March 1 2012

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Return of disputes in Parliament

National Assembly defers formation of investigation committee into former PM deposits allegations Staff Writers

KUWAIT: Squabbles, arguments and tension erupted among MPs once more during the Parliament’s Wednesday session, forcing the Deputy Speaker Khaled Al-Sultan to temporarily call off the session in order to restore order. A number of MPs, including Musallam Al-Barrak, Hussein Al-Qallaf, Abdulhameed Dashti, Mubarak Al-Waalan, Nabeel Al-Fadhl, Mohammad Al-Juwaihel, Waleed Al-Tabtabaie, Marzouq AlGhanem and Khaled Al-Sultan bickered during said session.

The Parliament spent the second part of the session engrossed in attempts to form investigation committees without making any headway.

However, the MPs managed to issue a recommendation for the government to recognize the Syrian National Council, which is nonbinding

for the government. In the meantime, the National Assembly agreed to a government request to defer the formation of an investigation committee to probe allegations that the former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah has channeled funds to three Kuwaiti embassies. Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah told the Parliament that this issue has been referred to the Audit Bureau to compile a report for the Cabinet. “MPs are entitled to form investigatory panels but we request a two-week adjournment, in accordance with Article 148 of the Parliament’s Standing Order,� the minister told MPs. Al-Barrak censured the foreign minister, arguing that the new government should not charter the same path as its predecessor. The lawmaker reminded Minister Al-Khaled of the

advice he gave the former Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah that he should resign if forced to provide false information about the alleged overseas fund transfers. “If the government fails to uphold the Constitution and protect public funds, it will meet the same fate as Nasser Al-Mohammed’s,� Al-Barrak was quoted as saying.

MP Mohammad Al-Dallal said the issue of overseas transfers shook the public opinion and that the government’s measures toward the issue should not derail the Parliament to mount an investigation.

For his part, MP Mohammad Al-Saqr stated that he supports the 35 MPs who demanded the investigation. He, however, noted that he was surprised that the matter has been cooked up outside the Parliament and that nothing should CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 be imposed.

Scientists reconstruct long-extinct giant penguin

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KD 5.3 million spent on 12,653 illegal resident students KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Special Education Fahad AlGhais said on Wednesday that the charity fund for education is now sponsoring 12,653 students of those who are illegally residing in the country at the cost of 5.3 million Kuwaiti dinars.

He added that the educational fund has thus far cost KD 30 million for the past seven years, offering More on 2 free education to this category.

Egypt presidential election on May 23-24

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S.Korea beats Kuwait 2-0, moves to next stage of W.Cup qualifiers

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CAIRO: Egypt will vote on May 23 and 24 for its first president since a popular uprising overthrew Hosni Mubarak a year ago, the head of the elections committee said on Wednesday. Faruq Sultan told a media conference that Egyptians abroad will be allowed to cast their absentee ballots from May 11 to May 17. Run-offs will be held on June 16 and 17 and the winner will be announced on June 21, he said, in keeping with a timetable set by the military rulers to hand power to an elected president before the end of June.

Sultan added that there would be no international monitoring of the presidential election, the first since an uprising in February 2011 ousted Mubarak, the country’s dictator of 30 years, and left power in the hands of the military. -AFP

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah during the award ceremony of the UNESCO/ late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 2011 at Kuwait University theater in Khaldiya on Feb. 29, 2012.The Amir was received by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf and .XZDLWÂśV 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH WR WKH 81 (GXFDWLRQDO 6FLHQWLÂżF DQG &XOWXUDO 2UJDQL]DWLRQ 81(6&2 $P EDVVDGRU 'U $OL $O 7DUUDK .81$

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Tanks mass at Syria’s Homs as US makes new bid at UN DAMASCUS: Elite troops backed by tanks massed round the Syrian protest city of Homs on Wednesday as Washington worked on a UN Security Council draft resolution demanding humanitarian access to trapped civilians.

China said it backed sending international aid as diplomats said the new text being drawn up by Washington focused on getting relief into cities under assault in a bid to avoid a third set of vetoes from Beijing and Moscow.

Washington said it opposed sending weapons to opponents of President Bashar Al-Assad for fear that Al-Qaeda was exploiting the more than 11-month uprising against his regime after key US ally Saudi Arabia voiced strong support for arming the rebels.

Regime forces kept up their pounding of rebel neighborhoods in Homs - under assault for 26 days - as

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New cold weather wave grips Turkey

Iran to take gold payments from trade partners

CAPITALS: Iran will accept payments from trading partners in gold in addition to dollars and other currencies, central bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani said, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Any nation can pay in its own currency, and Iran has already accepted goods as payment from China and India, the central bank said, according to IRNA. Iran will accept gold from any country, Bahmani said, according to the news agency. The European Union and US have imposed sanctions to protest Iran’s nuclear program, restricting trade and financial transactions. The US and its allies say they suspect the program is a cover for developing atomic weapons, a contention Iran has denied, maintaining it is for civilian purposes, according to Bloomberg.

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A man clears his car covered with snow during heavy snowfalls in Ankara on Feb. 29, 2012. The cold weather is expected to linger until Thursday, while temperatures will fall to as low as minus two degrees Celsius and snowfall will be seen. The cold weather which moved from the Balkan Peninsula hit many parts of Turkey and brings heavy snowfall. The municipality warned that sleet and snow would GHFUHDVH YLVLELOLW\ RQ WKH URDGV DQG OHDG WR WUDIÂżF SUREOHPV ZLWK XS WR FHQWLPHWHUV RI VQRZ VHW to fall in Istanbul. A warning was issued about carbon monoxide poisoning, which is frequently seen GXULQJ ZLQWHU PRQWKV GXH WR WKH LQFUHDVHG XVH RI FRDO EXUQLQJ VWRYHV $)3

Ecuador may have found last Inca emperor’s tomb

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efforts to bring wounded French journalist Edith Bouvier to safety intensified after her British colleague Paul Conroy was successfully smuggled out to Lebanon.

Activists on the ground in Syria’s third-largest city said that elite troops of the Fourth Armored Division under the command of Al-Assad’s brother Maher had taken up position with their armor around the rebel stronghold of Baba Amr. Hadi Abdullah of the Syrian Revolution General Commission told AFP by telephone that it was a likely prelude to a final assault.

Access to Homs has now been completely sealed off, according to commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army, who said the regular army had also blown up an underground aqueduct that had been the last viable route for smuggling in desperately needed supplies.

CAPITALS: It has been sought for centuries but remained a mystery, still out of reach. Now an expert has pinpointed a site that could be Atahualpa’s resting place: the last Inca emperor’s tomb. “This is an absolutely important find for the history of Ecuador’s archeology and for the (Andean) region,� said Patrimony Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, speaking of the ruins found by Ecuadoran historian Tamara Estupinan.

The Inca empire, in the 1400s and early 1500s, spanned much of South America’s Andean region, over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), from modern-day Bolivia and Peru to Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia. It included dozens of ethnic groups with different languages, cities, temples, farming terraces and fortresses.

Atahualpa was the last of his dynasty. During the Spanish conquest he was taken captive in what is now Cajamarca, Peru.

He had been pressed to convert to Christianity and then the Spanish executed him by strangulation, then after his death in 1533, the empire began to fall apart.

This year Ecuador’s state Cultural Patrimony Institute will start work on a promising archeological site, and Estupinan will be front and center to raise the curtain on a massive complex sprawling over a ridge at 1,020 meters.

It was back in June 2010 that Estupinan, now a researcher with the French Institute for Andean Studies (IFEA), found what she describes as an “Inca archeological site� high on the Andes’ eastern flank amid plunging canyons.

In the area called Sigchos, about 45 miles south of Quito, she found a complex of walls, aqueducts and stonework that lie inside the Machay rural retreat. Machay means burial in the Quechua language. -AFP

World’s oldest nuclear plant shuts in Britain OLDBURY-ON-SEVERN: The world’s oldest running nuclear reactor is due to shut at 1100 GMT on Wednesday after 44 years of operation, starting the countdown to 2025, by when a new British nuclear station is expected to open on a site just a few hundred meters away.

Some local residents who have lived in this quaint village for decades say they had no choice when the plant was first built in the 1960s and have little prospect of preventing a new station now, given that the Oldbury site has already been shortlisted for new nuclear plants by the government. Allan Knapp, 86, remembers when the local government started speaking in 1958 of the construction one of the world’s first civil nuclear plants on a huge field, a site next to his childhood home, on the banks of the river Severn, 12 miles north of Bristol. “Nobody wants a nuclear plant on their doorstep,� he said. “But back then people accepted it in the end because radiation was little known about. If a power station is going to be, it’s going to be.�

A joint venture of two German utilities, E.ON and RWE, plans to build a new Oldbury nuclear plant more than six times the capacity of the current station by 2025, relying on a strong government drive in favor of nuclear power to help reduce carbon emissions.

The new plant will use so-called pressurized water reactors (PWR), which require the construction of huge cooling towers containing water, a part of the More on 5 project residents fear will further spoil their landscape.

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ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Amir attends UNESCO ceremony held for persons with disabilities KUWAIT: UNESCO/late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 2011, held on Wednesday an award ceremony, under the patronage and with the presence of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Kuwait University theater in Khaldiya. The Amir was received by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf and Kuwait’s Representative to the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ambassador Dr. Ali Al-Tarrah. The ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Saadoun, senior sheikhs, Deputy Chief of the Kuwait National Guards Sheikh Mishaal AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud AlJaber Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and senior state officials.

Minister Al-Hajraf, in a speech at the opening ceremony, said that “Kuwait appreciates the UNESCO achievements in educational, scientific and cultural spheres, as the Amir stresses the importance of projects of the organization, which was sponsored by the Kuwaiti Government and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.” For his part, UNESCO Assistant-Director General for Social and Human Sciences Dr. Hamad Al-Hammami said this award, shows the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad AlSabah interests in humanitarian area and development.

Dr. Biklen thanked the Amir and UNESCO National Commission, Al-Hajraf, jury members of award.

Later, a cultural film about late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was shown before the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a commemorative gift. Furthermore, the Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO Dr. Qian Tang lauded Kuwait’s pioneering experience in providing welfare and education for people with disabilities.Tang made this remark during the award-giving ceremony.

He noted that Kuwait’s experience in providing the latest technologies to aid the educational process for those with disabilities was a great “success” and it agrees with UNESCO’s goals which seek offering wholesome educa-

Iraqi List pays great attention to Al-Maliki’s expected visit to Kuwait

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and UNESCO delegation are seen during the ceremony held on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. (KUNA)

tional opportunities for all sectors of the society.

The upcoming award ceremony, which will be held under the patronage of the Amir, will be a good opportunity for other countries to learn from Kuwait’s experience in this realm. The UNESCO on Friday announced Professor Douglas Biklen as winner of UNESCO/Amir Jaber Al-Ah-

Return of disputes in Parliament CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

In the same vein, MP Faisal Al-Yahya pointed out that the government’s request to defer the probe is a negative signal. “Though good intentions are needed, they are insufficient for running a state,” the MP was cited as saying.

MP Abdulatiff Al-Omairi criticized the Audit Bureau, saying that it has delivered a verdict of exoneration with regard to the expenses of the former premier.

Correspondingly, Al-Fadhl affirmed that even though the issue is critical and important, it should not be dealt with through prejudice.

The MPs were irritated when Al-Fadhl said that those who put forth a request for the investigation are not themselves clean. Al-Tabtabaie fired back by saying: “We reject

the accusations, and you must behave,” while Al-Juwaihel described the situation as a drama.

A number of MPs have asked the deputy speaker to enforce laws pertaining to the ethics that govern the Parliament, but he reminded those present that he knows how to run the session.

In other developments, the Parliament has agreed with a majority of 38 votes on the priorities outlined by the majority bloc for this month. Five MPs voted against, while 14 members abstained. The bloc has singled out seven bills to be deliberated and passed by Parliament. The Parliament nodded to the request even though the Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs, Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, demanded that the request be adjourned until a meeting is held involving five ministers and the speaker on Sunday to determine

mad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize of 2012.

Douglas Biklen is an American educator best known for promoting the controversial theory of “facilitated communication”; an augmentative and alternative communication technique for people with communication impairments, particularly autism. -KUNA

the priorities.

Furthermore, the National Assembly agreed with a majority of 44 votes on a recommendation for the government to recognize the Syrian Transitional National Council. Five MPs voted against the recommendation, while one member abstained.

Al-Barrak, on one hand, and Al-Qallaf and Dashti, on the other, were engaged in bitter bickering with the latter rejecting Al-Barrak’s accusations that the Syrian regime butchers and murders its own people.

In his reaction, Al-Juwaihel told MPs that they were elected by the people of Kuwait to resolve their problems.

“We should start with Kuwait’s problems rather than other countries. We need to talk about dual nationals and nationality fraudsters in Parliament,” he pointed out.

Parliament assigns committee to follow up on Al-Fadalah in Iran, Guantanamo detainees

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: During its session on Wednesday, the Parliament assigned the Human Rights Committee to follow up on the case of the Kuwaiti citizen missing in Iran, Hussein Al-Fadalah, and the case of the two Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo, Fayez Al-Kandari and Fawzi Al-Oudah.

MP Ali Al-Rashed said that he received new information indicating that Al-Fadalah and another person are in Iran. He requested selecting an MP to represent the Parliament before Iranian authorities to follow up on this issue and nominated MP Abdulhameed Dashti for this mission as he has good relations with Iranian

authorities and also a member of Human Rights Committee.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said that the government of Kuwait attaches great importance to the case of the two Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo.

He added that he had the honor to accompany His Highness the Amir in one of his visits to the United States of America, during which His Highness the Amir raised with US President the issue of releasing the detainees in Guantanamo.

The minister added that the government is making efforts to release the two detainees, adding that Minister of Interior and Minister of For-

eign Affairs have recently sent a letter to release the detainees and pay any expenses that can contribute to the success of efforts to release them.

MP Osama Al-Menawer said “I recall the courageous stance of His Highness the Amir when former US President George W. Bush asked for a guarantee ensuring that the detainees will not b repeat their acts if they were released, and then His Highness the Amir said “I guarantee that”.

MP Abdulhameed Dashti said that it is the basic human right of the two detainees to have fair and just trial.

MP Adnan Abdulsamad said that the US failed to ensure just trial for the detainees although it claims to be protector of human rights.

KD 5.3 million spent on 12,653 illegal resident students KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Special Education Fahad Al-Ghais said on Wednesday that the charity fund for education is now sponsoring 12,653 students of those who are illegally residing in the country at the cost of 5.3 million Kuwaiti dinars.

He added that the educational fund has thus far cost KD 30 million for the past seven years, offering free education to this category.

He explained that the educational charity fund came about following a Cabinet decree made in 2003 under the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Awqaf and the Ministry of Education as well as the executive committee to deal with those residing illegally in the country, adding that the ministry has instructed the General Department of Private Education to supervise the students’ registration enrolling in private schools in coordination with the General Secretariat of AlAwqaf.

As for the supervision of the charity fund, Al-Ghais said that it is supervised by a special committee chaired by the Ministry of Education Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education with members derived from General Department of Private Education, General Secretariat of the Ministry of Awqaf, Bayt Al-Zakat as well as

Amir receives Iraqi FM, letter to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad

the Central Apparatus for the Treatment of the Status of People Residing Illegally and the Financial Department in the Ministry of Education.

He also said that the only source for the fund is the State, which subsidizes it annually within the budget of the ministry of education as well as some donation from the Kuwait Finance House.

He also said that the fund provides financial assistance to those people who are registered in Arabic schools approved by the Ministry of Education after the next of kin provides all necessary documents showing applicability to terms and conditions of fees.

“Based on instructions made by the Ministry of Finance and Central Apparatus for the Treatment of the Status of People Residing Illegally, priorities are given to new applicants as they have no other alternatives except the State. As for residents who are financially unable to pay school fees, they are approved by in very small numbers,” he explained.

He went on to say that the fund for the year 20112012 is now only serving the children of those residing illegally in the country and enrolled in Public schools, but due to budget constraints the fund will not be able to cover those who face financial difficulty to provide for school fees. -KUNA

CAPITALS: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Wednesday at Bayan Palace, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and his accompanying delegation.

Zebari handed to the Amir a letter from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, includes an invitation to attend the 23rd Arab League Summit in Baghdad next March.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah AlSabah.

Sheikh Sabah expressed keenness to attend the coming Arab summit in person, according to a statement issued by Iraqi foreign ministry.

The statement received by Aswat Al-Iraq, added that Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zebari delivered the invitation letter to the Amir of Kuwait and reviewed the preparations made by the Iraqi government.

Bilateral relations were discussed and the interests to solve all pending questions in the light of joint interests, mutual respect and full responsibility.

“They also focused on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to Kuwait in mid March, in addition to exchanging view points of the latest developments in the Arab arena,” it continued.

In related news, the Iraqi List, led by Ayad Allawi said Wednesday that it pays great attention to the expected visit of Al-Maliki to Kuwait.

Media Adviser of the Iraq List Hani Ashour made a statement Wednesday in which he said that the Iraqi List hopes that the visit will contribute to the establishment of flourishing relations which can help Iraq to exit Chapter VII and to solve all outstanding issues between the two countries, especially since relations between the two countries were based on mutual understanding after 2003.

The Iraqi List hoped that bilateral relations will develop for a better future for the two countries, which need to forget what happened in the past and not to hold the Iraqi people responsible for the mistakes committed by the former regime. Ashour said that “the exit of Iraq from Chapter VII will ensure good relations which will be in the interest of the Iraqi and Kuwaiti peoples.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari arrived Kuwait Tuesday evening to hand to His Highness the Amir an invitation to attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad next March. Al-Maliki intends to visit Kuwait next March in response to an official invitation which he received earlier. -Agencies

Increment up to 400 KD for citizens in private sector recommendation approved KUWAIT: An official in the Labor Restructuring Program and the executive body of the State said that the Council of the Undersecretaries approved a recommendation made by one of its committees to provide increment for all Kuwaiti staff in the private sector which ranges between 100 and 400 Kuwaiti dinars, noting that the decision awaits the approval of the Civil Service Bureau.

He added that the increment for the private sector will relief financial burden on the State budget since more citizens are joining the public sector because the better packages, hence more appealing. He said that if the government approves such increment then the labor structure will be amended and will encourage the local workers to seek employment in the private sec-

tor, thus easing off the burden by 60 percent with the private businesses bearing the cost of the remainder.

He said that after comparing the salary of those working in the private sector and the public sector, it was discovered that the gap is wide and that increment becomes inevitable, but added that it would be based on qualification and profession. He also said that the committee came up with yet another recommendation and that is those who work in the private sector may retire five years earlier than their counterparts in the public sector.

Asked about how much time it will take for the civil service to make up its mind regarding such proposals, he said that the government is “in a hurry” to implement such increment. -KUNA

MPs vote to recognize Syrian council KUWAIT: Members of Parliaments (MPs) overwhelmingly approved a resolution on Wednesday calling on the government to recognize the opposition Syrian National Council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Forty-four members including all cabinet ministers present voted in favor of the non-binding resolution, while five MPs opposed it.

The motion noted that the “Syrian people are facing bloody massacres at the hands of the brutal Baathist regime of (President) Bashar Al-Assad.”

“This is a butcher regime that is killing its own people and has lost its legitimacy,” opposition MP Mussallam Al-Barrak said.

A number of Shiite MPs opposed the recommendation.

Thirty-three MPs also filed a motion calling to debate the Syrian issue on Thursday with the aim of calling for “moral and material support” for the Syrian people.

Last week, five opposition MPs, including parliament speaker Ahmad AlSaadoun, submitted a bill calling for the scrapping of all economic cooperation agreements with Syria.The bill would also require the government to cancel a host of agreements, sever diplomatic ties with Da-

Opposition MP Mussallam Al-Barrak speaks during a parliament session at the National Assembly on Feb. 29, 2012. (AFP)

mascus and ban all loans to Syria.

Earlier this month, Kuwait joined other Gulf states in expelling the Syrian ambassador and recalling its own envoy from Damascus.

Kuwaitis have held repeated demonstrations against the deadly crackdown in Syria by Assad’s regime, which the United Nations says has left more than 7,500 people dead since last March. -AFP

ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Ministry set for practical steps to speed up development projects: Safar KUWAIT: The Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Development and Planning Affairs Dr. Fadhil Safar stated that his ministry is about to take practical steps to speed up the development plans in the state. He expressed his hope that such steps would have positive outcome after all obstacles are over and done with.

Following the launch of a new pumping plant, sewage water desalination plant and major pumping lines from Kabd to Jahra, the minister added that the Ministry of Public Works has received a memo from the Fatwa and Legislation Department nodding a new system so that the projects are quickly implemented.

“Companies who wish to take part in the development projects are subjected to certain terms and conditions. The company must be internationally renowned and long track record in this particular field of projects carried out at a large scale,” he said, adding at the same time that the tender for the airport would be readily available by April.

As for the desalination plant in Kabd and the pumping station in Saad Al-Abdullah along with the lines connecting them, the minister said that the purpose of such project is to collect the sewage water from the residential areas in Jahra Governorate to have them pumped into the desalination plant in Kabd via the pumping station in Saad Al-Abdullah which was already built.

He explained that the sewage water, carried from Kabd, would be treated according to the latest technology where pollutants would be extracted. He pointed out that the process of treating the sewage water is done away from residential areas. He also noted that part of the water would be

Emirates team completes first phase of ‘Kuwait Flag’ balloon

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during the launch of the “Kuwaiti Flag” hot air balloon manufacture on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. (KUNA) Minister of Public Works Dr. Fadhil Safar during a celebration held for inaugurating the desalination plant in Kabd on Feb. 29, 2012. (Al Watan)

used to water public trees and to minimize the use of underground water in the country. On his part, the Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Hygienic Engineering Khaled Al-Khazi said developing and upgrading the use of sewage water was one of the top priorities of the ministry with the aim of protecting the environment and

finding alternative source of water.

Al-Khazi reassured citizens that the new plants are located far away from residential areas serving Jahra, Jaber AlAhmad, Saad Al-Abdullah, Sulaibekaht, Nahda, and Farwaniya with the production capacity reaching 250 thousand meter of treated water. -KUNA

KRCS receives financial donation for affected Syrians KUWAIT: The popular committee for fundraising on Wednesday handed the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society (KRCS) one million US dollars for affected Syrians who face difficult human situations in their country. The fund has been transferred to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to guarantee the money would go for the

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affected Syrians, Barjas Al-Barjas, Chairman of KRCS, told KUNA, expressing his appreciation and gratitude to the popular committee for extending a helping hand to Syrian people.

Al-Barjas added that the popular committee’s efforts are visible in many countries that had faced natural disasters in the past. He called for the use of all possible

methods to stop the “human disaster” in Syria, affirming KRCS’ readiness in aiding Syrian people without any hesitation.

Also, Al-Barjas stressed that KRCS is constantly in contact with IFRC, International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), and Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization in order to aid those affected in Syria. -KUNA

LONDON: Emirates team, under captain Abdul-Aziz Mansour, has put the final touches of the first phase of manufacturing “Kuwait Flag” hot air balloon, which was recently launched by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Wednesday, Mansour said the balloon is equipped with the latest-of-the-art technology, noting that famous international companies are participating in manufacturing the balloon.

He added that the team is also well-prepared for flying the balloon with its complicated technology. “The team members have long experience in flying with such kind of giant hot air balloons,” he said.

Mansour revealed that the balloon would be launched during a big ceremony to be held in Kuwait in April as a part of a broader international event to introduce Kuwait to the countries over which the balloon would fly.

“The ceremony will also see the launching of Kuwait’s first international festival for hot air

balloons in which teams of countries like France, United States, Britain, Italy, Poland, Russia, Latonia etc will take part.” Mansour lauded the Amir’s support to the team, festival and sports in Kuwait.

He disclosed that the Amir has praised the balloon team’s efforts to promote Kuwaiti culture and heritage worldwide during a recent reception to it.

“The Amir’s support of the Emirates team stems from the wise Kuwaiti leadership’s interest opening up to the world and strengthening friendship bonds with all nations,” he said.

He underlined that this support plays an important role in the team’s success in both local and international levels, particularly in the balloon festival held last year at the British city of Bristol.

Mansour pointed out that Kuwait “Thank You” hot air balloon which toured several European countries last year was meant to express gratitude for European countries’ role in freeing Kuwait from occupation 20 years ago. -KUNA

Bleak future for environment in Kuwait: Candidate Al-Omar Health Ministry hosts Nuclear Medicine conference on March 5 Mervat Abduldayem Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Nuclear Medicine Department at Ministry of Health will organize the second annual conference of Kuwait Society of Nuclear Medicine, scheduled to start on March 5-7.

The conference’s main theme will be on the latest developments in nuclear imaging and its applications in cardiac field.

Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at the ministry, Dr. Masoud Mohammad, said in a press conference Wednesday that the conference is held under the patronage of Health Minister Dr. Ali Al-Obeidi, as an international group of Nuclear Medicine consultants from the US, Brazil, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will

be taking part.

The conference will discuss two important issues, the latest developments in nuclear imaging and hybrid imaging, as well as micro imaging and its applications in endocrine diseases, nervous system, and bone disease.

The other issue will be related to the other applications of nuclear medicine in heart diseases.

Furthermore, the conference will discuss other applications in the diagnosis of coronary heart diseases, the narrow and shortcomings of the heart muscle, and the latest findings of the medical radioactive diagnostic tools. -KUNA

KUWAIT: Faisal Hussein Fahad Al-Omar warned against the catastrophic environmental situation in the country and the bleak future it holds for Kuwait if proper regulations are not introduced to resolve the issue.

Speaking to Al Watan, the candidate for the Municipality Council Complementary Elections for the Fourth Constituency stressed that several state

Minister Al-Hajraf continues unannounced school visits

Fawzi Oweis Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Minister of Education Nayef Al-Hajraf began his ministerial duties through visiting various schools in all governorates, in order to be able to make a proper field assessment of the status.

The minister left his office unaccompanied by anyone and pushed reports aside, so that he can see for himself how schools function.

Such sudden visits included a visit to Ahmad Al-Adwani Secondary School, where its students and teachers took pictures. Al Watan received those pictures and called the school’s headmaster Khaled Al-Qabandi, who was bewildered, but answered Al Watan’s questions nonetheless.

Al-Qabandi stated that this is the third time he becomes a school headmaster, and that he never met any ministers. He added that he never expected to meet the minister and that he only expected visits from the educational zone manager. He added that the minister was smiling throughout his visit and treated everyone as if they were his brothers.

He revealed that during the minister’s 90 minutes visit, he visited five classes and the mathematics, English, and social studies sections. The minister also met Grade 12 students, where he asserted to them that he is determined to solve the marks’ issue.

During his visit to one of the classes, the minister liked the decoration, and students told him that they painted and decorated their class to take part in a contest about the most well decorated class.

Moreover, the minister was glad to see that most students were present in their classes, since some schools had no students at all.

In addition, the minister told the teachers that their job is sacred, and asked them if they agree with the new system. The teachers told the minister that no one discussed with them the new system, and even the headmaster informed the minister that the new system was imposed on the school without taking anyone’s opinion regarding it.

Furthermore, Al-Hajraf visited the labs, and asked about any substances or equipment that the students might need in their scientific experiments. He promised them to execute developmental projects in the technology field, and teachers informed him that the flash memory is unproductive and has many loopholes. Before he ended his visit, the minister thanked the teachers and students, and revealed that he was a librarian, but was never allowed to teach library as a subject.

Candidate for the Municipality Council Complementary Elections for the Fourth Constituency Faisal Hussein Fahad Al-Omar. (Al Watan)

departments should be held accountable. He also said that people should make their own contribution to preserve and maintain a healthier environment in the country. He called on comprehensive reform and better regulations which must be adhered to strictly to ensure that the aspirations and targets are archived and implemented.

He was particularly disturbed by the Municipality and its flexibility in granting commercial enterprises and businesses licenses without any proper reflections to environmental considerations adding that businesses have little regards if any to the nature of the problems as their main concern is to have a successful business and profit at the expense of the country’s nature and landscape. He acknowledged however that there are occasions for granting businesses license but such approval should be based on many criteria and should be under the direct supervision of the Municipality to check in any attempt to pollute the environment.

Al-Omar further discussed the Municipality laws adding that the Municipal Council is one of the oldest councils in the country and consequently should be looked after. He explained that to this day some of the Municipal staff have no offices to occupy and therefore there are more and more reasons to separate the Council from the Municipality as the two cannot be seen as a single identity when the functions of the two are detached.

He pointed out that law 5/2005 had marginalized the significant role of the Municipal Council. Al-Omar further said that with the application of such law, the Council is no longer able to carry out its function which is very important to have control over the improper practices and to do away with the paper work and facilitate processing procedures saving time and effort.

The candidate went on to discuss several issues of concern including the unbearable traffic jam in the country and the need to find alternatives ways to ease off the congestion especially in the Fourth Ring Road. He also made reference to the food stocked in stores unfit for human consumption calling for stricter measures against illegal traders. The following is an excerpt of the interview.

Al-Omar was very candid about a strategic vision for the country in general saying that the country has no strategies which would contribute to the development and improvement of the environmental structure in Kuwait. He explained that even as basic matters as providing training to future inspectors to highlight among many things the issue of bribery and other illegal practices remain unobserved.

He added that the Municipality in Kuwait along with its departments and branches need to be tackled carefully to fight off all forms of corruption.

He said that if Kuwait seeks to move forward and have healthier and better future, it needs to attract foreign investment along with encouraging the private sector to contribute to the country.

Tribunal to probe alleged transfers by former PM CAPITLAS: Kuwait’s public attorney has asked a special judicial tribunal to probe allegations the former premier transferred public funds into his overseas accounts, press reports said on Wednesday.

The action by Dherar Al-Asousi came after he received a complaint from a Kuwaiti lawyer who claimed he had evidence to substantiate the allegations, Al Watan reported.

The tribunal, which looks into allegations against serving and former ministers, will rule whether the complaint is serious enough to merit legal proceedings against ex-premier Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The government on Thursday asked the Audit Bureau, the state’s accounting watchdog, to examine the alleged transfers and opposition MPs plan to form a parliamentary commission of inquiry.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Mus-

sallam Al-Barrak charged in October that Sheikh Nasser, a senior member of the ruling family, transferred around 200 million US dollars of public funds into his overseas accounts through the central bank and the foreign ministry.

Around 30 opposition MPs filed a request on Wednesday to form a parliamentary panel to investigate the allegations with powers to interrogate the finance minister, as well the former premier and central bank governor.

But the government used its constitutional right to demand delaying the formation of the panel for two weeks, saying it wanted to study the request.

Al-Barrak told the house that “the transferred funds could be between $400 million and $800 million and we need the committee to search for the truth.”

“The belief that public funds are the private property of the ruling family is wrong... We are

partners in governance and public funds,” AlBarrak said.

Pressure by the opposition and protests forced the former premier to resign in November and led Kuwait’s ruler to dissolve the previous parliament and call for snap polls.

The previous government has denied any wrongdoing, saying that Sheikh Nasser had returned the money to the government agencies.

The allegations prompted then foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah, also a senior member of the ruling family, to resign in October when Al-Barrak sent him a series of questions about the issue.

Three opposition MPs had filed to question the former prime minister over the alleged transfers and another corruption scandal in which 13 former MPs are accused of accepting illegal bank deposits worth an estimated $350 million.

-AFP

ALWATAN DAILY

REGIONAL

4

Conflict of interest?

By Hossam Fathi

KUWAIT: As far as I know in the legal field, the judge steps down and refuses to handle a case when he feels uncomfortable for any reason, such as discovering that one of the suspects is his relative, having common interest, or even for personal reasons.

