March 22, 2012 by Al Watan Daily

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

@alwatandaily

Issue No. 1381

20 PAGES

www.alwatandaily.com

150 Fils with IHT

Government asserts stance, says no raises

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

KUWAIT: The government is expected to roll out its strategy with regard to streamlining wages and a mechanism to deal with special allowances and strikes. In addition, the government is due to outline job descriptions for the Civil Service Commission. An official source asserted that the government will not compromise on its course of action under any circumstances. The source added that the government will offer the Parliament detailed data and figures regarding the costs involved in wage increases and special allowances. The revelations will be contained in a statement to be delivered by the government in which it is expected to brief MPs about the procedures it has taken in this regard. Meanwhile, the government will reportedly ask the head of the Civil Service Commission Abdul-Aziz Al-Zabn to step up to the podium to address the queries to be made by lawmakers. Al Watan has learnt that at least ten MPs will

file a request at the start of the session to turn it into a closed-door session. An independent MP disclosed that the closed-door session request is aimed at forestalling any attempts to rally behind the syndicates. The source also cited reports that certain MPs intend to lash out at some ministers for political gains. A number of legislators will table proposals during the session calling for pay raises for civil servants and retirees. Earlier on, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf confirmed that the government will attend the Parliament’s extraordinary session to exchange ideas about wage increments, special allowances and strikes. The National Assembly Speaker Ahmad AlSaadoun extended invitations to MPs to attend the extraordinary session in accordance with Article 72 of the Parliament’s Standing Order. This comes at a time when the Parliamentary Finance Committee discussed with the Acting Finance Minister Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf and the head of the Civil Service Commission pertaining to the government’s decision on wage increases. In another development, the head of the in-

Egypt’s Brotherhood eyes end to Gaza blockade

CAIRO/GAZA: The Muslim Brotherhood aims to open the Egyptian border with Gaza to commerce, a shift that would transform life for Palestinians there but which is hitting resistance from Egyptian authorities reluctant to change a longstanding policy. The biggest party in Egypt’s new parliament, the Islamists are not yet in government but have been seeking ways to ease the impact of restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt on what passes in and out of the territory run by the Hamas group, an idelogical offshoot of the Brotherhood. Aiming to ease chronic power shortages in Gaza, the Brotherhood recently lobbied the Egyptian government to conclude a deal to supply fuel for the territory’s sole power station. However, the blackouts still plaguing Gaza several weeks after the deal was declared show that changing policy is easier said than done in Cairo, where government is still largely run by remnants of Hosni Mubarak’s administration. “It’s the continuation of the Mubarak method in dealing with the Palestinian issue,” said Gamal Hishmat, the deputy chair of the Egyptian parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and a Muslim More on 4 Brotherhood MP.

vestigation committee charged with probing allegations of illicit overseas financial transfers, MP Dr. Faisal Al-Miselm, announced that the committee decided to summon the former Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait and his deputy to attend the committee’s next meeting on Monday to listen to their testimonies. He added that the committee has already listened to MP Musallam Al-Barrak’s testimony and asked him to provide the documents in his possession, noting that the latter promised to do so on Sunday. Asked whether the committee will invite the former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah to make his testimony, Al-Mislem said, “The committee is officially tasked by the Parliament and hence it has the authority to summon whomever it wishes.” Reacting to rumors that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah might be suspended until the committee finalizes its task, Al-Mislem denied knowledge of such claims. “This was not discussed. We seek to reach the truth in an objective manner,” the MP was See also 2 quoted as saying.

Kuwait alarmed at mounting anti-religious sentiments

Largest Italian union calls strike over Monti’s job reforms

ROME: Italy’s largest trade union called for a general strike over labor reforms onWednesday, escalating a confrontation with Prime Minister Mario Monti that will test his resolve to push ahead with plans to transform the economy. After weeks of negotiation, Monti announced late on Tuesday that the time for talking was over and he would press on with plans to overhaul employment protection laws dating back to the 1970s, despite stiff opposition from the leftwing CGIL union. The CGIL proposed an eight-hour general strike to protest the measures, which would allow companies to lay off individual employees for disciplinary or business reasons, saying the changes risked causing massive job losses.

The Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (left) is welcomed by Crown Prince Naruhito, prior to their ofﬁcial dinner at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 21, 2012. (AFP) More on 3

“This will not be a flare-up which burns out in a day as the government expects and we have a duty to get results before we see years of mass dismissals from companies,” the union’s secretariat said in a statement. The strike would mark the biggest demonstration against technocrat premier Monti, a former European Commissioner who has already imposed painful cuts and tax hikes and an overhaul of the pension system since taking office in November. Employers welcomed the proposed changes to laws which they say discourage companies from hiring staff, hinder investment and condemn large numbers of young people to insecure, low-paid work with few rights. -Reuters

EU to impose travel, shopping ban on Al-Assad’s wife

BRUSSELS: European Union states are set to ban Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s wife Asma from travel to and shopping in the EU, diplomats said, cranking up pressure on his government to end a bloody crackdown on popular unrest. A British-born former investment banker who had once cultivated an image of a woman inspired by Western values, Asma al-Assad has become a hate figure for many Syrians. She has stood by her husband during a yearlong crackdown on popular unrest in which the UN says at least 8,000 people have died. In recent weeks she became the focus of media attention when a trove of emails between her and her husband obtained by Britain’s Guardian newspaper appeared to show them shopping for pop music and luxury items while Syria descended into bloodshed. The EU has responded to Syria’s violence with a broad range of sanctions, which include a ban on Syrian oil imports to Europe and measures against the

China orders lawyers to pledge allegiance to Communist Party

French shooter was planning fresh attack

A resident sweeps up debris caused by Tuesday’s magnitude-7.4 quake, in San Juan Cacahuatepec, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, near the border with Guerrero, early Wednesday March 21, 2012. As of Wednesday, there were no reports of deaths from Tuesday’s quake centered near the border between the southern states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, even after 10 aftershocks. (AP)

Jordan’s Prince Ali wants Asian clout in FIFA

Somali pirates free British hostage six months after kidnapping

NAIROBI: Somali pirates freed British hostage Judith Tebbutt on Wednesday more than six months after gunmen killed her husband and snatched her from a beach resort in neighboring Kenya. Tebbutt’s kidnapping and the subsequent abductions of other foreigners prompted Kenya to send hundreds of troops into Somalia in October to try to crush the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants that Nairobi blamed for the attacks. “After efforts today, we have succeeded in the release of the British woman. She just left from Adado airport to Nairobi,” Omar Mohammed Diirey, a regional administration official, told Reuters from Adado in central Somalia.

A pirate, who identified himself as Ahmed, told Reuters a ransom was dropped by air. He said 800,000 Us dollars had been received and another $140,000 went to brokers and handlers. Tebbutt was handed over to regional officials early on Wednesday after the payments were received, he said. TV footage showed Tebbutt, who is in her 50s, wearing a green headscarf running towards a plane in a flat, barren landscape in Adado, Somalia. A man in a bush hat and safari jacket was seen accompanying her, his arm around her shoulder. “I am very relieved to have been released,” Tebbutt told Britain’s ITV News. -Reuters

TOULOUSE: After a pre-dawn raid erupted into a firefight, French riot police pressed Wednesday for the surrender of a holed-up gunman who is suspected in seven killings and claiming allegiance to Al-Qaeda. A prosecutor said the man was planning to kill another soldier imminently. After 13 hours of negotiations, one French official said hundreds of police were ready to storm the building in the southwestern city of Toulouse to end the standoff. Three police have already been wounded trying to arrest the 24-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent who is suspected of killing three Jewish children, a rabbi and three French paratroopers. Prosecutor Francois Molins said the gunman, Mohamed Merah, had been to Afghanistan twice and had trained in the Pakistani militant stronghold of Waziristan. An Interior Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect has been under surveillance for years for having “fundamentalist” Islamic views. The police raid Wednesday was part of France’s biggest manhunt since a wave of terrorist attacks in the 1990s by Algerian

extremists. The chase began after France’s worst-ever school shooting Monday and two previous attacks on paratroopers, killings that have horrified the country. Cedric Delage, regional secretary for a police union, said the suspect had promised to turn himself into police. At the time Delage said if that didn’t happen, police would force their way in. The suspect has told police he belonged to Al-Qaeda and wanted to take revenge for Palestinian children killed in the Middle East, Interior Minister Claude Gueant said, adding the man was also angry about French military intervention abroad. The man’s brother and mother were also detained overnight, the prosecutor said. In the negotiations Wednesday, the suspect “expresses no regret, only that he didn’t have time to have more victims. And he even bragged, he said, of bringing France to its knees,” the prosecutor said. “He had foreseen other killings, notably he foresaw another attack this morning, targeting a soldier,” Molins said, adding also planned to attack two police officers. “He claims to have always acted alone.” -AP

Syrian central bank and other companies and state institutions. On Friday, it is expected to take new steps. For Asma, they will mean she will no longer be able to travel to the EU or buy products from EUbased companies, in her own name. Foreign ministers of EU member states are set to agree on a new round of measures, the bloc’s 13th, and impose asset freezes and bans on travel to the EU against 12 people, include Asma. A prohibition for European companies to do business with two more Syrian entities is also planned. “The text (of sanctions) has gone through,” said one EU diplomat, referring to an agreement reached by EU envoys in Brussels to a list of new sanctions. Another diplomat confirmed Assad’s wife is included in the list of sanctioned individuals. The list still needs formal approval from ministers. It will become public on Saturday when new sanctions are due to go into See also 4 effect. -Reuters

India pushes refiners to cut Iran imports, despite sanctions scorn

NEW DELHI: India, publicly disdainful of sanctions to pressure Iran, has been left off a list of nations given a US waiver from the measures, but is privately pushing its refiners for substantial cuts in imports from the Middle Eastern country. The United States gave exemptions on Tuesday from its crippling financial sanctions to Japan and 10 EU nations it said had cut purchases of Iranian crude, but left Asian economic giants India and China exposed to the risk of such steps. However, the 15 percent cuts sources say India is privately demanding from state-run refiners could help it qualify for such an exemption. Reuters’ calculations show the overall cuts refiners are planning to make could be deeper at around 20 percent. “It’s a sensitive matter,” said a government official who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. “You won’t get to know. To keep it secret we are sharing information and minutes of the key meetings over the phone instead of exchanging or sending letters.” Written communication that was sent has been tightly guarded. “The letters were being sent like those in the British Raj,” another government official said. “Properly sealed with melted wax and in double envelopes as this is a very sensitive issue. Marked as ‘To be opened by addressee only.’” Indian state refiners planning to cut the size of their term deals with Iran have sought additional supplies from the world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, More on 10 and fellow OPEC member Iraq.

Supporters cheer and wave miniature ﬂags of the National League for Democracy party as they listen a speech of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during her election campaign in Dagon Port township Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP)

ALWATAN DAILY

kuwait

thursDAY, march 22, 2012

Parliament committee meets with government to discuss increments: MP Lari Committee sets investigation mechanism on bank deposits case: MP Al-Dallal Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Parliamentary Financial and Economic Committee stated that it had held its meeting yesterday during which they discussed the government’s decision to standardize salaries and increments. The Financial and Economic Committee Rappoteur Ahmad Lari said that this was the tenth meeting held by the committee in the presence of the acting minister, Min-

ister of Education and Higher Education Nayef Al-Hajraf, as well as the Director of the Civil Service Commission Abdulaziz Al-Zibin. The government had explained its points of view regarding the topics raised during the meeting, particularly that related to the issue of 25 percent increases for existing employees and 12.5 percent for retired people as well as the allowances. He also said that the government explained its strategic vision and its subsequent decisions. He added that the government said it had reviewed 2,800 jobs, adding that the Civil Service has proceeded with the new policy and agreed on issues that include standardizing salaries with differences only in ranks and seniority. As for the strikes, Lari said that he fully appreciates the circumstances which the strikers had to go through, but attributed the delay to the dissolution of the last parliament and subsequently the reformation of a new government. He urged the government to deal and tackle the issue as

soon as possible. A second meeting was also held where the committee discussed social securities with reference to the early retirement for women. Lari said that there were different proposals and that he favored retirement without looking at the age. He said he supported a bill that would allow the women to retire after 15 years of service. Similarly, he expressed his support to the idea that men retire after 20 years of service without considering the age. He said that there would be exceptions to the case where the 15 years of service for women would be applied only if the age reaches 50. Lari said that he asked for the financial cost of such proposals and whether they are feasible or otherwise. Meanwhile, the multimillion bank deposits committee held a meeting to discuss the committee’s work plan during the three months investigations period. The committee’s Rapporteur Mohammad Al-Dallal stated that the committee has approved a mechanism in which it plans to follow. He revealed that the meeting discussed summoning

Death of Pope Shenouda major loss: Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Fawzi Owais Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah said that the death of Pope Shenouda III is a major loss, not only to Egypt, but to the entire Arab nation. Pope Shenouda was 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa. Sheikh Ali noted that he represents His Highnesses the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Sabah, and Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak, in addition to the people of Kuwait. He added that Pope Shenouda was a man of peace who was loved and respected not only by Egyptians, but by all Arabs. He recalled Pope Shenouda’s stance from the Iraqi invasion to Kuwait, where he supported the national unity of all Arab countries and stood against plans to divide them. Moreover, the Ambassador of Bahrain in Kuwait Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani said that the Arab world has lost one of its most prominent icons of wisdom at a time when humanity is in desperate need for a man like him. He revealed that he had met Pope Shenouda before in Cairo and witnessed how he shouldered the burden of the IslamicChristian dialogue. He expressed his confidence that Pope Shenouda’s disciples will carry on his mission and explained that Muslims believe in Christ and his message to people since this belief is stipulated by the Holy Quran. He also said that the principles of Islam and Christianity are the same, where in the Arab world we have the churches are erected

people accused of being involved in the bank deposits case to listen to their testimony. The individuals include those from previous government and former lawmakers. He said that the committee will gather information and data from authorities concerned with deposits, since the committee is adamant to reveal information regarding the inflation of bank accounts of MPs from the previous legislative term. He added that the committee is willing to send over its members to any authority, if the investigations necessitate that. Moreover, he mentioned that the committee will summon representatives from Al-Qabas newspaper that played a positive role in uncovering the bank deposits and will also summon State Security and Criminal Investigations officers to shed more light on their investigations. He asked the public to support the committee through providing it with any tips that can be of benefit. He announced that there will be an e-mail and fax number to receive information from the public.

Legal practitioners suspend strike after meeting with PM Judiciary members reject equality with other legal departments Fahad Al-Loban and Yousef Al-Yousef Staff Writers

Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah presenting his condolences to the Coptic Church in Kuwait on the death of Egypt’s Patriarch, Pope Shenouda on Wednesday, March 20, 2012. (Al Watan)

next to mosques. Egyptian Ambassador in Kuwait Abdul-Kareem Sulaiman said that Pope Shenouda was a statesman and had a high religious and national value. He added that he is a man that has a long history of patriotism and had the charisma of a leader. He stated that Pope Shenouda managed to protect the strong relationship that binds Christians and Muslims, which allowed Egypt to avoid several crises. He added that Pope Shenouda served in the army and was a novel-

ist, philosopher, and poet. Sulaiman said that the Egyptian Embassy in Kuwait had been receiving people who came to offer their condolences for the past two days, including a large number of foreign and Arab ambassadors and diplomats, not to mention receiving many cables of condolences from prominent social and political figures, in addition to citizens. He said that the Egyptian flag was lowered to half mast on all official Egyptian buildings in Kuwait.

KUWAIT: While Legal Practitioners Syndicate suspended its five-day long strike, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Workers Syndicate threatened labor action if their demands are not met by the government which previously promised to look into their wage grievances. The spokesperson for legal practitioners Ahmad Al-Kandari announced that their strike was suspended on the instructions of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah who promised to address the demands but stressed that strikes should end first. He added that the decision was made following a meeting with the prime minister. Al-Kandari urged MPs who are meeting today to undo the current discrimination against people with the same qualification. For his part, the Deputy Chairman of the Kuwait Labor Union Federation and the President of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Workers Syndicate Ajmi Al-Mutalaqem said that he met with several directors in various departments within the ministry to discuss the recent wage increments which were announced by the Civil Service Commission. He revealed that it was

Sheikh Nasser: Kuwaiti-French ties unique, historic Wafa Qansour

CSC to receive applications of Bedoun on Monday Khalifa Al-Rabaie Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Assistant Undersecretary of Civil Service Commission (CSC) for Information Technology Affairs Ahmad Khalifa Al-Abduljalil said that CSC will start receiving applications on Monday from Bedoun recruiters (stateless Arabs) that hold the official registrations of

1965 census. The applicants will be provided jobs at the different government institutions. According to the new procedures, Bedoun who hold diplomas, bachelor degrees and PhD degrees can submit their application from next week. Al-Abduljalil said that the relevant department will review the data of applicants and check whether they are reg-

istered in the census of 1965 as well as updating their data. The relevant departments will then verify if Kuwaiti citizens have applied for the very job opportunities, as the citizens will be given the priority for the available vacancies. The Bedoun can check the vacant positions by accessing the website www.csc. net.kw then clicking on manpower icon and vacant positions.

Municipality approves of sites reserves, plant for renewable energy KUWAIT: The municipality has agreed to the request of Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to handover land sites, General Director of Kuwait’s Municipality, Ahmad Al-Sabeeh said Wednesday. The land sites include nature reserves, marine and station for renewable energy technologies in Jahra Governor-

ate, he added. The approval of the request is to implement projects, according to the phased schedule, Al-Sabeeh told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Al-Sabeeh pointed out the sites reserves are identified and planned within the structural plan in Um Naqa, Khabary, and Wadi Al-Batin, which are within the Jahra Governorate, and in Umm Qadeer located in Al-Ahmadi pGovernorate.

Three plants for renewable energy are approved to produce 70 megawatts, 50 megawatts for solar thermal power plant and 10 megawatt for solar power plant and 10 megawatt of wind power, said Al-Sabeeh. He explained that the request is approved through the commission on regulatory approvals, in coordination with the ministries, before handing over the site. -KUNA

agreed that the pay raise did not go far enough and was generally unfair. The unionist explained that the previous strike was suspended due to promises made by the former minister of trade that an increase will e made within three months, lamenting that the government failed to keep its promise. Al-Mutalaqem warned that the syndicate will go again on strike if the demands are not met. Meanwhile, legal sources told Al-Watan that Judiciary members such as judges, counselors and prosecutors are upset about the Cabinet`s intention to raise the salaries of practitioners from some legal departments and equalizing their salaries with those of the judiciary members, affirming that they reject such procedure which violates the Constitution and laws. The sources emphasized that such procedure is fully rejected; therefore judges, counselors and prosecutors will hold a meeting in order to endorse a unified stand concerning the issue. The results of meeting will be referred to the Supreme Judicial Council as well. The sources pointed out that the members don`t oppose salary raises, but reject equalizing their salaries with the practitioners. They wondered how the Cabinet plans to adopt such step, particularly when the government has endorsed a reasonable salary increases recently for one of the legal departments. The judiciary members said that they have many options to adopt if the Cabinet executes such step. They plan to meet His Highness the Prime Minister within the next few days to explain how such procedure violates the laws and Constitution.

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Former prime minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah affirmed that the relations between Kuwait and France are deep-rooted and outstanding. He also described the ties as unique and historic, while commending the leading role that France has played during the Iraqi invasion. In a speech he delivered at the French Ambassador’s residence on the occasion of the Francophone Day in the presence of the former French Education Minister and the President of the French Institute in Paris Xavier Darcos along with a host of diplomats, Sheikh Nasser noted that the event is an opportunity to further strengthen cultural and linguistic cooperation between the two countries. He added that Kuwait supports the French Institute which seeks cultural exchange and cooperation between France and the Arab world through exhibitions, symposia and cultural conferences. For his part, Darcos explained that celebrating the French language doesn’t denote a linguistic clash or the preference of one language to another. He added that the Francophone Organization includes

56 countries and aims at upholding human rights and promoting freedoms. The Senegalese Ambassador to Kuwait Abdul Ahad Mbake pointed out that the organization is one of the oldest to be established after the United Nations, adding that his country was a founding member of the Francophone Organization. Commenting on the situation in his country, he explained that there is no cause for concern, and added that Senegal is the only country that never experienced a coup and has always enjoyed stability. Meanwhile, the French Ambassador Nada Yafi said that the French language is pervasive across the world, while dismissing the notion that France has not cemented ties with the Francophone countries. She also noted that a lot of French nationals speak Arabic and other language and stressed that France seeks multiculturalism. She described the bilateral ties between Kuwait and France as excellent. The ambassador said that the institute will organize intellectual forums, lectures and concerts, adding that there will be coordination with local universities and schools. “The institute is particular about outreaching all cultures and will not be restricted to the teaching of French,” the ambassador stated.

Kuwait is first Gulf state to implement WRACTI project: UN official KUWAIT: Kuwait is first in the Gulf region to implement the Women and Children’s Rights through Access to Information (WRACTI) project, a UN official said here Wednesday. “Women’s rights are inevitably human rights,” said Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kuwait Dr. Adam Abdelmoula, in statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). WRACTI is a pioneering project in the

region and aims at legal empowerment of Kuwaiti women. The project proved huge success in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, with tens of women benefiting from it. “Kuwait will be the first Arabian Gulf country to implement it due to rights that Kuwaiti women already enjoy.” On her part, Secretary General of the Kuwait Women’s Cultural and Social Society (WCSS) Lulwa Al-Mulla called on all concerned entities to volunteer in order to

champion the project. “Women should be aware of their rights when it comes to issues like divorce or domestic violence, as well as their financial rights,” she noted. The WRACTI project was launched at the United Nations House in Kuwait on February 16, 2011. Assigned as a local partner, WCSS is implementing the UNDP-backed project in cooperation with the UN Regional Bureau for Arab states and Center for Arab Women Training and Research. -KUNA

Former prime minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah (left) with the French Ambassador to Kuwait Nada Yafi during a reception held to mark the occasion of the Francophone Day on Wednesday, March 20, 2012. (Al Watan)

ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

thursDAY, march 22, 2012

Japan-Kuwait Society Chairman thanks Amir for quake aid Malaysia calls on Kuwaiti businessmen to invest in commercial agencies

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (fourth right) during a meeting with Japan-Kuwait Society Chairman Kuniyasu Takeda on Tuesday, March 21, 2012. (KUNA)

Both countries eye new energy ooperation

TOKYO: Japan-Kuwait Society Chairman Kuniyasu Takeda said Tuesday he had fruitful talks with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Kuwait TV after his meeting with the Amir, Takeda also said he thanked His Highness for offering his generous donation of five million barrels of crude oil to Japan to relieve the suffering from last March’s massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami. The Kuwait-Japan relationship dates back to 1958, when the late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem AlSabah granted Arabian Oil Company, Ltd. oil and gas concessions in the offshore Neutral Zone (now Divided Zone), the deal which led to discovery of the massive Khafji oil field. Japan-Kuwait Society, established in 1965 under the initiative of Arabian Oil with the aim of promoting friendship and cultural exchange between the two countries, now boasts of having 20 leading Japanese companies deeply linked to Kuwait as members. In the past 47 years, the society has exerted effort to enhance understanding of Kuwait and Arab-Islam in Japan through the promotion of cultural exchange and a number of publications, including society’s newsletters introducing Kuwait

and books on Arab society and culture and Islam. In addition, it runs language courses on a regular basis to spread Arabic in Japan. His Highness the Amir arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a four-day state visit. Earlier in the day, he met Japanese Emperor and House of Councilors President Kenji Hirata. In related news, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Hani Hussein and a top official of Arabian Oil Company, Ltd., on Tuesday agreed to explore new energy cooperation between the two countries. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Kuwait TV after his talks with Arabian Oil, represented by Director Kuniyasu Takeda, Hussein said the two sides discussed prospects of future cooperation, with an eye to launching new projects, particularly in technical and service areas. “We will wait for the Japanese side to offer a proposal, then, we will start discussion on their proposal,” he said. The minister also said Kuwait and Japan have enjoyed longstanding close relations in the field of energy, noting that Japan is a top buyer of Kuwaiti oil, with purchasing of around half million barrels of oil, petroleum products, and gas per day. He also underscored that state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) established its Tokyo office in 1968 as its first regional marketing office. In addition, he attached great significance to the ongoing joint project in Vietnam between Kuwait and Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. to build a refinery and petrochemi-

cal complex. For his part, Takeda said, “I proposed to the minister that the two countries will jointly launch new energy projects, and he welcomed the idea. We will start to draw up the plan to present.” The Kuwaiti government granted a concession to Arabian Oil Company in 1958 to explore and develop hydrocarbon reserves in the offshore Divided Zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which resulted in discovery of the massive Khafji oil field in 1960. When the concession agreement expired in January 2003,Arabian Oil continued to participate in oil field operations in the offshore Partitioned Neutral Zone under a five-year technical services agreement with Kuwait. The contract expired in January 2008, but Arabian Oil still holds a 20-year crude oil purchasing agreement, which went into effect in January 2003. The meeting between Oil Minister and Takeda was also attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi and Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Yasuyoshi Komizo and senior officials from Arabian Oil and Japan-Kuwait Society members. Takeda, who also serves as Japan-Kuwait Society Chairman, met His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah earlier in the day, said he thanked the Amir for the generous donation of 5 million barrels of crude oil to Japan to relieve the suffering from last March’s massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami. -KUNA

Kuwait alarmed at mounting anti-religious sentiments GENEVA: The State of Kuwait expressed, in an address at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), deep concern at continuing waves against religions namely heavenly religions and their sanctities. The Counselor of the Permanent Kuwaiti delegation at the UN in Geneva, Malek Alwazzan, indicated at mounting phenomena of discrimination and fanaticism against individual Muslims, in a manner that affects their personal freedoms and rights of practicing their beliefs. Al-Wazzan urged the higher commissioner, Navi Pillay, to consider action for countering spread of Islamphobia, acts and rhetoric intended to tarnish image of religions and incitement for hatred, discrimination and violence against Muslims. Kuwait affirmed necessity of boosting principles of tolerance, equality and respect for racial, religious and cultural diversity, through training and education. The counselor called for mechanisms to boost values such as combating all forms of discrimination. Kuwait, which has signed relevant treaties in defense of human rights, protects these rights in special laws. Moreover, the Gulf state is executing educational programs for boosting human rights, in addition to legislations that prohibit religious or racial discrimination. Furthermore, Kuwait has recently drafted the national unity law that bans segregation among people in terms of rights and freedoms, along considerations such as skin color, sex, religion, opinion, origin, social, sectarian or tribal affiliations.

Permanent Kuwaiti delegation at the UN in Geneva, Malek Alwazzan during a session where he addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council on mounting anti-religious sentiments. (KUNA)

Al-Wazzan renewed support for Durban’s declaration and work plan with respect of these basic rights. -KUNA

Charity societies offer relief to Syrian refuges BERIUT: Chairman of International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) Dr. Abduallah Al-Ma’touq on Wednesday stressed the importance of cooperation between societies working in the field of humanitarian relief and helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He added in a speech on the opening of a department specialized for people with special needs in AlRama Lebanese Medical compound in Tripoli that a total of five million US dollars is allocated for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. The transfer of humanitarian aid to Syrian families in Lebanon requires facilitating their entrance by the local authorities and further coordination and cooperation between the societies working on that matter, he said. The Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Wa’el Abu Fa’our said that a large number of Syrian refugees flee their country heading to Lebanon. According to the instructions of the Lebanese Premier Najib Meqati, the ministry as well as the High Relief Commission are

exerting all possible effort to serve the refugees, Abu Fa’our added. This is a humanitarian and moral cause in the first place, before being a political one, the minister affirmed. He felt regret for the divide between the Lebanese citizens regarding the Syrian situation. He also recalled how Syrians offered care and support to Lebanon during its civil war, Abu Fa’our said. He expressed thanks to all Arab and international societies and institutions offering relief to Syrian refugees. However, this is the responsibility of Lebanon, with all due respect to all humanitarian bodies. A large number of Kuwaiti charities are offering aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey including Kuwaiti Zakat House, IICO, Social Reform Society, and International Al-Rahma Society for Relief. The latest statistics indicate that the total number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon topped seven thousand, most of them in the northern Lebanese areas of Akkar, Tripoli, Minieh, and Dnayyeh. -KUNA

Women’s Voluntary Society celebrates Mother’s Day at nursing homes

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Women Voluntary Society celebrated Mother’s Day by honoring elderly mothers at the Ministry of Social Affairs’ nursing homes. The event, which was held with the cooperation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, aims at showing respect and appreciation for mothers for their great influence in society by raising future generations.

