May 7, 2012

MONDAY, MAY 7, 2012

@alwatandaily

Issue No. 1427

20 PAGES

www.alwatandaily.com

150 Fils with IHT

Al-Shamali interpellation to be submitted today

Mohammed Al-Salman Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Majority Bloc will file the first interpellation at today’s parliamentary session against Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali this afternoon, and the interpellation is expected to include state property, Kuwait Investment Authority, Social Insurance, loans, Al-Zour Station, BOT, and other issues. The interpellation will be signed by MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, and Khaled Al-Tahous, who met yesterday at noon to discuss the issues included in the interpellation, in addition to including some documents and questions that the minister was asked but has not yet answered.

An informed source mentioned that all MPs in the bloc wish to include more issues in the interpellation, which will result in having the highest number of supporters to approve the noconfidence vote request that will be filed against Al-Shamali. The interpellation is expected to be discussed at the National Assembly on May 22,

if the minister is willing to tackle the interpellation on that date, or else it will be postponed to June 5.

MP Al-Anjari stated that he will be one of the MPs who will sign the interpellation against the minister, since there are many perceived violations committed by Al-Shamali. He revealed that several Islamic MPs will be among those who will support the interpellation, which will allow the interpellation to accomplish its objectives.

Meanwhile, a government source welcomed the interpellation and asserted that Al-Shamali is ready to face the questioning, since he has documents that support his statements, conditioned on the premise that MPs commit to the issues included within the interpellation and steer away from any personal attacks. The source underlined the fact that the government has the right to resort to the available constitutional and legal frames to tackle the interpellation.

MP Adel Al-Damkhi said that the Majority Bloc supports the interpellation filed against Al-Shamali and against the Minister of Interior

Red tide attacks Gem fish in Kuwait city’s wharf

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Sheikha Fadiyah Scientific Competition to go regional

Staff Writers

KUWAIT: The Deputy General Director in the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Dr. Haidar Murad said that the Maritime Control, a subsidiary of PAAAFR, has registered a number of dead fish known locally as the ‘Gem’ Fish in the wharf nearby the city.

Speaking to Al Watan, Dr. Murad said the PAAAFR had taken immediate action in terms of conducting a full scan in the area as well as taking samples of the dead fish in order to investigate the reasons and circumstances behind the death of this type of fish.

“The Agriculture Authority, after it has carried out the necessary coordination with the Environment Public Authority (EPA), on Saturday morning. Specimens were taken to determine the reasons,” he explained, adding that it was very important to find out if the reasons were accidental or whether there were serious and fatal reasons behind it, as such effect would have similar impact on other types of fish. Dr. Murad was particularly concerned about the state of another local fish known as Al-Maid, adding that precautionary measures were taken instantly, leaving no chances for any fatal mistake. Meanwhile, Maritime Control patrols toured the area in the wharf to explore the so-called ‘red tide phenomena’. According to the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, fortunately, the number of dead fish found were not that large and the majority of which was the Gem type, although one particular fish known by locals as Dalaa had several dead fish but not to an alarming level. More on 3

Moscow protesters arrested in march against Putin

Russian riot police try to disperse opposition protesters in downtown Moscow on Sunday, May 6, 2012. (AP)

MOSCOW: A protest demonstration by at least 20,000 people on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s inauguration as president boiled into a battle with police after protesters tried to split off from the approved venue and march to the Kremlin.

Club-wielding, helmeted officers seized demonstrators and hauled them to police vehicles, dragging some by the hair. Among those arrested were three of the leaders of the opposition movement that gained new life over the winter: Sergei Udaltsov, Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov. Sunday’s demonstration started out peacefully, with protesters marching down a wide avenue to a square on an island near the Kremlin, where authorities had approved a gathering of up to 5,000.

But some demonstrators aimed to turn up the pressure by trying to split off and head to the Kremlin, on the other side of the river - and called for the crowd to head for the bridge leading to the Kremlin. A phalanx of riot police blocked the approach to the bridge. After about an hour of tense confrontation, police began pushing protesters back toward the square and harshly detained some of them. Some demonstrators threw stones at the police - at least four police were seen with injuries - and throat-irritating gas wafted through the air, although it was not clear who had deployed it. Before the march turned violent, some of the demonstrators acknowledged Putin’s March election win and his inauguration See also 5 have been a blow to morale. -AP

Maya exhibit in Philly seeks to dispel 2012 myths

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud, who must face the interpellation filed against him by MP Mohammad Al-Juwaihel on Tuesday. He asked Al-Humoud to be honest and transparent in tackling the interpellation.

It is worth noting that the Minority Bloc will meet today to discuss its arrangements regarding the mechanism it will follow during Al-Juwaihel’s interpellation, and to determine the speakers who will take part in the interpellation.

MP Adnan Al-Mutawwa remarked that filing a no-confidence vote against Al-Humoud will be deserved if he fails to tackle the issues mentioned in the interpellation.

He asked Al-Humoud to convince the MPs and the Kuwaiti people that his procedures are correct and legal, and asserted that the minister will be facing no-confidence if it is proven that he is unaware of the violations in his ministry.

He complained that Kuwait is plagued with dual citizenships and nationalizing those who are unworthy.

16

2

Indian expat arrested for setting fire to tires

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receives Somalia’s President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on his diplomatic visit to the country, May 6, 2012. (KUNA)

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Police have arrested an Indian expatriate setting fire to tires near the Rahya area, where a large fire broke out recently amidst a vast tire dumping ground, which saw several million used and discarded tires erupt into flame.