But when the three judges handling the foreign funding case that involves 19 United States citizens among other suspects, step down, then the matter needs to be further probed. What I understand is that the judges stepped down because they were ‘under pressure’ from a certain authority, such as the United States embassy, although I do not believe that the Americans would do such a foolish thing. This leaves us with another possibility, which is pressure applied by a sovereign authority to achieve a certain goal.

American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a tacky statement that the American administration is holding intensive talks with the Egyptian authorities to settle the matter, and that a solution will soon be reached. I believe that such a provocative statement is sufficient to make the judges step down, since it implies that the Egyptian government may interfere in the judiciary system, which is what we thought was impossible after Mubarak’s regime was toppled. hossam@alwatan.com.kw Twitter:@hossamfathy66

Saudi to honor $3.7 billion aid pledge to Egypt CAPITALS: Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that it would honor a pledge of 3.75 billion US dollars in aid to Egypt, after complaints by the Egyptian premier that donor countries were failing to respect their commitments. “The kingdom pledged to support Egypt in meeting the challenges facing its economy through a series of financial commitments totaling $3.75 billion,�

Prince Saud al-Faisal was quoted as saying by the official SPA news agency. Responding to remarks by Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri on donor states’ failure to honor their pledges to support Egypt’s ailing economy, Faisal said Riyadh had already paid $500 million of its total commitment into Cairo’s Central Bank in May last year when the aid was promised.

A second tranche of $1.45 billion, to finance a number of projects by the Saudi Development Fund, was the subject of a memorandum of understanding still awaiting the go-ahead from Egypt, he added.

The rest of the Saudi aid, including another transfer to the Central Bank and the purchase of treasury bonds, had also been held up by the Egyptian government, Faisal said.

Saudi Arabia has, in addition, supplied Egypt with 48,000 tons of liquefied gas and “will not hesitate to stand beside its Egyptian brothers,� he added.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund described the plight of Egypt’s once-growing economy as dire, sounding the alarm on stagnant growth and a precipitous drop in the country’s foreign reserves.

Also in February, international ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded Egypt for the second time since November over concerns about political instability and plunging currency reserves.

The Arab world’s most populous nation is facing a budget deficit of 144 billion Egyptian pounds (about $24 billion) which analysts expect to deepen as the country continues to feel the aftershocks of an uprising last year that overthrew veteran president Hosni Mubarak.

Egyptian state media recently quoted Finance Minister Mumtaz Al-Said as saying his government would sign a memorandum of understanding with the IMF in March for a previously spurned $3.2 billion loan. -AFP

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Tanks mass at Syria’s Homs as US makes new bid at UN

DAMASCUS: Elite troops backed by tanks massed round the Syrian protest city of Homs on Wednesday as Washington worked on a UN Security Council draft resolution demanding humanitarian access to trapped civilians.

China said it backed sending international aid as diplomats said the new text being drawn up by Washington focused on getting relief into cities under assault in a bid to avoid a third set of vetoes from Beijing and Moscow.

Washington said it opposed sending weapons to opponents of President Bashar Al-Assad for fear that Al-Qaeda was exploiting the more than 11-month uprising against his regime after key US ally Saudi Arabia voiced strong support for arming the rebels.

Regime forces kept up their pounding of rebel neighborhoods in Homs - under assault for 26 days - as efforts to bring wounded French journalist Edith Bouvier to safety intensified after her British colleague Paul Conroy was successfully smuggled out to Lebanon.

Activists on the ground in Syria’s thirdlargest city said that elite troops of the Fourth Armored Division under the command of AlAssad’s brother Maher had taken up position with their armor around the rebel stronghold of Baba Amr. Hadi Abdullah of the Syrian Revolution General Commission told AFP by telephone that it was a likely prelude to a final assault.

Access to Homs has now been completely sealed off, according to commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army, who said the regular army had also blown up an underground aqueduct that had been the last viable route for smuggling in desperately needed supplies.

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Abdullah said power had been cut to most of the city, a measure he said was another sign of possible looming attack.

Efforts to bring out Le Figaro journalist Bouvier, who has multiple fractures, intensified after French President Nicolas Sarkozy went back on an earlier statement that she had been rescued from Baba Amr. “We expect the government in Damascus to put all the conditions in place for a safe and

Iraqi lawmakers rethink pricey armored car perk BAGHDAD: Faced with bitter criticism from an impoverished public, Iraqi lawmakers said Wednesday they were having second thoughts about buying themselves millions of dollars worth of armored cars on the government’s dime.

In a late-night vote with little scrutiny, parliament last week approved spending 50 million US dollars on the armored cars out of the $100 billion Iraqi budget for 2012. Since then, the cars controversy has consumed Baghdad, with everyone - from government officials to revered clerics to newspaper editors - condemning the pricey perk.

Lawmaker Mohammed Al-Khalidi, a member of the secular but Sunni-dominated political party, said Wednesday he voted for the armored cars but is now reconsidering taking one, “given the reaction from the Iraqi people.� “We are the sons of this nation and what the people decide, we agree with,� said Al-Khalidi, who represents the northern city of Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

He voted for the cars because, he said, he escaped two assassination attempts as

a lawmaker. “If I don’t feel safe, how can I reach my people?� he said.

The lawmakers voted in favor of the armored cars last Thursday, the same day 55 Iraqis were killed nationwide in bombings and shootings coordinated by Al-Qaeda.

Under the spending plan, the cars would be distributed to all 325 lawmakers, with an additional 25 earmarked for the office of parliament Speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi, a Sunni member of Iraqiya.

But many Iraqis have grown cynical about the government’s efforts to serve the public. Within hours of the budget vote, the armored cars triggered a driving fury from Iraqis who believe they have little say or influence in the government.

A quarter of Iraqis live in poverty, and an estimated 15 percent are unemployed, according to US data compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency. A midlevel government employee makes around $600 a month.

By comparison, Iraqi lawmakers are paid $22,500 a month in salaries and allowances, and were given a $90,000 stipend for expenses when they took office in 2010. The new armored cars would give

them a minimum $100,000 expense on top of the perks they’ve already accrued. “Because they are addicted to privileges, they think of themselves first and they voted to buy the cars immediately,� said 33-year-old Baghdad resident, Ghazawn Abdul-Wahab.

University student Mohammed Tariq predicted lawmakers ultimately would not get the cars with the government money, which he said was “being stolen from the wealth of the nation and being stolen from our rights.�

Sensing the brewing anger, Al-Nujaifi on Tuesday asked lawmakers to give up the armored cars - even though he called the criticism the result of an “unfair media campaign.� He said five lawmakers have been killed in recent years and “dozens� of others targeted in unsuccessful assassinations while “performing their daily duties to serve the nation and homeland.�

Shiite followers of hard-line cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr said they would not accept the perk after their leader announced that a person who does take the car is “a traitor for his nation and homeland, and moreover, disobedient to God.�

Israel raids Palestinian television stations RAMALLAH, West Bank: Israeli soldiers raided two Palestinian television stations in the occupiedWest Bank onWednesday, seizing transmitters the military said were interfering with air traffic communications. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad visited one of the stations, Watan

TV in Ramallah, and said the Israeli operation was “oppressive and monstrous� and violated “all international laws�.

The Israeli military said Watan TV and Alquds educational television, which is also based in Ramallah, had been asked repeatedly by Israel to stop using frequencies

Jordan Islamists want urgent Arab meet on Jerusalem AMMAN: Jordan’s opposition Islamists urged King Abdullah II on Wednesday to call an emergency Arab summit in a bid to protect Jerusalem from “Judaization.� “We urge you to lead Arab, Muslim and international efforts to protect Al-Aqsa mosque,� in Jerusalem’s Old City, Hamzeh Mansur, head of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), said in a letter to the king. “We suggest holding an emergency Arab summit to protect Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem,� Mansur said in the letter, posted on the IAF’s website.

The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and adamantly reject Jewish settlement construction in the territory.

Unrest has been on the rise in east Jerusalem’s Old City compound that houses the Al-Aqsa, erupting into violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police.

It is referred to by Muslims as Al-Haram Al-Sharif and considered the third holiest site in Islam, while it is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and is revered as Judaism’s most sacred place. “The occupation forces, settler gangs and hardliners have been recently active and working on the Judaisation of Jerusalem,� Mansur told the king. “We fear that one day Al-Aqsa mosque would vanish.�

The IAF, is the political arm of Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani told the International Conference on Jerusalem in Doha on Sunday that the United Nations should probe Jewish settlement expansion in annexed Arab east Jerusalem, warning that “we must act quickly to stop the Judaisation of Jerusalem,�

Jordan, the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, has a 1994 peace treaty with Israel. -AFP

rapid evacuation, in particular an immediate ceasefire in Baba Amr,� said French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.

Thirteen Syrian activists were killed trying to help Bouvier and Conroy and to bring in aid to Baba Amr, international activist group Avaaz said.

At the UN, diplomats said that Washington had begun work on a new draft Security Council resolution demanding humanitarian access

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that cut into Israeli wireless communications and air traffic control bands. “Soldiers accompanied Communications Ministry officials to the pirate stations ... a number of transmitters were seized,� a military spokesman said.

Ramallah is the seat of the Westernbacked Palestinian Authority and Israeli troops man checkpoints on the edges of the city, just north of Jerusalem.

Fayyad said the raid represented an attack against “what is left of the Palestinian Authority’s status in the West Bank�, an apparent reference to Israel’s overall security control of the territory, which it captured in a 1967 war and where it has built more than 120 settlements.

Palestinians are seeking to establish a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Ahmed Milhem, a Watan TV employee, said the station, owned by local non-governmental organizations, broadcasts news and cultural and political programs. He said the raid lasted some three hours. “They seized computers, broadcast equipment and administrative files,� Milhem told Reuters by telephone. “The station is now off the air.� Alquds television said it expected to receive replacement equipment later in the day and begin broadcasting again. -Reuters

to besieged protest cities, such as Homs. “This resolution will concentrate on humanitarian access to the cities, but it will indicate that the government is the cause of the crisis,� one Security Council diplomat said.

Western nations hope that focusing on the humanitarian crisis will persuade Russia and China not to use their veto powers as permanent members of the 15-member council as they did last October and again in early February. The French foreign ministry spokesman said the text calls for a halt to violence and “immediate, unhindered access for humanitarian aid to the most threatened sites and the most vulnerable populations.�

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said: “I solemnly appeal to Russia and China that they do not block this new resolution at the Security Council.� Work on the new draft started after Arab and Western governments met for an inaugural Friends of Syria meeting in Tunis last week, diplomats said.

Russia had on Tuesday urged Syria to cooperate with the Red Cross to allow the relief agency to deliver aid.

UN political chief B. Lynn Pascoe told the Security Council “well over 7,500� people have been killed Syria since protests against Assad’s regime erupted in March last year.

The White House said Al-Qaeda’s efforts to take advantage of violence in Syria meant it was no time to send arms to Al-Assad’s opponents as advocated by Saudi Arabia at the Friends of Syria meeting.

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri has expressed backing for the Syrian rebels although they have disavowed his support. -AFP

Egypt detains Islamist, confusion over Al-Qaeda link CAIRO: An Egyptian Islamist, mistakenly identified as a senior Al-Qaeda commander because he has the same name, was detained at Cairo airport Wednesday for suspected militant activities, but said he had cut any links with Al-Qaeda more than two decades ago.

Mohamed Ibrahim Makkawi, born in 1954, was detained on return to Egypt from Pakistan, security sources said, but added that initial suspicions he was Saif Al-Adel, an Al-Qaeda commander also known by the alias Mohamed Ibrahim Makkawi, were incorrect.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lists Saif Al-Adel as born in 1960 or 1963. As well as the Makkawi alias, he is known by the name Ibrahim Al-Madani, the FBI website says.

A security official said Makkawi was wanted in connection with a 1994 case dubbed “returnees from Afghanistan� in which suspects were accused of being a threat to the state after fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Makkawi told reporters at the airport that he had returned to Egypt to clear his name. “I decided to return to Egypt to live in peace, without making any deal with the Egyptian authorities and to confirm my innocence of all charges directed against me,� he said, after arriving from Pakistan via the United Arab Emirates.

He said he had been wrongly identified as Saif Al-Adel because his name had been used as an alias, but said he had severed any links to the group in 1989, shortly after the organization was set up and several years before it declared its drive against the West and those it deemed foes of Islam. “I did not carry out any operation against any installation or individual,� said Makkawi, a former army officer in Egypt’s special forces.

He said he knew former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahri, then a top official in the group and now its leader, but said relations went no deeper than that.

Little is known about Saif Al-Adel, but he is generally seen as a senior Al-Qaeda military commander who is believed to have opposed the September 11 attacks on US targets, arguing that they were strategically ill-advised as they would invite a harsh US response.

Since Hosni Mubarak was ousted a year ago, Egypt has released from jail dozens of people who had been involved in Islamist militant actions. Many of those held had finished their jail terms but were still detained while Mubarak was in power.

Many Islamists who fled abroad during the Mubarak era have returned since his overthrow.

-Reuters

Iran denies any atomic activity at suspect military site TEHRAN: Iran said on Wednesday that “no nuclear activity whatsoever� has taken place at its military site of Parchin, which UN nuclear watchdog inspectors demanded last week to visit but were refused. “No nuclear activity whatsoever has taken place on the Parchin site,� the head of Iran’s Nuclear Energy Organization, Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying after a cabinet session. “It is up to the country’s military officials to decide any request by foreign nationals to visit Parchin,� he added.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said last week it “continues to have serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program� following an

unsuccessful visit to Tehran by a five-strong inspection team.

The inspectors, who visited Feb. 20-21, had asked to see the Parchin military base east of Tehran but Iranian officials rejected the request.

An IAEA report published in November said there was a “a large explosives containment vessel� at Parchin being used to test big amounts of conventional explosives consistent with designing a nuclear warhead for Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missiles.

As a signatory to the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) supervised by the IAEA, Iran has to submit to UN inspections at its declared nuclear sites.

But military sites that do not have con-

firmed nuclear activities are off-limits unless provided for by agreement or under the terms of an Additional Protocol to the NPT that Iran briefly adhered to but dropped in 2006.

Abbasi Davani was quoted as saying: “There is no reason for us to give access to any geographical point in our country at the mere request of the (UN) agency.�

The Iranian nuclear chief said he hoped that talks with the IAEA “will continue in the future.�

But he said that, while “we have no problem to further explain our nuclear activities� to the IAEA, “we need to consider our rights and national interests.�

He notably dismissed imposing any “set timeframe� on Iran for it to answer IAEA ques-

tions.

The IAEA says that, following its failed talks in Tehran last week, it has no plans for future talks with Iranian officials.

It said last Friday that “major differences� exist with Iran.

Western members of the IAEA fear that Iran has long been hiding a nuclear weapons program behind its atomic energy activities, and that it is getting close to the scientific threshold of being able to make an atomic bomb.

Tehran denies that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Israel, which is not part of the NPT and which has the Middle East’s sole though undeclared nuclear arsenal, has threatened to attack Iranian atomic facilities. -AFP

ALWATAN DAILY

WORLD

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Belarus-EU tensions soar as bloc pulls envoys MINSK: Tensions between authoritarian Belarus and the West soared late Tuesday as the European Union announced it was recalling all its ambassadors to the former Soviet republic in response to Belarus asking the EU and Polish ambassadors to leave.

The tit-for-tat moves follow the latest EU sanctions on Belarus. The withdrawals of the diplomats will further isolate Belarus from Europe, with which it has been feuding over human rights issues, and push Belarus even closer to Russia, with which it has an awkward alliance.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton made the announcement of the bloc-wide withdrawal late Tuesday, hours after the Belarusian foreign ministry said the EU and Polish ambassadors should leave. Belarus also said it was withdrawing its ambassadors to Poland and the EU. Ashton said the envoys were being “withdrawn for consultations to their capitals� in “an expression of solidarity and unity.� In addition, all EU member states will summon Belarusian ambassadors to their foreign ministries.

There was no immediate comment from Belarus on Ashton’s announcement.

The moves came one day after the EU Council voted to add 21 names to a list of some 200 Belarusian officials prevented from traveling to EU countries because of human rights violations. The officials also face an assets freeze.

The EU sanctions target the authoritarian

A couple walks past the Polish embassy in Minsk, on Feb. 29. Belarus suggested yesterday to the envoys from Poland and the EU that they should depart Minsk for their capitals and threatened “other measures to protect our interests�. (AFP)

country’s repression of political opposition, including frequent jailing.

They date back to the December 2010 presidential elections, in which more than 700

people - including seven candidates - were arrested in the wake of a massive protest against alleged vote fraud. Strongman President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner.

World’s oldest nuclear plant shuts in Britain OLDBURY-ON-SEVERN: The world’s oldest running nuclear reactor is due to shut at 1100 GMT on Wednesday after 44 years of operation, starting the countdown to 2025, by when a new British nuclear station is expected to open on a site just a few hundred meters away. Some local residents who have lived in this quaint village for decades say they had no choice when the plant was first built in the 1960s and have little prospect of preventing a new station now, given that the Oldbury site has already been shortlisted for new nuclear plants by the government.

Allan Knapp, 86, remembers when the local government started speaking in 1958 of the construction one of the world’s first civil nuclear plants on a huge field, a site next to his childhood home, on the banks of the river Severn, 12 miles north of Bristol. “Nobody wants a nuclear plant on their doorstep,� he said. “But back then people accepted it in the end because radiation was little known about. If a power station is going to be, it’s going to be.� A joint venture of two German utilities, E.ON and RWE, plans to build a new Oldbury nuclear plant more than six times the capacity of the current station by 2025, relying on a strong government drive in favor of nuclear power to help reduce carbon emissions.

The new plant will use so-called pressurized water reactors (PWR), which require the construction of huge cooling towers containing water, a part of the project residents fear will further spoil their landscape.

Horizon, the German joint venture, said its preferred choice of cooling towers was only

Europe’s oldest nuclear reactor at Britain’s Oldbury power station will close down 10 months earlier than expected in February next year after operator Magnox decided that running the 44-year-old reactor was no longer economically viable. (Reuters)

around 15 meters higher than the plant’s current reactor buildings, two blue and white striped cylinders that peak out between trees and fields from miles away. The project is early in the planning stages, and Horizon is still far away from applying for necessary planning and environmental permits from UK agencies and

Amid tensions, U-2 spy planes keep watch on North Korea

OSAN AIR BASE: As a sleek black U-2 roared back from a mission, Pontiac muscle cars zoomed along the runway to help it touch down using a low-tech method dating back more than half a century to when this Cold War-era aircraft was cutting-edge. “It’s notorious for being hard to land,� the pilot said after climbing out of the cockpit.

But the legendary U-2 “Dragon Lady� remains one of Washington’s most prized possessions on the Cold War’s last hot front. Pumped up by a $1 billion overhaul, a trio of these piloted aircraft are proving they can still compete with the most futuristic drones on a crucial mission: spying on North Korea.

For more than 35 years, the U-2 has been one of Washington’s most reliable windows into military movements inside the secretive nation. Unlike satellites, they can be redirected at short notice to loiter over target areas. Last month, the US Air Force postponed at least until 2020 any plans to replace them with costlier, unmanned Global Hawks. As the world watches for signs of instability during North Korea’s transition to a new leadership, the U-2 operations are as important - or more so - than ever.

The Korean peninsula’s precarious peace was underscored this month, when North Korea, angry over South Korean artillery drills and joint maneuvers with the US, warned it was prepared for “total war� and “merciless retaliatory strikes� if necessary. The rhetoric did not mention the U-2s, but North Korea has frequently slammed their spy missions as belligerent.

Other than complain, however, there is little it can do to stop the flights.

Three of the long-winged, glider-like aircraft are deployed to Osan Air Base in South Korea, just 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the border. The Air Force refuses to comment on where they go, but, in a rare interview and tour of operations, the squadron commander told The Associated Press that U-2 missions are generally flown out of Osan every day. “We are the tripwire, the eyes and ears of Korea,� he said on condition he be identified for security reasons only by his rank and first name, Lt. Col. Deric. “Our extreme high altitude and intelligence capabilities make us extremely sought after.�

Formerly flown by the CIA, the U-2 became a Cold War icon during the international drama following the Soviet Union’s capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers in 1960. The program has since shifted to the Air Force, but it’s still hushhush. The pilots’ full names are secret.

More than half of North Korea’s 1.2 million-man army is believed to be stationed south of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and the U-2 flights can provide a detailed picture of troop movements, fortifications and any other signs of potential trouble north of the DMZ. The United States, which signed a truce with North Korea in 1953 to end three years of fighting, keeps more than 28,000 troops in South Korea.

There was no immediate comment from North Korea but it cites the US military presence on Korean soil as a key reason behind its drive to build nuclear weapons. It calls the planes proof that the US is plotting another war. Amid high tensions two years ago, it said the use of the U-2 showed how “hell-bent� the US is on spying on its military facilities. Osan squadron pilots fly once every four days on missions of up to 12 hours. -AP

the local government, which will give Olburyon-Severn residents a say.

Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis nearly one year ago has not swayed nuclear plant developers or the UK government’s opinion about the necessity for new nuclear capacity, although developers such as EDF Energy admit the in-

Gunmen kidnap Pakistani staff of South Korean hospital KARACHI: Gunmen abducted two Pakistani Christians working for a South Korean-run hospital in a violent slum area of the country’s largest city Karachi, police said.

Kidnappings by criminal groups for ransom are relatively common in the nuclear-armed country and victims can be sold onto Taliban and Al-Qaedalinked militant groups based along the northwestern Afghan border.

Four armed men on Wednesday stopped a car taking local staff to the Good Samaritan Hospital in the western neighborhood of Orangi, an impoverished area that was last year hard hit by political and ethnically linked shootings. “They asked the occupants: ‘Who is Korean among you?’� local police station chief Sabir Khan told AFP. “They replied: ‘None of us.’ “However they snatched two hospital employees - a computer operator and an administration assistant. Both are members of the Pakistani Christian community, and fled in a car.�

No foreigners were in the vehicle that was stopped, Khan said. “We have sent teams to track down the kidnappers and recover the staff members,� he added. Male nurse Austin John, a 30-year-old Pakistani, told AFP he had narrowly escaped being kidnapped along with his colleagues. “A blue car intercepted us and four men who looked Pashtun from the northwest came out. They ordered us to get out and asked: ‘Who is Korean among you?’� he said. Their driver fled and the three hospital staff members were bundled towards the kidnappers’ car, John said. “But there wasn’t enough space and they dropped me. One of them said ‘shoot him in the back’ but I got unexpected courage and ran for safety behind the van and shouted for help. They fled,� he said.

The Good Samaritan Hospital treats mostly poor Pakistanis and has been run by a South Korean charity for more than a decade, one of its doctors told AFP. Five foreign aid and development workers have gone missing or been kidnapped across Pakistan since August, and the doctor told AFP on condition of anonymity that there had been rising concerns about security at the hospital. Two months ago, a South Korean affiliated to a nearby church was shot and wounded, and three years ago a local employee was briefly abducted but released unharmed, she told AFP by telephone. “But this is the first time that our employees have been abducted in an armed hold-up like this,� she said. “There were no direct threats to the hospital but we had felt insecure over the past few months and police beefed up security.�

Ten doctors work at the Good Samaritan Hospital, six of them foreigners, and the clinic treats mostly poor Pakistanis for a nominal fee. The country director of Save the Children has said more expat aid workers are being held captive in Pakistan than in any other country in the world.

There is a tiny Christian minority in Pakistan, where only three percent of the population of 174 million are estimated to be non-Muslim and where the Vatican has said Christians are often victims of violence and discrimination. Targeted killings in Karachi have been linked to ethnic tensions between the Mohajirs, the Urdu-speaking majority represented by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Pashtun migrants affiliated to the Awami National Party. -AFP

5

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The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, decried Belarus’ move on Tuesday, saying: “I consider it a hostile act.� “It is intolerable for us as Europeans to see human rights and citizens’ rights in Belarus thus violated. This is the last dictatorship in Europe,� German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.

Lukashenko has led Belarus since 1994, retaining Soviet-style controls over the economy and cracking down on opposition and independent media. Despite his support from Russia, Lukashenko has accused Moscow of angling to grab Belarusian economic assets and erode his country’s sovereignty.

His predecessor, Stanislav Shushkevich, said Tuesday’s moves appeared to signal a stepup in repression. “Lukashenko needs confrontation with the EU in order to be unhindered in putting more political prisoners in jail,� he told The Associated Press.

Lukashenko is the focus of increasing dissent at home amid an economic crisis that has gripped the country for most of the past year, in which the ruble’s value has fallen by more than a third. As the crisis deepened, Belarus sold full control of country’s natural gas pipeline network to Russia’s state gas monopoly.

Belarus has previously expelled diplomats and used other pressure tactics to punish foreign powers for what it claims are attempts to interfere with its sovereignty. -AP

cident has pushed back timetables for other new stations. “People here just want to get on with their lives. They don’t want a new nuclear plant,� said Reg Illingworth, who lives in a cottage decked with solar panels less than one mile from the Oldbury station and who also leads a local anti-nuclear movement. “Fukushima has galvanized the idea that nuclear should and could be stopped.� On the site of the world’s oldest nuclear plant, run by US-owned Magnox, with its weather-worn paint and 1960s-style concrete architecture, employees say Fukushima has strengthened their will to run their nuclear plant even more safely and are sad to see it turned off. “Control room staff requested not to press the shutdown button, saying ‘I don’t want it to be me’,� Site Director Phil Sprague said. “Some of the workers got quite emotional; they have worked here for 40 years.�

Most plant staff will continue working on site for another 12 to 18 months to start dismantling the nuclear plant, but headcount will drop by around one quarter after that, with most workers going into retirement, Sprague said. For Project Manager Matt Thames the new Oldbury nuclear plant is likely to be a future employer as the south-westerner wants to continue working in the nuclear industry in his home region. “We join fairly young. I never intended to stay within the same industry for 22 years, it kind of happens,� he said, wearing his windproof black Magnox jacket proudly. “It’s the availability of work in the industry that attracted me to it.� -Reuters

Show goes on for Myanmar political satirists NAYPYIDAW: After years of lampooning the junta, Myanmar’s Moustache Brothers aren’t ready to stop poking fun at the regime yet, despite dramatic changes that mean laughter is no longer such a risky business. With nothing more than their sharp wit, the sexagenarian members of one of the long-isolated country’s most famous comedy troupes are perhaps among the bravest dissidents to have stood up to the generals. And they pull no punches when it comes to the new army-backed government that took power last year after almost half a century of outright military rule ended in the country formerly known as Burma. “It’s old wine in a different bottle,� said Par Par Lay, 64, also known as “Brother Number One�. -AP

Taiwan air force captain held over leaks to China TAIPEI: A Taiwanese air force captain has been arrested for allegedly leaking classified data to China, according to officials and media. Chiang, captain at a radar command and control centre in the north, was arrested in January for leaking illegally obtained data to Chinese authorities via his uncle, a Taiwanese businessman based on the mainland, according to a report by the widely-circulated Next Magazine. It said the Chinese military has long sought access to the centre which houses highly sensitive information including details on the air force’s “Strong Net� radar system and US-made Patriot surface-toair missiles. -AP

Jailed Indonesia cleric says US must be destroyed JAKARTA: Islamist militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir blamed the United States for increasing his jail term, two days after Indonesia’s top court reinstated his 15-year sentence for terrorism. Bashir is regarded as a spiritual leader of militant Islam in Indonesia -- the world’s most populous Muslim country -- and is an outspoken supporter of Al-Qaeda-style jihad, but he has always denied being a terrorist.

Appearing in public to undergo his second cataract surgery at an eye hospital in Jakarta, the 73-year-old defiantly called on his followers to fight the US “until it is destroyed�. -AFP

Afghan forces face threat from within, says official KABUL: Afghanistan must act quickly to tackle infiltration of its security forces or another fatal attack on Western forces could undermine ties with NATO, a senior Afghan defense ministry official said on Wednesday, in a rare admission of the threat within. On Saturday, a US lieutenant colonel and a major were shot at close range while working in an office in the heart of the Interior Ministry, one of the most closely-guarded buildings in Afghanistan. A stunned NATO quickly withdrew all staff from ministries dotted around the Afghan capital following the attack which came after the burning of Korans in a NATO base triggered deadly riots in parts of the country. -Reuters

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ALWATAN DAILY

OPINION

6

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Talk shows; a critical stance Dr. Khaled Al-Qahes

C

ertain talk shows are widely broadcasted in TV and radio. They are often part of the map of programs of TVs and radios because they are easily produced and directed, and because the audience are used to watching these shows as they discuss issues which concern public opinion.

Talk shows can often be suitable to discuss any issue that concerns people, including political, economic, religious, social, educational, medical, or security issues, as well as other issues. It is easy to produce talk shows but sometimes producing these shows could be costly. However, TVs and radios can ensure a huge budget for talk shows by paying attention to decoration, preparation, lighting, accessories, direction and the issues which the shows discuss.

There are several talk shows presented by private Kuwaiti satellite channels, which usually focus on political issues. On the other hand, talk shows broadcasted by state TV discuss a variety of issues. I’d like here to focus on the talk shows broadcasted by private Kuwaiti satellite chan-

Syria is in the hearts of the Kuwaiti people Dr. Khalid Sultan Al-Sultan

I

had met our uncle Yousef Al-Saqer many times on different occasions.

Our late uncle was very humble and polite and he used to keep silent when other people speak therefore a lot of people loved him. We thank God as our uncle raised great sons who people love as well.

I accompanied our brother Mohammad Bu Khalid to the holiest place in the world, Mecca, and as a result I knew them well and met Ahmad Bu Yousef too. They did many things for the sake of God and they were not looking for any worldly interests. By the way, I am not writing to develop any propaganda for the uncle and his sons as famous people but I did that because they were looking just for the award of God. May God embrace our uncle with His mercy, Amen.

Our other late uncle Abdullah AlDulaijan, whom I did not meet during his lifetime, although I visited his house several times wherein many youths and I from the Faiha area attended religious lessons, cultural programs and had breakfast with each other in his house following invitations by his son Suhail Bu Khalid. He was a great personality who had helped make strong men and his sons are professional persons in administrating estates.

They also became very famous and we dealt with them many times for buying houses. They are serious and pious sons.

Whenever a name of one of the sons is mentioned attendants then begin praising and extolling their honesty and the honesty of their father.

The stance of His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak for patronizing the forum of “Syria is in the hearts of the Kuwaiti people” is not a surprising one because the premier used to support our brothers when they need that.

The forum was organized by the Islamic Heritage Revival Society and broadcasted

by Ma`ali Satellite Channel. The Head of society Tariq Al-Esa has delivered a distinguished speech in addition to the great statements of the Deputy Speaker of the House the MP Khalid Al-Sultan and the MP Dr. Ali Al-Omair aside from many other figures such as the poet Khalid AlKharaz. The forum expresses the Kuwaiti loyalty to the Syrian people and it embodies the governmental and popular desire for supporting our brothers in Syria.

The Kuwaiti support to the fair issues is not surprising as well especially when Kuwait used to support our Muslim brothers who face oppression. We also extol the stand of the society for calling people to support the Syrian people who counter dangerous circumstances and massacres by the brutal Syrian regime. The society could collect donations worth 300,000 US dollars just within one hour and a half.

We are not surprised by that because we know the generous Kuwaiti people well and how people like to help their brothers in the different Arab and Muslim countries particularly those who face oppression and injustice.

All wise people agree that what happens in national celebrations violates religion in addition to the Kuwaiti values and traditions. Will these issues be considered well enough by the relevant personalities; such as dancing, singing and disturbing other people all of which can`t be considered as a part of celebrations!!

