March 9, 2012 - Al Watan Daily

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

@alwatandaily

Issue No. 1368

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150 Fils with IHT

Defaulters’ Fund may reopen for new beneficiaries

Mohammed Al-Salman, Mohammed Al-Khaldi, Osama Al-Qatari, Ahmed Al-Shemmari and Jarrah Al-Mutairi Staff Writers

KUWAIT: As demands increase for a solution to the issue of loans and the associated interests, sources within the Ministry of Finance revealed that the Finance Minister Mustafa AlShamali gave instructions for the reexamination of the defaulters fund law. Reportedly, the move seeks to include more beneficiaries by other segments of defaulters. Sources have indicated that the pressure being mounted on the government to drop loan interests will not yield any results considering the high cost involved; adding that the idea goes contrary to social justice and is considered to be detrimental to the country’s banking system. The sources also noted that the government will look into the issue of loans through the Defaulters’ Fund that has been opened for defaulters on two occasions, adding that “For this reason, we see no problem in reopening the fund for a third time if the National Assembly agrees.” Meanwhile, the sources maintained that “dreams” by MPs for the loans and the interests to be dropped should stop because the government is not inclined to such a notion. The sources added that the Defaulters Fund eases the plight of citizens and prevents them

from facing legal cases filed against them, noting that a team of the Finance Ministry will carefully review the provisions of the Defaulters’ Fund. A parliamentary source commented on the issue, saying that the fund’s failure is attributed to some of the conditions the law includes, including one that prevents defaulters from taking new loans. He also cited inaction toward violating banks as another reason for the failure of the fund. The source regarded the opening of the fund as a preemptive government measure to thwart parliamentary proposals calling for the loans to be dropped. He added that the cost of dropping loans does not exceed 1.5 billion Kuwaiti dinars. In the same context, MP Osama Al-Munawer addressed a question to the Finance Minister asking for the required experience and job description for the positions of the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK). Further, the head of the Justice Bloc MP Mohammad Hayef announced that the bloc has officially proposed the amendment of Article 79 of the Constitution as an alternative to the Islamization of laws. The lawmaker stated that the bloc had decided to collect the signatures of MPs to pass the amendment in Parliament. Hayef explained that the new amendment will be applicable to the subsequent and new laws and not on the previous ones.

Unionists announce March 19 strike

According to the proposed amendment, “no new law should be promulgated unless it has been passed by the National Assembly, endorsed by the Amir and is consistent with Sharia (the Islamic law). The original provision stipulates that “No law may be promulgated unless it has been passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the Amir. “We will consider the amendment of Article 2 of the Constitution in the future. But as for now, we will be focused on the amendment of Article 79 because Kuwait is mainly run by man-made laws so there are a lot of laws which are inconsistent with the Islamic law in the penal code or others,” Hayef was quoted as saying. The lawmaker insisted that the Constitution is not like the Quran which is unalterable, noting that all nations have amended their constitutions. In another development, MP Shaye Al-Shaye urged His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Cabinet ministers and MPs to end the plight of layoffs within the public and private sectors. He added that the matter needs to be fundamentally tackled rather than have interim solutions. Furthermore, MP Mubarak Al-Waalan has dismissed reports being circulated on social networking sites that he had assaulted an Asian lady as unfounded. The MP explained that what happened was a traffic accident which will take due process.

Karzai under fire on Afghan women’s rights

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Fahad Al-Loban Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Labor Union Federation announced that there will be a sit-in on March 19th if their salary increases and allowances are not approved by the Civil Service Commission. Several unions from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Civil Service Commission, and other governmental authorities and ministries said that they will support the sit-in and will take part in it. On Wednesday evening, amid tight security and support from many members of the Parliament, the Kuwaiti Labor Union Federation held a strike with the participation of other unions, to protest the tactics of the Civil Service Bureau and its policy of postponing the issue of granting increment for the past three years. The Head of the Kuwaiti Labor Union Fayez AlMutairi said that the proposed increment is “worthless” and doesn’t meet the requirement and demands of the More on 2 people.

New terms for non-nationals entitled to driving licenses: MOI

Jassem Al-Tannib Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Assistant Traffic Department Manager for Licenses Affairs Brigadier Ehsan Al-Owaish announced that the terms for issuing driving licenses for non-Kuwaitis have changed, where they will be granted to university students in Kuwait, legal councilors, judges, experts, lawyers, professors, teachers, engineers, journalists, managers, accountants, pilots, gym trainers, representatives, bedouns (stateless Arabs), nurses, lab technicians, librarians, and translators working at governmental authorities. Women married to Kuwaiti men can also be issued a driving license, in addition to widows and divorcees.

Libyan militia hands Tripoli airport to government

Britain’s Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge (left), and Queen Elizabeth II are pictured as they visit the city of Leicester in central England, on March 8, 2012. Queen Elizabeth II was welcomed by a cheering crowd of thousands Thursday as she began her diamond jubilee tour of Britain accompanied by Prince William’s wife Catherine. (AFP)

Kenya sacks 25,000 striking health workers

NAIROBI: Kenya’s government said on Thursday it had sacked 25,000 public health workers after they refused to end their week-long stoppage over pay. Unemployed or retired health workers in the east African country were asked to report to their nearest health facility on Friday morning to be interviewed for the vacant posts, a government spokesman said. The striking health workers’ union said the government was trying to blackmail them and they would not back down from their demands for higher allowances. The protest is the latest in a string of strikes to grip Kenya in the past year after consumer prices soared, fanning widespread discontent. “We are ignoring the sacking threat,” Alex Orina, spokesman of the 40,000-strong Kenya Health

Professionals Society, said. “These are cat-and-mouse games, you cannot sack an entire workforce. It is a ploy to get us to rush back to work, but our strike continues until our demands are met,” Orina told Reuters. Doctors, university lecturers, primary school teachers and employees of the state broadcaster have also taken strike action. The government said the health workers were acting unethically. “Twenty five thousand of these officers (health workers) have by this morning been deleted from the payroll. Letters of dismissal are ready and are being issued,” government spokesman Alfred Mutua told reporters. “The government has taken this firm action to alleviate further suffering of innocent Kenyans.” -Reuters

BENGHAZI: A powerful Libyan militia that took over the country’s busiest airport when Moammar Gadhafi was deposed said Thursday it will hand over responsibility for the airport to the government, which is struggling to assert its control over militias across Libya. The decision by the Zintan forces to relinquish such a powerful symbol, the airport in the capital of Tripoli, represents a victory for Libya’s central government, which has been heavily criticized for failing to rein in the various militia groups operating across the country. The test, however, will be whether government forces will be able to ensure the security and safety of airport operations. A spokesman for the Zintan militia, Khaled Kar, said Thursday that commanders will hand over the airport to the Ministry of Interior within a week in an official ceremony. He vowed the handover would be permanent. “When we get out, we will never come back,” Kar said. “Everyone is saying unless the militia leaves the airport, the state has no presence in the ground,” he said. “We don’t want to be a stumbling block in the path of restoring state institutions.” The Zintan militia were part of the Libyan revolutionaries who swept through Tripoli in August, toppling Gadhafi after months of fighting by citizens-turned-fighters against the regime. Since then, their well-trained and well-equipped fighters from the mountain city in western Libya have been running the airport in addition to various other institutions, chipping away at the government’s power and control. The leader of Libya’s National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, admitted Wednesday that his government doesn’t have enough power to deal with militias refusing to allow the army and police to take over vital border crossings and airports. -AP

F1 team Marussia signs female test driver

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International Women’s Day demonstrators demand equality

(Photo by Michael A. Kolarov)

MP Hayef proposes amendment to Article 79 of constitution

Women participating in a gathering held at Determination Square on March 8, 2012 marking International Woman’s Day. Michael A. Kolarov Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti women gathered at Determination Square yesterday evening to demonstrate and express their various issues, drawing a crowd estimated at just over a hundred. The women carried banners demanding, among other things, equal opportunities, the right to pass citizenship onto their children, the right to government housing, and make loud and clear that they believe their demands are constitutional. The gathering marks International Women’s Day. The most notable issues was the lack of women in the

Parliament, Government, and Diplomatic Services, as well as Kuwaiti women being married to foreign men not being granted equal rights. Among the gathered crowd was artist Shurooq Amin, who took the time to speak to Al Watan Daily about her issues and the issues of the women around her. “We’re standing up for our rights, very simply. We want our basic human rights and women’s rights and freedom of expression as was promised to us in our Constitution. We’re not asking for any more. Everything in our Constitutions says we can express ourselves in literature, in writing, in art and in science,” She More on 2 explained.

Syrian official defects to protest Al-Assad crackdown

BEIRUT: Syria’s deputy oil minister announced his defection in an online video that emerged Thursday, making him the highest ranking official to abandon President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime since the country’s uprising erupted a year ago. The defection of Abdo Husameddine, who said he was joining the opposition because of the “brutal” crackdown on dissent that has claimed the lives of thousands of Syrians, came as the UN’s humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said she was “struck” by the devastation she saw in a shattered district of the central city of Homs. Amos is the first independent outside observer to be allowed in Hom’s Baba Amro since the military overran the district, wrestling it from rebel control on March 1 following a month-long assault that brought international condemnation. She was allowed a brief tour in the ravaged district on Wednesday.

“The devastation there is significant. That part of Homs is completely destroyed and I am concerned to learn what happened to the people in that part of the city,” she said in Damascus, after meeting with Syria’s education and health ministers on Thursday. In Cairo, former UN chief Kofi Annan said his top priority as special envoy to Syria is to end the violence and deliver badly needed aid. Annan, who has been appointed joint UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, said his mission was to start a “political process” in Syria to resolve the one-year conflict there. The uprising began with largely peaceful protests but faced with a vicious regime crackdown, became increasingly militarized.The UN says more than 7,500 people have been killed in the yearlong violence. Activists put the death toll at more than 8,000. More on 4

Antimatter atom measured for the first time NEW YORK: Scientists have taken the first-ever measurement of an atom made of antimatter. This measurement, though not very precise, represents a first step toward being able to study antimatter atoms in detail - a goal necessary for understanding why the universe is made of matter and not antimatter, its mysterious sibling. All particles of matter are thought to have antimatter partners with the same mass but opposite charge. When these pairs meet, they annihilate each other to become pure energy. Scientists think the universe contained equal parts of matter and antimatter just after the Big Bang, which is believed to have started everything

13.7 billion years ago. But early on, most of the matter and antimatter destroyed each other, leaving behind a slight surplus of matter that became the stars and galaxies that exist today. In a previous study, physicists at Switzerland’s CERN laboratory succeeded in trapping antihydrogen atoms for several minutes by using magnetic fields to keep them suspended in one spot. An antihydrogen atom is the analog of hydrogen, the simplest atom among the elements. Where hydrogen contains one proton and one electron, antihydrogen is made up of one antiproton and one positron (the antimatter More on 15 partner of the electron).

Thousands of livestock farmers march the street to protest against Taiwan government’s plan to allow beef imports from the United States in Taipei March 8, 2012. Taiwan government plans to lift a ban on most US beef containing ractopamine, a drug that is used as a feed additive to promote leanness in pigs and cattle, according to local media. (Reuters)

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ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Unionists announce March 19 strike if demands not met

15 bedouns released on bail

Abdulrazzaq Al-Najjar

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Office of the Public Prosecution ordered the release of 15 bedouns (stateless Arabs) who were accused of taking parts in the demonstrations. The bedouns had to pay 100 Kuwaiti dinars bail. As for the remaining 29 bedouns, the office of the Public Prosecution delayed their case to April 25. The Public Prosecutor has charged the remaining bedouns with accusations related to state security violations, saying that they incited crowds to carry public demonstrations, physically attack the security officers, vandalism, verbal abuse and violating laws related to ban on public gathering. As for the case of Ahmad Assad who was run over by a Qatari national, Assad’s lawyer Ali Al-Khudair said that the victim’s clothes will be presented in the Office of the Public Prosecution.

National Assembly’s guards building costs KD 3.3 million KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Planning and Development Affairs Dr. Fadhil Safar signed a 3.292 million Kuwaiti dinars contract to finish up constructing and maintaining a National Assembly guards building. The building will be 9,132 meters above ground level. It will include office spaces, guards dormitories, a health club, services’ section, central kitchen and a shelter. -KUNA

Protesters are seen standing at the headquarters of the Kuwait Trade Union Federation during a gathering held on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (Al Watan) Fahad Al-Loban

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Labor Union Federation announced that there will be a sit-in on March 19th if their salary increases and allowances are not approved by the Civil Service Commission. Several unions from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Civil Service Commission, and other governmental authorities and ministries said that they will support the sit-in and will take part in it. On Wednesday evening, amid tight security and support from many members of the Parliament, the Kuwaiti Labor Union Federation held a strike with the participation of other unions, to protest the tactics of the Civil Service Bureau and its policy of postponing the issue of granting increment for the past three years. The Head of the Kuwaiti Labor Union Fayez Al-Mutairi said that the proposed increment is “worthless” and doesn’t meet the requirement and demands of the people. “The rights of the employees in different state departments are lost between the Civil Service

Bureau and the Civil Service Council. We have hoped that the new government would be more responsive and appreciative, but instead, our demands were rejected,” he explained. Al-Mutairi said that the there was a call on their part to the government and the Civil Service Bureau to sit down with the Union and explore new venues in order to implement their demands within a warm and constructive environment so that all forms of protests and demonstrations would stop. “The government has decided to shut all doors against the public demands either by force or violence, resorting sometimes to threat and to holding those who strike accountable,” he noted, adding that the tactics of the government would never stop the demands of the unions, stressing that such demands by the unions are “legitimate and right”. Al-Mutairi said that the first thing need to be done is the amendment of Civil Service Bureau law, which was introduced back in 1979 and has not been amended since. He criticized the law saying that it is no longer practical. He believes that once the amendment is introduced the qualified

and skilled people would be recruited and increments would be granted and promotion would be guaranteed. On his part, the President of the Public Sector Labor Union Bader Al-Azmi said that the labor unions represent a large group of the workers here in Kuwait and therefore the Civil Service Bureau will not tolerate breaking down the demands of the people, which is an absolute right. Similarly, MP Dr. Khaled Shakheer said, “The people have chosen us in the Elections of 2012 so that we achieve development and avoid fomenting crisis, pointing out that the only problem now with the government is the stance adopted by the Civil Service Bureau. The MP said that the Civil Service Bureau should review its policy, in terms of salary, every five years. Also, MP Dr. Obaid Al-Wasmi said that the only solution to the problem of wages is to hold a national conference for the unions and syndicates along with the government so that this particular issue is finalized once and for all, otherwise the government will be confronted and questioned about such measure.

International Women’s Day demonstrators demand equality Michael A. Kolarov

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti women gathered at Determination Square yesterday evening to demonstrate and express their various issues, drawing a crowd estimated at just over a hundred, women carried banners demanding, among other things, equal opportunities, the right to pass citizenship onto their children, the right to government housing, and make loud and clear that they believe their demands are constitutional. The gathering marks International Women’s Day. The most notable issues was the lack of women in the Parliament, Government, and Diplomatic Services, as well as Kuwaiti women being married to foreign men not being granted equal rights. Among the gathered crowd was artist Shurooq

Amin who took the time to speak to Al Watan Daily about her issues and the issues of the women around her. “We’re standing up for our rights, very simply. We want our basic human rights and women’s rights and freedom of expression as was promised to us in our Constitution. We’re not asking for any more. Everything in our Constitutions says we can express ourselves in literature, in writing, in art and in science,” She explained. Another woman who declined to be identified beyond the fact that she was a candidate for parliament, gave her thoughts about the lack of women in the National Assembly. “If there is a fatwa that doesn’t support the idea of voting for women, nobody will vote for women. If there is a ‘culture’ that believes parliament is not the right place for women, what’s the use of having the right to run for office, if you don’t build a culture that supports

(Photo taken by Michael A. Kolarov)

Women participating in a gathering held on Thursday, March 8, 2012 marking International Women’s Day to shout out their concerns through posters reading “We require granting citizenship to our children” and “Why are women absent from parliament”.

the idea?” She also opined that the election was not an equal competition between both genders. “Men have a lot of tools, they have diwaniya, they have power and relations which they have built for many years, but women only had two months to try and build up support.” She went on to explain, “The Government didn’t choose any women as ministers. Why not?” Bottom line, there any many pressing issues in the country to deal with instead of focusing on cosmetic surgery, and dress codes for women.” According to organizers identified as the 8x8 movement, the organization wants equal opportunity for women and men alike, based on the 8th article of the Kuwaiti constitution. 8x8 represents the 8th of March and the 8th article of the constitution. Participating in this event is the Youth Association of Kuwait and the Women’s Culture and Social Society who have heavily pushed for this project, among others. The people and the organizers have a long term commitment to the 8x8 campaign which declares its desire to address 8 strategic issues over 8 years beginning by taking measures in all aspects of society to ensure the empowerment and development of women by enhancing their social status and recognizing their joint national responsibility. Their second step is adopting awareness and cultural programs to change the behavior patterns of society in order to put an end to biased customs and traditions which degrade women, especially in school curricula, and media. They also want to support women rights to occupy public posts and enjoy employment privileges at all levels including the government. Fourth, they seek granting Kuwaiti divorced women, widows and singulars all civil, social, economic and housing rights in a way which ensures them decent lives. Fifth, they want to involve in all sorts of elections provided by all sectors. Sixth, 8X8 seeks granting women the right to ask for loans and running projects. In addition, they want to introduce amendments to Social Security Law and finally establish a higher council for women which can set a national strategic plan to improve the status of women.

Justice Bloc proposes amending Article 79 of Constitution Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Chairman of the Justice Bloc Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammad Hayef has announced that the bloc proposed an amendment to Article No. 79 of the Constitution. He noted that the said article states “No law may be promulgated unless it has been passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the Amir.” He explained that the bloc proposes amending the article to be as follows, “No law may be promulgated unless it has been passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the Amir and is found to be compatible with Islamic Sharia.” In a press conference held in the Parliament, Hayef said that the proposal was submitted with

the explanatory memorandum, adding that the amendment will prevent issuing any laws that are incompatible with the Islamic Sharia in the future. He pointed out that the amendment will be applied to future laws and not to existing ones. Hayef said, “I believe that no Muslim will reject such an amendment.” He added that those who objected to the amendment of Article 2 of the Constitution cannot object amending Article 79 which obliges the legislators to follow Sharia and not to issue any laws which oppose it. Hayef expected that no one will reject the amendment of Article 79, at least at this time, adding that the amendment of the second article will be reconsidered in future. He called on all MPs to approve this amendment.

Asked about laws issued in the past and were opposing Sharia, Hayef said that “Kuwait is a Sate based on man-made laws and there are many laws which oppose Sharia, including the Penal Code and other laws. However, we are not speaking about the past. We are speaking about the future. We want to amend Article 79 now and we can consider amending the second article or the Islamization of laws in the future.” He added that everybody agrees on the need to stop issuing laws which oppose Sharia. He added, “The Constitution is not the Holy Quran therefore it can be amended. Some nations have amended their constitutions several times, and others changed them entirely.”

Kuwait, Niger sign KD 5 million loan agreement

KUWAIT: Kuwait and Niger signed a five million Kuwaiti dinar (17.5 million US dollar) loan agreement to help finance the Arlit-Assamaka Road Project in the Republic of Niger. The Loan Agreement was signed on behalf of the Republic of Niger by Minister of Planning and Economy Mamadu Abu Baker Cessey, and it was signed on behalf of the Kuwait by Deputy Director-General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Hamad Al-Omar. The Project aims at strengthening the economic and social development and alleviate poverty in Niger by reducing the transport cost (vehicles operation costs). It will contribute also in increasing safety measures on the roads, in addition to improve the marketing of agricultural and animal products in the said zones, as well as increasing the probability of international trade with both Algeria and Nigeria. The Project’s components consist of civil works, which includes site preparation, earthworks, drainage, pavement layers, structures, bridges, safety provisions and signalization. It will also consist of institutional support, include the provision of vehicles, office equipments and consultancy services for design review, and supervision of the construction works. This loan will be the 10th loan extended by the Fund to the Republic of Niger considering that the Fund had already extended to the Republic of Niger nine loans before with a total amount of KD 20.2 million for financing projects in different sectors. The Fund had also extended to the Niger 10 Technical Assistance for a total amount of KD 1.6 million. -KUNA

Japanese ambassador: Amir’s anticipated visit is of great significance

Wafaa Qansour

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Japan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Yasuyoshi Komizo asserted that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah’s visit to Tokyo is of great significance. He thanked, during a celebration that was held at his residence, Kuwait and its people for donating five million barrels of oil after the tsunami that hit Japan. The event was attended by senior Kuwaiti officials and several ambassadors in Kuwait. The ambassador revealed that the Amir will spend four days in Japan where he will hold talks with senior Japanese officials. Moreover, he explained that Japan is grateful for the help it received from Kuwait after the tsunami and noted that the Kuwaiti-Japanese relations were established in 1955 when Kuwait had Pana-

sonics agent, adding that Al-Sayer was the first company to be Toyota’s agent in the Middle East. Meanwhile, concerning the Syrian issue, he mentioned that Japan approves the decisions taken by the European Union and said that Syria’s regime must either meet the demands of its people or step down. Regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, he explained that Iran must prove to the world that its nuclear efforts are for peaceful purposes. He also asked Iran to cooperate with the concerned international organizations. In addition, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah stated that Kuwait takes pride in its visit to Japan for its importance. He underlined the strong KuwaitiJapanese relationships that are based on friendship and respect.

Japan’s ambassador to Kuwait Yasuyoshi Komizo and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah during a celebration held at the ambassador’s residence on Monday, March 5, 2012. (Al Watan)

Top US marine commander discusses cooperation with Army Chief KUWAIT: Kuwait Army Chief of General Staff, General Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah met today with Lieutenant General Thomas D. Waldhauser Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commander, US Marine Corps Forces Central Command and a bevy of US marine officers visiting the country, it was learned here today. The Kuwaiti host discussed with his guests topics of bilateral military cooperation. -KUNA

ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

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Youth exhibit ambition at P2BK Municipality destroys 16 tons of rotten, expired foods Mohammad Khaled 6WDII :ULWHU

KUWAIT: His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation for the role of the youth in the “Proud to be Kuwaiti� (P2BK) Forum saying that the Kuwaiti young men “have proven to be keen to achieve their ambition through tenacity.� Sheikh Nasser’s statement came during the launch of the Fifth Annual Forum of P2BK in the Kuwait International Fair in Mishref. His Highness toured the fair to have a closer look at the achievements of young male and female Kuwaitis. Sheikh Nasser praised the work of the participants urging them to contribute further

more. On his part, Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sabah said that any success in the economy would be based on the service sector in its first stages and this can be done by supporting and encouraging young people and their ambition for development and creativity. Asked about his assessment of the role of the Joint Media Committee and its cooperation and coordination with the Public Authority for Planning and their mission to follow up with the development projects, Sheikh Mohammed said that the Committee can’t bear more than it handled. He added that its main concern is the serious endeavors to highlight the development projects and that its

function is nothing to do with the following up. Asked about the audio-visual laws and the possibility of reducing freedom in the country, the minister said that even in some developed countries, there are stricter laws which forbid public defamations and slander. He added that he believes in freedom of expression and that people need to express their views and accept the views of the others. Asked about reports claiming that the Ministry of Information rejects the recruitment of young people, the minister said that such reports should be the concern of the administrative department and the work of the ministry’s Undersecretary Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud.

Ambassador to Italy discusses cooperation with ANSA

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KUWAIT: Director-General of Kuwait Municipality Ahmad Al-Subieh praised on Thursday the Kuwait Municipality team of emergency inspectors, of the Department of Imported Food, for their efforts in discovering and destroying 16 tons of foodstuffs that were unfit for human consumption. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Subieh said that law would be applied upon all, without any exception, in order to maintain consumers’ health and safety, adding that the Municipality works on condensing its efforts to make Kuwait secure from rotten food. On her part, Istiqlal Al-Musallam, Director of the Department of Imported Food at the Municipality, said

that before destroying products, companies were giving choices in either destroying quantities of food that were unfit for human consumption, or re-export them to their countries of origin. Al-Musallam noted the destroyed products included meats, cheeses, cookies, beef sausage, ice cream, sugary sweets, cakes, nuts and butter. Moreover, she noted that the destroying procedures were based on laboratory results that found emergence of colored substances and fungus on food that were not identical to standards, as well as emergence of Salmonella bacteria on some food, and finding some meats that included pork fats. -KUNA

Official attends one-year tsunami commemoration KUWAIT: Deputy Amiri Diwan Affairs Minister Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah attended an event at the Japanese embassy on Thursday, held to mark a year since the devastating tsunami that hit eastern Japan. After a minute’s silence held to honor those

who lost their lives in the disaster, Japanese Ambassador Yasuyoshi Komizo gave a speech, expressing his nation’s gratitude for the efforts exerted by Kuwait in supporting his nation and people during the earthquake. -KUNA

USS Vincennes plays host to Kuwaiti officials

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KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Border Security Major General Sheikh Mohammed Al-Youssef Al-Sabah visited Thursday the US carrier USS Vincennes upon the invitation of Vice Admiral Mark I. Fox Commander, US Naval Forces Central Command, Commander, US 5th Fleet, Commander and Combined Maritime Forces. The Assistant Undersecretary, accompanied by a

delegation made up of personnel from the department of female police and from the department of mass media communication and from the Special Forces department, all at the Ministry of Interior, were given an orientation tour of the massive carrier and its operational capabilities. The visit also afforded the Kuwaiti officials and the US ones to discuss means of furthering cooperation on maritime security issues. -KUNA

Kuwait to take part in tourism event in Germany BERLIN: Kuwait is due to take part in the International Tourism Bourse due in Berlin on March 7-11. Majda Babahani, in charge of the tourism department at the ministry of commerce, on occasion of the forecast event affirmed in remarks to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the necessity of overcoming problems in the sector, noting that politicians must advocate tourism as a necessary means to shore up national economy.

Kuwait seeks to lure in particular tourists and recreation seekers from the other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “Kuwait primarily seeks to attract families from the Gulf countries,� she affirmed. On “tourism openness� with Western nations, she has indicated that Kuwait targets this segment of recreation seekers, but on condition of maintaining local traditions and costumes. -KUNA

ROME: Kuwaiti Ambassador in Rome Sheikh Jaber Duaij AlIbrahim Al-Sabah discussed with chief of the Italian news agency (Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, ANSA news wire) activation and support to Kuwaiti media and cultural initiatives in both countries in collaboration with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Activation of such initiatives aims to boost relations between Kuwait and Italy, with development of information and cultural exchange to serve cooperation in different areas. Ambassador Al-Sabah received, at the Kuwait Embassy, the Managing Director of ANSA Dr. Giuseppe Cerbone, along with two other officials and KUNA’s correspondent. Al-Sabah thanked ANSA for its concern to boost the media-cooperation with Kuwait. On his behalf, Al-Sabah stressed on importance of vital cooperation between ANSA and KUNA, expressing his keenness on securing more cooperation and narrowing cultural gap of peoples of the two countries, as well as encouraging cultural and tourist exchange. Dr. Cerbone thanked the Kuwaiti officials for hospitality, and took the opportunity to point out the old relationship between both agencies, which has evolved for over more than two decades and resulted in signature of a strategic cooperation agreement. This accord signed with KUNA Chairman of the Board and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah in Rome in late 2009. It stipulated exchange of technical delegations between the two agencies. The Italian official affirmed ANSA’s keenness to complete signing of the “applied protocol� soon to further development and cooperation on a wider scale with KUNA, which is a major media partner in the Gulf and the Arab region. Furthermore, he discussed with the Italian official cooperation and exchange of media and information materials as well as provisions for coverage of initiatives and art galleries, in addition to cultural and tourist events, adopted by the embassy, in cooperation with the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL), Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information as well as Kuwait Airways. They also agreed to launch a mutual cooperation initiative between ANSA and KUNA for dialogue and examine possibility of organizing events for a life interaction between journalists, specialists, as well as exchange of experience and views on opportunities and constraints to activate/promote economic cooperation between small and medium enterprises as part of Kuwait development plans. Cerbone announced that ANSA will specialize a video channel on its website that promotes Kuwait and its culture.

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At the end of the encounter, Ambassador Al-Sabah thanked Cerbone for the agency’s continuous efforts to cover the Kuwaiti events. Cerbone handed over the latest photo album of journalism photography of 2011. -KUNA

Kuwait leading investor in Turkey: Official

ISTANBUL: Kuwait is a leading investor in the Republic of Turkey and the country is willing to consider further facilities to encourage further investments, said Chairman of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) Thursday. The remark came as Abdulkerim Cay met with a delegation of Kuwaiti journalists and media figures, part of their official visit. He added Turkey attracted Kuwaiti investments in many industrial and services sectors, and most particularly banking, healthcare, industry, and retail. The ISPAT chairman presented a review of economic data and investment opportunities. He pointed out the country’s unprecedented economic leaps over the last ten years, stressing the country is a safe haven for investments at present, especially after many traditional choice markets suffered impacts of the euro crisis. Whereas flow of foreign investment to European countries is declining, the flow to Turkey is increasing. The official added Turkey is seeking to attract investment to the renewable energy sector, and most particularly nuclear, solar, and hydroelectric power. This is important, he said, to compensate for the country’s lack of any hydrocarbon energy sources to speak of. “Investment in this sector is both promising and comfortable, and carries little risk.� The country plans to invest 100 billion US dollars in the sector, Cay added. He moved on to public-private sec-

tor partnership and remarked that shared projects in healthcare and power sectors in Turkey are worth over $20 billion. Facilities offered by the government include land allocations, tax benefits, and customs fees exemptions for vital BOT ventures. The Kuwaiti delegation met with another official today, this time in their own field. Directorate General of Press and Information Chairman Murat Karakaya told the delegation his country plans to bring offices of Arab television channels operating in Turkey under one roof and work in this regard is due to start next fall. All papers and news agencies would be brought along at a later stage as well. This step, he explained, aims to further relations and coordination in the field of media, which is the field of choice when there is need to push interaction and public support for stronger ties. The official was specifically asked about the Turkish dramas that are in vogue across the Arab World at present. Karakaya remarked the impact of the many series was more dramatic than official measures taken to encourage people, and Arabs in particular, to visit and get to know the natural attractions and culture of Turkey first hand. There is increasing interest in art and media productions with all the popularity of such works among Arab channels. The official seized this subject as opportunity to say the decades of tepid relations between Turkey and the Arab World were very hard to overcome. It

required genuine desire on the Turkish side to restore bridges of communication with the Arab region, he said. Members of the delegation remarked there is still to be a Turkish information and media bureau in Kuwait or any other Arab country to help along this cause. To this Karakaya responded by saying there is an ongoing effort to employ Arabic fluent diplomats at Turkish embassies, as the first step to bridge this gap. The Kuwaiti press delegation, which started its six-day visit Monday, includes Kuwaiti Journalists Association Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Ahmad Yusef Behbehani, Al-Anbaa daily Editor in Chief Yusef Khalid Al-Marzouq, KUNA Editor in Chief Rashid Al-Ruwaished, Al-Rai Editor in Chief Majid AlAli, and Annahar Editor in Chief Emad BuKhamsin. It also included Editor in Chief of the English daily Kuwait Times Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, Deputy Editor in Chief of Al-Anbaa daily and visit coordinator Adnan Al-Rashid, and Deputy Editor in Chief of Al-Yaqaza magazine Dalia Behbehani, along with photographer Majid Al-Sabij. The delegation so far met with senior Turkish officials including President Abdullah Gul and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Ali Babacan. They are still to meet a host of economic officials and academics and leaders of major media institutions. -KUNA

Bosnian TV1 channel broadcasts reportage on Kuwait renaissance SARAJEVO: Bosnian TV1 channel broadcast on Wednesday night a reportage on the Kuwaiti renaissance, hailing the level of progress the country reached. It praised the wisdom of the Kuwaiti leadership in facing challenges at the regional and international levels. It also highlighted the care the Kuwaiti government offers citizens in various fields, including free education, and free medical services. It also shed light on efforts in the field of education through offering students scholarships at the most prestigious educational institutions locally and worldwide. It also talked over the governmental and private sectors contribution to the cultural activities in the country.

