute master class to2013 junior world number one Bencic in anunlikely quarter-final between unseeded play-ers. The Chinese had rattled off three impressiveupsets in a row from the second round, oustingfourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, 28th seed

Roberta Vinci and 14th-seeded Lucie Safarova,on her way to reaching her first grand slam sin-gles semi-final in 37 attempts.

“This is amazing time for me,” said Peng, whohas won 16 doubles titles, including this year’sFrench Open, but is still chasing her first singlescrown. “A lot of tennis. It’s a long time, the career.It’s tough sometimes. I’m thinking to give up andstop play because I don’t know if I can make it or

not.” Peng will next meet former world numberone Wozniacki, who used her aggressivegroundstroke game to near perfection in a 6-0 6-1 victory over Italy’s Sara Errani. The 10th-seededDane, engaging Errani in long baseline ralliesbut using superior power to open up the courtand find lanes for blasting home winners, roaredto victory in a brisk 65 minutes at Arthur AsheStadium. — Reuters

Federer marches on, youth movement stalls at US Open

Cilic, Simon in five-set marathon

NEW YORK: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spainduring their men’s singles fourth round match on Day Nine of the 2014 US Open on September2, 2014. — AFP

NEW YORK: US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson speaks at the US Ryder Cup Captain’sPicks News Conference on September 2, 2014 in New York City. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: The final pieces of the Ryder Cupjigsaw were slotted into place on Tuesday asholders Europe, who will be hosts and heavyfavorites later this month, and the United Statesrounded out their 12-man teams with threewildcard picks. European captain Paul McGinley,spoilt for choice, ultimately went for seasonedCup veterans in Ian Poulter and Lee Westwoodalong with 39-year-old rookie StephenGallacher. Later in the day, McGinley’s counter-part Tom Watson opted for a blend of experi-ence and form by announcing Keegan Bradley,Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson as his threepicks.

While both captains expressed delight andstrong faith in their teams, the Americans will gointo the Sept. 26-28 matches at Gleneagles inScotland with a record of seven losses in the lastnine editions. “The Europeans, on paper, havebeen touted as being the favorites and we arethe underdogs but I have a fundamental beliefin my team,” Watson told a news conference inNew York after announcing his selections. “Moreimportantly, our players have a fundamentalbelief in themselves that they can go and winthe Ryder Cup.”

Watson felt that the stinging defeat sufferedby the Americans in the most recent edition, atMedinah outside Chicago in 2012, would serveas his team’s greatest motivation. “I can tell youthat all the players I have talked to, every one ofthem without a doubt, had one thing to sayabout the Ryder Cup,” said the 64-year-old, whowas captain when the US last won on foreignsoil, at The Belfry in 1993. “They want to go backand they want to make amends for what hap-pened at Medinah two years ago. “From ourstandpoint, our team has that one focus. TheEuropeans played great in the last round in 2012and that was a hard loss for the American play-ers and it still sticks with a lot of them.”

‘Meltdown at Medinah’Two years ago in what became known as the

‘Meltdown at Medinah’, the US threw away acommanding four-point lead on the final day tolose by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2. Bradley, anAmerican version of Poulter because of his pas-sion for the Ryder Cup and ability to raise hisgame in the white-knuckle atmosphere of theteam competition, was a rookie in 2012 andwould dearly love to bury memories of that loss.

“I’ve made no secret of how important thisteam is to me and how bad I want to go back

and win the Ryder Cup,” said the 28-year-old.“This is a redemption year for a lot of guys thatwere on the team.” While the highly motivatedAmericans will be looking for redemption atGleneagles, the Europeans will strive to maintainthe iron grip they have established on the tro-phy so often in the past two decades. YetMcGinley, who described himself as “a very luckyman” on Tuesday because of the strength ofplayers at his disposal for his three captain’spicks, is preparing his team for a strong chal-lenge on home soil.

“We are playing against a very, very strongAmerican team led by a very, very strong indi-vidual in Tom Watson,” the Irishman said atWentworth on the outskirts of London. “I for oneam under no illusions how difficult the taskahead is going to be, and the players will, aswell, too, and they do know already. “On thepositive side, we have three players who will adda lot to the nine who have already qualified andmake the European team as strong as it needs tobe to take on the might of America.” TheEuropean team bristles with strength. Led byNorthern Irish world number one Rory McIlroy,they boast four of the game’s top-five rankedplayers. The Americans arguably have greaterdepth with nine of the top 20.

Bitter memoriesHowever, very few of the Europeans have

been scarred by bitter memories at the RyderCup while only three of Watson’s players-PhilMickelson, Jim Furyk and Mahan-have everexperienced what it is like to win the trophy. Allthree played on Paul Azinger’s triumphant USteam at Valhalla in 2008 and Cup veteransMickelson and Furyk also featured in the aston-ishing last-day comeback at Brookline in 1999.

“Europe has flat-out kicked our butt the last10 or 15 years and that’s just the way it is,” saidMahan, who will play on his third US Cup teamat Gleneagles. “We have a great challenge aheadof us but we’re extremely motivated and wehave a lot to prove among each player.”Englishman Westwood will be making his ninthsuccessive Ryder Cup appearance, and hebelieves it is becoming increasingly more diffi-cult to make the European team. “It just getsharder and harder to make every couple ofyears,” said Westwood. “The strength and depthon tour, it’s phenomenal now. When you look atthe people that missed out, you can’t argue thatit’s strong guys.”- Reuters

Battle lines drawn; Ryder Cup wildcards announced

MELBOURNE: South Africa coach HeynekeMeyer has shaken up his pack for Saturday’sRugby Championship test against Australia inPerth, benching hooker Bismarck du Plessis andrestoring Victor Matfield to the second row.Adriaan Strauss will start at hooker alongsidepromoted prop Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira ina revamped front row as the Springboks look toovercome the scrum problems that doggedthem in two tight victories over Argentina.

Matfield returns after missing the first twomatches of the southern hemisphere tourna-ment through injury, replacing young lockLood de Jager, while Morne Steyn starts at fly-half in place of Handre Pollard. In other changesto the starting side named on Wednesday,Marcell Coetzee comes off the bench to replaceopenside flanker Juan Smith with JanSerfontein dislodging Damian de Allende atoutside centre. Props Trevor Nyakane andMarcel van der Merwe, and utility back Pat

Lambie join uncapped Warren Whiteley, captainof the Johannesburg-based Super Rugby teamthe Lions, on the bench. “We were always plan-ning in moving our personnel around duringthe competition,” Meyer said in a team release.“The only new player in the team is Warren,whom I’m very happy for and excited to seewhat he can do. He covers all three positions inthe loose trio and can make an impact later inthe game. “Saturday’s test against Australia willtake a massive effort from every member of oursquad. We’re not looking at their recent resultagainst New Zealand and we know they will bea tough opponent.”

Australia were crushed 51-20 by the AllBlacks at Eden Park in their last match andSouth Africa will fancy their chances of continu-ing the hosts’ winless start to the tournament atPerth’s Subiaco Oval, where the Springbokshave won four times and drawn once in ninematches since 1998. —Reuters

LEEDS: Australian coach Nathan Brown insistsany one of six teams could be in the privilegedposition St Helens find themselves in - but he’sadamant none quite knew the importance ofperfect timing as much as his side. St Helensmoved to within a point of winning the secondtrophy on offer in Europe this season - the SuperLeague League Leaders’ Shield - with victoryover Challenge Cup final winners Leeds Rhinoslast week. Results also conspired to go their wayas Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giantsplayed out a 24-24 draw against each otherwhile Wigan Warriors fell to a shock defeat atWidnes Vikings.

Had Castleford Tigers not beaten BradfordBulls then they would already have their handson the League Leaders’ Shield - but they movedto within four points of St Helens with twomatches left with a 32-18 victory. Still a point athome to Warrington today would secureAustralian Brown, who coached St George in theNRL, and the Saints a first-place finish before theplay-offs - and he believes they fully deserve it.

“There have been a lot of twists and turns in theleague this year. Warrington had a super three-month period; at the beginning it was us, thenLeeds, Wigan have had a spell as haveHuddersfield and Castleford too,” said Brown.

“The competition is more open than everbefore and there are so many sides that can playwell. I said earlier in the season that Cas weren’tand wouldn’t be a flash in the pan. Then youhave Wigan, Leeds, Huddersfield, Warrington.“The reality for us is in the past four weeks wehave changed the way we have played and it isall about getting better so when we come intothe play-offs we are as prepared as we can be.Taking the League Leaders’ Shield would be agood reward for the players.” Castleford hostWakefield Wildcats on Sunday knowing nothingbut a win will do to take the League Leaders’Shield race down to the last regular seasonmatch while Leeds and Wigan bid to bounceback as they meet each other.

It will mark the first match since Rhinos cap-tain Kevin Sinfield announced his international

retirement having won 26 caps for England, 14for Great Britain and played at the last threeWorld Cups. Sinfield beat Australian quartetCameron Smith, Ben Barba, Cooper Cronk andNate Myles to the 2012 Golden Boot and will notfeature against the Kangaroos and New Zealandin the Four Nations later this year.

“This is a decision I have taken a great deal oftime over and it has been the toughest of myprofessional career,” Sinfield said. “I have alwaysloved playing for my country, whether forEngland or Great Britain, and it has been a privi-lege and honor to lead my country for the lasttwo seasons.” Meanwhile relegated LondonBroncos, who travel to Salford Red Devils onSunday, have recruited a player from the divisionthey will enter next season in Sheffield Eaglescentre Matt Garside from the Championship.And coach Joe Grima, a former assistant atParramatta, Cronulla and St George in the NRL,said: “Matt will bring some great Championshipexperience to the Broncos. He came highly rec-ommended.” — AFP

RUGBYL-SUPER PREVIEW

Time is right for title‘favorites’ St Helens

Matfield in for Australia test; Bismarck benched


Photo of the day

Jorge Martin (ESP) races during Red Bull Rookies Cup 2014 at Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, United Kingdom. — www.redbull.com

MOSCOW: Sports Minister Vitaly Mutkoannounced yesterday that Russia willgradually reduce the number of foreignplayers, the prevalence of which in thecountry’s sports clubs has been seen asharming the performance of nationalteams. He said his ministry has draftedlegislation that would give it completecontrol over the number of foreignersplaying in every sport in Russia. “We’reinterested to have the homegrown play-ers at the leading positions in the coun-try’s clubs,” Mutko was quoted as sayingby ITAR-TASS news agency.

The number of foreign players in thecountry’s Premier League football clubswould be decreased to six, while the icehockey, volleyball and basketball clubswould be able to include only three ontheir rosters as of 2018 according to theproposal. The bill is expected to becomelaw early next year. It will give the gov-ernment the means to impose its will onfootball club owners, who have repeat-edly opposed the idea.

With foreign players helping generateinterest and attendance, club ownershave instead called for a complete can-cellation of limits on foreigners. Mutkoacknowledged that reducing the num-ber of foreigners in club sports is a diffi-cult objective but would take into con-sideration the view of each sports feder-ation. “But we’re not going to adjust our-selves to every single club owner’s ambi-tions,” he insisted.

“There’s no alternative to a strict limit(on foreigners),” he said. The minister’sinitiative came just after Russia’s nationalfootball team flopped at the World Cupin Brazil, where they failed to make it

into the knockout stage from a relativelyeasy group.

Mutko has expressed an opinion thatthe high number of foreigners harms thenational (football) squad which desper-ately needs to improve its performancefor the 2018 World Cup, which Russiawill host. The 55-year-old minister, whois also a member of the executive boardof world football ruling body FIFA, hascompared the negative effect of foreignplayers in Russia to the situation inEngland, who also crashed out followingthe World Cup group stage. Foreignplayers currently form the backbone ofRussian Premier League’s top sides:reigning champions CSKA Moscow, lastseason’s runners-up Zenit St Petersburg,Spartak, Dynamo and LokomoivMoscow.

There are 11 foreign footballers onthe 23-man roster of Zenit, includingBrazilian star Hulk, Spanish midfielderJavi Garcia and Argentinean centre-backEzequiel Garay, while 13 of 25 SpartakMoscow players are non-Russians.CSKA’s Ivory Coast striker SeydoyDoumbia was the Russian League’s topscorer last season with 18 goals, whilethe Swedes Rasmus Elm and PontusWernbloom, Israeli Bebras Natcho andFinn Roman Eryomenko are currentlythe club’s key midfielders.

German forward Kevin Kuranyi spear-heads Dynamo Moscow’s attack, sup-ported by France playmaker MathieuValbuena, while Congo star ChristopherSamba conducts the club’s defensetogether with Brazilian Douglas and for-mer Manchester United fullbackAlexander Buttner. — AFP

Russia to reduce numberof foreign players

BRUSSELS: European nations have discussedhitting Russia with sporting sanctions includinga boycott of Vladimir Putin’s showpiece 2018football World Cup as a penalty for stoking thecrisis in Ukraine, sources and reports said yester-day. Moscow could also face suspension fromFormula One races and other sporting events,under long-term plans circulated amongEuropean diplomats alongside proposals forimmediate economic sanctions.

Leaders of the 28-nation EU on Saturdayasked the European Commission, the bloc’sexecutive arm, to draw up new sanctions inresponse to claims that Russia has sent troopsinto neighboring Ukraine. A European sourcetold AFP that the World Cup boycott idea was ina “working document discussed by the memberstates” detailing options for the economic sanc-tions, “but as a possibility for later on, not now.”

The paper was circulated to diplomats fromEuropean countries this week, before memberstates take a decision on what sanctions toimpose, possibly by tomorrow. The Financial

Times quoted the document as saying that inaddition to economic sanctions “thought couldalso be given to taking coordinated action with-in the G7 and beyond to recommend suspen-sion of Russian participation in high-profileinternational cultural, economic or sports events(Formula 1 races, UEFA football competitions,2018 World Cup, etc).” Russia is also staging theworld swimming championships next year.

Economic sanctionsBritish and German politicians called for

Russia to be stripped of the World Cup in July,following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flightMH17 over Ukraine, allegedly by a missile firedby pro-Moscow rebels. Putin in July promised an“unforgettable” World Cup, building on the suc-cess of this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi inwhat will be Russia’s most ambitious sportingproject since the fall of the Soviet Union. Thenew economic sanctions being considered bythe EU are expected to build on the same fourareas targeted by the last round of sanctions,

European Commission spokeswoman PiaAhrenkilde said yesterday. The EU limitedRussian access to European capital markets,banned the sale of arms and “dual use” materialswith possible military and civilian uses, and lim-ited the sale of technology for the oil sector.

After Ukraine said yesterday that it hadagreed a ceasefire in the conflict, EuropeanCommission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic saidany decisions on sanctions would “take intoaccount the developments on the ground.” Putinsaid yesterday that he hoped a final deal toresolve the crisis could be struck during talksscheduled for Friday. But the fact that Europeannations are now discussing a possible sportsboycott is designed to hit Russian prestige.British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said atthe time that Putin would “exploit” the WorldCup and that it would make the West look weak“if we’re not prepared to pull the plug.” However,FIFA executive committee member TheoZwanziger reportedly dismissed the proposal atthe time. — AFP

EU weighs up Russia World Cup boycott

ROME: Italy’s bid to rebuild after a humiliatingWorld Cup faces its first test today in the shapeof a Dutch squad also embarking on a new era.With new coach Antonio Conte havingeschewed the services of Liverpool recruit MarioBalotelli, Italy will be at far from full strength fora friendly at Bari that will serve as a warm-up totricky competitive encounters for both sides.Italy face Norway in Oslo next week while theDutch travel to the Czech Republic in their firstEuro 2016 qualifiers. The match against a Dutchside that reached the semi-finals in Brazil offersthe Azzurri the opportunity to reclaim somepride after the morale-shredding ignominy ofexiting the World Cup at the group stage.

Conte has vowed to lead the national squadback to what he regards as its rightful position atthe top of the global game, despite bemoaninga lack of playing resources he blames on thenumber of foreign strikers playing in Serie A.Balotelli is suspended for the trip to Norway andConte has declined to elaborate further onwhether that was the main reason for the strikernot being included in his first squad. The firstblack player to represent Italy at a major tourna-ment has been subjected to criticism in hishome country over what was perceived as apoor attitude during the unsuccessful World Cupcampaign.

Although Conte has refused to talk specifical-ly about Balotelli, some of his comments aboutcharacter being more important than playingability have been interpreted as a sign he mayregard Liverpool’s new signing as more troublethan he is worth. Other notable absencesinclude injured playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who hashinted he could extend his international careerinto the Conte era, and defenders GiorgioChiellini and Andrea Barzagli.

Italian officials are hoping Chiellini will be fitin time to play in Oslo. Inter Milan striker PabloOsvaldo dropped out earlier this week due to agroin injury, forcing Conte to call up the quixoticFabio Quagliarella, a player the coach rarelyselected last season when they were both atItalian champions Juventus. During his three-season, three-title reign at the Turin giants,Conte had to endure fierce abuse at most otherSerie A stadiums.

He is expecting a warmer reception in hisnew role but insists he will not be reining in thefiery touchline antics that have become part ofthe former international midfielder’s brand. “Ilike the players to feel my presence, the refereesand the opposition too,” he said this week. “Ihave always been like that. If you are born roundit is difficult to become square.” Conte wants anItaly in his own image, saying this week that hisideal international should be “humble, proudand ... mean.”

New start for DutchHolland are also under new management

with the vastly experienced Guus Hiddink hav-ing taken over from Louis van Gaal following thelatter’s departure for Manchester United on theback of the Oranje’s exhilarating run to the semi-

finals in Brazil. “Succeeding Louis after a superbWorld Cup is an enormous challenge,” Hiddinksaid. “But I have experience and that doesn’tfrighten me. I’m taking over a team in goodhealth which knows what it is doing.” A combi-nation of injury and illness means Hiddink, 67,will begin his second stint as national coachwithout big names Arjen Robben, Klaas Jan

Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart. Feyenoordplaymaker Jordy Clasie and and Aston Villadefender Ron Vlaar also miss out. The friendlyshould be interesting for tactics aficionados withConte’s Italy set to switch to a 3-5-2 line-up whileHiddink’s Holland are expected to abandon thesame formation favored by Van Gaal and returnto a more traditional back four. —AFP

Italy try to rebuild after humiliating World Cup

AMSTERDAM: Dutch national football team’s coach Guus Hiddink (center) coaches his team duringa training session ahead of the friendly match against Italy at the Amsterdam Arena. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Brazilian legend Zico has signedup to coach a team in the Indian SuperLeague, joining other former stars in the newfranchise-based venture to be played laterthis year. Zico, 61, who played in three WorldCups and has coached around the world, willmanage the Goa franchise for the 10-weektournament that begins in October. The tour-nament has been modeled along the lines ofcricket’s cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL)and hopes to raise football’s profile in thecricket-mad nation.

Zico, one of Brazil’s great exponents of “thebeautiful game” who played in World Cupsfrom 1978 to 1986, signed the contract in Riode Janeiro on Tuesday, a statement from Goafranchise said. “FC Goa is proud to announcethat the legendary Brazilian football playerZico has agreed to be the manager of theirteam that will play in the Indian Super League,”the statement said. It added that representa-

tives of the club, owned by a group of football-loving Goa businessmen, will travel to Brazilsoon to help Zico complete visa formalities.

Other former stars who have confirmedtheir participation as player or coach includeItalian great Alessandro Del Piero, France andJuventus striker David Trezeguet, his compa-triot Robert Pires, Spaniard Luis Garcia, andEngland goalkeeper David James. The leagueis backed by India’s Reliance Industries, con-trolled by the country’s richest man MukeshAmbani, sports management giant IMG andRupert Murdoch’s Star TV. India, ranked a low-ly 150th in the world, has been dubbed a“sleeping giant” by world governing bodyFIFA president Sepp Blatter. But the EnglishPremier League draws big TV audiences andteam owners are hoping to replicate the suc-cess of the IPL, the domestic Twenty20 crickettournament that attracts some of the game’sbiggest names. — AFP

Brazil legend Zico to coach in the Indian Super League

LONDON: New Arsenal striker DannyWelbeck is determined to prove that he isworth the 16 million pound ($26.36 mil-lion) the Premier League club spent onthe transfer deadline day to sign himfrom Manchester United. Several Arsenalfans have voiced doubts about the sign-ing on social media, and Welbeck wasone of the players singled out for criti-cism after England’s dismal World Cupcampaign in Brazil, but the 23-year-oldwas defiant. “This is the next stage of mydevelopment - to come to Arsenal - toreally show people what I can do as afootballer and hopefully get to the placewhere I want to be,” he told the Arsenalwebsite (www.arsenal.com). “I’ve been atUnited ever since I was a little boy and Ihad a great time there. Coming toArsenal is the right decision. I can’t beany happier at the moment,” he said.

Welbeck became surplus to require-ments at Old Trafford as new managerLouis van Gaal brought in Colombianstriker Radamel Falcao on loan fromMonaco but the England international

said Arsenal would suit him. “I believe thestyle of play the manager’s got and theboys play and with the magnificent play-ers in midfield slotting balls through, I canrun on to the end of those balls and slotthem away,” he said. “It’s exciting times forme. It’s great to be a part of this club andit’s a team that I’ve always watched in thePremier League. I’ve envisaged myselfplaying in this team before. For it to finallyhappen is very exciting.”

Welbeck’s move was given enthusiasticbacking by former United team mate RioFerdinand. “Welbeck is a top signing forArsenal. Good business done by them. Ifhe gets that trust to be no.1 striker at AFChe will flourish & explode,” the 35-year-olddefender, who signed for Premier Leagueclub Queen’s Park Rangers in July after 12years at Old Trafford, said on Twitter.Currently on international duty withEngland, who faced Norway in a friendlyyesterday, Welbeck joined up with his newteam mates to prepare for the leaguematch at home to Manchester City onSept 13. — Reuters

Defiant Welbeck out to prove doubters wrong

SAINT DENIS: French national soccer team players stretch during a training sessionat the Stade de France in Saint Denis, outside Paris yesterday. — AP

PARIS: After their abject failure at the World Cup,Spain have a new look as they begin prepara-tions for the defense of the EuropeanChampionship with a friendly against Francetoday. Just over two months on from theirgroup-stage elimination as World Cup holders inBrazil, coach Vicente del Bosque takes a squadthat is a mixture of familiar faces and potentialstars of the future for the match at the Stade deFrance, the venue for the Euro 2016 final. XaviHernandez and Xabi Alonso, veterans of the sidethat won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup andEuro 2012, have retired from international foot-ball, following in the footsteps of David Villa.

Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Juan Matawere all omitted, while fitness problems of vary-ing degrees have ruled out Gerard Pique, AndresIniesta and Javi Martinez. Of the new faces, fiveare uncapped and four are aged 23 or under,including Valencia striker Paco Alcacer. Others,like 28-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder RaulGarcia, have had to wait a little longer for theiropportunity. They all join 22-year-old Atleticomidfielder Koke, who went to the World Cup butis now expected to take on extra responsibility.

“It’s a team for now with a view to two yearsdown the line,” explained del Bosque afterunveiling his squad, with the aim of today’smatch being to prepare for their opening Euro2016 qualifying Group C fixture againstMacedonia in Valencia on Monday.”We havecome up with a squad that is a consequence ofour bad performance, (but) the World Cup hasnot left any effects nor do I think we need tochange our way of acting in the future.” DefenderSergio Ramos, another survivor from Euro 2008,called for La Roja to get back to basics. “We aregoing to try to get back to what we were and for-get about the success we have had because wecan’t always live off that,” said the Real Madrid

defender, a veteran of over 100 caps, as hearrived for the squad get-together this week.

France reputation enhanced In contrast to Spain, France came out of the

World Cup with their reputation greatlyenhanced, a narrow quarter-final defeat to even-tual winners Germany coming after some impres-sive performances in the group stage. CoachDidier Deschamps is now embarking on a two-year run of friendlies before France hosts Euro2016, where they will be expected to featureprominently with a squad that is a healthy mix ofyouth and experience.Indeed, Deschamps onlymade three changes to his World Cup squad forthe game and Sunday’s friendly against Serbia inBelgrade, with one the return of fit-againMarseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in place ofthe retired Mickael Landreau. Lyon strikerAlexandre Lacazette and Barcelona defenderJeremy Mathieu have also been recalled withArsenal duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielnyinjured. But Deschamps has admitted that hisstarting line-up against the reigning Europeanchampions may be the same as that which tookto the field against Germany at the Maracana inRio de Janeiro on July 4. “We have two matchesvery close together but the team which startstoday will be close to that which started againstGermany,” said Deschamps, who added that hispriority is to make sure his team are “as competi-tive as possible in two years.” There will of coursebe no Franck Ribery, the Bayern Munich wingerwho missed the World Cup with a back injury andhas now retired from international football to thesurprise of many. France lost 2-0 to Spain at theEuro 2012 quarter-finals and finished secondbehind La Roja in qualifying for the World Cup,drawing 1-1 in Madrid and then losing 1-0 athome in Paris in March last year. —AFP

New-look Spain readyfor test against France


1918New-look Spain ready for test against France

Italy trying to rebuild after humiliating World Cup Page 19

Wozniacki wallops Errani to reach semi-finals

DUESSELDORF: Argentina’s Federico Fernandez scores his side’s third goal during the friendly soccer match between Germany and Argentina in Duesseldorf, Germany yesterday. — AP

DUESSELDORF: Angel di Maria set upthree goals and scored the fourth him-self as Argentina trounced Germany 4-2in their friendly game yesterday to get asmall measure of payback after losingto the host in the World Cup final.Argentina was up 4-0 after just 50 min-utes to dampen the home side’s WorldCup title celebrations in its first gamesince winning the final 1-0 in extra timein Brazil in July. Di Maria set up SergioAguero in the 21st minute, Erik Lamela’soutstanding volley in the 40th, andFederico Fernandez’ headed goal twominutes after the interval. Di Mariacrowned his performance in the 50thwith a chip over substitute Germany‘keeper Roman Weidenfeller. AndreSchuerrle pulled one back two minuteslater before Mario Goetze, who scoredthe winning goal in the World Cup final,made it 4-2 in the 78th.

Turkey 2 Denmark 1Meanwhile, teenage defender Ozan

Tufan scored his first goal for Turkey insecond-half stoppage time to give hisside a 2-1 win over Denmark in theirfriendly international in Odense yester-

day. Denmark captain Daniel Agger,who last week left Liverpool to returnto Copenhagen club Brondby, gave theDanes the lead from the penalty spotlate in the first half, and the home sidehad plenty of chances to increase theiradvantage. Nicklas Bendtner, left out ofthe original squad but called in asinjury cover, was lively in attack butTurkey equalized through Olcay Sahanafter 55 minutes. Bursaspor’s 19-year-old defender Tufan then rifled a latewinner to give Turkey a scarcely-deserved victory. Denmark hostArmenia in Copenhagen in their open-ing Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday,while Turkey travel to Reykjavik to starttheir campaign away to Iceland onTuesday.

Russia crush Azerbaijan 4-0Alexander Kerzhakov became

Russia’s record goalscorer with a doubleagainst Azerbaijan in a 4-0 friendly winin Moscow yesterday. SergeyIgnashevich and Vladimir Granat werealso on target in Russia’s first gamesince their disappointing showing atthe Brazil World Cup, where they failed

to get past the group stage. CoachFabio Capello handed a debut toDmitry Poloz, who has scored threegoals in six games for Rostov this sea-son, but it was Kerzhakov who grabbedthe limelight. The Zenit St Petersburgforward notched his 27th goal for hiscountry after six minutes, passingVladimir Beschastnykh’s previousrecord tally, when he headed pastAzerbaijan keeper, Kamran Agaev, fol-

lowing a fine left-wing cross by DmitryKombarov. His 28th goal arrived fiveminutes later. He deftly deflected theball past Agaev, following a good passfrom Villarreal’s Denis Cheryshev.

Russia, who were playing at theKhimki Arena, just north of the capital,put the result beyond any doubt fiveminutes before halftime. Ignashevich,who was making his 101st appearancefor Russia, scored his sixth internationalgoal with a header. Both sides madenumerous changes throughout the

second half, with Capello also handingdebuts to 21-year-old Rubin Kazanmidfielder Magomed Ozdoev and 25-year-old Spartak Moscow defenderSergey Parshivlyuk. Dynamo Moscowdefender Granat made it 4-0 on 80 min-utes, scoring his first goal for his coun-try with a thundering header. “Theimportant thing is that a number ofyoung players got the opportunity tomake their debuts. Today I understood

that a new generation is appearing inRussia and they have a future,” Capellotold reporters. Russia will get their Euro2016 qualifying campaign underwayon Sept. 8, when they faceLiechtenstein at the Khimki Arena.

Ukraine 1 Moldova 0 Ukraine put aside the country’s trou-

bles to beat Moldova 1-0 in a friendlyyesterday that served as a warm-up forEuropean Championship qualifying.Dynamo Kiev striker Roman Bezus

scored the winner in the 63rd minute,knocking the ball in from inside thepenalty area when Artem Hromov’sshot took a deflection. Moldova goal-keeper Ilie Cebanu prevented a biggerloss for his team as he made someimpressive saves, including late onwhen he kept out a fierce shot fromArtem Fedetskyi. For Ukraine, the nar-row margin of victory is unlikely to pro-vide a boost for a team faced with a dif-ficult Euro 2016 group that also con-tains Spain, Slovakia and Belarus.Ukraine’s first qualifier is at home toSlovakia on Monday before gamesagainst Belarus and Macedonia nextmonth. Bidding to qualify for a firstmajor tournament, Moldova plays awayto Montenegro on Monday. On a daythat saw confusion over a potentialceasefire in the fighting in the east ofUkraine, the match in Kiev’s near-emp-ty Olympic Stadium was free of crowdtrouble. The Football Federation ofUkraine will meet FIFA and UEFA repre-sentatives later this month in anattempt to resolve a conflict with theRussian Football Union, which hasabsorbed clubs from the annexed

region of Crimea into the Russianleague system.

