250 Fils Issue No 685 Established 1996 06 - 12 April, 2014www.timeskuwait.com

KUWAIT’S PREMIER WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

THE DIPLOMAT

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Kuwait was among the first countries to invest in the African growth story, says Ambassador MBACKE of Senegal. “From the 1960s,

the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has had a significant presence in development projects across the continent and Senegal was among the first countries to receive support from the Fund,” adds the diplomat as he speaks of the strong bilateral relations between his country and Kuwait.

Global investors still wary of GCC countries

The hundreds of thousands of Afghans who braved

Taliban threats and inclement weather on Saturday, 5 April, to

elect a new president was yet another victory for Afghanistan and its people in their slow but steady march towards a free, open and democratic society.

Wide public participation in the run-up to elections, the fiery political debates, lively election campaigns and

colorful posters lining streets, were the clear indication, if any was needed, that the Afghan people wished to determine their own destiny. After more

than a quarter-century of wars, autocratic rulers, foreign interventions and repressive regimes that got to decide how their country was administered, ordinary Afghans obviously had had enough.

The 2014 presidential elections was the first-ever opportunity for the more than 12 million eligible Afghan voters to elect from a pool of eight presidential candidates, rather than select anointed candidates, and also it would be the first time that the ballot rather than the bullet decides a transfer of power.

The extent of enthusiasm for this election had organizers and monitors blindsided. Hours before the polling stations

Continued on Page 6

Road to democracy

Afghanistan goes to polls

A new report by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found that global investors are suspicious of putting their money into

Gulf Cooperation Council countries, despite its member countries pursuing policies to attract investment and a rise in their global ease of doing business rankings.

Foreign investment has fallen in most of the six GCC states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - since the global financial crisis in 2008-09, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of GDP. This is despite the introduction of policies to encourage foreign investment.

The EIU report points out the overall picture is one of uneven progress. On one level, investors are welcomed: the countries are open

to foreign ownership and red tape on things like construction permits has been cut. But on another level, there are policies restricting foreign labor and widely varying business regulations, which can stall projects and growth. These two contrasting messages from GCC countries present a conundrum for investors.

The Arab Spring has focused the attention of GCC policymakers on high youth unemployment and the EIU report concludes that policies to promote local employment are considered necessary to prevent social and political unrest and are likely to continue. The report also notes that GCC governments’ tendency to buy their way out of trouble by subsidizing citizens directly and indirectly could stifle entrepreneurial initiatives, maintaining state-led economies in the region.

The Arab world’s growing teacher shortage threatens to overshadow the region’s educational gains and needs

to be addressed urgently, according to education advisory company, Pearson.

Pearson managing director Karim Daoud said reducing the teacher shortage would be “critical” to improving the region’s performance in educational rankings.

According to a recent report by Deloitte, the UAE needs to hire 75,000 new educators by 2015.

Pearson said the outlook was “even more worrying” for the region as a whole. UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics predicted last year that the Arab world would need to create 1.6 million new teaching posts by 2015 if universal education is to be achieved.

That figure is likely to increase to 3.3 million by 2030 if drastic measures are not taken, according to Pearson.

Daoud said teacher shortages were a global problem but it was more acute in the Arab world because of a rapidly growing school age population, expected to soon reach 9.5 million.

Demand for secondary teachers in the Middle East is greater than primary teachers, due to more subject-specific instruction and longer teaching hours.

Daoud said that achieving education targets set by governments in the Arab world will be in large part dependent on those countries’ education systems attracting

and retaining sufficient teaching talent.“Teachers have a profound influence - and having a

better one is statistically linked to not only a higher income later on in life, but a range of improved social results. The world’s most successful systems have a number of things in common, including the ability to find ways to attract the best people to the teaching profession and the ability to provide relevant, ongoing training to teachers throughout their careers,” he said.

Teacher shortages hamperregional education outcomes

Kuwait Food Company ponders sale of AmericanaThe Kharafi family, one of the most influential in the

Gulf Arab region, is understood to be planning to sell Americana, one of the Middle East’s largest food companies. According to a Reuters, the family is reported to have hired investment bank Rothschild to approach potential buyers including private equity groups and sovereign wealth funds in the region to explore their interest in the $3.6bn group.

According to Thomson Reuters data, the Kharafi family holds 66.8 percent of Kuwait Food Company, which sells goods under the brand name Americana, through its private investment company MAK (Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi & Sons) which has holdings across various sectors including construction, financials and telecoms.

Rothschild declined to comment. Americana and MAK were not immediately available for comment, said Reuters.

Founded in 1964 in Kuwait, Americana is a publicly traded group of companies based in the Middle East and North Africa, with interests in restaurants and packaged food. It trades on the Kuwait stock exchange and its $3.63 billion market capitalization makes it the biggest company on the Thomson Reuters MENA Cyclical Consumer Goods and Services Index. The group had sales of $3.1bn dollars in 2013 and profits of $179m, according to its website. The Middle East is seen as an attractive region

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2 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comLocal

The Embassy had registered 533 deaths of Indian

nationals in Kuwait during the year 2013. Out of this, the mortal remains of 107 deceased Indian nationals were buried in Kuwait, as per the wishes of their family members; whereas, the mortal remains of 426 Indian nationals were airlifted to India for final rites. The Embassy paid for air transport of the mortal remains of 24 deceased Indian nationals from Kuwait to India for final rites (while mortal remains of 402 deceased Indian nationals were sent to India by air by the employers / relatives of the deceased for final rites.) Such expenses are paid in the Embassy from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for airlifting the mortal remains to the nearest airport in India.

During the current year from 1 January 2014 to 28 February 2014, 91 deaths of Indian nationals have been registered.

The mortal remains of 16 deceased Indian nationals were

buried in Kuwait, as per the wishes of their family members and the Embassy has paid the transportation of the mortal remains of 8 deceased Indian nationals from Kuwait to India for final rites (whereas 67 mortal remains of deceased Indian nationals were airlifted to India by the employers / relatives of the deceased for final rites.)

The Embassy highly appreciates the voluntary efforts of Indian community members in helping destitute Indians in Kuwait and remains confident of the community’s continued support and helping hand in future also. The community members are also extending valuable assistance in completion of various formalities in Kuwait for the dispatch of mortal remains to India.

The Embassy will continue to provide air tickets to destitute Indian nationals to return to their homeland, as well as pay for air transportation of mortal remains of deceased Indian nationals to India for final rites.

Mortal remains of 75 Indians transported from Kuwait

Mövenpick Hotel Kuwait participates in ‘Earth Hour 2014’ InitiativeMövenpick Hotel Kuwait – Free Trade Zone participated in the

international initiative “Earth Hour 2014” aimed at drawing attention to the risks of Global Warming . Hotel staff switched off

lights in all Hotel facilities for one hour, from 08:30pm till 09:30pm on 29 March, Saturday. This is the third successive year that the Hotel participated in this initiative.

The participation is seen as part of the Environmental Awareness Program of “Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts”, international hotel chain focusing on the importance of Environment continuity and saving power thus saving the Earth.

Participants in the initiative encircled the huge fountain of the Hotel where they lighted candles and small lanterns and captured some memorial photos. Food and beverage staff put candles in all Hotel restaurants from 08:30pm till 09:30pm to allow Hotel guests the opportunity to enjoy their dinner as well as the extravagant chocolate hour. Earth Hour has become a continued global movement where more than 50 million individuals throughout 35 countries have participated.

By Christina PintoStaff Report

Thomas Mathew Kadavil, a prominent humanitarian from the Indian state of Kerala, was

the recipient of the “Outstanding social and volunteering service” award instituted by the Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited (Media One TV) for the best social worker in Kuwait.

A well desserved award after more than two decades of selfless hard work. He was felicitated by Babu Moopan, the M D of Nippon Toyota, Kerala during “Pravasalokam” at Sharjah Cricket stadium, attended by thousands of people. He was the only person who won from Kuwait and this was the first time an award was given to people from the Gulf countries who are involved in social activities. With modesty, he accepted the honor that the award entails.

This award reflects to a large degree the human well-being issues that

many people are concerned about, and encourages such endeavors by recognizing people and organizations that uplift society. Thomas Kadavil is a source of inspiration to others through his commitment to social activism and justice for the Indian community in Kuwait. He has always been personally active in social work; it is in his blood to help the poor and needy, he says, hence he was involved in a lot of social work right in India. He returned to Kuwait in 1993 after the invasion and joined the Kerala Art Lovers Association (KALA) Kuwait in 1999.

An opportunity arose to help people while working as a coordinator for the TV show, ‘Pravasalokam’, which features news stories on families looking for people who are missing and could not be traced. With the information provided by strangers who see his number onscreen, he was able to find 47 people and help them reunite despite their difficulties.

He has also served the community as a mediator, taking care of issues and disputes bought forth by people who need someone’s help to resolve their problems.

It was through the process of helping others; he made a significant change in the way the Embassy dealt with dead bodies. While searching for one lady, he was directed to a

mortuary where he noticed that many dead bodies lay were unclaimed. He took it on as a duty to change the way the mortal remains were treated. Back then, there were no clear channels in the embassy to return the mortal remains to families. It took his constant persuasion to ensure the embassy implemented some procedures for the mortal remains to be returned.

Thanks to his efforts, there are open channels for the bodies to be identified and prepared to return to India and the embassy bears the cost. Barely a decade ago, it was a tedious task to collect money from charities, individuals and organizations to help send dead bodies back to their families. His constant persuasion and convincing led the embassy to understand the importance of his work, and it is a commendable achievement, because for the last six to seven years, he was able to get the embassy’s help in making sure families in India could bury their loved ones. Other remarkable achievements include his constant assistance to people who are in need. His phone number is available so people can call at any time and make a request. Moreover, his efforts have resulted in the establishment of a good shelter for domestic workers and other destitute women.

Continued on Page 8

Thomas Kadavil, awarded for his compassion and social dedication

3 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com

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Diplomat

Staff Report

On the occasion of his country’s 54th anniversary of Independence and National

Day, the ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to the State of Kuwait, His Excellency Abdou Lahad MBACKE, reiterated that the two countries enjoy a treasured and fruitful relationship built on friendship, cooperation, mutual respect and shared values.

Ambassador MBACKE, who has spent over a quarter-century representing his country as envoy in Kuwait, is Dean of the Diplomatic Corps for the past 16 years. For more than three decades this veteran diplomat has served his country with distinction at its missions abroad and representing Senegal at various international forums and conferences.

Recalling some of the enjoyable and interesting times he has had in Kuwait, as well as few of the painful ones, the ambassador said, “Most of my time in Kuwait has been interesting and engaging, and the one sad and painful period was during the invasion of Kuwait by the Iraqi forces in 1990. On that occasion, my president requested me to remain here as long as possible, and I was among the last batch of diplomats to leave this country.”

“I was heart-broken to leave Kuwait, but then in 1991, just ten days after the liberation of Kuwait, I was ordered back to Kuwait. As there was no regular air service at that time, a special C-130 Hercules aircraft from the French army dropped me off at Kuwait airport. I was devastated to witness the wanton destruction inflicted on this beautiful country. Memories of thick black clouds spreading darkness during daytime, and night skies lit bright orange by burning oil fires still remain vivid in my mind.”

“During the period of occupation, our then president Abdou Diouf visited the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, at his temporary residence in Taif, Saudi Arabia. On that occasion, the president conveyed support of the Republic of Senegal and its people to the Kuwaiti Government-in-Exile and to its legitimate rights. The president also dispatched a contingent of 500 army commandos to Saudi Arabia. Sadly 95 of these soldiers perished in a fatal air accident.”

“Following the liberation, Senegal participated in several projects related to the reconstruction of Kuwait and

the strong personal relations between Sheikh Jaber and President Diouf were instrumental in cementing closer bilateral relations between our two countries. These relations have only gone from good to excellent under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and our current president His Excellency Macky Sall.”

Speaking about bilateral economic relations, the ambassador reiterated the growing view among the international community that Africa was the continent of the 21st-century. “Unlike many other countries which are only now beginning to realize the potential of Africa, Kuwait was among the first countries to invest in the African growth story. From the 1960s, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has had a significant presence in development projects across the continent.”

“Senegal was among the first countries in Africa to receive support from the Kuwait Fund. Over the years, the Fund has loaned on preferential terms more than US$300 million to finance above two dozen different projects in Senegal, including for the supply and development of water sources, rehabilitation of roads and ports, irrigation and livestock development, as well as for supporting economic recovery programs,“ said the envoy.

While appreciating the large-scale investments in Senegalese economy by Kuwait’s state institutions, the diplomat noted that this has not been paralleled by investments from the private sector. With the exception of a major project undertaken by the M.A. Kharafi Group, which is building a $60 million mega tourism project in Dakar the capital, there is very little Kuwaiti private sector investments in Senegal. I would like to welcome Kuwaiti investors and businesses to Senegal; the scope for development in various sectors of our economy is truly phenomenal, said Ambassador MBACKE.