The reportage praised the role of the Kuwaiti embassy in Sarajevo in enhancing the ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and mentioned the various aspects of cultural cooperation between the two nations, especially those organized by The Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity. It showed segments of the 12th session ofAl-Babtain foundation held in Sarajevo, describing it as the most prominent literary event the country witnessed since its independence. The reportage also included some interviews with Kuwaiti officials, touching on future development plans contributing to the prosperity and progress of the country and its people. -KUNA

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ALWATAN DAILY

REGIONAL

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Syrian official defects to protest Al-Assad crackdown BEIRUT: Syria’s deputy oil minister announced his defection in an online video that emerged Thursday, making him the highest ranking official to abandon President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime since the country’s uprising erupted a year ago. The defection of Abdo Husameddine, who said he was joining the opposition because of the “brutal� crackdown on dissent that has claimed the lives of thousands of Syrians, came as the UN’s humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said she was “struck� by the devastation she saw in a shattered district of the central city of Homs. Amos is the first independent outside observer to be allowed in Hom’s Baba Amro since the military overran the district, wrestling it from rebel control on March 1 following a month-long assault that brought international condemnation. She was allowed a brief tour in the ravaged district on Wednesday. “The devastation there is significant. That part of Homs is completely destroyed and I am concerned to learn what happened to the people in that part of the city,� she said in Damascus, after meeting with Syria’s education and health ministers on Thursday. In Cairo, former UN chief Kofi Annan said his top priority as special envoy to Syria is to end the violence and deliver badly needed aid. Annan, who has been appointed joint UNArab League envoy to Syria, said his mission was to start a “political process� in Syria to

resolve the one-year conflict there. The uprising began with largely peaceful protests but faced with a vicious regime crackdown, became increasingly militarized. The UN says more than 7,500 people have been killed in the yearlong violence. Activists put the death toll at more than 8,000. Addressing a news conference after talks on Thursday with Arab League chief Nabil Al-Arabi in Cairo, Annan said he has the full backing of the international community for his mission. He is scheduled to travel to Damascus on Saturday, where he will likely meet Assad. Assad’s power structure has seen a steady stream of army defectors who have joined a group of dissidents known as the Free Syrian Army, now numbering in the thousands, but civilian government officials have remained largely loyal. That makes the defection of Husameddine, the deputy oil minister, significant. “I do not want to end my life servicing the crimes of this regime,� Husameddine said, announcing his resignation in a video on YouTube. He identified himself as an “assistant� to the oil minister and a member of the ruling Baath Party and said he has served 33 years in various government positions. Ministers in Syria may have several assistants known as deputies. In the video, Husameddine is shown wearing a suit and tie and sitting on a sofa at an

Palestinians to submit 20 sites for UNESCO listing CAPITALS: The Palestinians are poised to submit the names of 20 sites in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for addition to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites, an official said on Thursday. “Within the next few days, we will submit a tentative list of 20 sites to be added to the list,� Omar Awadallah, head of the UN department at the Palestinian foreign ministry, told AFP. Palestine was accepted as a full member state of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization last year, over objections from Israel and the United States, and despite not having full United Nations membership. But its tenure as a full UNESCO member came into force on Thursday, and diplomats now plan to move quickly to register Palestinian sites. “From today we are a full party as a state so now we can start all the things that states can do within the rules of the convention, one of them is that we can submit our list to the World Heritage committee,� he said. Until now, the Palestinians could not formally submit any sites in the Palestinian territories for inclusion in the list. The tentative list that will be submitted is the first step in the process of obtaining World Heritage status for the sites, and is intended as an inventory of the locations a member wishes to register, UNESCO says. The list includes sites ranging from Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, to Hebron’s walled Old City in the southern West Bank. It also includes the caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, as well as a series of aqueducts and

Ummayad palaces, some of which are in Jerusalem. Gaza sites on the list include the Wadi Gaza coastal wetlands and the Anthedon Harbour, according to a copy of the list seen by AFP. The finalized list will be presented when the World Heritage Committee holds its annual meeting in June to discuss which sites to accept, Awadallah said. The Old City of Jerusalem and its walls is already part of the list after it was nominated in 1982 by Jordan. It is currently listed as an endangered site due to problems of uncontrolled urban development and the deterioration of its monuments due to tourism, the UNESCO website says. Israel and the United States fiercely opposed Palestinian admission to UNESCO, with both cutting funding to the organization in the wake of the decision. There have been ongoing tensions between Israel, the Palestinians and UNESCO over several sites of cultural and religious significance in the West Bank. In 2010, Israel reduced its cooperation with UNESCO after the organization described Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem, as a mosque. The tomb, built over what is believed to be the burial place of the biblical matriarch, is the third holiest site in Judaism, but also considered a holy place for Muslims. In 2011, Israel announced plans to include Rachel’s Tomb and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron - another shared Jewish and Muslim holy site - in a national heritage restoration plan. That decision was slammed by the Palestinians and criticized by UNESCO as “escalating tension� in the area. -AFP

undisclosed location, reading from a paper. “I, Abdo Husameddine, deputy oil and mineral resources minister, announce my defection from the regime and resignation from my post ... and declare that I am joining the dignified people’s revolution,� he said. He appeared to address Assad directly. “You have inflicted on those you claim are your people a full year of sorrow and sadness, denied them their basic rights to life and humanity and pushed the country to the edge of the abyss,� he said. It was not clear when or where the video was filmed, and there was no immediate comment from Damascus. Among numerous military defections recently was that of Syrian brigadier-general Mostafa Ahmad Al-Sheik, who fled to Turkey in January, becoming the highest-ranking officer to defect. In lateAugust,Adnan Bakkour, the attorney general of the central city of Hama, appeared in a a video announcing he had defected from the regime. Authorities reported he had been kidnapped and said he was being kept against his will by gunmen. He has not been heard of since. In the YouTube video, Husameddine said he was defecting “knowing full well that this regime will burn my home, persecute my family and make up a lot of lies.� “I advise my colleagues ... to abandon this sinking ship,� he added. -AP

Egypt judge delays trial of NGO workers to April 10 CAIRO: An Egyptian judge said on Thursday he was delaying until April 10 the trial of civil society activists including 16 Americans accused of receiving illegal foreign funds and pursuing their pro-democracy activities without a license. The case, which targets groups including the US-funded National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute, strained Egypt’s US ties and prompted threats from Washington to withdraw 1.3 billion US dollars of military aid. The tension abated last week when Egyptian authorities lifted a travel ban on some of the foreigners targeted in the judicial probe of the nongovernmental organizations and most of them left the country. But the charges against the 43 Egyptian and foreign NGO workers still hold. One of the Americans working for NDI, Robert Becker, stayed in Egypt after the travel ban was lifted and was in

court on Thursday before Judge Makram Awad. Awad demanded that prosecutors bring before the court 15 foreigners who were charged but fled Egypt before the travel ban was imposed, some of them US nationals. Seven US citizens, including the son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, were in Egypt when the ban came into force and sought refuge at the American embassy in Cairo while officials scrambled to defuse the crisis. Washington paid bail of about $330,000 for each of those US citizens as part of the deal allowing them to leave. “Those who ... saw their travel ban lifted and left the country last week will be informed of the trial date,� said an assistant to the court who asked not to be named. One lawyer said the case was likely to continue with the missing defendants being tried in absentia. “This is a serious case that harms Egypt na-

tional security interests. We will seek the toughest punishment for the accused,� a second lawyer, Magdy Ahmed Refa’i, said. Egyptian democracy campaigners see the case as evidence that the country’s ruling generals are trying to silence their most vocal critics. Many ordinary Egyptians are angry that the foreigners were allowed to leave before the trial ended, seeing it as a humiliating capitulation to a foreign power. Some who attended the trial to support Becker, the only American defendant still in Egypt, voiced admiration for his decision to stay behind when he had the chance to leave. “Mr. Becker is a man we all respect,� said one of his supporters who asked not to be named. “I was one of the party members he trained. He taught us how to campaign during elections and what democratic governance means. He is a good man and respects Egyptians.� -Reuters

Iran’s top leader welcomes Obama’s remarks TEHRAN: Iran’s top leader Thursday welcomed comments by President Barack Obama advocating diplomacy and not war as a solution to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, a rare positive signal in long-standing hostile transactions between Tehran and Washington. The report on Iran’s state television quoted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as praising a recent statement by the US president saying he saw a “window of opportunity� to use diplomacy to resolve the nuclear dispute. Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters in Iran, told a group of clerics: “This expression is a good word. This is a wise remark indicating taking distance from illusion.� It is one of the rare cases in which Iran’s top leader praised an American leader. Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 take-

Yemen Qaeda-linked group demands prisoner release ADEN: An Al-Qaeda-linked group in Yemen has threatened the lives of 73 government troops it says it has captured, demanding the authorities release its fellow Islamist fighters from jail in exchange for the soldiers’ safety. The threat from the Ansar Al-Sharia group (Partisans of Islamic Law), whose precise ties to Al-Qaeda remain unclear, was delivered via a text message sent to Reuters on Wednesday, and followed a fierce fire fight in the south of the country on Sunday between government troops and militants that left at least 110 government troops dead. “The mujahideen demand the release of their prisoners from the national and political security jails in exchange for saving the lives of 73 soldiers they hold captive in Abyan,� the text message read. “In the event of failure to comply with their (the militants’) demands, the lives of the soldiers will be in danger,� it added. The militants also urged relatives of the captured soldiers to lobby the US ambassador to Yemen and President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Yemen’s newly-elected leader, on the soldiers’ behalf. There was no way to verify whether the text message was really from the militants but they have often used this method to communicate with local media in the past. The army said on Monday some of its soldiers had gone missing but did not say how many. Hadi, who was elected just last month, has said his forces will hunt the militants down. The militants struck on Sunday, launching suicide attacks on two military posts outside the southern city of Zinjibar in the province of Abyan. Medics said at least 110 government soldiers died in the blasts and clashes that followed. The militants, who reportedly lost 20 of their own fighters in the violence, are pressing for government

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over of the US Embassy in Tehran by Iranian students who took American diplomats hostage. Both the US and Israel fear Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at building a nuclear weapon, while Iran says its nuclear activities are geared toward peaceful purposes such as power generation. But the US and Israel have differed over how to deal with the nuclear problem. Israel has said military action should be considered to stop the Iranians. President Barack Obama told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week that diplomacy must be given more time. On Tuesday, the American president said diplomacy can still resolve the nuclear crisis and accused his Republican critics of “beating the drums of war.� Obama added that the Iranians

need to show how serious they are about resolving the crisis. He said there are steps the Iranians can take “that are verifiable� and will allow the country to be “in compliance with international norms and mandates.� But Khamenei had criticism for Obama as well. The Iranian leader said the economic sanctions pushed by the US and other nations as a way to get Iran to alter its nuclear program would fail. He said the US president has continued a policy of wanting the Iranian nation to “...bow through imposing sanctions.� Khamenei said resorting to the sanctions was a sign of misunderstanding and an unrealistic approach by the US toward the Iranian nation. The Iranian leader warned that the misunderstanding will damage American leaders: “It will lead their calculations to failure.� -AP

Israel asks US for arms that could aid Iran strike JERUSALEM: Israel has asked the United States for advanced “bunker-buster� bombs and refueling planes that could improve its ability to attack Iran’s underground nuclear sites, an Israeli official said on Thursday. “Such a request was made� around the time of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week, the official said, confirming media reports. But the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue, played down as “unrealistic� reports that the United States would condition supplying the hardware on Israel promising not to attack Iran this year. Netanyahu told Obama at a White House meeting on Monday that Israel had not yet decided on military action against Iran, sources close to the talks said. Netanyahu has hinted that Israel could resort to force should Tehran - which denies suspicions that it is covertly trying to develop atomic bombs - continue to defy big powers’ diplomatic pressure to curb

its nuclear program. The risk of an Israeli-Iranian war troubles President Barack Obama, who is up for re-election in November and has cautioned against kindling more Middle East upheaval. A Gulf conflict could send oil prices rocketing upwards. A front-page article in the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv on Thursday said Obama had told Netanyahu that Washington would supply Israel with upgraded military equipment in return for assurances that there would be no attack on Iran in 2012. Israel is widely assumed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal but its conventional firepower may not be enough to deliver lasting damage to Iran’s distant, dispersed and well-fortified facilities, many experts say. Israel has limited stocks of older, smaller bunker-busters and a small fleet of refueling planes, all supplied by Washington. Western powers suspect Iran’s uranium enrichment program is aimed at stockpiling fissile material for nuclear weapons. Iran says it is strictly for civilian energy uses. -Reuters

Top Gadhafi official gets Niger government role

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forces to abandon the city of Zinjibar to them. They said they had taken at least 70 government troops prisoner on Sunday. In another text message on Wednesday, the militants also said they had allowed a Red Cross medical team into Jaar, a small town in the same province which they control, so that wounded government soldiers could receive treatment. The head of the Yemeni delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed separately that a small team of surgeons and doctors had been granted access to Jaar, where they treated 12 soldiers in a makeshift hospital in a school. “We managed yesterday midmorning to obtain authorization by (the)

armed group Ansar Al-Sharia to come and do some medical work in Jaar in Abyan province,� Eric Marclay told Reuters, adding that the 12 soldiers were now in a stable condition. AnsarAl-Sharia is inspired byAl-Qaeda but the precise extent of its ties to the global militant network are unclear, although the Yemeni government says they are one and the same. Some analysts say it may be local militant groups at work however. A year of political upheaval has severely weakened central government control over swathes of Yemen in favor of Islamist militants, who have expanded their foothold in the south, near oil shipping routes through the Red Sea. -Reuters

NIAMEY: Niger has given Muammar Gadhafi’s former chief of staff a diplomatic passport and an advisory role in government, sources said on Thursday, a move likely to worsen Niger’s fraying relationship with Libya’s new leaders. Bashir Saleh Bashir was one of Gadhafi’s top aides who also ran Libya’s investment fund for the ousted leader. He was given the passport in late December after being named a Niger presidential adviser, two top police officials told Reuters. “A diplomatic passport was issued to Bashir Saleh Bashir, who was named adviser to the presidency,� one of the police officials said, asking not to be named. Niger’s bi-weekly L’Evenement said the passport stated Saleh was born in Niger’s northern town of Agadez in 1946. A Niger government spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Tensions have risen between Niger and its northern neighbor Libya since rebels toppled Gadhafi’s regime in

August. Niger has received nearly 230,000 refugees from Libya, some of whom fought alongside Gadhafi’s forces, and has also granted asylum to Gadhafi’s son Saadi. Neither Saadi nor Bashir are being sought by the International Criminal Court. Niger’s government warned its people last month they could be targeted by roving militias if they travel to Libya. Migrant workers from Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries and which faces nearannual food shortages, have for years sought employment in oil-producing Libya. Libya’s new government has pressed Niger to extradite Saadi, saying his call on Feb. 10 for Libyans to prepare for a “coming uprising� threatened ties. Niger pledged to tighten its surveillance of Saadi but said he could not be handed to a state where he might be executed. Saleh was regarded as one of the ex-Libyan leader’s most powerful advisers. -Reuters

ALWATAN DAILY

WORLD

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

German MPs approve second Greek bailout BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has managed to get a second Greek bailout approved in parliament without having to rely on the votes of opposition legislators, but she fell short of the wide majority needed for a convincing victory. Monday’s motion passed easily, with 496 of the 591 members of the Bundestag (lower house) present in the chamber approving the 130-bn-euro ($175bn) Greek aid programme ahead of a key EU summit later this week. “The risks of turning away from Greece now are incalculable” While the ruling centre-right coalition managed a majority with 304 votes in favor, it did not manage the 311 votes Merkel needed for a strong margin of victory - a largely symbolic threshold known as a “chancellor’s majority”. With the main centre-left opposition in favor of the Greek package, there were 90 ‘No’ votes and five abstentions. Al Jazeera’s Nick Spicer, reporting from Berlin, said there is “a big disconnect between the politicians and the people”. “The front page of Germany’s best-selling Bild newspaper says they do not want any more bailouts for Greece, and polls show that twothirds of Germans agree with that sentiment,” he said. Berlin provides the majority of the eurozone’s emergency funds. Merkel is caught between pressure at home to stop giving money to the bailout fund, while facing calls from abroad to work harder at

Deputies approved eurozone deal to hand Athens another €130bn ahead of key EU summit to ratify the package [EPA]

boosting Europe’s crisis defenses. Some MPs from Merkel’s centre-right coalition have become increasingly critical of efforts to keep Greece in the eurozone and one of her own cabinet ministers said this weekend Greece’s chances of recovery would be greater outside the currency zone. However, Merkel told parliament before

the vote that it would be “reckless” of her to expose Germany - and the eurozone and wider world - to the unknown consequences of a Greek default. “The risks of turning away from Greece now are incalculable,” Merkel told the 591 legislators of the Bundestag lower house who had gathered for a special session to vote on the

Sarkozy says will bow out if French don’t pick him PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday he would fight with everything he has to win a second term but will bow out of politics if he loses an April-May election. Sarkozy, who is badly lagging Socialist challenger Francois Hollande in opinion polls six weeks before the first round of voting, said Hollande’s lack of ministerial or international experience was a problem at a time of economic turmoil. “I worry when I look at the Socialist candidate’s program ... and I worry about this dearth of experience in such a troubled period. But if the French people do not put their faith in me, do you really think I would carry on in politics? The answer is no,” Sarkozy told RMC radio. Hollande widened his lead slightly this week, advancing 2 points to 30 percent support for the April 22 first round, while Sarkozy gained only 1 point to 28 percent. The survey, by pollster CSA, saw Hollande beating Sarkozy by 56 percent to 44 percent in a May 6 runoff. “I will fight with all my strength to win your confidence, to protect and lead you and build a strong France, but if that is not your choice I will bow out, that’s the way it is, and I will have had a great life in politics,” he said. Sarkozy said on a three-hour televised debate on Tuesday that he was not discouraged by his weak poll scores and that one his characteristics is that he never gives up. But French media are reporting that his cam-

France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy wait backstage before appearing on French national television in Paris. (Reuters)

paign team is starting to worry that Sarkozy’s efforts to overcome a widespread dislike of his personal style and anger over three years of economic gloom are not working. Campaign spokeswoman Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet - who was lambasted as out

of touch after she was unable to tell a radio presenter the price of a Paris metro ticket - lamented this week that the race had descended into distracting polemic. Presidential spokesman Frank Louvrier has been quoted by the daily Les Echos as saying

Karzai under fire on Afghan women’s rights KABUL: President Hamid Karzai’s US-backed government is under fire this International Women’s Day, accused of selling out on Afghan women’s rights as it tries to woo the Taliban into peace talks. Lawmakers, rights organizations and analysts say that the Afghan leader, by endorsing an edict calling women secondclass citizens, has endangered hard-won progress in women’s rights since the Taliban fell from power in 2001. The Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization denounced authorities for trying to strike a balance between receiving foreign aid and “keeping the conservative forces of Afghan society happy”. “In practice, the demands of extremist elements residing in the presidential palace, particularly those in the judicial bodies as well as the Afghan Ulema Council, always outweigh those of the international community,” it said. Last Friday, the Council, Afghanistan’s highest Islamic authority, issued a non-binding edict saying that women were worth less than men -- a statement released by Karzai’s office and then endorsed by the president on Tuesday. “Men are fundamental and women are secondary,” it said, adding women should avoid “mingling with strange men in various social activities such as education, in bazaars, in offices and other aspects of life”. Such advice effectively implies that women should not go to university or to work at all, no matter that in the lower house of parliament, for example, 27 percent of seats are reserved for women. The edict went on to say that women would wear “full Islamic hijab”, should respect polygamy - Islam allows a man to take up to four wives - and comply with Sharia law on divorce, which severely restricts women’s rights. It further stated that “teasing, harassing and beating women” was prohibited “without a sharia-compliant reason” -leaving open the suggestion that in some circumstances, domestic abuse is appropriate. Karzai, who has formally outlawed

violence and discrimination against women, caused consternation on Tuesday by publicly endorsing the statement, saying that it “reiterated Islamic principles and values” in supporting women. In response, Afghanistan’s first deputy speaker, Fawzia Koofi, who was this week listed as one of the world’s “150 Fearless Women” by US website The Daily Beast, accused the Council of returning women to the dark days of Taliban rule. “This move by the Ulema council drives Afghan women rights towards Talibanization,” she told AFP. “Nobody has the right to interfere in women’s rights, not even President Hamid Karzai.” Many women are increasingly concerned that Karzai’s desire to end the Taliban insurgency through peace talks

means that their hard-won rights will be compromised in order to bring the hardline Islamists into mainstream politics. “It could be a message to the Taliban that he could make compromises amending the constitution,” Afghan political analyst Haroun Mir told AFP. In Kabul and major cities in Afghanistan, enormous progress has been made in women’s rights since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban regime, which banned girls from going to school and women from working. Women were whipped in the street by the religious police if they wore anything other than the all-enveloping blue or white burqa, and those accused of adultery were executed at a sports stadium after Friday prayers. -AFP

Afghan women line up to get food as they mark International Women’s day in Baghlan, Afghanistan, 08 March 2012. (EPA)

Greek package. “No-one can assess what consequences would arise for the German economy, on Italy, Spain, the eurozone as a whole and finally for the whole world” of a Greek bankruptcy, she added. Merkel said Greece faced a path ahead that was long and not without risk, adding: “That goes also for the success of the new program. Nobody can give a 100-per cent guarantee of success.” Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and effective paymaster, came under renewed pressure at a G20 weekend gathering in Mexico to agree a bolstering of the eurozone’s defense funds to 750bn euros ($975bn). Berlin believes that with calmer market conditions and lower bond yields for Spain and Italy, the risk of debt criis contagion is lower and the pressure to bolster the zone’s defenses has lessened. “The government sees at present no necessity for a debate on the increase of the capacity” of the eurozone’s current and future bailout funds, Merkel told parliament. But she said it would first be necessary to see the results of a Greek operation to writedown nearly a third of its debt before making a final decision on the issue. Under a plan hammered out by eurozone finance ministers, Greece would receive up to 130bn euros ($175bn) in direct loans by 2014 in return for tough new austerity measures and tighter EU-IMF oversight of its economy. -Reuters

that if Sarkozy’s camp did not keep the focus squarely on debating ideas they were “sure to lose”. Sarkozy launched his campaign in midFebruary, several weeks after Hollande, and has opted for a strategy of unveiling his ideas - such as a new minimum tax on company profits, making the unemployed sign up to training to get their benefits and holding policy referendums - week by week. After a strong start that saw him trim the gap with Hollande by a few points, he suffered setbacks in his second week, including being jostled by left-wing militants while out on the campaign trail, and has now lost his initial bounce. Meanwhile Hollande has consolidated his lead position after announcing a surprise 75 percent tax rate on annual income above 1 million euros, a move nearly two in three voters support. On Thursday’s radio show, Sarkozy proposed a new household fund for women abandoned by fathers of their children, a new renovation program for city suburbs and said he would cut the number of lawmakers by 10 to 15 percent to trim public spending. Sarkozy, whose main focus is on structural reform and tighter immigration rules, is expected to give his first real campaign overview at a big campaign rally on Sunday in the Paris suburb of Villepinte. -Reuters

US probes allegations Afghan Air Force involved in drug running

KABUL: US authorities are looking into allegations that some Afghan Air Force (AAF) officials have been using aircraft to transport narcotics and illegal weapons across the country, a US official said on Thursday. “At this point allegations are being examined,” said Lt. Col. Tim Stauffer, spokesman for the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, which is setting up and financing Afghan security forces, including the Air Force. “Authorities are trying to determine whether the allegations warrant a full investigation.” The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the allegations, said the US military is also looking into whether the alleged transporting of illegal drugs and weapons is connected to an April incident in which an AAF colonel killed eight US Air Force officers at Kabul Airport. A US Air Force report about the deaths quoted American officials as saying that the killer was likely involved in moving illegal cargo, The Wall Street Journal reported. Most of the victims had been taking part in an inquiry into the misuse of AAF aircraft, the newspaper said. The allegations of drug running come from “credible” Afghan officers inside and outside the AAF and coalition personnel working within the AAF, it added. An Afghan defense ministry official would not comment on the issue. But he did say that Afghanistan had come under pressure from the West to remove a senior AAF official over corruption allegations. “They could not provide credible evidence,” he told Reuters. Major General Abdul Wahab Wardak, the AAF commander, told Reuters the drug-running allegations were “baseless and they must be proven”. “We never do such things,” he added. The allegations are likely to raise further doubts over the ability of Afghan forces to secure the country before foreign combat troops withdraw at the end of 2014. The AAF was set up mostly with US funds. The United States poured in a record amount, near 12 billion US dollars between October 2010 and September 2011, to train and equip Afghanistan’s security forces. Almost as much cash, some $11 billion, is planned for the year through September 2012. Afghanistan produces 90 percent of the world’s opium and the drug trade is often blamed by Western officials for hindering economic development. The poppy economy in Afghanistan, which provides an income for insurgents in the country blighted by decades of war, has grown significantly in 2011 with soaring prices and expanded cultivation, a UN report said late last year. -AP

5

kbtp=fk=_Rfbc French PM tries to quell slaughter row PARIS: Francois Fillon, the French prime minister has tried to calm disquiet among Jews and Muslims after he urged them to re-think their ancient dietary rules. The controversy is the latest to touch on the subject of cultural differences and immigration, ahead of the presidential election in April. President Nicolas Sarkozy recently said he would cut the number of immigrants by almost half if he is reelected. -Reuters

Australian collar-bomb hoaxer pleads guilty CANBERRA: An Australian man has pleaded guilty to chaining a fake bomb to a young woman’s neck in an extortion attempt last year. Paul Douglas Peters’ lawyer pleaded guilty on his behalf in a Sydney courtroom on Thursday, to a charge of “aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence” by knowingly detaining 18-year-old Madeleine Pulver. “Peters deeply regrets and is profoundly sorry for the impact that this incident has had on Pulver and her family,” Kathy Crittenden, the lawyer, told reporters after the hearing. -AP

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief offers to quit LUCKNOW: In a letter to party president Nitin Gadkari, Shahi has said that the humiliating show of the party had shocked him like others and it was his moral responsibility to own up for the poor show at the husting. Other than the party, which slipped from 51 seats in 2007 to 47 in the just-concluded polls, Shahi himself lost from the Pathardeva seat. The BJP’s other top brass - barring Kalraj Mishra who won from Lucknow (East) - former minister Om Prakash Singh and former speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi, among others - also lost the elections. Though Shahi has put in his papers, the party is unlikely to accept it in a hurry as many national leaders too had campaigned in the state but could make little difference. -AFP

Kashmir abuzz with fallout of Congress debacle SRINAGAR: The Congress debacle in the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa will impact the balance of power in Jammu and Kashmir where it is part of the ruling coalition with the National Conference (NC). From analysts to the canny person on the street, the results of the five state elections are being discussed avidly in the Kashmir Valley. Corruption is back on the agenda and the Congress would have to do intense introspection on why it lost, winning only Uttarakhand by the proverbial whisker and retaining Manipur, say a cross-section of people. -AFP

China parliament unveils dissident detention powers BEIJING: China’s parliament unveiled legislation on Thursday solidifying police powers to hold dissidents in secret, prompting an outcry from artist Ai Weiwei and other rights campaigners caught in a surge of clandestine detentions last year. The ruling Communist Party, however, retreated from the most draconian part of rules for one kind of detention, “residential surveillance”, which were proposed last year. Police powers to hold suspects facing subversion and other state security accusations are set out in revisions to the Criminal Procedure Law presented to parliament, the National People’s Congress, now in annual full session. -Reuters

Bomb kills four Thai soldiers in Muslim south NARATHIWAT: Four soldiers were killed and one was critically wounded when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb in Thailand’s Muslim south, police said on Thursday. The attack took place late on Wednesday in Narathiwat, one of three mainly Muslim provinces bordering Malaysia, where a shadowy insurgency has claimed more than 5,000 lives since 2004, when a low-level separatist rebellion from the 1970s resurfaced. The soldiers were travelling in two vehicles and had been providing security during a Buddhist festival. They were attacked moments after delivering the body of a Muslim villager to his family after he was shot dead by suspected rebels. Three of the soldiers were killed instantly, a fourth died in hospital. In a separate incident, a Muslim rubber farmer was shot dead and his wife seriously wounded early on Thursday when two unknown gunmen opened fire on them while they were working at their farm, police said. The region, which is more than 1,100 km (680 miles) away from the capital, Bangkok, was part of an independent Malay Muslim sultanate until annexed by predominantly Buddhist Thailand in 1909. -AP

ALWATAN DAILY

OPINION

6

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Parliamentary support of the Syrian people Dr. Esam Abdulatif Al-Fulaij

T

he Kuwaiti people remain supporting the revolution of the Syrian people against the brutal Ba`ath regime wherein several donation campaigns were conducted for helping the Syrian people and welcomed the donation of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait for the Syrian people. The parliament provides a new lesson in solidarity with the Syrian people who have been suffering from dictatorship for decades and who have recently begun calling for freedom. The parliament has issued a number of recommendations following discussions of Syrian affairs including: * Suspending all political ties with the Syr-

ian regime. s 3UPPORTING THE &REE 3YRIAN !RMY s 3UING THE 3YRIAN REGIME IN INTERNATIONAL tribunes. s 0ERMITTING THE 3YRIAN EXPATRIATES IN +Uwait to bring their families, wives and children to Kuwait. s /RGANIZING MORE DONATION CAMPAIGNS FOR relieving the Syrian people. s #HARGING THE RELEVANT BUREAU AT THE .Ational Assembly to address the Arab, Muslim and international parliaments to condemn the massacres that the brutal Syrian regime commits every day against civilians in addition to imposing all possible pressures of the Syrian government to stop committing massacres.