US 1 Czechs 0Alejandro Bedoya scored in the

39th minute, and a youthful US soccerteam started the four year cycle ofpreparation for the 2018 World Cupwith a 1-0 win over the Czech Republicin Prague yesterday night. Three play-ers made their US debuts, with 21-year-old forward Joe Gyau playing theentire match, 23-year-old defenderGreg Garza entering in the 63rd, and18-year-old midfielder EmersonHyndman coming in four minutes later.Hyndman made his debut last monthwith Fulham in England’s second tier.The US went ahead when goalkeeperPetr Cech, dropped from Chelsea’sstarting lineup by manager JoseMourinho, sent the ball upfield toVladimir Darida. Mix Diskerud strippedthe midfielder and dribbled right backat Cech. The goalkeeper made a divingstop, and the ball ricocheted toBedoya, who scored on a left-footedshot for his second goal in 33 interna-tional appearances. —Agencies

Argentina trounce Germany 4-2

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

NEW YORK: Ekaterina Makarova, of Russia, returns a shot to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during the quarterfinalsof the 2014 US Open tennis tournament yesterday. —AP

NEW YORK: Ekaterina Makarova reached the first GrandSlam semi-final of her career yesterday with a 6-4, 6-2 victo-ry over former world number one Victoria Azarenka. “I’mfeeling amazing-finally I’m in a semi-final,” said the Russianleft-hander, who had failed in four prior major quarter-finals. “It’s a great feeling.” Azarenka, a two-time AustralianOpen champion who was runner-up to Serena Williams atFlushing Meadows the past two years, gained the first breakof the match for a 3-2 lead in the first set.

But Makarova broke back immediately and broke theBelarusian again in the final game to pocket the set.Azarenka, slowed earlier this season by injury, was underpressure throughout the second, facing break points in herfirst two service games before Makarova broke her for a 4-2edge.A testy bounce of her racquet earned Azarenka awarning, and the release of tension did little good.

Makarova broke her fading opponent again in the finalgame, taking the match when Azarenka fired a forehandwide. In the immediate aftermath of the tie, Azarenka’sspokesman told reporters that the player had suffered foodpoisoning and had been vomiting in the run-up to thequarter-final. Makarova will face either world number oneand five-time champion Williams or 11th-seeded ItalianFlavia Pennetta on Friday for a place in the title match.Williams is trying to become the first woman since ChrisEvert in the 1970s to win at least three straight titles atFlushing Meadows.

However, the American has faltered in the year’s firstthree majors, failing to get out of the fourth round at the

Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon. Williams haswon all five of her career meetings with Pennetta, the mostrecent a straight-sets win on the hardcourts of Cincinnatiwhere Williams claimed her fifth title of 2014. Pennetta is inher fifth US Open quarter-final, trying to match her semi-final run of last year. She claimed the biggest title of hercareer in March at Indian Wells, and Pennetta bristled at thesuggestion that she was virtually destined to lose toWilliams-even though she hasn’t taken a set off theAmerican since their first meeting in 2008. “Of course, she’sbetter than me,” Pennetta said. “But I still believe I can beather.”

Williams wary of PennettaWilliams, stung by her Grand Slam failures this year, isn’t

taking anything for granted. “I think the older she gets, thebetter she plays,” Williams said of Pennetta-who like herselfis 32. “We played in Cincinnati. I won. But she played well.This is a new week ... she’s going to come out ready to fireand play again.” Williams suffered an injury scare on Tuesdayas she and sister Venus were knocked out of the doubles,taking a timeout to have her right foot and ankle taped butappearing unhindered by any discomfort after that. Theother women’s semi-final was set on Tuesday, with formerworld number one and 2009 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki,the 10th seed, booking a meeting with unseeded ChinesePeng Shuai. Peng, like Makarova, is in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time, joining Li Na and Zheng Jie as theonly Chinese to make it so far at a major.- — AFP

Makarova downs Azarenka to book US Open semi-final

BusinessTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

India’s car industry shifts to faster lane

Page 22Investors expect banks to raise $67.02bn after tests

Page 25Bank of England set to hold rates atrecord low 0.50%

Page 23The Kuwaiti dinar’s value

Page 23

UAE markets lead gains, Dubai’s Emaar reboundsMIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

KUALA LUMPUR: Shoppers walk under colorful lanterns hanging at a shopping mall in Shah Alam yesterday. — AP

LONDON: Euro-zone business grew at the slowest ratethis year in August and retail sales plummeted in Julyas escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine sub-dued spending and investment, surveys showed yes-terday. Signs of slower growth, coupled with firms cut-ting prices at an even faster rate but still failing to drumup sales, will add to pressure on the European CentralBank ahead of its monetary policy meeting today.

“The euro area is still just about expanding but thedirection is downwards and the risk is we get more ofthe same as we move through the next few months asthe geopolitical factors weigh heavily,” said Ken Wattretat BNP Paribas. “It’s pretty obvious the ECB is worried,and rightly so. The pressure will continue.”

Optimism about the future among service firms,which dominate the bloc’s economy, fell to its lowestlevel this year amid rising tension over Ukraine thattriggered sanctions from the West and countermea-sures from Russia. Although the Ukrainian president’spress office said yesterday he had reached agreementwith Russia’s Vladimir Putin on a “permanent ceasefire”

in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region, uncertainty aboutthe situation on the ground remained.

The Kremlin later said the presidents had agreed onsteps towards peace but a ceasefire had not beenagreed between Moscow and Kiev because Russia isnot a party to the conflict. World markets jumped afterthe initial declaration before trimming gains - Britain’stop share index touched a 14-1/2-year high.

Data downMarkit’s Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index

(PMI), which is based on surveys of thousands of com-panies across the region and is seen as a good gaugeof growth, fell to an eight-month low of 52.5, wellbelow July’s 53.8. That final reading was also weakerthan a preliminary estimate of 52.8, although it wasthe 14th month above the 50 l ine that denotesgrowth.

The euro zone economy stalled in the second quar-ter and private sector growth in Germany, Europe’spowerhouse, eased to a 10-month low in August. In

France, the bloc’s second-biggest economy, activitydeclined for a fourth month while business activity inItaly’s service sector unexpectedly shrank for the firsttime in five months.

In another sign of weakness, retail sales across theregion fell 0.4 percent in July as expected, the firstdrop this year. In Britain, the services industry expand-ed at the fastest pace in nearly a year last month, sug-gesting some companies were struggling to keep upwith demand, a factor the Bank of England is likely tonote as its ponders when to raise interest rates.

While no change is expected at its Monetary PolicyCommittee meeting today, the BOE is widely touted tobe the first major central bank to raise interest rates -although not until early next year. “The UK domesticeconomy continues to roar ahead,” said Rob Wood,chief UK economist at Berenberg Bank. “A small 25basis point hike in interest rates, when it comes - weexpect February next year - is unlikely to have mucheffect on the pace of expansion.”

Although a move upward in rates seems to be near-

ing from the BoE and the Federal Reserve in the UnitedStates - where an ISM services PMI due today is expect-ed to show a slight slowing of growth - markets alsoare focusing on when the ECB will loosen policy.

Speculation the ECB is preparing to buy assetsspiked after bank President Mario Draghi said lastmonth the bank was prepared to respond with all itsavailable tools if inflation - which was just 0.3 percentin August - were to drop further. The composite outputprice PMI, which has been sub-50 since April 2012, fellto a three-month low of 48.9 from July’s 49.0 as firmscut prices to drum up trade.

A Reuters poll of economists last week gave a medi-an 75 percent chance the ECB will launch a quantita-tive easing program by March, buying asset-backedsecurities in a bid to prevent deflation and jump-starteconomic growth. The euro zone PMI for the serviceindustry fell to 53.1 from 54.2 in July, below a prelimi-nary 53.5. The business expectations sub-index stagedits biggest one-month fall since the tail end of thefinancial crisis. — Reuters

Euro-zone business growth wanes UK service industry expands at fastest pace

CAIRO: Business activity in Egypt grew at itssharpest rate in eight months in August, a sur-vey showed yesterday, as the economyrebounded strongly from the initial shock ofcuts in energy subsidies last month. Egypt’seconomy has been hit by more than threeyears of political and economic turmoil fol-lowing the 2011 uprising that toppled HosniMubarak after 30 years in power.

The government is walking a fine line inan attempt to boost revenues and cut itsdeficit while luring investors. Increased out-put and a sharp rise in new orders last month,however, appeared to suggest that confi-dence was beginning to return. The HSBCEgypt Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) forthe non-oil private sector stood at 51.6 pointsin August, its most marked improvementsince December 2013. Purchasing activityoverall increased at the fastest pace since datacollection began in April 2011.

Readings above 50 indicate expansion,while those below 50 point to contraction.“After last month’s setback, the strong scoresfor output and orders are encouraging,” saidSimon Williams, Chief Economist for theMiddle East at HSBC, commenting on the

Egypt PMI survey. “There are a lot of chal-lenges ahead, but we remain optimistic thatgrowth will gain pace in the last months ofthis year and into 2015.”

Output, new orders growEgypt raised fuel prices by up to 78 percent

in July in a long-awaited step to cut energy sub-sidies and ease the burden on the govern-ment’s swelling budget deficit. The cuts pushedup prices and hit business activity in July, butthe government has said it expects the econo-my to grow by more than 3 percent in the cur-rent fiscal year ending next June, from anexpected 2 percent for the last fiscal year.

Egypt is targeting economic growth of upto 5.8 percent in the next three years with thedeficit staying at around 10 percent of grossdomestic product (GDP). The PMI survey ofaround 350 private-sector firms showed thatoutput rebounded strongly in August, withthe related subindex reaching 53.5 points, itsmost marked increase in eight months, aftershrinking to 48.7 points in July. The subindexfor new orders also hit an eight-month high,reaching 52.8 points in August, compared to48.5 the previous month. — Reuters

DUBAI: Bourses in the United Arab Emirates outperformed the regionyesterday as Dubai developer Emaar Properties rebounded after prof-it-taking and Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital jumped after securing $575million in fresh funding. Dubai’s main index rose 1.1 percent to athree-month closing high of 5,172 points as shares in Emaar gained2.2 percent. The stock had dropped 3.0 percent on Tuesday after surg-ing 13.7 percent in the two previous sessions.

Emaar, the emirate’s largest listed developer, plans to float its mallsunit this month in a deal likely to raise 8 to 9 billion dirhams ($2.18-$2.45 billion) and will reserve 10 percent of the offered shares for itsown shareholders. The company reiterated yesterday that onlyinvestors holding its stock at the end of trading on Sept 10 wouldqualify for priority allotment.

Shares in bourse operator Dubai Financial Market, which may bene-fit from higher turnover thanks to the IPO of Emaar’s subsidiary,jumped 5.0 percent. “The mood is good in the UAE equity markets,”said Sebastien Henin, head of asset management at The NationalInvestor in Abu Dhabi. “The Emaar unit’s IPO was a pleasant surprisefor investors.” Emaar had initially announced plans for the IPO in Marchbut without a clear timeline. On Sunday, it said it would float the unitin September.

Abu Dhabi’s index added 1.0 percent on the back of large lenders

First Gulf Bank and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, which rose 2.2 and2.0 percent respectively. Investment firm Waha Capital jumped 3.4 per-cent after announcing a hedging deal on half of its shares in U.S.-listedaircraft leasing company AerCap. Waha Capital said the deal wouldprovide it with additional funding of $575 million, which would beused to partially repay debt and fund new investments.

QATAR, SAUDIQatar’s bourse edged up 0.7 percent, recovering further from a 3.0

percent drop last Thursday, when funds tracking MSCI’s frontier mar-ket index sold local stocks en masse as part of gradual rebalancingwhich followed Qatar’s upgrade to emerging market status in May.Mobile phone operator Ooredoo, which tumbled 10 percent duringThursday’s sell-off, was the main support and rose 2.9 percent.

However, with the recovery almost complete, the market may stall,said Henin from The National Investor. “It’s a kind of wait-and-see situ-ation,” he said. “In the coming days we will have the report from FIFAand in case there is bad news the market might suffer.” FIFA is investi-gating its earlier decision to award the 2022 soccer World Cup to Qatarfollowing allegations of graft, which the Doha government denies.Fund managers think Qatar remains very unlikely to lose the hostingrights, but the issue could cause concern in the market. — Reuters

Egypt activity expands in August


EXCHANGE RATES

Bahrain Exchange Company

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

ASIAN COUNTRIESJapanese Yen 2.723Indian Rupees 4.736Pakistani Rupees 2.797Srilankan Rupees 2.192Nepali Rupees 2.953Singapore Dollar 228.760Hongkong Dollar 36.897Bangladesh Taka 3.687Philippine Peso 6.545Thai Baht 8.929Irani Riyal transfer 0.271Irani Riyal cash 0.273

GCC COUNTRIESSaudi Riyal 76.284Qatari Riyal 78.601Omani Riyal 743.110Bahraini Dinar 759.800UAE Dirham 77.905

ARAB COUNTRIESEgyptian Pound - Cash 42.00Egyptian Pound - Transfer 39.908Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.335Tunisian Dinar 164.580Jordanian Dinar 403.970Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.919Syrian Lira 2.038Morocco Dirham 34.001

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIESUS Dollar Transfer 285.950Euro 377.740Sterling Pound 472.680Canadian dollar 262.820Turkish lira 131.770Swiss Franc 312.860Australian Dollar 266.650US Dollar Buying 284.750

GOLD20 Gram 245.00010 Gram 124.0005 Gram 64.000

COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFTEurope

Belgian Franc 0.007432 0.008432British Pound 0.466810 0.475810Czech Korune 0.005478 0.017478Danish Krone 0.046213 0.051213Euro 0.369080 0.377080Norwegian Krone 0.042036 0.047236Romanian Leu 0.085069 0.085069Slovakia 0.008236 0.018236Swedish Krona 0.036683 0.041683Swiss Franc 0.303790 0.313990Turkish Lira 0.131981 0.138981

AustralasiaAustralian Dollar 0.257057 0.268557New Zealand Dollar 0.232030 0.241530

AmericaCanadian Dollar 0.256584 0.265084US Dollars 0.281700 0.286400US Dollars Mint 0.282200 0.286400

AsiaBangladesh Taka 0.003306 0.003906Chinese Yuan 0.045009 0.048509Hong Kong Dollar 0.034786 0.037536Indian Rupee 0.004490 0.004891Indonesian Rupiah 0.000020 0.000026Japanese Yen 0.002640 0.002820Kenyan Shilling 0.003223 0.003223Korean Won 0.000270 0.000285Malaysian Ringgit 0.087378 0.093378Nepalese Rupee 0.002948 0.003118Pakistan Rupee 0.002721 0.003001

Philippine Peso 0.006429 0.006709Sierra Leone 0.000070 0.000076Singapore Dollar 0.224679 0.230679South African Rand 0.020618 0.029118Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001906 0.002486Taiwan 0.009421 0.009601Thai Baht 0.008616 0.009166

ArabBahraini Dinar 0.751633 0.759633Egyptian Pound 0.037849 0.040949Iranian Riyal 0.000079 0.000080Iraqi Dinar 0.000182 0.000242Jordanian Dinar 0.398987 0.406487Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000Lebanese Pound 0.000138 0.000238Moroccan Dirhams 0.023111 0.047111Nigerian Naira 0.001156 0.001791Omani Riyal 0.736308 0.741988Qatar Riyal 0.077792 0.079005Saudi Riyal 0.075577 0.076277Syrian Pound 0.001773 0.001993Tunisian Dinar 0.161142 0.169142Turkish Lira 0.131981 0.138981UAE Dirhams 0.076831 0.077980Yemeni Riyal 0.001289 0.001369

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Australian Dollar 242.43 239.43Canadian Dollar 266.30 267.30Swiss Franc 316.40 314.40Euro 378.15 379.15US Dollar 285.20 288.20Sterling Pound 476.30 479.30Japanese Yen 2.77 2.79Bangladesh Taka 3.685 3.955Indian Rupee 4.724 5.024Sri Lankan Rupee 2.191 2.626Nepali Rupee 2.952 3.487Pakistani Rupee 2.798 2.790UAE Dirhams 77.572 78.18Bahraini Dinar 759.08 761.15Egyptian Pound 39.89 40.49Jordanian Dinar 405.90 411.55Omani Riyal 741.70 749.00Qatari Riyal 78.76 79.31Saudi Riyal 76.18 76.58

Rate for Transfer Selling RateUS Dollar 285.000Canadian Dollar 263.455Sterling Pound 473.415Euro 379.460Swiss Frank 312.305Bahrain Dinar 758.565UAE Dirhams 78.020Qatari Riyals 79.160Saudi Riyals 76.265Jordanian Dinar 402.555Egyptian Pound 39.805Sri Lankan Rupees 2.190Indian Rupees 4.718Pakistani Rupees 2.815Bangladesh Taka 3.678Philippines Pesso 6.511Cyprus pound 700.020Japanese Yen 3.740

Syrian Pound 2.860Nepalese Rupees 3.895Malaysian Ringgit 91.005Chinese Yuan Renminbi 46.750Thai Bhat 9.910Turkish Lira 131.285

DUBAI: Business activity in the United ArabEmirates’ non-oil private sector grew at thefastest pace on record in August, helped by sharpgains in output and new business, a purchasingmanagers’ survey showed yesterday. The HSBCUAE Purchasing Managers’ Index, which measuresthe performance of the manufacturing and serv-ices sectors, climbed to 58.4 points in Augustfrom 58.0 in July and the highest since the series

began in August 2009.The seasonally adjusted index remains above

the 50-point mark which separates growth fromcontraction, the survey of 400 private sector firmsshowed. “The September PMI data only strength-ens our expectation that the economy will contin-ue to perform well over the remainder of the yearand into 2015,” said Simon Williams, chief econo-mist for Middle East and North Africa at HSBC.

“Risks may be starting to rise, but for now thisis a boom in full flow.” UAE firms saw outputgrowth accelerate to 62.2 points in August from61.6 points in July. New orders growth picked upto 66.4 points in August, the highest rate sinceNovember 2013. Growth in new export ordersquickened to 64.0 points, the highest level sincethe series began in 2009. Job creation across theUAE’s non-oil private sector remained at 53.4

points in August.Output prices rebounded after fall ing for

four months, with the index up at 51.0 pointsin August from 49.5 in July. The rate of inputprice inflation quickened to 56.0 points, thehighest level s ince May 2012. Detai led PMIdata is only available under license from Markitand customers need to apply to Markit for alicense. —Reuters

UAE business activity growth hits record high

Al Mulla Exchange

Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000)US Dollar 285.400Euro 377.250Pound Sterlng 472.050Canadian Dollar 263.350Indian Rupee 4.724Egyptian Pound 39.890Sri Lankan Rupee 2.190Bangladesh Taka 3.687Philippines Peso 6.535Pakistan Rupee 2.790Bahraini Dinar 759.550UAE Dirham 77.700Saudi Riyal 76.250*Rates are subject to change

B U S I N E S S

KOLKATA: Taxis are seen parked along a roadside in the Indian city of Kolkata. Taxi drivers in Kolkata have stayed off the roads ina protest against recent changes to transport laws and allegations of poor treatment by police in the city. —AFP

India’s car industry shifts to faster lane

India has just 15 cars per 1,000 peopleNEW DELHI: After two years of shrinking Indiansales, automakers are moving back into the fastlane as the economy picks up, although analystssay it may be a few years before the industrygoes full throttle again. Car sales grew for afourth straight month in August in what analystssay heralds a brisk religious holiday season-thetwo-month period ahead is seen as an auspi-cious time to buy. “The consumer mood certain-ly seems better for the industry with the elec-tion” of a new right-wing government in May,Deepak Rathore, director of Delhi-based consul-tancy Emerging Markets Automotive Advisers,told AFP.

“ The strength of total sales numbers isincreasing month-to-month. But it’s only someof the well-established carmakers benefiting-therest are still struggling.” All this adds up to acheerier backdrop for the annual conference ofthe Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers(SIAM) in New Delhi today. Automakers havelined up a slew of launches to drive demand andnudge consumers off motorcycles into low-costcars while getting existing owners to upgrade tolarger sedans and SUVs.

Until the 1990s there were just a few modelson sale in India. Among them were the bulkyAmbassador modeled on Britain’s 1950s-eraMorris Oxford-which has just halted production,to the dismay of retro-auto buffs-and the zippier,boxlike Maruti 800. As India’s market liberaliza-

tion began, the middle class expanded and anaffordable array of foreign vehicles becameavailable.

But lack of dealerships, poor customer serviceand products ill-suited for India’s potholed roadsdeterred buyers. However, even during the lat-est slowdown, the foreign luxury segment grewsharply, and now BMWs, Audis and Mercedes-Benz sedans proliferate at fancy malls. Expertssay first-time buyers will still be the big growthdriver for many years. India has just 15 cars per1,000 people, according to industry figures-among the lowest rates in the world. China incomparison boasts 60 per 1,000; in Brazil it is 200and in the United States, 800.

Though some cities like Delhi boast shiny,albeit congested, new subway systems, rush-hour public transport is an ordeal and peopleare in no rush to abandon their cars, which arewidely seen as status symbols. “We need our carsto get places-there’s me, my son, my daughter-in-law and my wife-she doesn’t drive but shesometimes needs the car,” said Delhi construc-tion firm owner Ravi Katyal, whose family ownsfour cars.

Pent-up demand Car sales of Japanese-controlled market

leader Maruti Suzuki leapt 27 percent year-on-year in August. South Korea’s Hyundai, Maruti’snearest rival in the Indian market, reported a 19

percent increase. But Japanese carmaker Hondawas the star in percentage growth terms, withsales climbing 88 percent.

“The festive season has already set in and willbring further cheer,” Honda senior vice presidentJnaneswar Sen said. SIAM deputy director-gen-eral Sugato Sen said the Indian industry was setto “clock positive numbers” for the year to March2015, reversing a six-percent contraction lastyear. While SIAM has given no growth projectionfor the year, analysts forecast an eight-to-12-per-cent rise in passenger car sales.

With “pent-up demand and an overall posi-tive (consumer) outlook, the car segment canlog up to 12 percent growth”, said Abdul Majeed,partner at global consultancy Price WaterhouseCoopers. Rathore said car sales growth could hit15 percent next year-a figure he described as“not bad”, though far shy of the 30-percentgrowth posted as recently as 2010-2011.

But for a number of foreign carmakers thathave bet big on India, investing billions of dol-lars in plant and equipment to offset strugglingWestern markets, the news from Asia’s thirdlargest economy still isn’t good. Ford India’sdomestic sales dropped 15 percent in Augustwhile GM reported a 37 percent slide. “The les-son is it doesn’t matter how much a market isexpected to grow, what you do in that marketdecides your fate-whether you have the rightproducts,” said Rathore. —AFP

PARIS: Corruption, fraud and money-laun-dering cost poor countries a total of $1.0trillion a year, the anti-poverty organizationONE said in a study released yesterday. Thegroup, founded by U2 rock group singerBono, said the misuse of funds resulted in$38-64 billion a year in uncollected taxesalone. This in turn cost 3.6 million lives ayear that could be saved if the missingmoney were wisely invested, non-govern-ment organization ONE estimated. “It isnothing short of a trillion-dollar scandal,”said the report, recommending action onfour fronts. The study was publishedbefore finance ministers from the G20group of leading countries meet inAustralia on September 20 and 21. To putthe $1.0 trillion (750 billion euros) in per-spective, ONE said that it was equivalent tothe annual profits all the 86 biggest pub-licly quoted companies in the world.

It blamed the loss on “a web of corruptactivity that involves shady deals for naturalresources, the use of anonymous shell com-panies, money-laundering and illegal taxevasion.” “Massive sums are being taken outof developing countries’ own budgets andeconomies, preventing them from financ-ing their own fight against extreme poverty,disease, and hunger,” the study said.

If policies were put in place to combatcorruption by means of financial secrecy,deals on natural resources and money-laundering, the cost of corruption could bereduced “dramatically”, the report said. Thehead of ONE in France, Friederike Roeder,said that the untapped funds could be“invested in health care, food security andessential infrastructure, and thereby savemillions of lives.”

The organisation listed four frontswhere it said action could be taken. First,G20 leaders who will meet in Brisbane,Australia, in November, should ensure thatthe ownership of companies and trusts bemade public to prevent them from beingused to launder funds for the benefit ofanonymous criminals and corrupt individu-als, ONE said. It also argued that naturalresources companies should be forced topublish full details of their activities to dis-courage the theft of resources from poorpopulations.

Exchanges of tax information should beautomatic, to enable developing countriesto collect taxes due. Governments shouldalso be obliged to publish full and openaccounts so that citizens could hold themaccountable for money received and how itis spent, the report said. —AFP

Corruption costs poor countries $1.0tn a year

SINGAPORE: Brent crude rose towards$101 a barrel yesterday, pulling away froma 16-month low hit in the previous session,supported by encouraging US manufactur-ing data. Benchmarks on both sides of theAtlantic plummeted the day before on astronger dollar and the prospect of slowingoil demand growth in China and Europe.

U.S. manufacturing activity hit a nearly3-1/2-year high last month and construc-tion spending rebounded strongly in July,data showed, raising hopes of higher oildemand in the world’s biggest consumer ofthe commodity. “The weak factory data inChina and Europe led to concerns overdemand destruction, and that’s why pricesdropped,” said Avtar Sandu, a senior com-modities manager at Phillip Futures inSingapore. “The oil market is mainly drivenby the demand side now. We don’t seemany issues on the supply side, and at themoment investors are hardly paying anyattention to all the geopolitical eventsgoing on,” he said. Brent crude for Octoberdelivery was up 37 cents at $100.71 a barrelby 0307 GMT, after closing down $2.45 atits lowest settlement since May 1, 2013.

US crude was trading 39 cents higher at$93.27 a barrel. The contract had settled$3.08 lower than Friday’s close, the lowestsince Jan. 14. There was no trading in theUnited States on Monday because of theLabor Day holiday. A stronger dollarweighed on oil prices, after the currencyrose to its highest since July 2013 against abasket of major currencies on Tuesday. Astronger greenback makes it more expen-sive for oil importing countries to buy the

dollar-denominated commodity.

US crude stocksUS crude oil and refined product stock-

piles were forecast to have dropped in theweek to Aug. 29, with crude oil stocks pro-jected to have fallen by 1 million barrels, apreliminary Reuters survey of seven ana-lysts showed on Tuesday. The weekly oilinventory report from industry groupAmerican Petroleum Institute (API) due at2030 GMT.

The more closely watched report fromthe US Department of Energy’s EnergyInformation Administration (EIA) is due onThursday. Both reports have been delayedby a day due to Monday’s holiday. A pro-longed shutdown of the Buzzard oilfield inthe North Sea could help to ease a glut ofcrude that has built in the Atlantic basin.The 200,000 barrel-per-day field may beshut for “up to 10 consecutive days” startingfrom Aug. 30 when output was last stopped,Calgary-based Nexen said on Tuesday.

Buzzard is closely watched by oil tradersworldwide as it is the biggest contributor tothe Forties oil stream, the largest of the fourphysical crude grades that underpin theBrent benchmark. EU officials proposedsanctions on Tuesday to starve Russianfirms of cash as punishment for Moscow’srole in Ukraine, where rebels said they werestorming a key airport. Russia’s oil outputrose 1 percent to 10.52 million barrels perday (bpd) in August, showing that energysupplies so far have not been affected bysanctions over the country’s military inva-sion of Ukraine. —Reuters

Brent climbs towards $101, pulls away from 16-mth low


SPECIAL REPORT

B U S I N E S S

ISTANBUL: Surging food prices fuelled arise in Turkish inflation in August, datashowed yesterday, and central bank min-utes showed that monetary policy-set-ters are concerned that the cost of foodcould hurt the economy. The bank hasvowed to keep monetary policy tight,and the minutes of its monthly meetingheld last week showed that it is con-cerned rising food prices driven bydrought may, in tandem with geopoliti-cal risks, limit any near-term rise in con-sumer confidence and loan demand.

The Turkish Statistics Institute saidconsumer prices rose 9.54 percent year-on-year - almost double the bank’s year-end 5 percent target rate - and 0.09 per-cent month-on-month, confoundingeconomists’ consensus forecast in aReuters poll for a 0.1 percent fall on themonth. “The upward risks to inflationcontinue to be pronounced,” said HSBCBank strategist Ali Cakiroglu, pointing toan increase in taxi rates from Septemberas one source of upward pressure. “Wesee food group price rises were signifi-cant in the CPI inflation,” he said.Consumer food and non-alcoholic drinksprices rose 0.89 percent on the month,the data showed. The central bank hassaid in recent months that highprocessed food prices, particularly forbread and cereals, have been a factor inTurkey’s stubborn inflation.

Fighting inflationLast week the central bank unexpect-

edly cut its overnight lending rate, in amove seen as having little easing impactand more as a signal to a governmentkeen for rate cuts that it is supportingthe economy. In the minutes of its policymeeting, the bank said other institutionsshould play their part in fighting infla-

tion. “Given that the current elevatedlevels of inflation affect the medium-term expectations adversely ... all rele-vant institutions’ involvement with thefight against inflation is deemed crucial,”the bank said in the minutes.

“It was mentioned that an active for-eign policy might be helpful in contain-ing risks to food prices,” the minutesadded. Deputy Prime Minister AliBabacan said on Tuesday that inflationmay overshoot the central bank’s latestforecast of 7.6 percent this year but thatthe weather rather than interest rateswere to blame.

The central bank’s target rate for infla-tion was fixed long ago in a governmentprogram, but the bank revises its fore-cast with each quarterly inflation report.President Tayyip Erdogan, who was inau-gurated last week after more than adecade as prime minister, has been a fre-quent critic of the central bank, arguingthat high interest rates cause high infla-tion and calling for deep cuts.

Domestic producer prices rose 0.42percent on the month, for an annual riseof 9.88 percent, the data showed.Istanbul’s main share index rose 0.76 per-cent to 81,320 points but lagged the 1.12percent rise in the broader emergingmarkets index.

Global stocks and emerging marketcurrencies were pushed higher by hopesthat a ceasefire in Ukraine announced byPresident Petro Poroshenko wouldreverse a recent escalation in the conflictbetween Kiev and pro-Russian rebels inUkraine’s eastern Donbass region. The lirafirmed to 2.1632 against the dollar, com-pared with 2.1750 late on Tuesday. Thebenchmark 10-year government bondyield fell to 9.1 percent from 9.21 percenton Tuesday. —Reuters

LONDON: The Bank of England is set to keepinterest rates at a record-low 0.50 percent thisweek, as it eyes slowing inflation before nextyear’s election, analysts say. Both Britain andthe separate euro-zone are worried aboutunduly low inflation, but this is a much big-ger problem in the single currency areawhere growth is far less buoyant. The upshotis an overall climate of talk that monetaryconditions in Britain could be tightened nextyear, while in the euro-zone they may soonbe eased.

The Bank of England’s rate -settingMonetary Policy Committee (MPC), whichconcludes its two-day September meetingtoday, is likely to leave its quantitative easing(QE) cash stimulus at £375 billion ($622 bil-lion, 473 billion euros). The MPC was dividedin August for the first time in more than threeyears, with two policymakers breaking ranksto call for a quarter-point rise from 0.50 per-cent-where rates have stood since March2009. The panel voted 7-2 in favor of noaction, citing “insufficient evidence” of infla-tionary pressures.

