GOvt blAStS Oil StRikE, UNiON REFUSES tO bliNk - Kuwait ...

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58% of jobless Kuwaitis notwilling to work in private sector

With alliances strained, Obama seeks to reassure Gulf on Iran

Ethiopians sweep Boston Marathon for first time

Israel soldier who shot Palestinian charged with manslaughter

Govt blasts oil strike,union refuses to blinkMPs request special debate • KPC vows to boost output

By B Izzak and A Saleh

KUWAIT: The Cabinet yesterday warned again thatthere would be no tolerance for those who deliberatelydisrupt work at vital facilities or cause damage or loss tostate interests, as a walkout by thousands of Kuwaiti oilworkers entered its second day, slashing production byover 60 percent. The oil workers’ union however insistedit will not back down unless all its demands were met. Itcalled for abolishing plans to cut the workers’ benefitsand scrap plans to include oil workers under a new pay-roll scheme. The union added the response of the strikehas so far been very impressive.

Meanwhile, 10 lawmakers yesterday filed a motionrequesting a special session on Thursday to debate theconsequences of the open-ended strike by the oil work-ers and its potential damage to the national economy.The lawmakers said in their request that the total strikecould cause extreme harm to the country’s nationalinterests and utilities and result in huge financial lossesfor the country that will rise day by day.

They said the special session was necessary todebate the legitimacy of the strike and the interests ofthe workers and the nation. They also said the debatewill allow MPs to hear the views of the government.There was no immediate reaction from the Assemblyspeakership or the government over the request whichwas signed by MPs Saleh Ashour, Jamal Al-Omar,Hamdan Al-Azemi, Ahmad Al-Azemi, Abdullah Al-Turaiji,Humoud Al-Hamdan, Talal Al-Jallal, Fares Al-Otaibi, SaudAl-Huraiji and Abdullah Maayouf.

Continued on Page 2KUWAIT: Striking Kuwaiti oil workers sit in a tent at the union’s headquarters in Ahmadi yesterday. — Photoby Fouad Al-Shaikh

Oil falls over Doha failure

LONDON: Oil tumbled yesterday, a day after topproducers failed to reach a deal in Doha to cap out-put, fanning fresh fears over a supply glut that hasplagued the market. Prices had rebounded lastweek on hopes the OPEC exporters’ club and othermajor players, including Russia, would agree tofreeze output levels at Sunday’s meeting. However,discussions in the Qatari capital floundered and adeal to curb abundant global oil supplies failed tomaterialize, sending the market lower once again.

The Doha failure “has raised the fear that the cur-rent glut and oversupply issue is never going to besolved”, GKFX analyst James Hughes told AFP. “It hasalso brought into question the relevance of theOPEC cartel, if the most powerful voice in the groupcannot affect change.” The long-running oil glutsparked a vicious collapse from above $100 in mid-2014 to 13-year lows of around $27 in February.Kingpin Saudi Arabia insisted it would not agree tofreeze production without the participation of fel-low cartel member Iran - which boycotted the talks.

“The much-awaited meeting exposed the politi-cal rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and (this)ultimately doomed the agreement,” said Barclays oil

Continued on 3

KUWAIT: Crucial talks between Yemen’sgovernment and rebels were delayed yes-terday after the insurgents failed to showup, prompting UN concern over the fate ofpeace efforts for the war-torn country. Thetalks in Kuwait aim to end to more than 13months of fighting that has devastatedalready-impoverished Yemen. A week-oldceasefire meant to lay the groundwork forthe talks has been repeatedly breached,with both sides trading blame.Representatives of the internationally rec-ognized government as well as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies - loy-alists of former president Ali Abdullah

Saleh - had been due to gather yesterdaymorning in Kuwait for the negotiations.

But while a government delegationled by Yemeni Foreign MinisterAbdulmalek Al-Mikhlafi was in Kuwait,the rebel delegation remained in Yemen,protesting over alleged Saudi truce viola-tions. “Our presence in Kuwait requires atotal halt to (Saudi) aggression,” saidHouthi rebel leader Mohamed Ali al-Huthi, quoted on the websitesabanews.net, demanding “a guaranteethat (coalition) warplanes will no longerviolate Yemen’s sovereignty”.

Continued on Page 13

Houthis back out of peace talks Jordan recalls its Iran envoyAMMAN: Jordan yesterday summoned its ambassadorin Iran for consultations over what Amman said was theIslamic republic’s “meddling in Arab affairs”, a govern-ment spokesman said. Mohamed Momani, who is alsothe kingdom’s information minister, said Jordan’s envoywould return to Amman for “discussions”. Iran in Januaryfinalized a deal with world powers over its disputednuclear program, which saw economic sanctions lifted.

Since the accord, Momani said Iran a committed “aseries of actions and declarations that constitute unac-ceptable interference in the internal affairs of Arabcountries and especially Gulf states”. Relationsbetween Iran and Arab nations have deterioratedsince a row broke out over the execution of influentialcleric and activist Nimr Al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia inJanuary. Angry Iranian mobs stormed and set fire toSaudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran and its mission inMashhad, Iran’s second city.

After the riots, Momani said Jordan had asked Iranto “totally cease meddling in Arab affairs,” a requestthat Tehran apparently failed to convince Amman itwas willing to carry out. Jordan and Saudi Arabia sharea long border and are both part of the Riyadh-ledcoalition currently battling Iran-backed rebels inYemen. Momani also said around 50,000 Syrians arestranded in no-man’s land along the border withJordan, a three-fold increase since January because ofincreased security checks. He said the refugees weremassed around the desert border posts of Hadalat andRokban. In January, Jordan had estimated their num-ber of 16,000 and appealed for assistance from inter-national relief agencies. —Agencies

ADEN: Supporters of the southern separatist movement wave the movement’sflag during a rally in Yemen’s second city yesterday. — AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: Anti-government demonstrators celebrate on Copacabanabeach after the lower house of Congress voted to impeach Brazil’s PresidentDilma Rousseff on Sunday. — AP

BRASILIA: The fight to oust Brazil ’sPresident Dilma Rousseff speeded up yes-terday after lawmakers authorizedimpeachment proceedings against her,deepening the country’s political crisis.Opponents of the 68-year-old leftist leadersaid they would quickly go to the Senate toformally hand over the impeachment case,following Sunday’s overwhelming approvalin the lower house. The Senate is expectedto vote in May on whether to open a trial,at which point Rousseff would have to stepaside, with her vice president taking over. Atwo thirds majority in the Senate wouldthen force her from office.

“Impeachment!” was the celebratoryfront-page headline of Folha de Sao Paulodaily yesterday. “Close to the end,” saidanother leading newspaper, O Globo,adding: “Dilma Rousseff yesterday startedto say goodbye to the presidency of Brazil.”The marathon vote on Sunday saw 367 ofthe 513 deputies in the lower house ofCongress back impeachment, well over thetwo thirds majority needed to move thecase forward.

Cheering and confetti burst from oppo-sition ranks when the vote passed, coun-tered by jeering from Rousseff allies - asnapshot of the divisive mood consumingthe country just four months before Rio deJaneiro hosts the Olympics. Rousseff isaccused of illegally manipulating budgetfigures. But Rousseff’s attorney general,Jose Eduardo Cardozo said the chargeswere flimsy and amounted to “a coupagainst democracy.” Rousseff was to giveher first public reaction yesterday, he said.

Carla Selman, an analyst at IHS CountryRisk, a consultancy, said that events couldmove quickly given the decisive nature ofthe lower house vote. “This is likely to accel-erate a vote in the Senate, where the pro-impeachment camp is also expected towin,” Selman said. Financial markets havebeen betting heavily on Rousseff’s exit andthe advent of a more business-friendly gov-ernment to kick-start Brazil’s economy.

The country is in the grip of its worstrecession for decades and political paraly-sis in the capital has prevented reformsthat might attract back foreign investors,scared off by Brazil’s junk credit ratings. Butthe expected euphoric reaction at marketopening yesterday did not materialize afterbeing outweighed by the dampeningeffect of tumbling world oil prices.

If, as many expect, the Senate goes onto start a trial, Vice President Michel Temer,who abandoned Rousseff to become a keyopponent, will assume power. He wouldalso stay on if the trial ended in impeach-ment. Yesterday’s newspapers printed pic-tures of him smiling as he watched thevote. But the celebrations could be shortlived, analysts say. Temer would inherit acountry wallowing in economic disarrayand a dysfunctional political scene whereRousseff’s Workers’ Party vows revenge. “Itwill not be easy” for Temer, said AndreCesar, an independent political analyst. “Itwill be a nightmare.”

Analysts predict a long crisis rather thanthe radical fix that proponents of impeach-ment say would follow Rousseff’s ouster.


Rousseff loses key impeachment vote

JERUSALEM: A bomb blast ripped through a bus inJerusalem yesterday and sparked a fire, wounding atleast 21 people, Israeli police said, in an apparent escala-tion in a wave of violence. Details were still emerging,but police said a bomb had exploded on one bus in arelatively isolated area of Jerusalem, sparking a fire thatspread to another one as well as a car. Israeli domesticsecurity agency Shin Bet referred to the explosion as a“terror attack”.

The bombing was expected to lead to a sharp increasein security ahead of Jewish Passover celebrations begin-ning Friday night. If confirmed as a Palestinian bombing,it would both reverse a decline in a wave of violence thaterupted in October and mark an escalation, with most ofthe attacks having been stabbings.

“A professional examination of police sappers hasproven that a bomb exploded on the back part of thebus, resulting in the wounding of passengers and theburning of the bus,” a police statement. “In addition,another bus and car were damaged.” An AFP journalistat the scene said one bus was completely burnt outwhile another was partially burned, with a large


Bomb rips through Jerusalem bus

JERUSALEM: Israeli forensic officers search in the remains of burnt-out busesafter a bomb blast ripped through the vehicles yesterday. — AFP

L O C A LTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

KUWAIT: Oil workers on strike attend a press conference organized by workers’ union in Ahmadi yesterday. Unionists attend the press conference. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Head of KOC employees’ syndicate Salah Al-Marzouq speaks during the press conference.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi and agencies

KUWAIT: Chairman of the parliaments pri-orities committee in the parliament MPYousef Al-Zalzalah reiterated workers’ rightto stage labor strikes, provided that theyare held within the limits of laws and regu-lations. “If such strikes cause damage topublic funds and the state’s greater good,things will need to be reconsidered,” headded. “Oil is Kuwait’s lifeblood and onlysource of national income, and its produc-tion cannot be halted, delayed or used as athreat,” he explained, noting that such actswere incriminated by law, especially wheninitial reports assess the losses in the hun-dreds of millions. He also noted thingsseem very ‘foggy’ because news about thestrike through social media networks lackcredibility. “We must have an official bodyresponsible for posting genuine newsthrough social media networks to preventthe circulation of false ones,” he demand-

ed, urging the government to solve thestrike problem wisely.

Production ratesThe production rates of the three

refineries of Kuwait National PetroleumCompany (KNPC) are compatible with thecontingency plan, Oil Sector’s SpokesmanSheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah said, reas-suring that local supplies of petrol andderivatives are completely provided.

There are positive developments in themanagement of Kuwait PetroleumCorporation (KPC) subsidiaries’ operationson the second day of the oil workers’ strikeSheikh Talal said in a press release yester-day. He added that the increase in oil andgas production is enough for reaching nor-mal rates gradually.

Sheikh Talal said the Kuwait OilCompany (KOC) has re-operated two pro-duction facil it ies in north and southKuwait, thus boosting crude and gas pro-

duction rates. He added that the outcomesof the contingency plan carried out by theKPC to address the workers’ strike is greatlyworking out, speaking highly of the practi-cal steps taken by the KPC’s internationalmarketing sector. Production rates at Al-Shuaiba and Umm Al-Aish factories of theKuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) arevery normal, he said, pointing to full com-mitment to meeting people’s gas needs.

The KPC’s response blueprint, mainlyexchanging inter-company experts andworkers, and using the help of techniciansand workers from the Ministry of Electricityand Water has largely contributed to con-taining the strike -bearing crisis, heremarked. KPC subsidiaries are workingfervently to honor the country’s oil com-mitments and to safeguard its reputationboth at home and abroad, the oil sector’sspokesman said.

Sheikh Talal thanked all volunteers whoare playing a great role in overcoming the

current crisis in an initiative that reflects agreat sense of responsibility and patriot-ism. Oil sector laborers started Sunday astrike in protest against proposed austeritymeasures on the background of the sharpdrop in oil prices.

Electricity feesCommenting on the new electricity

prices, Zalzalah told his diwaniya visitorsSunday that what MPs agreed on concern-ing the exemption of private residencesfrom the new prices was fair for citizens.He added that recommendations hadbeen made to the government that con-sidering any electricity price increases forprivate residences would not be done inthe future until smart meters wereinstalled. However, Zalzalah remarked thatthe government still needs to organizehuge awareness campaigns to urge citi-zens to cut down water and electricity con-sumption.

Workers have right to strike within law: MPPetrol secured at local market: Official

Head of KNPC employees’ syndicate Mohammad Al-Hajri speaks during the press conference.

Continued from Page 1

Thousands of Kuwaiti oil workers began anopen-ended strike on Sunday to protest meas-ures by the oil ministry to cut financial benefitsof the workers as part of austerity measures.The government also wants to include oilworkers under a new payroll scheme thatwould cut their salaries and incentives. Thestrike has slashed the country’s crude produc-tion to 1.1 million barrels per day from thenormal 3.0 million barrels and also reducedrefining and gas production operations.

Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) officials haveinsisted that production will rise graduallyover the coming few days as KPC was askedby the Cabinet to recruit manpower fromKuwait and abroad to help operate oil facili-ties. The council of ministers is also takinglegal measures against workers who havejoined the strike.

In their weekly meeting, the ministers wereoffered a detailed explanation on the effortsby KPC and affiliate companies to handle thesituation. An account was offered by Ministerof Finance and acting oil minister Anas Al-Saleh and a team from KPC and KuwaitNational Petroleum Company (KNPC) andKuwait Oil Company (KOC). The efforts mainlyfocused on activating a contingency plan tohonor KPC’s commitments, providing fuel forthe stations of the ministry of electricity andwater and oil products for the local and globalmarkets.

The Cabinet lauded the efforts and thenational role played by workers in oilfields andrefineries, and the “spirit of responsibility”manifested by retired ones and volunteerswho offered to work and fill the gap, StateMinister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh

Mohammad Al-Abdullah said. The Cabinetalso reviewed the legal steps and proceduresKPC and subsidiaries are taking in line withtheir regulations against strike inciters andthose who caused damage to the state’spotentials and public funds, for maintainingstate interests.

KPC to Boost Oil ProductionKhaled Al-Asousi, KNPC’s deputy chief

executive for support services, said outputwas now 1.1 million barrels per day butwould reach normal levels in coming days.“We have several alternative plans - todaysome of the staff returned to their places ofwork. Partner companies are participating inthe increase in production. The situation isreassuring.” Non-Kuwaiti workers in theindustry are not on strike.

Before the strike, Kuwaiti oil productionwas running at about 2.8 million bpd, Reutersdata show. “We expect a big increase in crudeinventory in the coming days and we haveenough stocks for export and we have nofears of a stoppage of any shipment,” Asousisaid. He also said, “Supplies of petroleumderivatives for the local market are enoughfor a whole month.”

MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji meanwhile calledfor the need to appoint a fulltime oil ministerfrom within the oil sector, which has manyhighly-qualified officials who are fit for thejob. The lawmaker also called for the dis-missal of the board of directors of KPC for fail-ing to deal with the legitimate demands ofthe workers to convince them not to strike.Turaiji called for resorting to reason over thestrike which has cost the country massivelosses and said he was confident that theissue will be resolved quickly.

Liberal MP Rakan Al-Nasef said that thestrike is a grave mistake which has causedmassive losses and harmed the country’ssuprem’ interests, adding that accepting theworkers demand in a manner that couldundermine national security is totally rejected.He said the right to strike is legitimate butwarned that there are mechanisms that mustbe followed before the strike which couldachieve workers’ rights.

Unions Vow to Continue StrikeSpeaking at a press conference held yester-

day, heads of the oil sector employees’ syndi-cates insisted on their demands and stressed

that the strike would continue until thesedemands are met in full. They also said thatthey are not demanding any pay raises andonly seek to maintain and protect the gainsthey already have. “Hear from us and not aboutus, listen to your children in the oil sector!” saidthe head of KNPC employees’ syndicateMohammed Faleh Al-Hajri, addressing theprime minister. Hajri also addressed the Kuwaitipeople, noting that what was happening in theoil sector would happen to them later. “We haveand will defend you and the protestors are stillholding out for your sake,” he added.

Head of the KIPCO employees’ syndicateFarhan Al-Ajmi said that the demands made

by the oil union and syndicates all revolvearound protecting the rights those employeesalready have and that they were not demand-ing anything new for the time being. “Ourstrike is to protect our rights and not to getmore,” he remarked.

Head of KOC employees’ syndicate Salah Al-Marzouq pointed out that employees supportthe government in its rationalization plans butthey refuse to let it take away any incentivesthey are already getting according to the pri-vate labor law number 6/2010 and the oil sec-tor law number 28/69. “Officials have beenmisinformed about our demands and weretold we are demanding raises, but we refutedthis and the truth will surely reach them,” hesaid, urging protesters to be patient becauseprevious strikes that mostly lasted for a weekdid not get them anywhere. At the workers’union headquarters in Ahmadi, strikers gath-ered in tents despite rising temperatures thatkept most of the public inside. Protest bannersreading “we will not compromise” and “no to astrategic alternative, the country is not forsale” were hung by workers who vowed tocontinue pickets, even if they were fewer innumber than on Sunday.

“Workers in Kuwait Oil Company are deter-mined ... We are convinced of all that we do,the workers have a legal right to strike,” saidEman, an employee in KOC’s administrativedepartment. She said her colleagues whowere not participating in the strike were sup-portive of it but feared the consequences ofwalking out. Abu Abdullah, another worker,questioned government threats to take legalaction against organizers of the strike. “I don’tbelieve that Kuwait would do such a thing orturn into a police state,” he said. (Material fromagencies used in this report)

Govt blasts oil strike, union refuses to blink

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

L O C A L

By Ahmad Jabr

KUWAIT: Nearly 58 percent ofunemployed Kuwaitis refuse towork in the private sector, prefer-ring to wait until a public sector jobbecomes available, according togovernment labor statistics releasedthis week.

The data suggests that govern-ment efforts to encourage more citi-zens to work within the private sec-tor - including through the distribu-tion of matching stipends and otherbenefits - has largely failed. Almost87 percent of Kuwait ’s nationallabor force works in the public sec-tor, according to the 2015 LaborForce Survey published by Kuwait’sCentral Statistical Bureau (CSB).

Kuwait’s Constitution guaranteesall citizens work, under Article 41:“Every Kuwaiti has the right to workand to choose the type of his work.Work is a duty of every citizennecessitated by personal dignityand public good. The State shallendeavor to make it available to citi-zens and to make its terms equi-table.”

The public sector remains the

most attractive employer for a vari-ety of reasons: shorter workinghours, often less demanding work,all public holidays, benefits andperks not always available in the pri-vate sector and security since localscannot be fired except in extremecircumstances.

Unemployment among Kuwaitisreached 4.7 percent in 2015 accord-ing to the recent statistics. The totalunemployment rate reached 2.2percent, down from 2.5 percentaccording to earlier statistics.Furthermore, the statistics showthat 1.8 percent non-Kuwaitis areunemployed.

The reliance on foreign labor inthe private sector, however, hasbeen a controversial issue. Almost95 percent of employees in the pri-vate sector are foreigners, and itcurrently employs nearly 75 percentof expatriate workers in Kuwait (notincluding domestic helpers, whomake up 17 percent of expatriateworkers). This situation meanwhilecontinues to cast a shadow on thegovernment’s ability to go aheadwith its planned demographicstructural strategies, through which

Kuwait looks to cut down the expa-triate population from 69 percent ofthe total population today to notmore than 50 percent.

Wage and educationAccording to the statistics, nearly

94 percent of expatriate workers inKuwait are paid less than KD 600 amonth, while that percentageincreases in the private sector to 96percent. Statistics released earlier byLMIS had indicated that the averagesalary of expatriates in the privatesector stands at KD 251 a month.

The majority of expatriates inKuwait are concentrated in cate-gories which do not necessarilyrequire labor with high academicqualifications, such as construction,manufacturing industries as well aswholesale and retail sectors. Thestatistics seem to support this argu-ment, as they show that nearly 39percent of expatriates in Kuwaithave ‘primary and below’ educationlevel, 35 percent with intermediate,compared to only 13 percent uni-versity graduates. On the otherhand, the statistics show that uni-versity graduates dominate the

numbers of Kuwaiti labor forces inboth sectors with nearly 45 percentin general.

The 2015 Labor Force Survey(LFS) was conducted and releasedby the Labor Market Information

System (LMIS), which is affiliated tothe CSB. It covered a sample thatincluded 5,286 families and 220groups of workers housed by insti-tutions. It is a standard household-based yearly survey of work-related

statistics. Household survey usuallyare the most reliable and completesource of labor market information.The analysis of the LFS 2015 pro-vides a good snapshot of the labormarket situation in Kuwait.

58% unemployed Kuwaitis unwilling to work in private sectorEfforts to Kuwaitize private sector largely failed


KUWAIT: Yeo Jun-suk, a staff reporter from the Korea Herald, visited Kuwait Times yesterday where he interviewed Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan on developments in the local and regional scenes. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: The winners of the ArabWoman Awards were announcedon Sunday at a ceremony at the res-idence of the Undersecretary of theDepartment of Protocol Affairs atthe Amiri Diwan Sheikh MubarakFahd Al-Salem Al-Sabah’s. The pri-vate winners’ ceremony was attend-ed by the board of judges, thisyear’s winners and their familiesand VIP guests.

“ The overarching aim of theArab Woman Awards is to highlightand recognize the outstanding con-tribution by women,” SheikhMubarak said. “We had had such afantastic range of entries this year,with so many women involved inwonderful projects across a widevariety of fields. The awards identify

excellence and celebrate achieve-ments.”

The Arab Woman Awards Kuwaitwas launched in 2013 by ITP andwas co-founded by Dr LabibaTemmim; Executive Director at theHayatt Ruqayah Abdul WahhabAlqatami Breast Cancer Foundation,along with ITP’s Deputy ManagingDirector Sue Holt.

Culturally accepted platformThe Arab Woman Awards mis-

sion is to provide a culturallyaccepted platform to raise publicawareness of the significantachievements of Arab womenacross the GCC and provide positiverole models for young women. TheArab Woman Awards represents anexclusive opportunity to access topfemale members of the society;receive editorial and advertorialcoverage on ITP consumer mediaplatforms, logo placement on art-work, award sponsorship and on-site activations where they candemonstrate products and servicesdirect to end consumers. .

Launched in 2009, the ArabWoman Awards was established byITP with the aim of providing a cul-turally accepted platform to raiseawareness on the significantachievements of Arab women inareas including business, finance,legal, media and the humanitarianfield. The awards are held annuallyin the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar andKuwait and to-date over 250women have been presented withthe prestigious trophies. The ArabWoman Awards board of judgeswas announced ahead of the win-ners’ presentation ceremony.

Arab Woman Awardswinners announced

KUWAIT: In line with its leading socialresponsibility program and driven by itskeen commitment to support the healthsector, Warba Bank, the fastest growingbank that offers a series of banking andinvestment services compatible withIslamic sharia according to the regional andglobal levels, sponsored an awarenessopen day for physiotherapy (child unit)being held at Al-Adan hospital.

Warba Bank initiative stems from itsdeep commitment to support the healthsector and provide all the help needed tofulfill its social role. The Bank is confident inthe role of physiotherapists in helpingthousands of patients daily to regain theirhealth and to relief the patients pain.

During the open day, a series of lecturesand an exhibition were held to raise theawareness about physical therapy, where aprofessional team from Warba attendedthese events and contributed to educatingattendees about the banks’ services, prod-ucts, Islamic banking mechanism whileexplaining its trends.

Within this context, the Bank said in apress statement: “since our inception in theKuwaiti market, the Bank performed itsresponsibilities towards society as a whole

consistently and effortlessly. Accordingly,we will continue to provide the necessaryassistance for the growth and developmentof other sectors of society, particularly thehealth sector, which constitutes the corner-stone of public health and disease preven-tion, ensuring a healthy and peaceful gen-erations growth”.

The statement also considered: “ Thebank is ongoing in its endeavor to supportstrategic events involving different sectorsincluding: education, health and culture toachieve the general benefit and the wellbe-ing of the community, which is well knownas the backbone of successful and sophisti-cated society.”

It is well noted that Warba Bank worksdiligently to develop a strategy for socialresponsibility and does not hesitate to sup-port various groups and sectors, where thebank imprints on sponsorships targeted atthese sectors by dedicating a professionalteam from the bank to educate the massesabout the importance of Islamic financeand its leading role in supporting thegrowth of the economy, particularly WarbaBank that constitutes a milestone in thisarea and is characterized by distinctivesolutions.

Warba Bank sponsored AdanHospital Physiotherapy

Awareness open day

KUWAIT: (From left) Dr Labiba Tamim, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah,Sheikh Mansour Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, ShiekhaMariam Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and Sheikha Rafa MansourMubarak A-Abduallah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Winner of the ‘Entrepreneur’ category Noor Al-Qatami with Editor-in-Chief of Hello Arabia Magazine Diana Antabli, and Anna Maria.

The full lists of recipients of the 2015 Kuwait awards are:

Businesswoman of the Year: Najla Al-GhanimFinance: Riham Al-GhanimEducation: PR Moudi Al-Humoud Art: Amira BehbehaniEntrepreneur: Noor Al-QatamiLiterature: Basma Al-EneziSport: Taiba Al-NouriFashion Designer: Amna Al-SalemYoung Designer: Muneera Al-SahrhanMedical: Dr Rajaa Al-AttiyahMedia: Arwa Al-WagayanNew Media: Ascia Al-FarajHumanitarian: Dr Seham Al-ForaihLegal: Esra Al-AmiriYoung Talent: Fatemah Al-Ali and Fatemah BusakhrEnergy: Badria Abdul RaheemWoman in Government: Hind Al-SubaihInspirational Woman of the Year: Nada Al-ShammariLifetime Achievement Award: Mariam Abdul Malik Al-SalehSpecial Recognition: Moodi Al-SultanJudges’ choice: Sheikha Basma Mubark Al-Sabah

Ascia Al-Faraj, winner of the ‘NewMedia’ category.

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY: MITEnterprise Forum Pan Arab, in partnershipwith founding partner Community Jameeland the Zain Group, announced the win-ners of the MIT Enterprise Forum ArabStartup Competition from a total of 76 con-testing teams from 15 Arab countries. Thecompetition’s final award ceremony washeld at the Bay La Sun Hotel and Marina inthe King Abdullah Economic City on April14, 2016. This year’s event was also sup-ported by government partner theEconomic Cities Authority and hostingpartner the King Abdullah Economic Cityalong with global technology providerHuawei.

The competition was preceded by theTime to Invest in Arab Youth and TheirInnovations Conference, organized by MITTechnology Review Arab Edition. Duringthe conference, MIT Technology ReviewArab Edition’s five innovators under 35 inthe Arab world were announced.

The ninth edition of this year’s competi-tion received an outstanding 5,967 individ-ual and team applications from 21 Arabcountries, up from 4,275 last year, and rep-resenting a record participation of over16,500 entrepreneurs up from 12,000 lastyear. The 9 winning teams across threetracks - Ideas, Startups, and SocialEntrepreneurship - hail from Kuwait, SaudiArabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia andMorocco.

The $50,000 top prize for the best startup track was awarded to Kuwait’s Ghinwa,who are building a mobile application thatcan be used by users to perform Karaokewhere songs are licensed from the copy-right owners to ensure legality, allowingusers to share and promote their talentsacross different social media platforms.

Several high-profile entrepreneurs,investors and government officials fromSaudi Arabia, the region and beyondshared insight during the conference andjudged the competition. These includeHRH Saud K Al-Faisal, Executive Director forInvestment Policy at SAGIA, HH Reema BintBandar, founder and CEO of Alf Khair, FadyMohammed Jameel, President ofCommunity Jameel International, ScottGegenheimer, CEO of Zain Group, HassanKabbani, CEO of Zain Saudi Arabia, Fahd AlRasheed, Group CEO and ManagingDirector of Emaar Economic City andWassim Khashoggi, vice secretary generaloperations of the Economic Cities

Authority. Speakers and judges from sever-al leading organizations in the finance andtechnology space such as Google,Facebook, Oak Investment Partners, 500Startups and MBC Group also sharedinsight during the event.

The winnersThe announcement of the MIT

Enterprise Forum Arab StartupCompetition ceremony took place duringthe evening award ceremony and the win-ners took home a pool of prize moneytotaling $150,000.

Apart from the winner’s prize money,each of the Ideas, Startups, and SocialEntrepreneurship tracks semi-finalists ben-efitted from top tier training, mentorship,coaching, media exposure, and great net-working opportunities throughout thecompetition.

Startups Track: Winner: Ghinwa fromKuwait; 2nd place: Zamen from Egypt (Amobile application for real-time newsfeeds, filtered to display only the topicsusers interested in); 3rd place: B8ak fromSaudi Arabia (A mobile application forhome maintenance delivery)

Ideas Track: Winner: Tutorama fromEgypt (A marketplace of pre-vetted, profes-sionally recruited tutors, which studentsand parents can use to search for tutors bysubject, curriculum, location/distance andscheduling availability; 2nd place: Deep ORfrom Morocco (Data Analytics andOperations Research to help make quickand educated resource allocation deci-sions); 3rd place: Ostor Lab from Morocco(A cloud-based mobile application vulnera-bility scanner) Social EntrepreneurshipTrack: Winner: Hydropneumatic FlushingSystem from Tunisia (An economic waterflush that does not leak and that with-stands frequent use); 2nd place: Pathfinderfrom Lebanon (A mobile app and a belt,both automatically and securely connectedto serve the visually impaired harmonicallyand safely) and 3rd place: Low Cost PPCfrom Jordan (A lower leg prosthetic withlow production costs).

Five innovators under 35: AhmedAlfadhel (Saudi Arabia) - King AbdullahUniversity for Science and Technology; EveTamraz (Lebanon) - White Labs; JeanNehme (Lebanon) - Touch Surgery; OsmanBakr (KSA) - King Abdullah University forScience and Technology and Yaman AbouJeib (Syria). — Glean.

Kuwait’s ‘Ghinwa’ wins topprize at MIT Enterprise Forum

Arab Startup Competition

Kuwait’s Ghinwa with Zain Group CEO and Zain KSA CEO.

KUWAIT: Secretariat General of theGulf Press Association (GPA) holdsits 17th meeting today in Kuwait,GPA’s Secretary General NasserMohammad Al-Othman said, not-ing that the meeting would behosted by Kuwait ’s local daily,Annahar and its editor-in-chiefEmad Jawad Bokhamseen.

He added that the meeting, tobe presided by GPA’s chairman

Torki Bin Abdullah Al-Sadeeri, willbe dedicated to discuss suggestedworking plan for the tow comingyears, he said. Meanwhile,Bokhamseen said that the Kuwaitipress is keen on providing all therequirements needed to help GPAachieve its goals. He added thatthe meeting will be held in Kuwaitupon request Annahar made overtwo years before.

GPA Meetstoday in Kuwait

Nasser Al-Othman Emad Bokhamseen

(From left) Noor Faisal Al-Qatami, Dr Fawzi Al-Qatami and FaisalNasser Al-Qatami.


By Meshaal Al-Enezi

KUWAIT: Yesterday’s Municipal Council meetingwitnessed controversy over Minister of State forMunicipal Affairs and Minister of CommunicationEssa Al-Kandari’s rejection of a number of thecouncil’s resolutions, which might lead to activat-ing article 14 of municipal law number 5/2005,according to member Mane Al-Ajmi.

The head of the council’s reform and develop-ment committee Osama Al-Otaibi said that anagreement was reached with Kuwait Municipalityto remove 223 ranches that had been hinderingthe construction of the Mutlaa City residential proj-ect. He added that all obstacles had been removedin the West Abdullah Al-Mubarak project and thatthe municipality promised to remove its scrap yardthat is hindering the construction of South Saad Al-Abdullah project.

The council also agreed to form an independentcommittee for the disabled including membersAjmi, Meshaal Al-Juwaisri, Hassan Kamal, Fahd Al-Sane and Abdullah Al-Kandari. Ajmi also warned ofthe infrastructure of Shadadiya industrial area, not-ing that the project was a sensitive and importantone because it involved the construction of chemi-

cal factories. “We do not want to build another UmAl-Haiman,” he warned, before the project wasreferred to the council’s technical committee forfurther study.

Children’s rightsThe Civil Service Commission (CSC) yesterday

issued a directive concerning law number 21/2015pertaining with children’s rights, highlighting threemajor points. The first point stipulates that ‘uponemployer approval, a working mother is to be giv-en a two-year unpaid leave to look after her baby amaximum of three times throughout her service’.The directive added that the leave will not be inter-rupted before it was over and that it will not affectother leaves.

The second point in the directive tackled article54 of the law that calls for reducing pregnantwomen’s working hours by at least two hours start-

ing from the sixth month. It also bans having preg-nant women work overtime throughout the preg-nancy. The third point in the directive tackled enti-tling working mothers two hours to breastfeedtheir babies during the first two years of the baby’sage without reducing their wages.

Court hearingsA court order was issued yesterday annulling

the decision to dissolve Ardhiya co-op’s board ofdirectors and compensating it KD 4,000.Commenting on the verdict, Zaki Al-Sulaimi,Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at theMinistry of Social Affairs and Labor stressed thatthe ministry would go to the appeal court.Separately, the criminal court yesterday set a hear-ing to be held on May 30 to pass its sentence in theFintas group case filed by state security against 13citizens, including four ruling family members.

Agreement to remove ranches thathindered construction in Mutlaa

KUWAIT: A scene from the Municipal Council’s meeting yesterday. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Pregnant women’s working hours reduced

The location of the MutlaaCity on Kuwait’s map.

Municipal Council member Mane Al-Ajmispeaks during the meeting.

By A Saleh

KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality decided toinstall GPS devices on all its vehicles inorder to be able to track them down at alltimes, the financial and administrativeaffairs department announced. The stepcomes in response to several complaintsthe municipality received about using itsvehicles outside official working hours foremployees’ personal purposes. In casedetecting any violations in using munici-pality, cleaning trucks or machinery out ofservice hours, violators would be subjectto legal accountability, the departmentsstressed.

KUWAIT: Fire broke out in a foam factory inSubhan. Firemen ventilated the area andcontained the fire before they were able toput it out. No injuries were reported.

— By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Municipalitytracks itsvehicles

through GPS

KUWAIT: The Ministry of State for YouthAffairs yesterday stressed the momentous-ness of promoting awareness on e-crimeamong youth. The ministry has organized aseries of seminars on e-crime in the coun-try’s six provinces, in cooperation with theMinistry of Education and the InteriorMinistry.

In a statement at a concluding ceremo-ny today, Undersecretary of the ministry’syouth development sector Meshaal Al-Sebei, said that the seminars aimed toboost awareness on laws and penalties for

cybercrimes, such as spreading false infor-mation about the society and the people.

Meanwhile, Colonel Youssef Al-Habibfrom the Interior Ministry ’s ElectronicCrimes Control Department, said that thebreath-taking scientific progress has led tothe emergence of new methods to com-mit e-crimes. An e-crime is one of themost dangerous offences, since it is notl imited by geographical borders, headded. It refers to any criminal activityplanned or carried out through the use ofcomputers, he said. — KUNA

Ministry urges promoting e-crime awareness among youth

CANBERRA: Kuwait’s Ambassador to AustraliaNajib Abdulrahman Al-Bader has inked anagreement for building a mosque and Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Islamic Studies with CanberraIslamic Centre, construction of which costs $1.08million.

The signing ceremony was held by theKuwaiti embassy at the center, with attendanceof Ambassador Al-Bader, Australian MP fromCanberra Jean Brutman, General Mufti DrIbrahim Abu Mohammad, Dean of the ArabDiplomatic Corps, Ambassador of MoroccoMohamed Mael-Ainain, the center chair EthraaKhan, a representative of Canberra Church,ambassadors of Arab and Islamic nations andother dignitaries.

Ambassador Bader in a statement at the cer-emony said the Kuwaiti contribution is primarilyaimed at aiding the Muslim community in

Canberra, noting necessity of their integrationinto the local society through law abiding,adopting moderation and establishing construc-tive dialogue with people of other faiths. Kuwaitis also seeking through such aid to contribute tosecuring some educational, cultural and socialservices for the community, as well as correctingmisconceptions about Islam.

The State of Kuwait had been proclaimed bythe United Nations as the ‘Humanitarian Center’and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah as the‘Humanitarian Leader,’ in recognition of thecountry’s humanitarian contributions world-wide. Noting that the Muslim community inAustralia accounts to 2.2 percent of the popula-tion, the ambassador underlined need forgreater efforts for promoting Islamic values, andthe fact that the Muslims are also victims of ter-rorism, and not only non-Muslims. — KUNA

Ambassador inks accordto build center in Canberra

CANBERRA: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Australia Najib Abdulrahman Al-Bader signs anagreement to build a mosque and Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Islamic Studies. — KUNA

FROM THE ARABIC PRESSTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

Each of us look for happiness, and more accurate-ly, who among us does not look for ways thatlead to joy? Happiness and joy are two sides of a

coin, and the happiness percentage differs from oneperson to another, and ways of joy wary from one soci-ety to another, but there remains the joy of the heartin one meaning, which is the ‘smile.’

Man may own everything, but there remains happi-ness as his goal and his longing, as despite owningeverything, he is still not happy. On the other hand, wefind another human being who does not have any-thing, and despite being deprived, we always find asmile on his face, and from here and there, and theirony and difference between the persons, the ques-tion remains - what are the reasons for happiness?

Sometime, a rose given to you takes you at thepeak of happiness, and some days we feel very sad,and there comes he who whispers a word thatremoves all worries and brings back the smile to ourfaces. Hours, months and maybe years are spent onbuying, visits and travels, and despite this we do notfind happiness, while a few moments with simplethings make you receive light whispers that make yourheart beat with the feeling of joy.

Out of these lines, while we do not go deep in thephilosophical meaning of happiness, we write aboutthe feeling of happiness. Our alphabets gather ourwords coming out from the heart, to find that happi-ness comes from inner conviction and the humanbeing’s love for all what he possesses, and this is whatthe individual lacks now.

When you are satisfied with what you have, youfeel happy, and you stay away from envy and look-ing at what others have, and your heart will be filledwith happiness, then when you thank AlmightyAllah for everything, the smile remains on your face.Thank Almighty Allah every morning for what hegave you, and wish every person you know good,and pray to Allah to make you happy and to grantyou satisfaction and love for others. Here is whereyou will find happiness.

Final word: Plan to do good, because you are alwaysgood as long as you intend to do so.

— Translated by Kuwait Times

HappinessAl-Anbaa

By Dr Nermin Al-Houti

When we were young, we used to believe thata thief always wears a mask covering his eyesand that he usually goes out by night to steal.

We also had a vision of him holding a bag with whathe had stolen. This concept remained fixed in ourminds until we grew up to find that such a ‘worn out’thief changed to be dressed in very elegant attire,stealing in broad daylight right before our eyes, as ifhe was defying us to ‘utter’ a word of warning!

People have changed compared to the past whenthey used to warn each other in the diwaniya aboutsomeone who had just entered because he was a‘skilled’ thief who would rob anything. Things are dif-ferent nowadays because the same diwaniya visitorsmight whisper to each other that such a person is a‘good fellow’. Honesty is rare nowadays.

In the past, officials used to be welcome additions,honoring the posts they assume. They would workhard to develop work and satisfy everybody. They used

to be keen on being up to their responsibilities. On theother hand, some of today’s officials rejoice on beingappointed, promising themselves to become million-aires and to make the best use of their positions beforethey leave. They would price every favor and takebribes accordingly.

A word of honor used to prevail and control alltransactions in the past. Today, one needs an army oflawyers and piles of contracts that are still rejected byopponents who would simply tell you to ‘go to courtand sue me’!

A thief has become a role model for many peoplebecause they see he has made fortunes in such shortperiods. “Why not do like them?,” people say, thinkingof making only one big deal that would place themamongst the elite instead of remaining with the poorhaving lentil soup in the central prison. Thieves nowhave many assistants as if they are staying in five-starhotels. They are adaptable according the surroundingcircumstances and environments.

Big x-large thieves - unless you repent and stop,you have to know that your days are near and that youwill held accountable before Almighty Allah because itseems that only He is mightier than you. You will haveno escape then, nor will your lies help you. Life is tooshort and your thefts might be hidden now. However,we know that there is a ‘judgment day’ and you will bescandalized then and no one will dare defend you!

— Translated by Kuwait Times

An x-large thiefBy Sami Al-Khorafi

Al-Anbaa

Al-Anbaa

CrimeR e p o r t

Jabriya man facesdomestic abuse charges

KUWAIT: A citizen complained against her husband forbeating and perforating her eardrum due to an earlier dis-pute between the two. The woman told Jabriya police thather husband beat her badly and caused the injuries men-tioned in a medical report she submitted. A case was filedfor investigations.

Caught on tapeA citizen documented the theft of two of his gas cylin-ders by surveillance cameras and gave the footage toFarwaniya police station. A security source said the citi-zen found two gas cylinders missing, and when hechecked the surveillance tape video, he saw a manentering the house calmly, taking the two gas cylindersand leaving. Farwaniya detectives are investigating.

Two rescuedA Syrian woman and her daughter were rescued bySalmiya fire department after they were trapped intheir building’s elevator. Firemen lowered the lift man-ually and got the two out in good condition.

Blackmail A citizen accused a man she knows of threatening andattempting to blackmail her because she rejected his inter-ference in her life and does not do as he likes, and lodged acomplaint at Fintas police station. A security source saidthe woman gave police the man’s information, and investi-gations are underway.

KD 650 theftA citizen was surprised to discover that KD 650 that was inhis car was missing after giving a lift to a man from Adan toAbu Halifa. The citizen told police that while on his way, hestopped at a bookstore and took the Egyptian man in thecar, and when the man reached his destination and left, themoney was missing. Detectives are working on the case.

Hit-and-runA child was hit by a car in Riqqa and rushed to AdanHospital. The driver fled. The child’s father filed a case atRiqqa police station and handed police a medical reportstating the child’s injuries. Detectives are looking for thesuspect.

Property damageA citizen said two of his friends deliberately damagedhis luxury car by hitting it several times. When askedabout the reason for their action, he said they wantedto make him upset following a dispute with them. Thecase was referred to South Surra detectives. Both sus-pects were arrested and sent to concerned authorities.

Intruder caughtAn Indian man was beaten before police arrived andarrested him on charges of entering a house withintention to commit a crime. A citizen called police andtold them he found a stranger in his maid’s room, andwhen police arrived at the house, they found that hewas beaten up. He said the maid had invited him.Separately, an Egyptian man told police that someoneentered his bedroom while he was in the shower andstole a mobile phone and KD 500. Investigations areongoing. — Al-Rai

Communication

Cabinet

Parliament

Some of today’s officials rejoice onbeing appointed, promising them-selves to become millionaires and tomake the best use of their positionsbefore they leave.

Meeting to addressprices freeze

KUWAIT: The Commerce and Industry Ministry called for a five-party meeting to discuss the commerce ministry’s decision tofreeze prices of products, services and handiworks. The bodiesinvited to the meetings are the Social Affairs Ministry, KuwaitChamber of Commerce and Industry, Kuwait Union of ConsumerCo-operative Societies and the Kuwait Union of FoodstuffManufacturers

Sources said the commerce ministry work on presenting thedecision to freeze prices and discuss it with various parties to findthe best means of its implementation, and explaining repercussionsand circumstances related to its implementation. They said they willtake the opportunity of having representatives of related partiesduring the fourth meeting of the members of the prices follow-upand supervision committee to discuss the decision and means of itsimplementation and its effects on businesses and consumers.

Sources said the commerce ministry will work on asking co-ops’ representatives to submit a report that includes a list ofproducts that were approved for price hikes last year, reasons forthe hike and their approval procedures in order to ask compa-nies to reduce prices that were raised based on high oil pricesduring the past period. They said the co-ops union asked for theapproval of several decisions during the meeting, including:

* Halt all applications to increase prices until an integratedstudy is completed to find whether the increases are warrantedor not.

* Reduce prices of products that were increased due to theeffects of a rise in oil prices.

* Authorize the union to decide on price increases by 5 per-cent or less.

* All applications to raise prices by companies to the unionhave to be studied, and a report submitted to the committeewhether to approve or reject them. — Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank (AUB) continuesits active participation in prominent realestate exhibits held in Kuwait given theirpopularity. As a result, the Bank announcedits sponsorship of the activities of the 9thAnnual Real Estate and Investment Expo inMishref from April 11-16, 2016.70 real estate,financial and investment companies exhibit-ed in the show and displayed more than 250projects in 15 Gulf and Arab countries, andaround the world

Commenting on this sponsorship, AhliUnited Bank issued a press release statingthat its participation sought to introduce tothe Expo visitors the most prominent prod-ucts and financial solutions offered by theBank to meet the high demand on owningreal estate through sharia compatiblefinancing programs. Ahli United Banks has astrong reputation in offering real estatefinancing services through a package of

benefits and facilities for clients character-ized by attractive terms and conditions.

Ahli United Bank added: Our participa-tion in these real estate events, which are ofinterest to a large group of Kuwaitis, pro-vides us with direct communication withthose visitors interested in real estate invest-ment. This helps develop the local bankingindustry to meet the needs of the Kuwaitimarket characterized by its dynamism andactivity. Of course, Ahli United Bank aims atnot only supporting the real estate sector inKuwait but also supporting the full spec-trum of economic activity in the country.

Ahli United Bank offers real estate financ-ing solutions that conform to and complywith Islamic sharia principles through anintegrated team of specialists offering apackage of facilities and advantages aimedto meet the expectations of various cus-tomer groups.

Ahli United Bank sponsors Real Estate, Investment Expo

Calls for closing massageparlors after recent raids

KUWAIT: After the arrest of 41 Asian transsexuals at mas-sage parlors along with the patrons of these places, somemembers of the Municipal Council asked NationalAssembly members to grill the commerce and industryminister if he does not move and issue a decision to closethese parlors and revoke their licenses.

Municipal Council member Nayef Al-Sour askedNational Assembly members to Minister Yousef Al-Alibecause of some massage parlors going beyond whatthey were licensed for and becoming brothels in violationof sharia and the laws. He said it is necessary to close themand deport workers who are transsexuals. He said the min-ister must revoke their licenses and never renew them.

He said the role of the interior ministry and vice detec-tives is not enough, so concerned authorities shouldunite towards putting an end to this shameful issue. Hesaid most health cards given to transsexuals workers werethrough ‘wasta’. — Al-Rai

KUWAIT: Education Minister Bader Al-Essaaffirmed the ministry’s seriousness to take allnecessary legal measures against privateschools that are in violation of decisions.

“We stopped the transactions of some pri-vate schools that are in violation, and werediscovered recently, and we are waiting forcomplaints filed by guardians in order to actaccordingly,” he said.

He said whether a school adds additionalfloors or not, it does not have the right to

increase fees unless approved by the min-istry. Essa was speaking during a tour ofsome locations allocated to build schools inSabah Al-Nasser. About Kuwaiti studentswho were racially discriminated against inthe US state of Idaho, Essa said the culturalattach and the consul visited the college,adding that students there have severalchoices including moving to other universi-ties, returning to Kuwait University or sus-pending their registration. — Al-Qabas

Action taken against violating schools: Minister

Education Minister Bader Al-Essa

KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait, a memberof international Ooredoo Group, hasrecently showcased its corporate socialresponsibility strategy through ‘TheCause’ conference, organized by GulfUniversity for Science and Technology(GUST). The conference took place atthe university’s campus between 10and 14 April 2016.

The conference focused on publicrelations and advertising, with anemphasis on corporate social responsi-bility where fifteen guest speakers fromparticipating organizations presented

their case studies and experiences.Representing Ooredoo Kuwait, SarahAl-Qabandi, Senior Specialist - CSR andSponsorships has showcasedOoredoo’s 2015/2016 CSR strategy andmajor achievements in a discussionpanel where she was also able toanswer questions of eager studentswho wanted to have a better and clear-er understanding of CSR and sponsor-ships opportunities.

Commenting on the sponsorship,Ooredoo stated: “We believe that wehave a responsibility to manage and

leverage our resources to be beneficialto the Kuwaiti youth. Our participationin this conference is proof of our effec-tive movement toward our goal of rais-ing the awareness of the importance ofCSR between the upcoming genera-tions.” ‘The Cause’ is the result of jointefforts between students and faculty’sdepartment of Mass Communicationand Media (MCM). It is organized jointlywith the student Media Club and thePR Club, as well as dozens of studentvolunteers and others enrolled in sever-al MCM courses.

Ooredoo showcasesCSR strategy at GUST

KUWAIT: Equipment worth KD 3 mil-lion were bought for Amiri Hospitallately, said informed health sourceswithout specifying the type of theacquired machines. Sources said thepurchase was done through one com-pany and there was no tender to allowcompetition between companies andprotect public funds.

They asked the health ministry tobe fair in purchasing equipment

through tenders for all companies.Meanwhile, Health Ministry AssistantUndersecretary for Financial AffairsMohammad Al-Azmi said the ministrywrote to the Civil Service Commissionto approve appointment of employ-ees on the “pay for work” system, andthe ministry is waiting for the com-mission’s reply. Azmi said theapproved health budget by thefinance ministry for the current fiscal

year reached KD 1,844,795,000 and isawaiting the National Assembly ’sapproval.

Azmi said that KD 8 million wasapproved for outstanding jobsrewards, and expected all lists toreach him during the coming weeks.The lists will go through the approvalstage and payments will be made bythe end of May at the latest.

— Al-Jarida and Al-Rai

Amiri Hospital acquiresKD 3 million equipment

Syrian rebels launchoffense against government

Page 10

US forces deliver aid to Japanese quake-hit areasPage 12


TEL AVIV: Israeli soldier, Sgt. Elor Azaria, sits inside an Israeli military court yesterday.—AP

JERUSALEM: An Israeli military court charged a sol-dier on Monday with manslaughter for last month’sfatal shooting of a wounded Palestinian attacker inthe West Bank, an incident caught on tape that hasdeeply divided the nation.

The soldier, a medic, Sgt. Elor Azaria, has alsobeen charged with inappropriate military conduct.The shooting took place last month in Hebron, aWest Bank city that has been a focal point of a sev-en-month wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Initially, the military had said two Palestiniansstabbed and wounded a soldier before troops killedthe pair. A video released later by the Israeli humanrights group B’Tselem showed one of the attackers,still alive and lying on the ground, before a soldiercalmly raised his rifle, cocked his weapon and firedat the assailant’s head. An autopsy later determinedthe bullet to the head was the cause of death.

