Amir attends national loyalty operetta

Transcription

1 basketball Page 44 THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Established in 1977 / THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 / RAJAB 9, 1438 AH emergency number 112 NO PAGES 150 FILS SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH NERVE AGENT... TOLL AT 72 Kuwait denounces massacre in Syria World divided on fi xing blame Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Sabah US$/KD /95 Newswatch Air laptop ban in workaround DUBAI, April 5, (RTRS): Emirates airline said on Wednesday it would start lending first and business class passengers tablets in response to the US ban on most personal electronic devices from passenger cabins of United States-bound flights. On March 25 the US banned electronic devices larger than a mobile phone from cabins on direct flights to the United States from 10 airports in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, including the United Arab Emirates. Emirates is introducing the service to mitigate the inconvenience of the ban on passengers, the Middle East airline said in a statement. The service started on Wednesday. The decision follows similar measures introduced last week by Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, which are also affected by the ban. The restrictions, prompted by reports that militant groups want to smuggle explosive devices in electronic gadgets, state that electronics larger than a mobile phone including laptops and tablets must be stowed with checked baggage on US-bound passenger flights. KUWAIT CITY: The Kuwaiti Army on Wednesday categorically denied reports that an aircraft of the Kuwaiti Air Force had violated the Iraqi air space. The chairmanship of staff said it was determined that no such breach had taken place after reviewing electronic and radar data. The army affirms its literal adherence to international treaties and charters on respecting States sovereignty as well as its commitment to principles of good neighborliness. (KUNA) WASHINGTON: Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday introduced legislation that would require border agents to obtain a warrant before searching data held on electronic devices belonging to Americans. The bill comes amid rising concern among civil liberties advocates about the effect on privacy of border searches of social media information, photos and held on phones and laptops, which have grown in frequency in recent years and do not require a warrant. President Donald Trump s Continued on Page 37 Euro/KD Yen/KD British /KD KSE pts at closing April 5 See Page 35 Dow pts at 21:45 April 5 See Page 36 Nasdaq pts at 21:45 April 5 FTSE pts at closing April 5 Nikkei pts at closing April 5 Gold $1, per oz (London) NYMEX crude $51.20 pb Brent crude $54.41 pb 3-month $ LIBOR rate % BRUSSELS, April 5, (Agencies): The State of Kuwait on Wednesday condemned in strong terms the ugly crime in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, called on the international community to intervene and halt Syrians blood-spilling and prosecuting officials responsible for such crimes. Addressing the Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended and patronized at Bayan Palace Wednesday a national operetta celebrating loyalty to Kuwait. The event was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Faisal Al-Saud Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah. The operetta was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sabah, Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anas Al-Saleh, other ministers, senior officials of the State, as well as high ranking officers from the army, police, Kuwait National Guard (KNG), and Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD). The operetta saw the participation of students from different schools. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf were honored during the festivities. MPs propose disaster center By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, April 5: MPs Adnan Abdul-Samad and Khalil Aboul have presented a proposal for the formation of the National Center for Disasters and Crises Management and Response. According to the MPs this proposal was necessitated by the absence of a regulatory administrative body to manage disasters and crises. In support of their proposal they cited Article 25 of the Kuwaiti Constitution which states The State shall ensure the solidarity of society in shouldering burdens resulting from public disasters and calamities, and provide compensation for war damages or injuries received by any person as a result of the discharge of his military duties. Since it is imperative to protect the country and citizens from any disaster or crisis, an efficient permanent competent entity should be set up to prevent and/or protect the country from disasters and crises that may occur. They proposed the establishment of a National Center for Disasters and Crises Management and Response which should be under National Security Apparatus and specialized in carrying out tasks such as: Continued on Page 37 King says has hope for Israel-Palestinian peace Abdullah hails Trump engagement WASHINGTON, April 5, (RTRS): Jordan s King Abdullah praised US President Donald Trump s commitment to addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said he had hope for the Arab League peace initiative proposed for the region. The president s early engagement in bringing the Palestinians and Israelis together has been a very encouraging sign for all of us, Abdullah said at a White House news conference with the new American president. Abdullah said the Arab League peace initiative offers a historic reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians. Trump said on Wednesday the United States and its allies will destroy Islamic State and protect civilization. We will destroy ISIS and we will protect civilization. We have no choice, Trump said at a joint White House news conference with Jordan s King Abdullah, referring to Islamic State by an acronym. He said the king has been a leader in the fight to defeat Islamic State once and for all. Meanwhile, Trump denounced the chemical attack in Syria as an affront to humanity Wednesday, declaring that it crossed many, many lines and cannot be tolerated. But he pointedly refused to say what action the US might take in response. Trump, facing one of his first major global crises, blamed the attack squarely on Syrian President Bashar Assad. Only days earlier Trump s administration had said Assad s ouster was no longer a US priority, but he said the attack that killed 72 people had shifted his views. That attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me. Big impact, Trump said in the White House Rose Garden. My attitude towards Syria and Assad has changed very much. Still, Trump was adamant that he would not telegraph any potential US military retaliation, even as his UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, was promising a strong and perhaps even unilateral American response. Trump said disclosing military action Continued on Page 37 Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah stated, we are holding this crucial meeting which calls for alleviating the humanitarian hardships suffered by the brotherly Syrian people. We meet here while pictures of the ugly massacre that happened yesterday in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib still vivid in our consciousness. The State of Kuwait strong denounces this criminal action, renews the call upon the international community to implement relevant international resolutions related to protecting the brotherly Syrian people, putting an end to the Amir attends national loyalty operetta US President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Rania, shakes hands with Jordan s King Abdullah II in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 5. (AP) Other Voices ali-albaghli@hotmail.com IS kills 31 in Tikrit TIKRIT, Iraq, April 5, (RTRS): At least 31 people were killed, including 14 police officers, and more than 40 wounded in attacks overnight by Islamic State militants in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit, security and medical sources said on Wednesday. The militants wore police uniforms and used a police vehicle to enter the city, 175 kms (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police colonel Khalid Mahmoud told Reuters. He said there were around 10 attackers, including two suicide bombers. Islamic State s Amaq news agency said seven suicide fighters attacked a police position and the home of the head of the city s counter-terrorism service, who was killed. The assailants blew themselves up when they ran out of ammunition, it said. A total of 31 bodies were taken to hospital, including 14 policemen, said Nawfal Mustafa, a doctor at the city s main hospital. The death toll rose during the morning as the bodies of civilians killed in their shops were found. Continued on Page 5 KUNA photos All those who do not read history By Ali Al-Baghli Former Minister of Oil GEORG Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a German philosopher, once said, We learn from history that we do not learn from history. A German-Russian philosopher Karl Marx said, History repeats itself twice, first time as tragedy, second time as farce. A Spaniard philosopher George Santayana said, Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Former American president Harry Truman said, There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know. The French author and poet Stephanie Al-Baghli Hessel said, Those who forget history are doomed to relive it once again. Egyptian Najib Al-Mahfoudh once said, The problem with our quarter is everything in Egypt is forgotten after a while. These glowing quotes are particularly applicable to the children of Islam and Arabs due to their mastery in not benefiting from the events of history such that the same events keep reoccurring every century but no one seems to be awake and seeking to avoid them. In this regard, it is enough to quote what our former enemies Zionists, who have now been substituted with new enemies represented by the first Israel Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion said, In our war with Arabs, we depend on the fact that they are a nation that does not read. This means we are a nation that has not benefited from past events and learnt any lessons from them. I read these above mentioned radiant Continued on Page 37 cycle of violence and blood shedding in Syria, while emphasizing the necessity to bring officials responsible for such crimes to justice, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled stressed. Since end of the London conference, where Kuwait pledged $300 million at a rate of $100 million each year between 2016 and 2018, it had honored its pledge for Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled indicated that Kuwait had honored its financial obligations for the Syrians when Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) inked memoranda of understanding with the countries hosting the refugees namely Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey for funding projects in health, educational and utility sectors. Relieves Moreover, Kuwait had provided some $29 million to international agencies, which relieves the Syrian peoples in their home country, and the neighboring ones, he said. It will honor its pledges for 2017 and 2018 by providing more than $600 million for infrastructural projects in countries neighboring Syria, in addition to $58 million to relief agencies operating on the ground, the first deputy premier and foreign minister added. Elaborating, he indicated that Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Science had secured more than 9,000 teaching scholarships for the refugees in the countries around Syria. The Syrian crisis which has entered its seventh year is tantamount to a bloody humanitarian catastrophe that has claimed more than 400,000 lives, along with some 12 million others who have turned either displaced or refugees, thus casting a shadow not only on the internal conditions in Syria and neighboring countries but also on various states across the globe, undermining international security and stability, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said. Aware of the volume of this humanitarian disaster, the State of Kuwait had hosted three international conferences for donors to provide humanitarian aid for the Syria, in 2013, 2014 and Moreover, Kuwait had cochaired the fourth international conference for states pledging assistance for the Syrians in London in February Aid Total Kuwaiti aid for the Syrians in the four conferences had reached $6.6 billion, he confirmed, while urging other nations that have not paid their pledged contributions to do so. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said that since the first pledging conference that was held in Kuwait, the country has shouldered its responsibility towards the international community and to the Syrian people. We were hoping that the only pledging conference for the crisis would be that of Kuwait in 2013, but unfortunately today we are obliged to organise many other pledging conferences and we reached the fifth one, he told a news conference after the first session of the international conference on Syria in Brussels today. He noted that this protracted crisis has spilled over to the neighboring countries and many UN reports draw our urgent need to access swiftly the beneficiaries within Syria and also to extend assistance and help to neighbouring countries who host a great number of refugees, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Along with this humanitarian assistance we also need a development programme in order to upgrade the capacities of Continued on Page 37

2 LOCAL 2 KUNA Photos His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace on Wednesday National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf also received His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. (KUNA) UNRWA chief praises Kuwait s assistance Kraehenbuehl attends int l conference on Syria BRUSSELS, April 5, (KUNA): Pierre Kraehenbuehl, Commissioner General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has praised three Gulf countries, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE for their generous support and contributions to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian refugees. My message is one of deep appreciation for Kuwait. Kuwait has been a very engaged partner of ours. We are particularly grateful for Kuwait for the three consecutive years Kuwait provided $15 million 2013, 2014, and 2015 for UNRWA s Syria emergency response, he told Kuwait news agency (KUNA) in an exclusive interview here Wednesday. This is remarkable because Kuwait was organising the conferences on Syria at that time and really mobilised it around it. This allowed us to have at one point Kuwait as the second-largest contributor to our Syria appeal. This is excellent, said the UNRWA chief who is in Brussels to attend an international conference on Syria. Last year Kuwait contributed $5 million to the Syria emergency appeal, and he hoped that we can continue to work with Kuwait to increase that amount this year. Appointed Kraehenbuehl was appointed as UN- RWA Commissioner General in Something happened in 2015 for which I am particularly grateful for is that Kuwait increased its core contribution to $15 million. It was vital that year to preserve the education because we were on the verge of not being able to open our schools that year, he stated. The rest of the Gulf countries are very significant also. Saudi Arabia has become the third largest donor to UNRWA after the US and the EU. Historically Saudi Arabia has given a lot of money for reconstruction for Gaza Strip he said. In the last two years, Saudi Arabia contributed important amount each time $20 million to the core budget of UNRWA. UNRWA with the UAE had a very dynamic growth in relations over the last few years. Both in terms of government funding for the core budget but also by many of the foundations in UAE, he said. When I look at those three countries they have been really Top and above: Some photos from the celebration Senegalese Ambassador Mbaki marks country s 57th Independence Day Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Senegalese Ambassador to Kuwait Abdul-Lahad Mbaki with his spouse organized a dinner at Al-Jumeirah Messilla Beach Hotel to mark the 57th Independence Day of Senegal under the patronage of the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber graced the occasion with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Protocols Ambassador Dhari Al-Ajran among other senior are at the forefront for providing us and I hope that we can continue to build on this trusted relationship to ensure that the Palestine refugee dimension remains very high on the agenda of the policymakers, he told KUNA. Kraehenbuehl born in 1966 is a Swiss national and has 25 years of experience in humanitarian, human rights and development work. He said the objective of his participation in the conference is that Palestinian refugees are integrated into the decision that will be made at the Brussels conference in terms of their funding decisions. Photos by Mohammad Morse government officials, and Kuwaiti, Arab and foreign diplomats, Senegalese Embassy staff, members of the Senegalese community in Kuwait and well-wishers. Sheikh Al-Abdullah disclosed the Joint Kuwaiti-Senegalese Committee will hold a meeting in Kuwait before the end of the year. The meeting to be co-chaired by the Foreign Affairs Ministers from the two countries will discuss ways of boosting ties and cooperation. For me it is very significant that UN- RWA is present. I have the opportunity to raise the plight of Palestinian refugees living in Syria, he said. The UNRWA chief noted that there were 560,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria before the war. About 120,000 have fled the country to neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. Some have come to Europe. The 440,000 remain in Syria out of whom 65 percent are displaced. They suffer the same way as others in Syria, he said. Kraehenbuehl said he visited Aleppo last week to visit the Palestinian community there. There are 25,000 who live at a refugee camp. Working in conflict zones since 25 years I have never seen the extent of destruction at that scale, he said. He lamented that UNRWA is facing funding challenges like many organisation. For Syria UNRWA had launched an emergency appeal for $111 million for this year. Mobilise The projections are that we are mobilising half of that amount It is very, very important that we mobilise more than that, he stressed. UNRWA has separately its core activities like education, health care relief and social services where it has shortfall this year of $115 million out of $715 million. It is a sizeable gap that later in the year could affect some of our core services if we cannot overcome that, he warned. He opined that due to multiplication of crisis in the area, like Syria, Yemen, and Libya has drawn the attention away from the Palestine refugee issue. He explained that the reason why there are Palestine refugees in Syria is because what happened in 1948 and the in 1967 led to the displacement of very large group of Palestinians. And this ongoing unresolved political crisis between Israel and Palestine and the ongoing occupation means that there is no solution, he stated. He said he does not want to think that the Palestinian refugee children believe that their horizon is UNRWA. Their horizon should not be UNRWA. Their horizon should be peace, should be dignity should be solution to their plight, he said. This can only be achieved by a very determined political action, stressed the UNRWA head. UNRWA was established by the General Assembly in 1949 and was mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance. News in Brief FM meets with Japanese, Italian officials: Visiting Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah held separate meetings Wednesday with Japan s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura and Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. The meetings, held on the sideline of Brussels Conference for Supporting the Future of the Syria and the Region, touched on enhancing relations between Kuwait and the respective foreign nations on all possible levels. The meetings also touched on important regional and international matters. Senior Kuwaiti diplomats and foreign ministry officials attended the meetings. (KUNA) Decision to form organizational unit: Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and State Minister for Municipality Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri issued a ministerial decision to form an organizational unit with the designation of Chairman of the Municipal Council within the organizational structure of the State Ministry for Municipality Affairs, reports Al-Rai daily. Chairman of Municipal Council will follow the Office of the State Minister for Municipal Affairs directly after the minister Mohammed Al-Jabri. According to the Decision No. 170/2017 issued on Nov 14, 2016, the Chairman of Municipal Council Muhalhel Al-Khaled sent a letter to Civil Service Commission (CSC) with a proposal to amend the organizational structure of the municipal council which CSC had approved on Jan 17, Probe panel blames 3 authorities: The investigation committee formed for studying the effects of recent floods in the country has blamed three authorities for failing to solve the problem, reports Al-Anba daily quoting informed sources. They explained that Minister of Public Works Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa has been following up the works of the committee and waiting for the final report and recommendations which will be submitted to him after the committee completes its tasks by next week. The concerned officials and a number of employees from the Maintenance and Health Engineering sectors have been referred for the investigations.

3 LOCAL 3 Japanese PM hails ties with Kuwait, Arab world Amir congratulates King Salman on award for services to Islam KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has addressed a cable of congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on receiving the International King Faisal Award for Services to Islam. The monarch was granted the award (in its 39th edition) in gratitude for his service of the worshippers at the holy sites, his care for the Prophet s sayings and life history, support for the historic atlas for the Prophet s livelihood, construction of King Abulaziz complex for waqf libraries in Holy Medinah for preserving the Arab and Islamic heritage, construction of King Salman center for relief and humanitarian action and his efforts to unifying the Arabs and Muslmis face hard conditions. His Highness the Amir prayed to His Almighty to bestow his grace upon the King and wished the Kingdom further promotion and prosperity. An identical cable was addressed to the monarch by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lauded the ties linking Japan to the Arab world, affirming that his country was eager to boost relation on all possible levels with several Arab countries, including Kuwait. Abe s statement came during his speech to the annual Arab-Japanese day celebration held late Tuesday in Tokyo. A statement by the Kuwaiti Embassy said that the Japanese Prime Minister expressed special interest boosting ties with Kuwait. It indicated that Abe touched on the past visit by His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to Japan in May of 2016, affirming that Japan s Prime Minister indicated that it was one of the highlights of Kuwaiti- Japanese relations. Shinzo Abe also touched on Japanese- Arab cultures, saying that both sides shared similar values and views. Overcoming obstacles in the way of enhancing Japanese-Arab relations was necessary, said Abe who reiterat- Prayer Timings Fajr... 04:12 Sunrise... 05:33 Zohr... 11:51 Asr...15:23 Maghrib... 18:09 Isha... 19:27 Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hours: By Night: Partly cloudy with light to moderate north westerly to light variable wind, with speed of km/h. By Day: Mostly sunny with light to moderate north westerly wind, with speed of km/h. Station Max Min Exp Rec Kuwait City Kuwait Airport Abdaly Bubyan Jahra Failaka Island Salmiyah Ahmadi Nuwaisib Wafra Salmy days forecast - Weather Thursday, April 6 Expected weather...sunny Max Temp... 31C Min Temp... 20C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Friday, April 7 Expected weather... Partly cloudy Max Temp... 32C Min Temp... 20C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Saturday, April 8 Expected weather...sunny Max Temp... 33C Min Temp... 22C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Sunday, April 9 Expected weather...sunny Max Temp... 34C Min Temp... 21C Wind Direction... SE-VRB Wind Speed km/h Marine Forecast Station Max Min Sea Today s Exp Rec Surf Waves Ht Direction South Dolphin ft SE Umm Mudayrah ft SE Beacon M ft SE Beacon N ft SE Qaruh Island ft SE Umm Al-Maradim ft SE Sea Island Buo Salmiyah ft SE 4 days forecast - Marine Thursday, April 6 Expected weather...sunny Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp... 31C Min Temp... 20C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Friday, April 7 Expected weather... Partly cloudy The Cultural and Technical Activities Division of the Deanship of Students Affairs recently organized the Nationalities Cultural Forum under the auspices and in the presence of Kuwait University President Professor Hussein Ahmad Al-Ansari. Notable personalities in attendance included Algerian Ambassador to Kuwait and Ambassador of Palestine to Kuwait along with several professors and officials of the university. ed his nation s eagerness to extend ties with the Arab world. On his part, Kuwait Ambassador to Tokyo Mansour Al-Otaibi said that relations between Japan and the Arab Forum calls to support privatization KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): Kuwait Financial Forum concluded on Wednesday with recommendations focusing on necessity to press ahead with economic reforms and support small enterprise and execute privatization programs as well as luring foreign investments. The forum called for Kuwait Today Al-Obaid trimming consumer consumption, checking unnecessary spending and expanding role of the private sector in the economy. Moreover, it urged for government participation in broadening the private sector role, adopting the knowledge economy and working out mechanisms for backing small and medium companies. Abdulmohsen Al-Fares, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Al-Inma Bank, said in a statement in the forum final session that Islamic banking has become an alternative to traditional banking. Islamic assets nowadays constitute less than two percent of the overall global economy, he has opined. Growth in this sector reached 19 percent last year and would grow further in the coming years, he added. Meanwhile, the Gulf banking sector is resilient and capable to withstand ramifications resulting from bearish oil prices, thanks to the regional States economic reforms, bankers said on Wednesday.. Central banks in the GCC states have played a key role in improving the banking sector in the regional countries since breakout of the global economic crisis in 2008, they said during Kuwait Financial Forum, which kicked off on Tuesday. Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Kuwait Yousef Al-Obaid affirmed in his statement at the forum keenness on staying abreast of local and international developments noting that the local banking sector enjoys abundant liquidity and capable of absorbing shocks. deaths Haya Zaid Ali Al Mineer, wife of Abdullah Fahad Ali Al-Mineer, 73 years old, buried on Wednesday. Condolences: at the cemetery only, Tel: ; Fawziyz Elyas Saleh, widow of Abdullah Ibrahim Al Najdi, 67 years old, buried on Wednesday. Condolence: (Men) Doha, Block 3, Street 2, House 45, Tel: (Women) Andalous, Block 5, Street 5, House 192; Badriya Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Al-Emair, widow of Abdul Muhsen Othman Ahmad Al-Nassar, 90 years old, buried on Wednesday. Condolence: (Men) Mishref, Block 1, Street 6, House 23, Tel: , (Women) Mishref, Block 4, Street 5, House 25, Tel: ; Ghaziya Alyan Hamlool, widow of Nowaar Jwaizi Al-Otaibi, 81 years old, to be buried on Thursday, after Asr prayers. Condolence: Riqqa, Block 2, Street 14, House 588 Tel: , ; Fathiya Ahmad Salem Al-Othman, wife of Ahmad Fahad Abdul Aziz Al Methyan, 64 years old, to be buried on Thursday at 09:00 am. Condolence: (Men) Hiteen, Block 4, Street 411, House 90, Tel: (Women) Salam, Block 1, Street 122, House 39. Tel: April 5, 2017 Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp... 32C Min Temp... 20C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Saturday, April 8 Expected weather...sunny Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp... 33C Min Temp... 22C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Sunday, April 9 Expected weather...sunny Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp... 34C Min Temp... 21C Wind Direction... SE-VRB Wind Speed km/h Tide times at Shuwaikh Port 1st high tide:...07:40 2nd high tide:...17:35 1st low tide:...12:18 2nd low tide:...01:57 Sunrise:...05:34 Sunset:...18:08 Recorded yesterday at Kuwait Airport Max temp... 28C Min temp... 19C Max Rh...59% Min Rh...17% Max Wind... N 53 km/h Total Rainfall in 24 hrs...0 mm Recorded yesterday at South Dolphin Min/Max/ Air Temp... 19/25C Min/Max Rel Hum...26/65% Wind Direction/Wind Speed... N/51 km/h Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht...N/- ft Min/Max Sea Surface Temp...-/- C Sea Current... Downdraft Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Dept. world have witnessed great leaps in recent years, resulting in several signed accords and agreements aimed at bolstering ties in all fields. Al-Otaibi, who also chairs the council of Arab Ambassadors to Japan, affirmed that the Asian nation played an integral role in world politics, indicating that Tokyo s stance on important regional and global issues was to be admired by all nations around the globe. He indicated that the council of Arab Ambassadors to Japan would like to extend a proposal to the Japan government to recognize Palestine as an independent state, stressing that the level of strong relations between the Arab world and Japan had made it paramount for Arab representatives to submit this request. MGRP urges concerted efforts in bid to fight fake recruitment Viewpoints among board members settled: anti-graft body chief KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): Secretary- General of Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) and Executive Organ of the State Fawzi Al-Majdali said Wednesday it is imperative for all state agencies to work together to combat fake recruitment. Al-Majdali said in a press statement that state bodies also have to exert concerted efforts in order to prevent attempted abuses of public funds in the country. The Public Prosecution has referred 25 Kuwaiti citizens to the Criminal Court in connection with abuses of public funds in the tune of KD 158,000 (around $578,000), he added. He emphasized that public funds are a core pillar of the State so all governmental agencies and institutions are required to fight any bid of abuses whatsoever. Head of Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulrahman Al-Namash affirmed that the dispute over viewpoints among the members of the Board of Trustees was settled during the last meeting, reports Aljarida daily. He said the board members agreed to hold a meeting every Tuesday and whenever needed based on the law and decree, adding that they agreed to discuss certain issues and leave controversial issues for further study and research. Al-Namash stressed the keenness of the board to complete the missions and fulfill the intended objectives. He explained that the meeting began by thanking His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his keenness to retain Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority and remove all obstacles in its way. After that, discussions were held about amending the corruptionfighting strategy as well as ways to enhance cooperation with the official bodies in this regard. The complaints presented to the authority prior to the issuance of the verdict, which considered decree law No. 24/2012 as unconstitutional, were discussed. Al-Namash said, Irrespective of the court s decision concerning the Al-Majdali Assigning expat to prepare list for bonus disastrous step Kuwaiti students win medals in physics, maths RIYADH, April 5, (KUNA): Five Kuwaiti students earned silver and bronze medals in the physics and mathematics competitions held by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States. Yousef Badr Al-Enezi won the Gulf physics bronze medal, Omar Al-Mutawaa got a silver in mathematics, while Hussein Al-Sabti and Ahmad Al-Mula and Mansour Al-Surayea won a bronze in mathematics. It was Kuwait s first participation in this educational contest organized by the bureau. Kuwaiti personnel in the complaints against the decision No. 2/2016 related to establishment of Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority, all possible verdicts are being studied with the aim of finding suitable Top and above: some photos from the event. PAM marks 3rd anniversary under patronage of Al-Sabeeh Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) celebrated its third anniversary under the patronage and presence of the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh. In an address, Al-Sabeeh said PAM was established purposely to boost income. She noted the sector has fulfilled its goal in generating revenue of KD 47 million, and continues to grow. Al-Sabeeh added the merger of Public Authority for Manpower and the Manpower Government and Restructuring Program will take place on Administrative and Financial Sector of Kuwait Municipality have denounced the idea of assigning an expatriate to prepare the list of names of employees worthy of the excellent performance bonus for fiscal year 2016/2017, reports Al-Rai daily. The daily quoting a reliable source noted the Kuwaiti personnel described the step as a disastrous, especially as it involves an expatriate who has a long history of appointing his relatives into the sector. He said the expatriate in question employed almost 10 percent of the entire Municipality staff; the majority of Photos by Rizk Taufiq June 1, For his part, acting Director General of PAM Abdullah Al-Mutawtah stated the Ashal Program will be tested on seven companies before the general implementation to facilitate transactions and reduce crowds in the directorates. them in Administrative and Financial Sector. He stated the large number of expatriate relatives motivates him to involve in financial violations. He revealed the man receives over KD 800 monthly as salary and appointed his wife in the same sector. That s why some people are suspicious of his sincerity in evaluating performances. He urged the Director General of Municipality Engineer Ahmad Al-Manfouhi to investigate the issue and query the official who abandoned his responsibility to the expatriate. alternatives and best ways to deal with the verdict. He indicated that the Kuwait Anti- Corruption Authority has referred a number of complaints about corruption, including the delay in submitting financial disclosures, to the Public Prosecution last week, adding that more complaints will soon be referred to the Public Prosecution.

4 LOCAL 4 Cmte could hold contractor accountable over flooding PAHW on verge of cancelling 3,000 housing applications KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The disaster of flash floods witnessed in the country a fortnight ago continues to be a nightmare for the concerned contractor, as the investigation committee formed by Minister of Public Works Abdulrahman KUNA photo Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets EU High Representative Federica Mogherini. EU High Representative extols Kuwait s role Kuwaiti FM, Mogherini discuss issues BRUSSELS, April 5, (KUNA): Discussing regional and international issues of common concern was the focus of a meeting between Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini Tuesday. The meeting was held in the Belgian capital, Brussels, which hosts Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region Wednesday. The conference is co-chaired by Kuwait, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Qatar and the European Union, with participation of 70 countries and international organizations. During the meeting earlier today, the Kuwaiti top diplomat and EU representative reviewed the conference s agenda. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled expressed Kuwait s welcome of holding the conference, lauding attention of EU member states to alleviate suffering of the Syrian people. He stressed the importance of internationally concerted efforts to find a comprehensive political and perma- Al-Mutawa is on the verge of holding the contractor who executed Mangaf Bridge and Sabahiya projects responsible while relieving the concerned ministry officials from the blame, reports Al-Shahed daily quoting informed sources. They explained that the committee will not dispute the slackness and neg- ligence of the ministry officials in following up and supervising contractors as well as verifying the handover process. This affirms that officials of the ministry are not held accountable despite their clear negligence and incompetence in the eyes of the public. The sources stressed that the flooding of streets witnessed every year including what transpired lately in the Mangaf Tunnel affirms the extent of large scale corruption in the ministry and the powerful influence of the officials of Ministry of Public Works who have demonstrated that they are untouchable and above accountability. Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) is on the verge of cancelling more than 3,000 housing applications after the concerned applicants failed to submit statements showing their exit/entry at border points as well as proving certificates of their children for the past three years, reports Al-Shahed daily. According to the relevant law, PAHW is obliged to inform those who will be excluded through a registered letter with acknowledgement of delivery so that the authority can exclude them and take necessary measures after the expiry of the period. Parliament s Interior and Defense Committee has been supervising the completion of the draft law for disbursement of the value of service nent solution to the Syrian crisis. medals to retired non-commissioned For her part, Mogherini has extolled officers, reports Al-Anba daily quoting Kuwait s role and endeavors to find parliamentary sources. peaceful solutions to the region s crises medals for military officers are about They said the number of service Ȧssistant Foreign Ministry for First 5-6 based on the service of each, revealing that the value of each medal is Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister s office affairs director Ambassador Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- The sources disclosed that the Public KD 25. Mohammad Al-Sabah, Kuwait s Ambassador to Belgium and head of its deducting this value on a monthly ba- Authority for Social Security has been mission to the EU and NATO Jassim sis from the salaries of military officers Al-Bedaiwi and a number of senior officials at the ministry were present in that KD 150 will be added to the spe- while they were in service, indicating the meeting. cial pensions for military officers. Photos from the event Photos by Iehab Qurtal Dasma Theater hosts TSOM By Mohammad Jumaa Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The Dasma Theater hosted a musical delegation from South Africa s Tshwane School of Music (TSOM) which performed first out of its three scheduled musical performances in Kuwait as part of the cultural program organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters. The TSOM entertained the public from various nationalities who went to the Dasma Theater in search for entertainment which connects bridges among various cultures and opens the window to societies that are thousands of miles away. It is worth mentioning that the TSOM was formed in March 2013 and currently has approximately 140 students (mostly of primary school level) in individual classes and 200 students in group classes. The school provides music education to a broad base of children and youth of previously disadvantaged communities in Tshwane. The school also provides music therapy, facilitates exposure and training in the field of music technology and provides a platform for musical performances.

5 LOCAL 5 Need to organize events that aim to promote press freedom: official HRW calls on authorities to look into working conditions of workers KUNA photo Team leader of the Kuwait Dive Team affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation, Waleed Al-Fadhel, and Regional Office Director for Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Affairs in the US Embassy in Jordan, Rayan Paulz during the visit to Kubar Island. Al-Anba daily photo Ahlam Bashar Al-Shatti Al-Shatti, Al-Aneen to participate in concert Tickets for Emirati singer Ahlam s concert on verge of being sold out KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The tickets for the concert of the Emirati singer Ahlam, who is known as the artiste of Arabs, are on the verge of being sold out, reports Al-Anba daily. The concert will be held on Friday at the Kuwait Opera House. Ahlam, also known as Umm Fahad, has been busy with the preparations along with her husband Mubarak Al-Hajri and the organizer Ahmad Naqrouh. Speaking to the daily, Umm Fahad revealed that she will sing 20 songs from her old and new albums as well as a new song dedicated to her Kuwaiti and Gulf fans. Meanwhile, her husband Mubarak Al-Hajri indicated that a number of TV channels will broadcast the concert including Kuwait TV, Rotana, and Wanash, as well as radio stations including MBC FM and 88.8 FM. IS kills Continued from Page 1 The attacks targeted a police checkpoint and the house of a police colonel, who was killed with four members of his family, officers said. Two suicide attackers detonated their vests when surrounded by police, and three others were killed in separate clashes. Five militants are thought to be hiding and Mahmoud said Tikrit authorities had declared a curfew on Wednesday. Sporadic gunfire could be heard in the morning. A US-backed offensive is underway to dislodge Islamic State from the remaining districts under its control in Mosul, 225 kms away, the group s last major urban stronghold in Iraq. The militants overran about a third of Iraq s territory nearly three years ago, capturing most Sunni Arab cities located north and west of Baghdad, including Tikrit. Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shi ite militias drove the militants away from Tikrit two years ago. Tikrit is the home region of Saddam Hussein, the former president toppled in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. In other news, US President Donald Trump s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, voiced optimism about the long-term US alliance with Iraq s military and its campaign to retake Mosul from Islamic State on Tuesday, as he visited a base about 10 miles (16 kms) from the city. Kushner was on the last day of a twoday trip to Iraq as the guest of Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US military s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The visit to the Hammam al-alil base included an operational briefing from Iraqi and US commanders. The trip has demonstrated the farreaching portfolio of Kushner, 36, who is part of Trump s innermost circle and who has been given a wide range of domestic and foreign policy responsibilities, Abdullah Al-Qaoud with Hind Al-Bahrainiya Al-Rai daily photos Al-Aneen Composer Abdullah Al-Qaoud says Kuwaiti is living in an era of artistic prosperity especially in the field of music, reports Al-Rai daily. He indicated that concerts used to be held in parks and other public utilities in many governorates of the country in the past and now there is an increasing demand for holding concerts in the Kuwait Opera House. Concert organizer Raed Al-Abkal disclosed the revival of youth concert will take place on April 28 with singers Bashar Al-Shatti and Al-Aneen at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center (Kuwait Opera House), reports Al-Rai daily. Turkish band led by musicians Haytish Tojan and Ismael Tonjoulik will be participating in the event and tickets will be sold cheap. including working on a Middle East peace deal. His views on Iraq could shape Trump s own opinions. It comes as Trump is examining ways to accelerate a US-led coalition campaign that US and Iraqi officials say has so far been largely successful in uprooting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Mosul is by far the biggest city to have been held by Islamic State, and winning it back would largely destroy the Iraqi part of the group s caliphate, proclaimed from a Mosul mosque in There are mounting concerns about civilian casualties in the final phases of the assault and questions about how quickly Mosul can be rebuilt, repopulated and governed in a way that avoids alienating its Sunni-majority population. The Mosul battle, the biggest in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, has been under way since October, with 100,000 Iraqi troops, Kurdish fighters and Shi ite militiamen seeking to drive out the militants with the support of US-led air strikes. Although Trump campaigned on defeating the hardline Sunni militant group, he has not announced any major changes to war strategy and it is unclear how Kushner s experience in Iraq might shape his advice to the president. Speaking after lengthy battlefield reports from Iraq s military, Kushner sounded upbeat about the campaign and said the partnership between US and Iraqi troops was very impressive. He expressed hope the partnership would be enduring, signaling White House interest in longer-term US military assistance. I hope the victory that you have in Mosul in the near future will not just be a victory for the American and Iraqi troops but it will be a victory for the world, Kushner said. On Tuesday, Islamic State issued its first official remarks referring to Trump since he assumed the US presidency in January, describing him as an idiot. KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): A senior Kuwaiti media official underlined Wednesday the significance of conferences and events aiming at the promotion of the press freedom. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference on media freedom in the Arab world, Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information Tareq Al-Merzem said media promotion gatherings reflect the spirit of the Kuwaiti constitution where press freedom is enshrined. The Ministry of Information is eager to support all events and fora that are meant to promote the media freedom, the official added. These conferences are considered a major supporter of the media professionalism, he said, adding that he is so proud of the Kuwaiti press which plays a key role in the Middle East media scene. The undersecretary considered these gatherings and events a good opportunity for the conferees to share experience in the media field. He hoped that today s conference would come up with concrete recommendations and suggestions that are mainly aimed at encouraging and spurring the media freedom. On his part, Chairman of the Federation of Arab Journalists Moayed Allami hailed the State of Kuwait as pioneering in the promotion of public freedoms in general and freedom of the press in particular. Media Allami, who is also the Iraqi press association s chairman, believed that the press plays an influential role in Kuwait, which is very developed in the media domain. He recalled that Kuwait was the first Arabian Gulf country to have a chairwoman of the Kuwait Journalists Association. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Kuwaiti authorities to look into the working conditions of employees to determine why some of them attempt to escape, commit suicide and are reported absconding, reports Al-Rai daily. The HRW said no one should have to resort to climbing out of tall buildings to escape from their workplace. Last week, a horrifying video of an Ethiopian domestic worker went viral. The video showed the maid reportedly falling from the seventh floor (according to what media reports said) of an apartment building. The video appears to have been filmed by the maid s employer from inside the flat showing the woman dangling outside the window. The employer tells the woman to come back inside. The panicked woman calls out for her to grab her, but within 12 seconds from the start of the recording, the dangling woman loses her grip and falls. The Kuwaiti daily Al-Seyassah reported that the domestic worker is being treated at a hospital for a broken hand, and bleeding from nose and ear. The Al-Seyassah daily also reported the authorities have arrested her employer and charged her for failing to assist her worker. The employer contends she tried to help. Another local daily reported on Saturday that members of the Ethiopian embassy visited the worker at the hospital. In 2009, the Human Rights Watch spoke to eight women who reportedly attempted suicide, who said they fell down while attempting to escape or had been pushed to their death by their employers. No one has suggested that the employer in this incident was responsible for such abuse. Al-Merzem KUNA photo Girls performing during a national operetta celebrating loyalty to Kuwait at the Bayan Palace, Wednesday. The event was patronized by HH the Amir in the presence of HH the Crown Prince and other top dignitaries. 136th IPU Assembly concludes its meetings Kuwait s participation realizes positive outcome KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Caucus MP Rakan Al-Nesf on Wednesday said that participating in the 136th Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly has realized positive outcome. The 136th IPU Assembly wrapped its meetings in Dhaka, Bangladesh, today. It was an achievement for Kuwait realized by the National Assembly, the Kuwaiti parliament media and public relations sector quoted Al-Nesf as saying in a statement. Al-Nesf who led the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Caucus to the Dhaka meetings, stressed the significance of the two posts won by members of the delegation, in the IPU s Forum of Young Parliamentarians and the Executive Committee of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP). National Assembly s Secretary General Allam Al-Kandari is the first MP from the Gulf region to be awarded membership of the ASGP since it was established. Al-Nesf stressed the efforts by the Kuwaiti at the international parliamentary gathering, serving the interests of the State of Kuwait and the National Assembly. He emphasized the crystalclear unwavering stance by the Kuwaiti parliament in support of the Palestinian cause, saying they had exerted hard efforts to gain more backing to the issue. On his part, caucus secretary, Dr Odah Al-Ruwaiee, said that participation in the 136th IPU Assembly was successful, and appreciated Bangladesh efforts and good organization of the assembly. Up to 600 parliamentarians from around the globe attended the assembly, offering the Kuwaiti MPs a good opportunity to seize further support to the Arab and Islamic causes, especially the Palestinian issue. Treasurer of the Kuwaiti parliamentary caucus, MP Dr. Walid Al-Tabtabaei, said the taking part the IPU assembly was effective, both in the discussions of IPU s four outstanding committees and the coordination meetings of the Gulf, Islamic, Arab and Asian groups. He referred to meetings held on the sidelines of the IPU assembly for boosting bilateral ties between Kuwait and other member states.

6 LOCAL 6 DIWANIYA A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION KU photo A delegation of students from Media Department at the College of Arts in Kuwait University visited the site of Sabah Al-Salem University City as part of the activities related to creating a documentary film about the history of Kuwait University under the supervision of a staff member of the department Dr Mahmoud Al-Hashmi. Dr Al-Hashmi said the visit and the film are part of the practical training of the students based on the curriculum of Broadcasting and Television Production. He indicated that the documentary film will begin with the story behind the establishment of Kuwait University and end with the establishment of the Shaddadiya University. MP raps move to legalize forgery, dual citizenships Reform freeze not to affect fuel rates Other Voices News in Brief Help out center of life Donate for good cause By Ahmad Al-Sarraf The Center for Child Evaluation & Teaching (CCET) is one of the Children are divided into two most active institutions has been categories one normal or paying attention to the needs of highly intelligent and two, slow such children since its establishment 33 years ago by Faten Al learning, or those with mental disabilities. The first category is Bader, members of her family and divided into two categories: those the working team. who do not complain about learning disabilities and those who her since day one and have devoted Some of them have been with complain. their time and efforts to this center One who is suffering from the and sacrificed a lot to make it the learning disability may be highly best place in Kuwait to diagnose and intelligent or even a treat children with disabilities for over three genius but because he did not get proper decades. attention to his condition, for some or the ceeded in dealing They have suc- other reason, he may with tens of thousands of cases. But if have deviated and caused headache to not for the efforts of the community. One the center, we would of the reasons may have been in a very be the failure of the bad shape at the social and family level. parents to diagnose his condition and Today, The Center provide appropriate Al-Sarraf for Child Evaluation attention. & Teaching (CCET) One of the most known types of is considered one of the most respected institutions after having learning disabilities is in reading (dyslexia), which is the most common. There is also the disability in by many local, regional and inter- been recognized and appreciated learning math dyscalculia, and national institutions. It is a world disability in writing coherently class training center and a role dysgraphia. model and is believed to be on par The problem of attention deficit, accompanied by hyperactivmous center. in importance with Singapore s faity, and the problem of dyspraxia, In spite of the heavy burden on causes difficulty in activities requiring coordination and move- institution which has to work two the management of this non-profit ment such as tying a shoe lace or shifts, morning and evening, to buttoning a shirt. meet the increasing demand, after All these disabilities impede the 33 years of continuous work in progress of an individual, and may silence, it is facing a real problem be a curse to him and his community, but early diagnosis and This center has now become ob- due to scarcity of resources. therapeutic intervention can often sessed and a source of concern to return the child to the right path. the management for its inability to Therefore it is very important pay the salaries of employees. for those who have the desire, sincerity and experience to diagnose money for religious projects, for We know of people donating and provide the necessary treatment to prevent the deviation of The Center for Child Evaluation & example to construct mosques, but the child, while focusing on the Teaching is no less important than importance of parental observation, and then seeking treatment People can pray anywhere, but any religious project. for him instead of relying on the it is impossible to provide treatment for a child who has the learn- illusion that he will be better when he grows. Early diagnosis is very ing deficiency outside a specialized center. necessary in such cases. In spite of the presence of dozens of government and private good-hearted and generous people Therefore, we call upon those institutions and agencies that provide psychological, physical and organization to help it continue in to financially assist this non-profit social counseling and assistance to its national and humanitarian role, people with various disabilities, a and this is what I have done. few of these known institutions are marvelous in humanitarian, social and security work. habibi.enta1@gmail.com Bad behavior?: Ministry of Education has rung the alarm bell over the consequences of several problems that hinder the attainment of education by a big number of elementary, intermediate and high school students, reports Al-Qabas daily. It warned of deterioration of behavior among the students, especially in the last few years, as per an annual ministerial report. According to the report, sociological and psychological researchers dealt with 85,000 student-related problems during the 2015/2016 academic year. The report revealed that behavioral cases topped the list of the problems with 32,000 cases, followed by cases of underachievement among the students with 28,849 cases. Healthrelated problems came in a distant third place with 16,000 cases. Shut after study : Executive President of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) Muhammad Ghazi Al-Mutairi stated the decision to close down Shuaiba Refinery was approved by the Board of Directors of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and the Supreme Petroleum Council since 2004 after completing relevant studies, reports Al-Rai daily. He noted the decision had to with the readiness of Al-Zour Refinery for operation after studies confirmed the refinery could not be developed due to many factors, including dilapidated equipment and facilities. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: MP Khalid Al-Shatti accused individuals he calls promoters of shining slogans of working to legitimize forgery and protect dual citizenship holders by proposing amendment to citizenship law, reports Al-Qabas daily. At a recent seminar titled Citizenship amid Forgery and the National Identity organized by former MP Abdullah Al-Tamimi in Mubarak Al-Kabeer area, MP Al-Shatti said citizenship law enacted in 1959 is one of the most sensitive issues proposed for deliberation at the National Assembly. He noted the law superseded Kuwaiti Constitution; thus minor amendments within the reasonable limit should not be disapproved. However, MP Al-Shatti expressed reservation on the idea of attacking the law itself and said it s unacceptable. He observed the manner of approached is so bad that a lawmaker has drafted a new law he called the national identity protection law. He recognized the presence of Bedouns in Kuwait and expressed his thoughts on the issue, saying he wishes their situation would be resolved soon and the only problem he has with the issue at the moment is the draft bill protects forgers. This is dangerous, as it supports violation of the national identity and protection of corrupt people, especially with the large number of forgers discovered. Meanwhile, recent statements about freezing the economic reform document does not mean the new prices of fuel, water and electricity will be revoked, reports Annahar daily quoting source. The same source explained the prices of fuel, electricity and water have already been approved and enforced, and there s no turning back. They noted the decision to freeze the document has yet to be approved pending completion of the new document accepted by all stakeholders. However, the decision to lift all sorts of government subsidies has been suspended until the new document is issued and it includes the postponement of all discussions about taxation, privatization of official establishments, evaluation of public assets, raising rents, new prices of services and commodities and inauguration of new official bodies or public authorities. MP Khalid Al-Shatti Summit deviates from norms End sought to Arab world crises THE Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan recently hosted the Arab Summit which was attended by Arab League member states leaders the monarchs, the Amirs and the presidents with their accompanying delegations in addition to UN and EU representatives, columnist Dr Nada Suleiman Al-Mutawa wrote for Al-Jarida daily Wednesday. But the question here is did this summit offer practical solutions to the crises facing the Arab World? Did the summit realize the failure of some Arab countries to contain the situations post Arab Spring period? As a matter of fact, in our viewpoint the Arab League is a regional organization of all Arab and Muslim countries from both continents Asia and Africa, but in view of the augmentation of the differences among the member states since very beginning of its foundation, we found the League s law and charter has put in place articles to solve the differences arising among member states. In this context, we recall how the Arab League at the beginning of its foundation was playing the role of the forum for Arab monarchs, because it was founded by the then royal Arab regimes including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arab in addition to the Republic of Lebanon and the Republic of Syria. But the League in the 1950s witnessed a radical change following the onset of the so-called, Spring of the 1950s. In this context, we elucidate that this period witnessed the independence of many Arab countries which were under the umbrella of the Arab League. Moreover, some member states witnessed military coups that changed the structure of these states from royal to republican regimes. During 1960s, many young Arab countries joined the League, and these countries including the State of Kuwait, were actually looking forward to join many regional and international organizations. But in the 1970s all the Arabian Gulf states joined the Arab League immediately following their independence. Last year, Mauritania hosted the Arab Summit, but what drew my attention during this summit was actually the legal injection in the form of a communiqué containing the rights of the Arab youth and their right in appropriation of the small project in addition to offering them the necessary protection to prevent them falling prey to the illegal immigration. Moreover, the Mauritania summit encouraged the elected councils in the Arab world in addition to protecting women s rights. But the last Arab Summit that was held in the Dead Sea area of Al-Mutawa Jordan, in my own opinion could be seen different from Mauritania because the Dead Sea Summit concentrated on political injections and this was evident because the Yemen issue gained prominence and the delegates decided to award this issue to the neighboring Gulf countries to enable The Happy Yemen to restore its past glory. Apart from the above, the summit decided to hand over the Libyan issue to countries bordering Tripoli instead of the Arab African nations in a bid to find out solution for the Libyan crisis. But with regard to surmounting of terrorism and violence, this issue was actually awarded to all Arab leaders and the Summit authorized them to handle this topic from all aspects. With regard to the Muslim and Christian holy places in Jerusalem, it was reported that this issue will be awarded to UNESCO. But the question is, what about the churches and archeological places of worship in Syria which were targeted by the saboteurs. And what about the people who refused to leave their country unless the Arab League provided a safe harbor for them? Also: In previous years the Zionist entity was working to weave political and economic relations with some Arab countries. This entity s efforts in this connection bore some fruit on the military, intelligence, political and economic fronts in its favor, columnist Hamad Saleh Al-Qattan wrote for Annahar daily Wednesday. Apart from the above, the Zionist entity also managed to achieve diplomatic success at international level and successfully built a relationship with the international community where it had managed to introduce itself as a just entity in spite of the impediments it faced in this connection, but it had surmounted these impediments illegally in collaboration with the United States of America. In other words, this collaboration violated international treaties and conventions, but it is needless to say this entity managed to maintain good relations with some Arab countries which facilitated its tasks at the international level. But for the time being the events which currently prevail in the Arab and Muslim worlds in general and the situations in Syria in particular, it looks like the Zionist entity (Israel) is preparing for itself a table of negotiations with some Arab countries in a bid to normalize ties with the latter where negotiators who have failed in the past will meet again. In spite of the above, Israel realizes that its choices are limited, given the fact the military choice, for instance, against those who are determined to confront this entity was doomed to failure during 2000 and 2006, and this entity during these periods was reluctant to resort to the diplomatic choice and this reflected its failure in dealing with its opponent at military level. Such being the case, we found that this entity is currently involved in supporting some factions which are involved in a war on its behalf in Syria, but it has failed to achieve any tangible victory, rather it has opened the door for its opponents to advance towards its illusive frontiers. But for the time being, we found Israel using the choice of the support that was extended to its policy by some Arab countries in the region in a bid to maintaining its existence in the world. Since the 60s, the number of Arab League summits tops the number of political summits held in the world. However, they unfortunately have been the least productive and the farthest in dealing with the current crises as well as the most failed in carrying out people s demands, Dr Hassan Abdulla Jowhar wrote for Aljarida daily. Since the time we were little children, our brains have been filled with false heroism and our fake power in being able to smash the heads of our enemies. We were deceived by slogans of development, peace and integration. I think nobody can deny the fact that all those slogans were nothing but illusion. The Arab region is one of the most important regions in the world. It is rich in wealth and human resources. It occupies a very distinguished place on the planet. Almost all Arabs share the same religion, language and even traditions. However, we need to have a look at the real place of Arabs based on the statistics introduced in the International Governments Summit held in Dubai on February These statistics showed that 57 million Arabs are illiterate and 14 million Arab children did not go to schools this year. It also showed that 30 million Arabs live under the poverty line. The rate of poverty in Arab countries has risen by eight percent in the last two years. About 70 percent of the recent war victims are Arabs. Most of the Arab wars occurred between Arab parties. About 50 percent of the terrorist operations took place on Arab lands. The losses of Arab national incomes were a total of $1 trillion. About 75 percent of the refugees around the world are Arabs. While 3,000 patents were issued to Arabs, 20,000 patents were issued to South Koreans. Arabs publish 20,000 books in a year, which is quite less than the number of books published in a developing European country like Romania. While the rest of the world is engaged in the discovery of a system that is similar to the solar system with six planets that resemble the Earth, we are engaged in discussing fateful questions such as What tribe do you come from? Are you Sunni or Shiite? A couple of weeks ago, I was part of the academic delegation of 27 Kuwaiti engineers that travelled to Qatar for five days, Eng Tareq Jamal Al-Derbas wrote for Al-Anba daily. We visited a number of state organizations and international Qatari companies. The main thing we noticed was that most of the leaders in major state bodies were young individuals. We met the executive presidents of many foundations who are about 40 years old. This created an impression in us that we are visiting a young and ambitious state that trusted in the youth and offered them the chance to prove themselves. We spent one whole day in Qatar Airways where we got a detailed idea about the company which has 190 planes but is planning to increase its fleet to 400 planes within five years. Qatar Airways was established in We also visited Hamad International Airport which was recently ranked the sixth top airport in the world. We visited the Supreme Committee for Projects and Heritage which is responsible for organizing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. We noticed that planning had already begun for using the constructed field following the completion of the World Cup. We also visited the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Society Development which brought the best universities to Qatar in order to give the opportunity of advanced education to Qatari students. The care shown by Qatar about education is quite obvious and everybody can vouch for this. The government offers high salaries to the teachers and managed to create a high-quality educational environment. The government believes that investing in the youth is the best for ensuring a good future for the country. We felt very proud of these Qatari achievements, which is part of the Gulf achievements. This tells us that we also can do it. The Qatari successful experience proves that Arab, Muslim and the Gulf citizens are capable of achieving advancement. We call for studying such successful experiences in order to help us in our development process. This is our Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. From the time the flag of Kuwait was raised in the early 1960s above the UN building which marked the beginning of Kuwait s journey as an independent Arab state until this day, he has not changed except for the best, Talal Al-Saeed wrote for Al-Seyassah daily. This is our Amir (May Allah protect him) to whose call the whole world stood for liberating Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion. After his call, the United Nations Security Council issued the decision to liberate Kuwait. Kuwait became the only state that was liberated by unprecedented UN decisions. Thank God and thanks to the wisdom of His Highness the Amir and his foreign policy. This is our Amir whose humanitarian and prominent role in handling world problems had the whole world stand in appreciation. Because of his achievements in this regard, he became the first president in the world to be given the title of International Humanitarian Leader. Many times, meetings and sessions of the Municipal Council have failed or been postponed due to lack of legal quorum. Sessions for discussing urgent solutions to some issues related to the interests of citizens have been adjourned several times because of this problem, Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily. I would like to say to those who are unaware of the significance of the Municipal Council and its periodic sessions that the Municipal Council is considered one of the most important bases for setting up the public policy of Kuwaiti Municipality, due to its clear role in preparing policies, laying down plans and determining projects. Apart from the above, the responsibilities of the Municipal Council are so many that we cannot list them here in this small space. For instance, it is involved in determining projects, beautification of cities, villages, islands, streets and squares, and many such roles. The current National Assembly has yet to meet the desires of the people who voted them, because their sessions are full of altercations, exchange of accusations and waste of time without any effort to improve the situation, Abdul-Mohsin Al-Husseini wrote for Al-Shahed daily. It seems the National Assembly needs support of some competent specialist academics and personalities to be nominated for roles of this nature should be academics having vast experience and information. They should be well known in society for their contributions to ideas in public places and social gatherings in a way that serves the interest of citizens and the general public. His Highness the Amir could nominate renowned competent hands to support the National Assembly to help them upgrade the level of dialogue and deliberations inside the hallowed chambers. All sports lovers should stand up today to mourn the passing of legendary sportsman who spent all his life serving the Kuwaiti sports. May Allah the Almighty be merciful to our late brother Fahad Al-Humaidan (Bu Waleed) and grant him Al-Jannah Al-Firdous. We also pray for his family, acquaintances and friends in the field of sport fortitude to bear the loss. Compiled by Zaki Taleb

7 LOCAL 7 Asians top workforce list Growth rate of expat workers twice that of Kuwaitis KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The quarterly report of the Central Statistics Administration for last year revealed a huge disparity in the average annual growth between the number of expatriates and Kuwaiti personnel in the labor market, indicating the growth rate of expatriate workers is twice their Kuwaiti counterparts whose share of 18.6 percent in 2015 dropped to 18.1 percent during the year in review, reports Al-Rai daily. The quarterly report showed the total number of workers as of Dec 31, 2016 stood at 1,965,381 with an increase of 228,112 individuals from the previous figure at the same period in 2015, indicating 6.1 percent increase. Kuwaitis among the workers were 354,806 as against 1,610,575 expatriates. It emphasized that Kuwaiti workers grew by 3 percent from 344,622 to 354,806. It also observed that female Kuwaiti workers grew by 3.9 percent ahead of their male counterparts who grew by 1.8 percent only. On the contrary, the number of expatriate workers increased by 6.5 percent from 1,508,531 to 1,610,575. Non-Arabs Jobs priority for Kuwaitis Al-Jassar appointed new CSC head KUWAIT CITY, April 5: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad has issued a decree to appoint Ahmad Al- Jassar as the Head of Civil Service Commission (CSC) with ministerial grade, reports Al Rai daily. Following his appointment to the post, Al-Jassar expressed his honor in earning the trust of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Premier to head CSC. He affirmed his keenness to improve the mechanisms therein to contribute in the organization and development of work. He declared that priority in appointments will be for Kuwaitis. Al-Jassar disclosed that his appointment is an assignment and not on honorary basis, adding, I am ready to serve the country in any position so long topped the chart covering 50 percent of the entire workforce, followed by workers from other Arab countries constituting 30.2 percent, while Kuwaiti workers came third with 18.1 as it is of the benefit and interest to the nation. He said he will work with officials of CSC to introduce policies related to administrative development in public institutions including organization and planning of manpower. Al-Jassar praised the efforts exerted by his predecessor Abdulaziz Al-Zebin in developing the work mechanism in CSC during his tenure. percent. Asian workers were almost 1 million, Arabs grew by 600,000 and with about 7,000 Europeans, and others from North America reaching 1,000. Child protection society holds seminar on reading promotion Top: Army Chief meets Greek official. Above: The Army Chief with the Romanian official. Army chief meets officials Boosting bilateral cooperation was the focus of talks held on Wednesday by the Kuwaiti Army s Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohammad Al-Khoder with the military attacht the Greek embassy in Kuwait. The meeting addressed a host of issues of common concern, focusing on promoting bilateral military ties, the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry said in a statement. The meeting was attended the ministry s director of military attachand missions affairs Colonel Najuib Abdumohsen Al-Saqr. Meanwhile, earlier, Chief of General Staff of Kuwait Armed Forces News in Brief Preparations reviewed: Director General of Public Authority for Youth (PAY) Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi has reviewed preparations for planned celebrations of Kuwait as the Capital of Arab Youth of The event is set to kick off in mid- May under the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Speaking to KUNA in a statement on Wednesday, Al-Mutairi said that he revised celebration plans in detail during a meeting of the technical committee on youth affiliated to the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports. The meeting is part of preparatory meetings for the 40th session of the council and 60th session of its executive council. He added that celebrations include a number of gatherings and activities aiming to enable Arab youths to invest their energies, and encourage them to work and launch initiatives to achieve leadership and development of the Arab world. He stressed that Kuwait is paying much attention to youths as they are a basic factor of development and progress in societies. (KUNA) Contract signed: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) decided to issue a variation order for the contract to establish power stations in the Burqan Oil Field at a cost of KD 11.9 million, extending to the end of 2017, reports Al-Anba daily. Oil sources said Kuwait Petroleum Students in the assembly hall. Blast in school A/C unit By Rana Salem Al-Seyassah Staff Series of accidents in the schools is due to lack of maintenance work. Sources said the recent fire in Duaij Al-Salman Secondary School for Boys in Mubarak Al-Kabeer during the morning assembly was caused by an explosion in the A/C unit, and the Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Khader Monday received the Romanian Director General of Defense Intelligence Major General Marian Hapau. They discussed a number of important issues of mutual interest for the two countries, especially of military aspects, as well as ways to strengthen relations. The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Intelligence and Security Directorate Brigadier General Abdulrahman Eid Al-Hudhoud and Director of Intelligence Brigadier General Fahad Al-Turaiji. (KUNA) KFSD photo teachers guided all students to the sports yard. A team of securitymen, accompanied by firemen and paramedics reached the scene few minutes after receiving report about the fire. No causalities were recorded. Director of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational Area Mansour Al-Daihani rushed to the school to ensure safety of students. Corporation signed the contract of KD million with Sayed Hameed Behbehani Company on May 13, 2012 and the change order is 11.1 percent of the overall expenditure. They noted KPC seeks to replace some existing power plants and install new secondary power plants as part of comprehensive strategy to develop the Burqan Field to improve its production from 1.5 barrels to 1.7 million barrels daily. They noted the strategic storage of Burgan Oil Field is considered among the largest, not only in Kuwait but the entire world. Center launched: Beverly Hills Center in Kuwait recently launched Ankang Beverly Hills Medical Center for Pain Treatment the first of its kind in Kuwait where FIMS Technique is used in the treatment of pain with dry needle. The project is a joint venture of Beverly Hills and South Korea-based Ankang Hospital. The event was held under the auspices of South Korean Ambassador to Kuwait Yoo Yeonchul. Professor Ankang represented the hospital and the Director of Beverly Hills Dr Ghazan Zain represented the company at the launch. Wife assaulted: An Egyptian woman presented medical report to officers at the Farwaniya Police Station and accused the husband of beating her with sandals during a verbal altercation between them, says Al-Seyassah. KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): A group of eminent literary, legal, and media celebrities gathered at a seminar on Tuesday evening under invitation from Kuwait national child protection society to discuss issues relating to child literature and culture. The seminar, themed promotion of reading is a child right, with chairperson of the society Dr Seham Al-Freih presenting legal explanations of the issues discussed. She highlighted the interrelation between literature and law, noting that the society s child-related activities affirm the need of children leading a stable and secure life. The society did its utmost to secure the issuance of child rights act No. 21 for 2015; it worked out nearly 160 articles of the law that are based on the Kuwaiti laws and traditions, and the relevant international conventions, she pointed out. As a result of lobbing efforts among the competent state departments, the National Assembly (parliament) debated and approved the law, Dr Al-Freih added. Legal experts from Kuwait International Law School offered rich contributions to the discussion. In her speech, Sa diya Mefreh, a Kuwaiti poet and chair of the seminar, highlighted the significance of child literature in building coherent and prosperous society. Despite negative international reports on child reading, Kuwait national child protection society continues delivering its noble message in promotion of reading and culture, and supporting writers of child literature, she added. The novelists Mona Al-Shaf ie, Hoda Al-Shawa, Monira Al-Eidan, Heba Mandani and Amal Al-Randi reviewed their respective experiment in writing for children on the local daily newspapers such as Al-Watan. Meanwhile, Dr. Tarek Bakri - editor-in-chief of KUNA Al- Saghir (KUNA Junior) magazine, said his writings for children were first carried by Al-Anbaa daily, and then by Saad, Bara em Al-Eman, Awlad and Banat, Ajyalona, and now KUNA Al-Saghir magazines. He appreciated the support offered to KUNA Al-Saghir by KUNA s Deputy Director General Abdulhamid Malak and KUNA Chief Editor Saad Al-Ali. Dr. Al- Bakri attributed the increase of the publication of the magazine to 40,000 copies to the backing by KUNA leaders. The speakers at the seminar also included Secretary-General of Kuwait Writers Association Talal Al-Romeidhi, chairperson of child committee of Kuwait Lawyers Association Mona Al-Hazza and head of the legal advice dept. of Ministry of Information Manal Al-Baghdadi. Abdulhamid Malak Bid to secure stable life for kids KUNA photo Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah meets his Tunisian counterpart Al-Hadi Majdoub on Tuesday. Kuwait minister meets Tunisian head Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al- Jarrah Al-Sabah met with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi in Tunis on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed Kuwaiti-Tunisian relations and ways of bolstering and consolidating bilateral cooperation and coordination in the security field. Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Tunisian leader, pointing to fi rm and deep-rooted relations between Youth stabbed 10 times KUWAIT CITY, April 5: A 20-year-old Kuwaiti has been referred to the ICU of the Jahra hospital with stab wounds on his body, reports Al-Anba daily. Without going into details the daily said the victim was stabbed in more than 10 different places during a fight with his relatives. What caused the fight is not known. However, the relatives have been summoned for interrogation. both Arab nations. He reiterated Kuwait s backing to Tunisia in its fi ght against terrorism, calling for stepping up mutual efforts in this regard. On his part, the Tunisian leader hailed close relations with Kuwait, which are based on mutual respect and appreciation, thanking Kuwait for its contributions to his country s economic development. He voiced satisfaction with the level of coordination between Kuwait and Tunisia, stressing the necessity of upgrading the existing level of ties up to new horizons. Afterwards, the Kuwaiti minister of interior held separate talks with his Saudi, Qatari, UAE and Bahraini counterparts on the sidelines of the 34th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Interior, which kicked off in Tunis earlier on Wednesday. During the talks, they exchanged views on an array of major regional and international issues and subjects of mutual interest. The Arab ministers of interior came together here mainly to consider the growing phenomena of terrorism and extremism and inter-arab cooperation in the security field. (KUNA)