Police had also confiscated from the suspect’s possession a number of unidentified drug tablets.

During questioning the suspect said that he was not involved in the incident which took place at the Rahya dumping ground, or the scrap yard fire which broke out over the weekend.

However, he confessed that he had burned the tires during the incident he was arrested for in order to obtain the metal rims so that these could be sold.

CAIRO: Egypt extended an overnight curfew around the Defense Ministry on Sunday to deter a repeat of Friday’s deadly violence, less than three weeks before a presidential vote.

A soldier died and almost 400 people were wounded in Friday’s clashes, the second time in a week that protests over the army’s handling of Egypt’s troubled transition from army rule to civilian government have turned violent. The military re-imposed the curfew in the Abbasiya district around the Defense Ministry for the third straight day, the state news agency quoted a military source as saying.

Running from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (2100 GMT to 0400 GMT), it is an hour shorter than on the previous two nights. A presidential election, which starts

Heavy fighting rocks eastern Syria ahead of poll

AMMAN: Fighting between rebels and President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces erupted in an oil producing province in eastern Syria, residents and activists said on Sunday, the eve of a parliamentary election the authorities say shows reforms are under way. Rebels armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked tank positions in the east of the provincial capital Deir El-Zor, in response to an army offensive against towns and villages in the tribal area bordering Iraq that has killed tens of people and stopped others reaching supplies and medical care, they said.

“We do not have a death toll because no one is daring to go into the streets,” said Ghaith Abdelsalam, an opposition activist who lives near Ghassan Abboud roundabout that has become a flashpoint for the fighting in the city.

“The population has been trapped and anger has been building up,” he said,

Egypt extends curfew in Cairo district for third night

adding the fighting subsided early in the morning after erupting overnight.

The army still has tanks and heavy weapons in cities and towns in violation of ceasefire being monitored by a UN team and rebels are continuing their guerrilla attacks on military convoys and army roadblocks that have cut off swathes of the country, according to witnesses and opposition sources. ifty out of a planned total of 300 UN observers are now in Syria to monitor the ceasefire declared on April 12, but their presence has not halted 14 months of violence.

The authorities say they are fighting what they call foreign backed terrorists in Deir El-Zor and across the country who are bent on sabotaging what state media describe as a comprehensive reform program being led by Al-Assad that is more advanced than in Western More on 4 democracies.

Scientists ‘switch off’ brain cell death in mice LONDON: Scientists have figured out how to stop brain cell death in mice with brain disease and say their discovery deepens understanding of the mechanisms of human neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. British researchers writing in the journal Nature said they had found a major pathway leading to brain cell death in mice with prion disease, the mouse equivalent of Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD). They then worked out how to block it, and were able to prevent brain cells from dying, helping the mice live longer. The finding, described by one expert as “a major breakthrough in understanding what kills neurons”, points to a common mechanism by which brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and CJD damage the nerve cells.

In neurodegenerative diseases, proteins “mis-fold” in a various ways, leading to a buildup of misshapen proteins, the researchers explained in the study.

These misshapen proteins form the plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s and the Lewy bodies found in Parkinson’s disease.

“What’s exciting is the emergence of a common mechanism of brain cell death, across a range of different neurodegenerative disorders, activated by the different mis-folded proteins in each disease,” said Giovanna Mallucci, who led the research at the University of Leicester’s toxicology unit.

“The fact that in mice with prion disease we were able to manipulate this mechanism and protect the brain cells means we may have a way forward in how we treat other disorders,” she said in a statement about the work.

An estimated 18 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s is thought to affect around one in 100 people over the age of 60. In these diseases, neurons in the brain die, destroying the brain from the inside.

But why the neurons die has remained an unsolved mystery, presenting an obstacle to developing effective treatments and to being able to diagnose the illnesses at early stages when medicines might work better. -Reuters

on May 23-24, will choose a replacement for Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled in February last year.

Generals have governed since then and their rule has been punctuated by unrest, sometimes violent.

Many protesters who gathered near the ministry were ultra-orthodox Salafi Muslims furious that a sheikh they backed for president has been disqualified from the race. Liberals and others were also there, accusing the army of seeking to manipulate or delay the vote.

The military has dismissed those allegations, insisting it will stick to its timetable of handing over power to a new president by July 1, or even earlier in the unlikely event of an outright winner in the first round of voting this month. -Reuters

Two Belgian ‘terrorism’ suspects detained in Yemen

4

Socialist Hollande ousts Sarkozy in French vote

PARIS: Francois Hollande was elected France’s first Socialist president in nearly two decades on Sunday, dealing a humiliating defeat to incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy and shaking up European politics.

The result will have major implications for Europe as it struggles to emerge from a financial crisis and for France, the eurozone’s second-largest economy and a nuclear-armed permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Hollande, a 57-year-old centre-left moderate, won the vote with between 52 and 53 percent, according to several estimates, becoming France’s first Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand left office in 1995.

Joyful crowds were gathering in Hol-

lande’s adopted hometown of Tulle and in front of Socialist headquarters in Paris, as rumors of the result spread more than an hour before French media were legally permitted to publish results.

Three polling institutes - CSA, TNS Sofres and Ipsos - estimated that Hollande had won 52 percent of the vote to Sarkozy’s 48, based on samples of actual ballots taken before the official end of polling at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT).

Harris Interactive estimated the Socialist’s score at between 52.7 and 53.3 percent.

