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Buried in Kuwait
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Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Local Spotlight
In my view
Inshallah
in Kuwait
dictionary
Only in Kuwait 2
By Talal Al-Ghannam
local@kuwaittimes.net
T
his is the second episode of the things you see happening in Kuwait even though our country is considered a “modern state”.
Maybe the honorable reader thinks I am being pessimistic, of course when I compare Kuwait with other countries in the region.
1- Only in Kuwait you could be run over when you cross
the road on the pedestrian crossing. Always wait till there
are no cars because they don’t care.
2- Only in Kuwait please, please don’t stare at anyone
even if you admire him or her otherwise you could put
yourself in trouble and end up in a fight.
3- Only in Kuwait the stop sign means GO. If you stop
you could be hit from behind or encounter angry faces
from maniacs who do not respect the law.
4- Only in Kuwait you see public bus drivers race and
compete on the roads and they may not stop for you.
5- Only in Kuwait when many people see a sign saying
‘do not enter’, they do the opposite.
6- Only in Kuwait doctors are beaten just because they
want to organize the queue.
7- Only in Kuwait you see people who had been fighting
outside continue their contest inside the hospital.
8- Only in Kuwait policemen guard hospitals.
9- Only in Kuwait housemaids get kidnapped when they
go out to throw the garbage.
10- Only in Kuwait teachers who don’t help students
pass get their cars damaged by paint, punctures or even
fire.
11- Only in Kuwait when you approach the traffic light
you must be extra careful if your side of the light is green
because some maniacs run the red light from the other corner.
12- Only in Kuwait our soaps are full of crying and beatings in order to prove it is real drama.
13- Only in Kuwait public bus passengers have to wait
under the searing sun for their bus ride without having a
decent shade or bus stop.
14- Only in Kuwait many Kuwaiti plays and soaps put
down other nationalities and make fun of them, not knowing that people from those countries possess nuclear
weapons and we only use what other nations invent for us.
15- Only in Kuwait we call the tea boy sharekah, meaning company, without even respecting his name. I have
seen this a lot in police stations and at various state institutions.
16- Only in Kuwait drivers ride their cars close to 200 km
per hour thinking this speed will take them to heaven fast.
17- Only in Kuwait we build apartment buildings without adequate parking.
18- Only in Kuwait we enjoy parking on the yellow/black
zone and occupy the bus stop area.
19- Only in Kuwait a 400 sq m empty land is worth KD
300,000 while in Khafji in Saudi Arabia, it’s KD 20,000 only
for a 500 sq m piece of land.
20- Only in Kuwait contractors do projects inefficiently
and once these are done, they find out that something is
missing and have to do it all over again.
Kuwait’s my business
Should we care that graduates
are unprepared for real world?
By John P Hayes
local@kuwaittimes.net
T
wo former students who recently graduated and are
now working in Kuwait’s private sector came to see me
a week ago and said essentially the same thing: “What
we learned in college is only part of what we need to know to
succeed in our jobs.” To which I said, “Welcome to the real
world.”
Why not skip college?
For as long as I can remember, college graduates have
bemoaned the fact that the classroom didn’t prepare them for
the real world. Of course, we must consider that (in the US at
least) almost two-thirds of college grads do not get a job
that’s related to their major. But before anyone jumps to the
conclusion that students should just skip college, the fact
remains that people without college degrees struggle to find
“good” jobs.
In spite of the major, a college degree provides certain
advantages that students need before they enter the workplace. How is it that a math major becomes a journalist, or a
history major becomes an entrepreneur, or a marketing major
manages an accounting franchise? These twists of fate occur
for good reasons, including the fact that college graduates
acquire skills and abilities that help them succeed in a field
distant from their major.
Can you deliver results?
As a former CEO, in most hiring situations an applicant’s
major (and grade point average) didn’t matter to me. Granted,
when I hired for the accounting or HR or finance departments,
I only considered applicants with degrees in those disciplines.
But for other departments, I was most interested in the candidate’s skills. My leading question: “What can you deliver for
my company?” Answering that question required the applicant to show me results from a previous job, or at least a college project.
In Kuwait, some employers hire specific majors - three
companies recently asked that I send them my top marketing
majors - but most employers seek job applicants with these
skills:
Work in a team
Work ethically
Communicate in English
Think critically
Produce desired results
Who’s really teaching?
The problem is that employers struggle to find graduates
with all of those skills because graduates do not acquire all of
those skills in college. They should, but they don’t. And they
don’t for a variety of reasons, including poor educational
foundation prior to college, university curricula that emphasize theories and de-emphasize skills, and faculty who have
never worked in the real world and can only rely on textbooks
(extremely unpopular in Kuwait) and PowerPoint slides to
“teach”. Matters are even worse in a “wasta” environment
because standards cannot be regulated across the board.
At least every few days, it seems, government officials,
MPs, pundits, and educators express their opinions about the
need for Kuwait to revamp its educational system, from
kindergarten through college graduation. We can only wonder: Does anyone care? While other countries lack the financial resources and the knowhow to improve education, that’s
not true in Kuwait. Instead, it appears that no one cares.
And until someone does care, and makes changes,
employers will continue to struggle to find good job candidates (so they’ll hire more expats) and students will continue
to complain that their college education did not prepare
them to succeed in their jobs. Which all goes to support the
management axiom: You get what you reward.
NOTE: Dr John P Hayes teaches marketing and management
at GUST.
By Muna Al-Fuzai
muna@kuwaittimes.net
I
nshallah in Arabic means ‘by Allah’s will’. The
use of this term in Islam is meant to leave
everything we do as humans in the hands of
Allah. This phrase acknowledges submission to
Allah. Our wishes and plans will occur by the power of Allah. This also means our fate and destiny
depends on God’s will.
Today my article is not about the meaning of
inshallah in Islam but to shed light over this term
here in Kuwait and how some Kuwaitis use this
term as an escape from saying the truth! It is also
worth saying that for many expatriates, inshallah
means ‘forget it’. Don’t blame them - it is we the
Kuwaitis who taught them the meaning of this
word the hard way.
I learned about the misuse of this phrase in two
different ways. The first: When an expat worker
needs to get paid, travel back home or transfer his
residency to a new company, he needs to get his
sponsor’s approval. Some sponsors will keep saying inshallah, inshallah...eventually this inshallah
day never shows up and the worker loses hope
and starts feeling that this term means ‘never, forget it’. The second: The use of this phrase among
the youth and it means ‘I will show you’ - a promise of revenge.
In the Holy Quran, Muslims are told that they
should never say they will do a particular thing in
the future without adding inshallah to their statement. But it is also wrong to use this term to avoid
saying the truth or withholding someone’s right or
cause harm to anyone.
Now some may wonder if this takes away the
concept of free human will? The way I see it, we all
have wishes to succeed in life. I can’t imagine anyone with sense who wishes to be a loser. But our
desire may not be realized. Confronting difficulties
and obstacles makes us feel weak and we seek
God’s blessing and help.
The reason is that no one can control or predict
the future. It is all Allah’s will. Our mission is to carry on with what we wish for ourselves, but it will
only happen if it is within our maker’s decision to
happen, and that is why we say inshallah. I also
read somewhere that in Christian writings, the
abbreviation DV referred to the Latin “Deo
volente”, meaning “God willing”.
I don’t think we should bother ourselves with
the results as much as we need to focus on what
we are doing - the mission we have in this life. We
need to remember that all prophets had suffered.
We are not prophets - we need to seek Allah’s
blessings and help as long as we live.
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Museum
offers glimpse
into history of law enforcement in Kuwait
Exhibits include
pictures,
artifacts and a
mini crime-lab
Vintage police cars are parked in front of the museum.
By Velina Nacheva
T
he Kuwait Police Museum is the only
establishment in the country that
houses the story of Kuwait’s law
enforcement. Located on a small side
street off the Gulf Road in Bneid Al-Gar, the
museum is in a heritage building - a former
police station. This small building is where
visitors of all ages can explore the history
of law enforcement in Kuwait either touring themselves or by watching a documentary projected on a screen inside the
museum.
The museum, which was inaugurated in
February, has five small rooms surrounding a diwaniya-style reception area. It displays police equipment, guns, swords and
uniforms. The museum, which is run by the
National Council for Culture, Arts and
Letters contains exhibits about the history
of Kuwait’s police from its foundation in
1938 until the present day.
Pictures of various ministers of interior
and the evolution of the uniforms that
were worn by Kuwaiti policemen in the different stages of Kuwait’s law enforcement
history greet visitors to the museum. Kneelength Bermuda shorts and calves
wrapped in strips was the uniform of
policemen in the early days. “They used to
wrap their legs with bandages as protection from the sun,” explained the museum
curator.
The uniforms from the 1930s also featured a red and white shmagh (a red and
white chequered headdress that men use
to cover their head) in combination with a
beige vest and Bermuda shorts. The uniforms from Kuwait’s later periods sport the
ghutra (white headdress). The headdress
was later replaced by a black beret.
Kuwait’s new museum at Bneid Al-Gar tells the story of law-enforcement in Kuwait.
Car license
plates in different colors
Crime scene paraphernalia
The museum houses a mini-crime lab,
various artifacts, photos, electric generators, archive documents and identification
papers. One of the most interesting
exhibits in the museum is the section on
forensic entomology (the study of insects
Police
uniforms
from the past
are on view
A bomb disposal squad robot ready for bomb
at the
detonation welcomes visitors to the museum.
museum.
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
The winter uniforms of the police used in the old days.
that is related to determining the time of death of a decomposed corpse).
In this section, visitors get a glimpse of models of bugs in
plastic boxes that in real life are studied by crime scene investigators that determine a body’s time of death. Another interesting part of the museum is the mobile kit for taking fingerprints.
So is the DNA sample collector that resembles a pregnancy
test kit and is on view in one of the four small rooms of the
museum.
A rainbow of passport colours that belonged to Kuwaitis
from different generations is the first thing that attracts the
attention of visitors to the museum. Yellowish identification
The DNA collector kit is one of the
exhibits in the museum from the most
recent history of law-enforcement in
Kuwait.
A mini crime lab that fits in a suitcase is displayed at the
museum.
cards and driving licenses with faded names and details dating
back to the ‘50s and ‘70s are all at view at the museum. Car
license plates in different colours demonstrate the evolution of
traffic in the country. In the early stages of vehicle registration,
cars in Kuwait had short three and four-digit numbers.
Placed on a mat in front of the museum, a bomb disposal
squad robot ready for bomb detonation is an indicator of the
exhibits housed in the museum. A tall mannequin at the
entrance of the museum wears a bomb disposal suit in beige
that look a lot like a spacesuit. Pistols, guns, Colt revolvers and
swords are arranged in the museum for everyone to see.
The museum is open Sunday to Thursday from 8.30 am to
12 pm and from 4.30 pm till 8 pm.
Drivers’
licenses
and other
museum
exhibits
displayed.
The police uniform worn by Kuwait’s police
in the early 60s.
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Kuwait bourse suffers a blow to its prestige
Kuwait stock market - a big fish in small pond
DUBAI: Kuwait’s stock market suffered a blow to its prestige
last year when global index compiler MSCI decided to
upgrade Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, leaving Kuwait
languishing in a lower category. Being left behind may prove
profitable for investors in Kuwaiti shares, however. Qatar and
the UAE will move up from frontier market to emerging market status at the end of May, leaving a big void in MSCI’s
frontier index, which will have to be readjusted.
Kuwait will remain in the frontier index and become by
far the biggest market there. So its weighting in the index is
expected to rise sharply - potentially attracting hundreds of
millions of dollars of fresh foreign money to the country. The
weighting increase “should provide significant additional
liquidity into the Kuwaiti market, and therefore be a positive
for Kuwait,” NBK Capital said in a research note. In recent
days there have been early signs of some institutional
investors buying beaten-down Kuwaiti blue chips in anticipation of them drawing more interest after rival Qatari and
UAE stocks have left the frontier index, traders say.
Last year when global index
compiler MSCI decided to
upgrade Qatar and the United
Arab Emirates, leaving Kuwait
languishing in a lower category.
These include National Bank of Kuwait and telecommunications operator Zain, which are among the top constituents of the MSCI frontier market index. Investors have
good reason to be disappointed by Kuwait; persistent tensions between the cabinet and parliament, and a sluggish
bureaucracy, have delayed economic development plans
and slowed improvement of the country’s poor infrastructure. The main Kuwait share index is up 25 percent since
the end of 2012, compared to a 37 percent rise by Saudi
Arabia, 36 percent by Qatar and 142 percent by Dubai.
But “passive” investors, which use MSCI weightings to
guide their investment choices, are expected to put more
money into Kuwait when its share of the frontier index rises.
The Kuwaiti market, which has a capitalization of about $110
billion, had the biggest weight in the frontier index at the
end of February with 17.9 percent. The UAE had 17.3 percent
and Qatar 16.6 percent. NBK estimates that after Qatar and
the UAE leave, Kuwait’s weighting could increase to around
30 percent. A rise of 12 percentage points would imply an
additional inflow of about $700 million into Kuwait - more
than the approximately $500 million in passive funds which
analysts estimate Qatar and the UAE will each gain from
their upgrades.
Last year, Morocco demonstrated the benefits of being a
relatively big fish in a small pond. In November it was downgraded from MSCI’s emerging markets index, where it had a
miniscule weighting, to the frontier index, where it has a 4.6
percent weighting. The Moroccan stock index jumped 10
percent in the preceding weeks.
Projects
The question is whether other economic and financial
developments in Kuwait will combine with the expected
inflow of MSCI funds to support an extended rally by the
stock market. In February, the government approved bids
worth a total of $12 billion for major upgrades at two oil
refineries. Some investors see this as a sign that authorities
are finally moving ahead with economic development plans.
“For the first time ever, there are some government
changes there is a massive pent-up demand for infrastructure work and the government can’t wait anymore,” said
Rami Sidani, Schroders’ Middle East head of investment.
“We’re at a turnaround and the government will start pressing ahead, albeit slowly. On the ground, projects are starting
to take off, which means there will be lending opportunities
for the banking sector.” Such hopes have been raised and
dashed in Kuwait before, however. And there are potential
negatives in the market; the Capital Markets Authority
appears to be cracking down more strictly on violations of
listing and trading rules, for example by suspending companies that report losses which greatly exceed their capital.
In the long term, this is probably good for the market. A
Reuters survey of a dozen international fund managers last
month found they ranked Kuwait lowest among five big
Middle Eastern markets for corporate disclosure and enforce-
ment of regulations against improper or illicit trading. In the
short term, however, the crackdown may scare the individual
investors who account for the vast majority of trading in the
market, reducing liquidity. Earlier this month, a Kuwaiti court
fined the chairman of Al Ahli Bank, the country’s eighth
largest bank by market capitalization, 1.5 million dinars ($5.3
million) over alleged insider trading in the bank’s shares. The
stock is down 6 percent so far this year. — Reuters
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Confessions of a bus driver in Kuwait
From unruly riders to stone-pelting teens, these road warriors face it all
By Ben Garcia
R
ush hour madness, schedule delays and many other roadrelated mishaps make up the daily routine of J P Roa Jaya
and Gopo Govindrasu who work for Kuwait Public
Transport Company (KPTC) as bus drivers. For them, the breakout
of a fist fight or the rising crescendo of a quarrel are part of their
daily routine.
“Such problems are normal but it is not in our hands to control
them because it can happen anywhere,” they both admit with a
shrug. “We even have some isolated cases and problems with
undisciplined teenage boys throwing stones at buses, especially
on the Jahra and Fahaheel routes,” Roa Jaya told Kuwait Times.
Roa Jaya joined KPTC in 2000. “Back then it was always busy,
especially in the rush hours because there were no other bus
companies operating in Kuwait,” he said. After the entry of
CityBus, buses became more prevalent and less crowded, though
passenger numbers continue to rise on routes such as Kuwait
City, Hawally, Salmiya, Khaitan and Farwaniya (route numbers 15,
16, 18, 21, 52, 59 and 999) - areas heavily populated by expatriates. Hearing complaints from passengers is also a frequent
occurrence, Roa Jaya explained.
KPTC drivers begin their duty from the company’s headquarters in Mirqab in Kuwait City. There, they receive their yellow duty
cards which they are required to complete with the time and their
assigned routes. Another required document to fill is the time
sheet where the route and the running time will be recorded for
each cycle. “Our routes change frequently,” said Roa Jaya, saying
that on average they cover a route for a month. “The time sheet
tells us where our duty starts. For example, if we are told to start
in Salmiya, we’ll have to go to Salmiya to start our duty,” he said.
Being a bus driver in Kuwait is tough. “Every day we face
many issues from passengers. We encounter passengers who
shout because they are late for work,” Roa Jaya said, and passengers who fight for seats - usually men who are sitting in seats
The public bus is a stage, for
fights, for harassment, even
for love affairs. Sometimes
female passengers are
harassed by perverts who
blow air on their necks or
whistle or hiss at them.
Bus drivers J P Roa Jaya and Gopo Govindrasu in
Kuwait City recently. — Photo by Ben Garcia
reserved for women. “The bus is also the stage of fights when
female passengers are harassed by perverts. These are the issues
inside the bus,” he said.
Strict Inspections
Govindrasu, from Chennai in India, spoke about how they are
penalized for cutting trips short or for passengers who do not
pay. “Normally, part of our salaries are cut and we get a memo
from the management if we shorten duty routes. Each passenger
must pay or we’ll be in trouble too. It will be recorded by the bus
inspector. That is why we have bus inspectors - not just to check
if passengers are holding valid tickets, but mostly it’s about us if
we follow our routes religiously. If we stop for too long in one
place, it will be recorded. We are also reprimanded. If there is
traffic in an area, they’ll know, as they have people checking the
routes frequently,” he said.
Most of the time, bus drivers are blamed for traffic accidents,
admitted Govindrasu, but he said vigilant driving is key.
“Accidents occur when one doesn’t care about safety. We have
to be cautious while driving. I care about safety because I am carrying passengers. But we cannot blame other motorists - we
drive big vehicles and are known to drive aggressively. But I drive
very carefully, as I don’t like to get involved in big or small accidents,” he said.
KPTC starts operations from 5 am. Drivers will normally work
for eight hours a day, but some of them would work up to 10
hours straight. “It depends on us. We are not required to work
overtime, but we are obliged sometimes because we have a target. For example, I have to get at least KD 25 every day. I also
work extra to get commission or sometimes a bonus,” said
Govindrasu.
Buses in Kuwait are generally very safe and reliable, with buses running approximately every ten minutes. Buses are air-conditioned, and fares range from around 200 to 300 fils per ride,
depending on the distance traveled.
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
The Sunni cemetery in Sulaibikhat
Buried in Kuwait
By Nawara Fattahova
KUWAIT: With the wide variety of nationalities
living in Kuwait who also have different beliefs
and religions, Kuwait has provided different
cemeteries. Currently there are five working
cemeteries in Kuwait, while there were 50 in the
past, but all are now out of service including the
one on Failaka Island.
The Kuwait Municipality is responsible for
the burial process and even for its expenses, not
only for Kuwaiti citizens but for all expats as well.
“Nobody has to pay any fees for the burial as the
Municipality arranges everything. There is an
optional payment of KD 30 if the family of the
dead wants to pay, which goes to the municipality treasury. This applies only for Muslims non-Muslims can’t pay anything,” Faisal AlAwadhi, supervisor of the funeral affairs department of the Kuwait Municipality told Kuwait
Times.
There are three cemeteries in Sulaibikhat for
Sunnis, Shiites and non-Muslims, one in Subhan
(Sunni) and one in Jahra (Sunni). “Cremation is
not allowed in Kuwait as we are an Islamic country and this is against our beliefs, and those who
want this procedure for their dead relatives can
transfer their corpses to their home countries.
For transporting dead bodies, the Municipality
prepares everything including the coffin for free.
Of course the family of the dead person has the
option of getting their own coffin and this
applies for the coffins for burial as well,” Awadhi
added.
The burial procedures differ according to religion. “For Muslims, we transfer the body of the
dead after receiving a call from the hospital with
our vehicle, after fulfilling all conditions including the signature of the hospital and the doctor.
The corpse is then transported to the cemetery
that the family chooses, not according to their
residential address. The corpse is then washed
and buried if they demand, or is placed in the
mortuary till the time of burial. Before burying
the body, prayers are held. The family then can
take condolences at the hall of the cemetery, for
which the Sulaibikhat is the biggest as it can
accommodate 4,000 people,” stated Awadhi.
There are ritual washers at each cemetery
except the non-Muslim cemetery. “There are
male and female bathers, gravediggers and drivers who work on shifts 24/7. In the non-Muslim
cemetery, the dead are brought ready from the
church where they are washed already, and are
directly buried. Also for expats, we only bury
them in the presence of at least one of their
family members or an agent from the embassy
of their country, otherwise we don’t bury them,”
he explained.
All the cemeteries are expanding, but there is
no shortage of land. “Expats shouldn’t worry of
the proposal made a few months ago regarding
The Shiite cemetery in Sulaibikhat
stopping burying expats in local cemeteries, as
all the cemeteries are being enlarged. So we
have enough capacity for the next 50 years,”
Awadhi reassured.
The department is also planning for the
future. “We are planning new, bigger halls at the
cemeteries. We also have plans for dividing the
plots in the cemeteries and increase the number
of mosques, so more people can attend funeral
prayers. This is already done in the Subhan and
Jahra cemeteries, and will soon be applied in the
Sulaibikhat cemetery,” stressed Awadhi.
Regarding allowing night burials, Awadhi
noted that it was always allowed. “In fact it was
never forbidden to do so, as the cemeteries are
opened 24 hours a day. But the custom followed was to bury between 9:00 am and 4:00
pm. Due to the hot weather, especially in summer, people have the option to bury at nighttime. Choosing the time of burial is always left to
the people,” he pointed out.
The total number of burials including bodies
sent abroad in 2013 was 7,184 - 4,143 Kuwaitis
and 3,041 expats.
Cemeteries for
Sunnis, Shiites
and Christians
serve all equally
The old Jewish cemetery in Kuwait City. It is no longer open.
The Christian cemetery in Kuwait City
9
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Gulf Arabs try to avert
Egypt’s energy crunch
Kuwait, Saudi, UAE rush to provide oil aid to Egypt
CAIRO: Arab countries will extend aid to
Egypt in the form of petroleum products
until at least September, Finance Minister
Hany Kadry Dimian said yesterday, a
move that will help avert an energy
crunch expected in the summer when
consumption soars. Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have
rushed to provide aid to Egypt, including
around $4 billion worth of oil products
sent between July and December, since
the army deposed Islamist President
Mohamed Morsi after mass protests.
“Arab aid for petroleum products offered
to Egypt will continue until next
September or October,” Dimian, who
took office last month in a surprise cabinet reshuffle, said in a text message to
Reuters.
Last month, Egypt’s oil minister said
the country would need to import $1 billion worth of petroleum products to meet
energy needs for the summer. Fuel subsidies cost Egypt’s government $15 billion
a year, a fifth of the state budget. The
money keeps pump prices well below
market values, giving Egyptians no incentive to curb their consumption. Egypt also
requires liquefied natural gas (LNG) for
power generation, in short supply due to
declining local production, even as it cut
into exports of LNG previously promised
to foreign firms. —Reuters
TOKYO: Kuwaiti Parliamentary Friendship Group delegation pictured with their Japanese counterpart in
Tokyo. —KUNA
MPs’ visit boosts Kuwait-Japan ties
TOKYO: The successful visit of a Kuwaiti
Parliamentary Friendship Group delegation to Japan serves to strengthen
advance future cooperation between the
two friendly nations, said Kuwait’s
Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman AlOtaibi. “We are very happy to see the delegation of the Kuwait-Japan Parliamentary
Friendship League members here, led by
MP Dr Khalil Abdullah. Such visits will reinforce relationship between the two parliaments and countries, and push forward
overall cooperation in the future,” the
ambassador said, stressing the importance of their visit in his statement to
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
The Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation,
which also includes MPs Adnan
Abdulsamad, Faisal Al-Duwaisan and
Majed Al-Mutairi have held a series of talks
with Japanese officials and their counterparts, including Foreign Minister Fumio
Kishida and House of Representatives
Speaker Bunmei Ibuki, on ways to promote and deepen bilateral relationship.
“We are very satisfied with the outcomes
of the meetings and committed to
enhance ties between the governments
and parliaments,” the diplomat said. The
Kuwaiti group also inspected the Cancer
Institute Hospital of Japan, an integrated
control center for Tokyo subway network
system and Japan’s first full-fledged ocean
wind farm, and observed a parliamentary
session.
The Kuwaiti legislators were invited by
the Japanese government for a memorial
service to commemorate the third
anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan
Earthquake, in which Emperor Akihito
attended. “It was a great chance for the
Kuwaiti members to be part of the memorial service and show their sympathies
together with their Japanese counterparts
and colleagues,” Al-Otaibi said.
Following the twin disasters, Kuwait
donated 5 million barrels of crude oil to
Japan, equivalent to some $500 million, to
support its reconstruction work. In addition, Kuwait contributed $3 million to the
heavily-damaged marine science museum
and $2 million to Japan Red Cross Society
for the reconstruction projects such as the
procurement of new railway coaches and
the inauguration of a children’s care center in the affected areas.
Kuwait’s contribution was the largest
amount ever donated to Japan by any
country in the wake of the March 2011
catastrophe. The current visit came after
the Japanese members of the friendship
league visited Kuwait last month.
Chairwoman of the Japanese side of the
league Yuriko Koike told KUNA that the
visit by the Kuwaiti members gives them
opportunities to get familiar with Japan’s
parliamentary system. “Our league is
aimed at deepening inter-parliamentary
ties through close exchanges between
Kuwaiti and Japanese colleagues,” Koike
explained. She also asserted the significance of mutual exchanges among the
lawmakers, saying they contribute to bolstering overall relations between the two
countries. —KUNA
Kuwait, Albania strengthen relations
SARAJEVO: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Albania Najeeb
Abdulrahman Al-Bader met with the Mayor of Peshkopi
Municipality Ilir Krosi and member of the Albanian parliament
Sherefedin Shehu on Wednesday at the Embassy in Tirana.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of related
issues aimed at improving bilateral cooperation between the
two countries. Ambassador Al-Bader stated that the meeting
comes in the framework of consolidating ties with various cities
in Albania in light of distinctive Kuwaiti-Albania relations and the
desire to improve cooperation in various arenas.
He also expressed his aspiration to extend educational and
cultural cooperation bridges with the city of Peshkopi as education is the basis of development and prosperity. On his part,
Mayor Krosi expressed Albanian people’s gratitude to the great
efforts exerted by the State of Kuwait to a number of developmental, cultural, and Islamic projects in Albania, valuing at the
same time Kuwait’s continuous support in this regard.
Water project
“We are grateful for the Kuwaiti gesture and generous support
and its financing of the overhaul and expansion of the water relay
station and network in Novi Pazar in the Sanjak region,” said the
city’s mayor Meho Mahmutovic in remarks yesterday, upon the inauguration of the revamped facility. The mayor of Novi Pazar, which lies
within a region with a Muslim majority, said the population had suffered from poor water supply and service for many years, and the
Kuwaiti contribution and revamp of the network will have a great
positive impact on the people’s lives. Representing Kuwait at the
inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Yousef Abdelsamad said,
“Kuwait spares no effort to lend a helping hand to contribute to all
projects that would alleviate the suffering and improve the living
conditions of friendly peoples.” —Agencies
News
in brief
Emergency landing for
Kuwait Airways plane averted
KUWAIT: A Kuwait Airways plane coming from Doha
requested an emergency landing at Kuwait
International Airport yesterday evening. The pilot of
Flight #618 called KIA air traffic control and requested
support for an emergency landing after the indicator
light for the landing gear failed to come on as he readied for the approach to land. The pilot eventually flew in
low over the airport and through visual report from
watchers on the ground was able to confirm that the
landing gear in fact had descended. The plane landed
normally and no accident nor injuries were reported.
KUWAIT: Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam
and Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Office Al-Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah pictured
with Minister of Finance Anas Khaled AlSaleh. —KUNA
Brunei’s Crown Prince visits KIA
KUWAIT: Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam and
Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office AlHaji Al-Muhtadee Billah visited Kuwait Investment
Authority (KIA) headquarters on Wednesday. He
was received by the Minister of Finance Anas
Khaled Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer,
Managing Director Bader Mohammad Al-Saad,
Assistant Under-Secretary for Foreign Investment
Office at the Ministry of Commerce and Trade
Sheikh Mishaal Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah,
besides senior officials at the Ministry and at KIA.