8 LOCAL 8 About 240 expats, victims of human peddling face ouster Kuwaiti 2nd among Arabs caring for domestics KUWAIT CITY, April 5: About 240 expatriates discovered after two years that they entered Kuwait upon work permits to work on a farm of a Kuwaiti and now are facing deportation because the Kuwaiti allegedly tampered with the estimated needs of the workers and imported more than the required number of laborers, reports Al- Rai daily. Police hunting for illegal weapons in a farm in Kabad. Campaign in Kabad for illegal arms General Department for Weapon Collection launched an inspection campaign in Kabad Livestock Pen area with the aim of ensuring eradication of unlicensed weapons, ammunition and explosives. In a press statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the General Department of Public Relations and Media Security explained that possessing unlicensed weapons is a violation and the main cause for a large number of crimes in the country. It affirmed that such campaigns will be held in all areas of the country to ensure the society is free of the dangers posed by the spread According to reports these workers are now stranded in no man s land and the dagger of deportation is hanging over their heads because according to the concerned authorities they have either violated the law or entered the country on forged documents in spite of them holding valid residence. The workers who are believed to be of different nationalities have reportedly paid the sponsor between KD 1,600 and KD 1,800 for two year residence permits, although they were hired to work on his farm. They were promised two years residence permit after which they were told they could transfer the visa to another sponsor. and use of unlicensed weapons and ammunition. The department urged Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates to call the hotline number 112 to report discovery of unlicensed weapons and any wrong behaviors and contribute to the protection and security of the country and the people. When several workers were in the process of transferring their residence permit to another sponsor they discovered they are wanted by the law and a case of fraud has been registered against them. When the expatriates contacted their sponsor he reportedly said he can do nothing to solve their problem. The source said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor listened to the complaints of the expatriates and summoned the sponsor but he refused to show up. It is imminent the workers will be deported and will never be able to enter any of the GCC states. Kuwait second: Kuwait ranks second among Arab countries in terms of caring for domestic workers, reports Al-Anba daily. The rank of the country in the classification has increased as a result of continuous coordination and cooperation among the departments of domestic workers and follow-up of violators, Residence Affairs Investigations Department, Criminal Investigations and Anti- Human Trafficking and the Center for Sheltering Workers affiliated to Public Authority for Manpower. This reflects a positive and significant development in domestic workers cases, especially since they are linked to the tasks of those departments and authorities in terms of dealing with cases such as absconding, abuse, crime and immoral acts. It is worth mentioning that the abovementioned departments and institutions usually coordinate through forums, conferences and workshops mainly to study and explore ways to deal with relevant issues and exchange information among themselves. Asian kills himself: An Asian believed to be in his 30s and whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly ended his life by hanging himself with the rope inside his room in a suburb of Jahra, Al- Qasr, reports Al-Anba daily. The corpse was found dangling from the rope, one end tied to the ceiling and the other around his neck. The remains have been referred to Forensics. 13 arrested: Ahmadi securitymen arrested 13 individuals, issued 20 traffic citations and recovered a stolen vehicle during sudden security and traffic campaigns they launched in several parts of Ahmadi Governorate based on directives from Ahmadi Security Director Brigadier Abdullah Safa. According to a press statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the arrested individuals included eight who were wanted by law, one reported as absconding, one without his civil ID, one involved in a theft case and one involved in a criminal case. The Public Security Sector affirmed that such campaigns will be held in all parts of the country for the protection of the lives and properties of the people of Kuwait. It urged all Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates to cooperate with securitymen for the sake of their safety and security. Officers attacked: An officer of rank Captain at Nugra Police Station and his colleague of rank First Lieutenant accused a Kuwaiti woman of insulting them and pushing the First Lieutenant officer inside the police station after she went there to stand as a witness to an incident, says Al-Seyassah. According to security sources, the Kuwaiti woman went to the police station to present her testimony over an incident that broke out between two parties. When she was told that she would have to come to the police station whenever she is required to give her account, she became infuriated and insulted the officer. When another officer tried to intervene to settle the issue, she pushed him on his shoulder and also insulted him. A case of insulting officers on duty was filed against her. Kidnap bid foiled: Police are looking for an unidentified person for attempting to kidnap a minor Syrian girl, reports Al-Anba daily. A police source said the incident happened in Khaitan. He added, the father told police the person caught his 15-year-old daughter from behind and placed one hand on her mouth to prevent her from screaming, beat her and escaped when she wrestled his hand and shouted for help. Court Cases Inmate acquitted Court set to hear case as scribe s nationality pulled By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The Administrative Court is set to hear the lawsuit filed by Journalist Sa ad Al-Ajmi to challenge the withdrawal of his citizenship Thursday. Earlier, the Court of Appeals had nullified the ruling of the Court of First Instance and referred the case to the Administrative Section, saying the court wasn t competent to look into the issue. It is worthy of note that Al-Ajmi posted on his Twitter page that he withdrew the cases filed with Kuwaiti Al-Hajeri Other Voices News in Brief Diversion announced: The General Traffic Department, with the cooperation of Ministry of Public Works, has announced that a diversion from the intersection of Jamal Abdulnasser Street and Ghazali Road will be inaugurated on Friday to remove the old iron bridge in the area. In a press statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the General Department of Public Relations and Media Security urged motorists to be careful when driving through the area, follow the traffic signs and abide by the traffic rules and regulations. Belongings stolen: Following a complaint by a Kuwaiti, his wife and her brother, have been detained for interrogation, reports Al-Shahed daily. In the complaint the man is accusing the suspects of stealing the contents of his Mahboula home. A police source said the couple fell courts over the restoration of his citizenship, and expressed gratitude to HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for allowing his return to the country. He also thanked heads of the two authorities and lawmakers who facilitated his return. His legal representative Lawyer Hamoud Al-Hajeri declared the citizenship of his client was revoked due to his membership of Al-Nasr Club in Saudi Arabia. Inmate acquitted: The Court of Appeals acquitted an inmate of Central Prison who was accused of smuggling drugs into the Central Prison in violation of the prison regulations. The Public Prosecution had accused the inmate, who was sentenced to jail term of three years and three months over a drug-related case and a life sentence over another drugrelated case, of possessing heroin. According to the case file, a prison guard said he was on duty when he noticed the suspect leave the prison hospital with a small packet. He checked the packet to find a nail clipper with a brown substance taped to it. The substance was discovered to be a drug. Lawyer Essa Bin Ali from the office of Lawyer Mohammad Al-Majdi stressed the lack of connection between the seized object and his client. He indicated that the description of the seized object as per the Public Prosecution is different from what was sent to the Criminal Investigations Department. He also pointed out the fact that there are no other witnesses besides the guard whose testimony is not enough to convict his client. No jurisdiction : The Administrative Court presided over by Judge Mohammad Bahman ruled that it has no jurisdiction to look into a request for cancellation of Ministry of Education s decision to appoint a supervisor. In a lawsuit filed by an employee of the ministry, she demanded the cancellation of the ministry s decision which promoted her colleague to a position higher than hers instead of her. She demanded to be promoted to that post. The defense counsel Lawyer Mute i Al-Ajmi affirmed in the arguments that the court does not have the jurisdiction to look into the case, and had presented evidences in that regard. The court responded to the defense lawyer request and dismissed the lawsuit, given that the complainant had not been subjected to any injustices. Women in Fahaheel market By Yousef Awadh Al-Azmi Woman is the priestess of fate and destiny. Beaconsfield During a class lecture, one of the students was given the duty of reading and discussing his presentation, which was about religions. The student spoke about seeing Jewish women in a European city who were wearing clothes that covered their body and face, similar to the religious attire of Muslim women. Other students in the lecture hall started asking questions. In order for the presenter to explain his idea in a clearer manner, he described the image of the Jewish women as resembling that of the women in Fahaheel market, an area of Kuwait that is usually visited by women of tribes like any other area in Kuwait. It is true that the student had actually seen Jewish women and their religious baggy clothes. To him, it came as a surprise. However, even though Muslims are permitted to eat Jewish food (kosher), the idea of them wearing clothes similar to that of Muslim women had never crossed the mind of the student. Here I will speak about something very important. All Ibrahimic religions and beliefs preach and order their followers to adhere to good behavior and to better the moral environment in the society in terms of trust, honesty, integrity, respect for others, and show noble moral discipline. In reality, the interpretation of these noble moral values differs from one religion to another. The important aspect here is to figure out how to understand these moral values and apply them, instead of just listening and reading the glamorous morality words. If every person, regardless of their religion, adhered to the moral values taught by his/her religion or belief, there would not be any space for hatred. There would not have been wars in almost every part of the world. This is because the understanding of clergies and scholars of each religion differs when it comes to the essence of desired moral values. Definitely, that is what has been instilling this hatred and wars, which are ignited by the politically wealthy people and lead to the burning and killing of innocent and poor people who have no say. Also, because of such religious inclinations, some corrupt politicians and regimes take advantage of religion by recruiting certain religious scholars and clerics. The latter would then tailor fatwas that fit the desired political statute, through which we see military coups transform into religious or sectarian wars Al-Azmi when in reality, they have nothing to do with religion from any angle. Since these wars are based on political or military purposes, they successfully become religious or sectarian or creedal wars by the signatories and fatwas of the so-called scholars of religion or belief. Back to Fahaheel market, the Jewish women and their religious clothes, I wonder if every religion encourages a certain type of clothing as covering. Are there other religions which differ on the basis of attire as a symbol of chastity? Finally, far from the Jewish women and politicians who take advantage of religion to wage wars, did the student succeed in his research and score the desired grades? I hope so! foul and the wife called the man and told him to come and take his belongings, but when he went there, he found nothing. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti owner of a beauty parlor in Fintas has filed a complaint with the area police station accusing three female employees two Nepalese and a Filipina of stealing the contents of her salon, reports Al-Rai daily. Police are looking for the thieves. Youth assaulted: A citizen physically assaulted a 20-year-old youth who broke into his house in Al-Oyoun area and tried to steal, says Al-Seyassah. Report indicated the citizen managed to capture the youth inside the house and clobbered him before notifying the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry. The police went to the scene and arrested the suspect. He was referred to concerned authorities and charge for vandalism.

9 LOCAL/GULF 9 Kuwait keen on offering help to poor: Al Tabtabaie IPU will discuss renewable energy next meeting: Al-Fadhala Enforce decision to up charges of medical services offered to expats MP Al-Saleh appeals to Health Minister Al-Harbi KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): Kuwait Parliament member Yusuf Al-Fadhala said Tuesday lawmakers from around the world agreed to include renewable energy and private sector role issue on agenda of upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting. Al-Fadhala was quoted by the National Assembly s Media and Public Relations Sector following a meeting of the IPU s 2nd Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade. The meeting was held on sidelines of the IPU conference, currently taking place in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Al-Fadhala said committee members agreed to allocate four hours during IPU s forthcoming conference, due in Russian city of St. Petersburg, to discuss solutions offered by parliaments over renewable energy. He called on parliaments around the world to adopt this issue becuase of its importance on lives of people. Meanwhile, MP Omar Al-Tabtabae said Kuwait was keen on offeringi help for the poor countries regardless of their cultural, religious or ethnic backgrounds. Al-Tabtabaie, member of the Executive Committee of Kuwait s Parliamentary Caucus, was addressing the IPU s Committee on UN Affairs and said Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has been offering assistance for more than 100 countries worldwide. It is our duty as representatives of the Kuwaiti people to unite our efforts against poverty and to seek suitable solutions to eradicate it, he told the committee, which convened to discuss elimination of poverty and promoting prosperity. Al-Tabtabae attributed poverty to unfair distribution of capitals, corruption, economic recess and lack of democracy in some countries. He called on the IPU to adopt the UN s sustainable development goals, while urging parliaments to work on legislations tackling poverty. Ridding the world from poverty is not impossible, he added. Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation participating in the 136th IPU conference, led by head of the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Caucus MP Rakan Al-Nesf. Thuraya Al-Baqsami presents a talk on creative writing during the AUK Literary Festival. AUK Literary Festival organises library and learning support service. Al-Baqsami presents talks on creative writing AUk Literary Festival hosts talks on migration, culture KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Migration, identity, and cultural transformation will be the main theme of a roundtable of distinguished novelists and authors. The public roundtable is the main event in the third biennial literary festival organized by Library and the Writing Center in the Academic Advising and Learning Support Services at the American University of Kuwait (AUK). The festival award-winning guests, Arab-American novelist and translator Nada Jarrar, and Arab-American poet and novelist Sinan Antoon will be joined by Kuwaiti novelists including Mai Al-Nakib, Bothyana Al-Essa. The roundtable will be held at 4 PM at AUK auditorium which will also host at 3 PM a poetry reading by Sinan Antoon and Kuwaiti poet Nejoud Al-Yagout. On Wednesday, April 4, distinguished writer and artist Thuraya Al- Baqsami presented a talk on creative writing at the American University of Kuwait (AUK). The talk is part of the activities held to celebrate AUK s third biennial literary festival which was launched on April 4. Al-Baqsami shared with the students and members of the AUK community her experience with creative writing and the relationship between her writings and paintings. She stressed the importance of reading as a source of inspiration and learning for budding writers. She also explored the inspirational possibilities that result from the fusion of art and the craft of writing. At the end of the event, Al-Baqsami opened the floor for questions and an exchange of ideas with her audience. Planetary science research UAE MBRSC s REU program student joins NASA s MAVEN science team DUBAI, April 5: Noora Al Saeed, a student from the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Programme, launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), has participated as a member of NASA s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) Mission science team. The new results announced by NASA lately revealed that most of the Martian atmosphere has been lost to space, and that solar wind and radiation are responsible for stripping the atmosphere; transforming Mars from a planet that could have supported life billions of years ago into a frigid desert world. Al Saeed began the analysis, working under the directions of Principal Investigator of the MAVEN mission Prof Bruce Jakosky, that has led to the MAVEN mission s new results, as reported in a scientific paper. While other members of the science team refined the analysis that is reported, she completed the first stages of the research, by studying the data captured by MAVEN s Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) instrument. Al Saeed examined the structure of the upper atmosphere as it is described by the argon measurements. This is the analysis that tells us how much gas has been lost to space over time. MAVEN s mission new results revealed that 65 percent of the argon that was once present in the Martian atmosphere has now disappeared. The MAVEN mission was launched in November 2013 to explore the upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the Sun and solar wind on Mars. The data gathered from the mission will be used by scientists to determine the role that loss of volatiles from the Martian atmosphere to space has played through time, giving insight into the history of Mars atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability. MAVEN s principal investigator is based at the University of Colorado s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, the academic partner of MBRSC in its mission to explore Mars, with the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Hope mission. Jakosky is Associate Director for Science at the university and a member of the EMM science team. For two summers, Al Saeed worked in the United States of America alongside Prof. Bruce Jakosky. Al Saeed, a student at the American University of Sharjah, has now been accepted into graduate school at CU, and will start there this fall where she ll continue to work with Prof. Jakosky studying the history of Mars. The REU Program offers Emirati undergraduate students the opportunity to intern at space science research centres in the United States, as well as at MBRSC. REU aims to expose undergraduate Emirati students to planetary science research, providing them with insight into the career of a planetary scientist. The program is open to undergraduate students majoring in Mathematics, Physics, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. It runs for eight to ten weeks, kicking off with an introductory workshop covering a range of topics in planetary science and the tools used for scientific analysis. Following that, each student is assigned a mentor and a project to work on for the duration of the internship. Students are encouraged to submit their research to international conferences with a chance to attend a conference if their submission is accepted. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: MP Khalil Al-Saleh has urged Minister of Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi to expedite enforcement of the decision to increase the charges of medical services offered to expatriates, as the delay in the enforcement is arousing many questions, reports Al-Rai daily. He stressed the need for expatriates to pay for the medical services offered to them, as they are costing the state millions of dinars. Al-Saleh said the current economic condition of the country necessitates imposing tax on expatriates, stressing that taking insurance policies should be made mandatory for every expatriate, either visitor or resident. He indicated that expatriates pay taxes in their countries and one of the reasons why they insist on staying in Kuwait is because it is tax-free, reiterating that rest of the country worldwide impose taxes on their citizens and expatriates. Al-Saleh affirmed that Kuwait, despite being a humanitarian country, should not have to ignore economic principles which include the need to receive payment for state services. Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Muhammad Al-Fares disclosed that educational certificates obtained by employees in the course of their jobs will not receive official recognition, as per recent decision of the Cabinet, reports Al-Anba daily. He noted certificates will be accepted only if the employees obtained a study leave approved by Ministry of Higher Education. He noted certificates earned before the issuance of Cabinet s decision and equivalency of certificates from recognized universities will be approved. Investigation Al-Fares said the committee investigating fake certificates will conclude its mission soon, noting the members have asked for two more weeks to put together the report after obtaining the necessary data from Civil Service Commission regarding those who obtained their certificates without applying for study leave. He stressed the tenure of the committee had been extended for a whole month and allowing them enough time to avoid mistakes. He reiterated about 200 fake certificates have since been discovered at the Public Authority for Applied Educations and Training, and the committee endeavors to determine true and false ones. In another report, technical Instructor of Social Studies at Ministry of Education Dr Nadia Al-Uraifan announced the termination of the services of 80 male and female expatriate teachers, reports Al-Anba daily. She said the concerned officials have been informed about the decision, which will be enforced at the end of the current academic year. Dr Al-Uraifan indicated that the cancellation of the social studies subject from the curricula of first to third primary classes has led to redundant number of teachers of that subject, revealing that there are also Kuwaiti graduates from Faculty of Education waiting to be employed. Khalil Al-Saleh Ministry of Education celebrated the International Arduino Day, which is a 24 hour-long event organized directly by the community or by the Arduino founders during which people interested in Arduino get together, share their experiences, and learn more. The General Technical Supervisor for Practical Studies at Ministry of Education Kifaah Jamsheer explained that the celebration of Arduino Day is part of the plan and programs set by the ministry, with the objective of supporting and enhancing students abilities and potentials. The Kingdom Tower in blue on April 2 World Autism Awareness Day in Riyadh. Alwaleed Philanthropies marks World Autism Awareness Day AP lights up Kingdom Tower in blue RIYADH, April 5: Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, announced lighting up the iconic Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in blue on April 2nd 2017 to support the 9th annual World Autism Awareness Day. This was done as part of Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue (LIUB) initiative, which was launched in 2010 with the goal of bringing the world s attention to this developmental disability. Every year more than 13,000 buildings and landmarks in over 45 countries shine a blue light to raise awareness of the millions of people affected by autism. World Autism Awareness Day, observed on the 2nd of April of every year, was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 and marks the start of Autism Awareness Month, a global effort to highlight the impact of this condition on millions of people around the world. The purpose of lighting the Kingdom Tower in blue is to raise awareness amongst Saudi citizens on the importance of being informed on global health issues, as well as shed light on the discrimination endured by Autistic people, said Shahad Almufti, Media & Communications Representative at Alwaleed Philanthropies. Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP) has also taken action to combat autism by supporting a psychotherapy art course to the benefit of The Charitable Society for Autism Families in Riyadh. The course aims to train specialists of art therapy in methods which have been scientifically proven to effectively treat autism. For over 37 years, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and initiated projects in over 124 countries regardless of gender, race or religion. We collaborate with a range of philanthropic, government and educational organisations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education. Together with our partners, we help build bridges for a more compassionate, tolerant and accepting world. Imprisoned Bahrain activist undergoes surgery DUBAI, April 5, (AP): The family of an imprisoned activist in Bahrain says he has undergone surgery for bleeding ulcers. Loved ones of Nabeel Rajab said Wednesday that he was taken to a military hospital for the surgery and that they were denied access to see him. They say Rajab has been held in solitary confinement for 10 months. Bahrain s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rajab was arrested in June over a series of messages posted to his Twitter account about the ongoing Saudi-led war in Yemen, as well as allegations of torture by authorities at a local prison. He also faces charges for an article he wrote for The New York Times while he was imprisoned. His trial comes amid a crackdown on dissent in Bahrain. Meanwhile, Bahrain s king has approved a law passed by parliament that allows for military courts to try civilians amid a major crackdown on all dissent in the island kingdom. The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa approved the constitutional amendment on Monday. The island s elected 40-member Consultative Council and its appointed 40-seat Council of Representatives, the two houses of Bahrain s parliament, had earlier passed the amendment. Activists warn the amendment will allow an undeclared state of martial law on the island near Saudi Arabia that s home to the US Navy s 5th Fleet. Loyalists of Bahrain s rulers call the change necessary to fight terrorism as the persistent low-level unrest that followed the 2011 demonstrations has escalated recently in tandem with the crackdown.

10 INTERNATIONAL 10 World News Roundup A woman and her dog run in snow following an overnight storm in Boulder, Colorado on April 4. (AP) Privacy Facebook loses legal fight Most in US unwilling to share information WASHINGTON, April 5, (Agencies): A majority of Americans are unwilling to share their personal s, text messages, phone calls and records of online activity with US counter-terrorism investigators even to help foil terror plots, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday. The poll showed Americans were more reluctant to share personal information than when the poll last asked the question four years ago. For instance, 75 percent of adults said they would not let investigators tap into their Internet activity to help the US combat domestic terrorism. That s up from 67 percent who answered the same way in June But Americans were more evenly divided when asked whether the government is conducting too much surveillance, showing that while they are deeply concerned about their own privacy there remains a pool of support for US spying programs that can sweep up personal information. Congress is due to address questions about surveillance later this year when it opens debate over whether to limit the government s ability to conduct warrantless searches of American data. According to the March survey, 32 percent said intelligence agencies such as the FBI Comey whose director is James Comey and National Security Agency are conducting as much surveillance as is necessary and 7 percent said they wanted more surveillance. Another 37 percent of adults said agencies are conducting too much surveillance on American citizens. The remaining 24 percent said they did not know. Later this year Congress must decide whether to reauthorize a key section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that expires on Dec 31. The section allows US intelligence agencies to collect vast amounts of communications from foreigners, but often incidentally scoops up the communications of Americans. Also: ALBANY, New York: Facebook has lost a legal fight against a New York City prosecutor who sought search warrants for hundreds of user accounts. The New York state Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that while the case raised important questions about privacy it was constrained by the law relating to who can challenge search warrants. Prosecutors in Manhattan sought search warrants in 2013 for the accounts of 381 people in connection with a disability benefits fraud case against New York City police and fire retirees. Menlo Park, California-based Facebook challenged the warrants, which it said were overbroad. In a statement, a spokesperson said the company was disappointed by the ruling and is continuing to evaluate its legal options. The case has been closely watched by social media companies, civil libertarians and prosecutors. OTTAWA: Canadian security agencies are probing a media report that someone is illicitly tracking and spying on cell phones in the area around Parliament Hill, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said on Tuesday. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp said unidentified persons had been using so-called International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) spy devices that record all types of telephone, internet or text-messaging conversations. Obviously we are very anxious to determine who lies at the source of this activity, Goodale told reporters, saying the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service spy agency were both investigating. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and the GOP leadership, fi n- ish a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 4. Ryan says Republicans are talking about reviving the failed healthcare bill, but said it would be premature to say where the legislation stands or how much support it could garner. (AP) America Obama aide denies using intel: Susan Rice, Barack Obama s national security adviser and the latest target for Donald Trump s embattled defenders, firmly denied on Tuesday that she or other Obama officials used secret intelligence reports to spy on Trump associates for political purposes. Absolutely false, Rice declared. The White House has seized on the idea that the Obama administration improperly surveilled the Republican during and after the November election an accusation Democrats say is just another red herring thrown out to distract attention from investigations of Russian interference in the campaign on behalf of Trump. Presidential spokesman Sean Spicer cast Rice s handling of intelligence in the waning days of Obama s term as suspicious, although he did not detail what he found to be inappropriate. The more we find out about this, the more we learn there was something there, Spicer said. According to a US official, Rice asked spy agencies to give her the names of Trump associates who surfaced in intelligence reports she was regularly briefed on. Rice s official role would have given her the ability to make those requests for national security purposes. Rice, in an interview with MSNBC, acknowledged that she sometimes asked for the names of Americans referenced in reports She would not say whether she saw intelligence related to Trump associates or whether she asked for their identities, though she did say that reports related to Russia increased in the final months of the presidential election. (AP) Border quiet under Trump: Just five people were eating dinner on a recent weeknight at a Texas church that is a stopping point for newly arrived immigrants on the US-Mexico border. On a typical night last year, hundreds of immigrants might come through the church. Immigrants who are still coming say many people in their home countries are staying home amid fears about President Donald Trump s immigration rhetoric, putting off coming to the US until they see how his policies play out. There are mothers who heard that Trump might change the law to remove parents and keep the children here, said HealthCare 63 pct of young Americans approve of Obama-era law Govt should pay for healthcare WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): Most young Americans want any healtcare overhaul under President Donald Trump to look a lot like the Affordable Care Act signed into law by his predecessor, president Barack Obama. But there s one big exception: A majority of young Americans dislike Obamacare s requirement that all Americans buy insurance or pay a fine. A GenForward poll says a majority of people ages 18 to 30 think the federal government should be responsible for making sure Americans have health insurance. It suggests most young Americans won t be content with a law offering access to coverage, as Trump and Republicans in Congress proposed in doomed legislation they dropped March 24. The Trump administration is talking this week of somehow reviving the legislation. Conducted Feb 16 through March 6, before the collapse of the GOP bill, the poll shows that 63 percent of young Americans approve of the Obama-era healthcare law. It did not measure reactions to the Republican proposal. The most popular element of the law is allowing young adults to stay on their parents insurance until age 26, which is favored by 75 percent of year olds. It s not just that they personally benefit an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in January found that provision was equally popular among all adults. That proposal was incl Plan But the Republican plan also contained provisions that most young Americans the racially diverse electorate of the future do not support, according to the poll. Two-thirds of young people agree with a smaller majority of Americans overall that the government should make sure people have healthcare coverage. And they understand that will cost more: Sixtythree percent want the government to increase spending to help people afford insurance. Those feelings cut across racial lines and include most whites, who formed the base of Trump s political support in the presidential election. I do believe the government should offer it because we pay taxes, said Rachel Haney, 27, of Tempe, Arizona. I do feel like it s a right. GenForward is a survey of adults age 18 to 30 by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the AP-NORC Center. The poll pays special attention to the voices of young Jose Gonzalez, a 29-year-old father of two from El Salvador. That stopped a lot of people. The first months of the new administration have seen a huge drop in the number of people being caught by agents on the US-Mexico border, raising the possibility that a Trump effect is keeping migrants away. Fewer than 12,500 people were caught at the southern border in March, the lowest White House campaign to revive health bill gets mixed reaction WASHINGTON, April 5, (Agencies): A White House offensive to resurrect the moribund House Republican healthcare bill got an uneven reception Tuesday from GOP moderates and conservatives, leaving prospects shaky for the party to salvage one of its leading priorities. Vice-President Mike Pence and other top administration offi cials were offering to let states request federal exemptions from insurance coverage requirements imposed by president Barack Obama s healthcare overhaul. About two dozen top GOP lawmakers met for two hours Tuesday evening with Pence and other White House offi cials, but participants said differences remained over giving states fl exibility to drop those mandates. Meetings will continue Wednesday. It was a very good exchange of ideas, with concerns that represent the very broad spectrum of our conference, said Rep Mark Meadows, R-NC, who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus. The group s roughly three dozen members have largely opposed the GOP legislation for not repealing enough of Obama s law. At the White House, Pence said he and President Donald Trump remain confi dent that working with the Congress we will repeal and replace Obamacare. But there was no evidence that the proposal won over any GOP opponents who d forced Trump and party leaders to beat an unceremonious retreat on their bill on March 24, when they canceled a House vote that was doomed to failure. We want to make sure that when Rice Trump we go, we have the votes to pass this bill, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R- Wis, told reporters. He said talks were in the conceptual stage and declined to predict a vote before Congress leaves town shortly for a two-week recess when lawmakers could face antagonistic grilling from voters at town hall meetings. Later in the day, Rep Steve Scalise, R-La, his party s chief vote counter, said talks were not at a place where there is consensus on health care and indicated a vote this week was unlikely. Under the White House proposal, states could apply for a federal waiver from a provision in Obama s statute obliging insurers to cover essential health benefits, including mental health, maternity and substance abuse services. The current version of the GOP legislation would erase that coverage requirement but let states reimpose it themselves, language that is opposed by many moderates. In addition, the White House would let states seek an exemption to the law s provision banning insurers from charging higher premiums for seriously ill people. Conservatives have argued that such restrictions infl ate consumers costs. Reaction from rank-and-fi le GOP lawmakers was mixed. Moderate Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-NJ, and conservative Rep Mo Brooks, R-Ala., each said they remained no votes, with Brooks saying states should be allowed to opt out of Obama s insurance requirements without seeking federal permission. adults of color, highlighting how race and ethnicity shape the opinions of a new generation. Only about a quarter of young people want Obamacare repealed. That includes 16 percent of young adults who want it repealed and replaced as Trump has vowed and another 10 percent who want it repealed without a replacement. Just over a third of young whites want to see the law repealed, making them more likely than those of other racial and ethnic groups to say so. He just wants to protect us from al-qaeda, and terrorism, said Kervin Dorsainvil, 18, a computer technician from Port Charlotte, Florida. I feel like health care should be much higher on the list. I feel like we have the resources, the medical technology and everything in place to provide the health care to the people. So why wouldn t we do that? Young people are more likely than Americans overall to say the government should make sure people have health care. A recent AP-NORC poll of US adults, conducted during and after the collapse of the GOP proposal, found just 52 percent called it a federal government responsibility to make sure all Americans have coverage. Despite their overall approval of Obamacare, young Americans views on the law aren t all rosy. Just a third say the law is working relatively well, while another third think the healthcare policy has serious problems. About 2 in 10 consider the law to be fatally flawed. monthly figure in at least 17 years and the second straight month that border arrests dropped sharply. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, in testimony submitted to a Senate committee, called the decline no accident and credited Trump. But those working in shelters and experts on migration say it will take several more months to judge whether any drop-off is lasting, and that the numbers could surge again as quickly as they ve fallen. (AP)

11 INTERNATIONAL 11 In this Aug 29, 2014 fi le photo, the USS Constitution is towed through Boston Harbor past Boston s fi nancial district skyline with its topsails unfurled. The warship nicknamed Old Ironsides, the world s oldest commissioned ship still afloat, is nearing the end of a two-year restoration in dry dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard. It is slated to return to the waters in late July (AP) Navy showcasing repairs to historic warship Old Ironsides Old Ironsides is finishing up a two-year stint in dry dock. Navy officials on Wednesday are slated to offer a closer look at the restoration work on the USS Constitution as it nears completion at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. The world s oldest commissioned warship afloat returns to the waters in late July. It enters dry dock for below-the-waterline repairs every 20 years. Nearly 100 white oak hull planks were replaced during this latest round. The lower hull also was re-caulked and covered with 2,200 copper sheets. The process is chronicled on the ship museum s blog and live photo feed. The public will have limited access to the USS Constitution through September while work is completed. The ship earned its famous nickname notching victories in the War of (AP) Regulation Region Use of CRA aggressive Window closing for GOP stealth assault WASHINGTON, April 5, (RTRS): The clock began running out this week on a strategy that has provided US Republicans in Congress with their only notable legislative successes this year: aggressive use of an obscure US law known as the Congressional Review Act (CRA). On his 75th day in power, President Donald Trump has yet to offer any major legislation or win passage of a bill he favors, but House of Representatives Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has notched numerous smallscale victories with his strategy. Vice-President Mike Pence told business leaders at the White House on Tuesday that Trump would sign more CRA resolutions soon and roll back an avalanche of red tape from the administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Since Trump took office on Jan. 20, McCarthy has led Congress in churning out 13 resolutions under the CRA killing Obama-era regulations, most of concern to business interests. Trump has signed 11 of these into law, not only rolling back the rules they targeted but also barring agencies from writing McCarthy substantially similar regulations in the future. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday the number of resolutions signed over two months showed Trump is vastly different from past presidents in rolling back regulations. On Monday Trump signed a CRA resolution repealing broadband privacy protections. He has also signed resolutions killing rules meant to expand background checks for mentally ill gun purchasers, change public school assessments, and reduce coal waste runoff into streams. Last Friday was the deadline for introducing any new CRA resolutions on regulations enacted by Obama s administration. Now Republicans must complete voting on resolutions already in the legislative pipeline by mid-may. Big-money Democrats assail the reversals as harming the environment, education and checks on Wall Street, with many saying the regulations were killed in order to please big-money lobbyists. Representative Louise Slaughter, the senior Democrat on the Rules Committee that sends resolutions to the House floor for votes, said in an interview of course it benefits the lobbyists. But she said fumbles around healthcare and tax reform also pushed CRA resolutions to the fore. Partly I think it s because they don t have anything else to do, she said about Republicans eagerness. Other than that I think it s just another take that Obama. McCarthy, a Californian and the No. 2 House Republican, saw the CRA s potential before the election. Written in 1996 and successfully used only once before 2017, the law was originally meant to restore the balance of power between Congress and the federal bureaucracy. But lobbyists and lawmakers recognized it could be used as a policy weapon, if the stars aligned. Under the law, resolutions only need simple majorities in each chamber to go on for the president s signature. So one party must control both the legislative and executive branches for it to work. The law sets a short time span for introducing disapproval resolutions: 60 legislative days after a regulation is finalized, meaning it can only be used right after a president of an opposing party leaves office. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep Devin Nunes, R-California (right), walks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-sisi following a closed-door meeting in a secure room in the basement of the Capitol in Washington on April 4. (AP) America Sturgeon talks of global role: Scotland s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Tuesday that independence from the United Kingdom, combined with partnerships around the world, is the best way for her country to build a fairer society at home and to make a positive contribution elsewhere. Sturgeon made the comments while addressing academics and students at Stanford University in California during her weeklong tour of the United States, Our modern identity will remain open, outward-looking and inclusive, she said. And Scotland will of course continue to build partnerships around the world including with governments, businesses and universities here in California and across the United States. Sturgeon said independence is something that will be debated across Scotland in the months ahead, with the country planning to hold a referendum on independence sometime between fall 2018 and spring But the immediate point is that the UK government must recognize that the people of Scotland have the right to make the choice, she said. In June, the UK voted to leave the European Union sparking outrage in Scotland where the majority was opposed. During her hour-long talk Tuesday, Sturgeon also discussed Scotland s priorities in tackling climate change. On Monday, she signed a climate change agreement with California Gov Jerry Brown. Both of us want to apply our capacity for innovation to tackling what is arguably the biggest environmental, economic and moral issue facing the world, she said. In 2009 the Scottish Parliament passed what at that time were the most ambitious statutory climate change targets in the world. Sturgeon said Scotland has met its first major target five years early and is looking to go further. Scotland already produces more than 50 percent of its net electricity demand through renewable sources. The world s largest tidal power array is being developed in Pentland Firth, and the largest floating offshore windfarm is being built off the north eastern coast. (AP) Giuliani eyes diplomatic end to Turkish man s case: lawyer Iran sanctions bill delayed WASHINGTON, April 5, (Agencies): A bill to slap new sanctions on Iran has been delayed in the US Senate due to concerns about Iran s May presidential election, in which conservative hardliners hope to defeat moderate President Hassan Rouhani, US lawmakers said on Tuesday. A group of Democratic and Republican senators introduced the bill in March seeking to impose tighter US sanctions on Iran over ballistic missile launches and other non-nuclear activities, echoing a harder line on Tehran espoused by Republican President Donald Trump. But on Tuesday, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker, said the bill would not move forward for now. We ve got a Iran sanctions bill that has a number of co-sponsors that wasn t able to markup at present because of concerns about how the European Union might react and (Iranian) elections that are coming up, Corker said during a hearing on the EU as a US partner in dealings with Russia. A markup is when a committee meets to debate legislation and to consider amendments. Corker was a co-sponsor of the new sanctions bill, as were several other Democratic and Republican members of the Foreign Relations Committee. As he has campaigned, Rouhani has called for greater individual freedoms and highlighted as a signature achievement the 2015 diplomatic breakthrough reached with the United States and other world powers, in which Iran curbed its nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions. The lawmakers who wrote the bill said it had been written specifically not to interfere with the nuclear accord. But Iran has suggested that it would consider past proposed sanctions bills violations of the international pact reached during the administration of former US president Barack Obama, a Democrat. Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and a former US attorney general are seeking a diplomatic solution to resolving charges that a prominent Turkish businessman helped Iran evade US sanctions, a defense lawyer said Tuesday, insisting that their actions 2 Florida men plead guilty to planning to help DAESH FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, April 5, (RTRS): Two Florida men have pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State by planning to travel to Syria to join the militant group, the US Justice Department said on Tuesday. Both men are US citizens and live in Palm Beach County. Dayne Antani Christian, 32, and Darren Arness Jackson, 51, each pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to provide material support to Islamic State. Jackson made his plea on Tuesday and Christian pleaded last week, each to US District Judge Robin Rosenberg. Each man faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on the conspiracy charges. Christian also pleaded guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and faces up to 10 yeas in prison if convicted for that charge. The two men, along with co-defendant Gregory Hubbard, 53, were arrested by the FBI, after Jackson last July drove Hubbard and an FBI confidential informant to Miami International Airport for a flight to Germany. Court records show that prosecutors claim that Hubbard bought a ticket for Berlin and planned to travel by train to Turkey and then cross into Syria to join Islamic State. A July 2016 indictment returned by a grand jury charged all three men with conspiring and attempting including meeting Turkey s president weren t intended to derail prosecutors. We ve acted aboveboard, attorney Ben Brafman told a Manhattan judge as he explained that he told prosecutors last month that Giuliani and ex-us Attorney-General Michael Mukasey were going to meet Turkey s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as part of their work on behalf of Reza Zarrab. Nobody was trying to hide their involvement. Sturgeon Reno to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. That indictment says that at least as far back as July 2015 and continuing until their arrests, Christian and Jackson told Hubbard and the FBI confidential informant about supporting Islamic State and of a desire to travel to Syria for that purpose, the Justice Department s press statement issued on Tuesday shows. The same indictment says Christian and Jackson provided firearms and training in a remote area of Palm Beach County so that Hubbard and the FBI source could learn to shoot. Also: CAIRO: Islamic State said on Tuesday the United States was drowning and being run by an idiot. In the first official remarks by the group referring to President Donald Trump since he took office, spokesman Abi al-hassan al-muhajer said: America you have drowned and there is no saviour, and you have become prey for the soldiers of the caliphate in every part of the earth, you are bankrupt and the signs of your demise are evident to every eye.... There is no more evidence than the fact that you are being run by an idiot who does not know what Syria or Iraq or Islam is, he said in a recording released on Tuesday on messaging network Telegram. He said Mukasey, a former Manhattan federal judge who served as attorney general under president George W. Bush, also informed Attorney-General Jeff Sessions before the trip. Brafman said there was nothing wrong with his client hiring Mukasey and Giuliani, a former Manhattan US attorney and a close supporter and adviser to President Donald Trump, in an attempt to explore whether there may be a diplomatic solution to this case. Reno s ranch to be donated: The South Florida home where the late US Attorney-General Janet Reno lived will be preserved and donated to Miami-Dade College. The Miami Herald reports a final agreement is being ironed out to donate the ranch which sat on the edge of the Everglades where Reno s mother built the rustic home in the 1940s. It s slated to become part of the environmental center at the college s campus south of Miami. Attorney Alan Greer, who s representing the Reno family, says visiting the cottage is like going back in time. The college declined comment on the negotiation process. Reno died in November at age 78. The Herald reports word about the likely donation leaked out when her surviving sibling hosted a party Saturday to say goodbye to the ranch. (AP)

12 INTERNATIONAL 12 World News Roundup EU Text sets red lines Lawmakers adopt a Brexit resolution STRASBOURG, April 5, (RTRS): European Union lawmakers adopted a resolution on Wednesday setting their red lines for the two-year divorce talks with Britain and rejected attempts by British MEPs to recognise Gibraltar s pro-eu stance in the Brexit referendum. In a display of EU unity, the legislature text repeated the same priorities set by the EU summits chair Donald Tusk in his draft negotiating guidelines released last week. The European Parliament wants talks on Britain s future relations with the EU to start only after substantial progress is made on the bill for Brexit bill, on the Irish border, and on the rights of the 3 million EU citizens in Britain and the one million British residents in EU countries. The text was backed by more than two-thirds of the deputies in the parliament, which will have to approve any deal with the United Kingdom. Britain s Under Secretary for Brexit Robin Walker said this was a positive move although Britain would prefer Barnier to start trade talks as soon as possible. He told reporters at the session in Strasbourg that Britain will also put citizens rights first in the Brexit process. In a minor departure from Tusk s text, the parliament s resolution hinted at the possibility for Britain to reverse the Brexit process, stressing however that this would be possible only with the approval of all the remaining 27 member states. The door is open if Britain changes its mind, Gianni Pittella, head of the centre-left grouping, the second largest in the parliament, told reporters. The Greens expressed a similar wish. Negotiator The move was aimed at strengthening the hand of the 48 percent of Britons who voted against Brexit in last year s referendum, but was opposed by the EU chief negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, parliament officials said. The conservative grouping, the largest in the legislature, tried to distance itself from such a statement, although they backed the resolution. Leave means leave, the conservatives leader Manfred Weber said. The resolution also allowed transitional arrangements to smooth the UK s departure, but they should not last more than three years. MEPs also insisted that at the end of the process Britain cannot expect better conditions than when it was an EU member. Lawmakers rejected two nearly identical amendments that would have added to the text a reference to Gibraltar s pro-eu vote in last year s Brexit referendum, a move meant to recall its residents back the EU but also prefer to remain in Britain. The rocky British enclave on the southern Spain coast caused a harsh controversy after Tusk s guidelines gave Madrid a say in the future relationship between Gibraltar and the EU after Britain leaves the bloc. Gibraltar rejected the idea of Britain sharing sovereignty with Spain by 99 percent to 1 percent in a 2002 referendum, but voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the EU in last June s Brexit vote. In related news, Britain must stop pressing for immediate parallel talks with the European Union on a post-brexit free trade deal, Barnier said on Wednesday, and first agree on withdrawal terms. Barnier said May s letter a week ago to trigger the two-year exit process was clearly a call for two parallel negotiations, one on how Britain quits the bloc and another on its future trade relationship with the EU. This is a very risky approach, he said in a speech to the European Parliament. To succeed, we need on the contrary to devote the first phase of negotiations exclusively to reaching an agreement on the principles of the exit. Certainty Those must include providing legal certainty for people and businesses affected by Britain s departure in March 2019, he said. There must also be a border arrangement that assures the fragile peace in Northern Ireland is not upset. Only after progress on those issues would negotiators start scoping a future pact on trade, security and defence, he said. Meanwhile, May has not ruled out allowing the free movement of people between Britain and the European Union during an implementation phase after Britain leaves the bloc, the BBC reported on Wednesday. May, who triggered the formal divorce procedure with the European Union last week, has said she expects some kind of implementation phase, or transitional agreement, after two years of talks with the bloc. She has offered few details on how an implementation phase would operate, but if Britain wants to keep the status quo before finalising a deal, it will have to accept the EU s rules - the so-called four freedoms allowing the free movement of people, capital, goods and services. Asked whether her government would rule out the free movement of people in any transitional period after the terms of Britain s departure from the European Union were agreed, May declined to do so, the BBC said. Once we ve agreed what the new relationship will be for the future, it will be necessary for there to be a period of time when businesses and governments are adjusting systems and so forth, May told reporters on a visit to Saudi Arabia. Concern over immigration from the European Union was a major reason behind Britain s vote to leave and May has said she will respect those fears by not seeking membership of Europe s single market which would mean allowing freedom of movement of people. She added that Britain would have control of our borders and control of our immigration, the BBC reported. Citing the same conversation with reporters, the Financial Times said May had suggested that Britain would not be able to complete a new trade deal with the EU until after Brexit happens in 2019, saying that there was a legal situation in terms of how the European Union can conduct trade negotiations. However May said that by the time Britain leaves the EU, it s right that everybody should know what the future arrangements, the future relationship, that future partnership between us and the EU will be. Pope Francis exchanges gifts with Britain s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, during a private audience at the Vatican on April 4. The heir to the British throne is on a three-country trip seen as an effort to reassure European Union nations that Britain remains a close ally despite its impending departure from the bloc. (AP) From (left), Britain s Prince William, Kate the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry stand together as they reflect after William laid a wreath after arriving for a Service of Hope at Westminster Abbey, two weeks after the March 22 London terror attack, in London on April 5. The service took place near Westminster Bridge, where Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians before stabbing a police officer outside Parliament. (AP) Livingstone Britain Mirvis Be a man of peace : Pope Francis met Britain s Prince Charles on Tuesday at the Vatican, telling him to be a man of peace. The Prince of Wales and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall spoke in private for about 30 minutes with the pope in one of his studies near the Vatican s large audience hall. Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace, Francis told Charles during the public part of the audience, in which the three had their pictures taken and exchanged gifts. Francis gave him a small bronze figure of an olive branch. I ll do my best, said the heir to the British throne, who is on a tour of Romania, Italy and Austria with his wife. Charles gave the pope a basket of homemade foods from his Highgrove country estate and indicated that the pope would likely donate it to others, as he usually does. Someone else might like it, Charles said. Both are strong defenders of the environment. Francis gave Charles a copy of his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si (Praised Be), which called for urgent action to deal with climate change. The two are also strong backers of the 2015 Paris Agreement to curb world temperatures, which US President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon. (RTRS) EU to release 60 mln euros: Britain will get 60 million euros (51.3 million pounds) from the European Union to repair damage caused by the floods last year, a lawmaker said on Tuesday. Britain had asked for EU support to rebuild infrastructure damaged by heavy rains in the winter of European Parliament lawmakers will approve the grants on Wednesday, clearing the way for the funds to be disbursed, parliament officials said. When one member state has a problem, others actively collaborate and help. The UK will benefit from EU solidarity despite Brexit and the triggering of Article 50, said the lawmaker in charge of the dossier, Portuguese conservative José Manuel Fernandes. Britain began last week the two-year Royals Honouring Diana, Prince Harry urges landmine-free world by 2025 Royals attend Service of Hope LONDON, April 5, (RTRS): Queen Elizabeth s grandsons Princes William and Harry joined relatives of four people killed in a deadly attack near the London parliament two weeks ago for a Service of Hope on Wednesday. Khalid Masood, 52, ploughed a rented car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge killing three people and injuring dozens more before running through the gates of parliament and stabbing a policeman to death. He was then shot dead. British police have said it was a terrorist attack but that Masood appeared to have been acting alone. All other suspects arrested in connection with the incident have now been released. Families of the victims: US tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, college worker Aysha Frade, 44, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75 and Pc Keith Palmer, 48, joined Harry, William and his wife Kate for the service at Westminster Abbey, a stone s throw from the scene of the attack a fortnight ago. Assault The violent assault two weeks ago against Londoners and visitors to this city from around the world and the killing of a police constable on duty at the Palace of Westminster have shocked people everywhere, said John Hall, the Dean of Westminster. Those killed and injured included Londoners but also people from the United States of America, from Romania, France, South Korea, Italy, China, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Germany, Poland and Ireland. The congregation included those injured in the attack along with witnesses, those from the emergency services who were first on the scene and representatives from major religions. William and British Home Secretary (interior minister) Amber Rudd gave the readings while London Mayor Sadiq Khan delivered one of the prayers. Investigators believe Masood, a former violent criminal who had converted to Islam, had become self-radicalised by accessing extremist material on the internet. They said they had found nothing to link him to radical groups at home or militants abroad. What could possibly motivate a man to hire a car and take it from Birmingham to Brighton to London and then drive it fast at people he had never met, couldn t possible know, against who he had no personal grudge... and then run at the gates of the Palace of Westminster to cause another death,? Hall said. It seems likely that we shall never know. What on earth did he hope to achieve? Britain s Prince Harry threw his support behind a campaign to rid the world of landmines by 2025 on Tuesday, two decades after his mother, Princess Diana, walked through a minefield in Angola to highlight the plight of victims. Even though the production and use of landmines has dropped since a 1997 treaty to prohibit their use, more than 60 million people are at risk of death or injury from landmines globally, the UK Department for International Development (DfID) says. Hard to detect, difficult to clear and often designed to maim rather than kill, landmines linger in the soil for decades. The number of people reported killed or injured by landmines rose by 75 percent in 2015 to nearly 6,500, largely due to conflicts in Libya, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen, according to the Landmine Monitor. Most of the casualties were civilians. Harry, who is third in line to the throne, used a speech to mark process of quitting the EU, but it will remain a full member state until Brexit occurs, sharing benefits and costs of the membership. The settlement of Britain s financial commitments to the EU is considered one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations. The aid to the flood-stricken regions will come from the EU Solidarity Fund, which is used to help countries hit by natural disasters. It is the second time that Britain has received financial support from the fund since it was set up in (RTRS) Labour too soft on Livingstone : Britain s opposition Labour Party suspended former London Mayor Ken Livingstone for saying Adolf Hitler had supported In this April 4, 2017 photo released by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Saudi s Oil Minister Khalid al-falih (left), poses with British Prime Minister Theresa May, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister May has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a trip aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and increasing trade with the largest Arab economy. (AP) International Mine Awareness to urge the international community to help end the use of landmines. My mother had been shocked and appalled by the impact that landmines were having on incredibly vulnerable people... she refused to accept that these destructive weapons should be left where they were, said Harry at an event in Kensington Palace. The prince, 32, said the world should celebrate the huge progress which has been made, but added that more needed to be done. The sooner we are able to clear all remaining landmines the less chance there is of innocent lives being lost or changed forever, he said. Let s make future generations proud and finish what we started. Priti Patel, minister for international development, said landmines were a global scourge as she announced DfiD s plans to triple its support for landmine clearance to 100 million pounds ($124 million) over the next three years. It s not just the fatalities and the terrible, immobilising injuries landmines cause it s the destruction of opportunity and hope, that has scarred so many families... more must be done and more will be done, said Patel, who also spoke at the event. In the last year of her life, Princess Diana used a high-profile trip to Angola which along with Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are among the most mined countries in the world to raise awareness of the threat landmines. Following in his mother s footsteps, Harry visited minefields in Angola in 2013 and Mozambique in Mozambique was declared landmine free in More than 160 countries have signed the Mine Ban Treaty and 27 countries and one territory have declared themselves free of landmines, including Rwanda and Nicaragua. Zionism, but the party was accused of being too soft on the veteran hard-left politician. The row over Livingstone comes against a backdrop of criticism within Labour and in the Jewish community, rejected by party leaders, that Labour has had a persistent problem with anti-semitism under hard-left leader Jeremy Corbyn. This was a chance for the Labour Party to show that it would not tolerate wilful and unapologetic baiting of the Jewish community, Britain s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said in a statement. Worryingly, the party has yet again failed to show that is sufficiently serious about tackling the scourge of anti-semitism. Livingstone, who has a history of making provocative remarks, faced a backlash after saying a year ago that Hitler was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews. He was suspended late on Tuesday for two years, a measure that will expire in April 2018 to take into account the period of suspension already served. Critics, including some within Labour, said Livingstone should have been permanently expelled. A new low for my party this evening. Appalling decision. Why is anti-semitism being treated differently from any other form of racism? wrote Luciana Berger, a Labour member of parliament who has faced anti-semitic abuse, on Twitter. Livingstone was unapologetic, saying he had been speaking the truth when he made his remarks, and likened the disciplinary process against him to a court in North Korea. (RTRS)