Head of the media committee at the Women’s society Taibah Al-Haid told the press, on Wednesday, that this celebration is held every year to bring joy to the elderly mothers at the nursing homes. She lauded Head of the women’s society Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah on believing in the role of this voluntary body and how it is playing an effective role in the community. -KUNA

KUWAIT: Malaysian Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ismail Sabri Yaakob called Wednesday, on Kuwaiti businessmen to invest in the four Malaysian commercial agencies in Kuwait. The total number of Malaysian commercial agencies in the Middle East amounted to 1078 and they are in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Turkey, Syria, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, Bahrain and Azerbaijan, Yaakob told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). He added that the Malaysian commercial agencies in the Middle East, work with food, beverages, restaurants, women’s accessories and cosmetics, shoes, bags, garments, electronics and educational services. He expressed hope that the Middle East expands its business in Malaysia and governments adopt a policy of open trade, adding that only three Arab agencies are working in the fields of food and technology. Malaysia organizes annually an international exhibition for commercial agencies, to enhance this field, by boosting the amount of trade agreements, to more than 370 million ringgit (USD 120.3 million) compared to 345 million ringgit (112.2 million) last year, Yaakob pointed. The exhibition plays an important role in the field of trade and encourages businessmen to engage in this field, in addition in opportunities to exchange commercial agencies transactions development through discussions at exhibition conferences, he noted. Meanwhile, Malaysia will be hosting the international exhibition for commercial agencies during July 6-8 in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs seeks to place Malaysia as a important regional rank in commercial agencies, since it started 15 years ago. -KUNA

KEPS issues new edition of environmental magazine

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) has issued a new edition of its environmental magazine, which includes numerous proposals related to the Kuwaiti environment. The magazine for the first time discusses environment-friendly inventions, including tent springs. The edition contains photography on the most prominent geological and natural features in the country, as well as several topics about wildlife, insects and vegetation common to the country, in addition to environmental studies. Sarah Al-Ateeqi wrote a description of some of the plants found at the Sabah Al-Ahmed Natural Reserve. The zine also includes an article on observations made by Dr. Raafat Misak during a trip he made to the desert from Jahra to Al-Shegaya. -KUNA

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Yes, they stole the camel By Hossam Fathi Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Who can ever forget the disgraceful and humiliating scene of the camels and horses attacking protestors at Tahrir Square on Feb. 2, 2011? This battle was later known as the ‘battle of the camel’, where Mubarak’s men were accused of masterminding this crime, regardless of Egypt’s image before international media cameras that showed the world how the National Democratic Party was attacking unarmed civilians. During this battle, 11 people died and 2000 were injured. Cases were filed and investigations committees were formed to hand the guilty to justice; but the file that has all the papers concerning that day simply vanished. This file was stolen by Mubarak’s men, who still hold senior positions in the government. Those men do not mind being used as a doormat for Mubarak and the tight circle around him, since they believe that this will make Mubarak and his circle respect them for their deeds. What these men are unaware of, is that they are sinking further and further into shame and disgrace, which makes animals look at them condescendingly. Why did they do that? How can they live with what they have done? hossam@alwatan.com.kw Twitter:@hossamfathy66

Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for Iraq attacks BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda’s front group in Iraq claimed Wednesday it was behind a wave of attacks that killed 46 people across the country and said the violence shows how weak government security is heading into next week’s Arab League summit in Baghdad. The attacks on Tuesday struck Shiite pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala, set cars on fire near a police headquarters in Kirkuk and targeted security forces and government officials in Baghdad. In all, insurgents struck eight cities in just under six hours, killing 46 and wounding 200 people. The statement by the Islamic State of Iraq, posted on a militant website Wednesday, said its “Sunni lions” targeted the plan of the “fool government preparing” for the summit. “Within few hours, all the security measures adopted by the Shiite government have collapsed and the enemy was taken by surprise,” said the statement. “Several government and security headquarters were attacked.” The government vowed not to be scared off from hosting the summit - the first to take place in Iraq since 1990 and a chance to prove it is moving toward normalcy after years of war. On Wednesday, a bomb exploded near a liquor store in central Baghdad and wounded five passersby, said police and a hospital medic. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. The government said last week that Iraq would deploy an unprecedented number of security forces to protect the capital for the summit. An estimated 26,000 police and soldiers - including more than 4,000 from Iraq’s north and south - are expected to be deployed in Baghdad. But citizens and lawmakers have questioned whether Baghdad would be safe during the Arab meeting. Extremists have launched large-scale attacks in Iraq every few weeks for nearly a year. The violence now is nowhere as frequent as it was during the tit-for-tat sectarian fighting a few years ago. But the attacks appear to be more deadly than they were before American military’s withdrawal in late December. -AP

Mauritania to hand over ex-spy chief to Libya

NOUAKCHOTT: Mauritania will hand over one of Muammar Gadhafi’s closest associates, former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senoussi, for trial in his home country, a Libyan official said Wednesday. “The Mauritanian government has given their agreement for the extradition of Abdullah Al-Senoussi to Libya so he can be judged by a fair process,” said Libyan spokesman Nasser Al-Manei. He did not say when the move might happen, but said the Libyan delegation had visited Al-Senoussi in his cell in Mauritania’s capital and confirmed his identity. The former intelligence chief is accused of attacking civilians during the uprising in Libya last year and of the 1989 bombing of a French airliner. He was considered Gadhafi’s “black box” and known to be among his inner circle of confidants. He was also the ousted leader’s brother-in-law. AlSenoussi was detained Saturday in Mauritania. The International Criminal Court, France and Libya have all said they want to prosecute Al-Senoussi. He is wanted in Libya for a number of crimes, including his alleged role in the Abu Salim prison massacre of more than 1,200 prisoners by Gadhafi’s regime in 1996. Judges at the Netherlands-based ICC issued an arrest warrant for Al-Senoussi last June on two counts of crimes against humanity - murder and persecution - for allegedly masterminding attacks on civilians in the early days of the uprising that eventually toppled Gadhafi from power. Mauritania is not a member of the court. The court also indicted Gadhafi but the ousted leader was killed by rebel fighters in October. Libyan authorities say they want to put Seif Al-Islam, one of Gadhafi’s sons, on trial at home instead of turning him over him to the court. Libyan officials are currently holding Seif Al-Islam, who was arrested in November by fighters in Libya’s remote southern desert. The former heir apparent has been held largely without access to the outside world ever since. France convicted Al-Senoussi and five other Libyans in absentia and sentenced them to life in prison in France for the 1989 bombing of a passenger jet over Niger that killed all 170 people on board including 54 French people. The French government asked last year that he be handed over to France when captured. -AP

THURSDAY, march 22, 2012

UN tells Syria to back peace moves; violence rages

AMMAN: The UN Security Council, including Russia, agreed on Wednesday to a statement endorsing efforts by Kofi Annan to end the Syrian uprising, providing a rare moment of global unity in the face of the year-long crisis. The statement, which threatens Syria with unspecified “further steps” if it fails to comply with a six-point peace plan drawn up by Annan, will be formally adopted in New York later in the day, diplomats said. Although the original Western-drafted statement had to be diluted at Russia’s demand, editing out any specific ultimatums, the fact that all major powers signed up to the proposal represented a blow to President Bashar Al-Assad, who is fighting for his survival. At least 8,000 people have died in the revolt, according to UN figures, with the violence intensifying in recent weeks as progovernment forces bombard rebel towns and villages, looking to sweep their lightly armed opponents out of their strongholds. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that the crisis was alarming and had “massive repercussions” for the entire world. “We do not know how events will unfold. But we do know that we all have a responsibility to work for a resolution of this profound and extremely dangerous crisis,” Ban said in a speech in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Syria lies in a pivotal position at the heart of a web of regional conflicts in the Middle East, comprising a mix of faiths, sects and ethnic groups, and diplomats fear the rebellion is degenerating into a full-blown civil war. Al-Assad’s forces have chalked up a string of gains as they turned their firepower on areas held by rebels, but the fighting shows no sign of abating and analysts expect the insurgents to change their tactics and adopt guerrilla warfare. Opposition activists said the army used tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft guns on the Damascus suburbs of Harasta and Irbin early Wednesday, which were retaken from rebels two months ago but have seen renewed insurgency in recent days. Elsewhere the army fired mortars into the Khalidiya district of Homs, while artillery targeted the rebel town of Rastan, north of Homs city, in central Syria. Video also showed shelling of the ancient Apamea castle at Qalat Mudiq, near Hama. Reports from Syria cannot be independently verified because officials have barred access to rights groups and journalists. Russia and China have vetoed two previous UN draft resolutions that would have condemned Damascus and have resisted calls from Western and Arab states for Al-Assad to stand down. But faced by growing global outrage at the bloodshed, the

Syrian Kurd citizens who live in Lebanon chant slogans against the Syrian regime as they celebrate the Nowruz day in Beirut, Lebanon, March 21, 2012. (AP)

two countries agreed to a so-called “presidential statement”, which are generally non-binding documents that nonetheless require unanimous support in the Security Council. The move came days after Annan, the UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, had told the Security Council that Damascus’s response to his plans for peace were disappointing and had urged the international community to lay side its divisions. His plan calls for a cease-fire, political dialogue between the government and opposition, and full access for aid agencies. The last time the Security Council passed a presidential

statement on Syria was August 2011, although council members reached a rare unanimous agreement on informal remarks to the press on March 1 to rebuke Damascus for not allowing UN humanitarian aid chief Valerie Amos into the country. Shortly after the Council approved those remarks to the press, Amos was allowed to visit Damascus. The latest Council agreement came after Moscow had adopted a new, sharper tone with Syria, a long-time ally and home to Russia’s only naval base outside the former Soviet Union. -Reuters

Group calls for protection for UAE museum workers

DUBAI: Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged Emirati development companies and Western cultural institutions building branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim in the United Arab Emirates to do more to curtail abuses of Asian migrant workers involved in the landmark multibillion dollar project. The New York-based group said that although those behind the museum projects in Abu Dhabi have made important commitments, “protection gaps remain,” such as a failure to reimburse workers for recruiting fees, which often take months or years to repay. They are “the single greatest factor in creat-

ing conditions of forced labor,” Human Rights Watch said in an 85-page report on the ambitious projects on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. Along with the Louvre and the Guggenheim, the island will also include a satellite campus of New York University, a maritime museum and a futuristic-looking performing arts center. More than 11,000 construction workers, many of them migrant laborers from Asia, are currently involved in the construction projects on Saadiyat, according to developers. “For too long, migrant workers in the UAE have toiled in abusive conditions, with private

and public developers showing little concern,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Now, finally, Emirati developers and their international partners have stepped up to the plate on Saadiyat Island to start to protect workers, but they will need to do more to curtail the abuses,” she said. The group said that since its first report on labor conditions on Saadiyat island in 2009, measures have been taken “to ensure regular payment of wages, rest breaks and days off, and employer-paid medical insurance.” The project’s developer, Abu Dhabi’s Tour-

Egypt’s Brotherhood eyes end to Gaza blockade

said it should go via Israel, the Hamas and Brotherhood sources said. Officials at the Egyptian oil ministry could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood might make a policy U-turn and contest May’s presidential election, senior members said on Wednesday, as the group had yet to see a name among the declared candidates it was prepared to back. The Brotherhood, which dominated the first parliamentary vote after Hosni Mubarak’s ouster last year, had said it would not run in what is billed as Egypt’s first free and fair presidential race. The first round of voting is on May 23-24. The group instead said it would endorse one of the other candidates running. Analysts said the Brotherhood did not want to run to avoid alienating those in the electorate who are wary about Islamists sweeping the new political scene. But the Brotherhood has yet to declare support for any of the candidates who have lined up so far and who include Amr Moussa, a former Arab League chief who describes himself as a liberal nationalist, and Abdel Moneim Abol Fotoh, who was expelled from the Brotherhood when he defied the ban on running. “The Brotherhood might choose to back one of its own as a presidential candidate for Egypt given the lack of choices,” Medhat Hadad, a member of the group’s Shura Council which decides on policy, told Reuters. “Of those who applied already, the Brotherhood has not found a presidential candidate it is willing to support,” he said. -Reuters

ism Development and Investment Co., said the company “continues to be deeply committed to safeguarding worker welfare on its projects.” In a statement Wednesday, TDIC said the company shares the group’s concern on the high fees migrant works are paying for recruitment fees to obtain jobs. The fees frequently trap workers, who mostly come from the poorest corners of countries in South East Asia, in debt. The practice, “unfortunately, continues to be a challenge,” TDIC said. However, it mainly occurs in the worker’s country of origin, “making it an extremely difficult problem to address from the UAE,” it added. -AP

Israel threatens to deport South Sudanese

JERUSALEM: Four years ago, the wives of the leaders of Israel and Egypt used their clout to help an African family reunite with a child who vanished in a hail of gunfire as they stole across the Egyptian border into Israel. The child’s dramatic arrival in Israel drew attention to the plight of the tens of thousands of Africans who have come to Israel seeking prosperity and asylum in the Jewish state. That family is among hundreds of South Sudanese Israel plans to expel this month. With the establishment of an independent state of South Sudan in July, Israel is intent on repatriating them and the other 700 to 2,000 South Sudanese who live here. Those who leave voluntarily will be given plane tickets and 1,300 US dollars. So far, 50 people have applied to leave, said William Tall of the United Nation’s High Commission of Refugees. Tall said the UN has asked Israel to ensure South Sudanese can individually petition to stay in Israel. An Israeli Interior Ministry spokeswoman wasn’t available to say if individuals could request asylum status. Venus Mahroum was three years old when her mother lost her after Egyptian soldiers opened fire at a group of Sudanese trying to sneak into Israel across its desert frontier with Egypt’s Sinai desert. Aliza Olmert, the wife of then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, heard about the family’s plight and appealed to Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of Egypt’s since-deposed ruler, Hosni Mubarak, to find the child in Egypt and send her to Israel. “We were afraid she was killed in the desert,” said her father Cassiase Mahroum, 32. “If Aliza Olmert had not stood beside us, we never would have found her.” The Mahroums are among about 50,000 Africans who have entered Israel since 2005, seeking sanctuary from conflict and poverty in the prosperous Jewish state. Most are from war torn Sudan and impoverished Eritrea. The country’s Jewish majority is divided over what to do with them. Some believe Israel, which emerged from the ashes of the Holocaust, must offer refuge, and challenge the government’s sweeping description of most of them as economic migrants and not asylum seekers. Others say they have become an unsustainable burden - some 17,000 entered in 2011 alone - straining social services and diluting the ‘Jewish character’ of the country of 7.7 million. -AP

Car bomb rocks Mogadishu, Al-Shabaab says responsible

A boy looks at a car bomb after it exploded at a busy street in Somalia’s war-torn capital on March 21, 2012. (AFP)

MOGADISHU: A car bomb exploded in the heart of the Somali capital on Wednesday, wounding two people in an attack Somalia’s Al-Shabaab rebel group said was carried out by its militants. The blast, which triggered bursts of gunfire in Mogadishu, was the latest in a wave of bomb attacks in the country where the embattled UN-backed government is struggling to secure the city against Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist rebels. “We were behind the car bomb explosion. We targeted security forces,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, a spokesman for Al-Shabaab’s military operations, told Reuters. The blast happened in Mogadishu’s busy administrative district, near the bustling Kilometre 4 road (K4) junction. Police said four suspects had been detained and that they were investigating a second suspicious vehicle in the city. There has been a surge in suicide bombings and remotely detonated blasts in Mogadishu since Al-Shabaab pulled most of its fighters out of the coastal city in August, vowing to turn increasingly to Al-Qaeda-inspired tactics. Al-Shabaab

carried out a truck bombing in October which killed more than 70 people, the group’s deadliest attack since the start of their rebellion in 2007. A spate of smaller attacks has followed. The militants have been weakened in past months, on the back foot against African Union soldiers in Mogadishu and after losing territory to Kenyan and Ethiopian forces in southern and central Somalia. There are also signs of growing internal divisions within the rebel ranks. Piracy has also flourished in the chaos of the last two decades. OnWednesday, pirates freed British hostage Judith Tebbutt more than six months after shooting dead her husband, after receiving a ransom. In Mogadishu, witnesses told Reuters the car laden with explosives had been parked on Mogadishu’s Maka Al-Mukarram road which links K4 to the presidential palace, arousing the suspicions of security forces who blocked off traffic. “We got a man with the remote control seconds after he detonated the car. We also arrested three other suspects,” police spokesman Abdullahi Barise said. -Reuters

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WORLD

thursdAY, march 22, 2012

Parcel bomb explodes outside Indonesian embassy in Paris JAKARTA/PARIS: A homemade bomb exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris early Wednesday, causing some serious damage but no injuries, a source close to the enquiry said. Witnesses saw three men leave a package near the building in the west of the French capital. Somebody noticed the package and moved it some 10 meters (yards) away before fleeing, a source close to the enquiry said. The bomb exploded minutes later at around 5:45 am (0445 GMT) “an hour or so before people would be out on the streets,” causing significant damage including blowing out windows within a 50-metre radius, the source said. No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Police and fire fighters were rushed to the area and sealed off the road where the blast occurred. In Jakarta, Teuku Faizasyah, Indonesian presidential spokesman on foreign affairs, said the government there had been informed of a

bomb incident. “But it’s not clear whether it was only a bomb threat or a bomb explosion. We’re still looking for clarity on whether we were the target or not,” he added. “I don’t want to speculate, but there was a remote case in Paris before, which was a local issue. In the mid-2000s there was a case of a small bomb explosion at the Indonesian embassy in Paris. It turned out to be a local incident, and nothing to do with a national threat.” Coordinating Security Minister Djoko Suyanto told AFP: “This is being investigated by the Indonesian embassy in Paris with coordination with local authorities.” “The Indonesian ambassador in Paris reported that the explosion took place at one of the crossroads near the embassy at 5:20 am.We don’t know the target of the bomb. The ambassador is at the location but he can’t go near. “The windows were broken but there’s no report yet of Indonesian or staff casualties. We are still waiting for developments,” he added. -AFP

French policemen near the Indonesian embassy (building on the left) in Paris, March 21. (Reuters)

Firemen work on removing part of a bridge that fell on a bus during a 7.6 earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico, March 20. (EPA)

Scores of the houses damaged were in Ometepec, a town close to the epicenter of the quake in Guerrero, the state that is home to the popular Pacific beach resort Acapulco. In neighboring Oaxaca, 68 mud-brick houses were damaged and at least five people were injured, one of them seriously, in the area around the town of Pinotepa Nacional near the Pacific coast, local emergency services said. Some buildings in the capital’s trendy district of Condesa were cracked by the earthquake, and residents raced out of buildings with young children and dogs in their arms. “I swear I never felt one so strong, I thought the building was going to collapse,” said Sebastian Herrera, 42, a businessman from a Mexico City neighborhood hit hard in 1985. Television images showed part of a bridge collapsed onto a vehicle on the outskirts of Mexico City. Mayor Ebrard said no one was injured and that helicopter flyovers showed there was no sign of major damage in the capital. President Felipe Calderon also said there were no reports of serious damage, and experts said the impact did not look severe. Eqecat, a disaster modeling company whose software is used by insurers to predict exposure to natural disasters, estimated insured losses from the quake at less than $100 million. Fear gripped many Mexico City locals when the quake hit. Mexico City’s international airport was operating normally and only a couple of flights to the United States were temporarily grounded, a spokesman said. State oil company Pemex said all its installations on the Pacific coast were operating normally, including the country’s largest 330,000-barrel-per-day capacity Salina Cruz refinery. -AP

Uruguay nurses killed out of pity and malice, says lawyer MONTEVIDEO: One of the Uruguayan nurses who confessed to killing 16 patients did so to halt their suffering, his defense lawyer said, accusing the other of having acted out of disgust at their infirmities. The nurses had treated patients for more than a decade, raising fears the final death toll could rise and leading countless families to wonder whether their relatives had died from natural deaths or been murdered by their caregivers. Ines Massiotti, the defense attorney for Ariel Acevedo, 46, said late Tuesday that her client, who was jailed Sunday after confessing to killing 11 patients, had said that he killed them “so they would not have to suffer more.” “Ines, I have worked in the ICU for 20 years and have seen thousands of people die. What happened to me? I don’t know. I think I believed in God,” she quoted him as saying, during her interview with El Espectador radio. “Now I realize I was wrong and that I acted as though I was God... I’m sorry,” he said, according to Massiotti. But Massiotti said Marcelo Pereira, the other nurse, who is accused of killing five people at the hospital, was “evil.” Officials said earlier on Tuesday that the two male nurses took advantage of emergencies to steal drugs that they then used to commit murder. But neither police nor health officials would officially comment on the final number of murder victims. Deputy Health Minister Lionel Briozzo said at a press conference that hospitals and clinics normally keep records and control how medications are used for each patient. But “when emergency cases intervene - fairly common in intensive care centers - such as cardiac arrest or massive

NEWS IN BRIEF Victims of France shooting buried in Jerusalem JERUSALEM: Three Jewish children and a rabbi shot dead at a Jewish school in France were buried in Jerusalem on Wednesday in a funeral where one Israeli official said the attack was inspired by “wild animals made crazy by their hatred”. Their bodies were wrapped in burial shrouds in accordance with orthodox tradition after being flown overnight from France. The funeral took place in a hilltop cemetery at the entrance to Jerusalem as police in the French city of Toulouse lay siege to a house where the suspected shooter, who claimed to be a member of Al-Qaeda, was holed up. -AP

Tibet protest monk dies in detention

Big earthquake rattles Mexico, no major damage

MEXICO CITY: A major earthquake struck Mexico late on Tuesday, unleashing panic as it damaged hundreds of buildings and caused homes in the capital to bounce like “trampolines”. Office workers fled into the street when the 7.4magnitude quake shook Mexico City for more than a minute. Cell phone lines went down, buildings were evacuated, traffic snarled and the stock exchange had to suspend trading early. At least 11 people were injured, the Interior Ministry said. The quake hit hardest in the southwestern state of Guerrero, where around 800 houses were damaged, officials said. The state governor Angel Aguirre said he had reports of homes being knocked down, though state authorities could not confirm this. The tremor was one of the strongest to hit the country since the devastating 8.1-magnitude earthquake of 1985, which killed thousands in Mexico City. Mexico’s interior ministry said the country would remain on high alert for the next 24 hours after 18 aftershocks to the quake were registered. Some were above magnitude 5. Still, no deaths were reported on Tuesday and there were major disruptions to air travel or to oil installations. But it scared many residents and temporarily cut off electricity to 2.5 million users in the capital. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said some rails of the subway system moved as a result of the tremor while leaks at three aqueducts feeding the eastern portion of the capital would leave hundreds of thousands of homes with no water for at least a day. Martha Suarez, an Argentine living in Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood said she had never known anything like it. “My TV set fell over, the building felt like it was on a trampoline. This one was like no other I have felt before,” Suarez said, holding her little dog close.

bleeding, immediate resuscitation measures are started (and) control is set aside to address the importance of giving immediate medication to save a life,” he said. The system for safeguarding medication did not fail, Briozzo said, but there were “persons who, instead of reviving people, were speculating about how to steal drugs to keep them and then kill other people.” Police arrested the two nurses on Sunday and charged them with murdering patients at a private Neurological Intensive Care Center and at a public hospital’s intermediate-level care unit. The health ministry on Tuesday opened a probe of hospital management with help from experts with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). “Nobody could anticipate from the health point of view a criminal epidemic,” said Eduardo Levcovitz, PAHO’s representative in Uruguay. Health officials said they are looking into installing cameras at some hospital sites to monitor patient care, to be used only in cases of emergency like an airplane’s “black box.” Miriam Rodriguez, the daughter of Santa Gladys Lemos - a 74 year-old diabetic woman who was about to be released but died after one of the nurses treated her - said there could be many more victims. Rodriguez told AFP she got a call Sunday from a judge, who told her that her mother’s death had not been natural. “The judge told us that there were lots of people, scores, scores of deaths,” she said, adding that she was “disgusted” by what she says is a cover-up by hospital workers. Health Minister Jorge Venegas on Monday described the suspects as “serial killers,” and promised far-reaching inspections of both private and public medical facilities. -AFP

Cameron says could privatize some roads

LONDON: The cash-strapped government could lease chunks of its road network to the private sector as Prime Minister David Cameron seeks to improve the country’s infrastructure to stop it falling further behind its competitors. The move to seek help from sovereign wealth funds and private investors came after news Cameron had only managed to secure two billion pounds from pension funds for new projects by 2013 - far short of a 20 billion pound target. “The truth is, we are falling behind, falling behind our competitors,” Cameron told an audience of engineers in London. “There is now an urgent need to repair the decades-long degradation of our national infrastructure ... We need to look urgently at the options for getting large-scale private investment into the national roads network from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and other investors.” Cameron said his Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, due to publish its 2012 budget and economic updates on Wednesday, would look at introducing more tolling on new roads. Britain has only one toll on a major highway, the 27-mile M6 toll Birmingham relief road. Despite the lower-than-projected use of that road, analysts and some investors said the possibility of introducing more tolls could prove attractive. “They are slightly more risky, compared to say a regulated utility or contracted power station - they are more economically sensitive,” said Surinder Toor, European head of infrastructure at JPMorgan Asset Management. “But this is core infrastructure, and we would be interested in schemes involving the existing road networks.” However, critics said expanding Britain’s road network with private cash would not solve congestion problems and could drive up costs for motorists. “Building and widening roads to tackle congestion is a dead-end policy that will simply lead to more traffic, more pollution and even more gridlocked roads,” said Andrew Pendleton, Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns. “The prime minister should be promoting alternatives to driving such as affordable buses and trains - and reduce our transport system’s reliance on expensive overseas oil.” The changes to how Britain’s roads are managed could mimic those made to water supply, where private sector capital funds independently regulated firms. A government investigation into the idea will report in the autumn after examining several options, including the possibility of using road taxes to help fund private investment. Last November, Britain announced plans to invest 30 billion pounds in major construction projects over the next few years, with two-thirds of the money set to come from pension funds. The government is pushing through austerity measures to reduce a record peacetime public deficit, and Cameron admitted there was not enough money for further widescale, publicly funded road improvements. The Conservative party, which Cameron leads, privatized the country’s rail network in the 1990s, and has advocated a greater role for the private sector in the National Health Service as well as in schools. -Reuters

China orders lawyers to pledge allegiance to Communist Party

BEIJING: China’s Justice Ministry has ordered lawyers to take a loyalty oath to the Communist Party, in an unusual move that has drawn condemnation from attorneys worried about the government’s attempts to rein them in. The ministry issued a notice on Wednesday demanding that first-time applicants and lawyers who want to renew their licenses have to take the oath. The oath was necessary to “firmly establish among the vast circle of lawyers faith in socialism with Chinese characteristics ... and effectively improve the quality of lawyers’ political ideology”, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. “I promise to faithfully fulfill the sacred mission of socialism with Chinese characteristics ... loyalty to the motherland, its people, and uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China,” lawyers must say under the oath. This is the first time that lawyers have been required to pledge allegiance to the Party in an oath, Mo Shaoping, a prominent human rights lawyer, said. The Party has always been wary of lawyers, who they suspect could challenge one-party rule through the advocacy of the rule of law. “I think it’s inappropriate,” Mo told Reuters by telephone. “As a lawyer, you should only pay attention to the law and be faithful to your client.” The new rule comes as Communist Party chiefs are preparing for a tricky leadership handover later this year, when the party’s long-standing focus on fending off political challenges is likely to intensify. “If the oath says you must be faithful to the Communist Party and accept the leadership of the Party, that may exclude many other people in the legal profession who belong to other political parties or have other religious beliefs,” Mo said. “The oath will hurt the development of the Chinese legal system.” Over the past decade, a loose network of lawyers has sought to use litigation mixed with publicity to challenge laws and policies restricting citizens’ movements and rights to protest. -AFP

KATHMANDU: A 20-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk has died in detention after he set himself on fire in a town in southwest China that has become a flashpoint for such protests, a US-based rights group said Wednesday. Lobsang Tsultrim, a monk from the Kirti monastery in Aba town, died on Monday after setting himself alight last week, the International Campaign for Tibet said, citing Tibetan monks now living in exile in India. The news could not be independently confirmed and local government officials contacted by AFP said they did not know anything about the monk’s death. -AFP

Myanmar invites US, EU, UN election observers NYAPIDAW: Myanmar has invited election observers from the United States, the European Union and the United Nations for its closely watched by-elections next month, a government official said on Wednesday. They would join about two dozen poll observers being sent by fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “It will be like a joint team with ASEAN, the EU, the US and the UN,” the Myanmar official, who did not want to be named, told AFP. “It will be up to the countries whether they send people from overseas or inside Myanmar,” he said, without specifying how many observers would be allowed for the April 1 polls. -AFP

US military jet crashes in South Korea, pilot safe

SEOUL: A US military F-16 jet crashed in southern South Korea Wednesday during a training mission but its pilot ejected to safety, US authorities said. The plane crashed into a rice paddy around noon (0300 GMT) near a US air base in the western port city of Gunsan, the US military said in a statement. “The (lone) pilot safely ejected before the plane crashed. Emergency response teams are on scene at this time,” it said. There were no casualties or serious damage on the ground, a US air force spokesman said, adding details would be released later. A local fire station officer in Seocheon county near Gunsan said previously the pilot was injured and taken away by ambulance. The officer had identified the aircraft involved as an A-10 tank buster. The crash came as South Korean and US troops stage an annual joint military exercise, called Foal Eagle, from March 1 to April 30. It was unclear if the F-16 was involved in the drill. -AFP

ALWATAN DAILY

OPINION

THURSDAY, march 22, 2012

What a danger chaos is!! Dr. Shamlan Yousef Al-Esa

he recent events and statements in the country indicate that we will live through a stage of losing control and balance wherein the country is swept by chaos and disrespect to authority through insulting the icons of the country. Such crises that sweep the country include one joint factor which is provocation which is usually practiced by MPs wherein the MPs have already incited civil servants to stage strikes and breaking laws. In the meantime we can witness a remarkable absence of the authority of the government and law. We have to admit that our democratic practices are wrong and failing because we are interested in the peel and ignore the core of democracy. Democracy is not merely elections, requests and criticizing the government but democracy is a way of life. It is a process of rational and cultural practices and the most important factor for success of democracy is solidifying the values of freedom, equality

Applying laws is an axiomatic matter!

and belief in pluralism as well as tolerance and respecting laws because freedom and pluralism will be turned into chaos if laws are not enforced and people did not abide by them. So, we wonder how MPs release dangerous statements on different issues like that which were released in Al-Shahoumi Diwaniya recently in which the MP Musallam Al-Barrak said if the government doesn’t take action against the TV channel that stirs sedition then we will hold the government accountable. The MP Obaid Al-Wasmi said “respect us in order to respect you” then he addressed the ruling family saying “stop your ribald”. The MP Menawer said we will never accept any procedures that do not stipulate withdrawing the license of the TV channel. The MP Bader Al-Azmi said “we will make

Oh, man we want Mubarak Port

Iran is stirring sectarian sedition in Basra!!!

Staff Writer

Iran is intervening in your interior affairs!!!

You see... Iran prevents you from benefiting from Shatt al-Arab!!

But we just want Mubarak Port

Oh man, we just want Mubarak port

Alright... who told you that Mubarak Port is yours

Iran ...... Mmmm .... No, no, no ..... I don`t remember ..... Yes, we want Mubarak Port!!

Mohmmed Thallab

mthallab@alwatan.com.kw

House of Al-Assad on verge of collapsing soon Fuad Al-Hashem Staff Writer

Al-Qallaf learn a lesson and make him know his social status”. The Head of Municipal Council Zaid Al-Azmi said if the government rejects closing the TV channel then we will treat the matter by our own arms”. We hope the readers would read the statements of our MPs and when they are read all will notice that MPs did not speak about respecting the constitution and they want to apply laws by themselves!!! They also want just to close the TV without calling to refer its employees who were in charge of broadcasting the TV interview to judiciary. Such a case ought to be referred to the judiciary and then the judiciary will consider the case and decide whether the accusation are false or true in addition to bringing offenders to justice. What I want to highlight here is the idea that if the

real lawmakers of the country don’t respect laws and don’t abide, then how we can we believe their pledges and promises. Let us compare the statements of the MPs and the statement of Bin Jamae himself in Al-Shahoumi Diwaniya. The chief Bin Jamae said “we don’t want to create chaos in Kuwait and make it look like Lebanon. The law has died when it is applied on the MP Obaid Al-Wasmi and it was not applied on many other people.” I hope the MPs to apply laws and abide to the pledge: “we respect His Highness the Amir of Kuwait and the country, therefore we reject any kind of violence”. “We will never become involved in sedition even if the others plan to make us involved in it”. “Don’t attack the ribald and we forgive”. These are great words released by a wise man and such statements should be released by the lawmakers as well. Finally, Kuwait is a state of law and constitutional leadership and all of us should exert all possible efforts to avoid escalation. We also have to respect laws and the constitution.

BU QUTADA & BU NABIL

Rashed Al-Radaan

e cannot say that the cause of chaos that we undergo at the present time is the absence of law or not applying laws properly upon all people. The matter of applying laws is an axiomatic one, but there are other important issues such as disrespect. In the near past the different media means were respecting elders, icons and famous personalities and they did not criticize them except through certain respected rules as criticism was aiming at reform and developing the country.The situation is different now wherein people attack and insult each other as well as insulting icons. The target of some youths and most MPs is not reform or to submit constructive criticism but they aim just to humiliate ministers and other icons. We could consider the latest event or the statement of Al-Qallaf. If Al-Qallaf expressed his opinion clearly about the Chief of Awazem tribe, especially his role in the last parliamentary election then nothing would have happened and sarcastic criticism is a dominating characteristic in our society. At the present time, the youths who tweet on twitter say to each other if you want to get respected by ministers and MPs then you have to insult others!! We feel sorry for such bad behaviors. So, we really need to re-consider our social affairs as the number of people who talk inappropriately and use bad words in the past was very few but nowadays the number is doubled many times. In the past people used to avoid talking inappropriately about the prominent figures or politicians unlike the present time where people abandoned our good values and traditions through insulting each other and using very bad words and statements to humiliate the others. Furthermore, some youths formed teams just to determine a figure then they attack the very figure and humiliate him. I believe that such things occur because some people want to settle scores with others although such practices influence the state and social stability. The youths will also become influenced by such resentful practices because they imitate persons who speak publicly and some of whom have gotten used to deceiving others. Insulting others in Kuwait is not free, it is paid and there is a certain price for it like any other commodity!!!

Democracy is not merely elections, requests and criticizing the government but democracy is a way of life.

bout two years ago, while strolling across the huge Central Park in middle of the State of New York along with an American lady who happened to be married to a very rich and affluent man, she pointed at the shrubs covered by the white snow creating a magnificent and fantastic scenic picture for all to see. The American lady said that those trees were given to the people of the United States as a present some one hundred years ago. She added that the people were so amazed by the berries that the eastern coast of the United States had become famous for it. The lady paused for a while and then added how ashamed she feels about her country as the people impatiently wait for March of each year to see the Japanese gift to the people of the United States adding that they are so well known that Americans from different states come and visit New York to see those trees. I exclaimed and asked why she would feel ashamed when she had already expressed her admiration at the trees and the Japanese gift. She rightly replied that the Japanese presented the Americans a century ago with such a beautiful and natural gift for their eyes to enjoy and in return the United States sent them two devastating bombs landing on Nagasaki and Hiroshima which killed more than a quarter

of a million. “Should we feel ashamed at what we did?” she asked. Clearly what she said is true and there is no question about that. But deception, lies, greed and denial are all over the place. Moving to another topic and this time it is local. I would like to express my deepest wishes to see His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah appearing on the silver screen to deliver a speech during which he explains to the public the ins and outs of what is happening in the country in terms of strikes and other controversial issues which the country has been going through for a good period of time. I would really like to see him on TV outlining the issues and listen to his proposals and suggestions as well as the mechanisms he is planning to adopt and employ in order to put an end to such problematic areas. I would very much like to hear the tone of His Highness the Prime Minister’s voice. I am saying this since we do not get to see him very often so the least we can ask for is for him to show up on TV and tell us what is going on. Am I asking for too much? Now let us move to Egypt. The distinguished Egyptian novelist Yousef Al-Qaid said in a press interview published in the Good Morning magazine Tuesday February 28 of this year that one Salafist sometime ago said that they would gather some atheists in the country then tie them up to a pole in the middle of the Meidan, the Square in the capital

city, until they find out the truth about themselves. If the interview was with me rather than Al-Qaid, I would most certainly say that I too will gather some bearded people and then shove them into one of the big ovens exactly like what Hitler did to the Jews. But I would also make sure that some would be released for the rest of the people to see why I chose to burn those people to death. According to the Egyptian novelist, there were about 350 thousand Coptic Egyptians who had fled the country immediately after January 25. I may add one more useful piece of information to this and that is the Copts in Egypt have united and formed a party of their own but intriguingly named the Christian Brotherhood. It is obvious this is their way of answering the Muslim Brotherhood. Another piece of information I can add and this time is related to the passing away of the Coptic Pope Shienouda that the man died a week before the official announcement. The American doctor who examined him confirmed in his report that the Pope died a week earlier but the Coptic Church opted for late announcement to make proper preparation for a funeral which would suit his papal status. Now it is the time where we move to the Syrian front. Her name is Shahrazad and she happens to be the daughter of the Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar Al-Jaafari. So far so good! But the not-so-innocent girl had made a secret deal with western intelligence

just a few days ago. She managed to sell all the secret information related to President Bashar Al-Asad, be it personal or official. Now she, as well as her father, were promised in return to keep with a content heart, the eight million US dollars the Syrian Arab Republic deposited for the benefit and convenience of the Permanent Representation Office. The intelligence has also promised Shahrazad that she and her father would be granted the US Green Card to remain permanently in the United States. The House of Al-Asad is beginning to fall apart. Since we are talking about Syria and the endless intrigues surrounding the regime, we may as well continue with the latest inside information and this time it is related to the Syrian First Lady. Soon, the First Lady Asma AlAkhras will have her name written in the tablet of the black list. The European Union has decided to include her name. As for her British Passport, this according to a source would not give her the protection she seeks. Last but not least, an Arab president and his deputy were told that they should not think about attending the Arab Summit held in Baghdad. The two were warned that there would be an immediate threat on their lives and therefore should abandon the idea altogether. It is worth pointing out that this piece of information which was passed to the Intelligence apparatus which in turn informed their president and his deputy came from “non-Arab” intelligence!

