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P20
MARCH 21, 2015 | JUMADA AL ULA 30, 1436 AH
P10
Amazon gets go-ahead
for drone tests
Australia recover
from wobble
to book India
semifinal
P21
Looming Water Crisis
Vol. 34 No. 127 | 200 baisas | 28 pages
www.omanobserver.om
[email protected]
HM congratulates
Namibia president
MUSCAT — His Majesty Sul–ƒ ƒ„‘‘• Šƒ• ‘ ”‹†ƒ› •‡–
a cable of congratulations to
Namibian President Dr Hage
Geingob on the occasion of the
anniversary of his country’s independence. His Majesty wished
Dr Geingob good health and
happiness, progress and prosperity for the people of Namibia.
Inside...
142 dead in Yemen
triple bombings
claimed by IS
ȅ Suicide bombings
claimed by the IS group killed
ƒ– Ž‡ƒ•– ͳͶʹ ’‡‘’Ž‡ ‘ ”‹†ƒ› ƒ–
mosques in the Yemeni capital, in
an attack targeting worshippers including Houthi militiamen.
The multiple blasts were among
the deadliest attacks yet in Yemen,
which is grappling with growing instability and divisions along sectarian lines.
They came a day after clashes
between forces loyal to President
Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and those
allied with the Houthi militia in the
southern city of Aden, where the
Ž‡ƒ†‡” ϐŽ‡† Žƒ•– ‘–ŠǤŠ‡ •—‹…‹†‡
bombers targeted two mosques attended by Houthis, who have seized
the capital Sanaa.
REPORT ON PAGE 4
32 killed in India
train accident, over
100 injured
LUCKNOW — At least 32 people
were killed when the engine and
two crowded coaches of a passenger train derailed after the driver
‘˜‡”•Š‘–ƒ•‹‰ƒŽ‘”‹†ƒ›‹––ƒ”
”ƒ†‡•Šǡ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†Ǥ
More than 100 others were injured, many seriously, in the ghastly
accident at Bachharwan railway
station near Rae Bareli when the
Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express
was proceeding to Varanasi. The
train was to halt at Bachharwan, a
small station. But the driver didn’t
stop. When he realized the folly and
applied the emergency brakes, the
engine and the coaches went off the
–”ƒ…•ǡ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†Ǥ
REPORT ON PAGE 6
People watch a total solar eclipse from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, an archipeligo administered by Norway on Friday. Thousands gathered in Svalbard as it is the only place where total
eclipse was seen along with the Faoroe Islands off Iceland. — AFP
REPORT ON PAGE 22
Iran talks paused, to resume next week
LAUSANNE — Iran and six world
powers suspended negotiations on
a historic nuclear deal and were set
to convene again later next week to
break a deadlock over sensitive atomic research and lifting of sanctions,
‡•–‡”‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
While the negotiations have made
progress over the past year and both
sides appear determined to push for
a deal, differences on major sticking points are still wide enough to
potentially prevent an agreement in
the end. On the sixth day of talks at a
19th century hotel in the Swiss city of
Lausanne, plans for the delegations
changed repeatedly over the course
of several hours. At one point, the for‡‹‰ ‹‹•–‡”• ‘ˆ ”ƒ…‡ǡ ”‹–ƒ‹ ƒ†
Germany were expected to join the
talks on Saturday.
Less than an hour later those plans
were called into question after the
Iranian delegation informed their US,
”‹–‹•Šǡ”‡…Šǡ
‡”ƒ›ǡ—••‹ƒƒ†
US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) with Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad
Zarif (R) in Lausanne on Friday. — Reuters
Chinese counterparts that they would
be returning to Tehran due to the
death of President Hassan Rouhani’s
ͻͲǦ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž† ‘–Š‡” ‘ ”‹†ƒ› ‘”ing. Tehran’s delegation checked out
of the hotel and headed to the airport.
All sides agreed a resumption late
next week was likely. Prior to the Iranian departure, US Secretary of State
John Kerry, Energy Secretary Er‡•– ‘‹œǡ ”ƒ‹ƒ ‘”‡‹‰ ‹‹•–‡”
Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iranian
Atomic Energy Organization chief Ali
Akbar Salehi held another series of
meetings to break the impasse.
There was no breakthrough this
week. “We have reached a very crucial point in the talks, there are one
or two critical issues and for the other
issues still one or two points remain
to be resolved,” Zarif told reporters.
Kerry said they made good
progress, adding: “We’ll be back next
week.” During that meeting, Kerry
expressed condolences to the delegation for the passing of Rouhani’s
mother and greetings for the Iranian
new year holiday Nowruz, which begins on Saturday. US President Barack
Obama prepared a video message to
Iran’s people and leaders on Thursday, saying this year represented the
“best opportunity in decades” to improve ties between their two countries. But differences in the nuclear
talks remained, he said. Western and
”ƒ‹ƒ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• Šƒ˜‡ •ƒ‹† –Šƒ– –Š‡
sides are very far apart, though all
delegations want a deal. US and Eu”‘’‡ƒ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• •ƒ› –Š‡› ‘Ž› ™ƒ– ƒ
solid agreement that ensures Iran will
not be able to quickly build an atomic
™‡ƒ’‘ǤȄ
Obama calls on Iran
to free 4 Americans
WASHINGTON — US President
ƒ”ƒ…„ƒƒ‘”‹†ƒ›…ƒŽŽ‡†‘
Iran’s government to immediately
release three detained Americans
— Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati
and Washington Post reporter Ja•‘ ‡œƒ‹ƒ Ȅ ƒ† –‘ Š‡Ž’ ϐ‹†
Robert Levinson, an American
who disappeared in Iran eight
years ago, the White House said.
Obama made the statement in
conjunction with Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. ‘‘Today, as families
across the world gather to mark
this holiday, we remember those
American families who are enduring painful separations from their
loved ones who are imprisoned or
went missing in Iran,” he said in a
statement. — Reuters
App-linked spectacles
help deaf hear movies
BERLIN — Most movies
screened in Germany are
dubbed into German, but that
creates a problem for the deaf
or hearing-impaired, since they
cannot rely on the subtitles
shown in many other nations.
Researchers at the University
of Applied Sciences in Zwickau,
Germany, hope they have
found a way around that problem with a pair of data-equipped
spectacles that can be used to
show subtitles in synchronization with the images on the movie screen.
The subtitles in German are
available free in Germany and
—•–”‹ƒˆ‘”•‡Ž‡…–‡†ϐ‹Ž•‘…—”rent release as a service to the
deaf.
The glasses are wirelessly
connected to a smartphone,
where the subtitles are stored
using an app.
The special app can even
identify the right place in the
movie using voice-recognition
techology and correctly match
up the subtitles to the action on
screen. Developed in conjunction with the company Greta
& Starks, the system went on
display at the CeBIT computer
show which began on Monday in
Hanover, Germany.
The app that makes the German synchronized text available
is called Sparks and has been
around since the end of 2013.
It can already be used to follow the text of a movie on a
smartphone display, but the
hard of hearing need to keep
switching their gaze from screen
to phone. — dpa
‰‹”Ž™ƒ–•–‘„—›Š›ƒ…‹–ŠϔŽ‘™‡”•–‘…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‡‡”•‹ƒ‡™›‡ƒ”‘™”—œ‹‡Š”ƒ‘”‹†ƒ›ǡ‘–Š‡‡˜‡‘ˆ„‡‰‹‹‰‘ˆ‡”•‹ƒ•‘Žƒ”…ƒŽ‡†ƒ”
›‡ƒ”Ǥ”ƒ‹ƒ•„—›ϔŽ‘™‡”•ǡ‰”‡‡•’”‘—–•ƒ†‰‘Ž†ϔ‹•Š–‘…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‡‘™”—œǤȄ
2
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
OMAN/LATE NEWS
ƒ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ–‘ƒ––‡†ƒ‹„‹ƒ Unicef says South Sudan govt,
’”‡•‹†‡–ǯ•‹ƒ—‰—”ƒ–‹‘…‡”‡‘› ”‡„‡Ž•‹†ƒ’’‹‰‹†•–‘ϐ‹‰Š–
MUSCAT — Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, Dr
Salim bin Nasser al Ismaili, Chairman of the General Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, left here on Friday for the Namibian capital Windhoek to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Dr Hage
Geingob, who takes over as the new President of Namibia
on Saturday.
The new president’s inauguration ceremony coincides
with the country’s 25th Independence Day celebrations
which will be participated by a number of dignitaries, including heads and representatives of a number of countries. — ONA
GENEVA — South Sudan’s army and
rebels have stepped up the kidnapping of
…Š‹Ž†”‡–‘ϐ‹‰Š–‹–Š‡…‘—–”›ǯ•…‹˜‹Ž™ƒ”ǡ
with hundreds snatched from villlages in
the last month alone, the UN children’s
agency said on Friday.
Providing the most detailed account
yet of the country’s child soldier crisis,
Unicef said it believed there were now
more than 12,000 children in government
and rebel ranks across the country.
“It has become increasingly desperate
for boy children in many areas of the conϐŽ‹…– œ‘‡Ǥ Š‡› ƒ”‡ „‡‹‰ –ƒ”‰‡–‡†Ǥ Š‡›
are being rounded up and sent to the front
line. This is happening as I speak,” Jonathan Veitch, Unicef’s representative in the
country, said.
Veitch said Unicef had “credible and
‹ •‘‡ ‹•–ƒ…‡• ˜‡”‹ϐ‹ƒ„Ž‡ ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘
that forces aligned with the government
and opposition have abducted or coerced
hundreds of children into their ranks in
the past month alone”, a period coinciding
with the collapse of peace talks.
“Our teams on the ground and our
partners are reporting a strong upsurge in
recruitment at the moment and it is ongoing,” he told reporters in Geneva.
South Sudan is the the world’s youngest nation, having broken away from
Khartoum in 2011 after a long and bloody
independence struggle.
Civil war broke out in the new nation
in December 2013, when President Salva Kiir accused Riek Machar, his former
deputy, of planning a coup. Since then tens
of thousands have died, two million have
been uprooted and four million face starvation.
The government and the rebels have
been accused of widespread atrocities and
war crimes — including gang rapes, massacres and attacks on aid organisations
and peacekeepers.
Earlier this month the UN Security
Council passed a US-drafted resolution
creating a sanctions regime for South
Sudan, although none have yet been imposed. Veitch reminded South Sudan’s
warring factions that the resolution “spe…‹ϐ‹…ƒŽŽ›Ž‹•–•–Š‡”‡…”—‹–‡–‘ˆ…Š‹Ž†”‡ƒ•
soldiers as one of the criteria for imposing
sanctions”.
Š‡‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ‹†DzŠ—†”‡†•dz‘ˆ…Š‹Ž†”‡
™‡”‡•‡‹œ‡†ˆ”‘–Š‡˜‹ŽŽƒ‰‡‘ˆƒ—Š‹Žluk in Upper Nile in an attack last month
by soldiers loyal to Major-General Johnson
Olony, who commands an ethnic Shilluk
militia in the northern Upper Nile state,
ƒ ‘‹ŽǦ”‹…Š ƒ† ϐ‹‡”…‡Ž› …‘–‡•–‡† ”‡‰‹‘Ǥ
— AFP
EU leaders pledge cooperation, aid for Tunisia
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders
pledged to step up help for Tunisia on
Friday, worried that an attack that killed
20 foreign tourists shows IS militants
•’”‡ƒ†‹‰ –Š‡‹” ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡ ˆ”‘ ‹„›ƒ
and posing a growing threat to Europe.
EU governments are already deeply
worried about chaos in Libya which has
fuelled an exodus of migrants that are
putting a heavy strain on southern EU
countries such as Italy.
Wednesday’s attack in Tunisia, regarded in Brussels as a rare bright spot
among countries swept up by the Arab
uprisings, increased the EU’s concern
about threats to stability among its
southern neighbours.
IS claimed responsibility for the museum attack and Tunisia’s government
said the two gunmen had trained at a
militant camp in Libya.
“Events in the southern Mediterranean are dangerous for Europe,” European
Council President Donald Tusk told a
news conference after an EU summit.
“We have to offer everything we can
to stabilise the situation in Tunisia. We
can’t say Tunisia is destabilised after
this terrorist attack, but the risk is quite
obvious that Tunisia will be the next
step of activity and violence from IS activists,” he said.
Tusk said he had invited EU foreign
policy chief Federica Mogherini to join
him on a visit to Tunisia, Malta and Italy
at the end of March.
In a statement condemning the Tunis
attack, EU leaders pledged to intensify
cooperation with Tunisia to counter ter-
“Events in
the southern
Mediterranean
are dangerous for
Europe,” European
‘—…‹Ž”‡•‹†‡–
‘ƒŽ†—•–‘Ž†
a news conference
ƒˆ–‡”ƒ•—‹–
“It will be very important to help Tunisia also in terms of economic support
so that it can face the negative impact
on the tourism sector and on Tunisian
ǡdz‡œ‹–‘Ž†”‡’‘”–‡”•Ǥ
EU leaders backed UN-brokered
peace talks in Libya, where two rival
governments and armed factions are
battling for power and oil wealth four
years after Nato helped oust Muammar
ƒ††ƒϐ‹ǤŠ‡›—”‰‡†ƒŽŽ•‹†‡•–‘“—‹…Ž›
agree on a government of national unity,
—‹•‹ƒ’”‘–‡•–‡”••Š‘—–•Ž‘‰ƒ•ƒ•–Š‡›™ƒ˜‡„ƒ‡”•ƒ†–Š‡‹”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽϔŽƒ‰†—”‹‰ƒ†‡‘•–”ƒ–‹‘‘
‘—”‰—‹„ƒ˜‡—‡ǡ…ƒ’‹–ƒŽ‘ˆ—‹•ǡ‘”‹†ƒ›ǡ†—”‹‰†‡’‡†‡…‡ƒ›…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‹‘•ƒ”‹‰–Š‡ͻ;–Šƒ‹˜‡”•ƒ”› which the EU was ready to support.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
of independence in Tunis. — Reuters
•ƒ‹†ǯ•‹ϐŽ—‡…‡‹‹„›ƒ™ƒ•‰”‘™‹‰Ǥ
rorism, to strengthen Tunisia’s democ–ƒŽ‹ƒ ”‹‡ ‹‹•–‡” ƒ––‡‘ ‡œ‹ the threat of terrorism. We need to con- “If the problems in Libya are not solved,
racy and to help with its economic and said the attack in Tunisia was “new evi- centrate our attention a bit more on the the EU as a whole has a big problem,”
she said. — Reuters
social development.
dence that we are facing a global threat, Mediterranean.”
Tunisia says
museum
gunmen
trained in Libya
TUNIS — Tunisia said
two gunmen who killed
21 people at its national
museum trained at a militant camp in Libya, as the
country marked its Independence Day in sombre
fashion on Friday.
The IS militants group
has claimed Wednesday’s
attack on foreign tourists in Tunis, the deadliest since Tunisia’s 2011
revolution which sparked
the Arab Spring regional
uprisings.
The two assailants
“left the country illegally last December for
Libya and they were able
to train with weapons
there,” Secretary of State
ˆ‘” ‡…—”‹–› ƒϐ‹ Š‡ŽŽ›
told Tunisian television.
IS, which has hundreds
of Tunisians among its
ranks, threatened more
attacks in an audio message posted online on
Thursday claiming responsibility for the museum massacre.
Authorities say as
many as 3,000 Tunisians
have gone to Iraq, Syria
ƒ†‹„›ƒ–‘ϐ‹‰Š–‹‹Ž‹tant ranks, raising fears of
battle-hardened militants
returning home to plot attacks.
Chelly named locations of several suspected training camps for
Tunisians in violencewracked Libya, including
–Š‡ •‡…‘† …‹–› ‡‰Šƒœ‹
and the coastal town of
Derna, which has become
a stronghold for militants.
The president’s ofϐ‹…‡ •ƒ‹† •‡…—”‹–› ˆ‘”…‡•
arrested nine suspects
— “four people directly
linked to the (terrorist)
‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘ ƒ† ϐ‹˜‡ •—•pected of having ties to
the cell”. And a presidential source said soldiers
were to be deployed in
major cities following the
assault, while insisting
“we are not under siege”.
— AFP
›”‹ƒǯ•••ƒ†ϐ‹”‡•–™‘•’›…Š‹‡ˆ•
BEIRUT — Syrian President Bashar
ƒŽ ••ƒ† Šƒ• ϐ‹”‡† –™‘ –‘’ ‹–‡ŽŽ‹‰‡…‡…Š‹‡ˆ•ƒˆ–‡”ƒϐ‹‰Š–„‡–™‡‡–Š‡
–™‘‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ǡƒŠ‹‰ŠǦ”ƒ‹‰•‡…—”‹–›
source in Damascus said on Friday.
Dz
‡‡”ƒŽ —•–‘ ŠƒœƒŽ‡Šǡ Š‡ƒ†
of political intelligence, and General
ƒϐ‹“ Š‡Šƒ†‡Šǡ Š‡ƒ† ‘ˆ ‹Ž‹–ƒ”› ‹–‡ŽŽ‹‰‡…‡ǡ ™‡”‡ ϐ‹”‡† ƒ– –Š‡ „‡‰‹ning of the week by President Assad
after a violent dispute between the
two men,” the source said.
ŠƒœƒŽ‡ŠŠƒ•„‡‡”‡’Žƒ…‡†„›Š‹•
ˆ‘”‡” †‡’—–›ǡ ƒœ‹Š ƒ••‘—ǡ ™‹–Š
Mohamed Mahalla taking over as
military intelligence chief, the source
added.
The two men were replaced after
ƒ ˜‹‘Ž‡– ƒ”‰—‡– ‘˜‡” ŠƒœƒŽ‡Šǯ•
involvement in the southern front of
–Š‡…‘ϐŽ‹…–‹›”‹ƒǡƒ……‘”†‹‰–‘–Š‡
source.
ŠƒœƒŽ‡Š Šƒ† ”‡’‘”–‡†Ž› •‘—‰Š–
greater involvement in the battle
ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ”‡„‡Ž ϐ‹‰Š–‡”• ‹ •‘—–Š‡”
Daraa province, where he was born.
But Shehadeh “was categorically
opposed to him taking part in the
battle” being waged in the area by
regime troops backed by Lebanon’s
‡œ„—ŽŽƒŠ ‘˜‡‡–ǡ –Š‡ •‘—”…‡
said.
“A violent disagreement erupted
ƒ† Š‡Šƒ†‡Šǯ• ‡ „‡ƒ– —’ Šƒœaleh badly,” the source said.
ŠƒœƒŽ‡Š ™ƒ• „”‹‡ϐŽ› Š‘•’‹–ƒŽ‹•‡†
after the incident two weeks ago, but
was readmitted later on suffering
complications related to hypertension.
Š‡ •‘—”…‡ •ƒ‹† ŠƒœƒŽ‡Š ™ƒ•
currently in “critical condition”.
ŠƒœƒŽ‡Šƒ†Š‡Šƒ†‡Š„‘–Š–‘‘
their posts in July 2012, after being
promoted following a bombing that
‹ŽŽ‡†ˆ‘—”–‘’”‡‰‹‡ϐ‹‰—”‡•Ǥ
Shehadeh was previously head of
military intelligence in central Homs
province, an early bastion of the opposition to Assad’s regime.
ŠƒœƒŽ‡Š™ƒ•Š‡ƒ†‘ˆ‹Ž‹–ƒ”›•‡curity in Damascus before his 2012
promotion.
He is considered a strongman of
Assad, since he became president in
ʹͲͲͲǡ•—……‡‡†‹‰Š‹•ˆƒ–Š‡”ƒˆ‡œǤ
 ʹͲͲʹǡ ŠƒœƒŽ‡Š ™ƒ• ƒ‡†
head of Syrian military intelligence
in Lebanon, where he was accused of
intervening extensively in the country’s political affairs.
He was also frequently named by
witnesses as a suspect in the planning of the 2005 assassination of
former Lebanese prime minister
ƒϐ‹“ƒ”‹”‹ǡ–Š‘—‰ŠŠ‡Šƒ•‘–„‡‡ ‡„‡”•‘ˆƒ‡ƒŽ‡‘ƒ†‘ƒ––ƒŽ‹‘ǡ™Š‹…Š‹•’ƒ”–‘ˆ–Š‡›”‹ƒ”›ǡ•‹–ƒ–‘’‘ˆƒ–ƒ‹–Š‡
indicted by the international tribu- ‰‘˜‡”‡–Ǧ…‘–”‘ŽŽ‡†ƒ”‡ƒ‘ˆ‘„ƒ”ǡƒ•—„—”„‘ˆƒƒ•…—•ǤŠ‹•ƒ––ƒŽ‹‘…‘•‹•–•‘ˆ•‡˜‡”ƒŽŠ—†”‡†
ˆ‡ƒŽ‡ϔ‹‰Š–‡”•™Š‘Šƒ˜‡Šƒ†‹Ž‹–ƒ”›–”ƒ‹‹‰ƒ†…ƒ””›‘—–…‘„ƒ–†—–‹‡•ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
nal prosecuting the murder. — AFP
3
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
REGION
Over 140 dead in Yemen bombings claimed by IS
SANAA — Bombings claimed by IS
group killed at least 142 people on
Friday at mosques in the Yemeni capital, in an attack targeting worshippers including Houthi militiamen.
The multiple blasts were among
the deadliest attacks yet in Yemen,
which is grappling with growing instability and divisions along sectarian lines.
They came a day after clashes
between forces loyal to President
Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and those
allied with the Houthi militia in the
southern city of Aden, where the
Ž‡ƒ†‡”ϐŽ‡†Žƒ•–‘–ŠǤ
The suicide bombers targeted two
mosques attended by Houthis, who
have seized the capital Sanaa.
One struck inside Badr mosque in
southern Sanaa while another tar‰‡–‡† ™‘”•Š‹’’‡”• ƒ• –Š‡› ϐŽ‡† ‘—–side, witnesses said.
A third suicide bomber targeted Al
Hashush mosque in northern Sanaa.
Nashwan al Atab, a member of the
health ministry’s operations committee, said that 142 people were killed
and at least 351 were wounded.
The Houthi militia’s Al Massira television said hospitals in the capital
had made urgent appeals for blood
donations.
The imam of the Badr mosque was
among the dead, a medical source
said.
Footage aired by Al Massira
showed bodies lying in pools of blood
outside the mosques, as worshippers
rushed the wounded to hospitals in
pick-up trucks.
Another suicide bomber blew
himself up outside a mosque in the
northern Houthi stronghold of Saada, a source close to the militia said.
Only the assailant was killed in
that explosion, and tight security at
the mosque prevented the bomber
from going inside, the source added.
In an online statement, the previously unknown Sanaa branch of IS
claimed the bombings and said they
were “just the tip of the iceberg”.
The bombers targeted
two mosques attended
by Houthis. One
struck inside Badr
mosque in southern
Sanaa while another
targeted worshippers
ƒ•–Š‡›ϔŽ‡†‘—–•‹†‡ǡ
witnesses said. A third
bomber targeted Al
Hashush mosque
in northern Sanaa.
Nashwan al Atab, a
member of the health
ministry’s operations
committee, said that
142 people were killed
and at least 351 were
wounded.
– ‹• –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‹‡ –Šƒ– Šƒ•
claimed any attack in Yemen where
Al Qaeda remains the most prominent militant group.
The Houthis overran Sanaa in September and have since tightened their
grip on power.
Their attempts to extend their control into other areas have been met by
deadly resistance from tribes and Al
Qaeda.
Yemen’s top security body blamed
Al Qaeda for a car bomb in January
that killed 40 people and wounded
dozens more at a police academy in
Sanaa as recruits lined up to register.
An injured girl is carried by a man out of a mosque which was attacked by a bomber in Sanaa on Friday. — Reuters
But a leader of the militant network
denied responsibility at the time.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is regarded by the United
States as the extremist network’s
deadliest branch.
Yemen, a front line in the US war
on Al Qaeda, has descended into
chaos since the 2012 ouster of longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh,
who has been accused of backing the
Houthis.
President Abedrabbo Mansour
Hadi escaped Houthi house arrest
‹ ƒƒƒ Žƒ•– ‘–Š ƒ† ϐŽ‡† –‘ –Š‡
southern city of Aden, where violence
has erupted in recent days.
•‡…—”‹–› ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ •ƒ‹† ‘ ”‹†ƒ›
–Šƒ–ƒ–‘’‡‡‹‘ˆϐ‹…‡”Ž‹‡†–‘–Š‡
Houthis had escaped an assassination
bid near Aden overnight.
Four people were killed in an
ambush on the Lahj-Taiz road but
General Abdel Hafedh al Sakkaf, the
special forces chief in Aden, escaped
—Šƒ”‡†ǡ•ƒ‹†–Š‡‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽˆ”‘ƒŠŒǤ
He said the attack took place in Al
–Šƒ™‹”ƒ•ƒƒˆϐŽ‡††‡‹ƒ…‘voy to Lahj, on its way towards militiaheld Sanaa.
“He escaped the assassination bid
but a bodyguard was shot dead, while
three others died when their vehicle
‘˜‡”–—”‡†ǡdz–Š‡‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ‹†Ǥ
The attack came as forces loyal to
Hadi tightened their control over Aden
where the situation was calm early on
Friday.
Troops loyal to Hadi and their al-
lied Popular Committees paramilitary
manned checkpoints, a correspondent
reported.
Hadi himself had to evacuate a
presidential palace in Aden on Thurs†ƒ›ƒˆ–‡”ƒϐ‹‰Š–‡”Œ‡–‘’‡‡†ϐ‹”‡ǡŠ‹–ting a nearby hill.
– Ž‡ƒ•– •‡˜‡ •’‡…‹ƒŽ ˆ‘”…‡• ϐ‹‰Š–ers and four members of the Popular
Committees were killed in clashes in
Aden on Thursday, security sources
said, and 54 were wounded on the two
sides. — AFP
UN body slams inaction on Palestinian refugees
ƒŽ‡•–‹‹ƒ‰‹”Ž•’‹…™‹Ž†—•–ƒ”†ϔŽ‘™‡”•™Š‹…Š‰”‘™‹ϔ‹‡Ž†•ƒ…”‘••
–Š‡
ƒœƒ–”‹’‘”‹†ƒ›ƒ•–Š‡‘ˆϔ‹…‹ƒŽ•–ƒ”–‘ˆ•’”‹‰‹•ƒ”‡†„›–Š‡
Vernal Equinox. — AFP
UN hopes Libyan
factions come closer
to unity govt deal
SKHIRAT, Morocco — The United
Nations hopes Libya’s rival factions
will come closer in the coming days
to reaching a deal on a unity government for the troubled oil producer, a UN special envoy said on
Friday.
Western leaders say the UN talks
are the only way to end the chaos in
Libya, where two rival governments
and armed factions are battling for
control and militants have gained
ground in the resulting mayhem.
Both sides have attacked each
other with war planes in the past
few days, but UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon said he hoped the factions would make progress on an
accord to form a unity government
over the coming three days.
“By Sunday, we would like to
have these documents ready and, if
possible, published,” he told reporters in Morocco at the start of the latest round of negotiations.
He was referring to a framework
deal not only on a possible govern‡–„—–ƒŽ•‘‘Ž‘…ƒŽ…‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡•ˆ‘”
frontlines across the North African
country. He gave no details and did
not say whether he expected the
warring factions to sign an agreement.
Diplomats are under no illusions
that moderates attending the talks
ˆ‘”„‘–Š•‹†‡•™‹ŽŽˆƒ…‡†‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–‹‡•‹
persuading hardliners to accept any
deal. — Reuters
JERUSALEM — A UN body on Friday
slammed a lack of action over Palestinian refugees, after nine Palestinians
were reported to be among 50 migrants who drowned off Sicily’s coast.
The latest migrant drowning tragedy in the Mediterranean claimed
several dozen lives, the International
Organization for Migration has said,
after a boat capsized with more than
150 people on board on March 5.
“The fact that this group reportedly
consisted of Palestine refugees from
Syria, as well as from Gaza and Lebanon, is a clear and tragic sign that Pal‡•–‹‡”‡ˆ—‰‡‡•ƒ”‡ϐ‹†‹‰Ž‹ˆ‡‹›”‹ƒ
and beyond increasingly untenable,”
UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA’s spokesman Chris Gunness said Nine Palestinians were
in a statement.
“These tragedies... stem not only reported to be among
ˆ”‘ƒ”‡†…‘ϐŽ‹…–ǡ‘……—’ƒ–‹‘ƒ†ƒ
50 migrants who
lack of protection of human rights, but
more fundamentally from the failure drowned off Sicily’s
to resolve the Palestine refugee probcoast after a boat
lem,” he said.
“At a time of rising extremism in capsized with over 150
the Middle East region, the failure of
people on board
the international community to resolve the Palestinian issue takes on an
Italy’s coastguard rescued 127
ƒ††‡†•‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ…‡Ǥdz
The accident claimed at least 50 people and recovered 10 bodies after
Ž‹˜‡•ǡ ͶͲ ‘”‡ –Šƒ ϐ‹”•– –Š‘—‰Š–ǡ –Š‡ a boat capsized when its passengers
rushed to one side of the vessel in
IOM said on Thursday.
a stampede to get onto the arriving
coastguard boat.
The deaths took the migrant death
toll in the waters between north Africa and southern Italy to more than
400 since the start of the year, according to the IOM.
A total of 170,000 migrants landed
in Italy in the whole of 2014 and cur”‡––”‡†••—‰‰‡•––Šƒ–”‡…‘”†ϐ‹‰—”‡
is likely to be exceeded this year.
In another shipwreck in the Mediterranean last September, dozens of
Palestinians from the besieged and
war-ravaged Gaza Strip were believed
to be among 500 migrants who perished. — AFP
In Libyan capital, hope survives on busy streets
TRIPOLI — Armed convoys, checkpoints and sporadic exchanges of
‰—ϐ‹”‡ ƒ”‡ •–‹ŽŽ …‘‘ ‹ –Š‡ ‹„›ƒ …ƒ’‹–ƒŽǡ „—– ”‡•‹†‡–• ƒ”‡ ϐŽ‘…‹‰
back to the streets and surprisingly
hopeful of a brighter future.
Sitting in a newly opened cafe
overlooking the blue waters of
the Mediterranean, Mohammed, a
19-year-old student, said that while
fear remains, Tripoli’s residents are
trying to get on with life.
“Tripoli is a city that loves life and
™ƒ–•’‡ƒ…‡ƒ†’‡ƒ…‡—•–ϐ‹†Š‡”ǡdz
he said.
Since the ouster of Muammar
ƒ††ƒϐ‹ ƒŽ‘•– ˆ‘—” ›‡ƒ”• ƒ‰‘ǡ ”‹˜ƒŽ
militias and administrations have battled for power in the oil-rich North
African country.
The city was seized in August by
the General National Congress after
™‡‡• ‘ˆ „Ž‘‘†› ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ ™‹–Š ˆ‘”…‡•
backing the internationally recognised government.
That triggered an exodus of foreign
residents and prompted most diplomatic missions to close.
The rise of the IS group, which has
claimed several attacks in the country,
has also raised fears but the city’s residents are adapting as best they can.
Some even sense a changing tide.
In the coastal neighbourhood of
Gargaresh, shops, designer boutiques
and restaurants stretch for some
three kilometres along the seafront.
The streets are crowded with pe†‡•–”‹ƒ•ƒ†–”ƒˆϐ‹…Ǥ
Women in colourful scarves, men
Women shop in the old part of the capital, Tripoli. — AFP
and children are busy socialising and
shopping.
Almost nothing is missing from
stores that continue to import goods
through Tripoli’s port.
Petrol is still cheap and the Libyan
dinar is stable at 1.36 to the dollar.
Power cuts are becoming rare and
electronic goods are becoming cheap-
er as imports from China rise.
“There has been some unrest, people momentarily deserted the area,
but now they are coming back,” said
Anas, who works in a restaurant in
the neighbourhood.
He said the shops and restaurants
were abandoned during the deadly
summer clashes but life is returning
to normal.
“That’s not to say that people are
totally reassured. They fear for the future, they are afraid of explosions and
ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰–Šƒ–…‘—Ž†Šƒ’’‡ƒ›–‹‡ǡdz
he said.
Armed convoys patrol Tripoli’s
roads daily, often erecting checkpoints. This is reassuring for resi-
dents, but few venture out after dark.
“Some people go out at night, but
most stay at home because we can’t
identify who is on the checkpoints,”
•ƒ‹†ƒ•ǤDz–‹•†‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž––‘‘™™Š‘
we are dealing with these days.”
On the short drive to the city centre from Gargaresh, pictures of killed
‹Ž‹–‹ƒ ϐ‹‰Š–‡”• ƒ†‘” –Š‡ „‹‰ ‡–ƒŽ
billboards that once displayed commercial advertising.
The facades of the old town display
”‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘ƒ”› ‰”ƒˆϐ‹–‹ ƒ† •Ž‘‰ƒ• ‘ˆ
the Nato-backed uprising that drove
ƒ††ƒϐ‹ˆ”‘’‘™‡”‹ʹͲͳͳǡ•—…Šƒ•
“Free Libya” and “Tripoli: Citadel of
Free Men”.
But new slogans are encroaching.
“Yes for Libya Dawn, No to the
Murderer Haftar,” reads one aimed
at controversial army chief Khalifa
Haftar, who was recently appointed
by the internationally recognised government and has vowed to take on
hardliners.
Anas el Gomati, an analyst with the
Libya-based Sadeq Institute thinktank, said that although Libyans differ
on politics, they still want a political
solution.
“It would be near impossible to
generalise as to what Libyans want.
What they certainly don’t want is
more war. Any peaceful solution to
the current civil war is desperately
needed,” he said.
At Mitiga airport to the east of the
…ƒ’‹–ƒŽǡƒŒƒǡƒƒˆϐŽ—‡–„—•‹‡••ƒǡ
is returning to live and work in the
city. — AFP
4
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
ASIA
ʹ–‘‡•‘ˆ”ƒ”‡’ƒ‰‘Ž‹
•…ƒŽ‡••‡‹œ‡†‹„—•–
ȅŠ—‰‡–™‘Ǧ–‘‡Šƒ—Ž‘ˆ•…ƒŽ‡•ˆ”‘–Š‡‡†ƒ‰‡”‡†’ƒ‰‘Ž‹ƒ–‡ƒ–‡”Šƒ˜‡„‡‡•‡‹œ‡†„›‘‰‘‰—•–‘•‹ƒ„—•–™‘”–Š‘”‡
–Šƒ̈́ͳ‹ŽŽ‹‘ǡƒ—–Š‘”‹–‹‡••ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
Š‡ •…ƒŽ‡• ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’”‘–‡…–‡† ƒ‹ƒŽǡ ƒŽ•‘ ‘™ ƒ• –Š‡ Dz•…ƒŽ› ƒ–‡ƒ–‡”dzǡ
ƒ”‡‹†‡ƒ†ˆ‘”–”ƒ†‹–‹‘ƒŽŠ‹‡•‡‡†‹…‹‡ǡ‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ›‘–Š‡ƒ‹Žƒ†ǡ
™Š‡”‡–Š‡›ƒ”‡—•‡†–‘„‘‘•–˜‹”‹Ž‹–›ƒ†–”‡ƒ–ƒŽŽ‡”‰‹‡•Ǥ
ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•†‹•…‘˜‡”‡†–Š‡̈́ͳͲ‹ŽŽ‹‘ȋ̈́ͳǤʹͻ‹ŽŽ‹‘Ȍ•–ƒ•Š‘—‡•†ƒ›‹
ƒ•Š‹’’‹‰…‘–ƒ‹‡”ˆ”‘‹‰‡”‹ƒƒ–‘‰‘‰ǯ•…ƒ”‰‘’‘”–ǤDz’‘‡šƒ‹ƒ–‹‘ǡ…—•–‘•‘ˆϐ‹…‡”•ˆ‘—†–Š‡’ƒ‰‘Ž‹•…ƒŽ‡•‹ͶͶ›Ž‘„ƒ‰•‘ˆ‰‘‘†•
‹–Š‡…‘–ƒ‹‡”ǡdzƒ‰‘˜‡”‡–•–ƒ–‡‡–’—„Ž‹•Š‡†‘”‹†ƒ›•ƒ‹†Ǥƒ‰‘Ž‹
•…ƒŽ‡•ƒ”‡’”‹œ‡†ƒ•ƒ‹‰”‡†‹‡–‹Š‹‡•‡‡†‹…‹‡„—–ƒ…–‹˜‹•–••ƒ›–Š‡‹”
Š‡ƒŽ–Š’”‘’‡”–‹‡•ƒ”‡ƒ›–ŠǤ
ƒ™Š‘•ƒŽ–‡†ƒ†…‘‘‡†
’ƒ”‡–•‰—‹Ž–›‘ˆ—”†‡”
Chinese honour guards holding caskets containing the remains of Chinese soldiers move into a cargo aircraft during the handing over ceremony of
the remains at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea. The remains of 68 Chinese soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War
were transferred from the temporary columbarium in South Korea to the airport to return home for permanent burial. — AFP
ȅ‘‰‘‰ƒ™Š‘™ƒ•ƒ……—•‡†‘ˆ‹ŽŽ‹‰ǡ†‹•‡„‡”‹‰ǡ •ƒŽ–‹‰ ƒ† …‘‘‹‰ Š‹• ’ƒ”‡–• ™ƒ• ˆ‘—† ‰—‹Ž–› ‘ˆ †‘—„Ž‡ —”†‡” ‘
”‹†ƒ›Ǥ—”‹‰–Š‡ʹͲǦ†ƒ›–”‹ƒŽ–Š‡…‘—”–Š‡ƒ”†Š‘™‡”›Šƒ—ǡ͵ͳǡŠƒ††‹•‡„‡”‡†Š‹•‡Ž†‡”Ž›’ƒ”‡–•„‡ˆ‘”‡•ƒŽ–‹‰ǡ…‘‘‹‰ƒ†’ƒ…‹‰–Š‡‹”„‘†›
’ƒ”–•‹–‘Ž—…Š„‘š‡•DzŽ‹‡„ƒ”„‡…—‡†’‘”dzǤŠ‡•‡˜‡”‡†Š‡ƒ†•‘ˆ͸ͷǦ›‡ƒ”Ǧ
‘Ž†Šƒ—‹‰Ǧ‹ƒ†Š‹•™‹ˆ‡‹——‡–Ǧ›‡‡ǡ͸ʹǡ™‡”‡ˆ‘—†‹ƒ”…ŠʹͲͳ͵ǡ
•–—ˆˆ‡† ‹–‘ –™‘ ”‡ˆ”‹‰‡”ƒ–‘”• ‹ ƒ „Ž‘‘†•–ƒ‹‡† ƒ’ƒ”–‡–ǡ †ƒ›• ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡›
™‡”‡”‡’‘”–‡†‹••‹‰Ǥ
–Š‡” ”‡ƒ‹• ™‡”‡ ˆ‘—† ‹ ƒ ”—„„‹•Š „‹ ƒ† ’ƒ…‡† ‹–‘ Ž—…Š„‘š‡•
™‹–Š”‹…‡ǤŒ—”›ƒ––Š‡…‹–›ǯ•Š‹‰Š…‘—”–ˆ‘—†Šƒ—‰—‹Ž–›‘„‘–Š…‘—–•‘ˆ
—”†‡”„›ƒƒŒ‘”‹–›‘ˆͺǦ–‘Ǧͳǡ–Š‡South China Morning Post ”‡’‘”–‡†Ǥ‹•
ˆ”‹‡†•‡Š—Ǧ‡‹™ƒ•ˆ‘—†‘–‰—‹Ž–›‘–™‘…‘—–•‘ˆ—”†‡”Ǥ
‘–Š Šƒ† ’Ž‡ƒ†‡† ‘– ‰—‹Ž–› –‘ –Š‡ …Šƒ”‰‡•Ǥ Šƒ— ™‹ŽŽ „‡ •‡–‡…‡† ‘
‘†ƒ›ǡ –Š‡ Post ”‡’‘”–‡†Ǥ Šƒ— ‹‹–‹ƒŽŽ› –‘Ž† ’‘Ž‹…‡ –Šƒ– Š‹• ’ƒ”‡–• Šƒ†
‰‘‡–‘ƒ‹Žƒ†Š‹ƒǡ„—–Žƒ–‡”ƒ†‹––‡†–‘–Š‡—”†‡”Ǥ‡˜‹†‡…‡”‡ƒ†
–‘–Š‡…‹–›ǯ•‹‰Š‘—”–Žƒ•–›‡ƒ”ǡŠƒ—…Žƒ‹‡†–Šƒ–Š‡’Žƒ‡†–‘‹•Ž‡ƒ†–Š‡
’‘Ž‹…‡‹‘”†‡”–‘„—›Š‹•‡Žˆ•‘‡–‹‡–‘•ƒ›‰‘‘†„›‡–‘ˆ”‹‡†•ǤȄ
Makati in chaos as two mayors stand off
ȄŠ‡Š‹Ž‹’’‹‡•ǯϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ
…ƒ’‹–ƒŽ ƒƒ–‹ Šƒ• „‡‡ ’Ž—‰‡† ‹–‘
…Šƒ‘•™‹–Š–™‘’‘Ž‹–‹…‹ƒ•…Žƒ‹‹‰–‘
„‡ ƒ›‘”ǡ ˆ‘”…‹‰ …‘—”–• –‘ …Ž‘•‡ ƒ†
†‡Žƒ›‹‰ ‰‘˜‡”‡– „—•‹‡•• †—”‹‰ƒ„‹––‡”•–ƒ†‘ˆˆ–”‹‰‰‡”‡†„›‰”ƒˆ–
…Žƒ‹•Ǥ
—””‘—†‡† „› Š—†”‡†• ‘ˆ •—’’‘”–‡”•ǡƒƒ–‹ƒ›‘”‡Œ‘ƒ””™‹
‹ƒ› Šƒ• „‡‡ Š‘Ž‡† —’ ‹ …‹–› ŠƒŽŽ
•‹…‡–Š‡‘„—†•ƒ•—•’‡†‡†Š‹
Žƒ•–™‡‡„‡…ƒ—•‡‘ˆ‹–•‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘
‹–‘Š‹•ƒŽŽ‡‰‡†…‘””—’–’”ƒ…–‹…‡•Ǥ
•‹•–‹‰ –Š‡ ‰”ƒˆ– ƒ……—•ƒ–‹‘• ƒ”‡
–”—’‡† —’ǡ ‹ƒ› Šƒ• ”‡ˆ—•‡† –‘
…‡†‡ ’‘™‡” –‘ Š‹• †‡’—–› ƒ† ”‹˜ƒŽǡ
‘—Ž‘ ‡ƒǡ ™Š‘ ‹•‹•–• Š‡ ‹• ‘™
Dzƒ…–‹‰ƒ›‘”dzǤ
Š‡’‘™‡”•–”—‰‰Ž‡‹•™‹†‡Ž›•‡‡
ƒ•ƒ„ƒ––Ž‡„‡–™‡‡–Š‡ƒ–‹‘ǯ•”—Ž‹‰
‹„‡”ƒŽƒ”–›ƒ†ƒ‹‘’’‘•‹–‹‘Ǥ
‹ƒ› ‹• –Š‡ •‘ ‘ˆ ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘
Ž‡ƒ†‡”ǡ ‹…‡ ”‡•‹†‡– ‡Œ‘ƒ” ‹ƒ›ǡ
™Š‹Ž‡‡ƒ‹•ƒ‡„‡”‘ˆ”‡•‹†‡–
‡‹‰‘“—‹‘ǯ•‹„‡”ƒŽƒ”–›Ǥ
ƒƒ–‹ǯ• …‘—”–• …Ž‘•‡† ˆ‘” ƒ †ƒ›
Žƒ•– ™‡‡ „‡…ƒ—•‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ …”‹•‹•ǡ ƒ†
•‘‡ Œ—†‰‡• Šƒ˜‡ …‘–‹—‡† –‘ ’‘•–’‘‡ Š‡ƒ”‹‰• –‘ ƒ˜‘‹† –Š‡ …”—•Š ‘ˆ
‹ƒ› •—’’‘”–‡”• ‘—–•‹†‡ –Š‡ „—‹Ž†‹‰ǡ ˆƒ‹Ž› •’‘‡•ƒ ‘‡› ƒŽ‰ƒ†‘
•ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
‡ƒŽ•‘™ƒ”‡†–Š‡”‡™ƒ•ƒŽ‘‘‹‰…”‹•‹•‘˜‡”™Š‘Šƒ†–Š‡ƒ—–Š‘”‹–›
–‘•‹‰–Š‡…‹–›ǯ•…Š‡“—‡•ǡ™Š‹Ž‡•‘‡
™‡Žˆƒ”‡ ”‡…‹’‹‡–• •ƒ‹† –Š‡› †‹† ‘–
”‡…‡‹˜‡–Š‡‹”„‡‡ϐ‹–•‘–‹‡Ǥ
ˆ „ƒ• †‘ ‘– Š‘‘—” …Š‡“—‡•
•‹‰‡† „› ‹ƒ›ǡ •–”‡‡– Žƒ’• ƒ†
–”ƒˆϐ‹… Ž‹‰Š–• ™‹ŽŽ „‡ •Š—– †‘™ǡ –ƒ’•
‹‰‘˜‡”‡–„—‹Ž†‹‰•™‹ŽŽ”—†”›
ƒ† ‰ƒ”„ƒ‰‡ …‘ŽŽ‡…–‹‘ ™‹ŽŽ •–‘’ǡ ƒ……‘”†‹‰–‘ƒŽ‰ƒ†‘Ǥ
DzŠ‹•‹•ƒ˜‡”›†ƒ‰‡”‘—••‹–—ƒ–‹‘ǡ
‹ˆ –Š‡‹” ȋƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‰‘˜‡”‡–ǯ•Ȍ ƒ…- ™‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡ƒ‡ˆˆ‡…–‘–Š‡…‘—–”›Ǥ
–‹‘•”‡•—Ž–‹†‡Žƒ›•‹•ƒŽƒ”‹‡•ǡ—–‹Ž‹Š‡›ƒ”‡•‡†‹‰–Š‡™”‘‰•‹‰ƒŽ
–‹‡•ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
–‘‹˜‡•–‘”•Ǥ
Dz› ’‡”…‡’–‹‘ ‘ˆ ‹•–ƒ„‹Ž‹–›
ƒƒ–‹‹•–Š‡ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ…‡–”‡‘ˆ–Š‡
The power struggle
is widely seen as
a battle between
Philippines’ ruling
Liberal Party and
main opposition
…‘—–”›Ǥdz
”‘ ƒ ƒ†Œƒ…‡– ‘Ž† „—‹Ž†‹‰ǡ
™‹–ŠŠƒŽŽ™ƒ›•–Šƒ–”‡‡‘ˆŽ‡ƒ‹‰–‘‹Ž‡–•ǡ ‡ƒ ‹••—‡† ƒ ‡‘”ƒ†— ‘
”‹†ƒ› –‘ ƒŽŽ …‹–› ŠƒŽŽ ‡’Ž‘›‡‡• ƒ••‡”–‹‰Š‹•ƒ—–Š‘”‹–›Ǥ
DzŽŽ ‘”†‹ƒ…‡•ǡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ †‘…—‡–•
ƒ†‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽƒ…–‹‘•—•–„‡•—„‹––‡†
ƒ† ”‡ˆ‡””‡† –‘ –Š‡ —†‡”•‹‰‡† ˆ‘”
ƒ’’”‘˜ƒŽ ƒ†Ȁ‘” ƒ’’”‘’”‹ƒ–‡ ƒ…–‹‘ǡdz
‡ƒ•ƒ‹†ǡ”‡ˆ‡””‹‰–‘Š‹•‡ŽˆǤ
ƒƒ–‹‹•–Š‡…‘—–”›ǯ•Žƒ”‰‡•–…‹–›
‹–‡”•‘ˆ”‡˜‡—‡ǡ™‹–ŠͳͳǤͻ„‹ŽŽ‹‘
’‡•‘•ȋ̈́ʹ͸ͷ‹ŽŽ‹‘Ȍ‹‡ƒ”‹‰•ˆ”‘
–ƒš‡• ƒ† ˆ‡‡• ‹ ʹͲͳ͵ǡ ƒ……‘”†‹‰ –‘
‰‘˜‡”‡–†ƒ–ƒǤ
Š‡ …‹–› Š‘•–• –Š‡ …‘—–”›ǯ• •–‘…
‡š…Šƒ‰‡ǡ ͺʹ ‡„ƒ••‹‡• ƒ† …‘•—Žƒ–‡•ǡ ͷͲ͸ „ƒ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡• ƒ† ʹͶ͸ „—•‹‡•• ’”‘…‡•• ‘—–•‘—”…‹‰ ƒ† –‡…Š‘Ž‘‰›…‘’ƒ‹‡•Ǥ
Š‡ •–ƒ†Ǧ‘ˆˆ ƒ’’‡ƒ”• Ž‹‡Ž› –‘
†”ƒ‰ ‘ ˆ‘” ™‡‡•ǡ ™‹–Š –Š‡ ‹ƒ›
ˆƒ‹Ž› ƒ‰ƒ‹•– –Š‡ •—•’‡•‹‘ „—–
‡ƒ…‘–‹—‹‰–‘”‡…‡‹˜‡–Š‡“—‹‘
ƒ†‹‹•–”ƒ–‹‘ǯ••—’’‘”–Ǥ
Š‹Ž‡–Š‡’‘™‡”•–”—‰‰Ž‡‹•—Ž‹‡Ž›–‘ƒˆˆ‡…–„‹‰„—•‹‡••‹–Š‡…‹–›‹
–Š‡•Š‘”––‡”ǡ‹–…‘—Ž†ƒˆˆ‡…––Š‡Š‹Ž‹’’‹‡•ǯ ‹ƒ‰‡ ƒ• ƒ •ƒˆ‡ ‹˜‡•–‡–
†‡•–‹ƒ–‹‘ǡ‹…Šƒ”†ƒ˜ƒ†‡›†ƒ”‹ƒǡ
ƒ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ•…‹‡…‡’”‘ˆ‡••‘”ƒ––Š‡‡
ƒƒŽŽ‡‹˜‡”•‹–›‹ƒ‹Žƒǡ•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Dz—•‹‡•• …ƒǯ– „‡ –‹‡† –‘ ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ
…›…Ž‡•ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
‹ƒ›ǯ•ˆƒ‹Ž›Šƒ••ƒ‹†–Š‡ƒ›‘”ǯ•
•—•’‡•‹‘‹•’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽŽ›‘–‹˜ƒ–‡†ƒ•
Š‹•ˆƒ–Š‡”…‘–‹—‡•–‘†‘‹ƒ–‡•—”˜‡›•–‘„‡…‘‡–Š‡‡š–’”‡•‹†‡–‹
ʹͲͳ͸ ‡Ž‡…–‹‘•ǡ ƒŠ‡ƒ† ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‹„‡”ƒŽ
ƒ”–›ǯ•–‡”‹‘”‡…”‡–ƒ”›ƒ”‘šƒ•Ǥ
Š‡‹ƒ›•Šƒ˜‡”—Ž‡†ƒƒ–‹•‹…‡
–Š‡”‡•–‘”ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ†‡‘…”ƒ…›‹ͳͻͺ͸ǡ
‡†‡ƒ”‹‰ –Š‡•‡Ž˜‡• –‘ –Š‡ ƒ••‡•
™‹–Š —’ƒ”ƒŽŽ‡Ž‡† „‡‡ϐ‹–• •—…Š ƒ•
ˆ”‡‡ …‘ŽŽ‡‰‡ ‡†—…ƒ–‹‘ǡ ‡†‹…‹‡ǡ
‘˜‹‡•ƒ†„‹”–Š†ƒ›…ƒ‡•Ǥ
Š‡‡Ž†‡”‹ƒ›…ƒ’‹–ƒŽ‹•‡†‘–Š‹•
’‘’—Ž‹•– –Š‡‡ –‘ ’”‘’‡Ž Š‹•‡Žˆ –‘
–Š‡ …‘—–”›ǯ• •‡…‘† Š‹‰Š‡•– ’‘•– ‹
ʹͲͳͲ ƒ† ˆ‘”–‹ˆ› ƒ ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ †›ƒ•–›
–Šƒ– ‹…Ž—†‡• –™‘ ‘–Š‡” †ƒ—‰Š–‡”•
‡Ž‡…–‡†–‘’ƒ”Ž‹ƒ‡–Ǥ
”—‡–‘–Š‡ˆƒ‹Ž›ǯ•’‘’—Ž‹•––‘—…Šǡ
–Š‡ ‹ƒ›ǯ• Šƒ˜‡ ƒ––”ƒ…–‡† •—’’‘”–‡”•–‘–Š‡˜‹‰‹Žƒ––Š‡…‹–›ŠƒŽŽ‰”‘—†•
™‹–Š ϐ‹Ž •Š‘™‹‰• ‘ ‰‹ƒ– •…”‡‡•
ƒ†ˆ”‡‡—„ƒŽ‡••‘•Ǥ
‡†‹ƒ Šƒ˜‡ ƒŽ•‘ „‡‡ ‰‹˜‡ ˆ”‡‡
ˆ‘‘†Ǥ
ƒŽŽ‘‘ •ƒŽ‡•ƒ ””‘Ž ‘„ƒ
™ƒ‹–‡† ‘—–•‹†‡ ƒ›‘” ‹ƒ›ǯ• ‘ˆϐ‹…‡
†‘‘”‘”‹†ƒ›ǡ™ƒ‹–‹‰ˆ‘”–Š‡…Šƒ…‡
–‘ ‰‹˜‡ Š‹ ƒ •–ƒ–‡‡– ‘ˆ •—’’‘”–
ˆ”‘ –Š‡ …‹–›ǯ• †‹•ƒ„Ž‡† ’‡”•‘•
‰”‘—’Ǥ
Dz Š‘’‡ –Š‹• •–ƒ†‘ˆˆ ™‘ǯ– †‡Žƒ›
–Š‡†‡Ž‹˜‡”›‘ˆ›†‡–—”‡•Ǥ
– ™‹ŽŽ ‰‹˜‡ ‡ …‘ϐ‹†‡…‡ ™Š‡
†‡ƒŽ‹‰ ™‹–Š › …Ž‹‡–•ǡdz –Š‡ ™Š‡‡Ž…Šƒ‹”Ǧ„‘—† ͷʹǦ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž† •ƒ‹†ǡ ϐŽƒ•Š‹‰ƒ–‘‘–ŠŽ‡•••‹Ž‡ǤȄ
ƒ’ƒ–‘‡š’ƒ†•‹ƒ•‡…—”‹–› Reuters websites blocked in China
–‹‡•™‹–Š†‘‡•‹ƒ’ƒ…–
ȀȄƒ’ƒ™‹ŽŽ•‹‰
ƒ†‡ˆ‡…‡’ƒ…–™‹–Š†‘‡•‹ƒ‡š–
™‡‡ǡ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•‹„‘–Š‰‘˜‡”‡–•
•ƒ‹†ǡ –Š‡ Žƒ–‡•– ‡ˆˆ‘”– „› ‘›‘
–‘ ˆ‘”‰‡ …Ž‘•‡” •‡…—”‹–› –‹‡• ™‹–Š
‘—–Š‡ƒ•– •‹ƒ ƒ–‹‘• ƒ† „—‹Ž†
ƒ…‘—–‡”Ǧ„ƒŽƒ…‡–‘Š‹ƒǤ
ƒ’ƒ Šƒ• ƒŽ”‡ƒ†› „‘Ž•–‡”‡†
’ƒ”–‡”•Š‹’• ™‹–Š –Š‡ Š‹Ž‹’’‹‡•
ƒ† ‹‡–ƒǡ –Š‡ –™‘ …‘—–”‹‡•
‘•–ƒ–‘††•™‹–ŠŠ‹ƒ‘˜‡”ƒ–‡””‹–‘”‹ƒŽ”‘™‹–Š‡‘—–ŠŠ‹ƒ‡ƒǤ
ƒ’ƒ‹–•‡Žˆ‹•‡„”‘‹Ž‡†‹ƒ„‹––‡” †‹•’—–‡ ™‹–Š Š‹ƒ ‘˜‡” —‹Šƒ„‹–‡† ‹•Žƒ†• ‹ –Š‡ ƒ•– Š‹ƒ
‡ƒǡˆ—”–Š‡”–‘–Š‡‘”–ŠǤ
†‘‡•‹ƒ ”‡•‹†‡– ‘‘
‹†‘†‘˜‹•‹–•‘›‘‡š–™‡‡ˆ‘”
–ƒŽ• ™‹–Š ƒ’ƒ‡•‡ ”‹‡ ‹‹•–‡” Š‹œ‘ „‡ ƒ† –Š‡ –™‘ •‹†‡•
™‹ŽŽ •‹‰ ƒ ƒ‰”‡‡‡– ‘ ‹…”‡ƒ•‹‰…‘‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘‹‹Ž‹–ƒ”›–”ƒ‹‹‰
ƒ†–‡…Š‘Ž‘‰›ǡ–Š‡‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†Ǥ
—””‡–Ž›ǡ –Š‡ –™‘ …‘—–”‹‡•
‘Ž›Šƒ˜‡ƒƒ‰”‡‡‡–ˆ‘”–Š‡‡š…Šƒ‰‡‘ˆ‹Ž‹–ƒ”›•–—†‡–•Ǥ
Ž–Š‘—‰Š‹–™‹ŽŽ„‡ƒ‘Ǧ„‹†‹‰
ƒ‰”‡‡‡–ǡ ‹– ‹• •‡‡ ƒ• –Š‡ ϐ‹”•–
•–‡’‹„‘Ž•–‡”‹‰†‡ˆ‡…‡–‹‡•Ǥ
Š‡ †‘…—‡– –Šƒ– ™‹ŽŽ „‡
•‹‰‡† ™‹ŽŽ „‡ ‘ Dz…ƒ’ƒ…‹–› „—‹Ž†‹‰ǡ…‘‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ†‡ˆ‡…‡ƒ†ƒŽ•‘
’‡ƒ…‡‡‡’‹‰ ‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘•ǡdz •ƒ‹† ”ƒƒ–Šƒ ƒ•‹”ǡ •’‘‡•ƒ ˆ‘” †‘‡•‹ƒǯ•ˆ‘”‡‹‰‹‹•–”›Ǥ
–Š‡” ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• •ƒ‹† –Š‡ –™‘
…‘—–”‹‡• …‘—Ž† ƒŽ•‘ †‹•…—•• •Šƒ”‹‰‘ˆ‹–‡ŽŽ‹‰‡…‡Ǥ
ƒ’ƒ‡•‡ ˆ‘”‡‹‰ ‹‹•–”› ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ •ƒ‹† ‹†‘†‘ǯ• –”‹’ •‡†• ƒ
Dz„‹‰ ‡••ƒ‰‡dz ƒ• –Š‹• ™‹ŽŽ „‡ Š‹•
Indonesian
President Widodo
visits Tokyo next
week for talks
with Japanese
Prime Minister
Abe and the two
sides will sign
an agreement
on increasing
cooperation in
military training
and technology,
–Š‡‘ˆϔ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†
ϐ‹”•– •–ƒ–‡ ˜‹•‹– ‘—–•‹†‡ ‘—–Š‡ƒ•–
•‹ƒǤ
ƒ’ƒ ‹• •—’’Ž›‹‰ ƒ”‹–‹‡ ’ƒ–”‘Ž„‘ƒ–•–‘‹‡–ƒƒ†–Š‡Š‹Ž‹’’‹‡• ƒ† ™‹ŽŽ ƒŽ•‘ Š‘Ž† ‹–• ϐ‹”•–
ƒ˜ƒŽ ‡š‡”…‹•‡• ™‹–Š –Š‡ Š‹Ž‹’-
’‹‡•‹–Š‡…‘‹‰‘–Š•Ǥ
‘” ƒ’ƒǡ …Ž‘•‡” –‹‡• ™‹–Š †‘‡•‹ƒ …‘—Ž† ƒŽ•‘ ‰‹˜‡ ‹–• †‡ˆ‡…‡
ϐ‹”• ƒ „‡––‡” …Šƒ…‡ –‘ …‘’‡–‡
ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ‘—–Š ‘”‡ƒ ‹Ž‹–ƒ”›
‡“—‹’‡–ƒ‡”•ǡ™Š‘ƒ”‡‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š‹‰ –Š‡•‡Ž˜‡• ‹ –Š‡ ”‡‰‹‘ǡ ƒ
ƒ’ƒ‡•‡ †‡ˆ‡…‡ ‹‹•–”› ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ
•ƒ‹†Ǥ
‹†‘†‘™‹ŽŽ˜‹•‹–Š‹ƒ‹‡†‹ƒ–‡Ž›ƒˆ–‡”Š‹••–‘’‹ƒ’ƒǤ
†‘‡•‹ƒ ƒ† Š‹ƒ Šƒ˜‡ ƒ
‘”‡ †‡˜‡Ž‘’‡† ‹Ž‹–ƒ”› ”‡Žƒ–‹‘•Š‹’ ƒ† ƒƒ”–ƒ Šƒ• „‘—‰Š– Š‹‡•‡Ǧƒ†‡‹••‹Ž‡•ƒ†‘–Š‡”‹Ž‹–ƒ”›Šƒ”†™ƒ”‡Ǥ
‹†‘†‘ ™‹ŽŽ „”‹‰ —’ –Š‡ ‘—–Š
Š‹ƒ ‡ƒ ‹••—‡ ƒ• ’ƒ”– ‘ˆ ”‡‰‹‘ƒŽ
•–ƒ„‹Ž‹–›–ƒŽ•†—”‹‰Š‹•˜‹•‹––‘ƒ’ƒƒ†Š‹ƒǡƒ•‹”•ƒ‹†Ǥ
†‘‡•‹ƒǡ –Š‡ Žƒ”‰‡•– …‘—–”›
‹ ‘—–Š‡ƒ•– •‹ƒǡ Šƒ• ƒŽ•‘ „‡‡ ƒ
•‡ŽˆǦƒ’’‘‹–‡† „”‘‡” ‹ –Š‡ ›”‹ƒ† –‡””‹–‘”‹ƒŽ †‹•’—–‡• „‡–™‡‡
‹–• ‡‹‰Š„‘—”• ƒ† Š‹ƒ ‘˜‡” –Š‡
‘—–ŠŠ‹ƒ‡ƒǤ
‘›‘ Šƒ• ‘ –‡””‹–‘”‹ƒŽ …Žƒ‹•
‹ –Š‡ ‘—–Š Š‹ƒ ‡ƒǡ „—– ™‘””‹‡• ƒ„‘—– „‡…‘‹‰ ‹•‘Žƒ–‡†
•Š‘—Ž† Š‹ƒ †‘‹ƒ–‡ ƒ ™ƒ–‡”™ƒ›–Š”‘—‰Š™Š‹…Š—…Š‘ˆƒ’ƒǯ•
•Š‹’Ǧ„‘”‡–”ƒ†‡’ƒ••‡•Ǥ
Š‡ †‡ˆ‡…‡ …‘‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘ ™‹–Š
‘—–Š‡ƒ•– •‹ƒ ƒ–‹‘• ‹• ƒŽ•‘ ‹
Ž‹‡ ™‹–Š ƒ ‘”‡ —•…—Žƒ” •‡…—”‹–› ’‘Ž‹…› ƒ†˜‘…ƒ–‡† „› „‡ǡ ™Š‘
™ƒ–• –‘ Ž‘‘•‡ –Š‡ ”‡•–”ƒ‹–• ‘ˆ
ƒ’ƒǯ• ’ƒ…‹ϐ‹•– ’‘•–Ǧ™ƒ” …‘•–‹–—–‹‘ǡ ƒ† †‘˜‡–ƒ‹Ž• ™‹–Š ƒ•Š‹‰–‘ǯ• Dz”‡„ƒŽƒ…‡dz –‘™ƒ”† •‹ƒǤ
Ȅ‡—–‡”•
Ȅ ‡—–‡”• ‡™• ™‡„•‹–‡•
™‡”‡‹ƒ……‡••‹„Ž‡‹Š‹ƒ‘”‹†ƒ›ǡ
–Š‡ Žƒ–‡•– ‡•–‡” ‡™• ‘”‰ƒ‹•ƒ–‹‘–‘„‡„Ž‘…‡†‹ƒ…‘—–”›™Š‡”‡
…‡•‘”• ‡‡’ ƒ –‹‰Š– ‰”‹’ ‘˜‡” ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘Ǥ ––‡’–• „› ‹ Š‹ƒ
–‘ ‘’‡ –Š‡ ƒ‰‡…›ǯ• ‰Ž‹•Š ƒ†
Š‹‡•‡ǦŽƒ‰—ƒ‰‡ ™‡„•‹–‡• ”‡–—”‡†
‘Ž›ƒ‡””‘”‡••ƒ‰‡•ƒ›‹‰–Šƒ––Š‡
’ƒ‰‡Dz…ƒǯ–„‡†‹•’Žƒ›‡†dzǤ
‡—–‡”••ƒ‹†‹ƒ”‡’‘”––Šƒ–—•‡”•
ϐ‹”•– ‡š’‡”‹‡…‡† †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–‹‡• ƒ……‡••‹‰–Š‡•‹–‡•Žƒ–‡‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
Š‹ƒǯ•‘—‹•–ƒ”–›‘˜‡”•‡‡•
ƒ ˜ƒ•– …‡•‘”•Š‹’ •›•–‡ Ȅ †—„„‡†
–Š‡ ”‡ƒ– ‹”‡™ƒŽŽ Ȅ –Šƒ– ƒ‰‰”‡••‹˜‡Ž›„Ž‘…••‹–‡•‘”•—ˆˆ•‘—––‡”‡–ƒ†…‘–‡–ƒ†…‘‡–ƒ”›
‘ –‘’‹…• …‘•‹†‡”‡† •‡•‹–‹˜‡ǡ •—…Š
ƒ•‡‹Œ‹‰ǯ•Š—ƒ”‹‰Š–•”‡…‘”†ƒ†
…”‹–‹…‹••‘ˆ–Š‡‰‘˜‡”‡–Ǥ
‘’—Žƒ” •‘…‹ƒŽ ‡–™‘” •‹–‡• •—…Š
ƒ•ƒ…‡„‘‘ƒ†™‹––‡”ƒ”‡‹ƒ……‡••‹„Ž‡‹–Š‡…‘—–”›ǡƒ•‹•‘—–—„‡Ǥ
‡˜‡”ƒŽ ‡•–‡” ‡™• ‘”‰ƒ‹•ƒ–‹‘•Šƒ˜‡ƒ……—•‡†Š‹ƒ‘ˆ„Ž‘…‹‰
ƒ……‡•• –‘ –Š‡‹” ™‡„•‹–‡• ‹ –Š‡ ’ƒ•–ǡ
‹…Ž—†‹‰ –Š‡ New York Times, Wall
Street Journal ƒ†Ž‘‘„‡”‰.