4HE .ATIONAL !SSEMBLY SHOULD BE THANKED for such important and humane stances and the Kuwaiti people will continue to support their sisterly Syrian people until achieving victory over that brutal regime, God willing. $URING THE BARBARIC ATTACKS AGAINST SOME Syrian areas especially the areas where demonstrations occur continuously, we heard some NEW NAMES LIKE "ABA !MRO AREA 3OME PEOPLE question the name of this area because it has the name “Amro�. ) WOULD LIKE TO TELL READERS ABOUT THE PERSON after whom the area was named. Amro is the COMPANION OF THE 0ROPHET PEACE BE UPON HIM

whose full name was Amro Bin Maad Karab AlZubaidi. He was a prince of the Zubaid Yemeni

TRIBE (E WAS ALSO A POET AND A GREAT KNIGHT AND he obtained the title of “The Knight of Arabs�. (E WAS A TALL AND A VERY STRONG KNIGHT 4HE original name is Bab Amro “the gate of Amro� not Baba Amro. He participated in the Islamic wars in AlSham region and Iraq and fought in the YarMOUK AND 1ADESIYA BATTLES !T THAT TIME HE did not withdraw from any Muslim war against enemies. Bab Amro is the eighth gate of the city of Homs and it is located in the south west of the city. The area includes many archeological sites such as the Mosque of Amro Bin Maad AlZubaidi. 7HEN THE BATTLE STARTED !MRO ATTACKED THE

0ERSIAN ARMY AND THEN -USLIMS FOLLOWED HIM immediately and they achieved great victory. (E ALSO FOUGHT BRAVELY IN .AHAWEND "ATTLE AND achieved victory and then moved to Al-Sham region- Syria- and fought again there and then died as a martyr. (E WAS BURIED IN WHAT IS KNOWN TODAY AS the Bab Amro area the whole area was named Bab Amro. I admired a great idea by @car_spaq8 Company wherein they donate one Kuwaiti dinar after washing each car for customers to the 3YRIAN PEOPLE 4HEY HOPE TO ENcourage other people and the owners of small projects to participate in supporting the Syrian people.

You have opened a closed door for evil

!L !ZHAR !L 3HARIF TO CONFRONT THE INCORRECT fatwas, which are contradictory to religion as THEY ARE NOT BASED PURELY ON RELIGIOUS TEXTS .USAIR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT .IQAB FACE VEIL has nothing to do with Islam and it is a Jewish ritual which was mentioned in the Genesis in the Talmud. .USAIR WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE %GYPTIAN .ATIONAL #OUNCIL FOR7OMEN ADDED THAT WOMen have the right to wear any dress as long as it is not transparent, very tight or attracting attention. 3HE EXPLAINED THAT RELIGION SEEKS DECENCY by imposing hijab on women. She added that IF !LLAH !LMIGHTY WANTED TO IMPOSE .IQAB (E WOULD MENTION IT IN THE (OLY 1URAN OR (IS -ESSENGER 0"5( WOULD MENTION IT IN HAdith. .USAIR SAID THAT THE FATWAS ISSUED BY SOME people, which prevent women from their rights such as being judges or education are “nonsense�. She said “They shouldn’t distort the image of Islam by their thoughts which contradict religion and logic�. ) BELIEVE THAT .USAIR WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID THAT .IQAB IS NOT A RITUAL IN )SLAM AND THAT it was first mentioned in the Talmud and then people inherited this habit, which later came TO OUR COUNTRIES THROUGH THE TYRANNICAL /TTOman Empire, which came to an end and will never occur again.

What happens in Kuwait is not democracy it is a deformed image of democracy However, there is a significant difference between democracy as theory and democracy as an integrated culture. Dr. Shamlan Yousef Al-Esa

T

HE FOUR -0S -OHAMMAD (AYEF

"ADER !L $AHOUM /SAMA !L -Unawer, and Mohammad Al-Hatlani plan to submit some draft laws such as banning harassment, decency law, the LAW OF ORGANIZING PLASTIC SURGERY ESTABlishing authority for protecting society from the influence of drugs and banning any usury interests especially in social securities. We are fully sure that such drafted laws will fail and they will never be endorsed because they violate the constitutional basis of the country and disrupt the rules of Kuwait’s economy which is based on capitalist principles. The reasons behind writing this article is to inform the majority of the Kuwaiti people who still prefer to remain silent about some important issues in which they and all democratic powers who support the civil state should be AWARE OF THE SIGNIlCANCE OF SCANDALIZING such attempts which aim at undermining constitutional systems. However, there is a significant difference between democracy as theory and democracy as an integrated culture. What Kuwait witnesses at the present time isn`t democracy but it is a very deformed image of democracy that might BE EXPLOITED BY THE PRETEXT OF THE PARLIAmentary majority. Democracy which emerged in the West and spread in many other countries can`t be separated from modernity, change and development and all the things which occur under the secular

umbrella that separates policy from religion. We, in Kuwait, have a democratic constitution that was set by our ancesTORS BUT THE -0S ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE VERY CONSTITUTION 4HE &RENCH 0HILOSOPHER *AN *ACK 2USSO SAID THAT ANYBODY who describes other people as infidels or disbelievers according to sectarian principles means the very persons should BE EXCLUDED FROM POLITICAL PARTICIPATION and even social affairs. So, the radical movements in the .ATIONAL !SSEMBLY THAT CALL THEMSELVES as justice or development blocs are very far from the spirit of development and justice as development means changing towards the best in order to achieve a better future and justice is comprised of humanist and other aspects. We have to restore Kuwait and free it FROM THOSE WHO HIJACKED IT 7E ALSO KNOW WELL THAT THE +UWAITI people appreciate tolerance and openness towards others. Therefore, they have to resist any laws that might be used for fighting certain Kuwaiti people. 3UCH -0S DID NOT STOP AT THIS EXTENT AND EXCEEDED THAT TO INTERVENE IN THE personal affairs and freedom of the others. Such interventions include attempts by radical movements to impose restrictions on the Kuwaiti people in the field of wearing clothes and travel as well. The majority which still prefers to remain silent has to become united with all supporters of freedom to resist radical movements that deformed democracy and stirred sectarian sedition.

The security concerns of the Persian regime Abdullah Al-Hadlaq

A

LTHOUGH THE 0ERSIAN REGIME IN 4EHRAN pretends to enjoy security, political and economic stability, as well as leGITIMACY AND PUBLIC SUPPORT WE REALIZE THAT IT HAS BECOME MORE ANXIOUS AND WORRIED ABOUT its security because of forging the legislative elections, which are of highest importance for this regime at local, regional and international levels. 2EPORTS LEAKED BY SOURCES WITHIN THE REGIME INDICATE THAT THE 0ERSIAN HIGHER AUTHORIties are in panic since the eruption of the uprising of the Iranian people in 2009, when millions demonstrated on streets demanding the fall of the entire regime. The popular uprising scared the senior officials including Khamenei who made a statement in which he said “elections are considered a political challenge; however, they shouldn’t turn into a security challenge�. Security concerns of the leaders of the 0ERSIAN REGIME IN 4EHRAN INCLUDING +HAMENEI are growing after the democratic Arab spring in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and the incidents TAKING PLACE IN 3YRIA However, the regime is doing the best it could to pretend the enjoyment of stability concerning security issues, as well as on political and economic levels. The regime in Tehran

The Persian regime in Tehran is used to fraud and falsification of the facts and forging the presidential elections, and this urged millions of demonstrations to take to street demanding the fall of the regime. claims that what happened in Iran over the past few years was part of a foreign conspiracy. But the truth is that political, social and the security situation in Iran at the eve of parliamentary ELECTIONS WERE MORE EXACERBATED THAN THEY were during the presidency elections, and that was the reason behind the worries of Khamenei and his men. 4HE 0ERSIAN REGIME IN4EHRAN IS USED TO FRAUD and falsification of the facts and forging the presidential elections, and this urged millions OF DEMONSTRATOR TO TAKE TO STREET DEMANDING the fall of the regime. But this time the regime attempted to prevent any occurrence of public opposition at any cost. Therefore, the regime resorted to precautionary security measures such as arresting large numbers of people and pushing the Revolutionary Guard and Basij forces to confront the demonstrators. 4HE 0ERSIAN REGIME SEES THAT THIS YEAR S election was a major obstacle which might

THREATEN ITS EXISTENCE AT A TIME WHEN THE 3YRian uprising is ringing alarm bells in Tehran, in ADDITION TO THE EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON 4EHRAN 4HE 0ERSIAN REGIME is creating a political crisis and falsely claims THAT IT HAS FOREIGN ENEMIES WHO DO NOT EXIST in reality, and tries to show its strength at the regional level in order to distract the attention of the world away from its military nuclear PROGRAM 4HE 0ERSIAN REGIME ALSO THREATENED TO CLOSE THE 3TRAIT OF (ORMUZ WHICH IS AN INternational waterway, in order to create tenSION AND PROVOKE THE FEELINGS OF SIMPLE )RANIAN people by delivering strong speeches during the period of elections. 4HE 0ERSIAN REGIME IS CONSIDERED THE WORST regime which creates crises and tension in the region and the world. Therefore, all countries in the region should be very careful in order to avoid the effects of the internal crisis in Tehran on their countries.

.O SOONER 4UNISIA HAD GOTTEN RID OF ITS dictator Zein Al-Abideen Bin Ali, and people COULD BREATHE THE BREEZE OF FREEDOM AND DIGnity after decades of oppression and tyranny. %VENTUALLY THE 4UNISIAN 0RESIDENT !L -UNSIF !L -ARZOUKI ANNOUNCED THAT 4UNISIA IS WILLING to grant Bashar Al-Assad and his family political asylum, as part of negotiations to reach a solution and put an end to the Syrian conflict. During the Conference of Friends of Syria, which was held in Tunisia late February 2012, THE 4UNISIAN 0RESIDENT EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS to grant Al-Assad and members of his regime judicial immunity. How could the people of Tunisia, who opened the gate for several Arab peoples to enter the so-called Arab Spring, and who are LOOKING FORWARD TO ENJOYING FREEDOM DIGNITY and more rights and social justice, accept to receive a tyrant and a criminal who committed massacres and bloody acts against his unarmed peaceful people? How can they justify such a MOVE TO THE NEXT RULER OF 3YRIA AFTER TOPPLING the criminal regime of Al-Assad? Will the rebel 3YRIAN PEOPLE FORGIVE SUCH A MAJOR MISTAKE OR blame them for “opening a door for evil?� Niqab is a Jewish ritual

The famous female Egyptian propagaTOR !MENAH .USAIR APPEALED TO 3HEIKH OF

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ALWATAN DAILY

VIEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Our Kind of Truth Ian Buruma Project Syndicate

R

ick Santorum, a former United States senator seeking the Republican Party’s nomination to challenge President Barack Obama this year, has been saying some very strange things about the Netherlands. Ten percent of all deaths in that country, he recently claimed, are from euthanasia, half of which are forced upon helpless patients. Old people are so frightened of being killed by homicidal doctors that they wear bracelets that read: “Do not euthanize me.” In a way, Santorum’s canards must come as a relief to a country that has increasingly been in the news for outrageous statements by right-wing populists about Muslims and Greeks. Indeed, Santorum’s view of the Netherlands as a kind of progressive dystopia has a slightly old-fashioned ring to it nowadays. The Dutch were nonetheless disturbed. Some in the country’s parliament even asked whether the foreign minister should lodge a complaint in Washington. In fact, Santorum’s fantasies were swiftly refuted in the US itself. The Washington Post concluded that “there was not a shred of evidence to back up Santorum’s claims,” and found it “telling” that his campaign managers did not even bother to defend them. One US television station even apologized to a Dutch reporter in the name of the American people. As the Post pointed out, there is no such thing as invol-

untary euthanasia in the Netherlands. The patient’s consent is essential, and at least two doctors must agree that the patient’s suffering is unbearable and beyond cure. Besides, the share of assisted deaths in Dutch mortality is nowhere near 10 percent. But does any of this matter to Santorum’s followers? Probably not. Corrections from the “elitist” mainstream media are dismissed as enemy propaganda. As a blogger sympathetic to Santorum put it: “The Washington Post, as one would expect, attempted to discredit Santorum.” It is disturbing, to say the least, that the most cogent refutations of bald-faced lies no longer make any impression. After all, a democracy cannot function without a public that is properly informed. Informing the public used to be the role of serious newspapers and television networks. Of course, not everything in the mainstream media is always true. Mistakes are made. News organizations have political biases, sometimes reflecting the views and interests of their owners. But high-quality journalism has always relied on its reputation for probity. Editors, as well as reporters, at least tried to get the facts right. That is why people read Le Monde, The New York Times, or, indeed, the Washington Post. Filtering nonsense was one of their duties - and their main selling point. That has changed. Populist demagogues in politics and the mass media are doing everything they can to discredit the quality press as propaganda organs for left-wing elites who sneer at the views of ordinary Americans. Santorum pretends to speak for these people - that is, for a minority of Americans who are mostly white, provincial, highly religious, deeply conservative on cultural and social issues, and convinced that Obama and all Europeans are dangerous godless socialists. The point is not whether Santorum is right or

Ohio chooses Romney, for now Connie Schultz Reuters

E

very four years, Ohio’s anonymous white, male, blue-collar worker emerges from obscurity like a ghost parting the fog over Lake Erie. Who is this mystery man? Who will he vote for this time, in this presidential election? The rest of the nation - or at least the presidential candidates and the journalists who cover them - are dying to know. Especially now that Mitt Romney squeaked through Ohio’s Republican primary by the skin of his shiny white teeth. This rambling, unpredictable state picked Romney in March. But what does that mean for November, assuming he’s the nominee? Too much of the national political coverage will now proceed to lump together all white, blue-collar workers, regardless of whether they belong to a union. As if union affiliation were just a talking point, rather than an elevated standard of living. It’s a false equivalence, as these are usually two different groups of voters, and non-union workers - the ones less likely to be Democratic have increasingly been up for grabs. This year, maybe not. Recent developments in Ohio - coupled with the elitist, no-clue narrative of Romney - could chip away at past Republican gains. Ohio’s primary exit polls don’t tend to reflect the differences between union and non-union voters. We know that 96 percent of the electorate was white, 53 percent of it male, and 32 percent made less than 50,000 US dollars a year. That last group slightly favored Santorum. Still, there is no breakdown for how many of the primary voters belong to a union, let alone an autoworkers union. The majority of union factory workers remain loyal to the Democratic Party, even more so than before the GOP tried to curtail collective-bargaining rights. Ohio’s union workers, particularly the tens of thousands of autoworkers and the Americans who love them, will support the president whose legislation pulled the auto industry - and their livelihood - from the brink. Just two years after the auto rescue, GM earned its largest profit ever. Its Lordstown operation in the storied Mahoning Valley is running three shifts again and produced 231,732 of the Chevrolet Cruze compact cars sold last year, outpacing Buick and Cadillac sales combined. In the northwestern part of the state, Toledo’s auto industry is humming too. The city’s North Assembly Plant is expected to launch Chrysler’s new versions of the Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200 sedan, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Compass. This is good news even for non-union male workers, who want to believe that in Ohio a man can still build things with his hands and make enough money to support his family. They know that the old adage holds true: Union workers’ wages drive up non-union wages in companies that want to keep skilled workers. This is good news. Turnout was slightly higher than in the 2008 primary (about 1.1 million voters), but the GOP race was all but decided when it got to Ohio last cycle. This year, voters appear less than thrilled with their options. Across the state, Republican voters told reporters Tuesday night that they waited until the last days - sometimes the final hours - before making up their minds. A majority of voters have reservations or dislike their candidate. Romney’s ad blitz dragged him across the finish line, but only barely, suggesting that those coveted blue-collar workers have yet to embrace the personal narrative of Romney. Here you don’t have to talk to many workingclass men, doing just about any kind of job, before the damning narrative of Romney rises like bile. Their mantra: He wanted the auto industry to go bankrupt, and this was a double betrayal: of autoworkers and of his roots. Romney, after all, grew up in neighboring Michigan, which produces even more cars than Ohio. Last fall, something else happened here that

7

The public is increasingly segmented into groups of likeminded people who see their views echoed back to them in blogs, comments, and tweets. wrong factually. What he says “feels” right to his followers, because it conforms to their prejudices. And the Internet, having swamped the quality press, feeds and reinforces those prejudices, making it more difficult to distinguish the truth from lies. The public is increasingly segmented into groups of likeminded people who see their views echoed back to them in blogs, comments, and tweets. There is no need to be exposed to different opinions, which are, in any case, considered to be propaganda. Indeed, Santorum’s new fame will afford him a rich career as a media demagogue, even if he fails as a politician. The first people to argue that all truth is relative, and that all information is a form of propaganda that reflects society’s power relations, were far removed from the world inhabited by Santorum and his supporters. Several decades ago, a number of European and American intellectuals, often with a background in Marxism, developed a “post-modern” critique of the written word. We might think, they argued, that what we read in The New York Times or Le Monde is objectively true, but everything that appears there is, in fact, a disguised form of propaganda for bourgeois class interests. There is no such thing, the post-modern critic believes, as independence of thought. Objective truth is an illusion. Everyone is promoting class interests of one kind or anoth-

er. The real lie, in this view, is the claim of objectivity. What is necessary to change the world is not the truth, but another form of propaganda, promoting different interests. Everything is political. That is the only truth that counts. It is unlikely that Rick Santorum, or many of his followers, have read any post-modern theorists. Santorum, after all, recently called Obama a “snob” for claiming that all Americans should be entitled to a college education. So he must surely loath writers who represent everything that the Tea Party and other radical right-wingers abhor: the highly educated, intellectual, urban, secular, and not always white. These writers are the left-wing elite, at least in academia. But, as so often happens, ideas have a way of migrating in unexpected ways. The blogger who dismissed The Washington Post’s corrections of Santorum’s fictional portrayal of the Netherlands expressed himself like a perfect post-modernist. The most faithful followers of obscure leftist thinkers in Paris, New York, or Berkeley are the most reactionary elements in the American heartland. Of course, if this were pointed out to them, they would no doubt dismiss it as elitist propaganda. Ian Buruma is Professor of Democracy and Human Rights at Bard College, and the author of Taming the Gods: Religion and Democracy on Three Continents.

Carbon Emissions’ Friendly Skies

This is good news even for non-union male workers, who want to believe that in Ohio a man can still build things with his hands and make enough money to support his family. stunned Republicans and has dogged them ever since. They failed to predict the voters’ fury after they passed a state law that gutted public workers’ rights to collectively bargain for wages and benefits. The outrage didn’t come from just the 350,000 public employees affected, including police officers, firefighters, teachers and state workers. It also came from all those Ohioans who knew, respected and even loved those 350,000. A popular protest button summed up the collective mood pretty well: United We Stand, Divided We Beg. The legislation, known as SB 5, was similar to Wisconsin’s anti-union law, with the notable exception that in Ohio, voters could repeal it. To do so, activists had to gather 231,000 valid signatures to get the issue on the ballot; they collected five times that number. Last November, 61 percent of Ohio voters defeated SB 5, and Republican Gov. John Kasich’s already tenuous approval rating tanked. Which brings us to the big question: now what? A Republican has never won the White House without winning Ohio. So, every four years we get to be a little smug. It’s a wildly diverse state, and we’re used to being misunderstood. In a 2004 special election series, the Cleveland Plain Dealer divvied up the state into the Five Ohios. Eight years later, the boundaries hold. You can start the day in the liberal, industrial heartland of the northeast, where the Cleveland Clinic is the largest employer, and drive only two hours south on I-77 before you’re standing in the foothills of Appalachia, the poorest and least educated part of the state. A lot of Clevelanders talk like they’re from Brooklyn. In some parts of Cincinnati, you’d swear you were in Kentucky - which you are, if you land at Cincinnati’s airport. It’s hard to get a defining quote for a state that is so indefinable, so darn big. That never stops the national media from trying. You can find someone to say just about anything in Ohio. Count on that in the months ahead. Reporters will find the woman who cares only about jobs, living next to the woman who wants to bring the troops home from Afghanistan but whose sister is still fuming about access to contraception. You’ll hear about the pro-union guy who drives the Honda, and the Tea Party activist who loves his Medicare and wants the government to stay out of his healthcare. They’re here, all right, but they aren’t the ones both parties need to court.Across the country, the usual stories about those whacky Ohioans will unfurl like paper napkins at county fairs. Meanwhile, those of us who live here will be keeping a watchful eye on those gruff, blue-collar workers. Despite their hard, non-union times, they still believe Ohio is a place where real men make things, big things. And they want a president who thinks so, too. Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning, nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate and for Parade magazine. The views expressed are her own.

FILE- A China Southern Airlines’ new Airbus A380 taking off at the Airbus delivery center in Colomiers, southwestern France, on its delivery day, Oct. 14, 2011. (AFP) José Maria Figueres Project Syndicate

I

t was once said of the battle to fight climate change that there is no silver bullet - there is only silver buckshot. But, while political leaders have been loaded for bear when it comes to many industries, they have thus far been unable or unwilling to take aim at the impact of aviation. Little has been done to make the aviation industry pay for its negative effect on the environment. It is largely exempt from fuel tax, and it is not charged for the impact of its carbon-dioxide emissions on climate change. Yet, according to a report published by the International Panel on Climate Change, the airline industry is responsible for 4.9 percent of all human-caused global warming worldwide. That figure is high, and it is growing rapidly. Airlines’ CO2 emissions rose by 11.2 percent from 2005 to 2010, despite a severe global recession during this period. The urgency of the problem makes it all the more galling that in Moscow last month, 26 countries, including Russia, the United States, India, and China, signed a declaration that threatens to kill the only legislation that would address it. The meeting’s focus was its participants’ opposition to the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which, as of January 1, now includes aviation. The European Union has been trying since 1997 to achieve a global agreement on aviation emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Many of the same countries that signed the declaration in Moscow opposing the EU’s new carbon-pricing mechanism have also blocked the idea of a global agreement. The principal objection raised by those who met in Moscow is that the ETS impinges on non-EU countries’ sovereignty, because, by capping their airlines’ carbon allowances for flights to and from the EU, it imposes its rules on their turf. The argument seems valid, except that the Europeans would willingly suspend their scheme if a global, effective, and non-discriminatory solution were agreed upon. Some of the countries represented at the Moscow meeting also claim that the ETS is a tax on the poor.Why, they ask, should countries that are not responsible for causing the climate-change problem now be forced to pay to solve it? But, according to the European Commission, the ETS does not impose an unfair burden on the developing world. The Commission points out that EU and US flights produce more than 75 percent of the emissions from flights entering or leaving Europe. Of the 191 ICAO member countries, 98 would be virtually exempt. We should also remember that it is not the poor who fly. The ICAO’s own figures show that far less than 10 percent of the world’s seven billion inhabitants use air transport at least once per year. The 1.50 Euros to 7.52 Euros increase in the cost of a one-way flight from Beijing to Paris would be negligible to those passengers. How the revenue from the ETS will be used, however, is another question. The EU needs to discuss with developing coun-

A well-structured global aviation contract could generate a significant amount of finance for climatechange measures in developing countries. tries how the revenue raised can be channeled to help poor countries’ efforts to adapt to climate change and develop in cleaner ways. In fact, limiting aviation emissions would cost the rich, but benefit the poor. A well-structured global aviation contract could generate a significant amount of finance for climate-change measures in developing countries. It is absurd that the likes of Cuba and Uganda are among the Moscow declaration’s signatories, given that they stand to be among the main beneficiaries of the ETS. When the United Nations Secretary-General’s advisory group investigated how to raise money to pay for climate-change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries, its members singled out instruments that address international aviation and shipping emissions as one of the most productive methods. The EU should urgently meet with developing countries and reach an agreement on how to direct a share of ETS revenue, including from aviation, towards raising the necessary finance. The EU scheme is not perfect, but it has proven very useful in forcing the ICAO to acknowledge the importance of aviation emissions. To destroy the ETS now would be to disable the only mechanism that has managed to create any momentum in discussions that have been dragging on for two decades. If the 26 countries that signed the declaration are serious about addressing carbon emissions, they should use the ETS as a bridge to an even better, global solution. Threatening the EU and creating confusion for airlines around the world will help no one. Instead, the signatories should act constructively before their meeting in Saudi Arabia this summer to ensure that the ICAO devises a global aviation-emissions system that is equitable, non-discriminatory, and, most importantly, better for the planet and the poor. If they do, we will all benefit - flyers and non-flyers alike. José Maria Figueres is a trustee for DARA, and was President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998.

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Iraq starts oil exports from new floating facility

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

j ^ R hbq= = t^q` e KUWAIT 0.1% 6177

DUBAI 0.2% 1610

BASRA: Iraq began loading oil from a longawaited new floating Single Point Mooring (SPM) platform in the Gulf on Thursday, two sources at the state-owned South Oil Company said, in a breakthrough that could substantially boost its exports. “We started the loading at 2:45 pm (1145 GMT). The loading process is normal. The situation of pipes and the SPM is stable, and we have no problems,� said one of the sources.

QATAR 0.1% 8594

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lfi= j ^Rhb qp

OMAN

ABU DHABI

BAHRAIN

0.6% 5859

0.3% 2562

0.3% 1161

EGYPT 1.0% 5397

SAUDI 0.0% 7375

`rRRb k`fb p

US Crude $106.61 $0.45 London Brent $125.19 $0.92 Kuwait Crude $120.58 $0.54 Information Courtesy: KAMCO

US Dollar

British Pound

Saudi Riyal

Qatari Riyal

Indian Rupee

Euro

Japanese Yen

UAE Dirham

Bahraini Dinar

Philippine Peso

Buy 0.2778 Sell 0.2783 Buy 0.3679 Sell 0.3688

Buy 0.4389 Sell 0.4401

Buy 0.003402 Sell 0.003411

Buy 0.0741 Sell 0.0742

Buy 0.07564 Sell 0.07578

CAPITALS: Price of Kuwaiti crude dropped 54 US cents to $120.58 per barrel (pb) in Wednesday’s trading as compared to $121.12 pb on Tuesday, the state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said on Thursday. The price of the national crude oil slightly dropped, on Wednesday, despite rise of the rates on the international markets, due to a stable dollar and hike of the US crude reserves, last week. Upbeat atmosphere was also strengthened with reports about forecast ability of Greece to pay its debts and avert bankruptcy. The prices of oil have not been stable due to various geopolitical events, the Iranian nuclear file and noticeable activity by speculators, seeking to capitalize on these conditions. In more news, oil rose above $125 a barrel on Thursday on expectation that Greece would win enough creditor support to avoid a messy default on its debt, and after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said talks of sanctions against Iran were ‘delusional.’ Crude recovered from losses earlier in the week after a Greek government official said its bond swap offer was going well as banks and funds showed support, spurring optimism that the deal will pass and clear the way for a bailout package to avert an immediate default. Both Brent and US light sweet crude held gains after a government report showed initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week.

Laborers carry baskets on their head at a vegetable market in Islamabad on March 8, 2012. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Pakistan’s economy would speed up WR D SHUFHQW JURZWK SDFH LQ ¿VFDO ZKLFK UXQV WR -XQH FRPSDUHG WR 2.4 percent in 2011. (AFP)

Front-month Brent rose $1.01 to $125.13 a barrel by 8:57 a.m. EST (1357 GMT), having reached $125.58. US crude was up 30 cents at $106.46 a barrel, having earlier reached $107.16. Analysts said Greece would remain a source of uncertainty for markets ahead of a

Kuwait bourse ends trading down 6.1 points

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) price index was red at the end of Thursday’s session; it slipped to 6,177.1 points, a loss of 6.1 points. The weighted index meanwhile read 413.86 points, a rise of 0.8 points. The trading session saw 5,686 transactions worth 42,982,200 Kuwaiti dinars with 477,657, 500 shares changing hands. Five of the sector indices were red. The biggest loser of the day, with a down of 27.7.9 points, was the services index. The top gainer share was that of Gulf Petroleum Investment, while the top loser was Ajwan Gulf Real Estate Company. Price index of Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) dropped 9.1 points in early trading on Thursday falling to the level of 6,174.1 points. Weighted index lost 0.06 points falling to the level of 413 points. Number of trades reached 813, value of traded stocks 6,870,300 and volume of the exchanged shares 95,322,500. -KUNA

2000 GMT deadline for investors to sign up to the restructuring designed to trim 100 billion euros off the country’s public debt. The dollar index was down 0.54 percent. A weaker dollar helps make greenback-denominated commodities such as oil and gold more accessible to buyers in other currencies.

Investors were still focused on the tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, which have driven recent oil gains. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) he welcomed Obama’s words on a diplomatic “window of opportunity�, but said that continued talk of sanctions against Iranian people is “delusional�. “Now that Khamenei took power, it will be easier to conduct negotiations as now world powers face one voice,� Olivier Jakob from Petromatrix said. “But the market in general is not confident it’s able to read what’s going on in Iran, so it will wait for other signals�. France on Wednesday voiced skepticism that a revival of talks between six world powers and Iran would succeed, saying Tehran did not seem sincerely willing to negotiate about the future of its nuclear program. Supply tightness could become more apparent as Royal Dutch Shell starts looking for alternative crude when its deliveries of Iranian oil under outstanding contracts come to an end to comply with sanctions within weeks. The European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged at one percent, with eyes on its news conference later today for any signals about future policy, although many analysts believe it has played its part in fighting the euro zone debt crisis after a series of dramatic and controversial measures. Economic data also helped, with news that Japan’s economy shrank less than initially estimated in the fourth quarter, as companies ramped up spending, supporting oil prices. The revision to gross domestic product (GDP) showed a 0.2 percent contraction as companies look to an increase in demand due to reconstruction of the country’s tsunami-battered northeast coast. -Agencies

Syrian pound hits new record low AMMAN: Syria’s currency has fallen around 13 percent in the last 24 hours on the black market in Damascus as consumers and companies sought to hoard dollars, interpreting recent statements from the United States as signals of possible military intervention. Dealers speaking on the phone from the Syrian capital said it cost as much as 100 Syrian pounds to buy a dollar on the street compared to around 47 a year ago, when the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad began. It has since stabilized at around 92 pounds to the dollar compared to 80 on Tuesday. “People are scared and this is driving demand for dollars in a market where demand far exceeds supply,� said one leading Damascus based licensed exchange dealer. Dealers said Syrians had scrambled for dollars after influential US Senator John McCain urged US air strikes on Assad’s forces. A US House committee has also called for Assad to be referred to a war crimes tribunal. Although President Barack Obama squarely opposed McCain’s calls, bankers and dealers who Reuters spoke to said clients’ fears of military action by the United States had risen. “The market is becoming very sensitive to any signs of growing foreign intervention in Syria. I believe this is driving the latest wave of demand for dollars,� said one banker in a majority Gulf-owned bank who requested anonymity.