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views

thursDAY, march 22, 2012

A pivot to the people Anne-Marie Slaughter Project Syndicate

n February first, the United Nations Security Council met to consider the Arab League’s proposal to end the violence in Syria. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton represented the United States. Midway through her remarks, she began speaking not to the Syrian ambassador, who was in the room, or even the Syrian government, but directly to the Syrian people. She said that change in Syria would require Syrians of every faith and ethnicity to work together, protecting and respecting the rights of minorities. Addressing those minorities, she continued: “We do hear your fears, and we do honor your aspirations. Do not let the current regime exploit them to extend this crisis.” She told Syria’s business, military, and other leaders that they must recognize that their futures lie with the state, not with the regime. “Syria belongs to its 23 million citizens, not to one man or his family.” Speaking directly to citizens - seeing a country’s people, as well as its government - is not just a rhetorical device. While many foreign-policy pundits have focused on the US “pivot to Asia,” Clinton has also executed a less-publicized, but no less important, pivot to the people. She has introduced policies, programs, and institutional reforms designed to support government-to-society and society-to-society diplomacy, alongside traditional government-to-government relations. These initiatives do not get headlines, but they will gradually transform much of American foreign policy. In January, the State Department unveiled a new “superoffice” of Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, under the leadership of Under-Secretary Maria Otero. The office brings together agencies that focus on international law enforcement, counter-terrorism, and reconstruction and stabilization with those charged with advancing democracy,

Much of the programming aimed at youth, women, entrepreneurs, diasporas, technologists, and other social groups is partly funded and conducted by the private sector. human rights, and humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants. Otero explains the logic behind the initiative in terms of “protecting individuals.” That, in turn, requires “not just engaging state to state,” but also working “with players and actors outside of the traditional [channels] we’ve engaged in.” Viewed from this perspective, countering terrorism includes rebutting terrorist propaganda with a strategic communications campaign. Countering narco-gang violence includes working with Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim to develop tools that allow ordinary citizens to report violence anonymously by text message and enable police to map the results. Strengthening democracy means working with the Kenyan developers of a crisis-mapping platform that allows anyone with a cell phone to text information about election fraud or violence to a central monitoring station. On a country-by-country basis, pivoting to the people means engaging with Egypt’s bloggers as well as with the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces; convening young entrepreneurs in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco and connecting them to funding and mentoring; and using social media in Russia to rebut government efforts to smear the US ambassador. And, working at an official level, it means cosponsoring with Brazil the Open Government Partnership, which brings together governments committed to increasing

transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, and uses mutual peer pressure and open reporting to hold them to their commitments. Thinking about countries in these comprehensive terms also provides a different strategic perspective. Clinton has created a raft of new positions at the State Department to spur outreach to different social segments. The strategies and programs developed by the Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, the Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues, the Senior Adviser for Civil Society and Emerging Democracies, the Special Representative for Outreach to Muslim Communities, the Special Representative for Global Partnerships, and the Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs often present a very different face of the US. As a result, Clinton has launched an actual strategic dialogue with civil society. For example, Ambassador Melanne Verveer has attended more than 1,000 events around the world focused on empowering women in areas ranging from peace negotiations to farming. Similarly, she has launched programs such as mWomen, designed to expand and support mobile technology that increases women’s independence, security, and access to health care and vital knowledge. The Office of Global Youth Affairs is building a local youth council at every US embassy around the world, to advise and help to implement embassy programming aimed at local youth.

City water for all

Much of the programming aimed at youth, women, entrepreneurs, diasporas, technologists, and other social groups is partly funded and conducted by the private sector. Indeed, the Obama administration’s National Security Strategy mentions “public-private partnerships” more than 30 times. Clinton created the Global Partnership Initiative to build as many coalitions, networks, and partnerships as possible with corporations, foundations, NGOs, universities, and other civic organizations. Here, the pivot to the people includes the American people: the dynamism, creativity, and resources of American business and non-profit organizations already engaged around the world. One privately-funded initiative spearheaded by the State Department will send 300 dogwood trees to Japan this spring, to be planted in the tsunami-affected region and in Tokyo to express the American people’s support for the Japanese people; another will send English teachers throughout Southeast Asia. After participating in the Friends of Syria conference in Tunis, Clinton convened a town hall meeting with Tunisian youth. In her opening remarks, she told her audience that “young people are at the heart of today’s great strategic opportunities and challenges.” Speaking about her lifetime efforts to put “women’s empowerment on the international agenda,” she added, “It’s time to put youth empowerment there as well.” The implications of all of this activity, which Clinton calls “twenty-first-century statecraft,” are profound. From now on, US diplomatic relations with other countries will engage directly with their people and connect them to the American people as much as possible. From the perspective of US diplomats, the people of every country stand on the same footing as their government. That assumption is the heart of democracy; it is a revolution for diplomacy. * Anne-Marie Slaughter, a former director of policy planning in the US State Department (2009-2011), is Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Rajoy’s ploys risk stoking cynicism Hugo Dixon Reuters

An Indian woman carries drinking water on the outskirts of Jammu, India, Wednesday, March 21, 2012. (AP) Peter Brabeck-Letmathe Asit K. Biswas Project Syndicate

ow many people in the world’s towns and cities can drink the water in their tap without risking their health? The answer is probably impossible to determine. Indeed, the United Nations uses the term “improved” sources of water to describe what is supplied in many urban areas around the world. Unfortunately, “improved” does not always mean “clean” or “safe.” The 2012 update of the World Health Organization’s report Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation estimates that at least 96 percent of urban dwellers in emerging economies like China, India, Thailand, and Mexico have access to “improved” sources of water. And yet a study carried out by the Asian Institute of Technology found that less than three percent of Bangkok’s residents drink water directly from the tap, because they do not trust its quality. Visit any major city in an emerging economy, from Mexico City to Mumbai, and you will be hard pressed to find anyone who believes that the water piped into their homes is fit to drink. Estimates by the Third World Center for Water Management indicate that more than two billion people do not trust the quality of the water to which they have access. It doesn’t have to be like this. In the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, one official has shown that good management of this precious resource can make a difference. When Ek Sonn Chan became Director-General of the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority nearly 20 years ago, the city had a dismal water supply, with nearly 83 percent lost to leakages and unauthorized connections. With a low-key but firm management style, Chan began to turn things around. He built up the Authority’s capacity by training and rewarding his most effective staff and refusing to tolerate corruption. After just a year on the job, the Authority’s technical and performance

In the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, one official has shown that good management of this precious resource can make a difference. indicators started to improve. Fifteen years after he took over, annual water production had increased by more than 400 percent, the water distribution network had grown by more than 450 percent, and the customer base had increased by more than 650 percent. Today, the Authority says that there are no unauthorized connections in Phnom Penh. Losses from the water system are just over five percent, similar to what one would find in Singapore or Tokyo, two of the best water-supply systems in the world. Thames Water, a utility in Britain, reported losses in 2010 that were five times that rate. By most performance indicators, Phnom Penh now has a better water-supply system than London or Washington, DC. Perhaps more remarkable is that Phnom Penh’s water-supply business model works. All consumers are metered, and both rich and poor pay for the water that they consume, which costs 60-80 percent less than it did when people bought untreated water from private street vendors, an unreliable source in more ways than one. Today, the city’s poorest households receive drinkable piped water around the clock. The Authority recovers all of its operating costs from tariffs, and must depreciate its assets with time. More than 94 percent of supplied water is billed, and the collection rate has been close to 100 percent for more than ten years. The Authority shows that good management of urban water resources is not only financially vi-

able in emerging economies, but also benefits the whole population. All people have a right to the water that they need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. And yet, around the world, political and business leaders still make excuses for the lack of clean and safe drinking water in our towns and cities. The arguments are well rehearsed: water scarcity, lack of investment funds, the inability of the poor to pay for water, and inadequate access to technology. But, in our view, these claims are merely attempts to hide real problems. Poor governance is no excuse. Neither is the absence of political will to charge people for the water that they consume, even if doing so would ensure a more reliable supply. Cambodia has shown that you can achieve a great deal within a decade. If Phnom Penh - with all of its financial, technical, and institutional challenges - can do it, why not other urban centers in emerging markets elsewhere? * Peter Brabeck-Letmathe is Chairman of Nestlé, and Chairman of the global public-private partnership 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG). * Asit K. Biswas is the founder and president of the Third World Center for Water Management in Mexico and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Lee KuanYew School for Public Policy in Singapore and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, India.

t a dinner in Madrid earlier this month, the main complaint about Mariano Rajoy was that the new prime minister was treating the electorate like children. Many of the guests, supporters of Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP), understood that Spain had to cut its fiscal deficit and restore its competitiveness. But they didn’t like the fact that the prime minister hadn’t been frank about his plans. In advance of last November’s general election, Rajoy said he wouldn’t raise taxes, make it cheaper to fire people or cut the welfare state. But he has now done the first two. After this week’s election in Andalusia, Spain’s largest region, he is expected to do the last. Rajoy’s camp doesn’t see any problem in failing to be upfront. It would have been foolish to talk too much about austerity in the general election campaign as that might have frightened the voters. For the same reason, it would be foolish to tell them about reforming the welfare state in advance of the Andalusia election. In the long run, the failure to treat the population like adults could cause trouble. But in the short run, the strategy has paid off. The socialist party lost nearly 40 percent of its votes in the general election, not least because it had done a poor job in government. It is now expected to lose control of Andalusia, its last main bastion, according to an opinion poll by Metroscopia. Rajoy has already used the absence of any serious opposition - even a general strike called for next week doesn’t pose much threat - to push through one batch of reforms. The most important is of the labor market. He has made it cheaper for companies to fire people and largely dismantled the nationwide system of collective bargaining. The net effect will be that wages, which rose rapidly during the early years of the single currency, will fall - so restoring Spain’s competitiveness. Between end 1998 and end 2009, Spain’s unit labor costs rose 38 percent, compared to 23 percent for the euro zone as a whole. In the past two years, they have come down 4 percent. The latest labor reforms could cut wages another five percent this year, according to Fernando Fernandez, economics professor at Madrid’s IE Business School. If the trend continues for another year or so, Spain will no longer be out of kilter with its euro peers. The other main reform - cleaning up toxic loans from banks’ balance sheets following the country’s real-estate bubble - has had more mixed reviews.The government has told the industry to take provisions and stash away capital to the tune of 50 billion euros.While the number sounds high, the detailed rules mean many banks won’t need to raise capital and some of the rest could have nearly two years to do so. The government itself has been reluctant to put any more of its own money into banks. So it is trying to push weak banks into the arms of stronger ones and fill any capital shortfalls with guarantees from an underfunded deposit insurance scheme rather than with real cash. The litmus test of whether this financial jiggery-pokery works will be whether banks are able to borrow in the markets and are then willing to support economic recovery by lending to businesses and consumers. There are some positive signs:

The litmus test of whether this financial jiggerypokery works will be whether banks are able to borrow in the markets and are then willing to support economic recovery by lending to businesses and consumers.

Santander last week issued one billion euros in five-year senior debt. But most of the industry is still relying on handouts from the European Central Bank. Rajoy’s second blast of reforms will be about putting the public finances onto a sustainable basis. In 2011, the budget deficit hit 8.5 percent of gross domestic product. Spain last week reached a deal with its euro zone partners to cut it to 5.3 percent this year. Although this is not as severe as the 4.4 percent originally pledged, it will still constitute a severe squeeze. What’s more, the government remains committed to bring the deficit down to three percent next year. The prime minister has already given some ideas about what he will do. Income taxes were raised and some spending cut in an emergency budget just before the New Year. Rajoy is also putting in place a straitjacket to control the borrowing of the country’s profligate regional governments. If he wins this week’s Andalusia election, he will be in an even better position to impose his will as the vast majority of the regions will then be under the PP’s control. But more will be needed. The regions, which are responsible for education and healthcare, will probably be allowed to charge people for part of the cost. And Rajoy will have to cut the number of public-sector employees and increase taxes further in next week’s budget. Economically, this is logical. The concern is that Rajoy’s failure to be frank with the electorate could increase its cynicism. The people already have little trust in politicians of all stripes. Witness last year’s indignado movement, when hundreds of thousands of protestors took to the streets to complain. This won’t matter if the economy, which the government expects to shrink 1.7 percent this year, stabilizes next year. But what if GDP keeps shrinking, unemployment, now 23 percent, continues rising and the deficit remains stubbornly high? Spain would face renewed bond market jitters and further pressure from its euro partners to cut its deficit. Rajoy would then have to sell another dose of austerity to voters that wouldn’t believe him. Having treated them like kids, they might even throw a tantrum. * Hugo Dixon is the founder and editor of Reuters Breakingviews. The views expressed are his own.

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Libya 2257 5183 Malaysia 2255 0394/5/6 Morocco 2531 2980 / 1 Netherlands 2531 2650 Niger 2565 2943 Nigeria 2562 0278 North Korea 2532 9462 Oman 2256 1956 Pakistan 2532 7651 Philippines 2534 9099 Poland 2531 1571 Qatar 2251 3606 Republic of Botswana 2538 3619 Romania 2484 5079 Russia 2256 0427 Saudi Arabia 2240 0250 Senegal 2257 3477 Slovak Republic 2535 3895 Somalia 2539 4795 South Africa 2561 7988 South Korea 2533 9601 Spain 2532 5829 / 7 Sri Lanka 2533 9140 Switzerland 2534 0172 / 5 Syria 2539 6560 Thailand 2531 7530 Tunisia 2252 6261 Turkey 2253 1785 UAE 2535 5764 UK 2259 4320 Ukraine 2531 8507 USA 2259 1001 Venezuela 2532 4367 Vietnam 2531 1450 Yugoslavia 2532 7548 Zimbabwe 2562 1517

2257 5182 2255 0384 2531 7423 2532 6334 2564 0478 2562 0296 2535 1097 2256 1963 2532 8013 2532 9319 2531 1576 2251 3604 2539 3529 2484 8929 2252 4969 2242 0654 2254 2044 2535 3894 2539 4829 2561 7917 2531 2459 2532 5826 2533 9154 2534 0176 2539 6509 2531 7532 2252 8995 2256 0653 2259 4339 2538 0282 2532 4368 2535 1592 2532 7568 2562 1491

Police stations Tel.:

Abu Halifa 2371 7656 Ahmadi 2398 0304 Ardiya 2488 1273 Bayan 2538 7762 Dahar 2383 0500 Dahiya 2256 0855 Dasma 2253 1917 Fahaheel 2391 2959 Faiha 2255 2693 Farwaniya 2471 1977 Ferdous 2489 0583 Fintas 2390 4388 Hawalli 2264 1116 Jabriya 2531 5855 Jahra Ind. Area 2457 5565 / 2458 7392 Jahra North 2455 2295 Jleeb Al Shouyoukh 2431 1234 Keifan 2483 2839 Kheitan 2472 2590 Mina Abdullah 2326 1144 Nugra 2261 6662 Omariya 2474 2160

Ambulance

Central Adan Amiri Hospital Da’iya Fahaheel Farwaniya Farwaniya Jahra Mubarak Al Kabir Sabah Salmiya Shuaiba

23940600 / 23941455 22422366 22510854 23919098 24883000 24725149 24570583 25311437 24815000 25739011 23261927

Private Hospitals

Al-Rashid Hospital Dar Al-Shifa Hospital Hadi Clinic London Hospital Mowasat Hospital Salam Hospital

Qadsiya 2257 4386 Qurain 2542 3772 Rabiah 2474 2160 Rawda 2256 0058 Riqqa 2394 1958 Rumaithiya 2562 4123 Sabah Al-Salem 2551 7229 Sabahiya 2361 5619 Salhiya (Kuwait City) 2242 7157 Salmi 2457 6576 Salmiya 2572 6950 Salwa 2562 6950 Shamiya 2484 5953 Sharq 2244 2466 Shuaiba Ind. Area 2326 1789 Shuwaikh 2481 3726 / 2484 4842 Sulaibekhat 2487 6555 Sulaibiya 2467 0672 Sulaibiya Ind. Area 2467 2728 Surra 2531 2220 Tayma’a 2457 1700 Wafra 2381 0412 Waha 2455 7902 Zour 2395 0160

Adan General Hospital Al-Sabah Chest Hospital Al-Sabah Maternity Hospital Amiri General Hospital As’ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center Farwaniya General Hospital Ibn Sina Hospital Jahra General Hospital Mubarak Al-Kabeer General Hospital Subhan Renal Hospital Sulaibikhat Orthopedic Hospital

25624000 22802555 1828282 1883883 25726666 22533177

Private Health Centers/ Clinics

Boushahri Clinic British Medical Center Care Clinic International Clinic

Public Hospitals

cons u l a tes

Fax 2532 6274 2251 9497 2537 9212 2256 3052 2232 2430 2535 5246 2533 0882 2531 6041 2574 8389 2251 6550 2539 2106 2532 8613 2532 1453 2256 4167 2533 3341 2254 9360 2240 2971 2252 9021 2534 1007 2256 3877 2533 1179 2531 7429 2532 4198 2257 1058 2252 0763 2481 7103 2535 4707 2532 3904 2257 1192 2481 9250 2252 9868 2535 6030 2530 9401 25353316 2257 2182

centr a l 4 7 2 2 0 0 0

94904040

hospital charges

medical services

Call, sms, Email us

O n- s i t e I T s e r v i c e s

23940600 24815000 24848067 22450080

1885544 23713100 22610666 25745111

Public Health Centers/ Clinics:

Dasman Clinic Faiha Polyclinic Farwaniya Polyclinic Hawalli Polyclinic Inaya Germen Medical Center Sabah Al-Salem Clinic Salmiya Polyclinic Shamiya Clinic Shuwaikh Clinic Yarmouk Clinic

24832067 24883000 24840300 24575300 25312700 24840027 24874240

22447602 22545188 24726033 22611645 25750777 25524821 25723500 25610660 24848913 25336482

DOCTORS & DENTISTS

I N PR I VAT E PR AC T ICE

Andrology, Male Infertility and Impotence Specialist Abdullatif A. Al Salim 2533 4438

Dermatologist & Venereologists Fahad I. Al Othman 2266 5166 Taibah M. Almonayes 2573 7477 Dr. Mohamed Bo Hamra 2266 5166

Dentists & Oral Surgeons Ahmed Al Balool 2262 2211 Badri K. Al Rayes 2574 2557 Duha Al Shaqan 2264 4614 Ebraheem Behbehani 2573 0000 Farida Al Herz 2257 3883 Maria Blanaru 2573 0000 Najat Essa-Bahman 2262 4595 Najeeb Kassim 2573 9277 Salwa A. Abdulsalam 2573 0000 Kuwait Medical Center 2575 9044 / 5 Endocrinologists Latifa Al Dowaisan Kamal Abdulaziz Al Shome

Gastroenterologist Mohamed A. Al Shimali 2532 2030 - 2263 9955 Urologist Fawzi Taher Abul Ali Yousef Mehdi

2565 0064 2533 3501

General Practitioner Dina Al Rifai 2533 3501 - 2533 3502 Obstetricians & Gynecologists Samira Al Awadi 2573 8055 Ma’asouma Maksheed 2573 1275 Mohamed Gamal 2534 9077 Mai Al Snan 2532 1171

2572 8004 2532 9924

Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeons Hossam Eldin Abdulfattah 2574 5056 Abdulmohsen Mousa Jafar 2565 5535

Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Adel Quttainah

2562 5030 / 60

Ministries

Awqaf & Islamic Affairs Commerce & Industry Communications Defense Education Health Higher Education Electricity & Water Finance

2248 0000 2248 0000 2481 9033 2484 8300 2481 7702 2487 7422 2240 1300 2537 1000 2248 0000

Foreign Affairs Housing Information Justice, Legal & Administrative Affairs Energy Planning Social Affairs & Labour Public Works

2242 5141 2530 1000 2241 5301 2248 0000 2241 5201 2242 8200 2248 0000 2538 5520

RESTAURANT • Café Library Lounge Al-Manshar Rotana Hotel Tel: 23931000 Hang.Out Lounge Galleria 2000 Tel: 25755588 Song Bird Café Hilton Kuwait Resort Tel: 23725500 Chit Chat Café Restaurant Safir Hotel & Residences -Fintas Tel: 25455555 Lounge Café Safir Hotel & Residences -Fintas Tel: 25455555 The English Tea Room Sheraton Hotel Tel: 1835555 Waterlemon Al-Raya Tel: 22244797 Marina Mall Tel: 22997666 Le Pain Quotidien Palms Beach Hotel Tel: 25633684 Marina Crescent Tel: 22244942 Avenues Tel: 24954632 • Casual Dining Applebee’s Bneid Al-Gar Tel: 22407536 Fintas Tel: 23714559 Burgerhub Gulf road Tel: 22464818 Chili’s Bneid Al-Gar Tel: 22452200 Chili’s Al-Bida’a Tel: 22253120/1 Hard Rock Café Salmiya Tel: 25710004 Ruby Tuesdays Bneid Al-Gar Tel: 22444454 T.G.I. Fridays Bneid Al-Gar Tel: 22544300

• Chinese China Hut Tel: 25656226 China Express Jabriya Tel: 25342399 Salwa Tel: 25653230 China House Salmiya Tel: 25713339 / 60 China Lake Al-Blajat St. Tel: 25713072 / 3 China Town Salmiya Tel: 25652541 Greens Al-Wafra Complex Tel: 22516031

Tel: 1815050 • French Le Notre Gulf Road Tel: 25758888 • Indian Dawat Restaurant Bneid Al Gar Tel: 22411728 Abu Halifa Tel: 23724251 Al Alamia Mall, Jahra Tel: 24554642 Taal Restaurant Salmiya Beda’ Tel: 22253142 Winner’s Salmiya Tel: 25739954 Abu Halifa Tel: 23711374 / 5 Riggae Tel: 24895501 / 2 Jahra Tel: 24560088/8800

Gulf Royal Tel: 23925390-Fintas 22622556-Hawalli 25710448-Salmiya 22244795-Marina

Asha’s Tel: 22244502/3/9 Marina Crescent Tel: 24954700

Noodles Salmiya Tel: 25712233

Bukhara Sheraton Hotel Tel: 22422055

The Peacock Radisson Blu Hotel Tel: 25673000

Tourist Restaurant Kuwait City Tel: 22411702

Noodle Factory Avenues Tel: 24954751

Mugal Mahal Farwaniya Tel: 24726126/7 Fintas Tel: 23915588 Salmiya Tel: 25722223/4 Sharq Tel: 22425132

• Continental Casper & Gambini’s Kuwait City Tel: 22430054 La Marina Sharq Mall Tel: 22426672 • Fast Food Burger King Tel: 22444466 Domino’s Pizza Tel: 1800800 Hardees Tel: 1888333 KFC Tel: 1888666 Little Caesar’s Tel: 1888855 Pizza Hut

Tikka Tel: 1822833 • International Al-Bustan Radisson Blu Hotel Tel: 25673000 Al-Hamra Sheraton Hotel Tel: 22422055 Al-Marsa Restaurant Le Meridien Tel: 22510999 Atrium Restaurant Courtyard Marriott Hotel

Tel: 22997000

L I S T I N G S

Beit 7 Kuwait City Tel: 22450871 Café Rio Al-Fanar Tel: 25732226 Dunes Ritz Hotel Tel: 22499911 Failaka Al-Manshar Rotana Hotel Tel: 23931000 La Brasserie JW Marriott Tel: 22455550 Ritz Shamiya Tel: 24820184 Shuwaikh Tel: 24844350 Square International Tel: 22437681 Test n’ Taste Villa Moda Tel: 24827010 Teatro Hilton Kuwait Resort Tel: 23725500

Kuwait City Tel: 22400737

Nino Gulf Road Tel: 22541900 Pizza Express Abdullah Al-Salem Tel: 22560273 Al-Bida’a Tel: 22253166 Airport Tel: 24342681 Tel: 23725500 Ricardo Sheraton Hotel Tel: 22422055 • Japanese Edo Shaab Tel: 22659590 Kei JW Marriott Hotel Tel: 22422650 Korea & Japan Restaurant New Park Hotel Tel: 25634200

Sakura Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel: 24742000

AlRoshinah Restaurant Safir Hotel & Residences -Fintas Tel: 25455555

Shogun The Palms Hotel Tel: 27070022

Il Forno Restaurant Courtyard Marriot Hotel Tel: 22997000 Johnny Carino’s Salmiya Tel: 22667050 La Piazza Kuwait City Tel: 24246639 Lorenzo

Manousha Salmiya Tel: 25722607 / 8

Al-Noukhaza Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel: 24742000

Fakhr Al-Din Restaurant Kuwait City Tel: 22423180

Villa Fairouz Shaab Tel: 22652030

Shrimpy Gulf Road Tel: 22563118 Totally Fish Marina Crescent Tel: 22244960/1

Garden New Park Hotel Tel: 25634200

Yeldes Palace Kuwait City Tel: 22455212

Kabab-Ji Tel: 1861616

Zahrat Tunis Hawalli Tel: 22662444/333

Mais Al-Ghanim Kuwait City Tel: 22402590

• Persian Kabab Al-Hijja Bnaid Al-Gar Tel: 22517512

Palm Palace Salmiya Tel: 25756331 Saj Express Kuwait City Tel: 22497822 Sarai Al-Bida’a Tel: 22253180/1 Shisha &

Sushi Club Al-Blajat St. Tel: 25712144 Wasabi Al-Bida’a Tel: 22253112 Kuwait City Tel: 22494000 • Lebanese Al-Berdawny Palace Tel: 25661117 Ayam Zaman Holiday Inn Tel: 18477777 Burg Al-Hamam Gulf Road Tel: 22529095

• Steak House Relais De L’Entrecote Al-Fanar Complex Tel: 25729600 Terrace Grill JW Marriott Hotel Tel: 22455550

Shabistan Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel: 24742000

The Gaucho Grill The Palms Hotel Tel: 25667370 -

• Seafood Al-Ahmadi Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel: 24742000

• Tex-Mex Chi Chi’s Salmiya Tel: 25625811

Al-Boom Radisson Blu Hotel Tel: 25756000

Tumbleweed Southern Grill Al-Bida’a Tel: 22253154/5

Maki Al-Blajat St. Tel: 25733561 Marina Waves Tel: 22244560

Flavors Restaurant Safir Hotel & Residences -Fintas Tel: 25455555

• Italian Ciro’s Pomodoro Kuwait City Tel: 22424004

Saj Express Kuwait City Tel: 22497822

Te l : 1 8 3 9 0 9 0

Salmiya - Jabriya - Keifan www.healthstop.com.kw

HOTELS

FIVE STAR Al-Manshar Rotana Hotel Crowne Plaza Kuwait Hilton Kuwait Resort JW Marriot Kuwait City Hotel Kempinski Julai’a Hotel & Resort The Regency Hotel & Resort Le Meridien Le Meridien Tower Marina Hotel Kuwait Movenpick Albid’a Movenpick Palms Beach Hotel & Spa Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts Refad Palace Safir International Hotel Kuwait Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers Safir Hotel & Residences Kuwait

23931000 24772000 23725500 22455550 1 844 444 25766666 22510999 22831831 22244970 22253100 24610033 22824060 25673000 23908630 22530000 22422055 25455555

FOUR STAR Carlton Tower Hotel The Courtyard by Marriott Kuwait El Joan Resort Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait

22452740 22997000 23281897 22415001

Ghani Palace Hotel Holiday Inn Khalifa Resort Kuwait Continental Hotel New Park Hotel Al Bastaki Hotel Al Dana Hotel Heritage Village Palace Hotel Shiik Flamingo Hotel & Resort Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait

25710301 1 847 777 23280144 22527300 25634200 22555081 23902760 22520600 1 821 111 25725050 22436686

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

22528766 22465489 22443136 22532100 25742410 25713872 22928080

TWO STAR International Hotel Kuwait Residence Hotel

25741788 22467560

BUSINESS

THURSdAY, march 22, 2012

m ar ket watc h KUWAIT

DUBAI

0.33% 6249

0.7% 1656

QATAR 0.1% 8636

ABU DHABI

BAHRAIN

EGYPT

SAUDI

0.0% 5923

0.3% 2593

0.1% 1148

1.2% 5139

0.4% 7545

US Crude $106.38 $0.31 London Brent $124.52 $0.46 Kuwait Crude $122.60 $0.80 Information Courtesy: KAMCO

Kuwaiti oil price drops 80 cents Oil gains on US stocks draw

See page 10

CURRENCIES US Dollar

British Pound

Saudi Riyal

Qatari Riyal

Indian Rupee

Euro

Japanese Yen

UAE Dirham

Bahraini Dinar

Philippine Peso

Buy 0.2781 Sell 0.2786 Buy 0.3685 Sell 0.3689

Buy 0.4412 Sell 0.4417

Buy 0.00331 Sell 0.003315

Buy 0.0742 Sell 0.0743

Buy 0.07577 Sell 0.07585

Buy 0.07653 Sell 0.07642 Buy 0.7382 Sell 0.73905

Buy 0.005504 Sell 0.005496 Buy 0.006473 Sell 0.006462

Prices in Kuwaiti fils As of March 21, 2012 Courtesy: KAMCO

Japan seeks Kuwaiti stable oil supply, energy cooperation

TOKYO: Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano said Wednesday that he discussed with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Japan’s hope of enhancing bilateral technical cooperation in the energy field, including renewable energy development. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Kuwait TV after his meeting with H.H. the Amir at Akasaka Palace, Edano also expressed gratitude to Kuwait for maintaining stable supply of crude for decades. “I hope Kuwait will continue to be a stable supplier for us,” Edano noted. Japan relies on imports for all its oil needs and Kuwaiti crude accounts for as much as 10 percent of its total crude oil imports. Last year, Kuwait’s exports to the world’s third-largest energy consumer totaled 87.05 million barrels, or 240,000 bpd.Asked whether the current level of bilateral trade reflects true potential, Edano answered, “The government alone cannot decide to increase trade volume, but I believe there is a great chance for expanding trade through promotion of exchanges of various information between private companies from both countries. “ The Amir has been here since Tuesday on a four-day state visit. Earlier in the day, he met Japanese Emperor Akihito, House of Councilors President Kenji Hirata and Japan-Kuwait Society Chairman Kuniyasu Takeda. -KUNA

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holds the traditional red briefcase as he leaves for the Houses of Parliament from his official residence in Downing Street in central London March 21, 2012. He will deliver his 2012 Budget speech later. (Reuters)

between Iran and the West continues to put a floor under the price, analysts said. US President Barack Obama issued a video accusing Iran of imposing an “electronic curtain” on its citizens on Tuesday, while Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country will defend itself against an attack. “That was another round of sabre-rattling from both sides and there is still a fear that something bad will happen in the region, which explains some of why we are still at $124 a barrel,” said Thorbjorn Bak Jensen, oil analyst at Global Risk Management.

Bahrain economy slows to 1.3% QoQ growth in Q4 DUBAI: Bahrain’s economic growth slowed in the final three months of 2011, a sign that political unrest is continuing to weigh on businesses after an uprising against the government was crushed early last year. Inflation-adjusted expansion in gross domestic product decelerated to 1.3 percent quarter-on-quarter from 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011, the statistics office said on Wednesday. On an annual basis, GDP expanded 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter after a 2.9 percent rise in July-September. Overall, economic growth in the small non-OPEC oil exporter roughly halved to 2.2 percent last year, the worst performance since a 0.3 percent contraction in 1994, when oil prices fell to $13 per barrel. They are currently above $120. “Given the high oil prices last year, for an oil producer a two percent growth is not particularly impressive,” said Gabriel Sterne, a senior economist at Exotix in London. “That is mainly due to the political tensions that we have seen. Nothing was really resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.” The Sunni-controlled island kingdom, a Gulf financial hub, was hit hard in February and March by its worst sectarian unrest since the 1990s, which forced banks and shops to close and triggered an outflow of funds. Total investment parked in Bahrain’s mutual funds dropped by nearly $800 million last year to $8.4 billion, central bank data show. Last year’s economic growth “is satisfactory in light of current economic challenges and the economic outlook in the near term looks positive”, Central Informatics Organization president Mohammed Al-Amer said as he announced the GDP data. “Improving local and global indicators are also expected to result in economic stability (and) encourage local and foreign investors to reconsider shelved investment decisions. However, restoration of economic growth rates which were prevalent before the crisis will take some time,” he said. Hydrocarbon sector

BEIJING: China slashed its crude oil imports from Iran by half in February from December levels to pressure Tehran in a contract dispute, while increasing its purchases from Iran’s rival Saudi Arabia to a record level to fill the gap. February was the first month to reflect the full scale of the cuts in China’s imports of Iranian oil after top refiner Sinopec Corp decided in December to chop purchases in an attempt to force Iranians to back off from the tougher terms they had proposed for the 2012 contract.