His attorney, I lan Katz, said Azaria acted asexpected from a combat soldier and would seek afull acquittal. It was not immediately clear what sen-tence the soldier faces, if convicted. Such indict-ments in the military are very rare, according toIsraeli rights group Yesh Din.

The shooting has polarized Israeli society. Thecountry’s defense minister, its military chief and oth-er top officials called it contrary to the army’s valuessince the Palestinian attacker had been subduedand no longer posed a threat. That outcry in turnkicked up a torrent of support for the soldier whoclaims he feared the attacker was carrying an explo-sive belt.

Right-wing politicians have rushed to the sol-dier’s defense, with many Israelis calling his actions

appropriate for a country reeling from months ofPalestinian attacks, mostly stabbings, which havekilled 28 Israelis and two Americans. At least 188Palestinians have died by Israeli fire in the same peri-od, including 142 who Israel says were attacking ortrying to attack Israelis.

A Tel Aviv rally in solidarity with the soldier isscheduled for Tuesday night, with top Israeli musi-cians due to perform. However, Eyal Golan, one ofIsrael’s most recognizable artists, later dropped outof the event and said he had intended to “supportthis soldier and embrace his family” but reconsid-ered so that he did not appear to be coming outagainst the military chief.

Complex situations Yohanan Plesner, head of the Israel Democracy

Institute, said such a rally was an affront to the mili-tary, Israel’s most hallowed institution. “Our soldiersare faced daily with complex situations and in themajority of cases they succeed in responding in away that is consistent with proper ethical norms,” hesaid. “Holding a support rally for a soldier that shot aneutralized terrorist harms the strength of the IDFbecause it erodes the very values on which the armystands.”

The indictment against the soldier came justhours after the Israeli military said it had discoveredand destroyed a tunnel burrowing from Gaza intoIsrael - the first tunnel to be discovered since Israel’s2014 war with the militant Islamic Hamas move-ment that rules the coastal strip.

Israeli troops detected the tunnel’s exit, stillunderground, several days ago, according to military

spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, who added the tun-nel is believed to have been built since the war’sconclusion. It extended several hundred metersfrom Gaza into Israel and was lined with cement andoutfitted with electricity, ventilation and rail tracksto cart away dirt from digging, Lerner said.

In 2014, Israel destroyed more than 30 tunnelsHamas had dug under the border. More than 2,200Palestinians, about two-thirds of them civilians, werekilled in the 50-day summer war. On the Israeli side,66 soldiers and seven civilians were killed.

Hamas has vowed to rebuild the tunnel network.This year, 14 people died in Gaza while digging tun-nels aimed at attacking Israelis or hiding weaponsand rocket launch sites. Israelis living near the GazaStrip have reported hearing digging sounds undertheir homes in recent months. Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu said Israel has achieved a“global breakthrough in the ability to locate tunnels”and the government was investing considerablecapital in countering the tunnel threat. “This is anongoing effort that will not end overnight,” he said.The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas,said the newly discovered and destroyed tunnel was“just a drop in the ocean of what the resistance hasprepared to defend its people, free its sanctuariesand prisoners.”

Spokesman Eyal Brandeis of Kibbutz Sufa - justacross the border from the southern Gaza Strip -told Israel Radio the tunnel’s exit would have beennear his community. In 2014, Palestinian gunmenattempted to attack Israel through another tunnelnear the kibbutz. “All the worries and fears residentshere had ... are coming back,” Brandeis said.—AP

Israeli army charges soldier for killing wounded PalestinianCase has polarized Israeli society

CAIRO: The Egyptian pound weakened further againstthe dollar on the black market yesterday, extending itsrecent decline despite central bank efforts to close thegap between demand and supply in the dollar-starvedeconomy.

Egypt, which relies heavily on imports, is facing a short-age of foreign currency inflows after a 2011 uprising drovetourists and foreign investors away, causing the country’sreserves to tumble to $16.56 billion in March from $36 bil-lion in 2011.

Black market traders who quoted a range of 10.25-10.28pounds per dollar last week raised their rates to a range of10.50-10.65 per dollar on Monday, 8 traders told Reuters.“The price has been rising rapidly since Sunday evening.There is a lot of demand from some importers,” said onetrader, who said he made trades worth over two milliondollars within the 10.55-10.60 per dollar pricing range.

A black market for dollars has sucked up liquidity fromthe banking system as the central bank kept the poundartificially strong and rationed dollars through weekly auc-tions, putting a strain on foreign reserves.

In an attempt to close the gap between official andblack market rates, the central bank devalued the currencyto 8.85 per dollar from 7.7301 last month. It later strength-ened it to 8.78 per dollar, while adopting a more flexibleexchange-rate policy.—Reuters

Egyptian poundweakens on the black

market yesterday

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama speaks in theBrady Press Briefing Room at the White House.—AP

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama setsout this week on his first in a series of interna-tional farewell tours, a sometimes wistful tra-dition for presidents in legacy mode. But in areminder of this president’s uneven ties toallies, Obama’s first stop will involve moredamage control than nostalgia, more frictionthan fondness.

When Obama lands in Riyadh onWednesday for a Persian Gulf summit, he’ll bemet by leaders roiled by his recent publiccomplaints about global “free riders” and har-boring deep distrust of his dealings with Iranand his posture in Syria. Before heading on towhat will likely be valedictory visits to GreatBritain and Germany, the White House will betasked with providing some measure of reas-surance to a set of allies that remain critical ofUS counterterrorism goals - even as theyincreasingly look to his successor.”I think thetrip is to reassure Arab allies that the UnitedStates is there for the long run and not cut-

ting and running,” said David Ottaway, aMiddle East expert at the Wilson Center, aWashington think tank.

Obama has appeared to be more in themood for frank talk than handholding. In aninterview published in the Atlantic magazinethis month, the president broadly blastedallies who don’t pull their weight and toooften look to the US to provide security. Evenmore eyebrow-raising in Riyadh, the presi-dent argued that the Saudis and Iran “need tofind an effective way to share the neighbor-hood and institute some sort of cold peace” -an insult to the Saudis who view Tehran as abitter, destabilizing foe.

The GulfObama’s f irst meeting with the Gulf

Cooperation Council last year at Camp Davidwas focused on addressing these worries asthe US tried to build support for its nucleardeal with Iran. His recent comments ensure

that reassuring them about Iran will remaina major piece of the follow up meeting thisweek with the group, which includesBahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emiratesand Oman.

In talks leading to the summit, officialsfrom the United States and Persian Gulfstates have discussed ways the US can backup that reassurance, including help withnew counterterrorism, military, missiledefense and cybersecurity capabilities.Secretary of State John Kerry, who will joinObama on the trip, has floated a possiblepartnership between the GCC and NATO andpledged $139 million in humanitarian aid forYemen, where the Saudis are embroiled in aproxy war in with Iran.

“We’re not at all going to take our eye offthe ball when it comes to the threats posedby Iran,” deputy national security adviser BenRhodes said. But he said the president’s com-ments reflect the firm belief that “ultimately

there’s not a military resolution to the chal-lenges in the region.”

The Saudis have long pushed, with no suc-cess, for more aggressive U.S. military actionto counter Iran in Syria and Iraq, a positionthat sets up tense talks between Saudi KingSalman and Obama over shaky prospects fornegotiations about the political future inSyria. The U.S. and the Saudis are dividedover what to do if the talks fall apart. SaudiArabia and several gulf states maintainPresident Bashar Assad must go, under mili-tary threat, if necessary, while the U.S. backs atransition plan that would allow Assad toremain in power for months.

Saudi Arabia is cooperating with efforts totrim the population of prisoners being held atthe US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay,Cuba. The Pentagon announced Saturdaythat nine Guantanamo detainees had beentransferred to Saudi Arabia, cutting the num-ber of detainees there to 80.—AP

Obama’s first farewell tour starts with damage control

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

CAIRO: French President Francois Hollande dis-cussed economic and cultural ties in Egypt yes-terday, a day after he arrived to a lavish welcomequickly overshadowed by his host’s controversialhuman rights record.

Hollande, who is visiting Cairo as part of aregional tour, attended a business forum withhis Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi,with both countries hoping to boost trade andinvestments. Allegations of human rights abusesunder Sisi’s government dominated a joint pressconference on Sunday, with Hollande insistingthat respecting rights was not a hindrance tofighting “terrorism”.

But Egypt-the most populous Arab country-is seen as a cornerstone of regional security aswell as a key trade partner for France, a pointHollande raised at the business forum. “Trade,growth and investment are of course at stake,but also security and stability and develop-ment, not only in Egypt but throughout theregion,” he said. “France is the sixth largest for-eign investor in Egypt,” he added, addressingFrench and Egyptian business leaders and offi-cials. Sisi, in his speech, said Cairo was “workingseriously to create an attractive environmentfor foreign investors”, adding that tradebetween the two countries was 2.58 billioneuros ($2.9 billion) last year.

The two leaders on Sunday oversaw the sign-ing of 18 economic memorandums of under-standing, and 1.2 billion Euros in financing for anextension of Cairo’s metro system. The dealsincluded financing for a wind farm and a solarpower plant. Officials travelling with Hollandesaid new agreements which could includedefense contracts were expected on Monday.

‘Security and development’ Egypt has proved to be a lucrative market for

French military hardware. It was the first foreigncountry to buy French-made Rafale warplanes,and also bought two Mistral helicopter carriers.

Hollande revisited the topic of human rightson Monday, saying “France has principles andvalues”. “But we also want to ensure security anddevelopment,” he said, referring to jihadistattacks in Egypt and the region.

On Sunday, Hollande said he had raised thecase of Italian student Giulio Regeni, whosebody was found covered in torture marks inFebruary in Cairo, more than a week after his dis-appearance.

He said he also brought up the case of EricLang, a French teacher who was murdered in anEgyptian jail in 2013. Since the overthrow ofIslamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 bythe military then led by Sisi, police have waged abloody crackdown on Islamists that has killedmore than 1,000 protesters.

The crackdown has spread to secular and left-wing dissidents who had supported Morsi’soverthrow but then turned on Sisi. Meanwhile,jihadists have mounted an insurgency based inthe Sinai Peninsula that has killed hundreds ofsoldiers and policemen.

The Islamic State group’s Egypt affiliate hasalso claimed responsibility for bombing a planecarrying Russian holidaymakers over Sinai lastOctober, killing all 224 people on board. Sisi,who won a presidential election in 2014, hasmade his country a key player in the fightagainst IS, which a US-led coalition is battling inIraq and Syria. After his Cairo trip, Hollande willon today visit Jordan’s Prince Hassan air base,where French aircraft taking part in the coalitionbattling IS in Syria and Iraq are stationed. — AP

Hollande talks business onsecond day of Egypt visitRegional tour continues with Jordon next

CAIRO: French President Francois Hollande (R) and Egypt’s Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani visit the Mohamed Ali Mosque at the Citadelle yesterday. — AFP

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said yesterday thatit had located and destroyed a tunnel extendingfrom the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, in thefirst such discovery since a devastating 2014conflict. Israeli military spokesman Peter Lernersaid the tunnel he accused Hamas of buildingextended from the southern Gaza Strip severalhundred meters into Israel though no exit hadbeen constructed.

He declined to provide specifics on how itwas “neutralized”. “This tunnel is the first one tobe found since Operation Protective Edge,”Lerner told journalists, referring to the 2014 war.“It was built by Hamas in order to infiltrate andexecute terror attacks against the people of thesouthern communities and (military) forces inthat area.” Hamas’ military wing said the discov-ery, which it said was east of the southern Gazancity of Rafah, was “only a drop in the ocean ofwhat the resistance has prepared in orderdefend our people, the freedom of the holyplaces and its land and captives.”

Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-QassamBrigades, claimed the army had not “dared” topublish the full details of the tunnels for fear ofscaring Israelis. According to Lerner, the tunnelwas 30 to 40 meters underground and largeenough for an adult to stand inside.

It included concrete slabs, “communicationlines” and rails used to move rubble, he said.Lerner called it a “new tunnel,” saying the militarybelieved it was built after the 2014 war. Hamasforces have used tunnels in the past to avoid orcarry out attacks, store weapons and at times toenter Israel and capture soldiers. Israel launchedits 2014 operation in Gaza, run by Islamist move-ment Hamas, with the stated objectives of halt-ing rocket fire and destroying attack tunnels intoIsrael. During the war, Israel discovered 32 tun-nels, including 14 that extended into Israel,according to a UN report on the conflict.

It was the third war in Gaza since 2008 andthe longest, deadliest and most destructive. Itkilled 2,251 Palestinians, while more than 10,000were wounded and 100,000 were left homeless.On the Israeli side, 73 people were killed, ofwhom 67 were soldiers. Up to 1,600 werewounded, according to the United Nations.

Tunnel collapses A UN report in June said both Israel and

Palestinian militants may have committed warcrimes during the conflict, decrying “unprece-dented” devastation and human suffering.There have been a number of tunnel collapseswithin Gaza in recent months, including thoseextending toward Egypt. Several Gazans havebeen killed.

The tunnels toward Egypt are generally usedfor smuggling into and out of the Gaza Strip,which is under an Israeli blockade. Egypt’s bor-der with Gaza has also remained largely closed.In 2014, Egypt began setting up a buffer zone onits border with Gaza, and destroyed hundreds oftunnels it says were used for smugglingweapons and other items.

In September 2015, Egyptian forces carried

out excavations that Palestinians say caused theflooding of the last remaining tunnels there.Israel has been working on technology thatcould be used to better detect and destroy tun-nels. Flooding cannot be employed because ofthe large amount of territory along the Israeli-Gaza border and because sea water that wouldbe used would damage a reservoir in the area,an Israeli military official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Ohad Bachar, head oftraining for an Israeli military engineers unitinvolved in destroying such tunnels, told AFPlast week that the flooding option was consid-ered in the past, but abandoned due to those

concerns. He said that in general heavy equip-ment and explosives can be used in operationsto destroy tunnels. “We are not sitting and wait-ing,” he said. “We are always... getting new waysto deal with this kind of threat.”

On April 4, Israel announced it had stopped pri-vate imports of cement to Gaza, accusing thedeputy director of the economy ministry of divert-ing supplies. The official, Imad al-Baz, denied thecharges and warned of a potential “explosion”unless the cement ban was lifted. UN officials saythe cement is badly needed for rebuilding follow-ing the 2014 war, though Israel fears it could beused for tunnel construction. — AFP

Israel finds tunnel from Gaza into Israeli territory

ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER: Israeli soldiers keeping watch as a machine drills holes in the groundon the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip as they search for tunnels reportedly usedby Palestinian militants for fighting Israel. — AFP

ROME: At least eight African migrants, andpossibly as many as 27, died in a new boattragedy off the coast of Libya, a search and res-cue organization said yesterday.

French charity SOS Mediterranee said itsboat, the Aquarius, had rescued 108 migrantsfrom a stricken dinghy in high seas on Sunday.One of the survivors told the Aquarius crewthere had been at least 135 people on boardwhen the overcrowded vessel left the Libyanport of Sabratha.

Eight of the passengers were confirmeddead: six corpses were recovered in the dinghyand two were carried away by the waves aftera mass panic resulted in dozens falling into thewater as the rescue boat approached.

The dinghy, at that point, was already half-deflated and taking on water with the motor

having given out some nine hours after itembarked from Libya on Sunday. The survivorswere nationals of 11 different African coun-tries. According to the InternationalOrganisation for Migration, a total of 352migrants perished in the waters betweenLibya and Italy between the start of this yearand April 15. More than 24,000 migrants havemade it to Italy, almost all of them havingbeen picked up at sea by boats participatingin a multinational search and rescue operationcoordinated by the Italian coastguard.

SOS Mediterranee operates the Aquarius inpartnership with medical charity Doctors with-out Borders (MSF). Sunday’s operation came aday after the boat rescued 116 migrants fromanother stricken dinghy, three of whom hadbullet wounds. — AFP

Eight dead, nearly 20 missing in new migrant boat tragedy off Libya

BAGHDAD: Iraqis gather at the entrance of the heavily-fortified Green Zone toprotest for reforms yesterday. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Yesterday Iraqi premier Haideral-Abadi called for the fractious parliamentto put aside its differences and do its job,saying he hopes a new cabinet will beapproved in days. Iraq has been hit byweeks of political turmoil surroundingAbadi’s move to replace the current cabi-net of party-affiliated ministers with a gov-ernment of technocrats.

His efforts to change the cabinet, whichhave faced significant opposition frompowerful political parties that rely on con-trol of ministries for patronage and funds,were overshadowed by chaos in parlia-ment last week.

Both the United States and the UnitedNations have warned that the political cri-sis could distract from efforts to combatthe Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, whichoverran large areas of Iraq in 2014. “I callon parliament to convene immediately toovercome the obstacles and contribute todeveloping solutions to the challenges fac-ing the country,” Abadi said in a statement.

“I look forward to parliament being ableto undertake its... legislative and supervi-sory role and voting on the cabinet reshuf-fle in the coming days,” he said.

Abadi presented a list of cabinet nomi-nees at the end of March, but the politicalblocs put forward their own candidates,and most of the premier’s original list wasreplaced on a second presented to MPs

last week. Some MPs demanded theopportunity to vote on Abadi’s original list-from which at least two candidates hadalready withdrawn-but the session wasadjourned on Tuesday without a vote.

Dozens of lawmakers then began a sit-in and spent the night in parliament, whilean “emergency” session on Wednesdayended with MPs shouting, shoving andthrowing punches in the chamber.

And on Thursday, lawmakers voted tosack parliament speaker Salim al-Juburiand his deputies, but the speaker insiststhe session at which the vote was heldlacked a quorum and was therefore invalid.Juburi opponents tried to meet onSaturday to select replacements for himand his deputies, but MPs from the ShiiteBadr bloc said they would not attend, leav-ing it without a quorum.

Demonstrators then began a sit-in incentral Baghdad for the second time in thepast month, leading to increased securitymeasures and major traffic jams.

The political turmoil comes as Iraqiforces batt le to regain more groundfrom IS, which has lost significant terri-tor y but sti l l holds a major chunk ofwestern Iraq. An operation against ISwest of Baghdad was apparent lydelayed in March after security forceswere withdrawn to provide security fordemonstrators in the capital. — AFP

Iraq PM calls on fractious parliament to do its job

BRUSSELS: The EU and Tunisia agreed yes-terday to deepen their bilateral ties follow-ing a ministerial EU-Tunisia meeting inLuxembourg held on the sidelines of an EUforeign ministers meeting.

Speaking at a press conference after themeeting, Tunisian Foreign Minister KhemaisJhinaoui said: “They have agreed to furtherstrengthen our relations and cooperationas part of a privileged partnership.” He not-ed that yesterday’s meeting is “an opportu-nity for them to set out to our Europeanpartners, their vision for future relationswith the EU as part of the new neighbor-hood policy. Tunisia hopes with theirEuropean strategic partner to strengthentheir relations to make them stronger,deeper and broader.”

Jhinaoui also stressed the importancethat they face up to the terrorism threat

which threatens the whole region, andalso to meet the legitimate needs andexpectations of the Libyan people who foryears now have suffered from the absencefor a central government.

On her part, EU High RepresentativeFederica Mogherini told the joint pressconference that they are very much awareof the fact that Tunisia is faced withimmense and interconnected challenges,security, socio-economic challenges.

“Tunisia can count on the EU in partic-ular on the light of this situation whichyoung people in Tunisia and the youth ofEuropean Union are facing. EU’s objec-t ive remains to provide the youngTunisians with prospects for the futureso that they can see the day they have agenuine place in the society in theircountry,” she added. — KUNA

EU, Tunisia agree to strengthen bilateral ties

DUBAI: Human Rights Watch yesterdayhailed Saudi Arabia’s decision to strip itsfrequently criticized religious police ofmany of their powers, urging the kingdomto also ease sex segregation rules. Underchanges approved by the Saudi cabinet lastweek, religious officers will no longer beallowed to detain people and instead mustreport violators to police or drug squadofficers. “This is a positive move for Saudicitizens and residents who have sufferedyears of harassment and abuse by the reli-gious police,” said Sarah Leah Whitson,HRW’s Middle East director.

Members of the religious police, formal-ly known as the Commission for thePromotion of Virtue and Prevention of Viceand informally as Mutawaa, can no longerstop or arrest or chase people or ask fortheir IDs or follow them, under the newregulations. They should instead “carry outthe duties of encouraging virtue and for-bidding vice by advising kindly and gently”,the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The religious police enforce Saudi

Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islam includ-ing segregation of the sexes and ensuringthat women cover themselves from head-to-toe when in public.

They also patrol shops to make surethey are shuttered during Muslim prayersfive times daily. “The authorities should gofurther and strip the religious police of thepower to enforce sex segregation rules,”said Whitson.

The commission’s tactics have regularlybeen the subject of controversy, mostrecently in February when members werearrested for allegedly assaulting a youngwoman outside a Riyadh shopping mall,local media said at the time.

A five-member advisory committee willin future make suggestions to the Mutawaapresident -appointed by King Salman - onholding officers to account for any viola-tions or abuse. “Saudi Arabia has taken astep that could rein in longstanding reli-gious police abuses, but authorities mustenforce the new regulations for them tohave any meaning,” Whitson said. — AFP

HRW welcomes Saudi move to curb vice police


Syrian rebels launch offense against govt‘We have the right to retaliate and defend ourselves’

NY takes center stage in US electionSanders to throw a concert

BEIRUT: Syrian opposition fighters launched anew offensive against government forces yester-day in a number of areas in the country’s north-west, further straining a fragile cease-fire aspeace talks resume in Geneva.

Around 10 rebels groups, including some rep-resented at the talks, said in a statement that theattacks in rural parts of the Latakia province, agovernment stronghold, are in retaliation for vio-

lations of a US and Russian-brokered cease-firethat took effect in late February.

The offensive, called “The Battle to RedressInjustices,” is in response to government attacksagainst refugee camps and residential areas, thestatement said. Different factions shared videos

of their fighters lobbing rockets at governmentpositions in the Jabal al-Akrad area, close to therebel-held northwestern province of Idlib. Insocial media postings, the groups claim to havegained ground. The Britain-based SyrianObservatory for Human Rights confirmed therebels seized control of at least two areas andsaid al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, istaking part in the fighting. Neither the Nusra

Front nor the Islamic State group is included inthe cease-fire. The cease-fire had reduced vio-lence across Syria despite alleged violations onboth sides. The opposition says the governmenthas breached the agreement more than 2,000times. The cease-fire was intended to facilitate

talks in Geneva, which resumed last week.The truce has held in most of Syria, except in

the north, where it has practically collapsed. TheNusra Front is deeply rooted in the areas innorthern Syria controlled by opposition forces,complicating the oversight of the truce.

Insurgents meanwhile attacked governmentpositions in the rural part of the Hama province,adjacent to Latakia, activists said. TheObservatory said government helicoptersdropped barrel bombs on the village of KhirbetNaqous after fighters seized it earlier in the day.

What the rebels sayA Syrian opposition member in Geneva,

Mohammed al-Abboud, said the rebels have theright to defend themselves. “We have the right toretaliate and defend ourselves in case we areattacked and we will not be silent about anyaggression and we will continue our main mis-sion to defend civilians,” al-Abboud said in com-ments published on the Syrian opposition HighNegotiation Committee’s Twitter account.

Syria’s UN ambassador Bashar Ja’afari, who isleading the government’s delegation in Geneva,accused rebel fighters of calling for a “revocationof the cessation of hostilities.”

But the envoy devoted most of his publiccomments to criticizing Israel for holding aCabinet meeting on Sunday in the GolanHeights, which Israel captured from Syria in the1967 Middle East war and later annexed.

Russia’s foreign minister meanwhile said thetwo sides meeting in Geneva should move todirect talks. Until now the two delegations havemet in separate rooms, with a UN envoy shuttlingbetween them. Speaking to reporters in Moscow,Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied allega-tions that Moscow and Washington were negoti-ating the departure of Syrian President BasharAssad behind closed doors. UN envoy Staffan deMistura met with the government delegation inGeneva earlier on Monday and was to meet withthe opposition later in the day. — AP

NEW YORK: US Democratic presidential hopefulBernie Sanders is throwing a concert in a park with adramatic view of Manhattan’s skyscrapers. At theopposite end of New York state, Republican front-run-ner Donald Trump will be holding a rally in Buffalo, aRust Belt city recovering from economic decline. Thelast official day of campaigning before voting in thestate’s Democratic and Republican primary electionsbegins today - thousands of New Yorkers will haveheard the candidates’ closing pitches.

New York’s primary is set to be the most deci-sive such election in the state in decades in termsof picking the nominees for November’s generalelection. The date for the contests was shifted backthis year so they are no longer crowded out by theraft of other states that voted on so-called SuperTuesday last month.

Barring an upset on the Republican side, Trump,

whose name in giant letters adorns condominiumsand hotels across New York City, is expected to winhandily in his native state. “You’re going to lookback and say, ‘That was the greatest vote I’ve evercast, ever, ever, ever,’” the billionaire businessmanpromised a crowd of cheering supporters at a cam-paign event on Staten Island, one of New YorkCity’s five boroughs and its most solidly Republicanone. The question is whether Trump will make aclean sweep of all 95 Republican delegates at stakeby earning the majority of votes in all 27 congres-sional districts in the state. Total victory in NewYork may help Trump avoid the prospect of seeingthe nomination wrested from him at the party’sJuly 18-21 convention in Cleveland if he arriveswithout a clear majority of at least 1,237 delegates.In that scenario, another candid date could win ona second or subsequent convention ballot.

Trump’s Republican rivals, Ted Cruz, a US sena-tor from Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich,have no strong ties to New York, though they havegamely showed up at campaign events to be seenrelishing local delicacies: pizza, pickles, matzo.Cruz, Trump’s closest rival, has been given a partic-ularly hard time by some voters for speaking dis-dainfully of “New York values” earlier this year in anattempt to discredit Trump.

While Trump holds his rally in Buffalo, Cruz willbe campaigning in New York City. Kasich will makeappearances in Syracuse and Schenectady, twoupstate New York cities. On the Democratic side,former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whorepresented New York for eight years in the USSenate and whose main home is just north of NewYork City, remains the favorite to win her party’snomination. —Reuters

GENEVA: Syrian chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari, Ambassador of the PermanentRepresentative Mission of Syria to the United Nations speaks to the media during a press con-ference after a round of negotiations between the Syrian government and UN Special Envoyfor Syria Staffan de Mistura yesterday. — AP

PORTOVIEJO: It was supposed to be a fam-ily reunion to celebrate a young relative’sstart of college. But the gathering ended intragedy when a collapsing building crushed17-year-old Sayira Quinde, her mother,father and toddler brother in their rustingChevy Blazer. A grief-stricken aunt, JohanaEstupinan, now is making the longest jour-ney of her life in a funeral hearse to thetown of Esmeraldas, where she will bury herloved ones and break the news of the lossto her sister’s three now-orphaned children.

As Ecuador digs out from its strongestearthquake in decades, tales of devastatingloss are everywhere amid the rubble. The7.8-magnitude earthquake left a trail of ruinalong Ecuador’s normally placid PacificOcean coast, buckling highways, knockingdown an air traffic control tower and flat-tening homes and buildings. At least 272people died, including two Canadians, andthousands are homeless.

President Rafael Correa said early yester-day that the death toll would “surely rise,and in a considerable way.” “The Ecuadoreanspirit knows how to move forward, and willknow how to overcome these very difficultmoments,” Correa said.

Portoviejo, a provincial capital of nearly300,000, was among the hardest hit, with thetown’s mayor reporting at least 100 deaths.The Quinde family drove there from theirhome hours north up the coast to drop offSayira at Estupinan’s house a week beforeshe was to start classes at a public universityon a scholarship to study medicine.

Tragedies “She was my favorite niece,” Estupinan

said, emotionally torn apart after waiting atthe city’s morgue for hours. “I thought I wasgetting a daughter for the six years it wasgoing to take her to earn a degree.” “I neverthought my life would be destroyed in aminute,” she added. Estupinan watched asher loved ones were loaded onto a truck-sized hearse for the nighttime drive, thethree older ones in dark mahogany coffinsand 8 -month-old Matias in a casket paintedwhite. “It was supposed to be a shortmoment of family happiness but it convert-ed into a tragedy,” she said.

She hoped to bury her relatives inEsmeraldas yesterday, but devastation thereis also severe and she worried aboutwhether the hearse could make it alongroads ripped apart by the quake. TheSaturday night quake knocked out power inmany parts along the coast and some whofled to higher ground fearing a tsunami hadno home to return to, or feared structuresstill standing might collapse. The country’sGeophysics Institute said it recorded 230aftershocks, some strong, as of Sundaynight. With makeshift shelters in short sup-ply, many hunkered down to spend a sec-ond straight night outdoors huddledamong neighbors. Correa cut short a trip tothe Vatican and flew directly to the city ofManta to oversee relief efforts. Even beforetouching Ecuadorean soil he signed a

decree declaring a national emergency.Speaking from Portoviejo late Sunday hesaid the earthquake was the worst naturaldisaster to hit Ecuador since a 1949 earth-quake in the Andean city of Ambato, whichtook over 5,000 lives. “Our grief is very large,the tragedy is very large, but we’ll find theway to move forward,” Correa said. “If ourpain is immense, still larger is the spirit ofour people.”

As rescuers scrambled through the ruinsnear the epicenter, in some cases diggingwith their hands to look for survivors,humanitarian aid began trickling in. Morethan 3,000 packages of food and nearly8,000 sleeping kits were being deliveredSunday. Correa’s ally, Venezuela, and neigh-boring Colombia, where the quake was alsofelt, organized airlifts. Mexico and Chile sentteams of rescuers.

Spain’s Red Cross said as many as 5,000people may need temporary housing afterthe quake flattened homes, and 100,000may need some sort of aid. “For God’s sakehelp me find my family,” pleaded ManuelQuijije, 27, standing next to a wrecked build-ing in Portoviejo. He said his older brother,Junior, was trapped under a pile of twistedsteel and concrete with two relatives. “Wemanaged to see his arms and legs. They’rehis, they’re buried, but the police kicked usout because they say there’s a risk the rest ofthe building will collapse,” Quijije said angri-ly as he looked on the ruins cordoned off bypolice. “We’re not afraid. We’re desperate. Wewant to pull out our family.”

Social MediaOn social media, Ecuadoreans celebrated

a video of a baby girl being pulled frombeneath a collapsed home in Manta. But fearwas also spreading of another night of loot-ing after 180 prisoners from a jail nearPortoviejo escaped amid the tumult.Authorities said some 20 inmates were recap-tured and some others returned voluntarily.Seeking security from any unrest, about 400residents of Portoviejo gathered Sundaynight on the tarmac of the city’s former air-port, where authorities handed out water,mattresses and food. The airport was closedin 2011 and flights diverted to a larger facilityin nearby Manta after Correa kicked out a USdrug interdiction operation stationed there.

Shantytowns and cheaply constructedbrick and concrete homes were reduced torubble along the quake’s path. In the coastaltown of Chamanga, authorities estimatedthan 90 percent of homes had damage,while in Guayaquil a shopping center’s rooffell in and a collapsed highway overpasscrushed a car, killing the driver.

The government said it would draw on$600 million in emergency funding frommultilateral banks to rebuild. But in themeantime, the digging and hoping againstthe odds continued. In downtownPortoviejo, a few blocks from where a four-story hotel fell onto the Quinde family’s car,the six-story social security building was apile of debris. — AP

In quake-devastated Ecuador, loss piles up amid the rubble

‘We’re not afraid. We’re desperate’

SANFORD, FLORIDA: Authorities say acentral Florida man killed his estrangedwife and two young children before fatallyshooting himself as police pursued him.

Authorities say the spree began lateSunday when 30-year-old Henry RamoneBrown waited in the trunk of ChericiaBrown’s vehicle, outside a Chili’s restau-rant. In a news release, Seminole CountySheriff’s officials say Brown stabbed herand ran over her with his car. She was

taken to a hospital where she died.Officials say Brown picked up the cou-

ple’s children, ages 4 and 1, from a babysitter and drove to Central FloridaRegional Hospital to find Chericia Brown.He was confronted by deputies andSanford police, fired at them and ranfrom the hospital. Deputies located himon Interstate 4 and used stop sticks onhis vehicle. Inside they found the bodiesof Brown and the children. — AP

Florida man shoots self after killing wife, 2 young children

MANTA, ECUADOR: Rescue workers search a collapsed building on Sunday. — AP

CHICAGO: A 76-year-old Washingtonstate man released from prison after aprosecutor concluded he was wronglyconvicted in the 1957 killing of a school-girl says he intends to sue Illinois for thesuffering five years of imprisonmentcaused him and his family.

Jack McCullough, a former securityguard and Vietnam veteran, spoke to TheAssociated Press for several hours onSunday, his second full day of freedom. OnFriday, a county judge ordered his releaseand vacated his 2012 conviction in theslaying of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph inSycamore, Illinois.

McCullough described spending 23hours a day locked in an 11-by-5-foot cell.While imprisoned, he wrote to the Illinoisgovernor and the US president, pleadingfor them to intervene. His letters were nev-er answered, he said.

McCullough wasn’t worried when hewas first arrested in 2011 and his con-science was clear as he entered prison. “Iknow I didn’t do it,” he said. But the experi-ence was still traumatic for him and hisfamily, especially his wife. “They didn’t justpunish me, they punished ... my wholefamily,” he said by telephone from anacquaintance’s home outside Sycamore. “Iwant the state to be (held) responsible.”

DeKalb County State’s AttorneyRichard Schmack said in a f i l ing lastmonth that McCullough couldn’t possiblyhave killed Maria.

He said a review of old evidence and thediscovery of some new evidence provedMcCullough was 40 miles away at the timeof Maria’s abduction. Schmack, whobecame state’s attorney only asMcCullough’s trial was ending, describedthe investigation and trial as deeply flawed.

McCullough said Sunday he thinksinvestigators wanted to be able to boastthat they had a hand in securing a convic-tion in one of the oldest cold cases in thecountry to go to trial.

Schmack said during the hearing Fridaythat led to McCullough’s release that hisoffice would use its discretion and notretry McCullough. He said his office wasfully convinced of McCullough’s innocence.

Maria’s disappearance made head-lines nationwide in the 1950s. She hadbeen playing outside in the snow witha friend on Dec. 3, 1957, when a youngman approached, introduced himselfas “Johnny ” and offered them piggy-back rides. Maria’s friend dashed hometo grab mittens, and when she cameback, Maria and the man were gone.Forest hikers found her remains fivemonths later. — AP

Man plans to sue over murder conviction in 1957

SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS: Jack McCullough gives his stepdaughter Janey O’Connorthe sign of “I love you” as he sits during a hearing in the DeKalb CountyCourthouse on Friday. — AP

BROOKLYN: A supporter holds a cutout of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during “A Future To Believe In GOTV” rally onSunday. — AFP


MOSCOW: The powerful chief of Russia’sequivalent to the FBI yesterday called forsweeping new rights restrictions, includ-ing curbing Internet freedoms and mak-ing it illegal to question Moscow’s annex-ation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The head of Russia’s InvestigativeCommittee Alexander Bastrykin backed aradical crackdown citing the need tocounteract the “destructive” influence ofthe United States. “It’s time to stop play-ing at pseudo-democracy, followingpseudo-liberal values,” argued the officialin charge of the country’s most high-pro-

file criminal investigations in a commentpiece in Kommersant Vlast weekly.

Calling for Russia to impose a strongnational ideology, he condemned “falsifi-cation of information on historical facts”and proposed outlawing any criticism ofRussia’s controversial annexation ofCrimea in 2014.

Russia should amend its extremismlegislation to include “denial of theresults of a public referendum,” he said,likening this to an existing ban on Nazipropaganda. Russia is struggling with a“hybrid war, unleashed by the US and its

allies” and has entered a phase of “openconfrontation,” he said.

He accused the US of funding opposi-tion parties that openly criticise theKremlin, stirring up the recent fighting inbreakaway Nagorny Karabakh and desta-bilising the Middle East by backing rebelsin Syria. “I feel it is time to put up aneffective barrier against this informationwar. We need a harsh, appropriate andsymmetrical response,” Bastrykin said.

Russia and the West have seen tiesslump to their lowest point since theCold War over the crisis in Ukraine.

Bastrykin praised China’s blocks on web-sites of foreign media to “defend thenational information space” and pro-posed that “to a reasonable degree wecould very well add this experience toour armoury in Russia.”

Bastrykin also called for all religious,cultural and youth organisations in thecountry to be subjected to a “wide-scaleand detailed check” to see if they weresupporting extremism.

He proposed stripping benefits tofamilies of those convicted on charges ofextremism and terrorism and confiscat-

ing their property, echoing Stalin-erapractices.

“Someone who chooses to committhese crimes should know that not onlywill he be buried in an unmarked grave,but he will also strip his close relatives ofsupport from the government,” Bastrykinsaid. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in2014 vowed to destroy the homes of rel-atives of insurgents, prompting thetorching of several houses. He wasrebuked by President Vladimir Putin,who has now backed him to serveanother term. —AFP

Russian security chief wants to counter US influence

BAHIR DAR: Plans for a new African counter-ter-rorism force to support vulnerable UN peace-keepers in Mali, where militant Islamist groupsare stepping up their activities, should be final-ized by July, the African Union’s special envoy toMali said.

The government in Bamako and officials ofthe UN MINUSMA force in Mali have sought morehelp in combating al Qaeda-linked insurgents,who have become more active despite efforts byFrench, Malian and UN troops to quash them.

As the threat emerged in Mali from severalIslamist groups, neighboring West African statesagreed in late 2014 to form a mission along thelines of a special UN brigade sent to easternCongo in 2013. Diplomats say a bid by theregional states - which include Mali, Burkina Faso,Chad, and Ivory Coast - to launch the force hasbeen hampered by difficulties in harmonizing itwith other security initiatives and regional rival-ries for influence.

“My judgment is maybe in three months,we should have a clear idea of what will bedone and how it will be done,” Pierre Buyoya,the special representative to Mali, told Reutersin the Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar during a con-ference on security. “This terrorist threat isthreatening not only Mali, but also the wholeregion. Northern Mali has become a base to

attack Burkina Faso, to attack Ivory Coast, andmaybe tomorrow other countries,” he said inan interview.

French forces role French forces drove jihadists out of Mali’s

northern cities in 2013 but they have sinceregrouped, launching attacks such as one on a

Bamako luxury hotel in November in which 20people were killed. In March, further south, fight-ers from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - thegroup’s North African branch - shot swimmersand sunbathers before storming hotels in theIvory Coast town of Grand Bassam, killing 19 peo-ple. Critics say the 10,000-strong UN force’s abilityto bring peace to Mali is hamstrung by its lack ofan aggressive counter-terrorism mandate, so itcannot hunt militants to pre-empt attack. Buyoyasaid models such as those of the AU’s AMISOMforce in Somalia that is battling al ShabaabIslamists or the multi-national force tackling BokoHaram militants in Nigeria and neighbours werealso being considered for the new mission.

The resurgence of Islamist groups such as theMassina Liberation Front (MLF) and al Qaeda-linked Movement for Unity and Jihad in WestAfrica (MUJWA) have also threatened to derail aMali peace agreement signed by the govern-ment with Tuareg-led rebels last year, officialssay. Buyoya said a preliminary study on the newforce had been drawn up by regional defenseministers and chiefs of staff.

“The big challenge now is commitment ofpartners for funding, because clearly the AfricanUnion does not have the means to fund thisforce,” he said, without suggesting who wouldfinance the new force. — Reuters

AU may finalize Mali counterterror force details by July

Insurgents more active despite efforts

BAMAKO: Malian national Alou Doumbia,32, the suspected “Number Two” of a groupof Islamists accused of carr ying out anattack last month on Ivory Coast’s GrandBassam resort. — AFP

YANGON, MYANMAR: A monk riding on a trishaw commutes past a commercial bill-board by a local food company with portraits of Myanmar democracy figureheadAung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw displayed on a street yesterday. — AFP

YANGON: Aung San Suu Kyi yesterdayvowed to press for greater autonomy forMyanmar’s ethnic minorities, in an earlymove to soothe the rebellions roiling thecountry after her party’s ascent to power.

Myanmar has been swept up in opti-mism for a more peaceful and prosperousfuture since the National League forDemocracy (NLD) took power on April 1,ending nearly a half century of militarydomination. But Suu Kyi warned itsprospects hinge on ending ethnic conflictsthat have blistered the country since itsindependence in 1948. To do so, the NLDgovernment would seek “a real federaldemocratic union”, the democracy figure-head said in a televised address markingMyanmar’s New Year. “Peace and a federaldemocratic union are closely intertwinedand that’s why we need to change the con-stitution. The most important thing isnational reconciliation.” They were Suu Kyi’sfirst major comments as “state counselor”-arole she took on following the handover toher civilian-led government.

The current charter, penned by the mili-tary in 2008, centralizes state power. Theformer junta in part justified its tight con-trol of the country with fears that ethnicdivisions would fracture the nation. But theconcept of federalism has graduallybecome central to peace discussionssteered by the quasi-civilian governmentthat replaced outright military rule in 2011.Negotiations, which do not include all rebelgroups, have yet to agree on exactly howpowers such as policing or revenue raisingmight be shifted to regional authoritiesunder a federal system. But by reiteratingthe federal pledge, Suu Kyi has sought toreassure ethnic leaders that the NLD willnot squeeze out minority groups.

Though Suu Kyi belongs to the ethnic

Bamar majority, her party picked up seatsin many of Myanmar’s ethnic minorityregions in last year’s election. She has how-ever come under fire from rights groups fornot throwing her moral weight behind theplight of the embattled Rohingya, a largelystateless Muslim minority pushed into grimdisplacement camps by waves of commu-nal violence in 2012.

Daughter of a hero Nobel laureate Suu Kyi is beloved by

many in Myanmar but blocked frombecoming president by the constitution asher two sons carry foreign citizenship. The70-year-old is the daughter of the country’sindependence hero, who famously signedan agreement before his assassination thatwould have granted a level of autonomy toseveral ethnic minority regions. Attemptsto amend the army’s charter under the for-mer quasi-civilian government werestymied by the military-which is gifted 25percent of all parliamentary seats by theconstitution it scripted.

Any fresh moves to change the charterare likely to meet stiff resistance from themilitary, which can veto amendmentsthrough its parliamentary bloc. Suu Kyi hastaken a firm grip of the country’s first civil-ian-led government in decades, taking on astring of senior roles in the new administra-tion, including the powerful-if vaguelydefined-advisory role.

She has vowed to rule “above” the presi-dent, picking school friend and close aideHtin Kyaw as her proxy. Conflicts continueto rage in several areas between ethnicminority armed groups and the army,which operates beyond the reaches of civil-ian government, after a ceasefire pactsigned late last year failed to include all ofthe country’s fighters. —AFP

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi reaches out to ethnic minority rebels

BRATISLAVA: Slovak Prime MinisterRobert Fico is to remain at a specialist clin-ic until at least the end of this week aftersuffering chest pains last week and willtherefore miss presenting the new cabi-net’s program in parliament yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister for InvestmentsPeter Pellegrini will step in, governmentspokeswoman Beatrice Szaboova said.Parliament is expected to debate the pro-gram for several days before approving itand giving the new cabinet a vote of con-fidence later this week.

The four-party coalition has a com-fortable majority of 81 votes in the 150-

member parliament. “His health hasn’tworsened but we want to be sure,” seniordoctor Vasil Hricak said yesterday. “Ficomade the decision to stay himself basedon our recommendations.”

Examinations at the National Instituteof Cardiovascular Diseases did not con-firm a heart attack. The 51-year-old Ficois a regular jogger and plays football. Hehas a history of spinal problems andsports-related injuries but no knownheart issues. He was appointed primeminister for the third time last month fol-lowing an election won by his leftistSmer party. — Reuters

MILAN: Rescued migrants are seen aboard MP01 ship of the Italian border police in the Mediterranean Sea, heading to the Island ofLampedusa, southern Italy on May 14, 2015. — AP

MILAN: Exactly one year after a fishing boatcrowded with smuggled migrants capsized, sink-ing to the Mediterranean Sea floor with some 800people trapped inside, Italy is launching efforts toraise up the ship and bring it to a Sicilian port.

Italian naval ships are to set sail yesterdayevening from Sicily for the shipwreck site. Therethey will determine how best to lift the wreck,which still contains bodies, from a depth of 360meters. It will then be towed to the Sicilian port

of Augusta in an operation expected to take therest of the month. The Italian navy has alreadyrecovered 169 bodies found near the wreck,after I taly ’s premier vowed to recover thecorpses out of respect for the dead.— AP

Italy aims to raise shipwreck containing drowned migrants

STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s Housing Minister Mehmet Kaplan speaks at a press confer-ence to announce his resignation yesterday. — AFP

STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s Housing MinisterMehmet Kaplan will resign following com-ments where he likened Israel’s treatment ofPalestinians to what happened to Jews in NaziGermany, the prime minister said yesterday.The comments that daily Svenska Dagbladetfirst reported last week were made in 2009,before Kaplan entered the newly formed cen-tre-left government to represent the minorcoalition partner the Green Party in 2014.

The resignation comes amid reports oftensions within the centre-left minority coali-

tion government of Prime Minister StefanLofven’s Social Democrats and the GreenParty. The coalition had already been strainedby an asylum crisis last year. Deputy PrimeMinister Asa Romson of the Greens was closeto tears when tougher asylum policies werepresented late last year and criticism fromwithin her party has been fierce. Kaplan, whowas born in Turkey, has also been criticizedfor appearing on pictures from a dinnerwhere representatives from an ultra-national-ist Turkish organization attended. — Reuters

Sweden’s housing minister to leave after comments on Israel

French writer expelledfrom Chad after

criticizing regimeN’DJAMENA: A French author who has denouncedPresident Idriss Deby’s regime in Chad and who wasdetained on arriving in N’Djamena, was expelled toneighboring Cameroon yesterday, an AFP journalistsaw. Before boarding a flight to Douala, ThomasDietrich claimed that he had been beaten up anddeprived of his money and cell phone after his arrest,which was carried by agents of the National SecurityAgency, according to the Chadian opposition.

“His visa request was denied in Paris, so he went to(Cameroonian capital) Yaounde to get one. He wasdetained this morning,” a police source told AFP onSunday, the day after Dietrich arrived in the northcentral African nation.

Dietrich had announced his visit to N’Djamena onFacebook, where he criticized “the dictatorship thatoppresses Chad” and “human rights violations”,expressing solidarity with a “people who cry famine”despite oil revenues for more than a decade.

Last January he published a novel called “Lesenfants de Toumai” (“The Children of Toumai”), a lovestory between a Chadian Muslim girl and a Maoiststudent from a Christian background.

Chad is still awaiting the official results of an April10 presidential election in which a dozen candidateschallenged Deby’s 26-year grip on power, but he isexpected to win comfortably. His regime has crackeddown on public protest. — AFP

Slovak PM Fico to remain in hospital due to chest pains

DRESDEN, GERMANY: Lutz Bachmann, founder of the far-right PEGIDA movement(Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation) with his eyes covered (as if pixelized bymedia) arrives for a rally yesterday . Bachmann is due to face court tomorrow on hatespeech charges for branding refugees “cattle” and “scum” on social media. — AFP

I N T E R N AT ION A LTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

MANILA: A presidential election in thePhilippines could go down to the wireafter an offensive gaffe by frontrunnerRodrigo Duterte about a rape victimcaused outrage and could mean lossesof crucial swing votes with just threeweeks to go.

The tough-talking mayor has theedge in opinion polls over Senator GracePoe but as condemnation poured in for asecond day, focus shifted to whetherDuterte’s remarks and his refusal to apol-ogize could cost him the presidency. Aclip appeared on YouTube over the week-end of Duterte at a recent rally recalling a

1989 prison riot in which an Australianmissionary was killed, and inmates hadlined up to rape her.

In what sounded like a joke, Dutertesaid the victim was “beautiful” and asmayor of Davao city where it took place,he should have been first in the queue.“He crossed the line,” said Ramon Casipleof the Institute for Political and ElectoralReforms in the Philippines. “He may havegiven Poe the keys to the presidency.”

Social media users expressed theiroutrage and echoed comments byDuterte’s opponents denouncing him ascrass and unfit to be president.

Australian ambassador to the PhilippinesAmanda Gorely said rape “should neverbe joked about” and US counterpartPhilip Goldberg said his country wouldnot condone any statement anywherethat trivialised rape and murder.

Duterte has cultivated an image as acrime-busting political hard man and hisinflammatory campaign speeches andno-holds-barred approach haveendeared him to many Filipinos. Poe’srunning mate, Francis Escudero, said heexpected it would see Duterte lose “softvotes”, or 5-8 points in polls.

Duterte moved ahead of school-

teacher-turned-senator Poe in opinionpolls last week, but experts said the com-ment could be decisive in a tight raceand push undecided women voterstowards his main opponent.

“He has been testing the limits ofcivility ... but he’s unleashed a hornets’nest with this rape joke,” said JulioTeehankee, dean of political science atManila’s De La Salle University. “This willhave an impact on him and it’s too close,three weeks to go, then you make thismajor blunder. Last week, the momen-tum was on his side, he was about tobreak away.”

Duterte reiterated his comment wastaken out of context and refused to apol-ogize for repeating words he had used inanger in 1989. He regretted the “gutterlanguage” he used, but said that was partof his tough upbringing. The remarkcould make for a more exciting race, butDuterte’s core support should remainintact. “It all goes back to this phenome-non: Voters in the Philippines are people-oriented, hardly issue-oriented,” saidCatholic priest Ranhilio Aquino, dean ofthe San Beda Graduate School ofLaw.”People who are committed to himwill remain committed to him.”—Reuters

Duterte’s remarks may cost him swing votes in Philippine election

MASHIKI, JAPAN: Japan’s Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. military members load relief goods onto MV-22 Osprey which arrived in theirTakayubaru vice camp yesterday.—AP

US forces deliver aid to

Japanese quake-hit areas

42 people died and more than 1,000 were injuredMINAMIASO: US airlifts delivered water, bread,ready-to eat food and other emergency suppliesMonday to a remote area of southern Japanstricken by two powerful earthquakes, as localrescuers searched for nine people still reportedmissing.

Authorities said at least 42 people died andmore than 1,000 were injured in the quakes onThursday and early Saturday. The flights by twoMV-22 Ospreys were a gesture of cooperationbetween the two allies and a chance for the USmilitary to demonstrate the utility of the tilt-rotor aircraft, whose deployment has raised con-troversy in Japan due to safety concerns.

Minamiaso, a town of 12,000 on the southernisland of Kyushu, was partly cut off by landslides

and road and bridge damage. Residents theremarked their location with chairs aligned in agiant “SOS” while awaiting the US relief flights,which also delivered tents and portable toiletsand waste treatment kits.