All the estimates were in line with previous opinion polls, which were banned from publication in France from midnight on Friday. -AFP

This picture shows a tornado sweeping through Tsukuba city in Ibaraki prefecture, north eastern Tokyo on May 6, 2012. A tornado ripped through eastern Japan, injuring at least 20 people, destroying houses, and cutting power to around 20,000 households. (AFP)

2

ALWATAN DAILY

kuwait

MONDAY, may 7, 2012

Parliament committee examines anti-corruption bills, OKs lifting immunity off 2 MPs KUWAIT: The parliamentary committee for legal and legislative affairs pondered on Sunday bills concerning the establishment of an authority that would be tasked with fighting corruption. The lawmakers also approved lifting the parliamentary immunity off two members of the National Assembly.

The commission rapporteur, Dr. Mohammad AlDallal, said members of the committee discussed proposed relevant laws for fighting corruption, disclosing financial assets, protection of funds and averting conflicts of interests. He added that they examined with representatives of Kuwait Bar Association and Kuwait Transparency Society up to 36 bills.

He added that the committee asked the government and representatives of the civil associations to put forward their remarks and comments in writing, noting that the committee would hold another meeting, in

Somali president visiting Kuwait to hold talks

two weeks, to finalize the examination of the proposed laws, pending submission to the National Assembly.

Moreover, the commission endorsed several bills that allow the Court of Cassation to examine conviction misdemeanor cases, since the existing law does not allow the tribunal to look into such appealed cases.

Furthermore, it approved revoking Article 15 of the penal code, which stipulates imprisonment of a citizen or a resident for promoting false reports on internal conditions of the country, in a manner that would undermine Kuwait’s financial credibility, state image, or for being involved in acts deemed detrimental to the country’s higher national interests.

The participants in the meetings examined and approved six requests to lift immunity, five against MP Nabil Al-Fadhel, and the sixth against MP Mohammad Al-Juwaihel. -KUNA

Al-Shamali interpellation to be submitted today continued from page 1

Informed sources revealed that the Majority Bloc plans to release embarrassing information, if Al-Juwaihel uses foul language during the interpellation, or lashes out at family names. Sources went on to say that the bloc has the right to convert the interpellation into a closed session, if the discussion crosses the lines of propriety.

Al-Humoud had demonstrated to the Cabinet the means he will follow in facing the interpellation, and sources asserted that he was very convincing.

Concerning claims that there is an inclination to dedicate certain sessions for interpellations, in order to save time and take advantage of other regular sessions in approving laws, MP Abdulhameed Dashti stated that allocating a certain day for interpellations is a step forward.

MP Faisal Al-Yahya seconded Dashti’s approval, and said that the National Assembly needs to allocate

a day for interpellations to save time for the discussion of other matters.

In another development, Al-Juwaihel renewed the case he had filed against Al-Humoud for removing his name from the elections. The case will be examined on May 21.

The Legislative Committee announced that it has lifted the immunity of MPs Nabeel Al-Fadhl and AlJuwaihel who face five and one cases respectively.

Head of the Bedouns Committee MP Mohammad Al-Khalifa announced that the committee rejected the recommendation made by the National Assembly to allow the intelligence, State Security, and Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents to look into the security restraints against bedoun (stateless arabs).

The committee has also asked the Martyr Bureau to provide them with the names of bedoun martyrs who carry the martyr ID, in order to grant them citizenship.

Ahmadi residents participate in gas emission investigation KUWAIT: The Deputy Chief of the Parliamentary Committee for Environmental Affairs Hamad Al-Mattar disclosed that the committee has already assigned an appointment to meet the residents of Ahmadi area to discuss the problem of gas emission in block one, indicating that the committee has started its investigation regarding gas emission recently.

Al-Mattar disclosed that the committee called the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Oil and the General Manager (GM) of Fire General Department to cooperate with the committee to solve the problem.

Regarding the failure of the government to submit

development plans, the Parliamentary Budget Committee said that it discussed the case with the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training.

The General Manager of the authority noted that the development plans and projects submitted cannot be implemented for including clear contradictions.

“The plans will not provide effective services to the country and they will frustrate the Kuwaiti people who are looking forward to achieving promising development plans.

Therefore the committee asked the general manager to drop all failing plans and to prepare executable plans instead,” he added.

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmad (left) with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (center) on Sunday, May 6, 2012. (KUNA)

KUWAIT: Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, accompanied by senior officials, arrived here on Sunday on a threeday state visit, during which he will hold talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He was received at Kuwait International Airport by the Amir, His Highness the Crown

promote modern media and telecommunication technology.

“Kuwaiti youth’s strong presence in the First Arab Youth Forum on Modern Media and Telecom-

Tunisian Minister of Youth and Sports Tareq Theyab (left) honors Head of Kuwaiti Delegation Ghazi AlGalawi (right) on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

(KUNA)

Belgium solicits Kuwait’s support for organizing international fair KUWAIT: A visiting Belgian official discussed on Sunday with Ali AlGhanem, Chairman of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, nomination of his country for organizing the international fair, Expo Yeosu 2012, aspired to be held in the city of Liege in 2017.

Michael Hansen, an ex-minister and former director general of the International Labor Organization (ILO), confirmed in a statement at the headquarters of the chamber that his visit to the country was aimed at promoting the nomination of Belgium for organizing the event.

The International Fairs Agency is scheduled to choose the country and city that would host the exhibition.

Belgium is soliciting Kuwait’s backing for its candidacy to host the exhibition, he said, hinting that his nation’s aspiration for rallying such support was in line with its keenness on employing modern technology for improving living standards of nations of the globe, Han-

sen said.