13 INTERNATIONAL 13 Russia Russia faces different threat 6 arrested for terror in wake of bombing ST PETERSBURG, Russia, April 5, (Agencies): As the residents of Russia s second-largest city try to regain their nerve in the wake of a fatal subway bombing, officials announced Wednesday that six people have been arrested on suspicion of recruiting terrorists. Wednesday s statement from the Investigative Committee gave few details, but said those arrested came from Central Asian countries that once were part of the Soviet Union. Officials have said the suicide attacker behind Monday s blast that killed 14 people in St Petersburg was a native of the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan. There was no immediate information tying those arrested with the suspected bomber, identified as Dhzalilov 22-year-old Akbardzhon Dhzalilov. Fifty-five people wounded in the blast remain hospitalized, deputy mayor Anna Mityanina said Wednesday. The predominantly Muslim Central Asian states are seen as a prime recruiting ground for Islamic militants. Meeting with the heads of security services from a regional alliance that includes most of Russia s Central Asian neighbors, President Vladimir Putin warned that terrorism remained a threat to all in the region. We see that, unfortunately, the situation is not improving, he said. The recent tragic events in St Petersburg are the best confirmation of this. We know that each of our countries, practically every one, is a possible and potential target of terrorist attacks. Earlier Wednesday, the Investigative Committee said in a statement they searched the home of Dhzalilov in St Petersburg. They also examined CCTV footage from outside Dhzhalilov s home which shows him leave home with a bag and a backpack. The bomb went off on a train under Russia s second-largest city on Monday. Another bomb, hidden in a bag, was found and de-activated at another St Petersburg station just half an hour before the blast Dhzhalilov s DNA was found on the bag. Punishment After the attack, several Russian politicians have called for ending the moratorium on capital punishment. But parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin dismissed the statements as attention-getting devices and upbraided the politicians, saying One must not use a tragedy to promote oneself. Meanwhile, Akbardzhon Dhzalilov, the man suspected of blowing up a Russian metro train, represents a new wave of radical Islamists who blend into local society away from existing jihadist movements making it harder for security forces to stop their attacks. His pages on the Russian equivalent of Facebook show Dhzalilov s interest in Wahabbism, a conservative and hardline branch of Islam. But they give no indication that he might resort to violence, presenting a picture of a typical young man leading a largely secular life. If radical Islamism was indeed his motive, he will be distinct from two previous waves of attackers those from Russia s restive North Caucasus region who fought successive rebellions against Moscow; and a later group who went to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State group. The new generation may take inspiration or instruction from people involved in those previous fights, and are drawn from the same Muslim communities. However, they are not directly linked to those militant organisations and have not created the trail of arrest warrants, tapped phone calls, travel documents and monitored border crossings on which security forces usually rely to keep tabs on violent Islamist radicals. It s a completely different kind, a different level of terrorist threat from the one that Russian security services are used to dealing with, said Andrei Soldatov, a Russian expert on the intelligence services. Bombing Security services typically look for an organisation and financing network behind a terror attack, he said, but those may not exist in cases such as the metro bombing. It s very difficult to counter things like this, Soldatov said. British police have run into similar problems investigating the case of Khalid Masood, who sped across Westminster Bridge in a car last month, killing three pedestrians and injuring dozens more, before stabbing a policeman to death. Shot dead by police, Masood also had no known links to jihadist groups. Dhzalilov is typical of millions of young Muslim men living in Russia. There was nothing apparent from his background and lifestyle that made him stand out for the authorities. An ethnic Uzbek from the southern Kyrgyzstan city of Osh, he moved with his father to St Petersburg for work several years ago, according to neighbours in Osh. In Russia, he worked with his father as a panel beater in a car repair shop, they said. An acquaintance from St Petersburg said Dhzalilov had worked for about a year in a chain of sushi restaurants. A second acquaintance said he was a fan of sambo, a form of martial arts popular in Russia. He owned a Daewoo car, according to a source in the Russian authorities, and was registered at an apartment in a quiet, upscale neighbourhood of suburban St Petersburg. A person who said he was a representative of the apartment s owner said Dhzalilov had never lived there, but that he had granted him with a temporary registration at the flat as a favour to some mutual acquaintances. Dhzalilov s page on VKontake, a Russian social media website, has photographs showing him wearing stylish Western dress, in a restaurant with friends and smoking a hookah pipe. His listed interests included a pop music radio station and mixed-martial arts. His page had a link to the home page of boxer Mike Tyson. But he also had an interest in religion: the page had links to a website in Russian called I love Islam which features quotations from the Holy Quran, and another called IslamHouse.com, which said it aimed to help people get to know Islam. Another VKontakte page which belonged to Dhzalilov included links to a site featuring the sayings of Muhammad ibn Abd al-wahhab, an 18th century preacher on whose teaching Wahabbism is based. Security officials and people involved in radical Islam say the earlier generations of violent Islamists are now largely out of the picture. People cry at a symbolic memorial at Technologicheskiy Institute subway station in St Petersburg, Russia on April 5. A bomb blast tore through a subway train deep under Russia s second-largest city St Petersburg Monday, killing several people and wounding many more in a chaotic scene that left victims sprawled on a smoky platform. (AP) In this photo dated April 4, far-left candidate for the French presidential election Philippe Poutou attends a television debate at French private TV channels BFM TV and CNews, in La Plaine-Saint-Denis, outside Paris, France. The 11 candidates in France s presidential race are preparing to face off in a crucial debate Tuesday evening, less than three weeks before the fi rst round of the election. (AP) Europe Contenders clash on jobs, security: France s top candidates for president advocated starkly opposing economic, European and security policies during a crucial debate Tuesday night, less than three weeks before the first round of voting. Anger at globalization, worries about extremist violence and skepticism of the European Union were key themes in the televised debate. It featured all 11 candidates for the race nine men, two women seated in a semi-circle facing the journalists for almost 4 hours. Polls currently suggest independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, far-right leader of the National Front, would dominate the April 23 first round and Macron could win the May 7 runoff. But lesser-known rivals stood out in the debate notably far left candidates Jean- Luc Melenchon and Philippe Poutou, with their rhetoric for the working classes and jabs at the frontrunners. Asked how they want to create jobs in a country where the unemployment rate has for years hovered around 10 percent, Macron promoted pro-free market views, in contrast with Le Pen and her support for protectionism. Macron pledges to cut business taxes, loosen France s stringent labor rules and boost negotiations between unions and employers to help create jobs. Le Pen who wants France to follow Britain and exit the European Union, like several candidates proposed a tax on businesses that hire foreign workers. Without a clever protectionism, we are going to watch jobs being destroyed one after another, she said. Le Pen lobbed several punches at Macron, her chief rival. You do not present yourself as new when you are using 50-year-old ideas, she said to the former economy minister, who is 39 years old and running for his first elected office. Madame Le Pen, sorry to tell you, but you are using lies we hear for 40 years and we were hearing in your father s mouth, Macron retorted, a reference to the National Front s founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who repeatedly has been convicted of crimes based on anti-semitism and racism. As many candidates from the left and right harshly criticized the European Union, Macron said he has the European project in (his) heart. The best way to improve the situation of European workers is for France to discuss with Germany and reform the EU, he said. Security issues prompted a vigorous discussion as the country is still under state of emergency following deadly attacks in Paris in Le Pen wants to reinstate France s national borders to prevent potential attackers from entering the country. (AP) Germany OKs social media fine: The German cabinet approved a plan on Wednesday to fine social networks up to 50 million euros ($53 million) if they do not remove hateful postings quickly, prompting concerns the law could limit free expression. Germany already has some of the world s toughest hate speech laws covering defamation, public incitement to commit crimes and threats of violence, backed up Cyber German military can use offensive measures : minister Watchdogs warn of int l cyber attack STOCKHOLM, April 5, (Agencies): A large-scale cyber attack from a group targeting organisations in Japan, the United States, Sweden and many other European countries through IT services providers has been uncovered, the Swedish computer security watchdog said on Wednesday. The cyber attack, uncovered through a collaboration by Britain s National Cyber Security Centre, PwC and cyber security firm BAE Systems, targeted managed service providers to gain access to their customers internal networks since at least May 2016 and potentially as early as The exact scale of the attack, named Cloud Hopper from an organisation called APT10, is not known but is believed to involve huge amounts of data, Sweden s Civil Contingencies Agency said in a statement. The agency did not say whether the cyber attacks were still happening. The high level of digitalization in Sweden, along with the amount of services outsourced to managed service providers, means that there is great risk that several Swedish organizations are affected by the attacks, the watchdog said. The agency said those behind the attacks had used significant resources to identify their targets and sent sophisticated phishing s to infect computers. It also said Swedish IP addresses had been used to coordinate the incursions and retrieve stolen data and that APT10 specifically targeted IT, communications, healthcare, energy and research sectors. The German military has the authority to respond with offensive measures if its computer networks are attacked, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, amid growing concerns among German lawmakers about control of such actions. Von der Leyen, speaking at the opening ceremony for Germany s new cyber command in Bonn, gave no details of what kind of retaliation she had in mind. If the German military s networks are attacked, then we can defend ourselves. As soon as an attack endangers the functional and operational readiness of combat forces, we can respond with offensive measures, she said. She added that the German military could be called in to help in the event of cyber attacks on other governmental institutions. During foreign missions, its actions would be governed and bounded by the underlying parliamentary mandate. Any legal questions would be addressed by the military in close cooperation with other government agencies, she added. The new Bonn-based command has an initial staff of 260 that will grow to around 13,500 in July. Von der Leyen s decision to sanction offensive cyber actions in principle has caused some concerns among German lawmakers, including Agnieszka Brugger, a member of the pro-environment Greens and member of the defence committee. Military ombudsman Hans-Peter Bartels, who fields complaints from by prison sentences for Holocaust denial or inciting hatred against minorities. There should be just as little tolerance for criminal rabble rousing on social networks as on the street, Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement, adding that he would seek to push for similar rules at a European level. The issue has taken on more urgency as German politicians worry that a proliferation of fake news and racist content, particularly about 1 million migrants who have Under threat, France grooming army hackers for cyberwarfare CESSON-SAVIGNE, France, April 5, (RTRS): Huddled around their computers, two dozen French 20-somethings have been typing away feverishly for seven hours. Their objective is clear. Eliminate a virus crippling the systems of a government environmental agency. Mission accomplished! They have done what they were asked to do. Analyse, identify and then develop a code that wipes it out, says Patrice, a French military offi cer testing potential recruits at a cyber defence centre in western France. The exercise was one of dozens held across the country between March 20 and 31, involving 240 people from 12 elite technology colleges, part of a plan to create an army of talented cyber spies to counter digital destabilisation efforts. Officials want them to be ready to face cyberwarfare that could target civil infrastructure such as water, electricity, telecommunications and transport. They will also be expected to protect French democracy itself, amid allegations that Russia interfered in the US presidential election last year. Cyber defence has become one of France s national security priorities as states like Russia, China and Iran, criminal groups and even some allies sharpen their own digital abilities. The threats will grow. The frequency and sophistication of attacks is increasing without respite, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in December after unveiling the army s new cyber operational command. The next challenge in cyber defence will not just be detecting the attacks, but to continue our military operations amid a cyber attack, while using cyberspace to launch our own counter operations. The fourth army, as it has now been labelled, will see an initial billion euros invested up to The soldiers for parliament, told the Neue Osnabrueckner Zeitung newspaper on Wednesday that every offensive measure required explicit approval by the parliament since Germany s military is a so-called parliamentary army. German officials told reporters earlier this week that the government was scrambling to respond to serious and growing cyber threats, but civilian officials said they lacked the legal framework to retaliate with cyber attacks of their own. However, von der Leyen made clear on Wednesday that she was convinced the authorities were clear in the military realm. Deputy Defence Minister Katrin Suder told reporters on Monday that existing laws applied, even in cyberspace. A Russian man who faces charges in the United States of hacking and stealing information from computers Le Pen Macron objective is to have 3,200 digital soldiers in place by then, from just 100 six years ago. Another 4,400 reservists will be waiting in the wings if required. At Cesson-Savigne, a centre for French cyber defence excellence, the twenty budding digital soldiers know this could be the opportunity to defend their country. They are put through intense workouts on tasks ranging from tackling basic infi ltration efforts via system compromise to full loss of control of the network. It really is the opportunity to spot the golden nuggets, said Eric, a colonel who heads the operations pole of the army s cyber defence command centre. In line with French military rules, officers are not allowed to give their family names. The annual exercise, which has been running since 2013, has so far enabled France to recruit 35 percent of the reservists it needs. More and more students are also seeking full-time posts, with starting salaries of 3,000 euros ($3,195) a month. The profile we re after is someone young who enjoys rummaging around a little and is extremely curious in the digital world, said Stephane, a commander who heads up a cyber unit that trains about 1,000 people each year. On the other side of the Atlantic, there is concern that the US National Security Agency risks a braindrain of hackers and cyber spies due to tumultuous reorganisation and worries about the acrimonious relationship between the intelligence community and President Donald Trump. Cybersecurity executives in the United States told Reuters they had witnessed a marked increase in the number of US intelligence officers and government contractors seeking employment in the private sector since Trump took office on Jan. 20. at LinkedIn, Dropbox and other San Francisco Bay Area companies can be extradited either to the United States or Russia, the state prosecution in Prague said on Wednesday. Yevgeniy Nikulin, who remained in detention, was arrested in Prague on Oct 5 after Interpol issued an international warrant. Czech officers cooperated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the case. Moscow wants him extradited on a separate charge of internet theft in Spokeswoman Stepanka Zenklova said the Czech prosecution established that both extradition requests are acceptable and Prague s Municipal Court will decide. A date for an extradition hearing has not been set, but court spokeswoman Marketa Puci said it s a question of days or a week. Justice Minister Robert Pelikan will have the final say. arrived in the last two years, could sway public opinion in the run-up to the national election in September. However, organisations representing digital companies, consumers and journalists, accused the government of rushing a law to parliament that could damage free speech. It is the wrong approach to make social networks into a content police, said Volker Tripp, head of the Digital Society Association consumer group. (RTRS)

14 INTERNATIONAL 14 World News Roundup Egypt Ahead of cutting season Cairo urged to end silence over FGM LONDON, April 5, (Agencies): Silence around female genital mutilation (FGM) in Egypt is costing lives, campaigners warned on Tuesday ahead of the traditional cutting season when thousands of girls are expected to undergo the ancient ritual. They called for better sex education in schools and urged clerics to talk about FGM at Friday prayers. National data suggests almost 90 percent of girls and women in Egypt have undergone FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia. Egypt banned the practice in 2008, but it remains widespread with around three quarters of procedures carried out by health professionals, a report by anti- FGM group 28 Too Many said on Tuesday. There has been mounting concern following the deaths of several girls during botched procedures, including a teenager who bled to death in a hospital last May. The silence around the harmful practice... has cost too many Egyptian girls their lives, said Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy, a leading Eltahawy voice on women s rights in the Arab world. Egypt, which has the highest number of women affected by FGM in the world, strengthened its law last year, but 28 Too Many said convictions were rare and sentences light. It called for law enforcement officers and community leaders to be especially vigilant during the cutting season which peaks in May and June. Campaigners said a lack of sex education and information about FGM were preventing its eradication. Taboo Something that hurts so many girls and women is kept silent and taboo because it has to do with our vaginas and with sex, Eltahawy said in a statement. The report said FGM in Egypt was often carried out in the name of religion and perpetuated by a pervasive idea that women are oversexed, and that FGM curbs their sexual appetite. More than half of Egyptians believe a husband prefers his wife to be cut and around half of men think it prevents adultery, it said. Surveys suggest around half of Egyptians believe FGM is a religious requirement even though it is not mentioned in the Holy Quran or Bible. Even medical practitioners will often defer to their cleric over anything taught in medical school, 28 Too Many said. Campaigners said religious leaders from all faiths must speak out against FGM and called for better training for medical staff.... it is incredibly disappointing to see that despite encouraging work to end FGM in Egypt, medicalisation continues to be a huge concern and the prevalence of FGM remains extremely high, said 28 Too Many founder Ann-Marie Wilson. Worldwide, more than 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM, according to UN estimates. Last year, Egypt has approved a law that will increase jail terms for those who perform female circumcisions, raising the maximum sentence to seven years from two, according to the state s official gazette on Wednesday. Genital cutting of girls, often referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM) or circumcision, is banned in Egypt but the practice remains common as a rite of passage and is often viewed as a way to protect their chastity. More than nine in 10 women and girls aged 15 to 49 in Egypt have undergone FGM, but the number has declined in recent years, according to data collected by the United Nations. Female genital cutting is performed on both Muslim and Christian girls in Egypt and Sudan, but is rare elsewhere in the Arab world. It is also common in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The new law stipulates jail sentences of between five and seven years for doctors who perform the operation and one to three for parents who order it. Egypt s parliament passed the bill on increased sentences in August, but it required presidential approval to come into law. The Egyptian court acquitted a doctor in November charged with committing female genital mutilation that led to a 13-year-old girl s death in a Nile Delta village, the country s first trial on charges of breaking the ban on the practice. Raslan Fadl, the first doctor in Egypt to be put on trial for committing female genital mutilation, is still practising. And in this Nile Delta Village, he has plenty of patients. Young girls and their families on a recent day sat in Fadl s waiting room, where the bright yellow walls are decorated with Winnie the Pooh pictures, in the same building where Sohair el-batea came for her operation last year. Residents call him a well-respected figure in the community, known for his charity work. It could not be determined whether any were at his office for circumcision, as it is known here. But Fadl s continued popularity demonstrates the challenges to curbing the practice in Egypt, where more than 90 per cent of women are estimated to have undergone it one of the highest rates in the world. Female genital mutilation was criminalised in 2008 and the most important Sunni Muslim religious authority has declared it dangerous and without any religious justification. The UN says there appears to be a slow reduction in the rate of the practice, but that it is still widespread. Outcry Even in the home village of the girl, Dierb Biqtaris, there is little outcry against the practice. Rasha Mohammed, a friend of Sohair, remembers that the girl felt scared before the operation and didn t want to go. But Rasha chalks up her death to an accident, saying 11 other girls underwent FGM with the doctor that day and nothing happened to them. Sohair s grandmother declined to comment on the case, saying a year and a half has passed and she doesn t want to bring up the topic again. It was her destiny, she said. Emad Hamdi, a local worker, said he is still weighing whether to circumcise his daughters. He said he s heard that without it, a girl would be sexually voracious, which could be dangerous for her a common justification for the practice. A widely-used Egyptian Arabic term for it translates literally as purification. Genital mutilation is practised in 29 countries, most of them in East and West Africa, but also in Egypt and parts of Iraq and Yemen. A man walks with a placard that reads YES in Istanbul, on April 4. Turkey is heading to a contentious April 16 referendum on constitutional reforms to expand Turkey s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan s powers. (AP) Turkey s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan salutes supporters during a referendum rally in Bursa, Turkey on April 5. Erdogan has blamed a suspected chemical attack that killed at least 72 people in northern Syria on the Syrian regime and has accused the world of not speaking out against the attack. (AP) Abbas Mideast Nadal Gaza workers salary cut: The cashstrapped Palestinian Authority Headed by Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said it was slashing by nearly one third the salaries of tens of thousands of government employees in the Gaza Strip who have been sitting idly since the rival Hamas militant group took over the coastal territory a decade ago. The decision deepened the divide between the West Bank and Gaza two territories that the Palestinians hope to turn into an independent state and increased hardship in already impoverished Gaza. This cut has worsened our situation. I don t know how I will get by until the end of the month. Shall I beg? said Rizq al-haddad, a former maintenance worker at the Health Ministry. Al-Haddad, a father of 10, supports his family on a salary of about 2,200 shekels, or $600, a month. That income will now drop by nearly $200 a month. Our situation was desperate even before they made the cuts, he said in his dilapidated two-bedroom home. We barely bought thyme and bread for the kids and we can t buy tomatoes because of the desperate situation. The internationally backed Palestinian Authority, which is based in the West Bank, ordered all of its roughly 50,000 workers to step down after the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power in But it has continued to pay the salaries of the former policemen, teachers and civil servants like al-haddad. (AP) Paris slams journalist s arrest: The French Foreign ministry said Tuesday it is monitoring with concern the situation of a journalist arrested in the Libyan city of Benghazi for having covered a concert which brought together women and men. The ministry s spokesman, Romain Nadal, said Abdallah Douma, a journalist working with news agency AFP, was released but is still being questioned by police services in Benghazi. We are mobilized to obtain his definitive release, he added in a written statement, without providing more details. Nadal reaffirmed France s commitment to freedom of the press and protection of journalists everywhere in the world. (AP) Turkey Germany given new dossier on suspected journalists Paper accused of asymmetric war on Erdogan ANKARA/ISTANBUL, April 5, (Agencies): Turkish prosecutors are seeking up to 43 years in jail for journalists from a leading opposition newspaper on charges of supporting a terrorist organisation and targeting President Tayyip Erdogan through asymmetric war methods. An indictment seen by Reuters on Wednesday said Cumhuriyet had effectively been taken over by the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed for a failed coup last July, and used to veil the actions of terrorist groups. Turkey has purged more than 113,000 people from the police, judiciary, military and elsewhere since the coup attempt, and has closed more than 130 media outlets, raising concerns among Western allies about deteriorating rights and freedoms. The authorities say the measures are justified by the gravity of the coup attempt, in which rogue soldiers tried to overthrow the government and Erdogan, killing more than 240 people, most of them civilians. Intense (Cumhuriyet) started an intense perception operation targeting the government and president of the republic... through asymmetric war methods, said the 324-page document, parts of which were published by Turkish media on Tuesday. Cumhuriyet, long a pillar of the secularist establishment, is accused of straying from its principles in the years leading up to the coup attempt and of writing stories that serve separatist manipulation. The indictment named 19 journalists, of whom 12 have already been detained, including well-known columnist Kadri Gursel, and Ahmet Sik, who once wrote a book critical of Gulen s movement. Three of the 19 could face up to 43 years in prison for aiding an armed terrorist group without being members of it. The newspaper called the charges imaginary accusations and slander and said some of the testimonies in the indictment were from individuals previously seen as close to Gulen. Set them free immediately, said its Wednesday front page. Prosecutors are seeking 15 years in prison for former editor Can Dundar, jailed in 2015 on charges of publishing state secrets involving Turkish support for Syrian rebels, but later released. Dundar lives in Germany. Current editor Murat Sabuncu and other senior staff were arrested late last year over alleged support for the failed coup, sparking protests in Istanbul. Social media posts including Tweets comprised the bulk of evidence in the indictment, along with allegations that staff had been in contact with users of Bylock, an encrypted messaging app the government says was used by Gulen s followers. Some suspects were accused of serving the interests of the PKK militant group, which has waged an insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast for three decades, and of the far-leftist DHKP/C, which was behind a series of armed attacks in recent years. There are lots of organisations in Turkey. The Gulenist organisation, the PKK, DHKP-C. We are being blamed for helping them all... and it seems I am the prime suspect, Dundar said in a video selfie on his website. He said the fact Cumhuriyet staff had learned about the indictment in pro-government media was another legal scandal. I stand with all of them and I will continue to be their voice until the end, he said on the website, which he set up from Germany to keep covering Turkish affairs. Turkish officials provided additional information about people they believe to have links to terrorist groups to a German delegation visiting Turkey, Interior Ministry sources said on Tuesday. The material has been sent to the Federal Crime Office and the BfV domestic intelligence agency for further investigation, the sources said. It was not immediately clear if the material included additional individuals or provided further information about suspected terrorist activities. News of the latest dossier provided by Ankara to Berlin comes amid growing concern about possible Turkish PKK attack kills 3: At least three Turkish soldiers were killed and five others injured during an attack carried out by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey s southeastern province of Sirnak, said Anadolu Agency Tuesday. The soldiers were involved in a hand grenade attack during an operation against Firefighters extinguish a fire following the collapse of a gymnastics gym near a children s garden at the Gizera Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt, on April 4. No casualties have been reported. (AP) espionage against Germany s large ethnic Turkish diaspora. Tensions are running high between the two NATO allies ahead of an April 16 referendum in Turkey that proposes expanding the powers of President Tayyip Erdogan. Berlin infuriated Ankara by cancelling several campaign rallies by Turkish ministers on German soil, drawing accusations from Turkey of Nazi tactics. Spying Germany last week opened a second investigation into suspected spying by Turkey, following media reports that Turkish intelligence had given German officials a list of more than 300 supposed supporters of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accused of masterminding a failed July 15 coup. The list included telephone numbers and photographs, including some that may have been taken by hidden surveillance cameras. News about the latest dossier was first reported by the weekly newspaper Die Zeit. In another report, a German-Turkish journalist whose arrest in Turkey has jolted relations between Ankara and Berlin is doing well in prison but Germany is pushing for his release, German Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth said after consular officials visited him. Turkish authorities arrested Deniz Yucel, who holds both German and Turkish citizenship, in February on charges of propaganda in support of a terrorist organisation and inciting public violence. Yucel denies the charges. Describing the case as one of the big tests of German-Turkish relations, Roth spoke to reporters after talking to a lawyer from the German consulate who had visited Yucel in prison in Istanbul on Tuesday. Mr Yucel is, given the circumstances, doing well. What remains a burden for him is the solitary confinement, said Roth, who thanked Turkish authorities for allowing consular officials to meet Yucel after they had denied access for weeks. But this can t be the end for us, Roth added. We are still pushing for the release of Deniz Yucel. PKK militants in Gabar Mountain area, the source said, adding the wounded soldiers were taken to the Sirnak State Hospital. According to Turkish sources, at least 800 security men and 314 civilians were killed since the launch of the military operations in the east and southeast of the country against the PKK in July of It added that the Turkish army killed more than 10,000 PKK militants in Turkey and northern Iraq. (KUNA) Israeli police kills Palestinian: Israeli police say they have shot dead a Palestinian who stabbed three people in the old city of Jerusalem. Spokeswoman Luba Samri says the man stabbed two Jewish youths Saturday before fleeing, with police forces giving chase. He then stabbed one of the policemen before he was shot and killed. Samri says the victims suffered light to moderate injuries. It was the latest incident in a wave of Palestinian attacks on civilians and security forces that erupted in September Palestinians have killed 41 Israelis and two visiting Americans since, mainly in stabbings. Israeli forces have killed at least 241 Palestinians during this time, most identified by Israel as attackers. Israel says the violence is fueled by Palestinian incitement. Palestinians say it stems from anger over 50 years of occupation. (AP)

15 INTERNATIONAL 15 Spanish King Felipe VI (second left), and Queen Letizia (left), are welcomed by Japanese Emperor Akihito (second right), and Empress Michiko upon their arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for the state banquet on April 5. The Spanish royal couple is on a four-day state visit to Japan. (AP) Philippines North Korea Govt, rebels OK ceasefire Trust ratings of Duterte fall slightly, poll shows Duterte MANILA, April 5, (RTRS): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte s trust ratings declined slightly in an opinion poll in the first three months this year, crimped by what political analysts call his deadly war on drugs that killed poor slum dwellers. Seventy-six percent of 1,200 Filipinos surveyed by pollster Pulse Asia said they trusted the firebrand leader, for a drop of seven points from Dec His first quarter performance rating of 78 percent also slipped, from 83 percent earlier. The capital, Manila, and the biggest island of Luzon showed the largest drop in the president s trust and performance ratings, as well as among poor respondents, said Ana Maria Tabunda, the firm s research director. Poll respondents who were better off gave the president a marked improvement in both performance and trust ratings, she added. Duterte scored highest in his southern home region of Mindanao, however, Tabunda added. The highest ratings in the case of both his performance and trustworthiness are granted to President Duterte by those in Mindanao, she said in a statement. The survey, released on Wednesday, did not ask respondents to give a reason for their ratings. It was conducted in face-to-face interviews held from March 15 to 20, about a week after police resumed a bloody anti-narcotics crackdown in slum communities. The survey was largely influenced by social, political and economic developments during the first quarter, particularly the drug war killings, said Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform. People in poorer communities, where most of these killings are happening, are obviously not happy with the president s drug war because they worry that somebody close to them would be the next victim of extrajudicial killings, he told Reuters. Philippine government negotiators and a Maoist rebel group have struck a deal for a temporary joint ceasefire and plans to free prisoners after days of talks in the Netherlands, an official and domestic broadcaster ANC said on Wednesday. Communist New People s Army rebels have been waging protracted guerrilla warfare for nearly five decades in rural areas in the poor Southeast Asian country, killing more than 40,000 people. Peace talks between the rebels political arm, the National Democratic Front, and the government, brokered by Norway, resumed this week in the Netherlands, hoping to reach a political settlement in 12 months to end the conflict. The two sides after several days, have crafted together with the NDFP an agreement, Jesus Dureza, a presidential adviser on the peace process, said on social media site Facebook. President Rodrigo Duterte had approved the deal, he added. It is the second time the two sides have agreed on a bilateral truce since Nov 1986, when the government and rebels signed a 60-day ceasefire. But that deal was scuttled in Jan 1987 after police opened fire and killed 13 people during a farmers demonstration in Manila. The two sides are still finalising the terms of the ceasefire but would sign the agreement on Wednesday at around 9 pm in Manila, broadcaster ANC said from in a live report from the Netherlands. ANC said the government also agreed to free 23 elderly and sickly political prisoners, while the rebels would release three soldiers and a police officer taken captive in three separate areas on the southern island of Mindanao. The two sides are also discussing social and economic reform, but it was not known if the guerrillas had agreed to a demand by Duterte for the rebels to halt extortion and recruitment activities. Peace talks between the two sides have been intermittent and inconclusive since 1986, bogging down in 2012 when the government refused to free political prisoners. They resumed in August 2016, when Duterte released 19 rebel leaders from jail. A couple dressed in Japanese traditional wedding Kimonos pose for a wedding photograph under the blooming cherry blossoms in Tokyo on April 5. (AP) Asia Uighur official admonishes cadres: A senior Uighur official in China s restive western region of Xinjiang has admonished other Communist Party cadres from the mostly Muslim Uighur minority for failing to pull their weight in the fight against terrorism, state media said. China has increased security in Xinjiang to fight what it sees as a grave threat from Islamist extremists stirring up ethnic tension. Rights groups say that party restrictions on the religion and culture of the Uighurs create simmering resentment of the state and of policies that encourage the majority Han people to move to the region in vast numbers. I have become deeply aware, in these severely complicated circumstances, that we Uighur cadres have not taken on the bulk of the work (in fighting terrorism), said Mehmet Emin Bekri, a top official in south Xinjiang s Kashgar city, according to a post on an official city account on We- Chat, a popular social media app. (RTRS) Park friend to be transferred: A long-time friend of ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye is to be transferred to a different location to prevent her from coming into contact with the detained leader, a prosecution official said on Wednesday. Choi Soon-sil, the friend at the centre of a corruption scandal that removed Park from power, is accused of conspiring with her to pressure big businesses to contribute funds to foundations controlled by Choi and take bribes from the giant Samsung Group in exchange for favours. Park and Choi are now locked in the women s ward at the Seoul Detention Center in the South Korean capital, but Choi will be moved to a different location. (RTRS) Australia seizes 903 kg meth: Australian police have seized 903 kgs (1,990 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine that was smuggled from China inside boxes of hollow floorboards the largest ever haul of the illicit drug in Australia, officials said Wednesday. Law enforcement agencies valued the seizure, mostly found in a Melbourne warehouse in February, at almost 900 million Australian dollars ($680 million). Two Australian men, aged 53 and 36, had been charged with commercial drug trafficking and face a potential life prison sentence if convicted, police said. Police are searching for another two suspects in Melbourne. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan described the concealment of the drug inside 70 boxes of wooden floorboards as quite complex, quite unique. (AP) Debbie wreaks havoc in NZ: Wide- spread flooding on Wednesday blocked roads, closed schools, diverted flights and forced hundreds of people to evacuate across New Zealand s North Island, as the tail-end of powerful Cyclone Debbie brought intense rainfall. A week after the storm system left a trail of destruction in Australia, a state of emergency was declared in two New Zealand cities as river levels rose amid Tokyo lodges strong protest against problematic launch N. Korea tests new missile SEOUL, April 5, (RTRS): North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea s military said, ahead of a summit between US and Chinese leaders who are set to discuss Pyongyang s increasingly defiant arms programme. The missile flew about 60 kms (40 miles) from its launch site at Sinpo, a port city on North Korea s east coast, the South Korean Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Sinpo is home to a North Korean submarine base. The launch comes just a day before the start of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where talks about adding pressure on the North to drop its arms development will take centre stage. The launch took place possibly in consideration of the US -China summit, while at the same time it was to check its missile capability, a South Korean official told Reuters about the military s initial assessment of the launch. The missile was fired at a high angle and reached an altitude of 189 kms (117 miles), the official said. Any launch of objects using ballistic missile technology is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The North has defied the ban, saying it infringes on its sovereign rights to self-defence and the pursuit of space exploration. The launch drew swift condemnation from Japan, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying further provocative action was possible. Japan s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga described the launch as extremely problematic and said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest. South Korea s foreign ministry also condemned the launch as a blunt challenge to a series of UN Security Council resolutions targeting North Korea s nuclear and missile programme. Seoul called a National Security Council meeting and vowed to respond strongly in case of further provocations. In a terse statement, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said: The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment. Trump wants China to do more to exert its economic influence over unpredictable Pyongyang to restrain its nuclear and missile programmes. China has denied it has any outsized influence on Pyongyang and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying ruled out the chance of a link between the launch and the summit, saying, I can t see any certain connection between these two things. Ahead of the US-China summit in Florida, Trump had threatened to use crucial trade ties with China to pressure Beijing into more action on North Korea. Pyongyang is increasingly a focus of US-China meeting WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): The White House is talking in more urgent terms about North Korea s pursuit of nuclear weapons, as President Donald Trump s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping approach. One senior administration official warned that the clock has now run out on Pyongyang. Trump and Xi will huddle Thursday and Friday at Trump s Mara-Lago estate in Florida, a venue chosen to give the summit a more informal feel. White House officials said Tuesday that trade and security would be high on the new American president s agenda, including pushing China to exert more economic pressure on North Korea. Speaking at a White House business forum Tuesday, Trump called North Korea a humanity problem. A White House official later said all options are on the table for the US, though the official would not say what steps Trump was willing to take to curb Pyongyang s pursuit of a nuclear weapon. North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the waters off its east coast on Wednesday, US and South Korean officials said, in a reminder of the simmering tensions on the Korean peninsula. Like many nations, China is still grappling with Trump s mercurial nature after the relative transparency and predictability of the bilateral relationship under Barack Obama. Both during his campaign and after his victory, Trump complained repeatedly about China s A senior US White House official said Trump wanted to work with China and described the discussions over North Korea as a test for the US- Chinese relationship. North Korea could choose to continue with missile-related activities through next week, when the isolated and impoverished country celebrates the 105th anniversary of the birth of the state s founder, Kim Il Sung. It has used the anniversary in previous years to test-fire the intermediaterange Musudan ballistic missile and to launch long-range rockets to try to put satellites into orbit. An expert on the North s political strategy warned against reading too much political significance into the timing of the tests ahead of the US- China summit. They may have taken the summit into account to pick a day but, to me, it is more likely to catch up with its own missile development roadmap for their Park Choi allegedly unfair trade practices, its perceived lack of assistance in reining in North Korea and its drive to cement control over the South China Sea. Some analysts believe Xi might be willing to hand Trump a symbolic victory on trade to put a positive spin on the meeting. Xi probably can t accommodate Trump on sovereignty and security issues, but he has a lot of leeway on economics, said Robert Sutter, a China expert at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Yet even if Xi is able to offer Trump deliverables, he will still have to deal with a restless US president valuing unpredictability and seeking advantage for his agenda going forward, Sutter said. Trump was seen as moving trade even more to the forefront when he signed a pair of executive orders Friday focused on reducing the trade deficit. Coupled together, the orders appeared to be a symbolic shot at China, which accounted for the vast bulk $347 billion of last year s $502 billion trade deficit. While aides insisted the timing was coincidental, the administration touted the moves as evidence of an aggressive but analytical approach to closing a yawning trade gap that is largely due to the influx of goods from China. Still, Trump told the Financial Times newspaper that during his meeting with Xi, he doesn t want to talk about tariffs yet, perhaps the next time we meet. technical needs, said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University s Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. North Korea failed in an attempt to launch a ballistic missile from its east coast two weeks ago. Earlier in March, it fired four missiles towards Japan, some of which came as close as 300 kms (190 miles) to the Japanese coast. It has also conducted two nuclear weapons tests since January 2016, all in defiance of UN sanctions. The US and South Korean militaries said initial assessments indicated the latest launch was of a KN-15 mediumrange ballistic missile, which would be the same kind North Korea testlaunched in February. Pyongyang tested a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile in February, which it later said was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). record rainfall. In Auckland, the area s biggest city, about 10,000 homes were without power. No deaths have been reported, but authorities warned peak rainfall set to arrive late on Wednesday could bring as much as three month s worth of rain by day s end in some areas. That spurs a threat of flash flooding in areas still recovering from a devastating earthquake in November. (RTRS)

16 INTERNATIONAL 16 World News Roundup Africa ANC stands by Zuma Residents and family members attend a burial Mass for the victims of Mocoa, Colombia on April 4. Colombian authorities said at least 273 people were killed when rivers surrounding Mocoa overflowed and sent a wall of water and debris surging through the city over the weekend. The death toll was expected to rise since many more were missing and bodies are still being found. (AP) India Disband anti-romeo squads Key state in India waives farm loans NEW DELHI, April 5, (RTRS): India s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, said on Tuesday it was waiving $5.6 billion of loans to help millions of farmers reeling from losses after unfavourable weather in the past few years hit their crops. Uttar Pradesh has also ordered the closure of 26 illegal slaughterhouses, state health minister Siddharth Nath Singh said, after the first cabinet meeting chaired by newly appointed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The state government would consider applications for Modi licences for slaughterhouses, Singh added. After its landslide victory in recent state elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appointed on March 18 Hindu hardliner Adityanath, who has been accused of inciting violence against India s Muslim minority, as chief minister. Since then, abattoirs mainly Muslim-run have complained of repeated attacks by vigilante groups seeking to protect cows, which are considered holy in Hinduism. Most of the beef produced in India comes from buffalo. Anti-Romeo squads accused: Indian anti- Romeo police squads set up to protect women from sexual harassment in public places should be disbanded because their heavy-handed tactics and moral policing are leaving people insecure and fearful, women s rights activists said. The squads, made up of plainclothes and uniformed police officers, were introduced in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in March following the appointment of a new state leader who had pledged to crackdown on sexual abuse. But in the last two weeks there have been increasing media reports of the squads which also include police-sanctioned vigilante groups targeting and publically shaming young men and couples in parks, colleges and markets. Suspected Romeos have been questioned, had their identification checked and their parents informed of their activities. Others have been forced to do situps as punishment. In one incident, a man accused of harassing a woman had his head shaved by an anti- Romeo police squad, local media reported. India, Pak argue over property: A fresh row has erupted in a decades-long dispute between Delhi and Islamabad over the fate of a bungalow in Mumbai once owned by Pakistan s founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with an Indian lawmaker calling for it to be labelled enemy property. Famed for its Italian marble and walnut-wood panelling, Jinnah House, as it is known locally, has been controlled by the Indian government since Jinnah moved to the country he helped create. Pakistan has long claimed ownership of the building. Relations between the two countries remain fraught after numerous conflicts since partition and independence from Britain in 1947, and the Jinnah House has been a bone of contention for decades. Indian lawmaker Mangal Prabhat Lodha last week said the government must declare the bungalow enemy property, and hand over the building to Maharashtra state where it is located. Hosting of Dalai Lama slammed: China said on Wednesday that India s decision to host Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on a contested stretch of land on the India-China border would cause serious damage to relations between the two countries. The Dalai Lama s week-long trip to Arunchal Pradesh, an eastern Himalayan region administered by New Delhi, but claimed by China as southern Tibet, has raised hackles in Beijing, which labels the monk a dangerous separatist. China expresses firm opposition to this and will lodge stern representations with the Indian side, foreign ministry spokeswomen Hua Chunying told a regular briefing in the Chinese capital. Pakistani investigators examine damage vehicles at the site of suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan on April 5. (AP) Lasso Lat/Am Maduro Moreno wins Ecuador election: Ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno has won Ecuador s tight presidential election, the head of the country s National Electoral Council said Tuesday, bucking a trend of right-wing electoral victories in South America after 15 years of leftist domination. Juan Pablo Pozo, president of the electoral council, announced the election win by the leftist Moreno in a nationwide broadcast. He said the results were official, irreversible with percent of the votes counted. He said Moreno won slightly over 51 percent of the vote, compared with 49 percent for opposition challenger Guillermo Lasso, who is contesting the results over allegations of fraud. Pozo said both political organizations can present objections through institutional and legal channels. Moreno declared that the people have decided democratically and said he accepted his victory with humility, at the same time hoping that the other candidate will accept it with dignity. Lasso, a conservative banker, vowed to continue fighting against the installation of an illegitimate government. He said on Wednesday he would present evidence backing up his demand for a recount. (AP) Venezuela quels protesters: Venezuelan security forces quelled masked protesters with tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray in Caracas on Tuesday after blocking an opposition rally against socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The clashes began after authorities closed subway stations, set up checkpoints and cordoned off a square where opponents had planned their latest protest against autocratic government and a crippling economic crisis. In cat-and-mouse skirmishes on backstreets and highways around the capital, youths built barricades, burned trash and hurled rocks and bottles at soldiers and police. Various opposition leaders organized roadblocks. Police used pepper spray on National Assembly head Julio Borges, two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles and rights activist Lilian Tintori, as they led protesters onto highways and jostled at barricades, witnesses said. (RTRS) 6 held for taking bribes: Venezuelan authorities say they ve arrested six officials for taking bribes to issue identifica- Pakistan Attack on army sensus team Blast in Lahore kills 6 LAHORE, Pakistan April 5, (Agencies): The Pakistani Taleban claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on an army census team that killed at least six people and wounded 18 in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Wednesday. Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan said the blast, which hit an army vehicle taking part in Pakistan s first census in nearly two decades, killed four soldiers and two civilians. Scores of people have been killed since the beginning of the year in a series of attacks that have dashed hopes of an end to the violence of recent years and stepped up pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif s government to improve security. TV footage showed security personnel blocking off the street around the site of the explosion, close to an elite police training school which was the site of a Pakistani Taleban attack in The apparent targeting of personnel involved in the census, the first in 19 years, underlined the challenge to government institutions in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state of some 200 million people. Census The army has been closely involved in the census, with soldiers accompanying civilian enumerators, a move authorities say is needed to prevent collectors being intimidated by local political figures trying to slant sensitive population data in their areas. Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the census would be completed at any cost. These sacrifices will only strengthen our resolve and with the support of entire nation we will cleanse the menace of terrorism from our soil, he said in a statement. Lahore, Pakistan s second-largest city and capital of the Punjab region, was already on high alert following a bomb attack last month that killed at least 13 people. tion documents to Syrians. The country s top prosecutor said on Monday that the six officials worked on data entry for the immigration service. They are charged with taking $5,000 in exchange for granting Venezuelan national identification cards and passports to Syrians. A group of children refugees from Syria camp in the main square, in front of the government house, in Montevideo, Uruguay on April 4. A group of Syrian refugees are staging a protest outside the government house demanding more economic assistance. (AP) Muhammad Khurassani, a spokesman for Tehrik-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP), a banned Islamist movement often called the Pakistani Taleban, issued a statement claiming responsibility. The spate of attacks has ratcheted up tensions with neighbouring Afghanistan, which some Pakistani officials accuse of sheltering TTP militants. Afghanistan s government, in its turn, accuses Islamabad of aiding the Afghan Taleban, a charge Pakistan denies. Killed Elsewhere in Pakistan, two gunmen shot and killed a former Pakistani army colonel in southern city of Karachi, said police official Rao Rafiq. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Pakistani group linked to the Taleban and al-qaeda, claimed responsibility in a text message sent to an Associated Press reporter. Since Pakistan threw its support behind the United States in its war against terror in 2001, militant groups have killed thousands of people in a bid to overthrow the government and install their own harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Pakistan s military has carried out scores of operations, killing thousands of suspected militants. Rana Sanaullah, a Cabinet member in the Punjab government, said such attacks are being planned and executed by militants in Afghanistan an often repeated claim by Islamabad. Kabul denies it is sheltering any militant groups, but various extremist factions launch attacks on both countries across the porous border. Pakistan launched the national census last month, the country s first in 19 years. Tens of thousands of data collectors, supported by 200,000 Pakistani soldiers, go door-to-door for the project, which is to be finished by May 15. However, societal conservatism and a lack of women census takers could result in Pakistan s female population being under-represented. The illegal sale of passports has been a sensitive subject since CNN released a report in February saying some officials were selling the documents to the highest bidder. Transmissions of CNN in Spanish were banned from Venezuela after the report. (AP) Help increase arms exports : Brazil has asked its diplomats to help increase exports of weapons made in the South American country as it suffers through one of the country s worst economic crises in decades. The nation is among the world s largest light arms dealers. Brazil s foreign ministry sent a letter to its embassies late last year instructing them to promote events and seminars with an eye to increasing the export of products manufactured by the defense ministry. The Rio de Janeiro think-tank Instituto Igarape and Sao Paulo violence prevention group Sou da Paz recently obtained a copy of the eight-page letter through Brazil s Information Access Law. The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper published excerpts from the letter Sunday, ahead of the April 4-7 LAAD defense and security fair in Rio de Janeiro. The Foreign Ministry s letter urges diplomats to help increase sales to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. (AP) US wants proof of Sudan progress UNITED NATIONS, April 5, (Agencies): US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Tuesday the Trump administration wants to see proof from Sudan s government not more words that it is making progress toward peace and protecting civilians in its vast and troubled Darfur region. A review of the 17,000-strong joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, which costs over $1 billion annually, is underway. Haley told the Security Council that the Sudanese government has tried to obstruct its operations from day one and is still failing to protect its people. Haley But against all of these odds, the mission has helped to protect civilians, she said. The Sudanese government wants the joint mission, known as UNAMID, to leave. But Haley said after 10 years the council needs to see that the Sudanese government is doing far more to help its people by meeting benchmarks to ensure peace, protect civilians and prevent violence. It is not enough for the government to promise to do better, she said. We need to see proof. The UNAMID mandate is up for renewal in June and Haley said the US expects Secretary- General Antonio Guterres next reports to the council to clearly spell out where Sudan meets these benchmarks and where it does not. Peace not guaranteed : Germany says the United States plan to spend more on its military won t guarantee peace and it criticizes the Trump administration s proposed cuts to foreign aid. Germany s development minister, Gerd Mueller, spoke Tuesday while announcing what he called a Marshall Plan with Africa focused on improving economic growth, security and rule of law. Diplomats applauded as Mueller said that anyone who pretends that more military is the answer will see that he will not be getting more peace. ANC stands by Zuma: South Africa s ruling African National Congress backed President Jacob Zuma after calls for his resignation from various groups after he dismissed a respected finance minister, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday. The rand fell by 1 percent and bonds weakened after Mantashe said the ANC would not be part of a movement to remove Zuma, despite a chorus of criticism by ANC-allied parties and unions, religious groups, civil society and the opposition. Mantashe said the ANC had accepted the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship between Zuma and former finance minister Pravin Gordhan as the reason Gordhan was sacked, a move that deepened a rift within the ruling party. Car bomb kills 7 in Somalia: A massive car bomb blast at a restaurant in Somalia s capital killed at least seven people, police said Wednesday, as fears grew that al-shabab extremists who have vowed to destabilize the country s new government were behind it. Several others were injured in the blast near the ministries of internal security and youth and sports in Mogadishu, Col Ahmed Hashi said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. However, the al-qaeda-linked Islamic extremist group al-shabab group often carries out such attacks. Herder charged with murder: A Kenyan herder pleaded not guilty on Tuesday after being charged with the murder of a British man in the east African country s northern region last month. Tristan Voorspuy, a British military veteran who ran a safari company in Kenya, was shot dead at a private ranch in the droughtstricken Laikipia region. He had gone to the ranch to inspect the remains of a friend s home that had been burnt down by herders days earlier. There have been numerous attacks in Laikipia in recent months as armed cattle herders searching for scarce grazing have driven tens of thousands of cattle onto private farms and ranches. At least a dozen people have been killed.

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18 INTERNATIONAL 18 World News Roundup This image made available by NASA in March 2017 shows Pluto illuminated from behind by the sun as the New Horizons spacecraft travels away from it at a distance of about 120,000 miles (200,000 kms). On April 7, the spacecraft will reach a halfway between Pluto and its next much, much smaller stop, the Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69. (AP) Disasters Disaster-proof Ex-bricklayer helps build safer housing OXFORD, England, April 5, (RTRS): Elizabeth Hausler had no idea that the skills she learnt working as a bricklayer in her father s company in a small town outside Chicago would lead to a career helping thousands of people to rebuild their homes after disasters. Hausler, who went on to study engineering, said her epiphany came in 2001 when an earthquake hit the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 20,000 people and injuring more than 150,000. I was shocked by the high human toll of the disaster, said Hausler, who was named the winner of the $1.25 million Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. Most people died because their house collapsed on them. It s not the earthquake that kills people, it s a poorly built build- Hausler ing, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Build Change, the company she founded in 2004, works with homeowners, governments, local engineers, architects and builders to design and construct low-cost, earthquake-resistant housing in keeping with local cultures and traditions. During a trip to Gujarat after the quake, Hausler found that many locals were frustrated with housing provided by international aid organisations, which were designed without their input. I realised that if we want people to engage with us about how to build a safe house that will withstand the next earthquake or typhoon, we have to work with homeowners, she said. Hausler deployed to Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck Southeast Asia, killing more than 200,000 people and driving another 1.7 million people from their homes throughout the region. Earthquakes Since then, Build Change has also helped thousands of people to rebuild their houses and make them safer after earthquakes in China, Haiti and Nepal, and after typhoons in the Philippines. The organisation, which works in Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Haiti, Colombia and Guatemala, has erected more than 48,000 disaster-resistant buildings for 245,000 people, trained some 25,000 workers and created 12,000 jobs. Last year, Build Change started work in the slums of Manila where millions of people live in shoddy housing, increasing their exposure to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons in the Philippines. Hausler said basic measures, such as installing a ring beam, reinforcing walls with concrete and tying down the roof, are simple but effective ways to save lives. She said she has become increasingly focused on finding ways to prevent buildings from collapsing as studies show for every $1 invested in prevention $7 is saved in rebuilding and construction costs. Even though this has been widely recognised, only 40 cents in every $100 of development aid is spent on preparing for disasters and making them less likely to happen, according to the World Disasters Report 2016 by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The reality of the disaster/aid world is it s a lot easier to raise money after a disaster, after a house collapsed, and sadly people have been injured or killed, Hausler said. Also: ROME: India could save water and reduce planet-warming emissions if people added more vegetables and fruits like melon, oranges and papaya to their diet while reducing wheat and poultry, researchers said on Wednesday. India s population is forecast to rise to 1.6 billion by 2050, and to ensure there is enough available freshwater, water use will have to be cut by a third, according to a study published by The Lancet Planetary Health journal. But population growth will also lead to an increase in demand for food, putting more pressure on water through farming. By 2050, irrigation will account for 70 percent of total water use in India, up from the current 50 percent, unless farming methods change and diets shift towards food that needs less water to grow, the study said. In this fi le photo, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 30, SpaceX launched its fi rst recycled rocket Thursday, the biggest leap yet in its bid to drive down costs and speed up flights. (AP) Kottlowski Discovery Trump Fewer Atlantic hurricanes: The upcoming Atlantic Ocean hurricane season could include at least three severe tempests, but will likely involve fewer storms than usual overall, private forecaster Accu- Weather predicted on Wednesday. Meteorologists with AccuWeather are crediting a weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean-n-known as El Nio - with creating conditions that will result in a fewer number of hurricanes than usual in the Atlantic. El Nino, characterized by warmer-thannormal temperatures in the Pacific, can bring a rainy year for California, but cause other areas to experience drought. Yet the strong westerly winds that the phenomenon creates in the tropical areas of the Atlantic Ocean can slow the development of hurricanes, AccuWeather said in a report released early on Wednesday. We now believe El Nino will come on board sometime during the summer and will continue all the way through the rest of the hurricane season, AccuWeather Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said in the report. The hurricane season, which begins on June 1 and continues through Nov. 30, will likely produce about ten storms large enough to be given names by meteorologists, the weather service said, fewer than the 15 named storms that swept through the Atlantic last season, threatening the U.S. East Coast as well as coastal regions and islands further south. (RTRS) Stick with Paris climate deal : Some big American coal companies have advised President Donald Trump s administration to break his promise to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement - arguing that the accord could provide their best forum for protecting their global interests. Remaining in the global deal to combat climate change will give US negotiators a chance to advocate for coal in the future of the global energy mix, coal companies like Cloud Peak Energy Inc and Peabody Energy Corp told White House officials over the past few weeks, according to executives and a US official familiar with the discussions. The future is foreign markets, so the last thing you want to do if you are a coal company is to give up a US seat in the international climate discussions and let the Europeans control the agenda, said the official, who asked not to be named because Space New Horizons bound for next smaller stop Craft halfway between Pluto, MU69 CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, April 5, (Agencies): NASA s New Horizons spacecraft is now halfway between Pluto and its next much, much smaller stop. New Horizons which reached the milestone this week is bound for an even more remote object called 2014 MU69. Like Pluto, the object orbits in our solar system s twilight zone known as the Kuiper Belt, but is barely 1 percent its size. MU69 is nearly 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kms) beyond Pluto. The spacecraft will swoop past MU69 on Jan 1, That flyby will set the record for the most distant world ever explored in the history of civilization, chief investigator Alan Stern of Southwest Research Institute said in a statement. With another 466 million miles (750 million kms) remaining, New Horizons will go into a five-month hibernation later this week. Although still zooming along, the spacecraft is slowing down slightly as it gets farther from the sun. Besides aiming for MU69, New Horizons will study a couple dozen other Kuiper Belt objects from afar. New Horizons arrived at Pluto in July 2015, becoming its first visitor from Earth. It launched from Cape Canaveral in The spacecraft is currently 3.5 billion miles (5.7 billion kms) from home. It takes radio signals five hours and 20 minutes to reach the spacecraft from the control center at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland. Russia is open to extending its partnership in the International Space Station with the United States, Europe, Japan and Canada beyond the currently planned end of the program in 2024, the head of the Russian space agency said on Tuesday. We are ready to discuss it, Igor Komarov, general director of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, told reporters at the US Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, when asked if his he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. They can t afford for the most powerful country would consider a four-year extension. The $100 billion science and engineering laboratory, orbiting 250 miles (400 kms) above Earth, has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November The US space agency, NASA, spends about $3 billion a year on the space station program, a level of funding that is endorsed by the Trump administration and Congress. SpaceX s first reused rocket is back Spanish King Felipe (second from right), and Queen Letizia (left), pose with Honda Motor Co s interactive robot Asimo and Chief Executive Director Mamoru Mori of Miraikan, or National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation at the museum in Tokyo on April 5. (AP) Cassini spacecraft to dive inside Saturn s rings for mission finale COLORADO, April 5, (RTRS): NASA is preparing to send its long-lived Cassini probe into the unexplored region between Saturn and its rings for a scientific grand finale before the spacecraft s suicidal plunge into the planet, space officials said on Tuesday. Since arriving at Saturn in July 2004, Cassini has been exploring the giant planet and its entourage of 62 known moons, including enigmatic Titan, believed by scientists to resemble an early Earth, and the oceanbearing moon Enceladus, which is shooting ice particles out into space. To avoid any chance that hitchhiking Earth microbes still alive on Cassini could contaminate any potential living organisms on Enceladus, NASA plans to crash the spacecraft, which is running out of fuel, into Saturn on Sept 15. But before its demise, Cassini has one last mission. On April 22, Cassini will make a fi nal pass by Titan and use the moon s gravity to slingshot itself into a new orbit that passes inside the 1,200-mile (1,930-km) wide gap between the edge of Saturn s atmosphere and its inner-most rings. NASA is hoping Cassini will survive long enough for 22 dives inside the rings, revealing details about the their age and composition. But if a ring particle hits Cassini, it could bring the mission to an premature end because the spacecraft will be traveling at more than 70,000 miles per hour (112,654 kph). At those speeds, even a tiny particle can do damage, Cassini fl ight engineer Joan Stupik, with NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, told reporters during a news conference on NASA TV. Scientists hope to learn if the rings are as old as Saturn itself -- roughly 4.6 billion years of age -- or if they formed later after a passing comet or moon was shredded by the planet s tremendous gravity. During the close ring encounters, Cassini also will study Saturn s atmosphere and take measurements to determine the size of the rocky core believed to exist at the center of the gigantic ball of gas that accounts for most of its size. However long Cassini lasts, the grand fi nale will be spectacular, said project scientist Linda Spilker, also with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We re fl ying in a region that has never been explored before, she said. I wouldn t be a bit surprised if some of the discoveries we make with Cassini during the grand fi nale are the best of the mission. in port, five days after launching a satellite. The singed 15-story booster returned atop a barge to Florida s Port Canaveral on Tuesday. It was the second flight for the Falcon 9 s first-stage core and a first for SpaceX. Both times, the leftover booster landed upright on an ocean platform following liftoff. SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk has championed recycling rockets since his company s founding 15 years ago, to save time and money. Usually, they re discarded into the ocean after launch. advocate for fossil fuels to be away from the table, the official said. Cloud Peak and Peabody officials confirmed the discussions. In Cloud Peak s view, staying in the agreement and trying to encourage a more balanced, reasonable and appropriate path forward on fossil fuel technologies among signatories to the accord seems like a reasonable stance, said Cloud Peak s vicepresident of government affairs, Richard Reavey. (RTRS) Ban use of poisons : Environmental and animal-welfare groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit claiming the U.S. government is violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing the use of two predatorkilling poisons employed by federal workers on rural Western lands to protect livestock. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Montana by the Center for Biological Diversity and others seeks an immediate ban of the poisons where they could harm federally protected species including grizzly bears and Canada lynx. One kind of device, called an M-44, is embedded into in the ground and looks like a lawn sprinkler but sprays cyanide when triggered by animals attracted by bait smeared on the devices. A 14-year-old Idaho boy was injured last month when he checked one out with his dog on federally-owned land near his house on the outskirts of the small city of Pocatello. His Labrador retriever dog died. (AP)

19 Film It s all just very chilling 1984 returns in stand against alternative facts NEW YORK, April 5, (RTRS): Nearly 200 independent movie theaters across the United States on Tuesday screened the film version of George Orwell s 1984 novel about a dystopian future, in what organizers said was a stand against US President Donald Trump s administration. The United State of Cinema, which arranged the screenings in 44 US states for one day only, said it was done to take a stand for our most basic values: freedom of speech, respect for our fellow human beings, and the simple truth that there are no such things as alternative facts. The movie was also to be shown at five venues in Canada, one in England, one in Sweden and one in Croatia. The 1949 book, which returned to the US best-seller list in January, features a Big Brother government that spies on its citizens and forces them into doublethink, or simultaneously accepting contradictory versions of the truth. The movie was released in 1984 and starred John Hurt and Richard Burton. New York resident Laura Fliegner and her husband attended an afternoon screening of 1984 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in Manhattan. We think it makes a statement. Going to see it again, and remind ourselves what happens when you slide off a slippery slope, she said. After the screening, Fliegner said as she left the theater, It s all just very chilling. Nicolas Rapold, who helped organize the Lincoln Center screening and panel discussion that followed, said he expected at least 100 people to attend each of three free screenings at the venue. Proceeds Some venues charged admission, the proceeds of which were to be given to an organization of each venue s choice. The British novel was reprinted in January, decades after it was written, following the Trump administration s defense of alternative facts, a term White House official Kellyanne Conway used during a dispute over the size of the crowd at Trump s inauguration. Adam Birnbaum, director of Film Programming for the Avon Theatre Film Center in Stamford, Connecticut, and co-organizer of the event, said Orwell s themes were as relevant today as they were nearly 70 years ago. Our concern is the idea that the only answer is the one coming from the mouthpiece running the (Trump) administration and that there s this effort to sort of snuff out anything but that, Birnbaum said. He said proceeds of tickets sold at the Avon Theatre would be earmarked for future educational screenings of 1984 with the local Stamford public schools. He said a number of theaters showing 1984 on Tuesday had scheduled post-film audience discussions and that a vast majority of the theaters had added showings because they had sold out or were at capacity. If nothing else, we hope that people will continue to be voices of opposition to some of the practices that are currently being employed by government, he said. Variety Features THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 LOS ANGELES: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have come on board to adapt Robert Kirkman s comic book Invincible as a movie for Universal, sources confirmed to Variety. The duo will write, direct, and produce the pic through their Point Grey banner. Kirkman will also produce, via his shingle Skybound Entertainment and his Skybound partners David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst. The project falls under Skybound s first-look deal with Universal. James Weaver, a principal with Rogen and Goldberg at Point Grey, will also produce. The comic, which has been in publication since 2003, follows a normal high school student with just one difference between him and his peers his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, and he, too, will inherit his own set of super powers. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: RLJ Entertainment has acquired all US rights to the Bruce Willis action-comedy Once Upon a Time in Venice. Once Upon a Time in Venice, directed by Mark Cullen, will hit theater and VOD on June 16. The film is produced by Voltage Pictures chief Nicolas Chartier ( The Hurt Locker ), Zev Foreman ( Dallas Buyers Club ), Laura Ford, Mark Cullen, and Robb Cullen. The pic is executive produced by Jonathan Deckter and Stephen J. Eads. This movie marks the second collaboration between Willis and the Cullen brothers. They previously worked on another actioncomedy, 2010 s Cop Out. The cast of Once Upon a Time in Venice includes John Goodman, Thomas Middleditch, Jason Momoa, Famke Janssen, Adam Goldberg, and Kal Penn. Willis portrays a detective in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles whose beloved dog Buddy is stolen by local thugs leading to a questionable alliance with the thugs devious leader, portrayed by Momoa. RLJE s Mark Ward negotiated the deal with Voltage Pictures President Jonathan Deckter on behalf of the filmmakers. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Colin Farrell is in negotiations to join Viola Davis in Steve McQueen and New Regency s heist thriller Widows. Farrell also recently signed on to star in Disney s Dumbo. Production on that movie, In this image released by Neon, Jason Sudeikis (left), and Anne Hathaway appear in a scene from Colossal. (AP) however, was pushed back one month, allowing Farrell to squeeze Widows into his schedule. 20th Century Fox will distribute the movie. Liam Neeson, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Rodriguez, Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya, and Moonlight actor Andre Holland are also on board. Gone Girl screenwriter and Film Villainous role in Fast & Furious a challenge: Theron Inner monsters literal in Colossal Rogen By Jake Coyle The Spanish director Nacho Vigalondo makes funny, fantastical, Frankenstein-like films that playfully combine small-scale with big-concept. His 2011 film Extraterrestrial is a romantic comedy centered on a handful of characters amid a massive unseen alien invasion. His Timecrimes was about a marriage filtered through a time-traveling murder mystery. Colossal, his second English-language feature and biggest production yet, fuses a traditional rom-com plot big-city girl returns to her hometown with a far more monstrous genre: the kaiju film. It s a tantalizing prospect. Who among us hasn t wondered what if Sally had met Godzilla instead of Harry? Would Sex and the City not have been improved had Mothra been on the loose? In truth, Colossal is a more sly manipulation and inversion of genre. Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is an unemployed New York writer who spends her nights drinking before making apologetic early morning returns to her boyfriend s (Dan Stevens) luxury apartment. The more-together Tim, in the film s opening scene, has had enough. I can t deal with you in that state, he says. He packs her bags. Gloria retreats to her small-town home, crashing at her family s now empty house, and the movie starts taking the shape you d expect it to. Gloria runs into an old friend, Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), who cheerfully hires her as a waitress at his bar. Gloria, again, doesn t make it to bed until the sun is up, spending nights drinking with Oscar and his pals (Tim Blake Nelson, Austin Stowell). The mess Gloria alcoholic and inconsiderate makes turns out to harm not just those around her, but thousands of fleeing Koreans. She wakes to see news reports of a monster attack in Seoul. Later, she realizes with horror that the monster has her mannerisms (a particular way of scratching its head) and there s a strange coincidence between its regular appearances (always at 8:05 a.m.) and whenever Gloria steps onto a nearby playground. To say more would risk spoiling the primary pleasure of Colossal : watching Vigalondo juggle his outlandish premise with twists both realistic and implausible. There s a thrill to riding along with a movie that plays it straight-faced before so readily jumping into the absurd. But it s a cheap thrill. Colossal sags under its high concept; its metaphors, not monsters, run amok. The movie s kaiju side is merely a funhouse mirror held up to its characters emotional troubles, an eccentric mask for a fairly unimaginative story about a young woman trying to get her life under control. Excellent The one-trick act of Colossal becomes tiresome even as its leads particularly an excellent Hathaway work to find some depth in the story. Most interesting is the turn that comes for Sudeikis Oscar, whose old flame for Gloria is more sinister than you d expect. This is the movie s more clever twist, but it feels less organic than it ought to just a convenient way to lead up to the required monster melee climax. Yet Vigalondo remains a tantalizing filmmaker who may well find a story to match his mash-ups. There s something in the way his characters lives are refracted and manipulated through screens that resonates. (His last film, Open Windows, was about a blogger lured into spying on his favorite actress through his laptop.) He revels in eradicating the chasm between us and what we watch. Colossal, a Neon release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language. Running time: 110 minutes. Two stars out of four. Also: BERLIN: Oscar winner Charlize Theron said it was an exciting challenge to play the main villain in the latest installment of the Fast and Furious racing film series with Vin Diesel. This is a franchise that has been built for 16 years on this idea of family being kind of the cornerstone... and to play a character that has to kind of break all of that up, it was fun, yeah, and challenging, Theron said at the Berlin premiere of The Fate of the Furious. Diesel was also on hand for the release of the Willis novelist Gillian Flynn will write the script with McQueen. Based on the 1983 British miniseries about a caper gone wrong, the story follows four armed robbers who are killed in a failed heist attempt, leaving their widows to finish the job. Details behind Farrell s role are vague, aside from the fact that he ll play a politician that finds film, which is being marketed in Europe as Fast and Furious 8 and features the signature fast car chases, daring stunts and explosions of the previous seven films. The Fate of the Furious sees Diesel s lead character Dominic Toretto go rogue. Theron, who won a best actress Academy Award for Monster, plays the villainous Cipher. Diesel told reporters he felt as though he had let the world down when he left the film franchise several years ago because he was dissatisfied with the script. The film, directed by F. Gary Gray, also stars Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson. LOS ANGELES: Twilight helmer Catherine Hardwicke has been tapped by Sony Pictures to direct its remake of Miss Bala, sources confirmed to Variety. The film is an adaptation of the Mexican entry for best foreign-language film at the 84th Academy Awards in It centers on a woman named Laura Guerrero who, along with her friend, enters a Miss Baja beauty pageant. She witnesses during rehearsals a gang killing Drug Enforcement Administration agents and nightclub-goers, which turns her life upside down. She s then kidnapped by the men and forced to work for them in the deadly drug war. Stephanie Sigman starred in the original movie, directed by Gerardo Naranjo. Kevin Misher and Pablo Cruz will produce the remake, while Andy Berman executive produces. Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer will write the adaptation. No talent is currently attached to star in the film. Sony had been courting Hardwicke for a handful of projects over the past several months, including the live-action Barbie movie. Hardwicke often directs films with strong female characters; her credits include Thirteen, Red Riding Hood, Miss You Already, and Plush. Hardwicke is also attached to direct Stargirl starring Joey King. She is repped by CAA. (Agencies) himself mixed up in the widows plans. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: The legendary rivalry between controversial former British World Boxing champions Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn is set to live again in a new biopic about the pair, being produced by Fulwell 73. Fulwell 73 announced Tuesday that it was set for imminent production on the new boxing biopic Benn v Eubank, which will chart the individual journeys of the two fierce rivals, who dominated British boxing in the late 1980s and early 90s, their hatred of one another and the two matches (in 1990 and 1993) that came to define their careers. (RTRS)