Yachiyo Fuchigami, 64, was among thosekeeping a wary eye on puffs of smoke risingfrom nearby 1,592-meter (5,223-foot) MountAso, Japan’s largest active volcano. Fuchigamisuffered a broken arm when a bookshelf fell onher during the second earthquake. The firstquake caused more damage in another, lessremote city, Mashiki.

“The second earthquake caught us by sur-prise,” she said. “We survived the first one andwere watching the scenes in Mashiki on TV. I

never thought we were going to be next.” Ninepeople died in the first, magnitude-6.4 earth-quake, and 33 in the second quake, which regis-tered 7.1, revised from an initial reading of 7.3.

Search effortsRescuers were redoubling search efforts,

shoveling through mud and debris as theyrushed to beat forecast heavy rains that wouldmake land and collapsed buildings even moreunstable. The US has about 50,000 troops sta-tioned in Japan, and the American militaryplayed a large role in rescue and relief in 2011after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit thenortheastern coast of the main island of Honshu.

“We’re here to support the Japanese defenseforces, and so whatever they need and we canprovide that support, we’re here to help,” said USMarine Corps Lt. Col. Tom Chalkley. “We’ll stay aslong as we’re needed, and that’s our task, andthat ’s our mission, to be here.” TatsuyukiAramaki, 60, was among local residents whocame from a nearby evacuation center to see theOspreys’ arrival.

It was “hugely appreciated,” Aramaki said. “Wehave been living on rock-hard biscuits, old riceballs and bread,” he said. “I heard Ospreys werecoming to deliver supplies for us so I had tocome and see. I couldn’t wait.”

The tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey flies like an air-plane but can take off and land like a helicopter,making it suited for mountainous areas likeMinamiaso, said Lt. Yuichiro Inoue of theJapanese army.

The US military operates 24 Ospreys in thesouthernmost islands of Okinawa, where mostof its Japan-based troops are stationed. The air-craft have been vehemently criticized by localresidents already unhappy over the large USpresence there. Crashes of Ospreys have raisedconcerns over their safety, though the US mili-tary says they are safe.

In other, less remote areas, utilities had teamsout fixing electricity connections, and somelocal supermarkets reopened after getting theirshelves back in order. Still, disruptions fromdamage to buildings and roads, and from out-ages of electricity and water supplies, werereverberating beyond Kyushu as manufacturerssuspended output.

Toyota Motor Corp. said it would shut downmost of its vehicle production in Japan over thecourse of this week because of parts shortagesstemming from the earthquakes. Nissan MotorCorp. and Honda Motor Co. also temporarilyhalted production at some facilities. Japan’sNikkei stock average fell 3.4 percent to 16,270.89yesterday. The decline stemmed from variousreasons, including a surge in the yen after week-end talks among major oil producers on freezingoil output ended without an agreement.

Many in the quake zone whose homes werenot seriously damaged sought shelter as thearea was rocked by more than 500 aftershocks.As of late Monday, 93,874 people were still inshelters.With some quake evacuees complainingof having only rice balls and bread to eat, PrimeMinister Shinzo Abe defended his government’shandling of the crisis.”We are doing our best,”Abe told lawmakers when challenged by theopposition over the government’s relief efforts.“We are striving to improve living conditions forthe people who have sought refuge.”—AP

BANGKOK: Authorities in Thailand said yester-day that 442 people died in traffic accidentsduring the just concluded traditional New Yearholiday - a 21 percent rise over the same peri-od last year despite stern efforts to curbdrunken and unsafe driving.

It was the highest number of Songkran hol-iday deaths since 476 were reported in 2006.The weeklong holiday has been dubbed the“Seven Days of Death,” though Thailand hasthe second-worst record in the world forannual traffic fatalities.

There were 3,337 accidents during theweek ending Sunday, with motorcyclesaccounting for more than 81 percent of thetotal, followed by pickup trucks, the RoadSafety Directing Centre announced. Drunkendriving was blamed for just over one-third of

the accidents, and speeding for just underanother third. Road injuries for the weektotaled 3,656. The government had sought tocurb accidents during the holiday by deploy-ing 20,000 officials to checkpoints and order-ing drunken drivers’ vehicles to be impoundedand their licenses revoked. Rewards were alsooffered to police making the most number ofdrunken-driving arrests. Deputy GovernmentSpokesman Weerachon Sukondhapatipakblamed the high accident rate on unsafe roaddesign and lack of discipline among Thai driv-ers. “Not only villagers, but educated people,who have been to developed countries, theyobey laws in those countries but they don’t doit here no matter how strict the laws are, howmany officers were patrolling or doing theirjobs at checkpoints,” he said.—AP

Thailand says Songkran holiday

road deaths rose 21 percent

BANGKOK: people riding on a motorbike react as a boy splashes water on them duringthe traditional Thai New Year celebrations or Songkran water festival.—AP

SYDNEY: Austral ian Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull handed his trigger yes-terday to call July elections after theSenate for a second time rejected govern-ment legislation to re-establish a con-struction industry watchdog.

Turnbull, who wrested the leadershipfrom conservative Liberal Party colleagueTony Abbott in September, has threatenedto hold national polls for both houses ofparliament on July 2 unless the Senatepassed two stalled bills relating to unions.

But the Senate on Monday eveningrejected for a second time legislation toreestablish a construction watchdog. Ithas already twice blocked a second indus-trial relations bill. “The result of the deci-sion in the Senate a short while ago...means that the constitutional grounds fora double dissolution election exist ,”Attorney-General George Brandis said.

But Brandis said this did not equatewith Australia being in an election cam-paign. “It is not really an election cam-

paign until the parliament is dissolved andthe writs are issued, in my view,” he toldthe Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Last month Turnbull recalled parlia-ment to consider the bills and said if theSenate failed to pass them, he would setin train the process to dissolve both hous-es of parliament and issue writs for anelection. The government is set to deliverits annual budget on May 3, and Brandissaid this would be a priority.

Turnbull’s Liberal/National coalitiongovernment has been wavering in opin-ion polls, with a Newspoll published inThe Australian on Monday showing theopposition Labor Party ahead of the gov-ernment 51 percent to 49 percent. ButBrandis said almost all Australian elec-tions fell within a 52-48 margin and weregenerally “extremely contestable by bothsides”. “As we move into the homestretch, you would expect the race totighten because that is what always hap-pens,” he said.—AFP

Australian PM Turnbull

handed early election trigger

JAKARTA: Muslim women holds a banner which reads “Refuse neo-communism” dur-ing a rally opposing the discussion of anti-communist massacres in 1965-66 outsidethe venue of the event yesterday.—AP

Indonesia takes step toward

reckoning with ‘65-66 atrocities

‘To build our nation in the future’JAKARTA: Indonesia yesterday convenedan unprecedented discussion of anti-com-munist massacres in 1965-66 that broughttogether survivors and representatives ofthe military that orchestrated the atrocities.

Protesters who say the two-day confer-ence will help revive communism scuffledwith police outside the tightly guardedvenue, in a sign of the deep divisions with-in Indonesia over what rights groups saywas one of the worst atrocities of the lastcentury. Researchers estimate that the mili-tary and religious groups killed half a mil-lion people in the attacks on communistsand sympathizers that ushered in the 32 -year rule of the dictator Suharto.Conference organizer Agus Widjojo, aretired general, said at the meeting thatIndonesia is “torn apart” by the massacresand called for the government to establisha commission for truth and reconciliation.

Within Indonesia, widely acceptedaccounts of the era gloss over the deaths,and descendants of Communist Partymembers are stigmatized and face legaldiscrimination that prevents them fromholding government jobs. But the confer-ence, being held at a hotel in Jakarta, thecapital, has the backing of government fig-ures and was opened by the Cabinet minis-ter in charge of security and political affairs,Luhut Pandjaitan. Indonesia’s attorney gen-eral, police chief and justice minister alsoattended.

When did it beginThe killings began in October 1965,

shortly after an apparent abortive coup inwhich six right-wing generals were killed.Suharto, an unknown major general at thetime, filled the power vacuum and blamedthe assassinations on Indonesia’sCommunist Party, which was then thelargest outside the Soviet Union and China,with 3 million members.

“Let’s open this history together so wecan all find out what has been wrong in ournational system, why this nation couldhave the ability to commit mass killings,”said Widjojo, whose father was one of thegenerals killed. Abdul Rashid, 71, was oneof the thousands who escaped death butsuffered years of imprisonment without tri-al or exile in remote corners of Indonesiabecause of a tenuous connection to theCommunist Party.

Rashid’s crime was joining a youthgroup in South Sulawesi province that did-n’t advertise its links to communists. Fouryears later, when he was 21, he was seizedby troops while teaching an elementaryschool class, and lost more than a decade

of his life to detention and exile.“I still remember how a dozen military

troops pushed into my class,” he said in aninterview. “They pushed in and pointedtheir rifles at me in front of my students.”After being freed, a special stamp in hisidentity card made life difficult, stigmatiz-ing Rashid and his family and making ithard to find work.

“This stigma is a too heavy burden,” hesaid. “There are so many innocent peoplewho became victims of a black history. Iwant this stigma to be ended.” Despite gov-ernment backing for the conference,Pandjaitan, the security minister, said therewould be no government apology to vic-tims and also questioned whether esti-mates of the death toll were accurate.

“I believe that this meeting will producepositive results to build our nation in thefuture,” he said. “We must be able to createpeace with our past. But don’t ever thinkthat the government will offer any apolo-gy.” Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcherfor Human Rights Watch, said the two-daysymposium by itself is not sufficient tocome to terms with a buried past.

“At the least, what the government cando is stop discrimination against the vic-tims - the survivors and their children andtheir grandchildren,” he said. Millions ofpeople are affected by a 1981 presidentialdecree barring communists and theirdescendants from serving in the police,military or civil service. Before the confer-ence, rights groups urged the United Statesto release all of its secret files on the mas-sacres, which could help reveal facts aboutthe period.

They were aware Declassified documents held at the

National Security Archive of GeorgeWashington University show that the USEmbassy in Jakarta was aware of extensivekillings in Java and other parts of Indonesiaand passed lists of communists it had com-piled to Indonesia’s military. It also organ-ized the supply of radios to the military andsecretly gave money to a military-linkedgroup involved in the repression.

At the time, the US viewed Indonesia asa bulwark in its efforts to thwart the influ-ence of the Soviet Union and China inSoutheast Asia. An embassy communica-tion to the Department of State on April 15,1966, about the number of deaths said:“We frankly do not know whether the realfigure is closer to 100,000 or 1,000,000 butbelieve it wiser to err on the side of thelower estimates, especially when ques-tioned by the press.”—AP

N E W STUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

An Indian elephant takes a dust bath amid rising temperatures at Zirakpur Chattbira Zoo, some 13 km from Chandigarh yesterday. — AFP


analyst Miswin Mahesh in a research note. “Though Iraninitially planned to send their OPEC minister, his participationwas cancelled when the Qataris insisted that all attendeeswould also be signatories to any deal. “The political tensionbetween Saudi Arabia and Iran trumped the economics foragreeing to a deal.”

In both June and December last year, the Organization ofthe Petroleum Exporting Countries -which pumps about 40percent of the world’s oil - refused to cut output. The Saudi-backed policy is aimed at pushing the market lower to hurtless-competitive players, including US shale producers, andmaintain precious market share. Major exporters from Nigeriato Venezuela, and even Saudi Arabia, have suffered billions ofdollars in lost revenue as prices have collapsed.

Iran - which only recently returned to world oil marketsafter the lifting of nuclear-linked Western sanctions inJanuary - has ruled out capping its own production. “Iran aremore likely to increase their output, after years of sanctions,

and this is the issue,” added Hughes. “Iran are in no place tostart to cut their output and abide by an OPEC rule afteralready stating they want to increase output to pre-sanctionlevels, levels they are nowhere near currently.”

Opinion had been split over whether a deal on Sundaywould be enough to tackle the global oversupply, which isalso due to slowing demand in major consumer China andburgeoning US shale production. Rebecca O’Keeffe, head ofinvestment at online broker Interactive Investor, cautionedyesterday that global oil supply was being constrained byindustrial action in Kuwait and Saturday’s deadly earthquakein Ecuador.

“While there are a number of factors that might curb oilsupply in the short-term - including a strike in Kuwait and theearthquake in Ecuador - OPEC’s main problem is the relation-ship between Saudi Arabia and Iran and this problem is notgoing to go away,” O’Keeffe told AFP. “Indeed, Saudi Arabia maymove to increase supply in response to higher Iranian outputin an effort to maintain their market share. “This impasse couldsee a sustained medium-term depression in oil prices.” — AFP

Oil falls over Doha failure

Houthis back out of peace talks Continued from Page 1

Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition of ArabSunni states which has been supporting pro-govern-ment forces with air strikes, weapons and troops sinceMarch last year. Speaking from Yemen’s rebel-held capi-tal, a source from the Houthi political bureau confirmedto AFP that the rebels, expected in Kuwait alongsiderepresentatives from Saleh’s General People’s Congressparty, had not left Sanaa.

A statement from the government delegation inKuwait accused the rebels of “irresponsible behavior”,and called for the international community to show“firmness in the face of their contempt for the peaceefforts”. “Due to developments over the last few hours,the start of the Yemeni-Yemeni peace negotiationsscheduled to begin today... will be delayed,” UN envoyIsmail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement, withoutspecifying when they might take place. “The next fewhours are crucial,” he said, calling on all parties to “taketheir responsibilities seriously and agree on compre-hensive solutions”.

Saudi Arabia launched the intervention after therebels, a minority group that has long complained ofmarginalization, descended from their northern strong-hold in Yemen to seize control of Sanaa in 2014. As theyadvanced into other areas, President AbedrabboMansour Hadi and other officials fled first to the mainsouthern city of Aden and eventually to Riyadh. The loy-alists have since managed to reclaim large parts of thesouth, establishing a temporary capital in Aden, buthave failed to dislodge the Houthis from Sanaa and oth-er key areas. Before the UN announcement of a delay,

the Saudi government voiced hope for “the success ofconsultations” in Kuwait, in a statement published onthe official Saudi Press Agency. The UN’s Ould CheikhAhmed urged the Huthis and their allies not to “missthis opportunity that could save Yemen the loss of morelives”. He had earlier expressed hopes for the talks,telling the UN Security Council on Friday that Yemenhas “never been so close to peace”.

The ceasefire, in place since April 11, has beenrepeatedly violated but the rebels, the government andthe Saudi-led coalition have avoided talk of it collaps-ing, as happened with three earlier truces. The situationacross Yemen was relatively calm yesterday despite skir-mishes in several areas, local sources said. Militarysources said a rebel attack killed three soldiers in theeastern Marib province, including a colonel.

There was continued fighting in Nahm, northeast ofSanaa, sources said, and sporadic clashes in the south-western Taez province. In Aden, thousands of support-ers of the Southern Movement demonstrated for thesouth’s secession, in the second such rally in as manydays. Previous attempts at peace talks - including afailed round in January - have been unable to stopYemen’s conflict, which the United Nations says haskilled more than 6,400 people and forced almost 2.8million from their homes.

Among the issues meant to be tackled in Kuwait aresecurity arrangements, the withdrawal of militias andarmed groups, the handover of heavy weapons and therelease of detainees. Jihadists including from Al-Qaedain the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the powerful Yemenibranch of the extremist network, have exploited theconflict to seize territory and gain influence. — AFP


Rousseff allies say the president would fight to the endagainst what they see as a bid by the opposition defeatedin 2014 elections to take power by other means. “The coupplotters have won here in the house,” said Jose Guimaraes,leader of the Workers’ Party in the lower house of Congress.The government “recognizes this temporary defeat butthat does not mean that the war is over,” Guimaraes said.“The fight will continue in the streets and in the Senate.”

Cardozo described Rousseff, who was imprisoned and

tortured under military rule in the 1970s, as “very strong”and able “to fight a good fight”. Huge opposition ralliesover recent months have played a big role in turning pres-sure against Rousseff into an unstoppable avalanche. Nowanger on the streets could again play a role as the stakes inthe crisis rise even higher.

Sylvio Costa, who heads the specialist politics websiteCongresso en Foco, told AFP that Brazil’s troubles are onlystarting. “Whoever loses will keep protesting in thestreets,” he said. “What’s certain is that the crisis will notend today.” — AFP

Rousseff loses key impeachment voteBomb rips through Jerusalem busContinued from Page 1

contingent of firefighters battling to extinguish the blaze.Police said 21 people were injured, with medics reporting atleast two hurt seriously. Police were investigating whetherany of the wounded were behind the bombing. Authoritiesinitially said most of the wounded were passengers on thesecond bus, though conflicting information later emerged.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we’ll findwhoever prepared this explosive device”. “We’ll reach the dis-patchers and those behind them. We’ll settle the score withthese terrorists. We’re in an ongoing struggle against terror,knife terror, shooting terror, bombs, rockets and tunnel ter-ror.” The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which rules theIsraeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, welcomed the attack as “a natu-ral response to Zionist crimes”, but there was no claim ofresponsibility for the bombing.

The blast struck in an area of the city without any majorbuildings or homes and which is not heavily used by pedes-trians. The location was on Moshe Baram Street close to theso-called Green Line dividing mainly Jewish west Jerusalemfrom predominately Palestinian east Jerusalem. JerusalemMayor Nir Barkat called on residents to be vigilant, “but con-tinue with your plans”. “Here in Jerusalem and in Israel, we goback to normal life as fast as possible,” he said. “It’s part of the

deep understanding that if it’s a terror attack, they want todeter us from our normal life, and what we must do... is goback to normal life as fast as possible.”

The explosion comes with tensions high following a waveof violence that began in October that has killed 201Palestinians and 28 Israelis. Most of the Palestinians killedwere carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, accord-ing to Israeli authorities. The last bomb targeting a bus inJerusalem dates back to 2011, when a British tourist waskilled. In Tel Aviv, a bomb exploded on an empty bus in 2013in what Israeli authorities called a “terrorist” attack. Suicidebombings were frequent during the second Palestinianintifada between 2000-2005. Speaking before the bomb wasconfirmed, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said “if it wasa terrorist attack, the implications are very great in terms ofsecurity on the ground”.

Attacks have steadily declined in recent weeks, thoughthere have been concerns the Passover holiday beginning onFriday could lead to a new surge in violence. Many analystssay Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settle-ment building in the West Bank, the complete lack ofprogress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadershiphave fed the recent unrest. Israel blames incitement byPalestinian leaders and media as a main cause of the vio-lence. — AFP

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As Germany seeks to integrate over one millionrefugees and migrants who arrived last year, oneBerlin non-profit group argues that the first step

is simple: “Start with a Friend”. That message is thename of the small but fast-growing organization whichteams up newcomers who fled war and misery withlocal volunteers who can lend them a hand as they starttheir new lives. “At our first meeting, there were 10 peo-ple,” said its founder Franziska Birnbach. “And then,when more and more people arrived in Germany... lastyear, we were literally inundated with offers (from vol-unteers), and it hasn’t stopped since.”

The concept mirrors language-study “tandem” part-nerships between locals and foreigners, except thatthe emphasis is beyond swapping vocabulary andgrammar tips. In Start with a Friend, the local volun-teers also help migrants find internships, jobs orapartments, or to navigate the bureaucratic thicket ofGerman asylum procedures. The aim is to also helpthem get to know Germany better and, in anexchange of equals, build relationships that are mutu-ally rewarding and long-lasting.

Last year the group facilitated some 200 partner-ships, and it aims for more than 1,000 this year. Suchhas been its success that Birnbach, 27, and her projectpartner Sarah Rosenthal, 31, have now left their jobs todevote themselves full-time to “Start with a Friend”. Thegroup now has seven coordinators and has branchedout from Berlin to the cities of Cologne and Freiburg,with plans to also launch soon in Hamburg, Munich andDresden.

‘I Have Everything’ In the cosy kitchen of a central Berlin apartment,

Nina Winzen, 27, is chatting and cooking with her newSyrian friend Ehab Masood, 26, as “Everybody’s Got toLearn Sometime” by British pop band The Korgis is play-ing. “When I met Nina, I asked her: Why are you doingthis for me?” said Masood, speaking in the German hehas learnt since arriving in Berlin more than one yearago. “She said: ‘I have everything in Germany.’”

Winzen added: “Here we grow up with such a privi-leged background, we have so much. And, parallel tothat, people arrive with nothing and are trying to builda new life.” It seemed only logical to her to get involvedin the program, she said. “We speak a lot about Syria,”said Winzen. “We hear about it every day, we seeimages on television. But to have direct contact withsomeone who is actually from there opens up a wholenew perspective. “For me, this exchange is a real enrich-ment, not only because of what I bring to Ehab, but alsobecause of the things he teaches me.”

‘This Can be Done’ The project in people-to-people cultural bridge

building comes as Germany takes a breather from lastyear’s mass influx and searches for practical ways toturn into reality Chancellor Angela Merkel’s motto of“we can do it”.

Merkel’s coalition government last Thursdayapproved a package of measures governing the inte-gration of refugees, their rights and duties, which shelabelled “a first in the history” of post-war Germany.“This can be done,” agreed Winzen, insisting howeverthat “this will only be possible together” and “if every-body plays their part”.

Merkel’s liberal refugee policy has drawn heavy firefrom within her own conservative camp and fuelled therise of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germanyparty. Rosenthal, of Start with a Friend, said that “thisuncertainty which many people feel and that leadssome to vote for extreme parties is very much relatedto a lack of knowledge about new arrivals”. Shedeplored a growing trend toward generalizations aboutmigrants, especially in the wake of sexual and otherattacks by mostly North African men against hundredsof women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve.

Rosenthal said she hopes groups like hers will helpGermans and, more broadly, Europeans “realise that ‘Idon’t have to be afraid’” and understand that amigrant “is a person who is completely normal, likeme, who wants to take care of his family and build afuture for them”. In short, she said, people will under-stand that a migrant can be no more and no less than“my new neighbor”.— AFP

Focus

A N A L Y S I STUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

Integratingrefugees one

friend at a timeBy Eloi Rouyer

Does premature Paris deal risk painful birth?

By Sebastian Smith and RosaSulleiro

Firing confetti, singing and cheering, Brazilianopposition politicians were in partymood after voting to authorize an

impeachment trial of President DilmaRousseff. But the hangover lookspainful. Sunday’s vote by the lowerhouse of Congress to send Rousseffto the Senate for an impeachmenttrial left her just two steps frombeing forced out of office. As earlyas next month, the Senate couldlaunch impeachment proceedings,at which point Rousseff, only in thesecond year of her second mandate,would have to step temporarily aside.

She could still survive the ensuingtrial, but most analysts say the Senatewould surely follow the lower house leadand drive her out - permanently. No won-der Rousseff opponents grinned onSunday as they raised placards up to tele-vision cameras reading: “Goodbyesweetie.”

Revenge Scenario The immediate winner is Rousseff ’s

vice president, Michel Temer, who hasbecome her leading opponent and underthe constitution would take power themoment a Senate trial started. Temer clearlysees himself as a president in waiting, even

accidentally releasing a recording of himself practicing hisfirst speech to the nation. But the reality of the top

job might not be so attractive.Deeply unpopular with most

Brazilians, the unelected Temer wouldface a credibility problem.

Analysts say the constitutionallawyer and his PMDB party wouldfind themselves facing a bitter,vengeful opposition if Rousseff wereforced out by the Senate. And thatwould be before he even tried toaddress the structural problems atthe heart of Brazil’s worst recession

for decades - a slide that hastransformed Latin America’s

biggest economy from emergingmarkets darling into invest-ment horror story.

‘Nightmare’ “The crisis will continue. In fact

it will become even more seriousbecause the losing side will use all

instruments at its disposal to blockthe winners. Brazil will wake up worse

tomorrow,” independent political analystAndre Cesar told AFP. Temer has talked of

establishing a national unity coalition, but“this will not be easy. It will be a night-mare,” Cesar said.

Diego Werneck, at theGetulio Vargas Foundation, a

think tank, pointed out that Temer

may even find himself fighting to stay in power. Allies ofRousseff have lodged an impeachment petition against him,alleging that he is just as involved as Rousseff in the allegedlyillegal accounting practices that are at the base of the caseagainst her.

Although impeachment proceedings would be unlikely tomove quickly -Temer’s close ally Eduardo Cunha is in charge asspeaker of the lower house - they would dog him. Possiblymore seriously, Temer is named along with Rousseff as a tar-get of a case at the Supreme Electoral Court contending thattheir 2014 election ticket was partly funded by bribe money.In theory, the court could declare the elections void and callnew polls, stripping Temer of his post.

No End to Crisis The most immediate hurdle, though, would be govern-

ing such a fractured nation. Rousseff has ended up almostpowerless inside her presidential palace as relations withCongress break down and her personal popularity plum-mets, leading to huge street demonstrations.

Temer, analysts say, would risk some of the same prob-lems. His PMDB is a mishmash of ideologies and has alwaysplayed a kingmaking role, not even presenting a presiden-tial candidate since 1994.

With potential partners also eying 2018, when the nextelections are scheduled, alliances might prove fragile.Temer’s “eventual government will be in a better positionthan Rousseff ’s but sti l l with a lot of complications,”Werneck said.

Sylvio Costa, who heads the specialist politics websiteCongresso en Foco, told AFP that Rousseff was nearly sure togo, but that more trouble lies ahead. “Whoever loses will keepprotesting in the streets,” he said. “What’s certain is that the cri-sis will not end today.” — AFP

Can Brazil opposition lift the nation?

By Megan Rowling

When ministers and climate changenegotiators from the world’s poorestcountries gathered in Kinshasa

recently, they were dismayed at a proposalfrom the Third World Network (TWN) urgingthem not to rush into signing the new Parisclimate agreement at a UN ceremony thisweek. TWN, a Malaysia-based policy group,had suggested developing countries wait alittle, to make sure richer nations followthrough on existing pledges of funding andtechnical help for them shift to greenergrowth, and adapt to more extreme weatherand rising seas.

The ministers and officials representingthe group of 48 least developed countries(LDCs) instead issued a statement urging allcountries to participate in the signing cere-mony in New York on Friday. They called onthem to ratify the Paris Agreement “at theearliest possible date”, in an effort to ensureimplementation “as soon possible”. AchalaAbeysinghe, a legal expert on climatechange negotiations with the UK-basedInternational Institute for Environment andDevelopment (IIED), said the 37 or so coun-tries at the Kinshasa meeting all indicatedthey would head to New York.

With around 155 countries now expectedto ink the agreement this week - and a hand-ful of them, mainly small island states, wellon the way to ratification - there is optimismthat the climate deal will come into force ear-lier than envisaged. The agreement wasnegotiated under the understanding itwould take effect from 2020. This date wasremoved from the final text, apparently tocreate room for the deal to come into effectearlier. “Early entry into force is a positivesign, but there are also some concerns thatneed to be addressed,” said Abeysinghe, whoadvises the chair of the LDC group at UN cli-mate talks.

For poorer countries - as for others - sign-ing the agreement is one thing but ratifyingit another. The Paris accord will enter intoforce when at least 55 countries representingat least 55 percent of global emissions ratifyor formally join it in another way. But whilemajor emitters, notably China and the United

States, have said they will pursue steps toadopt the agreement as early as possible,domestic politics may make that a challenge.

In some countries, including the UnitedStates, leaders are expected to use theirexecutive authority to accede to the Parisdeal. But in others, it will have to be dis-cussed in parliament or congress and, insome cases, will require new legislation,Abeysinghe noted. “For some of our coun-tries, sensitising the parliaments and the par-liamentarians itself is a big challenge. Theconcern our countries have is that it will taketime for them to ratify,” she said.

If the agreement comes into force beforethey can join it, they are worried they may beexcluded from making crucial decisions, sheadded. The LDC group is talking to the Inter-Parliamentary Union about how to raiseawareness of the climate change agreementamong members of parliament in develop-ing countries, which could help expedite rati-fication, Abeysinghe said.

The question of what happens if the Paris

Agreement takes effect early - with bets rangingfrom this year to 2018 - before the bulk of coun-tries ratify it is troubling experts beyond thedeveloping world. According to lawyers withthe UN climate change secretariat, only coun-tries that have formally joined the agreementcould make decisions affecting it. But those thathave not could participate as observers, whichmay allow them to make interventions and sub-mit proposals on draft texts.

Another option would be to convene thefirst session of the parties to the agreement,and then suspend it. That would give morecountries time to ratify, while discussions on

rules and guidelines for the new agreementproceeded under a working group. Expertswith the World Resources Institute (WRI) toldjournalists the European Union is unlikely tobe in the first wave of ratifiers because it willrequire all 28 member states to go throughtheir own processes first before approvingthe deal as a bloc - a process that could takesome time.

“It is hard to imagine a situation in which

other parties to the Paris agreement wouldnot very much want the EU to be part of thedecision-making for the critical rules underthe agreement, so I think a way forward willbe found to include them,” said DavidWaskow, WRI’s international climate director.Given that all countries have a vested interestin influencing how mechanisms for trans-parency and compliance with the agreementwill work, among other issues, they will likelywant to join it as soon as they can, saidMichael Dobson, a former advisor to theMarshall Islands at U.N. climate talks. “Thereis going to be an incentive for countries toratify once it becomes clear that entry intoforce is imminent,” he said.

Pre-2020 PromisesMany people think that will come sooner

rather than later, especially with China andthe United States - which account for around38 percent of global emissions - having sig-nalled they will adopt it. That makes the Parisdeal different from the current emissionsreduction treaty, the Kyoto Protocol, whichapplied only to developed countries. It tookmore than seven years to come into force in2005 after Russia used ratification as a bar-gaining chip to gain EU support for Moscow’smembership of the World Trade Organisation.

This time around, the political leverage tobe gained from delaying may be minimal.TWN later clarified its controversial advice,saying states should not feel obliged to signthe Paris deal right now if they are not yetready to put into practice the climate actionpromises made as their contribution to it.TWN also urged wealthy nations to deliveron things they have promised to do before2020, when the Paris agreement had beenexpected to start, such as boosting climatefinance to $100 bil l ion per year. Otherexperts agree.

Rich governments “have to make someeffort to show that even if the ParisAgreement comes into force early, they arenot going to forget about their pre-2020 com-mitments”, said IIED’s Abeysinghe. Amid all thefanfare around the signing ceremony thisweek, it is worth remembering that prematureentry into force could yet bring political andtechnical birth pains for some. — Reuters

A picture taken on April 16, 2016 shows pastoralists looking at animals that died as aresult of drought in Sitti Zone in the Somali region of Ethiopia. — AFP

MELBOURNE: Former US Open champion Sam Stosur will end a secondstint with coach David Taylor after the French Open, local media reportedyesterday. Australian Stosur, a former finalist at Roland Garros, reunited withTaylor in 2015, two years after parting ways with the coach that helpedguide her to the 2011 title at Flushing Meadows. Europe-based Taylor said itwas becoming more difficult logistically to keep working with 32-year-oldStosur, who is based in the United States. “It’s all very amicable and I’m evenworking with her at finding a suitable replacement, which she hasn’tfinalised yet,” Taylor told Australian Associated Press. “I know Samhas still got some great tennis left inside her and she continuesto work harder than anyone.” The world number 26, Australia’slast grand slam winner, has struggled with consistency inrecent seasons and always battled nerves playing in front ofhome fans. She lost both her singles rubbers to lower-rankedplayers during the 4-0 Fed Cup defeat at home to theUnited States over the weekend, ending Australia’shopes of rejoining the top-tier World Group for anoth-er year. — Reuters

S P O RT STUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

JAKARTA: Indonesia will launch an interim football league atthe end of this month, an official said yesterday, as the gamestruggles to survive an ongoing crisis in the Southeast Asiannation. Indonesia has been without a national football com-petition for the better part of a year, after a feud between thecountry’s soccer association and its sports ministry saw thetop-grade tournament suspended. Talks failed to break theimpasse and in May the sport’s global governing body FIFAbanned Indonesia from international football-a suspensionthat still hasn’t been lifted. The head of the new league, JokoDriyono, told AFP the competition-named the Torabika SoccerChampionship after its main sponsor-would not replaceIndonesia’s regular top-grade tournament but was a tempo-rary substitute while the crisis remained unresolved. Thechampionship will involve 18 teams, including top-flight clubsArema, Persib Bandung and Semen Padang, and already hasthe blessing of President Joko Widodo and the sports minis-ter, Driyono said. —AFP

Indonesian football launches interim league

LONDON: Former Melbourne Rebels star Danny Cipriani’s breath smelt of alco-hol and he had “glazed” eyes after crashing his car into a taxi, a court was toldyesterday. The England international, now with Premiership side Sale, hasdenied a charge of drink-driving relating to an incident that took place at 5.15am (0415 GMT) on Imperial Road in Fulham, west London, on June 1 last year.

London’s Westminster Magistrates Court was told yesterday thatCipriani’s Mercedes car was travelling “very fast” and “swervingand swinging” between the left and right hand sides of the road,and hit a Toyota Prius which had slowed down to try to avoid it.Taxi driver Muhammad Qasim, said he suffered injuries to hisneck, shoulder and lower back in the crash with Cipriani, whowill rejoin Wasps-the club where he launched his career-from

English Premiership rivals Sale at the end of the season.Prosecutor Katie Weiss told the court that police were called fol-lowing reports of a collision and that police constable Shane

Elsworth questioned Cipriani, who allegedly admitted he hadbeen out drinking. “Questions were put to the defendant,

he said he was the driver of the vehicle.—AFP

Cipriani had alcohol on breath after crash

Stosur splits with coach Taylor again

BOSTON: Defending champion Lelisa Desisa, of Ethiopia, center, runs at the head of the pack in the 120th Boston Marathon yesterday, inHopkinton, Mass. — AP

BOSTON: Ethiopians nearly swept the Kenyans off thepodium at the Boston Marathon yesterday, winningboth the men’s and women’s races for the first time inhistory and taking five of the six spots on the victorystand.

Lemi Berhanu Hayle won the men’s race in 2 hours,12 minutes, 45 seconds, pulling away from defendingchampion Lelisa Desisa as they crossed over theMassachusetts Turnpike heading into Kenmore Square.Hayle won by 47 seconds, with Yemane Adhane Tsegayanother 30 seconds back to round out an all-Ethiopianmen’s top three.

Atsede Baysa won the women’s race, coming from 37seconds behind with less than five miles to go. The two-time Chicago Marathon champion finished in 2:29:19hours, 44 seconds ahead of fellow Ethiopian TirfiTsegaye.

Joyce Chepkirui was third in the women’s race, thelone Kenyan to medal in a race that had been dominat-ed by her countrymen for decades. The results come asthe World Anti-Doping Agency put Kenya on probationafter more than 40 athletes tested positive for perform-ance-enhancing drugs since the 2012 Olympics - nearlyone a month.

Most of the top Americans, including 2014 winnerMeb Keflezighi, skipped the race after running in the USOlympic trials in February. Other countries pick theirteams for the Summer Games by committee, and theperformances in Boston could help Desisa and Hayleearn a ticket to Rio de Janeiro.

Zachary Hine of Dallas was the top US man, finishing10th. Neely Spence Gracey, of Superior, Colorado, wasthe first American woman to finish, coming in ninth.

On a clear and windless day, cool temperatures atthe start warmed to 62 degrees by the time the winnersreached the Back Bay. It was supposed to reach the mid-70s later in the afternoon - an added challenge for therest of the 30,000-runner field that left Hopkinton infour waves Monday morning.

Defending women’s champion Caroline Rotich wasamong the first to fall out, dropping away from theleaders at a water station about 5 miles in and walkingto the side of the road. No reason for her withdrawalwas immediately available. — AFP

Ethiopians complete firstever sweep of Boston Marathon

BOSTON: Women’s winner Atsede Baysa of Ethiopa and men’s winner Lemi BerhanuHayle of Ethiopia pose at the finish line after winning the 120th Boston Marathonyesterday in Boston, Massachusetts. — AFP

BOSTON: Adrianne Haslet heard all thetalk about taking back Boylston Street inthe years after the Boston Marathon bomb-ings. Her mind was 26.2 miles away.

After losing her left leg in the 2013 fin-ish-line explosions, Haslet decided that shewould return to the course - this time as arunner. When the race leaves Hopkinton onMonday, Haslet will be one of 31 membersof the One Fund community - survivors ofthe attacks, their families and supporters-who will be in the field.

“A lot of people think about the finishline,” she said. “I think about the start line.”More than 30,000 runners are scheduled tohead to Hopkinton for the 120th edition ofthe race this Patriots Day. Among them areHaslet and Patrick Downes, a BostonCollege graduate who had his left legamputated after the bombings.

Downes, 32, was a runner before thebombing, having completed the race in2005 with his wife, who lost both legs inthe attacks. Haslet, 35, was a professionalballroom dancer who received a prostheticblade to the quickstep and the jive, andonly then decided to take up running.

Haslet overcame a hip flexor injury whiletraining; running with the blade alsorequires extra energy, because one leg isslightly longer than the other. She will runwith a team of four people on behalf of theOklahoma City-based Limbs for LifeFoundation, which provides prosthetics forthose who can’t afford them.

“It was about finding another challenge,and finding a new day,” she said. “There wasa point in my life I wasn’t a ballroomdancer, either.” Three years after the attacks,the Boston Marathon is returning to its newnormal, with more security and more run-ners but the focus returned to the raceitself. Here are some more things to look forin this year’s race.

BACK FOR MOREDefending champion Lelisa Desisa of

Ethiopia, who also won in 2013, is runningagain, along with women’s winner CarolinaRotich of Kenya. Defending wheelchairchampions Marcel Hug and TatyanaMcFadden will also return. But most of thetop Americans will sit out the race, havingrun in the US Olympic Trials in Los Angelesin February.

50 YEARS OF WOMENThe Boston Athletic Association is com-

memorating the 50th anniversary of the

first woman to complete the BostonMarathon. Bobbi Gibb sneaked onto thecourse in 1966 to break the race’s genderbarrier. She also ran the race in 1967-68 andhas been recognized as a three-time win-ner in the “Unofficial Era.” Race organizerssaid last week they would now acknowl-edge her accomplishments as part of the“Pioneer Era.”

NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORYOrganizers also took time in race week

to recognize the 80th anniversary of Ellison“Tarzan” Brown’s 1936 victory. A member ofthe Narragansett Tribe in Rhode Island,Brown’s 1936 victory is best rememberedfor the coining of the term “Heartbreak Hill.”Defending champion Johnny Kelley tappedBrown on the back as he prepared to passhim, but Brown responded by acceleratinginto the Newton hills on his way to victory.He also won in 1939.

At the time, Native Americans werewidely perceived as lazy, according to MikkiWosencroft, who will serve as an honorrunner for Brown this year.

“He broke a lot of barriers in the wayNative Americans were perceived,”Wosencroft said, “and he did it with ease.”

AMERICAN HOPEFULMeb Keflezighi, who in 2014 became the

first American man or woman to win therace since 1985, is resting up for the RioOlympics. So are Desi Linden (fourth lastyear) and Shalane Flanagan (ninth), withAmy Cragg.

That leaves Neely Spence Gracey, who ismaking her marathon debut, as perhapsthe best American hope to reach the podi-um. Gracey, 26, of Superior, Colorado, is aneight-time NCAA Division II national cham-pion who decided last fall to try the 26.2-mile distance. A problem with her left footkept her from running in the trials, puttingher on schedule instead for Boston.

The daughter of 1991 world champi-onship bronze medalist Steve Spence,Gracey was almost destined to run Boston.Her father finished 19th - the No. 2American overall - in the 1989 BostonMarathon, and Gracey was born on PatriotsDay in 1990 while her father was runningthe race.

“I grew up hearing all about that story,”she said. “I always knew once I started run-ning competitively that I was going to berunning Boston. But I didn’t know it wouldbe this soon.” — AP

Marathon bombing survivor to run using prosthetic leg

BOSTON: Boston Marathon bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet, center, poses yester-day, in Hopkinton, Mass, before running in the 120th Boston Marathon. — AP

14 athletes have suspensions lifted after meldonium ruling

TBILISI: At least 14 athletes from Russiaand Georgia had their doping suspensionslifted Friday, two days after officials relaxedthe rules about meldonium.

The drug was banned for 2016, prompt-ing at least 172 failed tests worldwide. Butthe World Anti-Doping Agency changed itsguidance on Wednesday, saying athletescould be cleared if only minute traces ofthe drug were found in their system.

Many athletes who tested positive hadargued they stopped taking meldonium,which is typically recommended for heartdisease patients, before it was banned.

In the former Soviet nation of Georgia,six athletes from the national wrestlingteam had provisional suspensions lifted,including Olympic silver medalist DavitModzmanishvili and European silvermedalist Beka Lomtadze.

“In their blood, less than one microgram

of meldonium was found,” Temuri Ukleba,vice president of the Georgian anti-dopingagency, told The Associated Press. “Theytook it before the ban.” In Russia, thenational Olympic committee said eight sus-pensions were lifted. Those who benefitedinclude 400-meter runner NadezhdaKotlyarova, who was a semifinalist at lastyear’s world championships, plus trackcyclists, a bobsledder and a skeleton racer.

The announcements Friday follow a caseon Thursday when the InternationalWeightlifting Federation said two-timeOlympic medalist Andrei Rybakov ofBelarus had his suspension lifted.

Lifting a provisional suspension doesn’tmean the case is dismissed in full, but ath-letes are typically able to compete andtrain as part of their teams until final deci-sions are issued. The WADA ruling meansfuture bans in such cases are unlikely. — AP

BOSTON: Tatyana McFadden has won the women’s wheelchairrace at the Boston Marathon. It was her fourth victory in a row.McFadden completed the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton toCopley Square in an official time of 1 hour, 42 minutes, 16 sec-onds. That is 8:10 behind the record pace because of a head-wind. McFadden was born in Russia and adopted by anAmerican woman as a small child. The 26-year-old McFaddenlives in Clarksville, Maryland. She was wearing a singlet honor-ing Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy killed in the 2013 finishline bombings. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug has wonhis second straight men’s wheelchair title at the BostonMarathon. Hug crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 24 minutesand 1 second, which was just 5:36 off the course and worldrecord. The 30-year-old edged second place Ernst Van Dyk, ofSouth Africa, and Australian Kurt Fearnley, who was third.

The top three finished within a second of each other.Hug overtook the 10-time champion Van Dyk in the finalturn off Boylston Street and outsprinted Van Dyk andFearnley to the line. Hug’s time was nearly five minutesfaster than his 2015 win. —AP

McFadden wins wheelchair race

BOSTON: Tatyana McFadden, of Clarksville, Md., receives her victor’s wreath andtrophy after winning the women’s wheelchair division of the 120th BostonMarathon yesterday, in Boston. — AP


SHANGHAI: Nico Rosberg is refusing toget ahead of himself after extending hisperfect start to the 2016 Formula Oneseason with a crushing victory at theChinese Grand Prix. The Germanbecame the 10th driver to win the firstthree races of the season in Shanghai-the previous nine all going on to win theworld title. Rosberg quickly dismissedthat statistic, however, pointing at thebrooding figure of Mercedes rival LewisHamilton, who has form when it comesto wiping out chunky leads.

“They didn’t have Lewis Hamilton as ateam-mate, those other nine,” Rosbergtold reporters after pushing his champi-

onship lead over Hamilton to 36 points.“It’s a handful of races in the longest sea-son ever, another 18 to go. To win thefirst three is awesome, but I neverexpected it to go that way,” he addedwith the next race in Russia on May 1already looking pivotal. “It’s great to win,it’s what I race for. But Lewis Hamilton ismy team-mate, double world champion,hard to beat in the previous two, threeyears. Lewis will never give up.”

Rosberg also became only the fourthdriver to win six consecutive races-join-ing Sebastian Vettel (nine), AlbertoAscari (seven) and Michael Schumacher(six) — after winning the last three of

2015. Hamilton, yet to win since clinch-ing his third world title in Texas lastOctober, was licking his wounds after hebattled back to finish seventh from laston the grid after a mechanical failure inqualifying.

STARK REMINDER The Briton erased a 29-point Rosberg

lead to win the 2014 championship, astark reminder to Rosberg of the dangerlurking on the other side of the Mercedesgarage. “It doesn’t feel any nicer than itdid back then,” said Hamilton. “There arelots of different emotions when you seeyour season go the wrong way. But it’s

part of the journey and it makes usstronger.” As Rosberg celebrated, Ferrariwere hopping mad after their race wascompromised by a clash between Vettel,Kimi Raikkonen and the Red Bull of DaniilKvyat at turn one.

Vettel, who slammed the Russian as “amadman” and “suicidal” in a witheringattack, fought back brilliantly from 15thto take second, while Raikkonen tookfifth despite damaging his front wingand sustaining a puncture in the may-hem. But after struggling with enginetrouble in Australia and Bahrain, it wasscant consolation for Ferrari after a week-end when the Italian team had shown

real pace. “Ferrari really haven’t shownwhat they can do at all yet,” warnedRosberg. “We really think that they’revery, very close to us so we have to keepour heads down and keep pushing.” RedBull made strides with Kvyat finishing onthe podium and Daniel Ricciardo takingfourth after suffering an early puncturewhen leading, suggesting they toocould be a threat at the next stop inSochi. “I definitely feel I would’ve beenspraying champagne,” said theAustralian Ricciardo, who qualified sec-ond on the grid. “But part of me is smil-ing inside because I know that can hap-pen more times this year.”— AFP

Rampant Rosberg wary of Hamilton backlash

SYDNEY: Australian swimming great GrantHackett apologised for his “poor behaviour” yes-terday after he was accused of drunkenlysqueezing a fellow airline passenger’s nipplebecause he reclined his seat. Hackett, 35, said hewas embarrassed at reports of his actions, whichcame after this month’s failed attempt to qualifyfor the Rio Olympics at the Australian trials inAdelaide.

“I seriously and genuinely regret my poorbehaviour,” said the former long-time 1500mworld record-holder. “I have stuffed up morethan once and am working on these issues. It isembarrassing to hear and read the conse-quences of my actions. “I apologise unreserved-ly to the gentleman on the flight.” Reports ofevents in the business class section of the VirginAustralia flight from Adelaide were splashedacross Australian media. Australian FederalPolice confirmed that they spoke to a 35-year-old man at Melbourne airport and that nocharges were laid. Various media said the inci-dent was sparked when the passenger in front ofHackett reclined his seat.

The male passenger, who was not named,told Melbourne’s Herald-Sun newspaper that ashe reclined his chair, Hackett “grabbed it andyanked it back”.

“Then he put his hand through and gropedmy chest and tweaked my nipple quite forceful-ly,” he alleged. Gary Pert, the chief executive ofthe Collingwood Football Club, said he was seat-ed across the aisle from Hackett and saw theincident unfold. “He (Hackett) was not aggres-sive or upset,” Pert told Melbourne radio station3AW. “One of the passengers in front of him puthis chair back and Grant just leant forward, puthis hand between the seat and appeared to justtap the person.”

Pert said that he later helped Hackett off theplane. “I think he would be the first one to sayhe was affected by alcohol and literally wasasleep or passed out on the flight for the majori-ty of the time,” he added.

‘EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED’ Hackett, one of the greats of Australian swim-

ming, retired after the 2008 Beijing Olympicsafter winning the 1500m freestyle at both the2000 and 2004 Games.

He went through a divorce and underwentrehab in 2014 after seeking help for an addictionto sleeping pills.

Hackett came out of retirement with hopes ofbecoming the oldest Australian swimmer toqualify for an Olympics, but missed out when hefailed to qualify for the 200 metres freestyle finalat the Australian Swimming Championships.Swimming Australia said it was “extremely disap-pointed” to hear the reports after the sport’spositive week in Adelaide, where a number ofyoung stars qualified for Rio.

“The reported incident was particularly sur-prising, given the manner in which Grant con-ducted himself over the duration of the event,” astatement said. “Given Grant’s recent experi-ences, we are concerned for Grant’s welfare and

believe that it is very important that we provideGrant with all the support we can provide toensure his progress as a person remains ontrack,” it added. Hackett said that for now, hewas trying to make direct contact with his fellowpassenger. “I know I have to front the media anddiscuss my actions in a more appropriate andaccountable way,” he said.

“I just have to sort a few things first so I canbe as frank and open as I need to be.” Australianswimming is trying to turn the corner after a flopat the 2012 Olympics when their campaign wasmarred by ill-discipline, drug use and drunken-ness. — AFP

Hackett sorry after claims

of mid-air nipple tweak

Grant Hackett

HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Branden Grace reacts to a putt on the 16th hole during thefinal round of the 2016 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Sunday in HiltonHead Island, South Carolina. —AFP

HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Branden Graceshot a 5-under 66 to overtake Luke Donaldand win the RBC Heritage on Sunday for hisfirst PGA Tour title and 11th worldwide vic-tory. Three shots behind Donald enteringthe day, Grace moved to the top with fourbirdies on his first six holes. The SouthAfrican pulled three shots in front ofDonald after birdies on the 12th and 13holes. Grace finished at 9-under 275, twoshots ahead of Donald and Russell Knox.Donald shot a 71, and Knox had a 67. Graceearned $1,062,000 and a PGA Tour exemp-tion through the 2017-18 season. He alsobecame the latest to rally past hard-luckleader Donald at Harbour Town Golf Links.The Englishman has finished second fourtimes and third twice in the past eightevents here.

Brandt Snedeker shot a final-round 64 tocatch Donald and win in a playoff in 2011.Matt Kuchar shot a 64 in 2014, overtakingDonald for the win with a chip-in from thebunker on the 72nd hole.

Bryson DeChambeau, the former SMUstar who won the NCAA and U.S. Amateurlast year, tied for fourth in his first eventsince turning pro, four shots behind Graceafter a 68. Top-ranked Jason Day rebound-ed from a season-worst 79 on Saturdaywith a 68 to tie for 23rd at 1 under.

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CLASSICWoody Austin tied the tournament

record with an 8-under 64 and beat WesShort Jr. with a par on the second hole of asudden-death playoff in the PGA TourChampions’ Mitsubishi Electric Classic. The52-year-old Austin has two victories in thelast three events on the 50-and-over tour,also winning in Tucson, Arizona, lastmonth. He won the 2013 Sanderson FarmsChampionship at age 49 for the last of hisfour PGA Tour titles.

Short bogeyed the second playoff after

pulling his tee shot left into tall grass forthe second time. Short finished with a 68.He could have avoided the playoff at TPCSugarloaf, but missed a 6 foot birdie putton No. 18, leaving him tied with Austin at11 under. Paul Goydos had a 67 to finishthird at 10 under. Joey Sindelar (67), TomLehman (67), Miguel Angel Jimenez (68)and Colin Montgomerie (69) were anotherstroke back.

SPANISH OPENEngland’s Andrew Johnston won the

Spanish Open at Valderrama for his firstEuropean Tour title, closing with a 1-under70 for a one-stroke victory.