‡—–‡”••ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›ƒ……‡••–‘‹–•
™‡„•‹–‡• Šƒ† „‡‡ …—– ‘ˆˆ Dzƒ– –‹‡•ǡdz
‘ˆ–‡ ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ ’—„Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ •–‘”‹‡•
ƒ„‘—– ™Š‹…Š Dz–Š‡ Š‹‡•‡ ‰‘˜‡”‡–‹••‡•‹–‹˜‡dzǤ
Dz‡—–‡”• ‹• …‘‹––‡† –‘ ’”ƒ…–‹•‹‰ ˆƒ‹” ƒ† ƒ……—”ƒ–‡ Œ‘—”ƒŽ‹•
™‘”Ž†™‹†‡ǡdz ‹– “—‘–‡† ƒ —ƒ‡†
•’‘‡•™‘ƒ ƒ• •ƒ›‹‰ ‹ ƒ •–ƒ–‡‡–ǤȄ
US First Lady Michelle Obama plays the Taiko with Manaka Hirose (centre L) and members of the Akutagawa
high school Taiko (Japanese traditional drum) Club while visiting the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. Michelle
is in Japan for a three-day visit, as part of a drive to promote girls’ education around the world. — AFP
5
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
SUBCONTINENT
Sein: Military
will maintain
political role
Myanmar
President Thein
Sein said the
military initiated
the reform
process and still
needed to play a
political role in
order to support
the transition to
democracy
YANGON — Myanmar’s military will
maintain its role in politics in order to
support a transition to democracy but
will eventually submit to civilian rule,
President Thein Sein said in an interview broadcast on Friday.
Myanmar was ruled by the military for 49 years before a semi-civilian government took power in 2011
and initiated widespread political and
economic reforms.
But under a 2008 constitution
drafted under military rule, a quarter
of parliamentary seats are reserved
ˆ‘” —‡Ž‡…–‡† •‡”˜‹‰ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡”•ǡ ƒŽ‘‰
with some key cabinet posts, giving
the military an effective veto on any
constitutional reform.
The opposition National League
for Democracy party, led by Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has called
for the military to step away from
politics. Thein Sein, a former general,
said the military initiated the reform
process and still needed to play a
political role in order to support the
transition to democracy. “In fact, the
military is the one who is assisting in
–Š‡ ϐŽ‘—”‹•Š‹‰ ‘ˆ †‡‘…”ƒ…› ‹ ‘—”
country,” he told the BBC. “As the political parties mature in their political
norms and practice, the role of the
military gradually changes.”
Thein Sein did not say when the
military would transition out of politics, but said it would be done according to the “will of the people”.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for early November, and the parliament that emerges from the vote
will choose the next president.
Suu Kyi’s party swept a 1990 vote
that the ruling generals ignored, and
she remains hugely popular but the
military-drafted constitution bars her
from the presidency because she has
two sons with British citizenship. Her
late husband was a British academic.
Thein Sein denied that the clause
was written in order to exclude Suu
Kyi from the presidency, and said the
requirement was actually drafted in
1947 when the country, also known
as Burma, was preparing for independence from Britain.
Thien Sein said he was not opposed to changing the constitution,
but said it would be up to parliament
to support an amendment, which
would then require a referendum.
Such an amendment would require more than 75 per cent approval
in a parliament dominated by military
representatives and their allies in the
ruling United Solidarity and Development Party, which is made up mainly
‘ˆˆ‘”‡”‘ˆϐ‹…‡”•Ǥ
FIVE CONVICTED: A Myanmar court
…‘˜‹…–‡† ϐ‹˜‡ ’‡‘’Ž‡ ˆ‘” •’”‡ƒ†‹‰
fabricated allegations that a Muslim
man raped a Buddhist woman, which
led to deadly riots last July, a court ofϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
One Buddhist and one Muslim
man were killed during two days of
rioting in the central city of Mandalay, which began when a mob of
about 300 Buddhists swarmed a tea
shop owned by a Muslim man accused of raping a female Buddhist
employee.
Among those sentenced to 21
years in prison was Phyu Phyu Min,
™Š‘ϐ‹Ž‡†ƒ…ƒ•‡™‹–Š’‘Ž‹…‡‹›‹mana, a town near Mandalay, claiming she had been raped. She later
…‘ˆ‡••‡† –Šƒ– •Š‡ ™ƒ• ’ƒ‹† –‘ ϐ‹Ž‡
the false complaint.
“Their false charge of offence
sparked a riot in our peaceful society,
leading to the death of two, causing
†‹•–”—•– ƒ† …‘ϐŽ‹…–• „‡–™‡‡ –™‘
communities,” said a Mandalay Re‰‹‘ …‘—”– ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ ™Š‘ ƒ•‡† ‘– –‘
be named as he was not authorised
to speak to the media. —Reuters
A man poses for a picture for his friend among pigeons outside the Shah-e Doh Shamshira mosque in Kabul on Friday. — Reuters
Afghan leaders head to Washington
KABUL — Afghan President Ashraf
Ghani and his Chief Executive
Abdullah Abdullah travel this weekend to Washington where they are
expected to focus on reconciliation
™‹–Š–Š‡ƒŽ‹„ƒƒ•–Š‡ƒ—ƒŽDzϐ‹‰Š–ing season” begins.
Diplomatic efforts to bring the
Taliban to the negotiating table have
gained pace recently, even as security forces have launched offensives
against the insurgent group with‘—–ƒ–‘ƒ••‹•–ƒ…‡ˆ‘”–Š‡ϐ‹”•––‹‡
since 2002.
Ghani and Abdullah leave on Sat—”†ƒ› ˆ‘” ƒ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ ˆ‘—”Ǧ†ƒ› –”‹’ –‘
Washington, where the president will
address a joint session of Congress.
Both men will then visit Camp David
and New York.
Besides the US, Ghani also visited Saudi Arabia this week, while
Abdullah was in India to try to obtain
a “regional consensus” on reconciliation with the Taliban, according to
ˆ‰Šƒ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•Ǥ
The Afghan leaders will also be
seeking renewed support from Washington over the issue, a source close
to the government said.
“One of the factors which is motivating President Ghani to act now
could be trying to make as much
’”‘‰”‡••ƒ•’‘••‹„Ž‡„‡ˆ‘”‡–Š‡ϐ‹‰Š–ing season begins, but it’s not the only
factor,” said a Western diplomat.
The visit will also include an economic component, with planned discussions on the future of cooperation
between the two countries.
President Ashraf Ghani
•‡‹‘” ˆ‰Šƒ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ ™Š‘ ”‡quested anonymity said: “The meetings in the US will focus on another
‡› ’‘‹–ǣ –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ •—’’‘”– –‘
Afghanistan, which has been secured
—–‹ŽʹͲͳ͹ǡ„—–‡‡†•–‘„‡…‘ϐ‹”‡†
ˆ‘”–Š‡ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰ϐ‹˜‡›‡ƒ”•Ǥ
“This support will be crucial, because it will take some years for our
economy to stand on its feet alone,
organise a proper tax collection,” he
continued.
The trip is also seen as an important step towards mending relations
between the US and Afghanistan,
which deteriorated towards the end
of former president Hamid Karzai’s
10-year rule.
DzŠ‡ϐ‹”•–‰‘ƒŽ–‘ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡‹•–Š‡”‡habilitation of the relationship with
the USA. US-Afghanistan relations
were tough during the past govern-
Ghani and Abdullah
leave on Saturday for
ƒ‘ˆϔ‹…‹ƒŽˆ‘—”Ǧ†ƒ›
trip to Washington,
where the president
will address a joint
session of Congress.
Both men will then
visit Camp David
and New York
ment,” Javid Faisal, a spokesman for
Abdullah said.
Since coming to power in September, Ghani has focused on improving
relations with neighbouring Pakistan,
a key partner in the peace process,
which his predecessor had refused to
do.
Pakistan has often been accused
in the past of covertly supporting the
ƒŽ‹„ƒ–‘…‘—–‡”–Š‡‹ϐŽ—‡…‡‘ˆ‹–•
rival India in Afghanistan. But Islamabad has insisted that is no longer the
case, and that both countries have
shared goals.
“President Ghani is trying to establish a peace process, trying to begin
talks... He recognises that in order
for that to happen it will be important to have a new relationship with
Pakistan and to build closer ties with
China, Saudi Arabia, and to some ex-
Jumbo welcome for Solar Impulse in Myanmar
YANGON — Solar Impulse 2 was met
by dancers dressed in an elephant costume as it landed in Myanmar’s second largest city Mandalay, completing
the fourth leg of its landmark circumnavigation of the globe powered solely
by the sun.
The single-seater aircraft touched
down at 7:51 pm (1321 GMT) on
Thursday, several hours earlier than
expected, after a 13-hour journey from
the Indian holy city Varanasi, cut short
thanks to strong tail winds.
Pictures showed the plane being
met by two men dressed as a brightly
coloured elephant, backed by a huge
crowd of local dancers.
‹Ž‘– ‡”–”ƒ† ‹……ƒ”† ϐŽ‡™ –Š‡
fourth leg of the 12-part journey, taking over from fellow Swiss aviator Andre Borschberg.
“A moment I will remember: touch
down in #Myanmar,” Piccard tweeted
shortly after landing.
“It was fabulous to have my wife
Michèle and my daughter Estelle by
my side at the landing in #Mandalay,”
he added in a later post.
The Swiss adventurer had previously visited Myanmar in 1998 during
another attempted round-the-world
Support crew members stand near the Solar Impulse 2 at Mandalay International Airport on Friday. — AFP
trip in the Breitling Orbiter 2 balloon.
At the time Myanmar was still governed by a brutal and isolationist junta.
But in 2011 outright military rule
was replaced by a quasi-civilian government and Myanmar has since embarked on a series of reforms, prompt-
‹‰ƒϐŽ‘‘†‘ˆˆ‘”‡‹‰‹˜‡•–‡–Ǥ
Infrastructure in the impoverished
southeast Asian nation however remains limited, and the Solar Impulse
team needed to erect an enormous
‹ϐŽƒ–ƒ„Ž‡ ‘„‹Ž‡ Šƒ‰‡” ƒ– ƒ†ƒŽƒ›
airport to house the plane during its
stopover.
– ‹• –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‹‡ –Š‡ Šƒ‰‡” Šƒ•
been used during the round-the-world
trip.
The Solar Impulse team said they
expected the aircraft to remain in Myanmar at least two days before heading to China’s Chongqing for the next
leg, pending favourable weather con-
ditions.
The trip from Varanasi was expected to take around 20 hours, but
strong tail winds pushed the plane up
to record-breaking speeds.
DzŠ‹•ϐŽ‹‰Š–„”‘‡ƒ”‡…‘”†‹–‡”•
of speed going up to 117 knots pushed
by tail winds,” an update by the team
on YouTube said.
The plane had stopped overnight
in Varanasi after leaving Ahmedabad
in Gujarat state, where the pilots became entangled in India’s notorious
bureaucracy, delaying its departure by
ϐ‹˜‡†ƒ›•Ǥ
The team behind Solar Impulse
2, which has more than 17,000 solar
cells built into its wings, hopes to promote green energy with the circumnavigation attempt.
Ridiculed by the aviation industry
™Š‡ ‹– ™ƒ• ϐ‹”•– —˜‡‹Ž‡†ǡ –Š‡ ˜‡ture has since been hailed around
the world, including by UN Chief Ban
Ki-Moon.
—•…ƒ– ™ƒ• –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ͳʹ
planned stops on the plane’s maiden journey around the world from
„— Šƒ„‹ǡ ™‹–Š ƒ –‘–ƒŽ ϐŽ‹‰Š– –‹‡
‘ˆ ƒ”‘—† ʹͷ †ƒ›• •’”‡ƒ† ‘˜‡” ϐ‹˜‡
months. — AFP
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah
tent the United Arab Emirates,” said
the Western diplomatic source.
“We have addressed Pakistani concerns by leading operations in eastern Afghanistan that disrupted the
Pakistani Taliban,” added the senior
ˆ‰Šƒ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽǤ
“In return, we are expecting Islamabad to hold on its promises to bring
the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating
table with our government. We are
hopeful — and more now than in recent years because Pakistan has signalled a stronger interest in committing to peace in the region — but are
still waiting to see concrete progress
on this issue.”
……‘”†‹‰ –‘ ƒ ƒ‹•–ƒ‹ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ
who asked not to be named, representatives of the Afghan government
and the Afghan Taliban have recently
met in Pakistan. — AFP
Bike bomb kills
two outside
Karachi mosque
KARACHI — At least two people
were killed and seven others wounded after a bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded outside a mosque in
Karachi on Friday, police said.
The blast took place in congested
Aram Bagh area of Pakistan’s biggest
city, outside a mosque belonging to a
sub-sect of a minority community.
Pakistan has been hit by a rising wave of sectarian violence in recent years, most of it carried out by
militant groups. A police spokesman
said two were killed in the blast and
seven wounded.
Saif-ud-Din, a witness, said people were coming out of the mosque
after Friday prayers when there was
a huge blast and many people fell on
the ground.
“I was inside the mosque when
the bomb exploded and I saw people
falling to the ground,” Din said.
‡” Šƒ–ƒ„ǡ ƒ •‡‹‘” ‘ˆϐ‹…‡” ƒ–
the police Counter Terrorism Department, told reporters that about
two kilogrammes of explosives were
used in the bomb, which was detonated with a timer. — AFP
6
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
INDIA
32 killed as Varanasi-bound train derails
ȅ At least 32 people were
killed when the engine and three
coaches of a passenger train derailed
near Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh after
the driver overshot a signal on Friday.
Northern Railway spokesman
Neeraj Sharma said in New Delhi that
nearly 50 people were warded in hospitals. Doctors in Lucknow said many
of them were in critical condition.
Sharma put the death toll at 32.
Š‡ Š‘””‹ϐ‹… ƒ……‹†‡– –‘‘ ’Žƒ…‡
at Bachharwan railway station near
Rae Bareli when the Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express, proceeding to
Varanasi, jumped the tracks shortly
after 9 am.
The train was to halt at Bachharwan, a small station. But the driver
didn’t stop. When he realized the folly
and applied the emergency brakes, the
engine and the coaches went off the
–”ƒ…•ǡ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†Ǥ
 ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ •–ƒ–‡‡– •ƒ‹† –Š‡ –”ƒ‹
hit a sand bump, leading to the derailment.
One of the three coaches which derailed was a sleeper class. The other
two were general coaches. All were
packed with commuters.
As the badly injured passengers
•…”‡ƒ‡†‹’ƒ‹ǡ–Š‡ϐ‹”•––‘”‡ƒ…Š–Š‡
site were people from nearby villages.
But two of the coaches were so
mangled that rescue work could not
–ƒ‡ ’Žƒ…‡ —–‹Ž ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• ƒ””‹˜‡† ™‹–Š
gas cutters to cut through the steel to
take out the dead and the still living.
When journalists too reached the
place, furious locals raised slogans
against the state and railway authori–‹‡•ǡ •ƒ›‹‰ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ ”‡•…—‡”• –‘‘ ƒ
long time to start pulling out the
bleeding passengers.
Some bodies were found under the
coaches, apparently thrown off the
train due to the impact of the crash.
Some bodies were dismembered.
Many passengers suffered serious
injuries, primarily in the head. Others
suffered concussions, broken limbs
and deep wounds. Some escaped with
cuts and bruises.
8 Home Guards
held for exam
mess, court
slams minister
PATNA — Eight Home Guards were
arrested in Bihar on Friday for help‹‰ •–—†‡–• –‘ …‘’› ‹ Žƒ•• ͳͲ
exam even as the Patna High Court
pulled up Education Minister R P
Shahi for saying that “cheating-free”
exams were not possible in the state.
 –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ƒ…–‹‘ ƒˆ–‡” ’‹…–—”‡•
of mass copying and cheating in the
Žƒ•• ͳͲ ‡šƒ• …”‡ƒ–‡† ”‡˜—Ž•‹‘ǡ
the government arrested the Home
—ƒ”†• ‹ ƒŠƒ”•ƒ †‹•–”‹…–ǡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•
said. The Bihar School Examination
Board (BSEB) also cancelled examinations at four centres where cases
of mass cheating were reported.
“The arrested Home Guards were
deployed at different examination
centres to ensure free and fair exams but they were found helping
the students to copy and cheat,” an
‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ‹†‹ƒŠƒ”•ƒǡʹͳͲˆ”‘
here.
ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• •ƒ‹† –Š‡ ƒ””‡•–‡† ‡
took money from students to let
them copy.
In the last three days, TV news
channels have shown suspected poŽ‹…‡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• ƒ……‡’–‹‰ „”‹„‡• ˆ”‘
students to let them cheat in examination centres. Students were seen
copying from books and slips of
papers. In a bizarre case, dozens of
people — said to be family members
of the students — were seen crawling on the walls of an exam centre
ƒ†ϐŽ‹‰‹‰ƒ•™‡”•Š‡‡–•‹–‘˜ƒ”‹ous rooms in Vaishali district.
‘”‡ –Šƒ ͳǤͶ ‹ŽŽ‹‘ •–—†‡–•
ƒ”‡ƒ’’‡ƒ”‹‰‹–Š‡Žƒ••ͳͲ„‘ƒ”†
examination. Some students caught
cheating have been expelled, Lalkeshwar Prasad, chairman of the
BSEB, told the media.
Pictures carried by the media
showing mass copying and cheating
‹ •…Š‘‘Ž ‡šƒ‹ƒ–‹‘• †‘ǯ– ”‡ϐŽ‡…–
the reality in Bihar, Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar said on Friday. The
pictures “do not show the entire story of the state”, he said in a Facebook
post.
Meanwhile, the Patna High Court
slammed as “very shameful” minister Shahi’s statement that cheatingfree exams were not possible in the
state. — IANS
Ž‘‘‡”••–ƒ†ƒ––Š‡•‹–‡‘ˆƒ–”ƒ‹ƒ……‹†‡–ƒ–ƒ‡ƒ”‡Ž‹†‹•–”‹…–‹––ƒ””ƒ†‡•ŠǤȄ
One doctor said at least a dozen
of those admitted to hospitals in
Lucknow were battling for life.
Some passengers were treated
medically in Rae Bareli. The more serious cases were rushed to the Sanjay
Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of
Medical Sciences in Lucknow.
“The death toll could go up,” an ofϐ‹…‹ƒŽ •ƒ‹†ǡ ƒ††‹‰ –Šƒ– ͳʹ „‘†‹‡• ”‡mained unclaimed until late in the
evening.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who
Northern Railway
‘ˆϔ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†–Šƒ–
’”‹ƒˆƒ…‹‡–Š‡–”ƒ‹
†”‹˜‡”•‡‡‡†–‘„‡
at fault
Kerala assembly impasse
should end: Congress
ȅ The impasse in the Kerala assembly
should end, the Congress said on Friday.
State Congress president V M Sudheeran said the assembly is not
just the property of the treasury or the opposition legislators but it is
of the people and hence this impasse should end.
“The speaker, chief minister, leader of opposition and other party
leaders should sit and solve the issues.
When I was the speaker, we had only the audio tapes to have a veriϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘ǡ„—––‘†ƒ›–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡Ž‹˜‡’‹…–—”‡•ƒ†ƒŽŽ•Š‘—Ž†•‹–ƒ”‘—†ƒ†
have a look at the video and decide. What happened last week is not
acceptable at all,” said Sudheeran.
The Left opposition created a huge ruckus last Friday while trying to
prevent Finance Minister K M Mani from presenting the budget as he
was an accused in a bribery case. They smashed the speaker’s dais and
caused damage amounting to Rs 5 lakhs.
The six women legislators of the Left Front were seen rushing towards Mani’s seat and in the melee, some of them fell down.
‘†ƒ›–Š‡ƒ••‡„Ž›”‡…‘˜‡‡†‘Ž›–‘•—•’‡†ϐ‹˜‡‡ˆ–‘’position legislators for their unruly behaviour and for damaging the
speaker’s chamber, for the rest of the session. When they refused to
leave the House, the speaker cancelled its sittings for a week.
ƒ–‡”ǡ ‡ƒ†‡” ‘ˆ ’’‘•‹–‹‘ …Š—–Šƒƒ†ƒ •ƒ‹† ϐ‹˜‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡‹”
™‘‡Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‘”•™‡”‡ƒ••ƒ—Ž–‡†„›ϐ‹˜‡–”‡ƒ•—”›„‡…ŠŽ‡‰‹•Žƒ–‘”•Ǥ
On March 23, when the House reconvenes, it remains to be seen if
’”‘…‡‡†‹‰•™‹ŽŽ–ƒ‡’Žƒ…‡ƒ•–Š‡ϐ‹˜‡™‘‡Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‘”•’Žƒ–‘”‡‰‹•–‡”ƒ…ƒ•‡ƒ‰ƒ‹•–ϐ‹˜‡Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‘”•‹…Ž—†‹‰ƒ‹‹•–‡”Ǥ
Meanwhile, Sudheeran asked Kozhikode district Congress chief K C
Abu to immediately withdraw his unbecoming remarks against an opposition woman legislator.
“His remark does not go down with the Congress culture. He has to
apologise and withdraw his remarks that he made against the woman
legislator. If he does not do so, then disciplinary action would be taken,”
said Sudheeran.
was visiting Lucknow, met some of the
injured in hospital.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, Railways
Minister Suresh Prabhu and Congress
president Sonia Gandhi, in whose Lok
Sabha constituency the accident took
place, mourned the loss of lives.
‘”–Š‡”ƒ‹Ž™ƒ›‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†–Šƒ–
prima facie the train driver seemed to
be at fault.
“The train was to stop at the Bachharwan station but it did not. When
he realized this, the driver applied the
emergency brakes, leading to the de”ƒ‹Ž‡–ǡdz‘‡‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ‹†Ǥ
The railways ordered a probe into
the accident.
The railway ministry announced a
compensation of Rs 2 lakh to families
of each of the dead, Rs 50,000 to the
seriously injured and Rs 20,000 to
those who suffered minor injuries.
The Uttar Pradesh government announced similar compensation.
— IANS
Yoga sessions for
central govt staff
ˆ”‘’”‹Žͳ
ȅ The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will organise yoga
training sessions for central government employees and their
dependents from April 1, a statement from the department said
on Friday.
“The Department of Personnel
and Training is organising yoga
training sessions from April 1 for
–Š‡„‡‡ϐ‹–‘ˆ…‡–”ƒŽ‰‘˜‡”‡–
employees and their dependents
at Grih Kalyan Kendra (GKK) samaj sadans,” said the statement.
It added that the yoga sessions
would be held on all days except
Sundays and gazetted holidays.
The sessions will be held in
Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad,
Mumbai,
Chennai,
Nagpur,
Kolkata, Bengaluru and Dehradun. The department said that no
registration fees will be charged
from the employees.
The timings set for the sessions are 6.30 am to 8.30 am in
the morning and 4.30 pm to 6.30
pm in the evening. The UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution last year declaring June 21
as International Yoga Day.
Meanwhile, the AYUSH ministry has set up a National Medicinal Plants Board for the overall
development, processing and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, parliament was told.
“Certain medicinal plants are
threatened and endangered,
causing their short supply, due
to which the industry perceives
†‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–‹‡• ‹ –Š‡ ’”‘…—”‡‡–
of medicinal plant materials like
guggul, katuki, kuth and jatamansi,” Minister of State for AYUSH
(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) Yesso Naik said in a written
reply to the Lok Sabha. — IANS
Mobilise youth to work on
solutions to water crisis: TERI
NEW DELHI — Youth must be mobiŽ‹•‡† –‘ ϐ‹† •—•–ƒ‹ƒ„Ž‡ •‘Ž—–‹‘• –‘
water crises in India, environmental
think-tank TERI said in a function on
Friday in an event of the eve of World
Water Day.
The “SWASH (Save Water and Save
Humanity) event, seeking to ensure
quality, availability and accessibility of
water and sanitation for all, is aimed
at promoting entrepreneurial and creative spirit among young minds to exploring innovative solutions for issues
related to water and sanitation, said a
TERI statement.
“Learning to value water and conserve both its quality and quantity has
to become a national movement in
India,” said TERI’s acting director general Leena Srivastava.
The power of the youth must be
mobilised towards this end, she added. The event was organised by the
TERI university in association with
USAID and TU’s Coca Cola Department of Regional Water Studies.
Speaking on the occasion, USAID
deputy mission director Kathryn Ste-
‘‡ƒ”‹‰–‘˜ƒŽ—‡
™ƒ–‡”ƒ†…‘•‡”˜‡
„‘–Š‹–•“—ƒŽ‹–›
ƒ†“—ƒ–‹–›Šƒ•–‘
„‡…‘‡ƒƒ–‹‘ƒŽ
‘˜‡‡–‹†‹ƒǡǯ
•ƒ›•ǯ•ƒ…–‹‰
†‹”‡…–‘”
vens impressed on the need for water
and sanitation infrastructure to meet
the rapidly growing demand of urban
India.
“The issue is important as more
and more people are dying due to
water and sanitation related diseases
such as diarrhoea and malaria.
We need to meet the challenge by
working towards behavioural changes
to attain a sustained change,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Singh has
„‡‡ ƒ™ƒ”†‡† –Š‡ ʹͲͳͷ –‘…Š‘Ž
Water Prize Laureate for his innovative water restoration efforts in rural
parts of the country.
Better known as the Water Man of
India, Singh, who is currently based in
Rajasthan, originally comes from Dollah village of Baghpat district in Uttar
Pradesh.
“It’s been over 35 years since I
shifted. I used to provide medicines to
the old in Rajasthan villages.
I also used to help children to go
to school but one day an elderly man
told me that the people there don’t
need medicine or education but water,” he said, adding that from day onwards he started working on water
problems in the villages there.
“It’s been a long journey. I did not
know anything about water harvesting or how to get the ground water
table recharged but locals helped me
learn and I never looked back after
that,” he said. — IANS
™‹‡ϐŽ—–‘ŽŽ‹‡Žƒ‰ƒƒ—’
ȅŠ‡–‘ŽŽ†—‡–‘•™‹‡ϐŽ—‹‡Žƒ‰ƒƒŠƒ•”‹•‡–‘͹ͷ
™‹–Š–Š‡†‡ƒ–Š‘ˆ‘‡‘”‡’‡”•‘ǡ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ••ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
ˆ–‡”ƒ†‡…Ž‹‡ǡ–Š‡—„‡”‘ˆ•™‹‡ϐŽ—…ƒ•‡•Šƒ•”‹•‡ƒ‰ƒ‹Ǥ
The health department, in its bulletin, said 32 people were found
…ƒ””›‹‰ͳͳ˜‹”—•‘—–‘ˆͻʹ•ƒ’Ž‡•–‡•–‡†‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
Only eight cases were reported on Tuesday, the lowest in last few
weeks. However, 25 positive cases were registered on Wednesday. The
Š‡ƒŽ–Šƒ—–Š‘”‹–‹‡••…”‡‡‡†͸ǡ͹ͳ͹•ƒ’Ž‡••‹…‡ƒ—ƒ”›ͳƒ†‘—–‘ˆ
–Š‡ʹǡͳͶͲ™‡”‡ˆ‘—†’‘•‹–‹˜‡ǤŠ‡–‘ŽŽ•‹…‡ƒ—ƒ”›ͳ•–ƒ†•ƒ–͹ͷǤ
Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district accounted for
majority of deaths and positive cases.
ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• •ƒ‹† ‡‘—‰Š •–‘…• ‘ˆ ‡†‹…‹‡•ǡ –‡•–‹‰ ‹–• Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡
made available at all teaching, district and area hospitals. The health
department has advised people to take all precautions and approach
Š‘•’‹–ƒŽ ‘ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– •›’–‘• ‘ˆ •™‹‡ ϐŽ— Ž‹‡ Š‹‰Š ˆ‡˜‡”ǡ •‡‡œ‹‰ǡ
…‘—‰Šƒ†„‘†›’ƒ‹Ǥ‡ƒ™Š‹Ž‡ǡ‘‡‘”‡†‡ƒ–Š†—‡–‘•™‹‡ϐŽ—™ƒ•
”‡…‘”†‡† ‹ ‡•– ‡‰ƒŽǡ –ƒ‹‰ –Š‡ –‘–ƒŽ ϐ‹‰—”‡ ˆ‘” –Š‡ •–ƒ–‡ –‘ ʹͶǡ ƒ
Š‡ƒŽ–Š‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ‹†‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
DzŠ‡†‡ƒ–Š–‘ŽŽ‹•‘™ʹͶǤ‘—”–‡‡ˆ”‡•Š…ƒ•‡•™‡”‡†‡–‡…–‡†•‹…‡
Š—”•†ƒ›ǤŠ‡–‘–ƒŽ—„‡”‘ˆ…ƒ•‡•‹•‘™ͶͲ͸ǡdz”‹…‹’ƒŽ‡…”‡–ƒ”›
(Health and Family Welfare) Malay Kumar De said. He said the private
hospital which was barred from testing suspected samples for a day
(Friday) due to “anomalies” is still under the scanner. “We have extended the suspension till Saturday,” said De. — IANS
ƒϔ‹ŽŽ‹‰†”‹‹‰™ƒ–‡”‹ƒ–—”ƒŽ…Žƒ›’‘–•ǡƒ–ƒˆ”‡‡†”‹‹‰™ƒ–‡”†‹•–”‹„—–‹‘•–ƒ†‹›†‡”ƒ„ƒ†ǤȄ
7
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
INDIA
Kashmir attack kills 6,
including 2 terrorists
The wife of policeman who was killed in an attack on a police camp,
weeps at her residence in Kathua district, south of Jammu. — Reuters
The attackers,
armed with
automatic weapons
and grenades and
dressed in military
fatigues, barged into
the station complex
after killing the lone
guard at the main
gate in a near repeat
of a Sept 2013 attack
in the same district
Ȅ  –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‡””‘” ƒ––ƒ…
ƒˆ–‡”ƒ—ƒ†ƒ•Š‹”‰‘–ƒ‡™
‰‘˜‡”‡– ‘ ƒ”…Š ͳǡ ƒ …‹˜‹Ž‹ƒ
ƒ† –Š”‡‡ •‡…—”‹–› ’‡”•‘‡Ž ™‡”‡
‹ŽŽ‡†‘”‹†ƒ›™Š‡–™‘‰—‡””‹ŽŽƒ•
•–‘”‡† ƒ ’‘Ž‹…‡ •–ƒ–‹‘ „‡ˆ‘”‡ „‡‹‰‰—‡††‘™Ǥ
ˆ–‡” –Š‡ •‡˜‡ǦŠ‘—”ǦŽ‘‰ •‹‡‰‡
‡†‡†ǡ Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡” —ˆ–‹ —Šƒƒ† ƒ›‡‡† „Žƒ‡† Dz‘Ǧ•–ƒ–‡
ƒ…–‘”•dz ˆ‘” –Š‡ ƒ—†ƒ…‹‘—• ƒ––ƒ… ‘
–Š‡ƒŒ„ƒ‰Š’‘Ž‹…‡•–ƒ–‹‘‹ƒ–Š—ƒ
†‹•–”‹…–ǡŒ—•–ͳͷˆ”‘–Š‡‡‹‰Š„‘—”‹‰„‘”†‡”Ǥ
DzŠ‹• ™ƒ• …ƒ””‹‡† ‘—– „› ‘Ǧ
•–ƒ–‡ ƒ…–‘”• ™Š‘ ƒ”‡ ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ’‡ƒ…‡
•—”’”‹•‡Ǥ
…‡ –Š‡ ƒ––ƒ…‡”• •‡ƒ‡†
‹–‘ –Š‡ …‘’Ž‡šǡ ‘ –Š‡ ƒ—Ǧ
ƒ–Šƒ‘–Š‹‰Š™ƒ›ǡ–Š‡›•–ƒ”–‡†ϐ‹”‹‰ƒ–ƒ„—‹Ž†‹‰Š‡Ž†„›–Š‡‡–”ƒŽ
‡•‡”˜‡‘Ž‹…‡‘”…‡ȋȌǡ‹ŽŽ‹‰
–™‘ ‘ˆ ‹–• ‡Ǥ …‹˜‹Ž‹ƒ ™ƒ• ƒŽ•‘
‹ŽŽ‡†Ǥ
‡ ‘–Š‡”•ǡ ‘˜‡”™Š‡Ž‹‰Ž› •‡…—”‹–› ’‡”•‘‡Žǡ ™‡”‡ ™‘—†‡†
ƒ†”—•Š‡†–‘Š‘•’‹–ƒŽ•Ǥ
•’‡…–‘” ‡‡”ƒŽ ‘ˆ ‘Ž‹…‡ ƒ‹•Š ƒƒ ƒ‘—…‡† –Š‡ †‡ƒ–Š ‘ˆ
–Š‡–™‘‹Ž‹–ƒ–•ǡ™Š‘•‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‹–›
™ƒ•‘–‘™Ǥ
 ‹–‡ŽŽ‹‰‡…‡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡” •–ƒ–‡†
ƒ† Ž‹ˆ–‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ȋ”‡†
‘”…‡•’‡…‹ƒŽ‘™‡”•…–ȌǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
– ‹• –‹‡ –Š‡› ”‡ƒŽ‹•‡† –Š‹• ƒ• –Š‡›
ƒ”‡ƒŽ•‘„ƒ––Ž‹‰–Š‡•‡‡Ž‡‡–•Ǥ
Dz‡ ™‹ŽŽ ‘– „‡ †‡–‡””‡† ‹ ‘—”
”‡•‘Ž˜‡ –‘ —•Š‡” ‹ ’‡”ƒ‡–
’‡ƒ…‡‹–Š‡•–ƒ–‡„›–Š‡•‡ƒ…–•ǡdzŠ‡
ƒ††‡†Ǥ
Š‡ ƒ––ƒ…‡”•ǡ ƒ”‡† ™‹–Š ƒ—–‘ƒ–‹… ™‡ƒ’‘• ƒ† ‰”‡ƒ†‡• ƒ†
†”‡••‡†‹‹Ž‹–ƒ”›ˆƒ–‹‰—‡•ǡ„ƒ”‰‡†
‹–‘–Š‡•–ƒ–‹‘…‘’Ž‡šƒˆ–‡”‹ŽŽ‹‰
–Š‡Ž‘‡‰—ƒ”†ƒ––Š‡ƒ‹‰ƒ–‡‹ƒ
‡ƒ””‡’‡ƒ–‘ˆƒ‡’–‡„‡”ʹͲͳ͵ƒ––ƒ…‹–Š‡•ƒ‡†‹•–”‹…–Ǥ
Š‡͸ƒ•–”‹‡–‘‘‡˜‡”›‘‡„›
—†‰‡–•‡••‹‘ǣ‹ŽŽ•’ƒ••‡†
‘ϐ‹˜‡‘ˆ•‹š‘”†‹ƒ…‡•
ȄŠ‡‰‘˜‡”‡–
•—……‡‡†‡†‹‰‡––‹‰•‘‡‘ˆ‹–•…”—…‹ƒŽƒ‰‡†ƒǡ‹…Ž—†‹‰„‹ŽŽ•–‘”‡’Žƒ…‡
ϐ‹˜‡‘ˆ•‹š‘”†‹ƒ…‡•ǡ’ƒ••‡†‹’ƒ”Ž‹ƒ‡– ‹ –Š‡ „—†‰‡– •‡••‹‘ǯ• ϐ‹”•–
ŠƒŽˆ„—–™ƒ•ˆ‘”…‡†–‘†‡ˆ‡”’ƒ••ƒ‰‡
‘ˆŽƒ†„‹ŽŽ‹–Š‡ƒŒ›ƒƒ„Šƒ‹–Š‡
ˆƒ…‡‘ˆ•–‹ˆˆ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘Ǥ
Š‡ •‡••‹‘ǡ ™Š‹…Š „‡‰ƒ ‡„”—ƒ”› ʹ͵ǡ •ƒ™ ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘ ’ƒ”–‹‡• –ƒ”‰‡––Š‡‰‘˜‡”‡–‘ƒ”ƒ‰‡‘ˆ‹••—‡• ‹…Ž—†‹‰ ”‡Ž‡ƒ•‡ ‘ˆ •‡’ƒ”ƒ–‹•–
ƒ•”ƒ– Žƒ ‘ ‘”†‡”• ‘ˆ ƒ—
ƒ† ƒ•Š‹” Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡” —ˆ–‹
‘Šƒƒ†ƒ›‡‡†Ǥ
Š‡‹•’ƒ”–‘ˆ”—Ž‹‰…‘ƒŽ‹–‹‘
‹ƒ—ƒ†ƒ•Š‹”Ǥ
•’ƒ”–‘ˆ‹–•…‘‹–‡––‘…—”„
„Žƒ… ‘‡›ǡ –Š‡ ‰‘˜‡”‡– ‹–”‘†—…‡† ƒ „‹ŽŽ ‹ –Š‡ ‘ ƒ„Šƒ ƒ‹‡†
ƒ–—‡ƒ”–Š‹‰„Žƒ…‘‡›ƒ†’—‹•Š‹‰ –Š‘•‡ ™‹–Š ‹ŽŽǦ‰‘––‡ ™‡ƒŽ–Š
•–ƒ•Š‡†ƒ„”‘ƒ†Ǥ
‹ƒ…‡‹‹•–‡””—ƒ‹–Ž‡›Šƒ†
•’‘‡ ƒ„‘—– –Š‡ „‹ŽŽ ‹ Š‹• „—†‰‡–
•’‡‡…Šƒ†‹–™ƒ•‹–”‘†—…‡†‘–Š‡
Žƒ•–†ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡•‡••‹‘ǯ•ϐ‹”•–ŠƒŽˆǤ
Š‡ ‰‘˜‡”‡–ǯ• ˜—Ž‡”ƒ„‹Ž‹–›
‹–Š‡ƒŒ›ƒƒ„Šƒǡ™Š‡”‡‹–†‘‡•‘–
Šƒ˜‡ ƒ ƒŒ‘”‹–›ǡ ™ƒ• ‡˜‹†‡– †—”‹‰
–Š‡•‡••‹‘ƒ•–™‘‘ˆ–Š‡…”—…‹ƒŽ„‹ŽŽ•
–‘ ”‡’Žƒ…‡ ‘”†‹ƒ…‡• Ȅ –Š‡ ‹‡•
ƒ†‹‡”ƒŽ•„‹ŽŽƒ†–Š‡…‘ƒŽ‹‡•
„‹ŽŽ Ȅ …‘—Ž† „‡ ’ƒ••‡† ‘Ž› ‘ –Š‡
Žƒ•– †ƒ› ƒ• –Š‡ „‹ŽŽ• ™‡”‡ •‡– –‘ •‡Ž‡…–…‘‹––‡‡™Š‹…Š‰ƒ˜‡‹–•”‡’‘”–
‹ƒŽ‘•–ƒ™‡‡Ǥ
Ž•‘’ƒ••‡†™ƒ•–Š‡Ž‘‰Ǧ’‡†‹‰
‹•—”ƒ…‡Žƒ™ƒ‡†‡–„‹ŽŽ™Š‹…Š
Š‹‡• –Š‡ ˆ‘”‡‹‰ ‡“—‹–› …ƒ’ ‹ †‘‡•–‹… …‘’ƒ‹‡• ˆ”‘ ʹ͸ ’‡” …‡–
–‘Ͷͻ’‡”…‡–ƒ†‹•‡š’‡…–‡†–‘‰‹˜‡
ƒ’—•Š–‘–Š‡ƒ”‡†”ƒ‘†‹‰‘˜‡”‡–ǯ•”‡ˆ‘”ƒ‰‡†ƒǤ
Š‡ •‡••‹‘ǡ ™Š‹Ž‡ ƒŽ•‘ •ƒ™ ’ƒ••ƒ‰‡ ‘ˆ ”ƒ‹Ž „—†‰‡– ƒ† …‘…Ž—•‹‘
‘ˆ †‹•…—••‹‘ ‘ –Š‡ ‰‡‡”ƒŽ „—†‰‡–ǡ
…ƒ‡ •‘‘ ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ ǯ• •–—‹‰
†‡ˆ‡ƒ–‹–Š‡‡ŽŠ‹ƒ••‡„Ž›’‘ŽŽ•Ǥ
Š‡‰‘˜‡”‡–ƒƒ‰‡”•Šƒ†–‘
™‘” Šƒ”† –‘ „”‹‰ ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘ ’ƒ”–‹‡•‘„‘ƒ”†‘•‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡’‡†‹‰
Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‹‘•Ǥ
ƒ”Ž‹ƒ‡–ƒ”› ˆˆƒ‹”• ‹‹•–‡” ‡ƒ‹ƒŠ ƒ‹†— ”‡ƒ…Š‡† ‘—– –‘ ‘‰”‡••’”‡•‹†‡–‘‹ƒ
ƒ†Š‹–‘•‡‡
Š‡” ’ƒ”–›ǯ• …‘‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘ ˆ‘” –Š‡ ‰‘˜‡”‡–ǯ•Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‹˜‡ƒ‰‡†ƒǤ
—––Š‡‰‘˜‡”‡–‡ˆˆ‘”–•–‘‰‡–
–Š‡ Žƒ† „‹ŽŽ ’ƒ••‡† †‹† ‘– •—……‡‡†
ƒ•‘’’‘•‹–‹‘’ƒ”–‹‡•ǡ™Š‹…Š™‡”‡–‘–ƒŽŽ› ‘’’‘•‡† –‘ –Š‡ Žƒ† ‘”†‹ƒ…‡ǡ
…‘–‹—‡† –Š‡‹” ”‡•‹•–ƒ…‡ ‹ ƒŒ›ƒ
ƒ„Šƒ‡˜‡ƒˆ–‡”–Š‡„‹ŽŽ™ƒ•’ƒ••‡†
‹ –Š‡ ‘ ƒ„Šƒ ™‹–Š ‹‡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ
ƒ‡†‡–•Ǥ
Š‡‘”†‹ƒ…‡™‹ŽŽŽƒ’•‡’”‹ŽͷǤ
As part of its
commitment to
curb black money,
the government
introduced a bill
in the Lok Sabha
aimed at unearthing
black money and
punishing those
with ill-gotten
wealth stashed
abroad
‡„‡”• ‘ˆ ͳͶ ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘ ’ƒ”–‹‡• ™‡– ‘ ƒ ƒ”…Š ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ’ƒ”Ž‹ƒ‡– –‘ ‡‡– ”‡•‹†‡– ”ƒƒ„
—Š‡”Œ‡‡ ƒ† …‘˜‡› –Š‡‹” ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘–‘–Š‡„‹ŽŽǤ
Š‡ ‰‘˜‡”‡– ƒŽ•‘ ˆƒ…‡† ‡„ƒ””ƒ••‡– ‹ –Š‡ ƒŒ›ƒ ƒ„Šƒ ƒ•
–Š‡ ‘–‹‘ ‘ˆ –Šƒ• –‘ –Š‡ ’”‡•‹†‡–ǯ• ƒ††”‡•• ™ƒ• ƒ†‘’–‡† ™‹–Š ƒ
ƒ‡†‡–Ǥ
–Š‡” ƒŒ‘” „‹ŽŽ• ’ƒ••‡† –‘ ”‡’Žƒ…‡ ‘”†‹ƒ…‡• ‹…Ž—†‡ …‹–‹œ‡•Š‹’
ƒ‡†‡– „‹ŽŽ ƒ† ‘–‘” ˜‡Š‹…Ž‡•
ƒ‡†‡– „‹ŽŽǤ ‡‰‹•Žƒ–‹˜‡ ‡•‡ƒ”…Šǡ ™Š‹…Š –”ƒ…• ™‘” ‘ˆ ’ƒ”Ž‹ƒ‡–ǡ•ƒ‹†–Š‡ϐ‹”•–ŠƒŽˆ‘ˆ–Š‡•‡••‹‘
•ƒ™Š‹‰Š’”‘†—…–‹˜‹–›Ǥ
DzŠ‡’”‘†—…–‹˜‹–›–Š‹••‡••‹‘Šƒ•
„‡‡ ƒ– ƒ Š‹‰Š ͳʹͳ ’‡” …‡– ‹ ‘
ƒ„Šƒǡ„‡‹‰‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡Š‹‰Š‡•–‹–Š‡
Žƒ•–ˆ‡™•‡••‹‘•Ǥ
‹˜‡–Š‡„ƒ…‰”‘—†‘ˆ•‹š‘”†‹ƒ…‡• ƒ– –Š‡ „‡‰‹‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ •‡••‹‘ǡ ϐ‹˜‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡ ’ƒ••‡†
„› „‘–Š –Š‡ ‘—•‡•ǡdz •ƒ‹† ”‹ƒ ‘›
‘ˆ–Š‡–Š‹Ǧ–ƒǤ
Š‡•ƒ‹†–Š‡’”‘†—…–‹˜‹–›™ƒ•ͳͲͺ
’‡”…‡–‹–Š‡ƒŒ›ƒƒ„ŠƒǤ
ƒ‹†—ǡ ™Š‘ ‹–‡”ƒ…–‡† ™‹–Š –Š‡
‡†‹ƒ ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ …‘…Ž—•‹‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡
•‡••‹‘ǡ •ƒ‹† –Šƒ– –Š‡ Žƒ† „‹ŽŽ ™‹ŽŽ
„‡ –ƒ‡ —’ ‹ –Š‡ ƒŒ›ƒ ƒ„Šƒ ‹
–Š‡•‡…‘†ŠƒŽˆ‘ˆ•‡••‹‘„‡‰‹‹‰
’”‹ŽʹͲƒ†‰‘‹‰‘–‹ŽŽƒ›ͺǤ
‘—”…‡••ƒ‹†–Šƒ––Š‡‰‘˜‡”‡–
‹•…‘–‡’Žƒ–‹‰”‡Ǧ‹••—‹‰–Š‡‘”†‹ƒ…‡ ƒ† ƒ› ‰‘ ˆ‘” ’”‘”‘‰—‹‰ ƒ–
Ž‡ƒ•– ‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Š‘—•‡• ˆ‘” –Š‹• ’—”’‘•‡ǤȄ
Security personnel stand around the body of a militant killed by forces during an encounter at Raj Bagh police
station in Kathua district, some 60 kms from Jammu. — AFP
–Š‡›ƒ›Šƒ˜‡…”‘••‡†‹–‘ƒ•Š‹”
ˆ”‘ƒ‹‡‰Š„‘—”‹‰…‘—–”›Ǥ
Š‡‹Œ—”‡†‹…Ž—†‡†•‡˜‡
’‡”•‘‡Žǡ ƒ ’‘Ž‹…‡ …‘•–ƒ„Ž‡ǡ ƒ …‹˜‹Ž‹ƒ ƒ† ‡’—–› —’‡”‹–‡†‡–
‘ˆ ‘Ž‹…‡ ‹™ƒƒ” ‹‰Šǡ ™Š‘ •—•–ƒ‹‡†ƒ„—ŽŽ‡–™‘—†‘Š‹••Š‘—Ž†‡”ǡƒƒ•ƒ‹†Ǥ
‘Ž‹…‡ǡ ’ƒ”ƒ‹Ž‹–ƒ”› ƒ† •‘Ž†‹‡”•
”—•Š‡† –‘ –Š‡ •‹–‡ „—– –Š‡› ™‡”‡
…ƒ—–‹‘—• ƒ• ƒ› ‡ ™‡”‡
‹•‹†‡ –Š‡ „—‹Ž†‹‰ ™Š‹…Š –Š‡ ‹Ž‹–ƒ–•Šƒ†‡–‡”‡†Ǥ
‹†…‘˜‡”‹‰ϐ‹”‡ˆ”‘•‡…—”‹–›
ˆ‘”…‡•ˆ”‘–Š‡‘—–•‹†‡ǡ–Š‡–”ƒ’’‡†
’‡”•‘‡Ž ƒƒ‰‡† –‘ Ž‡ƒ˜‡
–Š‡„—‹Ž†‹‰Ǥ
Š‹•–‘‘–‹‡Ǥ
– ™ƒ• ϐ‹ƒŽŽ› ƒ”‘—† ͳǤ͵Ͳ ’
–Šƒ– –Š‡ ƒ—–Š‘”‹–‹‡• ƒ†‡ –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ
ƒ••ƒ—Ž– ‘ –Š‡ ‘™ ‹•‘Žƒ–‡† „—‹Ž†‹‰ǡ‹ŽŽ‹‰–Š‡–™‘ƒ––ƒ…‡”•Ǥ
–Š‘”‘—‰Š •‡ƒ”…Š ™ƒ• –Š‡
ƒ†‡‘ˆ–Š‡„—‹Ž†‹‰Ǥ
• –Š‡ ‰— „ƒ––Ž‡ „‡–™‡‡ –Š‡
‹Ž‹–ƒ–• ƒ† •‡…—”‹–› ˆ‘”…‡• ”ƒ‰‡†ǡ
–”ƒˆϐ‹…‘–Š‡Š‹‰Š™ƒ›™ƒ•ŠƒŽ–‡†Ǥ
ŽŽ •…Š‘‘Ž• ‹ ƒ–Š—ƒ ™‡”‡ Š—””‹‡†Ž›‘”†‡”‡†•Š—–Ǥ
ŽŽ •…Š‘‘Ž ‡šƒ‹ƒ–‹‘• •…Š‡†—Ž‡†‹–Š‡†‹•–”‹…–™‡”‡’‘•–’‘‡†Ǥ
Š‹• ™ƒ• –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‡””‘” ƒ––ƒ…
Sonia favours CBI probe into
ƒ”ƒ–ƒƒ‘ˆϐ‹…‡”ǯ•†‡ƒ–Š
Ȁ
ȅ ‘‰”‡•• ’”‡•‹†‡– ‘‹ƒ ƒ†Š‹ ‘
”‹†ƒ› ƒ†˜‹•‡† ƒ”ƒ–ƒƒ Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡” ‹††ƒ”ƒƒ‹ƒŠ –‘ Šƒ† ‘˜‡”
–Š‡ ’”‘„‡ ‘ˆ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡” ƒ˜‹ǯ•
(pictured),†‡ƒ–Š–‘–Š‡‹˜‹‡™‘ˆ
–Š‡’—„Ž‹…†‡ƒ†Ǥ
DzŠ‡ ’ƒ”–› ’”‡•‹†‡– Šƒ• ƒ†˜‹•‡†
–Š‡…Š‹‡ˆ‹‹•–‡”–Š”‘—‰ŠŠ‡”’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ •‡…”‡–ƒ”› ȋŠ‡† ƒ–‡ŽȌ –‘ Šƒ†
‘˜‡”–Š‡‹“—‹”›‹–‘–Š‡†‡ƒ–Š‘ˆ
‘ˆϐ‹…‡”ƒ˜‹–‘–Š‡ǡdz’ƒ”–›‰‡‡”ƒŽ
•‡…”‡–ƒ”›ƒ†‹Ǧ…Šƒ”‰‡‘ˆ–Š‡’ƒ”–›ǯ•
•–ƒ–‡—‹–‹‰˜‹Œƒ›‹‰Š–‘Ž†–Š‡‡†‹ƒ‹‡ŽŠ‹Ǥ
‘‰”‡••’ƒ”–›•‘—”…‡ƒŽ•‘…‘ϐ‹”‡† –Šƒ– ‘‹ƒǦǯ• ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ •‡…”‡–ƒ”›ƒ–‡ŽŠƒ•…ƒŽŽ‡†‘‹††ƒ”ƒƒ‹ƒŠ
‹ –Š‡ ‡˜‡‹‰ ƒ† …‘˜‡›‡† Š‡” ƒ†˜‹…‡‘–”ƒ•ˆ‡””‹‰ƒ˜‹ǯ•†‡ƒ–Š…ƒ•‡
–‘–Š‡…‘—–”›ǯ•’”‡‹‡”‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‰
ƒ‰‡…›Ǥ
Dz•–Š‡„—†‰‡–•‡••‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡•–ƒ–‡
Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–—”‡ ‹• ‘ǡ –Š‡ …Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡”
ƒ› ƒ‘—…‡ –Š‡ †‡…‹•‹‘ –‘ •‡‡
ƒ ‹“—‹”› ‹–‘ ƒ˜‹ǯ• †‡ƒ–Š ‘
–Š‡ϐŽ‘‘”‘ˆ–Š‡ƒ••‡„Ž›‘‘†ƒ›ǡdz
–Š‡’ƒ”–›•‘—”…‡•ƒ‹†‹‡‰ƒŽ—”—Ǥ
ƒ˜‹ǡ͵͸ǡ™ƒ•ˆ‘—††‡ƒ†‘ƒ”…Š
ͳ͸‹Š‹•‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽƒ’ƒ”–‡–‹—’•…ƒŽ‡
•‘—–Š‡ƒ•–•—„—”„‘ˆ‡‰ƒŽ—”—„›Š‹•
™‹ˆ‡—•—ƒǤ
‘Ž‹…‡ ’”‹‡ ˆƒ…‹‡ –‡”‡† ƒ˜‹ǯ•
†‡ƒ–Š ƒ• ƒ •—‹…‹†‡ ˆ‘” ’‡”•‘ƒŽ ”‡ƒ•‘•ǡƒ•–Š‡”‡™ƒ•‘‹Œ—”‹‡•‘Š‹•
„‘†›ǡ ™Š‹…Š ™ƒ• ˆ‘—† Šƒ‰‹‰ „› ƒ
…‡‹Ž‹‰ˆƒ‹Š‹•„‡†”‘‘Ǥ
Š‡•–ƒ–‡‰‘˜‡”‡–Šƒ•”‡ˆ—•‡†
–‘ Šƒ† ‘˜‡” –Š‡ •‡•ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ …ƒ•‡ –‘
–Š‡‡˜‡ƒˆ–‡”–Š‡…‡–”ƒŽ‰‘˜‡”‡–ƒ‰”‡‡†–‘‹–‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
Dz‡ƒ”‡”‡ƒ†›ˆ‘”ƒ‹“—‹”›‹ˆ
–Š‡ •–ƒ–‡ ‰‘˜‡”‡– ™ƒ–•ǡdz —‹‘
‘‡ ‹‹•–‡” ƒŒƒ–Š ‹‰Š –‘Ž†
Žƒ™ƒ‡”• ‹ –Š‡ ‘ ƒ„Šƒ †—”‹‰
–Š‡œ‡”‘Š‘—”ƒˆ–‡”•ˆ”‘–Š‡
•–ƒ–‡‡–Š‹ƒ††‡ƒ†‡†–Šƒ––Š‡
•Š‘—Ž†’”‘„‡ƒ˜‹ǯ•†‡ƒ–ŠǤ
ƒ”Ž‹‡” ‹ –Š‡ †ƒ› ‹ ‡‰ƒŽ—”—ǡ
‹††ƒ”ƒƒ‹ƒŠ „”‹‡ˆ‡† ‘˜‡”‘” ƒŒ—„Šƒ‹ƒŽƒ‘–Š‡•–ƒ–—•‘ˆ–Š‡‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘„‡‹‰…‘†—…–‡†„›–Š‡Ǥ
Dz Šƒ˜‡ „”‹‡ˆ‡† –Š‡ ‰‘˜‡”‘” ‘
–Š‡ †‡˜‡Ž‘’‡–• ‹ ƒ˜‹ǯ• †‡ƒ–Š
…ƒ•‡ ƒ† –‘Ž† Š‹ –Šƒ– –Š‡ ™ƒ•
‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘ –Š‡ …ƒ•‡ ‘ ’”‹‘”‹–›ǡdz
‹††ƒ”ƒƒ‹ƒŠ –‘Ž† ”‡’‘”–‡”• ‘—–•‹†‡
ƒŒŠƒ˜ƒǤ
Š‡ …Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡” ‡– –Š‡ ‰‘˜‡”‘” ƒ †ƒ› ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘ ƒ† –Š‡ Žƒ™ƒ‡”• •—„‹––‡† ƒ
‡‘”ƒ†— –‘ –Š‡ Žƒ––‡” •‡‡‹‰
Š‹• ‹–‡”˜‡–‹‘ ‹ –”ƒ•ˆ‡””‹‰ –Š‡
…ƒ•‡–‘–Š‡Ǥ
Š‡ ʹͲͲͻ „ƒ–…Š ‘ˆϐ‹…‡” ™ƒ• ƒ††‹–‹‘ƒŽ …‘‹••‹‘‡” ‘ˆ •–ƒ–‡ …‘‡”…‹ƒŽ –ƒš ‹ –Š‡ …‹–› •‹…‡ ‡…‡„‡” ʹͲͳͶ ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰ Š‹• –”ƒ•ˆ‡” ƒ•
†‡’—–› …‘‹••‹‘‡” ‘ˆ ‘Žƒ” †‹•–”‹…–ǡ ƒ„‘—– ͳͲͲ  ƒ™ƒ›ǡ ™Š‡”‡ Š‡
‡ƒ”‡† –Š‡ ”‡’—–ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ „‡‹‰ ƒ
—’”‹‰Š–‘ˆϐ‹…‡”ˆ‘””‡‹‹‰‹–Š‡•ƒ†
ƒ†Žƒ†ƒϐ‹ƒ•Ǥ
Š‘—‰Š –Š‡ „—†‰‡– •‡••‹‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡
•–ƒ–‡ Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‹˜‡ ƒ••‡„Ž› ™ƒ• ƒ†Œ‘—”‡† –‹ŽŽ ‘†ƒ› †—‡ –‘ ’”‘–‡•–
†‡‘•–”ƒ–‹‘„›–Š‡‘’’‘•‹–‹‘
ƒ† Žƒ™ƒ‡”•ǡ „‘–Š –Š‡ ’ƒ”–‹‡•
‘”‹†ƒ›”‡‹–‡”ƒ–‡†–Š‡‹”†‡ƒ†ˆ‘”
ƒ’”‘„‡‹–‘ƒ˜‹ǯ•†‡ƒ–ŠǤ
DzŠ‡ ”—Ž‹‰ ‘‰”‡•• ‹• –”›‹‰ –‘
Š—•Š—’–”—–Š„‡Š‹†–Š‡…ƒ•‡„›”ƒ‹‰ —’ ƒ˜‹ǯ• ’‡”•‘ƒŽ Ž‹ˆ‡ ƒ† †”ƒ‰‰‹‰ƒ™‘ƒ‘ˆϐ‹…‡”™Š‘™ƒ•Š‹•
„ƒ–…Šƒ–‡ ‹–‘ –Š‡ ‹••—‡ǡdz ϐŽ‘‘”
Ž‡ƒ†‡”ƒ†ˆ‘”‡”…Š‹‡ˆ‹‹•–‡”
—ƒ”ƒ•™ƒ›–‘Ž†”‡’‘”–‡”•Š‡”‡Ǥ
Ȅ
A woman
looks out
from a bus
during a
protest
demanding
the
government
clean up
the polluted
Yamuna
River in New
Delhi. Despite
being heavily
polluted and
laden with
sewage,
millions
of people
depend on the
Yamuna for
water.