20 NEWS/FEATURES 20 People & Places Film Cheer and wince Guess Who legacy debated on versary NEW YORK, April 5, (AP): Fifty years ago, Katharine Houghton found herself on her first big movie set making something that made plenty of people deeply worried. Houghton and co-star Sidney Poitier were playing lovers in Guess Who s Coming to Dinner, a romantic comedy directed by Stanley Kramer. Shooting had begun in San Francisco when word came that the movie was canceled. It was an insurance problem, the studio explained. The timing seemed suspicious to the actors. Columbia Pictures, when they found out what the film was about, they didn t want to do it. And they did everything they could to stop filming, recalls Houghton. They kept saying, Nobody s going to ever come and see this film. We re going to lose millions of dollars on this film. The studio was wrong. The movie made more money for Columbia than any film before it, earned 10 Oscar nominations winning two and landed among the 100 greatest movies selected by the American Film Institute. Houghton The film, with its radicalfor-its-time interracial romance, marked the first time a white actress and a black actor kissed in a major motion picture. Some movie theaters in the South refused to show it. Fifty years later, some cheer its legacy while others look back and wince. Fans see its effects in modern films, like Jordan Peele s new hit, Get Out, and in commercials for Cheerios and Chase Bank celebrating interracial couples. Critics think it didn t go far enough to confront racism. Views Houghton sees both sides but views the movie as revolutionary. I think the film really was a kind of a thunderbolt, she said. A lot of very chic critics today say, Oh, Guess Who s Coming to Dinner was way behind the times. All those problems were already solved and we didn t need a movie like that. I think we did need a movie like that. Houghton played a young white woman studying in Hawaii who brings home an accomplished African-American doctor and informs her parents played by Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy that she intends to marry him. Chaos ensues as her liberal parents grapple with the concept of interracial marriage. The film, re-released this spring in a Blu-ray edition, served as a challenge to liberals, a sort of modern-day fable made palatable with comedy. Most parents would be supportive of their daughter s involvement with Poitier s character a handsome, charming, well-educated doctor on his way to work with the World Health Organization. Only his race could be a sticking point. The social backdrop was far different in While the film was being shot, more than a dozen states had laws against miscegenation. The same year it came out, Secretary of State Dean Rusk offered to resign after his daughter married a black man. Interracial romance was such an explosive topic that Beah Richards, who played Poitier s mother in the film, couldn t see it in her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Critics said it was ultimately a cautious movie without much bite. Detractors said Poitier s character was too perfect and a man who in one scene seemed to imply he was post-race and Houghton s character was a rich and pretty girl who wasn t his equal. Any criticism of the film was really for the left, for it not being daring enough, said David Schwartz, chief curator at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. A lot of times with Hollywood, the movies are reflecting changes that are happening anyway. The film just captured a change that was starting to take place. Wanted Columbia Pictures wanted to shut down the production, arguing it couldn t get insurance for Tracy, who was gravely ill (he would die just days after shooting wrapped). Hepburn and Kramer agreed to put their salaries in escrow in case Tracy couldn t finish and another actor needed to be hired. Houghton, Hepburn s niece, was frustrated that a scene in which she confronted her parents was cut but noted with pleasure another one in which her character was asked what would happen to their biracial children. In the film, she says they will grow up to be president of the United States and they ll all have colorful administrations. Years later, the biracial Barack Obama, whose parents met in Hawaii, would become president. I thought, Wow that was kind of prophetic. More Hollywood attempts to tackle interracial relationships would follow, including Spike Lee s Jungle Fever, Anthony Drazan s Zebrahead, Something New with Sanaa Lathan, Guess Who with Bernie Mac and Loving starring Ruth Negga. A stage version of Guess Who s Coming to Dinner has been mounted most recently in Boston starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Interracial couples are now used in Madison Avenue-made commercials, indicating a growing acceptance. The US Census Bureau reports interracial opposite-sex married couple households grew by 28 percent over the decade from 7 percent in 2000 to 10 percent in Houghton takes no credit for any of it, saying she s just an actress. When asked if the film pushed the needle of change, she pauses. There s no question that art is a very powerful medium television and film, in particular, she said. But, let me put it this way, Why do we still have so much racism? Why? Why do we need to have Black Lives Matter? Of course, black lives matter. All lives matter. All lives deserve the opportunity. Monica White Ndounou, author of Shaping the Future of African American Film, said Guess Who s Coming to Dinner could have done a better job of forcing liberal audiences to confront their prejudices and of reaching out to black audiences. But she respects the attempt. If anything, we can take what we ve learned from this film, whether it s the failure or accomplishment of it, and we can continue to work toward telling more stories about the humanity of people and the ways in which they love each other, she said. To me, that s the message. In this March 27, 2017 photo, actors Michael Caine (from left), Alan Arkin and Morgan Freeman pose for a portrait to promote their new fi lm Going With Style in New York. (AP) Actors Vin Diesel (left), and Charlize Theron pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the fi lm The Fate of the Furious in Berlin, on April 4. (AP) Bigelow Variety Archbold LOS ANGELES: Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow has chopped the asking price of her New York City pied-a-terre from a tetch under $2.9 million to exactly $2.75 million, after a little more than two months on the market. The freshly reduced price is substantially below the slightly more than $3 million she paid for the full-floor condo in early The sparely decorated, 1,665-squarefoot apartment one of four units in a doorman-attended boutique building with a painstakingly restored century-old brick facade in the northwest corner of Tribeca is configured with one roomy bedroom and two bathrooms plus a windowless internal home office that could be used as a second sleeping area. A key-lock elevator opens privately into an open-plan, galley-style kitchen fitted with state-of-the-art designer appliances and slab-marble counter tops on lustrous Shadow Macassar wood cabinets. There are 10-foot ceilings, wide-plank oak floors, and a sleek, low-profile fireplace in the combination living/dining area. (RTRS) NEW YORK: Model and Kardashian clan member Kendall Jenner s turn as a Pepsi-wielding protester has some on social media decrying the imagery as appropriation of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Live for Now Moments video released Tuesday has Jenner in a platinum wig on a photo shoot when protesters amble by. She rips off her wig, smears away her lipstick and joins them, eventually handing an officer on the demonstration line a can of Pepsi. He gulps some down, and then grins as Jenner dances off with her new friends. Reaction on social media ranged from some saying the imagery was tone deaf, to it evoking a widely circulated photo of Black Lives Matter protester Leshia Evans last year in Louisiana. Evans was detained when she approached police at a demonstration in Baton Rouge. (AP) LOS ANGELES: Former teenage scenesterturned-in-demand actress Chloe Sevigny sold her stylishly eclectic, art-filled apartment in Brooklyn s Park Slope for $2.7 million after setting it out for sale late last Film Going With Style a new old-guy buddy comedy 3 legends on aging as actors NEW YORK, April 5, (Agencies): Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin would, if they ever sat still long enough, make a respectable Mount Rushmore. One could hardly find a more formidable trio of such overwhelming character. Their voices, alone, are utterly unmistakable. Put together Arkin s street-wise Brooklyn accent, Caine s nasally Cockney cadence and Freeman s deep Mississippi timbre and you d have the most colorful radio play ever assembled. Or you would have Going With Style, a new old-guy buddy-comedy that teams the contemporaries (Caine is 84, Arkin 83 and Freeman 79) for the first time. A remake of the 1979 comedy with George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg, the three play retired factory workers who, after having their pensions taken away, decide to rob a bank. Freeman and Caine have made a few movies together (the Dark Knight films, Now You See Me ) and are friendly. But as Caine points out, there are divisions. Freeman lives in Mississippi and Caine in London. And he s a golfer, Caine says. I can t play golf. I was great friends with Sean Connery until he learned how to play golf on Goldfinger. I never saw him again. So all the more reason to appreciate a rare assembly of three legends, who during a recent interview most enjoyed themselves by trading Casablanca lines. Of all the gin joints in the world... AP: You seem to have had fun making this. Caine: It s one of the most enjoyable pictures I ever made. Freeman: I m reticent to say this but it s the absolute truth: When you re working with people whose work you venerate, it s really almost always a very satisfying experience. Don t tell everybody I said that. AP: So there weren t any arguments over billing? Freeman: Well... Arkin: You ve got nothing to complain about! year at $2.75 million. The Golden Globewinning Big Love actress, nominated for an Oscar in 2000 for the film Boys Don t Cry, and soon to star in the thriller Lizzie, about notorious late-19th-century ax murderer Lizzie Borden, purchased the approximately 2,100-square-foot cooperative apartment in November 2013 for a wee Jenny Slate arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Gifted at the Pacific Theatres at the Grove on April 4. (AP) Freeman: We wouldn t. It s agents who would do that. I don t care. Caine: I don t care. It s the money. AP: Is this film, in a way, a vision of your own lives if you hadn t found the movies? Caine: When I became an actor, I was working in a butter factory, loading butter from the factory onto the trucks. Arkin: There was no choice for me. I had to act or kill myself, and I don t think I killed myself. AP: You ve each gotten better as actors with age. Morgan, you didn t really start in movies until you were almost 40. Freeman: People say always to me, Your career didn t get started until very late. I say that s probably propitious. When you start having success, particularly in movies and in a lot of places on stage, drugs start coming your way. I thought: Boy, if this had happened when I was younger, who knows? There were a lot of young guys who were just dead. What s the reason for that? Too much too soon. Caine: People say to me: What s the secret of your success? I say timing, and it has nothing to do with me. It s the way society changed in my own country. (Caine relates how he, of working-class origins, came to be cast by Cy Endfield as an officer in 1964 s Zulu. ) No British director at that time, even if he was a left-wing communist, would have cast me as a posh-speaking officer. I owe my career to an American. AP: Do you think you ve improved with age? Freeman: When I was young, I did all kinds of different characterizations. I was a character actor. It was what I wanted to be. You can hide in character. You can go out there and just do it up. But for most parts they ll say, I want Michael Caine or I want Alan Arkin and that s what they want, not some character that he can play. They want him. And that starts getting in the way of being an actor. You become sort of a caricature of yourself. Arkin: The first time I was asked to play something near myself I was terrified and I think I stank. It was not until relatively recently that that s really all I want to do. When I look at The Russians Are Coming, I say I couldn t do that now to save my life. I used to like to be anything in the world other than myself. But I ve gotten relatively comfortable with being this, whatever this is. I don t have the need to hide myself in order to express myself. Maybe it s lazy but I like being this so I don t really want to shed this. AP: Do you often get asked about why you don t retire? Freeman: Only on this because we play these old men. Arkin: My accountant keeps the engine going. Freeman: Have you seen (Arkin s) wife? There was a little lady walking around here with a head full of gray hair. Gorgeous woman. So things like that are part of the equation. And the other one is activity, staying active. AP: Do you still enjoy acting as much as ever? (A chorus of Yes and Absolutely! ) Arkin: I do it when people are having a good time, when they re enjoying their work. If they re changing the world, if their life is at stake, I want to run the other way as fast as humanly possible. I can t handle that anymore. I remember that vividly. I feel badly for them, but I don t want to participate in that. Freeman: No mas! Also: LOS ANGELES: Golden Brooks has been cast opposite Amandla Stenberg in Fox s dystopian thriller Darkest Minds, directed by Kung Fu Panda 3 helmer Jennifer Yuh Nelson. The movie is an adaptation of Alexandra Bracken s YA trilogy in which a pandemic kills most of America s children and teenagers. Those who survive develop superpowers and are imprisoned by the government. Fox-based Shawn Levy is producing through his 21 Laps company, along with Dan Levine and Dan Cohen. Nelson is directing from a script by Chad Hodge. bit more than $2 million. A semi-private elevator landing opens to the second-floor unit s gallery-like foyer, where classic black-and-white-tile flooring was installed at a 45-degree angle to the not-quite-square space. (RTRS) PHILADELPHIA: A popular reenactor who portrayed Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia for more than 40 years and married a woman who portrays Betsy Ross has died. The Alleva Funeral Home in Paoli (pay- OH -lee) confirms that Ralph Archbold died on March 25. He had turned 75 on Jan 17, a birthday he shared with Franklin. Archbold was a frequent fixture in the city s historic area and took his homage to Franklin to events around the world. (AP) STAMFORD, Conn: Former supermodel Stephanie Seymour had drunken driving and other charges erased from her record Tuesday after she completed a yearlong program that included treatment for alcohol abuse. The 48-year-old former Victoria s Secret and Sports Illustrated model did not attend the brief hearing in Stamford Superior Court. Police said Seymour backed her limited edition Land Rover into a Mercedes Benz on an exit ramp off Interstate 95 in her hometown of Greenwich in January (AP)

21 NEWS/FEATURES 21 Books Clinton on book tour Chelsea in no hurry to enter US politics NEW YORK, April 5, (Agencies): Congresswoman Clinton? President Clinton? For now, Chelsea Clinton insists she s focused far less on her political future than on burnishing her profile as an author of children s books. The former first daughter embarked Tuesday on a six-state book tour that was scheduled back when she believed her mother was on the way to the White House. But with Hillary Clinton s political career possibly over following a devastating presidential election loss to Donald Trump, people can t stop speculating about whether the younger Clinton intends to take up the family business. Those closest to Chelsea Clinton say she maintains a passion for public service but has only just begun to contemplate her role in a future that doesn t include president Hillary Clinton. There s lots of TBDs in Chelsea s future, Clinton chief of staff Bari Lurie said, using the acronym for to be determined. But right now she s very clear: One of those Clinton TBDs is not running for office. There s been no internal polling about her political prospects, no private discussions with political consultants. No one scheduled the book tour to promote the paperback release of It s Your World, aimed at middle-school students thinking it would be an effective vehicle to launch a political run. She s also preparing to release in May an illustrated children s book that celebrates female leaders. Open Chelsea Clinton was blunt in a Tuesday interview with CBS This Morning but left the door open a crack when asked whether she was running for public office. No, no, no, Clinton said, noting that she s pleased with her state and local public officials in New York. I clearly don t agree with our president, but I m definitely not the right person to run to defeat him in 2020, she continued. So right now, the answer is no. But I think we all need to be asking ourselves that question periodically. At the opening stop in her book tour Tuesday, the 37-year-old Clinton told those gathered in a crowded Manhattan bookstore she was just 3 or 4 the first time someone asked if she would run for office. I think it s actually a gift to be asked that question, she said, suggesting everyone should be encouraged to seek public office. The comments come as her mother s political standing reaches new lows. In December, more than 60 percent of Democrats and independents said Hillary Clinton shouldn t run again for office, according to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll. Political operatives in New York say Chelsea Clinton, who lives in Manhattan, may have more options than her mother s poor numbers suggest. The brand here is still pretty strong, said Jefrey Pollock, a New York-based Democratic pollster, referring to the liberal city and its suburbs. For right now, if there s a future, it s going to be something more local than national. And while Tuesday s book tour stop was sold out, there were signs of Clinton fatigue even among the New York Democrats lined up early to get good seats. Democrats need a leader, said Susan Conrad, an artist. I don t see Chelsea as that person. Agreed Conrad s friend Gillian Wells agreed. I m glad she s staying in the public eye. But this would not be a good time for her to run, the interior architect said. Maybe in a few years. Chelsea Clinton continues to serve as vice chairwoman of the board at the Clinton Foundation, an unpaid position that puts her at the center of decisions about the foundation s future. Among other responsibilities, she plays an active role in fundraising, promotion and program evaluation. She s also teaching a class on global health governance at Columbia University and recently joined the board of the internet travel site Expedia. And she s eager to speak out against the Republican president s policies. Last week, she warned during a televised fundraiser for the American Civil Liberties Union that Republican-backed voter ID laws are threatening the right to vote. Over the weekend, she tweeted a link to the Los Angeles Times headline Our Dishonest President. And on Monday, she posted a message to her 1.6 million Twitter followers highlighting the Trump administration s plan to cut funding at the Environmental Protection Agency. She s made it very clear: I can care deeply and fight for issues I m passionate about and not be running for public office, Lurie said. Also: STOCKHOLM: With his family of cats celebrating Christmas, bears arm-in-arm and even a crocodile in a sailor suit, German illustrator Wolf Erlbruch on Tuesday won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for literature aimed at children and young adults. Erlbruch, who has written some ten books and illustrated almost fifty, scooped the prize for making existential questions accessible and manageable for readers of all ages over his 30 year career, organisers said. I m still in shock and will be for some time. But it s wonderful, said Erlbruch. He is best known for illustrating The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business - a book about an angry mole searching for whoever pooped on his head. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was established by the Swedish government to honour the writer best known for her Pippi Longstocking books. The annual award is worth 5 million Swedish crowns ($554,000), with previous winners including British author Philip Pullman and Americans Maurice Sendak and Meg Rosoff. Erlbruch, who has already won the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, will receive his latest honour at a royal ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm on May 29. Macklemore performs at the Zedd Presents Welcome! - Fundraising Concert Benefitting The ACLU held at the Staples Center on April 3, in Los Angeles. (AP) Actor and author Alec Baldwin appears at Barnes & Noble Union Square to sign copies of his new book, Nevertheless: A Memoir, on April 4, in New York. (AP) Mel B Variety Martin LOS ANGELES: Spice Girl Melanie Mel B Brown was granted a restraining order against her estranged husband after filing court papers claiming he had emotionally and physically abused her for much of their 10-year marriage. The British singer, 41, said her husband, TV producer Stephen Belafonte, had beaten her and destroyed her self esteem, threatening to leak a sex tape to the media if she left him, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court to support her request for a restraining order. The request was granted on Monday and a full hearing was scheduled on April 24. Representatives for Brown did not immediately return requests for comment on Tuesday. Attempts by Reuters to reach Belafonte by telephone were unsuccessful and no lawyer or representative for Belafonte was listed in the court documents. (RTRS) MANILA, Philippines: Coldplay s lead vocalist visited a fan with cancer on Tuesday, hours before the group played a packed concert at Manila s seaside Mall of Asia Arena Concert Grounds. Chris Martin visited Ken Valiant Santiago in a hospital where the medical student is battling cancer and spends much of the time listening to favorite Coldplay songs. Concert organizer Rhiza Pascua tweeted a picture of the meeting. Chris Martin, you are an angel! Thank you for making Ken very happy!! she added. Santiago s brother, Kheil, earlier posted an appeal on Facebook for help in relaying a request to the band to say hello or send a short message to his brother, who bought a ticket but could not make it to the concert. He was diagnosed with advanced cancer in February, Kheil said. In a tweet, Ken thanked Pacua for making Martin s visit possible. Words can t even begin to describe how thankful I am, he said. You ve made my heart full of joy. Thank you so much! (AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn: Justin Timberlake will headline the next Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and he s lured some big names to join him, including Eddie Vedder, Ryan Adams, The Avett Brothers, Mavis Staples and Gary Clark Jr. The two-day annual festival debuted in 2015 on a horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee, and was co-founded by Kevin Griffin of the band Better Than Ezra. Timberlake is a partner and producer who will make his debut on its stage this fall. Music YouTube to live-stream 2017 Coachella Kiev stands firm on Russia ban RIGA/KIEV, April 5, (RTRS): Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday refused to back down over Kiev s decision to ban Russia s entry for this year s Eurovision Song Contest, despite a threat from the organisers to throw Ukraine out of future competitions, though not the one due in May. Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been toxic since Russia s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of separatist violence in the Donbass region. Their antipathy spilled over into the Eurovision contest after Ukraine s entry Jamala won last year with a song about Stalin s mass deportation of ethnic Tatars from the Crimean peninsula during the Second World War. Having won the right to host this year s event, Ukraine banned 27-yearold Russian singer Yulia Samoylova from entering its territory on the grounds that she has visited Crimea without Ukraine s permission. Russia said the Ukrainian move tarnished the event, while Eurovision s organisers wrote a letter, leaked to the media, to Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman threatening to exclude Ukraine s state broadcaster from future events. Speaking to reporters in Riga, Poroshenko said Russia had put forward its contestant as a deliberate provocation. The Ukrainian authorities did not fall for this provocation, Poroshenko said. We act consistently as regards everyone who violates Ukrainian legislation, he said, according to a statement on the president s website. The European Broadcasting Union has offered the possibility of the Russian singer participating from outside Ukraine via satellite link. The proposal was made to Russia s Channel One, which rejected the idea. Ukraine s state broadcaster on Tuesday urged the EBU to respect the country s sovereignty and to drop its threat to shut Ukraine out of future competitions. In a statement published on its website, the broadcaster urged the EBU not to be used as an instrument of This year s festival will be held Sept 23 and Sept 24. Two-day passes go for $175 and there are VIP passes for $725. Tickets go on sale Tuesday. The lineup also includes Walk the Moon, Fitz and The Tantrums, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Revivalists and Better Than Ezra. (AP) LONDON: Grammy award-winning artist Sheena Easton has made her West End strengthening foreign political manipulations. Ukraine expects about 12,000-14,000 spectators to attend the competition in May, with millions more watching on television. It will be the second time that Kiev has hosted the event. The war between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists has killed more than 10,000 people. The two sides agreed to honour a ceasefire on April 1 but this quickly broke down. YouTube is heading back to the desert: The video giant will exclusively live-stream the first weekend of Coachella 2017 for the seventh year in a row. Performances From April 14-16, Coachella s You- Tube channel will carry performances live available for free. The lineup for the music fest this year includes Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, Lorde, Bon Iver, the xx, Future, Schoolboy Q, Two Door Cinema Club, New Order, and Gucci Mane. Additional details on the specific artists who will be on the YouTube live streams will be announced later. On YouTube, viewers will be able to choose from three different live channels as well as a live 360-degree mode that will appear for select performances. The Coachella YouTube channel also will include a video-ondemand hub with highlights and footage from throughout the weekend. New this year: YouTube will provide a sneak peek inside the famous underground dance-music Yuma tent for the first time. In addition, users will be able to opt-in to get browser alerts when their favorite artists go live. Fans can also create personalized viewing schedules to feature the live acts they want to see, where livestream channels will automatically change to artists they ve selected. The webcast will again be hosted by KCRW music director Jason Bentley and co-host Francesca Fiorentini interviewing from artists and creators around the festival, and backstage in the artist lounge. debut in the musical 42nd Street, with Britain s Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, actor Morgan Freeman and tennis coach Judy Murray attending the show s premiere. The musical follows a Broadway director named Julian Marsh as he attempts to put on a successful theatrical production in the middle of the Great Depression. Easton plays Peggy Marsh, one of the chorus line in the show, who takes over as the lead when the star actress breaks her Chris Zylka arrives at the LA Premiere of The Leftovers Season Three at Avalon Hollywood on April 4, in Los Angeles. (AP) Lady Gaga took over as headliner for Coachella, replacing Beyonce, who opted out of the festival because she s pregnant with twins. However, Beyonce is set to headline Coachella in YouTube s live-stream of 2017 Coachella is sponsored by T-Mobile. Metallica, The Who, The Gorillaz, and Lorde will headline the Outside Lands 2017 Festival August in San Francisco, California. The summer festival, held at Golden Gate Park, will also feature performances from A Tribe Called Quest, Alt-J, Empire of the Sun, Fleet Foxes, Queens of the Stone Age, Above and Beyond, Solange, SchoolBoy Q, and many more. Metallica s performance at the festival comes on the heels of their North American tour in support of their tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self- Destruct. Additionally, Lorde s headlining comes in the midst of her hinting at the sound of her sophomore album Melodrama since earlier this year, which is set to be released in June. The festival announced the line-up with a dynamic video featuring clips from previous years festivals against the background song Certainty by this year s performer English rockband Temples. Atop its stacked set-list, Outside Lands will also feature a comedy lineup, which has not yet been announced. The music and arts festival will also feature a variety of food and drink options from Bay Area restaurants, wineries and breweries. Tickets for Outside Lands go on sale April 6 at 10 a.m. PT through the festival s website. Festival-goers have the option to purchase either a general admission ticket, which provides access to the array of music, comedy, food and drink; or a VIP ticket, which allows special privileges to the festival s exclusive Polo Club, special stage access, and more. ankle. Produced by Johnny Hon and directed by Mark Bramble, 42nd Street is famous for songs like Dames, We re In The Money and I Only Have Eyes For You. It is not the production s first showing in London, having run in the West End from 1984 to A relatively unknown Catherine Zeta Jones performed in the chorus line in (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: The nominees for the 2017 Webby Awards were announced Tuesday morning. The Webbys recognize excellence on the web across numerous categories. Over 13,000 entries were submitted for this year s awards. Webby Nominees are using the internet in incredible ways to bring people together through humor, emotion, innovation, empathy, passion, optimism, and eccentricity all of the elements that make for truly great internet, said David-Michel Davies, executive director of the Webby Awards. In a year marked by so much discord and divisiveness, the Webby Awards is honored to recognize the work and efforts of our Nominees as they explore new ways to use the Internet to inform our world and bring people together. Variety.com was named an honoree in the movie & film category, while Variety s Remote Controlled podcast was honored in the podcasts & digital audio - interview/ talk show category for the inaugural episode with Mr Robot creator Sam Esmail. (RTRS)

22 22 Homes Simple and elegant treat This strawberry season, make dessert inspired by cannoli By Sara Moulton developed this recipe to take advantage of I strawberry season. Some of you are naturally scratching your head. Strawberry season? Name a time of year that isn t strawberry season. And it certainly can feel that way. Strawberries are grown in all 50 states and, depending on the state, the season can be as short as a few weeks or as long as 11 months. But the heart of the strawberry season the sweet spot of the year when you can count on finding juicy, delicious and locally grown strawberries at your supermarket or farmer s market is April through June. Now that the goodies are at hand, here are a few tips about how to buy and store them. Start by selecting the specimens that are unblemished and smooth and, most important, bright red from tip to tail. Then, pick one up and take a whiff. It should smell strongly of... strawberries. When you get the winners home, put a layer of them in a shallow bowl lined with paper towels. Cover and store the berries in the refrigerator and try to eat them within a few This 2017 photo shows Italian stuffed strawberries in New York. (AP) days. (Local strawberries are more perishable than the commercial varieties.) Do not wash or hull the berries until right before you re ready to eat them. When the moment arrives, simply put the strawberries in a colander and run some cold water over them. Then lift them out and let them drain on paper towels. What makes this recipe Italian? The filling used to stuff these berries is a twist on the mixture of ricotta cheese, candied orange and chocolate that s piped into cannoli. The difference is that I substituted Neufchatel for ricotta because it s tangier and more assertive and teams up better with the berries. This dessert is a simple and elegant way to end a meal now that spring has sprung and it only takes 20 minutes to make. You can even prep the strawberries and stuffing ahead. But don t stuff them until the last minute. You don t want the sugar in the filling to make the berries soggy. Italian stuffed strawberries Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 4 1 pound strawberries 2 ounces Neufchatel or one-third less-fat cream cheese (about 1/4 cup), softened 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teapoon grated orange zest 3/4 ounce bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped Cut each strawberry in half lengthwise through the cap. Arrange the strawberry halves, cut side up, on a serving plate. Trim a thin slice from the bottom if necessary to make each half sit evenly. Using a small spoon or melon baller, scoop out a hollow in the center of the cut side of each strawberry. Reserve the strawberry scraps for another use (or eat them). In a small bowl combine the cream cheese and sugar; stir in the chocolate and orange zest. Divide the cream cheese mixture into the hollows in the strawberries and serve. Chef s Note: You can prepare the strawberries and the filling several hours ahead of time but do not stuff the strawberries until right before serving. (AP) Focus on comfort and conversation Al Fresco: Outdoor decor gets free-spirited By Kim Cook There are those who prefer perfectly matched furniture and a monochromatic color scheme in decor. But for those who like to shake things up, it s time to take it outside. There s a free-spirited attitude now in outdoor decor, with mix-and-match elements and an easy, colorful, playful charm. People are setting up their outdoor spaces just like their family rooms, with a focus on comfort and conversation, says Better Homes & Gardens editor Amy Panos. The idea of mixing different furniture styles is coming outdoors. Rather than a matching set, pair different styles. Put a modern sofa with a raw wood table, for example. Pair a teak dining table with brightly colored, molded plastic chairs. Consider throw pillows and rugs as inexpensive ways to add eclectic flair. The range of colors and patterns in durable outdoor materials is greater than ever. I like eclecticism, says Ikea s creative lead Karin Gustavsson. It allows you to create an environment that s more personal, and much more interesting. The different colors and shapes allow you to create a space based on your own mood, she says. It s a cool style created by artists, designers, photographers, surfers and musicians. Beachy and bohemian. Gustavsson was inspired by Indonesian prints and colors for Ikea s new JASSA collection, which includes throw cushions, spatterware plates, plaid woven seagrass baskets and rattan lounge chairs. Crate & Barrel s vice-president of design, Raymond Arenson, concurs. We re living at an increasingly fast pace, bound to a sleek computer that we keep in our pockets. We need relief, warmth and texture to help us relax, he says. Eclecticism is a way of helping us slow down to create our own story. It s a philosophy and a way of life, more than a style or fashion. He suggests using color and contrast to achieve the look. Crate & Barrel has a new indoor/outdoor sectional with a powder-coated steel and mesh frame. With navy Sunbrella upholstery, it s a modern piece on its own. But Arenson suggests incorporating a couple of white, castaluminum drum tables with mismatched lattice motifs, a variety of concrete planters, and a bold, checkered blue rug. RH Restoration Hardware s summer outdoor collection has Javanese batik print and West African mudcloth print pillows, in Sunbrella fabrics. Think about unusual containers for greenery; the retailer has giant clamshells and vintage Chinese tea harvest bowls. Pieces that get the conversation started are great additions to an eclectic outdoor space. At Anthropologie, British designer Tracey Boyd s octagonal Moussem stool takes a Moroccan-inspired pattern back to its simple, geometric roots, in a warm palette of cream, ebony, sky and persimmon. Illustrator Alex Sickling s folk-inspired ceramic pots feature quirky sketches of playful alpacas. And a hot-air balloon ride over the African savannah inspired the bold patterns on stools by Arizona designer Whitney Pozgay. A dreamcatcher weave creates the back of a breezy swinging chair from Pier 1 that can be hung from a beam or tree, or on a free-standing frame. A polyester umbrella with a jaunty floral motif would be a pretty accent on a deck or patio with all-weather wicker armchairs and a simple fire pit. Also here, a hand-gilded Balinese umbrella made of canvas, Durian wood and mother-of-pearl. Include collections if you ve got them a bowl of pretty stones or shells; a group of vintage tins or bottles. And don t forget lighting: Battery-operated or electric string lights, lanterns and candles put the finishing touches on a welcoming outdoor space with lots of personality. (AP) click Alcoholics Anonymous: If you know someone who can t stop drinking and would like to help them please check us out and we promise to try to help at There are no fees. This is a genuine public service. Drinking problem?: Friends of Bill W. are available to help. Totally confidential. rohsecretary@gmail.com Narcotics Anonymous: NA can help with addiction problems. Totally confidential: English/Arabic. This 2016 photo provided by IKEA shows some of IKEA s new eclectic JASSA collection which includes pottery, colorful fabrics and furnishings made from natural materials with a mix of modern and traditional craft techniques. (AP) The Embassy of Brazil in Kuwait in cooperation with Dar Al Athar Al-Islamiyyah will present Waves of Brazil with Olivia and Francis Hime on Sunday, April 9 at 7:00 pm at the Yarmouk Cultural Center, Yarmouk, Block 3, Street 3. Cancer online support group: If you are Cancer patient or family member fighting with this deadly disease, come join our online support group. Best way of dealing with this disease is providing support and share our experience with each other. There are lot of things which even doctors can t tell so be member of this website and start sharing your experiences which may help others. October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). The primary purpose is to promote self examination and screening mammography as the most effective way to save lives by detecting breast cancer at early stage. For more information visit: fightingwithcancer.webs.com/ Latest Invitation to Grand Mosque: The Visits Department is pleased to invite you to visit the Grand Mosque, which is one of Kuwait s most treasured religious and cultural landmarks to discover the beauty of Islamic arts and architecture. Free guided tours are available all year round on official working days between (9-11 am) and (5-7 pm), within a special tour program designed to cater to the needs of different age groups. The program is as follows: Reception; Auditorium show; (according to age group); Touring the Mosque; Q & A; Art workshops; (according to age group between 5 and 18 years old); Snack break; Distribution of the Grand Mosque publications and souvenirs; End of tour. According to these age groups: Age group: 5 to 9 years old: Morning: 60 visitors max; Evening: 20; 10 to 15 years: Morning: 100 visitors max; Evening: 45; 16 and above: Morning: 140 visitors max, Evening: 105: Tour language: Arabic- English- French; Arabic (English upon prior request); Arabic- English- French; Arabic (English upon prior request); Arabic- English- French: Arabic (English upon prior request) Rules and Regulations: Please arrive in time for your visit. All visitors are kindly required to abide by the mosque s dress code. Male visitors should wear long pants. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Female visitors: should wear head cover and long loose clothing (available at the mosque). Foods and drinks are not allowed inside the prayer halls. For school visits, teachers are responsible for their students and are required to cooperate with the staff members of the Grand Mosque. Photography is allowed inside the Grand Mosque (please note that disrespectful poses are strictly prohibited). If you would like to book a tour, please contact us: Tel: / / gmvisits@gmail.com Fax: April 11 Byproducts of Development : The Sultan Gallery will hold preview of Byproducts Of Development by Abdullah Al-Mutari on Tuesday, April 11 from 7-9 pm. Focusing on the impact industrial expansion has had on the bodies and identities of youth in the region, Byproducts of Development utilizes found materials, both digital and physical, to portray a theory of cultural transformation. The show aims to draw attention to the physiological repercussions of rapid urbanization; linking the effects of oil industry to noticeable changes in the body. Additionally, digital connectivity is scrutinized as a locus of change, prompting shifts in self-image and methods of self-actualization that mirror the drastic changes in local landscapes. Male fragility is positioned as a reaction to, as well as a consequence of, rapid development, with youth caught between a changing ecology and digital influences. This is Abdullah Al-Mutairi s first solo show. April 15 DAI Experience Science: Scientists from the Islamic world helped build the foundation of today s science. In biology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, optics, and math, Muslim scholars like Ibn Haythem, Ibn Hayyan, Al- Fazari, and others, made significant contributions to their fields. Experience Science is a special programme led by Dr B (Dr Bahareh Azizi), who s planned some pretty cool experiments that include strawberry DNA, Oreo moon phases, and bending light! Designed for children ages 10-13, each Experience Science 90 minute session (3:30-5 pm), which will be held at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, includes a look at the role of Muslim scientists in a specific field, what s happening in that field today and a couple of hands-on experiments. Week One (April 15): Human Biology and DNA Week Two (April 22): Astronomy Week Three (April 29): Chemistry and Alchemy Week Four (May 6): Optics and Physics Week Six (May 13): Family Day at Amricani To register your year-old for this programme, please visit the museum shop at either the Yarmouk or Amricani cultural centres. Spaces are limited; to register, education@darmuseum.org.kw April 28 Buntara Sangha Buntaayana : Buntara Continued on Page 23

23 23 Overheard in the Souk the grapevine For more than a week, the video of a housemaid falling off a terrace while being filmed by her female employer has gone viral on the social media, creating a spinechilling effect on the netizens and public. How can someone find pleasure in seeing someone pleading for help? How can one not help who is about to fall to her death? But thank God! The housemaid survived the fall and landed on a corrugated roof below but suffered fractures and broken bones. Now, the employer is facing criminal charges. A Kuwaiti human rights activist and lawyer saw the video and volunteered to serve as the legal counsel of the housemaid pro bono and now, a case has been filed against the employer. What has happened to humanity? What was running on the mind of the employer while watching and filming her housemaid? If the maid did not survive the fall, she may just be one of the statistics that can easily be passed on as suicide. Expatriates come to Kuwait to seek greener pasture. Some are lucky while some are not but only if people have the empathy, a sense of humanity and the heart toward their fellowmen, this world would be a better place to live in. Reality bites! Every time one sees a car speed along the motorways of Kuwait, in a crisscrossing trail, changing lanes for amusement and increasing the risk of collision for every other driver on the road, it is best to assume that a real emergency could be the reason for this desperate urgency. It would bode well for those inclined towards road rage to imagine a woman in labour, in desperate need to make it to a hospital. This situation could justify the haste. While we know that more often than not, there isn t an emergency looming over the horizon. This self deception is necessary to keep one s cool, and to dismiss the actions of rash and distracted drivers. Far be it from the rest of us, to become aggressive ourselves! After targeting their remittances, their population, their walk on the street etc, another anti-expatriate proposal had been released once again. This time, expats are to blame for traffic jams on the roads and streets of the country. To this effect, an MP proposed that expats should not be allowed to own more than one car and no issuing of driving license to new applicants and even a Kuwaiti lawyer went a step further to file a lawsuit calling to suspend all driving licenses held by expats until the traffic crisis is resolved. If the proponents of these proposals think that making expats their soft target will earn them popularity among citizens, then they must be mistaken. Citizens of this country are clever and wise and will never allow politics play with their emotions and minds. This is because everyone knows that stopping expats alone to own more than one car or not issuing them licenses will not be the solution to traffic jams. Everyone knows that it is the citizen who normally owns more than one car and some own more than five to ten cars according to number of family members. We believe that this will not be the last antiexpat proposal, more is expected to come and no one knows where and what will be the next target; it might be the food or the water or the dress that expats use or even the oxygen that they breathe!!!! Tongues Way Urdu Mushaira night Q8 Club all set to present grand literary event Jashn-e-Tasneem Events KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Q8 Club an established Sports Club of Indian youth are all set to present an Jashne-Tasneem; an Urdu Mushaira on 14th April 2017, 8:00 PM at Rajdhani Palace Khaitan (Kuwait). The preparation of a grand literary event is in progress under the expert supervision of Afroz Alam; a well known Urdu scholar in Kuwait. As per Salim Sen president of the association, nine renowned Urdu poets from India viz. Tasneem Ansari and Abu Shahid from Kokan (Maharashtra), Naeem Rashid, Dr Jaleelur Rahman, Mijaz Aashna and Afzal Danish from Burhanpur-MP, Dr Mahtab Alam; the Principal Correspondent of ETV (Urdu)-Bhopal, Aslam Chisti from Pune, Jami Kalyanwi from Mumbai, and Ahmad Ashfaq from Doha-Qatar have been invited and are expected to grace the event with their presence. Mrs Maimuna Ali Chougle; the former president of Writers Forum, Kuwait will preside over the event. HE Sunil Jain; the Ambassador of India to Kuwait has very kindly accepted the invitation to grace the event as Chief Guest. Hasan Chougle; a renowned businessman from Qatar who is also a well known literary personality will be the Guest of Honour. Dinner will be served at 7:00 pm followed by Tilawat-e-Quran-e-Pak immediately after Isha Prayer. First round will be felicitation of guest poets and award to Tasneem Ansari. In second round, three to four poets residing in Kuwait will present his poetry followed by the visiting poets. click Latest Continued from Page 23 Sangha Kuwait will be organizing its Mega event of the year Buntaayana 2017 on Friday, April 28, 2017 at Cambridge English School Auditorium Mangaf, Makka Street, Al Mangaf, Kuwait. Prominent Writer and researcher Dr Indira Hegde will grace the occasion as chief guest. The highlight of the event will be the Badaguthittu style Yakshagana Show from the famous artists from Northern Costal Karnataka for the first time in Kuwait. Famous Yakshagana Artist Theerthahalli Gopal Acharya, Subramanya Hegde Yelaguppa, Sridhar Bhat Kaasaragodu, Ashok Bhat Siddapura, Ramakrishana Hillur will be performing first time in Kuwait. Prashanth Shetty famously known as Chitra Mithra will perform rapid art performance along with music and dance. Variety entertainment artist Ashok Polali with Vishwas Gurupura will be presenting unique dances and melodious songs. Young emerging talent Saiheel Rai will be hosting the entire event. For further information, one can contact: Yadunath Alva , Uday Kumar Shetty , Jaysheel Shetty Praveen Kumar Shetty , Niranjan- Malli , Shodhan Shetty , Sandesh Kumar Shetty or on: managing@ kuwaitbunts.org May 3 YMCA Kuwait Ecumenical Quiz: YMCA Kuwait is conducting the 5th Annual Bible Quiz for the members from all the churches in Kuwait on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Light House Church, NECK from 6:30pm onwards. The sections of the Bible based on which the quiz is going to be conducted are all Chapters from book of Genesis, Zachariah, Luke and Revelation. The first three winners will be presented with ever rolling trophies and medals. First winner Mariam Ever Rolling Trophy, second winner Dr A.T. Varghese and Family Ever Rolling Trophy and third winner Mathew Eapen and Family Ever Rolling Trophy. YMCA Kuwait cordially A flyer of the event. invites all members and families to attend the program. For more information please contact Mathew Varkey (Convener) Mob# General IEI Kuwait Chapter membership: The Institution of Engineers (India), Kuwait chapter invites all its members to update their membership information for the year and actively participate in the chapter activities. Indian engineers residing in Kuwait are welcome to join the pool of more than 700,000 engineers by becoming corporate or non-corporate members of The Institution of Engineers (India). IEI, Kuwait Chapter conducts many technical events for the benefit of its members. Please watch for the upcoming events in your registered or announcement in the media. The chapter has science A flyer of the event. club activities for member s children, and ladies wing activities for the member s family. IEI, Kuwait chapter has facility to register student members for AMIE Examination for those interested in pursuing career enrichment. For more information and on chapter membership, kindly contact IEI, Kuwait chapter office on extn. 314 between 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (Sunday Continued on Page 24

24 24 Life Again Apple revamps Mac Pro YouTube unveils India mobile app for spotty Internet signals SAN FRANCISCO, April 5, (RTRS): Alphabet Inc s Google said on Tuesday it would roll out a mobile YouTube application designed for India, boosting the search company s presence in a burgeoning market with spotty Internet access. Since the fall, Google has been conducting extensive tests in India of YouTube Go, which allows users to save videos to watch offline and monitor their data use. A beta version of the app has been released in the Google Play Store in India, and will be released in other emerging markets later, company executives said in an interview. Analysts have been forecasting a surge in video consumption in India since Reliance Jio, the telecom unit of Reliance Industries Ltd, upended the industry last year with cheap data plans that have prodded rivals to lower prices. Silicon Valley has long regarded India, with its population of 1.3 billion people and poor connectivity, as a prime place to test products for emerging markets. YouTube executives said they sought to build a product for Indian users from the ground up rather than releasing a slimmeddown version of their primary app. As we talked to people in the market, they didn t want something that felt like a stripped down version of YouTube they wanted the full experience, said John Harding, vice president of engineering at YouTube. Due to the frustration of trying to load video at slow Internet speeds, the YouTube team had contemplated showing users a series of images from a video with the audio, like a slideshow. But Indian consumers reacted poorly to the feature. The final design helps users discover videos that trending in their region while minimizing data usage. Users can preview videos before watching to ensure that is what they want. While Reliance Jio s entry has boosted video consumption in India, analyst Neil Shah of Counterpoint Technology Market Research questioned whether YouTube Go would remain popular as cheap data plans become more prevalent. The only future I see for YouTube Go is for feature phones or basic phones, he wrote in an . But with 180 million mobile users in India and mobile watch time climbing 400 percent year over year, YouTube has strong momentum in India, Jay Akkad, a product lead at YouTube, said. Apple refreshed its Mac Pro line of desktop computers Tuesday, and the company revealed that it is working on a new line of imacs to be released later this year, as well as a completely revamped Mac Pro for The new Mac Pro models stick to the same design while adding slightly more powerful innards: The entry-level Mac Pro now comes with a 6-core processor, dual D500 GPUs and 16GB of RAM, and is selling for $2999. The $3999 model is getting an 8-core processor, dual D700 GPUs, 16GB of RAM. Both come with 256 GB of Flash storage, with an option to add more if desired. Later this year, Apple is going to introduce a new version of the imac that will be designed with professional users in mind. Executives didn t reveal what exactly this will entail during a meeting with reporters, but BuzzFeed reported Tuesday that Apple Marketing SVP Phil Schiller said the new imac won t have a touch-screen. Music streaming service Spotify said on Tuesday it had signed a deal with Universal Music Group that lets artists release new albums exclusively on its paying premium service for two weeks. Spotify, a rival to Apple Music, has yet Life Again to present Trance-Dancing Drums on April 8 to report a profit as it expands, but is under pressure from some artists who have boycotted the usually free service and needs to show investors it can generate cash as it considers a US listing. The multi-year licence agreement with Universal Music could make Spotify more attractive to Universal Music s artists, who include Taylor Swift, Adele, Lady Gaga, Coldplay and Kanye West. We know that not every album by every artist should be released the same way, and we ve worked hard with UMG to develop a new, flexible release policy, Spotify Chairman and Chief Exeuctive Officer Daniel Ek said in a statement. Universal artists can choose to release new albums on premium only for two weeks, offering subscribers an earlier chance to explore the complete creative work, while the singles are available across Spotify for all our listeners to enjoy, he said. Shobana to showcase India s vibrant humanism By Chaitali B. Roy Special to the Arab Times Dance can be a profession; it can lead to stardom. But it can also be a process of meditation. It can be therapeutic. It can be a way to grapple with our own inner fears and demons. It can be a purely physical endeavour. It can be a purely mental journey. It can be a self-realization of one s cultural roots. It can lead to spiritual fulfillment. Indian classical dance is all this and so much more! Little wonder that even the gods danced in India. They too probably realized that it added value to their bliss in heaven! Geeta Chandran Dancer-Choreographer On Saturday, April 8, Life Again Foundation, a renowned nonprofit organization founded by Gautami Tadimalla, an Indian film actress, and cancer survivor to inspire and support people in the pre/post-transformation stage of terminal disease will present Trance a celebration of Indian performing tradition in a highly nuanced presentation by Padmashri Shobhana Chandrakumar Pillai, an internationally acclaimed Indian dancer-actor at the American International School Auditorium Maidan Hawally at 6 pm. Trance-Dancing Drums is presented by Life Again in association with Kuwait Yoga Centre and Art of Living (Kuwait). Trance-Dancing Drums, an evocative dance-theatre performance conceptualized and choreographed by Shobana has delighted audience members in different countries with live musicians, synthesis of rhythm, a kaleidoscope of colours, sensual poetry that explores and presents India s religious and cultural tradition in all its diversity, delving into the mythology of Hindu gods, the spiritualism of the mystical Sufis and the continuity of biblical lore. On Saturday, the show will also feature Gautami Tadimalla, Founder, Life Again Foundation, Helen Al- Rahi, Reham Al Rashidi (Reham TV) and Zaina Al Zabin (Masar Consults). Performances Dancer, actress, choreographer, mridangam player and stage performer, Shobana Chandrakumar personifies the essence of her art form. A versatile exponent of Bharatnatyam, the doe-eyed Shobana, founder of Kalarpan, a noted dance school in Chennai, is a thinker-performer who tries to merge the past, present and the future in the philosophy of her art form. Her stage performances such as the Maya Ravana Krishna and Dancing Drums are brilliant spectacles that explore and express Indian culture in its myriad forms. An extraordinarily gifted person, Shobana Chandrakumar was born into an artistic Malayalam family from Kerala, India. She is the niece of the formidable Travancore sisters famed for their dancing and acting prowess. When asked whether making a choice between dance and films was ever a problem for a person adept at both, she replied, There was no dilemma because I chose to do what motivated me at that time. Dance is a solo journey in contrast to films which is a collective process. With this kind of individualistic artistic traits that the two arts had, I was happy to pursue both. Shobana began working in films at the young age of nine in 1980 and went on to act in 200 films in five languages. Her film career has been stellar. Not only did she star opposite the giants of South Indian films, and held her own, she also won the National Award for Best Actress twice from the Government of India for the Mohanlal starrer Manichitrathazhu (1994) and Revathi-directed Mitr My Friend (2001). Speaking of her experience with films, Shobana says, Films have enriched me with patience and honed my ability to gauge and judge people. Working with some brilliant directors and scriptwriter, I had the opportunity to look into their minds. The classical dance forms of India embody the best of its civilization with the sheer beauty and grace of physical movements and the abhinaya through which the artiste tries to convey emotions bringing together the body, psyche, and soul into the stream of performance. Shobhana, an accomplished dancer of Bharatnatyam who is known for her abhinaya, was trained by Chitra Visweswaran, the illustrious Bharatnatyam exponent. The guru-shishya ( teacher-student) parampara, an integral part of Indian performing tradition is still Above and below: Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai maintained in India albeit in a different form. My guru taught me to teach, which is the most important thing one can do for one s students. Keeping your students dependent on you for learning on purpose is the worst thing a teacher can do. My guru gave me wings to fly. Empowered by her learning and talent, Shobana has performed throughout the world including before the King and Queen of Malaysia. In 2006, the Indian government honoured her valuable contribution to Indian cinema and dance with the coveted Padmashri. Devoted In recent years, Shobana Chandrakumar has moved away from films and devoted more time to dance and other creative pursuits. Dancing Drums Trance is Shobana s recent dance theatre production. Dance is a spiritual practice at some point. Being a story-teller I have always been fascinated with our legends, which can be re-told time and again, explains the danseuse. I have noticed that art has the power to bring people together. Dancing Drums aims at a communion of sorts. In Dancing Drums I have touched on music that largely explores the ethos of religion other than my own. I feel this is a way to bring people together in however small a way in my performances. It is my thanksgiving to my country that is religiously tolerant. Art is open to interpretation and collaboration. Perhaps it is this flexibility which grants it resilience and longevity. The classical dance forms of India have stretched their boundaries and opened themselves to interpretations. Bharatnatyam, one of India s most popular and ancient dance forms despite being governed by rigid rules has embraced experimentation. In Dancing Drums-Trance, Shobana, a performer who has had the courage to extend the confines has created a dance vocabulary with immense possibilities Fusion is an experience of understanding art that you are not trained in; it is an in-exhaustive source for learning. It is a discovery of how and what you can contribute to existing and trusted energy. The face of traditional dance is changing. As artistes, we are just tiny stars under a large canvas of creative possibilities. I feel odd to lay down the rules and seal off creative growth since I don t own any of my artistic pursuits. A collage of poetry, live and pre-recorded music with themes as wide-ranging as Hindu mythology and Biblical episodes, the 90-minute show transcends religious barriers to create an extravaganza that showcases both India s vibrant humanism and its deep spirituality. Rhythm gives Shobana the freedom to explore the inherent abstract philosophy of spiritual oneness. As a story-teller, I feel there are several mediums that can be used to convey a narrative. In the past, I have used characters, epic tales, poetry, and rasa. However, in all these mediums, the narrative is fixed because of lyrics or emotional quality of the melody. Because of the inherent abstraction in rhythm, the interpretative possibilities are more, but that also makes the work more challenging. In Dancing Drums, I interweave all my mediums into what I like to call trance. We have choreographed a wide canvas of ethos transcending religious boundaries of the world. To celebrate Life Again Foundation and their star performer s joie de vivre you can join them for Trance-Dancing Drums this Saturday. click General Continued from Page 23 through Thursday) or through to ieikwt@ hotmail.com. You may also contact Engr Ashok Kumar ( ) or Engr Karthikeyan ( ) for any further clarification. Share your story with Amricani: Do you or any of your family members, acquaintances or friends happen to have a story with the American Missionary hospital in Kuwait (Mustashfa Lemraicani) during the years from , the official period of offering medical services in Kuwait? Please share with us your story or your memory during those old days by writing the event and sending it to the following address: Mystory@darmuseum.org.kw Notes: 1. Please send your story only to the above mentioned . Story shared in Instagram, Facebook or Twitter will not be considered. 2. Please write your story or memory and sign it with your full name, and your contact number. 3. It will be great if you send us your personal photos or those of the place related to the story (optional). Your story will be part of a new book to be published by DAI. I am confident that your contributions will be an essential part of the history of Amricani. Share with us! KIFF anti-drugs campaign: As part of the Fraternity fest, Kuwait India Fraternity Forum (KIFF) is conducting Anti-Drugs Campaign among Indians living in Kuwait. According to the available statistics of Indian Embassy, 60% of the convicted Indians in Kuwaiti Jails are arrested on drug-related cases. The recent cases of death and captives of Indian drug abusers is a threatening news. To defend and to campaign against such social crisis by protecting individuals as well as the society has become obligatory. In this current situation, Kuwait India Fraternity Forum is conducting campaign by distributing handouts, conducting counseling, seminars etc. to educate the Indians living in Kuwait informed President Saifudheen Nalakath in a press release. For more details contact: or at kiffkuwait@gmail.com. NYF offers free yoga classes: NYF Kuwait offers free yoga, breathing, meditation and reiki classes by a well-experienced female yoga teacher for all age groups. Classes are given on the basis of different health problems, stress and other problems by different techniques. Contact: Leadership Excellence Course: The Leadership Excellence Course (LEC) is a course modeled on the Seerah of Rasoolullah who is the best model of leadership for all mankind. The LEC focuses on the lessons that we can learn from the Seerah of Rasoolullah and see how we can apply them in our lives to become winners in this world and the next. The objectives of the course are 1. Understand what leadership is from the Seerah of Rasoolullah and how to apply it in our lives today 2. Understand the purpose of our lives and learn to live that purpose with confidence 3. Understand the importance of connecting to Allah and learn how to do it 4. Understand how to leverage your strengths and overcome weaknesses 5. Understand how to articulate your life goal and create a road map to achieve it. For more information please visit or call / AWL registration: If you would like to join the American Women s League (AWL), please call or or kuwaitawl@yahoo.com. All American women and wives of Americans are welcomed. Ugandans register with UIK: Are you a Ugandan living and working in Kuwait? Would you like to get in touch with other Ugandans in Kuwait both socially and professionally? Then please get in touch with us. We would like to invite you to register with the Ugandans in Kuwait (UIK) association, an informal organization of Ugandans living and working in Kuwait. The purpose of this exercise is to get together as Ugandans and to consider taking the first steps to establishing a more formal organisation. This association is voluntary. It is designed to create a Continued on Page 25