British inflation slows Policymakers will be mindful this month of

a further easing of inflation, which has heldbelow the bank’s official 2.0-percent target sofar this year. Britain’s 12-month inflationslowed to 1.6 percent in July from 1.9 percentin June. The central bank hinted last monththat an interest rate rise might have to waitfor as long as pay lags behind a robust recov-ery of the economy.

The BoE, led by Canadian Mark Carney,halved its forecast for wages growth this yearto just 1.25 percent from an earlier estimateof 2.5 percent. “The recent weakness of wagegrowth and inflation, as well as signs that thehousing market recovery is fading, have infact strengthened the case for leaving rateson hold for a few more months,” said CapitalEconomics analyst Samuel Tombs.

He added: “There has not been an obvioustrigger over the last month for any MPCmembers to change their vote atSeptember’s meeting.” Many economists donot expect an increase before Britain’s gener-al election in May 2015. “We are reasonablyconfident that next week’s MPC decision willresult in no change to the stance of policy,”said Investec economist Philip Shaw.

“However, what is far from clear is when

the first increase in interest rates will takeplace. “As we have argued for a while, itwould be wise to consider the timing ofMay’s general election-history shows that it israre for rate hikes to occur very close topolling days.” Markets are neverthelesswatching for any signs of when the BoE will

begin to increase rates as Britain’s economicrecovery outpaces sluggish growth in theneighboring euro-zone.

The British economy grew by 0.8 percent inthe second quarter of this year, matching itsoutput from the previous first three months.Growth in the 18-country euro-zone, however,ground to a halt in the second quarter,dragged down by France and Germany.

ECB mulls QE stimulus Separately today, the European Central

Bank (ECB), currently operating a record lowkey rate of 0.15 percent, will reveal the out-

come of its latest interest rate gathering inFrankfurt amid growing anxiety over the eco-nomic outlook. Markets are looking to theECB to open the QE cash floodgates after thelatest consumer price data showed the euro-zone, with inflation of 0.3 percent, was flirtingwith deflation, analysts said.

The Bank of England launched its quantita-tive easing program in March 2009, underwhich it created cash to buy previously issuedassets such as government and corporatebonds in order to stimulate lending and eco-nomic activity, and keep inflation on target.The BoE, which has bought a huge slice of thenational debt, pumped a total of £375 billioninto the economy under QE, but the lastinstallment of asset purchases was completedin late 2012. Britain is a member of theEuropean Union but not the single currencyeuro-zone bloc, which nevertheless is thenation’s biggest trading partner. —AFP

Bank of England set to hold

rates at record low 0.50%

LONDON: This picture shows the rotating sign outside New Scotland Yard, the head-quarters of the Metropolitan Police. London’s world-famous Scotland Yard, the 22-storey, 600,000-square-foot (56,000-square-metre) office block, has been put up forsale for £250 million ($412 million). —AFP

Turkish inflation

exceeds forecasts

The Kuwaiti dinar’s value

By Basil J Al-Yousifi

Over the past 28 years, the Kuwaiti Dinar(KD) has averaged 0.292 fils against theUS dollar (USD), despite economical

growth and crises. According to the CentralBank of Kuwait (CBK) their policy “aims at main-taining and enhancing the relative stability ofthe KD against other currencies, and shieldingthe domestic economy against the impacts ofimported inflation”.

The Kuwait Central Statistical Bureau (KCSB)reported that the inflation rate in June of 2014was 2.90 percent. The average between 1995and 2014 was 3.06 percent, reaching an all-timehigh of 11.64 percent in 2008 and a record lowof -1.15 percent in 1998.

In Kuwait, the main components of theConsumer Price Index (CPI) are: housing (26.8percent), food (18.3 percent), transport andcommunication (16.1 percent) and householdgoods and services (14.7 percent). The indexalso includes other goods and services (9.9 per-cent), clothing and footwear (8.9 percent), edu-cation and medical care (4.7 percent) and bever-ages and tobacco (0.6 percent).

With such fluctuations in inflation rates andworldwide economic instability, it’s a wonderhow the CBK has managed to keep an averageexchange rate against the dollar all while“shielding the domestic economy against theimpacts of imported inflation”. Or has it?

The purchasing power of the Kuwaiti dinar

In today’s market the value of a currency isbased on several factors, but generally it’sbased on the country’s economy, supply anddemand of that currency, reserves of goldand other foreign currencies. Kuwait being an

oil rich country has a strong balance sheetand according to The World Bank, the GrossDomestic Product (GDP) in Kuwait was worth$183.22 billion in 2012.

The Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) theoryis commonly used to establish the requiredadjustments needed to any currencyexchange rate against the other and indicat-ing whether the base currency is overvaluedor undervalued by comparing the cost of thesame basket of goods or services in the twocountries.

Based on The Economist’s Big Mac Index(BMI), which takes the McDonald’s Big Mac asits basket of goods and compares the pricethrough the world, indicating the variance incurrency values compared to the actualexchange rates.

Despite the criticism of The Economist’s BigMac Index (BMI), the McDonald’s Big Mac is agreat specimen because of the inputs that arerequired to achieve the same end resultaround the world. The price of the burger takesinto consideration the local or regional rawmaterials, manpower and other businessexpenses. The argument about cheap laboraffecting the ratio is debatable, because whatis cut in base pay is made-up by other expens-es like residency, insurance, housing and trans-portation.

Today Kuwait’s market exchange rate is0.282 Kuwaiti Dinars (KD) to every $1; asopposed to the BMI exchange rate of 0.206 KDto every $1.

Based on the BMI of January 2014, Kuwait’scurrency is undervalued by 27.1 percent andfollowed by neighboring United Arab Emirates(UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)at 29.2 percent and 36.5 percent respectivelyagainst the dollar.

Kuwaiti gold Further investigation into the value of the

Kuwaiti dinar lead us to the CBK annual reportwith hopes of understanding the bases of val-uation. According to the CBK, effective May20, 2007 by virtue of the Decree No. 147/2007,the KD exchange rate was re-pegged to anundisclosed weighted basket of internationalcurrencies. The report also declares that withaccordance to the Amiri Decree of July 4,1978, gold is valued at KD 12.500 per fineounce. Baring in mind that the last time thedollar was tied to the gold standard was in1973 and the fixed value at the time was$42.22 which would have benchmarked theexchange rate at KD 0.296 per dollar.

Amazingly the Kuwait Central Bank hasmanaged to keep the exchange rate close toour estimated benchmark over the past 28years reaching a high of 0.276 in 2011 and alow of 0.306 against the dollar and averaging0.292 over the same period. Unfortunately theCBK has only published the exchange ratesfrom 1986 to 2013.

In 1978, the price of 1 gold once was$193.40 but the price was pegged at a fifth ofthe price equaling to $42.22 @ 0.296 the esti-mated equivalent of KD 12.500. Over the past35 years the price of gold has risen to reach in2013 $1204.50 per ounce of gold.

Should the government revalue its gold toa fifth of its vale as it did in 1978, Kuwait’s goldreserve would be valued at $240.9 per ounce(KD 71.306 @ 0.296) which would increase thedeclared value of gold from KD 31.7 million toKD 181 million instantly increasing the currentvalue of the Kuwaiti dinar.

The effect of an undervalued dinar From the government’s perspective an

undervalued currency has both an upsideand a downside, the upside is that Kuwait’soil, gas and petrochemical exports gain acompetitive price advantage makingKuwaiti exports more attractive to interna-tional markets. The downside is that allgovernment foreign assets are inflatedleading to false financial positions. In addi-tion all new government investmentswould carry higher cost due to the under-valued currency.

On the flip side, an undervalued currencytranslates to paying more on imports whichcontributes to inflation. Unfortunately, Kuwaitis extremely dependent on imports especiallyin terms of consumer goods.

The playing fields would be equal ifKuwait’s domestic industries were moredeveloped diverting demand to local madeproducts, this not being the case; the resultis that local industries struggle further asthey try to compete with goods imported

from other developed countries that enjoyan undervalued currency like the UnitedArab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt at aregional level and Asian countries like China,India, Taiwan and Malaysia. Simply, we sellmore for less and we pay more for less.

Summary Governments around the world continu-

ally battle to fight inflation and maintaintheir currency value; generally the value ofthe currency is based on the economy per-formance and reserves or assets. ThePurchasing Power Parity (PPP) theory sug-gests that the Kuwaiti dinar is undervaluedby 27.1 percent and considering that theofficial gold price in Kuwait has not beenadjusted since 1978, the PPP theory indica-tion is logical. Although Kuwait is gaining acompetitive advantage in oil sales theeconomy is negatively impacted by thehigher cost of investment and cost of living.

Iran eyes refining capacityDUBAI: Iran hopes to boost its oil refiningcapacity to 3 million barrels per day by 2018from 1.9 million now with the opening ofnew refineries as the OPEC member seeksto reduce its dependency on imports of oilproducts, Iranian media reported. Iran hashad to increase its refining capacity over thepast few years due to Western efforts toprevent it from importing fuel as part ofsanctions over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Refinery capacity expansions and gov-ernment efforts to curb fuel use have cutIranís imports over the last three years. Iranhad said it wants to become a major fuelexporter. ‘Iran’s crude oil refining capacityis to reach 3 million barrels per day in fouryears as the Petroleum Ministry plans tosell petroleum products rather than crudeoil,’ Iran’s oil ministry website Shana report-ed. —Reuters

KUWAIT: Kuwait Energy said that it real-ized revenues of $72.3 million in the sec-ond quarter of 2014, indicating that aver-age daily working interest productionreached 23,720 barrels of oil equivalentper day (boepd). Financial results of thesecond quarter of 2014 stressed outstand-ing position of Kuwait Energy as one ofindependent companies that achieves arapid growth in power sector in the MENA

region, the company said in a press state-ment. Average daily working interest pro-duction of Kuwait Energy rose by 5.6 per-cent, while revenues increased by 7.4 per-cent compared with revenues of the pre-vious quarter, the statement added.Compared to the corresponding period ayear ago production and revenues are up9 percent and 12.6 percent respectively, itadded. —KUNA

Kuwait Energy posts

revenues of $72.3m

B U S I N E S STHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

CARACAS: President Nicolas Maduro hasreplaced Venezuela’s longtime oil boss and eco-nomic czar, sidelining the most-prominent voicewithin his administration for pragmatic reformsto tackle a deep economic crisis. Rafael Ramirezhad served as oil minister and president of thestate-run oil giant PDVSA for more than adecade, earning a reputation as a loyal servantof the late Hugo Chavez’s socialist revolution. Hesaw his power within the government expanddramatically a year ago when Maduro tappedhim as vice president for economic policy, givinghim effective oversight of everything from thecountry’s foreign currency reserves to the priceof gasoline.

As part of what Maduro called a new assign-ment for the 50-year-old engineer, Ramirez wasdesignated foreign minister and given a newlycreated position of vice president for politicalsovereignty. Maduro’s Cabinet shuffle Tuesdaynight was widely anticipated after his ministerscollectively offered their resignations two weeksago. But few Venezuelans expected such a dra-matic demotion for Ramirez, who looked onlong-faced as the president thanked him for hispast service in front of an audience of top mili-tary and civilian officials at the presidentialpalace. Ramirez’s loss of responsibility for theworld’s largest oil reserves and 95 percent ofVenezuela’s export earnings means investors

who had been hoping that recent economicpain would spur a pro-business tilt will lose apotential ally.

In recent weeks, Ramirez had been promisingpolicies that in many ways seemed to veer awayfrom the past 15 years of increasing state controlover the economy. These included an unpopularplan to raise gas prices - the world’s cheapest -and unify three official exchange rates that havebeen fueling the Bolivar’s freefall in the blackmarket, bleeding currency reserves and stokinginflation running over 60 percent.

Opposition protestsWhile hardliners and military insiders were

cold to such moves, Ramirez had the ear ofMaduro, knew the ins and outs of the oil-dependent economy like nobody else andhad carved out a power base at PDVSAfrom which many believed he could exe-cute a much-needed overhaul. In the end,Maduro may have calculated such moveswere too costly politically - at least for now.Opposition protests in the spring left 43dead by the official count; Venezuela’sBolivar has lost more than half its value inthe illegal black market during his 16-month presidency, and essential items suchas soap and sugar have become impossibleto find with any regularity. Recent pollsshow that support for Maduro has slippedbelow 40 percent. During the three-hourtelevised address, Maduro provided scantdetails of the economic reforms that he’sbeen promising for weeks.

Instead, the president focused on whathe called five “revolutions” in diverse areasto bring the government closer to its sup-porters among the poor and boost produc-tivity. “We must assume this new phasewith strength,” he said. Ramirez, who wasexpected to make a rare visit to Wall Streetthis month to meet with foreign investors,will be succeeded as head of PDVSA byengineer and career oilman Eulogio DelPino. Del Pino has sat on the PDVSA execu-tive board for more than a decade, andmost recently served as vice president ofexploration and production. AsdrubalChavez, an engineer and cousin of the latepresident, will step in as oil minister, whilecurrent Finance Minister Rodolfo MarcoTorres, a low-profile army general, will takeover Ramirez’s job as top economic policy-maker. — AP

Maduro replaces Venezuela’s longtime oil chief

CARACAS: In this file photo, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (left) speaks withOil Minister Rafael Ramirez before the start of a press conference at Miraflores presi-dential palace. — AP

PARIS: A long and bitter battle that hasgripped the luxury goods industry andpitted two of France’s richest familiesagainst each other came to an unexpect-ed end yesterday when LVMH andHermes agreed to a truce. Under thedeal, LVMH - the world’s No. 1 luxurygroup, controlled by billionaire BernardArnault - agreed to relinquish most of its23.2 percent stake in Hermes and not toacquire any shares in its smaller rival forthe next five years.

It effectively buried the possibilityLVMH could make a full takeover bid forthe 177-year-old maker of Birkin andKelly handbags. Such a prospect hasboosted Hermes’s stock, which has beentrading at a price-to-earnings ratios ofabout 30 times in recent years, a 70 per-cent premium to the industry average.Shares in Hermes fell nearly 10 percentto 236.5 euros in early trading yesterday,wiping out 2.8 billion euros ($3.7 billion)off its market value - equal to around350,000 Birkin handbags based on anaverage price of 8,000 euros.

“The speculative premium has disap-peared,” said Barclays France directorFranklin Pichard. The deal, under whichLVMH agreed to redistribute its stake inHermes to its shareholders, ends fouryears of legal warfare between the luxu-ry titans, dubbed the “handbag war” bythe press. In 2010, LVMH revealed it hadbuilt up a 17 percent stake in its rivalthrough a series of equity derivativesinstead of straightforward share purchas-es, which prevented it from having todeclaring them.

Hermes - one of France’s last majorindependent luxury group, still controlledby its founding Hermes family - vehe-mently protested at having its arch-rivalas its biggest external shareholder. TheFrench stock market regulator AMF finedLVMH last year for failing to properly dis-close the stake-building and Hermeslaunched legal action against LVMH onallegations of insider trading and stockprice manipulation. LVMH fought backwith proceedings against Hermes for

libel. The agreement signed on Tuesdaynight ended all legal proceedingsbetween the two groups, they said in ajoint statement issued yesterday.

DivorceLVMH, which began building up its

stake in Hermes in 2007 and 2008, couldmade a capital gain on its holding ofaround 3 billion euros, analysts estimat-ed. “This clears up the situation and it isone of the few divorces in which boththe partners are winners,” said MarioOrtelli, luxury goods analyst at Bernstein.JP Morgan Cazenove said in a note:“LVMH has found an elegant way out ofwhat was a deadlock.”

The deal marks the first time Arnault -whose LVMH has gobbled up more than60 brands in the past two decades,including sizeable ones such as Romanjeweler Bulgari - has abandoned the pur-suit of a prized target. It was first pro-posed by Franck Gentin, head of Pariscommercial court, in July and detailswere finalized rapidly over the past week,sources close to the two groups said.

Traders had long speculated LVMHwas planning a full takeover bid eventhough the Hermes family created ashield in 2011 in the form of a holdingcompany with 50.2 percent of its share-holder capital. The entity received firstright of refusal on shares representinganother 12.6 percent of capital and tiedup many of its shareholders for twodecades. Analysts said the deal wouldallow for a re-rating of LVMH shares, flatsince Jan. 1, and up 3 percent yesterday.LVMH stock has underperformed the lux-ury goods industry in the past 18 monthsover concerns about declining cognacsales in China and slower sales growth atits main profit generator Louis Vuitton.Analysts also noted that LVMH wouldlose dividends from Hermes which repre-sented around 1.5 percent of its groupearnings per share. The distribution ofHermes shares will be completed no laterthan Dec 20, 2014, the joint statementsaid. — Reuters

LVMH and Hermes call

truce in ‘handbag war’

PARIS: Models present creations by French designer Jean Paul Gaultierfor Hermes during the Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear collections. — AFP

25 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

LONDON: The European Central Bank’s land-mark review of euro-zone banks will have to ask lenders to raise an additional 51 billion euros ($67.02 billion) to be credible with mar-kets, a Goldman Sachs survey of large institu-tional investors has found. The survey of 125 institutional investors from across the globe also found that nine of the 130 banks be-ing tested were expected to fail, with capital shortfalls most likely at Italian, German and Greek banks, according to a document circu-lated by Goldman Sachs on Tuesday night.

The ECB is examining whether banks have properly recognized losses in a bid to finally draw a line under doubts about euro zone lenders’ balance sheets before it becomes their supervisor on Nov. 4. Results are expect-ed around Oct 17. Producing a result that is in line with market expectations is key for the ECB, since previous rounds of EU bank tests in 2010 and 2011 were roundly discredited for capital demands and failure rates that were far less than what investors deemed reasonable.

“The ECB is clearly perceived to have han-dled the process well thus far, resulting in an increase in credibility assigned to the exercise,” Goldman’s report noted, pointing out that 89 percent of investors now expect the tests to be credible, up from 70 percent in a previ-ous Goldman survey in October. Expectations

of an “extreme” outcome that would require banks to raise over 100 billion euros fell from 18 percent in October to 8 percent now, but investors’ average expected capital demand is now 23 billion euros higher than in October

The 51 billion euros investors say is needed takes account of capital that banks have al-ready raised, including 47 billion euros they have raised since October. The ten banks seen as most likely to fail include six that have al-ready raised capital. Three quarters of inves-tors surveyed said they expected the exercise to be positive for bank valuations, with banks set to “outperform” the broader equities mar-ket once the results are announced. Euro-zone banks have traded at lower valuations than their US peers in recent years.

Greek, Austrian banks in focus

Perceptions of Greek, central and eastern European and Austrian banks have deteriorat-ed most since October, the survey said, while investors’ views on Spanish banks have im-proved. Their shares did not suffer yesterday, when the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 banks index was up 1.32 percent by 1119 GMT. Greek and Italian banks are seen as most likely to fail, according to the survey. Italy’s Monte dei Pas-chi, seen by investors having the highest risk of failure, declined to comment as did Banca

Popolare di Milano, the sixth most likely to fail, and Banco Popolare, the fourth most likely to fail.

Greece’s Piraeus, Eurobank and Alpha Bank were also among the top ten most likely fail-ures along with Germany’s Commerzbank, Portugal’s BCP , Austria’s Raiffeisen Zentral-bank, and Spain’s Banco Popular Espanol. “There have been several reports out recently with different views on the outcome of the exercise, in this phase there is speculation in the market,” a senior Greek banker said. “Greek banks have high capital buffers as a starting point.”

Fokion Karavias, senior general manager at Eurobank, the country’s third-largest lender by assets, told Reuters his bank was partici-pating in the exercise “with confidence”, while Alpha and Piraeus declined to comment. Com-merzbank said it does not comment on indi-vidual studies and referred to a statement by finance head Stephan Engels made when the bank published its quarterly results on Aug 7 who said the bank felt “well positioned to pass these tests”. Spain’s Popular declined to com-ment but had previously said it would pass the tests. Raiffeisen said it was “most confident” that the bank will pass the stress test. BCP declined comment. —Reuters

Swiss economy most competitive once againGENEVA: The European Union is becoming more competitive but Switzerland, Singapore and the United States are the three econo-mies to beat, an annual survey by the World Economic Forum said yesterday. The Global Competitiveness Report published by the Geneva-based body, which is most famous for gathering politicians and billionaires for an annual exchange of views at the Alpine resort of Davos, showed the same 10 countries filling the top 10 spots for at least the third year running.

Switzerland’s slick efficiency, innovation and macroeconomic sta-bility kept it on top for a sixth year in a row, although it was marked down for the difficulty of finding qualified workers. “A potential threat to Switzerland’s competitive edge might be the increasing dif-ficulties faced by businesses and research institutions in finding the talent they need to preserve their outstanding capacity to innovate,” the report said.

The United States muscled into third place ahead of Finland and Germany, while Japan leapfrogged Hong Kong and the Netherlands

to take sixth spot. EU states such as Romania, Portugal and Latvia were among those rising up the ranks of competitiveness. Greece, which is still bringing up the rear for the EU, in 81st place globally, jumped 10 places up the rankings from 91st last year.

Greece was helped by improvements in its goods and labor markets and a sharply reduced budget deficit, which improved the outlook despite still very high levels of government debt. “All this suggests that the implemented reforms are starting to pay off,” the report said. China climbed one rank to 28th, Russia jumped 11 to 53rd spot, while India slid 11 to 71st and became the least competi-tive BRIC economy, 14 places behind Brazil.

Bottom-ranked this year was Guinea, lately in the news for being the source of the world’s most deadly Ebola outbreak. The Forum bases its assessment on a dozen drivers of competitiveness, includ-ing institutions, infrastructure, health and education, market size and the macroeconomic environment. The report also factors in a survey among business leaders, assessing government efficiency

and transparency.India has been sliding down the rankings since 2009, let down by

basic healthcare and education, red tape, high business taxes, poor technology and a rigid labor market. Russia’s new-found competitive edge was sharpened by improvements to domestic competition and business sophistication that came befornoe the Ukraine conflict.

Reverberations from that conflict - sanctions and the impact on the gas trade, with knock-on effects on public funding - could blunt it again in the future, the survey said. A major brake on com-petitiveness for many advanced economies, including the United States, Japan and many EU countries, was doubt about their mac-roeconomic environments. In that category, the United States was ranked 113th worldwide, slightly better than 117th last year. The leaders in macroeconomic stability were Norway and Qatar, both blessed with energy bonanzas that have pushed GDP above $100,000 per head. - Reuters

Investors expect banks to raise $67.02bn after tests

Italian, Greek and German banks most at risk

MANILA: Standing near mountains of goods destined to be smuggled through the Philippines’ biggest port, the nation’s customs chief admits that being on the frontline of the president’s war on graft is overwhelming. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” John Sevilla said, commenting on a pervasive culture of bribery, extortion and stealing at a government agency that collects revenues equivalent to 20 percent of the nation’s budget. “There’s no secret about the fact that this is not an agency which inspires a lot of trust and confidence among our people.”

But Sevilla, a former Goldman Sachs executive, has bold plans for systemic change that are showing early signs of success. President Benigno Aquino, who has made fighting graft a central tenet of his administration, appointed Sevilla to head the bureau in December last year after launching a scathing verbal assault on customs personnel. “Where do these people get the gall,” Aquino said in his annual State of the Nation address as he accused customs staff of “heedlessly permitting the smuggling of goods, and even drugs, arms and other items”.

Aquino said customs personnel’s greed cost the country at least 200 billion pesos ($4.6 billion) in lost revenues each year—at least two percent of the coun-try’s economic output. Several months later, the then-customs chief resigned after being charged over a separate cor-ruption scandal involving the alleged theft of government funds.

He was replaced by Sevilla, who was then a finance undersecretary and well regarded for his earlier career with global financial giants, including Gold-man Sachs in Hong Kong and Standard & Poor’s in New York. “I was not prepared for this. I was not prepared to come into customs at all,” the 45-year-old said, hold-ing his head in mock woe during a recent tour of customs headquarters and Ma-nila’s main port.

Tens of thousands of containers are stacked at the port, and Sevilla pointed out that overwhelmed customs staff inspect, on average, just 0.1 percent of them. He said officials taking bribes to as-sess lower taxes, or outrightly using their positions to extort money from import-ers, were the other major problems.

Temptation Customs district collectors earn the

equivalent of just $1,140-1,600 a month, according to the bureau, but their jobs are highly sought after because of the

lucrative corruption opportunities they offer. Sevilla joked that the bribery is so rampant and well-known that corrupt traffic police regard customs officers as great targets for bribes. “The police will say your racket is even more lucrative than ours, so you must pay up,” he said.

Part of Sevilla’s clean-up strategy is old-fashioned internal law enforcement. Sevilla has placed 65 customs personnel under investigation for irregular import transactions, and another was banished to a far-flung port over persistent allega-tions of wrongdoing, aides said. Sevilla is also seeking to expand the 3,600-mem-ber bureau by 1,000 staff, while bringing in new senior officials and rotating per-sonnel in key posts so they cannot build corruption networks.

But he said the key to overhauling the agency was building transparency by bringing its outdated or non-existent computer networks into the 21st century. Sevilla, who has a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University in the United States, has begun publishing every single trade transaction on the bureau’s web-site. “It’s very important to show we are not trying to hide something,” he said.

He is also using IT to detect fraud and other forms of misconduct within transactions. “It’s very transactional, so to monitor whether we’re doing our job properly we really need to drill down to the level of individual import transac-tions,” he said.

Quick results Sevilla said the reforms had achieved

some quick results, with collections in the first eight months of 2014 up 17 percent from a year earlier. “The feedback is cus-toms is more efficient now... There is less corruption, fewer people are asking for bribes,” Sevilla said. But he admitted that the bureau is still likely to miss its full-year target of 408 billion pesos, acknowledg-ing that there is a long way to go.

Victor Abola, program director for stra-tegic business economics at the Manila-based University of Asia and the Pacific, said Sevilla was on the right track. “I think he’s a credible customs collector,” Abola told AFP. But he said that with Aquino limited by the constitution to serving a single term of six years, reforms need to be “institutionalized” to withstand any potential backsliding under a new presi-dent from 2016. “No president can just appoint one person and expect him to do wonders, Abola said. “There’s no silver bullet.” —AFP

Philippines wages war on crooked customs agents

MANILA: This photo shows cargo containers stacked next to cranes at the port in Manila. – AFP

SYDNEY: Australia’s economy lost pace in the second quarter of 2014 after a sharp fall in exports saw growth expand by just 0.5 percent following a strong start to the year, data showed yesterday. Annual growth was 3.1 percent, figures from the Australian Bu-reau of Statistics said, compared with a year-on-year expansion of 3.5 percent in the first-quarter. Growth came in at to 1.1 percent in the three months to March.

Analysts had expected a slight-ly softer reading of 0.4 percent for the second-quarter to take growth for the year-to-date to 3.0 percent. “Overall, these are pleas-ing figures but we are not com-placent,” Treasurer Joe Hockey said. “The unemployment rate is still too high. We’ve got to get economic growth above trend in order to start to bring the unem-ployment rate down.”

Reserve Bank of Australia gov-ernor Glenn Stevens said in a speech following the data release that the first and second-quarter readings together “suggest a picture of moderate growth”. He

said more recent figures showed business conditions improving “a little” and consumer confidence recovering “a fair bit”.

“Looking ahead, ideally, the non-mining part of the econo-my would see a further pick-up to grow a bit above-trend for a while... we may not be quite there yet, but we are I think slowly building a foundation for better performance,” Stevens added. The Australian dollar broadly looked through the data, edging up slightly but staying below 93 US cents.

The slower growth rate was mostly driven by a fall in net ex-ports, which declined by a sea-sonally adjusted 0.9 percentage points in the three months to June. Australia’s key commodity exports, particularly iron ore, have also been hit by a sharp fall in pric-es this year. Inventories support-ed growth in the quarter, adding 0.9 percentage points, while final consumption contributed 0.3 per-centage points.

Shift to non-mining growth ‘tentative’

The weaker figures had been flagged by the Reserve Bank, which on Tuesday kept interest rates at a record low of 2.5 percent for its 12th straight meeting. The central bank has sought to main-tain an accommodative monetary policy as the country moves away from a mining investment boom that has helped the economy avoid recession for more than two decades. While the housing sector has grown strongly in the low in-terest-rate environment, the labor market has been showing mixed signs of recovery.

The unemployment rate spiked to a 12-year high of 6.4 percent in July, while other indi-cators pointed to a turnaround in companies’ hiring intentions. Economists said the GDP figures showed the transition towards non-resources-led growth was taking place, although the shift remained “tentative”.

“The drag from the wind-down in mining investment still has a long way to run and is likely to be much sharper over coming quarters as large-scale LNG proj-

ects approach completion,” ANZ senior economist Felicity Emmett said. “Moreover, the non-mining recovery remains tentative with the structural weight of the fall-ing terms of trade and lower pub-lic spending likely to weigh on growth for some time.”

Hockey was encouraged by the consumption figures, which were not as weak as some had forecast, saying it was a “good thing to see that the household sector held in the last quarter”. “So what we are seeing is momentum building in the non-mining side of the econ-omy and this is a welcome trend. But we have to do more to drive the economy,” he said.

A plunge in consumer senti-ment after a tough federal budget in May—which cut back on govern-ment welfare and spending—had sparked fears Australians would tighten their purse strings. National Australia Bank senior economist David de Garis said the GDP data suggested “people kept spending from their incomes and didn’t close their wallets”. “If anything, the rate of spending picked up a little bit,” he said. —AFP

Fall in exports slows Australian growthSYDNEY: Shoppers carry their bags while walking through the central business district yesterday.—AFP

JAKARTA: In this photo, an attendant fills up the tank of a motorbike at a gas station in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first item on the to-do list of Indonesia’s next president is one that successive leaders have struggled with, and could be his toughest: how to wean the country off fuel subsidies that make gasoline almost as cheap as bottled water. —AP

B u s i n e s s


A report prepared by KAMCO Research that analyzes the MENA and GCC Economic trends and outlook and provides a detailed analysis of the current economic situation in each country in the GCC as well as a brief on the equity markets performance in line with economic changes. Growth in the MENA region declined to 2.2 percent in 2013, as oil exporting countries like Libya, Iran, and Syria faced increased geo-political turbulence, along with transition economies like Egypt and Jordan. GCC region also witnessed reduced growth as global oil demand remained weak, and productionfrom non-OPEC nations increased. Growth in 2014 is expected to reach 3.2 percent (driven by the growing non-oil sector), but would still remain below its average of 4 percent growth achieved in the last four decades.