— AFP
‹ ƒ— ƒ† ƒ•Š‹” ƒˆ–‡” ƒ …‘ƒŽ‹–‹‘ ‰‘˜‡”‡– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‡‘’Ž‡•
‡‘…”ƒ–‹…ƒ”–›ƒ†–Š‡Šƒ”ƒ–‹›ƒ
ƒƒ–ƒ ƒ”–› –‘‘ ’‘™‡” ‘ ƒ”…Š
ͳǤ
–Š‡‘ƒ„Šƒǡ‘‡‹‹•–‡”
ƒŒƒ–Š ‹‰Š •ƒ‹†ǣ Dz‡ •Šƒ”‡ –Š‡
‰”‹‡ˆ‘ˆ–Š‡ˆƒ‹Ž‹‡•‘ˆ–Š‡’‘Ž‹…‡‘ˆϐ‹…‡”• ƒ† –Š‡ …‹˜‹Ž‹ƒ ‹ŽŽ‡† „› –Š‡
–‡””‘”‹•–•Ǥdz
™‡Ž˜‡ ’‡‘’Ž‡ ™‡”‡ ‹ŽŽ‡† ‘
‡’–‡„‡” ʹ͸ǡ ʹͲͳ͵ ™Š‡ ‰—‡””‹ŽŽƒ• Šƒ† ƒ––ƒ…‡† ‹”ƒƒ‰ƒ” ’‘Ž‹…‡
•–ƒ–‹‘ ƒŽ•‘ ‹ ƒ–Š—ƒ †‹•–”‹…– ƒ†
–Š‡ ‡–‡”‡† ƒ ƒ”› …ƒ’ ‘ –Š‡
ƒ—Ǧƒ–Šƒ‘–Š‹‰Š™ƒ›ǤȄ
ǯ•‹„ƒŽƒ”
‡Ž‡…–‡†ƒŠƒ”ƒ•Š–”ƒ
…‘—…‹Ž…Šƒ‹”ƒ
ȅ ƒ”ƒŒ‡
‹  „ ƒ Ž  ƒ ”ǡ
•‡‹‘”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‹•– ‘‰”‡••
ƒ”–› Ž‡ƒ†‡”ǡ
™ƒ• †‡…Žƒ”‡†
‡Ž‡…–‡† —‘’’‘•‡† ƒ• –Š‡
‡™ …Šƒ‹”ƒ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒŠƒ”ƒ•Š–”ƒ
Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‹˜‡…‘—…‹ŽŠ‡”‡‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
Š‡ †‡˜‡Ž‘’‡– ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‡† ƒ
•—”’”‹•‡ †‡…‹•‹‘ „› –Š‡ ”—Ž‹‰
Šƒ”ƒ–‹›ƒ ƒƒ–ƒ ƒ”–› ƒ† Š‹˜
‡ƒ –‘ Dz„‘›…‘––dz –Š‡ ‡Ž‡…–‹‘ ‡ƒ”Ž‹‡”–‘†ƒ›Ǥ
ǯ• ƒ–Š Šƒ†•‡ ƒ† ‡ƒǯ•
ƒ†ƒ• ƒ†ƒǡ „‘–Š •‡‹‘” ‹‹•–‡”• ‹ Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡” ‡˜‡†”ƒ
ƒ†ƒ˜‹•ǯ• …ƒ„‹‡–ǡ Œ‘‹–Ž› ƒ†‡
–Š‡ ƒ‘—…‡‡– ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” ’ƒ”–›ǯ•
†‡…‹•‹‘ǡ ’ƒ˜‹‰ –Š‡ ™ƒ› ˆ‘” ‹„ƒŽƒ”ǯ• —‘’’‘•‡† ‡Ž‡…–‹‘ –‘ –Š‡
ƒ—‰—•–’‘•–Ǥ
Dz‡ •–ƒ† —‹–‡† ‘ –Š‹•ǤǤǤ –Š‡”‡
‹• ‘ “—‡•–‹‘ ‘ˆ •—’’‘”–‹‰ ‡‹–Š‡”
–Š‡ ‘‰”‡•• ‘ˆ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‹•– ‘‰”‡••ƒ”–›ǤǤǤŠ‡…‡™‡Šƒ˜‡†‡…‹†‡†
–‘„‘›…‘–––Š‡‡Ž‡…–‹‘ǡdzŠƒ†•‡–‘Ž†
‡†‹ƒ ’‡”•‘• ‡ƒ” –Š‡ •–ƒ–‡ Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–—”‡Ǥ
Š‡ …Šƒ‹”ƒǯ• ‡Ž‡…–‹‘ ™ƒ• ‡…‡••‹–ƒ–‡† ƒˆ–‡” …‘—…‹Ž …Šƒ‹”ƒ
Š‹˜ƒŒ‹”ƒ‘ ‡•Š—Š ‹ ƒ —’”‡…‡†‡–‡† ‘Ǧ…‘ϐ‹†‡…‡ ‘–‹‘ ™ƒ•
˜‘–‡†‘—–‘ˆ–Š‡‘ˆϐ‹…‡ǤŠ‡˜‡–‡”ƒ
‘‰”‡•• Ž‡ƒ†‡” Š‡Ž† –Š‡ ƒ—‰—•–
’‘•– ‹ –Š‡ ’’‡” ‘—•‡ ˆ‘” ͳͳ
›‡ƒ”•Ǥ
Š‡ †‡…‹•‹‘ •‘‘–Š‡‡† –Š‡
™ƒ› ˆ‘” ƒ”ƒŒ‡ ‹„ƒŽƒ”ǡ ‰‹˜‡
–Š‡ ƒ”‹–Š‡–‹… ‹ –Š‡ ͹ͺǦ‡„‡”
Š‘—•‡Ǥ Š‡ ‡Œ‘›• ƒ „”—–‡
•–”‡‰–Š‘ˆʹͺǡˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‡†„›–Š‡‘‰”‡••ȋʹͳȌǡȋͳʹȌǡŠ‹˜‡ƒȋ•‡˜‡Ȍǡƒ†–Š‡”‡•–„‡Ž‘‰‹‰–‘‘–Š‡”
’ƒ”–‹‡•Ǥ
 ƒ”…Š ͳͻǡ –Š‡ Š‹˜ ‡ƒ Šƒ†
ƒ––‡’–‡† –‘ …‘”‡” ƒŽŽ› „›
ϐ‹‡Ž†‹‰ ‡‡Žƒ ‘”Š‡ ˆ‘” –Š‡ ’‘•–
‹™Šƒ–™‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡„‡…‘‡ƒˆ‘—”Ǧ
…‘”‡”‡†…‘–‡•–…‘’”‹•‹‰
‘”Š‡ǡ
ǯ• ‹„ƒŽƒ”ǡ ‘‰”‡••ǯ Šƒ”ƒ†
ƒ’‹•‡ ƒ† ƒ †‡’‡†‡– ˆ”‘
”ƒ˜ƒ–‹ –‡ƒ…Š‡”•ǯ …‘•–‹–—‡…›ǡ
Š”‹ƒ–‡•Š’ƒ†‡Ǥ
 –Š‡ ƒ”…Š ͳ͸ ˜‘–‹‰ ‘ –Š‡
‘Ǧ…‘ϐ‹†‡…‡‘–‹‘ƒ‰ƒ‹•–‡•Š—Šǡ –Š‡ ‘’’‘•‹–‹‘ ™ƒ• ˜‹”–—ƒŽŽ›DzŠ‡Ž’‡†dz„›–Š‡–‘†‡ˆ‡ƒ–
–Š‡ ‘‰”‡•• ƒ‹†•– …Šƒ”‰‡• –Šƒ–
–Š‡ ƒ† Šƒ† ƒŽ”‡ƒ†› ƒ””‹˜‡† ƒ– ƒ Dz—†‡”•–ƒ†‹‰dz ‘˜‡”
–Š‡ ‹••—‡Ǥ Š‹‡ˆ ‹‹•–‡” ƒ†ƒ˜‹•
ƒ† ‘–Š‡” Ž‡ƒ†‡”• Šƒ‹Ž‡† ‹„ƒŽƒ”ǯ• ‡Ž‡…–‹‘ ƒ† ’ƒ‹† ‰Ž‘™‹‰
–”‹„—–‡• –‘ Š‹• Ž‘‰ ‡š’‡”‹‡…‡ ƒ• ƒ
Ž‡‰‹•Žƒ–‘”ƒ†‹‹•–‡”ǤȄ
8
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
AMERICAS
Top Mexican scribe sees
govt hand in firing
Demonstrators take part in a rally to protest against the Mexican government outside the Organisation
of American States in Washington, DC. The protesters were calling on Mexicans living in the US to boycott
the country’s June elections. — AFP
Black student hurt by white police
sparks fresh US race debate
WASHINGTON — The violent arrest
‘ˆ ƒ „Žƒ… •–—†‡– –”›‹‰ –‘ ‡–‡” ƒ
bar in Virginia has prompted a probe
ƒ† ˆ—‡ŽŽ‡† ›‡– ‘”‡ †‡„ƒ–‡ ‘
how white authorities treat black
›‘—–Š•Ǥ
Martese Johnson, 20, a student
ƒ– –Š‡ ‹˜‡”•‹–› ‘ˆ ‹”‰‹‹ƒ ‹ Šƒ”Ž‘––‡•˜‹ŽŽ‡ǡ ™ƒ• †‡‹‡† ‡–”› –‘ ƒ
”‹•Š ’—„ ‡ƒ”Ž› ‘ ‡†‡•†ƒ› ‡ƒ”
–Š‡ ‡† ‘ˆ –Ǥ ƒ–”‹…ǯ• ƒ› …‡Ž‡„”ƒtions.
Š‹–‡‘ˆϐ‹…‡”•ˆ”‘–Š‡•–ƒ–‡ǯ•‡partment of Alcoholic Beverage Control then slammed him to the ground,
leaving him with blood streaming
down his face and stitches.
Photos of Johnson bleeding and
ˆ‘‘–ƒ‰‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒ””‡•–ǡ •Š‘™‹‰ ‘ˆϐ‹…ers holding him to the ground, spread
“—‹…Ž›‘•‘…‹ƒŽ‡†‹ƒǤ
Up to 300 people gathered at
–Š‡ —‹˜‡”•‹–› ˆ‘” ƒ ’”‘–‡•– ”ƒŽŽ› ‘
‡†‡•†ƒ› ‹‰Š–Ǥ –—†‡–• …Šƒ–‡†
and held a candle-light vigil.
Dzǯ •Š‘…‡† –Šƒ– › ˆƒ…‡ ™ƒ•
slammed into the brick pavement
just across the street from where I
attend school,” Johnson said through
Š‹•ƒ––‘”‡›ƒ‹‡Žƒ–‹•ƒ–ƒ‡™•
…‘ˆ‡”‡…‡ ‘ Š—”•†ƒ›ǡ The Washington Post reported.
Dz• –Š‡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡”• Š‡Ž† ‡ †‘™ǡ
‘‡–Š‘—‰Š–”ƒ…‡†–Š”‘—‰Š›‹†ǣ
‘How could this happen?’” the stu†‡–•ƒ‹†•–ƒ†‹‰‡š––‘Š‹•Žƒ™›‡”ǡ
–Š‡…—–•…Ž‡ƒ”Ž›˜‹•‹„Ž‡‘Š‹•ˆƒ…‡Ǥ
Police charged Johnson with profane swearing and/or public intoxication and obstruction of justice without force.
Virginia State Police pledged to
…ƒ””›‘—–ƒ‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘‹–‘–Š‡ƒ”rest.
“Getting arrested shouldn’t involve
‰‡––‹‰•–‹–…Š‡•ǡdz—‹˜‡”•‹–›’”‡•‹†‡–
Teresa Sullivan told the Post.
— AFP
MEXICO CITY — One of Mexico’s
most popular journalists said she
suspects the government was behind
Š‡”ϐ‹”‹‰„‡…ƒ—•‡‘ˆŠ‡””‡’‘”–ƒ„‘—–
–Š‡ϐ‹”•–Žƒ†›ǯ•…‘–”‘˜‡”•‹ƒŽ’—”…Šƒ•‡
of a mansion.
Carmen Aristegui said the abrupt
™ƒ› –Šƒ– •Š‡ ™ƒ• •ƒ…‡† ˆ”‘ Š‡”
top-rated MVS radio morning programme this week makes her think
–Šƒ–Dz–Š‡”‡™ƒ••‘‡‘‡”‡ƒŽŽ›ƒ‰”›ǡ
someone seeking some sort of vengeance” over her work.
Fellow journalists, intellectuals and political observers have de‘—…‡†–Š‡ϐ‹”‹‰‘ˆ”‹•–‡‰—‹ǡ™Š‹…Š
followed the dismissal of two of her
investigative reporters, as an attack
on freedom of speech.
“I can’t imagine that something of
this magnitude without at least the
consent of the maximum presidential power or the highest powers,”
Aristegui said in a press conference
broadcast on her website.
Asked whether her report about
–Š‡ϐ‹”•–Žƒ†›ǯ•Š‘—•‡™ƒ•–Š‡”‡ƒ•‘
for her dismissal, she said: “I suspect.”
Š‡ ™ƒ› DzŠƒ†Ž‡† –Š‹‰•ǡ
–Š‡›™ƒ›–Š‡›‡•…ƒŽƒ–‡†–Š‡‹••—‡‘„˜‹‘—•Ž›ƒ‡•—•–Š‹–Šƒ––Š‡”‡Šƒ•
been a government intervention, but
we don’t have a document to prove
it,” said Aristegui, who also works for
CNN’s Spanish-language service.
Pena Nieto’s spokesman did not
return a call seeking comment, while
MVS rejected the allegations.
The government issued a state‡– –Š‹• ™‡‡ •ƒ›‹‰ –Š‡ …‘ϐŽ‹…–
was “an issue between private citizens.”
Aristegui’s investigative team
”‡˜‡ƒŽ‡† Žƒ•– ›‡ƒ” –Šƒ– ”‡•‹†‡–
Enrique Pena Nieto’s wife, former
soap opera star Angelica Rivera, had
„‘—‰Š–ƒ‡š‹…‘‹–›ƒ•‹‘ˆ”‘ƒ
government contractor.
Š‡ •–‘”› •’ƒ”‡† ƒŽŽ‡‰ƒ–‹‘• ‘ˆ
…‘ϐŽ‹…– ‘ˆ ‹–‡”‡•–ǡ ™Š‹…Š –Š‡ ’”‡•‹dent denied.
MVS denies the government pres•—”‡† –Š‡ …‘’ƒ› –‘ ϐ‹”‡ ”‹•–‡‰—‹
ƒ† •ƒ›• •Š‡ ™ƒ• Ž‡– ‰‘ „‡…ƒ—•‡ •Š‡
gave an ultimatum, demanding that
her two reporters be reinstated.
Š‡ ”ƒ†‹‘ •–ƒ–‹‘ •ƒ›• ‹– ϐ‹”‡† –Š‡
two journalists last week because
–Š‡›—•‡†–Š‡…‘’ƒ›ǯ•ƒ‡™‹–Šout authorisation in their participation in a new whistleblower website
named MexicoLeaks.
Aristegui rejected the reasons giv‡„›ˆ‘”Š‡”ϐ‹”‹‰ƒ•ƒDzƒ”–‹ϐ‹…‹ƒŽ…‘ϐŽ‹…–dzƒ†ƒ•‡†–Š‡•–ƒ–‹‘–‘
put her team back on the air.
MVS communications vice-president Felipe Chao reiterated that her
Dz—Ž–‹ƒ–—dz ™ƒ• „‡Š‹† Š‡” ϐ‹”‹‰
and indicated she would not be rehired, adding in a news conference:
Dz‡™‹•Š›‘—‰‘‘†Ž—…Ǥdz
Violence cost $233 billion: VioŽ‡…‡ ‹ ‡š‹…‘ …‘•– –Š‡ …‘—–”›
̈́ʹ͵͵ „‹ŽŽ‹‘ Žƒ•– ›‡ƒ”ǡ ‡“—‹˜ƒŽ‡– –‘
17.3 per cent of gross domestic product, or three times the government’s
spending on health, according to a
•–—†›Ǥ
The Institute for Economics and
Peace, a global think tank, said in its
2015 Mexico Peace Index Report that
the impact amounted to $1,946 per
‡š‹…ƒ…‹–‹œ‡‹–Š‡…‘—–”›‘ˆͳͳͺ
million people.
Homicide (37 per cent) and other
violent crimes (34 per cent) represented the largest chunk of the total
cost, according to the institute, which
Šƒ• ‘ˆϐ‹…‡• ‹ ‡š‹…‘ ‹–›ǡ ‡™ ‘”ǡ
›†‡›ƒ†šˆ‘”†Ǥ
While the economic impact of vioŽ‡…‡ Šƒ• ‹…”‡ƒ•‡† „› ʹʹ ’‡” …‡–
compared to 2003, it has been falling
‹”‡…‡–›‡ƒ”•Ǥ
The index found improvements in
Fellow journalists,
intellectuals and
political observers
have denounced
–Š‡ϔ‹”‹‰‘ˆ
Aristegui, which
followed the
dismissal of two of
her investigative
reporters, as an
attack on freedom
of speech
Mexico’s struggle against violence.
Š‡ …‘—–”›ǯ• Š‘‹…‹†‡ ”ƒ–‡ Šƒ•
ˆƒŽŽ‡ „› ƒŽ‘•– ͵Ͳ ’‡” …‡– ‹ –Š‡
Žƒ•––™‘›‡ƒ”•ǡ–Š‡”‡’‘”–ˆ‘—†ǡƒ††ing that while there is “some doubt
ƒ„‘—– –Š‡ ƒ……—”ƒ…› ‘ˆ ‰‘˜‡”‡–
crime statistics, multiple data sources
do support a decline.”
 –Š‡ Žƒ•– –™‘ ›‡ƒ”•ǡ ʹ͸ ‘—– ‘ˆ
Mexico’s 32 states saw “improvements in peacefulness” with reductions in the violent crime rate, the
report found.
But progress has plateaued in the
Žƒ•– ›‡ƒ” ƒ† Dz‹– ‹• –‘‘ ‡ƒ”Ž› –‘ †‡termine if this is the start of a new
trend.” — AFP
‘Ž‘„‹ƒŽ‡ƒ†‡”–‘Ž†–‘•ƒ˜‡…‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡
HAVANA — Colombia’s leftist FARC
guerrillas urged President Juan
Manuel Santos to intervene to save
–Š‡‹” —‹Žƒ–‡”ƒŽ …‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡ǡ •ƒ›‹‰ ‘‰‘‹‰ƒ”›ƒ––ƒ…•’—–‹–ƒ–”‹•Ǥ
“We want to ask President Santos
to do something to save the unilat‡”ƒŽǡ‹†‡ϐ‹‹–‡–”—…‡–Š‡Šƒ•†‡…Žƒ”‡†–‘–Š‡…‘—–”›ǡ–‘‹‡†‹ƒ–‡Ž›
stop these operations against guerrilla forces,” said Ivan Marquez, the
rebels’ chief negotiator at ongoing
peace talks with the government.
Š‡ †‡…Žƒ”‡† ƒ ‹†‡ϐ‹‹–‡ǡ
—‹Žƒ–‡”ƒŽ …‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡ ‹ ‡…‡„‡” „—–
Šƒ• ˜‘™‡† –‘ …‘–‹—‡ ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ „ƒ…
when attacked.
Santos has refused to reciprocate
‘–Š‡…‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡—–‹Žƒˆ—ŽŽ’‡ƒ…‡†‡ƒŽ
is reached, but announced last week
–Šƒ– –Š‡ ƒ”› ™‘—Ž† ŠƒŽ– ƒ‹” ”ƒ‹†•
against the FARC for a month.
While both measures were wel…‘‡† ƒ• •‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ– ƒ†˜ƒ…‡• ‹ ‡ˆˆ‘”–•–‘‡†–Š‡ͷͲǦ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž†‰—‡””‹ŽŽƒ
™ƒ”ǡ–Š‡›Šƒ˜‡ˆƒ‹Ž‡†–‘’”‡˜‡–’‡”‹-
‘†‹… …Žƒ•Š‡• „‡–™‡‡ –Š‡ ƒ”› ƒ†
the FARC.
 ƒ”…Š ͻǡ –Š‡ ƒ”› •ƒ‹† ‹– Šƒ†
killed FARC commander Jose David
Suarez in combat.
ƒ•– ™‡‡ –Š‡ ƒ”› •ƒ‹† ‹– Šƒ†
‹ŽŽ‡† •‹š •—•’‡…–‡† ϐ‹‰Š–‡”•
and captured 18.
Š‡ •ƒ‹† ‘ ‡†‡•†ƒ› ‹–
had killed a soldier over the weekend
after coming under attack.
† –Š‡ ƒ”› •ƒ‹† –Šƒ– ƒ •‘Ždier had been killed and a
civilian wounded during an operation
ƒ‰ƒ‹•––Š‡–Š‡’”‡˜‹‘—•†ƒ›‹
the western department of Cauca.
“These attacks on guerrilla units
ƒ”‡ ’”‘‰”‡••‹˜‡Ž› ‡”‘†‹‰ –Š‡ ǯ•
determination to maintain a uniŽƒ–‡”ƒŽ …‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡ ‹†‡ϐ‹‹–‡Ž›ǡdz •ƒ‹†
Marquez, the rebels’ second-in-command.
“Please, don’t force us to break
that decision,” he said in the Cuban
capital Havana, where peace talks
have been taking place for the past
–™‘›‡ƒ”•Ǥ
Š‡ ‘Ž‘„‹ƒ …‘ϐŽ‹…– Šƒ• ‹ŽŽ‡†
around 220,000 people and uprooted
‘”‡–Šƒϐ‹˜‡‹ŽŽ‹‘•‹…‡–Š‡‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘ƒ”›”‡†‘”…‡•‘ˆ‘Ž‘„‹ƒ
(FARC) launched their rebellion in
1964.
Meanwhile, reports from Bogota
said a retired Colombian general
whose wife and son died in a museum attack in Tunisia lamented the
Dz‹”‘›dz ‘ˆ Ž‘•‹‰ Š‹• ˆƒ‹Ž› ‡„‡”•
ƒˆ–‡” Šƒ˜‹‰ •’‡– Š‹• Ž‹ˆ‡ Dzϐ‹‰Š–‹‰
–‡””‘”‹•dz‹Š‹•‘™…‘—–”›Ǥ
Colombian President Juan Manuel
Santos called Jose Arturo Camelo, the
ˆ‘”‡” ‹Ž‹–ƒ”› Ž‡ƒ†‡”ǡ –‘ ‘ˆˆ‡” …‘dolences and state aid for returning
the bodies of his wife, Miriam Martinez, and their son Javier.
™‡–›Ǧ‘‡’‡‘’Ž‡ǡ‡ƒ”Ž›ƒŽŽˆ‘”eign tourists, were killed on Wednes†ƒ› „› ‰—‡ ™Š‘ •–‘”‡† —‹sia’s National Bardo Museum. The
radical IS group would later take
credit for the attack. — AFP
Uruguayan Navy Special Forces soldiers recover bodies of the victims of the Argentine twin-engine
Beechcraft aircraft that crashed shortly after taking off from the Laguna del Sauce airport, near Punta
del Este, killing all its 10 passengers on board. — AFP
Green sea turtles bounce back in Florida, Mexico
MIAMI — Long considered an endangered species, green sea turtles
in Florida and Mexico have bounced
„ƒ… ƒ† ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• •ƒ‹† ‘ ”‹†ƒ›
–Š‡› ƒ”‡ •‡‡‹‰ –‘ …Šƒ‰‡ –Š‡ –—”tles’ protected status to “threatened.”
The move comes after decades of
efforts to save one of world’s largest
„”‡‡† ‘ˆ •‡ƒ –—”–Ž‡•ǡ Š‡Ž‘‹ƒ ›das, which have been on the endangered species list since 1978.
“The proposal to revise the status of green sea turtles breeding
in Florida and Mexico from endangered to threatened shows that
conservation is making a difference, and once again demonstrates
the effectiveness of the Endangered
Species Act in protecting and recovering our most at-risk species,” said
US Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe.
According to the World Wildlife
Fund, green turtles “are threatened
„› ‘˜‡”Šƒ”˜‡•–‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” ‡‰‰•ǡ
hunting of adults, being caught in
ϐ‹•Š‹‰ ‰‡ƒ” ƒ† Ž‘•• ‘ˆ ‡•–‹‰
beach sites.”
A veterinary technician and intern release a green sea turtle in Florida.
The move comes after decades of efforts
to save one of world’s largest breed of sea
turtles, ‘Chelonia mydas’, which have been
on the endangered species list since 1978
‘But the Fish and Wildlife Service
‘™ •ƒ›• ˆ‘…—•‡† •–”ƒ–‡‰‹‡• Ȅ Ž‹‡
including turtle-excluder devices,
or holes the turtles can escape
–Š”‘—‰Šǡ‹ϐ‹•Š‹‰‡–•ƒ†’”‘–‡…–‹‰ „‡ƒ…Š Šƒ„‹–ƒ– ™Š‡”‡ –Š‡ ›‘—‰
turtles hatch — have helped the
population recover.
The proposal to change the status of green sea turtles from endangered to threatened is now open for
ƒ ͻͲǦ†ƒ› …‘‡– ’‡”‹‘† „‡ˆ‘”‡
ƒ›ˆ‘”ƒŽ†‡…‹•‹‘‹•ƒ†‡Ǥ
Š‡ …Šƒ‰‡ ™‘—Ž† ‘Ž› ƒ’’Ž› –‘
the two green sea turtle breeding
populations in Florida and Mexico.
ƒ•‡† ‘ ƒ •…‹‡–‹ϐ‹… ”‡˜‹‡™
of green sea turtle populations
worldwide, the US government is
ƒŽ•‘ ’”‘’‘•‹‰ –‘ ”‡…Žƒ••‹ˆ› –Š‡
entire species into 11 distinct
population segments, to provide a
“more tailored approach for manƒ‰‡”• –‘ ƒ††”‡•• •’‡…‹ϐ‹… –Š”‡ƒ–•
facing different populations,” the
FWS said.
Green sea turtles are believed
to live in the coastal areas of more
than 140 countries, according to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
In the waters of the west Atlantic
and Gulf of Mexico, green turtles are
found from Texas to Massachusetts,
as well as the US Virgin Islands, and
Puerto Rico.— AFP
P12
US jobless claims
up slightly; weather
hurts factory activity
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015
P10
P11
US regulators give
Amazon go-ahead for
drone tests
www.omanobserver.om
Euro up after Greece
agreement, Shanghai
surges again
[email protected]
Sohar Port rail and cargo plans gather pace
By A Business Reporter
MUSCAT — Plans for a world-class
rail terminal and rail links that will
connect global supply chains with
Sohar Port and Freezone via the GCC
Rail project, have received widespread praise from among thou•ƒ†• ‘ˆ ‰‘˜‡”‡– ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ǡ ”ƒ‹Ž
operators, and contractors at this
year’s Middle East Rail Exhibition,
the largest railway expo in the MENA
region, Sohar Executive Commercial
Manager Edwin Lammers has announced.
Š‡ ‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡…› ƒ† ‹–‡‰”ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ
•—’’Ž› …Šƒ‹• ƒ† –Š‡ „‡‡ϐ‹–• ‘ˆ
transporting cargo through Sohar
were also the subject of approvals
and praise from participants engaging with the Omani port at The Cargo
Show MENA 2015, according to Lammers. Both events were held simultaneously at the Dubai International
Convention Centre, and drew large
…”‘™†•‘ˆƒ†‹”‡”•‹–‡”‡•–‡†–‘ϐ‹†
out more, explained Lammers.
“The GCC Rail project has received worldwide coverage in the
media and attracted the gaze of government planners and railway developers from around the world. This
™ƒ• ”‡ϐŽ‡…–‡† ‹ –Š‡ Š‹‰Š Ž‡˜‡Ž• ‘ˆ
interest in the terminal planned for
Sohar at the Middle East Rail Exhibition, and as the gateway to the Gulf,
many of the expo’s 6,000 visitors
™‡”‡ ‡‡ –‘ ϐ‹† ‘—– Š‘™ –Š‡› …ƒ
utilise the terminal to boost their
Picture is for illustration only
business.”
The Oman leg of the GCC Railway
will connect all of the Gulf state’s
logistics hubs but will be predominantly used to get goods in and out
of consumer markets in UAE and
Saudi Arabia, through Sohar. The
main rail section from Sohar will
stretch across 6 viaducts, 2 tunnels,
and 122 kilometres of track before
Greece in new reform
pledge to Europe
BRUSSELS — Greece agreed on Friday to give creditors a new list of reforms
to get its bailout back on track after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held crunch
talks with European leaders.
Š‡› ƒ‰”‡‡† –‘ ϐ‹‹•Š ™‘” Dzƒ• ˆƒ•– ƒ• ’‘••‹„Ž‡dz ‘ …‘’Ž‡–‹‰ ”‡‡…‡ǯ•
EU-IMF rescue programme, a statement said, to free up crucial funds to help
Athens avoid bankruptcy and a catastrophic exit from the euro.
The radical left-wing Greek leader sat down for a three-hour meeting with
Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Francois Hollande and the EU’s top ofϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•‘–Š‡•‹†‡Ž‹‡•‘ˆƒ•—‹–‹”—••‡Ž•Ǥ
“We have put the process back on track,” a tired-looking Tsipras told reporters after the talks.
Merkel — who as leader of Europe’s biggest economy has led efforts to
make Greece honour its commitments — said she and Hollande were “fully in
line” with the agreement.
“The Greek prime minister declared that he is willing to present such a list
and that he will do so quickly,” she told a press conference.
Greece’s creditors agreed in February to extend its $240-billion-euro
($255 billion) bailout in exchange for promises of austerity reforms by
Tsipras’s new hard-left government.
Athens wants the
ϐ‹ƒŽ •‡˜‡Ǧ„‹ŽŽ‹‘Ǧ
euro tranche of the
money to be paid out
‘™ –‘ •–ƒ› ƒϐŽ‘ƒ–ǡ
but Brussels wants
more evidence of its
commitment to the
reforms.
Time was running out for Athens
as Friday brings a
key debt deadline
when Greece must
pay 300 million
euros to the IMF and
redeem 1.6 billion
euros in treasury
bills.
“Greek authori- Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
ties will have the own‡”•Š‹’‘ˆ–Š‡”‡ˆ‘”•ƒ†™‹ŽŽ’”‡•‡–ƒˆ—ŽŽŽ‹•–‘ˆ•’‡…‹ϐ‹…”‡ˆ‘”•‹–Š‡‡š–
days,” said the statement issued after the talks.
Hollande urged Greece “to be more precise in its reform proposals and introduce them faster than planned.”
Technical talks in Athens and Brussels which had largely stalled over the
seemingly insurmountable differences between the two sides will continue as
before, the statement added.
The deal is the latest in a series aimed at narrowing differences between
the new Greek government, with its desire to cast aside the shackles of austerity under two previous bailouts, and sceptical creditors.
European alarm and frustration mounted after the Greek parliament
adopted a crisis bill aimed at helping the poor on Wednesday, which lenders
say violated its commitments to creditors.
Tsipras warned earlier that Greece faced a “humanitarian crisis” if it did
not get some of the cash it says is owed to it under the bailout programme
that started in 2012. — AFP
reaching UAE. Meanwhile, as one of
the world’s largest port and freezone
development sites, Lammers said the
multimodal nature of Sohar and its
position outside the Strait of Hormuz
proved to be a point of interest.
“We have been inundated with
enquiries from both shows. Participants were particularly interested in
the time and cost savings associated
with distributing cargo from outside the Strait of Hormuz, the status
of the hundreds of kilometres of expressways being built across Oman,
and how each element of our multimodal infrastructure at Sohar Port
— road, rail, air, and sea — will offer
access to the region’s big consumer
markets.”
“While faster road and new air
transportation links are now available
after the opening of Sohar Airport,
rail holds the most promise in terms
‘ˆ…ƒ”‰‘˜‘Ž—‡•ƒ†‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡…›ǤŠ‡
fully operational, the transport time
for cargo departing Sohar Port railway station for the UAE border will be
ϐ‹š‡†ƒ–ƒ”‘—†ͳŠ‘—”ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
The Middle East Rail Expo is designed to bring Middle East govern-
The Oman leg of
the GCC Railway
will connect
all of the Gulf
state’s logistics
hubs but will be
predominantly
used to get goods
in and out of
consumer markets
in UAE and Saudi
Arabia, through
Sohar
ments together to design, plan, and
build their future rail networks. It
is the only regional rail conference
and exhibition in partnership with
the UAE government. The Cargo
Show MENA also brings together
cargo and transport logistics supply
…Šƒ‹• –‘ ‹’”‘˜‡ ‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡…› ‹ –Š‡
movement of cargo across the Middle East.
Japan, Australia signal approval
of China-supported AIIB
OECD chief welcomes EU participation
“There is a
lot of merit
in the bank”
— Australian
Treasurer Joe
Hockey
TOKYO/SYDNEY — Japan signalled
cautious approval of the China-led
Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB) on Friday and said for
–Š‡ϐ‹”•––‹‡–Šƒ–ǡ‹ˆ…‘†‹–‹‘•™‡”‡
met, it could join the institution that
the United States has warned against.
Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey
said there was “a lot of merit” in the
bank and the Sydney Morning Herald
newspaper reported that Canberra
could formally decide to sign up
when the full cabinet meets on Monday.
Japan, Australia and the South Korea, all major US allies, are the notable regional absentees from the AIIB.
The United States, worried about
China’s growing diplomatic clout,
has questioned whether the AIIB will
Šƒ˜‡ •—ˆϐ‹…‹‡– •–ƒ†ƒ”†• ‘ˆ ‰‘˜‡”ance and environmental and social
safeguards.
But after Britain broke ranks with
Western nations and said earlier this
month that it would join the AIIB,
other major EU members have followed suit.
Australia now appears close to
joining, although no formal decision
has been made, and South Korea may
be as well.
Japanese Finance Minister Taro
Aso said Tokyo could consider joining the China-led bank if it could
guarantee a credible mechanism for
providing loans.
“We have been asking to ensure
debt sustainability taking into account its impact on environment and
society,” he told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
“We could (consider to participate) if these issues are guaranteed.
There could be a chance that we
would go inside and discuss.
But so far we have not heard any
responses.”
It was a surprising comment from
Japan.
Although China and Japan, the
world’s second- and third-largest
economies, have deep trade and
business relations, their diplomatic
ties are tense over a territorial dis’—–‡ ƒ† –Š‡› …‘’‡–‡ ˆ‘” ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡
across Asia.
The AIIB could emerge as a rival to the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), the Manila-based regional
ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ‹•–‹–—–‹‘–Šƒ–ƒ’ƒ†‘‹nates along with the United States.
By custom, the ADB is headed by a
ˆ‘”‡” •‡‹‘” ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ƒ
‘ˆƒ’ƒ‘”–Š‡…‘—–”›ǯ•ϐ‹ƒ…‡‹istry.
BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda,
ˆ‘”‡” ’”‡•‹†‡– ƒ† ˜‹…‡ ϐ‹nance minister, responded cautiously
when asked about the AIIB.
“There are huge needs, demands
for infrastructure investment in Asia,”
he said at a news conference on Friday.
“On the other hand, the World
Bank and ADB have been helping developing countries in Asia to improve
infrastructure for the last 50 years,”
Kuroda said. “They have accumulated
know-how and experience. That may
BEIJING — The head of the OECD on Friday welcomed major European countries’ participation in a new China-backed infrastructure
bank, saying it would ensure the institution was run under existing
global standards.
Britain, Germany, France and Italy have announced their intention
to sign up for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to the consternation of the United States and Japan, which lead the World Bank
and the Manila-based Asian Development Bank respectively.
Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic
Co-Operation and Development, said: “The fact that some of the European countries are now associating with the project makes me
even more convinced that it is going to be run in a very professional,
transparent way.
“I don’t see that these countries would be joining an institution
that would be run otherwise.
“I don’t think anybody’s going around with a chequebook just giving cheques,” he added. “This is not foreign policy, this is a bank.”
China has welcomed the European eagerness to participate in the
new body, with state media claiming that the US risks being sidelined.
Beijing touts the $50 billion institution as a tool to help meet gaps
‹ϐ‹ƒ…‹‰‡‡†•ˆ‘””‡‰‹‘ƒŽ†‡˜‡Ž‘’‡–‹•‹ƒǤȄ
be the most I can say.”
OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD: Aus–”ƒŽ‹ƒǯ•‘…‡›•ƒ‹†‘ϐ‹ƒŽ†‡…‹•‹‘
had been made on Australia’s involvement but the matter had been
under careful consideration.
“More than 30 countries have already signed up.
This is going to operate in our region, in our neighbourhood,” he told a
radio station in Brisbane.
“There is a lot of merit in it, but we
want to make sure there are proper
governance procedures.
“There are
huge needs,
demands for
infrastructure
investment in
Asia”
— BoJ Governor
Haruhiko Kuroda
That there’s transparency, that no
one country is able to control the entity.”
The Sydney Morning Herald said
Canberra could invest as much as
A$3 billion ($2.3 billion) in the bank
and that the National Security Committee has cleared the way for the investment. South Korean government
‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• †‡‹‡† ƒ ‡™•’ƒ’‡” ”‡’‘”–
that Seoul had decided to join in ex…Šƒ‰‡ˆ‘”ƒϐ‹˜‡’‡”…‡–•–ƒ‡‹–Š‡
AIIB and the position of deputy chief.
— Reuters
10
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
$52.18
OMAN/INTERNATIONAL
$1,174.00
$16.10
Omani Rial/ Euro & Dollar
RO 1
€2.4261
US regulators give
Amazon go-ahead
for drone tests
SEATTLE — Amazon.com Inc has
won approval from US federal regulators to test a delivery drone outdoors, as the e-commerce company
pursues its goal of sending packages
to customers by air, even as it faces
public concern about safety and privacy.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday it issued an ex’‡”‹‡–ƒŽ ƒ‹”™‘”–Š‹‡•• …‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‡
to an Amazon business unit and its
’”‘–‘–›’‡†”‘‡ǡƒŽŽ‘™‹‰–‡•–ϐŽ‹‰Š–•
over private, rural land in Washington state.
The FAA also granted Amazon an
‡š‡’–‹‘ ˆ”‘ ‘–Š‡” ϐŽ‹‰Š– ”‡•–”‹…tions so the experimental drone can
…‘†—…––Š‘•‡ϐŽ‹‰Š–•Ǥ
Š‡ ‡š’‡”‹‡–ƒŽ …‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‡ ƒ’plies to a particular drone and Ama-
†‡”ƒ’”‘‰”ƒ‡
†—„„‡†Ǯ”‹‡‹”ǡǯ–Š‡
…‘’ƒ›‹•†‡˜‡Ž‘’‹‰
†”‘‡•–Šƒ–ϔŽ›ƒ–
•’‡‡†•‘ˆ;Ͷ’Šǡ
‘’‡”ƒ–‡ƒ—–‘‘‘—•Ž›
and sense and
ƒ˜‘‹†‘„Œ‡…–•
œ‘ —•– ‘„–ƒ‹ ƒ ‡™ …‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘
‹ˆ‹–‘†‹ϐ‹‡•–Š‡ƒ‹”…”ƒˆ–‘”ϐŽ‹‡•ƒ†‹ˆˆ‡”‡– ˜‡”•‹‘ǡ ƒ‹‰ ‹– †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž– –‘
ƒ†ƒ’––Š‡‘†‡Ž“—‹…Ž›‹–Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ
Amazon’s petition for permission
indicated it was testing several iterations of a drone at an indoor facility
in Seattle.
ƒœ‘ —•– ‡‡’ ϐŽ‹‰Š–• „‡Ž‘™
400 feet (120 metres) and keep the
drone in sight, according to the FAA.
The company had asked for per‹••‹‘ –‘ ϐŽ› ƒ– ƒŽ–‹–—†‡• —’ –‘ ͷͲͲ
feet (150 metres.)
The drone operators must have
a private pilot licenses and current
‡†‹…ƒŽ…‡”–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘Ǥ
Amazon must supply monthly
data to the regulators.
The company did not respond to
requests for comment.
Amazon public policy chief Paul
Misener is set to testify at a congressional hearing on drones next Tuesday.
As part of Amazon Chief Executive
Jeff Bezos’ plan to deliver packages
under a programme dubbed “Prime
Air,” the company is developing
†”‘‡•–Šƒ–ϐŽ›ƒ–•’‡‡†•‘ˆͺͲ’Šǡ
operate autonomously and sense and
avoid objects.
Amazon also is working with Nasa
‘ƒƒ‹”Ǧ–”ƒˆϐ‹…ƒƒ‰‡‡–•›•–‡
for drones. — Reuters
TSB agrees takeover
from Spain’s Sabadell
LONDON — TSB, a division of Britain’s bailed-out lender Lloyds Banking Group, has accepted a £1.7 billion takeover from Spanish bank
Sabadell, the pair said on Friday.
The two lenders have agreed
terms on the bid which was pitched
at 340 pence per share and worth 2.3
billion euros or $2.5 billion, they said
in a statement.
“The boards of directors of Banco de Sabadell S A and TSB Banking
Group plc are pleased to announce
that they have reached agreement
on the terms of a recommended cash
offer for TSB by Sabadell,” the statement read.
“TSB will be able to
further enhance its
growth strategy and
‡ˆϔ‹…‹‡…›ǡ„‡‡ϔ‹–‹‰
from Sabadell’s
”‡•‘—”…‡•ǡ‡š’‡”‹‡…‡
in SME lending and
‡š’‡”‹‡…‡‰ƒ‹‡†‹
–Š‡’ƒ‹•Š„ƒ‹‰
ƒ”‡–dzǤ
Lloyds, which is 23 per cent stateowned after a bailout at the height of
–Š‡‰Ž‘„ƒŽϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ…”‹•‹•ǡ™‹ŽŽ•‡ŽŽ‹–•
remaining 50 per cent stake in TSB,
™Š‹…Š‹–ϐŽ‘ƒ–‡†‘–Š‡‘†‘•–‘…
market nine months ago.
The deal means that investors
who bought the stock at the offer
price of 260 pence will receive a 31
per cent premium.
The Spanish bank described the
deal as “strategically attractive” and
added that it marked a “continuation of Sabadell’s successful growth
strategy” to expand globally. It said
–Š‡ ƒ…“—‹•‹–‹‘ ™‘—Ž† „”‹‰ „‡‡ϐ‹–•
through enhanced scale and a broader funding and capital base.
“Sabadell believes that the UK
banking market, including the market serving UK retail and SME (small
and medium-sized enterprise) customers, is attractive, having a well†‡ϐ‹‡†ƒ†•–ƒ„Ž‡”‡‰—Žƒ–‘”›ˆ”ƒ‡™‘”ǡ …‘•‹•–‡– ’”‘ϐ‹–ƒ„‹Ž‹–› ƒ†
good future growth prospects.”