Pointing to one of the major

attractions for investing in Senegal, the envoy said, “Senegal is a benchmark for political stability in Africa. When viewed against the African backdrop, we are among a handful of countries that has never witnessed a military coup d’état.” Elaborating on the political stability in his country and underlining that no Senegalese president rode to his presidency on the top of an armored tank, the ambassador said, “Our first president was a poet, the second a bureaucrat, the third a lawyer and the incumbent president is a geological engineer by profession. Political stability in Senegal has been marked by peaceful transitions of power from one elected government to another.”

“We have not only kept the generals from power, we also have strict criteria when it comes to involvement of government officials in politics. For instance, as an ambassador I represent the people of my country and cannot be part of any political clique, until I retire. Also, while the majority of our 12 million people are Muslims and they are further divided along ethnic lines, none of the 160 or more political parties are allowed to represent any religious or ethnic factions. This dichotomy has ensured stable governments and a relatively peaceful political life for its citizens since the country gained independence in 1960.”

Stating that his embassy is currently exerting all efforts to bolster Kuwait-Senegal trade on multiple levels, the envoy added, “We have invited and encouraged Kuwaiti business delegations to visit Senegal and promoted various trade shows and exhibitions in this country. A Senegal-Kuwait joint commission meeting is expected to further energize private sector investments between our countries.”

Clarifying that Senegal has taken great strides in promoting foreign investments, the ambassador said that a separate entity named APIX had been created by the government specifically for this purpose. APIX is

tasked with establishing a competitive business environment, improving investment conditions and providing multipart support to foreign and national investors in various sectors of the economy, including in Agriculture, Tourism, ITC, Health, Training and other priority industries.

The envoy pointed out that Senegal receives Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) from over two dozen countries, and since 2011, there has been an appreciable increase in the number of FDI coming from Asian and Middle-East countries. He continued, “Investors from China, Turkey and India have made great headway in Senegal, and there is no reason why Kuwaiti investors cannot join their ranks and profit from the lucrative potential of Senegalese economy.”

Elaborating on other factors that make Senegal a productive investment destination, the ambassador said, “Besides a liberal market-economy, we have a vibrant and competitive private sector, highly qualified human resources, efficient infrastructure, a strong judicial and fiscal framework, as well as privileged access to markets in North America, Europe and over 300 million consumers in the regional Economic Community of West African States. Today, Senegal has a per capita GDP of around $2,000, a growth rate of close to 5 percent and a rise in inflation of less than 4 percent.”

Noting that tourism is another area where Senegal has made major strides, the diplomat said, “With over 670,000 visitors in 2012, we are the fourth most-visited country on the continent after South Africa, Kenya

and Morocco. Besides being a safe and pleasant place to visit there are numerous tourism attractions across Senegal, including deep-sea fishing that attracts world-class champions attempting to reel in the Blue Marlins, sailfishes, and swordfishes abounding off our 700km coastline. The embassy is also promoting Senegal as an attractive tourism destination to citizens and residents in Kuwait, by holding exhibitions and conducting various cultural exchanges.”

Realizing the importance of human capital, Senegal has paid special attention to education said the envoy. “Senegal current pool of qualified human resources is the result of spending over a third of our national budget on education and training. With compulsory and free education up to the age of 16, six government universities, including the University of Dakar with 40,000 students, and many more private institutions of higher learning, Senegal has a steady stream of highly qualified human resources that it can readily tap,” he added.

In conclusion Ambassador MBACKE said, “As Senegal prepares to celebrate over five decades of independence, I would like to thank the leadership, government and people of Kuwait for extending their unwavering support and cooperation to my country in all domains. I have enjoyed my long stay in this country and during this time I had the privilege to meet and get to know prominent personalities in Kuwait, diplomats from around the world and ordinary citizens from every walk of life; I am truly thankful to God for this fine blessing.”

His Excellency Abdou Lahad MBACKE

Senegal Beacon of peace and stability in Africa

4 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com

Publisher & Editor-In-ChiefTareq Yousuf Al-Shumaimry

Managing EditorReaven D’Souza

P O Box 5141, Safat 13052, KuwaitTel : 24814404, 24810109Fax : 24834815Email : info@timeskuwait.comPrinted in: Arwa Universal Printing Presstareq@timeskuwait.com reaven@timeskuwait.com

Local

Kozhikode District Association, Kuwait organized a mega event titled ‘Kozhikode Fest

2014’ on Friday, 4th April 2014 from 5pm to 10pm at Indian Central School, Abbasiya to celebrate its 4th Anniversary.

Mr.Shubashis Goldar, Deputy Chief of Mission inaugurated the event. The open air location and the bright lights of the stage set the perfect mood for a magical musical program. Variety entertainment programs including music, dance and mimicry was performed by famous artists from Kerala as part of the celebration.

Nadir Shah, a well known as film actor and music director a lead the musical night with his rich singing voice. Anwar Sadath (playback

singer), ThajuddeenVatakara (‘mappilapattu’ singer) and Keerthana (singer-Surya TV reality show fame) sang their famous numbers to the

cheers of their excited fans. Versatile artist Mubarak Al Rashed, a famous Kuwaiti singer graced the stage to sing some upbeat songs in Hindi,

and one song in Malayalam. Mimicry artist Pratinjan who is famous for sound magic displayed his skills to evoked peals of laughter from

everyone present. The Kozhikode Fest 2014 ended with a coupon draw and a variety of wonderful prizes was handed out to the winners.

KDA celebrates 4th Anniversary with mega event

M&S opens new storeat Avenues Mall

Marks & Spencer opened its latest store on 31 March in The Avenues Mall, its third in Kuwait and 27th in the Middle East. Kuwaiti women looking

for a quality international retail experience will enjoy the brand’s inviting and inspiring store design offering a wide range of stylish and innovative products in exceptional quality and at great prices.

Following a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony led by the Head of Operations, Mark Senior and Store manager, Ibrahim Qarmeesh, the new Marks & Spencer store welcomed enthusiastic shoppers and media to experience pleasant interiors and extensive product offering. The collection displayed at the store offers confident style, innovation and outstanding quality designs at fantastic value whilst focusing on timeless fashion trends for women.

5 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Local

A reception was held recently to bid farewell to Serbian Ambassador to

Kuwait H E Mihailo Brkic and his wife on the successful completion of their tenure in Kuwait. Ambassador Brkic expressed

his gratitude for the warmth and goodwill shown by the hosts Andrew Thomas and Reaven D’Souza. Ambasadors of Albania, Australia, South Africa, Malta, Cuba, Brazil also graced the reception.

Farewell reception held for

Serbian ambassador

Pakistani Naval Ships ‘Quwwat’ and ‘Rasadgar’ along with the submarine ‘Hashmat’ docked

on Kuwait’s port on goodwill visit from 31 March to 02 April, 2014. During its stay, the Captain of the ship paid courtesy calls on the dignitaries of

Kuwait Navy. A reception was held onboard the visiting Pakistani ship, ‘Rasadgar’on March 31, 2014 at Shuwaikh port.

It was attended by the high civil and military officials of the State of Kuwait, diplomats,

distinguished guest and prominent members of the Pakistani community. The Chief of Kuwait Naval Forces Major General Jassim Mohammad Al-Ansari was the chief guest on the occasion.The celebrations was amicable and

certain ceremonies were conducted to stress the close relations between Kuwait and Pakistan. Pakistan Naval ships periodically undertake goodwill visits to the State of Kuwait. Such visits help in boosting the bilateral relations.

Reception held on Pakistan navy ship

6 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comLocal

LuLu Exchange, Kuwait’s leading remittance and foreign exchange Company opened its newest branch at Mubarkiya on

Wednesday. The exchange company’s branch count has now risen to eleven in the Sate of Kuwait with the new inclusion which further strengthens LuLu Exchange’s strong network of branches across the country.

His Excellency Sunil Jain, the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait inaugurated the new branch located in the ground floor of the Zumorrodah Tower at Qibla, Mubarkiya in the

presence of the senior management of LuLu Exchange and other dignitaries.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Adeeb Ahamed, Director – LuLu Exchange Company W.L.L, Kuwait said, “We are pleased to open this new outlet in Mubarkiya area. Having another branch will enable us to enhance our capabilities and commitment to the area. We intend to serve the people of the country by opening up more branches in both commercial and residential areas, so that the people have easy access to our facilities. LuLu Exchange is keen on building

a strategic network across Kuwait, considering the needs of customers as well as by reacting immediately to changing market dynamics.”

“Our expansion is based on extensive market research and our confidence in long- and short-term economic indicators in the State of Kuwait. LuLu Exchange will cater to a large number of the expatriates of this fast growing country. We at LuLu Exh, facilitate financial transaction services that are secure, instant and compliant through state-of-the-art systems that deliver flexibility, reliability, and transparency”, Mr.

Adeeb added. The exchange house currently has branches

each in Al Rai, Fahaheel, Mahaboula, Mangaf and Mirgab while it has two branches in Farwaniya and Abbasiya regions. LuLu Exchange opened its last branch at Dajeej Area.

“This branch is dedicated to the service of our valued customers, with a commitment to bring them only the best, be it service offerings, accessibility, and technology or customer experience in the bargain.” Mr. Adeeb mentioned.

LuLu Exchange opens 11th branch in Kuwait

Indian Business Council, Kuwait honoured Mr. Yusuff Ali .M.A for his remarkable achievements

in Business & Industry and his distinguished services in the field of social work. As an Indian businessman in Kuwait for the past one and half decades, Mr. Yusuff Ali strived to promote the trade, investment and friendly relationship between both these countries for the past several years.

On behalf of Mr. Yusuff Ali, Mr. Mohamed Haris, Regional Director of Kuwait operations received the IBC award from Mr. Adi Godrej, Chairman of Godrej Group of Companies India.

Indian Business Council honors Yusuff Ali

On Thursday, 27 March 2014, Indian Cultural Society (ICS)

held a dinner at Kuwait Continental Hotel (KCH) in honor of the renowned artistes featured in their ’Hala Baisakhi Celebration’ which was held on Friday, 28 March.

The dinner was graced by the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Mr. Sunil Jain, his wife and S. Swarn Singh (CEO-GSGC), the star performers from India, and several other luminaries from Kuwait. At the event, the organizing committee of ICS led by President Ashfaque A Khan and General Manager of KCH Kamal Al Din Hussain presented mementoes to the Ambassador and expressed their appreciation for his encouragement. ICS expressed special thanks for the hospitality and care shown by Kuwait Continental Hotel & staff to all guests and visitors. The ICS team also highlighted the efforts of their sponsors for their unfailing support to the events organized by the association. Dinner was preceded by a short informal ceremony in which the Ambassador presented marks of appreciation on behalf of ICS to the leading stars Anjan Srivastav, Himani Shivpuri, Shibani Kashyap, Vibha Anand, Piyush, Sachin and Sanjay Jha &

entire group.The dinner was held at the

Gardenia Restaurant of the KCH and it was preceded by an impromptu

cake cutting ceremony organized by Hotel General Manager, Mr. Kamal Al Din. Gift hampers were distributed to all guests present.

ICS hosts dinner for honored guests at Kuwait Continental Hotel

Continued from Page 1

were to close, reports were streaming in from the north, south and west of the country of polling stations running out of ballots. Organizers had to extend voting time in many places as they rushed to get more ballots out so people who wanted to could vote.

While there were early reports of vote rigging in some places, by and large the election process in the country has improved remarkably from previous years. This was the country’s first poll held on schedule, and with tighter anti-fraud measures.

Afghan women too have come a long way since the Taliban ruled the country and they were forced indoors and into the all-encompassing burqa. While most women, especially in rural areas, continue to wear the burqa, today more girls are in school and women are in the workforce, some holding seats in parliament. Still, many women activists worry that the government’s determination to protect their rights is waning. They worry going forward that their gains might be sacrificed in favor of an agreement with the Taliban. They have been rallying behind women candidates, and look to the next president to move forward with legislation that enshrines their rights. Independent

Election Commission chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani urged all Afghans to vote, as he cast his ballot live on television. Traffic was prevented from entering the Afghan capital from midday on Friday, with police checkpoints erected at every junction. The biggest military operation since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 has been rolled out for the vote, with all 400,000 of Afghanistan’s police and soldiers said to be on duty for the election. There are eight candidates for president, but three are considered frontrunners - former foreign ministers Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmai Rassoul, and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Dr. Abdullah has fought a polished campaign, Dr. Ghani has strong support among the new urban youth vote and Dr. Rassoul is believed to favored by Hamid Karzai, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term as president. However, no candidate is expected to secure more than the 50 percentage of the vote needed to be the outright winner, which means there is likely to be a second round run-off on 28 May.