He added that his country held talks with the International Communication Association and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to include the exhibition in agenda of the World Summit on the Information Society.

For his part, Al-Ghanem affirmed the chamber’s keenness on helping the Belgians attain this purpose and expressed readiness to host more envoys for sake of coordination as a prelude to the event.

Hansen is renowned, and particularly well known among Kuwaitis, for standing alongside the Gulf state vis-a-vis the 1990 Iraqi aggression.

He visited the country in May 1991, a few days ahead of the ILO conference, and prepared a long report about extensive damage he had witnessed in the country and submitted it to the international convention, drawing support of the conferees for Kuwait. -KUNA

Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah. The reception was also attended by senior state, army, police and National Guards’ officials. Heading the mission of honor to accompany President Ahmad is Amiri Diwan Advisor Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq. -KUNA

Sheikh Salem Informatics Award holds international forum Wednesday KUWAIT: Sheikh Salem Al-Ali AlSabah 11th Informatics Award will hold International Information Science Forum under the slogan of “Informatics Development” on Wednesday.

The Award’s Board of trustees’ member Saleh Al-Asousi said, on Sunday, in a press statement that the forum will shed light on the present and future of information science in the world through a series of discussions.This forum is the fourth installment of a series of discussions that have begun back in 2009. It is the first forum to be held in the state of Kuwait.

Minister of Communications Salem

Tunisian official lauds Kuwait’s efforts to develop youth skills TUNIS: Head of the Liaison Department at the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports Al-Jilani Al-Hamami praised Sunday Kuwait’s leading efforts to support youth skills development and

Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Deputy Chief of the National Guards Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad

munications Technology, which concluded Saturday night, is not strange as Kuwait was pioneering in this strategic development sector,” Al-Hamami told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

He pointed out that UN data showed that Kuwait was ranked second in the Arab world and 26th on the international level in the applications of egovernment services in 2002.

Al-Hamami said Kuwait pays due attention to youth qualification and teaching.

“Kuwait is also leading in the Arab Media and the promotion of modern telecommunication technology,” he noted.

The First Arab Youth Forum on Modern Media and Telecommunications Technology kicked off on Thursday with the participation of delegations from 12 Arab countries.

Kuwait was represented in the four-day forum with a delegation from the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS).

The forum included several lectures, seminars, workshops and training courses, particularly for youth.

The Kuwaiti delegation presented a research paper on Kuwaiti experience in making use of the modern technology and social networks in media.

-KUNA

Al-Othaina will inaugurate the event, Al-Asousi noted. The forum will see the participation of Chairmen and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and Egypt’s Post board member and member of Board of Trustees at the Information Technology Institute Dr. Mohammad Al-Majid.

Dr. Emad Huballah, Head of wire and wireless communication technology unit at the Lebanese Telecommunication Authority, will be a guest in two seminars; the first will be chaired by Head of Comprehensive Planning of Information Tech-

nology Department at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Saleh Al-Asousi and will focus on establishing a prototype of informatics cooperation.

The second will be led by Professor of Journalism and Media at the American University in Cairo Dr. Hussain Ameen and will tackle the issue of present and future effects of information science.

Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Prize is an independent non-profit award in the field of technology and digital culture, in support of establishing society with high and advanced informatics awareness. -KUNA

‘Pressure put on former ministers to not enforce Audio-Visual Law’ Osama Al-Qatari

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Chairman of the Parliamentary Educational Committee and Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Jamaan Al-Harbash said that the committee resumed on Sunday investigating the file of the Audio-Visual Law and the possibility of applying it by the Ministry of Information.

Speaking to reporters, MP Al-Harbash said that the committee will invite former Information Ministers to attend the upcoming meetings, particularly those who enforced the law when they were in office. He said that the committee has been assigned by the Parliament and that it seeks to achieve the desirable aim.

Al-Harbash said, “We seek to make sure that the law is applied on all media channels and newspapers.” He stressed that there are several questions regarding the enforcement of the law and that pressure was practiced on some former Information ministers in order not to apply the law, which resulted in the chaos witnessed.

Al-Harbash said that the committee will investigate into the issue of the Financial Center during the coming meetings. Al-Harbash said that the law identifies five cases, adding that the law gave the minister the authority to end any program without the need to of a court order.

Sheikha Fadiyah Scientific Competition to go regional Mervat Abduldayem

Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Female students at Hadiyah Secondary Schools for Girls aptly won the first place in Sheikha Fadiyah Saad Al-Abdullah Scientific Competition for Girls (Ibtikar). Taymaa Secondary School for Girls came in the second place while Sabah Al-Salem Secondary School won third place.

The three winning schools, at the national level, will take part in the competition on a regional level, where its results will be announced and winners will be honored on May 16.

Chairperson of Ibtikar Higher Committee Shikha Fadiyah Saad Al-Abdullah said that the 12th edition of the competition was held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

She noted that the last two seasons of the competition were on a regional level, after achieving success and development since its inception.

She added that efforts are being ex-

erted to hold the competition at an international level as well.

Sheikha Fadiyah delivered a speech during the honoring party in which she added that holding the competition under the patronage of His Highness the Amir is a great support to the competition to head for international level, adding that this will be in the interest of youths who can achieve their ambitions and be a source of pride to Kuwait.

Sheikha Fadiyah said that the winners will compete with counterparts from schools in Gulf States. She added that the first three winners will be honored in a celebration that will be held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir and in the presence of academic and official figures from Kuwait and abroad on May 16.