I’d like here to focus on the talk shows broadcasted by private Kuwaiti satellite channels, which we rely on much because they are not owned by the state, so they enjoy a larger margin of freedom to prepare and produce unique talk shows. nels, which we rely on much because they are not owned by the state, so they enjoy a larger margin of freedom to prepare and produce unique talk shows. But the talk shows which we watch on private channels make one sad because they are too weak. I believe that the talk shows prepared by Kuwait TV are better than those prepared by private channels in terms of preparation and presentation.

It is a fact that some talk shows prepared by private channels are good, but I’m here to talk about different talk shows in general. I’m going to mention some remarks and notes, noting that I have conducted an analytical study

on the content of talk shows prepared by private satellite channels, along with my female students who study media research. The study will see daylight in the near future.

First, there is some misconception about the nature of talk shows. Some see that talk shows only depend on a presenter who asks questions and a guest who answers these questions. This is wrong. Talk shows require long processes of preparation and collecting of information about the topic which will be discussed. Then the date needs to be classified in order to prepare good questions which can shed light on the issues being discussed. After that, the proper guest should be interviewed in order to be able to

answer the questions. But the reality is that some people ask the questions directed in diwaniyas or in one article.

Second, in talk shows which discuss political issues, we notice that the presenter usually becomes a third party in the discussion. In a recent talk show, the presenter launched a harsh attack on an MP through the phone and did not give him a chance to respond to the questions. The presenter seemed unprofessional.

Some talk shows apply this approach such as Al-Itejah Al-Muaks on Jazeera News Channel, Crossfire on CNN, The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News. But the audience and the guests are aware of the nature of these talk shows, which are not neutral.

There are several remarks but there is no room to mention them all here such as the timing, the reports, how to deal with people who contact the show through phone, the time given to each guest, the experience of the presenter and inviting the same guests several times. Perhaps the academic study will cover these points. It is important to say that working on television requires study and training in order to face the cameras and address the people who have different views and cultures.

_r=nrq^a^=C=_r=k^_fi You are a violator. The food items you brought are unhygienic. Here is the report

Wow...your report has just been issued!! I already distributed the meat

You are also a violator.

The report indicates that the chicken you had brought is filled with bacteria

The chicken has already been eaten by citizens, and people are “clucking”

Cluck... cluck...

You’re a violator.

The fish is unhygienic.

Here is the report

C ome on ma Peo ple a lrea d n ! ya fi sh . T h e y h av te th e T h e y a re not w e g il ls. a it ing for you r re port

Ho w th e Mu n ic n ic e ipa li It f in e s u s 10 0 0 K t y i s. u wa it i d in b u t we K D 50 0 t sold rot te n food a rs at hou sa n d

That’s almost free.

How about importing hamburger made of donkeys’ meat?

Mohmmed Thallab

mthallab@alwatan.com.kw

Kuwaiti dialect encyclopedia Fuad Al-Hashem

M

y dear colleague, writer Khaled Al-Rasheed sent me the following letter attached with a good book, which I believe that it should be in the study room in every Kuwaiti house. He said in his letter: Dear colleague Fuad Al-Hashem

Subject: Kuwaiti Dialect Encyclopedia (Third Edition) I have great pleasure in presenting you this modest work which is the fruit of 12 years which I spent looking into dictionaries and books and discussions with historians like Mr. Saif Marzouk Al-Shamlan, and the meteorologist Uncle Saleh Al-Aujeri. The third edition was reviewed by Dr. Khaled Abdulkareem Jomaah.

I’d like to present this work, which was issued in coincidence with golden jubilee of the independence of our beloved country, and 21st anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait from the brutal invader Saddam Hussein, and six years since His Highness the Amir took the reins of power. I hope that you like this work.

Note: I’ve discovered that those who violate the law, describe Kuwaitis as dogs, resist authorities and break into the parliament, win the membership of the parliament.

Sincerely, Khaled Al-Rasheed

I’d like to thank my dear colleague for his present, and for his “note”.

There is an old conflict involving Kuwait Oil Company (KPC), the Public authority for Housing Welfare

Supporting reforms

and citizens who are dreaming of having houses. Citizens demand the Public Authority for Housing Welfare to give them houses, and the PAHW request lands from KPC, which rejects to give up lands for PAHW. Why don’t we act like Bahrain by reclamations of dozens of kilometers in the sea in order to create new lands on which we can build new cities away from the desert, which is rich in oil?

The Popular Action Bloc has issued a statement in which it said “We will submit a proposal on criminalization of hatred and prevention of discrimination among sects”. My comment is “In your dreams”.

Al-Walaan made a statement in which he said “We ask the Minister of Interior to lift the ban imposed on Sheikh Al-Arifi”. My comment is “Al-Arifi always creates sedition. His own country isn’t happy with having him living within its territories. How can we allow him to enter our country? We pray to God almighty to guide MP Al-Walaan to the right path, and we hope that he will spend his life praying in the Holy Mosque in Mecca.

Breaking News:

The new regime led by the Muslim Brotherhood Movement in Tunisia has sent an envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ask the Saudi authorities to hand over the ousted president Zein Al-Abideen Bin Ali and to return to them five billion US dollars as investments to support the rule of the Islamists in Tunisia.

The Saudi authorities rejected the two requests and considered them “blatant blackmail”.

The rulers in Tunisia decided to punish Saudi Arabia by changing their stance toward the Syrian revolution and the National Council, and failed the Conference of Friends of Syria, which was recently held in Tunisia.

If Zein Al-Abideen Bin Ali was the ruler of Tunisia, his stance would not be different from the stance of the “new Tunisian rebels”.

Nawaf Sulaiman Al-Fuzai

W

e hope by establishing the seven companies, which were already inserted to the development plan of the country in order to make up the last 77 hard years that we countered; that we can become optimistic about establishing such companies if we think well about the political process and to lessen any deals which are usually stricken under the table in addition to the pressure of the lobby of businessmen who exploit their corrupt media means. And the MPs who follow them in order to foil the establishment of these companies might help them succeed in achieving their wicked plans.

The MP Musallam Al-Barrak indicated that there are some suspected goals in referring the case of overseas money transfers to the Audit Bureau such as having suspected officials in the bureau itself. I want to just tell the MP that he is one of the close MPs to the speaker therefore he can tell him that easily especially that the Audit Bureau is subject to the authority of the speaker. It is the time for the honest MPs to remove all corrupt officials in the bureau. During the era of such corrupt officials, the matter of referring certain cases to the Audit Bureau represents a lifeline for the personalities that are involved in violations.

We are ready to cooperate with the MP Al-Barrak and to provide him with the names of certain corrupt officials although we believe that the lawmaker knows well the names that we intend to tell him!!

An Islamist MP and one of his relatives, who used to execute tender for the oil sector, visited the prime minister and asked him to appoint a certain person as minister then the MP pledged to the minister that the very person and his ministry will be safe!!

Some MPs believe that the Islamic majority at the current parliament will protect their interests. Therefore we should like to remind that Islamist MPs that the parliamentary majority did not protect the suspected Dow Deal!! Such MPs should believe that the majority can do nothing as the Kuwaiti people hated corruption and corrupt officials.

Furthermore, we will disclose the names of some companies that the Islamist MP owns to some other companies where he owns an effective share in.

We will also disclose some old government oil contracts worth millions of dinars that companies of the Islamist MP got.

We call all MPs to show their integrity through disclosing the names of the companies that they own and we advise them to abide to the saying “reform yourself before the others” then they can be an example for other people and can ask the other people to abide to laws and reforms as well.

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ALWATAN DAILY

VIEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

China’s Growing Growth Risks Yao Yang Project Syndicate

I

f everything goes right for China, it will surpass the United States as the world’s largest economy, in current dollar terms (and more quickly in real terms), by 2021.

Its per capita income will reach that of today’s lower tier of high-income countries. But, despite its forward momentum, the Chinese economy faces looming risks in the coming decade.

The immediate risk is continuing stagnation, or recession, in Europe. In the last decade, export growth has accounted for roughly one-third of China’s overall economic growth, and about one-third of Chinese exports went to the European Union. If the situation in Europe continues to deteriorate, China’s growth will be dragged down.

Over-tightening of domestic macroeconomic policies, especially those aimed at the real-estate market, could heighten the risk of a slowdown, with house prices currently falling across China, owing to stringent government measures. Indeed, the situation is much like that of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In the several years before that crisis hit, China had been combating inflation, and appeared to be headed for a soft landing. But the combination of crisis and austerity condemned China to several years of deflation and considerably slower growth.

Today, as China looks to the medium term, the government must face the problems created by its pervasive role in the economy. A new World Bank report singles out lack

Despite officials’ seeming desire to reduce income inequality, China’s government is aggravating it, by subsidizing producers, favoring capital-intensive industries, and maintaining a highly inefficient financial sector. of reform of state-owned enterprises as the most important impediment to the country’s economic growth. But that is only a symptom of a deeper problem: the government’s dominant role in economic affairs.

In addition to controlling 25-30 percent of GDP directly, the government also takes a lion’s share of financial resources. In recent years, more than one-third of total bank lending has gone to infrastructure, most of which has been built by government entities. Indeed, recognizing its overinvestment in infrastructure, the government recently abandoned several high-speed rail projects that were already under construction. But government over-investment is also evident in numerous industrial parks and high-tech zones.

China’s investment frenzy reminds many people of Japan in the 1980’s, when high-speed rail links were extended to Japan’s remotest corners. Most rely on government subsidies to this day. And, while the subsidies may improve the quality of life for ordinary people in some respects, they

also detract from it by suppressing domestic consumption.

Infrastructure investment will inevitably run up against the law of diminishing marginal returns, but consumption growth does not have a limit. Suppressing consumption thus suffocates future growth, and the share of household consumption in GDP has declined from 67% in the mid1990’s to below 50 percent in recent years, with most of the decline reflecting the distortions created by government policies.

China’s government is production-oriented by nature.

The upside is that this has helped to maintain high GDP growth rates. But the downside is equally pronounced. One negative consequence is the persistent deepening of income inequality. The Gini coefficient of per capita income has surpassed 50 (with 100 representing maximal inequality), putting China in the upper quartile of inequality worldwide.

The problem may not be inequality per se, but its consequences, one of which is the bifurcation of human capital.

Japan’s Rubble Economy

7

The return on education is increasing in China, but access to education is becoming increasingly divided socially and geographically.While education is improving in urban areas, children in the countryside are facing a decline in educational quality, because better teachers find their way to the cities. Moreover, given the income disparities between cities and rural areas, their education is more expensive than it is for urban families.

As a result, a majority of rural kids will enter the workforce without a university diploma. Among China’s 140 million migrant workers, 80 percent have only nine years or less of formal education - far short of what high-income countries require.

Despite officials’ seeming desire to reduce income inequality, China’s government is aggravating it, by - among other things - subsidizing producers, favoring capital-intensive industries, and maintaining a highly inefficient financial sector. But there are also promising signs of an economic uptick. The government has just announced new rules for household registration, known as hukou. Except in large cities, people can now freely choose their hukou after three years of residency. This will greatly help migrants by ensuring equal access to education for their children.

To change completely the government’s distorting behavior, however, requires more drastic political changes. The hukou reform is a good start, as it will strengthen migrants’ political rights in local communities. Given their large numbers, their political participation may force local governments to become more responsive to ordinary people’s needs. And government responsiveness at lower levels, one may hope, might eventually trickle up to the top. *YaoYang is Director of the China Center for Economic Research at Peking University.

Why banks are reluctant to foreclose on expensive homes There’s no reason why mortgage workouts should be long, drawn-out affairs.

Felix Salmon Reuters

T

FILE- Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)’s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is seen from a bus window in Fukushima prefecture Feb. 20, 2012.

(Reuters)

Yuriko Koike Project Syndicate

O

n March 11, a year will have passed since Japan was struck by the triple tragedy of an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident.

According to figures announced by the country’s National Police Agency, the Great East Japan Earthquake left behind 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing - the largest loss of life due to natural disaster in Japan since World War II. Searches for the missing mainly at sea - are still continuing.

The number of buildings affected by the earthquake or the tsunami include 128,582 completely destroyed, 243,914 partly destroyed, 281 completely or partly burned, 33,056 flooded (including 17,806 above the ground floor, and 674,641 with other types of damage. Approximately 320,000 people lost their homes, of which more than 90% continue to live in temporary housing. Where to rebuild their homes remains undecided.

The Great Hanshin Earthquake that struck western Japan in 1995 took 6,343 lives, in part because the city’s mazelike streets prevented access by emergency workers. In the aftermath, the city was reborn in a dramatically different and safer form.

Despite numerous difficulties, recovery from that earthquake was faster than expected: there was no tsunami to complicate matters, and rebuilding efforts could be focused on buildings that had collapsed in the earthquake. Moreover, the government provided strong leadership and official agencies responded rapidly, ensuring, among other things, a rapid cleanup of the rubble.

Indeed, aside from fiscal issues, disposal of rubble is the greatest obstacle preventing reconstruction after natural disasters everywhere. The rubble produced in the Great Hanshin Earthquake was equivalent to the amount that Japan normally processes in roughly eight years. Difficulties like damaged waste-disposal facilities were overcome by local governments’ cooperation and burdensharing. And, fortunately, plans to build Kobe Airport on an artificial island near the coast ensured

Difficulties like damaged waste-disposal facilities were overcome by local governments’ cooperation and burden-sharing. demand for landfill.

In Japan, waste disposal relies mainly on incineration, but use of landfill off the coast made it possible to process the waste more quickly. Even so, disposal of the waste took approximately three years, at a cost to the central government of ¥324.8 billion.

Compared to the Great Hanshin Earthquake, reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake is moving at a snail’s pace. Rubble is equivalent to 11 years of waste in Iwate prefecture, and 19 years of waste in Miyagi prefecture - enormous volumes that exceed these regions’ disposal capacity. The cost of waste disposal, estimated at ¥776.7 billion, will be more than double the disposal cost following the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

Unlike the relatively rapid cleanup after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, only 5% of the total amount of rubble created by last year’s disaster has been processed so far. Temporary sites for rubble in affected areas are being piled with the remnants of building materials and domestic appliances and furnishings, creating little mountains here and there, as rules on recycling instituted since 1995 require sorting waste by material. Moreover, there are no plans to build an artificial island to use up the rubble, as was done with Kobe airport.

Owing to the tsunami, some of the refuse will ride the waves of the Pacific, reaching Hawaii and the West coast of the United States in a year or so.

But the damage caused by the tsunami also caused significant delays in reconstruction. Local governments worry about how far from the coast new residential areas should be built, amplifying concerns about the future for people who are being forced to live with strangers in temporary housing in an unfamiliar area.

But the main reason for reconstruction delays is

concern about radiation from the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Fear of radioactive contamination has stoked strong opposition from residents in areas that would need to accept rubble - even when the rubble is from areas nowhere near Fukushima. In addition, although incineration greatly decreases the volume of waste, the concentration of radioactive cesium has been increasing over the past year, making it difficult to find suitable final disposal sites.

The heads of local governments in various regions are attempting to convince residents not to fear radiation and to allow for dispersal of rubble.

But the unseen enemy has aroused concerns - particularly among mothers of young children - that are more a matter of psychology than of science. As the world’s only victim of a nuclear attack, Japan’s allergy to radiation is stronger than anywhere else.

Nevertheless, with the exception of the special circumstances caused by the Fukushima catastrophe, Japan is hardly the only country with a mess to clean up before it can reconstruct. Thailand, which earlier this year suffered prolonged flooding, is also facing the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild. Measures to prevent flooding and steps to repair damaged areas of Bangkok cannot even begin until the rubble is cleared. Haiti and New Zealand have also encountered similar problems.

Reconstruction constitutes a special kind of public-works project. The disposal of rubble, given its labor-intensive character, has a particularly marked effect on job creation, at least in the short term. One might call this “rubble economics.” It is the inevitable formula for recovery - one shovel load at a time. * Yuriko Koike is Japan’s former Minister of Defense and National Security Adviser.

he WSJ has an interesting if unsurprising article today, showing that expensive homes are less likely to be foreclosed on than cheaper homes.

This stands to reason, of course. For all the talk of strawberry pickers buying McMansions at the height of the subprime bubble, expensive homes are much more likely to be owned by rich people than cheap homes are. And if a rich person owes a bank somewhere north of a million dollars, the bank is likely to be quite aggressive in attempting to get all of the money it’s owed, rather than simply letting the borrower walk away from their house. For a $200,000 house, by contrast, the cost of aggressively pursuing the homeowner is much less likely to be worth the marginal benefit.

On top of that, there’s a reasonably liquid market for smaller homes - if you put them on the market in a fire sale, there’s a good chance that they will sell, quickly, for within 25,000 US dollars or so of their fair market price. In the million-dollar-plus range, however, homes stay on the market much longer, the discounts for fire sales are larger, there’s no real rental market, and the cost of maintaining the home while it’s unsold can be substantial.

That said, there is a problem here, and it’s not that people in expensive houses get to live rent-free for 792 days on average. Rather, it’s that people in normal-sized homes are treated unnecessarily badly by Fannie and Freddie. Smaller mortgages are more likely to be bundled into securities and later resold to investors with backing from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie and Freddie, the government-controlled mortgage giants, have set strict foreclosure timelines and will fine mortgage servicers that are found to be needlessly delaying the foreclosure process.

There’s no reason why mortgage workouts should be long, drawnout affairs. Indeed, if you’re going to do some kind of restructuring, it’s always better to do it sooner rather than later. But the fact is that the big banks in America are pretty incompetent when it comes to these things: they lose paperwork all the time, they don’t provide a single point of contact for home owners, their left hand doesn’t know what their right hand is doing, etc etc. But here’s the problem: as all those obstacles and delays get thrown up, the banks get ever closer to the Frannie-imposed deadline, and are effectively forced to foreclose even if they have good workout options. Freddie Mac tells the WSJ that it requires mortgage servicers to “explore every possible avenue to help a struggling borrower avoid foreclosure” - but if at first that servicer messes things up, Freddie’s far from sympathetic about giving them time to try to rectify the error.

It gets worse. The WSJ piece includes the story of Virgilio Wani and his wife, who became delinquent on their mortgage when they both lost their jobs. As soon as Mr Wani got a part-time job, he tried to start making payments again, but the bank refused those payments and foreclosed instead, handing title to Freddie Mac. What did Freddie Mac do with the house once it had title? First, it evicted the Wanis. Then, it started talking to them about a loan modification. Not to put too fine a point on it, this is the wrong way round.

It’s entirely possible that Freddie Mac and the Wanis will find a solution which allows the Wanis to get back the title to their home. So long as that’s a possibility, the Wanis should absolutely remain in their home: evicting them does nobody any good at all.

It’s a perennial frustration to me that foreclosure always and everywhere seems to be followed immediately by eviction. That’s just stupid, for all concerned. Kicking people out of their home creates a lot of deadweight losses which can’t ever be recovered. In a case like this one, where there’s a good chance that the original homeowner will regain title, the best solution is clearly for that family to remain in the home until the situation is resolved one way or the other.

But even when there’s no chance of the former homeowner being able to buy their home back, it still makes sense to keep that family in their home. These days, many if not most of the people buying homes out of foreclosure are buying those homes to rent out, rather than to live in. And it makes perfect sense to rent the home to the family which has been living there for years, if you can. It’s always worth a try.

So for me the important thing isn’t the amount of time between delinquency and foreclosure, but rather the amount of time between delinquency and eviction. Let’s allow families to stay in their homes even after they’ve been foreclosed upon, unless and until the home is sold to someone who doesn’t want to keep that family on as renters. It would improve the quality of life for millions of people, and would create economic value at the same time. What’s not to love? * Felix Salmon is the finance blogger at Reuters. The views expressed here are his own.

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THREE STAR Imperial Hotel Oasis Hotel Safari House Hotel Second Home Hotel Spring Continental Hotel Ibis Hotel Salmiya Ibis Hotel Sharq

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Iran to take gold payments from trade partners CAPITALS: Iran will accept payments from trading partners in gold in addition to dollars and other currencies, central bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani said, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Any nation can pay in its own currency, and Iran has already accepted goods as payment from China and India, the central bank said, according to IRNA. Iran will accept gold from any country, Bahmani said, according to the news agency.

BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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KUWAIT

DUBAI

QATAR

OMAN

ABU DHABI

BAHRAIN

EGYPT

SAUDI

0.17% 6127

1.9% 1730

0.6% 8747

0.5% 5838

0.7% 2611

0.7% 1149

2.4% 5350

0.8% 7226

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US Crude $106.55 $0.02 London Brent $125.25 $0.36 Kuwait Crude $121.41 $0.05 Information Courtesy: KAMCO

Strategic reserves

British Pound

Saudi Riyal

Qatari Riyal

Indian Rupee

Euro

Japanese Yen

UAE Dirham

Bahraini Dinar

Philippine Peso

Buy 0.3725 Sell 0.3733

Buy 0.4417 Sell 0.4426

Buy 0.003443 Sell 0.003451

Buy 0.0739 Sell 0.074

Buy 0.07542 Sell 0.07556

Buy 0.07624 Sell 0.07609 Buy 0.7348 Sell 0.73621

Buy 0.005673 Sell 0.005662 Buy 0.006496 Sell 0.006478

Prices in Kuwaiti fils As of February 29, 2012 Courtesy: KAMCO

EQUATE profits over $1 billion 2011, 20% increase from 2010

Oil gains on cheap ECB loans, Iran fears

Oil may come under pressure following comments from Energy Secretary Steven Chu that the United States is considering a release of oil from its strategic reserves.

The United States last tapped into its reserves in 2011 in coordination with other Western nations when Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil production dropped because of war and prices surged.

The Obama administration is under pressure to release stocks again because tensions with Iran have pushed up oil prices.

US Dollar

Buy 0.277 Sell 0.2775

Kuwaiti oil price down to $121.41 CAPITALS: The price of Kuwaiti crude dropped to 121.41 US dollars per barrel Tuesday, the state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said Wednesday. Despite the drop of the Kuwaiti crude prices, due to geopolitical factors in the Middle East region, world oil prices are still on the rise. Oil prices are expected to hike to its highest levels as a result of Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cutting off its oil exports to Europe.

In more news, Brent crude oil gained around one dollars per barrel on Wednesday, snapping two days of sharp falls, after the European Central Bank (ECB) allocated more than $500 billion for cheap loans, spurring buying of riskier assets.

Fears about supply disruption from Iran also pushed prices back towards 10-month highs.

Front-month Brent rose 97 US cents to $122.52 a barrel by 1243 GMT, after sliding $2.62 on Tuesday to settle at $121.55.

Brent is up over 10 percent this month and on track to post its strongest monthly gain since last February, though it has retreated from highs above $125 set last week.

US crude gained 34 cents to $106.89 a barrel.

The contract slipped $2.01 to settle at $106.55.

Banks grabbed 530 billion euros at the ECBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second offering of cheap three-year funds, fuelling hopes more credit will flow to businesses and government borrowing costs will ease.

See page 10

Sales value exceeds $2.5 billion for 1st time

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Investors will await a report from the US Energy Information Administration due at 1530 GMT, which will likely show crude oil stockpiles rose last week on higher imports, a Reuters poll found.

In a report late on Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said domestic crude inventories rose and oil product stocks fell as refineries cut processing rates and crude imports increased.

US crude stockpiles rose by 521,000 barrels

in the week to Feb. 24, compared with analystsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations for a 1.1 million barrel build, the API said. Gasoline inventories fell 916,000 barrels, the data showed, compared with forecasts for a 300,000-barrel rise. Also due on Wednesday, a report from the EIA pushed for by the Obama administration will examine global petroleum prices and production and could help determine how tough the US administration will be in enforcing sanctions against Iran. -Agencies

KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company announced a net profit of 1.05 billion US dollars for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2011, which is a 20 percent increase over what was achieved in 2010.

This was mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. Following its Board and General Assembly meetings held in Kuwait, EQUATE President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hamad Al-Terkait said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;These profits were realized due to operational excellence at all production units, as well as the increase in prices of petrochemical products globally as a result of stability in demand.â&#x20AC;?

Al-Terkait noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the first time in EQUATEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, sales value in 2011 has exceeded $2.5 billion which was a result of overall organizational efficiency at EQUATE as a world-class petrochemical Company, starting from production to sales and supply chain with a perfect fit partnership with its local and global customers.â&#x20AC;? EQUATE Board of Directors held its General Assembly on Tuesday Feb. 28, 2012, and lauded the Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall environmental achievements along with earning the award for the best plant in the Middle East.

In addition, EQUATE Board extended utmost appreciation to Al-Terkait for his pioneering leadership of EQUATE with outstanding global success at all levels

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since 2001, expressing congratulations and best wishes to Mohammad Husain who will succeed Al-Terkait as EQUATE CEO during April 2012.

Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over five million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

HSBC scaling down private bank in Middle East

KSE ends Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s session in green

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) price index ended trade in green on Wednesday, with the price index gaining 10.3 points, to reach 6,126.9 points, while the weighted index read 409.42, an up of 0.19 points.

The trading session saw 6,151 transactions worth nearly KD 45 million with over 540 million shares changing hands.

Six of the sector indices were in red, while only three were green, with the banking sector as the top gainer with 140.6 points, while the industrial sector was the biggest loser dropping 29.3 points. The mutual funds remained unchanged.

The Gulf Franchising Holding Company was the top gainer of the day, while the top loser was Ajwan Gulf Real Estate Company.

The trading began at Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) on Wednesday with the main indices mostly in red.

By 9:33 am, the price index came to 6,095.2 points, down by 21.4 points, while the weighted index came to 407.58 points, also down by 1.65 points.

Trades came to 1,611 transactions by the time of the reading, with value reaching KD 12.6 million and 175 million shares changing hands. -KUNA

DUBAI: Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest lender, is significantly scaling down its private banking operations in the Middle East, two sources told Reuters, and HSBC said its top private banker in the region had been reassigned to London.

The private bank has shrunk the number of relationship managers to around 10 from 50-60 at its peak 18 months ago, one banking source familiar with the matter said. As many as 200 private bankers were employed by the bank in 2008 in the region, a second banking source added.HSBC confirmed, as one of the sources had said, that Mark Stadler, HSBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global market head for the Middle East and Africa private bank since January 2011, had relocated to London. He will be replaced by Sobhi Tabbara, who was previously Business Area Head for MENA and Saudi Arabia, a spokesman for HSBC in Dubai said in an emailed statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not closing our private banking business in the Middle East, and it is not for sale. We have made a number of management changes across the private banking that mean that Mark Stadler has returned to the UK,â&#x20AC;?

the statement said. The move to downsize private banking operations in the Middle East is part of a push by the UK-headquartered lender to focus more on corporate and retail banking in the region and follows reviews of its Middle East business, the sources said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have made a cautious decision to scale back private banking in the region and focus on the corporate and retail side. The cost base in the private banking is considerably higher and competition really intense,â&#x20AC;? the first banking source said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Middle East is a key area for the bank, and there is more pressure to derive more profits from the region.â&#x20AC;?

HSBC, however, is not planning to fully close its private banking business in the region and may retain a small unit in Dubai, the source added.

Oil wealth

Some other global banks have been beefing up their wealth management and private banking arms to cater to the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich.

Last year, Swiss bank UBS poached Credit Agricoleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

top Middle East and Africa investment banker Albert Momdjian for a senior job at its emerging markets wealth management division.

Coutts, the private banking arm of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have all beefed up their wealth management divisions recently.

The Gulf Arab region, which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), together pump a significant share of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crude oil production, and global private banks have flocked to the region lured by the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing ranks of millionaires.

The Middle East and Africa wealth management sector grew 8.6 percent in 2010 and overall assets under management could grow to 6.7 trillion US dollars by 2015 helped by high oil prices, a study by the Boston Consulting Group in June last year showed.

The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s private banking sector has several pureplay private banks like Julius Baer and Sarasin Alpen, competing with diversified banks such as, J.P. Morgan Chase and UBS. -Reuters

US targets Dubai bank over Iran dealings

DUBAI: The US government has forced Dubai-based Noor Islamic Bank to stop channeling billions of dollars from Iranian oil sales through its accounts, part of Western measures to curb Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disputed nuclear program.

The move, which took place in December, is embarrassing for traditional US ally the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because the bank is partly state-owned and its chairman is the son of Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed.

A spokesman for Noor Islamic Bank said it complied with all international regulations on Iran. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we became aware, in December 2011, that unilateral US sanctions were to be applied against a number of Iranian banks we took preemptive action to end our business relationships with Iranian banks licensed in the UAE,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported that Noor had agreed in mid-December to close what people briefed on the operation characterized as Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s single largest channel for repatriating foreign currency oil receipts.

The paper said the bank had facilitated as much as 60 percent of Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign oil sales - estimated at 80 billion US dollars - by late last year. A banking source familiar with the matter said the bank had been winding down its positions since December and suggested that other local banks had been dealing with Iran, although Noor Islamic appeared to have carried the most volume.

It was not clear if other banks were under investigation, but government officials confirmed that Noor was the first to be targeted in the country. Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halkbank is also known to handle payments for Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil sales, but Noor Islamic appears to be the first in the world to yield to US pressure.

The United Nations and Western countries have imposed a series of economic sanctions on Iran during the past five years over what they say are efforts by Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charges.

In June, the US Treasury adopted a law allowing the president to punish foreign banks that carry out financial transactions â&#x20AC;&#x153;for the purchase of petroleum or petroleum products from Iranâ&#x20AC;? provided several conditions are met.

Targeted

An official at the UAE Ministry for Economic Affairs said only Noor Islamic Bank had been targeted so far. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course, as the UAE government, we will comply with the UN resolutions,â&#x20AC;? Khalid Al-Ghaith, the assistant foreign minister for economic affairs, told Reuters at a conference in Abu Dhabi. He said officials were in contact with the Americans to try to reduce any possible harm to the UAE banking system or its companies.

The commercial hub of Dubai - 150 kilometers (100 miles) across the Gulf - has benefited from the tougher sanctions, pushing more business its way. Re-export trade between Iran and the UAE boomed, but started to fall flat when financial transactions were targeted.

Dubai has long been a major trading partner with Iran. It has a sizeable Iranian expatriate population and hosts a fleet of traditional wooden dhows (boats) which transport goods across Gulf waters to Iranian ports every day.

Banking sources familiar with government discussions told Reuters earlier this month that the UAE central bank had stepped up the monitoring of banksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dealings with Iran in the past three months. Launched in 2008, the bank said its aim was to be a global player but it so far serves a mostly local market catering to individuals and businesses.

The bank returned to profitability in the first half of 2011.

Any impact from the US move was not clear.

In August, the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chief Executive Hussain Al-Qemzi told Reuters in an interview that the bank expected to break even in 2012. -Reuters

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10

BUSINESS IN REGION

ALWATAN DAILY THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Iran to take gold payments from trade partners Seeks to sell crude in Asia as sanctions bite

CAPITALS: Iran will accept payments from trading partners in gold in addition to dollars and other currencies, central bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani said, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Any nation can pay in its own currency, and Iran has already accepted goods as payment from China and India, the central bank said, according to IRNA. Iran will accept gold from any country, Bahmani said, according to the news agency.

The European Union and US have imposed sanctions to protest Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuclear program, restricting trade and financial transactions. The US and its allies say they suspect the program is a cover for developing atomic weapons, a contention Iran has denied, maintaining it is for civilian purposes, according to Bloomberg. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a confirmation of goldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s status as a store of value, a universal currency,â&#x20AC;?

Michael Cuggino, who helps manage about 15 billion US dollars of assets at Permanent Portfolio (PRPFX) Funds in San Francisco, said by phone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It transcends national borders.â&#x20AC;?