The run-up to the historic poll has been the bloodiest since the fall of the Taliban. The heavily-guarded interior ministry, the main compound of the Independent Election Commission and the popular five-star Serena Hotel have all been attacked. On Friday, German

photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus and Canadian-born Kathy Gannon, AP’s bureau chief in Afghanistan, who had been travelling in a convoy with election workers was attacked. attack. Ms. Niedringhaus, 48, died instantly, Ms. Gannon, who was shot twice, was said to be in a stable condition.

But the violence seems to have strengthened the resolve of Afghans to carry on with the election. A poll conducted by the Free and Fair Election Foundation found that more than 75 percent respondents planned to vote, even though faith in the electoral process was said to be decreasing. A new generation has come of age, keen to have a say in their future, and insurgent violence is angering as well as deterring voters. “We are losing our children, the Taliban are killing them. We want to vote for security,” said 48-year-old Shah Gul after an unsuccessful day’s wait in line for a last-minute voter identity card. “My brother lost his sight, my son lost his hand, my cousin was killed in Kandahar.” Gul was one of hundreds of people who crowded into centers to get their cards this week, shrugging off an attack on one registration centre and warnings of more. “You only die once,” said 80-year-old Shah Sayeed. “We are very poor people, I want the card to play my part in rebuilding the country.”

Road to democracy - Afghanistan goes to polls

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The 43rd Independence and National Day of Bangladesh was observed in a befitting manner by the Bangladesh Embassy and the Bangladesh community in Kuwait on

26 March 2014. To celebrate the day, the Embassy organized good programs which included a Blood donation program with the slogan “One Bag Blood Can Save a Life”. The blood donation program was organized by the Embassy in association with Central Blood Bank of Kuwait at the Chancery from 1:00 to 6:00 pm on 28 March 2014. The Ambassador of Bangladesh in Kuwait, His Excellency Major General Mohammad Ashab Uddin, inaugurated the program.

A large number of voluntary donors from within the Bangladesh community participated and donated their blood at the event. The initiative was high appreciated by many embassies in Kuwait and by all concerned. This event encouraged the people of the community to come forward for a noble cause. It was meaningful as it gave an opportunity to serve humanity and deepened the bonds of the Bangladeshi community.

Bangladesh embassy organizes blood donation drive

Lu&Lu Hypermarket, the largest retail operator in the region, is

holding an 11-day Festival of Egypt at all their outlets in Kuwait. The festival was inaugurated at the Hypermarket’s Al-Dajeej branch by His Excellency Abdulkareem Mahmoud Suleiman, Ambassador of Egypt to Kuwait, along with the top management from Lu&Lu, and in the presence of a large crowd of shoppers and well-wishers on Wednesday, 2 April.

The festival, which got underway with a colorful start, will continue until 12 April and is expected to draw

shoppers from all walks of life to this amazing sale, which showcases a wide range of delectable and diverse Egyptian products. Among the food items on display are specialty Egyptian cheese, luscious fresh fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, pomegranate and tomatoes, as well as a wide variety of other goods from Egypt. The festival, which highlights the excellent quality of Egyptian products, also displayed a special cultural extravaganza, featuring traditional music and folkloric dance, such as the horse-dance and

tanoura, on the evenings of 2nd, 3rd and 4th of April. The Festival of Egypt provides Egyptians, as well as other residents and citizens in Kuwait, with ample selection of top-notch Egyptian products, as well as an introduction to Egyptian cultural life.

The Festival of Egypt is yet another instance where Lu&Lu Hypermarket demonstrates their deep market insight by interacting with customers and providing them with what they need and when they need it, with the clear focus of consolidating their retail dominance in the region.

Lu&Lu Hypermarket launches Festival of Egypt

8 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comLocal

Ricky LaxaStaff Writer

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Alberto Monsanto officiated the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to

open Danny’s Restaurant, a new restaurant located along Bin Kaldoun Street in Hawally on Thursday afternoon.

Owner and partner of Danny’s Restaurant, Danny Tumbagahon with spouse welcomed guests to the official opening of the first outlet in Kuwait. Tumbagahon told The Times that the restaurant offers Filipino dishes and a selection of other cuisines as

well. He added that Hawally is a strategic locale to open a restaurant as many Asians in particular Filipinos reside in the area. The restaurant offers Filipino delicacies and favorite home-cooked dishes along with delicious local Arabic cuisine. Tumbagahon also noted that catering and weekly buffets will be available soon.

Ambassador Monsanto lauded Filipino entrepreneurs such as Tumbagahon for taking the initiative to promote sumptuous Filipino dishes in Kuwait and for OFWs to be served with the home cooked food they crave. The event was attended by officials from the Philippine Embassy, Filipinos and local members of the press and invited guests.

Philippine Envoy officiates opening of new Filipino restaurant

Pakistan lift Platinum Cup in 6-nation cricket tourneyFriday, April 4, 2014 happened to be one

of the brightest day for Kuwait Cricket as the large cricket loving fans all over

Kuwait had the satisfaction of watching their favorite teams in action during the finals of the Six Nation festival cricket tournament organized by Kuwait Cricket which ended up in a colorful note.

Pakistan selected XI the defending champions, retained their title as they prevailed over Indian selected XI by 70 runs to lift the Platinum Cup. In the morning match, Sri Lanka selected XI defeated Afghanistan selected XI to bag the Gold Cup and Bangladesh edged the spirited Kuwait XI, comprising of only Kuwait nationals to take the Silver Cup.

The presentation ceremony was graced by the presence of many dignitaries such as The Ambassador of Great Britain, H.E. Frank Baker who released the tournament souvenier. Also present were the Ambassadors of Australia, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. While Deputy Chief of Mission of Indian Embassy, Charge D’ Affairs of Pakistan Embassy and Head of

Bangladesh Military mission in Kuwait were also present.

Charge d’Affairs of Pakistan Embassy

presented the winning trophy & cash prizes to Pakistan & India teams while the Sri Lankan & Afghanistan Ambassadors presented the Gold

Cup & cash prize to Sri Lankan & Afghanistan teams. The Silver Cup & cash prizes were presented to Bangladesh & Kuwaiti team by The British Ambassador.

Gulf Bank, NAPESCO, Future Communications, Kuwait Swedish Cleaning Company, Al Andalus Trading Company, Shaheen Air, Al-Hafiz Company & Pakistan Business Council were the main sponsors of this event while Help Desk of Pakistan were the organising partners of this wonderful event.

The co-sponsors who supported this mega event were Oriental Restaurant, , Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, Bhasin & Co, Al-Ghannam Tire Center Company, Eastern National Oilfield Services Co, Trans Continental Shipping Services, Al-Rashid International Shipping, Al-Masafi Trading, Global Dynamics General Trading Co & Channel Media .

Kokan Premier league who had designed the web site were viewed by 71,407 persons where as VOOP Media, Times Magazine and Kuwait Radio provided the much needed support to make this event so successful.

Continued from Page 1

for food and drink companies, thanks to a growing and youthful population and a drive to reduce the economic dependence on oil and gas.

In 2009, Americana sold its stake in a joint venture called Cairo Food Industries to its partner, H.J. Heinz, which is now owned by Brazilian private equity firm 3G. PepsiCo has a joint venture with Saudi Arabian dairy company Almarai, while Coca-Cola bought half of the Saudi Arabian beverage business owned by Aujan Industries in 2012, pledging to invest $5 billion in the region over the next decade. The sources said it was not clear whether the business might be sold in part or as a whole.

Kuwait Food Company ponders sale of Americana

Thomas Kadavil, awarded for his compassion and social dedication

Continued from Page 2

He took up the issue after realizing the lack of facilities and shelter in the embassy, and it was with a great fight and utilizing every means possible that he convinced the Indian Embassy to start a shelter to safeguard the rights of their own people. Currently more than a hundred ladies are housed at a time. Then, there was a problem of no male shelter and inadequate room for 42 men were forced to live in a two bedroom flat. Kadavil urged the embassy to have accommodation for at least a hundred people and join hands with him to help people who want to return to India. This is another one of his proud moments in his career as a social worker. Kadavil also receives a lot of hospital cases that demand his attention, and he does his best to help patients who are paraplegic, or suffered from a heart attack or kidney failure. If future treatment is required, he does everything possible to help. Embassy started helping these cases only recently, as it usual he had to collect money to help patients who couldn’t afford treatment. Travel ban is another issue that Kadavil intervenes in helping find solutions to the distressed and affected persons. Recently, two mine blast cases came to his notice and he arranged for the suitable treatment and their return to India. Moreover, he was able to collect lakhs to send to their families. In his endeavors, he is motivated by the organizations, volunteers and kind people who rally behind him.

“The award came as an unexpected surprise, and is certainly very deserving of all his achievements and goals he has accomplished that have a great impact on people of the Indian society in Kuwait. The award was bestowed after his peers acknowledged his campaigns to bring change and strengthen the Indian community in Kuwait.

9 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Asia

Amidst rapidly accelerating countrywide deforestation in Indonesia, indigenous Dayak communities in Borneo, Central Kalimantan, are fighting to stave off oil palm plantations from clearing their traditional forests.

In the face of national economic development plans to expedite the mono-crop oil palm business, a few remaining indigenous communities continue to stand strong despite fears that they are waging a losing war.

Since 2008, palm oil companies such as Wilmar International a multimillion dollar agribusiness and largest oil palm refinery operating in Indonesia, with headquarters in Singapore, have been pressuring villagers to sell off their land.

With 78 percent of all the land already licensed to agribusiness as of 2013, according to the Rainforest Foundation, much of Central Kalimantan’s primary tropical forests are already slotted for monoculture palm oil plantations.

Indigenous communities remain one of the last major barriers to the destruction of some of the world’s most bio-diverse rainforests by agribusiness ventures. At the very least, say activists, indigenous people should be given full

information to make the choice whether or not to part with their land.

While palm oil companies are granted forest concessions by the national and local governments, they often try to convince communities to give up their land by asking them to lease the land for agricultural production for thirty years, after which time they tell communities it will be returned to them.

But national land laws state that once land is under agricultural production for 25 years, it

is automatically transferred to state ownership. Additionally, in some parts of Indonesia, leases by production companies can be immediately renewed upon land sale for up to 120 years. “Once the land is taken, they will never see it again,” notes Patrick Anderson, the Indonesia Policy Advisor and an environmental conservationist with FPP.

Gohong’s neighboring villages, who have sold out to palm oil plantations or had their land seized from them, face impoverishment as they

can no longer use the land or forests.While oil palm companies often promise

livelihoods to the communities whose land they wish to buy, the poor working conditions and low pay have repeatedly been criticized by civil society for failing to uphold labor standards.

In recent years, the Indonesian government has passed a series of laws that recognize indigenous rights and the threats deforestation poses for climate change. In May 2013, the government declared a two-year moratorium on felling primary forests and peat lands for oil palm — a welcome step given that roughly seven million hectares of forestland have already been converted to oil palm since the 1990s, and forest coverage has continued to decline by more than 1 percent per year in Kalimantan since 2010.

But those working closely with indigenous groups say it has not been successful in halting provincial officials from granting new concessions to companies in forested areas. Moreover, conservationists and indigenous advocates are also unsure of how these goals fit with the 2011-2025 national economic development plan, which anticipates converting approximately 18 million more hectares into palm oil by 2025 in order to expand the 21 billion dollar industry. Currently Indonesia is the world’s top producer and consumer of palm oil; more than 2,500 palm oil companies operate in the country, and in 2013 produced 26 million metric tons of crude palm oil.

Fighting to Save Indonesia’s Forests

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Japan from 16-19 March is significant, for symbolic, political,

economic and strategic reasons. During his visit, President Sang held meetings with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; and by addressing the Japanese Parliament’s House of Representatives, the Diet, became the first State Guest to address the House since French President Francois Hollande did in June 2013.

Strategic Ties: Gathering MomentumThe upgradation of the erstwhile 2009

Strategic Partnership Agreement to the Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia during the visit has given a boost to the strategic relationship. Vietnam and Japan have convergent views on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Evidently, Vietnam has taken the lead to strengthen maritime cooperation with Japan. Towards the conclusion of Sang’s visit, both sides discussed the possibility of Japan sending patrol boats to Vietnam for strengthening the latter’s coastal security mechanism.

Deepening Economic TiesCurrently, Japan is Vietnam’s biggest investor

and the third-largest trading partner. The Hanoi-Tokyo bilateral trade turnover stood at $25 billion in 2013. In 2013, Japan invested over $5.7 billion in Vietnam, via FDI – highlighting it’s the former’s growing importance in the latter’s economy.