International pressure is growing on Assad to end a nearly year-long crackdown on protesters. The United Nations says Syrian security forces have killed well over 7,500 people. The central bank’s failure to intervene in the market since has added pressure on the currency, dealers said. Bankers say the bank is reluctant to continue the kind of large scale intervention it is believed to have carried during the first eight months of the unrest, as it seeks to reduce depletion of its foreign reserves, which were estimated at 17 billion US dollars before the unrest broke In a move to ease speculation on the currency, the authorities have however sought to narrow the differential between the black market and official rates. They now allow licensed dealers to offer the currency at ranges closer to black market levels than the official rate that stands at 59.5 pounds to the dollar, compared to 54 in December. Several exchange dealers said their offers to sell dollars at a higher indicative price of 79.5 pounds were approved by monetary authorities on Wednesday. On Tuesday they were offering to sell dollars for around 70 pounds. “The central bank appears resigned to the growing pressures facing the pound and by allowing exchange dealers to offer a more realistic price they hope to curb excessive speculation they say is behind the weakening of the currency,� said one Damascus based exchange dealer. -Reuters

Kuwait’s refinery project well underway, says Chinese mayor Saudi Telecom’s home boom may trim foreign ambitions TOKYO: Construction of mammoth refinery and steel projects involving Kuwait in the southern Chinese city of Zhanjiang are well underway, its mayor has said, state-run media reported Thursday. “The ground-breaking ceremony was held in November, and the joint venture between Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Sinopec will be registered soon,� Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing told the China Daily. Construction of the main body of the 59 billion Chinese yuan (9.3 billion US dollars) Sino-Kuwaiti project will start in June, the newspaper said. The refinery and petrochemical project is designed to process 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil and turn out one million tons of ethylene annually. KPC will be the sole supplier of crude oil to the world-class integrated complex. In addition to Sino-Kuwaiti refinery and petrochemical project, the 63.5 billion yuan ($10.1 billion) iron and steel plant, owned by China’s major steel company, is under construction in the coastal city. “The two projects, both expected to go into operation in 2015, will inject a new vitality for the emergence of Zhanjiang in five years,� Wang was quoted as saying. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Zhanjiang is expected to expand by at least 15 percent annually, to reach 400 billion yuan ($63.3 billion) in 2016. The city plans to allocate five billion yuan ($792 million) to invest in each of the two projects this year. When the projects and their upstream and downstream industries go into full swing, more than 200,000 new jobs will be available in the city, according to Wang. Kuwait became the second Arab oil producer to construct a refinery in China after Saudi Arabia, which finally put a refining and petrochemical joint venture into operations in 2009 in neighboring Fujian Province. The project in Zhanjiang is in line with KPC’s strategy to invest in the growing energy markets and maximize the value-added benefits of the Kuwaiti crude. -KUNA

DUBAI: Saudi Telecom Co’s (STC) rising domestic revenue, halting a downward trend for the former monopoly, may lead it to slow its overseas push where it faces a tougher operating environment and limited buying opportunities. STC has won back domestic market share by aggressively pricing broadband bundle packages, while the firm - majorityowned by the government - has operations across the Muslim world from Turkey to Indonesia. “We are concentrating on ICT (information communication technology) in our local market as well as in other markets we operate in,� Saad Al-Qahtani, group chief executive for strategic operations, told reporters at a conference in Doha. “We are more worried about that than expansion.� In March 2011, STC upped its stake in Indonesia’s Axis to 80 percent and it has a minority holding in Malaysia’s Maxis. But the main jewel in STC’s foreign portfolio is its 35 percent stake in Oger Telecom, which in turn owns 55 percent of Turk Telekom. When asked whether STC wanted to up its stake in Oger Telecom - majority owner the Hariri family is thought to be a willing seller - Qahtani said STC was talking internally about it, but no decision had been made. “STC, like other Gulf operators, wants management control of their foreign subsidiaries and so they either up their stakes to get a majority shareholding or sell out altogether - no company wants to hold a minority stake for 10 years,� said Marc Hammoud, Deutsche Bank telecoms analyst. International revenue rose 9.8 percent last year, but group annual profit fell 19 percent to 7.67 billion riyals (2.05 billion US dollars), largely due to 1.1 billion riyals of foreign exchange losses from its international operations. “Other Saudi companies have been more successful in hedging against FX risk,� said Asim Bukhtiar, Riyad Capital

Buy 0.7369 Sell 0.73832

Buy 0.005548 Sell 0.005537 Buy 0.006538 Sell 0.006523

Prices in Kuwaiti fils As of March 8, 2012 Courtesy: KAMCO

Kuwaiti crude slips $0.54, settles at $120.58 Oil higher on Greek debt hopes, Iran eyed

Buy 0.07645 Sell 0.07630

head of research. “STC say this is because it’s tied up with partners and can’t force them to hedge one way or another, which is one reason STC has sought majority control of its foreign units.� STC’s foreign units provided 32 percent of revenue in 2011, the same as a year earlier and well short of its 50 percent target, while the firm’s push abroad mirrors similar moves by other former Gulf monopolies, such as Etisalat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar Telecom. They have often struggled outside their home region and away from the protection of a benign regulator, with markets in Asia and Africa more competitive and less affluent. Yet STC, unlike Etisalat, has a growing home market in its favor. Domestic revenue rose 8 percent in 2011 as STC won back customers from Mobily and Zain Saudi. “Capital expenditure for STC’s foreign operations has been expensive, so if the company is doing well at home is there any need to expand internationally?� said Bukhtiar. “Expanding internationally also carries risks, whereas STC knows the Gulf markets and the regulatory environment here - it’s much safer.� There is also a dearth of acquisition opportunities. Few new licenses are expected in the Middle East and Africa and Gulf operators no longer seem keen on entering markets as the third or fourth player, while the cheap borrowing that fuelled the previous decade’s spending splurge is a fading memory. “STC is now only looking at acquisitions that will be profitable from day one - it doesn’t want to pump in a load of money and then wait years for a return,� added Bukhtiar. “I see STC making acquisitions of companies providing peripheral services, such as data and content providers, rather than buying foreign mobile operators or new mobile licenses.� -Reuters

_fw=_Rfbcp US dollar exchange rate at KD 0.278 KUWAIT: Exchange rate of the US dollar was at 0.278 Kuwaiti dinars, while the euro came up to KD 0.366, said the daily bulletin of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) on Thursday. The exchange rate of the Sterling pound was up to KD 0.438, while the Japanese yen remained at KD 0.003 since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the Swiss franc was at KD 0.303, CBK noted. -KUNA

Dubai builder Arabtec’s Q4 profit surges DUBAI: Dubai builder Arabtec, in which Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments upped its stake recently, saw a three-fold rise in its fourth-quarter net profit, handily beating analyst expectations. The largest builder in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by market value made a net profit of 165.8 million dirhams (45.14 million US dollars) for the fourth quarter (Q4), Reuters calculated, compared with 54.7 million dirhams in the corresponding period in 2010. Reuters calculated fourth-quarter figures from previous financial statements. Full-year profit after accounting for minority interest stood at 260.5 million dirhams, the company said in a statement to the bourse, down 15 percent from the prior-year period. The company did not provide quarterly numbers in the statement. Arabtec’s Q4 profit beat estimates of three analysts polled by Reuters, who expected average profit to drop to 24.57 million dirhams. Revenue for the year was five billion dirhams, Arabtec said. Its board proposed a cash dividend of five fils per share and a bonus issue amounting to five percent of its capital. Abu Dhabi’s sovereign fund Aabar Investments, which abruptly cancelled a $1.7 billion deal for a majority stake in Arabtec two years ago, increased its holding in the company earlier this week. The move raised speculation of the Abu Dhabi fund’s renewed interest in the Dubai builder. Arabtec won two major contracts at the start of the year in the UAE. It was awarded a $153 million contract for expansion of the Dubai International Airport and has also won three contracts in neighboring Abu Dhabi for 256 million dirhams. Shares of Arabtec, which have soared over 100 percent this year, closed at 2.93 dirhams on the Dubai bourse Wednesday. -Reuters

Qatar’s Doha Bank prices $500 million bond DUBAI: Doha Bank priced a 500 million US dollars bond on Wednesday through arrangers Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan at the tighter end of guidance, indicating strong demand for the issue. The lender, which is Qatar’s fifth largest by market value, priced the five-year bond at a spread of 262.5 basis points over midswaps. The bond carries a coupon of 3.5 percent. Earlier on Wednesday, price guidance was revised to a range of 262.5-275 basis points over midswaps, having tightened significantly from the initial price whisper of 287.5 basis points, due to strong investor demand. Doha Bank is the second Qatari lender to tap global debt markets this year after Qatar National Bank (QNB) issued a one billion US dollars bond in February. -Reuters

Jordan’s debt up 17% in 2011, exceeds limit AMMAN: Jordan’s gross domestic and foreign debt rose 17 percent last year, breaching a legal limit, due to heavy government borrowing to finance subsidies and make up for weak revenue, finance ministry data showed on Thursday.The latest preliminary figures show that public debt at l3.4 billion Jordanian dinars (19 billion US dollars) now comprises 65.7 percent of projected gross domestic product in 2011, exceeding a legal limit of 60 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), as economic strains reduce local revenue and foreign aid. Regional political uncertainty has forced the government to extend costly subsidies. The economy has been hit by poor domestic demand and lower foreign cash flows, including remittances from expatriates in the Gulf. Key hard currency earners such as tourism have also been hit. The country has resorted increasingly to domestic borrowing to finance growing public debt, issuing more Treasury bills and bonds. Gross net domestic debt stood at 8.91 billion dinars at the end of December. Foreign debt, mostly to major Western donors and international financial institutions, dropped 2.7 percent to 4.48 billion dinars at end of December against the same period at the end of 2010, the data showed. Bankers say government plans to tap more project finance from donors this year was aimed at reducing reliance on local bank borrowing to free more funds for private investors while also seeking new types of financing. -Reuters

10

BUSINESS IN REGION

ALWATAN DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Iraq starts oil exports from new floating facility Shell-led Iraq gas project signs ABB generator deal

BASRA: Iraq began loading oil from a long-awaited new floating Single Point Mooring (SPM) platform in the Gulf on Thursday, two sources at the state-owned South Oil Company said, in a breakthrough that could substantially boost its exports. “We started the loading at 2:45 pm (1145 GMT). The loading process is normal. The situation of pipes and the SPM is stable, and we have no problems,� said one of the sources. The average loading rate into the tanker Maersk Hirado was 3,500 barrels per hour, the source said. Iraq’s oil exports have been held back by a lack of loading capacity in the Gulf after decades of neglect of infrastructure caused by war and economic sanctions. The opening of its new platform, built by Australian construction firm Leighton, had been held up for weeks, with officials blaming poor weather. The new terminal is the first of a planned four, each of which will ultimately have a capacity of 850,000 barrels per day, adding 3.4 million barrels of export capacity to make way for a doubling of Iraq’s oil production in the next few years. For now, the South Oil Company says the first platform will increase its exports by 300,000 barrels per day (bpd). Iraq said this week it had increased total outout to above three million barrels per day for the first time since 1979. Iraq’s output last month was just 2.65 million bpd, with production held back by a lack of export capacity. Its exports have been slightly more than two million bpd. The Iraqi government aims to more than double its oil

output in the next few years and has set a long-term goal of 12 million bpd that would rank it alongside Saudi Arabia and Russia as one of the world’s oil superpowers. While many experts say that goal is too ambitious, Iraq is still expected to be the biggest source of new oil in the world over the next few years. Leighton has said it is cooperating with Australian police in an investigation into whether its employees bribed Iraqi officials over the contract to build the new terminal. Iraq has said it is investigating the case but has not yet found evidence of wrongdoing by Iraqi officials. In more news, Iraq’s first post-Saddam energy project with an international oil major took a step forward on Thursday, with Royal Dutch Shell announcing a 63 million US dollars contract given to Swiss engineer ABB Ltd to build an electricity generation plant in the south. The $17 billion Basra gas project led by Shell and Mitsubishi and finalized in November 2011 after years of negotiations, aims to harvest natural gas that is now flared off by Iraq’s oil production and use it to generate electricity. It is the first of many new projects that will see international firms invest in an energy sector severely damaged by decades of war and economic sanctions. Jasser Hanter, general director of the Shell gas project, told reporters the latest contract would see ABB build two 25 megawatt power plants at Khor Zubair in southern Iraq. Nine years after the US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s electricity grid still provides only intermittent power and little progress has been made increasing the output from its vast oil and gas fields. The government said this week oil production was back above three million barrels a day for the first time since 1979. Iraq has signed deals with international firms that aim to more than double production in coming years. -Reuters

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Oil giants build terminal in Abraaj Capital, Saham enter into northern China to increase supplies a financial partnership in Saham Finances TOKYO: China’s two biggest oil companies each plan to establish a 300,000-ton crude oil terminal in northern China’s Tianjin Port as part of the country’s strategy to increase oil supplies to Beijing and Tianjin, state press reported Thursday. China Petrochemical Corp, also known as Sinopec Group, plans to start construction on the project next year, said Yu Rumin, chairman of Tianjin Port, according to the China Daily. Sinopec, the biggest refiner in Asia, will also establish a stockpile zone where crude oil from the terminals will be stored, Yu said at the National People’s Congress session in Beijing, adding that work is to start on that project in July. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country’s biggest oil producer, is also talking with the Tianjin Port about building its first crude-oil terminal there, the newspaper said. It has not set a schedule for that proposed work.

China, the second biggest oil consumer in the world, has increased the pace of its oil imports in recent years to meet a surge in demand for the fuel. CNPC forecast that China will import 266 million tons of crude oil in 2012, when the country’s annual oil output may level off at 220 million tons. The net amount of crude oil China imported increased by 6.3 percent in 2011 from a year before. That was the first time since 2006 that the figure had not shown a doubledigit increase, according to Chinese customs data. In addition, Yu said that work on the first phase of a liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) terminal is expected to start next March. In total, 5.7 billion Chinese yuan (903.2 million US dollars) have been invested in the terminal, which is designed to process 2.2 million tons a year. Construction began on it in February and LNG is to be imported from Australia, Qatar and various other places. -KUNA

KUWAIT: Abraaj Capital, one of the leading private equity managers investing in emerging markets, announced in a press release on Thursday, that it has made a significant investment through its Funds in Saham Finances, a leading insurance holding company in Morocco and Francophone West Africa (CIMA region), for an overall transaction size of approximately 125 million US dollars. The investment will support Saham Finances’ ambitious growth and development plans in the wider African continent, where insurance penetration rates remain extremely low. Saham Finances currently has majority stakes in three subsidiaries - CNIA Saada, Colina and Isaaf - offering a variety of life and non-life insurance propositions. All three companies have strong leadership positions in the markets in which they operate. CNIA Saada is listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange and is the second largest nonlife insurance provider in Morocco with a 16.2 percent market share, whereas Colina ranks second in life and non-life segments across 11 countries of the CIMA region (Inter-African

Gold edges up as Greece hopes lift sentiment

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SINGAPORE: Gold edged higher on Thursday, extending gains into a second session, as fears about a messy default for Greece eased after signs it may be able to secure a crucial debt swap deal. Gold has been recuperating from a selloff earlier in the week, together with the euro and equities, after promising US jobs data and hopes that Greece will complete a crucial bond swap deal. Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to 1,688.70 US dollars an ounce by 0720 GMT, standing above the 200-day moving average of around $1,678. Gold gained 0.6 percent on Wednesday following a 2-percent slide in the previous session. US gold gained 0.3 percent to $1,689.50. Expectations that central banks will continue to promote growth by maintaining easy monetary policy also helped buoy gold, even though the sterilized bond buying under consideration by the US Federal Reserve, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, in itself might diminish gold’s appeal as an inflation hedge. “Central banks are expected to take up the role of the main agent of stimulus, since distressed governments can’t provide any help on the fiscal front,� said a Singaporebased trader. “I still see a lot of long positioning out there.� Holdings in the gold-backed exchange-traded funds hit a record high, and gained 269,000 ounces since last Wednesday, when gold prices collapsed six percent after US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke disappointed investors by not referring to any further monetary easing. “That’s a good sign, as investors appear to think it is a

good opportunity to get their hands on gold,� said Dominic Schnider, head of commodity research at UBS Wealth Management in Singapore. Physical demand also started to pick up after prices dipped below $1,700, he added. Spot gold could rebound towards $1,712 an ounce during the day, said Reuters market analyst Wang Tao. Gold is traditionally viewed as a safe haven asset that benefits during political and economic turmoil, but in the past few months gold has largely moved in tandem with riskier assets as the financial distress threatens liquidity in the market. “When equities drop, the pool of available funds for investing in commodities will shrink and gold will be in a bad position to compete for investors cash because its sticker price is much higher,� said the trader. “Gold is a very risky asset. People who look at it as a safe haven are missing out one thing - when gold becomes volatile, it becomes much more volatile than currency or bond markets.� On Friday, investors will await the key US non-farm payrolls data for cues on whether the Fed is likely to launch any stimulus measures soon. China’s January inflation data and industrial output data due Friday will also be closely watched, as investors gauge the pace of the world’s second-largest economy. The world’s two largest platinum producers said on Wednesday they were not affected by a 1-day nationwide strike in South Africa that has brought the country’s gold mines to a halt and also hit the coal sector. Spot platinum gained 0.9 percent to $1,639.99, off a 2-1/2-week low below $1,700 hit earlier this week. -Reuters

Insurance Association) with 11 per cent market share, and has a leading presence in other high growth markets such as Ghana and Angola. Isaaf ranks second in the assistance services market in Morocco with a 46 percent share. To date, Saham Finances has insured over 5 million customers across Morocco and 10 other countries in the CIMA region. Abraaj Capital’s investment through its Funds will provide increased growth capital for Saham Finances, facilitating the company’s ambitious growth and integration plans through planned acquisitions in the high growth markets of Africa and the Middle East. Under the terms of the agreement, Abraaj Capital will also make its management expertise available to Saham Finances and its subsidiaries, including through representation on the Board of Directors of the company. Announcing the investment, Matteo Stefanel, Senior Partner, Abraaj Capital, said, “Our investment in Saham Finances is in line with our focus on supporting strong companies active in high-impact sectors in rapidly growing economies. As a leader in the insurance sector in

Morocco and Francophone West Africa, we see tremendous growth opportunities for Saham Finances.� Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Founder and Chairman, Saham Finances, said, “The African insurance sector represents an extremely attractive investment opportunity. As Saham Finances increases its geographic footprint, we will further contribute to the continent’s continued economic development through the provision of sophisticated life and non-life insurance products for individuals and companies. We are very pleased to partner with Abraaj Capital as we continue to expand our presence and are confident that their deep regional network and expertise will help us achieve our long-term goals.� Abraaj Capital recently announced the acquisition of Aureos Capital which, pending regulatory approval, would create a truly global emerging markets private equity firm with $7.5 billion in assets under management, a presence in 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America and 153 investments managed by a seasoned team of over 150 investment professionals.

Dubai tumble underlines risks in Gulf stock rally DUBAI: A plunge in Dubai stocks this week underlined the risks behind the Gulf’s equity market rallies, although most analysts do not think Dubai’s drop marks the start of any extended downtrend. The main Dubai index posted its largest drop in over two years on Wednesday as weak global stocks prompted traders to take profits in the emirate. The index lost 4.8 percent to 1,608 points, reducing its gains from a sevenyear low hit in mid-January to 24 percent. Nine Dubai stocks fell more than nine percent, including property developer Deyaar and Dubai Financial Market. With stock valuations not expensive historically and Dubai’s economic outlook for this year still positive, many analysts think the market’s uptrend may resume sometime in coming weeks or months. But gains in the past seven weeks were largely the result of buying by local, speculative investors rather than long-term funds, analysts said. That has left stocks vulnerable to sudden pull-backs. One example was builder Arabtec, which plunged 9.9 percent on Wednesday ahead of the expected announcement of its 2011 earnings. Traders said the drop was not due to any expectations of poor earnings, but simply because the stock had soared previously as buying by a strategic investor prompted speculators to pile in. On Monday, a bourse filing showed Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments, which scrapped a 1.7 billion US dollars deal to take a majority stake in Arabtec two years ago, had raised its holding in the company to 5.3 percent. “The market for the past two days has been very strong on the sell side - we’ve seen some huge profittaking after six weeks of upside,� says Musa Haddad, head of the regional equities desk at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. “Dubai found support at 1,600 points, but if there’s more downside it could fall to 1,470 to 1,500 points. I wouldn’t be buying at current levels and would wait to see if the market falls further.� The 200-day moving average, seen as major technical support, is at 1,462 points. However, Haddad noted that trading volumes were higher when stocks were rising than when they were falling this week, a positive technical signal. “We still have 2,000 as a target for this year.� Saudi cement

Saudi Arabia’s stock market, which is up 15 percent this year and hit a 42-month high this week, has not suffered a significant pull-back. Analysts said it was in a strong uptrend, fuelled by high oil prices and government spending on infrastructure. However, Dubai’s experience suggests some sectors could be in for sharp pull-backs, if investors decide they

have become fully valued and switch into other areas of the market. One vulnerable sector could be cement, which is up 23 percent so far in 2012. Saudi Cement is trading at 18 times this year’s estimated earnings, while Yamamah Saudi Cement is at 15 times. Paul Gamble, head of research at Jadwa Investment, said there was still room for gains in the sector because building, construction and cement stocks would benefit from government spending. “On a valuation basis, a lot of the upside may well be priced into the cement sector, but the outlook is strong,� he said. However, Loic Pelichet, assistant vice-president for research at NBK Capital, said optimism over cement prices was driven partly by a temporary supply shortage caused by major building projects in and around Mecca, combined with a transportation bottleneck that slowed supplies to the region. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been stepping in to meet local demand for cement with steps including easing import restrictions and pushing factories to work at full capacity. So when the temporary shortage is corrected, upward pressure on prices could fade quickly. “The market is still 15-20 percent oversupplied... There will be a strong pick-up in production in March and prices will taper off,� Pelichet said. Another sector that could overextend itself, at least in the short term, is real estate. Some valuations are now quite high; Saudi Real Estate Co shares have been trading at close to 29 times this year’s estimated earnings, analysts said. Some of the sector’s gains have been prompted by rising land prices, but there has been a speculative element in the rise, said Matthew Green, head of research at property consultants CB Richard Ellis in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “A lot of the land bank is not being developed and is a tool for trading. There’s definitely been speculation in that and prices have gone up across the board,� he said. Demand for housing in Saudi Arabia is strong because of a growing population. But property developers in the country may find it hard to exploit that demand with maximum profitability because of the lack of a law facilitating mortgages. “It’s a build-to-lease market given that income levels are not high (for the middle classes) and there’s no mortgage law in place - that needs to happen to open up the sales market,� Green said. A mortgage law is being prepared by the government and some industry participants think it could be introduced this year, but authorities have not confirmed that. -Reuters

ALWATAN DAILY

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Fitch affirms DP World at ‘BBB-’, outlook stable CAPITALS: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Dubai Ports World (DP World) Limited’s (DP World) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BBB-’ with a Stable Outlook. Fitch has also affirmed the senior unsecured rating at ‘BBB-’ and the Short-term IDR at ‘F3’. The Sukuk unsecured trust certificates issued by DP World Sukuk Limited have been affirmed at ‘BBB-’. This was part of a statement released by the ratings agency. DP World’s ratings reflect its strong position as one of the largest global container terminal port operators, with a geographically diversified portfolio of assets in high growth emerging markets and key locations. Additional positive factors include the relatively high remaining average life of its concessions, its record of sustained operating cash flow generation and strong liquidity position. In the first half (H1) of 2011, liquidity was bolstered by the 1.5 billion US dollars cash proceeds raised from the sale of a 75 percent stake in its Australian assets. These strengths mitigate the cyclicality of the industry, which is correlated to macroeconomic developments, and the concentration of the company’s earnings at the company’s port in Dubai, Jebel Ali. While Jebel Ali represents a sizeable and reliable business base, representing the gateway to the Middle East as well as India and Africa, in 2010 Jebel Ali accounted for almost 40 percent of the group’s total throughput. The rating is also constrained by the company’s capital intensive and acquisitive nature and consequently high leverage. Continuous development and expansion is necessary in order for the company to win new concession contracts, maintain market share and adapt to changing vessel sizes. As at FY10, lease-adjusted net debt to Earnings Before Income Tax, Depreciation, Amortization and Rent (EBITDAR) was around 5.0x and Funds From Operations (FFO) net adjusted leverage around 5.2x. Although these metrics had both decreased at H1 2011 to around 3.9x on an annualized basis, they are expected to remain high at around 4.5x in FY 2012 and FY 2013. Management plans to spend around $3.7 billion between FY 2012 to FY 2014 and Fitch anticipates this will most likely be front-loaded. In Fitch’s view, lease-adjusted net debt to EBITDAR and FFO net adjusted leverage of 4.5x represents the upper limit for the company at the current ‘BBB-’ rating level. Leverage in excess of 4.5x for a sustained period would likely place pressure on the ratings. Fitch expects increases in leverage will be limited by an improvement in trading volumes and EBITDA margins in the medium term. These are forecast to be driven by growth in emerging markets, albeit at a slower pace than in the past few years, and continued cost-cutting initiatives. However, risks to performance include further downward revisions to gross domestic product (GDP) growth and potentially, risks from the container shipping industry, which remains troubled by severe structural issues. Impacts are not likely to be material given DP World’s diversified portfolio.

Nevertheless, Fitch is wary of increased competition from increased route-sharing and alliances between container shipping companies, particularly where companies within these alliances have their own terminals in nearby locations. There is also some increased risk of customer payment delays or bad debts. Management has continually stated it intends to be disciplined in its capex and acquisition plans and that capex spending will be determined by increased demand. However, DP World has a record of aggressive acquisitions and large capital investment expansion projects. Further risks to the rating may include new project developments or major acquisitions, which require sizable capital investments and result in lease-adjusted net leverage or FFO net adjusted leverage exceeding 4.5x for a sustained period. If there is a deterioration in industry fundamentals and weakening in performance, Fitch would expect the company to reduce or defer capex-spending. While some concessions require certain levels of capex spending, DP World retains control over timing and consequently has some flexibility to defer investments. As at H1 2011, cash totaled $4.1 billion and more than sufficiently covered short-term debt of $153 million (including finance lease liabilities) in addition to the fully-drawn three billion dollars syndicated facility due in October 2012. Following the proceeds from the sale of

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

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1,200

1,180 480 700 640 860 255 460 850 550

485 710 640 870 260 470 870 560

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. Int'll Exch. Exch KW BH Int Taiba Kuwaiti Holding

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

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275 60 180 345 14.5 67 112 118 34.0 132 63 34 41.5 39.0 108 210.0

99.0 23.5 31.5 62.0 178 73 55 132

270 57 176 340 13.5 65 108 116 33.0 130 60 32 38.5 37.5 100 202.0 96.0 23.0 28.5 59.0 176 72 55 128

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

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62 110 154 222 236 95 42.0 102 920 75 16.5 63.0 89 61 63 86 21.0 41.5 124 47.5 39.0 35.0 22.5 32 58 305

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

240 130 430 132 325 148 900 110 375

236 128 430 132 320 142 890 110 370

1180 485 750 640 870 260 460 860 550 321.81 110 270 61 176 345 14.5 66 25.0 130 28.5 230 112 116 50 52 33.5 130 62 33 71 40.5 48.5 64 26.0 242 51 38.5 51 38.5 102 204.0 97.0 22.0 29.0 62.0 29.0 178.0 255 114 31.50 70 71 55 55 64 42.50 132 84.83

290 610 450 148 220 122 40.50 43.88

290 610 450 148 220 122 40.50 43.88

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59 108 144 222 32.5 234 118 91 42.0 120 99 920 75 16.5 60.0 89 61 62 80 36.0 83 21.0 87 17.5 40.5 57 75 122 45.0 38.0 33.5 25.5 22.5 134 134 220 57 305 54.78

61 110 150 212 32.5 234 118 90 42.0 120 100 910 77 16.5 63.0 89 60 62 80 36.0 85 21.0 87 17.5 39.0 57 75 118 46.0 37.5 34.5 25.5 21.5 134 134 220 59 305 54.81

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238 128 430 132 1,440 325 146 900 200 110 370

238 130 420 134 1,440 320 152 880 200 118 395

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59 108 144 214 234 91 41.0 99 900 75 16.0 58.0 88 59 62 83 20.5 39.5 120 44.0 37.5 33.5 21.5 31 57 300

1200 485 700 640 870 255 470 860 560 322.87 110 275 58 176 340 14.0 65 25.0 130 28.5 230 110 118 50 52 34.0 130 61 32.5 71 39.5 48.5 64 26.0 242 51 38.5 51 37.5 100 210.0 98.0 23.0 30.0 61.0 29.0 176 255 114 31.50 70 73 55 55 64 42.50 132 84.57

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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

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Previous Close Change 182.63 0.41 -6.10 6,183.20 Trading Activity Chng Volume Tran. Value(KD)

Date of Closing Prices:

DTD 0.22% -0.10% Last Bid

Last Ask

MTD YTD 1.15% 2.08% 6.24% 0.82% Div. Annual Close Low P/E Yield High

69 11 4 2 8 16 36 73 18 237

1,700,650 148,900 17,650 12,800 69,350 209,850 1,168,500 1,839,250 440,100 5,607,050

1,180 480 700 640 870 255 465 860 550

1,200 485 750 650 880 260 470 870 560

3.3% 0.0% 2.1% 3.1% 1.6% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 0.0% 2.0%

1,220 510 790 680 920 260 475 900 590 326.42

1,100 475 700 640 790 236 450 820 550 317.17

15.79 33.26 80.57 17.34 30.38 24.25 12.53 24.50 106.53 19.09

5 410,000 -3 13,920,000 1,480,000 -5 320,000 0.513,920,000 -1 5,120,000 -2 5,000,000 -2 1,520,000 0.5 480,000 4,540,000 -1 3,760,000 -1 3,440,000 -1 1,040,000 6,000,000 1.09,720,000 -2 5,180,000 6.0 1.0 5,540,000 1.0 640,000 18,880,000 1.0 1.010,400,000 2.060,000 2,480,000 2 560,000 1,220,000 0.26- 115,630,000

16 118 31 12 96 70 56 15 5 59 70 35 13 56 193 111 102 6 150 178 3 22 11 33

108 275 57 174 335 13.5 65 27.0 108 116 32.5 130 60 33 38.5 64.0 51 37.0 100 208.0 97.0 22.5 30.0 60.0 176 30 65 72 52 53 130.0

110 280 58 176 340 14.0 66 29.5 230 110 118 34.5 132 61 33 40.5 69.0 244 56 38.0 102 210.0 98.0 23.5 30.5 61.0 180 32 75 73 54 55 132.0

0.0% 8.0% 0.0% 0.0% 5.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8.5% 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% 9.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3%

112 275 67 182 345 18.5 69 25.0 130 36.0 230 122 120 50 52 35.5 136 65 35 71 44.0 48.5 70.0 26.0 244 54 39 51 41.0 102 212.0 130.0 25.0 33.5 96.0 29.0 186 255 114 32 70 73 60 55 64 42.5 134.0 85.62

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 26.0 242 51 36 51 26.0 61 99.0 19.5 19.0 16.0 38.0 29.0 154 255 114 26 58 50 51 47 64 42.5 112.0 74.96

42.09 12.79

1,461

112,700 814,680 262,720 108,900 193,080 338,520 549,560 177,040 16,160 592,920 234,440 114,920 40,920 230,440 1,015,440 1,071,560 539,640 14,800 580,600 630,680 10,600 179,040 30,800 158,640 8,018,800

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290 455 28.5

300 570 465 146 43.0

6.9% 4.1% 5.6% 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

15.14 14.06 9.19 23.37 296.83

-2 15,000,000 -2 4,360,000 -6 3,960,000 10 3,740,000 200,000 1 80,000 880,000 -1 1,700,000 10 380,000 -2 80,000 9,760,000 12,800,000 3.0960,000 1 1,120,000 960,000 4,720,000 -2 960,000 1.5 2,400,000 4 340,000 -1 121,440,000 0.5 800,000 1.02,480,000 5,760,000 1.0 400,000 -2 120,000 940,000 0.03- 196,340,000

106 33 73 54 5 2 11 35 13 2 74 126 11 19 16 64 11 22 15 581 7 30 58 5 3 32

59 108 144 222 234 116 91 41.5 99 910 74 16.5 58.0 88 60 61 82 20.5 87 40.0 70 120 44.5 35.5 33.5 23.0 21.5 31 57 305

60 110 146 35.0 238 95 42.0 130 100 920 75 17.0 60.0 89 61 63 83 21.0 41.0 58 75 122 45.0 39.0 34.0 26.5 22.5 144 32 58 310

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 9.0% 0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 5.5% 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%

63 118 152 222 37.5 236 130 91 52.0 120 104 940 80 20.0 64.0 92 75 64 90 38.0 85 23.0 91 17.5 40.5 59 80 144 52.0 39.5 35.0 28.5 25.5 134 34 220 70 480 55.66