25 25 Gethers highlights mom s career in My Mother s Kitchen Small town must face hard past in Watts novel By Christina Lebetter o One Is Coming to Save NUs (Ecco), by Stephanie Powell Watts It s been 17 years since JJ Ferguson left his hometown of Pinewood, North Carolina. Now that he s returned (with a Gatsbyesque plan to build his dream home atop Brushy Mountain and reunite with his high school sweetheart, Ava), everyone is watching. While JJ builds, Ava tries desperately to have a baby with her tired, distant husband, Henry. Ava s mother, Sylvia, busies herself in the affairs of anyone who will listen, including her daughter, sister, husband and even a prisoner who s recently begun calling her. With JJ back in the picture, both women are forced to examine their lives in a new light in Stephanie Powell Watts debut novel, No One Is Coming to Save Us. The story takes place against a post-integration small town America backdrop. While some townsfolk look forward to better days ahead, most are simply exhausted, especially when they compare their own situation with JJ s and his newfound wealth. With an omniscient narrative, the author slips readers into the thoughts of the frustrated mistress staring out the window of her trailer, the wrinkled man with his eyes closed on the couch, the boy with no money wiping his face in the hot sun. Watts drip-feeds readers a deliberate plot thick with dialogue and substance. A phrase, which on one page seems innocuous, reveals weighty truths down the road, and what first appears like disjointed lives bouncing off one another turns out to be relationships tethered together by history and heartache. Not all is weighed down, though. Conversations between Sylvia and her sassymouthed sister, Lana, provide brilliantly crafted, well-timed hilarity interspersed amid the surrounding despair. The characters will draw you in, one tired sigh at a time. From their perspective, we re given a story about what happens when the past refuses to remain where we ve buried it. My Mother s Kitchen (Henry Holt and Co), by Peter Gethers In a delightfully moving memoir, Peter Gethers shares entertaining and intimate stories about his mom s celebrated culinary career. My Mother s Kitchen details the life of celebrated cook and cookbook writer Judy Gethers and the gift her son worked tirelessly to give her at the end of her life. When Judy Gethers suffers from two strokes in her twilight years, leaving her unable to cook for herself, Peter Gethers does everything he can to make the remaining time they have as fulfilling as possible. Knowing that two of Judy s favorite pastimes are eating good food and reminiscing about fabulous meals gives Gethers an idea: He asks his mom to compose the perfect breakfast, lunch and dinner menu so he can recreate these dishes in one spectacular feast. Gethers embarks on an insightful journey. Because Judy s all-star menu dishes span several decades, Gethers showcases his mother s biography through a culinary lens. He details the legendary restaurant Ratner s on Manhattan s Lower East Side, owned by Judy s father, as well as the kitchen of the renowned Ma Maison in Los Angeles, where Judy began working when she was 53. With each breakfast item, appetizer, entree or dessert, Gethers touches on another chapter in his mother s life. After tempting the reader s palate with a smorgasbord of gourmet treats, Gethers is kind enough to share all of the recipes from his mother s fantasy menu with his readers. He even includes his own notes to help foodies navigate the sometimes meticulous instructions This cover image released by Ecco shows No One Is Coming To Save Us, a novel by Stephanie Powell Watts. (AP) from world-famous chefs, who just happen to be Judy s personal friends. My Mother s Kitchen is more than a story about the comforts and pleasures of the perfect Eggs Benedict or Tarte Tatin. It s about finding your inner passion and sharing that enthusiasm with those around you. Learning to cook changed Judy s life, but more important, it gave her an excuse to gather those she loved most around This book cover image released by Minotaur shows The Lost Order, a novel by Steve Berry. (AP) the table to share and experience something special. The Lost Order (Minotaur), by Steve Berry The Lost Order, Steve Berry s latest Cotton Malone adventure, combines the history of a secret society with a look inside the Smithsonian Institution and it s terrific. Before the Civil War, an organization known as the Knights of the Golden Circle worked behind the scenes to try and establish a separate country. When war broke out, those plans were snuffed and a peaceful solution to achieve the group s goals was thwarted. The vast amount of wealth in the group s clutches disappeared and most of it was never found. In the present, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is recruited to go on a treasure hunt to find the missing loot, assuming the vast treasure even exists. What Malone doesn t realize is that the group, considered defunct, is still in operation, and protections are in place to insure the treasure is never found. To complicate matters, two factions of the organization are working to achieve different goals: One wants to keep the status quo while the other wants the funds to achieve a radical change. Malone is linked to everything, including a distant relative who was a spy for the Confederacy. Berry s fans will love his latest endeavor as he brings more detail into Malone s past and how he came to be known as Cotton. The villains are a bit over the top, and their ultimate goal is somewhat confusing, but it doesn t matter in the grand scheme of things. Berry has written another gripping novel. (AP) Travel click General Continued from Page 24 forum for Ugandans in Kuwait to foster a sense of community, to communicate more effectively with each other and to encourage Ugandans out here to work together. We are also planning a celebration to mark 50 years of Ugandan s Independence this year. If you have any questions regarding this association or if you are interested in registering, then please send us an at ugandansinkuwait@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you soon. Free drum music classes: Free professional drum music classes are available at Salmiya for all age groups from beginners to advanced by a well experienced drum teacher. For more details: Indian Embassy SPDC notice: Attention of all Indian associations/ Indian schools in Kuwait is once again drawn to Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) which was introduced by Government of India in the academic year with the objective to make higher education in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians and promote India as a centre for higher studies. Under the scheme, 100 PIO/NRI students were awarded scholarship of up to US$ 4,000 per annum for undergraduate courses in Engineering, Technology, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and some other courses. The scheme is open to NRIs/PIOs from over 40 countries (including Kuwait) having substantial Indian Diaspora population. The Scheme was revamped and launched in July Under the revamped Scheme, number of scholarships has been enhanced from 100 to 150 with introduction of 50 scholarships for children of Indian workers employed in the Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. The Scheme is now applicable to four categories of applicants: (i) Persons of Indian Origin (ii) Non-Resident Indians (iii) Children of Indian workers working in ECR countries (including Kuwait). (iv) Children of Indian workers in ECR countries - studying in India The institutions that are covered under this Scheme are: (i) NITs, IIITs, Schools of Planning and Architecture (ii) A Grade institutions accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and recognised by University Grants Commission (UGC). (iii) Other institutions covered under Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme. Income criteria will be applicable to all four categories. Applicants will seek scholarships after they obtain admission in the approved list of educational institutions. Applications are required to be submitted online at SPDC portal - spdcindia.gov.in/login/index.php. Last date for submission of applications was extended till Oct 14, Nodal officer for SPDC is P. Bharadwaj, Deputy Secretary (OIA-II), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, Tel: , dsoia2@mea.gov.in Experience Science for Adults: Registration is now open for Experience Science for Adults. Why should kids have all the fun?! The five week programme will be held on Saturday from 10:00 am-11:30 am at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre. Registration is limited to 16. You may register at either the Amricani Cultural Centre, Sunday to Thursday 10:00-3:00 or the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, Sunday to Thursday 10:00-6:00. For more information, please Continued on Page 26 In this May 20, 2012 file photo, the new moon crosses in front of the sun creating an annular eclipse over West Mitten (left), and East Mitten buttes in Monument Valley, Arizona. (AP) Hotels and campsites sold out Solar eclipse mania spurs festivals, tours By Beth J. Harpaz Get ready for solar eclipse mania. Destinations in the path of the Aug 21 eclipse, which will be visible in the US along a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina, are going wild with plans for festivals, concerts and viewing parties. Hotels in Casper, Wyoming, are charging five times their usual rates. Rooms at Idaho s Sun Valley Resort have been booked for years. An eclipse tour in Tennessee s Great Smoky Mountains National Park sold out in 10 minutes. The Smokies are among 20 National Park sites that will experience the total solar eclipse, from sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina to Wyoming s Grand Tetons. We are expecting record visitation, said NPS spokesman Jeffrey Olson. Hopkinsville, Kentucky, population 32,000, and Carbondale, Illinois, population 23,000, expect 50,000 visitors each. The destinations, 140 miles apart, will experience about 2 minutes and 40 seconds of total darkness, among eclipse sites with the longest duration. Events in the region include an Eclipse Con festival, concerts and tailgate parties. South Carolina s Clemson University also expects 50,000 people at a campus event that will feature astronomers and other experts. Twenty thousand people will gather in the Ochocho National Forest for Oregon Eclipse 2017, with music, yoga, theater, art installations and more. Wind River Reservation in Wyoming hosts bring back the sun ceremonies. A Pink Floyd Tribute band plans a Dark Side of the Moon concert in Jefferson City, Missouri. The South Carolina Philharmonic in Columbia offers Star Wars Musiclipse. Sylva, North Carolina, has a Moonlight Madness run. Eclipse chasers Sharon Hahs and her husband, Billy, have chased 14 eclipses around the world from Mongolia to South Africa. They ll see this one from a family farm in Missouri, not far from their St Louis home. There is nothing else in our universe that looks like a total solar eclipse, said Hahs. The air gets cool. You have 360-degree dusk. Nature sounds really happen: the cock crows, birds get quiet. We even had a horse cross our viewing area to return to the stable. Michael Allen of Southampton, England, is a keen amateur astronomer who considers the eclipse a once in a lifetime opportunity. He can t travel alone because he has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, so his brother Nick is accompanying him on a three-day tour to Nashville with eclipse-viewing at the Kentucky border. Jack Bohannon of Anchorage, Alaska, plans to see the eclipse in Nebraska as the culmination of a summer-long RV trip with family. We were originally going to book an RV park in the eclipse path in Wyoming, but everywhere was full, he said. In this May 20, 2012 file photo, some 250 people line the fence line at the Petroglyph National Monument near Albuquerque, New Mexico to watch the annular solar eclipse. (AP) Hotels In small or remote destinations, hotels and campsites in the path of totality are completely sold out. But bigger cities still have openings. As of March 25, Nashville hotels were only 54 percent booked. Don t assume lodging is sold out because a travel booking site says so. Call hotels directly to ask. Many hotels are offering eclipse packages. Nashville s Loews Vanderbilt package includes eclipse viewing glasses, commemorative T-shirt, Uber gift card and bar credit. Hotel Jackson in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has an eclipse concierge to help guests plan their $699-a-night stay. Consumers in Oregon have complained about hotels canceling reservations they made long ago, claiming rebranding or new ownership, then charging much higher rates for rebooking. Location and weather As the moon moves in front of the sun, daylight will yield to darkness from Oregon to South Carolina along a path 60 to 70 miles wide. The path of totality will also cut across broad swaths of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, along with corners of Kansas, Georgia and North Carolina, and a tiny chip of Iowa. Totality will first hit Oregon around 10:15 am, Pacific time. South Carolina will experience the final moments of total darkness at 2:49 pm, Eastern time. Some spectators are heading to mountains and forests to experience the eclipse in a natural setting. Think of an eclipse as an incredible short night, with a rapid sunset and then sunrise, said Sara Morris, an ornithologist and biology professor at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Birds go back to roost. Animals that are active during the day will stop foraging and put themselves in a place of safety. Destinations that offer easy highway access have an advantage in bad weather: You can drive elsewhere to seek clear skies. Clouds are the enemy of eclipse chasers, said Hahs. If one can move, one should. The driest section of the eclipse path is from eastern Oregon to western Nebraska but even the driest places on Earth experience clouds, fog and rain, said Brady Phillips at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is developing an online weather map for the eclipse. Safety When the sun is completely blocked by the moon, its rays can t hurt your eyes. But the period before and after totality is dangerous even when it seems dark because viewing even a sliver of the sun as it slips in and out of view can damage retinas. Sunglasses are useless. Viewing through telescopes or cameras without proper filters is also unsafe before and after totality. So be sure to buy eclipse glasses, but don t spend a lot: $1 glasses with paper filters are fine. (AP)

26 26 Award recognises int l quality standards and best-in-class service Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer Lexus wins prestigious award KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer & Sons, one of the Al-Sayer Group Holding Companies received top recognition by winning Best Call Center Award for Lexus during the event which was hosted recently by Kuwait Public Relations Association under the patronage of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The award ceremony was attended by HH The Amir s representative of Amiri Protocols Amiri Diwan, HE Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh and Chairman of Kuwait s Public Relations Association Jamal Al Nasrullah along with dignitaries and other distinguished guests. Award winners were determined by a judging committee consisting of local and international experts in customer service who evaluated the participating companies at par with the highest international standards. The event also featured workshop on public relations and customer service strategies benefitting employees of ministries and leading organizations. Lexus Kuwait embeds the philosophy of Customer as No.1 and Premium Hospitality Bader Musaed Al-Sayer Business Director Al-Sayer Group Holding represented Mohamed Naser Al Sayer & Sons at the event and received the award from HE Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh. Leading Public and Private sector organizations were contenders for awards and Lexus Kuwait was chosen as the winner in the relevant category among the Automotive Sector of Kuwait. According to Mahmoud Abou-Zahr Business Director Lexus at Mohamed Naser Photos from the event Al-Sayer & Sons The award is a highly distinguished being presented under the patronage of HH The Amir. Lexus had previously won the award for best public relations and customer service. Winning this award for the second time is a great achievement as well as a testimony of Lexus commitment to 7 star customer service standards. Double Your Salary ABK announces weekly winners Safir Hotel organizes fire drill evacuation Safir Hotel & Residences Kuwait Fintas organized recently a fire drill evacuation involving all hotel employees as part of scheduled practice training to provide tactical experience, adequate knowledge and training for the employees and department heads empowering them to calmly face and handle all circumstances that might raise during emergencies, especially in case of fire. A photo from the event The fire drill is part of the regular safety procedure and is a continuous efforts of the Engineering Department at the hotel to ensure that it is in line with the set safety and security goals. The management Team of Safir Hotel & Residences Kuwait Fintas notified all guests of the routine exercise well in advance in order to avoid any disturbance or inconvenience. The General Manager of the hotel, Saif Eddin Mohammed, commented on the successful routine practice by saying; One of our essential goals in the hospitality Industry is ensuring the safety of our guests as well as our employees while providing them a safe environment in accordance to international measures and standards. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) held its Double Your Salary weekly draw on March 27, 2017 and April 3, 2017 at the Bank s Head Office in the presence of a representative from the Ministry of Commerce, announcing the names of the winners. The promotion includes weekly draws, with two winners per draw. The campaign will run until June 27, The winners were: Zahraa Mahmoud Baqer, South Sabahiya Branch; Jaber Mnahi AlAzmi, Salwa Branch; Khaled Ali AlHasawi, Sabah Hospital Branch; Dina Mohammad Khaled, Salmiya Branch. New customers who transfer their salary to ABK receive KD 100 and will automatically be entered into the weekly draws to double their salaries. Existing customers who are already transferring their salary to ABK are entered into a separate draw. The next Double Your Salary draw will be held on 10th April, 2017 where two new lucky winners will be announced. All winners will be contacted personally and a weekly announcement will be made through the media with the winners names. For more information about Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait please visit eahli.com or contact a customer service agent via Ahlan Ahli at Bank to acquaint visitors on British Airways co-branded cards CBK to hold 3-day booth at Hamra Mall Event organised by Al Kharafi Activity Kids Center Zain strategic partner of 5th Ideal Mother Award KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced its strategic partnership of the fifth consecutive edition of the Ideal Mother Award. The event, organized by Al Kharafi Activity Kids Center, aims at shedding light on the distinguish efforts of mothers of children with mental disabilities. Zain s strategic partnership of this annual event comes in line with its support of the various social causes that are of interest to all segments of the society, especially within the special needs sector. The company is keen on reinforcing its partnerships with the many public and private entities that cater to people with special needs and their families within the local community all year round. The Ideal Mother Award, held for the fifth consecutive year, mainly aims at shedding light and recognizing the most distinguished and dedicated individual efforts of mothers who care for and develop their children with mental disabilities. The organizing committee selected 19 distinguished mothers from across Kuwait, the GCC, and the Arab region, and will formally honor A photo from the event and recognize them during a special event to be held this April. Zain constantly shoulders initiatives that work towards enhancing the society s welfare, especially within the special needs sector. Zain s long-term cooperation with the various private and public entities that cater to people with special needs springs from its belief in the importance of having a positive print by supporting and launching initiatives that cater to various interests General Manager of Al Kharafi Activity Kids Center Aisha Al Salem honoring Zain s Waleed Al Khashti. of the community. Zain dedicates a great part of its Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility strategy towards people with special needs. During 2016, the company inaugurated Zain Lab in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor s Career Rehabilitation Department. The fully equipped computer lab offers people with special needs the needed equipment and necessary training for them to explore job opportunities that suit their specific needs in both the public and private sectors. The initiative also aims at empowering people with special needs to be more productive and active members of the Kuwaiti society. The company also participates in the annual celebration of the International Day of People with Special Needs on Dec 3 of every year. This United Nations sanctioned day aims at celebrating the capabilities of people with special needs and their families in a family-oriented atmosphere. Zain also holds annual visits to people with special needs at the Ministry of Social Affairs Care Centers throughout many occasions each year. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait will be holding a booth at Hamra Mall to acquaint mall visitors with its three credit cards in collaboration with British Airways. The booth will be held for three days starting Thursday 6 till Saturday April 8, CBK British Airways MasterCards are available in 3 types: MasterCard World, MasterCard Platinum and MasterCard Prepaid. They are the only British Airways co-branded cards in Kuwait and the MENA region and offer several benefits to their holders. CBK British Airways cards allow cardholders to earn AVIOS (which is the British Airways currency) for every 1 KD they spend using their card and redeem them for flights and upgrades (Avios earning depends on the card type and whether it is used locally or internationally). Upon card issuance, cardholders will receive an initial bonus AVIOS as a welcome gift to get them started, and which can be enough for a oneway flight from Kuwait to London (depending on the card type). Cardholders can also enjoy a free lounge access worldwide or regionally depending on their card type, as well as concierge services, free travel insurance, free nights when staying at Starwood Hotels (Sheraton, Le Meridien, Four Points etc ), hundreds of deals and discounts at restaurants, special deals with Reebonz, Careem Rides, and many more. It is also worth noting that all CBK British Airways cards issued between 1st of March and 30th of April 2017 will be eligible for the current Double Welcome AVIOS campaign. Through this campaign, customers have the opportunity to double their welcome bonus AVIOS by spending a predefined amount during the first 3 months after card issuance date, a total of AVIOS that might reach a full flight from Kuwait to London (Tax and Fees excluded). For more information on the campaign or the cards, bacards click General Continued from Page 25 education@darmuseum.org.kw TIES Center events: TIES Center announces following events Tajweed and Recitation: Learn and practice the art of reciting the Holy Quran (tajweed). The instructor will also answer questions related to the meaning of the Arabic words and verses. Every Sunday & 10 11:30am; every 5-6:30pm. The TIES Center is the social and educational hub for English Speaking expats in Kuwait. For more information, please call or info@tiescenter.net or Continued on Page 28 Special offers LuLu Hypermarket unveils its 2017 Summer Collection KUWAIT CITY, April 5: LuLu Hypermarket, the leading hypermarket chain in the region, launched its Summer Collection 2017 promotion with special offers on a range of high-quality summer wear in the latest styles. Shoppers looking for ideal summer garments that provide good value and contemporary fashion for any occasion will find the Summer Collection 2017 the ideal opportunity to add a touch of trend to their wardrobes. Among the special brands being featured in the Summer Collection 2017 are Eten, De Backers, Cortigiani and John Louis, offering shoppers a wide range of spectacular summer wear in the hottest style. From crisp white cottons to soothing fabrics in cool colors, the range of casuals and formals on offer at the Summer Collection are simply fascinating. The Summer Collection 2017, which is common for all LuLu Hypermarket outlets in Kuwait, will be attractive to shoppers aiming to update their wardrobe with great deals on chic, fashion brands. Burgan Bank reveals Yawmi, Youth winners KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Burgan Bank recently announced the quarterly draws winners of Yawmi and Youth accounts. Social media influencers, Yaqoub Bou Shehri popularly known as Bokhaaled, and Abdullah Al Jasser popularly known as Abodka, took part in conducting the draws and announcing the winners. With the presence of the Ministry of Commerce representative, the influencers have announced and contacted the winners to congratulate them on winning such rewarding prizes. The lucky Yawmi Quarterly draw winner, Majid Hilal Al Tameemi, took home a cash prize of KD 125,000. The first lucky winner of Youth Account on the other hand, Meshal Tareq Yousef, received a cash prize of KD 1,000, while second and third winners, Abdulaziz Mahdi Al Nahabah and Ms Zahra Hamed Al Zelzelah, each received free unlimited access to Grand Cinemas for one year. Burgan Bank continues to honor its customers by initiating added value to its financial solutions offerings. This time, and in order to add to the celebrations of the winners, social media influencers took part of the draws. For more information about Burgan Bank s accounts, customers are advised to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch, or call the bank s Call Center at where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on any of the bank s products and services. Customers can also log on to Burgan Bank s for further information.

27 27 h o r o s c o p e By Jacqueline Bigar Happy birthday for Thursday, April 6, 2017: This year you open up to a multitude of possibilities. When others are stumped or frustrated, you are able to offer a solution. Sometimes, you don t even realize how creative you are. You might be considering a life change, which could involve some travel or going back to school. If you are single, someone quite exotic will enter your life. The experience of getting to know this person could change your life in an unexpected way. If you are attached, the two of you grow in new ways, adding more dimension to your life together. LEO often gives you an extra boost of confidence. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult Capricorn - (Dec 22 - Jan 19) **** You might feel a little off-kilter right now. Changes are afoot in an area of your life where you feel as if you have little control over what is happening. Push your creativity to the max, and you ll come up with plenty of ideas. Tonight: At a favorite spot with a favorite person. Aquarius - (Jan 20 - Feb 18) **** You might be trying to make an impression; however, you could experience some unusual tension. Someone is quite interested in your behavior and your choices. A roommate or family member will make a choice that is likely to shock you. Tonight: Paint the town red. Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20) *** Understand that you have limits. Some good news might come in from a loved one whom you care a lot about. However, a boss or higher-up could become extremely demanding. You ll have no choice but to go along with what he or she wants. Tonight: Do not make any plans. Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19) **** You could be rethinking a commitment that involves opening your mind. For some of you, spiritual studies and travel might be the key that opens the door. Others might be quite imaginative in making choices that will help them evolve. Observe a tendency to go to extremes, especially financially. Tonight: Where the action is. Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20) **** Passion runs high no matter what you choose to do. You need to trust your feelings as they slide in and out most of the day. You can be irreversibly angry one minute and totally surprised the next. Despite being a sign with so much depth, you are likely to be unusually flakey at present. Tonight: Give in to spontaneity. Gemini - (May 21 - June 20) ***** How you perceive a situation could define your mood. You can go from calm to hostile in a New York minute. Slow down. You need to connect with an important person in your life. Work with the unexpected. Tonight: Hit the pause button, if only for a few minutes. Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) *** Your possessive side emerges when dealing with a difficult person. Try to stay caring and open yet also quiet. Let this person gain a sense of comfort around you. Quarrels might happen from out of the blue; minimize the possibility. Tonight: Add a new item to your wardrobe. Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22) **** Understand that you can become too much for someone to handle. Consider the fact that you might just need to maintain the friendship without being pushy. The unexpected seems to occur when you are least prepared for it. Move quickly on an opportunity. Tonight: Say yes. Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22): *** Pressure increases on the homefront. You might wonder why someone is being so difficult or touchy. You will want to come to a better understanding with this person, so talk it out. You could feel as if you need to rethink a personal matter afterward. Tonight: Be mysterious. Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) **** While someone else could have a problem dealing with an uptight friend, you will not. Allow your personality to be more forthcoming than in the recent past. You know how to help people get out of a funk or get over their shyness. Tonight: Be where the crowds are. Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21) *** A financial matter could set you into a tizzy. You might not see the path or the means to change your situation. Give yourself some time, as an idea will be forthcoming. You are going to change a pattern and come out all the better for it. Tonight: Burn the midnight oil. Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21) **** Look for new ways to solve a problem. You can t push too much, and you need to let go of a problem. Once you see a solution, it will be because you have gained understanding. Do not feel as if you cannot find an answer. Tonight: Think about getting away for the weekend. Born today: Singer/songwriter Merle Haggard (1937), actor Paul Rudd (1969), actor Zach Braff (1975) home decor indoor gardening beauty tips taste buds patterned-paper clock spider plant avocado for skin baked mussels Use a screwdriver to pop off the clock s backing and battery, then lift out the face. Gently remove the hands, nut, and washer with pliers. Set aside all parts, noting their order for reassembly. Trace the shape of the clock face onto your wallpaper or printed art, then cut out the circle. Center the paper atop the face, patterned side facing out, and secure with double-sided tape. Use a T-pin to poke a hole through the paper for the clock hands; reassemble all parts and hang. Dear Abby An all-time favorite houseplant, Moore loves the spider plant for its blatant urge to reproduce itself - [it] sends out offspring faster than you can propagate them. The spider plant is also a good air freshener. Unlike chemical air fresheners, which actually add chemicals to the air, the spider plant absorbs common air pollutants such as formaldehyde and xylene to naturally detoxify your home. Using distilled water may help reduce the incidence of brown tips on the long leaves. A good source of biotin, avocados help to prevent dry skin and brittle hair and nails. When applied topically, they can hydrate parched skin. Create a moisturizing mask. Pit the fruit, puree the pulp, and pat it on your face. The oil acts as an emollient. It also contains beneficial vitamin E. Ingredients: 24 pieces large green mussels (half shell), 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon green onions, chopped, juice from one lime. Instructions: Remove any beard, grit and dirt from mussels. Wash well, drain and pat dry. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, cheese, sweet chili sauce, green onions and lime juice. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of mayo-chili mixture on mussels and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 375 F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Collection of war letters preserves military past By Abigail Van Buren Dear readers: Today marks the 100th anniversary of America s entry into World War I. In commemoration, I m mentioning a special initiative to save America s war letters. Almost 20 years ago I wrote about a historian, Andy Carroll, who had launched a project to seek out and preserve war-related letters as a way of honoring and remembering our veterans, troops and their loved ones. After the column appeared, Andy was deluged with responses. Today that collection holds approximately 100,000 wartime correspondences -- from handwritten letters penned during the American Revolution and Civil War, to s from Iraq and Afghanistan. Andy has donated the entire collection to Chapman University in Abigail Van Buren Orange, California, and the project is now called the Center for American War Letters (CAWL). This week, Andy and CAWL are kicking off an ambitious Million Letters Campaign. Andy will travel nationwide speaking at public libraries, museums, VFW and American Legion posts, civic groups, places of worship, military academies and more to explain the importance of these correspondences and encourage people to share with him their own warrelated letters and s. If you know of someone who has war letters, please share this information so the stories and voices of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our nation will be preserved. Andy would love to meet in person anyone with letters to contribute to this Million Letters Campaign and is always seeking new venues. If you know of a place he should speak, him about it. For families with letters who cannot attend, submissions can be sent to Andrew Carroll/CAWL Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA (Originals are preferred, but scans are also appreciated.) Ultimately, Andy and CAWL are seeking letters from ALL American wars, on ANY subject matter. For information on how to attend or invite Andy to your community, visit Dear Abby: My son, Tom, is a senior in high school. About a month ago, he asked a girl named Allie to the prom. She said yes. Allie s mom is a hairdresser. My husband and I don t know her or her husband. Allie s mother has asked two different people about us. One of them told us about it; the other I heard about secondhand. So last week I introduced myself to her at a local function. We spoke briefly, and I told her I would be in touch. A few days ago I called to invite her out for coffee and left a message with my phone number. She hasn t called me back. What can I do to get to know Allie s mother better? Prom mom Dear prom mom: Make an appointment to have your hair done, and you ll have at least an hour with her. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA (Source: Universal Uclick) what s on today emergency THURSDAY FAIPS celebrates Francophonie Day Francophonie day is a day to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture. There are over 274 million French speakers around the world. The day was observed by the French students of FAIPS on March 21 with much enthusiasm and with joy. The students were very glad to celebrate this day with Stefano Campopiano, Attaché de Cooperation pour le français. He was very much impressed with the Site for checking travel ban Fresh at Dar Al Funoon: Dar Al Funoon is presenting exhibition titled Fresh by Karim Ghidinelli until April 22 Karim Ghidinelli was born in Brescia, Italy. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees at Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA. He has widely exhibited in the United States of America and Europe. For the third time, Ghidinelli will present his most recent work at Dar Al Funoon. Karim lives and works in New York, USA. Artist s statement: Fresh, as in renewed, innovative and free. Freshness as the liberation from stagnant and redundant policies and tendencies. Fresh as positive, peaceful and meaningful evolution. In this ever certain world of absolute truths and populist totalitarianism. I offer no answer, merely the honesty of my journey, my refl ections and dilemmas, I d rather continue to ask, than attempt an overly simplistic answer. Gallery hours Sunday to Thursday: 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 4:00-8:00 pm. Saturday: by appointment. Getting To The Gallery A1-Watiah, Behbehani Compound, House No. 28. For further information call website: TIES Center classes: TIES Center is conducting a series of classes about some of the Prophets and Messengers of God who strove very hard to spread monotheism and teach their respective peoples how to worship God. Their message was not only spiritual; they also taught people how to conduct their daily lives and develop the living conditions on earth. In this series, we will focus on the following prophets: Adam, Nouh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ayoub (Job), Yousuf (Joseph), Mousa (Moses), and Photos from the event. Eisa (Jesus) may peace, mercy and blessings of Allah (to Whom all might and majesty is ascribed) be upon them all. We will not only focus on historical facts, but will also deduce some important lessons whose application in our daily interactions and chores determine our success and salvation. Join us every Thursday at 7 pm to learn about the life and times of those messengers of firm resolve. The TIES Center is the social and educational hub for English Speaking Muslims in Kuwait. For more information, please call or info@tiescenter.net or visit Venalthanima 2017: The purpose driven annual camp for students Venalthanima 2017 a three day personality development & leadership training workshop organized by Thanima, the socio-cultural group active in Kuwait, is gearing up for an explosion this year too with one and only aim of a total educational experience much more than a recreation. A respite from school & siblings and a departure from the pressures of normal life, Venalthanima is here once again to drive the participants to a world of their dreams. This year s theme is Back to Books. Inter-active and activity oriented training sessions by experts on diverse topics, outdoor activities etc, are part of the camp. Renowned Human/personality development trainers will lead various sessions along with a team of experts. Participants will be divided into 3 groups based on their age Sub Juniors (Class 4 & 5), Juniors (Class 6-8) and Seniors ( Class 9-12). The number of participants will be limited to 50 in each Group on a fi rst-come fi rst-serve basis, in order to give maximum personal attention to each participant. The camp is scheduled to be from May 4-6, 2017 (Thur-Sat) at Thanima Centre, Julaiah. Those who look forward to a fantabulous camping experience to develop their independence, self-esteem and a long lasting friendship amongst each other, pursue new interests, develop fi t- ness & sports skills, are invited to register at the earliest at until April 10, 2017, subject to seat availability. For more details, please contact Alex Varghese (General Convener M ), Mrs Beena Paul (Jt Convener M ), Pratapan Nair (Jt Convener M: ) or any Thanima Hardcore members. FRIDAY Scrabble sessions are back: Scrabble sessions are back for all to come, learn and play with us at Better Books, Salmiyah, Bldg 19, next to Badur Travel, opposite the Ministry of Private Education, on Friday afternoons from 2:30-5:30 pm. Inviting all kids aged 8 and above to join me and play competitively with me Rohaina. Classes are held every Saturday from pm. Bknelled, Euphuize, Waqf, Zooeae are some of the lovely words and there are 200,000 more you can learn with us. But the fun part is playing this wonderful game competitively. So come and see us and call Rohaina Tanweer. CIGI to conduct CLP in Kuwait: The Kuwait Chapter of Centre for Information and Guidance India (CIGI), is all set to begin its fl agship program CLP (Community Leadership Program) in Kuwait, scheduled to begin on April 7. A comprehensive course plan has been designed in which the way it was organized by the students. There were many competitions organized on that day celebrating French culture and language. All the competitions were contested by the French Students of Classes 9th and 10th. They won the prizes for best French cuisine, best French song and music group and dance group. The competitions and the entire program were organized by Class 10th French students, who did it with commitment and confidence. They were well supported by their French teachers and the school management to conduct the program with flair. There were many entertainments to keep the audience well entertained and informed on France and French culture. It was a day to remember for the students. number 112 Civil ID info: total course will be divided into three sets namely Individual Development, Family Orientation and Sociological Development. The Individual Development set includes various sessions that focus on personality development, creativity & problem solving skills, effective leadership, essential life skills, career enhancement workshops, emotional intelligence, spiritual psychology, motivation and empowerment. The Family Orientation Set includes modules on interpersonal relationship, pre-marital counselling, child & geriatric counselling, family improvement program, student psychology and counselling, remote & applied parenting. Social Development set includes sessions on project management skills, team building, effective communication, public speaking and presentation skills, confl ict resolution, social psychology and behavior modeling techniques. The course will span over 12 months with 3-hour sessions held on the fi rst Friday of every month. Prominent speakers from India and other GCC chapters will be addressing the sessions. Various live scenarios, workshops and practical approaches will be among the methodologies used during the classes. The venue of the program will be announced later. Registration and other detailed information are available on and The session began with the Quran recitation by CIGI visionary Ashraf Mohammed followed by the welcome speech and introduction of speakers by Chief Coordinator Abdul Azeez. Vice President Faseehullah presided over the function. The Chairman of CIGI Kuwait Chapter - Dr Amir Ahmed inaugurated the session and Abdul Gafoor delivered the vote of thanks.

28 28 Macdonald joins Cumberbatch in Child Ivanka says she wants to be force for good in WH LOS ANGELES, April 5, (Agencies): In a preview of her first television interview since being named Assistant to the President, Ivanka Trump says she wants to be a force for good as she assumes her new role under her father, President Donald Trump. If being complicit is wanting to, is wanting to be a force for good and to make a positive impact then I m complicit, Ivanka told CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King. I don t know that the critics who may say that of me, if they found themselves in this very unique and unprecedented situation that I am now in, would do any differently than I am doing, Trump said. So I hope to make a positive impact. I don t know what it means to be complicit, but you know, I hope time will prove that I have done a good job and much more importantly that my father s administration is the success that I know it will be. Ivanka is President Trump s eldest daughter and was recently named to the new position within her father s administration, which will see her take up an office in the West Wing as well as getting a top-secret security clearance. She also addressed concerns over the lack of diplomatic experience of her husband, Jared Kusher, who is among the President s top advisers alongside former RNC chair Reince Priebus and former Breitbart executive chair Steve Bannon. So, you know a lot of people would say the same about how could somebody successfully win the presidency who had never been engaged in politics and my father did that and Jared was instrumental in helping his campaign succeed, Ivanka said. So, you know Jared is incredibly smart, very talented, has enormous capacity. He is humble in the recognition of what he doesn t know. And is tremendously secure in his ability to seek informed viewpoints. He has an amazing team that my father has built at the White House, and that he s built that s helping work on each of these initiatives. So you know the myth that he is operating in a silo is just that. The full interview aired Wednesday during CBS This Morning between 7 am and 9 am. Ivanka says that when she disagrees with her father, he knows it, and I express myself with total candor. The first daughter responded Tuesday to the criticism that she has not publicly denounced parts of Trump s conservative agenda. Now taking on an official unpaid role in the administration, Ivanka Trump has come under increased scrutiny. So far she has focused on policies relating to women and workforce development, but she has drawn criticism for avoiding public comment on her father s travel ban, border wall, proposed budget cuts or rollback of environmental regulations. That view was captured in a Saturday Night Live send-up that featured her in an advertisement for a perfume called Complicit. But in an interview Tuesday with CBS News, Ivanka Trump argued, I would say not to conflate lack of public denouncement with silence. Couch slouch When CBS Late Show with Stephen Colbert hits the screen this Thursday and Friday, viewers may have a sense of deja vu - but only a little bit. The late-night program, which has seen its audience grow in recent months as its host and producers pay ever-closer attention to the headlines and President Trump-dominated news cycle, will test a new format. Rather than trot out repeats, as they were scheduled to do, Late Show staffers will pair new opening sketches, monologues and some new guest interviews with encore presentations of past sit-downs between Colbert and visiting celebrities. Both episodes will start at 11:50 PM eastern due to CBS s telecast of highlight shows from the Masters golf tournament on those nights. Colbert and his team have tested this concept in the recent past.the late night comic pre-taped episodes for March 20, 21, and 22 when the program was scheduled to be in repeats. And in October of last year, Colbert taped a segment from home offering his reaction to a presidential debate. The six-minute piece added a fresh element to an old program featuring Amy Schumer and Michaela Watkins. The show had been dark that week. Three new cast members have joined Benedict Cumberbatch in BBC drama The Child in Time, which has started filming in and around London. Directed by Julian Farino it is the first production of Cumberbatch s SunnyMarch TV production banner. Boardwalk Empire star Kelly Macdonald will play the estranged wife of Cumberbatch s children s author Stephen Lewis, who struggles to find purpose in life following the disappearance of his daughter two years earlier. Stephen Campbell Moore and Saskia Reeves have also joined the production playing Lewis best friends. Adapted by Stephen Butchard ( The Last Kingdom ) from a novel by Ian McEwan, The Child in Time is a one-off 90-minute drama produced by Pinewood Television and SunnyMarch TV for BBC One. It is co-produced by PBS Masterpiece. Stephen Colbert hit another milestone in his stunning late-night turnaround against Jimmy Fallon of NBC s Tonight show. Colbert won in the Nielsen company s ratings for the ninth consecutive time last week, his margin of 400,000 viewers the widest lead since the CBS star overtook Fallon with a sharp concentration on politics. Fallon aired a rerun Friday; otherwise the shows were all fresh last week. More ominously for NBC, Colbert tied Fallon among viewers aged 25-to-54 for the first time, encroaching on younger viewers who are more valuable to advertisers. Fallon had been the unquestioned late-night king until the advent of the Trump administration, and he s been struggling to regain his footing. Boosted by the NCAA tournament, CBS dominated last week with an average of 9.7 million viewers in prime time. tv highlights The Lion King roars at ESF The English School Fahaheel has now become renowned for its ambitious annual musical productions. Last year Grease was the word! This year s annual musical extravaganza at The English School Fahaheel was the renowned The Lion King. It was held over two nights at the Lloyd Webber theatre. click General Continued from Page 26 visit Bridge game: Bridge tournament is being held every Sunday and Wednesday at 20:00 hours, played at the Graduates Club, next to Kuwait Engineering Society. Interested Bridge Photos from the event Against an impressive set, a colourful display of costumes and outstanding musical talent made the production a huge success. Students from Years 8-11 took part in this Upper School Production. Scar (Robert Hao) had the audience on their feet with his brilliant acting and singing. The duo of Timon and Pumbaa (Reem pairs or individual players please contact Mohammed Merchant, Tel: , , Sports Chess Round Robin Challenge: Registrations are open for chess coaching and the Annual Round Robin Challenger Series. Send your name, Civil ID No., mobile number, age, rating to saviosgomes@gmail.com with CCR in the subject. No entry fee. Kwt-Brits football supporters: A new football supporters website for British expats living and working in Kuwait has been set up Zaidan & Kim Arnolds) had everyone laughing with their interpretation of these two characters. The story of Simba had the audience in awe during the whole performance. The choreography was done by Mrs Kippie, Musical Director Ms Van Zitters, and Director Mulley. by an Everton supporter, Trevor Powell. The Kuwait Brits Football Supporters Association (KBFSA) site aims to provide contact information for supporters of each others whereabouts and also in the future hopes to organise social events such as quizzes and even five-a-side matches on a home international teams basis. We need expats to register their support and hence we can then start to cast around for a suitable meeting venue. The site can be accessed at Free fitness classes: Free fitness classes at B.FIT studio in Salmiya! Classes include Zumba, Masala Bhangra workout, aerobics, toning & much more. Contact for further information. Hurry and enroll now! Cinema Cinema programme from Thursday 06/04/2017 to Wednesday 12/04/2017 Aftermath Sharqia 1 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 18:00, 22:00 Sharqia 3 00:45 Muhalab 1 11:45 (No Fri) 13:45, 18:30, 20:30, 22:30, 00:30 Fanar 3 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 20:00 Fanar 4 22:15, 00:15 Marina 1 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 22:00, 00:05 Avenues 4 01:15 Avenues 10 12:30 (No Fri) 14:45, 17:00, 19:15 Avenues 11 22:00, 00: :30 (No Fri) 13:45, 16:00, 18:15, 20:30, 22:45, 01: :15 Al-Kout 1 23:30 Al-Kout 4 13:00 (No Fri) 17:00, 21:00 Eat Local Sharqia 1 16:00, 20:00, 00:05 Fanar 3 18:00, 22:00, 00:05 Fanar 5 01:00 Avenues 7 15:15, 21:45, 23: :30, 20:00, 00: :00, 01:00 Al-Kout 4 15:00, 19:00, 23:00, 01:00 Smurfs: The Lost Village Sharqia 2 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30 Muhalab 3 12:00 (No Fri) 16:00, 20:00, 22:00 Fanar 4 12:15 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 20:15 Marina 3 11:45 (No Fri) 13:45, 15:45, 19:45, 21:45 Avenues 2 14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 20:15 Avenues 5 13:00 (No Fri) Avenues 11 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20: :15 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:15, 18: :00, 17:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 19:00, 21: :15 (No Fri) 15:15, 17:15, 19:15 Al-Kout 1 Al-Kout 3 Bairaq 1 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30 12:30 (No Fri) 14:30 13:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, 23:00 Laila 18:30, 20:30 (No Wed) Ajial 3 19:00 Kong: Skull Island Sharqia 2 23:30 Muhalab 1 15:45 Muhalab 2 23:00 Fanar 1 13:15 (No Fri) 17:45 Avenues 2 11:45 (No Fri) 22:15, 00:45 Avenues 4 22:45 Avenues 9 19:30 Avenues 10 21:30, 00: : :00 (No Fri) 14:30, 17:00, 22:15, 00:45 19:30 (No Fri, Sat, Mon) :30 (No Fri) 16:15, 18:45, 23: :15, 23:45 Bairaq 2 16:45 Going In Style Sharqia 3 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45, 16:45, 18:45, Muhalab 2 Muhalab 3 00:05 Fanar 2 Marina 2 Avenues 4 20:45, 22:45 13:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00 11:45 (No Fri) 13:45, 15:45, 17:45, 19:45, 21:45, 23:45 12:15 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 20:15, 22:15, 00:15 11:45 (No Fri) 13:45, 16:00, 18:15 Avenues 5 21:00, 23:15 Avenues 6 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:15, 22:30, 00: :30 (No Fri) 14:45, 17:00, 19:15, 21:30, 23: :45 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:30, 18: :15, 22:30, 00:45 Al-Kout 2 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 00:05 Bairaq 2 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45 Bairaq 3 20:00, 22:00, 00:05 Smurfs: The Lost Village (Arabic Film) Muhalab 3 14:00, 18:00 Fanar 5 13:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00 Marina 3 17:45 Avenues 9 13:15 (No Fri) 15:15, 17: :00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00 Bairaq 3 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 Ajial 3 17:00, 21:00 Akher Deek Fe Masr (Arabic Film) Fanar 1 13:30 (Fri) 20:15, 00:30 Avenues 1 13:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00: :15 (No Fri) 14:30, 16:45, 19:00, 21:15, 23:30 Bairaq 2 21:15 Get Out Fanar 1 15:45, 22:30 Marina 3 23:45 Avenues 3 14:30 Avenues 9 22:15, 00: :45 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:30, 18:45, 21:00, 23:15 How to find us Safra 5 Njoom (Arabic Film) Fanar 5 19:00, 21:00, 23:00 Avenues 3 12:15 (No Fri) 16:45, 19:00, 21:15, 23:30 Avenues 4 20:30 (No Thu) :00, 23: :15 (No Fri) 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00:30 Al-Kout 3 16:30, 18:30, 20:30, 22:30, 00:30 Bairaq 2 19:15, 23:30 Mahbas (Solitaire) Marina 1 18:00, 20:00 Avenues 8 18:45, 20:45, 22: :45 (No Mon) 19:45, 21:45 Laila 16:30, 22:30 (No Wed) Collide Avenues 1 11:30 (No Fri) 15: : :30 (Sat) 15:45 (No Mon) Les Malheurs De Sophie Zahra a Area, South Surra, 6th Ring Road, corner of King Faisal Highway 2. Ajial Ajial Complex, Fahaheel 3. Al Bairaq Between Jaber Al Ali East & Al Agalia West 4. Al Fanar Al Fanar Complex, Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 5. Al Kout Al-Kout Complex, at the end of the Coastal Road, Fahaheel 6. Al Muhalab Al Muhalab Complex, Behind Hawally Clinic, Hawally 7. Al Sharqiya Arabian Gulf Street, Souq Sharq, near the Amiri Hospital 8. Laila Gallery Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 9. Marina Marina Mall, Between Salem Al Mubarak Street & Arabian Gulf Street, Salmiya 10. Metro Metro Complex, Farwaniya, near Crowne Plaza Hotel & Farwaniya Garden 11. Plaza Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 12. The Avenues The Avenues Mall, Al Reggai near Al Rai, 5th Ring Road & Ghazali Road Intersection NB: Friday no show before 1:30 pm Regular show KD3:000; 3D-Digital KD3.500; VIP show KD On Monday, price is KD1.500 except Digital movies. Cinescape cinema movies inquiries and Fax Back hotline The Scientific Center IMAX Opp Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Gulf Road 14. Grand Al-Hamra Grand Al-Hamra, tel: , cinemas.com 15. Grand Gate Grand Gate, tel: , Avenues 7 13:00 (No Fri) 17:15, 19: :00 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:30, 21:30 Salt And Fire Avenues 8 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45, 16:45, 00: :30, 17:45, 22: :05 Kaatru Veliyidai (Tamil Film) :30 (Fri, Sat, Mon) Plaza 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 (No Thu) Ajial 4 16:00, 19:00, 22:00 (No Thu) Life :00, 21: :30 (Fri, Sat) 23:45 Naam Shabana (Hindi Film) Ajial 2 15:45 (No Fri) 18:45, 21:45 Loot 2 (Nepali Film) Ajial 2 16:00 (Fri) Plaza Ajial 4 Kavan (Tamil Film) 15:30, 21:30 (Thu) 16:00, 19:00, 22:00 (Thu) Angamaly Diaries (Malayalam Film) Plaza 18:30 (Thu) Ajial 1 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 IMAX Imax film programme at The Scientific Center Sunday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 05:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 08:30 pm Monday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am A Beautiful Planet 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm, 07:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 11:30 am 09:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 12:30 pm, 06:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 08:30 pm Tuesday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Journey to Space 3D 10:30 am 04:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 09:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 12:30 pm, 02:30 pm, 05:30 pm, 08:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 01:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 03:30 pm, 06:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 07:30 pm Wednesday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 12:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 07:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 08:30 pm Thursday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am A Beautiful Planet 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 12:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 05:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 08:30 pm Friday A Beautiful Planet 3D 02:30 pm, 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 03:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 04:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 05:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 07:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 08:30 pm Saturday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm, 07:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am 03:30 pm, 08:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm, 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 01:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 02:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 04:30 pm Notes: All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are available upon request. Film schedule is subject to changes without notice. For information call or visit

29 HEALTH 29 Zika causes birth defects in 1 in 10 pregnancies: US study Common antibiotic could prevent or treat PTSD LONDON, April 5, (RTRS): A common antibiotic called doxycycline can disrupt the formation of negative thoughts and fears in the brain and may prove useful in treating or preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to research by British and Swiss scientists. In a specially designed trial involving 76 healthy volunteers who were given either the drug or a placebo dummy pill, those who were on doxycycline had a 60 percent lower fear response than those who were not. Scientists said the antibiotic works in this way because it blocks certain proteins outside nerve cells, called matrix enzymes, which our brains need to form memories. We have demonstrated a proof-of-principle for an entirely new treatment strategy for PTSD, said Dominik Bach, a professor at University College London and the University of Zurich, who co-led the research team. In the trial, volunteers were given either doxycycline or a placebo and put in front of a computer. The screen would flash either blue or red, and one of the colours was associated with a 50 percent chance of getting a painful electric shock. After 160 flashes with colours in random order, participants learnt to associate the bad colour with the shock. A week later, under no medication, the volunteers repeated the experiment. This time there were no electric shocks, but a loud sound played after either colour was shown. Fear responses were measured by tracking eye blinks, as this is an instinctive response to sudden threats. The fear memory was calculated by subtracting the baseline startle response to the sound on the good colour from the response to the sound when the bad colour was showing. While the fear response was 60 percent lower in those who had doxycycline in the first session, the researchers found that, importantly, other cognitive measures including sensory memory and attention were not affected. When we talk about reducing fear memory, we re not talking about deleting the memory of what actually happened, Bach said in a statement about the findings. The participants may not forget that they received a shock when the screen was red, but they forget to be instinctively scared when they next see a red screen. Learning to fear threats is an important ability... helping us to avoid dangers. (But) overprediction of threat can cause tremendous suffering and distress in anxiety disorders such as PTSD. PTSD is caused by an overactive fear memory and includes a broad range of psychological symptoms that can develop after someone goes through a traumatic event. Bach said he and his team would now like to explore doxycycline s potential effects further, including in a phenomenon called reconsolidation of fear memories an approach to helping people with PTSD in which memories and associations can be changed after an event when the patient experiences or imagines similar situations. About one in 10 pregnant women with confirmed Zika infections had a fetus or baby with birth defects, offering the clearest picture yet of the risk of Zika infection during pregnancy, US researchers said on Tuesday. The report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the first to analyze a group of US women with clear, confirmed test results of Zika infection during pregnancy. Once considered a mild disease, a large outbreak of the virus that began in Brazil in 2015 and quickly spread through the Americas revealed that the mosquito-borne virus can cause severe brain damage and microcephaly, or small head size, when women are exposed during pregnancy. Zika continues to be a threat to pregnant women across the US, Dr Anne Schuchat, acting director of the CDC, said in a statement. With warm weather and a new mosquito season approaching, prevention is crucial to protect the health of mothers and babies. Babies affected by Zika can develop congenital Zika syndrome, which includes brain abnormalities, vision problems, hearing loss, and problems moving limbs. The study comes from the CDC s Zika pregnancy registry, which includes data from the continental United States and all US territories except Puerto Rico. The researchers analyzed data on nearly 1,000 completed pregnancies in 2016 among women who had some evidence of Zika infection. Most were infected through travel to a region where the virus was actively spreading. Of the 1,000, 51 or about 5 percent had babies or a fetus with one or more Zika-related birth defect. Because of limitations of testing, only tests done within the first few weeks of Zika can test specifically for the Zika virus. Also: LAGOS: Nigeria is launching a mass vaccination campaign as part of its emergency response to an outbreak of meningitis in its northwestern states, as the death toll climbed to 336, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said on Tuesday. The number of suspected cases has hit 2,997, over 1,000 more than at the beginning of last week, when 269 people had died, the centre said. If unchecked, the surge in infections could raise the prospect of a repeat of 2009, when more than 2,000 Nigerians died from the disease. Basic healthcare is limited in rural parts of the country, where most people live on less than $2 a day, despite the country s huge oil resources. The emergency response includes vaccination campaigns across the affected states, beginning on Wednesday, the centre said.

30 ExxonMobil, QP sign drilling deal with Cyprus Saudi Aramco cuts May Arab Light crude price to Asia ExxonMobil and partner Qatar Petroleum on Wednesday signed an agreement with Cyprus to carry out exploratory drilling off the east Mediterranean island s southern coast, where officials hope sizeable deposits of oil and gas could be found. Qatar Petroleum Chief Executive Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said the area, or block, where the partnership is licensed to explore has good prospects. We think that there is a strong possibility that there is a structure there that could potentially hold hydrocarbons, Al-Kaabi told The Associated Press. Al-Kaabi said a first exploration well is scheduled to be drilled in the first half of ExxonMobil Senior Vice- President Andrew Swiger said three-dimensional seismic surveys will first be carried to determine the best drilling locations within Block 10. That s one of eight such areas which Cyprus has licensed out for exploratory drilling to oil and gas companies including Italy s Eni SpA and France s Total. It s the first time that ExxonMobil has looked for oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean, where recent large finds in Egyptian and Israeli waters have raised hopes that more could be found. (AP) Saudi Arabia cut the May official selling prices (OSP) for its light crude oil for Asian customers, in line with expectations, but raised the price for oil sales to the United States where crude stockpiles are at a record high. State oil giant Saudi Aramco cut the price of its Arab Light by 30 cents per barrel versus April to a discount of $0.45 a barrel to the Oman/Dubai average, it said on Wednesday. A Reuters survey of four refiners in Asia expected the producer to cut the OSP for flagship Arab Light crude by cents a barrel in May from a month ago. Aramco lowered the price of Arab Light to Northwest Europe by $0.45 a barrel to a discount of $4.35 per barrel to the Brent Weighted Average (BWAVE). But it raised the price of Arab Light to the United States by $0.30 a barrel to a premium of $0.50 per barrel to the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI). The move comes after a buildup in US crude inventories in recent weeks that has weighed on the market. Total US crude inventories were at a record of nearly 534 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on March 29. (RTRS) Market Movements Change Closing pts INDIA - Sensex , AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries , JAPAN - Nikkei , PHILIPPINES - All Shares , HONG KONG - Hang Seng , Change Closing pts S. KOREA - KRX , GERMANY - DAX , FRANCE - CAC , EUROPE - Euro Stoxx , Business Kingdom s stable long-term rating reflects high fiscal and economic strength Moody s assigns (P)A1 rating to Saudi s Trust Certificate programme FRANKFURT AM MAIN, April 5: Moody s Investors Service has today assigned a provisional programme rating of (P)A1 to the global Trust Certificate Issuance Programme (the Programme) established by the Government of Saudi Arabia (A1 stable). KSA Sukuk Limited, a special purpose vehicle incorporated in the Cayman Islands and wholly owned by the Government of Saudi Arabia, will issue Trust Certificates under the Programme. The payment obligations associated with these Trust Certificates are direct obligations of the Government of Saudi Arabia, and the program rating mirrors the Government of Saudi Arabia s long-term issuer rating of A1. Moody s expects to assign definitive rating(s) to Trust Certificates issued under the Programme upon closing of the issuance and review of the terms of the final transaction documents. Moody s also notes that its programme rating does not express an opinion on the structure s compliance with Shari ah law. Ratings Rationale The long-term (P)A1 rating assigned to the Programme is at the same level as the long-term issuer rating of the Government of Saudi Arabia because, in Moody s opinion, the Government of Saudi Arabia s payment obligations associated with these Trust Certificates are direct obligations of the Government of Saudi Arabia, ranking pari passu with all other unsecured external indebtedness of the Government of Saudi Arabia and the holders of the Trust Certificates will therefore effectively be exposed to Saudi Arabia s senior unsecured credit risk. Under no circumstances shall the certificate holders have any right to cause the sale or other disposition of any of the Trust Assets except pursuant to the Transaction Documents and the sole right of the certificate holders against the Government of Saudi Arabia shall be to enforce the obligation of the Government to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents. Saudi Arabia s A1 stable long-term issuer rating reflects very high levels of fiscal and economic strength, high institutional strength, and a moderate susceptibility to event risks. Strong growth in oil revenues until the oil price shock in 2014 allowed for the build-up of a sizeable asset cushion and sharp debt reduction. Although the decline in oil prices pushed the budget balance into deficit, eroding the government s reserves and prompting it to issue bonds on the international market for the first time in 2016, the fiscal position remains strong. Despite rising funding requirements over the rating horizon, Moody s thinks that the government has access to ample sources of liquidity, both from domestic and international capital markets and is unlikely to encounter problems financing fiscal deficits. While foreign exchange reserves have fallen in light of a large current account deficits since 2015, they remain sizable, at $514 billion (equivalent to around Low oil, growing demand for electricity drive Saudi renewables plans LONDON, April 5: Saudi Arabia s renewable energy market is set for growth, supported by an abundant solar resource, land availability, an A-rated sovereign credit, and strong economic and strategic logic, Moody s Investors Service (Moody s) said in a report. The report, Project Finance EMEA: Saudi Arabia s Renewable Energy Plans: Strong Rationale, Untested Framework, is now available on Moody s subscribers can access this report via the link at the end of this press release. The research is an update to the markets and does 80% of GDP) as of February External debt is rising, but from a low base, and Moody s expects annual external debt repayments to remain significantly below the critical threshold of 100% of foreign exchange reserves over the coming years. Saudi Arabia s credit challenges include the economy s high dependence on oil, as well as a rigid government spending structure and government revenues that are vulnerable to oil price volatility. Saudi Arabia has historically experienced strong growth rates, but real GDP growth has decelerated since 2014, mainly due to fiscal consolidation in response to lower oil prices. Low growth illustrates both the ongoing economic pressures on economic strength from the oil price shock, but also the fiscal challenges given the plan to get to a balanced budget by The government has announced ambitious and comprehensive plans to diversify the economy and government finances in its National Vision However, implementation is still at an early stage, and Moody s thinks there is a risk that the reform progress might slow down in a scenario of higher oil prices and/or growing public discontent. In Moody s view socio-economic challenges are visible in strong population growth and high unemployment, and the rating also incorporates an element of geopolitical risk, driven by regional not constitute a rating action. The government of Saudi Arabia s plans are motivated by a desire to diversify the energy mix and take advantage of the compelling economics of renewables, especially solar, in the country, said Christopher Bredholt, a Moody s Vice-President Senior Analyst and the report s author. Electricity demand is increasing due to economic and demographic growth, and highly energy-intensive industrialisation programmes. As government finances come under pressure in the low oil price environment, the kingdom is seeking to reduce the subsidies for oil consumption and encourage clean generation technologies. Saudi renewable plans will help reduce the share of the public sector in the economy and leverage project finance opportunities for lenders both sukuk and nonsukuk. However, credit challenges include a relatively untested regulatory framework for renewables; the lack of total cost recovery for the state utility Saudi Electricity Company; operating in the desert environment, which can impair plant efficiency; and a relatively undeveloped local supply chain instability and the country s strategic rivalry with Iran. Given that the programme rating is tied to the long-term issuer rating of the Government of Saudi Arabia, the same factors and considerations apply. Fulsome implementation of planned fiscal and economic reforms would be credit positive and could support a higher issuer rating. The success of such reforms would likely be reflected in fiscal deficits falling more quickly than currently envisaged, the government debt burden peaking at a lower level and growth recovering earlier and more rapidly from a broadening economic base. Such developments would be more positive if they resulted from sustainable structural reforms, given the lack of installed renewables capacity. In February 2017, the government opened an auction for 700 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity, a first step towards meeting its strategic targets of generating 9.5 gigawatts (GW) by Renewable energy activity in Saudi Arabia to date has been fairly minimal and the market is likely to develop only gradually as market participants get acquainted with new procurement procedures, and the supply chain adjusts its expectations. than from cyclical or temporary increases in the price of oil. A reduction in regional political and security threats would also exert upward pressure on the rating. The following developments would be credit-negative, and could lead to a negative action on the issuer rating: loosening fiscal consolidation, such as fiscal deficits staying wide and government debt ratios rising faster than in Moody s baseline scenario; renewed pressure on the exchange rate and a faster depletion of foreign exchange reserves; difficulties to fund large fiscal and current account deficits; an escalation of regional geopolitical risks and/or signs of deteriorating domestic political and social stability. Finances hit hard by oil drop Oman cautions banks on property, personal loans DUBAI, April 5, (RTRS): A senior central banker in Oman has called on the country s banks to be extra-vigilant about their exposure to sensitive sectors such as real estate as the Gulf state copes with the impact of lower oil prices. Oman lacks the ample oil and fiscal reserves of its wealthy neighbours and its finances have been hit hard by the plunge in fuel prices since Qais Al Yahyaei, head of the financial stability department of the Central Bank of Oman, made his comments at a meeting this week that assessed the vulnerabilities of the country s financial system, according to a statement posted on the bank s website late on Tuesday. Investors are concerned about the outlook for Oman s economy, as it faces a current account and a fiscal deficit. A Bank of America Merrill Lynch report said earlier this month that Oman s twin deficits imply a need for material external financing to prevent sustained erosion in foreign assets and to defend the rial peg to the US dollar. Al Yahyaei was quoted as saying that the current prevailing macroeconomic uncertainty warrants extra vigilance and cautionary measures from banks in their exposures towards sensitive sectors such as real estate and personal loans. His presentation also raised concerns on the concentration of loans, deposits, and borrowers in the banking sector. The statement did not provide more details. The statement said data as of end-december 2016 showed that there was no immediate concerns on capital adequacy, liquidity, assets quality and profitability of the banks. Oman s government sold $5 billion of international bonds earlier this month, completing its entire foreign borrowing plan for 2017 in a single issue. Iran not concerned by Indian threat to cut crude oil imports LONDON, April 5, (RTRS): Iran s oil minister dismissed India s decision to cut oil imports from Tehran in 2017/18 by a fifth as a threat on Wednesday, in an escalation of a dispute over a giant gas field contract. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that Indian state refiners were going to cut oil imports from Iran, as New Delhi seeks to put pressure on Tehran to award the Farzad B gas field to an Indian consortium. India is one of our good custumers, but we cannot sign (a) contract under threat, Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by Iran s ISNA news agency. India s cut of oil imports from Iran will not cause any trouble to us as we have other buyers, he added. Zanganeh said despite an extension of deadlines, India has not offered an acceptable proposal for the development of the gas field. Their proposal was not profitable to Iran... We sent (the) Indians a letter and told them we are keen to continue negotiations, but under sensible conditions, not under threats. India, Iran s biggest oil buyer after China, was among a handful of countries that continued to deal with the Tehran despite Western sanctions over its nuclear programme. A consortium headed by ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas investment arm of Indian explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp, discovered Farzad B in the Farsi offshore block in The consortium, which also includes Oil India and Indian Oil Corp, could not obtain permission to develop the field due to Western sanctions, but those sanctions were removed last year. India and Iran had both been hopeful of wrapping up the Farzad B deal by March, although Zanganeh said Iran has asked other countries to submit their proposals for its development. May pitches London exchange to Saudis for massive Aramco IPO Kingdom weighs which international market to list shares of oil giant In this photo released by the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Saudi King Salman (center right), receives British Prime Minister Theresa May, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on April 5. May pitched the benefits of the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday during the second day of her two-day visit to Saudi Arabia as it weighs which international market to list shares of oil giant Aramco in what many expect will be the largest public offering in history. (AP) Saudi picks hybrid structure for debut dollar sukuk Aramco raises $3b with debut sukuk DUBAI, April 5, (RTRS): Saudi Aramco has raised billion riyals ($3.00 billion) in its debut sukuk issuance, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The Islamic bond, part of a programme to raise 37.5 billion riyals, is the oil giant s first fundraising exercise aimed at diversifying revenues that have been hit by low global oil prices. The floating rate local currency sukuk has a seven-year maturity and offers 25 basis points over the sixmonth Saudi Arabian Interbank Offered Rate (SAIBOR). Aramco s debut deal is likely to be followed soon, possibly as early as next week, by a dollar-denominated Saudi sovereign sukuk with the same hybrid structure proposed by the Aramco deal, its prospectus showed. Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Aramco started collecting orders for its debut issuance on March 27, a document issued by banks leading the deal showed. The order books for the transaction should have closed on April 9, according to the original timeline. But bookbuilding was extended by a day because some accounts needed extra time to obtain internal approvals. Alinma Investment, HSBC Saudi Arabia, NCB Capital and Riyad Capital were the coordinators of the Aramco deal, joined by GIB Capital, Samba Capital and Saudi Fransi Capital in dealer roles. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has chosen a hybrid structure for its debut international sukuk, the prospectus for the offer showed, a format widely used in the Saudi local debt market, but not the most popular for sovereign issues. The Islamic bond, expected to go up to $10 billion, will be the country s second international debt sale after a $17.5 billion conventional bond in October last year. That bond issue, the largest ever sold across emerging markets, was part of an effort to diversify Saudi Arabia s funding sources to plug a budget deficit caused by lower oil prices. Saudi Arabia will start meeting fixed income investors for the sukuk, a dual-tranche Islamic bond with fiveand 10-year maturities, early next week. An amount equal to 51 percent of the bond proceeds will be used in a mudaraba agreement, a form of Islamic investment management partnership. The remaining 49 percent of the proceeds will be used under a murabaha facility by the trustee, a Cayman Islands-incorporated company called KSA Sukuk Limited, to purchase sharia-compliant commodities, the prospectus said. Such a hybrid structure, which replicates the riyal-denominated sukuk offer launched by oil giant Saudi Aramco earlier this month, is common in the Saudi local currency debt market. A different lease-based (ijara) sukuk structure has been the most commonly used by countries raising money via international debt issuances. A hybrid structure might be too complex for some international investors to the point of possibly testing their appetite for the deal, bankers told Reuters last week. Citigroup, HSBC and JP Morgan are the global coordinators mandated to arrange investor meetings ahead of the sukuk offering. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 5, (AP): Britain s prime minister pitched the benefits of the London Stock Exchange during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as the kingdom weighs which international market to list shares of oil giant Aramco in what many expect will be the largest public offering in history. Theresa May made her pitch in the capital, Riyadh, during the second and final day of her visit. Saudi Arabia plans to list less than 5 percent of the world s largest oilproducing company on the Saudi exchange and another international exchange, possibly by next year. May met with King Salman and separately with his son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also defense minister and second-in-line to the throne. May s Downing Street office said that in a meeting with Saudi Aramco Chairman and Oil Minister Khalid al-falih she laid out the advantages of doing business in the UK The CEO of the London Stock Exchange, Xavier Rolet, was with her for the effort. Her office said she set out the sort of depth of expertise that there is in London and the UK in terms of financial services, as well as the depth of investment opportunities that there are in the UK. The Aramco listing is gearing up to be the biggest flotation ever, with Saudi officials valuing the company at more than $2 trillion. The flotation is part of a broad effort to raise Saudi Arabia s profile and boost government revenues after a sharp drop in oil prices hindered its ability to pay for large infrastructure projects and subsidies that citizens have come to rely on. Saudi Arabia also spends heavily on defense, ranking as the world s third largest military spender, with billions of dollars in purchases from UK manufacturers. Saudi Arabia is Britain s largest Mideast trading partner, with British exports of goods and services to the kingdom topping 6.5 billion pounds ($8.1 billion) in 2015.