Johnston finished at 1-over 285. Thestrong wind that had made conditionstough during the first three rounds sub-sided Sunday. Joost Luiten of theNetherlands was second after a 71.Tournament host Sergio Garcia was third at3 over after a 67, the 67 - the best rounds ofthe day.

CHICO’S PATTY BERG MEMORIALMadelene Sagstrom won the Chico’s

Patty Berg Memorial at Cypress Lake for herfirst Symetra Tour title, and Lorie Kanetook the Legends Tour event. The 23-year-old Sagstrom, the SoutheasternConference player of the year last seasonat LSU, closed with a 3-over 75 in strongwind for a one-stroke victory. She earned$30,000 to take the season money leadwith $52,914, breaking the $50,000 markin a tour-record three events. Sagstromfinished at 9-under 279 after opening withrounds of 69, 66 and 69. Germany’s SophiaPopov was second after a 73. Kane fin-ished with a 71 for a three-stroke victoryin the 36-hole Legends Tour event. The 51-year-old Canadian had a 1-under 143 total.Jane Crafter and Barb Mucha tied for sec-ond, each shooting 74. — AP

S Africa’s Grace grabs

first US PGA Tour title

PRETORIA: A South African court willconvene in June to determine disgracedParalympic athlete Oscar Pistorius’s sen-tence for murdering his girlfriend ReevaSteenkamp, a judge ruled in Pretoria yes-terday. Pistorius’s lawyers last monthfailed in their final legal bid to reverse aSupreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling thatupgraded his conviction from culpablehomicide-the equivalent of manslaughter-to murder. The double-amputee killedSteenkamp, a model and law graduate, inthe early hours of Valentine’s Day threeyears ago, saying he mistook her for anintruder when he shot four times throughthe door of his bedroom toilet. “Your mat-ter is postponed until June 13, and it willbe heard until June 17, do you under-stand?” Judge Aubrey Ledwaba toldPistorius, who answered “Yes.” Pistorius,wearing a black suit, black tie and whiteshirt, left the court after the brief hearingand walked through a scrum of televisioncamera crews outside to get into a vehicle.The former Paralympic champion, 29,faces a minimum 15-year jail term for mur-der, which may be reduced due to time hehas already spent in prison. He wasreleased from prison in October to liveunder house arrest at his uncle’s propertyin Pretoria after serving one year of his

five-year prison sentence for culpablehomicide.

The SCA judges in December describedhis testimony at his trial in 2014 as“untruthful” and delivered a damningindictment of the original verdict. Theyfound him guilty of murder, overruling theculpable homicide conviction.

Pistorius’s lawyers tried to appeal to theConstitutional Court, the highest court inSouth Africa, but it declined to hear thecase. Pistorius was last seen in public at abail hearing in December, after which hewas fitted with an electronic monitoringtag. Under his bail conditions, he hasbeen allowed to leave his uncle’s house atset times with official permission, but nottravel further than 20 kilometres (12miles). Pistorius denied killing Steenkampin a rage and, during his trial, sobbed inthe dock as details of his lover’s deathwere examined in excruciating detail.

“I was overcome with fear,” he told histrial. “Before I knew it, I’d fired four shots atthe door.” He has since lost his glitteringsports career, lucrative contracts and sta-tus as a global role model for the disabled.Steenkamp’s family previously welcomedhis murder conviction and described hisConstitutional Court appeal as a “delayingtactic” to keep him out of jail. —AFP

Pistorius sentencing

hearing set for June

PRETORIA: South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius (C) leaves Pretoria HighCourt after yesterd’s postponement hearing in his murder case yesterday inPretoria. Disgraced South African athlete Oscar Pistorius sentence for the mur-der of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp will be handed down in June, a judgesaid during a brief hearing. — AFP

BUCHAREST: Romania’s remarkable four-decade longOlympic medal streak in women’s gymnastics ended inbitter tears at the Rio test event after they failed to quali-fy a full team for the Brazil Games.

Romania-a country used to showcasing perfection ingymnastics ever since Nadia Comaneci landed the first10.0 score at the Montreal Games-had scooped a teammedal at every Olympics since 1976, including gold in1984, 2000 and 2004.

However, they will not be lining up in the women’steam competition in Rio as they followed up theirdoomed outing in last year’s Glasgow world champi-onships, when they placed 13th, by failing to finish in thetop four in the test event on Sunday.

The top eight teams from the 2015 world champi-onships gained automatic Olympic qualification andwere joined by the top four — Brazil, Germany, Belgium,France-from the Rio test event.

The women’s teams from United States, Russia, Britain,China, Italy, Japan, Canada, Netherlands had alreadysecured their berths last year.

It proved to be a weekend to forget for former gym-nastics powerhouse Romania as the men’s team alsofailed to make the Olympic cut, leaving the country withthe consolation prize of sending just one female and twomale gymnasts to the August 5-21 Games.

While Romania’s chances of adding to the 24 goldstheir women have won since 1976 will now lie with a solerepresentative in Brazil, Uzbekistan’s Oksana Chusovitinaand India’s Dipa Karmakar will be celebrating milestonesin South America.

The 40-year-old, well-travelled Chusovitina willbecome the first gymnast to compete at seven succes-sive Olympics, adding another chapter to a glitteringcareer in which she has represented the Soviet Union,the Unified Team, Uzbekistan, Germany and finallyUzbekistan again.

At the end of the other spectrum, Karmakar willbecome the first Indian woman to compete at theOlympics after she capitalised on her late inclusion in thetest event field to make the cut.

Olympic horizontal bar champion Epke Zonderlandwas also forced to make the long journey to Rio a fewmonths before he would have wanted to after floppingin Glasgow last year.

But the Dutchman made the most of his secondchance as his high-flying antics helped the Netherlandsto secure qualification for the Olympic men’s team com-petition for the first time. — Reuters

Romania fail to

make Rio Olympics

team cut

LANGFORD: New Zealand (black) vies with England (white) on the final day of HSBCWorld Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Langford, BC, Canda on Sunday. England won31-14. — AFP


SINGAPORE: Ratchanok Intanon sether sights on Olympic glory afterbecoming world number one-and saidshe would be seen as “superwoman” ifshe wins Thailand’s first ever badmintonmedal in Rio. The 21-year-old, who wonthe Singapore Open to reach thewomen’s singles top ranking for the firsttime, said a medal of any colour wouldbe a triumph at the Games in August.

“My target is gold medal at theOlympic Games... But I think that get-ting a medal would be like (becoming)superwoman,” she said yesterday atSingapore’s Changi Aiport before board-ing a flight home.

Ratchanok beat defending championSun Yu of China in three sets on Sunday

to seal her third successive Superseriestitle in as many weeks, after triumphs inIndia and Malaysia.

Ratchanok, who became bad-minton’s youngest ever world championin 2013, will displace Spain’s CarolinaMarin as number one when the rank-ings are updated on Thursday.

“I didn’t think about winning three(tournaments) in a row, I just wanted totry my best and if I could do it, I wouldjust do it,” she said.

“I feel the same now that I am worldnumber one. There’s sti l l room forimprovement and I want to be stronger.I don’t want to think of the top ranking,but rather that I have more to learn.”

Olympic success would mean

redemption for Ratchanok, who washeartbroken after she was eliminated inthe London 2012 quarter-finals.

“After I lost, I felt bad and I couldn’tsleep. I’ve never felt that way before,”she said. “I wanted to close my eyes but Icould not stop thinking about the loss.”Ratchanok added: “I don’t want to pres-sure myself but I think I have a chanceto get an Olympic medal for Thailand.

“Now that I have become world num-ber one, I have reached the dream. Ihave completed one step but I still haveone more step.”

DESSERT FACTORY The soft-spoken Thai, who started

this month ranked fifth in the world,

said her body is starting to feel thestrain from playing consecutive compe-titions.

“When I woke up, I felt like my legswere weaker,” said the native ofThailand’s Yasothon province. “I may betired but if I can make people inThailand smile and be happy, that’sokay.” Despite her fatigue, Ratchanokwill be competing at the BadmintonAsia Championship in Wuhan, Chinanext week where she aims to defend hertitle. “I think now there will be a bit morepressure because I will have to protectmy ranking. But I will take it one step ata time,” she said.

Ratchanok picked up the sport at anearly age, when she used to play in the

grounds of the Bangkok dessert factorywhere her parents worked.

“I didn’t enjoy badminton at first. Ijust did training but didn’t feel that Iwanted to be athlete. I just trained notto disturb my parents while they wereworking,” she said.

“Now, I enjoy it because it is mycareer. I don’t have to bother my parentsfor money and I can support themfinancially.” Following her success in thesport, Ratchanok said she now hopesshe can inspire more and more youngThais to pick up a racquet.

“I am very proud to be the idol foryoung people in Thailand, that moreparents are sending their children toplay badminton,” she said. — AFP

‘Superwoman’ Ratchanok Intanon set sights on Olympics

CLEVELAND: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half of the NBAEastern Conference Quarterfinals at Quicken Loans Arena on April 17, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 106-101. —AFP

CLEVELAND: Kyrie Irving scored 31 points in hisfirst playoff game since being injured last year inthe NBA Finals and Kevin Love added 28, leadingthe Cleveland Cavaliers to a 106-101 victory overthe Detroit Pistons on Sunday in Game 1 of theirfirst-round playoff series. LeBron James added22 points and 11 assists for the top-seeded Cavs.They are favored to win the Eastern Conferenceagain but got all they could handle from thePistons. Love, knocked out of the playoffs with ashoulder injury in the first round a year ago,made two critical 3-pointers in the fourth quar-ter. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21 pointsand Marcus Morris 20 - but just one after half-time for the Pistons, making their first playoffappearance since 2009. Andre Drummond had13 points and 11 rebounds. Detroit made 15 3-pointers, but the Pistons’ playoff inexperienceshowed in the final minutes. Game 2 isWednesday night in Cleveland.

HEAT 123, HORNETS 91Luol Deng scored 31 points on 11-for-13

shooting, Hassan Whiteside added 21 points and11 rebounds in his postseason debut, and Miami

routed Charlotte in Game 1 of the EasternConference series. Dwyane Wade scored 16points in 26 minutes, Joe Johnson and AmareStoudemire each had 11 points, and GoranDragic finished with 10 assists. Miami scored 41points in the first quarter to tie one franchiseplayoff record, set another with the 123 points -topping the 121 in the 2012 NBA Finals clincheragainst Oklahoma City - and never trailed. NicBatum scored 24 points for the Hornets. KembaWalker added 19. Game 2 is Wednesday night inMiami.

SPURS 106, GRIZZLIES 74Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and San

Antonio beat Memphis in Game 1 of theirWestern Conference series, handing the Grizzliestheir worst postseason loss. LaMarcus Aldridgeadded 17 points, and Tony Parker had 15 pointsand six assists for San Antonio. The Spurs sattheir starters in the fourth quarter to rest themfor Game 2 on Tuesday night in San Antonio. SanAntonio shot 68 percent in the third quarter,outscoring Memphis 33-14 to break open whathad been a relatively close game against the

short-handed Grizzlies. Memphis matched apostseason low in the first quarter with 13points, and only Xavier Munford’s 15-footjumper with 46.1 seconds remaining kept it frommatching the worst output in any quarter. VinceCarter had 16 points to lead Memphis. ZachRandolph was held to six points on 3-for-13shooting. Memphis’ previous largest losing mar-gin was 27 points against Oklahoma City on May11, 2011.

CLIPPERS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 95Chris Paul had 28 points and 11 assists as one

of three Clippers with a double-double, leadingLos Angeles over the Portland Trail Blazers inthe opener of their first-round playoff series.Blake Griffin had 19 points and 12 rebounds,DeAndre Jordan added 18 points and 12rebounds and J.J. Redick had 17 points. TheClippers are 6-0 with Griffin in the lineup sincehe returned from a 45-game absence twoweeks ago. Damian Lillard led the Blazers with21 points, while backcourt mate CJ McCollumwas held to nine points. Game 2 is tomorrownight at Staples Center. —AP

Cavs edge Pistons in playoff opener

LAHORE: Pakistan yesterday appointed formercaptain and batting great Inzamam-ul-Haq astheir new chief selector, part of wholesalechanges following the team’s disastrous exit fromthe World Twenty20 in India.

The 46 year old resigned as Afghanistan coachon Sunday to take on his new job, arguablyamong the most thankless in the sport with theholder routinely turfed out following the team’sfailure in a high profile event.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman ShaharyarKhan told reporters: “Inzamam agreed to takeover as chief selector and we are thankful toAfghanistan cricket board for releasing him,”adding his tenure will be “until further orders”.

During his six months as Afghanistan’s coach,Inzamam led cricket’s up-and-comers to one-dayand Twenty20 series victories over Zimbabwe andqualification for the main rounds of the WorldTwenty20 — the high point of which was theirwin over eventual champions the West Indies inthe group stages. Former spinner Tauseef Ahmed,allrounder Wasim Haider and openerWajahatullah Wasti will round out the selectioncommittee whose first task will be to pick squadsfor the tour of England where they play four Tests,five one-day and a Twenty20 starting in July.

Windies turn down Pakistan T20 tourRecently crowned World Twenty20 champions

the West Indies have turned down a request fromPakistan to play matches in the militancy-wracked South Asian country due to securityfears, a senior official said yesterday.

Pakistan are due to host the West Indies in twoTests, five one-day and two Twenty20 internation-als in September and October this year. Nearly allthe country’s home series have been played in

the neutral grounds of the UAE since a 2009 mili-tant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, butPakistan had hoped the T20 leg of West Indies’tour could be played in Lahore. Pakistan CricketBoard chairman Shaharyar Khan said: “We wantedthe Twenty20s to be played in Pakistan and madean effort but the West Indies Cricket Board haverefused saying they have security fears, so the fullseries will be played in (the) United ArabEmirates.” The West Indies’ refusal came after a sui-cide bomber killed 73 people in a park in Lahoreon Easter Sunday last month. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, theTaliban faction that carried out the bombing, saidChristians were the target of the attack.

Pakistan hosted Zimbabwe for two Twenty20sand three one-day internationals in Lahore lastyear hoping the tour would pave the way formore international teams to visit-a hope that hasyet to be realised.

England propose points system for S Lanka series

England have attempted a minor shake-up ofthe largely conventional world of test cricket byoffering to use a points-based system to deter-mine the winner of their home series against SriLanka. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Mohan deSilva confirmed receiving the proposals coveringthe three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20International set to be played between the teamsfrom May 19 to July 5.

“We have received the proposals but wehaven’t decided yet,” De Silva told Reuters by tele-phone. “We’ll discuss it in our next board meetingand announce our decision in a week or two,” saidthe official, declining to elaborate, saying he hadnot gone though the details yet.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

introduced the points-based scoring for thewomen’s Ashes in 2013, awarding six points forevery test victory, while two points were on offerfor a one-day or Twenty20 International victory.

For the women’s Ashes last year, ECB andCricket Australia (CA) decided test wins wereworth four points, while a draw earned the teamstwo each. The points-based system is aimed atinjecting more excitement into the tour and addcontext to matches that otherwise maybe ofmerely academic interests.

Malinga ruled out of IPLSri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been

ruled out of this season’s Indian Premier Leaguebecause of the lingering knee injury that alsosidelined him at the World Twenty20.

Malinga, the IPL’s highest all-time wicket-taker,has flown back to Sri Lanka from India where hehad been with his Mumbai Indians team, but hadnot played in any of their three matches.

“MI’s star pacer, Lasith Malinga has been ruledout of IPL 2016 due to a knee injury,” the teamwrote on their official Twitter handle late Sunday.

“Malinga was expected to miss the first fewmatches of MI’s IPL ‘16 campaign but the recoveryperiod is longer than previously expected. “MI willnow look for a worthy replacement for LasithMalinga this season,” the team said.

Sri Lankan Cricket on Sunday warned Malingaagainst playing in the lucrative Twenty20 leaguewithout first getting clearance from the board.

Malinga is slated to undergo a fitness assess-ment on Wednesday in Colombo after which “theboard will decide what course of action will betaken”. The injury casts doubt over his availabilityfor Sri Lanka’s tour of England starting nextmonth. —Agencies

Inzamam appointed as chief selector

CRICKET ROUND UP

BARCELONA: Fresh from claiming his firsttitle in nearly two years at the Monte CarloMasters, Rafael Nadal can tie GuillermoVilas’s record of 49 clay court titles on homesoil at the Barcelona Open this week.

Nadal is a serial winner in the Catalancapital having won the title eight times, buthas slumped to shock defeats in each ofthe past two years to Nicolas Almagro andFabio Fognini.

“I had a tough season in the last fewyears, but I’ve had better preparation thisyear, even with a tough start to the season,”said Nadal after lifting his 28th Masterstitle. “I hope it helps my season with confi-dence for the next few tournaments. I’vebeen able to play well for two events in arow-Indian Wells and here-winning againstvery tough opponents so that is very goodfor my confidence.”

Enigmatic Italian Fognini has been athorn in Nadal’s side in the past two yearsas he has twice defeated the Spaniard onclay and came from two sets down to beatthe 14-time Grand Slam champion at theUS Open last September.

The two could meet again in the quar-ter-finals as Nadal has been handed a trickydraw with compatriot David Ferrer alsopotentially awaiting in the semis. “I’ve been

given a tough route and, moreover, I amcoming back from injury,” said Fognini.

“I hope I can have a good tournamentand take advantage of some players arriv-ing a little tired after playing in the past fewweeks.” Nadal will start against another fel-low Spaniard with the winner of MarcelGranollers and Daniel Munoz de la Navasawaiting him in round two.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori has occupiedNadal’s thrown for the past two years andthe world number six is seeded second onthe other half of the draw.

Nishikori is making his debut on claythis season having skipped Monte Carloafter reaching the final of the MiamiMasters earlier this month.

“I am happy to be back in Barcelona,”said Nishikori. “I feel good and hope to winmy third consecutive title here.” Nishikoriappears to have an easier route to the finalthan Nadal as he starts against eitherDutchman Thiemo de Bakker or Sweden’sEliam Ymer with the fourth top 10 player inthe field Richard Gasquet potentially await-ing in the semi-finals.

World number eight Ferrer starts againstSantiago Giraldo or veteran RadekStepanek, whilst Gasquet will face MalekJaziri or Hyeon Chung in round two. — AFP

Resurgent Nadal targets Vilas record in Barcelona

ISLAMABAD: Ageing Pakistan Test captainMisbah-ul-Haq yesterday confirmed he willnot only lead his side in their four-matchseries in England this summer, but is deter-mined to play on until next year’s tour ofAustralia.

He is Pakistan’s most successful Test cap-tain, having led his country to 20 wins, 11draws and 11 defeats in his 42 matches incharge-a better record than the legendaryImran Khan.

But his desire to continue has been indoubt since Pakistan’s 2-0 win over Englandlast November, with doubts over hishunger to continue compounded by a calfinjury in January that flared up during thePakistan Super League a month later.

Speaking to AFP, Misbah, who turns 42next month, said he had now made up hismind and was determined to play on,pending form and fitness. “I am working onmy fitness,” he told AFP. “I am trying to get acontract with a county so that I can getsome practice ahead of the England tourbut if that doesn’t come through then I will

be touring England with Pakistan ‘A’ aheadof the four Tests to get acclimatised.”

Pakistan’s second string will play four-day matches with county teams in Junebefore the national team contests twothree-day practice matches againstSomerset and Sussex counties.

The first of four Tests will start at Lord’sfrom July 14. Surprisingly, Misbah has notplayed a single Test in England during a 61-match career-and the fast paced tracks areexpected to Test the reflexes of the veteran.

“I know it ’s a big challenge, so I amdoing the best preparations for the tourand realise the strength of the opposition,”said Misbah. “After the England tour I amplanning to play until the Australia tour asthere is not that much gap between thetwo series. “All my plans are related to fit-ness and form and that’s my priority,” headded. Pakistan will play two Tests againstthe West Indies in September and Octoberfollowed by two Tests in New Zealand(November) and three in Australia(December-January 2017). — AFP

Misbah ready for England challenge

Misbah Ul-Haq


LONDON: In a dramatic change thatcould lead to numerous doping casesbeing thrown out, athletes who testedpositive for meldonium may be able toavoid sanctions because of a lack of sci-entific evidence on how long the recent-ly banned drug stays in the system.

The World Anti-Doping Agency saidWednesday provisional suspensions canbe lifted if it is determined that an ath-lete took meldonium before it wasplaced on the list of banned substanceson Jan. 1.

“It’s not an amnesty as such,” WADAPresident Craig Reedie told TheAssociated Press. WADA said 172 posi-tive tests for meldonium have beenrecorded so far in various sports andcountries - many in Russia - since thedrug was prohibited. The highest profilecase involves Maria Sharapova, whoannounced last month that she testedpositive during the Australian Open inJanuary. Some athletes who have testedpositive have claimed meldoniumremained in their systems for monthseven though they stopped using it lastyear. Sharapova did not specify whenshe had last used meldonium.

The Latvian-made drug, which is typi-cally prescribed for heart conditions, waswidely used as a supplement by athletes

in Eastern European countries. The drugincreases blood flow, which improvesexercise capacity by carrying more oxy-gen to the muscles.

In a notice to national anti-dopingagencies, WADA acknowledged that“there is a lack of clear scientific informa-tion” on how long it takes for meldoniumto clear the system.

While several studies are currentlybeing carried out by WADA-accreditedlaboratories, preliminary results showthat long-term excretion of meldoniumcan take weeks or months, it said.

As a result, it is possible that athleteswho took meldonium before Jan. 1“could not reasonably have known orsuspected” that the drug would still bepresent in their bodies after that date,WADA said. “In these circumstancesWADA considers that there may begrounds for no fault or negligence onthe part of the athlete,” the statementsaid. Reedie said the notice was sent outto all national anti-doping bodies onTuesday. It was released first publicly byRussia’s anti-doping agency onWednesday before being posted onWADA’s website.

ATHLETES FACE STRICT LIABILITY “It is designed to explain the science

that we know,” Reedie told the AP in atelephone interview. “The issue that itdeals with is the time this drug takes tocome out of the system. It’s an attemptto clarify the many questions that we’vebeen asked.”

In a separate statement, WADAstressed that meldonium remains abanned substance and athletes face therule of strict liability whereby they areresponsible for any prohibited drugfound in their body.

“Meldonium is a particular substance,which has created an unprecedented sit-uation and therefore warranted addi-tional guidance for the anti-doping com-munity,” Reedie said.

The Russian sports ministry andnational Olympic committee welcomedthe WADA statement, and the country’sofficials suggested there could be amass amnesty of Russian athletes.

Russian tennis federation headShamil Tarpishchev told the R-Sportagency he hoped that Sharapova wouldbe able to play at the Olympics in Rio deJaneiro in August, while the head of theRussian swimming federation suggestedthere could be a swift return to competi-tion for suspended world championYulia Efimova.

“In no way does this serve as an

‘amnesty’ for athletes that are assertedto have committed an anti-doping ruleviolation,” WADA spokesman Ben Nicholstold the AP in an email. “Rather, it servesas guidance for how anti-doping organi-zations should assess the particular cir-cumstances of each individual caseunder their jurisdiction.”

The meldonium cases have no bear-ing on the ongoing suspension ofRussia’s track and field team following aWADA commission report into what itcalled state-sponsored doping.

NOTICESharapova, a winner of five Grand

Slam titles, said she had been takingmeldonium for medical reasons over a10-year period and had not seen aWADA notice last year that the drugwould be banned starting in 2016.Sharapova was provisionally suspendedby the International Tennis Federationpending a disciplinary hearing.

“We can confirm that the case isongoing and that there will be a hear-ing,” ITF spokesman Nick Imison told theAP on Wednesday. “I have seen the state-ment from WADA and obviously anyongoing cases will take that informationfrom WADA, but it won’t affect the factthat there is an ongoing case.”

Sharapova’s lawyer said WADA’s state-ment was “proof of how poorly” theagency handled meldonium issues in2015. “The notice underscores why somany legitimate questions have beenraised concerning WDA’s process in ban-ning meldonium as well as the mannerin which they notified players,” attorneyJohn Haggerty said in a statement. “Thisnotice should have been widely distrib-uted in 2015, when it would have madea difference in the lives of many ath-letes.” WADA said prosecution of meldo-nium cases can be “stayed” and provi-sional suspensions lifted if the concen-tration of the drug in the system isbetween 1 and 15 micrograms permillileter and the test was carried outbefore March 1, or if the level is below 1microgram per millileter and the dopingcontrol was conducted after March 1. Inboth cases, the drug could still be in theathletes’ system from before Jan. 1.

The agency said doping cases shouldbe pursued, however, in the case of ath-letes who admit having taken meldo-nium on or after Jan. 1. The same appliesto cases where the concentration of thedrug is above 15 micrograms permillileter and where the level is between1 and 15 and the drug test was afterMarch 1. —AP

WADA opens way for athletes to avoid sanctions for meldonium

PHILADELPHIA: Freddy Galvis hit an RBI doubleoff Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the 10thinning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies overWashington 3-2 Sunday, ending the Nationals’seven-game winning streak. Bryce Harper set acareer high by homering in his fourth straightgame, hitting a solo shot against JeanmarGomez (1-0) for a 2-1 lead in the 10th. ThePhillies then rallied off Papelbon (0-1), their for-mer closer. Pinch-hitter Andres Blanco hit an RBIsingle with two outs to tie it. He scored whenGalvis drove a ball over left fielder Jayson Werth.

DODGERS 3, GIANTS 1Kenta Maeda pitched seven strong innings,

Joc Pederson drove in the tying and go-aheadruns with a fifth-inning homer, and Los Angelesbeat San Francisco. Maeda (2-0) allowed a runand four hits, struck out seven and walked three.The Japanese-born right-hander had pitched sixscoreless innings of five-hit ball in each of histwo previous starts and extended his shutoutstreak to 14 2/3 innings before Joe Panik endedit with a third-inning homer. Chris Hatcherpitched a perfect eighth inning and KenleyJansen got three outs in the ninth to pick up hisfifth save in as many appearances. JeffSamardzija (1-1) allowed three runs and six hitsin six-plus innings.

YANKEES 4, MARINERS 3Alex Rodriguez, dropped three spots to sixth

in the batting order, hit a two-run homer thatsnapped an 0-for-19, two at-bats shy of hiscareer high, and New York stopped a four-gamelosing streak. Masahiro Tanaka (1-0) topped oldpal Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2) in the first majorleague pitching matchup of former Japaneseteammates, a game that was broadcast live ontelevision back home - at 2 am in Tokyo. The twoplayed with Rakuten in Japan from 2007-11.Brett Gardner had three hits, including an RBIdouble, and scored the tiebreaking run on afifth-inning wild pitch. Dellin Betances andAndrew Miller combined to strike out all six bat-ters they faced, with Miller working the ninth forhis third save.

RAYS 3, WHITE SOX 2Matt Moore (1-0) struck out 10 over 6 1-3

innings, allowing two runs and five hits, andBrandon Guyer tied a career high with four hits.Moore (improved to 4-1 in five starts against theWhite Sox, Alex Colome got five outs for theRays’ first save this season. Jose Quintana (1-1)gave up three runs, seven hits and had six strike-outs in six innings for Chicago, which has losttwo straight after winning five in a row.

METS 6, INDIANS 0Steven Matz (1-1) struck out a career-high

nine and allowed three hits over seven innings.Given a six-run, second-inning lead, Matz retiredthe side in order three times and allowed tworunners in the same inning once. Corey Kluber(0-3) gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings,struck out eight and walked one. He is 9-19 sincewinning the 2014 AL Cy Young Award. New Yorkscored three runs in the first and three more inthe second. The Mets were helped in the secondwhen center fielder Rajai Davis two fly balls inthe sun and Kluber made a throwing error.Michael Conforto and Lucas Duda both drove intwo runs.

BRAVES 6, MARLINS 5Rookie Mallex Smith hit an RBI single against

Edwin Jackson (0-1) with two outs in the 10thinning as Atlanta completed a three-gamesweep after arriving in Miami 0-9. Atlanta blew a5-0 lead, and Ichiro Suzuki’s RBI single on an 0-2pitch from Jason Grilli (1-0) with two outs in theninth tied the game for Miami, which is 0-5 athome this year under new manager DonMattingly. Matt Wisler, playing catch in thebullpen between starts, came and and pitched a1-2-3 10th for his first career save.

TWINS 3, ANGELS 2Oswaldo Arcia’s single down the left field line

scored Byron Buxton in the 12th as Minnesotacompleted a three-game sweep. Trevor Plouffehad three hits and an RBI and Kyle Gibson gaveup two runs on four hits in seven innings for theTwins, who have won three straight after start-ing the season 0-9. Michael Tonkin (1-0) struckout four in two innings for his first win. AlbertPujols hit his 562nd career home run.

PIRATES 9, BREWERS 3Andrew McCutchen homered for the second

straight day, and Matt Joyce and GregoryPolanco each had three of Pittsburgh’s 17 hits.Juan Nicasio (2-1) allowed three runs over sixinnings for Pittsburgh, giving up al l theMilwaukee offense in the fourth after three per-fect innings to start the game. Zach Davies (0-1)was pounded by the Pirates for the third time inseven career starts, getting charged with sixruns - five earned - nine hits and three walks in 21/3 innings.

BLUE JAYS 5, RED SOX 3Aaron Sanchez (1-0) allowed two hits in seven

innings of one-run ball, and Jose Bautista drovein two runs with a solo homer and a double.

Edwin Encarnacion added two singles and anRBI for the Blue Jays, who had lost two straightand were 1-4 against the Red Sox. Kevin Pillarhad three singles and made two nice catches incenter after being dropped from leadoff toeighth in the batting order. Travis Shaw hit atwo-run homer off closer Roberto Osuna forBoston, which had won three straight.

Steven Wright (0-2) gave up two runs and sixhits in six innings.

ASTROS 5, TIGERS 4Jose Altuve led off Houston’s first inning with

a solo home run and had three RBIs, and GeorgeSpringer also hit a solo homer as Houston wonits first series this season. Mike Fiers (1-1) gaveup four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings withfive strikeouts. Anibal Sanchez (2-1) was taggedfor five runs - four earned - and eight hits in fiveinnings with eight strikeouts.

CARDINALS 4, REDS 3Eric Fryer had three hits, including the go-

ahead double with two outs in the eighth offRoss Ohlendorf (2-1). A backup to All-Starcatcher Yadier Molina, Fryer got his first startthis season and is 6 for 6 at the plate. MattCarpenter and Jedd Gyorko hit solo homers forSt. Louis, which has won three of last four. Tenof the Cardinals’ 21 homers this season were hitin the three-game series against the Reds, whohave lost five of six. Kevin Siegrist (2-0) got fourstraight outs, and Trevor Rosenthal struck outhis last two batters in a perfect ninth for histhird save.

ROCKIES 2, CUBS 0Nolan Arenado homered twice off Jon Lester

(1-1), and Tyler Chatwood pitched seven inningsin combining with Miguel Castro and JakeMcGee on a three-hitter. Jason Heyward dou-bled with one out in the ninth and AnthonyRizzo was hit by a pitch with two outs beforeMcGee struck out Kris Bryant for his third save.

ATHLETICS 3, ROYALS 2Reddick’s sacrifice fly off Joakim Soria (1-1)

broke an eighth-inning tie after Billy Burnstripled into the right-field corner. John Axford (2-0) induced three consecutive groundouts in theeighth, and Ryan Madson pitched a one-hitninth for his fourth save.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, PADRES 3Yasmany Tomas homered twice, drove in

three runs and scored three times BrandonDrury had a two-run homer, a triple and scoredtwice for the Diamondbacks, who bounced backfrom Saturday night’s 5-3, 14-inning loss to taketwo of three. Patrick Corbin (1-1) outdueledRobbie Erlin (1-2) in a matchup of lefties, allow-ing three runs, one earned, on six hits in 6 2/3innings.— AP

Philadelphia hold on

to beat Washington 3-2

American LeagueEastern Division

W L PCT GB Baltimore 8 3 .727 - Boston 6 5 .545 2 Toronto 6 7 .462 3 NY Yankees 5 6 .455 3 Tampa Bay 5 7 .417 3.5

Central DivisionChicago White Sox 8 4 .667 - Kansas City 8 4 .667 - Detroit 7 4 .636 0.5 Cleveland 5 5 .500 2 Minnesota 3 9 .250 5

Western DivisionTexas 7 6 .538 - Oakland 6 7 .462 1 LA Angels 5 7 .417 1.5 Seattle 5 7 .417 1.5

Houston 5 8 .385 2 National LeagueEastern Division

Washington 9 2 .818 - Philadelphia 6 7 .462 4 NY Mets 5 6 .455 4 Miami 3 7 .300 5.5 Atlanta 3 9 .250 6.5

Central DivisionChicago Cubs 9 3 .750 - St. Louis 7 5 .583 2 Pittsburgh 7 6 .538 2.5 Cincinnati 6 6 .500 3 Milwaukee 5 7 .417 4

Western DivisionLA Dodgers 8 5 .615 - Colorado 7 5 .583 0.5 San Francisco 7 6 .538 1 Arizona 5 8 .385 3

MLB Results/Standings

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

PHILADELPHIA: This April 14, 2016 file photo shows Philadelphia Phillies’ Vince Velasquezpitching during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres inPhiladelphia. The 23-year-old right-hander dominated the San Diego Padres, striking out 16and allowing three singles in Philadelphia’s 3-0 win. —AP

NEW YORK: Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders makes the stop againstJonathan Huberdeau #11 of the Florida Panthers in the first overtime period duringGame Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL StanleyCup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on Sunday in the Brooklyn borough of New YorkCity. — AFP

NEW YORK: Thomas Hickey scored 12:31into overtime to give the New YorkIslanders a 4-3 victory over the FloridaPanthers on Sunday night in Game 3 oftheir Eastern Conference first-round series.Hickey scored on a one-timer off a passfrom Brock Nelson from behind the net tolift the Islanders to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is in Brooklyn onWednesday night. Ryan Pulock, ShanePrince and Frans Nielsen also scored for theIslanders in their first playoff game inBrooklyn. Thomas Greiss made 36 saves,and John Tavares and Kyle Okposo eachhad two assists. Reilly Smith had a goal andtwo assists, and Aleksander Barkov andNick Bjustad also scored for the Panthers.Smith has four goals and four assists in theseries. Roberto Luongo stopped 35 shots.

RED WINGS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2Jaden Schwartz scored at 13:32 of the

third period with Patrick Kane in the penal-ty box for high-sticking, and St. Louis beatChicago for a 2-1 lead in the WesternConference series. Patrik Berglund alsoscored in the third as St. Louis rallied for thewin after a difficult 3-2 loss in Game 2 thatincluded two key coach’s challenges thatwent against the Blues. Brian Elliott made44 saves, keeping St. Louis in the gameduring Chicago’s strong second period.Kane, the NHL’s leading scorer this seasonand one of the favorites for league MVP,got four minutes for a high stick ondefenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and St. Louismade the most of the chance to go infront. Vladimir Tarasenko passed down lowto David Backes, who sent it r ight to

Schwartz in the slot. He beat Crawford lowon the glove side for his third career play-off goal and a 3-2 lead with 6:38 left.Colton Parayko also scored for St. Louis.Brent Seabrook and Artem Anisimovscored for Chicago. Game 4 is Tuesdaynight in Chicago.

RED WINGS 2, LIGHTNING 0Andreas Athanasiou and Henrik

Zetterberg scored, Petr Mrazek made 16saves and Detroit beat Tampa Bay to cut itsdeficit to 2-1 in the Eastern Conferenceseries. Game 4 is Tuesday night at Joe LouisArena. Game 5, which is now necessary, willbe at Tampa Bay. After brawling late in thelast game, gloves were dropped, fists flewand there were piles of players on the icewhen the Game 3 ended. Ben Bishop made28 saves for the Lightning. Their top line ofTyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and AlexKillorn was shut down after each of thethree had six points in the first two games.

PREDATORS 3, DUCKS 2Craig Smith had a goal and an assist,

Pekka Rinne made 27 saves and theNashville Predators confidently claimedtheir second straight road victory to opentheir first-round series against the AnaheimDucks. Shea Weber and Mattias Ekholmalso scored as the Predators took a 2-0playoff series lead for the first time in fran-chise history with another win over thePacific Division champions. Nate Thompsoncut into the lead with 2:42 to play, butNashville closed out just its second roadplayoff victory since 2012. Game 3 isTuesday night in Nashville. — AP

Hickey scores in OT to lift

Islanders past Panthers 4-3

HONG KONG: England legend JohnBarnes has questioned the integrity of theChinese Super League’s recent big-moneyimports, suggesting they lack the desire tobe top-quality footballers.

Brazilian Alex Teixeira headlined China’smassive 331 million euros ($374 million)January-February splurge on players afterbeing tempted away from signing forBarnes’s former club Liverpool by the 50million euros dangled by Jiangsu Suning.

International stars Jackson Martinez,Ramires, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gervinhowere also among those who signed forChinese clubs-joining players such asPaulinho, Tim Cahill and Asamoah Gyanwho had made the move in the past.

But Barnes cast doubt on the players’motives after President Xi Jinping’s drive toturn China into a footballing powerprompted a flood of investment into thegame. “This is the first year of the invest-ment coming in,” said Barnes told reportersMonday after a weekend coaching childrenin a Liverpool FC Soccer Clinic in HongKong. “They are getting younger players at25, for 25 million (euros). Unfortunately

what that then does is question those play-ers’ integrity. “So rather than thinking: ‘Yesthey’re going to China. They’re 24 or 25 atthe peak of their career.’ It ’s like: ‘Huh?They’re not interested in football, they’regoing for the money’.

“For me that shows that you haven’t gotthat heart and desire and determination tobe a top quality footballer.” Teixeira optingfor China, said Barnes, showed he mighthave turned out to be an expensive flop atLiverpool anyway.

“Teixeira is a typical example,” said theformer flying winger, now 52, who won 79caps for England and was part of the lastLiverpool side to win the English leaguetitle, back in 1990. “Because for Teixeira tobe going to Liverpool, or maybe Juventus,and then all of a sudden he signs to play inChina, it’s questionable. “I think you can seethe character of the player. Had he gone toLiverpool, he still would have been thesame character.

“So if an opportunity like China camelater and he was, say, a bit cold, or hewasn’t playing well, he would have justthrown the towel in.”—AFP

England legend Barnes questions

‘integrity’ of China’s big signings


MILAN: Italian football icon FrancescoTotti is set for crunch talks amid signsRoma are ready to let the 39-year-oldplaymaker walk out of the club he hasserved faithfully for his entire 23-yearcareer. A late cameo appearance onSunday saw Totti score his 245th goalin Serie A, his 301st for Roma, to securea 3-3 draw at Atalanta.

The goal maintained Roma’s push tosnatch the league’s second automaticChampions League spot from Napoli,who sit in second place with a five-point cushion and five games to play.

But Roma sporting director WalterSabatini said Totti’s 86th-minute strikechanged “nothing” as far as ongoingtalks about his future are concerned.

Totti’s wish for an extra year’s deal at

Roma has fallen on deaf ears, with theclub’s American president, JamesPallotta, reportedly keen to see himjoin the board or take up an ambas-sador’s role. But in an interview with IlMessaggero newspaper, Sabatini indi-cated Totti’s ongoing contribution tothe team will not sway Pallotta. “Thepresident has given his point of view,there will be a decisive meeting andthen we’l l see what happens,” saidSabatini. “We’re grateful to Totti forwhat he has done and what he contin-ues to do at the club.”

Referring to Totti’s goal on Sunday,Sabatini added: “I don’t think it willchange things, but we still have to givecredit to the player and to the coachfor letting him play.” Italy ’s leading

sports daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport,said both Totti and striker Edin Dzekoare set to leave the club this summer.

While Roma midfielder Daniele DeRossi is Serie A’s highest-paid player ona reported annual salary of 6.5 millioneuros ($7.3 million), misfiring strikerDzeko earns 4.5m and Totti 2.5m.

DEPARTUREAlthough some fans won’t be

unhappy to see Dzeko leave after see-ing him score only eight times in 28league appearances, Totti’s departurewould spell the end of an era.

For the player heralded as ‘Il Re diRoma’ (The King of Rome) and who isstill adored by the fans, an unceremo-nious departure awaits following a

series of rows with coach LucianoSpallett i . Spal lett i and Totti werefamously close during the coach’s pre-vious spell at the club in 2005-2009,during which Totti lifted the Italian Cuptwice in succession in 2007 and 2008— the latter Roma’s last piece of silver-ware-and the Italian Super Cup (2007).

When Spalletti quit Roma beforemoving to the Russian Premier League,Totti even left a heartfelt message onthe club’s website: “Thanks for every-thing Luciano, I would have liked to fin-ish my career with you.”

Although Totti’s wish may ultimatelycome true, Spalletti’s second spell atthe club has produced less amitybetween the pair. Spalletti did not takekindly to Totti complaining in a televi-

sion interview last February that hedeser ved to be playing more andshown more respect by the club.

The Italian reacted by claiming Tottiwould be given no special treatmentand on Sunday the 57-year-old stuckthe boot in further when he refused tocredit Tott i for Roma’s draw inBergamo.

Indeed, amid repor ts of a post-match clash, Spalletti suggested theundercurrents at the club were farmore relevant than Totti’s goal. “Thegoal that Totti scored, he could scoreone like that in three years’ time, butit ’s the other things going on thathaven’t yet come to light. “Maybe if you(media) worked a little bit harder (onit), you would find out.” —AFP

End in sight for Totti ahead of crunch Roma talks

MUNICH: Schalke’s defender Dennis Aoogo (L) and Bayern Munich’s French defender Kingsley Coman vie for the ball during the German firstdivision Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs Schalke 04 in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday. — AFP

Goal-hungry Lewandowski

eyes Cup final berth

GLASGOW: Rangers manager MarkWarburton says his side’s Scottish Cupsemi-final win over Old Firm rivals Celticshould silence some of the club’s critics.

The Gers gaffer, who led his side to a 5-4penalty shoot-out win against their fiercerivals after extra-time ended 2-2, was irritat-ed by some sceptics who had suggestedbefore the game that the fallen Glasgowgiants had no chance against the ScottishPremiership leaders.

However, after booking their place in afirst Scottish Cup final since 2009Warburton said his players, who have alsoclinched the Scottish Championship andChallenge Cup this season, deserved morerespect. “Celtic were the favourites and Ican understand this,” the Rangers managersaid. “But I was irritated by people underes-timating Rangers. We’ve been good thisseason. We’re not clear in the league by 13points by chance. “We deserve to be andthe young squad has come together quick-ly. All credit to the players, I think theydeserved a little bit more respect. “I readsome outrageous reports about them get-ting battered by Celtic today. Well theyshowed today that they’ve got quality,they’ve got the commitment and the workethic and that gap is a lot, lot narrowerthan people are talking about.” The matchat Hampden was just the second time infour years that the Glasgow giants haveclashed since Rangers were forced to startlife again in the country’s bottom tier fol-lowing an amazing fall from grace thatresulted in liquidation in June 2012. Thematch was seen as a gauge of how big thegap between the sides is, but despite victo-ry Warburton warned against any sort ofcomplacency in the Rangers ranks.

HIGHLY COMPETITIVE“The best team won on the day but

Celtic are a team packed with internationalplayers with European experience and wehave to recognise that,” the former

Brentford boss, whose side could end theirfour-year European exile with victoryagainst Hibernian in May’s final, said.“Nothing has changed; we’ve got to workhard to close the gap. “We can’t go intonext season being satisfied with comingsecond, third or fourth or whatever it maybe. We have to go in next season to behighly competitive.

“To do that we’ve got to keep workinghard on and off the pitch.” Kenny Milleropened the scoring in the 16th minutebefore Erik Sviatchenko’s 50th minuteheader took the match to extra time. BarrieMcKay restored Rangers advantage in the96th minute and Australian internationalTom Rogic levelled matters 10 minutes lat-er before the Socceroo star missed thedecisive spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.The defeat heaps more pressure on Celticmanager Ronny Deila, who has come in forcriticism this season for some lacklustre dis-plays culminating in another earlyEuropean exit and a defeat to Ross Countyin the League Cup semi-final.

However, Delia refused to discuss hisfuture after the game. “You know you aregoing to get that pressure all the timewhen you don’t get the results you wantedbut after this game it is hard to talk aboutthose things,” the Norwegian said.

“There are a lot of emotions going onbut with bad results you of course get thequestions. Now, the only thought is to liftourselves and get the league title to CelticPark.” Rangers’ promotion will see theresumption of regular Old Firm matches inthe Scottish Premiership from next season,but Deila said his side would be ready forthem “We will see next year what they haveto offer. It is a totally different thing to dosomething over 38 games that do it overone,” the Celtic boss said. “Of course theyhave improved and they are the secondlargest budget in the country so of coursethey will have pressure on them to per-form.” — AFP

Rangers victory will

silence critics: Warburton

BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski is firmly focusedon adding to his impressive goal-haul whenBayern Munich hunt a place in the German Cupfinal in today’s semi-final at home to WerderBremen. Having drawn Atletico Madrid in thelast four of the Champions League, Bayern arechasing a repeat of their 2013 treble when theyadded the Bundesliga and cup titles to theirEuropean crown. They host Bremen, who arefighting for survival in Germany’s top flight, atthe Allianz Arena for a place in the May 21 finalat Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

“Now comes the important phase of the sea-son,” said Bayern hot-shot Lewandowski, theBundesliga’s top-scorer with 27 goals this season— 38 in all competitions.

“We simply have to win after we bowed outagainst Borussia Dortmund at the same stage.We want to go to Berlin.” Bayern, who have wonthe German Cup a record 17 times, lost at hometo Dortmund on penalties in last season’s semi-finals. Borussia are away to Hertha Berlin in theother semi-final tomorrow. On Saturday,Lewandowski scored twice within 12 minutes inBayern’s 3-0 league win over Schalke 04 havingpreviously gone 390 minutes, and four games,without scoring. Now the Poland hot-shot hasturned his sights on Bremen, who are third frombottom in the Bundesliga. “I’m really pleased,” hesaid after refinding his scoring touch.

“I hope I will shoot a few more goals in thecoming weeks.” Unusually for him, Lewandowski

was on the bench for Bayern’s 2-2 draw atBenfica last Wednesday which confirmed their 3-2 aggregate quarter-final win in Europe.

“You can’t give hundred percent in everygame when you play a game every three days,”he said. “Sometimes it’s good to stop and thenreally go for it when you play again.”

BITTER DISAPPOINTEDDortmund are at Berlin 24 hours later in their

semi-final looking to exorcise the bitter disap-pointment of their of last-gasp 4-3 EuropaLeague defeat at Liverpool. Having bowed out ofEurope at the last eight stage, Borussia want toreach this year’s German Cup final having lost 3-1 to Wolfsburg in the 2015 edition.

Like Lewandowski, Dortmund coach ThomasTuchel said the goal is now to make sure his sidebeat Hertha to return to Berlin’s OlympicStadium for the final. The Borussia boss restedhis stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and MarcoReus in Sunday’s 3-0 league win over Hamburg.He started 17-year-old Felix Passlack at left-backand goal-scorer Christian Pulisic, already a USinternational who only turns 18 in September onthe left wing. “We had a few changes and initiallyfound it hard work,” said Tuchel as Colombiastriker Adrian Ramos netted twice. “We’re happywith the 3-0 win and now we’re looking forwardto the German Cup semi-final. The task is clear:we want to reach the final.”

Hertha crashed to a 2-1 league defeat at

Hoffenheim on Saturday, hardly the ideal prepa-ration as they attempt to reach the German Cupfinal for the first time since 1993. Hertha coachPal Dardai lives within a stone’s throw of theOlympic Stadium and is desperate to lead histeam out for the cup final having always attend-ed as a fan. “The defeat was a wake-up call forus,” said Dardai. “We conceded two goals fromdead-ball situations and we have to be verycareful that the same thing doesn’t happenagainst Dortmund at home.” —AFP

PSG resume quest for

domestic clean sweep

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain continue theirbid for a second successive clean sweep ofthe domestic honours when they make thetrip to Lorient for a French Cup semi-finaltoday, a week after their Champions Leagueexit at the hands of Manchester City. LaurentBlanc’s Ligue 1 champions bounced backfrom becoming the first team to bow out ofthe Champions League at the quarter-finalstage for four years in a row when theythrashed Caen 6-0 in the league on Saturday.Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to form with abrace at the Parc des Princes to take his tallyfor the season to 41 goals in all competitions,and he will be confident of causing problemsfor a Lorient team who have lost their lastseven meetings with PSG.

Caen were perfect opponents at the week-end as they had little to play for and PSGlooked back to their best after Blanc returnedto a familiar 4-3-3 formation.

The main target this term was to conquerEurope, but despite Blanc appearing pleasedto avoid the “ogres of European football” inBarcelona and Bayern Munich, PSG failed tomake the most of the last-eight draw andwere beaten by a Kevin De Bruyne strike atthe Etihad Stadium. Now the coach says thatthey are fully focused on repeating theirdomestic clean sweep of last season, having

already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title in recordtime and won the season-openingChampions Trophy. After facing Lorient, theytake on Lille in the French League Cup final atthe Stade de France on Saturday.

“At the start of the season the objectivewas to go as far as possible in the ChampionsLeague and especially get to the semi-finals,but also to win one of the domestic cups aswell as the league,” said Blanc, who last weekclaimed that his job is always under threat.

“But the reality is that we want to try towin everything. We still have a final and asemi-final to play, so the end of the season isstill exciting. “For PSG, as we are out of theChampions League, people say that it is allfinished. But we still have two trophies towin.” Extra motivation for PSG is the fact that asuccessful defence of the French Cup woulddraw them level alongside arch-rivalsMarseille as the competition’s record 10-timewinners. Lorient are looking to emulate theheroes of 2002, when Jean-ClaudeDarcheville scored the only goal in the finalagainst Bastia.

Marseille and their under-fire coachMichel have the chance to put a silver liningon an otherwise woeful campaign and theygo to second-tier Sochaux in the secondsemi-final on Wednesday.—AFP

PARIS: Caen’s French defender Dennis Appiah (L) vies with Paris Saint-Germain’sUruguyan forward Edinson Cavani during the French L1 football match betweenParis Saint-Germain and Caen at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 16,2016. —AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Newcastle United v Man City 21:45beIN SPORTS 2 HD

SPANISH LEAGUE

Espanyol v Celta de Vigo 21:00beIN SPORTS 3 HDReal Betis v Las Palmas 22:00beIN SPORTS

ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE

SSC Napoli v Bologna FC 21:00beIN SPORTS 4 HD

BERLIN: Former German World Cup alpine ski racer Maria Hoefel-Riesch shows a trophy after she was introduced as new Academy member atthe Laureus World Sports 2016 Awards Ceremony in Berlin yesterday. — AFP

15Ethiopians complete first ever sweep of BostonMarathon

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 201618Philadelphiahold on to beatWashington 3-2

‘Superwoman’ Ratchanok Intanon set sights on Olympics Page 17

LEICESTER: Leicester City’s English striker Jamie Vardy (3L) reacts after referee Jonathan Moss (C) showed Vardy his second yellow card for simulation to send him off during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and West HamUnited at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Sunday. — AFP

LONDON: Jamie Vardy faces having his mandatory one-matchban lengthened, potentially ruling the striker out of more ofLeicester’s title run-in, after he was charged yesterday by theEnglish Football Association over his angry reaction to a redcard.