OIL MARKETS

OMAN

CAPITALS: Price of Kuwaiti crude dropped 80 US cents to settle at 122.60 US dollars per barrel on Tuesday, in comparison to $123.40 pb on the day before, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said on Wednesday. The decline in oil prices was due to speculations that the US oil reserve reached its highest last week; US markets are considered the biggest consumer of energy. The production Saudi crude oil will increase to meet growing demands especially after Iran threatened to halt its oil exports to Europe. Oil prices still on a state of fluctuation due to many factors such as the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the Iranian halt of its oil exports and Europe’s sovereign debt crisis. In other news, Brent crude oil rose on Wednesday as a surprise drawdown in US stocks offset efforts by Saudi Arabia to lower prices by promising to ramp up supply if needed. Industry data released on Tuesday showed an unexpected 1.4-million-barrel decline in crude stockpiles last week, intensifying worries about tight supply. Comments from the Saudi oil minister reassuring the market that the world’s top oil exporter was prepared to meet any supply shortfall kept a lid on gains. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said the kingdom had met all its customers’ requests for oil and stood ready to raise output to full capacity of 12.5 million barrels per day (bpd), if needed. “The lower stocks are giving support to the market, but the Saudi comments will put a shortterm cap on the oil price, and ease fears of supply issues emanating out of Iran,” said Ben Le Brun, market analyst with OptionsXpress in Sydney. Brent crude gained 34 cents to $124.46 a barrel by 0940 GMT, after falling more than a dollar in the previous session on the Saudi comments. US crude was up 52 cents at $106.63. The benchmark fell more than 2 percent on Tuesday. The prospect of a conflict in the Middle East

China’s crude imports fall from Iran, Saudi record

Output growth in the hydrocarbon sector, which accounts for a third of Bahrain’s $26 billion economy, more than halved to 2.4 percent quarter-on-quarter during October-December, the data showed. The real estate and business activities sector shrank 4.8 percent, a worse performance than it posted during the first quarter of last year when the uprising occurred. The hotel sector fell 4.8 percent after a 20.8 percent jump in the previous quarter. Clashes still occur daily between riot police and youths in Shi’ite districts of Bahrain. The government describes the youths, who throw petrol bombs at police, as vandals and says opposition groups should do more to rein them in. If oil prices stay high, however, analysts think Bahrain’s economy may pick up moderately this year because of strong government spending, even if the private sector remains sluggish. “We are expecting an improvement in growth. We think government spending is going to be a key growth driver in the region and that includes Bahrain,” said Khatija Haque, senior economist at Emirates NBD in Dubai. He has a 3.3 percent GDP growth forecast for Bahrain this year. Bahrain predicted 2012 government expenditures of 3.1 billion dinars ($8.2 billion) in its two-year budget before the protests broke out. It boosted spending by 22 percent from its original budget target in 2011, but has not revealed changes for 2012 despite announcing public sector wage rises last year. -Reuters

OPEC basket down

OPEC’s daily basket price decreased at $123.03 (down five cents) a barrel last Tuesday compared to $124.08 on Monday, the cartel bulletin reported on Wednesday. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). -Agencies

Dubai Aluminium profits jump 65% in 2011 UAE’S Emal sales to US to more than double in 2012 DUBAI: Dubai Aluminium Corp (Dubal) saw net profits jump 65 percent year on year to a record 3.52 billion dirham (953 million US dollars) in 2011, the government-owned smelter said on Wednesday. Dubal’s record profits were thanks largely to a 28.5 percent year on year increase in gross sales to 11.14 billion ($3.03 billion), making it one of the most profitable Dubai government businesses. “Reducing budgeted capital expenditures and maintaining tight working capital control contributed significantly to achieving improved cash generation from operating activities and free cash flow,” chief executive Abdulla Kalban said in a statement. The company, which began operations in 1979 and now has a production capacity of over one million metric tons a year, said higher aluminium prices and increased revenues from its share in the Emirates Aluminium smelter near Abu Dhabi also helped drive income to record levels last year. Aluminium smelting is one of man’s most energy-hungry inventions, depending on continuous supplies of large amounts of electricity - largely fueled by gas in the United Arab Emirates. The emergence of aluminium smelting across the Gulf, often driven by artificially low, government-set gas prices for industry, is a key factor behind soaring gas demand and imports into the region. In more news, Emirates Aluminium (Emal), a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and Dubai Aluminium (Dubal), is looking to double its exports to the United States by the end of 2012 as demand from the automotive industry rises, it said on Wednesday. “The orders on our metals have increased because one of our prime products is for automotives,” Saeed Fadhel Al-Mazrooei, president and chief executive of Emal, said on the sidelines of an investment forum in Abu Dhabi. “We realized there is an increase in the orders on trucking since there is growth of around seven to eight percent, so we are focusing on that region.” Emal, which sold 100,000 tons to the United States in 2011, expects its business to increase to 250,000 tons by the end of 2012. Al-Mazrooei also said Emal’s order books showed healthy demand of 900,000 tons, providing an incentive for the firm’s development plans. Emal is investing $3.8 billion on the second phase of a development process that will see it up production to 800,000 tons by the end of 2012 and 1.4 million tons by 2014. “Phase two development is on track,” Al-Mazrooei said. “We are increasing our production and looking at markets in Asia, Europe and the US and wherever the flexibility of the market shows good premiums,” he said. Al-Mazrooei said he could not comment on financing plans for phase two, but said there was ample liquidity and a lot of options to choose from. “I don’t think there will be any issues as there is a lot of liquidity so it’s about picking (the) best options and we have time to do so,” he said. -Reuters

Wataniya Telecom posts KD 362.1 million net profit in 2011 Nancy Oteifa Staff Writer

KUWAIT: National Mobile Telecommunications Company (Wataniya) held its Annual General Assembly Wednesday at Sheraton to announce its financial results for year 2011 where it announced that it posted 362.1 million Kuwaiti dinars net profit for the year 2011. The event was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Thani Chairman of Wataniya Telecom, Scott Gegenheiver General Manager and CEO at Wataniya Telecom, Nasser Marafih Board Member and Fahad Al-Saeed Board Member. Al-Thani started the event by saying, “The revenues for the year 2011 were at KD 726.6 million, compared to KD 539.4 million for the same period in 2010, amounting to growth of 34.7 percent. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the year 2011 was KD 314.2 million, compared to EBITDA of KD 216.6 million (780.5 million US dollars) for the same period in 2010, amounting to growth of 45.0 percent. Revenues for the year 2011 amounted to KD 726.6 million, compared with KD 539.4 million for the same period in 2010, amounting to growth of 34.7 percent.” He commented that the consolidated Earnings per Share were 723 fils, compared to156 fils per share earned for the same period last year. Excluding revaluation gain the Earnings per Share increased to193 fils, amounting to an increase of 24.1 percent. He added, “The consolidated Net Profit was at KD 362.1 million, compared to Net Profit for the same period in 2010 of KD 78.0 million.The net profit for the year 2011 includes a fair value gain of KD 265.3 million recorded due to revaluation of existing held interest in Tunisiana following the increase in the shareholding from 50 percent to 75 percent.The net profit for the

year 2011 without the fair value gain was KD 96.8 million, an increase of 24.1 percent on the same period of 2010.” Wataniya total customer base increased to 17.8 million at the close of Q4 2011, versus 16.6 million at the same period in 2010, amounting to growth of 7.4 percent. Talking during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) Al-Thani noted, “2011 has been a successful year for Wataniya Telecom. From a strategic standpoint, we increased our stake-holding in Tunisiana from 50 percent to 75 percent. Operationally during this period, Wataniya Telecom has seen revenue grow 34.7 percent and EBITDA by 45.0 percent compared with the same period in 2010. He added: “Continued positive results in key operations such as Kuwait, Algeria and Tunisia were also complemented by the performance of Wataniya Mobile Palestine, which achieved positive EBITDA in 2011 for the first time since launch in 2009. Overall as a Group, growth has remained strong with a customer base exceeding 17.8 million.” Talking about Wataniya Telecom’s performance in Kuwait Al-Thani noted that Wataniya Kuwait’s customer base increased to 1.96 million customers at the end of 2011, an increase of 10.0 percent on the same period 2010. Revenues for the year 2011 were KD 243.6million, an increase of 9.9 percent compared to revenues for the same period in 2010 of KD 221.6 million. EBITDA for the year 2011 was KD 111.1 million compared to EBITDA for the same period in 2010 of KD 98.9 million, an increase of 12.3 percent. Net Profit was at KD 328.1 million, compared to Net Profit for the same period in 2010 of KD 69.8million. Net Profit for the year 2011 includes a fair value gain of KD 265.3 million recorded due to revaluation of existing 50 percent held interest in Tunisiana following the increase in the shareholding from 50 percent to 75 percent.

Dubai’s Emirates NBD eyes 5-year benchmark dollar bond DUBAI: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest lender by market value, has picked banks to arrange a new five-year dollar bond which could price as early as Wednesday, lead managers said on Wednesday. The bank is planning a benchmark-sized deal, normally understood to be at least 500 million US dollars. The issue would be Emirates NBD’s third tap of global debt markets this year. Its Islamic subsidiary EIB sold a $500 million Sukuk in January followed by the bank’s 1 billion yuan issue earlier this month, the first for a regional borrower. Initial guidance for the latest bond was given in the area of 337.5 basis points over midswaps. The bond would be issued under Emirates NBD’s $7.5 billion program. Emirates NBD has mandated HSBC, Deutsche

Bank, Bank of America, National Bank of Abu Dhabi and itself as joint arrangers and bookrunners on the deal. The bank, 55.6-percent governmentowned through the Investment Corporation of Dubai, was ordered by Dubai’s ruler in October to take over loss-making Dubai Bank, which had been rescued by the emirate’s government earlier in 2011. It has reported a significant decline in profitability as a result of higher provisioning and is said to be in the process of cutting 15 percent of its workforce. Earlier this week, National Bank of Abu Dhabi wrapped up a $750 million five-year bond issue within one day, sensing a suitable window of opportunity. Shares in Emirates NBD were trading 1.6 percent higher at 0800 GMT, and are up 3.7 percent this year. -Reuters

BUSINESS IN REGION

ALWATAN DAILY THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

China’s crude imports fall from Iran, Saudi record BEIJING: China slashed its crude oil imports from Iran by half in February from December levels to pressure Tehran in a contract dispute, while increasing its purchases from Iran’s rival Saudi Arabia to a record level to fill the gap. February was the first month to reflect the full scale of the cuts in China’s imports of Iranian oil after top refiner Sinopec Corp decided in December to chop purchases in an attempt to force Iranians to back off from the tougher terms they had proposed for the 2012 contract. The February imports at about 290,000 barrels per day are about half of December’s 572,800 bpd, 41 percent less than the January level and down 40 percent from February 2011, data from China General Administration of Customs showed on Wednesday, largely matching earlier Reuters reports. The sharp drop in Chinese imports adds to trade pressures on Iran stemming from US and European Union sanctions over its nuclear enrichment program. The West fears it could lead to nuclear weapons, while Iran says it is intended for power generation. The United States on Tuesday exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from financial sanctions, because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian crude. But it left Iran’s top customers China and India exposed to the possibility of such steps. The 491,000 bpd level recorded for January factored in a small part of the planned cuts because of the delay due to the roughly three-week tanker voyage between Iran and Chinese ports. Record Saudi imports

China boosted imports from Saudi Arabia, the only big oil producer with a significant amount of spare capacity, to a record 1.39 million bpd in February, 260,000 bpd higher than January and nearly 40 percent above the year-earlier level. Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi said the kingdom had met all its customer’s requests for oil and stood ready to raise output to full capacity of 12.5 million bpd, if needed.

Riyadh has also quietly raised shipments to the United States to the highest level since mid-2008. Sinopec reduced Iranian imports for lifting through the first quarter of this year to protest tougher payment terms and higher prices proposed by Tehran, Reuters has reported. Under an annual contract that concluded in late February after nearly three months of talks, China will buy 10 to 15 percent less crude from Iran this year versus 2011, with the cuts mostly already made in the first three months, a Beijing-based Chinese oil executive with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. The sharp scale-back in February knocked Iran’s ranking to China’s seventh-biggest supplier from third-biggest last year. China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, is Iran’s largest trading partner and biggest oil client, buying up to 20 percent of the Islamic Republic’s total crude exports. Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Russia

File- Gas flares from an oil production platform, as an Iranian flag is seen in the foreground, at the Soroush oil fields in the Persian Gulf. China slashed its crude oil imports from Iran by half in February from December levels to pressure Tehran in a contract dispute, while increasing its purchases from Iran’s rival Saudi Arabia to a record level to fill the gap. (Reuters)

“My only mission is to convey to you that there is no supply shortage in the market,” Al-Naimi told reporters on Tuesday. “We are ready and willing to put more oil on the market, but you need a buyer.”

China’s record Saudi imports are also largely in line with comments from industry sources that the world’s top oil exporter had been sending some 200,000 bpd of extra oil to Asia, the bulk of which was destined for China.

China has been scouring the world for crude to make up for the lost Iranian oil. Its extra imports in February from Saudi Arabia, other Middle East countries and Russia more than offset the loss of imports from Iran, the data showed. Imports from Iraq jumped 135 percent year-on-year to 473,634 bpd and were up 26 percent from the level of imports in January, the data showed. Crude imports from other Gulf countries also rallied, with those from Kuwait up nearly 50 percent on the year to 242,092 bpd and from United Arab Emirates up 45 percent to 195,707 bpd. Imports from Russia were 602,714 bpd in February, 3.6 percent higher than in January and 52 percent higher versus February 2011. Crude imports from Sudan, however, fell nearly 60 percent from a year earlier to 164,238 bpd, the data showed, after South Sudan in January stopped production in a row over transit fees with Sudan. -Reuters

Saudi Aramco to import India pushes refiners to cut more fuel on supply shortage Iran imports, despite sanctions scorn Sabic expects continued demand from China, Europe

CAPITALS: Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter Saudi Arabia’s state oil firm is expected to import higher-than-usual volumes of gasoline and gasoil to plug a supply shortage caused by refinery maintenance and firming demand ahead of summer season, traders said on Wednesday. The refiner has been aggressively seeking gasoil and gasoline in the spot market after having already bought 20 percent more gasoil for March. Its gasoil imports for April are expected to be even higher than March, traders added. As for gasoline, traders are expecting the volumes to be between six and nine cargoes for April alone. “That’s quite a huge amount for gasoline for a month,” said a trader. Traders said Saudi Aramco could be stockpiling on gasoline ahead of Ramadan to avoid being caught in short supplies as experienced last year. Its Ras Tanura refinery, which is the Middle East’s largest with a crude processing capacity of 550,000 barrels per day (bpd), has shut several units including a crude unit in March for a planned maintenance. This came at a time demand for gasoil usually peaks in summer in the Middle East as the product is used for power generation purposes. While exact gasoil volumes purchased by Saudi Aramco are not known, traders estimate it has bought at least about 200,000 to 300,000 tons more for March than in February. April volumes into Saudi Arabia are likely to increase further, which could push premiums for the 500 ppm sulphur gasoil above the current one-year high levels, they added. “They’re buying a lot. Surprisingly a lot more than anticipated,” said another middle distillates trader. “They have been looking for prompt

delivery dates but are also interested in later dates, and are asking traders to show how much volumes they are able to supply,” a third trader said. “They’re still looking for barrels, that’s for sure.” At least two gasoil cargoes have been fixed for voyage from Bahrain and India to Saudi Arabia for March loading, traders said. Supply of the 500 ppm sulphur gasoil, a grade commonly used in the Middle East for power generation, has been tight due to refinery turnarounds in region and Asia. This has in turn pushed up premiums in recent tenders in the Middle East and Asia. In more news, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) expects demand to continue in 2012 from China and Europe and plans to start projects in the manufacturing industry next quarter, its chief executive told Reuters late on Tuesday. “International demand is still reasonable... Demand will continue in 2012 from SABIC’s traditional markets in China, the kingdom and Europe,” Mohamed Al-Mady said on the sidelines of a corporate event. “It is true that growth in China fell from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent but I don’t think there is a fear of a decline in demand from China.” SABIC posted a 10 percent drop in net profit for the fourth quarter which it attributed to lower prices due weaker economic growth. “Manufacturing industry projects will start in the next quarter. We will start the designs and the execution will be in early 2013,” Al-Mady said, adding that some of those projects will start production in 2016. Asharq Alawsat daily newspaper reported last week that SABIC plans to commit six billion dollars on investments in the manufacturing industry in order to products for conversion industries. Earlier this month Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said the kingdom, which is trying to diversify its economy away from oil, produced plenty of raw materials and petrochemicals but still did not invest enough in the manufacturing of finished products. -Reuters

The behind-the-scenes moves from India, whose symbolic Taj Mahal was built for a Persian princess, have not gone unnoticed by the United States. “With respect to India, they are making steps that are heading in the right direction,” US

Japan wants Iran crude imports cut 10-20%

TOKYO: The Japanese government probably wants Idemitsu Kosan to continue cutting Iranian crude imports as before, which is by 10 to 20 percent a year, the oil refiner’s chairman said on Wednesday, a day after the United States exempted the Asian nation from financial sanctions. Each oil firm in Japan that buys Iranian oil has been in separate talks with the government on curbing oil imports from the Middle East nation, but the government has not instructed them to attain a detailed percentage figure for cuts. “I know only about my own firm, but I think (the government) wants us to continue the level of reduction that we have done up to now,” Akihiko Tembo, head of the Petroleum Association of Japan and chairman of Idemitsu Kosan Co, told reporters. “Simply put, I think it means to reduce (imports) by 10 to 20 percent (per year that Idemitsu has reduced over the years).” Tembo also said Idemitsu would cut its Iran imports from April in line with the government’s policies, but added it has not decided on a specific percentage for cuts. Tembo welcomed the US decision on the waiver, but said the problem with the European Union’s proposed ban on EU insurers and reinsurers from indemnifying vessels carrying Iran’s oil anywhere in the world still remains unresolved, saying that he would carefully watch the developments over the matter. Japan is estimated to have reduced oil purchases from Iran by 15-22 percent in the second half of last

year, a move lauded by the United States, which on Tuesday decided to give a six-month reprieve to banks in Japan and 10 EU nations from the threat of being cut off from the US financial system. “We have told the US side that the trend of decrease would accelerate and Iranian crude imports will be reduced substantially from now on,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference on Wednesday. Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, the nation’s top buyer of Iranian crude, on Wednesday issued a statement, saying that the company will respect the agreement between Japan and the United States and reduce its Iran imports in line with that. JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, Japan’s biggest refiner, said the US announcement was encouraging as the worst case scenario of a full-scale embargo of Iran crude resulting in a hike in oil prices has been avoided, but several unsolved issues remained. These issues include uncertainty over Tehran’s nuclear program, Washington’s review on an exempted country’s status every 180 days, insurance and other problems related to actual oil delivery, a JX Nippon spokesman said. On Tuesday, representatives in Brussels of EU governments debated a proposal to allow all insurance on Iranian crude bound for countries outside the EU to be extended until July 1. Tehran denies Western charges over its nuclear program, saying it is for peaceful purposes such as power generation. -Reuters

FILE- A worker pours oil into the tank of a three-wheeler at a Lanka India Oil fuel station in Colombo Nov. 1,2011. India, publicly disdainful of sanctions to pressure Iran, has been left off a list of nations given a US waiver from the measures, but is privately pushing its reﬁners for substantial cuts in imports from the Middle Eastern country. (Reuters)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told lawmakers in February. “In fact, I think in a number of instances, the actions of countries and their banks are better than the public statements that we sometimes hear them making,” Clinton said. The US sanctions target financial transactions with Iran and recent European Union measures also make shipping to and from the Islamic republic difficult as the western powers pressure Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. Iran, the biggest oil producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia and the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter, says its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes. India has been dancing around the restrictions as its public stance implies it does not expect a waiver. Shippers are looking for sovereign guarantees for their vessels or for Iran to take on the freighting charges. The latest twist in India’s search for a way to pay for Iran’s crude is a semi-barter arrangement using the rupee, which is not freely traded on global markets, for just short of half the imports - worth about $5 billion. New Delhi hopes to take this opportunity to

boost exports to Iran from around $2.7 billion last year, which could be paid for from the refiners’ rupees - to be held in an account with UCO Bank, which has virtually no business with the United States. But a recent trip by exporters to Iran to explore sales with rupee payment appears to have had little success, with deals for sugar and soymeal immediately afterwards sealed in dollars paid through middlemen in Dubai. India has stayed in close contact with the United States at every turn in the tale, with a move to use Iran’s privately-run Bank Parsian instead of Tehran’s newly-sanctioned central bank coming hot on the heels of a diplomatic visit. One of the industry sources said the request to switch banks came around the time that India’s foreign secretary visited the United States in February. “Iran is our immediate neighbor. We can’t just go by the whims and fancies of the West,” said Zikrur Rahman, a former diplomat and director of Delhi’s Jamia Milia Islamia University. “Can we ignore the lady buried in the Taj Mahal? No.” -Reuters

25 billion barrel reserves of heavy oil in Wafra oilfield KUWAIT: The international oil expert, Dr. A. Hamid Majid, affirmed that huge reserves of heavy oil exists in Wafra oilfield between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, amounting to around 25 billion barrels, making it if exploited optimally the largest operating steam projects in the world. This was mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. Dr. Majid, Special Advisor to the President of Canadian Natural Resources Limited, said in a press release on the occasion of companyparticipation in Gulf Petroleum Conference 2012, organized by Investors Group on April 9, that if Kuwait benefited from the possibilities offered by the technology of heavy oil, it will be able to extract around 1000 billion barrels of heavy oil, an equivalent of 30 percent of world reserves in the Middle East. He believed multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technology will spread in oil producing GCC countries and other Arab countries in order to access unconventional resources. Moreover, on the future prospects and risks of investment in oil and natural gas projects in Arab countries, Dr. Majid explained that there is two effects, the first is for the Middle East to witness a change in supply and demand mechanism for its oil and natural gas; with some countries continued efforts to achieve new breakthrough in discovering new materials for local oil and gas. The second effect is represented in the continued march of new technology applied in other places in the world towards Middle Eastern oil and gas fields. Dr. Majid added that oil begun a quantum leap, it became economic to exploit tighter oil reservoirs now at today’s oil prices, which also leads to innovation. I expect that key pro-

ducers in the Arab world will increasingly look towards its own domestic demand growth as well as demand from nonOPEC growth from China and India. Hence, Dr. Majid stated, there is opportunity in the Arab world for Canadian Natural to apply the lessons we have learned targeting unconventional gas resources in North America. In addition, an increase in recovery of heavy oil resource using thermal methods; this will translate to reserves growth and greater supply from Middle Eastern countries. Dr. Majid expressed hope that Canadian Natural will participate in the future development of Kuwait’s vast heavy resources as well as in the heavy resources of Oman. Dr. Majid reported that Canadian Natural Resources Limited produces approximately 700,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Canadian Natural is the second largest natural gas and the largest heavy oil producer in Canada. It operates oil and gas fields Canada, the North Sea, Gabon and Ivory Coast. As for renewable energy and its applications, Dr. Majid believes this energy is important in the context of meeting world supply for world growing population; stressing that renewable energy will not replace fossil fuels, but rather it is part of a balanced portfolio along with fossil fuels for years to come. Dr. Majid affirmed the importance of Gulf Petroleum Conference 2012 in exchange of information among participating companies and experts, because ongoing dialog will lead to the most efficient extraction of resources; adding that this not only lead to better business decisions among industry participants, but also leads to more efficient and sustainable extraction of resources.

ALWATAN DAILY

MARKETS

Arcapita Chapter 11 exception, not rule for Gulf DUBAI: Bahraini investment house Arcapita’s move to file for bankruptcy protection in the United States, while a milestone for debt restructuring in the Gulf, is unlikely to prompt other regional firms to follow suit. Arcapita became the first Gulf Arab firm to file for Chapter 11 in the US on Monday, under pressure from hedge funds which demanded full repayment ahead of the maturity of a 1.1 billion US dollar Islamic finance facility on March 28. With multiple Gulf debt restructurings in the works - including some which have dragged on for more than two years - other debtors could use the framework provided by the legal code as a way to settle their own debt issues. “Surely this means others will proceed to use it,” said a source involved in the Arcapita restructuring. “It’s an example of the maturity of the local market that a company is looking to use this process.” Hedge funds are known to hold other Gulf debt, with United States-based Monarch Alternative Capital securing a $45.5 million legal win against Dubai’s Drydocks World earlier this month. But such moves look unlikely for the vast majority of cases and Arcapita, facing special circumstances which left Chapter 11 as the most viable option, will probably be the exception rather than the rule. Stigma of bankruptcy remains

Despite a slew of restructurings in the wake of the 2008 global credit crunch, which left overleveraged Gulf entities exposed, the region still has an awkward relationship with the insolvency concept. In Dubai, whose 2009 debt crisis stunned global markets, a new law, called Decree 57, had to be introduced by the emirate’s ruler to provide a framework for state-linked conglomerate Dubai World’s $25 billion debt negotiations. Public discussion of debt troubles is rare, with Middle Eastern culture dictating that any such issues be privately resolved among the involved parties. That reluctance to publicly admit to debt

woes saw Arcapita only appoint advisors in February for a March debt maturity that was widely regarded as one of the most challenging regional obligations of 2012. The region has also seen potentially embarrassing debt defaults averted by government intervention. In 2009, Abu Dhabi lent Dubai $10 billion partly to help avoid a bond default at state developer Nakheel. Unlike Abu Dhabi, Bahrain doesn’t have massive financial resources to implement large-scale rescue plans, especially for its offshore banking sector, whose liabilities dwarf its overall economy. Also, most government rescues in the United Arab Emirates have been for state-related entities or strategically important firms. Moves by Abu Dhabi to bail out indebted developer Aldar Properties - the emirate’s largest listed developer and 49-percent owned by a state fund - over the past year are an example of the latter. Arcapita would not qualify for such assistance if it were an Abu Dhabi-based firm, according to a senior Moody’s analyst. “In Abu Dhabi, they made it very clear that they would make support decisions on a case-by-case basis if it is a private company. So if it was private and strategic, they might as they have shown with Aldar,” said Martin Kohlhase. “You have to ask if Arcapita would be strategic enough and the answer is probably not.” So without any government bailout coming, Arcapita had no choice but to go it alone and find the best solution for its debt problems. Offshore assets

Arcapita was able to seek Chapter 11 protection because it had numerous links with the United States, with most of the portfolio companies based there, according to its website. However, the vast majority of other regional firms in debt difficulties are Middle East-focused, meaning any claim would have to go through the local insolvency regimes which are regarded as untested and opaque. -Reuters

China finds new demand in emerging markets KUWAIT: The financial crisis of 2008 has jarred the global economy. It is clear from the ongoing slowdown in global trade growth that the governments’ fiscal boosts in 2010 had not been enough for the world’s economy to regain its pre-crisis footing, especially when its most significant players, the US and particularly Europe, are still laden with debt problems that dampen their consumption power. China, the world’s exporting powerhouse, relies on demand from the West, mostly Europe, US and Japan (the G3). As shown in the graph, a majority of Chinese exports are directed to the G3 and the Newly Industrialized Economies in Asia (NIE, namely Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore). The NIE countries consume some of what they import from China, but a significant portion is assembled and re-exported by these countries. Japan and the NIE countries have long had well-established ports that have served as gateways to the world for China. But the picture of China’s future export demand is rapidly changing. China’s ports are developing rapidly and their customer base is diversifying, easing its reliance on the West and developed Asian economies. The graph presents China’s exports by destination across time. China’s exports are growing across all regions, but the share of exports is changing. In other words, China is increasing its direct trade with the rest of the global market. In 1995, the G3 and NIE countries made up 80 percent of the exports pie, but in 2011 their share had shrunk to two-thirds. The decline is attributed to the shrinking NIE and Japan shares of China’s total exports.. Why are the NIE and Japan shares shrinking while Europe and the US have improved since 1995, especially in the case of Europe, whose share went from 15.4 percent in 1995 to 21.8 percent in 2011? The answer can be explained in three parts: 1) developing trade routes; 2) technological development; 3) diversification of export destinations. In the past, China would heavily use the international ports of Hong Kong and Singapore to reach the consumers across the globe, or send components of a product to Korea and Taiwan to be assembled. Now China is establishing direct linkages with its customers through its own ports. Europe may not be consuming that much more “Made in China” products than it had before, but its trading relationship with China has become more direct. China’s industries are also quickly developing and are gradually becoming more complex, giving it a new advantage with

Company

High

Low

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

1,080

1,060 465 720 630 900 250 425 860 550

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 KW BH Int Exch.