It added that “TSB will be able
to further enhance its growth strat‡‰› ƒ† ‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡…›ǡ „‡‡ϐ‹–‹‰ ˆ”‘
Sabadell’s resources, experience in
SME lending and experience gained in
the Spanish banking market”. — AFP
MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET
$2.6008
11
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
INTERNATIONAL
Euro up after Greece deal, Shanghai surges
Š‡‰”‡‡„ƒ…
Šƒ•„‡‡‘ƒ
”‘ŽŽ‡”…‘ƒ•–‡””‹†‡
–Š‹•™‡‡ƒˆ–‡”
•‹‹‰‹”‡ƒ…–‹‘
–‘–Š‡‡†‡”ƒŽ
‡•‡”˜‡ǯ•Ž‘™‡”‡†
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”ƒ†‡”•™‘”‘–Š‡ϔŽ‘‘”‘ˆ–Š‡‡™‘”–‘…š…Šƒ‰‡ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
ȅ Š‡ ‡—”‘ ’—•Š‡†
Š‹‰Š‡”›‡•–‡”†ƒ›ƒˆ–‡”
”‡‡…‡ǯ•’”‘‹•‡–‘’”‘˜‹†‡‡™’Žƒ•–‘”‡ˆ‘”‹–•
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›‡ƒ”Š‹‰ŠǤ
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”‡‡…‡ǯ•†‡ƒŽ™‹–Š‹–•‡›
—”‘’‡ƒ ’ƒ”–‡”•ǡ ™Š‘ ƒ‰”‡‡† –‘
ϐ‹‹•Š ™‘” Dzƒ• ˆƒ•– ƒ• ’‘••‹„Ž‡dz ‘
…‘’Ž‡–‹‰ ‹–• Ǧ ”‡•…—‡ ’”‘‰”ƒ‡Ǥ
—–™Š‹Ž‡–Š‡†‘ŽŽƒ”ǯ•”ƒŽŽ›ƒ‰ƒ‹•–
–Š‡ ‡—”‘ ƒ† ›‡ ϐ‹œœŽ‡† ‘—–ǡ ƒƒŽ›•–••ƒ‹†–Š‡›‡š’‡…––Š‡…—””‡…›–‘
”‡•—‡‹–•ƒ†˜ƒ…‡ƒ•–Š‡‡†‡”ƒŽ
‡•‡”˜‡’”‡’ƒ”‡•ˆ‘”ƒ”ƒ–‡Š‹‡™Š‹Ž‡
–Š‡ ƒ’ƒ‡•‡ ƒ† —”‘’‡ƒ …‡–”ƒŽ
„ƒ•’”‹–‘”‡…ƒ•ŠǤ
 ‡“—‹–‹‡• –”ƒ†‡ ‘›‘ •™—‰
ˆ”‘ ‹‹–‹ƒŽ Ž‘••‡• –‘ ‡† ͲǤͶ͵ ’‡”
…‡– Š‹‰Š‡”ǡ ƒ††‹‰ ͺ͵Ǥ͸͸ ’‘‹–• –‘
ͳͻǡͷ͸ͲǤʹʹǡ ™Š‹Ž‡ ›†‡› ƒ††‡† ͲǤͶͲ
’‡” …‡–ǡ ‘” ʹͶǤ͹ ’‘‹–•ǡ –‘ …Ž‘•‡ ƒ–
ͷǡͻ͹ͷǤͷǤ
‡‘—Ž™ƒ•ϐŽƒ–„›–Š‡…Ž‘•‡ǡ‡†‰‹‰
†‘™ ͲǤ͸ͷ ’‘‹–• –‘ ʹǡͲ͵͹ǤʹͶǤ ‘‰
‘‰†‹’’‡†ͲǤʹ͸’‡”…‡–Ǥ
Šƒ‰Šƒ‹ ”ƒŽŽ‹‡† ͲǤͻͺ ’‡” …‡–ǡ ‘”
͵ͷǤͲͷ’‘‹–•ǡ–‘͵ǡ͸ͳ͹Ǥ͵ʹǤŠ‡ƒ”‡–
Šƒ•‘™…Ž‹„‡†‘”‡–Šƒ‹‡’‡”
…‡– ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰ ƒ ‡‹‰Š–Ǧ•‡••‹‘ ™‹‹‰ •–”‡ƒ ƒ† ‹• ‘™ ƒ– ‹–• Š‹‰Š‡•–
Ž‡˜‡Ž•‹…‡‹†ʹͲͲͺǤ
˜‡•–‘”• ™‡Ž…‘‡† ‡™• –Šƒ–
”‡‡ ”‹‡ ‹‹•–‡” Ž‡š‹• •‹’”ƒ•
Šƒ†ƒ‰”‡‡†–‘Šƒ†‘˜‡”ƒˆ”‡•Š’ƒ…ƒ‰‡ ‘ˆ ”‡ˆ‘”• –‘ ‹–• ’ƒ›ƒ•–‡”• ƒ•
Š‹•ƒ–‹Ǧƒ—•–‡”‹–›‰‘˜‡”‡––”‹‡•–‘
—••‹ƒ•ƒ›•‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘
Š‹–•’‡ƒƒ•…”‹•‹•„‹–‡•
MOSCOW Ȅ ϐŽƒ–‹‘ ‹
—••‹ƒ Šƒ• Š‹– ƒ œ‡‹–Š
‘ˆ ƒ”‘—† ͳ͹ Žƒ„‘—”ǡ –Š‡
‡…‘‘›‹‹•–‡”•ƒ‹†ǡƒ•
–Š‡ ‡…‘‘‹… …”‹•‹• ”‘‹Ž‹‰ –Š‡ …‘—–”› –ƒ‡• ‹–•
–‘ŽŽǤ
DzŠ‡ ’‡ƒ ‹ ‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘
Šƒ• ‘– ’ƒ••‡† „—– ™‡
Šƒ˜‡ ”‡ƒ…Š‡† –Š‡ Š‹‰Š‡•–
’‘‹– ƒ† ™‹ŽŽ ’”‘„ƒ„Ž›
•–ƒ›ƒ––Š‹•Ž‡˜‡Žˆ‘”•‘‡
–‹‡ǡdz ‹‹•–‡” Ž‡š‡‹ Ž›—ƒ›‡˜ ™ƒ• ”‡’‘”–‡† ƒ•
•ƒ›‹‰„›—••‹ƒ‡™•ƒ‰‡…‹‡•ǤDz–Š‹–Šƒ–ˆ‘”“—‹–‡ƒŽ‘‰–‹‡ǡ
ƒ‘–Šƒ†ƒŠƒŽˆ‘”–™‘‘–Š•‹–™‹ŽŽ„‡ƒ–ƒ”‘—†ͳ͹Žƒ„‘—”ǡdzŠ‡
•ƒ‹†Ǥ
ϐŽƒ–‹‘ Šƒ• •Š‘– —’ ‹ —••‹ƒ ƒ• –Š‡ ”—„Ž‡ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ …—””‡…›
’Ž—‡–‡† ‹ ˜ƒŽ—‡ ‘ –Š‡ „ƒ… ‘ˆ ‡•–‡” •ƒ…–‹‘• ‘˜‡” ‘•…‘™ǯ•”‘Ž‡‹–Š‡”ƒ‹‡…”‹•‹•ƒ†ˆƒŽŽ‹‰‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‘‹Ž’”‹…‡•Ǥ
Š‡ •–‡‡’ ”‹•‡ ‹ ’”‹…‡• Šƒ• •Žƒ•Š‡† •’‡†‹‰ ’‘™‡” ‘ˆ Š‘—•‡Š‘Ž†•ƒ…”‘••–Š‡ƒ–‹‘ƒ†—••‹ƒ‹•‡š’‡…–‡†–‘’Ž—‰‡‹–‘”‡…‡••‹‘ –Š‹• ›‡ƒ”Ǥ ‡•’‹–‡ –Š‡ •—”‰‡ ‹ ‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘ǡ —••‹ƒǯ• …‡–”ƒŽ „ƒ
…—–‹–‡”‡•–”ƒ–‡•–Š‹•‘–Šˆ‘”–Š‡•‡…‘†–‹‡•‹…‡–Š‡•–ƒ”–‘ˆ
–Š‡›‡ƒ”ƒ•‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•†‘™’Žƒ›‡†ˆ‡ƒ”•‘ˆˆ—”–Š‡”’”‹…‡Š‹‡•‹ƒ„‹†
–‘„”‡ƒ–Š‡Ž‹ˆ‡‹–‘–Š‡‘”‹„—†‡…‘‘›Ǥ
Dz–ǯ•–”—‡–Š‡‹–‡”‡•–”ƒ–‡‹••–‹ŽŽ“—‹–‡Š‹‰Šǡdz”‡•‹†‡–Žƒ†‹‹”
—–‹ •ƒ‹† ƒ– ƒ ‡‡–‹‰ ™‹–Š –‘’ „—•‹‡•• ϐ‹‰—”‡•ǡ ƒ††‹‰ –Šƒ– –Š‡
…‘†‹–‹‘•™‡”‡‘–›‡–‹’Žƒ…‡–‘Ž‘™‡”‹–ˆ—”–Š‡”Ǥ
—••‹ƒ Šƒ• ‘– ›‡– …”‡ƒ–‡† Dzˆ—†ƒ‡–ƒŽ …‘†‹–‹‘• –Šƒ– ™‘—Ž†
ƒŽŽ‘™—•–‘ˆ‡‡Ž…‘ϐ‹†‡–ǡƒ†–ƒ”‰‡–‡†•—’’‘”–‹•‡š–”‡‡Ž›‹’‘”–ƒ–ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†ǡ“—‘–‡†„›—••‹ƒ‡™•ƒ‰‡…‹‡•Ǥ
‹–Š –Š‡ ”—„Ž‡ •–”‡‰–Š‡‹‰ ‹ ”‡…‡– ™‡‡•ǡ Ž›—ƒ›‡˜ ‡•–‹ƒ–‡†–Šƒ–‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘™‘—Ž††”‘’ˆ”‘‹–•…—””‡–Š‹‰Š–‘Ž‡••–Šƒ
ͳͲŽƒ„‘—”„›–Š‡‡†‘ˆ–Š‡›‡ƒ”Ǥ
Dz”‘ ‘™ —–‹Ž –Š‡ ‡† ‘ˆ ʹͲͳͷ ‘” •–ƒ”– ‘ˆ ʹͲͳ͸ –Š‡”‡ ‹• ƒ
•–”‘‰’”‘„ƒ„‹Ž‹–›–Šƒ–‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘™‹ŽŽ‰‘„ƒ…†‘™–‘ƒŽ‡˜‡Ž‘ˆŽ‡••
–ŠƒͳͲŽƒ„‘—”ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Šƒ– ‡ƒ• –Šƒ– ‘•…‘™ …‘—Ž† ˆ—”–Š‡” …—– „ƒ… ‘ ‹–• ‹–‡”‡•–
”ƒ–‡ǦǦ…—””‡–Ž›ƒ–ͳͶŽƒ„‘—”ǦǦƒˆ–‡”Š‹‹‰‹–†”ƒƒ–‹…ƒŽŽ›ƒ––Š‡‡†
‘ˆŽƒ•–›‡ƒ”–‘•–ƒ˜‡‘ˆˆ’ƒ‹…‘˜‡”–Š‡…‘ŽŽƒ’•‹‰…—””‡…›Ǥ
‹ƒ…‡‹‹•–‡”–‘‹Ž—ƒ‘˜Šƒ•‡ƒ™Š‹Ž‡‰‹˜‡–Š‡•Ž‹‰Š–Ž› Ž‡•• ”‘•› ’”‡†‹…–‹‘ –Šƒ– ‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘ ™‘—Ž† •—„•‹†‡ –‘ „‡–™‡‡ ͳͳ
ƒ†ͳʹ’‡”…‡–Ǥ
—••‹ƒǯ• •–ƒ–‹•–‹…• ƒ‰‡…› ‘••–ƒ– ”‡’‘”–‡† Š—”•†ƒ› –Šƒ– ”‡ƒŽ
™ƒ‰‡•™‡”‡†‘™ͻǤͻŽƒ„‘—”‹‡„”—ƒ”›ˆ”‘–Š‡•ƒ‡‘–ŠŽƒ•–
›‡ƒ”ǤȄ
‘˜‡”Šƒ—Ž–Š‡–‡”•‘ˆ‹–•„ƒ‹Ž‘—–Ǥ
Š‡ Ž‡ˆ–Ǧ™‹‰ ”‡‡ Ž‡ƒ†‡” ƒ†‡
–Š‡ ƒ‘—…‡‡– ƒˆ–‡” ‡‡”‰‡…›
–ƒŽ•™‹–Š
‡”ƒŠƒ…‡ŽŽ‘”‰‡Žƒ
‡”‡Žǡ ”‡…Š ”‡•‹†‡– ”ƒ…‘‹•
‘ŽŽƒ†‡ ƒ† –Š‡ —”‘’‡ƒ ‹‘ǯ•
–‘’‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•‘–Š‡•‹†‡Ž‹‡•‘ˆƒ—”‘’‡ƒ•—‹–‹”—••‡Ž•Ǥ‡•ƒ‹†–Š‡
„ƒ‹Ž‘—–™ƒ•Dz„ƒ…‘–”ƒ…dzǤ
Š‹Ž‡–Š‡…”‹•‹•‹•‘–›‡–‘˜‡”ǡ–Š‡
‡™•™‹ŽŽ…‘‡ƒ•ƒ”‡Ž‹‡ˆ–‘ƒ”‡–•
ƒ• ƒ ‘‰‘‹‰ •–ƒ†‘ˆˆ ‘˜‡” –Š‡•ǯ
„ƒ‹Ž‘—– Šƒ• ”ƒ‹•‡† ˆ‡ƒ”• ‹– ™‹ŽŽ …”ƒ•Š
‘—–‘ˆ–Š‡‡—”‘œ‘‡Ǥ
 ƒˆ–‡”‘‘ •‹ƒ –”ƒ†‡ǡ –Š‡ ‡—”‘
„‘—‰Š– ̈́ͳǤͲ͸ͻͲ ƒ† ͳʹͻǤͲͷ ›‡
ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ̈́ͳǤͲ͸͸Ͳ ƒ† ͳʹͺǤ͹͹ ›‡ ‹
‡™‘”‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
Š‡†‘ŽŽƒ”™ƒ•ƒ–ͳʹͲǤ͹͵›‡ǡ…‘-
’ƒ”‡† ™‹–Š ͳʹͲǤͺͲ ›‡ ‹ –”ƒ†‡Ǥ
Š‡ ‰”‡‡„ƒ… Šƒ• „‡‡ ‘ ƒ ”‘ŽŽ‡”…‘ƒ•–‡””‹†‡–Š‹•™‡‡ƒˆ–‡”•‹‹‰‹
”‡ƒ…–‹‘–‘–Š‡‡†‡”ƒŽ‡•‡”˜‡ǯ•Ž‘™‡”‡† ‡š’‡…–ƒ–‹‘• ˆ‘” ‹–‡”‡•– ”ƒ–‡•
ƒ†‡…‘‘‹…‰”‘™–ŠǤ
Šƒ– …‘‘Ž‡† –ƒŽ ‘ˆ ƒ ”ƒ–‡ ”‹•‡
‹ ‡ƒ”Ž› •—‡”ǡ •‡†‹‰ –Š‡ †‘ŽŽƒ” –—„Ž‹‰ ƒ† •–‘…• ”‹•‹‰Ǥ –
‘‡ ’‘‹– ‹ ‡™ ‘” ‘ ‡†‡•†ƒ›ǡ ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ ƒ‘—…‡‡–ǡ ‹– ˆ‡ŽŽ
–‘ ͳͳͻǤͷ͹ ›‡ ™Š‹Ž‡ –Š‡ ‡—”‘ ™ƒ• ƒ–
̈́ͳǤͳͲͳͲǤ
Š‡ …—””‡…› Šƒ• •‹…‡ ”‡…‘˜‡”‡†ǡ‘–…Š‹‰—’‰ƒ‹•‘˜‡”–Š‡’ƒ•–
–™‘†ƒ›•ǤŠ—”•†ƒ›–Š‡‘™‡ƒ•‡†
ͲǤ͸ͷ ’‡” …‡– ƒ† –Š‡ Ƭ ͷͲͲ •Š‡†
ͲǤͶͻ ’‡” …‡–ǡ „—– –Š‡ ƒ•†ƒ“ ƒ††‡†
ͲǤͳͻ’‡”…‡–Ǥ
Dz‡ǯ”‡•‡‡‹‰ƒ„‹–‘ˆ’”‘ϐ‹–Ǧ–ƒ‹‰
Š‡”‡ǡdz ƒ”–—– ••‡Žǡ –Š‡ ‹‰ƒ’‘”‡Ǧ
„ƒ•‡† Š‡ƒ† ‘ˆ ‡“—‹–›ǡ …”‡†‹– ƒ†
ƒ…”‘ ˆ‘” –Š‡ •‹ƒǦƒ…‹ϐ‹… …Š‹‡ˆ ‹˜‡•–‡– ‘ˆϐ‹…‡ ƒ– ‡ƒŽ–Š ƒƒ‰‡‡–ǡ–‘Ž†Ž‘‘„‡”‰Ǥ
Dz ™‘—Ž†ǯ– ”‡…‘‡† –‘ Ž‘•‡
•‹‰Š– ‘ˆ –Š‡ „‹‰‰‡” ’‹…–—”‡Ǥ ‡•ǡ –Š‡
‡† ‹• …—””‡–Ž› ƒ „‹– ‘”‡ †‘˜‹•Š
–Šƒ™‡–Š‘—‰Š–‰‘‹‰‹–‘–Š‡‡‡–‹‰ǡ „—– ™‡ ƒ”‡ •–‹ŽŽ –ƒŽ‹‰ ƒ„‘—–
ƒ ˜‡”› •–”‘‰ ‡…‘‘›ǡ ™‹–Š ƒ
•–”‘‰Žƒ„‘—”ƒ”‡–Ǥdz
‹Ž ’”‹…‡• ™‡”‡ ‹š‡† ‹ •‹ƒ ›‡•–‡”†ƒ›ǡ ™‹–Š ƒƒŽ›•–• ™ƒ”‹‰ ‘ˆ ˆ—”–Š‡” †‘™™ƒ”† ’”‡••—”‡ ‘™‹‰ –‘ ƒ
‰Ž‘„ƒŽ‘˜‡”•—’’Ž›ƒ†ƒ•–”‘‰†‘ŽŽƒ”Ǥ
„‡…Šƒ” ‡•– ‡šƒ• –‡”‡†‹ƒ–‡ ˆ‘” ’”‹Ž †‡Ž‹˜‡”› ‡ƒ•‡† ͳ͸
…‡–• –‘ ̈́Ͷ͵ǤͺͲ ƒ† ”‡– ˆ‘” ƒ›
…Ž‹„‡† ͳͺ …‡–• –‘ ̈́ͷͶǤ͸ͳ ‹ ƒˆ–‡”‘‘–”ƒ†‡Ǥ
DzŠ‡ ’”‹…‡ ϐŽ—…–—ƒ–‹‘• •‡‡ ϐŽƒ–
ƒ– –Š‡ ‘‡– ƒ• –”ƒ†‡”• ƒ”‡ •–‹ŽŽ
™ƒ”›‘ˆ–Š‡‘˜‡”•—’’Ž›•‹–—ƒ–‹‘ǡdz‹…
’‘‘‡”ǡ ƒ”‡– ƒƒŽ›•– ™‹–Š ƒ”‡–•‹›†‡›ǡ•ƒ‹†„›–‡Ž‡’Š‘‡Ǥ
’‘‘‡” ƒ††‡† –Šƒ– –Š‡ •—’’Ž›
‰Ž—– •Š‘™• ‘ •‹‰• ‘ˆ †‹‹‹•Š‹‰
ƒˆ–‡” –Š‡ —™ƒ‹–‹ ‘‹Ž ‹‹•–‡” •ƒ‹† ‘
Š—”•†ƒ› –Šƒ– ‡„‡”• ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’‡…
…ƒ”–‡ŽŠƒ˜‡‘…Š‘‹…‡„—––‘ƒ‹–ƒ‹
…—””‡– ’”‘†—…–‹‘ Ž‡˜‡Ž• Ȅ †‡•’‹–‡
ˆƒŽŽ‹‰ ’”‹…‡• Ȅ ‹ ‘”†‡” –‘ ’”‡•‡”˜‡
–Š‡‹”ƒ”‡–•Šƒ”‡Ǥ
’‡…ǯ• †‡…‹•‹‘ ‹ ‘˜‡„‡” –‘
‡‡’ ’”‘†—…–‹‘ —…Šƒ‰‡† •‡– ‘‹Ž
’”‹…‡•’Ž—‰‹‰Ǥ
Š‡ ’‡… …”—†‡ ‘˜‡”•—’’Ž› ‹• „‡‹‰‡šƒ…‡”„ƒ–‡†„›•–”‘‰‘‹Ž’”‘†—…–‹‘ ‹ –Š‡ ‹–‡† –ƒ–‡•ǡ –Š‡ ™‘”Ž†ǯ•
„‹‰‰‡•–‡…‘‘›Ǥ
ƒ–ƒ ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ‡’ƒ”–‡– ‘ˆ
‡”‰›•Š‘™‡†•–‘…’‹Ž‡•Œ—’‡†ͻǤ͸
‹ŽŽ‹‘ „ƒ””‡Ž• ˆ‘” –Š‡ ™‡‡ ‡†‹‰
ƒ”…Šͳ͵ǡŠ‹‰Š‡”–Šƒ‡š’‡…–‡†Ǥ
Š‡ ”‡’‘”– •Š‘™‡† ’”‘†—…–‹‘
ƒŽ•‘”‘•‡ǡ„›ͲǤ͸’‡”…‡–‹–Š‡™‡‡
–‘ͻǤͶ‹ŽŽ‹‘„ƒ””‡Ž•Ǥ
‘”Ž†‘‹Ž’”‹…‡•Šƒ˜‡…‘ŽŽƒ’•‡†„›
ƒ„‘—– ͸Ͳ ’‡” …‡– •‹…‡ —‡Ǥ ‘Ž†
ˆ‡–…Š‡† ̈́ͳǡͳ͹ͳǤ͹ͺ ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ̈́ͳǡͳ͸ͶǤ͵ͺ
Žƒ–‡‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
In other markets:
ƒ‹’‡‹”‘•‡ͲǤͳ͵’‡”…‡–ǡ‘”ͳʹǤͻ͸
’‘‹–•ǡ–‘ͻǡ͹Ͷͻǡ͸ͻǤ
‡ŽŽ‹‰–‘ ”‘•‡ ͲǤʹͲ ’‡” …‡–ǡ ‘”
ͳͳǤͻ͹’‘‹–•ǡ–‘ͷǡͺ͹ͳǤ͵ͺǤ
‹” ‡™ ‡ƒŽƒ† ™ƒ• —’ ͳǤͲ͸ ’‡”
…‡– ƒ– ̈́ʹǤͺͷ ™Š‹Ž‡ ƒ”‡– Š‡ƒ˜›™‡‹‰Š– Ž‡–…Š‡” —‹Ž†‹‰ ™ƒ• —…Šƒ‰‡†ƒ–̈́ͺǤͻ͵ǤȄ
Lada-maker Avtovaz sees
chances to build market share
Ȅ —••‹ƒ …ƒ”ƒ‡” ˜–‘˜ƒœǡ ’”‘†—…‡” ‘ˆ –Š‡ —…ŠǦ†‡”‹†‡† „—– „‡•–Ǧ•‡ŽŽ‹‰
ƒ†ƒǡ ‡š’‡…–• –‘ ‰”ƒ„ ƒ „‹‰‰‡” •Šƒ”‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡
•Š”‹‹‰ †‘‡•–‹… ƒ”‡– ƒ• ‹–• ‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ
”‹˜ƒŽ• ’—ŽŽ „ƒ…Ǥ ‹–Š —••‹ƒ …ƒ” •ƒŽ‡• ’Ž—‰‹‰ǡ ƒ—–‘ƒ‡” ‡‡”ƒŽ ‘–‘”• ‘ •ƒ‹† ‘
‡†‡•†ƒ›‹–™‘—Ž†•Š—–‹–•’Žƒ–‹–Š‡…‘—–”›ƒ†™‹††‘™‹–•’‡Ž„”ƒ†‹–Š‡‘…‡Ǧ
’”‘‹•‹‰‡‡”‰‹‰ƒ”‡–Ǥ
–Š‡” ˆ‘”‡‹‰ …ƒ” ϐ‹”• Šƒ˜‡ ƒŽ•‘ …—– „ƒ…
†—‡ –‘ ƒ ”‡…‡••‹‘ †‡‡’‡‡† „› –Š‡ Ž‘™ ’”‹…‡
‘ˆ‘‹Žǡ—••‹ƒǯ•ƒ‹‡š’‘”–‡ƒ”‡”ǡƒ†‡•–‡”
•ƒ…–‹‘•‹’‘•‡†‘˜‡”–Š‡”ƒ‹‡…‘ϐŽ‹…–Ǥ
—– ˜–‘˜ƒœ ”‡•‹†‡– ‘ †‡”••‘ Šƒ•
•ƒ‹† –Š‡ ƒ†ƒ ‹• —••‹ƒǯ• …ƒ” ˆ‘” ƒ …”‹•‹• ƒ†
ˆ‘”‡…ƒ•–‹–™‘—Ž†‹…”‡ƒ•‡‹–••Šƒ”‡‘ˆ–Š‡‡…‘‘›˜‡Š‹…Ž‡•‡…–‘”ˆ”‘ͶͲ–‘ͷͲ’‡”…‡–Ǥ
Dz—”Œ‘„‹•‘––‘…‘’‡–‡™‹–Š–Š‡ƒ‹‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ’”‘†—…‡”•ǡdzŠ‡–‘Ž†”‡’‘”–‡”•ƒ––Š‡
—••‹ƒ —–‘‘–‹˜‡ ‘”— ‹ ‘•…‘™Ǥ DzŠ‡
‹’‘”–ƒ– –Š‹‰ ‹• –Šƒ– ‹ –Š‡ ‡…‘‘› •‡…–‘”
™‡—•–„‡…‘’‡–‹–‹˜‡Ȅƒ†™‡…ƒ„‡…‘’‡–‹–‹˜‡Ǥdz
˜–‘˜ƒœǡ™Š‹…Š‹•…‘–”‘ŽŽ‡†„›–Š‡‡ƒ—Ž–Ǧ
‹••ƒƒŽŽ‹ƒ…‡ǡŠƒ•‘–‡•…ƒ’‡†—•…ƒ–Š‡†Ǥ
–”‡’‘”–‡†ƒ‡–Ž‘••‘ˆʹͷ„‹ŽŽ‹‘”‘—„Ž‡•‹
ʹͲͳͶƒ†Šƒ†–‘”ƒ‹•‡’”‹…‡•ƒˆ–‡”–Š‡—••‹ƒ
…—””‡…›†‹˜‡†ǡ’—•Š‹‰—’–Š‡…‘•–‘ˆ‹’‘”–‡†
…‘’‘‡–•Ǥ–‡š’‡…–•ϐ‹”•–Ǧ“—ƒ”–‡”…ƒ”•ƒŽ‡•–‘
„‡ʹͶ’‡”…‡–Ž‘™‡”–Šƒƒ›‡ƒ”‡ƒ”Ž‹‡”Ǥ
—–‹–ƒŽ•‘Š‘’‡•–‘•Šƒ‡‘ˆˆ’‘‘”…—•–‘‡”
ƒ’’”‘˜ƒŽ ”ƒ–‹‰• –‘ –ƒ”‰‡– –Š‡ —••‹ƒ ‹††Ž‡
…Žƒ••‡•™Š‘ƒ”‡Ž‘‘‹‰ˆ‘”‘”‡…‘’‡–‹–‹˜‡Ž›
’”‹…‡†…ƒ”•ƒ•–Š‡›–‹‰Š–‡–Š‡‹”„‡Ž–•Ǥ
‡‡Ž‹‰ –Š‡ ‡ˆˆ‡…–• ‘ˆ –Š‡ ”‘—„Ž‡ǯ• •Ž‹†‡
ƒ‰ƒ‹•– –Š‡ †‘ŽŽƒ”ǡ …‘•—‡”• ƒ”‡ …—––‹‰ „ƒ…
‘Žƒ”‰‡’—”…Šƒ•‡•ƒ†‡™…ƒ”•ƒŽ‡•‹—••‹ƒ
ˆ‡ŽŽ ƒŽ‘•– ͶͲ ’‡” …‡– ‹ ‡„”—ƒ”› …‘’ƒ”‡†
™‹–Šƒ›‡ƒ”‡ƒ”Ž‹‡”Ǥ
‘‰–Š‡”‡ƒ‹‹‰•ƒŽ‡•ǡ†‡ƒ†‹••Š‹ˆ–-
‹‰ –‘ –Š‡ ‹† ‘ˆ Ž‘™Ǧ’”‹…‡† ‘†‡Ž• –Šƒ– ˜–‘˜ƒœƒ‡•Ǥ
–Š‡ϐ‹”•––™‘‘–Š•‘ˆ–Š‹•›‡ƒ”ǡ˜–‘˜ƒœǯ•
‘˜‡”ƒŽŽƒ”‡–•Šƒ”‡”‘•‡–‘ͳ͸Ǥͻ’‡”…‡–ˆ”‘
ͳͷǤʹ ’‡” …‡– ƒ ›‡ƒ” ƒ‰‘ǡ ƒ……‘”†‹‰ –‘ –Š‡ ••‘…‹ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ —”‘’‡ƒ —•‹‡••‡• ȋȌǤ 
–Š‡•ƒ‡’‡”‹‘†ǡ
ǯ••Šƒ”‡ˆ‡ŽŽ–‘͵ǤͶ’‡”…‡–
ˆ”‘ͻǤʹƒ†‘”†ǯ•–‘ͳǤ͵’‡”…‡–ˆ”‘ʹǤͻǤ
ƒ’ƒǯ• ‹••ƒ ‘–‘” ‘ ƒŽ•‘ •ƒ‹† ‘
‡†‡•†ƒ› ‹– ™‘—Ž† ŠƒŽ– ’”‘†—…–‹‘ ƒ– ‹–• –
‡–‡”•„—”‰ˆƒ…–‘”›ˆ‘”ͳ͸†ƒ›•Ǥ
‘—†‡† ƒ• ƒ •–ƒ–‡ ’”‘†—…‡” ‹ –Š‡ ͳͻ͸Ͳ•ǡ
˜–‘˜ƒœ‹•‘™ƒ”‘—†–Š‡™‘”Ž†ˆ‘”’”‘†—…‹‰–Š‡„‘šǦŽ‹‡ƒ†‘–‘”‹‘—•Ž›—”‡Ž‹ƒ„Ž‡ƒ†ƒ
Žƒ••‹… ™Š‹…Š „‡…ƒ‡ ƒ •›„‘Ž ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‘˜‹‡–
‹‘ǯ•‹†—•–”‹ƒŽ•Š‘”–…‘‹‰•Ǥ
ƒ•– ›‡ƒ”ǡ ‹–• …—•–‘‡” •ƒ–‹•ˆƒ…–‹‘ ”ƒ–‹‰™ƒ•ͶͶ’‡”…‡–ǡƒ‰ƒ‹•–͸Ͳ’‡”…‡–ˆ‘”‹–•
‡ƒ”‡•–…‘’‡–‹–‘”ǡ‹••ƒƒ–•—ǡ„—–ƒ†ƒ”‡ƒ‹• —••‹ƒǯ• „‡•–Ǧ•‡ŽŽ‹‰ „”ƒ† ™‹–Š ͳͶ ‹ŽŽ‹‘…—•–‘‡”•ƒ–‹‘ƒŽŽ›Ǥ
Š‡–Š”‡‡„‡•–Ǧ•‡ŽŽ‹‰…ƒ”•‹ʹͲͳͶ™‡”‡ƒŽŽ
’”‹…‡†„‡Ž‘™ͷͶͲǡͲͲͲ”‘—„Ž‡•ȋ̈́ͺǡͻ͹ʹȌƒ†˜–‘˜ƒœǯ• ƒ†ƒ ”ƒ–ƒǡ ™Š‹…Š ƒ– ͵ͶͻǡͲͲͲ ”‘—„Ž‡•
‹• ͶͲ ’‡” …‡– …Š‡ƒ’‡” –Šƒ –Š‡ •‡…‘† „‡•–Ǧ
•‡ŽŽ‹‰ ›—†ƒ‹ ‘Žƒ”‹•ǡ –‘’’‡† –Š‡ –ƒ„Ž‡ ™‹–Š
‘˜‡”ͳͷͲǡͲͲͲ•ƒŽ‡•ǡ†ƒ–ƒ•Š‘™‡†Ǥ
DzȋŠ‡”‡ƒ”‡ǯ–Ȍ–Šƒ–ƒ›’Žƒ›‡”•Ž‡ˆ–‹–Š‡
•‡‰‡– „‡Ž‘™ ͸ͲͲǡͲͲͲ ”‘—„Ž‡•ǡdz †‡”••‘
•ƒ‹†‹Š‹•…‘‡–•ǡƒ†‡‘—‡•†ƒ›•Š‘”–Ž› „‡ˆ‘”‡ –Š‡ ƒ‘—…‡‡–• ˆ”‘ ƒ†
‹••ƒǤȄ‡—–‡”•
Business Briefs
Business Briefs
Business Briefs
Business Briefs
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Business Briefs
12
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
Lafarge, Holcim to form
™‘”Ž†ǯ•–‘’…‡‡–ϐ‹”
INTERNATIONAL
US jobless claims up slightly;
weather hurts factory activity
PARIS — Lafarge and Holcim said yesterday that they had repaired
cracks that had threatened to collapse their merger to create the
world’s biggest cement companies. “The Boards of Directors of Holcim
and Lafarge are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement on revised terms for the merger of equals between both companies,” the said in a joint statement.
Last year the two companies announced plans to create a cement
titan employing more than 130,000 people, which would generate an—ƒŽ•ƒŽ‡•‘ˆ͵ʹ„‹ŽŽ‹‘‡—”‘•ȋ̈́͵Ͷ„‹ŽŽ‹‘Ȍƒ†—†‡”Ž›‹‰’”‘ϐ‹–•‘ˆ͸Ǥͷ
billion euros — a major event in the global construction industry.
But with the sharp rise in the swiss franc having driven up Holcim’s
value since the merger was agreed last year, the Swiss company said on
Sunday that the terms of one Holcim share for one Lafarge share was
no longer appropriate. The companies agreed on a new exchange ratio
of nine Holcim shares for 10 Lafarge shares, although that is not as favourable as the Swiss company had sought. Holcim’s bid to sideline the
chief executive of France’s Lafarge, Bruno Lafont, one of the architects
of the merger, only partially succeeded. — AFP
Gulfsands Petroleum seeks
funding from shareholders
LONDON — Gulfsands Petroleum Plc said it was in talks with its major shareholders to secure immediate working capital as it struggles to
repay some debt and continue funding operations. The oil and gas producer said it would require about $11 million to repay a loan to Dubaibased Arawak Energy and another $15 million for planned operational
activities.
Arawak, which in November had agreed to provide a $20 million
loan to fund the development of the company’s Moroccan interests,
withdrew the support earlier this year, citing the events surrounding
Gulfsands’ general meeting and its largest shareholder.
Waterford Finance and Investment Ltd, which owns about 26.5 per
cent of Gulfsands, had called for the removal of Chief Executive Mahdi
Sajjad and Commercial Director Kenneth Judge, alleging that the management failed to build a viable business outside Syria.
Shareholders defeated all resolutions to dissolve the board and
voted only to remove Judge from the board in a general meeting held
in February. Gulfsands said it would need access to about $15 million
of new capital to fund its planned operational activities for the next 12
months. — Reuters
Ted Baker upbeat as
ˆ—ŽŽǦ›‡ƒ”’”‘ϐ‹–•Œ—’
LONDON — British designer clothing brand Ted Baker said business
Šƒ† •–ƒ”–‡† ™‡ŽŽ ‹ ‹–• ‡™ ϐ‹•…ƒŽ ›‡ƒ” ƒ• ‡™ ‘’‡‹‰• ƒ† •–”‘‰
†‡ƒ†Š‡Ž’‡†‹–’‘•–ƒ„‹‰Œ—’‹’”‘ϐ‹–•Ǥ”‘ϐ‹–„‡ˆ‘”‡–ƒšƒ†‡šceptional items for the year to January 31 rose 23.7 per cent to £49.5
million ($74 million), in line with analysts’ forecasts, with revenue up
ʹͲǤͶ ’‡” …‡– –‘ ͉͵ͺ͹Ǥ͸ ‹ŽŽ‹‘ǡ †‘—„Ž‡ –Š‡ ƒ‘—– ’‘•–‡† ϐ‹˜‡ ›‡ƒ”•
ago.
The company hiked its total dividend 19.6 per cent to 40.3p. Ted
Baker’s classic cuts with quirky details have attracted a loyal UK customer base, enjoying success despite heavy industry promotions and
shoppers maintaining a close watch on spending during the downturn.
Demand is also growing overseas. Retail sales for the UK and Europe grew 16.7 per cent in the year and were up 24.9 per cent in the
United States and Canada. The group’s wholesale and licence arms also
grew strongly. Ted Baker said more store openings were planned in the
‡™ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ›‡ƒ”ǡ‹…Ž—†‹‰‹–Š‡ǡƒ†‘‰‘‰Ǥ–‡”ƒ–‹‘al sales now generate around 30 per cent of the group’s turnover compared with 7 per cent a decade ago. — Reuters
Job seekers at a job fair in Burbank, Los Angeles, California. — Reuters
ȄŠ‡—„‡”‘ˆ‡”‹…ƒ•ϐ‹Ž‹‰ ‡™ …Žƒ‹• ˆ‘” —‡’Ž‘›‡– „‡‡ϐ‹–• ”‘•‡
marginally last week, indicating the labour market remained on solid footing despite slowing
economic growth.
Other data on Thursday showed manufacturing activity in the mid-Atlantic region slowed for
a fourth straight month in March, hitting its lowest level in more than a year, while a gauge of future economic activity rose slightly in February.
”‘™–Š Šƒ• •Ž‘™‡† ‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– “—ƒ”–‡”ǡ —dercut by a harsh winter, a strong dollar, weaker
overseas economies and a now-settled labour
dispute at West Coast ports.
These are mostly temporary factors that
should fade by the second quarter. The Federal
Reserve on Wednesday acknowledged the moderation in growth, but maintained its upbeat view
of the jobs market, as it signalled it was nearing
an interest rate increase by dropping the reference to being “patient” from the central bank’s
so-called forward rate guidance.
“First-quarter growth will be lackluster due to
the weather effects and other transitory issues.
We do expect overall economic activity to rebound in the coming months and quarters,” said
Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo
Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
‹–‹ƒŽ…Žƒ‹•ˆ‘”•–ƒ–‡—‡’Ž‘›‡–„‡‡ϐ‹–•
increased 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 291,000
for the week ended on March 14, the Labour Department said. The increase was broadly in line
with economists’ expectations.
Claims have bounced around for much of the
™‹–‡”ƒ•Šƒ”•Š™‡ƒ–Š‡”…ƒ—•‡†ƒ•™‹‰‹ϐ‹Ž‹‰•Ǥ
But through the volatility, the trend remained
consistent with a strengthening jobs market.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends
as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 2,250
to 304,750 last week. Prices for US Treasuries
were trading lower, while the dollar rose against
a basket of currencies.
•–‘…•ˆ‡ŽŽƒ•‹˜‡•–‘”•„‘‘‡†’”‘ϐ‹–•ƒˆ–‡”
Wednesday’s rally. In a separate report, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve said its business activity
index slipped to 5 in March, the lowest level since
February of 2014. Last month’s reading was 5.2.
Any reading above zero indicates expansion in
the region’s manufacturing. Manufacturers reported a slowdown in new order growth, as well
The economy added
295,000 jobs in
February, with the
jobless rate falling to a
more than 6-1/2-year
low of 5.5 per cent
ƒ• †‡…Ž‹‡• ‹ —ϐ‹ŽŽ‡† ‘”†‡”• ƒ† –Š‡ ƒ˜‡”ƒ‰‡
workweek for employees. Inventories and shipments also fell. “Manufacturers may be uncertain about future demand following shocks from
weather and port disruptions,” said Derek Lindsey, an analyst at BNP Paribas in New York.
Manufacturing also is under strain from a
•–”‘‰ †‘ŽŽƒ”ǡ ™Š‹…Š Šƒ• …”‹’‡† –Š‡ ’”‘ϐ‹–• ‘ˆ
multinational companies, and lower crude oil
prices, which have caused oil companies to either
delay or cut back on capital expenditure projects.
But the labour market remains bullish despite
the impact of weather, the dollar and port disruptions. The claims data covered the period during
which the government surveyed employers for
the March nonfarm payrolls report.
Claims rose modestly between the February
and March survey periods, leaving economists
to expect another month of job growth above the
200,000 mark.
“As things stand, we would anticipate another
sizeable gain in payroll employment in March
™Š‹…Šǡ†‡•’‹–‡–Š‡™‡ƒ‡••‘ˆ…—””‡–‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘ǡ
is why we expect the Fed to begin raising interest
rates in June,” said Paul Ashworth, chief US economist at Capital Economics in Toronto.
The economy added 295,000 jobs in February,
with the jobless rate falling to a more than 6-1/2year low of 5.5 per cent.
February marked the 12th straight month that
employment gains have been above 200,000, the
longest such run since 1994. — Reuters
Minus some games, China
ϐ‹ƒŽŽ›‰‡–•‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽŽƒ›–ƒ–‹‘•
SHANGHAI — Japanese electronics giant Sony
yesterday launched its PlayStation gaming console in China, where authorities impose strict
controls on content, but some popular titles including “Grand Theft Auto” and “Call of Duty”
were not available.
China last year authorised the domestic sale
‘ˆ ‰ƒ‡ …‘•‘Ž‡• –Š”‘—‰Š ‹–• ϐ‹”•– ˆ”‡‡Ǧ–”ƒ†‡
zone (FTZ) in Shanghai, ending a 2000 ban that
authorities argued was aimed at protecting the
country’s youth.
The start of Sony’s PlayStation 4 consoles,
originally planned for January, makes it the second foreign company into the Chinese market after rival Microsoft, which launched its Xbox One
in September.
Gaming consoles brought into mainland China
–Š”‘—‰Š—‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ…Šƒ‡Ž•™‡”‡ƒŽ”‡ƒ†›™‹†‡Ž›
available online and at the country’s many electronics markets. At a Sony store in downtown
Shanghai, around 50 people waited in line to enter by small groups and buy consoles, games and
the hand-held PlayStation Vita.
“It’s quite exciting that we can have this in
China now,” said Gu Chunhua, an engineer. Sony
is selling PlayStation 4 in China for 2,899 yuan
($471) and PlayStation Vita for 1,299 yuan
($211), said a store clerk.
But some customers showed disappointment
over the small selection of games on offer initially.
“It is quite embarrassing that there are only a
few titles available because of government censorship,” Gu said. Games must pass inspection
by China’s cultural authorities, according to FTZ
rules, in line with government restrictions on
A man playing with a Sony PlayStation 4 in a shop in downtown Shanghai. — AFP
content it deems to be obscene, violent or politically sensitive.
Only four PlayStation 4 titles were available
ƒ–‘›ǯ•ϐŽƒ‰•Š‹’Šƒ‰Šƒ‹•–‘”‡‘”‹†ƒ›ǣˆƒ–ƒ•› ƒ†˜‡–—”‡ Dz›ƒ•–› ƒ””‹‘”• ͺǣ –”‡‡
Legends”, motorcycle racing game “Trials Fusion”
and youth-oriented “Knack” and “Rayman Legends”.
Analysts said a broader selection of games is
the key to longer-term success in China’s multi-
billion-dollar market.
Dz—•–Šƒ˜‹‰–Š‡…‘•‘Ž‡‹•‘Ž›–Š‡ϐ‹”•–•–‡’ǡ
access to high-quality games remains the biggest
driver for console sales,” said Jack Chuang, associate partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants Greater
China.
“For the average gamer, access to major titles
with Chinese subtitles or dubbed in Mandarin
will be vital,” he said in a statement to media.
— AFP
13
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
EUROPE
Mystery bombings muddy
waters in Ukraine’s port city
ODESSA — Alina Radchenko lost
track after about the 15th bombing in
Odessa, where she runs a volunteer
…‡–”‡ –‘ •—’’‘”– „ƒ––ƒŽ‹‘• ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰
pro-Russian rebels in the east.
„Žƒ•– †‡•–”‘›‡† Š‡” ‘ˆϐ‹…‡ ‹
January, followed by explosions at
the headquarters of pro-Western parties, Ukrainian nationalist groups and
banks known to support Kiev’s forces.
Although Odessa lies far from the
„”—–ƒŽ ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ǡ †‘œ‡• ‘ˆ ›•–‡”›
attacks here have killed one person
since last year and stirred up an atmosphere of mistrust in the already
divided Russian-speaking Black Sea
port.
Founded in 1794 by Russian Em’”‡••ƒ–Š‡”‹‡ǡ–Š‡„—œœ‹‰…‘ƒ•–ƒŽ
city lies deep in government-controlled territory but some here fear that
it could eventually be in Moscow’s
sights.
“Attitudes in Odessa are about 5050,” Radchenko said in a new city-cen–”‡ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡ †‡…‘”ƒ–‡† ™‹–Š ”ƒ‹‹ƒ
ϐŽƒ‰• ƒ† ’‹…–—”‡• ‘ˆ ”ƒ‹‹ƒ •‘Ždiers, where she and other volunteers
are now under police protection.
“The situation is very strange,” she
added, accusing local authorities of
being anti-Ukrainian and of turning a
blind eye to the violence.
Ukraine’s security service (SBU)
this week claimed to have “disarmed”
two groups behind some of the blasts,
†‡–ƒ‹‹‰ϐ‹˜‡’‡‘’Ž‡Ǥ
One detainee, a former Ukrainian
soldier who deserted, was found to
have an arsenal of grenades, handguns and other weapons.
Another was part of a pro-Russian
Cossack group and had weapons as
well as “pro-Russian propaganda materials” in his home, the SBU said.
‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ• „‡Ž‹‡˜‡ –Š‡ „Žƒ•–•
Ž‘…ƒŽŽƒ™ƒ‡”Ž‡ƒ˜‡•Š‹•‘ˆϔ‹…‡‹†‡••ƒƒˆ–‡”‹–™ƒ•–ƒ”‰‡–‡†„›ƒ„Žƒ•–ǤȄ
were planned from Russia and are
treating them as acts of terror.
The main port of Imperial Russia
and site of important WWII battles,
Odessa is highly symbolic for Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
last year said it is not historically part
of Ukraine but of Novorossiya — a
tsarist-era term now used by proRussian rebels in the east.
Some in Russia talk of extending rebel rule westwards from Crimea, across the north of the Black
5th man arrested over shooting
attacks in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN — Police have ar”‡•–‡† ƒ ϐ‹ˆ–Š ƒ ‹ …‘‡…–‹‘
with February shooting attacks
ƒ–ƒˆ”‡‡•’‡‡…Š‡˜‡–ƒ†ƒ•›ƒgogue that killed two people, police said on Friday.
Local media said the 30-yearold and another 25-year-old man,
who was detained, were suspected
‘ˆŠ‹†‹‰–Š‡ƒ—–‘ƒ–‹…ͻͷ”‹ϐŽ‡
used by shooter Omar El Hussein.
El Hussein went on a rampage
in the Danish capital on February
ͳͶǡ‹ŽŽ‹‰–™‘ƒ†™‘—†‹‰ϐ‹˜‡
‘–Š‡”• „‡ˆ‘”‡ ’‘Ž‹…‡ –”ƒ…‡† Š‹
down hours later and shot him
dead.
Police said at the time they did
‘––Š‹Š‡™ƒ•’ƒ”–‘ˆƒ”ƒ†‹…ƒŽ
cell. But they arrested two people
–Š‡ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰†ƒ›‘‡„”—ƒ”›ͳͷǡ
and a third man later that month.
This week, they raided 13 addresses across Copenhagen and
surrounding areas and arrested
the two additional suspects.
—••‡‹ ‹ŽŽ‡† ƒ ϐ‹ŽǦƒ‡”
‘—–•‹†‡ƒ…ƒˆ‡Š‘Ž†‹‰ƒ‡˜‡–ƒ–tended by Lars Vilk, a cartoonist
who had received death threats.
—••‡‹Ž‡ˆ––Š‡•…‡‡‹ƒ–ƒš‹
and killed a guard outside the synagogue around nine hours later.
Police have said he used an
ͻͷ ”‹ϐŽ‡ ‹ –Š‡ ƒ––ƒ…Ǥ Š‡ ‰—
is commonly used by the Danish
home guard, a voluntary reservist
—‹– —†‡” –Š‡ ‡ˆ‡…‡ ‹‹•–”›Ǥ
Its members had been allowed to
store their weapons at home, a
provision now suspended.
”‡Ž‹‹ƒ”› Š‡ƒ”‹‰• ‘ˆ –Š‘•‡
arrested have been made behind
closed doors with the suspects’
names not released because
the investigation is ongoing. PoŽ‹…‡ ƒ†‡ ‘ ˆ—”–Š‡” …‘‡–Ǥ
— Reuters
Sea to reach Moldova’s unrecognised
separatist region of Transdniestr —
™Š‡”‡ —••‹ƒ Šƒ• ƒ •‹œ‡ƒ„Ž‡ ‹Ž‹–ƒ”›
presence.
The rhetoric has put pro-Ukrainians on high alert in Odessa, raising
fears that the region could become
another “people’s republic”, similar
to rebel territories in Donetsk and
—‰ƒ•ǡ™Š‡”‡ƒ–‡•‡…‡ƒ•‡ϐ‹”‡Šƒ•
held for about a month.
Local SBU adviser Andriy Yusov
recently warned that peace in the
east could lead to heightened efforts
to “destabilise” government-controlled cities like Odessa and Kharkiv beyond the rebel-held territories.
DzŽ‡ƒ”Ž› ™‡ǯŽŽ Šƒ˜‡ ƒ ˜‡”› †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–
spring,” he told local website 048.ua
last week.
Opponents of Kiev’s pro-Western
leadership, which came to power
following last year’s revolution, gather every week in a central Odessa
park, next to the building where 45
people, mostly pro-Russian activists,
†‹‡†‹ƒ„Žƒœ‡Žƒ•–ƒ›ƒˆ–‡”…Žƒ•Š‡•
with pro-Europeans. — AFP
Dutch experts visit
MH17 crash site
THE HAGUE — Dutch experts returned to war-ravaged Ukraine on
Friday to probe the MH17 crash site,
including visiting a location previously considered unsafe because of
ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ ™‹–Š ’”‘Ǧ—••‹ƒ •‡’ƒ”ƒtists.
“A 12-person team consisting of
†‡ˆ‡…‡ƒ†’‘Ž‹…‡‘ˆϐ‹…‡”•Šƒ•‰‘‡
to Ukraine and will remain in the
area until March 28,” the Dutch justice ministry said in a statement.
The team, accompanied by a
—–…Š ƒˆ‡–› ‘ƒ”† ȋȌ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽǡ
“will assess the situation at so-called
‘burned sites’ with the aim of putting
together a full-blown mission in
April”, it said.
Burned sites refer to places where
ϐŽƒ‹‰ ™”‡…ƒ‰‡ ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ƒŽƒ›sia Airlines 777 fell after it was shot
down on July 17, killing all 298 people on board, most of them Dutch.
The Netherlands has been charged
with investigating the cause of the incident and identifying the dead.
Kiev and the West have claimed
that the airliner was shot down in
–Š‡ …‘ϐŽ‹…–Ǧ–‘” ƒ”‡ƒ „› •‡’ƒ”ƒ–‹•–
ϐ‹‰Š–‡”• —•‹‰ ƒ •—”ˆƒ…‡Ǧ–‘Ǧƒ‹”
missile supplied by Russia. Moscow
†‡‹‡•–Š‡…Šƒ”‰‡•ǡ’‘‹–‹‰–Š‡ϐ‹ger at Kiev.
The region to be investigated “includes an area northwest of the town
of Petropavlivka, which a Dutch team
could not visit previously because of
the security situation”, the Dutch justice ministry said.
It added that Petropavlivka’s mayor had collected pieces of wreckage
which will be picked up and taken
to the city of Kharkiv. Petropavlivka is around 10 kilometres west
of Grabovo, the site where the main
pieces of wreckage fell and the previous focus of the investigation.
Parts of the aircraft have been
returned to the Netherlands where
bereaved families earlier this month
Ǯͷ͸Ǧ’‡”•‘–‡ƒ
…‘•‹•–‹‰‘ˆ†‡ˆ‡…‡
ƒ†’‘Ž‹…‡‘ˆϔ‹…‡”•Šƒ•
‰‘‡–‘”ƒ‹‡ƒ†™‹ŽŽ
”‡ƒ‹‹–Š‡ƒ”‡ƒ—–‹Ž
ƒ”…Š͸;ǡǯ–Š‡—–…Š
Œ—•–‹…‡‹‹•–”›•ƒ‹†‹
ƒ•–ƒ–‡‡–ǤŠ‡–‡ƒǡ
ƒ……‘’ƒ‹‡†„›ƒ—–…Š
ƒˆ‡–›‘ƒ”†‘ˆϔ‹…‹ƒŽǡǮ™‹ŽŽ
ƒ••‡••–Š‡•‹–—ƒ–‹‘ƒ–
•‘Ǧ…ƒŽŽ‡†Ǯ„—”‡†•‹–‡•ǯ
™‹–Š–Š‡ƒ‹‘ˆ’—––‹‰
–‘‰‡–Š‡”ƒˆ—ŽŽǦ„Ž‘™
‹••‹‘‹’”‹Žǯ
viewed the wreckage at the southern
‹Žœ‡Ǧ‹Œ‡ ƒ‹”„ƒ•‡Ǥ —–…Š –‡Ž‡˜‹sion station on Thursday claimed it
had proof that the Boeing 777 was
shot down by a BUK missile based
on an independent analysis of metal
fragments one of its journalists removed from the crash site.
The Dutch Safety Board however
issued a statement saying there was
nothing to prove that the fragment
came from the missile that brought
the plane down, and that its own
…‘…Ž—•‹‘• ™‘—Ž† „‡ …‘ϐ‹”‡† „›
“multiple sources and not only from
fragments”.
Kiev in February signed a shaky
peace deal with separatists in its
troubled rebel-held east, where
‘–Š• ‘ˆ ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ Šƒ˜‡ Ž‡ˆ– ‘”‡
than 6,000 people dead. — AFP
Top court to rule on Prince Charles’ govt letters
LONDON — Britain’s top court will
rule next week whether “frank” letters
sent by Prince Charles to government
ministers should be made public, potentially embarrassing the heir-to-thethrone and raising the contentious issue of royal interference in politics.
For years, the Guardian newspaper
has sought access to 27 letters written
by Charles to members of ex-prime
minister Tony Blair’s Labour government between 2004 and 2005 under
the country’s freedom of information
laws.
The Court of Appeal decided last
year that a gagging order imposed by
the country’s former attorney-general
Dominic Grieve, who had called the
letters “particularly frank”, was unlawful.
Grieve had said any perception that
Charles had disagreed with ministers
“would be seriously damaging to his
role as future monarch because, if he
forfeits his position of political neutrality as heir to the throne, he cannot
easily recover it when he is king”.
‘”›‡ƒ”•ǡ–Š‡Guardian
‡™•’ƒ’‡”Šƒ••‘—‰Š–
ƒ……‡••–‘͸ͽŽ‡––‡”•™”‹––‡
„›Šƒ”Ž‡•–‘‡„‡”•
‘ˆ‡šǦ’”‹‡‹‹•–‡”
‘›Žƒ‹”ǯ•ƒ„‘—”
‰‘˜‡”‡–„‡–™‡‡
͸ͶͶͺƒ†͸ͶͶͻ—†‡”
–Š‡…‘—–”›ǯ•ˆ”‡‡†‘‘ˆ
‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘Žƒ™•
The government’s chief legal adviser was allowed to appeal to the country’s Supreme Court over the decision
to overturn his block on publication,
with Prime Minister David Cameron
lending his weight to the decision to
challenge the verdict.
Seven of the country’s most senior
judges will deliver their verdict next
Thursday, the Supreme Court said in a
statement on Friday.
Under Britain’s unwritten consti-
tution, it is understood that the monarch should remain politically neutral.
—‡‡ Ž‹œƒ„‡–Š Šƒ• •–‡ƒ†ˆƒ•–Ž› ‡’–
her political opinions to herself during
her 63-year reign.
However, her 66-year-old son has
long held strong views in areas like the
environment and urban planning and
has been criticised for apparently using his position to persuade ministers
to change policy through private letters, nicknamed “black-spider memos”
because of his scrawled handwriting.
“The trouble is, there isn’t a job description so you have to rather make
it up as you go along, which doesn’t
always appeal to everybody else,”
Charles told an interviewer in November 2010, when asked about his position as heir.
In February, a new biography of
Britain’s longest-serving heir apparent said Charles was planning a new
model of monarchy when he becomes
king, a prospect the book suggested
which alarmed the queen who will
become the country’s longest-reigning
sovereign ever in September.
The headlines generated by the biography led to a highly-unusual public
rebuff from aides.
“After half a century in public life,
few could be better placed than His
Royal Highness to understand the necessary and proper limitations on the
role of a constitutional monarch,” William Nye, Charles’s Principal Private
Secretary wrote in a letter to the Times
newspaper. — Reuters
Spain parties joust in Andalusia warm-up vote
ȅ A regional vote on Sunday in Andalusia, one of the poorest
parts of Spain, will be a key test ahead
of the country’s most unpredictable
general election in decades.
Recent years of recession and corruption scandals make the southern
region of farms and tourist beaches a
prime testing ground for Spain’s new
political dynamic, transformed by the
crisis and ensuing austerity measures.
The two parties that have taken
turns to govern Spain since the 1980s
face a rival pair of surging protest
movements in a dress rehearsal for
the national polls due around November.
It is an important warm-up for
contenders such as left-wing anti-austerity party Podemos, which is look‹‰–‘ƒ–…Š–Š‡ˆ‡ƒ–‘ˆ‹–•ƒŽŽ››”‹œƒ
in Greece.
›”‹œƒ™‘
”‡‡‡Ž‡…–‹‘•‹ƒ—ary on a wave of discontent about
economic cuts imposed during an
economic crisis — the same trend
that has pushed Podemos to the top
of the polls in Spain.
‘†‡‘• ™ƒ• „—‘›‡† „› ›”‹œƒǯ•
victory, but was given pause for
–Š‘—‰Š–„›–Š‡–‡•‡•“—ƒ„„Ž‡•›”‹œƒ
is now locked in with European powers over Greece’s debt.
In Andalusia, “everyone will in–‡”’”‡––Š‡”‡•—Ž–•ƒ•‹ˆ‹–™‡”‡ƒϐ‹”•–
round in the general elections,” said
Anton Losada, a political scientist at
Santiago de Compostela university.