Gold has rallied for 11 years as investors sought a hedge against inflation and as the dollar fell. Futures, which reached a record of $1,923.70 an ounce in September, traded little changed at $1,786.40 at 5:06 p.m. in Singapore.

Central banks bought a record 439.7 metric tons last year and will continue adding bullion in 2012, according to the producer-funded World Gold Council. India and China are the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest bullion consumers.

Iran is trying to sell about 200,000 tons of crude oil from a supertanker floating off Singapore, traders said on Wednesday, a rare move that highlights how US

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and European sanctions on Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil exports are hindering sales.

In another sign of Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficulties, traders say a second supertanker that is heading towards China with about 270,000 tons of crude oil is carrying volumes which are above the usual termcontract supplies to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second largest oil consumer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iranian light sweet crude is being offered very to blenders, especially those that operate floating storages off Malaysia, and to players who sell refining feedstock into China, off the Delvar,â&#x20AC;? a Singapore-

Repsol profit hit by Libya conflict MADRID: Spanish oil company Repsolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net profit fell more steeply than expected in the fourth quarter as production was suspended in Libya by the uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

Repsol said on Wednesday it lost 220 million euros (295 million US dollars) of production in Libya during the fourth quarter.

Quarterly net profit, adjusted for oneoff gains and oil inventory costs, was 355 million euros, down 29 percent, missing the average forecast of 385 million in a Reuters poll of 10 analysts.

Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes fell 26 percent to 781 million euros, also missing a forecast for 971 million.

Strikes in Argentina also affected full-year net profit, which was 2.2 billion euros, down 53 percent, Repsol said.

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shares were down

based Western crude trader said.

Iran has offered 80,000 barrels per day of oil to Pakistan on a three-month deferred payment plan, an official in Islamabad said on Wednesday, in an attempt to soften the impact of Western sanctions and ease some of Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy needs. Energy-starved Pakistan is looking to increase its fuel imports to reduce power shortages that have crippled industry, prompted riots and shaved percentage points off its gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

The United States imposed the harsh-

est in a series of sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program on Dec. 31, targeting institutions that deal with Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central bank or other blacklisted Iranian financial entities.

Countries with significant Iranian oil imports are voluntarily cutting down on such purchases to avoid penalties.

Tehran has dramatically widened its reach on international grain markets in February, using currencies other than dollars and euros as alternative trade finance, with dealers also reporting talk of barter deals involving oil and gold. -Agencies

India seeks extra oil from Iraq in 2013

NEW DELHI: India has sought up to 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) extra oil from Iraq in 2012-2013, days after placing a similar request with top exporter Saudi Arabia to meet demand from its expanding refineries.

India now buys more than 340,000 bpd oil from its thirdlargest crude supplier, Iraq. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have requested them to supply three to four million tons (60,000-80,000 bpd) more in 2012-13,â&#x20AC;? Oil Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said after a meeting with Rowsch Shaways, Iraqâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deputy prime minister for trade.

Reddy said India was not looking to reduce supplies from Iran, which is facing western sanctions aimed at stopping its contentious nuclear program that many say seeks to develop weapons. Iran denies it has such an ambition.

New Delhi publicly says it follows only UN regulations but Indian firms are planning cuts of at least 10 percent in Iranian imports because Western sanctions make it difficult to keep doing business with the producer of the Organization of Petroleum exporting Countries (OPEC).

Last week, India sought up 100,000 bpd extra oil from Saudi Arabia every year, saying it was needed additional volumes to meet demand from its refineries that are expanding capacity.

Oil refining capacity in Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third-largest economy will rise by about 61 percent to 310.9 million tons a year or 6.22 million bpd by March 2017.

Iraq, which has the fourth-biggest oil reserves in the world, aims to boost its oil production caapacity to 8-8.5 million bpd by 2017, which could vault it into the top echelon of world producers.

Iraqâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain AlShahristani last month said his country was producing about 3 million bpd and was targeting to boost output to 500,000 bpd for 2012.

China, India and Japan, which together used to buy about 45 percent of Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crude, are looking for alternatives, including from Saudi Arabia and Iraq to gradually replace Iranian volumes. -Reuters

Dow sponsors ABCKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual business summit

ACK embraces â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Annual Engineering Design Competitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for secondary stage students

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statement the rising tension between the pus in Mishref on Saturday, March 3, 2012. The event will be held Business Council Kuwaitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (ABCK) annual company and the Argentine government under the auspices of Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Manbusiness summit. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kuwait is Open for Busi 7RWDO 0DUNHW over its Argentine unit YPF. aging Director for Government and Parliamentary Relations and nessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; summit, held on Feb. 15, 2012, brought

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The business summit concluded with an evening gala to celebrate ABCKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 27th anniversary.

Guests enjoyed live cultural performances from many countries by the cast of the Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYAC), sponsored by Dow. The cultural performances included representation from Argentina, Azerbaijan, India and Kuwait The ABCK is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of American businesses and American business interests in Kuwait.

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1. Main indices 73.57 percent to 10.90 billion shares.

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by 4.31 points, at a percentage of 1.06 percent. representing 34.41 percent of the total market trading vol67.20 million dominating the top place in this list, followed referred in the report.

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ALWATAN DAILY

MARKETS

Money flows into Saudi real estate bonds DUBAI: A flood of money into the bonds of Saudi Arabian property developer Dar Al Arkan is due to renewed confidence in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to repay its debt, but also to a general scramble to buy Saudi assets as the economy booms.

The yield on the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one billion US dollars, 2.817 percent floating rate Sukuk, due to mature this July, has plunged from above 25 percent at the start of January to around eight percent now as it became clear the Islamic bond would be repaid on schedule.

That drop has probably run its course now, traders say, but the yield on the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 maturity may have further to fall. It has already dropped to 10.7 percent from 14 percent at the start of the year. But the yield on the 2012 Sukuk has returned to its 2011 low; a similar move by the 2015 Sukuk would bring it to 10 percent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While there are concerns surrounding the development of the Saudi Arabian housing market, the Sukuk offers one of the highest profit rates in the region at 10.75 percent, which makes them visible to investors,â&#x20AC;? said John Bates, head of fixed income at London-based asset manager Silk Invest.

veloper, Emaar Properties has a $500 million, 8.5 percent Sukuk maturing in 2016 which is rated B1 by Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, one notch below the Dar Sukuk. That bond is yielding 7.2 percent.

Abu Dhabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest developer,Aldar, has a $1.3 billion, 10.75 percent conventional bond, rated B3 by Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, maturing in 2014. It is yielding 6.4 percent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Compared to Emaar 2016s, the Dar 2015s offer almost four percent extra yield,â&#x20AC;? said Chehayeb.

He added that Z-spread analysis, comparing the relative value of the bonds, showed value in the Dar Al Arkan Sukuk. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While a 300 basis points differential is acceptable, the current differential of 400 bps is still too wide.â&#x20AC;?

Each developer has its unique strengths; Dar Al Arkan has the demographic advantage of Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young population, which is expected to sustain strong demand in coming years, while Emaar is owned 32 percent by the government of Dubai and Aldar benefits from strong sovereign support. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In terms of comparing it to Dubai/Emaar, the imminent Dar maturity poses fewer sector-wide challenges than those in Dubai, given its overall debt burden,â&#x20AC;? Silk Investâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bates said.

Dar Al Arkanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weaknesses for investors include uncertainty over the quality of its land bank; it says it has about 35 million square meters (8,640 acres) of land, 85 percent of which are in the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh. Some 80 percent of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assets of about 23 billion riyals are land plots in a country where analysts say properties are hard to value.

Valuations may become more uncertain, at least in the short term, as a result of Saudi regulatory changes.

The consultative Shoura Council proposed imposing a tax on undeveloped plots of land, local media reported this month, which could push money out of unproductive land speculation into real estate development or other asset markets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For an investor who is positive about Saudi Arabia real estate, Dar is an attractive option. But the lack of clarity over the quality of its land bank is the top concern for any investor,â&#x20AC;? said a fixed income research analyst at a global bank operating in the region.

Regulatory changes could also help Dar Al Arkan, however. Some in the industry believe a long-awaited law facilitating mortgage lending could be passed this year, if the government can find ways to handle sensitive issues such as letting banks take away a borrowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home if there is a default.

Home loans currently exist in Saudi Arabia, but many are salary-based with payments taken out of the home buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salary when it enters his bank account, said Khan Zahid, chief economist at Riyad Capital. If passed, a mortgage law could increase activity greatly while stimulating the real estate market, he said. -Reuters

Recovery

The recovery in confidence in Dar Al Arkan, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest private property developer, has been dramatic. When the 2015 Sukuk was issued in 2010, investor demand was sluggish and the company had to settle for raising $450 million instead of its target of $500-700 million.

Like other Saudi real estate firms, the company is now benefitting from a range of factors. One is government support for the industry; although Dar Al Arkan is not explicitly backed by the government, official action has convinced investors that authorities would like to see the company succeed.

Last October, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Investment Fund approved a four billion Saudi riyal ($1.1 billion) facility to finance one of Darâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest projects, the Qasr Khozam development in Jeddah, estimated to cost 12 billion riyals.

Strong Saudi economic growth last year, estimated by the finance ministry at 6.8 percent, and increased government spending to ease social tensions after the Arab Spring uprisings elsewhere in the region have also helped Dar Al Arkan.

The company reported a strong liquidity position at the end of 2011 with almost 2.5 billion riyals of cash reserves. It said this month that it would rely on expected sales of about 800 million riyals per quarter to help repay its 4.6 billion riyals of debt maturing this year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dar generated almost $150 million in free cash flow in the fourth quarter alone, similar to what it added in totality in the past two years,â&#x20AC;? said Ghassan Chehayeb, research analyst at Exotix, an investment bank specializing

),/( $ UHDO HVWDWH GHYHORSPHQW SURMHFW LQ 6DXGL $UDELD $ Ă&#x20AC;RRG RI PRQH\ LQWR WKH ERQGV RI 6DXGL $UDELDQ SURSHUW\ GHYHORSHU 'DU $O $UNDQ LV GXH WR UHQHZHG FRQÂżGHQFH LQ WKH FRPSDQ\ÂśV DELOLW\ WR UHSD\ LWV GHEW EXW DOVR WR D JHQHUDO VFUDPEOH WR EX\ 6DXGL DVVHWV DV WKH HFRQRP\ ERRPV 5HXWHUV

in frontier markets.

Business is likely to remain strong this year. The government has set aside 250 billion riyals from its 2011 budget surplus to build 500,000 homes in the next few years; a shortage of supply for a young population - Jones Lang LaSalle estimates annual demand for housing to be between 150,000 and 200,000 units, much of it in the lowerand mid-income segments - means construction should be absorbed comfortably. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Saudi governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiatives to build homes and support infrastructure have further pushed positive sentiment in the name,â&#x20AC;? said Thomas Christie, fixed income trader at Rasmala Investment Bank in Dubai.

Economists polled by Reuters in December predicted Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gross domestic product growth would slow to a still-robust 4.0 percent this year. But the recent climb in global oil prices, and the possibility that Saudi crude production will expand to compensate for diminishing supply from sanctions-hit Iran, mean that growth estimate

Trading Prices of Kuwait Exchange Trading Prices of Kuwait StockStock Exchange

Company National Bank Gulf Bank Commercial Bank Ahli Bank Ahli United Bank International Bank Burgan Bank Kw Finance House Boubyan Bank

Ÿ

High

Low

1,180

1,160 475 710 640 870 250 445 820 560

485 710 650 920 255 455 830 570

Global Index - Banking Kw Investment Commercial Facilit.

Int'L Financial Adv. National Invest.

Kw Projects Ahlia Holding Coast Invest.

Int'L Investor Securities House Ind. & Fin. Inv. Securities Group Int'L Finance MARKAZ KMIFIC Aref Inv. Group Al AMAN Inv. ALOLA Inv. ALMAL Inv. Gulf Inv. House A'ayan Leasing Bayan Inv. GLOBAL Inv. Osoul Inv. KFIC KAMCO Nat. Int'l Holding Housing Finance MADAR Al Deera Holding Al Safat Inv. Al Salam Group Ekttitab Holding Al Qurain Holding Sokouk Holding Al-Madina Finance NOOR Tamdeen Inv. Exch KW BH Int'l Int l Exch.

Taiba Kuwaiti Holding

Kuwait Syrian Strategia Kuwait China Inv. Manafae Inv. Gulf North Africa Amwal Al Masar Al-Imtiaz

108 255 68 170 335 18.5 62 23.5 116 118 35.0 136 59 31 41.5 39.5 78 174.0 108.0

24.0 30.0 69.0 176 29.0 63 66 52 130

Ĺş

106 255 64 168 330 16.5 61 23.0 110 116 33.5 132 56 28 38.5 38.5 75 160.0 99.0 22.5 28.5 65.0 174 29.0 58 66 51 126

Global Index - Investment Kuwait Insurance Gulf Insurance Ahlia Insurance Warba Insurance Kuwait Re-Ins. First Takaful Ins. Wethaq Insurance

610 59 110 146 37.5 234 81 53.0 100 900 71 19.5 60.0 82 65 59 72 22.5 40.0 75 45.5 37.5 32.0 24.5 64 315

Global Index - Real Estate Nationl Ind. Group Pipes Ind. & Oil Kuwait Cement Refrigeration Ind. Gulf Cables & Elec.

Heavy eng. & Ship.

Marine Services Portland Cement Shuaiba Industrial Metal Collecting Kuwait Foundry

242 130 430 1,420

172 880 190 118 425

234 126 415 1,400 172 880 190 112 420

1180 475 720 640 870 250 450 830 560 318.05 110 255 67 170 330 18.0 62 25.0 130 23.5 230 116 118 50 52 34.5 134 59 28.5 71 39.0 48.5 66 26.0 244 51 38.5 51 39.5 76 170.0 108.0 25.0 30.0 70.0 29.0 172.0 255 114 29.00 58 66 53 51 64 42.50 128 82.63

300 610 455 148 220 122 40.50 44.28

300 560 455 148 220 122 40.50 43.03

Ÿ

58 110 146 210 37.5 234 118 81 50.0 120 100 900 71 18.5 58.0 82 65 59 80 34.0 71 22.5 87 17.5 40.0 57 75 118 45.5 36.5 31.0 27.0 24.0 134 134 220 64 310 53.88

59 112 136 210 37.5 230 118 80 52.0 120 100 870 71 19.5 59.0 82 60 59 80 34.0 72 22.0 87 17.5 40.0 57 80 118 43.0 39.0 32.0 27.0 24.0 134 134 220 63 315 53.30

š ź ź š š š ź ź ź ź ź

236 126 415 138 1,420 320 172 880 190 112 420

236 130 430 138 1,420 320 182 900 200 114 445

š Ÿ š š š š Ÿ

57 108 130 37.5 228 81 48.5 100 870 70 18.5 56.0 82 61 58 71 21.5 38.5 75 44.0 36.5 30.5 23.5 64 310

1160 485 710 650 920 255 455 820 560 317.79 108 255 65 168 335 17.0 62 25.0 130 23.5 230 112 116 50 52 34.0 136 58 30 71 41.5 48.5 66 26.0 244 51 38.5 51 39.0 77 172.0 104.0 23.0 29.0 65.0 29.0 176 255 114 29.00 63 66 53 52 64 42.50 128 82.54

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610 -

Global Index - Insurance Kuwait R.E. United R.E. National R.E. Salhia R.E. Pearl R.E. Tamdeen R.E. Ajial R.E. Massaleh R.E. Arab R.E. Union R.E. ERESCO Mabani INJAZZAT RE Inv. Holding Grp Int'L Resorts Commercial R.E Sanam R.E. Aa'yan R.E Aqar Kuwait R.E Holding AL Mazaya Al Dar National R.E Themar Int'L Holding Grand R.E Projects Tijara & R.E Invest Al Tameer Arkan Al-Kuwait R.E Al Argan Int'L Abyaar Munshaat First Dubai KBT Manazel REAM Mena Real Estate Al Moudon Intl. R.E Markaz Real Estate Kuwait Remal R.E

ź Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź š

Last Close 180.96 6,126.90 Last Prev.

Close Close

ź ź Ÿ š š Ÿ š Ÿ ź š š Ÿ š ź ź š Ÿ š š š ź Ÿ š š š š ź š Ÿ ź ź š š š š š Ÿ ź

Previous Close Change 181.01 -0.05 10.30 6,116.60 Trading Activity Tran. Value(KD) Chng Volume

Date of Closing Prices:

DTD -0.03% 0.17% Last Bid

Last Ask

MTD YTD 0.98% 0.92% 5.38% 4.39% Div. Annual Close High Low P/E Yield

977,500 300,000 40,000 30,000 2,075,000 1,350,000 770,000 955,000 115,000 6,612,500

28 7 1 5 85 26 20 37 17 226

1,152,800 143,900 28,400 19,250 1,851,900 337,950 346,350 789,150 64,650 4,734,350

1,160 475 710 650 910 250 450 820 560

1,180 485 750 670 920 255 455 830 570

3.4% 0.0% 2.1% 3.1% 1.5% 0.0% 0.0% 2.4% 0.0% 2.0%

1,180 510 790 680 920 260 475 900 590 326.42

1,100 475 710 640 790 236 450 820 560 317.17

15.27 33.26 81.72 17.62 32.13 24.25 12.13 23.36 106.53 18.72

-2 140,000 40,000 -2 34,120,000 -2 1,280,000 5 580,000 48,640,000 1.02,360,000 160,000 -4 5,800,000 280,000 -4 0.52,320,000 2 720,000 880,000 -1 3,680,000 2 2,320,000 3 2,000,000 0.52,560,000 1 8,220,000 2.0 11,320,000 4.02.0240,000 7,520,000 1.05.015,080,000 4.0 620,000 320,000 2,800,000 5 240,000 1 480,000 5,480,000 0.09- 160,200,000

5 3 233 23 25 266 44 2 110 8 25 17 20 41 27 24 41 142 273 3 68 213 8 4 49 5 9 128

106 255 64 166 330 17.0 61 23.5 110 116 34.0 134 57 30 41.0 64.0 39.0 76 172.0 104.0 22.5 28.5 176 275 29 62 66 51 51 128.0

108 260 65 170 335 17.5 62 25.0 238 112 118 34.5 136 58 30 41.5 71.0 242 56 39.5 77 174.0 106.0 25.0 29.0 65.0 178 280 30 67 56 52 64 130.0

0.0% 8.6% 0.0% 0.0% 6.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.4% 5 1% 5.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 9.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.4%

110 265 67 174 340 18.5 65 25.0 130 36.0 230 122 118 50 52 35.0 136 62 30 71 41.5 48.5 70.0 26.0 244 54 39 51 41.0 77 212.0 130.0 25.0 33.5 96.0 29.0 176 255 114 31 68 66 60 52 64 42.5 134.0 82.63

104 255 40 158 295 11.5 50 25.0 130 21.0 230 102 102 50 52 24.0 106 47 21 71 28.5 48.5 64.0 26.0 244 51 36 51 26.0 61 99.0 19.5 19.0 16.0 38.0 29.0 154 255 114 26 58 50 53 47 64 42.5 112.0 74.96

41.33 11.86

1,816

15,080 10,200 2,246,960 215,080 191,500 844,160 144,920 3,720 652,880 32,920 79,480 96,400 50,560 109,360 93,120 78,040 194,160 1,347,360 1,170,620 5,560 219,280 996,120 108,840 9,280 173,640 15,840 24,920 697,520 9,827,520

5,000 5,000

1 1

3,050 3,050

285 510 435 194 112 -

300 610 470 146 200 30.5

6.7% 4.1% 5.5% 6.8% 2.7% 0.0% 0.0% 4.7%

325 610 520 148 220 134 40.5 44.80

280 550 450 102 220 102 40.5 42.22

15.67 14.06 9.29 23.37 296.83

-1 11,520,000 -2 3,100,000 10 5,080,000 80,000 180,000 4.0 40,000 1 2.026,400,000 160,000 30 1,460,000 80,000 1.021,840,000 1.07,160,000 1,080,000 5 6,360,000 720,000 -1 560,000 0.5 1,200,000 1,520,000 40,000 -5 3 40,960,000 2.52,240,000 1.02,080,000 7,200,000 1 40,000 -5 2,370,000 0.58 143,470,000

72 27 116 1 8 1 263 4 42 2 151 105 11 95 12 12 14 8 1 225 25 23 56 1 65

57 108 144 208 35.0 234 108 80 49.5 100 890 70 18.0 56.0 82 65 58 79 32.0 71 21.5 92 39.5 75 116 45.5 30.5 24.5 23.5 32 61 305

58 110 146 210 38.5 238 50.0 130 102 900 72 18.5 58.0 83 59 36.0 72 22.5 40.0 56 85 120 36.5 31.0 27.5 24.0 134 33 64 310

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 9.5% 0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 6.2% 0.0% 5.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 5.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.0%

59 118 146 210 37.5 236 130 82 52.0 120 104 900 80 20.0 59.0 83 75 60 90 38.0 73 23.0 91 17.5 40.5 59 80 144 45.5 39.5 32.0 28.5 25.0 134 33 220 70 480 53.88

47 97 108 200 37.5 224 114 77 27.0 108 94 840 62 11.0 35.0 77 56 52 80 33.0 59 13.5 87 17.5 31.0 57 64 116 27.5 22.0 25.0 25.5 15.0 134 32 220 49 270 49.06

44.95 14.11 26.15 18.72

1,340

668,840 338,840 715,440 3,000 41,240 3,240 1,339,640 16,000 1,285,300 5,640 407,200 413,320 88,560 408,080 42,080 40,080 26,320 59,360 3,000 1,843,000 82,000 64,000 171,200 2,560 735,000 8,802,940

14,100,000 740,000 80,000 25,000 20,000 25,000 20,000 280,000 30,000

192 27 6 5 1 3 1 10 3

3,344,800 94,160 33,800 35,450 3,440 22,000 3,800 32,280 12,650

234 124 415 136 1,420 315 880 190 114 -

236 128 425 1,440 325 176 890 198 118 420

0.0% 0.0% 2.4% 3.6% 4.6% 3.1% 2.9% 11.4% 5.3% 0.0% 4.8%

260 134 470 158 1,480 345 222 920 200 116 495

214 120 415 138 1,380 315 172 660 180 102 420

71.79

-20 10 -10 10 50 5 5 -10 0.26-

50 Ex-D 1.25

-4 -15 -10 -20 -10 -2 -25

Upside

Some analysts argue there is an additional two to three price points of upside in Dar Al Arkanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 bond, which is rated BB- by Standard & Poorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and that the Sukuk could rally further after the repayment of the 2012 bond, which will reduce leverage and ease the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt maturity schedule.

A comparison with other big real estate developers in the region appears to support the case. Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship de-

05 / 01 / 2012

For more Information please contact "Global" at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net

For more Information please contact "Global" at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net Ĺş

may well be too conservative - and that the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget will stay comfortably in surplus, allowing it to continue financing real estate projects.

This ideal combination of factors is supporting a surge in Saudi equity prices, which may spill over into other assets such as real estate. The main stock index is up 12 percent so far this year at a 41-month high; Dar Al Arkanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shares are up 29 percent but have not yet regained last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peak.

Trading Prices of Kuwait Stock Exchange Date of Closig Prices: 29/02/2012

Date of Closing Prices: 29 / 02 / 2012 For more information please contact â&#x20AC;&#x153;Globalâ&#x20AC;? at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net

Global General Index KSE Price Index

11

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

87.88 13.55 1.81 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 31.36 0.00 116.80 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 9.23 22 77 22.77 11.92 39.84

0.00 5.19 12.46

12.84

16.93 5.23 16.98 40.87 22.71 0.00 15.31 28.75

6.67 25.08 12.18 5.12 45.99

23.07 18.82 0.00 0.00 17.61

16.95 6.49 7.66 157.27 117.52 11.52 24.93 24.44

ACICO

-

Global General Index 97 United Industries Boubyan Petroch.

600 KSE Price Index

Gulf Glass HilalCompany Cement 206 High Al Kout Ind. Project 1,140 National K-PAK Bank Gulf BankMaterial 495 Building Commercial 770 Nat. Ind.Co.Bank Ahli Bank 640 Equipment Holding 68 Ahli United Bank 850 Mena Holding International Bank 248 Consumer Industries 460 Burgan Bank Kuwait Gypsum 890 Kw Finance House 214 Qurain Bank Boubyan 590 Salbookh Trading 47 Global Index - Banking 178 IKARUS Kw Investment -Boubyan Int'L Ind.

96 590 206 Low 1,120 490 770 640 63 800 248 455 880 212 580 47 176 --

š źš źš š š

š š š š š ź Ÿ Ÿ š š š ź š ź š š Ÿ ź š š š 265 260 źź Commercial Facilit.

Global Index Industrial 41 40 Ĺş Int'L Financial Adv. NationalInvest.

Cinema 174 National 170 - źš KwProjects Hotels 300 - Ÿš Kw 300 400 šŸ Agility 420 12.5 Ahlia Holding 13.5 Coast Invest.

53 52 57 51 źŸ Market Complexes -850 -850 šź Int'L Investor ZAIN Securities House - šź 74.0 72.0 Safat Energy Ind. & Fin. Inv.Group Educational - šš -Securities Group - - šš Indep. Petroleum Int'L Finance National Cleaning 128 124 šŸ 110 MARKAZ 108 132 Sultan Center 122 šŸ KMIFIC - - šš Arabi Group Int'L Inv. Group City Group 530 530 šš Aref Inv. Group - š 2,040 2,000 Ÿ Wataniya Tele.

Investment Dar - š 110 Kw Gulf Link 106 Ÿ Al AMAN Inv. š Kw Cable ALOLA Inv.Vision 110 108 - šš Automated System ALMAL Inv. 50 49 - źš NAPESCO -Gulf Inv. House - - šš KCPC Leasing 270 265 - šš A'ayan K.S.HInv. 32.5 - 31.0 - šš Bayan Eyas - šš GLOBAL Inv. Hits Telecom - 89 - 85 šź Osoul Inv. Al Safwa Holding 23.5 -21.5 šź GULFINVEST - šš KFIC Human Soft KAMCO - šš 76 Privatization Holding 79 Int'l Leasing & Inv. -- - šš Nafaaes Holding - - šš Nat. Int'l Holding -National Slaughter - šź Housing Finance 108 106 Aref energy MADAR -- - šš Safwan 26.5 Al Deera Holding 26.5 69.0 64.0 šŸ Gulf Petroleum Al Safat Inv. - šŸ 23.0 Gulf Franchising 26.0 122.0 Al Salam Credit & Group Collection - 114.0 - Ÿš 39.0 ź 41.0 Ekttitab Holding 18.5 ź 19.5 National Ranges Al Qurain Holding š - š Burgan Well Drilling 16.5 Sokouk Holding 16.5 š - 38.5 - š IFA H&R Al-Madina Finance 40.0 ź 1,540 1,540 Combinted Group š NOOR š Jeeran Holding Tamdeen Inv. 160 158 - źš Palms KW BH Agro Int'l Exch.

-- - šš 72.0 73.0 SafatKuwaiti TEC Holding Taiba - šš 88 85 Mushrif Trading Kuwait Syrian - šŸ U it d P j t United Projects -Strategia - - šš 305 ALAFCO 295 53 53 šŸ Kuwait China Inv. Al-Muwasat -- - šš Manafae Inv. Gulf NorthHolding Africa - šŸ 218 Mashaer 210 Amwal - šš 270 Oula Fuel 270 Al MasarComm.

- šš Future 124 Al-Imtiaz 132 74 źź 76 Hayat Comm.

Global Index - Investment 60 58 źŸ Mubarrad Transport 51.0 48.0 KuwaitInsurance Resorts Kuwait - šŸ Advanced Technolgy - - šš Gulf Insurance -Yiaco Medical -- - šš Ahlia Insurance Al Jazeera Airways 475 470 źź 112 108 Warba Insurance Al Soor Fuel --- š Kuwait Re-Ins. First Takaful -- - šš Future Kid Ins. Wethaq -224 -222 šź K G L Insurance Al Nawadi - źš Global Index - Insurance Alrai Media 136 136 48 źš Kuwait R.E. 48 Zima Holding 100 - Ÿš United R.E. 100 -

Global R.E. Index - Services 118 National 126 200 Salhia R.E. Trans.

204 LiveStock 194 190 -108 Pearl -114 DanaR.E. Al-Safat 224 224 Tamdeen R.E. United Poultry Ajial R.E. 1,500 1,500 Kw FoodStuff Massaleh R.E. United Food Arab R.E. 30.0 30.0 Kout Food Union R.E. Global Index - Food 98 96 ERESCO 860 840 Mabani Sharjah Cement 86 85 75 74 INJAZZAT RE 100 Gulf Cement 96 Inv. 64 11.5 62 UmHolding QuwainGrp Cement 12.0 -100 -110 Int'L Resorts Fujaira Cement 78 77 Commercial R.E 124 Ras AlKheimah 124 70 65 Sanam R.E. ARIG 54 53 Aa'yan R.E United Gulf Bank Aqar Egypt Kw Holding 330 325 Kuwait R.E Holding Bahrain Kw Ins. 59 AL Mazaya 60 Gulf House 14.0 Al DarFin. National R.E 14.0 45 Inovest Int'L Holding 47 Themar -188 Grand R.E Projects -190 Ahli United Bank -22.0 Tijara & R.E Invest Ithmaar Bank 23.0 Al Tameer Global Index - Non-Kuwaiti Arkan Al-Kuwait R.E 70 70 Markaz Real Estate Safat Global Al Argan Int'L Funds Investment 28.5 28.0 Abyaar Al-Bareeq Holding 23.5 23.5 Munshaat AFAQ 25.5 First Dubai 26.0 Al-Shamel KBT 27.0 27.0 Al-Safat Real Estate 16.5 29.0 15.5 29.0 Manazel 40 40 Ajwan Real Estate REAM Specialities Group 280 280 Mena Real Estate Masaken Al Moudon Inter.

Intl. R.E --Dulaqan R.EEstate Markaz Real 57 56 Eid Food Kuwait Remal R.E 295 285 Maidan Index Clinic - Real Estate Global Flex

-

-

-

Nationl Ind. Group 232 Dar Al-Thuraya Real E 242 Pipes Ind. & Oil 128 126 Kw Medical Services Kuwait Cement 455 450 Amar For Fin. & Leas.

-Refrigeration Ind. 1,420 1,420 Total Parallel Market Gulf Cables & Elec.

Heavy eng. & Ship.

Total Services Market Marine 720 Portland 720 Global Cement Special Indices Shuaiba Industrial Global Index - Kuwaiti Co.'s 104 Metal Collecting 110 Global Index - 10 Large- Cap. Kuwait Foundry

Global Index - Islamic

Ÿź źŸ š š ź š š Ÿ š š ź š š źŸ Ÿź Ÿź źŸ š Ÿ Ÿ š ź š ź š š š š ź źš Ÿ š š ź š ź š ź ź š š š ź š ź š ź š Ÿ ź ź š š š š š źš Ÿš źš ź š š š ź

š š ź š š š š ź š

Last Close Previous Close DTD MTD YTD - Change 212 212 4.7% 224 196 24.45 206 212 -0.40% -1.55% 177.24 -0.7050,200 -1.55% 520,000 8 97 176.5397 0.0% 102 94 35.25 97 98 600 2,260,000 49 -27.30 1,355,700 6005,726.90 - 5,754.20 5.8% 600 550 85.56 600 -1.50% -0.47% 610 -1.50% 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,220 21.05 1,400 2.9% Last Prev.