Inflation in MENA region continues to remain high (11.5 percent) as geo-political turbulence in oil import-ing nations like Egypt drove-up energy prices. On the other hand, political stability has ensured that inflation in GCC nations remained stable despite a recovering hous-ing market. GCC GDP growth came down from 6.4 per-cent in 2012 to 4.1 percent in 2013, as weak oil demand and increasing production from non-OPEC nations led to flattened oil production. Non-oil sector, however, con-tinued its robust performance with an expectation to grow by 5.7 percent in 2014 after registering a growth of 5.4 percent in 2013, as GCC nations continue with their diversification efforts. Non-oil growth will accelerate as infrastructure spending rises in the run-up to Dubai 2020 Expo and Qatar 2022 World Cup, and real estate and tourism sectors in the UAE strengthen. Expansion of the non-oil sector is emerging as the key driver, and will help overall GDP growth reach 4.2 percent in 2014.

Moreover, fiscal stance remains expansionary in na-ture to drive non-oil growth and reduce dependence on oil revenues. However, with growth in oil revenues flattening amid rising non-oil spend, fiscal balance is ex-pected to go down from 9.9 percent of GDP in 2013 to 8.3 percent in 2014; on the other hand, current account balance will decline from 20.2 percent of GDP to 18.3 percent in the same time as imports rise on the back of overall economic recovery. Inflation in the GCC region has remained under 3 percent despite increased liquid-ity levels, as housing and food prices have remained low. Money supply went up from $1.05 trillion in Q1 2013 to $1.19 trillion in Q1 2014, as central banks maintained low interest rates, leading to elevated private lending and consumption levels. GCC equity markets had a bull run in 2013, led by UAE’s DFM & ADX indices, which were up 107 percent and 63 percent y/y. As well, H1 2014 has also witnessed robust performance, but markets seem to be easing-off in May & June with a cyclical correction setting-in and profit booking by investors, and also due to concerns of overheating in UAE’s real estate sector.

Key risk factors in the GCC region:Prolonged political uncertainties and domestic un-

rest could delay the implementation of infrastructure development plans, resulting into cost escalation of these projectst hereby putting additional pressure on state budgets. Oil and gas remains the backbone of all the GCC economies which indicates that any significant decline in oil prices would have a direct impact on GDP and revenues thus hampering or delaying capital expen-diture in key sectors. Further, GCC economies continue to be driven by the energy sector. Although there are ef-forts to diversify and grow the non-oil sector, fiscal chal-lenges remain as these sectors need additional capital and the efforts to improve fiscal sustainability. Although stabilizing, the debt turmoil in Euro Area remains a key risk for the MENA countries given the importance of Eu-rope as a major trade partner. Generating jobs in the pri-vate sectors for the rapidly growing young population remains a challenge.

SAUDI ARABIAKSA’s GDP growth will rebound to 4.4 percent in 2014,

after having dropped to 3.8 percent in 2013. The growth will be led by the non-oil private sector, which is expect-ed to expand by 6 percent in 2014 on the back of KSA’s economic diversification efforts. Oil sector, which con-tracted by 0.7 percent in 2013 due to weak oil demand and increasing production from non-OPEC nations, will grow by 0.9 percent in 2014 as global economic recovery helps oil demand and oil prices remain elevated due to the ongoing Iraq crisis.

PMI remains in expansion mode, but is below the 2011 high as prices have come under pressure in 2014 due to weak foreign demand. Manufacturing and con-struction sectors will continue to lead non-oil growth, with infrastructure spending slated to go up by 25 per-cent in 2014. Inflation in the Kingdom had shot-up from 2.9 percent in 2012 to 3.5 percent in 2013, as food and housing rental prices went up by 5.7 percent and 3.4 per-cent, respectively. However, 2014 has seen a reversal in the trend, with inflation down from the peak of 4.0 per-cent in April 2013 to 2.7 percent in June 2014.

Oil exports has declined in 2013 on weak oil demand; as well, the import bill is also declining due to falling in-flation in the US and Europe, but the fall in import value

is unlikely to offset the drop in oil revenues, and current account balance will fall below $100 billion by 2016, as per IMF.

TASI’s has been up each month since September 2013, and crossed 9,900 in June 2014, a level last seen before the onset of the 2008 crisis, driven by elevated oil prices and rising liquidity levels. As well, corporate earn-ings were up 3.5 percent in 2013, led by steady growth in the heavyweight banking (3.9 percent) and petrochemi-cal (2.7 percent) sectors. Going forward, with improving economic fundamentals, corporate profits and earnings can be expected to rise further in 2014.

As compared to other GCC peers, TASI index was the third best performer with annual returns of 25.5 percent despite a significant decline in average daily volumes. During 2014, Tadawul continued on the positive trajec-tory with 1H gains of 11.5 percent coupled with signifi-cantly higher average daily traded value. Moreover, the market is currently trading at a P/E of 18.3x on the back of higher earnings reported for the first quarter of 2014 coupled with positive investor sentiments and healthy corporate outlook. The P/BV multiple also inched up to 2.17x during June 2014. As a result of higher valuations, yields declined to 3.15 percent at the end of 2013 and further to 3.07 percent in Jun-14.

KUWAITKuwait GDP growth is expected to recover from 0.8

percent in 2013 to 2.6 percent in 2014, on the back of normalizing global oil demand and accelerated growth in Kuwait’s non-oil sector. During 2013, weak oil demand and increasing production from non-OPEC nations had resulted in a contraction (-2 percent) of the nation’s oil sector in 2013. However, with global oil demand recover-ing and oil prices remaining high, oil sector will remain flat or grow marginally in 2014. This, coupled with a pro-jected 4.5 percent growth in the non-oil sector, will help the overall economic output expand by 2.6 percent this year. Even though the growth will be higher than 2013, it will remain below the 2011 and 2012 levels of 6.3 per-cent and 6.2 percent, respectively.

With international food prices easing, Kuwaiti infla-tion has been declining since 2012; the trend has con-tinued this year as well, with inflation remaining stable in the 2.7-3.0 percent range and ending June at 2.9 per-cent. However, a rise in public expenditure (and wages), correction of international food prices, and an expected uptick in housing rent in H2 2014 will mean that an-nual inflation will end up between 3-3.5 percent in 2014 (IMF’s forecast is 3.4 percent).

Current account balance declined in 2013 as oil ex-

ports slowed by 2.6 percent. With oil markets expected to soften, trade- and current account- balance is likely to decline through 2016, though remain healthy. More-over, expenditure was up 12.2 percent in 2013-14, but most of it was directed towards public sector wages and subsidies, which need to be curbed. On the other hand, CAPEX growth was muted as project delays continued, a situation that needs to be controlled in 2014-15.

Fiscal position will remain healthy with a surplus of $37.8 billion in 2013-14. But the strong fiscal position is more a result of elevated oil prices and under-spending on infrastructure development, as opposed to a funda-mentally strong and well-diversified economy. Short-term fiscal position will remain stable, but continued de-pendence on oil revenues can lead to reduced long-term growth potential. Despite the revival in earnings and af-firmation of the Aa2 rating by Moody’s, trading activity has been muted due to moderate economic growth, and lack of market catalysts. Moreover, corporate earnings have recovered from the 2008 crisis, and stood at $5.7 billion in 2013, up 13 percent from $5 billion in 2012. As well, S&P affirmed its “AA/A-1+” long- and short-term for-eign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Ku-wait with “a stable outlook.”

UAEA well-diversified economy has helped UAE outpace

the growth of most of its GCC peers in the past few years,

and 2014 will be no different. Non-oil sector grew by 5.4 percent in 2013, and is expected to expand faster in 2014, led by rising growth in the real estate, construction, and tourism sectors. As a result, despite an expected flatten-ing in oil production, UAE’s overall economy is expected to grow by 4.4 percent in 2014, &4.2 percent in 2015.

Economic diversification, especially in Dubai, will be boosted as UAE steps up investment in social and physi-cal infrastructure in the run to Expo 2020. Real estate and construction sectors will the biggest beneficiaries of the multi-billion dollar specialty projects being launched, while trade activity is expected to triple between 2013 and 2020, from Dh 1.39 trillion to Dh 4 trillion.

Real estate and construction sectors have recovered from the 2008 crisis, and are leading the non-oil growth. Their growth will be stimulated by projects worth $313 billion that are currently under construction across the infrastructure, residential and non-residential sectors. Real estate recovery also led the surge in equity markets (DFM & ADX) in 2013; however, June 2014 has marked the easing of equity markets as investors concerns around overheating of the real estate market are back.

With the central bank maintaining its 1 percent inter-est rate, money supply will continue to rise. However, real estate recovery is being accompanied by rising housing prices, which have pushed inflation to 2.1 per-cent in May 2014, up from 0.9 percent a year ago. With economic recovery strengthening, housing prices are likely to create upward inflationary pressure, and overall inflation might touch 2.5 percent in 2014. This, coupled with increasing private sector lending (especially to the construction sector), might prompt the central bank to tighten the currently accommodative monetary policy, including introducing more home loan caps in-line with the ones already introduced.

Given its lower dependence on oil revenues, UAE has managed to buck the trend of declining FDI inflows to GCC. Increased infrastructure investment, growing tour-ism, and Expo 2020 is likely to boost foreign investor confidence further, and help FDI inflows rise above $10.5 billion level achieved in 2013.

QATARThe continuation of the moratorium on gas produc-

tion in North Field might lead to contraction of the hy-drocarbon economy; however, the planned $200 billion spend on infrastructure development (new airport, sea-port, metro, etc.) will see the non-hydrocarbon sector ex-pand by 9.4 percent in 2014 and by 11 percent in 2015. High growth in the non-hydrocarbon sector will ensure that overall GDP growth remains in the ~6-7 percent range in 2014-15. Double digit GDP growth, seen prior to 2012, is unlikely to return unless Qatar decides to ex-pand gas production in the North Field.

OMANOman’s GDP growth is likely to moderate from 5.1

percent in 2013 to 3.4 percent in 2014. The reduced pace of growth is attributable to contraction of the oil sector, which will witness negative growth of -0.7 percent in 2014, as Oman has used most of its easily recoverable oil reserves and future growth can only be driven by in-creased adoption of enhanced oil recovery techniques. The non-oil sector, on the other hand, will expand by 5.4 percent in 2014 as Oman spends $78 billion on the de-velopment of social & transport infrastructure as part of its Vision 2020 aimed at economic diversification.

BAHRAINGrowth in 2013 was driven by the normalization of

output in the Abu Sa’afah oilfield which led to robust growth in oil sector. However, 2014 will see a change in trend, as increased infrastructure spending will push the non-oil economy to grow by 4.4 percent in 2014 while oil sector growth will remain flat (in line with oil produc-tion). As a result, the overall economic output will ex-pand by 4.7 percent in 2014.

KAMCO GCC ECONOMIC RESEARCH

Inflation in MENA continues to remain highGCC witnesses reduced growth, global oil demand weak

KUWAIT: The mega winning opportunity at Joyalukkas Golden Carnival received an overwhelming response from customers across GCC and India. The 60-day campaign concluded on August 2, 2014 and the win-ner was announced on August 7, 2014. The Joyalukkas Golden Carnival was offering every customer shopping for KD 40 worth

of jewelry, the opportunity to win 12 BMWs plus 2kg gold.

Joy Alukkas, Chairman, Joyalukkas group says, “As the ‘World’s Favorite Jeweler’ we are committed to giving our customers the best in quality, value, choice and service at all times. And the Joyalukkas Golden Car-nival was one of the many ways in which

we make the jewelry shopping experience of millions of customers, a truly rewarding one. The luckiest one drove away in a BMW 3 series car.” “It’s a pleasure to see such an overwhelming response for Joyalukkas Golden Carnival. This mega winning oppor-tunity made many dreams come true and we feel happy to be able to enable this,” said

John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group. BMW 3 series was pre-sented to the winner A K M Iqbal Hussain on August 30, 2014 by Mohammed Ismail Safar Behzad in the presence of Joyalukkas officials and various customers. A K M Iqbal Hussain proud winner of the BMW 3 series, was thrilled to say the least. He said, “I’ve

been a proud customer of Joyalukkas since many years. And winning this fantastic prize has made Joyalukkas Jewellery my favorite jeweler for life!” Joyalukkas is an ISO certi-fied jeweller with 95 showrooms across 10 countries across the world. Joyalukkas has been awarded the Superbrand status, five years in a row in the UAE.

Joyalukkas presents BMW 3 series to ‘Golden Carnival’ promotion winner

B u s i n e s s

W H AT ’ S ONTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Welcome to Kuwait orientation for newcomers

04 Sep 2014, 7 pm. These orientations are free of charge & provide an opportuni-

ty for newly arriving Westerners to meet the AWARE team & dis-cover the many services designed to assist with cultural adjust-ment & settling comfortably in Kuwait. The Orientation is divid-ed into 3 segments; which are: Segment 1) About AWARE: in thissegment, we will talk about the AWARE Center & the activitiesthat we offer & how these activities can help benefit the WesternExpatriate to make their stay in Kuwait more comfortable.Segment 2) About the Local Culture: this segment is entitled“Know Thy Kuwaiti Neighbor”. In this segment, we will talk aboutLife in Kuwait & share some tips regarding socializing with thelocals, their beliefs & values, safety tips, Culture Do’s & Don’ts, eti-quette when visiting Kuwaiti Homes, & much more. Segment 3)

Questions & Answers: in this segment, we will answer any ques-tions that our audience may have related to the AWARE Center,Kuwait or the local culture. Dinner Buffet is included. If you wishto register for our Orientation, you are kindly requested tochoose one date and email us: the selected date, your full name& expected number of guests to [email protected]

Guided Tour: Grand Mosque 13 Sep 2014, 9:15 a.m. For a rewarding, spiritual & informative experience. This is a

11/2 tour of one of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks. Ladies arerequired to cover - long sleeves and long ankle length skirt, oth-erwise the mosque will provide a cloak. If you have your own

scarf you’re welcome to bring it. Cameras are allowed. Childrenare welcome. This tour meets directly at the Grand Mosque

Guided Tour: House Of Mirrors 15 Sep 2014, 5 pm. The House of Mirrors is home to the family of the late

renowned artist, Khalifa Al-Qattan. His wife has spent vastamounts of time creating scenes on the walls, the floors & eventhe ceilings to showcase what can be done with broken piecesof mirror & glass when accompanied by an artists’ touch. Enjoy acup of tea, an artful snack & a guided tour to view the splendorsof this ‘bedazzled’ home. Cameras are welcome.

Fee: KD 3 per person. This is an adult only tour for 8 partici-pants.

Advance reservations are required [email protected]

Diwaniya: Places to Visit in Kuwait 16 Sep 2014, 7 pm. Kuwait’s only good for shopping malls and restaurants,

right? Some people say there’s nothing to do here! However,may be there are places of interest to visit that you don’t knowof. Therefore, come along to AWARE’s Diwaniya to discoverknown and hidden places of interests that you could visit afterwhich you could send an Instagram postcard to friends & fam-ily saying, “From Kuwait with love.

Guided Tour: Arab Organization Headquarters 27 Sep 2014, 9:30 am. This tour is a marvel of innovative architecture displaying

modern technology combined with traditional artisan crafts-manship from Tunisia, Syria, Morocco, Egypt & contributionsfrom Kuwaiti designers. This tour meets directly at the ArabOrganization Headquarters. Cameras are welcome. LimitedSeats. Advance reservations are required [email protected] Registration Deadline: Tuesday,September 23, 2014

Guided Tour: Bait Al Othman Museum 29 Sep 2014, 5 pm. Inaugurated by the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on April 8, 2013, thisMuseum hosts rare historical items & antiques for old Kuwaitihouses. Decorating the walls of its Art Gallery are paintings &belongings of Kuwaiti Artists. There are also the crafts &Kuwaiti dhow models on display. Fee: KD 2 per person.Children below 14 years & Pets are not allowed. Limited Seats.Advance reservations required at [email protected]

Aware Short Lecture and Documentary 30 Sep 2014, 7 pm. Hajj is an international pilgrimage to Mecca that attracts up

to three million Muslims annually. The speaker will discuss itshistorical significance, describe the major rites that comprisethe pilgrimage, and share some of the sentiments thatMuslims experience in this trip of a lifetime. This 30-minutePowerPoint presentation will be followed by NationalGeographic’s 45-minute documentary film entitled, “InsideMecca” which presents an intimate look at the annual pilgrim-age by following three pilgrims from very different back-grounds as they embark on a spiritual journey that is bothdeeply personal and widely universal.

Aware Eid Al-Adha Festival 09 Oct 2014, 5 pm. The AWARE Center would like to invite Westerners in

Kuwait to our Eid Open House Festival which is will be held atour premises in Surra on Thursday, October 9 from 5:00p.m.This event is free of charge and will be followed by a dinnerbuffet. This Festival provides an opportunity for the WesternGuests to experience Eid in Kuwait through various activitieslike: Culture Clothes, Cultural Paintings & Items for Sale,Henna, Hajj Documentary, Arabic Calligraphy. Your RSVP iskindly requested at [email protected]. Address: Surra,Block 3, Hamad Al Roomi Street, Villa 84. E-mail :[email protected]

Second annual Military Logistics

Kuwait summit

Moving, maintaining and sustaining naval, airand ground forces officially supported by theKuwait Armed Forces, represented by the

Logistics & Supply Authority (J4), the 2nd annualMilitary Logistics Kuwait summit will take place on 23and 24 September 2014 at the Radisson Blu, Salwa.

EMBASSY OF INDIA

The Embassy of India willremain closed on 7thSeptember, 2014, Sunday, on

account of Onam. However, need-ed/emergency services relating toConsular, Visa and Labour wingswould be available to the visiting service seekers.

‘Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra’

Indian Cultural Society presents ‘Bolo Ta Ra RaRa’ on Sept5 with great playback and Sufi singer Daler Mehndi - alive concert at Dahiya indoor stadium 7pm.

Aware Center - Sept calendar of events

All photos submitted for What’s Onshould be minimum 200dpi.Articles must be in plain text andshould include name and phonenumbers. Articles and photos thatfail to meet these requirements willnot be published.

Please send them [email protected]

What’s On - Submission Guidelines

Responding to the Central Blood Bank’s call for moreblood, VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most devel-oped telecom operator, organized a blood drive for its

employees in collaboration with the Central Blood Bank(CBB); an initiative that reiterates its commitment towards

the Kuwaiti society. In collaboration with the CBB, VIVA has arranged for

blood donation clinics to be setup at its main headquartersat Olympia Towers yesterday. Ayman Salem Al Mutairi,Senior Corporate Communications Manager at VIVA said:

“Donating blood is a simple life changing act that can savemany lives. It is significant to VIVA that it initiates such activi-ties for its employees to take part in, and contribute toKuwait and to its people’s health. Blood donations willalways be a crucial contribution that should be considered

by every eligible person.” VIVA strongly believes in being anintegral part of the Kuwaiti society, and this is reflectedthrough its various corporate social responsibility programsthat are aligned with the needs and interests of it, with theaim to work towards a better and more prosperous Kuwait.

VIVA’s employees donate blood in collaboration with Central Blood Bank

Greetings

Enjoy your birth-day and everydayto the fullest. A

happy birthday is apart of a happy life.Greetings coming fromyour friends andDinalist team.

Mrs Asha Sharma, the Principal ofILOA, will be conferred the coveted“CBSE National Best Mentor

Award” today (4thSeptember, 2014).She is a NationalTeacher Awardee forthe year 2007. Shewas chosen as a men-tor of four schools inUAE namely, OurOwn English HighSchool, Al Ain; OurOwn English High

School, Sharjah; Indian High School, AbuDhabi and Oasis International School, Al

Ain. In 2013 for her travel convenience, shewas granted four schools to mentor andmonitor in Kuwait namely, Indian CentralSchool, Indian Public School, Jabriya IndianSchool and India International School. Sincethen she has been paying one visit per termto these schools.

This award is in the form of NationalCBSE and Mentor awards, where the boardrecognizes and rewards merit, commit-ment, perseverance and hard work. Boardalso considers the involvement of schoolwith CBSE programmes and comprehen-sive school excellence. The names of theawardees are selected on the basis of fol-lowing considerations:

1. Teacher’s reputation in the local com-munity.

2. His/her academic efficiency anddesire for its improvement.

3. His /her genuine interest in and lovefor children.

4. His/her involvement in social life ofthe community.

Mrs Sharma quoted saying that her mainobjective as a mentor is to monitor the func-tioning of Continuous and ComprehensiveEvaluation (CCE) in these schools and to col-laborate with the principals and teachers forbetterment and for the sole purpose ofimparting quality education to all. CBSE rec-ognized her valuable contribution in the

field of education and selected her to conferthe CBSE ‘Best Mentor Award’ for the year2013 after getting feedback from theschools mentored by her.

She will be honored by Smt Zubin Irani,the Honorable Minister of Human ResourceDevelopment (HRD), Govt of India onSeptember 4, 2014 at Delhi.

She is a woman blessed with patience,wisdom and confidence. It is her determi-nation and perseverance that has helpedher boost her own professional develop-ment.

The management, staff and students ofILOA are very proud of her achievementand wish her all the best.

Principal of ILOA to receive CBSE National ‘Best Mentor Award’

Summer Festival on at ECuntil September 13

Within the activities of the summer festival cur-rently going on at the Entertainment City, theTouristic Enterprises Co. (TEC)’s PR and media

department manager, Sager Al-Bader stressed that out ofTEC’s keenness on providing various recreational servicesand that the special summer offers on admission ticketswould go on until September 13. Al-Bader reminded thissummer festival offers one free ticket with every threetickets of any category and three free tickets with eachfive. He also noted that the city would receive visitors onits regular summer working hours from 5:00 pm to 1:00am and that Mondays are allocated for ladies only.

Pravasi Bhartiya Divas

The Government of India has decided to hold thenext Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD-2015) atMahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat in January

2015.The effort would be to have more meaningful and

interactive sessions that would address the issues andconcerns of the overseas Indian community effectively.Since 2015 marks the hundredth anniversary of thereturn of the greatest “Pravasi”of all, Mahatma Gandhifrom South Africa, it is desired that PBD-2015 would becelebrated in a grand way.

KUWAIT: Head of Public Relations andInformation at Touristic EnterprisesCompany (TEC) said the company is keenon maintaining contacts with all media,while announcing the hosting of the“youth, your opinion” program which willbe broadcast on Alrai TV Thursday (today)at 5 pm, at the Entertainment City, which isone of TEC’s facilities.

The team of Director Sarah Baen,Producer Fatima Rashid, and PresenterAsrar Al-Saeed will film a clip for the pro-gram about the exciting and quick gamesthat youths love. The presenter will ride thegames and convey her experience throughthe camera.

Al-Bader said that program announcer

Mustafa Al-Najjar will present clips duringthe program as well as activities for thecrowd. He said the city welcomes people allweek long from 5 pm until 1 am, bearing inmind that Monday is women only day.

‘Youth, Your Opinion’

Gamaing28 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Environmental disasters

LOS ANGELES: Pikachu and Link will be among the first characters coming to “amiibo.” Nintendo announced Friday that 12 characters will initially be part of its upcoming toy-game franchise set for release later this year. In addition to the “Pokemon” and “Legend of Zelda” leading men, the starting line-up will include Ma-rio, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Samus Aran, Kirby, Fox McCloud, Marth, the “Wii Fit” Trainer and the Villager from “Animal Crossing.”

The figures in the “amiibo” toy-game line will each cost $12.99 and work in tandem with several of the Japanese gaming giant’s upcoming titles, be-ginning with “Super Smash Bros.” “We wanted to make sure that the breadth of characters we had for the initial ‘amiibo’ line-up supported the fan favorites, as well as showcase the variety of people Nintendo speaks to - from kids to adults,” Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said in an interview. “For ex-ample, you’ve got a character like Marth from the ‘Fire Emblem’ series. We thought exposing Marth to a wider collection of consumers through ‘amiibo’ made a ton of sense, but, of course, we had to have Mario, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong in that initial line-up, as well.”

Similar to Activision’s “Skylanders” and “Disney Infinity,” the characters’ vir-tual histories will be stored on the plastic figures and transmitted through the Wii U GamePad, the controller for the Wii U console that features a touch-screen and near field communication (NFC) capabili-ties. Unlike the Activision Blizzard Inc and Walt Disney Co franchises, the “amiibo” figures will work with several games from different genres and won’t be required to play the games.

“Our vision is to have these ‘amiibo’ figures be your playable friends that al-

low you to enhance the overall expe-rience,” said Fils-Aime. “It’s a different approach from Activision and Disney, which is more to unlock something in the game. You’re going to want to have your ‘amiibo’ figure because it’s going to allow you to enhance your skills, upgrade your character and take the experience over to a friend’s house.”

Nintendo first unveiled “amiibo” at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. The company plans to release more fig-ures over the next year and include “ami-ibo” functionality in future games, as well as compatibility with its handheld Nin-tendo 3DS system.

The Kyoto, Japan-based company is hoping the figurines will help boost its bottom line and sales of its beleaguered Wii U console, which has been on the rise since the May release of “Mario Kart 8.” Despite the success of the latest install-ment in the cartoony Nintendo racing se-ries, Wii U sales still trail behind the Play-Station 4 and Xbox One consoles from rivals Sony Corp and Microsoft Corp. “Call of Duty” and “Assassin’s Creed” publishers Activision and Ubisoft Entertainment re-cently said they wouldn’t bring the new installments of those popular series to the Wii U later this year.

“In the end, I want the very best of every single publisher’s content on our platform,” said Fils-Aime. “We believe we’ll get there as we grow the install base of the system. Make no mistake: The con-sumer knows they can get high-quality games on the Wii U console. That’s why our business is up almost double over last year.” Nintendo will be showing off upcoming games like “Super Smash Bros,” “Hyrule Warriors” and “Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker” at PAX Prime, a four-day celebration of gaming that kicks off Friday in Seattle.—AP

Nintendo launches

with 12 characters

SEATTLE: In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, fans dressed in costume pose for a photograph, while waiting in anticipa-tion to play the action-packed Wii U game Hyrule Warriors before its September 26 launch as part of an off-site event during PAX Prime 2014. —AP Photos

SEATTLE: In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, from left, Uyq Nguyen poses with Andrew Hosking, dressed as Ganondorf, at an off-site event during PAX Prime 2014.— AP Photos

SEATTLE: In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Morgen Gage, left, dressed as Saria, slashes through hundreds of enemies while playing Hyrule Warriors, during PAX Prime 2014.—AP Photos

SEATTLE: The Penny Arcade Expo is in full swing in downtown Seattle. The fan-centric celebration of gam-ing began Friday at the Washington State Convention Center. The four-day long event is expected to be at-tended by 85,000 gamers and will include concerts, game tournaments, freebies and previews of upcom-ing titles. Tickets to this year’s 10th annual PAX Prime event sold out less than two hours in May.

The inaugural PAX, named after founders Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik’s “Penny Arcade” online comic series, was first held in 2004 in Bellevue, Wash-ington, and attended by about 3,300 fans. During the next 10 years, the event took over the convention cen-ter and spawned similar events in Boston and Australia, as well as the upcoming PAX South event in San Anto-nio, Texas.

“If you live, breath and eat gaming, it’s really the only place to be this weekend,” said Jonathan MacPher-son, who traveled from Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend the convention for his third time. He said he was most excited to try out “Evolve,” the upcoming four-versus-one multiplayer shooter from Turtle Rock Stu-dios. A few game creators used their PAX Prime panels on Friday to announce moves into the next generation of gaming:

PopCap Games said it was bringing the addictive pinball-inspired puzzler “Peggle 2” to the PlayStation 4 on October 19. The game was previously only available for the Xbox One and Xbox 360. “Super Meat Boy” de-velopers Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes teased a touch-screen-centric follow-up to their popular plat-form called “Super Meat Boy: Forever.” Team Meat said the game would be available for tablets and PCs.

“Saints Row” developer High Voltage Software re-vealed it was driving an edition of 2013’s “Saints Row 4” to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, as well as an expansion pack titled “Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell.” The next-gen crime romp is set for release January 27.

Several publishers are giving PAX Prime attendees hands-on time with upcoming games, like Ubisoft’s “Far Cry 4,” Insomniac Games’ “Sunset Overdrive” and Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros.” On the show floor, a space called the Indie Megabooth is showcasing titles specifically from independent developers, such as the space shooter “Galak-Z” from 17-Bit.

“There’s an interesting personal element here that you can’t get online,” said Zach Aikman, an engineer at 17-Bit who also organizes the Seattle Indies Expo a few blocks away at the Melrose Market Studios. “You’re able to meet the developers and find out how their actual personalities carry over into the games they make.”

The gaming industry could use camaraderie this week following several reports of developers and other personalities in the gaming community being harassed online. PAX Prime has posted policies against violence, harassment and illegal drug use. The convention’s or-ganizers declined to be interviewed for this story.—AP

Prime gaming convention kicks off

in Seattle

SEATTLE: Hundreds of spectators fill an exhibition hall to watch a round of the League of Legends champion-ship series video game competition, Friday.—AP PhotosSEATTLE: Lois, 13 months, is photographed by her

mother Amanda, right, as she shows off her costume of Chun-Li, from the video game Street Fighter, at the Penny Arcade Expo, a fan-centric celebration of gam-ing.—AP Photos

SEATTLE: Video gamers play ‘Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers’ from Wizards of the Coast on both sides of a partition, in a booth at the Penny Arcade Expo, a fan-centric celebration of gaming.—AP Photos

SEATTLE: In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, a group of friends from Edmonton, Alberta wearing hoods to promote the upcoming “Magicka 2” video game, play the Nintendo video game Super Smash Bros.—AP Photos

LOS ANGELES: I knew I’d have issues with “The Sims 4” the mo-ment I realized it wasn’t possible to buy a dishwasher for the fabulous couple I’d created to live their vir-tual little lives to the fullest in Oasis Springs, one of the game’s two idyl-lic neighborhoods. The cost wasn’t a concern. I was flush with Simo-leons - the game’s goofy currency - from selling their novels and mas-terpieces in the mail. VIt’s that the oh-so-convenient appliance was among dozens of features the de-velopers had left out of the latest edition of Electronic Arts’ virtual dollhouse franchise. Despite craft-ing Oasis Springs’ next Jackie Col-lins and Damien Hirst, my couple was resigned to scrubbing their dishes in a sink. It’s at that point I knew “Sims 4” had let me - and Alma and Jimbo - down.