“That is going to happen with the
Andalusian election and will happen
again with the other local and regional elections in May.”
The main opposition Socialist
Party, in power in Andalusia since
1982, is seeking re-election against
the conservative Popular Party which
currently governs Spain.
Polls indicate neither of the giants
will win an absolute majority in the
regional parliament from Andalusia’s
6.5 million voters.
The winner may have to strike an
alliance with Podemos or with another upstart contender, the centre-right
Ciudadanos. That could foreshadow
what coalitions may later be forged to
ƒ„‘—”‡”•…‘ŽŽ‡…–ƒ”–‹…Š‘‡•‘ƒˆƒ”‹—‡”–‘‡””ƒ‘ǡƒƒ†‹œ
’”‘˜‹…‡‘’ƒ‹ǤȄ
govern Spain, since polls indicate the
national election may also fail to hand
one party an absolute majority.
Andalusia was among the regions
hardest hit by the collapse of Spain’s
housing market in 2008. Its regional
unemployment rate is the highest in
the country at 34.2 per cent.
Socialist leaders there, along with
certain labour union representatives,
have been hit by a series of corruption scandals.
The Socialists have fallen out with
their current coalition partners, the
United Left, and look set to lose seats
in Sunday’s vote, according to polls.
The Popular Party is also losing
support there, blamed by voters for
hardship under the economic cuts its
national government has imposed.
Enter Podemos and Ciudadanos,
which rank third and fourth in polls
of voting intentions in Andalusia with
around 11 and 15 per cent of the vote
respectively.
Formed just in January 2014, Podemos has also topped recent national polls. Its pony-tailed leader Pablo
Iglesias, 36, vows to end austerity and
do away with what he brands a corrupt political elite.
—–Š‹•ƒŽŽ‡‰‡†Ž‹•–‘‡‡œ—‡Žƒ
leaders — regular bogeymen in the
Spanish media — and his support for
›”‹œƒ–Š”‡ƒ–‡–‘’—–‘ˆˆ•‘‡˜‘–‡”•Ǥ
Ready to scoop them up is Ciudadanos, which started as a Catalan
anti-independence party and then
expanded onto the national stage in
recent months. It shares Podemos’s
stance against corruption but strikes
a more moderate tone.
“In Ciudadanos, we want justice.
What Podemos wants is revenge,”
said Ciudadanos’ leader Albert Rivera,
35, in an interview in El Mundo newspaper this week.
“We could have a more diverse Andalusian parliament, with new political forces getting in, and their support
could become necessary to govern,”
said Jaime Ferri Dura, a political scientist at Madrid’s Complutense University.
Polls suggest the Socialists will
gain the most votes and be the ones
to choose a coalition partner, while
renewing their hold on the regional
administration — a prospect that exasperates the ruling conservatives.
“In Andalusia we have had so
many problems that we cannot afford
to be in the hands of the inexperienced,” Ana Mestre, a regional Popular Party deputy for the coastal prov‹…‡‘ˆƒ†‹œǡ•ƒ‹†ǤȄ
14
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
ANALYSIS
China’s soft-power push
coming to a TV near you
A
A woman looks at a poster reading in French “I am Tunisian” in front of the National Bardo Museum in Tunis during a demonstration in solidarity
with the victims of museum attack, which killed 21 people. — AFP
Tunisia struggles with
plan to battle terrorism
T
unisia has vowed to wage “a
merciless war against terrorism” after Wednesday’s carnage at its national museum but it
has struggled to draw up a strategy
to counter the extremist threat.
Analysts say the attack on the
Bardo museum next to the Tunisian
parliament in which gunmen killed
21 people, all but one of them foreign tourists, highlighted the need
to combine a clear vision with the
operational means.
“We can no longer delude ourselves or delude public opinion,” Le
Quotidien newspaper said in an editorial, warning that “thousands of
terrorists operate in Tunisia, Libya,
Syria and Iraq (who were) trained
or recruited in our country”.
The authorities acknowledge
–Šƒ– —‹•‹ƒ• ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ ƒ„”‘ƒ† Ȅ
said to number between 2,000 and
͵ǡͲͲͲ Ȅ ƒ† –Š‡ ’”‘š‹‹–› ‘ˆ ˜‹‘lence-strewn Libya are both serious
security threats.
The twin challenge compounds
that posed by al Qaeda-linked militants hiding out in mountains near
the Algerian border, who have killed
dozens of members of Tunisia’s security forces.
ˆ–‡” ‡ƒ…Š ϐŽƒ”‡—’ ‹ ˜‹‘Ž‡…‡ǡ
ϐ‹‰‡”•ƒ”‡’‘‹–‡†ƒ––Š‡‘†‡”ƒ–‡
movement Ennahda, which was the
dominant political force in Tunisia
after its 2011 revolution up until a
year ago.
“Its leaders were lax, at best...
(and) they did not live up to the
level of the threat,” said La Presse,
another daily.
Ennahda
strongly
denies any blame, pointing out
–Šƒ– –Š‡ ƒ‹ ƒŽƒϐ‹•– ‰”‘—’
following a radical version of Islam,
Ansar al Sharia, was branded a “terrorist organisation” on its watch.
The current government, which
•‡– ϐ‹‰Š–‹‰ –‡””‘”‹• ƒ• ƒ –‘’ ’”‹‘”‹–› ™Š‡ ‹– –‘‘ ‘ˆϐ‹…‡ ƒˆ–‡” ‡Ž‡…tions last year, has also faced its
share of criticism.
DzŠ‡ ϐ‹‰Š– ”‡“—‹”‡• ‘”‡ ”‹‰‘—”
ƒ† ϐ‹”‡•• ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ’‘™‡”• –Šƒ–
be,” said Le Quotidienǡ”‡ϐŽ‡…–‹‰–Š‡
frustration and anger of ordinary
Tunisians a day after the museum
murders.
Prime Minister Habib Essid, at a
Thursday news conference, admitted “failings in the (nation’s) security system,” vowing closer cooperation between the army and internal
security services.
An emergency meeting of top
Tunis has vowed to wage “a merciless
war against terrorism” after the
carnage at its national museum
but it has struggled to draw up
a strategy to counter the threat.
—‹•‹ƒ•ϔ‹‰Š–‹‰ƒ„”‘ƒ†Ȅ•ƒ‹†–‘
number between 2,000 and 3,000
— and the proximity of violencestrewn Libya are both serious
security threats. The twin challenge
compounds that posed by al Qaedalinked militants hiding out in
mountains near the Algerian border,
who have killed dozens of members
‘ˆ—‹•‹ƒǯ••‡…—”‹–›ˆ‘”…‡•ǡϔ‹†•
Ines Bel Aiba
‰‘˜‡”‡–ϐ‹‰—”‡•ƒ†ƒ”›„”ƒ••
decided that Tunisia will deploy soldiers to beef up security in major
cities.
The military will be tasked with
“patrols at the entrances to, and areas surrounding, major cities” in coordination with the police, a presidential source said.
The measures also include tightening cooperation among the different branches of the security forces
and a review of border security.
“The chain of command must be
‘”‡ ‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡–ǡ ™‹–Š ‘”†‡”• „‡‹‰
Šƒ†‡† †‘™ ™‹–Š ϐŽ—‹†‹–›ǡdz •ƒ‹†
Ahmed Driss, Director of the Centre
for Mediterranean and International Studies.
Driss said reform of the security
services was long overdue. “There
absolutely must be cooperation...
But this is structural, and structural
change takes time.
But the situation now is urgent,”
warned Chahrazed Ben Hamida, a
researcher and member of the Tunisian Observatory for Global Security. Driss also pointed out that
militants had come down to the city
from their traditional mountain battleground on the Algerian border.
The IS group on Thursday
claimed responsibility for the Bardo
assault and threatened more of the
same.
“What you have seen is only the
start,” it said in an audio message
posted online.
With the battle lines drawn,
President Beji Caid Essebsi has
˜‘™‡† Š‹• …‘—–”› Ȅ „‹”–Š’Žƒ…‡
of the 2011 Arab Spring aimed at
„”‹‰‹‰†‡‘…”ƒ…›–‘–Š‡”‡‰‹‘Ȅ
™‹ŽŽϐ‹‰Š–Dz–‘‘—”Žƒ•–„”‡ƒ–ŠdzǤ
ƒ‰‡• ‘ˆ –‡””‹ϐ‹‡† ˜‹•‹–‘”• ϐŽ‡‡ing gunmen have raised fears the
shooting could severely affect Tunisia’s crucial tourist industry.
“Tunisians don’t deserve what
has happened because it’s they that
will suffer the consequences of this
crime, especially those in the tourism sector,” Italian tourist Carla
Pierrotti said.
Matthieu Charbon arrived on
Wednesday evening in Tunis with
his wife and son. They also decided
they would stay. “I’m not afraid! Attacks happen all over the world and
even in the middle of Paris; it’s just
one of those things,” Charbon said.
“We aren’t going to stay at home
just because there are attacks.”
But in Sidi Bou Said, a village full
of historic and cultural sights overlooking the sea, the normally bustling streets were virtually deserted
and shop owners quick to voice
their concern.
“It was a very tough blow.
All the shop owners here were
hit hard by the crime yesterday...
It looks bad for the days ahead,”
said Aymen Jebali, a 34-year-old
craftsman.
Since the 2011 uprising, Tunisia
has struggled to attract tourists as
the country remains dogged by political and social unrest and battles a
extremist threat.
Last year’s parliamentary and
’”‡•‹†‡–‹ƒŽ ‡Ž‡…–‹‘• Ȅ Šƒ‹Ž‡† –Š‡
world over as a democratic triumph
among troubled Arab Spring coun–”‹‡• Ȅ ‰ƒ˜‡ Š‘’‡ –‘ ƒ› ‹ –Š‡
tourist sector.
“Just when things were beginning to shift, and more and more
tourist groups were coming, this
Š‘””‹ϐ‹… ƒ––ƒ… Šƒ• ’—ŽŽ‡† –Š‡ ”—‰
from under our feet,” said Hicham
Ben Said, manager of Sidi Bou Said’s
famous Cafe Mats.
After the Bardo shooting, “tourists quickly left the cafe and didn’t
come back. Their faces were pale
and afraid,” he said.
“No one knows what will happen. It’s really stressful.”
Security measures have been
boosted throughout the country
and police checkpoints with identity checks have been rolled out along
main roads around Tunis, Carthage
and Sidi Bou Said.
—– ƒ ™‘”‡” ˆ”‘ ƒ ϐ‹˜‡ •–ƒ”
hotel in the capital, who asked not
to be named, said many guests had
already called to cancel their reservations.
“There will be a very negative
impact on all hotels for a while,” he
said. “This is now the image of Tunisia, which was hit just as it was beginning to recover.”
Nine of the slain tourists were
from the MSC Splendida cruise ship,
whose owners said a special psychology unit had been set up for
passengers.
In a blow to Tunisia’s heavily tourism-dependent economy, at
least two major cruise ship operators suspended stopovers in Tunis
following the attack.
hard hat-clad American TV
host grips the bamboo-andsteel scaffolding, the dizzying
urban landscape of China’s commercial centre Shanghai unfolding
far below him.
“I’m bringing cameras and questions to places outsiders are rarely
permitted, to investigate the aspirations of the world’s fastest-growing
middle class,” architect Danny Forster tells Discovery viewers.
There is just one catch: both the
…ƒ‡”ƒ•Ȅƒ†–Š‡“—‡•–‹‘•Ȅƒ”‡
co-funded by the Chinese government.
Beijing has long sought to boost
its “soft power” abroad, spending
billions of yuan on expanding the
international presence of its state”— ‡†‹ƒ Ȅ ‹…Ž—†‹‰ „”‘ƒ†…ƒ•–‡” ƒ† ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ ‡™• ƒ‰‡…›
‹Š—ƒ Ȅ ƒ• ™‡ŽŽ ƒ• –Š”‘—‰Š ‹–•
ubiquitous government-sponsored
language centres, known as Confucius Institutes.
Now, the ruling Communist Party
appears to be pursuing a new tactic: Investing heavily in “documentaries” on China that are hosted by
foreign TV personalities and air on
major international networks, but
are created under the auspices of
the party’s messaging chiefs.
The State Council Information
ˆϐ‹…‡ ȋȌǡ –Š‡ ’”‘’ƒ‰ƒ†ƒ ƒ”
of China’s Cabinet, unveiled its latest such effort this week in Beijing
at the premiere of “How China
Works”, a three-part series that will
air on The Discovery Channel.
Š‡ •Š‘™ Ȅ Š‘•–‡† „› ‘”•–‡”
and created “with the support and
‰—‹†ƒ…‡dz‘ˆ–Š‡Ȅ‹•’ƒ”–‘ˆƒ
three-year deal in which Discovery
will air an hour of Beijing-approved,
China-themed programming each
week, reaching 90 million viewers
in 37 countries and territories.
Discovery executives declined
–‘ †‡–ƒ‹Ž –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ –‡”• ‘ˆ –Š‡
deal, dubbed “Hour China”.
“To tell a good Chinese story, it
won’t be enough to rely just on our
media,” Cui Yuying, Deputy Director of the SCIO, said at the series’
launch ceremony. “We look forward
–‘ •‡‡‹‰ •—…Š •–”‘‰ ƒ† ‹ϐŽ—‡tial global media as The Discovery
Channel tell an amazing Chinese
story.”
Cooperation between Discovery
and China’s State Council dates back
to 2004, and the global TV giant has
since produced a total of 65 hours
of China-themed programming.
Its previous series include “Long
March Into Space”, on Beijing’s ambitious space programme; and “Rebuilding Sichuan” about the government-led recovery effort following
the devastating 2008 quake in
southwest China. More than 5,000
children were killed in that disaster
when their schools collapsed, which
devastated parents blame on shoddy construction facilitated by corruption. But “Hour China” appears
to be the most ambitious deal yet
between the two as Beijing seeks to
burnish its image abroad.
At Wednesday’s launch event
Ȅ ™Š‹…Š ˆ‡ƒ–—”‡† •–”‘„‡ Ž‹‰Š–•ǡ
thumping music and an announcer
clad in a traditional Chinese qi’ƒ‘ †”‡•• Ȅ ‹•…‘˜‡”› ‡š‡…—–‹˜‡•
gushed about their collaboration
with the SCIO and posed onstage for
photos with Chinese government
‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•Ǥ
“We all know China is the fac–‘”› –‘ –Š‡ ™‘”Ž† Ȅ –Š‡ ƒ—ˆƒ…–—”‹‰…ƒ’‹–ƒŽȄ„—––Š‡‡™Š‹ƒ
of tomorrow is more innovationcentric,” said Vikram Channa, VicePresident of Production and Development for Discovery Networks
•‹ƒǦƒ…‹ϐ‹…Ǥ
The new series will tell the story
of “the new emerging China, the
Š‹ƒ†”‡ƒdzǡŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ȅ…‹–‹‰”‡•ident Xi Jinping’s catchphrase.
Forster, a Harvard-trained architect, has hosted the shows “Extreme
Engineering” and “Build It Bigger” on Discovery and the Science
Channel. Enrique Martinez, acting
president of Discovery Networks
•‹ƒǦƒ…‹ϐ‹…ǡ ƒ‹–ƒ‹‡† –Šƒ– –Š‡
programme was “a complete brainstorm” between SCIO and Discovery
and that the network retained editorial control.
“Obviously, we have to pass
…‡”–ƒ‹ ϐ‹Ž–‡”• ‡†‹–‘”‹ƒŽŽ› ™‹–Š‹
our organisation as well as from a
regulatory standpoint for transmissions around different places in the
world,” he said.
Asked whether the series
amounted to an “advertorial” funded by the Chinese government,
he responded: “I’d say watch the
shows.
They’re incredible, insightful,
and just extremely deep analyses of
what is transpiring.
“One of the things that are very
clear right now is that China is on
the world stage.”
Beijing tightly controls expression within China but has a broader
‰‘ƒŽ–‘‡š’ƒ†‹–•…—Ž–—”ƒŽ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡
abroad.
CCTV increased its employees
abroad nearly tenfold from 2010 to
2013, the broadcaster’s Europe bureau chief has said, with more than
400 staffers currently stationed in
70 foreign locations.
Chinese state media have also established a presence on Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube and other social
media sites banned in the country.
But China’s “partnerships” carried out in the pursuit of soft power
Šƒ˜‡ ˆ”‡“—‡–Ž› „ƒ…ϐ‹”‡† ‘” Šƒ†
clunky results.
Universities in the US, Canada
and Sweden have rejected deals
with Confucius Institutes over
concerns that the Beijing-backed
centres compromise academic
freedom, while some recent China‘ŽŽ›™‘‘† Dz…‘Ǧ’”‘†—…–‹‘•dzȄ ”‡quiring China-related plot lines or
Š‹‡•‡ …ƒ•– Ȅ Šƒ˜‡ •–”—‰‰Ž‡† ƒ–
–Š‡„‘š‘ˆϐ‹…‡Ǥ
The “Hour China” deal with Dis…‘˜‡”› Ȅ ™Š‘•‡ ’ƒ”‡– …‘’ƒ›
Discovery Communications calls itself the “#1 Pay-TV Programmer in
–Š‡‘”Ž†dzȄ”‡’”‡•‡–•ƒ‡™ƒ’proach by Beijing, experts say.
“This concern about trying to inϐŽ—‡…‡ –Š‡ ‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ƒ””ƒ–‹˜‡
about China has been on China’s
mind for a long time,” said Merriden
Varrall, East Asia Programme Director at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney.
“They’ve shifted to doing it in a
much more sophisticated way,” she
said. “The average consumer of that
kind of programme would not be
aware of the politics.”
Beijing has long sought to boost its “soft power” abroad, spending
billions of yuan on expanding the international presence of its state-run
‡†‹ƒȄ‹…Ž—†‹‰„”‘ƒ†…ƒ•–‡”ƒ†‘ˆϔ‹…‹ƒŽ‡™•ƒ‰‡…›‹Š—ƒ
— as well as through its ubiquitous government-sponsored language
centres, known as Confucius Institutes. — Reuters
15
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
ANALYSIS
Despite a plethora of trials
over the last two decades
that have put 13 people,
including cult leader Shoko
Asahara, on death row,
the reasons behind the
shocking episode remain
unclear. Particularly
„ƒˆϔŽ‹‰‹•–Š‡ˆƒ…––Šƒ–
those responsible for the
cult’s worst crimes were
some of Japan’s best and
brightest — scientists and
doctors who had graduated
from the country’s top
universities
A commuter being treated by an emergency medical team at a make-shift shelter before being transported to hospital after being exposed to Sarin gas fumes in the
‘›‘•—„™ƒ›•›•–‡†—”‹‰ƒ—•‡…–ƒ––ƒ…ǤȄϔ‹Ž‡’‹…–—”‡
20 years on, Japan still baffled over Tokyo subway attacks
A
s Japan prepares to mark the
20th anniversary of a fatal
nerve gas attack on Tokyo’s
subway, experts say the horrifying case still leaves more questions
than answers about what motivated
the killings.
Thirteen people died and 6,000
were sickened after the apocalyptic
Aum Supreme Truth cult released
ƒœ‹Ǧ†‡˜‡Ž‘’‡†•ƒ”‹‹ϐ‹˜‡•—„™ƒ›
trains during co-ordinated rushhour attacks on March 20, 1995.
Despite a plethora of trials over
the last two decades that have put
13 people, including cult leader
Shoko Asahara, on death row, the
reasons behind the shocking episode remain unclear.
ƒ”–‹…—Žƒ”Ž› „ƒˆϐŽ‹‰ ‹• –Š‡ ˆƒ…–
that those responsible for the cult’s
worst crimes were some of Japan’s
best and brightest — scientists and
doctors who had graduated from
the country’s top universities.
Š‡Š‹‰ŠǦ’”‘ϐ‹Ž‡–”‹ƒŽ•…‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡
been “an opportunity for Japan to
share insights with the world as
‹– ϐ‹‰Š–• –‡””‘”‹•ǡ „› ˆ—ŽŽ› —†‡”standing what happened with Aum,
not just dealing with the crimes and
charges at hand,” said Kimiaki Nishida, a social psychology professor at
Rissho University.
At a time when the world is grappling with a rise in extremism, in
particular the self-styled IS group
— which brutally executed two
Japanese hostages this year —understanding exactly what happened
and why is more important than
ever, he said.
“I see that similar types of young
people are getting sucked in (to IS)
today,” Nishida added. “They are
looking for a place where they are
highly valued, feel that they are
needed, and are praised for being useful to others.” Japan had
watched with a nervous fascination
as Aum germinated and expanded
in the 1980s and 1990s. The halfblind mystic Asahara, now 60, was a
guest on television shows, where he
was treated with a mixture of awe
and curiosity.
His blend of Buddhist and Hindu
dogma, liberally sprinkled with visions of the apocalypse, attracted
more than 10,000 followers at its
height. Believers were told that Asahara was a saviour who could wash
the world of its sins as it rolled towards its unavoidable end.
Asahara became obsessed with
the idea his enemies would attack
him and secretly ordered followers
to produce sarin at what was later
discovered to be a sophisticated
chemical weapons laboratory.
In what some believe was an attempt to divert the authorities that
Asahara thought were closing in on
his base in the foothills of Mount
—Œ‹ǡŠ‡•‡–ϐ‹˜‡–‡ƒ•‘ˆ–™‘’‡‘ple to attack the Tokyo subway,
which is used by millions of daily
commuters in the sprawling metropolis. Five adherents — among
them a senior medical doctor and
•‡˜‡”ƒŽ Š‹‰ŠǦϐŽ›‹‰ ’Š›•‹…‹•–• Ȅ
dumped packages of sarin on busy
trains, puncturing them with sharpened umbrella tips, before being
driven away from a pre-determined
station by their co-conspirators.
The nerve gas, so toxic that a
single drop can kill a person, evaporated over the following minutes as
thousands of unwitting commuters
got on and off each train.
Staff and passengers were
among the dead.
Many of those sickened only realised what had happened as their
symptoms worsened throughout
the day and news broadcasts began
piecing events together.
— ™ƒ• ‡˜‡” ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽŽ› †‹•banded. It went bankrupt because
of the massive damage payments it
was forced to make to victims of its
crimes. Former members have continued under different groupings
with new names, now collectively
numbering roughly 1,650 people.
Some justify Asahara’s murderous orders as instructions to help
his followers achieve enlightenment, according to the Public Security Intelligence Agency, which
monitors cults.
The sect’s continued existence,
albeit closely surveiled and in a different guise, worries those affected
by the 1995 attack. “The successor groups are still operating, and
there is no telling what Aum followers will do,” said Shizue Takahashi,
whose subway worker husband
died in the attack. Cultists who carried out the sarin attack are among
those giving evidence in what is
‡š’‡…–‡† –‘ „‡ –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ …‘—”– …ƒ•‡
related to the subway gassing, after
–Š‡ʹͲͳʹƒ””‡•–‘ˆ–Š‡ϐ‹ƒŽˆ—‰‹–‹˜‡Ǥ
Still, it prompts more questions
than answers, said Yuji Nakamura, a lawyer who has dealt with a
number of Aum cases.
“We are seeing death-row inmates... speak before our eyes. They
are very articulate, bright and polite. Some of them behave almost
like monks,” Nakamura said.
As the world reels from the latest murderous attack on a soft target — the killing of 19 people in a
Tunisian museum, at least three of
them Japanese — understanding
what makes people susceptible to
extremist groups is increasingly important, said academic Nishida.
“(Aum) Cult members did not
hold grudges against their victims.
Rather, they murdered and
caused harm for what they believed
were just reasons,” he said. “Orders
…ƒ‡ ˆ”‘ ƒ ƒ„•‘Ž—–‹•– ϐ‹‰—”‡ Ȅ
the guru — who was beyond human,
who they believed could not make
mistakes. They thought it would be
wrong to question what he comƒ†‡†Ǥdz Š‡ –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ Ž‡‰ƒŽ …Šƒ’ter closes and the death sentences
are carried out, Japan will lose an
opportunity to explain what drives
seemingly normal people to these
extremes. “Did we have the kinds of
trials that did that? Did we fully understand (the cultists’) hearts and
minds?” said Nishida. — AFP
Kremlin turns to YouTube as new propaganda weapon
I
“
am a Russian occupier,” a deep voice says proudly
as the video crackles to life with realistic gaming
graphics that show a Kalashnikov being loaded by
a soldier before the dramatic, throbbing music begins.
“And I am tired of apologising for it!” The slickly de•‹‰‡† ‘——„‡ ˜‹†‡‘ Šƒ• „‡‡ ˜‹‡™‡† ‘”‡ –Šƒ ϐ‹˜‡
million times in two weeks and is the latest hit in a series of posts to an account apparently held by an enthusiastic young Russian merely trying to understand and
explain his country’s politics.
But upon closer inspection there is no young man at
all, but a communications agency which openly admits
being hired by people close to the regime to make the
videos.
With patriotic slogans, anti-American diatribes and
scorn heaped upon those who chose independence from
Russia, the videos seek to rid Russians of any guilt over
their imperialistic past — or doubts about a present
in which their country is maligned for its role in the
Ukraine crisis.
The narrator describes how Russia occupied Siberia, turning it from a place which “sold women for sable
skins” into a producer of oil, gas and aluminium.
How the Baltic States, after rejecting their Soviet master now “sell sprats and some of their people clean toilets in Europe.”
For its part, Ukraine now only develops “dictatorship”.
“I am an occupier by birthright” he says, as images
of Russian heroes and historic battles play across the
screen.
“Please, understand, I don’t need your hypocritical
freedom, I don’t need your rotten democracy.
Everything that you call Western values is alien to
me,” the narrator says to images of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and gay pride celebrations.
‹–Šƒϐ‹ƒŽ™ƒ”‹‰–Šƒ–Dz‘™Š‘™–‘ϐ‹‰Š–„‡––‡”
than anyone else,” an image of the message being sent as
an email to US President Barack Obama ends the video.
With patriotic slogans, anti-American diatribes and scorn heaped upon those who chose independence from
Russia, the videos seek to rid Russians of any guilt over their imperialistic past — or doubts about a present in
which their country is maligned for its role in the Ukraine crisis.
With subtitles in several languages the video has
stirred curiosity outside the country.
In Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin
— known for his anti-Western rants — tweeted a link
to it proclaiming he too was “a Russian occupier”. As
popular as cat videos — Other videos by the same account follow the same formula: 3D graphics and shock
phrases about the American conspiracy behind the cri•‹•‹”ƒ‹‡ǡƒ…‘‘–Š‡‡‹‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ‡†‹ƒ•‹…‡ƒ
Moscow-backed government in Kiev fell in a pro-West-
ern street revolt in February last year.
It is a message which chimes well with Russians in an
increasingly nationalistic mood after President Vladimir
Putin annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
The owner of the YouTube account, subtitled “Russian Propaganda”, is Evgeny Yurov, 29.
When contacted by AFP through Russian social media site VKontakte, he says he is a graphic designer who
lives in the country’s third largest city, Novosibirsk, in
western Siberia.
He agrees to an interview by email, saying that before
the events in Kiev, “I didn’t care about Russian politics.
But now I need to understand, to explain” protest
movements such as that in Ukraine.
Yurov says he has nothing to do with the Kremlin and
is pleased at the success of his videos.
“You know, I get as many clicks as some cat videos,”
he said.
However it quickly becomes clear that Yurov does
not exist. A PR company named My Duck’s Vision — a
specialist in viral videos — which makes strikingly similar videos to those published on his account, admits his
identity is fake. “We have been producing Russian propƒ‰ƒ†ƒ‘‘——„‡ˆ‘”‘˜‡”ϐ‹˜‡›‡ƒ”•„—––Š‹•‹•‘‡‘ˆ
our major successes,” artistic director Yury Degtyarev
tells AFP of the “Russian Occupier” clip when tracked
down.
The video, he adds, had been ordered “by people
close to the ruling party”. “Ah yes, it’s true, this does destroy the myth of the young patriot willing to do anything for Russia,” he laughs over the revelation.
Propaganda and misinformation are key to Russia’s
special brand of what has been called “hybrid warfare”
— using deception rather than actually declaring war.
The government has hired large communications
companies to defend its views in Europe and the United
States, and is also looking to the Internet to spread its
message. Independent Russian media has reported how
the government hires people to comment on online articles or react to social media comments.
Novaya Gazeta‡™•’ƒ’‡”‹†‡–‹ϐ‹‡†ƒDz–”‘ŽŽˆƒ…–‘”›dz
in the second largest city of Saint Petersburg where
more than 360 people were working to defend the
Kremlin online. My Duck’s Vision does not mince words
about the aims of its videos.
“This is the new weapon of Russian propaganda. And
it always works better when the propaganda seems
spontaneous,” said Degtyarev. — AFP
Disclaimer:7KHYLHZVDQGRSLQLRQVH[SUHVVHGLQWKHVHSDJHVDUHVROHO\WKRVHRIWKHDXWKRUVDQGGRQRWUHÀHFWWKHRSLQLRQRIWKHObserver.
16
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
THE WORLD
Rolex scandal minister rejects
blame for Italy kickbacks
ROME — An Italian minister caught
up in the country’s biggest corruption
scandal in two decades resigned on
Friday, admitting he had to take political responsibility for the rigging of
public works tenders that cost taxpayers billions.
But the outgoing Transport and Infrastructure Minister Maurizio Lupi,
who has not been charged or placed
under formal investigation, insisted
his personal conduct had been beyond reproach.
“I am not here to defend myself
against criminal accusations that
don’t concern me,” Lupi said in his
resignation speech to the lower house
of parliament.
“I’m here to take political responsibility for the choices that I made and
that my ministry made.
“I leave the government with my
head held high.”
Lupi’s impassioned defence came
as new leaks from a probe into the
allocation of 25 billion euros ($26
billion) worth of infrastructural contracts offered fresh evidence in support of claims the minister used his
‹ϐŽ—‡…‡ –‘ ƒ””ƒ‰‡ ƒ –‡’‘”ƒ”›
job for his son through a businessman and a company implicated in the
scam.
Wiretap transcripts published by
Corriere della Sera indicate he repeatedly discussed his son with a former
‹‹•–”› ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽǡ ”…‘Ž‡ …ƒŽœƒǡ ™Š‘
was arrested on Monday and is suspected of being the lynchpin of a cor”—’–‡–™‘”‘ˆ–‘’‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ•ƒ†„—•‹nessmen that judges have dubbed
“the system.”
Lupi categorically denied the
charge of nepotism, saying: “My son
had no need of that. Had I wanted to
do that, and I didn’t, I could have done
‹–ǡ ϐ‹š ƒ Œ‘„ ›•‡Žˆ ˆƒ” ‘”‡ ‡ƒ•‹Ž›ǡdz
Lupi said.
The one error the minister did ad-
‹Ž‡’‹…–—”‡•Š‘™•‡„‡”ƒ†”ƒ•’‘”–ƒ†ˆ”ƒ•–”—…–—”‡‹‹•–‡”ƒ—”‹œ‹‘—’‹ȋȌƒ––‡†‹‰ƒ
•‡••‹‘ƒ––Š‡Ž‘™‡”Š‘—•‡‘ˆƒ”Ž‹ƒ‡–‘…–‘„‡”͸ǡ͸Ͷͷ͹‹‘‡ǤȄ
mit to was not insisting that his son
give back a Rolex watch he was given
as a graduation present by the same
businessman who allegedly arranged
his job, Stefano Perotti.
“I didn’t ask him to give it back. If
this was my mistake, I admit it,” the
55-year-old told deputies, pointing
out that the luxury timepiece was
worth 3,500 euros, rather than the
10,000 euros quoted by the media.
Incalza, Perotti and two others
were arrested on Monday as examining magistrates in Florence placed a
total of 51 people under formal investigation in connection with the public
works probe.
The judges believe the four arrested men controlled the allocation of
contracts in a way that enabled them
—’‹ǯ•‹’ƒ••‹‘‡†
†‡ˆ‡…‡…ƒ‡ƒ•‡™
Ž‡ƒ•ˆ”‘ƒ’”‘„‡
into the allocation
‘ˆ͈͸ͼ„‹ŽŽ‹‘™‘”–Š
of infrastructural
…‘–”ƒ…–•‘ˆˆ‡”‡†ˆ”‡•Š
‡˜‹†‡…‡‹•—’’‘”–
‘ˆ…Žƒ‹•–Š‡‹‹•–‡”
—•‡†Š‹•‹ϔŽ—‡…‡–‘
ƒ””ƒ‰‡ƒ–‡’‘”ƒ”›
job for his son
to skim off between one and three per
cent of their value in “commissions”.
Taxpayers incurred far greater
costs because the skewing of fair competition for contracts is estimated to
have increased the cost of the projects
involved by as much as 40 per cent.
Italy’s pavillion at the upcoming
Milan Expo 15 world fair, sections of
the high-speed rail and motorway
networks, a new port on Sardinia and
metro extensions in Rome and Milan
were among the major works affected.
The Florence judges appear to
have uncovered public sector corruption on a scale unseen since the “Tangentopoli” scandal of early 1990s in
which half the country’s lawmakers
were indicted. — AFP
Ex-Australian leader
Fraser dead at 84
SYDNEY — Former conservative
prime minister Malcolm Fraser, (pictured) who came to power in 1975
after Australia’s greatest constitutional crisis, died on Friday after a
short illness at the age of 84.
‹•†‡ƒ–Š…ƒ‡Œ—•–ϐ‹˜‡‘–Š•ƒˆter the demise of Gough Whitlam, the
man Fraser replaced after the Labor
ϐ‹‰—”‡„‡…ƒ‡—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǯ•‘Ž›’”‹‡
minister to be sacked.
“It is with deep sadness that we
inform you that after a brief illness
John Malcolm Fraser died peacefully
in the early hours of the morning of
20 March 2015,” a statement said.
He leaves wife Tamie and four children.
Fraser, from Australia’s conservative Liberal Party, began his term as
the country’s 22nd prime minister
after the representative of Britain’s
Queen Elizabeth II, Sir John Kerr,
dismissed Whitlam’s government in
November 1975 in a constitutional
crisis.
He was appointed caretaker and
despite persistent questions about
the legitimacy of how he came to ofϐ‹…‡ǡ–Š‡ƒ•‡‡ƒ•ƒ”—–ŠŽ‡••’‘Ž‹tician went on to win three elections,
serving until 1983 and pursuing goals
of reducing spending and responsible
ϐ‹•…ƒŽƒƒ‰‡‡–Ǥ
He was also a strong supporter of
human rights who oversaw an upsurge in immigration from Asia and a
conservationist who banned whaling
in Australia, while helping shape diplomatic and trade relations with East
and Southeast Asia before being succeeded by Labor’s Bob Hawke.
“The constitutional crisis of 1975
™ƒ• ‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ †‡ϐ‹‹‰ ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ
events of our nation,” said Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
“Malcolm Fraser held true to the
belief that his actions were in the best
interests of Australia. He was determined to ‘turn on the lights’ and restore Australia’s economic fortunes.
“The greatest win in Australian
’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽŠ‹•–‘”›…‘ϐ‹”•–Šƒ–Š‡Šƒ†
correctly read the mood of the public.
“He was rightly proud of his government.”
Former Liberal prime minister
John Howard called him a dedicated,
professional and skilful politician.
“Anybody who achieves what
Malcolm Fraser achieved in his life
deserves respect as a quite extraordinary Australian,” he said.
A staunch opponent of apartheid,
Fraser was also noted for taking a
strong stand in supporting reform in
South Africa and playing a prominent
part in the Commonwealth’s efforts to
establish an independent Zimbabwe.
He formed aid group CARE Australia, established the Australian Fed‡”ƒŽ‘Ž‹…‡ǡ‡ƒ…–‡†–Š‡ƒ–‹‘ǯ•ϐ‹”•–
Freedom of Information laws, and
welcomed tens of thousands of Vietnamese boatpeople into the country.
“His public life enshrined other important principles: no truck with race
or colour and no tolerance for whispered notions of exclusivity tinged by
race,” said former Labor prime minister Paul Keating. “These principles
applied throughout his political life.”
Fraser continued to play a high’”‘ϐ‹Ž‡ †‹’Ž‘ƒ–‹… ”‘Ž‡ ƒˆ–‡” Ž‡ƒ˜‹‰
‘ˆϐ‹…‡ǡ Ž‘„„›‹‰ ˆ‘” —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ –‘ Šƒ˜‡
a permanent seat on the UN Security
Council while serving on Commonwealth observer groups overseeing
elections in Pakistan, Tanzania and
Bangladesh. — AFP
Suspended sentence in Picasso ‘stolen works’ trial
‹‡””‡‡
—‡‡…ȋȌƒ†Š‹•™‹ˆ‡ƒ‹‡ŽŽ‡ȋȌƒ””‹˜‡ˆ‘”–Š‡˜‡”†‹…–‘ˆ
–Š‡‹”–”‹ƒŽǤȄ‡—–‡”•
GRASSE — A French court on Friday
handed down a two-year suspended
sentence to a former electrician and
his wife, who hid 271 Picasso works in
their garage for close to 40 years.
The court in the French Riviera
town of Grasse found Pierre and Danielle Le Guennec guilty of possessing
stolen goods, after a trial that made
headlines in France and abroad.
The works have been seized by authorities and will be returned to the
Picasso Administration, which represents the artist’s heirs.
There has been no value placed on
the collection. “We’re disappointed,”
mumbled Pierre Le Guennec, now 75
and retired.
“We’re honest people. Perhaps we
don’t know how to speak,” he added,
before his wife blurted out: “We’re
just little people. We don’t have a great
name.”
Prosecutors had called for the cou-
’Ž‡ –‘ ”‡…‡‹˜‡ ƒ ϐ‹˜‡Ǧ›‡ƒ” •—•’‡†‡†
jail sentence. The couple’s lawyer,
Evelyne Rees, said she would appeal
the verdict. “At 10 am, we had a solar
eclipse and this decision eclipses the
truth,” she said.
Pierre Le Guennec insisted
throughout the trial that the art legend and his wife gave him the treasure
trove when he was working on the last
property they lived in before Picasso
died in 1973.
Dz‹…ƒ••‘ Šƒ† –‘–ƒŽ …‘ϐ‹†‡…‡ ‹
me. Maybe it was my discretion,” Le
Guennec told the court. “Monsieur and
Madame called me ‘little cousin’.”
He said that one day, Picasso’s wife
Jacqueline came up to him and gave
him a box with the 271 works inside,
saying “this is for you.”
When he got home, he found what
he described as “drawings, sketches,
crumpled paper.”
Uninterested in the haul, he put
the box in his garage and discovered it
again decades later in 2009.
He went to Paris the following year
to get the works authenticated at the
Picasso Administration, but the art‹•–ǯ• Š‡‹”• ’”‘’–Ž› ϐ‹Ž‡† ƒ …‘’Žƒ‹–
against him.
One of the artist’s children, Maya
Widmaier-Picasso, said: “It’s a downright cheek to try and make us swallow that story.”
“These works should never have
been removed from the estate and
from the history of art,” said her halfbrother, Claude Ruiz-Picasso.
During the trial, all 271 works, created between 1900 and 1932, were
beamed onto a giant screen in respectful silence.
The court saw drawings of women
and horses, nine very rare Cubist collages from the time Picasso was working with fellow French artist Georges
Braque and a work from his “blue
period,” when he mainly employed
shades of blue and blue-green.
Other more intimate works also
graced the collection, including portraits of his mistress Fernande, draw‹‰•‘ˆŠ‹•ϐ‹”•–™‹ˆ‡Ž‰ƒ‘”ƒ†”ƒ™‹‰
of a horse for his children.
A lot of the evidence during the
trial centred around why none of the
works were signed, with several witnesses saying the artist would sign
everything — partly to ensure against
theft.
According to Gerard Sassier, the
son of Picasso’s long-time chambermaid, the artist once said after a theft
attempt: “Anyway, nothing can be stolen as nothing is signed.”
The defence argued that it would
Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡ ‡š–”‡‡Ž› †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž– –‘ •–‡ƒŽ
from Picasso as the artist had “an
amazing memory” and his property
was heavily protected like a “fortress.”
— AFP
–Š‹‘’‹ƒ„—”•ͼǤͷ–‘‡•‘ˆ‹˜‘”›…‘ϔ‹•…ƒ–‡†‘˜‡”†‡…ƒ†‡•
ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia burnt 6.1
tonnes of ivory on Friday, tusks and
trinkets seized from poachers and
traders over twenty years in a country that has lost 90 per cent of its elephants in just three decades.
‘Ž‹…‡ ƒ† ’ƒ” ‘ˆϐ‹…‡”• ’‘—”‡†
petrol on the stockpile at a ceremony
on a hill in the middle of the capital’s
Gulele Botanic Garden. It was lit by
Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen.
“This is a vital stepping stone for
strengthened activities,” he said of the
symbolic gesture in a speech, referring to more stringent laws against
poaching.
The ash will be used to fertilise
90,000 trees to be planted at the 30
hectare site, and a statue of an elephant will stand among the trees.
Poaching has surged across subSaharan Africa in the past few years,
with gangs killing elephants and rhinos to feed ever-increasing demand elephants were killed in Africa every
year, out of a total population of as
for ivory and horns from Asia.
many as 650,000.
A 2014 UN and Interpol report esNeighbouring Kenya burned 15
timated that about 20,000 to 25,000
‘ƒ…Š‹‰Šƒ•
•—”‰‡†ƒ…”‘•••—„Ǧ
ƒŠƒ”ƒˆ”‹…ƒ
in the past few
›‡ƒ”•ǡ™‹–Š‰ƒ‰•
‹ŽŽ‹‰‡Ž‡’Šƒ–•
ƒ†”Š‹‘•–‘ˆ‡‡†
‡˜‡”Ǧ‹…”‡ƒ•‹‰
†‡ƒ†ˆ‘”‹˜‘”›
ƒ†Š‘”•ˆ”‘
•‹ƒ
tonnes of ivory this month.
Ethiopia has about 1,900 elephants in nine designated sites, the
African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)
said, citing an Ethiopian government
report.
Conservationists say 42 elephants
were killed between 2011 and 2014.
Three have been killed since January
this year.
Dawud Mume Ali, Director-General
of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, said that 492 foreign
nationals — from West Africa, Southeast Asia and the Far East — were
‡‹–Š‡” ’—– ‹ ’”‹•‘ ‘” ϐ‹‡† †—”‹‰
those three years.
“Ethiopia’s wildlife areas are spectacular but their wildlife tourism
infrastructure and capacity for managing protected areas are underdeveloped,” AWF’s Vice-President of
Conservation Strategy, Kathleen Fitzgerald, said.