31 BUSINESS 31 car insurance rates much higher in minority areas Richmond Fed head resigns A new report suggests that people living in urban minority neighborhoods could be paying as much as 30 percent more for car insurance, but an industry group says the report s findings are flawed. Nonprofit investigative news organization ProPublica and Consumer Reports published an analysis Wednesday based on insurance data in California, Illinois, Missouri and Texas detailing insurance claims payments by zip code. Those were the only states where regulators had the data available. The report says 33 of the 34 insurance companies analyzed in Illinois charged rates that were at least 10 percent higher in zip codes where a majority of the residents are minorities. Six Illinois insurers charged rates 30 percent higher in minority zip codes. In Missouri and Texas, more than half of the insurers charged rates that were at least 10 percent higher in minority areas. In California, where insurers are regulated more tightly, eight companies were charging significantly higher rates in minority zip codes. Marta Tellado, president and CEO of Consumer Reports, said discriminatory insurance pricing can be a drain on household budgets, limit employment opportunities and limit growth in communities. (AP) Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, announced Tuesday that he was resigning effective immediately after acknowledging improper discussions with a financial analyst that later became the subject of a lengthy investigation into leaks at the Fed. In a statement, Lacker said that in October 2012 he spoke to an analyst at Medley Global Advisors who possessed highly confidential information about interest-rate decisions the Fed had considered at its September meeting. He said that after the analyst had introduced the information, he should have declined to comment, ended the call and reported to Fed officials that the analyst was in possession of confidential information. Lacker called his conduct inconsistent with the Fed s confidentiality policies. I deeply regret the role that I may have played in confirming this confidential information and in its dissemination to Medley s subscribers, Lacker said. Lacker s attorney Richard Cullen said that Lacker had been informed that the investigation into his role in the Fed leak had been completed and no charges would be brought against him. (AP) US services firms grow at slower pace in March Cos add 263,000 jobs last month WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): US services companies saw their growth rate taper off in March, as hiring and business activity remained positive but dipped relative to February. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group for purchasing managers, said Wednesday that its services index fell to 55.2 last month from 57.6 in February. Any reading above 50 signals growth. The report points to the United States continuing its nearly 8-year recovery from the Great Recession, a sign that many consumers and businesses are on a solid footing. Services which can range from home buying to doctor s visits to hair salons account for the vast majority of the US economic activity. But some firms also reported a degree of uncertainty regarding the Trump administration in the survey used to compile the report. One finance company said there is a large amount of future uncertainty regarding efforts to replace former Vancouver home sales soar, but down from year-ago Toronto house prices, sales surge in March OTTAWA, April 5, (RTRS): Toronto home sales and prices surged in March, an industry report showed on Wednesday, fueling fears of a bubble in Canada s largest city and ramping up expectations the province of Ontario will act soon to cool the market. The average home price in Toronto rose 33.2 percent in March to C$916,567 ($684,823) from a year earlier, while sales increased 17.7 percent, according to a report from the Toronto Real Estate Board. Toronto prices have more than President Barack Obama s health insurance law. Another health care firm highlighted uncertainty as well, while a company in the accommodation and food services sector said there are possible challenges because President Donald Trump s exact policies on trade and immigration are unknown. The services sector has now expanded for 87 straight months. But the employment reading dropped to 51.6 last month from 55.2 in February, while business activity and production pulled back to a reading of 58.9 from a solid Fifteen services industries reported growth in March, including retailers, real estate and food services. But three sectors contracted: information, education and scientific and technical services. US private businesses added the most jobs in more than two years last month, a private survey found, a third straight month of robust gains. Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that businesses added 263,000 jobs in March, the most since December That is up from 245,000 in February, which was revised lower. The figure is much higher than economists forecasts for the government s jobs report, to be released Friday. Analysts predict that report will show 178,000 jobs were added, according to data provider FactSet. The healthy gain follows solid increases in January and February and suggests that rising business confidence is translating into stronger hiring. Small business optimism soared after the November presidential election and is near a record high. Widespread improvement in the global economy has also bolstered larger firms outlook. doubled since 2009, even as the other parts of the country have cooled in response to repeated attempts by the federal government to tighten mortgage lending rules to rein in overheated markets. With even mainstream Canadian economists calling the Toronto market a bubble and Finance Minister Bill Morneau saying national policies are not the best tool to tackle local market imbalances, the pressure has shifted to Ontario to address the problem. Ontario Finance Minister Charles The data also indicates that hiring remains strong even though growth appeared to slow in the January-March quarter. Many economists estimate that the economy grew at roughly a 1 percent annual rate in the first three months of the year. That would be half the 2.1 percent pace in last year s fourth quarter. The ADP report is clearly another indication that, despite the apparent slowdown in GDP growth in the first quarter, labor market conditions have remained unusually strong, Andrew Sousa has said his provincial budget, expected within weeks, will address housing affordability, but observers are uncertain whether he will implement a foreign buyers tax like British Columbia did last year to cool the Vancouver market. They are probably going to proceed cautiously and try to help out on the supply side without putting in policies that would potentially crash the market, said Michael Dolega, senior economist at TD Bank Group. Vancouver s market, the most expensive in Canada, has slowed Hunter, US economist at Capital Economics, a forecasting firm, said. Small and medium-sized businesses posted the biggest increases. Small companies with fewer than 50 employees added 118,000 jobs, while medium-sized firms added 100,000. The job gains were led by big increases in construction, manufacturing, and professional and business services, which includes high-paying fields such as accounting and engineering. Construction companies added 49,000 jobs, a third straight month of since the province levied a 15 percent foreign buyers tax in August 2016 amid concern that speculation by global investors, mostly from mainland China, was fueling a bubble. But there are signs that market is bouncing back. March sales rose 47.6 percent from February and the benchmark price rose 1.4 percent in the month to C$919,300, the Vancouver Real Estate Board said on Tuesday. Compared to a year ago, sales were down 30.8 percent and prices have fallen 0.8 percent in six months. robust gains that partly reflects the unseasonably warm winter weather experienced by much of the country. Yet homebuilders are also stepping up construction in response to heavy demand for homes. Businesses that serve consumers also added a healthy number of positions, a sign that companies are seeing stronger demand. A category that includes retailers and shippers added 34,000 jobs, while restaurants, hotels and amusement parks added 55,000 jobs. US president tells CEOs he ll only back shovel-ready infrastructure Fact check: Trump errs in describing Obama stimulus WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): President Donald Trump disparaged his predecessor s economic stimulus spending as a windfall for social programs and said he s unaware of anything built from the money steered to infrastructure. That s a mischaracterization of former President Barack Obama s 2009 stimulus package, which had tax cuts as its largest component and plowed more than $100 billion into highway, transit and other shovel-ready infrastructure projects, to use the buzz phrase of that time. Trump needn t have ventured far from Trump Tower to see stimulus money at work. The Brooklyn Bridge and a new landmark Manhattan train station were among New York City s recipients of millions of stimulus dollars for construction and repairs. And Trump liked the package at the time. When it passed in the depths of the severe recession, he praised Obama as a strong guy who did a terrific job, adding, this is what we need. That appraisal has changed as Trump prepares to pitch Congress on his own infrastructure initiative. TRUMP, in remarks to CEOs Tuesday: There was a very large infrastructure bill that was approved during the Obama administration, a trillion dollars. Nobody ever saw anything being built. I mean, to this day, I haven t heard of anything that s been built. They used most of that money it went and they used it on social programs and we want this to be on infrastructure. THE FACTS: The $787 billion package was not an infrastructure bill, but a catch-all response to the recession with infrastructure as a major part. More than a third of it went to tax cuts. Medicaid spending and other help for health care made up the next largest component. Then came infrastructure, followed closely by education. The package mixed economic and social spending, helping states train displaced workers, for example, extending jobless benefits and assisting with low-income housing. In New York City alone, $30 million went toward repairs and repainting of the Brooklyn Bridge; the Staten Island ferry also got a boost. More than $80 million was earmarked for Moynihan Station, an annex to Penn Station that is meant to return the rail hub to the grandeur of the original Penn Station. Road, bridge and transit projects across the country got a lift. The economy is far stronger than it was at the time. How much the stimulus package contributed to the recovery remains a matter of debate. But it was far more than a social-spending spree, as Trump recognized when it passed. As BuzzFeed noted in 2015, Trump had high praise for the president and the package when it passed in February 2009, telling Fox News it was a good mix of tax cuts and spending projects. I thought he did a terrific job, Trump said then. This is a strong guy (who) knows what he wants, and this is what we need. With legislation overhauling taxes Mar-a-Lago resort to host Trump-Xi summit and health care on an uncertain path, President Donald Trump returned to the familiar. Trump brought 52 business leaders from New York City to the White House Tuesday to talk about another favorite campaign issue infrastructure and economic growth. The US economy has so far proven to be a point of pride for a presidency that has otherwise gotten off to a rocky start. Trump inherited a stable economy from former president Barack Obama, an economic recovery that s heading toward its eighth year. But Trump believes he can do more for business. Winter White House a winning brand for Trump s business PALM BEACH, Fla, April 5, (AP): No doubt Florida s oceanfront Mar-a- Lago resort is an impressive site for a summit between the presidents of the US and China. And it s a pretty nice business advertisement, too, for the owner of the luxurious, members-only private property. That would be Donald J. Trump. Even before this week s summit, President Trump and his aides had begun referring to Mar-a-Lago as the Winter White House, a marketing coup for a man who has made millions In this file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump rally on Bingham Island in Palm Beach, Florida. Even before this week s summit, Trump and his aides had begun referring to Mar-a-Lago as the Winter White House, a marketing coup for a man who has made millions selling his personal brand. Now the president is writing his property deeper into American history books by meeting there with China s Xi Jinping. (AP) In this file photo, work continues on a Missouri Department of Transportation bridge replacement project near Tuscumbia, Missouri. President Donald Trump disparaged his predecessor s economic stimulus spending Tuesday as a windfall for social programs and said he is unaware of anything built from the money steered to infrastructure. (AP) selling his personal brand. Now the president is writing his property deeper into American history books by meeting there with China s Xi Jinping. The two-day summit, partly to discuss sensitive trade issues, follows five previous weekend trips that Trump has made to Mar-a-Lago in the 12 weeks he has been president. On his fourth weekend in office, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joined him there, and the two heads of state huddled on the restaurant s patio before making headlines with a televised joint response to a North Korean missile test. VIP visits to presidential homes are a tradition dating to shortly before World War II, when Franklin D. Roosevelt began inviting dignitaries to his Hyde Park estate north of New York City, according to the US State Department s historical website. More recently, George H.W. Bush brought leaders to the family s Kennebunkport, Maine, compound, and his son George W. Bush invited them to his Crawford, Texas, ranch. President Barack Obama hosted Xi at Sunnylands, an estate in the California desert formerly owned by late philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg. But Mar-a-Lago isn t just a vacation home for Trump. It s a for-profit part of his global real estate empire. That makes Winter White House more than a charming phrase; it s good for business. Breaking with presidential precedent, Trump held onto ownership of his businesses when he took office, meaning he makes money when his properties do well. The resort doubled its membership fee to $200,000 after he was elected. And Winter White House is working its way into marketing materials. When Trump is in town, Mar-a-Lago s hotel rooms and restaurant reservations fill up fast. The Trump Organization has agreed not to exploit any aspects of the presidency, but those who lease and visit the properties are more than happy to do that work. When the Distressed Investing Summit convened in Palm Beach last month, its brochure noted the opening reception would be at the famed Mar-a-Lago club, one of the most highly regarded private lairs in the world and the new Winter White House. Trump hasn t been shy about mentioning his Florida property, either. A few days before he took office, he tweeted a photo of himself with the message, Writing my inaugural address at the Winter White House, Mar-a-Lago, three weeks ago. Co accelerates in chip design Apple seeks more control of the core technologies SAN FRANCISCO, April 5, (RTRS): Apple Inc s decision to stop licensing graphics chips from Imagination Technologies Group Plc is the clearest example yet of the iphone maker s determination to take greater control of the core technologies in its products both to guard its hefty margins and to position it for future innovations, especially in so-called augmented reality. The strategy, analysts say, has already reduced Apple s dependence on critical outside suppliers like ARM Holdings Plc, now owned by SoftBank Group Corp. Apple once relied heavily on ARM to design the main processor for the iphone, but it now licenses only the basic ARM architecture and designs most of the chip itself. More recently, when Apple bought the headphone company Beats Electronics, part of a $3 billion deal in 2014, it ripped out the existing, off-the-shelf communications chips and replaced them with its own customdesigned W1 Bluetooth chip. Apple clearly got rid of all the conventional suppliers and replaced about five chips with one, said Jim Morrison, vice president of TechInsights, a firm that examines the chips inside electronics devices. Today we do much more inhouse development of fundamental technologies than we used to, Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri said at a February conference. Think of the work we do on processors or sensors. We can push the envelope on innovation. We have better control over timing, over cost and over quality. Opportunities Most vendors of consumer electronics products rely on outside suppliers for chip design and development, primarily because it is extremely expensive. That has created huge opportunities for companies like ARM, Qualcomm Inc and Nvidia Corp, which have developed core technologies for processing, communications and graphics that are used by scores of vendors. Now, though, Apple is so big that it can economically create its own designs, or license small pieces of others work and build on it. As with ARM and Qualcomm, the actual manufacturing of the chips is still contracted out to a semiconductor foundry, such as those run by Samsung Electronics and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd. Bringing more of the design work in-house cuts complexity, people familiar with the processes say. Instead of managing one or more design teams and then a fabricator, Apple has only to manage the fabricator. It may also help the company move faster and save money as it focuses on new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that Apple plans to integrate augmented reality into its products, which makes 3-D sensors and graphics chips like Imagination s especially important. Even before formally cutting off Imagination, Apple had given hints that it was preparing to design its own graphics processors. Specifically, it introduced a piece of its own code called Metal for app developers. App developers use Metal to make their apps talk to the graphics chip on the iphone. Bridge By putting a piece of Appledesigned code between app developers and the phone s chip, Apple has made it possible to swap out the chip without interrupting how the developers work. That could also make it easier to bridge the gap for developers between the graphics chips on Apple s phones and its desktop computers, which currently require some separate coding. By promoting Metal instead of relying on other existing standards, Apple is not only able to control what graphics chip functionality is exposed at its own pace, but also blur the line for developers between coding for desktop and mobile GPUs, said Pius Uzamere, the founder of a virtual reality startup called Ether. Taking control of the iphone s chips can also help Apple keep costs down, which is especially important as it gears up for a feature-laden new iphone this fall. Timothy Arcuri of Cowen & Co said in a research note that he thinks the curved screens expected on the new phone could add as much as $50 in cost, for example. Shebly Seyrafi, an analyst at FBN Securities, estimates that the average price of an iphone increased only 1 percent to $695 last quarter, while costs increased 8 percent to $420, resulting in an iphone gross margin of 39.6 percent. That is down from the 44 percent average gross margin for iphones in 2015, according to Seyrafi s estimates. Apple spends only $75 million a year on licensing fees for Imagination s chips. But licensing fees to chip designers, taken together, are a significant cost for the iphone. Apple recently sued Qualcomm for $1 billion over licensing terms for its communications chips which Apple would have trouble designing in-house because of patent issues.

32 BUSINESS 32 Opel sale to French automaker opportunity for both Alitalia cancels 60 pct of flights Germany s economy minister and other officials met Wednesday with the head of automaker PSA Group and union representatives to go over details of the French company s acquisition of General Motors European brand Adam Opel AG, with both sides saying the talks had been constructive. GM sold its Opel and Vauxhall brands to PSA in March for roughly $2.33 billion, making the French company, which also makes Peugeot and Citroen cars, Europe s No. 2 automaker after Volkswagen. Opel employs 19,000 people in Germany out of a total workforce of 38,000, and the sale has raised concerns about job losses, especially in an election year. Vauxhall, the British brand, employs 4,500 people at two plants. Executives have insisted that no layoffs are currently foreseen, though analysists have said they re inevitable over the long term. PSA Group CEO Carlos Tavares has said there are ways to contain factory costs other than cutting workers, and that the company would focus on logistics, quality, energy, maintenance and security. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said Tavares had reaffirmed PSA s commitment to respect existing labor agreements and that meeting participants agreed that the sale can offer significant advantages to both PSA and Opel/Vauxhall. (AP) Alitalia cancelled 60 percent of scheduled fl ights on Wednesday as employees staged a 24-hour strike to protest against the lossmaking airline s plan to cut 16 percent of its staff and reduce flight personnel s salaries by a third. Italy s fl agship carrier, which is 49 percent owned by Etihad Airways, has made an annual profi t only a few times in its 70-year history. It is in a race against time to win union support for its latest turnaround plan as it seeks to unlock fi nancing and avoid having to ground planes. We are on strike for the hundredth time because this crisis at Alitalia, all the crises, and the industrial plan... are always against the workers, Paolo De Montis, a representative of the USB union, said outside Rome s Fiumicino airport where hundreds of workers gathered. Alitalia CEO Cramer Ball has said the cuts were painful but necessary. Despite several overhauls and cash injections over the years, Alitalia is losing at least half a million euros ($533,000) a day and could run out of cash in the coming weeks unless shareholders agree to pump in more money, sources say. Fiumicino s main terminal was deserted as only a few passengers, who did not know about the strike, had turned up. (RTRS) Kuwait Financial Centre Markaz recently rolled out its Monthly Market Research report containing an in-depth analysis, coupled with a critical examination, of the performance of equity markets in the MENA region and its global counterparts for the month of March The report said that the majority of the MENA bourses continued to mirror their performance in March with that of February, falling flat to echo their positive start in January. Egypt and Kuwait price indices stood as exceptions, with their indices clinching a hike of 9 and 3.6%, respectively, at the end of the month. On the antithesis, the Morocco, Dubai and Oman indices steered to hit the reds, clocking a downtrend of 4.6%, 4.1% and 4.0%, respectively. To mark a mixed trend, the Saudi and Bahrain bourses failed to show any difference with respect to their performance in the previous month. The MENA markets, in trend with its global counterparts, continued on a slippery decline. Dubai witnessed bleaker trading volumes and dampened investor sentiments. Expectations of major events in the global arena for the month in concern, such as an expected hike in the FED interest rate and the outcome of the G20 meeting, restrained the investing sentiments of the traders. The index witnessed a steep downfall, attributable to the selling pressures in MENA Real Estate platform NBK Capital to launch its latest investment vehicle KPC extends contracts to Egypt CAIRO, April 5, (KUNA): Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) have agreed to extend two contracts for supplying oil byproducts to Egypt. The three-year contracts were signed by KPC s Managing Director for International Marketing Nabil Bourisli and EGPC s Deputy Chairman for Foreign Trade Hisham Noureddin, in presence the Muscat stock exchange, especially in heavy-weight stocks such as Bank of Muscat. Thanks to the siphoning of foreign investments into the equities, the Egypt bourse managed to maintain a positive note with a 9% hike despite the bleaker market environment. The month witnessed the volume traded hitting the reds with a negative growth of 22%, in contrast with a hike of 34.6% in the market turnover, indicating a mixed market mood. All MENA markets witnessed an increased turnover in March, leaving behind Saudi Arabia and Dubai of Egyptian Minister of Oil and Natural Resources Tareq Al-Mulla. The extended contracts provide for supplying around 1.5 million tons of oil byproducts annually, and two million barrels of crude oil monthly. Following the signing ceremony, Boursili hailed cooperation with the Egyptian oil sector as a distinguished model for attaining joint economic interests. MENA monthly market report to battle a negative market environment. Dubai and Abu Dhabi hit the lows in liquidity, with volumes spiraling down by 41 and 40%, respectively. Drawing the limelight on valuation, the market witnessed the P/E of Morocco (19.18), Kuwait (16.2) and Qatar (15.06) markets to be at premium, while their counterparts in Dubai (9.39), Egypt (9.4) and Bahrain (10.06) to be the discount markets in the MENA region. Blue Chips ended the month on a negative note, with most companies drenched in reds. Shares of Masraf KIPCO s diversification, operational strength will help to face challenges 2017 is company s base for next five years, says Vice Chairman UK court ruling gives guidance on tech patent rights LONDON, April 5, (AP): Britain s High Court ruled Wednesday that it can decide what mobile phone makers should pay to use patented technology that is essential to make mobile networks function. In a case that helps clarify how patents are handled in the telecoms industry, Judge Colin Birss ruled that the court can determine what a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory rate is for licensing Kuwait Financial Centre Markets mixed, oil retreats in largest dip since July 16 KUWAIT CITY, April 5: NBK Capital has announced that it will launch its MENA Real Estate investment vehicle that is currently in the final stages of registration with the Central Bank of Bahrain. The MENA Real Estate investments platform will augment the highly successful MENA Private Equity and Private Credit investment businesses that fall within the scope of the alternative investments division at NBK Capital Partners, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBK Capital, the latter being the operator and investment manager of the MENA Real Estate Investments vehicle. NBK Capital Partners is renowned for identifying attractive investment opportunities across the MENA region via teams of experienced investment professionals situated across their four regional offices. In doing so, it identifies the most suitable jurisdiction for its ventures and takes into account the financial services ecosystem, business infrastructure, and regulatory environment. Our MENA Real Estate platform focuses on aggregating a portfolio of existing income-producing assets and delivering a stable yield to investors. We are actively pursuing opportunities in defensive sectors like Education, Healthcare and Logistics across the entire GCC said Yaser Moustafa, Senior Managing Director of NBK Capital Partners. Moustafa described the reasons for choosing the Central Bank of Bahrain s Collective Investment Undertaking framework for the launch of NBK Capital s latest investment vehicle as our longstanding relationship and positive experience with the regulator, its suitability for the intended investment strategy, and the familiarity of regional investors with Bahrain-based funds. Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) welcomed NBK Capital s venture and said: We are very pleased that NBK Capital has decided to base its investment vehicle in Bahrain. We see excellent potential for investment both in Bahrain and across the region, supported by the strong pipeline of in- Yaser Moustafa Khalid Al Rumaihi frastructure projects across the region. Across the region there are around $2 trillion of infrastructure projects planned in the coming years and in Bahrain the figure is over $32billion of which real estate is an important component. We look forward to welcoming more Kuwaiti companies to their brotherly Kingdom. Bahrain is home to over 400 licensed financial service companies, with total banking sector assets of approximately US$190 billion. It is also home to more than 2,500 authorised Funds with a net asset value of US$7.48 billion and around 70 locally-domiciled funds with a net asset value of approximately US$3.2 billion. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: At its Annual Shafafiyah Transparency Investors Forum, KIPCO the Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) said that external challenges such as regulations, currency fluctuation and oil prices, will impact the company s profitability in However, KIPCO s diversified investments, the strong support it has from its shareholders, and the internal practices that have been intangible to the Group s success will help the company tackle these challenges. At the company s annual investors forum, KIPCO presented a review of 2016 and its outlook for 2017 to 2018 to an audience of shareholders, financial analysts and institutional investors. The forum followed the company s General Assembly meeting where KIPCO s shareholders approved a cash dividend of 25% (25 fils per share). As part of its review, KIPCO announced 2016 as the company s twenty-fifth year of consecutive profitability, with up to KD 484 million distributed to shareholders in dividends during this time. This year also marks KIPCO s fifteen years of continuous dividends. The company presented an overview of its exceptional story of growth in assets, revenue and portfolio of companies. It also highlighted the company s balanced performance in 2016 despite the challenging environment. KIPCO said that the international market has continued to validate the company s strategy, as demonstrated by the issuance of a US$ 500 million bond under its US$ 3 billion Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) Program four times oversubscribed at a new benchmark fixed coupon rate of 4.5% with a simultaneous tender of its existing 2019 bonds. This has brought KIPCO s average debt maturity to 5.8 years as of March 2017, and the lower borrowing costs have resulted in saving of approximately US$ 22 million a year in interest. Also in its 2016 review, KIPCO said that after adjustment for foreign currencies devaluation and one-offs, Burgan Bank recorded an 8% growth in revenue. The bank s underlying profit for the year went up 23% when eliminating FX gains and other non-repetitive events. Burgan Bank also improved its risk management and optimized its capital, bringing its capital adequacy ratio to 16.7% by the end of For OSN, a new management team was appointed to execute the pay-tv company s growth strategy. Newlydesigned channel packages at new prices were launched to further support up to three million subscribers over the next five years. As for Gulf Insurance Group, the company registered a 7% growth in revenue and a 15% increase in gross written premiums, while net underwriting results went up 9% in The Group also acquired a Turkish non-life insurer during the year. Despite being impacted by the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, KIPCO s real estate arm, United Real Al Rayan hit the highs, touching down at an impressive 5.1%, the highest among the Blue Chips in GCC, with Ezdan Holdings (3.8%) seconding. Foreign institutional investors roped in fresh money into some Qatari companies while they withdrew from a few in the telecom sector. Fresh investments geared the share prices to clock a hike in Masraf Al Rayan. Ezdan holdings has also blared the roll out of its $2 Bn sukuk. The Saudi Telecom Company (STC) nailed five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for 5G technology with its various compeers on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC). It also banded with Oberthur Technologies to fathom the feasibility of esim technology that promises users to order, install and activate profiles over the air in a seamless and secure way. Projects and international collaborations announced by STC, the telecom operator tycoon in the MENA region, tipped its share price toward a 1.9% positive growth. The Qatari stocks, Ooredoo Qatar and Industries Qatar, were the laggards among the Blue Chips, shedding 8.9 and 7.7%, respectively. ing of telecom, insurance and industrials by foreign institutional investors, coupled with the subsequent bullishness of the Qatari and GCC investors, marshaled the share prices down. Kuwait International Bond Issuance Kuwait has coffered $8 Bn through a dual tranche offering of 5- and 10- year notes and has launched a $3.5- Bn March 2022 bond at 75bp over Treasuries and a $4.5-Bn March 2027 note at plus 100bp. The absence of activity in the past shepherded the bond to being oversubscribed 3.2 times, with bids worth $29 Bn received, indicating hawkish investor sentiments toward debt markets. The current transaction surfaces up the fact that Kuwait holds the potential Photo from KIPCO s annual Shafafiyah Transparency Investors Forum. agreements. Such rates cover the use of patented technologies that have become the standard on which global mobile phone networks are based. The case involved Unwired Planet International, a US-based patent holder, and China-based Huawei Technologies Co. This is a ground-breaking judgment, said Pat Treacy, a partner at the London law firm Bristows, which was not involved in the latter part of the litigation. It gives guidance to companies about how they should set the terms of these licenses. The decision is important because it clarifies the relationship between the companies that make mobile phones and those who own the patents for the technology that makes it possible for those handsets to communicate with each to source funds from the international debt markets in the times ahead, lead to domestic companies following suit and view foreign debt as a source of funding. The inclusion of international debt would make it easy for investors and analysts to estimate the risks of investing in the gulf state and the same time make it easier for financial services firm to benchmark their products. The final investor-type apportion for the 5-year bonds was as follows: 22% to banks and private banks; 60% to asset managers and 18% to agencies, pensions and insurance, while the final investor-type allocation for the 10-year bonds was 25% to banks and private banks; 68% to asset managers and 7% to agencies, pensions and insurance. Oil Market Review March 2017 witnessed the largest dip since July 2016 when Brent crude hit the all-time lows by clocking a slippery decline of 5%, touching down at $ Poor commitment from the non-opec members to cut production was one of the reasons for the fall in oil prices. An initial jack up in oil prices at the start of the year opened the taps from rigs in the United States, thereby gearing up supply to the market and derailing the reduced production from the OPEC members. Estate, registered a 17% growth in revenue in The company inaugurated Abdali Mall in Amman, Jordan, with 65% of the mall pre-leased. In Egypt, URC completed its Aswar Residences project in New Cairo and has made substantial progress in the construction of its residential development, Manazil. Infrastructure work for KIPCO s mega real estate development, Hessah Al Mubarak District, began in KIPCO Group will be developing 40% of the district, with the remaining plots to be sold to developers who share the company s vision for this comprehensive, mixed-use neighborhood. In its outlook, KIPCO said that it expected to continue to face headwinds in 2017 and 2018, given the challenging external factors that present themselves. The banking sector continues to deal with the implementation of new regulations since 2015, while KIPCO s media business will need to continue to stay ahead of competition and anticipate technology trends over the next two years. All business sectors will need to deal with implementing international financial reporting standards, the risk of currency fluctuation, and the instability of oil prices. KIPCO s Vice-Chairman (Executive), Faisal Al Ayyar said: External factors including currency fluctuation, oil price instability and the need to implement new financial reporting standards mean that our outlook for 2017 and 2018 remains challenging. Despite this, momentum continues to grow across our core companies. Revenue for Burgan Bank, Gulf Insurance Group and United Real Estate was up 8%, 7% and 17% respectively in 2016, while OSN maintained its revenue levels against These results are a testament to our ability to continue to weather the strong headwinds we anticipate in the coming two years. Commenting on the outlook for 2017 to 2018, Al Ayyar said: The international markets have awarded KIPCO s strong credit quality with attractive interest rates for the bonds we issue. We enter 2017 with the projection that the challenging external factors will impact our profitability for the year. We believe that 2017 will be our base year for the next five years, and that our strengths namely our diversified investments, the strong support of our shareholders, and our prudent internal practices will help us tackle the tough times ahead. other. Early in the development of mobile phones, the industry recognized it would have to adopt unified standards to promote widespread use of the technology. But this had the potential to give those who developed the preferred technology an extremely powerful position that could have choked off future development.

33 BUSINESS 33 Italy puts Vatican on clean financial institutions list Merkel ally, in Tokyo, pushes for swift EU trade deal Italy put the Vatican on its white list of states with cooperative fi nancial institutions on Tuesday, ending years of mistrust and providing an endorsement of efforts by Pope Francis to clean up the city state s banking sector. The list includes countries with which Italy has agreements on the exchange of fi nancial and tax information, such as other EU member states. The upgrade was formalised in a decree published in the government s Official Gazette. The Vatican is a sovereign state in the middle of Rome whose fi nancial activities the Bank of Italy had for decades viewed with suspicion. Last July the BOI and Vatican s Financial Information Authority (AIF), signed a cooperation agreement allowing authorities to monitor transactions between Italian financial entities and the Vatican. Inclusion on the white list follows more than fi ve years of reforms, started under former Pope Benedict and strengthened under Francis, to bring the Vatican and its troubled bank up to international standards to guarantee transparency and combat money laundering. (RTRS) A senior ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Japan on Wednesday to quickly seal a trade deal with the European Union, especially in light of protectionist signals coming from US President Donald Trump. Volker Kauder, head of Merkel s conservative parliamentary group, said he was encouraged by his talks with Japanese government and opposition officials during a visit to Tokyo. Talks about a free trade deal between the EU and Japan must be completed fast. In view of the isolationist policies of US President Trump, the time for hesitation is gone, Kauder said in a statement after his meetings in Japan. Trump has worried countries like Germany with talk of imposing import taxes. The Group of 20 powers even failed to agree on a commitment to keep global trade free and open at a meeting in Germany last month, due to US opposition. He added that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and opposition parties also viewed that matter in the same way. I have the impression that the Japanese side is now trying to get a quick deal after years with no breakthrough but rather a standstill in the talks, he said, adding Abe had stressed it would send an important signal amid growing protectionism. (RTRS) Eurozone economy strongest in nearly 6 yrs UK growth probably slowing after strong end to 2016 PMI LONDON, April 5, (Agencies): The 19-country eurozone economy has just enjoyed its strongest quarter for nearly six years, a closely watched survey showed Wednesday. In its wrap-up of economic developments in March, financial information company IHS Markit said its composite purchasing managers output index a broad gauge of economic activity rose to a 71-month high of 56.4 in March from 56.0 in February. Though that s slightly down on the initial estimate of 56.7, the index remains well above the 50 mark that indicates expansion. The firm said output growth was registered across manufacturing and services, with the rates of expansion running at near six-year highs for both sectors. It estimates that quarterly economic growth is running at a more than healthy 0.6 percent, with the upturn broad-based across the region. Though the eurozone emerged from recession years ago, its rates of growth have been generally modest. Most welcome for a region still suffering near-double digit unemployment is a rise in the survey s employment index In this fi le photo, Zach Tyson (left), owner of Tyson Construction, talks to electricians in a home he is constructing in Destrahan, La General contractors and other small businesses in the remodeling industry can look forward to strong growth in the coming years, but the big force behind that business may be surprising: baby boomers. Tyson estimates that between 30 percent and 40 percent of his revenue is coming from boomer renovations, up from 15 percent to 20 percent five years ago. (AP) to its highest for almost a decade, suggesting we should expect to see the jobless rate fall further in coming months, said Chris Williamson, the firm s chief business economist. While the growth outlook appears to be improving, the firm says inflation pressures remain elevated and look set to feed through to higher consumer prices in the months to come. However, few economists think the European Central Bank will start withdrawing its stimulus measures until later this year, not least because policymakers want to be sure that inflation is heading back toward more normal levels. A recent uptick in inflation has been largely due to rising oil prices, evidenced by the fact that the core rate, which strips out volatile items such as food and energy, remains stubbornly low. Meanwhile, Britain s economy has probably slowed from its strong growth of late last year and a cooling jobs market and hefty price increases will become increasingly apparent as Brexit gets underway, according to a survey published on Wednesday. The Markit/CIPS Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a closely watched gauge of Britain s services industry, rose to a three-month high of 55.0 in March from 53.3 in February. That topped all forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists, whose median forecast was for a reading of 53.5, pushing sterling almost half a cent higher against the dollar. But there were some warning signals as Britain begins the two-year process of leaving the European Union. Services companies raised their selling prices at the fastest pace since 2008, a sign that inflation may rise more than the 3 percent expected by many forecasters this year. Businesses hired people at the slowest pace in seven months. Taken together, the PMIs for manufacturing, construction and services published this week suggest economic growth will slow to around 0.4 percent in the first quarter from 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, data firm IHS Markit said. Growth of 0.4 percent would be in line with the most recent Reuters poll of economists but slower than the 0.6 percent predicted by the Bank of England. The PMI does not cover the retail sector, and hence may be overestimating growth somewhat given the concentrated hit in that area, JPMorgan economist Allan Monks said. But conditions outside Britain had clearly improved and there was uncertainty about how quickly consumers will respond to higher prices, he said in a note to clients. The BoE is widely expected to keep interest rates at their record low throughout this year and possibly until 2019 as it steers the British economy through the uncertainty linked to the exit from the EU. However, one rate-setter voted last month for a rate increase and others said they might follow suit soon if there were signs that economy was maintaining its momentum of Despite the stronger-than-expected headline growth figure in Wednesday s PMI, the survey also suggested consumers were cutting back on luxuries. Hotels and restaurants, gyms and hairdressers ranked among the worstperforming services in the first three months of Much of the disappointment in growth so far this year has been evident in consumer-oriented sectors, in part linked to spending and incomes being squeezed by higher prices, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. Official data on Wednesday showed modest improvement for one of Britain s most persistent economic headaches, weak productivity. Output-per-hour grew at the fastest pace in more than a year in the final three months of 2016, but remained well below the average rate seen before the financial crisis. The figures did little to challenge expectations that 2017 will be a tough one for many Britons. Nearly half of British households plan to cut spending as worries about inflation escalate, according to a separate survey on Wednesday from pension provider Scottish Friendly and the think tank Social Market Foundation. Official data last week showed real household disposable income a measure of spending power in the fourth quarter of 2016 saw its biggest quarter-on-quarter decline in nearly three years. Industry figures for new car registrations bucked other signs of weakening consumer demand, with sales rising 8.4 percent last month. But the surge in part reflected customers bringing forward purchases to beat a tax rise, which may bode for a weak April, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. Follows spate of scandals UK lawmakers urge firms to overhaul pay, diversity LONDON, April 5, (RTRS): British businesses must overhaul their executive pay and perks to rebuild public trust following a spate of corporate scandals, lawmakers said on Wednesday. A report by parliament s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee said companies should publish pay ratios annually, give workers a seat on the committee that sets pay and have women make up half of all new senior and executive level appointments from Executive pay is a hot political topic in Britain after Prime Minister Theresa May campaigned to help those who voted for Brexit in protest at out of touch elites. Corporate scandals such as the collapse of store chain BHS, which was sold to a serial bankrupt with no retail experience, have fuelled mistrust of well-paid company bosses during a period of mediocre wage growth for most Britons. Successful, productive and profitable companies cannot be disconnected from society, Iain Wright, chairman of the BEIS committee, said, adding that it was now impossible to see a credible link between remuneration and performance. Transparency The committee, whose recommendations are not binding but are likely to be looked at closely by May s government, singled out long-term incentive plans as lacking in transparency. These aim to align the interests of company executives and shareholders by linking pay to the performance of the firm over years, Many of the plans have been criticised for being too complex, too generous and sometimes gamed by bosses and shareholder revolts over pay have become commonplace. Pay must be reformed and simplified to incentivise decision-making for the long term success of the business and to pursue wider company objectives than share value, Wright said. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) agreed long-term incentive plans could be too complex, but said banning them would limit flexibility for companies to reward executives. And the Financial Reporting Council, which is tasked with policing corporate behaviour, said it was now hoping for greater powers to hold directors to account. The depth and breadth of the recommendations, if fully adopted, will have significant implications for the FRC s remit, resources and funding, it said in a statement. But Jonathan Chamberlain, partner at law firm Gowling WLG, said any changes to executive pay or worker representation would be practically difficult as well as ideologically divisive. Obligation Chamberlain said a lighttouch reporting obligation on issues such as pay and conditions could help prevent instances of abuse such as at Sports Direct, which drew the ire of politicians. The Investment Association, Britain s main trade body for the asset management firms which have voiced concern over pay and other governance-related resolution at companies annual general meetings, backed the report. Sky News reported on Monday that BP had agreed to cut about 5 million pounds ($6.2 million) from Chief Executive Bob Dudley s maximum pay for the next three years in a bid to ease shareholder unrest. And last week Reckitt Benckiser said Rakesh Kapoor, one of Britain s highestearning CEOs, saw his 2016 pay package fall by more than a third following a safety scandal in South Korea that dented its performance. The report sets out further welcome measures to strengthen investors hands and provide better reporting to shareholders on how the Board has taken the views of their stakeholders into account, Andrew Ninian, the Investment Association s Director of Stewardship and corporate governance, said. Standard Life Investments, which runs funds totalling 280 billion pounds and is one of the biggest investors in British companies, across a range of strategies, said it backed moves to get more clarity over boards decision-making. Deal elusive as Athens, lenders remain at odds EU, Greece seek bailout deal by Friday In this fi le photo, visitors tour the exhibition booth of ChemChina, also known as China National Chemical Corp, during the China International Chemical Industry Fair in Shanghai, China. US regulators have agreed to the Chinese conglomerate s proposed $43 billion acquisition of Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta on Would be China s biggest foreign acquisition to date US, EU clear Chinese takeover of Syngenta BEIJING, April 5, (AP): US and European regulators have cleared a Chinese conglomerate s proposed $43 billion acquisition of Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta on condition it sells some businesses to satisfy anti-monopoly objections. The Federal Trade Commission s announcement comes alongside the approval by European regulators of the purchase by state-owned ChemChina. It would be China s biggest foreign acquisition to date. ChemChina, also known as China National Chemical Corp, agreed to sell businesses that make an herbicide, an insecticide and a fungicide whose combined market shares with Syngenta would harm competition, the FTC and European Commission say. condition it sells some businesses to satisfy anti-monopoly objections. The Federal Trade Commission s announcement on April 5, follows approval last year by European regulators of the purchase by state-owned ChemChina. It would be China s biggest foreign acquisition to date. (AP) ChemChina has offered significant remedies, which fully address our competition concerns. This has allowed us to approve the transaction, Margrethe Vestager, the EU s antitrust commissioner, said Wednesday. Chinese companies are engaged in a multibillion-dollar global buying spree to acquire technology and brands to improve their competitive edge as explosive growth in their home economy slows. At the same time, the global industry that supplies farm chemicals, biotechnology and other inputs is in the midst of a shake-up as tumbling commodity prices squeeze spending by farmers. A US government national security panel approved the ChemChina-Syngenta tie-up in August despite complaints by some legislators who cited the potential for risks to our food system. ChemChina subsidiary Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd. agreed to sell businesses in the United States that produce the herbicide paraquat, the insecticide abamectin and the fungicide chlorothalonil to American Vanguard Corp and its affiliate Amvac Chemical Corp. The FTC said Syngenta owns branded versions of all three chemicals, while Adama is the No. 1 or 2 supplier of generic versions in the United States. ChemChina has also agreed to sell significant parts of its European operations in pesticides and plant growth regulation products. EMA concern at potential disruption during transition EU drug agency prepares to leave London LONDON, April 5, (RTRS): Europe s medicines watchdog is preparing to pack its bags and relocate from London, now that Britain has triggered the process of leaving the EU, and its executive director wants a decision on the agency s new home as fast as possible. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), employing nearly 900 staff, acts as a one-stop-shop for approving and monitoring the safety of drugs across Europe. Guido Rasi fears uprooting it could disrupt this work, unless done very carefully. At stake is not only the smoothrunning of the European Union drug approval process, which is vital for companies, but also public safety, should regulators fail to react to a side-effect problem or quality issue in a timely fashion. What I really fear is that something happens exactly during the transition phase that is the real danger for public health, Rasi said in an interview from his offices overlooking London s old docks. Relocating the EMA within the two-year window available before Britain leaves the EU in March 2019 will be tight and a stalled verdict by politicians on where it should go would aggravate matters. An even worse-case scenario would be a late decision, Rasi said in his first comments since Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain s divorce from the EU on March 29. The EMA, the largest EU body in Britain, has been based in London since its birth in 1995 and it moved into new premises in Canary Wharf on a 25-year lease less than three years ago. ATHENS/BRUSSELS, April 5, (RTRS): Greece and its international lenders remained at odds in talks to release fresh bailout loans to Athens on Wednesday as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said a deal was needed this week and accused creditors of playing games and causing delays. Talks between Greece, the European Union and International Monetary Fund have stuttered for months due to differences over Greece s fiscal progress, labour and energy market reforms, rekindling worries of a new crisis in Europe. Eurozone finance ministers will discuss the state of Greek negotiations on Friday at an informal meeting in Malta, but officials said a full deal there was unlikely. Tsipras said he would ask for an EU leaders summit if there was no deal this week and accused some creditors of being obstinate. The Greek economy is ready to leave the crisis behind it. But despite the impressive fiscal results, some of our creditors appear unrepentant, Tsipras told a news conference after meeting EU Council President Donald Tusk in Athens. This isn t child s play. This is the future of a people we are talking about. Greece is on its third bailout from eurozone governments but to get money it has to pass regular reviews of reforms it agreed to in return for the financing. What we are trying to achieve is to get close enough to a deal so that lenders teams of experts may go back to Athens and finalise the numbers, one official said. If experts return to Athens, they would still work several more days there to come up with what is called a staff level agreement a report on Greek reforms that would allow ministers to acknowledge their completion and disburse loans. The latest problem concerns reforms that Greece has to implement to reach and keep a 3.5 percent of GDP budget surplus before debt servicing costs over several years starting in Institutions representing eurozone governments believe Greece will keep the 3.5 percent surplus also in 2019, but the International Monetary Fund, which eurozone governments want to join the bailout for credibility reasons, is sceptical. The biggest debate is caused by the pension reform, which would marginally raise payouts for some on the lowest pensions, but slash the highest pensions by 40 percent, with an overall average reduction in payouts of some 15 percent. Tsipras said Greece had achieved a primary budget surplus of 3.5 percent of GDP in 2016, outperforming its 0.5 percent target, so the debate was unnecessary. Responding to criticism, Tusk said the European Union stood by Greece s side and was facilitating negotiations. The sacrifices of the Greek citizens have been immense. One thing must be clear no one intends to punish Greece, our goal is only to help Greece, he said. I have no doubt that there is no alternative to a positive breakthrough on Friday. A spokeswoman for Germany s Finance Ministry said the government was watching the intensive discussions between Greece and its lenders. Delays are not good for economic recovery so we are waiting to see what comes out of these talks, she said.

34 BUSINESS 34 MSG Networks stock spikes Shares of MSG Networks shot up more than 6% in trading Tuesday on a report that the New York regional sports cablers controlled by the Dolan family are being shopped for a sale. MSG Networks consists of two channels, MSG Network and MSG+, as well as the MSG Go live streaming and on demand platform. The cablers control the New York-area rights to sports teams owned by the Dolan clan, including the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, as well as outside teams such as NHL s New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. The New York Post reported late Monday that MSG Networks James Dolan is looking to sell and has retained Guggenheim Partners to shop the channels. (RTRS) Name: Kuwait Sharia Compatible Indices Providers: Al Madar Finance & Investment Co. Description: Index of Sharia compatible companies traded on the KSE Website: Bloomberg Today s Today s closing Prev closing % 1-week 3-month YTD 12-month 24-month Index name ticker value as of value value change change change change change change Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Composite AMIC April 5, % 0.20% 6.83% 8.36% 19.91% -2.17% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only AMIC April 5, % -0.10% 5.84% 7.44% 17.31% -5.11% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active AMIC April 5, % 5.67% 23.22% 27.82% 49.01% 15.55% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector AMIC April 5, % -2.87% 4.07% 5.17% 14.03% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector AMIC April 5, % 3.26% 14.14% 23.29% 35.55% -9.37% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector AMIC April 5, % -0.82% 44.08% 45.04% 35.34% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector AMIC April 5, % 1.24% 6.74% 9.22% 13.93% -4.99% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector AMIC April 5, % -1.35% 22.88% 23.59% 23.38% 6.39% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector AMIC April 5, % 1.56% 4.61% 6.74% 23.47% 0.17% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector AMIC April 5, % 3.68% -3.51% -3.54% 0.73% -7.52% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector AMIC April 5, % -0.98% 8.69% 9.95% 23.45% -2.26% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector AMIC April 5, % 5.40% 25.96% 25.81% 89.33% % Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price KWSEIDX April 5, , , % 0.73% 21.07% 22.82% 35.72% 13.75% S&P 500 SPX April 4, , , % 0.07% 3.94% 5.42% 14.23% 14.19% DJ Islamic Index. DJIM April 4, , , % -0.13% 6.16% 7.49% 11.65% 6.40% Beijing s shock measures seize property market Smaller cities may be bright spot as demand spills over BEIJING, April 5, (RTRS): Ji Wei, a recently married photographer in her 20s, fears her plans to sell her Beijing apartment and upgrade to one costing 6.15 million yuan ($891,000) will collapse because of new measures aimed at reining in a soaring property market. Beijing, home to about 22 million people, is on the frontline as China takes on speculators and tries to tame home prices. Chinese authorities fear surging prices are building up household debt, heightening banks credit risks, and fanning resentment as home affordability fades. Apartments in Beijing on average are still cheaper than homes in Tokyo or London, but prices hit their 2016 peak in December and have continued to shatter records this year. Second-hand homes in the capital averaged 63,082 yuan ($9,165) per square metre in March, according to Fang.com, a private provider of home price data enough to value a modest 90 square metre (969 square feet) apartment at $824,850. Prices have surged almost 50 percent for a two-bedroom apartment from when I first started looking in October, said Jiang Yuan, 33, who works for a big data company. A previous round of restrictions cut the number of re-sale market deals in Beijing by 37 percent in the three months to end-december, but failed to stop prices rising. In mid-march, the municipal government acted again raising the minimum downpayment on a second home to 60 percent from 50 percent. On bigger homes, that minimum increases to 80 percent from 70 percent. They also suspended issuing individual mortgage loans of more than 25 years, effectively forcing borrowers to take on more expensive shorter loans. Buying a third property has already been banned. And the definition of a second-home Dotcom announces new Bitcoin venture for uploaders to earn money buyer has been broadened to include anyone who has a record of taking out a previous mortgage anywhere in China. Beijing has also curbed individuals buying new commercial property, and closed a loophole in buyers faking divorce to take advantage of first-home downpayment rates. The number of new clients expressing interest to buy fell by nearly a third in the week following the latest curbs, and home viewings dropped 30.7 percent, according to data from Lianjia, Beijing s dominant real estate broker. It may be too early to gauge the impact on prices, though. Fang.com data shows prices in Beijing s re-sale market grew 1.07 percent in March, slower than February s 3.3 percent increase. Official March home price data is due on April 18. The market will freeze under the new measures, said Yi Xianrong, a professor at Qingdao University and former researcher at state think-tank the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Sales may drop 90 percent. Ambush It was like an ambush, said Ji, the photographer. The prospective buyer for Ji s flat has now withdrawn, leaving her to find another buyer quickly or risk defaulting on her contract for the bigger home, and losing over half a million yuan in the deposit. I m worried no one wants to buy my 50 square metre apartment anymore, she says. I m not the only one affected by the new policies. I m just one link in a long chain. If one person scraps the contract, the whole chain is likely to break. Local property agents reckon home upgraders like Ji make up around 80 percent of buyers in Beijing this year. Some developers, too, are concerned about the impact on the market. This round of tightening is unprecedentedly harsh, and I m very, very pessimistic about the market, Sun Hongbin, chairman of Sunac China Holdings told financial magazine Caixin on March 28. The risks are very high in our industry mainly because property prices are now limited by the government. If we buy land at current price levels, we will no doubt lose money. While Ji frets, other cities are copying Beijing. In just two weeks, at least 50 cities have emulated the capital, says Yan Yuejin, an analyst with E-House China R&D Institute, which tracks China s housing policy. Those include smaller and less developed cities that had benefited from a speculator-driven boom, such as Zhuozhou and Langfang. Last week, the housing ministry said Beijing s tightening experience deserved to be studied by the rest of the country, state media reported. Beijing s housing bureau representative Xu Jianyun was reported as saying the authorities would unswervingly contain upward price pressure. While the measures are aimed at speculators, genuine buyers, too, are caught. Jiang, the big data worker, has an apartment in the eastern port city of Qingdao, and wants to buy his first home in Beijing, where he works. But the re-definition on second-home buyers means he faces paying at least a 60 percent downpayment instead of the 35 percent rate for first-home buyers in the capital. My budget is up to 2.2 million yuan for the downpayment for a 2-bed flat, Jiang says, But with the new requirement, I d have to pay 3.5 million yuan as a downpayment for my ideal home. However, Cao Zhounan, CEO and chairman of property developer Greentown China Holdings Ltd, while predicting nationwide sales volumes will drop, says the market will increasingly cater to genuine buyers who will actually live in the homes they buy. The restrictions may, intentionally or not, also drive property investors to look beyond China s capital. In a recent phone sales pitch, a telemarketer eagerly promoted projects in cities near Beijing, including earthquake-prone Tangshan, which has a poor record on pollution. The tougher the stance that authorities take in tier-1 cities, the greater the share of activity that will be pushed into tier-2 and beyond, Westpac said in a March 20 note. In this fi le photo, Britain s Prince Charles (at center in blue suit), travels on the Admiral s Barge past the Sydney city skyline as he crosses Sydney Harbour. Australia s prime minister was fending off criticism over tax concessions for investors in booming urban property markets on April 5, after a central banker warned soaring house prices could threaten the economy. (AP) Soaring home prices could hurt Australian economy: RBA gov Turnbull promises help on housing affordability CANBERRA, Australia, April 5, (AP): Australia s prime minister fended off criticism Wednesday over tax concessions for investors in booming urban property markets after a central banker warned soaring housing prices could hurt the economy. Housing affordability has become a hot-button issue with many firsttime buyers priced out of the market, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, where 40 percent of the country s 24 million people live. A growing share of accommodation is being snapped up by investors who outbid owner-occupiers with the help of the generous tax concessions. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull WELLINGTON, April 5, (RTRS): Controversial New Zealand-based internet mogul Kim Dotcom plans to launch a Bitcoin payments system for users to sell files and video streaming as he fights extradition to the United States for criminal copyright charges. The German-born entrepreneur, who is wanted by US law enforcement on copyright and money laundering allegations related to his now-defunct streaming site Megaupload, announced his new venture called Bitcontent in a video posted on Youtube this week. You can create a payment for any content that you put on the internet... you can share that with your customers, with the interest community and, boom, you are basically in business and can sell your content, Dotcom said in the video. He added that Bitcontent would eventually allow businesses, such as news organisations, to earn money from their entire websites. He did not provide a launch date. Dotcom did not provide details on how Bitcontent would differ from existing Bitcoin operations or how it would help news organisations make money beyond existing subscription payment options. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that can be used to move money around the world quickly and with relative anonymity, without the need for a central authority, such as a bank or government. The currency s anonymity has however made it popular with drug dealers, money launderers and organised crime groups, meaning governments and the financial establishment have been slow to embrace it since the first trade in The currency s value hit record levels in 2017, trading at $1,145 on Wednesday, a fivefold increase in a year, amid growing interest globally. said the government s budget for the next fiscal year, to be announced on May 9, will include help for home buyers. But he said state and local governments were causing prices to rise by not releasing enough land for housing construction. Changing tax arrangements can have an impact, but they are a minor part of the solution, Turnbull told reporters. The key to dealing with the housing affordability issue is building more houses, he said. In a speech Tuesday, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe raised concerns about a possible housing crisis as household incomes fail to keep pace with mortgage costs. Housing-related debt rose at a 6.5 percent annual pace last year while household incomes increased by 3 percent. The concern has been that the longer the recent trends continue, the greater the risk to the future health of the economy, Lowe said. A strong lesson from history is that stretched balance sheets make for more volatile times when things turn down, he said. Lowe said a shortage of housing needed to be addressed. But he also said the increase in socalled interest-only loans that account for 40 percent of home loans issued in Australia last year were unusual by international standards. Investors repay only the interest on such loans and none of the principal, because the interest is tax deductible as a business expense and paying down the principal is not. The investors then rely on everincreasing property prices to deliver a profit when they eventually sell. But economists worry that a bursting of the property bubble would land them in trouble. Australia traditionally has had a relatively high rate of home ownership and the lack of affordable housing is a growing political issue. The center-left opposition Labor Party accuses Turnbull s conservative government of siding with wealthy landlords over tenants. Labor campaigned at elections last year for a reduction in tax breaks for property investors to level the playing field for bidders who want homes. Other than the government and the few remaining friends they ve got, everyone else recognizes that the tax policies of the federal government are pushing the dream of being able to afford your own home more out of reach of everyday Australians, said opposition leader Bill Shorten. investment funds Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) National Bank of Kuwait Money Market Funds Watani KD Money Market Fund II NBK Capital Weekly March 28, 2017 KD Jan 17, 2017 Watani USD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly March 28, 2017 USD Jan 17, 2017 Watani KD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly March 28, 2017 KD Jan 17, 2017 Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly March 28, 2017 USD NBK Kuwait Equity Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly March 23, 2017 KD Gulf Equity Investment Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly March 23, 2017 USD Gulf Bank Al Basha er GCC Equity Fund Kwt. Fin. & Inv. Co. & Gulf Fin. House Monthly Feb 28, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 Coast Fund Coast Investment & Dev. Co. Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Sanaya Dow Jones Kuwait Index Fund Industrial & Financial Investment Co. Weekly Jan 26, 2017 KD Dec 30, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 1 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 2 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Markaz Gulf Real Estate Fund Bi-annual Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Al Ahli Bank Al Ahli Gulf Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Al Ahli Kuwaiti Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Burgan Bank Burgan Equity Fund Burgan Bank Monthly March 26, 2017 KD Feb 26, 2017 Boubyan Bank Boubyan KD Money Market Fund Boubyan Bank Weekly March 28, 2017 KD Feb 28, 2017 Boubyan KD Money Market Fund II Boubyan Bank Weekly March 28, 2017 KD Feb 28, 2017 Boubyan Capital Investment Co. Boubyan USD Liquidity Fund Boubyan Capital Investment Co March 28, 2017 USD Feb 28, 2017 Boubyan Multi-Asset Holding Fund Boubyan Bank Feb 28, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 Kuwait Investment Co. Local Fund Al Raed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly March 31, 2017 KD March 23, 2017 Kuwait Investment Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly March 30, 2017 KD Feb 28, 2017 Al Hilal Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly March 31, 2017 KD Feb 28, 2017 Al Atheer Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly March 31, 2017 KD Feb 28, 2017 International Global Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly March 22, 2017 USD March 15, 2017 Diversified Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly March 29, 2017 USD March 22, 2017 European Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Feb 28, 2017 Euro Jan 31, 2017 Pacific Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly March 29, 2017 USD March 22, 2017 North American Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Tw. Monthly Feb 28, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 National Investment Co. (NIC) Al-Wataniya Fund NIC Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Al-Darij Fund NIC Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Mawarid Fund NIC Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Zajil Fund NIC Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Al Mada Investment Fund NIC Weekly Feb 28, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) Mumtaz Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 16, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 MIDAF Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 16, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 16, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 Markaz Arabian Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Nov 10, 2016 KD Nov 3, 2016 FORSA Financial Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Real Estate Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Markaz Fixed Income Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly March 16, 2017 USD March 9, 2017 Mawazeen International Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 19, 2017 USD March 12, 2017 Markaz MENA Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 16, 2017 USD Feb 28, 2017 Kuwait & Middle East Financial & Inv. Co. Al Rou yah Fund KMEFIC Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Gulf Gate Fund KMEFIC Monthly Oct 31, 2016 KD Sept 30, 2016 Global Investment House Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) Index Funds GCC Large Cap Index Fund Global Weekly March 23, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 Equity Funds Al-Mamoun Fund A Global Weekly March 23, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 Al-Mamoun Fund B Global Weekly March 23, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 GCC Large Cap Fund Global Bi-weekly March 21, 2017 USD March 7, 2017 Al-Noor Fund Global Bi-weekly Jan 31, 2017 SAR Jan 24, 2017 Global Saudi Equity Fund Global Bi-weekly March 21, 2017 SAR March 7, 2017 Money Market Funds Global Money Market Fund Global Weekly Nov 20, 2016 USD Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly March 21, 2017 USD March 7, 2017 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly March 21, 2017 USD March 7, 2017 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly March 23, 2017 KD March 9, 2017 Kuwait Finance & Investment Co (KFIC) Al Wasm Fund KFIC Weekly March 16, 2017 KD Feb 15, 2017 Al Basha er GCC Equity Fund KFIC Monthly Feb 28, 2017 USD Dec 31, 2016 KAMCO KAMCO Investment Fund KAMCO Monthly Jan 31, 2017 KD Nov 30, 2016 KAMCO GCC Opportunities Fund KAMCO Monthly July 31, 2016 USD Feb 29, 2016 KAMCO MENA Plus Fixed Income Fund KAMCO Jan 31, 2017 USD Dec 31, 2016 KAMCO Real Estate Yield Fund KAMCO Jan 31, 2017 USD Dec 30, 2016 Kuwait Education Fund KAMCO Quartely Sept 30, 2016 KD Wafra International Investment Co. Wafra Equity Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Shuaa Capital Co. Emirates Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Feb 7, 2017 AED Jan 31, 2017 The Arab Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Feb 7, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 Al Aman Investment Al Aman Islamic Fund Al Aman Investment Weekly Dec 31, 2016 KD Nov 1, 2016 Tharwa Investment Co. Tharwa Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly March 13, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Tharwa Arab Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Bi-weekly July 31, 2016 USD June 30, 2016 Tharwa World Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly March 31, 2016 USD March 15, 2016 Tharwa Islamic Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly March 13, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Bank Al-Bilad Al Seef Fund Bank Al-Bilad Daily March 15, 2017 KD March 1, 2017 Commercial International Bank CIB Money Market Fund (Osoul) CI Asset Management Weekly April 4, 2017 EGP March 30, 2017 CIB II Equity (Isthethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly April 4, 2017 EGP March 30, 2017 CIB and Faisal Islamic Al Aman CI Asset Management Weekly April 4, 2017 EGP March 30, 2017 Hemaya CI Asset Management Weekly April 2, 2017 EGP March 1, 2017 Thabat CI Asset Management Weekly April 4, 2017 EGP March 30, 2017 Takamol CI Asset Management Weekly April 4, 2017 EGP March 30, 2017 Misr El Mostakbel CI Asset Management Weekly April 2, 2017 EGP March 27, 2017 Noor Financial Investment Co. Noor Islamic Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly Feb 29, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 Al Zumorroda Investment Co. Zumorroda GCC Fund Al Zumorroda Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 KFH Capital Investment Co. Muthanna Islamic Index Fund (MUDX) KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Muthanna GCC Islamic Banks Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Baitak GCC Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Weekly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 CapCorp Investment Co. CapCorp Local Fund CapCorp Investment Company Weekly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017