For her part, Chairperson of Ibtikar Scientific Committee Dr. Najat Al-Mutawa said that they have ambitions and are looking forward to hold the competition on an international level.

Al-Mutawa congratulated the winners and hailed the efforts exerted by the participants from all schools.

Group Photo of competition winners with Chairperson of Ibtikar Higher Committee Shikha Fadiyah Saad Al-Abdullah (third left) and Chairperson of Ibtikar Scientific Committee Dr. Najat Al-Mutawa (third right) Thursday, May 3, 2012. (Al Watan)

ALWATAN DAILY

KUWAIT

MONdAY, may 7, 2012

Former PM questioned in graft probe KUWAIT: A judicial tribunal questioned the former prime minister over allegations that he was complicit in illicit financial transactions abroad, a source with knowledge of the matter and a newspaper said on Sunday.

Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah’s government resigned last year after some opposition lawmakers accused it of having made a series of illegal financial transfers via Kuwait’s

overseas embassies.

He was questioned last week by a tribunal that has jurisdiction over past and present ministers as part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged graft under the previous administration, the source said, confirming a report in Al-Sabah newspaper.

Sheikh Nasser has denied any wrongdoing.

The source declined to be named because of

the sensitivity of the investigation.

Sheikh Nasser’s lawyer was not immediately available for comment. It is the first time that a complaint against a former prime minister and a member of the ruling Al-Sabah family has been investigated at such a high level in Kuwait. The tribunal will now question members of parliament as witnesses to the alleged events, the newspaper said.

A source in the public prosecutor’s office said earlier this year that a court would investigate a complaint against Sheikh Nasser over the allegations. When the issue first came to light last year protesters and opposition lawmakers staged a series of demonstrations outside parliament that culminated in the storming of the chamber, eventually forcing the government to resign and triggering the dissolution of

3

the assembly. A snap election in February gave Islamist-led opposition candidates a majority in parliament. Since then, opposition MPs have quizzed the current prime minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak al-Sabah, over his handling of the investigation, highlighting continued discord in the region’s most outspoken parliament.

He was quizzed again by a parliamentary panel on Saturday, Al-Sabah reported. -Reuters

Red tide attacks Gem fish in Kuwait city’s wharf

Dead Gem fish are seen floating around the sea in Kuwait City’s wharf on Friday, May 4, 2012. (Al Watan) Yousef Yaqoub Khaled Al-Osaidan Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Deputy General Director in the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Dr. Haidar Murad said that the Maritime Control, a subsidiary of PAAAFR, has registered a number of dead fish known locally as the ‘Gem’ Fish in the wharf nearby the city.

Speaking to Al Watan, Dr. Murad said the PAAAFR had taken immediate action in terms of conducting a full scan in the area as well as taking samples of the dead fish in order to investigate the reasons and circumstances behind the death of this type of fish.

“The Agriculture Authority, after it has carried out the necessary coordination with the Environment Public Authority (EPA), on Saturday morning. Specimens were taken to determine the reasons,” he explained, adding that it was very important to find out if the reasons were accidental or whether there were serious and fatal reasons behind it, as such effect would have similar impact on other types of fish.

Dr. Murad was particularly concerned about the state of another local fish known Al-Maid, adding that precautionary measures were taken instantly, leaving no chances for any fatal mistake.

Meanwhile, Maritime Control patrols toured the area in the wharf to explore the so-called ‘red tide phenomena’. According to the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, fortunately, the number of dead fish found were not that large and the majority of which was the Gem type, although one particular fish known by locals as Dalaa had several dead fish but not to an alarming level.

The General Director in the Public Authority for Ag-

Researcher takes a sample from one of the caught fishes near the wharf on Friday, May 4, 2012. (Al Watan)

riculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Shaker Awadh praised the patrols, stressing that they do their work meticulously especially when it comes to citing violations and unruly practices.

“Apart from registering violations, the patrols are also keen to spot any signs of red tide, dead fish and coordinate with the concerned authorities who in their turn make contacts with the Environmental Public Authority,” he re-

Transformation into strategic health care vision needs viable contribution: Health minister KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr. Ali Saad AlObaidi said on Saturday that transformation into a strategic vision, plans, and health care programs, which was currently taking place in Kuwait, required a viable contribution from medical school graduates.

The minister made his remarks in a speech he delivered during a graduation ceremony for Science and Medical College, Al-Obaidi noted that such occasion reflected on the tremendous efforts exerted by Kuwait University and Medical College

Function by Kuwaiti Embassy celebrates KFAED-Cuba water project

HAVANA: The Kuwaiti Ambassador in Cuba Bader Al-Awadhi hosted a banquet to honor Director General of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Abdulwahab Al-Bader and his accompanying delegation after signing an agreement for a project to rehabilitate the drinking and drain water grids of the Capital City, Havana. Among guests of honor at the banquet was Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, along with senior officials from the Cuban National Water Resources Institute and the ruling party.

KFAED’s chief said Kuwait gladly supports such development projects in Cuba, particularly initiatives of this scale and importance, and noted this is the third KFAED-supported project in Cuba.

The Ambassador Al-Awadhi meanwhile said this agreement is singed as part of an overall policy of boosting technical cooperation with Cuba and efforts to bolster and broaden the scope of relations between the two nations and people. “This is, in effect, re-iteration of an earlier assurance to the Cuban Government that Kuwait would support its plans to modernize the country’s social and economic platforms.” The Cuban minister had also, for his part, hosted a luncheon honoring Director General of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Abdulwahab Al-Bader and his accompanying delegation, with presence of the Kuwaiti Ambassador Al-Awadhi and senior Foreign Ministry officials. -KUNA

to prepare national workforce.