47 97 108 200 32.5 224 114 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

45.72 13.86 25.79 19.79

1,408

910,720 479,400 589,120 827,320 46,840 7,440 36,640 171,240 344,850 6,000 159,320 778,880 84,760 66,760 59,560 400,400 20,080 97,840 41,360 5,522,880 30,800 85,720 127,680 12,520 6,920 286,450 11,201,500

136 46 1 1 7 15 4 1 5

2,062,600 203,320 4,300 13,200 29,150 49,120 22,400 2,200 18,600

236 126 420 130 1,440 325 144 890 190 108 -

238 130 435 132 1,460 330 148 900 204 118 390

0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 3.8% 4.5% 3.1% 3.4% 11.1% 5.0% 0.0% 5.4%

260 136 470 158 1,480 345 222 920 200 120 495

214 120 415 132 1,380 315 146 660 180 102 370

Ex-D -

-2 10 -2 5 -6 20 -8 -25

8,640,000 1,580,000 10,000 100,000 90,000 340,000 25,000 20,000 50,000

05 / 01 / 2012

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

1,422,500 310,000 25,000 20,000 80,000 820,000 2,500,000 2,140,000 800,000 8,117,500

20 -50 -5 10 10 1.06

75 percent of its Australian assets, it is expected that the company will seek to reduce its gross leverage and repay the three billion dollars syndicated facility from its cash balances. Fitch understands that a new syndicate loan facility of between $1-$1.5 billion will be put in place but that the company currently has no plans to draw down on this in FY 2012. DP World’s debt primarily comprised senior unsecured borrowings under the company’s USD3bn revolving credit facility, its GMTN program and a $1.5 billion Sukuk. Secured bank debt as a proportion of total debt remained relatively low at around 11 percent. The ratings reflect the standalone credit profile of DP World and do not include support or constraint from its ultimate parent, the Dubai government. According to Fitch’s Parent and Subsidiary Linkage methodology, the agency believes that DP World’s links with the Dubai government are moderate given the absence of any formal financial guarantees and the fact that DP World’s assets remained ring-fenced during the debt restructuring process of its direct parent company, Dubai World. In addition, despite change of control clauses in the documentation of its syndicated loan, Sukuk bond and MTN program, Fitch understands that DP World’s debt has no cross-acceleration provisions related to its direct parent and the subsidiaries above DP World. -Agencies

Trading Prices of Kuwait Stock Exchange Date of Closig Prices: 8/03/2012

For more Information please contact "Global" at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net Last Close 183.04 6,177.10 Last Prev. Close Close

CAIRO: Egypt has received a 1.2 billion US dollars credit facility from the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) to help it pay for commodity imports, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Faiza Abu El Naga said. The loan, signed on Thursday, carries a 3.75 percent interest rate and will be available immediately. It will be used for imports of oil, oil products and wheat and other food commodities, she said. “This loan will reduce pressure on foreign reserves,” Abu el-Naga said. Egypt’s central bank has drawn down more than $20 billion of its foreign reserves, reducing them to $15.72 billion, to support the country’s currency in the wake of the uprising that unseated Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. The ITFC is a subsidiary of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank. In more news, Egypt’s Sixth October Development and Investment Company (SODIC), the country’s third-biggest listed developer, has agreed with the authorities to develop projects on its land bank in West Cairo within three years, in a move that protects the assets from possible legal challenge. SODIC, a luxury property developer, has been spared much of the legal uncertainty over ownership of its land bank that has hit the country’s real estate sector and deepened following President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster. The firm agreed with the authorities that, in order to keep its land in West Cairo safe, it would speed up construction on projects there and deliver within the new timeframe, it said in a statement on Thursday. “We view the event positively as it effectively removes a legal overhang on SODIC’s land bank in West Cairo,” investment bank EFG-Hermes said in a note. “The agreement could help SODIC increase the appeal of its off-plan products, which are now free of legal risks pertaining to the land,” the note said, adding the deal could help limit cancellations at the project,Westown. Egypt’s property market was a major driver of foreign investment and growth but is now struggling to recover from legal rows over state land sales. SODIC has not been directly implicated in the land rows but its former chairman, the father-in-law of Mubarak’s eldest son, is facing trial for his role in a questionable land sale. The company said earlier this week it had launched and sold out 160 units of Westown Residence, in its second and third stage. SODIC turned 141 unit sales into contracts worth 193 million Egyptian pounds ($32 million), bringing net sales of new contracts year-to-date to 420 million pounds. But the new timeframe would have a negative impact on how easily SODIC can sell the land to potential developers and businesses, analysts say. The firm swung to a third-quarter loss in November. -Agencies

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Date of Closing Prices: 08 / 03 / 2012 For more information please contact “Global” at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net

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Egypt gets $1.2 billion commodity loan from Islamic bank SODIC agrees to develop Cairo project in 3 years

Trading Prices of Kuwait Exchange Trading Prices of Kuwait StockStock Exchange

Global General Index KSE Price Index

11

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

92.07 13.75 1.49 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.41 0.00 116.80 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 9.23 22 77 22.77 11.92 44.26

0.00 5.36 12.75

12.71

16.93 5.87 16.98 40.46 23.21 0.00 16.62 30.21

6.22 25.39 12.18 5.30 45.48

23.07 18.82 0.00 0.00 17.95 72.40 17.57 6.58 7.78 133.49 120.19 12.12 24.48 21.53

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ACICO

Global General Index 95 United Industries 610 Boubyan Petroch. KSE Price Index

Gulf Glass HilalCompany Cement High Al Kout Ind. Project 1,140 National K-PAK Bank Gulf BankMaterial 495 Building Commercial 770 325 Nat. Ind.Co.Bank Ahli Bank 640 71 Equipment Holding Ahli United Bank 850 Mena Holding International Bank 248 Consumer Industries 460 Burgan Bank Kuwait Gypsum 890 Kw Finance House 224 Qurain Bank Boubyan 590 Salbookh Trading 50 Global Index - Banking 180 IKARUS Kw Investment 78 Boubyan Int'L Ind.

93 600 Low 1,120 490 770 325 640 68 800 248 455 880 218 580 49 180 77

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ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ Ÿ ź ź Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ ź ŷ ŷ ź ź Ÿ ŷ ŷ 265 260 źŸ Commercial Facilit. Global Index Industrial 41 40 ź Int'L Financial Adv. NationalInvest. Cinema 174 National 170 - źŷ KwProjects Hotels 300 - Ÿŷ Kw 300 420 ŷŷ 430 12.5 Agility Ahlia Holding 13.5 Coast Invest. 53 52 66 61 źŷ Market Complexes -850 -840 ŷŷ Int'L Investor ZAIN Securities House - ŷŷ 78.0 77.0 Safat Energy Ind. & Fin. Inv.Group Educational - ŷŷ -Securities Group - - ŷŷ Indep. Petroleum Int'L Finance 144 National Cleaning 140 ŷŷ 110 MARKAZ 108 134 Sultan Center 128 ŷŷ KMIFIC - - ŷŷ Arabi Group Int'L Inv. Group City Group - ŷŷ Aref Inv. Group - ŷ 2,080 2,040 Ÿ Wataniya Tele. Investment Dar - ŷ 122 Kw Gulf Link 116 ź Al AMAN Inv. ŷ Kw Cable ALOLA Inv.Vision 110 108 - ŷŷ 255 Automated 255 ALMAL Inv. System 50 49 źŸ 360 NAPESCO 350 Gulf Inv. House - ŷź 275 KCPC Leasing 275 - ŷź A'ayan K.S.HInv. 32.5 - 31.0 - ŷŷ Bayan - ŷŷ Eyas GLOBAL Inv. Hits Telecom - 82 - 79 ŷź Osoul Inv. 21.5 Al Safwa Holding -20.5 ŷŷ GULFINVEST KFIC Human Soft - ŷŷ KAMCO - ŷŷ Privatization Holding 76 79 Int'l Leasing & Inv. -- - ŷŷ Nafaaes Holding - - ŷŷ Nat. Int'l Holding -National Slaughter - ŷŸ Housing Finance 124 116 Aref energy MADAR - ŷź 660 660 Safwan 26.5 Al Deera Holding 26.5 61.0 58.0 ŷŸ Gulf Petroleum Al Safat Inv. - ŷŷ 26.0 27.5 Gulf Franchising 122.0 Al Salam Credit & Group Collection - 114.0 - Ÿŷ 39.0 ź 41.0 Ekttitab Holding National Ranges 18.0 17.5 ŷ Al Qurain Holding ŷ Burgan Well Drilling - ŷ 16.5 Sokouk Holding 16.5 ŷ 450 38.5 IFA H&R 425 ź Al-Madina Finance 40.0 ź 1,560 1,540 Combinted Group ź NOOR ŷ Jeeran Holding Tamdeen Inv. 160 158 - źŷ Palms KW BH Agro Int'l Exch. -- - ŷŷ 74.0 SafatKuwaiti TEC Holding 72.0 Taiba - ŷź 96 94 Mushrif Trading Kuwait Syrian - ŷź U it d P j t United Projects 325 325 Strategia - ŷŸ 315 ALAFCO 310 53 53 ŷŸ Kuwait China Inv. Al-Muwasat -- - ŷŷ Manafae Inv. Gulf NorthHolding Africa - ŷź Mashaer 244 238 Amwal - ŷŷ Oula Fuel 265 265 Al MasarComm. Future - ŷŷ 124 Al-Imtiaz 132 Hayat Comm. 88 źŸ 91 Global Index - Investment Mubarrad Transport 66 64 źŸ KuwaitInsurance Resorts -- - ŷŷ Kuwait Advanced Technolgy - - ŷŷ Gulf Insurance -Yiaco Medical -- - ŷŷ Ahlia Insurance Al Jazeera Airways 460 źź 470 112 108 Warba Insurance Al Soor Fuel --- ŷ Kuwait Re-Ins. First Takaful -- - ŷŷ Future Kid Ins. Wethaq -280 -265 ŷŸ K G L Insurance 90 87 źŸ Al Nawadi Global Index - Insurance Alrai Media 136 140 48 źŸ Kuwait R.E. 48 102 Zima Holding 102 Ÿź 100 United R.E. 100

Global R.E. Index - Services 118 National 126 200 Salhia R.E. Trans. 204 LiveStock 186 186 -102 Pearl -108 DanaR.E. Al-Safat 224 224 Tamdeen R.E. 130 United Poultry 130 Ajial R.E. 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 88 85 75 74 INJAZZAT RE Gulf Cement 98 99 Inv. UmHolding QuwainGrp Cement 12.0 71 11.5 70 -106 -114 Int'L Resorts Fujaira Cement 78 77 Commercial R.E Ras AlKheimah 120 120 70 65 Sanam R.E. ARIG 54 53 Aa'yan R.E United Gulf Bank Aqar 325 Egypt Kw Holding 325 Kuwait R.E Holding Bahrain Kw Ins. 59 AL Mazaya 60 Gulf House 63.0 14.0 61.0 Al DarFin. National R.E 14.0 Inovest Int'L Holding 43 42 Themar -188 Grand R.E Projects -192 Ahli United Bank -20.0 Tijara & R.E Invest Ithmaar Bank 21.5 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 27.0 15.5 25.5 Manazel 28 Ajwan Real Estate 28 REAM Specialities Group 255 260 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

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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

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Last Close Previous Close DTD MTD YTD - Change 206 206 4.9% 224 196 23.76 202 208 -0.40% -1.55% 177.24 -0.7097,920 -1.55% 1,040,000 22 94 176.5394 95 94 0.0% 102 94 34.16 610 25,000 4 -27.3015,150 - 5,754.20 6105,726.90 5.7% 610 550 86.98 600 -1.50% -0.47% 610 -1.50% 1,400 1,400 1,400 2.9% 1,400 1,220 21.05 Last Prev. Trading Activity Div. Annual Close Last Last 216 216 226 4.6% 216 206 11.21 Close Close Volume Tran. Value(KD) Bid Ask Yield High Low P/E Chng 350 Ex-D 350 5.7% 350 350 7.76 375 3,796,050 - 1,120 - 1120 1120 69 3,377,500 1,140 1,120 14.74 275 275 300 3.6% 7.3% 250 300 1,100 275 13.23 20 495 495 830,000 407,950 490 495 - 0.0% 510 490 33.95 224 Ex-D 224 0.0% 228 224 27.09 770 770 10,000 12 7,700 -5 770 780 790 770 88.62 9,750 320 30,000 325 2.5% 320 325 1.9% 325 260 20.86 640 -20-3 28 6,400 660 10,000 64068 66069 3.1% 66073 64051 17.34 800,000 55,160 71 68 0.0% 32.59 800 50 850 350,000 23 282,700 840 850 1.6% 850 790 29.68 33 33 0.0% 33 33 0.00 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 25.07 870 218 3,940,000 869,160 218 220 0.0% 222 210 112.24 8.79 218 0.0% 590 590 607,850 - 1,035,000 3390 590 580 590 590 3 -3 320,000 15,720 49 51 51 41 49 0.0% 319.37 319.54 8,092,500 6,639,050 2.0% 319.54 318.41 18.61 0.17240 61,200 178 340,000 10 180 2 178 180 162 10.57 182 0.0% 106 106 -4 - 10278 10679 0.0% 10688 10670 40.56 78 12,440 160,000 78 0.0% 260 265 -5 250,000 14 65,750 260 265 8.5% 265 260 12.09 3,541,390 169.93 170.49 163.04 10.85 17,510,000 359 170.35 0.42 2.7% 1,680,000 1,040,000 110,000 1,160,000 7,040,000 1,280,000 -1 20,320,000 1,260,000 6,280,000 -- -- -2,660,000 - 680,000 4,080,000 - - 360,000 40 4,020,000 -2 - 500,000 10,000 -1 7 320,000 20,000 --5 200,000 --5 1,840,000 - - 10,240,000 - -4 5,920,000 - - 6,920,000 - - - - -2 1,580,000 -50 5,000 - 4.0 240,000 6,000,000 1,920,000 -8.0 - 11,180,000 2.01,920,000 5,120,000 480,000 300,000 25 0.510,640,000 15,000 - -25 2.0- 80,000 - 1.0400,000 1.01,960,000 20 000 10 20,000 1,750,000 -5 200,000 - - --2 2,420,000 - 20,000 - - -1.0 2 1,240,000 2,560,000 0.12-1 40,720,000 4,680,000 -1 -2 5 -

67,160 40 960 177,720 168 33,000 295 495,750 90,920 420 12.5 67,280 1,313,040 5160 - 840 1,070,850 483,840 77.0 - - - 378,160 140 73,920 106 530,920 130 - - 744,700 2,080 480,960 114 27.0 54,920 108 2,550 15,840 49 7,100 350 21 55,000 275 244 58,760 31.0 - 820,760 64.079 123,880 -20.5 - -76 536,480 - - - 134 189,880 118 - 3,300 6,360 26.0 360,080 60.0 50,960 26.0 1,305,280 - 118.0 77,080 92,000 17.5 18.0 7,920 16.0 129,250 425 419,440 38.5 23,300 1,540 12,680 15675 - -86 28,920 71.0 185,920 -93 6 500 6,500 320 63 542,550 310 10,600 52 - - 580,560 240 5,300 265 - - 246 157,920 228,840 124.088 2,702,550 305,880 64

40 1,020 170 280 300 425 12.5 52 61 25.0 850 130 78.0 31.0 110 230 310 102 142 108 132 50 104 44.0 530 52 2,080 74 116 28.5 63 108 255 49 360 23 275 71 260 31.0 260 48.5 79 68 21.0 20.5 270 26.0 244 76 94 97 51 154 36 120 51 660 26.5 61.0 75 26.0 120.0 120 39.5 18.0 19.0 255 16.5 425 38.5 1,540 29.0 74 158 86 255 72.0 114 94 26.00 325 68 315 53 130 60 46.5 240 64 265 42.50 265 128 89 75.90 64

41 1,020 172 280 295 425 12.5 53 61 25.0 850 130 78.0 31.0 110 230 310 102 142 112 132 50 104 44.0 530 52 2,040 74 118 28.5 63 108 248 49.5 365 23 280 71 260 31.0 260 48.5 83 68 21.0 20.5 26.0 270 244 76 94 97 51 154 36 118 51 710 26.5 57.0 75 26.0 112.0 120 41.5 18.0 19.0 255 16.5 450 39.0 1,540 29.0 74 160 86 255 73.0 114 95 26.00 315 68 310 53 130 60 46.5 242 64 265 42.50 265 130 88 76.02 63

55.0 325 640 560 370 485 470 110 236 220 114 104 40.50 275 90 43.43

55.0 325 640 560 370 485 480 118 236 220 114 104 40.50 265 85 43.63

- 10 --8 Ex-D - 10 0.19-5

- - - 68 - - 172 63

- - - 37,200 13,200 - - 2,110,950 14,280 13,200

140 48 102 100 771.72 124 200 186 37.5 102 224 130 120 1,460 82 390 30.0 530 108 355.21 97 860 85 75 98 11.5 71 38.0 110 78 120 65 132 54 230 90 325 38.0 455 59 63.0 14.0 91 43 17.5 192 31.0 21.0 59 46.52 70 122 48.5 124 28.0 144 23.5 106 25.5 250 27.0 27.0 15.5 28 134 260 134 51 220 345 57 106 295 1,860 49.73

138 49 110 99 770.71 120 204 188 37.5 104 234 130 120 1,460 82 390 30.5 530 108 355.70 98 850 88 73 102 12.0 69 38.0 114 77 120 70 132 55 230 90 325 38.0 455 63 62.0 14.5 91 42 17.5 188 31.020.0 59 46.07 74 122 48.5 124 28.5 144 24.5 106 26.0 250 27.0 28.0 16.5 30 134 260 134 51 220 345 58 106 290 1,860 49.75

200,000 19 -1 2 80,000 20,000 91 1-8 920,000 1,730 100,340,000 1.01 4 105 3,100,000 12 -4-2 520,000 4 80,000 --2 3,020,000 71 3 10.0100,000 20,000 1 1 80,000 0.50.503,120,000 -1 320,000 876 10-3 1,935,000 5712 760,000 227 120,000 2-4 2,040,000 15 0.5-2 2,000,000 10,240,000 120 -4 - -4 120,000 3 1 240,000 20,000 1 17 1,000,000 -5 4 -1 200,000 40,000 2 Ex-D 11 440,000 -4 12,240,000 128 1 80,000 0.5-1 3,040,000 34 1 1,380,000 4 24 1 6,720,000 63 0.45 36,600,000 415 -4 320,000 2 - - - - 12 0.52,720,000 1.080,000 1 0.5240,000 3 Ex-D 35,040,000 4 160,000 1.02 1,200,000 8 1.080,000 3 1 90,000 -3 - - - -1 240,000 6 47 5 2,110,000 0.02- - 53,085,000 - 332 -

27,400 3,840 2,040 92,000 11,969,100 383,920 104,680 14,880 315,920 22,400 2,600 2,400 333,400 31,160 1,656,950 65,440 8,960 200,640 23,960 724,720 13,360 18,520 2,400 67,400 10,720 13,000 26,160 761,680 1,120 128,840 260,000 140,880 2,310,960 22,400 - - 76,880 1,880 6,160 946,080 4,200 19,240 2,200 23,200 - 13,520 610,850 4,151,200 -

232 93.0 128 65 450 65 150 1,420 335 212 720 180 Ÿ 104 Ÿ 460

242 -10 13,220,000 - 154 93.0 128 140,000 6 65 470 -20 50,000 2 65 150 - - - 330,000 1,460 -40 2,500 16 335 5,686 212 - 477,657,500720 Close 230,000 19 Prev. Close 180 192.19 191.86 106 -2 80,000 3 188.16 460 188.89 -

36.0

Ÿ

36.0

---

Ex-D

571.63

- - - 80,000 120,000 - - 7,680,000 160,000 120,000

13 20 5 4637 22 243 55 86 - - 81 1840 - 42 126 14 41 -2 17 22 - 144 46 - 72 - - 56 -1 2 101 18 212 24 39 5 26 93 -2 4 - -8 45 -2 239 - 66 -2 - 3860 55880

-

570.36

-

-

52.0 300 510 355 460 465 108 232 -98 - 275 86 136 48 99 122 200 184 - 102 110 1,440 540 112 95 86085 7185 11.598 35.570 77 108 120 53 325 13.5 9062 - 42 30.0 190.0 70 116 28.0 23.5 25.0 24.5 15.5 - 255 29 218 55 29084

-

-

3,111,120 -17,800 122 22,550 455 - 150 29,600 1,420 3,550 310 42,982,200 165,600 Change 710 178 0.34 8,480 104 0.74 435

1.27

40

0.0%

1,040 3.9% 172 0.0% 0.0% 300 - 6.7% 425 0.0% 9.4% 13.0 5262 0.0% 0.0% - 850 0.0% 23.5% 0.0% 0.0% 78.0 33.5 - 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 330 9.7% 0.0% 0.0% 142 110 0.0% 132 9.3% 0.0% 0.0% 104 0.0% 530 0.0% 0.0% 2,100 2.4% 0.0% 0.0% 116 29.5 0.0% 0.0% 11067 0.0% 9.8% 270 50 0.0% 5.6% 360 0.0% 24 1.8% 280 0.0% 6.0% 32.5 - 0.0% 3.8% - 0.0% 0.0% - 80 0.0% 0.0% -21.0 0.0% - 295 0.0% 0.0% 23877 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 102 54 - 0.0% 5.2% 0.0% 0.0% 120 0.0% 660 3.3% 0.0% 27.0 61.0 0.0% 0.0% 27.0 0.0% 120.0 130 0.0% 0.0% 39.0 0.0% 18.0 0.0% 20.0 0.0% 250 0.0% 16.5 0.0% 430 0.0% 0.0% 39.0 1,560 4.5% 0.0% % 0.0% 16077 3.8% 9.3% 270 - 5.1% 73.0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2794 0.0% 9 2% 325 0.0% 9.2% 73 3.2% 315 0.0% 53 160 0.0% 5.4% 61 47 242 10.8% 0.0% 69 270 0.0% 0.0% - 285 0.0% 9.4% 128.089 0.0% 11.2% 65 2.4% 0.0% 55.0 6.2% 0.0% 325 0.0% 610 - 4.5% 375 5.2% 2.7% 500 470 9.1% 0.0% 114 0.0% 240 2.7% 110 0.0% 106 0.0% 43.0 280 0.0% 1.8% 5.6% - 4.7% 0.0% 140 49 0.0% 120 0.0% 0.0% 100 11.7% 126 0.0% 202 0.0% 186 10.0% 37.5 4.9% 104 0.0% 224 - 4.5% 0.0% 0.0% 130 1,500 4.5% 6.1% 85 1.3% 410 0.0% 31.5 3.8% 560 6.5% 118 3.9% 0.0% 98 87086 0.0% 5.9% 7686 0.0% 10.2% 12.099 0.0% 0.0% 37.071 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 79 112 8.3% 0.0% 65 124 5.7% 0.0% 54 140 0.0% 0.0% 91 230 9.2% 0.0% 40.5 330 0.0% 7.7% 60 0.0% 14.5 0.0% 0.0% 9463 5.5% - 43 0.0% 5.2% 33.5 0.0% 192.0 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% 27.5 0.0% 16.0 0.0% 28 3.7% 130 2.7% 260 0.0% 32 51 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 57 - 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 295 - 1.1% 0.0%

48.5

232 94.0 130 70 465 -70 1,440 340 216 720 DTD 190 0.17% 108 0.39% -

0.22%

0.0%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.2% 7.7% 3.3% 0.8% 4.6% 3.0% 4.63% 2.4% 13.9% 5.6% 0.0% 4.3%

42 40 990 1,120 174 170 280 280 305 295 430 340 13.5 12.5 5461 5241 25.0 25.0 900 840 130 130 79.0 45.0 36.0 31.0 110 110 230 230 295 345 102 102 146 110 116 108 108 136 50 5084 104 44.0 44.0 530 530 52 52 1,920 2,080 74 74 95 126 28.5 28.5 11268 10863 230 255 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 23.5 14.0 20.5 20.5 26.0 26.0 280 270 24481 24461 94 9490 104 51 51 154 154 36 3691 120 51 51 520 710 26.5 27.5 30.0 74.0 75 75 28.5 16.0 99.0 120.0 140 120 19.5 41.5 19.5 12.0 19.0 19.0 275 198 17.0 16.5 490 425 39.0 38.0 1,580 1,500 29.0 29.0 89 15674 162 25586 25591 74.0 57.0 114 114 104 2680 28 335 270 68 68 280 315 53 55 130 130 60 60 47 47 172 242 64 64 265 305 42.5 42.5 265 300 132.089 128.070 76.32 72 75.90 51

17.46 88.93 12.13 14.15 1.33 0.00 13.02

23.89 0.00 19.12 0.00 25.70 0.00 53.09 0.00 13.46 0.00 0.00 0.00

12.74 6.85 9.57 0.00 11.97 9.19 291.68 32.31 0.00 13.80

12.48 0.00 116.80 9.60 0.00 0.00 16.40

5.62

0.00

0.00 71.64 92.71 16.84 0.00 3.06 8.28 7.35 22.77 11.92

10.61

60 55 60.55 43.00

5.26 7.80 7.92 22.46 0.00 16.17

5.19 10.01

44.0 56.0 325 325 640 640 560 560 345 390 520 485 410 480 118 110 270 236 220 220 134 114 104 114 40.5 40.5 275 218 44.80 92 43.43 80

3.85 16.97 25.05 12.90 11.90 9.91 8.38 17.37 16.48 296.83

116 156 49 48 102 110 100 99 777.86 744.62 120 128 200 208 182 222 37.5 37.590 114 234 224 130 126 130 120 1,500 1,420 82 82 390 340 30.5 30.0 570 500 108 108 365.22 345.74 100 96 86095 84044 76 7355 108 12.571 11.543 38.0 38.0 122 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-

12.50 37.20 12.83 12.30 22.21 17.83

-

-

232 260 130 128 470 450 158 150 1,460 1,420 340 335 212 222 710 740 MTD 180 1.22% 180 104 116 1.30% 460 460

1.64%

11.59 7.26 6.47 12.60

16.20

5.72 11.56 25.40 9.84 15.28 11.31 39.65 5.29

21.70 0.00 14.56

9.60

26.32

35.93 7.39 8.10 41.95 4.15 10.28

19.44 66.01

10.71

11.37 0.00 5.38 27.28

20.67 9.93 23.07

8.93

18.82 63.06 0.00 11.03 0.00 16.27

14.44

70.58 18.38

9.92 6.49 8.02 14.75 193.84 96.15 YTD 10.91 1.40% 23.15 -0.63% 26.77

1.71%

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

12

ALWATAN DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

April 21, 2009 March 08, 2012

1% 6%

1% 6% Oman

0%

Bahrain

100

95

Dubai Saudi Abu Dhabi

0%

-1%

-2%

Bahrain

-4%

Qatar

-2%

-6%

90

GCC Best Performers

Saudi

95 8-Dec-11 85

8-Jan-12

8-Feb-12

MENA Best Performers

-1%

8-Mar-12

Close

-6% -2

S&P Pan 3-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 DFMDubai Financial Market

Period's Liquidity 1 Ratio (PLR x)*

-1

RCC Raysut Cement Co. GEC Galfar Engineering & Contracting

MENA Indices Highlights

KWD5.60 0.222 SAR

4.7% 9.8%

OMR 0.922 OMR 0.703

3.6% 8.8%

AED 3.10 QAR 6.35

3.3% 8.6%

EM Emirates NBD KCB Al Khaliji Commercial Bank UPPUnion Properties

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 7,375 Level

% Chg.

52 Wk High

YTD

Trailing

8.0%

BKMBankMuscat

OMR 0.720

8.0%

Mkt. Cap. USD million

52 Wk 7,400 High

525,916 Wk Low

Turnover USD million

Mkt.385,539 Cap. USD million

13.00

2.00

101,952

PE 14.11

PB1.45

67,674 264,263

8.71 10.24

1.07 1.77

TAMTamweel ARTArabtec Holding

% Chg.-

14.9% YTD

414

0.2%

2.0%

2,562 5,250

0.3% -4.0%

6.6% 9.3%

2,775 10,090

2,293 4,130

32 2,183

467

396

154

GCC Worst Performers

PB

MENA Worst Performers

1,610 406

0.2% 1.8%

19.0% -0.2%

1,754 787

1,301 316

132 718

34,313 98,547

10.31 9.99

0.77 1.52

8,594 2,695

-0.1% 0.6%

-2.0% 12.8%

8,892 5,148

8,071 2,137

67 122

123,494 69,783

11.59 7.29

OmOman UAE(MSM (DFMIndex) Index)

5,859 1,745

0.6% 1.9%

2.9% 6.6%

6,416 5,860

5,419 1,433

19 305

18,352 37,413

10.85 6.87

1.88 FAC CBK CommercialFacilities Bank of Co. Kuwait 1.37 Commercial 1.62 KCB Al Khalij Commercial Bank 0.88 238 Rabigh Petrochem.

BaQa Bahrain Qatar (BSE (DSMIndex) Index)

1,161 5,590

1.5% -18.8%

1,433 12,627

1,129 4,230

1 196

17,396 65,352

9.29 8.85

0.88 201 IFASaudi IFA Hotels Resorts Corp. 1.74 Basic & Industries

Eg Egypt (EGX 30 Index)

5,397

-1.0%

49.0%

5,628

3,587

119

62,630

10.43

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

1,992

0.3%

0.0%

2,246

1,921

13

27,169

13.93

11,371

-0.1%

2.3%

12,800

10,785

62,257

16.51

Le Lebanon (Beirut SE Index)

1,214

0.1%

3.2%

1,425

1,164

Pa Palestine (Al-Quds Index)*

485

-

1.6%

513

465

OmOman (MSM Index)

Ba Bahrain (BSE Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)

Eg Egypt (Hermes Egypt Index (HFI))* Jo Jordan (Amman General Index) M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)*

Tu Tunisia (Tunis SE Index)

Le Lebanon (Beirut SE Index)* *Market Closed

5,478

1,681 463

2,825

10,621

4,751

5.1%

0.7%

0.4%

-6.8%

-

8.5%

2.2%

0.4%

12,109 2,903 1,033

2.4%

-

5,044

4,224

1,572

-

2,551

14,635 4,785

4,091

-

9,406

1,094

-

-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

15,024

4

328

-3.3%

-0.2%

46

-

0

-

QAR 16.35 SAR 22.95

-6.0% -8.9%

KWD 0.425 SAR 48.00

-5.6% -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 Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (KSA) ART Arabtec Holding (UAE)

343,553,085 12,978,596

6,576

13.85

1.92

115 Alinma BankQatar (KSA) IQCIndustries (QA)

119,955,261 8,062,176

1.62 3.64

6.47

GCC Highest Turnover

0.89

9.45

9,559

2

KWD 0.700 -13.1% -6.7% KWD 0.265

SAR 13.70

2,538

-

AED 2.67% Chg. -8.9% Close

225 Saudi Industrial Inv. Grp.

10,555

3

-9.6%

1.68

63,640

67

% Chg.

9.50

18,727

2

1.43

Close AED 1.22

QaUAUAE Qatar (DSM Index) (ADSM Index)

0.3% 3.9%

2.7%

QAR 21.60

Turnover USD million

Trailing

AED 0.42

QGTQatar Gas Transport Co.

52 Wk Low

PE

% Chg.

AED 1.13% Chg. 7.6% Close

SRE Salhia Real Estate 3 428 Kingdom Hldg. Co. Co.