Kuwait lawmakers head to
Geneva for IPU meetings
KUWAIT: A delegation of Kuwaiti lawmakers, headed by Speaker of the Parliament Marzouq Al-Ghanim
will leave tomorrow to Geneva to attend meetings
of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), slated for the
period March 15-20. This will be the 130th IPU
assembly at which it is expected a number of subjects will be thrashed by IPUs permanent committees including those on (Peace and International
Security), (Sustainable Development, Finance and
Trade), (Democracy and Human Rights), (Meeting of
Women Parliamentarians), and (Forum of Young
Parliamentarians of the IPU). Top on the agenda
include election of the President and Vice-Presidents
of the 130th Assembly; consideration of requests for
the inclusion of an emergency item in the Assembly
agenda; general debate on IPU’s renewing its commitment to peace and democracy and efforts
toward a nuclear-weapon-free world and the contribution of parliaments to that. Also on the agenda
will be the subject of risk-resilient development
while taking into consideration the demographic
trends and natural constraints, and the role of parliaments in protecting the rights of children.
Meanwhile on the sidelines of the main IPU meetings, there will be other meetings by Gulf, Arab, and
Islamic nations which are represented in the Arab
Inter-Parliament Union.
Local
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Arabs adopt Marrakech ‘Anti-Terror Statement’
Interior Ministers vow to fight extremism, terrorism
MARRAKECH: The 31st Session of Arab Interior Ministers Council
was concluded late Wednesday. The session adopted Marrakech
Anti-Terror Statement to broaden cooperation in the fight against
extremism and terrorism. The statement reiterated Arab countries’
denunciation of terrorism regardless of its motives and tactics as
well as of the sectarian discourse which fuels terror and instigate
sedition and hatred. It also condemned the terror acts that have taken place recently in several Arab states.
In this regard, the Arab Interior Minister Council strongly condemned the terror attacks against security forces in Bahrain, Algeria,
Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and other member states. In their
statement, the ministers vowed to forge ahead their fight against
terror, and vow to address its causes and to mobilize all efforts and
potential to uproot it. They also expressed full support to the decisions taken by Arab states to protect their security and stability.
The Marrakech statement also reiterated denunciation of those
who offer any form of support or finance to terror groups and to
those who promote their ideas. The ministers recommitted themselves to refraining from paying ransom to terror groups to secure
the release of hostages. They stressed that they would not cave in to
the terrorists’ blackmailing and intimidation, and ransom demands.
In this regard, the statement urged member states to abide by relevant UN Security Council’s resolutions which prohibit ransom payment to terror groups.
It urged Arab countries to boost anti-terror cooperation and
extradition of wanted people as well as tightening border security
to prevent smuggling of weapons and infiltration of terrorists into
neighboring states. The ministers expressed great respect of human
rights values and civil society. They called for developing a broad
partnership between security agencies and societies to increase the
efficiency of anti-terror strategies and bodies and secure public support for security measures.
Meanwhile, the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers
Council said that the Arab ministers agreed on founding an Arab
GCC’s first expat
By Sunil Cherian
F
or them, all the world is a stage and they perform their
roles fairly well. Most are working mothers who live in
Salmiya -members of an Indian expat association who
had been enjoying events and functions as mere spectators
until December. Together they decided to form a theater
troupe - the first of its kind in the Gulf - in view of a drama
competition held on Feb 25-26 at Khaitan Indian School.
They named their group Nirbhaya - fearless - after the Delhi
girl whose real name is not revealed in the media who died
after being gang-raped more than a year ago.
No, the drama the Salmiya women acted in - against 4
dramas in Kuwait and 16 across the Gulf - was not the glorification of women’s sufferings. The one-hour plus play in
ideological security office to be based in Riyadh. It added that the
conferees ratified the member states’ reports on the progress in the
implementation of the Arab strategy for countering terror and drug
activities as well as the Arab strategy for traffic and civil security.
They approved the resolutions and recommendations taken during the meetings of the Arab security officials at the level of General
Secretariat in 2013. The ministers endorsed the reports on the activities of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) and
General Secretariat in 2013. The ministers welcomed Egypt’s proposal for holding a joint meeting for Arab interior and justice ministers to discuss activating pan-Arab security and legal cooperation
agreements. Kuwait was represented in the meeting with a highranking delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Sheikh
Mohammad delivered a speech at the inaugural session and held a
series of meetings with his Arab counterparts on the sidelines of the
two-day event. — KUNA
women theater
Malayalam was titled The Cow, representing the exploitation of women by their own families. The production mainly
focused on the independence of women who face their daily struggles confidently. The six main characters and 4
‘extras’ did represent the dumped, displaced and depressed
womenfolk.
However, the drama climaxes when the women who live
together in a Jleeb flat give refuge to a Syrian displaced
woman after the realization that worries shared are worries
melted. The 10-women cast, and I who wrote the script,
were delighted when the results were announced on March
10. The Cow won the best script award in an otherwise
male-dominated arena.
The bold and beautiful 10 comprise of Nayana Santhosh,
a dancer, Mini Satheesh, a housewife, Paulsy Biju, Trisa
Wilson and Shelji, nurses, Shobha Nair, a businesswoman,
Maya Udayan, a research assistant at Kuwait University and
Sneha Wilson, Alma Trisa and Amritha Rajan, who are school
students. The rehearsal started on Jan 1 and the group met
for practice all weekends at the Nandanam School of Dance
in Salmiya. Nurses requested adjustments in their shift duty
schedules, young mothers left their crying kids with their
fathers and students sandwiched themselves between
tuitions and other academic and non-academic activities.
One actress was in the beginning stage of pregnancy.
Husbands dropped the actresses at the rehearsal place
and rushed back home to their sick children, at least in two
cases. The ladies brought coffee and snacks with them and
shared them, a regular sight at the camp. The energy they
gave and took was so visible on the day of the performance
that the audience gave a thundering applause at the end
when the Syrian Muslim displaced woman was embraced
by a Hindu character. The poem at the end echoed: ‘It’s not
the Spring nor mutiny; but the power the bond has built’.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Ukraine
mobilizes as
Merkel warns
Russia
15
NY blast death
toll rises
16
Malaysia rejects
‘debris’ images
report as false
18
RAFAH: Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. Israeli warplanes carried out raids on 30 targets in Gaza overnight. — AFP
Abbas asks Israel to halt ‘escalation’
Israel pounds 30 targets in Gaza overnight
GAZA CITY: Israel pounded nearly 30 targets in Gaza overnight
after militants fired scores of rockets into the south, prompting
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to demand yesterday it halt its
“escalation.” The rocket barrage, which was the heaviest since an
eight-day conflict between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers in
November 2012, sent thousands of Israelis fleeing for cover across
the south on Wednesday afternoon. So far, there have been no
reports of casualties on either side of the border.
And experts said Israel was not interested in a major confrontation with Gaza’s Hamas rulers. The latest tit-for-tat violence was
sparked by an incident on Tuesday when militants of the hardline
Islamic Jihad group fired a mortar round at troops allegedly trying
to enter southern Gaza, prompting an Israeli air strike which killed
three of them. In retaliation, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the Quds
Brigades, fired scores of rockets over the border on Wednesday,
with the group putting the number at 130.
Israel responded with air strikes on 29 targets across Gaza, hitting bases used by Hamas as well as those of Islamic Jihad, which
has so far claimed all of the rocket fire. Security sources in Gaza
said there were no casualties in the air strikes as all the sites had
been evacuated.
The army said more than 60 rockets had struck southern Israel
on Wednesday, five of them hitting populated areas. Another
three were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system.
Another three rockets struck southern Israel yesterday morning. The army said one crashed into an open area near the border,
while the other two struck between the port cities of Ashdod and
Ashkelon. “Two rockets were fired, one north of Ashkelon, the second south of Ashdod, landing in open areas,” police spokesman
Micky Rosenfeld said.
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon blamed both Islamic Jihad and
Hamas for the escalation and said anyone firing at Israel would be
responsible for his own fate. “Hamas is responsible for the strip
and if it does not know how to prevent fire on Israel from its territory, we will act against it and all of its broader interests,” he said.
No rocket condemnation
The air strikes, which began at around 2030 GMT on
Wednesday, prompted a sharp rebuke from Abbas, who demanded Israel “put an end to its military escalation in the besieged Gaza
Strip,” his spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back during a
tour with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron. “As the
Teva (pharmaceutical) factory in Ashdod is manufacturing medications to be sent to Gaza, over there they are firing rockets at
innocent Israelis,” he told the British leader.
“How is it possible that he doesn’t condemn the firing of rockets at innocent civilians? But he did condemn Israel for responding
and firing at three terrorists who fired a mortar shell at them,” he
said, referring to Tuesday’s border incident.
Cameron, who was to meet Abbas in Bethlehem later, said: “I
join you in condemning unreservedly the rocket attacks from
Gaza.” Netanyahu, who has said Israel will act “with great force”
against anyone attacking it, was to convene a special session of his
security cabinet in Tel Aviv later, army radio said.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Wednesday that
Israel would have no choice but to reoccupy Gaza, from which it
withdrew all troops and settlers in summer 2005.
But experts said Israel was not seeking a major confrontation
in the territory. “Israel has no intention of entering a major
operation now,” said Yaakov Amidror, who served as national
security adviser until November. “But if there’s a continued
response from the other side, the IDF will have to reconsider,”
he told army radio, adding that re-entering Gaza was “an
option” but not one that Israel would rush into. “It depends on
the other side’s decisions. Hamas is not joining in at this stage
and that’s a good thing.” Washington denounced the rocket fire
as “reprehensible” and called for an immediate halt to such “terrorist attacks.” — AFP
International
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Rouhani extends hand
to Gulf monarchies
Tehran seeks to allay GCC nuke fears
DAMASCUS: Syrian lawmakers gather during a session to vote for a new election
law, at the Syrian parliament in Damascus, Syria. Syria’s parliament unanimously
approved a new election law yesterday allowing multiple candidates to run for
president, opening the door at least in theory to other potential contenders
besides President Bashar Assad. — AP
South Sudan facing
‘specter’ of famine
ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan faces possible
famine if warring forces continue to flout a
ceasefire deal, US and EU envoys warned
yesterday, after almost three months of raging conflict left thousands dead.
“The parties have failed to respect their
commitment to the January 23 cessation of
hostilities,” said United States envoy
Donald Booth, at a meeting of regional
leaders in Ethiopia on the conflict in the
world’s youngest country. “This failure has
led to thousands of additional deaths and
an ever worsening humanitarian situation,
with South Sudan facing a possible
famine,” he added. South Sudan’s government has been at war with rebel groups
since December 15, when a clash between
troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and
those loyal to sacked vice president Riek
Machar snowballed into full-scale fighting.
Over 930,000 civilians have fled their
homes since fighting began, including
over quarter of million leaving for neighboring nations as refugees, according to
the United Nations.
“If things continue as they are, the
specter of famine looms,” European Union
envoy Alexander Rondos said. “The rains
are coming, and if people cannot go and
plant there will not be sufficient stocks
within months... This should be a matter of
the greatest urgency.” —AP
MUSCAT: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
sought yesterday to mend fences between his
country and Gulf monarchies distrustful of
Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support of the
Syrian regime. Rouhani, concluding a two-day
visit to Oman, said the Islamic republic offered
“a hand of fraternity to all the countries of the
region, especially those south of the Arabian
Gulf.” “Relations with one country should not
grow at the expense of another. We want to see
the countries of the region live in peace, understanding and friendship,” Rouhani told a business gathering in Muscat. The sultanate maintains strong links with Iran and has played an
important intermediary role between Western
countries and Tehran. However not all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which
besides Oman also comprises Bahrain, Kuwait,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates, enjoy the same level of relations with
Tehran.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of
Iran yesterday sought to allay concerns among
mainly Gulf Arab monarchies mistrustful of
Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. “Our message to the other countries of the Arabian Gulf
is a message of friendship, fraternity and cooperation,” Zarif said in the Omani capital Muscat,
where he is accompanying President Hassan
Rouhani on a landmark visit.
The sultanate maintains strong links with
Tehran, and has played an important intermediary role between Western countries and the
Islamic republic.
Gulf Arab countries have expressed concern
about the reliability of Iran’s sole nuclear power
plant at Bushehr and the risk of radioactive
leaks should it be hit by a major earthquake.
They also fear there is a possible military
dimension to Iran’s nuclear drive, despite
repeated assertions by Tehran that its atomic
ambitions are peaceful. Ties between Gulf
countries and Iran have also been strained by
Tehran’s backing of Syrian President Bashar AlAssad’s regime in its battle against rebels supported by the Arab monarchies. “Cooperation
and rapprochement would benefit the whole
region,” said Rouhani, adding that his country is
“open to investors from the region, especially
Omanis.”
Dialogue
In a meeting with university professors,
Rouhani denounced “terrorism” and called for
dialogue to coordinate the fight against it.
“All differences can be resolved through dialogue,” he said, pointing out that talking had
helped end the deadlock in nuclear negotiations with Western countries. Earlier, Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also made
fresh overtures to the Gulf monarchies.
“Our message to the other countries of the
Gulf is a message of friendship, fraternity and
cooperation,” Zarif said. “Iran is ready for
strong and fraternal relations with all the states
of the region,” said Zarif, who has embarked on
a charm offensive towards the Gulf since
Rouhani became Iran’s president in August.
In December, he toured Kuwait, Oman, Qatar
and the UAE. Zarif has said he is ready to visit
Riyadh, but the Saudis remain cool to the idea.
“The region does not need another war. We
should coexist on the bases of religion, history
and common interests,” said Zarif. Tehran’s
good relations with Muscat “could serve as a
example for other countries”, he added.
Relations between Shiite-majority Iran and
Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia have long been
strained as both countries vie for regional dominance. — AFP
International
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Turkish oppn seeks parliament recall
ANKARA: Turkey’s opposition demanded
yesterday a recall of parliament to hear
corruption allegations against four former ministers in a move which could
spell further trouble for Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan ahead of local elections
on March 30.
Erdogan has cast the graft scandal as a
plot to smear him by Islamic cleric
Fethullah Gulen, a US-based former ally
with influence in Turkey’s police and judiciary. Erdogan has responded to the scandal
by reassigning thousands of police officers
and hundreds of judges and prosecutors.
Social media has been awash with snippets of leaked wiretap recordings presented as evidence of wrongdoing, but the
purge of police and judiciary has brought
investigations to a virtual halt and few
specifics on the core allegations have
leaked out. Police documents on the four
ex-ministers were sent to parliament in late
February and a summary would usually be
read out on the floor. However, the assembly went into recess for the election campaign period shortly afterwards and the
files have been kept under lock and key
ever since.
Mehmet Akif Hamzacebi, a senior
deputy from the main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP), told a
news conference yesterday his party had
filed a parliamentary petition with 132 signatures for the assembly’s recall. “The parliamentary speaker has no option other
than to have the records read and present
the additional dossiers and documents to
deputies,” Hamzacebi said, adding that
failure to accept the petition would violate
Turkey’s constitution.
Elections
Under parliamentary rules, speaker
Cemil Cicek, who is a member of Erdogan’s
centre-right AK Party, has a week to summon the assembly for an extraordinary session. A recalled session requires the attendance of at least 184 deputies in the 550member assembly, which the CHP could
achieve with the support of the nationalist
MHP and pro-Kurdish BDP parties. Both
have said they would back the move.
The police records concern former interior minister Muammer Guler, former envi-
ronment minister Erdogan Bayraktar, former EU affairs minister Egemen Bagis and
former economy minister Zafer Caglayan,
all of whom have left their cabinet positions since the corruption scandal erupted
on Dec 17.
The ministers deny any wrongdoing.
The AK Party is expected to try to block a
recall of parliament which could see
details of the allegations made public just
days ahead of municipal polls, widely seen
in Turkey as a referendum on Erdogan’s
leadership.
The party, which has presided over
more than a decade of rising living standards in Turkey, remains well ahead of its
rivals in opinion polls despite the corruption scandal. — Reuters
Milosevic-era minister
shakes off dark past
Centre-right leader in pole
position for Sunday election
LONDON: Britain’s Princess Beatrice of York (left), Prince Charles, Prince of
Wales (center) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (right) leave following a
memorial service for British broadcaster David Frost at Westminster
Abbey in central London yesterday. — AFP
Pope marks anniversary
with prayer and a tweet
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis yesterday marked the first anniversary of his
election in prayer and quiet contemplation of the meaning of Lent, far from
the adoring crowds and controversies of Rome.
In keeping with Francis’s tendency to eschew much of the pomp and
ceremony associated with his role, the anniversary was not marked in
any official way, with the exception of a solitary tweet from the official
@Pontifex account. “Please pray for me,” the 77-year-old wrote to his 12
million followers in nine languages, echoing an appeal he made in his
first address to followers from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica exactly
one year ago.
Francis was spending the day on a pre-Easter spiritual retreat in the
Castelli Romani, a picturesque area on the southeastern outskirts of Rome.
He left the Vatican on Sunday after his weekly blessing and will return on
Saturday. The Lenten retreat is a regular fixture in the Vatican calendar and
its focus on self-denial, penance and repentance chimes with the tone
Francis has set for his papacy through his emphasis on the themes of mercy, humility and support for the poor.
“He did not want anything different from usual,” said his spokesman,
Father Federico Lombardi. “It is his way to be solemn and to insist on
prayer.” The Argentinian pope’s extraordinary popularity has helped
increase church attendance around the world but it has also fuelled the
growth of a cult of personality that he has denounced as inappropriate.
“Portraying the pope as a kind of superman, a type of star, it seems
offensive,” Francis recently told Italian daily Corriere della Sera. More than
anything, the pope’s first year in office has been marked by his apparently
sincere determination to maintain the kind of simple lifestyle the former
Jorge Mario Bergoglio has had throughout his career as a priest. —AFP
BELGRADE: When state television captured Serbia’s
deputy prime minister wading into snowdrifts this
winter to rescue a boy from a stranded car, it was
one dramatic act too far for some skeptical Serbs.
Photo-shopped pictures of Aleksandar Vucic dressed in superman underpants and cape, head
superimposed onto the bulging green body of the
Incredible Hulk, bare-chested astride a horse a la
Vladimir Putin - went viral.
As with all good jokes, there was an element of
truth. After 18 months in government, the leader of
Serbia’s dominant party has inspired the kind of
idolatry, and amassed the kind of power, not
matched since the late strongman Slobodan
Milosevic. The face of a government crusade against
crime and corruption, Vucic is expected to lead his
centre-right Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) to a
resounding victory in a snap election on Sunday.
Barring major upsets, he will become prime minister, with the task of overhauling Serbia’s ailing
economy.
The SNS is polling at more than 40 percent support. That’s at least three times more than its closest
rival, the opposition Democratic Party, and the kind
of domination unseen since Serbia came in from the
cold with Milosevic’s overthrow in 2000.
If all goes to plan, Vucic’s four-year mandate
would take Serbia, the most populous country to
emerge from the ashes of federal Yugoslavia, to
within a few years of membership of the European
Union. The irony is not lost on his detractors.
Until 2008, Vucic was a disciple of the “Greater
Serbia” ideology that fuelled the wars of
Yugoslavia’s demise in the 1990s and left Serbia isolated and bankrupt.
He is haunted by YouTube, where in TV clips he
rails against the West and heaps praise on genocide
suspect Ratko Mladic, the accused architect of
Europe’s worst mass killing since the Nazis when his
Bosnian Serb forces massacred 8,000 Muslim men
and boys in Srebrenica in 1995.
Vucic broke with the ultranationalist Serbian
Radical Party in 2008 and converted to the goal of
EU integration as Serbia’s best hope of recovery and
prosperity.
Critics say the U-turn was motivated by little
more than expediency, recognition that the ultranationalizm of the 1990s was redundant in peacetime.
Some are nervous of Vucic’s power and popularity,
in a country with an affinity for strongmen.
“Vucic has a firm hand, which obviously Serbs
feel they need,” said Marko Blagojevic of Belgrade-
based pollster Centre for Free Elections and
Democracy. “The situation is such that people are
looking for authority.”
Mistakes
The Serbian media have become increasingly
cowed. Vucic served as information minister in the
late 1990s when newspapers were fined or closed
under tough legislation designed to muzzle dissent
as Milosevic led Serbia into war with NATO over
Kosovo.
“His slogan is ‘Everyone for reforms’, but until
recently he was crying ‘Everyone in uniform’,”
Democratic Party member Milivoj Vrebalov said on
Wednesday, alluding to Vucic’s sabre-rattling past.
The Democrats, who came to power after Milosevic
fell, have split in two since being shunted from
office in 2012. Vucic, a 44-year-old law graduate
who worked in a London corner shop while learning
English as a teenage student, readily admits he has
made mistakes. “But,” he told a rally in the southern
mainly Muslim town of Novi Pazar, “smart people
learn something through life, and those who are not
smart can live three lives and learn nothing.”
Adopting the public manner of a well-groomed
Western politician, Vucic has won over many of his
harshest critics with his energy and apparent effectiveness in government.
His lead role in a much-publicized fight against
crime and corruption, including the arrest and trial
of influential Balkan retail tycoon Miroslav Miskovic,
has increased his popularity.
But the outgoing coalition government he was
part of since mid-2012 failed to produce the kind of
far-reaching structural reforms that the
International Monetary Fund says are needed to stabilize Serbia’s shaky finances. A bigger share of
power would allow the SNS to jettison the likes of
the Socialist Party of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic,
which is hostile to pension reform, public sector pay
cuts and steps to liberalize the labor market.
Serbia is wooing the IMF for a new precautionary
loan deal, for which it will have to commit to cutting
a budget deficit set at 4.6 percent of output for the
year and stabilize public debt of more than 60 percent. Serbian doctors have already protested over
pay, and more such complaints may follow. Vucic
says he won’t be swayed. “We can’t spend more
than we have,” he told Serbian daily Vecernje
Novosti. “Either we’re going to pursue a realistic and
rational policy, or we’ll simply keep lying to ourselves.” — Reuters
15
International
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Ukrainian oligarch
Firtash, wanted by
US, held in Vienna
VIENNA: Austria has arrested Ukrainian businessman Dmytro
Firtash at the request of the United States which has been
investigating him since 2006, government sources said. The
Federal Crime Agency yesterday identified the suspect only as
Dmitry F., 48, but government sources said it was Firtash, one
of Ukraine’s richest men.
“Based on years of investigations by the US FBI and an
arrest warrant issued by a US federal district court, Vienna
prosecutors issued a national order to detain the businessman,” the agency said in a statement. It said he was suspected
of violating laws on bribery and forming a criminal organisation in the course of foreign business deals. A spokesman for
the agency said the Austrian order to take him into custody
came this month.
Firtash’s close links to Russia and involvement in the gas,
chemicals, media and banking sectors gave him substantial
influence, notably during the administration of recently ousted, Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovich. The suspect
was taken into custody without incident in Vienna on
Wednesday evening, a statement said. He was transferred to a
justice facility in Vienna after the arrest.
Firtash is founder and chairman of Group DF, whose website describes it as a diversified international group of companies operating across Europe and Asia in fields including fertiliser, titanium, gas distribution and banking. Other businesses include agribusiness, media, soda ash production, energy
infrastructure development and real estate.
Firtash is not named on an initial European Union list of
Ukrainians suspected of misusing state funds and violating
human rights and whose assets are to be frozen as a result of
the crisis over the Russian takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea
region. There was no immediate comment from the FBI or US
Justice Department. —Reuters
China warns of
dangerous Russia
sanctions ‘spiral’
BERLIN: China’s top envoy to Germany has warned the West
against punishing Russia with sanctions for its intervention in
Ukraine, saying such measures could lead to a dangerous chain
reaction that would be difficult to control. In an interview with
Reuters days before the European Union is threatening to impose
its first sanctions on Russia since the Cold War, ambassador Shi
Mingde issued the strongest warning against such measures by
any top Chinese official to date. “We don’t see any point in sanctions,” Shi said. “Sanctions could lead to retaliatory action, and
that would trigger a spiral with unforeseeable consequences. We
don’t want this.” The interview was conducted on Wednesday,
the same day that the EU agreed a framework for sanctions that
would slap travel bans and asset freezes on people and companies accused by Brussels of violating the territorial integrity of
Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has taken the
lead in trying to mediate in the crisis, has said the measures, which
mirror steps announced by the United States, will be imposed on
Monday unless Russia accepts the idea of a “contact group” to
Russia’s Deputy Economy Minister Alexei Likhachev responded by
promising “symmetrical” sanctions by Moscow. But Shi urged
patience, saying the door for talks should remain open even after
a referendum on Sunday in which Ukraine’s southern region of
Crimea could vote to secede and join Russia. Merkel and other
western leaders have denounced the referendum as illegal and
demanded that it be cancelled. “We still see a chance to avoid an
escalation. The door to talks is still open. We should use this possibility, also after the referendum,” Shi said. Chinese President Xi
Jinping, who will visit Berlin and other European capitals later this
month, held separate phone calls on the Ukraine crisis with
Merkel and US President Barack Obama earlier this week.
But beyond urging restraint and dialogue, China has shown little public interest in becoming involved diplomatically, a stance
that is in keeping with its low-key approach to many international
crises. Still, Ukraine presents Beijing with a dilemma. On the one
hand it is a traditional ally of Moscow and has routinely sided with
its northern neighbor in major international conflicts. On the other hand, the question of territorial integrity is a tricky issue for the
Chinese because of Tibet and Taiwan. —Reuters
SEVASTOPOL: Children walk past a billboard sign in Sevastopol yesterday, reading ‘On March 16 we will
choose either... or...” and depicting Crimea in red with a swastika and covered in barbed wire (left) and
Crimea with the colors of the Russian flag. —AFP
Ukraine mobilizes as
Merkel warns Russia
‘Moscow will mirror any sanctions’
KIEV: Ukraine moved yesterday to mobilize a volunteer force to ward off Russia’s expansionist
threat as Berlin warned Moscow of long-term
damage to its economy and EU relations over the
Crimea crisis. The Verkhovna Rada parliament
unanimously backed the creation of a new force
of up to 60,000 volunteers who could keep
Russian troops from advancing beyond the
Crimean peninsula they seized at the start of the
month. The dramatic decision to bolster Ukraine’s
defenses with people outside the army came
shortly after US President Barack Obama threw his
full weight behind Ukraine’s new pro-European
leaders in their Cold War-style standoff with the
Kremlin.
Russia will impose symmetrical sanctions if
the United States and European Union impose
their own, Deputy Economy Minister Alexei
Likhachev said yesterday. “We are ready for any
eventuality,” Likhachev told journalists. “We will
mirror (any actions).” He also said the ministry
hoped that any sanctions would be political not
economic. Russia announced yesterday it had
started military exercises near the border with
Ukraine, in what is likely to be seen as a show of
force in the standoff with Kiev and the West over
Crimea. The Defense Ministry confirmed exercises
had begun in the Southern Military District,
involving 8,500 artillery men, after pictures
appeared on social media showing military vehicles on the move in the area.
The exercise includes a large number of
artillery and Grad, Hurricane and Tornado multiple-rocket launchers, the Defense Ministry said in
a statement on its website.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense
Council chief Andriy Parubiy said the new
National Guard would “ensure state security,
defend the borders, and eliminate terrorist
groups”-a term many in Kiev use to call the wellarmed militias who patrol Crimea alongside
Russian troops.
Ukraine’s conventional army of 130,000 soldiers-half of them conscripts with ageing equip-
ment-is dwarfed by a 845,000-strong Russian
force that has the backup of nuclear weapons.
Putin’s March 1 decision to order troops into
Crimea for the “protection” of the Russian-speaking majority there now threatens to bring down a
host of political and economic sanctions that
could leave the Kremlin more isolated from the
West than at any point since the 1989 fall of the
Berlin Wall.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel-a fluent
Russian speaker whose upbringing in Communist
East Germany shaped both her cautious approach
to Moscow and understanding of the importance
of keeping relations with the Kremlin on trackdelivered her most ominous warning to date in an
appearance before the German parliament.
‘Massively damage Russia’
“If Russia continues its course of the last
weeks, it would not only be a catastrophe for
Ukraine,” she told the chamber. “It would not only
change the relationship of the European Union as
a whole to Russia. No, it would also, and I am firmly convinced of this, massively damage Russia
both economically and politically.”
Merkel accused Russia of using the “failed”
expansionist tactics of the previous two centuries.
Russia’s parliament is still due to consider legislation next week simplifying the process for the
annexation of Crimea-a strong possibility after the
Black Sea region holds a hotly disputed referendum on Sunday on switching over to Kremlin rule.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development said meanwhile that it had
postponed the process for the Russian Federation
to join its 34-member organization. The European
Union will debate travel bans and asset freezes on
Monday against Russian officials held responsible
for threatening Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Brussels is also expected next week to offer
Ukraine a chance to sign an historic EU trade pact
whose abrupt November rejection in favor of
closer ties with Russia sparked the initial wave of
Kiev unrest. —AFP
A video grab made yesterday shows Russian paratroopers taking part
in a night drill 150 km outside Russian southern town of Rostov-onDon yesterday. —AFP
16
International
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
NY blast death toll rises
Rescue workers comb through Manhattan buildings’ rubble
NEW YORK: The death toll from a thunderous
gas explosion rose to seven yesterday as rescue
workers combed through the rubble of two flattened Manhattan apartment buildings. A
spokesman for the New York Police Department
said four women and three men had been found
dead at the scene of Wednesday’s building collapse in East Harlem.