The problem with “The Sims 4” (Electronic Arts, for PC, $59.99) is that after nearly 15 years, “Sims” fans are keenly aware of EA’s busi-ness model of later releasing a

dozen expansion packs. It’s been a successful formula for the quirky life simulator series, one that now feels cruelly antiquated in the era of downloadable instant gratifica-tion. Despite that monumental deficiency, this “Sims” is remark-ably more intuitive at the start. The developers at Maxis have made it easier than ever to get a house-hold up and running by introduc-ing streamlined tools to craft dys-functional virtual cartoons, as well as build their homes. The controls

are totally fluid, whether you want to stretch a Sim’s waistline or living room.Unlike their predecessors, this breed of smarter, more emotional Sims are able to multitask and strive for various aspirations, ranging from finding a soul mate to becoming a best-selling author. When big aspi-rations are achieved or more simple whims are fulfilled, Sims are now granted points for much-needed re-wards, like the ability to skip meals or get promoted more quickly at work.—AP

‘Sims 4’ aspires to greatness and fails

Gamaing R e v i e w

This undated publicity photo released by Electronic Arts/Maxis shows the video game, “The Sims 4.”—AP Photos

T e c h n o l o g y


Environmental disasters

BERLIN: Samsung’s new smartphones aren’t getting bigger, but one will have a side dis-play for quick access to the flashlight, Twitter, news and frequently used apps. The Galaxy Note Edge was announced at a trade show in Berlin yesterday, alongside the new Galaxy Note 4 phone, which lacks the side screen, and a virtual-reality headset called Gear VR. They are due for release this fall, in time for holiday shopping, and aim to compete with Apple’s new iPhones due to be unveiled next week.

The Edge uses Samsung’s flexible-display technology, which came out with much fan-fare last year but has seen little use beyond a phone and a fitness device with displays that were slightly curved. With the Edge, the Kore-an electronics company is offering a practical use for the curvature. While the main screen remains flat like previous phones, the right edge extends and curves until it reaches the back. That creates a side display so informa-tion such as weather and time can be seen from the side when the phone is laid on a table - such as a nightstand next to the bed.

With the side display, the phone’s camera functions more like a stand-alone, point-and-shoot camera, as the shutter button and other functions appear on top when the phone is held horizontally. Developers of other apps will be able to specify how the side display gets used. The side display also provides one-tap access to various apps normally found on the home screen, as well as to functions such

as the flashlight and the stopwatch, akin to what Apple offers in the iPhone’s Control Cen-ter with a swipe up from the bottom.

Samsung didn’t announce prices or spe-cific release dates. In the US, last year’s Galaxy Note 3 went for about $700 without a con-tract, or $300 with one. Prices are likely to be similar when the Note 4 comes out in October through all four national carriers in the US. The Edge will likely cost more. The Edge and the VR will be out some time in the fall. Analysts said the new display feature could cut both ways.

“An edge-based display will give Samsung’s smartphone clear differentiation in a crowded market,” said Ian Fogg, an analyst covering the mobile industry at IHS in London. “But for Samsung to maximize the potential of an edge display it needs third party apps to support the display with additional Samsung-specific functions,” he said.

If the South Korean giant wants to avoid paying developers to kick start the develop-ment of such apps, it might have to make the feature standard across its broad smartphone portfolio, said Fogg. Samsung made the an-nouncements at the IFA trade show, one of the world’s longest-running showcases for con-sumer electronics and home appliances.

In recent years, the German capital has be-come a popular home for technology startups, making the IFA a popular location for compa-nies to launch the latest mobile gadgetry as well as innovations in more traditional fields

such as home entertainment systems.

More competitiveThe new phones were announced amid ex-

pectations that Apple will unveil new iPhones next week. The iPhone 6 is expected to feature a 4.7-inch screen, up from the current 4 inches, to make it more competitive with larger smart-phones made by Samsung and other compa-nies. There has been speculation that Apple may also unveil an iPhone with a 5.5-inch screen. Samsung’s Galaxy S5, which came out in April, has a 5.1-inch screen. The Note is Sam-sung’s line of larger phones and emphasizes note-taking with an included stylus. The Note 4 will have a 5.7-inch screen, the same as the Note 3. The Edge’s screen is 5.6 inches.

Both will have a 16 megapixel rear camera and 3.7 megapixels on the front. The front camera will be able to take sharper selfies than the typical camera phone. They also will let more people fit into selfies by stitching multiple images together.

Meanwhile, Samsung will sell the Gear VR headset as a companion to the Note 4. It won’t work with the Edge or other phones. The Note 4 attaches to the headset, which has sensors to gauge the head’s position and tells the phone which part of a 360-degree image to display. It can be used to give people an immersive experience with concerts, aerial footage and games. But video and other content will need to be adapted for the device. Samsung says it expects to have content partnerships in place by the time the device goes on sale.—AP

SAN FRANCISCO: The week before a crucial launch of its new iPhone, Apple Inc said inti-mate photos of celebrities including Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence were leaked online through the apparent hacking of individual iCloud accounts. Apple rushed to restore con-fidence in its systems’ security, saying the ce-lebrity photo scandal that also ensnared swim-suit model Kate Upton, actress Kirsten Dunst and possibly dozens more was the result of targeted attacks on accounts storing personal data and not a direct breach of Apple systems.

“We have discovered that certain celebrity accounts were compromised by a targeted at-tack on user names, passwords and security questions, a practice that has become all too common on the Internet,” Apple said in a state-ment. “None of the cases we have investigated

has resulted from any breach in any of Apple’s systems including iCloud or Find My iPhone.”

The celebrity hacking that came to light over the long Labor Day weekend neverthe-less ranks among the highest-profile public fi-ascos for Apple in recent years. Apple’s iCloud service allows users to store photos and other content and access it from any Apple device. Security in the cloud has been a paramount concern in past years, but that has not stopped the rapid adoption of services that offer reams of storage and management of data and content off smartphones and computers. Re-gardless of how the leaking of nude celebrity photos actually happened, the timing could not have been worse for Apple as it prepares to launch a new iPhone next week. It also un-derscored the longer-term risks for mobile us-

ers as smartphones increasingly become the repository for far more sensitive healthcare, banking and personal data.

“Every great innovation is convenient but also a big opportunity for the bad guys in the world,” said Marc Maiffret at security firm BeyondTrust. Cyber security experts say the perpetrators possibly gleaned the celebrities’ email addresses and mounted a long-term phishing attempt - a relatively straightforward attack through which hackers gain access to users’ accounts by getting them to click on a compromised URL or Internet link. The photos were posted on image-sharing forum 4Chan, prompting Lawrence’s representatives to de-scribe their release as a “flagrant violation of privacy” and contact law enforcement authori-ties.—Reuters

Apple says its systems not to blame for celebrity photo breach

NEW YORK: The theft of nude photo-graphs from celebrities’ online accounts has thrown a spotlight on the security of cloud computing, a system used by a growing number of Americans to store personal information over the Internet. On Tuesday, Apple acknowledged the security breakdown and blamed it on intruders who were able to figure out usernames and passwords and bypass other safeguards. The company said it found no evidence of a widespread problem in its iCloud or Find my iPhone services. But the theft of the photos raises questions about the protection of data stored beyond a person’s own computer or mobile device.

If celebrities’ photos aren’t safe, then whose are? Some key questions and answers about files that are stored re-motely:

Q: What is the cloud?A: The cloud is a way of storing pho-

tos, documents, email and other data on faraway machines. Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft all offer cloud-based storage. Smaller companies like Dropbox and Evernote do, too.

The practice saves space on com-puters, smartphones and tablets and allows users to access the same infor-mation from any device. And if you lose your phone, for example, you don’t lose your vacation pictures. The drawback is that you are putting your information somewhere else, so you run the risk of a hacking attack on those systems and accounts.

Q: Is it secure?A: For the most part, yes. Compa-

nies invest a lot to ensure that custom-ers’ private information stays private. “The short answer is the cloud is often more secure than other storage,” says Rich Mogull, CEO of security research and advisory firm Securosis. But that doesn’t mean the system can’t be com-promised. “There are a lot of attackers who have a lot of time,” Mogull says.

Q: How can individuals make their data more secure?

A: You need passwords to access your accounts, so choosing a strong one is important.

Tim Bajarin, an analyst at technology research firm Creative Strategies, rec-ommends having different passwords for each online account you hold, so a breach in one system won’t compro-mise another. It is also important to have a number and punctuation mark in each password or a creative spelling of a word to make it harder to guess. Also, avoid using common words or no-table birthdays as passwords. A strong password is particularly important if you store sensitive information online.

Another way to make your infor-mation harder to hack is called multi-factor, or two-step, identification. That means the first time you log onto an ac-count from a new device, you are asked for a second form of identification. Usu-

ally, that involves getting sent a code as a text on your phone or an email. A hacker who has your password would still need physical possession of your phone to get the text.

Most major cloud services, includ-ing Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive and Dropbox, offer this kind of protection. Amazon’s Cloud Drive is the notable exception. But you usually have to acti-vate the extra layer of protection. Apple is urging its users to switch to stronger passwords and to enable the two-step authentication feature in the aftermath of the celebrity hacking attacks.

Q: How can I tell if my phone or computer is uploading information to the cloud?

A: You had to have signed up and agreed to the cloud services’ terms, but that might have happened long ago, as you were setting up your device. If you are not sure if you have opted in, check your phone’s settings. With iPhone photos, for instance, if you have Photo Stream turned on, that means you are storing your photos on iCloud. Check your settings under iCloud. On An-droid phones, check the Auto Backup settings under Google+ in Google set-tings.

Q: Is my financial information at risk?A: Yes, if you use the same password

for online banking that you do for other sites and if you don’t have multi-factor identification on your banking website. But generally, financial information is among the most protected online. In-formation is encrypted, or scrambled, in transit. You can tell if a site does that if you see “https” rather than “http” be-fore the website address.

Q: Will my photos and other infor-mation remain on the cloud even af-ter I delete them?

A: They should not. Settings vary for different cloud services, but most of them delete information from the cloud when you delete something from your phone or computer, at least once the device has had a chance to sync with the online service. You can check online, however. All the cloud storage providers have websites you can sign into to check out what information is being stored. “If you want that extra feeling of being safe, make sure it’s de-leted online,” says technology analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy.

Q: How do I opt out of cloud storage?A: Check your phone or computer

settings if you don’t want your photos and documents stored online. There are other ways to store information, including using an external hard drive or your device’s own storage. “If you re-ally want to be safe, keep confidential information off your service provider and back it up to an external hard drive the old-fashioned way,” Gartner analyst Avivah Litan says.—AP

In lightof celebrity hacks,

how to protect data

NEW YORK: In this May 10, 2014 file photo, Jennifer Lawrence attends the “X-Men: Days of Future Past” world premiere.—AP

SAN FRANCISCO: Ex-Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the iCloud at the 2011 Worldwide Developers Conference.—AP

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most developed telecom operator, announced yester-day that it will be attending the IFA Berlin 2014 exhibition as the only Kuwaiti telecom company to be present, taking the lead in showcasing world exclusive devices and technology to customers in Kuwait. VIVA will also launch a special hashtag on its Twitter and Instagram social media accounts ‘#VIVA_IFA’ covering the exhibition which is set to take place from 5 till 10 September 2014 in Berlin, Germany.

VIVA will be accompanied by leading technolo-gy bloggers, Frankom and iTunesQ8, who will work hand in hand with VIVA to share exclusive product reviews of the devices revealed at the exhibition. VIVA will be the only Kuwaiti telecom company to witness the debut of the latest devices such as the Samsung Note 4.

Commenting on this participation, Abdulrazzaq Bader Al-Essa, Director of Corporate Communica-tions at VIVA said, “Our presence at the IFA Berlin 2014 is the ultimate opportunity to explore emerg-ing trends and experience the premieres of new technologies and products. It is also essential to maintain the level of quality service we offer our customers. Taking the lead in presenting Kuwait with the newest devices and all that the world of technology has to offer is the approach VIVA has adopted since inception, and will continue to fol-low”.

The IFA Berlin is the global trade show for con-sumer electronics and home appliances which fea-tures an estimate of 1,500 exhibitors and witnesses more than 240,000 visitors. The IFA exhibition is home to the latest products and innovations and the only global trade show that offers a compre-hensive overview of the international market and attracts the attention of trade visitors each year from more than 100 countries.

VIVA’s core business strategy focuses on taking the lead in presenting customers with the latest products and the best of services. The IFA Berlin visit reinforces the company’s commitment to ex-ecuting this strategy and to providing customers with a differentiated experience.

VIVA to bring the latest of technology

to Kuwait

Ducati accelerates its racing

ambitions with EMCDUBAI: EMC has announced that it is partnering with the Ducati Corse racing team to support the company’s informa-tion technology strategy for the 2014/15 racing season. The technology rollout is designed to help the team to make faster, real-time use of the information gener-ated at the trackside with the goal of ac-celerating Ducati’s ambitions in this year’s MotoGP World Championship and Super-bike World Championship campaigns.

From September 2014, Ducati will rely on the EMC Isilon scale-out Net-work-attached Storage (NAS) solution to consolidate, manage and analyze its vital performance data, including en-gine fluid-dynamics, test archiving and bike telemetry. This powerful, efficient and simple storage platform is central to Ducati’s data-led approach to racing and will allow it to discover valuable insights around how it can shave valuable milli-seconds off its racers’ track times.

Ducati team members will be able to access and share the information stored on Isilon through EMC’s Syncplicity so-lution - an enterprise-grade online file sharing and mobile collaboration tool. Syncplicity enables data files to be se-curely shared across a variety of devices, including mobile, in a manner that com-plies and is compatible with Ducati’s ex-isting IT infrastructure. Through Syncplic-ity, relevant Ducati team members will be able to access and share the information they need, when they need it, helping to create more efficient and effective op-erations and communications within the team.

In addition to its technology imple-mentation, EMC is supporting Ducati through direct sponsorship of its MotoGP and Superbike World Championship cam-paigns that will see EMC’s logo featured on Ducati’s race-day bikes as well as on team vehicles and associated marketing.

New Samsung phone with side display for holidays

T e c h n o l o g y

H E A LT H & S C I E N C ETHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

LONDON: A British nurse infected with Ebola whileworking in Sierra Leone was discharged from aLondon hospital yesterday after recovering from thedisease following treatment with the experimentaldrug ZMapp. “I was very lucky,” said William Pooley,who had been working as a volunteer in one of theworst hit areas and was flown out of Africa on a spe-cially-equipped British military plane. “I had someunpleasant symptoms but nothing compared tosome of the worst of the disease, especially whenpeople end up dying,” said Pooley, who has been theonly Briton reportedly infected.

The Royal Free Hospital, the only facility in Britainwith a high level isolation unit that can host Ebolapatients, said the treatment had been “successful”.

Pooley, who spent 10 days in the hospital, was giventhe drug ZMapp, which was also used on two USmissionaries who also recovered. “I wish that the lev-el of care I’ve received here could be provided there,”the hospital quoted Pooley as saying.

The nurse admitted “I was worried I was going todie”, but said he had no regrets about flying out toSierra Leone to help deal with the outbreak, whichhas so far killed more than 2,000 people across westAfrica. “I have mixed memories, some great memo-ries and some horrible memories - lots of peopledying,” he said. “But also some wonderful memoriesof people going home, people showing massive spir-it and cheer, despite the horrible conditions, the trulyheroic people that I worked with, people that went

on to get sick, so it is a massive mix of memories.”

‘Like a fish tank’ Pooley found out he had the disease from a World

Health Organization (WHO) doctor, following ablood test. “He was in personal protective equip-ment so I knew it was bad news,” he said. “It was a bitdisturbing to get that diagnosis but I had been halfexpecting it because I had been feeling sick. I wasworried about my family, I was scared.” Pooleydescribed the isolation tent at The Royal FreeHospital as being “like a fish tank... with very little pri-vacy”, and said that being allowed out was a “specialmoment”.

He added that his recovery will continue with the

help of family and friends at his home in East Anglia,south east England, and that there were no plans toreturn to Africa any time soon. “They incinerated mypassport so my mum will be pleased to know I can-not go anywhere at the moment,” he joked.International medical agency Doctors WithoutBorders said Tuesday the world was “losing the bat-tle” to contain Ebola as the United Nations warned ofsevere food shortages in the hardest-hit countries.

The organization, also known by its French nameMedecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told a UN briefing inNew York that world leaders were failing to addressthe epidemic and called for an urgent global biologi-cal disaster response to get aid and personnel towest Africa. — AFP

British Ebola victim discharged from hospital

KABUL: In this photograph, an Afghan municipal worker drags a carcass of a straydog following a poisoning drive on the outskirts of Kabul. (Inset) Louise Hastieplays with dogs in the courtyard of the Nowzad Dog Shelter. — AFP photos

KABUL: Cornered against a wall and with a steel hookpushed around his neck, the dog emits a savage howlin a desperate attempt to fight free, but poison willsoon be forced into his mouth as Kabul’s cull of straysclaims another kill. About 17,600 dogs were poisonedlast year by municipal workers in the Afghan capital inan effort to protect residents from disease and to con-trol the rocketing population of canines that roam thecity’s streets and open ground.

The method of killing is brutally effective. Teams ofdog-catchers wearing orange suits use long steelhooks, wooden bars and large nets to ensnare theirprey with practiced skill. A heavy boot is put on thedog’s neck, and a spoon is used to press deadly strych-nine into the mouth and gums. Then the dogs are tiedto ropes, and die within an hour in spasms of agony.Alternatively, poisoned meat is left out at night and bymorning the ground is littered with corpses.

The dogs, sometimes showing the final flickers oflife, are thrown into the back of a truck and dumpedon waste tips on the city outskirts.”Every day, afterevening prayers, we do this mass poisoning program,working until 10:00 pm, and we come back at 3:00am,” said dog-catcher Islamuddin. “We find these dogs,poison them and dump them where they will beburied.” Like many residents in the Pul-e-Charkhineighborhood where he works, Islamuddin has noqualms about killing dogs as part of a city policy that iswidely seen as a necessary health precaution.

Rabies riskIt is uncertain how many strays have rabies in

Kabul, but the disease is much feared as it is often fatalto humans if they are bitten or scratched by an infect-ed dog. Riaz Gul, from the nomadic Kuchi tribe thathas a small camp in Pul-e-Charkhi, believes his 12-year-old son’s recent death was caused by a dog bite.“He was bitten on his arm, and then after about 50days he started to seem crazy and get ill,” he said.”Itook him to a doctor and mullah, but to no avail, andhe died. Of course, I am scared of the dogs. About 200of them live in packs in this area.”

Wherever the dog-catching team works, localsgather to watch the animals be trapped, poisoned andthen die a slow death. Dogs are regarded as uncleanin Islam, and in Afghanistan they are generally only

kept as guard dogs or for organized dog fights ratherthan as domestic pets.”They attack people going tothe mosque and children walking to school. Theyspread disease,” said Nasser Ahmad Ghori, director ofthe Kabul city sanitation department. “It is difficult tocontrol them as they are in such great numbers, morethan 100,000, I guess, and increasing. Citizens havebeen complaining more, and in the past few monthswe have been running out of poison. We have to dosomething.”

Neutering solution? Ghori said plans to neuter dogs to stop breeding or

to launch a rabies vaccination program were beingconsidered in consultation with veterinary and healthofficials, but no other practical solution was currentlyavailable.”We have 30 people on duty culling dogs full-time because they cause us so much trouble,” he said.

Animal welfare experts dismiss the cull as wanton-ly cruel-and futile. “We agree there is a major problemof too many dogs,” said Louise Hastie, a British expat

who runs the Nowzad animal rescue shelter in Kabul.“But the cull only means that new packs of dogsreplace the dead ones within weeks, and they aremore likely to have rabies as they come down fromthe mountains. The only answer is to trap, neuter, vac-cinate and release the dogs-and we are working withthe authorities to set that up. People may not thinkanimal welfare is important in a country likeAfghanistan, and the government does have other pri-orities. But the truth is many Afghans are appalled bythe daily massacre. We just have to change the mindsof the officials.” One Kabul resident, Ghazal Sharifi, adentist, told AFP how she had befriended a stray dogthat had six puppies near her workplace-and one dayshe discovered them all being poisoned. “The workerslaughed at me as I held the dying bodies,” Sharifi said.“This inhumane cruelty to animals is un-Islamic. I sawdogs being thrown into a truck even when they werestill just alive, piled one on top of another. I keep hav-ing nightmares about the scene. I just want this tostop.” — AFP

Trapped, then poisoned:

Kabul’s ruthless dog cull 17,600 dogs poisoned by municipal workers

KABUL: In this photograph, an Afghan municipal worker looks on as carcasses of stray dogsare unloaded from a truck following a poisoning drive.

SAN FRANCISCO: In January, LindenTexas native Richard Bowden suffered amild stroke. Within minutes, medics hadtaken the 68-year-old to the local hospi-tal emergency room, less than a blockfrom his house. “They checked me outreal good,” said the former city councilor,whose East Texas community of nearly2,000 has relied on the Linden hospitalsince the 1960s.

Shortly after returning home,Bowden learned he would outlast thehospital itself: the facility was about toclose because there weren’t enoughpatients. “It blindsided me,” he said. “It’s15 miles to the next hospital. Out in thecountry, that seems like a long way.”Small, rural hospitals like Linden havealways struggled to remain viable, butthings are getting worse, fast. Ruralcommunities are shrinking at a timewhen healthcare providers are beingpressured to cut costs and releasepatients sooner.

Twenty-four rural hospitals haveclosed across the county since the startof 2013, double the pace of the previous20 months, according to the NorthCarolina Rural Health Research Program.“Even with community support, invest-ment in quality personnel and equip-ment, patient activity was not at a sus-tainable level,” Steve Altmiller, presidentand chief executive of Linden hospital’sowner, Good Shepherd Health System,said in a statement announcing the clo-sure. “The decision to close the Lindenfacility, while difficult, is one that isoccurring across the country.”

‘At a tipping point’Now the Affordable Care Act, better

known as Obamacare, is bringing addi-tional pressure. Obamacare is designedto fold the poor and uninsured into thehealthcare system, but changes in howthe federal government pays for the dis-advantaged are already pressuring thehospitals that cater to them, such asrural ones. Reformers are eager to seesome hospitals close, including manyout in the country. They argue that goodcare in the form of clinics and modernambulances can tend to residents muchbetter than decades ago, undercuttingthe need for local emergency rooms.

Investors are being warned of thechange. Standard & Poor ’s RatingsService in August concluded that thenonprofit hospital sector is “at a tippingpoint” from the drop in the number ofpatients cared for. Moody’s InvestorsService reported hospital revenuegrowth and operating margins are at all-time lows. Fitch Ratings wrote that theAffordable Care Act has accelerated thetransition of patients out of the hospitaland into clinics by tightening reim-bursements and emphasizing technolo-gy.

“There is a big transition happening,”said Mark Claster, president of invest-ment firm Carl Marks & Co and vicechairman of North Shore-Long IslandJewish Health System board of trustees.“I don’t think smaller hospitals are pre-pared, and I don’t think they can be. Idon’t think they have the economicwherewithal.”

A paucity of patentsGood Shepherd acquired Linden

from the city nine years ago and spent$6 million on renovations, includingrevamping the emergency room. “It wasvery modern,” said Linden MayorClarence Burns. The hospital’s net rev-enues grew from almost $8 million in2006, the year after the acquisition, to$13.3 million in 2010, according to TexasDepartment of State Health Servicesdata.

But operating losses were constantand accelerated, along with bad debt,which grew to nearly $3 million in 2012from $990,000 in 2006. By 2013, the littlehospital had a cumulative $11 million inlosses under Good Shepherd, accordingto the nonprofit’s financial statements.Good Shepherd declined to discussfinances with Reuters. Public statementsby the company, financial records inbond disclosures, and the state of Texasdata describe changes over the years.

Two trends hurt the hospital: thenumber of patients shrank, as did hospi-tal reimbursements from Medicare andMedicaid, two primary payment sourcesfor rural facilities. Further issues layahead, including changes in federalfunding for indigent patients and ruralhospitals. In the six years leading up to

2012, Linden’s admissions dropped tojust over four patients a day on average,from about 10 patients in 2007, accord-ing to state data. Fewer than one personper hour came to the emergency roomin 2014.

Revenues come downLinden had 1,988 residents in the

2010 census, down nearly 12 percent ina decade. Good Shepherd blamed losseson a paucity of patients and federal cutsto reimbursement in Medicaid andMedicare. For example, Medicare pay-ments were cut 2 percent as part of thesequestration federal budget battle in2013. Larger health systems with a vari-ety of services and fewer Medicarepatients can try to shift offerings, raisingrevenue by providing specialty surger-ies, such as a hip replacement, or oncol-ogy services. But smaller hospitals withfewer resources have less flexibility.

Implementation of the AffordableCare Act may exacerbate the problemfor small facilities.”Revenues are comingdown and expenses are not comingdown as quickly,” said George Huang,municipal securities research director atWells Fargo Securities. “The smaller guyshave fewer resources available to them.”The federal government historically hassupported rural hospitals. Since 1997 itdesignated many as “critical access” facil-ities, recognizing that their small sizemeant they could only focus on essen-tial medical services. Such hospitals gotextra federal funds.

Last year, the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services’ Office ofInspector General recommended thegovernment tighten rules on criticalaccess hospitals to save money. Thatwould likely to cut the number of suchfacilities by two-thirds. Funding for thepoorest also is changing, as theAffordable Care Act cuts payments forindigent care, in the expectation thatmany impoverished and uninsured willmove to Medicaid. But 23 states havenot expanded Medicaid, fearing it couldeventually leave them with financialburdens. So in those states, a gap in fed-eral support for the poor has emerged.

Hospitals in states that don’t expandMedicaid will see their profit marginsdrop by a few percentage-points by2021, reported research firm TheAdvisory Board Company. “For many,that could be the difference betweenbeing profitable, and being in the red,”the firm wrote on its website in July.

The majority of rural residents in theUnited States live in states which are notexpanding Medicaid, reported theNorth Carolina Rural Health ResearchProgram. A majority of the 24 hospitalsclosed since the start of 2013 are inthose states.”In states that are notexpanding Medicaid, we’re seeing hos-pitals close. The finances are just notworking out,” said Tim Jost, Washingtonand Lee University School of Law profes-sor.

Long live fewer hospitalsMaking healthcare more affordable

and efficient is a good thing, say ana-lysts. As the dominant provider in themarketplace, hospitals have “becomeincredibly inefficient,” because therewas less incentive to keep costs down,said Jason Hockenberry, health policyand management professor at Emory’sRollins School of Public Health. One infive hospitals, over 1,000 at least, willclose by 2020, forecasted EzekielEmanuel, a White House health policyspecial advisor who helped shape theAffordable Care Act.

“Long live fewer hospitals. Welcometo the new age of digital medicine,”Emanuel wrote in his book, ReinventingAmerican Health Care. Clinics can moreefficiently take on many duties per-formed by hospitals, leaving hospitalsto focus on the severely ill, he said.Emanuel predicts the first hospitals togo will be smaller ones, which alreadyoperate with less than half of their bedsfilled. When Linden closed, less than 20percent of its beds were occupied onany given night.

For Linden resident Bowden, thenext trip to the hospital would certainlybe longer, although it would be in anemergency vehicle that is a differenttechnological breed from when the lit-tle hospital was built. For decades he’sheard ambulances “ripping up to thehospital.” Now that it is closed, he says, ithas been real quiet. — Reuters

Rural hospitals pushed

to close as healthcare

system changes

CONAKRY/DAKAR: Guinea’s government said yester-day that Ebola had spread to a previously unaffectedregion of the country, as US experts warned that theworst ever outbreak of the deadly virus was spiralingout of control in West Africa. Guinea, the first countryto detect the hemorrhagic fever in March, had said itwas containing the outbreak but authoritiesannounced that nine new cases had been found inthe southeastern prefecture of Kerouane.

The area, some 750 km (470 miles) southeast ofthe capital Conakry, lies close to where the virus wasfirst detected deep in Guinea’s forest region. The epi-demic has since spread to four other West Africancountries and killed more than 1,500 people. “Therehas been a new outbreak in Kerouane but we havesent in a team to contain it,” said Aboubacar Sikidi

DiakitÈ, head of Guinea’s Ebola task force. He insistedthe outbreak was being contained.

The nine confirmed cases were in the town ofDamaro in the Kerouane region, with a total of 18people under observation, the health ministry said ina statement. The latest outbreak started after thearrival of an infected person from neighboringLiberia, the ministry said. Guinea has recorded a totalof 489 deaths and 749 Ebola cases as of Sept 1.

President Alpha Conde urged health personnel tostep up their efforts to avoid new infections. “Even fora simple malaria, you have to protect yourselvesbefore consulting any sick person until the end of thisepidemic,” Conde said in a televised broadcast. “Wehad started to succeed but you dropped the ball andhere we go again.” Cases of Ebola have been reported

in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal andDemocratic Republic of Congo. The cases in Congo,which include 31 deaths, are a separate outbreakunrelated to the West African cases, however, theWorld Health Organization has said.

Outbreak not under controlIn a stark analysis last week, the WHO warned that

the Ebola epidemic in West Africa could infect morethan 20,000 people and spread to 10 countries. It out-lined a $490 million roadmap for tackling the epi-demic. Doctor Tom Kenyon, director of the US Centersfor Disease Control’s (CDC) Centre for Global Health,said yesterday the outbreak was “spiraling out of con-trol” and he warned that the window of opportunityfor controlling it was closing. — Reuters

Guinea detects Ebola in new region

US warns outbreak out of control

H E A LT H & S C I E N C ETHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

MANILA: A Filipino nurse who flewhome from Saudi Arabia last week hastested positive for Middle East respira-tory syndrome, the Philippines’ secondcase of the dangerous coronavirus.

Philippine Health Secretary EnriqueOna said yesterday that results of a testdone in the 37-year-old nurse’s work-place in eastern Saudi Arabia’sDammam city came out positive aftershe arrived home.

He said the nurse had not shown

symptoms of infection from MERSsince arriving home tomorrow. Sheand her family are quarantined in ahospital in southern Davao City await-ing results from further tests.

Ona said authorities were testing all249 passengers from Saudi ArabianAirlines Flight 870, which the nurseboarded in Dammam, and the 143 pas-sengers from Cebu Pacific Flight 997,which took her from Manila to GeneralSantos city. — AP

Filipino nurse from Saudi

Arabia positive for MERS

LOS ANGELES: Imagine walking to your car after run-ning errands and spotting a dog, panting and help-less, shut inside a hot car. Smashing the window mightbe your first impulse, but calling police or animal con-trol will protect you from injury and possible lawsuits,experts say. Hundreds of pets die each year whenthey are left in closed cars that rapidly become deadlyon hot days, estimated Dr Jules Benson, chief veteri-nary officer for Petplan pet insurance. He cited insur-ance claims, veterinarian records and other data. “Thisjust doesn’t need to happen,” Benson said. “Nobodymeans for it to happen. It is preventable.”

Every minute counts when an animal is inside ahot car, but authorities encourage people to call 911instead of breaking in. Those who do cause damagerescuing animals wouldn’t be charged unless there isevidence of criminal intent, but dog owners couldchoose to sue, prosecutors said. “California state lawallows police and humane and animal-control officersto do what is reasonably necessary to remove an ani-mal from a vehicle if it is in immediate danger,” LosAngeles County Deputy District Attorney DeborahKnaan said. “The law does not mention civilians.”Attempting a rescue yourself can also lead to injury,said Bill Johnson, executive director of the NationalAssociation of Police Organizations.