The Premier League’s joint top scorer was sent off duringSunday’s draw with West Ham after being booked twice, thesecond time for diving in the penalty area after tangling withAngelo Ogbonna.

Vardy confronted referee Jon Moss, jabbing a finger at the

match official while appearing to express his anger at receiv-ing his first red card of the season. The FA’s improper conductcharge means Vardy is likely to miss at least two of Leicester’slast four league games if he is found guilty.

Vardy had netted his 22nd goal of the campaign in the firsthalf to put Leicester in front before being dismissed 11 min-utes into the second half. Leicester has also been charged bythe FA with failing to control its players over the reaction to apenalty being awarded in the 84th minute, which led to AndyCarroll leveling.

Although Aaron Cresswell put West Ham in front, Leicesterequalized deep in stoppage time when it was awarded a softpenalty that substitute Leonardo Ulloa converted.

Leicester and Vardy have until Thursday afternoon torespond to the FA charges. Leicester’s remaining games in itspursuit of a first-ever top flight title are against Swansea,Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea. Leicester had aneight-point lead over Tottenham ahead of the second-placeLondon club playing Stoke yesterday.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri now has to consider

how to reconfigure the team without Vardy. One option is topartner Shinji Okazaki with Ulloa if Ranieri sticks with hisfavored 4-4-2 formation. Okazaki has netted only six goals thisseason, while Ulloa’s penalty took his tally to four.

“It was a difficult moment because we were down to 10men, but we defended well and then attacked when wecould,” Ulloa said. “I love to play with this team because theyhave this character when we are losing or in a bad situation.We are always fighting together. We are a team and that ismore important, not for me but for everyone.” — AP

Vardy charged by FA over reaction to red card

BARCELONA: Barcelona boss Luis Enrique claimedhis side are capable of winning their final five La Ligagames to claim the title despite slipping to a fourthdefeat in five games as they were beaten 2-1 byValencia on Sunday.

The Catalans hadn’t tasted defeat in 39 gamesuntil losing to Real Madrid earlier this month, buthave since thrown away a nine-point lead at the topof La Liga and been dumped out the ChampionsLeague by Atletico Madrid. Barca still lead La Ligathanks to their superior head-to-head record withAtletico with Real a point behind in third, but nowneed to win all five remaining games againstDeportivo la Coruna, Sporting Gijon, Real Betis,Espanyol and Granada to keep matters in their ownhands. Moreover, they have now lost three consecu-tive La Liga games for the first time in 13 years.

“If there is a team capable of doing it and muchmore given what they have done, it is this Barca,” saidEnrique. “Perhaps it is more difficult than normalwhen the team loses, for me, unjustly some of thegames we have lost. We lost two games in the first 30and now three in a row, it is not normal.

“This sport generates a lot of surprises, I think wehave criticised ourselves when it has been necessary,but today is not a day to criticise my players, it is a dayto congratulate them.”

Barca dominated from start to finish against aValencia side that had been dispatched 7-0 on theirlast visit to the Camp Nou just two months ago underthe tutelage of Gary Neville. However, they enjoyedbetter luck in Pako Ayestaran’s third game in chargeas Ivan Rakitic’s own goal and Santi Mina’s fine finishput them 2-0 up at half-time despite having just one

shot on target. Lionel Messi’s 500th career goal gaveBarca hope after the break, but an inspired goalkeep-ing display from Diego Alves and a shocking miss twominutes from time by Gerard Pique consigned thehosts to defeat. “Feeling sorry for ourselves we won’twin anything,” added Enrique. “The players have giv-en a lesson in the second-half of how to face a situa-tion like this. Until the 93rd minute they were tryingto equalise and that is something to highlight.”

However, Enrique was elusive on whether hewould consider stepping down at the end of thecampaign if Barca’s incredible collapse costs themthe title. “I am only interested in football. There isnothing more important for Barca fans than turn-ing around this situation and we know the difficul-ty of the challenge, so I’m not interested in any-thing else.” — AFP

MANCHESTER: Manchester City look to besaving their best until last as they aim to fin-ish a testing season on a high. ManuelPellegrini’s side have a Champions Leaguesemi-final against Real Madrid to look for-ward to in the Chilean’s last few weeks incharge at the Etihad Stadium.

And when City travel to relegation-threatened Newcastle United on Tuesday,they will be chasing a fourth successivePremier League win.

A sustained title challenge never reallymaterialised as City suffered from injuriesand a loss of form at key moments as bothLeicester City and Tottenham Hotspur gotaway from them at the top of the table.

But City’s late burst should be enough tosecure them a top-four place and guaran-teed Champions League football for nextseason. Saturday’s 3-0 win over soon-to-be-deposed English champions Chelsea, whichfeatured Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick, suggest-ed City are nearing top form and midfielderYaya Toure said: “We played very well. Ithought the whole team played really well.

“I think it was one of the best gameswe’ve played this season, because it is noteasy to dominate the way we did whenplaying at Stamford Bridge.”

Toure was back in City’s starting line-upfor the first time in five games following aspell out with a knee injury. De Bruyne andNasri boost - City have also benefitted fromthe recent return to fitness of creative mid-fielders Kevin de Bruyne and Samir Nasri.

And Toure believes that if all City’s keymen avoid further injury to offer continuedsupport to top scorer-Aguero, thenPellegrini’s side will take some stopping.

The Ivory Coast international added:“When Samir, de Bruyne and Aguero are onthe field together they play very well andcan hurt the opposition.

“I’ve missed two or three games throughinjury and it’s always difficult for me towatch my team-mates play without me.

“I always want to be involved and helpmy team whenever I can. I always want towork hard and that’s what I will continue todo because we want to finish the season asstrongly as possible.”

INJURIESCity should also be buoyed at St James’

Park, where they are unbeaten since 2005and have won on eight of their last nine vis-its, by the return of captain VincentKompany and winger Raheem Sterling.

Kompany has missed City’s last sixgames with the latest in a long line of calfinjuries, while England international Sterlinghas been out for five games with a groinproblem. Meanwhile, Andros Townsend hasset Newcastle a minimum target of threewins from their remaining five games toclinch Premier League safety.

Victory against City will see RafaBenitez’s side climb out of the bottom threefor the first time since early February as theylook to build on Saturday’s 3-0 home winover Swansea. Second-bottom Newcastleare aiming to avoid a second relegationform the top flight in seven years, andEngland midfielder Townsend said: “A lot ofpeople have already written us off but theSwansea result has given us a lift and wetake a lot of confidence from having threeof our last five games at home.”

One of their two remaining away match-es is at already-relegated Aston Villa, andTownsend added: “Winning three of thosefinal five will be difficult, but if we performlike we did against Swansea, then we’ve gota chance. There’s a belief in the dressingroom that we can go on a run and get our-selves out of trouble.”—AFP

Man City aim to finishwith a flourish

Barca can win final five despite dramatic slump

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez kneels in the goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Valencia CF at the CampNou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. — AFP

BusinessTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

Saudi flag carrier to launch low-cost offshoot Flyadeal

Page 22

Bahrah Trading Company wins 4 prestigious Bobcat awards

Page 26

Global stocks slide on discord in Doha Page 24

Honda Alghanim unveils All-new 2016 Honda Civic, new Africa Twin motorbike

Pages 25

UK Treasury warns of economic costs of BrexitBritain will be permanently poorer: Osborne

BRISTOL: British Environment Secretary Liz Truss (left), British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (second left), British Energy Secretary and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd (2R) and British Work and PensionsSecretary Stephen Crabb, speak following a tour of the National Composites Centre at the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Bristol, south-west England yesterday. — AFP

LONDON: Britain will be “permanently poorer”if it leaves the EU in a June referendum and thecost to households could be £4,300 (5,400euros, $6,100) a year, finance minister GeorgeOsborne warned yesterday.

Osborne said the short-term effect wouldbe a “profound economic shock and real insta-bility” and it was “complete fantasy” to expectthat Britain could negotiate an advantageoustrade deal with the EU if it withdrew. “Britainwould be permanently poorer if we left theEuropean Union,” Chancellor of the ExchequerOsborne said in a speech at a factory in Bristolin western England, presenting a 200-pageTreasury report on the financial impact of a so-called Brexit. “It’s the biggest decision for ageneration,” he said, as Britain prepares for aclosely fought June 23 referendum on whetherto leave or remain in the European Union. TheTreasury analysis outlined three possible sce-

narios following a Brexit. Under the first sce-nario, Britain would remain a member of theEuropean Economic Area like Norway andwould have broad access to the single marketbut with no say in the policy decisions thatshape it. Under the second, it would negotiatea bilateral deal like Canada or Switzerland-ascenario that the report said would lead togrowth being six percentage points smallerthan it would otherwise be by 2030. The mostradical outcome examined was Britain havingno deal with the EU and relying only on itsWorld Trade Organization (WTO) membershipstatus to trade with the EU, like Brazil or Russia.

The annual loss of gross domestic product(GDP) per household would be £2,600 underthe first scenario, £4,300 under the second and£5,200 under the third, the report said.

“The conclusion is clear: for Britain’s econo-my and for families, leaving the EU would be

the most extraordinary self-inflicted wound,”Osborne said. “There would be less trade, lessinvestment and less business... Leave the EU,and the facts are: Britain would be permanent-ly poorer,” he wrote in The Times.

Under all scenarios, Britain would have a“less open and interconnected economy,” hesaid in the newspaper. “It’s a complete fantasyto suppose that there is some radically differ-ent other arrangement that Britain could nego-tiate, where we have access to the single mar-ket but don’t accept any costs or obligations ofEU membership,” Osborne wrote.

In an interview with BBC radio, he also saidthat expecting a favourable trade deal to resultfrom Brexit would be “economically illiterate”.The Treasury report has been months in themaking and is the starkest warning yet fromthe government. The polls show the “Leave”and “Remain” camps are evenly split at around

50 percent each. Around a fifth of votersremain undecided, however, as the campaignofficially got started last week.

Vote on a ‘knife-edge’ The run-up to the referendum is being

closely watched across Europe and beyondbecause of its potentially far-reaching econom-ic and political consequences. The Treasuryreport is being published just days before USPresident Barack Obama is due in London on avisit in which he is expected to underline theimportance of Britain staying in the EU. Theworld’s G20 top economies last week warnedthat one of the risks to the global economywas “the shock of a potential UK exit from theEuropean Union”.

International Monetary Fund chief ChristineLagarde also called on Britain and the EU tosave a “long marriage”. The IMF last week

downgraded its forecast for British economicgrowth by 0.3 percentage points to 1.9 percentfor 2016, although it held its 2017 forecast at2.2 percent.

Charismatic London mayor Boris Johnson,who is campaigning for Britain to leave the EU,wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the vote wason a “knife-edge”. “All the usual suspects areout there, trying to confuse the British publicand to persuade them that they must acceptthe accelerating loss of democratic self-gov-ernment as the price of economic prosperity,”he said. John Redwood, a pro-Brexit lawmakerand former government minister, dismissedthe Treasury analysis, comparing it to argu-ments made in favour of staying in the EU’sExchange Rate Mechanism. “The remainerswere wrong then and they are wrong now-people should not trust their judgment on theEU,” Redwood said. — AFP

DUBAI: Major stock markets in the Gulfrebounded in late trade yesterday to closehigher despite the collapse of oil producers’talks in Doha, while Egypt’s bourse surged to asix-month closing high.

The failure of Sunday’s Doha meeting toagree on an oil output freeze was a blow tosentiment in the oil market, and Brent crudetumbled more than 5 percent at one stage. Butit later came well off its lows to stand only 2.6percent down at $42 a barrel. This was a reliefto Gulf bourses, which were also encouragedby some positive first-quarter earnings in SaudiArabia that suggested the region’s economicslowdown was not hurting corporate profits asmuch as feared.

The Saudi stock index, which fell as muchas 1.6 percent in early trade, rebounded toclose 0.2 percent higher, led by the petro-chemical sector. Petrochemical producerNational Industrialisation Co (Tasnee) surged9.8 percent after posting a first-quarter net lossof 94.8 million riyals ($25.3 million), beatinganalysts’ forecasts of a 272.9 million riyal loss.

NCB Capital attributed the result to higher-than-expected gross margins on the back ofimproved efficiency and higher operatingrates. But the second largest listed petro-chemical producer, Saudi Arabia Fertilisers Co(SAFCO), slumped 3.8 percent to 62.75 riyals

after reporting a 51.5 percent decline in netprofit to 286 million riyals. Analysts hadexpected the unit of Saudi Basic Industries tomake 314.6 million riyals. Riyad Capital attrib-uted the fall mainly to lower urea prices andrevised its target price for the stock to 70.0riyals from 80.0, maintaining a “hold” rating.

BANKS ON THE UPAnother commodity producer, Saudi

Arabian Mining Co (Ma’aden), climbed 6.3 per-cent after reporting a 35.3 percent fall in first-quarter net profit to 168.9 million riyals versusanalysts’ average estimate of just 1.13 millionriyals. Saudi banking sector earnings havemostly been above analysts’ expectations, andArab National Bank, one of the last in the sec-tor to report, also came in ahead of forecasts.Its shares rose 1.3 percent after it posted afirst-quarter net profit of 749.2 million riyals, a2.8 percent drop. Analysts polled by Reutershad forecast 685.8 million riyals.

Other Gulf bourses also bounced from ear-ly lows. Dubai’s index was down as much as2.5 percent but finished 0.1 percent higher.Builder Drake & Scull, the most heavily tradedstock on the bourse, added 3.5 percent.Emirates NBD, the biggest bank, gained 2.5percent.In Abu Dhabi, the index edged up0.03 percent, helped by banks. — Reuters

DUBAI: Analysts have cut their economicgrowth forecasts for the Gulf Arab oil export-ing states further despite a rebound in crudeprices, because of the impact of governments’austerity policies, a Reuters poll found. Brentcrude oil has climbed to around $40 a barrelfrom about $30 since the last poll was con-ducted in early January. But that will not boostgrowth in the short term because govern-ments are continuing to impose new austeritymeasures to curb budget deficits caused bycheap oil.

Since January, Saudi Arabia, the UnitedArab Emirates and Oman have introducedfresh spending cuts or rises in taxes and fees;other countries are considering such steps.

“The Gulf is experiencing a slowdown for acouple of years while things steady in the oilmarket and the region digests low oil pricesand fiscal reforms,” said Elias Bikhazi, groupchief economist at National Bank of Kuwait.“ The extent of the process varies a bitbetween countries, but it’s a common theme.”The latest poll of 19 analysts found them cut-ting their median 2016 growth forecasts forfive of the six Gulf Cooperation Council coun-tries, with the exception of Kuwait. Forecastsfor 2017 were cut for all six countries.

Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product isnow expected to grow a median 1.5 percentthis year, down from the previous estimate of

1.9 percent. Next year’s outlook has been low-ered to 1.9 percent from 2.2 percent. TheUnited Arab Emirates’ economy is expected togrow 2.8 percent this year instead of 3.0 per-cent, while its 2017 forecast has been cutsharply to 2.9 percent from 3.4 percent.

All of the six GCC states are expected toavoid recessions by comfortable margins.Bikhazi said there were delays and cuts to gov-ernment projects in the region, with theexception of Kuwait. But major projects arestill going ahead, he added.

He also said that while cuts in energy subsi-dies were dampening consumer spending, theeffect was still relatively limited. “ Thesechanges are gradual enough that while theimpact is negative, the economies can handleit.” Nevertheless, the cost of keeping govern-ment spending high enough to avoid reces-sion is expected to produce hefty budgetdeficits in all GCC states this year.

After running a whopping deficit of 15 per-cent of GDP last year, Saudi Arabia is projectedto post a 15.5 percent deficit in 2016 with onlya moderate improvement to a 9.7 percent gapin 2017, the poll showed.

Iran callMeanwhile, Iran urged other oil producers

yesterday to continue talks on an outputfreeze to prop up crude prices, but insisted it

was justified in not freezing its own output.Iranian OPEC Governor Hossein KazempourArdebilli was speaking to his oil ministry’sShana news agency after talks on Sundaybetween producers in Doha collapsed whenSaudi Arabia demanded that Iran join a freeze.Iranian representatives were not present atthe talks. “We support cooperation betweenOPEC and non-OPEC member countries andefforts to bring stability to the oil market, andwe urge all producers to continue their nego-tiations,” Ardebilli said.

But he also said Iran had made it clear thatit wanted to regain its share of the oil marketlost when it was hit by economic sanctions,and that “its position is supported by mostOPEC and non-OPEC members around theworld”. The sanctions were lifted in Januaryafter Iran and the group of world powersknown as the P5+1 agreed on curbs toTehran’s nuclear program.

Ardebilli said that if Iran participated in theproposed output freeze, it would in effect bemaintaining sanctions on itself.

“Those who opposed the nuclear dealbetween Iran and the P5+1 and the lifting ofcruel sanctions on the Islamic Republic... pro-posed the oil output freeze in January 2016,having the illusion that Iran has no otherchoice but to accept,” he said, in an apparentreference to Saudi Arabia. — Agencies

Gulf ends firm despite Doha summit failure

Gulf growth forecasts slashed amid oil crisisMIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

B U S I N E S STUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

NBK ECONOMIC REPORT

EXCHANGE RATES

Bahrain Exchange CompanyAl-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

ASIAN COUNTRIESJapanese Yen 2.777Indian Rupees 4.572Pakistani Rupees 2.886Srilankan Rupees 2.092Nepali Rupees 2.847Singapore Dollar 225.390Hongkong Dollar 38.975Bangladesh Taka 3.853Philippine Peso 6.581Thai Baht 8.642

GCC COUNTRIESSaudi Riyal 80.643Qatari Riyal 83.070Omani Riyal 785.473Bahraini Dinar 803.110UAE Dirham 82.335

ARAB COUNTRIESEgyptian Pound - Cash 33.675Egyptian Pound - Transfer 34.427Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.411Tunisian Dinar 151.430Jordanian Dinar 426.090Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.015Syrian Lira 2.155Morocco Dirham 31.883

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIESUS Dollar Transfer 302.250Euro 344.870Sterling Pound 432.220Canadian dollar 237.710

CURRENCY BUY SELLEuropeBritish Pound 0.423826 0.432826Czech Korune 0.004659 0.016659Danish Krone 0.041927 0.046927Euro 0.0336505 0.0344505Norwegian Krone 0.032761 0.037961Romanian Leu 0.086817 0.086817Slovakia 0.009018 0.019018Swedish Krona 0.033278 0.038278Swiss Franc 0.3086740 0.316940Turkish Lira 0.100708 0.111008

AustralasiaAustralian Dollar 0.225860 0.237360New Zealand Dollar 0.203553 0.213053

AmericaCanadian Dollar 0.230991 0.239491US Dollars 0.298550 0.303050US Dollars Mint 0.299050 0.303050

AsiaBangladesh Taka 0.003440 0.004014Chinese Yuan 0.045169 0.048669Hong Kong Dollar 0.036949 0.039699Indian Rupee 0.004350 0.004740Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024Japanese Yen 0.002701 0.002881

Kenyan Shilling 0.003113 0.003113Korean Won 0.000253 0.000268Malaysian Ringgit 0.073622 0.079622Nepalese Rupee 0.002884 0.003054Pakistan Rupee 0.002669 0.002949Philippine Peso 0.006458 0.006738Sierra Leone 0.000067 0.000073Singapore Dollar 0.219759 0.225759South African Rand 0.014875 0.023375Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001696 0.002276Taiwan 0.009248 0.009428Thai Baht 0.008289 0.008839

ArabBahraini Dinar 0.796216 0.804216Egyptian Pound 0.030692 0.035810Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000085Iraqi Dinar 0.000192 0.000252Jordanian Dinar 0.422863 0.430363Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000Lebanese Pound 0.000151 0.000251Moroccan Dirhams 0.020643 0.044643Nigerian Naira 0.001248 0.001883Omani Riyal 0.779684 0.785364Qatar Riyal 0.082419 0.083632Saudi Riyal 0.079820 0.080770Syrian Pound 0.001283 0.001503Tunisian Dinar 0.147693 0.155693Turkish Lira 0.100708 0.111008UAE Dirhams 0.081419 0.082568Yemeni Riyal 0.001368 0.001448

Rate for Transfer Selling RateUS Dollar 302.750Canadian Dollar 238.170Sterling Pound 431.240Euro 342.830Swiss Frank 294.080Bahrain Dinar 800.935UAE Dirhams 82.670Qatari Riyals 83.880Saudi Riyals 81.410Jordanian Dinar 426.480Egyptian Pound 33.996Sri Lankan Rupees 2.094Indian Rupees 4.543Pakistani Rupees 2.886Bangladesh Taka 3.851Philippines Pesso 6.553Cyprus pound 576.640Japanese Yen 3.775Syrian Pound 2.375Nepalese Rupees 3.850Malaysian Ringgit 78.575Chinese Yuan Renminbi 47.070Thai Bhat 9.580Turkish Lira 107.505

Turkish lira 107.180Swiss Franc 317.320Australian Dollar 234.240US Dollar Buying 301.050

GOLD20 Gram 252.30010 Gram 129.0705 Gram 65.380

KUWAIT: Reflecting on the one-monthanniversary since the tragic loss of flightFZ981 flydubai will launch its memorialwebsite ‘withgreatsadness.com’ today.The website commemorates the memo-ry of the passengers and crew of flightFZ981 and collects the thoughts andphotographs of those who wish toexpress their condolences following thetragic accident.

Ahead of the one-month anniversarytomorrow, Ghaith Al Ghaith, ChiefExecutive Officer, flydubai, said;“Saturday 19 March brought news youhope never to hear. My daily thoughtsremain with the families and loved ones

enduring a period of great sadness andsorrow. We are focused on supportingthe bereaved families and we continueto do everything we can for them.”

flydubai’s focus over this last monthhas been the mobilisation of its FamilyAssistance Team and the ongoing sup-port to the investigating authorities.

Within 30 minutes of being alerted tothe accident, flydubai’s Crisis Centre inDubai mobilised its EmergencyResponse team and, later that day, theyleft for Rostov-on-Don. This initial teamincluded both technical and humanitari-an specialists working alongside theRussian Emergency Services to assist in

their relief efforts and opened the FamilyAssistance Centre in Rostov-On-Don.

In the first week following the acci-dent the Family Assistance Team wasestablished to communicate directlywith bereaved families and address theirvery individual needs on a longer termbasis. As part of the long term FamilyAssistance each family has a dedicatedCare Team member. flydubai’s FamilyAssistance Team will continue their workfor as long as necessary which includesidentification, repatriation and the sup-port required for personal effects. fly-dubai also launched a website which is asource of information for the families.

Commenting on flydubai’s FamilyAssistance Team, Ghaith Al Ghaith said:“We are here to support wheneverrequired and at a time deemed appro-priate by those in need. It is important torecognise that every family and each cir-cumstance is different and we remainrespectful of that. All our staff join me instanding united in our grief as our heartsgo out to all the families.”

f lydubai wil l continue to workalongside the investigating authoritiesin their continued efforts to identifythe cause of the accident and its sup-port to the families will continue for aslong as necessary.

flydubai reflects on one-month anniversary of FZ981

Ghaith Al Ghaith

KUWAIT: After a horrid start to the year, equitymarkets recovered some ground in March, tolevels that left them “flat” or down slightly onthe year. Besides technical factors, the markets’recovery was driven by more encouraging USdata, further QE efforts by the ECB (EuropeanCentral Bank), dovish signs by the Fed, as wellas recovering oil markets. Two primary sourcesof uncertainty and volatility, which lingeredfrom last year, were thus somewhat removed.First, the Fed, which was signaling (not so cred-ibly) four 25-basis point (bp) hikes for 2016,finally toned down its rhetoric. It is now look-ing for two hikes. And second, oil prices thatseemed to have no floor underneath themback in January finally appeared to bottom inthe mid-20s and are currently trading near the$40 pb level (on a Brent basis). Further markethelp came from the ECB and the BOJ. Both cen-tral banks eased further with more QE actionand/or lower (negative) interest rates, on top ofother measures.

To a large extent, the “perfect storm” (weakUS growth, lower oil prices, stronger US dollar)that had hit markets in mid-2015 and again inJanuary 2016 faded in light of better economicnews and of a more soothing stance by theFed. We seem to be back to a benign, thoughunimpressive, global environment. Othersources of concerns that had pressured mar-kets, namely fears of a US recession and aChinese hard landing, were also assuaged andallowed the markets, and oil prices, to regainsome footing in March. China appeared togrow a little under 7 percent in 2015.Moreover, yes, China is slowing, and yes, thegrowth rate is very likely well below officialnumbers, but the slowdown appears con-tained and confidence in the Chinese authori-ties’ ability to reboot the system, if needed,remains solid among investors.

As for the US, GDP growth is currently closeto the 2 percent mark year-on-year (y/y), theaverage growth pace since the recovery of2010. The first quarter appears to have beenflat for GDP, which will comfort those lookingfor a dovish Fed. Employment continues to bein line with the Fed’s view. Namely that laborslack is tightening, wages are firming slightly(over 2 percent for 7 months), and employ-ment gains are reasonably robust (monthlygains over 200K). March nonfarm payrolls sawa gain of 215K and unemployment stayed near5.0 percent. The labor data allows the Fed tohang on to its relative hawkishness for a while,and still support or justify the need for furthernormalization. We think that two 25-bp hikesare reasonable this year, around mid-year andyear-end.

We do note, however, that non-US inflationremains weaker and that the Fed’s favoriteinflation measure, the PCE deflator, is in checkand below target. The more alarming data thathad raised recession fears such as weak orweakening PMI data (manufacturing and non-manufacturing) have since firmed up.European growth data was also “cooperative”as Europe had its best growth year since 2010,at 1.8 percent for GDP. Nevertheless, the infla-

tion data (especially non-US) and lower oilprices are keeping the pressure on all centralbanks to stay in super-easy mode or for the Fedto remain slow and cautious when tighteningor “normalizing” further. The ECB went deeperinto QE territory in March by increasing the sizeof its monthly purchases of securities from EUR60 billion to 80 billion per month, and by cut-ting some rates even deeper into negative ter-ritory. Earlier in January, the BOJ had gone intonegative rates territory for the first time. It wasa surprising preemptive move by the BOJ, themost deflation-sensitive central bank. All ofthese moves kept international interest rateslow, and are preventing US rates from rising, ifat all. The US spreads to European andJapanese bonds remain very attractive (wellover 100 bps). These spreads failed to help theUSD in Q1, though we also note that headlineUS inflation is higher than that of its peers. USCPI inflation was 1.0 percent in February, ver-sus -0.2 percent for the eurozone. In otherwords, the “real” interest rate spreads are not asfavorable to the USD.

Fed expectationsWith the return to more reasonable Fed

expectations, short-term US interest rates aredown from the week the Fed moved to raiserates back in December 2015. The 2-year rate isdown 20 bps at 72 bps while the 10-year rate isdown 45 bps since that time, to about 1.75 per-cent. In the same period, the USD, contrary toconventional wisdom, fell against the euro andthe yen (3-5 percent) while the GBP lost some 4percent on dovish BOE news and uncertaintysurrounding Brexit (June 23 referendum). Thedecline of the dollar versus the euro is impor-tant, as it is a major factor allowing the Fed to

pursue normalization, if needed, withoutundue dollar strength.

Analysts and markets are back to expectingan “OK” 2016 for economies, in line with thelast two years when world growth averaged3.2 percent. In its revised outlook, the IMF islooking for world GDP growth of 3.2 percent.The outlook was revised 0.2 percent lower,and most countries saw a downward revisionwith the notable exception of China. For thelarge economies, the US is expected to grow2.4 percent, the euro area 1.5 percent, Japan0.5 percent, China 6.5 percent and EMs at 4.1percent. In our view, the US and emergingmarkets are more prone to downward revi-sions. We thus expect the Fed to be targeting afed funds rate of 75-100 bps in December2016 (in 2 rate hikes).

The somewhat recovering commodityprices seemed to help the outlook for somecommodity economies, though Brazil is stillmired in recession and political problems.Markets, spreads, and CDS rates have recov-ered somewhat as well in the GCC countries,thanks to recovering oil prices in March.

For the GCC economies, we expect moder-ate GDP growth in 2016, as governmentsremain committed in large part to governmentspending, notwithstanding adjustments andcuts already implemented or upcoming. Theadjustments should be gradual, as policy mak-ers are keen on keeping growth smooth andongoing. Non-oil GDP growth should post 4-4.5 percent for the region. All GCC countriesare gearing up to issue sovereign debt in orderto finance their deficits. Debt issuance is pres-suring liquidity but is also creating an opportu-nity for the region to further open up anddevelop its fixed-income markets.

Global equity markets recover

after horrid start to 2016

AMRITSAR: An Indian laborer pushes a cart loaded with drums along a road inAmritsar yesterday.— AFP

Disruptions from twin quakes

in southern Japan hit economy

TOKYO: The twin earthquakes that strucksouthern Japan were having ripple effectsfar beyond the disaster zone, forcing Toyotato suspend production at most of its facto-ries across the country, and affecting othermanufacturers as well. The quake damagedHonda’s motorcycle plant in Kumamoto,the largest city affected by the two quakesthat hit late Thursday and early Saturday,killing at least 42 people. Japan’s Nikkei 225stock index tumbled more than 3 percentyesterday in part on worries over quakerepercussions as well as a spike in the yenand a drop in oil prices.

But the economic impact is nowherenear as large as the havoc wreaked by the2011 quake and tsunami disasters, whichslammed supply chains so badly thatJapanese automakers’ production was halt-ed even in the US. They learned the hardway about their vulnerability to such inter-ruptions, especially from second- and third-tier suppliers, and have worked to createcontingency plans. Disasters tend to hob-ble Japan’s mighty manufacturers becausethey are supported by small machine shopsthat provide components to bigger suppli-ers, which in turn supply bigger players.

“That kind of lesson has been learned,”said Nissan Motor Co spokesman DionCorbett. “We now have maps that showwhere exactly the suppliers are.” Nissan’stwo plants in Kyushu were temporarily shutdown after the quakes for checkups. Thechecks found damage was minor, allowingthe plants to be resume operations onMonday, Corbett said.

Some of the worst-affected areas aredeep in the mountains surrounding MountAso, Japan’s largest active volcano, an arearenowned for dairy farming. But one of thehardest-hit cities was Mashiki, a center forsemiconductor fabrication and other man-ufacturing. Sony Corp. said its sensor anddevice plant in Kumamoto was closed.Although the building’s structure wasintact and no employees were injured, theprecise nature of the production processesrequires that delicately calibrated equip-

ment must be checked carefully. “ Theimpact to near-term economic activitylooks inevitable, while the comprehensivepicture is difficult to gauge now, particular-ly due to the continued aftershocks,”Masamichi Adachi of JP Morgan said in acommentary.

Overall, the risk to the outlook forgrowth is “to the downside,” he said. In trad-ing yesterday, Toyota’s shares lost 4.8 per-cent, Nissan lost 2.8 percent and Sony shed6.8 percent. Renesas Electronics Corp.’scomputer chip plant in Kumamoto city wasalso shuttered, spokeswoman MakieUehara said. It was unclear when produc-tion would resume. Gases that can be dan-gerous are used to maintain antiseptic con-ditions for chip production, and so safetyhad to be confirmed before other damagecould be checked. Toyota Motor Corp, themost heavily affected of the big car makers,has stopped production not only at a facto-ry in Kyushu but at 15 others in Japanthrough Friday. Output will resumedepending on the availability of parts.

Toyota’s Japan output will drop by50,000 vehicles in April, or about 7 percentof Japan production, according to a reporton the quake’s effects on automakers bySMBC Nikko. Toyota declined to commenton that estimate. Critically affected partsinclude door frames, door hinges and cast-aluminum engine parts, said Toyotaspokesman Itsuki Kurosu. The maker of theCamry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxurymodels was working hard to get substituteparts, he said.

Honda Motor Corp.’s motorcycle plantwas severely damaged. Due to repeatedaftershocks, it was unsafe even to go insideto carefully inspect the damage, said com-pany spokesman Teruhiko Tatebe.Production has been stopped until at leastFriday. So far, production at Honda’s autoplants has not been affected, Tatebe said.The company did not rule out future supplyproblems. Associated Press Business WriterElaine Kurtenbach contributed to thisreport. — AP

RIYADH: State -owned Saudi ArabianAirlines plans to launch a low-cost off-shoot next year under init iat ives torestructure the kingdom’s oil-dependenteconomy, official media said yesterday.

Known as “Flyadeal”, the low-cost carri-er will begin operations from the middleof next year, Saudi Arabian Airlines chiefSaleh Al-Jasser said. It will operate inde-pendently of its parent firm, Jasser wasquoted as saying by the official SaudiPress Agency at a ceremony on Sunday.

The report gave no further details of itsfinancing or administrative structure. Italso did not specify whether Flyadealwould serve domestic or internationalroutes. Jasser said the airline would be“an addition to the list of strategic initia-tives that are being implemented towardsthe National Transformation Program.”

Saudi Arabia is to announce a wide-ranging plan to redevelop its economy onApril 25, the Arab News daily reported

yesterday. The National TransformationProgram, a key part of the plan, will belaunched in subsequent weeks, it said.The global collapse in oil prices over thepast two years has intensified efforts bythe world’s biggest oil exporter to findeconomic alternatives to its biggest rev-enue source. Oil prices have fallen bymore than half from above $100 a barrelin early 2014, with benchmark crudestrading at around $40 yesterday.Projecting a deficit of $87 billion thisyear, the government raised retail fuelprices by up to 80 percent in Decemberand cut subsidies for electricity, waterand other services. It has delayed somemajor projects and mooted measuresincluding privatizations and imposingtaxes. Saudi Arabia, the largest economyin the Arab world, is already home to thenine-year-old low-cost carrier flynas,which operates domestic and interna-tional routes. — AFP

Saudi flag carrier to launch

low-cost offshoot Flyadeal

B U S I N E S S

LONDON: World equity markets slid yester-day with the energy sector taking a tumble, asoil prices tanked following the collapse ofweekend output talks in Doha. “Discord inDoha has left oil prices weaker and hasprompted a drop across European equity mar-kets,” said CMC Markets analyst Jasper Lawler.Frankfurt, London and Paris all shed morethan 1.0 percent in opening deals, but latertempered their losses. In Asia, Hong Kongended 0.7 percent lower, Shanghai closeddown 1.4 percent, Seoul sank 0.3 percent andSingapore slipped 0.7 percent.

Russia’s stock markets tumbled as the Dohanews appeared to spell more trouble for thecountry’s energy-reliant economy. Moscow’sRTS index was down over four percent in earlytrade before recovering slightly. Oil pricesplunged after top producers failed to reach aweekend deal in the Qatari capital to cap out-put, fanning fresh fears over a supply glut thathas plagued the market.

The latest heavy oil-price falls sent shockwaves through the global energy sectorbecause lower oil prices bite into its revenuesand profits.

“Equities and oil have more or less tradedin lockstep in 2016, so the failure of Doha talksat the weekend and the resulting weakness inthe price of oil are unlikely to be taken well bythe market as a new week of trading begins,”said Russ Mould, investment director at bro-kerage AJ Bell. “BP and Shell were early andinevitable casualties as investors reacted tothe fall in oil prices.”

In London, BP’s share price slid 1.15 per-cent to 351.85 pence in midday trade, whileRoyal Dutch Shell’s ‘A’ stock was down 1.65percent at 1,784 pence.

In Paris, French oil and gas giant Totaltopped the fallers board, dropping 1.72percent to stand at 41.82 euros.

Discussions in the Qatari capital floun-dered on Sunday, with OPEC kingpinSaudi Arabia insisting it would not agreeto freeze production without the partici-pation of fellow cartel member Iran-which boycotted the talks. RebeccaO’Keefe, head of investment atInteractive Investor, warned that theDoha disappointment represented amajor “risk” for equity investors.

“OPEC’s failure to come to an agree-ment on limiting output is a significantrisk for both the oil market and equities,given the high positive correlation thatcurrently exists between oil prices andglobal equity markets,” she said.

While key producer Iran had said itwas unwilling to freeze output-havingjust resumed exports after years ofWestern sanctions-there had been hopesthat all other majors at the talks wouldhammer out a deal. The Doha news sentoil sliding by about 3.5 percent onMonday, weighing heavily also on Asianenergy firms.

In Hong Kong China’s CNOOC lost 1.6percent and PetroChina was off 1.9 per-cent. Inpex in Tokyo was three percentlower. Tokyo’s Nikkei closed 3.4 percentlower, with earthquake worries also hit-ting sentiment. Toyota, Sony and Hondaeach lost at least four percent as theirproduction lines on Japan’s southwest-ern island of Kyushu remained offlinedue to deadly earthquakes.

Russia markets crashRussia’s stock markets tumbled yester-

day after the failure of the world’s top oilproducers to agree a deal to cap outputappeared to spell more trouble for thecountry’s energy-reliant economy. Oilprices plunged after Saudi Arabia, theworld’s largest crude exporter, refused toback an agreement on Sunday in Dohawith OPEC members and other major pro-ducers, including Russia, aimed at easing aglobal supply glut. Moscow’s dollar-denominated RTS index was down overfour percent in early trading before recov-ering slightly, while the MICEX exchangewas down more than one percent. Russiahas seen its economy slump into a pro-found recession, partly on the back of thefall in oil prices, and had been pinning itshopes on securing a deal to freeze produc-tion. The ruble fell by some three percentagainst the dollar and the euro after mak-ing ground in recent weeks as oil pricessteadied on the back of hopes a deal couldbe reached between major producers.

Russian Energy Minister AlexanderNovak admitted Sunday that the failure ofthe talks had come as a surprise forMoscow but insisted it would not have“any consequences” for Russia. “Our com-panies are continuing to work highly com-petitively on the market,” he was quoted assaying by Russian news agencies. SaudiArabia has refused to accept a freeze in oilproduction-seen by many as crucial to eas-ing a huge surplus in world supplies-with-out the participation of Iran, which boy-cotted the Doha talks. — AFP

Global stocks slide on discord in DohaB U S I N E S S



KUWAIT: Alghanim Motors, the exclusive distributor ofHonda products in Kuwait, including cars, bikes, powergenerators and more, unveiled the all-new 2016 HondaCivic and Honda Africa Twin motorbike in a launch eventthat took place at Marina Mall on April 16, 2016 amongstthe wide public. A series of games and activities wereconducted to engage and encourage individuals to inter-act with the 2016 Honda Civic and Honda Africa Twinmotorbike.

Considering Honda is known to be very customer-centric, it has incorporated a sleek and bold design to its2016 Civic to not only meet but also exceed expectations.

With its sleek, sporty lines and an improved power-to-weight ratio, 2016 Civic is not only fun to drive, charis-matic, spacious and stylish but also the most efficient inits class. In addition to a brand new engine in the LXi and

EXi grades, it also boasts of a new grade equipped with anew turbo charged 1.5 liter DOHC Direct Injected Inline-4cylinder Engine and will be called RS. It is worth mention-ing that the Automobile Journalists Association inCanada voted the 2016 Honda Civic as the “2016Canadian Car of the Year.”

Exterior Styling The 2016 Civic design is sporty with its athletic stance

and low wide proportions. Exterior is sleek with sweptback bodylines, sharp aggressive fascia and its bulgingwheel arches. Some standard features in all grades

include standard LED daytime running lights, distinctiveC-shaped LED taillights, power side mirrors with integrat-ed LED turn signals, capless fuel system and glass anten-nas. The RS grade features signature inline LED head-lights, license plate light, an aerodynamic wing trunkspoiler with high mounted LED stop light, LED fog lightspremium black grille, twin silencers, paddle shifters and17” alloy wheels.

Interior Styling The 2016 Civic interior is designed to offer comfort-

able, sophisticated and premium cabin in its class. The2016 Civic’s longer wheel base and wider body results ingiving its occupants spaciousness and premium comfortwith ample headroom, legroom, shoulder clearance andside head clearance. Fit, finish and material quality

throughout the cabin has been modernized with the pre-mium and sporty character of all new Civic. High quality,soft touch materials are applied to the instrument panel,front door and door inserts and center armrests arepadded.

The Stunning Civic also offers automatic climate con-trol, steering wheel mounted controls for Blue ToothHands Free Telephone (HFT), a 5-inch touch screen audioin the LXi grade and a 7-inch touchscreen audio in EXiand RS grades and USB jacks. Some standard features inall grades include 60:40 fold down rear seats, rear seatarmrest with cup holders, rear ventilation ducts, sun visor

extension mechanism and map light.Convenience features include Remote Engine Starter

that starts the engine from a distance, ensuring favorableautomatic climate control regulating cabin temperatureensuring maximum comfort before you get in. SmartEntry, Push Button Start also adds to comfort and sportyfeel, Electric Parking Brake replaces hand lever with com-pact, easy to operate switch, the Automatic Brake Holdfunction eliminates the need to keep the foot on thebreak when at a hill or an intersection, Auto Day andNight Rear View Mirror, Walk Away Locking, CruiseControl, Electronic Power Steering and Rear ParkingSensors. The EXi and the RS grades in addition to sunroofhas Honda LANEWATCHTM feature which uses a cameralocated below the passenger side view mirror to displayan expanded rear view of the passenger side road wayon the 7 inch touchscreen. Multi-Angle Rearview Camerathat gives a look of three different viewing angles, whichcan also be seen on the same 7-inch touchscreen.

Power Train Powering 2016 Civic are two new engines both

designed to provide refined, responsive and fuel efficientperformance. The LXi and EXi grades are powered by thenew 2.0L DOHC inline-4 engine with i-VTEC engine pro-ducing a peak of 158hp@6500 rpm, 187N-m torque at4200 rpm. The RS grade is powered by Turbo Charged1.5L DOHC, direct-injected inline-4 engine with variableValve Timing Control, churning out 180hp at 6000rpmand a 220N-m torque at 1700-5500rpm. Both engines aremated to a new generation Continuously VariableTransmission (CVT). Civic’s new CVT has a taller final gearratio for fuel-efficient low-rpm cruising, and new-genera-tion G-Design shift logic for smooth acceleration and nat-ural throttle response. The fuel efficiency of the LXi andEXi grades is at 18.8 KM/L and the RS grade is 20KM/L.

Body and SafetyThe 2016 Civic utilizes Honda’s Advanced

Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technol-ogy to enhance occupant protection and crash compati-bility. It also boasts of Honda active-safety features suchas• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control

Systems (TCS) • Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS)• Electronic Brake Distributor (EBD)• Hill Start Assist (HSA)• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that helps

you be safe by alerting you on the pressure in thetires.

The inclusion of these safety technologies bench-marked the 2016 Civic to receive a 2016 TOP SAFETYPICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for HighwaySafety (IIHS) in United States of America, making it one ofthe safest cars amongst its segment.

Grade and Color Availability The 2016 Civic now comes in three grades with introduc-

tion of the new grade RS in addition to the LXi and

the EXi. The 2016 Honda Civic will be available in thebelow exterior colors:

1. White Orchid Pearl (Black and Ivory Interior)2. Lunar Silver Metallic (Black and Ivory Interior)3. Modern Steel Metallic (Ivory Interior)4. Cosmic Blue Metallic (Ivory Interior)5. Midnight Burgundy Pearl (Ivory Interior)6. Crystal Black Pearl (Ivory Interior)7. Carnelian Red Pearl (Ivory Interior)8. Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic (exclusive to the RS

grade with Black and Ivory Interior)Coinciding with the Civic’s reveal is that of Honda

Africa Twin motorbike. The 998cc parallel twin usesHonda’s exclusive four-valve Unicam(r) cylinder-headdesign for smooth, tractable power. The motorbike alsofeatures a six-speed manual gearbox mode and a newDCT transmission model with selectable on- and off-road modes; both versions have ABS standard with rearABS on/off and Honda Selectable Torque Control(HSTC).

Honda Alghanim urges customers to visit Marina Mallto get acquainted with the vehicle that will be on displayfor one week; as well as to visit any of our Honda show-rooms for a chance to test drive the car and get fulldetails from our sales representatives.

Honda Alghanim showroom operates from 8.30 amuntil 10 pm on Saturday to Thursday and from 9.30 amuntil 10 pm on Fridays. Alghanim Motors, the exclusivedistributor of Honda automobiles, motorcycles, powerproducts, and marine products in Kuwait, is committedto providing customers with flexible payment solutionsand efficient and cost-effective services. The cars servicecenter waiting lounge offers entertainment and comfortfor customers with gaming consoles, digital satellite TV,free wireless internet and relaxing massage chairs. Formore information, please call 1822777.

All new Civic 2016 Unveiling of the Africa Twin Honda Motorcycle.

Proud owner of first Honda Civic 2016

Honda Civic competition with the crowd

Honda Civic launch event.

Honda Civic competition with the crowd Unveiling of the All-new Civic 2016.

Honda Alghanim unveils All-new 2016Honda Civic and new Africa Twin motorbike


DUBAI: Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd, aworld leader in advanced semiconduc-tor technology, announced its newest 12megapixel (Mp) image sensor for smart-phones, which will elevate the quality ofmobile phone pictures. Already in massproduction, this 1.4?m-pixel-basedimage sensor is equipped with DualPixel technology that has been reservedfor DSLR cameras. The technologyenables rapid auto-focus for fast photoshooting while producing premiumimage quality on mobile devices, even inlow light situations.

“Our goal is to support millions of ourconsumers around the world with tech-nology that allows them to capture life’sbest moments at the highest quality

possible. All our innovation is inspired byour commitment to customer satisfac-tion,” added Tarek Sabbagh, Head of ITand Mobile Division at Samsung GulfElectronics. Samsung’s new image sen-sor with Dual Pixel technology employstwo photodiodes located on the left andright halves of a pixel, while a conven-tional image sensor dedicates less thanfive percent of its pixels, with one photo-diode each that converts light particlesinto measurable photocurrent for phasedetection. As each and every pixel of theDual Pixel image sensor is capable ofdetecting phase differences of perceivedlight, significantly faster auto-focus hasbecome possible. With such ground-breaking improvements, the image sen-

sor ensures clear and sharp imagesespecially for moving objects even inpoor lighting conditions.

The image sensor has also adoptedSamsung’s ISOCELL technology, whichisolates the photodiodes in each pixelwith a physical wall to further reducecolor cross talk, maximizing the imagesensor’s performance.

For top-of-the-line per formancewhile keeping the size to a minimum,the new image sensor is built with cut-ting-edge chip-stacking technology. TheDual Pixel image sensor stacks a 65nanometer (nm) sensor and 28nm logicchip together to deliver outstandingphoto-taking experiences in today’ssleek smartphones.

Samsung elevates mobile phone picture quality with Dual Pixel Technology in its newest image sensor

KUWAIT: Bahrah Trading Company (BTC) haswon top awards in the BOBCAT annual MiddleEast & Africa regional dealer meeting heldrecently at Istanbul Turkey. The meeting wasattended by distinguished Senior Management

representatives from most of the dealers in theregion.

BTC delegation was represented by PaulReynolds COO, Melakandy Hamza GeneralManager and Saadallah Salem Assistant SalesManager.

The main highlight of the event was theAward ceremony, where BOBCAT felicitated dis-tributors on their top per formances andachievement. BTC did it again, by taking theplace of pride by winning 4 prestigious BOBCATawards for outstanding performance including:1. BEST DEALER - OVERALL FOR MIDDLE EAST &AFRICA REGION2. BEST DEALER - AFTER SALES SUPPORT3. HIGHEST MARKET SHARE ON SKID STEERLOADERS4. HIGHEST MARKET SHARE ON TELESCOPICHANDLERS

Congratulating BTC Mubarak Naser Al-SayerCEO Al-Sayer Group Holding said “In a highlycompetitive and volatile market place, for BTCthese awards goes a long way in furtherstrengthening operations to always stay aheadand getting the members motivated to aim foreven better performance.”

According to Paul Reynolds COO “Consistent

Best in Business efforts from BTC team has paidoff once again. The BOBCAT brand dominatesthe world market with 50% market share andwinning this award becomes remarkableachievement”.

Melakandy Hamza, General Manager BTCthanked all customers for their continuous sup-port, and re-assured BTC’s commitment to offerbest aftersales service for Bobcat. Bahrah TradingCompany, the authorized distributor for BOBCATin Kuwait, is the market leader in transportation,industrial and material handling equipment andconstruction machinery, representing globallyleading brands. BTC’s service is built around topquality products and industry leading support.Bahrah Trading has established a reputation forprofessional and reliable service and providingfull after sales support. The commitment to cus-tomers and our dedication to their satisfactionhave placed BTC at the forefront of local industryin Kuwait.

Bahrah Trading Company wins 4 prestigious Bobcat awards

Bobcat recognition for excellent performance of BTC

KUWAIT: Mezzan Holding KSCC boardannounced yesterday that Abdel RahmanJassim Mohammad Al Wazzan was electedas the new Chairman of the Board ofDirectors. Mezzan Holding is one of thelargest manufacturers and distributors offood, beverage, FMCG and pharmaceuticalproducts in the Gulf.

Abdel Rahman Al-Wazzan succeeds thelate Khaled Jassim Al-Wazzan who hadresigned in February 2016 for health rea-sons. Abdel Rahman Al-Wazzan had previ-ously held the position of Vice Chairman ofthe Board of Directors of Mezzan Holdingfor two periods; from 2003 to 2010 andfrom 2012 to 2014; and most recently wasChairman of Widyan Real Estate until March31, 2016.

Mezzan Holding’s Extraordinary General

Meeting of Shareholders that was held onon April 13, 2016 had voted in a new boardof directors for a three-year term includingMohammad Jassim Mohammad Al-Wazzan,Abdel Rahman Jassim Mohammad Al-Wazzan, Motasem Jassim Mohammad Al-Wazzan, Jamal Abdulhameed Al-Mutawaand Abdulwahab Ahmad Al-Marzouq.Suleiman Khaled Jassim Al-Wazzan wasvoted in as a reserve member.

Mezzan Holding operates in sevencountries through 29 subsidiaries with7,500 employees. It distributes over 25,000Stock Keeping Units (SKU), making it oneof the largest operators in terms of SKUs,unit sales, market share and in terms ofshare of revenues of total consumerspending in consumer categories servedby the company.

Mezzan Holding board elects new chairman

Air Arabia Jordan’s inauguralRiyadh flight touches down

AMMAN: Air Arabia Jordan’s first flight from Amman toRiyadh touched down yesterday, marking the start of anew era of connectivity between the capital cities ofJordan and Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh, the Kingdom’s main financial hub, joinsDammam, Medina and Jeddah as Saudi Arabian citiesserved by direct Air Arabia Jordan flights. Flights will oper-ate three times weekly, on Mondays, Thursdays andSaturdays. Passengers will leave Amman Queen AliaInternational Airport at 15:45 and arrive at Riyadh KingKhalid International Airport at 17:50. Return flights willdepart Saudi Arabia at 18:30 and land in Jordan at 20:15.