That meant the country was not
realising all the economic and ecoŽ‘‰‹…ƒŽ „‡‡ϐ‹–• –Š‘•‡ ”‡•‘—”…‡• Šƒ˜‡
‡™‡ŽŽ‡”›ƒ†ƒ”–‹ˆƒ…–•ƒ†‡‘ˆ‹˜‘”›ƒ”‡„—”–‡ƒ”††‹•„ƒ„ƒǤȄ
to offer, she said. — Reuters
17
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
SPORT
Big names chase Hoffmann at Palmer Invitational
ORLANDO — The leaderboard at the
Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando
was jammed with top golfers chasing
young American Morgan Hoffmann,
™Š‘—•‡†ƒ„Žƒœ‹‰ϐ‹‹•Š–‘•‡‹œ‡–Š‡
ϐ‹”•–Ǧ”‘—†Ž‡ƒ†‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
‘ˆˆƒǡ ʹͷǡ ‡ƒ‰Ž‡† –Š‡ ’ƒ”Ǧϐ‹˜‡
sixth, his 15th hole, from a greenside
bunker and nearly holed out from the
ˆƒ‹”™ƒ› ƒ– Š‹• Žƒ•– Š‘Ž‡ ˆ‘” ƒ –ƒ’Ǧ‹
„‹”†‹‡–‘”‡‰‹•–‡”ƒ„‘‰‡›Ǧˆ”‡‡•‹šǦ—Ǧ
†‡”Ǧ’ƒ”͸͸ƒ–ƒ›‹ŽŽǤ
“Pretty crazy, right?” said the
ͳ͵͹–ŠǦ”ƒ‡† ‘ˆˆƒǤ Dz– …ƒ –—”
ƒ”‘—† ’”‡––› “—‹…Ž›Ǥ ‘Ž‹‰ ‘—– ƒ–
–Š‡ •‹š–Š ™ƒ• ƒ ‹…‡ Ž‹––Ž‡ „—’Ǧ—’
–Š‡”‡Ǥ † Ž‘˜‡ ϐ‹‹•Š‹‰ ȋŽ‹‡ –Šƒ–Ȍ
ƒ––Š‡Žƒ•–Š‘Ž‡Ǥdz
Englishman Ian Poulter, who
‡ƒ‰Ž‡† –Š‡ ’ƒ”Ǧϐ‹˜‡ ͳ͸–Šǡ ϐ‹”‡† ƒ ͸͹
to join Americans Kevin Na, Jason
Kokrak, Ken Duke and John Peterson
‘‡•Š‘–‘ˆˆ–Š‡’ƒ…‡Ǥ
Australian Adam Scott, Sweden’s
Henrik Stenson, Irishman Padraig
ƒ””‹‰–‘ ƒ† ‡”‹…ƒ• ”ƒ†–
‡†‡‡”ǡ‹ŽŽ›‘”•…Š‡Žǡ‡‡‰ƒ”ƒǦ
dley and defending champion Matt
Every were among 11 players tied on
͸ͺǤ
World number one Rory McIlroy
hit 17 greens in regulation but failed
to take advantage of opportunities in
’‘•–‹‰͹Ͳ‹Š‹•ϐ‹”•–˜‹•‹––‘ƒ›‹ŽŽǤ
“I felt like I was seeing good signs
out there with my game,” said McIlroy,
25, who is honing his game for a bid
to complete a career grand slam at
‡š–‘–Šǯ•ƒ•–‡”•Ǥ
“I was hitting good shots, but not
really doing anything with them, makǦ
‹‰ƒŽ‘–‘ˆ’ƒ”•ǤŠ‡”‡™‡”‡’‘•‹–‹˜‡
•‹‰•Ǥ ǯŽŽ Œ—•– –”› –‘ …‘‡ ‘—– ƒ†
•Š‘‘–•‘‡–Š‹‰Ž‘™‡”–‘‘””‘™Ǥdz
World number four Scott was also
‘–ƒ–Š‹••Šƒ”’‡•–Ǥ
Dz•…”ƒ„Ž‡†’”‡––›™‡ŽŽǤ…‡”–ƒ‹Ž›
didn’t hit it my best,” said the 2013
ƒ•–‡”•…Šƒ’‹‘Ǥ
Scott, continuing with his return
to a short putter ahead of next year’s
ban of the anchored broomstick
model he had favored, said he was
a little disappointed in the slower
green speeds brought about by some
…‘—”•‡ƒŽ–‡”ƒ–‹‘•Ǥ
“The greens are slower than we’d
ƒŽŽŽ‹‡–Š‹•™‡‡Ǥ‘–‡šƒ…–Ž›™Šƒ–
was hoping for to test my stroke at
the moment leading into Augusta,”
Š‡ •ƒ‹†Ǥ Dz—– ‡˜‡”›–Š‹‰ǯ• ˆ‡‡Ž‹‰
‰‘‘†Ǥdz
McIlroy, meanwhile, was eager to
make his dinner date with tournaǦ
‡–Š‘•–”‘Ž†ƒŽ‡”Ǥ
Dzǯ ‡š…‹–‡† ˆ‘” ‹–Ǥ ǯ˜‡ „‡‡ Ž‘‘Ǧ
ing forward to it for a few weeks now
knowing that I was going to be able to
spend a little time in his company,” he ‘”‰ƒ‘ˆˆƒ–‡‡•‘ˆˆ‘–Š‡Ϳ–Š†—”‹‰–Š‡ϔ‹”•–”‘—†‘ˆ–Š‡”‘Ž†ƒŽ‡”˜‹–ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ’”‡•‡–‡†„›ƒ•–‡”ƒ”†ƒ–ƒ›‹ŽŽŽ—„Ƭ‘†‰‡ǤȄ
•ƒ‹†‰”‹‹‰ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
’‘”–•
—‡†‘‰ƒǡƒ†•–—„‡”
back in Germany squad
Ȅ ‹–Ǧƒ‰ƒ‹ ‹†ϐ‹‡Ž†‡” ŽǦ
kay Guendogan and defender Holger
ƒ†•–—„‡” ”‡–—”‡† –‘ –Š‡ ‡”ƒ›
squad on Friday after long injury abǦ
•‡…‡•Ǥ
Guendogan, who last played for
Germany in August 2013 before
a back injury ruled him out for
ƒŽŽ ‘ˆ Žƒ•– •‡ƒ•‘ǡ ƒ† ƒ†•–—„‡”ǡ
„ƒ… ˆ‘” –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‹‡ •‹…‡ ʹͲͳʹǡ
™‡”‡ ƒ‡† ‹ –Š‡ ʹ͵Ǧƒ •“—ƒ†
for a friendly against Australia on
‡†‡•†ƒ› ƒ† –Š‡ —”‘ ʹͲͳ͸
“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡”‹
‡‘”‰‹ƒ‘—†ƒ›Ǥ
Š‡ ʹͶǦ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž† —‡†‘‰ƒ
ƒ†‡Š‹•‘”—••‹ƒ‘”–—†…‘‡Ǧ
back in October and has been leadǦ
ing their recovery since the winter
break, Juergen Klopp’s side climbǦ
ing to 10th from last place in the
—†‡•Ž‹‰ƒƒˆ–‡”ƒ•‹šǦ‰ƒ‡—„‡ƒ–Ǧ
‡”—Ǥ
ƒ›‡” —‹…Š …‡–”ƒŽ †‡ˆ‡†‡”
ƒ†•–—„‡”ǯ•Žƒ•–ƒ’’‡ƒ”ƒ…‡ˆ‘”
‡”Ǧ
many stretches even further back to
October 2012 before he was sideǦ
lined for more than two years with
consecutive ligament tears and a
—•…Ž‡ ‹Œ—”›Ǥ ‡ ‘Ž› ”‡…‡–Ž› ”‡Ǧ
–—”‡†–‘…Ž—„ƒ…–‹‘Ǥ
Dz‘–Š‘ˆ–Š‡Šƒ˜‡ƒŽ‘‰’ƒ‹ˆ—Ž
periods behind them which luckily
are now gone,” said coach Joachim
‘‡™ ‹ ƒ •–ƒ–‡‡–Ǥ Dz ™ƒ• ‘˜‡†
to see them play football again and
was impressed by how quickly they
”‡ƒ…Š‡†–Š‡‹”–‘’Ž‡˜‡Žƒ‰ƒ‹Ǥdz
ƒ’–ƒ‹ ƒ•–‹ƒ …Š™‡‹•–‡‹‰‡”
‹• ƒŽ•‘ „ƒ… ˆ‘” –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‹‡ •‹…‡
–Š‡ ‘”Ž† —’ ϐ‹ƒŽǡ Šƒ˜‹‰ ”‡…‘˜Ǧ
ered from injury while Mesut Ozil
and Marco Reus, who missed the last
•‡– ‘ˆ “—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡”• –Š”‘—‰Š ‹Œ—”›ǡ ƒŽ•‘
ƒ‡ƒ”‡–—”Ǥ
‘‡™ ƒŽ•‘ ‡’– ˆƒ‹–Š ™‹–Š ‘—–Ǧ
‘ˆǦˆ‘” ™‹‰‡” —ƒ• ‘†‘Ž•‹ǡ
who has got little playing time since
switching from Arsenal to Inter in
Italy during the winter transfer winǦ
†‘™ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
‘Ž‘‰‡ǯ••–”‹‡”‹Ž˜ƒ”—ƒȋŽ‡ˆ–Ȍƒ†‘”–—†ǯ•‹†ϔ‹‡Ž†‡”Žƒ›
—‡†‘‰ƒ˜‹‡ˆ‘”–Š‡„ƒŽŽ†—”‹‰–Š‡—†‡•Ž‹‰ƒ‹‘”–—†ǤȄ
Messi wary of wounded Real Madrid
MADRID Ȅ ‘—”Ǧ–‹‡ ‘”Ž† Žƒ›‡”
of the Year Lionel Messi has warned
Š‹• –‡ƒǦƒ–‡• ‘– –‘ –ƒ‡ ‡ƒŽ ƒǦ
drid lightly, despite their contrasting
form ahead of Sunday’s crucial La
‹‰ƒ…Žƒ•Šƒ––Š‡ƒ’‘—Ǥ
ƒ”…ƒ ‰‘ ‹–‘ –Š‡ ‰ƒ‡ •–‹ŽŽ ‘
course to win the treble for just the
second time in the club’s history afǦ
–‡”ƒͳ͹–Š™‹‹ͳͺ‰ƒ‡•‘˜‡”ƒǦ
chester City on Wednesday secured
their place in the last eight of the
Champions League for the eighth conǦ
•‡…—–‹˜‡•‡ƒ•‘Ǥ
› …‘–”ƒ•–ǡ ƒ†”‹† Šƒ˜‡ Ž‘•–
ϐ‹˜‡‘ˆ–Š‡‹”ͳ͸‰ƒ‡•‹ʹͲͳͷ•‘ˆƒ”
™‹–Š•‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡‘•Žƒ…‘•ˆƒ‹–Šˆ—Ž
rounding on star players Cristiano
‘ƒŽ†‘ ƒ† ƒ”‡–Š ƒŽ‡ǡ ƒ• ™‡ŽŽ ƒ•
…‘ƒ…Šƒ”Ž‘…‡Ž‘––‹Ǥ
Dz‡Šƒ˜‡ƒŽ‘–‘ˆ”‡•’‡…–ˆ‘”–Š‡Ǥ
When Madrid are like this is when
they are at their most dangerous,”
said Messi, whose brilliant form has
„‡‡ –Š‡ …ƒ–ƒŽ›•– ˆ‘” ƒ”…ƒǯ• ”‹•‡ ‹
”‡…‡–‘–Š•Ǥ
Messi has struck 20 times in his
last 17 games to usurp Ronaldo as La
Liga’s top scorer this season by two
‰‘ƒŽ•ǤDzŠ‡›Šƒ˜‡ƒ‰”‡ƒ––‡ƒˆ—ŽŽ‘ˆ
„”‹ŽŽ‹ƒ–‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ•ǡdzƒ††‡†‡••‹Ǥ
“We will try to face the game like
we do every match, to play our game
ƒ† ™‹Ǥdz ƒ†”‹†ǯ• •Ž‹’Ǧ—’• ‹ ”‡…‡–
weeks mean the European champiǦ
‘• ‘™ –”ƒ‹Ž ƒ”…ƒ „› ƒ ’‘‹– ™‹–Š
Œ—•–ͳͳ‰ƒ‡•–‘’Žƒ›Ǥ
And Andres Iniesta knows that vicǦ
tory for the hosts on Sunday would
„‡ƒŠ—‰‡•–‡’–‘™ƒ”†•ƒϐ‹ˆ–Šƒ‹‰ƒ
–‹–Ž‡‹•‡˜‡›‡ƒ”•ˆ‘”–Š‡ƒ–ƒŽƒ•Ǥ
PROMISING RETURNS
“We have prepared for Clasicos in
‡˜‡”› ™ƒ› ‹ –Š‡ ’ƒ•–Ǥ Š‡› ƒ”‡ ‘‡Ǧ
off matches no matter how the teams
…‘‡‹–‘–Š‡‰ƒ‡Ǥ†‘ǯ––Š‹ƒǦ
drid are in bad shape,” said the SpanǦ
‹•Š‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽǤ
ƒ”…‡Ž‘ƒǯ•‹‘‡Ž‡••‹–ƒ‡•ƒ•–”‹‡ƒ•ƒ…Š‡•–‡”‹–›ǯ•‘‡ƒ”–•ƒ˜‡•†—”‹‰–Š‡Šƒ’‹‘•‡ƒ‰—‡
ƒ–…Šƒ––Š‡‘—ƒ’‹ƒ”…‡Ž‘ƒǤȄ‡—–‡”•
“We have to play well and be at our
„‡•–ǤŠ‡”‡‹•ǯ–ƒŽ‘‰–‹‡—–‹Ž–Š‡
‰ƒ‡ ƒ† ƒŽŽ –Š‡ •ƒŽŽ †‡–ƒ‹Ž• …‘—–Ǥ
If we do things right on Sunday then
‹–…‘—Ž†„‡ƒ‰”‡ƒ–†ƒ›Ǥdz
‡”‰‹‘ —•“—‡–• ‹•ǯ– ‡š’‡…–‡† –‘
recover from an ankle injury in time
to make his return, so Luis Enrique
is expected to make just one change
from the side that started against City
™‹–Š Žƒ—†‹‘ ”ƒ˜‘ ”‡’Žƒ…‹‰ ƒ”…Ǧ
†”‡–‡”–‡‰‡‹‰‘ƒŽǤ
Madrid boss Ancelotti all but adǦ
‹––‡† Š‹• •–ƒ”–‹‰ Ž‹‡Ǧ—’ Šƒ† „‡‡
decided for him by the promising reǦ
turns from injury made by Luka MoǦ
dric and Sergio Ramos in last weekǦ
‡†ǯ•ʹǦͲ™‹‘˜‡”‡˜ƒ–‡Ǥ
“I think it is quite clear for everyǦ
‘‡ǡdz•ƒ‹†–Š‡–ƒŽ‹ƒǤDzŠ‡”‡™‘ǯ–„‡
ƒ›•—”’”‹•‡•Ǥdz
Modric will be reunited with Toni
”‘‘•ƒ†•…‘‹‹†ϐ‹‡Ž†™‹–Šƒ‡•
‘†”‹‰—‡œ ‘™ –Š‡ ‘Ž› •‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–
‹Œ—”›ƒ„•‡–‡‡Ǥ
‡ƒ™Š‹Ž‡ǡ ƒŽ‡ǯ• ϐ‹”•– –™‘ ‰‘ƒŽ•
in nine outings will ensure his place
up front alongside Ronaldo and KaǦ
”‹‡œ‡ƒǤ
‡ˆ‘”‡ –Š‡ „ƒŽŽ ‹• ‹…‡† ƒ– –Š‡
Camp Nou, though, Valencia could
force their way into an unexpected
–Š”‡‡Ǧ™ƒ› ϐ‹‰Š– ˆ‘” –Š‡ –‹–Ž‡ ™‹–Š ˜‹…Ǧ
–‘”›ƒ–Ž…Š‡‘”‹†ƒ›‹‰Š–Ǥ
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have
dropped just two points in their last
six games and would move to within
ϐ‹˜‡‘ˆƒ”…‡Ž‘ƒ™‹–Šƒ‘–Š‡”™‹Ǥ
Atletico Madrid are just a further
point adrift of Valencia and will need
to shake off the fatigue and knocks
accumulated in their tense progresǦ
sion to the Champions League quarǦ
–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ• ‘ ’‡ƒŽ–‹‡• ‘˜‡” ƒ›‡”
Leverkusen in midweek to stay in
…‘–‡–‹‘ˆ‘”ƒ–‘’ˆ‘—”ϐ‹‹•ŠǤ
Miguel Angel Moya, Raul GarǦ
cia and Mario Mandzukic all picked
up injuries that will keep them out
for the visit of Getafe to the Vicente
ƒŽ†‡”‘‘ƒ–—”†ƒ›ǤȄ
Fifa triples World Cup player compensation ‘City won’t surrender
ZURICH — Fifa said on Friday it will
pay more than $415 million for playǦ
‡”• ™Š‘ –ƒ‡ ’ƒ”– ‹ –Š‡ ʹͲͳͺ ƒ†
2022 World Cups, with most of the
…ƒ•Š‰‘‹‰–‘–‘’—”‘’‡ƒ…Ž—„•Ǥ
The European Club Association
said it will also get a bigger say on
dates for internationals under the
new accord with the global governǦ
ing body which the ECA chief called a
Dz‹Ž‡•–‘‡dzˆ‘”…Ž—„’‘™‡”Ǥ
The accord could end EuropeǦ
an demands for compensation for
changing the dates of the 2022 Qatar
‘”Ž†—’–‘‘˜‡„‡”Ǧ‡…‡„‡”Ǥ
It was announced one day after
‹ˆƒ ϐ‹š‡† ‡…‡„‡” ͳͺ ƒ• –Š‡ †ƒ–‡
‘ˆ–Š‡ʹͲʹʹ‘”Ž†—’ϐ‹ƒŽȄƒ––Š‡
Š‡‹‰Š–‘ˆ–Š‡—”‘’‡ƒ•‡ƒ•‘Ǥ
Fifa will hand over $209 million to
clubs with players on duty for each of
the next two World Cups, under the
deal signed by Fifa President Sepp
Žƒ––‡” ƒ† Š‹‡ˆ ƒ”ŽǦ‡‹œ
—‡‹‰‰‡ǡ Šƒ‹”ƒ ‘ˆ ƒ›‡”
—‹…ŠǤ
Š‡ ϐ‹‰—”‡ ‹• –Š”‡‡ –‹‡• –Š‡ ̈́͹Ͳ
million paid out by Fifa to clubs after
–Š‡ʹͲͳͶ‘”Ž†—’Ǥ
As three quarters of the players
ƒ––Š‡”ƒœ‹Ž–‘—”ƒ‡–™‡”‡—†‡”
contract with European clubs, the
’ƒ›‡–•™‡–ƒ‹Ž›–‘—”‘’‡Ǥ
“We are taking a huge step forǦ
ward in promoting relations betwen
Fifa and the clubs in a spirit of mutual
and constructive cooperation,” said
Žƒ––‡”‹ƒ•–ƒ–‡‡–ƒ‘—…‹‰–Š‡
accord which lifts another obstacle to
ƒ•‘‘–Š‘”Ž†—’‹ƒ–ƒ”Ǥ
Žƒ––‡” Šƒ† ƒ– ϐ‹”•– ”‡Œ‡…–‡† †‡Ǧ
mands for compensation made by the
ECA after a Fifa working group called
for the Qatar World Cup to be moved
to the winter months because of the
scorching summer temperatures in
–Š‡ —Žˆ •–ƒ–‡Ǥ —– Žƒ––‡” ƒ† —Ǧ
menigge have since held talks on
increasing the payments for players
…ƒŽŽ‡†‘‘”Ž†—’†—–›Ǥ
CLUB POWER ‘MILESTONE’
“In serious and fair negotiations,
the ECA has agreed with Fifa on a
transparent economic and organisaǦ
tional cooperation until 2022,” RumǦ
‡‹‰‰‡…‘‡–‡†Ǥ
Dz‘” –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‹‡ǡ –Š‡ —”‘’‡ƒ
clubs will have a direct say on the
international match calendar, which
™ƒ•˜‡”›‹’‘”–ƒ––‘‡’‡”•‘ƒŽŽ›Ǥ
“As a result, the ECA will be activeǦ
ly involved and contribute construcǦ
tively to the design of the calendar,
‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ›ˆ‘”ʹͲʹʹǤdz
Rummenigge said the Fifa payǦ
‡–•Dz™‹ŽŽ„‡‡ϐ‹–…Ž—„•ˆ”‘ƒ”‘—†
the world who release World Cup
players to their respective national
ƒ••‘…‹ƒ–‹‘•Ǥ
“From an ECA perspective, this
ƒ‰”‡‡‡– ‹• ƒ ‰”‡ƒ– ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡‡–Ǥ
It marks another milestone for club
football as a whole,” said the ECA
„‘••Ǥ
A top Fifa executive member who
has been a critic of the Qatar World
Cup said that everyone must get on
™‹–Šƒ‹‰–Š‡‡˜‡–ƒ•—……‡••Ǥ
‹‘›…‡ǡ”‹–ƒ‹ǯ•‹ˆƒ‹…‡Ǧ”‡•‹Ǧ
dent, said the 2022 World Cup would
„‡ƒ‘‡Ǧ‘ˆˆ™‹–‡”–‘—”ƒ‡–Ǥ
“It’s one year out of the calendar
and I think if everyone works togethǦ
er for one year we can work it out
–‘ ƒ‡ •—”‡ ‡˜‡”›‘‡ ‹• •ƒ–‹•ϐ‹‡†ǡdz
‘›…‡–‘Ž†”‡’‘”–‡”•‘–Š‡•‹†‡Ž‹‡•
of a Fifa executive committee meetǦ
‹‰Ǥ
“There is always going to be someǦ
‘‡ ™Š‘ ™‹ŽŽ …‘’Žƒ‹ǡdz •ƒ‹† ‘›…‡
who has in the past said there should
be a revote for the 2022 World Cup if
corruption claims were proved and
who spoke strongly against a summer
‘”Ž†—’‹–Š‡
—Žˆ•–ƒ–‡Ǥ
‘›…‡ •ƒ‹† –Š‡”‡ ™‡”‡ …Ž‡ƒ” „‡Ǧ
‡ϐ‹–•ˆ‘”ƒ™‹–‡”‘”Ž†—’Ǥ
“All the spectators who are going
to Qatar will have a wonderful time
ˆ”‘ƒ…Ž‹ƒ–‡’‘‹–‘ˆ˜‹‡™Ǥ
“And the players could be fresher
than they have ever been for a World
Cup — so let’s get on with it,” deǦ
…Žƒ”‡†–Š‡‹ˆƒ˜‹…‡Ǧ’”‡•‹†‡–ǤȄ
–Š‡–‹–Ž‡™‹–Š‘—–ƒϐ‹‰Š–ǯ
MANCHESTER, UK — Manchester
City captain Vincent Kompany insists
his side have not completely written
off the rest of the season ahead of
–Š‡‹” …Žƒ•Š ™‹–Š ‡•– ”‘™‹…Š ŽǦ
„‹‘‘ƒ–—”†ƒ›Ǥ
City were knocked out of the
Šƒ’‹‘• ‡ƒ‰—‡ „› ƒ”…‡Ž‘ƒ ‘
‡†‡•†ƒ›ƒˆ–‡”ƒͳǦͲŽƒ•–ͳ͸•‡…‘†
leg loss at the Nou Camp which saw
–Š‡‡š‹––Š‡…‘’‡–‹–‹‘͵Ǧͳ‘ƒ‰Ǧ
‰”‡‰ƒ–‡Ǥ
Manuel Pellegrini’s team are also
trailing six points behind Premier
League leaders Chelsea as they preǦ
pare for Saturday’s match at EastǦ
Žƒ†•Ǥ
Chelsea also have a game in hand
‘ ‹–›ǡ ƒ‹‰ –Š‡ ϐ‹” –‹–Ž‡ ˆƒǦ
vourites, but even though the odds
are stacked against the reigning
…Šƒ’‹‘•ǡ ‡Ž‰‹ƒ †‡ˆ‡†‡” ‘Ǧ
pany refuses to give up hope of a late
…Šƒ”‰‡–‘”‡–ƒ‹–Š‡–”‘’Š›Ǥ
Dz‘”‰‡– ƒ„‘—– Š‡Ž•‡ƒǤ ‘” —•ǡ –‘
ourselves, we owe it to ourselves, to
our fans to have a good end to this
…ƒ’ƒ‹‰ǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
DzŠ‡ƒ‰ƒ‹‹ˆ™‡ϐ‹‹•Š–Š‹•…ƒǦ
paign as good as we can, maybe
–Š‡”‡‹••–‹ŽŽ•‘‡–Š‹‰‹‹–Ǥ
Dz‡ ™‹ŽŽ Šƒ˜‡ –‘ •‡‡Ǥ – ‹• ‘– ‹
our hands by any means, but we just
have to go back and work hard and
‹’”‘˜‡Ǥdz
City host Albion looking to put
–Š‡‹” †‹•ƒ’’‘‹–‹‰ ‡š‹– –‘ ƒ”…‡Ž‘Ǧ
ƒ„‡Š‹†–Š‡Ǥ
And England goalkeeper Joe
ƒ”–ǡ ™Š‘ ’”‘†—…‡† ƒ •—’‡”„ ƒǦ
‘ˆǦ–Š‡Ǧƒ–…Š ’‡”ˆ‘”ƒ…‡ ƒ‰ƒ‹•–
the Spanish giants, insists City’s
players will be able to concentrate
on the task in hand against West
”‘Ǥ Dz‡ǯ˜‡ ‰‘– –‘ ”‡ˆ‘…—•Ǥ Š‡”‡
are going to be tired people but
we’ve got a fantastic squad here,” he
•ƒ‹†ǤȄ
18
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 5
SPORT
Murray cruises, Djokovic enters semifinal
INDIAN WELLS, United States —
Andy Murray set a record for Open
Era wins by a British man with a 6-3,
6-4 victory over Feliciano Lopez to
reach the Indian Wells ATP Masters
•‡‹ϐ‹ƒŽ•‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
Fourth seed Murray booked a
showdown with defending champion
Novak Djokovic, who won his match
in a walkover when Bernard Tomic
withdrew from their scheduled quar–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ ‹ –Š‡ ƒ† Šƒ”†…‘—”––‘—”ƒ‡–Ǥ
Murray now has 497 match wins,
surpassing Tim Henman for the most
‹–Š‡’‡”ƒ„›ƒ”‹–‹•Š’Žƒ›‡”Ǥ
The 27-year-old Scot continued
his domination over the Spanish
lefthander Lopez, having won all 10
…ƒ”‡‡”ƒ–…Š‡•„‡–™‡‡–Š‡–™‘Ǥ
“His game style I think matches up
quite well against mine,” said Murray,
now just three wins shy of the 500™‹‹Ž‡•–‘‡ǤDz†‘ǯ–Šƒ˜‡ƒ•—…Š
–”‘—„Ž‡™‹–Š–Š‡Ž‡ˆ–‹‡•Ǥ
Dz ™ƒ• ƒ„Ž‡ –‘ †‡ƒŽ ™‹–Š Š‹• †‹ˆϐ‹cult spins today, but it was tough be…ƒ—•‡Š‡ˆ‘—‰Š–”‹‰Š––‘–Š‡‡†Ǥdz
Murray blasted four aces and won
‘˜‡” ͹Ͳ ’‡” …‡– ‘ˆ Š‹• ϐ‹”•– ƒ† •‡…ond serve points in the one hour, 32
‹—–‡ƒ–…ŠǤ
Lopez came into the match leading the tournament in aces with 46 in
–Š”‡‡ ƒ–…Š‡•Ǥ —– –Š‡ ͳʹ–Š •‡‡†‡†
’ƒ‹ƒ”† ƒƒ‰‡† Œ—•– ϐ‹˜‡ ƒ‰ƒ‹•–
—””ƒ›‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
Murray ended his historic 2013
Ȅ ™Š‡”‡ Š‡ „‡…ƒ‡ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ”‹–‹•Š
man to win Wimbledon in 77 years —
™Š‡Š‡Šƒ†„ƒ…•—”‰‡”›ǤŠ‡”‡Šƒ„
took time and he was not the same
’Žƒ›‡”‹ʹͲͳͶǤ
But Murray began to get back
into form at the end of last year and
‘—–Ǥ
—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǯ• ‘‹… ƒ†‡ Š‹• †‡…‹sion to withdraw several hours before
his match was to open the evening
•‡••‹‘ǡƒŽŽ‘™‹‰Œ‘‘˜‹…ƒˆ”‡‡’ƒ••Ǥ
Tomic hopes to get the tooth taken
care of in Miami where another prestigious hardcourt tournament starts
‡š–™‡‡Ǥ
— Double whammy for Tomic —
Dzǯ ‘ ‡†‹…ƒ–‹‘ –Š‡ Žƒ•– ˆ‡™
days for the infected area, my wisdom
–‘‘–ŠǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Dzǯ•…ƒ”‡†–‘”—‘–Š‡„ƒ…ǡƒ•
™‡ŽŽǤ
“Maybe if one of those things
™ƒ•ǯ– –Š‡”‡ …‘—Ž† Šƒ˜‡ ’Žƒ›‡†ǡ „—–
Šƒ˜‹‰–™‘‹•‘–‰‘‘†Ǥdz
Tomic said his status for the Miƒ‹–‘—”ƒ‡–‹•—’‹–Š‡ƒ‹”Ǥ
Dzǯ†Ž‹‡–‘’Žƒ›‹–ǡ„—–‹ˆ–Š‡”‡‹•ƒ
opportunity to get that wisdom tooth
‘—– „‡ˆ‘”‡ ‹ƒ‹ǡ ’”‘„ƒ„Ž› ™‘ǯ–
’Žƒ›‹‹ƒ‹Ǥ—–‹–™‹ŽŽ…‘‡†‘™
to next few days before I decide,” he
•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Œ‘‘˜‹… ™‹ŽŽ ‰‡– ƒ ‡š–”ƒ †ƒ›ǯ•
”‡•–„‡ˆ‘”‡Š‡ˆƒ…‡•—””ƒ›Ǥ‡Ž‡ƒ†•
–Š‡‹”…ƒ”‡‡”…‘–‡•–•ͳ͸ǦͺǤ
But Murray has had some of his
biggest career wins against Djokovic
ƒ† ‹• ’Žƒ›‹‰ ™‹–Š ’Ž‡–› ‘ˆ …‘ϐ‹†‡…‡”‹‰Š–‘™Ǥ
“Until last year our head to head
™ƒ• ’”‡––› …Ž‘•‡ǡdz —””ƒ› •ƒ‹†Ǥ Dz‘—
know, last year was a tough year for
‡ǡ ‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ› –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– •‹šǡ •‡˜‡
‘–Š•Ǥ
Dz‡ǯ• ’Žƒ›‡† ‡š–”‡‡Ž› ™‡ŽŽ Š‡”‡
†›—””ƒ›ȋ
Ȍ†—”‹‰Š‹•“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽƒ–…Šƒ‰ƒ‹•–‡Ž‹…‹ƒ‘‘’‡œȋȌ‹–Š‡ƒ”‹„ƒ•‘’‡ƒ––Š‡†‹ƒ‡ŽŽ•‡‹•
ƒ”†‡Ǥ—””ƒ›
‹–Š‡’ƒ•–Ǥ‡™‹ŽŽ„‡–‘–ƒŽŽ›ˆ”‡•Šƒ•
™‘ͼǦ͹ǡͼǦͺǤȄ’‘”–•
™‡ŽŽƒ†”‡ƒ†›ˆ‘”–Š‡•‡‹•Ǥ
“But I feel like I played well this
‹• ‘™ ‡ƒ‰‡” –‘ ™‹ Š‹• ϐ‹”•– †‹ƒ ƒˆƒ‡Žƒ†ƒŽ‹–Š‡ϐ‹ƒŽǤ
“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ• –Š‹• ›‡ƒ” ‹ —„ƒ‹ ƒ† vanced to the semis without lifting week and if I can keep that level up
his racquet after a bad back and pain- and for a sustained period on Satur‡ŽŽ•–‹–Ž‡–Š‹•™‡‡Ǥ‹•„‡•–ϐ‹‹•Š‹•
He was also runner up at Janu- ‘––‡”†ƒǤ
a runner-up in 2009, when he lost to ƒ”›ǯ• —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ ’‡ ƒ† Ž‘•– ‹ –Š‡
World number one Djokovic ad- ful wisdom tooth forced Tomic to pull †ƒ›ǡǯŽŽŠƒ˜‡ƒ…Šƒ…‡ǤdzȄ
Petulant Ronaldo under Clasico scrutiny Lisicki ends Pennetta’s
MADRID — With Real Madrid in fullyblown crisis mode following back-toback defeats and a trip to Barcelona
‘ –Š‡ Š‘”‹œ‘ǡ Žƒ•– ™‡‡‡†ǯ• ʹǦͲ
win over lowly Levante should have
been a cause for celebration around
–Š‡ƒ–‹ƒ‰‘‡”ƒ„‡—Ǥ
‘”‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡‹”—†‡”Ǧϐ‹”‡•–ƒ”•ǡƒ–
Ž‡ƒ•–ǡ ‹– ™ƒ•Ǥ ƒ”‡–Š ƒŽ‡ ”‡•’‘†‡†
–‘ –Š‡ ϐ‹‡”…‡•– …”‹–‹…‹• Š‡ Šƒ• ˆƒ…‡†
in his 20-month spell in the Spanish
…ƒ’‹–ƒŽ™‹–ŠŠ‹•ϐ‹”•––™‘‰‘ƒŽ•‹‹‡
‰ƒ‡•Ǥ
Š‡ ‡Ž•Šƒ ”‡ƒ…–‡† –‘ Š‹• ϐ‹”•–
strike by covering his ears to mock
the boos and whistles his own fans
Šƒ†‰”‡‡–‡†Š‹™‹–Šϐ‹˜‡†ƒ›•’”‡˜‹‘—•Ž›‹ƒ•Š‘…ͶǦ͵†‡ˆ‡ƒ–„›…ŠƒŽ‡Ǥ
‡– ‘– ‡˜‡”›‘‡ ™ƒ• –Š”‹ŽŽ‡†Ǥ
”‹•–‹ƒ‘ ‘ƒŽ†‘ǯ• ”‡•’‘•‡ –‘ ƒŽ‡
ϐ‹”‹‰ Š‘‡ ƒˆ–‡” Š‹• ‹‹–‹ƒŽ ‡ˆˆ‘”–
had been headed off the line by Ivan
Ramis was more in tune with watching the opposition score than his one
‘ˆŠ‹•–‡ƒǦƒ–‡•Ǥ
Dz‘ƒŽ†‘ǯ• ‡š–”ƒ‘”†‹ƒ”‹Ž› •–”‘’py reaction to Bale scoring from a
rebound from his effort was bizarre
and unhealthy,” tweeted former EngŽƒ†‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ
ƒ”›‹‡ƒ”Ǥ
The Portuguese striker could
barely hide his frustration once
more when Bale was then credited
™‹–Š ‡ƒŽǯ• •‡…‘† ƒˆ–‡” Š‹• †”‹˜‡
cannoned in off the former Spurs
ƒǯ•Ž‡ˆ–Ž‡‰Ǥ
That led to the quite unbelievƒ„Ž‡•‹–—ƒ–‹‘™Š‡”‡ƒŽ‡ǯ•ƒ‡™ƒ•
again whistled by the Bernabeu for
having the audacity to claim a goal
–Šƒ–™ƒ•”‹‰Š–Ž›Š‹•Ǥ
Dz• ƒ ˆƒǡ †‘ǯ– Ž‹‡ –‘ •‡‡ ”‹•-
Wells’ repeat bid
‡ƒŽƒ†”‹†ǯ•”‹•–‹ƒ‘‘ƒŽ†‘ȋ”‹‰Š–Ȍ…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‡•ƒ‰‘ƒŽ„›–‡ƒǦƒ–‡
ƒ”‡–ŠƒŽ‡ȋ‘–’‹…–—”‡†Ȍƒ‰ƒ‹•–
‡˜ƒ–‡ǡ™‹–Š–‡ƒǦƒ–‡ƒ‹ƒ”˜ƒŒƒŽȋŽ‡ˆ–Ȍ†—”‹‰–Š‡‹”’ƒ‹•Š‹”•–‹˜‹•‹‘ƒ–…Šƒ–ƒ–‹ƒ‰‘‡”ƒ„‡—
‹ƒ†”‹†ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
tiano Ronaldo like this, but that is
what he is like” said Madrid legend
Carlos Santillana, who Ronaldo recently overtook to become the third
Š‹‰Š‡•– ‰‘ƒŽ•…‘”‡” ‹ –Š‡ …Ž—„ǯ• Š‹•–‘”›Ǥ
“He ought to cut out that cocky at–‹–—†‡Ǥdz
HUMILIATED
‘ƒŽ†‘ǯ•ƒ””‘‰ƒ…‡Šƒ•Ž‘‰„‡‡
seen as part of the formula which has
made him such a great player and
almost untouchable in the Spanish
…ƒ’‹–ƒŽǤ
His record of 293 goals in 285
games since joining from Manchester
United six years ago means it is not a
matter of if he will surpass Raul to be-
…‘‡ ƒ†”‹†ǯ• –‘’ ƒ”•‡ ‘ˆ ƒŽŽǦ
time but when, and he looks set to do
‹–‹ͶͲͲˆ‡™‡”ƒ’’‡ƒ”ƒ…‡•Ǥ
Moreover, he has won back-to„ƒ… ƒŽŽ‘ †ǯ”• ƒ† Ž‡† ‘• Žƒ…‘• –‘ –Š‡‹” …‘˜‡–‡† Ǯƒ ‡…‹ƒǯ Ȅ ƒ
tenth European Cup — with a competition record 17 goals in one season
Ž‡••–Šƒƒ›‡ƒ”ƒ‰‘ǤȄ
Real draw Atletico as PSG defy Barcelona
‹Šƒ’‹‘•‡ƒ‰—‡“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ•
ǡ Switzerland — Holders Real
Madrid will have to overcome city rivals Atletico in the Champions League
“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ•ǡ‹ƒ”‡’‡ƒ–‘ˆŽƒ•–›‡ƒ”ǯ•
ϐ‹ƒŽǡ ™Š‹Ž‡ ƒ”…‡Ž‘ƒ ˆƒ…‡ ˆƒ‹Ž‹ƒ”
‘’’‘‡–•‹ƒ”‹•ƒ‹–Ǧ
‡”ƒ‹ƒˆ–‡”–Š‡†”ƒ™ƒ†‡”‹†ƒ›‹›‘Ǥ
Portuguese giants Porto host Bay‡”—‹…Š‘ˆ
‡”ƒ›‹–Š‡ϐ‹”•–Ž‡‰
of their last eight match up while Italian champions Juventus host the Monaco side who knocked out English
•‹†‡”•‡ƒŽ‹‹†™‡‡Ǥ
Sergio Ramos equalised in the dying minutes in Lisbon last year to
•‡† –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ –‘ ‡š–”ƒǦ–‹‡ „‡ˆ‘”‡
Real prevailed 4-1 over Diego Sime‘‡ǯ•–Ž‡–‹…‘ˆ‘”–Š‡‹”ͳͲ–Š—”‘’‡ƒ
…”‘™Ǥ
Atletico are the Spanish champions and currently third in La Liga
with Real seven points above them
in second and Barcelona top of the
league and one point above Carlo An…‡Ž‘––‹ǯ•‰Žƒ‘—”•‹†‡Ž‡†„›”‹•–‹ƒ‘
‘ƒŽ†‘Ǥ
ƒ”…‡Ž‘ƒ ƒ† ‡– ‹ –Š‡
group stages with both teams winning their respective home ties while
–Š‡› ƒŽ•‘ ‡– ‹ –Š‡ ʹͲͳ͵ “—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹nals when the Spaniards prevailed on
ƒ™ƒ›‰‘ƒŽ•ƒˆ–‡”ƒ͵Ǧ͵ƒ‰‰”‡‰ƒ–‡†”ƒ™Ǥ
The French champions will be
without suspended star striker Zla–ƒ„”ƒŠ‹‘˜‹…ˆ‘”–Š‡ϐ‹”•–Ž‡‰ƒˆ–‡”
the Swede was given a one match ban
Porto host Bayern
Munich while
Juventus host
Monaco
following his sending off in the lastͳ͸˜‹…–‘”›‘˜‡”Š‡Ž•‡ƒǤ
Barca, who overcame Manchester
City 3-1 on aggregate, are on track for
a treble of Liga, Copa del Rey and the
Champions League trophies as their
Š‹‰ŠϐŽ›‹‰•‹†‡”‹†‡‘–Š‡…”‡•–‘ˆƒ
streak that has seen them win 17 of
–Š‡‹”Žƒ•–ͳͺƒ–…Š‡•Ǥ
‘”–‘ ™‘ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” –™‘
European Cups in 1987 when they
†‡ˆ‡ƒ–‡† ƒ›‡”ǡ –Š‡‹” “—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ
‘’’‘‡–•ǡ‹‹‡ƒǤ
Finally Serie A leaders Juventus,
who won the competition in 1985
ƒ†ͳͻͻ͸ǡ–ƒ‡‘ʹͲͲͶϐ‹ƒŽ‹•–•‘ƒ…‘ ™‹–Š –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– Ž‡‰ •…Š‡†—Ž‡† ˆ‘”
—”‹Ǥ
First leg matches will be played on
’”‹Ž ͳͶȀͳͷ ™‹–Š –Š‡ ”‡–—” Ž‡‰• ‘
’”‹ŽʹͳȀʹʹǤ
Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ ™‹ŽŽ „‡ ’Žƒ›‡† ‹ ‡”Ž‹
‘—‡͸ǤȄ
INDIAN WELLS, United States —
Sabine Lisicki was too much for defending champion Flavia Pennetta on
Thursday, saving three match points
in a three-set win over the Italian
–‘ „‘‘ Š‡” †‹ƒ ‡ŽŽ• •‡‹ϐ‹ƒŽ
„‡”–ŠǤ
Pennetta had hoped to repeat
her surprise victory of last year, and
managed to save one match point before running out of gas in the mara–Š‘“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽǡ™‘͸ǦͶǡ͸Ǧ͹ȋ͵Ȁ͹Ȍǡ
͹Ǧ͸ȋ͹ȀͶȌ„›–Š‡ʹͶ–Š•‡‡†ˆ”‘
‡”ƒ›Ǥ
Former Wimbledon runner-up
Lisicki needed two hours and 40
minutes to fashion the victory, which
set up a clash with another former
…Šƒ’‹‘ǡ‡”„‹ƒ‡Ž‡ƒƒ‘˜‹…Ǥ
“Everything happened tonight,”
‡‡––ƒ •ƒ‹†Ǥ Dzƒ–…Š ’‘‹– ˆ‘” ‘‡ǡ
ƒ–…Š’‘‹–ˆ‘”–Š‡‘–Š‡”‘‡Ǥ
Dz‡‹• ‹• Ž‹‡ –Š‹•Ǥ ǯ Šƒ’’›
about the match, but of course I am
upset, because when you are there,
›‘— ™ƒ– –‘ ™‹ ‹–Ǥdz ˆ–‡” †”‘’’‹‰
–Š‡ϐ‹”•–•‡–ǡ‡‡––ƒ•ƒ˜‡†ƒƒ–…Š
’‘‹–‹–Š‡ͳͲ–Š‰ƒ‡‘ˆ–Š‡•‡…‘†Ǥ
She went on to take the game three
’‘‹–•Žƒ–‡”–‘‡˜‡–Š‡•‡–ƒ–ͷǦͷǤ
Lisicki clinched the victory in draƒ–‹… ˆƒ•Š‹‘ ™‹–Š Š‡” ϐ‹ˆ–Š ƒ…‡ ‘ˆ
–Š‡ƒ–…Š‹–Š‡–Š‹”†Ǧ•‡––‹‡„”‡ƒ‡”Ǥ
She celebrated by letting go of her
racquet and dropping to her knees
before going to the net for a long
embrace with her equally-exhausted
‘’’‘‡–Ǥ‹•‹…‹™‘͹ͷ’‡”…‡–‘ˆ
Š‡”ϐ‹”•–Ǧ•‡”˜‡’‘‹–•ƒ†„”‘‡‡‡––ƒ ˆ‘—” –‹‡• ‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– …ƒ”‡‡”
‡‡–‹‰„‡–™‡‡–Š‡–™‘Ǥ
“In matches like this both play‡”• ’Žƒ›‡† —„‡Ž‹‡˜ƒ„Ž‡ ’‘‹–•Ǥ –
was fun to be part of a match like
this,” said Lisicki, who owns the WTA
record for the fastest serve — a 131
’Š ȋʹͳͲǤͺʹ ’ŠȌ „Žƒ•– •Š‡ Š‹– Žƒ•–
›‡ƒ”‹–ƒˆ‘”†Ǥ
SAVED THREE MATCH POINTS
She saved three match points in
–Š‡ ͳͲ–Š ‰ƒ‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ •‡– ƒˆ–‡”
‡‡––ƒŠƒ†–ƒ‡ƒͳͷǦͶͲŽ‡ƒ†Ǥ
Lisicki fought off two match
points to tie it up 40-40 then faced a
third but was able to use her potent
•‡”˜‡–‘‰‡–‘—–‘ˆ–”‘—„Ž‡Ǥ
“I just stepped up to the line and
„‡Ž‹‡˜‡†‹›•‡”˜‡Ǥ†‹–™‘”‡†ǡdz
‹•‹…‹•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Asked about facing Jankovic less
–Šƒ ʹͶ Š‘—”• ƒˆ–‡” ϐ‹‹•Š‹‰ Š‡”
“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽǡ ‹•‹…‹ •ƒ‹† ™ƒ• –‘‘
•‘‘ –‘ –Š‹ ƒ„‘—– Š‡” ‡š– ƒ–…ŠǤ
DzƒŒ—•–Šƒ’’›–Šƒ–™‘–‘†ƒ›Ǥdz
Jankovic, in contrast, barely
broke a sweat in 45 minutes as
•Š‡ ƒ†˜ƒ…‡† ™Š‡ “—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡” ‡•‹ƒ
Tsurenko retired in the second set
™‹–Šƒ‹Œ—”›Ǥ
Jankovic, who won the Indian
Wells title in 2010, was leading 6-1,
4-1 when Tsurenko packed it in with
a right ankle injury
Dz–ǯ• ‡˜‡” ‹…‡ –‘ ‡† ƒ ƒ–…Š
that way,” said Jankovic, who cele„”ƒ–‡†Š‡”͵Ͳ–Š„‹”–Š†ƒ›Žƒ•–‘–ŠǤ
Dz –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– •‡– ™ƒ• ˆ‡‡Ž‹‰ ’”‡––›
‰‘‘† ‘—– –Š‡”‡Ǥ ™ƒ• ’Žƒ›‹‰ ›
game and waiting for my chances to
‡š‡…—–‡Ǥ
“In the second set she started
limping and I saw that she had some
’”‘„Ž‡Ǥdz
ƒ‘˜‹…Šƒ•ƒŽ™ƒ›•ˆ‡Ž–…‘ϐ‹†‡–
and comfortable playing in the Caliˆ‘”‹ƒ †‡•‡”–Ǥ  ʹͲͳͲǡ •Š‡ †‡ˆ‡ƒ–‡†
ƒ”‘Ž‹‡ ‘œ‹ƒ…‹ ‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹ƒŽ „—–
has only won one tournament since
–Š‡ǡ‹ʹͲͳ͵‹‘‰‘–ƒǤ
Jankovic, who is aiming for her
14th career title, beat rising star
Belinda Bencic 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the
ˆ‘—”–Š”‘—†Ǥ
•—”‡‘™ƒ•–Š‡ϐ‹”•–“—ƒŽ‹ϐ‹‡”–‘
”‡ƒ…Š –Š‡ “—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ• •‹…‡ ‹•‡Žƒ
—Ž‘‹ʹͲͲͶǤ
Š‡•‡…‘†™‘‡ǯ••‡‹ϐ‹ƒŽ‘
Friday features world number one
Serena Williams facing third seeded
‹‘ƒƒŽ‡’ǤȄ
ƒ„‹‡‹•‹…‹†—”‹‰–Š‡“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽƒ‰ƒ‹•–Žƒ˜‹ƒ‡‡––ƒ‹–Š‡
ƒ”‹„ƒ•’‡ǤȄ’‘”–•
S AT U R DAY M A R C H 2 1 l 2 0 1 5
19
iN BRIEFS
FEBRUARY 14 TO MARCH 29
New Zealand clear favourites
for final quarterfinal clash
India’s Mohammed Shami (right) celebrates
dismissing Bangladesh batsman Soumya Sarkar
†—”‹‰–Š‡‹”‘”Ž†—’“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽ‹‡Ž„‘—”‡Ǥ
Ȅ‡—–‡”•
‘We attack, attack,
attack because it
works’
WELLINGTON — New Zealand will stick
with their crash, bang, wallop brand of
cricket in Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal against West Indies because it
gives them the best chance of winning,
captain Brendon McCullum said on
Friday.
The 33-year-old McCullum has
electrified the tournament with his
belligerent attacking style, both with bat
in hand and through his tactics in the
field, as New Zealand reached the last
eight unbeaten.
“I think it’s safe to assume that we’ll
still try to play an entertaining and
attacking brand of cricket,” McCullum
told reporters at the Basin Reserve on
Friday. “We want to play that brand of
cricket. We’ve identified that is what is
going to make us a team which is going
to be tough to beat (and) I can’t see that
changing.
“Just because there’s pressure on a
game, it shouldn’t take you away from
what’s your best opportunity to win.”
McCullum has received plaudits
from around the cricketing world for
his captaincy, including Richard Hadlee,
New Zealand’s finest ever cricketer,
who was the first man to take 400 test
wickets. “It’s great for the game,” he told
Reuters. “It’s what our game needs.
“Brendon is explosive with the bat,
very proactive in the field, very attacking
in the field, backs his bowlers to do a job.
— Reuters
Bitter end for
Misbah and Afridi’s
one-day careers
ADELAIDE — A crushing quarterfinal loss to Australia at the World Cup
on Friday was a heart-breaking swansong in one-day cricket for Pakistan
captain Misbah-ul-Haq and fellow
veteran Shahid Afridi.
Though Pakistan grafted hard
to reach the knockout rounds,
Australia ruthlessly exposed their
batting frailty, which will be further
undermined by the seasoned pair’s
retirements. Over eight Pakistan
batsmen scored 10 or more runs in
their modest total of 213, but none
could build on it, and both Misbah
and former skipper Afridi were
among those who failed to convert
their starts.
Forty-year-old Misbah, who
finishes his one-day career without
a century, slog-swept straight to a
fielder at deep midwicket to be out
for 34.
If surprising for a batsman
renowned for his reserve, the
explosive Afridi’s dismissal for 23 was
less unexpected, albeit a carbon copy
of his captain’s demise.
A third batsman in Umar Akmal
would hit straight to Aaron Finch near
the rope to squander his positive
start of 20. With the batsmen failing
to provide a total to defend, their
bowlers were let down by two
dropped catches in the field that
could have changed the complexion
of the match. — Reuters
AUSTRALIA &
NEW ZEALAND
West Indies players and New Zealand players (right) gather in a huddle during a training session ahead of their World Cup
“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽƒ–…Šƒ––Š‡ƒ•‹‡•‡”˜‡‹‡ŽŽ‹‰–‘‘”‹†ƒ›ǤȄ
Ȅ ‡™ ‡ƒland’s Brendon McCullum expects favouritism, underdog
status and the possibility of
choking under the weight of
‡š’‡…–ƒ–‹‘ –‘ Šƒ˜‡ Ž‹––Ž‡ ‹ϐŽ—ence on Saturday’s World Cup
“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ‡•– †‹‡•Ǥ
A rampant New Zealand
went through pool phase unbeaten, while inconsistent West
Indies lurched into the last
eight clash at Wellington Regional Stadium with a six-wicket victory over United Arab
‹”ƒ–‡•Ǥ
To McCullum, though, that
‡ƒ–‘–Š‹‰Ǥ
“I’ve said right throughout the tournament, whether
you’re favourites or whether
you’re underdogs, once the
coin goes up, the contest between bat and ball starts,” the
New Zealand skipper told re’‘”–‡”•‘”‹†ƒ›Ǥ
“All of that talk and all of that
pre-match favouritism goes
‘—– –Š‡ ™‹†‘™Ǥ ‘‘””‘™ǯ•
no different, just because it’s a
“—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽǤdz
The co-hosts have arguably
the most balanced side in the
World Cup, all of whom have
stepped up at one stage or an‘–Š‡”†—”‹‰–Š‡–‘—”ƒ‡–Ǥ
That
has
particularly
’Ž‡ƒ•‡†…—ŽŽ—Ǥ
Dz Š‘”•‡ ”ƒ…‹‰ ’ƒ”Žƒ…‡ǤǤǤ think the horse has never been
better and we’ve got every
chance in this game to be able
to go out there and win, even
if things aren’t a hundred per
…‡–ǡdz…—ŽŽ—•ƒ‹†Ǥ
“That’s something you probably can’t say about too many
‡™‡ƒŽƒ†–‡ƒ•‹–Š‡’ƒ•–Ǥ
Šƒ–ǯ•‡…‘—”ƒ‰‹‰Ǥdz
McCullum has indicated
that New Zealand will revert to
their top lineup, with fast bowler Adam Milne returning from
shoulder injury to join new
ball duo Trent Boult and Tim
Southee in place of Mitchell McŽ‡ƒ‰ŠƒǤ
Southee somehow managed to exploit a clear blue sky
and little wind to produce a
captivating spell of late-swing
„‘™Ž‹‰–‘–ƒ‡…ƒ”‡‡”Ǧ„‡•–ϐ‹‰ures of 7-33 against England at
Wellington Regional Stadium a
‘–Šƒ‰‘Ǥ
Boult was imperious in their
match against Australia with
5-27 the following week in
Auckland, while left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has complemented the opening pair with
ͳ͵ ™‹…‡–• ƒ– ͳ͵Ǥʹͻǡ ƒ† ƒ
‡…‘‘›”ƒ–‡‘ˆ͵Ǥ͸ͻǤ
West Indies, by contrast,
have struggled in the top-order
batting with most of the runs
from top-scorers Chris Gayle
and Marlon Samuels coming
in one big partnership against
‹„ƒ„™‡‹ƒ„‡””ƒǤ
Gayle, who is struggling with
a back injury, has scored 279
runs with 215 coming from
that one innings, while Samuels’ 133 not out has accounted
for 66 per cent of his total runs
‘ˆʹͲ͵Ǥ
West Indies captain Jason
Holder said the key to the game
could be to take early wickets
™Š‡ …—ŽŽ— …‘‡• ‘—– ϐ‹”ing and then get stuck into the
‹††Ž‡‘”†‡”Ǥ
“Obviously Brendon McCulŽ—ǯ• …ƒ””›‹‰ •‘‡ ˆ‘”ǤǤǤ ™‡
will be our normal self in the
power play, we just have to be
†‹•…‹’Ž‹‡†ǡdz‘Ž†‡”•ƒ‹†Ǥ
“I think aggression is also
‡›Ǥ”‡†‘‹•ƒ’”‡––›ƒ‰‰”‡•sive batsman so I can probably
–”›–‘ϐ‹‰Š–ϐ‹”‡™‹–Šϐ‹”‡ƒ†–”›
–‘‰‡––Š‡„‡––‡”‘ˆŠ‹Ǥ
“New Zealand’s middle order (also) hasn’t been tested in
this tournament and so it’s important that we get early wick‡–•ƒ†–‡•––Š‡ǤdzȄ‡—–‡”•
Holder coy over Gayle
ϐ‹–‡••ˆ‘”Žƒ…ƒ’•…Žƒ•Š
ȅ West Indies captain Jason Holder remained coy
on whether injured star batsman
Chris Gayle will play in Saturday’s
‘”Ž† —’ “—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ ƒ‰ƒ‹•–
—†‡ˆ‡ƒ–‡†‡™‡ƒŽƒ†Ǥ
ƒ›Ž‡–”ƒ‹‡†ˆ‘”–Š‡ϐ‹”•––‹‡
this week on Friday morning, batting in the nets two days after receiving an injection in his lower
„ƒ…Ǥ
The injury forced him out of
the West Indies’ six-wicket win
over the United Arab Emirates on
Sunday, when they squeezed into
–Š‡ϐ‹ƒŽ‡‹‰Š–†‡•’‹–‡–Š‡‹”‡””ƒ–‹…
ˆ‘”‹’‘‘Ž‰ƒ‡•Ǥ
Holder said Gayle would face
ƒ Žƒ–‡ ϐ‹–‡•• –‡•– ˆ‘” ƒ–—”†ƒ›ǯ•
ϐ‹ƒŽ ‡‹‰Š– …Žƒ•Š ‹ ‡ŽŽ‹‰–‘ǡ
the winner of which will face a
rampant South Africa in the semiϐ‹ƒŽ•Ǥ Dz‡ǯ• Šƒ† ƒ ‹Œ‡…–‹‘ ƒ†
ƒ•…ƒǤŠ‡•…ƒ†‹†ǯ–•Š‘™ƒ›thing major, so we’ll just see how
he pulls up today and make a decision tomorrow morning,” the
•‹’’‡”•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Gayle, 35, scored the only double century in World Cup history
with 215 against Zimbabwe in
Canberra and is seen as crucial to
the West Indies’ chances of pro‰”‡••‹‰‹–‘–Š‡Žƒ•–ˆ‘—”Ǥ
But Holder insisted his team
West Indies captain Jason Holder (centre) celebrates his wicket
with team-mates Darren Sammy (right) and Jerome Taylor (left)
†—”‹‰–Š‡‘‘Žƒ‰ƒ‹•–ƒ–…‡ƒƒ”‹ƒ’‹‡”ǤȄ
could win even without Gayle,
pointing to the impressive 55
scored by Johnson Charles when
Š‡•–‡’’‡†‹ƒ‰ƒ‹•––Š‡Ǥ
“Obviously, (Gayle) has been a
very good player for us over the
years but we’ve shown we’ve got
’‡‘’Ž‡–‘ϐ‹––Š‡„‹ŽŽǡdzŠ‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
“Johnson came in the last game
and got a half-century and looked
–Š‡ ’ƒ”–Ǥ ‘ ™‡ǯ˜‡ ‰‘– ’‡‘’Ž‡ –‘
ϐ‹ŽŽŠ‹•„‘‘–•„—–‘„˜‹‘—•Ž›Šƒ˜‹‰
Š”‹•–Š‡”‡‹•ƒ’Ž—•ˆ‘”—•Ǥdz
Gayle smashed a small section
of the fence at the Basin Reserve,
where the West Indies trained on
Friday, with a typically powerful
blow and afterwards told a New
Zealand television crew: “I’m hit–‹‰ ‹– •™‡‡–ǡ ƒǤdz ‡ƒ™Š‹Ž‡
Holder acknowledged playing the
undefeated New Zealanders in
front of their home fans was a different prospect to facing the UAE,
saying it was time to “go big or go
Š‘‡dzǤȄ
Transformed
bowling now
India’s strongest
weapon
MELBOURNE Ȅ Š‡ •ƒ‡ „‘™Ž‹‰ ™Š‹…Š ™ƒ• †‹ƒǯ•
weakest link coming into the World Cup has remarkably
become their strongest suit as the reigning champions
‡ƒ•‡†‹–‘–Š‡Žƒ•–ˆ‘—”‹‹’”‡••‹˜‡•–›Ž‡Ǥ
India’s bowling looked toothless and jaded during
their 2-0 Test series loss in Australia as well as in the
following ODI tri-series, where they failed to win a single
ƒ–…ŠǤ
With experienced Ishant Sharma ruled out before
the tournament by injury, it looked like Mahendra Singh
Š‘‹ǯ• •‹†‡ ™‘—Ž† „‡ ”‡Ž‹ƒ– ‘ „ƒ––‹‰ –‘ ϐ‹”‡ –Š‡‹”
‘”Ž†—’†‡ˆ‡…‡Ǥ
Over the last month, however, Dhoni’s bowlers have
”ƒ‹•‡†–Š‡„ƒ”•‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–Ž›ƒ†ǡ™‹–Š–Š‡Š‡Ž’‘ˆƒ•’”‹kling of run-outs, have dismissed the opposition in all
•‡˜‡ƒ–…Š‡•‘–Š‡‹”™ƒ›–‘–Š‡•‡‹ϐ‹ƒŽ•Ǥ
“It was a concern,” former India captain Rahul Dravid conceded on STAR Sports after India’s 109-run win
ƒ‰ƒ‹•–ƒ‰Žƒ†‡•Š‹–Š‡“—ƒ”–‡”Ǧϐ‹ƒŽ‘Š—”•†ƒ›Ǥ
“Ishant Sharma was in the original team, he had inŒ—”›‹••—‡•ǤŠ—˜‡•Š™ƒ”—ƒ”™ƒ•–Š‘—‰Š––‘„‡‘‡
of India’s leading one-day bowlers in the lead-up to the
‘”Ž†—’„—––Š‡”‡™‡”‡“—‡•–‹‘ƒ”•ƒ„‘—–Š‹•ȋϐ‹–‡••ȌǤDzŠ‘ƒ”‡–Š‡‰—›•™Š‘ƒ”‡‰‘‹‰–‘†‡Ž‹˜‡”ˆ‘”—•
at the death? Are we going to be able to take wickets up
ˆ”‘–ǫŠ‡‹††Ž‡‘˜‡”•™‡”‡ƒ…‘…‡”Ǥ
“Is Ravichandran Ashwin able to bowl in overseas
…‘†‹–‹‘•ǫŽŽ–Š‘•‡“—‡•–‹‘•Šƒ˜‡„‡‡ƒ•™‡”‡†Ǥdz
After bundling out Bangladesh for 193, India overtook South Africa’s record of taking all 10 opposition
™‹…‡–•‹•‹š…‘•‡…—–‹˜‡ƒ–…Š‡•Ǥ
The team have also not conceded a single score of
300 or above in their seven matches, Zimbabwe’s 287
„‡‹‰–Š‡Š‹‰Š‡•––‘–ƒŽƒ‰ƒ‹•––Š‡ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
Clarke hails whirlwind Wahab
ADELAIDE, Australia ȅ Australia captain
Michael Clarke lauded Pakistani fast bowler Wahab Riaz, saying his side was lucky
to survive the left-armer’s torrid spell to
™‹–Š‡‘”Ž†—’“—ƒ”–‡”Ǧϐ‹ƒŽǤ
The co-hosts, chasing Pakistan’s modest 213 all out, were reduced to 59 for
three in the 11th over before they recovered to post a six-wicket win in front of a
packed house of 47,000 at the Adelaide
˜ƒŽǤ
Steve Smith (65) and Shane Watson
(64 not out) swung the match around
with a fourth-wicket stand of 89 and
Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 44
off 29 balls as Australia won in the 34th
‘˜‡”Ǥ
Watson hit the winning boundary after
a tense start to Australia’s chase saw leftarmer Wahab remove David Warner and
Žƒ”‡‹Š‹•ϐ‹”•––™‘‘˜‡”•Ǥ
But two dropped catches, both off WaŠƒ„ǯ•„‘™Ž‹‰ǡ…‘•–ƒ‹•–ƒ†‡ƒ”Ž›Ǥ
Watson was on four when he hooked a
„‘—…‡” Š‹‰Š –‘ ϐ‹‡ǦŽ‡‰ ™Š‡”‡ ƒŠƒ– Ž‹
‰‘–—†‡”–Š‡„ƒŽŽ„—–†”‘’’‡†–Š‡…ƒ–…ŠǤ
Wahab, who later returned for his
second spell in the 29th over, almost removed Maxwell with his second delivery,
but Sohail Khan at third man failed to hold
–Š‡–‘’Ǧ‡†‰‡†’—ŽŽǤ
“That spell by Wahab was as good as
any I have faced in one-day cricket after a
Ž‘‰–‹‡ǡdzŽƒ”‡•ƒ‹†Ǥ
“Left-armers are always tough to face
for right-hand batsmen because the ball
…‘‡•‘–‘›‘—Ǥ
“If that catch off Watson had been
taken, who knows what would have hap’‡‡†ǤŠ‹•‰ƒ‡™‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡„‡‡…Ž‘•‡”
ˆ‘”•—”‡Ǥ
Australian captain Michael Clarke (left)
and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin react
after Clarke caught out Pakistan’s
Ahmad Shehzad during their World Cup
“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽ‹†‡Žƒ‹†‡ǤȄ‡—–‡”•
Dzƒ•– „‘™Ž‹‰ †‡ϐ‹‹–‡Ž› ’Žƒ›‡† ƒ ’ƒ”–
‹ –Š‹• ‰ƒ‡ ˆ‘” „‘–Š –‡ƒ•Ǥ ˆ ƒ–•‘ǯ•
catch had been taken maybe Pakistan’s
ʹͳ͵ƒ›Šƒ˜‡„‡‡‡‘—‰ŠǤ
“But credit must go to the way we
ˆ‘—† ƒ ™ƒ› –‘ •‡‡ –Š”‘—‰Š –Šƒ– •’‡ŽŽǤ
There was a bit of luck but it also showed
ƒ–•‘ǯ•‡š’‡”‹‡…‡Ǥdz
Clarke said the loss of early wickets did
‘–™‘””›Š‹Ǥ
“No, I was not worried by that start,” he
•ƒ‹†ǤDzŠƒ–ǯ•–Š‡™ƒ›–Š‡‰ƒ‡‰‘‡•™Š‡
–Š‡”‡ ƒ”‡ –™‘ ‡™ „ƒŽŽ•Ǥ Šƒˆ—ŽŽ›ǡ ™‡
Šƒ˜‡†‡’–Š‹–Š‡„ƒ––‹‰ǤdzȄ
SATURDAY | MARCH 21, 2015
BEST
QUOTE
Australia recover from wobble
to book India semifinal
Nobody in the world
is such good against a
bowler who is bowling
150 kmph and with this
sort of deceptive pace
and bounce.
ȄŠƒ‡ƒ–•‘•…‘”‡†ƒŠƒŽˆǦ…‡–—”›
ƒˆ–‡”„‡‹‰†”‘’’‡†‘ˆ‘—”–‘‰—‹†‡—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ–‘
ƒ ‡’Šƒ–‹… •‹šǦ™‹…‡– ˜‹…–‘”› ‘˜‡” ƒ‹•–ƒ
‹ †‡Žƒ‹†‡ ‘ ”‹†ƒ› ƒ† •‡† –Š‡ …‘ǦŠ‘•–•
‹–‘ ƒ „Ž‘…„—•–‡” ‘”Ž† —’ •‡‹ϐ‹ƒŽ
™‹–Š”‡‹‰‹‰…Šƒ’‹‘•†‹ƒǤ
‹”‡† „› ƒ ˆ‘—”Ǧ
™‹…‡–Šƒ—Žˆ”‘
— MISBAH-UL-HAQ,
ON WAHAB RIAZ’S MENACING
EFFORT IN A LOSING CAUSE
AGAINST AUSTRALIA IN THEIR
WORLD CUP QUARTERFINAL IN
ADELAIDE.
BEST BATTING
SCOREBOARD
65
Steven Smith for
Australia against
Pakistan
BEST BOWLING
4-35
Josh Hazlewood
for Australia
against Pakistan
Š‡Šœƒ†…Žƒ”‡„ƒœŽ‡™‘‘†ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤͷ
Š‡†…ƒ–•‘„–ƒ”…ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͳͲ
‘Šƒ‹Ž…ƒ††‹„‘Š•‘ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ Ͷͳ
‹•„ƒŠ…‹…Š„ƒš™‡ŽŽǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͵Ͷ
ƒŽ…‹…Š„ƒš™‡ŽŽǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ʹͲ
ƒ“•‘‘†…‘Š•‘„ƒœŽ‡™‘‘†ǤǤǤǤ ʹͻ
ˆ”‹†‹…‹…Š„ƒœŽ‡™‘‘†ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ʹ͵
‹ƒœ…ƒ††‹„–ƒ”…ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͳ͸
†‹Ž…–ƒ”…„ƒ—Ž‡”ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͳͷ
Šƒ…ƒ††‹„ƒœŽ‡™‘‘†ǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤͶ
Ž‹ȋ‘–‘—–ȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ͸
š–”ƒ•ȋǦͷǡǦͷȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͳͲ
‘–ƒŽȋƒŽŽ‘—–ǡͶͻǤͷ‘˜‡”•ȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ 213
ƒŽŽ‘ˆ™‹…‡–•ǣͳǦʹͲǡʹǦʹͶǡ͵Ǧͻ͹ǡͶǦͳͳʹǡ
ͷǦͳʹͶǡ͸Ǧͳͷͺǡ͹ǦͳͺͺǡͺǦͳͺͺǡͻǦͳͻͷ
‘™Ž‹‰ǣ –ƒ”… ͳͲǦͳǦͶͲǦʹǡ ƒœŽ‡Ǧ
™‘‘† ͳͲǦͳǦ͵ͷǦͶǡ ‘Š•‘ ͳͲǦͲǦͶʹǦͳǡ
ƒš™‡ŽŽ͹ǦͲǦͶ͵Ǧʹǡƒ–•‘ͷǦͲǦͳ͹ǦͲǡ
ƒ—Ž‡”͹ǤͷǦͲǦ͵ͳǦͳ
ƒ”‡”…Ž‹„‹ƒœǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ʹͶ
‹…ŠŽ„™ŠƒǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤʹ
‹–ŠŽ„™†‹ŽǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͸ͷ
Žƒ”‡…ƒ“•‘‘†„‹ƒœǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ8
ƒ–•‘ȋ‘–‘—–ȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͸Ͷ
ƒš™‡ŽŽȋ‘–‘—–ȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ ͶͶ
š–”ƒ•ȋǦͻȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤͻ
‘–ƒŽȋˆ‘”Ͷ™–•ǡ͵͵Ǥͷ‘˜‡”•ȌǤǤǤǤǤǤǤ 216
ƒŽŽ‘ˆ™‹…‡–•ǣͳǦͳͷǡʹǦͶͻǡ͵ǦͷͻǡͶǦͳͶͺ
‘™Ž‹‰ǣŠƒ͹ǤͷǦͲǦͷ͹Ǧͳǡ†‹ŽͷǦͲǦ
͵ͳǦͳǡŽ‹͸ǦͲǦ͵͹ǦͲǡ‹ƒœͻǦͲǦͷͶǦʹǡ
ˆ”‹†‹ͶǦͲǦ͵ͲǦͲǡ‘Šƒ‹ŽʹǦͲǦ͹ǦͲ
Australian
batsman Shane
Watson celebrates
after scoring the
winning runs in
the World Cup
“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽƒ‰ƒ‹•–
Pakistan in Adelaide.