35 BUSINESS 35 JAB snaps up Panera Bread for more than $7 bn Panera is being acquired by Europe s JAB Holding Co for more than $7 billion. JAB is better known for the growing stable of brands it owns or has a big stake in, including Peet s Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee Co, Stumptown Coffee and Keurig Green Mountain and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. For days there have been rumors of a deal for Panera, with one of the companies reportedly interested being Starbucks Corp. On Wednesday, the St Louis sandwich and soup chain revealed that it was actually JAB, an investment fund based in Luxemburg that has quietly become a Starbucks rival. Our success for shareholders is the byproduct of our commitment to long-term decision making and operating in the interest of all stakeholders, including guests, associates, and franchisees, said Panera founder and CEO Ron Shaich. We believe this transaction with JAB offers the best way to continue to operate with this approach. We are pleased to join with JAB, a private investor with an equally long-term perspective, as well as a deep commitment to our strategic plan. (AP) Kuwait market swings higher; volume surges Ooredoo gains 20 fils; KIPCO flat By John Mathews Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Kuwait stocks swung higher on Wednesday extending the modest gains in the day before. The price index jumped pts to 7, pts helped by strong buying in banks and few other counters. The bourse earlier in the week had suspended 13 companies from trading for failing to submit the financial statements for The KSX 15 benchmark climbed 9.8 pts to points taking the year s gains to 73 points while weighted index rose 4 pts. The volume turnover surged past the 400 million mark to hit a twoweek high million shares changed hands a pct jump from Tuesday. The sectors closed mostly in the green turf. Technology outled the rest with 3.13 pct gain whereas healthcare shed 0.67 percent, the steepest decliner of the day. In terms of volume, financial services mustered the highest market share of pct while financial services followed with pct contribution. Among the prime movers, National Bank of Kuwait rallied 10 fils on back of 1.63 million shares to 690 fils and Kuwait Finance House followed suit with a volume of 2.8 million shares. Burgan Bank too was up 10 fils at 350 fils. Zain continued to stagnate at 460 fils with brisk turnover of 11.8 million shares while Ooredoo climbed 20 fils to KD Kuwait Telecommunications Co (VIVA) stood pat at 900 fils and Agility too did not budge from its earlier close of 650 fils. Gulf Bank rose 9 fils to 255 fils and Kuwait International Bank gained 11 fils on back of over 7 million shares. KIB posted fourth quarter earnings of KD 4.72 million and the board has recommended a cash dividend of 10 pct for FY16. The market opened flat and swung north in early trade amid brisk buying in banking shares and some of the mid-caps. The main index moved sideways thereafter in a narrow range before revving up in the final minutes to peak at 7,061 pts and closed with strong gains. Top gainer of the day, BIIHC rallied pct to 25 fils while National Cleaning Co climbed 9.8 pct to stand close behind. KBMMC slid 7.35 pct, the steepest decliner of the day and Ithmaar Bank topped the volume with over 51 million shares. Mirroring the day s upswing, the market spread was heavily skewed towards the winners. 73 stocks advanced while 24 closed lower. Of the 134 counters active on Wednesday, 37 closed flat deals worth KD mln were transacted a 44.5 pct surge in value from the day before. National Industries Group rallied 6 fils on back of 4 million shares and Kuwait Cement Co was up 5 fils at 495 fils. Gulf Cable slipped 5 fils to and Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding Co was down 6 fils at 216 fils. Jazeera Airways was flat at 570 fils and ALAFCO too did not budge from its earlier close of 246 fils. Kuwait Portland Cement Co gained 20 fils with thin volume while Kuwait Cement Co was up 5 fils at 495 fils. NCCI and Metal and Recycling Co added 4 fils each. Dipped Kuwait Foundry Co dipped 10 fils to 315 fils and Hilal Cement Co followed suit to wind up at 206 fils. ACICO Industries Co and Boubyan Petrochemical Co were flat at 305 fils and 570 fils respectively whereas Equipment Holding Co added 5 fils. Combined Group Contracting Co shed 10 fils and Automated Systems Co jumped 20 fils. The company has posted a 41.3 pct drop in profits to KD 333,000 during the fourth quarter of PAPCO fell 4 fils to 106 fils and Napesco paused at KD Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Co climbed 4 fils to 70 fils while KGL Logistics Co inched 1 fils into green. Al Qurain Petrochemical Co added 5 fils whereas Independent Petroleum Group stood pat at 410 fils. OSOS and AWJ Holding clipped 2 fils each whereas Yiaco was down 10 fils at 240 fils. Jeeran Holding took in 5 fils and Al Rai Media Group dialed down 2 fils before settling at 174 fils. Zimah Holding was up 2 fils at 61 fils. In the banking sector, Commercial Bank of Kuwait and Al Ahli Bank were unchanged at 435 fils and 455 fils respectively whereas Ahli United Bank gained 10 fils. Boubyan Bank slipped 5 fils and Warba Bank was up 5 fils at 265 fils. KIPCO and KMEFIC were flat at 500 fils and 30.5 fils respectively whereas Kuwait Investment Co took in 2 fils. Securities House Co and Securities Group Co stalled at 51 fils and 99 fils respectively and Coast Investment Co inched 0.5 fils higher. Bayan Investment Co rose 2.5 fils on back of 9.6 million shares while Unicap and Al Mal Investment Co dialed up 0.5 fils each. KAMCO eased 1 fils whereas Osoul Investment and Sokouk Holding closed flat. KFIC took in 0.5 fils and Aayan closed 1 fils in green with brisk trading. United Real Estate Co and National Real Estate Co both paused at 104 fils while Kuwait Real Estate Co inched 1 fils up. Mabanee Co stood pat at 830 fils and Mazaya Holding dialed up 2 fils on back of 1.5 million shares. The market has been mixed so far during the week and has gained 30 pts in last four sessions. It had rallied 238 points during whole of March and is trading pct higher year-to-date. KSE, with 208 listed companies, is the second largest bourse in the region. In the bourse related news, Al Mazaya Holding net profits soared 31.7 pct to KD 2.59 million in last quarter of 2016 while profits rose 10 pct to KD million during the fiscal year of The board has recommended an annual cash dividend of 8% or 8 fils per share. Gulf Glass Manufacturing Co s fourth quarter net profit dipped o 64% in KD 14,000 from KD 39,000 in same period last year. During the fiscal year of 2016, profits was down 48 percent to KD 1.21 million from KD 2.34 mln in the previous year. Al Mowasat Health Care has posted KD 1.8 million profits during the fourth quarter of 2016 and for the fiscal year of 2016, earnings rose 35.3 pct to KD 4.52 million from the year before. The board of directors has recommended a dividend payout of 20% or 20 fils per share. Injazzat Real Estate Development has posted a net profit of KD 550,000 in the last quarter of 2016 and during the fiscal year of 2016, the bank earned KD 3.2 million. The board has recommended a cash dividend of 5% or 5 fils per share for FY Ajial Real Estate Entertainment Company (AREEC) net losses narrowed by 22.7 pct to KD 888,620 from KD 1.15 million in Q4 of The annual profits in 2016 clocked KD 1.5 million and the board has recommended the distribution of cash dividends at 5% of capital. Mideast Stocks Saudi bourse up on oil rally Blue chips boost Abu Dhabi index DUBAI, April 5, (RTRS): Stock markets in the Middle East firmed on Wednesday with Abu Dhabi outperforming its peers for a second day as institutional investors targeted blue chips, while crude oil near a one month high boosted Saudi Arabia. Abu Dhabi s index climbed 2.0 percent on the back of a 4.1 percent jump in shares of newly merged lender First Abu Dhabi Bank. It has now soared by 10.7 percent since Sunday, when the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank tie up became official in very high volumes. Farid Samji, head of asset management at Dubai-based Daman Investment, attributed the exceptionally high volumes to the inflow from the change of weighting in the emerging market indexes, including the MSCI Emerging Market index and the FTSE secondary emerging market index. But that alone does not explain the spike in turnover, the other factor is that people are taking a positive view on the stock because of the synergies post the merger and those who sold ahead of the combination are now returning to buy, Samji said. The positive mood spilled into other blue chips lenders. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank climbed 1.3 percent in above one month average daily volume. Volumes give a sense of optimism, said Samji. In neighbouring Dubai, the index rose 0.4 percent, it sixth consecutive session of gains, as most blue chips outperformed their smaller peers. Emaar Properties climbed 0.9 percent, but a 4.5 percent slump in Emirates Integrated Telecommunication (du) restrained gains as its shares went ex-dividend on Wednesday. In Saudi Arabia, all but one of the 13 listed petrochemical producers rose, helping lift the index 0.9 percent higher. Yanbu National Petrochemical jumped 3.5 percent. Shares of electronics retailer United Electronics, the first company to report first quarter results, jumped 7.4 percent after the company swung to a net profit of 12.9 million riyals ($3.44 million), compared to a loss of 45.9 million riyals in the prior year period. The company estimated total sales for the first quarter to have increased 8.3 percent to 805 million riyals compared to the same period last year. Egypt s index closed 0.2 percent higher at 13,290 points, but 117 points off its intra-day high. The only share on that index that closed higher was Commercial International Bank, which added 0.9 percent. Most other shares wiped out gains from earlier in the day. Investment firm EFG Hermes closed down 1.5 percent to Egyptian pounds ($1.42), after hitting a session high of pounds. Saudi Arabia The index rose 0.9 percent to 7,051 points. Dubai The index added 0.4 percent to 3,573 points. Abu Dhabi The index jumped 2.0 percent to 4,641 points. Qatar The index rose 0.7 percent to 10,467 points. Kuwait The index added 0.6 percent to 7,060 points. Egypt The index edged up 0.2 percent to 13,290 points. Bahrain The index edged up 0.2 percent to 1,351 points.

36 BUSINESS 36 Templeton s Hasenstab buys Ghana s cedi bonds Nigerian naira weakens as CB raises dollar sales Franklin Templeton s high-profi le bond fund manager Michael Hasenstab has taken a substantial position in Ghana s cedi-denominated government bonds via this week s jumbo debt auction, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. The investment by Hasenstab, whose fl agship $41 billion Templeton Global Bond fund seeks to pick up out-of-favour credits and made successful contrarian punts on Ireland and Hungary in recent years, is a boon for Ghana as the new government tries to stabilise the economy and review terms of an International Monetary Fund loan. Ghana s Monday sale of $2.2 billion worth of bonds was the single-biggest daily transaction in sub-saharan Africa. It included a debut 15-year bond that raised 3.42 billion cedis ($790 million) at a percent yield. The Finance Ministry statement had reported a very substantial investment in the 15-year bond by a very well respected global financial investor. The ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. But a senior government offi cial, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Franklin Templeton had participated in the sale. (RTRS) Nigeria s naira weakened against the dollar on the black market on Wednesday even as the central bank increased the supply of dollars to currency retail bureaux in an attempt to boost support for the local currency. The naira weakened to about 398 a dollar on the black market, against 390 per dollar on Friday, as speculators took advantage of increased demand to make quick gains, traders said. The president of the association of bureau de change operators, Aminu Gwadabe, said the central bank had offered to sell an additional $10,000 to its members on Thursday in a bid to provide support for the naira. The central bank is selling additional $10,000 to bureau de change on Thursday beside the earlier one disbursed on Tuesday, making it a total of $20,000 per week to each member, Gwadabe said. With the planned sales, retail currency bureaux will receive around $65 million per week from the central bank, he said. Last week, the central bank set a rate of 362 naira for exchange bureaux to sell the US currency to consumers and also increased the amount of dollar sales to each currency seller to $10,000, up from $5,000, in its bid to improve dollar liquidity. (RTRS) the bottomline US stocks, dollar gain on strong DUBAI: Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank has priced at par a $1.25 billion senior unsecured five-year sukuk with a percent profit rate, a document issued by one of the lead banks showed on Wednesday. The triple-a rated, Jeddahheadquartered financial institution a day earlier had started marketing the sukuk with an initial price guidance in the lowto mid-40 basis points over mid-swaps range. It set the final spreads at 40 bps over mid-swaps on Wednesday. Joint lead banks for the sukuk are Boubyan Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, GIB Capital, Goldman Sachs International, HSBC, Maybank, Natixis, and Standard Chartered. (RTRS) CAIRO: Egypt s Naeem Holding on Wednesday started a private placement for a real estate fund worth 1 billion Egyptian pounds ($56 million), the company s chief executive officer Yousef Al Far said at a news conference. The placement will take place over one month and will be followed by an initial public offering for the fund before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, due to start at the end of May. Al Far said the fund s duration was three years and it was expected to make a profit of at least 26 percent a year. The minimum investment for the private placement is 10 million pounds and for the public offering 50,000 pounds. The firm also plans to launch another real estate fund before the end of the year, Al Far said. (RTRS) MILWAUKEE: Candy maker Mars Inc is suing a Wisconsin woman over chocolates she is selling under a name that the company argues is confusingly similar to its cocoa extract supplements called CocoaVia. The McLean, Virginia-based company said in a federal lawsuit filed March 24 that the chocolates sold in Madison by Syovata Edari will likely confuse and deceive consumers because they re branded as CocoVaa. The company contends the similarity in the brand names hurts Mars reputation and Edari should be barred from using CocoVaa on her products. (AP) SAN FRANCISCO: TASER International, the maker of electrical weapons for police officers, is changing its name to Axon as it pushes further into the software business. The Axon name comes from the business unit that sells police body cameras, patrol car cameras and the software for managing the hours of digital footage they generate. In a gamble that police departments will sign up for paid software subscriptions, the company is offering a free body camera to police officers in addition to a year of free access to Evidence.com, its online software for managing video and other evidence. TASER still gets the bulk of its revenue from selling its weapons, which use electrical current to immobilize targets. Last year, $202.6 million of its $268.2 million in revenue came from its weapons segment, mostly in the form of replacement cartridges. (RTRS) AMSTERDAM: Dutch paint maker AkzoNobel could face a shareholder revolt if it continues to avoid a meeting with PPG Industries to discuss a possible takeover by the US company, PPG Chief Executive Michael McGarry told exchange rates April 5 Reuters on Wednesday. McGarry said he had been approached by virtually all of Akzo s 20 largest shareholders after PPG proposed a 24.5 billion euro ($26.1 billion) takeover deal. None of them were opposed to the idea, he said. I think shareholders are dismayed at being placed last in all (Akzo s) stakeholder conversations, he said in an interview. PPG said separately on Wednesday it was ready to address Akzo s non-financial objections to its proposal. On Tuesday, Akzo repeated its opposition to a deal with the US paints and coatings maker. It has said PPG s proposal undervalues its business, would run into difficulty with competition regulators and be bad for employees. (RTRS) BRUSSELS: European Union regulators have blocked the proposed takeover of Cemex Croatia, a cement maker, by Germany s HeidelbergCement and Schwenk, saying it would have significantly reduced competition. The EU s antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, said Wednesday that we had clear evidence that this takeover would have led to price increases in Croatia, which could have adversely affected the construction sector. The EU regulators said the German companies had failed to agree on concessions that would have eased the EU s concerns about market domination. The EU estimates that the combined companies would have had percent of the market in Croatia. Cemex Croatia is a unit of the Cemex Group, a multinational headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico. (AP) OSLO: Norway s deputy oil minister will meet top executives of China s biggest offshore oil producer CNOOC on Thursday to discuss possible cooperation ahead of the first visit by a Norwegian prime minister to China in a decade, officials said. CNOOC, which operates the 140,000 barrels per day Buzzard field offshore UK via its subsidiary Nexen, said in 2010 it would be interested to come to Norway. The row over the Nobel Peace Prize award to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo that same year froze relations between the two countries. (RTRS) OSLO: Norwegian Air, Europe s thirdlargest budget airline by passenger numbers, said bookings from Europe to the United States were surprisingly good and that the firm had yet to see a see negative impact from the US administration attempts at imposing travel bans, its CEO told Reuters on Wednesday. Bookings to the US are very good, surprisingly good, Bjoern Kjos said in an interview on the sidelines of a conference. We have not seen it (a negative impact of the ban attempts). That is probably because we do not fly (directly) from the countries affected. (RTRS) BERLIN: Global Fashion Group, the emerging markets fashion retailer set up by German ecommerce investor Rocket Internet, reined in losses in the fourth quarter as it increased efficiency across its regions despite tough economic conditions. Founded in Berlin in 2007, Rocket has built up dozens of businesses from fashion e-commerce to food delivery, but many investors have become concerned about heavy losses and falling valuations for its key start-ups. (RTRS) private jobs reports; Europe flat NEW YORK, April 5, (RTRS): US stocks rose on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq hitting a fresh alltime high on strong US private sector-jobs data, which also lifted the dollar as it backed forecasts for at least two more interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve this year. US companies added 263,000 workers in March, the most since December 2014, pointing to further tightening of the labor market, payrolls processor ADP said. The report easily beat the median forecast, among economists surveyed by Reuters, of a 187,000 increase. The US dollar gained against the Japanese yen for the first time in four days after the report, which supported forecasts for at least two more rate hikes by the Fed this year. The dollar index rose 0.12 percent, with the euro down 0.17 percent to $ The yen weakened 0.44 percent versus the greenback to per dollar. The jobs data brought investors back into the market even as concerns about US President Donald Trump s ability to deliver on his pro-growth policy plans persist after a recent legislative setback. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was on track for its best day since March 1 in a broad rally. The Dow rose points, or 0.68 percent, to 20, The S&P 500 gained points, or 0.55 percent, to 2, and the Nasdaq Composite added points, or 0.46 percent, at 5, European stocks rose on the ADP report but pared gains to close flat. The pan-european FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 0.01 percent to close at a provisional 1,497.68, while the STOXX Europe 600 Index, a broad mix of companies from 17 regional countries, rose 0.02 percent. MSCI s all-country world index of stocks from 46 countries gained 0.31 percent. Oil prices rose on an outage at the largest UK North Sea oil field, but gains were tempered by a surprise increase in US crude inventories to a record high. Prices rose early and then seesawed after the US government reported a weekly rise in crude inventories of 1.6 million barrels. US US stocks rose on Wednesday in a broad-based rally, spurred by a blowout private employment data that reinforced the strength of the economy. US companies added 263,000 workers in March, the most since December 2014 and well above economists expectations of 187,000. Oil hits one-month high near $55 a barrel The report by payrolls processor ADP acts as a precursor to the Friday s nonfarm payrolls data that includes hiring in both the public and private sectors. All the 11 major S&P 500 sectors were up, with financials and technology giving the biggest boost. The Nasdaq hit an all-time high, buoyed by Amazon. Microsoft and Apple touching record highs. At 12:33 pm ET (1633 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up points, or 0.74 percent, at 20,841.54, the S&P 500 was up points, or 0.62 percent, at 2, The Nasdaq Composite was up points, or 0.52 percent, at 5, It hit a record of 5, The ADP report drew investors back into the market after a period of rangebound trading amid worries about President Donald Trump s ability to deliver on his policy plans after recent setbacks in Congress. However, investors are cautiously awaiting a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping that starts on Thursday. The meeting, which Trump expects will be a very difficult one, is likely to focus on North Korea s arms program and China-US trade. Lofty market valuations in the wake of the post-election rally will be tested when the first-quarter earnings season starts next week. Valuations from a historical standpoint are in the high end but as long as earnings growth and GDP continue to do well, there is argument that they are justified, Clouston said. Panera Bread jumped nearly 14 percent to $ after JAB Holdings said it would buy the bakery chain for $7.16 billion. The Federal Reserve will release the minutes of its March policy meeting at 2:00 pm ET (1800 GMT). Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 1,865 to 966. On the Nasdaq, 1,532 issues rose and 1,203 fell. The S&P 500 index showed week highs and three lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 62 highs and 35 lows. Europe European shares ended little changed on Wednesday, as gains in commodity stocks were offset by weaker autos, but investors remained upbeat about prospects for the region s equities following solid economic data. The pan-european STOXX 600 index ended at 380 points after moving in an out of positive territory throughout the session. UK s FTSE added 0.1 percent and Germany s DAX slipped 0.5 percent. Euro zone businesses had their best quarter in six years, construction purchasing managers indexes showed, with individual countries data also improving, indicating broad-based growth in economies across Europe. Though major indexes were little changed after the data, it added to an improving picture for investors looking at European equities. Draghi has been ECB president since November In a further sign of growing confidence, Citi upgraded continental European stocks to overweight, predicting that the STOXX 600 index would rise another 8 percent by year-end. Meanwhile merger and acquisitions activity continued to drive price action on Wednesday. Syngenta rose 0.9 percent after ChemChina won conditional EU antitrust approval for its $43 billion bid for the Swiss pesticides and seeds group. Danish business support services firm ISS rose 4 percent after agreeing to buy US catering firm Guckenheimer for 1.5 billion Danish crowns ($222 million). Oil services groups Wood Group rose 2.7 percent after saying it expected about 36 percent more cost savings from its deal to buy Amec Foster Wheeler for 2.2 billion pounds. Amec rose 2.2 percent. Petrofac lagged a positive oil sector, down 3.5 percent after downgrades from Deutsche Bank and Bernstein. Autos stocks were the worst-performing sector for the second straight day, down 1.1 percent to their lowest closing level in nearly 8 weeks. Asia Chinese stocks rose on Wednesday led by the Shanghai benchmark posting its best day in eight months, as investors cheered Beijing s decision to launch a new economic zone in Hebei province, sending shares of several related firms surging by the daily limit of 10 percent. The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 1.4 percent to 3, points, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.5 percent to 3, points. China on Saturday approved a new special economic zone, described as a thousand year project, in the heavily polluted province of Hebei, to focus on building clusters of high-tech and innovative businesses and take over some non-capital functions from Beijing. Tian identified several sectors aside from property that would benefit from the plan, including environmental and infrastructure stocks. This time the momentum is more sustainable because it s boosted not simply by the housing market, which holds lots of uncertainty at the moment, Tian said. An index tracking major developers added 1.6 percent, despite Beijing s ban on property sales to contain speculators after a sudden housing boom in the new economic zone. The central bank injected billion yuan ($89.86 billion) into the financial system via short- and mediumterm liquidity tools in March, up nearly 50 percent from the previous month. Sectors rallied across the board, led by infrastructure and material stocks, seen benefiting greatly from the development of the new zone. Shares of more than 30 companies related to the new economic zone shot up by the maximum allowed 10 percent, including developer BBMG Corp, cement maker Jidong Cement and harbour operator Tianjin Port. Hong Kong stocks eked out marginal gains on Wednesday, drawing inspiration from a mainland rally, but gains were limited as investors were cautious before a highly-anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this week. Oil Oil hit a one-month high near $55 a barrel on Wednesday as a fall in US crude inventories raised hopes OPECled supply cuts were clearing a glut, while an outage at the largest UK North Sea oilfield lent support. US crude inventories fell by a morethan-expected 1.8 million barrels last week, American Petroleum Institute data showed on Tuesday. The focus is now on whether the government s supply report on Wednesday confirms the decline. Should it confirm that US crude stocks did indeed fall for what would only be the second time this year, it will mark the start of a sustained tightening in US crude supplies, said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. Global benchmark Brent crude was up 70 cents at $54.87 a barrel by 1334 GMT. It reached $54.95 intraday, the highest since March 8. US crude gained 68 cents to$ Oil also rose after an outage at the 180,000-barrels-per-day Buzzard field in the North Sea. Buzzard is the largest field contributing to Forties, the most important of the four crude streams underpinning Brent. This outage more than offsets the increase in oil production in Libya, said Carsten Fritsch of Commerzbank, referring to the recovery in output at Libya s Sharara field. An output cut from Jan. 1 led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has helped Brent recover from a 12-year low near $27 last year, although rising US output and stubbornly high stocks have limited the rally. Gold Gold fell from one-month highs on Wednesday after better-than-expected US jobs data boosted US bond yields and the dollar, but safe-haven demand ahead of a meeting of US and Chinese leaders limited losses. A stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for holders of other currencies, while higher bond yields dampen demand for non-yielding bullion. Spot gold was down 0.8 percent at $1, an ounce at 1400 GMT, while US gold futures were 0.8 percent lower at $1, an ounce. Gold touched $1,261.15, its highest since Feb. 27, on Tuesday but failed to close above its 200-day moving average, currently at $1,258, for the third time in less than six weeks. BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK KFH KBE BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK KFH KBE BEC Muzaini Dollarco Gulf Bank ABK KFH KBE Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy US dollar Danish krone Cyprus pound Sterling pound Indian rupee Yemeni riyal travellers cheques US dollar Sterling Euro local gold BEC Commercial Bank Gulf Bank Al-Ahli Bank BEC Muzaini Exchange Euro Pakistani rupee Thai baht Japanese yen Sri Lanka rupee South African rand Swiss franc Bangladesh taka Korean won Gold 999 kg 12, Canadian dollar Philippine peso Syrian pound Gold tola 1, Gold ounce Swedish krona Australian dollar Iranian Riyal Gold gm 22k Saudi riyal Gold gm 21k Hong Kong dollar Lebanese pound Gold gm 18k UAE dirham Singapore dollar Malaysian ringgit gm Bahraini dinar gm Jordanian dinar Indonesian rupiah Omani riyal Egyptian pound New Zealand dollar All rates in KD per unit of foreign currency

37 INTERNATIONAL 37 All those who Continued from Page 1 citations from a new book published this year which is titled Al-Khazouq (Impalement) and written by a courageous man Pishawi Al-Qoms. This author gave me the book as a gift and I am still enjoying reading its first chapter. The title of the book refers to the execution tool known as Impalement used by the Ottoman Empire to punish the opposition and enemies. It came in the form of a long stick with a pointy edge, which was inserted into the victim from the bottom and then pushed through the body to exit through the mouth. The victim would then be left on that stick until death. This book is about the dark history of the Muslim Brotherhood Group in Egypt a testimony to the fact that the people of Egypt, who are Arab Muslims, do not learn lessons from the past. Despite their knowledge of this group being a violent non-democratic group as per its foundation in Egypt, the people of Egypt still went on to give this group the power to rule Egypt after the January 25 Revolution a public uprising against the corruption of Hosni Mubarak and his aide. The courageous author wrote, The transition period and revolution were preceded by the dark history of this group, which is tainted with hypocrisy, treachery and alliances of interests without any principles or values. Since its inception in 1928 to the day when Morsi assumed power in 2013, the group maintained a legacy of bloodshed, deception and hypocrisy. They deny it and they acquire more. Al-Khazouq (Impalement) signifies the bitter surprise that the people of Egypt encountered and suffered from after the Muslim Brotherhood Group assumed power under the leadership of Mohammad Morsi. What the author said about the Muslim Brotherhood Group in Egypt applies to their noble students, wherever they are. Testimony to that fact is the disappointing stances taken by the Kuwaiti Brotherhood which had initially cursed everyone who participated in the onevote elections, but they eventually participated in the elections in order to form alliances with the devil for achieving their objectives regardless of any observation of the moral, legal and constitutional values. The Muslim Brotherhood Group is the biggest Impalement for those who trust them and Almighty Allah knows best! MPs propose Continued from Page 1 Crises and disasters management of various types including natural, environmental, health, political, financial and security Drawing policy for crisis and disaster management and putting in place executive plans for relief and assistance operations Supervising the implementation plans for crises management and relief operations in coordination with the competent state institutions to implement the plan of action. Direct oversight on the preparations for disaster and crises management and response and allocate permanent relief teams and avoid and combat crises; assess and resolve damages and verify compensations in this regard. Seeking the help of experienced specialists in this field who are aware of the activities of the National Center for Crisis and Disaster Management inside and outside Kuwait To encourage and support research for crisis and disaster management Presenting periodic reports on preparations for disaster prevention Identifying the negative effects of these crises and disasters and coordinating with the relevant state institutions to find appropriate solutions and work to implement and follow them up Setting up an explanatory information program in the field of crisis and disaster management with the aim of educating the citizens and residents in the country and how to deal with it Studying the relevant international agreements on crisis and disaster management and relief work and benefit from experiences in prevention and response Meanwhile, Chairman of the Parliamentary Priorities Committee MP Thamer Al-Suwait said the next parliamentary session will see on the agenda the most important bills such as the citizenship bill and the amendment to the Administrative Court law to empower the judiciary on the issues of citizenship. He added the agenda will also include a proposal to reduce the value of interest on loans given by Public Institute for Social Security On the other hand, Al-Suwait stated the Priorities Committee has not delayed any proposals or priorities, particularly since the purpose of creating the committee was to speed up work. He emphasized on the eagerness of the committee in the area of coordination and urged the other parliamentary committees to complete their tasks. He pointed out some committees are late in submitting their reports. He explained in the framework of the committee s duty to follow the laws that have not been issued or have not been implemented, the issue of the Ministry of Health came up for discussion with regards to regulating the profession of Pharmacy. A pledge has been given to issue regulations within a period not exceeding three months. He added the committee also discussed the Interior Ministry s shortcomings in implementing the naturalization law of 2000 when it was disclosed that only 305 people were naturalized over the past year. Gulf ally confident US would clarify foreign policy stances Trump better understands region: Bahrain MANAMA, April 5, (RTRS): Bahrain s foreign minister said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump understood the region and the threats posed by their common adversary Iran better than Barack Obama. Speaking in an interview with Reuters at his office in the capital Manama, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al- Khalifa said the staunch US Gulf ally was confident the new administration would soon clarify its stances on foreign policy. The Sunni-ruled kingdom accuses Iran, a Shi ite theocracy across the Gulf, of radicalising and arming some members of its Shi ite Muslim majority population, and Gulf monarchies say Obama did not do enough to tackle perceived meddling by Iran in Bahrain and in wars raging throughout the region. Tehran denies any meddling in the island kingdom. Trump has pledged to deal forcefully with the Islamic Republic and criticised a landmark international deal to curb its nuclear programme inked under Obama in 2015 as a concession to a state the United States considers a sponsor of terrorism. We see... a much clearer understanding from the White House of the threats we are facing here in the region and especially the ones that are coming from the Islamic Republic, Sheikh Khaled said. The last few years, there was a policy that we think it was better for them to correct, and we advised them it should be corrected. Sheikh Khaled last month met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington and Bahrain s King Hamad bin Isa al-khalifa has spoken by telephone with senior US officials, including Trump after his election in November. Sitting astride one of the world s key oil shipping lanes, Bahrain is a key ally of Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and hosts the US Navy s Fifth Fleet. Neither country were among the ban Trump is seeking to impose on travellers from Iran and five other Muslimmajority nations in the Middle East and Africa. Some critics of the Trump administration fear it is prioritising the fight against militancy and Iran over promoting human rights among American allies, but the foreign minister said the US shift acknowledged the region s harsh realities. Sheikh Khaled said his country welcomed a decision by the White House to pursue a $5 billion sale to Bahrain of 19 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft and related equipment which was held up last year by concerns about human rights. He said Trump s style may have distracted some from the merits of his views, but all administrations had growing pains. They ll get in order... every new administration will always start in a way that will seem unclear, but clarity is coming, he said, speaking in his green and wood-panelled office adorned with pictures of past and present Bahraini monarchs. Kuwait denounces Continued from Page 1 infrastructures like electricity, energy, roads, he said. We need to work on the political track in order to allow the Syrian people to sit around the negotiating table and provide for security and stability. These were the main topics that we were able to talk about this morning, he added. Blame As the world continues to react to the recent tragedy at Khan Sheikhoun in Syria, several global players, involved in the Syrian conflict, could not seem to agree on who is to blame for the attack which involved the use of chemical weapons. On one hand, the Syrian regime and Russia were casting the blame on certain groups which were storing some dangerous and hazardous materials in warehouses in Idlib governorate, implying that they were to be blamed for the attack. On the other hand, the international community is expressing condemnation left and right, saying that the Assad regime backed by Russia and other allies should be held responsible for the attack that left over a 100 people dead while some 300 suffered from serious injuries. According to the Russian Defense Ministry s spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov, the Syrian regime s air force was targeting strongholds for the rebels in Idlib who were apparently housing some dangerous materials used in chemical weapons. The spokesman said that Russian experts have proved, time and time again, that rebels in Aleppo, as well as in Idlib, were housing materials that could be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. In Moscow, Interfax news agency quoted anonymous diplomatic sources as saying that a draft resolution, prepared by the US, France and the UK at the Security Council denouncing the attack, was provocative, affirming that more time for investigation should be allocated to determine who really was behind the chemical weapons assault. As if matters could not become any worse, the Syrian regime affirmed that it resumed the bombardment of rebel held areas in Khan Sheikhoun, which might result in more death and destruction. Meanwhile, Turkey confirmed that chemical weapons were used in the Khan Sheikhoun assault. Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said in a statement while visiting In this photo taken on April 4, and made available on April 5, Turkish medics check a victim of alleged chemical weapons attack in Syrian city of Idlib, at a local hospital in Reyhanli, Hatay, Turkey. A suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria s rebel-held northern Idlib province killed dozens of people on Tuesday, opposition activists said, describing the attack as among the worst in the country s six-year civil war. (AP) Yemen govt forces prepare Hodeidah assault Keep Yemen port safe, says UN DUBAI, April 5, (Agencies): The United Nations called on Yemen s warring parties on Wednesday to safeguard the strategic Red Sea port of Hodeidah as a lifeline for millions of Yemenis facing potential famine. The Yemeni government and its Arab allies are preparing an assault on Hodeidah port, which has been the entry of nearly 80 percent of Yemen s food imports, because they say the Iran-aligned Houthis use it to smuggle weapons and ammunition. Local officials say the government and its allies have positioned two recently-trained brigades for a possible attack. One is 230 km (140 miles) north of Hodeidah and the other 130 km (80 miles) to the south, so they would have to cross large areas of Houthi-held territory if they set off to seize the port. The continued military escalation in Yemen, specifically the Maybe when you see the difference in the personality of the president, maybe that s kind of giving an overwhelming picture of the situation. Things are working in America. Since 2011 Arab Spring protests led by Bahrain s Shi ites were crushed with the help from some Gulf Arab states, Bahrain says Iran has stepped up a campaign to undermine security there and bring about the downfall of the ruling Al Khalifa family, of which Sheikh Khaled is a member. Erzurum city east of Turkey that there were strong evidence that chemical weapons were used, revealing that some 32 individuals wounded in the attack were transferred to hospitals in Turkey to receive treatment for gas poison. Though efforts for peace in Syria are seemingly being carried out in the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, the facts on the ground all point to the continuous bloodshed in Syria in which the innocent unfortunately are paying the highest price. The Syrian army jet that hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun at dawn dropped three conventional bombs and a fourth one that made little sound at impact but produced a cloud of white smoke, according to an activist observing from a nearby hilltop. Hussam Salloum, a volunteer with an air raid warning service in rebelheld areas, said the Sukhoi-22 that attacked on Tuesday approached at low altitude, leaving behind three columns of dark smoke and the white cloud nearer to ground level. The smoke was white and thick, he told Reuters from Khan Sheikhoun. The smoke began to spread out across the town, until there was a layer over the town, he said, sending a video filmed from an observation point that showed the plumes of smoke. The Syrian government has strongly denied launching a chemical attack on the town. While Western states have accused Damascus, the Syrian government s Russian allies say the deaths were the result of a Syrian air strike on a rebel arms depot where chemical weapons were being produced. Rebels deny this. At least 72 people, many of them children, were killed by what the United States believes was sarin gas, in the deadliest chemical attack in Syria since the same nerve agent killed hundreds of people in a rebel-held area near Damascus in Some of the dead, including children, showed no visible injuries, indicating the gas had killed them in their beds, said Mouin Abed al-menem, a doctor who treated several victims. Rescue workers found the bodies of a woman and two children on Wednesday in a cave where they had been sheltering, according to the civil defence emergency service that operates in rebel-held areas. The pilot carried out the bombing in one go, four bombs together, said Salloum, who said he observed the raid from about 1.5 km (one mile) away and used walkie-talkies to alert rescue workers. The service he works for includes a network of volunteers who track aircraft movements and radio traffic in militarisation of large regions on its Western Coast and the associated increase of humanitarian access obstacles and population movement restrictions, are of grave concern to the humanitarian community, the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen said in a statement issued on Tuesday. This is only resulting in more displacement, more institutional collapse, and more suffering. More than two years of civil war have cut food deliveries by more than half and pushed the Arabian Peninsula s poorest country to the edge of famine. The United Nations says nearly 3.3 million people, including 2.1 million children, are acutely malnourished. The Yemen Humanitarian Country Team calls on all warring parties and on those with influence over the parties to ensure the continued functioning of Hodeidah Port, the statement said. Yemen has historically imported 80 to 90 per cent of its food, mostly through Hodeidah. Five cranes at the port there have been destroyed by airstrikes, forcing dozens of ships to line up offshore because they cannot be unloaded. The port is located in a densely populated urban center where thousands of people live and any military campaign in its vicinity, from the ground or air, would have devastating civilian consequences, the agency warned. The conflict pits the armed Houthi group against the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by a Saudi-led Arab alliance. More than 10,000 people have been killed by coalition air strikes and fighting on the ground. The coalition was formed in 2015 to fight the Houthis and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have fired missiles into neighboring Saudi Arabia. It s a whole project we are facing and it will not stop until this regime changes its course from the way it is now - hegemonic, theocratic, theo-fascist - to a regime that would answer the aspirations of its own people. Until that moment we will have to defend ourselves. Human rights organisations have criticised an escalating government crackdown since the main Shi ite opposition bloc was shuttered last year, several prominent activist were arrested and the top Shi ite spiritual leader had his citizenship revoked on corruption charges. Bahrain says it has acted to reform its security services and that it genuinely seeks dialogue with the opposition in a way that is rare in the mostly closed and authoritarian region. We feel like we are being pressured and punished for no reason, just for sticking our neck out and addressing issues that every country has, Sheikh Khaled said. order to warn of potential air strikes, Salloum said. We discovered it was toxic gas from a civil defence worker who went to the place quickly, he added. He told us there was an unusual smell. Less than a minute later, he told us he was dizzy and fainting. We lost contact with him. Twenty of the dead were children, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The explosions woke up civil defence worker Khaled al-nasr just after 6:30 am (0330 GMT). He arrived at the scene to find several of his colleagues suffering from the effects of the gas. We saw everyone was on the ground. People were squirming. Some had foam coming out of their mouths. We started picking people up, Nasr said. Shortly after arriving, he too felt a burning sensation in his eyes but kept working until he was unable to continue. I couldn t breathe, he said. Rescue workers undressed victims and doused them with water. Immediately, apply water, then get them out, he said. Pressure France urged Russia on Wednesday to exert stronger pressure on the Syrian government to end the country s sixyear-long war after a poison gas attack killed scores of people, and called on the United States to seriously commit to finding a solution to the conflict. Western countries blamed President Bashar al-assad s armed forces for the attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in a rebel-held area of northern Syria hit by government air strikes. The 15-member United Nations Security Council was briefed on the attack on Wednesday. We re talking about war crimes, French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters ahead of the briefing. We urge Russia to exert much stronger pressure to the regime... Frankly we also need an America that is seriously committed to a solution in Syria and that puts all its weight behind it, he said. Speaking in the council, British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft asked Russia: What is your plan? What is your plan to stop these horrific senseless attacks? We had a plan and we had the support and you rejected it to protect Assad. In February, Syrian ally Russia, backed by China, cast its seventh veto to protect Assad s government from council action, blocking a bid by Western powers to impose sanctions over accusations of chemical weapons attacks. Rycroft said those vetoes sent Assad a message of encouragement and Tuesday s attack was the consequence. The UK delegate... is openly distorting the position of China, this is not to be tolerated, China s UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi said, adding that Rycroft was abusing the Security Council, doing so will not be in the interests of the Syrian people. An investigation by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) found Syrian government forces were responsible for three chlorine gas attacks in 2014 and 2015 and that Islamic State militants had used mustard gas. The United States, Britain and France have proposed a Security Council resolution to condemn the latest chemical weapons attack, and push Syria to provide an international inquiry with flight plans and logs for Tuesday, the names of all helicopter squadron commanders and access to air bases. Russia described the draft resolution as unacceptable. Council diplomats said it could be put to a vote as early as Wednesday afternoon. Assad had agreed in 2013 to give up his chemical arsenal under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Kim Won-soo told the Security Council on Wednesday that all Syria s declared chemical materials and equipment have been removed or destroyed. For the past three years the OPCW has worked with the Syrian Arab Republic to assess and verify their declaration. A number of outstanding issues related to Syria s declaration remain open, he told the council. Eager to show strength after a major provocation, President Donald Trump is forcefully denouncing a chemical attack he blames on Syrian President Bashar Assad but staying coy about how, if at all, the US may respond. Trump split the blame Tuesday between Syria s embattled leader and former president Barack Obama for the country s worst chemical weapons attack in years. While calling the attack reprehensible and intolerable, Trump reserved some of his harshest critique for his predecessor, who he said did nothing after Assad in 2013 crossed Obama s own red line. These heinous actions by the Bashar al-assad regime are a consequence of the past administration s weakness and irresolution, Trump said. Yet there were no indications Trump had a plan to prevent future atrocities that was any different from Obama s. Asked how Trump might respond, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he wasn t yet ready to discuss it. We ll talk about that soon, Spicer added. Obama, too, faced a dearth of good options in Syria, which he has often acknowledged as the biggest failure of his presidency. Years after Obama predicted that Assad s days were numbered, the Syrian leader remains in power in a country ripped apart by civil war, and a new US president is struggling to establish a way forward. Trump left it to his top diplomat, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, to assign culpability to Russia and Iran, Assad s most powerful allies. Tillerson noted both countries signed up as guarantors to a recent Syrian cease-fire and said they must pressure Assad not to conduct more such attacks. Russia and Iran also bear great moral responsibility for these deaths, Tillerson said. Yet it was a mainstay of Obama s approach to Syria to try to persuade Moscow to stop supporting Assad and clear the way for a political transition. Instead, Russia launched a military operation in Syria that successfully propped up Assad s regime, strengthening Russia s influence in Syria and the broader Middle East in the process. And Tillerson s predecessor, John Kerry, negotiated painstakingly with his Russian counterpart to secure cease-fire deals that repeatedly fell apart. This is the administration in charge. They are now facing exactly the same terrible dilemmas that Obama faced and will quickly realize there are no easy ways to deal with the situation, said Phil Gordon, Obama s top Mideast adviser from 2013 to In that sense, the Trump administration is simply recognizing the reality: We are not, and have not been, prepared to do what s necessary to overthrow the regime. International donors pledged billions of dollars in aid for war-ravaged Syria as the UN Security Council convened Wednesday for emergency talks over a suspected chemical attack that killed dozens in a rebel-held province. At a donor conference in Brussels, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for Syria s warring factions and government backers such as Russia and Iran to bring an end to a six-year conflict that has killed almost 400,000 people. Nobody is winning this war, everybody is losing, Guterres said. It is having a detrimental and destabilizing effect on the entire region and it is providing a focus that is feeding the new threat of global terrorism. Nearly half the Syrian population has been displaced by the violence, with millions seeking sanctuary in neighboring Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, or heading further west to Europe. UN agencies estimate war damage across Syria so far at $350 billion, including physical destruction and the loss of economic activity. Four out of five people are living in poverty. Abdullah hails Continued from Page 1 ahead of time was a mistake the Obama administration had repeatedly made. I m not saying I m doing anything one way or another, but I m certainly not going to be telling you, Trump said. Trump said the attack was so horrific and noted that it had killed innocent people, small children and even beautiful little babies. These heinous actions by the Assad regime cannot be tolerated, he said. Newswatch Continued from Page 1 administration has fanned those concerns as it has sought to implement extreme vetting security checks to restrict the flow of immigrants and refugees into the United States, an effort that has included consideration of a requirement that visitors share their social media passwords. (RTRS) BRUSSELS: The embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brussels has said that the Kingdom s commitment to combatting terrorism and radicalisation is all too often unacknowledged. Saudi Arabia does not fund, support, or excuse any radical institution in Belgium, Europe, or anywhere. In fact, the Kingdom is recognised as a pioneer in addressing the problem of radicalisation and terrorism at its root, Saudi Ambassador to the EU and Belgium Abdulrahman Alahmed said in a statement Wednesday.(KUNA) TEHRAN, Iran: A powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northeastern Iran near the holy city of Mashhad on Wednesday, killing at least two people as residents fled onto the streets and aftershocks shook the region. The shallow temblor damaged at least four villages near its epicenter in the Sefid Sang district, a remote mountainous area home to 5,000 people, located about 80 kms (50 miles) southeast of Mashhad, state TV s English-language Press TV channel reported. It said rescue teams and helicopters had deployed in Iran s Khorasan Razavi province to the area to assess the damage. (AP) DOHA: Hundreds of Asian workers pay recruitment fees for jobs building World Cup stadiums in Qatar and some end up working for nearly five months without a day of rest, according to an investigation funded by the Gulf state s World Cup organising body. Conditions for workers from India, Nepal and Bangladesh powering a $200 billion infrastructure upgrade for the 2022 World Cup have come under scrutiny from rights groups who say migrants live in squalor and work without proper access to water and shelter. (RTRS)

38 LEISURE Sherman s Lagoon By J.P. Toomey N E W Y O R K T I M E S CROSSWORD 38 Mutts By Patrick McDonnell Hagar The Horrible By Chris Browne Beetle Bailey By Mort Walker Garfield By Jim Davis Baby Blues By Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott Conceptis Sudoku The grid must be so completed that every row, column and 3x3 box has every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive Answer to yesterday s puzzle Challenger DIRECTIONS: Fill each square with a number, one through nine. Horizontal squares should add to totals on right. Vertical squares should add to totals on bottom. Diagonal squares through center should add to total in upper and lower right. THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION. Today s Challenge Time 13 Minutes 28 Seconds Your Working Time Minutes Seconds Word by Word Prosper Tothmer Ill-gotten gains never prosper. Al makaseb ghair al mashroah la tothmer abadan. Numbers Yesterday s solution Emirates Park Zoo welcomed a 5-year-old hippopotamus named Otto to its Hippo House recently. contract bridge By Steve Becker Scratch pad odds n ends ABU DHABI, UAE: Emirates Park Zoo announced the opening of the Hippo House, home to a 5-year-old hippopotamus that goes by the name Otto. The African Hippo weighing more than 2,000 kg is all sorts of adorable. Otto who spends more than 10 hours a day submerged in his pool to keep his massive body cool under the hot Arabian sun, loves to swim and play with his ball. He is constantly showing off his groovy moves and loves to munch on fruits, vegetables and grass. Dr Waleed Sha aban, Emirates Park Resort s Zoo Operations Manager, said We are delighted to provide a home for darling Otto and I am happy to report that he is doing great here. Otto has settled into the Hippo House seamlessly and is exceptionally friendly. Fondly named the River Horse by the Greeks, the water-loving hippopotamus has quickly become one of the most loved residents across zoos all over the world. Emirates Park Zoo s own Otto the Hippo has rose to being the star attraction of the destination appealing to children and adults alike. Hippos once had a broader distribution but now live in eastern central and southern sub- Saharan Africa, where the populations are in decline. Emirates Park Zoo who has constantly focused on raising awareness on wildlife conservation and has prominently fought against animal abuse will look to educate the community on the decline of the African hippo species. Emirates Park Zoo and Resort, Abu Dhabi is located on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway, 30 minutes away from Abu Dhabi and only two minutes from Formula F1 assembly point. The resort is the fi rst establishment in the UAE with an adjoined private zoo. (Agencies) BOSTON: A proposed settlement between a Massachusetts man and Dunkin Donuts shops could mean free buttered baked goods for hundreds of customers and a huge payout for his lawyer. Jan Polanik had sued a cluster of franchises of the Canton, Massachusetts-based doughnut and coffeehouse chain, saying he received margarine when he requested real butter. The Boston Globe reports that the settlement fi led in Suffolk Superior Court could mean $500 for Polanik, three free buttered baked goods for 1,400 other customers and $90,000 for Polanik s attorney. It could be several months before the settlement gets final court approval. Polanik sued two companies that together own more than 20 stores. The parent company has said that most of its Massachusetts locations offer both butter substitutes and the real thing. (AP) 7523 Seven thousand five hundred twenty three Sabat alaf wa khamso maah wa thalath wa eshroun