Three of the women were aged 21, 44 and 67.
Police said all the dead were recovered at the
scene and that the number still unaccounted for
was being verified. In total, 68 people were
injured in the explosion, including those treated
by first responders, police said. Hospital officials
had put the figure at 63. The Mexican foreign
ministry said two women among the dead were
Mexicans, along with one of those injured.
Wednesday’s 9:30 am explosion sparked
inevitable reminders for some New Yorkers of the
9/11 terror attacks in 2001 that brought down
the Twin Towers. Other witnesses said it felt like
an earthquake, describing how they were
knocked to the floor. Mayor Bill de Blasio called
the incident “a tragedy of the worst kind”
because the smell of gas was detected “but there
was no indication in time to save people.”
As dawn approached, around 100 firefighters
were on the scene, as well as police and emergency rescue teams, Fire Department spokesman
Michael Parrella said. Where the apartment buildings once stood were piles of twisted metal, thick
white smoke and dusty rubble-a scene of utter
just literally ran,” she said.
The couple live across the street from the
blast site. Arzuaga’s wife Jay Virgo, also 30, said
she was lying in bed when the blast threw her to
the floor.
“There was glass everywhere, huge pieces of
glass. It just looked crazy,” she said. Firefighters
took hours on Wednesday to extinguish the
heavy fire at 116th Street and Park Avenue, a
mainly Latino community in northern
Manhattan. Around 15 minutes before the blast,
energy company Con Edison received a call from
an adjoining building alerting maintenance staff
to the smell of gas.
NEW YORK: People gaze from a police barricade at Lexington Avenue and 116th
Street towards the site of an explosion and building collapse in East Harlem yesterday in New York City. —AFP
devastation that witnesses likened to a war zone.
There were 15 apartments in the two buildings
that collapsed, de Blasio told reporters.
Jazzmen Arzuaga, 30, said she was at work
when her wife rang to tell her what had happened. “She called me and told me ‘Oh my God,
you need to come home now, it’s like World War
II, people are dying, there was an explosion.’ I
Drunken driver kills
2 at festival in Texas
AUSTIN: A suspected drunken driver
fleeing police crashed through barricades set up for a major festival in Texas
yesterday, killing two people and injuring 23 others on a crowded street.
The crash stunned revelers at the
annual South By Southwest music, film
and interactive gathering that draws
tens of thousands to Austin each year,
and where NSA leaker Edward Snowden
had spoken via live video conference
from Moscow three days earlier.
The two people who died were on a
moped that the motorist hit at about
12:30 am as he tried to evade a pursuing
police officer, Austin Police Chief Art
Acevedo told reporters at a news conference.
The driver also struck pedestrians in
front of a club that was emptying and
hit a cab before crashing, jumping out
of his car and trying to run, Acevedo
said. A pursuing officer shocked him
with a stun gun and took him into custody. Five of the injured were in critical
condition, Acevedo said.
AUSTIN: A bystander and a police officer tend to a man who was struck by
a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW. —AP
The man, whose name was not
released, faces two counts of capital
murder and 23 counts of aggravated
assault with a vehicle, the chief said.
Many revelers were getting real-time
reports of the accident from social
media. The street was full of concertgoers just minutes before the crash, but
officials had cleared the street because it
was a fire lane. Acevedo did not identify
the driver or the victims and asked witnesses and those who may have taken
video to contact police rather than post
it to the Internet. He said all the injured
were taken to area hospitals.
Police said the man pulled into a
nearby gas station after an officer tried
to stop him, wove through cars and
then took off at a high speed the wrong
way down a one-way street. He took a
right turn on Red River Street, crashing
through a barricade and narrowly missing a police officer who was standing
guard, they said.
He hit some of the victims in front of
The Mohawk, a local club hosting Spin
events during the five-day music conference, police said. He continued down
the street where he struck and killed the
two victims on the moped and then hit
the cab before finally crashing, they
said. Officers had closed off a two-block
section of downtown Austin and continued to investigate into the early
morning. Acevedo said there were no
plans to change safety protocols at the
festival. —AP
‘Tremendous’ anxiety
It was the first deadly disaster of its kind to
strike the city of eight million since de Blasio
took office in January and may raise concerns
about safety in less affluent neighborhoods.
“There is a tremendous amount of anxiety, but
suffice it to say that every effort is being
expended to locate each and every one of these
(missing) individuals,” the mayor said. Four different hospitals told AFP they treated a total of
63 people, the vast majority with minor injuries.
Mount Sinai hospital said Wednesday it was
treating a woman with head trauma who was in
critical but stable condition. The blast forced the
suspension of train services in and out of Grand
Central Station in midtown Manhattan for part
of the day. —AFP
News
in brief
Top US terror suspect
may be in Hawaii
SAN FRANCISCO: America’s most wanted domestic terrorism suspect - an alleged animal rights extremist - may be
hiding in Hawaii. FBI agents are hunting for Daniel Andreas
San Diego on the state’s Big Island after receiving “credible
intelligence” that he might be there. Agents are focusing on
the island’s eastern district of Puna and in the small, eclectic
town of Pahoa, the FBI office in San Francisco announced
Wednesday. San Diego, 36, is suspected to be an animal
rights extremist. He is charged with exploding pipe bombs
in front of two San Francisco Bay Area companies with ties
to a lab that conducted animal experiments.
Tanker crash in NJ
delays trains
NEWARK, New Jersey: Some rail commuters are facing
delays following a tanker crash in New Jersey’s largest city.
The tanker and a car collided on McCarter Highway adjacent
to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor rail line in Newark at about
1:45 am yesterday. That caused problems for Amtrak’s signals and overhead wires. Amtrak service is running with
minor delays. New Jersey Transit spokesman John Durso Jr.
says Raritan Valley Line service is temporarily suspended.
Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains are
operating with delays of up to 30 minutes.
Vegas fire: 1 dead;
several treated
LAS VEGAS: A late night fire in west Las Vegas killed one
resident, injured another and left nearly a dozen police officers suffering with minor smoke inhalation. Fire and Rescue
spokesman Timothy Szymanski says police weren’t able to
immediately reach a woman screaming for help inside a
burning house late Wednesday night because the door and
all the windows had bars on them and prevented escape.
Several police officers worked to reach her and wound up
using a bolt cutter to hack the door in half and pull her to
safety. She was hospitalized with smoke inhalation.
17
International
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
US judge dismisses charges
against Indian diplomat
Move could smooth frayed US-India ties
NEW YORK/NEW DELHI: An Indian
diplomat charged in New York with
visa fraud and making false statements about her domestic worker
has won a dismissal of her federal
indictment, in a move that could
help smooth over a dispute that has
frayed US-India ties.
Devyani Khobragade, who was
India’s deputy consul-general in New
York, had diplomatic immunity when
she sought on Jan 9 to dismiss the
indictment, and thus could not be
prosecuted, US District Judge Shira
Scheindlin in Manhattan ruled on
Wednesday.
New Delhi gave a cautious welcome to the news but it was far from
clear if the matter had been fully
resolved. US prosecutors could still
seek a fresh indictment, while in
India reports emerged that
Khobragade’s two children held
both US and Indian passports, in
apparent violation of Indian rules.
India is due to kick off a general
election on April 7 and its major
political parties have vied to outdo
each other in condemning the US
over the Khobragade case, as they
seek to match public anger over the
row. Narendra Modi, the prime-ministerial candidate of the opposition
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), brought
up the diplomat’s “ill-treatment” in a
meeting with US ambassador to
India Nancy Powell last month. Modi
has topped several recent opinion
polls as the most popular choice for
prime minister. US prosecutors have
accused Khobragade of making
did not have diplomatic immunity
either when she was arrested, or now
that she has left the country. They
can seek a fresh indictment but it is
not yet clear if they will do so. “As the
court indicated in its decision, and as
Devyani Khobragade
Sangeeta Richard, her housekeeper
and nanny, work 100-hour weeks at
a salary of just over $1 an hour, far
below the legal minimum US wage
of $7.25 an hour.
They argued that the indictment
should stand because Khobragade
Devyani Khobragade has conceded,
there is currently no bar to a new
indictment against her for her
alleged criminal conduct, and we
intend to proceed accordingly,” said
James Margolin, a spokesman for US
Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan.
Scheindlin said Khobragade had
immunity on Jan. 9 when the indictment was issued, having the day
before been named a counselor to
India’s mission to the United Nations.
She also lifted Khobragade’s bail and
said open arrest warrants based on
the indictment must be thrown out.
India’s foreign ministry welcomed
the dismissal but would wait for its
lawyers to go through the court
order before giving a detailed reaction, a ministry spokesman said. The
U.S. Department of State was not
immediately available for comment.
Khobragade, 39 at the time of her
arrest on Dec. 12, is now working for
the foreign ministry in Delhi, having
left the United States in January, said
her U.S. lawyer, Daniel Arshack.
Back on track
Khobragade’s arrest and subsequent strip-search provoked an outcry in India, setting off reprisals
against US diplomats and the
removal of some security barriers
near the US embassy in New Delhi.
Many Indians thought the case
reflected US arrogance towards their
country.
The dispute led to the postponement of trips by US officials and business executives to India, although
this month moves have been made
Dead Indian guru
in freezer for
‘deep meditation’
CHANDIGARH: An Indian guru declared dead has been in a deep
freezer in his ashram for nearly six weeks with followers confident
he will return to life to lead them, his spokesman said. Devotees
placed Ashutosh Maharaj, whom authorities declared clinically
dead on January 29, in the freezer and have been watching over
his body in the sprawling ashram in a small town in northern
Punjab state.
Maharaj, reportedly in his 70s, is one of India’s many gurus or
god-men who headed the Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (Divine
Light Awakening Mission) and claims to have millions of followers
around the world. Mission spokesman Swami Vishalanand insisted their leader was not dead but was in fact in a state of samadhi,
the highest level of meditation, and was therefore still conscious.
Vishalanand told AFP that followers were now waiting for him
to end his meditation. Until then, the ashram in Nurmahal town
would stay open with followers performing their own mediations
and spiritual sessions. “Mahara-ji (a Hindi term of respect) is still
sending messages through followers in their meditative stage to
protect his body till he returns,” he said earlier this week.
The decision to place him in the freezer was challenged in
court by a man claiming to be his former driver, who alleged several followers were not releasing the body as they were seeking a
share of the guru’s properties, local media reports said.
But the court rejected the man’s petition after receiving information from authorities confirming his death, reportedly from a
heart attack, said Reeta Kohli, additional advocate general of
Punjab state.
“The court rejected his pleas after the Punjab government
said that the man is clinically dead and that it is up to his followers to decide what they want to do with the body,” Kohli told
AFP. —AFP
to get relations between the world’s
two largest democracies back on
track. Assistant Secretary of State
Nisha Biswal, Washington’s point
person for South Asia, visited India
last week after a two-month delay.
US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz
also came to India this week on a
postponed trip. The attempts to
strengthen ties, however, are blighted by trade rows between the two
countries over issues including drug
patents and solar panels.
Meanwhile, the citizenship of
Khobragade’s children is causing a
stir in India, with fresh local media
reports yesterday that her two
daughters have both US and Indian
passports. India offers certain kinds
of lifelong visas for people of Indian
origin but does not allow dual citizenship.
Khobragade’s father, Uttam, told
Reuters that the children are US citizens who have only been issued
Indian passports to allow them to
travel with their mother. They do not
have dual citizenship and their
Indian passports are kept at the
Indian embassy in New York, he said.
“What is the great deal with that?” he
said. “This is just to facilitate their
travel.” The foreign ministry declined
immediate comment on whether
this broke any rules. —Reuters
Death sentence for
gang-rapists upheld
JALANDHAR: A hoarding featuring an image of Indian
spiritual leader Ashutosh Maharaj stands outside the
Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan in Nurmahal on the outskirts of Jalandhar. —AFP
NEW DELHI: An Indian court upheld yesterday the death
penalty handed to four men convicted of the fatal gang-rape
of a student in New Delhi, an attack that triggered protests
over violence against women.
The High Court rejected an appeal by the four who were
sentenced last year to hang following a trial over the attack on
the 23-year-old student on a moving bus in the capital in
December 2012.
A lawyer for the four said he would now appeal against the
sentence to the country’s top court. “Our appeal has been
dismissed by the high court. The death sentence of the four
convicts has been upheld. We will go to the Supreme Court,”
AP Singh told reporters outside the court.
“This is a politically motivated decision,” he added. The
physiotherapy student was attacked by six men, including
with an iron rod, after she boarded a private bus while going
home from the cinema with a male friend. She died from her
injuries 13 days later. The brutality of the attack, and her
determination to survive so she could identify her attackers to
police, sparked large-scale angry street protests as well as
soul-searching about India’s treatment of women.
The case led to reform of rape and sexual assault laws and
shone an international spotlight on what women’s groups
called a “rape epidemic” in the country. Four of her attackers
were convicted last September after the case was fast-tracked,
while a juvenile was sentenced to three years in a detention
centre. A sixth man was found dead in jail.
The woman’s mother, who cannot be identified for legal
reasons, welcomed the decision, saying the family was “inching closer to justice”. “Complete justice will be delivered when
all the convicts are hanged to death,” she said outside the
court. —AFP
International
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Fukushima lesson
phased-out: US
ex-nuclear chief
A fishing boat moves near a naval base with ships from the Vietnam Coast Guard and Navy in the southern province of Phuc
Quoc yesterday. — AFP
Malaysia rejects ‘debris’
images report as false
Mystery deepens as 4-hour flight theory debunked
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said yesterday that satellite images
of suspected debris from a missing jet were yet another false
lead, and debunked a report the plane had flown on for hours
after losing contact-leaving the nearly week-old mystery no
closer to being solved. China had sparked talk of a breakthrough in the riddle of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) jet with
satellite images of three large floating objects near where
flight 370 with 239 people on board lost contact on Saturday,
en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
But Vietnamese and Malaysian planes that searched the
area in the South China Sea yesterday found no sign of wreckage of the Boeing 777, which has one of the best safety
records of any jet. Adding to confusion, the Wall Street Journal
reported that US investigators suspected the plane flew for
four hours after its last known contact with air traffic control at
1:30 am Malaysian time, based on data automatically sent
from its Rolls-Royce engines.
It would mean flight MH370 travelled for hundreds of miles
after it dropped off the radar, expanding the potential crash
site far beyond the vast zone under scrutiny now. The WSJ said
US counterterrorism officials were probing the possibility that
a pilot or someone else on board diverted the jet towards an
unknown location after turning off its communication
transponder. But Malaysia denied the report as “inaccurate”.
“The last (data) transmission from the aircraft was at 0107
hours which indicated that everything was normal,” Transport
Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters.
“Rolls-Royce and Boeing teams are here in Kuala Lumpur
and have worked with MAS and investigation teams since
Sunday. These issues have never been raised.”
He added that China had told Malaysia that the satellite
photos posted on the website of a Chinese state science
agency were released “by mistake and did not show any
debris”.
‘Every day like eternity’
The day of Malaysian denials only exacerbated the puzzles
surrounding the search for flight MH370, which has been
blighted by false alarms, swirling rumors and contradictory
statements about its fate. Authorities have chased up all manner of leads, including oil slicks, a supposed life raft found at
sea and even witness accounts of a night-time explosion, only
to rule them all out. “Every day it just seems like it’s an eternity,” Danica Weeks, whose husband Paul was on board, told
CNN from their home in the Australian city of Perth.
Fighting back tears, she described how Paul had left his
wedding ring and watch with her for safekeeping before starting his journey to a mining venture in Mongolia. “I’m praying
that I can give (them) back to him. It’s all I can hold onto.
Because there’s no finality to it and we’re not getting any
information,” she said. Malaysia has contributed to the confusion by saying the plane may have turned back after taking
off. Military radar detected an unidentified object early
Saturday north of the Malacca Strait off west Malaysia but it is
unclear if it was the missing airliner. The search for the plane
now encompasses both sides of peninsular Malaysia, over an
area of nearly 27,000 nautical miles (more than 90,000 square
kilometers) — roughly the size of Portugal-and involves the
navies and air forces of multiple nations. Theories about the
possible cause of the disappearance range from a catastrophic
technical failure to a mid-air explosion, hijacking, rogue missile strike and even pilot suicide. Beijing will keep up the
search “as long as there is a glimmer of hope”, Chinese
Premier Li Keqiang said. The passengers included 153 Chinese
citizens, and Li told his once-a-year news conference: “Those
people’s families and friends are burning with anxiety.”
Pursuing all ‘concrete clues’
The satellite information prompted the focus of the search
to swing back yesterday to the original flight path, after a shift
in recent days to Malaysia’s west coast-far from the last known
location. “We will look at all areas especially the ones with concrete clues,” a spokesman for Malaysia’s civil aviation department said. The China Centre for Resources Satellite Data and
Application said in a statement on its website earlier this week
that it had deployed eight land observation satellites to scour
the suspected crash area. By Tuesday morning, it had obtained
images covering 120,000 square kilometers, describing their
quality as “rather good”. China has also requested assistance
from a fleet of Earth-monitoring satellites under an international charter designed to aid emergency efforts. US authorities said their spy satellites had detected no sign of a mid-air
explosion. Malaysian police said yesterday they were investigating the two pilots, after an Australian television report of a
past cockpit security breach, although the transport minister
denied that their homes had been raided.
Malaysia Airlines has said it was “shocked” over allegations
that First Officer Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, along with a fellow
pilot, violated airline rules in 2011 by allowing two young
South African women into their cockpit during a flight. It also
emerged that months before the Malaysia Airlines jet vanished, US regulators had warned of a “cracking and corrosion”
problem on Boeing 777s beneath their satellite antenna that
could lead to a drastic drop in cabin pressure and possible
mid-air break-up. But Gerry Soejatman, a Jakarta-based independent aviation analyst, said the warning did not apply to
the missing aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER, which has a different
kind of antenna. “When an aircraft simply disappears from
radar with no trace whatsoever, normally it means a rapid
deterioration of the aircraft-an explosion or structural failure
that’s very rapid,” he added. “That means the wreckage would
be found near where it was last reported. But in this case, this
doesn’t seem to be the case.” Yesterday, Malaysia Airlines said
it would retire the flight codes MH370 and MH371 — the
return flight from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur-as a mark of
respect. —AFP
TOKYO: As radiation spewed from Japan’s nuclear disaster
three years ago, the top US atomic energy regulator issued a
50-mile evacuation warning for any Americans in the area, a
response some found extreme. Gregory Jaczko, who stepped
down as chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in
2012, still believes he was right, and says the events at the
Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant show that nuclear power should be
phased out in Japan and worldwide.
“The lesson has to be: This kind of accident is unacceptable
to society. And that’s not me saying it. That’s society saying
that,” he said in an interview this week in Tokyo, where he is
giving lectures and speaking on panels marking the third
anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami
that overwhelmed the Fukushima plant.
Now a lecturer at Princeton University, Jaczko, 43, has
become a hit on the speaking circuit in Japan, where all 48
nuclear plants remain offline as the country debates what role
nuclear power should play in its future. The government is
pushing forward with a plan to restart several reactors after
safety checks, despite continuing public opposition. Nuclear
regulators announced yesterday they are beginning the final
approval process for the restart of two reactors at a plant on
the southernmost main island of Kyushu. Jaczko said he had
always been concerned about nuclear safety. But so much
unfolded at Fukushima that experts were unprepared for, that
it changed his view, and that of the Japanese public, on
nuclear power.
Chernobyl and Three Mile Island were major accidents, but
for Jaczko, Fukushima definitively undermined industry
assumptions such as multiple accidents were unlikely or
hydrogen leaks would be controlled.
Three of the reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant had
meltdowns, and two had hydrogen explosions. The idea that a
plant wouldn’t be under control three or four days after an
accident was unthinkable before Fukushima, he said.
“We have defined safety measures against the things that
we kind of know. An accident is going to be something that
we didn’t predict,” he said.
During the Fukushima crisis, the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission staff discussed possible evacuation zones of
between 20 miles and 50 miles, and given the uncertainty,
opted for 50 miles, he said. A 50-mile evacuation has never
been adopted as a standard for disaster scenarios in the US.
Jaczko said it was luck the wind blew in a direction that sent
much of the radiation out to sea. His resignation from the
NRC, three years into his five-year term as chairman, followed
complaints about his management style. He says he could no
longer support the licensing of reactors in the US after
Fukushima. — AP
Ship slams into
boat in Manila
Bay; 9 missing
MANILA: Philippine authorities say a cargo ship smashed
into a small fishing boat in Manila Bay, causing the fishing
boat to sink and leaving nine of its 21 crew members
missing. Coast guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo
says the incident occurred late Wednesday off Cavite
province, south of Manila.
He said yesterday that nine members of the fishing
boat’s crew were still missing. The other 12 were rescued
by another fishing vessel. Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla told
ANC Television that the wooden-hulled fishing boat sank
immediately after being hit.
Balilo said the cargo ship was still unidentified, but
that the coast guard would check harbor records to determine which ships were in the area. The cargo ship was
carrying steel containers, according to rescued crew
members from the fishing boat. — AP
Business
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Ukraine split set to hurt Crimea’s economy
India aviation market to
be ‘No. 1’ globally: KPMG
PAGE 21
PAGE 20
BERLIN: A Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 (right), a Bugatti Veyron 16 4 (center), and a Bugatti GTV8S Convertible are pictured during the annual press conference of German carmaker
Volkswagen (VW) yesterday. — AFP
Saudi launches new housing scheme
$67bn earmarked for the plan
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s government has launched a new
scheme to provide housing aid to its citizens, in the hope of ending a shortage of homes which has depressed living standards
and is politically sensitive for the government. After social discontent prompted uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world in
2011, King Abdullah announced a plan to build 500,000 homes
in Saudi Arabia over several years. Some $67 billion of state
funds were earmarked for the plan.
But the program has been slow to get underway because of
sluggish bureaucracies, difficulties in obtaining suitable land and
the complexity of allocating aid. The new scheme, named ESKAN
- the Arabic word for housing - and launched by the Ministry of
Housing last week, aims to break through those bottlenecks.
Saudi families seeking assistance, in the form of state-subsidized
home loans or subsidised sales of land or housing units, are
being given two months to register on a website. The applications will be considered for three months and the ministry will
then announce who is eligible for aid.
Housing minister Shuwaish Al-Duwaihi was quoted by local
newspapers as saying all citizens who submitted requests
through ESKAN and met the conditions would be allocated
homes within seven months. Khaled Al-Rubaish, a real estate
analyst, said the new scheme could help to ease the housing
problem by creating a clear, universally applicable mechanism
for Saudi families to obtain aid.
“The situation will become clearer for the private sector, real
estate developers and financiers, whether banks or mortgage
firms. All of these will now know their targets,” he said. John
Sfakianakis, chief investment strategist at Saudi investment firm
MASIC, said: “Any step towards finding a solution to the housing
challenge is good and very much welcome... It turned out that
building 500,000 housing units was more difficult than it
seemed, so we need to pick up the pace.” He added that ESKAN
would “help initiate a housing market take-off to tackle the
needs of the middle class, where most of the demand lies. Once
people see the supply being addressed, there will be fewer concerns about systemic risks and housing market imbalance.”
Families
Analysts estimate that about 60 percent of Saudi families
among the country’s population of about 20 million citizens do
not own their own homes, a high ratio for a wealthy country.
Rising rents have made it difficult for even middle class people
to afford housing; many Saudis do not meet qualifications for
housing loans from banks.
It is not clear whether the Ministry of Housing will be able to
stick to its timetable for approving ESKAN applications, and how
long actual construction of homes will take. It may be hard to
verify that applications are genuine, which could delay the handover of homes, said Abdulwahab Abu Dahesh, a Saudi economist.
Nevertheless, the detailed conditions of the ESKAN scheme
suggest the ministry wants to avoid bureaucratic delays by creating a straightforward, transparent system for allocating aid,
and this could be a step forward from past programs. Applicants
must not own a house and have not received aid from a statesubsidized housing program in the past; applications will be given priority through a points system which takes into account factors such as family size, monthly income and age, and favors the
most needy people. Applicants will pay for their subsidized
homes or land, or pay off their loans, in monthly installments
over 10 years through a 25 percent deduction of their monthly
income. — Reuters
20
Business
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Turkish assets firm
after sell-off
HYDERABAD: Dassault Aviation pilot Herve Laverne sits at the cockpit of a business jet parked at a static display at the India Aviation 2014 airshow at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad yesterday. —AFP
India aviation market to
be ‘No. 1’ globally: KPMG
India’s Infosys sees weaker sales, shares tank
NEW DELHI: India’s fast-growing civil
aviation sector, already among the top
10 globally, could be number one
worldwide by 2030, said a report yesterday by global consultancy KPMG. Even
though most Indian airlines face hefty
losses this year and huge debts in the
face of fierce competition and a sharply
slowing economy, in the longer term
the $16-billion sector is on a highgrowth track thanks to large untapped
potential, experts say.
“We’ve just touched the tip of the
aviation iceberg,” said Amber Dubey,
KPMG’s India aerospace head said, noting “access to aviation is still a dream for
nearly 99.5 percent” of India’s 1.2 billion
population. The report was released to
coincide with a five-day air show in the
southern city of Hyderabad which winds
up this weekend. Chicago-based Boeing
separately yesterday, in a similarly bullish mode, projected demand for over
1,600 new airplanes in India over the
next 20 years, valued at $205 billion.
“India’s demographics are highly favorable to growth of air transportation”
while “the share of India’s large population entering the workforce is growing,”
said Dinesh Keskar, a Boeing senior vice
president.
Boeing on Wednesday clinched a
$4.4-billion order from India’s fourthplace no-frills carrier SpiceJet for 42 of
its top-selling single-aisle 737 MAX jets.
Low-cost carriers, foreign investment in
domestic airlines, modern airlines and a
new drive for regional connectivity are
propelling a new expansion wave, the
KPMG report said.
Many states, especially in eastern
India, have begun promoting air connectivity including by lowering aviation
fuel sales tax and developing no-frills
airports, the report noted. But a lot more
needs to be done, such as allowing
domestic code-sharing and developing
infrastructure, said the report prepared
with the Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
“India is blessed with a great geo-
graphic location, a large upwardly
mobile middle class and immense
tourism opportunities,” Dubey said,
adding, “the beauty is our challenges
primarily relate to policies, procedures,
regulations and taxes”. “These are all
man-made problems and hence surmountable.” The number of Indian airline passengers has grown by around 13
percent a year over the last decade,
according to the Airports Authority of
India, to 159 million in 2013. The most
significant development in the domestic
market is growing dominance of lowcost carriers which now account for
almost 70 percent of capacity. Boeing
projects passenger airlines in India will
rely primarily on single-aisle airplanes
such as the Next-Generation 737 and
the 737 MAX, a more fuel efficient variant of the widely used 737, to connect
passengers.
Meanwhile, shares of Indian outsourcing giant Infosys slid almost nine
percent yesterday after the firm warned
that quarterly revenues may be weakerthan-expected following project cancellations. Analysts said the revenue warning could also have implications for the
rest of India’s flagship outsourcing sector, which has made the country a top
business destination by offering services
including software development, information technology and engineering to
other, mainly global, companies. “Some
of our clients have seen a slowdown in
their business. These are across various
verticals leading to unanticipated project rampdowns and cancellations in
Q4,” Infosys chief S D Shibulal was quoted by domestic media as saying.
Shibulal’s comments late Wednesday
came as the Bangalore-based company
has been seeking to reinvent itself with
a strategic overhaul to focus on highervalue software and consulting services
instead of labor-intensive outsourcing
services. The company’s shares pared
some losses to close 8.54 percent lower
at 3,357.50 rupees after trading down
nine percent earlier in the day yester-
day. Infosys’ shares have shed 12.73 percent of their value from their 52-week
peak hit in early March. Last December,
V Balakrishnan, a top executive at
Infosys and tipped as a future chief
executive resigned, one of a string of
departures since co-founder Narayana
Murthy returned to lead the company.
Murthy was reappointed executive
chairman last June, two years after he
retired, amid hopes he could help
Infosys regain market share lost to rivals
such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
and HCL. “Attrition in the top-level
management combined with subdued
client spending might affect Infosys’
ability to get increased client wallet
share,” Ankita Somani, an analyst at
Mumbai’s Angel Broking, told AFP.
Analysts had seen Murthy’s return as a
positive, given his stature as a pioneer of
India’s “outsourcing revolution”, and
were impressed after the company
raised its revenue outlook for 2013-14 in
January.
The firm now expects its revenues for
the January-March quarter to expand at
the “low end” of its projected range, the
Press Trust of India national news
agency reported. “Some challenges in
skill miss-matches between skills clients
need and what we have has led to a
slowdown in ramp-ups. These factors
are leading to a decline in business
momentum for us during the quarter,”
Shibulal added.