The minister added that the honorable task conducted by Kuwait University to prepare and train students to work in various departments of the health sector, would in turn positively result on enhanced health care and development in the overall health system.

Al-Obeidi added that he believed there would be a change that was taking place in health care, through modern health systems adopted by many advanced countries, asserting importance of exert-

ing efforts to increase human resources capabilities and the understanding of health prevention.

For his part, the Dean of Medical College in Kuwait University (KU), Adel Al-Khodher said in a speech, that the country was in desperate need of national cadres, which were qualified in such honorable profession.

“We are counting on you to enhance your capabilities and bear responsibility for tasks ahead, and we wish you a brighter future,” Al-Khodher added. -KUNA

Unpaid phone bills lead to disconnection in May

KUWAIT: Ministry of Communication called on its subscribers to pay their dues for the telephone service to avoid programmed disconnection in May. Director of Public Relations at the Ministry Ahmad Ramadan told the press, on Sunday, the ministry will send an initial warning notification on May 13 as a reminder to pay the bills, and a second notice on May 20.

The ministry, however, will start disconnecting unpaid phone lines on May 27, after the second message is sent out. Home phone lines exceeding 50 Kuwaiti dinars in overdue bills and commercial lines topping KD 100 will

be automatically listed for disruption.

The programmed disconnection will include phone lines that were pre-agreed to be paid according to an installment plan but the payment was delayed. It will also include annual fees of six months and more for home and business lines for non-Kuwaitis and business lines for Kuwaitis. An early payment will guarantee a continuation of phone service, Ramadan advised.

He further added that the ministry provides an online payment option through its website or through the official “e-gate” website. Subscribers can also call (123) for any inquires. -KUNA

Regional organization set to hold workshop in Kuwait on May 14

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO) will organize in Kuwait in cooperation with Public Authority for Industry (PAI) a three-day work shop On May 14 -- themed “Evidence of technical work in Gulf ... methodology and mechanisms”. The Secretary General of GSO Nabil Bin Ameen Mulla in press remarks said that PAI will organize a workshop in Kuwait in order to train the participants on basic skills needed to improve the projects according to the international standards, approved by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and The International Electro-technical Commission (IEC).

The workshop would present information related to GSO functions, and the role it plays in preparing standards, technical regulations and the technical directive.

It would also focus on adopting the 21 international standards Guide as a regional and local standardization.

The workshop witnesses the participation of specialists in the national standardization bodies of member countries, trustees and members of the technical committees of GSC, as well as members of the sub-committees, besides support staff and working groups. -KUNA

marked.

He stressed that the readiness level was immediate once the information of dead fish was received. Awadh confirmed that the majority of the fish found dead was the Gem type and that the red tide was seen over two consecutive days.

On his part, the Director of the Environmental Public Authority Salah Al-Mudhi said that the EPA is waiting the final report of the PAAAFR on the death of certain types of fish.

Al-Mudhi however warned against any speculations prior to the release of the final report as previously there were similar reports but turned out to be mere false alarms.

“The Authority in the past used to receive various reports about dead fish and other matters. Patrols immediately surveyed the area to investigate the issue. But most often such reports are false alarms which prompted the Environmental Public Authority to establish links and closer cooperation with Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources. It was agreed that the PAAAFR would be in charge of verifying reports about dead fish and then inform the EPA,” he explained.

As for his explanation to the presence of some dead fish in the area, Al-Mudhi believes that based on past experience, some fishermen get rid of their dead fish and throw them in the sea usually in the beginning of the summer season. Al-Mudhi reasons that this is more likely the interpretation of what had taken place, adding that once the report by the PAAAFR is ready then it would be easy to establish the actual reasons behind the dead fish.

He noted that in the event that there were reasons to be concerned and that the matter is serious, EPA and PAAAFR will work closely with Kuwait Institute for Scientific research (KISR) to come up with proper and scientific solution to the problem.

Kuwait-UN municipal conference to address urban challenges

KUWAIT: The Municipal Management and Urban Development for Sustainability of Arab Cities Conference, which will begin here today, aims at addressing the challenges encountered by the Arab World and follow up on the latest developments related to urban communities’ development, deputy head of the conference’s organizing committee Mohammad Al-Musawi said Sunday.

“The conference, organized by Kuwait Municipality and UN-HABITAT over three days, emphasizes Kuwait’s pioneering role in addressing community challenges and keeping abreast with developments in different domains,” Al-Musawi told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

The event also shows UN organizations’ great confidence in Kuwait’s leading role in the region and highlights the importance of pan-Arab action to help face growing challenges.

Al-Musawi pointed out that the organizing committee has completed all preparations for the conference. He revealed that over 70 experts from European, American, and Arab universities, as well as 20 UN experts, will take part in conference activities.

The conference will focus on the following themes: local urban governance

and urban planning; affordable housing, slum upgrading and urban regeneration; urban economy, urban labor market and youth employment; and climate change, urban energy and mobility. The conference is considered a preparatory meeting for Arab states for the World Urban Forum 6 (WUF6) that will take place in Naples, Italy, Sept. 1-7, 2012.