Regularising Mechanisms for Mutual BenefitDuring Sang’s visit, Hanoi and Tokyo

agreed to upgrade and regularise high-level exchanges and work together proactively in critically important sectors such as defence and security, science and technology, and healthcare and education. There is a pressing need for Japan to invest in Vietnam’s educational sector. Taking cognisance of Vietnam’s immense human resource potential, Japan has agreed to upgrade major universities in the country to meet international standards.

Additionally, Japan agreed to help Vietnam in six key areas, within the Vietnam-Japan

cooperation framework. Tokyo will also help Hanoi in building the Ninh Thun 2 Nuclear Power Plant. Agreements regarding the construction of the Thai Binh thermal power plant, the North-South Expressway, and the development of the Haiphong International Gateway Seaport too have been finalized.

The rapidly changing politico-security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region makes it logical for both Vietnam and Japan to find more avenues for bilateral cooperation such as diplomatic exchanges and greater investments and cooperation in strategically important areas such as naval patrols, nuclear energy and capacity development programs for the youth.

Given the proactive measures undertaken by both nations in the recent months, it is evident that there cannot be a better time to enhance bilateral relations.

China is coming under increasing scrutiny as it scurries to control its burgeoning

debt, both at the center and among local governments. Some analysts believe the Chinese government can simply write off its bad debt by passing it on to asset management companies funded by the Ministry of Finance which resells distressed debt. But the question arises, how much debt can China really absorb?

The first step to this question is to examine what types of debt has gone bad in China and how they have been dealt with in the past. There are three general categories of bad debt that have been bailed out in recent years — bank loans, trust loans, and loans from smaller sectors such as informal finance and credit guarantee companies.

Problems with trust loans and loans from smaller sectors were generally handled by local governments, while bank loans were bailed out by the Ministry of Finance through its asset management companies. Trust loans bailed out by local governments have involved sums around half a billion dollars, while non-performing bank loans amounted to about 250 billion dollars between 2011 and 2013.

The second step is to consider how well the central and local governments can cope with a potential increase in bad debt. While local governments are overly indebted, as revealed by a recent report by the National Audit Office, and have experienced fiscal shortfalls for some time, the central government has maintained relatively low deficits, even coming in under the projected deficit in 2013.

The worst impact of the way in which the central government deals with non-performing loans is easy on the fiscal budget as long as the debt can be recovered; the worst impact of this process is that it may very lightly constrain lending, as non-performing loans are taken off books and bonds are issued and purchased by banks, changing the nature of capital held on the books. In reality, however, much of the

distressed debt is not recovered, and in the past has been purchased by the Ministry of Finance. Both central and local governments, then, face issues with bailing out bad loans either directly or indirectly.

The third question to ask is whether the scale of bad debt will grow sufficiently to threaten the financial health of the central and local governments. For local governments, the question is moot. Their health is already threatened by a serious lack of revenue. This can only be addressed by increasing revenue,

perhaps land revenue or an increase in revenue redistribution from the central government. If the trust debt continues to increase and more bailouts become necessary, local governments will suffer, as they have little capacity to withstand a further accumulation of debt. The central government can bear a small increase in bad debt, but as long as the deficit is kept in check, bailouts will replace policies that spur much-needed growth, trading future prosperity for past profligacy. The recent 3-year non-performing loan amount of just less than $250 billion seems like a tidy sum compared to fiscal expenditures of over one trillion dollars in 2013.

With mounting non-performing loans and declining revenue in the short run, the gap between these numbers will only narrow. Although the government can pay down the debt later, postponing the bailout, many new nonperforming loans would present a challenge to officials as to how to classify, recover, and ultimately relieve the financial system of this burden.

Vietnam-Japan: Quantum leap in strategic ties Bad debts haunt

Chinese economy

10 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comAfrica

Using less colorful language to depict their mutual dependencies, the President of the European Commission José Manuel

Barroso said the summit would help deepen partnership and seize further cooperation opportunities. He added that fulfilling the vision set out in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, the summit would “expand political, economic and people to people contacts, including the pursuit of durable and sustainable economic growth generating opportunities and well-being for all our citizens.”

The fourth EU-Africa summit, which was held under the theme ‘Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace’, aimed to build on their 2007 Joint Strategy and to find ways in which Africa and the European Union could discuss as equal partners on how to deepen cooperation under these three areas.

The summit brought together Heads of State and Government of the European Union and the African continent, UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon together with leaders of institutions affiliated to the EU and African Union. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italy’s Matteo Renzi were among the 13 European leaders attending, along with a dozen African leaders including Nigerian President Jonathan Goodluck and Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Prior to the summit, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and Mr. Barroso along with their African counterparts expressed their joint commitment to fostering human capital through education and training, creating additional incentives for investment, and finding ways to stimulate growth that will create jobs, especially for the youth. The two sides also agreed to work closely for peace and security, which are prerequisites for prosperity and growth.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a new approach to Africa at the start of the two-day summit in Brussels, saying it was important for European countries to see “the opportunities” on the continent, “and not always just the problems.” Merkel added on arrival at the European Council, “Our neighboring continent Africa is gaining greater significance, and calls for more trade, more investment and more empowerment - so that African problems can also be solved by Africans themselves.”

“Both Africa and the EU will come together to address the challenges that each of our continent faces and the ones that face the world as a whole. The theme we have chosen addresses the everyday concerns of our citizens, their safety and security, their job prospects, and their future as families and individuals. I am looking forward to a summit that will further reinforce our partnership and contribute to improve the quality of hope of our population,” said President Van Rompuy.

While trade and investment were high on the agenda for the summit, dominating the event was the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR). Describing the situation as dire, Ban Ki-moon, said the existing forces in CAR were “far from sufficient.” He called on the assembled European and African leaders to “strongly consider providing badly needed additional troops and police and also financial support.”

But as the EU-Africa summit got underway the two continents seemed to be at crossroads, raising the question: would the summit be able to breathe a new life and spirit into the intertwined relations between the two continents? Many political analysts believe that to achieve a coherent partnership, heads of state and government had to shed the individual interests of their states and instead think strategically about their collective continental benefits and values. A tall order considering how fragmented the two unions were in reaching consensus and how opinionated many of their leaders were to common issues.

At the summit, especially at the many photo sessions, attending leaders smiled and gave

the impression of unity and bonhomie among them, but in their private discussions and in one-on-one meetings the leaders struggled to find accord on many topics of mutual interest. While on the African side, the call for pan-Africanism reverberates strongly and is a generally a cohesive force that binds the 54 nation bloc together. Despite its many flavors, pan-African unity is for now anchored through the African Union and its many strategic decisions and unprecedentedly ambitious continental initiatives.

The African Union, although still a relatively young organization facing challenges, has

outlined several collective plans, including its 2063 agenda, its continental infrastructure programme (PIDA), its agriculture and food strategy (CAADP) and its regional integration schemes. However, one also has to recognize that a number of strong African leaders are keen to retain their leading role in handling international affairs and therefore view increased African unity with suspicion.

Even though an older organization, and four years after the Lisbon Treaty on their union came into force, the EU as a single entity is only slowly beginning to coalesce. Moreover, while

Africa is quite clearly defined by its geography, the question of EU’s boundaries remain largely open, as demonstrated by the erratic growth of its borders and ongoing discussions on how far it should expand and who it should include.

A relevant question that arises from EU responses to recent global events is, can Europe with its numerous faces — the heads of powerful states, the President of the European Commission (EC), the High Representative for Foreign Policy and the various commissioners for trade or development — speak with one voice and put on an united front, least of all in front of Africa? The two-day summit, while strong on words, unfortunately did not portray the ability of each continent to reassert its unity as a power bloc in a world marked by a shift of power.

Another facet on which the summit leaders seemed at odds was on presenting a combined front to confronting international issues. While the African Union and the European Union are each shaping their own distinctive continental positions on global matters, the two could not find common voice on matters such as, economic growth, trade and climate change to name a few.

Nevertheless the two sides did find common ground on several fronts, notably in the field of peace and security where both sides have worked jointly to make the African peace and security architecture (APSA) a reality. Today, the African peace support operation in Somalia (AMISOM) and international efforts to consolidate peace in Somalia are clear examples of sharpened African and European strategies to address common threats. In the Sahel, the EU and the AU have designed tailored regional strategies in coordination with the United Nations, ECOWAS and other international organizations dealing with security and development.

During the summit, the EU agreed on deploying 1,000 peacekeepers to CAR as part of its military mission in that country politically and religiously-motivated violence has forced roughly 1 million people to flee their homes. The EU force will join some 6,000 African Union and 2,000 French troops already present there.

While recent stock tacking exercises have demonstrated that both sides are acting more strategically with one another in a number of other areas, such as research, space and satellite and cultural cooperation, that did not mean there were no disagreements. But at least each side was at a stage where they could express clearly what it wanted and what it did not want.

They also expressed commitment, at least on paper, to strengthen their own continental normative frameworks to pursue their fundamental values and principles through a number of treaties (Lisbon Treaty), charters (the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights) and constitutive acts (the AU constitutive act).

However, analysts believe that both sides need to get back to what unites them internally and see if it matches the other continent’s interests. All the contentious issues — homosexual rights, Economic Partnership Agreements, declarations on migration, agriculture, implementing structure and a document on the way forward — will undermine internal integration efforts on both continents if they are not addressed with the unity imperative in mind, and in a strategic and long-term perspective.

The two sides need to seek agreement on principles that bring them closer: faith in trust-building, peace and security, alignment with existing African and European growth strategies, available funding, and, above all, commitment to deeper dialogue and concrete action with earmarked funding on sensitive issues.

But then, summits are not an end in themselves, and the EU-Africa summit was no different. It would have been a mistake to try to address all irritants simultaneously and, moreover, attempting to do so would have made the two-headed crocodile sick.

Africa-EU Summit Two heads one stomach

A former African minister drew on the popular West African Adinkra symbol of a Siamese crocodile with two heads and one stomach, to describe relations between the European Union and Africa. Prior to the EU-Africa summit, which was held in

Brussels on 2–3 April, the minister used the metaphor to highlight how interdependent the two continents were.

Kenyan music star, Victoria Kimani, spoke about her involvement in a major collaboration by African musicians to promote investments in agriculture in the

continent.

Kimani, alongside fellow Kenyan, Juliani, feature in ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’ as part of the ‘Do Agric It Pays’ campaign together with 17 other artists. The campaign is a brainchild of ONE, the campaigning and advocacy organization. “I’m a huge fruit and vegetable person and I’m really big on natural foods. My brother is a farmer and outside of that I love the idea of investing in yourself. I think agriculture is the way forward to be honest with you, not

only from a financial aspect, but from giving back and providing jobs. I think it’s an amazing cause,” Kimani said.

She said of the collaboration, “It’s crazy because everyone has their own swag, their own style and when you put all that together it’s crazy because it doesn’t sound purely Kenyan, purely Tanzanian, purely Angolan, it’s awesome.” “This amazing campaign is all about investing in land and promoting farming. My little part is to collect together what everyone is saying in their own individual dialect. It’s an amazing effort and it’s all about ONE, so one love.” The collaboration by artists was a continent-wide push to appeal to African governments to commit to spending at least 10 percent of national budgets on effective agriculture investments — a commitment they originally made in Maputo in 2003 — and to do so through transparent and accountable budgets.

African Music Stars to Revolutionize Agriculture

11 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Sports

The 2014 ‘Copa do mundo de futebol’, as the tournament is known in Brazil, will be the 20th edition of the World Cup football, since FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football

Association) began organizing the international men’s association football event in 1930.

In 2007, FIFA decreed that the 20th iteration of the event would be held in South America, and, when the South American Football Confederation announced that there would be no other challengers, Brazil was selected unopposed to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

A total of 64 matches will be played in newly constructed or renovated stadiums across Brazil during the month-long football fiesta. Matches will be held in the twelve Brazilian cities of Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo.

In the phase called the ‘Preliminary Competition’, which began in June 2011, teams from different geographic regions competed to qualify for 31 eligible slots to the final round of matches. Brazil, as host nation, automatically qualified to enter the tournament’s final round.

The 32 qualifying teams have now been drawn into eight groups of four teams each to compete in the Group Stage. The top two teams from each group will then advance to the Second Round of 16 teams, where they will play in successive rounds to reach the semi-finals and finals to determine the winner and runner-up. The two teams that lose in the semifinals play each other to determine the third place.

Background information about 2014 World Cup: For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches in Brazil will use goal-line technology. The technology, which will be used to determine when the ball has completely crossed the goal line with the help of electronic devices, will assist the referee in deciding whether to award a goal or not.

Along with the host country, all world champion teams since the first World Cup in 1930 (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, England, Argentina, France and Spain) have qualified for this year’s competition.

This is the fifth time that the World Cup is being held in South America, and the first time since the tournament was staged in Argentina in 1978.