Back in January, when Infosys
improved its revenue outlook, the move
suggested better economic conditions
in key United States and European markets. In turn, it meant better earnings
for other big Indian IT firms such as TCS
and Wipro. But now, the subdued revenue growth projection from Infosys
might mean trouble for its peers, analysts suggested. Shares of leading outsourcing company TCS fell 1.16 percent
to 2,153.45 rupees yesterday while
Wipro, which stands in third-place by
revenue, slipped half a percent to
563.40 rupees. —Agencies
ISTANBUL: Turkish assets firmed yesterday despite rising
political tensions as investors focused on US economic data
that may provide clues about the timing of monetary tightening in the world’s biggest economy. The United States will
release data for February jobless claims and retail sales figures
later yesterday that will indicate the strength of its economic
recovery.
“Retail sales may indicate the strength of domestic
demand, which is quite a good indicator for the continuity of
US growth as domestic demand is a must for sustainable
growth,” said Erkan Dernek, market strategist at Odeabank.
“We are concerned with the underlying strength of US economic activity as US GDP heading to 3 percent or above this
year may mean global rate pressures and a possible weakening of the lira.” Having hit five week lows on Wednesday, the
Turkish lira firmed to 2.2250 against the dollar by 1013 GMT
from 2.2352 late on Wednesday, but it remained under pressure ahead of what is expected to be a turbulent election
cycle that kicks off with municipal elections on March 30.
Turkey is especially vulnerable to monetary tightening by the
US Federal Reserve after years of cheap money helped it to
fund its gaping current account deficit.
Fed focus
The Fed has kept interest rates near zero since 2008 and
has bought trillions of dollars of Treasuries and mortgagebacked securities, allowing Turkey and other emerging markets to benefit from the resulting inflows of cheap capital.
Having cut its asset buying by $10 billion a month since
January, the Fed is expected to start raising US interest rates in
the third quarter of next year as the unemployment rate falls
and the economy charts a new path of stronger growth,
according to a Reuters poll.
Turkey’s 10-year benchmark bond yield fell to 11.1 percent
yesterday from 11.24 percent at Wednesday’s close having hit
11.41 percent earlier in the session. The main Istanbul share
index was up 1.13 percent at 63,967.57 points, outperforming
the wider emerging markets index, which rose 0.3 percent.
Investors are also keeping a nervous eye on political turmoil in
Turkey in the run-up to local elections on March 30. —Reuters
China PM warns
of economic
slowdown
BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang warned yesterday that
the economy faces “severe challenges” in 2014 - comments
that came as weak data fanned speculation the central bank
would relax monetary policy to support stuttering growth. Li,
speaking at a news conference on the final day of China’s
yearly parliament, hinted Beijing would tolerate slower economic expansion this year while it pushes through reforms
aimed at providing longer-term and more sustainable growth.
Data released shortly after his comments suggested that
tolerance may face an early test. Growth in investment, retail
sales and factory output all slumped to multi-year lows, suggesting a marked slowdown in the first two months of the
year, according to data released by the National Bureau of
Statistics.
“A storm is coming,” said Gao Yuan, an analyst at Haitong
Securities in Shanghai, while Hao Zhou, the China economist
for ANZ said “policy easing should be imminent.” But Sheng
Laiyun, a spokesman for the statistical bureau, said China’s
economic fundamentals remain sound despite experiencing
some short-term pains from structural adjustments.
“The economy is likely to maintain steady and healthy
growth in the future,” he was quoted by state radio as saying.
At the carefully orchestrated briefing where questions had to
be vetted in advance, Li spent most time discussing the economy. But he also touched upon other topics, including friction
in relations with Washington, corruption, pollution, and the
disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines aircraft.
While acknowledging the economy faced difficulties, Li
suggested Beijing would not let growth slip too far. The
government has targetted a rise of GDP in 2014 of 7.5 percent after actual growth last year of 7.7 percent. “We believe
we have the ability, and all the means, to ensure that economic growth will stay within a reasonable range this year,”
he said. —Reuters
Business
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Dubai Islamic Bank eyes Kenya, Indonesia
DUBAI: Dubai Islamic Bank plans to expand its operations into Indonesia, Kenya and other African countries
as it emerges from a period of consolidation, the bank’s
chief executive said. The emirate’s largest sharia-compliant lender, which currently makes some 95 percent
of its revenue within the United Arab Emirates, says it is
entering a growth phase domestically and internationally. “We are exploring opportunities in Indonesia,
Kenya and surrounding countries in Africa, the Indian
subcontinent and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council),”
Adnan Chilwan said in an interview late on Wednesday.
“We could acquire, set up a JV, establish a finance
company or start a greenfield operation as long as we
keep management control and operate under our
brand.” Like many other banks in the UAE, the shariacompliant lender saw its profits nosedive after Dubai’s
financial crisis erupted in 2009 and it was forced to set
aside billions of dirhams (hundreds of millions of dollars) to cover bad loans.
The bank focused over the last few years on
strengthening its balance sheet and reducing costs,
and says it has now dealt with most of its bad loans.
Last year DIB completed the takeover of Dubai-based
mortgage lender Tamweel, in which it already held a
majority stake, through a share swap. DIB posted a 66
percent jump in fourth-quarter net profit to 518 million
dirhams ($141 million), beating analysts’ forecasts, on
the back of lower financing costs and impairment
charges. Net profit for the full year increased 42 percent to 1.72 billion dirhams.
Africa push
Chilwan, who was promoted to CEO in July last year,
described Africa as virgin territory for Islamic finance. In
Kenya, most estimates put the number of Muslims at
only about 15 percent of the population of 40 million,
but the financial regulator is preparing a ten-year capital markets development strategy that includes Islamic
finance.
“Both consumer and wholesale opportunities are
there, especially in the countries we are targeting and
while the initial investments are not too intensive, the
returns are extremely decent and more than acceptable in our line of work,” Chilwan said, without giving
details of his plans for Africa.
He added, however, that entry into one country
would ease expansion into other countries around the
region. “Given a five-year scenario, we expect a decent
franchise spread across these countries with stable and
solid yields across all sectors.” However, Chilwan said
the bank also expected strong growth in its domestic
market, so the balance between local and international
business would not change radically.
“We are pretty much skewed towards the domestic
franchise with nearly 95 percent of the contribution
coming from the UAE. “With all the plans in place, we
do not expect a dramatic change in the medium term,
with international business perhaps getting at best 10
percent to 15 percent of the overall group numbers in
about six to eight years.” The bank’s liquidity position
is strong so “there appears to be no current requirement to enter capital markets at this time,” Chilwan
added. — Reuters
Ukraine split set to
hurt Crimea’s economy
Moscow ready to provide $1.1bn to support Crimea
KIEV: Beyond Sunday’s referendum on whether
Crimea should join Russia, one big question
looms: how viable will the disputed peninsula be
if it decides to split from Ukraine? A week before
the vote, a senior Russian lawmaker said Moscow
was ready to provide more than $1 billion to the
strategic Black Sea region, which is now under
de facto Russian control. Ukraine’s Finance
Minister Oleksandr Shlapak meanwhile vowed
that Kiev will continue to “cover all budgetary
expenditures in Crimea... Crimea will be financed
as normal.” All this money talk is indicative of the
peninsula’s reliance on outside help to survive.
A rugged peninsula of two million people in
Ukraine’s south, slightly smaller than Belgium,
Crimea gets 85 percent of its water supplies and
82 percent of its electricity from the mainland,
said Mihaylo Gonchar, an energy expert with
Kiev’s Nomos Centre. State-owned company
Chornomornaftogaz extracts 1.6 billion cubic
meters of natural gas from the Black Sea every
year, but this just about covers Crimea’s needs,
he told AFP.
This will pose a major problem if Russia does
take over the strategic region, the analyst
warned. “Russia will not be able to provide shortterm compensation for Ukrainian resources to
the Crimean peninsula because infrastructure
connections do not exist between Russia and
Crimea,” he said. A bridge project that has long
been in the planning stages will not be ready for
years. “There will be bad consequences for
Crimeans in any case” if the peninsula is annexed
by Russia, Gonchar warned.
Where are the tourists?
Located on the Black Sea, a prime holiday
destination under the Soviet Union, Crimea’s
economy still relies heavily on tourism, with
resorts such as Yalta and Evpatoria attracting
crowds in the summer. But with Russian soldiers
and warships now in place of sun-seeking
tourists and cruise ships, the resorts are already
looking at a loss-heavy season. “A lot of people
have decided not to go to Crimea on vacation
because it’s dangerous, it’s not a safe place,” said
Sevgil Musaeva, a well-known Ukrainian economic journalist.
“So a lot of people will go to Turkey or Sochi,”
the Russian Olympic resort that is currently hosting the Paralympic Games even as the threat of
war looms across the vast sea. “Last year there
were more than two million tourists in Crimea,
what will it be this year? I can’t imagine,”
Musaeva said. Companies, which may lose
clients if not their entire business if Crimea
switches allegiance from Ukraine to Russia, were
not yet panicked in her opinion. “They’re just
shocked by this whole situation, they can’t
believe it. Yesterday, it was Ukrainian territory,
now there are a lot of soldiers near offices, a lot
of Russian flags on city halls, on schools.” Oleksiy
Skoryk, head of the Development Fund for
Crimea, was much more pessimistic, warning
that the peninsula’s already difficult economic
situation would only worsen as the crisis escalates.
A lost territory
Aside from tourism, agriculture is a major
driver of the local economy but “(it) is very
dependent on the water supply and all water
supply is closely connected to the mainland, so
there’s a lot of fear that it might be cut if the situation worsens,” Skoryk said. “It’s ridiculous to say
that there will be any investment in Crimea if
unrest continues. Crimea is a lost territory for
economic development.”On Wednesday,
Crimea’s self-appointed leaders warned they
would start taking over Ukrainian state-owned
companies, although they reassured private
firms they would be left untouched.
Companies like Chornomornaftogaz and
local segments of national firms like the
Ukrzaliznytsya railway company “will be transferred into Crimean ownership very soon”,
regional deputy premier Rustam Temirgaliyev
was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
Ukraine pours about 2.8 billion hryvnia (220 million euros, $300 million) into the Black Sea
peninsula every year, according to Valeriy Chaly,
deputy director of the Razumkov Centre, a Kiev
think-tank, and a former vice-foreign minister of
Ukraine. A senior Russian lawmaker, Pavel
Dorokhin of the Russian Duma’s committee on
industry, said Moscow was ready to provide $1.1
billion “to support the development of the
industrial and economic infrastructure of
Crimea”. But “that’s not enough to maintain a
new order and to reaffirm all the social guarantees for Crimea’s citizens,” including pensions
and salaries, Chaly told AFP.—AFP
NEW YORK: In this photo, specialist Gregg Maloney works on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange. — AP
European stocks stable
LONDON: European stocks steadied yesterday as
investors eyed the latest news in crisis-hit Ukraine,
while the euro spiked to a 29-month peak against
the dollar, dealers said. In late morning deals,
London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.18 percent to 6,608.85
points. In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 rose by 0.12 percent to 9,200.43 points and in Paris the CAC 40
was down 0.01 percent at 4,305.66 compared
with Wednesday’s closing values. “European
indices are little changed... with traders tending to
stay on the side-lines for now closely watching
events unfolding in the Ukraine,” said analyst
Markus Huber at brokerage Peregrine & Black.
Asian equities were mostly higher yesterday
but sentiment took a hit after China released
another batch of disappointing data, adding to
fears about growth in the economic giant.
Concerns over Ukraine, as well as China’s economic slowdown, also sent traders fleeing to traditional haven investment gold. Gold leapt to a sixmonth peak at $1,375.21 an ounce on the London
Bullion Market, up from $1.366 late on
Wednesday.
“It is not just the Chinese concerns that are
driving gold prices higher. The situation in
Ukraine ... is getting worse,” noted Forex.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada. Ukraine moved yesterday
to mobilize a volunteer force to ward off Russia’s
expansionist threat as Berlin warned Moscow of
long-term damage to its economy and EU relations over the Crimea crisis. The Verkhovna Rada
parliament unanimously backed the creation of a
new force of up to 60,000 volunteers who could
keep Russian troops from advancing beyond the
Crimean peninsula which they seized at the start
of the month.
Euro pressures dollar
Meanwhile in foreign exchange deals, the
European single currency jumped to $1.3967 —
the highest level since late October 2011. The euro
has charged higher after the European Central
Bank (ECB) last week played down deflationary
risks in the euro-zone last week, dampening
prospects of easier monetary policy, dealers said.
“The market is still chewing over the ECB’s playing
down of current deflationary threats to the zone,
but this is largely just a continuation of the trend in
place since early February,” said CMC Markets analyst Toby Morris.
The unit later pulled back to $1.3957, but still
up from $1.3904 late in New York on Wednesday.
Back in Asia, Shanghai stocks jumped 1.07 percent,
with analysts suggesting Chinese policymakers
should start looking at moves to boost economic
growth. Elsewhere, Sydney rose 0.53 percent and
Seoul added 0.10 percent, while Tokyo fell 0.10
percent and Hong Kong was down 0.67 percent.
China said yesterday that industrial output rose
8.6 percent year on year in January and February,
the slowest rate since April 2009. At the same time
retail sales, a key indicator of consumer spending,
were up 11.8 percent, which was also the worst
performance for several years. However, the news
added to speculation the Chinese economy-a crucial driver of regional and global growth-is slowing
and comes days after officials announced a surprise trade deficit in February. —AFP
Business
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
BoE’s misbehaving bankers
face 6-yr bonus clawback
New rule to be in force from January 2015
LONDON: Misbehaving bankers and their bosses will
have to hand back bonuses up to six years after they
pocket them under a rule the Bank of England is proposing to prevent excessive risk-taking. The aim of the rule
put out for consultation by the central bank yesterday is
designed to stop bankers taking huge bets in the knowledge that they could move jobs before any problems
come to light. It marks a toughening of current rules that
allow only for the cancellation or reduction of parts of
bonuses that have been awarded but not yet paid.
British lawmakers called for such a move in a report
on banking standards compiled amid public anger at
bankers receiving big bonuses even though some banks
had to be propped up by taxpayers in the 2007-09 financial crisis and a number of lenders were hit with misconduct fines. A new clawback rule will necessitate a rewriting of staff contracts to make it a legal requirement for
senior bankers to return bonuses if they are found to
have misbehaved, even if they no longer work at the
bank.
“The policy we are consulting on will ensure bonuses
can be clawed back from individuals, where they have
already been paid, if it becomes apparent they have put
the stability of their firms at risk or engaged in inappropriate actions,” BoE Deputy Governor Andrew Bailey said
in a statement. “This will provide a clear message to individuals of what is expected from them and the consequences of not acting properly,” said Bailey, who also
heads the BoE’s Prudential Regulation Authority, which
supervises Britain’s banks.
Rob Moulton of Ashurst law firm said clawing back
bonuses already paid was politically attractive but tough
in practice. “What happens if the banker has spent it on
champagne and drunk it? It will be even harder to claw
back from someone who was not directly responsible for
misconduct but was a line manager,” Moulton said. “It
may be more PR than practical impact. Do I think bankers
won’t come to work in London because of this? No,”
Moulton said.
Retrospective
The new rule will be applied when there is “reasonable evidence of employee misbehavior or material
error”, if there is a “material downturn” in the bank’s performance or the relevant business unit suffers a material
failure of risk management, the BoE said. Clawbacks will
not only be applied to staff directly involved in misconduct, but also to those who could have been “reasonably
expected” to be aware of the failure or misconduct at the
time and failed to take action.
Bosses of staff caught up in misconduct could also
have their bonuses clawed back if they are deemed indirectly responsible or accountable for the failure or misconduct.
The Bank also expects lenders to “take all reasonable
steps” to apply the rule to bonuses awarded up to
January but which won’t be paid until after that date.
Lawyers said this would need the consent of bankers to
alter terms already agreed, a tricky task with staff that
have left. “It would, therefore, be another step towards
greater regulation of pay albeit with an understandable
risk management focus,” said Matthew Findley, head of
share plans at law firm Pinsent Masons.
The public consultation period will last two months
and the rule is due to come into effect in early 2015,
meaning it will cover bonuses related to this year’s performance. A six-year cut-off has been proposed because
this is the longest period possible under British contract
law. Britain views the ability to claw back bonuses as a
better method for dampening excessive risk-taking than
the new European Union cap on bonuses that will affect
payments made from early next year. Under the EU rule,
bonuses will be capped at no more than fixed salary, or
twice that amount with shareholder approval, and will
apply to bankers earning more than 500,000 euros
($695,200). Britain, the base for about 80 percent of the
bankers who will be affected, is challenging the rule in
the EU’s top court. — Reuters
METZINGEN: A bag by German fashion label Hugo Boss is on display yesterday. — AFP
Hugo Boss sees
higher sales
FRANKFURT: German fashion house
Hugo Boss yesterday unveiled recordhigh sales and earnings in 2013 and
said it would improve on this performance this year despite a “challenging”
economic environment. Hugo Boss said
group sales grew by 4.0 percent to
2.346 billion euros ($3.4 billion) last
year and underlying profit, as measured
by earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), rose by
7.0 percent to 564.7 million euros. Net
profit was up 7.0 percent at 329 million
euros. “In a challenging market environment, Hugo Boss reached record
sales and earnings in 2013. And for
2014, management is targeting sales
and earnings growth in the high singledigit percentages,” the firm said in its
annual earnings statement. “I am confident we will be able to increase our
growth momentum compared with the
previous year,” said chief executive
Claus-Dietrich Lahrs. — AFP
FAQ on cellphones in flight
NEW YORK: Telecommunications experts say the odds that passengers’ cellphone data can help locate the missing Malaysian jetliner are next to zero. Locating the mobile phones of the 239 travelers on the Boeing 777 that vanished Saturday isn’t as simple as
activating a “Find My iPhone” app, given the speed the plane was
traveling, its altitude and the fact it was probably flying over water.
Many people assume smartphones to be all-powerful tracking
devices. Often police, rescue units and others can use a person’s
phone to pinpoint the user’s precise location. Even so, there are
large portions of the planet that don’t have the transmission towers that are necessary for mobile communications. In the case of
Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, smartphones are unlikely to lead
investigators to the plane. Here’s what you need to know about
mobile connections and how they’re used to determine location:
Q: Can telecommunications providers remotely locate a
phone?
A: Yes, if the phone is turned on and is connected to either a
cellular or Wi-Fi network, says Ritch Blasi, senior vice president for
mobile and wireless at the consulting firm Comunicano. Apps like
“Find My iPhone” only function properly when a phone is able to
receive a location signal from a GPS satellite and relay that signal
via cell connection or Wi-Fi to those who are searching for it.
DALLAS: Job seekers line up to meet prospective employers
at a career fair at a hotel in Dallas. The Labor Department
reported on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. — AP
Q: Does this change when you’re on a plane?
A: Yes, considerably. For one thing, most airlines require passengers to turn their phones off or at least put them in airplane
mode before takeoff. That means there’s no connection to a cellular network, says Blasi. Even if some passengers left their phones
on during Flight 370, it would be tough for their phones to connect with a tower given the speeds planes travel at and the altitudes involved.
Q: What about flying over the ocean?
A: Flying over oceans reduces the odds of a connection even
more, since there just aren’t cell towers there. Charles McColgan,
chief technology officer for the mobile identity firm TeleSign says
that while investigators might be able to determine the last cell
tower that cellphones had contact with before the plane started
flying over water, if the plane was flying above 10,000 feet at the
time, the phones on it wouldn’t be able to make a connection
with a tower. “Anyone leading the investigation should check, but
it is unlikely that pinging a passenger’s phone is going to find
them,” McColgan says.
Q: What if the plane managed to crash on land and some
people and phones survived?
A: If someone could get a signal, in theory they could make
a call. But if the plane went down in a remote area without
service, then they would be out of luck. Foreign travel also
complicates things. Unless a person signs up for local phone
service in whatever country they’re traveling through, his or
her phone may not be able to connect to a network, says
Blasi, who spent more than 35 years at AT&T before going into
consulting.
Q: What about reports of people who claim they called the
phones of loved ones who were on the flight and said the
phone rang several times without an answer, rather than
going straight to voice mail, indicating that the phone might
be connected to a network?
A: This doesn’t necessarily mean that the phone is connected
to a network, is turned on, or is even operational. It just means
that the cellular carrier’s system is taking some time to look for the
phone.
Q: Is there any hope if the plane crashed in the water and
the phones on board were soaked?
A: Water and electronics don’t mix, so generally speaking the
answer is no. — AP
Tr a v e l
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Traveling with
Fido
How to make the most of vacation
with your furry best friend
B
ringing your dog on vacation with you just adds to the
fun and alleviates the worry of not knowing what’s happening with your dog while you’re on the road. You
need to do your homework on dog travel though. Planes and
cars aren’t designed with dogs in mind, and you need to know
what to expect when you reach your final destination. By planning your dog travel ahead of time, you can make the vacation
a truly relaxing time for you and your dog. Here are my best
dog travel tips to help make that happen:
Crating your dog for travel
It’s natural to feel bad about crating your dog. After all, you
wouldn’t want to be crated. But don’t project your feelings
onto your dog. They don’t mind the crate and some even feel
safer in one.
*
The most important thing you can do is make sure your
dog has been well exercised before he goes in the crate. If
he’s burned off his excess energy, he’ll be more inclined to
rest.
*
Make sure there’s nothing in the crate that can harm your
dog. Leashes and loose collars are especially dangerous
items that could present a strangling hazard.
*
Keep your energy positive. Don’t present the crate like it’s
a prison. Show the dog the crate and open the door. Don’t
shove the dog in the crate. Let him go into the crate on his
own. When he’s inside and comfortable, you can close the
door. Walk away with good energy and body language. If
you affect a sad voice and say things like “Don’t be sad.
Mommy and Daddy will be back soon,” your dog is going
to think something’s wrong and get anxious.
*
Come back in 15 minutes. This will ease the dog’s separation anxiety next time you crate him. But don’t take him
out of the crate. Remember that you’re not projecting that
the crate is a bad thing. Just open the door and he can
come out when he’s ready.
Driving with your dog
It’s usually a good idea to crate or harness your dog when
riding in the car. You’ll be less distracted while driving which is
safer for both of you. It also prevents your dog from becoming
a projectile if you have to stop fast, also reducing the chance
of injury for both of you. Speaking of projectiles, don’t feed
your dog a lot before the trip as they are prone to motion sickness. Don’t feed your dog while you’re moving either. Wait
until there’s a break and you can give her a small snack, prefer-
ably high in protein. It’s also good to spend a little time playing or walking during the break to get rid of some pent-up
energy. And of course, don’t leave your dog in a parked car,
especially when it’s warm out. Even with the window cracked
open, the car can quickly turn into an oven, and your dog will
get dehydrated.
Taking your dog on an airplane
The first thing you need to do is check with the airline for
their rules regarding pet travel. Many require a health certificate and may have other rules you haven’t thought of that you
don’t want to be surprised with at the airport. Your dog will
almost certainly be traveling in a crate and it will probably
make everyone’s lives easier if you crate your dog before you
enter the chaos of the airport.
As with car travel, it’s smart not to start the trip on a full
stomach or bladder (dogs should fast for at least six hours
before the trip) and to make a pit stop as close to the departure time as possible. However, make sure your dog has access
to water-enough to keep hydrated but not full. If your dog
isn’t flying with you in the main cabin, don’t have a big goodbye scene. You’ll only upset your dog. If you’re calm, he’ll be
calm.
To medicate or not to medicate your dog
With almost as large a selection of pharmaceuticals as
humans, it may be tempting to medicate your dog with a
sedative or calmative for the trip. I don’t recommend medicating your dog. You don’t want to start a pattern that ends with
a reliance on pills for you or your pet. You possess all the tools
to keep your pet calm with your voice, attitude, and body language.
Keeping your dog calm during travel
Make sure you bring your dog’s blankie or his favorite
stuffed animal, toy, bone-any item which is familiar to your
dog and will comfort and relax him.
For a little extra calm, try rubbing a little lavender oil
between your hands and give your pet a little aromatherapy
or deep tissue massage at the beginning of your dog’s spine
or base of her head.
Tr a v e l
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Staying in a hotel with your dog
As with flying, a little preemptive research is in order. Does
the hotel you’re considering even allow pets? Better to find
out before you arrive. Pet-welcoming hotels like Best Western
will be prepared for your visit, and can even recommend
parks, hikes, and other dog-friendly activities. At other hotels,
the only thing fit for a dog is the Continental breakfast. It can
also be embarrassing if your dog barks or howls in the new
room. Don’t inadvertently encourage the barking with affection. Stay calm and assertive and take him out for some exercise to calm him.
Go on a long walk once you reach the hotel
A recently exercised dog will be in a more relaxed state
during any long trip. Your dog may growl at strangers and
that’s ok. It’s natural for your dog to be a little nervous around
new people. She’s out of her element and may growl. This
isn’t because she’s being aggressive, but because she’s a little
freaked out and needs reassurance that everything’s under
control. If you pull her away from the new person, you’re indicating that there is something wrong and she’ll freak out
more. Again, be calm and assertive and show your dog that
you’ve got it covered.
How to enter the hotel room with your dog
Now you are ready to go to your hotel room. Enter first. Get
the dog to stay where he is. Don’t let him wander around or
he’ll assume control of the situation. While you are unpacking,
showering, or making phone calls, he is waiting. The only one
who should move in the environment is you-until you are
ready, then you initiate activity. It’s important that your scent
is everywhere before the dog settles in.
Exploring a new place
You’re away from home and that means a lot of new sights,
smells, sounds, and potential food items for your dog. Make
sure you’re vigilant wherever you go about what’s around,
especially in the area of things your dogs could ingest. Also,
especially around the holidays, there may be a lot of lights,
decorations, and snout-level treats that can be distracting or
dangerous for your pooch. Keep an eye on him and the new
place.
Can’t bring your dog along?
Find a good substitute pack. In a kennel, your dog should
be immediately adopted as a member of the pack. The staff
should be able to get your dog focused on what is there for
him - and not leave him mourning over the fact that you left.
It is a big deal for a dog to detach himself from a pack. The
new pack should equal or better the pack he just left.
Traveling with a dog can be a fun experience for both of
you. Just remember to be as prepared as possible wherever
you go. The more homework you do on dog travel, the fewer
surprises there will be. Don’t forget to make sure your dog
gets plenty of exercise and above all, of course, be calm and
assertive. A balanced dog makes the best travel companion.
— www.cesarsway.com
Best
cities
for dog
lovers
D
o you love to bring your dog everywhere with you? Of
course you do! Your dog is an adorable part of the family!
If you love man’s best friend as much as we do, check out
the list of Best Cities for Dog Lovers:
San Diego, California
You and your pooch will love San Diego not just for its great
weather, but also because it has plenty of pet-friendly accommodations. Go shopping with your canine, play at the park, walk the
hiking trails or head to the beach. There are 16 off-leash dog
parks where man’s best friend can stretch his legs, play and run
around. Lighthouse Ice Cream & Yogurt even offers Frosty Paws-a
sugar-free, soy-based ice cream for your dog.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is the 12th most walkable large city in the US and
home to 32 off-leash dog parks. On Saturdays, get out of your
Portland apartment and head over to the Portland Market. You
and your canine can enjoy the outdoors while picking up some
fresh produce. Get some exercise with Fido by taking him to the
Powell Butte Trail-an easy four-mile hike that takes about an hour
and a half to complete.
Seattle, Washington
Walk the city of Seattle with your furry friend to any of its 11
off-leash dog parks. If you need to get some shopping done, the
University Village Shopping Center has many outdoor stores in a
relaxing, dog-friendly environment. You can even add some fun
into your day by visiting the Fremont Sunday Ice Cream Cruise.
Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome aboard to enjoy some
sweets on the water.
Chicago, Illinois
Have some fun in the sun by taking a walk to one of the three
dog-friendly beaches in Chicago. You can take off your dog’s
leash at Montrose Dog beach and splash around in the water-or
choose one of the 18 off-leash dog parks. Get out of your apartment and check out one of Chicago’s biggest attractions with
Fido: Navy Pier. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor common areas
and some merchants and tours permit dogs to join their humans.
Orlando, Florida
You and your pooch can travel to seven different off-leash dog
parks to enjoy the fresh air and exercise in Orlando. There are also
nine veterinary clinics, 13 pet stores and nine grooming facilities,
ensuring that your pup looks and feels happy and healthy. Hit the
trails with Fido or go camping at Turkey Lake Park. You both can
hike, play games or visit the butterfly garden. At the Downtown
Orlando Farmers Market, you can shop for farm-fresh produce, listen to live music and enjoy a drink in the beer and wine garden.
Don’t leave without purchasing something for man’s best friendvendors sell homemade pet treats, supplies, clothing and travel
accessories.