An Air Arabia Jordan spokesperson said: “Air ArabiaJordan has got off to a strong start to 2016 and we aredelighted to add Riyadh to our rapidly expanding networkof Saudi Arabian cities. Our value for money propositionhas proved to be extremely popular, and in turn, this hasenabled us to continue investing in new destinations tomeet passenger demand in Jordan and the wider Levant.”

Air Arabia Jordan, a joint venture company, is a memberof Air Arabia Group. Based in Amman Queen AliaInternational Airport, Air Arabia Jordan is the Kingdom’snew low cost carrier (LCC). The airline offer services to arange of destinations across the Middle East, Europe andAfrica. The carrier focusses on offering comfort, reliabilityand value for money air travel.

KIB participates in AUM career fairKUWAIT: As part of its leading CSR program that sup-ports Kuwaiti youth at all levels, Kuwait InternationalBank (KIB) announced its participation at AUM CareerFair that will be held at the university campus in Egailaon March 18, 2016.

This participation stems from KIB’s strong belief inthe youth potential and capability to innovate at all lev-els, as they are the cornerstone for private sector toflourish in the future.

The General Manager of Human ResourcesDepartment, Nigel Holmes commented, “Al-Dawli opted

to take part in this vital event to give young Kuwaitisand mainly fresh graduates a chance to have an ideaabout the available career opportunities in the Kuwaitimarket”. He added that Al-Dawli is keen on constantlyproviding career opportunities that suit the youth’sambition, as well as encouraging them to work in thebanking sector that will pave the way towards promis-ing future careers. Holmes stated that the bank’s HRemployees are ready to answer any of their queries dur-ing the exhibition and take them through the availablevacancies at Al-Dawli.

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yester-day the names of the lucky winners of itsYawmi account draw, each taking home aprize of KD 5,000.

The lucky winners for the daily drawstook home a cash-prize of KD 5,000 each,and they are: 1. MOHAMMAD EMAD ABDULAZIZ ALBSHARAH2. FADHEL AHMAD ALI TIFOONI3. ABDULLAH HASAN ABDULLAH HUSSEIN4. SAMI MAHMOUD HASAN AL RABIAH5. ABDULREDHA HUSSAIN GHLOUM GHAD-HANFAR

To further add to the anticipation ofYawmi account customers, Burgan Banknow offers a Quarterly Draw with morechances to win higher rewards, entitlingone lucky customer to win KD 125,000every three months. The Yawmi Accountnow offers Daily and quarterly Draws, theQuarterly Draw requires customers to

maintain a minimum amount of KD 500 intheir account for 2 months prior to drawdate. Additionally, every KD 10 in theaccount, will entitle customers to onechance of winning. If the account balanceis KD 500 and above, the account holderwill be qualified for both the quarterly anddaily draws. Burgan Bank encourageseveryone to open a Yawmi account and/orincrease their deposit to maximize theirchances to becoming a winner. The morecustomers deposit, the higher the chancesthey receive of winning.

For more information on opening aYawmi account or about the new quarterlydraw, customers are urged to visit theirnearest Burgan Bank branch and receive allthe details, or simply call the bank’s CallCenter at 1804080 where customer servicerepresentatives will be delighted to assistwith any questions on the Yawmi accountor any of the bank’s products and services.

Burgan Bank announceswinners of Yawmi account

Lazy to blame China for global steel woes: Xinhua

BEIJING: Blaming China for woes in theglobal steel industry is simply a lazyexcuse for protectionism, and such fin-ger-pointing will be counter-productive,China’s official Xinhua news agency saidin a commentary yesterday. The issue hasshot to the top of the political agenda ina number of countries. India’s Tata Steelhas blamed a flood of cheap steelimports, including from China, for a deci-sion to pull out of Britain, putting 15,000jobs at risk. Last week, more than 40,000German steel workers took to the streetsto protest against dumping from China,among other issues such as industry con-solidation that they fear will cost themtheir jobs. Xinhua, in an English-lan-guage piece, said it appeared “under-standable” to think that China as theworld’s largest steel producer and con-sumer was the cause of the problems.

“Upon closer inspection, however, it’sjust a lame and lazy excuse for protec-tionism,” it said. “Blaming other countriesis always an easy, sure-fire way for politi-cians to whip up a storm over domesticeconomic woes, but finger-pointing andprotectionism are counter-productive.”

Such commentaries are not official

policy statements, but they can be readas a reflection of government thinking.Xinhua said cheap Chinese steel had infact created many jobs, as it is used byEuropean companies, for example, whothen use it to make products for export.

“It should be noted that overcapacityis a global challenge amid a sluggishworld economy. China is one of the mosthard-hit, but the government is facing upto the headwinds,” it said.

“The last thing the world needs is atrade war over this issue. Far more jobswill be lost than gained if protectionismprevails.” The Chinese government hassaid the issue is a global problem thatshould be resolved via dialogue andcooperation.

Earlier this month, India initiatedinvestigations into the possible dumpingof cheap steel products into the countryby six nations including China, Japan andSouth Korea. “China is paying close atten-tion to this and hopes the Indian ministryof commerce and industry conducts theinvestigation strictly according to WorldTrade Organization principles,” China’sCommerce Ministry said in a statementon its website.—Reuters

T E C H NOLO G YTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

By Bill Gates

WASHINGTON: This presidential election has thecountry captivated. As many commentators havepointed out, the primaries are more focused on per-sonalities than policy. While the parties focus onwho is going to represent them in the fall, I want tomake the case for something that I hope every can-didate will agree on in November: America’s unpar-alleled capacity for innovation. When the UnitedStates invests in innovation, it creates companiesand jobs at home, makes Americans healthier andsafer, and saves lives and fights poverty in theworld’s poorest countries. It offers the next presidenta tremendous opportunity to help people inAmerica and around the world.

Of course, America’s capacity for innovation isnothing new. We have been inventing for morethan two centuries: think of Benjamin Franklin,Margaret Knight, Thomas Edison. By the end ofWorld War II, the United States led the world in auto-mobiles, aerospace, electronics, medicine, and otherareas. Nor is the formula for success complicated:Government funding for our world-class researchinstitutions produces the new technologies thatAmerican entrepreneurs take to market.

What is new is that more countries than ever arecompeting for global leadership, and they know thevalue of innovation. Since 2000, South Korea’sresearch and development spending (measured as a

percentage of GDP) has gone up 90 percent. China’shas doubled. The United States’ has essentially flat-lined. It’s great that the rest of the world is commit-ting more, but if the United States is going to main-tain its leading role, it needs to up its game.

I have seen first-hand the impact that this type ofresearch can have. I was lucky enough to be a stu-dent when computers came along in the 1960s. Atfirst they were very expensive, so it was hard to getaccess to them. But the microchip revolution, madepossible by U.S. government research, completelychanged that. Among other things it enabledMicrosoft, the company I co-founded, to write soft-ware that made computers an invaluable tool forproductivity. Later, the Internet - another product offederal research - changed the game again. It is noaccident that today most of the top tech companiesare still based in the United States, and theiradvances will have a massive impact in every area ofhuman activity.

My favorite example is health. America’s invest-ment in this area creates high-paying jobs at univer-sities, biotech companies, and government labs. Itleads to new treatments for disease, such as cancertherapies. It helps contain deadly epidemics likeEbola and Zika. And it saves lives in poor countries.Since 1990, the fraction of children who die beforeage 5 has fallen by more than half. I think that’s thegreatest statistic of all time, and the United Statesdeserves a lot of credit for making it happen.

The next few years could bring even moreprogress. With a little luck we could eradicate polio,a goal that is within reach because of vaccinesdeveloped by U.S. scientists. (Polio would be the sec-ond disease ever eradicated, after smallpox in 1979 -in which the United States also played an irreplace-able role.) There is also exciting progress on malaria:The number of deaths dropped more than 40 per-cent from 2000 to 2012, thanks in part to America’ssupport for breakthrough tools like drugs and bednets. But to make the most of these opportunities,we need to invest more in basic health research andspecific areas like vaccines.

Energy is another great example. American-fund-ed research defines the state of the art in energyproduction. Early advances in wind and solar tech-nology were developed with federal money. Andthis research offers a strong return on investment.Between 1978 and 2000, the Department of Energyspent $17.5 billion (in today’s dollars) on research onefficiency and fossil fuels, yielding $41 billion in eco-nomic benefits. Yet, until this year, the DOE’sresearch budget hasn’t seen a real increase since theReagan administration.

If we step up these investments, we can createnew jobs in the energy sector and develop the tech-nologies that will power the world - while also fight-ing climate change, promoting energy independ-ence, and providing affordable energy for the 1.3 bil-lion poor people who don’t have it today. Some of

the more promising areas include making fuel fromsolar energy, much the way plants do; makingnuclear energy safer and more affordable; captureand storing carbon; and creating new ways to storeenergy that let us make the most of renewables.

There’s a lot of momentum right now on cleanenergy research. Last year, the leaders of 20 coun-tries, including the United States, committed to dou-ble federal investments in this area. Complementingthat crucial effort, I helped launch the BreakthroughEnergy Coalition, a group of private investors whowill back promising clean-energy companies. Thenext president will have a chance to accelerate thismomentum.

Investing in R&D isn’t about the governmentpicking winners and losers. The markets will do that.It’s about doing what we know works: making limit-ed and targeted investments to lay a foundation forAmerica’s entrepreneurs. This approach has beenfundamental to US leadership for decades, and itwill become only more important in the yearsahead. By the end of this summer, the political par-ties will have chosen their leaders and will startlooking ahead to the November election. The nomi-nees will lay out their vision for America and theiragenda for achieving it. These visions will probablyhave more differences than similarities. But I hopewe can all agree that, no matter how you seeAmerica’s future, there will always be an essentialrole for innovation. — Reuters

America’s Secret Weapon: Innovation

WASHINGTON: Google’s massive book-scanningproject cleared its final legal hurdle yesterday asthe US Supreme Court denied an appeal con-tending it violates copyright law.

The top US court denied without comment apetition from the Authors Guild to hear theappeal of a 2013 federal court ruling seen as alandmark copyright decision for the digital era.In a decade-long case, authors and their backersclaimed Google was illegally scanning and digi-tizing millions of books without compensationto the copyright holders. But the ruling by feder-al judge Denny Chin, backed by an appellatepanel, said the colossal project in which Googleallows users to search books and see snippets oftext was “fair use” under copyright law.

The appeals panel last October rejected thearguments of the Authors Guild, several promi-nent writers and leading publishers that theGoogle Books program and its Library Projectwould eat into their earnings potential by allow-ing readers free access to the books.

Backers of Google contended that digitiza-tion offers numerous public benefits forresearchers and others.

‘Win for fair use’ Krista Cox of the Association of Research

Libraries hailed the ruling, tweeting, “Win for#fairuse.” Nancy Sims, a University of Minnesotacopyright librarian, said in a blog post, “This is apretty great outcome for libraries and the pub-lic.” Google said in a statement, “We are gratefulthat the court has agreed to uphold the decisionof the Second Circuit (appeals court) which con-cluded that Google Books is transformative andconsistent with copyright law.” The statementadded: “The product acts like a card catalog forthe digital age by giving people a new way tofind and buy books while at the same timeadvancing the interests of authors.”

The Authors Guild said it was disappointed.“Blinded by the public benefit arguments, theSecond Circuit ruling tells us that Google, notauthors, deserves to profit from the digitizationof their books,” said Mary Rasenberger, executivedirector of the authors group.

The ruling, she said, “misunderstood theimportance of emerging online markets forbooks and book excerpts. It failed to compre-hend the very real potential harm to authorsresulting from its decision. The price of thisshort-term public benefit may well be the futurevitality of American culture.” In the Octoberappellate ruling, Judge Pierre Leval wrote thatthe longstanding interpretation of copyright lawhas for 300 years been that authors do not have“absolute control” over their works, and that

there are important exemptions for “fair use,”including news reporting, historical analysis, par-ody and other “transformative” purposes.

The court said that the snippets made avail-able by Google were not a viable substitute forthe works and that it was immaterial if Googlemade a profit from its search business using thebooks.

In the original ruling, New York judge Chinsaid what was originally called the “LibraryProject” preserves books, gives “new life” to for-gotten editions, sustains “print-disabled” usersand benefits authors and publishers by findingthem new readers. The case, which dates backto 2005, centers on a Google program started in2004 to create an electronic database of booksthat could be searchable by keywords. — AFP

Google book-scanning project clears last hurdle

US Supreme Court rejects Authors Guild challenge

LAS VEGAS: People stand in line for a demonstration of the Oculus Rift at the Oculusbooth during CES International, in Las Vegas. An executive from virtual reality companyOculus said consumers shouldn’t be concerned about their privacy when using theOculus Rift system. Sen Al Franken penned an open letter to the company in early April2016, asking for details about user data collected by the new VR system. —AP

BURBANK, Calif: An executive from virtualreality company Oculus says consumersshouldn’t be concerned about an invasionof their privacy when using the Oculus Rift.

Jason Rubin , Oculus’ head of worldwidestudios, is downplaying questions raisedabout the VR system’s privacy policy. “It’s anew medium,” said Rubin during aThursday interview.

“People want to know. They have a rightto ask. We’ll answer. It’ll be fine.” Sen. AlFranken (D-Minn.) wrote an open letter toOculus CEO Brendan Iribe earlier thismonth asking for details about user datacollected by the new VR system, which isworn on users’ heads and can detect move-ment, location and sound.

“Oculus’ creation of an immersive virtu-al reality experience is an exciting devel-opment, but it remains impor tant tounderstand the extent to which Oculusmay be collecting Americans personalinformation, including sensitive locationdata, and sharing that information withthird parties,” he wrote.

Franken is asking for more informationabout how the Facebook-owned companyis handling data collected from users. He

noted in his April 7 letter to Oculus that“the collection, storage and sharing of per-sonal information may enhance consumers’virtual reality experience, but we mustensure that Americans’ very sensitive infor-mation is protected.”

Franken asked Oculus to respond byMay 13. Rubin declined to specify whenOculus would address the questions. “We’regoing to answer all of that in due time,” saidRubin, a video game industry veteran whojoined Oculus in 2014. “We’re absolutelyconfident that people are going to say, ‘Oh.Yeah. Right.’”

The Oculus Rift began shipping to con-sumers March 28. It costs $599 and featuresa headset with a microphone and a pair ofhigh-definition screens capable of broad-casting images when connected to a high-powered PC.

HTC has a more detailed privacy policyfor its similar HTC Vive, an $800 system cre-ated in a partnership with video game cre-ator Valve released April 5. The smartphonemaker’s privacy policy states it “will notshare any personally identifiable informa-tion with third parties for marketing pur-poses” without users’ consent. — AP

Oculus reacts to virtual reality privacy questions

ATLANTA: Major corporations invested inSouthern states have become some of thestaunchest opponents of bills they considerdiscriminatory, facing off against Republicanlawmakers eager to portray their states asthe best home for global brands.

The NFL, Apple and other behemothshave cajoled Republicans into rejecting orsoftening bills in recent years that support-ers say protect people who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds.Companies are speaking up loudly againthis year in states where such bills have beenproposed as part of a backlash to the USSupreme Court ruling that effectively legal-ized gay marriage.

“As a company that is committed to theprinciple that everyone deserves to livewithout fear of discrimination simply forbeing who they are, becoming an employerin North Carolina, where members of ourteams will not have equal rights under thelaw, is simply untenable,” California-basedPayPal CEO Dan Schulman said in a state-ment last week ending plans to hire 400people for a new operations center inCharlotte. The decision is among the largesttangible effects of a new North Carolina lawoverruling LGBT anti-discrimination meas-ures passed by local governments.

Watchers of corporate America’sapproach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender issues said such public statementsare only one way companies have been sup-portive, pointing to several years of effortsto win over LGBT employees and customers.

CEOs sometimes take the lead, as in 2013when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told ashareholder who believed the company’spro-gay marriage position hurt profits: “Notevery decision is an economic decision.”Some companies have gone beyond what’s

required by state or federal law for equalemployment policies and benefits. TheCorporate Equality Index survey conductedby the Human Rights Campaign, which hasgraded companies’ environment for LGBTemployees since 2002, gave 13 companies aperfect score that first year. This year’s surveyreported 407 companies hit that mark.

When Cindy Armine-Klein joined thepayment technology company First Data in2014, the firm had recently scored below 50on the survey. CEO Frank Bisignano toldArmine-Klein when she was hired as chiefcontrol officer that year to prioritize creationof LGBT programs.

Since then, the company has added cov-erage of domestic partners to employeebenefits, included gender identity in its anti-discrimination policies and created a groupto connect LGBT employees around thecountry. When a bill shielding opponents ofsame-sex marriage cleared the Georgia leg-islature this year, concerns quickly reachedexecutives through that network.

The firm, headquartered in Atlanta,joined about 500 others opposing the bill.Bisignano made a personal call to thankGeorgia Gov. Nathan Deal following his vetoof the measure. “When you have the oppor-tunity to bring your whole self to work, thatcreates happy, active, creative employees,”said Armine-Klein, who married her wife in2011. “That is good for the employee; that isgood for us as a company; that is good forour clients.”

But firms also want to be on equal foot-ing with competitors. Nearly 400 companieslast March signed on to a court documentfiled with the US Supreme Court during itsreview of several states’ gay marriage bans,three months before the justices effectivelylegalized the unions. —AP

BEIJING: Chinese Twitter users have expressedconcerns over the company’s appointment of aChina regional executive who has a backgroundworking with the country’s military and statesecurity apparatus. Since last week, when KathyChen was appointed Twitter’s first managingdirector for China, Chinese users of the USmicroblogging site have raised concerns overChen’s past links to the Chinese government andwondered if their freedom of speech on the plat-form would be compromised.

Although blocked in China, Twitter is a popu-lar platform for Chinese - especially those livingoverseas - to freely express themselves in theirnative language. While China has producedhomegrown equivalents such as Weibo, the gov-ernment exerts strict controls over what can besaid on them and by whom. “Twitter has vastamounts of users’ data. Given that US tech firmshave in the past kowtowed to China, and giventhe military background of Kathy Chen, it’s onlyreasonable for the Chinese users of Twitter to beworried about the future,” He Qinglian, a promi-nent overseas-based Chinese political activist,wrote on her blog. She urged the US Congress toconduct a hearing on Chen’s appointment. WenYunchao, a US-based political dissident, notedon his Twitter account that Chen had worked forthe People’s Liberation Army for seven years andlater headed an anti-virus software company in ajoint venture with connections to the Ministry ofPublic Security.

“It’s only reasonable to question the directionof a company by its personnel decisions,” Wenwrote. Chen began working as a technical engi-neer for a military research institute in 1987 aftergraduating with a computer science degreefrom North Jiaotong University, according toChinese media reports.

She went on to work for DEC, Compaq and123COM before leading the anti-virus softwarecompany Jinchen, a joint venture whose localpartner was owned indirectly by the Ministry ofPublic Security. In an emailed statement, Twittersaid it was usual for the Chinese government toassign graduates to jobs in the 1980s. Chen’scomputer science degree made her a prime can-didate for a job as a junior engineer in the

People’s Liberation Army, the company said.“When the Chinese economy further opened

up with reform in the early 1990s, Kathy chose topursue her passion for a technology career byswitching to the private sector in 1994,” thestatement said.

It also said that her role with Jinchen was torepresent the interests of majority shareholderComputer Associates, a US tech firm, and thatshe “never worked for the Ministry of Public

Security.” Chen, who will be based in Hong Kong,was most recently an executive with MicrosoftAsia-Pacific Research and Development Groupbefore being hired by Twitter.

“I am really excited to find more ways to cre-ate value for our advertisers, enterprises, cre-ators, influencers and our developers, and part-ners as well,” Chen said in a video posted onTwitter. She has not publicly responded toTwitter user concerns. — AP

Chinese Twitter users concerned over executive appointment

BEIJING: Pedestrians past by an advertisement for a Chinese news web portal in Beijing yester-day. China is consolidating its ability to censor the Internet by drafting new rules requiringbusinesses that serve domestic Internet users to register their Web addresses inside the coun-try, a move seen as targeting Chinese companies but that has raised concerns among foreignbusinesses. — AP

State proposals on LGBT rights push business into spotlight

H E A LT H & S C I E NC ETUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

LONDON: Thanks to scientists working under theauspices of the World Health Organization, you canbe fairly sure your toothbrush won’t give you cancer.Over four decades, a WHO research agency hasassessed 989 substances and activities, ranging fromarsenic to hairdressing, and found only one was“probably not” likely to cause cancer in humans. Itwas an ingredient in nylon used in stretchy yogapants and toothbrush bristles.

All the other 988 substances, however, pose somelevel of risk or need further research, according to theInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),which is an arm of the WHO. Some things in IARC’stop category of carcinogens are pretty obvious nas-ties, such as plutonium, mustard gas and smokingtobacco. Others are more surprising: Also ranked as“Group 1 Carcinogens” are wood dust and Chinesesalted fish. IARC has said that working as a paintercauses cancer, using a mobile phone possibly does,and working shifts as a pilot or a nurse, for example -is “probably carcinogenic.” Last October, it rankedprocessed meats in its top category of known car-cinogens, alongside plutonium. The findings havecaused consternation, not least for non-scientists puz-zled by what IARC’s rankings mean.

As a global authority on cancer - a disease thatkills more than 8 million people a year worldwide,with more than 14 million new cases appearing annu-ally - IARC has enormous influence and commandsmuch respect, even among its critics. Yet experts fromacademia, industry and public health say IARC con-fuses the public and policymakers. Some critics saythe way IARC considers and communicates whethersubstances are carcinogenic is flawed and needsreform. Even the WHO, which oversees IARC, wascaught off guard by the agency’s announcement thatred and processed meat should be classified respec-tively as probable and known carcinogens. The WHO’sofficial spokesman, Gregory Hartl, issued a statementsaying WHO’s Geneva headquarters had been flood-ed with queries and requests for clarification. IARC’sruling did not mean people should stop eating meat,he said.

Asked about the relationship between IARC andthe WHO, Hartl told Reuters: “WHO works closely andcontinually with IARC to improve the way the twobodies collaborate and communicate on the knowl-edge of potential and real hazards and risks to thepublic.” At stake are judgments that can affect thelives of millions of people and the economic activitiesof states and multinational companies. IARC’s rulingsinfluence many things, from whether chemicals arelicensed for use in industry to whether consumerschoose or spurn certain products or lifestyles.

But its methods are poorly understood and do notserve the public well, according to Bob Tarone, a stat-istician formerly at America’s National Cancer Instituteand now Biostatistics Director at the InternationalEpidemiology Institute. He said of the way IARCworks: “It’s not good for science, it’s not good for regu-latory agencies. And for people? Well, they are justbeing confused.”

Paolo Boffetta worked at IARC for 19 years, risingto become head of the genetics and epidemiologyteam, and describes himself as “still a strong sup-porter” of the agency. Nevertheless, Boffetta, now atthe Mount Sinai School of Medicine in the UnitedStates, said IARC’s approach sometimes lacks “scien-tific rigour” because its judgments can involveexperts reviewing their own research or that of col-leagues. Some institutions have also clashed withIARC. The agency is currently embroiled in an acri-monious dispute with the European Food SafetyAuthority (EFSA) over glyphosate, an ingredient ofwidely-used pesticides. IARC says glyphosate is“probably carcinogenic.” EFSA says it isn’t. Theglyphosate row has thrown up concerns aboutpotential conflicts of interest at IARC: It involves anadviser to the agency who is closely linked to theEnvironmental Defense Fund, a US campaign groupopposed to pesticides. (See ).

In the face of its critics, IARC steadfastly defends itsmethods and aims. “This is really the strongest possi-ble process,” Kurt Straif, the head of IARC’s classifica-tion programme, told Reuters when asked about theway his agency evaluates possible causes of cancer.IARC’s director, Chris Wild, has also defended theagency against criticism in scientific journals. In a let-ter to one of the journals, he said the scientistsinvolved in its classification decisions “are motivatedby a desire to improve public health by identifyingthe causes of human cancer and thereby contributingto disease prevention.” Richard Sullivan, a professor ofcancer policy and global health at King’s CollegeLondon, says any confusion is due to a widespreadmisunderstanding of IARC’s role. “IARC is purely thereto do the science. And the science is absolutely fine,”he told Reuters. “But there is a disjunction betweenthe pure science and the policy and public healthmessaging. That’s where problems arise.”

Semi-detached agencyFrom the beginning, IARC has been a compro-

mise. Born out of a French initiative, it was originallyenvisaged as an independent agency with a hugebudget. It ended up as a semi-autonomous part of

the WHO with modest funds. IARC, based in Lyon, hadrevenue of about 30 million euros ($34 million) in2014, whereas the British charity Cancer Research UKhad income of about $875 million and the U.S. gov-ernment’s National Cancer Institute had a budget of$4.9 billion in 2014. Despite its limited financial heft,IARC was a pioneer and established itself as a world-leading authority. Its assessments of whether some-thing is a cause of cancer catch the eyes and ears ofpolicymakers and the public.

To produce its assessments, IARC assemblesgroups of experts who review the existing scientificevidence and then place a substance or activity inone of five categories: carcinogenic to humans; prob-ably carcinogenic; possibly carcinogenic; not classifi-able as carcinogenic; and probably not carcinogenic.These reports are known as “monographs.” The publicsometimes misunderstands what IARC means by itsclassifications. The agency says it assesses “hazard” -the strength of evidence about whether a substanceor activity can cause cancer in any way. It takes noaccount of typical levels of human exposure or con-sumption. So it is not measuring “risk” or the likeli-hood of a person getting cancer from something.IARC gives no view on the relative levels of risk of get-ting cancer from, say, plutonium or alcohol; what itdoes say is that there is clear evidence that both arecapable of causing cancer. Therefore it ranks bothsubstances in its top category of being carcinogenic.Geoffrey Kabat, a cancer epidemiologist at the AlbertEinstein College of Medicine in the United States whohas publicly criticized IARC, says the classifications dothe public “a disservice.”

“What the public wants to know is: What are theagents in our surroundings that are likely to have pal-pable effects on our health? Not theoretical expo-sures which might, under some far-fetched condi-tions, possibly have an effect,” said Kabat, who is alsoauthor of the book “Hyping Health Risks.” The risks ofpublic misapprehension were evident in some of themedia reaction to IARC’s announcement on red andprocessed meats. The Huffington Post declared: “Meatis the new tobacco.” Britain’s Daily Mail said “healthchiefs” had “put processed meat on same level as cig-arettes.”

Such interpretations are misleading, in IARC’sview. Straif told Reuters that the blame for any confu-

sion lies with industry, activist groups and the media.“There are stakeholders on various sides that want tomake it look ridiculous,” he said. “There are activistgroups who want to say, ‘This is now an IARC carcino-gen and we need to take all actions against it’. Andthen there is a third dimension - the media, who havetheir own interests in being sensational.” Straifdefended the decision to place processed meat in thesame hazard category as plutonium, saying that “forboth of these things there is clear evidence that theseare human carcinogens.”

‘Naive, if not anti-scientific’Some critics say the problems with IARC’s mono-

graphs begin well before they become headlines.Their concerns focus on the composition of the“expert working groups” that decide which of the fiveIARC categories a substance or activity should go in.These experts sometimes include people who havespent years publishing research on whether the sub-stance or activity under scrutiny can cause cancer.They may be part of IARC working groups that reviewtheir own research or that of close colleagues.Between 2012 and 2015, for example, IARC publishedor started 18 monographs involving 314 scientists. AReuters analysis found that at least 61 of those scien-tists served on monograph working groups that con-sidered their own scientific research. The analysis didnot include the number of scientists on workinggroups that reviewed the research of close col-leagues.

In letters, commentaries and articles in scientificjournals, Tarone of the International EpidemiologyInstitute and other scientists have questionedwhether such people “are the best judges of thevalidity and methodological soundness of theirown and allied work.” IARC’s Straif said the agency’sworking groups consist of “the world’s best experts”who critically review the scientific evidence and arenot swayed by previous findings in their own work,or that of close colleagues. “IARC has a strong belief,for good reasons, that those who know the mostabout certain exposures are those who haveworked on such exposures,” he said. Straif saidIARC’s rules ensure no “author or associated col-league” can directly evaluate a study they have pub-lished. —Reuters

How the World Health Organization’scancer agency confuses consumers

‘Meat is the new tobacco’

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine: Defying radioactivecontamination and a government evacuationorder, Yevgeny Markevich returned to hisbeloved Chernobyl shortly after it sufferedthe world’s worst nuclear accident 30 yearsago this week. The sturdy 78-year-old formerteacher is among 158 people still living in the30 kilometer (19 mile) exclusion zone aroundthe Ukrainian nuclear power plant wherereactor number four exploded on April 26,1986. The area remains contaminated byradiation and is deemed uninhabitable byUkrainian authorities. “I only want to live inChernobyl,” said Markevich, whose familymoved there in 1945 when he was eight.

“I can’t explain why people want to livehere. Are they following their hearts? Are theynostalgic? Who knows.” The move toChernobyl, where the soil was once rich andfertile, helped Markevich’s family survivefamine in the years immediately after the war,he said. “Here we could plant crops and har-vest our own food. I have never wanted toleave,” he said. The nuclear disaster, which theSoviet authorities initially sought to cover up,was directly responsible for the deaths ofmore than 30 people although a 2005 UnitedNations report estimated that radiation couldeventually claim up to 4,000 lives.

On the day of the accident, a Saturday,Markevich was teaching a class at a local highschool, not suspecting that the explosionnearby would forever transform the town andthe lives of its people. “We knew somethinghad happened because buses and militaryvehicles were driving toward Pripyat,” he said,referring to the nuclear workers’ town locatedthree kilometers from the Chernobyl powerplant. “Nobody told us anything. There wasonly silence.”

Markevich, along with almost 116,000 oth-er people living in the area, was forced toevacuate in 1986. But he wanted to returnhome immediately and began creating excus-es to re-enter the exclusion zone. “Once Icame here pretending I was a sailor, anothertime I said I was a police officer overseeing oildeliveries,” he said. During one of these incur-sions into the exclusion zone, Markevich metthe head of the radiation monitoring stationand asked him for a job. He was hired on thespot and has not left the area since, boastingthat he has never been ill despite years of eat-

ing vegetables grown in contaminated soil.“There is an element of risk,” he conceded.

‘Crying and screaming’ Maria Urupa, who is in her early 80s, also

calls the exclusion zone home but is lessenthusiastic about her living environment.Like most of the “samosely”, or self-returnersas inhabitants of the exclusion zone areknown, she lives in a dilapidated woodenhouse in spartan conditions. These illegal resi-dents, whose average age is 75, never accept-ed the forced evacuation of the zone sur-rounding the now shuttered power plant. Inthe aftermath of the explosion, whichspewed out clouds of poisonous radiationthat spread across Europe, more than 1,000people returned to live in the officially sealed-off area.

Urupa survives off vegetables she grows inher garden as well as the food supplies broughtby visitors. Other residents venture outside theexclusion zone to the town of Ivankiv, wherethe nearest market is located. Urupa says sheconsidered hiding in her basement with herhusband to avoid the initial evacuation in 1986,but their plan was not to be. “It was sad. Therewas crying and screaming,” she said. Afterspending two months in a displaced personscamp, Urupa opted to return to the area “in agroup of six people, walking through the forestlike guerrilla fighters”.

Another inhabitant of the exclusion zone,Valentina Kukharenko, 77, said she regretsthat members of her family have to showtheir identity papers to visit her and are lim-ited to three-day visits to prevent radiationexposure. “They say radiation levels are high.Maybe radiation affects outsiders, peoplewho have never come here. But what are oldpeople l ike us afraid of?” she said.Kukharenko said that she feels l ike a“stranger” outside the exclusion zone andrarely ventures outside the area. “I’m not anationalist but I love my native land,” shesaid. “I hope children’s laughter resoundsagain here, even if it takes years.” A baby girlnamed Maria was born in the exclusion zonein 1999 to a settler couple, the first child tobe born in the disaster-hit area. Born suffer-ing from anaemia, Maria left Chernobyl withher family just a year after her birth. Herwhereabouts today are unknown. — AFP

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine: A ‘samosely’ (self-returner), as illegal inhabitants of the exclusionzone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant are known, stands next to bags of flourand macaroni given by Ukraine Emergencies Ministry personnel. — AFP photos

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine: A man sets candles in front of portraits at the monument toChernobyl victims in Slavutich, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the accident site, andwhere many of the power stationís personnel used to live, during a memorial ceremonyearly on April 26, 2015.

AFGHANISTAN: An Afghan burqa clad female health worker gives a vaccination to a child during apolio campaign in Kandahar, Afghanistan, yesterday. — AP

Defying radiation, elderlycling on in Chernobyl

WUKRO, Ethiopia: With Ethiopia in the grip of itsworst drought in decades, the government hasappealed for aid to help 10 million people livingin Africa’s second most-populous nation. But inthe town of Wukro, surrounded by the rocky, aridmountains of the northern Tigray region, the gov-ernment is investing longer-term efforts toensure a supply of fresh water that will go farbeyond the immediate needs of aid. With amushrooming urban population, water needs areonly set to grow as the number of people living intowns soars from 70 million today to an estimat-ed 100 million by 2050.

In a bid to anticipate future need, the govern-ment is stepping up construction of wells topump ground water in a project backed by boththe United Nations and charities. “Lack of wateraffects everything: food, health, education andchildren’s futures,” warns the UN children’s fund(UNICEF), which is working with the governmentto boost access to clean water and health in new,rapidly-growing towns.

“Urbanisation must be accompanied byaccess to water and improved hygiene,” saysTamene Gossa, an urban hygiene expert withUNICEF, warning that without it, new districts risk

becoming slums. For Wukro, a town of some43,000 people, new wells have been dug some18 kilometers (11 miles) away, tapping into majorgroundwater supplies. Late last year, clean wateremerged from a well some 200 metres (650 feet)

deep which now supplies the town. “We supply50 litres per day, per person, which means thepopulation in Wukro is now... safe,” says TesfalemHagdu, deputy director of water resources forthe Tigray region.

Limiting erosion Floods and failed rains caused by the El Nino

weather phenomenon have sparked a dramaticrise in the number of people going hungry inlarge parts of Africa, with southern Ethiopia anarea of special concern. Food insecurity is a sensi-tive issue in Ethiopia, which enjoys near-double-digit economic growth, but which has struggledto change its image following the famine of 1984-85 which followed an extreme drought.

While northern Tigray has escaped the worstof today’s El Nino drought, it has still seen watershortages, and the area around Wukro is dry anddusty. But there have been huge efforts tochange the situation, with the authorities plant-ing acacia and eucalyptus tree seedlings in a bidto limit erosion, to help water infiltrate the soiland feed underground springs. Water expertshope to be able to supply the wider region withinthe next two decades. “The water coverage for2035 will be 100 percent-not only for Wukro, butfor five other villages around,” says Abdul Wassie,technical chief of the region’s water resources.

Growing hygiene awareness But the city has also gone further, with

hygiene-related programs to increase awarenessabout sanitation issues. Two years ago, a primaryschool in the town created a water and sanitationclub to promote basic hygiene. In a remote townlike Wukro, where health services are limited,basic tasks such as washing hands regularly canmake a big difference to cutting overall sickness.“Before this program, viruses spread as well asparasitic diseases,” says water club leaderSelamawit Tamerat. “Since then, everythingchanged and sickness decreased,” Selamawit says,praising the educational impact the project hashad on the wider community.

As well as raising awareness, there has alsobeen the construction of sorely-need infrastruc-ture, such as toilet blocks for the school whichwere built last year. Last year, Ethiopia celebratedthe achievement of halving the number of peo-ple without access to safe water since 1990, with57 percent of the population now using safedrinking water. But the challenges remaining arehuge. According to UNICEF, 180,000 childrenunder five die each year — 500 a day in sub-Saharan Africa from diarrhoeal diseases due topoor access to water and inadequate hygieneconditions. — AFP

Gripped by drought, Ethiopia drills for water

OGOLCHO, Ethiopia : This file photo shows UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his wife YooSoon-taek and Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen (left) standing at a waterbore pump in Ogolcho town, southeastern Ethiopia. — AFP

PARIS: A DNA study of more than 380,000 peo-ple has uncovered a rather surprising role forhuman genes: Helping to determine the age atwhich you first have sex. Factors such as familystability, peer pressure and personality type areall known to influence whether teenagerschoose to engage in sex young, or abstain untiladulthood. Now a huge gene trawl has revealedthat “genes have a substantial influence” too,according to study co-author Ken Ong of theInstitute of Metabolic Science at the Universityof Cambridge. Genetic factors, he told AFP,“explain around 25 percent of the differences inthe age when people start to have sex”.

The genes likely influence such factors asthe age at which puberty hits, and whether ornot you posses a risk-taking personality. Theaverage age of sexual maturity for both gendershas decreased from about 18 years in 1880, to12.5 in 1980, according to the study authors.Scientists have blamed changes in nutrition andthe larger physical size of children today, as wellas exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Ong and a team analysed the genes ofmore than 125,000 participants in a Britishhealth study, and noted an association between38 gene variants and the age at which they first

had intercourse. They cross-checked this withgene datasets for 241,000 people in Iceland and20,000 in the United States, for a total samplesize of over 380,000 people. “We found that thesize of the influence of genetic factors remainedconstant across decades of growing up, fromthe 1950s to the 1980s-this shows that geneticfactors are relevant across a wide range of cul-tures and social attitudes,” Ong said.

Beyond socio-cultural factors Many of the gene variants were also linked

to other reproductive traits, such as age at birthof one’s first child, and the number of childrenborne, they found. The research was publishedin the journal Nature Genetics. Previousresearch had shown that people who start hav-ing sex at a young age are more likely to under-perform at school and have poorer physical andmental health. Early onset puberty has beenlinked to a higher risk for diabetes, heart dis-ease and some cancers. But most research so farhas focused on the socio-cultural causes forteenage sex. The team said it hoped the find-ings will help identify and help children moreprone, genetically and otherwise, to engage inrisky behavior. — AFP

How long a virgin? It’s written in your genes

H E A LT H & S C I E NC ETUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: Medical marijuana advocates stand and applaud as legisla-tors make their way to the podium at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda inHarrisburg.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Gov Tom Wolf cheers after signing a bill tolegalize a comprehensive medical marijuana program.— AP photos

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania is set tobecome the latest state to legalize medical marijuana asthe Legislature sent a bill to the governor on Wednesday,after parents of children suffering from debilitatingseizures circulated the Capitol urging lawmakers to act.The House voted, 149-46, set off cheers in the ornatechamber and capped several years of door-to-door lob-bying by parents and more than a year-and-a-half sincethe state Senate first approved a medical marijuana bill in2014. Calling it historic legislation, Gov Tom Wolf, aDemocrat, said he will sign it Sunday. Meanwhile, in Ohio,lawmakers promised to legalize medical marijuana bythe summer, before voters get a chance to decide a ballotquestion in the fall election. Pennsylvania would becomethe 24th state to legalize a comprehensive medical mari-juana program, according to the National Conference ofState Legislatures.

The issue has been driven by parents who believe amarijuana oil extract can help relieve the daily seizuresthat have left their children in wheelchairs or functioningfar below their grade level. Some say they worried thatthe next seizure will kill their child and had traveledcountless times to the Capitol to press their case. DianaBriggs, of Export, near Pittsburgh, called her husbandwith the news moments after watching the House vote.

“Bringing home a win tonight,” Briggs, wiping awaytears, said she told him. Briggs said she hopes to help her15-year-old son, Ryan, who suffered a brain injury at birthand has suffered from daily seizures since that have lefthim in a wheelchair, unable to talk or walk. Nothing has

helped much, including pharmaceuticals, stem cell thera-py, diet or electrical nerve stimulation therapy, Briggssaid.

Certifying physiciansChristine Brann, of Hummelstown in suburban

Harrisburg, said every day without a medical marijuanalaw in Pennsylvania is a risk for people who believe theirsuffering child may not survive another day. “Every daywe roll the dice on our child’s or our loved one’s life,” saidBrann, whose 5-year-old son, Garrett, is diagnosed with asevere form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome.

The bill sets standards for tracking plants, certifyingphysicians and licensing growers, dispensaries and physi-cians. Patients could take marijuana in pill, oil, vapor orliquid form but would not be able to legally obtain mari-juana to smoke or to grow their own.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society opposed the billand one opponent, Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga, warned thatthe bill violates federal drug laws and that the statewould see a drastic impact on addiction and abuse.“There’s serious consequences associated with this mon-umental piece of legislation,” Baker told colleagues dur-ing floor speech before the vote.

In Ohio on Wednesday, state lawmakers set an aggres-sive schedule for legislation that would allow licenseddoctors to prescribe edibles, patches, plant material andoils. Rep. Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican who chaireda medical marijuana task force, said it will prohibit homegrowing - which he says is too hard to control.

Lawmakers said that polling during a more sweeping bal-lot campaign that failed last year made clear to theRepublican-controlled state Legislature that the issuewasn’t going away.

Post-traumatic stressIan James, who led last year’s marijuana legalization

effort, called the House proposal historic. “We’ve neverhad in the state’s history a time when the Statehouse hasso thoroughly vetted medical marijuana, considered itspositives, its negatives and brought so many peopletogether,” he said. In Pennsylvania, the legislation’s list of17 qualifying diagnosed conditions include cancer,epilepsy, autism, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumaticstress disorder, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, AIDSand glaucoma. Physicians must be registered by the stateto certify that a patient has an eligible condition and apatient must get a Department of Health-issued ID card.

The legislation’s drafters say they expect it would betwo years before regulations are written and retailers areready to sell to patients. However, a safe harbor provisionin the bill would allow parents to avoid the wait by legallybuying medical marijuana from another state for theirchild. Cara Salemme, whose 9-year-old son Jackson hassuffered daily seizures for the past four years, said parentswill immediately seek help for their children, if theyhaven’t already. “There are many people in Pennsylvaniawho aren’t waiting, they’re healing,” said Salemme, ofSpring Grove, near York. “We’ll definitely do what weneed to do.”— AP

Pennsylvania set to OK medical marijuana; Ohio could follow

LONDON: Brit ish environmentalactivists put face masks on famousstatues across London yesterdayincluding the one of Horatio Nelson onTrafalgar Square to draw attention tothe problem of a ir pol lut ion. TwoGreenpeace campaigners scaled the52-metre (171-foot) high Nelson’sColumn in the early hours yesterday toput a mask on the famous naval com-mander. Masks were put on 17 statues,including Queen Vic tor ia nearBuckingham Palace, Eros at PiccadillyCircus and Winston Churchill outsideparliament.

London’s Metropolitan Police saidthat eight people had been arrested-two on Trafalgar Square, four onParliament Square and two on Hyde

Park Corner. A par l iament spokes-woman confirmed there had been “aminor security incident on the parlia-mentary estate” which was being dealtwith by the police. Greenpeace said itaimed to highlight the health riskscaused by the city’s poor air quality.

“Monitoring shows that, i f thesestatues were real people, many of themwould often be breathing dangerous,illegal air,” campaigner Areeba Hamidsaid. “That’s why we’ve given them facemasks. O f course many mil l ions ofLondoners, including kids, are breath-ing that same air,” he said. London hassome of the highest levels of nitrogendioxide in Europe and Britain has beenordered to reduce pollution by theEuropean Commission.

Nearly 10,000 Londoners die prema-turely every year as a result of air pollu-tion, according to calculations by King’sCollege London. On May 5, the citygoes to the polls on May 5 to elect anew mayor to replace Boris Johnsonand both the main candidates-Labour’sSadiq K ahn and Conser vat ive ZacGoldsmith-have promised environmen-tal action. “Kitting everyone out withface masks is not the solution. Insteadwe need to see real political actionfrom the new mayor,” Hamid said. Thecurrent proposal for an ultra low emis-sion zone, which comes into force in2020, offers protection to residents andcommuters only in central London.Greenpeace has asked for the area tobe expanded. — AFP

ExxonMobil,Rockefellersface off in

climate battleNEW YORK: US energy giant ExxonMobil is facing anonslaught from environmentalists and some shareholdersalleging it hid what it knew about the effects of fossil fuelson climate change. In an ironic twist: among the opponentsis the Rockefeller Family Fund, built on the fortune amassedby John D Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, whichbecame Esso, then Exxon and then, in 1999, ExxonMobil. TheRFF met last January, in secret, in Manhattan with environ-mental nongovernmental groups “to establish in the public’smind that Exxon is a corrupt institution that has pushedhumanity (and all creation) towards climate chaos and graveharm,” according to an internal document on the meetingseen by AFP.

“We hosted a meeting with leading advocates to under-stand their thoughts on how to best respond to the outra-geous conduct,” Lee Wasserman, the director of RFF, told AFP.They adopted a strategy to attack ExxonMobil on legalgrounds, by convincing authorities to launch investigationsand by filing lawsuits. In other words, replicating the tacticsused against the tobacco industry in the 1990s. “This is aconspiracy to deliberately misrepresent the company posi-tion and to tear down the company,” Alan Jeffers, aspokesman for ExxonMobil, told AFP. According to a personclose to the situation who requested anonymity, certainmembers of the Rockefeller family have privately expressedopposition to the campaign against ExxonMobil.

Bill McKibben, founder of the NGO 350.org who partici-pated in the January meeting, has pushed for investigationsinto whether ExxonMobil broke the law. “We want everyonewe can think of to know it broke every kind of moral law,”McKibben said in an email. The ecologist led the ultimatelysuccessful opposition against the Keystone XL pipeline,which would have brought Canadian oil sands productionfrom Alberta to the US Gulf states.

The ExxonMobil critics accuse the oil company of having,since 1977, research showing that fossil-fuel energy has aharmful impact on climate, but that it kept the informationto itself. Denouncing the critics charges as “inaccurate” and a“conspiracy”, ExxonMobil insists that it had acknowledgedthe risks of climate change as soon as it was possible, that is,in the 2000s. Accusing the Rockefeller organization of influ-encing the media and the authorities, the Texas firm haspledged to publicly defend its positions, although until nowit has maintained a certain discretion about the subject. Thechange in attitude is due to the power of the Rockefellers,who not only have the colossal financial means to contestExxonMobil on all battlegrounds, but also the influence oftheir powerful family name.

The RFF has based its opposition on two separate investi-gations, by the InsideClimate News and the journalismschool at Columbia University in New York, that foundExxonMobil knew in the 1970s that fossil fuels were a majorsource of climate change. InsideClimate, like the Columbiaschool, received financing from the Rockefellers.—AFP

Anti-pollution activists cover London statues with masks

London : A nautical themed breathingmask is fixed to Lord Nelson’s statue at thetop of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.

London : A breathing mask is fixed to a statue of OliverCromwell outside the Houses of Parliament in centralLondon yesterday. — AFP photos

W H AT ’ S ONTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

The Embassy of Japan is pleased toannounce that the Government ofJapan offers scholarship to those

who wish to study at Japanese universi-ties as undergraduate and research stu-dents.

The Japanese GovernmentScholarship was established in 1954 inorder to increase mutual understandingbetween the people of Japan and othercountries as well as to make an interna-tional contribution to the intellectualfield.

All Kuwaiti citizens who meet thequalifications below are eligible toapply:

Undergraduate StudentsRequirements: * Completed 12-year

school curriculum. * Good academicstanding.

Age: Born between April 2, 1995 andApril 1, 2000.

Years of Study: 5 years From Apr 2017to Mar 2022.

Fields of Study: Natural Sciences.Social Sciences and Humanities

* Five years of study including oneyear for studying the Japanese lan-guage.

Research studentsRequirements: * Completed 16-years

of school educationAge: Born on or after Apr11 2, 1982Years of Study: 2 years From Apr 2017

to Mar 2019 or 1 year and 6 monthsfrom Oct 2017 to March 2019.

Fields of Study: Field of studymajored at university or related to it.

* Years of study might extenddepending on the major category.

Application forms, detailed informa-tion and other conditions can be

Downloaded from Embassy’sWebsite: (http://www.kw.emb-

japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/00_000131.html).

The deadline for submitting applica-tions is Sunday, June 26, 2016. Only hardcopies, preferably printed on A4 sizepaper, and mailed through courier orhand-delivered to the Embassy, will beaccepted.

The application process consists ofdocument screening, written exams,and personal interview.

Academic exams will be heldTuesday, June 28. 2016.

Applicants are advised to prepare forit by referring to the pastexams.(http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/jp/toj/toj0308j.html)

Past exam until 2013 can be providedfor public reading at the Embassy ofJapan.

For inquiries, please contact culturalsection, Embassy of Japan on 25309426

Japan Embassy

Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Company, theexclusive agent of Renault in Kuwait will be oneof the main sponsors of the theatrical play

Biyoulak - Comedy Show 3, which will be held on April22, 2016 at the Abdulaziz Al-Khatib hall in Al ArabiSports club in Mansuriya.

3500 people can enjoy attending this three hourslong show. The theatre play starring Akram Housni, thenumber one star in Egypt known as ‘Sayid Abu Hafitha’,along with other popular standup comedy actorsincluding Mina Nader, Alaa Elsheikh, and WaleedAbulmagd will present a lot of fun and laughing.

Renault Al Babtain is keen to be present in this eventas part of its interest in sponsoring entertainmentevents, especially that the French Renault vehicles areknown for its youthful character, which goes in line withthe atmosphere of such shows and events.

In addition to always launching best promotions onits vehicles to meet maximum customers satisfaction,Renault Al Babtain is also keen to stay in touch with itsclients, which is best presented in the after-sales-ser-vice. The company is aware of the fact that its relationwith the customers is not limited on sales only, thus itgoes beyond that to provide all means of comfort.

Renault Al Babtain sponsors ‘Biyoulak - Comedy Show 3’

Aquapark announced during a press conference recently plans to introduce the ‘Aqua Turbo’ ride next May for the first time in the Middle East. The ride is 15 meters high, includes three slopes and has a capacity of 400 persons anhour, Aquapark General Manager Mohammad Khoursheed said. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait cele-brated Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s125th birth anniversary on April

14, 2016 at the Embassy Auditorium.Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain inaugurat-ed the session and A K Srivastava wel-comed the audience.

Various speakers from the Indiancommunity in Kuwait shared their viewsand relevance of Dr Ambedkar’s life intoday’s world. As the founding father ofIndia’s constitution and a builder ofmodern India, Dr Ambedkar’s thoughtsand action remain relevant to all.

Thomas Mathew Kadavil, who hasthe distinction of attending many con-ferences on human rights issues inGeneva, spoke about the relevance ofAmbedkar’s life in current political sce-nario in India. Dr Ghalib Al-Mashoor,President in Indo-Kuwait FriendshipSociety also spoke about Dr Ambedkar.