Period's Liquidity Ratio (PLR x)*

MENA Indices Highlights

Abu Dhabi

105

Kuwait Kuwait

Tunisia Abu Dhabi

Return DailyDaily Return (%)(%)

Dubai

Palestine Palestine

Abu Dhabi

Saudi Dubai Dubai

110

105

0%

2%

Oman

Qatar Saudi

Qatar

Qatar Oman

111

110

100

4%

110

Morocco

110

Lebanon Oman

113

Kuwait Kuwait

113

DailyIndex Index Performance Snapshot Daily Performance Snapshot

Egypt Jordan Jordan

115115

Bull/Bear Indicator Bull/Bear Indicator

Bahrain Bahrain

Rebased RebasedPerformance Performance

14.82

Turnover (USD)

MENA Highest Turnover

1.18

DFMDubai Financial Market (UAE)

1.69

TAMTamweel (UAE)

23,832,253 22,105,242

Turnover (USD)

15,232,440

EMAEmaar Properties (UAE)

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

7,375 (0.0%)

Tadawul Index (% Chg.)

120

93%

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

118

-

Advance/Decline Ratio 115

7,400 / 5,916

Tadawul Index 52 week High / Low

-

Turnover (SAR '000) 110

1,445,962,425

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

110

Close #N/A

#N/A

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#N/A

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#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

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#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

Highest Turnover

105

Worst Performers Turnover (SAR) 2250.SSE Saudi Industrial Investment Grp. #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A

1 Al Rajhi Bank

100

95 8-Dec-11

8-Jan-12

8-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

8-Mar-12

% Chg.

#

#N/A

#

#N/A

#

#N/A

#N/A

#

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

2250.SSE Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

Close

% Chg.

22.90 #N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

22.90 -

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

76.75

-

-

-

-

-

80.75

67.25

-5.0%

10.4%

1.0%

115,125,000

15.6

3.5

1 Alinma Bank

12.55

-

-

-

-

-

12.90

9.05

-2.7%

34.2%

37.2%

18,825,000

43.6

1.2 3.6

105.25

-

-

-

-

-

105.75

83.75

-0.5%

6.3%

13.5%

24,207,500

21.2

1 Arab National Bank

32.00

-

-

-

-

-

35.18

26.60

-9.0%

16.4%

-1.5%

27,200,000

12.5

1.6

1 Bank AlBilad

25.50

-

-

-

-

-

27.20

17.20

-6.3%

28.5%

43.7%

7,650,000

23.4

2.2

2 Almarai Co.

1 Bank Al Jazira

23.90

-

-

-

-

-

24.55

15.75

-2.6%

41.0%

35.0%

7,170,000

26.5

1.5

1 Banque Saudi Fransi

46.00

-

-

-

-

-

50.00

37.50

-8.0%

9.3%

2.5%

33,267,858

11.4

1.7

4 Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

10.15

-

-

-

-

-

10.15

6.05

0.0%

40.0%

31.8%

10,962,000

10.1

0.7

4 Emaar the Economic City

10.80

-

-

-

-

-

10.80

5.90

0.0%

46.9%

83.1%

9,180,000

nmf

1.2

7 Etihad Etisalat Co.

63.25

-

-

-

-

-

63.50

46.60

-0.4%

20.5%

30.4%

44,275,000

8.7

2.4

4 Jabal Omar Development Co.

16.15

-

-

-

-

-

16.45

11.10

-1.8%

32.9%

30.4%

15,009,810

nmf

1.7

150.50

-

-

-

-

-

151.75

85.50

-0.8%

8.1%

71.0%

9,030,000

17.6

10.0

4 Kingdom Holding Co.

11.05

-

-

-

-

-

11.40

7.05

-3.1%

24.9%

43.5%

40,949,999

nmf

1.6

2 National Industrialization Co.

42.90

-

-

-

-

-

45.10

30.82

-4.9%

5.4%

39.2%

23,913,681

9.8

2.2

2 Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.

24.95

-

-

-

-

-

29.80

21.15

-16.3%

7.3%

18.0%

21,856,200

nmf

2.7

1 Riyad Bank

25.90

-

-

-

-

-

26.50

23.10

-2.3%

11.2%

6.1%

38,850,000

12.3

1.3

4 Jarir Marketing Co.

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

50.50

-

-

-

-

-

56.75

42.40

-11.0%

8.4%

-5.6%

45,450,000

10.6

1.6

186.75

-

-

-

-

-

192.75

165.00

-3.1%

6.1%

5.2%

46,687,500

11.4

5.7

33.80

-

-

-

-

-

34.00

22.30

-0.6%

33.6%

48.9%

31,265,000

nmf

1.8

101.75

-

-

-

-

-

112.50

87.75

-9.6%

5.7%

1.5%

305,250,000

10.4

2.2

3 Saudi Cement Co.

96.00

-

-

-

-

-

98.00

50.50

-2.0%

33.3%

90.1%

14,688,000

17.7

4.5

5 Saudi Electricity Co.

14.50

-

-

-

-

-

14.75

12.85

-1.7%

4.3%

10.7%

60,415,610

27.2

1.2

1 Saudi Hollandi Bank

32.40

-

-

-

-

-

32.60

25.70

-0.6%

8.7%

14.1%

10,716,300

10.6

1.4

22 Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

22.90

-

-

-

-

-

27.20

18.40

-15.8%

20.5%

24.5%

10,305,000

19.5

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

22.75

-

-

-

-

-

23.20

17.75

-1.9%

15.5%

15.3%

8,341,667

11.8

1.5

18.90

-

-

-

-

-

24.60

15.55

-23.2%

17.0%

-13.1%

10,395,000

14.7

1.2

18.25

-

-

-

-

-

19.15

15.50

-4.7%

4.9%

8.3%

27,375,000

nmf

1.8

39.90

-

-

-

-

-

39.90

33.00

0.0%

18.0%

8.4%

79,800,000

10.5

1.7

34.50

-

-

-

-

-

34.50

23.70

0.0%

20.2%

36.4%

17,250,000

14.5

2.2

105.25

-

-

-

-

-

105.25

59.50

0.0%

22.4%

69.8%

14,735,000

16.5

5.6

45.60

-

-

-

-

-

46.50

37.00

-1.9%

12.0%

17.5%

34,200,000

11.8

2.0

3 Yamama Saudi Cement Co.

53.75

-

-

-

-

-

83.25

48.90

-35.4%

-23.2%

9.9%

10,884,375

14.8

3.2

2 Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

53.00

-

-

-

-

-

54.00

41.60

-1.9%

20.5%

18.6%

29,812,500

9.4

2.8

9.50

-

-

-

-

-

9.50

5.25

0.0%

71.2%

61.0%

13,300,000

nmf

3.1

7 Zain - Saudi Arabia

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

ALWATAN DAILY

13

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

KUWAIT Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 6,177 (-0.1%)

KSE General Index (% Chg.)

115

414 (0.2%)

KSE Weighted Index (% Chg.)

53%

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price 110

110

KSE General Index 52 week High / Low KSE Weighted Index 52 week High / Low

2.4%

PCEM.KSE Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

0.900

2.3%

6,523 / 5,694 BURG.KSE Burgan Bank

0.470

2.2%

467 / 396 NMTC.KSE Wataniya

2.080

2.0%

Highest Turnover

Worst Performers Turnover (KWD) 2,062,600

100 N National Industries Grp. Holding

95 8-Dec-11

8-Jan-12

8-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

8-Mar-12

4.7%

0.430

28,393,635

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

100

% Chg.

0.222

42,824

Turnover (KWD '000) 105

Salhia Real Estate Co.

KCEM.KSE Kuwait Cement Co.

1.86

Advance/Decline Ratio

Close SRE.KSE

K Kuwait Finance House

1,839,250

Close CBK.KSE

Commercial Bank of Kuwait

IFAHR.KSEIFA Hotels & Resorts

% Chg.

0.700

-6.7%

0.425

-5.6%

N National Bank of Kuwait

1,700,650

NRE.KSE

0.144

-4.0%

B Burgan Bank

1,168,500

JAZEERA.KJazeera Airways

0.470

-2.1%

ZA Zain Kuwait

1,070,850

KIB.KSE

0.255

-1.9%

National Real Estate Co. Kuwait International Bank

KSE Weighted Index

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

Turnover (KWD '000)

Volume ('000)

52-Week High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

Trailing

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

PE

PB

A Agility

0.425

0.0%

0.430

0.420

496

1,160

0.435

0.248

-2.3%

13.3%

26.9%

444,906

nmf

0.5

A Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

0.640

0.0%

0.640

0.640

13

20

0.690

0.610

-7.2%

-3.0%

1.6%

922,355

18.3

1.9

T Al Themar Intl. Holding Co.

0.087

-

-

-

-

0.104

0.079

-16.3%

-4.4%

-13.0%

88,088

nmf

1.0

A Alafco Aviation Lease and Fin. Co.

0.315

1.6%

0.315

0.310

543

1,750

0.380

0.280

-17.1%

0.0%

-3.1%

245,628

6.2

1.6

A AREF Energy Holding Co.

0.120

1.7%

0.124

0.116

190

1,580

0.142

0.085

-15.5%

13.2%

13.2%

90,000

nmf

1.3

B Boubyan Bank

0.560

1.8%

0.560

0.550

440

800

0.620

0.550

-9.7%

-5.1%

-1.8%

979,012

nmf

4.2

B Boubyan Petrochemical Co.

0.610

0.0%

0.610

0.600

15

25

0.620

0.480

-1.6%

8.9%

27.1%

295,911

12.0

1.3

B Burgan Bank

0.470

2.2%

0.470

0.460

1,169

2,500

0.550

0.424

-14.5%

-1.1%

10.8%

691,557

13.7

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

0.0%

1.560

1.540

15

1.945

1.300

-20.8%

-2.5%

-10.8%

148,811

18.7

4.1

C Commercial Bank of Kuwait

0.700

-6.7%

0.710

0.700

18

25

0.960

0.700

-27.1%

-11.4%

-24.7%

890,416

nmf

1.7

F Commercial Facilities Co.

0.275

1.9%

0.275

0.270

113

410

0.395

0.255

-30.4%

5.8%

-26.7%

147,610

13.5

0.9

G Global Investment House

0.049

-

G Gulf Bank

0.485

0.0%

C Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co.

1.440

-

-

-

-

-

1.700

1.380

-15.3%

1.4%

-6.5%

IF IFA Hotels & Resorts

0.425

-5.6%

0.450

0.425

129

300

0.500

0.285

-15.0%

-10.5%

-16.7%

IK Ikarus Petroleum Industries Co.

0.180

1.1%

0.180

0.180

61

340

0.180

0.134

0.0%

5.9%

32.4%

IF International Finance Co.

0.110

-1.8%

0.112

0.108

550

5,000

0.275

0.096

-60.0%

7.8%

JAJazeera Airways

0.470

-2.1%

0.470

0.460

37

80

0.480

0.112

-2.1%

3.3%

K KIPCO Asset Management Co.

0.242

-

-

-

0.315

0.236

-23.2%

-0.8%

-23.2%

K Kuwait Cement Co.

0.430

2.4%

0.430

0.430

4

10

0.630

0.415

-31.7%

-6.5%

-23.5%

274,192

19.9

2.0

K Kuwait Finance House

0.860

0.0%

0.870

0.850

1,839

2,140

1.100

0.820

-21.8%

-4.4%

-17.1%

2,312,575

38.4

1.3

-

-

0.485

0.480

-

23

-

-

0.055

0.019

-10.9%

0.0%

14.0%

64,309

nmf

3.1

149

310

0.580

0.470

-16.4%

-4.9%

2.1%

1,216,236

39.7

2.8

302,301

8.3

1.7

192,900

nmf

4.0

135,000

14.0

1.0

-60.0%

88,317

nmf

0.8

319.6%

103,400

9.1

4.2

63,719

nmf

0.8

-

-

-

-

1.620

1.380

-9.9%

-1.4%

5.8%

586,923

12.2

2.0

210

820

0.350

0.236

-27.1%

0.0%

-8.9%

264,518

22.4

1.3

22

25

1.580

0.660

-43.0%

26.8%

-34.9%

81,814

13.9

1.3

109

320

0.425

0.295

-20.0%

11.5%

-9.6%

432,795

11.5

0.8

380

0.940

0.564

-2.1%

7.0%

63.1%

511,176

26.1

3.6

0.060

0.033

-45.0%

0.0%

-49.2%

21,780

2.3

0.1

1.260

1.000

-4.8%

7.1%

5.3%

4,749,270

15.7

2.2

0.260

-8.5%

16.1%

-8.5%

112,496

39.2

1.4

0.192

-16.5%

-8.5%

-3.3%

308,234

nmf

0.8

0.158

-45.0%

2.3%

-32.3%

154,214

nmf

0.8

0.168

0.056

-14.3%

12.5%

48.5%

-

nmf

0.6 2.1

F Kuwait Food Co.

1.460

-

-

-

K Kuwait International Bank

0.255

-1.9%

0.260

0.255

P Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

0.900

2.3%

0.900

0.890

K Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)

0.340

-1.5%

0.345

0.340

M Mabanee Co.

0.920

1.1%

0.920

0.900

345

M Mena Holding

0.033

-

-

-

-

-

N National Bank of Kuwait

1.200

1.7%

1.200

1.180

1,701

1,423

N National Industries Co.

0.325

1.6%

0.325

0.325

10

30

0.355

N National Industries Grp. Holding

0.238

0.0%

0.240

0.236

2,063

8,640

0.285

N National Investments Company

0.176

0.0%

0.180

0.176

263

1,480

0.320

N National Real Estate Co.

0.144

-4.0%

0.154

0.144

589

3,960

O Oula Fuel Marketing Co.

0.265

0.0%

0.265

0.265

5

20

0.360

0.265

-26.4%

-11.7%

-7.3%

87,370

24.0

A Qurain Petrochemicals Industries Co.

0.218

0.0%

0.224

0.218

869

3,940

0.226

0.172

-3.5%

1.9%

26.7%

239,800

13.3

1.2

S Salhia Real Estate Co.

0.222

4.7%

0.222

0.214

827

3,740

0.240

0.200

-7.5%

6.7%

-5.9%

113,825

22.0

0.9

S Sultan Center Food Products Co.

0.132

0.0%

0.134

0.128

531

4,080

0.146

0.093

-9.6%

10.0%

0.0%

76,405

nmf

1.1

T Tamdeen Real Estate Co.

0.234

0.0%

0.236

0.234

47

200

0.270

0.216

-13.3%

1.7%

3.5%

87,310

17.6

0.9

A The Commercial Real Estate Co.

0.089

0.0%

0.089

0.088

85

960

0.092

0.067

-3.3%

15.6%

25.4%

163,298

19.0

0.7

S The Securities House

0.130

-

-

-

-

-

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

88,400

nmf

7.0

N Wataniya

2.080

2.0%

2.080

Z Zain Kuwait

0.850

0.0%

0.850

-

-

2.040

745

360

2.080

1.640

0.0%

7.2%

23.8%

1,048,388

2.9

1.3

0.840

1,071

1,260

1.420

0.840

-40.1%

-5.6%

-35.6%

3,661,404

12.9

1.8

UAE Rebased Performance

Summary

130

Best Performers

DFM Index (% Chg.)

1,610 (0.2%)

ADSM Index (% Chg.)

2,562 (0.3%)

DFM Index 52 week High / Low ADSM Index 52 week High / Low

2,775 / 2,293 DANA.ADS Dana Gas

Advance/Decline Ratio 116

Highest Turnover

105 100

Turnover (AED) 87,540,633 TAMWEEL Tamweel 81,196,975 ARTC.DFM Arabtec Holding 55,951,799 UAB.ADSM United Arab Bank

TATamweel E Emaar Properties 8-Jan-12 S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

8-Feb-12

8-Mar-12

Abu Dhabi SE

3.3%

0.42

2.7%

11.25

2.3%

0.47

2.2%

Worst Performers

D Dubai Financial Market

90 8-Dec-11

7.6%

3.10

403,267,974

Market Cap. (AED '000)

110

% Chg.

1.13

601,988

Turnover (AED '000) 110

Dubai Financial Market

82% EMIRATES Emirates NBD 2.57 UPP.DFM Union Properties 1,754 / 1,301 NBAD.ADS National Bank of Abu Dhabi

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price 120

Close DFM.DFM

Close

% Chg.

1.22

-9.6%

2.67

-8.9%

3.70

-3.9%

A Arabtec Holding

47,672,980

GCEM.ADS Gulf Cement Co.

1.26

-3.1%

F First Gulf Bank

18,955,361

ADCB.ADS Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

3.11

-1.6%

Dubai FM

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

Turnover (AED '000)

Volume ('000)

52-Week High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths

Trailing

Market Cap. (AED '000)

PE

PB

A Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

3.11

-1.6%

3.15

3.09

2,344

753

3.32

2.21

-6.3%

11.9%

40.7%

17,402,308

5.8

A Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

3.43

0.3%

3.49

3.35

1,364

398

3.55

2.92

-3.4%

8.5%

14.3%

8,110,941

7.0

1.2

T Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.

1.26

1.6%

1.26

1.24

808

642

1.63

1.14

-22.7%

5.0%

-10.6%

7,843,500

5.0

1.1

A Abu Dhabi National Hotels

2.10

-0.5%

2.10

2.10

147

70

2.94

2.02

-28.6%

-4.5%

-28.8%

2,100,000

12.7

0.3

A Air Arabia

0.71

1.3%

0.72

0.70

7,825

11,049

0.84

0.57

-15.3%

21.0%

-10.3%

3,308,690

12.3

0.6

A ALDAR Properties

1.13

1.8%

1.14

1.10

16,538

14,642

1.68

0.76

-32.7%

22.8%

-13.7%

4,616,196

7.2

0.7

A Amlak Finance

1.02

-

A Arabtec Holding

2.67

-8.9%

2.93

-

-

2.64

47,673

17,244

-

3.63

1.01

0.8

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

1,530,000

nmf

1.1

-26.4%

67.9%

164.9%

3,991,650

28.9

1.4

A Aramex

1.90

0.0%

1.94

1.90

1,807

948

1.96

1.69

-3.1%

5.6%

10.5%

2,781,790

13.1

1.5

A Arkan Building Materials Co.

1.04

2.0%

1.05

1.00

386

371

1.77

0.71

-41.2%

3.0%

-10.3%

1,820,000

47.3

1.1

C Commercial Bank of Dubai

3.06

-

-

-

3.45

2.90

-11.3%

5.5%

2.0%

5,940,340

7.2

0.9

D Dana Gas

0.47

2.2%

0.48

0.45

8,323

17,778

0.71

0.34

-33.8%

4.4%

-21.7%

3,102,941

7.4

0.4

D Deyaar Development Co.

0.36

1.7%

0.38

0.35

14,469

39,538

0.46

0.20

-20.4%

70.0%

61.6%

2,091,636

nmf

0.5

-

-

D du

3.06

1.0%

3.11

3.01

6,236

2,027

3.30

2.80

-7.3%

5.9%

3.0%

13,988,571

12.7

2.2

D Dubai Financial Market

1.13

7.6%

1.15

1.03

87,541

78,831

1.46

0.68

-22.6%

34.5%

-3.4%

9,040,000

nmf

1.2

D Dubai Islamic Bank

2.13

0.5%

2.19

2.13

8,631

4,026

2.31

1.88

-7.8%

9.8%

1.9%

8,087,725

8.0

0.9

E Emaar Properties

2.87

0.7%

2.94

2.83

55,952

19,409

3.49

2.41

-17.8%

11.7%

12.1%

17,481,855

9.7

0.6

E Emirates NBD

3.10

3.3%

3.14

3.10

202

65

4.63

2.65

-33.0%

5.4%

-1.6%

17,229,102

6.8

0.5

E Etisalat

9.27

0.1%

9.33

9.17

11,563

1,247

11.40

8.64

-18.7%

1.5%

-16.5%

73,289,918

12.6

1.9

F First Gulf Bank

9.93

-0.2%

10.00

9.50

18,955

1,909

10.75

6.98

-7.6%

28.5%

26.1%

29,790,000

8.0

1.1

G Gulf Cement Co.

1.26

-3.1%

1.30

1.17

235

186

1.56

0.67

-19.2%

77.5%

3.3%

1,034,582

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

-

-

-

-

11.25

2.3%

11.50

11.00

5,743

11.90

9.42

-5.5%

2.7%

18.9%

32,287,987

8.7

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%

-7.7%

2,896,000

9.0

0.9

S Sharjah Islamic Bank

0.99

1.0%

1.00

0.98

135

137

1.02

0.80

-2.9%

17.9%

7.6%

2,401,245

9.6

0.5

S Sorouh Real Estate Co.

1.13

1.8%

1.16

1.11

16,691

14,707

1.54

0.67

-26.6%

32.9%

5.6%

2,966,250

8.9

0.5

T Tamweel

1.22

-9.6%

1.47

1.22

81,197

59,884

1.49

0.53

-18.1%

102.3%

23.2%

1,220,000

12.0

0.5

U Union National Bank

3.05

0.7%

3.14

3.05

1,784

584

3.90

2.82

-21.8%

5.5%

4.8%

7,611,656

5.1

0.7

U Union Properties

0.42

2.7%

0.43

0.41

5,534

13,174

0.50

0.24

-14.9%

63.2%

59.5%

1,417,447

nmf

0.6

U United Arab Bank

3.70

-3.9%

3.70

3.70

1,850

500

5.30

3.28

-30.2%

1.6%

-34.5%

3,686,685

11.2

1.8

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

512

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

14

ALWATAN DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

QATAR Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 8,594 (-0.1%)

DSM Index (% Chg.)

115

Advance/Decline Ratio 110

% Chg.

26.45

1.5%

143.40

1.0% 0.9%

8,892 / 8,071 DHBK.DSMDoha Bank 245,186 AHCS.DSMAamal Co.

59.30

Turnover (QAR '000)

15.62

0.7%

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

449,729,531

17.36

0.7%

DSM 52 week High / Low

110

Close

39% MARK.DSMMasraf Al Rayan 1.33 IQCD.DSM Industries Qatar

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

QGTS.DSMQatar Gas Transport Co.

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (QAR) 29,360,027 KCBK.DSMAl Khalij Commercial Bank 28,503,872 QEWS.DSMQatar Electricity & Water Co.

IQIndustries Qatar MMasraf Al Rayan

98

16,121,516

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar 95 8-Dec-11

8-Jan-12

8-Feb-12

8-Mar-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

Close

% Chg.

16.35

-6.0%

138.10

-5.4%

ERES.DSMEzdan Real Estate Co.

18.70

-1.1%

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

8,730,205

QNNS.DSMQatar Navigation

72.80

-0.8%

B Barwa Real Estate Co.

8,645,019

CBQK.DSMThe Commercial Bank of Qatar

74.50

-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.

15.62

0.7%

15.65

15.60

179

11

24.09

15.40

-35.2%

-1.8%

-11.0%

7,731,900

14.4

K Al Khalij Commercial Bank

16.35

-6.0%

16.55

16.10

1,225

76

19.15

16.35

-14.6%

-4.8%

-9.9%

5,886,000

12.1

1.1

B Barwa Real Estate Co.

28.50

0.5%

28.65

28.40

8,645

303

35.90

28.10

-20.6%

-4.8%

-5.0%

11,090,052

9.2

0.9

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

74.50

-0.4%

75.00

73.40

16,122

217

85.50

68.00

-12.9%

-11.3%

4.2%

18,434,755

9.8

1.3 1.7

1.4

D Doha Bank

59.30

0.9%

60.00

53.00

7,407

126

67.00

47.75

-11.5%

-7.5%

24.2%

12,257,180

9.9

E Ezdan Real Estate Co.

18.70

-1.1%

18.90

18.70

43

2

24.97

18.60

-25.1%

-15.8%

-16.1%

49,601,688

nmf

1.8

143.40

1.0%

143.50

141.90

29,360

206

148.50

118.80

-3.4%

7.8%

12.7%

78,870,000

9.9

3.0 2.3

IQIndustries Qatar

26.45

1.5%

26.50

25.75

28,504

1,093

28.10

21.13

-5.9%

-5.0%

24.9%

19,837,500

14.1

138.10

-5.4%

140.80

137.10

8,596

62

153.50

126.20

-10.0%

-1.1%

8.7%

13,810,000

10.6

4.6

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

17.36

0.7%

17.38

17.20

8,434

488

19.58

16.59

-11.3%

-0.9%

0.3%

9,614,732

12.2

7.9

Q Qatar International Islamic Bank

50.50

0.0%

51.00

50.10

3,884

77

56.20

44.90

-10.1%

-6.5%

8.1%

7,644,122

11.7

1.6

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

76.80

-0.3%

77.00

76.70

8,730

114

85.30

76.30

-10.0%

-8.9%

-5.2%

18,147,318

13.3

1.6

48

141.73

112.05

-5.7%

-3.2%

15.4%

93,553,826

12.5

2.2

21

94.30

69.90

-22.8%

-4.8%

-22.6%

8,337,435

15.5

0.8

M Masraf Al Rayan Q Qatar Electricity & Water Co.

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

133.70

0.0%

133.80

133.40

6,385

72.80

-0.8%

73.60

72.10

1,542

163.70

0.4%

165.00

162.40

7,172

44

167.00

123.33

-2.0%

16.3%

32.7%

28,811,200

11.2

1.4

7.26

0.1%

7.29

7.26

1,689

232

8.12

7.24

-10.6%

-3.8%

-4.1%

6,137,604

nmf

0.9

OMAN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 5,859 (0.6%)

MSM Index (% Chg.)

115

110

% Chg.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

37% RCCI.MSM Raysut Cement Co.

0.92

3.6%

Advance/Decline Ratio

2.00

0.52

2.6%

0.60

1.0%

1.41

0.1%

0.72

-0.6%

OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

6,416 / 5,419 RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services 7,373 OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

MSM 52 week High / Low

110

Close

Turnover (OMR '000)

7,065,402

Market Cap (OMR '000)

BKMB.MSMBank Muscat

105

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (OMR) 687,261 NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman 506,235 BKMB.MSMBank Muscat

B Bank Muscat R Raysut Cement Co.

95 8-Dec-11

8-Jan-12

8-Feb-12

8-Mar-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

Close

% Chg.

0.31

-1.6%

0.72

-0.6%

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

331,129

OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

1.41

0.1%

N National Bank of Oman

327,442

RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

0.60

1.0%

O Oman Cement Co.

247,681

OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

0.52

2.6%

Muscat SM

Quotes Company Name

Close

B Bank Dhofar

Daily % Chg.

Turnover (OMR '000)

Volume ('000)

52-Week

High

Low

-

-

-0.6%

0.728

0.720

687

952

0.781

0.658

-7.6%

-1.6%

0.312

0.309

327

1,056

0.332

0.302

-6.6%

0.519

2.6%

0.526

0.509

248

478

0.608

0.416

-14.6%

20.1%

1.406

0.1%

1.409

1.401

331

236

1.407

1.041

-0.1%

7.4%

0.922

3.6%

0.935

0.899

506

549

1.190

0.711

-22.5%

21.3%

0.603

1.0%

0.606

0.597

217

359

1.197

0.458

-49.6%

10.6%

0.543

-

B Bank Muscat

0.722

N National Bank of Oman

0.310

O Oman Cement Co. O Oman Telecommunications Co. R Raysut Cement Co. R Renaissance Services

-

High

% Change

-

Low

0.680

on high

0.509

-20.1%

YTD -0.7%

12 mths

Market Cap. (OMR '000)

Trailing PE

PB

-18.6%

496,974

12.9

2.3

-5.7%

3.7%

1,117,930

9.5

1.3

-3.1%

0.3%

335,110

9.8

1.2

-9.6%

171,723

13.4

1.2

20.4%

1,054,500

9.4

2.1

-18.8%

184,400

12.3

1.8

-42.3%

170,103

nmf

1.0

BAHRAIN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,161 (0.3%)

BSE Index (% Chg.)

115

Advance/Decline Ratio

1,433 / 1,129

BSE 52 week High / Low

110

110

Close

37% BATELCO.BBahrain Telecommunications Co. - AUB.BSE Ahli United Bank

% of stocks trading above 1 yr avg. price

0.5%

0.67

0.0%

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

494

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

6,558,305

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

Turnover (BHD '000) Market Cap. (BHD '000)

% Chg.

0.40

105

Highest Turnover 100

100

Worst Performers Turnover (BHD) 329,293 AUB.BSE Ahli United Bank 54,038 BATELCO.BBahrain Telecommunications Co.

A Ahli United Bank B Bahrain Telecommunications Co.

-

B Albaraka Banking Grp. 95 8-Dec-11

8-Jan-12

8-Feb-12

8-Mar-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp.

Close

% Chg.

0.67

0.0%

0.40

0.5%

1.06 -

#

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

Bahrain SE

Quotes Company Name A Ahli United Bank*

Close 0.670

Daily % Chg.

High

0.0%

0.670

Low 0.670

Turnover (BHD '000) 873

B Albaraka Banking Grp.*

1.060

-

-

-

-

A Arab Banking Corp.*

0.420

-

-

-

-

B Bahrain Islamic Bank

0.082

-

-

-

-

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co.

0.404

0.5%

0.404

0.402

B BBK

0.412

-

-

-

797

-

-

0.090

-

-

IN Investcorp Bank* IT Ithmaar Bank*

52-Week High

% Change

Low

on high

YTD

12 mths -5.6%

Market Cap. (BHD '000) 3,339,507

Trailing PE

PB

1,300

0.770

0.660

-13.0%

0.8%

10.8

1.3

-

1.280

1.000

-17.2%

-2.8%

-8.9%

921,723

7.8

0.8

-

0.570

0.420

-26.3%

0.0%

-26.3%

1,306,200

6.4

0.4

-

0.116

0.082

-29.3%

-8.9%

-29.3%

77,053

nmf

0.8

134

0.492

0.380

-17.9%

3.1%

-3.8%

581,760

7.3

1.2

-

-

0.436

0.390

-5.5%

-0.5%

-8.4%

350,759

11.0

1.5

-

-

-

1,139

797

-30.0%

0.0%

-37.0%

637,560

4.5

0.6

-

-

-

0.115

0.065

-21.7%

38.5%

-21.7%

240,999

nmf

0.4

-

0.700

0.560

-16.4%

1.7%

-8.7%

500,386

11.0

1.8

-

0.424

0.270

-28.3%

1.3%

-25.9%

253,707

nmf

1.2

54

N National Bank of Bahrain

0.585

-

-

-

-

U United Gulf Bank

0.304

-

-

-

-

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

Volume ('000)

LIFE

Diabetics, take care of your feet Foot ulcers (sores) are common in people with diabetes. Left uncontrolled or untreated, they can lead to amputation. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of extremity amputation in the United States in cases that don’t involve a traumatic injury. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these suggesTIONS TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF FOOT ULCERS s!VOID SMOKING AND ALCOHOL s+EEP CHOLESTEROL UNDER CONTROL s-ANAGE BLOOD GLUCOSE s7EAR SHOES AND SOCKS AT ALL TIMES s#HECK YOUR FEET REGULARLY FOR WOUNDS OR ABNORMALITIES s+EEP ANY SORES that do develop clean and bandaged.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Gorilla genome analysis reveals new human links First full sequence of gorilla genome shows 96% share with humans, with close parallels in sensory perception and hearing

LONDON: Humans and gorillas last shared a common ancestor 10 million years ago, according to an analysis of the first full sequence of the gorilla genome reports The Guardian. The gorilla is the last of the living great apes - humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans - to have its complete genetic code catalogued. Scientists, led by researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, also found that 15% of the gorilla’s genetic code is closer between humans and gorillas than it is between humans and chimpanzees, our closest animal relative. The genomes of all three species are, in any case, highly similar: humans and chimpanzees share more than 98% of their genes, while humans and gorillas share more than 96%. The genetic sequence was taken from a female western lowland gorilla named Kamilah. An initial analysis also showed similarities in genes involved in sensory perception and hearing, and brain development showed accelerated evolution in all three species. Genes associated with proteins that harden up skin were also particularly active in gorillas - which goes some way to explaining the large, tough knuckle pads on gorillas’ hands. “Gorillas are an interesting animal in their own right but the main reason they are of particular interest is because of their evolutionary closeness to us,� said Aylwyn Scally, an author of the research from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. “They’re our second-closest evolutionary cousins after chimpanzees and knowing the content of the gorilla

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genome enables us to say quite a lot about an important period in human evolution when we were diverging from chimpanzees.� Comparing the sequences of humans, chimpanzees and gorillas has enabled scientists to put a more accurate clock on when the three species split from their last common ancestors. It was traditionally thought that the emergence of

new species (known as “speciation�) happens at a relatively localized point in time but emerging evidence suggests that this is not necessarily the case, that species split over an extended period. Studying the gorilla genome suggests that the divergence of gorillas from the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees happened around 10 million years ago. Humans and chimpanzees last shared a common ances-

tor around 6 million years ago. Eastern and western gorillas split some time in the last million years. One curious find was the evolution of genes associated with hearing, which seem very similar between humans and gorillas. “Scientists had suggested that the rapid evolution of human hearing genes was linked to the evolution of language,� said Chris Tyler-Smith, senior author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. “Our results cast doubt on this, as hearing genes have evolved in gorillas at a similar rate to those in humans.� Scally adds that it could well be that there has been a parallel acceleration in these genes for two entirely different reasons - that human hearing has developed because of speech and gorilla hearing has developed to serve an entirely different, but as-yet-unknown, purpose. The researchers said that studying the gorilla genome would shed light on a time when apes were fighting for survival across the world. “There’s an interesting background story of great ape evolution,� says Scally. “The common ancestor of all four great apes was sometime back in 15 to 20 million years ago. At that time, it seems to have been a nice time to have been an ape - it was a golden age - a lot of the world was just right for the kind of environment for apes to live in. Since that time, the story has been of fragmentation and extinction - most of the great ape species that have existed have gone. Today, all the non-human apes are really endangered populations, they’re living in forest refuges and population numbers are quite low. Humans look like an exception to that - we’re all over the world now and live in places where you could never have had a primate beforehand.� Today, gorillas are classified as critically endangered and populations have plummeted to below 100,000 individuals in recent decades due to poaching and disease. They are restricted to equatorial forests in countries including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo and Angola.