The 2014 tournament will be the second time that Brazil is

hosting the event, the first was in 1950. It is noteworthy that all previous tournaments held in South America were won by teams from that continent.

FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour: This is the third time that the Original FIFA World Cup Trophy is going on tour around the world. The 2013/2014 Trophy Tour will visit 88 countries during its 267-day duration.

The Trophy Tour which began its journey in Rio de Janeiro, departing from the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, on 12 September, 2013, will travel around the world for nine months before returning to Brazil in June.

During its trip around the world the Trophy will cover a total distance of 149,576.78km; in other words, more than three times the circumference of earth.

Fuleco, the Official Mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, is also accompanying the Tour at several stops on its journey.

World Cup Trophy: From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winning team. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up the first tournament.

In 1970, Brazil’s third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983, and has never been recovered, apparently melted down by the thieves.

After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven different countries, evaluated the 53 presented models, finally opting for the work of the Italian designer Silvio Gazzaniga. The designer described his creation as: “The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory.”

The new trophy is 36cm high, made of solid 18 carat (75%) gold and weighs 6.175kg. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974. This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy until the next tournament and are awarded a gold-plated replica rather than the solid gold original.

The country with the most World Cup wins is Brazil, which won the World Cup five times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.

Statistics from 2010 World Cup: The 2010 World Cup, which was held in South Africa, was watched worldwide by an estimated 3.2 billion people, roughly 46.4 percent of the world.

The Adidas Golden Ball award is presented to the most outstanding player at each World Cup finals, with a list generated by the FIFA technical committee and the winner voted on by members of the media. The 2010 Winner was Diego Forlan of Uruguay.

The Adidas Golden Shoe award is presented to the top goal scorer at every World Cup finals. The winner in 2010 was Thomas Müller of Germany.

Spain won its first World Cup championship in 2010, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.

The world’s most widely viewed sporting event, the quadrennial FIFA World Cup Football Tournament, is to be held this year in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July to determine the world champion who gets to keep the FIFA

World Cup trophy for the next four years.

• • Group A: Brazil, Cameroon, Mexico, CroatiaGroup B: Spain, Chile, Australia, NetherlandsGroup C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, JapanGroup D: Uruguay, Italy, Costa Rica, EnglandGroup E: Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras, FranceGroup F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, BosniaGroup G: Germany, Ghana, USA, PortugalGroup H: Belgium, Algeria, South Korea, Russia

13 July, 1930 - The first World Cup begins in Montevideo, Uruguay.1942 and 1946 - The tournament is not held because of World War II. Play resumes in 1950.11 June – 11 July, 2010 - The World Cup takes place in South Africa. 12 June – 13 July, 2014 - The World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil.2018 - The World Cup is scheduled to take place in Russia.2022 - The World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar.

World Cup 2014 draw in full

Timeline of World Cup dates

12 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comWorld Health Day

Medical definition of ‘vectors’ is that they are living organisms which transmit infectious

diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Many of these vectors are bloodsucking insects that ingest disease-producing micro-organisms during a blood meal from an infected host (human or animal) and later

inject them into a new host during their next blood meal. Mosquitoes are the best known disease vector. Others include certain species of ticks, flies, sandflies, fleas, bugs and freshwater snails

Vector-borne diseases are one of the greatest contributors to human mortality and morbidity in tropical settings and beyond. Every year more than one billion

people are infected and more than one million people die from vector-borne diseases. Malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes, is the biggest killer among vector-borne diseases, but other diseases, such as dengue and yellow fever, tend to erupt in large outbreaks that can paralyze health systems and cause considerable economic and social disruption. For instance, each year, around half a million patients with severe dengue require hospitalization.

Others like, onchocerciasis or ‘river blindness’, which prevails across sub-Saharan Africa, is caused through infection by the black-fly and often leads to blindness in the victims. Chagas disease, a tropical illness caused by parasitic insects, in its late stage can cause heart failure and early death in young adults. Japanese encephalitis can permanently damage the central nervous system and chikungunya, a disease spread by virus-carrying mosquitoes, causes severe joint pain that can last for weeks.

Schistosomiasis, the most widespread of all vector-borne diseases, caused by parasitic worms and leading to infection of urinary tract or intestine, contributes to poor nutritional status and poor school performance among children. Some forms of leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection spread by sandflies, can be rapidly fatal, while others cause severe facial disfigurement. Meanwhile, around 120 million people are currently infected with lymphatic filariasis, and about 40 million of them are disfigured and incapacitated by the disease.

One sixth of the illness and disability suffered worldwide is due to vector-borne diseases, with more than half the world’s population currently estimated to be at risk of these diseases. The poorest segments of society and least-developed countries are most affected. Lost productivity is one consequences of vector-borne diseases, but the stigma and social exclusion resulting from their manifestation on the body are additional sources of misery, especially for women.

These diseases also exacerbate poverty, as illness and disability prevent people from working and supporting themselves and their family, causing further hardship and impeding economic development. According to studies from eight countries, an average dengue episode represents 14.8 lost days for ambulatory patients at an average cost of US$ 514 and 18.9 days for non-fatal hospitalized patients at an average cost of US$ 1491. An econometric model for malaria suggests that countries with intensive malaria have income levels of only one third of those that do not have malaria.

Many of these diseases, which were historically confined to distinct geographical areas, have become more fluid due to a host of ills, including climate change, intensive farming, dams, irrigation, deforestation, population movements, rapid unplanned urbanization, and phenomenal increases in international travel and trade. These changes create opportunities for vectors and the diseases they spread to take up residence in new areas. For instance, the primary vector for dengue, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is now found in more than 20 European countries. This same mosquito species recently carried chikungunya to the Caribbean islands; the first cases of this debilitating disease seen in the Americas.

Although significant progress is being made in combating some diseases

such as malaria, lymphatic filariasis and Chagas disease, other diseases such as dengue continue to spread at an alarming pace. However, the good news is that in most cases simple preventive measures can lead to marked decrease in infection rates.

The massive use of insecticides in the 1940s and 1950s successfully brought many important vector-borne diseases under control. But this initial success led to complacency and many control programs were dismantled. Resources for prevention and protection dwindled and expertise in the field became scarce. Soon many of the diseases that were believed to be under control or eradicated returned with a vengeance and easily overran the limited infrastructure available for their control.

Another worrisome trend witnessed in the resurgence of vector-borne diseases in recent times is that many of them have developed resistance to affordable insecticides that were proven to be effective in the past. If existing insecticides lose their effectiveness this could erase all the gains made against malaria and other vector-borne diseases especially in parts of Africa.

If we do not take action now, the implications are extremely serious for the entire globe, says Dr. Margaret Chan, director-General of World Health Organization. She warns that for many vector-borne diseases, there are no vaccines, and drug resistance is an increasing threat. Vector-control plays a vital role and is often the only way to prevent disease outbreaks. Many existing interventions, such as insecticide treated bed-nets and indoor spraying, are simple and proven. These vector-control tools can be particularly effective when used in combination with interventions such as mass drug administration involving large-scale treatment of affected communities.

Taking action is entirely feasible. WHO promotes integrated vector management, which uses a range of interventions, from indoor residual spraying to the use of natural insect predators, in combination and in a value added way. Integrated management makes sense as many vector-borne diseases overlap geographically, some vectors cause several diseases, and some interventions provide protection against several vectors. In many cases, increased funds and political commitment are needed to scale-up access to existing vector-control tools, as well as medicines and diagnostic tools, says the Director-General. At the same time, more investment in research is also urgently needed to find improved solutions for fighting vectors and the diseases they transmit.

The world needs to recreate the momentum for vector control and to boost the fundamental capacities that underpin it, including staff with technical expertise, stronger surveillance systems, and better laboratory infrastructure. For vector-borne diseases, control programs have been found to either surge ahead or sink, so countries and their development partners must appreciate the urgent need to act before an alarming situation deteriorates leading to death and suffering for millions. The world can no longer afford to be complacent. It is my sincere wish that this World Health Day will invigorate vector-control and give it the high profile it deserves. “No one in the 21st century should die from the bite of a mosquito, a sandfly, a blackfly or a tick,” adds Dr. Chan.

Sm

all B

ite:

Big

Thre

at World Health Day 2014 – 7 April

Diseases borne by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, bugs and other organisms cause more than one million deaths each year. The deaths, though alarming, vastly underestimate the human misery and hardship caused by these vector-borne diseases, as many people who survive infection are left permanently debilitated, disfigured, maimed, or blind, says the World Health Organization (WHO) as it marks World Health Day on 7

April, with the tagline, ‘Small Bite: Big Threat’.

13 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Food

•

Coconut oil: Another item gaining popularity, not only for its flavor but for its health benefits is coconut oil with its impressive fatty acid profile that can help modulate good and bad cholesterol ratios. Coconut has a high smoking temperature, which means it can be heated to high temperatures before it oxidizes, making it a great option for cooking with. Add coconut oil to pumpkin soup, using it to pop black rice for salads, or infusing it with turmeric, lemon zest, garlic and hard herbs ready for cooking.

Fermented vegetables: They are simple to make, great for your gut and chockfull of flavor. ‘Sauerkraut and kimchi are good

examples of fermented cabbage. All you need is salt and a vegetable in a sealed jar, stored at room temperature and out of light for five to 10 days, depending on the strength you want. It will bubble up with healthy lactic acid bacteria.

Freekeh: Of Middle Eastern origin, freekeh or farik is a highly nutritious, easily prepared roasted green wheat grain with a lovely nutty flavor. You can make a warm freekeh salad with preserved lemon, ricotta and mint, or try a Cypriot grain salad with freekeh, lentils, seeds, nuts and herbs, topped with yoghurt and pomegranate seeds.

Kale: Popular for its nutritional value and versatility, this dark-green vegetable, with its leaves frilled like coral, can be braised, added to soups, baked like a gratin, swirled through pasta and its torn leaves can even be seasoned and roasted as a healthy alternative to potato chips.

Seaweed: There are many types of seaweed, including nori, wakame, kombu, which are great to add texture to dishes. Reconstitute your favorite by tearing it and adding it to salads, or enhancing a seafood pasta sauce with powdered kombu.

Gochujang paste: This fermented chili bean paste, mixed with sesame oil and a little sugar, makes a sensational dressing for oysters and seafood. Used in a stir-fry, it provides an amazing flavor and goes perfectly with chicken, seafood and meat. You can also add a small spoonful in dressings for salads.

Dukkah: Its lovely, spicy, sesame-seedy goodness can be used in different ways. Scattered over fried eggs, in shakshouka the fiery egg tomato combination, to leafy green salads, soups, roast vegetables and swirled into yoghurt and smashed feta to serve next to grilled fish, chicken, lamb, or as a crust for oven-baked fish.

Shopping list for

Healthy EatingThe increasing interest in healthy eating means people are searching for healthy alternatives to staple ingredients. Here are a few items that you could add to your

shopping list to provide nutrients and flavor to your health-conscious cooking.

PREPARATIONIntro:

If you want to experience this ‘decadent’ dish in all its pomp and glory, make it on your own. You won’t regret it. It is reasonably easy to prepare and is worth the time.

Steps Involved:• Slit the chicken breasts in halves (butterfly), pound the halved chicken breasts in between plastic sheets ensuring no holes are made on them. Flatten the chicken breast pieces well. • Cut the butter into medium size pieces and fit into the middle of each breast piece. • Sprinkle the chicken breasts on top with pepper, salt, chopped chives and roll it up in an envelope shape. • Dip each roll in flour, then in beaten eggs and then roll it with bread crumbs. • Keep aside in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. • Take a flat bottom pan with 2 tablespoons of Noor oil and fry the chicken breasts until brown on all sides. If prepared correctly, when the cooked chicken breasts are cut, butter will ooze out of them.

Suggestion: Serve Chicken A ’la Kiev hot with mashed potatoes, boiled vegetables and hot sauce.

Chicken a’la KievINGREDIENTS

2 chicken breast (boned and halved)½ cup butter1½ tsp chives (chopped)½ cup all-purpose flour

1 egg (beaten)1 cup bread crumbsSalt to tasteBlack pepper powder to taste2 tbsp Noor oil (for pan frying)

Chicken breasts are the busy person’s salvation. When you have a late night at

work, they defrost in a flash and cook just as quickly. Inject your culinary repertoire with a little variety and try these easy takes on the ultimate quick dinner.

Bake them: Place some skinless chicken breasts on a baking tray lined with a sheet of baking paper and season with salt and pepper. Try one of these two toppings to accompany the chicken. Simply spray the toppings - halved cherry tomatoes, sliced fennel, slivered garlic and fresh thyme for a distinct Mediterranean flavor - with oil and bake with the breasts:

Use a spice rub: Grind dried spices and

herbs in a spice grinder or in a clean coffee grinder. The tastiest combination is coriander seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric, paprika and cinnamon. Massage the mixture into the chicken breasts, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to 12 hours. Spray the chicken breasts with oil then grill or sauté the chicken breasts for 15-20 minutes over medium-high heat, or until just cooked through. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.