Trading Activity Div. Annual Close Last Last 206 400,000 3 82,400 206 216 206 10.69 198 216 4.9% Close Close Volume Tran. Value(KD) Bid Ask Yield High Low P/E Chng 350 350 Ex-D 350 350 7.76 5.7% 350 3,796,050 1120 1120 69 3,377,500 1,140 1,120 14.74 300 300 - 1,120 300 1,100 300 14.44 300 3.6% 6.7% 275 20 495 495 830,000 407,950 490 495 - 0.0% 510 490 33.95 228 Ex-D 228 228 226 27.57 220 0.0% 770 770 10,000 1 7,700 - 770 780 790 770 88.62 295 295 320 260 18.93 305 310 1.9% 2.7% 640 -20 5 235 6,400 660 10,000 64068 660 - 3.1% 66068 64051 17.34 209,920 63 68 3,120,000 32.59 0.0% 800 50 850 350,000 23 282,700 840 850 1.6% 850 790 29.68 33 33 33 33 0.00 0.0% 16 248 248 700,000 173,600 246 248 0.0% 255 248 23.59 102 102 102 93 0.0% 460 465 -5 500,000 10 229,750 460 465 0.0% 475 460 12.26 128 128 128 128 17.06 9.4% 890 -10 880 1,280,000 66 1,127,050 880 2.3% 900 880 25.07 870 214 540,000 214 115,040 222 210 112.24 8.63 214 0.0% 0.0% 212 590 590 607,850 - 1,035,000 3317 590 580 590 590 3,720 47 46 1 1 80,000 50 41 46 47 0.0% 319.37 319.54 8,092,500 6,639,050 2.0% 319.54 318.41 18.61 0.17240 176 35,280 176 200,000 6 180 162 10.34 176 178 0.0% 106 106 - - - - 10276 10677 0.0% 10688 10670 40.56 75 75 0.0% 260 265 -5 250,000 14 65,750 260 265 8.5% 265 260 12.09 1.34168.23 169.57 169.61 163.04 10.68 5,434,640 22,440,000 367 2.7% 40 1,020 170 280 300 420 12.5 52 57 25.0 850 130 74.0 31.0 110 230 310 102 126 108 132 50 84 44.0 530 52 2,040 74 108 28.5 63 108 238 49 375 23 265 71 260 31.0 260 48.5 85 68 22.5 20.5 270 26.0 244 76 94 92 51 154 36 108 51 600 26.5 69.0 75 26.0 120.0 120 39.5 19.0 19.0 255 16.5 490 38.5 1,540 29.0 76 158 86 255 73.0 114 86 26.00 325 68 305 53 130 60 46.5 218 64 270 42.50 265 128 76 75.90 59

41 1,020 172 280 295 410 12.5 53 52 25.0 860 130 75.0 31.0 110 230 310 102 124 112 124 50 84 44.0 530 52 2,000 74 106 28.5 63 108 238 49.5 375 23 265 71 260 31.0 260 48.5 90 68 23.5 20.5 26.0 270 244 76 94 92 51 154 36 110 51 600 26.5 65.0 75 23.5 112.0 120 41.5 19.5 19.0 255 16.5 490 39.0 1,520 29.0 76 160 86 255 73.0 114 85 26.00 325 68 300 53 130 60 46.5 212 64 270 42.50 265 130 77 76.02 58

1,680,000 1,040,000 110,000 8,270,000 7,040,000 - 10 1,280,000 -1 5 16,880,000 - -10 1,445,000 1.05,960,000 - -- -2.0 1,620,000 -8 680,000 3,960,000 - - 55,000 40 55,000 2 2,180,000 - 500,000 -1 320,000 - - 80,000 1,840,000 - - 18,400,000 - -5 59,040,000 - -1 - - 23,360,000 - - - - --2 60,000 - - - 4.0 240,000 12,040,000 2.5 7,520,000 8.0 - 11,180,000 2.01,920,000 15,440,000 0.5480,000 0.510,640,000 20,000 2.0- 80,000 - -1,320,000 1,200,000 1.0 - - 390,000 -5 200,000 - - -6 2,040,000 - 120,000 - - -1.02 1,240,000 560,000 0.12-1 40,720,000 1,480,000

51.0 325 640 560 375 485 475 110 242 220 114 104 40.50 222 80 43.43

48.0 325 640 560 375 485 480 118 242 220 114 104 40.50 224 80 43.63

136 48 110 100 767.68 124 200 194 37.5 112 224 126 120 1,500 82 390 30.0 500 108 364.06 97 860 85 75 100 11.5 64 38.0 110 78 124 65 132 54 230 90 330 38.0 455 59 72.0 14.0 91 47 17.5 188 31.0 22.0 59 46.51 70 122 48.5 124 28.0 144 23.5 106 25.5 250 27.0 29.0 15.5 40 134 280 134 57 220 345 57 106 295 1,860 49.73

136 49 110 99 768.25 120 204 192 37.5 112 234 126 120 1,440 82 390 30.5 500 108 352.01 98 850 90 73 102 12.0 62 38.0 108 77 124 70 132 55 230 90 325 38.0 455 63 72.0 14.5 91 45 17.5 192 31.024.5 59 47.16 74 122 48.5 124 28.5 144 24.5 106 26.0 250 27.0 26.5 16.5 55 134 280 134 57 220 345 58 106 290 1,860 49.75

3.0 120,000 -2 -- - - - - 5 100,000 -8 120,000 65 Ex-D - - - - - --2 15 460,000 0.19- 120,000 6 160,000 18 -1 80,000 9 1 920,000 2,078 0.57184,335,000 4 105 3,100,000 12 -4 2 520,000 2 40,000 - 87 6,320,000 3 10.0100,000 60 2,500 1 1 80,000 0.56,362,500 12.04 -1 320,000 890

232 89.0 128 65 450 65 150 1,420 335 212 720 180 Ÿ 104 ź 460

242 -10 13,220,000 89.0 - 154 128 140,000 6 65 470 -20 50,000 2 65 150 - - - 860,000 1,460 -40 2,500 111 335 6,151 212 - 540,145,000720 Close 230,000 19 Prev. Close 180 189.88 189.76 106 -2 80,000 3 186.88 460 186.46 -

36.0

Ÿ

36.0

-1 -2 5 -

10-5 1,935,000 1,680,000 120,000 2-2 4,080,000 0.5-2 2,000,000 2,920,000 2 1,100,000 1 240,000 200,000 1,000,000 -5 -1 200,000 20,000 Ex-D 440,000 -4 80,000 0.5- 2 800,000 - -4 1,680,000 - -3 4,240,000 16,720,000 0.65-4 320,000 - - 0.5- 2,720,000 1.080,000 0.5240,000 Ex-D 35,040,000 2.5 720,000 1,200,000 1.080,000 - -15 60,000 - -1 240,000 5 2,110,000 0.02- - 53,085,000 -

Ex-D

562.38

-

13 20 5 188 46 22 245 63 78 - - 53 18 116 - 1 13 63 14 4 - -8 22 - 197 247 - 241 - - -3 - 2 171 72 212 24 120 5 93 -5 4 - 14 24 - 29 - 62 12 - 3814 55829

5733 263 1533 27 3 2 17 4 2 11 1 10 20 43 233 2 - - 12 1 3 4 8 8 1 -2 - 6 47 332 -

559.00

-

67,160 40 960 177,720 168 33,000 295 3,424,150 90,920 415 12.5 67,280 921,720 5157 - 840 1,228,250 436,200 73.0 - - - 205,720 126 73,920 106 508,400 128 - -85 29,150 110,550 2,020 234,960 106 27.0 54,920 108 15,840 49 - 21 21,250 265 58,760 31.0 - 1,581,360 64.0 1,332,280 -22.0 - -76 1,799,240 - -87 - 134 6,440 106 - 550 6,360 26.0 798,800 68.0 189,280 26.0 1,305,280 - 118.0 77,080 293,160 18.5 18.0 7,920 16.0 470 419,440 38.5 30,800 1,540 12,680 15672 - -86 95,120 72.0 103,800 -86 335 - 63 115,250 300 10,600 52 - 120 436,360 216 32,400 265 - - 280 157,920 41,920 124.074 2,702,550 87,360 59

5,880 - - 47,050 13,200 - - 102,280 13,200 21,760 3,840 92,000 14,240,890 383,920 104,680 7,680 702,520 22,400 3,750 2,400 713,950 31,160 1,656,950 142,880 8,960 398,840 23,960 181,800 113,880 18,520 24,800 67,400 10,720 6,550 26,160 1,120 36,920 316,120 94,920 1,316,710 22,400 - - 76,880 1,880 6,160 946,080 20,880 19,240 3,200 16,800 - 13,520 610,850 4,151,200 -

-

51.0 300 510 360 460 465 108 238 - - 220 75 134 48 99 122 200 192 - 110 126 110 1,480 510 112 95 860 71 11.598 35.564 77 108 124 53 320 13.5 90 - 47 30.0 186.0 70 116 28.0 23.5 106 25.0 24.5 29.0 15.5 - 260 29 218 55 29084

33.5

3,111,120 -17,800 122 22,550 455 - 150 40,880 1,420 3,550 310 45,074,050 165,600 Change 710 178 0.12 8,480 104 -0.42 435

3.38

40

0.0%

3.9% 1,080 172 0.0% 305 6.7% 0.0% 300 420 0.0% 9.5% 13.0 52 - 0.0% 0.0% - 850 0.0% 23.5% 0.0% 0.0% 74.0 33.5 - 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 335 9.7% 0.0% 128 0.0% 110 132 9.3% 0.0% -89 0.0% 0.0% 550 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2,040 2.5% 0.0% 108 0.0% 29.5 0.0% 0.0% 11068 0.0% 10.5% 50 - 0.0% 5.3% 375 0.0% 24 1.9% 270 0.0% 6.0% 32.5 - 0.0% - 0.0% 3.8% 0.0% - 85 0.0% 0.0% -22.5 0.0% - 0.0% 0.0% 23877 0.0% 0.0% -97 0.0% 0.0% 54 - 0.0% 5.2% 0.0% 108 0.0% 0.0% 570 3.7% 0.0% 27.0 69.0 0.0% 0.0% -0.0% 120.0 130 0.0% 0.0% 39.0 0.0% 19.0 0.0% 20.0 0.0% 270 0.0% 16.5 0.0% 0.0% 490 0.0% 39.0 4.5% 1,560 0.0% % 80 0.0% 3.8% 160 9.3% 27091 5.1% 0.0% 73.0 0.0% 0.0% 2787 0.0% 9 2% 340 0.0% 9.2% 73 3.3% 305 0.0% 53 5.4% 61 - 0.0% 47 218 10.8% 0.0% 69 270 0.0% 0.0% - 285 0.0% 9.4% 128.076 0.0% 13.2% 60 2.4% 0.0% 0.0% 325 6.2% 0.0% 610 4.5% 375 5.2% 2.7% 500 475 9.1% 0.0% 114 242 0.0% 2.7% 110 106 0.0% 0.0% 43.0 224 0.0% 2.3% 83 4.7% 6.3% 136 0.0% 49 0.0% 120 0.0% 0.0% 100 11.8% 126 0.0% 202 194 10.0% 0.0% 37.5 4.5% 112 0.0% 224 - 4.5% 0.0% 0.0% 130 1,500 4.3% 6.1% 85 400 1.3% 0.0% 31.5 4.0% 530 6.5% 118 3.8% 0.0% 98 87085 0.0% 5.9% 7685 0.0% 10.0% 12.0 100 0.0% 0.0% 37.065 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 79 110 8.1% 0.0% 65 126 5.7% 0.0% 54 0.0% 0.0% 91 234 9.1% 0.0% 40.5 335 0.0% 7.7% 60 0.0% 14.5 0.0% 0.0% 94 - 5.5% - 47 0.0% 5.3% 33.5 188.0 0.0% 0.0% 57 0.0% 3.9% 74 0.0% - 0.0% 126 0.0% 28.5 - 0.0% 0.0% 25.0 0.0% 0.0% 25.5 0.0% 255 3.2% 28.0 0.0% 0.0% 16.0 0.0% 0.0% 40 3.7% 130 280 0.0% 2.5% 32 57 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 57 - 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 295 1,920 1.1% 0.0%

48.5

232 93.0 130 70 465 -70 1,440 340 216 720 DTD 190 0.06% 108 -0.22% -

0.61%

0.0%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.2% 7.7% 3.3% 0.8% 4.6% 3.0% 4.68% 2.4% 13.9% 5.6% 0.0% 4.3%

42 40 990 1,100 174 170 280 280 305 295 420 340 13.5 12.5 5457 5241 25.0 25.0 900 840 130 130 75.0 45.0 36.0 31.0 110 110 230 230 295 345 102 102 134 110 116 108 108 132 5097 5084 44.0 44.0 530 530 52 52 1,920 2,040 74 74 95 110 28.5 28.5 11268 10863 230 238 51 49 340 395 23 22 260 305 71 71 260 260 31.5 31.0 260 260 48.5 48.5 132 68.0 68.054 14.0 23.5 20.5 20.5 26.0 26.0 270 280 24476 24461 94 9490 104 51 51 154 154 36 3691 110 51 51 520 620 26.5 27.5 30.0 74.0 75 75 16.0 26.0 99.0 120.0 120 140 19.5 41.5 19.5 12.0 19.0 19.0 255 198 17.0 16.5 490 425 39.0 38.0 1,580 1,500 29.0 29.0 89 15674 162 25586 25591 73.0 57.0 114 114 104 2680 28 335 270 68 68 280 315 53 55 130 130 60 60 47 47 172 218 64 64 265 305 42.5 42.5 300 265 132.081 128.070 76.32 60 75.90 51

17.46 88.93 12.13 13.98 1.33 0.00 13.02

23.89 0.00 16.96 0.00 20.76 0.00 53.09 0.00 13.21 0.00 0.00 0.00

11.89 7.13 9.22 0.00 11.97 9.19 313.83 32.31 0.00 13.80

12.48 0.00 116.80 9.60 0.00 0.00 14.91

6.36

0.00

0.00 71.64 106.89 16.84 0.00 3.14 8.28 7.35 22.77 11.92

9.71

60 55 60.55 43.00

5.09 7.80 7.20 22.89 0.00 16.17

5.19 10.01

44.0 51.0 325 325 640 640 560 560 345 390 520 485 410 480 118 110 270 242 220 220 134 114 104 114 40.5 40.5 246 218 44.80 92 43.43 80

3.57 16.97 25.05 12.90 12.06 9.91 8.47 17.37 16.90 296.83

116 156 49 48 110 110 100 99 769.58 744.62 120 128 200 208 182 222 37.5 37.590 112 234 224 126 126 130 120 1,420 1,500 82 82 340 390 30.5 30.0 500 570 108 108 364.06 345.74 100 96 86095 84044 76 7355 108 12.566 11.543 38.0 38.0 114 46 78 77 126 118 75 65 132 132 54 55 232 188 90 90 330 250 38.0 38.0 455 455 63 59 74.0 40.5 14.5 14.0 91 91 17.5 17.5 31.0 31.0 59 59 47.16 40.74 78 70 1,220 1,220 48.5 48.5 144 124 29.0 28.0 24.5 23.5 26.0 25.5 28.5 27.0 16.5 15.5 134 134 32 32 220 220 57 60 295 270 49.8649.73-

12.14 37.20 12.83 12.19 22.21 17.83

-

-

232 260 130 128 470 450 158 150 1,460 1,420 340 335 212 222 710 740 MTD 180 0.64% 180 104 116 -1.43% 460 460

0.08%

11.59 5.86 5.75 12.60

16.20

5.54 11.88 25.40 9.28 15.28 11.54 39.65 5.29

21.70 0.00 14.56

9.92

26.32

35.93 7.50 8.10 47.94 4.15 10.07

19.44 69.15

10.68

11.37 0.00 5.38 27.28

20.67 9.93 23.07

9.61

18.82 63.06 0.00 11.03 0.00 16.27

14.44

70.58 18.38

10.34 6.49 8.02 14.55 193.84 96.15 YTD 10.91 0.18% 23.15 -1.91% 26.77

0.07%

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

12

ALWATAN DAILY THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

April 21, 2009 ############## Bull/Bear Indicator Bull/Bear Indicator 6%

1% 6%

Dubai Oman

113 111

111

Qatar

111

-2%

-1%

-6%

Kuwait

90

GCC Best Performers

Saudi

95 29-Nov-11 85

29-Dec-11

29-Jan-12

MENA Best Performers

-1%

29-Feb-12

Close

-6% -2

S&P Pan3-Feb-09 Arab Large/18-Feb-09 Mid Composite S&P 20-Mar-09 GCC Large/ Mid Composite 19-Jan-09 5-Mar-09 4-Apr-09 19-Apr-0

1

4 UPPUnion Properties

Period's Liquidity 1 Ratio (PLR x)*

-1

NRGalfar National Real Estate Co. GEC Engineering & Contracting

MENA Indices Highlights

SAR5.60 12.30 SAR

7.4% 9.8%

KWD 0.146 OMR 0.703

7.4% 8.8%

AED 1.07 QAR 6.35

7.1% 8.6%

DFMDubai Financial Market KCB Al Khaliji Commercial Bank SULSultan Center Food Products Co.

Country (Index) Sa Saudi Arabia (Tadawul All Share Index)* Country (Index) Ku Kuwait (KSE Weighted Index) UASa UAE (ADX Index) Saudi Arabia (Tadawul All Share Index) UAE (DFM(KSE Index) Ku Kuwait Weighted Index)

Index Level

Index 7,214 Level

% Chg.

52 Wk High

YTD

Trailing

QAR 21.60

8.0%

BKMBankMuscat

OMR 0.720

8.0%

Mkt. Cap. USD million

52 Wk 7,169 High

525,323 Wk Low

Turnover 2,705 USD million

Mkt.379,318 Cap. USD million

12.87

1.97

101,239

PE 13.82

PB1.48

69,021 264,263

8.90 10.24

1.09 1.77

KCEKuwait Cement Co.

KWD 0.415

IFC International Finance Co.

KWD 0.112% Chg. -3.5% Close

12.4% YTD

409

0.0%

0.9%

2,611 5,250

0.7% -4.0%

8.6% 9.3%

2,775 10,090

2,293 4,130

58 2,183

467

396

162

PE

Trailing

GCC Worst Performers

PB

MENA Worst Performers

1,730 406

1.9% 1.8%

27.9% -0.2%

1,698 787

1,301 316

228 718

36,125 98,547

10.01 9.99

0.81 1.52

8,747 2,695

0.6% 0.6%

-0.3% 12.8%

8,892 5,148

7,489 2,137

68 122

124,689 69,783

11.65 7.29

OmOman UAE(MSM (DFMIndex) Index)

5,838 1,745

0.5% 1.9%

2.5% 6.6%

6,416 5,860

5,419 1,433

26 305

18,335 37,413

10.88 6.87

1.90 FAC PCE Kuwait Portland Cement 1.37 Commercial Facilities Co. Co. 1.62 ARE AREF Energy Holding Co. 0.88 238 Rabigh Petrochem.

BaQa Bahrain Qatar (BSE (DSMIndex) Index)

1,149 5,590

0.7% 3.9%

0.4% -18.8%

1,433 12,627

1,129 4,230

1 196

17,202 65,352

8.99 8.85

Eg Egypt (EGX 30 Index)

5,347

2.3%

47.6%

5,628

3,587

118

62,317

10.95

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

1,960

0.3%

-1.7%

2,264

1,921

12

26,531

13.53

11,367

-0.1%

2.2%

12,840

10,785

62,988

16.49

1.6%

1,425

1,164

1.1%

513

465

Ba Bahrain (BSE Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)

Eg Egypt (Hermes Egypt Index (HFI))*

Le Lebanon (Beirut SE Index)

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

Pa Palestine (Al-Quds Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)*

Tu Tunisia (Tunis SE Index)

Le Lebanon (Beirut SE Index)* *Market Closed

1,681 463

5.1% 0.4%

1,196

0.3%

482

0.2%

4,768

0.7%

2,825

10,621

-

2.2% -

0.7%

12,109

-6.8%

2,903

8.5%

1,033

2.4%

5,044

4,224

46

1,572

-

2,551

4,766

4,059

9,406

-

-

-7.2%

2,119

1,043

Pa Palestine (Al-Quds Index) * Market Closed

546

0.9%

23.6%

739

407

Tu TunisiaClosed (Tunis SE Index)* * Market

3,282

-

13.6%

3,418

2,837

0

KWD 1.160 SAR 48.00

-1.7% -8.6%

-6.8%

8.07

1.29

101 Riyad Bank

SAR 24.70

-6.4%

7.67

1.56

33,782

12.71

2.15

59,990

18.36

3.95

8,507

6.47

0.86

2,079

8.67

2.50

201 Corp. (KSA) 703Saudi Zain -Basic SaudiIndustries Arabia (KSA)

343,553,085 67,170,816

6,576

13.85

1.92

115 235Alinma Saudi Bank Kayan(KSA) Petrochemical Co. (KSA)

119,955,261 53,324,500

1.57 3.63

6.35

0.87

9.43

9,701

-

-1.8% -8.9%

SAR 13.70

2,531

2

KWD 0.108 SAR 22.95

225 Saudi Industrial Inv. Grp.

10,333

3

-3.5%

KWD 0.880 -13.1% -2.2% KWD 0.265

0.88 201 NBK National Bank of Kuwait 1.74 Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

1.43

% Chg.

1.68

63,640

6

Close

9.50

18,727

1

67

14,635

1,094

15,024

4

328

-3.3%

0.2%

6.5%

QGTQatar Gas Transport Co.

Turnover USD million

0.6% % Chg.

5,478

KWD 0.132

52 Wk Low

QaUAUAE Qatar (DSM Index) (ADSM Index)

OmOman (MSM Index)

% Chg.

AED 0.48% Chg. 10.3% Close

115Kingdom Alinma Bank 3 428 Hldg. Co.

Period's Liquidity Ratio (PLR x)*

MENA Indices Highlights

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi

-4%

Palestine

0%

Bahrain Saudi Oman Bahrain

Dubai

95

Kuwait

Abu Dhabi Qatar Abu Dhabi

Palestine

100

Dubai

Saudi Dubai

Return DailyDaily Return (%)(%)

105

100

0%

0%

1%

Qatar Saudi

105

2%

Oman Qatar

110

4%

Kuwait Oman

110

Jordan Kuwait

113

Jordan Egypt

115115

DailyIndex Index Performance Snapshot Daily Performance Snapshot

Bahrain Bahrain

Rebased RebasedPerformance Performance

14.73

GCC Highest Turnover

Turnover (USD)

MENA Highest Turnover

1.18

115 Alinma Bank (KSA)

1.68

201 Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (KSA)

273,360,256 221,203,974

Turnover (USD)

82,750,073

430 Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co. (KSA)

NBKNational Bank of Kuwait (KUW)

97,126,838

SAUDI ARABIA *Market Closed

KFI Kuwait Finance House (KUW)

88,742,222

Rebased Performance

EMAEmaar Properties (UAE) Best Performers

64,280,166

Summary

7,214 (0.6%)

Tadawul Index (% Chg.)

120

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

117

2.33

Advance/Decline Ratio

115

10,144,498

Turnover (SAR '000)

1,422,631,807

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

111

2250.SSE Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

7,169 / 5,323 2280.SSE Almarai Co.

Tadawul Index 52 week High / Low

110

Close

92% 1150.SSE Alinma Bank

43Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co. 29-Dec-11

29-Jan-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

29-Feb-12

4.5%

105.75

3.4%

98.75

2.9%

1090.SSE Samba Financial Grp.

52.25

2.0%

Turnover (SAR) 1,025,237,640 4300.SSE Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co. 829,625,505 1050.SSE Banque Saudi Fransi 310,354,149 1211.SSE Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

20Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

95 29-Nov-11

7.4%

23.15

Worst Performers

1 Alinma Bank

100

12.30

3050.SSE Southern Province Cement Co.

Highest Turnover

105

% Chg.

70Zain - Saudi Arabia

251,924,147

7030.SSE Zain - Saudi Arabia

23Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.

199,993,536

2350.SSE Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.

Close

% Chg.

9.20

-1.6%

46.00

-0.7%

31.00

-0.6%

7.90

-0.6%

16.55

-0.6%

Saudi SE

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

Turnover (SAR '000)

Volume ('000)

52-Week High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

Trailing PE

PB

1 Al Rajhi Bank

78.75

0.3%

79.00

78.00

108,073

1,373

78.75

65.75

0.0%

13.3%

7.1%

118,125,000

16.0

3.6

1 Alinma Bank

12.30

7.4%

12.35

11.35

1,025,238

87,062

12.30

8.85

0.0%

31.6%

23.6%

18,450,000

42.8

1.2

2 Almarai Co. 1 Arab National Bank

105.75

3.4%

109.00

102.00

68,560

651

103.50

83.75

2.2%

6.8%

13.7%

24,322,500

21.3

3.6

31.90

0.3%

32.10

31.50

1,327

42

35.18

26.31

-9.3%

16.0%

5.1%

27,115,000

12.5

1.6 2.3

1 Bank AlBilad

26.70

1.5%

27.40

26.20

43,537

1,619

27.20

16.55

-1.8%

34.5%

45.9%

8,010,000

24.5

1 Bank Al Jazira

24.20

0.8%

24.40

24.05

18,412

760

24.20

14.95

0.0%

42.8%

49.8%

7,260,000

nmf

1.6

1 Banque Saudi Fransi

46.00

-0.7%

46.90

45.80

9,958

215

50.00

35.60

-8.0%

9.3%

12.7%

33,267,858

11.4

1.7

4 Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

9.20

-1.6%

9.40

9.00

310,354

33,933

9.70

6.05

-5.2%

26.9%

5.1%

9,936,000

9.1

0.6

4 Emaar the Economic City

9.45

0.0%

9.60

9.30

98,851

10,494

9.60

5.65

-1.6%

28.6%

46.5%

8,032,500

nmf

1.1

7 Etihad Etisalat Co.

62.75

0.0%

64.00

62.00

109,955

1,743

62.75

43.00

0.0%

19.5%

35.5%

43,925,000

8.6

2.4

4 Jabal Omar Development Co.

16.25

1.3%

16.35

15.85

70,916

4,390

16.05

11.10

1.2%

33.7%

19.3%

15,102,750

nmf

1.7 9.3

140.50

-0.4%

141.75

140.50

6,635

47

146.67

81.33

-4.2%

0.9%

58.8%

8,430,000

16.4

4 Kingdom Holding Co.

11.05

0.9%

11.15

10.90

10,952

991

11.40

6.95

-3.1%

24.9%

40.8%

40,949,999

nmf

1.6

2 National Industrialization Co.

42.90

-0.2%

43.10

42.50

45,902

1,072

45.10

26.36

-4.9%

5.4%

50.3%

23,913,681

9.8

2.2

4 Jarir Marketing Co.

2 Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.

24.50

1.0%

24.85

24.10

94,072

3,836

29.80

18.30

-17.8%

5.4%

8.9%

21,462,000

nmf

2.7

1 Riyad Bank

25.90

0.0%

26.00

25.70

10,207

394

26.50

21.10

-2.3%

11.2%

7.7%

38,850,000

12.3

1.3

1 Samba Financial Grp. 2 Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co. 1 Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

52.25

2.0%

53.00

51.00

15,725

300

56.75

42.40

-7.9%

12.1%

2.5%

47,025,000

10.9

1.7

182.50

0.8%

183.00

180.00

49,180

270

192.75

149.00

-5.3%

3.7%

9.1%

45,625,000

11.1

5.6

31.00

-0.6%

31.50

30.80

52,511

1,690

31.40

19.95

-1.3%

22.5%

40.9%

28,675,000

nmf

1.7

101.25

0.5%

102.25

100.75

829,626

8,183

112.50

85.25

-10.0%

5.2%

8.6%

303,750,000

10.4

2.2

3 Saudi Cement Co.

89.50

0.6%

90.00

89.00

11,627

130

89.00

47.80

0.6%

24.3%

77.2%

13,693,500

16.5

4.2

5 Saudi Electricity Co.

14.10

-0.4%

14.20

14.00

94,498

6,697

14.75

12.40

-4.4%

1.4%

6.0%

58,748,973

26.4

1.1

1 Saudi Hollandi Bank

32.10

0.3%

32.40

31.60

3,574

111

32.10

25.70

0.0%

7.7%

15.1%

10,617,075

10.5

1.4

22 Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

23.15

4.5%

23.20

22.25

135,985

5,978

27.20

16.15

-14.9%

21.8%

21.5%

10,417,500

19.7

1.7

2 Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

2 Saudi International Petrochemical Co. 1 Saudi Investment Bank 2 Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. 7 Saudi Telecom Co. 2 Savola Group Co. 0 3 Southern Province Cement Co. 0 1 SABB

22.25

0.5%

22.45

21.95

64,502

2,904

23.20

16.55

-4.1%

12.9%

16.3%

8,158,333

11.6

1.4

19.00

-0.3%

19.35

18.90

5,443

285

24.60

15.55

-22.8%

17.6%

-11.6%

10,450,000

14.8

1.2

16.55

-0.6%

16.70

16.50

199,994

12,051

19.15

14.55

-13.6%

-4.9%

-1.2%

24,825,000

nmf

1.6

38.10

0.5%

38.30

37.70

33,513

882

39.30

33.00

-3.1%

12.7%

2.7%

76,200,000

9.9

1.6

33.50

0.3%

33.60

33.00

18,241

546

33.50

21.65

0.0%

16.7%

30.4%

16,750,000

14.0

2.2

98.75

2.9%

99.25

95.50

6,348

65

96.50

58.00

2.3%

14.8%

67.4%

13,825,000

15.4

5.2

46.20

0.2%

47.00

46.20

9,715

208

46.50

33.90

-0.6%

13.5%

22.9%

34,650,000

12.0

2.0

3 Yamama Saudi Cement Co.

56.50

0.0%

57.00

56.25

15,911

281

83.25

44.10

-32.1%

-19.3%

17.7%

11,441,250

15.6

3.4

2 Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

50.00

1.6%

50.50

48.90

93,268

1,874

53.25

38.50

-6.1%

13.6%

20.5%

28,125,000

8.9

2.7

7.90

-0.6%

8.10

7.80

251,924

31,724

7.95

5.25

-0.6%

42.3%

26.4%

11,060,000

nmf

2.6

7 Zain - Saudi Arabia

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

ALWATAN DAILY

13

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

KUWAIT Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 6,127 (0.6%)

KSE General Index (% Chg.)

115

409 (0.0%)

KSE Weighted Index (% Chg.)

53%

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price 111

110

1.40

Advance/Decline Ratio

National Real Estate Co.

7.4%

SULTAN.KSSultan Center Food Products Co.

0.132

6.5%

FOOD.KSE Kuwait Food Co.

1.500

4.2%

0.900

3.5%

0.420

2.4%

467 / 396 AGLTY.KSEAgility

KSE Weighted Index 52 week High / Low

44,886

Turnover (KWD '000)

28,063,444

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

Highest Turnover

Worst Performers Turnover (KWD) 3,424,150

100

100

A Agility

95 29-Nov-11

29-Dec-11

29-Jan-12

29-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

% Chg.

0.146

6,523 / 5,694 MABANEE. Mabanee Co.

KSE General Index 52 week High / Low

105

Close NRE.KSE

Close

% Chg.

KCEM.KSE Kuwait Cement Co.

0.415 0.112

-3.5% -3.5%

N National Industries Grp. Holding

3,344,800

IFC.KSE

B Boubyan Petrochemical Co.

1,355,700

PCEM.KSE Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

0.880

-2.2%

MMabanee Co.

1,285,300

AREFENRGAREF Energy Holding Co.

0.108

-1.8%

ZA Zain Kuwait

1,228,250

NBK.KSE

1.160

-1.7%

International Finance Co.