Austin, Texas
Southern hospitality doesn’t just apply to humans in the Lone
Star state. Want to do your morning yoga? Visit Austin Dogathat’s right, yoga for dogs. Both you and Fido can feel refreshed
and reset in this yoga class for humans and canines. You can also
visit one of Austin’s 18 off-leash dog parks, which are great social
scenes for dogs and humans alike. If you’re new to the city, go on
one of Austin’s guided walking tours, where leashed dogs are
welcome.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas has 25 off-leash dog parks for your and your pooch
to choose from. You can also head over to the Las Vegas
DockDogs-a beach where you and your pet can cool off, get some
exercise and play fun games. There are 12 veterinary clinics in the
area, so you can always stay up-to-date on your canine’s health.
Explore the great outdoors by heading to the Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area, which is less than a half-hour drive
from the Strip.
San Francisco, California
There are endless amenities for you and your pup in San
Francisco, whether it’s hiking a trail, shopping, checking out
attractions or enjoying the park-all 56 of them. Give Fido a view of
the water with Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruises. Your on-leash pet
is welcome to join you for this one-hour cruise, which offers gorgeous views of the bridges, piers and more.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ever thought you could go paddleboarding with your pup?
Well, in Milwaukee you can. Juneau Park Paddleboats allows you
and your leashed pets to tour the waters on Veterans Park
Lagoon. Once you’re done, grab some coffee at the Community
Bark Dog Wash & Coffee Bar. You can hang with your furry friend
inside while grabbing some coffee, surfing the web or just relaxing. You can also visit any one of Milwaukee’s five off-leash dog
parks.
Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota
Bring your pup into Birchbark Books, where you can search for
the latest and greatest novel. Then, head to the Lake Harriet Rose
Garden, where you can relax and read while your dog keeps you
company. Get some exercise at any of the seven dog parks in the
Twin Cities-one of which winds along gorgeous waterfalls in the
Minnehaha Park.
— www.forbes.com
Opinion
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
How separatists gave Crimea to Moscow
Openly separatist Aksyonov won just 4 percent of vote in 2010
By Alissa de Carbonnel
W
ithin a week of its building being taken
over by armed gunmen last month, the
regional parliament in Crimea was voting in favour of the Ukrainian region becoming
part of Russia. How that was achieved under the
leadership of Sergei Aksyonov, 41, a Russian separatist whose political party won 4 percent of the
vote at the parliamentary election in 2010, was a
master class in vote rigging and intimidation,
according to several opposition lawmakers.
“It was all a great spectacle, a tragic spectacle,”
said Leonid Pilunsky, one of a number of regional
lawmakers who say a vote behind closed doors to
install Aksyonov was fixed and key decisions were
taken before anyone could respond. Moscow says
Crimea is in the grip of a home-spun uprising, a
popular response to the revolt in Kiev which ousted Ukraine’s Russian-backed President Viktor
Yanukovich.
But for the authorities in Kiev and local politicians still loyal to Ukraine, the rapid pace of events
were evidence of a carefully orchestrated campaign from Moscow. Moscow denies any role in
installing Aksyonov, who is known from his business days by the nickname “The Goblin”. But even
those close to the Kremlin say Russia picked him.
“Moscow always bet on Yanukovich. But after the
coup in Kiev on Feb. 22 ... Moscow decided it
needed to back the secession of Crimea from
Ukraine. Then they looked for who could be its
leader,” said Sergei Markov, a political analyst
sympathetic to the Kremlin who often explains its
workings abroad. “They chose Aksyonov.”
Enter the Goblin
The day before the takeover of Crimea began,
on Feb 26, the region’s parliament met to debate
holding a referendum on loosening ties with Kiev.
The atmosphere was volatile. In the four days
since Yanukovich had fled Kiev, pro-Russian
groups had been signing up volunteers to selfdefence militias, spurred by Russian television
reports that armed Ukrainian nationalists would
descend from the capital. While Crimea’s parliamentarians met, thousands of pro-Russian
demonstrators clashed outside the building with
protesters supporting unity with Kiev.
The vote on the referendum was not held that
day: There were not enough lawmakers to reach a
quorum after Pilunsky and another opposition
lawmaker refused to register as present. “They
begged, appealed and threatened us,” he said.
The next morning before dawn, armed men
seized the building, and from then on, journalists
were excluded and it was not possible to verify
whether a quorum was reached. Lawmakers had
their phones confiscated at the door.
Among those not allowed in was Anatoly
Mogilyov, Crimea’s regional prime minister,
appointed by Yanukovich. Mogilyov had spoken
out against breaking away from Kiev, and the ruling party he represented - Yanukovich’s Party of
the Regions which controlled 80 seats in the 100
seat legislature - was publicly committed to
autonomy within Ukraine. Nevertheless, that
night parliament’s website said 53 lawmakers had
voted to replace Mogilyov with Aksyonov, and 61
had voted to hold a referendum on “sovereignty”.
Crimea’s Information Minister Dmitry Polonsky,
asked whether installing the new leaders in parliament was rigged, said: “There is one supreme
power in Crimea which is its parliament and with a
majority of votes it is legitimate and legal. It is
impossible to rig a vote in the Supreme Soviet
(parliament). There are deputies who push buttons or raise their hands and if the majority have
voted for, then the issue is resolved. There are no
ways for influencing the vote or falsifying the
vote.” Aksyonov did not immediately return calls.
The Kremlin also says the vote to install
Officers from the Ukrainian navy ship Ternopil get on board a boat in front of the Russian navy ship minesweeper “Turbinist” anchored
at the harbor of Sevastopol on March 11, 2014. — AFP
Aksyonov followed all legal procedures in Crimea,
but no independent journalists were permitted
inside to witness it. At least one Party of Regions
deputy told Reuters his vote was recorded as cast
for Aksyonov though he was not in the city, much
less the building. “I wasn’t even in Simferopol but
my vote was counted,” said the lawmaker, who
spoke on condition he not be identified, saying he
had received threatening calls and text messages.
The lawmaker said duplicate voting cards
were taken from parliament’s safe to allow votes
to be cast in the name of people who were not
present. He was aware of at least 10 votes that
were cast for people who were not in the chamber. They have not come forward for fear of
reprisals, he added. “Let me tell you how they
scared people: After the first vote was fabricated,
they told us that they would open criminal cases
against anyone who spoke out,” he said. “Those
in power are not really politicians but businessmen. It’s very easy to put pressure on them. They
have a lot to lose.”
Save Their Skins
Crimea is the only part of Ukraine with an ethnic Russian majority, and the 1990s saw frequent
agitation for independence there, especially
when relations between Kiev and Moscow were
tense. Washington and Kiev blamed Moscow for
stirring it up. In a 2006 cable released by
WikiLeaks, the US embassy reported back to
Washington that Moscow’s agents were active
again, after the 2004-2005 “Orange Revolution”
that brought anti-Russian politicians to power in
Kiev.
Of all the Russian-backed groups in Crimea,
the cable identified the Russian Society of Crimea
as the one “with the most overt contacts with
Moscow”. The man identified in the cable as its
leader, Sergei Tsekov, is now deputy speaker of
the Crimean parliament and one of Aksyonov’s
main lieutenants. In 2010, Aksyonov led the political wing of Tsekov’s Russian Society, a party
called Russian Unity, into parliamentary elections.
The party won just 4 percent of the vote, or 3
seats. “In spite of all the financing and help he got
from Moscow, his party was not able to do better
in elections because these currents in Crimean
society are not that strong,” said Andrei
Senchenko, an opposition member of Kiev’s parliament who hails from Crimea.
On their website, Russian Unity and the
Russian Society are clear about their aim to
reunite the province with Moscow, saying: “the
future of Crimea and Ukraine is union with
Russia”. The last time Crimeans were asked about
Moscow’s rule, in 1991, they voted narrowly for
independence along with the rest of Ukraine.
Despite the tensions of the 1990s, open support
for secession or reunion with Russia had become
a fringe view as long as the sympathetic
Yanukovich held power in Kiev.
But as Yanukovich’s grip looked less solid,
there were already signs the Kremlin was seeking
more influence in Crimea. In early February,
Crimean media reported that one of Putin’s closest aides, Vladislav Surkov, had visited Crimea.
Once Yanukovich fell, lawmakers in Kiev from the
ousted president’s Party of Regions backed the
new government that replaced him. But in
Crimea, some party members swung behind
Aksyonov. Crucially, he won the support of the
Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir
Konstantinov. That allowed control over votes
being held behind closed doors inside the assembly building under guard of armed men.
Pilunsky, the Crimean opposition lawmaker,
said ruling party figures in Crimea had switched
allegiance to Moscow to protect themselves from
the prospect of investigation by the new authorities in Kiev over their years in power in the
province. Party of Regions figures blame the new
government in Kiev for failing to negotiate quickly enough to head off secession. “The breakup of
Ukraine began in Kiev,” said Vadim
Kolesnichenko, a Party of Regions lawmaker from
Crimea in Ukraine’s parliament. “At first, the question was only about enlarging Crimea’s autonomy within Ukraine,” he said. “When instead of
talks, Kiev launched criminal investigations
(against Crimea’s new leaders) ... That is when it
became clear: how long can we live in isolation?”
Referendum
Then, as Aksyonov seized control, Russian lawmakers were flown into Crimea, promising
Moscow’s financial backing and support. Only a
week after gunmen planted the Russian flag on
the local parliament, Aksyonov and his allies held
another vote and declared parliament was
appealing to Putin to annex Crimea. The referendum would be moved forward to March 16 and
voters would now be asked if they wanted to join
Russia, it said. Again, a number of lawmakers say
they were not present. Nor were reporters. Those
deputies who did attend were not told in
advance what the vote would be about.
In a video provided by the regional government press service, speaker Konstantinov is
shown addressing some 10 deputies sitting in
two mostly empty front rows. “We will vote on a
resolution on joining the Russian Federation and
they must decide before the referendum if they
will accept us so people don’t look stupid voting
for Russia.” The decision was announced outside
parliament to a roaring a crowd, chanting
“Rossiya! Rossiya!” and waving the Russian tricolour. Parliament said 78 deputies had backed it.
That day, Russia’s parliament also adopted legislation making it easier to annex territory.
The outcome of the referendum is in little
doubt. Billboards tell Crimeans they have a
choice between a map of Crimea painted with a
Russian flag or one emblazoned with a Swastika.
Voters have been given a choice between joining Crimea to Russia or restoring an earlier constitution which would declare it a sovereign part
of Ukraine. The regional assembly has voted that
if sovereign, Crimea would join Russia anyway.
Those who favour continued ties with Kiev are
widely expected to abstain, including the
250,000 Crimean Tatars, the most solid supporters of ties with Kiev, who fear rule by Russia
which deported them en masse to Uzbekistan
under Stalin. — Reuters
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
www.kuwaittimes.net
US socialite and entertainer
Paris Hilton arrives for a
press conference prior to
the inauguration of her first
real estate project, the Paris
Beach Club, in Manila yesterday. Hilton unveiled the
Paris Beach Club in collaboration with Century
Properties, a high-end real
estate developer in the
country's capital. —AFP
C a re e r s
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Walking
the talk
7 management
practices that
can improve
employee
productivity
A
ll companies want to improve employee
productivity, but how often do they
examine their own management practices as a means of attaining it? Studies consistently show that a disturbingly high number
of non-management employees are disengaged, not working at full productive capacity.
Following are 7 practical suggestions - steps
management can take to improve productivity by putting employees in a more productive
mindset.
Design economic incentives so employees
at all levels of an organization can benefit from
them: There’s a natural tendency for management to focus most heavily on senior-level
economic incentives. While this is completely
understandable, it’s best not to neglect substantive incentives for lower-level employees...
that is, if you expect them to be vigorously
committed to an enterprise’s success. To the
argument that this will be unduly costly, a program has to be carefully structured, of course,
so additional payouts reflect clearly defined
revenue and/or earnings targets.
Provide meaningful feedback in a constructive manner on a regular basis: Feedback is a
foundational management skill; the ability to
provide regular, helpful feedback to employees in a manner that encourages, not discourages, is a cornerstone of effective management. That’s not to say feedback is always
positive - that wouldn’t be management at all
- but that the communication is done
thoughtfully... whether the occasion is encouragement for a job well done, or that course
correction is needed.
Respect employees as individuals, in addition to the job they do: Respect can be a sim-
ple but powerful motivator, just as its unpleasant twin, lack of respect, has the opposite
effect. When employees feel genuinely
respected (always assuming it’s warranted),
they’re much more likely “to go the extra mile”
to help a company succeed.
Be sure management at all levels of an
organization receives adequate training:
There’s a tendency for companies to invest
heavily in “leadership training” while focusing
far less on supervisors and middle managers.
Provide support for employees when it’s
genuinely needed: Valued support can take
many forms: equipment when existing is outdated or inefficient; emotional support in the
face of (occasionally) unfair criticism; flexible
support for a reasonable level of work-life balance. Management support in times of need
How great managers manage people
won’t be forgotten; it builds employee goodwill and loyalty.
Don’t be emotionally stingy: There’s nothing for management to gain by withholding
praise and recognition when it’s warranted. A
recent employee study indicated that recognition is often a more powerful motivator than
money. While this may well be less true at senior levels as financial rewards escalate, this
post is focused on general employee productivity where the broadest gains can be made.
Ensure senior leadership models behavior
that makes the rank-and-file proud to be part
of the team: Nothing demoralizes employees
more quickly than seeing senior leaders act in
a way they don’t respect, and few things
energize employees more than a senior team
they admire. Leaders are always being
watched and judged; employees have keen
eyes (and are keen data sharers!) When leadership is “walking the talk,” it will be quickly
noted - but so will “talking the walk” without
actually walking it.
To help boost productivity, employee
engagement matters. Ultimately, most
employees would much rather be part of a
team they’re committed to, not just a member
of an organization. Developing and maintaining a consistent management approach that
engenders esprit de corps is a key link in the
productivity process. Such management - balancing appropriate levels of results-orientation with understanding of employee needs is neither easy nor unattainable. It’s also the
thread from which the cloth of day-to-day productivity gains are made.
— www.forbes.com
Food
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
As sweet
as no sugar
Treats that put maple syrup, honey,
agave nectar front and center - without
a grain of white sugar in sight
I
t’s sweet and soothing, delightful and delicious-the stuff of
birthdays and holidays, a portal to instant nostalgia, a perfectly
lovely way to (occasionally) ring in 3 pm or complete a celebratory meal. And some of the best examples we’ve recently tried
contain nary a speck of white sugar. Most baked goods include
sugar as an ingredient, but that’s just one source of the sweetness
we love-and not the most interesting one. Pastry chef Joanne
Chang, proprietor of beloved Boston bakery and cafe Flour and
author of the forthcoming cookbook Flour, Too, contends that
maple syrup, honey, fruit juice, and agave nectar have more complex flavors than granulated sugar. “Sugar hits you high and
sharp,” Chang says. “It’s a familiar, pleasing experience. But maple
and honey have more distinctive tastes-and a warm, round quality. Put those in a dessert and you make it really flavorful in a way
that you can’t with white sugar.”
Dark Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
* 11/2 cups heavy cream
* 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
* 1/8 tsp kosher salt
Crust
* 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
* 1/4 tsp kosher salt
* 9 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into pats
* 2 tbsp whole milk
* 1 egg yolk
Chocolate truffle filling
* 3/4 cup heavy cream
* 1/2 cup whole milk
* 11/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
* 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
* 1/2 tsp kosher salt
* 2 egg yolks
Garnish
* 1 (2- to 3-ounce) block semisweet chocolate
Directions
Active time: 1 1/2 hours
Total time: 12 hours including chilling
To make dark chocolate mousse: In a small pot, bring
cream just to a boil. Place chocolate and salt in a large,
heatproof bowl and pour in cream; whisk until combined.
Cool to room temperature, then cover and chill 8 hours,
or overnight.
To make crust: In a large bowl, stir together flour and
salt. Add butter and cut into flour using a pastry cutter or
2 table knives (using a scissors motion) until butter is in
pecan-size pieces. In a small bowl, whisk together milk
and yolk, then gently stir into flour mixture. Turn out
onto a lightly floured surface; gather the shaggy dough
into a tight mound. Using the palms of your hands, smear
the dough, starting at the top and sliding your palms
down the sides of the mound along the work surface,
until most of the butter is incorporated. Shape into a 5inch disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill at least 1
hour, or overnight.
Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out dough
into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer to an aluminum or
glass pie pan and press gently into the bottom and sides.
Crimp and trim dough as desired, leaving a 1/4 lip around
the edge to allow for shrinkage during baking. Chill 30
minutes, or cover and chill up to overnight.
Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350º. Line the
bottom and sides of the pie shell with parchment paper
and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until golden
brown all over, 30 to 35 minutes. Carefully remove paper
and pie weights and set pie shell aside.
To make chocolate truffle filling: In a small pot, bring
cream and milk just to a boil. Place chocolate in a medium, heatproof bowl and pour in cream mixture; whisk
until incorporated. Add butter, salt, and yolks and whisk
until well combined. Pour into pie shell and bake until
just slightly jiggly in the center, about 20 minutes. Let
cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
To finish the mousse, beat with an electric mixer until
stiff peaks form. Spoon onto pie and spread out evenly.
Using a vegetable peeler or the back of a paring knife,
shave chocolate onto pie, scattering curls evenly over the
top. Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and
chill up to 1 day.
Maple Creme Caramel
Ingredients
* 11/2 cups pure maple syrup, divided
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 1 cup whole milk
* 4 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
* 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
* 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
Active time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 1/4 hours (plus overnight chilling)
Preheat oven to 350º. Arrange eight (5- to 6-ounce) ramekins or
ovenproof bowls in a large roasting pan. In a medium pot, bring
1 cup syrup to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until
reduced by half, about 30 minutes. (Keep a close eye on the
syrup to ensure it doesn’t boil over or burn.) Immediately divide
syrup reduction among ramekins, swirling each to coat the bottom.
Bring a medium pot of water just to a boil. Meanwhile, in a
large bowl, whisk together cream, milk, eggs and yolk, salt,
vanilla, and remaining 1/2 cup syrup until well combined, then
pour evenly into ramekins.
Working near the oven (so that you won’t have to walk far
with the roasting pan), carefully ladle hot water into the pan to
reach about 3/4 of the way up the side of each ramekin. Gently
place roasting pan in oven and bake until custards are just
slightly jiggly in the center, about 40 minutes. Set roasting pan
aside until ramekins are cool enough to move, then remove
and set aside until completely cool. Cover and chill overnight, or
up to 4 days. To serve, run a small paring knife around the inside
edge of each ramekin and invert onto a serving plate.
Health
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Keeping pollen out of your home
is impossible, but using the
right air purifier may reduce the
amount you breathe in
P
olar bears and beach dwellers aren’t the
only ones who should be worried about
global warming: It turns out the 35 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies are in harm’s way. “There are clear projections that, as atmospheric temperatures and
levels of greenhouse gases continue to rise,
the pollen season will start sooner, last longer,
and hit harder,” says immunologist Leonard
Bielory, MD, who’s heading up a program
funded partly by the Environmental
Protection Agency to investigate the impact
of climate change on allergies. In fact, according to Bielory’s research, pollen counts may
double by 2040 as higher levels of carbon
dioxide trigger plants to produce more of the
airborne particles. And with elevated temperatures bringing earlier thaws (witness 2012,
the hottest year on record in the United
States), conditions are ripe for a prolonged
sneezing season. But take heart: These five
science-based strategies can help stifle the
symptoms.
Act early
If pollen count levels in your area reach ten or
above for three days in a row, start using a prescription nasal steroid spray, says Linda Cox, MD,
president of the American Academy of Allergy,
Asthma, & Immunology. (Use the National Allergy
Bureau’s pollen tracker.) The steroids in the spray
block the production of chemicals that cause two
common allergy complaints: nasal swelling and
congestion. The meds take a while to kick in, so
even if you feel fine, it’s smart to begin treatment.
“Once symptoms start and inflammation sets in,
it’s harder to reverse,” Cox says.
Clear the air
Keeping pollen out of your home is impossible,
but using the right air purifier may reduce the
amount you breathe in. High-efficiency particulate
air (HEPA) filters remove over 99 percent of pollen,
dust, and mold. But shop wisely-the air purifier
industry has ballooned in recent years, and impostor filters have made their way onto the market.
Avoid products labeled anything other than just
plain HEPA (some bill themselves as “HEPA type”
or “99 percent HEPA”) to make sure you’re getting
the real thing.
your body to “good” types of bacteria, you may
increase your immune system’s tolerance for allergens.
Go outside at the right time
Since staying shut in all spring isn’t an option,
venture outdoors during midday, when chances for
flare-ups are at their lowest. Trees and weeds typically release pollen in the morning, while grass
does so both morning and night. Wind matters,
too: On dry, blustery days, pollen can cover great
distances, meaning that even if counts start out low
in your immediate area, pollen that’s blown in from
hundreds of miles away can still cause an attack.
Protect yourself
for seasons to come
Allergy shots are the closest thing we have to
a cure. They introduce small amounts of an allergen into your system so that your immune cells
become desensitized and your allergic reactions
diminish. It’s a big commitment-a full course of
shots typically involves once- or twice-weekly
injections at the doctor’s office for one to six
months, followed by monthly booster shots for
up to five years. But relief may soon come in the
form of a pill or a liquid drop. Two types of tablets
made from grass extracts have performed well in
clinical trials; one pill dissolved under the tongue
daily for three years is as effective as a full course
of allergy shots. And an oral liquid for ragweed
allergy is currently in the FDA’s approval pipeline.
All three treatments may hit the market within
the next two years.
Eat more yogurt
A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that
people who ate seven ounces of yogurt daily for
one year reported fewer allergy symptoms than
those who didn’t. Other studies have shown that
probiotics often found in yogurt may relieve congestion from birch and cedar pollen if consumed
regularly. Researchers suspect that by exposing
Health
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
What’s
causing that allergy?
Different types
L
earn the types of allergies including food
allergies, seasonal allergies, pet allergies, and
many more.
Food allergies
Food allergies or food intolerances affect
nearly everyone at some point. People often
have an unpleasant reaction to something they
ate and wonder if they have a food allergy.
Milk allergy
If you suffer from a milk allergy, strictly avoiding milk and food containing milk and milk products is the only way to prevent a reaction, which
can include immediate wheezing, vomiting, and
hives.
Egg allergy
Egg allergies-especially to egg whites-are
more common in children than in adults and
reactions range from mild to severe.
Fall allergies
The allergy triggers might be slightly different, but they can be just as misery-inducing as
the flower pollen that fills the air in the spring
and summer.
Winter allergies
Here are some common causes of winter
allergies, and a few tips for managing your symptoms.
Pet allergies
Dog allergy
For a person with dog allergies, life in a dogloving country isn’t easy. Nearly 40 percent of US
households have a dog. Dog dander gets everywhere, including places where dogs have never
set a paw.
Wheat allergy
If you are allergic to any wheat protein strictly
avoiding wheat and wheat products is the only
way to prevent a reaction, which can include
stomach upset, eczema, allergic rhinitis, bronchospasm (asthma-like symptoms) and even
anaphylaxis.
F
our out of five allergy sufferers never visit a
doctor, and few people know what to take
and when. If you’re sneezing and have red,
itchy eyes and a drippy nose, choose an antihistamine, says Sakina Bajowala, a board-certified allergist and immunologist with a private practice in
North Aurora, Illinois. Antihistamines block the
actions of symptom-triggering histamines
throughout the body. They’ll kick in within a few
hours, but for optimal relief, start taking them
before symptoms hit (Bajowala adds that many
antihistamines-even “non-drowsy” versions-can
make people sleepy and recommends taking a 24hour-action pill at bedtime). If your main problem
is a stuffed-up head, Bajowala suggests an oral
decongestant, which temporarily decreases the
swelling of the nasal tissues. You can wait until
after your head feels full of cotton-but avoid taking
at night, because decongestants tend to make
people jittery, Bajowala says. (They also have a tendency to raise blood pressure, so use caution if you
have heart issues.)
You’ve developed “rebound congestion”
An OTC nasal decongestant spray can help in a
pinch, but you should never rely on one for more
than three days in a row, says Bajowala, who is also a
fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma
& Immunology (AAAAI). She explains that after
repeated use, nasal tissues become accustomed to
the decongestant and begin to overcompensate.
This causes you to feel even more stuffy than before,
and you’ll need increasingly higher doses of nasal
spray to get relief. If you’re already hooked, make an
appointment with a doctor who can recommend an
anti-inflammatory prescription spray. They build up
in the tissues over weeks of use, so they don’t provide immediate relief, but they’re much safer and
more effective in the long run.
You’ve been letting in the sunshine-along
with less delightful things
It’s spring-time to air out the house to help you
breathe easier... except this can make the pollen
levels inside the house as bad as they are outside,
Bajowala says. Raise the shades but keep the windows closed when the pollen count is high (check
local levels at the National Allergy Bureau web
site). Instead, get rid of dust and other allergens
with central air-conditioning or an air filter (clean
or change filters once per season to keep them
working properly).
You’re making a mess with your neti pot
For all-natural relief, doctors including Dr Oz
often recommend “nasal irrigation.” You can do
this with a neti pot, which looks like a tiny teakettle
that allows you to pour salt water into one nostril
so that it exits out of the other. It may take practice
to get the hang of it: First, use distilled water with
plenty of salt (try this recipe from AAAAI-baking
soda prevents the solution from burning). Neti pots
depend on gravity to pull the water through your
nose, so when irrigating the right nostril, tilt your
head so that your left ear is parallel to the ground;
do the opposite for the left nostril. (You can also
use a bottle like the NeilMed Sinus Rinse. Same
principle but less chance of mistakes, Bajowala
says.) Don’t bother with a neti pot if you’re so congested that you can’t breathe through your nose,
because, Bajowala says, the water will either flow
back out the same nostril or end up in your
Eustachian tube (she often gets calls from
annoyed-sounding neti potters complaining that
their ears are full of water).
You’re having a bad reaction-or none
at all-to your natural remedy
There’s some scientific evidence that butterbur,
a plant that sounds like it was made up by JK
Rowling but is often found near real-world marshes
and streams, can act like a natural antihistamine.
Although some of Bajowala’s patients believe that
taking butterbur extract orally helps their symptoms, she says that more research is necessary
before she’ll prescribe it. She adds that many people don’t realize that butterbur is part of the ragweed family, which may trigger another allergy.
She also strongly advises looking for butterbur
products labeled “PA-free,” which means they no
longer contains naturally occurring pyrrolizidine
alkaloids (PAs) that could be toxic to the liver.
There’s another popular theory that honey containing pollen from local plants will help you build
tolerance to those allergens. While raw honey is
safe (and sweet) for adults, Bajowala says there are
no reliable studies that prove it will help your
symptoms. — www.oprah.com
Nut (peanut) allergy
If you suffer from a nut allergy, strictly avoiding nuts, including peanuts and tree nuts like
cashews and walnuts, and food containing nuts
is the only way to prevent a reaction.
Fish allergy
If your doctor is able to identify exactly which
type of fish causes your allergies, than you only
need to eliminate that species of fish from your
diet. For the majority of fish allergy sufferers, this
is not an option and all fish must be avoided.
Shellfish allergy
Learn about shellfish allergies and which
foods to avoid.
Sulfite allergy
Sulfites are a group of sulfur-based compounds that may occur naturally or may be
added to food as an enhancer and preservative.
The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is
sensitive to the compounds.
Soy allergy
Soy allergies start with soybeans. Soybeans
are legumes. Other foods in the legume family
include navy beans, kidney beans, string beans,
black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas (garbanzo or
chichi beans), lentils, carob, licorice, and peanuts.
Casein allergy
If a glass of milk or a slice of pizza causes
swollen lips, hives, or other significant symptoms, you may have an allergy to casein, a protein in milk.
Seasonal allergies
Spring allergies
Spring is the time of year that we normally
think of when it comes to seasonal allergies. As
the trees start to bloom and the pollen gets airborne, allergy sufferers begin their annual ritual
of sniffling and sneezing.
Summer allergies
Although spring most readily comes to mind
when we think of allergies, many of the same
allergic triggers that can make us miserable in
the spring persist into summer.
Hay fever
Hay fever is an immune disorder characterized by an allergic response to pollen grains and
other substances. Also known as allergic rhinitis,
there are two types: seasonal, which occurs only
during the time of year in which certain plants
pollinate, and perennial, which occurs all year
round.
Allergic Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Pink eye caused by bacteria, viruses, or STDs
can spread easily from person to person but is
not a serious health risk if diagnosed promptly;
allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
Hives (Urticaria)
Hives, also known as urticaria, are an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps, patches, or
welts on the skin that appear suddenly-either as
a result of allergies, or for other reasons.