Antimatter atom measured for the first time Water shortage poses ‘global threat’ .%7 9/2+ Scientists have taken the first-ever measurement of an atom made of antimatter. This measurement, though not very precise, represents a first step toward being able to study antimatter atoms in detail - a goal necessary for understanding why the universe is made of matter and not antimatter, its mysterious sibling. All particles of matter are thought to have antimatter partners with the same mass but opposite charge. When these pairs meet, they annihilate each other to become pure energy. Scientists think the universe contained equal parts of matter and antimatter just after the Big Bang, which is believed to have started everything 13.7 billion years ago. But early on, most of the matter and antimatter destroyed each other, leaving behind a slight surplus of matter that became the stars and galaxies that exist today. In a previous study, physicists at Switzerland’s CERN laboratory succeeded in trapping antihydrogen atoms for several minutes by using magnetic fields to keep them suspended in one spot. An antihydrogen atom is the analog of hydrogen, the simplest atom among the elements. Where hydrogen contains one proton and one electron, antihydrogen is made up of one antiproton and one positron (the antimatter partner of the electron). In the new research, physicists found they could beam microwave light of a specific frequency at an antihydrogen atom, flipping its spin. This causes the particle’s magnetic orientation to change, and the magnetic trap that held it no longer works. The antiatom is free to fly off and hit the walls of its trap, which are made of matter. When it collides with an atom in the wall, the antiatom is annihilated along with the atom, creating a signature that the physicists are able to detect.

“We have made a measurement,� said Jeffrey Hangst of Denmark’s Aarhus University, spokesman for the CERN laboratory’s ALPHA experiment. “Precision-wise, it doesn’t compete with matter, but it’s the only one that’s ever been done on antimatter.� The experiment proves it’s possible to change an antiatom’s internal properties by shining a light on it. This is the first step toward applying a detailed method of measurement called spectroscopy, which involves tuning the light to a very specific frequency so that it can excite the antiatom’s positron to a higher energy level, or orbit. After the excited positron jumps to a higher orbit, it will fall back and emit the extra energy as light, and scientists will measure the light’s frequency. Antimatter spectrum

“We are now in the business of doing antimatter spectroscopy,� Hangst told LiveScience. “Now we just push forward to make it more and more accurate.� The best current theory of particle physics is called the Standard Model, and it predicts an identical spectrum from hydrogen and antihydrogen. Scientists must precisely measure the true spectrum of antihydrogen to compare the two and test this theory. “We’re looking for very small changes that manifest in different new physics between the two,� Hangst said. If they find them, they may be closer to solving one of the ultimate cosmic quandaries. “We know there’s something we’re missing,� Hangst said.�We know that we don’t understand everything about antimatter because we can’t explain what happened to it after the Big Bang.� Physicists’ best guess is that the two particles behave slightly differently, for example, by decaying at different rates.

0!2)3 Urgent reforms to raise efficiency in the way water is used around the world are needed to avert serious shortages in the next decades, and markets in water can help, the OECD said on Wednesday. In about 40 years’ time more than four out of 10 people in the world may be living in river areas in the grip of severe shortage, it warned. “Efficient use of water is essential, and pricing it properly can discourage waste,� the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said. “Economic instruments such as water markets can help to achieve this in a flexible way.� The OECD, a forum and source of advice on policy in many fields for governments in advanced countries, was commenting on the release of a study it published called Meeting the Water Re-

form Challenge ahead of a world water forum in Marseille, southern France, on Tuesday. The organization warned that reform was needed urgently “if the world is to head off serious deterioration in the quality and quantity of water available.� OECD secretary general Angel Gurria warned that “without major policy changes, we risk high costs to economic growth, human health, and the environment.� But much could be done, he said. “Economic instruments like tariffs, taxes and transfers -- the 3Ts -- are powerful tools to ensure an efficient use of water.� The report pointed to some of the factors raising pressure on water resources, citing rapid urbanization, population growth and changing economic dynamics for managing water supply. Competition for the use of sources of

water would increase because demand was forecast to rise by 55 percent up to 2050. “By that time, 3.9 billion people -more than 40 percent of the world’s population -- are likely to be living in river basins facing severe water stress.� More than 240 million people, living for the most part in rural areas, would probably not have improved access to water by 2050 and nearly 1.4 billion people would not have basic sanitation. Increased pollution from agriculture and poor treatment of waste would contaminate ground water, rivers and oceans. “Governments should pay closer attention to the way in which their water, energy, agriculture and environmental policies interact,� the OECD advised. -AFP

More evidence links tanning beds to skin cancer

LONDON: Women who use tanning salons have a somewhat increased risk of skin cancer, according to a study that adds to evidence that baking in a tan bed can be as bad as baking under the sun. The study, by a team at Harvard Medical School, looked at data from nearly 730,000 nurses followed for 20 years and found that women who used tanning beds in their youth were more likely than others to develop skin cancer -- basal cell carcinoma in particular. Though many studies have linked tanning beds to a higher skin cancer risk, the link to basal cell carcinoma, by far the most common form of skin cancer, have been inconsistent. “We ... investigated whether frequency of tanning bed use during high school/ college and at ages 25 to 36 years were associated with a risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma,� wrote Jiali Han and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. “Our data provide evidence for a

dose-response relationship between tanning bed use and the risk of skin cancers, especially basal cell carcinoma, and the association is stronger for patients with a younger age at exposure.� Women who used tanning beds at least four times per year between high school and age 35 were 15 percent more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than non-users. There were similar risks tied to melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer that, like basal cell, has a high cure rate. But with melanoma the finding was not statistically significant, which means it could be due to chance. Of the 730,000 women, just 349 were diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, during the study. That compared with 5,500 diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. “This is a very large, well-done study that supports prior findings that indoor tanning is associated with developing melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma,�

said June Robinson, a research professor of dermatology at Northwestern University in Chicago, who was not involved in the study. An important finding was that the risk seemed to climb with just a few trips to the tanning salon each year. “Many (people) tan 20 or more times per year,� she noted. The findings also suggested that there may be a greater risk the earlier a person starts tanning. Women who had used tanning beds at least seven times a year during high school and college were 73 percent more likely than non-users to eventually be diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. The findings, Han’s team wrote, support the idea of warning the public against future use of tanning beds and boost the argument for restrictions on salons. A number of countries have banned minors from using tanning beds, the researchers noted. Last year, California became the first US state to ban anyone under 18-years-old from using indoor tanning devices. -Reuters

Niger rare giraffe population makes a comeback

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0!2)3 The last West African giraffes, now living in the wild only in southwestern Niger, are making a comeback with numbers standing at 310 last year, the environment ministry said here Wednesday. Only 50 of them, their lowest number, was recorded in 1996. The ‘giraffa camelopardalis peralta’, distinguished by its light-colored spots and found only in the Sahel, was nearly extinct when a campaign was launched to protect it from poachers. “Efforts deployed by the government to protect the giraffes have borne fruit as their population has increased from about 50 in 1996 to 310 in 2011,� the ministry said quoting the result of the latest census. The giraffes -- 146 males and 164 females -- live in the vicinity of Koure, a little over an hour by road from the capital Niamey. The Association to Safeguard the Giraffes of Niger (ASGN), a non-governmental organization which works along with the French zoo of Doue La Fontaine, has set up community projects in the area to encourage the local population to preserve the giraffes. They have offered seed to farmers, dug wells, and granted interest-free mi-

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cro-loans to women to help them set up small businesses. Two giraffes were killed by poachers in 2010, but highway traffic, especially at night, is even more of a threat to the animals. The ASGN attempted in

2010 to keep track of the giraffes by way of satellite-radio transmitters attached to their necks, but these had to be removed after several animals developed problems wearing them. -AFP

16

ALWATAN DAILY

CULTURE

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Kuwait art scene reacts to shutting down of exhibition Being an artist is akin to being a voice in society. Onilda Fernandes Staff Writer

KUWAIT: “It’s a Man’s World�, an art exhibition by Kuwaiti artist Shurooq Amin was forcibly closed on March 5, on the grounds that the artworks on display contradict Kuwaiti customs and traditions. Al Watan Daily spoke to artists and curators in Kuwait about the repercussions this could have on the art scene in Kuwait. With over a dozen art galleries, an even bigger number of local artists and a considerable influx of foreign artists that have been invited to Kuwait for a number of years to showcase their work, Kuwait has always been known to have a rich heritage in terms of the arts. However, recently, freedom of expression, an essential element to artists, is being denied. “Being an artist is akin to being a voice in society,� stressed Kuwaiti artist Amira Behbehani. “We should be able to talk about what we want, how we feel, what’s going on, basically whatever is in our mind. In my opinion, you can advise an artist about their work but you cannot judge an artist on their thinking pattern. Art is freedom by itself.� That said, Behbehani does feel that artists shouldn’t end up hurting people or creating problems for others with their works. “Especially in this region, in such a society, who cannot see or don’t want to see reality, you just cannot talk about certain things.� What’s interesting is that Kuwait wasn’t as conservative some years ago. “There is hypocrisy in every element of what we do today, not just with art but right down to our basic lifestyle,� explains Behbehani. “It’s a very confusing situation. The whole of Kuwait is going through turmoil and everything is becoming difficult to talk about. I think saying something slow and effective would be better than shouting it all out. We need to develop our own way of handling situations.� Art degradation?

Kuwait formative artist Thuraya Al-Bqsami who has owned Ghadir Gallery since the year 1986 also agrees that the art situation in Kuwait has taken a turn for the worse. “We have to think a thousand times before expressing something. It’s a very very bad sign. Art movement should be progressive unfortunately it’s not. A few days back AL M. Gallery was told to shut down because the works were deemed “inappropriate�. A long time back, I had done a painting on angels and people thought I converted to Christianity but other than a little furor then, this is the first time ever in the history of Kuwait that a gallery was forcibly shut down.� “I feel freedom of expression is important in terms of the arts but we need to work within the parameters of the society we live in,� insists Farida Sultan, owner of Sultan Gallery in Subhan. “To make changes we have to work slowly. Unfortunately in this country, we are working backwards, towards the dark ages. But we are not going to allow them to do it.� Sultan adds that though other Gulf states like Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain may seem very progressive today, Kuwait has once been there and done that. “We have taught all the

Some of Shurooq Amin’s works on display at AL M. Gallery on March 5, 2012. (Al Watan)

They can shut me down but they cannot shut me up. other countries in the Gulf what they know now. But sadly Kuwait is saturated today.With the change of leadership in the government, priorities are different. But we have to realize that this is not the West; we women can’t wear shorts in the market here, so there are certain things we just should refrain from doing. However, we got the women’s vote only a few years back, so hopefully other things will fall in place slowly.� Sami Mohammed, another prominent artist in Kuwait agreed that art is synonymous with freedom. “Without freedom, art is useless. If today art is censored, tomorrow it will be music and theaters, and it’s only a matter of time before Kuwaiti reputation abroad will be that of the dark ages. Kuwait culture depends on the freedom of all these aspects and with it, comes freedom of society.� Abed El-Kadiri, curator of FA Gallery in Kuwait found it strange how the question of freedom in the arts has popped only after Shurooq Amin was banned from displaying her latest collection. “What about censorship on so many different platforms that we face on a daily basis? Anyhow, freedom should be part of everyone in society, as long as it does no harm to anyone. Freedom is the soul of an artist’s work, what he wishes to express, depends on each individual but unfortunately

over here, it should also be acceptable with the authorities. But that’s not right, the authorities should realize that the more they forbid people from seeing or doing certain things, the interest in that subject is only going to widen.� Citing examples, such as the banning of The Da Vinci Code which eventually became a best seller, El-Kadiri says that authorities don’t realize how much more publicized, works become, after they are censored or banned. “Sadly, Arabs have always been scared of the artistic mediums and wait to see what one will write, paint or make a movie about.� Art attack

Lucia Topalian, executive partner of Dar Al-Funoon art gallery in Kuwait City is quick to point out the difference between artwork here and in the West. “Back in Europe, artists are allowed to paint anything from the pope falling to nudity. They are free to express what they want but we have to realize that we live in a conservative society. Certain things here are taboo and though it is unfortunate, we have to obey the rules. I personally censor any work that is showcased in my gallery, which is sad, but we don’t want art galleries closed here.� An artist and Information Consultant of

the Kuwait Arts Association, AbdulKarim AlEnezi feels that since this is an Arab country and an Islamic one at that, there is a limit for expression. “You can’t do nudes here. There is a certain barrier you can’t cross. True art however, is unlimited expression. What you feel should translate onto the canvas. It should be a reflection of the artist himself. I am with showing reality but against showing

sexuality. Day by day, the situation is getting worse here. Soon, more artists will host solo exhibitions in other parts of the Gulf and Europe, other than Kuwait.� Shurooq Amin, whose recent exhibition “It’s a Man’s World�, was ordered to close, admitted she was the epitome of the lack of freedom of expression in Kuwait. “I don’t think art should have any sort of barriers. I don’t see why a private art exhibition can harm an Islamic person on the street. It’s not like I am wearing a bikini on the highway and selling booze on the sidewalk. It was elegant, intellectual artwork. Kuwait was far more liberal and respectful in terms of writing, painting and dressing sometime back. The current parliament is just taking us down. But I refuse to give up hope; I will not stop showing my work. Like I said, they can shut me down but they cannot shut me up. Many are asking me to show the entire collection online and so many have released photographs already. I also put up three more photographs of my works on my website, but my curators advised me to take them off not because of what happened, but because I can use this to my advantage. The authorities haven’t realized that because of what happened I am now a famous celebrity. I am getting calls from MBC Beirut, London, Egypt, AP, Washington Post, my website which had 300 hits a day now has 7000, and I am most likely to go down in history as the first woman in Kuwait who went against the new government and exhibited offensive works.�

‘Kony 2012’ campaign against Uganda warlord takes over internet KAMPALA, Uganda: If Joseph Kony lived in relative anonymity before this week, he’s an Internet star now. A video about the atrocities carried out by Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army has gone viral, racking up millions more views seemingly by the hour. The marketing campaign is an effort by the advocacy group Invisible Children to vastly increase awareness about a jungle militia leader who is wanted for atrocities by the International Criminal Court and is being hunted by 100 US Special Forces advisers and local troops in four Central African countries. The group’s 30-minute video, which was released Monday, had more than 32 million views on YouTube by Thursday. The movie is part of an effort called KONY 2012 that targets Kony and the LRA. “Kony is a monster. He deserves to be prosecuted and hanged,� said Col. Felix Kulayigye, the spokesman for Uganda’s military. But Kulayigye said that Kony’s forces - once thousands strong - have been so degraded that he no longer considers Kony a threat to the region. Because of the intensified hunt for Kony, his forces split into smaller groups that can travel the jungle more easily. Experts estimate that the LRA now has only about 250 fighters. Still, the militia abducts children, forcing them to serve as soldiers or sex slaves, and even to kill their parents or each other to survive. The LRA now operates in Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. Uganda, Invisible Children and (hash)stopkony were among the top 10 trending terms on Twitter among both the worldwide and US audience on Wednesday night, ranking higher than New iPad or Peyton Manning. Twitter’s top trends more commonly include celebrities than fugitive militants. Jolly Okot was abducted in 1986 by the militia group that later became the LRA. The then-18-year-old could speak English so was valuable to the militants. She was also forced to have sex. Today, Okot is the Uganda country director for Invisible Children, in charge of 105 employees. She said the group is helping 800 people affected by LRA violence to attend high school and university. She said the program

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has given hope to kids who previously dropped out of the education system. “The most exciting thing about this film is that I’m so grateful that the world has been able to pay attention to an issue that has long been neglected,� Okot said. “I think it is an eye-opener and I think this will push for Joseph Kony to be apprehended, and I think justice will get to him.� Ben Keesey, Invisible Children’s 28-year-old chief executive officer, said the viral success shows their mes-

sage resonates and that viewers feel empowered to force change. It was released on the website www.kony2012. com. The burst of attention has also brought with it some criticism on Internet sites of Invisible Children’s work, including the ratio of the group’s spending on direct aid, its rating by the site Charity Navigator, and a 2008 photo of three Invisible Children members holding guns alongside troops from the country now known as South Sudan. Invisible Children posted rebuttals to the criticism on

its website, saying that it has spent about 80 percent of its funds on programs that further its mission, about 16 percent on administration and management, and about 3 percent on fundraising. The group said its accountability and transparency score is currently low because it has four independent voting members on its board of directors and not five, but that it is seeking to add a fifth. The group said the three workers in the photo thought it would be a good “joke� photo for family and friends. Kony’s Ugandan rebel group is blamed for tens of thousands of mutilations and killings over the last 26 years. Rear Adm. Brian L. Losey, the top US special operations commander for Africa, told reporters last month that US troops are now stationed in bases in Uganda, Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic as part of the anti-LRA fight. Losey said there’s been a decrease in the lethality of LRA activities attributable to US and partner nation efforts. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Ugandan diplomat who led the country’s failed peace negotiations with Kony in 2006, said the work of organizations such as Invisible Children preserves the memory of an insurgency whose brutal legacy should never be forgotten. The talks with Kony, mediated by South Sudan, ended in 2008 after the rebel leader refused to sign the final peace agreement, saying he could not guarantee his security once he left the bush. The last known images of Kony show him shaking hands, and sometimes smiling, with dignitaries visiting his camp. Some images showed him wearing a suit and shiny black shoes. “Kony gives you the impression that he is harmless, that he cannot catch a fly,� Rugunda said, recalling his conversations with Kony, who was an altar boy before he became an elusive rebel leader. Rugunda last saw Kony in a forested camp in eastern Congo before the rebel leader and his men fled to the Central African Republic, where they have retained the capacity to harass villagers for food. Rugunda said that capturing Kony alive would set in motion a “full accountability mechanism� in which the world would get to know how it came to be that Kony committed the many crimes he is accused of. -AP

ALWATAN DAILY

ENTERTAINMENT poåÖ=lÑ=qÜÉ=a~ó

Fahad AlSabah Staff Writer

Song: Are You That Somebody? Artist: Aaliyah Album: Dr. Dolittle Soundtrack Genre: R&B In short: Timbaland’s brightest moments have been with Aaliyah, be it on her eponymous last album, or the singles that preceded it such as the genius “Are You That Somebody?” Simple as it may be, the cooing baby sound on the chorus made the song much more interesting than any other element. To this day, this song is always mentioned when speaking of innovative productions. To listen to the song visit www.alwatandaily.com E-mail your feedback to falsabah@alwatandaily.com

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

Teenager petitions to change R rating for Bully LOS ANGELES: Katy Butler hasn’t forgotten what it was like to be bullied in the seventh grade, when a group of boys surrounded her, taunted her and broke her finger by slamming it into a locker. Now 17, Butler has become the face of a campaign to change the rating of “Bully,” a documentary that tracks victims and perpetrators of bullying in American schools. The film, set for release this month, has been rated R for its language content. Butler, along with distributors the Weinstein Co., wants the rating changed to PG-13 so more young people can see it. “This could change bullying and save lives,” the highschool junior from Ann Arbor, Mich., said. The Weinstein Co. appealed the R-rating, but the Motion Picture Association of America, which oversees movie ratings, declined to change it. That inspired Butler to start an online campaign on Change.org, a website that publishes community petitions and funded Butler’s trip to Los Angeles. The teenage activist collected more than 200,000 signatures in just 10 days and delivered them Wednesday to the MPAA’s headquarters in hopes it might reconsider its decision. Among the signatories is Ellen DeGeneres, who discussed the film on Wednesday’s episode of her talk show. “I can tell you after seeing this movie, the lessons that the kids learn from this movie are

Katy Butler, 17, a high school student, from Ann Arbor, Mich., poses by the petitions she delivered to the Motion Picture Association of America, Wednesday March 7, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP)

more important than any words they might hear - and they’re words they already know anyway,” DeGeneres said. She introduced Butler, who was sitting in the audience, and told the teen: “Good for you. I’m proud of you.”

So far, more than 224,000 people have signed Butler’s online petition with the headline: “MPAA: Don’t let the bullies win! Give ‘Bully’ a PG-13 instead of an R rating!” Butler carted four boxes packed with papers containing the signatures she collected

Murdoch internal watchdog seeks improved security

Whitney Houston leaves everything to her daughter Whitney Houston left everything to her 19-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina. The pop superstar’s will doesn’t mention specific assets, but leaves all of her furnishings, clothing, personal effects, jewelry and cars to her surviving children. Bobbi Kristina was her only child. Inside Edition first reported the will, filed in Atlanta, on Wednesday. Houston’s money will be put in a trust. Her sister-in-law and manager, Patricia Houston, was appointed the administrator of the estate. Upon turning 21, Bobbi Kristina will receive part of the money, more of it at age 25 and the balance at age 30. Houston’s trustees can give her money from the trust for various purposes, including tuition, to buy a home and to start a business. -AP

TLC cancels All-American Muslim reality TV show A TLC network reality television show about Muslim families living in the Detroit area is ending after one season. TLC spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg said Wednesday the “AllAmerican Muslim” series won’t be back. Its eight-episode run ended in January. “All-American Muslim” attracted attention when a conservative Christian group called for an advertiser boycott. At least two companies announced they were pulling ads. TLC says the protest caused a backlash in which new advertisers signed on. One episode focused almost entirely on the conflicted feelings the show’s participants had about marking anniversaries of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when Muslim extremists destroyed the World Trade Center and killed thousands of people. -AP

Country singer Jerrod Niemann’s bus burns in Tenn Country singer Jerrod Niemann and everyone aboard his tour bus are safe after the vehicle burned in Chattanooga, Tenn. Niemann tweeted to fans that he would look like movie villain Freddy Kruger if a companion hadn’t stepped off the bus to check it Tuesday night. Niemann had wrapped up a benefit performance at the Tivoli Theater. His friends, his father and his uncle had boarded the bus when they were told it was on fire. WRCB-TV reports Niemann thought it was just a heater smoking, but a friend stepped off to look and told everyone to get out. A short time later, there was an explosion and the fire accelerated. The back of the bus burned before it could be extinguished and fire officials are looking for the cause. -AP

MTV debuting new hip-hop show after Dance Crew People who complain that MTV has too little music are about to have less to complain about: The network announced a new night of music shows, including a new hip-hop series. “MTV’s Hip-Hop POV” will air at midnight on Wednesday, April 11, following “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew” on its new night. Each episode of the dance show will air at 10 p.m., followed by an encore that will lead into “POV.” “POV” will film in New York City and feature music industry personalities and tastemakers interviewing artists, offering commentary on hip-hop culture, and sharing their opinions on new music. -Reuters

NBC announces Howard Stern debut on Talent NBC will debut “America’s Got Talent” with new judge Howard Stern on May 14, the week after the season finale of “The Voice,” the network announced Wednesday. “The Voice” will add a second night of live elimination rounds beginning Tuesday, April 3, and will announce its winner in a two-hour season finale Tuesday, May 8. The following week, “Talent” will debut in “The Voice’s” Mondays-at-8 p.m. timeslot. -Reuters

Jessica Simpson strikes Demi-like nude pose for Elle A pregnant Jessica Simpson has taken a page from Demi Moore’s celebrity playbook in a nude cover photo for the April issue of Elle magazine, and the singer and actress has confirmed the baby will be a girl. In the cover photo released by the magazine on Wednesday, Simpson can be seen covering her breasts with her right arm and hand, and cradling her full abdomen with her left. She wears rings and dangling earrings, and her blond hair flows over her shoulder and chest. -Reuters

17

FILE - In this photo made available by News International of Rupert Murdoch (right) talking to staff during a tour of The Sun newsroom, London Feb. 17, 2012. (AP)

WASHINGTON: A senior member of the unit Rupert Murdoch created to clean up reporting practices at his British newspapers has consulted a private firm about improving the security system at his home, a spokesman for the official said. The spokesman said the security firm had been consulted by Will Lewis, a key member of the Management and Standards Committee (MSC) Murdoch’s News Corp created last year to respond to uproar over phone-hacking and other activities by his British newspapers. The former editor of the business pages of Murdoch’s London Sunday Times consulted the security firm because the burglar alarm system at his home had not been functioning properly. Corporate sources denied there was any connection between Lewis’ consultation with the security firm and internal company frictions caused by his investigations. “Mr. Lewis has not hired a private security firm to protect his house. He has a normal home security alarm which he has not been happy with for a while,” a spokesman said. Officials for Murdoch’s News Corp in New York and News International in London declined to comment. Lewis rejoined the Murdoch organization in 2010 and last year joined the MSC, which the company created to deal with growing controversy over allegations of widespread voice mail hacking by journalists at the News of the World. Murdoch shut down the Sunday tabloid last summer amid an uproar over allegations that its journalists had hacked into the voice mail of a schoolgirl who was kidnapped and murdered.

The MSC’s stated mission was to oversee internal investigations into the company’s journalistic practices and to liaise with outside parties, including police and other government entities, conducting parallel investigations. It also will set up new editorial policies and procedures at Murdoch’s UK newspapers to ensure ethical behavior. A source close to the MSC added: “Nothing will stop Will (Lewis) and (fellow MSC member) Simon (Greenberg) from carrying out the work of the Management and Standards Committee.” In recent weeks, the MSC provided key evidence which led police investigating alleged questionable payments to public officials to conduct a series of high-level arrests of journalists from The Sun, Murdoch’s daily British tabloid. Top Sun editors and journalists were among those arrested on suspicion of corruption and aiding or abetting misconduct in a public office. No criminal charges have been filed. Key evidence which the MSC has turned over to police includes material extracted from a cache of 300 million emails. The MSC assembled the emails from data which some company officials allegedly attempted to delete. In the wake of the latest arrests at The Sun, sources inside Murdoch’s publishing campus at Wapping, East London, said that a sense of outrage and dismay had grown among company journalists. Earlier this week, it was reported that two Sun journalists who had been arrested had attempted suicide. One incident allegedly took place on Monday. -Reuters

into the MPAA building in Los Angeles. Officials met with the teenager and her mother but have declined to revise the film’s rating. “Even though we think this is a wonderful film and very worthwhile film for people to see, our main purpose is to give parents information on the level of content,” Joan Graves, chairman of the classification and rating administration, said in an interview. “She wants us to ignore the level of content because this is a good film, and we can’t do that. We have to be consistent.” Graves said the organization often meets with individuals and groups seeking changes in film ratings, but this is the first time a teenager has spearheaded such a campaign. Butler’s mother, Anne Butler, has seen “Bully” and calls it “important and empowering,” despite the profanity it contains. “There’s some language in the film, but the language is the language kids use every day at school,” said Anne Butler, who is also the mother of a 13-year-old girl. “This is kids’ language. It’s not an adult situation with adult language. This is what our kids see and hear every single day.” Katy Butler plans to keep collecting signatures in hopes of changing the MPAA’s position. “They didn’t say it was their final decision,” she said, noting the film won’t be released until March 30. Graves said a rating change would be unlikely. -AP

Writers’ notes used in Desperate Housewives case

LOS ANGELES: The creator of “Desperate Housewives” showed jurors Wednesday writers’ notes detailing various scenarios for killing off Nicollette Sheridan’s character in the months before he and the actress argued on the set. Marc Cherry walked jurors through index cards and details that he said writers’ assistants took while crafting plots for the show’s fifth season, during which Sheridan’s character, Edie Britt, died. The notes are a key part of Cherry’s defense that he didn’t kill of Sheridan’s role on the hit series in retaliation for her complaining about the veteran television writer and producer touching her during their dispute. Sheridan claims Cherry whacked her hard on the head, but he claims he only delivered a tap as artistic direction for a scene. In an early note, Cherry told jurors the code “Steven drinks OJ” was a reference to Sheridan’s on-screen husband killing Britt. He said it was a reference to O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted of killing his wife. Sheridan is suing Cherry and ABC, claiming she was fired from “Housewives” after complaining that Cherry hit her during the September 2008 argument. She is seeking more than $6 million. Cherry and a former ABC executive, Mark Pedowitz, have testified that approval to kill off Sheridan’s role was given four months before the fight. Pedowitz testified Tuesday that he thought Britt’s character had run its course by the fifth season. Cherry told jurors that he had contemplated killing Sheridan’s character at the end of season three, but studio and network executives didn’t approve it. As he began to plan season five in May 2008, he said he wanted to kill Britt as part of a “risky but potentially effective change to the series.” He received approval to kill Sheridan’s role on May 22, 2008, from two topranking executives at ABC, which produces and airs “Desperate Housewives.” Sheridan’s attorneys have claimed Cherry decided to fire Sheridan from the series only after he was cleared by ABC executives for striking the actress on set. In opening statements, the actress’ attorney, Mark Baute, claimed the episode in which Britt dies was poorly written and was done more haphazardly than if it had been planned for months. Cherry said he never wavered in his decision to kill off Sheridan’s role, but that he acquiesced to requests by the executives to wait until later in the season for the on-screen killing to occur. The notes displayed Wednesday showed Britt’s death was originally slated for mid-season, with several episodes dealing with a police investigation. He said the coded phrase “Steve drinks OJ” was necessary to keep the secret from people passing through the writers’ room where “Housewives” scripts are contemplated and crafted. “Mine is a series based on surprise and shock and secrets,” Cherry said. -AP

Jersey Shore star Snooki is engaged, pregnant

Comedy Awards nominees led by Bridesmaids, Crazy Stupid Love PARIS: Nominations for the second annual Comedy Awards were announced March 6 to honor the best in comedy in film, television, stand-up comics and animation. With five total nominations each, the leading films are “Bridesmaids,” starring Oscar nominees Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, and “Crazy Stupid Love” with Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Other films with four nominations include Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” and “Horrible Bosses.” The Oscar winner “The Artist” also was nominated. Leading the television categories with five nominations each were Emmy and Golden Globe winners “Modern Family,” which won last year’s “Comedy Series” award, and “30 Rock,” the show about a comedy show, starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. Other awards include Comedy Sketch Shows, “Late Night Comedy,” “Stand Up Comic Tour” and Actors and Actresses in

films and television. Comedy fans can vote on the website for Breakout Performer of the Year, with nominees including Zooey Deschanel (“New Girl”), Josh Gad (“Love and Other Drugs”), Donald Glover (“Community”), Melissa McCarthy and Jason Sudeikis (“Horrible Bosses,” “Saturday Night Live”). Nominees were selected by the Comedy Awards Board of Directors, a prestigious group including Carol Burnett, Stephen Colbert, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, and Lily Tomlin. Winners will be chosen by a voting body of professionals in the comedy world. Recipients for the Johnny Carson Award, Comedy Icon Award and Digital/Best Viral Original will be announced in the coming weeks. The event will be held in New York City on April 28 at the Hammerstein Ballroom and televised on the host network Comedy Central May 6. -AFP

FILE - TV Personality Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi arrives at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)

NEW YORK: She may have recently topped a poll of nightmare celebrity dates, but “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is officially no longer available after announcing her engagement and pregnancy on Wednesday. One of America’s biggest reality TV personalities in recent years, the 24-yearold Snooki graces the cover of the upcoming issue of US Weekly magazine and tells its editors she is pregnant and engaged to boyfriend Jionni LaValle. The story confirms reports that began to surface in the media last week. Snooki told the magazine she is 15 weeks along in her pregnancy. “I have different priorities now,” the pint-sized personality known

for her wild partying told the magazine. “I don’t care what anybody else thinks. As long as I know I’m ready and he’s ready.” Snooki said she found out about the pregnancy after a typically wild New Year’s Eve when she had been drinking. “I was worried. It was New Year’s Eve and we were in Vegas, so I did go crazy,” she told the magazine. Although Snooki and “Jersey Shore” have been the subject of some ridicule, the show has consistently topped US TV ratings for cable channel MTV, with critics attributing much of the show’s popularity to Snooki’s antics, including her real-life arrest in 2010 for disorderly conduct on a New Jersey beach. -Reuters

ALWATAN DAILY

AROUND TOWN / TIME OUT

18

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

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the day

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The British School of Kuwait delights with ‘Ocean Commotion’

SUDOKU

Intermediate

KUWAIT: Distinguished guests and the school community were enthralled by recent performances of ‘Ocean Commotion’ at The British School of Kuwait (BSK). Collaboration between primary staff produced a fantastic show in the Shakespeare Theatre. ‘Ocean Commotion’ wove a story around themes of animal welfare and environmental protection, winning the hearts of parents and students alike. The underwater scenery and fantastic costume display were a sight to behold as the children of 7-9 years old enacted the

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story of a dolphin captured and an ocean mistreated by humans. The tale ended happily as the cast relayed their message to all regarding environmental conservation and animal welfare in an hour long showcase of BSK talent! Director Richard McPherson and Producer Lauren Huskings were immensely proud of their team and pleased to affirm the place of the creative arts in the unparalleled opportunities available to students at The British School of Kuwait.