— AFP
reǦ
… ƒ Ž Ž ‡ †
’ƒ…‡ƒ ƒ†
ƒǦ‘ˆǦ–Š‡Ǧƒ–…Š
‘•Š ƒœŽ‡™‘‘†ǡ —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ
„‘™Ž‡† ‘—– ƒ‹•–ƒ ˆ‘” ƒ ‘†‡•–
ʹͳ͵ ƒ† ƒˆ–‡” •—”˜‹˜‹‰ ƒ ™‘„„Ž‡ ‹ –Š‡
…Šƒ•‡ǡ ƒŽŽǦ”‘—†‡” ƒ–•‘ ȋ͸Ͷ ‘– ‘—–Ȍ ƒ†
Ž‡ƒš™‡ŽŽȋͶͶ‘–‘—–Ȍ”‡‡Ž‡†‹–Š‡–‘–ƒŽ™‹–Š
‘”‡–Šƒͳ͸‘˜‡”•–‘•’ƒ”‡Ǥ
–‡˜‡ ‹–Š ™ƒ• ƒŽ•‘ ‹•–”—‡–ƒŽǡ •…‘”‹‰ ƒ
…Žƒ••›͸ͷ–‘•–‡‡”—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒƒ•ƒ–•‘™‡ƒ–Š‡”‡†ƒ
ˆ—”‹‘—••Š‘”–Ǧ’‹–…Š‡†ƒ––ƒ…ˆ”‘ˆƒ•–„‘™Ž‡”ƒǦ
Šƒ„‹ƒœǤ
ƒ‹•–ƒǯ• „‘™Ž‡”• Šƒ† Ž‹––Ž‡ –‘ †‡ˆ‡† ƒ– †Ǧ
‡Žƒ‹†‡ ˜ƒŽ ƒ† ™‡”‡ Ž‡– †‘™ „ƒ†Ž› „› –™‘
•’‹ŽŽ‡†…ƒ–…Š‡•–Šƒ–…‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡…Šƒ‰‡†–Š‡…‘Ǧ
’Ž‡š‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡ƒ–…ŠǤ
—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ ™‡”‡ ˜—Ž‡”ƒ„Ž‡ ƒ– ͺ͵Ǧ͵ —†‡” ƒ
ϐ‹‡”›•’‡ŽŽˆ”‘ƒŠƒ„ǡ„—–ƒ–•‘™ƒ•†”‘’’‡†
‘ˆ‘—”Š‘‘‹‰•–”ƒ‹‰Š––‘ƒŠƒ–Ž‹ƒ–ϐ‹‡
Ž‡‰ǡ –Š‡ •‹’Ž‡•– ‘ˆ …Šƒ…‡• „‘—…‹‰
•–”ƒ‹‰Š–‘—–‘ˆŠ‹•Šƒ†•Ǥ
ƒš™‡ŽŽŽƒ–‡”•‡–ƒ–‘’‡†‰‡•‘ƒ”‹‰
„—–‘Šƒ‹ŽŠƒ’—–†‘™ƒ‘–Š‡”‰‡–Ǧ
–ƒ„Ž‡ …Šƒ…‡ ‘ –Š‡ ”— –‘ Ž‡ƒ˜‡ ƒǦ
Šƒ„‰”‹ƒ…‹‰‹ˆ”—•–”ƒ–‹‘Ǥ
”‡†‹– –‘ ƒ‹•–ƒ ƒ† ƒŠƒ„
‹ƒœˆ‘”–Š‡™ƒ›Š‡…ƒ‡‘—–ƒ†
„‘™Ž‡† ƒ† …‡”–ƒ‹Ž› ’—– —• —Ǧ
†‡” ’”‡••—”‡ǡdz —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ …ƒ’–ƒ‹
‹…Šƒ‡Ž Žƒ”‡ •ƒ‹† ƒ–
–Š‡ ’”‡•‡–ƒ–‹‘ …‡”Ǧ
‡‘›Ǥ
Dz –Š‹ –Šƒ–ǯ• –Š‡
ˆƒ•–‡•– •’‡ŽŽ Šƒ˜‡ •‡‡
‹ƒŽ‘‰–‹‡Ǥdz
ƒ‹•–ƒ …ƒ’–ƒ‹ ‹•Ǧ
„ƒŠǦ—ŽǦƒ“ ƒ† ŠƒŠ‹†
ˆ”‹†‹ „‘™ ‘—– ‘ˆ ‘‡Ǧ†ƒ›
‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ• ‹ †‹•ƒ’’‘‹–Ǧ
‡–ǡ Šƒ˜‹‰ ˆƒ‹Ž‡† –‘ …‘˜‡”–
•–ƒ”–•‹–Š‡‹”‹‹‰•Ǥ
ƒœŽ‡™‘‘†ǡ ™Š‘ ”‡’Žƒ…‡† ›‘—‰
•‡ƒ‡” ƒ– —‹•ǡ …‘„‹‡† ™‹–Š
Ž‡ˆ–Ǧƒ”‡” ‹–…Š‡ŽŽ –ƒ”… –‘ ”‡‘˜‡ ƒǦ
‹•–ƒǯ• ‘’‡‡”• …Š‡ƒ’Ž› ƒ† ”‡–—”‡† –‘
’—…ŠƒŠ‘Ž‡–Š”‘—‰Š–Š‡•‹ƒ–‡ƒǯ•‹†Ǧ
†Ž‡Ǧ‘”†‡”‘ƒ•—Ǧ†”‡…Š‡†ƒ—–—†ƒ›Ǥ
ƒ”–Ǧ–‹‡ •’‹‡” ƒš™‡ŽŽ –‘‘ –™‘ ™‹…Ǧ
‡–•™Š‹Ž‡ƒ”‘‹…Š–‘‘–Š”‡‡…ƒ–…Š‡•ƒ–†‡‡’
‹†™‹…‡–ǡ ƒ• ‹•„ƒŠ ƒ† –™‘ ‘–Š‡” ƒ‹•–ƒ
”‹‰Š–ǦŠƒ†‡”•‰ƒ˜‡—’–Š‡‹”™‹…‡–•‘ƒ’Žƒ––‡”
™Š‡ƒ––‡’–‹‰–‘…Ž‡ƒ”–Š‡•Š‘”–„‘—†ƒ”›Ǥ
‹•„ƒŠ™‘–Š‡–‘••ƒ†‘’–‡†–‘„ƒ–ϐ‹”•–
„—– –Š‡ ‘˜‡ „ƒ…ϐ‹”‡† ™‹–Š ‘’‡‡”• ƒ”ˆ”ƒœ
Š‡† ƒ† Š‡† Š‡Šœƒ† „‘–Š ‘—– ™‹–Š‹
–Š”‡‡„ƒŽŽ•„‡ˆ‘”‡–Š‡•‹š–Š‘˜‡”Ǥ
ƒ”ˆ”ƒœ™ƒ•‘—–ˆ‘”ͳͲǡ‡†‰‹‰–ƒ”…
–‘ƒ–•‘™Š‘–‘‘ƒϐ‹‡ǡŽ‘™…ƒ–…Š‹
–Š‡ •Ž‹’•ǡ ™Š‹Ž‡ ƒœŽ‡™‘‘† ȋͶǦ͵ͷȌ ”‡Ǧ
‘˜‡†Š‡Šœƒ†ˆ‘”ϐ‹˜‡Ǥ
‹•„ƒŠ ™ƒ• ‡ƒ”Ž› ‘—– ˆ‘” ƒ †—…
–™‘„ƒŽŽ•Žƒ–‡”™Š‡–Š‡„ƒŽŽ„”—•Š‡†Š‹•
•–—’ ƒˆ–‡” …Ž‹’’‹‰ Š‹• –Š‹‰Š ’ƒ†ǡ „—– –Š‡ „ƒ‹Ž•
•–ƒ›‡†‹–ƒ…–Ǥ
‡ƒ†—„‡”–Š”‡‡„ƒ–•ƒƒ”‹•‘Šƒ‹Ž„ƒ–Ǧ
–Ž‡†–‘•–‡ƒ†›–Š‡‹‹‰•„—–ƒˆ–‡”„ƒ•Š‹‰ƒš™‡ŽŽ
‘˜‡” –Š‡ ˆ‡…‡ –™‹…‡ǡ ‹•„ƒŠ Š‘Ž‡† ‘—– –‘ ‹…Šǡ
„”‡ƒ‹‰–Š‡͹͵Ǧ”—’ƒ”–‡”•Š‹’Ǥ
ˆ—”‹ƒ–‹‰Ž›ˆ‘”ƒ‹•–ƒˆƒ•ǡƒ”ƒŽȋʹͲȌ
ƒ†ŠƒŠ‹†ˆ”‹†‹ȋʹ͵Ȍ”‡’‡ƒ–‡†–Š‡‹”…ƒ’–ƒ‹ǯ•Š‘”Ǧ
”‹††‹•‹••ƒŽ–‘Ž‡ƒ˜‡–Š‡‹”–‡ƒ”‡‡Ž‹‰ƒ–ͳͷͺǦ͸Ǥ
– ‘‡ •–ƒ‰‡ǡ ʹ͹ͲǦʹͺͲ ™ƒ• ’”‡––› —…Š ‘ „—–
™‡ Œ—•– ‡’– Ž‘•‹‰ ™‹…‡–•ǡ •‘‡ „ƒ† •Š‘– •‡Ž‡…Ǧ
–‹‘•ƒ†–Šƒ–”‡ƒŽŽ›…‘•–—•ǡdz‹•„ƒŠ•ƒ‹†Ǥ
ƒ‹•–ƒǯ• –ƒ‹Ž‡†‡”• —†‰‡† –Š‡‹” –‡ƒ ’ƒ•–
ʹͲͲ ƒ† –Š‘—‰Š ƒŠƒ„ ȋʹǦͷͶȌ „ƒ––Ž‡† Šƒ”† –‘
•Šƒ‡ —’ —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǡ ƒ‹•–ƒ ™‹ŽŽ —Ž–‹ƒ–‡Ž› „‡ Ž‡ˆ–
™‘†‡”‹‰™Šƒ–‹ˆǤȄ‡—–‡”•
Watson enjoying
charmed second
life at World Cup
MELBOURNE — Shane Watson continued to make the most of his ‘second
life’ at the World Cup, surviving a dropped catch and a fiery assault by
Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz to guide Australia to the semifinals with an
impressive half-century on Friday.
Watson was dropped on four in the deep after weathering a barrage of
bouncers from Wahab, but finished unbeaten on 64 and teamed up with
Glenn Maxwell for a 68-run partnership to close out a dominant six-wicket
victory at Adelaide Oval.
The barrel-chested Queenslander was also dropped by selectors for
Australia’s pool match against Afghanistan, an omission some thought
might spell the end of his tournament, if not his one-day international
career.
He was a surprise recall for the co-hosts’ win over Sri Lanka in Sydney
and scored a handy 67 in the match at the SCG when pushed down to the
middle order.
Watson batted at fifth in the order against Pakistan to continue his
late-tournament resurgence and earned special praise from captain Michael
Clarke.
“I’ve said for a long time that a good mix of youth and experience in
any sport at the highest level generally has the most success,” Clarke told
reporters.
“I think we’ve got that through our squad. Yeah, and I think Watto
showed that today.
“Like I say, he had some luck getting dropped at fine leg, but then to be
able to find a way to tough that out and then capitalise more importantly
once he got through that spell, played his natural game, hit the ball really
well. So yeah, I think his experience certainly helped him today.”
Led by four wickets from recalled paceman Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s
seamers were at their intimidating best to restrict Pakistan for 213, setting
up the platform for victory.
The India semifinal will promise different conditions on a Sydney Cricket
Ground wicket that traditionally offers turn but was benign in Australia’s
pool win over Sri Lanka.
Pakistan captain Misbah questioned whether Australia might suffer at
the SCG for the lack of a quality frontline spinner against India.
Clarke, an occasional left-arm tweaker, said his team would make do
with part-timer Glenn Maxwell and himself, if specialist Xavier Doherty was
not called up. — Reuters
ƒ•–ƒƒŠƒ„ϐ‹”‡•—’ƒ‹•–ƒ‹Ž‘•‹‰…ƒ—•‡
ADELAIDE — Australia’s World
—’ “—ƒ”–‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ƒ‹•–ƒ
–Š”‡ƒ–‡‡† –‘ ’”‘†—…‡ ‘”‡ ›ƒ™•
–Šƒ –Š”‹ŽŽ• ƒ– †‡Žƒ‹†‡ ˜ƒŽ ‘
”‹†ƒ›ǡ „—– ’ƒ…‡ƒ ƒŠƒ„ ‹ƒœ
•’ƒ”‡†–Š‡ƒ–…Š‹–‘Ž‹ˆ‡™‹–Š–™‘
™‹…‡–•ƒ†ƒ‡–Š”ƒŽŽ‹‰†—‡Ž™‹–Š
Šƒ‡ƒ–•‘Ǥ
Š‘—‰Š —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ —Ž–‹ƒ–‡Ž›
‘™‡††‘™ƒ‹•–ƒǯ•‘†‡•–ʹͳ͵
–‘™‹„›•‹š™‹…‡–•ǡ–Š‡„‡ŽŽ‹‰‡”‡–
Ž‡ˆ–Ǧƒ”‡”ǯ• ƒ•–‡”…Žƒ•• ‘ˆ •Š‘”–Ǧ
’‹–…Š‡† „‘™Ž‹‰ ”ƒ––Ž‡† —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǯ•
–‘’ ‘”†‡” ƒ† ϐ‹”‡† —’ ƒ ‹’ƒ–‹‡–
…”‘™†Ǥ
‡‘˜‹‰ ‘’‡‡” ƒ˜‹† ƒ”‡”
ˆ‘”ʹͶ‹Š‹•ϐ‹”•–‘˜‡”ƒ†—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ
…ƒ’–ƒ‹ ‹…Šƒ‡Ž Žƒ”‡ ˆ‘” ‡‹‰Š–
‹ Š‹• ‡š–ǡ ʹͻǦ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž† ƒŠƒ„
–Š‡ ‡‰ƒ‰‡† ‹ ƒ ϐ‹‡”› „ƒ––Ž‡ ™‹–Š
ƒ–•‘ǡ •‡†‹‰ „‘—…‡”• ’‹‰‹‰
‘ˆˆ –Š‡ „—”Ž› —‡‡•Žƒ†‡”ǯ• …Š‡•–
ƒ†™Š‹•–Ž‹‰’ƒ•–Š‹•‘•‡Ǥ
‡ ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‡† —’ –Š‡ „‡––‡” ‘‡•
™‹–Š ƒ •–”‘ŽŽ —’ –Š‡ ’‹–…Š –‘ ‡‡–
–Š‡ ƒŽŽǦ”‘—†‡”ǡ –Š”‘™‹‰ Š‹ ƒ
™‹–Š‡”‹‰ •–ƒ”‡ ƒ† …Žƒ’’‹‰ Š‹•
Šƒ†•’”‘˜‘…ƒ–‹˜‡Ž›Ǥ
ƒ–•‘ ™ƒ• ƒ– ϐ‹”•– ‹’ƒ••‹˜‡
ƒ• ƒ „”‹… ™ƒŽŽ ƒ‹† –Š‡ ƒ••ƒ—Ž–ǡ
•–ƒ”‹‰ †‘™ ƒŠƒ„ ‹ …‘Ž† •‹Ž‡…‡
ƒˆ–‡” ‡ƒ…Š †‡Ž‹˜‡”› ™Š‹…Š •‡…‘†•
„‡ˆ‘”‡Šƒ†Š‹Š‘’’‹‰ƒ„‘—–Ž‹‡ƒ
ˆ”‹‰Š–‡‡†”ƒ„„‹–Ǥ
Š‡ •–”ƒ‹ ϐ‹ƒŽŽ› •Š‘™‡† ƒ†
ƒ– ͺ͵Ǧ͵ǡ ƒŠƒ„ –Š‘—‰Š– Š‡ Šƒ† Š‹•
ƒ ™Š‡ ƒ–•‘ǡ ‘ ˆ‘—”ǡ Š‘‘‡†
•–”ƒ‹‰Š––‘–Š‹”†ƒǤ
Š‡ •‹’Ž‡•– ‘ˆ …ƒ–…Š‡• ™ƒ•
†”‘’’‡† „› ƒŠƒ– Ž‹ ƒ† ƒŠƒ„
”‘ƒ”‡†‹ˆ”—•–”ƒ–‹‘Ǥ
Š‡ ’ƒ…‡ƒ …ƒ‡ ƒ‰ƒ‹ǡ
Š‘™‡˜‡”ǡ –ƒ”‰‡–‹‰ Šƒ”†ǦŠ‹––‹‰
Ž‡ ƒš™‡ŽŽǡ ƒ† ™ƒ• ƒ‰ƒ‹ Ž‡– Australia’s Shane Watson (left) exchanges words with Pakistan pacer
†‘™ ‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹‡Ž†ǡ ™‹–Š ‘Šƒ‹Ž Šƒ ƒŠƒ„‹ƒœȋ…‡–”‡Ȍ†—”‹‰–Š‡‘”Ž†—’“—ƒ”–‡”ϔ‹ƒŽƒ––Š‡†‡Žƒ‹†‡
•’‹ŽŽ‹‰ ƒ‘–Š‡” ‰‡––ƒ„Ž‡ …Šƒ…‡ Oval. — AFP
™Š‡ ”—‹‰ ‹ ˆ”‘ –Š‹”† ƒ –‘
‡‡–ƒ•‹‡†–‘’‡†‰‡Ǥ
‹–Š —•–”ƒŽ‹ƒ ͳͷͶǦͶǡ –Šƒ– ™ƒ•
–‘ ’”‘˜‡ –Š‡ Žƒ•–Ǧ…Šƒ…‡ •ƒŽ‘‘Ǥ
ƒ–•‘ ȋ͸Ͷ ‘– ‘—–Ȍ ƒ† ƒš™‡ŽŽ
ȋͶͶȌ™‘—Ž†…ƒ””›–Š‡…‘ǦŠ‘•–•Š‘‡
™‹–Šƒ—„‡ƒ–‡’ƒ”–‡”•Š‹’‘ˆ͸ͺǤ
ƒŠƒ„ ϐ‹‹•Š‡† –Š‡ –‘—”ƒ‡–
–Š‡ „‡•– ‘ˆ ƒ‹•–ƒǯ• „‘™Ž‡”• ™‹–Š
ͳ͸ ™‹…‡–• ƒ– ƒ ƒ˜‡”ƒ‰‡ ‘ˆ ʹ͵ǡ
‡ƒ”‹‰ Š‹‰Š ’”ƒ‹•‡ ˆ”‘ …ƒ’–ƒ‹
Žƒ”‡ ™Š‘ ™ƒ• …ƒ—‰Š– –”›‹‰ –‘
ˆ‡†‘ˆˆƒ˜‡‘‘—•„ƒŽŽ–Šƒ–”‡ƒ”‡†
‹–‘Š‹•–Š”‘ƒ–Ǥ
DzŠƒ–ǯ• ƒ• ‰‘‘† ƒ• ǯ˜‡ ˆƒ…‡† ‹
‘‡Ǧ†ƒ› …”‹…‡– ˆ‘” ƒ Ž‘‰ –‹‡ǤǤǤ
”‘„ƒ„Ž› ‰ƒ˜‡ —• ƒ ‰‘‘† Ž‘‘ ƒ–
™Šƒ– ‹– ™‘—Ž† Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡ Ž‹‡ –‘
ˆƒ…‡ ‹–…Š‡ŽŽ ‘Š•‘ –Š”‘—‰Š‘—–
–Š‡ •Š‡•ǡdz Žƒ”‡ –‘Ž† ”‡’‘”–‡”•ǡ
”‡ˆ‡””‹‰ –‘ Š‹• ‘™ Ž‡ˆ–Ǧƒ” ˆƒ•–
ƒǤ
‡–‹”‹‰ƒ‹•–ƒ…ƒ’–ƒ‹‹•„ƒŠǦ
—ŽǦƒ“ ’ƒ‹† –”‹„—–‡ –‘ ƒŠƒ„ǡ ™Š‘
Šƒ• ‘ˆ–‡ •–”—‰‰Ž‡† ˆ‘” …‘•‹•–‡…›
‹ ƒ •‡˜‡Ǧ›‡ƒ” …ƒ”‡‡” „—– •Š‘‡ ‹
–Š‡ •’‘–Ž‹‰Š– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‰ƒ‡ǯ• „‹‰‰‡•–
•–ƒ‰‡Ǥ
Dz‘„‘†› ‹ –Š‹• ™‘”Ž† ‹• •—…Š
‰‘‘† ƒ‰ƒ‹•– ƒ „‘™Ž‡” ™Š‘ ‹•
„‘™Ž‹‰ ͳͷͲ ȋ’ŠȌ ƒ† ™‹–Š –Š‹•
•‘”– ‘ˆ †‡…‡’–‹˜‡ ’ƒ…‡ ƒ† „‘—…‡ǡdz
•ƒ‹†‹•„ƒŠǤ
Dz‡
”‡ƒŽŽ›
„‘™Ž‡†
™‡ŽŽ
–Š”‘—‰Š‘—– –Š‡ ‘”Ž† —’Ǥ ‡ ™ƒ•
–‘–ƒŽŽ› ƒ †‹ˆˆ‡”‡– „‘™Ž‡”ǡ ƒ† –‘†ƒ›
Š‡ǯ••Š‘™Š‹•…Žƒ••ƒ‰ƒ‹Ǥ
Dz– ‘‡ •–ƒ‰‡ ™‡ ™‡”‡ ’”‡––›
—…Š ‹ –Š‡ ‰ƒ‡ǡ ƒ† –Š‡ ™ƒ› Š‡
™ƒ• „‘™Ž‹‰ǡ –Šƒ– …ƒ–…Š …‘—Ž† Šƒ˜‡
ƒ†‡ ƒ „‹‰ †‹ˆˆ‡”‡…‡ǡ „—– –Š‹• –Š‡
™ƒ›‘”ƒŽŽ›…”‹…‡–‹•ǤdzȄ‡—–‡”•
MARCH 21, 2015
P24
Mystery of Darwin’s
Strange South American
Mammals Solved
www.omanobserver.om
P27
P25
Space, Next
Frontier for
‘Insurgent’ Author
[email protected]
Residents collect water from a communal tap in the Zandspruit in Johannesburg. — AFP
Japanese clothes
but few models at
Tokyo Fashion Week
A Girl fetches water at a camp in Beqaa Valley, eastern Lebanon. — AFP
LOOMING WATER CRISIS
By Richard Ingham
W
ITHOUT
reforms,
the world will be
plunged into a water
crisis that could be
crippling for hot, dry
countries, the United Nations warned
yesterday.
In an annual report, the UN said
abuse of water was now so great that
on current trends, the world will face
ƒͶͲ’‡”…‡–Dz‰Ž‘„ƒŽ™ƒ–‡”†‡ϐ‹…‹–dz„›
2030 — the gap between demand for
water and replenishment of it.
“The fact is there is enough water to meet the world’s needs, but
not without dramatically changing
the way water is used, managed and
•Šƒ”‡†ǡdz ‹– •ƒ‹† ‹ ‹–• ƒ—ƒŽ ‘”Ž†
Water Development Report.
“Measurability, monitoring and
‹’Ž‡‡–ƒ–‹‘dzƒ”‡—”‰‡–Ž›‡‡†‡†
to make water use sustainable, said
Michel Jarraud, head of the agency
UN-Water and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Surging
population growth is one of the biggest drivers behind the coming crisis,
the report said.
Earth’s current tally of around 7.3
billion humans is growing by about
80 million per year, reaching a likely
9.1 billion by 2050.
To feed these extra mouths, agriculture, which already accounts for
around 70 per cent of all water withdrawals, will have to increase output
by some 60 per cent.
Climate change — which will alter
when, where and how much rainfall
comes our way — and urbanisation
will add to the coming crunch.
The report pointed to a long list of
present abuses, from contamination
of water by pesticides, industrial pollution and runoff from untreated sewage, to over-exploitation, especially
for irrigation.
More than half of the world’s population takes its drinking supplies
from groundwater, which also provides 43 per cent of all water used for
irrigation.
Around 20 per cent of these aquifers are suffering from perilous overextraction, the report said.
So much freshwater has been
sucked from the spongy rock that
subsidence, or saline intrusion into
freshwater in coastal areas, are often
the result.
By 2050, global demand for water
is likely to rise by 55 per cent, mainly
in response to urban growth.
“Cities will have to go further or
dig deeper to access water, or will
have to depend on innovative solutions or advanced technologies to
‡‡– –Š‡‹” ™ƒ–‡” †‡ƒ†•ǡdz –Š‡ ”‡-
Abuse of water is now so great that on current
trends, the world will face a 40 per cent ‘global
water deficit’ by 2030. The fact is there is
enough water to meet the world’s needs, but
not without dramatically changing the way
water is used, managed and shared
A boy drinks from a public tap in Lagos
port said.
The overview draws together data
from 31 agencies in the United Nations system and 37 partners in UNWater.
It placed the spotlight on hot, dry
and thirsty regions which are already struggling with relentless demand.
In the North China Plain, intensive
irrigation has caused the water table
to drop by over 40 metres in some
places, it said.
In India, the number of so-called
tube wells, pulling out groundwater,
rose from less than a million in 1960
to nearly 19 million 40 years later.
“This technological revolution has
played an important role in the country’s efforts to combat poverty, but
the ensuing development of irriga–‹‘ Šƒ•ǡ ‹ –—”ǡ ”‡•—Ž–‡† ‹ •‹‰‹ϐ‹-
Parts
of China, India
and the United States,
as well as in the Middle
East, have been relying
on the unsustainable
extraction of groundwater
to meet existing water
demands
A water vendor drinks water from
a polythene bag in Athi river town
some 27 kms from Nairobi. — AFP
cant water stress in some regions of –Š”‡ƒ–‡ ™ƒ–‡” •‡…—”‹–›ǡdz –Š‡ the country, such as Maharashtra and said.
ƒŒƒ•–Šƒǡdz–Š‡”‡’‘”–•ƒ‹†Ǥ
Fixing the problems — and addressing the needs of the 748 million
Empty taps and dry reservoirs
’‡‘’Ž‡ ™‹–Š‘—– Dz‹’”‘˜‡†dz †”‹ing water and the 2.5 billion without
Water expert Richard Connor, the mains sewerage — requires smart
report’s lead author, said the outlook and responsive governance, the new
was bleak indeed for some areas.
UN report said.
“Parts of China, India and the
In real terms, this means putting
United States, as well as in the Middle together rules and incentives to curb
East, have been relying on the unsus- waste, punish pollution, encourage
tainable extraction of groundwater innovation and nurture habitats that
–‘ ‡‡– ‡š‹•–‹‰ ™ƒ–‡” †‡ƒ†•ǡdz Š‡ provide havens for biodiversity and
said.
water for humans.
“In my personal opinion this is, at
It also means learning to defuse
best, a short-sighted Plan B.
’‘–‡–‹ƒŽ …‘ϐŽ‹…–• ƒ• ˜ƒ”‹‘—• ‰”‘—’•
As these groundwater resources jockey for a precious and dwindling
become depleted, there will no Plan C, resource.
and some of these areas may indeed
Tough decisions will have to be
„‡…‘‡—‹Šƒ„‹–ƒ„Ž‡Ǥdz
made on pricing, and on rallying peoLast year, the Nobel-winning ple together.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
“Present water tariffs are comChange (IPCC) estimated that around monly far too low to actually limit
80 per cent of the world’s popula- excessive water use by wealthy
tion “already suffers serious threats Š‘—•‡Š‘Ž†• ‘” ‹†—•–”›ǡdz –Š‡ ”‡’‘”–
to its water security, as measured by observed.
indicators including water availabilBut it added, “responsible use may
‹–›ǡ™ƒ–‡”†‡ƒ†ƒ†’‘ŽŽ—–‹‘Ǥdz
at times be more effectively fostered
“Climate change can alter the through awareness-raising and apavailability of water and therefore ’‡ƒŽ‹‰–‘–Š‡…‘‘‰‘‘†ǤdzȄ
Residents of the working-class suburb of Kailash Puri crowd a water
–ƒ‡”ƒ•–Š‡›ϔ‹ŽŽ–Š‡‹”’Žƒ•–‹……‘–ƒ‹‡”•‹‡™‡ŽŠ‹ǤȄ
22
ASTRONOMY
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
Á
Á
A young astronomer
in Berlin. — AFP
A girl wears protective
glasses in Greenwich.
People wearing
special sunglasses
wait for a total
solar eclipse on
Svalbard.
— Reuters
By Stan Honda and Pierre-Henry
A
LL eyes were turned to the
heavens early yesterday
for a solar eclipse offering
spectacular views from selected airplane seats, European countries with clear skies and
a remote Arctic archipelago.
‹‡ǦŠƒ”† ‡…Ž‹’•‡ Œ—‹‡• ϐŽ‡™ ‹
from around the world to the Faroe
Islands and Norway’s Arctic Svalbard
archipelago to observe the less than
three minutes of daytime darkness,
a phenomenon that has fascinated
mankind since the beginning of time.
—”‘’‡ƒ• ‰‘– –Š‡‹” ϐ‹”•– ‰Ž‹’•‡
through cloudy skies in Spain’s Canary Islands in the early morning.
“We can see perfectly well the disc
of the moon. It is one of the most marvellous astronomical spectacles you
can see,” Alfred Rosenberg, an astrophysicist at the Canaries Astrophysics
Institute said from the island of Tenerife.
In the Swedish capital Stockholm a crescent-shaped sun shone
through overcast skies as temperatures dropped, prompting people in
the city’s business district to stop and
take pictures with their smartphones.
Eclipse enthusiasts were less lucky
‹‡ƒ”ǯ•ˆƒ”ǦϐŽ—‰ƒ”‘‡•Žƒ†•Ǥ
“There are drifting clouds, and
there is a large blue hole on the way.
We’ve just had a quick sighting of
the sun which is now almost half cov-
ered,” Ole J Knudsen, an astrophysicist
at Denmark’s Aarhus University said
from the rainy Faroe Islands capital
Torshavn.
As with previous eclipses experts
warned the public not to look directly
at the sun due to the danger of eye
damage.
Around 500 people gathered in
London’s Regent’s Park under an
overcast sky, hopeful of a glimpse of
the partial eclipse as it moved across
European skies before heading northwards via North Africa and the Middle East.
’‘Ž‹…‡‘ˆϐ‹…‡”Šƒ†‡†‘—–•’‡…‹ƒŽ
eclipse viewer glasses.
Eight-year-old Rufus Aagaard had
brought along a home-made viewer,
fashioned out of a cardboard tube.
“It’s made of cardboard, paper,
Sellotape and tin foil, and a pinprick
on the end,” he said.
More than 8,000 visitors gathered
in the Faroes, where the total eclipse
began at 9:41 am (0941 GMT), and
some 1,500 to 2,000 were expected in
Svalbard, where it started at 11:11 am
(1011 GMT).
A group of 50 Danes bought tickets aboard a Boeing 737 chartered
by a science magazine to watch the
event from the skies above the Faroe
Islands.
While they will be shielded from
the vagaries of Faroese weather, there
are some things they won’t get to experience when watching the eclipse
‹‡ǦŠƒ”†‡…Ž‹’•‡Œ—‹‡•ϐŽ‡™‹
ˆ”‘ƒ”‘—†–Š‡™‘”Ž†–‘–Š‡ƒ”‘‡
•Žƒ†•ƒ†‘”™ƒ›ǯ•”…–‹…˜ƒŽ„ƒ”†
ƒ”…Š‹’‡Žƒ‰‘–‘‘„•‡”˜‡–Š‡Ž‡••–Šƒ
–Š”‡‡‹—–‡•‘ˆ†ƒ›–‹‡†ƒ”‡••ǡ
a phenomenon that has fascinated
mankind since the beginning of time
People use
protective glasses
on their dog as they
watch a partial
solar eclipse in
Liverpool. — AFP
from the sky.
“If you’re on the ground you can
hear the birds behaving differently,
and the temperature falls,” John Valentin Mikkelsen, a 63-year-old teacher from the Danish city of Aarhus said.
The threat of polar bears
In Svalbard, which is just emerging from four months of winter darkness, hotels have been fully-booked
for years ahead of the event, the 10th
solar eclipse of the 21st century.
In the Arctic archipelago, where
everything is extreme, visitors must
contend with temperatures as low as
-20 Celsius at this time of year.
And then there’s the threat of
roaming polar bears. A Czech tourist who was lightly injured in a polar
bear attack on Thursday served as a
reminder of the danger posed by the
ƒ‹ƒŽ•ǡ™Š‹…ŠŠƒ˜‡‹ŽŽ‡†ϐ‹˜‡’‡‘’Ž‡
since 1971 in Svalbard.
Total eclipses occur when the
moon moves between Earth and the
Sun, and the three bodies align precisely.
The moon as seen from Earth is
just broad enough to cover the solar
face, creating a breath-taking silver
halo in an indigo sky pocked by daytime stars.
Elsewhere, the eclipse was partial,
to varying degrees: the sun was 97
per cent hidden in Reykjavik, 93 per
cent in Edinburgh, 84 per cent in London and 78 per cent in Paris.
The next total solar eclipse visible
from Europe is not due until August
12, 2026.
Another celestial phenomenon
was also expected yesterday. — AFP
‘SUPERMOON’ TO MAKE MISCHIEF WITH SUN AND SEA
Today the lunar
magician will
bemuse us with
exceptional tides.
The reason: Earth’s
satellite will be
a “supermoon,”
which happens at
its closest point to
our planet, called
a perigee. This,
and the moon’s
alignment with the
sun, will add to the
gravitational pull
on the seas
By Richard Ingham
N
ORSE legend has it that two giant
wolves roam the sky — with Skoll
chasing the moon and its brother
Hati going after the sun.
If either manages to sink its teeth into its
prey and hold it back, an eclipse occurs, the
story goes.
Tales of cosmic wolves may once have
been a useful way of explaining the weird
and scary interval when the sun, the source
‘ˆŽ‹ˆ‡‘ƒ”–Šǡ‹•„”‹‡ϐŽ›‡š–‹‰—‹•Š‡†Ǥ
For astronomers, though, total eclipses
occur when the moon sneaks between
Earth and the sun, and the three bodies
align precisely.
By quirky celestial symmetry, the moon
as seen from Earth is just broad enough to
cover the solar face, creating a breath-taking
silver halo in an indigo sky pocked by daytime stars.
The moon did this trick yesterday for the
only total solar eclipse of 2015, with a dramatic backdrop provided by Nordic islands
on the roof of the world.
Then today the lunar magician will bemuse us again, this time with exceptional
tides.
The reason: Earth’s satellite will be a
“supermoon,” which happens at its closest
point to our planet, called a perigee.
This, and the moon’s alignment with the
A general view shows the Mont Saint-Michel off
France’s Normandy coast on Thursday. The Mont
Saint-Michel 11th century abbey is expected to
be entirely surrounded by the English Channel
following exceptionally high spring tides. Parts of
the French coast will be on alert for the so-called
Dz–‹†‡‘ˆ–Š‡…‡–—”›dzǡ™‹–Š–‹†ƒŽ…‘‡ˆϔ‹…‹‡–•‘ˆͷͷ;
and 119 respectively on March 20 and 21.
— Reuters
sun, will add to the gravitational pull on
the seas — creating what is literally a high
point in the 18-year lunar cycle.
“The eclipse and the tide are linked,”
says Kevin Horsburgh, head of the Marine
Physics and Ocean Climate research group
at Britain’s National Oceanography Centre
(NOC).
“For an eclipse to take place, the sun, the
Earth and the moon need to be in a straight
line, which is also an essential condition for
high tides.
“And for particularly big tides, the moon
needs to be directly overhead at the equator
at the time.”
The celestial ballet will on Saturday result in major tides most perceptible in Canada’s Bay of Fundy, on the French Atlantic
coast, in the Channel and North Sea — but
even the Mediterranean will feel the difference. France’s Navy Oceanic and Hydrological Service (SHOM) has warned thrill-seekers to beware when the tide sweeps around
Mont Saint-Michel, the ancient abbey-island
located on the coast of Normandy.
Saturday’s tide on the long, sloping es-
tuary of the River Couesnon at the popular
tourist spot will be a whopping 14.15 metres — the height of a four-storey building.
The average tide there is 10.5 metres.
‘Faster than a running man’
“It’s going to be spectacular,” says SHOM
tide specialist, Nicolas Weber.
Locals say the incoming tide at Mont
Saint-Michel outstrips a galloping horse.
While this is incorrect, said Weber, “it
will come in faster than a running man. It
will be dangerous to venture out too far.”
Horsburgh, from Britain’s National Oceanography Centre, said Saturday’s tide would
be several centimetres (inches) above last
year’s maximum overall, and in some places
may even be slightly surpassed this September, which will also be an equinox, when
high water occurs.
‡ƒ–Š‡” ‹• ƒ „‹‰ ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡ ‘ ƒ –‹†‡ǯ•
ϐ‹‡”…‡‡••Ȅ‰ƒŽ‡•…ƒ™Š‹’—’•—”‰‡•ƒ„Ž‡
to test the mighty barriers that protect the
‡–Š‡”Žƒ†•ƒ†‘†‘ˆ”‘ϐŽ‘‘†‹‰Ǥ
“A storm surge can elevate water levels
by around four metres in the North Sea on
the Dutch coast and tend on the east coast
of Britain and the Thames estuary to be
around two, two-and-a-half metres in the
event of a bad storm,” Horsburgh said by
telephone. In 2010, a sea surge, driven by
ƒ•–‘”…ƒŽŽ‡†›–Š‹ƒǡϐŽ‘‘†‡†’ƒ”–•‘ˆ–Š‡
Vendee coast on France’s Atlantic seaboard,
killing 41 people. — AFP
23
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the
way, and shows the way.
— John C Maxwell,
an American author and speaker
FOCUS
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
Increasing Cropland is not
Always Good for Poor
Wild Bee
Species Risk
Extinction in
Europe
N
By Anne-Beatrice Clasmann
A particularly
•–ƒ”‡šƒ’Ž‡
of how changing
consumer trends and
population growth
in some countries
can lead to famine
and environmental
destruction in other
parts of the world is
the conversion of ever
increasing
tracts of land to
cultivate palm oil
I
N an ideal world, croplands would be
—•‡†–‘’”‘†—…‡ˆ‘‘†ǡˆ‡‡†ǡϐ‹„”‡•ƒ†
fuel in that order, says a German charity which campaigns for a sustainable and secure supply of food to the
world.
–‡ƒ•–Šƒ–’‡‘’Ž‡•Š‘—Ž†‰‡–ϐ‹”•–ƒ…cess to agricultural produce, then farm animals.
When they’ve been fed, the remaining
’”‘†—…‡ …ƒ „‡ —•‡† –‘ ƒ‡ –‡š–‹Ž‡•ǡ ƒ†
other products such as shampoo.
Finally, if there’s still biomass left over,
it can be used for fuel to reduce the world’s
consumption of fossil fuels.
But the reality is often very different,
something that Rafael Schneider of Welthungerhilfe, a charity which campaigns
against famine and food shortages, notes
every day in his job.
“We don’t argue that people should be
kept poor in order to protect the environ‡–ǡdzŠ‡‡š’Žƒ‹•Ǥ
“The more disposable clothing that people buy, the more agricultural land is taken
out of food production and devoted to cotton production instead,” he says, giving an
‡šƒ’Ž‡Ǥ
Welthungerhilfe hopes that Germany,
™Š‹…Š ‹• Š‘•–‹‰ –Š‡ ”‘—’ ‘ˆ ‡˜‡ ȋ
͹Ȍ
summit at Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian
Alps in June, will take the opportunity to
persuade other industrialised nations to
take a stand against this kind of develop-
ment.
And Schneider believes that politically,
there is long-term dividend to be gained
from taking action: “People who are poor
and hungry cause problems, crises and conϐŽ‹…–•Ǥdz
’ƒ”–‹…—Žƒ”Ž› •–ƒ” ‡šƒ’Ž‡ ‘ˆ Š‘™
changing consumer trends and population
growth in some countries can lead to famine and environmental destruction in other
parts of the world is the conversion of ever
increasing tracts of land to cultivate palm
oil.
“The success of our projects for small
farmers in Sierra Leone has been partially
undone because of the re-allocation of
large areas of agricultural land to establish
oil-palm plantations for large international
corporations,” says Schneider.
The oil, which is made from the fruits
and kernels of the oil palm, is cheaper than
other vegetable oils.
Per hectare it also produces a higher
yield than other plants such as a rapeseed
or soya. It’s also very versatile.
Palm oil can be used in the production
of e-cigarettes, instant meals, car tyres, cosmetics, cleaning products, cookies, chocolate bars and can also be used as a fuel.
In China and India, it’s often used as
a cooking oil, but in Europe it only rarely
shows up in the kitchen.
Germany consumes 19 kilograms of
palm oil and palm kernel oil a year per head
of population, a trend which is increasing.
The destruction of rain forests, which
are so important in the regulation of the
world’s climate, is only one of the negative
consequences of the palm oil plantations,
according to environmentalists and development workers.
The onward spread of the plantations
has also contributed to the displacement of
indigenous populations and a loss of livelihoods for small farmers.
Wild animals also suffer due to the loss
of habitat.
The situation is particularly bad in Indonesia, but also in countries like Peru, in
South America, where palm-oil producers
are buying up large tracts of land.
In December, a new EU regulation came
into force which obliges all products containing palm oil to be labelled as such.
Previously, the oil could simply be called
vegetable fat.
Activists have already put together online lists of “palm oil free products.”
Industry and business have also recognised the problem, though relatively few
use palm oil that is produced under socially
or ecologically unacceptable conditions.
It’s the bigger picture that worries the
campaigners.
“Palm oil isn’t fundamentally bad,” according to Welthungerhilfe.
“When the palms are grown on waste
land, or at least land that was previously
used as agricultural land, and when small
farmers are given fair contracts and so have
a role in the production, then everybody
„‡‡ϐ‹–•ǤdzȄ†’ƒ
EARLY 10 per cent of some 2,000
species of European wild bees are
threatened with extinction, according to a
study published on Thursday.
The study released by the European
Commission, the EU executive arm, is the
ϐ‹”•–‘–Š‡—”‘’‡ƒ™‹Ž†„‡‡’‘’—Žƒ–‹‘ǡ
less known than the domestic variety but
just as important to pollination of crops.
“The report reveals that 9.2 per cent of
European wild bee species are threatened
with extinction, while 5.2 per cent are considered likely to be threatened in the near
future,” the commission said.
The assessment was published as part
of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) European Red List
of Bees and the Status and Trends of European Pollinators (STEP) project.
Its authors said the study provided
the “best understanding” so far on the
1,965 species surveyed but added that
knowledge was incomplete because of an
“alarming lack of expertise and resources.”
The IUCN said the study, which was
co-funded by the European Commission,
demonstrates the urgency in investing in
research to halt the decline of wild bees
which, it added, play “an essential role in
pollinating crops.”
“If we don’t address the reasons behind
this decline in wild bees, and act urgently
to stop it, we could pay a very heavy price
indeed,” said Karmenu Vellu, the European Commissioner for the environment.
The commission said 84 per cent of the
main crops grown for human consumption in Europe require insect pollination
to enhance product quality and yields.
Bees are threatened by the “large-scale
loss and degradation” of their habitants
resulting mainly from intensive agriculture and the use of insecticides and fertilisers.
“Climate change is another important
driver of extinction risk for most species
of bees, and particularly bumblebees,” the
commission said. — AFP
SLIPPERY SLOPE? HEATED DEBATE IN UGANDA OVER SUPER CROPS
By Amy Fallon
Across the world, heated debate surrounds the
development and use of new foods whose DNA
has been manipulated to incorporate traits not
found naturally
W
ITH his half-acre banana
plantation, Charles Semakula can put his family’s
favourite food on the table every day.
Green cooking bananas, or matooke, are a feature of almost every
main course for 38-year-old Semakula, his wife and four children, while
sweet yellow ones make for pudding.
Matooke is a national staple in
Uganda, and many say a meal isn’t a
meal without it.
“When I spend a week without
eating matooke, I don’t feel good,”
said Semakula, who lives and farms
16 kilometres outside the capital
ƒ’ƒŽƒǤ Dz–ǯ• ”ƒ”‡ ‘– –‘ ϐ‹† ‹– ”‡gardless of what part of the country
you’re in.”
But in recent years a deadly bacterial disease, known as “banana wilt”,
has had a devastating impact, driving
some farmers to abandon their beloved crop altogether. It has also sparked
a Ugandan version of the global row
Ugandan farmer works in his banana plantation in Wakiso. — AFP
‘˜‡” ‰‡‡–‹…ƒŽŽ› ‘†‹ϐ‹‡† ȋ
Ȍ
foods.
Across the world, heated debate
surrounds the development and use
of new foods whose DNA has been
manipulated to incorporate traits not
found naturally.
Backers claim that engineered
strains offer a future of plentiful
crops, resistant to drought and disease.
Their opponents insist that the
long-term health risks and environmental impacts are not known, and
warn that global corporations behind
ˆ‘‘†• ‡š‡”…‹•‡ —†—‡ ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡
over governments and farmers.
With his banana crop under
threat, Semakula is among those who
want Uganda’s parliament to pass a
contentious bill permitting the use of
…”‘’•‹–Š‡Š‘’‡‹–™‹ŽŽ†‡Ž‹˜‡”
disease-resistant bananas.
—’’‘”–‡”• ‘ˆ –Š‡ „‹ŽŽ ƒ”‰—‡
that the crops are both safe and vital
for the health of Ugandans.
“We are interested in solving a
problem,” said Professor Wilberforce
Tushemereirwe, director of research
at the National Agricultural Research
Laboratories.
Uganda has been conducting triƒŽ•‘ˆ†‹•‡ƒ•‡Ǧ”‡•‹•–ƒ–
„ƒƒƒ•
since 2007. In 2010 government sci‡–‹•–•‡š’ƒ†‡†–Š‡”ƒ‰‡‘ˆ–‡•–•–‘
include rice, maize, cassava and sweet
potatoes.
But for Semakula, it is all about
the banana, while his faith in the government is total. “Vaccines and drugs
come into the country. I don’t need
to know where they came from, how
they process them. Government ap’”‘˜‡•ƒ†„‡‡ϐ‹–Ǥ›…‘ϐ‹†‡…‡‹•
in the government,” he said.
‘A neo-colonial conspiracy’
–Š‡”•Š‘™‡˜‡”ƒ”‡•…‡’–‹…ƒŽǤDz–ǯ•
a neo-colonial conspiracy to make the
developing world more dependent
on food and seeds from rich governments and corporations,” said Edie
Mukiibi, 28, who grows 12 different
varieties of banana on his farm in Mukono, in central Uganda.
’’‘‡–• ‘ˆ • ƒ”‰—‡ –Šƒ–
they threaten the sustainability of
farming in Africa with accompanying restrictions that remove farmers’
right to choose their own crops and
seeds.
“Real nutrition is when you have
diversity of crops in your garden to
choose from, not having only one
crop everywhere,” said Mukiibi, who
is also a vice-president of the Ugandan branch of the global organisation Slow Food International, which
”‡Œ‡…–• • ƒ† ƒ†˜‘…ƒ–‡• Dz‰‘‘†ǡ
clean and fair food.”
Dz
• ƒ”‡ —”‡Ž‹ƒ„Ž‡ ˆ”‘ ƒ •…‹‡–‹ϐ‹…’‘‹–‘ˆ˜‹‡™ǡ‹‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡–‹‡…‘nomic terms and environmentally unsustainable,” the Italy-based network
contends on its Internet site.
— AFP
24
ENVIRONMENT
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
A woman
wearing a
traditional
fur hat
Ulan Bator is regarded as the world’s coldest
national capital and can see bone-chilling
winter lows of minus 40 degrees Celsius,
tough even for the hardy descendants of
Genghis Khan
By Kelly Olsen
C
lad in a fox fur hat and dog
hair boots, Mongolian merchant Undrakhiin Batulzii
says his compatriots have
over centuries mastered
the art of beating the brutal winters
of the steppes.
Ulan Bator is regarded as the
world’s coldest national capital and
can see bone-chilling winter lows of
minus 40 degrees Celsius, tough even
for the hardy descendants of Genghis
Khan. For a newcomer the temperatures can be achingly uncomfortable,
especially if stationary.
Exposed ears and hands quickly
begin to hurt, while standing on frigid
concrete overcomes extremities not
shod in properly insulated footwear.
“Staying warm is worth 1,000 lan
of gold,” goes one Mongolian saying,
placing a monetary value on avoiding
the cold — with one lan weighing 37
grams, it is the equivalent of $1.4 million.
But Mongolians cope by means of
fancy fur hats, hot food and drink, stoic good humour and layers of clothing
— “There are no fashionable people
in winter,” goes another saying.
“Mongolians’ ancestors were nomads,” said Batulzii at his traditional
garment stall in Ulan Bator’s outdoor
Naran Tuul market.
“Everything we eat and wear is de•‹‰‡†–‘‘˜‡”…‘‡–Š‡†‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–‹‡•‘ˆ
the four seasons,” he added. “That’s
why Mongolians can beat the winter
Cold Comfort in Ulan Bator
with no trouble.”
Ulan Bator lies at a surprisingly
benign latitude south of Paris, but is
1,300 kilometres inland, far from the
‘†‡”ƒ–‹‰ ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‘…‡ƒ•ǡ
and at an altitude of 1,350 metres.
Known as the land of the “Eternal
Blue Sky”, high pressures from Siberia
give Mongolia cloudless winter nights
that allow daytime land warming to
escape to the atmosphere, and send
temperatures plunging.
According to World Meteorologi…ƒŽ”‰ƒ‹œƒ–‹‘͵ͲǦ›‡ƒ”ϐ‹‰—”‡•ǡŽƒ
Bator’s average annual temperature is
-2.4 degrees C (28 F), well below the
2.7 C of Kazakhstan’s Astana, Reykjavik in Iceland at 4.4 C and Moscow,
which enjoys a comparatively balmy
5.0 C.
Byambaagiin Yanjmaa, a retired
kindergarten cook, credits traditional food and drink as key for getting
through the coldest months.
“Horse and lamb are very good for
surviving the winter.
Š‡‡’ϐ‹†–Š‡„‡•–‰”ƒ••ˆ”‘–Š‡
pastureland,” she said in one of Ulan
Bator’s “ger” districts, largely poor,
hard-scrabble areas where many
homes are collapsible, felt-covered
herders’ dwellings.
“It’s not so bad,” said the 69-yearold. “Everyone can adapt to it based
on his or her strength and weakness.”
Nearby, workers broke up jet black
raw coal into pieces to sell as heating
fuel, a key contributor to the city’s
dire pollution levels.
In Tov province west of the capital, herder Tumursukhiin Altanzaya
WORLD’S CHILLIEST CAPITAL
tends her horses, cows, sheep and
goats, including milking the bovines,
all out in the cold, but said her lambskin deel — a long Mongolian tunic — and wool boots help keep her
warm.
“I ride a horse, and herd animals,”
she said. “When I get back home from
the pasture, I drink aarts and eat khu-
By Will Dunham
T
O 19th century British naturalist Charles Darwin, they
were the strangest animals
yet discovered, one looking like
a hybrid of a hippo, rhino and
rodent and another resembling
a humpless camel with an elephant’s trunk.
˜‡” •‹…‡ ƒ”™‹ ϐ‹”•– …‘Žlected their fossils about 180
years ago, scientists had been bafϐŽ‡†ƒ„‘—–™Š‡”‡–Š‡•‡‘††‘—–Š
American beasts that went extinct
Œ—•– ͳͲǡͲͲͲ ›‡ƒ”• ƒ‰‘ ϐ‹– ‘ –Š‡
mammal family tree. The mystery
has now been solved.
Researchers said on Wednes-
day a sophisticated biochemical
analysis of bone collagen extracted
from fossils of the two mammals,
Toxodon and Macrauchenia, demonstrated that they were related
to the group that includes horses,
tapirs and rhinos.
Some scientists previously
thought the two herbivorous
mammals, the last of a successful
group called South American ungulates, were related to mammals
of African origin like elephants
and aardvarks or other South
American mammals like armadillos and sloths.
“We have resolved one of the
last unresolved major problems in
mammalian evolution: the origins
herder livelihoods.
Millions of livestock died in the last
one in 2010. About 1.3 million people
live in Ulan Bator — more than 40
per cent of Mongolia’s population.
The lowest temperature recorded
in the city so far this year was -34
Celsius on January 26, according to
weather information service Weather
The breath of pedestrians condensing while crossing a street on a cold day in Ulan Bator. — AFP
Mystery of Darwin’s Strange South
American Mammals Solved
An artist’s rendering shows the South American native ungulate
Macrauchenia patachonica which had a number of remarkable
adaptations, including the positioning of its nostrils high on its
head in this illustration. — Reuters
ushuur” — a hot sour curd beverage
and meat dumplings.
‘Surprisingly warm’
Mongolia is periodically hit by
deadly winters known as zud, marked
by heavy snow and cold so severe
that livestock are unable to graze, lose
strength and freeze to death on the
open steppe, sometimes destroying
of the South American native ungulates,” said molecular evolutionary biologist Ian Barnes of London’s Natural History Museum,
whose research appears in the
journal Nature.
Toxodon, about 9 feet long
(2.75 metres), possessed a body
like a rhinoceros, head like a hippopotamus and ever-growing molars like a rodent. Macrauchenia,
just as long but more lightly built,
had long legs, an extended neck
and apparently a small trunk.
“Some of Darwin’s earliest thoughts about evolution by
means of natural selection were
engendered by contemplating the
remains of Toxodon and Macrauchenia, which resembled so confusingly the features of a number
of other groups, but had died out
so recently,” said paleomammalogist Ross MacPhee of New York’s
American Museum of Natural History.
The researchers tried but
failed to get DNA from the fossils,
but were able to coax the longerlasting collagen from the remains.
Collagen is the main structural
protein in various types of tissues,
including bone and skin.
The scientists compared the
collagen to a wide range of living and a few extinct mammals to
properly place the creatures on
the mammal family tree.
— Reuters
Underground, but residents said the
winter has been relatively mild.
“This year it’s surprisingly warm,”
said Begziin Dalai, a spry 86-yearold retired driver and father of eight,
warming a bare hand over a meatŠƒ™‡”ǯ• ‘’‡ ϐ‹”‡ ‘ ƒ •—› „—–
sub-zero afternoon.
Clyde Goulden, curator emeritus
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Drexel University in the United States,
who researches Mongolia’s climate,
lists the country’s plateau location
and large open expanses as among
factors that make it cold.
Still, Mongolia’s average temperature has warmed more than two degrees Celsius, or almost four degrees
Fahrenheit, over the past 40-50 years,
he said, citing studies.
The average world increase is
about one degree Celsius, he said, but
the trend for Arctic and nearby regions is higher.
“It’s just highly variable,” he said.
“More and more now the herders say
the weather is changing so quickly
that they can no longer predict what
the next winter will be like.”
Damdinii Norjmaa, 84, lives in a
small ger in Ulan Bator but still pines
for the pastures where she once herded cattle. “I think winter is good,” she
said. “Because winter makes us much
stronger.”
— AFP
Amazon Rainforest Soaking Up
Less Carbon as Trees Die Young
y Amazon rainforest
absorbs vast
amounts of carbon
dioxide
y Study shows big
fall in amount of
greenhouse gas
absorbed
y Trees growing
faster, dying faster
— lead author
By Alister Doyle
T
HE Amazon rainforest’s ability
to soak up greenhouse gases
from the air has fallen sharply,
possibly because climate change and
droughts mean more trees are dying,
an international team of scientists
said on Wednesday.
The world’s biggest rainforest has
soaked up vast amounts of carbon
dioxide. Plants use the heat-trapping
gas to grow and release it when they
rot or burn, but the report said that
role in offsetting global warming may
be under threat.
The study, of 321 plots in parts of
the Amazon untouched by human
activities, estimated the net amount
of carbon dioxide absorbed by the
forest had fallen by 30 per cent, to
1.4 billion tonnes a year in the 2000s
from 2 billion in the 1990s.
Dz‘”‡•– ‰”‘™–Š Šƒ• ϐŽƒ–Ž‹‡† ‘˜‡”
the last decade,” lead author Roel
Brienen of the University of Leeds
•ƒ‹† ‘ˆ –Š‡ ϐ‹†‹‰• ‹ –Š‡ Œ‘—”ƒŽ
Nature. At the same time “the whole
forest is living faster — trees grow
faster, die faster.”
“The net carbon uptake of forests
Šƒ• •‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–Ž› ™‡ƒ‡‡†ǡdz Š‡ •ƒ‹†
of the study by almost 100 experts.
Human carbon emissions in Latin
America are overtaking amounts ab•‘”„‡† „› –Š‡ ƒœ‘ ˆ‘” –Š‡ ϐ‹”•–
time, the University of Leeds said in a
press release.
The scientists said it was unclear if
the decline would continue and if the
trend applied to other tropical forests
such as the Congo basin or Indonesia.