It will also discuss Arab States’ efforts towards sustainable urban development prior to the United Nations Conference for Sustainable Urban Development scheduled for June, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The conference will mark the launch of the first report on the State of Arab Cities 2012. The report is the first attempt

by UN-HABITAT and Arab Towns Organization with support from the Kuwaiti Government to document urban trends in Arab cities and present a snapshot of Arab cities demographic, social, economic, environmental, physical, and housing conditions (within sub-regional context).

It also provides an analysis of recent Arab uprisings within national and local governance contexts and marks the potential and merits of Arab cities within regional and international integration prospects. -KUNA

Bahrain general commends military ties with Kuwait

MANAMA: Commander-in-Chief of Bahraini Defense Force Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifa lauded here Sunday the deep military relations between Bahrain and Kuwait. Meeting a visiting delegation of the Kuwaiti Mubarak Al Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College, Al Khalifa spoke highly of existing cooperation in the sharing of experience and cooperation in the military field. He also stressed the significance of boosting military coordination and cooperation between both countries.

He noted now that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states are moving from just cooperation to the phase of a union, more efforts need to be exerted in order to ensure coordination at all levels, including military, with a view to notching up such an end. The Kuwaiti military delegation is here for a one-week-long visit aiming to exchange experience and further bolster bilateral military cooperation. -KUNA

4

ALWATAN DAILY

regional

Do dreams come true?

By Hossam Fathi Staff Writer

What is the matter, people? What do you think about the former president’s re-trial next June? Is it merely a coincidence? Do you believe in the completion of the constitution by June as well? Will we witness all these great events coming true in June? In any case, in Europe and the rest of the developed world, security organizations collect the smallest bits of evidence and benefit from technology to uncover criminals, said organizations succeed in arresting criminals during relatively short periods.

Criminals fall because good will wins and defeats evil sooner or later, but in our countries poor citizens videotape thugs during attacks and acts of killing people, but we are usually surprised by the statements of our officials who insult our intelligence and common sense when they announce that such thugs are unknown, as if they were aliens coming from another planet.

The same officials also surprise us when announcing that the case files of these thugs are burnt!

Can our security apparatuses at the Ministry of Interior explain to us why they can’t stop thugs or even arrest them and send them to jail? Authorities have to arrest thugs and interrogate them, then they certainly will confess the crimes that they had committed in addition to disclosing the names of the persons who were inciting and supporting them to commit such crimes. hossam@alwatan.com.kw Twitter:@hossamfathy66

Conservatives tighten grip in Iran parliament run-off

TEHRAN: Iran’s 290-member legislature will be dominated by conservatives but the extent of support for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remains unclear, according to results of a run-off election released on Sunday by media.

Experts said the final shape of the new parliament, or Majlis, would depend on how “independent” lawmakers and those endorsed by the two leading conservative groups align themselves when it convenes at the end of this month. And the election of 196 new faces only adds to the uncertainty, they say.

The March 2 first round of the vote saw conservative lawmakers easily triumph, with 65 seats remaining undecided. The run-off vote held on Friday did not change the political direction of the conservative chamber that pledges fealty to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with the United Conservatives Front and the Front of Islamic Revolution’s Endurance winning a combined 44 seats, Fars news agency said.

The United Front, which is critical of Ahmadinejad, will have a total of 65 seats in the new parliament while the Endurance has emerged with a total of 25.

Another 61 lawmakers have simultaneously been endorsed by both groups while other conservative factions managed to win 15 seats.

Reformist candidates, who had mainly boycotted the elections, lost most of their 60 seats in the assembly. They now will only field 21 representatives, including two won on Friday, in the new assembly.

The legislature will also welcome 98 MPs who ran on “independent” tickets, many of whom are unknown but at least a dozen identify themselves as conservative. And five deputies are from the recognized minority Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian faiths. Experts say that it will not be clear until parliament meets exactly how much support Ahmadinejad can command.

The vote on March 2 was the first nationwide election held in Iran since 2009, when Ahmadinejad held on to power based on disputed results that provoked widespread protests and a severe crackdown by authorities, in particular against reformists. -AFP

Two Belgian ‘terrorism’ suspects detained in Yemen SANAA: Two Belgian nationals could be deported from Yemen after being detained last month on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, a Yemeni security official and Belgium’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. The Yemeni official identified the men as Ebrahim Bali and Ezzeddine Tuhairi, Belgians of Arab descent, and said they were detained on April 13 at Sanaa’s airport as they tried to enter the country.

“They were arrested on suspicion of planned terrorist activities in Yemen.We are in a process of negotiation with the Belgian government.We expect them to be deported...within days,” the official said.

A Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the two men were being held over suspected involvement in “terrorist” activity, and said Brussels was seeking consular access to them.

Yemen’s branch of al Qaeda, which has plotted abortive overseas attacks from the country, is of great concern to Washington, which is waging an assassination campaign against alleged members of the group using drone and missile strikes.

The United States wants Yemen’s new president who took office after a year of mass protests against his predecessor saw Yemen’s military split into warring factions - to unify the armed forces and use them to fight the militant Islamist group.

A group linked to al Qaeda seized chunks of territory in southern Yemen during the uprising against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh - a staunch US ally - and killed around 100 Yemeni troops in a single attack near one of those areas in March. -Reuters

monDAY, MAY 7, 2012

Heavy fighting rocks eastern Syria ahead of poll AMMAN: Fighting between rebels and President Bashar AlAssad’s forces erupted in an oil producing province in eastern Syria, residents and activists said on Sunday, the eve of a parliamentary election the authorities say shows reforms are under way. Rebels armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked tank positions in the east of the provincial capital Deir El-Zor, in response to an army offensive against towns and villages in the tribal area bordering Iraq that has killed tens of people and stopped others reaching supplies and medical care, they said.