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

a glance his teaching, workshop and his multitude of practices.

Arabic course March 11-April 19/ TIES Center: TIES Center is glad to announce the start of Arabic courses. We offer classes for all levels, from beginners to advance and also introduced new classes called Kuwait dialect. TIES Arabic classes are intended for all expatriates who wish to learn Arabic for whatever purposebusiness, basic communication, as a second language or simply as a hobby. For more information/registration, contact 97228860/97793440.

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.

Quiz night for ladies March 14/ 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. / TIES Center: Ties Center Ladies Club invites all ladies to the educative and entertaining session. You can come with your family and enjoy the quiz night together. Refreshments will be provided. For more information/registration, contact 25231015/6 or 97228860/97793440. 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.

New Toastmasters Club

Kuwaiti cuisine March 15-April 5/6 p.m. - 8 p.m./TIES Center: TIES Ladies Club invites you to our Kuwaiti cuisine classes which will start soon. Join us for a one month cooking program where you will learn to cook real Kuwaiti food. All ladies are invited to join our classes and let your family enjoy the mouth watering Kuwaiti cuisine. For more information/registration, contact 25231015/6.

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.

Golden Era Club

Waist Watchers

March 9/ 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. / Rumaithiya: It’s all about sharing and caring. The Golden Era Club invites all seniors to a very special meeting. Come check it out. Venue- House #34, next to Abu-Tammam Intermediate School for Boys, Sate Alhusari St., Block 2, Rumaithiya. For details call 97172788/ 66208183 or drop a line to goldenera60@yahoo.com

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.

Art exhibition

Hip Hop at BAIA

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

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.

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 feel like you’re walking a puppy that won’t heel, Aries. The puppy is curious and, at times, rather reckless. It doesn’t know about the dangers of cars or a twisted leash. You have a great responsibility to teach this dog some lesson, while at the same time giving it a bit of freedom to go out and explore alone. Earn the respect of others by tempering discipline with fun. Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Your mental processes may run into a snag as you discover that there are certain rules and guidelines by which you need to abide, Taurus. Sometimes you feel as if you’re above all the rules, that you can establish your own based on your personal morals, and that everything will be fine. Unfortunately, you must sometimes obey others’ rules. Try not to be upset by this; just deal with it. Gemini: May 21- June 21

In all the time spent trying to stabilize your emotions and achieve sensitivity, you may get too caught up in your feelings, Gemini. Because of this, you may have not been listening to your rational mind lately, even though it’s crying out for you to move forward to a different situation.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22

The more you can apply to your own life the advice you give to others, the better off you’ll be, Cancer. No one is going to follow a leader who doesn’t abide by his or her own standards. If you’re going to offer your guidance to someone else, make sure you’re willing to operate by the same rules and accept feedback regarding their effectiveness. Leo: July 23 - August 22

You may be on a slow, steady track of discipline that embraces an older, more traditional way of looking at things, Leo. Suddenly, however, you’re hit by an aggressive force urging you to do things differently. The more you try to resist this force, the more it’s apt to cause friction and tension. Open your arms and welcome this new energy that will have a very positive effect on you. Virgo: August 23 - September 22

A radical force seems to be stirring up trouble and challenging your long-established beliefs about how things should be done and what you hold most dear, Virgo. The truth is that what you might see as trouble is really a growing pain to be endured as you move to the next step in your personal evolution.

Libra: September 23 - October 22

Things could get a bit tense for you, Libra. One of your first reactions might be to look to your loved ones for support. Unfortunately, you might find that your standbys aren’t standing by. In fact, it could seem like they’ve joined the opposition. You might at first feel like you’ve been betrayed. In reality, maybe you’re fighting for an old cause and it’s time to join the opposition, too. Scorpio: October 23 - November 21

Parts of your life might seem like gladiatorial games out of ancient Rome. The good news is that if anyone can rise above this situation and see the truth in the matter, it’s you, Scorpio. Be careful to not be too obstinate about how to resolve things. This is likely to get you deeper into a mess that you shouldn’t have to deal with in the first place. Your job is to mediate not dictate. Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

You’re apt to go in circles if you only see the negative side of every situation, Sagittarius. Your lack of perspective could keep you from seeing an answer right in front of you. Your mind is your greatest asset and your worst enemy. Don’t become a victim of its automatic bias toward the negative.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

You’re likely to be on a roll with new and innovative ideas about your goals in life, Capricorn. Unfortunately, there are some obstacles. People who are scared of the new and different are apt to try to toss a monkey wrench into the spokes of your wheels. More than likely, these people are simply reacting out of fear of something they don’t understand. Help them see your perspective. Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

Remember that even though there is tension and chaos all around, Aquarius, it doesn’t have to affect you.Your motto should be you’re “in it but not of it.” The basis of most feuds boils down to the struggle between the old and the new. Try not to let their battles become yours. Learn from them by staying close enough to observe and understand but far enough away that you keep your hands clean. Pisces: February 19 - March 20

While your brain may want to charge ahead with new and revolutionary ideas, there is something holding you back from setting these ideas into motion, Pisces. It could be that there is a small voice in your head telling you to slow down and not automatically accept things and adopt them into your life just because they’re new.

ALWATAN DAILY

SPORTS

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

19

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Australia beats Sri Lanka in tri-series final ADELAIDE, Australia: Australia overcame the absence of injured captain Michael Clarke to win the deciding match in the triseries final against Sri Lanka by 16 runs on Thursday. The home side looked set to lose to the Sri Lankans for the fifth time in six matches in the tournament-which also included India after scoring a modest 231 in its innings after being sent in to bat at Adelaide Oval. But man-of-the-match Clint McKay followed his 28 runs from 32 balls with five wickets to help bowl out Sri Lanka’s previously potent batting lineup for 215. Fast bowler Brett Lee added three wickets and stand-in skipper and allrounder Shane Watson took the vital late wicket of Upul Tharanga while the Sri Lankan batsman was on 71. Australia won the best-of-three finals series 2-1. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets when chasing a higher total here on Tuesday to level the series after Australia won the first match in Brisbane last Sunday by 15 runs. “Clint McKay was absolutely brilliant tonight,� Watson said. “The skill he showed, throughout the whole series but especially tonight, it was great to see him bowl so well.� Watson said his side was determined to deliver a bigger performance after failing to defend 271 in the second match Tuesday. “We knew we had to step up, especially after the last game, we were very disappointed,� he said. “That’s a serious performance to defend 231 on that wicket, so I’m very proud of all the boys.� Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene

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felt his side lacked a partnership at the start of its innings after bowling well. “Australia deserved it, they played much

better cricket than us today,� he said. “I thought we managed to keep them 20 to 30 runs less, so it was a good total to chase. But

New Zealand edge lead over South Africa DUNEDIN: New Zealand ground out a narrow lead over South Africa on the second day of the first Test in Dunedin Thursday despite a four-wicket haul for Proteas paceman Vernon Philander. With the tourists bowled out for a disappointing first innings total of 238, Philander’s four for 50 played a crucial part in preventing New Zealand from building on a solid start with the bat. The Black Caps ended the day at 243 for nine, a five-run advantage that appears unlikely to increase significantly with tailenders Trent Boult (8) and Chris Martin, yet to score, at the crease. While the New Zealanders will be pleased to overhaul South Africa’s total, they face the prospect of batting last on a University Oval pitch likely to deteriorate in the final days. South Africa resumed at 191 for seven and Jacques Rudolph notched his 10th Test half century as the tourists added extra 47 runs before they were all out within the first hour of play. The Proteas’ attack ensured runs were at a premium defending the modest total, Philander enjoying early success to remove debutant opener Rob Nicol for six just before lunch. Morne Morkel stuck immediately after the break,

clean bowling Martin Guptill for 16 then giving Ross Taylor a torrid time. The bowler sent deliveries crashing into Taylor’s sternum, shoulder and gloves, making it a bruising 28th birthday for the New Zealand skipper on his return from a six-week injury layoff. Brendon McCullum also faced his share of bouncers but combined with Taylor for a stubborn 65-run partnership. Spinner Imran Tahir was brought into the attack for a change of pace, making the breakthrough when McCullum mistimed a sweep on 48 and top edged to the bowler. Taylor (44) followed three overs later, nicking the ball to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher after slashing at a wide Morkel delivery. Kane Williamson fell shortly before tea, edging a straight Philander delivery to Mark Boucher. South Africa’s decision to take the new ball late in the final session paid immediate dividends as Philander dismissed van Wyk for 36 and Tim Southee for a duck with almost identical deliveries that carried to Graeme Smith at slip. Dale Steyn then clean bowled Doug Bracewell, leaving Boult and Martin to resume New Zealand’s innings on day three. -Reuters

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we lost three of four wickets very quickly, and it was a tough task for the rest of the boys to try and creep through.�

Lee took the first two wickets for Australia on Thursday, man-of-the-series Tillakaratne Dilshan on eight and Kumar Sangakkara, 19 off nine balls. McKay dismissed Dinesh Chandimal on five and Jayawardene on 15 to leave the Sri Lankans in early trouble. But Sri Lanka rebounded with a 60-run fifth-wicket stand between Lahiru Thirimanne (30) and Tharanga, only for McKay to return and strike again and boast figures of 3-12 from his initial six overs. Tharanga and Nuwan Kulasekara notched a quick 30 runs before Lee, who finished with 3-59, dismissed Kulasekara for 15. Sri Lanka needed a run a ball from the final six overs when Tharanga’s match-high score from 122 balls came to an end after being dismissed by Watson (2-13). Rangana Herath and allrounder Farveez Maharoof took three wickets each for Sri Lanka while openers Matthew Wade (49) and David Warner (48) were the top scorers in the Australia innings. The Australians lost three wickets for eight runs in four overs during a lull from the 20th over. That included the run out of Watson for 19 and opener Wade, caught behind off the bowling of Herath after wicketkeeper Sangakkara juggled but held the catch. Peter Forrest (3) was Herath’s second wicket, bowled in the 27th over to leave Australia in trouble at 135-5. Clarke has a left hamstring injury and has been ruled out of the five-match limited-overs series in the West Indies later this month, but selectors hope he’ll recover in time to play in the test series in the Caribbean in April. -AFP

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Spurs hand slumping Knicks another defeat

SAN ANTONIO: Tony Parker scored 32 points and the San Antonio Spurs dealt the sliding New York Knicks a third consecutive loss, 118-105 on Wednesday night, which doesn’t figure to ease the mounting frustrations of Carmelo Anthony and teammates. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili added 17 points apiece in Ginobili’s second game back after missing two weeks with a strained stomach muscle. Like the Knicks, the Spurs are finally at full strength again, but are doing a far better job of blending rotations and fitting all their pieces together. Anthony led New York with 27 points. The Knicks have lost six of nine. They bear little resemblance to their Jeremy Lin-inspired resurgence before the All-Star break, and booting Landry Fields from the starting lineup before the game didn’t help much. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said relegating Fields to the bench wasn’t a demotion but simply a stab at trying to find combinations that work. The change came a night after the Knicks trailed by as many as 19 at Dallas, where Anthony afterward admitted having trouble finding his new role in the offense. Lin came out of nowhere last month and delivered the Knicks the playmaking point guard they craved. But New York’s transition has been anything but seamless since Anthony returned Feb. 20 after missing seven games, mostly because of a groin injury. The Knicks are 2-5 withAnthony back in the lineup. D’Antoni said before the game that Anthony needs to be New York’s leading scorer and said he understood the frustration of his star. Anthony had as many field goals in the first 6 minutes Wednesday night - two 3-pointers - than he did in a lethargic, unfocused performance the night before in Dallas. He was 12 of 24 from the floor and finished with four times as many points as he did against the Mavericks. Lin shot 7 of 15 and had four assists. Amare Stoudemire had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Gary Neal scored 12 points and found his way back into the starting lineup as the Spurs ease Ginobili back into playing shape. Ginobil played 25 minutes, shooting 7 of 10 from the floor and adding six assists. DeJuan Blair, Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter added 10 points apiece for the Spurs. It was a convincing win for San An-

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tonio, which had lost two of its last three at home after returning from the most victorious nine-game road trip in NBA history, when the Spurs went 8-1 and quietly climbed to second in the West. -AP

Rose’s late jumper powers Bulls past Bucks

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INDIAN WELLS: Maria Sharapova says that she is getting close to her best again after a dismal injuryplagued run that saw her drop out of the top 10. The Russian, who last year reached her first Grand Slam final since 2008, has taken 2011’s run of success into a solid start to the new WTA Tour campaign. The three-time Grand Slam champion is back in the top five in the world after a couple of injury-blighted seasons which saw her fall to 14th at the end of 2009 after five consecutive seasons finishing inside the top 10. Sharapova, who turns 25 next month, finished last year ranked fourth after reaching the final of Wimbledon. She also made it to the final of this year’s Australian Open, where she lost to Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-0. “It’s definitely great to be in those stages again, putting yourself in a position where you are a match away from winning a grand slam,� said world No. 2 Sharapova Wednesday at the Indian Wells WTA tournament. “Obviously the next stage is to get those Grand Slams. That’s obviously my goal. Looking back even a year ago, I was sitting in this chair, I can say I am in a much better position.� Maria Sharapova says that she is getting close to her best after an injury-plagued run that saw her drop out the top 10 The 2006 Indian Wells champion Sharapova appeared to be on her way to the final here last year

before she ran head first into Caroline Wozniacki, losing 6-1, 6-2 in the semis. Sharapova has had some major success in Indian Wells but she has also had some real stinkers, including the Seles match and in 2005 when she was thrashed by Lindsay Davenport 6-0, 6-0. But this time the former world number one Sharapova has the fear factor on her side when she comes up against an either lower-ranked or a younger opponent trying to make her way on the tour. The second seeded Sharapova will face either Argentina’s Gisela Dulko or Australian Jelena Dokic in her second round opening match. Her path at Indian Wells could see her go through to face last year’s US Open champ Samatha Stosur in the quarters. Sharapova knows what it is like to bite the dust in the California desert and says a big part of managing her game at the 16,100 seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden is adjusting to the strong winds that can buffet the main court at times. “Patience. A lot of patience,� Sharapova said. “Sometimes your level kind of evens out a bit because no matter who you play, whether it’s the first round or a final, just because it’s windy for the both of us and you can’t expect your level to be extremely high on those days.� -AFP

MILWAUKEE: Derrick Rose faked like he was going to drive to the basket again, creating just enough of a cushion on defender Brandon Jennings. Then he slid to his left in a split second, drilling a winning shot at the buzzer. The reigning league MVP sure knows how to thrill a stadium filled with Bulls fans-even when he isn’t playing at home. Rose’s offbalance shot just inside the 3-point line capped a 30-point night that powered the Chicago Bulls to a 106-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. “It was like a kid, all the things that you dream about,� Rose said. “It felt good. You’re on the road, going against a team that’s giving you their all and you hit a nice shot like that.� Ersan Ilyasova had a career-high 32 points and Drew Gooden added a season-

high 27 for the Bucks, who were coming off a home win over Philadelphia on Monday. The Bulls held Jennings to 11 points on 4 for 18 shooting. Jennings had scored 27-plus points in his previous three games coming into Wednesday. With the Bulls often double-teaming Jennings on defense, especially early, Gooden was left open for several outside shot and he cashed in, scoring 16 first-half points to keep the Bucks in the game. Once again, the Bradley Center was taken over by Bulls fans-although Chicago’s home-away-from-home-court advantage wasn’t quite as pronounced as it was in the Bulls’ Feb. 4 victory at Milwaukee, a Saturday night game that drew a huge crowd comprised mostly of Bulls fans. The Bulls have won all four meetings with the Bucks this season. With the

Bulls up by two, Rose lost the ball out of bounds and officials initially ruled it went off a Bucks player. After a replay review, the call was reversed and the ball went to the Bucks with 55.2 seconds left. Milwaukee’s Beno Udrih then drove for a layup, tying the game with 42.9 seconds left. Rose drove on Jennings, then tried to hit a turnaround jumper and drew a foul on Jennings and hit both shots for a 104-102 lead with 32.5 left. Ilyasova scored inside, tying the game again with 24 seconds left and setting the stage for Rose’s last-second shot. “It was a great play by him,� Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He took the clock down, he didn’t leave any time because it was one of those games where whoever had the ball, you thought they were going to score next.� -AP

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F1 team Marussia signs female test driver MADRID: Formula One team Marussia hired Maria de Villota as a test driver for the season, providing the sport with a full-time female pilot for the first time since the 1990s. The daughter of former Spanish F1 driver Emilio de Villota had tested with Renault last year and has single seater experience in Spanish F3 and the Daytona 24-Hours. The 32-year-old De Villota will likely get behind the wheel at a young drivers’ testing session in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a Formula One team and gain important experience to help me

progress my career, including the chance to drive the new car later in the year,� De Villota said. “I will be joining the team trackside so I’m looking forward to working alongside them at the first race next weekend and this can only help my future ambition to step up to Formula One racing.� McLaren gave American driver Sarah Fisher a chance to test drive at Indianapolis in 2002 but Italian driver Giovanna Amati was the last woman to enter the F1 championship. Amati was replaced by eventual world champion Damon Hill after failing to qualify her Brabham for a handful of races to start the 1992 season.

Five women previously raced in F1, with Italian driver Lella Lombardi starting 12 races in the 1970s. “Our test driver program will enable her to be integrated into a Formula One team environment and gain a vast amount of experience that will be useful to her career progression,� Marussia team principal John Booth said. “We will also provide Maria with the opportunity to sample F1 machinery later in the year, further adding to her racing credentials.� Marussia goes into its third season after changing its name from Virgin. The season begins on March 18 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. (Reuters)

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012

SPORTS

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Guardiola lauds Messi after record haul Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (left) celebrates with after scorLQJ KLV ¿IWK goal, during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between FC Barcelona and Bayern 04 Leverkusen, March 7, 2012. (AFP)

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola predicted he would not see another footballer of the calibre of Lionel Messi in his lifetime after the Argentine World Player of the Year became the first man to score five goals in a Champions League match on Wednesday. Messi tore through a hapless Bayer Leverkusen in their round of 16 second leg at the Nou Camp as holders Barca crushed the German side 7-1 to advance to the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition 10-2 on aggregate. The 24-year-old’s stunning opener and his third goal were particular highlights, each a wonderfully executed chip over Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, first with his stronger left foot and then with his right. “You won’t see anyone like him in your lifetime and neither will I,” Guardiola said at a news conference. “We witnessed one of Messi’s special nights tonight, it’s a gift and I will always be able to say that I coached him,” the former Barca and Spain midfielder added. “The only credit I can take is that I always put him

in the team and we just try to make sure he gets the ball. After that our task is done. The throne belongs to him and only he will decide when he wants to relinquish it.” Messi now has 12 goals in seven Champions League appearances this term, equalling the record for a single season he shares with former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. He has 49 in the competition overall. His tally of 228 goals for Barca is only seven short of the club record set over 17 seasons by Cesar Rodriguez, while Messi is in his eighth campaign with the Spanish, European and world champions. “Messi already deserves a tribute because it’s incredible that he is seven short of Cesar at the age of only 24,” Guardiola said. “He is unique for his innate talent and his capacity to compete and he teaches us how to compete too.” Ten players managed the feat of scoring five goals in a match in the old European Cup but Messi is the first to do so since the Champions League replaced it from the 1992-93 season. -Reuters

Bayern Munich says title chase is still alive FRANKFURT, Germany: Bastian Schweinsteiger is preparing to come back and Bayern Munich is beginning to talk about the title again despite a seven-point deficit to Borussia Dortmund. Schweinsteiger is back in training after a right ankle injury although it is uncertain whether he will be in the team this Saturday in the home match against Hoffenheim. But his return was enough to revive talk about the championship. Bayern all but wrote off its title hopes only a week ago, when it lost 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen. “I am not giving up on the championship, no way,” coach Jupp Heynckes said. “I am going to fight until the end. All we need is a good run,” the veteran coach added. Bayern also needs Dortmund’s exceptional run to end. Last year’s champions have won eight straight games and visit relegation-threatened Augsburg on Saturday. “The championship is not decided yet, but we need

some good results to start putting pressure on Dortmund,” Bayern president Uli Hoeness said. Bayern officials were striking a much more pessimistic tone after the loss in Leverkusen, with sporting director Christian Nerlinger saying, “As of today, we don’t need to talk about the title anymore.” Schweinsteiger has been out for a month, the second time he has missed a large chunk of the season because of injury after breaking his collarbone in the first half of the championship. The Germany midfielder plays a central role in Bayern and the team seems to be more stable defensively when he is in the lineup. Bayern’s problem this season has been away from home, where it has a 5-4 record with three draws. Also, top striker Mario Gomez has been in poor form in recent games after scoring 18 goals. Dortmund on the other hand has returned to the form of last season when it raced to the title. It is undefeated in 18 matches. -AP

Chelsea hosts Stoke with players still adjusting LONDON: Chelsea starts the hard work of trying to claw its way back into the Premier League’s top four against Stoke on Saturday, with players still adjusting to the firing of coach Andre Villas-Boas. Villas-Boas was fired a day after last weekend’s defeat at West Bromwich Albion left perennial Champions League qualifier Chelsea three points behind fourth-place Arsenal with just 11 games remaining. Replacement Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea to a midweek FA Cup win in his first match but winger Juan Mata said he is still trying to refocus. “With Andre I played a lot of games and for me he was important,” Mata said. “I came here first for the club but as well for him and he gave me a lot of confidence, so for this I am very grateful to him. But the most important thing now is to think of Roberto Di Matteo, who is our coach, and to finish well in these two months.” Mata said it helps the players that Di Matteo, a former Chelsea player, was already at the club as Villas-Boas’ assistant but acknowledged that it is hard to adjust to a change in leadership midway through the season. “This week was not easy for us with a change

of the manager, but when you are on the pitch you are always thinking of giving your best,” Mata said. “We were sad because it is always a difficult moment when a club changes its manager. Villas-Boas is a very good manager and a very good person, but now we keep working without him, with Robbie.” Di Matteo left Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Daniel Sturridge out of his starting lineup for Tuesday’s FA Cup win over second-tier Birmingham. He could persist with Fernando Torres up front as the Spain striker tries to regain the scoring form that has deserted him over the past year. “I went to Birmingham and watched him the other night and I thought he did absolutely fantastically,” Stoke manager Tony Pulis said of Torres. “I thought he worked his socks off and that his movement was brilliant. He just needs a little bit of luck in front of goal. I just hope he doesn’t get it against us on Saturday. His attitude was fantastic.” Chelsea won the corresponding fixture against Stoke 7-0 on its way to the 2010 Premier League title but has drawn its last two matches against the team. - Reuters

Marseille looks to stem tide of defeats at Ajaccio PARIS: Marseille’s season is in danger of spiraling out of control if it slips to a fourth straight defeat at Ajaccio on Friday, four days before it heads to Inter Milan to protect its slender lead in the Champions League round of 16. Marseille has not scored a goal since beating Inter Milan 1-0, losing three straight league games to drop down to eighth place in the league and drifting away from contention for a European place next season. Marseille, the French champion two seasons ago, is already eight points behind third-place Lille with 12 matches remaining, making it an uphill struggle for coach Didier Deschamps between now and the end of the season. To make matters worse, Marseille is in its

worst scoring drought since 2006-07, when it also went three games without a goal. Marseille’s slump coincides with injuries to winger Mathieu Valbuena and top scorer Loic Remy, who could return on Friday. While Marseille continues to struggle, its biggest rival Paris Saint-Germain defends its one-point lead over second-place Montpellier when it plays at Dijon on Sunday. Montpellier has an easier-looking home game against Caen, also Sunday. Defending champion Lille, eight points behind PSG in third place, travels to seventh-place Lyon, which went out of the Champions League to APOEL Nicosia in a penalty shootout on Wednesday night. -AP

Sports Editors Highlight

ENGLAND: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed his interest in Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie but believes the prolific Dutch striker will ultimately extend his contract with the Gunners. Van Persie’s contract with Arsenal expires in 2013 and a number of clubs have been alerted to the possibility of a shock summer move because he has ruled out discussing his future until then. Despite his interest in the Dutchman, who has scored an impressive 32 goals already this season, Mancini believes Arsenal will move quickly to make sure he accepts a new deal. City have signed several Arsenal players in recent years, acquiring Samir Nasri last summer and also signing Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor. -AFP

AC Milan attempts to regroup after Arsenal loss ROME: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is raging with anger following AC Milan’s 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League and club vice president Adriano Galliani says that’s a good thing. Having won the opening leg 4-0, Milan still advanced despite its poor performance in London on Tuesday but Ibrahimovic ranted with disgust to Swedish media after the match. “If you play for a big club like Milan, this can’t happen,” Ibrahimovic said. “It’s okay to lose in a certain manner, but the way we lost this match is unacceptable. We’re Milan and we’ve got to be stronger and more stable.” Ibrahimovic also lamented that manager Massimiliano Allegri lined him up out of position when Milan played with three strikers. Last weekend, Ibrahimovic marked his return from a three-match Italian league ban by scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 win at Palermo, and he is tied with Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale for the Serie A scoring lead with 18 goals each. While another Italian league title would surely be nice, it’s the Champions League that Ibrahimovic really wants. The Sweden international has won seven domestic league titles with the likes of Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Milan but he’s never won Europe’s biggest club tournament. “The more mad Ibrahimovic is, the better things go,” Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said as the squad prepares for a match with lowly Lecce on Sunday. Also for Milan, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been cleared to play again after missing six months due to myas-

thenia, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease that affected his left eye. After a series of matches postponed due to snow, Milan and Juve have now played the same number of games and defending champion Milan holds a two-point lead with 12 rounds remaining. Juventus remains the only undefeated club in the Italian league, but it also has the most draws-13-and has won just one of its last six matches. The absences in defense may not be easy to overcome against a Genoa squad featuring a potent strike duo of Rodrigo Palacio and Alberto Gilardino, who is expected back from injury. Genoa has already beaten Napoli, Lazio and Udinese this season. “We’ll see what solutions we can find,” Juventus’ firstyear coach Antonio Conte said. “(Arturo) Vidal is an alternative, but we’re not hanging our heads down.” Conte was sent off for protests in the second half against Bologna. “There was a general protest from the bench and I was surprised, but these are things that happen in football,” Conte said. The weekend’s action opens with surging Napoli hosting Cagliari and struggling Inter at Chievo Verona on Friday night, giving Napoli and Inter an extra day’s rest before Champions League matches next week against Chelsea and Marseille, respectively. Also this weekend, Attilio Tesser marks his return as the coach of last-place Novara, which fired Emiliano Mondonico on Tuesday after just 36 days in charge. -AP

Juventus running out of steam

MILAN: Juventus are still unbeaten this season but a run of five draws in their last six Serie A games suggests that Antonio Conte’s side are in danger of running out of steam at a crucial stage of the campaign. Two points clear at the top in early February when they had played a game less than their rivals, Juve have dropped two points behind leaders AC Milan and used up their match in hand when they drew 1-1 at Bologna on Wednesday. Juventus will have to field a makeshift defense when they visit Genoa on Sunday

with Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli out of action through injury and Leonardo Bonucci suspended after his red card at Bologna. Juventus’ biggest problems remain in attack where, despite his fourth goal of the season on Wednesday, the individualistic Mirko Vucinic has fallen well short of expectations since his 15 million ($19.8 million US dollars) euro move from AS Roma. Marco Borriello has failed to hit the target in Serie A since he was signed on loan from the same club in January. Con-

te, who overlooked leading scorer Alessandro Matri on Wednesday, still sees no reason to panic. “We are on the right track and must continue like this,” he said. “Borriello is a player with strong physique who helps us to hold the ball up and open up space in attack. We’ve been playing continually recently, so some squad rotation is necessary. We proved against Bologna we can count on great men. If there was a slowing down, then it was only in terms of results.” -Reuters

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