Dogs at most risk“You may be trying to help the dog, but the dog

doesn’t know who you are. And you don’t want to getyourself hurt,” he said. States’ anti-cruelty laws are usedto prosecute people who endanger their animals. TheAnimal Legal Defense Fund said 15 states have lawsthat go further by prohibiting leaving pets in hot carsand giving first responders an extra layer of protectionagainst possible lawsuits. It takes just 10 minutes forthe inside of a car to reach 102 degrees when it’s 85degrees out, even with the windows cracked, theAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals said. In half an hour, the temperature will soar

to 120 degrees, which can be lethal in minutes.Because dogs can’t sweat, they can’t control theirbody temperature in intense heat, leading to exten-sive organ damage, heatstroke or suffocation.

To stem the deaths, the Philadelphia PoliceDepartment created a campaign about the dangers offorgetting pets and kids in hot cars, an effort othermunicipalities have undertaken. The agency put adrawing of a broken window on its Facebook page,with the message: “You’re never too busy to remem-ber - and if you forget - the PPD will gladly open thewindow for you!” Philadelphia police urge people tocall 911 so officers can rescue pets, “but we also realize

that every second counts and people have to do whatis right,” said Sgt Eric Gripp, who made the online post.

Nancy Hassel has been trying to deter hot-cardeaths for years. As president of the networkinggroup Long Island Pet Professionals, she tells stu-dents taking her classes on responsible dog owner-ship: “If you see something, do something.” Animalwelfare agencies largely work to inform the publicbecause there’s a lack of awareness about the dan-ger of a hot car. “People often don’t realize how hotthe inside of their cars can get and how fast thathappens,” said Stacy Wolf, the ASPCA’s senior vicepresident of anti-cruelty. — AP

Spotting a pet in a hot

car creates tough choices

NEW YORK: Like victims of face-to-facebullying, kids who experience internet bul-lying are vulnerable to mental health andsubstance use problems - but spendingmore time communicating with their par-ents may help protect them from theseharmful consequences, a new study sug-gests.

For example, the researchers found, reg-ular family dinners seemed to help kidscope with online bullying. But they say talktime with parents in cars or other settingscan also help protect against the effects ofcyber bullying. “In a way, cyber bullying ismore insidious because it ’s so hard todetect,” said lead author Frank J Elgar of theInstitute for Health and Social Policy atMcGill University in Montreal.

“It’s hard for teachers and parents topick up on,” Elgar told Reuters Health byphone. He and his team used voluntary,anonymous survey data from more than18,000 teens at 49 schools in Wisconsin.About one in five students said they’d beenbullied on the Internet or by text messag-ing at least once over the past year. “Thegood news is that most of the kids in thissample from Wisconsin had not been cyberbullied,” Elgar said. Cyber bullying wasmore common for girls than for boys, forkids who’d been victims of face-to-face bul-lying, and for those who themselves hadbullied other kids in person. Cyber bullyingtended to increase as students got older.Youngsters who’d been cyber bullied weremore likely to also report mental healthproblems like anxiety, self-harm, thoughtsof suicide, fighting, vandalism and sub-

stance use problems, according to resultsin JAMA Pediatrics September 1.

Almost 20 percent of the kids reportedan episode of depression, while around fivepercent reported suicide attempts or mis-use of over the counter or prescriptiondrugs. Teens who were often cyber bulliedwere more than twice as likely to havebeen drunk, fought, vandalized property,or had suicidal thoughts, and were morethan four times as likely to have misuseddrugs as those who were never cyber bul-lied. One survey question asked how manytimes each week the teen ate the eveningmeal with his or her family. As the numberof weekly family dinners increased, the dif-ferences in mental health issues decreased.

“It’s hard for parents to know where kidsare spending time online on their smart-phone, laptop or other device,” saidCatherine P Bradshaw of the Johns HopkinsBloomberg School of Public Health inBaltimore. “It’s more challenging for parentsto be able to monitor,” she said. Bradshawwrote a commentary that was published inthe same issue of the journal, along withthe researchers’ paper. “We don’t knowexactly what those parents were talkingabout at dinner, but we do know they werespending more time together face to face,”she told Reuters Health by phone. Familydiscourse can happen in many settings,including at dinner or while driving aroundin the car, she noted. “If parents want to tryto figure out how many nights a weekshould I turn off the TV and spend timewith my kids, it’s nice to see data on this,”she said. — Reuters

Family dinners help

kids cope with

cyber bullying

WASHINGTON: Women fighting cancer inone breast don’t benefit from having bothbreasts removed, according to new researchout Tuesday that found long-term survivalwas equivalent after targeted surgery plusradiation. Hollywood star Angelina Joliefamously announced last year she had a dou-ble mastectomy to reduce her risk of one daydeveloping breast cancer, because she has agenetic mutation that substantially increasesbreast cancer risk. And a growing number ofwomen have begun choosing the most radi-cal surgical option-the double mastectomy, toremove all breast tissue-after a diagnosis,even when cancerous tissue was found onlyin one breast. But the researchers aimed todetermine whether evidence showed doublemastectomies led to longer lives for this cate-gory of breast cancer patients.

It was the first study to directly compare

survival rates between the three main surgicalinterventions used in breast cancer: a singleor a double mastectomy, or a lumpectomy toremoving only the cancerous tissue, followedby radiation therapy. The study found that in2011, just over 12 percent of patients diag-nosed with a breast tumor opted for a doublemastectomy, compared to just two percent in1998.

However, “we can now say that the aver-age breast cancer patient who has bilateralmastectomy will have no better survival thanthe average patient who has lumpectomyplus radiation,” said lead author Stanfordmedical professor Allison Kurian. Of the nearly190,000 study subjects diagnosed between1998 and 2011, 55 percent had a lumpectomyfollowed by radiation therapy, 38.8 percenthad a single mastectomy, and 6.2 percent hada double mastectomy. — AFP

Double mastectomy doesn’t

boost cancer survival

T V PR O G R A M STHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

THE WAY WAY BACK ON OSN MOVIES HD

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00:00 A-List Listings00:30 Fashion Police01:25 Keeping Up With TheKardashians02:20 E! News03:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills04:10 THS05:05 Pop Innovators06:00 E!ES07:50 Style Star08:20 E! News09:15 Giuliana & Bill11:10 Eric And Jessie: Game On12:05 E! News13:05 Extreme Close-Up13:35 E!ES14:30 Style Star15:00 Kourtney & Kim Take NewYork16:00 Kourtney & Kim Take NewYork17:00 Giuliana & Bill18:00 E! News19:00 E!ES20:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills20:30 Fashion Police21:30 Escape Club22:30 E! News23:30 Keeping Up With TheKardashians

00:00 A-List Listings00:30 Fashion Police01:25 Keeping Up With TheKardashians02:20 E! News03:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills04:10 THS05:05 Pop Innovators06:00 E!ES07:50 Style Star08:20 E! News09:15 Giuliana & Bill11:10 Eric And Jessie: Game On12:05 E! News13:05 Extreme Close-Up13:35 E!ES14:30 Style Star15:00 Kourtney & Kim Take NewYork16:00 Kourtney & Kim Take NewYork17:00 Giuliana & Bill18:00 E! News19:00 E!ES20:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills20:30 Fashion Police21:30 Escape Club22:30 E! News23:30 Keeping Up With TheKardashians

00:00 The Blacklist01:00 The Fosters02:00 The Assets03:00 The Killing04:00 The Night Shift05:00 Warehouse 1306:00 The Blacklist07:00 Glee08:00 Revenge09:00 The Fosters10:00 Warehouse 1311:00 The Night Shift12:00 Emmerdale12:30 Coronation Street14:00 Revenge15:00 The Blacklist16:00 Emmerdale16:30 Coronation Street17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show18:00 Revenge

01:50 Secret Eaters02:40 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant03:05 Sex Sent Me To The ER03:55 Long Island Medium04:20 Say Yes To The Dress05:10 Toddlers & Tiaras06:00 Oprah: Behind The Scenes07:00 What Not To Wear07:50 Hoarding: Buried Alive08:40 Secret Eaters09:30 Toddlers & Tiaras10:20 Say Yes To The Dress11:10 Cake Boss11:35 17 Kids And Counting12:00 Little People, Big World12:25 Oprah: Behind The Scenes13:15 Your Style In His Hands14:05 The Next Great Baker14:55 Brides Of Beverly Hills15:20 Cake Boss15:45 What Not To Wear16:35 Toddlers & Tiaras17:25 Say Yes To The Dress17:50 Say Yes To The Dress18:15 17 Kids And Counting18:40 Little People, Big World19:10 Oprah: Behind The Scenes20:05 Brides Of Beverly Hills20:30 Cake Boss21:00 90 Days To Wed21:55 Something Borrowed,Something New22:20 Something Borrowed,Something New

01:00 Turboosters02:30 Iron Man & Hulk: HeroesUnited04:15 Twigson06:00 A Cat In Paris08:00 Kong Return To The Jungle09:30 The Legend Of Secret Pass11:15 Cher Ami12:45 The Missing Lynx14:30 The Happy Cricket16:00 Barbie Of Swan Lake18:00 The Legend Of Secret Pass20:00 Astro Boy22:00 The Happy Cricket23:30 Barbie Of Swan Lake

00:05 Big School00:35 Eastenders01:05 Doctors01:35 Last Man Standing02:25 Last Tango In Halifax03:15 Dead Boss03:45 Big School04:15 The Weakest Link05:00 Show Me Show Me05:25 Gigglebiz05:40 The Green Balloon Club06:05 Little Human Planet06:10 Show Me Show Me06:35 Gigglebiz06:50 The Green Balloon Club07:15 The Weakest Link08:00 After You’ve Gone08:30 Big School09:00 Eastenders09:30 Doctors10:00 Last Man Standing10:50 Monty Halls’ Island Escapes11:40 After You’ve Gone

12:10 Big School12:40 Apes In Danger13:10 Eastenders13:40 Doctors14:10 Last Man Standing15:00 Monty Halls’ Island Escapes15:55 Big School16:25 The Weakest Link17:10 Eastenders17:40 Doctors18:10 Last Man Standing19:00 My Family19:30 Blackadder The Third20:00 Waking The Dead20:50 Married, Single, Other21:40 Married, Single, Other22:30 BBC Proms 2011: ComedyProm

00:30 The Daily Show With JonStewart01:00 The Colbert Report01:30 The Boondocks02:00 The Big C02:30 It ’s Always Sunny InPhiladelphia03:00 The Neighbors03:30 Baby Daddy04:30 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon05:30 Community06:00 My Name Is Earl07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers08:30 Community09:00 The Neighbors09:30 Cougar Town10:00 Enlisted11:00 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon12:00 My Name Is Earl13:00 Community14:00 Baby Daddy14:30 Cougar Town15:00 Enlisted15:30 The Daily Show With JonStewart16:00 The Colbert Report16:30 My Name Is Earl17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers18:00 Hot In Cleveland18:30 The Michael J. Fox Show19:00 Cougar Town19:30 Raising Hope20:00 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon21:00 The Daily Show With JonStewart21:30 The Colbert Report22:00 Louie22:30 The Big C23:00 Brickleberry23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers

00:00 The Possession-PG1502:00 Special Ops-PG1504:00 Into The Blue-PG1506:00 Europa Report-PG1508:00 Terminal Velocity-PG1510:00 Crimson Tide-PG1512:00 Summoned-PG1514:00 Haywire-PG1516:00 Terminal Velocity-PG1518:00 Europa Report-PG1520:00 Fire With Fire-1821:45 Iron Man-PG15

00:15 Grosse Pointe Blank-PG1502:00 Father Of The Bride Part II-PG1504:00 Splash-PG06:00 Thunderstruck-PG08:00 Something New-PG1510:00 Father Of The Bride Part II-PG1512:00 Ski Patrol-PG15

00:00 The Expatriate-PG1502:00 From Prada To Nada-PG1504:00 Sky Force-FAM06:00 What To Expect When You’reExpecting-PG1508:00 The Guilt Trip-PG1510:00 Cloudy With A Chance OfMeatballs 2-PG12:00 What To Expect When You’reExpecting-PG1514:00 One Direction: This Is Us-PG16:00 The Guilt Trip-PG1517:45 Life Of Pi-PG20:00 World War Z-PG1522:00 Resident Evil: Retribution-18

14:00 The Stepford Wives-PG1516:00 Something New-PG1518:00 Dudley Do Right-PG20:00 Big Trouble-PG1522:00 The Guard-PG15

00:10 Hoarding: Buried Alive01:00 Body Bizarre

Singapore’s ‘1965’ toshoot from November

Production is finally set to go ahead on the longgestating historical action film “1965.” The filmrecounts some of the dramatic activities nearly

50 years ago as Singapore and Malaysia achieved inde-pendence from colonial Britain. Production is byDaniel Yun, former head of state owned MediacorpRaintree Pictures, who subsequently headed his ownHomerun Pictures company. Yun will produce throughhis new blue3 Pictures alongside Melvin Ang’s MM2Entertainment.

The picture will be directed by Randy Ang, from ascript by Andrew Ngin Chiang Meng and Yun.Production at the Singapore’s Capitol Theatre is to tobegin from November. Only two cast elements are cur-rently in place; China’s Qi Yu Wu playing a policeinspector and Malaysia’s Deanna Yusoff as a singlemother. Most of the rest of the cast is expected to beSingaporean.

The project has been through several directorattachments and screenwriting combinations. Thebudget has also been shrunk to S$2.8 million (US$2.35million), from S$5 million (US$4 million) in a previousiteration. Yun insists that the more than five years ofdevelopment reflects the struggle for balancebetween the historical accuracy necessary for ‘1965’ toresonate with older audiences who lived the eventsfirst hand, and the story strength needed to attractyounger demographics.

“What we have finally got is very much a commer-cial proposition, one that sits somewhere between‘Crash’ and ‘Argo’, and has every chance of appealingoutside Singapore,” Yun told Variety. Although the filmis likely to receive finance from the country’s MediaDevelopment Authority and be programmed as one ofmany events next year celebrating Singapore’s halfcentury of existence, Yun says it is not a propagandafilm. “It is not a biopic of MrLee Kuan Yew [Singapore’sfirst prime minister]. It is not a political film, nor apropaganda film. ‘1965’ is about how fragile racial har-mony can be, and how we can take it for granted.”Private sector finance is provided by ZingshotProductions, The Number 8 Yard and PinnacleEnterprise. The producers are in negotiations with allthree of Singapore’s exhibition-distribution majorsconcerning the film’s local release next year. No salesagent has yet been attached — Reuters

00:15 Rachel Khoo’s KitchenNotebook: London00:40 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition02:55 Bargain Hunt03:40 Beat My Build04:30 Nordic Cookery With TareqTaylor04:55 Home Cooking Made Easy05:25 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition07:40 Bargain Hunt08:25 Beat My Build09:15 Nordic Cookery With TareqTaylor09:45 Rachel Khoo’s KitchenNotebook: London10:10 Out Of The Frying Pan11:00 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition13:05 Bargain Hunt13:50 Beat My Build14:40 Nordic Cookery With TareqTaylor15:05 Rachel Khoo’s KitchenNotebook: London15:30 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition17:35 Bargain Hunt

Quentin Tarantino’s ‘HatefulEight’ set with the Weinstein Co

The Weinstein Company is re-teaming with QuentinTarantino on his upcoming Western “The HatefulEight” with shooting starting in January and a release

set for the fall of 2015. The announcement is not a surprise,given that all of Tarantino’s films have been distributed byBob and Harvey Weinstein, first through Miramax with“Reservoir Dogs” and then through TWC.

The post-Civil War actioner will be shot on 65mm filmand have the widest 70mm film release in over 20 yearswith the initial release in 70 mm, followed by releases in35mm and DCP formats. Richard Gladstein, Stacey Sherand Shannon McIntosh will produce the film and the exec-utive producers are Bob and Harvey Weinstein along withG Mac Brown. “We are incredibly excited to begin produc-tion on ‘The Hateful Eight, as we know this picture will beas innovative, brash and of course fun as all Quentin proj-ects prior,” Bob and Harvey Weinstein said. “There is, quitesimply, no other filmmaker like him, and we are as proud asever to continue this partnership that started over twentyyears ago.” A teaser trailer for the film was attached to lastmonth’s release of Robert Rodriguez’s “Sin City: A Dame toKill For.” — Reuters

ClassifiedsTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Thursday 4/9/2014Airlines Flt Route TimeQTR 1084 Doha 00:05JZR 267 Beirut 00:25JZR 539 Cairo 00:30DLH 637 Dammam 00:35JZR 239 Amman 01:00PYA 2396 EVN 01:00AGA 4636 EVN 01:00PGT 4374 Istanbul 01:15PGT 858 Istanbul 01:25MSC 403 Sohag 01:30SAI 441 Lahore 01:35THY 764 Istanbul 01:40RJA 642 Amman 01:45GFA 211 Bahrain 02:00RBG 555 Alexandria 02:05MEA 408 Beirut 02:10SYR 7387 Latakia 02:20UAE 853 Dubai 02:25JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:35ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:45THY 768 Istanbul 02:50FDB 067 Dubai 03:05RJA 644 Amman 03:10MSR 612 Cairo 03:15QTR 1076 Doha 03:30MSC 401 Alexandria 04:00SYR 1403 Damascus 04:05JZR 555 Alexandria 04:10FDB 077 Dubai 04:15THY 770 Istanbul 04:35QTR 8646 Doha 04:55MSC 2401 Alexandria 05:00DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:15IRA 673 Ahwaz 06:20BAW 157 London 06:35JZR 563 Sohag 06:35JZR 1541 Cairo 06:40KAC 382 Delhi 07:30JZR 503 Luxor 07:40FDB 053 Dubai 07:45KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50KAC 206 Islamabad 07:50QTR 1086 Doha 07:55SVA 512 Riyadh 07:55KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:00KAC 352 Kochi 08:05UAE 855 Dubai 08:25KAC 362 Colombo 08:45ABY 125 Sharjah 08:50KAC 284 Dhaka 08:55IRA 667 Esfahan 09:00ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:30IZG 4161 Mashhad 09:40FDB 055 Dubai 09:40QTR 1070 Doha 10:00GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40MEA 404 Beirut 10:55TBZ 5483 Mashhad 11:00FDB 051 Dubai 11:15MSC 05 Sohag 11:20FDB 051 Dubai 11:45JZR 165 Dubai 11:50FDB 065 Dubai 11:55JZR 561 Sohag 12:00SYR 341 Damascus 12:05FDB 071 Dubai 12:35JZR 241 Amman 12:40UAE 871 Dubai 12:45MSR 610 Cairo 13:00MSR 579 Sohag 13:05THY 766 Istanbul 13:10FDB 057 Dubai 13:30KAC 672 Dubai 13:40KAC 538 Sohag 13:40QTR 1078 Doha 13:45GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20

JZR 779 Jeddah 14:20SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30KNE 472 Jeddah 14:40FDB 081 Dubai 14:55KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00KNE 460 Riyadh 15:05AGY 680 Alexandria 15:20FDB 8053 Dubai 15:25ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35KNE 470 Jeddah 15:35MPH 093 Amsterdam 15:40OMA 645 Muscat 15:50KAC 118 New York 16:00JZR 535 Cairo 16:05QTR 1072 Doha 16:15NIA 251 Alexandria 16:20RJA 640 Amman 16:20FDB 051 Dubai 16:25JZR 125 Bahrain 16:25UAE 857 Dubai 16:45ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:45KAC 562 Amman 16:50FDB 073 Dubai 16:55SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15UAL 982 IAD 17:25GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30KAC 742 Dammam 17:35FDB 075 Dubai 17:45JZR 177 Dubai 17:45KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 17:45JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50TAR 328 Tunis/Dubai 18:05KAC 542 Cairo 18:15QTR 1080 Doha 18:25KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30JZR 483 Istanbul 18:35FDB 063 Dubai 18:45KAC 104 London 18:45AXB 393 Kozhikode 18:55ABY 129 Sharjah 19:00GFA 217 Bahrain 19:00KAC 618 Doha 19:00UAE 875 Dubai 19:05KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15KAC 502 Beirut 19:20KAC 674 Dubai 19:25JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35KAC 614 Bahrain 19:35OMA 647 Muscat 19:55FDB 061 Dubai 20:05DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:15MEA 402 Beirut 20:15ABY 121 Sharjah 20:20JZR 189 Dubai 20:25MSR 618 Alexandria 20:30DHX 173 EBL 20:50KLM 417 Amsterdam 20:55KNE 480 Taif 21:00FDB 079 Dubai 21:05ALK 229 Colombo 21:10FDB 069 Dubai 21:10UAE 859 Dubai 21:15QTR 1074 Doha 21:30ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45FDB 059 Dubai 22:10ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15AGY 684 Sohag 22:20AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:25UAL 981 Bahrain 22:40JZR 185 Dubai 22:55JZR 157 Dubai 22:55BBC 043 Dhaka 23:10JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20MSR 614 Cairo 23:30JZR 513 Sharm el-Sheikh 23:30LZB 7787 Varna 23:40THY 772 Istanbul 23:45GBB 102 Sarajevo 23:55

Departure Flights on Thursday 4/9/2014Airlines Flt Route TimeAIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05JZR 562 Sohag 00:10JAV 622 Amman 00:15NIA 264 Alexandria 00:20JAI 573 Mumbai 00:20MSR 615 Cairo 00:30BBC 044 Dhaka 00:35KLM 411 Amsterdam 00:55JZR 502 Luxor 01:30DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35THY 773 Istanbul 02:20PGT 4375 Istanbul 02:30MSC 404 Sohag 02:30SAI 442 Lahore 02:35RBG 556 Alexandria 02:45PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55SYR 1388 Damascus 03:20FDB 070 Dubai 03:40THY 769 Istanbul 03:40UAE 854 Dubai 03:45RJA 645 Amman 03:55FDB 068 Dubai 04:05ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:10MSR 613 Cairo 04:15QTR 1077 Doha 04:25MSC 406 Sohag 05:00FDB 078 Dubai 05:00SYR 1404 Damascus 05:05QTR 1085 Doha 05:20JZR 560 Sohag 05:35THY 765 Istanbul 06:00MSC 2402 Alexandria 06:00MEA 409 Beirut 06:10DHX 172 EBL 06:10JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:30RJA 643 Amman 06:35THY 771 Istanbul 06:50GFA 212 Bahrain 07:00JZR 240 Amman 07:05JZR 164 Dubai 07:15IRA 672 Ahwaz 07:20KAC 537 Sohag 08:00BAW 156 London 08:25FDB 054 Dubai 08:25JZR 778 Jeddah 08:45SVA 513 Riyadh 08:55QTR 1087 Doha 08:55PYA 2397 Tehran 09:00JZR 534 Cairo 09:15KAC 671 Dubai 09:25ABY 126 Sharjah 09:30KAC 787 Jeddah 09:35JZR 482 Istanbul 09:40UAE 856 Dubai 09:50IRA 668 Mashhad 10:00ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:15FDB 056 Dubai 10:20KAC 101 London/New York 10:25IZG 4162 Mashhad 10:40QTR 1071 Doha 11:00KAC 561 Amman 11:25KAC 541 Cairo 11:30GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35KAC 501 Beirut 11:40KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:45MEA 405 Beirut 11:55FDB 8052 Dubai 11:55TBZ 5484 Mashhad 12:10JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20FDB 8052 Dubai 12:30FDB 066 Dubai 12:40 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00SYR 342 Damascus 13:05JZR 176 Dubai 13:10 FDB 072 Dubai 13:15JZR 124 Bahrain 13:30

MSR 580 Sohag 13:50MSR 611 Cairo 14:00THY 767 Istanbul 14:10FDB 058 Dubai 14:10UAE 872 Dubai 14:15KAC 741 Dammam 14:35QTR 1079 Doha 14:55KAC 673 Dubai 15:05GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05KAC 617 Doha 15:30QTR 8646 Dhaka 15:30KNE 473 Jeddah 15:35FDB 082 Dubai 15:35JZR 188 Dubai 15:50KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50KNE 481 Taif 15:50SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00FDB 8054 Dubai 16:05ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15AGY 685 Sohag 16:20KNE 471 Jeddah 16:30KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35OMA 646 Muscat 16:35JZR 266 Beirut 17:05MPH 093 Dubai/SIN 17:10FDB 052 Dubai 17:10JZR 512 Sharm el-Sheikh 17:15QTR 1073 Doha 17:20RJA 641 Amman 17:20NIA 252 Alexandria 17:20FDB 074 Dubai 17:35ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:45SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15JZR 184 Dubai 18:20GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20UAE 858 Dubai 18:25FDB 076 Dubai 18:25JZR 156 Dubai 18:35JZR 538 Cairo 18:40UAL 982 Bahrain 18:40TAR 328 Tunis 18:55JZR 238 Amman 19:25QTR 1081 Doha 19:25FDB 064 Dubai 19:25KAC 287 Dhaka 19:30ABY 120 Sharjah 19:40GFA 218 Bahrain 19:45AXB 394 Kozhikode 19:55UAE 876 Dubai 20:35JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35FDB 062 Dubai 20:45 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:50KAC 361 Colombo 20:50KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55ABY 122 Sharjah 21:00KAC 351 Kochi 21:05JZR 554 Alexandria 21:15MEA 403 Beirut 21:15KAC 543 Cairo 21:30MSR 619 Alexandria 21:30DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50FDB 080 Dubai 21:50KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 21:55KNE 461 Riyadh 21:55ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15ALK 230 Colombo 22:20UAE 860 Dubai 22:25KAC 381 Delhi 22:30KAC 301 Mumbai 22:40QTR 1075 Doha 22:40GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45FDB 060 Dubai 22:50AGA 4636 Sharjah 23:00ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00KAC 203 Lahore 23:10AGY 681 Alexandria 23:20KAC 205 Islamabad 23:35KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:40

SHARQIA-1LIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 12:45 PMTHE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY (DIG) 3:00 PMLIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 5:30 PMLIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 9:45 PMTHE NOVEMBER MAN (DIG) 11:45 PM

SHARQIA-2JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 1:00 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG-3D) 3:30 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 5:45 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 8:00 PMHERCULES (DIG) 10:15 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 1:30 PMTHIRD PERSON (DIG) 3:45 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 6:15 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 8:15 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 10:30 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 12:45 AM

MUHALAB-1THE NOVEMBER MAN (DIG) 1:00 PMTHE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY (DIG) 3:00 PMTHE NOVEMBER MAN (DIG) 5:45 PMLIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 7:45 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 9:45 PM

LIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 12:05 AM

MUHALAB-2THIRD PERSON (DIG) 12:45 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 3:15 PMHERCULES (DIG) 5:30 PMTHIRD PERSON (DIG) 7:30 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 10:00 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 12:15 AM

MUHALAB-3TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 1:15 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 3:30 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 5:45 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 8:00 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 10:15 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 12:30 AM

FANAR-1TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 1:00 PMTHE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY (DIG) 3:15 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 5:45 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 8:15 PMTHE NOVEMBER MAN (DIG) 10:30 PMTEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (DIG) 12:45 AM

FANAR-2INTO THE STORM (DIG) 12:45 PMTHIRD PERSON (DIG) 3:00 PM

INTO THE STORM (DIG) 5:45 PMTHIRD PERSON (DIG) 7:45 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 10:15 PMINTO THE STORM (DIG) 12:15 AM

FANAR-3HERCULES (DIG) 2:00 PMLIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 4:00 PMHERCULES (DIG) 6:00 PMLIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 8:00 PMLIFE OF CRIME (DIG) 10:00 PMHERCULES (DIG) 12:05 AM

FANAR-4JAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 12:30 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 2:45 PMTHE 7th DWARF (DIG) 5:15 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 7:15 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 9:30 PMJAWAZA MIRI (DIG) (Arabic) 11:45 PM

FANAR-5THE EXPENDABLES 3 (DIG) 1:45 PMAND SO IT GOES (DIG) 4:30 PMRABHASA (DIG) (Telugu) 6:30 PMTHU+FRI+SATTHE EXPENDABLES 3 (DIG) 6:30 PMNO THU+FRI+SATMARY KOM (DIG) (HINDI) 9:30 PM

KuwaitKNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (04/09/2014 TO 10/09/2014)

FOR SALE

ACCOMMODATION

LOST

Two single bed sets, twoside tables and one dress-ing table KD 90. Six-chairdining set KD 25. Television42” and 32”. One side boardKD 20. Cooker, five burner,KD 35. Good condition.Contact: 66055084,99832084. (C 4842)27-8-2014

Fajr: 04:05Shorook 05:27Duhr: 11:47Asr: 15:20Maghrib: 18:07Isha: 19:26

Prayer timings

Original document policyNo. 633002052-2 of MrJaved Rasheed Chaudhary.DV the State Life InsuranceCorporation of Pakistan,Gulf Zone is reported tohave been lost. Anyone

2 fully furnished rooms forsharing accommodation inCAC flat in Ishbiliya, block-1. Seriously interested, sin-gle persons preferablyPakistani/Indian Muslimsmay contact Afzal Shafi. Tel:99714430. (C 4847)2-9-2014

finding the same or claim-ing any interest in it shouldcommunicate with theManager Kuwait State LifeOffice - Ph: 22452208/09.(C 4843)30-8-2014


Intense focus on your career can find you mercilessly cutting back and get-ting down to the essentials regarding your professional direction. You will

have a sense of being almost driven to pursue your course and succeed. Perhaps you willwant to take a class or have someone guide you with a new skill or technique. This could bea time when what you think you need for inner growth and change may not agree withyour progress in the business world. You may not appreciate all of the intensely personalstuff that is boiling up now. It is best to get your lessons learned now-it will help to decreasefrustrations later. Deal with situations as they appear and ask questions if someone is noteasily understood. Relax with your loved one this evening.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

STAR TRACK

Philosophizing, or expressing your theories, is an inborn talent and you are inlove with grand gestures and long thoughts. Someone may bring up a subject of interesttoday and you may want to explore. You enjoy fair, just, frank and broadminded persons aswell as long conversations with your friends touching on a variety of subjects this after-noon. You dare to dream big. You are very tolerant and accepting of differences and mayfind yourself promoting your own ideas much of this day. Your sense of inner direction isgood and should lead to some ideas for future monetary opportunities. Later today youwill be able to make a great deal of headway on your personal projects. You will find a wayaround almost any obstacle.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Obtaining and exchanging information takes on an emotional significancefor you. Learning the experience of others will help you in your own decision

making. The power of organization on a social scale regarding business, politics, etc., seemsto take on an important aspect. This may mean that you are a concert pianist and havesocial obligations to play before a charity or perhaps some performance before an educa-tional group. Professionally speaking, it is very important to exhibit superior social skills,particularly if you travel and perform out of the country. Most certainly, this is a wonderfultime to discipline your mind through study, education or writing. You will have many expe-riences to write about and the outcome will be intriguing and positive.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Respect, status and achievement are central goals you have been wantingand today may prove to gain you insights along that line. You are good when you workwith teammates but to lead a team calls for a whole different bag of tricks. Your mentalenergies, ideas and thoughts, may undergo some transformation. There is a natural senseof growth and development present. You are a productive thinker and you like to respondin positive ways to the needs of your friends and family. You are a good example for othersto follow. A family discussion this evening may call for your administrative abilities. You willhelp to make the right decision, particularly when you remove emotions from the process.