110 285 60 182 340 14.0 67 108 118 31.5 134 63 33 38.5 47.5 106

470 750 640 930 255 435 870 550

Global Index - Banking

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

23.0 28.0 73.0 188 31.0 70 55 59 134

108 280 58 172 335 13.0 64 104 118 31.5 132 60 31 38.5 45.0 99 248.0 100.0 23.0 27.5 69.0 186 30.0 70 55 54 132

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

495 -

Taiba Kuwaiti Holding

255.0 102.0

Global Index - Investment

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

59 112 142 222 244 40.0 102

1,020

85 16.0 66.0 91 64 65 91 20.0 42.0 142 44.0 32.0 37.5 23.5 58 325

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

246 134 445 130

1,440

320 880 375

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58 112 140 220 244 39.0 100 980 84 15.0 64.0 90 61 64 90 19.0 42.0 134 43.0 31.0 35.0 22.0 58 315

ŷ ź ź Ÿ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ź ŷ Ÿ ź ŷ ź Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź Ÿ ŷ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ź

244 128 445 128 1,440 320 850 370

ź Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ

1080 470 750 640 920 255 430 870 550 330.83

110 280 60 182 340 13.5 66 25.0 130 24.0 230 108 118 50 52 31.5 132 61 32.5 71 38.5 48.5 64 26.0 242 53 38.5 51 47.5 100 250.0 102.0 23.0 27.5 71.0 29.0 188 255 114 31.00 85 70 55 59 64 42.50 134 85.74

290 560 495 148 220 122 40.50 43.77 59 112 140 222 32.5 244 118 100 40.0 120 100 1,000 85 15.5 65.0 90 62 65 79 36.0 90 19.0 87 17.5 42.0 57 75 142 43.5 31.5 35.5 24.5 22.5 134 134 220 58 320 56.74 246 134 445 130 1,440 320 156 880 190 110 375

1100 470 700 630 890 255 430 870 560 330.63 108 280 60 172 340 13.5 64 25.0 130 24.0 230 106 118 50 52 32.0 136 60 31 71 39.5 48.5 64 26.0 242 53 38.5 51 45.0 102 248.0 102.0 24.0 28.0 69.0 29.0 182.0 255 114 29.50 85 71 55 54 64 42.50 134 85.23 290 560 490 148 220 122 40.50 43.64 59 114 142 220 32.5 242 118 100 39.0 120 102 1,000 80 16.0 65.0 92 60 65 79 36.0 92 18.5 87 17.5 40.5 57 75 132 42.5 31.0 37.5 24.5 21.5 134 134 220 58 325 56.84 248 130 445 130 1,440 325 156 870 190 110 375

Previous Close Change 186.55 0.71 20.50 6,228.90 Trading Activity Tran. Value(KD) Chng Volume

DTD 0.38% 0.33%

Last Bid

Last Ask

MTD YTD 3.48% 4.43% 7.49% 2.00% Div. Annual Close High Low P/E Yield

2,847,500 480,000 150,000 115,000 655,000 2,790,000 2,750,000 2,910,000 195,000 12,892,500

79 22 14 9 29 24 45 94 14 330

3,075,200 223,650 112,000 73,500 600,250 698,050 1,176,750 2,511,750 107,250 8,578,400

1,060 465 720 630 910 250 425 860 540

1,080 470 650 920 255 430 870 550

3.7% 0.0% 2.0% 3.1% 1.5% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 0.0% 1.9%

1,220 510 790 680 920 260 480 900 590 330.83

1,060 465 700 630 790 236 425 820 550 317.17

15.63 33.85 86.32 18.21 32.13 24.25 12.04 24.78 104.63 19.22

2 340,000 160,000 10,920,000 10 9,400,000 1,080,000 6,000,000 13,200,000 2 2 5,300,000 400,000 2 0.580,000 -4 6,700,000 1 11,320,000 2 4,080,000 -1 80,000 62,400,000 2.5 7,100,000 -2 8,020,000 2.0 5,320,000 1.0160,000 2,880,000 0.52.0 30,920,000 6.0 180,000 1.5 400,000 680,000 -1 80,000 5 5,080,000 1,780,000 0.51 194,060,000

5 9 126 149 34 44 174 69 7 1 73 153 44 1 323 118 181 116 2 33 384 7 4 6 2 83 41

106 275 58 182 335 13.5 66 23.5 104 116 31.0 132 61 32 37.0 64.0 47.5 100 248.0 100.0 22.5 27.0 70.0 186 30 80 70 53 58 132.0

110 285 60 340 14.0 67 24.0 230 108 118 32.5 134 62 33 40.5 69.0 244 58 102 250.0 102.0 23.5 28.0 71.0 188 32 89 71 56 59 134.0

0.0% 7.9% 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% 3.2% 5 1% 5.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3%

112 285 67 182 345 18.5 69 25.0 130 36.0 230 122 120 50 52 35.5 140 65 35 71 44.0 48.5 70.0 26.0 244 54 39 51 47.5 104 250.0 130.0 25.0 33.5 96.0 29.0 190 255 114 32 89 73 60 59 64 42.5 140.0 85.99

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 13.02

2,189

36,760 45,150 646,320 1,662,600 362,500 80,960 875,120 558,560 47,200 2,520 891,560 698,280 129,160 3,080 2,900,280 717,920 1,999,320 539,520 3,680 79,440 2,186,880 33,560 12,120 47,600 4,400 289,160 235,080 15,088,730

10,000 10,000

1 1

4,950 4,950

290 530 500 112 28.0

300 570 530 144 43.0

6.9% 4.5% 5.1% 6.8% 2.7% 0.0% 0.0% 4.7%

325 610 520 148 220 134 40.5 44.89

280 550 450 102 220 102 40.5 42.22

15.14 12.90 10.11 23.37 296.83

4,200,000 -2 600,000 -2 340,000 2 80,000 20,000 2.0 1.0 2,240,000 -2 1,060,000 1,050,000 680,000 5 0.57,360,000 13,040,000 -2 3,600,000 2 3,480,000 1,120,000 -2 560,000 0.5 5,120,000 1.5 80,000 980,000 10 1 51,120,000 0.5 2,080,000 2.03,600,000 18,080,000 1.0 40,000 -5 1,390,000 0.11- 121,920,000

46 10 12 3 1 17 18 53 17 58 117 20 70 15 11 55 1 23 266 23 42 109 1 53

58 112 142 222 242 39.5 100 1,000 85 15.0 64.0 90 61 64 90 19.0 87 40.5 75 142 43.5 31.0 35.0 23.5 22.5 32 57 320

59 114 144 224 35.0 248 104 40.0 130 102 1,020 15.5 65.0 91 62 65 91 19.5 42.5 58 80 44.0 32.0 36.0 27.0 23.0 35 60 325

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 9.0% 0.0% 4.1% 0.0% 5.0% 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%

63 118 152 224 37.5 250 130 100 52.0 120 104 1,020 85 20.0 67.0 94 75 67 90 38.0 92 23.0 91 17.5 45.0 59 80 144 52.0 39.5 39.0 28.5 25.5 134 34 220 70 480 57.24

47 97 108 200 32.5 224 114 77 27.0 108 94 840 62 11.0 35.0 77 56 52 79 33.0 59 13.5 87 17.5 31.0 57 64 116 27.5 22.0 25.0 24.5 15.0 134 31 220 49 270 49.06

45.72 14.37 25.08 19.79

1,041

243,680 67,200 47,880 17,640 4,880 89,120 106,280 1,042,650 57,560 113,200 840,360 325,800 216,440 71,760 50,560 98,960 3,360 137,320 2,228,520 65,320 130,640 413,200 2,320 444,550 6,819,200

2,360,000 2,400,000 40,000 140,000 205,000 50,000 360,000 40,000

56 85 4 2 27 5 22 3

580,000 317,360 17,800 18,120 295,200 16,000 313,750 14,900

244 132 440 128 1,440 315 150 880 180 110 365

246 134 445 132 1,460 325 158 890 198 118 380

0.0% 0.0% 2.2% 3.8% 4.5% 3.1% 3.2% 11.4% 5.3% 0.0% 5.3%

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

214 120 415 130 1,380 310 146 660 180 102 370

-20 50 10 30 -10 0.20

5 Ex-D 0.13

-2 4 -5 10 -

40 1995

2000

2011

30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Source: KCIC Research on National Bureau of Statistics.

www.kcicͲasia.com/research

Note: NIE Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore; BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa; ASEAN Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam; MENA Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, UAE, I d i M l i Th il d Phili i Vi t MENA S di A bi I O UAE Turkey.

products; it wouldn’t have to rely on its more advanced neighbors as it once had. The graph also presents a new dynamic: the emerging markets’ rapidly growing share of the demand for Chinese exports. With major international trading ports of its own, strengthening and establishing direct relationships with its customers, China’s position as an exporter has strengthened even more. The real driver of export demand, however, is robust economic growth. Europe - despite a now more direct demand of Chinese products - faces a bleak economic outlook. The graph shows the rising demand of high growth economies of the BRICS, ASEAN, Latin America, Africa and MENA. These economies have solid domestic demand that is supported by favorable demographics and improving standards of living. The shift in focus from West to East will involve adjustment, but China’s product range is wide, spanning commercial and industrial uses; the adaptation to emerging markets demand will be quick. This diversification of China’s export market is key as it will help it rely less on the West and focus more on South-South trade. Shifting the focus to the other side will expose it to higher rates of growth, which means increased demand. Strong demand will make the yuan stronger. The

added support of strengthening export demand and appreciating currency will allow China to absorb economic shocks because its exports will increasingly be differentiated across global markets, and will enable China to make a smooth transition to a strong domestic economy as it becomes more wealthy. Prepared by Fatema Akashah - For more information please visit: www.kcic-asia.com or email: research@kcicasia.com. KCIC is an Asia-focused investment company. Licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait, it facilitates capital flows between the Middle East and emerging Asia by providing financial and advisory services, and managing third party capital. Important Disclaimer: The information contained in this report is prepared by the Research Department of the Kuwait China Investment Company (KCIC) and is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not warranted. Research recommendations do not constitute financial advice nor extend offers to participate in any specific investment on any particular terms. Investors should consider this material as only a single factor in making their decisions.

05 / 01 / 2012

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

For more Information please contact "Global" at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net Last Close 187.26 6,249.40 Last Prev. Close Close

Since 1995

% of China's total exports

Date of Closing Prices:

Date of Closing Prices: 21 / 03 / 2012 For more information please contact “Global” at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net Ÿ

China's Exports to the World

Trading Prices of Kuwait Stock Exchange Date of Closig Prices: 21/03/2012

Trading Prices of Kuwait Exchange Trading Prices of Kuwait StockStock Exchange

Global General Index KSE Price Index

thursDAY, march 22, 2012

95.21 13.75 1.44 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.41 0.00 121.38 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 9.86 22 77 22.77 11.92 53.75

0.00 5.44 12.90

12.67

17.65 6.45 16.98 40.87 25.23 0.00 16.80 31.68

5.63 26.33 12.18 6.16 43.97

23.07 18.82 0.00 0.00 18.69 74.83 18.18 6.58 7.66 142.64 117.52 11.52 24.48 21.83

ACICO

214

Global General Index 90 United Industries Boubyan Petroch. 620 KSE Price Index

Gulf Glass HilalCompany Cement High Al Kout Ind. Project 1,140 National K-PAK Bank Gulf BankMaterial 495 Building Commercial 770 Nat. Ind.Co.Bank 315 Ahli Bank 640 Equipment Holding 91 Ahli United Bank 850 Mena Holding International Bank 248 Consumer Industries 460 Burgan Bank Kuwait Gypsum 890 Kw Finance House 216 Qurain Bank Boubyan 590 Salbookh Trading Global Index - Banking 206 IKARUS Kw Investment Boubyan Int'L Ind. 75

212 89 610 Low 1,120 490 770 315 640 91 800 248 455 880 214 580 204 75

Ÿ źŷ źŸ ŷ ŷ

ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ź Ÿ Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ź ź ŷ ŷ ź ŷ ŷ ź 260 źŸ 40 ź 170 - źŷ 300 - Ÿŷ 400 ŷŷ 12.5 52 56 źŸ -850 ŷŸ - ŷŷ 76.0 - ŷŷ - - ŷŷ 148 ŷź 108 120 ŷŷ - ŷŸ 97 - ŷŷ - ŷ 2,240 ź - ŷ 116 ŷ ŷ 108 - ŷŷ 49 - źŷ - - ŷŷ

265 Commercial Facilit. Global Index - Industrial 41 Int'L Financial Adv. NationalInvest. Cinema 174 National KwProjects Hotels Kw 300 Agility 405 Ahlia Holding 13.5 Coast Invest. 53 59 Market Complexes -880 Int'L Investor ZAIN Securities House 78.0 Safat Energy Ind. & Fin. Inv.Group Educational -Securities Group Indep. Petroleum Int'L Finance National Cleaning 150 110 MARKAZ 120 Sultan Center KMIFIC Arabi Group 98 Int'L Inv. Group City Group Aref Inv. Group 2,260 Wataniya Tele. Investment Dar 116 Kw Gulf Link Al AMAN Inv. Kw Cable ALOLA Inv.Vision 110 Automated ALMAL Inv. System 50 NAPESCO -Gulf Inv. House KCPC Leasing 275 275 - ŷ A'ayan K.S.HInv. 32.5 - 31.0 - ŷŷ Bayan Eyas - ŷŷ GLOBAL Inv. Hits Telecom -106 -100 ŷŸ Osoul Inv. Al Safwa Holding 20.0 -19.0 ŷź GULFINVEST - ŷŷ KFIC Human Soft KAMCO - ŷŷ 80 Privatization Holding 82 Int'l Leasing & Inv. -- - ŷŷ Nafaaes Holding - - ŷŷ Nat. Int'l Holding -National Slaughter - ŷŷ Housing Finance 110 108 Aref energy MADAR -- - ŷŷ Safwan 26.5 Al Deera Holding 26.5 60.0 59.0 ŷŸ Gulf Petroleum Al Safat Inv. - ŷŷ 25.5 Gulf Franchising 26.0 122.0 Al Salam Credit & Group Collection - 114.0 - Ÿŷ 39.0 ź 41.0 Ekttitab Holding 18.0 ź 19.0 National Ranges Al Qurain Holding ŷ - ŷ Burgan Well Drilling 16.5 Sokouk Holding 16.5 ŷ 410 38.5 395 Ÿ IFA H&R Al-Madina Finance 40.0 ź - ŷŸ Combinted Group NOOR Jeeran Holding Tamdeen Inv. 160 158 - źŷ Palms KW BH Agro Int'l Exch. -- - ŷŷ 68.0 70.0 SafatKuwaiti TEC Holding Taiba - ŷŷ 89 86 Mushrif Trading Kuwait Syrian - ŷŸ UPAC -Strategia - - ŷŷ ALAFCO 305 310 53 53 ŷź Kuwait China Inv. Al-Muwasat -- - ŷŷ Manafae Inv. Gulf NorthHolding Africa - ŷŷ Mashaer 255 250 Amwal - ŷŷ Oula Fuel 280 275 Al MasarComm. -285 -285 ŷŸ Future 124 Al-Imtiaz 132 82 źŸ Hayat Comm. 84

Global Index - Investment 64 Mubarrad Transport --

KuwaitInsurance Resorts Kuwait Advanced Technolgy Gulf Insurance Yiaco Medical Ahlia Insurance Al Jazeera Airways Warba Insurance Al Soor Fuel Kuwait Re-Ins. First Takaful Future Kid Ins. Wethaq K G L Insurance

-375 480 112 242 --295 87 Al Nawadi Global Index - Insurance Alrai Media 122 Kuwait R.E. 48 Zima Holding United R.E. 100 -

63 --370 480 108 242 --285 85 120 48 100 -

Global R.E. Index - Services 118 National 126 200 Salhia R.E. Trans. 204 LiveStock - 98 Pearl -102 DanaR.E. Al-Safat 224 224 Tamdeen R.E. United Poultry Ajial R.E. 1,500 1,480 Kw FoodStuff Massaleh R.E. United Food 340 340 Arab R.E. 30.0 30.0 Kout Food 560 560 Union R.E. Global Index - Food 98 96 ERESCO 860 840 Mabani Sharjah Cement 85 84 75 74 INJAZZAT RE 98 Gulf Cement 92 Inv. 70 11.5 70 UmHolding QuwainGrp Cement 12.0 Int'L Resorts 93 Fujaira Cement 94 78 77 Commercial R.E 120 Ras AlKheimah 120 70 65 Sanam R.E. ARIG 54 53 Aa'yan R.E United Gulf Bank Aqar Egypt Kw Holding Kuwait R.E Holding Bahrain Kw Ins. 59 AL Mazaya 60 Gulf Fin. House 62.0 57.0 14.0 Al Dar National R.E 14.0 60 Inovest Int'L Holding 62 Themar -188 Grand R.E Projects -190 Ahli United Bank -26.5 Tijara & R.E Invest Ithmaar Bank 28.5 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 20.5 15.5 20.5 Al-Safat Real Estate 16.5 Manazel 42 40 Ajwan Real Estate REAM Specialities Group 375 410 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

48.0

43.5

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

źŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ źŸ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź źŷ ź ź Ÿŷ ŸŸ źŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ź ź Ÿ ŷ źŸ Ÿŷ ŸŸ źŷ ŷ ź Ÿ ŷ ź ŷ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ź źŸ ŷ ŷ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ Ÿ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ ź ŷ ź ŷ ź ź Ÿ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ źŷ Ÿŷ źŷ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ź

ŷ ŷ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ

Last Close Previous Close DTD MTD YTD 214 6 180,000 8 Change 38,280 208 4.7% 224 196 24.68 212 214 -0.40% -1.55% 177.24 -0.7053,480 -1.55% 89 176.5389 600,000 15 88 0.0% 102 89 32.35 89 616,150 6205,726.90 610 1,010,000 26 -27.30 10 5,754.20 610 5.6% 620 550 88.41 -1.50% -0.47% 620 -1.50% 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,220 21.05 1,300 2.9% Last Prev. Trading Activity Div. Annual Close Last Last 216 216 206 216 206 11.21 226 4.6% Close Close Volume Tran. Value(KD) Bid Ask Yield High Low P/E Chng 350 350 Ex-D 350 350 7.76 5.7% 375 3,796,050 - 1,120 - 1120 1120 69 3,377,500 1,140 1,120 14.74 275 275 300 1,100 275 13.23 255 300 3.6% 7.3% 20 495 495 830,000 407,950 490 495 - 0.0% 510 490 33.95 224 Ex-D 224 228 224 27.09 0.0% 770 770 10,000 12 7,700 --5 770 780 790 770 88.62 315 80,000 320 25,200 325 260 20.21 315 320 1.9% 2.5% 640 -20 5 23 6,400 660 10,000 64091 660 - 3.1% 66091 64051 17.34 18,200 91 86 200,000 43.61 0.0% 800 50 850 350,000 23 282,700 840 850 1.6% 850 790 29.68 33 33 33 33 0.00 0.0% 16 248 248 700,000 173,600 246 248 0.0% 255 248 23.59 102 102 102 93 0.0% 460 465 -5 500,000 10 229,750 460 465 0.0% 475 460 12.26 128 128 Ex-D 128 128 17.06 9.4% 890 -10 880 1,280,000 66 1,127,050 880 2.3% 900 880 25.07 870 214 228,520 216 1,060,000 222 210 112.24 8.63 216 0.0% 0.0% 214 590 590 607,850 --2 1,035,000 3322 590 580 590 590 48 48 51 41 46 47 0.0% 319.37 319.54 8,092,500 6,639,050 2.0% 319.54 318.41 18.61 0.17240 320,000 10 65,880 206 206 204 214 162 12.10 0.0% 208 106 106 -2 --2 10273 10677 0.0% 10688 10670 40.56 77 80,000 6,000 75 0.0% 260 265 -5 250,000 14 65,750 260 265 8.5% 265 260 12.09 0.06 173.22 9,125,000 292 173.29 2,624,840 174.89 163.04 11.03 2.6% 40 1,020 170 280 300 405 12.5 52 57 25.0 880 130 78.0 31.0 110 230 305 102 150 108 120 50 98 44.0 550 52 2,240 74 116 28.5 63 108 330 49 345 23 275 71 260 31.0 260 48.5 104 68 19.5 20.5 270 26.0 244 82 94 102 51 154 36 110 51 610 26.5 60.0 75 26.0 120.0 120 39.5 18.0 19.0 255 16.5 410 38.5 1,560 29.0 73 158 118 255 69.0 114 88 26.00 310 68 310 53 130 60 46.5 255 64 280 42.50 285 128 83 75.90 63

54.0 325 640 560 370 485 480 110 242 220 114 98 40.50 285 87 43.43

120 48 100 100 792.41 124 200 184 37.5 100 224 130 120 1,500 82 340 30.0 560 108 362.82 97 860 85 75 98 11.5 70 38.0 94 78 120 65 132 54 228 90 330 38.0 455 59 62.0 14.0 91 62 17.5 190 31.0 27.5 59 46.84 70 122 48.5 124 28.0 144 23.5 106 25.5 250 27.0 20.5 15.5 42 134 410 134 51 220 345 57 106 295 2,260 49.73 48.0

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

41 1,020 172 280 295 405 12.5 53 56 25.0 860 130 78.0 31.0 110 230 305 102 152 112 120 50 96 44.0 550 52 2,280 74 116 28.5 63 108 330 49.5 345 23 275 71 260 31.0 260 48.5 99 68 20.0 20.5 26.0 270 244 82 94 102 51 154 36 110 51 610 26.5 59.0 75 26.0 112.0 120 41.5 19.0 19.0 255 16.5 395 39.0 1,560 29.0 73 160 118 255 69.0 114 86 26.00 310 68 315 53 130 60 46.5 255 64 280 42.50 280 130 81 76.02 63

54.0 325 640 560 370 485 475 118 242 220 114 98 40.50 295 87 43.63

122 49 100 99 785.22 120 204 184 37.5 100 234 130 120 1,480 82 365 30.5 530 108 358.23 98 850 85 73 95 12.0 70 38.0 97 77 120 70 132 55 228 90 330 38.0 455 63 57.0 14.5 91 62 17.5 188 31.027.5 59 46.43 74 122 48.5 124 28.5 144 24.5 106 26.0 250 27.0 23.0 16.5 37 134 385 134 51 220 345 58 106 290 2,260 49.75 46.0

1,680,000 13 1,040,000 20 110,000 5 220,000 7,040,000 4614 1,280,000 22 -1 1 214 13,080,000 - 20 321 12,225,000 -59 7,560,000 - - -- - -2.027 720,000 - 680,000 18 5 120,000 -2 -2 80,000 -40 13 37,500 38 1,120,000 14 - 500,000 -1 320,000 4 - - - Ex-D 70,000 -4 1,840,000 22 - - - 5 24,160,000 376 15,520,000 87 - -1 - - - 7,040,000 81 - - - - - - - -6 200,000 - - - 235 - 1.0 240,000 1,840,000 -4 -400,000 8.0 - 11,180,000 - 212 2.024 1,920,000 13,520,000 1.078 5 480,000 50,000 15 5 0.510,640,000 93 - 15 - - 2.0- 80,000 4 - - -840,000 -20 3,200,000 2.0 -62 -- 440,000 --5 200,000 213 - - - - 850,000 15 - -2 20,000 -5 -1 10,000 -2.0 2 1,240,000 3815 600,000 0.12- - 40,720,000 1,320,000 55818 -1 -2 5 -

---

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

- - 70,000 10,000 120,000 40,000 - 1,240,000 360,000 120,000

- - -5 61 -2 - 46 68

60,000 13 -1-2 80,000 9 1 920,000 1,580 7.19 107,022,500 4 105 3,100,000 12 -4 520,000 - 27 1,280,000 3 10.0100,000 35,000 8 20 10,000 1 -25 1 80,000 0.525,000 2 30 1,350,000 4.59 -1 320,000 838 10 1,935,000 57 3 120,000 228 120,000 23 1,680,000 1518 0.5- 2,000,000 1,360,000 -4 - -3 160,000 3 1 240,000 80,000 3 17 1,000,000 -5 4 -1 200,000 Ex-D - Ex-D 11 440,000 -4 51,480,000 520 1 80,000 0.5-5 103 5,880,000 220,000 2 10 13,200,000 117 74,180,000 806 0.41 -4 320,000 2 - - - - 12 0.5- 2,720,000 1.080,000 1 0.5240,000 3 Ex-D 35,040,000 4 2.580,000 1 1,200,000 8 1.0960,000 5 11 2,010,000 64 - 25 - - - -1 240,000 6 47 5 2,110,000 0.02- - 53,085,000 - 332 Ex-D

320,000

242 -10 13,220,000 93.0 - 154 128 140,000 6 65 470 -20 50,000 2 65 150 - - - 3,370,000 1,460 -40 2,500 180 335 6,277 212 - 520,560,000720 Close 230,000 19 Prev Close Prev. 180 196.83 196.14 106 -2 80,000 3 193.83 460 194.64 -

576.95

576.37

67,160 40 177,720 168 33,000 295 88,550 90,920 400 12.5 67,280 747,760 5156 - 870 10,621,500 577,160 77.0 - - - 107,560 146 73,920 106 14,400 118 -94 7,800 84,200 2,240 129,920 116 27.0 54,920 108 310 15,840 49 355 - 21 19,250 275 250 58,760 31.0 - 2,492,200 104 64.0 297,840 -19.0 - -81 567,360 - - - - 21,640 106 - - 6,360 26.0 109,760 60.0 10,360 25.0 1,305,280 - 118.0 77,080 247,640 18.0 18.0 7,920 16.0 20,050 380 419,440 38.5 1,560 - 12,680 15673 112 - 57,960 69.0 280,760 -87 305 - 63 134,800 305 10,600 52 - - 212,650 250 5,550 275 - 255 2,850 157,920 49,640 124.082 2,702,550 83,400 63 - - 26,100 4,800 13,200 9,680 - 358,700 31,000 13,200

7,240 3,840 92,000 17,430,080 383,920 104,680 127,240 22,400 52,200 3,400 2,400 14,000 196,840 31,160 1,656,950 10,160 8,960 161,480 23,960 95,200 14,960 18,520 9,600 67,400 10,720 - 26,160 3,099,360 1,120 357,920 41,760 364,680 4,155,120 22,400 - - 76,880 1,880 6,160 946,080 1,640 19,240 39,920 807,650 - 13,520 610,850 4,151,200 14,600

51.0 300 510 370 460 470 108 240 - - 285

85 120 48 99 -

122 200 182 - 99 126 110 1,480 490 112 95 86085 7185 11.597 35.570 77 93 118 53 - 220 305 13.5 9062 - 61 30.0 188.0 70 116 28.0 23.5 25.0 24.5 15.5 -42 405 29 218 55 29084

46.5

3,111,120 -17,800 122 22,550 455 - 150 863,810 3,550 1,420 310 54,898,160 165,600 Change 710 178 0.68 8,480 104 0.81 435

0.58

0.0%

3.9% 1,000 172 0.0% 0.0% 300 - 6.7% 405 0.0% 9.9% 13.0 5257 0.0% 0.0% - 880 0.0% 22.7% 0.0% 0.0% 78.0 33.5 - 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 325 9.8% 0.0% 150 0.0% 110 120 9.3% 0.0% 0.0% 100 0.0% 570 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2,260 2.2% 0.0% 118 0.0% 29.5 0.0% 0.0% 110 - 0.0% 355 7.6% 50 0.0% 5.8% 24 - 0.0% 280 1.8% 0.0% 6.0% 32.5 - 0.0% - 0.0% 3.8% 0.0% - 106 0.0% 0.0% -19.5 0.0% - 0.0% 0.0% 23882 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 104 0.0% 54 - 0.0% 5.2% 0.0% 110 0.0% 0.0% 640 3.6% 0.0% 27.0 61.0 0.0% 0.0% 26.5 0.0% 120.0 130 0.0% 0.0% 39.0 0.0% 18.5 0.0% 20.0 0.0% 250 0.0% 16.5 0.0% 0.0% 410 0.0% 39.0 4.5% 1,580 0.0% % 0.0% 16078 3.8% 122 5.1% 6.8% 270 0.0% 70.0 0.0% 0.0% 2788 0.0% 9 7% 310 0.0% 9.7% 73 3.2% 310 0.0% 53 5.4% 61 - 0.0% 47 255 10.8% 0.0% 69 280 0.0% 0.0% - 290 0.0% 8.8% 128.084 0.0% 12.0% 64 2.4% 0.0% 57.0 6.2% 0.0% 325 0.0% 610 4.5% 2.7% 380 5.2% 500 475 9.1% 0.0% 114 244 0.0% 2.7% 110 106 0.0% 0.0% 43.0 290 0.0% 1.8% 87 4.7% 5.7% 124 0.0% 49 0.0% 110 0.0% 0.0% 100 11.4% 126 0.0% 202 186 10.0% 0.0% 37.5 5.0% 100 0.0% 224 - 4.5% 0.0% 0.0% 130 1,500 4.3% 6.1% 85 370 1.5% 0.0% 31.5 3.6% 580 6.5% 118 3.8% 0.0% 98 87086 0.0% 5.9% 7686 0.0% 10.2% 12.098 0.0% 0.0% 37.071 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 79 95 8.3% 0.0% 65 120 5.7% 0.0% 54 122 0.0% 0.0% 91 228 9.1% 0.0% 40.5 325 0.0% 7.7% 60 0.0% 14.5 0.0% 0.0% 94 - 5.5% - 62 0.0% 5.3% 33.5 190.0 0.0% 0.0% 57 0.0% 3.9% 74 0.0% - 0.0% 126 0.0% 28.5 - 0.0% 0.0% 25.0 0.0% 0.0% 25.5 0.0% 255 3.2% 28.0 0.0% 0.0% 22.5 0.0% 16.0 0.0% 3.7% 130 410 0.0% 1.7% 32 51 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 57 - 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 295 - 1.1% 0.0%

48.0

232 93.0 130 70 465 -70 1,440 340 216 720 DTD 190 0.35% 108 0.42% -

0.10%

0.0%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.2% 7.7% 3.3% 0.6% 4.6% 3.0% 4.55% 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 5465 5241 25.0 25.0 900 840 130 130 81.0 45.0 36.0 31.0 110 110 230 230 295 345 102 102 152 110 116 108 108 136 50 5084 104 44.0 44.0 530 550 52 52 1,920 2,280 74 74 95 126 28.5 28.5 11268 10863 230 330 51 49 340 395 23 22 260 305 71 71 260 260 31.5 31.0 260 260 48.5 48.5 132 68.0 68.054 14.0 23.5 20.5 20.5 26.0 26.0 270 280 24484 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 16.0 28.5 99.0 120.0 120 140 19.5 41.5 19.5 12.0 19.0 19.0 275 198 17.0 16.5 490 395 39.0 38.0 1,580 1,500 29.0 29.0 15673 16289 118 25586 255 75.0 57.0 114 114 104 2680 28 340 270 68 68 280 315 53 55 130 130 60 60 47 47 172 260 64 64 305 265 42.5 42.5 300 265 132.089 128.070 76.32 72 75.90 51

44.0 56.0 325 325 640 640 560 560 345 390 520 485 410 480 118 110 270 236 220 220 134 11498 114 40.5 40.5 295 218 44.80 92 43.43 80

116 156 49 48 100 110 100 99 792.41 744.62 120 128 200 208 182 222 37.5 37.590 114 234 224 126 130 130 120 1,420 1,500 82 82 340 390 30.5 30.0 500 570 108 108 365.22 345.74 100 96 86095 84044 76 7355 108 12.573 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-

232 260 130 128 470 450 158 150 1,460 1,420 340 335 212 222 710 740 MTD 180 3.66% 180 104 116 4.39% 460 460

2.59%

17.46 88.93 12.13 13.48 1.33 0.00 13.48

23.89 0.00 20.20 0.00 24.22 0.00 55.09 0.00 14.50 0.00 0.00 0.00

16.48 6.56 9.57 0.00 11.97 9.19 383.98 32.31 0.00 13.80

13.46

0.00 116.80 9.60 0.00 0.00 15.16

5.53

0.00

0.00 71.64 89.44 17.06 0.00 3.02 8.28 10.09 22.77 11.92

9.93

57 76 57.76 43.00

5.17 7.80 8.42 23.73 0.00 17.39

5.19 10.01

3.78 16.97 25.05 12.90 11.90 9.91 8.56 17.37 16.90 296.83 10.92 7.52

6.25 12.60

10.71 37.20 12.83 12.72 22.21 17.83 16.20

5.72 11.88 22.14 10.39 15.28 11.59 39.65 5.29

21.70

0.00 14.56

9.60

26.32

35.62 7.50 8.10 41.28 4.15 10.17

19.44 86.44

10.66

11.37 0.00 5.38 27.28

20.67 9.93 23.07

14.07

18.82 63.06 0.00 11.03 0.00 16.27

19.25

70.58 18.38

13.19 6.49 8.02 15.00 193.84 96.15 YTD 10.91 3.84% 23.15 2.39% 26.77

2.66%

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

ALWATAN DAILY thursday, march 22, 2012

April 21, 2009 March 21, 2012

2% 6% Oman

100

Bahrain

Abu Dhabi

Qatar

Kuwait

-2%

Bahrain

-4%

-1%

-6%

GCC Best Performers

Saudi

95 21-Dec-11 85

21-Jan-12

21-Feb-12

MENA Best Performers

-1%

21-Mar-12

-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 Period's Liquidity 1 Ratio (PLR x)

-1

MENA Indices Highlights Country (Index)

Index Level

% Chg.

YTD

Sa Saudi Arabia (Tadawul All Share Index) Country (Index)

Index 7,545 Level

UASa UAE (ADX Index) Saudi Arabia (Tadawul All Share Index)

2,593 5,250

0.3% -4.0%

QaUAUAE Qatar (DSM Index) (ADSM Index)

8,636 2,695

-0.1% 0.6%

BaQa Bahrain Qatar (BSE (DSMIndex) Index)

1,148 5,590

0.1% 3.9%

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

2,000

Ku Kuwait (KSE Weighted Index)

UAE (DFM(KSE Index) Ku Kuwait Weighted Index)

OmOman UAE(MSM (DFMIndex) Index)

423

1,656 406

5,923 1,745

Eg Egypt (EGX 30 Index)

OmOman (MSM Index)

Ba Bahrain (BSE Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)

Eg Egypt (Hermes Egypt Index (HFI))*

Le Lebanon (Beirut SE Index)

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

Pa Palestine (Al-Quds Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)*

Tu Tunisia (Tunis SE Index)

Le Lebanon (Beirut SE Index)* *Market Closed

Pa Palestine (Al-Quds Index) * Market Closed

5,139

5,478

1,681

11,055

463

1,214

2,825 486

10,621

4,768

1,094 546

Tu TunisiaClosed (Tunis SE Index)* * Market

3,282

0.4% % Chg.

4.4%

0.4%

0.0%

2.2%

0.2%

0.9% -

Turnover 4,572 USD million

Mkt.396,746 Cap. USD million

200

123,100 69,783

1,433 12,627

1,129 4,230

1 196

17,201 65,352

2,246

1,921

0.3% -18.8%

41.9%

5,628

0.7%

12,109

0.4%

-6.8%

2,903

-0.6%

8.5%

2,551

328

465

14,635 4,785

4,091

23.6%

739

407

-7.2%

2,119

13.6%

3,418

1,164

-3.3%

0.2%

9,406

1,043

2,837

9.06 10.24

18,474 37,413

10.93 6.87

60,239

10.15

1 3

9,530

1.29

3.52

7.67

1.56

6.40

0.88

12.71

2,546

2.15

9.52

59,990

1.19

18.36

3.95

14.68

8,507

1.64

16.03

10,471

33,782

1.68

8.07

60,382

1.39

9.50

63,640

1.67

6.47

2,079

0.86

8.67

6,576

MENA Worst Performers

2.50

13.85

1.92

SAUDI ARABIA *Market Closed

SAR 87.75 SAR 22.95

225 Saudi Industrial Inv. Grp.

101 Riyad Bank

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

119

SAR 24.70

-6.4%

115

471,935,953

466,390,090

703 Zain - Saudi Arabia (KSA)

343,553,085 235,620,263 119,955,261 196,982,324

115 201Alinma Saudi Bank Basic(KSA) Industries Corp. (KSA)

97,126,838

NBKNational Bank of Kuwait (KUW)

1,488,036,769

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

113

88,742,222

2380.SSE Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.

2250.SSE Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

Turnover (SAR) 2,833,513,404 4300.SSE Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co. 1,770,042,986 7030.SSE Zain - Saudi Arabia 1,749,242,671 4220.SSE Emaar the Economic City

1 Alinma Bank

70Zain - Saudi Arabia

21-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

883,717,357

43Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

21-Mar-12

21.15

% Chg.