K Gangadhar Shiresath, Principal ofICSK Khaitan in his speech said that DrAmbedkar was the first Indian who con-verted his bungalow into a library. Todayits saddened to see that every politicalparty is trying to say that Ambedkar

belongs to them, he said. He also throwlight on the vision of Ambedkar wherehe said that if we bring industrialization,the burden of farmers will be shared bythe industries and we will be able touplift the agricultural society.

Resident Manager LIC (International)Devesh Kumar, Shiny Frank, SatyendraSinha from KOC and Resident Manager,New India Assurance Co Ram MohanReddy also spoke on the occasion.

Indian Embassy celebrates

Ambedkar birth anniversary

Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain speaks at the event.

Study in Japan: Japanese

Government Scholarship for 2017

Aspecial orientation program was conducted atthe Indian Community School Kuwait, Junior, on10th April, 2016. In the keynote address, Principal

in-charge Sherly Dennis assured all parents on the safe-ty aspects of the school, the commitment of the teach-ing fraternity and advised them to remain in constanttouch with the school authorities. Further, she briefedthe parents on the quality of education of the premierinstitution which has an existence of over 56 years. Shewent on to introduce the Vice-Principal Murthy, theSupervisor of Pre-Primary Section Shafika and all theteachers of LKG. Shafika Yunus, supervisor of Pre-prima-ry section, instructed the parents with necessary guide-lines in the interest of children. Vice Principal’s addressincorporated gentle reminders to parents on teachingsimple motor and social skills to their child as prepara-tion of attending a formal school for the first time.

The core plan of the event was time slotted for allchildren to be dropped to their class to enable them toget familiar with their teacher. It was a great opportuni-ty for the children to know their teacher and for the par-ents to know about the school.

ICSK Junior conducts LKG

orientation for 2016-17 admissions

The Kerala Latin Community, Kuwait (KLCK) willbe celebrating the Fourth Anniversary andEaster Gathering at Kuwait City Cathedral

premises on Friday 22nd April 2016 at 6:00 pm.Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ, Apostolic Vicar ofNorthern Arabia will be the chief guest of the event.Under the patronage of Bishop Camillo, KLCK func-tions as a body that caters the spiritual and tempo-ral needs of the Latin Catholics residing in Kuwait.Cultural programs by the KLCK family members ofall four parishes in Kuwait will be the highlight ofthe event.

Kerala Latin Community

Kuwait to celebrate

Anniversary, Easter

W H AT ’ S ONTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

After a hugely successful first edition in 2015, Festivalof Media MENA is back this year with a fabulousline-up of speakers and a glamorous awards night to

celebrate the best media work in the region. The confer-ence will take place on April 20 from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm atthe Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, and will be followed by theawards ceremony at MusicHall, Zabeel Saray in Dubai from8:00 pm onwards.

The prestigious event will bring together the sharpestminds in the region, including advertisers, media agenciesand media owners. Mixing global expertise with regionalinsight, the daylong conference will feature prominentspeakers from the likes of Google, Facebook, YouTube,Instagram, Omnicom Media Group and GroupM to serve asa knowledge-sharing hub for industry leaders to discussand debate key topics and issues integral to the advertis-ing and marketing arenas. The riveting keynote speechesand thought-provoking panel discussions are aimed atproviding speakers with a critical understanding and per-spective of the media landscape not only in the region, butalso around the world. In line with the entrepreneurial

spirit of the region and to encourage fresh ideas, Festival ofMedia MENA is proud to announce Emerge, a platform forstart-ups to battle it out and win the attention of the jury.Ten start-ups. Five judges. Ninety-second pitches.

Alexandre Hawari, Co-CEO of Mediaquest, says: “We areextremely excited to be hosting the ninth edition of theFestival of Media and the second edition of its presence inthe MENA region here in Dubai. We’ve seen some greatwork being entered this year and compelling insights fromour guest speakers to be shared with the advertising andmarketing professionals.” Charlie Crowe, Chairman andEditor-in-Chief of C Squared, adds: “I created the Festival ofMedia concept back in 2007 to establish a platform thatencourages talent to compete in the creative marketingfields and to enable the MENA region to be recognisedglobally for its outstanding contribution to the fields ofmarketing, advertising and digital. I am extremely excitedto see what this year offers in terms of industry research,insights and creative communication campaigns.” This edi-tion of Festival of Media MENA is sponsored by ChoueiriGroup, Dubai Media City and OMD, among others.

Festival of Media MENA returns to region for its second edition

Cambridge International Examinationsoffered hundreds of teachers acrossthe Middle East the opportunity to

improve their skills at its annual GlobalLearners program events. CambridgeInternational Examinations-the world’slargest provider of international education-al qualifications and programs for learnersaged 5 to 19-will host the series of GlobalLearner events for teaching professionalsbetween 17th and 24th of this month. TheKuwait session kick started the roadshowand was held on 17th April.

As part of the larger CambridgeInternational Examinations, the GlobalLearner Roadshow is designed to engagewith schools and teachers across theMiddle East. The Global Learner sessionswill provide teachers with 21st centuryteaching methods and skills to help themengage better with their students in Mathand English lessons in particular.

The Kuwait session was led by HelenRees Bidder and Mike Ollerton - both lead-ing education specialists working with edu-cational boards in the UK and globally.Designed to be interactive, the sessionsinclude individual and group activities

enabling Cambridge teachers at differentstages, to work together and learn differentapproaches that will challenge students tothink more creatively in the classroom.

Waseem Al-Hanbali, Regional Directorfor Cambridge International Examinations,said: “As a not-for-profit organization, we atCambridge continuously strive to providehigh quality programs that help unlocklearners’ potential. We understand theimportance of teachers in delivering suchopportunities, and driving growth for ourstudents, and therefore strive to equipthem with pedagogically sound teachingmethods through our professional devel-opment programs. The Global Learnersprogram is one such tool. It provides adetailed and hands-on approach whichtakes the knowledge and skills of teachersto the next level enabling them to furtherhelp their students succeed.”

The Global Learners sessions will beheld across Kuwait, Egypt, UAE, and Bahrainand form a part of a larger initiative byCambridge to provide perennial support,training and development for its teachers,students, and parents.

Cambridge supports

21st century teaching

methods in Kuwait

The Corporate Training (CT)Department at the Australian Collegeof Kuwait (ACK) will hold a seminar in

English entitled ‘Effective TalentManagement’ on Monday May 9th, 2016 atthe ACK Auditorium. This seminar comeswithin the efforts made by the College tocontribute to the enrichment of Kuwait’slabor force in various organizations andcorporations to keep pace with continuousdevelopments in the nation’s human devel-opment project.

Aiming to provide Human ResourcesManagement professional developmentopportunities for decision-makers andemployees, the seminar will discuss chal-lenges and potential solutions with regardsto developing human investment, chang-ing enterprise culture to successfully sup-port visions and goals, and finally linking

between competencies and behaviors tobetter support change initiatives ensuringcontinued success in the current globaleconomy.

Participants will receive a Certificate ofAttendance from the Human ResourcesInstitute of Continuous CareerDevelopment (HRCI) as well as additionalpoints added to their respective certificateswhen enrolling into upcoming courseswithin this field.

In addition, ACK’s CT department hiredlocal and regional experts for this seminarto benefit from their expertise and knowl-edge across different levels of fields of workto provide a meaningful and distinct train-ing platform to support the labor market inKuwait.

ACK Corporate Training

announces Effective Talent

Management seminar

NBK offers job opportunities to

young Kuwaitis at AUM career fair

National Bank of Kuwait(NBK) participated yester-day in the Career Fair 2016

held at American University ofMiddle East (AUM). NBK’s partici-pation in the Career Fair forumcomes in line with its commitmentto attract ambitious young nation-als. NBK will continue its efforts toprovide career and training oppor-tunities for nationals and to sup-port the country’s aim to encour-age young Kuwaitis to assumeroles in the private sector. NBKprovides training opportunities fornationals and new recruits.Annually, NBK offers training pro-grams for nationals and organizesexecutive training programs inline with the bank’s commitmentto developing and investing in itskey resource and human capital.

AUM Career Fair forum is tai-lored for talented youth to benefitin meeting with employers underone roof while identifying theneeds of the labor market.

Marina Hotel Kuwait has customized anattractive and indulgent weekendpackage for residents and locals in

Kuwait. At a location where luxury meetsmodernity, and where an attractive sea view,works harmoniously together with the latesttechnological systems, guests are invited toenjoy their weekends in style in the midst ofabsolute comfort. With a multitude of facilitiesand services, guests can break the daily routineand enjoy some peace of mind with a choice ofroom packages.

Perfect for a short break or a weekend get-away, guests can choose from any of the superi-or rooms and enjoy state-of-the-art facilitiesthe hotel offers without missing out on otheractivities including shopping, wellness, sportsand much more. They can further enjoy thevibrant white sands of the private beach alongwith the three pools and the pool bar - all notfar away from the ultimate shopping destina-tion, Marina Mall.

The package offers special rates for week-enders in the superior rooms at a rate startingfrom KD 88 which includes a buffet breakfast,free access to the hotel’s health club, beach andpool area. Guests and their families can experi-ence a luxurious escape after an exhaustiveweek and indulge themselves with a compli-mentary buffet breakfast for two persons at theSix Palms Restaurant.

Guests whose taste palettes crave for uniqueand diverse cuisines can watch authentic inno-vations spring to life for lunch and dinner at therenowned Atlantis Restaurant with the finestdishes from around the world and views of theArabian Sea. The package also includes a 20%discount on buffet lunch and dinner for guestsdining at the Atlantis Restaurant.

Within close proximity to Marina Mall, one ofthe best shopping malls in Kuwait, and theMarina Crescent, which houses a variety inter-national restaurants and coffee shops, MarinaHotel is an ideal location for family leisure. Theaward winning hotel is the destination to be forits dedication to a unique guest experience andhigh standard of service quality. For more infor-mation, please visit our website: www.marina-hotel.com.

Marina Hotel Kuwait tailors

special weekend package

T V PR O G R A M STUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

MALAVITA ON OSN MOVIES HD COMEDY

BIG EYES ON OSN MOVIES HD

NON-STOP ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION

00:00 Hot Tub Time Machine 202:00 Cas & Dylan04:00 Sister Act06:00 Raising Helen08:00 Father Of The Bride10:00 Sister Act12:00 Cas & Dylan14:00 Jingle All The Way 216:00 Father Of The Bride18:00 Man Of The House20:00 Malavita22:00 Let’s Be Cops

00:45 Rent03:00 What Maisie Knew04:45 Mandela: Long Walk ToFreedom07:15 Merchants Of Doubt09:00 Powder11:00 Mandela: Long Walk ToFreedom13:30 Odeio O Dia DosNamorados15:15 Veronica Guerin17:00 Powder19:00 Capital21:00 Rosewater23:00 Enemy

01:00 Oculus03:00 The Last Days On Mars05:00 Life Of A King07:00 Draft Day09:00 Pompeii11:00 Imogene13:00 Cuban Fury15:00 Seventh Son17:00 Big Eyes19:00 Birdman21:00 The Grand Seduction23:00 The Skeleton Twins

00:15 Dracula 200001:55 Order Of The Black Eagle03:30 Assassination Tango05:25 True Heart06:55 Bound For Glory09:20 Apache10:50 Separate Tables12:30 The Beast Of HollowMountain13:50 Big Screen14:05 Death Rides A Horse16:00 The Beautiful Country18:00 Saved!19:30 The Crocodile Hunter:Collision Course21:00 Breaking Bad

00:45 Mountain Monsters01:40 Australia Doesn’t Just WantTo Kill You02:35 Tanked03:25 Mutant Planet04:15 Gator Boys05:02 Treehouse Masters05:49 Australia Doesn’t Just WantTo Kill You06:36 Swamp Brothers07:00 Swamp Brothers07:25 My Cat From Hell08:15 Australia Doesn’t Just WantTo Kill You09:10 Treehouse Masters10:05 Tanked11:00 My Cat From Hell11:55 Bondi Vet12:25 Bondi Vet12:50 Australia Doesn’t Just WantTo Kill You13:45 Gator Boys14:40 Treehouse Masters15:35 Tanked16:30 Mutant Planet17:25 River Monsters18:20 Ten Deadliest Snakes WithNigel Marven19:15 Tanked20:10 Animal Cops South Africa21:05 Treehouse Masters22:00 Ten Deadliest Snakes WithNigel Marven22:55 Gator Boys23:50 River Monsters

00:00 Savages02:15 Non-Stop04:15 Jurassic Attack06:00 Stranded08:00 The X Files10:00 Non-Stop12:00 Age Of Ice14:00 Jack The Giant Killer15:45 The X Files17:45 Oblivion20:00 Crimson Tide22:00 Enemies Closer

06:00 Boyster06:10 Super Matrak06:35 Super Matrak07:00 Star vs The Forces Of Evil07:25 K.C. Undercover07:50 Supa Strikas08:15 Annedroids08:40 Lab Rats09:10 Kirby Buckets09:35 Guardians Of The Galaxy10:00 Rocket Monkeys10:25 Ultimate Spider-Man WebWarriors10:50 Boyster11:20 Boyster11:45 Pair Of Kings12:10 Pair Of Kings12:35 Lab Rats13:00 Lab Rats13:30 Phineas And Ferb13:55 Phineas And Ferb14:20 Kickin’ It14:45 Kickin’ It15:10 Guardians Of The Galaxy15:15 Rocket Monkeys15:40 Guardians Of The Galaxy16:05 Star vs The Forces Of Evil16:30 Kirby Buckets16:55 Gamers Guide To PrettyMuch Everything17:25 K.C. Undercover17:50 Supa Strikas18:15 Lab Rats18:40 K.C. Undercover19:05 Cars Toons19:10 Annedroids19:35 Phineas And Ferb20:00 Kirby Buckets20:25 Gamers Guide To PrettyMuch Everything20:55 K.C. Undercover21:20 Pickle And Peanut21:45 Lab Rats22:10 Mighty Med22:40 Disney Mickey Mouse23:00 Programmes Start At6:00am KSA

00:10 Eastenders00:40 New Tricks01:35 New Tricks02:30 Silent Witness03:25 Doctors04:00 Eastenders04:30 Doctor Who05:15 Father Brown06:00 Doctors06:30 Doctors07:00 Eastenders07:30 Stella08:20 The Paradise09:15 Doctor Who10:05 Doctors10:40 Eastenders11:10 Father Brown12:00 Stella12:45 The Paradise13:45 Doctor Who14:35 Doctors15:05 Eastenders15:35 Stella16:25 Dickensian17:10 Doctor Who18:00 Doctors18:30 Eastenders19:05 Death In Paradise20:00 Holby City

00:00 Charlie Rose01:00 Bloomberg West02:00 First Up With Angie Lau03:00 First Up With Angie Lau04:00 Trending Business05:00 Trending Business06:00 Asia Edge07:00 Bloomberg West

00:00 News Update00:30 Dialogue01:00 News Update01:15 China 2402:00 The Heat02:30 News Update03:00 Global Business04:00 News Update05:00 News Update06:30 Dialogue07:00 News Hour08:00 Global Business09:00 News Update10:30 Sports Scene11:00 Global Business12:00 News Update12:30 Culture Express13:00 Africa Live14:00 News Update

00:00 Japan Remembers00:30 Access: Middle East01:00 U.S. Squawk Alley02:00 Asia Squawk Box05:00 Asia Street Signs07:00 Capital Connection08:00 Squawk Box Europe11:00 Europe Street Signs12:00 Worldwide Exchange13:00 U.S. Squawk Box16:00 Squawk On The Street18:00 U.S. Squawk Alley19:00 Fast Money: Half TimeReport20:00 U.S. Power Lunch22:00 U.S. Closing Bell

00:00 I Escaped My Killer01:00 The Haunting Of...02:00 The Haunting Of...03:00 Cursed: The Bell Witch04:00 I Escaped My Killer05:00 The Haunting Of...06:00 Martina Cole’s Lady Killers07:00 Britain’s Biggest Heists08:00 Crime Stories09:00 Surveillance Oz09:30 Private Crimes10:00 Fred Dinenage: MurderCasebook11:00 After The First 4812:00 The FBI Files13:00 I Killed My BFF14:00 Crime Stories15:00 Fred Dinenage: MurderCasebook16:00 Britain’s Biggest Heists17:00 After The First 4818:00 The FBI Files19:00 I Killed My BFF20:00 Crime Stories21:00 Fred Dinenage: MurderCasebook22:00 50 Ways To Kill Your Lover23:00 My Crazy Ex

00:20 Fast N’ Loud01:10 You Have Been Warned02:00 Troy02:50 Superhuman Science03:15 Superhuman Science03:40 Extreme Collectors04:05 Storage Wars Canada04:30 Auction Hunters05:00 How Do They Do It?05:30 Fifth Gear06:00 Outback Truckers06:50 Wheeler Dealers07:40 Fast N’ Loud08:30 Extreme Collectors08:55 Storage Wars Canada09:20 Auction Hunters09:45 How Do They Do It?10:10 Fifth Gear10:35 You Have Been Warned11:25 Troy12:15 The Carbonaro Effect12:40 Superhuman Science13:05 Extreme Collectors

00:20 Through The WormholeWith Morgan Freeman01:08 Invent It Rich01:55 Moon Machines02:42 How The Earth Works03:29 Mythbusters04:16 Invent It Rich05:03 Moon Machines05:50 Nyc: Inside Out06:37 How Do They Do It?07:00 How Do They Do It?07:23 Mythbusters08:08 How The Earth Works08:53 Nyc: Inside Out09:38 Through The WormholeWith Morgan Freeman10:23 Invent It Rich11:08 Moon Machines11:53 Nyc: Inside Out

14:30 Dialogue15:00 News Update15:15 China 2416:00 News Update16:15 Global Business17:00 News Update17:15 World InSight18:00 Asia Today18:30 Culture Express19:00 News Update19:30 The Heat20:00 Africa Live21:00 Global Business21:30 Dialogue22:00 News Update22:15 China 2423:00 News Update23:15 World InSight

00:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians00:55 The Grace Helbig Show01:25 Keeping Up With TheKardashians02:20 E! News03:15 Christina Milian Turned Up04:10 Christina Milian Turned Up05:05 Christina Milian Turned Up06:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians06:55 Keeping Up With TheKardashians07:50 Style Star08:20 E! News09:15 Giuliana & Bill10:15 Giuliana & Bill11:10 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills11:35 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills12:05 E! News13:05 WAGs14:05 Botched15:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians16:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians17:00 Fashion Bloggers17:30 Fashion Bloggers18:00 E! News19:00 Fashion Police

00:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives01:00 Chopped02:00 Cutthroat Kitchen03:00 Man Fire Food03:30 Man Fire Food04:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives04:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives05:00 Iron Chef America06:00 Chopped07:00 Man Fire Food07:30 Man Fire Food08:00 Chopped09:00 Barefoot Contessa: Back ToBasics09:30 Barefoot Contessa: Back ToBasics10:00 The Kitchen11:00 Anna Olson: Bake11:30 Anna Olson: Bake12:00 Chopped13:00 The Pioneer Woman13:30 The Pioneer Woman14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives15:00 Man Fire Food15:30 Man Fire Food16:00 Chopped17:00 The Kitchen18:00 Anna Olson: Bake18:30 Anna Olson: Bake19:00 Chopped20:00 Iron Chef America21:00 Private Chef21:30 Private Chef22:00 Valerie’s Home Cooking22:30 Valerie’s Home Cooking23:00 Kitchen Casino

03:30 Top 14 Highlights04:00 Inside The PGA Tour04:30 Live NHL07:30 Golfing World08:30 Premier League Darts12:00 European Tour Weekly12:30 Golfing World13:30 Live PGA European Tour15:30 Inside The PGA Tour16:00 European Tour Weekly16:30 NRL Full Time17:00 Inside The PGA Tour17:30 Live PGA European Tour20:30 HSBC World Rugby SevensHighlights21:00 Live Premier League Darts

00:30 Hot In Cleveland01:00 The Nightly Show With LarryWilmore01:30 It’s Always Sunny InPhiladelphia02:00 The Big C02:30 Web Therapy03:00 The Carmichael Show03:30 Living With Fran04:00 Two And A Half Men04:30 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon05:30 Suburgatory06:00 The Bernie Mac Show06:30 Your Family Or Mine07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers08:00 Two And A Half Men08:30 Suburgatory09:00 The Carmichael Show09:30 The Last Man On Earth10:00 Playing House10:30 Your Family Or Mine11:00 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon12:00 The Bernie Mac Show12:30 Two And A Half Men13:00 Suburgatory13:30 Your Family Or Mine14:00 Living With Fran14:30 The Last Man On Earth15:00 Playing House15:30 Hot In Cleveland16:00 The Nightly Show With LarryWilmore16:30 The Bernie Mac Show17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers18:00 Community18:30 Living With Fran19:30 Playing House20:00 The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon

00:00 Once Upon A Time01:00 Marvel’s Agents OfS.H.I.E.L.D.02:00 The Flash03:00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow04:00 Good Morning America06:00 Once Upon A Time07:00 2408:00 Prison Break09:00 The Voice11:00 2412:00 Prison Break13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show14:00 Live Good Morning America16:00 Marvel’s Agents OfS.H.I.E.L.D.17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show18:00 Prison Break19:00 The Voice20:00 The Flash21:00 Blindspot22:00 Empire23:00 Mr. Robot

00:00 Welsh Open Snooker01:30 Inside The PGA Tour02:00 Trans World Sport03:00 Live NHL06:00 NRL Full Time06:30 European Tour Weekly07:00 Welsh Open Snooker08:30 Gillette World Sport09:00 AFL Premiership Highlights10:00 Golfing World11:00 Super Rugby Highlights11:30 Super Rugby Highlights12:20 NRL Full Time12:47 Live NRL Premiership15:00 Gillette World Sport15:30 WWE Vintage16:30 WWE Raw19:00 WWE NXT20:00 WWE Smackdown22:00 Live PGA Tour

00:00 The Weber Cup01:00 Ping Pong WorldChampionship02:00 AFL Premiership Highlights03:00 Inside The PGA Tour03:30 European Tour Weekly04:00 Trans World Sport05:00 Super League07:00 NRL Full Time07:30 Trans World Sport08:30 Golfing World09:30 Inside The PGA Tour10:00 The Weber Cup11:00 Ping Pong WorldChampionship12:00 Welsh Open Snooker13:30 European Tour Weekly14:00 Premier League Darts17:30 NRL Premiership19:30 Golfing World20:30 Gillette World Sport21:00 HSBC World Rugby SevensHighlights21:30 NRL Full Time22:00 Live Super League

00:00 Violetta00:45 The Hive00:50 Sabrina Secrets Of ATeenage Witch01:15 Sabrina Secrets Of ATeenage Witch01:40 Hank Zipzer02:05 Binny And The Ghost02:30 Violetta03:15 The Hive03:20 Sabrina Secrets Of ATeenage Witch03:45 Sabrina Secrets Of ATeenage Witch04:10 Hank Zipzer04:35 Binny And The Ghost05:00 Violetta05:45 The Hive05:50 Mouk06:00 Lolirock06:25 Sofia The First06:50 Gravity Falls07:15 Miraculous Tales OfLadybug And Cat Noir07:40 Jessie08:05 Shake It Up08:30 Shake It Up08:55 Hannah Montana09:20 Hannah Montana09:45 Girl Meets World10:10 Girl Meets World10:35 A.N.T. Farm11:00 A.N.T. Farm11:25 Jessie11:50 Jessie12:15 Whisker Haven Tales WithThe Palace Pets12:20 Miraculous Tales OfLadybug And Cat Noir12:45 Fish Hooks13:10 Austin & Ally13:35 Austin & Ally14:00 Liv And Maddie14:25 Cars Toons14:30 Liv And Maddie14:55 Dog With A Blog15:20 Dog With A Blog15:45 Miraculous Tales OfLadybug And Cat Noir16:10 Violetta17:00 The Next Step17:25 Alex And Co17:50 Dog With A Blog18:15 Best Friends Whenever18:40 Gravity Falls19:05 Evermoor Chronciles19:30 Violetta20:20 The Next Step20:45 Good Luck Charlie21:10 Good Luck Charlie21:35 H2O22:00 Binny And The Ghost22:25 Sabrina Secrets Of ATeenage Witch22:50 Sabrina Secrets Of ATeenage Witch23:10 Hank Zipzer23:35 Binny And The Ghost

00:05 Art Attack00:30 Henry Hugglemonster00:45 Calimero01:00 Zou01:15 Loopdidoo01:30 Art Attack01:55 Henry Hugglemonster02:05 Calimero02:20 Zou

08:00 Countdown09:00 Countdown09:30 On The Move10:00 On The Move11:00 The Pulse12:00 Bloomberg Surveillance13:00 Bloomberg Surveillance14:00 Bloomberg Go15:00 Bloomberg Go16:00 Bloomberg Go17:00 Bloomberg Markets18:00 Bloomberg Markets:European Close19:00 Bloomberg Markets20:00 Bloomberg Markets21:00 Bloomberg Markets22:00 Bloomberg Markets23:00 What’d You Miss?

13:30 Storage Wars Canada13:55 Auction Hunters14:20 Outback Truckers15:10 Wheeler Dealers16:00 Fast N’ Loud16:50 Fifth Gear17:15 How Do They Do It?17:40 Salvage Hunters18:30 Redwood Kings19:20 Catching Monsters20:10 Storage Wars Canada20:35 Auction Hunters21:00 Salvage Hunters21:50 Redwood Kings22:40 Ed Stafford: Into TheUnknown

00:20 Shipping Wars00:45 Shipping Wars01:10 Ice Road Truckers02:00 Ice Road Truckers02:50 Ax Men03:40 American Restoration04:05 American Restoration04:30 Pawn Stars05:00 Lost Worlds06:00 Mountain Men06:50 Swamp People07:40 Ax Men08:30 Shipping Wars08:55 American Restoration09:20 American Restoration09:45 Banger Boys10:35 Counting Cars11:00 Counting Cars11:25 Lost Worlds12:15 American Pickers13:05 Storage Wars13:30 Storage Wars13:55 Fifth Gear14:45 Shipping Wars15:10 Shipping Wars15:35 Shipping Wars16:00 Mountain Men16:50 Swamp People17:40 Ice Road Truckers18:30 Lost Worlds19:20 American Pickers20:10 Pawn Stars20:35 Pawn Stars21:00 Duck Dynasty21:25 Duck Dynasty21:50 Pawn Stars22:15 Pawn Stars Australia22:40 Grave Trade23:30 Duck Dynasty23:55 Duck Dynasty

21:00 Hot In Cleveland21:30 Breaking In22:00 It’s Always Sunny InPhiladelphia22:30 The Big C23:00 Web Therapy23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers

00:10 The Chase: CelebritySpecials01:05 Emmerdale01:30 Eggheads02:00 Coronation Street02:30 Keep It In The Family03:25 Murdoch Mysteries04:20 Murdoch Mysteries05:15 Royalty Close Up06:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes?07:00 Eggheads

07:30 Murdoch Mysteries08:25 Murdoch Mysteries09:20 Keep It In The Family10:15 The Chase: CelebritySpecials11:05 Eggheads11:35 Royalty Close Up12:30 Who’s Doing The Dishes?13:25 Emmerdale13:50 Eggheads14:20 Coronation Street14:45 Keep It In The Family15:35 Prince Philip: The Plot ToMake A King16:30 Black Work17:25 The Jonathan Ross Show18:20 Emmerdale18:45 Coach Trip19:10 Coronation Street19:35 Prince Philip: The Plot ToMake A King20:30 Black Work21:25 The Jonathan Ross Show22:20 Coronation Street22:50 Emmerdale23:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes?

12:38 Mythbusters13:23 Through The WormholeWith Morgan Freeman14:10 How The Earth Works14:57 Food Factory15:20 Food Factory15:44 Moon Machines16:31 Nyc: Inside Out17:18 How The Earth Works18:05 Mythbusters18:50 Secret Space Escapes19:40 Moon Machines20:25 Through The WormholeWith Morgan Freeman21:15 How The Earth Works22:00 Secret Space Escapes22:45 Moon Machines23:35 Mythbusters

02:30 Loopdidoo02:45 Art Attack03:10 Henry Hugglemonster03:20 Calimero03:35 Zou03:45 Loopdidoo04:00 Art Attack04:25 Henry Hugglemonster04:35 Calimero04:50 Zou05:00 Loopdidoo05:15 Art Attack05:35 Henry Hugglemonster05:50 Calimero06:00 Zou06:20 Loopdidoo06:35 Art Attack07:00 The Hive07:10 Zou07:25 Loopdidoo07:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse08:05 Sofia The First08:30 Goldie & Bear08:45 Jake And The Never LandPirates09:10 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West09:35 Doc McStuffins10:00 Sofia The First10:30 Goldie & Bear10:55 Minnie’s Bow-Toons11:00 Miles From Tomorrow11:25 Special Agent Oso11:40 The Hive11:50 Handy Manny12:15 Jungle Junction12:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse13:00 Sofia The First13:25 Miles From Tomorrow13:50 Jake And The Never LandPirates14:15 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West

14:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse15:10 Miles From Tomorrow15:35 Jake And The Never LandPirates16:00 Sofia The First16:25 Jungle Cubs16:50 Aladdin17:15 Gummi Bears17:40 Goldie & Bear18:05 Miles From Tomorrow18:30 Sofia The First19:00 Jake And The Never LandPirates19:30 Miles From Tomorrow20:00 Goldie & Bear20:30 Sofia The First21:00 Jungle Cubs21:25 Aladdin21:50 Gummi Bears22:20 Lilo And Stitch22:50 Zou23:05 Henry Hugglemonster23:20 Calimero23:35 Zou23:50 Loopdidoo

20:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians21:00 Dash Dolls22:00 E! News23:00 WAGs

00:10 Brain Games01:00 Cesar Millan: DoggieNightmares02:00 Supercar Megabuild02:55 Access 360 World Heritage03:50 Brain Games04:45 24 Hours In A&E05:40 Filthy Riches06:35 Megastructures07:30 Cesar To The Rescue08:25 Building Wild09:20 24 Hours In A&E10:15 Supercar Megabuild11:10 The Yard12:05 Dirty Rotten Survival13:00 Building Wild14:00 Cesar To The Rescue15:00 Mega Factories16:00 Supercar Megabuild17:00 The Yard18:00 Dirty Rotten Survival19:00 Mine Kings20:00 Supercar Megabuild20:50 The Yard21:40 Dirty Rotten Survival22:30 Mega Factories23:20 Filthy Riches

Spaces01:50 Top Tables, Top Cities02:15 Sara’s New Nordic Kitchen02:40 Tom’s Istanbul Delight03:05 Glamour Puds03:30 Glamour Puds03:55 David Rocco’s Dolce India04:20 Maximum Foodie04:45 Maximum Foodie05:10 East Bites West05:35 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour06:00 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour06:25 Carnival Eats06:50 George Clarke’s AmazingSpaces07:40 Top Tables, Top Cities08:05 Sara’s New Nordic Kitchen08:30 Tom’s Istanbul Delight08:55 Glamour Puds09:20 Glamour Puds09:45 David Rocco’s Dolce India10:10 Maximum Foodie10:35 Maximum Foodie11:00 East Bites West11:25 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour11:50 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour12:15 Carnival Eats12:40 George Clarke’s AmazingSpaces13:35 Top Tables, Top Cities14:00 Sara’s New Nordic Kitchen14:30 Tom’s Istanbul Delight14:55 Glamour Puds15:25 Glamour Puds15:50 David Rocco’s Dolce India16:20 Maximum Foodie16:45 Maximum Foodie17:15 East Bites West17:40 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour18:10 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour18:35 Carnival Eats19:05 Glamour Puds19:30 Glamour Puds20:00 David Rocco’s Dolce India20:25 Maximum Foodie20:50 Maximum Foodie21:15 East Bites West21:40 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour22:05 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour22:30 Carnival Eats22:55 George Clarke’s AmazingSpaces23:45 Top Tables, Top Cities

00:20 Deadly Instincts01:10 Wild 2402:00 Monster Fish02:50 Africa’s Creative Killers03:45 I, Predator04:40 Cameramen Who Dare05:35 Africa’s Creative Killers06:30 I, Predator07:25 Caught In The Act08:20 Cameramen Who Dare09:15 Race Of Life09:40 Race Of Life10:10 America’s National Parks11:05 Animals Gone Wild12:00 Monster Fish12:55 Africa’s Creative Killers13:50 I, Predator14:45 Caught In The Act15:40 Man-Eater Of The Congo16:35 Race Of Life17:00 Race Of Life17:30 America’s National Parks18:25 Animals Gone Wild19:20 Caught In The Act20:10 Man-Eater Of The Congo21:00 Race Of Life21:25 Race Of Life21:50 America’s National Parks22:40 Animals Gone Wild23:30 Monster Fish

00:10 Dream Cruises01:00 George Clarke’s Amazing

p32.qxp_Layout 1 4/18/16 8:54 PM Page 1

C̀lassifiedsTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

Kuwait

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 19/4/2016Airlines Flt Route TimeTHY 772 Istanbul 00:10MSC 415 Sohag 00:10JZR 239 Amman 00:20JZR 267 Beirut 00:30FDB 069 Dubai 00:55KKK 6506 Istanbul 00:55DLH 635 Doha 01:00QTR 1086 Doha 01:15JZR 539 Cairo 01:20MNB 603 ADA 01:20PGT 858 Istanbul 01:40RJA 642 Amman 01:45ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45GFA 211 Bahrain 02:15KAC 418 Manila 02:15UAE 853 Dubai 02:25OMA 643 Muscat 03:05FDB 067 Dubai 03:15MSR 612 Cairo 03:15ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:15QTR 1076 Doha 03:25KAC 544 Cairo 03:40LMU 5101 Cairo 04:00THY 6376 Istanbul 05:05DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10THY 770 Istanbul 05:15PAL 668 Manila/Dubai 06:25KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:30BAW 157 London 06:40FDB 5061 Dubai 07:15KAC 382 Delhi 07:30KAC 346 Ahmedabad 07:35KAC 206 Islamabad 07:40KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50SVA 512 Riyadh 07:50FDB 053 Dubai 07:50KAC 354 BLR 08:00KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:15KAC 352 Kochi 08:20KAC 362 Colombo 08:20UAE 855 Dubai 08:25KAC 784 Jeddah 08:50KAC 284 Dhaka 09:00ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:05ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05QTR 1070 Doha 09:30IRA 675 Lar 09:40FDB 055 Dubai 09:40UAE 873 Dubai 10:40GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40MEA 404 Beirut 11:00JZR 561 Sohag 11:25RBG 553 Alexandria 11:30JZR 164 Dubai 11:50NIA 151 Cairo 12:20FDB 075 Dubai 12:25MSC 401 Alexandria 12:30UAE 871 Dubai 12:45MSR 610 Cairo 13:00KAC 620 Doha 13:10IRC 6507 Shiraz 13:35KAC 514 Tehran 13:45FBA 831 Al Najaf 13:50QTR 1078 Doha 14:05KAC 672 Dubai 14:05

AXB 393 Kozhikode 14:10MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15FDB 057 Dubai 14:20GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30KNE 529 Jeddah 14:55KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00OMA 645 Muscat 15:10ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:10ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35UAE 857 Dubai 15:45FDB 051 Dubai 15:50RJA 640 Amman 16:00SAW 701 Damascus 16:05QTR 1072 Doha 16:15JZR 325 Al Najaf 16:15CLX 784 Luxembourg 16:30KAC 562 Amman 16:55KAC 680 Muscat 16:55SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30JZR 177 Dubai 17:45JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50QTR 1080 Doha 17:55MSR 620 Cairo 18:30KAC 786 Jeddah 18:35KAC 774 Riyadh 18:35KAC 502 Beirut 18:35KAC 742 Dammam 18:50KAC 542 Cairo 18:55KAC 618 Doha 18:55KAC 104 London 19:00KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:05UAE 875 Dubai 19:05GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05KAC 614 Bahrain 19:10FDB 063 Dubai 19:10ABY 123 Sharjah 19:15JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35KAC 674 Dubai 19:45FDB 059 Dubai 19:50DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:05MEA 402 Beirut 20:15OMA 647 Muscat 20:20JZR 189 Dubai 20:25MSR 618 Alexandria 20:30QTR 1088 Doha 20:35FDB 5053 Dubai 20:55ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:05UAE 859 Dubai 21:15ALK 229 Colombo 21:20KLM 415 Amsterdam 21:25KAC 172 Frankfurt 21:50QTR 1082 Doha 21:55GFA 219 Bahrain 22:00ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:10AIC 987 Chennai/Hyderabad 22:25PIA 239 Sialkot 22:35KAC 782 Jeddah 22:50THY 764 Istanbul 22:55JZR 185 Dubai 22:55MSC 403 Asyut 23:00JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20JZR 239 Amman 23:20MSR 614 Cairo 23:30FDB 071 Dubai 23:35JAD 301 Amman 23:45

Departure Flights on Tuesday 19/4/2016Airlines Flt Route TimeAIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05BBC 144 Chittagong/Dhaka 00:10JAI 573 Mumbai 00:25MSR 615 Cairo 00:30FDB 072 Dubai 00:30MSC 404 Asyut 00:55KLM 411 Amsterdam 00:55MSC 416 Sohag 01:05THY 773 Istanbul 01:40DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:00THY 765 Istanbul 02:45ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55KAC 783 Jeddah 03:30UAE 854 Dubai 03:45OMA 644 Muscat 04:00KKK 6505 Istanbul 04:05FDB 068 Dubai 04:05ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:10MSR 613 Cairo 04:15QTR 1077 Doha 04:35LMU 5111 Cairo 05:00JZR 560 Sohag 05:00MNB 604 Istanbul 05:20RJA 643 Amman 06:25QTR 1087 Doha 06:30THY 6376 Dubai/Istanbul 06:35THY 771 Istanbul 06:45GFA 212 Bahrain 06:50FDB 070 Dubai 07:05JZR 165 Dubai 07:15FDB 5062 Dubai 07:55BAW 156 London 08:25FDB 054 Dubai 08:30KAC 171 Frankfurt 08:40SVA 513 Riyadh 08:50KAC 513 Tehran 09:15KAC 671 Dubai 09:30KAC 787 Jeddah 09:30KAC 619 Doha 09:30ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45UAE 856 Dubai 09:50ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:00KAC 101 London/New York 10:00FDB 056 Dubai 10:40IRA 674 Lar 10:40QTR 1071 Doha 10:45KAC 501 Beirut 11:00KAC 561 Amman 11:20KAC 679 Muscat 11:25KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:25GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35MEA 405 Beirut 12:00KAC 541 Cairo 12:05UAE 874 Dubai 12:10RBG 554 Alexandria 12:10JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15JZR 324 Al Najaf 12:50KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00FDB 076 Dubai 13:10JZR 176 Dubai 13:10NIA 152 Cairo 13:20MSC 402 Alexandria 13:30MSR 611 Cairo 14:00UAE 872 Dubai 14:15IRC 6507 Shiraz 14:20

PAL 669 Dubai/Manila 14:45MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00KAC 773 Riyadh 15:00GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05FDB 058 Dubai 15:05KAC 673 Dubai 15:05FBA 832 Al Najaf 15:10AXB 394 Kozhikode 15:10QTR 1079 Doha 15:15KAC 617 Doha 15:15KAC 741 Dammam 15:30SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45JZR 188 Dubai 15:50KNE 530 Jeddah 15:55KAC 613 Bahrain 16:00OMA 646 Muscat 16:10ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20RJA 641 Amman 16:55FDB 052 Dubai 17:00SAW 702 Damascus 17:05QTR 1073 Doha 17:25KAC 781 Jeddah 17:30UAE 858 Dubai 17:40JZR 238 Amman 17:45SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15JZR 184 Dubai 18:20GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20CLX 785 NBO 18:30JZR 538 Cairo 18:30QTR 1081 Doha 19:05MSR 621 Cairo 19:30GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50FDB 064 Dubai 19:50KAC 361 Colombo 19:55ABY 124 Sharjah 19:55KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30FDB 060 Dubai 20:30UAE 876 Dubai 20:35JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:45DLH 634 Doha 20:50KAC 353 BLR 20:55KAC 343 Chennai 20:55KAC 543 Cairo 21:00KAC 351 Kochi 21:00MEA 403 Beirut 21:15OMA 648 Muscat 21:15MSR 607 Luxor 21:30QTR 1089 Doha 21:45DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50FDB 5054 Dubai 21:55ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 21:55ALK 230 Colombo 22:20KAC 381 Delhi 22:25UAE 860 Dubai 22:25KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 22:25KAC 301 Mumbai 22:30KAC 345 Ahmedabad 22:55KAC 205 Islamabad 23:00GFA 220 Bahrain 23:00ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05KAC 155 Istanbul 23:15QTR 1083 Doha 23:20KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:25PIA 240 Sialkot 23:35KAC 203 Lahore 23:40

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY(14/04/2016 TO 20/04/2016)

SHARQIA-1BEFORE I WAKE 12:45 PMCRIMINAL 3:00 PMBEFORE I WAKE 5:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 7:30 PMCRIMINAL 9:45 PMBEFORE I WAKE 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2THE JUNGLE BOOK 1:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 3:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 5:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 7:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 10:00 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3FAN- Hindi 12:30 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 1:30 PMFAN- Hindi 3:30 PMFAN- Hindi 6:30 PMFAN- Hindi 9:30 PMCRIMINAL 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1BEFORE I WAKE 11:30 AMCRIMINAL 1:30 PMCRIMINAL 3:45 PMBEFORE I WAKE 6:00 PMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 8:00 PMCRIMINAL 10:15 PMCRIMINAL 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-2FAN- Hindi 11:30 AMFAN- Hindi 2:30 PMFAN- Hindi 5:30 PMFAN- Hindi 8:30 PMFAN- Hindi 11:30 PM

MUHALAB-3THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:45 AMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 2:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 4:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 6:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 8:45 PMBEFORE I WAKE 11:00 PMBEFORE I WAKE 1:00 AM

FANAR-1BEFORE I WAKE 12:30 PM

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE3:00 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 6:15 PMBEFORE I WAKE 8:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:30 PMBEFORE I WAKE 12:45 AM

FANAR-2FAN- Hindi 11:45 AMFAN- Hindi 2:45 PMFAN- Hindi 5:45 PMFAN- Hindi 8:45 PMFAN- Hindi 11:45 PM

FANAR-3CRIMINAL 12:45 PMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 3:15 PMCRIMINAL 5:30 PMOBSERVANCE 7:45 PMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 9:45 PMCRIMINAL 12:05 AM

FANAR-4THE JUNGLE BOOK (3D) 1:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 3:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK (3D) 5:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 7:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK (3D) 10:00 PMBATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE12:15 AM

FANAR-5FAN- Hindi 1:15 PMTOP CAT BEGINS 2:00 PMTOP CAT BEGINS 4:00 PMTOP CAT BEGINS 6:00 PMFAN- Hindi 8:00 PMFAN- Hindi 11:00 PM

MARINA-1BEFORE I WAKE 1:00 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 3:00 PMFRI+SATBEFORE I WAKE 3:00 PMNO FRI+SATBEFORE I WAKE 5:00 PMBATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE7:00 PMBEFORE I WAKE 10:00 PMBEFORE I WAKE 12:05 AM

MARINA-2THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:30 AMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 1:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 4:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 6:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 8:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 10:45 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 1:00 AM

MARINA-3FAN- Hindi 12:00 PMFAN- Hindi 3:00 PMCRIMINAL 6:00 PMCRIMINAL 8:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:30 PMCRIMINAL 12:45 AM

AVENUES-1KUNG FU PANDA 3 1:15 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 3:30 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 5:45 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 8:00 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:30 AM

AVENUES-3MR. RIGHT 11:45 AMOBSERVANCE 2:00 PMMR. RIGHT 4:30 PMTHERI-TAMIL 6:30 PMJU ON: THE GRUDGE 3 9:30 PMOBSERVANCE 11:30 PMOBSERVANCE 1:15 AM

AVENUES-4CRIMINAL 11:30 AMFAN- Hindi 2:15 PMFAN- Hindi 5:15 PMNO THU+FRISpecial Show “THE JUNGLE BOOK”5:15 PMTHU+FRIFAN- Hindi 8:15 PMFAN- Hindi 11:15 PM

AVENUES-5THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:45 AMTHE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 2:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 4:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 6:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 8:45 PMNO THU+SUNSpecial Show “THE JUNGLE BOOK”8:45 PMTHU+SUN

THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:00 PM

AVENUES-6FAN- Hindi 12:00 PMFAN- Hindi 3:00 PMFAN- Hindi 6:00 PMFAN- Hindi 9:00 PMFAN- Hindi 12:05 AM

360º- 1THE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 1:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 3:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 5:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 8:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 10:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:30 AM

360º- 2BEFORE I WAKE 12:45 PMBEFORE I WAKE 3:00 PMBEFORE I WAKE 5:15 PMBEFORE I WAKE 7:30 PMBEFORE I WAKE 9:45 PMBEFORE I WAKE 12:05 AM

360 ∞- 3KUNG FU PANDA 3 12:15 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 2:30 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 4:45 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film 7:00 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 9:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 11:30 PM

AL-KOUT.1THE JUNGLE BOOK 12:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 2:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 4:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 6:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 9:00 PMBATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE11:15 PM

AL-KOUT.2BEFORE I WAKE 11:30 AMCRIMINAL 1:30 PMBEFORE I WAKE 3:45 PMCRIMINAL 5:45 PMBEFORE I WAKE 8:00 PMCRIMINAL 10:00 PMBEFORE I WAKE 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.3MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:30 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 2:45 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 5:00 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 7:15 PM

MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 9:30 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 11:45 PM

AL-KOUT.4THE AMERICAN SIDE 11:45 AMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 2:00 PMBATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE4:15 PMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 7:30 PMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 9:45 PMTHE AMERICAN SIDE 12:05 AM

BAIRAQ-1THE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 12:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 2:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 5:00 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 7:15 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 9:30 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 11:45 PM

BAIRAQ-2MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:00 PMTOP CAT BEGINS 2:15 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 4:15 PMTOP CAT BEGINS 6:15 PMKUNG FU PANDA 3 8:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:15 PMMA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 AM

BAIRAQ-3FAN- Hindi 11:30 AMFAN- Hindi 2:30 PMFAN- Hindi 5:30 PMFAN- Hindi 8:30 PMFAN- Hindi 11:30 PM

PLAZATHE JUNGLE BOOK 4:15 PMTHERI-TAMIL 6:30 PMFAN- Hindi 9:30 PM

LAILAFAN- Hindi 3:45 PMTHE JUNGLE BOOK 6:45 PMFAN- Hindi 9:00 PM

AJIAL.1FAN- Hindi 3:45 PMFAN- Hindi 6:45 PMFAN- Hindi 9:45 PM

AJIAL.2THE JUNGLE BOOK- Hindi 3:30 PMFAN- Hindi 6:00 PMFAN- Hindi 9:00 PM

ACCOMMODATION

CHANGE OF NAME

SITUATION WANTED

M.Com sixteen years expe-rience in independentlyhandling accounts of medi-um sized companies uptofinalization, familiar withaccounting systems, atpresent working in hospital,seeking suitable position.Mobile: 66019422.C 5161)14-4-2016

Furnished C/AC roomavailable for an executivebachelor near SharaAmman round, Salmiya.Calm and neat withChristian Malayalee familyfrom May 1st. Contact66418746. (C 5163) 16-4-2016

I, Ali Akbar HusainiBangaliwala, holder ofIndian Passport No.M3187871, address: Temba,Mohammediyapura,Sagwara, Dungarpur314025, Rajasthan, herebychange my name to AliAkbar Husain Housami.(C 5165)

I, Nilofer, holder of IndianPassport No. N5195350.address: Temba,Mohammediyapura,Sagwara, Dungarpur,Rajasthan, hereby changemy name to Nilofer HusainHousami. (C 5165)19-4-2016

I, Irene Elias Sequeira hold-er of Indian Passport No.G3662883, Sai Kripa Chawl R2 Tembi Pada LokmanyaNagar Bhandup W Mumbai,hereby change my name toAisha. (C 5162)

I, Thomas SantanoFernandes holder ofPassport No. A8004668issued at Kuwait on3/10/1999 resident of (cor-rect address in India) H. No.97, Seraulim, Banda,Salcete, Goa. Herebychange my name fromThomas Santano Fernandesto Thomas Fernandes withimmediate effect. (C 5164)16-4-2016


Group activities in the workplace tend to involve scientific, technologicaland humanitarian concerns. This could mean teaching or attending a class

in a most fascinating subject. You may wish to develop your intuitive insight throughfriendships with artistically talented individuals. You may seek to be inspired throughsocial activities in groups or organizations. There is time to dive deeper into the subjectsyou enjoy: research, art, medicine, etc. Know that you will need to focus your attention onone or two goals for this year and save other interests for next year. If you devote yourtime to one or two goals, you will find yourself completing them and actually becomingsatisfied with your progress. Celebrate!