Beat them flat: Arrange the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap, then beat them to a 1cm thickness with a heavy-based saucepan, rolling pin or meat mallet. Spread Baby spinach leaves, dill and Dijon mustard over the breasts. Spray a casserole

dish with oil spray. Roll the breasts with the filling inside. Secure with some toothpicks or shortened bamboo skewers and place seam-side-down in the casserole dish. Bake at 210°C for approximately 25 minutes, basting them twice with a little chicken stock.

Use pre-made sauce: Cut the breasts into 3cm cubes. Spray with oil and brown in a non-stick frying pan. Add your favorite jarred tomato-based pasta sauce. Cook the chicken and sauce over medium heat for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve over whole meal pasta or brown rice and sprinkle with basil leaves.

Steam them: Slice skinless chicken breast fillets into thin stips and steam them with your

favorite vegetables and an aromatic herb. For an Asian twist, try snow peas, shiitake mushrooms and crushed lemongrass. Discard the lemongrass before serving and sprinkle with fresh coriander.

Make kebabs: Cut the breasts into 3cm cubes then slide them onto metal skewers or pre-soaked wooden skewers. Add your vegetables of choice: onion wedges, green capsicum cubes or quartered yellow squash. Brush chicken with a marinade made from 1tbs olive oil and 1tbs sumac. Grill or pan-fry the skewers for 15-20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Squeeze with a little lemon juice and sprinkle with chopped coriander or parsley.

Simple tricks with chicken breasts

14 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comTaste of Travel

Taking a Break

At Selfridges & Co., try the Moet Bar above the Chanel Boutique for classy nibbles, a glass of champagne, and a bit of celebrity spotting (it is a favorite gathering place for fashionistas).Once you have filled your basket with goodies at Fortnum and Mason, visit St. James Restaurant upstairs for afternoon tea.Try the Laduree tearoom, the charcuterie bar, oyster bar, sushi bar or tapas bar at Harrods

— you can find them in the food hall alongside several other eateries.

Eating is part of what makes travel so exhilarating. When one thinks of a place, one of the memorable experiences recalled is either because of the food eaten or the people one has shared it with. A meal abroad is more than an intake of calories, it is an exercise in cultural immersion. What people eat, when they eat , where and how they source their food, what gastronomic rituals they observe – all offer telling insights into a place and its people. Celebrating a unique relationship between food and travel, between place and plate, this endlessly fascinating adventure will be regularly featured in our pages.

ENGLAND

Food Journeys

of a Life Time

Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe

In England’s thriving capital gastronomes can browse among caviar and truffles to their heart’s content. One of the smaller

food halls in the city is on the ground floor of Selfridges & Co., on busy Oxford Street. Here you can find unusual groceries alongside a handful of great places to eat, including a traditional London pie shop, an outlet selling English bangers (sausages), and an Italian gelateria. For a more traditional experience, head to Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly, where old-fashioned curiosities, such as vintage marmalades, rose and violet creams, mustard recipes dating back to the Tudors and relishes like piccalilli and pickled walnuts are stacked high — and have been for over 300 years, since the founding of the

store in 1707. Perhaps the most opulent of all is the sprawling series of halls, each the size of a ballroom, at Harrods, Knightsbridge. Built in 1902, the halls retain many of their original features. Look out for the display of fresh seafood next to the oyster bar, where the fish is presented in blocks of color, much like an artist’s palette; and don’t miss the cavernous room full of tempting artisanal chocolates. It is all about choice — where else can you find 15 different kinds of butter? Don’t be shy to ask to sample a sliver of cheese or charcuterie before choosing one of the hundreds on offer, and make sure you take plenty of time to explore what must be one of the greatest temples to food in the world.

The boundaries between restaurants and residences are often blurred in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), so it is only

natural that some of the best cookery classes in town take place in the kitchens of homes. Among the programs you can choose from, a good option is one that brings together travelers seeking a gastronomic adventure off the beaten track, and Vietnamese home-cooks passionate about sharing their culture with others. Each lesson begins at the local market early in the morning, when fruit, vegetables, seafood and meat are at their freshest. The heart and energy of a city is often found within its markets and this is certainly the case in Ho Chi Minh City. Students are

steered around the market by a seasoned cook accompanied by an English-proficient university student, who serves as language translator and cultural guide. Whether it is ground meat for crispy spring rolls (cha gio) or saw-tooth herb to garnish beef noodle soups (pho bo), you learn about Vietnam’s diversity of foods by helping to select the day’s ingredients. With bounty in hand, you travel to the cook’s home to prepare lunch. Seeing and experiencing life at this level grants travelers a unique understanding of the customs and rhythms of Vietnamese life. Then, after a morning of chopping, measuring and tasting, you sit down with your teacher to savor the fruits of your labor.

When to go: These stores become crowded just before Christmas and during the January sales. Food halls, bars and restaurants may operate different opening times to the rest of the store. Check websites for details.

Planning: You cannot eat your purchases in-store; if you get hungry, visit one of the restaurants. You can dress casually, but these stores may not admit customers carrying backpacks or large luggage items.

Websites: www.selfridges.com, www.fortnumandmason.com, www.harrods.com

When to Go: Ho Chi Minh City is pleasant to visit year-round. During the rainy season, from May through November, there is guaranteed to be a daily dousing, so be sure to pack a poncho. Avoid going during Tet, the Lunar New Year (late January or early February), as stores and restaurants shut down for up to three weeks.Planning: Connections Vietnam organizes cooking classes in private homes. The Vietnam Cookery Center runs courses in a classroom setting and the city’s Caravelle Hotel offers a one-day program. You can also take classes in beach resorts, such as those around Nha Trang, northeast of Ho Chi Ming City.Websites: www.connectionsvietnam.com, www.expat-services.com, www.caravellehotel.com

London’s Food Halls

Home-Learning in Ho Chi Minh

Several of London’s high-end department stores are home to world-class food halls.

Experience local hospitality while exploring Vietnam’s rich culinary heritage in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

Fish Sauce

n Inside the cupboards of any Vietnamese kitchen, there is sure to be a bottle of nuoc mam (fish sauce). This salty, caramel-colored, utterly pungent condiment is shaken and stirred into practically every dish, from fresh salads to noodle soups. n The best sauce is made from anchovies caught and fermented on the island of Phu Quoc.n Nuoc mam is most commonly used in nuoc mam cham (dipping sauce). To make this, pure fish sauce is mixed with water, lime juice, chopped chilies, minced garlic and sugar. n The resulting sour and sweet sauce serves as a dressing for staples such as broken rice (rice in which the kernel has cracked) and vermicelli noodles.

VIETNAM

15 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Travel

The city’s 6,000-year history is packed with tales of kings and queens. Thirdly, there are many fun parks and green spaces in

which to run free, plus a constellation of indoor attractions for rainy days.

And how, after all, could kids not be beguiled by a city that is symbolized by a little bronze mermaid and idolizes her story’s creator, Hans Christian Andersen, as a national hero? Danish culture gives children a beautifully natural place in society. Kids are, on the whole, neither spoilt nor overly scolded, and in Danish democratic tradition, they seem to be equal with adults. It is a pleasure to see Danish children, behaving just right, out and about in the country’s capital – where city planners have created as many opportunities for diversion as they have for their parents.

Copenhagen’s most reveled-in children’s attraction has to be the quaintly gorgeous Tivoli Gardens. Built in 1843, Tivoli is 15 magical city-centre acres of green gardens and lakes with pagodas, home to dragon boats, roller-coasters and the Star Flyer — the world’s tallest carousel. There is also a pantomime theatre, frequent concerts and plenty of places to snack on cotton candy. At night, the park is lit gorgeously with millions of tiny colored lights. Bakken, north of Copenhagen, is the world’s oldest amusement park and historically the city-escape of working-class Copenhageners. When the kids tire of the rides, the clowns and the noise of the cabaret show, take a horse-and-carriage ride into the woods of the surrounding deer park.

Hundreds of years of clever town planning have endowed Copenhagen with plenty of parks, gardens and places for kids to stretch their legs. Kids will love to kick a football

and tear around the lawns at Fælledparken, Copenhagen’s largest park; picnic at Frederiksberg Have, the public grounds of Frederiksberg Palace; build sandcastles on the white sands at Amager Beach; and wonder at the huge and exotic trees in the Botanical Garden. Copenhagen has several theatres aimed at children. Det Lille Teater (the Small Theatre) is for the very youngest – guaranteed to make them giggle and gasp, no matter what language the show is in. The Anemone Teatret is another family-orientated theatre, with afternoon shows, sometimes of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories.

If they like to get arty, the National Gallery of Denmark has a Children’s Museum of Art that has exhibitions designed just for kids,

and hands-on workshops where they can busy themselves with paint, pencils, paper, canvas and model clay. The joy of hands-on discovery at the National Gallery is replicated at Denmark’s National Museum, close to the Tivoli gardens downtown. Here in the Children’s Museum, kids can dress up like Vikings and clamber aboard a replica Viking ship, learn in a

1920s classroom, or play make believe with the treasures of Grandma’s wardrobe. It is riveting fun for children under 12.

Copenhagen’s Worker’s Museum also has a children’s section. Kids can play in a 1950s apartment, shop at a historic grocery store and learn the story of a working boy, Thorvald, who later became the country’s Prime Minister. If outdoors, hands-on and historic will better fit your child’s bill, there is the Open Air Museum at Lyngby, just northeast of Copenhagen. There are 100 historic farmhouses, outbuildings and all manner of equipment for the farming life here — transported from all over the country. You can travel the length and breadth of Denmark, and also time travel from 1650 to 1950 as you wander the 65 acres of grounds

Copenhagen’s Experimentarium, five kilometers north of the city centre, is just the spot for young Einsteins. There are 300 interactive exhibits on science and technology: things as cool as surfing a giant wave (without even getting wet), experiencing an earthquake of 5.5 on the Richter Scale, taking an ‘elevator ride’ through the human body and testing your own knowledge with experiments on thought and perception. Older kids adore the Tycho Brahe Planetarium, Europe’s most high-tech exposition on the night sky. The Planetarium also projects amazing 3D films on the 1,000sqm dome-shaped screen, including voyages to the planets and creatures of the deep seas. It is so big and so real you truly feel like you are part of the action.

Copenhagen’s Zoo has to be one of the world’s most kid-friendly zoos. In addition to 260 species of animals from across the globe, there is the delightful Children’s Zoo where kids can meet and pat tame animals like rabbits, pygmy goats and even slithering snakes. At Charlottenlund, just north of the capital, the amazing Denmark’s Aquarium takes visitors around the world via sea creatures, where

exhibitions range from crocodiles to giant octopus, to a get-wet touch pool. A new aquarium named The Blue Planet, the biggest in northern Europe, opened in 2013 on the shores of Øresund, north of the capital. In true Danish style it is set to do things just a few notches better than most – with the littlest members of society firmly in mind.

Copenhagen With

KIDSCopenhagen is a brilliant city to discover with children. First, it is almost child-sized itself. With 1,200,000 inhabitants, it is a proper metropolis but not an overwhelmingly large city. Secondly, Copenhagen is endowed with glorious, imagination-inspiring landmarks: soaring spires, grand residences, waterfront warehouses in a kaleidoscope of

colors and turreted castles straight from fairytales.

16 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comCareer

What not to do: There is nothing like a front-row seat on unproductive behavior to help you crystallize your own professional values and style. Learning what not to do and noting the effects of this behavior on staff can yield leadership lessons more memorable than any business school could provide.

Self-reliance: A manager who is reluctant to provide you with adequate resources or direction can force you to become more resourceful and assertive. You may need to learn to gather the information or support you require from others or figure out how to move forward with a project when details are fuzzy. Similarly, a boss who does not recognize or appreciate your efforts can lead you to develop your own sense of

the value of your contributions. The result can be a sturdier sense of satisfaction and confidence.

Learning opportunity: When working for a challenging boss, everyday conversations can seem like combat. View these interactions as learning opportunities — when it is worth bringing up an issue, when to push back and when to let a matter drop.

Diplomacy: Some of the most professionally valuable interpersonal skills, such as working toward compromise and building consensus, can be learned only by dealing with difficult people. In an ever-shifting work environment, the ability to communicate with those who see things differently than you is indispensable.

Team building: A mentor can be especially valuable for those who don’t find their boss to be role-model material. The situation might also spur you to form closer relationships with colleagues who may be struggling with some of the same issues you do.