7.4%

47.00

5.9%

52.25

5.1%

26.70

4.7%

24.95

3.7%

Worst Performers

23Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.

21-Jan-12

64,280,166

2060.SSE National Industrialization Co.

Highest Turnover

105

-6.8%

Turnover (USD)

201 Basic Industries Corp.Dev. (KSA) 430Saudi Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Co. (KSA)

17,146,226

-4.1% -8.9%

755,482,697

115 Alinma Bank (KSA)

7,616 / 5,916 2290.SSE Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

Tadawul Index 52 week High / Low

Turnover (SAR '000)

-6.3%

Turnover (USD)

MENA Highest Turnover

0.68

% Chg.

-3.8% -8.6%

235 Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. (KSA)

93% 2350.SSE Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.

Advance/Decline Ratio

5.1%

8.0%

SAR 15.05 SAR 48.00

SAR 13.70

GCC Highest Turnover

7,545 (0.4%)

Tadawul Index (% Chg.)

125

5.8% 8.6%

SAR 12.10 -13.1% -4.7% KWD 0.265

EMAEmaar Properties (UAE) Best Performers

Summary

5.9% 8.8%

SAR 9.85% Chg. -5.3% Close

KFI Kuwait Finance House (KUW)

Rebased Performance

95 21-Dec-11

SAR 11.95

703 Zain - Saudi Arabia

7.1% 9.8%

8.0%

430 Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

0.88 201 115Saudi Alinma Bank 1.74 Basic Industries Corp.

14.27

18,727

OMR 0.720

GCC Worst Performers

1.87 FAC 422Commercial Emaar the Economic City 1.37 Facilities Co. 1.62 305 Southern Province Cement Co. 0.88 238 Rabigh Petrochem.

9.29 8.85

27,485

1.08 1.77

11.47 7.29

15,024

1,572

5,044 513

4,224

10,785

1,425

2.4%

1.9%

8 305

3,587

12,633

1,033

3.2%

5,419 1,433

2.05

0.78 1.52

104 122

6,406 5,860

13.31

QAR 21.60

BKMBankMuscat

10.35 9.99

8,071 2,137

93 718

Trailing

SAR 52.25

QGTQatar Gas Transport Co.

34,908 98,547

8,892 5,148

1,301 316

Trailing

KWD 0.182 QAR 6.35

229 Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

PB1.47

-1.6% 12.8%

SAR 47.00 OMR 0.703

NINNational Investments Company KCB Al Khaliji Commercial Bank

PE 14.34

68,514 264,263

1,754 787

KWD5.60 0.750 SAR

206Galfar National Industrialization Co. GEC Engineering & Contracting

104,023

25 2,183

4.0% 6.6%

5.1%

396

Mkt. Cap. USD million

2,293 4,130

0.0% 1.9%

-0.3%

525,916 Wk Low

Turnover USD million

2,775 10,090

22.3% -0.2%

1.2%

467

52 Wk Low

7.9% 9.3%

0.7% 1.8%

-0.2%

52 Wk 7,616 High

17.6% YTD

0.4%

0.1%

52 Wk High

% Chg.

SAR 21.15% Chg. 7.4% Close

CBK Commercial 3 428 Kingdom Hldg.Bank Co. of Kuwait

Period's Liquidity Ratio (PLR x)*

MENA Indices Highlights

4 235 Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co.

Abu Dhabi

Return DailyDaily Return (%)(%)

Dubai

105

Kuwait

Saudi

Abu Dhabi

Tunisia Abu Dhabi

105

100

Qatar

Palestine Palestine

111

110

Dubai Dubai

112

Saudi Saudi

110

Dubai

Qatar Qatar

113

Kuwait Oman Morocco

113

1% 6%

Jordan Kuwait

113

DailyIndex Index Performance Snapshot Daily Performance Snapshot

Egypt Jordan

115115

Bull/Bear Indicator Bull/Bear Indicator

Bahrain Bahrain

Rebased RebasedPerformance Performance

738,801,903

20Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

3050.SSE Southern Province Cement Co. 1150.SSE Alinma Bank

11.95

% Chg.

9.85

-6.3% -5.3%

12.10

-4.7%

15.05

-3.8%

87.75

-4.1%

Saudi SE

Quotes Company Name 1 Al Rajhi Bank

1 Alinma Bank 2 Almarai Co.

1 Arab National Bank

Close 77.00

% Chg.

0.0%

15.05

-3.8%

31.30

-1.6%

111.25

Daily High

77.50

15.85

Low

76.75

Turnover (SAR '000) 96,369

14.85

1,770,043

31.10

1,052

0.5%

113.25

110.50

28,806 22,368

31.80

1 Bank AlBilad

27.60

-0.4%

27.80

27.10

1 Banque Saudi Fransi

44.90

-0.2%

45.50

44.80

4 Emaar the Economic City

12.10

-4.7%

12.85

11.80

359,477

17.50

86,473

12.05

30,919

1 Bank Al Jazira

4 Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co. 7 Etihad Etisalat Co.

4 Jabal Omar Development Co. 4 Jarir Marketing Co.

4 Kingdom Holding Co.

2 National Industrialization Co.

2 Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co. 1 Riyad Bank

1 Samba Financial Grp.

2 Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co.

1 Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

2 Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

3 Saudi Cement Co.

5 Saudi Electricity Co.

1 Saudi Hollandi Bank

22 Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

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 3 Yamama Saudi Cement Co.

2 Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co. 7 Zain - Saudi Arabia

28.90

11.95

62.00

-0.7%

-6.3%

0.4%

17.75

-0.8%

12.25

-2.0%

152.00 47.00

26.70

25.30

34.30

77.25

27.00

3.7%

25.40

24.00

0.5%

19.90

19.50

21.15

7.4%

-0.3%

0.3%

23.75

21.60

40.00

33.70

58,092

87.00

14,425 30,968

33.20

48.60

47.30

9.85

-5.3%

10.55

9.70

52.50

6,137

39.70

-0.6%

5.1%

95,140

2,833,513

47.70

34.40

2,663

19.60

90.50

-0.6%

28,154

23.00

-4.1%

52.25

94,232

162,344

87.75

34.10

9,845

365,467

-3.7%

33.40

51.25

380,376

16.00

23.40

39.80

25.40

16.40

27.40

-13.7%

64.8%

36.6%

-3.9%

18.1%

26.0%

45.20

0.6%

-0.4%

8,670,000

3,025

104.25

27.30

60.6%

92.67

106.50 79.50

70.5%

154.75

1.0%

-1.6%

-3.7%

17.20

738,802

77.50

19.70

35.00

15.75

5,645

39,113

52.00

185.75

26,605,000

48.90

182.25

1.2%

-5.0%

64.50

43,326

25.40

13.8%

1,081

34.00

49.50

9,222 7,624

149,048

1,749,243

29,281 4,859 2,515

14,254 1,722

-10.2%

13.60

6.20

-11.0%

13.00

29.80

6.05

11.10 7.05

32.46

21.20

-5.8%

4.0%

6.7%

64.6%

46.1% 9.2%

38.4%

15.5%

47.6%

1.4

32.4%

64.0%

28.9%

43.6%

48.5%

98.00

52.50

-20.9%

7.6%

36.0%

28.67

21.42

-4.8%

9.9%

11.4%

22,642

16.00

87.75

12.85

-6.0%

9.9%

0.6%

15.8%

2.4

1.8

nmf

37.9%

112.50

3.8

1.6

10,285,000

-1.1%

6,993

25.3

32.0

1.4

84.7%

23.50

35.30

5.3%

22.5

12.3

3.5

1.7

-5.9%

-3.9%

8,280,000

nmf

11.2

10.5%

42.40

8.6%

25,587,500

15.7

32,472,322

-9.3%

165.00

56.75

-5.9%

22,575,000

Trailing

-0.7%

16.3%

192.75

-1.8%

39.0%

15.3%

14.8%

213

358

-1.9%

12.4%

-10.4%

23.10

2,714

-2.8%

37.50

26.90

190

0.2%

50.00

18.10

115,500,000

-11.0%

66,880

-0.3%

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

26.60

83.75

61.25

25.00

27.40

28.40

30.00

10.8%

12 mths

56.0%

13.85

139,779

4.7%

35.18

YTD

61.0%

72,579

4,212

44.40

-0.8%

815

111.00

-4.6%

% Change

-7.4%

883,717

47.50

12.55

on high

9.05

11.70

5.9%

1.8%

24.95

18.00

257

16.25

67.25

1,268

151.50

34.90

16.10

62.25

116,079

80.75

Low

36,403

153.75

-0.5%

105.75

12.85

1,250

52-Week

High

28.40

0.0%

51.50

185.25

29.20

Volume ('000)

-2.3%

1.4%

12,906,000

43,400,000 16,496,850

11.9 8.5

nmf

0.8

2.4

1.8

9,120,000

17.8

10.1

26,199,138

10.7

2.4

37,950,000

12.1

1.3

46,312,500

11.3

5.6

45,397,058

23,389,200

46,350,000

32,282,500

3.9%

317,250,000

18.8%

67,082,160

nmf

10.8 nmf

10.8

1.8

2.9

1.6 1.9

2.3

11,857,500

14.3

3.6

10,835,370

10.7

1.5

30.2

1.3

3,830

27.20

18.55

-8.3%

31.3%

13.9%

11,227,500

21.2

1.9

312

24.60

15.55

-19.9%

22.0%

-15.8%

10,835,000

15.3

1.3

40.40

33.00

-1.5%

17.8%

5.3%

164

106.75

60.25

646

83.25

6,944

24.45

135,591

19.80

276

35.40

1,456

223

2,890

173,609

46.50

54.00 11.50

17.75

15.50

23.70 34.20

-4.3%

6.8%

-5.7%

-17.8%

-26.7%

18.8%

21.6%

13.3%

16.4%

27.0%

16,700,000

-16.2%

-20.0%

34,100,000

11.8

2.0

16.1%

29,390,625

9.3

2.8

2.0%

43.9%

-31.9%

-10.0%

5.25

-14.3%

77.5%

40.7%

18.8%

79,600,000

12,285,000 9,659,250

13,790,000

nmf

1.5

31,725,000

-42.7% -3.2%

12.2

14.3%

48.00

41.60

8,580,000

10.4

14.0

13.7

13.1 nmf

2.1

1.7

2.2 4.6

2.9 3.2

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

ALWATAN DAILY thursday, march 22, 2012

KUWAIT Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 6,249 (0.3%)

KSE General Index (% Chg.)

115

423 (0.4%)

KSE Weighted Index (% Chg.)

113

59%

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

1.33

Advance/Decline Ratio

110

21-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

3.8%

0.880

2.3%

0.108

1.9%

Worst Performers Turnover (KWD) 10,621,500 3,075,200

K Kuwait Finance House

2,511,750

B Burgan Bank

1,176,750

1,662,600

N National Investments Company

21-Mar-12

5.8%

0.410

International Finance Co.

Highest Turnover

N National Bank of Kuwait

21-Jan-12

7.1%

28,949,685

Zain Kuwait ZA

95 21-Dec-11

% Chg.

0.182

IFAHR.KSEIFA Hotels & Resorts

55,732

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

100

0.750

NINV.KSE National Investments Company

467 / 396 IFC.KSE

KSE Weighted Index 52 week High / Low

Turnover (KWD '000) 103

Commercial Bank of Kuwait

6,523 / 5,694 ZAIN.KSE Zain Kuwait

KSE General Index 52 week High / Low

105

CBK.KSE

ALTIJARIA The Commercial Real Estate Co. NBK.KSE

0.090

National Bank of Kuwait

% Chg.

-2.2%

1.080

-1.8%

BOUBYAN. Boubyan Bank

0.550

-1.8%

ALAFCO.KSAlafco Aviation Lease and Fin. Co.

0.310

-1.6%

NMTC.KSE Wataniya

2.240

-1.8%

KSE Weighted Index

Quotes Company Name

A Agility

0.405

T Al Themar Intl. Holding Co.

0.087

A AREF Energy Holding Co.

0.110

A Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

0.0%

0.640

A Alafco Aviation Lease and Fin. Co. B Boubyan Bank

B Boubyan Petrochemical Co. B Burgan Bank

0.550

-1.8%

0.430

0.0%

0.620

C Commercial Bank of Kuwait

0.750

G Global Investment House

-1.6%

0.255

F Commercial Facilities Co.

1.6%

0.310

A Burgan Co. for Well Drilling

C Combined Grp Contracting Co.

1.560

0.550

107

0.425

1,177

1.6%

0.620

0.610

0.0% -

0.550 0.435 -

0.750

0.285

0.280

0.410

0.395

0.108

1.9%

0.108

0.104

559

0.0%

0.0% 1.1%

0.242

0.445

0.0%

K Kuwait Finance House

0.870

0.0%

K Kuwait International Bank

0.255

0.0%

K Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)

0.340

0.0%

1.500

1.4%

0.880

1.2%

1.440

0.206 0.480

1.440

295

0.204

0.480

0.445

-6.9%

-2.6%

0.079

-16.3%

0.280

-18.4%

10.7%

0.420

0.198

-39.3%

-20.2%

1.945

150

0.940

160

-17.9%

1.300

-19.8%

0.700

0.395

0.419

0.255

0.055

0.019

-29.1% -10.9%

0.290

0.236

-16.6%

0.630

0.415

-29.4%

10.0

4.1

63,719

-22.1%

283,757

nmf

0.8

nmf

0.8

20.6

2.0

24.4

1.3

0.340

0.335

363

1,080

0.425

0.295

-20.0%

11.5%

-12.8%

432,795

11.5

0.880

0.850

314

360

1.580

0.660

23.9%

-2.0%

16.3%

-5.7%

6.1%

0.056

-16.7%

0.214

-0.9%

0.120

0.0%

0.315

0.182 0.142

0.172

1,663 6

0.140

0.214

229

0.120

0.090

326

2.240

0.0%

0.280

0.275

0.9%

0.222

0.220

0.8%

0.244

0.216

0.120 0.091 -

2.260 0.880

0.850

10,622

0.158

-34.0%

0.0%

-7.4%

12.5%

-38.3%

5.8%

-5.4%

9.4%

0.360

0.265

-22.2%

-6.7%

0.240

0.200

-7.5%

6.7%

0.270

0.216

0.226

120

0.174

0.136

3,600

0.094

2.280

0.260

0.295

1,060

0.033

0.340

9,400

0.050

1.4%

-44.3%

0.168

2.3%

105,600

264,518

340

0.880

1.0

-17.7%

-1.4%

Z Zain Kuwait

18.4

86,711

-21.9%

3.9

154,500

0.0%

-7.4%

0.140

-1.8%

-56.8%

313.8%

1.7

-27.1%

1.420

N National Real Estate Co.

2.240

49.3%

8.3

0.236

1.620

-13.7%

N Wataniya

nmf

302,301

0.350

0.192

186,092

-8.9%

2,790

0.285

-2.2%

-13.7%

3.1

698

1.480

2,360

0.130

2.9

nmf

0.250

1.500

580

0.090

40.4

64,309

0.255

0.244

S The Securities House

1,237,551

1.3

0.246

A The Commercial Real Estate Co.

-1.3%

38.9

-0.8%

0.244

0.9

2,339,465

0.246

T Tamdeen Real Estate Co.

10.6

-17.9%

N National Industries Grp. Holding

S Sultan Center Food Products Co.

1.8

150,294

-3.3%

0.909

0.222

-25.3%

4.1

nmf

-20.9%

1.145

S Salhia Real Estate Co.

-3.3%

954,017

18.9

0.820

2,848

0.280

-0.8%

150,744

1.5

1.100

3,075

A Qurain Petrochemicals Industries Co.

5.5%

-14.2%

13.1

2,910

1.060

O Oula Fuel Marketing Co.

21.2%

664,336

4.2

2,512

1.080

5.8%

1.4%

-4.9%

nmf

0.860

0.870

-1.8%

0.182

14.0%

1.080

N National Investments Company

0.0%

7.7%

5.9%

0.0%

0.636

-1.6%

-20.2%

-57.6%

1.020

0.315

-5.1%

0.096

1,050

N National Industries Co.

1.0

-1.3%

0.255

1,043

26.2

5,300

0.114

961,529

53,454

-13.7%

0.480

-5.2%

1.0

-45.7%

-4.9%

-17.2%

1.6

nmf

20.3%

0.285

-3.7%

6.1

88,088

1.3

0.495

0.134

241,729

12.2

0.214

-8.8%

300,762

-3.3%

320

2.0

24.0%

-14.9%

-15.3%

0.5

19.2

1.2

0.448

1.380

nmf

0.552

1.700

nmf

82,500

-6.8%

480

205

968,473

-16.7%

0.0%

423,969

6.7%

3.8%

0.495

0.524

6.6%

-13.0%

-1.6%

Trailing

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

12 mths

-4.4%

0.620

0.980

0.033

1.7%

1,010

-11.3%

1.020

N National Bank of Kuwait

8.0%

-22.5%

0.550

0.0%

M Mena Holding

YTD

0.085

0.620

1.000

M Mabanee Co.

% Change

0.142

2,750

0.104

0.380

195

3.8%

0.581

on high

200

112

0.720

0.248

0.657

Low

0.435

440

616

52-Week

High

115

0.410

0.480

P Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

135

0.108

7.1%

0.305

224

JAJazeera Airways

F Kuwait Food Co.

0.310

220

0.465

0.206

K Kuwait Cement Co.

0.630

0.470

IK Ikarus Petroleum Industries Co.

K KIPCO Asset Management Co.

0.640

Volume ('000)

0.400

0.0%

1.440

IF International Finance Co.

0.405

Turnover (KWD '000)

0.470

C Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co.

IF IFA Hotels & Resorts

Low

0.110

0.280

High

0.0%

0.049

G Gulf Bank

Daily

% Chg.

12,225

603,003

-37.1%

79,996

4,701,777

15.5

2.2

-7.2%

318,595

nmf

21,780

-6.0%

109,035

-33.8%

1.4

0.8

92,316

22.7

2.2

-7.5%

113,825

22.0

0.9

-4.3%

91,041

18.4

0.9

88,400

nmf

25.0%

-3.8%

235,400

16.9%

28.6%

165,133

-1.8%

15.5%

34.9%

1,129,033

-2.2%

38.0

0.8

-4.3%

-36.2%

0.1

nmf

0.067

0.840

2.3

159,471

-7.7%

1.660

0.8

2.4%

-45.0%

21.6%

0.0%

1.3 3.8

0.0%

31.5 26.7

0.0%

6.1%

2.1

555,626

-11.8% -9.6%

12.6

55.0%

0.093

1.380

-5.3%

2.7%

69,459

0.0%

-33.3%

3,790,631

nmf

0.6

13.0

1.1

nmf

1.0

15.7

0.7

7.0

3.1

1.4

13.3

1.8

UAE Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,656 (0.7%)

DFM Index (% Chg.)

2,593 (0.3%)

ADSM Index (% Chg.)

130

Advance/Decline Ratio

DFM Index 52 week High / Low

120

Highest Turnover

Turnover (AED) 50,775,189 SIB.ADSM Sharjah Islamic Bank 25,932,452 SOROUH.A Sorouh Real Estate Co. 25,368,453 ARMX.DFM Aramex

S Sorouh Real Estate Co. D Dubai Financial Market

21-Jan-12 S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

21-Feb-12 Abu Dhabi SE

19,533,776

A ALDAR Properties

21-Mar-12

9.26

1.4%

3.08

1.0%

2.22

1.4%

Worst Performers

E Emaar Properties

90 21-Dec-11

2.7%

2.2%

408,545,416

Market Cap. (AED '000)

100

% Chg.

3.20

431,128

Turnover (AED '000)

111

110

1.15

2,775 / 2,293 EMIRATES Emirates NBD

ADSM Index 52 week High / Low

113

Dubai Financial Market

82% UNB.ADSM Union National Bank 2.40 FGB.ADSM First Gulf Bank 1,754 / 1,301 DIB.DFM Dubai Islamic Bank

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

124

DFM.DFM

16,200,501

E Etisalat

0.97

% Chg.

1.24

1.85

ARTC.DFM Arabtec Holding

2.84

AIRARABIA Air Arabia

0.72

-3.0%

-2.4%

-2.1% -0.7% -0.6%

Dubai FM

Quotes Company Name

Daily

% Chg.

A Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

3.10

T Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.

1.34

0.0%

A Air Arabia

0.72

-0.6%

A Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

A Abu Dhabi National Hotels A ALDAR Properties A Amlak Finance

A Arabtec Holding A Aramex

A Arkan Building Materials Co. C Commercial Bank of Dubai D Dana Gas

D Deyaar Development Co. D du

3.40

2.19

1.32

0.7%

0.0% -

High

1.34

1.33

536

400

0.72

0.71

6,948

9,697

3.44 -

0.48

0.39

3.13

0.0%

0.3%

0.6%

1.04

104

100

1.77

0.71

-41.2%

3.0%

-20.0%

6.7%

-21.3%

3.00

0.49

0.41

3.21

2,290

3.00

450

0.47

3,506

0.39

3,921

3.11

13,688

3.06

N National Bank of Abu Dhabi N National Bank of Fujairah

N National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain S Sharjah Islamic Bank

S Sorouh Real Estate Co. T Tamweel

12.10 4.10 1.97

0.4% -

9.35 -

12.25 -

9,447

3.70

14.4%

1,743

11.20

8.64

-17.0%

9.10

1,859

10,326

11.95

3,041

113

3,390

U United Arab Bank

-3.9%

8.3%

36.9%

16,201

0.42

0.43

1.88

-5.2%

-21.2%

83.6%

9.22

13,832

0.2%

2.31

2.80

0.68

-32.4%

-14.1%

3.4%

16.3%

1.16

0.43

4,279

3.30

1.46

0.34

0.20

-11.8%

2.8%

-14.3%

1.23

3.23

4,313

22,313

0.71

0.46

2.90

-5.6%

0.0%

2.41

0.8%

2.2%

7,284

9,863

3.40

1.69

0.0%

3.49

1.23

1.27

150

1.96

17,024

0.97

-2.4%

1,242

50,775

0.97

1.24

2.93

-3.0%

3.20

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

9.35

25,368

0.97

U Union National Bank U Union Properties

3.02

1.82

3.10

91.45

4,245,800

1.04

1.87

1.0%

M Mashreq

5,392,370

135.1%

3.08

-2.9%

78.6%

E Emirates NBD

1.08

2,190,000

-13.3%

-21.8%

2.19

G Gulf Cement Co.

12.4

-20.7%

1.21

2.22

1.4%

3,341,357

1.21

25,932

3.14

723

602

1,116 -

4.63

10.75 1.56

2.65

6.98

0.67

10.5%

24.6%

34,727,524

8.8%

0.5%

3,152,000

-17.6%

1.54

0.67

-19.5%

226

3.90

2.82

-17.9%

7,926 -

0.50

5.30

0.53

0.24

3.28

8.3

-0.4%

-10.3%

20,855

1.49

8,429,460

nmf

-4.9%

11,377

13.0

9,200,000

886,785

0.80

1.63

14,308,571

-16.3%

-12.8%

1.02

6.3

1.6%

-9.9%

15.5%

22.4% -5.7%

5.4%

45.9%

12.7%

10.7%

6.3%

-17.5%

104.0%

-14.1%

64.7%

-30.2%

15.0%

1.6%

24.2% 62.2%

-34.5%

1.4

0.5

3,168,961

52.1%

19.9%

1.1

0.9

-30.8%

-13.9%

0.6

0.8

7.1

nmf

-4.1%

0.3

5,823,863

1,820,000

12.6

4.8%

1.2

1.1

1.5

2,259,198

3.3%

0.8

12.8

77.7%

-10.9%

2,708,585

73,527,102

2.91

2.39

nmf

16.7

-15.5%

4.70

8.4

1.9%

-33.5%

117

-13.0%

8.7

10.2

74.70 9.71

0.5%

1,530,000

7.0

18,212,803

102.00 12.15

0.0%

5.7

1.4%

251

8,040,000

-0.5%

3.63

1.4%

9.26

-25.5%

0.57

12.8

4,753

2.22

F First Gulf Bank

22.2%

2.02

8,341,500

13,517

D Dubai Islamic Bank

0.0%

-14.5%

2.94

-6.9%

9.7%

2.81

1.11

9.30

11.7%

17,346,352

2.87

1.16

E Etisalat

-17.8%

0.84

7.6%

Trailing

Market Cap. (AED '000)

29.7%

43.5%

2.7%

0.7%

1.14

-4.2%

11.5%

12 mths

-21.4%

1.15

2.99

1.63

2.92

YTD

0.76

D Dubai Financial Market

E Emaar Properties

3.55

-6.6%

% Change

1.68

0.0% 0.0%

322

2.37

on high

14,837

1.04 3.00

1,094

3.32

Low

19,534

-0.7% -2.1%

3.38

1,268

52-Week

High

1.28

2.84

1.85

Volume ('000)

3,929

1.34

Turnover (AED '000)

3.07

3.10

0.0%

1.02

Low

17,117,946

27,780,000 -

1.1 0.4

2.3 1.2 0.9

0.6

6.8

0.5

7.5

1.0

18.8 9.4

1.9

0.7

1.3

4,510,000

16.1

2.2

2,352,735

9.4

0.5

3,255,000

9.8 9.7

1,230,000

12.1

1,430,914

nmf

7,986,000

3,686,685

5.3

11.2

0.9 0.5 0.5 0.7

0.6

1.8

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

ALWATAN DAILY thursday, march 22, 2012

QATAR Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 8,636 (-0.1%)

DSM Index (% Chg.)

115 113

Advance/Decline Ratio

7.52

Turnover (QAR '000)

448,242,890

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

#N/A

% Chg.

0.9%

167.30

8,892 / 8,071 KCBK.DSMAl Khalij Commercial Bank 380,058 #N/A #N/A

DSM 52 week High / Low

110

39% VFQS.DSM Vodafone Qatar 0.33 QTEL.DSM Qatar Telecom

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

0.2%

16.20

0.0%

#N/A

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (QAR) 57,363,859 QGTS.DSMQatar Gas Transport Co. 21,896,656 DHBK.DSMDoha Bank

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

MMasraf Al Rayan

15,058,238

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

95 21-Dec-11

21-Jan-12

21-Feb-12

21-Mar-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

15,018,467

IQIndustries Qatar

10,721,032

Q Qatar International Islamic Bank

17.36

% Chg.

-2.8%

59.40

ERES.DSMEzdan Real Estate Co.

-1.0%

18.83

AHCS.DSMAamal Co.

-0.9%

16.00

QEWS.DSMQatar Electricity & Water Co.

-0.8%

138.00

-0.3%

Doha SM

Quotes Company Name

A Aamal Co.

16.00

K Al Khalij Commercial Bank

16.20

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

74.00

E Ezdan Real Estate Co.

18.83

B Barwa Real Estate Co.

28.90

D Doha Bank

Daily

% Chg.

-0.8%

0.0% -

18.83

228

136.00

134.70

15,018

-0.3%

139.50

138.00

4,349

0.0%

50.30

50.00

10,721

-2.8%

76.60

0.0%

Q Qatar Telecom

167.30

V Vodafone Qatar

0.0%

59.50

27.00 17.52

76.80

26.80

21,897

17.35

57,364

76.30

7,893

73.80

4,071

7.42

1,595

0.0%

135.70

135.00

9,300

0.2%

167.90

166.80

8,854

74.20

0.0%

7.52

0.9%

74.60 7.52

18.83

17.36

135.00

Q Qatar Navigation

-0.9%

138.00

Q Qatar National Bank

467

4,467

Q Qatar Electricity & Water Co.

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

16.20

59.20

-0.1%

50.30

16.30

52-Week

Volume ('000)

693

15,058

134.90

Q Qatar International Islamic Bank

16.00

74.00

IQIndustries Qatar

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

Low

75.00

-1.0%

26.90

16.16

0.0%

59.40

M Masraf Al Rayan

High

Turnover (QAR '000)

High

24.09

Low

15.40

19.15

16.06

35.90

28.10

on high

-33.6%

% Change YTD

0.6%

12 mths

-7.4%

7,920,000

-14.7%

11,245,702

-7.7%

18,311,032

9.7

49,946,513

nmf

-3.5%

68.00

-13.5%

-11.9%

24.97

18.60

-24.6%

-15.2%

-19.5%

-3.4%

21.7%

50.00

111

148.50

118.80

153.50

128.00

213

56.20

44.90

814

3,290 103

28.10

22.09

19.58

85.30

-10.2%

-9.1%

168.50

135.70

8.12

-1.1%

76.30

214

-4.3%

-10.1%

1.4%

-0.9%

112.05

87.50

-9.2%

-7.3%

-11.3%

141.73

-11.3%

16.59

14.7

-10.7%

85.50

67.00

-5.6%

-19.5%

-10.5% -4.7%

69.90

-15.2%

7.24

-7.4%

-0.7%

5,832,000

Trailing

-15.4%

203 75

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

10.0% -4.0%

74,195,000

7.8%

13,800,000

10.5%

7,613,848

20,175,000

1.1

9.3

0.9

1.3

9.9

1.7

1.8

9.4

2.8

10.6

4.6

14.3

2.4

9,614,732

12.2

7.9

-3.3%

18,100,059

13.3

1.6

-3.0%

-14.7%

8,497,770

15.8

0.8

-0.4%

0.8%

6,357,408

nmf

0.9

-6.9% -2.3%

18.8%

-1.9%

1.4

12.0

12,277,849

16.0%

94,463,474

18.7%

29,444,800

11.7

1.6

12.6

2.2

11.4

1.4

OMAN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 5,923 (0.0%)

MSM Index (% Chg.)

115

53% RCCI.MSM Raysut Cement Co.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

113

5.00

Advance/Decline Ratio

1.04

OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

Turnover (OMR '000)

7,101,380

Market Cap (OMR '000)

% Chg.

4.6%

0.55

6,406 / 5,419 BKDB.MSMBank Dhofar 3,062 OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

MSM 52 week High / Low

110

1.9%

0.57

0.9%

0.59

0.2%

1.42

RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

0.4%

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (OMR) 420,035 BKMB.MSMBank Muscat 330,966 NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman

B Bank Muscat

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

136,763

O Oman Cement Co.

95 21-Dec-11

21-Jan-12

21-Feb-12

21-Mar-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

115,720

R Raysut Cement Co.

86,609

N National Bank of Oman

0.61

% Chg.

-2.4%

0.31

RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

0.59

BKDB.MSMBank Dhofar

0.57

OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

0.0% 0.2%

1.42

0.4%

0.9%

Muscat SM

Quotes Company Name

B Bank Dhofar

0.569

N National Bank of Oman

0.311

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

1.424

R Renaissance Services

0.593

B Bank Muscat

O Oman Cement Co.

R Raysut Cement Co.

Daily

% Chg.

0.9%

0.605

-2.4%

0.551

1.9%

1.038

High

0.570

Low

0.562

0.616

Turnover (OMR '000)

278

0.332

0.304

232

1.424

1.041

0.601

420

0.545

137

1.000

116

0.311

0.4%

1.428

1.419

331

0.590

0.2%

1.065 0.595

Low

0.312

4.6%

High

0.0%

0.555

52-Week

Volume ('000)

0.680

694

0.509

0.679

248

0.572

0.608

112

0.416

1.190

0.711

1.193

0.458

on high

-16.3%

% Change YTD

4.0%

-10.9%

-9.2%

-9.4%

27.5%

-12.8%

36.6%

-6.3%

0.0%

-50.3%

-2.8%

12 mths

Market Cap. (OMR '000)

-13.5%

520,771

-7.2%

1,077,285

1.0%

336,191

1.1%

13.0

9.6

2.2

13.9

8.8%

-50.3%

167,282

1.2

207,600

1,068,000

2.3

9.2

14.2

20.7%

9.8

182,311

8.8%

-8.9%

Trailing

1.2

2.0

nmf

1.0

BAHRAIN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,148 (0.1%)

BSE Index (% Chg.)

115

32% BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp. - BATELCO.BBahrain Telecommunications Co.

% of stocks trading above 1 yr avg. price

113

Advance/Decline Ratio

1,433 / 1,129 AUB.BSE 264 #N/A

BSE 52 week High / Low

110

Turnover (BHD '000)

6,484,675

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

#N/A

Ahli United Bank #N/A

1.08

% Chg.

1.9%

0.41

0.5%

0.67

0.0%

#N/A

105

Highest Turnover 100

100

Worst Performers Turnover (BHD) 75,991 AUB.BSE Ahli United Bank 48,631 BATELCO.BBahrain Telecommunications Co.

A Ahli United Bank

IT Ithmaar Bank

9,758

B Albaraka Banking Grp.

95 21-Dec-11

21-Jan-12

21-Feb-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

2,817

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co.

21-Mar-12

A Arab Banking Corp.

Bahrain SE

BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp.

ABC.BSE #N/A

Arab Banking Corp.

0.67

% Chg.

0.41 1.08

0.42 -

#N/A

0.0%

0.5%

1.9% #N/A

Quotes Company Name

A Ahli United Bank*

0.670

A Arab Banking Corp.*

0.420

B Albaraka Banking Grp.* B Bahrain Islamic Bank

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co. B BBK

IN Investcorp Bank* IT Ithmaar Bank*

N National Bank of Bahrain U United Gulf Bank

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

1.080 0.082

0.414

0.412 797

Daily

% Chg.