National Bank of Kuwait

KSE Weighted Index

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

Turnover (KWD '000)

52-Week

Volume ('000)

High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

Trailing

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

PE

PB

A Agility

0.420

2.4%

0.420

0.400

3,424

8,270

0.435

0.248

-3.4%

12.0%

13.5%

439,671

nmf

0.5

A Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

0.650

1.6%

0.650

0.640

19

30

0.690

0.610

-5.8%

-1.5%

-3.0%

936,767

18.6

1.9

T Al Themar Intl. Holding Co.

0.087

-

-

-

0.104

0.079

-16.3%

-4.4%

-17.9%

88,088

nmf

1.0

A Alafco Aviation Lease and Fin. Co.

0.305

1.7%

115

390

0.380

0.280

-19.7%

-3.2%

-18.7%

237,830

6.0

1.6

A AREF Energy Holding Co.

0.108

-1.8%

0.108

0.106

6

60

0.142

0.085

-23.9%

1.9%

-3.6%

81,000

nmf

1.1

B Boubyan Bank

0.560

0.0%

0.570

0.560

65

115

0.620

0.560

-9.7%

-5.1%

-6.7%

979,012

nmf

4.2

B Boubyan Petrochemical Co.

0.600

0.0%

0.600

0.590

1,356

2,260

0.620

0.480

-3.2%

7.1%

13.2%

291,060

11.8

1.2

B Burgan Bank

0.455

1.1%

0.455

0.445

346

770

0.550

0.410

-17.3%

-4.2%

-2.6%

669,486

13.2

1.5

A Burgan Co. for Well Drilling

0.255

-

-

-

-

-

0.420

0.198

-39.3%

20.3%

-45.7%

53,454

26.2

1.0

C Combined Grp Contracting Co.

1.540

1.3%

1.540

1.540

31

20

1.945

1.300

-20.8%

-2.5%

-23.0%

148,811

18.7

4.1

C Commercial Bank of Kuwait

0.710

-1.4%

0.710

0.710

28

40

0.960

0.710

-26.0%

-10.1%

-23.7%

903,136

nmf

1.7

F Commercial Facilities Co.

0.255

0.0%

0.255

0.255

10

40

0.395

0.255

-35.4%

-1.9%

-33.8%

136,875

12.5

0.9

G Global Investment House

0.049

-

-

-

-

-

0.055

0.019

-10.9%

0.0%

0.0%

64,309

nmf

3.1

G Gulf Bank

0.485

2.1%

0.485

0.475

144

300

0.580

0.450

-16.4%

-4.9%

-3.0%

1,216,236

39.7

2.8

1.420

1.400

25

1.7

-

-

-

-

0.305

0.295

35

C Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co.

1.420

0.0%

IF IFA Hotels & Resorts

0.490

-

1.700

1.380

-16.5%

0.0%

-12.3%

298,102

8.2

-

0.500

0.285

-2.0%

3.2%

-3.9%

222,402

nmf

IK Ikarus Petroleum Industries Co.

0.176

0.0%

0.178

0.176

4.6

35

200

0.180

0.132

-2.2%

3.5%

20.5%

132,000

13.7

0.9

IF International Finance Co.

0.112

-3.5%

0.116

JAJazeera Airways

0.475

-1.0%

0.475

0.110

653

5,800

0.285

0.096

-60.7%

9.8%

-56.1%

89,923

nmf

0.8

0.470

47

100

0.480

0.112

-1.0%

4.4%

289.3%

104,500

9.2

K KIPCO Asset Management Co.

0.244

-

-

-

4.3

-

0.315

0.236

-22.5%

0.0%

-22.5%

64,246

nmf

0.8

K Kuwait Cement Co.

0.415

-3.5%

0.430

0.415

34

K Kuwait Finance House

0.820

-1.2%

0.830

0.820

789

80

0.630

0.415

-34.1%

-9.8%

-34.0%

264,627

19.2

1.9

955

1.100

0.820

-25.5%

-8.9%

-23.7%

2,205,013

27.8

F Kuwait Food Co.

1.500

4.2%

1.500

1.500

4

1.8

3

1.620

1.320

-7.4%

1.4%

1.4%

603,003

12.6

2.1

K Kuwait International Bank

0.255

2.0%

0.255

0.250

P Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

0.880

-2.2%

0.880

0.880

338

1,350

0.350

0.236

-27.1%

0.0%

-17.7%

264,518

22.4

1.3

22

25

1.580

0.660

-44.3%

23.9%

-46.2%

79,996

13.6

K Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)

0.335

1.5%

0.335

1.3

0.330

192

580

0.425

0.295

-21.2%

9.8%

-9.7%

426,431

11.3

M Mabanee Co.

0.900

3.5%

0.900

0.8

0.870

1,285

1,460

0.900

0.555

0.0%

4.7%

43.5%

500,063

25.5

3.5

M Mena Holding

0.033

-

N National Bank of Kuwait

1.160

-1.7%

0.1

N National Industries Co.

0.295

-

N National Industries Grp. Holding

0.236

N National Investments Company

0.168

N National Real Estate Co.

0.146

O Oula Fuel Marketing Co.

0.270

-

-

-

-

-

1.180

1.160

1,153

-

-

0.0%

0.242

-1.2%

0.170

7.4% 0.0%

-

0.060

0.033

-45.0%

0.0%

-49.2%

21,780

2.3

978

1.260

1.000

-7.9%

3.6%

-8.9%

4,590,961

15.1

2.1

-

-

0.355

0.260

-16.9%

5.4%

-22.4%

102,112

35.6

1.3

0.234

3,345

14,100

0.285

0.192

-17.2%

-9.2%

-18.6%

305,644

nmf

0.8

0.168

215

1,280

0.325

0.158

-48.3%

-2.3%

-52.0%

147,204

nmf

0.8

0.146

0.130

715

5,080

0.168

0.056

-13.1%

14.1%

25.9%

-

nmf

0.6

0.270

0.270

32

120

0.360

0.265

-25.0%

-10.0%

-10.0%

89,019

24.5

2.1

0.214

0.212

115

540

0.226

0.166

-5.3%

0.0%

21.6%

235,400

13.0

1.1

-

-

-

-

0.240

0.200

-12.5%

1.0%

-14.3%

107,672

20.8

0.8

3,960

0.146

0.093

-9.6%

10.0%

-12.0%

76,405

nmf

1.1

A Qurain Petrochemicals Industries Co.

0.214

0.0%

S Salhia Real Estate Co.

0.210

-

S Sultan Center Food Products Co.

0.132

6.5%

0.132

0.122

508

T Tamdeen Real Estate Co.

0.234

1.7%

0.234

0.228

41

180

0.270

0.216

-13.3%

1.7%

-5.6%

87,310

17.6

0.9

A The Commercial Real Estate Co.

0.082

0.0%

0.082

0.082

89

1,080

0.083

0.062

-1.2%

6.5%

20.6%

150,455

17.5

0.6

S The Securities House

0.130

-

-

-

-

-

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

88,400

nmf

7.0

N Wataniya

2.040

2.0%

2.040

2.000

111

55

2.060

1.580

-1.0%

5.2%

15.9%

1,028,227

3.0

1.3

Z Zain Kuwait

0.850

-1.2%

0.850

0.850

1,228

1,445

1.420

0.840

-40.1%

-5.6%

-38.4%

3,661,404

12.9

1.8

-

-

UAE Rebased Performance

Summary

125 123

Best Performers

DFM Index (% Chg.)

1,730 (1.9%)

ADSM Index (% Chg.)

2,611 (0.7%)

10.3%

1.07

7.1% 5.4%

DFM Index 52 week High / Low

1.23

5.1%

ADSM Index 52 week High / Low

2,775 / 2,293 DU.DFM

3.13

4.3%

du

1,060,765

Turnover (AED '000)

111

110

% Chg.

0.48 1.05

Advance/Decline Ratio 115

Union Properties

82% DFM.DFM Dubai Financial Market 5.00 TAMWEEL Tamweel 1,698 / 1,301 SOROUH.A Sorouh Real Estate Co.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

120

Close UPP.DFM

415,858,139

Market Cap. (AED '000) 107

105

Highest Turnover

Worst Performers Turnover (AED) 147,815,339 ADIB.ADSM Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank 98,837,771 UNB.ADSM Union National Bank

100 E Emaar Properties A Arabtec Holding

95 90 29-Nov-11

29-Dec-11 S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

29-Jan-12

29-Feb-12

Abu Dhabi SE

Close

% Chg.

3.52

-0.9%

3.16

-0.3%

D Dubai Financial Market

87,242,261

ETISALAT.AEtisalat

9.48

-0.3%

A ALDAR Properties

56,415,081

EMAAR.DF Emaar Properties

3.16

-0.3%

U Union Properties

54,540,795

AIRARABIA Air Arabia

0.75

0.7%

Dubai FM

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

Turnover (AED '000)

52-Week

Volume ('000)

High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

Trailing

Market Cap. (AED '000)

PE

PB

A Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

3.24

1.6%

3.30

3.18

13,294

4,107

3.30

2.15

-1.8%

16.5%

41.5%

18,129,736

6.0

A Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

3.52

-0.9%

3.55

3.50

2,056

585

3.55

2.92

-0.8%

11.4%

17.3%

8,323,765

7.9

1.3

T Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.

1.29

1.6%

1.30

1.27

734

568

1.63

1.14

-20.9%

7.5%

-7.9%

8,030,250

5.2

1.1

A Abu Dhabi National Hotels

2.05

-

-

-

2.95

2.03

-30.5%

-6.8%

-30.7%

2,050,000

12.4

0.3

A Air Arabia

0.75

0.7%

0.76

0.75

17,686

23,377

0.84

0.57

-9.9%

28.7%

-5.3%

3,518,692

13.1

0.7

A ALDAR Properties

1.21

3.4%

1.25

1.18

56,415

46,451

1.68

0.76

-28.0%

31.5%

-12.3%

4,943,006

7.7

0.7

A Amlak Finance

1.02

-

A Arabtec Holding

3.63

3.7%

-

3.75

-

-

-

3.60

98,838

26,942

-

3.50

0.93

0.8

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

1,530,000

nmf

1.1

3.7%

128.3%

249.0%

5,426,850

39.3

1.9

A Aramex

1.93

1.6%

1.93

1.86

3,858

2,031

1.96

1.55

-1.5%

7.2%

24.5%

2,825,713

13.4

1.5

A Arkan Building Materials Co.

1.14

2.7%

1.18

1.11

578

506

1.77

0.71

-35.6%

12.9%

-2.6%

1,995,000

nmf

1.2

C Commercial Bank of Dubai

3.40

-

-

-

3.45

2.90

-1.4%

17.2%

13.3%

6,600,378

8.0

1.0

D Dana Gas

0.52

4.0%

0.53

0.50

21,145

41,028

0.71

0.34

-26.8%

15.6%

-11.9%

3,433,041

8.2

0.4

D Deyaar Development Co.

0.44

1.2%

0.45

0.44

32,363

72,757

0.45

0.20

-0.9%

107.0%

85.3%

2,548,098

nmf

0.6

-

-

D du

3.13

4.3%

3.19

3.00

43,170

13,914

3.30

2.80

-5.2%

8.3%

8.7%

14,308,571

9.1

2.5

D Dubai Financial Market

1.07

7.1%

1.10

1.00

87,242

82,564

1.46

0.68

-26.7%

27.4%

-11.6%

8,560,000

nmf

1.1

D Dubai Islamic Bank

2.22

0.9%

2.25

2.18

16,660

7,547

2.31

1.88

-3.9%

14.4%

6.2%

8,429,460

5.9

0.9

E Emaar Properties

3.16

-0.3%

3.22

3.12

147,815

46,515

3.49

2.41

-9.5%

23.0%

18.4%

19,248,314

10.7

0.6

E Emirates NBD

3.38

0.9%

3.40

3.30

3,126

925

4.63

2.65

-27.0%

15.0%

10.8%

18,785,279

7.4

0.5

9.48

-0.3%

9.53

9.44

14,247

1,502

11.40

8.64

-16.8%

3.8%

-13.0%

74,950,207

12.8

1.9

20.15

0.8%

20.30

20.00

14,418

716

20.15

13.95

0.0%

30.4%

27.1%

30,225,000

8.2

1.1

1.30

1.6%

1.30

1.30

0

0

1.56

0.67

-16.7%

83.1%

-3.7%

1,067,426

nmf

0.8

M Mashreq

91.45

-

102.00

74.70

-10.3%

-9.9%

22.4%

18.8

1.3

N National Bank of Abu Dhabi

1.2

E Etisalat

F First Gulf Bank G Gulf Cement Co.

-

-

-

-

-

11.40

2.2%

11.50

11.15

10,430

11.90

9.29

-4.2%

4.1%

22.7%

32,718,493

8.8

N National Bank of Fujairah

4.10

-

-

-

-

-

4.70

2.91

-12.8%

-9.9%

-5.7%

4,510,000

16.1

2.2

N National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain

1.81

-

-

-

-

-

2.39

1.63

-24.3%

0.0%

-16.8%

2,896,000

9.0

0.9

S Sharjah Islamic Bank

1.00

1.0%

1.04

0.97

912

909

1.00

0.80

0.0%

19.0%

11.1%

2,425,500

8.7

0.5

S Sorouh Real Estate Co.

1.23

5.1%

1.26

1.18

23,796

19,380

1.54

0.67

-20.1%

44.7%

19.4%

3,228,750

9.6

0.5

T Tamweel

1.05

5.4%

1.07

0.99

32,963

31,801

1.01

0.53

4.0%

74.1%

6.1%

1,050,000

10.3

0.5

U Union National Bank

3.16

-0.3%

3.19

3.13

1,391

441

3.90

2.82

-19.0%

9.3%

6.9%

7,886,175

5.1

0.7

U Union Properties

0.48

10.3%

0.49

0.43

54,541

114,611

0.45

0.24

6.9%

86.8%

70.9%

1,622,825

nmf

0.7

U United Arab Bank

3.50

-

5.30

3.28

-34.0%

-3.8%

-38.1%

3,487,404

10.6

1.7

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

-

-

-

917

-

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

14

ALWATAN DAILY THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

QATAR Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 8,747 (0.6%)

DSM Index (% Chg.)

115

Advance/Decline Ratio DSM 52 week High / Low

111

110

Close

61% QTEL.DSM Qatar Telecom 0.86 CBQK.DSMThe Commercial Bank of Qatar 8,892 / 7,489 IQCD.DSM Industries Qatar

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

247,044

Turnover (QAR '000)

453,993,673

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

% Chg.

163.30

BRES.DSMBarwa Real Estate Co. QEWS.DSMQatar Electricity & Water Co.

4.0%

77.00

1.9%

141.00

1.4%

30.50

1.2%

146.90

0.4%

105

Highest Turnover

Worst Performers

102 100

Turnover (QAR) 44,971,653 KCBK.DSMAl Khalij Commercial Bank 36,675,442 ERES.DSMEzdan Real Estate Co.

B Barwa Real Estate Co. IQIndustries Qatar

95 29-Nov-11

29-Dec-11

29-Jan-12

29-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

Close

% Chg.

17.00

-1.4%

19.00

-1.2%

17.37

-0.7%

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

21,778,803

QGTS.DSMQatar Gas Transport Co.

MMasraf Al Rayan

15,092,987

QIIK.DSM Qatar International Islamic Bank

55.30

-0.5%

Q Qatar National Bank

15,020,673

QNNS.DSMQatar Navigation

73.70

-0.4%

Doha SM

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Turnover (QAR '000)

Low

52-Week

Volume ('000)

High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

Trailing PE

PB

A Aamal Co.

15.55

-0.3%

15.65

15.55

331

21

24.09

15.40

-35.5%

-2.2%

-12.7%

7,697,250

14.3

K Al Khalij Commercial Bank

17.00

-1.4%

17.21

17.00

4,001

235

19.60

16.40

-13.3%

-1.0%

-13.0%

6,120,000

12.6

1.1

B Barwa Real Estate Co.

30.50

1.2%

30.85

30.05

44,972

1,475

35.90

27.40

-15.0%

1.8%

8.5%

11,868,301

7.6

1.0

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

77.00

1.9%

77.00

75.50

21,779

285

85.50

64.50

-9.9%

-8.3%

9.4%

19,053,371

10.1

1.3

-

-

1.4

D Doha Bank

65.40

-

-

-

67.00

45.60

-2.4%

2.0%

26.3%

13,518,036

10.9

1.9

E Ezdan Real Estate Co.

19.00

-1.2%

19.00

19.00

128

7

24.97

18.60

-23.9%

-14.4%

-17.9%

50,397,437

nmf

1.8

141.00

1.4%

141.40

139.20

36,675

261

148.50

117.00

-5.1%

6.0%

8.4%

77,550,000

9.8

3.0

26.70

0.2%

26.75

26.55

15,093

566

28.10

19.74

-5.0%

-4.1%

22.5%

20,025,000

14.2

2.4

146.90

0.4%

147.10

145.10

3,898

27

153.50

118.00

-4.3%

5.2%

22.4%

14,690,000

11.3

4.9

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

17.37

-0.7%

17.50

17.33

11,397

654

19.58

16.42

-11.3%

-0.8%

-1.0%

9,620,270

12.2

7.9

Q Qatar International Islamic Bank

55.30

-0.5%

55.70

55.30

13,923

251

56.20

43.90

-1.6%

2.4%

3.6%

8,370,692

12.8

1.7

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

77.50

-0.1%

77.70

77.40

6,955

90

85.30

75.60

-9.1%

-8.1%

-1.1%

18,312,723

13.4

1.6

112

141.73

107.81

-5.4%

-3.0%

23.7%

93,833,718

12.5

2.2

80

95.00

69.90

-22.4%

-3.7%

-22.4%

8,440,507

15.7

0.8

IQIndustries Qatar M Masraf Al Rayan Q Qatar Electricity & Water Co.

Q Qatar National Bank Q Qatar Navigation Q Qatar Telecom V Vodafone Qatar

134.10

0.0%

134.20

134.00

15,021

73.70

-0.4%

74.00

72.80

5,878

163.30

4.0%

163.30

157.00

12,202

76

164.50

118.33

-0.7%

16.0%

34.2%

28,740,800

11.8

1.4

7.32

0.0%

7.34

7.29

1,575

216

8.12

7.24

-9.9%

-3.0%

-4.2%

6,188,328

nmf

0.9

OMAN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 5,838 (0.5%)

MSM Index (% Chg.)

115

42% BKMB.MSMBank Muscat

0.74

1.5%

Advance/Decline Ratio

1.50

0.63

0.3%

RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

6,416 / 5,419 OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co. 10,201 NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman

Turnover (OMR '000) 108

% Chg.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price MSM 52 week High / Low

111

110

Close

7,058,792

Market Cap (OMR '000)

OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

1.41

0.3%

0.32

0.0%

0.51

-0.6%

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (OMR) 1,726,523 RCCI.MSM Raysut Cement Co. 627,013 OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

B Bank Muscat R Renaissance Services

95 29-Nov-11

29-Dec-11

29-Jan-12

29-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

Close

% Chg.

0.86

-0.7%

0.51

-0.6%

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

562,156

NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman

0.32

0.0%

O Oman Cement Co.

102,051

OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

1.41

0.3%

RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

0.63

0.3%

92,480

N National Bank of Oman

Muscat SM

Quotes Company Name

Close

B Bank Dhofar

Daily % Chg.

Turnover (OMR '000)

52-Week

Volume ('000)

Low -

-

1.5%

0.740

0.732

0.0%

0.320

0.320

0.508

0.500

102

202

1.410

1.403

562

400

0.863

0.850

69

80

1.190

0.711

-28.0%

12.8%

-21.4%

171,400

11.5

1.7

0.643

0.629

627

989

1.197

0.458

-47.0%

16.3%

-36.1%

178,848

13.2

1.0

B Bank Muscat

0.738

N National Bank of Oman

0.320

O Oman Cement Co.

0.505

-0.6%

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

1.407

0.3%

R Raysut Cement Co.

0.857

-0.7%

R Renaissance Services

0.634

0.3%

on high

YTD

12 mths

Trailing

-

-

Low

Market Cap. (OMR '000)

High

0.539

High

% Change

-

0.680

0.509

-20.7%

-1.5%

-18.3%

493,313

1,727

2,340

0.781

0.658

-5.5%

-3.7%

7.3%

92

289

0.332

0.302

-3.6%

0.0%

5.3%

0.608

0.416

-16.9%

16.9%

1.407

1.041

0.0%

7.5%

PE

PB

12.8

2.2

1,142,704

9.7

1.3

345,920

10.1

1.2

-7.7%

167,091

13.1

1.1

21.7%

1,055,250

9.5

2.1

BAHRAIN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,149 (0.7%)

BSE Index (% Chg.)

115

Advance/Decline Ratio

1,433 / 1,129 AUB.BSE 561 #N/A

BSE 52 week High / Low

111

110

Close

32% BATELCO.BBahrain Telecommunications Co. - BBK.BSE BBK

% of stocks trading above 1 yr avg. price

Turnover (BHD '000)

6,485,007

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

#N/A

Ahli United Bank

% Chg.

0.39

2.6%

0.41

0.5%

0.68

0.0%

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (BHD) 79,552 AUB.BSE 37,188 BBK.BSE

B BBK 98

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co. A Ahli United Bank B Albaraka Banking Grp.

95 29-Nov-11

29-Dec-11

29-Jan-12

29-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

#

Ahli United Bank

0.68 0.41

0.5% 2.6%

BATELCO.BBahrain Telecommunications Co.

0.39

-

BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp.

1.06 -

#N/A

% Chg.

BBK

600 #N/A

#N/A

Close

#N/A

#N/A

0.0%

#N/A

Bahrain SE

Quotes Company Name A Ahli United Bank*

Close 0.680

Daily % Chg.

High

0.0%

0.680

Low

Turnover (BHD '000) 2

0.680

B Albaraka Banking Grp.*

1.060

-

-

-

-

A Arab Banking Corp.*

0.420

-

-

-

-

52-Week

Volume ('000)

High 2

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

0.770

0.630

-11.7%

2.3%

-5.6%

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

Trailing PE

PB

3,389,350

10.9

1.3

-

1.280

1.000

-17.2%

-2.8%

-16.7%

921,723

7.8

0.8

-

0.570

0.420

-26.3%

0.0%

-26.3%

1,306,200

6.4

0.4

B Bahrain Islamic Bank

0.082

-

-

-

0.118

0.082

-30.5%

-8.9%

-28.1%

77,053

nmf

0.8

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co.

0.390

2.6%

0.390

0.390

37

95

0.492

0.380

-20.7%

-0.5%

-17.4%

561,600

7.0

1.1

B BBK

0.412

0.5%

0.414

0.410

80

193

0.450

0.390

-8.4%

-0.5%

-8.4%

350,759

11.0

1.5

797

-

-

-

-

-

1,139

797

-30.0%

0.0%

-37.0%

637,560

4.5

0.6

0.090

-

-

-

-

-

0.115

0.065

-21.7%

38.5%

-21.7%

240,999

nmf

0.4

-

0.700

0.560

-17.9%

0.0%

-11.5%

491,832

10.8

1.8

-

0.424

0.270

-28.3%

1.3%

-30.9%

253,707

nmf

1.2

IN Investcorp Bank* IT Ithmaar Bank* N National Bank of Bahrain

0.575

-

-

-

-

U United Gulf Bank

0.304

-

-

-

-

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

-

LIFE

Help prevent eye problems

Your vision may weaken as you get older, but the Cleveland Clinic says there are things you can do to maintain the health of your eyes: s3CHEDULE REGULAR VISITS WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO SCREEN FOR CONDITIONS THAT CAN AFFECT YOUR VISION SUCH AS DIABETES s6ISIT YOUR OPHTHALMOLOGIST ONCE every year.

4HE EXAM SHOULD INCLUDE PUPIL DILATION IF YOUR FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF DIABETES OR EYE DISEASE s(AVE REGULAR GLAUCOMA SCREENINGS s3EE AN EYE doctor right away if you have any trouble with your eyes or vision.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

People arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t smart enough for democracy to flourish, scientists say NEW YORK: The democratic process relies on the assumption that citizens (the majority of them, at least) can recognize the best political candidate, or best policy idea, when they see it. But a growing body of research has revealed an unfortunate aspect of the human psyche that would seem to disprove this notion, and imply instead that democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies according to LiveScience.

The research, led by David Dunning, a psychologist at Cornell University, shows that incompetent people are inherently unable to judge the competence of other people, or the quality of those peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideas. For example, if people lack expertise on tax reform, it is very difficult for them to identify the candidates who are actual experts.

They simply lack the mental tools needed to make meaningful judgments.

As a result, no amount of information or facts about political candidates can override the inherent inability of many voters to accurately evaluate them.

On top of that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;very smart ideas are going to be hard for people to adopt, because most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the sophistication to recognize how good an idea is,â&#x20AC;? Dunning told LiveScience.

He and colleague Justin Kruger, formerly of Cornell and now of New York University, have demonstrated again and again that people are self-delusional when it comes to their own intellectual skills. Whether the researchers are testing peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to rate the funniness of jokes, the correctness of grammar, or even their own performance in a game of chess, the duo has found that people always assess their own performance as â&#x20AC;&#x153;above averageâ&#x20AC;? - even people who, when tested, actually perform at the very bottom of the pile.

FILE - People wait to see republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum during a campaign event at the Pizza Ranch restaurant in Boone, Iowa, on Jan. 2, 2012. (AFP)

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just as undiscerning about the skills of others as about ourselves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the extent that you are incompetent, you are a worse judge of incompetence in other people,â&#x20AC;?

Fashionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high price: How heels damage the body NEW YORK: The laundry list of damage that high heels can do to your body just got longer: According to podiatrists, highheeled shoes are one of the most common causes of ingrown toenails reports LiveScience. This toenail problem, which occurs when the toes are compressed so that the big toenail grows into the skin, is usually nothing more than a painful annoyance.

But ingrown toenails can become infected, sometimes necessitating the removal of the entire nail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ingrown toenails can be painful, but many women are willing to cope with the discomfort in order to continue wearing their high heels,â&#x20AC;? Rodney Stuck, a professor of podiatry at the Loyola University Health System, said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, more serious complications can arise and cause permanent damage to the toenail, if they are left untreated.â&#x20AC;? Stuck suggested avoiding overly pointy, tight shoes and tight hosiery. Trimming the toenails straight across can also reduce the risk of ingrown nails. Soaking the feet in lukewarm, soapy water, drying them thoroughly and then applying a mild antiseptic can prevent infection if toenails are already ingrown.

But heels can harm more than just the toes. Research has linked high heels in youth to heel and ankle pain in older adults.

One study published in October 2009 in the journal Arthritis Care & Research analyzed foot-examination data from more than 3,300 men and women and found that more than 60 percent of women reported wearing shoes with poor support, including heels, pumps and sandals, compared with only 2 percent of men. In women, wearing these shoes in the past was linked with heel and ankle pain. Heels can even reshape the

calf muscles and tendons, shortening them so that women who wear heels often may find it uncomfortable to walk flat-footed.

Even ballroom dancers arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so light on their feet when wearing heels; according to research published in 2010, dancing in heels distributes pressure toward the toes, which can lead to plantar fasciitis, the painful swelling of the bottom of the feet.

Moving up the leg, studies have also linked high heels to knee osteoarthritis, with sky-high stilettos presenting more danger than practical pumps. According to a study presented in 2010 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biomechanics, walking in heels increases the pressure on the inside of the knee joints. Heels also alter the posture to put extra strain on the lower back, the researchers found. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only heels that cause problems. Flip-flops, with their total lack of support, can change the gait, too. The result can be pain and potential long-term joint problems.

The potential for later pain may seem far away when selecting a pair of adorable heels. But according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 43.1 million Americans have foot problems, which translates to one out of every six people in the country. Eight out of every 10 women say their shoes are painful, and women are nine times more likely to develop foot problems because of badly fitted shoes than are men.

Stuck recommended that women limit their time in heels, especially on days when walking and standing are in the cards. He also suggested that women outline their feet on inflexible cardboard and take the cut-out when going shoe shopping. If the cardboard canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit into the shoe without being scrunched, neither can your feet.

Dunning said. In one study, the researchers asked students to grade quizzes that tested for grammar skill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We found that students who had done worse on the test itself gave

Upper class people more likely to behave selfishly, studies suggest

Higher social classes more likely to lie, cheat, cut up other road users and not stop at pedestrian crossings, say researchers

LONDON: A raft of studies into unethical behavior across the social classes has delivered a withering verdict on the upper echelons of society.

Privileged people behaved consistently worse than others in a range of situations, with a greater tendency to lie, cheat, take things meant for others, cut up other road users, not stop for pedestrians on crossings, and endorse unethical behavior, researchers found.

Psychologists at the University of California in Berkeley drew their unflattering conclusions after covertly observing peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behavior in the open and in a series of follow-up studies in the laboratory.

Describing their work in the US journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, social psychologist Paul Piff and his colleagues at the Institute of Personality and Social Research claim that self-interest may be a â&#x20AC;&#x153;more fundamental motive among societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eliteâ&#x20AC;? that leads to more wrongdoing. They say selfishness may be â&#x20AC;&#x153;a shared cultural normâ&#x20AC;?.

The scientists also found a strong link between social status and greed, a connection they suspect might exacerbate the economic gulf between the rich and poor.

Scientists reconstruct long-extinct giant penguin 7%,,).'4/. .EW :EALAND: It was a slender bird, with long wings and a spear-like bill to catch swift ocean prey. And scientists say the first glimpse of the extinct giant penguin species was worth the 26 million-year wait. Experts from New Zealand and the United States reconstructed a fossil skeleton of one of the giant sea birds to reveal a body shape unique from known penguin species with features that have them describing it as one elegant bird.

The bird they dubbed Kairuku - Maori for â&#x20AC;&#x153;diver who returns with foodâ&#x20AC;? - stood about 4 feet 2 inches (1.3 meters) tall and lived in the Oligocene period, about 26 million years ago. The research on Kairuku was published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The first Kairuku bones were discovered 35 years ago in New Zealand by Ewan Fordyce, a professor of geology at New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University of Otago.

He recently teamed with Dan Ksepka, a research assistant professor at North Carolina State University, to reconstruct a skeleton from multiple sets of fossils, using a king penguin as a model. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty exciting,â&#x20AC;? Fordyce told The Associated Press. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got enough from three key specimens to get a pretty reliable construction of its body size.â&#x20AC;?

Fordyce said the birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elongated bill may have been useful in catching swift prey and its large body size likely helped it swim farther and dive deeper than modern-day penguins. The bird is about a foot (30 centimeters) taller than the largest modern penguin, the emperor.

It would have weighed about 132 pounds (60 kilograms), 50 percent more than an emperor. When Kairuku was alive, most of modern New Zealand was submerged beneath the ocean.

The scientists believe the remaining isolated, rocky land masses helped keep the penguins safe from potential predators and pro-

more inaccurate grades to other students.â&#x20AC;? Essentially, they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize the correct answer even when they saw it.

The reason for this disconnect is simple: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you have gaps in your knowledge in a given area, then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not in a position to assess your own gaps or the gaps of others,â&#x20AC;?

Dunning said. Strangely though, in these experiments, people tend to readily and accurately agree on who the worst performers are, while failing to recognize the best performers.

The most incompetent among us serve as canaries in the coal mine signifying a larger quandary in the concept of democracy; truly ignorant people may be the worst judges of candidates and ideas, Dunning said, but we all suffer from a degree of blindness stemming from our own personal lack of expertise.

Mato Nagel, a sociologist in Germany, recently implemented Dunning and Krugerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theories by computer-simulating a democratic election. In his mathematical model of the election, he assumed that votersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own leadership skills were distributed on a bell curve - some were really good leaders, some, really bad, but most were mediocre - and that each voter was incapable of recognizing the leadership skills of a political candidate as being better than his or her own.