A difficult boss can discourage you,

cause you to question the value of your work or serve as an excuse not to deliver your best. But by treating the situation as a growth opportunity rather than a hardship, you give yourself a chance to emerge from the experience stronger and better prepared to meet the next challenges of your career.

Benefits to having a difficult bossA difficult relationship with your boss can make every aspect of your work more challenging. But there are valuable skills

you can learn from having a difficult boss:

Creating a career compassA career compass is essential to pointing you in a rewarding direction. It gives you a better chance of arriving at a fulfilling point X, even if you currently

have no idea what point X actually is.

To create a compass you will need to develop a clear sense of what you do and do not want out of work by deciding on some of the following:

Independence vs. teamwork: Are you happiest when you are left alone to identify and execute your own initiatives, or when working closely with colleagues toward a common goal?

Action vs. serenity: Do you thrive in demanding, fast-paced, unpredictable environments, or prefer a calmer workplace? After a day’s work, would you rather arrive home feeling exhausted but satisfied, or relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening?

Big firm vs. small firm: Do you prefer the excitement and intimacy of a startup, or the stability and security that larger companies tend to offer?

Being forced to choose between two equally attractive options, can help you identify priorities and tendencies you may not be fully conscious of.

Opportunity vs. security: Would you rather hold a position that offers little security but vast possibilities for development and advancement, or a steadier job with narrower prospects?

Career vs. personal life: Which sounds more frustrating: shortening a vacation to rescue a work project, or missing a deadline in order to fulfill a personal obligation?

Money vs. passion: Which would you choose: a less-than-thrilling job with a generous and steadily rising compensation package, or work that gives you a strong sense of purpose but does not pay as well as you would like?

Other useful questions might cover topics such as managing others, benefits, relationships with colleagues, the type of boss you work best under and more. If you have trouble creating relevant questions for yourself, ask a friend or mentor for assistance.

Recalibrating your true north: The most important part of setting your career compass is to examine your priorities regularly and revise them

as necessary. The more outdated they become, the more likely you will be to keep marching in a direction that no longer

serves you.

Know your new field: The first step to being successful is playing catch-up. Learn everything you can about your company and the field, especially the commonly used language, terms and actions. Being knowledgeable about the latest industry standards levels the playing field. If you understand what is going on without having to seek help from your co-workers, they’re more likely to value your input instead of being skeptical.

Share your unique perspective: A perk of having a different educational background than others is your ability to approach your job with a different perspective. While most of your co-workers may be trained to spot problems and solutions in a traditional manner, your atypical background may help you think more creatively. After all, you were hired in the first place as your employer believes you’ll offer a fresh viewpoint.

Make yourself relevant: Having a wide range of experiences can be advantageous in your new

position, as long as you find a way to make them relevant and prove that they connect to your vision for the future. How relevant you are depends on how much experience and expertise you have garnered in previous positions. Making your background relevant disproves that having a different educational background could be a negative.

Find creative connections: Your background and current career are linked, but in less obvious

ways than your co-workers may know. Aside from the obvious reasons why you were hired, you can bring other skills and talents to your position.

Maybe you can read with a skeptical eye, a skill that was very beneficial in your previous job can now help you become better at your new one. What may seem like an unrelated background could be an untapped resource in your current career. Get creative and find new connections.

Managing in a new fieldProfessional life transformations to a totally new field need not leave you feeling like the odd man out, you can modify your previous experience to

fit the new job by implementing some of these suggestions.

Here are a few of the personality types that you should pick when hiring people or forming a team to ensure

project success.

Thinkers: They are intellectuals that value exploring new concepts, breaking the status quo, and charting new directions or better ways to do things. They value knowledge, enjoy discussing and debating ideas, analyze things thoroughly before taking action, and want things to be done well. They take their time before taking action and are annoyed when rushed.

Doers: They hit the ground running, take risks, are competitive, have a heavy bias towards action, and like solving problems to achieve results. They are disorganized, get bored easily, and have low tolerance for long discussions and theory.

Organizers: They are the neat freaks who are very organized and strict about following the rules. They are

dependable, loyal, stable, consistent, hardworking, and punctual. They do not like change and prefer to stick to the rules.

Feelers: This is the ‘people person’ type. They are emotional, expressive, sensitive, sincere, and entertaining. They add the human touch to the workplace, mediate in conflict, and are great at building a team spirit. They can walk into a room full of strangers and walk out as everyone’s friend.

Personalities to pick

17 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Health

To walk or to run

Walking is one of the best things you can do for your body, your beauty and your long-term health. It improves cardiovascular strength, strengthens muscles, which means more fat-burning power, and

decreases chances of disease.

Most people might imagine that running, which is considered a vigorous intensity exercise, would be better than walking. But it turns out that walking takes a slight edge over running. A recent study which compiled data from 33,000 runners and nearly 16,000 walkers and analyzed their health status after six years to compare the relative health benefits of each activity found that both activities had positive results.

However, while running significantly reduced the risk of high blood pressure (by 4.2 percent), high cholesterol (4.3 percent), diabetes (12.1 percent) and cardiovascular heart disease (4.5 percent), for every MET h/d, which is a standard measure of metabolic energy expenditure, participants who walked regularly saw even better results.

Walking decreased risk by 7.2 percent for high blood pressure, 7 percent for high cholesterol, 12.3 percent for diabetes and 9.3 percent for cardiovascular heart disease. The more someone walked or ran, the greater the benefit.

But there was a fine print to this finding: The runners and walkers had to expend the same energy to get the same benefits. That means you would have to walk longer than you would have to run for the same effect.

Yes, running is a great way to keep healthy, boost your mood and keep blood flowing for glowing skin. But if you are not into it, then just keep working toward those 10,000 steps a day – or more, if you can. Moreover, walking is also easier on your hip and knee joints.

Besides obvious causes, such as from a stubbed toe or a sprained ankle, pain in the foot can arise from several less

evident sources:

Nerve Problems: Occasionally, foot pain can be the result of pinched or irritated nerves. One familiar pinched nerve condition is tarsal tunnel syndrome, characterized by shooting or burning pain that radiates from the inside (big toe side) of the ankle into the arch and sole. Another foot pain arises from a neuroma, which causes shooting pain between the toes; most often between toes three and four. Some medical conditions result in peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage to the limbs. Symptoms of neuropathy include pain that radiates to the feet and often worsens at night.

Metatarsalgia: Pain in the ball of the foot or Metatarsalgia is most often caused by faulty foot

functioning, overuse, or a decreased fat pad on the sole of the foot.

Heel Pain: The most common cause of heel pain is from plantar fasciitis, which is

inflammation at the point where the heel bone attaches to the plantar fascia — the thick band of connective tissue that spans the sole of the foot and provides shock absorption while walking.

Other frequent causes of heel pain include soft tissue inflammation, such as bursitis or a pinched nerve. In children, heel pain can be caused by strain on the heel bone’s growth plate.

Ingrown Toenails: An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a toenail grows or is pressed into the skin edge. It usually occurs at the edge of the big toenail as a result of shoe pressure. Besides pain, other signs of an ingrown toenail include red or swollen skin adjacent to the nail, which are signs of infection. The ingrown piece of nail is often buried beneath the skin and not visible.

Corns and Calluses: Calluses are thickened areas of skin over parts of the feet where excessive amounts of pressure or friction occur. Calluses at the heel can become painful if they fissure, or split open. Corns occur on the toes where they rub against the shoe. Sometimes the tiniest callus or corn can cause intense pain because it extends deep into the layers of the skin and presses on nerves.

Pain in the foot

Stretch: Stretching is a key factor in keeping the body healthy. It removes tension and increases blood flow. So start stretching and continue to stretch all the muscles in the area of concern. Start at the point of pain and move one joint out, then stretch all the major muscles from that joint to the spine. If you cannot stretch a muscle then massage it. Remember, the pain took time to develop and it will take time to heal, so do not look for quick fixes.

Isolate the cause: Look at anything you do more than twice a day or for more than 30 minutes at a time. If it involves the area of concern take note of it. The stressors will often jump out at you because your pain will tell you to stop it. Be specific.

Change your habits: If it is something you cannot stop, then reduce the frequency as much as possible and

use good ergonomic principles to support the action when you do perform it.

Get in shape: A repetitive stress injury occurs when a part of your body is overworked. Once the pain has reduced, you have to strengthen the muscles to handle the stress you are putting on them. Exercise the muscles in the area of concern. Start slow and use your pain as a guide.

Seek professional help: If the pain is not subsiding or you cannot seem to find the stressors causing your problem, then it is time to explore other treatments. Your doctor or anyone else who has professional qualification will likely have a course of treatment that will help you with your discomfort. And most of them will be different, so remember to get a second opinion on your treatment options as well.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

If you have been diagnosed with a repetitive stress injury the good news is that it can often be fixed by removing the stress agent. First you need to isolate and stop doing the tasks that are causing your injury. Failure to deal with your problems now could turn a small problem

into a bigger one. Here are a few ways to aid in your recovery.

Researchers have revealed that rates of both preterm birth (preemies) and hospital admissions for asthma were reduced by 10 percent after laws that

prohibited smoking in public places were implemented.Researchers from University of Edinburgh collaborated with researchers from

Maastricht University, Hasselt University, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, found that the introduction of new laws that ban smoking in public places in North America and Europe has been followed by a decrease in rates of premature births and hospital visits for asthma attacks in children.

Researchers analyzed 11 studies conducted in North America and Europe that included more than 2.5 million births and approximately 250,000 asthma-related hospital visits.

They report that while the impact of anti-smoking laws varies between countries, the overall impact on child health is very positive. Specifically, the data show that rates of both preterm birth and hospital admissions for asthma were reduced by 10 percent following the implementation of laws that prohibited smoking in public places.

Aziz Sheikh, senior author and a physician-researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, visiting professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Primary Care Research and Development at The University of Edinburgh, said this research has demonstrated the very considerable potential that smoke-free legislation offers to reduce preterm births and childhood asthma attacks. The many countries that are yet to enforce smoke-free legislation should in the light of these findings reconsider their positions on this important health policy question.

Public smoking bans led to reductions in preemies and childhood asthma

18 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comBeauty

Most hair coloring often fails to provide a long lasting rich hue. While the present condition and density of your hair determines how long freshly applied hair color will last, it also depends on hair growth, the amount of times you wash your hair and whether it has recently been color-treated. Nevertheless, here are a few

ways to ensure that your hair coloring does not fade easily.

Boosting hair color

Washing hair: Always use a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner meant for your specific hair color, as it also adds some of the color back into hair as the dye is being washed out. Moreover, do not do anything to hair 24 to 48 hours after it has been color treated — especially washing it. And when you do wash your hair, use cold water, as it keeps the cuticles closed and prevents your hair color from bleeding out.

Color-protecting serum: After washing your hair, run a color-protecting serum throughout as it coats the hair and protects it from heat and humidity. Stay away from products containing sulphate, a strong cleaning agent that removes hair color.

Protein treatment: It should come as no surprise that hair color will last longer on healthy hair. When hair is dyed and damaged, the cuticle is porous. Hair color sticks to these gaps, creating darker areas in

each strand but fades out just as quickly. The solution to this is a hard protein treatment, which closes the cuticle so color is locked in evenly. Head to your salon for a protein treatment a few days before your hair color appointment.

Semi-permanent color: A semi-permanent dye lifts and deposits color into the hair and fades naturally. However, a permanent color risks the health of hair and limits the variety of shades you can change in the future. A semi-permanent dye allows you to play with your color, especially if you’re the type of person who likes to change your hair color frequently. Just keep in mind that anything with a red tone in it tends to fade faster.

Hair color usually fades: Hair color is designed to fade. That way when roots grow, it eliminates the hardness between two colors. Then, it is time to hit up the salon for a fresh application again.

Our busy lives sometimes lead to leaving us with no time to take care of ourselves. An improper and inadequate beauty regimen often results in unsightly skin eruptions and blemishes. Here are some of things to be on the lookout for:

Beauty habits thatcause breakouts

Makeup brushes: Without regular and proper cleaning, makeup brushes can breed and spread bacteria. Wipe each brush with a brush cleaner after daily use, and give them a thorough washing weekly. Use a gentle baby soap to scrub away makeup and bacteria. Also, consider storing makeup brushes away from bathroom and other messy places.

Double-duty products: Double-duty products — hybrid cheeks and lips, eye-tints that save you time and money — are great for rushed mornings, but should not be part of your daily beauty routine. When you do use them, be sure to remove your makeup at the end of the night or as soon as possible to avoid any adverse reactions.

Expired products: Each brand and product will vary in the amount of time they take to expire and for face products, it could be anywhere between 12 to 24 months depending on the formulation — even less sometimes if the product is organic or natural.

Makeup bag: Ditch any products where the lids or caps have gone missing, and store your makeup tools separately. Also, regularly clean out the makeup bag itself — at the end of the week empty out the contents and wipe down the bag.