Others are inspired by your positive attitude.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Communications could be strained this morning. There could be a misun-derstanding that needs clearing up-ask questions and remain respectful. By the afternoonall will be at ease. Everything will transform and begin to work together. You may discovercommunication is more expressive. Something lost is found by another person. A difficultproject can be finished by you. A lost customer will find the right aisle or item, thanks toyou. All is working together to make things work out right, particular when the participat-ing parties are patient and have taken care of any physical problems. Your occupation willeventually bring about some incredible results. This evening is a good time to work in thegarage or in a garden.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

You can put your ideas into words and describe or analyze situations foryourself and others quite well. This could involve teaching and lecturing, etc.

Chances are you work in one of the many service occupations, taking care of and lookingafter people. A bout of philosophy or even a little religion could have an enormous effecton your career during this time. Lasting values-whatever you find to be true and lasting-canguide you now as you open up avenues that have remained blocked. Outer circumstancesare favorable and it should be easy for you to push forward in projects and in all aspects ofyour life. Things may seem almost magical in the way they work out at this time. You willsuccessfully organize and accomplish your projects this evening.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Obtaining and exchanging information is an important aspect of today. Youmay be very forceful in what you say and think just now. With all of this emotional energy,you could speak or communicate very well-you have a great mental drive. Your positivismlets you get right to the point and you have little patience with those who do not tend tobusiness. You have plenty of enthusiasm and warm up to things and people quickly. Youhave an inner self-confidence that burns with its own light. Figuring things out and lookingfor the best solution to problems are just where you love to spend your energies now. Youhave a heightened interest in health and diet, as well as an urge to get your personal thingsorganized into a rational system.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

A supervisor or some senior worker steps in to create some sort of change indirection today. This is a go-with-the-flow sort of day and gives you plenty of opportunitiesfor success in problem solving. Later today, you may consider restructuring your finances.You want a better sense of personal security for the future. Just as important is the way youare using all your resources. Your financial obligations may or may not increase just now,but your way of handling these obligations will change-for the better. However, because ofsome inside information, it looks as though your finances will show significant improve-ments-soon. Take time to review your goals and perhaps some of the methods by whichyou reach those goals.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Your willingness to give credit to others that deserve recognition is com-mendable and higher-ups have noticed. You may also go beyond the

assigned and expected tasks asked of you today. Help may be needed and you just jump inand lend a hand. Your eagerness to take the risk and make a decision-above and beyondyour job identity-will bring you recognition. Today is a self-expression day. You will find oth-ers listening to your particular ideas. A good conversation with those you love is possiblethis evening. Teach others to share their experiences by listening-you enjoy your family.Seek advice and support from your family and encourage your family to seek your adviceand support as well. Family members enjoy a strong bond.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Taking care of the necessary parts of life-health, work and such-is the greaterpreoccupation just now. Sorting things out and getting them organized to

utmost efficiency keeps you busy. When there is an opportunity to move forward in yourbusiness or in your work, do not hesitate to take on the new. These additional activities willnot distract you from keeping a good balance in your life. You have all the drive and energyyou could want-it should be easy to focus this energy. The path is open and clear. Marriageand other close relationships give rise to great expectations particularly now, as a new cyclegets underway in your life. Enjoy and appreciate your ties to others; seek and promote har-mony in the interaction between people. Be good to you.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

You might like to ignore responsibilities and do some socializing, but realitiesdemand that you tend to business for the moment. Your superiors value

your ability to make practical decisions. Others may seek you out for advice concerningbusiness matters. You could be put in charge to make decisions that affect conditions in theworkplace. You are most persuasive and you will find others most cooperative. You possessa powerful, persistent drive and are a hard, steady worker. You have a sense of mission andmystery. You are willing to do the work that others would not go near. A young person ismonitoring your activities today. Whether you realize it or not, you are being used as a men-tor-careful. Enjoy dinner out-of-doors this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

This is a period of great mental activity and heightened communication withothers. Your own growth and success may be linked to questions of security-home andfamily, in particular. Faith, family, friends, mental and physical fitness, volunteer services andfinances are the subjects you will want to keep your mind keyed into while you are learningto balance your energies. These are the things that are needed for good balance. This maybe a time during which you can get ahead by finding your limits and establishing a homebase from which to move forward. Don’t be afraid to project your image. Group coopera-tion, perhaps teaching or lecturing, could further your career now. Prepare yourself for agood tomorrow by doing the best you can today.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

CROSSWORD 657

ACROSS1. The habitation of wild animals.4. Of or related to the cornea.11. An amino acid that is found in the centralnervous system.15. The United Nations agency concernedwith the interests of labor.16. The apse of a Christian church that con-tains the bishop's throne.17. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christianmythology.18. Of a yellow-green color similar to that ofan unripe olive n 1.20. Go or come after and bring or take back.21. A Chadic language spoken south of LakeChad.22. The capital of Tajikistan.24. According to the Old Testament he was apagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel(9th century BC).26. The longer of the two telegraphic signalsused in Morse code.27. Submerged freshwater perennials.30. The 12th letter of the Greek alphabet.31. An alliance made up of states that hadbeen Soviet Socialist Republics in the SovietUnion prior to its dissolution in Dec 1991.32. Type genus of the family Arcidae.36. The Moslem official of a mosque whosummons the faithful to prayer from aminaret five times a day.40. An associate degree in applied science.42. Sew up the eyelids of hawks and falcons.43. Half the width of an em.44. (Roman mythology) Goddess of abun-dance and fertility.45. United States virologist who developedthe Salk vaccine that is injected againstpoliomyelitis (born 1914).46. An extensive grassy and nearly treelessplain (especially in Latin America).51. Temporary living quarters specially builtby the army for soldiers.54. Essential oil or perfume obtained fromflowers.55. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked ona skewer usually with vegetables.57. A ductile gray metallic element of the lan-thanide series.58. A rare heavy polyvalent metallic elementthat resembles manganese chemically and isused in some alloys.59. Before noon.60. Electronic warfare undertaken to insureeffective friendly use of the electromagneticspectrum in spite of the enemy's use of elec-tronic warfare.63. Any of a group of heavenly spirits underthe god Anu.68. Botswanan statesman who was the firstpresident of Botswana (1921-1980).71. Annual grass of Europe and North Africa.72. A soft gray ductile metallic element usedin alloys.75. An Arabic speaking person who lives inArabia or North Africa.76. Any of several imperial dynasties of Chinaruling from 220 to 265 and from 386 to 556.77. A republic in the western Balkans insouth-central Europe in the eastern Adriaticcoastal area.78. The basic unit of money in Iran.79. A flat wing-shaped process or winglikepart of an organism.80. A band around the crown of a hat justabove the brim.81. A river in north central Switzerland thatruns northeast into the Rhine.

DOWN1. A thermionic tube having two electrodes.2. The twelfth month of the civil year.3. Causing or able to cause nausea.4. Comb-plate or locomotor organ consistingof a row of strong cilia whose bases arefused.5. A state in northwestern United States onthe Pacific.6. Encountered generally especially at thepresent time.7. The compass point that is one point east(clockwise) of due north.8. Chipmunks of western America and Asia.9. Any of various Old World herbs of thegenus Anchusa having one-sided clusters oftrumpet-shaped flowers.10. Hungarian composer of light operas(1870-1948).11. An anxiety disorder characterized bychronic free-floating anxiety and such symp-toms as tension or sweating or trembling oflight-headedness or irritability etc that haslasted for more than six months.12. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.13. A small cake leavened with yeast.14. A woman hired to suckle a child of some-one else.19. The capital and largest city ofLiechtenstein.23. An island in Indonesia east of Java.25. A soft silvery metallic element of the alka-li earth group.28. Being nine more than ninety.29. The capital of the Bahamas.33. A domain in which something is domi-nant.34. Belonging to or prescribed for celiac dis-ease.35. A non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbonwith the general formula CnH(2n+2).37. Not set afire or burning.38. The imperial dynasty of China from 1122to 221 BC.39. The present occasion.41. Someone who works (or provides work-ers) during a strike.47. Reprehensible acquisitiveness.48. A constitutional monarchy in northernEurope on the western side of theScandinavian Peninsula.49. An awkward and inexperienced youth.50. Young bird especially of domestic fowl.52. A Kwa language spoken by the Yorubapeople in southwestern Nigeria.53. Any of the Hindu sacred writing.56. African tree having an exceedingly thicktrunk and fruit that resembles a gourd andhas an edible pulp called monkey bread.61. Green algae common in freshwater lakesof limestone districts.62. A dark region of considerable extent onthe surface of the moon.64. A Gaelic-speaking Celt in Ireland orScotland or the Isle of Man.65. A unit of length (in United States andBritain) equal to one twelfth of a foot.66. Footwear that covers the whole foot andlower leg.67. The state of being decayed or destroyed.69. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that wasformed by an explosion.70. (usually followed by `to') Having the nec-essary means or skill or know-how or author-ity to do something.73. A self-funded retirement plan that allowsyou to contribute a limited yearly sumtoward your retirement.74. (informal) Roused to anger.

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inf or m at ionTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 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

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

Dermatology

Dr. Mohammed Salam Bern University 23845955

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 25339667

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

Noor Clinic23845955

INTERNATIONALCALLS

Afghanistan 0093

Albania 00355

Algeria 00213

Andorra 00376

Angola 00244

Anguilla 001264

Antiga 001268

Argentina 0054

Armenia 00374

Australia 0061

Austria 0043

Bahamas 001242

Bahrain 00973

Bangladesh 00880

Barbados 001246

Belarus 00375

Belgium 0032

Belize 00501

Benin 00229

Bermuda 001441

Bhutan 00975

Bolivia 00591

Bosnia 00387

Botswana 00267

Brazil 0055

Brunei 00673

Bulgaria 00359

Burkina 00226

Burundi 00257

Cambodia 00855

Cameroon 00237

Canada 001

Cape Verde 00238

Cayman Islands 001345

Central African 00236

Chad 00235

Chile 0056

China 0086

Colombia 0057

Comoros 00269

Congo 00242

Cook Islands 00682

Costa Rica 00506

Croatia 00385

Cuba 0053

Cyprus 00357

Cyprus (Northern) 0090392

Czech Republic 00420

Denmark 0045

Diego Garcia 00246

Djibouti 00253

Dominica 001767

Dominican Republic 001809

Ecuador 00593

Egypt 0020

El Salvador 00503

England (UK) 0044

Equatorial Guinea 00240

Eritrea 00291

Estonia 00372

Ethiopia 00251

Falkland Islands 00500

Faroe Islands 00298

Fiji 00679

Finland 00358

France 0033

French Guiana 00594

French Polynesia 00689

Gabon 00241

Gambia 00220

Georgia 00995

Germany 0049

Ghana 00233

Gibraltar 00350

Greece 0030

Greenland 00299

Grenada 001473

Guadeloupe 00590

Guam 001671

Guatemala 00502

Guinea 00224

Guyana 00592

Haiti 00509

Holland (Netherlands) 0031

Honduras 00504

Hong Kong 00852

Hungary 0036

Ibiza (Spain) 0034

Iceland 00354

India 0091

Indian Ocean 00873

Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098

Iraq 00964

Ireland 00353

Italy 0039

Ivory Coast 00225

Jamaica 001876

Japan 0081

Jordan 00962

Kazakhstan 007

Kenya 00254

Kiribati 00686

Kuwait 00965

Kyrgyzstan 00996

Laos 00856

Latvia 00371

Lebanon 00961

Liberia 00231

Libya 00218

Lithuania 00370

Luxembourg 00352

Macau 00853

Macedonia 00389

Madagascar 00261

Majorca 0034

Malawi 00265

Malaysia 0060

Maldives 00960

Mali 00223

Malta 00356

Marshall Islands 00692

Martinique 00596

Mauritania 00222

Mauritius 00230

Mayotte 00269

Mexico 0052

Micronesia 00691

Moldova 00373

Monaco 00377

Mongolia 00976

Montserrat 001664

Morocco 00212

Mozambique 00258

Myanmar (Burma) 0095

Namibia 00264

Nepal 00977

Netherlands 0031

Netherlands Antilles 00599

New Caledonia 00687

New Zealand 0064

Nicaragua 00505

Nigar 00227

Nigeria 00234

Niue 00683

Norfolk Island 00672

N. Ireland (UK) 0044

North Korea 00850

Norway 0047

Oman 00968

Pakistan 0092

Palau 00680

Panama 00507

Papua New Guinea 00675

Paraguay 00595

Peru 0051

Philippines 0063

Poland 0048

Portugal 00351

Puerto Rico 001787

Qatar 00974

Romania 0040

Russian Federation 007

Rwanda 00250

Saint Helena 00290

Saint Kitts 001869

Saint Lucia 001758

Saint Pierre 00508

Saint Vincent 001784

Samoa US 00684

Samoa West 00685

San Marino 00378

Sao Tone 00239

Saudi Arabia 00966

Scotland (UK) 0044

Senegal 00221

Seychelles 00284

Sierra Leone 00232

Singapore 0065

Slovakia 00421

Slovenia 00386

Solomon Islands 00677

Somalia 00252

South Africa 0027

South Korea 0082

Spain 0034

Sri Lanka 0094

Sudan 00249

Suriname 00597

Swaziland 00268

Sweden 0046

Switzerland 0041

Syria 00963

Serbia 00381

Taiwan 00886

Tanzania 00255

Thailand 0066

Toga 00228

Tonga 00676

Tokelau 00690

Trinidad 001868

Tunisia 00216

Turkey 0090

Tuvalu 00688

Uganda 00256

Ukraine 00380

United Arab Emirates 00976

United Kingdom 0044

Uruguay 00598

USA 001

Uzbekistan 00998

Vanuatu 00678

Venezuela 00582

Vietnam 0084

Virgin Islands UK 001284

Virgin Islands US 001340

Wales (UK) 0044

Yemen 00967

Yugoslavia 00381

Zambia 00260

Zimbabwe 00263


l if e s t y l eG O S S I P

Kim Kardashian West was presented with the wrong trophy at the GQ Men of the Year Awards. The33-year-old reality TV star was accidentally handed Pharrell Williams’ Solo Artist of the Year gonginstead of her Woman of the Year accolade at London’s Royal Opera House. After realizing she’d

been given the wrong prize once she was backstage, Kim said: “It says it’s for Pharrell. I was taking pictureswith it - I hope no one notices.” However, despite the trophy blunder, the ‘Keeping Up With theKardashians’ star has already decided the stunning gong will take prime position next to her husbandKanye West’s 21 Grammy Awards. She said: “I will be putting [the GQ trophy], I dunno, maybe next toKanye’s Grammys.” Meanwhile, the brunette beauty caught a flight from Los Angeles to London yesterdaywith her rapper spouse and their 14-month-old daughter North, but Kim admits she was heartbrokenwhen she was forced to leave the little one with her nanny at the hotel while she and Kanye attended theglamorous event last night. She is quoted by Mail Online as saying: “She’s [North is] amazing. She didn’twant us to leave the hotel room tonight, because she’s still on LA time, so she was wide awake. So that’shard but we’re rushing home to her tonight.”

Kardashian West gets wrong trophy

Diaz’s creepy phobia

Cameron Diaz has a phobia of cockroaches. The ‘Sex Tape’ actress admits her fear of insects, particularly cockroaches, is so badthat she actually gets “embarrassed” about it. When asked on BBC Radio 1 what her biggest phobia is, the beautiful blondeadmitted: “I really don’t like insects. I hate cockroaches especially. I really don’t wanna be around a cockroach. Like it freaks me

out on such a level that I’m embarrassed actually. “I’m not a very fearful person. Like, I don’t mind spiders. Spiders don’t scare me. Ilove snakes. I know they’re not insects but that’s something a lot of people have phobias of. But cockroaches really freak me out.”Cameron’s ‘Sex Tape’ co-star Jason Segel also confessed to having an aversion to the insect as he shared an amusing anecdote aboutone time he was attacked by a cockroach at home. He said: “One time I came home and there was a cockroach in my house. I went togo get it and it flew. It’s a flying cockroach. So now I’m engaged in this battle with it. It’s a huge, huge, huge thing. In the morning Iwoke up and there was a giant metal bowl and a broom because I had basically made myself a suit of armor out of kitchen utensils.”Not to be outdone, Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw recalled the time he found a mouse in his London flat and he caught it in abowl, only to leave it there so he could watch ‘The X Factor’ with his house mates.

Lohan demands specialseating at GQ awards

Lindsay Lohan demanded to be seated at a table full of guys at theGQ Men of the Year Awards. The 28-year-old actress attended theceremony at the Royal Opera House in London where she presented

the Best Chef prize to Tom Kerridge. However, she sent organizers into aspin by reportedly getting her team to demand she be placed with menbecause she gets on better with the opposite sex than she does withwomen. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Lohan’s people wereclear that she wanted to be on a table during the lengthy awards sur-

rounded by men. She gets on bet-ter with guys and had spent timeputting together a sexy look sowanted to be admired.” Organizersalso reportedly had to keep Lindsayaway from her ex-fling JamieDornan - who is now married toAmelia Warner. The ‘Mean Girls’ starlisted the ‘50 Shades of Grey’ actor -who won the Vertu BreakthroughAward - as one of her past con-quests as part of her rehab treat-ment and bosses wanted to ensurethe pair didn’t run into each other.Lindsay was just one star among agalaxy in attendance includingJohnny Depp, Kim Kardashian Westand her husband Kanye West,Bradley Cooper, Ringo Starr,Pharrell Williams, Jonah Hill, CaraDelevingne and Rita Ora.

Delevingne gets feistyat award ceremony

Cara Delevingne bit Jourdan Dunn’s bottom at the GQ Men of the Year Awards. Thecheeky supermodels were messing around at the ceremony at the Royal Opera Housein London on Tuesday night in front of their friend and fellow fashionista Daisy Lowe,

who captured the funny moment and shared it on her Instagram account. Daisy captionedthe snap: “Yes. I’d like a bite too @caradelevingne @officialjdunn #gqmoty (sic)” Cara andJourdan got up close and personal before the event even began. All three ladies weredressed in very sexy outfits for the occasion, as Cara slipped on a see-through Burberry navylace gown, which showed off her long legs and almost exposed her breasts. Daisy opted fora grey jumpsuit by Barbara Casasola, while Jourdan went for a sexy black Zuhair Murad num-ber which emphasized her slim figure. The mother-of-one didn’t stay out late though, as sheadmitted that she had to be up early to send her four-year-old son, Riley to school in themorning. She told her Twitter followers last night: “Congrats to all the winners tonight at theGQ awards, I’m now off to bed because my son starts his 1st day at school tomorrow X (sic).”

J-Lo’s secret weapon

Jennifer Lopez says sleep is her “weapon” of choice tostay looking young. The singer and actress claimedthat getting a good night’s rest is a priority in her life

for staying healthy and retaining her good looks. She con-fessed to OK! Magazine: “Sleep is my weapon.” The 45-year-old ‘On The Floor’ singer - who recently broke up with herboyfriend of almost three years, Casper Smart - has man-aged to successfully retain a youthful glow by ensuring shegets enough sleep and by not skimping on cleanser.Talking about her routine, she said: “I try to get eight hoursa night. I think what works best [for anti-ageing] is sleep,water, and a good cleanser.” Despite being a mother to six-year-old twins Maximilian David and Emme Maribel,Jennifer said she always makes time to rest in the eveningso that she is in the best possible condition for her childrenand career. She added: “I think it’s very, very important. Youknow, because I have the twins and because I work a lot,it’s a very, very important thing to take care of myself.” ‘IronMan’ actress Gwyneth Paltrow and model Heidi Klum havealso stressed the importance of sleep, especially since theyhave had children. While Heidi admitted that she oftengets up to 10 hours sleep a night by going to bed at thesame time as her four children, Gwyneth joked about theimpact which a lack of sleep has on her appearance. Shequipped: “For me, sleep is a major thing. I don’t always getit, and when I don’t, I look like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

Brook opens up onher childhood

Kelly Brook has opened up about “violent and horrific” memories from herchildhood. The 35-year-old actress has revealed that although sheenjoyed some aspects of growing up on a council estate in Kent, South

East England, she used to dread the weekends as a child as it meant going tothe local pub with her parents who often got too drunk, resulting in regularfights. She explained: “I used to dread the weekends growing up, Sundaysespecially. “Sunday was pub day. We used to have a roast dinner every Sunday,and every other Sunday it would be burnt. “My parents would spend too longin the pub, come home angry and eat the burnt Sunday lunch. Then therewould be a fight and the police would be called. Or my dad would drive off inhis truck.” The actress admits she remembers one occasion when the policetook her father - who died from cancer in 2007 - away kicking and screaming.Speaking in an extract from her autobiography ‘Kelly Brook - Close Up’, printedin The Sun newspaper, she said: “One of the worst times was when my dadcame back from the pub and started throwing furniture around, while Mumand I huddled out of the way. “My mother, Sandra, called the police and mydad, Kenneth, tried to climb out of the window to escape. He broke his leg try-ing to avoid them and they had to carry him down the stairs. It was one of themost traumatic events in my childhood.” However, it wasn’t just her parents’rows that Kelly had to witness. She added: “As kids we would be in the localpub ... From a very young age I would see fistfights, shouting matches. I’d hearterrible language and see so much violence. “I remember one bloke having hishead smashed against the bar, his nose exploding and blood pouring every-where. It was disgusting, so violent and horrific.”

Vince Vaughn for ‘The Politician’? Vince Vaughn is set to star in ‘The Politician’. The

‘Wedding Crashers’ star is attached to take onthe lead role in the upcoming Columbia come-

dy about a scandal-hit politician, according to TheHollywood Reporter. The script - which was written byMatthew Bass and Theodore Bressman - tells the storyof a Washington, DC politician who gets caught up in ascandal with a group of prostitutes and is forced,along with his underachieving accomplice, to go onthe run from the FBI, US Marshals and a gang of drugdealers. Michael Dowse, who directed current roman-tic comedy hit ‘What If’, is on board to helm the projectwhile Seth Rogen is to produce alongside his PointGrey Pictures partners Evan Goldberg and JamesWeaver and veteran producer Mark Gordon. Vaughanrecently wrapped filming on Peter Billingsley’s actioncomedy ‘Term Life’ and is rumoured tobe joining the cast of the highlyanticipated second season ofHBO series ‘True Detective’.Dowse’s previous filmsinclude cult hockey comedy‘Goon’ - which starredSean William Scott, JayBaruchel and LievSchreiber - and hisbreakthrough feature‘It’s All Gone Pete Tong’,which won severalawards at the USComedy Arts Festival. Itis so far unknown as towhen shooting willbegin on ‘The Politician’.


l if e st yleG O S S I P

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Naomi Watts has teamed up with Tommy Hilfiger. The ‘King Kong’ star has signed on as global ambassa-dor for the US brand’s limited edition handbag for Breast Health International which aids the charity’s‘Fund For Living’. The 45-year-old actress - who joins current ambassadors RenÈe Zellweger, Carla

Bruni, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and a host of other women - stars in the latestcampaign which was shot in her LA home by famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier and features thestunning blonde carrying the blue pebbled-leather accessory complete with a signature red, white and bluekeyring. Naomi told WWD: “The Fund for Living takes care of people and their very specific needs. “Thosepeople that need extra help-like taking care of their children, getting to the doctors, the little details. Can youimagine having to deal with that level of crisis and then trying to maintain a life if you’ve got children? Thisjust helps with managing things, having that extra support.” In addition to the wonderful cause, the AcademyAward nominee added that she is also a huge fan of the multi-functional bag which is useful in transitioningfrom daywear to eveningwear. Naomi explained: “It’s a really functional bag. You can use it for work, and youcan use it for going out. I hate having to change my bag.” The bag will be available from the brand’s websitefrom September 25 and from certain Tommy Hilfiger stores globally for October 1. The handbag is priced at$299, with $100 from every purchase going to the Fund for Living program.

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Iggy Pop has teamed up with Sailor Jerry to create his own clothing line. The‘Passenger’ hitmaker has designed a range of three exclusive items entitled ‘TheFlash Collection by Iggy Pop’ - including a version of the singer’s iconic demin

vest - for the spiced rum brand which will be released in October. It is the secondtime Sailor Jerry have launched a Flash Collection - an annual collaborationbetween the label and a like-minded artist - after The Clash’s Paul Sinomondesigned a limited edition leather jacket for the clothing line in 2013. Iggy said:“When I was asked to be involved with the latest Flash Collection, I was intriguedright away. I fell in love with the pin-ups. “Sailor Jerry’s pin-ups are the best.Bringing his stuff to life for a collection of limited edition clothes was something Itotally wanted to be a part of “. Sailor Jerry’s Global Brand Director, Enda O’Sullivan,added: “Having Iggy Pop on board for this year’s Flash Collection is a huge deal forus. “Iggy is not only a talented musician, but also a respected style icon whose rebel-lious approach to life is exactly what Sailor Jerry stands for. “Having seen initialdesigns, we are really excited about Iggy’s vision and can’t wait to unveil the collec-tion in Miami this October”.

Osbourne’s mum is her style icon

Kelly Osbourne uses her mother, Sharon, for style inspiration.The 29-year-old ‘Fashion Police’ star said her mother - for-mer ‘X Factor’ judge Sharon Osbourne - has inspired her

fashion sense because she educated her on what to wear as shegrew up. When asked by Closer Magazine who influenced herstyle, Kelly said: “My mum. She’s taught me so much about fashionand how to dress. I’m very grateful to her because she allowed meto experiment when I was younger.” The fashion designer also saidthat her biggest challenge in regards to her style has been herfluctuating body shape, although it has opened up doors to thetype of clothes that she can wear. She admitted: “My body haschanged as I’ve got older, so I get to wear things I’ve never beenable to before. “I’m one of those dorks who’s always loved wearinga backpack! I’m becoming a little more classic these days, though.My red-carpet outfits can be quite feminine.” The ‘Dancing WithThe Stars’ finalist went on to confess that she finds style to beextremely important in representing her personality: Kelly said: “Ijust think individuality is important. Fashion is a way of expressingyourself. Sometimes, I like to wear something ugly and style it upto make it pretty. “It sounds insane, but when I first dyed my hair, Ilooked in the mirror and finally felt like me.”

�� Tony Bennett wants to work with Lady Gaga “as many times as possible in the future.” The

88-year-old singer has teamed up with the ‘Applause’ hitmaker, 28, on the upcoming jazzalbum ‘Cheek to Cheek’ and admits he’s keen to collaborate with her again because they

get along so well. Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: “There were no moments ofcraziness or eccentricity when I was with her. She said that when she was 13 and singing jazz,‘Nobody ever paid any attention to me.’ We get along great and she’s just such a good impro-vised jazz singer. I think the public are going to say, ‘I knew she could sing well but I didn’t knowshe could sing THAT well’. “I just love her and want to work with her as many times as possible inthe future.” Meanwhile, the legendary singer is preparing for his forthcoming world tour andadmits he has no plans to retire just yet because he’s feeling physically better than ever andloves being up on stage. He explained: “I have so many things I’d still like to do. Here I am at 88years old and I still feel I can get better. No, I’m not retiring - I still have a lot to learn.” ‘Cheek toCheek’ is released on September 23. —Bang Showbiz

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Pharrell Williams wants to “inject purpose” into songs. The ‘Happy’ hitmakerbelieves there’s more to him than just making catchy tracks because his mainobjective is to create music that makes people feel good. Speaking to the Wall

Street Journal, he said: “It took me a minute to find my purpose. I knew somethingwas missing, and then I realized, ‘OK, you’re able to make music; now you have toinject purpose.’ I want to make music with something extra to it - a holistic property. “Iwant to make it feel good. I’m not the only one doing this ... the distinction betweensounding amazing and feeling amazing - that’s the thing. People, I think, are lookingfor a feeling.” Meanwhile, 41-year-old singer - who has written songs for the likes ofRobin Thicke and Daft Punk in the past - credits his five-year-old son Rocket for hissuccess, but also thinks a change in the music world has helped too. He explained: “Ijust think the world felt cold for a second and we were making music that was cal-lous. The internet is responsible for all this connectedness, but bad news travelsfaster than good. People were inundated with tragedy and travesty, and then it waslike, what are we so mad about?”


l if e s t y l eM U S I C & M O V I E S

Comedian Joan Rivers remained on life support onTuesday after being hospitalized in serious condi-tion due to cardiac arrest last week, her daughter

Melissa said. Rivers, 81, was hospitalized in New Yorkafter she stopped breathing during outpatient surgeryon her vocal cords at a Manhattan clinic. “On behalf ofmy mother and our family, we are extremely grateful forall the love and support we’ve received. At this time, shedoes remain on life support,” Melissa Rivers said in astatement.

She added that her mother would be overwhelmedby the kindness people have shown and thanked every-one for praying for her mother. Rivers, an actress andstand-up comedian known for her acerbic brand ofhumor, has been at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattansince Thursday.

Life support is provided to a patient to keep vitalorgans such as the brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneysworking. It can involve medications or devices to keepthe heart pumping or a ventilator to help with breath-ing. “Most often when a doctor puts a patient on lifesupport, I would imagine that means they are on a venti-lator and possibly some other combination for the sup-port for the heart and the kidneys,” Dr. Steven Simpson, acritical care specialist at the University of Kansas Hospitalin Kansas City, said in an interview.

Although Rivers is 81, he added that age is not asimportant as the care given immediately after cardiacarrest. “What makes much more of a difference is theduration of the arrest and the success or failure of theinitial resuscitation,” he said. “Statistically age just doesn’tweigh as heavily as you might think.” A doctor will grad-ually wean a patient off life support as the conditionimproves.

Rivers, who once described herself as the “plastic sur-gery poster girl” and joked about her numerous proce-dures, stopped breathing after suffering cardiac arrest. Arepresentative for the comedian said media reports thather family was planning to sue the endoscopy clinicwhere she was treated were not true. During her lengthycareer, the husky-voiced, Brooklyn-born comedian wonfame for her put-downs and was known for asking, “Canwe talk?” Rivers wanted to be an actress but got intocomedy after writing sketches for television’s “The EdSullivan Show.” A career in stand-up followed. She laterworked as a regular guest host for Johnny Carson onNBC’s “The Tonight Show.”