When such an election was simulated, candidates whose leadership skills were only slightly better than average always won.

Nagel concluded that democracies rarely or never elect the best leaders. Their advantage over dictatorships or other forms of government is merely that they â&#x20AC;&#x153;effectively prevent lower-than-average candidates from becoming leaders.â&#x20AC;?

This undated graphic illustration released by University of Otago on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 shows a giant penguin called a Kairuku. (AP)

vided them with plentiful supplies of food.

Fordyce said there are several reasons why the giant penguins might have become extinct: It could have been from climate change, the arrival of new predators, or increased competition for food from seals and other creatures. -AP

The work builds on previous research that suggests the upper classes are less cognizant of others, worse at reading other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotions and less altruistic than individuals in lower social classes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you occupy these higher echelons, you start to see yourself as more entitled, and develop a heightened self-focus,â&#x20AC;? Piff told the Guardian. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your social environment is likely more buffered against the impact of your actions, and you might not perceive the risks of your behavior because you are better resourced, you have the money for lawyers and so on.â&#x20AC;?

In the first of the studies, researchers concealed themselves close to a crossroads in the Bay Area of San Francisco and spied on drivers who were expected to stop and wait their turn before driving on. Whenever a car arrived at the junction, the scientists ranked the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class on a scale of one to five according to the model, age and appearance of the car.

On average, 12.4% of the observed drivers failed to wait their turn and cut in front of other road users. Those in the less classy cars cut people up less than 10% of the time, but drivers in the most prestigious cars did so around one third of the time.

The researchers next recorded whether drivers stopped for a person who tried to walk across the junction using a pedestrian crossing.

Drivers of the cheapest and oldest cars were most likely to slow down and give way, followed by those in average quality cars.

But those in the most prestigious cars drove on regardless of the pedestrian around 45% of the time.

On the back of these observations, the scientists set up five laboratory studies to investigate differences in ethical behavior among people in upper and lower classes. They found that the higher a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class, the more likely they were to tell lies in negotiations and cheat for money, and even pilfer sweets meant for children in a neighboring lab.

In one study, 105 volunteers were asked to read eight stories that implicated a character in taking something that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t theirs, and comment on whether they would do the same.

Their endorsement of wrongdoing rose with socioeconomic class, as ranked by income, education and occupation.

Another study had volunteers play a computer game that simulated five rolls of a dice.

The participants were asked to write down their total score, and told that a high score might earn them a cash prize. Even though the game was rigged to give everyone a score of 12, more upper class than lower class people reported higher scores.

In a crucial last experiment, the scientists primed volunteers into seeing greed as good.

They asked them to write down three ways in which it was beneficial, before answering questions on their likelihood of performing unethical acts. This time, the lower and higher classes scored the same, because those on the lower social rungs behaved worse after being primed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Upper and lower class individuals do not necessarily differ in terms of their capacity for unethical behavior, but rather in terms of their default tendencies toward it,â&#x20AC;? the authors write.

Our baby universe likely expanded rapidly, study suggests

7!3().'4/. The distribution of matter across the cosmos is most easily explained by inflation, a theory that suggests our universe inflated rapidly - just like a balloon - shortly after its birth, according to new research reports SPACE. A new study found that cosmic inflation, which was first proposed in 1980, is the simplest explanation that fits the measurements of the distribution of matter throughout the universe made by NASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), a spacecraft that scans radiation left over from the Big Bang.

According to inflation, the universe expanded by a factor of at least 1078 (thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10 with 78 zeroes after it), all in less than a second. This stage could have formed the basis for the large-scale structure we can detect in the distribution of galaxies around us now.

This theory can explain why the universe appears to be about 13.7 billion years old, and why it seems to be nearly flat, say University at Buffalo physicists Ghazal Geshnizjani, Will Kinney and Azadeh Moradinezhad Dizgah. The researchers recently analyzed the latest measurements offering a hint at what went on in the early universe, and found that only three kinds of theories can account for WMAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s observations.

Aside from inflation, the other two possible theory categories require more significant leaps of logic and physics, they said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The takeaway result here is that this idea of inflation turns out to be the only way to do it within the

context of standard physics,â&#x20AC;? Kinney said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think in many ways it puts the idea of inflation on a much stronger footing, because the available alternatives have problems, or weirdnesses, with them.â&#x20AC;? For example, alternative explanations must invoke either a speed of sound faster than the speed of light, or energies so high that exotic quantum gravity theories such as string theory would be needed to describe them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It may well be that you can come up with a speed of sound faster than the speed of light, but I think people, as a general rule, would be more comfortable with something that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t involve super-luminal propagation,â&#x20AC;? Kinney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inflation doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require any exotic physics. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just standard particle physics.â&#x20AC;?

Inflation theory still involves a few mind-bending ideas of its own, though. For instance, inflation suggests that during the first 10 to the minus 34 seconds (thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 0 .0000000000000000000000000000000001 seconds), the universe doubled its size at least 90 times.

This would have allowed pairs of matter and antimatter particles to appear out of nothingness, but then move apart from each other so quickly that they wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have had time to meet and annihilate, as matter and antimatter usually do.

Tiny irregularities in the spread of energy throughout the early universe would have magnified to eventually produce the denser pockets of mass in some areas that allowed gas to condense into stars, forming the galaxies and galaxy clusters that we see today.

16

ALWATAN DAILY

CULTURE

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Art dissects Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revolution, one year on FRANCE: From bold portraits to wry cartoons on the Islamist resurgence at the polls, a Paris show explores the roots and branches of Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revolution, one year on, as seen by home-grown artists.

Photographs, graffiti, paintings, videos and sculpture explore the issues spotlighted with the ouster of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali: freedom of speech and religion, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights, the online world, democracy building and Islamism.

Titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Degagements -- Tunisia One Year Onâ&#x20AC;? in a play on the protestorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; slogan â&#x20AC;&#x153;Degage!â&#x20AC;?, which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get out!â&#x20AC;?, the show spans three generations of artists, all but three Tunisian or French-Tunisian, with works created before and after the December 2010 uprising. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of all the Arab revolts Tunisia has gone the furthest in leading to a democratic process,â&#x20AC;? explained Geraldine Bloch, chief curator at Parisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA, or Arab World Institute) which organized the show.

The exhibit opens with an ironic self-immolation kit -- gasoline and matches -- imagined by Lebanonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ali Cherri: a tribute to 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi, the desperate fruit seller who sparked the revolt by setting himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to show how this one event jolted people into realizing the time had come to act -but also how the events of last year are all part of a much longer process,â&#x20AC;? said Bloch.

As the tide of change sweeping the region enters a second year, Egypt is ruled by an unpopular military and still shaken by unrest, Libya is in turbulence despite the rebel victory over Muammar Gadhafi, and Syria remains steeped in violence.

By contrast Tunisia, whose revolt became known as the jasmine revolution, has broken with authoritarian rule, electing a constituent assembly dominated by the Islamist party Al-Nahda. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to take stock,â&#x20AC;? Bloch said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the time artists were in the street, not in their workshops. But we wanted to show how the revolutionary aesthetic has impacted their art.â&#x20AC;?

Photo â&#x20AC;&#x153;postcardsâ&#x20AC;? by Wassim Ghozlani, snapped in outlying parts of the country, highlight how the revolt took root in these poorer regions, whose people descended on the capital to defend their rights. Franco-Moroccan artist Majida Khattari explores the â&#x20AC;&#x153;organicâ&#x20AC;? nature of social upheaval, with a field of ceramic cones shooting like rhizomes from a bed of charcoal -- a soil scorched and fertile -- glazed with jasmine patterns or Arabic script lifted from Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national anthem.

And graffiti artist Sk-One shows a piece he painted on the wall of the Tunis kasbah during the revolt, a single eye staring out from between angry red lettering. A collection of black-and-white portraits, by Tunis-born photographer Hichem Driss, is entitled #404 in a play on the name given by Tunisian youths to online censorship under Ben Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regime. Their eyes are blacked out to make them anonymous, but the subjectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; postures are feisty, proud -- like a young veiled women who poses naked in a lace bra, her arms crossed defiantly under a generous bust. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are like statues, totems, watching over what happens next. They illustrate how in a sense each Tunisian has become his own boss, now Ben Ali has been thrown out,â&#x20AC;?

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WASHINGTON: In an ancient tomb located below a modern condominium building in Jerusalem, archaeologists have found ossuaries - bone boxes for the dead - bearing engravings that could represent the earliest archaeological evidence of Christians ever found, reports LiveScience.

The tomb has been dated to before A.D. 70, so if its engravings are indeed early Christian, they were most likely made by some of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; earliest followers, according to the excavators. One of the limestone ossuaries bears an inscription in Greek that includes a reference to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Divine Jehovahâ&#x20AC;? raising someone up. A second ossuary has an image that appears to be a large fish with a stick figure in its mouth. The excavators believe the image represents the story of Jonah, the biblical prophet who was swallowed by a fish or whale and then released.

Together both the inscription and the image of the fish represent the Christian belief in resurrection from death. While images of the Jonah story became common on more recent Christian tombs, they do not appear in first-century art, and iconographic images like this on ossuaries are extremely rare. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If anyone had claimed to find either a statement about resurrection or a Jonah image in a Jewish tomb of this period I would have said impossible - until now,â&#x20AC;? James D. Tabor, professor and chairman of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and one of the excavators, said in a news release issued by the university. The excavators acknowledge the discovery and their interpretation are likely to be controversial. This tomb was originally uncovered in 1981, but the original excavators were forced to leave by Orthodox Jewish groups who oppose the excavation of Jewish tombs. The tomb was then resealed and buried beneath the condominium complex in the neighborhood of East Talpiot. Almost two decades later, Tabor and colleagues got a license to go back into the tomb; however, because of the condos on top of it and the threat of protests from Orthodox Jewish groups, they took an unconventional route into the tomb.

They inserted a robotic arm, developed for this project, carrying high-definition cameras, through holes drilled in the basement floor of the building.

The cameras photographed the ossuaries inside from all sides. This tomb is located adjacent to another one, uncovered in 1980, that contained ossuaries with names some have associated with Jesus and his family. That tomb was thoroughly excavated at the time.

Berenstain Bears co-creator Jan Berenstain dies

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said Bloch. Part two of the show takes a wry look at the choices facing the fledgling democracy.

One powerful piece, by Tunisian-based Aisha Filali, is made from the branches of a tree from her garden that was bound by a metal frame so tightly that it withered and died -- a potent metaphor for totalitarian rule. From the salvaged wood, she created two sculptures -- one with its ends carved into colored crayons, hinting at the battle for free speech, the other into bright green buds that suggest the Islamist revival. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Willis from Tunisâ&#x20AC;? -- a cartoon cat by Nadia

Khiari that went viral during the revolt -- also raises the Islamist issue as he peers into the mirror, asking: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Should I shave this morning? I think I will wait until the election result.â&#x20AC;? Other pieces skewer the lack of space for Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artists at home, referring to a tongue-in-cheek collective set up last year to defend Tunisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; contemporary art museum -which does not exist. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is far from certain that the new authorities are going to be more supportive of art than the old ones,â&#x20AC;? agreed Bloch, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no guarantee that we would be able to show this exhibition there.â&#x20AC;?-AFP

Charlotte Bronteâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s lost short story to be published LONDON: A long-lost short story written by Charlotte Bront for a married man with whom she fell in love is to be published for the first time after being found in a Belgian museum a century after it was last heard of, reports The Guardian.

The tale, written in grammatically erratic French and entitled Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ingratitude, is the first-known piece of homework set for Bront by Constantin Heger, a Belgian tutor who taught both her and her sister Emily, and is believed to have inspired such ardor in the elder sibling that she drew on their relationship for her novel Villette.

Brian Bracken, a Brussels-based archivist and

Possible earliest evidence of Christianity resurrected from ancient tomb

Bront expert, found the manuscript in the Muse Royal de Mariemont. He said the short story had been last heard of in 1913, when it was given to a wealthy Belgian collector by Hegerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Paul. The London Review of Books (LRB) is to publish the story in full on its website on Wednesday and in its paper edition on Thursday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was finished a month after Charlotte arrived in Brussels and is the first known devoir [piece of homework] of 30 the sisters would write for Heger,â&#x20AC;? writes Bracken in the LRB. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It contains a number of mistakes, mainly misspellings and incorrect tenses ... he [Heger] often returned their

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essays drastically revised - sadly, there are no comments on this copy of Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ingratitude.â&#x20AC;?

The fable-like story is dated 16 March 1842 and is about a thoughtless young rat who escapes his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protective care in search of adventure in the countryside and comes to a sorry end. The tale contrasts the solemn paternal devotion of the father with the reckless abandon of his â&#x20AC;&#x153;ingrateâ&#x20AC;? offspring. Bracken believes it could well have been based on the works of the celebrated French fabulist, La Fontaine.

After her first stay in Brussels was brought to an abrupt halt in November 1842 by the death of her aunt, Bront returned to the city the following year to become an English teacher at the boarding house run by Hegerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, Claire Zo Parent. She left for good in 1844, â&#x20AC;&#x153;worn outâ&#x20AC;?, writes Bracken, â&#x20AC;&#x153;by her infatuation with Heger, and his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hostility towards her.â&#x20AC;? Bront â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s feelings were made public when, in 1913, Paul Heger gave permission for four letters she wrote from Yorkshire to her teacher to be published.

The Brussels period is recognized by Bront scholars as being pivotal in the careers of both sisters - particularly for Charlotte, who was 25 when they first arrived in Belgium. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novel Villette, published in 1853, reworks her experiences in Brussels, with the difference that the teacher returns the heroineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love,â&#x20AC;? Bracken writes. In The Professor, too, a novel written shortly after her return from Belgium but only published posthumously, she explores the dynamic between pupil and teacher. Unlike her real life infatuation, it ends happily.

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PHILADELPHIA: Jan Berenstain, who with her husband, Stan, wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books that have charmed preschoolers and their parents for 50 years, has died. She was 88.

Berenstain, a longtime resident of Solebury in southeastern Pennsylvania, suffered a severe stroke on Thursday and died Friday without regaining consciousness, her son Mike Berenstain said.

The gentle tales of Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear were inspired by the Berenstain children, and later their grandchildren. The stories address childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s common concerns and aim to offer guidance on subjects like dentist visits, peer pressure, a new sibling or summer camp. The first Berenstain Bears book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big Honey Hunt,â&#x20AC;? was published in 1962. Over the years, more than 300 titles have been released in 23 languages - most recently in Arabic and Icelandic - and have become a rite of passage for generations of young readers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They say jokes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t travel well, but family humor does,â&#x20AC;? said Jan Berenstain told The Associated Press in 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Family values are what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all about.â&#x20AC;?

Stan and Jan Berenstain, both Philadelphia natives, were 18 when they met on their first day at art school in 1941.

They married in 1946, after Stan Berenstain returned home from serving as a medical illustrator at a stateside Army hospital during World War II. During that time, Jan Berenstain worked as a draftsman for the Army Corps of Engineers and as a riveter building Navy seaplanes.

Before their family of bear books was born, the young couple had already built a

successful career in periodicals. A cartoon series they produced called â&#x20AC;&#x153;All in the Familyâ&#x20AC;? ran in McCallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Good Housekeeping magazines for 35 years, and their art appeared in magazines including Collierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and The Saturday Evening Post. Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death in 2005 at the age of 82. Mike Berenstain is an illustrator who collaborated on the books with his mother in recent years.

His elder brother, writer Leo Berenstain, is involved with the business end of the family franchise.

The books in recent years have tackled modern subjects such as online safety and childhood obesity, and the bears (or their human helpers) answer childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emails and letters, but the goal is to tell enduring, universal stories. Perennial favorites cover challenges of getting kids to doing chores, defuse fears of the first day of school and teach values of kindness and generosity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wonderful to do something you love for so many years,â&#x20AC;?

Jan Berenstain told the AP in 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not everyone has that.â&#x20AC;?

About 260 million copies of Berenstain Bears books have been held in the hands of children and their parents since the earliest books were published with the help of Theodor Geisel, a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books editor at Random House better known as Dr. Seuss. Mike Berenstain said his mother worked daily at her home studio in an idyllic part of Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, which served as inspiration for the booksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; setting. He said he will continue writing and illustrating future Berenstain books. -AP

UNICEF: Millions of kids live in urban squalor MEXICO CITY: Millions of children are growing up in squalid urban areas and denied basic services despite living close to them, the United Nations Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fund said Tuesday.

UNICEF said children living in slums and shantytowns often lack water, electricity and health care and it urged policy makers to ensure urban planning meets the needs of children. The agency said it is common for statistics to show that, on average, children growing up in cities are better off than those in rural areas, which often leads to missing the plight of poor, urban children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This conceals the fact that the greatest inequities are found within towns and cities,â&#x20AC;? it said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In most urban areas, great opportunity and great deprivation exist side by side.â&#x20AC;? UNICEF said more than one-third of

children in urban areas donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever get birth certificates, which means they are invisible to authorities and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get into social programs. This rises to half of all children in parts of Africa and Asia, two of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regions seeing the fastest migration from rural to urban areas. More than half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population lives in cities and towns, including a billion children. By 2050, two-thirds of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people are expected to live in urban areas, UNICEF said. Many poor children in urban areas donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go to school and instead are forced to work to help their families, often in dangerous jobs. Tens of millions of children live or work on the streets and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the number is rising with global population growth, migration and increasing urbanization,â&#x20AC;? the report said. Children are also vulnerable to

people traffickers. UNICEF said nearly 2.5 million people are in forced labor as a result of trafficking, and a quarter to half of them is children.

Nearly 8 million children died in 2010 before reaching the age of 5, about a third of them from hunger, the agency said. The rest died of pneumonia, diarrhea or birth complications. In urban areas poor sanitation and overcrowding drive up child mortality, UNICEF said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we think of poverty, the image that traditionally comes to mind is that of a child in a rural village,â&#x20AC;? UNICEF director Anthony Lake said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But today, an increasing number of children living in slums and shantytowns are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world, deprived of the most basic services and denied the right to thrive.â&#x20AC;? -AP

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ALWATAN DAILY

ENTERTAINMENT poĂĽĂ&#x2013;=lĂ&#x2018;=qĂ&#x153;Ă&#x2030;=a~Ăł

Fahad AlSabah Staff Writer

Song: 5:55 Artist: Charlotte Gainsbourg Album: 5:55 Genre: Pop In short: Director Lars von Trierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go-to actress Charlotte Gainsbourg started out as a singer at the age of 15, but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until twenty years later that she re-pursued her music career with the release of 5:55 in 2006. On the melancholic title-track, Gainsbourg sings â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soon the morning will arrive / Can i begin another day / Whilst this old day is still alive / Refusing to be put away.â&#x20AC;?

To listen to the song visit www.alwatandaily.com E-mail your feedback to falsabah@alwatandaily.com

qĂ&#x153;Ă&#x2030;=_Ïòò Chicago street named after comedian Bernie Mac

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

James Murdoch exits News International LONDON: James Murdoch, son of News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, has resigned from his position as Executive Chairman of News International, the media conglomerateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s British publishing unit, per an announcement on Wednesday.

As Chairman and CEO of News Corp. Europe & Asia, Murdoch oversaw News International while a phone hacking scandal sank one of its newspapers, the News of the World, and allegations of bribery began to plague another, the Sun. Murdochâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father Rupert indicated more changes could in store for his deputy COO, who recently moved to New York. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are all grateful for Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; leadership at News International and across Europe and Asia, where he has made lasting contributions to the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy in paid digital content and its efforts to improve and enhance governance programs,â&#x20AC;?

Rupert Murdoch said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[...] Now that he has moved to New York, James will continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on important pay-TV businesses and broader international operations.â&#x20AC;?

That means no publishing.

The extent of the phone hacking scandal, which caused the resignation of high-level News International executives such as chief executive Rebekah Brooks, led to questions about what Murdoch knew -- and when.

Former News International executives Tom Crone and Colin Myler have testified in front of Parliament that Murdoch was aware his employees had hacked into civiliansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; phones well before he has admitted to, but Murdoch has steadfastly denied those charges.

Murdoch has testified before Parliament about phone hacking twice, once with his father in July and once on his own in November. On each occasion, he insisted he was ignorant of the extent of hacking and that he did not authorize payments to hacking victims to silence them.

The scandal at the News of the World, as well as the arrests of several journalists from another British tabloid, The Sun, have caused some to wonder why News Corp. doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just shutter its U.K. publishing business. Yet Rupert Murdoch has

FILE - News International Chairman, James Murdoch (left), his father Rupert (center), and a minder are seen leaving the 6WDIIRUG +RWHO LQ FHQWUDO /RQGRQ LQ WKLV -XO\ ÂżOH SKRWRJUDSK 5HXWHUV

doubled down on it, launching the Sun on Sunday this past weekend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the successful launch of The Sun on Sunday and new business practices in place across all titles, News International is now in a strong position to build on its successes in the future.

Celine Dion cancels US shows due to voice problem

A sign bearing the name of the late comedian Bernie Mac has been raised over a street in Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Englewood neighborhood. About 200 people, including his widow Rhoda McCullough, daughter Jeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Niece McCullough and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, gathered Tuesday on a corner near the home where he grew up. Jeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Niece McCullough says she hopes renaming the street Bernie Mac Street reminds people â&#x20AC;&#x153;they can do whatever they want to do in life.â&#x20AC;? Mac, born Bernard McCullough, died in August 2008 at age 50 from pneumonia complications, after suffering from sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease. -AP

Reese Witherspoon warns kids of domestic violence Actress Reese Witherspoon has had the talk with her two young children. Not the sex talk. The domestic violence talk. As a Global Ambassador for Avonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to help victims of domestic violence, Witherspoon traveled to the Washington area to speak to the 2nd World Conference of Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shelters, prompting a talk with 12-year-old Ava and 8-year-old Deacon. Though her kids were shocked to hear how one in three women is abused in the US, Witherspoon says itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for them to be aware of the problem especially her daughter whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost old enough date. At a time when bullies are responding with violence, Witherspoon also says parents must educate themselves and their children about social media and what constitutes harassment. -AP

Oprah, others to attend Lady Gaga foundation debut Lady Gaga is expected to be joined by Oprah Winfrey and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at Harvard University for the launch of the singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Born This Way Foundation. A kickoff event is scheduled for Wednesday at Harvardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Graduate School of Education.

The Born This Way Foundation will address self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development through research, education and advocacy. It is partnering with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The California Endowment and The Berkman Center at Harvard to explore the best ways to create a culture of kindness, bravery, acceptance and empowerment. -AP

Belgian man arrested in LA for alleged stalking Authorities say an alleged stalker traveled from Belgium to Los Angeles in the hopes of getting close to comedian Esther Povitsky, who has appeared on Jimmy Kimmelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late night television show. Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s officials said Tuesday that Pierre Van Lint was arrested at a Hollywood hotel after showing up at a comedy theater where Povitsky performs. The comedian told investigators she had been receiving unsolicited emails from Van Lint for eight months, some of which she described as aggressive and inappropriate. The number of emails increased in the 48 hours prior to his arrest. Van Lint was booked on stalking charges and held on $50,000 bail.

The 23-year-old Povitsky performs in Los Angeles and has also appeared on the Fox sitcom â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Girl.â&#x20AC;? -AP

Charlie Sheenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anger Management gets premiere date FX will kick off its summer comedy slate with a packed night on June 28, starting with back-to-back episodes of Charlie Sheenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new venture â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anger Management,â&#x20AC;? the network said Monday. On the same night, Russell Brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new talk show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Strangely Upliftingâ&#x20AC;? will debut, and the new seasons of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wilfredâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Louieâ&#x20AC;? will premiere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anger Managementâ&#x20AC;? will air two new episodes at 9 p.m. and 9:30, after which the show will run Thursdays at 9:30, with the previous weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s episode airing at 9 p.m. The adaptation of the Jack Nicholson-Adam Sandler movie stars Sheen as Charlie, a non-traditional therapist who specializes in anger management. Selma Blair, Shawnee Smith, Daniela Bobadilla, Michael Arden and Noureen DeWulf co-star. At 11 p.m., the network will unveil â&#x20AC;&#x153;Strangely Uplifting,â&#x20AC;? featuring Russell Brand offering his rapid-fire take on politics, pop culture, and whatever else crosses his mind. The sixepisode season will be filmed in front of a live audience, and marks the first television deal for Brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production company, Branded Films. -Reuters

17

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PARIS: Grammy-winning singer Celine Dion announced Tuesday she had canceled a string of upcoming shows in Las Vegas due to a virus-triggered problem with her vocal chords.

The Canadian-born star was due to sing at Caesars Palace in a series of shows through March 18, but has called them off after being ordered to rest her voice for six to eight weeks. After difficulties last week forced her to cancel weekend performances, she decided to seek advice from laryngeal physiology expert Gerald Berke in Los Angeles.

The five-time Grammy winner â&#x20AC;&#x153;flew to Los Angeles on Monday afternoon and had a thorough examination at Professor Berkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clinic,â&#x20AC;?

Dion said in a statement, adding that the doctor â&#x20AC;&#x153;diagnosed Celine with weakness in her right vocal chord, secondary to a viral illness.â&#x20AC;?

Berke prescribed resting her vocal chords â&#x20AC;&#x153;in order for Celine to completely recover from this

condition,â&#x20AC;? said the statement on her website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tried to sing at my sound-check last week, and I had no control of my voice whatsoever,â&#x20AC;? said Dion, who is the mother of twin boys born in October 2010. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought that after a few days rest I would improve but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t getting any better... I guess it was worse than I thought. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m fortunate that I was able to see Professor Berke. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He identified what was causing the problems I was having, and he assured me that with the amount of rest he prescribed, I would be back to 100 percent.â&#x20AC;? She added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously this is the worst thing for a singer... not being able to do your shows. I feel worse knowing that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m disappointing my fans.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so sorry... I hope they forgive me.â&#x20AC;?

Dion expects to be back on form for her next run of Vegas shows from June 9 to August 19, said the statement, adding that fans with tickets for the canceled shows will be offered refunds. -AFP

As Deputy Chief Operating Officer, I look forward to expanding my commitment to News Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international television businesses and other key initiatives across the Company,â&#x20AC;? James Murdoch said in a statement.

News International CEO Tom Mockridge will run the company for now. -Reuters

Erykah Badu sad but not angry over Malaysian ban KUALA LUMPUR: Soul singer Erykah Badu said Wednesday she holds no grudge against Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government for barring her from performing after a photograph of her body art offended some Muslims.

More than 1,500 people had bought tickets to watch the Grammy-winning American singer at a Kuala Lumpur auditorium Wednesday, but Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information minister announced on the eve of the concert that it could not proceed because a promotional photo of Badu with the Arabic word for Allah painted on her bare shoulders was â&#x20AC;&#x153;an insult to Islam.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sad, because we traveled a long way,â&#x20AC;? Badu told a news conference. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m totally understanding of (the ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) protection of the laws and its people. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want anything to happen.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m good with that.â&#x20AC;?

The photograph ignited criticism from some politicians and religious groups in Muslim-majority Malaysia after a newspaper published it Monday in a feature to promote Baduâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show. The daily has since apologized for what it called an â&#x20AC;&#x153;oversightâ&#x20AC;? that led to the photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication.

Badu, 41, said the photo was inspired by images from â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Holy Mountain,â&#x20AC;? a 1973 surrealist movie by Chilean-French

filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think art is often misunderstood in the realm of religion, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OK,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In America, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot different. Art is also misunderstood but it is not such a harsh gesture to promote the names of God. I am learning and understanding about Islam in other countries more as we travel.â&#x20AC;?

Information Minister Rais Yatim said Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cabinet endorsed the ban Wednesday. Police feared that if the concert went ahead, it could cause â&#x20AC;&#x153;various situations that may lead to social excitement, and quarrels may break out due to religious sensitivities,â&#x20AC;? the national news agency, Bernama, quoted the minister as saying.

Public reaction to the concert ban has been divided. On Twitter, many Malaysians, including Muslims, accused the government of intolerance, but others praised authorities for being firm about defending religious principles.

Badu said she would â&#x20AC;&#x153;absolutelyâ&#x20AC;? welcome another chance to perform in Malaysia someday. She is scheduled to sing at a jazz festival this weekend in Jakarta, the capital of neighboring Indonesia, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most populous Muslim nation. -AP

American Idol brings back Jermaine Jones LOS ANGELES: Jermaine Jones has a second shot at becoming an â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Idol.â&#x20AC;?

The 25-year-old so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;gentle giantâ&#x20AC;? of Pine Hill, N.J., was given a last-minute spot among the male semifinalists Tuesday after the Fox singing contestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judges had dismissed him in Las Vegas. Jones was lauded for his bass-fueled take on Luther Vandrossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dance with My Fatherâ&#x20AC;? during Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performances from the 13 male semifinalists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you so much for proving why we asked you to come back,â&#x20AC;? said Steven Tyler.

Many of the guys were praised by the panel after crooning a song of their choice, including 27-year-old new father Adam Brock of Washington, Pa., with Aretha Franklinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think,â&#x20AC;? 20-yearold musician Colton Dixon of Murfreesboro, Tenn., with Paramoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Decode,â&#x20AC;? and 28-yearold street performer Creighton Fraker of New York, with Cyndi Lauperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;True Colors.â&#x20AC;?

Several singers soared with vocal acrobatics, including 19-year-old receptionist Jeremy Rosado of Valrico, Fla., with Sara Bareillesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gravity,â&#x20AC;?

19-year-old crawfish lover Joshua Ledet of Westlake, La., with Jennifer Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;You Pulled Me Through,â&#x20AC;? and 17-year-old student Deandre Brackensick of San Jose, Calif., with Earth Wind and Fireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reasons.â&#x20AC;? Reed Grimm kicked off the show with a jazzy rendition of Maroon 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moves Like Jaggerâ&#x20AC;? that included a drum solo from the 26-year-old nanny of Ellsworth, Wis., and some bleeping from the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s censors when Grimm stuck to the lyrics and later when Tyler enthusiastically alerted him that â&#x20AC;&#x153;thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gonna be a whole new generation watching your (expletive).â&#x20AC;? The curvy new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Idolâ&#x20AC;? stage seemed to swallow a couple of contestants. Only 22-year-old vocalist Heejun Han of New York and 15-year-old Eben Franckewitz of Loveland, Ohio, received criticism from the judges. The top 12 female singers will perform Wednesday, and then all the top 25 semifinalists will learn Thursday if they received enough votes to be among the viewer-selected top 10 or one of the three â&#x20AC;&#x153;wild cardâ&#x20AC;? finalists to be determined by the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judges. -AP

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck welcome son

LOS ANGELES: Star couple Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have welcomed their third child, a baby boy, People magazine said on Tuesday, without giving further details. Garner, who made her name in the television drama â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alias,â&#x20AC;? wed actor and producer Affleck in June 2005 at a private ceremony in Turks and Caicos, in the Caribbean.