Harsh cleansers: If your regular beauty routine includes washing your face with harsh soaps and cleansers, remember, they strip away the natural oils and dry out skin.

Opt for a lightweight cleanser and steer clear of any vigorous rubbing that will create friction on the skin. Use lukewarm water and apply a rich face cream immediately after cleansing.

Poor Sanitizing: Before making any quick touch-ups, always wash your hands or use a sanitizer first. Look for a clean space, rather than dumping out the contents of your kit on any flat surfaces, since you don’t know what kind of dirt and bacteria could attach itself to your makeup.

Ways to an orange lip hueGlossy tangerines and neon orange are very versatile colors; you just have to experiment to find the lip shade that matches your skin’s

natural undertone.

Remember, that cool undertones will look better in cool colors, like true, light, bright oranges, whereas warm undertones are best suited to

earthy oranges such as burnt orange, or oranges with a yellow tinge to them.

For a pale skin, a true or bright orange will add color without making you look washed out. Opt for a neon orange lip color to complement golden

or bronzed skin. For dark skin tones, try to pick oranges with more of a red tint to them.

If going from a nude lip to a blood red orange is a little too drastic; start out with toned-down variations of peach and soft coral in a gloss format. This will help with easing into wearing an orange lip confidently. The light color will be subtle but still generously brighten up any skin tone. A vibrant and matte tangerine lip is the perfect

accessory this season. To allow the bold lip to speak for itself, complement the look with a highly contoured cheekbone and strong brows.

The best way to wear a bold statement lip is to not allow it to wear you: play it up as an accessory that highlights the rest of your look. You can use it to bring out your fun and fearless side or to distract away from your more shy side. It is all about how you wear it. And the key to the perfect pucker is to wear it with confidence and of course, a smile.

Glitter: Sparkling nails continue to shine for spring. You can create a fantastic two-tone French manicure using a hot red hue on the base of the nail and finish it with a gold glitter tip. For a fresh update on glitter, start with a solid base colour, then fade a fine or chunky glitter overtop in an upward motion from the tip to the centre of the nail.

Metallic and magnetic polishes: Apply metallic lacquer with smooth, even strokes as it shows more flaws than opaque polish. For added dimension, try doing magnetic or holographic nails – magnetic polish contains particles that create a ripple effect when they come in contact with a special magnet located in the lid of the bottle. The big trend here is about anything with a really interesting finish. These enamels are wearable and give the illusion they were professionally applied even if they weren’t.

The new neutrals: New neutral tones offer a refreshing look that is perfect for everyday wear. This year, nudes are specifically about earthy tones like sand, stone, granite and bone. The technology in special nail polish products will keep your manicure going strong for up to 11 days. For a hint of colour, demure and neutral pastels are the way to go.

Bold pops of colour: Brilliant pops of colour made a splash across Spring runways. Models wore electrifying shades of neon on their nails that created contrast against their bold, stylish fabrics. Brilliant berries, bright corals, purples, reds, blues, greens and neons are the go-to shades for spring and summer.

Gradient/ombré: Gradient and ombré manicures are another big trend for this year. Start the base of the nail with an intense black polish and gradually fade it into an electric blue at the almond-shaped tips. For an ombré look across your whole hand, pick five similar shades of your favourite colour and paint each nail in a different hue starting with the darkest hue on your thumb to lightest shade on your pinky finger for the ultimate ombré effect.

Hottest nail polish trendsWith new spins on neutrals, textures and colours, there are plenty of amazing nail designs that appeal to stylish ladies. Here are some

stylish nail polish trends of the year.

19 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.com Technology

Foodini is a 3D printer for foodstuffs. Its Florida-based makers are hoping their time-saving device becomes as ubiquitous on kitchen countertops as

the microwave oven has become.

But instead of forcing people to rely on highly processed convenience food that is larded with additives and unhealthy levels of salt, as ready-to-eat microwave meals generally are, they want Foodini to get more people cooking with fresh ingredients, rather than reaching for that pre-processed packet.

The Foodini 3D printer automates some of the cooking preparation process, by for instance, printing out individual ravioli instead of the cook having to make the dough and fill and assemble each individual piece themselves. It is not replacing all the preparation required to make the meal, but it is likely going

to speed up aspects of food preparation, without necessarily sacrificing the freshness of the ingredients being used.

How does Foodini differ to other food-focused 3D printers? The big difference is users are not required to use only pre-filled food capsules. The machine uses open capsules that users load up with foodstuffs of their choice. It is not entirely a free-for-all of course. Food has to be of the right texture to print so it can be squeezed through the Foodini’s pipes. Ergo, that means you are going to need to prepare those fresh chickpeas or chicken by blending into a nutrient slurry first.

The machine can also print both savory and sweet dishes, so it is not limited to just printing sugary candies as some 3D printers are. The range of foodstuffs Foodini’s makers have managed to print thus far include the likes of ravioli, pizza, burgers, crackers, cookies and elaborate chocolate vases. Edible plate decorations are another option — and the decorative potential of the device is something Natural Machines is hoping will interest restaurants and food businesses. They also say they are considering working with retailers who could prepare pre-packaged food capsules fresh in-store as an added convenience for consumers who cannot be bothered getting food to the right blended consistency to work in the device. But getting retailers to do that without larding the capsules with the sorts of additives that might be required to ensure the prepared food remains the right consistency to squeeze through the printer’s pipes may well be a challenge. And if additives end up going in, the food that is being piped out is not going to be quite so fresh.

The print time per dish apparently varies depending on factors such as its complexity and the number of ingredients it contains. Flatter food types can take a couple of minutes to print, while intricate chocolate sculptures can take 20 minutes, says Natural Machines. Food can be printed and eaten straight away — if it is consumable raw or the ingredients has been pre-cooked. Or, if required, printed items can be cooked post-print before consumption.

The Foodini has a touch-screen on the front where users select the recipe they want to print, and then load in the ingredients and hit print. They will also be able to configure things like the shapes being printed, and the print layout.

Foodini to print 3D-Dishes with Fresh Ingredients

Nissan just revamped the traditional rear-view mirror by integrating a wide-format

LCD screen into it, linked to a rear-facing camera. The company’s Smart rear-view mirror eliminates viewing problems caused by rear-seat passengers and luggage by utilizing the rear camera to project a clear view onto the screen.

Drivers can switch between the traditional mirror and LCD display by flipping a switch at

the bottom of the mirror. Nissan will install the Smart rearview mirror in its ZEOD RC racing car, set to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 14-15 June.

The company also hopes to improve aerodynamics in future vehicles as the new mirror — which obviates large rear windows — makes new vehicle shapes possible. The smart mirror tech will launch in Japan as a dealer option this year, then globally in 2015.

Smart rear-view mirrorsGoogle TV is likely to be replaced by a familiar face – Android. Philips has just unveiled new 4K or Ultra HDTVs that will be running Google’s mobile OS when they

hit stores in Q2 of this year.

The sets will arrive in Europe and Russia first, but in all likelihood it will not be long before the little Android bot makes its way to all of our connected smart TV sets.

The new Philips 8000 series come in 48- and 55-inch sizes at full 1080P HD, with a 44-inch 4K model, too. They will have access to the Google Play store, and you should be able to install apps like Netflix, YouTube and whatever else your heart desires without much trouble. Widgets will also offer live updating information.

Also, you will get game controller support, so that you can download games and play them directly. Google is looking to rebrand its Google TV as Android TV, which makes an awful lot of sense.

Whether we see Google embrace this trend entirely or continue to embrace slightly separate strategies for TV and Android proper remains to be seen, but it looks like it and its OEM partners are willing to entertain a number of different possibilities to find out what works best.

Android-Powered 4K TVs

20 The Times 06 - 12 April, 2014 timeskuwait.comInternational

It was the summer of 2010, a team of high-tech contractors headed by Joe McSpedon, a mid-level official who worked for USAID, the US government’s Agency for International Development, flew in to Barcelona. The team had arrived in Spain to put final touches on a covert plan to build and launch a social networking and micro-blogging

network to undermine the government in Cuba.

From 2010, until it was eventually dismantled in 2012, the project, named ZunZuneo — after the

Cuban hummingbird’s tweet, and in a play on the popular ‘Twitter’ platform — used mobile text messaging, so as to evade Cuban control of information and the internet. Mobile use is increasingly common among the island’s population of 11 million with official statistics showing there were about 1.8 million active Cuban mobile

accounts in 2012.The initial plan was for ZunZuneo

to build a subscriber base through non-controversial content, such as news messages on soccer, music, and hurricane updates. Later when the network reached a critical mass of subscribers, perhaps hundreds of thousands, operators would introduce political content aimed at inspiring Cubans to organize ‘smart mobs’ — mass gatherings called at

a moment’s notice that might trigger a Cuban spring, or, as one USAID document put it, “renegotiate the balance of power between the state and society.”

Subscribers to the ZunZuneo program, which at its peak had more than 40,000 Cubans sharing news and exchanging opinions, were never aware that the platform was paid for and run by USAID, an agency best known for distributing humanitarian

A ‘Twitter’ for CubaCourtesy US government

aid around the world. What the users also did not know was that the seemingly innocuous and benevolent agency had been gathering their private data in the hope that it might be used for political purposes.

To hide the network from the Cuban government the team set up a byzantine system of front companies using a Cayman Islands bank account, and recruited unsuspecting executives who were not told of the company’s ties to the US government or its intended final objective. Government data shows that the money spent on ZunZuneo was publicly earmarked for an unspecified project in Pakistan. But there is no indication of where the funds were actually spent.

At first, the team operated out of offices in several Central America countries while McSpedon supervised work from an office in San Jose, Costa Rica, away from the US embassy there. This enabled McSpedon, who worked for USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives, a division created after the fall of the Soviet Union to promote US interests in quickly changing political environments, to continue his activities without the usual red tape.

Associated Press (AP), which brought to light this US government sponsored subterfuge, said in its report that a memo from Mobile Accord, one of the contractors behind the project, read: “There will be absolutely no mention of United States government involvement. This is absolutely crucial for the long-term success of the service and to ensure the success of the Mission.”

In multiple documents obtained by AP, staff at USAID are seen to point out that text messaging had mobilized smart mobs and political uprisings in Moldova and the Philippines, among others. In Iran, the USAID noted social media’s role following the disputed election of then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009 — and saw it as an important foreign policy tool. In Tunisia, she said people used technology to “organize and share grievances, which, as we know, helped fuel a movement that led to revolutionary change.”

Taken together, the 1,000s of documents examined to compile the report tell the story of how through this ‘Twitter with a twist’ program, the US government working in deep secrecy became involved in undermining an elected government and promoting a regime change in Cuba. Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, and chairman of the appropriations committee’s State Department and foreign operations subcommittee. “There is the risk to young, unsuspecting Cuban mobile users who had no idea this was a US government-funded activity. There is the clandestine nature of the program that was not disclosed to the appropriations subcommittee with

oversight responsibility. And there is the disturbing fact that

it apparently activated shortly after Alan Gross, a USAID subcontractor who was sent to Cuba to help provide citizens access to the Internet, was arrested.”

A statement from Josefina Vidal, Director General for U.S. Affairs at Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Relations, emphasized that the information contained in the AP article is a confirmation of repeated denunciations from the Cuban government. “Once again, it shows that the United States government has not renounced its subversive plans against Cuba, designed to destabilize the country in order to provoke change in our political system, and to which the U.S. government continues to dedicate multi-million dollar budgets every year,” she said.

Vidal also insisted that “the U.S. government must respect international law and the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, thereby putting an end to its illegal and clandestine actions against Cuba that are rejected by the Cuban people and public opinion worldwide.”

The legality of operating the ZunZuneo project remains murky. US law requires that any covert action by a federal agency must have a presidential authorization, but officials at USAID would not say who had given approval for the program or whether the White House was aware of it. Meanwhile, legal experts in Spain say the program definitely violated Spanish privacy laws and European data protection laws, because the ZunZuneo team had illegally gathered personal data from the phone list and sent unsolicited emails using a Spanish platform. The illegal release of information is a crime, and using information to create a list of people by political affiliation is totally prohibited by Spanish law.

Moreover, it also violated US-European data protection agreement, he said.

While, McSpedon, declined to comment on the report, USAID spokesman Matt Herrick said “USAID is a development agency, not an intelligence agency, and we work all over the world to help people exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms, and give them access to tools to improve their lives and connect with the outside world.”

However, the true objectives behind ZunZuneo program, muddies those lofty principles of promoting democracy and delivery aid to the world’s poor and vulnerable, as trust by the people and governments are critical to such missions. Sadly, what has been squandered through this illegal operation is not just public money, but also that all important, steadily dwindling, trust factor in the US government.