Š‡ ϐ‹†‹‰• ƒ”‡ ƒ •—”’”‹•‡ „‡cause some computer models suggest tropical forests may grow better
because carbon dioxide emitted by
human use of fossil fuels acts as an
airborne fertiliser.
The study said increased tree
deaths might be linked to severe
droughts, such as in 2005.
Another possibility was that manmade carbon dioxide was making
trees both grow faster and die younger and that more deaths were only
now becoming apparent. — Reuters
25
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship
that makes unhappy marriages.
— Friedrich Nietzsche,
a German philosopher and poet.
BOOKS
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
Space, Next Frontier for ‘Insurgent’ Author
C
ULT US teen author Veronica Roth has come a long
way in only a few years.
And it seems her next step
— at least, in a literary
sense — will be into space.
The 26-year-old published her
debut novel “Divergent” in 2011,
launching a dystopian trilogy that
has been turned into a blockbuster movie franchise — the stuff of
dreams for any young writer.
“Insurgent” — the second installment in the series that hits theaters
in the United States this week — will
be followed in 2016 and 2017 by two
‘˜‹‡•ƒ†‡ˆ”‘DzŽŽ‡‰‹ƒ–ǡdz–Š‡ϐ‹nal book in the trilogy.
“My whole life, I’ve wanted to be a
writer and write books, and maybe I
thought someday I’ll get a book published, and that was kind of as far as
my dreams went,” she said in an interview.
“The movie stuff I didn’t even really think about, it’s been really exciting and gratifying to see it come to
life,” added the author, who has had
to get used to being the idol of masses of teenage fans.
‘Hunger Games’ parallels
Roth — who welcomes comparisons between “Divergent” and simiŽƒ”Ž› †›•–‘’‹ƒ ›‘—‰ ƒ†—Ž– ϐ‹…–‹‘Ǧ
–‘Ǧϐ‹Ž „Ž‘…„—•–‡” ˆ”ƒ…Š‹•‡ DzŠ‡
Hunger Games” — is in the middle
‘ˆ –Š‡ ϐ‹˜‡ ˆƒ…–‹‘• ‹–‘ ™Š‹…Š ’‘•–Ǧ
apocalyptic Chicago has been divided.
Those groupings are Dauntless
(the brave), Erudite (the clever), Amity (the peaceful), Abnegation (the
•‡ŽϐŽ‡••Ȍ ƒ† ƒ†‘” ȋ–Š‡ Š‘‡•–ȌǤ
There are also the Factionless —
those not welcome in any faction.
In “Insurgent,” Tris — helped by
her love interest Four (played by
Britain’s Theo James) — must conˆ”‘–Š‡”‹‡”†‡‘•ƒ••Š‡ϐ‹‰Š–•
the evil Jeanine (Kate Winslet), determined to wipe out the divergents.
The parallels with “The Hunger
Games” franchise are many: a strong
central female character, a dystopian
future setting divided into groups
”—Ž‡† „› ƒ ‡˜‹Ž …‡–”ƒŽ ϐ‹‰—”‡ǡ ƒ
hunky love interest and quirky sidekicks.
Š‡ ϐ‹”•– Dz—‰‡” ƒ‡•dz „‘‘
was published in 2008, three years
before “Divergent.”
Some might suggest Roth is
following a formula, but she is far
from offended by the comparisons.
“I love ‘The Hunger Games,’ books
and movies,” she said.
“The best part about it was that
those books created a space in the
market for stories like mine. I feel
very fortunate that I wrote that story
when that space was here.”
But she added: “It’s a tough comparison, because I have a lot of admiof the media circus surrounding the
The story follows the fearless Tris, –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ‘˜‹‡ Ž‡ƒ”‡† –Šƒ– •Š‡ ™ƒ•
ration for those books.
Friday release of “Insurgent.”
played by Shailene Woodley, who in Dz†‹˜‡”‰‡–dz Ȅ ‘– ϐ‹––‹‰ ‹–‘ ƒ›
Disproving Shakespeare: The Greatest
Roman in Literary Fiction
By Vikas Datta
O
NLYƒˆ‡™Š‹•–‘”‹…ƒŽϐ‹‰—”‡•”‡–ƒ‹–Š‡‹””‡nown in the relentless march of time,
with one yardstick being widespread,
continuing depictions across various cultures.
™‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡•‡ ƒ”‡ ’”‘‹‡– ϐ‹‰—”‡• ˆ”‘
the ancient Graeco-Roman world, but their
legacy is enduring — one’s name is still used
for a victorious champion and the others for
a monarch in his own land as well as wide
swathes of Europe and Asia down to the modern age, still names a month and is forever linked
with today’s date (or the Ides of March). Their
historic achievements apart, both Alexander the
Great (356-323 BC) and Gaius Julius Caesar (10044 BC) also had a major cultural impact — right
from their own eras down to the present — in lit‡”ƒ–—”‡ƒ†Žƒ–‡”‹ϐ‹Žǡǡ…‘‹…•ǡ”ƒ†‹‘ƒ†‡˜‡
video games.
But while the Macedonian monarch-turnedworld conqueror has become more of a legend,
the Roman general and statesman remains mostly
grounded in fact.
This could be due to the survival of much of Caesar’s own writings and accounts of his contemporaries as well as the more lasting nature of his accomplishments.
The most-known works featuring Caesar are
William Shakespeare’s eponymous play of 1599
(though he appears only in three scenes but gives
us some memorable lines), and the Asterix the
Gaul comic series, where he is the principal — but
honourable and long-suffering — antagonist.
This depiction draws quite on his real persona
— including inclination for decisive action, legendary temper, eloquent speech and habit of referring to himself (in his works) in the third person.
Another comic appearance was in MAD’s “MAD
Clobbers the Classics” section (as Julius Seesaw
along with Mock Agony, Brutish, Cautious and others). But Caesar has a wider appearance in other
•‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–Ž‹–‡”ƒ–—”‡‘ˆ–Š‡‡•–‡”™‘”Ž†Ȅ‹Š‹•
Ž‹ˆ‡–‹‡ǡŠ‡ϐ‹‰—”‡†‹–Š‡’‘’—Žƒ”’‘‡•‘ˆƒ–—ŽŽ—•ǡƒ†‹–Š‡‡š–…‡–—”›ȋ–Š‡ϐ‹”•–…‡–—”›ƒˆ–‡”
Christ), in Virgil’s epic “Aeneid” and Lucan’s poem
“Pharsalia”.
 –Š‡ ‡†‹‡˜ƒŽ ‡”ƒǡ Š‡ ϐ‹‰—”‡• ‹ ƒ–‡ǯ• DzŠ‡
Divine Comedy” where Canto IX shows him in a
section of Limbo meant for virtuous non-Christians, along with some other Greeks and Romans
(though assassins, Brutus and Cassius and lover,
Cleopatra, are among souls of the wicked in the
lower regions of hell) while his civil war and assas•‹ƒ–‹‘ϐ‹‰—”‡‹Šƒ—…‡”ǯ•DzŠ‡ƒ–‡”„—”›ƒŽ‡•dz
(the “Monk’s Tale”). Closer to our time, is George
Bernard Shaw’s play “Caesar and Cleopatra”
ȋͳͺͻͺȌǤ‡‹•‘•–”ƒ‰‡”ˆ‘”‘†‡”ϐ‹…–‹‘Ȅƒ†
has mostly a positive role but not always.
‡‘ˆ–Š‡ϐ‹”•––‘ˆ‡ƒ–—”‡Š‹Ȅ„—–ƒ•ƒ˜‹ŽŽƒ‹
— was Talbot Mundy’s historical (with some fantasy elements) novel “Tros of Samothrace” (1934)
where Caesar (and Roman civilisation’s) depiction
as imperialistic and tyrannical kicked off a furious
debate in letters’ section of newspapers.
Then there is American author Thornton Wilder’s epistolary novel “The Ides of March” (1948),
dealing the events leading to his assassination but
with some poetic licence — and latitude (as the
author admits) and likewise in Italian author Valerio Massimo Manfredi’s 2008 novel of the same
name.
—–ƒ†‡ϐ‹‹–‹˜‡™‘”Ȅ“—‹–‡…Ž‘•‡–‘Š‹•–‘”›
as possible — is the seven-volume Masters of
Rome series by Australian writer Colleen McCullough, which spans most of the Roman Republic’s turbulent last century (c.110 BC-27
BC). Caesar comes onstage towards the end
‘ˆ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– „‘‘ DzŠ‡ ‹”•– ƒ ‹ ‘‡dz
ȋͳͻͻͲȌǡϐ‹‰—”‡•‹DzŠ‡
”ƒ••”‘™ȋͳͻͻͳȌdzǡ
takes centrestage midway through “Fortune’s Favorites” (1993), stars in “Caesar’s
Women” (1995), and “Caesar (1997), and
bows out in the middle of “The October
Horse” (2002). On public demand, McCullough brought out “Antony and Cleopatra
ȋʹͲͲ͹Ȍdzƒ•–Š‡•‡”‹‡•ǯ†‡ϐ‹‹–‹˜‡‡†‹‰Ǥ
British writer Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series — “The Gates of Rome” (2003),
“The Death of Kings” (2004), “The Field
of Swords” (2005), “The gods of War”
(2006), and “The Blood of gods” (2013)
take a considerable amount of liberty with facts
— making Caesar and Brutus contemporaries —
but is still readable if this doesn’t bother you.
A soldier’s point of view is the basis of two
six-volume series — British writer S J A Tuney’s
“Marius’ Mules” (2009-14) as well as American
writer RW Peake’s “Marching With Caesar” (201213) (and two related novels including “Caesar Triumphant” (2014) on the premise Caesar avoids assassination and his subsequent career).
“The evil that men do lives after them/The good
is oft interred with their bones..” was his lieutenant
Mark Antony’s funeral peroration in Shakespeare’s
play but Caesar’s literary role proves the Bard
wrong! — IANS
Jobs Refused Successor Cook’s Offer of Liver Transplant
W
HEN Apple founder Steve
Jobs was close to death from
cancer in 2009, he rejected
a partial liver transplant offered by
the current chief of the company,
the publisher of a forthcoming book
about Jobs said last week.
The current chief executive, Tim
Cook, was thrilled to discover that he
and Jobs shared a rare blood type,
making him a candidate for a partial
transplant.
Cook went to Jobs’ house to tell
him, but was quickly rebuffed.
“No, I’m not doing that!” Jobs told
Cook, sitting up in bed at his home
in Palo Alto, California, in January
2009, according to an excerpt from
the book, which is to be published on
March 24 by Fast Company.
Cook is quoted in the passage as
saying Jobs emphatically rejected
Cook’s offer, telling him repeatedly he
would never allow that, despite his
own badly declining health.
“Steve only yelled at me four or
ϐ‹˜‡–‹‡•†—”‹‰–Š‡ͳ͵›‡ƒ”•‡™
him, and this was one of them,” Cook
told the book’s authors, Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli.
Jobs had a form of pancreatic cancer and had undergone surgery in
2004, the same year he informed Apple employees of his condition.
In a partial liver transplant a portion of the liver is taken from a living
donor, whose liver ideally then regenerates while the piece that was removed grows in the recipient.
Fast Company magazine will issue
more excerpts of the book.
Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution
Of a Reckless Upstart Into a Visionary
Leader is expected to offer insights
into the iconoclastic thinking of the
Apple co-founder.
Jobs died in 2011 of pancreatic
cancer at 56.
A biography of Jobs by Walter
Isaacson in 2011 became a best seller.
— dpa
So it’s a lot to live up to.”
‘Harry Potter’ geek
Roth is also crazy about the world
of “Harry Potter,” going so far as to
call herself a nerd fan of the boy wizard created by British author JK Rowling.
“I think a nerd is just someone
who really loves something or a lot of
things. I’ve always been a big Harry
Potter geek and always loved reading,
which of course will get you labelled
as a nerd sometimes.”
Roth also describes herself as a
feminist, but says she doesn’t portray
women as ideal.
“Certainly they’re not perfect. I like
to write about women and to render
them as carefully and thoughtfully as
possible,” she said.
As the “Insurgent” launch rolls on,
and the “Allegiant” one gears up for
the coming years, the young writer is
already working on her post “Divergent” world — her next work.
“It’s set in space. Star Wars-esque,
like a space opera.
It’s about a boy who teams up with
someone who’s supposed to be his
enemy, to achieve their very different
objectives of revenge and redemption,” Roth said.
She is planning two books, and is
hoping for publication in 2017. “But
it depends on how quickly I work and
how well it goes,” she said. — AFP
O’Nan on Scott Fitzgerald’s
Days in Hollywood
By Nicholas P Brown
A
uthor Stewart O’Nan’s 15th novel, “West of Sunset,” follows
™”‹–‡” …‘–– ‹–œ‰‡”ƒŽ† –Š”‘—‰Š Š‹• ϐ‹ƒŽ ›‡ƒ”• ‹ ‘ŽŽ›wood, when fame and fortune had dwindled.
 –Š‡ Š‹•–‘”‹…ƒŽǦϐ‹…–‹‘ ‘˜‡Žǡ ‹–œ‰‡”ƒŽ† ‹• ƒ‹‰ ƒ –‡—‘—•
living as a screenwriter in the years before his death from a heart
attack at the age of 44.
O’Nan spoke about his research, writing and philosophy and
his next project.
What drew
you to Fitzgerald?
He was the
most
famous
young author in
the world, and
then of course it
all goes to hell,
quickly.
It mirrors the
fortune of the
country at that
time.
Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald are
a perfect poster
couple for a time,
but I’m writing
about what happens after Scott’s
life goes to hell.
How does he
retain his sensitivity to the
world, that romantic view of
the world?
How did you
research
this
book?
My wife says
I only write the
books so I can do
the research.
Š‡ ϐ‹”•– •–‡’
was getting his
sensibility.
I reread all of (Fitzgerald’s) stuff, all the novels, all the stories,
ƒŽŽ–Š‡Ž‡––‡”•…‘—Ž†ϐ‹†Ǥ
The letters in the novel are made up, but I had tons of vocabulary and emotion to draw on.
That’s why I wouldn’t do a biography.
I want to take it a little bit further and get a little closer to these
people.
As John Cheever said, ‘All I want from reality is possibility.’ I can
do anything I want, provided I make it believable to the reader.
Your next project is called “The Eternal City.”
It’s Jerusalem noir, set in Jerusalem in 1946, and culminates in
the bombing of the King David Hotel.
I wanted to explore how did the survivors of the Holocaust become the terrorists that went on to blow up the British? How do
you make that jump?
Much of your work explores the unknown.
What happened to the adage, “Write what you know”?
I say write what you’re curious about.
I love the idea of trying to write the impossible book, the book
that cannot be done.
•ƒϐ‹…–‹‘™”‹–‡”ǡ›‘—ǯ”‡ƒŽŽ‘™‡†–‘†‘ƒ›–Š‹‰ǡƒ•Ž‘‰ƒ•›‘—
dare it, and do it as well as you possibly can.
And if it’s still no good, that’s OK. — Reuters
26
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
TOURISM
New York’s MoMA Store: A Pioneer in Innovation
All products
undergo a rigorous
selection process.
Those discovered at
trade fairs or made
by local artisans
halfway around the
world are brought
back to New York
and submitted to
quality checks and
control. If they pass,
they then have to
be approved by
museum curators
By Brigitte Dusseau
W
HILE some museums are
still somewhat skittish
about selling souvenirs,
New York’s celebrated MoMA leads
the way in retail innovation, its design
boutiques almost as popular as the
artwork on display.
Š‡—•‡—‘’‡‡†‹–•ϐ‹”•–•Š‘’
in 1939 — a simple sales counter on
the MoMA premises on 53rd Street in
Manhattan.
More than 70 years later, it has
ϐ‹˜‡”‡–ƒ‹Ž•’ƒ…‡•‹‡™‘”ǡ–™‘‘ˆ
them devoted to design, a store in To›‘ƒ†‘Ž‹‡•Š‘’’‹‰•‹–‡•ǡ–™‘‘ˆ
which cater to the Japanese and Korean markets.
Š‡‘•–™‡ŽŽǦ‘™‘ˆ–Š‡•Š‘’•
is the store on 53rd Street just opposite the museum.
‹–Š‹–••‡”‡‡ǡƒ”–ˆ—Ž†‹•’Žƒ›•ƒ†
documented collection, it is almost an
‡š–‡•‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡‰ƒŽŽ‡”›Ǥ
Products are presented with a
•Š‘”– †‡•…”‹’–‹‘ǡ –Š‡ ƒ‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡‹”
designer or artist, and the year they
were created.
“It’s really important to our customers to have the experience they
have basically in the museum,” Chay
‘•–‡ŽŽ‘ǡ ƒ••‹•–ƒ– †‹”‡…–‘” ‘ˆ ‡”chandising, said.
Dz‡–”›–‘”‡ϐŽ‡…––Šƒ–‹–Š‡•–‘”‡•ǡ
and we have signs that tell people
who designs this, what the inspiration
‹•ǡ ƒ† ™‡ …ƒ””› ƒ —„‡” ‘ˆ –Š‹‰•
that are in our collection,” she added.
‘‡ ƒ”‡ …‘’‹‡• ‘ˆ ƒ…–—ƒŽ ’‹‡…‡•
ˆ”‘–Š‡‘…‘ŽŽ‡…–‹‘ǡ•—…Šƒ•–Š‡
lounge chair and ottoman created by
Charles Eames in 1956, which costs
more than $4,000.
Others are products exclusive to
MoMA that have been sourced by
buyers who travel all over the world
to replenish the store’s twice-yearly
collections.
Still more are MoMA innovations,
™Š‹…ŠŠƒ˜‡‘Ž›•‡‡–Š‡Ž‹‰Š–‘ˆ†ƒ›
–Šƒ• –‘ ‘Ž‹‡ …”‘™†Ǧˆ—†‹‰ •‹–‡•
Ȅ Ž‹‡ –Š‡ Dz͵‘‘†Ž‡”ǡdz –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ͵
’”‹–‹‰ ’‡ ƒ† ‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ …—””‡–
best-sellers.
Shoppers browsing through MoMA
stores in New York. — AFP
Š‡ ‰ƒ†‰‡– ™ƒ• „‘” ‘—– ‘ˆ ƒ …‘Žlaboration between MoMA and online
ˆ—†”ƒ‹•‹‰ •‹–‡ ‹…•–ƒ”–‡”ǡ ƒ† ™ƒ•
„”‘—‰Š– –‘ Ž‹ˆ‡ „› ‘”‡ –Šƒ ʹ͸ǡͷͲͲ
backers.
In the MoMA shop, even colanders
and umbrellas look like art.
On one wall, a video explains the
…”‡ƒ–‹˜‡ ’”‘…‡•• ‘ˆ ƒ”–‹•– ƒ”‹ƒ
Abramovic, whose plates are sold in
the store.
Elsewhere, lamps that create a
3D illusion and were designed by Tel
Aviv-based artist Nir Chehanowski
are on display.
Innovation and quality
All products undergo a rigorous
selection process.
Š‘•‡ †‹•…‘˜‡”‡† ƒ– –”ƒ†‡ ˆƒ‹”•
‘” ƒ†‡ „› Ž‘…ƒŽ ƒ”–‹•ƒ• ŠƒŽˆ™ƒ›
around the world are brought back
to New York and submitted to quality
checks and control, she said.
ˆ –Š‡› ’ƒ••ǡ –Š‡› –Š‡ Šƒ˜‡ –‘ „‡
approved by museum curators.
“That is a really important step
along the way to make sure that we
ƒ‹–ƒ‹ –Š‡ •–ƒ†ƒ”†• ‘ˆ –Š‡ —•‡um,” Costello said.
Innovation, creativity and quality
are the watchwords.
“We seek out the most innovative,
exciting new products,” Costello explained.
“We also are looking at bringing
products that are representing the
ˆ—–—”‡‘ˆ™Šƒ–‰‘‘††‡•‹‰‹•‰‘‹‰–‘
be.”
Among items in the shop are bamboo knives, exclusive to MoMA that
”‡–ƒ‹Ž ƒ– ̈́ͳͲǦͳʹǡ ƒ† ƒ ‰Žƒ•• ’ƒ †‡•‹‰‡†„›ƒ••‹‘ƒ•–ƒ‰ƒˆ‘”̈́ʹͲͲǤ
Among the new items are an adult
•…‘‘–‡” ‹˜‡–‡† „› ƒ ‹•Š ˆƒ‹Ž›
‹ ‡•›Ž˜ƒ‹ƒ ˆ‘” ̈́͵ʹͲǡ ƒ† …ƒ”†board suitcases that have been made
„› –Š‡ •ƒ‡ ˆƒ…–‘”› ‹ –Š‡ œ‡…Š ‡’—„Ž‹…•‹…‡ͳͻʹͷǤ
MoMA also recently partnered
with Japanese apparel chain Uniqlo
–‘ƒ‡ƒƒ••‘”–‡–‘ˆ…Ž‘–Š‡•–Šƒ–
ˆ‡ƒ–—”‡ƒ”–„›”‡‘™‡†ƒ”–‹•–•‹‹–•
collection such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jackson Pollock.
The shop on 53rd Street, which
opened in 1989, has been so successˆ—Ž –Šƒ– ‹– ‘’‡‡† •‹•–‡” „”ƒ…Š‡• ‹
ʹͲͲͳ ‹ ƒŠƒ––ƒǯ• ‘‘ †‹•–”‹…–ǡ
ƒ†‹‘›‘‹‘˜‡„‡”ʹͲͲ͹Ǥ
Overall, MoMA shops in New York
— including those inside the museum that sell books, souvenirs and de•‹‰’”‘†—…–•Ȅ”‡…‡‹˜‡†ʹǤͷ‹ŽŽ‹‘
visitors last year.
That’s nearly as many as the three
million who visited the museum and
the shops are now indispensable to
‘ǯ•ϐ‹ƒ…‡•Ǥ
ŽŽ’”‘ϐ‹–•‰‘–‘ˆ—†‹‰‡†—…ƒ–‹‘al programmes run by the museum or
enriching its collections.
“We take it very seriously. We work
very hard to make sure the contribution that we are making is dependable,” Costello said.
— AFP
MASS TOURISM
Forces Mobbed
Museums
to Overhaul
Welcome
WITH GLOBALISATION, THERE ARE NOT
ONLY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TRYING TO
SQUEEZE THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE
WORLD’S MUSEUMS, BUT THEY HAIL FROM
MANY MORE CULTURES AND COUNTRIES
THAN IN THE PAST
By Antoine Froidefond
M
ASS tourism spurred by
…Š‡ƒ’ ϐŽ‹‰Š–• ƒ† ”‹…Š‡”
‡‡”‰‹‰ ‡…‘‘‹‡• ‹• ˆ‘”…ing the world’s top museums to
rethink their welcome, notably by
boosting access, embracing apps and
improving ancillary services such as
‡ƒ–‡”‹‡•ƒ†‰‹ˆ–•Š‘’•Ǥ
The overhaul is dictated by the
•Š‡‡” —„‡”• ‘ˆ ˜‹•‹–‘”• …”‘™†‹‰‰ƒŽŽ‡”‹‡•–‘…ƒ–…Šƒ‰Ž‹’•‡‘ˆ–Š‡
Mona Lisa, a Van Gogh canvas or a
Michelangelo statue.
Nearly 10 million people a year
pass through the Louvre, seven million visit the British Museum, and six
million go to the Met in New York.
DzŠ‡ ‘—˜”‡ ™ƒ• …‘…‡‹˜‡† ˆ‘”
ϐ‹˜‡‹ŽŽ‹‘’‡‘’Ž‡Ǥ‘”–Š‡’ƒ•––Š”‡‡
French chef Gerald Passedat posing in his restaurant, Le Môle Passedat,
at the MuCem museum in Marseille. — AFP
People visiting the Hall of Mirrors (“Galerie des glaces”)
of the Chateau de Versailles in Versailles. — AFP
years straight we’ve had more than
‹‡ ‹ŽŽ‹‘ǡdz ‘–‡† –Š‡ ’”‡•‹†‡– ‘ˆ
the vast Paris museum, Jean-Luc Mar–‹‡œǤ
He has launched a “Pyramid
”‘Œ‡…–dz ˆ‘” –Š‡ ‘—˜”‡ –Šƒ– ƒ‹• „›
‹†ǦʹͲͳ͸ –‘ ‹’”‘˜‡ ‡–”› –Š”‘—‰Š
”‡†‡•‹‰‡† –‹…‡– ‘ˆϐ‹…‡•ǡ Ž‹‡• ƒ†
cloakrooms.
Dzˆ–Š‡˜‹•‹–‘”•ƒ”‡ǯ––ƒ‡…ƒ”‡‘ˆǡ
how can you expect their experience
•‡‡‹‰ –Š‡ ™‘”• ‘ˆ ƒ”– –‘ ’ƒ•• ‘ˆˆ
™‡ŽŽǫdzƒ”–‹‡œƒ•‡†Ǥ
Coping with the crowds is also a
…‘…‡” ˆ‘” Ž‡ ‘™”›ǡ †‹”‡…–‘” ‘ˆ
‡™ ‘”ǯ• —•‡— ‘ˆ ‘†‡” ”–ǡ
or MoMA.
†‡…ƒ†‡ ƒˆ–‡” ƒ ‡š–‡•‹‘ –Šƒ–
saw MoMA double its capacity to
three million visitors a year, the museum wants to grow again by tearing
down an adjacent building.
Š‡ ˆƒ‘—• ƒŽƒ…‡ ‘ˆ ‡”•ƒ‹ŽŽ‡•
outside Paris is expanding, too. It
™‹ŽŽ •‘‘ ‘’‡ ƒ ʹǡ͹ͲͲǦ•“—ƒ”‡Ǧ‡–”‡
•’ƒ…‡ –‘ –ƒ‡ ‹ •‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ͳͲ ‹Žlion people who come each year to
tour the chateau and its park.
‘‡ —•‡—•ǡ ƒ™ƒ”‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡‹”
status as prime tourism destinations,
are also opting to increase the quality
‘ˆ–Š‡‹””‡•–ƒ—”ƒ–•ǡ•—…Šƒ•–Š‡
—‰genheim in Spain, and to develop de•‹‰‡” ‰‹ˆ– •Š‘’•ǡ ‹‹…‹‰ ‘ǯ•
envied retail outlet.
Changing face of visitors
Another option to improve access
is extending the opening hours. Since
ʹͲͳ͵ǡ ˜‹•‹–‘”• …ƒ ‰‘ –‘ ‘ ƒ†
–Š‡‡–‹‡™‘”‡˜‡”›†ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡
week. The French government is asking the Louvre, Versailles and the Mu•‡‡†ǯ”•ƒ›–‘ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™•—‹–Ǥ
—–ˆ‘”–Š‡Š‡ƒ†‘ˆ–Š‡‘—˜”‡ǡDz–Š‡
problem isn’t about doing more, but
doing better”.
The Musee d’Orsay’s president,
—› ‘‰‡˜ƒŽǡ ƒ‰”‡‡† –Šƒ– ϐ‹†‹‰ ƒ
way to manage 3.5 million visitors an—ƒŽŽ›™ƒ•ƒ’”‹‘”‹–›ǤDz”ƒˆϐ‹…ƒƒ‰‡‡– ‹• ‘‡ ‘ˆ › „‹‰ …‘…‡”•Ǥ ‡
are trying to better spread the visitors
ƒ”‘—†dz –Š‡ ˜ƒ”‹‘—• •‡…–‹‘• ‘ˆ –Š‡
Paris museum.
With globalisation, there are not
only more and more people trying
–‘ •“—‡‡œ‡ –Š”‘—‰Š –Š‡ †‘‘”• ‘ˆ –Š‡
™‘”Ž†ǯ• —•‡—•ǡ „—– –Š‡› Šƒ‹Ž ˆ”‘
many more cultures and countries
than in the past.
—•‡—• ƒ”‡ ϐ‹†‹‰ –Šƒ– –Š‡› ‘
longer cater to a public well-versed
in the history and artistic movements
on show, but to visitors needing more
…‘–‡š– ƒ† ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ –‘ ’”‘…‡••
what they are seeing.
Dz‡ ƒ”‡ •–‹ŽŽ ˆƒ” ˆ”‘ Ž‡ƒ”‹‰ –Š‡
Ž‡••‘• ˆ”‘ –Š‹• †‹˜‡”•‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘ǡdz
said Alain Seban, who has run the
‘’‹†‘—‡–”‡‹ƒ”‹•ˆ‘”–Š‡’ƒ•–
eight years.
‘”‡‹‰‡”•ƒ‡—’͹Ͳ’‡”…‡–‘ˆ
the Louvre’s visitors and 80 per cent
‘ˆ‡”•ƒ‹ŽŽ‡ǯ•ǡ™‹–ŠŠ‹‡•‡‹’ƒ”–‹…—lar a growing contingent.
“This imposes another way to receive them and to try to understand
what they have come to see,” said the
’”‡•‹†‡– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒŽƒ…‡ ‘ˆ ‡”•ƒ‹ŽŽ‡•ǡ
Catherine Pegard.
—•ƒ ‘‹•–‡”ǡ •’‘‡•™‘ƒ ˆ‘”
the National Gallery in London, concurred.
“We think a lot more these days
about who makes up our audience
ƒ† ™Šƒ– –Š‡› ‡‡† ˆ”‘ –Š‡‹” ‡counters at the National Gallery,”
•Š‡ •ƒ‹†Ǥ ˆ–‡ ‹ ‰”‘—’• ‘” ˆƒ‹Ž‹‡•ǡ
–‘—”‹•–• ˆ”‘ ƒˆƒ” –‡† –‘ –ƒ‡ ‹ ƒ
—•‡— „› ƒ‹‰ „‡‡ǦŽ‹‡• ˆ‘” ‹–•
‘•–ˆƒ‘—•ƒ”–™‘”•ǣ–Š‡‘ƒ‹•ƒ
painting and the Venus de Milo statue
ƒ––Š‡‘—˜”‡ǡˆ‘”‹•–ƒ…‡Ǥ
Polling shows that many visit just
one landmark museum per year, and
that their average age has dropped
•‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–Ž›Ǥ––Š‡—•‡‡†ǯ”•ƒ›͵Ͳ
’‡”…‡–‘ˆ–Š‡˜‹•‹–‘”•ƒ”‡—†‡”ʹ͸ǡ
ƒ† ƒ– –Š‡ ‘—˜”‡ ŠƒŽˆ ƒ”‡ ›‘—‰‡”
than 30.
Šƒ–ƒ‡•ˆ‘”•‘‡——•—ƒŽ•—……‡••ǤŠ‡—•‡‡†ǯ”•ƒ›ǡˆ‘”‹•–ƒ…‡ǡ
™ƒ• •—”’”‹•‡† –‘ •‡‡ Dzƒ Ž‘– ‘ˆ ›‘—‰
’‡‘’Ž‡dz –—” —’ –‘ ƒ ‡šŠ‹„‹–‹‘ ‘ˆ
works by a little-known French painter named Jean-Leon Gerome, whose
paintings recalled the heroic dioramas used in video games.
Digital outreach
So how can the museums adapt to
–Š‡…Šƒ‰‹‰ˆƒ…‡‘ˆ–Š‡‹”˜‹•‹–‘”•ǫ
Dz‘— Šƒ˜‡ –‘ •–ƒ”– ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ‹†‡ƒ
that these people know nothing,” said
ƒ”–‹‡œˆ”‘–Š‡‘—˜”‡Ǥ‡ˆ‡”‡…‡•
that might seem obvious need explaining, with multiple translations.
French museums are applying les•‘•Ž‡ƒ”–ˆ”‘•–ƒ”–‹‰—’‘—–’‘•–•
‹ †‹ˆˆ‡”‡– ’ƒ”–• ‘ˆ –Š‡ …‘—–”›ǡ ‘”
abroad. — AFP
27
A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and
children sleep soundly in them.
— Victor Hugo,
a French poet, novelist, and dramatist
FASHION
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
JAPANESE CLOTHES
but Few Models at
Tokyo Fashion Week
A lack of racially diverse catwalks is by no
means unique to Tokyo, which is vying to
compete on the global fashion stage.
But its lack of Japanese faces is striking
Creations by Japanese designer
Jotaro Saito. — AFP
.
By Rachel O’Brien
T
okyo Fashion Week has long
been a platform for edgy Japanese designers — but perhaps
more remarkable is just how few Japanese models grace its catwalks.
Tall, white and often blonde young
women dominate the runway, with
a foreign look that is now commonplace in Japanese magazines, shows
and advertisements.
“It’s kind of odd,” said 24-year-old
Rika Tatsuno, one of the few Japanese
models appearing on the Tokyo catwalks, where she reckons she is in an
Asian minority of about 10 to 15 per
cent.
Dz‡ϐ‹‹–‡Ž› ™‡ ™‘—Ž† Ž‹‡ –‘ •‡‡
more Japanese models.”
A lack of racially diverse catwalks
is by no means unique to Tokyo,
which is vying to compete on the
global fashion stage.
But its lack of Japanese faces
is striking.
In Japan, fashion is divided
into “wafuku”, or traditional
Japanese clothing, and
“yofuku”, which literally
means “Western-style
clothing” and is now
everyday wear.
While
Japanese
models are usually
chosen to showcase
the former, such as
kimonos by celebrated designer
Jotaro Saito, they
have limited opportunities in the latter category — even
when the “Westernstyle” clothes are Japanese
creations that will mostly
ϐ‹††‘‡•–‹…„—›‡”•Ǥ
“It’s natural.
If I was designing traditional Japanese clothes
I would pick Japanese
models,” said young designer Hiroki Uemura
of the “byU” brand,
who made his debut at Tokyo this
week.
He described his collection as an
adult version of the hugely popular
“kawaii” style — the Japanese word
for cute or adorable — but one also
‹ϐŽ—‡…‡† „› –Š‡ Dz‹•ƒ–…Š‡†dz
look of British actress and singer
Jane Birkin in her youth.
“I want to show the ‘made in
Japan’ aspect, but the Japanese are attracted to
Europe and foreign
countries, so in
order to promote this
brand’s
image
I
use
foreign
models,” he said.
From Ukraine
to Tokyo
Backstage ahead of
Uemura’s show, a group of
willowy blondes sat texting
and eating sandwiches
while stylists touched up
their make-up and curled
their hair.
Kali
Myronenko,
a
20-year-old from Ukraine,
ϐ‹”•– ƒ’’‡ƒ”‡† ‘ –Š‡ ‘›‘
runway when she was 17
and is now based in the city,
where the insatiable appe-
Jotaro Saito (C) with models wearing his creations. — AFP
tite for her looks gives her a regular
stream of work.
“Japanese people like this idea of
being cute-looking, young, so many
Japanese people wear contact lenses
with the blue eyes,” she said.
She thinks the interest in her appearance is down to a typical yearning for what you don’t have, such as
curly-haired people desperate for
straight hair.
“You don’t want to be how you are
because you see yourself everyday in
the mirror,” she said.
In Japan that yearning to be different has, as in other Asian countries, led to a robust market for skinwhitening creams, while dyed-blonde
hair is not an uncommon sight in the
corridors of fashion week, held in Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya district.
••’‡…–ƒ–‘”•ϐ‹Ž‡†‘—–‘ˆ‡—”ƒǯ•
show, fashion PR worker Kaori Yasuike said it was not at all strange for
her to see blonde Caucasians strutting down the runway, because she
sees them all the time in magazines.
“We want to look at someone who
we admire as an ideal body type,” she
said.
In 2014, Vogue Japan featured only
three women of colour on 14 covers,
only one of whom was of Japanese descent, according to a survey by online
forum The Fashion Spot.
Branching out
In pursuit of their ideal look, Tokyo agents nowadays choose many
of their models from Eastern Europe
or Russia, according to fashion week
casting director Bobbie Tanabe.
He said they were given attractive
…‘–”ƒ…–• ™‹–Š ϐŽ‹‰Š–•ǡ ƒ’ƒ”–‡–•
and drivers, meaning they cost about
twice as much to hire as local models.
Meanwhile, some Japanese youngsters seeking to make it on the catwalk now try their luck in fashion
centres such as New York, Tanabe
said.
“Maybe using Japanese models can
be too realistic for (Japanese designers),” he added.
There is also the issue of Tokyo
Fashion Week’s global appeal — it
still does not attract the prestigious
designer names that show in Paris,
New York, Milan or London.
Model Rika Tatsuno, who grew up
in the United States, thinks this is another reason designers opt for foreign
models.
“They want to branch out internationally and so they can’t just target
the Asian market,” she said, although
she suggested Japanese models
would help to give “a better understanding of how the clothes would
look” on their main domestic consumers. — AFP
Innovative Use of Traditional Fabric Supermodel Gisele to Quit
Runway Next Month
By Natalia Ramos
B
Huma Qureshi, Rashami Nigam, Kajol Devgn and Neha Dhupia pose for Lakme Fashion Week. — AFP
T
HE Lakme Fashion Week
(LFW) dedicates a day to Indian textiles in every outing and
the second day of the summer-resort
edition 2015 on Thursday saw felicitation of designers promoting their
use and a pitch for greater use by
corporates and youth.
The day started with prominent
designers Raghavendra Rathore,
Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anita
Dongre.
E-commerce company Jabong.
com launched the spring summer
2015 collection of Miss Bennett London on the second day of the Lakme
Fashion Week’s (LFW) summer-resort edition with Bollywood actress
Shraddha Kapoor walking the runway for the brand in a sequin dress.
—Š‡”Œ‡‡ǡ ‘‡ ‘ˆ ‘•– ‹ϐŽ—‡-
tial names in the world of fashion,
appealed to all corporates in India to
set aside a day for Indian wear.
He said it would be great if Indian
youth could wear textiles and make
a revolution.
With two timeless fabrics as their
base, Mayank and Shraddha presented their “Chauraha” collection at the
ongoing edition at Hotel Palladium
here.
The duo used fabrics like
Dhonekali from West Bengal that is
normally found in the pallav. They
also showcased a modern interpretation of the gamcha, an unstitched
fabric or garment mostly used in
north India in the summers to protect the wearer from heat and dust.
The designing duo used them in
a colour palette of black, white and
DR IBRAHIM BIN AHMED AL KINDI Chief Executive Officer
ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI Editor-in-Chief
red checked pattern along with hand
woven cotton that created a fashionable stir on the runway as the models glided down.
From interesting draped tunics
and dresses to cowl pants and striking tops, the collection made optimum use of these two very humble
textiles.
Divya Seth gave eco-organic fabrics a deluxe royal touch through her
line “Sultana on Safari”.
Aimed at the jet-setting global
traveller who believes in sustainable
fashion, the designer kept her fabric
choice pure handspun and woven
Khadi, organic silk and silk chiffon, which were given an innovative
touch with traditional reinvented
Kalamkari and Ajrakh in natural
dyes. — IANS
RAZILIAN supermodel Gisele
Bundchen, who has reigned
supreme on runways for two
decades, is retiring from the catwalk
to spend more time with her NFL
star quarterback husband and their
children.
The 34-year-old blonde beauty —
the world’s highest-paid model who
has strutted her stuff for many of
the top labels in the business — will
ƒ‡Š‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ•ƒ•Šƒ›†‘™–Š‡…ƒ–walk in Sao Paulo next month.
“Gisele will focus on special
projects and also spending more
time on her number one priority: her
family,” her sister and representative
Patricia Bundchen said in a statement.
“She is already cutting back on
catwalk appearances and will bid
adieu to shows in her own country
during the Colcci brand presentation
at Sao Paulo Fashion Week.”
Bundchen posted a message to
her Facebook page, thanking fans for
their support.
“Thank you for all the love. A kiss
in your heart and have a beautiful
day!!!!” she wrote.
Speculation about Bundchen’s
future had been rife since media reports emerged last week indicating
•Š‡™‘—Ž†ƒ‡Š‡”ϐ‹ƒŽ”—™ƒ›ƒ’pearance at the April 13-17 Sao Paulo
event (SPFW), where she has been a
ϐ‹š–—”‡–Š”‘—‰Š‘—–Š‡”…ƒ”‡‡”Ǥ
Bundchen — who Forbes says has
been the world’s highest-earning
model for the past eight years, with
$47 million in earnings last year — is
expected to turn her focus to print ad
campaigns.
Bundchen is married to New England Patriots star Tom Brady, with
whom she has two young children,
Tough routine
With her willowy and athletic
build, Bundchen built her success
on sheer hard work as she kept up a
strict and professional routine from
the outset.
Of German descent, she hails from
the southern state of Rio Grande do
Sul, home to many Brazilians of European extraction.
“She has a great sense of professionalism. She knows how to make
decisions, how to get involved. She
treats everybody with respect and
never arrived late for a commitment,
neither in the early days, nor when
she made it to the top,” Borges reminisced.
Bundchen started off her modeling career at the tender age of 14,
and swiftly became a big name as
major houses queued up to have her
front their campaigns.
Only recently, she signed her largGisele poses from the window of a
branch of C&A in Sao Paulo. — AFP est ever contract — worth more than
$25 million, according to Forbes —
Benjamin and Vivian.
™‹–Š •’‘”–• ƒ’’ƒ”‡Ž ϐ‹” †‡”
She has worked with the likes Armour.
of Chanel, Valentino, Versace, Louis
Vuitton, Alexander Wang, Balenciaga
Image asset
and Carolina Herrera.
Bundchen has recently been proShe has also many times been a moting her own lingerie line, ‘Gisele
Victoria’s Secret “Angel”. Bundchen Bundchen Intimates,’ launched in
said in a recent interview she want- 2011 for Brazilian label Hope and
ed to spend more time with her US- told Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper
based family.
in an interview that she planned to
The supermodel often publishes open her own boutiques.
pictures on social media showing her
Bundchen manages her business
with her children.
affairs through a small family-based
Dz
‹•‡Ž‡ ƒ’’‡ƒ”‡† ƒ– –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ‡†‹- …‹”…Ž‡ ‘ˆ …‘ϐ‹†ƒ–‡• ƒ†ǡ ƒ‰ƒœ‹‡
tion of SPFW 20 years ago and it is an Epoca Negocios noted, she maintains
honour for us that she has chosen the “tight control over everything linked
same event to call it a day,” event di- to her name and her image.
rector Paulo Borges said.
“Her discipline and commitment
“We are also very happy to see a to work have helped, for example, to
Brazilian professional come such a avoid potential problems of unsuitlong way with an extensive and re- able media exposure,” the magazine
spected career.”
said. — AFP
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28
ENTERTAINMENT
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
MARCH 21, 2015
It’s a Hard Industry to Work In
KATRINA KAIF
Byy Natalia Nin
Ningthoujam
S
HE battled Hindi diction woes and the ‘outsider’ tag to win
ov
over Bollywood audiences and has worked with top-notch
•–ƒ”• ƒ† ϐ‹ŽǦƒ‡”• ‹ Š‡” ‘˜‡” †‡…ƒ†‡ǦŽ‘‰ ƒ…–‹‰ …ƒ•–ƒ
re
reer.
Model-turned-actress Katrina Kaif says the industry
only has space
for those who are passionate about their craft —
s
notw
age notwithstanding.
Facing the arclights might seem like a cakewalk for many but
w at one point in her career, gave six back-to-back hits,
Katrina, who
†‘‡•ǯ–ϐ‹
†‘‡•ǯ–ϐ‹†‹–‡ƒ•›Ǥ
h
“It’s a hard
industry to work in.
It’s no
not easy on a person to be sometimes 14 to 15 hours on
the sets.
Som
Sometimes,
you don’t have a lunch or dinner break.
It’s taxing on a person.
Yo have to be passionate about making movies.
You
So
So, till the time you are passionate about it, there is space
for yo
you in the industry,” Katrina said in an interview.
–͵ͳǡ•Š‡Šƒ•ϐ‹Ž•Ž‹‡Dzƒ‰‰ƒƒ•‘‘•dzƒ†Dz‹–‘‘”dz‹Š‡”
‹––›Ǥ
‹––›ǤŠ‡†‘‡•ǯ–•‡‡ƒ‰‡ƒ•Ž‹‹–ƒ–‹‘‹–Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†Ǥ
Citin examples of actresses like Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi,
Citing
…ƒ „ƒ… –‘ ϐ‹Ž• ƒˆ–‡” „‡…‘‹‰ ‘–Š‡”•ǡ ƒ–”‹ƒ •ƒ‹†
™Š‘ …ƒ‡
that it’s not age that decides a woman’s fate in showbiz.
“Actresses like Madhuri and Sridevi have worked till the time
they’ve want
wanted to.
w
I think what
happens with most women... it’s law of nature... if
they choose to gget married and if they choose to have a family... and that
will take her aw
away from work for that particular time.
“Otherwise, I think women work as long as they choose to.
d
Kajol is doing
great work till today, Aishwarya (Rai) has started
doing some amazing work now.
It’s up to the individual... how much he or she is interested in
pursuin and developing art,” added the talented actress.
pursuing
a actor, Katrina, who has shared screen space with suAs an
persta like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan,
perstars
ƒ‹•
ƒ‹•–‘‰‡–Š‡”Šƒ†•‘‰‘‘†ϐ‹Ž•ǡ”ƒ–Š‡”–Šƒˆ‘…—•‹‰‘
who she is cast with.
whom
“
“People
want to work with them (the Khans) because
the are icons of Hindi cinema, but I don’t think people are
they
say that that’s all they want to do.
saying
If you are an actor, your job is to act to be a part of a
‰‘ ϐ‹Ž ƒ† †‘ ‰‘‘† ™‘”ǡdz •ƒ‹† –Š‡ ƒ…–”‡••ǡ ™Š‘ Šƒ•
‰‘‘†
†‘ ƒ ϐ‹Ž ƒ• •‡”‹‘—• ƒ• DzƒƒŒ‡‡–‹dz ƒ• ™‡ŽŽ ƒ• ƒ ‹š ‘ˆ
†‘‡
…‘
…‘‡†‹‡•ƒ†”‘ƒ–‹…ϐ‹Ž•ǤȄ
Hudson Praises ‘Dependable’
Stepfather Russell
A
CTRESS Kate Hudson
wished her stepfather Kurt Russell
a happy 64th birthday
and praised him for
being a “dependable,
strong, authentic,
loving and fun”
stepdad.
The 35-yearold actress paid
tribute to the
stepfather for always
“showing
up” to watch her
and her brother
Oliver Hudson in
school plays and
sports, despite having a “busy life”, and
thanked him for making
her childhood such a happy environment to grow up
in on his birthday on Tuesday,
”‡’‘•–•ˆ‡ƒŽ‡ϐ‹”•–Ǥ…‘Ǥ—Ǥ
She wrote on photo-sharing website Instagram: “Today
in our family we not only celebrate St Patricks Day but the
birthday of our Pa!
“Happy Birthday to the most dependable, strong, authentic, loving and fun Dad! I love you! This is a man who
made his family his number one priority his whole life.
Never missed a school play, a soccer game, a hockey
game, a dance recital and the list goes on and on.
“No matter what he was doing in his busy life, he always
showed up. Not because he had to but because there was no
other place on earth he would rather be then with his family.
We felt the purity of that our whole childhood and my
gratitude for his love is immeasurable. Happy Birthday Pa
(sic)”
Kate, whose biological father is her mother Goldie
Hawn’s ex-husband Bill Hudson, attached a throwback picture of herself and Russell to the post.
Along with her children, Hawn also joined in with the
tributes to her husband, describing him as “wild and awesome”.
She tweeted: “Today is my Amazing wild and awesome
man... Kurt Russell’s birthday! Happy birthday baby!!! I
loved Ya so.”
KYLIE TO DISCONTINUE WORKING WITH JAY Z I’m Not Competitive: Radhika Apte
S
INGER Kylie Minogue has
reportedly decided to discontinue
working
with
rapper-record
producer Jay Z after facing series of
professional disappointments.
The 46-year-old has decided to
part company with the rapper’s Roc
Nation management company after
two years, reports mirror.co.uk.
“The deal just didn’t work out for
either side and she thinks they didn’t
ever understand her as an artist.
Her last album was nowhere near
as successful as she hoped.
She now wants to go in a different
direction,” The Sun newspaper quot-
ed a source
as saying.
Minogue’s
contract
with
the
rapper’s
ϐ‹”ǡ ™Š‹…Š
is home to
stars
such
as Rihanna,
Calvin Harris
and Shakira will end after she completes the current Australian leg of
her ‘Kiss Me Once’ tour.
The “Locomotion” hitmaker has
also quit her record label Parlophone
after 16 years working with them.
The singer is looking to reclaim
her crown as queen of dance pop
and wants to build on the success
of the single “Right here, right now”
which she recorded with Italian producer Giorgio Moroder. The source
explained: “Kylie’s got new music
ready to go that she’s made with Nile
Rodgers, Disclosure and Giorgio. She
wants to take more control of her career. “Some of the tracks could come
out as soon as next month.
Kylie’s also keen to do more acting.
She has signed with a big name
agent in the US.”
Bradley, Suki Part Ways
A
“
MERICAN
Sniper”
actor
Bradley
Cooper
has
reportedly separated from his
girlfriend Suki Waterhouse after
dating the model for two years.
The couple is said to have parted due to their hectic schedule, reports aceshowbiz.com.
Cooper, 40, started dating Waterhouse in 2013.
They had never been shy to
show their affection to each other,
but they rarely discussed their relationship in interviews.
“I don’t talk about my boyfriend
because it’s boring,” Waterhouse
once told Elle UK magazine.
“I’m not one of those girls who
goes on about their boyfriends. I
do think whatever I say will sound
weird. The truth is, if I start talking
about him, I probably won’t be able
to stop.
And I don’t really want to talk
about him, you know,” she added.
Cooper was once married to
actress Jennifer Esposito who tied
the knot with British model Louis
Dowler last year.
He was also romantically linked
to actress Zoe Saldana whom he
dated on and off before seeing Waterhouse. Saldana is now married
to Marco Perego.
A MINUTE WITH THEO JAMES ON ‘INSURGENT’
By Piya Sinha-Roy
A
S the handsome boyfriend of heroine Tris
”‹‘”‹–Š‡Dz‹˜‡”‰‡–dz•…‹Ǧϐ‹ƒ…–‹‘ϐ‹Ž•‡ries, actor Theo James has been thrust into
the spotlight as a young adult movie hero.
The 30-year-old British actor plays Four, the
‡–‘” ‘ˆ ”‹‘” ȋŠƒ‹Ž‡‡ ‘‘†Ž‡›Ȍǡ ‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹Ž•ǡ
which are based on dystopian novels by American
author Veronica Roth.
ƒ‡••’‘‡ƒ„‘—––Š‡•‡…‘†ϐ‹Ž‹–Š‡•‡”‹‡•ǡ
“Insurgent,” about his character’s evolution, the
ϐ‹Žǯ•Šƒ†Ž‹‰‘ˆ™ƒ”ˆƒ”‡ƒ†„‡‹‰ƒ–‡‡‹†‘ŽǤ
Š‡”‡‹•‘—”‡–ƒŽŽ›ƒ–‹Dz•—”‰‡–dzǫ
‘” –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– –‹‡ǡ Š‡ Šƒ• •‘‡–Š‹‰ –‘ Ž‘•‡ ‹
”‹•ǡƒ†”‹•‹•˜‡”›†‹ˆˆ‡”‡–‹–Š‹•ϐ‹Ž„‡…ƒ—•‡
she’s lost her parents, and she’s on this very destructive path of vengeance.
He is trying to temper that and make sure she
doesn’t kill herself essentially, so he’s a little bit
‘”‡‘’‡–ŠƒŠ‡™ƒ•‹–Š‡ϐ‹”•–‘˜‹‡Ǥ
Š‡ •‡…‘† ‘˜‹‡ †‹˜‡”‰‡• ˆ”‘ –Š‡ „‘‘
•‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–Ž›Ǥ
‹† ‹– ƒŽŽ‘™ ›‘— –‘ –ƒ‡ ‘”‡ Ž‹„‡”–› ™‹–Š
’‘”–”ƒ›‹‰‘—”ǫ
‡•ǡ™‡†‡ϐ‹‹–‡Ž›Šƒ†ƒŽ‹––Ž‡„‹–‘”‡Ž‹„‡”–›Ǥ
We still felt like we had the grounding of the
ϐ‹”•–ϐ‹Žǡƒ†›‘—ˆ‡‡ŽŽ‹‡›‘—˜ƒ‰—‡Ž›‘™™Š‘
these people are, but you had a little bit more.
People were a bit more relaxed, so everyone
could push the boundaries a little bit.
‘™™ƒ•–Š‡„”—–ƒŽ˜‹‘Ž‡…‡‘ˆ™ƒ”–‹‡…‘˜‡›‡† ‹ –Š‹• ϐ‹Žǡ ‰‹˜‡ ‹–• ›‘—‰ ƒ†—Ž– ƒ—†‹‡…‡ǫ
The cost of violence and the cost of death are
dealt with.
‘™ ™Šƒ– ›‘— ‡ƒǡ –Š‡ “—‡•–‹‘ ‘ˆ ‰Ž‘”‹ϐ‹-
…ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ‰—•‘”‰Ž‘”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ†‡ƒ–Šǡ„—–’‡‘’Ž‡
aren’t dispatched with submachine guns.
Similarly the questions of social structure and
what information you withhold from society, and
how that affects people, and how it dominates
them and how eventually it leads to some kind of
uprising (are dealt with.)
‘™ Šƒ˜‡ ›‘— Šƒ†Ž‡† „‡‹‰ ƒ ›‘—‰ ƒ†—Ž–
Š‡”‘ǡ‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ›™‹–Š•—…Šƒƒ˜‹†ˆƒ„ƒ•‡ˆ‘”
–Š‡„‘‘•ǫ
You want the audiences to enjoy the movies,
†‡ϐ‹‹–‡Ž›ǡƒ†–Šƒ–ǯ•™Š››‘—ǯ”‡†‘‹‰‹–ǡ–Šƒ–ǯ•†‡ˆinitely a great thing.
Otherwise it’s not like my day-to-day life has
changed astronomically.
There are things I probably wouldn’t do that I
did before, but I’m kind of the same person.
— Reuters
A
CTRESS
Radhika
Apte
has an impressive kitty of
ϐ‹Ž• ˆ‘” Š‡”•‡Žˆǡ „—– •Š‡ •ƒ›•
–Šƒ– Ž‹‡ ‘•– ‘–Š‡”•ǡ •Š‡ ‰‡–•
‹•‡…—”‡ ƒ† Œ‡ƒŽ‘—• ‘ˆ ‘–Š‡”•
at times.
—– •Š‡ †‘‡•ǯ– …‘•‹†‡”
–Šƒ–ƒ•„‡‹‰…‘’‡–‹–‹˜‡Ǥ
Radhika said: “I am not very
competitive.
•‡…—”‹–‹‡• ƒ† Œ‡ƒŽ‘—•›
ƒ”‡ƒ’ƒ”–‘ˆ‡˜‡”›„‘†›ǯ•Ž‹ˆ‡Ǥ
ˆ‡‡Ž˜‡”›‹•‡…—”‡ƒ†Œ‡ƒŽ‘—• •‘‡–‹‡• ‘ˆ ™Šƒ– ’‡‘’Ž‡
ƒ”‡†‘‹‰Ǥ
ˆ ™ƒ–…Š –Š‡‹” ™‘” …ƒŽŽ
them and appreciate their
™‘” „‡…ƒ—•‡ ƒ ‘– …‘petitive.”
Š‡ ƒ…–”‡••ǯ Žƒ–‡•– ™‘” ‹•
ƒ”•Šƒ˜ƒ”†Šƒ
—Žƒ”‹ǯ•
Dz—–‡”””dzǡ ƒ ϐ‹Ž ˆ‡ƒ–—”‹‰
—Ž•Šƒ ‡˜ƒ‹ƒŠ ƒ• ƒ •‡š ƒ†dict.
ƒ†Š‹ƒǡ ™Š‘•‡ ™‘” ‹
Dzƒ†Žƒ’—”dzǡ •–ƒ””‹‰ ƒ”—
Šƒ™ƒ ƒ† ƒ™ƒœ—††‹
‹††‹“—‹ ™ƒ• ƒ’’”‡…‹ƒ–‡†ǡ •ƒ›•
•Š‡ †‘‡• ‘– …Š‘‘•‡ ϐ‹Ž• ‘
–Š‡ „ƒ•‹• ‘ˆ ‹– „‡‹‰ ƒ •‘Ž‘ ‘”
—Ž–‹Ǧ•–ƒ””‡”’”‘Œ‡…–Ǥ
Dz Šƒ˜‡ ‡˜‡” ‰‹˜‡ ‹– ƒ
–Š‘—‰Š–Ǥ †‹† ‘– Ž‹‡ –Š‡ •‘Ž‘
Ž‡ƒ† ”‘Ž‡• –Šƒ– ™‡”‡ ‘ˆˆ‡”‡†
–‘ ‡Ǥ ‡•‹†‡•ǡ …Š‘‘•‡ ϐ‹Ž•
Ž‘‘‹‰ ƒ– –Š‡ …Šƒ”ƒ…–‡”•ǡdz •Š‡
added.