Aries (March 21-April 19)

STAR TRACK

You may find yourself at odds with others regarding ordinary matters today.You may be going against tradition and becoming too independent for group approval. Itis easy to become carried away under this kind of pressure and make mistakes. Keep yourideas under your hat for now, in order to give them some time to develop and take focus.Status and security goals need rethinking in order to take advantage of changing times.Your career is a focus for this, but your home and family situation are also involved.Finances-purchases, investments and credit in particular-could stand some clear thinking.Getting in over your head where such things are concerned can happen before you knowit, so keep an eye on the bottom line.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Routine matters may put you in a restless mood. The hairs on the back ofyour neck feel like they are standing at attention because you just know some opportuni-ty is available. You don’t want to miss that special word or idea or call that may mean a bigbusiness deal is yours. This could mean that you are in competition for best sales or mostsignatures or whatever will get you ahead of the game, so to speak. If you are caught upwith your work, don’t just drift; make an effort to begin a catchy, attractive or neat projectthat will attract an interest to your work. This could mean getting approval for some self-inspired idea; you display yourself to be a self-starter. A perfect balance between yourmind, spirit and body is possible this evening.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Don’t be surprised if you are not in top mental gear today. You could findyourself struggling to find the right words. This could just mean the audience is a bit differ-ent. Learn from your experience and next time you are trying to convince someone ofsomething, consider the source. Your natural orientation at this time is to find the truth,cull out any confusion and omit the fluff. You are good at cutting to the root of a matterand keeping things simple. You can teach, guide, write or involve yourself with many otheractivities that help clear up confusion. Meeting with your peers will help you find the pathto greater understanding and perhaps open up your imagination to all sorts of possibili-ties. This evening is a good time to soak in a tub.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

You may find yourself relaxing with refreshments midmorning. Latertoday, you will be quite busy. If you are looking for a job, you may think the internet is theonly way to achieve that goal. It may help, but there is nothing like knocking on a fewdoors, so to speak. If you are not looking for a job, a friend of yours may be looking. Youwill exert much effort into making everything work today. Your sense of direction is in highfocus and many difficult issues will soon fall into place; you achieve a new understanding.Others may find you especially witty. It could be you use public transportation or you ridein an elevator every day; whatever the case, you are loved. Family, friends and strangersenjoy your company. Enjoy a walk this evening.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Work progresses well today and obtaining and exchanging informationtakes on more emotional significance. Results from your hard work will begin to show inpositive ways. Communicating your feelings is important and if there is someone you aretrying to influence, this would be the day that you would be particularly successful.Setting time aside this evening for family conversations makes for a close-knit family.There is a feeling of having a good support system within your family unit. You may takesome time to help a young person with homework or teach him or her some new skill.Who knows, this young person may have a new game to teach you. Either way, it is a greatopportunity for improved communications within the family.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

You may have business or educational involvement with foreigners at thistime. You may have to deal with conflicting ethical and social values in legal, religious andcultural institutions. Financial grants and funding for higher education may become avail-able. Communication with influential people has a positive outcome. You, or your compa-ny, will get the funds needed to keep busy and productive in the future. Contracts andcommitments are reviewed and understood. You and a friend may talk about personalaims and goals for the future. Relax this afternoon and enjoy the communicationbetween your friends. Your vitality and sense of optimism are strong and you encourageothers to be just as positive in their outlook.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

New ideas take on more importance to you now. You look for catchy phras-es if you are a writer and you look for a new blend of colors if you are an artist, etc.Teaching, learning, communicating and social contact have a way of outlining new direc-tions in your life. You keep up-to-date with the styles and fads, as well as the unusual andnew, resulting in your popularity and your success in your profession. You are always onestep ahead of the crowd. There is much activity and involvement with this sort of job. Youmay notice that people sometimes need time to adjust to new ideas. Something you havewanted for a long time is now yours. You feel confident that you took the right approachto gain today’s results.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Put your mind to work and take care of any details that you may need tocomplete any unfinished business. There are improvements and correc-

tions scheduled for this day. This may mean that you work in advertising, patterns, display,etc., and your part of the work is in just one phase. Anything you do in groups or as team-work is successful. In some way, recycle those things that do not serve you well or setthem aside for possible repair. You underestimate your creative skills and may need somepositive feedback today in order to continue with some particular project. Guard againstany misunderstandings with a parent or older family member this afternoon. A requestmay sound more like a complaint. Listen carefully to what is being said.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Religion, philosophy and world affairs may influence your work at this time.There could be some challenges today but your attitude will show your willingness to riseabove whatever occurs. Your words and your actions have as much effect as the exampleyou set. Your thinking is lucid and grasping but you would be wise in not becoming toocarried away with some theory-think, before you express your ideas. Your creative juicesare flowing-ready to be applied to the work at hand. Put forth your best efforts now andconsiderable success can be achieved. You may unconsciously help a close friend today.On a personal level, you are in touch with your feelings and can take the edge off any hardfeelings that may have occurred in the recent past.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Take measures to give yourself time to think through any decisions youfeel you have to make. Careful-there is the possibility that you could be

gullible and fall for the most unlikely story or make an unwise purchase. Your judgment ofpeople and products are usually accurate-but today’s energies may lead you off course.You may need more information. Business matters are nonstop now. A carpooling club ormass transit could work very well for you and some friends. You don’t have to work in thesame building. It might be nice to have somebody else do the driving occasionally. Thisafternoon you may experience a heightened artistic inspiration that may manifest itself inyour own creative work-with herbs or an aquarium or a water garden, etc.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

There are benefits and progress in your work today. It could be you areworking on a new project and are in the process of collecting information and outliningthe essential steps. All seems to work together for the positive result-whether your work istechnical or physical. If you are working to improve or beautify, you will find progress hasdoubled. If there are complaints, resentments or upsets, they will seem to dissipate or takea holding pattern. A full day at work or school has you looking forward to some rest timethis afternoon. You will not depend on external conditions for your happiness, however,this evening-movies, books and all forms of escape could prove quite enjoyable. A goodconversation with those you love is possible tonight.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

CROSSWORD 1231

ACROSS1. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.4. Type genus of the Psophiidae.11. Edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants.15. A flexible container with a single opening.16. A formal contractual relationship estab-

lished to provide for regular banking orbrokerage or business services.

17. The basic unit of money in Iran.18. United States physician who specialized in

diseases of the intestines.20. A ballroom dance of Latin-American ori-

gin.21. A small island.22. Lean end of the neck.23. Type genus of the Gelechiidae.25. (electronics) Of a circuit or device having

an output that is proportional to theinput.

28. The act of relaying something.29. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent

metallic element.31. (Judeo-Christian religion) Chief spirit of

evil and adversary of God.34. Jordan's port.36. The United Nations agency concerned

with atomic energy.41. The goddess of the moon.44. United States baseball player and manag-

er (1873-1934).46. (legend) Chalice used by Christ at the last

supper.48. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali

earth group.49. How long something has existed.50. Goddess of criminal rashness and its pun-

ishment.51. A soft white precious univalent metallic

element having the highest electrical andthermal conductivity of any metal.

52. Someone who violates the law.55. A city in northwestern Mexico near the

California border.59. (used informally) Very small.60. A heavy odorless colorless gas formed dur-

ing respiration and by the decompositionof organic substances.

61. A radioactive element of the actinideseries.

62. Of a temperature scale that registers thefreezing point of water as 32 degrees Fand the boiling point as 212 degrees F atone atmosphere of pressure.

64. Any customary and rightful perquisiteappropriate to your station in life.

68. African tree having an exceedingly thicktrunk and fruit that resembles a gourdand has an edible pulp called monkeybread.

72. Not far distant in time or space or degreeor circumstances.

73. A zodiacal constellation in the northernhemisphere between Taurus and Canceron the ecliptic.

76. A small cake leavened with yeast.77. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agricul-

ture and patron of scribes and schools.78. Not subjected to an aging process.79. In the Roman calendar.80. By bad luck.81. (biology) Of unlike parts or organs.82. Give over.

DOWN1. The elementary stages of any subject (usu-

ally plural).2. A lawman concerned with narcotics viola-

tions.3. 100 agorot equal 1 shekel.4. (plate tectonic theory) A hypothetical conti-

nent including all the landmass of theearth prior to the Triassic period when itsplit into Laurasia and Gondwanaland.

5. A white trivalent metallic element.6. A tax on various goods brought into a town.7. Chiefly perennial grasses of cool temperate

regions.8. (usually followed by `with' or used in a com-

bining form) Having items suspended onor from a support.

9. A member of western Finnish people for-merly living in the Baltic province whereSaint Petersburg was built.

10. Eaten as mush or as a thin gruel.11. Any plant of the genus Erica.12. (informal British) Good-looking.13. Surrealist Spanish painter (1904-1989).14. Evergreen trees and shrubs having oily

one-seeded fruits.19. A bag used for carrying money and small

personal items or accessories (especiallyby women).

24. Late time of life.26. Being five more than fifty.27. Of or relating to neuroglia.30. Consider or describe as similar, equal, or

analogous.32. A creature of Teutonic mythology.33. Like a bower.35. An addition that extends a main building.37. The blood group whose red cells carry

both the A and B antigens.38. A platform raised above the surrounding

level to give prominence to the person onit.

39. 1/1000 gram.40. Feeling or showing extreme anger.42. An narrative telling the adventures of a

hero or a family.43. A white metallic element that burns with a

brilliant light.45. A genus of Caltha.47. A device that, on receiving radar signals,

transmits coded signals in response tohelp navigators determine their position.

53. A United Nations agency to promote tradeby increasing the exchange stability ofthe major currencies.

54. Depending on free oxygen or air.56. (Greek mythology) Son of Daedalus.57. Goods (or wreckage) on the sea bed that is

attached to a buoy so that it can be recov-ered.

58. Someone who cuts and delivers ice.63. Dwell (archaic).65. A deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or

large bells).66. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver

cells.67. Largest known toad species.69. A Chadic language spoken in northern

Nigeria.70. In bed.71. Serving as or forming a base.74. One of the most common of the five major

classes of immunoglobulins.75. Remaining after all deductions.

Yesterday’s Solution

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inf or m at ionTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

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

Azerbaijan 00994

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

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Jonas to be honored by

the SongwritersHall of FameNick Jonas is to be honored by the

Songwriters Hall of Fame. The 23-year-old singer-and-actor will receive

the Hal David Starlight Award at the Hall’s47th Annual Induction and Awards in NewYork on June 9 in honor of his “bright andversatile” talent and lengthy career.Songwriters Hall of Fame co-chairs KennethGamble and Leon Huff told People maga-zine: “Nick Jonas is one of the brightest andmost versatile young talents on theAmerican pop scene. “A veteran of recording,television, movies and Broadway success ...he has been making his cultural mark in avariety of ways for more than a decade. “Nickhas literally grown up in public, and thatgrowth is reflected in his songwriting andsinging. He is a wonderful choice for theSongwriters Hall of Fame’s Hal DavidStarlight Award.” The ‘Close’ singer follows inthe footsteps of past winners of the awardincluding Fun. rocker Nate Reuss, ImagineDragons’ Dan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, JohnLegend, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, Drake, BennyBlanco, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Rob Thomasand John Rzeznik. I t was previouslyannounced that Elvis Costello, Chip Taylor,Tom Petty, Nile Rodgers and his late Chicbandmate Bernard Edwards will be inductedinto the Songwriters Hall of Fame this sum-mer.

G o s s i p


l if e st yle

Suki Waterhouse’s biggest beauty mistake wasshaving off an eyebrow. The 24-year-old model -who made her debut in the fashion industry at

the age of 19 when she landed her first campaign withMarks and Spencer - accidentally removed one entirebrow in a “crazy” ablutions session in an attempt totame her “feral” facial feature, because she didn’t havetweezers. Speaking to Marie Claire magazine abouther beauty blunder, the blonde star said: “I once acci-dentally shaved off one of my eyebrows! It was in acrazy attempt to tidy them up when I didn’t have anytweezers. Naturally, my brows can be quite feral, so I

look a bit happier when the hairs are brushed up. Itend to use any eyebrow gel I can get my hands on.”Suki - who previously dated Bradley Cooper - has alsorevealed her hair doesn’t need much maintenance soshe trims her own locks and relies on cupboard ingre-dients as a DIY conditioner. She explained: “I cut myown fringe and take scissors to it late at night when Ican’t sleep. It isn’t looking too great right now, so I’mgrowing it out and starting again. I use hairstylist NeilMoodie’s products and never blow-dry my hair. I preferthe way it looks after washing it, then sticking my headout of the car window. A quick brush-through and I’m

good to go. “I’m more comfortable as a blonde. WhenI’m blonde I’ll throw on egg whites, mayo and yoghurtto keep it conditioned and, douse it in Argan oilovernight. “I went brunette for a film and I can confirmthat dyeing your hair is both liberating and distressing.The good thing about having dark hair is that you cango without washing it for a few days, which is always aplus.”

What is Waterhouse’s biggest beauty mistake?

Cyrus raisingmoney for Planned

Parenthood

Miley Cyrus and Marc Jacobs have joined forces toraise funds for planned parenthood. The ‘WreckingBall’ hitmaker has partnered with the 53-year-old

designer and artist Marilyn Minter to sell limited editionprints of the singer from her exclusive shoot, whilst extraimages and captions supporting the company will beemblazoned over t-shirts, which will see all proceeding gotowards the non-profit reproductive services organization.Speaking to Artsy online about the collaboration, Marilynsaid; “We were trying to bridge the generation gap byinvolving a young star with young fans-she has 40.5 millionInstagram followers. She’s [Miley’s] been famous since shewas 11 and she’s a great artist, so she doesn’t care aboutmaking money-she wants to give back.” The venture wasconfirmed in front of 500 women at the Planned ParenthoodSpring Luncheon held at the Pierre on Thursday in New York,following a large uproar in the US over the bid to cut fund-ing to the organization, affecting women on low income’saccess to affordable birth control. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old star - who also has her own LGBT charity Happy HippieFoundation - took to social media to showcase a sample gar-ment. She wrote: “Coming soon to marcjacobs.com!! ALLproceeds go to#plannedparenthood @marilynminter@mar-cjacobs #standwithPP (sic).” The star shared behind-the-scenes previews of her steamy shoot with the Louisiana-born hyper-realist photographer - who is known for her erot-ic and intimate work - which captured her licking a pane ofsteamed up glass. Miley wrote: “This limited edition portraitby bada$$ @marilynminter is available now atArtsy.net/mileyxmarilyn !! 100% of proceeds to go #planned-parenthood #standwithPP #mileyxmarilynsupportPP (sic.)”Whilst another read: “#mileyxmarilyn @marcjacobsshirtcoming soon!! Proceeds go to#plannedparenthoodby@marilynminter #standwithPP (sic).” The portraits of theTennessee-born singer songwriter will be sold for $5,500with only 50 prints on sale, whilst Marc Jacobs’ t-shirts willretail for $50.

Chris Brown considered suicide afterassaulting Rihanna. The ‘Yeah 3x’ hit-maker admitted he felt “like a mon-

ster” after he attacked his then-girlfriend inFebruary 2009. Speaking about going from“America’s Sweetheart to public enemynumber one,” he said: “I felt like a monster. “Iwas thinking about suicide and everythingelse. I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating. I justwas getting high.” And the 26-year-oldstar’s mother, Joyce Hawkins, admitted theincident marked the “worst day” of her life.In a trailer for Chris’ upcoming documen-tary ‘Welcome to My Life’, she said: “Thatwas the worst day of my life and probablyhis life. “I felt like I was going to lose mychild.” Despite the way his reputation plum-

meted after the assault - for which he wassentenced to five years of probation, oneyear of domestic violence counseling, andsix months of community service - and sub-sequent other legal problems, the‘Beautiful People’ singer insists he will nev-er be “finished”. As the trailer draws to aclose, he said: “If there was ever a doubt inyour mind that Chris Brown was done, hewas finished? I wouldn’t bet on it.” A releasedate has yet to be set for the documentary,which features contributions from the likesof Jamie Foxx, Usher, Jennifer Lopez andMary J Blige.

Brown considered suicide

Chris Hemsworth gave the cash con-tents of his wallet to a teenagerwho found it. The 32-year-old star -

who has children India, three, and Sashaand Tristan, two, with wife Elsa Pataky -thought his personal cards and a wad ofcash were gone for good when he leftthem at a restaurant and was delightedwhen 17-year-old Tristin Budzyn-Barkercontacted his representatives to say hehad recovered the items and wanted toreunite them with their owner. Chriswrote back to Tristin and gifted him theentire cash contents of the wallet, whichhe “never expected to see again”. Chrisexplained: “I went to pick up my wife anddaughter from the airport and we were alittle early so we were killing some timeand went to have something to eat. Itwas a pretty rough little area and we satdown and I left my wallet on the table,and thought ‘I’m never going to get itback, I’m never going to see it again.’ “Mybusiness manager contacts me becauseit’s my address on my licence, and thisletter from this young boy which wehave here today and he’s found my wal-let.” And the everyday hero - who admit-ted he was “speechless” to find theHollywood actor’s wallet - was then invit-ed onto ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ andsurprised once more, when she present-ed Tristin with a $10,000 cheque to be

put toward his college fund, donated byimage publishing company Shutterfly.And the teenager had been happyenough just to attend the taping of thetalk show. Meeting Tristin on the show,‘ The Huntsman: Winter ’s War ’ actoradded: “He sent the wallet to me and hesaid ‘P.S. Mum saw you were on Ellen thisweek and asked if we could have sometickets.’”

Hemsworth rewards teenager who found his wallet

Jodie Marsh splitsfrom her husband Jodie Marsh has announced she has separated from her

husband James Placido. The 37-year-old documentarymaker took to Twitter and Instagram yesterday to tell her

fans her union with the hunk is over after just eight months.Jodie posted the same statement on both social mediaaccounts, which read: “It is with sadness that I bring you thenews that James and I have separated. I will be keeping all thedogs with me. I won’t be taking calls on the matter as I’d liketo be left alone. I thank you in advance for your sensitivity onthis subject...” Jodie and James tied the knot in secret inBarbados last August after a whirlwind romance and bought aRottweiler dog called Rosie together. Before bringing backRosie, Jodie and James’ house was already home to three catsand four dogs. Jodie previously told BANG Showbiz thatJames was the only man she had ever loved more than herpets. In happier times, she gushed: “Before James I’d nevermet a human that I liked more than my cats and dogs. It’s trueand he knows, and he knows he’s only just past them! “Hejokes when we’re in bed and says, ‘It worries me that there’ssuch a fine line between me and the cats and dogs. Like, if itcomes to it you might swing back and choose them.’ And I’mlike, ‘No, no!’ But honestly no man had even come close to thelove I feel for my animals before him.” And it was only a fewmonths ago, Jodie insisted she planned on holding on to her‘Mr Right’ after waiting her entire life to find him. The formerglamour model said: “I’m loving being married and it took melong enough to find a decent man so now I’ve got him I’m def-initely hanging onto him. We’ve definitely been making up forlost time since getting married.”

Chyna’s mother wants more grandkids

B lac Chyna’s mother thinks her daughter is “verylikely” to have a baby with Rob Kardashian assoon as they are married. The make-up artist -

who already has three-year-old son King Cairo with ex-boyfriend Tyga - got engaged to the ‘Keeping Up Withthe Kardashians’ star earlier this month and Tokyo Toniis already looking forward to becoming a grandmotheragain. She said: “I want another grandchild, for sure. It’svery likely to happen after the wedding.” And Tokyo hasalready been won over by how well Rob has bondedwith King Cairo. She added to Australia’s NW magazine:“Rob is the perfect dad. He spends hours playing withKing and he buys him lots of toys. Their favourite thingis playing a numbers game with Lego. “King responds tohim so well.” Both Blac, 27, and her mother were sur-prised when the 29-year-old sock designer popped thequestion. Tokyo admitted: “I didn’t expect it and I knowmy daughter wasn’t expecting it.” But despite her sur-prise, Tokyo thinks the couple - who began dating atthe beginning of this year - are a great match and eventheir rows are “cute”. She said: “They spend every hourtogether during the day so they’re already like a mar-ried couple. “They do have arguments but he concedesto her every time. He just goes, ‘OK babe!’ Even theirarguments are short and cute.”

Samuel L Jackson refused to take aphoto with a fan because he didn’t sayplease. The ‘Hateful Eight’ star was

slammed on Twitter by a DJ named Fitz fordeclining his request for a selfie, but the 67-year-old star then hit back to criticize theradio host for his lack of manners. Fitztweeted at the weekend: “That momentwhen you meet one of your favorite actors.“What an arrogant PUNK! Right@SamuelLJackson ????(sic)” In response, theactor posted: “I refused the photo politely@FollowFITZ then you spazzed out!. “Learnto say Please! Thanks for the Whitney Snitch!“I said thanks but no @FollowFITZ, you saidAww C’mon, I’m a big fan, me, sorry, you, Iwatch all your movies but not anymore!“Now @FollowFitz, do you see Please any-where in that exchange? You saw it yourway, I see it mine. Stop whining, it ’sover.(sic)” Fitz then made a Facebook videoto address the situation and claimed he washappy to have the ‘Snakes on a Plane’ star

swear at him. He said: “I just had a big let-down of my life. There was no altercation.There was no situation. “I just went onTwitter and I told Samuel L Jackson, hey Icouldn’t believe how you treated one ofyour fans. “If you’re going to be told ‘F you’on Twitter by anybody, it’s awesome if it’sdone by Samuel L Jackson.” And it seemsthe altercation could have a happy endingas the DJ has offered to raise money for acharity of the actor’s choice. In response tohis video, Samuel wrote: “You’re right@FollowFITZ, I watched. There’s a lot of folksthat share your experience w/ me & tons ofothers just the opposite! Still a Fan (sic)” Fitzposted in reply: “@SamuelLJackson creating“IM A FAN OF ME TOO” t shirts to sell withALL proceeds going to the charity of YOURchoice. Name the charity. “we should all befans of ourselves!! I also appreciate youresponding to me. Showed me a lot. Let’sturn it into a POSITIVE (sic)”.

Samuel L Jackson refuses rude request


F e a t u r e s

l if e st yle

This season Splash embraces the other end of the stylespectrum and celebrates the resurgence of Maximalism.Titled ‘Splash Fashion Xcess’, the Summer 2016 fashion

show brought together color, embellishments, texturestopped with grunge inspiration. With two sub stories- ModMaximalism and Grunge Maximalism taking centre stage, a lit-tle bit of everything seems just about the right way to enterthe season. What you get in the collection is a modern hybridbetween neat designs with a maximalist edge.

Exploring a new venue with Asateer, Atlantis, the guestswere welcomed into a pre-function area which was nothingshort of a feast to the senses. A walk through the tunnel withmulticolored heart facets, one was immediately transported

to an eclectic dimension. Adorned with mirrors and raw bulbson either side, the replication of things exemplified theMaximalism theme. The pre-party zone complete with arch-ways and elements inspired by the grunge culture like metalchains set the mood for the show .The energy was palpablewith trap and dubstep tunes creating an electric ambiance.Making way into the runway dotted with LED screens, onewas able to get a glimpse of the theme through a lucid graph-ic display. The collection presented on the runway is availableat all Centrepoint stores and at Splash in Al-Salam Mall andThe Avenues, Phase II.

Splash Fashion Xcess:Summer’ ’16 fashion show

Around 540 high-quality products from theMercedes-Benz Collection are presented in thenew 2016 catalogue, which is now available

online and at Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Among thehighlights are “Swiss Made” watches, elegant key chainsmade of stainless steel, new HUGO BOSS sport attire,durable luggage from Samsonite, all new AMG productsand for the first time products from the Mercedes-Maybach Driver’s Choice Collection from MAYBACH -ICONS OF LUXURY. The new catalogue is now available atAlbisher & Alkazemi Co’s boutique and accessories storeShuwaikh.

The eleven categories - “Black Edition”, Watches,Sports, Fashion, Travel, Accessories, Key Chains, GiftIdeas, AMG, MAYBACH and Others - show just howdiverse the range of products of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Collection is. Highlighting the new exclusive sec-tion “Black Edition” is the black watch “MB Automatic” formen. Limited to 500 units, this watch is powered by theETA 2824-2 automatic movement. The decorated calibreis visible through the underbody glass cover. Otherdetails are a black dial with 3D effect and a sunkenMercedes-Benz star, sapphire glass as well as a blackleather strap with folding clasp. This “Swiss Made” limitededition watch is up to 10 ATM water resistant and has adiameter of 43 mm.

The products of the Driver’s Choice Collection fromMAYBACH - ICONS OF LUXURY fulfill the highest ofexpectations. This exclusive Collection from MAYBACH- ICONS OF LUXURY are being presented for the firsttime in the catalogue. Just like the Mercedes-MaybachS-Class, this collection sets new standards in its respec-tive luxury segment. The Collection includes travel andbusiness bags, each black with a beige lining andbeige top-stitching on handles and along zipper. Theseelegant bags are manufactured in Germany from 100percent calf leather and bear an embossed the MAY-BACH lettering.

Some of the items from the 2016 collection havealready started arriving at the boutique and accessorystore at Al-Bisher & Al-kazemi Co. For specific items theorders can be placed with one of the Parts consultantsavailable. The Mercedes-Benz Kuwait’s Boutique &Accessories store is located at the main Mercedes-Benzservice center in Shuwaikh.

The longest-reigning monarch in British history turns 90on Thursday, but Queen Elizabeth II is not planning amajor, fireworks-filled celebration to mark the happy

occasion. Just a gentle stroll outside the grounds of WindsorCastle, the lighting of a beacon, and a night at home with fam-ily are all that are on the royal plate. No, she’ll save the pompand ceremony for her next birthday. The monarch is such aneminent figure in British life that she gets two birthdays eachyear, one on the actual date of her birth, April 21, and one offi-cial birthday in June, when there is at least a reasonable hopeof dry, sunny parade weather.

Her customary reticence hasn’t kept the nation’s mediafrom going slightly bonkers at the approaching milestone. ITVhas already aired a celebratory “Our Queen at 90” documen-tary to pump up its Easter ratings, and Tatler magazine notonly put the queen on its cover, foregoing the youthfulsocialites that are its typical cover fare, but published a specialsupplement in her honor. The birthday events Thursday canbe considered a dress rehearsal for the official celebrationsplanned in early June. It also opens the door to a rolling birth-day season that will last a full six weeks, climaxing with hun-dreds of celebrations large and small.

Two decades“June is when everything is happening. That’s the great big

extravaganza, the street parties and everything,” said SophiaMoney-Coutts, Tatler’s features director. “From now on, thecoverage will be relentless. The republicans will be screaming.”

Indeed, it’s not a good time for those who oppose the monar-chy to peek above the parapet. The British public’s consider-able affection for the queen surfaces at times of national cele-bration - witness the million-plus crowd that cheered her out-side the Buckingham Palace gates at her Golden Jubilee in2002. The queen and the royals have endured some lowpoints in the last two decades, particularly around the time ofthe death of Princess Diana in 1997, but their popularity hasrebounded with the marriage of Prince William to KateMiddleton and the arrival of their two children, Prince George- now third in line to the throne - and Princess Charlotte.

“It’s just a golden moment for the whole family after atricky few years,” Money-Coutts said. “And the queen is the fig-urehead of all that, with the line of succession pretty assured.They are going through a glorious period.” Elizabeth - with herfamiliar smile, colorful outfits and eccentric if expensive hats -seems oddly impervious to time. If she is tired, it doesn’t show.She has softened her schedule, as a concession to 89 andcounting, and she has cut back on grueling plane journeys,but she shows no sign of physical or mental frailty. Neitherdoes her 94-year-old husband Prince Philip, despite severalserious health scares that included a medical intervention toopen clogged heart arteries. His face is craggy, but he still car-ries himself with the upright bearing of the former naval offi-cer that he is.

Family dynamicsBoth still seem to be going strong, although their children

and grandchildren are increasingly stepping in to handle royalduties ranging from the routine, like opening a hospital ward,to the more substantial such as attending a meeting ofCommonwealth heads of state. Elizabeth and Philip say littlein public, but the ITV documentary was revealing about thefamily dynamics because William, Kate and Prince Harry allspoke about the queen, breaking the normal code of silencethat governs their relations with an often intrusive newsmedia held responsible by some for cruelly hounding Diana inthe final months of her life.

William, who lost his mother Diana when he was just 15,said the queen had helped him in subtle ways by providingstability and encouraging him to find his own footing.“Growing up, having this figurehead, having this stabilityabove me has been incredible,” he said. “I have been able toexplore, understand, slightly carve my own path. I greatlyappreciate and value that protection.” Kate, a likely futurequeen who stepped into the limelight when she and Williamfell in love in their university days in Scotland, praisedElizabeth for making it easier for her to cope with the constantattention her position brings. “I feel she’s been there, a gentleguidance really for me,” she said.

Her accomplishmentThe milestone 90th birthday is a happy occasion, one the

queen is willing to acknowledge and share with the nation. Itwas different in September when - by virtue of her father’searly death and her own longevity - she surpassed Queen

Victoria to earn distinction as the British ruler with the mosttime on the throne. While the British press went gaga over heraccomplishment, it seemed that for Elizabeth it was a some-what painful reminder that her father, King George VI, haddied suddenly at age 56, making her queen far earlier thanhad been expected or desired. She was on vacation in Kenyaat the time, having left Britain as a princess and returning as aqueen in mourning, greeted at the airport by WinstonChurchill, the first of many prime ministers.

The queen may be reluctant to make a great fuss over her90th birthday, but there is little doubt her favorite time of yearis approaching. For June means not only her official birthday,and the gala Trooping The Color parade that accompanies it, italso brings the Royal Ascot races that are a highlight of thequeen’s year, and other races and racing-related events dearto her heart. Viewers of the ITV documentary couldn’t helpbut notice that the normally reserved queen seemed mostanimated at the races, even showing surprising foot speed fora woman in her 80s as she tried to get a better view of thehome stretch. “She’ll be at Ascot every morning in her pastel-colored suits, studying the Racing Post, talking with her racingmanager,” Money-Coutts said. “She absolutely loves it.”— AP

Queen Elizabeth II to mark 90th birthday at Windsor Castle

In this June 9, 1937 file photo, then Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, left, with Queen Mary, sec-ond left, and Princesses Elizabeth, nearest camera, and Princess Margaret, obscuredright, driving from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade for the Trooping ofthe Color ceremony in London. — AP

In this Saturday, June 13, 2015 file photo, Britain’s Prince William holds his son PrinceGeorge, with Queen Elizabeth II, right, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince ofWales during the Trooping The Color parade at Buckingham Palace in London.

In this Nov 20, 1947 file photo, Britain’s Princess Elizabethleaves Westminster Abbey in London, with her husband,the Duke of Edinburgh, after their wedding ceremony.

Mercedes-Benz releases new boutique and accessories collection


l if e st yleM u s i c & M o v i e s

Actor Johnny Depp’s wife Amber Heard pleaded guiltyyesterday to providing a false immigration documentwhen the couple brought their two dogs into Australia

last year, but she managed to avoid jail time over what wasdubbed the “war on terrier” debacle. Prosecutors dropped moreserious charges that Heard illegally imported the Yorkshire terri-ers, Pistol and Boo, into the country while Depp was filming thefifth movie in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series. A convictionon the two illegal importation counts could have sent theactress to prison for up to 10 years.

Depp and Heard said little to the waiting throng of reportersand fans outside the Southport Magistrates Court onQueensland state’s Gold Coast, but they did submit a video-taped apology to the court that was played during yesterday’shearing. It drew gibes online for the couple’s grim, woodenappearance as Heard apologized and they both expressed sup-port for protecting Australia’s biodiversity, the aim of the strictquarantine regulations that were violated.

“When you disrespect Australian law,” Depp says in thevideo, “they will tell you firmly.”

The drama over the dogs began last May, when AgricultureMinister Barnaby Joyce accused Depp of smuggling the tiny ter-riers aboard his private jet when he returned to Australia toresume filming the “Pirates” movie. Bringing pets into Australiainvolves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of atleast 10 days to prevent the spread of diseases such as rabies. “Ifwe start letting movie stars - even though they’ve been the sex-iest man alive twice - to come into our nation (with pets), thenwhy don’t we just break the laws for everybody?” Joyce said atthe time. “It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to theUnited States.”

Depp and Heard were given 72 hours to send Pistol and Booback to the US, with officials warning that the dogs would oth-erwise be euthanized. The pooches boarded a flight home justhours before the deadline expired. The comments by Joyce,who is now the deputy prime minister of Australia, elevated

what might otherwise have been a local spat into a globaldelight for comedians and broadcasters. One newspaper web-site ran a doggie death countdown ticker, and comedian JohnOliver dedicated a more than 6-minute segment to lampooningthe ordeal.

Depp himself poked fun at the drama during a press confer-ence in Venice, Italy, last year where he was asked if he plannedto take the dogs for a gondola ride. “No,” he replied. “I killed mydogs and ate them, under direct orders from some kind of, Idon’t know, sweaty, big-gutted man from Australia.” Joyce post-ed a link to the couple’s apology video on his Facebook page,and later told reporters he doubted it was something the pairwould have “willingly wanted to do.” Still, he gave them creditfor acknowledging they had made a mistake.

“I am happy that Ms. Heard has admitted that she waswrong and as such, that clearly shows that our position in pur-suit of this was correct,” Joyce told journalists. “Every nation hassomething that they’re red hot about, and we’re red hot about

our biosecurity requirements in this nation.” When asked whyDepp wasn’t charged as well, the prosecutor’s office said thatthere had been a “lack of admissible evidence” against anyoneexcept Heard. The false documents charge carries a maximumpenalty of a year in jail and a fine of more than 10,000Australian dollars ($7,650), but Magistrate Bernadette Callaghansentenced Heard instead to a one-month good behavior bond.The condition means she will have to pay a AU$1,000 fine if shecommits any offenses in Australia over the next month.

Heard’s lawyer, Jeremy Kirk, told the court that his client nev-er meant to lie on her incoming passenger card by failing todeclare she had animals with her. In truth, Kirk said, she wassimply jetlagged and assumed her assistants had sorted out thepaperwork. “She has made a tired, terrible mistake,” Kirk said.Prosecutor Peter Callaghan said ignorance and fatigue were noexcuse. “The laws apply to everyone,” he said. — AP

Amber Heard avoids jail in Australian dog smuggling spat

In this image made from video released by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture andWater Resources yesterday, actor Johnny Depp and his wife, Amber Heard speak in a videotaped apologyplayed during yesterday’s hearing at the Southport Magistrates Court on Queensland state’s Gold Coast.

Johnny Depp, center, and wife Amber Heard, left, arrive at the Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast, Australia, yesterday. — AP photos

Pop superstar Rihanna capped a celebri-ty-filled Coachella festival Sunday witha surprise appearance, as her sometime

songwriter Sia took a sharply differentapproach by testing the possibilities of on-stage anonymity. Rihanna turned up unan-nounced on stage during a headlining set ofCalvin Harris, the British DJ behind a slew ofelectronic-infused smash hits.

Sporting a camouflage cap, Rihanna wentinto her song “We Found Love,” which waswritten by Harris, to the cheers of thousandsof fans at the close of three days of revelry inthe heat of the California desert. Performingastride an imposing setup of flashing lights,Harris also brought in Big Sean and JohnNewman to sing their own hits recorded withhim. Taylor Swift, who is dating Harris and isone of the few stars even bigger thanRihanna, could be seen in the audience danc-ing along.

Swift’s presence is sure to fuel speculationthat she could be a surprise guest nextSunday at Coachella, which runs for two con-secutive weekends with the same lineups.Coachella has emerged into one of theworld’s most lucrative music festivals and adestination for both partying youth and jet-set celebrities, with on-stage surprises a keypart of the formula.

Anonymous on stage Amid the celebrity culture of Coachella,

Sia-the Australian songwriter who wrote oneof Rihanna’s biggest hits, “Diamonds”-tookthe stage with the paradoxical goal of goingunnoticed. Sia, who has spoken of her uneasesince the breakthrough of her song“Chandelier,” wore her now trademark half-black, half-platinum wig that covers herentire face other than her mouth and chin. Siaperformed expressionless in a far corner ofthe stage, a giant bow over her wig, andhanded over the visual representation of hermusic to a trio of dancers, one sporting a hair-style uncannily like Sia’s wig.

Dancers put on contorted facial expres-sions, pulled their own noses and rammedtheir fingers into their mouths, with one per-former simulating a heart attack as Sia sangher grim “Bird Set Free.” For “Titanium,” Sia’s hitwith French DJ David Guetta featuring thesignature lyric, “Fire away, fire away,” twodancers donned masks of a panda and a don-key and alternatively beat each other andembraced.

Dreamy indie pop Beyond the stars, Coachella has also built

its reputation on selecting top indie and up-

and-coming bands. Beach House, the dreamypop duo from Baltimore, per formed atCoachella for a third year but this time afterachieving significant acclaim. The band-which last year released two albums,“Depression Cherry” and “Thank You LuckyStars,” within months of each other-returnedto Coachella as a four-piece band with abassist and drummer.

Yet the music remains grounded in themelancholic chord progressions of key-boardist and singer Victoria Legrand and theband reinforced the imagery with a stagedesign that depicted a starry night, withCoachella’s palm trees lit up behind. Legrandvoiced delight in returning to the desert, call-ing the area “very loving, magical and mysti-cal.”

‘We are all migrants’ Among the acts with the most palpable

energy was Young Fathers, the experimentalhip-hop trio from Scotland. Then little known,Young Fathers won Britain’s prestigiousMercury Prize in 2014 and earlier this monthcame out with a second album, “White MenAre Black Men Too.” Consisting of two artistsof African descent and one who is white,Young Fathers brought a political edge tosongs that merged rap with electroclash asthe drummer pounded with such power thatthe platform shook. Member Graham “G”Hastings told the crowd that the band soughta world with “no borders, no flags” and usedprofanity to denounce Republican presiden-tial front-runner Donald Trump, who has cam-paigned against immigration.

“We are Young Fathers, but we are allmigrants. Everyone of you, everyone of us,whether you like it or not,” Hastings said.Other highlights Sunday included the cut-ting-edge saxophonist Kamasi Washington,who offered a rare jazz per formance atCoachella. His ensemble included the doublebassist Miles Mosley, whose heavy solo on hiselectrified instrument could fit into a metalsong, and Battlecat, a hip-hop producer whoscratched records and even turned his DJinginto a jazz solo.

Washington, who gained a wider audienceby playing on rapper Kendrick Lamar ’sacclaimed “To Pimp a Butterfly” album, saidhis sprawling ensemble came about becausethe musicians were all childhood friends inLos Angeles. “You might see that I got twodrummers. That’s because I’ve got two home-boys who play drums,” he joked. — AFP

Rihanna caps celebrity-heavyCoachella festival

Rihanna taking the spotlight from Calvin Harris at Coachella.— Kevin Mazur

Born in Cuba to African slaves, RafaelPadilla battled racism to become thetoast of bourgeois Paris, feted by the

rich and powerful for his performances as“Chocolat the clown,” France’s first blackcelebrity. Almost a century after he was laidto rest in a mass grave in the French capital,his largely forgotten story is being told in theNorth American premiere yesterday ofRoschdy Zem’s “Chocolat.” It is a bold choiceto open COLCOA, the world’s largest festivalof French film, as it challenges audiences toconsider whether Hollywood’s notoriousdiversity problem is also an issue in France.

The US film industry has been facing avery public backlash over its lack of promi-nent ethnic minority stars, exemplified byFebruary’s Oscars, which featured no blacknominees for acting awards for the secondyear running. In marked contrast, a recordnumber of ethnic minorities competed inmajor categories at France’s own annualindustry prizegiving, the Cesars, this year.Underlining America’s diversity problem, theCenter for African-American studies at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles pub-lished a damning “Hollywood DiversityReport 2016” in February.

It found that ethnic minorities claimed just12.9 percent of lead roles in 163 filmsreleased in 2014, down from 16.7 percent theyear before and 15.1 percent in 2012. Butminority filmmakers and actors involved infeatures being shown at the nine-day COL-COA festival in Los Angeles believe the Cesars’relative diversity may be masking the true sit-uation in French film.

Taboo “Chocolat” is led by rising star Omar Sy, the

first Frenchman of African descent to win abest actor Cesar for his role in 2011’s “TheIntouchables.” Sy has managed to parlay hispopularity in the francophone world into aHollywood career, first in sci-fi adventure “X-Men: Days of Future Past” in 2014 and thenwith a role in 2015 dinosaur blockbuster“Jurassic World.” The 38-year-old points toDenzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, DwayneJohnson and other ethnic minority actorswho have been able to make it big despitethe bleak picture outlined by UCLA’s diversityreport.

Non-white actors have traditionally beendenied leading roles in certain genres, likeromantic comedy and superhero movies, butSy says studios producing global block-busters, at least, are increasingly trying “topluck people from all areas of the world.” Shoton a budget of 18.5 million euros ($20 mil-lion), “Chocolat” has been lauded by critics for

shining a light on a subject which is moretaboo in French society than in Hollywood. Areview in the Hollywood Reporter said thefilm deserved “plenty of credit for using thiskind of commercial vehicle to look Frenchracism in the face and call it what it is.”

In France it is forbidden by law even to col-lect statistics referring to “racial or ethnic ori-gin,” so any discussion of diversity is necessar-ily anecdotal, but Sy suspects the problem isas big as in Hollywood. “We have a trackrecord of actors and directors from diversebackgrounds being given awards but if youlook at production as a whole, they are notthere,” Sy told AFP at COLCOA.

Death threats “Chocolat” writer and director Zem felt the

problem acutely when casting around for bignames to bolster his film, and only Syemerged as a credible choice. “I needed a rec-ognized actor of color and there was only onename in the frame,” he told AFP. COLCOA’sfocus on diversity is evident in its world cine-ma section, which hosts two of the mosttalked-about films in Muslim countries.Directors and producers across the worldprotested against Morocco’s ban of NabilAyouch’s French-Moroccan drama “MuchLoved,” a candid take on prostitution whichearned its lead actress Loubna Abidar deaththreats.

Ayouch says that even when minoritiesget prominent roles in French cinema, it isoften just to typecast them, to play to stereo-types that serve as crude plot devices, rein-forcing prejudice. “If we want to present ason-in-law to parents, we will make a joke outof it by making him black or Arab,” he says,referring to last year’s comedy “Serial (Bad)Weddings.” “A cop will be black or Arab if helives in the housing projects.”

Mohamed Hamidi, whose comedy “OneMan and his Cow” tells the story of anAlgerian farmer dreaming of winning a Parisagricultural show, believes the status ofminorities in French cinema is improving,however. His film, he says, follows a strongslate of recent French features led by black orNorth African actors, including “Asterix &Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002), “Welcometo the Sticks” (2008), and “The Intouchables.”“You only have to look at the big successes ofthe last 20 years... I think the French are large-ly there,” he says. — AFP

French films soul-search over race at Hollywood showcase

(From left) French actor Omar Sy, French director Roschdy Zem, and French actor JamesThierree, deliver a speech before unveiling a commemorative plaque for Rafael Padilla,also known as ‘Clown Chocolat’, and Georges Foottit at the Mandarin Oriental hotel inParis, on January 20, 2016. — AFP

‘The Jungle Book’roars top at

the box office

Disney’s highly anticipated remake of “TheJungle Book” trounced the competition atthe box office on its opening weekend,

grossing $103.6 million, industry estimatesshowed Sunday. The live-action movie uses com-puter wizardry to bring to life the characters fromRudyard Kipling’s classic stories about a boynamed Mowgli who is raised by animals. Starringnewcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli, Hollywoodheavyweights Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley and IdrisElba provide the voices of Baloo the bear,Bagheera the panther and Shere Khan the tiger.

It was the third biggest debut of the year, after“Batman v Superman” ($166 million) and“Deadpool” ($132 million). “Barbershop: The NextCut,” the latest installment in the comedy fran-chise, was a distant second in its debut with $20.2million, according to estimates from industrytracker Exhibitor Relations. Featuring Ice Cube andCedric the Entertainer, the movie centers aroundthe personalities in a barbershop who try to stopthe violence plaguing their south Chicago neigh-borhood.

Slapstick comedy “The Boss” slipped to thirdplace after its second week in theaters, taking$10.2 million over the weekend, lifting its totaldomestic take to $40.4 million. Starring MelissaMcCarthy, “The Boss” tells of a billionaire whoemerges penniless from a spell in jail for insidertrading and is forced to move in with a formeremployee. “Batman v Superman,” featuring BenAffleck and Henry Cavill as the iconic superheroes,was in fourth place, grossing $9 million for anoverall take of $311.3 million after four weeks.

Animated Disney family film “Zootopia,” aboutan intrepid rabbit police officer who works with afox to solve a crime in the animal kingdom,slipped from third to fifth. It earned $8.2 millionover the weekend for an overall gross of $307.5million after seven weeks. Rounding out the restof the top 10 were:

“Criminal” ($5.9 million)“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” ($3.3 million)“Miracles from Heaven” ($1.9 million)“God’s Not Dead 2” ($1.7 million)“Eye in the Sky” ($1.6 million)—AFP

In this image released by Disney, Mowgli, portrayedby Neel Sethi, right, and Baloo the bear, voiced byBill Murray, appear in a scene from, ‘The JungleBook.’ — AP


l if e st yleF e a t u r e s

Hundreds of mourners gathered in the Malian capital onSaturday to pay their final respects to the late photogra-pher Malick Sidibe, who won international acclaim with

his vibrant black-and-white images which captured daily life inhis native country. The send off for Sidibe, whose coffin wasdraped in the national flag, took place on a football pitch in aworking class neighborhood of Bamako, with soldiers givingthe iconic artist full honors as in the crowd several womenbegan weeping.

Young Malian photographers in attendance expressed theirsadness at the loss of a mentor. “It’s incredibly sad for youngphotographers,” said Ousmane Diarra, a freelancer. “It wasMalick who bought me my first camera. He was really ourguide.” After the 80-year-old’s death was announced Friday,France’s Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay hailed him as “thefather of African photography”.

Sidibe’s vibrant images of life in the Malian capital in the1960s, when the country gained independence from France,were a social commentary chronicling both pop culture andtraditional society. He captured candid images in his studio aswell as on the streets of Bamako, including at nightclubs,beaches and sporting events. He was the first African to have asolo exhibition in Paris’s prestigious Grand Palais museum, andhis works adorn the walls of the Museum of Modern Art in New

York, the Getty Museum and several more across the world.Mali’s Culture Minister N’Diaye Ramatoulaye Diallo called

Sidibe “a great humanist”. “Malick Sidibe showed us the unity,but also the diversity, of Mali through his art,” she said, visiblymoved. Alpha Diallo, a photographer from neighboring Guineawho was at the funeral, said “Mali, Africa and the entire worldhave lost a cultural titan.” And Sidibe’s younger brother TieouleSidibe recalled how his sibling had been “the pillar of the fami-ly who helped all members of the community.”

After the funeral the coffin was to be transferred to the vil-lage of Soloba, where Sidibe will be buried alongside otherfamily members. “You can never dream of coming so farwhen you’re from a small village and never went to school,”the photographer said on hearing in 2009 that he had beenawarded the top prize at Spain’s prestigious PhotoEspana fes-tival. — AFP

Malian multi international awards winner and pioneer of African Contemporary photog-raphy Malick Sidibe (center) poses with two foreigners after their portrait session at hisstudio.

This file photo shows Malian photographer Malick Sidibe posing with hisGolden Lion (Leone d’oro) lifetime achievement award at the 52nd VeniceBiennale. — AFP photos

Malick Sidibe, laureat of the Hasseblad prize, preparing to take aphoto with a Rolleiflex in Plouha.

Mourners pay final tribute to celebrated Malian photographer

Malick Sidibe, laureat ofthe Hasseblad prize, photo-

graphing former cyclingchampion Damien Salmon

in Plouha.

38Amber Heard avoids

jail inAustralian dog smuggling spat


Cosplayer Maria Lopez, 23, poses for a portrait during a fair at the School of Dance in Managua. — AFP

Apriceless diamond that is part of the QueenMother’s Crown was given to Britain and notstolen, India’s government yesterday told the

Supreme Court, which is hearing a suit seeking itsreturn. The 108-carat Koh-i-Noor gem, which cameinto British hands during the colonial era, is the sub-ject of a historic ownership dispute and has beenclaimed by at least four countries including India. ButIndia’s Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said the 19th-century Sikh king Ranjit Singh had given the stone tothe British. It is now set in the crown that was worn

by Queen Elizabeth’s mother until her death in 2002,and is on public display in the Tower of London.

“It was given voluntarily by Ranjit Singh to theBritish as compensation for help in the Sikh Wars. TheKoh-i-Noor is not a stolen object,” he told theSupreme Court. The court was hearing a suit filed bythe All India Human Rights & Social Justice Front, anon-governmental organization, seeking the dia-mond’s return. It asked the solicitor general to file anaffidavit giving the government’s stance on the issue.

The stone was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850

after the Anglo-Sikh wars in which Britain gained con-trol of the Sikh empire of the Punjab, which is nowsplit between Pakistan and India. Singh in turn hadtaken it from an Afghan king who had sought sanctu-ary in India. The diamond had been an heirloom ofthe Afghan monarchy and before then was in Persianroyal hands, but its true origins remain a mystery. Itsname translates as “Mountain of Light” and it is tradi-tionally worn by a queen-it is said to bring bad luck toany man who wears it.

In 1976 Britain refused a request to cede the dia-

mond, citing the terms of the Anglo-Sikh peace treaty.“I could not advise Her Majesty the Queen that itshould be surrendered,” said Jim Callaghan, primeminister at the time. Britain’s Prime Minister DavidCameron has also said he would oppose returning thediamond. “If you say yes to one you suddenly find theBritish Museum would be empty,” he told NDTV televi-sion in 2010. “It is going to have to stay put.”—AFP

India says Koh-i-Noor diamond belongs to Britain

The wedding rings were made of pasta, the cere-mony was held on a pirate boat, and when itcame time for the kiss, the bride and groom

slurped up either end of a noodle until their lips met.New Zealand on Saturday hosted the world’s firstPastafarian wedding, conducted by the Church of theFlying Spaghetti Monster. The group, which began inthe US as a protest against religion encroaching intopublic schools, has gained legitimacy in New Zealand,where authorities recently decided it can officiateweddings.

Saturday’s ceremony was all about having fun. Theguests came dressed as pirates and shouted plenty ofhearty “Aaarrrhs.” The groom, Toby Ricketts, vowed toalways add salt before boiling his pasta, while brideMarianna Fenn donned a colander on her head. Thechurch claims that global warming is caused bypirates vanishing from the high seas, and that there isa beer volcano in heaven.

“The Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world.We know that,” said marriage celebrant Karen Martyn,

aka the Ministeroni. “We weren’t around then and wedidn’t see it, but no other religion was around to see iteither, and our deity is as plausible as any other.” Thechurch has been battling to gain legal recognitionaround the world, with mixed success. It was formedin 2005 as a way to poke fun at efforts in Kansas publicschools to teach not only evolution, but also “intelli-gent design” - the idea that the universe must havehad a creator.

Church founder Bobby Henderson said in an emailthat he thought it was odd that most weddings stillhave such an entanglement between religion andgovernment. “It’s sad that so many people feel pres-sured to do the traditional Christian wedding evenwhen they don’t relate to much of the religion,” hesaid. “If people can find some happiness in havingPastafarian weddings, that’s great, and I hope no onegives them any flack about it.”

Ricketts, 35, a voiceover artist, and Fenn, 33, alawyer and photographer, said they’ve been a couplefor four years but decided just three weeks ago to get

married, after another Pastafarian couple’s plans to befirst to wed fell through. Ricketts said he found outabout the church because he’s been making a docu-mentary about why religions don’t pay taxes. Fennsaid she grew up on a small New Zealand island wherepeople had alternative ideas about how to lead theirlives.

“I would never have agreed to a conventional mar-riage, but the idea of this was too good to pass up,”Fenn said. “And it’s a wonderful opportunity to cele-brate my relationship with Toby, but in a way that I feltcomfortable with.” The wedding feast was an all-pastaaffair, while the wedding cake was topped with animage of his noodliness, the Flying Spaghetti Monster.Martyn said she hoped people could find happiness ineating, drinking, being with friends and being kind-hearted. “That be what we’re all about,” she said. — AP

With this rigatoni, I thee wed: The 1st Pastafarian wedding

Bride Marianna Fenn and bridegroom Toby Ricketts stand on a jetty in Akaroa harbor,New Zealand, Saturday. — AP photos

Bride Marianna Fenn, left, and bridegroom Toby Ricketts hold rings madeof pasta during their marriage ceremony on a boat.

A Pastafarian wedding party sails on a pirate themed boat in Akaroa har-bor.

A Pastafarian wedding party sails on a pirate-themed boat in Akaroa harbor.

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