Allergies to poison ivy, aak, and sumac
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are
plants that contain an irritating, oily sap called
urushiol. Urushiol triggers an allergic reaction
when it comes into contact with skin, resulting in
an itchy rash, which can appear within hours of
exposure or up to several days later.
Allergies to insect stings (bee stings)
Bee, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet, or fire ant
stings are the insect stings that most often trigger allergies. However, most people are not allergic to insect stings and may mistake a normal
sting reaction for an allergic reaction.
Mold allergy
People with mold allergies, however, may
have a reaction if exposed to too much of the
fungus. — www.webmd.com
BOOKS
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Ra Ra Rasputin
Frances Welch’s new biography uncovers the humor and strangeness
in Rasputin’s fatal embrace of the Romanovs
rigory Rasputin was a Siberian peasant turned holy man with incredible
charisma, bad teeth, questionable
hygiene (he claimed that he once went six
months without changing his underwear),
and a strong animal odor - like a goat’s
(according to the French ambassador). He
used these various attributes to ingratiate
himself with the royal family of Russia and
become, for about a year toward the end of
the Romanov dynasty, the de facto power
behind the throne.
While doing all this, he seduced thousands of women. It’s an inspiring story,
though it ends badly, and no wonder that
the expatriated French actor Gerard
Depardieu has played Rasputin in not one
but two biopics in the last two years.
As Robert Massie once wrote, only in
Russia could the story of Rasputin have
unfolded, but even in Russia it was pretty
strange. In her humorous new biography,
Frances Welch does not stint on its strangeness, though she does try to explain just
how it came to pass.
Rasputin took advantage of the Russian
tradition of the wandering peasant holy
man, walking from village to village and
reputed to have a direct connection with
God (even Tolstoy, toward the end of his life,
visited one).
He also exploited the loneliness and isolation of the last Romanov couple, Nicholas
and Alexandra - the tsar a polite, indecisive
man and the tsarina a German-born and
English-bred granddaughter of Queen
Victoria (“The tsarina was as happy ordering
chintzes from the latest Maples catalogue as
she was cultivating mystics,” writes Welch),
G
who never quite adjusted to Russian life or
shed her accent (she communicated with
Nicholas in English). And, finally, he made
use of the vexed condition of the couple’s
son, Alexis, the heir to the Russian throne,
who had inherited (from Queen Victoria) a
terrible disease: haemophilia. Nicholas and
Alexandra kept vigilant watch over the boy,
employed two sharp-eyed sailors to accompany him everywhere and commandeered
turn her against him. All warnings about
Rasputin came to seem like attacks on the
family, and further isolated them from the
people who wanted to help.
The worse things got, the more
Alexandra came to rely on Rasputin’s judgment. In the summer of 1915, with the war
going poorly for Russia, Nicholas decided to
leave the capital and assume command of
the Russian army. This was a moderately bad
idea militarily, but it was a disastrous idea
for the government, which was left in
Alexandra’s hands. The tsarina was devoted
to Russia, but inexperienced, and blinded by
her belief in Rasputin. Under their joint
direction a series of catastrophic decisions
were made, as experienced ministers who
disliked Rasputin were dismissed in favor of
non-entities and incompetents. For years
there had been (crazy) rumors that he and
the empress were lovers; now people
became convinced that they were also
German spies.
an army of doctors to try to make him well.
None of them could do anything; as Welch
points out, they may easily have done more
harm than good, prescribing, for example,
the new wonder drug aspirin, which we now
know is an anti-coagulant, the exact opposite of what a haemophiliac needs.
The disease was torture for both the boy
and his mother. During bleeding episodes
Alexis would suffer excruciating pain, and
his mother, an empress but also, she knew,
the carrier of the disease, would sit by him,
helpless.
Hypnotizing people with his charm
The one person who appeared able to
help was Rasputin. He was recommended to
the family by their confessor, who had been
impressed by his mixture of smelliness and
religious fervor.
Then it turned out that he seemed able
to stop Alexis’s bleeding. Exactly what
Rasputin did has been the subject of medical dispute.
During bleeding episodes, Rasputin
would talk to the boy, tell him stories, calm
him down - this may have lowered the heir’s
blood pressure, easing the bleeding.
Contemporaries claimed that Rasputin
could hypnotize people with his eyes, and
it’s possible he hypnotized Alexis, with the
same calming effect. Rasputin was also the
purveyor of some undeniably sage advice,
as wise then as it is now: “Don’t let the doctors bother him too much.”
For Alexandra, there was no medical dispute. Rasputin became a frequent visitor to
the royal household and the tsarina plied
him with gifts and favors. Knowing of
Rasputin’s connection at court, people were
always making requests of him, and a word
from the empress went a long way in making those requests a reality. Rasputin’s St
Petersburg apartment became a busy office
where he would meet supplicants, taking
care of their medical problems with his healing powers and their bureaucratic problems
with his influence. Payment could be made
in money, pledges of loyalty, or, most con-
troversially, “kisses”.
During quieter times perhaps this all
would have passed, but Russia was entering
a period of intense crisis. In 1905, after a war
with Japan ended in defeat and soldiers
fired on a large protest in St Petersburg,
Nicholas was forced to grant a constitution
and convene a parliament, the Duma. But
Nicholas granted the constitution against
his better judgment, and when the Duma
became too bold in its demands, he dispersed it.
Another Duma was called, and also dispersed, and then another. Under the leadership of prime minister Pyotr Stolypin the
country’s economic performance improved
rapidly. But Stolypin was assassinated in
1911. Russia soon found itself embroiled in
the first world war, and less than four years
later the entire royal family, including 13year-old Alexis, was executed in a basement
in Yekaterinburg.
True colors
The judgment of most historians is that
the autocracy had no chance of surviving a
war it could not win. And yet the war was
won, eventually. What if Nicholas had held
on another year? There’s no question that
some changes would have been in order.
But he and his family may have had a different fate.
That they didn’t can at least partly be
attributed to Rasputin. His true nature - that
of a drunk who made it a principle to start
undressing every woman he met, until she
made him stop - had become clear to people in St Petersburg relatively quickly, and
soon Rasputin’s relationship with the royal
family became a scandal.
The orthodox church, which had supported him, now tried to bring his behavior to
the attention of the tsar. It had no effect.
Stolypin considered the question a sufficiently vital matter of state that he, too, presented a report: this also was ignored. And
on it went.
Rasputin had convinced Alexandra of his
holiness, and no amount of evidence could
Nine lives
Throughout all this, people kept trying to
kill Rasputin. Welch lists at least four assassination attempts, including one by the
female follower of a rival holy man, Iliodor,
who stabbed Rasputin in the stomach. He
survived.
The final, successful attempt came in
December 1916, and was carried out by a
monarchist Duma deputy and two young
aristocrats - one of them, Felix Yusupov, was
the heir to Russia’s largest fortune, and the
other, Grand Duke Dmitry, was a nephew of
the tsar. Yusupov lured Rasputin to his
house, where he fed him poisoned cakes
and wine, and, when these did not have
their intended effect, shot him in the back.
Rasputin, however, got up and started running away, at which point he was shot again
by the Duma deputy. The conspirators then
wrapped him in a curtain, bound his hands
and threw him in a hole in the ice in the
Neva river; he drowned.
They had hoped to save the autocracy,
but if anything things became worse, and in
any case it was too late. Just two months later crowds took to the streets of St
Petersburg, and Nicholas was forced to give
up the throne. In one of its few wise moves
the provisional government dug up
Rasputin’s body and burned it. Not long
after, the Bolsheviks seized power.
The story of Rasputin and his fatal
embrace of the last Romanovs is a story of
autocracy, of the kind of damage that can
be wrought when a nation’s fate depends
too much on the judgment of a single individual. It’s not easy to find contemporary
analogues - Putin, for example, has no
Rasputin - but Larry Summers, a man reviled
in many circles, who nonetheless managed
to ingratiate himself into the inner circle of
President Obama’s economic advisers early
in his first term, when robust and equitable
measures might have been taken to save
the American republic - all of which
Summers discouraged. But in that case, too,
there probably wasn’t much anyone could
have done.
— www.theguardian.com
Lifestyle
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Peru’s Gaston Acurio:
From master chef to
world food ambassador
H
e’s not even 50, but he’s already transformed
Peruvian cuisine and his restaurants are ranked
among the best in the world. Now, Gaston Acurio
says he’s abandoning the kitchen to become a self-styled
food ambassador, promoting a cuisine without borders.
“Twenty years ago, I was a chef. Today I am an ambassador. I’m living sort of an early retirement,” a smiling Acurio
told AFP in an interview.
In a quaint workspace in Lima’s bohemian Barranco
neighborhood, surrounded by stacks of books, pottery,
diplomas and awards, the 46-year-old Acurio is getting
ready for his next big project. “The challenges have
changed,” said Acurio, glancing at the large slates with the
names of dishes and
ingredients that line the
room’s walls. “People
know us-we have to conceptualize our next steps,
inspired by ideas with
the same energy as at
the beginning, but aiming to become universal.”
His signature restaurant Astrid and Gaston,
repeatedly ranked the
best in all of Latin
America, is moving from
its humble beginnings in
a small street to a giant
18th century colonial
building. That building,
classified as a piece of
national heritage, has
been fully renovated to serve as a veritable palace of food
and laboratory for ideas. Astrid y Gaston Casa Moreyra, as
the space is called, will have multiple dining areas and
gardens, including the new incarnation of the storied
restaurant, which will only offer an ultra-sophisticated
tasting menu.
“We’ve linked history and tradition with modernity by
using cutting-edge kitchen equipment imported from
Europe, minimalist decor and open spaces,” Acurio said.
Last month, top chefs Ferran Adria, the creator of the nowclosed El Bulli, and Joan Roca attended the formal inauguration of the space. The restaurant reopened to the public
this month. Casa Moreyra features a garden for spices and
rare plants, which will be open to visits by schoolchildren. A
patio is meant as a “place for chatting, conferences and
space for integration and fellowship.”
Beef bourguignon to ‘tacu’
Acurio’s $6-million project in Lima is the linchpin of his
empire of more than 40 restaurants in 14 countries across
three continents. He and his wife Astrid, the namesakes of
the original restaurant, hope to put Peruvian cuisine on the
global foodie map. “Peruvian cuisine has undergone vast
change over the past 20 years,” said Acurio, who originally
studied at a culinary institute in Paris. Among his early specialties were beef bourguignon and foie gras. Over the
years, those French dishes were replaced by ceviche and
traditional Peruvian fare: the rice and bean dish tacu-tacu
or lomo saltado, consisting of stir-fried marinated beef and
vegetables. “Our story has only barely begun and it’s up to
us to grow and become the epicenter of world cuisine,”
said Acurio, who is also the founder of Mistura, the continent’s largest food festival. “We are part of a culinary
movement to establish a community-to create a link
between restaurateurs, small farmers, fishermen, growersto share our cuisine with the world,” he said. “Our duty is to
create businesses, from the richness of Peru, and move forward,” said Acurio, who opened the Pachacutec Culinary
Institute in 2007 for young, disadvantaged Peruvians.
“After 500 years of colonialism, we have rediscovered our
national pride in the multicultural, multiracial society that
comprises Peru,” he said. “There is a mix in Peruvian cuisine
and we can celebrate this reality today without shame and
without fear.” Acurio, the author of some 20 books and the
former host of a television cooking show, is also the son of
a senator. Some have suggested he should run for Peru’s
presidency, but the chef says he is not interested. “No, no
politics for me. I know the beast all too well, from the
inside,” he said. — AFP
Japanese artist Yoko Ono poses for photographers during the presentation of her exhibition “Yoko Ono. Half-A-Wind-Show - A
Retrospective” at the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum in the northern Spanish Basque city of Bilbao yesterday. — AFP
World Chefs - Bobby Flay sharpens
competitive edge on new reality TV show
C
elebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television star Bobby
Flay is a born-and-bred New Yorker who has made his culinary
fortune celebrating the cuisine of the American Southwest.
Flay, who rose to prominence in the early 1990s at the helm of Mesa
Grill in New York City, has since forged a culinary empire of reality
television shows, cookbooks, high-end restaurants and burger eateries stretching from New York to Las Vegas to the Bahamas.
In “Beat Bobby Flay,” his latest venture in reality TV, the 49-yearold competes with another chef for bragging rights to the contender’s signature dish. “I like the competition of it all,” said Flay,
whose first job, at 17, was cooking at the legendary
Theater District haunt, Joe Allen. “I was an athlete as a
kid so this is sort of my athletics as an adult. It keeps
you sharp.” Flay recently spoke to Reuters about his
culinary career, signature dishes and celebrity chefs.
Q: How would you describe your cuisine?
A: I’m known for Southwestern food and I think of
myself as an American chef first ... I’m opening a new
Mediterranean restaurant in New York called Gato so I
would say that I cook American food in half my
restaurants and Mediterranean food in the other half.
Q: What is the concept behind “Beat Bobby Flay”?
A: Two chefs come in, they take each other on and
then the winner of that gets to try to take me down in
a 45-minute battle with their signature dish, so that
they know exactly what they’re cooking and I don’t.
Q: Do you have a signature dish?
A: Probably a shrimp tamale that I did at Mesa Grill for over 20
years. It is probably the dish that people have ordered the most and
the one dish that has never been off the menu.
Q: You’re famous for grilling. How do you think people can
improve their grilling technique?
A: I think people are intimidated by the grill, for some reason. I
always say think of the grill as just a burner with grates. So if you’re
comfortable cooking at a stove, you should be comfortable cooking
at a grill. It’s basically the same thing. Also I think that people leave
things on the grill way too long.
Q: How do you relate to the celebrity chef label?
A: I think the phrase is overused. It’s a brand that the media,
came up with. TV helps you to have more notoriety, but I would never refer to myself as a celebrity chef. I think of myself as a chef in my
restaurant.
Q: What is your advice to young, aspiring chefs?
A: I think young chefs should go back to the basics. Go to culinary
school and then work for a chef whom you really like and respect.
Q: Any advice for home cooks?
A: There’s so much access online and on television now ... You
can get a zillion recipes and videos, things that make the home
cook that much better. At dinner parties now the game has been
turned way up. People at home are cooking like restaurant chefs,
which is great.
Q: What’s always in your kitchen?
A: I have a very big spice rack and I always have about four or five
different mustards - Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, whole grain mustard. Garlic Shrimp Served on Grilled Tomato Bread, serves four to six
Garlic Shrimp
1 pound medium (36 to 40 count) shrimp, shelled and deveined
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
12 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup dry sherry
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Grilled Tomato Bread
6 plum tomatoes
1/4 cup canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon smoked mild Spanish paprika
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Clover honey, if needed
French baguette, sliced 1/2-inch thick
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, for garnish
1. Prepare the shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons of the
olive oil in a small sautÈ pan over medium heat, add
the garlic and cook until soft, about 1 minute. Add the red pepper
flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Add the sherry and thyme and cook
until the liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat,
transfer to a bowl and whisk in the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil; season
with salt and pepper.
2.
Put the shrimp in a medium bowl, add 1/4 cup of the garlic
marinade and toss to coat the shrimp. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3.
Meanwhile, heat your grill to high for direct grilling.
4.
Make the tomato bread: Brush the tomatoes with the
canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the tomatoes until
charred on all sides and just soft, about 8 minutes.
5.
Immediately transfer the tomatoes to a food processor,
add the paprika and garlic, and pulse until coarsely chopped. Season
with honey, if needed, and salt and pepper.
6.
Grill the bread on both sides until lightly golden brown,
about 30 seconds per side. Remove the bread to a platter and immediately spoon some of the tomato mixture on top of each slice.
Garnish with chopped parsley.
7.
Remove the shrimp from the marinade and season with
salt and pepper. Grill until pink and just cooked through, about 1 1/2
minutes per side.
8.
Remove the shrimp from the grill to a clean bowl and toss
with the remaining marinade and the parsley. Spoon shrimp over
each slice of bread and drizzle with olive oil. — Reuters
Lifestyle
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Kanye, Jay Z
‘Honky Tonk Women’
too dirty for
China as song ‘vetoed’
T
he sexual lyrics of “Honky Tonk Women”
were apparently too much for China’s
Communist fathers as the Rolling Stones
said the chart-topping song was “vetoed” for
their second ever show in the country on
Wednesday. “About now we’d usually play
something like ‘Honky Tonk Women’... but it’s
been vetoed,” front man Mick Jagger said at
Wednesday’s show, according to a posting on
the band’s official Twitter feed. He did not give
a reason.
The enduring rock band played in commercial capital Shanghai once previously, eight
years ago, when several songs fell victim to
the censor, including “Brown Sugar”. Concertgoers confirmed Jagger’s comments at the
packed show on Wednesday night but said
the reaction from the Shanghai audience was
muted. “He didn’t play it for shock,” said
Andrew Chin, a local arts writer who attended.
“People were just excited to see the Stones.”
China censors content it deems to be politically sensitive or obscene. Authorities have
been especially sensitive about live concerts
since Bjork chanted “Tibet” during her song
“Declare Independence” in 2008. China considers Tibet its sovereign territory. Pop-rock
balladeer Elton John dedicated a Beijing show
to Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei in
November 2012, provoking condemnation by
state-controlled media.But other classic
Stones numbers passed muster, including
“Street Fighting Man” and “You Can’t Always
Get What You Want”. — AFP
steal the show in
SXSW performance
S
amsung got its money’s worth from Jay Z
and Kanye West. Two of rap’s top stars combined for a powerful, hit-filled two-hour
show Wednesday night and yesterday morning
during South By Southwest, allowing Samsung to
steal some of iTunes’ luster at the annual music
conference and festival. Samsung announced the
Austin Music Hall show early this week and
scheduled the pair at the same time as the iTunes
Festival’s hip-hop night that featured Kendrick
Lamar and ScHoolboy Q at the very nearby ACL
Moody Theater. The performance came a few
weeks after West called out Apple CEO Tim Cook
File photo shows singer Kanye West
attends the Y-3 men’s Fall-Winter 20142015 fashion collection, in Paris. — AP
Bollywood’s Saif
Ali Khan pleads not
guilty to assault
B
Actress Kristen Bell poses on arrival for the
film premiere of ‘Veronica Mars’ in
Hollywood, California. The film opens on
March 14. — AFP
ollywood star Saif Ali Khan appeared in
court yesterday and denied breaking the
nose of a South African businessman at a
luxury hotel two years ago, a report said. The
alleged incident happened in Mumbai’s Taj Mahal
Palace hotel in February 2012, where the businessmen accused Khan of pushing him and
punching him in the face in the Japanese restaurant Wasabi. “The court today framed charges
against Khan and his two friends-Shakeel Ladak
and Bilal Amrohi-under section 325 (assault) and
34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code,”
public prosecutor Wajeed Sheikh said, according
to the Press Trust of India news agency.
The trio pleaded not guilty after the charges
were read out against them in the Mumbai court,
PTI said. The businessman, Iqbal Sharma, said he
had only asked the staff to get Khan’s table to quieten down, which sparked a heated argument
and the alleged assault. Khan however claimed
that Sharma had started the row. The actor surrendered to police after the brawl and was
released on bail. Khan, married to top Indian
actress Kareena Kapoor, is one of Bollywood’s
biggest actors and the Nawab (Muslim prince) of
the former princely state of Pataudi. His father
was famous cricketer Mansur Ali Khan, better
known as “Tiger Pataudi”. — AFP
In this Oct 10, 2013 file photo, US singer
Jay Z performs on stage at the o2 arena
in east London, as part of his Magna
Carta World Tour. — AP
at a New Jersey concert, telling him to “stop trying to get performers to play your festival for free,
you are rich as (expletive).”
Chances are West and Jay Z didn’t play the
show for free, but the return on investment wasn’t marginal. The show was one of the most
anticipated surrounding the annual buzz-building gathering and fans with Samsung devices
with the company’s new streaming music service, Milk Music, were granted free entry. Fans
lined up several hundred yards around the block
before the show with most having little hope of
getting in. Those who did - including Odd
Future’s Tyler, The Creator, who forced his way
to the front row to the delight of selfie-snapping
fans and spent some of the show crowd surfing were treated to an energetic performance from
two of hip-hop’s biggest stars.
A good show
They emerged individually atop two large
boxes stationed on the stage and in the crowd West wearing his trademark leather kilt and Jay
Z in a black American flag t-shirt - and began the
show near the rafters. They played selections
from their “Watch the Throne” collaboration
throughout, including “No Church in the Wild,”
“... in Paris,” “Who Gon Stop Me” and “Otis” as
images of Doberman pinschers, lions and tigers,
great white sharks and gazelle-killing cheetahs
flashed across a screen that wrapped around the
stagebound box.
The pair, who recently announced a partnership between West’s Donda Music and Jay Z’s
Roc Nation, each also played hits from their own
lengthy catalogs. West, engaged and smiling
and even occasionally trading high fives with
the crowd, performed “Black Skinhead” and
“New Slaves” from his latest album “Yeezus”
along with older hits like “Jesus Walks” and
“Runaway.” Jay Z offered favorites recent hit
“Tom Ford” from “Magna Carta ... Holy Grail,”
and standards “99 Problems,” “Empire State of
Mind,” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” and “Big
Pimpin’.” What they didn’t offer was any clues
about a sequel to their collaborative album
“Watch the Throne,” which is anticipated later
this year. — AP
Sony overhauls ‘Smurfs’
franchise, plans ‘Popeye’ movie
S
ony Pictures Animation is overhauling its
“Smurfs” franchise and pushing forward on a
sequel to 2012 hit “Hotel Transylvania,” the
studio division said Wedneday. It also announced
plans for computer animated version of “Popeye”
and an original animated film “Genndy
Tartakovsky’s Can You Imagine?” Plot details on
the latter project were kept under wraps.
The studio had great success with 2011’s
“Smurfs,” with the live action and computer graphic hybrid racking up more than $560 million at the
box office. Last year’s sequel still made $347.5 million globally, but that was less than some box
office prognosticators had expected and was
deemed a disappointment. This new version will
be entirely animated and Sony is swapping Raja
Gosnell, the director of the first two movies, for
Kelly Asbury, whose work on “Shrek 2 and
“Gnomeo & Juliet” gives him a deeper understanding of animation. It hits theaters in August 2015
and there are hints it will be an origins story.
“I’m really excited about taking the Smurfs in a
completely new fresh direction,” Asbury said in a
statement. “We’re not making a Smurfs 3 film. Our
character designs and environments will be stylistically closer to the original artwork created by Peyo.
Our story will explore the beginnings of the
beloved little blue creatures.” —Reuters
Lifestyle
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
‘Muppets Most Wanted’ review:
Caper sequel proves second
verse can be as good as the first
I
f it’s the fate of rebooted franchises to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, then let’s just say that
“Muppets Most Wanted” puts a fresher spin on “The
Great Muppet Caper” than “Star Trek Into Darkness” did to
“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Even if the 21st century
Muppet features don’t quite reach the pinnacle established while Jim Henson was alive, “Muppets Most
Wanted” is often as good as or even better than 2011’s
“The Muppets,” which wonderfully relaunched the cinematic shenanigans of Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and all the
felt-covered rest.
This latest chapter picks up precisely where the last one
left off, down to featuring stand-ins for the backs of Amy
Adams and Jason Segel, who have not returned.
Newcomer Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) wonders what’s
next, and the rest of the Muppets start singing a hilarious
ditty about sequels and doing everything all over again.
(Bret McKenzie, the “Flight of the Conchords” vet who
scored a Best Song Oscar last time around, provides a new
batch of clever and catchy tunes for the Muppets to sing.)
Constantine: The world’s most dangerous frog
Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) wants his newlyreunited crew to hone their act, but everyone else falls for
the sales pitch of one Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) - he
insists it’s pronounced “bad-jee” - to tackle a world tour.
Badguy’s plan is to replace Kermit with his look-alike
Constantine (voiced by Matt Vogel), “the world’s most
dangerous frog,” and to use the Muppet tour to cover up a
series of crimes across the European continent.
The presence or absence of a facial mole is all it takes to
dupe people that Constantine is Kermit, and vice versa, so
while Constantine tries to fill Kermit’s emcee shoes (despite
the fact that he can’t even say “Kyer-mitt” without an
accent), Kermit gets thrown into Constantine’s old cell at a
Russian gulag, overseen by no-nonsense Nadya (Tina Fey).
The script, by Nicholas Stoller and director James Bobin
(both veterans of the previous movie), is classic Muppets
in that it knows when to barrage the audience with gags
and when to provide enough plot to keep things moving
right along. Kermit tries to escape the gulag under cover
of the prison talent show he’s been dragooned into directing - and if you ever wanted to see Ray Liotta and Danny
Trejo perform “I Hope I Get It” from “A Chorus Line,” this
may be your one and only chance. Meanwhile, Sam the
eagle (voiced by Eric Jacobson), now all too fittingly a CIA
agent, tries to solve the rash of continental crimes with
Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell); the latter
being European, he often interrupts the investigation with
lengthy lunch hours and extended vacations.
Sensational and Celebrational
Try to avoid peeking at the IMDB page, since one of the
delights of “Muppets Most Wanted” is the cavalcade of
celebrity cameos that come fast and furious throughout
the film. Wisely, these famous faces never distract too
much from the movie’s real stars, and longtime Muppet
fans will enjoy appearances by invaluable second bananas
like the Swedish Chef (who gets to be at the center of a
hilarious Ingmar Bergman reference), Dr Bunsen Honeydew
and Beaker, and boomerang fish-tosser Lew Zealand.
Purists who nit-picked “The Muppets” for moments of
hipness or smuttiness or something else that they claimed
somehow besmirched the Henson legend will no doubt
find some tiny throwaway moment objectionable, but
overall “Muppets Most Wanted” remains sensational and
Actor Ricky Gervais, with Constantine, Miss Piggy and
Kermit the Frog pose at the premiere of Disney’s
‘Muppets Most Wanted’ at the El Capitan Theatre on
March 11, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. — AFP
celebrational, proving beyond a doubt that these beloved
characters will continue to lead a plush life on the big
screen for years to come. — Reuters
Rick Ross’s ‘Mastermind’ outfoxes
Pharrell’s ‘GIRL’ on Billboard 200
R
‘Fast & Furious 7’ resumes
production this month
‘F
ast & Furious 7 is shifting back into
production later this month,
Universal told TheWrap. The studio
said production, delayed since star Paul
Walker’s death in a car crash last November,
will resume March 31. The franchise’s star, Vin
Diesel, telegraphed that it was near Tuesday
in a Facebook post. “The transition into that
Dom state of mind has always beenan interesting one,” he wrote. “Only this time there is
added purpose, a collective goal to make this
the best one in the series... Ps. The long awaited completion of Seven, begins”
Production on the seventh installment of
the long-running vehicular action series has
been delayed since Walker’s death in a fiery
car crash. Production was more than halfcompleted at the time of the accident, and
was slated to go to Abu Dhabi to continue
filming.
Universal canceled what were supposed to
be the final days of production to allow the
cast and crew to grieve, as well as to figure
out how to proceed and adjust the story in
the wake of his loss. The studio, director
James Wan, producer Neal Moritz and writer
Chris Morgan have considered starting from
scratch, as The Wrap previously reported. The
film, initially slated to be released this year,
was pushed back to April 10, 2015. — Reuters
apper Rick Ross beat fellow hip-hop
star Pharrell Williams to the top of the
Billboard 200 album chart on
Wednesday, despite Pharrell’s high-profile
performance with leading film ladies at the
Oscars. Ross’s “Mastermind” became his
fifth No. 1 album after selling 179,000
copies in its first week, according to figures
from Nielsen SoundScan.
Pharrell’s “G I R L” sold 112,000 copies in
its first week and entered the chart at No. 2.
The release came after a month of highprofile performances from the singer at intimate parties and awards events, culminating in his singing his Oscar-nominated song
“Happy” and spontaneously dancing with
the actress nominees on the live Oscars
telecast. “Happy,” the lead song from Oscarnominated animated feature “Despicable
Me 2,” did retain its hold at No. 1 on
Billboard’s Digital Songs chart this week,
selling 490,000 downloads and bringing its
cumulative digital sales to more than 2.6
million units.
Both “Mastermind” and “G I R L” came in
ahead of Disney’s soundtrack to the animated princess tale “Frozen,” which placed
third on the chart, with sales of 100,000 this
week. The album has sold 1.3 million copies
since its release in November.
Other new entries on the top 10 of this
week’s Billboard 200 include “Glee” star Lea
Rick Ross
Michele’s debut record “Louder” at No. 4,
country music group Eli Young Band at No.
5 with “10,000 Towns,” and R&B star
Ashanti’s “Braveheart” at No. 10.
Cumulative album sales for the week ending March 9 totaled 5 million units, down 9
percent from the comparable week in 2013,
Billboard said. — Reuters
Lifestyle
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Khooshboo and Prem
Bollywood
film
actress
Jacqueline Fernandez showcases a creation by Indian designer
Tarun Tahiliani.