39 SPORTS 39 Merkel watches home team Cologne from the stands High-flying Hoffenheim deal Bayern second loss BERLIN, April 5, (AP): Andrej Kramaric s first-half strike was enough for Hoffenheim to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 as the Bundesliga leaders fell to just their second defeat of the season on Tuesday. Kramaric let fly from distance after Mats Hummels failed to properly clear and Bayern reserve keeper Sven Ulreich was unable to keep the effort out, despite getting his hand to the ball in the 21st minute. Ulreich was playing in place of the injured Manuel Neuer, who hopes to be back for the league showdown with Borussia Dortmund at the weekend before next week s visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. Only Rafinha s last-ditch tackle had stopped Kramaric getting the home side off to a flying start in the second minute, but Hoffenheim maintained the pressure and again went close leaving Ulreich to berate his defense. But Ulreich himself should have done better to stop Kramaric getting the goal that had been threatened for the previous 20 minutes. Robert Lewandowski struck the crossbar for Bayern before the break, and he was denied by a brilliant save from Oliver Baumann after it. The Poland striker also went close Hoffenheim s Sebastian Rudy (left), and Munich s Renato Junior Luz Sanches in action during their German Bundesliga soccer match between 1899 Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Sinsheim, Germany on April 4. (AP) in injury time as Hoffenheim held on to consolidate third place the last to guarantee Champions League qualification. Hoffenheim captain Sebastian Rudy and fellow defender Niklas Suele were playing against their future club after agreeing to switch to Bayern for next season. Bayern maintained its 13-point lead over Leipzig, which visits Mainz on Wednesday. B. Dortmund 3, Hamburger SV 0 While Lewandowski s efforts to add to his tally of 24 goals were frus- Lazio into Cup final with win over Roma ROME, April 5, (AP): Roma fans were back in the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday to see their team beat city rival Lazio but lose the Italian Cup semifinal 4-3 on aggregate. Mohamed Salah scored twice and Stephan El Shaarawy netted the other as Roma won the second leg of their semifinal derby 3-2. But goals from Sergej Milinkovic- Savic and Ciro Immobile sent Lazio through to the final, where it will likely meet Juventus. The Serie A leader visits Napoli on Wednesday, trated in Sinsheim, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rounded off the scoring in Dortmund to take his total to a leagueleading 25. It didn t look like it would be the Gabon striker s day, however, after a SOCCER game of near misses. Werder Bremen 3, Schalke 0 Bremen s remarkable form under new coach Alexander Nouri continued leading 3-1 from the first leg and firmly on course for a third successive league and cup double. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Roma knew it faced an uphill struggle. But its fans packed the stadium in their droves, ending a 14-month protest after deeply unpopular security barriers were removed last week. Roma attacked from the start and could have taken the lead in the third minute but Edin Dzeko volleyed wide of the left upright. Roma dominated as Lazio was with its sixth win from seven games unbeaten, taking the side which was previously bottom to eighth place, six points clear of the relegation zone. Theodor Gabre Selassie headed the home side in front midway through the first half. Though Schalke was better in the second, it was left ruing missed chances when captain Benedikt Hoewedes conceded a penalty and Max Kruse duly made it 2-0 from the spot with just under 15 minutes remaining. content to sit back on its advantage and attack on the counter. And the visitors took the lead with their first attempt on goal in the 37th. Roma keeper Alisson did well to parry Immobile s effort but Milinkovic-Savic was on hand to tap in the rebound. Roma leveled two minutes from halftime when Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij deflected Antonio Rudiger s cross into the path of El Shaarawy, who volleyed into the bottom left corner. Cologne 1, Eintracht Frankfurt 0 With German chancellor Angela Merkel watching from the stands, Milos Jojic s strike after the break was enough for Cologne to move fifth, level on points with Hertha Berlin, which visits Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday. Merkel was there to see the home side wearing jerseys highlighting an initiative supported by around 180 companies to promote the integration of refugees into the workplace. Late Ibra penalty saves Man U vs Everton More Sunderland woe Manchester United s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (top right), contests a header with Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles during their English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on April 4. (AP) LONDON, April 5, (RTRS): Manchester United s struggle to achieve a top-four finish continued as Zlatan Ibrahimovic came to their rescue with an added time penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw against Everton in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford. Manager Jose Mourinho had to preside over another disjointed United display which ended with Ibrahimovic netting his 16th league goal of the season on his return from suspension to take their unbeaten run to 20 league matches. At the other end of the table, Sunderland moved closer to what seems almost inevitable relegation, beaten 2-0 at Leicester City whose new manager Craig Shakespeare could celebrate a fifth successive league win since taking over from Claudio Ranieri. Mourinho was left bemoaning the loss of more valuable points after a ninth league draw at Old Trafford this term bore all the now familiar hallmarks of blunt finishing mixed with misfortune. The result left United in fifth place on 54 points, four points behind rivals Manchester City, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot. Mourinho felt United had suffered more bad luck as Ibrahimovic also had a 71st minute headed effort ruled out for the most fractional of offside decisions. For me it wasn t an offside, the Portuguese told BT Sport. Some guys are suffering (from lack of confidence) a bit, he also conceded, while praising his side s effort. In a dramatic finish, a goal-bound shot from Luke Shaw a welcome response from the England defender to Mourinho s recent criticism of him was handled on the line by Ashley Williams, who was shown a straight red card before Ibrahimovic tucked away the 94th minute spot kick. Before then, though, it had looked as if seventh-placed Everton were about to leapfrog United in the table on goal difference when a rare and deft Phil Jagielka goal gave the visitors a first-half lead. England centre back Jagielka showed the predatory instincts of a goal poacher, latching on to Williams header from a 22nd-minute corner and, SOCCER with back to goal, holding off Marcos Rojo to conjure a shot that trickled between keeper David de Gea s legs. Jagielka s first goal this term prompted an urgent response from United, with Ander Herrera s effort striking the bar, but even with Ibrahimovic back in the team, United were blunt, with Paul Pogba also heading against the bar after the break. Did we have chances? Yes. Did we hit the post as always? Yes. Did the keeper play well against us as always? Yes. Did a decision go against us? Yes, Mourinho said. Leicester s sixth straight win in all competitions under Shakespeare with second-half goals from Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy completed a miserable day for Sunderland boss David Moyes. Earlier on Tuesday, Sunderland had offered support to Moyes while also saying comments that he made to a female BBC reporter after his team s defeat at the weekend, suggesting she might get a slap, had been wholly inappropriate. Moyes has since apologised for the comments. The defeat left Sunderland three points adrift at the foot of the table, still eight points from the safety zone. Watford won a second match in succession by beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0, with Troy Deeney becoming the first player to score in four straight Premier League games at Vicarage Road. Burnley also eased the pressure on themselves, ending a seven-match streak without a victory as George Boyd got the winner just before the hour in a 1-0 triumph over Stoke City. Ibrahimovic has said that any potential contract extension with Manches- ter United is dependent on the vision of the club as he does not want to lose any time towards the end of his illustrious career. The prolific Swedish forward, who joined from French champions Paris St Germain on an initial one-year deal, has been the shining light in an otherwise inconsistent campaign for a United side who spent heavily during the close season. Ibrahimovic has scored 15 times in his first season in the Premier League and United, who sit just adrift of the Money does not rule, clubs warned Luis Carlos Ruiz of Colombia s Atletico Nacional (center), fights for the ball with Apodi of Brazil s Chapecoense, during a Recopa Sudamericana first leg final soccer match in Chapeco, Brazil on April 4. (AP) Chapecoense beat Nacional in emotional match Brazilian club Chapecoense beat Colombia s Atletico Nacional 2-1 on Tuesday in a highly emotional match that commemorated the victims of last year s fatal air crash in South America. Chapecoense struck first in Tuesday s opening leg of the Recopa Sudamericana final when Reinaldo converted from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute. Nacional equalized when Macnelly Torres scored just under the hour before Luiz Otavio scored the winner in the 73rd minute, although the final result seemed almost not to matter as both teams and their supporters paid a series of moving tributes to the scores of people that died in last year s plane crash in Colombia. The Recopa Sudamericana is one of South America s most prestigious football titles, contested between the winners of the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana champions, but this year s final has taken on added poignancy. top four, have become reliant on the 35-year-old s goals. Everything depends on what you want and what the club wants and what the vision of the club is because I said from day one that I didn t come here to lose time, Ibrahimovic told MUTV. I m 35, a lot of things have to be settled. It s not like I m 20 and I have another five or 10 years. I probably have one, two or three years. I came here to win. I have been winning but If you want to win bigger NBA Results/Standings you have to create bigger. Ibrahimovic who has won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France was coy about the status of his ongoing negotiations with the 20-times English champions. We are talking (about a contract extension). If we are far from each other or close to each other, there is no news. There are still talks so lets see what will happen. I m open but there is nothing done yet. I came here with no Champions League and I came here with the team Atletico Nacional won the 2016 Copa Libertadores and were supposed to play Chapecoense for the Copa Sudamericana title, but the match never took place after the charter plane flying the Chapecoense team to Medellin in Colombia crashed, killing 71 out of the 77 people on board, including 19 players. As a mark of respect, Nacional asked that Chapecoense be awarded the championship, setting up an emotional rematch in the twolegged Recopa Sudamericana. Chapeco, a city of 200,000 residents in Southern Brazil close to the Argentine border, prepared a series of tributes both inside and outside the 22,000 seater Arena Conda, where the funerals of 50 people took place just four months ago. Inside the packed stadium, the mayors of Chapeco and Medellin embraced each other in what organizers called a show of gratitude to the Colombian visitors. (AP) as it was. It was not a team that was favourites to win but I still came. I came to help. I came to do what I m able to do, I came to make it better. To bring the team to higher views. Let s see what happens. English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has lambasted David Moyes after the Sunderland manager told a female reporter that she might get a slap even though you re a woman for questions asked in an interview last month. HELSINKI, April 5, (RTRS): UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told Europe s top football clubs on Wednesday that money does not rule and warned its biggest leagues that he would not give in to blackmail as he promised to reshape the game in the region. The Slovenian also reiterated in his opening speech at the UEFA Congress that he would not allow the creation of a closed Super League, which some of the region s biggest clubs have discussed. Ceferin was elected last September, shortly after UEFA announced changes to the flagship Champions League competition to give more slots to clubs from bigger leagues and cut the SOCCER number allocated to smaller ones. The changes were implemented after the biggest clubs had discussed forming a breakaway Super League. European football faces a huge disparity between the top leagues such as England s Premier League and Germany s Bundesliga and the smallest ones, which struggle with poor revenues, falling attendances and financial difficulties. Ceferin promised to distribute 1 million euros to each of UEFA s 55 member associations as a solidarity payment following strong financial results from national team competitions such as UEFA EURO UEFA is not here to accumulate wealth while (football associations) struggle to develop football in the furthest reaches of (their) territories. He said UEFA would sit down with the clubs, leagues and players to develop a strategic vision for European football over the next five years. This five-year plan will not be forced on you, it will not come out of the blue, as may have happened in the past, he told the UEFA Congress. It will not be drafted by some anonymous bureaucrat and his paper-pushers hidden away on the shores of Lake Geneva. The Switzerland-based UEFA should not be afraid of stakeholders, Ceferin said, and issued stark warnings to clubs and leagues alike. To some clubs I should say...there will be no closed league. It s as simple as that. That is not in line with our values and ideas, he said. The Congress later approved measures restricting the president and executive committee members to a maximum of three four-year terms each. It also decided that venues for the Champions League and Europa League finals would be selected through what Ceferin described as a fully objective manner through a transparent bidding procedure. Ceferin added: Surprising at it may seem, it was not always the case in the past. Six new members were voted onto UEFA s executive committee, including former Poland forward Zbigniew Boniek and Football Association of Ireland chief John Delaney. WASHINGTON, April 5, (RTRS): Results and standings from the NBA games on Tuesday: Golden State 121 Minnesota 107 Sacramento 98 Dallas 87 Utah 106 Portland 87 San Antonio 95 Memphis (OT) 89 Denver 134 New Orleans 131 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Boston Toronto /2 NY Knicks /2 Philadelphia /2 Brooklyn /2 Central Division W L PCT GB Cleveland Milwaukee /2 Chicago /2 Indiana /2 Detroit Southeast Division W L PCT GB Washington Atlanta /2 Miami /2 Charlotte Orlando Oklahoma City 110 Milwaukee 79 NY Knicks 100 Chicago 91 Brooklyn 141 Philadelphia 118 Washington 118 Charlotte 111 Cleveland 122 Orlando 102 Western Conference Northwest Division W L PCT GB Utah Oklahoma City /2 Portland Denver /2 Minnesota /2 Pacific Division W L PCT GB Golden State LA Clippers Sacramento LA Lakers /2 Phoenix Southwest Division W L PCT GB San Antonio Houston Memphis /2 New Orleans /2 Dallas

40 SPORTS 40 Kuwait Hockey Kings (KHK) Winners of the KEHA Hockey Tournament. KIH fall in final KHK win prestigious KEHA trophy KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Kuwait Expats Hockey Association (KEHA) recently concluded the Hockey Festive which lasted for 3 months and Kuwait Hockey Kings (KHK) Captained by Yousuf Waseem won the prestigious KEHA Trophy by defeating Kuwait Independent Hockey (KIH) Captained by Tony on penalty strokes with a margin of 3-2 when both teams were leveled at 1-1 in normal given time of 20 mins each half. Where as in the 3rd place playoffs Don Bosco Oratory (DBO) smashed past 8 goals with a solitary reply of 1 goal from the KOC Blues. The tournament was well contested over the period of 3 months. With round robin format, the level of hockey in Kuwait was seen with matches contested at high tempo and spirits. The matches took place under the supervision of KEHA President Sunil Almeida, and General Secretary Lloyd Fernandes, ensuring high quality hockey throughout the tournament. With expertise of Mahmood Alam as the Refree panel head, disciplinary lines were strictly followed. The third place play off was a one sided affair. With KOC Blues lacking the depth in squad, the men in blue were in for a tough evening. Bosco s took full advantage of their strengths by smashing past 8, with Sherwin D Souza scoring 5 goals. The final was hotly contested between two teams who dominated the entire tournament with their constant performances. With KHK taking an early lead, the match promised to delight the hockey lovers in Kuwait. With constant attacks and missed opportunities from both teams to kill the game, it looked as KHK would take the title until a moment of brilliance from the Spanish ace of KIH Andres Perez San Emeterio, who leveled the scores just before the full time. The match was decided on penalities, This is KHK s first title in the elite league in their brief history under the Captaincy of young Yousef Waseem. Tournament s highest scorer award was given to Sherwin D souza (DBO) for his brilliant performance throughout the tournament. The best Goalkeeper was given to Kanishka PR (Kani) - KIH for his extra ordinary abilities in the goal. The best 50+ player was given to the veteran Aslam Bhatti (KOC Green) and lastly the best youngest player was given to our new upcoming Spanish player Jaime Perez San Emeterio (International Red). If anyone is interested to know more about the Sports of hockey, or wants to get in contact with the Kuwait Expats Hockey Association (KEHA), please feel free to contact on the following number and ID: Sohail Alam,: , ID: Sohailalam010@gmail.com. And web page J.P. D Mello Rolling Trophy Man of the Match Martin Man of the Match Aftab Man of the Match Jinto Man of the Match Vinoj AP Equestrian Team achieves 3rd place in Al Bada e. Kuwait Independent Hockey (KIH) Runners Up of KEHA Hockey Tournament. Al-Attiyah increases Desert Challenge lead QASR AL SARAB, UAE, April 5: Qatar s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah extended his advantage in the car category to 1hr 46min 03sec after the fourth km selective section of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered By Nissan on Wednesday. But the scene is set for a dramatic showdown in the motorcycle category over the closing stage on Thursday. Victory on stage four fell to the Monster Energy Honda team rider Kevin Benavides, but the Argentinean lost his chance of taking the win with clutch issues on day three and a fascinating five-way battle is in prospect over the closing kilometres AVC, Curtorcares Utd, Kerala Challengers win big KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Don Bosco Oratory came back from a goal down to beat Goa Maroons 4-3 in an exciting league match for the J.P. D Mello Rolling Trophy, powered by Gulf Cable and Electrical Co K.S.C.P and played on Friday, 31st March 2017 at Bayan grounds. In other matches Soccer Kerala beat AVC Sports & Cultural Association 2-0, Curtorcares United beat Skynet Miracles 3-2 and Kerala Challengers won 3-0 against DHL FC. In the first match, Kerala Challengers eased their way up on the points table by beating DHL FC 3-0 with Vinoj finding the net twice and Mujeeb scoring the third. Having won five and lost five, they are now sixth on the points table and close to qualifying for the super eight play-offs. Vinoj was man of the match and received his award from Elvis. After fifteen weeks, Kuwait Goan Association were finally dethroned from the top position when Don Bosco Oratory fought hard to overcome Goa Maroons 4-3 in the second match of the day. All seven goals in the match were scored in the second half as Goa Maroons first took the lead through their hard working mid fielder Ritesh, who headed in brilliantly from a cross by substitute Peter. Don Bosco however equalized almost immediately and took the lead with goals from their SOCCER young stars Aftab and Cleto. Maroons roared back into the game when Steven scored but could not deny Don Bosco Oratory victory as both Aftab and Cleto scored to take a two goal lead. Ritesh did pull one back for Maroons with five minutes remaining, but it was all a little too late. Aftab was declared Man of the Match and received his award from Jerry Mello. Soccer Kerala s star forward did not score for once, but provided the passes that helped his team mate Ramsheed score both goals to beat AVC 2-0 in another exciting game. AVC who have been in good form of late could not match the superior speed and skills of their opponents and their lone striker Navin found the going tough with good defending by Dominic and Jinto in the Kerala defense. Jinto was man of the match and received his award from Nicholas. Curtorcares United who have been playing brilliant soccer with some skillful new signings, won 3-2 against Skynet Miracles who have now lost seven of their last ten games in the league and could be in serious trouble to make it to the play offs. Melwin who is now one of the leading goal scorers in the league scored one while Brazelio scored the other two for Curtorcares United. Skynet Miracles fought back with goals from Shine and Sam Linker, but the end result was never in doubt. Schedule for coming Friday will be advised shortly. FIELD HOCKEY AP grab 1st place Alwaleed Philanthropies end season with big win RIYADH, April 5: Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP) Equestrian Team, owned by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Alwaleed Philanthropies, was awarded for achieving the 1st and 3rd place titles amongst 139 competitors on Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 in the Saudi Equestrian Federation Endurance Race in Al-Badaya Province, located in Al-Qassim. Additionally, the team achieved the 2nd place title at the Endurance Championship for Young Riders & Juniors, held in Al-Badaya Province on March 4, Equestrians from all over the region joined to compete in the Saudi Equestrian Federation Endurance EQUESTRIAN Race, which took off on Saturday at dawn to complete a 100-km-long race. Participating from Alwaleed Philanthropies team were Abdulaziz Al-Duwish who achieved the 1st place title, and Abdulaziz Al-Mohawes who also achieved the 3rd place title. As for the Endurance Championship for Young Riders & Juniors, which comes at the end of the Saudi endurance-racing season, Alwaleed Philanthropies team member, Ra ad Al-Otaibi, achieved the 2nd place title amongst approximately 50 competitors. In previous competitions, Alwaleed Philanthropies achieved the 1st place title in the 2016 Al Hussein International Endurance Competition for completing 120 km through its team member Abdulaziz Al Duwish, as well as achieving the 1st place title in the 110 km Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Competition, held in Al- Ula during the month of February, For over 37 years, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and initiated projects in 124 countries regardless of gender, race, or religion. We collaborate with a range of philanthropic, government, and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding Bridge Results RESULTS of the bi-weekly Bridge tournament played on March 22, 2017 evening. First: May Anabtawi, Roula Akil; Second: Mustafa Saad, Samuel Jacobs; Third: Ebrahim Al-Qattan, Nabeel M. Al Hussaini; Fourth: Ahmed Aruaweh, Bader Al Refaee; Fifth: Daniel, Martin; Sixth: Numan Al-Turki, Mohd Towfiq. We conduct duplicate Bridge tournament every Sunday and Wednesday at hours at the Graduates Club, next to Kuwait Engineering Society. Interested Bridge pairs or individual players are requested to contact Mohammed Merchant, Tel Nos: , , through education. Together, we can build bridges for a more compassionate, tolerant, and accepting world. Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP) Equestrian Team, owned by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Alwaleed Philanthropies, was awarded for achieving the 1st and 3rd place titles amongst 139 competitors on Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 in the Saudi Equestrian Federation Endurance Race in Al-Badaya Province, located in Al-Qassim. Additionally, the team achieved the 2nd place title at the Endurance Championship for Young Riders & Juniors, held in Al-Badaya Province on March 4, Equestrians from all over the region joined to compete in the Saudi Equestrian Federation Endurance Race, which took off on Saturday at dawn to complete a 100-km-long race. Participating from Alwaleed Philanthropies team were Abdulaziz Al-Duwish who achieved the 1st place title, and Abdulaziz Al-Mohawes who also achieved the 3rd place title. Goncalves controls bikes McBride presses on through Arabian Desert. Cowboys Romo granted release WASHINGTON, April 5, (Agencies): Tony Romo was granted his release from the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday and subsequently retired and accepted a job as the lead game analyst for CBS, the Cowboys and the network separately announced. The longtime quarterback has been considering his future over the past few months and the television opportunity led to him ending a 14-year career spent solely with the Cowboys. We wish Tony and his family nothing but the best, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said in a statement. As an organization, we did what he asked us to do in terms of his release, and we wanted to do what was ultimately in his best interest and in the best interest of his family. Romo will join Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS top broadcast team. Romo, who turns 37 on April 21, is the all-time leading passer in Cowboys history with 34,183 FOOTBALL yards and 248 TD passes. He lost his starting job in 2016 after a preseason back injury pushed rookie Dak Prescott into the No. 1 role with the Cowboys. Prescott went on an unexpected run and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading the Cowboys to the divisional playoff round where Dallas suffered a last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers. The future of Phil Simms at CBS has yet to be determined after Tony Romo replaced him as the network s lead analyst. One possibility for Simms is joining the studio show as an opening was created when Tony Gonzalez recently said he won t return after a three-season stint. The Baltimore Ravens traded defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan and a third-round compensatory draft pick (99th overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 74th overall pick in the third round. between overnight leader Paulo Gonçalves, Austrian Matthias Walkner, Pierre Alexandre Renet, Sam Sunderland and Pablo Quintanilla. Gonçalves holds an advantage of 33.8 seconds over the Austrian, but both Sunderland and Quintanilla have favourable starting positions for the final day. Sunderland said: I don t really like to race like this. The strategy and trying to see what the others guys are doing. I d rather it just be the fastest rider won. I ve lost this race so many years by being the fastest dude. This year I have been trying to get the strategy better. We will see how we go. I will have to ride as hard as I can to catch the time back. It may look easy on the paper but it s far from it. You have to fight a lot and work hard. Leader Gonçalves was in determined mood: Today I do what I can. I catch the guys in front of me, so I am the leader overall on day four. We have a day more to race. I will to do my best. I know it is not going to be an easy start position for tomorrow. We have 220 km still to go. The bike has been perfect. The stage is a little faster tomorrow than the last three days, but we also have a lot of dunes in the middle. In normal conditions the others have an advantage. We never know. Very, very happy, because this victory represents all the work I did since my crash, said stage winner Benavides. It s a new start in my career. I take confidence from this. After the penalty yesterday, I could not fight for the race but this is a great bonus. Mohammed Al-Balooshi has not ridden this KTM in race conditions since crashing heavily in Qatar last year, but the Ride to Abu Dhabi star holds seventh place. Today s stage was by far the shortest and the weather helped all the riders. We don t have navigation problems and I am happy with my performance and comfortable with the bike. It s not an easy job. I did not ride this bike since one year ago in Sealine Rally in Qatar. One year not riding a rally bike. We have one more day and I am looking at the bigger picture even though I would love to compete with the guys. With the situation I have given myself, I am giving 100%. Al-Attiyah and French co-driver Matthieu Baumel Qatari are in cruise control in the cars and won the stage from local driver Khalid Al-Jafla by 22min 41sec. It was a good day for us. We don t face any problems. Difficult dunes. It s not really high speed and we try to take it easy without mistakes. We RALLYING now have a big lead and we try to reach the finish for tomorrow, said Al-Attiyah. Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi s debut in the new Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 3008 DKR ground to a halt, when the PH Sport car sustained a broken drive shaft before PC2 and the Emirati lost considerable time and any chance of pushing for the win. He maintained second overall. Czech driver Martin Prokop was third to maintain a podium place and fellow countryman Miroslav Zapletal was third on the day. There were also excellent stage performances by fifthplaced Mohammed Abu Issa and Ahmed Al-Maqoodi. Abu Issa holds fourth overall and Mark Powell has quietly been chipping away at the leader board and another superb performance by the Dubai-based Brit has seen him climb to an unofficial seventh overall in his Fast & Speed Buggy behind Khaled Al-Feraihi s Nissan Patrol and seasoned veteran and experienced desert campaigner Yayha Al-Helai. Rafal Sonik lost his 2min 08.6sec lead in the quad category after technical issues plagued his Honda TRX 700 after the first passage control. The Pole s delay left the door open for Peru s Alexis Hernandez Ponce to claim the stage win and for Guatamala s Rodolfo Schippers to take a category lead of 1min 43.3sec into the final stage. Kuwait s Fahad Al-Musallam is second and former leader Kamil Wisniewski holds third. One more day to go at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and it has lived up to all expectation in terms of unpredictability and excitement and we are faced with a fascinating final day to decide the results, said event founder and ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was joined for a tour of the bivouac by HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare.

41 SPORTS 41 Chicago gets first victory of season Indians win again BASEBALL ARLINGTON, Texas, April 5, (AP): Carlos Santana led off with a home run while Carlos Carrasco struck out seven in his first start since breaking a bone in his right hand as the Cleveland Indians held on for a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Carrasco missed the playoffs for the AL champion Indians after getting struck on his hand by a line drive last September, and then had some elbow discomfort this spring. The right-hander limited Texas to two runs and four hits in 5-2/3 innings. Cody Allen allowed consecutive doubles by Nomar Mazara and Mike Napoli starting a 25-pitch ninth inning before striking out Rougned Odor, pinch-hitter Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo for his second save. Allen struck out the side in the opener around a triple by Elvis Andrus. Cleveland won the first two games to clinch the opening series against twotime defending AL West champions. Cubs 2, Cardinals 1 In St Louis, Albert Almora Jr robbed Matt Adams of a home run and Javier Baez made a terrific sliding stop on Kolten Wong s game-ending grounder, sending Jake Arrieta and the Cubs to their first win of the season. It looked as if the Cardinals had tied the game in the seventh but Almora tracked Adams deep fly ball to the wall and hauled it in with a leaping grab at the top of the fence in center. St Louis had a runner on first in the ninth when Baez went into short right field to take a hit away from Wong. The Cardinals challenged the bang-bang play but the call stood. Arrieta pitched six innings of one-run ball, helping the World Series champions bounce back from a wild loss on opening day. Wade Davis worked the ninth for his first save with the Cubs. Giants 8, Diamondbacks 4 In Phoenix, Gorkys Hernandez drove in four runs as San Francisco bounced back from blowing a save in its seasonopening loss. Johnny Cueto went five innings for the win, despite giving up home runs to Jake Lamb and Paul Goldschmidt. Lamb s two-run shot splashed down in the Chase Field swimming pool. Cueto allowed four runs and six hits, struck out five and walked two. Padres 4, Dodgers 0 In Los Angeles, Clayton Richard pitched eight impressive innings while Yangervis Solarte homered as San Diego turned four double plays. The Dodgers were limited to five hits after pounding out 14 in a 14-3 rout Monday, when they set a franchise record for opening day by socking four home runs. Corey Seager, last season s NL Rookie of the Year, went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and hit into two double plays for Los Angeles. Kenta Maeda gave up three runs in five innings. Angels 7, Athletics 6 In Oakland, California, Danny Espinosa hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to rally the Angels to the win. The late comeback came on a night when Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker made his first appearance since being struck in the head by a line drive off Kyle Seager s bat in Seattle last Septem- San Diego Padres left fielder Travis Jankowski (left), right fielder Hunter Renfroe (center), and center fielder Manuel Margot celebrate the Padres 4-0 win in a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 4, in Los Angeles. (AP) MLB Results/Standings ber. Shoemaker returned seven months to the day after an injury that forced him to have surgery to stop bleeding in his brain. Shoemaker allowed solo home runs to Jed Lowrie and Ryon Healy in five innings of four-hit ball. Yankees 5, Rays 0 In St Petersburg, Florida, CC Sabathia was sharp in his first start while Ronald Torreyes and Chase Headley both homered as the Yankees earned their first victory this season. Starting his 17th major league season, the 36-year-old Sabathia allowed three singles in five innings. Five relievers finished the five-hitter. Most of the offense was supplied by the bottom of the batting order. Torreyes, in the lineup because of a shoulder injury to Didi Gregorius and batting ninth, hit New York s first home run this season, a two-run drive off Jake Odorizzi in the third that drove Aaron Judge. Odorizzi was charged with four runs and seven hits in six innings. Astros 2, Mariners 1 In Houston, Brian McCann and Marwin Gonzalez homered to back a solid start by Lance McCullers and help the Astros to the win. McCann s homer off Hisashi Iwakuma put Houston up 1-0 in the third inning, and Gonzalez broke a 1-all tie with his solo shot to left-center in the sixth. McCullers, slowed by injuries for chunks of last season, allowed one run and struck out seven in six innings. Ken Giles got three outs for his second save. Rockies 6, Brewers 5 In Milwaukee, Greg Holland earned his second save in two days with Colorado, and Gerardo Parra hit a three-run double. Holland tossed a perfect ninth for the Rockies, who have opened the season with 8-1/3 scoreless innings from their bullpen. The former Royals reliever is back on the mound after missing the 2016 season following Tommy John surgery. Parra and Mark Reynolds, a pair of former Brewers, look comfortable back in Milwaukee. Parra s bases-loaded double made it 4-1 in the third. Reynolds, who is playing first base with Ian Desmond sidelined by a broken left hand, added an RBI double in the fifth. Tigers 6, White Sox 3 In Chicago, Justin Verlander struck out 10 to match the most by a Detroit pitcher on opening day since Mickey Lolich in 1970 as the Tigers backed him with three home runs. JaCoby Jones, Nick Castellanos and Ian Kinsler connected against Jose Quintana, and the Tigers sent Rick Renteria to a loss in his debut as White Sox manager. It was Jones first career homer. Verlander gave up two runs and six hits in 6-1/3 innings. WASHINGTON, April 5, (RTRS): Results and standings from the MLB games on Tuesday. San Diego 4 LA Dodgers 0 LA Angels 7 Oakland 6 San Francisco 8 Arizona 4 Chicago Cubs 2 St Louis 1 Houston 2 Seattle 1 American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Baltimore Boston NY Yankees /2 Tampa Bay /2 Toronto Central Division W L PCT GB Cleveland Detroit /2 Minnesota /2 Chicago White Sox /2 Kansas City /2 Western Division W L PCT GB Houston LA Angels Oakland Seattle Texas KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The second inter alumni KIDs soccer tournament conducted by College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni Association (CE- TAA) and sponsored by Indroyal Builders with their new venture The Uptown at PMG Trivandrum, Hydrotek Engineering Co, National Contracting Company (NCC) and Al-Noori establishments, saw KEA beat MACE 1-0 in a grand finale at Classico Football grounds, Ahmadi on Mar 31, The soccer tournament had six Alumni Associations of Kuwait Engineers Forum (KEF) fraternity. The matches were conducted in a league cum knock out format with 3 teams in each pool played against each other during the league stage. The top 2 teams from each pool qualified for the semifinals. The tournament started with the team line up. The Vice-President of CETAA Manoj Balakrishnan welcomed the participants and the General Convener of KEF Sreekumar G., duly inaugurated the tournament. In Pool A, KEA topped the group beating TKMCE 1-0 and CET 2-0. CE- TAA beat TKMCE 3-1 to regain second spot in pool A. Last year champions TKMCE bowed out of the tournament with straight losses to KEA and CET. In Pool B, MACE topped the group beating TEC 7-0 and held NSSCE to a thrilling 3-3 draw. NSSCE beat TEC 6-1 and booked the second spot in pool B, knocking TEC out of the tournament. The semifinal matches were of high quality and rose to the occasion. The first semifinal between favorites KEA and NSSCE was a thrilling match. NS- SCE took the early lead through their mercurial striker Shahin Sirajuddin (Player of the tournament and Top goal scorer 6 goals). KEA hit back immediately via Dylan Daniel (Player of the match). The match was evenly poised at 1-1 during half time, and with only 5 minutes to go before the final whistle NSSCE unfortunately conceded a selfgoal and had to crash out of the tournament losing to KEA 2-1. The second semifinal saw the match between hosts CETAA and last year runner-up MACE. Both teams played their heart out but couldn t score a goal in the first half. There were some great saves by CETAA goalkeeper Nirosh Mathew (Best Goalkeeper of the tournament) but couldn t stop the match winning goal from the boots of Ivin Issac Winners KEA with the second CETAA KIDs Football Tournament Trophy. Nidhin of MACE grabs most promising youngster award KEA lift 2nd CETAA KIDs soccer tournament trophy SOCCER Cleveland 4 Texas 3 Colorado 6 Milwaukee 5 NY Yankees 5 Tampa Bay 0 Chicago White Sox 3 Detroit 6 National League Eastern Division W L PCT GB NY Mets Philadelphia Washington Atlanta Miami Central Division W L PCT GB Chicago Cubs St Louis Cincinnati /2 Pittsburgh /2 Milwaukee Western Division W L PCT GB Colorado Arizona LA Dodgers San Diego San Francisco MACE lifting the Runners up trophy awarded by KEF General Convener Sreekumar G. India will qualify for Asian Cup Georgi (Player of the match). The final between KEA and MACE was an exciting battle and there were many excellent moves from both teams. Ansel George (Player of the finals) scored the all-important goal and sealed the match for KEA. KEA had many match winners in their side and beat MACE 1-0 in the finals to lift the second CETAA Kids football tournament trophy. The winners and runners up trophies along with medals were distributed by MUMBAI, April 5, (RTRS): India soccer coach Stephen Constantine is confident he has the nucleus of a side that will qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup and be competitive for the next five years. India, who have reached the Asian Cup finals on three previous occasions, have been drawn alongside Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Macau in Group A of the last round of qualifiers, with the top two teams advancing to the expanded tournament. The Asian Football Confederation s (AFC) decision to increase the number of finalists from 16 to 24 has given the country a better chance of qualifying and they began their campaign on a strong note with a 1-0 win in Myanmar last week. India s recent 3-2 friendly win over Cambodia will also help the side climb from their current ranking of 132nd in the world to their highest position. Englishman Constantine has spoken of giving opportunities to youngsters to create a bigger pool of talent and has handed debuts to about 30 players in the last two years. I would always be looking at players who can make us better regardless of where they come from, provided they have Indian passports, the 54-year-old told reporters in Kolkata. I believe we have the nucleus of the squad. The average age of the side is 24. I believe we have a team that will take us hopefully to the Asian Cup and beyond for the next four-five years. We re on the right track. India s qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar came after they won the AFC Challenge Cup, a tournament for the lowest-ranked nations on the continent. That was their first appearance since 1984 and while they are still the dominant force in South Asia, India remain a long way behind Asian heavy hitters like Japan, Australia, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Constantine, who lead Rwanda to their highest ranking of 68 in his last job, returned in 2015 for his second stint with India after their failure to qualify for that year s Asian Cup. I am proud of what we achieved in Rwanda, where football is at a different level and where we moved from 135 to 68 and I am immensely proud of what we are doing here. Can we do better? Absolutely, Constantine said. General Convener of KEF Sreekumar G., Shyam Mohan and Thomas John. The most promising youngster award was given to Nidhin Jojan of MACE. The families and friends witnessed some entertaining soccer by the kids of KEF fraternity, and had a memorable evening. The organizers wish to extend their sincere thanks to all those who offered support including the sponsors for the successful conduct of the tournament. New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning of a baseball game on April 4, in St Petersburg, Florida. The Yankees won the game 5-0. (AP) Goal reached US women s soccer team get new deal SOCCER WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): The World Cup champion women s soccer team has a new labor contract, settling a dispute in which the players sought equitable wages to their male counterparts. The World Cup champion women s soccer team has a new labor contract, settling a dispute in which the players sought equitable wages to their male counterparts. The agreement with the US Soccer Federation runs through 2021, meaning the players will be under contract through the 2019 World Cup in France and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The women will receive raises in base pay and bonuses as well as better provisions for travel and accommodations. We are proud of the hard work and commitment to thoughtful dialogue reflected through this process, and look forward to strengthening our partnership moving forward, US Soccer and the players association said in a joint statement Wednesday. The deal comes as the national team is preparing to play an exhibition match against Russia on Thursday in Frisco, Texas. The team faces Russia again on Sunday in Houston. The agreement was ratified by the players and the federation s board Tuesday. The team had been playing under a memorandum of understanding that expired Dec 31. It also comes before the start of the National Women s Soccer League season on April 15. US Soccer pays the wages of the national team players who are allocated across the domestic league, and the terms of those salaries are outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. I m proud of the tireless work that the players and our bargaining team put in to promote the game and ensure a bright future for American players, player representative Meghan Klingenberg said in a statement. We are excited to further strengthen the US- WNTPA through our new revenue generating opportunities and abilities. A group of players drew attention to the fight for a better contract a year ago when they filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that alleged wage discrimination by the federation. The women maintained that players for the men s national team earned far more than they did in many cases despite comparable work.

42 SPORTS 42 Special Oly delegation from Kuwait visit training camp in UAE The Kuwaiti special Olympic delegation A special Olympic delegation from Kuwait visited a training camp in United Arab Emirates at the Dubai Club for the Disabled and witnessed several activities and festivals with the UAE Olympic Special Team. In his statement, the Board Chairperson of Kuwait Olympic Special Team Shafi Al-Hajri said the visit is in the framework of the keen interest of Kuwait s Sport Club for the Disabled to communicate with other such clubs in the GCC countries. He affirmed that such tours aim at providing opportunities for the Olympic special team to associate and compete with their counterparts in a manner that will positively refl ect technically, physically and mentally. Al-Hajri indicated that the team will participate in two international athletics tournament in Morocco and Tunisia and their performance there will qualify them for the international tournament in London this summer. He revealed that they held discussions with the CEO of Dubai Club for the Disabled Majed Al-Osaimi concerning intensifying cooperation and meetings between the two countries, as well as the future of Special Olympics and sports for the disabled in the GCC countries. It is worth mentioning that the special Olympic delegation, which is holding a training camp in Dubai for two weeks, consists of 50 members including players, coaches and administrators. Mahra Polo keep unbeaten run Mahra Polo and Dr A-Bangash won their respectives matches of the second day of action for the Dubai Cup, the last tournament of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2017, held at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort. Dr A-Bangash defeated Wolves by 6 goals to 1 and Mahra won a very tough match against Habtoor Polo by 7 goals to 4.5. Wolves vs Dr Bangash With this results, Mahra, unbeaten in the tournament, will play the final next friday against Habtoor Polo. Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor s team has one victory, achieved last Monday against Dr A-Bangash. Despite that Dr A-Bangash has also one victory, after beating today Wolves Polo, the who beat who rules of the tournament gives Habtoor Polo the spot in the final. Photo by Gonzalo Etcheverry Matches progression: Dr A-Bangash: 2-0/ 4-1/ 5-1/ 6-1; Mahra Polo: 1-1.5/ 3-3.5/ 5-3.5/ The Dubai Cup, for teams from 6 to 8 goals handicap, will held the final matches next friday at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort. Starting at 4 pm, Wolves Polo will play against Dr A-Bangash and from 5 pm Habtoor Polo will face Mahra in the final of the Dubai Cup Ahead of 1st Iran marathon, unclear if Americans joining Women to run apart from men in TehRUN TEHRAN, Iran, April 5, (AP): Two days before what has been described as Tehran s first international marathon, a top Iranian sports official cannot confirm whether Americans will participate and says women will be forced to run separately from men. The website for Friday s TehRUN race lists 28 Americans among the registered runners, along with participants from more than 40 countries, including Britain and Canada. It describes the run as an opportunity for building bridges, breaking barriers. Majid Keyhani, the head of Iran s track and field federation, told reporters Wednesday that runners of all nationalities are welcome to participate in the event. But he would not confirm which countries would be represented or if visas had been issued to all participants. We have sent all runner names to Iran s Foreign Ministry for issuing visas, he said, cautioning that the process could take time. At least 160 foreign runners, including 50 women, have signed up. But Keyhani said only the men will be allowed to race in the streets of Tehran the women will have to race separately, inside the Azadi sports complex. More than 600 Iranian runners, including 156 women, are expected to participate. The race is being organized in large part by Dutch entrepreneur Sebastiaan Straten and his travel agency, Iran Silk Road. He expects Americans to be able to participate and said most of the registered runners have received visas. TehRUN is a run for international friendship and to promote street running to a large, young Iranian population, he said by . Iranians are one of the most hospitable people in the world and I am sure the crowd will show that on Friday to the runners. Still, he opposes the decision to segregate women from men for the race. Personally I do not agree with that and we are trying to find other ways to make step(s forward) for female running in Iran, he wrote. Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has required women to wear the Islamic headscarf and to only show their face, hands and feet in public. They are typically not allowed to participate in sporting events outside of enclosed facilities, ensuring they are not seen by men. The race website tells women they are required to wear a headscarf or MARATHON sports bandana that covers their hair. It also encourages them to wear longsleeve T-shirts that cover their hips and to avoid shorts or skirts. In general dress modestly to respect local customs and religion, it reads. Any spectators cheering the female runners Friday will certainly be women. Female Iranian athletes have missed many international competitions since the revolution because clerical authorities disapprove of them being viewed by male spectators. Female sports fans in turn are traditionally barred from attending maleonly sporting events in Iran on similar grounds, but many women are pushing to change that practice. Keyhani made a point of referring to the event as a Persian Run rather than a marathon, even though the length of the longest race is 42 kms (26 miles) roughly the length of an official marathon. The course takes runners from the Azadi soccer stadium through the normally traffic-clogged streets of western parts of the Iranian capital, past the University of Tehran to Ferdowsi Square, a popular spot for the city s moneychangers. There are also shorter men s courses of 10 and 21 kms (6 and 13 miles). No professional runners are expected to participate this year, Keyhani said, but he expressed hope they would in the future. The event follows a similar run a year ago near the Iranian city of Shiraz, south of Tehran. That race drew more than 70 international participants, none of them American. No women were allowed to officially take part in last year s race. But two Iranian women, Masoumeh Torabi and Elham Manoocheri, nonetheless ran the race separately from the men in protest and are recognized on the race organizers website. Tehran is to hold its first international marathon but two days ahead of the expected race, Iran s Track and Field Federation chief cannot confirm whether Americans will participate. The official, Majid Keyhani, says there is no ban on any nationality participating in what he called the Persian Run. But he would not confirm which countries will be represented. He also says that women will be forced to run separately from men.

43 SPORTS 43 Germans have never medaled at world championship Finland, Germany advance to semis at women s worlds hockey PLYMOUTH, Mich, April 5, (AP): Finland goalie Noora Raty finally enjoyed a bit of a breather. After facing a barrage of shots against Canada and the United States, Raty had to make only 16 saves Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over Sweden that lifted Finland into the semifinals of the women s hockey world championship. I was telling girls thanks for giving me kind of a day off here, Raty said. My teammates earned a shutout for me. Finland will face Canada on Thursday, and the United States takes on Germany in the other semifinal. The Germans beat Russia 2-1 in a quarterfinal Tuesday. Finland upset Canada 4-3 on Saturday in the group stage, and the Finns also played the Americans tough, losing 5-3 on Monday night. The quarterfinal against Sweden wasn t much of a contest, with Finland outshooting its rival Sara Sakkinen and Linda Valimaki scored in the first period, and Jenni Hiirikoski made it 3-0 with a goal early in the second. Susanna Tapani scored in the third. North Korea s Won Chol Sun (23) fights for the puck with Great Britain s Leanne Ganney (14) during their IIHF Ice Hockey Women s World Championship Division II Group A game in Gangneung, South Korea, on April 5. (AP) Ovechkin plans to defy NHL Countries turn to Plan B at Olympics with no NHL WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): The morning after the NHL announced it wasn t going to the 2018 Olympics, some Americans playing in Europe started wondering if they should keep their schedules open for next February. Myself and couple other Americans, Deron Quint and Dave Leggio, were joking around to not make any plans over the Olympic break next year because they might need us to play, said Keith Aucoin, a 38-year-old former NHL forward who is playing in Germany. No joking, they might. In the aftermath of the NHL s decision, USA Hockey and other national federations insisted they have a Plan B but it s not clear how to proceed. Just because the NHL doesn t stop its season to participate in South Korea doesn t mean some players won t try to go anyway, and the league hasn t decided if it will allow teams to give players permission to leave. The federations can t just raid the American Hockey League many players have NHL contracts and the same is true even in European professional leagues. The result in coming months may be nations navigating a wild set of complications in putting their Olympic teams together. If Patrick Kane, Jonathan Quick, Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews aren t available, USA Hockey will likely look to Americans playing Europe to fill the bulk of its roster and mix in a handful of college players. Former NHL forward Mark Arcobello leads the top Swiss league in scoring, Aucoin is among the leaders in Germany, and OLYMPICS former NHL defenseman Matt Gilroy and Jonathon Blum are piling up points in the Kontintental Hockey League based primarily in Russia. Goaltending options for the Americans could include Leggio and Jerry Kuhn playing in Germany, Ryan Zapolski from the KHL, Notre Dame s Cal Peters and Tyler Parsons of the Ontario Hockey League s London Knights, who just led the US to world junior gold. USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean called the country s player pool as deep as it has ever been, and executive Jim Johannson who could be tasked with putting the team together said the US will have 25 great stories on the ice in South Korea and will go to the Olympics with medal expectations. Two-time defending Olympic champion Canada always has gold-medal expectations but is arguably hurt the most of any country by the NHL not going. Canada s benefit is that it has depth of talent that spills over into the AHL and European professional leagues. It s not the elite of the elite, but there are more than 550 Canadians playing in the AHL and more than 200 across Europe, including former NHL goalie Ben Scrivens, defensemen Cam Barker and Brendan Mikkelson and forwards Derek Roy, Daniel Paille and Jonathan Cheechoo. We have developed both a Plan A and a Plan B, and will be ready to move forward, Hockey Canada president Tom Renney said. In a recent interview, Renney said Hockey Canada has already pursued its We were very solid for the whole 60 minutes, Tapani said. We have so much confidence now. Raty made 35 saves against both Canada and the US, but the former University of Minnesota star had a lighter workload Tuesday against Sweden. Finland won the bronze medal at the Vancouver Olympics, but finished off the podium at Sochi. The Finns won bronze at the world championship in 2015 and placed fourth last year, so it s no surprise that they re again contending for a medal. What s impressive this year is that there hasn t been much of a gap so far between them and the North American teams that have dominated this sport. Finland never trailed in its win over Canada over the weekend. Now the teams will play again with a spot in the final at stake. ICE HOCKEY In Tuesday s other quarterfinal, Marie Delarbre scored the decisive goal for Germany with 10:48 remaining in the third period. The Germans, who failed to qualify for next year s Olympic tournament, were thrilled to advance to the semifinals of this event. After beating Russia, they spilled onto the ice and celebrated near the goal in a jubilant scene. The Russians took a 1-0 lead just 2:36 into the first period on a goal by Anna Shokhina, but they were called for three minor penalties in a span of 1:25 in the second. Germany s Kerstin Spielberger scored during a 5-on-3 advantage to tie it. The last time the US faced Germany at the world championship was in 2008, with the Americans winning 8-1. The Germans have never medaled at the world championship, and they ll need one more big upset to do it this year. They ll be heavy underdogs against the U.S., but if they lose that game, they would still have a chance to play for bronze. We ll give our best and that s all we can do, Delarbre said. Then we ll see what the outcome is. Plan B and will be nimble enough to adjust to any changes to rules concerning eligible players. Two-time Canadian Olympic goldmedal winner Jonathan Toews expects top junior and college and a lot of European players to make up Canada s roster. There are some really good players playing in Europe, the Chicago Blackhawks captain said.. They re guys, you look at them, and you re surprised they re not playing here and making big money. Canadian hockey, obviously I m biased, we ve proven we re the best over the course of time. The amount of talent and players we ve produced out of Canada is so great, that we could ice a good team whether we had NHL players or not. Although the International Olympic Committee said players from all the other professional ice hockey leagues will participate in Pyeongchang, there s even a small amount of uncertainty about that. Assuming European leagues do give players permission or stop their seasons, the player pool for the US, Canada and other countries could grow if potential borderline NHL free agents choose to go abroad next season for a chance to play in the Olympics. Russia is likely to be the gold medal favorite thanks to former NHL stars like Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk playing in the KHL and being available. Alex Ovechkin intends to go to the Olympics anyway, and Washington Capitals teammates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov said they plan to join him. Meanwhile, Washington Capitals star left wing Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Chicago Blackhawks stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were among the National Hockey League (NHL) players who expressed dissatisfaction with the league s announcement Monday that it will not participate in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. However, Ovechkin was the most outspoken of the players, saying he still plans to play for Team Russia in the 2018 Winter Olympics, even if he is the only NHL player to do so. Yeah, I didn t change my mind and I won t, Ovechkin told reporters Tuesday at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. In this Jan 7, 2016 file photo, Toronto Maple Leafs center Mark Arcobello hits the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Los Angeles. The morning after the NHL announced it wasn t going to the 2018 Olympics, some Americans playing in Europe started wondering if they should keep their schedules open. Arcobello leads the top Swiss league in scoring. (AP) Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) gathers a rebound before Pittsburgh Penguins Patric Hornqvist (72) can get his stick on it during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, on April 4. (AP) Bruins clinch playoff berth Islanders keep hopes alive BOSTON, April 5, (AP): David Pastrnak scored twice while Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots as the Boston Bruins clinched their first playoff berth since 2014 with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. Drew Stafford and Zdeno Chara also scored for the Bruins, who extended their season-high winning streak to six games and guaranteed a return to the postseason after missing out the last two years. Andrei Vasilevskiy kept Tampa Bay close with 34 saves. The loss didn t knock the Lightning out of playoff contention, but Tampa Bay fell dangerously close with just three games remaining. Penguins 4, Blue Jackets 1 In Pittsburgh, Patric Hornqvist scored his 20th goal of the season while Matt Murray finished with 38 saves as Pittsburgh sped past slumping Columbus. Jake Guentzel and Carter Rowney also scored for Pittsburgh. Brian Dumolin added his first regular-season goal in more than two years as the Penguins moved three points ahead of Columbus in the race to have homeice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Capitals 4, Maple Leafs 1 In Toronto, Lars Eller and Kevin Shattenkirk gave Washington a two-goal lead halfway through the game as the Capitals ended Toronto s four-game winning streak. Nate Schmidt and Tom Wilson also scored for Washington and Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 shots. The Capitals moved closer to clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the Presidents Trophy awarded to the team with the NHL s best record. Senators 2, Red Wings 0 In Ottawa, Ontario, Erik Karlsson and Tom Pyatt scored while Craig Anderson made 24 saves for his fifth shutout of the season as Ottawa defeated Detroit to stop a five-game losing streak. The Senators need one point in their final three games to clinch a playoff spot. Jimmy Howard made 22 saves for the Red Wings, who will miss the playoffs for the first time in 25 seasons. Islanders 2, Predators 1, OT In Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas Hickey scored 1:25 into overtime as New York beat Nashville to preserve its thin playoff hopes for at least another game. Brock Nelson also scored for the Islanders and Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves as they won their third straight in chasing the Eastern Conference s second wild card. New York moved within five points of Toronto for the final postseason spot in the East. Devils 1, Flyers 0, OT In Newark, New Jersey, John Moore scored 59 seconds into overtime as New Jersey snapped a six-game skid by beating Philadelphia. Keith Kinkaid made 35 saves in his first shutout of the season to help the Devils win for only the third time in 21 games (3-14-4). Mason finished with 26 saves for the Flyers, who lost their second straight. Wild 5, Hurricanes 3 In St Paul, Minnesota, Nino Niederreiter had two goals and an assist to lead Minnesota to a victory over Carolina that clinched second place in the Central Division and homeice advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the Wild. Zach Parise scored and had two assists while Charlie Coyle scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period. Devan Dubnyk shook off a shaky first period to stop 27 shots for his 39th win. Jets 5, Blues 2 In St Louis, Patrik Laine scored twice and Pittsburgh Penguins Patric Hornqvist (72) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Pittsburgh, on April 4. (AP) Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg beat St Louis for its season-high fifth straight victory. Mark Stuart and Nikolaj Ehlers also had a goal and an assist apiece for the Jets while Michael Hutchinson made 24 saves for Winnipeg. Stars 3, Coyotes 2, OT In Dallas, Julius Honka scored his first NHL goal 3:45 into overtime to lift Dallas over Arizona. Brett Ritchie and Jason Dickinson scored for Dallas in the first period while and Antti Niemi stopped 24 shots. ICE HOCKEY Christian Dvorak pulled Arizona within one just 12 seconds after Dickinson gave the Stars a 2-0 lead, and Anthony Duclair tied it with 4:27 remaining in regulation. Coyotes goalie Mike Smith finished with 28 saves. Sharks 3, Canucks 1 In San Jose, California, Kevin Labanc and Joel Ward scored in the first 30 seconds for the quickest two goals in franchise history as San Jose completed a sweep of the fivegame series sweep against Vancouver. Chris Tierney also scored for the playoffbound Sharks,while Martin Jones stopped 33 shots. Kings 6, Oilers 4 In Los Angeles, Trevor Lewis and Tanner Pearson scored about 8-1/2 minutes apart in the third period while Jonathan Quick made 23 saves as Los Angeles snapped Edmonton s five-game winning streak. Nick Shore, Dustin Brown, Nic Dowd and Drew Doughty also scored for Los Angeles in its first game since being eliminated from the playoff race. Ducks 3, Flames 1 In Anaheim, California, Patrick Eaves scored his eighth goal in nine games and John Gibson made 26 saves as Anaheim moved closer to a fifth straight Pacific Division title. Kevin Bieksa ended his 47-game goal drought and Chris Wagner also scored as the Ducks while Mikael Backlund scored for Calgary. Avalanche 4, Blackhawks 3, OT In Denver, Erik Johnson went coast-to-coast to score at 1:57 of overtime as Colorado rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat Chicago. Artemi Panarin, Marcus Kruger and Ryan Hartman scored in the second period for the Blackhawks to give them to a 3-0 lead. NHL Results/Standings WASHINGTON, April 5, (RTRS): Results and standings from the NHL games on Tuesday. Los Angeles 6 Edmonton 4 San Jose 3 Vancouver 1 Anaheim 3 Calgary 1 Colorado 4 Chicago (OT) 3 Dallas 3 Arizona (OT) 2 Winnipeg 5 St Louis 2 NY Islanders 2 Nashville (OT) 1 Minnesota 5 Carolina 3 Washington 4 Toronto 1 Ottawa 2 Detroit 0 Boston 4 Tampa Bay 0 New Jersey 1 Philadelphia (OT) 0 Pittsburgh 4 Columbus 1 Western Conference Central Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Chicago Minnesota St Louis Nashville Winnipeg Dallas Colorado Pacific Division W L OTL GF GA Pts Anaheim Edmonton San Jose Calgary Los Angeles Vancouver Arizona Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA Pts Montreal Ottawa Boston Toronto Tampa Bay Florida Buffalo Detroit Metropolitan Division W L OTL GF GA Pts Washington Pittsburgh Columbus NY Rangers NY Islanders Philadelphia Carolina New Jersey Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Elias uncertain about future after retirement NEWARK, NJ, April 5, (AP): Patrik Elias hasn t finished saying goodbye, even though he announced his retirement last week. The New Jersey Devils all-time leading scorer dropped the ceremonial first puck before New Jersey s Tuesday night home game against the Philadelphia Flyers. On Saturday, he will suit up one final time before the Devils host the New York Islanders. Elias will participate in the pregame skate, wearing the only jersey he has known in an 18-year career. After the warmup, Elias will remove the sweater for the final time. He considered playing in one final game before deciding it wouldn t be fair to his teammates, or the Islanders who may still be battling for a playoff spot. After that, the future is uncertain. Elias doesn t know what comes next, or where it will happen. The 40-year-old native of the Czech Republic is torn between remaining in the US or returning to Europe. I wish I could tell you, Elias said. There are the proper steps that have to come with retiring, and the first one is to enjoy this and still enjoy being among the players and the organization. A free agent after last season, he had knee surgery in May and did not play this season. In his final NHL game, Elias scored a goal, recorded two assists and was named the first star of the game in a 5-1 win. Elias spent this season working on a comeback before realizing the passion for the game wasn t there. He got to enjoy Christmas with his family and even took a ski trip to Seattle in February. I had no idea how much I would love it, Elias said of hitting the slopes. That s when I said this is it. He concludes a career that included two Stanley Cups. He is the franchise leader in goals (408), assists (617) and points (1,025). He ranks third in games played with 1,240, behind Ken Daneyko (1,283) and Martin Brodeur (1,259). He also is the Devils single-season leader in points, scoring 96 in , when he was named to the NHL s First All-Star Team at left wing. The Devils will retire his No. 26 at a home game next season. Elias represented the Czech Republic nine times in international play, including four Winter Olympics, four World Championships and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. In Olympic play, Elias captained the 2010 squad and was a member of the 2006 bronze medal-winning team. He regrets the NHL s decision to skip the upcoming Olympics.

44 44 PRIME TIME thursday (all times are kuwait local) 08:50 atletico vs sociedad/soccer... bein sports 3hd 09:45 gladbach vs hertha/soccer... bein sports 5hd 10:00 keys vs shelby/tennis... bein sports 10hd 12:00 cavs vs celtics/basketball... bein sports 8hd 12:15 munster vs toulouse/rugby... bein sports 13hd 13:00 monaco vs lille/soccer... bein sports 6hd 14:01 barcelona vs sevilla/soccer... bein sports 3hd 16:17 swansea vs hotspur/soccer... bein sports 2hd Sports Latest sports scores at Westbrook matches triple-double record Pacers halt skid OAKLAND, California, April 5, (AP): Klay Thompson scored 41 points for his 10th career 40-point game while Stephen Curry had 19 points and nine assists as the playoff-ready Golden State Warriors ran their winning streak to 12 by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Golden State could wrap up the West s No. 1 seed as soon as Wednesday night with a win at Phoenix and a Spurs loss at home to the Lakers. Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points for Minnesota, which couldn t keep up with Golden State s spiffy passing and contributions from so Westbrook many players on both ends of the floor. In his highest-scoring performance since getting 60 on Dec 5, Thompson hit 7 of 14 3-pointers giving him at least four 3s in a career-best six consecutive games. His 262 3s rank as eighth-most ever for a single season after he had 276 last season. Thunder 110, Bucks 79 In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook matched Oscar Robertson s single-season record with his 41st tripledouble, leading Oklahoma City to the victory. Westbrook clinched his seventh straight triple-double on an assist to Taj Gibson with 9:17 left in the third quarter. The crowd stood and chanted MVP! MVP! long after the assist. He later waved to the crowd after play stopped. He finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Robertson set the record during the season and Westbrook can break it Wednesday in Memphis. Westbrook also moved into a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the career list with his 78th triple-double. Michael Beasley scored 14 points for Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Pacers 108, Raptors 90 In Indianapolis, Paul George scored 18 of his 35 points in the third quarter, leading Indiana to a big win. The Pacers (38-40) stopped a fourgame losing streak that dropped them out of a tie for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference to the very real possibility of missing the postseason. DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points for Toronto (47-31), which had won two in a row. Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The game was marred by a shoving match between Indiana s Lance Stephenson and DeRozan with 3.3 seconds left. The melee spilled down the sideline and into the Pacers bench. Stephenson, P.J. Tucker and DeRozan all received technical fouls. Wizards 118, Hornets 111 In Washington, John Wall scored 14 of his 23 points in the third quarter, helping Washington hurt Charlotte s playoff chances. The Wizards (47-31) returned from a five-game trip and stopped a threegame slide. Tying Toronto for the third seed in the Eastern Conference, Washington dealt Charlotte a significant BASKETBALL blow after it had crept closer to a playoff spot with a three-game win streak. Kemba Walker scored 37 points but the All-Star guard went cold in the third quarter along with the rest of the Hornets (36-42). After making 26 of their first 42 shots, they went 6 for their next 18 as the game slipped away. Washington won for the 17th time this season when trailing by double digits. Cavaliers 122, Magic 102 In Cleveland, LeBron James notched his second straight triple-double, Kevin Love scored 28 points and Cleveland warmed up for a big game in Boston by dropping 18 3-pointers in a victory against Orlando. Kyrie Irving added 24 points and J.R. Smith had 19 for the Cavs, who made nine 3s and scored 43 in the third quarter to turn a tight game into a blowout and beat Orlando for the 17th straight time. The defending champions also moved into a tie with the Celtics atop the Eastern Conference. The teams meet Wednesday for first place and temporary ownership of the top seed and homecourt advantage until the NBA Finals. Evan Fournier scored 21 for the Magic, who have lost five in a row. Nuggets 134, Pelicans 131 In New Orleans, Danilo Gallinari scored 28 points as the Nuggets eliminated the Pelicans from playoff contention. Gary Harris added 23 points, including a contested 3-pointer that gave Denver an eight-point lead inside the final three minutes. Nikola Jokic had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Nuggets remain on Portland s heels for Kuwait crowned basketball champs KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The Under-17 basketball team of Kuwait Sporting Club were crowned champions in the basketball league after defeating Qadsiya Team by points on Tuesday. This places Qadsiya in third place in the league chart and Al-Tadamoun in second place. In his role, board member of the Kuwait Sporting Club and Head of Basketball Bader Al-Osaimi praised the accomplishments achieved by the team along with their technical team. He expressed hope for the team to win the basketball challenge cup in order to achieve dual titles, and then win the shield for the third consecutive year following the win of Under-19 and Under-17 in first place of the league championship, in addition to the second place by the Under-15 and Under-13. U-17 basketball champions Kuwait Sporting Club Silver medalist Kuwait s Haya Abdullah Al-Miyas the final Western Conference playoff spot. New Orleans star Anthony Davis scored 41 points, and DeMarcus Cousins had 30 points and 14 rebounds. Jrue Holiday finished with 18 points and 13 assists but turned the ball over twice in the last 30 seconds leading to Denver free throws and missed a 3-pointer as time expired. Knicks 100, Bulls 91 In New York, Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points as the Knicks snapped the Bulls four-game win streak. Courtney Lee had 14 points for New York and Maurice Ndour added 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Knicks (30-48) had dropped seven of nine. Results/Standings Page 39 Kuwaiti rower clinches silver KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Kuwaiti rower Haya Abdullah Al-Miyas expressed her jubilation over winning silver medal in the First Arab Indoor Ergometer Championship for Women, which was held recently in Cairo by the Egypt Rowing Club and witnessed wide Arab participation. In her statement, Al-Miyas revealed that this is the first time she is participating in a tournament, given that she has only been rowing for four months. However, she used to practice Cross- Fit sports and weightlifting, which enhanced her ability and confidence to participate in rowing competitions. She expressed her ambition to become an Olympic player, calling upon other women to practice the rowing sport. THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House Editor-in-Chief AHMED AL JARALLAH Editorial Office: Airport Road, Shuwaikh P.O. Box 2270, Safat, Kuwait Telephone: & Fax: arabtimes@arabtimesonline.com Advertising: Tel: Ext: 175 Fax: advt@arabtimesonline.com Annual Subscriptions: Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Official Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for overseas Tel: Fax: