May 16, 2012

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

@alwatandaily

Issue No. 1436

20 PAGES

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150 Fils with IHT

Government rejects manipulation of laws

Warns against hasty changes to Constitutional Court laws, NA charter Mohammed Al-Salman

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The government warned against making hasty amendments to the law of the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly’s internal charter due to reactions triggered by political reasons. It added that if such amendments are made, parliamentary heritage and traditions cemented by democracy and parliamentary practices will be lost. A government source went on to say that the government is a partner with the National Assembly, because its ministers are National Assembly members. In addition, the Constitution stipulates that no laws can be issued unless the National Assembly which includes MPs and ministers approves them.

Concerning that matter, the rapporteur of the Legislative Committee MP Mohammad Al-Dallal announced that the committee has

completed its discussions and deliberations regarding the proposed draft laws concerning the Constitutional Court.

He added that the committee has taken great strides in amending some articles, and noted that the committee will finalize those amendments on Sunday, in order to submit its report to the National Assembly for discussion during the next session. He went on to say that amendments include the formation of the court, which will be five judges appointed by the Judiciary Council, two MPs, and two people chosen by the government.

In addition, Al-Dallal mentioned that the committee will discuss the National Assembly’s assignment on Sunday about imposing penalties on MP Mohammad Al-Juwaihel.

As for parliamentary amendments concerning laws, MP Obaid Al-Wasmi proposed a draft law to cancel Law 88 from the year 1995 re-

garding trying ministers, until another draft law concerning the same matter is issued. According to this draft law, ministers will be tried before regular courts concerning any crimes they commit, until another law is issued. Al-Wasmi’s draft law also called for appealing within 60 days before the Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, MPs Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, Abdullah Al-Turaiji, Osama Al-Menawer, and Riyadh Al-Adsani proposed a draft law where Kuwait is committed to join a transparency initiative in the industry of excavating natural resources, and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) shoulders the responsibility of taking all executive procedures to join the imitative within 30 days of the issuance of the law.

At the end of every fiscal year, KOC will submit a detailed report to the Cabinet and the Audit Bureau.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

US, allies begin major war games in Jordan

UN observers caught up in Syrian violence

AMMAN: The United States and its allies have started in Jordan what was described as the largest military exercises in the Middle East in 10 years, focusing on “irregular warfare,” top officers said on Tuesday.

“Yesterday we began to apply the skills that we have developed over the last weeks in an irregular warfare scenario ... They will last for approximately the coming two weeks,” Major General Ken Tovo, head of the US Special Operations Forces, told reporters in Amman. Eager Lion 2012 “is the largest exercise held in the region in the past ten years,” he said at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre in north Amman.

More than 12,000 soldiers are taking part in the war games, representing 19 countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Australia.

“The message that I want to send through this exercise is that we have developed the right partners throughout the region and across the world ... insuring that we have the ability to ... meet challenges that are coming to our nations,” Tovo said. Major General Awni Adwan, the Jordanian army’s head of operations and training, said the military exercise “has been in the planning phase for the past three years.” “No forces will be deployed north ... the exercise is not connected to any real world event,” Adwan said when asked if the war games were related to the ongoing violence in Jordan’s northern neighbour Syria. Some local media reports have speculated that the exercises are linked to the unrest there, saying the troops are seeking to secure Jordan’s border. “This has nothing to do with Syria. We respect the sovereignty of Syria. There is no tension between the Syrians and us. Our objectives are clear,” Adwan said. -AFP

BEIRUT: A roadside bomb struck a car belonging to the UN observer mission in Syria on Tuesday, just minutes after regime forces opened fired on a funeral procession nearby and caused multiple casualties, witnesses and the mission said.

The observers were not among the dead or wounded, activists said.

“The front of a UN car took a direct hit,” Idlibbased activist Fadi Al-Yassin, who witnessed the attack, told The Associated Press. “Everyone ran in panic but the observers stayed in the car. People tried to talk to them but they wouldn’t even open their windows.”

Just minutes earlier, Syrian forces fired on a funeral procession, activists said. Al-Yassin and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated the death toll could be as high as 20 people.

It was impossible to independently confirm the toll. “This is a real massacre and it took place in the presence of UN observers,” Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Observatory, said of the attack on the funeral. He called for an international investigation and for the monitors to state publicly what they saw.

See also 4

Hollande names Ayrault new French PM

Protesters confront police officers mounted on horses as they demonstrate during the annual general meeting of Power Corporation of Canada in Montreal May 15, 2012. Students are entering their fourteenth week of protest against tuition hikes. (Reuters)

Greece races against time to form government

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Man on fire tries to break into Breivik trial

OSLO: A man set himself on fire and tried to force his way into the Norwegian courthouse where far-right mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is on trial for massacring 77 people last July, police said on Tuesday.

The man, who appeared to be a white Norwegian in his 50s, doused himself with liquid and set himself on fire before shouting at police officers and rushing toward a gate in the security perimeter, witnesses and police said. There was no indication of a motive.

Breivik has been on trial in Oslo since last month for killing eight people with a car bomb, then shooting dead 69 more, most of them teenagers, at a Labor Party island summer camp in protest against immigration and multiculturalism.

Although reaction to the trial has been mostly calm, days of harrowing testimony from survivors of Norway’s worst peacetime massacre have raised the tension, and last week the brother of a man gunned down by Breivik hurled a shoe

at him in court. Witnesses quoted by the news agency NRK said the burning man had shouted “Shoot me! Shoot me!” before he was tackled by police, who poured water over him.

However, a journalist at the scene said he may have shouted “Put me out!”, which sounds similar in Norwegian.

Police spokesman Kjell Kverme said the man, who appeared to be a Caucasian Norwegian, had been taken to hospital with serious injuries to his torso.

A video of the incident posted by the daily newspaper VG on its website shows the man, with flames coming from his hat and sweatshirt, walking toward the barrier and shouting at officers.

He then turns and rushes toward the security checkpoint, where heavily armed officers wrestle him to the ground and rip his burning clothes off.

Moshen Nouni, who works at a kebab shop across from the courthouse, said water had been poured on the man before he was rushed to hospital. -Reuters

PARIS: Francois Hollande was sworn in Tuesday as France’s new president - the first Socialist to lead the country since 1995 - and within hours named lawmaker Jean-Marc Ayrault as his new prime minister.

Ayrault, who leads the Socialists in Parliament, is a German speaker and a former teacher of the language of Goethe.

That could be a key advantage for Hollande, whose success as president - as well as the fate of the entire 17-nation eurozone - may depend on his relationship with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Underscoring the importance of that relationship, Hollande headed to Germany for a visit on the same day that he took office.

Ayrault (ay-ROW) and Hollande are said to be very close; they even sit next to each other in France’s National Assembly chamber.

The 62-year-old Ayrault has served as a deputy in that lower house since 1986. He is also mayor of Nantes, a city on the Atlantic coast. -AP

Israeli riot and undercover policemen detain a protester in the east Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Issawiya on May 15, 2012 as Palestinians took to the streets to mark Nakba day, which commemorates the exodus of hundreds of thousands of their kin after the establishment of Israel state in 1948. (AFP) More on 4

Myanmar halting arms purchases from North Korea, says South

YANGON: Myanmar’s president has assured his South Korean counterpart that his country will no longer buy weapons from North Korea, while conceding it had done so to some extent over the past 20 years.

In a meeting with visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Myanmar President Thein Sein said his country never had nuclear cooperation with North Korea but did have deals for conventional weapons, Lee’s presidential Blue House said in an announcement Tuesday.

Thein Sein told Lee that Myanmar will no longer buy weapons from North Korea, honoring a UN ban, South Korean presidential official Kim Tae-hyo told

reporters traveling with Lee, according to Blue House officials in Seoul.

Lee is on an official visit to Myanmar, the first by a South Korean president since North Korean commandos staged a bloody 1983 attack on visiting South Korean dignitaries. Myanmar cut off diplomatic relations with North Korea after the attack, but restored them in 2007 as it sought allies in the face of international sanctions over its human rights record and failure to install a democratic government. Myanmar also began buying weapons from North Korea, and was suspected of obtaining nuclear weapons technology as well.

More on 5

NATO invites Pakistan to Chicago summit

BRUSSELS: NATO said on Tuesday it had invited Pakistan to a summit in Chicago next week, lifting a veiled threat that it might exclude the country from the talks on the future of Afghanistan. “Allies decided to invite President (Asif Ali) Zardari of Pakistan to Chicago to the meeting on Afghanistan,” NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement. “This meeting will underline the strong commitment of the international community to the people of Afghanistan and to its future. Pakistan has an important role to play in that future.” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen suggested on Friday that Pakistan could be excluded from the May 20-21 summit if it failed to reopen the supply routes to Afghanistan that it closed after 24 of its soldiers were killed by a NATO cross-border air

Global biodiversity down 30 percent in 40 years

NEW YORK: The world’s biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s, according to a new report, with tropical species taking the biggest hit.And if humanity continues as it has been, the picture could get bleaker according to LiveScience.

Humanity is outstripping the Earth’s resources by 50 percent - essentially using the resources of one and a half Earths every year, according to the 2012 Living Planet Report, produced by conservation agency the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Colby Loucks, the director of conservation sciences at WWF, compared humanity to bad houseguests.

“We’re emptying the fridge, we’re not really taking care of the lawn, we’re not weeding the flower beds and we’re certainly not taking out the garbage,” Loucks said.

Burning through resources The biannual Living Planet report is designed to call attention to the Earth’s “invisible economy,” said Emily McKenzie, the director of the WWF’s Natural Capital Program. Natural resources - and the rate at which humans burn through them - rarely appear on policymakers’

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Bodyguard testifies in Iraqi VP terror trial

balance sheets, McKenzie said.

But humanity is essentially in debt to Mother Earth, conservationists find. As of 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, humans were outstripping Earth’s biocapacity by 50 percent. Biocapacity is the amount of renewable resources, land, and waste absorption (such as sinks for carbon dioxide) the Earth can provide. In other words, it takes the planet 1.5 years to restore what humanity burns through in a year. (The organization Global Footprint Network marks “Earth Overshoot Day” every year to draw attention to how fast humans use natural resources. In 2011, Earth Overshoot Day fell on Sept. 27, the day humans used up Earth’s annual resources.)

The report scientists calculated the world’s hogs when it comes to resources (called the ecological footprint) by determining each nation’s productive land capacity and comparing it to the actual population and consumption per person.

The United States has the fifth-largest ecological footprint of any nation on Earth, according to the report.

More on 15

attack last November. Rasmussen noted that other countries providing supply routes to NATO had been invited to the summit, which will map out a future for Afghanistan after most foreign combat troops are withdrawn at the end of 2014. President Zardari’s spokesman said he was considering whether to attend the Chicago summit and that the invitation was “unconditional and not linked to the opening of ground lines of communication for NATO or to any other issue.” Pakistan has demanded a formal apology from the United States for the attack before it reopens the supply routes, and has also called for an end to U.S. drone strikes on its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan boycotted an international conference on Afghanistan in Bonn in December in protest against the NATO air strikes. -Reuters

Anorexic, obese brains differ: Study

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Police officers inspect the remains of vehicles on May 15, 2012 after an explosion ripped through a crowded area of Bogota injuring at least 10 people according to the mayor’s office. AFP

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ALWATAN DAILY

kuwait

wednesDAY, may 16, 2012

HRW urges Kuwait to sign detention reform bill CAPITALS: Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on Kuwait’s ruler Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah to sign into a law the amendments passed by parliament to significantly reduce durations of pretrial detention.

“The law would eliminate unlimited renewals of pre-trial detention and significantly limit the periods allowed for pre-trial investigative detentions,” said the New York-based rights organization.

“Ending unlimited judicial renewals of pre-trial detention will help eliminate a significant source of the abuse of detainee

rights,” Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Every Kuwaiti will be safer and freer from the risk of arbitrary treatment because of this new law,” Whitson added.

The new bill allows police to detain suspects for up to two days, down from four and an investigator or a prosecutor to remand suspects in custody for 10 days from the current 21.

The prosecutor can seek renewal of detention for 30 more days provided a judge approves it after allowing the suspect and

Government rejects manipulation of laws

Continued from Page 1

his lawyer to appeal. At present detention can be renewed indefinitely.

The bill also requires that suspects be allowed contact with their lawyers at all times.The new bill was unanimously passed last week by parliament, including by cabinet ministers present in the assembly, an indication the government is expected to recommend to the Amir to approve the amendments.

Under Kuwaiti law, the government can reject laws passed by parliament which can in turn override the rejection in a fresh two-thirds majority vote. -AFP

Minister Al-Hajraf calls for adopting new educational means

In another development, MPs Mohammad AlDallal, Hamad Al-Matar, Osama Al-Shaheen, Ammar Al-Ajmi, and Abdulrahman Al-Anjari proposed a draft law to form a committee for parliamentary ethics that would be formed of seven members. This committee will look into the abuse of parliamentary authority and any acts that might be seen as a major violation of the bylaw and the Constitution. MPs who might be condemned by the committee will face penalties.

MPs Faisal Al-Mislem and Abdulateef Al-Omairi proposed a draft law which aims to set standards and regulations to the appointment of the head and deputy head of the Cassation Court, head of the Court of Appeals, the Public Prosecutor, and Public Attorneys from the judiciary system. The draft law stipulates that the Minister of Justice should approve those appointments.

In order to grant the Legislative Committee time to amend the National Assembly’s bylaw to impose penalties on whoever does not attend the meetings

New law to re-define Constitutional Court: MP Al-Dallal Staff Writer

FILE- Photo of Minister of Education Nayef Al-Hajraf is seen welcoming congratulators in his office on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.

(Al Watan) Abdulaziz Al-Fadhli Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf resumed his duty following a successful recent surgery operation.

The minister started his duties by holding a meeting with a number of male and female teachers at Kuwait Teachers Society (KTS), wherein the minister affirmed that the decision to conduct student evaluation was cancelled by the former minister based on recommendations given by the undersecretaries, even though the decision was almost endorsed.

Al-Hajraf emphasized that the ministry should avoid all “inappropriate decisions” as such influence the Kuwaiti people, particularly students. He indicated that during the last three months, his decisions were taken after thorough discussions with the

undersecretaries and council, as the relevant officials are the ones who follow up on the different field works at the ministry.

He added that his decisions are also discussed with general managers and inspectors in detail before being adopted. He pointed out that the educational process depends on the four main pillars, which are the teacher, student, curriculum and family.

He added that he received several questions during the last three months on various educational cases that include the supervisory tasks. Al-Hajraf said that he will not respond to the media except after consulting the relevant officials.

He unveiled that some curriculum needs to be modified.

“The material we teach our children should be convenient with the issues in which the students will use in their vocational life after graduation.” He recited an

Sharia graduates object not receiving pay increase

Fahad Al-Loban Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The suspension of the appointment of Sharia college graduates has triggered a wave of condemnation. The Society of Libraries and Information has also denounced its exclusion from the recent allowance schemes. The Media Campaign leader at the Legal Practitioners Syndicate Ahmad Al-Kandari scathingly criticized the wage increases endorsed for legal practitioners as meager, adding that the Civil Service Commission has overlooked the demands of this segment. He went on to state that the Commission deviated from the path outlined by legislators, encroached on the Constitution and discriminated against citizens.

Al-Kandari further noted that the Commission deprived Sharia law graduates from being appointed in legal positions, saying this does not only represent a violation of the law but it also infringes on the Constitution which clearly states that “The religion of the State is Islam, and the Sharia (Islamic Law) shall be a main source of legislation.” The syndicate leader elaborated that the explanatory memo for this constitutional provision alludes to the application of the Islamic law. “We find that the Civil Service Commission places hindrances and encroaches on the law and the Constitution,” he further claimed.

In another development, the Deputy Chairman of the Libraries and Information Society Abdul-Aziz Al-Suwait described the recently pay increases as haphazard and inaccurate. He added that the Civil Service Commission has previously approved increases for librarians and specified a pay raise from 150 to 250 Kuwaiti dinars.

He added that the society was surprised that the increase has to do with job title allowance, and not an increment on basic salary.

Al-Suwait pointed out that librarians and information science professionals deserve better pay arrangements, considering the importance of the technological revolution and the latest advancements in the domains of library and information. Al-Suwait concluded his statement by affirming that the commission is still taking decisions in an arbitrary manner, warning that a series of sit-ins will resume if the commission does not reconsider its decisions.

of the committees or refrains from giving a testament, the Transfer Committee postponed its call to His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed to attend its meeting on June 9 instead of May 26 as it had announced two days ago. Head of the Investigations Committee Faisal Al-Mislem announced that a new official invitation was sent to Al-Mohammed to attend the committee’s meeting on June 9.

Furthermore, MP Menawer Al-Azmi proposed increasing the housing loan from 70,000 Kuwaiti dinars to KD 100,000, since the current value of the loan is insufficient to build or buy residential real estate.

MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji asked Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud about the fact that three pieces of weaponry went missing from the Special Forces Department during a drill.

MP Mubarak Al-Waalan revealed that influential figures, including a current MP, are involved in suspicious business which allegedly supports Iranian plots to weaken GCC countries.

He went on to say that he will disclose the names of these people later after receiving documented answers from the concerned ministers.

old adage: “Teach your students to work in time which will be different from yours”.

“The students in primary school now will be ready for work in 2020 and the question is that what did we do to prepare them for that? Our curriculum doesn’t need to include the experiments of the previous years, because the future of the country can’t bear such experiments,” said the minister.

He also asserted that the curriculum should depend on clear visions and fit the students’ ability, adding that it should focus on the case of belonging and loyalty to the ones country as well as tolerance and values.

The minister added that development of the educational process can’t be executed perfectly unless the relevant officials consult teachers in order to discover all obstacles that interrupt developing the educational process.

KUWAIT: The Rapporteur of the parliamentary Legislative Committee Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammad Al-Dallal said that his committee has completed discussing and looking into draft laws related to the Constitutional Court, expecting that since the main items had been already fully discussed that by next Sunday the issue would be finalized once and for all.

MP Al-Dallal added that once this done, then it would be passé to the National Assembly so that it would be incorporated into the Parliament’s agenda in next parliamentary session.

“The Committee is extremely keen to finalize this important draft law as it had taken a very long time to deliberate and discuss its items. Once approved it would most certainly re-define the Constitutional Court altogether,” he remarked.

He went on to explain that the committee had already approved certain amendments which are described as “significantly important”.

He pointed out that one of the most important amendments which were made was related to the issue of the nature of the structure of the Constitutional Court which will be derived from three different quarters and they are: five judges named by the Council of Judges; two from the National Assembly;

and two from the government.

The MP explained that with this new structure of organization for the Constitutional Court, it would be most fitting with the new amendments introduced and in line with the Kuwaiti Constitution and its explanatory note as membership in the Constitutional Court requires certain qualifications.

“The conclusion at which we have arrived is that the role and function of the Constitutional Courts, which primarily deals with the constitutionality of the laws, bylaws, rules, and regulations, are linked to the Constitution. Therefore, the committee has decided to strip away the right of the Constitutional Courts to provide interoperation to the Constitution,” he explained.

The MP however said that unless the matters are clear and obvious, the opinion of the Constitutional Courts would be sought after as it involved some political disputes in the past and there is fear that the decision and judgment may be greatly compromised.

The MP went on to say that the Constitutional Courts will not look into any election violations or disputes and that different courts are now assigned for that purpose.

He concluded by saying that the matter still needs further explanation and discussion to come up with a unique and standardized decision which would ultimately serve the country’s interest.

Room view of Tuesday’s Parliament session May 15, 2012. (Al Watan)

National Islamic Alliance marks 64th Anniversary for Palestine Nakba Yousef Al-Koot Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The National Islamic Alliance on Tuesday commemorated the 64th Anniversary of the Palestine (Nakba) Catastrophe at the group’s Headquarters in Dasma Area in the presence of Member

of Parliament (MP) Sayed Adnan Abdulsamad, Jawad Al-Attar and a number of prominent public figures.

Kuwait University professor Dr. Ali Dashti said that the Catastrophe brings to mind the sense of earthquakes and volcanoes. However, he added that the Palestine Catastrophe was a massive earthquake which led to mass exiles.

Dashti denounced the annexation of lands belonging to Palestinians, and lamented the displacement of more than 800,000 Palestinians, the seizure of 700 cities and the destruction of more than 600 others. The university professor concluded, “We consider this course a pivotal issue despite all the complications.”

Netherlands’ ambassador launches ‘Think Clean; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ Ricky Laxa Staff Writer

KUWAIT: “The issues that pertain to the environment is of importance and are difficult to deal with. Preservation of sustainable environment is essential to a balanced ecosystem. “Think Clean; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” program aspires to reduce the waste in Kuwait often found dumped in the dessert areas. Finding the solution may come from these young minds, thus it is ideal to start with them this program,” commented Dutch Envoy to Kuwait Ton Boon von Ochssee during the launch of the program Tuesday morning at The British School of Kuwait (BSK).

In an exclusive interview with Ambassador von Ochssee, he told Al Watan Daily that there is a need to think of appropriate solutions and ways and take responsibility for the protection of the environment. “There are many reasons as to why the Embassy of The Netherlands takes a stand in participation with Kuwait’s thrust to alleviate difficulties in addressing environmental issues.

Children are very receptive to change and the need for us to give them that

Ambassador von Ochssee delivers a power point presentation before the students of BSK. (Al Watan Daily)

sustainable environment is essential.We need to suggest the right direction for the future of this generation and with one creative mind and idea, we hope to make strong awareness and draw attention to the program”, addressed Ambassador von Ochssee.

Kuwait is insufficient of recycling facilities, in fact some waste materials are sent overseas for recycling. Kuwait needs to be careful with its environment and surroundings often affected by waste dumped in desserts and that cooperation can bring together sectors

both private and public and make the changes happen.

The Embassy of Netherlands has also taken an active participation with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on the issues of global warming and environment. “Kuwait is very active in international dialogues pertaining climate and biodiversity and is in contact with other GCC countries and is taking the necessary steps to achieve its goals.

KISR has the ownership to any responsibility to pursue any environmental issued and commit to them. To add KISR and the Environmental Public Authority (EPA) are working with various governmental and non-governmental organizations in Kuwait to promote awareness in Kuwait, especially amongst children, about the negative effect global warming is having on the environment,” concluded Dutch Envoy.

The winners of the Think Clean Program will be chosen and receive their awards on the 29th of June. School Directress of BSK Vera Mutawa, Public Relations Manager Patricia Whelan, teachers and students were preset during the launch presentation by Ambassador von Ochssee.

ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

wednesdAY, may 16, 2012

Officials brief Amnesty International about illegal residents KUWAIT: Secretary General of the Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents Sheikh Khalid Mubarak Al-Sabah on Tuesday informed in a thorough manner a visiting delegation of Amnesty International about efforts of the Apparatus for resolving this issue.

In remarks to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the meeting with the visiting delegation, Sheikh Khalid said he informed in detail to the envoys of Amnesty International about government efforts to tackle this issue, exerted over the past years, namely issuance of the Amiri Decree in November 2010, stipulating establishment of the department or the Apparatus.

This question is being tackled and followed-up continuously by the Apparatus, he said, also noting that the Cabinet had approved granting citizenship to two batches of these residents, names of whom had been listed and forwarded by the authority, said Sheikh Khalid AlMubarak.

Currently, the Apparatus is preparing lists of names eligible for naturalization, pending submission to the government for approval, he said.

The Central Apparatus has recently worked out a mechanism for employing illegal residents, whose names are included in the 1965 national census statistics, carry diplomas and higher certificates, in the public sector, in coordination with the Civil Services Commission, Sheikh Khalid Al-Mubarak added.

He has affirmed abidance by the cabinet resolution, number 409/2011, stipulating facilities for the illegal residents, whereas basic services, such as teaching and health, are being granted to them free of charge. Moreover, it offers privileges for those who seek to legalize their status, such as five-year residency, without sponsor for the father or the children, along with free education and health care.

For his part, Drewery Dyke of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program, said in a statement following the meeting that the delegation’s visit was aimed at examining developments concerning this issue.

The delegation has held meetings with several ranking and eminent figures, namely Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmad Al-Saadoun. -KUNA

‘Egyptians line up to vote for a better future’ Nancy Oteifa Staff Writer

Egyptian men are seen standing in line waiting for their turn to vote at the embassy on Monday, May 14, 2012. (Al Watan)

An Egyptian woman is seen submitting her identification documents prior to casting her ballot at the embassy on Monday, May 14, 2012. (Al Watan)

KUWAIT: A number of Egyptians stood in front of their embassy waiting to vote for a preferred presidential candidate. As has been observed, the voting system is done in a very professional and organized manner. There is a queue for men and another for ladies. Although the place is crowded, everything was still very organized.Al Watan Daily visited the Egyptian Embassy and interviewed a number of voters regarding the current elections.

Ahmed Atef said that every Egyptian must vote in order to choose the president that represents them. “We have been living in bad conditions for more than 30 years and now it’s time for a new life. The voting system is done here in a very well thought-out way, and the people working in the embassy are very helpful and friendly,” he commented.

“The embassy is open from 8 a.m to 8 p.m., which gives the opportunity for those working long hours to vote after they are done. The voting method at the embassy is flexible and easy. We don’t have to wait in rows for hours,” added a young engineer known as Wael. He went on to say, “Egyptians in Kuwait are more aware of the impact of voting and its importance, where everyone is now willing to vote and care enough to give their voice. This proves that Egyptians have changed and that they no longer have a negative approach towards the political situation in their country.”

Amal Afifi noted that voting is very important in this era, “Voting will change Egypt’s future into a better and more developed country. I went to vote and it took me less than 15 minutes to do so,” she said.

Mohamed El-Gendi, who works as a teacher said, “At first you think that voting will take hours, but when you stand in the queue you discover that everything is flowing smoothly. People at the embassy are helpful, especially with the elderly.”

Embassy employees receive the sealed envelopes in a controlled and efficient way to provide a chance for others standing in the queue to take turn. Al Watan Daily spoke with an embassy employee who said that it’s their role is to facilitate the voting process as smooth as possible inside the embassy in order to manage the elections efficiently.

Ambassador Al-Bader meets UNDP representative in Albania SARAJEVO: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Albania Najib Al-Bader met on Tuesday with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in Albania, Zineb Touimi-Benjelloun, and told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) the discussions touched on issues including Albania’s European Union (EU) aspirations and Millennium Goals efforts.

The ambassador said there was also discussion on efforts to bolster democracy, economic growth, and human development within the framework of the UN’s timetable for cooperation with the country for 2012-2016.

He praised the UN office efforts on capacity building, poverty reduction, and disaster response and prevention.

Ambassador Benjelloun for her part said Albania is one of eight countries included in

Ambassador’s wife visits Fukushima Prefecture

TOKYO: Kuwaiti ambassador’s wife Jamilah Al-Otaibi visited, on Tuesday, Fukushima Prefecture which was struck by a major earthquake and a tsunami in March 2011. The ambassador’s wife, along with a delegation of the Society of Wives of Arab Ambassadors in Japan (SWAAJ), visited five schools in the district to give help in the form of textbooks and school supplies.

Al-Otaibi expressed her admiration to the tremendous efforts exerted by all sectors of the Japanese society to overcome a crisis of such magnitude.

Officials at Fukushima Prefecture expressed, on their parts, deep appreciation to the visit done by SWAAJ which showed the deep relations that tie Japan with the Arab countries.

Kuwait has given Fukushima Prefecture an oil grant of 516 billion Japanese yen, in addition, to three million US dollars given to rebuild Fukushima’s Marine Science Museum by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah during his last visit to Japan. -KUNA

a UN program for technical support that is in harmony with national objectives to render the countries more efficient development partners. The UNDP opened its office in Albania in 1991 and cooperates with a wide scope of partners in government, civil society, and international organizations to facilitate achievement of the Millennium Goals as a step forward towards integration into the European Union. -KUNA

Kuwait voices desire to boost ties with China

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwaiti Consul General in Hong Kong Bader Al-Tunaib met on Tuesday with the Commissioner-General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry SungJoo, voicing desire to elevate further the close ties between Kuwait and the Asian nation. Al-Tunaib, during a phone call with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), hailed the distinguished bilateral relations between Kuwait and China, expressing desire of enhancing and bolstering those ties, especially that Kuwait is working on diversifying its income sources and turning into an international financial center.

The diplomat, during the meeting with the new Commissioner-General, congratulated him on assuming his duties.

Kuwait signed lately a number of important agreements with China, related to encouragement and protection of investments, double taxation avoidance, and economic cooperation -- indications of strengthening the cooperation between the two nations, he affirmed.

Sung-Joo expressed thanks for the Kuwaiti diplomat’s congratulations, praising the remarkable deep-rooted ties between his country and Kuwait, besides the active Kuwaiti presence in Hong Kong, he said.

He wished to see further development of those ties, expressing readiness for a sustainable cooperation to facilitate tasks of all heads of accredited diplomatic missions. -KUNA

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Amir sponsors teachers honoring ceremony Wednesday

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah is sponsoring the inauguration of the 8th “Thank You, Teacher” festival marking Teacher’s Day. The ceremony takes place at 10:30 A.M. at the Basic Education Faculty Theatre in Shamiyyah, where a host of teachers would be honored in recognition of their devotion and excellence during their career. -KUNA

Municipal Council’s Technical Committee discussed traffic congestions Shabib Al-Ajmi Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Chairman of the Municipal Council’s Technical Committee Farz Al-Mutairi stressed the need to build new roads and streets in order to reduce traffic congestions which became a problem that road users face.

In a statement made following the meeting of the committee on Tuesday, Al-Mutairi said that the Municipality, Traffic Department and Ministry of Public Works alone cannot be responsible for the issue of traffic congestions, but all concerned bodies are responsible for it. He added that all concerned bodies are required to issue decisions and recommendations as well as laws which can ease traffic congestions. This came in the presence of representatives of the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Public Works and some Municipality officials.

Al-Mutairi explained that the Technical Committee discussed all suggestions and developments which can reduce traffic congestions, such as expansion of roads and building a network of roads and bridges according to international standards. He added that the Interior Ministry presented the main obstacles which impede the implementation of its projects such

as paperwork and routine.

For his part, Municipal Council Member Mohammed Al-Hadiyah said that the ideas which were discussed during the meeting will be raised to the Municipal Council in order to issue recommendations on issuing licenses and approving plans.

For his part, Representative of the Interior Ministry and Strategic Coordinator for Traffic and Transportation Sector Colonel Nasser AlEnzi said that the most important idea on addressing traffic congestions is implementing the national comprehensive strategy for traffic for the period 2010-2020.

He added that the problem cannot be addressed without the cooperation of all concerned bodies, mainly the Municipality and Ministry of Public Works. He stressed that the failure to solve the traffic problem costs the State great losses in future.

For his part, Municipal Council Member Abdullah Al-Kandari said that the application of law No. 115/2011 on the establishment of a public authority for roads will put an end to traffic congestions. He stressed that there are13 bodies in Kuwait concerned with the issue of traffic congestions and roads, adding that 270 new cars use the roads on a daily bases.

Interior minister discusses security issues with Saudi ambassador

First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with Saudi Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Ibrahim Al-Fayez during a meeting held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. (KUNA)

KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud AlJaber Al-Sabah held talks on Tuesday with the Saudi Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Ibrahim AlFayez on security issues of joint concern for the

two brotherly states.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud affirmed, during the meeting, deep-rooted ties bounding Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and close relations between leaderships of the two countries. -KUNA

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ALWATAN DAILY

regional

Shafiq and the impudent

By Hossam Fathi Staff Writer

At the beginning, I should praise the good morals, which are about to disappear, and the polite behavior and the keenness to serve public interest of the most popular candidate, the Lieutenant General Ahamd Shfiq, the former Minister of Aviation, who remained in office for the longest period during the era of his master and his role model the ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Shafiq’s morals prevented him from exposing Deputy Leader of the Wasat Party MP Essam Sultan, before the people. He also did not speak about the details of the relationship between Sultan and the State Security, and that he was their informant, and that Sultan was behind the conflict between Al-Baradei and the rebels.

However, it seems that Shafiq’s patience ran out when said MP accused him of selling 40 thousand square meters of land at the price of 75 piaster per meter. It seems that irrefutable facts revealed by Shafiq will expose all agents and traitors. The ‘agent’ Bilal Fadel confessed on Twitter and said “I must confess that when I used to go to State Security to submit the reports, I used to meet Essam Sultan, George Eshaq and Abdulhalim Qandeel in the cafeteria while Shafiq and Ezz were being tortured inside.” hossam@alwatan.com.kw Twitter:@hossamfathy66

Secret prison still open in Baghdad: HRW BAGHDAD: Iraqis are still being held illegally at a Baghdad prison that the government was supposed to have shut down in 2011 after allegations that detainees were tortured and abused there, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.

The report by the New York-based rights group raises fresh concerns about the government’s treatment of detainees after Iraqi authorities took over the country’s prison system following the departure of US troops last December.

Iraq’s Human Rights Ministry has denied the Human Rights Watch claim as inaccurate, saying the detention center in question, known by its former US military designation as Camp Honor, was shuttered more than a year ago.

The prison is located inside the Green Zone in central Baghdad, which also houses government offices and foreign embassies.

The HRW report was based on interviews with 35 former detainees and their relatives and lawyers, as well as government officials who described ongoing interrogations at Camp Honor.

“Iraqi security forces are grabbing people outside of the law, without trial or known charges, and hiding them away in incommunicado sites,” said Joe Stork, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Middle East director.

He called on Iraqi authorities to immediately release names of all detainees and where they are being held, and to release those who have not been formally charged. Asked for comment, Human Rights Ministry spokesman Kamil Amin said Camp Honor “was closed more than a year ago.”

“All inmates were transferred to other prisons,” Amin said. “We are confident that Camp Honor is not in use.” He denied that the government is running secret jails, and said all arrests and detentions follow legal standards.

The report said elite Iraqi troops controlled by Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki are running two more secret jails in Baghdad where detainees are interrogated by judicial investigators.

The rights group also said it is withholding the identities of the people who were interviewed out of concern for their safety. -AP

WEDNESDAY, may 16, 2012

Split Syria opposition keeps chief, violence continues BEIRUT: A splintered Syrian opposition voted on Tuesday to keep a secular academic exile seen as a consensus builder as its top figure to further a quest for recognition from wary big powers in its struggle to unseat President Bashar Al-Assad.

In a counter-move to rebuild credibility, Damascus said that over half of eligible voters turned out for a parliamentary election last week, part of reforms it says show Al-Assad’s intent to resolve an uprising against his autocratic rule peacefully.

But violence went on heedless of an April 12 ceasefire accord brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, with dissidents saying government forces killed two insurgents and kept up a campaign of detentions in a key oil-producing region.

A political path out of Syria’s bloodshed is the goal of Annan’s blueprint to end a violent crackdown by Al-Assad’s forces and the insurgency - drawn largely from the country’s Sunni Muslim majority - that emerged alongside mass street protests.

Persistent bloodshed has led Sunni Saudi Arabia - for which an Al-Assad demise would deal a welcome blow to his backers in Shiite Muslim Iran, Riyadh’s rival for influence in the Gulf - to warn that Annan’s plan is losing credibility.

The Syrian National Council (SNC), an umbrella group of factions, has struggled to gain full international recognition as the sole legitimate face of opposition to Al-Assad because of infighting and political incoherence in its ranks.

Two people present at a ballot in Rome said Burhan Ghalioun, a sociologist long resident in France, won two-thirds of the vote, reflecting his acceptability to the several Islamist factions whose influence is dominant in the SNC. Ghalioun, 67, who will serve another three-month term, has been criticized by some opposition figures for failing to unify the SNC and forge close ties to dissidents inside Syria.

A handout image released by the Syrian opposition’s Shaam News Network shows Free Syrian Army fighters celebrating after destroying a government troops carrier on the outskirts of Rastan, a rebel-held city in restive Homs province of central Syria, on May 14, 2012. (AFP)

He has also been accused of providing a liberal veneer to what is a widely Islamist, albeit factionalized, opposition.

His backers in the SNC counter that Ghalioun is also acceptable to minorities within Syria’s array of sects and ethnicities, and enjoys support from Qatar, the other resourcerich Gulf power to speak of arming Al-Assad’s foes against him.

On Syria’s battleground, opposition sources said Al-Assad’s forces killed two rebels in Deir El-Zor, an oil town near the border with Iraq, where activists say troops backed by tanks have been carrying out house-to-house raids that have resulted in hundreds of arrests in the last four days.

There was no independent verification of the report. Syria has limited journalist access

Bodyguard testifies in Iraqi VP terror trial BAGHDAD: A bodyguard for Iraq’s fugitive vice president testified Tuesday that he was paid 3,000 US dollars to assassinate a government security official in one of hundreds of death squad killings that authorities link to one of the nation’s highest-ranking Sunni leaders.

The testimony came on the first day of the Iraqi government’s terror trial against Vice President Tariq Al-Hashemi, who was not in court.

He denies the charges - that for years he ordered killings of Shiite pilgrims and government officials - and says they are politically motivated.

The case against Al-Hashemi threatens to paralyze Iraq’s government by fueling simmering Sunni and Kurdish resentments against the Shiite prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, who critics claim is monopolizing power. The Sunni vice president has been a longtime critic of Al-

Maliki, whose government issued a warrant for Al-Hashemi’s arrest the day after US troops left Iraq last December.

Bodyguard Ahmed Al-Jubouri testified that he gunned down the security official, identified as Ibrahim Saleh Mahdi, in November 2011 on Al-Hashemi’s orders. Al-Jubouri said Mahdi’s wife was also killed in the drive-by shooting on a Baghdad highway.

“The next day, Al-Hashemi received me (in his office) and rewarded the team with a sum of $3,000,” Al-Jubouri told a three-judge panel at Baghdad’s criminal court. “At the end of the meeting, the vice president said to me, ‘God bless you.’”

Al-Jubouri said the death was ordered because Mahdi had become “a source of annoyance” to Al-Hashemi.

Al-Hashemi currently is in Turkey, where he has said he is receiving medical treatment. His spokesman, Fahad Al-Turki, said Al-Hashemi could not immediately be reached for comment. Some see the trial as another political power battle in Iraq.

“As far as I’m concerned, the issue of AlHashemi is more political than a legal one,” said Sunni lawmaker Hamid Al-Mutlaq of the Iraqiya political bloc, which opposes Al-Maliki.

Evidence against Al-Hashemi so far includes purported confessions by several men said to be his bodyguards, who all claimed to receive money for each attack against officials working in Iraq’s health and foreign ministries as well as Baghdad police officers.

Al-Hashemi has hotly denied the confessions, saying his bodyguards were tortured

Palestinians march in annual mourning ritual

At least 42 killed in new Yemen offensive on militants

ADEN: At least 42 people, including 30 Al-Qaeda-linked militants were killed in Yemen, officials and residents said on Tuesday, as the government pressed ahead with a new US-backed offensive against insurgents in the south of the country.

Washington has stepped up its drone attacks in Yemen since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February, and the Pentagon said last week it had recently resumed sending military trainers to the Arab state.

A growing Islamist insurgency in Yemen is of serious concern to the United States and oil exporter Saudi Arabia, who both fear that political infighting could give Al-Qaeda’s regional wing a foothold near oil shipping routes through the Red Sea. Residents and local officials said heavy fighting erupted overnight between the Yemeni army and militants in an area called Al-Jabalain in the south of the country, as the army tried to advance on the militant-held city of Jaar.

The clashes continued until early on Tuesday, killing at least eight militants and one Yemeni soldier, they said, adding the army had captured two Somali Islamist fighters.

Separately, an airstrike by Yemeni warplanes killed six civilians by mistake in Jaar, a city in Abyan province and a stronghold of Al-Qaeda fighters, residents said. Another strike hit two suspected militant vehicles and killed its seven passengers, they added.

Near the southern town of Lawdar eight militants and two army-allied tribal fighters were killed in clashes at an area called Jebel Yasuf, 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Lawdar, a tribal source said. The army and tribesman regained control of Jebel Yasuf, the source added. -Reuters

to the country during the 14-month-old revolt against over 40 years of Al-Assad family rule.

Also on Tuesday, relief group Medecins sans Frontieres said that its fieldwork in the northern Idlib region indicated health facilities were being targeted by combatants, and called on all sides to the conflict to “respect the physical integrity of wounded persons, doctors and health care facilities”. -Reuters

Palestinian demonstrators wave Palestinian flags during a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah on May 15, 2012, marking Nakba day, which commemorates the exodus of hundreds of thousands of their kin after the establishment of Israel state in 1948. (AFP)

RAMALLAH,West Bank: Palestinians on Tuesday marked their mass displacement that followed Israel’s creation with a blend of sadness and hope, stopping in their tracks for a mournful siren but also flashing victory signs and carrying banners proclaiming their right of return.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced from their villages during the war that established the Jewish state in 1948, an event they commemorate every year as their “Nakba,” or catastrophe. Today, surviving refugees and their descendants number several million who are scattered across the globe, many still living in squalid camps in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and surrounding Arab countries. In three West Bank areas north and south of Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinian stone-throwers clashed with Israeli

troops who fired tear gas and rubbercoated steel pellets. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 30 people were hurt by the rubber bullets and dozens suffered from tear gas inhalation.

The 64th anniversary of the Nakba comes after nearly two decades of failed efforts to negotiate the terms of a Palestinian state with Israel.

In a Nakba Day speech late Monday, the Western-backed Abbas referred to ending Israel’s occupation of the lands captured in 1967, saying that “no matter how strong and aggressive, it will be removed.”

In Gaza City, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said that “our message to the refugees is that we will not give up the right of return ... We will not accept any project that abandons the right of

return or affects our sacred rights to the homeland.”

In Ramallah, the seat of Abbas’ selfrule government, thousands marched to the city’s central Manara Square. During a one-minute siren, many stood at attention and flashed V-for-victory signs.

Clashes between Palestinian stonethrowers and Israeli troops erupted at Rachel’s Tomb, an Israeli enclave in Bethlehem, and at the Ofer and Qalandia checkpoints near Jerusalem.

In Hamas-run Gaza, some 3,000 Palestinians marched to the local UN office.

They carried banners reading “We shall return” and listing the names of their original villages. Haniyeh and several Hamas security officials ran a two-kilometer (1.5 mile) race that ended at the Palestinian parliament. -AP

into making the statements. He gave a national speech in March accusing the government of torturing two of his bodyguards to death - allegations that the Iraqi judiciary said it dismissed after an investigation.

The vice president believes he will not get a fair trial in Baghdad’s criminal court, and has asked that the case be heard by a special tribunal appointed by parliament. On Tuesday, a judicial panel rejected arguments by Al-Hashemi’s lawyers that the case should be further delayed while Iraq’s Supreme Court weighs whether to move to the tribunal.

The trial is focusing on the killings of two security officials and a lawyer, incidents that happened in 2010 and 2011. If convicted of the terror charges, Al-Hashemi could face the death penalty. -AP

Iran upbeat on UN nuclear talks, diplomats skeptical

VIENNA: Iran gave an upbeat assessment on Tuesday of talks with the UN nuclear watchdog about its atomic activity but diplomats voiced doubt inspectors would gain access to a military site where they believe tests of use in making atomic bombs were carried out.

The discussions tested Iran’s readiness to address UN inspectors’ concerns over suspected military dimensions to its nuclear work ahead of diplomatic negotiations on the program’s future in Baghdad next week between Tehran and six world powers.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) aimed at the May 14-15 meeting in Vienna to secure agreement on access to Iranian sites, documents and officials involved in suspected research that could be put to producing nuclear explosives.

“We had good talks. Everything is (on the) right track. The environment is very constructive,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh told reporters as he entered an Iranian diplomatic mission to continue the meeting with the Vienna-based IAEA. Western diplomats will be watching the talks for any sign Iran is ready to make concrete concessions as a positive message ahead of the May 23 encounter in Baghdad.

But Soltanieh’s public optimism was not matched by the head of the IAEA delegation, Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts, when senior agency experts arrived at the venue. “You will understand I cannot make any comments now.

The discussions are obviously continuing today,” Nackaerts said.

The IAEA, the UN agency tasked with preventing the spread of nuclear arms in the world, said its priority is to visit the Parchin military complex where Iran may have conducted high-explosives test relevant for developing atomic arms capability.

Iran, which rejects Western accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons, has resisted previous requests by the IAEA to go to Parchin southeast of Tehran.

The issue was expected to be raised during the talks in the Austrian capital, but a Western diplomat said he would be “very surprised” if Iran suddenly opened up Parchin, suggesting he did not expect serious headway on the issue.

Another diplomatic source also said he did not believe the Vienna discussions were making much progress but that the situation could still change.

Israel, widely believed to hold the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, and the United States have not ruled out military action to prevent Iran from obtaining atomic bombs if diplomacy fails to achieve this goal peacefully. -Reuters

ALWATAN DAILY

WORLD

wednesdAY, may 16, 2012

Hollande sworn in as French president PARIS: Socialist Francois Hollande was sworn in as France’s president Tuesday before naming a prime minister and dashing to Germany to battle with Berlin over how to tackle Europe’s debt crisis.

Nine days after he defeated right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy in a fierce campaign, Hollande, 57, was inaugurated at the Elysee Palace and only hours later head to Germany for his first foreign visit as president.

He was also set to make the much-anticipated announcement of who will lead his government as prime minister, with Jean-Marc Ayrault, the head of the Socialists’ parliamentary bloc, tipped as frontrunner.

Hollande is expected to be sworn in shortly after meeting Sarkozy at the Elysee at around 10:00 am (0800 GMT).

The ceremony itself will be relatively simple - with no other heads of state invited - and Hollande will then take an open-topped ride in a Citroen up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, waving to the crowd.

In separate ceremonies, he will then pay tribute to 19th-century educational reformer Jules Ferry - father of France’s free, secular education system - and to Marie Curie, the Nobel Prize-winning chemist.

At 1400 GMT Hollande will fly to Berlin, where he faces an uncertain reception from Chancellor Angela Merkel, a Sarkozy ally and the main backer of the European Union’s fiscal austerity drive.

Hollande has vowed to refocus European economic policy on growth by re-opening talks on a fiscal pact agreed in March that aims to

France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande (right) and General Jean-Louis Georgelin, hold the ceremonial collar as he is officially named President at the handover ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris May 15. (Reuters)

control European debt by enshrining greater budget discipline.

The deal was Merkel’s brainchild and she has repeatedly insisted since Hollande’s election that the pact, signed by 25 of the 27 EU countries and already ratified in some, is not open to renegotiation.

But observers say there is room for com-

promise, with Hollande likely to agree to additional stimulus measures without a rewrite of the pact.

And with political paralysis in Greece raising the specter of the country being forced from the eurozone, the heads of Europe’s two largest economies will be keen to reassure worried markets they can work together.

Greece races against time to form government Leftists reject proposal for technocrat solution to disputes

ATHENS: Greece tries again Tuesday to form a government, hoping a technocrat solution to disputes over a tough EU-IMF bailout deal will avoid new polls and keep it in the eurozone as time runs down fast.

Leaders from all bar the far-right parties that won seats in inconclusive May 6 polls will meet at 1100 GMT Tuesday to try and get the country “out of a dead end,” Socialist Pasok party head Evangelos Venizelos said Monday.

Time is tight - parliament convenes Thursday and if no government is in place, new polls will have to be called, prolonging an agonizing crisis by another month to the dismay of Greece’s EU partners and the markets.

President Carolos Papoulias met Venizelos and heads of the conservative New Democracy and radical Democratic Left, proposing Monday in the absence of any other solution a government of “distinguished and non-political figures.”

“I think time is against us,” Papoulias told the meeting, adding: “I am terrified at the idea of the problems facing the country” in the coming days.

Picking up on a groundswell of opposition across Europe to governments that put austerity before growth, both left and right gained at the expense of New Democracy and Pasok, which had supported Papademos to get the debt deal done.

In recent months senior officials have more

Leader of the Independent Greeks party Panos Kammenos (2nd from right) accompanied by party officials, arrives at the Presidential palace for a meeting with other political leaders and the Greek President in Athens May 15. (Reuters)

openly raised the prospect of Greece leaving the euro, but on Monday the head of eurozone finance ministers group hit back strongly, insisting that Athens was staying put.

“I don’t envisage, not even for one second, Greece leaving,” Jean-Claude Juncker said after the 17 eurozone partners unanimously affirmed their “unshakable desire” to keep

Greece in the club.

“This is nonsense, this is propaganda,” he said, adding that the Eurogroup “will do everything possible” to prevent a Greek exit and that “absolutely no one argued in that direction.”

There can be little doubt about the seriousness of the situation.

Charles Dallara, who as head of the Insti-

NEWS IN BRIEF Before he heads to Berlin, Hollande’s first order of business will be to nominate a prime minister, who will be tasked with forming a government before a first cabinet session likely on Thursday.

The Socialists have been careful to let nothing slip, but Ayrault, a 62-year-old longtime Hollande ally, is considered first in line for the job.

Other contenders include Socialist Party leader and former labor minister Martine Aubry, Hollande’s communications director during the campaign, Manuel Valls, and his campaign and transition chief Pierre Moscovici.

Once the cabinet is named, the focus will move to the Socialists’ campaign to win a parliamentary majority in June’s legislative elections -- a key test for the party after Hollande’s win.

New official estimates of how the French economy performed in the first quarter are also due on Tuesday.

Hollande has ordered an audit of government finances, but EU forecasts suggest he will struggle to meet his goal of cutting the deficit to three percent of gross domestic product by 2013 and balancing the books by 2017.

After Merkel, Hollande heads to the United States where he is to meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday ahead of back-to-back G8 then NATO summits.

These meetings are also expected to be a test for the neophyte leader, as he explains his decision to pull French forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, a year ahead of schedule. -AFP

Myanmar President Thein Sein, (right), shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, (left), before their meeting at the presidential house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, May, 15. (AP)

over its human rights record and failure to install a democratic government.

Myanmar also began buying weapons from North Korea, and was suspected of obtaining nuclear weapons technology as well.

Myanmar is taking steps to emerge from international isolation after decades of military rule ended last year.

Those changes were highlighted Tuesday when Lee met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was held for years under house arrest but is now a member of Parliament.

Suu Kyi said after the 45-minute meeting that South Korea and Myanmar have much in common in having had to “take the hard road to democratic leadership.”

Lee, speaking through an interpreter, said he and Suu Kyi had agreed that “democracy, human rights and freedom must never be sacrificed because of development.”

He said he had praised Thein Sein’s contribution to democratization when he met the Myanmar president on Monday.

He also said he told Thein Sein that he hoped his government “will refrain from any activities” with North Korea that could be considered in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. He described this as a formal request.

A UN resolution bars countries from obtaining all but small arms and light weapons from North Korea.

Lee on Tuesday made a brief visit to the site of the 1983 bombing, Martyr’s Mausoleum, a monument to Suu Kyi’s father, Myanmar independence hero Gen. Aung San. The attack left 21 dead, 17 of them South Korean, but failed to kill its target, thenPresident Chun Doo-hwan, who arrived late and was not harmed.

A statement from Lee’s office said he also agreed to expand South Korean financial assistance to Myanmar.

It said South Korea agreed to help Myanmar develop human resources, build a think tank and invite Myanmar students to South Korea in an effort to share its successful experience in economic development. -AP

Police crack down on illegal foreigners in Beijing BEIJING: Police in Beijing on Tuesday launched a 100-day campaign urging citizens to report on foreigners illegally living or working in the capital, after a British man allegedly tried to rape a woman.

It is unclear whether the crackdown is directly linked to the alleged sexual assault last week, which was purportedly caught on video and posted online, drawing millions of views and angry comments. “The Beijing police department will... increase efforts to punish foreigners illegally entering, illegally living and illegally working in Beijing,” it said on its official microblog page. “At the same time, Beijing police will collect information from the city’s many citizens,” it added, posting a phone number for residents to call and report any suspicious activity. -AFP

Rebekah Brooks among six charged over hacking LONDON: Prosecutors accused former Rupert Murdoch aide Rebekah Brooks and five others of obstructing justice Tuesday in the first criminal charges from the News of the World phone hacking scandal. The ex-News International (NI) chief executive, her husband Charlie Brooks and four people who worked for her were charged with trying to hide evidence from police investigating wrongdoing at the now-closed tabloid. Brooks, 43, and her husband, 49, who is a former racehorse trainer and school friend of Prime Minister David Cameron, said the decision was “weak and unjust”. -AFP

Taiwan to build ‘stealth’ warship fleet tute of International Finance helped negotiate a massive private creditor bond write-down for Greece as part of the EU-IMF bailout, warned that the cost of failure would be too high.

“I believe that the cost to Greece, the cost to Europe and the cost to the entire global economy may still be enough to cause Greek politicians and European politicians to pause before they pull the trigger on a Greek exit.”

New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras said Monday after the announcement of Tuesday’s talks that “everyone must take their responsibilities. ... Our mandate all together is to build a government.”

Democratic Left head Fotis Kouvelis, who had earlier Monday said there was no chance of a deal if the radical left Syriza party was not included, indicated that he would go to Tuesday’s meeting but poured cold water on the technocrat option.

“I told the president ... that a government formed by technocrats and personalities means the defeat of politics. ... I expressed the view that I am against it,” he said.

For Greeks, the situation is both difficult and confusing.

Many want to remain in the eurozone for the benefits it brings but strongly oppose the tough EU-IMF austerity measures as the country languishes in recession for a fifth year.

Greece wants it both ways, “to remain in the eurozone but not have the loan agreement,” said unemployed Velisarios. “That is what the majority wants ... (but) of course, something like that can’t happen.” -AFP

Myanmar halting arms China slams British purchases from North Korea, says South PM’s Dalai Lama meeting YANGON: Myanmar’s president has assured his South Korean counterpart that his country will no longer buy weapons from North Korea, while conceding it had done so to some extent over the past 20 years.

In a meeting with visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Myanmar President Thein Sein said his country never had nuclear cooperation with North Korea but did have deals for conventional weapons, Lee’s presidential Blue House said in an announcement Tuesday.

Thein Sein told Lee that Myanmar will no longer buy weapons from North Korea, honoring a UN ban, South Korean presidential official Kim Tae-hyo told reporters traveling with Lee, according to Blue House officials in Seoul.

Lee is on an official visit to Myanmar, the first by a South Korean president since North Korean commandos staged a bloody 1983 attack on visiting South Korean dignitaries.

Myanmar cut off diplomatic relations with North Korea after the attack, but restored them in 2007 as it sought allies in the face of international sanctions

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Behind closed doors and away from the cameras, British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) meets with the Dalai Lama at #10, Downing Street, London, England. (AP)

BEIJING: China said Tuesday British Prime Minister David Cameron’s meeting with the Dalai Lama was an “affront to the Chinese people”, and launched “solemn representations” with London.

The statement from the Chinese foreign ministry came after Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader held a private meeting with Cameron during a visit to London to receive one of the world’s most lucrative prizes.

“This is a serious interference in China’s internal affairs and an affront to the Chinese people, undermining China-UK relations,” said ministry spokesman Hong Lei. He added Beijing had officially protested the meeting in London and with

the British embassy in the Chinese capital. China has in the past strongly objected when the Dalai Lama has met Western leaders.

The meeting with Cameron and with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Monday was described as “private” and was not held at the prime minister’s Downing Street residence. The Dalai Lama - a Nobel Peace Prize laureate was in London to receive the £1.1 million ($1.8 million) Templeton Prize, which he said he would donate to charity.

Beijing has repeatedly accused the Dalai Lama of encouraging Tibetan protesters against Chinese rule in the vast Himalayan region to set fire to themselves - a charge he denies. -AP

TAIPEI: Taiwan is to build 12 new “stealth” warships in reaction to China’s naval build-up, the island’s navy announced Tuesday. Navy Captain Chu Hsu-ming told reporters Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co, a private firm, has been awarded a Tw$890 million (30.1 million US dollars) contract for the construction of the first 500-tonne corvette, with delivery slated for 2014. The prototype will be the first of 12 such twin-hulled boats, which the designer said are hard to detect on radar. “After the prototype is completed and tested, its specifications may be fine-tuned for the mass production of the (remaining) ships,” said Chu. -AFP

Pakistan poised to resume NATO supply lines

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday looked poised to end a nearly six-month blockade of NATO ground supply routes into Afghanistan, succumbing to a key demand of the West ahead of a summit in Chicago next week.

Islamabad shut its Afghan border crossings to NATO supplies after US air strikes killed 24 soldiers last November, provoking a new crisis in ties on top of the outcry from the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May that year.

On Tuesday, civilian and military leaders are to discuss reopening the supply route at a meeting of the defence committee of cabinet, which will be followed by a meeting of army chiefs and the regular cabinet on Wednesday.

Sources familiar with the discussions told AFP the government had already effectively taken the decision to reopen the lines, probably by the beginning of next week, and hoped to be invited to the May 20-21 NATO summit in Chicago.

Pakistani and US officials had reached a “broad agreement” on fees and logistics for the fuel and other non-military supplies that would go overland through Pakistan to Afghanistan, one source said.

“The meetings will indicate that the decision has the backing of all the stakeholders,” the source told AFP. “This should minimize the prospect for Islamist groups to exploit the situation in the hope that they’ll get the backing of the military establishment.”

Pakistan has called in vain for an end to US drone strikes targeting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants on its soil, and a formal apology for the November air strikes.

Analysts say Pakistan has no choice but to reopen the border.

Its relationship with the United States is key to maintaining ties with multilateral lending agencies needed to help boost its state coffers, at a time when major NATO discussions are under way affecting its own strategic future.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Monday that it was time to “move on”, in the strongest public sign yet that Pakistan will end the blockade.

“It was important to make a point, Pakistan has made a point and we now need to move on and go into a positive zone and try to conduct our relations,” Khar told a news conference.

“We are trying to put this relationship, you know, in a positive zone and I am quite sure that we will be successful in doing so.”

The Pakistani cabinet’s defense committee, which includes the prime minister, army chief of staff and intelligence chief, will convene from 1430 GMT. -AFP

6

ALWATAN DAILY

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

Impulsive and explosive reactions of representatives

The minister should exert exemplary efforts in exposing and sealing all those loopholes in honorable attempts to regain the confidence, faith and trust of the Kuwaiti people.

Abdullah Besharah

T

here can be no doubt in one’s mind that the arrogant attitudes and impulsive behavioral patterns of some of our representatives are literally spiraling out of control to the point of no return. There can also be no debate over the fact that citizens have had enough of this unruly behavior from their representatives who are expected to be exemplary in their course of actions and maintain a demeanor that is on par with their parliamentary positions. It is high time that citizens put their feet firmly down and insist on ensuring that parliamentary sessions are conducted in a civil and responsible manner that are devoid of chaotic and tumultuous situations; not to mention the continued acts of violence and exchange of derogatory verbal insults. The sanctity of the parliament can simply not be abused by those that seek their own vested interests. The parliament is a national institution that should always be looked upon as a source of pride and honor by its leaders, representatives and citizens alike.

We should hold all members of parliament; including the office of the speaker and his deputies responsible for all that transpired last week. The first and foremost question that immediately comes to mind here is: “Was it sane or even logical for MP Al-Juwaihel to file such an inappropriate and ridiculous interpellation motion against the Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah without even being in possession of all relevant documents to support his allegations? It is absolutely clear that MP Al-Juwaihel nurses some grave and rash ideologies little realizing that such ideologies are simply not relevant or suitable for the nation and its citizens; especially at this crucial point of time.

It is evidently clear that Al-Juwaihel is adamant on devastating the fragile social fabric of the State of Kuwait through his silly ideologies; those same ideologies that devastated even the most prosperous cities during the Dark Ages in Europe and culminated in civil wars that raged through the region. Likewise; I would not consider it an exaggera-

tion when I mention here; that the parliamentary session in which the interpellation motion against the minister was submitted, could have possible raged into a minor civil war had weapons been stockpiled in the vicinity. It is true that the situation was relatively calm and did not explode in that direction; but that does not mean to say that we can simply rest assured, with the faint notion that it might not or will not happen. We must bear in mind the underlying fact that any man belonging to any strata of society will certainly feel threatened when his roots are targeted or when his identity or sense of dignity are trampled upon.

In his provocative speech, Al-Juwaihel undermined the current reality of the situation witnessed in Kuwait and deliberately chose to exclude the thousands of others who are blissfully unaware of Al-Mirqab or Jablah. Sensitive or even insensitive contents of such a file should never be discussed in parliament; especially in the State of Kuwait, where scores of people across the desert stretching from the north and neighboring areas not only lived alongside each other, but collectively contributed towards the building and construction of the country. Kuwait is still a “City State” which, among other issues, just cannot afford any kind of division based on the standard rules of naturalization. In fact, since such an issue does not even merit the allocation of an ordinary or extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss it; likewise it also does not necessitate the exertion of any extraordinary efforts by the interior minister to either oppose such an ideology or even discuss the negative effects it could have in tarnishing the reputation of Kuwait.

I had the opportunity of listening to the minister’s re-

Our very existence is destined by God Almighty Esam Abdulatif Al-Fulaij

marks and have even read several reports compiled on the issue and would like to mention here that the minister was not only frank and honest about his opinions; he was downright confident of his own integrity and the universality of those decisions. And in attempts to bolster his efforts, the minister should lend further credence to his confidence by confronting all those vandals, who seek favors at the expense of the general public, through legal channels and bring them to justice once and for all. I also urge the minister to effectively address the various annoying phenomena that exists in Kuwaiti society; mainly traffic disruptions caused by all those who refuse to abide by traffic laws. I’d also like to remind the minister that governments in countries across the world do not take kindly to female drivers wearing the niqab whilst driving while they also do not tolerate anyone driving on hard shoulders since they are emergency outlets.Whenever I speak to traffic officers about these issues, they simply resign themselves to the fact that they are not the decision makers and hence I appeal to the minister to exert exemplary efforts to stop such traffic violations.

I am absolutely certain that the Al-Juwaihel’s controversial antics as well as those of his ilk will never cease until such a time that the minister and his ministry accord top priority towards thoroughly checking the documents of all those who apply for citizenship. It is open knowledge that Kuwait being an affluent country; prompted by its high standards of living combined with a plethora of services provided to citizens, will surely entice even the most virtuous to try their hand at being granted the Kuwaiti nationality while all those undeserving opportunists that have been accorded

it will surely not want to part with it no matter what. Once again, I urge the minister to seriously peruse the contents of the interpellation motion since there are those who opine that Al-Juwaihel is in possession of some vital information and documents which could surely unearth several loopholes in the naturalization process, some of which have been penetrated by some relatives of MPs. The minister should exert exemplary efforts and leave no stone unturned in first exposing and then sealing all those loopholes in honorable attempts to regain the confidence, faith and trust of the Kuwaiti people. On the other hand, there are several rumors and questions surrounding Al-Juwaihel’s intentions since he has pledged to reveal several loopholes that could affect state security. However, if he was indeed serious, I cannot comprehend the reason why he chose to speak for just a minute and a half concerning the photocopy of a passport belonging to the deputy speaker’s son. I am certain there must be at least one reason why the overenthusiastic MP chose to end his speech abruptly and instead dwelt on an ironic tirade which led to clashes among other MPs. There are rules and a sense of decorum to be followed when interpellation motions are being filed and MPs do not have the right to disrupt proceedings or distort the image of the parliament. Countries across Europe too are witnessing the scourge of racism especially where Muslim immigrants are concerned; due to their hesitation in adapting the customs and traditions of the West. Governments in those countries address such issues in accordance to the prevailing laws together with a sense of wisdom through spreading awareness about the concepts of citizenship and the right of equality. Parliaments in those countries too are usually supportive of any wise and universal stances. MP Al-Juwaihel, on the other hand, abuses the identity of the State of Kuwait, its demographic balance and sects and most importantly; abuses the ideology of the state and its structure and this is the main reason why most of the attendees at the session refused to become victims of defamation and degradation.

Ali Farzat

We have to realize the fact that all our misfortunes are only temporary as our patience is being tested by God Almighty.

Committees

W

e human beings are always faced with a series of circumstances and situations throughout our daily lives wherein there are those that are easy, happy and interesting while there are times when we undergo sad, tragic and unfortunate situations. However, there are just a handful of us who actually ascribe to the fact that our births, lives and deaths are destined by the Lord God Almighty. It is an uncontested fact whatever happens to us or all that we undergo and experience in our daily lives is destined

by God Almighty and no other force or power in the world can change that.

There are those among us who attribute our successes, victories and accomplishments to our own capabilities, perseverance and material inheritances little realizing that it is the blessings of God Almighty that helps us to achieve all that we strive to. This is the main reason why they never pause to thank God Almighty while there are also those among us who never forget to thank Him for all the good times as well as during all those unfortunate moments; because they are fully aware that God Almighty has destined that to test our faith in Him. It is also human nature to be impatient as is clearly evident in the fact that we just love to rush things up or finalize them as quickly as we possibly can. We like to graduate as early as possible.

Gain employment at the earliest given opportunity and get married with the first member of the opposite sex that we lay our eyes and set our sights on. And in all this frantic haste and hurry, we choose to overlook the finer and simpler things that life has to offer us. We simply do not realize how much we stand to lose or how many glorious opportunities we lose in our lofty quest to achieve all our goals in the shortest span of time.

Even our religion teaches us to believe in the power of faith, hope, charity and destiny and accept all that is destined whether we like it or not.

This is an inseparable part of the human evolution as is evidently clear in all those happenings surrounding us. We have to thank God Almighty for everything; from the most insignificant tools to the sporty cars and mighty planes simply because God Almighty has provided us with the means and the brains to design and build them.

Even the salaries that we draw every month are provided by God Almighty and we are granted those salaries because God Almighty has provided us with jobs.

Surely there are times when we tend to be unsuccessful in studies, at work or even in business and might tend to despair. We have to realize the fact that all our misfortunes are only temporary as our patience is being tested by God Almighty. In times of despair, we have to seek God’s blessings even more and ask Him to grant us the strength and patience to be patient and simultaneously thank Him for all favors received in the past.

Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said: “All that happens to Muslims are good. If he/she are blessed with good things then they must thank God and if bad things happen to them they must also thank God for they will be rewarded by God for thanking Him.” If we believe in destiny, our lives will, be full of bliss in everything that we do and it is our destiny that will eventually lead us to being granted eternal life. And for this, we have to thank God Almighty for all the blessings that He has showered on us.

Action Plan

The angst of minorities in the Arab world Shamlan Yousef Al-Issa

C

itizens living in countries across the world in the 21st century are fortunate enough that they are blessed with the attributes of cultural pluralism which has become as a dominant feature in all their social and economic pursuits. Most countries across the world are fortunate to engage in the diversities of cultural heritages, ethnic tolerances and religious beliefs not to mention the harmonious sense of camaraderie which makes them exist side by side without nursing any animosities, hatred or ill feelings against one another. In fact, these are the vital features that ensure and guarantee political stability which in turn also further consolidates the economic factor and that is the main feature behind the outstanding success of European unity in diversity.

On the other hand, what can we say about similar circumstances prevailing in the Arab region; taking into consideration the underlying fact that citizens living in several countries in the region were actually brutalized and victimized by dictatorial regimes before the advent of the Arab Spring? It is common knowledge that these regimes not only restricted the most basic freedoms of their peoples, they actually inflicted wounds; the excruciating pain of which has got to be experienced to gauge

its magnitude. In fact, it is even worse that they are still trying to manipulate and take undue advantage of the innocence and ignorance of minorities. The question that surely springs to mind here is: “Have these minorities been finally accorded their rights and privileges following the advent of the Arab Spring? Have the new regimes that came into power after the Arab Springs exerted any exemplary efforts or drawn out some clear and precise plans and visions in dealing with their constitutional rights or are they still focusing on showering the majority with freebies and goodies? In fact, it is even more alarming when these regimes issue provocative fatwas that actually incite people against minorities; especially in those countries that accommodate different minorities like Egypt and Iraq.

This surely implies that extremism against minorities has indeed increased; especially in recent times and it is indeed unfortunate that it is now widespread - even among sons and members of the same sect.

This is clearly evident in the fact that the chief of the Sadr Movement in Iraq recently accused the Iraqi premier of attempting to transform the entire country into a Shiite majority. During his recent visit to Kurdistan he was explicitly asked whether his visit would prompt a weakening in the power and authority that is currently

held by Shiites.

It is indeed unfortunate that although the Arab Spring was actually prompted by the weaknesses of governments in those countries and brought about their downfall, it failed to guarantee and maintain a sense of stability and security for the peoples of those countries.

To cite a case in point, a surge of tribal confrontations and conflicts erupted soon after the regimes of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen were overthrown; but peoples in those countries have yet to witness the return of stability and security; particularly in those countries that are calling for an independent state!

In fact all those leaders who toppled the dictatorial regimes in their respective countries are still grappling with the notion of holding free and fair elections in attempts to usher in a democratic system of governance while there are those other countries whose plight and sufferings have increased tenfold after groups specializing in political Islam seized power and authority. At this current point of time there are also some countries in the Arab world that are loosely divided into different states or provinces such as Sudan and Iraq and a similar situation could also occur in Syria much sooner than later. In fact the situation in Syria is so critical that it might lead to a civil war which will devastate its social fabric.

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wednesDAY, may 16, 2012

7

Mubarak’s tainted legacy hangs over Egyptian vote Dina Zayed Alistair Lyon Reuters

M

ilitary police idly guard the gates of Egypt’s presidential palace in Heliopolis, built as a 400-room luxury hotel in 1910 and vacant since a popular uprising deposed Hosni Mubarak 15 months ago.

Egyptians, who never stormed in to gawk and plunder their fallen leader’s home as Tunisians and Libyans did last year, vote on May 23 and 24 for a new president, the latest stage of an uncertain transition guided bumpily by the military. People who live in the wealthy Cairo district around the palace are delighted to be spared the road closures that snarled traffic for hours every time Mubarak went anywhere. But some, such as 24-year-old Sara Hussein, find it harder to perceive any other changes wrought by the uprising she had so ardently supported.

“Like everything, the palace is still not free of the Mubaraks. The palace and the country, are not for the people,” she says. “His regime is still in power.”

Still, Egypt will soon have a freely elected - and probably civilian - president for the first time in the republic’s 60-year history, assuming the generals who sealed Mubarak’s fate by refusing to shoot at crowds baying for his downfall keep their promise to hand over by July 1. Little else is clear. Attempts to craft a new constitution have stalled. No one knows how power will be divided between the president and parliament, dominated by Islamists.

The military, wary of Islamists and jealous of its own power, perks and privileges, may step back from day-to-day affairs but is likely to seek an as-yet undefined political role, seeing itself as the paternal guardian of the state.

The generals effectively removed Mubarak to safeguard the system, not to promote revolutionary change. So far reform has not touched that system’s main pillars - the military, the judiciary, the police, security and intelligence agencies. “We have not had regime change in Egypt, only change within the regime, with a lot of street noise outside,” said Robert Springborg, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a specialist on the Egyptian military.

Tarnished Record

Mubarak may be gone, but his legacy lingers. Then vice-president, he was catapulted into office in October 1981 after surviving the gunfire from Islamist army soldiers who assassinated his predecessor, Anwar Sadat. He brought calm and kept Egypt at peace for 30 years, crushing an armed Islamist rebellion in the 1990s, until political and economic frus-

Egypt will soon have a freely elected and civilian president for the first time in the republic’s 60-year history, assuming the generals who sealed Mubarak’s fate keep their promise to hand over by July 1.

trations with his stagnant rule boiled over in the cauldron of Cairo’s Tahrir Square, where wild rejoicing greeted his departure on Feb. 11, 2011. Many compare Mubarak to his predecessors - Sadat, who made peace with Israel and forged an alliance with the United States, and Gamal Abdel Nasser, an Arab nationalist who once inspired those fighting colonial powers in the Arab world and beyond.

“Sadat was exceptional in his intelligence, Nasser in his charisma. Mubarak was halftalented at everything and had no exceptional quality,” said Ayman Nour, who ran in a 2005 election against Mubarak and was later jailed for his pains. “Mubarak had the kind of tyranny that is typical of half-democracies,” the 47-year-old lawyer told Reuters. “He was a tyrant under the umbrella of the law.” That did not stand in the way of Mubarak’s friendship with the West, which valued him for upholding Sadat’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel, deeply unpopular with many Egyptians.

He was also a close ally of Saudi Arabia, which was dismayed at Washington’s failure to prevent the fall of a pillar of a US regional political and security order that included Egypt and conservative Arab monarchies from Morocco to the Gulf. “Without Mubarak, it will be harder for the United States to do the things it has done in the past,” said Steven Cook, a Middle East expert at Washington’s Council on Foreign Relations. US-Egyptian relations have become tetchier since Mubarak’s ouster, but military aid and cooperation continue, as does the treaty with Israel, although the peace is colder than ever.

Gilded Cage

Now on trial for his life, Mubarak, who turned 84 this month, spends his days in the capital’s International Medical Center, sitting in a lounge, walking in the garden, watching television and seeing relatives, according to a hospital source who offered a rare, unauthorized glimpse of his activities. This suggests he is healthier than the image projected at his court appearances, when he showed up lying on a

Shock-proofing Asia’s economies Noeleen Heyzer Project Syndicate

U

ncertainty and volatility have quickly become the “new normal” of the global economy. For several reasons, this turbulent external environment poses the most significant threat to Asia-Pacific growth in 2012. One of this environment’s main features is the ongoing weakness of major developed economies. The expected V-shaped global recovery, from the depths of the 2008 financial crisis, proved short-lived.

The world economy entered a second stage of crisis in 2011, owing to eurozone’s sovereign-debt crisis and continuing uncertainty about the economic outlook for the United States.

Mapping the landscape of these threats, forecasting their impact, and presenting a range of policy options to help countries to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth despite the uncertainty, is the focus of the United Nations’ 2012 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific. Our forecast is that persistent headwinds will slow Asia-Pacific economic growth to 6.5% this year, down from 7 percent in 2011. Reduced demand for regional exports and higher costs of capital, combined with loose monetary policies and trade protectionism in some advanced economies, will contribute to the slowdown.

Nevertheless, Asia-Pacific growth will continue to outpace that of all other regions, acting as an anchor of stability and a new pole of dynamism for the world economy. For example, South-South trade with the Asia-Pacific countries in 2012 will help other developing regions, especially Africa and Latin America, to reduce further their dependence on the low-growth advanced economies.

Moreover, robust growth from the Asian economic powerhouses will continue in 2012, with China likely to grow at 8.6 percent and India’s growth expected to accelerate from 6.9 percent to 7.5 percent. The South-East Asian sub-region is likely to record a slight increase in growth, owing to Thailand’s strong recovery following the 2011 floods, and annual inflation in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole is projected to fall from 6.1 percent to 4.8 percent.

The greatest risk to the Asia-Pacific economy in 2012 is a disorderly sovereign-debt default in Europe, or an unraveling of the eurozone. This worst-case scenario could lead to Asia-Pacific export losses of up to $390 billion in one year, with least-developed and landlocked developing countries worst hit - losing as much as 10 percent of their total exports. Although unlikely, such a scenario could reduce regional growth by as much as 1.3 percentage points, and prevent 22 million people from escaping $2-a-day poverty in 2012.

A second key challenge to Asian regional growth in 2012 is commodity price volatility, together with a long-term rising trend. High prices and persistent volatility are increasingly features

A second key challenge to Asian regional growth in 2012 is commodity price volatility, together with a long-term rising trend. of the “new normal,” and both national and regional economies need to adjust to this reality. The commodity boom that has resulted from higher prices presents both risks and opportunities. Price shifts alter incentives, but the less-developed economies of Asia and the Pacific must resist the impulse towards narrow commodity specialization.

The lesson from the first round of Western globalization was that natural-resource specialization, especially in the poorest countries, can delay industrialization, economic diversification, and the creation of productive capacity. Another key step in “shock-proofing” Asian economies will be to address the problem of jobless growth, unemployment, and rising inequalities.This needs to be a gradual process of rebalancing, supporting greater domestic consumption as an enhanced engine of growth and productivity, job creation, and income equality.

Other critical economic-policy challenges in 2012 will include managing the balance between growth and price stability - which will require inflation-fighting measures beyond monetary policy alone; coping with capital flows, especially the surge in short-term debt; dealing with exchangerate volatility; and addressing the impact of extreme weather and natural disasters.

The Asia-Pacific countries are fortunate to face the turbulence and uncertainty of the global economy this year from a position of relative strength. High GDP growth rates, significant fiscal room for maneuver, and increasing economic cooperation make the region’s prospects for 2012 brighter than almost anywhere else.

Making the right policy choices - to build resilience and pursue a sustainable pathway to shared prosperity - will prepare Asia and the Pacific to flourish in the context of sustained global uncertainty. That is good news in a troubled and turbulent world. * Noeleen Heyzer is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

stretcher, wearing dark glasses and taking little part in proceedings. He and ex-Interior Minister Habib Al-Adly both deny ordering the killing of protesters. If convicted, they could face the death penalty, but appeals will follow and the military may well protect Mubarak, a former air force chief, from execution.

The judge has promised a verdict on June 2, a date that falls between the first presidential election round and a likely run-off between the two top vote-getters on June 16 and 17. Mubarak’s two sons, Gamal, once seen as his heirapparent, and Alaa are also on trial with him on corruption charges. Many Egyptians see the trial as a test of accountability and want justice for the 800 or so people killed during the revolt, but Mubarak, if not his unloved sons, still has a following. A 62,000-member Facebook page called “We are sorry Mr. President” says: “You made your mistakes and you disappointed some. You trusted men around you with no conscience, but you will stay in the heart of every Egyptian who loves you.”

Uneven Benefits

Under Mubarak, Egypt’s social and economic indicators improved, but economic growth lagged behind former peers such as Turkey and South Korea despite a spurt in the last seven years of his rule when liberalization created prosperity for some. “The problem was that most people did not share in those benefits and in order to maintain political control, Mubarak employed violence and coercion,” Cook said. Those methods worked for three decades, but after Tunisia exploded, Egyptians lost their fear and in 18 heady days disposed of the only leader many of them had ever known.

Since then, although the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties have emerged as Egypt’s main political force, it is street power - not solely or even mainly driven by Islamists - that has often forced concessions from the military. That empowerment may be one of the most significant outcomes of the youthful movement that toppled Mubarak. “I’ve never

FILE -- Egyptian anti-military protesters march towards the Defense Ministry building in Cairo’s Abbassiya district on May 4, 2012, as thousands took to the streets in the capital and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria after Friday noon prayers, days after bloody clashes near the ministry raised tensions ahead of landmark presidential elections. (AFP)

seen people speak so freely, or such a proliferation of opinion, such fearlessness,” said Rashid Khalidi, professor of Arab studies at Columbia University. “Will that genie be put back in the bottle? I doubt it.”

Across the busy Heliopolis Avenue from the elegant arches and secluded lawns of Mubarak’s now empty presidential palace, the blue, green and orange posters and banners of candidates vying to become its next occupant festoon the trees. Although if Moustafa Al-Banna, a lawmaker from an ultra-orthodox Salafi Islamist party, gets his way, the palace will house no more presidents in luxury, but revert to a

hotel. “It will become an icon for Egypt and the world. People will want to stay in a palace where Mubarak stayed until his last moment in power,” Banna says, advocating tourism with a moral. “When the next president comes and sees what has happened to his predecessor and his palace, he won’t dare squander money as before. He’ll be a normal citizen motivated to achieve social justice and serve the nation - we are the ones who create dictators.” * Dina Zayed and Alistair Lyon are Reuters correspondents. The views expressed here are their own.

Doing development better Dani Rodrik Project Syndicate

J

im Yong Kim’s appointment as World Bank president may have been predictable, given the long-standing tradition that renders the selection an American prerogative. But even the appearance of competition between Kim and the other candidates, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and José Antonio Ocampo, served to expose a deep fissure within the field of development policy, because Kim and his two rivals represented dramatically different approaches.

The vision for which Kim stands is bottomup. It focuses directly on the poor, and on delivering services - for example, education, health care, and microcredit - to their communities.

This tradition’s motto could be, “Development is accomplished one project at a time.” The other approach, represented by Okonjo-Iweala and Ocampo, takes an economy-wide approach. It emphasizes broad reforms that affect the overall economic environment, and thus focuses on areas such as international trade, finance, macroeconomics, and governance.

Practitioners in the first group idolize NGO leaders like Mohammad Yunus, whose Grameen Bank pioneered microfinance, and Ela Bhatt, a founder of India’s Self-Employment Women’s Association (SEWA).The heroes of the second group are reformist finance or economy ministers such as India’s Manmohan Singh or Brazil’s Fernando Henrique Cardoso. At first sight, this might seem like another dispute between economists and

non-economists, but the rift runs within, rather than between, disciplinary boundaries. For example, recent work with field experiments and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which has caught on like wildfire among development economists, lies strictly in the tradition of bottom-up development.

The relative effectiveness of the two visions is not easy to determine. Proponents of the macro approach point out that the greatest development successes have typically been the product of economy-wide reforms. The dramatic reductions in poverty achieved by China over the span of a few decades, as well as by other East Asian countries like South Korea and Taiwan, resulted largely from improved economic management (as much as earlier investments in education and health may have played a role). Reforms in incentives and property-rights arrangements, not anti-poverty programs, enabled these economies to take off.

The trouble is that these experiences have not proved as informative for other countries as one might have wished. Asian-style reforms do not travel well, and, in any case, there is significant controversy about the role of specific policies. In particular, was the key to the Asian miracle economic liberalization or the limits that were placed on it? Moreover, the macro tradition vacillates between specific recommendations (“set low and uniform tariffs,” “remove interest-rate ceilings on banks,” “improve your ‘doing business’ ranking”) that find limited support in cross-country evidence, and broad recommendations that lack operational content (“integrate into world economy,” “achieve macroeconomic stability,” “improve contract enforcement”).

Development specialists in the bottom-up tradition, for their part, can deservedly claim success

A pedestrian walks past a backdrop of the central business district in Hong Kong on May 8, 2012.

Emerging Asian economies will experience flat growth this year before recovering in 2013, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a regional report released in April. (AFP)

in demonstrating the effectiveness of education, public health, or microcredit projects in specific contexts. But, too often, such projects treat poverty’s symptoms rather than its causes. Poverty is often best addressed not by helping the poor to be better at what they are already doing, but by getting them to do something altogether different. This calls for diversification of production, urbanization, and industrialization, which in turn require policy interventions that may lie at considerable distance from the poor (such as fixing regulations or targeting the value of the currency).

Moreover, as with macro-level economic reforms, there are limits to what can be learned from individual projects. An RCT conducted under specific conditions does not generate usable hard evidence for policymakers in other settings.

Learning requires some degree of extrapolation, converting randomized evaluations from hard evidence into soft evidence. The good news is that there has been real progress in development policy, and, beneath the doctrinal differences, is a certain convergence - not on what works, but on how we should think about and do development policy. The best of the recent work in the two traditions shares common predilections. Both favor diagnostic, pragmatic, experimental, and contextspecific strategies.

Conventional development policy has been prone to fads, moving from one big fix to another.

Development is held back by too little government, too much government, too little credit, the absence of property rights, and so on. The remedy is planning, the Washington Consensus, microcredit, or distributing land titles to the poor. By contrast, the new approaches are agnostic. They acknowledge that we do not know what works, and that the binding constraints to development tend to be context-specific. Policy experimentation is a central part of discovery, coupled with monitoring and evaluation to close the learning loop. Experiments do not need to be of the RCT type; China certainly learned from its policy experiments without a proper control group.

Reformers in this mold are suspicious of “best practices” and universal blueprints. They look instead for policy innovations, small and large, that are tailored to local economic circumstances and political complications. The field of development policy can and should be reunified around these shared diagnostic, contextual approaches. Macrodevelopment economists need to recognize the advantages of the experimental approach and adopt the policy mindset of enthusiasts of randomized evaluation.

Micro-development economists need to recognize that one can learn from diverse types of evidence, and that, while randomized evaluations are tremendously useful, the utility of their results is often restricted by the narrow scope of their application. In the end, both camps should show greater humility: macro-development practitioners about what they already know, and micro-development practitioners about what they can learn. * Dani Rodrik, Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard University, is the author of The Globalization Paradox: Democracy and the Future of the World Economy.

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Kuwait Energy reports record net profit of $34.8 million for 2011, up 58.9%

BUSINESS

wednesdAY, may 16, 2012

m ar ket watc h KUWAIT

DUBAI

QATAR

0.14% 6441

0.3% 1486

0.03% 8491

OMAN 1.19% 5587

ABU DHABI 0.01% 2473

KUWAIT: Kuwait Energy plc, one of the fastest growing independent oil and gas companies in the Middle East, announced in a press statement on Tuesday, its financial and operational results for the year 2011 during its annual meeting of shareholders. The Company recorded a record net profit of 34.8 million US dollars in 2011, up 58.9 percent from 2010, a record year-end.

OIL MARKETS BAHRAIN

EGYPT

0.07% 1156

1.12% 5005

SAUDI 0.51% 7104

US Crude $94.87 $0.09 London Brent $112.52 $1.53 Kuwait Crude $107.05 $0.75 Information Courtesy: KAMCO

CURRENCIES US Dollar

British Pound

Saudi Riyal

Qatari Riyal

Indian Rupee

Euro

Japanese Yen

UAE Dirham

Bahraini Dinar

Philippine Peso

Buy 0.2788 Sell 0.2793 Buy 0.3563 Sell 0.357

Kuwaiti crude down 75 cents to $107.05 Oil rises on easing euro zone worries

CAPITALS: Price of Kuwaiti crude oil went 75 US cents down to 107.05 US dollars per barrel (pb) in transactions on Monday, compared with $107.80 on Friday, reported Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on Tuesday.

The drop was due to the ongoing Greece debt crisis which is considered a major source of concern in the eurozone.

Brent crude oil futures firmed on Tuesday, as the euro zone narrowly avoided recession and as better-thanforecast German first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data raised hopes that Germany would steer the way through the European debt crisis.

The euro zone economy stagnated, with zero growth, the EU’s statistics office Eurostat said on Tuesday.

The results were more positive than forecast, boosting riskier assets, but the region’s debt crisis has sapped the life out of the French and Italian economies and widened a split with paymaster Germany.

Brent crude staged further gains, rising by 80 cents to $112.37 a barrel by 1215 GMT and erasing the previous session’s losses, when prices slid to $110.04, the lowest intraday price since Jan. 25.

US crude rose 12 cents to $94.90 a barrel, after Monday’s fall to $93.65, the weakest intraday price since Dec. 19.

European data

German gross domestic product grew by 0.5 percent in the first quarter, far exceeding forecasts due largely to robust exports and pushing the euro above a four-month low “The market is still reacting to European data, it’s not positive but it’s better relative to expectations - a relief,” said James Zhang, analyst at Standard Bank, “It is giving strength to the euro and therefore the oil market.”

The currency’s recovery has boosted traders’ confidence that European oil demand will not weaken as precipitously because the euro’s strength versus the dollar gives the euro zone greater capacity to buy the dollar-based commodity.

An Indian woman tries to salvage chilli that has been discarded at a vegetable market in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. India’s inflation accelerated to a worse than expected 7.2 percent in April, on rising food and manufacturing prices, government data showed Monday. (AP)

“But the rise has been tempered by Italy’s disappointing GDP and Moody’s downgrade,” said Thorbjoern Bak Jensen, oil analyst at Global Risk Management. Italy’s economy contracted by a larger-than-expected 0.8 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of 2012, prompting Moody’s to downgrade 26 Italian banks on Monday.

Greek stalemate

The Greek political stalemate remained the biggest weight on prices as many market players believe there is little hope President Karolos Papoulias’s proposal to form a technocrat government will be successful.

KUWAIT: Trading ended for Tuesday with the majority of indices of Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in green with a gain of 11.64 points in the KSX 15 index to 1,002.4 points, an up of 2.8 points to 418.99 points in the weighted index, and a gain of 9.07 points to 6,441.35 points in the price index.

The 14 sector indices were a mix with seven in green,

KUWAIT: Exchange rate of the US dollar against the Kuwaiti dinar on Tuesday dropped to KD 0.278, the euro also fell to KD 0.357, compared to Sunday’s figures, said the daily bulletin of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK).

Exchange rate of the Sterling pound rose to KD 0.448, the Japanese yen remained stable, at KD 0.003, whereas the Swiss franc also slipped to KD 0.297.

Many factors have been affecting the exchange market, namely Greece’s failure to form a coalition government after legislative elections, amid popular demands that the nation withdraw from the euro zone -- thus feeding predominant jitters in the main markets. -KUNA

Buy 0.4476 Sell 0.4476

Buy 0.003484 Sell 0.003492

Buy 0.0743 Sell 0.0745

Buy 0.0759 Sell 0.07604

Buy 0.07671 Sell 0.07655 Buy 0.7394 Sell 0.74083

Buy 0.005192 Sell 0.005182 Buy 0.00654 Sell 0.006521

Prices in Kuwaiti fils as of May 15, 2012 Courtesy: KAMCO

Global seeks further delay on debt repayment KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Global Investment House said on Tuesday that it would ask creditors to further extend a deadline for repaying debt to November from June as part of a restructuring proposal it plans to submit soon. The company, which is undergoing its second debt restructuring in three years, did not specify an amount.

“The main point is that Global is progressing in its negotiations with lenders,” a statement filed on the Dubai bourse said. It has asked for the repayment deadline to be pushed to Nov. 10 instead of June 10, it said. Creditors had agreed to delay repayment of the principal of their debt to June, Global said in December.

Shares in Global, one of the largest investment houses in the Gulf state, have not traded on the Kuwait Stock Exchange since December after the bourse suspended the stock for having accumulated losses which exceeded 75 percent of its capital.

Earlier this month it reported a third straight yearly loss of 57.5 million Kuwaiti dinars (207.1 million US dollars) Global, which counts the governments of Kuwait and Dubai as major shareholders, said in September it would ask creditors to delay repayments on its debt so it could undertake a second restructuring of its obligations.

Like other Kuwaiti investment houses, the global financial crisis in 2008 hit Global’s portfolio hard.

Sources said in January that Global had laid off 17 percent of its staff, or 60 employees out of 350, across the Gulf region as part of cost-cutting measures. -Reuters

A fresh election seems the most likely outcome, making it more likely for Athens to ditch its bailout pledges and hence the euro.

“The EU has prevaricated for two years but they can delay no longer on whether Greece is in or out,” said Guy Wolf, macro strategist at Marex Spectron, “I do not see how they can default and stay in the euro, I do not see the point.”

The oil demand outlook continued to weigh on prices. US crude inventories were expected to have risen for an eighth straight time last week, a Reuters survey of analysts on Monday showed.

Meanwhile, the physical market remains well supplied, with Saudi produc-

ers pumping enough oil to deal with the impact of the sanctions on the oil market, analysts said.

A slowing Chinese economy kept a lid on gains as its previously booming economy accounted for most of global oil demand growth.

China’s Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows dropped 2.4 percent in the first four months of this year from last year, the longest period of declining inflows since the depths of the global financial crisis. FDI is an important gauge of the health of the external economy, to which China’s vast factory sector is oriented. -Agencies

KSE gains 11.64 points, indices mostly in green US currency falls against Kuwaiti Dinar

See page 10

four in red, and the remaining three unchanged upon closing. Top share for the day was that of Investors Holding Group Company, worst hit was share of Al-Dar National Real Estate, and most traded stock of the day was that of Gulf Finance House.

Kuwait Stock Exchange started Tuesday action with a mixed board as the KSX 15 index gained 3.94 points

to read 994.7 points, while the KSE price index slipped 0.98 points to 6,431.39 points and the weighted index put on 0.91 points to come to 417.1 points.

Trades came to 484 transactions so far, value reached 1,799,489.506, Kuwaiti dinars and volume reached 27,414,043 shares. The sector indices board was also mixed at the time. -KUNA

S&P drops DP World ratings at port operator’s request DUBAI: Standard & Poor’s (S&P) withdrew its credit rating on Dubai Ports (DP) World after the ports operator objected to the way the agency assessed its financial health. S&P said it pulled the ratings at DP World’s request.

The company, a profitable part of indebted conglomerate Dubai World, is rated investment grade by Moody’s and Fitch.The world’s third biggest ports operator was rated ‘BB/B’ with a stable outlook

by S&P, revised down in February from positive. The agency said DP World’s financial risk profile was “aggressive” and the company would generate negative free operating cash flow in 2012 and 2013.

It also withdrew its ‘BB’ issue rating - indicating an entity is less vulnerable in the near-term but faces major uncertainties in meeting financial commitments - and ‘3’ recovery rating on the firm’s senior unsecured debt.

Unpredictable global trade patterns and parent Dubai World’s weak creditworthiness partially offset DP World’s strength, S&P had maintained.

DP World said the ratings were not compatible with how its peers are assessed. “It was felt the criteria S&P used for rating DP World is not an appropriate way of assessing the financial health of the company and the strong business profile of DP World,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

In March, the port operator said it would repay a three billion US dollar loan six months ahead of schedule. The payment would cut its total debt to approximately $4.7 billion.

In January 2010, Dubai’s biggest bank by market value, Emirates National Bank of Dubai (NBD), dropped S&P as a rating company days after the agency withdrew its rating on a Dubai Holding unit.

Shares of DP World rose 0.5 percent at 0908 GMT on Nasdaq Dubai. The stock had dropped 4.3 percent on Monday. -Reuters

Marriot aims to expand aggressively in the region, says Dabbah

Jameel W. Karaki Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Marriot senior management sales delegation 2012 visited Kuwait to promote Marriot International with key customers and prospects in Kuwait. This unique platform visited several cities in the region such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Khobar, Doha, Abu and Dhabi.

Vladimir Dabbah, Vice President of Global Sales, Marriot International Middle East and Africa said, “The annual senior management sales mission reflects the Marriot’s commitment to the region’s growth and development”, adding that the company operates and franchises hotels under 15 brands and it licenses vacation ownership resorts under three traditional brands.

He revealed that Marriot had signed an agreement with AC Hotels in Spain to expand the Marriot’s existence from three hotels to 85 hotels in Spain within one year with brands like AC by Marriot and the Autograph. In addition, the expansion strategy of the company is aggressive in the region, despite the political situation.

He went on to say, “Despite the economic situation all the over the world, the price of the Marriots’ share price increased between 15 and 20 percent, describing the financial performance of the company as Excellent”.

When asked about understanding the needs of the Arab clients, he said, “We offer our employees an intensive cultural training to understand the needs of our clients, where

a large number of our employees are Arab”, noting that the Marriot offers common prices among all its locations.

Dabbah added, “Forty percent of the company’s hotel bookings were through its online website”, adding that the company has competitive recruiting policies that also contain retention strategies and a lot of benefits reaped by the company because of its employee friendly and innovative HR practices.

Regarding the impact of the Arab Spring,

Dabbah noted that the hospitality sector was affected in countries such as Egypt, where the Marriot’s performance was still better than other competitors in the Egyptian market, adding that the company has recently opened a new hotel in Bahrain.

When asked about the decision making process and mechanisms in the company, he pointed out that a team of experts and strategists within the organization are allocated and dedicated especially for the Middle East and

North Africa (MENA) region.

Paul Dalgleish, Director of Sales & Marketing Middle East and Africa Continent, Marriott said, “The Marriott invests heavily in Corporate Social Responsibility, where the group will soon be launching the ‘Carbon Calculator’ as a part of its initiatives towards the communities it serves. According to Dalgleish, this calculator allows customers to count carbon food prints in different parts of the hotel.

Members of Marriot’s senior management sales delegation.

(Al Watan)

10

ALWATAN DAILY

BUSINESS

wednesDAY, may 16, 2012

Kuwait Energy reports record net profit of $34.8 million for 2011, up 58.9% Shareholders approve 4.5 Sterling pence per share dividend

KUWAIT: Kuwait Energy plc, one of the fastest growing independent oil and gas companies in the Middle East, announced in a press statement on Tuesday, its financial and operational results for the year 2011 during its annual meeting of shareholders. The Company recorded a record net profit of 34.8 million US dollars in 2011, up 58.9 percent from 2010, a record year-end proven and probable reserves of 235.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), up 382.5 percent from 2010, a record $111.9 million in operating cash flow, up 30.7 percent from 2010, and a record high exit production by year-end of 17,733 barrel of oil equivalent per day (boepd), up 23 percent from 2010.

Shareholders approved cash dividend of 4.5 Sterling pence per share.

Speaking to shareholders, Kuwait Energy Chairman, Manssour Aboukhamseen, said, “I am delighted to report 2011 was another year of significant progress for Kuwait Energy with record profits, reserves, cash flow and production.”

2011 highlights • Sales revenue: $178.9 million, up 26.2 percent from 2010 • Proven and probable (2P) reserves increased to 235.3 mmboe, a significant rise of 382.5 percent on 2010 • Total assets: $884.1 million, up 14.6 percent from 2010 • Average working interest production: 13,624 boepd, up 2.8 percent from 2010 • Year-end 2011 exit production: 17,733 boepd • Above industry average exploration success rate of 62 percent at a finding cost of US$3.90 per barrel of oil.

• Total exploration wells drilled: eight • Total development wells drilled: 49 Operationally, Kuwait Energy continued to be very active in 2011. Exploration and development drilling continued apace with eight exploration wells and 49 development wells being completed at a

FILE - Excess oil burns from the chimney of Doura oil refinery in Baghdad, Iraq April 9, 2012. Kuwait Energy recorded a record net profit of $34.8 million in 2011, up 58.9 percent from 2010, (Reuters)

cost of $36.3 million and $108.4 million respectively. In 2011, development wells drilled added an initial working interest production of 5,575 boepd. The Company has also recorded an exploration success rate of 62 percent, an outstanding achievement.

In terms of reserves and production, Kuwait Energy reported year-end 2011 proven and probable working interest reserves of 235.3 mmboe, a significant rise of 382.5 percent year-on-year (2010: 48.77 mmboe).

Average daily working interest production increased over the year by 2.8 percent to 13,624 boepd, and the Company achieved a record 2011 exit production volume of over 17,700 on 31st December 2011, 23 percent higher than 2010. This was primarily due to successful drilling results in the Shahd field in the East Ras Qattara concession located in the Western Desert in Egypt, where two separate wells

initially produced over 4,000 boepd and 5,000 boepd respectively. These wells are two of the highest producers in the Western Desert.

In Egypt, the Company recorded five new hydrocarbon discoveries from eight wells spudded during the year. These successes brought the number of discoveries for the Company in Egypt, since 2008, from 11 to 16, an excellent achievement in fields that are mature or geographically challenging. In October, two discoveries in Abu Sennan produced very encouraging flow rates which bode well for commercialization, and production will start during 2012.

In June, Kuwait Energy’s entry into Iraq was formalized with the signing of two 20-year gas development and production service contracts with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil. Presenting the Company’s operational milestones to shareholders, Kuwait Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

Sara Akbar, said, “2012 is looking to be another year of significant progress for Kuwait Energy. We remain committed to our business plans. This will be achieved by a mix of both organic and acquisition growth, by fulfilling the potential of existing exploration and production assets and complementing this with selective, attractive M&A (mergers and acquisitions) opportunities which could involve further geographical diversity within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

The Middle East remains the main focus of Kuwait Energy’s operations and the Company looks forward to consolidating the significant progress made in 2011, through 2012, especially in Egypt and Iraq. In Egypt, the Company plans to drill seven exploration wells and 12 development wells during 2012, while in Iraq, 2012 will be a critical year as Kuwait Energy moves forward in the development of the Siba gas field.”

UAE’s Dana Gas Q1 net profit at $56.08 million Seeks consensual deal on Sukuk

DUBAI: Dana Gas’ quarterly profit more than doubled, it said on Tuesday, helped by high oil prices and increased production in Kurdistan.

First-quarter net profit was 206 million UAE dirhams (56.08 million US dollars), compared with 92 million dirhams for the year-ago period. Net revenue rose 19.2 percent to 572 million dirhams in the quarter.

Dana, which owns a three-percent stake in Hungarian group MOL, said it collected 192 million dirhams against receivables in the first-quarter. At the end of the quarter, trade receivables from Egypt stood at 825 million dirhams, it said.

Investments in the Kurdistan region of Iraq stood at 1.3 billion dirhams at March 31.

Dana Gas Company said it wanted to find a consensual deal to repay the remainder of a one billion US dollars Islamic bond maturing in October, and confirmed it had hired advisers to weigh up various options for the repayment.

The Abu-Dhabi-listed natural gas producer’s share price has been battered by concerns over how it will find the cash to repay the outstanding $920 million of the Sukuk, issued in 2007, on time and in full. Its stock has dropped 40 percent in the past year.

Dana said on Tuesday it had hired Deutsche Bank, Blackstone Group and law firm Latham & Watkins to advise on options for discussions with Sukukholders and their advisers.

The bondholders have hired law firm Linklaters, one source familiar with the matter said. Its shares rose 2.56 percent on the Dubai bourse. The Sukuk rose to 70.938 US cents on the dollar according to Thomson Reuters data, up from 70.917 levels earlier in the session.

The Sukuk is trading below par as investor confidence in Dana’s ability to repay sags and clarity on refinancing or restructuring options remains elusive.

A default or Sukuk restructuring would be a significant development in the United Arab Emirates where only bank loans have been restructured or rescheduled, not publiclylisted bonds, in the last four years.

Dana Gas, which has operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Iraq’s Kurdistan region, said on Tuesday that cash flow had been affected by global economic conditions and regional events, including Egyptian unrest last year which delayed payments.

It added political disputes in Iraq had affected payments from the central government to firms operating in Kurdistan.

The group’s cash balance stood at 524 million dirhams at March 31.

“Although the economic realities outlined above affected Dana’s ability to raise new funding, the company is committed to finding a consensual solution that is equitable to all stakeholders,” it said.

The 7.5 percent convertible bond matures Oct. 31. The next quarterly pay date is July 31, according to Thomson Reuters data. Last year, Dana proposed listing some of its assets on the London Stock Exchange and sources close to the matter said the company was still looking to do so this year, although it would not proceed if market conditions were unfavorable. -Reuters

Dexia Asset Management opens a branch in London LONDON: Dexia Asset Management (Dexia AM) announced in a press release this week the opening of its London branch, which has been operational since May 1, 2012.

The office will be located at Aldersgate Street in Central London and will be headed by David Kane, Head of UK Branch, responsible for Client Relationship Management in UK and Ireland. This opening is in line with Dexia AM’s strategic objectives to continue the expansion of its business in Europe. Naim Abou-Jaoude, Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) Dexia Asset Management, said, “Our client-centric approach and broad diversification have allowed us to remain a healthy and profitable firm despite the fact that we are in the process of being sold. Opening a branch in London has been a long-term goal for Dexia Asset Management and a strategic objective for 2012. The UK is an open and diverse market, central to the fund management industry in Europe and this development will allow us to grow our presence in this market.”

“David Kane, who has been with us servicing UK and Irish clients since 2008, will be leading these operations, and I am confident that with his knowledge of the fund management industry and of the UK and Irish markets we will be able to expand our network rapidly.”

David has over fourteen years of experience in the asset management industry. He previously held several positions in institutional relationship management and business development, amongst others at State Street Global Advisors

Ireland (formerly Bank of Ireland Asset Management) and at Kleinwort Benson Investors Dublin (formerly KBC Asset Management Dublin).

David, said, “This development will allow us to improve the service to existing clients, strengthen our ability to understand local market requirements and build on our established client network. “Our ambition is to continue to develop our distribution partnerships with both Local and Global Fund Selection Units based in London and Dublin.”

Outsourcing in life sciences, R&D outsourcing expected to increase Gaby Chahine, Partner Jad Bitar, Principal Raffi Boladian, Associate Booz & Company

KUWAIT: Through a survey conducted in collaboration with BayBio, Booz & Company details the reasons why life science companies and large pharmaceutical firms areincreasingly outsourcing clinical development programs.

Growing business pressure to cut costs and speed development of new products means the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industry is turning increasingly to outside research.

Discussions between BayBio, the industry organization representing and supporting Northern California’s life science community, and experts from international strategy consulting firm, Booz & Company, suggest that companies may be looking to increase the amount of work they outsource and that the structure of clinical research organizations (CROs) is evolving. Together, Booz & Company and BayBio undertook a survey to further explore and detail ways in which the industry can benefit from current trends.

The collaborative study sought to gain insight into clinical development outsourcing practices among BayBio members. Key findings include (among others): • Survey respondents expect growth in R&D outsourcing • Companies outsource to reduce costs, access new patient samples and meet regulatory requirements • When selecting an outsourcing vendor, the majority of respondents (61 percent) seek a long-term strategic relationship rather than a looser transactional or partnership arrangement.

• High-quality, reliable service is paramount to price, geography, and both regulatory and technological expertise.

Life Science outsourcing trends

Today two trends - life science companies’ need to add capability, and pharmaceutical companies’ desire to vary and offload capabilities - are fueling the growth of large, capable third-party CROs. These industry players are building out their own capabilities to take on an increasing amount of work for life science and pharmaceutical companies.

Booz & Company explored trends in life science clinical outsourcing by assessing the practices of BayBio members.

Research found that, generally, survey respondents expect R&D outsourcing to grow and shift geographically from the United States and Western Europe, to countries such as China and India.

“For many companies, a lack of internal capabilities

drives the decision to outsource. Companies view using CROs as a way to compensate for internal constraints, if the CROs can offer a long-term strategic relationship and provide top-quality service,” said Gaby Chahine, Partner at Booz & Company. “Internal company pressures were the most frequently cited reasons that firms decide to outsource.

Fifty-three percent of respondents reported that they would turn to outsourcing to make up for a lack of internal capabilities or capacity while 44 percent cited a desire to reduce costs of development. Increasing use of CROs is likely to be accompanied by a focus on quality.”

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology managers said they are willing to pay more for outsourcers that provide reliable, on-time, and accurate services. Life science companies look to CROs to lower costs, access new patient samples, and comply with complex regulatory requirements.

Most respondents from BayBio believe that using CROs could improve their value proposition. Life science executives surveyed were most interested in using CROs that are able to deal with patient recruitment issues, respond to specific customer needs, demonstrate strong regulatory and communications expertise, and offer flexible service When selecting an outsourcing vendor, the majority of respondents (61 percent) are interested in developing a long-term strategic relationship, not simply maintaining a loose transactional or partnership arrangement. The most important characteristic for a vendor is the ability to provide high-quality, reliable research and development work, described by respondents as ‘best quality,’ ‘high fidelity,’ and ‘best service.’ This capability is paramount to price, geography, and both regulatory and technological expertise.

When asked about the outlook for outsourcing, an overwhelming number of survey respondents said they expect growth. Two-thirds anticipate ‘more’ outsourcing in the future. A number of factors underlie this expectation. First, limited budgets at biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms will push companies to reduce costs by outsourcing. In addition, life science companies could use outsourcing vendors as an unbiased external party in clinical study design and execution. Third, growing acceptance of R&D outsourcing and the use of overseas vendors makes firms more comfortable with the decision to outsource. Only 11 percent expect less outsourcing, citing growing internal budgets and the intent to grow capabilities in-house.

Though the majority of outsourcing is in the United States and Western Europe today, future growth is expected to occur overseas, largely in China and India. Some growth will occur in Europe, but the number of US trials will be flat going forward, according to those surveyed. By geogra-

phy, the location of trials today is inversely correlated with growth expectations. China and India conduct very few trials now but are projected to experience the most growth in the next two to three years.

The research shows that companies send trials overseas for three main reasons: as part of a regulatory approval strategy (36 percent), to cut costs (23 percent), and to gain access to patient samples (23 percent). No response dominates, suggesting that a variety of underlying preferences of biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms will drive outsourcing overseas.

“In short, our study of BayBio members suggests that clinical development outsourcing will continue to expand.

As the outsourcing market matures, however, we expect to see a shift in the nature of outsourcing relationships - from transactional to strategic - as drug developers decide which capabilities should be outsourced and which should stay inhouse,” said Jad Bitar, Principal with Booz & Company.

Based on interviews with key industry executives, further research conducted by Booz & Company sheds additional light on the drivers and constraints for clinical development outsourcing. Findings from the study are as follows: • While pharmaceutical executivesdiffer significantly in their views and preferences for CRO partnerships, the trend toward outsourcing will continue to increase.

• Current outsourcing strategies vary along four key dimensions: what work is outsourced, why it is outsourced, how outsourcing is done, and the level of innovation required from a CRO. • Drug companies tend to retain design and analytic competencies while outsourcing clinical monitoring activities, data management, and central labs.

• Only half of those interviewed appear to have thought through a broad-based, strategic approach to clinical outsourcing.

• Several companies find that in spite of their best intentions to establish strategic partnerships with CROs, dialogue remains at an operational level.

Pharmaceutical companies welcome the opportunity to align capabilities with CROs at a strategic level. They are looking to work with CROs that have clearly defined capabilities, such as high-quality service and execution, talent models that encourage retention, and the ability to use proprietary data to enhance recruiting and efficiency.

In addition to Booz & Company’s focus on the broader issue of clinical research and development outsourcing, the study asked BayBio members specific questions regarding

views on the emerging use of third parties for data collection, management, and analysis.

“Following breakthroughs in cloud computing, big-data analytics, and collaborative workflow technologies, IT companies increasingly are approaching the industry to take on some of the burden of clinical research and development, and we sought to assess respondents’ views on this topic,” said Raffi Boladian, Associate with Booz & Company. “We presented a list of new products and services and asked which would be of interest; most respondents expressed at least some interest in collaboration tools and data storage and access.”

When asked to detail what would be most important in these new IT-enabled approaches to clinical research and development, the response received was in line with what Booz & Company sees in other industries considering transitions to cloud-based offerings.

First, security is a critical issue that must be addressed before considering migrating any data and analysis to a third-party platform. Interviews confirm that this concern stems not only from the regulatory framework surrounding life science data collection and use but also from the competitive advantage derived from confidential data and insights in this industry.

However, the professionals surveyed point to a wide range of factors they consider important in future decisions regarding IT-enabled offerings.

Summary of findings

In conclusion, key findings suggest continued growth in clinical development outsourcing, with a significant amount of growth occurring overseas. The need for external capacity and capabilities is a key driver of outsourcing today, with a significant focus on reliable, on-time service.

Bitar concluded, “Current CRO relationships appear to leave significant room for improvement. Patient recruitment, customer-centricity, regulatory compliance, and flexibility of service plans were mentioned as particular areas in which CROs could do a better job. Overall, as companies look to CROs as the answer to internal constraints, they would also like to shift emphasis from today’s transactional relationships to long-term strategic development partnerships.”

Finally, the industry is also interested in IT-enabled offerings, but only if the central issue of security is resolved.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions presented in the column are the company’s own and do not necessarily represent those of Al Watan Daily and its staff.

ALWATAN DAILY

BUSINESS

Turkiye Finans secures large Murabaha syndicated financing

Tuesday 15 May, 2012 Index Price index Weighted Index KSX 15 Security

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For more information, call 1 80 42 42, www.globalinv.net

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ALQURAIN Basic Materials

KUWAIT: Under a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced on March 11, 2012, Cambridge based abdi Ltd and Khx Education, Kuwait based subsidiary of Beyout Investment Group (BIG) have agreed to work in a partnership to enhance Human capital and capacity building investment planning and measurement practices within public and private organizations in the State of Kuwait. abdi ltd and Khx Education have agreed to work collaboratively in the State of Kuwait to deliver abdi’s suite of qualifications and services, aimed at raising professional standards in planning, measuring, analyzing and reporting performance and business impact results and value for money (ROI) for human capital investments abdi and Khx Education will work in a partnership and use mutual expertise to bring world class human capital and capacity building measurement practices into public and private sector organizations in Kuwait.

Jane Massy, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of abdi Ltd says, “We all at abdi are proud to work alongside with Khx Education to collaboratively raise professional standards in the planning and measurement of human capital investments.

We hope to work with Khx Education to continue our work of building a strong ‘research to practice’ range of case studies and analysis into how investment in human capital influences behaviors, performance improvements and ultimately organizational results.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday launched a tender process to build a new metro system in the capital of Riyadh in an effort to ease congestion on the city’s gridlocked roads. The Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) invited international consortia to prequalify for the project, which it wants to be finished in four years. “ADA invites global consortia specialized in the production and supply of rolling stock, control and telecommunications systems as well as metro tunneling, civil, mechanical and electrical works to prequalify for Riyadh metro project,” it said in a statement.

Metro projects typically cost billions of dollars to build.

The prequalification notice came with a June 20 deadline. In April, the Saudi Cabinet approved plans to develop a new public transport network in the city within four years that would include both a metro and a new fleet of buses.

The project will be overseen by a committee headed by Prince Sattam, who was appointed Riyadh Governor in November and is chairman of ADA, and also including the finance and transport ministers. About four-fifths of the network would be underground, including a line running under Al-Olaya Street, a local daily wrote on Tuesday quoting “informed sources”.

Saudi Arabia has only limited public transport facilities and Riyadh suffers grinding congestion for much of the day and into late evenings.

In December the government announced a 690 billion Saudi riyals (184 billion US dollars) budget for 2012, as it seeks to boost infrastructure, education and health. -Reuters

360

300

0

10,020

120

Khx, abdi sign agreement for developing human capital in GCC

Saudi Arabia to start new Riyadh metro project

340

0

184

Volume

PIPE

MTCC

Ghassan Ahmed, Operations Director of Khx Education said, “Our agreement with abdi will be an added value to Kuwaiti Business Stakeholders, abdi will help them to build their own evaluation capability and internal accountability systems so that they can do their own impact assessment and ROI measurement. It is part of Khx Education’s mission to raise awareness in developing Human Capital among business executives to maximize their returns.”

Cambridge based, abdi ltd promotes excellence in UK organizations of every sector in measuring the impact of their investments in human capital. abdi services include consulting, capability building workshops, evaluation services and the design and development of tools to support measurement and evaluation.

Khx Education was established in 2011 by a group of experienced educators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a diverse and rich knowledge background from the USA, UK and local MENA educational environments. Owned by Beyout Investment Group (BIG) and based in Kuwait City, the Khx Education investment strategy is to create a diversified portfolio of companies focused on education and the development of human capital. Its objective is to create an operational synergy and regional diversification, in order to tap into the growth potential in the MENA emerging markets.

Khx Education offers services in education, higher education, technology and corporate learning.

0

190

Low

6,441.35 418.99 1,002.40

242

ALKOUT

Banking Deputy General Manager Selim Kervancı, Noor Islamic Bank CEO Hussain Al-Qemzi and Standard Chartered Bank Deputy General Manager in Charge of Europe, Africa and South Asia Hiren Singharay.

The deal marks the largest Murabaha syndicated loan ever signed in the Turkish participation banking sector with $251.5 million, plus 76.5 million euro, equivalent to $350 million. Maturity of the loan is one year and the profit rate is six-month Libor / Euribor plus two percent. Warba Bank of Kuwait entered the Turkish syndicated loan market for the first time with this deal within a consortium of 29 major banks from Europe and the Gulf region.

Turkiye Finans General Manager Derya Gurerk highlighted that 29 banks have invested in Turkey through murabaha syndicated financing and relying on Türkiye Finans, adding, “Last year we signed the largest murabaha syndicated financing deal in the participation banking industry. In March this year we mandated banks for syndication.

High

Closing

9.07 2.80 11.64

242

KFOUC

A handout picture of Hussain Al-Qemzi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Noor Islamic Bank.

Change ▲ ▲ ▲

ABAR

Oil & Gas

CAPITALS: Turkiye Finans, Turkey’s leading participation bank, signed the largest Murabaha syndicated deal of the participation banking with a sum of 350 million US dollars. Led by ABC Islamic Bank, HSBC, Noor Islamic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, the Consortium included a total of 29 banks from 15 countries. This was mentioned in a press release on Tuesday.

With this Murabaha syndicated loan deal, Turkiye Finans continues to create added-value for Turkish economy by supporting the companies in need of corporate financing and SMEs in particular.

Turkiye Finans, a leading Turkish participation (Islamic) bank, has signed a Murabaha syndicated loan deal led by Noor Islamic Bank, ABC Islamic Bank, Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), and Standard Chartered Bank.

The signing ceremony was held at Conrad Hotel Istanbul, with the participation of Turkiye Finans General Manager Derya Gurerk, ABC Islamic Bank Turkey Representative Muzaffer Aksoy, HSBC Global

11

WEDNESDAY, may 16, 2012

0 0

0

0 116,057

9,951 0 0 0 6 0 7

0 14,391

2 0 0

0

20 38

510 0 0 0

▬ ▲ ▼ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

0.0 2.5

-2.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0 2

0 42 0

▬

0.0

1

70

▼

-5.0

0 0 22

0 1001.70

▬ ▲

▬ ▲

0.0 2.5

0.0 5.80

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

12

ALWATAN DAILY wednesday, may 16, 2012

April 2009 May21, 15, 2012

2% 6%

1% 6% Oman

113

-2%

Bahrain

90

GCC Best Performers

Saudi

95 15-Feb-12 85

15-Mar-12

15-Apr-12

S&P 20-Mar-09 GCC Large/ Mid S&P Pan 3-Feb-09 Arab Large/ 18-Feb-09 Mid Composite 19-Jan-09 5-Mar-09 4-Apr-09 Composite

MENA Best Performers

-2%

15-May-12

-6%-2

19-Apr-0

1

MENA Indices Highlights Country (Index)

Index Level

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

Index 7,104

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

2,473 5,250

Ku Kuwait (KSE Weighted Index)

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

Qa UAUAE Qatar (DSM Index) (ADSM Index) OmOman UAE(MSM (DFMIndex) Index)

Level 419

Ba Bahrain (BSE 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)

0.0% -4.0%

5,005

-1.1%

5,478

1,681

10,156

463

1,177

2,825 460

10,621

5,141

1,094 546

Tu Tunisia (Tunis SE Index)* * Market Closed

0.7%

-1.2% 1.9%

1,948

3,282

0.0% 0.6%

-0.1% 3.9%

5.1%

0.0%

0.4%

-0.8%

-0.2%

-

2.2%

-0.7%

0.2%

52 Wk 7,931 High

10.7% YTD

5,587 1,745

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)

% 0.5% Chg.

0.3% 1.8%

8,491 2,695

1,156 5,590

OmOman (MSM Index)

YTD

1,486 406

Ba Qa Bahrain Qatar(BSE (DSMIndex) Index)

Eg Egypt (EGX 30 Index)

% Chg.

52 Wk High

-

-

0.9% -

3.3%

453

2.9% 9.3%

2,775 10,090

-3.2% 12.8%

8,892 5,148

9.8% -0.2%

-1.9% 6.6% 1.1% -18.8%

-6.8%

-8.7%

8.5%

0.0%

1,033

1,403

5,044 513

-3.3%

14,635

23.6%

739

8.0%

-7.2%

11.60 7.29

1 196

17,336 65,352

9.00 8.85

7

26,883

12.72

63,640

7.67

5,138

13.6%

2,119

3,418

1,129 4,230

4,224

31,456 98,547

17,553 37,413

46

1,921

1,572

10,170

328

-

1,164

2,551 462

9,406

-

4,091

1,043

-

2,837

-

407

4

18,727

1

1

1.56

1.29

2.94

1.56

6.29

33,782

12.71

9,993

16.29

0.85

2.15

9.13

59,990

1.08

18.36

8,507

2

1.68

8.07

2,490

9

1.36

14.91

10,489

67

3.95

1.82

6.47

2,079

0.86

8.67

6,576

2.50

13.85

1.92

SAUDI ARABIA *Market Closed

Close

RNSRenaissance Services

ABABurgan Co. for Well Drilling

225 Saudi Industrial Inv. Grp.

101 Riyad Bank

Tadawul Index 52 week High / Low

115

SAR 24.70

-6.4%

126,539,055

Turnover (USD)

118,985,404

703 Zain - Saudi Arabia (KSA)

343,553,085 109,877,414

201 201Saudi SaudiBasic BasicIndustries IndustriesCorp.

Corp.(KSA) (KSA)

119,955,261 76,812,093

115 (KSA) 422Alinma EmaarBank the Economic City (KSA)

97,126,838

NBKNational Bank of Kuwait (KUW)

88,742,222

104

43Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

20Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

15-May-12

% Chg.

8.90

1211.SSE Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

3030.SSE Saudi Cement Co.

4.7%

13.30

2.3%

11.20

2.3%

31.20

2.0%

88.50

Turnover (SAR) 777,003,304 1040.SSE Saudi Hollandi Bank 474,584,725 1010.SSE Riyad Bank 446,254,758 2060.SSE National Industrialization Co. 412,095,241 2010.SSE Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

70Zain - Saudi Arabia 15-Apr-12

Close

1.7%

Worst Performers

1 Alinma Bank

15-Mar-12

64,280,166

1150.SSE Alinma Bank

Highest Turnover

105

105

-6.8%

207,173,258

115 Alinma Bank (KSA)

1,394,690,890

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

-3.3% -8.9%

Turnover (USD)

MENA Highest Turnover

6,865,316

-9.7%

-3.1% -8.6%

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

7,931 / 5,916 4300.SSE Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

Turnover (SAR '000)

8.0%

KWD 0.126 SAR 48.00

SAR 13.70

GCC Highest Turnover

4.80

Advance/Decline Ratio

2.6%

8.0%

% Chg.

OMR 0.565 SAR 22.95

68% 7030.SSE Zain - Saudi Arabia

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

3.7% 8.6%

AED 0.36 -13.1% -4.3% KWD 0.265

7,104 (0.5%)

Tadawul Index (% Chg.)

125

4.1% 8.8%

KWD -5.1% Close0.242 % Chg.

EMAEmaar Properties (UAE) Best Performers

Summary

4.7% 9.8%

OMR 0.501

KFI Kuwait Finance House (KUW)

Rebased Performance

95 15-Feb-12

MENA Worst Performers

0.89 201 ARE AREFBasic Energy HoldingCorp.

Co. 1.74 Saudi Industries

9.50

54,658

OMR 0.720

GCC Worst Performers

1.95 FAC UPP Union Properties 1.37 Commercial Facilities Co. 1.55 BKM Bank Muscat 0.88 238 Rabigh Petrochem.

9.87

15,024

3

1.01 1.77

10.05 6.87

57,375

1.88

0.71 1.52

127,827 69,783

QAR 21.60

BKMBankMuscat

PB

10.35 9.99

73 122

34 718

8.22 10.24

AED 0.40

QGTQatar Gas Transport Co.

PB1.45

8,071 2,137

67

65,369 264,263

KWD 0.255 QAR 6.35

DANDana Gas

PE 17.14

31 2,183

3,587

2,903

12.08

103,338

KWD 0.102 OMR 0.703

OU Oula Fuel Marketing Co. KCB Al Khaliji Commercial Bank

Trailing

2,293 4,130

10 305

2,202

Mkt. Cap. 371,868 USD million

59

5,419 1,433

12,203

2.4%

396

PE

SAR 8.90 SAR 5.60

IFCGalfar International Finance Co. GEC Engineering & Contracting

Trailing

Mkt. Cap. USD million

Turnover 1,831 USD million

6,134 5,860

12,109

-3.6%

52 Wk 5,916 Low 1,301 316

5,628

0.7%

-2.2%

Turnover USD million

1,754 787

1,378 12,627

38.2%

52 Wk Low

% Chg.

KWD 6.6% Close0.810 % Chg.

703Kingdom Zain - Saudi 3 428 Hldg.Arabia Co.

Period's Liquidity Ratio (PLR x)*

MENA Indices Highlights

Close

4 CBKCommercial Bank of Kuwait

Period's Liquidity 1 Ratio (PLR x)

-1

Abu Dhabi

Oman

Tunisia Abu Dhabi

-2%

-6%

Palestine Palestine

-4%

Saudi Dubai Dubai

0%

95

-1%

AbuAbu Dhabi Dhabi Bahrain

0%

102

Dubai

Qatar

0%

Kuwait

Qatar Saudi

Return DailyDaily Return (%)(%)

100

100

Kuwait

Saudi Dubai 105

2%

Qatar Oman

105 105

0%

Qatar

Morocco

111

110

4%

Lebanon Oman

110

Kuwait Kuwait

113

DailyIndex Index Performance Snapshot Daily Performance Snapshot

Egypt Jordan Jordan

115115

Bull/Bear Indicator Bull/Bear Indicator

Bahrain Bahrain

Rebased RebasedPerformance Performance

288,083,756

42Emaar the Economic City

2290.SSE Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

Close

% Chg.

27.00

-2.2%

33.00

-0.3%

24.00 96.25

48.60

-0.6% -0.3% -0.2%

Saudi SE

Quotes Company Name 1 Al Rajhi Bank

Close 74.25

Daily % Chg. 0.0%

High 74.75

Low 73.75

Turnover (SAR '000) 98,750

1 Alinma Bank

13.30

2.3%

13.35

13.05

474,585

1 Arab National Bank

29.70

0.3%

29.70

29.30

1,250

2 Almarai Co.

68.75

1.1%

69.00

67.75

28,836

Volume ('000) 1,330

52-Week High 82.75

67.25

71.75

48.41

35,683

16.25

42

33.70

419

% Change

Low

on high -10.3%

9.05

-18.2%

26.60

-11.9%

YTD 6.8%

42.2%

12 mths

14.5

27,500,000

24.0

31.0%

20.1%

26.2% -9.2%

1.5%

28.00

27.40

25,684

931

32.90

17.20

-16.1%

39.0%

44.1%

1 Banque Saudi Fransi

37.00

0.5%

37.00

36.00

4,203

114

40.00

30.00

-7.5%

9.9%

4 Emaar the Economic City

11.25

0.9%

11.35

11.05

288,084

13.60

6.20

19.30

108,636

11.40

10,064

871

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.

25.70

11.20

65.25

19.65

150.50 11.55

3 Yamama Saudi Cement Co.

2 Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

7 Zain - Saudi Arabia

19.80

151.00 11.70

33.30

777,003

64.75

25,757

150.25

2,360

32.90

28,599

23.90

7,396

867

108.67

13.10

50.75

35.4%

18,262,710

7.05

-11.8%

30.5%

33.5%

42,802,941

-8.6%

-22.4%

18,615,000

4.1%

-11.8%

43,650,000

14.7%

33.10

-35.0%

8.1%

-18.9%

-14.5%

22,076

708

24.25

-16.8%

23.3%

-9.7%

22.9%

-7.9%

8.7%

13.25

0.8%

13.10

37,519

86.00

27.00

-2.2%

27.90

27.00

20.15

1.0%

13.30

8,511

6,232

0.2%

23.50

22.95

27,043

0.9%

17.15

16.95

1,469

0.6%

20.15

16.70

19.95

7,674

16.50

91,346

34.00

10,521

34.30

2,308

40.40

0.3%

40.60

40.20

25,868

99.75

1.3%

100.00

97.50

2,503

47.60

0.2%

47.80

47.30

19,821

8.50

446,255

0.0%

0.0%

-0.2%

4.7%

34.90

35.30

49.50 8.95

48.40

32,575

23.10

-10.8%

71

200.00

165.00

4,282

109.75

87.75

-12.3%

2,832

16.30

12.85

-18.7%

96

231

98.00

57.25

29.30

21.42

1,158

25.30

18.55

86

21.00

15.55

381

5,503 640

301

24.45

21.30

42.60

35.50

-9.8%

2.6%

-14.5% -6.6%

16.7

9.3

nmf nmf

7.7

nmf

11.4

10.1

2.0 1.6

1.6

2.3

1.2

1.5

5.0

0.0%

-10.5%

288,750,000

10.0

2.0

-4.7%

-2.9%

55,207,368

45.7%

5.5%

28,860,000

46.9

1.7

13,540,500

14.3

4.6

10,716,300

10.6

1.4

22.9

1.1

-4.1%

10,507,500

21.2

1.7

-18.3%

6.2%

-9.5%

9,432,500

13.2

1.1

15.50

-22.1%

23.70

-1.7%

2.3%

-4.6%

-4.5%

24.6%

17,450,000

13.7

4.8%

35,000,000

11.7

-0.2%

27,337,500

19.5%

11.9%

-6.6%

16.0%

43.5%

47.50

-42.8%

-32.0%

-22.6%

50,141

11.50

5.25

-22.6%

60.4%

21.1%

-5.4%

-13.6%

14.4%

10.5%

10.0

24,900,000

-5.2%

21.6%

7,388,333

-7.8%

83.25

41.60

2.5

11.1

416

56.25

1.3

8.6

45,125,000

68.50

670

36,000,000

0.8

22.9%

-17.6%

27.82

18,395,140

10.9

1.6

0.3%

106.75 37.00

9,030,000

28.5

-7.7%

17.75

33.00

3.0%

34.4%

25

66

45,675,000

61.7%

-8.8%

42.40

37.50

12,096,000

-14.2%

56.75

26.90

7,710,000

11.10

151

30.60

nmf

165.00

7,330

31.40

9,562,500

24.3%

48.00

2.0%

55.2%

24.3%

48.60

308

1.6

-5.8%

0.6%

24.15

11.2

50.00

22.90

3.8

1.5

33,448,661

69.25

-24.6%

88.50

8.90

16

1.2

-4.0%

31.5% 22.4%

21.10

1.7%

48.60

5,529

11.6

3.4

2.1

54.5%

53.1%

25,245,000

39.0

20.2

-19.1%

-17.3%

19,950,000

8,280,000

6.05

28.20

412,095

35.00

395

51.6%

938

96.00

34.90

13.85

25,607

-19.4%

19,927

97.25

16.60

69,375

15.75

21.00

-0.3%

17.15

31.90

21.30

96.25

23.35

704

0.7%

12,824

2 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

65.50

10.90

179.50

1 Saudi Hollandi Bank

Saudi International Petrochemical Co.

11.30

25.50

182.75

31.20

88.50

22 Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

26.30

0.4%

180.50

3 Saudi Cement Co.

5 Saudi Electricity Co.

0.4%

-0.6%

48.50

2 Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

1.6%

0.0%

24.00

1 Samba Financial Grp.

2 Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co.

0.0%

-0.3%

21.25

1 Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

2.3%

33.00

2 Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.

1 Riyad Bank

0.8%

18,103

PB

111,375,000

27.60

1 Bank AlBilad

Trailing PE

-1.0%

-4.2%

8.0%

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

80,800,000

13,965,000

nmf

1.4

1.6

9.4

1.6

14.6

5.7

9,639,000

11.5

12,460,000

nmf

8.6

2.1

2.0

2.8

2.4

3.2

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

13

ALWATAN DAILY wednesday, may 16, 2012

KUWAIT Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 6,441 (0.1%)

KSE General Index (% Chg.)

115

419 (0.7%)

KSE Weighted Index (% Chg.)

54%

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

0.92

Advance/Decline Ratio

110

Turnover (KWD) 2,420,494 1,380,341 1,258,295

B Boubyan Bank 15-Apr-12

886,754

N National Industries Grp. Holding

15-May-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

National Bank of Kuwait

1.080

OULAFUELOula Fuel Marketing Co.

6.6% 4.1%

0.255

3.7%

1.9%

0.610

1.7%

Worst Performers

MMabanee Co.

15-Mar-12

0.102

Highest Turnover N National Bank of Kuwait

95 15-Feb-12

International Finance Co.

28,810,685

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

100

% Chg.

0.810

16,512

Turnover (KWD '000)

103

Commercial Bank of Kuwait

458 / 396 BOUBYAN. Boubyan Bank

KSE Weighted Index 52 week High / Low 105

IFC.KSE

6,496 / 5,694 NBK.KSE

KSE General Index 52 week High / Low

105

Close CBK.KSE

404,484

ZA Zain Kuwait

Close ABAR.KSE Burgan Co. for Well Drilling

% Chg.

0.242

AREFENRGAREF Energy Holding Co.

-5.1%

0.126

-3.1%

NRE.KSE

National Real Estate Co.

0.128

-3.0%

ABK.KSE

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

0.590

-1.7%

NMTC.KSE Wataniya

2.300

-2.5%

KSE Weighted Index

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

A Agility

0.410

T Al Themar Intl. Holding Co.

0.086

A AREF Energy Holding Co.

0.126

-3.1%

0.620

1.6%

A Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

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

B Boubyan Petrochemical Co. B Burgan Bank

0.0%

0.290

0.290

1

1.7%

0.610

0.590

1,258

1.2%

0.425

0.420

12

1.680

38

0.270

6

0.610 0.425

0.810

6.6%

0.116

-

1.680

0.0%

0.275 0.430

0.0%

1.2%

C Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co.

1.360

-1.5%

IK Ikarus Petroleum Industries Co.

0.190

-2.1%

JAJazeera Airways

0.425

-

IF IFA Hotels & Resorts

IF International Finance Co.

K KIPCO Asset Management Co.

K Kuwait Cement Co.

0.400

0.102

0.325

0.242

1.680

0.600

69

0.242

0

0.810

0.810

-

-

0.275

0.430

0.425

-

-

1.360

-

1.360

0.190

0.079

0.530

-4.5%

18.9%

-1.6%

10.7%

-17.3%

0.116

0.019

0.0%

136.7%

141.7%

152,242

-4.2%

-11.7%

11.8%

33.8%

-19.2%

0.425

0.0%

0.720

0.710

312

0.0%

0.280

0.275

191

-

1.240

0.214

0.138

-15.0%

-11.2%

970

0.222

0.096

-54.1%

5

0.315

0.226

-28.3%

0.485

0.168

0.610

0.415

-12.4%

-29.5%

436

0.963

0.710

-25.2%

694

0.340

0.236

-19.1%

0.281

-15.8%

-

2

1.620

1.020

0.0%

1.020

0.980

1,380

1,389

1.020

0.709

1.080

1.9%

1.080

1.040

2,420

2,282

1.127

0.909

-4.2%

N National Industries Grp. Holding

0.224

0.0%

0.228

0.222

887

3,954

0.275

0.192

-18.5%

N National Real Estate Co.

0.128

-3.0%

0.128

3

25

0.168

0.056

-23.8%

0.214

-0.9%

M Mena Holding

0.425

N National Bank of Kuwait N National Industries Co.

N National Investments Company O Oula Fuel Marketing Co.

A Qurain Petrochemicals Industries Co. S Salhia Real Estate Co.

S Sultan Center Food Products Co. T Tamdeen Real Estate Co.

A The Commercial Real Estate Co. S The Securities House N Wataniya

0.315 0.146 0.255 0.246 0.106

1.6% 0.0%

3.7% -

-

0.315

0.144

114

0.255

0.246

21

-

-

0.130 0.216

0.214

-

0.104

1.2%

0.087

0.085

13

-2.5%

2.320

2.300

-

1.4%

0.236 -

-

-

0.740

245

-11.5%

-15.8%

0.0%

1,132,228

40.1

-1.2%

181,553

nmf

-57.9%

-6.5%

-28.3%

-8.1%

-10.5%

-7.4%

-13.6%

9.6

3.8

274,192

-19.1%

285,265

nmf

12.1%

-15.8%

546,723

0.7

nmf

0.7

19.2

1.9

11.4

1.9

26.9

1.6

24.1

1.4

78,178

30.8

1.2

32.0%

623,412

29.7

4.1

-2.6%

4,701,777

15.5

2.1

-13.8%

-15.5%

290,102

0.0%

30.6%

1187.9% 6.1%

12.5%

-15.1%

280,500

-7.4%

-42.7%

-15.0%

-15.0%

0.248

0.200

-0.8%

18.3% 1.7%

0.0%

434,387

1187.9%

-29.2% -5.3%

3.7

102,850

7.8%

0.242

0.186

1.6

1.0

2,090,998

30.4%

8.3

2.6

7.9

59,506

-24.6%

0.9

nmf

16.9

81,894

-16.3%

4.0

142,500

-23.7%

0.0%

-43.8%

-20.8%

153.0%

21.1%

-7.4%

10.4

285,507

1.5

16.4

147,610

-6.6%

-30.6%

0.0%

-24.7%

0.360

0.226

14.3

0.7

30.2

1.7

108,617

25.6

1.4

127,927

nmf

0.7

-

nmf

0.8

nmf

0.6

88,277

21.7

2.1

16.0%

126,130

17.6

1.0

-6.4%

87,310

5.9%

235,400

-22.1%

-11.7%

147

0.097

0.067

-11.3%

11.7%

26.5%

157,794

15.0

0.6

82

2.480

1.880

-7.3%

18.6%

13.9%

1,159,275

11.0

1.5

-

0.216

0.170

551

0.170

1.080

0.690

-13.3% 0.0%

-31.5%

30.8%

-17.8%

61,356

1.1

0.093

0.270

-7.0%

13.0

0.136

15

404

0.144

5.8%

162,339

1.2

11.7

90

190

0.730

0.260

0.260

82

-

0.425

0.340

790

3

0.228

0.425

7

53

0.660

0.386

-

2

0.290

0.148

236

-

0.106

0.170

0.740

-

76

0.0%

-1.7%

0.086

0.320

10

0.234

2.300

Z Zain Kuwait

-

0.325

1.240

-16.0%

-2.3%

-1.5%

2

1.340

0.860

M Mabanee Co.

0.860

1.600

43

1.9

1,030,338

-24.7%

1.4

nmf

-12.9%

0.255

4.3

nmf

1.0

2.5%

-6.7%

nmf

34.6

-12.9%

6.3%

1.5

50,729

0.700

-13.4%

1.0

5.7

34.3

0.930

1.300

1.8

300,762

-48.5%

0.285

-

8.8%

0.5

19.6

94,500

14.2%

0.495

98

8.6%

-42.4%

0.365

10

892,811

0.198

-

2

-6.2%

0.420

-

1

-

0.085

1.940

8

nmf

656,611

0.410

10

87,075

-17.3%

0.514

-

-14.0%

-6.0%

27

22

-5.5%

1,066,424

0.0%

0

15.9

0.0%

0.530

23

429,203

3.4%

0.610

0

10.8%

226,134

2,101

PB

9.3%

-17.1%

-18.3%

0.630

PE

-7.9%

-17.3%

0.280

113

Trailing

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

-6.2%

0.355

0.132

12 mths

-10.2%

4

8

YTD

0.580

-20.8%

19

0.870

0.104

0.657

0.425

0.226

-

-

4

-4.7%

0.543

0.226

0.430

0.248

610

-

-

on high

259

0.184

-

% Change

Low

0.430

0

0.0%

-

K Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)

0.620

High

613

1

0.097

1.360

0.275

0.124

0.102

-2.3%

K Kuwait International Bank

0.126

-

4.1%

0.430

0.720

P Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

-

0.226

K Kuwait Finance House F Kuwait Food Co.

-

0.590

2

0.0%

C Commercial Bank of Kuwait

G Gulf Bank

-

0.590

52-Week

Volume ('000)

250

0.290

-

-5.1%

G Global Investment House

0.405

-1.7%

0.242

F Commercial Facilities Co.

0.410

Turnover (KWD '000)

0.590

A Burgan Co. for Well Drilling

C Combined Grp Contracting Co.

Low

30.8%

115,600

-28.8%

3,187,576

nmf

1.6

22.8

0.9

nmf

9.1

11.2

1.5

UAE Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,486 (0.3%)

DFM Index (% Chg.)

115

2,473 (0.0%)

ADSM Index (% Chg.)

Advance/Decline Ratio

DFM Index 52 week High / Low

105

Highest Turnover

95 15-Feb-12

15-Mar-12 S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

15-Apr-12 Abu Dhabi SE

0.8%

Worst Performers

E Emaar Properties

S Sorouh Real Estate Co.

14,664,159

A ALDAR Properties

15-May-12

1.2%

8.87

Turnover (AED) 38,513,684 UPP.DFM Union Properties 23,953,890 NBQ.ADSM National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain 16,480,803 ALDAR.AD ALDAR Properties

A Arabtec Holding

97

1.7%

0.60

383,757,797

Market Cap. (AED '000)

99

2.5%

2.94

244,165

Turnover (AED '000)

2.6%

0.81

2,775 / 2,293 FGB.ADSM First Gulf Bank

ADSM Index 52 week High / Low

% Chg.

0.40

27% ARKAN.AD Arkan Building Materials Co. 1.22 EMAAR.DF Emaar Properties 1,754 / 1,301 AIRARABIA Air Arabia

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

105

Close DANA.ADS Dana Gas

14,227,630

E Etisalat

SIB.ADSM

Close

% Chg.

0.36

1.71

Sharjah Islamic Bank

1.01

-1.9%

0.99

-1.0%

0.87

SOROUH.A Sorouh Real Estate Co.

-4.3%

-2.3%

-1.1%

Dubai FM

Quotes Company Name

Close

A Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

3.14

T Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.

1.18

A Air Arabia

0.60

A Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

A Abu Dhabi National Hotels A ALDAR Properties A Amlak Finance

A Arabtec Holding A Aramex

3.10

2.00

D Dana Gas

0.40

D du

4,706

0.0%

1.18

1.18

1.2%

0.60

0.59

-0.3% -

2.80 0.30

3.03

3.11 -

3.10 -

T Tamweel

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

-31.0%

-9.1%

-31.0%

2,000,000

14,505

1.45

0.76

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

4,125,980

0.57

-20.7%

2.2%

-18.1%

2.6%

0.41

0.39

6,515

0.30

3,433

16,307

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

3.01

6,287

-0.3%

0.7%

-

0.31

3.07

-

1.7%

0.0% 0.8%

-

-

2.94

8.80 8.96

-

-

-

-

2.91

1,181

-

0.37 -

-

276

1.14

5,834

0.36

1,332

-

2,070

-

8,200 41

1,624 549

-

-

16,481

-4.3%

-33.2%

3.63

2.80

-16.5%

-39.7%

0.97

2.94

0.20

2.65

1.00 1.17

0.46

4.63

115

-1.0% 0.0%

11,121

-14.6%

0.99

-0.9%

-13.5%

0.34

1.88

14,228 4,865

0.85

2.67

0.67

2.26

2

0.88

3.24

3,330

1.71

-1.1%

-

6,386

8.72 8.80

-

-8.2%

-25.9%

1.71

-

1.69

0.0%

0.68

-2.3%

-

1.96

-

1.31

23,954

-

8

-

6,620

2.89

-

-

6,423

1.71

3.95

1.98

0.76

-41.3%

3,756

0.36

2.90

-19.8%

-

7,330,588

-

-44.1%

8.80

U United Arab Bank

U Union Properties

0.8

0.71

8.85

1.15

7.1

1.45

15

0.1%

2.92

7,345,500

271

-

8.82

U Union National Bank

-12.6%

219

1.80

2.77

0.87

-1.7%

0.0%

0.76

1.80

2.81

4.95

-13.2%

-1.9%

0.83

0.4%

S Sorouh Real Estate Co.

4,874

-

0.8

-12.7%

2.5%

-0.6%

2.79

S Sharjah Islamic Bank

2,883

5.4

127.1%

E Emirates NBD

N National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain

1.14

2.92

17,570,176

92.9%

1.90

N National Bank of Fujairah

1.36

3.55

3.30

11.20 10.75

1.44

2.41

8.57 6.98

4.95

3.00

1

317

9.00

2.24

1.02

42.7% 4.8%

0.0%

-2.7%

-5.1%

-28.5%

77.5%

14.7

1.5

1,417,500

nmf

0.9

2,635,380

7.1

0.9

1,756,512

nmf

0.5

13,851,429

11.3

2.4

2,640,801

7,768,000 7,328,314

1.8 1.0

-5.3%

8.8%

65.0%

1,034,582 -

0.0%

34,173,605 5,445,000

-5.5%

-10.0%

2,736,000

-3.3%

2,110,185

0.67

-31.7%

16.5%

-27.2%

2,598,750

404

3.90

2.82

-25.1%

1.0%

-17.7%

7,287,225

4.50

3.28

-12.2%

8.5%

-2.5%

3,935,785

3,698 -

0.50

0.24

-27.5%

90.7% 39.1%

0.8

11.9 7.1

0.0%

-22.8%

4.6

1.0

69,257,786 26,610,000

15,506,191

-23.7%

0.53

nmf

0.3

0.0% 0.0%

1.45

1.49

5.2

0.6

16,681 5,050

1.4

9.0

-10.3%

3.6%

11.8

17,908,241

-34.0%

-14.7%

1.1

4,583,670

1.63 0.80

0.6

0.5

-7.3%

-34.3%

0.0%

4.4

nmf

-6.2%

-10.2%

0.2

1,530,000

-1.9%

-0.5%

1.1

8.5

10.4

5,707,386

-22.3%

6.3

2,795,353

-2.0%

15.6%

0.0% 0.0%

0.0%

-

426

1.4%

0.0% 0.0%

7.38

67.00

0.0%

14.4%

-12.5%

102.00

0.0%

-10.9%

0.67

-

PB

10.6%

-15.5%

1.96

N National Bank of Abu Dhabi

203

122

PE

13.0%

1.18

0.5%

1.26

239

379

Trailing

Market Cap. (AED '000)

-5.4%

3.46

1.93

67.00

2.69

13,163

D Dubai Islamic Bank

M Mashreq

3.32

12 mths

38,514

-

0.95

G Gulf Cement Co.

1,498

YTD

2.86

-

0.98

8.76 8.87

on high

2.98

-

0.1%

E Etisalat F First Gulf Bank

% Change

Low

14,664

0.97

2.94

High

1.00

1.03

D Dubai Financial Market

E Emaar Properties

52-Week

Volume ('000)

3.12

0.3%

1.80

Turnover (AED '000)

3.16

2.92

1.02

Low

0.0%

-1.9%

0.81

D Deyaar Development Co.

High

1.01

A Arkan Building Materials Co. C Commercial Bank of Dubai

Daily % Chg.

36.3%

-16.3%

1,150,000 1,208,702

8.8

nmf

13.8

0.4

0.8

0.9

8.9

1.3

8.1

0.9

7.3

0.4

4.8

0.7

11.4

2.0

18.5 8.0

12.4 nmf

2.7

0.5 0.5 0.5

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

14

ALWATAN DAILY wednesday, may 16, 2012

QATAR Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 8,491 (0.0%)

DSM Index (% Chg.)

115

DSM 52 week High / Low

44% QIBK.DSM Qatar Islamic Bank 0.75 KCBK.DSMAl Khalij Commercial Bank 8,892 / 8,071 QGTS.DSMQatar Gas Transport Co.

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

465,378,679

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

Advance/Decline Ratio

266,676

Turnover (QAR '000)

Close

% Chg.

77.90

1.4%

16.50

QIIK.DSM Qatar International Islamic Bank

MARK.DSMMasraf Al Rayan

0.6%

16.20

0.6%

50.50

0.4%

26.80

0.2%

105

105

Highest Turnover

Worst Performers Turnover (QAR) 71,976,774 QNNS.DSMQatar Navigation 36,153,801 QTEL.DSM Qatar Telecom 26,230,581 DHBK.DSMDoha Bank

MMasraf Al Rayan

98

IQIndustries Qatar

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

95 15-Feb-12

15-Mar-12

15-Apr-12

15-May-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

10,384,455

Q Qatar National Bank

8,333,837

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

Close

% Chg.

67.00

-1.0%

118.50

-1.0%

16.45

-0.6%

57.70

AHCS.DSMAamal Co.

ERES.DSMEzdan Real Estate Co.

-0.7%

19.75

-0.3%

Doha SM

Quotes Company Name A Aamal Co.

Close 16.45

K Al Khalij Commercial Bank

16.50

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

71.50

E Ezdan Real Estate Co.

19.75

B Barwa Real Estate Co. D Doha Bank

26.25

Daily % Chg.

High

-0.6%

0.6% 0.0%

19.90

19.75

194

57.10

1,317

140.50

138.20

36,154

-0.1%

141.90

139.00

4,918

0.4%

51.00

50.30

421

Q Qatar Electricity & Water Co.

141.90 50.50

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

77.90

Q Qatar National Bank

133.60

Q Qatar Telecom

118.50

Q Qatar Navigation

67.00

V Vodafone Qatar

8.98

1,422

-0.3%

-0.1%

16.20

26.10

6,093

16.40

26,231

139.40

Q Qatar International Islamic Bank

26.30

2,167

70.90

IQIndustries Qatar

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

16.54

16.22

71.50

-0.7%

26.80

16.59

0.0%

57.70

M Masraf Al Rayan

Turnover (QAR '000)

Low

0.2%

0.6% 1.4%

57.70

27.00

16.25 78.10

26.40

71,977

16.07

8,334

133.60

132.20

10,384

-1.0%

119.10

116.00

6,578

-1.0%

-0.2%

67.70 9.10

66.80

4,521

8.85

7,244

High

133

% Change

Low

21.90

on high

14.00

-24.9%

369

85.50

68.00

-16.4%

-14.9%

10

24.97

18.60

-20.9%

23

31.90

-8.3%

26.25

67.00

-17.7%

50.00

-13.9%

-15.2%

52,386,810

nmf

-3.8%

13.1%

20,100,000

14.0

-7.5%

-11.7%

-7.6%

-3.6%

18,407,240

-12.4%

-22.4%

7,673,188

18.9%

12.1%

8

56.20

45.50

-10.1%

-6.5%

78

141.73

122.73

-5.7%

-3.3%

56

123.30

55.80

29 67

808

18.34

16.11

85.30

-11.7%

76.30

86.70 9.22

-8.7%

67.70

-22.7%

7.24

-2.6%

-3.9%

7.1%

4.8%

11,926,463

-5.0%

1.6%

76,670,000

-3.5%

14,190,000 8,972,273

7.1% 1.9%

112.4%

82.8%

1.1

7.5

-11.0%

-10.0%

129.50

516

10,214,522

1.5

12.1 9.3

148.00

-4.1%

-17.5%

PB

18.5

17,692,416

35

-4.6%

5,940,000

Trailing PE

-2.2%

118.80 22.50

8,957,025

-7.8%

-12.4%

146.80 28.10

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

0.1%

-3.9%

260

2,701

-5.0%

12 mths

13.8%

18.00

232

16.06

YTD

86

2,275

77.00

0.1%

52-Week

Volume ('000)

0.9

1.3

9.4

1.8

1.9

9.9

3.2

10.4

4.7

2.4

10.9

4.6

7,644,122

11.4

1.7

93,483,853

12.0

2.3

37,957,920 7,591,692

12.9

1.7

10.6

0.7

15.0

1.8

nmf

1.1

OMAN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 5,587 (-1.2%)

MSM Index (% Chg.)

115

Close

42% OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

0.50

Advance/Decline Ratio

0.65

RCCI.MSM Raysut Cement Co.

6,134 / 5,419 OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co. 3,792 NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman

MSM 52 week High / Low Turnover (OMR '000)

6,757,972

Market Cap (OMR '000)

% Chg.

BKMB.MSMBank Muscat

0.3%

1.21

0.2%

1.29

-0.2%

0.29

-1.0%

0.57

-3.3%

105

105

Highest Turnover 100

Worst Performers Turnover (OMR) 796,534 RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services 544,838 BKMB.MSMBank Muscat

B Bank Muscat

R Renaissance Services

356,605

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

95 15-Feb-12

15-Mar-12

15-Apr-12

15-May-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

254,737

R Raysut Cement Co.

111,880

N National Bank of Oman

Close

% Chg.

0.50

-9.7%

NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman

0.29

-1.0%

RCCI.MSM Raysut Cement Co.

1.21

0.2%

0.57

OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

-3.3%

1.29

-0.2%

Muscat SM

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

B Bank Dhofar

0.442

N National Bank of Oman

0.287

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

1.285

-0.2%

R Renaissance Services

0.501

-9.7%

B Bank Muscat

0.565

O Oman Cement Co.

R Raysut Cement Co.

0.647 1.205

-

Low

-

0.574

0.560

0.3%

0.650

0.645

0.2%

0.288 1.290

1.220

High

-

797

% Change

Low

0.537

on high

0.423

-17.7%

YTD

12 mths

-2.9%

Market Cap. (OMR '000)

-18.3%

Trailing PE

PB

486,251

12.1

318,003

8.8

1,409

0.671

0.572

-15.8%

-15.2%

-10.9%

1,015,188

33

0.693

0.416

-6.6%

49.8%

10.2%

214,075

15.5

-3.6%

58.6%

241,000

14.3

0.282

112

1.280

357

277

0.500

545

1,087

390

22

255

1.202

0.525

52-Week

Volume ('000)

-

-

-3.3% -1.0%

Turnover (OMR '000)

211

0.324

0.290

1.425

-11.4%

1.041

1.250

-9.8%

0.711

0.950

0.458

-47.3%

-8.0%

-5.0%

-1.8%

15.8%

963,750

12.9%

-8.1%

-46.6%

141,329

2.1

8.2

1.2 1.2

1.5

8.6

2.0

nmf

0.8

2.4

BAHRAIN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,156 (-0.1%)

BSE Index (% Chg.)

120

37% NBB.BSE 1.00 BBK.BSE

% of stocks trading above 1 yr avg. price Advance/Decline Ratio

1,378 / 1,129 AUB.BSE 235 #N/A

BSE 52 week High / Low

Turnover (BHD '000)

110

6,537,234

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

#N/A

Close

% Chg.

National Bank of Bahrain

0.56

0.9%

Ahli United Bank

0.61

-0.8%

BBK

0.39

#N/A

0.0%

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

105

Highest Turnover

101

100

Worst Performers Turnover (BHD) 57,670 AUB.BSE 31,868 BBK.BSE

A Ahli United Bank

N National Bank of Bahrain

788

B BBK

90 15-Feb-12

15-Mar-12 15-Apr-12 S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

B Albaraka Banking Grp.

15-May-12 Bahrain SE

#

#N/A

#N/A

-

NBB.BSE

Close 0.61

-0.8%

National Bank of Bahrain

0.56

0.9%

BBK

0.39

BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp. #N/A

% Chg.

Ahli United Bank

0.91 -

#N/A

#N/A

0.0%

#N/A

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

A Ahli United Bank*

0.610

-0.8%

A Arab Banking Corp.*

0.460

-

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

0.910 0.090

0.468

0.394 797

0.220

0.555

0.234

-

0.0% -

0.9% -

Low

Turnover (BHD '000) 153

0.610

0.610

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.394 -

0.555 -

-

-

-

-

0.394 -

-

-

-

0.540

52-Week

Volume ('000)

High

250

-9.8%

YTD 1.2%

12 mths

3,191,622

-19.3%

1,430,221

-2.5%

673,920

-30.0%

637,391

-7.5%

474,725

0.857

-11.6%

-2.6%

-11.6%

-

0.116

0.082

-22.4%

0.0%

-22.4%

-

-

0.530

2

59

0.486

0.420 797

0.420 0.380 0.390 797

-13.2%

9.5%

-3.7%

19.4%

0.0%

0.0%

-6.2%

-4.8%

-5.7%

0.240

0.065

-8.3%

238.5%

144.4%

0.424

0.234

-44.8%

-22.0%

-33.1%

0.600

0.545

-7.5%

-3.5%

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

-9.1%

1.029

32

0.599

on high

-

1

0.676

% Change

Low

922,927

Trailing PE

PB

10.1

1.3

7.7

0.8

84,571

nmf

0.8

335,434

10.5

588,952

195,287

6.8

0.4

8.6

1.3

4.5

0.6

10.3

1.7

nmf

nmf

1.4 1.0 0.9

LIFE

Exercising in the Heat

You shouldn’t stop exercising during the summer months, just because the mercury has jumped to uncomfortable heights. But you should take precautions to protect yourself against heat-related illness. The American Council on Exercise offers these guidelines: • Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.

• Don’t exercise as vigorously as you normally do, especially during the first few days of hotter weather.

• Pay attention to factors other than temperature, including humidity.

• Exercise early in the morning or late in the evening, to beat the hottest temperatures.

• Wear lightweight clothing that fits loosely.

• Listen to your body and take a rest when you need it.

wednesDAY, may 16, 2012

Global biodiversity down 30 percent in 40 years NEW YORK: The world’s biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s, according to a new report, with tropical species taking the biggest hit. And if humanity continues as it has been, the picture could get bleaker according to LiveScience.

Humanity is outstripping the Earth’s resources by 50 percent - essentially using the resources of one and a half Earths every year, according to the 2012 Living Planet Report, produced by conservation agency the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Colby Loucks, the director of conservation sciences at WWF, compared humanity to bad houseguests.

“We’re emptying the fridge, we’re not really taking care of the lawn, we’re not weeding the flower beds and we’re certainly not taking out the garbage,” Loucks said.

Marine (non-freshwater) species declined by 20 percent.

Many of the group’s proposed solutions to humanity’s out-of-control resource use center around Rio+20, the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development set for June 20, 2012. The meeting is designed to help create pathways for sustainable development in the future, said Kate Newman, WWF’s managing director of public sector initiatives.

She cited the example of Mozambique, a poor country that may be home to one of the largest natural gas fields in the world. As international companies arrive to exploit this resource, local planners are concerned about how to make sure the entire nation benefits, she said.

In the same way, global decision-makers need to think long-term, Loucks said.

“As we’re approaching a planet with 9 billion people on it, we need to find a global solution,” he said. “The challenge for us is this is a long-term problem. This is the Earth for millennia. We need to move beyond the election cycle, beyond the quarterly report cycle.”

Burning through resources

The biannual Living Planet report is designed to call attention to the Earth’s “invisible economy,” said Emily McKenzie, the director of the WWF’s Natural Capital Program. Natural resources - and the rate at which humans burn through them - rarely appear on policymakers’ balance sheets, McKenzie said.

But humanity is essentially in debt to Mother Earth, conservationists find. As of 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, humans were outstripping Earth’s biocapacity by 50 percent. Biocapacity is the amount of renewable resources, land, and waste absorption (such as sinks for carbon dioxide) the Earth can provide. In other words, it takes the planet 1.5 years to restore what humanity burns through in a year. (The organization Global Footprint Network marks “Earth Overshoot Day” every year to draw attention to how fast humans use natural resources. In 2011, Earth Overshoot

In order from most to least, the top 10 greediest resource users per capita are: FILE - “Earthrise” seen by the Apollo 8 astronauts in December 1968. (Agencies)

Day fell on Sept. 27, the day humans used up Earth’s annual resources.)

The report scientists calculated the world’s hogs when it comes to resources (called the ecological footprint) by determining each nation’s productive land capacity and comparing it to the actual population and consumption per person. The United States has the fifth-largest ecological footprint of any nation on Earth,

Plant ‘remembers,’ adapts to survive: Researcher

LUBBOCK, Texas: No one’s talking about giving intelligence tests, but researchers say they’ve shown that plants have smarts - the sort needed to help them survive dry times.

Years from now the findings could lead to crops that are better able to withstand drought conditions. Already, studies on two crops have shown they too have short-term memory for surviving dry times, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher Michael Fromm’s said.

He contends his team’s findings are the first of their kind in life forms above yeasts.

The outcome of Fromm’s initial study, with a member of the mustard family, confirmed what many nursery professionals and home gardeners have observed: Stressing plants helps them adapt and aids them in surviving transplanting.

“It’s important that it’s in all plants, but the next part of the story will have to move the research forward,” Fromm said. “There’s no question this is a critical long-term problem. Drought tolerance is extremely important but it’s also extremely difficult.”

He declined to name the two crops he and his team studied subsequent to work with Arabidopsis - the mustard plant - citing confidentiality issues with the peer-reviewed journal scheduled to publish those results later this year.

In the mustard plant research, Fromm and his team compared reactions of plants stressed by withholding water to those that got water. The ones that went without water - the trained or stressed plants - bounced back more quickly the next time they got dehydrated. Those that got water - the untrained or non-stressed plants - wilted faster and their leaves lost water at a faster rate than the trained ones.

There were changes at a molecular level when the trained plants were deprived of water again. When water was then made available, the changes reverted back to normal levels. That changed, though, after subsequent periods of drought as the plants “remembered” their molecular response to stress.

“There’s a connection between the environmental stress, the drought, and the plant response with not only physiological changes but developmental changes,” Fromm said.

“That’s a decision the plant makes that we think this process can influence.”

The mustard plant forgot the previous stress “memory” after five days of watering, but the researchers said other plants’ memories could be different.

“It kind of backs up what a lot of people have thought,” Texas Tech horticulture professor Thayne Montague said. “Once a plant is exposed to stress, drought ... it can be a beneficial response short term. Now, long term that hasn’t really been looked at.”

One Lubbock woman, president of the city’s 60-member master gardener program, said she thinks a plant’s roots are keys to drought survival. The shorter the root, a result of overwatering, the less the plant will tolerate drought.

“Plants don’t think,” Barbara Robertson said. “It almost has to have something to do with the root system. A stressed plant with deep roots is going to do better.”

The Nebraska research team’s results could be transferred to row crops, such as corn, cotton or wheat, but that potential is still about 20 years away, Fromm said. Ideally, the goal would be to have the memory last from growing season to growing season.

“That may or may not exist,” Fromm said. “Our discovery goes just a few days.”

Murray Coulter, a genetic biologist who taught at Texas Tech University for more than three decades, said Fromm’s research isn’t saying plants have a central nervous system and can think. But if it’s just one gene that needs modifying, he said, he thinks the technology could be in crop fields in five years.

That would help producers in the world’s largest continguous cotton patch, on the South Plains.

“Having a dry season would not impact them economically,” Coulter said. “The less water they use the more profit they make.” -AP

according to the report.

Struggling species

All of this resource use is taking a toll. The Living Planet report also tracks biodiversity and species populations across the globe. This year’s report details a startling loss of biodiversity around the globe: A loss of 30 percent of biodiversity on average, meaning a major

decline in the number of different species of plants, animals and other organisms. Temperate species are doing relatively well, Loucks said, but tropical species have declined by 60 percent since the 1970s. Freshwater tropical species are the hardest-hit, having declined by 70 percent in that time period.

Globally, terrestrial species declined by 25 percent between 1970 and 2008,WWF reports.

Qatar Kuwait United Arab Emirates Denmark United States Belgium Australia Canada The Netherlands Ireland

April 2012 heats up as 5th warmest month globally WASHINGTON: Meteorologists say unseasonable weather pushed last month to the fifth warmest April on record worldwide.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center calculated that April’s average temperature of 57.9 degrees (14.4

degrees Celsius) was nearly 1.2 degrees (0.7 degrees Celsius) above the 20th Century normal. Two years ago was the hottest April since recordkeeping started in 1880.

Last month was the third hottest April in the United States and unusually warm in Russia, but cooler

Anorexic and obese brains differ: Study NEW YORK: Eating is one of the most important parts of life, but sometimes it seems to go horribly awry. Eating disorders like anorexia and obesity are deadly, and new research suggests that they may be due to faulty wiring in the brain.

“It is clear that in humans the brain’s reward system helps to regulate food intake” study researcher Guido Frank, of the University of Colorado, said in a statement.”

The specific role of these networks in eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and, conversely, obesity, remains unclear,” though the recent study sheds a new light in the area.

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people intentionally starve themselves, sometimes to death, and seem to have a distorted view of themselves and a fear of gaining weight. Obesity, on the other hand, is when a person is incredibly overweight.

Many causes have been suggested for obesity, including genetics, viral infections, and even chemicals in food, but most likely it’s a complex disease with many different causes.

A new study shows that reward circuits in the brain seem to be different based on a person’s approach to food. These reward circuits send out feel-

good signals to the body and brain in response to behaviors that will keep the individual alive and reproducing - like eating and sex.

The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain activity in 63 women who were either anorexic or obese, and compared their brains to those of women considered “normal” weight.

Before the brain scans, participants were visually conditioned to associate certain shapes with either a sweet or a non-sweet solution. Then, they received the taste solutions expectedly or unexpectedly as the researchers monitored their brain activity. This task has been associated with brain dopamine function in the past.

The study found that these reward circuits are “sensitized” in anorexic women and “desensitized” in obese women. During these sessions, an unexpected sweet-tasting solution resulted in increased neural activation of reward systems in the anorexic patients and diminished activation in obese individuals. This diminished reward could be what drives obese people to eat and eat and eat, trying to satisfy their need to activate that reward circuit in their brains.

than normal in parts of western Europe. This is despite a now ended La Nina which generally lowers global temperatures. April was the 326th warmer than normal month in a row for the world.

The first four months of 2012 only rank the 15th warmest on record. -AP

Poaching puts pressure on Malayan tiger

PARIS: A Malaysian government plan to double its population of endangered Malayan tigers to 1,000 through tighter protection is under threat due to persistent poaching, a conservation group warned Tuesday.

Illegal hunting, fuelled by continued demand for tiger parts remains a serious threat to the animal and other endangered wildlife, MYCAT Tracks, an alliance of conservation groups, said in a report. The Malayan tiger is a subspecies of the great cat and is found in central and southern parts of the Malayan peninsula. In 2009, the government announced a plan to double the wild Malayan tiger population – now estimated at just 500 – by the year 2020.

Conservationists say factors behind the fall in numbers include poaching, declines in prey such as deer and wild boars, and habitat loss due to agricultural development. But protective measures, among them a ban on deer hunting aimed at preserving tiger food sources, are being cancelled out by continued poaching, MYCAT Tracks said.

“This is evidenced by the discovery of many poaching signs and close to a thousand snares in (key tiger habitat areas) between 2010 and 2011 as well as the arrest of several poachers,” it said.

WWF-Malaysia has previously said demand for wildlife parts to be used in traditional Chinese medicine posed a grave threat to tigers and a range of other species. There were an estimated 3,000 tigers in Malaysia as recently as the 1950s but numbers have steadily declined since. -AFP

Dinosaur-era insects frozen in time during oldest pollination NEW YORK: With massive dinosaurs towering above, tiny female insects called thrips had just dusted themselves with hundreds of pollen grains from a gingko tree more than 100 million years ago when they perished, only to be preserved in tree resin called amber. The discovery, detailed this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the oldest known record of insect pollination according to LiveScience.

(Pollination occurs when either the wind or an animal, mostly insects, deliver pollen from a plant’s male reproductive organ to the female parts either on the same plant or another one.)

During the lower Cretaceous Period when the newly discovered thrips lived, flowering plants would have just started to diversify, eventually replacing conifers as the dominant species, the researchers said.

“This is the oldest direct evidence for pollination, and the only one from the age of the dinosaurs,” study researcher Carmen Soriano said in a statement. “The co-evolution of flowering plants and insects, thanks to pollination, is a great evolutionary success story.”

Soriano and an international team of scientists studying the two pieces of amber, which were discovered in what is now northern Spain, say the specimens date back between 110 million and 105 million years ago.

They found six female thrips, also called thysanopterans, enclosed in the amber, with hundreds of pollen grains attached to their tiny bodies - the insects are just 2 millimeters long. The thrips, the researchers

FILE - Reconstruction of Gymnospollisthrips with pollen attached to the body over an ovulate organ of a gingko. (Agencies)

found, belong to a new genus now named Gymnopollisthrips, with two new species, G. minor and G. major.

After the amber pieces’ initial discovery, they were then kept in a collection of the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava in Spain.

To get a closer look at the pollination event frozen in time, the team used synchrotron X-ray tomogra-

phy at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), focusing on the most representative of the amber-encapsulated thrips. In synchrotron X-ray tomography, charged particles are sent speeding through magnetic fields; these particles release high-energy light that can then pierce opaque materials to reveal three-dimensional, high-resolution images.

16

ALWATAN DAILY

CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, may 16, 2012

Mary Poppins musical to be staged at the British School of Kuwait

The cast of “Mary Poppins” rehearsing on stage at the Shakespeare Theater on May 14, 2012. (Al Watan Daily) Onilda Fernandes Staff Writer

KUWAIT: That wonderful English nursemaid, Mary Poppins, who has charmed millions of children (and grownups) throughout the world gliding through the skies, is going to touch ground at The Shakespeare Theater of The British School of Kuwait (BSK) on May 17, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m.

Though the limitations of a theater won’t allow for a lot of supernatural effects, the musical that will be staged, promises to have Mary Poppins flying, Michael and Jane being swept up the chimney, and a couple of other well conjured magic tricks. “There are certain things we just can’t do and I think that’s what’s been the most challenging aspect of this production--getting a film script to fit on stage. Nonetheless, our creative team has done a great job with the lighting, set design and of course you can’t beat the talent. Each and every one of the kids here is brilliant, which makes my job so much easier,” shared Mike Hewlett, a drama teacher at BSK and the Director of “Mary Poppins” with Al Watan Daily, during the final rehearsal of the musical.

There were shouts of lights check, sound check, characters rushing in and out of stage, hurriedly going over their

script and overall pandemonium but Hewlett admits he wouldn’t trade this for anything. “I love teaching drama. It is a passion! I have trained as an actor in the UK and struggled before I finally settled on becoming a drama teacher. I have seen the British Academy of International Arts (BAIA)’s last production “The Lion King” and I know I have a hard act to follow. If I achieve even half that level, I’ll be happy. The last few days were difficult for all of us, one of the actors got injured but the good thing is, I can ask any one of them to switch over to another part and they’d do it.”

With its airborne spins, back flips, rambunctious kicks, some exciting and nimble dancing, some deliciously animated sequences, a spinning musical score and the enchantments of a beautiful production, the cast of about 40 who have been rehearsing for five months now, can’t wait to go live. “It’s so much fun. I have been acting for such a long time and dancing forever,” said lead actress Savitri Butterworth who plays “Mary Poppins”. “When the auditions took place I knew my chances were good as there were not a lot of girls my age who tried out. I took some time to research my character but a musical is slightly difficult than a normal play. Here, I have to lead the cast, learn my lines, sing; it’s a lot to do but still, so much fun!”

Sixty portraits reveal Queen’s many faces

Yusuf Al-Muzairai, who enacts “Mr. Banks” also found the script really interesting. Studying at the American University of Kuwait, he has been a part of BAIA for 3 years now and really enjoys the acting process. “I don’t particularly like the aftermath, so I have not seen a single video of myself but it’s great to be part of the learning process. Every day I learn something new and it’s sad that the opportunities in Kuwait are very limited,” said Al-Muzairai.

“I’m going to miss them,” exclaimed 8 year old Sulaiman Al-Asfour who is going to be “Michael” in the musical. “I have been with them continuously for the last four months.

I really love acting and want to continue doing this.”

The role of “Mrs. Banks” will be played by Hannah Parks, the first musical where she has a main part. “Working together with an ensemble like this, is like sharing mutual energy, as compared to having an individual part in a play. I have had a really good time so far.”

“Jane” will be represented by Matilda Shelford which is also a big break for the little girl and her last opportunity on stage in Kuwait. “I leave in the next few months so this will be a nice memory to take home with me.”

Jake Al-Dookhi, who personates “Bert”, the chimney sweep started acting when he was a mere 8 years of age.

Vision Express is all about fashion sense, professionalism and quality for value

“There will be significant changes in eye care and health services and due to constant developing technologies, eye care will be more interactive and stimulating”

Ricky Laxa Staff Writer

FILE - A man looks at a photo of Queen Elizabeth II by Annie Leibovitz, as a hologram Chris Levine hangs in the foreground at ‘The Queen: Art and Image’ exhibiton in Belfast in January. (AFP)

PARIS: Queen Elizabeth II is meditating. Swathed in white fur and with her eyes closed, she seems momentarily far from the heavy responsibilities she carries. This intimate portrait, a hologram by photographer Chris Levine, is one of sixty pictures of the British monarch on show at London’s National Portrait Gallery from Thursday to mark her diamond jubilee.

From stiff official portraits to her defaced image on an infamous record sleeve by punk rockers the Sex Pistols, the exhibition explores many facets of a queen who, after six decades on the throne, is still something of a mystery.

“The queen remains a fascinating character, an enigma,” said Paul Moorhouse, curator of “The Queen: Art and Image”, which has come to the capital following a tour of Britain. “These are questioning images,” he told AFP. “Some of these pictures really ask: do we need a queen? And what is she for?”

From the 1960s, snapshots of the queen at breakfast with her family or sifting through paperwork with her private secretary began to appear alongside the traditional portraits of her in full regalia.

This portrayal of her as a working woman and a mother marked a radical departure from previous monarchs who maintained a distance between themselves and their subjects.

As one image from 1968 recalls, the queen even invited television cameras to film a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the royals -- a decision she reportedly later regretted. “I think the decision to shed the regal image and try to become more ordinary, more down to earth, was a risky move,” said Moorhouse.

“When you become more informal, contempt can creep in -- and that’s actually what happened.”

By 1977 the Sex Pistols had dared to black out the queen’s eyes and mouth on the cover of their single “God Save the Queen”, which was banned by the BBC for comparing the British monarchy to a “fascist regime”.

“The Sex Pistols image actually desecrates the image of the queen,” said Moorhouse. “That still creates a lot of controversy, even now.”

Several photographs explore the major crises suffered by the family over the following two decades, which saw, among other setbacks, the divorce of three of the queen’s four children.

A grainy image captures her shock as, garbed in a raincoat; she inspects the wreckage of her Windsor Castle residence following a devastating fire in 1992.

Another shows the queen and her husband Prince Philip standing at the gates of Buckingham Palace, among huge piles of flowers left in homage to Princess Diana after her death in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

Their grim faces recall the huge plunge in public support for the monarchy following the queen’s initial refusal to speak publicly about the death of her former daughter-in-law. Since then, said Moorhouse, “she has regained the affection and the respect of the nation” -but works from the last decade suggest contemporary artists feel free to let their views on the monarchy be known on the canvas.

An unflattering oil painting by Lucian Freud in 2001 shows the queen looking jowly and care-worn, emphasizing her age and experience.

Meanwhile a voodoo-inspired portrait by Hew Locke, who grew up in Guyana, depicts her with wide yellow eyes peeking eerily out of a melee of beads, flowers, plastic scorpions and miniature gorillas.

Locke told AFP he was neither a republican nor a monarchist, but said it had felt strange growing up in a South American nation where his schoolbooks were emblazoned with the queen’s image because it was a British colony.

In contrast Chris Levine, who snapped the queen with her eyes closed, said he had “genuine affection” for her. “She’s a very dear old lady,” he said, as well as “a very powerful person”.

Even a woman who is head of state of 16 nations has her carefree moments, some of which are captured in the exhibition.

Patrick Lichfield snaps her laughing on the deck of her beloved Britannia, the royal yacht decommissioned in 1997, while American photographer Eve Arnold shows her beaming up towards the sky from under an umbrella in 1968.

And in the earliest portraits, the young queen is the epitome of 1950s elegance.

“People saw Diana as glamorous, and now Kate Middleton is going through it,” Moorhouse said. “But they forget that at 24, the queen herself was seen as an attractive woman -- not least by Winston Churchill,” he added. -AFP

“Being part of “Mary Poppins” though has really been enjoyable. Although singing and dancing is not my strong suit, we have had great help from the choreographers and director. Am scared about going live but that’s a good thing. It means I really want it.”

Intending to pursue acting as a career, 17 year old AlDookhi realizes it’s going to be very hard to get a job without living in a trashcan but he is weighing his options. “As of now, Kuwait offers a lot of opportunities, if you look for them. There is BAIA and KLT, not to mention others.”

Kamara Gray, one of the two choreographers, who is also a teacher of jazz tap and musical theater, felt the most challenging aspect of “Mary Poppins” was teaching routines to a 6 year old as well as the 30 year old regular adult. “But they all get on so well and help each other out. This show is as professional as it can get, so far away from Broadway.

Some of these kids have not even seen a live musical, which for me being brought up in the UK, is very normal. They have all worked very hard, so let’s hope, it goes well.”

Concluded Hewlett, “The audience will laugh, cry and feel good when they leave the auditorium. It will bring back memories for all families, children and even grandparents. I hope it sells out because it really is worth it!”

KUWAIT: Built on a passion for the optical profession and a drive for unparalleled customer service, Vision Express opened the first “one-hour” opticians in 1988. A leading optical brand in the UK, Ireland and Poland, Vision Express brand has been operational in the Middle East market for seven years initially trading as Pearle Opticians. It recently became Vision Express.

In March 2007,Vision Express opened its first store in the Middle East in The Avenues Mall in Kuwait. Vision Express has a strong reputation in eye care, quality and customer service and provides onehour service in many of its stores with an optical lab. Vision Express brings the latest fashion, affordable and exciting designer brands to the Middle East including Dior, Bvlgari, Gucci, Tom Ford, Vogue, Dolce and Gabbana, Ray-Ban, Ralph Lauren and more. Aside from its outstanding services, Vision Express offers a free of charge eye exam, one-hour prompt eye care, great brands, transparent prices, a wide range of kids’ collections, state of the art technology lenses and value in choice and collection.

In an interview with the Business Director of Vision Express Mark Finn, he gave details of why Vision Express takes the lead in the field of eye care and health.

Finn explained that regions in the Middle East are still lacking in information on the importance and significance of eye care and for that reason Vision Express provides cutting edge optical equipment and ensures that latest innovations on contact lenses, spectacles and other eye care products are available to its customers. Finn explained further that adhering to Vision Express’ step by step procedures in dealing with clients is essential. Such procedure includes a warm welcoming

smile, a comprehensive eye check followed by suggested solutions and an array of choices of quality and value lenses and frames.

Finn said Kuwait’s clients are highly fashion-brand conscious and due to high demand, Vision Express continuously adds new collections to their wide range of choices. “Since shopping is one of the most preferred leisure activities in Kuwait, Vision Express provides browsers and returning clients a variety of best value and quality brands. Vision Express carries almost fifty top names that cater to customers many of whom like to match their eyewear with their outfits,” commented Finn. Vision Express changes it stocks twice a year, and brings in new items on weekly basis.

On health benefits, Finn said that a regular eye check is vital for everyone and that product purchase must be based on each individual customer’s needs and requirements. Finn added that “polarized” lenses offer the best protection from Ultra Violet rays (UV), and the elimination of

object reflection in car mirrors, thus making driving safe and providing better vision during transition from bright to dark places.

“In a couple of years, there will be significant changes in eye care and health services, and due to constant developing technologies, eye care will be more interactive and stimulating. Vision Express will be at the forefront to provide these cutting edge technologies and incomparable services.

Vision Express is an accessible optical retailer offering products and services that cater to each and every customer’s taste and need. For example, we have great brands, but we also recognize that a number of customers are price-sensitive.

Therefore, we make sure to provide a value range that includes frames and sunglasses that start from KD15,” said Finn.

Vision Express is located in Abu Halifa, Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Al-Bairak, The Avenues Mall, Salwa, Marina Mall, Rawda and soon to open its flagship store in The Avenues.

Business Director of Vision Express Mark Finn with staff. (Al Watan Daily)

ALWATAN DAILY

entertainment Song Of The Day

Fahad AlSabah Staff Writer

Song: Rascal Artist: iamamiwhoami Album: Rascal - Single Genre: Alternative In short: “Rascal” is the latest single in the long-running kin series; the song shows off a different, playful side of iam, which is captured more flawlessly in the accompanying music video. kin, the band/person/enigma’s debut audio-visual album is set to be released on June 11. If there were ever an album to purchase physical copies of, it’s kin.

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

The Buzz Bret Michaels settles case over 2009 Tony’s mishap Bret Michaels and organizers of the Tony Awards have settled a lawsuit filed by the rocker after a 2009 incident in which he was hit in the head with a set piece and suffered injuries that he claimed contributed to a brain hemorrhage that nearly killed him. The confidential settlement also covers Michaels’ claims against CBS Broadcasting, which aired the show and the mishap. The Poison frontman blamed the network for airing the moment, which became which a viral video watched by tens of millions of people online, and claimed Tony Awards producers never warned him there would be a set change after he and his band performed “Nothin’ But a Good Time.” The whack initially left Michaels with a busted lip and broken nose but also caused brain bleeding, the lawsuit claimed. He was hospitalized in April 2010, and doctors found he had a brain hemorrhage and he later suffered a warning stroke, which the musician says nearly killed him.

Michaels’ attorney Alex Weingarten said details of the settlement would not be released. Michaels sued in March 2011 in Los Angeles, but a judge later moved the case to New York City. The agreement came after a mediation session was held on Friday. -AP

No common-law marriage for Gary Coleman: Judge A Utah judge has dealt a blow to a bid by Gary Coleman’s ex-wife to gain control of the late child TV star’s estate. The Salt Lake Tribune reports Judge James Taylor ruled Monday that Coleman and Shannon Price didn’t have a common-law marriage, despite living together after they divorced. Coleman died of a brain hemorrhage in 2010. Taylor is deciding whether Price or Coleman’s ex-girlfriend Anna Gray is entitled to his estate. The judge says Price moved out of Coleman’s home multiple times after their 2008 divorce and the couple didn’t give a public impression of marriage. Price has said she and Coleman “couldn’t be without each other,” even after their divorce. Gray managed Coleman’s affair for years and says Coleman named her a beneficiary and executor of his estate in 2005. At stake is a house worth more than $300,000, intellectual rights to some of Coleman’s works and the “Diff’rent Strokes” star’s ashes. -AP

Real Housewife NeNe Leakes lands role in Murphy comedy “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes has landed a role on Ryan Murphy’s upcoming NBC comedy “The New Normal,” Reuters has learned. It is not yet known what character Leakes will play, but this won’t be the first time that the reality personality/actress has worked with Murphy - she also has a recurring role on “Glee,” as Coach Roz. The single-camera series is described as a “heartwarming comedy about a blended family of a gay couple and the woman who becomes a surrogate to help them start a family.” Andrew Rannells (“Girls”), Justin Bartha (“The Hangover”) and Ellen Barkin also star. -Reuters

Anchorman 2 trailer to run before The Dictator “Anchorman” legend Ron Burgundy is coming back to the big screen, and now there’s visual proof. A teaser trailer for “Anchorman 2,” starring Will Ferrell as the inimitable Burgundy, will air with midnight showings of “The Dictator” Tuesday night. Will Ferrell, who starred as Burgundy in the first film, announced that the long-awaited sequel was finally a go at the end of March. Burgundy’s Twitter account then revealed that a trailer would debut Tuesday, posting, “Dont get Twirter. Anchorman2 teaser w Dictator tom night. Dont know what a teaser is. World is crazy? Having a scotch.” In that tweet, Burgundy also posted a photo of himself, looking dapper as ever. Reports of the trailer surfaced a couple of days ago as people returned from advanced screenings of the Sacha Baron Cohen film talking about the trailer. Then writer and producer Adam McKay hinted at it. -Reuters

Storage Wars season 3 premieres on June 5 “Storage Wars,” the most-watched series on A&E, returns on June 5 with more than two dozen new episodes for its third season. Back-to-back new installments kick off a season that will include 26 episodes in all. Season two averaged 4.7 million total viewers as the show continues to be the most popular program in A&E history. Season three will see the return of the series’ original cast members including breakout star Barry Weiss, treasure-hunting couple Jarrod and Brandi, Darrell Sheets and son Brandon, and Dave Hester, the selfproclaimed “The Mogul,” who rubs his castmates the wrong way. -Reuters

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

17

Cowell is thrilled with new X Factor stars Spears, Lovato

NEW YORK: Britney Spears and former Disney Channel star Demi Lovato officially joined the US version of “The X Factor” on Monday, leading creator Simon Cowell to pledge the second season would “seriously kick butt” when it returns in September.

Spears, 30, the world’s biggest pop phenomenon of the 2000s, and Lovato, 19, will fill the judge’s slots left open by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired

by Cowell after a disappointing first season in 2011. Spears and Lovato appeared with Cowell and fellow judge Antonio “L.A” Reid at Fox television’s presentation of its new 2012-13 season programming to advertisers in New York.

The announcement ended months of speculation over the new faces on the singing contest, which offers a $5 million recording contract to a new star found from tens of thousands of ordinary Americans.

“We’ve delivered. Rumors are one thing but we’ve delivered,” a delighted Cowell said. Moments earlier he tweeted a photo of himself with record producer Reid, Spears and Lovato, saying “Can’t believe it’s finally happening. Very exciting!”

Spears found fame as a 16-year-old in 1998 with her debut single “Baby One More Time” and went on to score multiple hits with songs like “Crazy”, “Oops I Did It Again” and “Womanizer.” She had a much-publicized personal and career meltdown in 2007, but made a comeback with her 2008 album “Cir-

“The X Factor” judges, from left, L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell and Britney Spears attend the FOX network upfront presentation party at Wollman Rink, Monday, May 14, 2012 in New York. (AP)

cus” and a world tour.

“I’m so excited by this whole experience.

It’s so different from anything I’ve ever done,” Spears said in New York.

Lovato starred in the Disney Channel’s TV series “Sonny With a Chance” before launching a career as a pop singer with hit singles like “Skyscraper”.

Lady Gaga will have to cancel Indonesia concert

JAKARTA: Lady Gaga will have to cancel her sold-out show in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt the youth.

National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar, responding to the pressure, said Tuesday that the permit for her June 3 “Born This Way Ball” concert had been denied.

Indonesia, a nation of 240 million people, has more Muslims than any other. Although it is secular and has a long history of religious tolerance, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

Hard-liners have loudly criticized Lady Gaga, saying the suggestive nature of her show threatened to undermine the country’s moral fiber. Some threatened to use physical force to prevent her from stepping off the plane.

Lawmakers and religious leaders, too, have spoken out against her. Worried they could not guarantee security, local police recommended the permit for the show be denied, said Amar, adding that national police decided Tuesday to comply.

It was supposed to be the biggest show on Lady Gaga’s Asian tour, with fans snapping up every seat in Jakarta’s 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium half of them in the first two hours of sales.

Permits usually are issued about three

Motorists ride past a promotional banner for US singer Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball Asia Tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 15, 2012. (AP)

weeks before a concert in Jakarta, so it is common to sell tickets well ahead of receiving the permit.

It was not immediately clear if the ticket sales would be refunded. The local promoter, Michael Rusli, could not be reached for comment.

“I’m very disappointed,” said Maris-

ka Renata, who had tickets to the Jakarta show.

She said by bowing to the wishes of “troublemakers,” authorities only give them more power. “We are mature enough to be able to separate our own moral values from arts and culture,” Renata said. -AP

“Demi’s had an amazing career in music, TV and film for someone her age. She’s young, confident and enthusiastic. I think it’s really important that she speaks to our younger audience,” Cowell said in a statement.

Fox gave no details of their contracts, but Spears is widely reported to be getting $15 million for a single season, which would make her one of the highest-paid TV reality show judges. Cowell launched the US version of “X Factor” last September with great fanfare and boasts that it would topple aging “American Idol” as America’s most-watched TV show.

But “X Factor” mustered only about 13 million viewers - around half the audience for “American Idol” - and many critics disliked its brash, noisy production and felt it added little that was new to the crowded TV singing contest field.

“The X Factor” faces further challenges in its second season following NBC’s decision to air its hit singing contest “The Voice” in the fall of 2012, as well as the spring. Cowell said on Monday that other changes were being made to the show but gave no details.

“This year we’re going to seriously kick butt. I’m thrilled ‘The Voice’ is going to compete with us, but second’s not great,” the acid-tongued Briton said in New York. Fox and Cowell have yet to announce a new host after firing little-known Briton Steve Jones in January. Cowell has said he would like two hosts - a man and a woman - but no names have yet emerged. -Reuters

Jay-Z announces 2-day Philly music festival

PHILADELPHIA: Jay-Z is in a Philadelphia State of Mind: The rapper announced a two-day music festival Monday in the City of Brotherly Love.

The “Budweiser Made in America” festival will feature nearly 30 acts “that embody the American spirit” across three stages at Fairmount Park on Sept 1. and Sept. 2, which is Labor Day weekend. “It’s such an iconic place, so it felt like a natural fit,” Jay-Z said of Philadelphia in an interview after the news conference. “You’ll get to come out and have two great days, listen to some amazing music (and) discover some new bands.”

Jay-Z was joined by Mayor Michael Nutter atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by the movie “Rocky.” A feverish crowd of fans was on hand, chanting his name. When one yelled out that Jay-Z was the best, the rapper paused and said: “I agree.”

New York-born Jay-Z said 70 percent of the acts are confirmed, and will include rap, rock, R&B, Latin and dance artists.

“I’ve always believed in great music,” he said.

“I don’t believe in the lines that separate music. ... That’s for people that can’t easily define what they’re hearing, so they have to put it in some sort of box. Me, I listen to anything I like.”

The festival will benefit the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

The full list of performers will be announced May 21 and tickets go on sale May 23. One possible performer will already be in town: Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to play at Citizens Bank Park on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3. Jay-Z, 42, also talked about a film deal between his Roc Nation imprint and Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment. The entrepreneur said they’re close to completing the film “Annie,” which will star Smith’s daughter, singer Willow. -AP

Real ‘Jersey Boys’ to embark on national tour

FAIR LAWN: In a basement in a quiet suburb 10 miles west of Manhattan, the characters of a bygone era in pop music are brought to life in mellifluous four-part harmony. This is hardly your average baby boomer garage band, though: Made up of former members of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, this weekend they officially launch a nationwide reunion tour as “The Hit Men” that will take them through next May. The venues are more modest than the sold-out arenas they played to across the globe in the ‘70s, but don’t tell that to drummer Gerry Polci, keyboardist Lee Shapiro and guitarist Don Ciccone they’re having way too much fun.

Spurred by the runaway success of “Jersey Boys,” the Tony Award-winning 2005 Broadway musical based on the Four Seasons’ career, Polci - the lead singer on “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night),” the group’s last No. 1 hit - and the others, all in their late 50s and early 60s, decided to re-form, along with an Alist group of studio musicians, and give touring one more shot.

Over bagels and coffee recently at the house of bassist Larry Gates, which doubles as the band’s clubhouse and music studio, the members marveled at the response they’ve received at some of the dates they’ve played as a test run.

Ryan, Gates and Russ Velazquez, a singer and player of multiple instruments, are the hired guns brought in to fill out the group, and they draw from a deep well of musical experience. Ryan and Ciccone, high school buddies from New Jersey, had pop hits in the ‘60s as The Critters with “Mr. Dieingly Sad” and the John Sebastian-penned “Younger Girl.” Ryan went on to back Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens and others, and carved out a career as a composer for film and TV. Gates is a composer and producer who has worked with Grammy and Tony winners and once recorded the likes of jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Bob James in his basement studio in Fair Lawn. He and Shapiro have known one another since they were 8. Velazquez was a sought-after vocalist who sang on hundreds of commercials in the ‘90s and

has composed for “Sesame Street” and other shows. The former Seasons have remained active in music, as well.

When they met in 1973, they were three authentic Jersey Boys barely out of their teens, and the Four Seasons were deep in debt and hadn’t had a chart hit in several years. Along with Valli and songwriter Bob Gaudio, they successfully transformed the group’s sound from doowop-influenced ‘60s pop to ‘70s disco with songs like “Swearin’ To God,” ‘’Who Loves You” and “December 1963.”

“The ‘70s got them out of debt and made their business viable,” Polci said.

The current band’s set list features the gamut of Four Seasons hits dating back to 1962’s “Sherry,” as well as songs by other artists the members of the group have performed with. Each song is prefaced by a personal reminiscence. “Every song has a setup, a backstory and a personal experience that somebody in the band had with the artist or the song,” Gates said. “People love that, because they feel like they’re getting a glimpse behind the scenes.” -AP

Actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin is upbeat NEW YORK: A Canadian actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin was upbeat Monday about the case as her lawyer said she had a legitimate reason for contacting the star.

“I’m confident that my lawyers are going to solve this,” Genevieve Sabourin said after a brief, procedural appearance in a Manhattan court.

Baldwin, 54, and Sabourin, 40, met on the set of the 2002 sci-fi comedy “The Adventures of Pluto Nash,” in which he had a cameo and

she was a publicist. Baldwin told authorities they had dinner together in the fall of 2010.

Sabourin was arrested last month after authorities said she sent the “30 Rock” star a series of emails imploring him to see and to marry her - emails allegedly sent days after Baldwin became engaged to yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas.

One of Sabourin’s messages envisioned the actor as her future “husband,” while another described “creating Genevieve Bald-

Entertainer Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, right, accompanied by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter speaks at a news conference at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, May 14, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP)

win,” the complaint said. Authorities said she also showed up at a screening he was hosting and at Baldwin’s apartment building, where she was arrested April 8 on misdemeanor stalking and harassment charges.

“I just came over to see Alec because I need to speak with him,” she told police, according to a court document filed late last month. She also is believed to have turned up unannounced at his home in the Hamptons in March.

But defense lawyer Maurice Sercarz said Sabourin had a relationship with the actor, but he wouldn’t describe the ties between the two. A prior Sabourin lawyer said they had a two-year “mutual relationship.”

“There was no effort at harassment, and there was no stalking here,” Sercarz said after the court hearing. “My client had a legitimate purpose for her efforts to contact Mr. Baldwin.” Baldwin’s publicist declined to comment Monday. -AP

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ALWATAN DAILY

AROUND TOWN / TIME OUT

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

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

Feature o f

graffiti

the day

moderately confused

Ambassador of India inaugurates Courier Service

Sudoku

Elementary

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of India in Kuwait Shri Satish C. Mehta inaugurated the Courier Service facility for delivering the processed passports to the applicants at BLS Centre, Sharq on May 15, 2012. The service is optional in nature and meant to save applicants the inconvenience of coming back to the BLS out-

Month a t

Advanced

Intermediate

source centers at Sharq/Fahaheel to collect processed passports. The facility is expected to be of use to the Indian community as well as to other nationals seeking visa to India.

An Indian national Ahammed Basha was the first applicant to avail of this service.

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

a glance ation projects that reflect their ability to visualize and process the complex intersection between concept, design and the individual voice. Social activism campaigns to re-brand identity is the core essence of this year’s exhibition.

Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main May 18/ 7 p.m. / Maidan Hawally: Indian Cultural Society presents” Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main” with renowned playback singer from Bollywood Abhijeet and world fame theater cum comedy king Umar Sharif from Pakistan. The Chief Guest for the event will be Ambassador of India, Kuwait. Also guest of honor will be prominent personalities from Kuwait and respected embassies from different countries. It will take place at Dr. Kamil Al Rayes Auditorium, AIS opposite Police Station. Contact numbers for your assistance and information: 97270386, 94450833.

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

IMAK organizes public program

Golden era club May 11 and 25/ 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. / Rumaithiya: Golden Era Club presents ‘The Eight Fold Path to Yoga’. Yoga here! Yoga there! Yoga everywhere! Yet, few comprehend Yoga’s true nature! Join Yoga Guru - Aacharya Shashikala Pushkarna - on this unique journey to the true ‘union’ between the mind, body and spirit. All seniors (60+) are cordially invited. Venue- House #34, next to Abu-Tammam Intermediate School for Boys, Sate Alhusari St., Block 2, Rumaithiya. For registration call 97172788/ 66208183 or drop a line to goldenera60@yahoo.com

Kuwait Fashion Showcase May 14-16/ 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. / Crowne Plaza Hotel: The Kuwait Fashion Showcase (KFS), a premiere fashion, beauty and bridal exhibition of high end fashion labels from the Middle East, Europe and India. The KFS exhibition is different not only because it will bring together well-accomplished brands from international markets but also because the magnitude and influence of it will surpass all previously held exhibitions in its field.

Graphic Design exhibition May 15-17/ 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. / AUK: The Art & Graphic Design Program (GDES) at AUK will be holding the official opening of the Spring Senior Capstone Exhibition. Under the supervision of Professor Maryam Hosseinnia, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at AUK, students will be displaying their gradu-

May 24/ Rawdah: Indian Muslim Association-Kuwait cordially invites you with family and friends for a public program - Protect yourself and your progeny from hell fire (Quran 66:6) on Thursday at Jamiyatul Islah Auditorium Rawdah, adjacent to highway 40. Dinner packet shall be served after the program. Contact: 99037240|66037944|66218674 for more details.

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

Carnatic concert May 24/ 6:30 p.m. / Jleeb Al Shoyoukh: Kalanjali Kuwait is organizing “Padma Vibhushan” “Chevalier” Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna Carnatic Concert at the Integrated Indian School auditorium, Jleeb Al Shoyoukh. Accompanying artistes are Violin - Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (D/o Padma Vibhushan Dr. Lalgudi Jayaraman), Mrudangam - “Padmasri” Dr.Yella Venkateswara Rao, Ghatam - Sri Giridhar Udupa and Thambura - “Kalaimamani” Dr. Saraswathi.

For more details send an email to kalanjaliq8@gmail.com

International bazaar May 26/ 10 a.m.-3 p.m. / TIES Center: Stop by and have the opportunity to see and even own some international antiques on display and taste the delicious foods on display. Also have your name inscribed in Arabic calligraphy at no cost and have a taste of our Arabic ice cream. Various items will be available for sale, such as pashmina shawls, accessories, jewelry, Mexican food, Indian food, cosmetics, cookies, handbags, traditional Kuwaiti - style dresses and many more. For more information please contact 2523105/6 or 97228860.

Dilbert

Open House for Indian Citizens Ambassador of India would be holding an Open House for Indian citizens to address their problems\grievances on Wednesdays of the second and the fourth weeks of every month between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs in the Embassy. In case Wednesday is an Embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next working day. To ensure timely action/follow-up by the Embassy, it is requested that, wherever possible, Indian citizens should exhaust the existing channels of interaction/grievance redressal and bring their problems/issues in writing with supporting documents.

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

Something has got to change, Aries. You knew it as soon as you woke up this morning.Your mirror provides the impetus for some important resolutions.

Is it time to begin a diet, make a commitment to exercise, or strengthen your resolve to quit smoking? Anything you do to improve your health will make you feel better about yourself. Other people will notice, too!

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

The only good thing about being on an emotional roller coaster is you never feel the same way for long, Taurus. One moment you’re up, the next you’re down. You just can’t figure out what it is you want. Rather than bring your loved ones along, why not take some time away from your environment? Something important may come out of these moments of solitude!

Gemini: May 21- June 21

You might want to check your alarm clock to ensure it woke you up this morning, Gemini. Your tendency will be to stay in the cocoon of your own little dream world, deep in your own thoughts. Obsessive thoughts will try to drown out some more pressing issues from the past that really need to be dealt with once and for all.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22

There is something in the air today pushing you toward change or renewal, Cancer. Is it time to change the wardrobe or redecorate your home?

This is the day. If you have any monetary restrictions, you’ll find it just as fulfilling (and a whole lot cheaper) to simply rid your home of all the things that just aren’t “you” anymore. Surround yourself with the things you love.

Leo: July 23 - August 22

The good news is it can only get better. For today, however, there may be some trying times in store, Leo. If you’re a parent, children will beg for something every five minutes. At work, you’ll feel pressure from all sides. Not even your love life is immune from doubts that hover over you. Compromises are not possible today. Just sit tight and wait for calmer days ahead.

Virgo: August 23 - September 22

Today is the day to rethink all those social values that you take at face value, Virgo. Like the rest of us, you learned them at a young age and accepted them. All established concepts of propriety are especially worth consideration. After hearing for years about all those things that “just aren’t done,” isn’t it refreshing to think?

Libra: September 23 - October 22

Today is an ideal day to shop for a new wardrobe, Libra. You may find your usual style either too conventional or uncomfortably trendy. Often when you’re out shopping, you’ll reject an item you really like for fear that it’s too suggestive. Perhaps you should try to listen to your own judgment for a change instead of being so concerned about what other people think.

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21

The topic of the day is knowledge and learning, Scorpio. Did you study the field you dreamed of?

Do you feel ashamed of not having attended a specific school or program? If those sorts of issues are uppermost on your mind, remember that your creativity has little to do with all those degrees you hold and everything to do with how you use your skills to better the world.

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

An important aspect has passed, and you are in the process of reaping the benefit from it, Sagittarius. It was only a matter of becoming aware of and settling certain matters related to your need for social recognition, Sagittarius. Most people contain a stern inner authoritative figure and can survive comfortably and self-sufficiently.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

You may feel hemmed in by the role models that society currently offers, Capricorn. As you struggle to find your own definition of the truly modern being, people around you will tend to criticize your liberated attitude. Just because their ideas aren’t in sync with yours it does not invalidate them. If your ideas are radical, theirs are conventional. There’s room for both.

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

Today’s aspects suggest that you take a good hard look at the state of your ego, Aquarius. Are you too proud or too humble? Buddhists say that the path to spiritual fulfillment lies in knowing how to build a healthy ego while at the same time developing a part of oneself that is completely foreign to the ego. Are you working really hard at this? Ensure that you do so.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20

A small crisis is still a crisis, Pisces. Expect one in your personal life today. Since you’re not one to let issues go unresolved, you won’t be able to put off dealing with your problems any longer. Are work responsibilities shared equally with your partner? Are you both exerting equal efforts to maintain harmony?

ALWATAN DAILY

SPORTS

wednesDAY, may 16, 2012

19

Basketball

Thunder clobber Lakers 119-90 in Game 1

Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden, (right), shoots in (front) of Los Angeles Lakers (center) Jordan Hill, (left), in the second quarter of Game 1 in the second round of the NBA basketball playoffs, in Oklahoma City, Monday, May 14, 2012. (AP)

OKLAHOMA CITY: When the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City last met, Metta World Peace delivered an elbow that sent the Thunder’s James Harden home with a concussion.

It’s the Lakers who are smarting after the playoff rematch.

Russell Westbrook had 27 points and nine assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and the Thunder blasted the weary Lakers 119-90 on Monday night in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals.

The Thunder took a 15-point halftime lead, opened the third quarter with a 15-2 blitz filled with crowd-pleasing 3-pointers and dunks and never looked back.

“From then on, it was cruising for us,” Westbrook said. “When our team plays like that throughout the game, we put ourselves in a good opportunity to win.”

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points each for the Lakers and Bynum had 14 rebounds.

Two games after trailing by as many as 28 points in a blowout loss in Game 6 in Denver, it got even worse as the Lakers were down by as many as 35. They responded to their last

loss by beating the Nuggets 96-87 in a thrilling Game 7 on Saturday night.

The Thunder didn’t need any dirty tactics to get even for World Peace’s suspension-worthy transgression. The league’s most turnoverprone team - committing 16.4 per game in the regular season - gave it away only four times, a record low for the franchise.

“I think that’s huge,” coach Scott Brooks said. “Four - we’ve had that the first 6 minutes of games at times.”

While the Lakers were making a quick turnaround less than 48 hours after ending the first round, the Thunder had eight full days off following their first-round sweep of defending NBA champion Dallas.

It got out of hand just after halftime, in highlight-reel fashion.

Durant lobbed the ball to Westbrook for a two-handed slam, then connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing to draw a timeout from Brown.

That still didn’t slow down Oklahoma City, which got what could have been a costly two-handed dunk from Perkins on its next trip and then another 3 from Durant before Thabo Sefolosha swiped the ball from Bryant

76ers even series with 82-81 win over Celts

and ran out for a layup that made it 74-46 with 8:39 left in the period.

Brooks said Perkins could have returned to play in the game but would be re-assessed on Tuesday. Perkins had missed most of the week of practice after straining a muscle in his right hip in the final game of the Dallas series.

That was about the only negative for the Thunder, who tied for the 12th-worst blowout in Lakers playoff history.

“I’m always saying, ‘We can’t get too high and we can’t get too low.’ You know those guys are going to come out and play extremely hard,” Durant said.

Both coaches started going to their benches with 8 1/2 minutes left, and Los Angeles reserve Devin Ebanks ended up getting ejected with 2:18 to play after walking up to a scrum for the ball after the whistle. Official Greg Willard said at the scorer’s table that he was ejected for ‘’what he said’’ in drawing a technical foul.

The buildup to the game focused largely on it being the first meeting between the teams since World Peace got a seven-game suspension for elbowing Harden. He returned just in time to help L.A. win Game 7 against Denver.

A sold-out crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena wasn’t nearly as happy to see him back, although World Peace - who changed his name from Ron Artest - was hardly fazed by the chorus of boos that greeted him during pregame introductions or again whenever the ball came his way.

World Peace knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key amid boos the first time he touched the ball, set up a two-handed jam by Bynum and drilled another 3 within the first 2 1/2 minutes.

The boos continued throughout the game whenever he got the ball. “Right now, it’s about basketball,” World Peace said. “After the season we can talk about that but right now it’s more about basketball.”

The Thunder turned an early six-point deficit around with a 19-7 run punctuated

by Harden’s driving layup that led to a threepoint play and a 25-19 lead, and they never trailed again.

If the Lakers’ legs were weary, it showed most on the defensive end. Oklahoma City shot 53 percent and the Thunder committed only one turnover - Harden’s failed alley-oop pass for Durant that banged off the glass and was grabbed by World Peace - while building a 59-44 halftime lead. -AP

Cricket

Philadelphia 76ers power forward Elton Brand (42) blocks a shot by Boston Celtics shooting guard Avery Bradley (0) during the second quarter of Game 2 in their NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series in Boston, Monday, May 14, 2012. (AP)

BOSTON: Evan Turner made the go-ahead layup with 40.4 seconds left and Philadelphia held off Boston the rest of the way with six straight free throws as the 76ers evened the second-round Eastern Conference series with an 82-81 victory Monday night.Turner finished with 10 points, including his layup that put the Sixers up 76-75. He added two free throws with 12 seconds to go.

Jrue Holiday scored 18 points and Andre Iguodala added 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Sixers, who blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter as the Celtics won Game 1.

Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Ray Allen scored 17 points for the Celtics.

Game 3 is Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia won its first playoff game in Boston since 1982 despite committing a playoff-high 19 turnovers and getting outrebounded 47-36.

Spencer Hawes finished with eight points and 10 rebounds and Lavoy Allen scored 10 points for the Sixers. Brandon Bass had 12 points for the Celtics, who couldn’t quite repeat their comeback in the series opener. The Sixers led by 10 points early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 before the Celtics rallied for a 92-91 victory.

It was starting to look familiar for Philadelphia on Monday, but the Sixers were able to hold off the Celtics down the stretch in a tight finish.

Philadelphia led 57-49 entering the fourth, but

Boston tied it twice before going up 72-71 on Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer, setting off a series of shots from beyond the arc.

Holiday answered with a 3 for the Sixers, then Ray Allen got the lead right back for the Celtics on a 3-pointer with 1:40 left.The Celtics had a chance to extend the lead after forcing the Sixers into a 24-second shot clock violation, but Rondo missed a shot and Iguodala got the rebound, leading to Turner’s layup to put the Sixers up 76-75 with 40.4 seconds to go. Rondo and Allen both missed shots that would have put Boston ahead, then Rondo fouled Turner with 14.4 seconds left as the shot clock was winding down. The Celtics fouled Turner again with 12 seconds and he hit both free throws to extend the lead to 78-76.

Fans grew restless as the second half opened with sloppy, choppy play by both teams. Boston led 38-36 at halftime and nearly 7 minutes into the third quarter the score was just 43-41 with the Celtics still ahead.When the shots finally started falling, they were all for Philadelphia. The Sixers scored 14 straight points, turning a 47-43 deficit into a 57-47 lead in the final minute of the period.

Boston went without a point for 4:40, finally scoring when Pierce made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left in the period. The Celtics committed seven turnovers during the quarter and made just 4 of 17 shots. -AP

Formula one

England wary of Chanderpaul, Windies pace Ferrari pile more pressure on Massa ITALY: Ferrari added to the pressure on Felipe Massa on Monday by highlighting how poorly the Brazilian has performed this season and making clear that they expected him to shift up a gear in Monaco next week.

Massa has not been on the Formula One podium since 2010 and has scored just two points from five races this season.

The 2008 season overall runner-up collected a drive-through penalty in Spain on Sunday and ended up 15th. Spanish team mate Fernando Alonso won in Malaysia, finished second at his home race in Barcelona and is level with Red Bull’s double world champion Sebastian Vettel at the top of the standings with 61 points.

FILE- West Indies batsman Shivarine Chanderpaul plays a shot during the fourth day of the third test match between the West Indies and Australia in Roseau, Dominica, April 26, 2012. (AFP)

Ferrari’s official website (www.ferrari. com) compared their relative performances at the same stage in 2011 and 2010.

“Fernando has always maintained a very high level (67 points and second place in 2010, 51 and fifth place last year) while Felipe’s drop off has made itself felt,” it said.

“The Brazilian had picked up 49 points two years ago and 24 the following year, while so far this season he has just two. In Montmelo (Barcelona), Felipe was very unlucky, both in the race and in qualifying, but everyone, he more than anyone, is expecting a change of gear starting right away with the Monaco Grand Prix,” added the website.

Massa lives in Monaco, which hosts the sixth round of the season. He has never won in the principality, with third place in 2007 and 2008 his best results there.

Alonso won with Renault and McLaren in 2006 and 2007 respectively. :We expect Felipe to react and fight back after this unlucky weekend, starting in Monaco,” team boss Stefano Domenicali said after Sunday’s race. “We absolutely need his points to also fight for the constructors’ title.”

Ferrari are fourth overall, 21 points behind third-placed Lotus and 46 adrift of champions Red Bull, after starting the season with a car whose performance was some way off their rivals’ pace. -Reuters

Tennis

Sharapova, Kvitova advance in windy Rome LONDON: Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s limpet-like batting and the express pace of Kemar Roach and Fidel Edwards will make West Indies dangerous opponents for strong favorites England in the three-test series starting on Thursday.

England top the world rankings, six places above their opponents, and have not lost a home test series since 2008, while West Indies have won only one of their last 18 tests on English soil and just one of their last 10 series.With conditions also likely to favor England’s potent bowling attack, Darren Sammy’s touring side face a daunting task going into the first test at Lord’s.

“They’ve got Ottis Gibson as a coach who worked within the England set-up for three years, they’ve got two bowlers who can bowl very quick, they’ve got Chanderpaul who’s a world-class batsman who’s toured England on numerous occasions, so they’re certainly a team we have to be very careful of,” England fast bowler Stuart Broad told Sky Sports. “We have to perform the way we can perform and should perform,” he added.

England lost 3-0 to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates this year, a series in which their top-order batsmen struggled badly for runs, and although they fought back to draw 1-1 in Sri Lanka there are still grounds for concern. Captain Andrew Strauss scored the last of his 19 test centuries 18 months ago and the 35-year-old opener will be fully tested by the hostility of Roach and Edwards. Roach suffered a twisted foot and as a precaution did not bowl on the last day of their warm-up match on Sunday but is set to play on Thursday.

Kevin Pietersen did return to form with a fine century in the second test win over Sri Lanka and the highly promising Jonny Bairstow is likely to make his test debut

batting at number six.

If the batsmen can provide a solid platform, England certainly have the bowling attack to expose the inexperienced Windies top order.

Broad is likely to open with James Anderson, supported by Steve Finn, Graham Onions or Tim Bresnan, and Graeme Swann will be the lone spinner.

Leading the West Indies resistance will be the obdurate Chanderpaul, the world’s top-ranked test batsman who has toured England six times with an average of 64.66. The gritty left-hander has the technique and concentration to bat for long periods but he will need support from his team mates to repel the street-wise England bowlers.West Indies showed signs of improvement in their recent home series loss to Australia, nearly upsetting the touring side in Barbados, and Sammy believes his young team are heading in the right direction after years in the doldrums.

“The only thing that has not been happening is the victories,” Sammy said. “We’ve been playing good, competitive cricket against strong sides like India and Australia and all our tests have been going five days and down to the wire. “Not many teams go to India and give India a run for their money, but we did that.

“Coming from where we are right now, we are not going to start winning straight away. We are taking baby steps to the ultimate goal. Sammy said the biggest problem was losing key moments in big matches.

“One bad session keeps costing us,” he said. “Champion teams seize the moment but we keep having a bad session where we might lose five wickets in an hour. We just need to cut that out. Once we eliminate those bad sessions then we’ll make progress.” -Reuters

ROME: Past and present Wimbledon winners Maria Sharapova and Czech Petra Kvitova made straight-set moves into the third round of the Rome Masters on Tuesday, with the Russian second seed made to work hard. Defending Rome champion Sharapova, who won her Wimbledon title aged 17 in 2004, needed nearly two and a quarter hours to get past 36th-ranked American Christina McHale 7-5, 7-5. Kvitova, the fourth seed who claimed the grass honors last summer, accounted for Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-4 in sunny, breezy conditions with spring pollen swirling through the air at the Foro Italico.

The shy Kvitova admitted that she is still trying to find her feet on clay despite making a Stuttgart semi-final last month against Sharapova, the tournament champion.

“I have to say that I was nervous before the match because I saw how she was preparing and I lost my last match against her,” the Czech said of Pavlyuchenkova. “I didn’t feel so comfortable, so I’m happy I won, I know where there is space to improve before the next round.

“I’m still learning on this surface. You cannot be two meters behind the baseline.

I must move forward and play my aggressive game.” Sharapova won on five of eight break point chances against McHale, who broke three times. In the first round, two seeds went out as Sorona Cirstea of Romania upset former number one, 2007-2008 winner and 15th seed Jelena Jankovic

Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves the ball to US Christina McHale during their second round match at the Italian Open Tennis Tournament (ATP and WTA World Tour), in Rome’s Foro Italico on May 15, 2012. (AFP)

6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, whose 2006 quarter-final was her best showing at home, beat Russian 16th seed Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).

In men’s first round matches, French 11th seed Richard Gasquet started with a win over injury comeback player Jurgen Melzer, sending the Austrian home 6-1, 7-6 (8/6).

Marcel Granollers won an all-Spanish battle as he put out 15th seed Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4. American Sam Querrey beat Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-4. Spanish scrambler David Ferrer, the sixth seed and Madrid quarter-final victim of Roger Federer, beat Fernando Verdasco, last week’’s third-round conqueror of Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). -AFP

wednesday, may 16, 2012

SPORTS

Sports Editors Highlight LONDON:Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United on Monday, manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed. The 37-year-old came out of retirement in January and put in some excellent performances to earn himself another year at the only club he has played for and for whom he made his first-team debut in 1993. Scholes’s performances may even earn him an international recall from new England coach Roy Hodgson for Euro 2012, although he retired from international football after Euro 2004. Ferguson, who is reportedly against the idea of Scholes being called up by Hodgson, believes he could get up to 30 games out of the midfielder next season. -AFP

Football

Van Persie poised for Arsenal talks as City circle LONDON: Arsenal are preparing to smash their current wage structure as they prepare to hold contract talks with captain Robin van Persie, it was reported Tuesday.

The Gunners’ sealed a rollercoaster season on Sunday by clinching a third place finish that gives them automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League group stage.

Now the north London giants have turned their attention to the key issue of trying to persuade Dutch striker van Persie to extend his stay at the Emirates beyond his current deal which expires in 2013.

A clutch of clubs are keen to secure van Persie, with newly crowned champions Manchester City able to offer the 28-year-old financial terms that would easily eclipse anything tabled by Arsenal.

However the Daily Mail reported Tuesday that van Persie, currently earning around £70,000 (112,000 US dollars) per week, would be offered a three-year deal worth a weekly salary of £130,000 plus a signing bonus of £5 million.

The Mail reported that van Persie will meet Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and club chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday to discuss his future.

Meanwhile van Persie, who is reportedly keen to stay in London, has praised the spirit shown by Arsenal to finish third after a season which featured a series of low points, including an 8-2 thrashing by Manchester United and an abject 4-0 drubbing by AC Milan in the Champions League.

“It was double important to finish third and also above Spurs. We knew what was at stake,” van Persie said. “We are definitely in the Champions League again, and that was the main target from the match.

“It is incredible. We had to dig deep and come back on a couple of occasions where we were having a hard time,” the Dutchman said. “At the start of the season, we had a very difficult period, but we bounced back very well from that.” -AFP

FILE- Robin van Persie of Arsenal is tackled by Emmerson Boyce of Wigan during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic at Emirates Stadium, April 16, 2012. (AFP)

VIVA supports Kuwait national football team in its match against Real Madrid

FILE - Kuwait’s Fahad Al-Enizi (left) celebrates his goal against the United Arabi Emirates with team mate Fahad Al-Ansari during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Kuwait City, Nov. 15, 2011. (Reuters)

KUWAIT: As part of its continuous efforts to support National Sport Teams VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, announced its support of the Kuwaiti National Football Team in its match against Real Madrid on Wednesday, May 16th 2012.

As part of its continuous efforts to support Kuwaiti national sport teams, which debuted with the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier match between the country’s national football team and its South Korean counterpart, VIVA will sponsor the Kuwaiti National Football Team during the friendly match against the Real Madrid team, wishing both teams the best of luck.

VIVA welcomes the “Best Club of the 20th Century” in Kuwait and is looking forward to this friendly match that will appeal to the public and all football fans.

Since the launch of the company’s operations in Kuwait, VIVA has supported

Chelsea boost as Luiz, Cahill train

sports in many forms, including its sponsorship of the Kuwaiti National Football Club.VIVA will continue to bring all that is new and significant to its customers.

Kuwait sports club stadium in Khaifan area will host the upcoming historical friendly match between Kuwait national team and Spanish giants Real Madrid on Wednesday. The Real Madrid delegation arrived yesterday to prepare for the match.

Real Madrid was founded in 1902 as Madrid Football Club and has traditionally worn a white home kit since. The word Real is Spanish for royal and was bestowed to the club by King Alfonso XIII in 1920 together with the royal crown in the emblem. The club established itself as a major force in both Spanish and European football during the 1950s. The team won the Spanish La Liga (League) 32, the Copa De Rey (Cup) 18, and the European Champions League nine times. -Agencies

LONDON: Chelsea’s Champions League preparations were boosted on Tuesday as David Luiz and Gary Cahill returned to training but Florent Malouda remains “touch and go” for the Munich showpiece.

Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo told a press conference that Luiz and Cahill were ready to train again as they battle to be fit for Saturday’s clash with Bayern Munich.

Di Matteo is banking on Luiz and Cahill being available for selection, particularly as two pillars of his defense are already missing through suspension. Luiz and Cahill would be given up until the day of the game to prove their fitness, Di Matteo said. “Gary and David are going to try to train with us today,” Di Matteo said of the two centre-halves.

However Di Matteo was less upbeat about Malouda, who limped off during Chelsea’s Premier League victory over Blackburn on Sunday.

“Flo, we’ll still assess and it’s going to be touch and go for him to be available for Saturday,” he said.

In addition to the absent Terry and Ivanovic, Di Matteo is also without the suspended Ramires and Raul Meireles, and admitted that he may be forced to fill out Chelsea’s substitutes bench with reserves if Luiz, Cahill and Malouda failed to win their respective fitness battles.

“That’s the worse-case scenario,” he said. “We will take some reserve-team players onto the bench, into the squad, and just figure out what to do. I’ve been trying different options in training and different solutions just in case.”

Meanwhile Di Matteo, who took over as interim Chelsea manager following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas in March, once again brushed off questions about his long-term future with the club.

Chelsea have consistently said they will make no decision on a long-term successor until the end of the season.

However Di Matteo did rule out a possible return to manage West Bromwich Albion, the club he led into the Premier League before being sacked last year. “In my life, I’ve gone back to an ex-girlfriend and it didn’t work out,” he said. “I’m not sure whether it’s the right move.” -AFP

Football edges closer to technology goal SOUTHAMPTON: Decades after the invention of spy satellites capable of detecting a golf ball from outer space, referees may soon be equipped with technology that will enable them to tell if a football has crossed the goal-line.

After years of debate which has moved at a glacial pace, world football chiefs are close to sanctioning goal-line technology after a string of high-profile refereeing controversies. FIFA’s rules body is expected to give the thumbs up to goalline technology at a meeting in Kiev in July following the European Championships.

IFAB is currently assessing two different systems bidding to be approved as authorised suppliers of goal-line technology, one from British company Hawk-Eye and the other from GermanDanish firm GoalRef. Both systems are undergoing rigorous testing ahead of the IFAB meeting, and Hawk-Eye will be used in a live match situation on Wednesday when Eastleigh and AFC Totton face each other in the Hampshire Senior Cup final.

Former English referee Neale Barry, a member of the IFAB sub-committee assessing the relative merits of the systems, believes the use of goal-line technology is inevitable. Barry attended testing at Southampton’s St Mary’s stadium, which will host Wednesday’s match, and is keen for referees to be given the support of technology.

“The international board first started looking at the technology in 2005,” Barry told reporters. “The technology has moved on greatly since then when you look at Hawk-Eye and the quality of their cameras. I think really there has been the attitude that we should really try to help the referees for this very, very factual decision. The ball is either over the line or it isn’t. I think what we’re trying to say is ‘let’s find a technology that works, that actually gives the referee that vital information’, because in reality the most important decision in a game is whether a goal has been scored or not. We’re trying to give the referee as much as help as we can, assuming the technology

Athletic Bilbao’s Gorka Iraizoz looks at the ball touching the net as Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao scores a goal during the UEFA Europa League final football match, May 9, 2012. (AFP)

works and we can get it licensed, but we’re very, very positive.” Hawk-Eye, which reportedly will cost around 250,000 pounds (403,000 US dollars) per stadium, deploys six cameras at each end of the stadium to calculate a three-dimensional position of the ball. With each system, the referee will be alerted by a signal transmitted to a wristwatch within one second of any goalmouth incident whether the ball has crossed the line. Both systems could be available later this year if they meet with IFAB approval in July. Steve Carter, the managing director of Hawk-Eye, is adamant that his company’s technology will make refereeing controversies such as Geoff Hurst’s 1966 World Cup final goal a thing of the past.

“The testing process has been exceptionally

rigorous and whichever system is approved, every football fan can sleep easy at night knowing they are accurate,” said Carter. “At the moment all of our concentration and energy is on doing as well as we can, making the technology as good as possible and making sure that we get excellent results from phase two.” Meanwhile Barry is skeptical of the argument that any introduction of goal-line technology will be the thin end of the wedge, leading to video replays being used to rule on issues of offside or foul play.

“I’ve been on IFAB for seven years and it is a very, very conservative organization,” Barry said.

“I’d be astonished if we go to other forms of technology. In my personal opinion, I don’t think we will ever get to that point.” -AFP

Bayern defeat would hit Germany confidence ahead of Euros BERLIN: Defeat for Bayern Munich against Chelsea in Saturday’s Champions League final would hit German confidence ahead of Euro 2012 next month, national team coach Joachim Loew said on Tuesday. Bayern, who lost to Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final last week, are eyeing their fifth European crown when they take on Chelsea in Munich. Eight of Bayern’s squad will then join the national team, preparing in Italy, on May 25. “If they lose again in a final, after their league and German Cup losses, in their own stadium then disappointment would be great which I think would mean I would need to give them (Bayern players) two or three more days to process that,” said Loew. “They would then need a bit longer to find their motivation but they would find it. Because the Euros are also a huge target.

But a defeat would be, I think, a bit of a low blow for us,” he told the German football association in an interview.

Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Holger Badstuber, suspended for the final, Jerome Boateng and Philipp Lahm as well as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez have been called up for the tournament co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. “To win the Champions League title would be important, it would be an historic achievement,” Loew said. “That would be super for our players because they would join us fully motivated and would find their rhythm immediately because of that motivation.” Three-time European champions Germany, looking for their first title since 1996, have started preparations in Sardinia this week with less than half of the players called up.

The players from doubles winners Borussia Dortmund are arriving later on Tuesday following their 5-2 German Cup win over Bayern on Saturday, while Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil will join them in a few

Bayern’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, second left, jogs with teammates during a training session near the Olympic stadium in Berlin, Germany, May 11, 2012. (AP)

days. “The preparation start is a bit unsettled. A training session on tactics is a bit difficult at the moment,” said Loew, who will be in charge for his third tournament after leading Germany to a runners-up spot at Euro 2008 and third place at the 2010 World Cup. “It is not easy, so we will have to see how we can do it. We are flexible, we will make it but time is very tight.”

Germany take on Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands in Group B of the tournament which kicks off on June 8. -Reuters