0.0% 1.9% -

0.5% -

0.095

0.0%

0.304

0.570

High

0.670 1.080 -

0.414 -

Low

0.670 1.080 -

300

0.414 -

0.095

52-Week

Volume ('000)

202

0.095 -

Turnover (BHD '000)

129 -

High

0.750

1.280

0.570 0.116

0.492

0.436 797

Low

0.660 1.000

on high

-10.7%

3,339,507

0.0%

-26.3%

1,306,200

5.6%

1.0%

596,160

-8.9%

-5.5%

-0.5%

-15.9% 0.0%

0.424

0.270

-28.3%

1.3%

-25.9%

7.9

1.3

0.8

0.4

7.5

1.2

254,388

nmf

253,707

6.4

11.0

487,555

-17.4%

10.8

350,759

-13.0%

46.2%

nmf

-0.9%

-17.4%

-13.0%

-8.4%

Trailing

77,053

637,560

0.065

0.560

-29.3%

939,114

-30.0%

0.115

0.655

-12.0%

0.0%

1,354 -

12 mths

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

-9.5%

-29.3%

0.380 797

0.8%

-0.9%

-26.3%

0.390

YTD

-15.6%

0.420 0.082

% Change

0.8

1.5

4.5

0.6

10.7

1.8

nmf

0.4 1.2

LIFE

Protect your skin from sun damage Too much sun can permanently damage your skin and increases your risk of developing skin cancer. The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions to help protect you from the sun’s harmful effects: •Apply sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy outside. •Stay out of the sun while it’s strongest, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. •Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat with a wide brim when you’ll be outside for long periods. •Protect your eyes with UV light-filtering sunglasses.

thursDAY, march 22, 2012

Smoking deaths triple over decade: Tobacco report LONDON: Tobacco-related deaths have nearly tripled in the past decade and big tobacco firms are undermining public efforts that could save millions, a report led by the health campaign group the World Lung Foundation (WLF) said on Wednesday. In the report, marking the tenth anniversary of its first Tobacco Atlas, the WLF and the American Cancer Society said if current trends continue, a billion people will die from tobacco use and exposure this century - one person every six seconds. Tobacco has killed 50 million people in the last 10 years, and tobacco is responsible for more than 15 percent of all male deaths and 7 percent of female deaths, the new Tobacco Atlas report found. (www.tobaccoatlas. org) In China, tobacco is already the number one killer - causing 1.2 million deaths a year - and that number is expected to rise to 3.5 million a year by 2030, the report said. That is part of a broader shift, with smoking rates in the developed world declining but numbers growing in poorer regions, said Michael Eriksen, one of the report’s authors and director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University. “If we don’t act, the projections for the future are even more morbid. And the burden of death caused by tobacco is increasingly one of the developing world, particularly Asia, the Middle East and Africa,” he said in an interview. Almost 80 percent of people who die from tobaccorelated illnesses now come from low- and middle-income

countries. In Turkey, 38 percent of male deaths are from smoking-related illnesses, though smoking also remains the biggest killer of American women too. WLF’s chief executive Peter Baldini accused the tobacco industry of thriving on ignorance about the true effect of smoking and “misinformation to subvert health policies that could save millions”. The report said the industry had stepped up its fight against anti-tobacco policies, launching legal challenges and seeking to delay or stop the introduction of plain packaging, legislation banning smoking in public places, advertising bans and health warnings on packets. The world’s six biggest tobacco firms made $35.1 billion in profits in 2010 - equal to the combined earnings of Coca-Cola, Microsoft and McDonald’s, the report said. Smoking causes lung cancer as well as several other chronic pulmonary diseases and is a major risk factor in heart disease, the world’s number one killer. More than 170 countries have signed up to a World Health Organization-led convention committing them to cut smoking rates, limiting exposure to second-hand smoke, and curbing tobacco advertising and promotion. WHO director general Margaret Chan said thanks in part to that convention, 1.1 billion people have in the past two years become covered by at least one measure designed to curb tobacco use. She added, however, that the battle was far from over and urged more countries to fight the industry.“We must never allow the tobacco industry to get the upper hand,” she said in a foreword to the report. “Tobacco is a killer. It should not be advertised, subsidized or glamorized.” -Reuters

FILE - A woman holding a cigarette in central London, Feb. 1, 2010. (Reuters)

Stem cell therapy could boost kidney transplant success Climate change damage to oceans to cost $2 trillion

A 2009 file photo released by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in Australia showing a section of the Great Barrier Reef. (AFP)

PARIS: Greenhouse gases are likely to result in annual costs of nearly $2 trillion in damage to the oceans by 2100, according to a new Swedish study. The estimate by the Stockholm Environment Institute is based on the assumption that climatealtering carbon emissions continue their upward spiral without a pause. Warmer seas will lead to greater acidification and oxygen loss, hitting fisheries and coral reefs, it warns. Rising sea levels and storms will boost the risk of flood damage, especially around the coastlines of Africa and Asia, it adds. Projecting forward using a business-asusual scenario, the Earth’s global temperature will rise by four degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, says the report, “Valuing the Ocean.” On this basis, the cost in 2050 will be $428 billion annually, or 0.25 percent of

global domestic product (GDP). By 2100, the cost would rise to $1,979 billion, or 0.37 percent of output If emissions take a lower track, and warming is limited to 2.2 C (4 F), the cost in 2050 would be $105 billion, or 0.06 percent of worldwide GDP, rising to $612 billion, or 0.11 percent, by 2100. “This is not a scaremongering forecast,” says the report. It cautions that these figures do not take into account the bill for small island states swamped by rising seas. Nor do they include the impact of warming on the ocean’s basic processes, such as nutrient recycling, which are essential to life. “The ocean has always been thought of as the epitome of unconquerable, inexhaustible vastness and variety, but this ‘plenty more fish in the sea’ image may be its worst enemy,” notes the report. -AFP

Studies find an aspirin a day can keep cancer at bay

LONDON: Three new studies published on Wednesday added to growing scientific evidence suggesting that taking a daily dose of aspirin can help prevent, and possibly treat, cancer. Previous studies have found that daily aspirin reduces the long-term risk of death due to cancer, but until now the shorter-term effects have been less certain - as has the medicine’s potential in patients already diagnosed with cancer. The new studies, led by Peter Rothwell of Britain’s Oxford University, found that aspirin also has a short-term benefit in preventing cancer, and that it reduces the likelihood that cancers will spread to other organs by about 40 to 50 percent. “These findings add to the case for use of aspirin to prevent cancer, particularly if people are at increased risk,” Rothwell said. “Perhaps more importantly, they also raise the distinct possibility that aspirin will be effective as an additional treatment for cancer - to prevent distant spread of the disease.” This was particularly important because it is the process of spread of cancer, or “metastasis”, which most often kills people with the disease, he added.Aspirin, originally developed by Bayer, is a cheap over-the-counter drug generally used to combat pain or reduce fever. The drug reduces the risk of clots forming in blood vessels and can therefore protect against heart attacks and strokes, so it is often prescribed for people who already suffer with heart disease and have already had one or several attacks. Aspirin also increases the risk of bleeding in the stomach to around one patient in every thousand per year, a factor which has fuelled an intense debate about whether doctors should advise patients to take it as regularly as every day. Last year, a study by British researchers questioned the wisdom of daily aspirin for reducing the risk of early death from a heart attack or stroke because they said the increased risk of internal bleeding outweighed the potential benefit. Other studies, including some by Rothwell in 2007, 2010 and 2011, found that an aspirin a day, even at a low dose of around 75 milligrams, reduces the longterm risk of developing some cancers, particularly bowel and oesophageal cancer, but the effects don’t show until eight to 10 years after the start of treatment. Rothwell, whose new studies were published in The Lancet and The Lancet Oncology journals on Wednesday, said this delay was because aspirin was preventing the very early development of cancers and there was a long time lag between this stage and a patient having clinical signs or symptoms of cancer. Rothwell and others said deeper research was now needed into aspirin as a potential treatment for cancer in patients whose disease has not yet spread. -Reuters

CONNECTICUT: A novel technique that uses a kidney transplant recipient’s own stem cells may someday replace or reduce the initial use of anti-rejection medications, new research suggests according to HealthDay News. Six months after receiving a kidney transplant, only about 8 percent of people given their own mesenchymal stem cells experienced rejection compared with almost 22 percent of people on the standard anti-rejection drugs, according to the study. “Mesenchymal stem cells are stem cells that can be differentiated into a variety of cells,” explained Dr. Camillo Ricordi, study senior author and director of the Cell Transplant Center and Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “If you infuse mesenchymal stem cells at the time of the transplant, you could replace the use of powerful anti-rejection drugs, and maybe replace immunosuppressants altogether,” he said. This technique could be used in the transplantation of islet cells (in the pancreas) for people with type 1 diabetes, and for other organ transplants, such as the liver, he added. The people given their own stem cells also had improved kidney function earlier after transplant, Ricordi said.

One of the biggest remaining hurdles in organ transplantation remains the need for powerful anti-rejection and immune-suppressing medications after the transplant. “Basically, the way we prevent kidney rejections is by putting you on very powerful anti-rejection drugs and immunosuppressive agents to prevent your cells from attacking the foreign organ,” said Dr. Robert Provenzano, chair of the department of nephrology, hypertension and transplantation at St. John Providence Health System in Detroit. “But, the current standard has some problems, like an increased risk of infections and the possibility of creating a cancer.” The body’s immune system sends out surveillance cells to protect the body against foreign invaders, such as a bacteria, virus or, in this case, a new organ, Provenzano said. The current method of preventing these cells from attacking the new organ is essentially to destroy the surveillance cells. But mesenchymal cells can naturally suppress those surveillance cells so they don’t attack, he said. To see if this suppression would be enough to prevent rejection, Ricordi and his colleagues, including researchers from Xiamen University in China, recruited 159 people with serious kidney disease who were on dialysis. They ranged in age

NASA considering space station for Mars dry run CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.: The International Space Station may provide the setting for a 500-day pretend trip to Mars in another few years. NASA said Tuesday that consideration is under way to use the space station as a dry run for a simulated trip to and from Mars. It would be patterned after Russia’s mock flight to Mars that lasted 520 days at a Moscow research center. Six men were involved in that study, which ended late last year. They were locked in a steel capsule. NASA’s space station program manager Mike Suffredini said before astronauts can fly beyond low-Earth orbit, they’ll have to spend more than six months aloft at a time. That’s the typical stint for space station crews. Five hundred days is more than 16 months. The human endurance record of 14 months was set by a Russian cosmonaut aboard the Mir space station in the mid1990s. Only two others - both Russians have spent as long as a full year in space. No NASA astronaut has spent more

than seven months in space on a single mission Suffredini doesn’t expect any such Mars simulation aboard the space station to occur any sooner than two to three years. Physical as well as psychological questions will have to be addressed before anything of that sort is attempted, he said. Steps are under way, however, for such an effort, and scientists and flight surgeons already are working on it. The goal would be to have all the data in hand so the space station can be used as a Mars test bed before its projected demise in 2020 or thereafter. Suffredini said he expects the consensus ultimately will be to simulate “at least the first leg of a trip to a distant planet. NASA’s future for manned exploration is up in the air as the debate drags on as to where astronauts should head in the decades ahead: the moon, asteroids and/or Mars. The cost promises to be a major factor, along with the development of rocketships big enough to travel so far. -AP

FILE - This May 23, 2011 photo released by NASA shows the International Space Station at an altitude of approximately 220 miles above the Earth, taken by Expedition 27 crew member Paolo Nespoli from the Soyuz TMA-20 following its undocking. (AP)

from 18 to 61. The study participants all had medically wellmatched relatives willing to donate a kidney for transplant. Each was randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments after transplant. One group got standard treatment with anti-rejection medication (induction therapy) and immune-suppressing medication known as calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). Another group was infused with their own stem cells and the standard dose of CNIs, while the final group received stem cells plus a lower dose of CNIs (80 percent of the standard dose). Survival rates for the patients and their new kidney were similar for all three groups at 13 to 30 months, the study found. But before that, at six months, nearly 21.6 percent of those on standard therapy experienced rejection, compared with 7.5 percent of the stem cell plus standard CNIs, and 7.7 percent in the stem cell plus low-dose CNIs. Both groups who received stem cells recovered kidney function faster than those on standard therapy. And at one year, the researchers found that the risk of opportunistic infections was reduced by nearly 60 percent in those who got the stem cell treatment.

Australian zoo probes mystery rhino deaths

This file photo, released by Australia Zoo, shows a day old baby rhino, with her mother, an endangered Southern White Rhinoceros, at an Australian Zoo, in 2011. (AFP)

PARIS: An Australian outback zoo was Wednesday investigating the sudden and mystifying deaths of four white rhinos who showed “neurologic abnormalities” like stumbling.The Taronga Western Plains Zoo, a safari-style animal park about 400 kilometers (248 miles) west of Sydney, said toxins, bacterial infection, snake venom and organ failure had so far been ruled out in the deaths. “Currently tests are underway to investigate possible viral causes, although several types including Hendra virus and West Nile virus have also been ruled out,” the zoo said in a statement. As a precaution, it said its remaining three white rhinos “have been removed from display and placed in a quarantine area at the zoo. They are being closely monitored by keeping staff and the veterinary team”. The animals all died “over the past couple of weeks”. The zoo said a team of vets was working “around the clock” with specialists from Africa and North America, virologists and pathologists to try to determine what had killed the rare African creatures. It said that no other species at the zoo had been affected and the rest of its animals were in good health. “Obviously the rhino keepers and veterinary staff know and care for every individual in the herd, so this has been a huge shock and we’re all very sad,” said Matt Fuller, general manager of the zoo. “Our focus is on continuing this investigation to pinpoint the cause of the sickness and to care for the remaining animals in the herd.” The zoo’s rhinos are southern whites, the less endangered of the two white rhinoceros species. There are estimated to be some 20,000 southern whites surviving in the wild according to environmental group WWF, which says that northern white rhinos are virtually extinct and can now only be found in captivity. -AFP

ALWATAN DAILY

CULTURE

thursDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

Wax museum spurs sticky situation in Iraq NAJAF, Iraq: An exhibit of wax statues depicting some of Shiite Muslims’ most beloved clerics, aimed at paying tribute to this Iraqi holy city’s contributions to culture, has been dipped in controversy as some Sunnis decry the figures as heretical. The wax sculptures are due to be displayed at a museum in Najaf, but even before the exhibit opens, some Sunni Muslims - rarely shy about highlighting their religious differences with Shiites - are denouncing them as a violation of Islamic law. Even some Shiite clerics are a bit leery. “Even those dead people whose statues are displayed (would have) disapproved of this,” said Ali Bashir al-Najafi, a spokesman for one of Iraq’s top Shiite clerics. Some Muslim clerics of both sects interpret Islamic law as forbidding most depictions of people and even animals in art or other likenesses. They believe such likenesses could be perceived as false idols and, therefore, taboo. The wax figures portray bearded clerics in turbans and politicians in freshly ironed suits. They include Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr, who was beloved by Iraq’s Shiites for encouraging Friday prayers during Saddam Hussein’s regime. He was assassinated by Saddam’s agents in 1999. Also depicted is Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who was born in Najaf and was Lebanon’s top Shiite cleric until his death in 2010. All of the figures were either born, studied or buried in Najaf, located 100 miles south of Baghdad. The city of roughly one million people is home to Iraq’s religious Shiite leadership, called the marjaiyah, and holds the tomb of Imam Ali, who Shiites consider the Prophet Muhammed’s rightful successor. The exhibit is the brainchild of Sheik Ali Mirza, a Shiite cleric. He said he was inspired during a visit to a wax museum in Beirut that included a likeness of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Mirza said the figures in Najaf are so lifelike visitors sometimes “raise their hands to salute the statues as if they were alive.” He said the statues are all Shiite because the exhibit will be in Najaf, which he called “the Vatican of Shiite Muslims.” The wax figures were originally intended to be part of festivities connected to the city being named the 2012 Islamic Capital of Culture. But the cultural arm of the Orga-

In this picture taken on Feb. 21, 2012, wax figures depicting Shiite clerics are on display at the wax museum in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP)

nization of Islamic Cooperation - the grouping of Islamic nations once known as the Organization of the Islamic Conference - announced recently that the festival has been canceled at the Iraqi government’s request. The event had already been beset by accusations of mismanagement and corruption. But the wax figures are not going to just melt away. Officials said the figures will still be displayed at a Najaf museum. The cleric knows the likenesses won’t be to everybody’s liking. “The museum is a new idea and people need time to get used to it,” he said. But some in Iraq’s Sunni minority are not getting used

to it, reflecting the religious divide that is never far from the surface here. Even more so than Shiism, Sunni Islam has historically frowned on depictions of the human form. Many Iraqi Sunnis look down on the country’s Shiite majority because they allow depictions of Muslim figures in banners, flags or other religious paraphernalia. For Sunni extremists, this is just further proof of their accusation that Shiites are not true Muslims. Sunni extremists have sharply criticized the statues and Shiites who visit them. “Believe it or not: wax museum for the turbaned in Najaf,” sneered a headline on one Sunni website.

Artists from Saudi Arabia reflect on Middle East’s cultural dichotomy Dubai, UAE: Athr Gallery, a leading contemporary art gallery based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be showcasing works from twelve of Saudi Arabia’s most recognized as well as emerging artists during Art Dubai from March 21-24, 2012, according to a press release. Spanning a cross-section of mediums including mixed media, sculpture, installation, print, and canvas, Athr’s exhibiting artists offer insight into the paradox of life in the Middle East, while creating an opportunity for dialogue, discussion and reflection on the harsh realities of the world around us. 2012 marks Athr Gallery’s 4th consecutive year of participation in Art Dubai, and artists represented at this year’s contemporary art fair include Ibrahim Abumsmar, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Musaed Al-Hulis, Maha Malluh, Haji Noor Deen Mi Guang Jiang, Raouf Rifai, Nasser Al-Salem, Jowhara Al-Saud, Rashed Al-Shashai, Sami Al-Turki, Saddek Wasil, and Shadia Alem. “There is tremendous regional and international interest in art created in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at present, and Art Dubai provides Athr Gallery’s artists with a platform to share points of view which transcend the ordinary. It’s an honor for Athr to increase the visibility of some of the most impactful and reflective

Some of the works on display at Athr Gallery.

artists of our generation and we’re keen to see how their works evoke new perspectives and emotional responses in Art Dubai’s visitors,” commented Mohammed Hafiz, co-founder of Athr Gallery. During Art Dubai 2012, Athr Gallery will feature the work of the following artists: Acclaimed multimedia artist Ayman Yossri Daydban will be presenting Ihramat, a concept born out of a defining tradition and custom adopted during the holy Hajj pilgrimage, wherein he questions the ultimate promise of a social ideal and uses authentic ihramat, the customary white cloth worn by pilgrims, in multiple variations. In line with the same theme, Daydban also offers the striking Kunna Jamee’an Ikhwa, a still from the movie Malcolm X, when he is performing the Hajj, to convey a moment of enlightenment and pure understanding. Highly respected by collectors and fellow artists, Daydban has enjoyed solo and group exhibitions in Europe and across the Middle East since 1992. Sami Al-Turki’s eclectic and varied photography style is a reflection of his diverse cultural upbringing and the confused occidental vs. oriental atmosphere of Dubai.Through his Charity boxes series, Turki explores how “good causes” come and go as easily as fashion trends, leaving the people who were made dependent on our

charity more desperate than ever. Rashed Al-Shashai is a very active member of the Saudi art scene and has made significant contributions to the contemporary art movement. Through his New Prayer Rug, he makes a bold statement on the influx of oil wealth that has led some to superficiality and forgetting to appreciate God’s numerous gifts and ironically, the gift of oil itself. A monumental sculptor and ardent observer of the human condition, Saddek Wasil turns his attention to the age-old human condition of love in Romeo and Juliet, from the series ‘Celebrated Sweethearts’, which depicts lovers from the beginning of time, presenting the amorous legends of Nizami’s Shirin and Khosrow and Arabian poetry’s Antar and Abla. Riyadh-based artist Maha Malluh examines the emblematic cultural symbols of Saudi Arabia’s civilization. In The Road to Mecca, Malluh’s photographs involve a technique whereby she captures images that she contrives, without the use of a camera. By positioning different objects in a kind of studied chaos, and by sometimes altering their original size, she creates a kind of theatre and depicts the juxtaposition between travel in the past and travel today. In The Green Dome and Al-Mabkhara, Ibrahim Abumsmar recreates everyday objects with the intention of questioning the essence of their identity. His sculptures probe perceived reality and succeed in impacting our lives on a subconscious and emotional level. Calligraphy is an ancient form of expression that is closely associated with the depiction of religious texts and in Kul (meaning ‘all’ or ‘everything), Nasser Al-Salem explores the complex, all-encompassing meaning and implication of infinity. Jowhara Al-Saud’s Knots series are inspired by the traditional mashrabiya, tooled wooden screens that separate the private and public spaces in Islamic Architecture. The works are about many things; they revel in the ‘in between’; photography and drawing, public and private space, representation and abstraction, and obscuring and revealing. Whether they transcend or trespass, these are about the lines we draw, and the spaces in between.

“Idols reached Najaf,” thundered another. “The pre-Islam era of paganism is returning,” warned a comment on another website. A leading Sunni cleric was more diplomatic. “It is not right to erect statues whether made of wax or of anything else. That is haram (religiously forbidden) because it is an emulation of God’s creation,” said Sheik Ahmed al-Taha who is the preacher of the Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad, a key Sunni house of worship. “It is similar to what heathens do.” Some Shiites are also uneasy. While Shiism allows more latitude for the depiction of faces or busts, the full-body wax figures are for many a step too far. Al-Najafi said it is OK to have half a statue but not the full body. The hardline Shiite movement known as the Sadrists, followers of the late ayatollah, want the statue of al-Sadr taken down. “The people behind this museum bear the responsibility before God,” said Hakim al-Zamili, a senior Sadrist lawmaker. Mirza is careful not to speak against the marjaiyah, whose edicts are practically law in this Shiite majority country. But he points out that various Shiite clerics have different ideas about the statues’ appropriateness. The statues have already become a hit with some Shiites. Curious onlookers have flocked to a religious school owned by Mirza where the statues are being kept until the museum opens. “I am very impressed. I did not expect something like this. They seem so real,” one visiting cleric, Sheik Muhsen al-Najafi, told Mirza during a visit. An activist in Najaf, Qassim Abdul-Sadda, said he was not very religious but went to see the wax statues about a month ago out of curiosity. He took pictures of himself next to the statues and posted them on the Internet. When some of his friends realized they were wax figures, they called the statues “haram,” he said. But he likes them. “It is good to preserve the heritage of Najaf in this way by showing this generation and generations to come the scholars who had a great contribution to the history and culture of Najaf,” he said. -AP

New French institute opens in Kuwait

Ali Al-Youha, Nada Yafi, Xavier Darcos and Julian Clash inaugurating Institut francais du Koweit on March 20. (Al Watan) Onilda Fernandes Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The doors to a new French Institute in Kuwait (Institut francais du Koweit) opened on March 20 in the presence of Xavier Darcos, Former Minister of Education and President of the French institute in Paris, Nada Yafi, French ambassador to Kuwait, Ali Al-Youha, Secretary General of the National Council of Culture, Arts and Literature, and a host of other dignitaries. “A lot of institutes in Kuwait already teach the French language but we aim to go beyond that with this new institute,” explained Yafi to Al Watan Daily, “We will be inviting speakers from France to hold lectures here, organize symposiums, so as to get the people of Kuwait to learn more about the culture of France.” Yafi also added that the relations between Kuwait and France have been great so far and hopes that this institute adds to the already budding relationship. “So many children from Kuwait have already started studying the French language and that’s a really good thing because French is one of the six official languages of the UN. The French government aims to open many such institutes all over the world not to compete with the English language but for people to have another language to converse in. At the end of the day however, people shouldn’t

worry about speaking in French or English or any other language, the more relevant subject, is speaking for peace.” On his part, Al-Youha expressed congratulations on the inauguration of the institute, describing this initiation as a good and important step. “Language is a tool for getting people together and thereby increasing mutual understanding. For any person to know an extra language is always an advantage. When you know a certain language, you can speak with the respective foreigner and when you converse with them, you know what they think. So I hope that this institute continues to enlighten all of us and will be a center for academics and research in the French language.” Darcos, who was on a visit to Kuwait, appreciated the efforts of Kuwait in promoting the French language and culture and hopes that more such institutes are built around the world. “These are very important. Language is the start of building civilizations and relations,” he said. Meanwhile, Julian Clash, Director of the French institute in Kuwait told Al Watan Daily that the institute will offer consultations and information for Kuwaiti students who wish to study at the French universities, noting that there is a desire to increase the number of French speaking students from Kuwait in France.

TOKYO FASHION WEEK

Models display creations, designed by Japanese designer Shiho Shiroma during the Shiroma 2012-13 autumn and winter collection in Tokyo on March 21, 2012 as a part of Tokyo Fashion Week. (AFP)

ALWATAN DAILY

entertainment Song Of The Day

Fahad AlSabah Staff Writer

Song: Get Good Artist: Vanessa Carlton Album: Rabbits on the Run Genre: Pop/Alternative In short: Vanessa Carlton has come a long way since her popinfused debut, Be Not Nobody, and has grown into a left-field pop artist that’s deviating further and further away from her pop roots with each album released. Rabbits on the Run sees Carlton experimenting with different instruments, but its true memorable moments are those of the simpler numbers. The piano-led “Fairweather Friend” and the acoustic “Get Good” give Carlton the space she needs, be it for her voice or lyrics, to deliver her message more clearly than ever. To listen to the song visit www.alwatandaily.com E-mail your feedback to falsabah@alwatandaily.com

thursDAY, march 22, 2012

Zsa Zsa Gabor’s daughter files for conservatorship LOS ANGELES: Zsa Zsa Gabor’s only daughter asked a judge on Tuesday to place her mother in a conservatorship that will independently control the ailing glamour queen’s medical care and financial needs. Constance Francesca Hilton claims Gabor’s husband, Frederic von Anhalt, has been isolating her 95-year-old mother and leaving her heavily sedated. She also questioned whether her mother’s finances are being properly handled by von Anhalt. “By isolating me from my mother, not only does her current husband deprive her of my love and companionship, but he goes against estate planning documents that appear to reflect her wishes that he not be in sole control of her affairs,” Hilton wrote in a declaration accompanying her petition. Hilton is asking the court to appoint her as Gabor’s conservator, although her attorney, Kenneth Kossoff, said they would be willing to have an independent third party handle all oversight duties. Hilton and von Anhalt have squabbled for years over Gabor’s care. Von Anhalt blasted Hilton in a phone interview, saying his wife is comfortable and that he cares for her every night. “It’s probably her last card she’s playing now,” he said of Hilton. “It’s all about money. She’s afraid, her mother passing away eventually, and there’s nothing.”

FILE - An undated photo of Zsa Zsa Gabor and Prince Frederic von Anhalt at their home in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)

Kossoff denied the accusation, noting that the establishment of a conservatorship would require a judge to review Gabor’s finances and make sure all money is “being spent in her best interests.”

“It would be a strange way to get ahold of Ms. Gabor’s money,” Kossoff said. Von Anhalt said he welcomed the court scrutiny of Gabor’s care. “I want the court to come and see what’s going on,” he said.

Turtles fans to ‘chill’

De Niro says meant no offense with first lady joke Robert De Niro says he meant no offense when he joked at a presidential fundraiser featuring Michelle Obama that America might not be ready for a white first lady. De Niro said in a statement that he was speaking “with satirical jest” at the event Monday night in New York. The actor says his remarks “were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone - especially the first lady.” The joke drew a complaint from Newt Gingrich, who said the racial reference to the Republican candidates’ wives was “inexcusable” and demanded an apology from President Barack Obama. The White House referred questions to Obama’s re-election campaign. Mrs. Obama’s campaign spokeswoman Olivia Alair called the joke “inappropriate” but declined further comment. -AP

Pioneering variety TV producer Bob Henry dies

Kiss, Motley Crue unite for US tour Two powerhouse bands that have rocked music fans over four decades, Kiss and Motley Crue, on Tuesday unveiled plans for a 40-plus city tour across the United States this summer. Kiss, with their painted faces and outrageous costumes, rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Hotter Than Hell.” Motley Crue reached stardom in the 1980s and scored hits like “Dr. Feelgood” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.” Both bands earned millions of fans and combined sold nearly 200 million albums worldwide. The tour will kick off on July 20 in Bristow, Virginia. -Reuters

Hugh Hefner’s son pleads in domestic violence case Hugh Hefner’s 21-year-old son has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from an incident with his girlfriend at their Pasadena home. Assistant Pasadena City Prosecutor Chris Blankenhorn tells City News Service that Marston Hefner pleaded no contest Tuesday to corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. Marston Hefner was arrested last month after police were called to the apartment he shared with 20-year-old Claire Sinclair, the 2011 Playmate of the Year. Sinclair had minor injuries and sought a restraining order against the younger Hefner the next day. Blankenhorn says Marston Hefner is expected to undergo a year of domestic violence counseling. -AP

Adam Levine eyeing American Horror Story role

Muppet character Sweetums holds a commemorative plaque as he lies beside the newly unveiled Muppets star as other Mupetts background (left to right) Animal,Pepe, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and Gonzo and bottom row Kermit and Walter take part in ceremonies honoring the Muppets with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California March 20, 2012. (Reuters)

PARIS: The Muppets were honored with their own star on the storied Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, right outside the theater where their recent movie was made and premiered. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and the rest of the puppet gang gathered in front of the El Capitan Theatre, opposite Graumman’s Chinese Theatre at the center of Hollywood’s tourist district. “We are just really happy to be on Hollywood Boulevard today, joining some of the greatest names in show biz,” said Kermit as the Muppet star was unveiled on the stellar stretch of sidewalk visited by millions of tourists. Muppets creator Jim Henson’s daughter Lisa added: “The Muppets have truly arrived with their own star on

Hollywood Boulevard in this amazing location which also happens to be very near my father’s star and Kermit’s star.” Key scenes from their recent movie “The Muppets” were filmed at Disney’s El Capitan theatre, where its world premiere was held followed by festive season screenings of the film preceded by an in-theater Muppet show. At one point Tuesday Miss Piggy -- famously keen on the limelight and use of the French first person -- asked: “Is it time now for moi to do my medley of every song ever written from every great movie musical ever made?” Kermit, her long-suffering frog companion, answered: “We’ll see if we can get to that later in the show.” -AFP

LOS ANGELES: Michael Bay thinks “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” fans need to chill. The 47-year-old director-producer incited outrage among fans of the superhero franchise when he revealed at the Nickelodeon upfront presentation in New York last week that the pizza-loving, crime-fighting turtles would come from an “alien race” in a “Ninja Turtles” film he is producing. According to franchise lore, mysterious radioactive ooze transformed the turtles into superheroes who battle evildoers. “Fans need to take a breath and chill,” Bay said in a statement posted on his site Monday night. “They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of ‘Ninja Turtles’ to help expand and give a more complex back story. Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world.” “Ninja Turtles” debuted as a comic book in 1984 before spawning a franchise that included toys, TV shows, films and video games. Fans took to Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites to vent about the apparent change to the wisecracking turtles’ origins. Robbie Rist, who voiced the character Michelangelo in the original 1990 live-action film adaptation, said Monday in a Facebook message that Bay is “sodomizing” the original movies and causing “the rape of our childhood memories.” Bay, who directed the past three “Transformers” movies, said last week that “kids are going to believe one day these turtles actually do exist when we are done with this movie” and that they come “from an alien race, and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely lovable.” The new take on the “Ninja Turtles” is set for release next year by Paramount Pictures under the Nickelodeon Movies label. -AP

Olivia Wilde to host EIF Revlon Run/Walk in NYC

Amanda Peet getting Bent on TV

LOS ANGELES: After last starring on television in the short-lived series “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” Amanda Peet (“The Whole Nine Yards,” “Syriana”) returns to television once again in the new comedy “Bent,” which premiered Wednesday night on NBC. The 40-year-old actress plays a newly divorced, highstrung lawyer and single mom looking for a fresh start by renovating a new home. She hires a reckless, womanizing, recovering addicted gambler as her contractor, and finds herself attracted to his charming ways even though he is everything she cannot stand. Peet, who is married to Hollywood screenwriter David Benioff, with whom she has two daughters, Frances, 5 and Molly, 2, sat down with Reuters to talk about her new show, being a mother and how married life has changed her.

all together. I think most working moms have this sinking feeling that they’re failing, so I related to that. And I like the idea of an adult dating show that’s sexy and not just for gags - that kind of romantic suspense where you’re like, ‘Are they going to have sex or not?’ I love that she despises the fact that she’s attracted to (her womanizing contractor).”

What made you return to television?