When she started her own late-night talk show in1986, on the rival Fox network, it caused a falling-outwith Carson that lasted until he died in 2005. Rivers’ showwas canceled after seven months. Rivers also had anEmmy Award-winning daytime talk show, “The JoanRivers Show,” and later hosted “Fashion Police,” comment-ing on the unfortunate red carpet choices of celebrities.Rivers won Donald Trump’s reality T V show “ TheApprentice” in 2009 and starred in the reality TV program“Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?” —Reuters

Comedian Joan Riversstill on life support

Pop star Justin Bieber was arrestedand charged with assault and dan-gerous driving over the weekend

after an incident near a small Canadiantown, police said on Tuesday, in a case thatcould complicate the singer’s probation inLos Angeles. The charges came after twodrivers got into a “physical altercation” onFriday, Perth County Ontario ProvincialPolice said in a release.

A minivan and an all-terrain vehicle hadcollided near Stratford, Ontario, the townwhere Bieber grew up. Bieber, 20, was visit-ing the Canadian province with SelenaGomez, the pop singer and former DisneyTV star. The two have been in a four-year,on-and-off relationship. “Justin Bieber andSelena Gomez’ peaceful retreat in Stratfordthis weekend was unfortunately disruptedby the unwelcome presence of paparazzi,”Bieber’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said in anemailed statement.

“This has regrettably resulted in chargesof dangerous driving and assault.” Bieber,whose songs include the hits “Boyfriend”

and “Beauty and a Beat,” has been a favoritepaparazzi target and has attracted moreattention lately for his legal run-ins than his

chart-toppers. The singer’s latest arrestcould add to his legal woes in Los Angeles,where Bieber is on probation after pleading

no contest in July to misdemeanor vandal-ism for pelting a neighbor’s home witheggs. Arrests, even if abroad, generally trig-ger an inquiry into a possible probationviolation, said Reaver Bingham, the deputychief of field services at the Los AngelesCounty Probation Department.

Bingham declined to say whether thedepartment was investigating Bieber’s lat-est arrest, citing privacy laws. This year, R&Bsinger Chris Brown spent 80 days in a LosAngeles jail after admitting to a probationviolation following a 2013 arrest inWashington for punching a fan. Brownpleaded guilty on Tuesday to misdemeanorassault in that case.

Bieber’s arrest in Canada came weeksafter he pleaded guilty to careless drivingand resisting an officer without violence inFlorida, part of a deal to resolve allegationshe was caught drag racing in aLamborghini under the influence of drugsand alcohol. In January, he was chargedwith assaulting a limousine driver inToronto. The case is ongoing. — Reuters

Justin Biebercharged with assault in Canada

In this March 19, 2013, file photo, singer Justin Bieber performs during a concert atBercy Arena in Paris. — AP

Daughter of Robin Williams returns after online harassment

The daughter of the late Robin Williams has returned toTwitter after she quit the social media website over onlineharassment she suffered following the suicide death of the

Oscar winning actor. Zelda Williams, 25, an actress who is one ofthe comedian’s three children, posted the words “thank you” onTwitter on Monday and linked it to a quote from actor and play-wright Harvey Fierstein that appeared to take aim at online bully-ing. “Never be bullied into silence,” the quote said. “Never allowyourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of yourlife; define yourself.” Zelda Williams announced she was going toquit using Twitter on Aug 12, the day after her father’s body wasdiscovered at his San Francisco Bay-area house.

She made the decision after at least two Twitter users sent toher Twitter account graphic photos that were visually manipulat-ed to look like pictures of a dead Robin Williams, according tomedia reports at the time. Zelda Williams had also complained ofnegative online comments from some other Web users. “Deletingthis (Twitter application) from my devices for a good long time,maybe forever,” she wrote on Twitter on Aug 12.

A number of Web users posted messages to support for ZeldaWilliams after her father’s death and after she quit the site. RobinWilliams, who won an Oscar for his role in the 1997 drama “GoodWill Hunting,” was one of the world’s most well known stand-upcomedians. In one of his most recent roles, he starred in the CBSshow “The Crazy Ones.” — Reuters

This image released by Open Road Films shows from left, Gael Garcia Bernal, FirstAssistant Cameraman Michael Burke, and Jon Stewart on the set of “Rosewater.”

This image released by Open Road Films shows Gael Garcia Bernal in a scene from thefilm, “Rosewater.” — AP photos

Having hosted late night television’s satirical “TheDaily Show” for 15 years, comedian Jon Stewart grewaccustomed to a daily churn that he says “forgives

sloppiness.” Now, he has crafted his first feature film in amore meticulous fashion, and hopes it will not be more per-manent evidence of his own idiocy.

His directorial debut is the drama “Rosewater,” the storyof Tehran-born Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari, who wasimprisoned and tortured in Iran at the hands of a man whosmelled of rosewater. Stewart advocated for Bahari’s releaseand then invited him to his nightly show. Stewart, 51, spoketo Reuters about the man who moved him, taking the filmto the Toronto International Film Festival and a strangeencounter in a hotel room in Jordan.

Q: How do you think “Rosewater” will resonate withthe Toronto audience?

A: Hopefully they will feel a real connection to Maziar. Heis put in this extraordinary situation and his ability to main-tain his humanity throughout is what is extraordinary abouthim. And his sense of still being able to see absurdity. He isa very mischievous guy and reclaiming that was his way forhim to reclaim his humanity. Maybe also the cost of oppres-

sion. It is ultimately about the cost of oppression, not onlyfor those that are held, but for those that are perpetratingthat. It comes at a really steep cost on both sides.

Q: Why did you decide to take on the direction andscreenwriting rather than give it to someone withexpertise?

A: I think because I felt so close to it. We approached itfrom the beginning, when Maziar asked me to get involvedwith it through the galleys of the book. The idea was to con-trol the material as best we could. We went through theprocess of sending it out to this screenwriter and thatscreenwriter, and we were trying to balance getting theexperience of people with alacrity, trying to get this thingdone. I felt it was a very relevant story and I didn’t want it tobe the kind of movie you saw 15 years later. It came out ofmaybe an impatience with the film development processbeing slightly more ponderous than I imagined it was.

Q: What was the most sobering challenge?A: Honestly, I think it was feeling the responsibility to not

fuck the film up. I felt like Maziar was really trusting me withsomething that was very personal to him. I have a tremen-

dous affection and respect for the guy and I wanted to doright by it.

Q: I heard you were in Jordan filming and you are inyour hotel room and you flip on the TV and you see afilm by (‘Daily Show’ correspondent) Aasif Mandvi.

A: Aasif? Wait, how do you know that? I think the onlyperson I told that to was Aasif.

Q: He told me not to tell you where I got it.A: Oh my god, that is hilarious.Q: Did you take that as some sort of sign about inde-

pendent filmmaking?A: I tell you what, it was kind of a punishing schedule, we

didn’t have a great amount of money, it was 100 degrees, itwas Ramadan. We shot the movie backwards, we weredoing night for day. It was one of those things where youwere very much off your axis. There was not much sense ofa grounding or a foundation and I came back into my roomand turned on the TV and there is Aasif Mandvi with thisbeautiful story, Indian food and him as a chef in a restau-rant, and it was like comfort, it was comfort food. It was avery nice taste of home, which helped dramatically at thosetimes. — Reuters

Comic Jon Stewart on not flubbing his first filmA minute with:

Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan and Keith Urban are the initial topnominees for this year’s Country Music Association Awards.The country stars have three nominations apiece, including

entertainer and album of the year, after five categories were announcedyesterday by Darius Rucker and Little Big Town on ABC’s “GoodMorning America.” The remainder of the nominations will be revealed ata news conference later in the morning.

George Strait and Lambert’s husband, Blake Shelton, join Lambert,Bryan and Urban as entertainer of the year nominees. Lambert andBryan are seeking their first win in the category, the CMA’s top honor.Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Eric Church had two nominations apieceafter the early announcement. Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley willhost the Nov 5 awards. — AP

Lambert, Bryan, Urban early CMA nomination leaders

DreamWorks Animation hasdelayed the third “How to TrainYour Dragon” movie another year,

setting a release date of June 9, 2017.DreamWorks and Fox, which handlesdistribution of the DreamWorks toons,

made the announcement while disclos-ing that “How to Train Your Dragon 2”had crossed the $600 million worldwidemark on Labor Day-making it the high-est grossing animated film of the year.

The “Dragon” sequel took in $174 mil-

lion in the US and another $426 millioninternationally.

DreamWorks said the third film willcome from the same creative team asthe first two films, with writer/directorDean DeBlois and producer Bonnie

Arnold aboard. Returning voice castincludes Jay Baruchel as Hiccup,America Ferrera as Astrid and CateBlanchett as Valka. “How to Train YourDragon 3” is the first film to be dated forthat weekend. — Reuters

‘How to Train Your Dragon 3’ pushed to 2017

Authorities in Bangladeshhave banned local film-makers from giving their

movies English titles after a spateof recent Bangla blockbusterswith titles such as “Honeymoon”and “I Don’t Care”. MushfiqurRahman Gulzar, general secretaryof the Bangladesh Film Directors’

Association, said the governmenthad instructed the industry toensure that all future homegrownreleases have Bangla names.“Immediately after we receivedthe information ministry order,we duly informed all the directorsthat they could not use Englishtitles. We’ve also pasted the order

in our notice board,” he told AFPyesterday.

Gulzar said that up to 90 per-cent of the new movies which areregistered with his associationeach month have English names,calling the phenomenon an “epi-demic”. “A new myth has beencreated that films with Englishtitles do good business here,” headded. The four biggest Banglabox office hits released duringthe recent Eid Al-Fitr holiday peri-od had English names-”The Hero-The Superstar”, “Honeymoon”,“Welcome 2” and “I Don’t Care”.Local film critic Awlad Hossainsaid directors prefer to give theirmovies English titles “just to cre-ate some buzz”. “They think it’lladd extra value to the film anddraw teenagers to the cinemas,”he said. An information ministryofficial, speaking on condition ofanonymity, confirmed instruc-tions had been handed down tothe directors’ association. “Theaim is to uphold our local culture,”he told AFP. — AFP

Bangladesh bans Englishtitles for local movies

Bangladeshi shoppers walk past a film poster advertisingBangladeshi film “Most Welcome 2” in front of a cinema hall at ashopping mall in Dhaka yesterday. — AFP


l if e s t y l eM U S I C & M O V I E S

One might expect the plottiest ofShakespeare’s plays to make the plod-diest of big screen adaptations, but

With “Cymbeline,” as before, he preserves thetext even while updating everything else,incorporating handguns, motorcycles and afull line of Apple products into a play thatbarely has room for all of its own intrigues.Meant to seem modern, the interpretationfeels more out-of-time than ever, but holds

our interest, thanks to a cast LionsgateGrindstone can leverage when it releases inSpring 2015.

An unusually original later work from aplaywright known for borrowing his storylinesfrom popular literature and history, then ele-vating them through his own extraordinarygift for language, “Cymbeline” mostly appearsto be a case of Shakespeare recycling himself.Today, the equivalent might be pop-culturemagpie Quentin Tarantino capping off hiscareer with a pic that recycled the best set-pieces from each of his earlier films.

In “Cymbeline,” we get a Iago-like tricksterin Iachimo (Ethan Hawke), who wagers sullenPosthumus (Penn Badgley) that he can seducehis wife Imogen (Dakota Johnson), then fakesthe evidence by taking iPhone selfies andsneaking a peek at her intimate parts whileshe sleeps.

For the film, Imogen’s father Cymbeline (EdHarris) has been reinvented as the tough-guy

boss of the Briton Motorcycle Club, rather thanan ineffectual king among Romans, though hestill dotes on his daughter the way King Leardid Cordelia, and presumes her lost, as Romeodid Juliet, after she drinks a dram of a wears-off poison.

Key tensionThe echoes and comparisons continue on

down the line, as Cymbeline’s second wife(Milla Jovovich) is a wicked queen, a genderflip on Hamlet’s remarried mother (with BillPullman even popping up briefly asPosthumus’ ghostly dad). The play integratesactual gender flips into the text as well, a la “AsYou Like It,” when, rather than murdering thepresumed-unfaithful Imogen as Posthumushas ordered, Pisanio (John Leguizamo) sug-gests she reinvent herself as a man. The actualplot is far too convoluted to concern ourselveswith here, other than to observe thatAlmereyda seems to have missed the key ten-sion, which is princess Imogen’s defiant deci-sion to marry the penniless man she loves,Posthumus, rather than the one her father haschosen for her, Cloten (Anton Yelchin), fromwhich much misunderstanding and blood-shed results.

Adapting the play himself, the helmer hasopted to focus more on the somewhat ridicu-lous fidelity test ridiculous first to imagine aloving 21st-century man challenging anotherto seduce his wife, as Posthumus doesIachimo, and still moreso in how quickly hebelieves her to have fallen when Iachimoreveals that he has discovered “a mole cinque-spotted” upon her breast. Still, it’s satisfying tosee Posthumus’ resulting anger transferredKenneth Anger-like to a leather-clad bikergang, and entertaining to discover how hehandles other contempo touches, like refusingto pay a tribute by offering a bag of silverHershey Kisses instead.

Having learned a thing or two from BazLuhrmann, Almereyda substitutes guns fordaggers and picks his locations carefully, cre-ating a rich, sultry-looking environment withinwhich to stage the drama-something verymuch missing from his earlier “Hamlet,” andowing largely to the contributions of cine-

matographer Tim Orr (a longtime DavidGordon Green collaborator). The film dazzleswith its colors and textures, practically wor-shipping those jet-black leather jackets, whileletting Ed Harris’ eyes express what no mono-logue possibly could. (Though he preservesShakespeare’s original verse, Almereyda hasstripped the play down to only the mostessential dialogue, filling the remaining spacewith slick music and moody slow-motion.)

Spilling secretsStill, “Cymbeline” is no “Hamlet” when it

comes to material. Though laced with the ele-ments of tragedy, including suicides and

beheadings, the action builds to a big crescen-do where all the misunderstandings are madeclear-and then some-in a final scene soimprobably overloaded as to seem comical.Standing around like the surviving suspects in“Clue” or another murder-mystery chamberplay, each of the characters spills his secrets,interrupting the bloodbath we so dearly craveand delivering a giant group hug in its place-but not before Posthumus gives the still-drag-disguised Imogen a good elbow to the face,earning a big laugh at a moment when theaudience hardly knows what to make ofthings.

Funnier still is Delroy Lindo’s revelation that

the two white boys he’s raised are not his ownflesh and blood, but Cymbeline’s long-lostscion. As Imogen, Johnson, soon to be seen in“Fifty Shades of Grey,” makes a terrific modernequivalent of a kingpin’s princess-like daugh-ter, if not a very convincing boy. Yelchinsounds a bit too whiney to play Cloten, butwould clearly make a great Hamlet, whilePosthumus is an odd role to delegate to per-haps the ensemble’s least known player.“Gossip Girl” pretty boy Badgley interprets therole as a wood-carving, skateboarding emotype, though in the year of beardy hipsters, helooks nearly a decade out of fashion andbehaves centuries out of sync. — AP

Actress Milla Jovovich signs autographs asshe arrives for the press conference of themovie “Cymbeline”.

From left, actors Anton Yelchin, John Leguizamo, Milla Jovovich and director Michael Almereyda pose for photographers during the pho-to call for the movie Cymbeline at the 71st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, yesterday. —AP

Characterization is the principal element lefton the roadside in “Bypass, “Frustratinglyechoing the promise of writer-director

Duane Hopkins’ 2008 debut “Better Things” with-out building on it, this technically adroit but sty-listically overwrought film casts rising starGeorge MacKay as a put-upon teen whose over-whelming familial responsibilities in the wake ofhis mother’s death steer him toward a life ofcrime. Yet the pic’s human drama and class com-mentary are frequently obscured behind amorass of lens flares and slow-motion imagery,which don’t make Hopkins’ chosen ganglandmilieu any less familiar. Commercial auds are like-ly to heed the advice of the title, though furtherfestival slots await.

UK cinema is presently rearing a strain ofhard-edged arthouse crime thriller that contin-ues to prosper at international festivals withoutfinding much of an audience at home: Often toogrimy or brutal for the specialty market, they’renonetheless too deliberate or esoteric to passwith the Danny Dyer-favoring genre crowd. Finerfilms than “Bypass” have fallen between thesestools, and Hopkins’ team will be counting on thegrowing profile of the charismatic, robustlygood-looking MacKay to help them net distribu-tor interest. Still, the film is far from a star vehicle:MacKay, like the other members of the film’sstrong ensemble, is a mere component in thedirector’s overall tapestry of highly aestheticizedunhappiness. “Better Things,” with its nods to thestandard-bearers of British social realism via theformal rigor of Bruno Dumont, was arguably themore austere work, but also a less distancing one.

Though filmed in and around the Northerntown of Gateshead, “Bypass” isn’t heavy on envi-ronmental specifics. Hopkins’ intent is to conveythe decayed sense of social identity and econom-ic standing across England’s de-industrializedsatellite towns, collectively visualized here as anairless network of unyielding concrete andsnaking motorways to nowhere in particular.Living in a place that has so little sense of self,young Tim (McKay) has essentially followed suit;nonetheless, with his father absent and his moth-er bedridden, he’s pushed into premature adult-hood when his older brother Greg (BenjaminDilloway) is sentenced to 18 months in prison forburglary.

Ominous symptomsOne year later, Mom has passed away (of

what, we’re never informed), Greg has beenparoled and Tim has taken his lead into theunderworld, selling stolen goods in the hope ofgenerating enough income to keep social servic-es away from him and his surly, school-skipping

younger sister Helen (Lara Peake). Just as hisdevoted g.f. Lilly (Charlotte Spencer, warmlyingenuous) makes an unwelcome pregnancyannouncement, Tim begins to experience omi-nous symptoms-headaches, skin rashes, vomit-ing-of a potentially fatal illness. (Again, it’s anunspecified one, leaving the viewer to forge apossible connection to his mother’s death.) Withenough woes already on his plate to fill severalnovels written by Sapphire, Tim must also man-age the spiralling chaos of his criminal activity.

This is territory as heavily trodden as it is sim-ply heavy, but that’s not to say it can’t elicit from-the gut feeling if observed with enough compas-sion and acuity. Hopkins’ script, however, nevergets under the increasingly welted skin of itsrelentlessly victimized protagonist. Riddled withstandard-issue expletives, it presents Tim’s hellishexistence without the sporadic glimmers ofcuriosity, humor or release afforded by real lifeeven at its darkest hours, while also neglectingessential particulars of his personality or circum-stances that could bring the character into relief.(Does he himself listen to the swarming, statelyelectronica and insertions of dubstep that per-vade the soundtrack, or is that just the director’smood-driven preference? Such details matter.)MacKay plays Tim with fine, committed stoicism,but there’s no inner life for the actor to animate;needless to say, the same goes for the film’s sub-sidiary players.

Virtues line upThe final impression is one of commendably

strenuous human-interest storytelling withoutmuch humanity to fuel it. Matters aren’t helpedby Hopkins’ and skilled d.p. David Procter’s deci-sion to shoot proceedings in the sleek, height-ened style one might associate more with luxurycar advertising, as colliding light sources some-times bleach the frame into near-inscrutability. Amotivation of sorts for this affectation comeswhen Tim admits to a doctor that he has a nega-tive reaction to bright lights, though the film’scrystallized visual texture and often painstakinglyasymmetrical framing still feel divorced from thecharacter’s perspective.

Chris Barrett’s splintered editing is similarlyartful but overworked, while the helmer’s exces-sive reliance on slow-mo at moments of key reve-lation or devastation smacks of pomposity.Hopkins remains a director to watch, and“Bypass” doesn’t want for startling technique orvivid standalone images, but rarely do thesevirtues line up with the emotional response thefilm is chasing from scene to scene-as dramagoes, it’s a kitchen sink exquisitely coated in mir-rorball shards. — Reuters

There are horrors-of-war movies(“Come and See”), and then there areWorld War II horror movies (“Dead

Snow”), and judging by “Fires on the Plain,”it’s not entirely clear whether Japanesesplatter director Shinya Tsukamoto under-stands the difference. The “Tetsuo: TheIron Man” helmer claims to have longdreamed of filming Shohei Ooka’s 1951novel, already adapted far more artfully byKon Ichikawa, but . Despite the credibilitya Venice competition slot imparts, “Fires”feels more giallo than arthouse.

Reminiscent of the stretch whereTeuton hack Uwe Boll tried to earn backsome respect by directing pics aboutAuschwitz and Darfur, Tsukamoto’s pas-sion project represents an earnest attemptto make a statement, held back by someof the B-movie helmer ’s own worstinstincts. Serving as both lead actor andhis own d.p. (alongside Satoshi Hayashi),Tsukamoto shoots mostly handheld in aspastic, jump-cut style, seldom lingeringlong enough for us to absorb, sometimesswitching up angles mid-glance just tokeep things jittery.

He plays private Tamura, a writer who’sbeen drafted into a losing war, uncomfort-able with killing but forced into doing agreat many uncomfortable things over thecourse of the film. Suffering from a seriouscase of tuberculosis when we meet him,

Tamura is forced into the Philippine wildswhen both his commanding officer andthe army field clinic refuse to shelter him.He must fend for himself, surviving offblackened yams at first, and eventually onhuman flesh.

The entire film is designed as a subjec-tive firsthand account of the hallucinatoryhell this soldier experiences, wanderingthe jungle, deathly ill and on the brink ofstarvation. Unfortunately, Tsukamoto is anactor of severely limited range. Smeared inthick black grease, his per formanceamounts to clunky pantomime, rangingbetween stunned disbelief and wide-eyed, silent-movie shock, making it toughto get inside the character’s head.

Classy excuseScripted in a hyper-linear, dot-to-dot

sequence which leads little room for sub-text and absolutely none for background,the film has a straightforward “and thenthis happened” feel, as if someone weredirecting straight out of the novel itselfwithout the intermediary step of adapta-tion. Whether thinking of Elem Klimov(“Come and See”) or his spiritual soulmate,Terrence Malick (“The Thin Red Line”), thehelmer tries to incorporate occasionalglimpses of the surrounding wildlife, butcuts everything together with such hasty,disorienting abandon that we never get a

sense of texture. That he saves for thecorpses, which pile up in one grand, stom-ach-churning setpiece where Tamura andhis compatriots stumble upon anAmerican tank (unseen, though whetherfor budgetary or creative reasons remainsunclear).

Suddenly, it’s a squib-bursting, karo-syrup-drenched bonanza, as limbs gomissing, extras juggle handfuls of entrailsand army boots mash animal brains strewnacross the battlefield, all blanketed bysmoke machines and backlit for dramaticeffect. From the excessive, unconvincingmakeup to the sheer glee of finally havinga classy excuse to indulge some grandguignol, it all looks like one of those ama-teur zombie movies that used to get writ-ten up in Fangoria magazine-and that’sbefore the cannibalism subplot kicks in.

It doesn’t take an enormous budget orfancy directorial moves to make a power-ful war story, but it’s nigh impossible with-out a solid script as foundation. Tsukamotowould do well to study Sam Fuller’s earlywork, especially “The Steel Helmet,” to seehow pressure-cooker character scenesinvite audience identification. Instead, he’sinvested in sound effects and shockingvisuals, assuming the best way to give us ataste of war is to pummel us with as manyof its sensory horrors as possible. That’s notwar, that’s torture. — Reuters

Venice Film Review ‘Cymbeline’

‘Bypass’

‘Fir

es

on

th

e P

lain

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From left, actor YusakuMori, composer ChuIshikawa, directorShinya Tsukamoto,actor Lily Franky andactor Tatsuya Nakamurapose for photographers during a photo call forNobi (Fires on the Plain)at the 71st edition ofthe Venice Film Festivalin Venice, Italy, Tuesday.—AP

James Kent’s “Testament of Youth” willworld premiere at the BFI London FilmFestival, where it plays as the Mayor of

London’s Centerpiece Gala screening. The pic,which is based on Vera Brittain’s memoir ofWorld War I , stars Alicia Vikander, KitHarington, Hayley Atwell, Emily Watson andDominic West. The film is one of 16 world pre-mieres at the fest, which also include CarolMorley ’s “ The Fall ing,” Randall Wright ’s“Hockney: A Life in Pictures” and Tom Harper’s“War Book.”

Among the Headline Gala screenings arethe thriller “Whiplash,” about a young jazzdrummer under the tutelage of a ruthlessmaestro, starring Miles Teller and J.K .Simmons, Jason Reitman’s “Men, Women

& Children,” starring Adam Sandler andAnsel Elgort with a voiceover by EmmaThompson, and real-life drama “Wild,” starringReese Witherspoon, adapted for the screen by

Nick Hornby from Cheryl Strayed’s account ofher 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific CrestTrails. Other Gala screenings include AlanRickman’s “A Little Chaos,” Jon Stewart ’s“Rosewater,” Xavier Dolan’s “Mommy” and NuriBilge Ceylan’s “Winter Sleep.” Alongside “TheFall ing,” the Official Competition l ineupincludes Peter Strickland’s “ The Duke ofBurgundy,” Daniel Barber ’s “ The KeepingRoom,” Francois Ozon’s “The New Girlfriend,”Christian Petzold’s “Phoenix,” MohsenMakhmalbaf ’s “ The President” and JuliusAvery ’s “Son of a Gun.” As previouslyannounced, the fest opens with “The ImitationGame,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch andKeira Knightley, and ends with “Fury, whichstars Brad Pitt. —Reuters

‘Testament of Youth’ to world premiere at London Film Festival

38Comedian JoanRivers still on life support


A 25.3-meter in length’s giant rabbit made of plastic and wood and designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is displayed during an art exhibition in Taoyuan county on September 2, 2014. The organizer said the rabbit is the sec-ond piece of art work following the rubber duck by Florentijn Hofman for the coming Mid-Autumn Festival or the Moon Festival and will be displayed between September 4 and 14 at the Taoyuan military base. — AFP

Playing music helpssharpen kids’ brains

The founder of a Los Angeles-based non-profit that provides free music lessons tolow-income students from gang-ridden

neighborhoods began to notice several yearsago a hopeful sign: Kids were graduating highschool and heading off to UCLA, Tulane andother big universities. That’s when MargaretMartin asked how the children in the HarmonyProject were beating the odds.

Researchers at Northwestern University inIllinois believe that the students’ music train-ing played a role in their educational achieve-ment, helping as Martin noticed 90 percent ofthem graduate from high school while 50 per-cent or more didn’t from those same neigh-borhoods. A two-year study of 44 children inthe program shows that the training changes

the brain in ways that make it easier foryoungsters to process sounds, according toresults reported in Tuesday’s edition of TheJournal of Neuroscience. That increased ability,the researchers say, is l inked directly toimproved skills in such subjects as reading andspeech.

But, there is one catch: People have to actu-ally play an instrument to get smarter. Theycan’t just crank up the tunes on their iPod.Nina Kraus, the study’s lead researcher anddirector of Northwestern’s auditory neuro-science laboratory, compared the difference tothat of building up one’s body through exer-cise. “I like to say to people: You’re not going toget physically fit just watching sports,” she

said. Kraus said studies like hers are challeng-ing because researchers need to follow sub-jects for years in order to track changes in thebrain. She said more and larger studies needto be done in a variety of districts around thecountry to “help us understand what are themost effective forms of learning and howmight learning be tailored for an individualchild.” The latest findings are striking a chordwith supporters of such programs who saymusic is frequently the first cut for schoolboards looking to save money.

The value of music“Over and over, we’ve learned that children

need rich, multisensory environments, and

learning music sort of brings all of that into apackage for them,” said Mary Luehrsen of theNational Association of Music MerchantsFoundation, which awards scholarships andresearch grants for the study of music, addingthat the results make the point that musictraining should be an important part of allschool curriculums.

April Benasich, a professor of neuroscienceat Rutgers University who was not involved inthe study, said previous research by Kraus hasdemonstrated the value of music is improvingconcentration, memory and focus in children.Benasich, who researches early brain develop-ment, said the study’s findings are “a game-changer for both the scientific and public pol-

icy domains, particularly in an era when thesesorts of enrichment activities are beingaggressively eliminated from our schools.

Martin approached the National Institutesof Health, seeking to learn if there was a con-nection between music and the educationalachievements of the program’s 2,000 stu-dents. The NIH put her in touch with Kraus,who studies the changes in the brain thatoccur through auditory exposure. Many ofHarmony Project’s students have no interestin pursuing professional music careers, Martinsaid.

More confidentRicardo Torriz, 13, wants to be an engineer.

He took up the trumpet and is learning salsa,jazz and classical music. “I wanted to take upthe trumpet so I could play in a band like mydad,” he said. Researchers studied the stu-dents over two years, attaching scalp elec-trodes to monitor changes in their brains. Testsubjects were selected at random from thoseon a waiting list to enter the program, hope-fully ensuring all test subjects would beequally motivated to work hard.

One of the researchers’ key findings wasthat one year of musical training didn’t makea difference in brain changes. Two years did.“We know that a fundamental characteristicof the nervous system is our ability to changeas we age, as we interact with our environ-ment. But we can’t be changing every secondor you’d have a very unstable system,” Kraussaid. At the Harmony Project one afternoonlast week, the building quickly began to fillwith a cacophony of sounds of clarinets, trom-bones, oboes and other wind instruments asplayers warmed up. At an adjacent building,cellos were being tuned.

Adelina Flores, whose 11-year-old daugh-ter, America, was a test subject, said shewasn’t surprised by the results. Her daughterhad already told her she was getting better atmath because playing music had taught herto divide notes into fractions and count themout in measures. “She’s improved a lotthrough this,” Adelina Flores said, adding, “Andshe’s grown to be more confident too.” — AP

Arielle Dominguez, from left, Elizabeth Lopez, Andres Lopez, Azariah Wright and Katie Bella play their trumpets during a lesson offeredby Harmony Project. —AP photos

Kevin Santiago, from left, Liam Larsen and Esmeralda Martinez blow on theirtrombone mouthpieces during their trombone lesson offered by Harmony Project.

Cello instructor Leah Metzler, left, helps LewaNana Pinkney put her fingers inthe right spot on the fingerboard during a cello lesson.

Karina Reyes, left, and Damaris Marquez, right, share a laugh with their trom-bone instructor Shelly Suminski during a lesson.

Ernesto Cerna casts a shadow on the wallas he leaves after his cello lesson.

UN's OCHA marks World Humanitarian Day in Kuwait

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