Fashion Week
Lakme
Models
showcase
creations by
Indian designer
Tarun Tahiliani
on the second
day of the
Lakme Fashion
Week (LFW)
Summer/Resort
2014 in Mumbai.
— AP/AFP
Lifestyle
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Suman Nathwani
Monica & Karishma
Khooshboo and Prem
Pallvi Singhee
Models accompany Indian Bollywood actress Mandira Bedi (center in black)
and her mother Gita.
Mandira Bedi
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Kuwait
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3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG)
3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG)
3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG)
3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG)
NO SUN+TUE+WED
360°- 3
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
(DIG-3D)
(DIG-3D)
(DIG-3D)
(DIG-3D)
(DIG-3D)
(DIG-3D)
1:15 PM
3:45 PM
6:15 PM
8:45 PM
11:15 PM
2:30 PM
4:45 PM
7:00 PM
9:15 PM
11:30 PM
BAIRAQ-1
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D)
12:30 PM
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D)
2:30 PM
MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 4:30 PM
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D)
6:30 PM
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D)
8:30 PM
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D)
10:30 PM
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D)
12:30 AM
NO SUN+TUE+WED
BAIRAQ-2
MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG)
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic)
MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG)
LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic)
REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG)
BAIRAQ-3
NON-STOP (DIG)
RED SKY (DIG)
NON-STOP (DIG)
RED SKY (DIG)
NON-STOP (DIG)
RED SKY (DIG)
NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:30 PM
3:30 PM
5:30 PM
7:30 PM
9:30 PM
11:30 PM
12:45 PM
3:00 PM
5:15 PM
7:45 PM
10:00 PM
12:15 AM
PLAZA
BEWAKOOFIYAAN (DIG) (Hindi)
FRI+SAT
MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG)
FORCE OF EXECUTION (DIG)
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG)
6:00 PM
8:00 PM
10:00 PM
LAILA
NON-STOP (DIG)
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG)
RED SKY (DIG)
6:15 PM
8:30 PM
10:30 PM
AJIAL.1
1983 (DIG) (Malayalam)
1983 (DIG) (Malayalam)
6:45 PM
9:45 PM
AJIAL.2
BEWAKOOFIYAAN (DIG) (Hindi)
BEWAKOOFIYAAN (DIG) (Hindi)
BEWAKOOFIYAAN (DIG) (Hindi)
5:30 PM
8:00 PM
10:30 PM
AJIAL.3
RAJA RANI (DIG) (Telugu)
RAJA RANI (DIG) (Telugu)
6:30 PM
9:30 PM
AJIAL.4
NIMIRNTHU NIL (DIG) (TAMIL)
NIMIRNTHU NIL (DIG) (TAMIL)
7:00 PM
10:00 PM
3:30 PM
FOR SALE
CHANGE OF NAME
Cooker Indesit gas 4 ring
with oven, Linen box, ironing
board, cloths hang rail with
shelf, dining table and 4
chairs, sofa 3 seats, office
desk, office chair, bookcase.
Personal trainer CPS with
heart monitor, dock station
for iPod, printer HP photosmart, safe. Tel: 94400865.
(C 4656)
Galant 2013, fully automatic,
like new, done km 13,600,
doctor-owned, KD 3,450
(price for new 5,450).
Contact: 66572082.
(C 4662)
12-3-2014
Black long leather coat, size
M-L with removable lining,
made in Turkey, price KD 55.
Also new white artificial fur
coat knee length, price KD 50
(both KD 90). Tel: 66293005.
10-3-2014
MATRIMONIAL
Pakistani Punjabi speaking
coming from landlord family
and working as Director
Services in a company looking for Pakistani girl residing
in Kuwait for immediate marriage. Fintas P.O. Box 1476,
Code 51015 / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
(C 4661)
I, Taza, holder of Indian
Passport No. K9682992 have
changed my name to
Murtaza Shabbir Husain
Raswala, residing at Partapur,
Rajasthan.
(C 4663)
I, Thopugunta Sudheer
holder of Indian Passport No.
K7916639 change my name
to Ali Haider Shaik, my
address in India is N.T.R.
Nagar, Chitvel, K.
Kandulayaripalli, Kadapa Dist,
AP, 516104. (C 4664)
13-3-2014
I, Safia Begum, D/O
Murugesan holder of Indian
Passport No. L0038265, date
of birth 5-10-1969. Residing
at no. 57 Tha Krishnappa
Vdiyar Street, Vandavasi Post.
T.S Dist. Tamil Nadu, 604408,
shall henceforth be known as
Murugesan Uma Mageswari.
(C 4660)
11-3-2014
I, Aju Kurackuva Koshy
Mathew Indian Passport No
H2014478 have changed my
name to Aju Mathew.
(C 4659)
10-3-2014
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR
CIVIL INFORMATION
Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is
1889988
112
Prayer timings
Fajr:
Shorook
Duhr:
Asr:
Maghrib:
Isha:
04:41
06:00
11:57
15:22
17:55
19:12
Te c h n o l o g y
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
A bit about these coins
FAQ on the rise of alternate currency
B
itcoin is a distributed peer-to-peer digital currency that can be transferred
instantly and securely between any two
people in the world. It’s like electronic cash
that you can use to pay friends or merchants.
What are bitcoins?
Bitcoins are the unit of currency of the
Bitcoin system. A commonly used shorthand for
this is “BTC” to refer to a price or amount (e.g.
“100 BTC”). There are such things as physical bitcoins, but ultimately, a bitcoin is just a number
associated with a Bitcoin Address. A physical bitcoin is simply an object, such as a coin, with the
number carefully embedded inside.
How can I get bitcoins?
There are a variety of ways to acquire bitcoins:
of these are true.
Is Bitcoin a ‘get-rich-quick’ scheme?
If you’ve spent much time on the Internet,
you’ve probably seen ads for many ‘get-richquick’ schemes. These ads usually promise
huge profits for a small amounts of easy work.
Such schemes are usually pyramid/matrixstyle schemes that make money from their
own employees and offer nothing of any real
value. Most convince one to buy packages
that will make them earn hundreds a day,
which in fact have the buyer distribute more
such ads, and make minute profits.
Bitcoin is in no way similar to these
schemes. Bitcoin doesn’t promise windfall
profits. There is no way for the developers to
make money from your involvement or to take
has something to offer those chasing conceptually interesting projects or bleeding edge technology.
As an investment,
is Bitcoin a sure thing?
Bitcoin is a new and interesting electronic
currency, the value of which is not backed by
any single government or organization. Like
other currencies, it is worth something partly
because people are willing to trade it for
goods and services. Its exchange rate fluctuates continuously, and sometimes wildly. It
lacks wide acceptance and is vulnerable to
manipulation by parties with modest funding.
Security incidents such as website and
account compromise may trigger major selloffs. Other fluctuations can build into positive
buy SLL with Paypal (which is acceptable by
Paypal’s TOS) and then exchange your SLL to
Bitcoin.While it is possible to find an individual
who wishes to sell Bitcoin to you via Paypal,
(perhaps via #bitcoin-otc ) most exchanges do
not allow funding through PayPal. This is due
to repeated cases where someone pays for bitcoins with Paypal, receives their bitcoins, and
then fraudulently complains to Paypal that
they never received their purchase. PayPal
often sides with the fraudulent buyer in this
case, which means any seller needs to cover
that risk with higher fees or refuse to accept
PayPal altogether. Buying Bitcoins from individuals this way is still possible, but requires
the seller to have some trust that the buyer
will not file a claim with PayPal to reverse the
payment.
How are new bitcoins created?
New bitcoins are generated by the network
through the process of “mining”. In a process
that is similar to a continuous raffle draw, mining nodes on the network are awarded bitcoins each time they find the solution to a certain mathematical problem (and thereby create a new block). Creating a block is a proof of
work with a difficulty that varies with the overall strength of the network. The reward for
solving a block is automatically adjusted so
that, ideally, every four years of operation of
the Bitcoin network, half the amount of bitcoins created in the prior four years are created.
What’s the current total number
of bitcoins in existence?
The number of blocks times the coin value
of a block is the number of coins in existence.
The coin value of a block is 50 BTC for each of
the first 210,000 blocks, 25 BTC for the next
210,000 blocks, then 12.5 BTC, 6.25 BTC and so
on.
How divisible are bitcoins?
A bitcoin can be divided down to 8 decimal
places. Therefore, 0.00000001 BTC is the smallest amount that can be handled in a transaction. If necessary, the protocol and related
software can be modified to handle even
smaller amounts.
* Accept bitcoins as payment for goods or
services
* The most common way to buy bitcoins are
the Bitcoin Exchanges
* There are several services where you can
trade them for traditional currency
* Find someone to trade cash for bitcoins inperson through a local directory
* Participate in a mining pool
* If you have a lot of mining hardware, you can
solo mine and attempt to create a new block
(currently yields 25 bitcoins plus transaction
fees)
* Visit sites that provide free samples and
offers
Does Bitcoin guarantee
an influx of free money?
Since Bitcoin is a new technology, what it is
and how it works may be initially unclear.
Bitcoin is sometimes presented as being one
of three things: Some sort of online ‘get-richquick’ scam; a loophole in the market economy, the installation of which guarantees a
steady influx of cash or a sure investment that
will almost certainly yield a profit. In fact, none
money from you. That bitcoins are nearly
impossible to acquire without the owner’s
consent represents one of its greatest
strengths. Bitcoin is an experimental, virtual
currency that may succeed or may fail. None
of its developers expect to get rich off of it.
Will I make money
by installing the client?
Most people who use Bitcoin don’t earn anything by doing so, and the default client has no
built-in way to earn Bitcoins. A small minority of
people with dedicated, high-performance hardware do earn some Bitcoins by “mining” with
special software, but joining Bitcoin shouldn’t
be construed as being the road to riches. Most
Bitcoin users get involved because they find the
project conceptually interesting and don’t earn
anything by doing so. This is also why you
won’t find much speculation about the political
or economic repercussions of Bitcoin anywhere
on this site: Bitcoin developers owe their dedication to the project’s intellectual yieldings
more than to those of a monetary nature.
Bitcoin is still taking its first baby steps; it may
go on to do great things but right now it only
feedback loops and cause much larger
exchange rate fluctuations. Anyone who puts
money into Bitcoin should understand the risk
they are taking and consider it a high-risk currency. Later, as Bitcoin becomes better known
and more widely accepted, it may stabilize,
but for the time being it is unpredictable. Any
investment in Bitcoin should be done carefully
and with a clear plan to manage the risk.
Can I buy bitcoins with Paypal?
It is possible to buy physical bitcoins with
PayPal but it is otherwise difficult and/or
expensive to do so for non-physical bitcoins,
because of significant risk to the seller.
There is a workaround that can be done in
order to use Paypal to buy Bitcoins but it holds
within it higher transaction fees. Using
theVirtual World Exchange you can buy
Second Life Lindens (SLL) with Paypal and
then convert your SLL to Bitcoins. This process
will charge you transaction fees of around 6
percent but will let you purchase Bitcoins pretty quickly as opposed to a wire transfer. The
reason this method works is because you do
not buy Bitcoins with Paypal directly, you only
How long will it take
to generate all the coins?
The last block that will generate coins will
be block #6,929,999 which should be generated at or near the year 2140. The total number
of coins in circulation will then remain static at
20,999,999.9769 BTC.
Even if the allowed precision is expanded
from the current 8 decimals, the total BTC in
circulation will always be slightly below 21 million (assuming everything else stays the
same). For example, with 16 decimals of precision, the end total would be
20,999,999.999999999496 BTC.
If no more coins are going to be generated,
will more blocks be created?
Absolutely! Even before the creation of
coins ends, the use of transaction fees will likely make creating new blocks more valuable
from the fees than the new coins being created. When coin generation ends, these fees will
sustain the ability to use bitcoins and the
Bitcoin network. There is no practical limit on
the number of blocks that will be mined in the
future.
— www.en.bitcoin.it
Stars
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Issues regarding freedom are apt to come up today in more ways
than one, Aries. These issues could be connected with opportunities for adventure and travel. Although you initially want to dive
into this promised freedom, take time to reflect on what you need
in your current situation before making any final decision. Don't
forget the other people in your life and how such actions might
affect them and your relationships.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
There is a great deal of startup energy working for you
today, Taurus. You may feel as if you're walking on hot
coals. This isn't a good day to sit on the couch watching TV.
The coals will burn you for sure. It's important that you keep
moving. Engage in activities that exercise your mind as well
as body. You'll feel much better if you can point to something and say that you created it.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Your energy will light up any room you enter today, Gemini.
Feel free to take advantage of this incredible magnetism by initiating and encouraging others to join you in creative activities
and bold adventures. However, be careful that your head doesn't get too big. You can be proud without becoming egotistical;
otherwise you'll end up losing your followers before you even
get started.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Put an extra spring in your step, Cancer. The slow, steady pace
may be something that you're comfortable with, but note that
the situations of the day call for something much more dynamic and brave. Pull out your leadership hat and put it on proudly.
Today is the day for you to call the shots, instead of compromising in order to get along with others.
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Be prepared for all-out combat with people today, Leo, even
though this is pretty much the opposite of your normal style.
In fact, "opposite" is the name of the game for you today.
Don't be surprised if you walk into an ice cream shop wanting
vanilla and all they have is chocolate. Remember to not get
upset by these types of situations over which you simply have
no control.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Control is apt to be a big theme for you and the people around
you today, Virgo. You'll find such a brutal dispute over who is
holding the reins that once someone finally gets a firm hold of
them, he or she is apt to take the situation to the extreme.
There's an aggressive tone to things that can't easily be ignored.
Keep an eye on your associates on a day like this.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
In general, things should be going extremely well for you
today, Libra, so don't miss this opportunity to pursue your
dreams in every sense of the word. Do things with passion and
don't hold back. Remember that your mind and will are the
only things stopping you from getting where you want to be.
There's a great deal of magnetism at your disposal today, so
enlist others to help you.
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
You may feel anxious today, even more so than usual, Scorpio.
Your nerves may be quite jittery, and there's a feeling that you
may not be on exactly the right track. More than likely, what
you need to do is simply calm down and relax. Let your brain
slow down and think clearly without the distraction of many
people telling you what to do.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Other people are the most important aspect of your day today,
Sagittarius. You'll find that things might get a bit difficult and
unruly alone, but if you connect with others, even the most
challenging task becomes almost effortless. One toothpick is
easily broken, but 50 toothpicks together are as strong as steel.
Conjure up this power created by a force of people who all
share a common goal.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Don't be a pushover today, Capricorn. This is your time to
lead. At least get your opinion out in the open and let it be
known to the people around you. Put some passion in your
day in order to liven things up and get the energy moving.
A powerful transformation may take place within you as
you start to wield your power instead of give it blindly
away to others.
Aquarius (January 20- February 18)
You have a great deal of power at your disposal today,
Aquarius. You should keep in mind that just about anything
you wish for will come true. Don't waste words or actions.
Concentrate your energy and focus it on one or two important
things instead of dispersing it and thereby diluting your overall
power. There isn't anything to fear on a day like this.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Think of today as a restorative time for yourself in which you can
come to a point of greater ease and comfort, Pisces. Trust yourself
and the people around you. Open your eyes to the reality of the
situation at hand. If you're currently working through some major
life changes, have faith that whatever happens will work out to
your benefit.
COUNTRY CODES
Afghanistan
0093
Albania
00355
Algeria
00213
Andorra
00376
Angola
00244
Anguilla
001264
Antiga
001268
Argentina
0054
Armenia
00374
Australia
0061
Austria
0043
Bahamas
001242
Bahrain
00973
Bangladesh
00880
Barbados
001246
Belarus
00375
Belgium
0032
Belize
00501
Benin
00229
Bermuda
001441
Bhutan
00975
Bolivia
00591
Bosnia
00387
Botswana
00267
Brazil
0055
Brunei
00673
Bulgaria
00359
Burkina
00226
Burundi
00257
Cambodia
00855
Cameroon
00237
Canada
001
Cape Verde
00238
Cayman Islands
001345
Central African Republic 00236
Chad
00235
Chile
0056
China
0086
Colombia
0057
Comoros
00269
Congo
00242
Cook Islands
00682
Costa Rica
00506
Croatia
00385
Cuba
0053
Cyprus
00357
Cyprus (Northern) 0090392
Czech Republic
00420
Denmark
0045
Diego Garcia
00246
Djibouti
00253
Dominica
001767
Dominican Republic 001809
Ecuador
00593
Egypt
0020
El Salvador
00503
England (UK)
0044
Equatorial Guinea 00240
Eritrea
00291
Estonia
00372
Ethiopia
00251
Falkland Islands
00500
Faroe Islands
00298
Fiji
00679
Finland
00358
France
0033
French Guiana
00594
French Polynesia
00689
Gabon
00241
Gambia
00220
Georgia
00995
Germany
0049
Ghana
00233
Gibraltar
00350
Greece
0030
Greenland
00299
Grenada
001473
Guadeloupe
00590
Guam
001671
Guatemala
00502
Guinea
00224
Guyana
00592
Haiti
00509
Holland (Netherlands)0031
Honduras
00504
Hong Kong
00852
Hungary
0036
Ibiza (Spain)
0034
Iceland
00354
India
0091
Indian Ocean
00873
Indonesia
0062
Iran
0098
Iraq
00964
Ireland
00353
Italy
0039
Ivory Coast
00225
Jamaica
001876
Japan
0081
Jordan
00962
Kazakhstan
007
Kenya
00254
Kiribati
00686
Kuwait
00965
Kyrgyzstan
00996
Laos
00856
Latvia
00371
Lebanon
00961
Liberia
00231
Libya
00218
Lithuania
00370
Luxembourg
00352
Macau
00853
Macedonia
00389
Madagascar
00261
Majorca
0034
Malawi
00265
Malaysia
0060
Maldives
00960
Mali
00223
Malta
00356
Marshall Islands
00692
Martinique
00596
Mauritania
00222
Mauritius
00230
Mayotte
00269
Mexico
0052
Micronesia
00691
Moldova
00373
Monaco
00377
Mongolia
00976
Montserrat
001664
Morocco
00212
Mozambique
00258
Myanmar (Burma) 0095
Namibia
00264
Nepal
00977
Netherlands (Holland)0031
Netherlands Antilles 00599
New Caledonia
00687
New Zealand
0064
Nicaragua
00505
Nigar
00227
Nigeria
00234
Niue
00683
Norfolk Island
00672
Northern Ireland (UK)0044
North Korea
00850
Norway
0047
Oman
00968
Pakistan
0092
Palau
00680
Panama
00507
Papua New Guinea 00675
Paraguay
00595
Peru
0051
Philippines
0063
Poland
0048
Portugal
00351
Puerto Rico
001787
Qatar
00974
Romania
0040
Russian Federation 007
Rwanda
00250
Saint Helena
00290
Saint Kitts
001869
Saint Lucia
001758
Saint Pierre
00508
Saint Vincent
001784
Samoa US
00684
Samoa West
00685
San Marino
00378
Sao Tone
00239
Saudi Arabia
00966
Scotland (UK)
0044
Senegal
00221
Seychelles
00284
Sierra Leone
00232
Singapore
0065
Slovakia
00421
Slovenia
00386
Solomon Islands
00677
Somalia
00252
South Africa
0027
South Korea
0082
Spain
0034
Sri Lanka
0094
Sudan
00249
Suriname
00597
Swaziland
00268
Sweden
0046
Switzerland
0041
Syria
00963
Taiwan
00886
Tanzania
00255
Thailand
0066
Toga
00228
Tonga
00676
Tokelau
00690
Trinidad
001868
Tunisia
00216
Turkey
0090
Tuvalu
00688
Uganda
00256
Ukraine
00380
United Arab Emirates00976
L e i s u re
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Word Search
Challenge Maze
C R O S S W O R D 4 8 6
ACROSS
1. A young woman making her debut into society.
4. A smouldering fire.
12. A dark-skinned member of a race of people living in Australia when Europeans
arrived.
15. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.
16. Low tufted evergreen shrubs of colder parts of north temperate regions having
mosslike foliage and nodding white or pink flowers.
17. 10 grams.
18. Formerly a contemptuous term of address to an inferior man or boy.
20. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.
21. Strike with disgust or revulsion.
23. The type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs.
25. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series).
27. The lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle).
28. An infant who is sponsored by an adult (the godparent) at baptism.
30. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.
33. A benevolent aspect of Devi.
34. Type genus of the Nepidae.
38. A historical area and former kingdom in northwestern Spain.
39. A French abbot.
42. One of the five major classes of immunoglobulins.
44. An association of people to promote the welfare of senior citizens.
46. Explosive consisting of a yellow crystalline compound that is a flammable toxic
derivative of toluene.
47. Experiencing motion sickness.
50. A midwestern state on the Great Plains.
53. A strong paper or thin cardboard with a smooth light brown finish made from e.g.
Manila hemp.
54. Of or relating to or in the manner of Erasmus.
55. Liquorice-flavored usually colorless sweet liqueur made from aniseed.
58. A unit of information equal to 1024 bytes.
59. (astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along
the celestial equator from the zenith crossing.
60. Imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and
expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy.
61. A rounded projection or protuberance.
64. A small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye.
69. Inquire about.
72. The cry made by sheep.
73. Clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion.
75. Joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia.
76. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.
77. Any plant of the genus Bergenia.
79. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.
80. A chronic skin disease occurring primarily in women between the ages of 20 and
40.
81. The father of your father or mother.
82. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.
telling effect.
4. Singing jazz.
5. Shrubby tree widely distributed along tropical shores.
6. A mouth or mouthlike opening.
7. North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North
America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the
Pacific Ocean.
8. Of a pale purple color.
9. An uproarious party.
10. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution
and protecting the environment.
11. Cause to move back by force or influence.
12. The sixth month of the civil year.
13. An island in Indonesia east of Java.
14. Look at with amorous intentions.
19. Cause to ripen.
22. A major victory by the Romans over the Macedonians in 168 BC.
24. An alloy of copper and zinc (and sometimes arsenic) used to imitate gold in cheap
jewelry and for gilding.
26. Psychoactive substance present in marijuana.
29. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.
31. Of or relating to or characteristic of the prehistoric Aegean civilization.
32. Of or relating to the Gypsies or their language or culture.
35. The Uralic language spoken by the Yeniseian people.
36. A large fan consisting of a frame covered with canvas that is suspended from the
ceiling.
37. Remote city of Kazakhstan that (ostensibly for security reasons) was made the
capital in 1998.
40. Bulky grayish-brown eagle with a short wedge-shaped white tail.
41. (Roman mythology) Roman god of death.
43. A digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.
45. An incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is
regarded as a right).
48. East Indian tree whose leaves are used for fodder.
49. A thin flexible tube inserted into the body to permit introduction or withdrawal of
fluids or to keep the passageway open.
51. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.
52. Projectiles to be fired from a gun.
56. Doctrine of enlightenment as the realization of the oneness of one's self and the
visible world.
57. A person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or Coast
Guard.
62. A member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according
to the seasons.
63. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within
a fleshy wall or pericarp.
65. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic
peoples.
66. A challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy.
67. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of
the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.
68. Try to manage without help.
70. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.
71. God of love and erotic desire.
74. Having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent of the color of blood
or cherries or tomatoes or rubies.
78. A state in midwestern United States.
Yesterday’s Solution
DOWN
1. Distinctive and stylish elegance.
2. English essayist (1775-1834).
3. An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a
Daily SuDoku
Yesterday’s Solution
42
Sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Hamilton rejects Mercedes ‘favourites’ tag
MELBOURNE: Mercedes driver Lewis
Hamilton has played down his team’s
“favourites” tag ahead of the season-opening
Australian Formula One Grand Prix Sunday,
saying technical changes make any predictions worthless.
The Briton and his teammate Nico
Rosberg have enjoyed the fastest times in offseason testing, leading many to tip Mercedes
as the car to beat going into the Melbourne
race. But the 2008 champion is not sure
Mercedes warrants all the hype as he prepares for Friday’s opening practice sessions at
the Albert Park circuit. “All the media are talking us up. Favourite driver, favourite team,”
Hamilton told reporters yesterday.
“I just don’t know what’s going to happen this weekend,” he added. Hamilton said
a raft of significant rule changes including a
return to turbocharged engines, a limit on
fuel and new energy recovery systems
meant it was hard to say which car would
come out on top.
“It’s very technical this year. Everybody is
in the same boat,” the 29-year-old said.
“There are lots of us trying to find where the
advantages can be.” Hamilton, who finished
fourth in last season’s drivers championship,
added that he was still getting used to the
setup of this year’s Mercedes. “Last year’s car
felt better, it was nicer to drive and we had a
lot more downforce and that was the car that
was in its fourth year of evolution,” he said.
“Now we are in a new phase and it’s
something that takes some time to get used
to.” Rosberg finished sixth in the overall
standings last year after winning at Monaco
and Silverstone. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel
won the drivers championship for the fourth
year in a row. —AFP
Massa keeping faith
for Schumacher
MELBOURNE: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds his arms out as he walks around the paddock
ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. —AP
Embattled Vettel vows
‘maximum’ in record bid
MELBOURNE: Red Bull ace Sebastien
Vettel yesterday vowed to “push to the
maximum” as he bids to shrug off preseason mechanical woes and claim a
record 10th successive win at the
Australian Grand Prix.
The young German clinched his
fourth straight world title in 2013 with a
record-equalling nine wins in a row,
matching the feat of Italy’s Alberto Ascari
60 years previously.
Victory on Sunday would give Vettel
an unprecedented 10th consecutive win
and a major boost in his attempt to
match Michael Schumacher by claiming
five titles in as many years. But Vettel’s
new Red Bull car is struggling to adapt to
new technical requirements which
include a turbocharged engine, energy
recovery system and fuel limit.
He tipped Lewis Hamilton of
Mercedes, an impressive performer in
testing, as the most likely winner in
Melbourne-but warned that Red Bull
wasn’t waving the white flag just yet. “It’s
difficult to have any sort of expectations
for most of us,” Vettel told reporters.
“But it’s a long season so I’m going
out here not trying to just to make it
round. I’m going out here to push to the
maximum and do the best I can and
then we will see where we are. “The tar-
get for sure is to finish and to finish in
the best possible position.
“For the rest of the year we are a
strong team, we have a lot of good people on board and we have strong
resources so I’m confident we should
progress as the season goes on.”
Hamilton, the 2008 world champion,
played down his chances in what is an
unusually unpredictable race owing to
the large number of technical changes.
Favourite driver, team
“All the media are talking us up.
Favourite driver, favourite team... I just
don’t know what’s going to happen this
weekend,” said the Briton, adding that
he expected stiff competition from
team-mate Nico Rosberg.
“It’s very technical this year and
everyone is in the same boat and everyone is trying to see where the advantage
is going to be between the two drivers,”
Hamilton said, referring to Rosberg.
“From race to race I think you’re
going to see one time he’s ahead, and
another time I’m ahead, the same that
you saw last year. The goal is to be ahead
on the track.”
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, teamed
this year with fellow former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, also said there was
great uncertainty before the seasonopener. “It’s very difficult to tell how
competitive we are at the moment and
we will know some answers in the next
24-48 hours,” said the Spaniard.
“I think the car itself and the technology that Formula One has brought this
year is a little complex for everyone and
we are learning and developing the car
every day.”
The plight of Schumacher, who
remains in an induced coma following a
skiing accident in December, will provide
a sombre backdrop to the start of the
new season. In a tribute to the seventime world champion, Brazilian driver
Felipe Massa will race with an “MS”
emblazoned on his helmet in his first
start for new team Williams.
“I always think about him every day.
I’m praying for him every day,” Massa
said. “So I hope everything can go back
and he’ll be okay. “For sure it was a
shame to see what has happened, but I
keep thinking about him. He’s on my
helmet and I’ll keep praying and hope
that things can be okay for him and he’s
coming back.” Schumacher’s family said
on Wednesday that the German great
was showing “small, encouraging signs
of recovery” from his severe head
injuries. —AFP
MELBOURNE: Felipe Massa remains hopeful his friend and former Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher can pull out of an
induced coma and return to health.
The retired seven-times Formula One champion suffered
severe head injuries when he slammed into a rock while skiing
off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel in December, and
has been in a stable but critical condition in a hospital in the
French city of Grenoble since.
Schumacher’s agent raised hope this week that the 45-yearold German might revive when she wrote of “small, encouraging signs” in his condition since doctors started lowering his
sedation in January to wake him up from the induced coma.
“I keep praying and believe that things can be okay for him
and he’s coming back,” Massa told reporters at Albert Park yesterday ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
“I always think about him every day, pray for him every day.
“For sure it was a shame to see what’s happened, but I keep
thinking about him. He’s on my helmet.”
The 32-year-old Massa joined Ferrari as a test driver in 2003
during Schumacher’s hey-day and after two seasons with
Sauber returned to the team in 2006 for the German’s last season at Maranello.