They welcomed their first daughter, Violet, in December 2005, and second daughter Seraphina in 2009. The couple, both 39, announced they were expecting their third child in August last year and while they did not reveal the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sex, Garner

told chat show host Jay Leno in January this year that they knew. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be so weird to have a boy,â&#x20AC;? Garner was quoted as having told Ellen DeGeneres. She also said it would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;cool and different.â&#x20AC;? Garner will next appear in the comedy â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Odd Life of Timothy Greenâ&#x20AC;? later this year. Affleck, who won a Best Screenplay Oscar for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good Will Hunting,â&#x20AC;? which he co-wrote with Matt Damon, next stars in and directs the thriller â&#x20AC;&#x153;Argo.â&#x20AC;? He will also appear in an untitled Terrence Malick project with Jessica Chastain, Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz. -Reuters

American singer Erykah Badu (left) apologizes after the publication of her picture with the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Allahâ&#x20AC;? on her upper body during a press conference in Kuala LumSXU RQ )HE $)3

Queen Elizabeth II to open 2012 Olympics

FILE - Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Queen Elizabeth waves goodbye to the Archbishop of CanWHUEXU\ 5RZDQ :LOOLDPV DV VKH OHDYHV ZLWK 3ULQFH 3KLOLS DIWHU DWWHQGLQJ D PXOWL IDLWK UHFHSWLRQ WR PDUN KHU 'LDPRQG -XELOHH DW /DPEHWK 3DODFH LQ /RQGRQ )HE 5HXWHUV

LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip will open the 2012 Olympics this summer, Buckingham Palace said Monday. The royal couple will perform this ceremonial role at the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium when the games begin on July 27. They also will open the Paralympic Games on Aug. 29.

The British royals have long been strong supporters of the Olympics. The queen also opened the 1976 Games in Canada, where she is the head of state, while Philip did so on her behalf at Melbourne, Australia, in 1956. The Olympics were last held in the UK in 1948 and were opened by the queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, King George VI. -AP

ALWATAN DAILY

AROUND TOWN / TIME OUT

18

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

If you have an event you wish to include, please email: aroundtown@alwatandaily.com

Feature o f

GRAFFITI

the day

MODERATELY CONFUSED

K’S PATH holds Shelter Open Day

KUWAIT: K’S PATH (Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat) - a local non-profit organization committed to animal welfare and habitat protection - held its first Shelter Open Day of the year on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at the K’S PATH Shelter in Wafra. The fun-filled event was attended by approx. 100 visitors, families and K’S PATH volunteers.

K’S PATH staff and volunteers took visitors on a tour of the premises, which include the Equine enclosure housing donkeys, a horse and a goat; the avian enclosures

Month a t

which is home to injured raptors; the primate enclosure which has a specially constructed habitat for smuggled and abandoned baboons; the catteries and small animal’s room.

“Our Shelter Open Days are an opportunity for visitors to learn about the plight of animals in Kuwait and the steps we take to protect them,” says K’S PATH Chairman Ayeshah Al-Humaidhi. “This time around we had a large number of first-time visitors who were very keen to sign up as volunteers and contribute to the work we do. Such interest is encouraging.

We hope to see more individuals take up their responsibility towards animals and the environment.”

Visitors socialized dogs in the yard and groomed cats, while getting to know dogs and cats who are up for adoption. An educational session for children discussed the impact of waste on animals and their habitat, followed by an art session where children fashioned functional and creative projects out of plastic bottles and cardboard such as face masks, animal-inspired pencil stands, a tank, a submarine and a boat.

SUDOKU

Elementary

Intermediate

Advanced

General A n n o u n c e m e n t s

a glance

Art exhibition March 5-15/ 7 p.m. / Dar Al Funoon: Mohammed Abou El Naga is a multidisciplinary visual artist, art professor, curator and developer. Throughout his colorful career, he created award winning art projects, fulfilled his responsibility towards his community and brought up new generation of young artists with his teaching, workshop and his multitude of practices.

New Toastmasters Club Second and fourth Tuesday/ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. / Jabriya: A new Toastmasters Club is being formed and encouraging new members to join. Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. It is a non-profit international organization dedicated to improve member’s communication and leadership skills by attending and participating toastmasters meetings. For more information, please contact Khaled Al-Hashem at 65588824.

K’S PATH invites applicants for the adoption of pets Lana is a very affectionate and sweet female puppy of mixed breed. She was born in October 2011. Lana is a happy girl who loves to play and go for long walks. She will be a great addition to a family with children over 10 years of age.

Waist Watchers

Diwaniya presentation March 6/ 7 p.m. / AWARE Center: You are invited to a diwaniya presentation entitled, “Business Survival Guide” by An Swinnen. In 2010, An decided to write “The Business Survival Guide (because it is a jungle out there)” which gives top tips on how to run your own business, business skills, management skills and social skills. The book was written in Kuwait and summarizes some of An’s experiences of doing business in Kuwait and the GCC countries. For more information, call 25335260 ext 0.

Salsa workshop March 2/ 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. / Better Books: Your chance to dance to salsa beats, shake your legs to basics, enjoy Latin music and burn up the dance floor. Welcome to a one-hour free salsa workshop. Call 99885102 or 55885102.

Turkish lessons for beginners March 4/ Turkish Embassy: The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey announces that “Turkish”, a new class of Turkish lessons for beginners will restart at the Embassy’s Tourism, culture and information office. For further details please contact 22277405.

Fiona is a beautiful female SemiLong Haired cat born in May 2008.

She loves being cuddled and a good belly rub! She enjoys being held and likes to play. Fiona would be a lovely new family member in a household with children over 5 years of age. To adopt, call (+965) 6700 1622.

Every Tuesday/ 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. / British Ladies Society: Meetings are based on the world’s most successful healthy eating plan. Weekly meetings include private weigh in, motivational talks, recipes to try, and cooking demonstrations.

Fee of KD 2.500 is required to cover for the cost of course material. For more info contact; Danielle desertdanny@hotmail.com.

Hip Hop at BAIA Every week/ Salmiya: BAIA offers weekly Hip Hop classes for students aged five and up. These “just for fun” classes are a great work-out. For more information visit www.thebaia.com or contact: info@thebaia.com. Telephone: 2562 3604 ext.154, 2562 0706 ext.154. Mobile: 6005 2087.

Brainbang session October 7-April/ 11:45 a.m. -1:45 p.m. /Salmiya: BRAINBANG, the creative arm of Friends of CRY Club (FOCC) invites all students aged 11 and above, to join us fortnightly on Fridays. The areas of development are: Creativity in learning, tools and techniques to empower your mind, profile based learning, activity, fun, games and worksheet based assignments, practical experiments, mind gymnastics and application of learning techniques to conventional study.

E-mail: brainbang@focckwt.org or call 25660835/25618471/97677820.

DILBERT

Royal Thai Embassy The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait wishes to invite Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -25317531, Ext: 14.

EducationUSA Do you have questions regarding studying at a university in the US? AMIDEAST can help.

Please visit our EducationUSA Advising Center in Sharq, and attend one of our weekly free group advising sessions, held every Monday, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. For further information, visit: www.amideast.org, telephone us at 2247-0091, ext. 6819, or E-mail us at: kuwait@ amideast.org.

NANCY

HOROSCOPES Aries: March 21 - April 19

You could soon receive news of an unexpected cash inflow, Aries. This might be money earned on your own, but it’s more likely to be investment income.

If you own stocks, bonds, or land, expect their value to skyrocket. If you work for a company that has a good profit-sharing plan, don’t be surprised if the amount of profits earned this year doubles. Whichever it is, you’re on your way!

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Today the energy is on partnerships, Taurus, probably those begun on the spur of the moment.You and a colleague might have a conversation about the possibility of going into business together. There is also the possibility that you could fall in love at first sight, maybe with someone from far away. Any sort of partnership formed today will have its ups and downs, but with work, it could succeed.

Gemini: May 21- June 21

Have you been entertaining the idea of changing jobs, Gemini? If so, put out some feelers today.

You’ve been working hard and may have felt as if you’ve been barking up the wrong tree. Don’t hesitate to research possibilities on the Internet, prepare your resume, and chat up knowledgeable people in social situations.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22

A rebirth of romance in your life could take place today, Cancer. If you’re currently involved with someone, a happy event could enrich the bond between you and bring you closer together. If you aren’t presently attached, you could be by the end of the day. You might meet someone new and exciting, probably an intelligent person who could be involved with modern technology.

Leo: July 23 - August 22

Today you might notice a change in yourself, Leo. You could look in the mirror and see that you suddenly look as gorgeous as a movie star. This change in your outer self is due to transformations taking place within. You’ve probably been releasing a lot of old traumas from the past, and therefore considerable stress and tension have vanished from your face. Treat yourself to some new clothes.

Virgo: August 23 - September 22

An unexpected conversation with a current or potential romantic partner could end with both of you revealing a lot of your deepest feelings. This discussion may only indirectly concern the status of your relationship, but you will learn a lot about each other that could cause you to consider whether or not want to continue the relationship.

Libra: September 23 - October 22

Some rather intense work, perhaps involving indepth research, could take up much of your time today, Libra. You could spend a lot of time in libraries or on the Internet trying to discern certain facts that you need for a project that could make a big difference in your income. This can be fascinating and exciting, but there is one caution: remember to rest your eyes from time to time.

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21

Today, Scorpio, you could direct an overwhelming amount of love and passion toward a current or potential romantic partner. Your friend might feel a little taken aback, but is likely to be flattered and therefore respond in a positive manner. This might not have the potential to become a committed relationship, so don’t expect anything from it.

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

Information that you retrieve from deep within your psyche might lead to a revelation as to a great way to increase your income. This could be something you read and forgot, or it might be something you overheard in a restaurant.Whatever it is, look into it carefully, and then if the information seems to be accurate and useful, go for it.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

Today, Capricorn, you might attend a group event of some kind. While there, you could encounter an old friend who seems to have changed. As a result, you might find this person very attractive and direct a rush of physical passion their way. This could be disconcerting, but don’t brush it off because you’ve always thought of this person as a friend.

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

A new creative project of some kind, perhaps involving modern technology, could set your career in a new direction, Aquarius. This may be the break you’ve been hoping for, and you’re apt to be very excited about it. Any new enterprise begun today is going to have its ups and downs, but all signs indicate that it will succeed.

Consider the project carefully before making a decision.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20

If you’re taking a trip any time soon, Pisces, you can expect to experience a powerful attraction for someone you meet along the way. This will definitely make your journey more interesting; however, the friendship might not survive the trip. You may be from opposite sides of the country.

ALWATAN DAILY

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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19

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Rose back Amla guides South Africa to one-day series win over NZ to best as Bulls beat Hornets

South Africa’s Hashim Amla bats in front of New Zealand’s keeper Brendon McCullum, at McLean Park, in Napier, New Zealand, Feb. 29, 2012. (AP)

NAPIER, New Zealand: Hashim Amla missed out on a 10th century but still guided South Africa to a comfortable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in their second one-day international in Napier on Wednesday, sealing the series with a game to spare.

The visitors took the first match in Wellington by six wickets and have now won their last four games in New Zealand, having also taken the final two Twenty20 matches to clinch that series.

Amla, who made a blistering start with seven boundaries in his first 32 runs, anchored the innings with 92 before he nicked a delivery from legspinner Tarun Nethula to Brendon McCullum with the victory target of 231 well in sight.

Amla combined well with Faf du Plessis (34) and JP Duminy (43) before captain AB de Villiers (31 not out) and Justin Ontong (17 not out) guided the visitors to victory in just 38.2 overs, making a mockery of New Zealand’s innings. The hosts had been dismissed for 230 in 47.3 overs after fast bowler Morne Morkel

had destroyed their lower order, twice having hat-trick deliveries, before he finished with career-best figures of 5-38 from 9.3 overs. McCullum and Martin Guptill (58) had combined for a 107-run partnership to set New Zealand up for a score in excess of 300, widely considered the minimum required on the small McLean Park ground, when they took their batting power play after the 32nd over with the score on 162-2.

The hosts then lost three wickets for 20 in five overs as Kane Williamson (13) and McCullum (85) threw away their wickets trying to smash Lonwabo Tsotsobe out of the park, before Jesse Ryder was then caught behind for a two-ball duck.

Morkel, who had figures of 0-33 off seven overs, then ran through the lower order and finished off the innings when Andrew Ellis was caught in the deep for 17 to give the fast bowler his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals. The final match is at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday before the three-test series begins in Dunedin on March 7. -Reuters

India rest Sehwag, Zaheer for Asia Cup MUMBAI: India selectors have rested opening batsman Virender Sehwag and pace duo Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav from the country’s squad for next month’s Asia Cup one-day international competition in Bangladesh.

Defending champions India, who also won the 50over World Cup on home soil last year, will play Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh in the biennial four-nation tournament from March 11-22.

Speculation was rife in the Indian media that vicecaptain Sehwag, who amassed just 65 runs from his five innings in the ongoing Tri-series in Australia, would suffer for his poor form and be dropped from the squad.

However, chief selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth confirmed Sehwag’s omission from the 15-player squad named on Wednesday was purely down to fitness con-

cerns. “We had productive discussions with the team management. We wanted to have a clear understanding by talking to people in Australia and we have everything sorted out,” Srikkanth told reporters after the selection committee meeting.

“Unfortunately,Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan have been asked to take rest by the physiotherapist. It is an honest truth... there is a medical report from the physiotherapist and we went by the report. They have injuries and it is purely on injury grounds that both have been rested.” Big-hitting all rounder Yusuf Pathan and paceman Ashok Dinda were recalled to the squad captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Dinda, who last played for India during the 2010 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, appears to have been rewarded for his impressive form in domestic cricket. -Reuters

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Mayweather says Pacquiao ‘not one of the sharpest’

CHICAGO: Derrick Rose scored 32 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 19.4 seconds left, and the Chicago Bulls closed with an 8-0 run to beat the New Orleans Hornets 99-95 Tuesday night.

Joakim Noah had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls and Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng added 14 points apiece.

Rose scored six points in Chicago’s final run.

Chris Kaman had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Trevor Ariza scored 16 points. The Hornets stunned the Bulls by scoring 13 consecutive points to turn a nine-point deficit into a four-point lead with 1:26 left before Rose rescued Chicago.

Rose hit two free throws and, after a New Orleans turnover, his miss was tapped in by Noah to tie the score at 95 with 52 seconds left.

After a miss by Gustavo Ayon, the Bulls rebounded, called a timeout with 25.7 seconds to go and Rose’s jumper from the right baseline side rimmed the basket and went back in with 19.4 seconds to go.

Jarret Jack couldn’t connect for the Hornets and Rose hit two from the line with 10.6 second left for a 99-95 lead.

Rose was fouled again with four seconds left and missed both but by then it was too late for the Hornets.

Kyle Korver hit a 3 after missing his first four attempts and Rose scored on a left-handed layup to give Chicago a 91-82 lead with a little more than 5 minutes to go. But Marco Belinelli and Jack scored for New Orleans, chopping Chicago’s lead to 91-86 with just under 4 minutes left. Ariza then hit a 3, Ayon had two baskets and Belinelli a driving basket in the unlikely spurt that put the Hornets up 95-91.

Down three at the half, the Bulls came out in the third quarter and built a seven-point lead. Rose, who had 21 of his points in the second half, started it with a driving basket and Deng had seven points, including a 3-pointer. Boozer’s follow made it 66-59 halfway through the period.

New Orleans kept scrapping, especially Kaman, and his follow-up hoop highlighted a 10-2 spurt that put New Orleans back on top by one Ronnie Brewer then scored twice and Rose had a twisting left-landed layup as

the Bulls regained the lead 76-70 after three quarters.

Chicago got a big lift offensively in the first quarter from Noah, who had three dunks and 11 of his 13 first-half

points. The Bulls seemed out of sorts and New Orleans led 50-47 at the half despite shooting 38.6 percent. The Bulls beat the Hornets 90-67 three weeks ago in New Orleans. -AP

Derrick Rose (1) of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket past Chris Kaman (35) of the New Orleans Hornets on his way to a game-high 32 points, Feb. 28, 2012.

(AFP)

Odom not back with Mavericks, no talk of buyout

DALLAS: Lamar Odom wasn’t with the Dallas Mavericks for their first game after the All-Star break Tuesday night, and was expected to miss at least one more game after that.

Odom missed the previous game Wednesday night before the break against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coach Rick Carlisle said then that Odom was excused for a family matter and would rejoin the team after the break.

The game against New Jersey on Tuesday night was the first of nine games in 12 days for Dallas. Carlisle said before the game that Odom would also miss Wednesday night’s game at Memphis, and that he expected an update Thursday.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, without being specific on

the reason for Odom’s absence, said the team will do everything it can to support him and get him back.

Cuban also refuted rumors of a possible buyout of Odom’s contract.

“I knew I’d get the question over and over again until I said I wouldn’t do it,” Cuban said, adding there hadn’t even been a discussion about a buyout. “We want him to contribute. We want him to help.”

Odom, a 13-year veteran who was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year last season for the Lakers, is averaging 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. Those are some of the lowest numbers in his career. He missed only two of the 34 games before the All-Star break. -AP

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Bolt could run 9.4 in London, says Coe

FILE - Undefeated welterweight boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the US works out at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Nevada Sept. 6, 2011.

(Reuters)

NEW YORK: A trumpet blared a fanfare to introduce Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto as fans at the Apollo Theater cheered the start of Tuesday’s news conference to promote their May 5 fight in Las Vegas.

Still, there appeared to be far more interest in the fight that’s not happening Mayweather made clear that whether they meet in the ring is about the money, breaking down the shares in what could be boxing’s richest fight ever.

“Just by speaking to Pacquiao on the phone, I mean, he’s not one of the sharpest knives in the drawer,” Mayweather said. “He faces Floyd Mayweather, he’s not getting 50-50. Not at all. No one is getting 50-50.”

While Mayweather urged Pacquiao should “take the test,” a reference to his demand for random drug testing, payout appears to be the real sore point between Mayweather on one side, and Pacquiao and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum on the other. Arum has said testing is not an issue. “Bob Arum likes to match Top Rank fighters with Top Rank fights. He keeps all the money in house,” Mayweather said.

This dispute has spilled into federal court. Pacquiao sued Mayweather for defamation in December 2009, alleging Mayweather falsely accused him of using performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao spent 12 hours in Las Vegas last week giving depositions in the case.

“If I offered him $30 million, he should be happy,”

Mayweather said. “If I offered him $30 million and I didn’t give money on the back end, why should I? He’s with Arum right now, and they’re having problems.

It’s obvious he must not be getting money on the back end.”

Mayweather says he’s not ducking Pacquiao, who stopped Cotto in the 12th round of their November 2009 fight.

“If I’m scared and I’m a coward, why do you guys want to see me fight?” he said. “Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely. But it’s going to be hard to make the fight because Arum is worried about getting money.”

As boxing news conferences go, this was fairly tame.

In the second of a series that began Monday in Puerto Rico and end Thursday in Los Angeles, Mayweather and Cotto praised each other and said they respected each other. Video projections proclaimed them “Ring Kings” and “Living Legends.” They sat in tall chairs of red velvet with lions on the arm rests.

Cotto, who has stopped all three of his opponents since losing a welterweight title fight to Pacquiao, thinks the 154-pound weight limit will favor him over Mayweather, who has boxed at lighter classes.

“Power is going to be on my side,” Cotto said.

The fight, for the WBA super welterweight title, will take place in Las Vegas and will be televised by HBO pay-per-view. -AP

TOKYO: Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, could possibly run 9.4 seconds over 100 meters at this year’s London Olympics, Games organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe said on Wednesday. Asked about media reports that Bolt was planning an assault on his world record of 9.58 in London, Coe told Reuters that Bolt had the ability to tear up the laws of physics.

“I do seem to remember scientists telling people if they tried to break the four-minute mile, they would probably die in the process,” the twice Olympic 1,500 meters gold medallist said in an interview.

“I remember scientists telling me it was probably unlikely that anybody would run significantly under 1:43 for 800 meters,” added Coe, whose world record of 1:41.73 stood for 16 years.

“David Rudisha (the Kenyan 800 meters world record holder) is quite capable of running a chunk under 1:41 and Tyson Gay in the States is not going to be a pushover either. I do think it’s possible for Bolt to run 9 I’m absolutely convinced that Usain can run faster, but this will be a Games that’s very competitive at 100 and 200.”

Despite his zero-tolerance stance towards doping, Coe said it was dangerous to treat every superhuman performance as suspicious because of a disgraced minority of cheats.

“Nobody comes from nowhere,” he said. “Usain Bolt has been around a long

time working very hard.

“It’s far too easy to simply say ‘they’ve made rapid and dramatic progress and therefore they’re on some kind of illegal supplement’. That’s rarely the case. I broke 12 world records and won two Olympic titles and would no more have jumped off Beachy Head than taken any supplement.”

Coe said he would accept the ruling over banned British sprinter Dwain Chambers, expected in April, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

CAS rule on an appeal by the British

Olympic Association (BOA) against a decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that its lifetime Olympic bans are illegal.

“We would have to live with it if overturned,” said Coe, an advocate of life bans. “I have written in support of the BOA as has the Minister of Sport.

“It was a mistake to move bans from four to two years. Had we stayed at four years this would have been an academic discussion because a four-year ban would have meant the loss of an Olympic Games in that four-year cycle. -AP

8VDLQ %ROW RI -DPDLFD FHOHEUDWHV ZLQQLQJ KLV PHQ¶V PHWHUV VHPL ¿QDO GXULQJ day seven of 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships, Sept. 2, 2011. (AFP)

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

SPORTS

Sports Editors Highlight

GENEVA: The United Nations has urged FIFA to allow Islamic women to wear a hijab headscarf while playing soccer. The UN says Wilfried Lemke, sports adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has written to FIFA President Sepp Blatter backing a proposal being considered at a meeting on Saturday. Lemke writes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;FIFA has the responsibility to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to participate in football.â&#x20AC;?

FIFA outlawed hijabs for safety reasons in 2007, and allowed a cap which some players object to because it exposes their neck. FIFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rules panel meets in England, and will receive a presentation from FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan to allow a headscarf held in place by a Velcro fastener. -AP

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Arsenal to play City in Beijing on London opening day Brazil undergo profound transformation under Menezes

Kolo Toure of Manchester City blocks the attempt on goal of Robin van Persie of Arsenal during a Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal, Dec. 18, 2011. (Reuters)

Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forward Neymar (center), defender Marcelo (right), celebrate their teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second goal during a friendly between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Brazil, Feb. 28, 2012. (AFP)

LONDON: Arsenal and Manchester City will play a match in Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Olympic Stadium on the day that London welcomes the world for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer Games.

The Premier League rivals said their first teams would play a one-off match for the inaugural â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;China Cupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on July 27 with a local kick-off time of 2000 (1200 GMT), six-and-a-half hours before the London opening ceremony begins. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is...fitting that two English clubs are playing each other on the opening day of the London 2012 Olympics, in the stadium which hosted the Beijing 2008

ST GALLEN, Switzerland: Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results and performances under coach Mano Menezes have been far from earth-shattering, yet Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2-1 win over Bosnia showed that the team have undergone a profound transformation under his leadership. The question remains as to whether the phlegmatic coach has enough time and the right players to complete the job of turning Brazil from a rough, counter-attacking outfit into a team capable of winning the 2014 World Cup in the style expected of them.

Menezes took over the five-times world champions following the 2010 World Cup, just as they realised that they had been going down the wrong path for two decades. Once famous for their flowing, passing game, Brazil made a dramatic U-turn in the 1980s, when they began adopting a no-risk style based on physical prowess, widespread use of so-called tactical fouls and the idea of not letting the opposition play.

They did win the World Cup in 1994 and 2002 and reached the final in 1998 but none of those teams played with the flair or imagination of their predecessors. Teeth-clenching, rough-tackling destroyers populated the midfield at most Brazilian clubs and the national side while speed-merchant full-backs and clinical strikers provided the attacking options.

Physical prowess became fundamental as the Northern European style was deemed the way forward. Then Barcelona and Spain came along, winning everything by playing exactly the sort of short-passing game which had been deemed obsolete in Brazil. It was the rudest of awakenings in the South American country.

Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2010 World Cup win coincided with arguably the most joyless team Brazil have ever fielded, and, despite all the talk of efficiency from coach Dunga, they went out in the quarter-finals.

Menezes, who led Gremio and Corinthians, two of Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest clubs, out of the second division during his club career, was given the job

Olympic Games,â&#x20AC;? Arsenalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement.

It will be the second year in a row that the Gunners have travelled to China in the off-season, with Arsenal playing matches in Malaysia and China last year.

League leaders City played in China in 2006, when they visited Shanghai under former boss Stuart Pearce with a team that included Chinese international defender Sun Jihai, but this will be the Abu Dhabi-owned clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first appearance in Beijing.

The stadium, built for the 2008 Olympics, hosted the Italian Super Cup between

South Korea progresses in W.Cup qualifying match against Kuwait

6RXWK .RUHDÂśV .LP 'R +HRQ FHQWHU ÂżJKWV IRU WKH EDOO ZLWK .XZDLWÂśV 7DODO $OHQ]L ULJKW GXULQJ WKHLU :RUOG &XS $VLDQ 4XDOLÂżHUV URXQG WKUHH IRRWEDOO PDWFK LQ 6HRXO Feb. 29, 2012. (AFP)

MELBOURNE, Australia: Asian power team, South Korea, escaped the same fate as the Saudis by beating Kuwait 2-0.

South Korea entered the game knowing a loss could result in early elimination, and had a nervous game before scoring twice midway through the second half.

Lee Dong-gook, who has been restored as South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key striker under new coach Choi Kang-hee, put the hosts ahead in the 66th minute and Lee Keunho made it 2-0 in the 72nd.

As it turned out, South Korea need not have worried about the result, as second-placed Lebanon lost 4-2 at the United Arab Emirates. Lebanon progressed to the final round anyway, finishing with 10 points against Kuwaitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eight.

Saudi Arabia had been considered a pre-eminent power in Middle East football, but it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t qualify for South Africa 2010 and now has been eliminated at an even earlier stage of qualifying for Brazil 2014.The premature elimination would also leave the career of its coach Frank Rijkaard at the crossroads.

Australia was already assured of a place in the next stage and top spot in the group, entering the Melbourne match with a six-point lead.

Salem Al Dawsari opened the scoring for Saudi Arabia in the 19th minute be-

fore Alex Brosque equalized for the hosts in the 43rd.

Nasser Al Shamrani put the visitors back ahead in first-half stoppage time.

However he spurned a good chance in the 72nd minute, and that was the cue for Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s onslaught.

Japan-based Brosque provided the last pass for Harry Kewellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left-footed equalizer in the 73rd, making it 2-2. Brosque scored again in the 75th and Brett Emerton made it 4-2 with a sliding goal a minute later.

Meanwhile in Muscat, both Oman and Thailand were chasing a victory they needed to reach the next round, knowing a draw would not have been enough for either team.

Midfielder Hussain Al-Hadhri opened the scoring in the 10th minute for Oman and then midfielder Adbul Al-Muqbali made sure of the victory in the 90th minute.

In other games with no impact on fourth-round places: already-eliminated China had a 3-1 home win over a Jordan team that had booked its place in the next stage, Uzbekistan won 1-0 at Japan in a clash of the top teams in Group C, and Tajikistan secured its only point of thirdround qualifying by drawing 1-1 at home against another in North Korea. -AP

AC Milan and city rivals Inter in front of more than 70,000 local fans last August. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We enjoy huge support in Asia and by playing a match in Beijing we will once again be bringing the club close to our loyal fans in China,â&#x20AC;? Gazidis said.

Wang Shuyan, president of promoters Beijing Winoly International Sports Culture Co, said the match was part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic growth plan to bring top clubs and leagues to China. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our focus is on elite, authentic football. Arsenal v Manchester City will undoubtedly be the highest quality EPL match ever in China,â&#x20AC;? he said. -Reuters

Next season the target for Man Uâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fletcher ENGLAND: Darren Fletcher has said he is hopeful he will be able to get his career back on track at Manchester United next season. The Scottish midfielder has been out of action for a an indefinite period as he battles with ways to cope with a chronic and debilitating bowel condition. That other high-profile sports stars, including Sir Steve Redgrave, have managed it does offer genuine reason for optimism. Fletcher, 28, has written off playing any further part in Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sPremier League title bid this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a week-by-week situation so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not got any timescale on recovery, but the target for me is next season now,â&#x20AC;? Fletcher told the Manchester Evening News. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I can come back then, that would be great for me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that will never leave me but somehow you have to find a way to manage it so that I can still play my football. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying everything under the sun at the moment: diet, hypnotherapy.â&#x20AC;? Fletcher first started to experience problems last March. His absence for all but two games of the final three months of last season was put down to a virus.

However, after appearing in 10 United games this term, Fletcher felt he needed to take an extended break and revealed the true nature of his condition. -AFP

Podolskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cologne future unclear after season end

BERLIN: Cologne top scorer Lukas Podolskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future at the Bundesliga club after this season looked in doubt on Wednesday after coach Stale Solbakken refused to say whether the Germany international would see out his contract until 2013.

Podolski has scored 15 goals this season as his home club, to which he returned in 2009 after a hapless three-year spell at Bayern Munich, battle to avoid the drop.

He has been widely linked with a move to the Premier League next season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lukas is a Cologne player at the moment and will be one until the end of the season,â&#x20AC;?

Solbakken told reporters during the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training session. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then we will have to see what happens. His decision is important for us but also for him. We have to respect that.â&#x20AC;?

Cologne have so far failed in their efforts to extend the wingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contract with Podolski, who said he would take a decision in the offseason. -Reuters

of knocking everything down and starting again.

There have been plenty of setbacks, notably defeats against Argentina, France and Germany, combined with a quarter-final exit against Paraguay in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Copa America, and Brazil have slumped to a modest seventh in the FIFA world rankings. Yet, against Bosnia on Tuesday, it was clear that Menezes is making progress in restoring Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old identity. They dominated possession, took their game to feisty, defensive opponents and never resorted to tactical fouls in midfield.

Unfortunately, the final pass too often let them down with former AC Milan and Barcelona player Ronaldinho, given the playmaker role in midfield, often the guilty party.

Menezes said Brazil needed to be more patient in the build-up, prompting his only reference to Barcelona in the evening - surprising given the influence the Catalan club have had on Brazil.

Menezes now has to find the right players to carry out what is effectively a counter-revolution in Brazilian football. Ronaldinho, off the pace against Bosnia, is already one of the big talking points, especially as he will be 34 when the World Cup is played in Brazil. Mohican-haired forward Neymar, 20, is the big hope for 2014 although, over-protected in the Brazilian championship, he struggles against rough-tackling European sides and referees less inclined to give free kicks for the slightest of touches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He struggled to adapt to the game, to understand how to play against opponents with those characteristics,â&#x20AC;? said Menezes. Ultimately, it could all hinge on elegant, left-footed Paulo Henrique Ganso, whose touch, vision and eye for the pass have make him the sort of thinking midfield playmaker which Brazil has struggled to produce.

He clearly transformed the game after replacing Ronaldinho in the second half and Neymar benefited hugely from his presence. Placing Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2014 World Cup hopes on his shoulders, however, may be too much of a burden. -Reuters

Unhappy Barrios eyes summer switch from Dortmund DORTMUND: Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios, who has been linked to both Arsenal and Manchester City, has said he will not spend another season on the bench at German league champions Borussia Dortmund. The 27-year-old has spent much of this season warming the bench behind Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, despite having played a key role in helping Dortmund win the Bundesliga title last season.

In January, German media reports linked him to both Premier League sides Arsenal and City, and the south American has said he will consider his options this summer unless he gets more first-team football.

Coach Jurgen Klopp has given Barrios more game time of late and played him for at least part of

every Dortmund match since Christmas, but mainly off the bench. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course, I do not want to sit on the bench for a second season,â&#x20AC;? Barrios told German magazine Sport Bild having extended his contract last summer until 2015. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is not what being a professional footballer is about. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m unhappy, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m waiting for my chance as a professional. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is difficult on the other hand for me to accept this after such a successful season.â&#x20AC;? Barrios has scored just one league goal in 15 games this season having netted 16 times in 32 games during the last campaign. Lewandowski has already scored 16 times in 23 games so far with Dortmund hosting Mainz on Saturday night and fourpoints clear at the top of the league. -AFP

FILE - Lucas Barrios runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Feb. 11, 2012. (AFP)