“Everyone packs up and goes. For the last three summers we lived over there. In season one I came back with the girls and did a play in New York. This past year I shot ‘Bent,’ so David commuted from Belfast to L.A. He’d make little videos for (daughter Frances) so at breakfast she’d see David on a glacier in Iceland and all the actors were in costume saying ‘Good morning Frankie!’”

“I like the idea that she’s a single mom trying to keep it

Adam Levine could be adding “actor on ‘American Horror Story’” to his ever-expanding resume soon. The Maroon 5 frontman and coach on NBC’s hit singing competition “The Voice” is in talks to make his acting debut in the upcoming second season of FX’s “American Horror Story,” an individual with knowledge of the negotiations confirms to Reuters. According to EW.com, the singer will play one half of a couple called “The Lovers.” Though details on the second season of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s FX drama are sparse, Levine will join a cast that includes returning actors Zachary Quinto, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Evan Peters. -Reuters

Is the show meant to be realistic or a fantasy?

“I’m not sure yet, actually. We definitely want to make people laugh. We have J.B. Smoove and Jeffrey Tambor so we want everyone to escape and laugh. But hopefully it’s more on the realistic side.” Your husband is the executive producer of the HBO hit series ‘Game of Thrones’ which shoots in Europe. How do you guys make it work?

Would you and David ever work together?

“I really hope so! I’ve only been sleeping with him for seven years now! What am I gonna get out of this? (laughs)” What do you consider your big break?

“’The Whole Nine Yards,’ hands down. It was a great role - a contract killer who was obsessed with being an expert contract killer. The movie did really well and at the time, I didn’t realize how special and rare it was. So rare that it’s never happened again! (laughs) If that ever happened now, I would be drinking champagne and doing cartwheels. At the time, I just didn’t even know.”

Real Housewife Kim Zolciak expecting baby No. 2 Bravo reality star Kim Zolciak and husband Kroy Biermann are expecting their second child. The 33-year-old “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star and the Atlanta Falcons defensive end have a 9 month-old son, KJ. Zolciak tells Life & Style that she is now four months along with baby number two. In the magazine, Zolciak says KJ was an “oops,” but this pregnancy was “totally planned.” -AP

“I want the court to see how comfortable my wife is.” A news release issued before the filing stated that Hilton has been waiting for a year for financial and medical information about her mother that husband von Anhalt has refused to disclose. “While her husband has been having her see a cardiologist and has caregivers at her house, I am very concerned that her medical needs and treatment are not being managed in her best interest,” Hilton wrote in her court filing. Von Anhalt said he is acting in his wife’s best interest and is forced to sell her Bel Air mansion to cover his wife’s debts and medical bills. He said expenses amount to around $30,000 a month, even though Gabor’s monthly income is only $6,000. Hilton, he said, “doesn’t want me to sell the house.” Kossoff said any sale of the mansion should be handled through the conservatorship proceedings. The first hearing on the matter was scheduled for May 2 before Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz, who also oversees the conservatorship of Britney Spears. Gabor, a Hungarian-born sexpot of the 1950s and 1960s, has been in declining health and didn’t make an appearance at a February birthday party hosted at her mansion. -AP

Muppets get their own Hollywood star Michael Bay tells Ninja

The Buzz

Bob Henry, a producer and director of television variety shows including “The Nat King Cole Show” and “The Flip Wilson Show,” has died. A Tuesday statement from the Pageant of the Masters art festival where he was a director says Henry died Sunday at his home in Laguna Beach, Calif. He was 92. Henry worked in television for more than five decades and was noted for bringing black performers like Cole and Wilson to a wider audience. He produced, directed and wrote 1956’s “Nat King Cole Show” for NBC, which several network affiliates refused to air because of its black star. -AP

Innocence can be a good thing.

FILE - Actress Amanda Peet arrives at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on Feb. 19, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)

“Oh, I was very innocent and took the role very seriously. Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis would be going out and having fun in Montreal. I was like, ‘I need to figure out what my objective is in this scene tomorrow!’” -Reuters

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2012 file photo, actress Olivia Wilde poses at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs, Calif. (AP)

NEW YORK: Nine years ago actress Olivia Wilde ran, or rather walked, in the EIF Revlon Run/Walk. This year she will host it for the first time when it takes to the streets of New York on May 5. Wilde joins fellow first-time ambassador Emma Stone for the event that supports women’s cancer research. “Emma and I will kick off the event and welcome everybody, then we’ll participate,” Wilde said of her duties, which includes pounding pavement with thousands of participants. The “House” star says she may even run alongside Stone, but only for a short time. “Maybe Emma will run in the front, and I’ll bring up the rear,” Wilde joked. “I probably will have such shin splints after attempting to run I will be recovering on ice.” The EIF Revlon Run/Walk is one of the nation’s largest singleday fundraisers. Each year, tens of thousands participate in its New York and Los Angeles event. The company has distributed more than $65 million to date for research projects. Wilde says she’s proud to participate because cancer has affected several women in her life, and she’s eager to help find a cure. She feels the best chance comes from the private sector. “I’m optimistic that in my lifetime we will find one. Or certainly in the same way that’s happened with HIV in the last thirty years where treatment has gotten to a much better place. But that can only happen if there’s money behind research and that doesn’t just happen magically,” Wilde said. The Revlon Run/Walk comes to Los Angeles on May 12, where six-time host Halle Berry takes to the streets to help find a cure. -AP

ALWATAN DAILY

AROUND TOWN / TIME OUT

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

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

Feature o f

graffiti

the day

moderately confused

The Avenues celebrate Mother’s day with a big event

Sudoku

Elementary

KUWAIT: The Avenues will celebrate Mother’s Day till the twenty-fourth of this month. In recognition of the mother, a lot of offers, activities and gifts are presented by the Avenues. The event contains many activities and gifts provided by The Avenues for children and mothers of The Avenues visitors. The event includes art shows such as wonderful art of Arabic calligraphy in collaboration with the Kuwait Islamic Art Center and display on the

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water by one of the most famous artists in the world in this area, who came specially to perform at The Avenues, and distribution of gifts to the audience. The sponsors of the event are also offering many discounts and offers on their products. It is worth mentioning that the exhibition is sponsored by the National Bank of Kuwait, Fantasy World, Sephora, ALomoma Hospital, Tigan Dental center, Vafavouom, and Bose agents in Kuwait.

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

a glance

Flag hoisting ceremony March 23/ 8 a.m. / Jabriya: On the occasion of Pakistan National Day on Friday, a flag hoisting ceremony will be held at the Chancery premises in Jabriya (Block 11, Street-101, Building 46). All Pakistanis resident in Kuwait are cordially invited to attend the ceremony.

Golden Era Club March 23/ 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. / Rumaithiya: Join the Golden Era Club for a trip down memory lane. Come armed with memories and photos of the days gone by. Let your hair down and play those games you loved so dearly. All seniors (60 years +) are invited to join this unique meeting. Fun and frolic guaranteed. 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

K’S PATH invites applicants for the adoption of pets Sepp is a Domestic Long Haired (DLH) male cat. He will be 2-years-old April 2012. This friendly, laid-back boy loves a good cuddle and likes a high vantage point in a cat tree or ledge to look out from. He would do best in a home with children over 12 years of age. To adopt, contact +965 67006122 or visit the website www.kspath.org

New Toastmasters Club

Kuwaiti cuisine

Mario is a gentle and affectionate 6-years-young Spitz male. This friendly boy does great with people and dogs of all ages.

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.

Arabic course

Hip Hop at BAIA

The Philippine Embassy

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.

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.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait announces that the Department or Foreign Affairs is advising all passport applicants to claim their passports within six (6) months from the date of application. Otherwise, unclaimed passports shall be cancelled and sent back to the Department for disposal. The Embassy will continue to entertain last minute claimants for such unclaimed passports within the next two months before finally canceling the passport in accordance with the directive of the Department.

Sewing for kids March 18-29/ 4:30 p.m. -6 p.m. / Salmiya: Here is your opportunity to join ten classes of basics of sewing for kids. Transportation available. This course will cover basic sewing skills such as tacking, hemming, variety of buttons fixing, making button holes, variations of bead work, fixing of bridal pearls, sequins, mirror work, motifs and much more. For details contact 66630243

Brainbang session October 7-April/ 11:45 a.m. -1:45 p.m. /Salmiya: BRAINBANG, the creative arm of Friends of CRY Club (FOCC) invites all students aged 11 and above, to join us fortnightly on Fridays. The areas of development are: Creativity in learning, tools and techniques to empower your mind, profile based learning, activity, fun, games and worksheet based assignments, practical experiments, mind gymnastics and application of learning techniques to conventional study. E-mail: brainbang@focckwt.org or call 25660835/25618471/97677820.

Dilbert

Royal Thai Embassy The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait wishes to invite Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -25317531, Ext: 14.

Nancy

Horoscopes Aries: March 21 - April 19

It may not be easy for you to convince someone today. No matter how profound your idea or how convincing your explanations, the other person just isn’t ready to believe it yet. Don’t be pushy. Maybe this person needs to sleep on it for a couple of nights, or maybe they just need to do their own research. Be patient and focus on other things in the meantime! Taurus: April 20 - May 20

A trip by air could be very much on your mind today. Perhaps you’re planning a vacation with your family or a romantic partner. You could well be caught up in the excitement that seems to be the driving emotion today. Friends could offer advice,Taurus, but you aren’t in the space to accept it, as your self-confidence is high. Expect to spend the evening in the congenial company of friends. Gemini: May 21- June 21

You’ve got a lot on your mind right now, Gemini, and others might be interpreting your quiet behavior as your being aloof. Go right ahead and let them think whatever they want. You’ve got some real issues to think through, and decisions with important consequences to come up with. You’ll be able to smooth their ruffled feathers later.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22

A number of invitations to social events could come your way today, some from people you really don’t know well. Don’t pass them up, however. You could make some fortunate contacts or even some new friends at these parties. You enjoy being around people, Cancer, but today you might find it a bit tedious. Your heart is with your family. Leo: July 23 - August 22

Visitors could come to your home tonight, Leo, possibly for an informal get-together of some kind. Dear friends might be involved in some way. You’re likely to be very busy during the day, perhaps tying up loose ends. Your mind is probably going a thousand miles an hour, so you’ll need to wind down before going to bed tonight. You don’t want to lose any sleep. Virgo: August 23 - September 22

You may appear to have your head in the clouds today, Virgo. The truth is, you’ve got a lot of important things on your mind. Others might be offended or even amused at your distance. Try not to worry about this too much. You need to take care of resolving those problems you’ve been ruminating on.

Libra: September 23 - October 22

You might feel that money is flowing out of your bank account all too quickly lately, and this might be a cause of worry for you. You could feel you’ve spent too much on decorations for your home or on entertaining family and friends. Don’t worry! You’ll make up for it, and besides, you can’t take it with you, you know. Watch your spending, Libra, but don’t turn into a miser. Scorpio: October 23 - November 21

This will be a good day for you, Scorpio. You should be feeling happy, excited, enthusiastic, and optimistic about the future. Relations with family, friends, and neighbors are likely to be warm and congenial.Today could involve a lot of time on the phone or out running errands. Expect a surprise encounter with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. You’ll spend some time reminiscing and catching up. Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

A rush of humanitarian spirit and a desire to do some real good might find you looking into various charities in order to find those you might want to help. However, money could be flowing out for other purposes a bit too quickly for your tastes, Sagittarius. It perhaps would be best to find one group that suits you and give only to that one.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

You, along with a significant other in your life, could be very busy trying to make time to see each other today, Capricorn. Later, when you’re finally alone, your phone could be ringing nonstop, further intruding upon your time together. Don’t be afraid to turn it off! If a call is particularly important, they’ll call again later. Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

Today you could be faced with a bunch of people from out of town that you’ve never met before. You’re likely to find this exciting and stimulating, but you could also feel a bit flustered. You might also not be at your most outgoing right now. This could be a better day to listen than to try to talk. Sometimes that impresses people more than anything you might say, Aquarius. Pisces: February 19 - March 20

Travel and adventure are on your mind.You could be daydreaming about flying to exotic places and doing unusual things, such as touring the ancient sights of India or going on safari in Kenya. Such dreams are possible, Pisces, so you might want to look into it. You also might want to learn about exciting fields of interest, so this is a good day.

ALWATAN DAILY

SPORTS

THURSDAY, march 22, 2012

Cricket

Afghanistan and W.Indies come up just short in Australia thriller Namibia contest World T20 place DUBAI: Afghanistan and Namibia, unbeaten in the group stages of the qualifying tournament for this year’s World Twenty20 Cup, meet on Thursday in a match which will secure the victors a tr i p to Sri Lanka. The losers of Thursday’s match will have a second chance to play in the World Cup this September although they will have to ba ttle with C anada, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland. Afghanistan are favorites for Thursday’s match after winning the qualifying tournament two years ago which secured them a place in the last World Cup. Namibia played in the 2003 World Cup where they lost each of their six matches. Between them, the two teams can boast the top two run-scorers, with Namibian opening batsman Raymond van Schoor (323 runs) ahead of Afghanistan’s

Mohammad Shahzad (261). Shahzad is the man who reverse-swept Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal for six in a one-day international in Sharjah last month. With the chance of a return to the big time, the Namibians could be forgiven for feeling nervous, especially now they are potentially one game away from achieving their goal. However, captain Sarel Burger was emphatic about whether or not his side was under pressure. “No,” he told the ICC website (icccricket.yahoo.net)broadcast interview. “When the tournament started it was a long road to go (but) with the hard work we have already done it is now for the team to stick together and pull it off for the final game.” Afghanistan have welcomed back former coach Kabir Khan for this tourna-

ment after he spent a period coaching the UAE national team and captain Nawroz Mangal credited him with the team’s unbeaten form leading into the final stages. “This event has been great and we couldn’t have done it without Kabir Khan our coach who has helped us get this far,” Nawroz said in an ICC media release. “Namibia are a good side whom we have faced before both in 2009 at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier and also we played a warmup fixture against them ahead of this tournament but we are confident we will qualify for Sri Lanka later this year.” Afghanistan will be without several key players for the latter stages of the tournament with opening bowlers Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran and opening batsman Noor Ali all absent with injuries. -Reuters

Basketball

Dragic leads Rockets’ rally over Lakers

West Indies Dwayne Bravo (left) unsuccessfully appeals against Australian captain Shane Watson during the third-of-five ODI matches between West Indies and Australia, March 20, 2012. (AFP)

KINGSTON: A thrilling third one-day international between West Indies and Australia at Arnos Vale Tuesday ended in a tie after Darren Sammy was run out with the W.Indies needing just one run from the last three balls to win. Sammy had hit a boundary off the previous delivery to take West Indies to 220 with one wicket remaining, but a horrible mix-up with Kemar Roach led to Sammy being run out by Brett Lee as the Australians celebrated securing a rare tie. But the W.Indies had reason to be happy too, having earlier appeared up against it at 78 for five, and the five-match series remains finely poised at one win apiece with the final two games to come in St Lucia on Friday and Sunday. Australia captain Shane Watson, the tourists’ leading bowler with figures of three for 30, was delighted his team managed to avoid a second defeat here in the space of three days but admitted that improvements must be made before Friday’s next match. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia were indebted to a century stand between George Bailey and Mike Hussey as they reached 220 all out. The pair reached their half-centuries in successive balls in the 39th over on their way to a fourth-wicket stand of 112. Bailey made his maiden ODI half-century and went on to make 59 before being caught at square leg by Dwayne Bravo off the bowling of Marlon Samuels. The older of the Hussey brothers kept the tourists’ innings together and top-scored with 67 from 95 balls before being stumped by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh

off another Samuels delivery. He was named man of the match after the highest knock of the series so far in the third game played on a notoriously tough pitch. Before that fourth-wicket stand, Australia had looked in trouble, with captain Shane Watson being run out for ten early on, and Matthew Wade being bowled by Sunil Narine for just two. When David Warner was dismissed for 37, the tourists were on 58 for 3. And after Samuels had ended that fourth-wicket stand, Australia’s tail collapsed in dramatic fashion. Australia slumped from 202 for four to 208 for nine, with Brett Lee, Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty all returning to the pavilion without scoring. Daniel Christian managed 12 before the innings came to an end when he was given out lbw to a Sunil Narine delivery. In reply, Kieran Powell, Samuels and Darren Bravo were all dismissed cheaply before Johnson Charles was caught by Christian off the bowling of Watson after making 45, the highest score of the West Indies innings. Dwayne Bravo walked after managing just 13 but the hosts’ middle order impressed, with big-hitting Kieron Pollard hammering in two fours and two sixes in a quick-fire 36 from 43 balls. Pollard eventually went when he was caught by Nathan Lyon at long on off Doherty. Clint Baugh (33) and Andre Russell (37) also starred before Narine was caught superbly by David Hussey at mid on from the bowling of Lee to leave the West Indies on 204 for 9 in the 48th over. -AFP

Formula one

Formula One warming up for Singapore IPO

HOUSTON: Kobe Bryant gave Goran Dragic a quick hug after Houston’s pesky point guard led the Rockets past the Lakers on Wednesday night. Dragic hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 28 seconds left and finished with 16 points and 13 assists in Houston’s 107104 comeback victory. Down by nine with 5 minutes left, the Rockets had a 12-0 run to take the lead. Dragic scored 10 points in the final quarter, putting the Rockets ahead for good with his second 3 of the game. Bryant, coming off a 3-for-20 shooting night Sunday, went 10 for 27 with two 3-pointers against Houston. He shed the protective mask that he’d been wearing since Dwyane Wade broke his nose in the All-Star game and says he doesn’t plan to wear it again. L.A. missed five straight shots during the Rockets’ late spurt before Bryant sank a fade away with 1:28 remaining to cut the gap to 100-99. Patrick Patterson split two free throws before Bryant tied it with a long jumper over 6-foot-9 rookie Chandler Parsons, who guarded him much of the night. After Dragic answered with his 3-pointer from the corner, Bryant missed a straight-on 3-pointer off the back of the rim. Parsons rebounded and Lee’s free throws with 10.6 seconds left put the game out of reach. The Lakers have allowed more than 100 points in four of their last five games. Gasol and Andrew Bynum made 10 of 14 shots in the first quarter and the Lakers built a 40-25 lead. Bryant started 3 for 5 on Wednesday. He drove into the lane late in the quarter, wrapped the ball around his back and hit a left-handed shot in the lane, part of a 20-7 Lakers’ spurt. The Rockets played stingier defense in the second quarter, and the Lakers cooled off, going 6 for 18 from the field. Houston finished the half with a 12-6 spurt to trail only 56-51 at the break. Bynum was ejected late in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul for mouthing off to referee Monty McCutchen. Bynum scored 16 points and

Houston Rockets’ Goran Dragic (3) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Ramon Sessions (7) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 20, 2012. (AP)

grabbed seven rebounds before departing. He did not speak to reporters after the game. “One of his big strengths is the chip on his shoulder that he plays with,”

Bryant said. “You can’t expect him to have that one night and then knock him for it the next. I like that chip that he plays with.” -AP

Heat beat Suns for 14th home win in a row FILE - The Marina Bay street circuit of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix is seen illuminated at dusk in this Sept. 21, 2009 file photo. (Reuters)

LONDON: Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said on Wednesday he had recommended Singapore as the best place to float the motor racing business, seeking to tap Asian enthusiasm for international sporting brands. Ecclestone, 81, stressed that he made the proposal, but a decision on any flotation was up to CVC Capital Partners, the private equity company that has owned a majority of the business since 2006. English soccer champions Manchester United also had plans for a $1 billion US dollar flotation in the southeast Asian city state last year but put them on ice because of market volatility. The diminutive Ecclestone, a former driver and team boss, has built Formula One (F1) and with it his estimated $4.2 billion fortune from a circuit for motoring enthusiasts into a global enterprise that draws more than half a billion TV viewers for its races. It is banking on further geographical spread to keep its revenues growing, with a return to the United States later this year for a Grand Prix in Texas, after last year’s inaugural race in India, and Russia joins the calendar in 2014. It will also race in Bahrain this year, despite continuing unrest, after last year’s contest was shelved following a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests. A flotation for F1 has long been mooted, but the issue is made more urgent by the expiry this year of a confidential commercial agreement between the rights

holding company and the teams whose cars compete in the 20-race series. Ecclestone said the flotation plan was not linked to the agreement with the teams and denied reports that Italy’s Ferrari , the sport’s best known team, and current champions Red Bull could be offered a stake in the business. CVC, which owns 63.4 percent of F1, would continue to be a long-term holder of the business, and the initial public offering (IPO) option being explored is for only part of the company, a source close to the matter said. Sources have told Reuters that Manchester United has not abandoned its plan to list in Singapore but that no decision has been made on the timing. Among F1 teams, only Williams has floated so far, with their shares listed in Frankfurt since last March. Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said last year that the company had no plans to list but might reconsider in a few years’ time. Singapore, which competes with Hong Kong for international listings, became the venue for the world’s first night-time Grand Prix in 2008. Under the agreement due to be renegotiated, the teams are believed to get half of F1’s underlying core profit in prize money. Ferrari gets an additional payment in recognition of its status as the oldest and best known team. -Reuters

MIAMI: Chris Bosh scored 29 points, LeBron James survived two scary falls and the Miami Heat used a 17-0 fourth-quarter run to erase a 10-point deficit and beat the Phoenix Suns 99-95 on Tuesday night for their 14th straight home victory. James finished with 20 points, Dwyane Wade had 19, and Udonis Haslem added a season-high 15 for the Heat, who survived two huge late scares - a doubledigit hole, and a frightening collision between James and Grant Hill in the final minute. James was chasing a long pass and never saw Hill, crashing into him. James went down, failing on his first attempt to get up and stayed on the court holding his head for about a minute. He remained in the game after a timeout. Hill led Phoenix with 19 points. Marcin Gortat had 13, Markieff Morris 12, Jared Dudley 10 and Steve Nash finished with nine points and 10 assists. The Suns had the NBA’s second-best record since Feb. 19, having won 11 of their last 14 coming in. Shannon Brown’s 3-pointer with 7:29 left put Phoenix up 90-80, but the Suns missed their next 10 shots. James, Wade and Haslem all made a pair of free throws to start Miami’s late run, and the Heat tied it when Mario Chalmers stole the ball from Nash and set up Wade for a breakaway dunk. Bosh made two more foul shots to put the Heat up for good, Wade made a layup while sprawling to the floor and stretched the lead to 95-90 after Suns coach Alvin Gentry was called for a technical, and James’ jumper with 1:52 left capped the flurry. Miami made 13 of 16 free throws in the final quarter, while Phoenix was only 3 for 4. The Suns missed four straight shots at

the rim in one stretch, all in a span of 34 seconds, and the Heat started to roll. James had another hard fall in the early going, hitting the floor hard and coming up wincing. On a drive into the lane, James was hit by Morris and reached back with his right arm to brace himself for the fall. James appeared to hit his right elbow directly on the floor - he was wearing a pad on that one, though not the left - and stepped away from the foul line briefly while shaking the arm. He remained in the game and did not get any noticeable treatment during the

next timeout. The Heat had another injury woe to deal with as well, with starting center Joel Anthony out of the lineup for the first time this season because of a sprained ankle. Dexter Pittman made his first career start in Anthony’s place. Down by nine in the early going, Phoenix closed the first half on a 13-3 run, a spurt Nash started with a 3-pointer and one that sent the Suns in the locker room up 53-49 - even though Miami shot 58 percent in the first half. Phoenix led by eight in the third quarter, holding Miami to 35 percent shooting. -AP

Phoenix Suns’ Grant Hill (33) trails Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) as he goes up to make a shot during an NBA basketball game in Miami, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. (AP)

THURSdAY, MARCH 22, 2012

Sports Editors Highlight

SPORTS

ATHENS: Greek champions Olympiacos will play Melbourne Victory in Melbourne in May, the Australian A-League club said on Wednesday. Olympiacos, the most successful club in Greek football, will make their first visit to Australia in 34 years to play Victory on May 19. Melbourne has the third-largest Greek-speaking population of any city in the world outside Athens and Thessaloniki, according to Australian government statistics. -AFP

Football

Spain wonders how far Messi can go

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (left) vies for the ball with Granada’s French midfielder Yohan Mollo, March 20, 2012 during a Spanish league football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. (AFP)

BARCELONA, Spain: Lionel Messi wrote his name in the Barcelona record books by scoring his 234th goal for the club on Tuesday and at just 24, players, fans and media are wondering how good the three-times World

Player of the Year can become. Messi scampered to the rescue of his team with a hattrick at home to lowly Granada in La Liga, his first goal equaling Cesar Rodriguez’s 60-year club scoring mark

Unhappy Krasic wants to leave Juventus BELGRADE: Milos Krasic is determined to leave Italian giants Juventus at the end of the season and regrets not joining Premier League Tottenham Hotspur on loan in January, the Serbia international midfielder has said. The 27-year-old winger, who moved to Serie A in 2010, enjoyed a good first season at Juve but dropped down the peacking order when Antonio Conte took over as coach last year. “It’s obvious that I have been written off and there is no place for me here so all I can do is keep working hard to stay fit and look for a new club at the end of the season,” Krasic was quoted as saying in Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti on Wednesday. “There were offers from Zenit St Petersburg and Tottenham during the January transfer window to join them on loan but I decided to stay at Juve because I believed I would get another chance here. Obviously, that was an-ill judged decision and it turns out I would have been much better off if I had left,” he said.

Krasic, who can play on either flank, scored nine goals in 41 appearances for Juventus in his first season at the club but has netted just once in nine games this term. He was also left out of Serbia’s friendlies against Armenia and Cyprus in February after enduring a poor Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in which the Balkan country failed to reach the finals in Poland and Ukraine. “I think I should have been called up to play for Serbia because I need all the support I can get, although I know I have to find a new club in order to break back into the squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers,” said Krasic. “I am very sad to be leaving Juventus, no one would be happy to leave such a great club under these circumstances, but Conte has scrapped me and it’s best for everyone that I leave.” Serbia’s World Cup qualifying group includes neighbors Croatia and Macedonia as well as Belgium, Scotland and Wales. -Reuters

Marseille boss backs coach Deschamps despite cup exit PARIS: Marseille’s abysmal run of bad form continued as it lost for an eighth consecutive game on Tuesday, crashing out of the French Cup after a 3-2 quarterfinal defeat in extra time to non-league Quevilly. Marseille coach Didier Deschamps did not spare his players’ feelings, saying they badly let down the fans who traveled to the other side of France up to Normandy to watch the game. “I’m left with a feeling of shame,” Deschamps said. “I’m thinking about all those poor people who came to watch us today and who support us. Our pride has taken a blow. It’s hard to accept.” Marseille has little time to regroup as it faces a tough away trip on Saturday to southern rival Nice, which is fighting to avoid relegation, and then takes on Bayern Munich four days later at Stade Velodrome in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. “Now we have to go to Nice and it won’t be easy at all,” Deschamps said. “The atmosphere will be absolutely intense, obviously. Having played an extra 30 minutes

is not ideal, either. We have to recover and get our fresh legs back in time for Saturday.” Marseille president Vincent Labrune on Wednesday said that team coach Didier Deschamps had his “total support”, despite the club’s French Cup quarter-final defeat to part-timers Quevilly. Labrune told AFP that he would talk to players on Friday in a meeting scheduled even before the 3-2 extratime defeat to the third-tier minnows on Tuesday. But he added: “Everyone has to face up to his responsibilities. There’s one thing that we can’t comprise on, that’s respect for the Marseille jersey.” The defeat is the latest setback for the French giants, who despite qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over Inter Milan are struggling in Ligue 1. “The priority now is to show another side in the championship and to give our all to finish as high as possible,” said Labrune, adding that “the only consolation after this French Cup defeat was that the fixture list will be less hectic”. -AFP

Bolton to resume playing as Muamba recovers LONDON: Bolton will return to action in the English Premier League on Saturday, a week after midfielder Fabrice Muamba’s mid-game cardiac arrest left him on the brink of death before a recovery that stunned medics. The game at Aston Villa on Tuesday was postponed amid concern for Muamba’s health, but the player’s fightback led to the squad deciding to go ahead with Saturday’s league match against Blackburn. Bolton will also return to Tottenham and replay the abandoned FA Cup quarterfinal. “We spoke together with the players as a group this morning and I talked with Fabrice’s family last night,” Bolton manager Owen Coyle said on Wednesday. “Fabrice’s father Marcel and his fiancee Shauna were keen that we fulfill our fixtures. Once the players knew this, there was no doubt in our minds that we would play the matches.” No date has been set for the emotional return to White Hart Lane, where Muamba suddenly fell to the ground on Saturday just before halftime and attempts

were made to revive him in front of more than 30,000 fans and a global television audience. Bolton team doctor Jonathan Tobin revealed on Wednesday that medics tried unsuccessfully to revive Muamba for 48 minutes before he arrived at the London Chest Hospital. It then took another 30 minutes before the 23-year-old Muamba’s heart started beating again, having received 15 shocks. “In effect, he was dead in that time,” Dr. Tobin said. Dr. Andrew Deaner, a Tottenham-supporting cardiologist, leapt from his seat in the crowd on Saturday and rushed on to the pitch to help Muamba. “If you’re going to use the term miraculous, I guess it could be used here,” he said. It took until Monday for the former England Under-21 international to start breathing independently again and communicating in intensive care. Dr. Tobin said Muamba has asked him what happened when he collapsed, an incident that prompted an outpouring of concern throughout world football. -AP

of 232 before two more in the second half gave him sole possession of the record. His goals helped deliver a 5-3 victory that kept Barca in the hunt for a fourth consecutive league title, and set a Spanish record of 54 goals in all competitions in a single season with more than two months of the campaign remaining. The Argentine maestro also overhauled Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of La Liga scoring charts on 34 goals. “At 24 years of age it is impossible to know what his impact on football will be,” daily El Pais wrote. “At the moment he is the best in the world, and he aspires to be the best of all time.” Messi has won everything there is to win at club level but the debate over whether he is the best of all time will rage on. Some say he has to perform in a World Cup finals with Argentina before he can be considered the greatest. A breakdown of his goals by Spanish daily El Correo showed that after scoring his maiden goal with Barca aged 17 at the end of the 2004-5 season, he went on to net 41 times in the next three campaigns. The turning point in his career came with the arrival of coach Pep Guardiola at the beginning of the 2008-9 season. The former Barca and Spain midfielder specifically built the team around Messi, and the forward’s strike rate rocketed from 38 in Guardiola’s first year to 47 and to 53 last season. Messi already has a Spanish record 54 goals this term with 10 league games, the King’s Cup final and at least two more Champions League games left to play. He has scored 189 with his left foot, 34 with his right, nine with his head, one with his chest and one with his left hand, El Correo said. Aside from all the records and statistics, his Barcelona team mates simply enjoy being around him. “It’s a pleasure to be able to share a dressing room with him, I feel privileged,” Spain defender Gerard Pique told the club’s television station. Two of Barca’s new youth team recruits, Cristian Tello and Isaac Cuenca, joined in the praise. “Leo is just how you see him on the pitch, a straightforward person, very friendly with his colleagues,” said Tello. Cuenca added: “We’ll have to wait many years to see anyone match what Messi has done.” - AFP

Jordan’s prince Ali wants Asian clout in FIFA KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Prince Ali bin Al Hussein is hoping to bring more positive change to FIFA and help boost Asia’s influence in world soccer after spearheading a campaign against a ban on Islamic women wearing hijabs during matches. The FIFA vice president said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday that he hopes to contribute ideas on anti-corruption reform, which is expected to be discussed next week in Zurich. “I’m optimistic that there will be positive change,” Prince Ali said. “Obviously, we realize that things have to evolve, and I have full faith that we will evolve in a realistic way for the benefit of the sport.” The 36-year-old Jordanian prince is the youngest member of FIFA’s 24-member executive committee. The committee likely will receive a report from a panel of experts next week advising FIFA on becoming more democratic, transparent and rigorous in its investigations. “It’s a very interesting time to be coming into FIFA, and therefore I have a lot of ideas,” Prince Ali said. “I hope to continue to contribute, also in bringing the voice of Asia in a powerful way to this organization. We are, after all, the largest continent.” Prince Ali said that since he became FIFA vice president in January 2011, the campaign against the hijab ban “was one of my first proposals and challenges, and it was challenging, but I’m happy about the way things have gone.” The International Football Association Board took a step this month toward allowing female players to wear hijabs during games, five years after banning the headscarves because of safety reasons. Prince Ali was optimistic an accelerated process to further test a design that holds the headscarves in place with safe Velcro fasteners will proceed smoothly ahead of the ratification of the decision in July. His campaign against the hijab ban won the backing of the United Nations, which urged FIFA to give everyone the equal right to play soccer. Iran forfeited an Olympic women’s qualifier against Jordan last June because players refused to play without hijabs. “Match-fixing is a huge issue that we have not only in our continent but all over the world,” he said. “A lot of times you see those who are doing it are always ahead of the others, and I’ve always said even with FIFA that we need to put more resources into those who are tackling the issue.” Speaking about his hopes for his country in the final Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, Prince Ali expressed “full confidence in my boys,” but acknowledged Jordan was in a “very tough group” with Australia, Japan, Iraq and Oman. -AP