Brazilian Massa spent several days in an induced coma in
2009 after being hit by a bouncing spring from another car and
has led the tributes to Schumacher, the sport’s most successful
driver.
After eight years at Ferrari, largely overshadowed by twice
world championship-winning team mate Fernando Alonso,
Massa has been replaced by 2007 champion Kimi Raikonnen at
Maranello and moved to Williams, where he will be expected to
take a leading role ahead of 24-year-old Finn Valtteri Bottas.
Motivated
Despite coming off a wretched season in which they managed only five points and finished ninth in the constructors’
championship, a revamped Williams arrive at Albert Park more
confident after a good showing during pre-season testing.
“I feel the team is really motivated, they want to grow, to get
better and get back to the times when Williams was there,”
Massa said of the once-formidable team that won nine constructors titles between 1980 and 1997.
“I don’t know how competitive we can be, compared to the
other teams ... maybe we can see ourselves fighting with them
and being competitive with the top teams.
“I’m really looking forward and I think it can be a really nice
season for us, but how nice I don’t know.” —Reuters
MELBOURNE: Felipe Massa of Brazil signs autographs for fans at Albert Park ahead of the
Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne,
Australia, yesterday. —AP
Sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Teen Aussie sensation
sets sights on Olympics
HAIKOU: Teenage sensation Minjee Lee said she is in no rush to follow New Zealand’s Lydia Ko by turning professional as she plots a
path to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 17-year-old Australian has assumed Ko’s former crown by
becoming the world’s top-ranked amateur and making waves with
her performances at professional events. Last month, Lee won the
Victorian Open by six strokes and was runner-up to Tiger Woods’s
niece Cheyenne at the Australian Ladies Masters.
She tied for fourth in a star-studded field at last week’s World
Ladies Championship in China-and was then invited to her first major,
next month’s Kraft Nabisco Championship in California.
It’s a run which, together with warm praise from the likes of world
number one Park In-Bee, could tempt Lee to leap into the professional ranks at the first opportunity. But the level-headed Lee, who comes
from Perth, said she is not about to abandon her plan to turn professional late this year and build towards the next Olympics. “There’s no
rush,” she said at Mission Hills Haikou, during the World Ladies
Championship. “I am happy with my game but I still feel I have a lot to
learn. The aim is to get my card at the end of the year and turn pro
then.” Ko has started her first professional season in solid if unspectacular fashion as she makes the big adjustment to life on tour and a new
NHL results/standings
Results from the NHL games on Wednesday (home team
in CAPS); Boston 4, Montreal 1; Vancouver 3, Winnipeg 2
(So); Colorado 3, Chicago 2; Calgary 7, Anaheim 2.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PACIFIC DIVISION
W
L
OTL GF
43
16 7
210
42
17 7
205
38
22 6
162
31
24 11
184
30
28 10
160
26
33 7
159
23
35 8
166
GA
167
159
139
189
183
196
215
PTS
93
91
82
73
70
59
54
St. Louis
Colorado
Chicago
Minnesota
Dallas
Winnipeg
Nashville
CENTRAL DIVISION
44
14 7
213
43
18 5
202
38
14 14
225
34
22 9
161
32
23 10
188
30
28 9
184
28
28 10
160
148
174
175
161
181
195
195
95
91
90
77
74
69
66
Boston
Toronto
Montreal
Tampa Bay
Detroit
Ottawa
Florida
Buffalo
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
43
17 5
208
35
24 8
198
35
25 7
167
34
24 7
186
29
23 13
172
28
25 12
185
24
34 7
157
19
38 8
129
144
205
170
171
183
213
209
192
91
78
77
75
71
68
55
46
Pittsburgh
NY Rangers
Columbus
Philadelphia
New Jersey
Washington
Carolina
NY Islanders
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
44
17 4
206
35
27 4
172
34
26 5
190
33
25 7
184
29
24 13
163
30
27 10
193
28
28 9
163
25
33 9
188
159
165
179
190
168
202
185
228
92
74
73
73
71
70
65
59.
Anaheim
San Jose
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
coaching and management set-up. And Lee said this year, she plans
to restrict herself to a handful of professional events and the top amateur tournaments before taking the plunge into full-time golf. She
said the ultimate goal is Rio 2016, where golf will return to the
Olympic programme for the first time in more than 100 years.
Big future in the game
“Well, you’d be representing your country and what else could you
hope for as an athlete?” said Lee. “Going to the Olympics, playing for
your country and playing the sport that you love-it doesn’t get better
than that.” At the $600,000 World Ladies Championship, Lee was only
out-scored by three women, all top 10 players and major-winners:
Park, Suzann Pettersen and Ryu So-Yeon. Paired with Park over the
first two days on Mission Hills’s Blackstone course, she was a study in
concentration, following the world number one’s every move.
“(This event) definitely gives me confidence that I can mix it with
the pros and compete with them,” said Lee, who learned the game at
the Royal Fremantle Golf Club. “I feel like I have got a chance in any
tournament I play now.” She added: “I want to keep learning and
gaining experience and tournament such as this are giving me the
opportunity to do that. I am learning every round I play. —AFP
HAIKOU: This handout photo taken on March 4, 2014 and
released by Mission Hills yesterday to AFP shows Minjee
Lee of Australia, the world’s No 1 amateur player, teeing
off at the 15th hole during an official practice round for
the World Ladies Championship golf tournament at
Mission Hills Hainan in Haikou, on the southern Chinese
island of Hainan. — AFP
Varlamov helps Avalanche
to 3-2 win over Blackhawks
DENVER : Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots for his 100th NHL win
and Brad Malone scored his first goal of the season to help the
Colorado Avalanche hold off the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on
Wednesday. Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly added goals as the
Avalanche took four of five from the Blackhawks in the season series.
They also moved a point ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champions for second place in the Central Division. Patrick Kane and Brandon
Saad scored for Chicago. Varlamov became the fourth Russian-born
goaltender to record 100 wins, joining Evgeni Nabokov (347), Nikolai
Khabibulin (333) and Ilya Bryzgalov (213). This also was Varlamov’s
33rd win, second-most in the league behind Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre
Fleury (34).
Bruins 4, Canadiens 1
Second period goals by Carl Soderberg, Patrice Bergeron and
Milan Lucic led the Boston Bruins to a season-high sixth straight win
with a victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Goalie Tuukka Rask made
35 saves for Boston (43-17-5), who are on their longest winning streak
since a six-game run last season from Feb. 17 to March 2. Defenseman
Zdeno Chara scored his 15th goal 23 seconds into the third to put the
Bruins up 4-0. Montreal goalie Peter Budaj stopped 27 of 31 shots. The
Canadiens (35-25-7), who returned from a four-game trip to California
and Arizona, have lost four of five.
Canucks 3, Jets 2 (Shootout)
Chris Higgins scored the only goal of the shootout, deking
Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, and the Vancouver Canucks
handed the Jets a fifth straight defeat. Struggling Vancouver left
winger Alex Burrows scored his first two goals of the season, tying the
game on both occasions. Vancouver improved to 30-28-10 and now
have 70 points, bringing them to within four points of the Dallas Stars,
who have the second and final wild-card playoff spot, though Dallas
have played three fewer games. The Jets slipped to 30-28-9 and now
have 69 points.
Flames 7, Ducks 2
The Calgary Flames thrilled their fans at the Scotiabank
Saddledome by scoring a season-high seven times against Anaheim.
Mikael Backlund scored twice and had a three-point night for the
Flames (26-33-7), who will miss the playoffs for a fifth straight season.Andrew Cogliano and Nick Bonino replied for the Ducks (43-16-7),
who still sit top of the Pacific Division but are now winless in their past
four with only two points over that span. Ducks starting goaltender
Jonas Hiller was pulled after allowing three goals and five shots, while
Frederik Anderson surrendered four on 20 shots after entering the
game. — Reuters
CALGARY: Mikael Backlund #11 of the Calgary Flames chases Cam Fowler #4 of the Anaheim Ducks during an NHL game at
Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. — AFP
44
Sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Jets agree to terms with former Broncos WR Decker
NEW YORK: The New York Jets have
agreed to terms with former Denver
Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, considered by many the top free agent at
his position.
Decker spent all day Wednesday at
the Jets’ facility and had dinner with a
contingent of team officials, including
coach Rex Ryan. He gives quarterback
Geno Smith and the offense a sorely
needed laymaker and No. 1-type wide
receiver.
The Jets on Monday cut talented but
oft-injured wide receiver Santonio
Holmes after four seasons. The move
saved the Jets $8.25 million, and
Holmes was also scheduled to have a
$10.75 million cap number, a lofty total
for a one-time Super Bowl MVP who has
struggled with inconsistency the last
two seasons. He turned 30 last week.
The Jets get a rising star in Decker,
who last season combined with
Demaryius Thomas as the most prolific
receiving tandem (2,718 yards) in the
league, meshing with Peyton Manning
all year. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound
Decker, who’ll be 27 on Saturday, set
career highs with 87 catches and 1,288
yards receiving to go along with 11
touchdowns. He had 85 receptions for
1,064 yards and a career-best 13 TDs in
2012.
Getting a top receiver was a priority
as the Jets headed into free agency,
especially after parting with Holmes.
Decker emerged late last season, with a
four-touchdown breakout at Kansas
City on Dec. 1. Until then, the only starring role Decker enjoyed with the
Broncos had come in his reality TV
show about his wedding to country
and pop singer Jessie James.
He was in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie four years
ago with no extension in hand. He ended December with eight touchdowns
for the Broncos, a triumph of sorts for a
player who had contended with a balky
shoulder and endless comparisons to
teammates Thomas, Wes Welker and
Julius Thomas. The slump-busting performance against the Chiefs did wonders for him as the Broncos advanced
to the Super Bowl.
Also Wednesday, the Jets agreed to
terms with former Seattle Seahawks
right tackle Breno Giacomini, quickly
finding a replacement for Austin
Howard. The Jets re-signed backup
defensive lineman Leger Douzable to a
one-year deal, too.
Giacomini missed seven games with
Nets get Heat
again, win 96-95
MIAMI: Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter and
Mirza Teletovic scored 17 off the bench as the Brooklyn Nets beat Miami
for the third time in as many tries this season, topping the Heat 96-95
Wednesday.
Shaun Livingston scored 13 points, Andray Blatche added 11 and
Deron Williams had eight assists for the Nets, who’ve won seven of their
past eight games and are 23-9 since Jan. 1.
Chris Bosh scored 24 points for Miami, giving him 15,003 for his
career. Dwyane Wade scored 22, LeBron James finished with 19 and
Mario Chalmers scored 14 for the Heat.
Clippers 111, Warriors 98
Blake Griffin had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and Danny Granger
added 18 points off the bench as Los Angeles surged past Golden State
for its ninth straight victory. Chris Paul had 16 points, 12 assists and eight
rebounds for the Clippers, who split their four-game season series
against their Pacific Division rivals with an impressive finish to a tight
game.
Los Angeles has the third-longest winning streak in club history and
the team’s best record after 66 games (46-20). Klay Thompson scored 26
points and David Lee had 20 for the Warriors, whose five-game winning
streak ended with their fourth straight loss to the Clippers at Staples
Center. Stephen Curry had just 13 points and 11 assists before sitting out
the final minutes.
Kings 115, 76ers 98
Rudy Gay scored 27 points and Isaiah Thomas added 20 as
Sacramento extended Philadelphia’s losing streak to 18 games.
DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Ben McLemore
scored 15 points for the Kings, who snapped a three-game skid. Jason
Thompson added 14.
The Kings are in the midst of a seven-game, 12-day road trip, their
longest of the season. They are 2-3 on the trip. Henry Sims posted
career-highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds, James Anderson added 17
points and Thaddeus Young had 16 for Philadelphia, which fell to 15-49
in dropping its 14th in a row at home, an ongoing franchise record.
Michael Carter-Williams had 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists
two nights after earning his second career triple-double.
Spurs 103, Trail Blazers 90
Patty Mills scored 15 points, and Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11
rebounds in limited minutes as San Antonio rolled to its eighth straight
win. Damian Lillard had 23 points for Portland, which lost LaMarcus
Aldridge to a bruised back early in the second half.
Danny Green added 14 points for San Antonio, Manu Ginobili scored
13, Kawhi Leonard had 12, and Tiago Splitter had 12 points and 10
rebounds. San Antonio’s bench outscored Portland’s 46-23, enabling
coach Gregg Popovich to limit Duncan, Parker, Ginboli, Splitter and
Green to less than 30 minutes. Portland opened the third on an 8-0 run
after trailing by as many as 17 in the first half, but lost Aldridge 43 seconds into the quarter.
a knee injury last season for Seattle, but
was back in time for the Seahawks’ run
to their Super Bowl title against Denver.
The 6-foot-7, 318-pound Giacomini will
replace Howard, who signed with
Oakland as a free agent after starting
every game the last two seasons.
Giacomini was a fifth-round pick in
2008 of Green Bay, where he spent
three seasons before spending the last
three with Seattle.
Douzable signed with New York as a
free agent last offseason and had 20
tackles and a career-high 11/2 sacks.
The Jets earlier released cornerback
Antonio Cromartie, clearing $17.75 million of salary cap space. New York could
also save another $8.3 million if they
cut quarterback Mark Sanchez, who
missed last season with a shoulder
injury. —AP
NBA results/standings
Results from the NBA games on Wednesday (home team in
CAPS); Brooklyn 96, Miami 95; Denver 120, Orlando 112;
Sacramento 115, Philadelphia 98; Toronto 101, Detroit 87;
Charlotte 98, Washington 85; NY Knicks 116, Boston 92;
Memphis 90, New Orleans 88; Dallas 108, Utah 101; San
Antonio 103, Portland 90; Cleveland 110, Phoenix 101.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
W
L
36
27
33
30
26
40
22
43
15
49
PCT
0.571
0.524
0.394
0.338
0.234
GB
3
11
15
21
Indiana
Chicago
Detroit
Cleveland
Milwaukee
CENTRAL DIVISION
47
17
35
29
25
40
25
40
13
51
0.734
0.547
0.385
0.385
0.203
12
22
Miami
Washington
Charlotte
Atlanta
Orlando
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
44
18
33
31
31
34
27
35
19
47
0.71
0.516
0.477
0.435
0.288
12
14
17
27
0.734
0.646
0.508
0.438
0.338
5
14
19
25
Toronto
Brooklyn
NY Knicks
Boston
Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia 76ers’s Henry Sims, left,
and Sacramento Kings’s Jason Thompson battle for a
rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball
game on Wednesday, in Philadelphia. —AP
Knicks 116, Celtics 92
Carmelo Anthony scored 19 of his 34 points in the first half as New
York opened a 24-point lead and coasted past Boston for its fifth straight
win. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points, J.R. Smith 13 and Cole Aldrich
had 12 with 10 rebounds in his first career start for the Knicks, who are
making a charge for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff
spot. The victory moved the Knicks into ninth place, a half-game ahead
of Detroit, which lost in Toronto on Wednesday. They are three games
behind eighth-place Atlanta. Jeff Green led Boston with 27 points. Kris
Humphries and Jerryd Bayless each had 15 for the Celtics, who have lost
nine of 12.
Cavaliers 110, Suns 101
Kyrie Irving scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as
Cleveland spoiled Eric Bledsoe’s return for Phoenix. Spencer Hawes
added 19, 17 in the first quarter, and Luol Deng scored 18 as the Cavs
snapped a four-game losing streak.
Bledsoe, who had knee surgery and missed 33 games, had 15 points
on 5-for-16 shooting and a team-high nine assists. Goran Dragic scored
20 points, Markieff Morris 18 and Channing Frye 17 in the Suns’ third
straight loss. Irving also had nine rebounds and six assists for the Cavs,
who never trailed, building a 14-point first-quarter lead. The Suns twice
cut it to two in the third quarter. —AP
WESTERN CONFERENCE
NORTHWEST DIVISION
Oklahoma City
47
17
Portland
42
23
Minnesota
32
31
Denver
28
36
Utah
22
43
34
LA Clippers
Golden State
Phoenix
Sacramento
LA Lakers
PACIFIC DIVISION
46
20
41
25
36
28
23
42
22
42
0.697
0.621
0.563
0.354
0.344
5
9
22
23
San Antonio
Houston
Memphis
Dallas
New Orleans
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
48
16
44
20
38
26
39
27
26
38
0.75
0.688
0.594
0.591
0.406
4
10
10
22
Sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Wales ring six changes against Scotland
LONDON: Wales coach Warren Gatland named six
changes yesterday in his side to play Scotland tomorrow as
the champions look to finish the Six Nations with a flourish.
Wales’ 29-18 loss to England at Twickenham on Sunday
ended their hopes of becoming the first side to win an
unprecedented third successive Six Nations title.
Gatland responded by making changes across the
team, although several are injury-enforced. Three come in
the backs with Liam Williams replacing Leigh Halfpenny
following the star full-back’s season-ending shoulder injury
at Twickenham, while Mike Phillips comes in for scrum-half
Rhys Webb, who also suffered a knock against England.
But at fly-half Dan Biggar makes his first start of the
championship following Rhys Priestland’s lacklustre display
against England, with James Hook again left kicking his
heels on the bench.
Up front, prop Gethin Jenkins will become Wales’ mostcapped player when he makes his 105th appearance, one
more than former fly-half Stephen Jones, although the veteran forward will hope to avoid a third successive yellow
card after being sin-binned at Twickenham for failing to
scrummage straight.
Jenkins is a member of a changed front row where
Scarlets duo Rhodri Jones and hooker Ken Owens make
their first starts of the Championship. Luke Charteris
returns from injury to partner Alun Wyn Jones in the second row with the rest of the pack unchanged.
Ospreys front row forwards Richard Hibbard and Adam
Jones drop to the bench as does Priestland. Defeats this
season by Ireland and England, both vying for the title
tomorrow, have led to accusations Wales are becoming
too predictable a a side when faced with major opposition.
Accurate execution
Nevertheless they will still be favourites to beat a
Scotland team seeking a first win in Cardiff since 2002 and
whose lone success this tournament was a last-gasp win
over Italy, although they were unluckly to lose 19-17 to
France at Murrayfield last weekend.
“Saturday is an opportunity for us to put in a performance we know we can and finish the Six Nations on a high,”
said Gatland. “We’ve made a number of changes and
freshened things up with a just a six day turnaround
between matches,” the New Zealander added.
“Liam (Williams) and Mike (Phillips) come in with Leigh
(Halfpenny) and Rhys (Webb) ruled out and Dan Biggar
gets his opportunity at fly-half. “In the front-row Ken
Owens and Rhodri Jones get their chance to start after
impressing off the bench and it’s good to have Luke
(Charteris) back from injury in the second-row.
Turning to Wales’ opponents, Gatland said: “Scotland
will come looking to play some rugby and had a morale
boosting win against Italy and were unlucky to lose against
France in recent weeks.
“We will be looking for a more accurate execution this
week to finish with a win at home in Cardiff.” Saturday’s
match will be former Wales coach Scott Johnson’s last in
charge of Scotland, with the Australian handing over to
New Zealander Vern Cotter at the end of the season to concentrate solely on his role as director of rugby at the
Scottish Rugby Union. Wales team to play Scotland in a Six
Nations international at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on
Saturday (1445GMT kick-off):
Wales (15-1)
Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie
Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Taulupe
Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Alun Wyn
Jones, Luke Charteris; Rhodri Jones, Ken Owens, Gethin
Jenkins Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Adam
Jones, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys
Priestland, James Hook. — AFP
Federer advances as Wawrinka,
Murray fall at Indian Wells
PRETORIA: South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius
leaves after a hearing of his murder trial at the North
Gauteng High Court in Pretoria yesterday.— AFP
Police back in dock
at Pistorius trial
PRETORIA: Oscar Pistorius’s defence lawyer grilled a police forensics expert for a second day yesterday, questioning his qualifications
in a bid to discredit key evidence from the night the Paralympian
shot dead his girlfriend. Barry Roux resumed a searing cross-examination of Colonel Gerhard Vermeulen, hoping to rubbish his testimony that could indicate the double-amputee sprinter lied about
how events unfolded on February 14, 2013.
Pistorius, 27, stands accused of intentionally killing Reeva
Steenkamp, 29, by shooting at her through a locked toilet door,
though he says he mistook her for an intruder.
Pistorius’s defence claims the athlete, after realising his mistake,
tried to break open the door with a cricket bat, while the prosecution is positioning to argue that the couple were fighting and
Pistorius fired the gun after failing to beat down the door.
Vermeulen on Wednesday testified that Pistorius was likely on
his stumps when he bashed on the door with the cricket bat, contradicting the accused’s account that he was wearing his prostheses
at the time. The four bullet holes and cricket bat marks on the bathroom door offer valuable ballistic and forensic evidence about the
sequence of events in the case.
Mishandled
Roux yesterday attempted to show it was significant that
Vermeulen did not have any formal qualifications to examine tool
marks and did not conduct a microscopic examination of the door.
Vermeulen earlier admitted police may have mishandled the evidence, with footprints matching police boots appearing on the
door in evidence photos, that were later rubbed off.
Roux claimed they could have been from Pistorius’s prostheses,
proving he had them on at the time the door was broken down.
He also said the door was removed from the crime scene and
propped up against a cabinet and that shards of the door, which
could have shone light on what happened the night of the killing,
were missing.—AFP
INDIAN WELLS: Roger Federer cruised
into the quarter-finals of the PNB Paribas
Open at Indian Wells on Wednesday after
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and
Australian Open winner Stanislas
Wawrinka both fell in the fourth round.
In a tournament full of surprises,
Federer struck a blow for the old world
order with a 6-4 6-4 win over German
Tommy Haas.
The only player left in the men’s draw
with a higher ranking than world number
eight Federer is Serbia’s Novak Djokovic,
who was due to play Marin Cilic in
Wednesday’s feature night match.
Wawrinka and Murray joined the bigname casualties when they both crashed
to lower-ranked opponents on another
day of upsets in the Californian desert.
Wawrinka suffered his first loss this
year when his 13-match winning streak
came to a shuddering halt as he was beaten 7-6(1) 4-6 6-1 by South African Kevin
Anderson.
“It wasn’t really on my mind that he
had won Australia,” said Anderson, whose
next opponent is Federer. “It feels great to
beat somebody who obviously has just
won a grand slam.”
Murray was blown away by Canada’s
Milos Raonic, one of the biggest servers in
men’s tennis. Despite winning the first set,
the Scotsman was unable to contain the
raw power of Raonic, who triumphed 4-6
7-5 6-3 in a little over two hours.
Raonic blasted 15 aces past his bewildered opponent, who is one of the best
returners in the game, and won a staggering 83 per cent of points when he landed
his first serve.
Murray did break Raonic’s serve in the
opening set and again in the deciding
third to lead 2-1 but lost the next four
games in a row against the 6ft 5in (1.96
metre) tall Canadian. “To get broken two
consecutive times in that situation isn’t
good enough. I played poor tennis at that
stage. I didn’t make enough balls and I
missed some really easy shots,” Murray
told reporters.
“It’s tough to win matches like that,
because against him, he obviously wins a
lot of free points with his serve. So over
the course of the set, if you give up
enough unforced errors on basic shots,
then with the amount of free points he
gets on his serve, that’s going to add up to
a negative result.”
Giant killer
Raonic’s next opponent in the quarterfinals will be Ukrainian giant killer
Alexandr Dolgopolov who followed up his
upset victory over Rafa Nadal on Monday
with a comprehensive 6-2 6-4 drubbing of
Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
“I think the most important thing is
obviously my serve and the beauty of that
is nobody can affect me,” Raonic said.
John Isner kept American hopes alive
with a 7-6(3) 3-6 6-3 win over Spain’s
Fernando Verdasco while Latvia’s Ernests
Gulbis defeated Roberto Bautista of Spain
7-6(0) 4-6 6-2.
A third Spaniard, Feliciano Lopez, was
sent packing by Frenchman Julien
Benneteau, losing 6-3 7-6(4).
In the only match completed in the
women’s draw, Romania’s Simona Halep
cruised into the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2
victory over Australian qualifier Casey
Dellacqua.
Halep only needed an hour to wrap up
a lopsided victory and will now play either
second seed Agnieszka Radwanska or
Jelena Jankovic on Friday. “I had no pressure,” said Halep, who is poised to break
into the world’s top five rankings for the
first time. “I was more relaxed than yesterday. I said that if I’m in the quarter-finals I
have to enjoy it.” — Reuters
CALIFORNIA: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return against Croatia’s Marin Cilic
during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament at Indian Wells Tennis Garden
on Wednesday in Indian Wells, California. — AFP
Sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Obaid Al-Osaimi with the ladies youth 10m pistol winners
Eng Duaij Al-Otaibi with the 10m pistol event winners. —Photos by Sherif Ismail
Kuwait crowned champions
of HH the Amir Grand Prix
KUWAIT: Kuwait shooters emerged winners at HH the Amir
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Grand Prix by winning gold, silver and
bronze medals at the Trap event. Talal Al-Rashidi won gold,
Nasser Al-Miqlid won silver and Khalid Al-Mudhaf bagged
bronze. Legends like Michael Diamond and Adam Fella failed in
the shooting event. Kuwait tops the table with two gold, two
silver and three bronze medals followed by Qatar, Egypt, and
North Korea who won gold medal each. Slovenia, Switzerland
and Scotland won silver medal each while Thailand and
Lebanon walked away with bronze.
The final day of the 7th Asian Air Gun Championship witnessed heated competition between China, India, South Korea,
Mongolia and Thailand, and two Asian records were broken in
the process. South Korea’s Kim Cheongyoung won the 10M
youth pistol event and was followed by Thailand’s Chokkaeo
Jettakan and Uzbik Svechnikov. Thailand placed first in the
team event and was followed by Iran and India.
In the ladies’ youth 10M pistol event, Korea’s Kim Minjung
won gold and was followed by India’s Yashaswini while her
compatriot Goel Malaika won a bronze medal. In the team
event, India won gold while China was placed second and Iran
came third.
In the 10M air pistol junior event for men, Mongolia’s
Ganbaatar Buyanbaatar won first place and was followed by
Malaysia’s Chew Eddy and his compatriot Zhang Zhuanqiang
who was placed third. In the team event, India won first place
and was followed by China and Mongolia.
China’s Qian Wei won the gold medal in the 10M junior
women pistol event while her compatriot Huang Xiao won
second place and India’s Gawande Shrea stood third. In the
team event, China won gold, India took home silver and
Mongolia walked away with bronze.
China topped the table in the 7th Asian Air Gun
Championship with 11 gold, eight silver and six bronze, followed by India with five gold, six silver and eight bronze.
South Korea walked away with two gold, silver and bronze
while Iran took home gold, two silver and two bronze.
Thailand got a gold medal and silver, Uzbekistan gold and
bronze, Singapore a gold medal, Taipei got silver and bronze,
Malaysia got silver and Saudi and Oman took home a bronze
each.
President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Duaij
Khalaf Al-Otaibi expressed his happiness at the success of HH
the Amir International Grand Prix. Al-Otaibi thanked HH the
Amir for his unlimited support of the Grand Prix in particular
and Kuwait Shooting Federation in general which reflected
positively. He added that HH the Amir is the spiritual leader of
Kuwait’s Shooting Federation and his support gives them confidence.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of Kuwait and Arab Shooting
Federation Obaid Al-Osaimi said the organizing committee had
not received any complaint which meant that the event was a
grand success. He dedicated the success to HH the Amir and
said that without his support, “we would not have reached this
international level of organization which was lauded by all”.
Al-Osaimi congratulated Kuwait’s champions who performed well during the Grand Prix and competed with international champions including Olympic winners.
Obaid Al-Osaimi with Tunisian referee
Salem Al-Dahish
By Abdellatif Sharaa
Adnan Nasser Al-Ibrahim
Third Grand Prix
shooting tourney
concludes
By Shereif Ismail
KUWAIT: Kuwait Shooting Sports Club Assistant Treasurer
Adnan Nasser Al-Ibrahim congratulated and thanked HH
the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber for supporting
the 3rd Grand Prix which concluded yesterday. Al-Ibrahim
said the Grand Prix is considered a successful gigantic step
forward for shooting in terms of adhering to international
standards. The tournament attracted well-known world
champions as it bears HH the Amir’s name and witnessed
an unprecedented number of shooters.
Kyrgyzstan coach instructing a shooter
Sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Dr Nidal Sayyed Omar honoring the Chinese ladies team
Adnan Al-Ibrahim hands flowers to Chinese team
Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi with an ASC official
Marian and her mama
Wael Ghandoor, Ahmad Amer, Hassan Adbelsattar
Security man Ashri
Security volunteer Musaed Al-Dhubaibi
Esraa Jassim
www.kuwaittimes.net
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014
KUWAIT: Amina Ismail, Eng. AlGhurba, Eng. Al-Otaibi, Obaid AlOsaimi with Kuwaiti Shooters,
winners of the men’s trap event.
Kuwait crowned champions
of HH the Amir Grand Prix
Pages 46 and 47