“We do not have a death toll because no one is daring to go into the streets,” said Ghaith Abdelsalam, an opposition activist who lives near Ghassan Abboud roundabout that has become a flashpoint for the fighting in the city.

“The population has been trapped and anger has been building up,” he said, adding the fighting subsided early in the morning after erupting overnight.

The army still has tanks and heavy weapons in cities and towns in violation of ceasefire being monitored by a UN team and rebels are continuing their guerrilla attacks on military convoys and army roadblocks that have cut off swathes of the country, according to witnesses and opposition sources.

Fifty out of a planned total of 300 UN observers are now in Syria to monitor the ceasefire declared on April 12, but their presence has not halted 14 months of violence.

The authorities say they are fighting what they call foreign backed terrorists in Deir El-Zor and across the country who are bent on sabotaging what state media describe as a comprehensive reform program being led by Al-Assad that is more advanced than in Western democracies.

The authorities are touting Monday’s parliamentary election as a showcase of these reforms.

However, the opposition says it will change little in a rubberstamp assembly that has been chosen by the ruling Al-Assad family, backed by the powerful secret police, for the past four decades. Opposition leaders dismissed the upcoming parliamentary elections as a cynical attempt by Al-Assad to hold on to power, and urged voters to stay away.

The regime has portrayed Monday’s vote for a 250-seat parliament as a sign of its willingness to carry out democratic reforms. The election comes three months after the adoption of a new constitution that allows for the formation of political parties to compete with the ruling Baath party. But Al-Assad’s opponents say reforms without their input are a farce and that elections cannot be held under the threat of guns.

“We think the elections have no credibility at all in the middle of a situation where the regime is killing the population,” said Bassma Kodmani, a spokeswoman for the Syrian National

United Nations observers examine a Syrian army tank during a field visit to the Ain Hour area, near Damascus May 6, 2012.

Ain Hour is one of the locations where protests against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad were being held.

(Reuters)

Council, the main opposition group in exile. “It is an insult to the democratic process.” Opposition leader Haytham Manna said, “We are against these elections because they don’t have any of the characteristics of free elections.” Manna heads the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, which represents activists in Syria and in exile. Manna spoke from Brussels and Kodmani from Paris.

In Syria, anti-regime activists also said they rejected the vote and had seen very little government preparation for elections in some opposition areas.

In the southern town of Dael, residents prevented anyone from putting up election posters and instead put up photos of the 20 people from the city who have been killed in the upris-

Egypt MPs, military discuss government crisis CAIRO: A delegation of MPs on Sunday met Egypt’s military rulers in an attempt to resolve a government crisis that has seen parliamentary sessions suspended for more than a week, officials from both sides said. The meeting comes after tensions flared ahead of a key presidential election slated for later this month.

Around a dozen parliamentarians including speaker Saad Al-Katatni met Sami Anan, deputy chief of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that has ruled the country since the February 2011 fall of president Hosni Mubarak.

They were to discuss ways of drawing a line under the crisis over the composition of a panel to draw up a new constitution and over anti-military clashes at the defense ministry that saw two people killed and hundreds hurt.

No details were immediately available on outcome of the talks.

The Abbassiya district of the capital where the defense ministry is located was calm on Sunday after the second overnight curfew in a row and after the military on Saturday ordered 300 people detained after Friday’s clashes.

Last Sunday, the Islamist-dominated parliament decided to suspend sessions for a week in protest at the military refusing to sack the government and name the powerful Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) to head a new one.

A marathon parliamentary election which ended in January saw Egypt’s two main Islamist parties catapulted to the centre stage of politics, clinching nearly three quarters of the 498 seats in the leg-

Egyptian workers hang up a placard advertising the former prime minister and presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq (portrait) in Cairo on May 6, 2012, in preparation for the first round of Egypt’s upcoming elections on May 23 and 24. (AFP)

islature.

The Brotherhood said on its website last Sunday the military had indicated there would be a cabinet reshuffle before the presidential election, but so far this has not happened and parliamentary meetings have resumed.

Also on the agenda for the meeting between the members of parliament and the SCAF was the make-up of the panel

charged with drafting a new constitution before the end of a transition period on June 30. The judiciary suspended the original panel formed by parliament and comprised of mostly Islamists.

The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for May 23 and 24, and the interim military leadership has promised to hand power to an elected civilian president by the end of June. -AFP

Libya says 330,000 voters register for June poll TRIPOLI: The chief of Libya’s election commission said on Sunday that 330,000 people have so far registered as voters to elect the nation’s first constituent assembly in June. “The number of voters registered by yesterday (Saturday) evening is 330,000,” Nuri AlAbbar told a news conference in Tripoli.

Abbar said that the number was a “positive indicator” that an increasing number of citizens would register as voters at 1,473 centers nationwide.Voter registration began on Tuesday and is expected to continue for two weeks. Abbar said Libyans abroad in countries such as Britain, Canada, Germany, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States and will be able to vote in the country’s embassies there.

He also said registration centers will be opened for displaced Libyans in the cities where they now reside. Thousands of people were uprooted across the country during last year’s conflict. The election for the assembly is the first such poll in Libya after four decades of dictatorship under Muamar Gadhafi who was

ousted and killed in the 2011 revolt. Abbar said the date of the election was still to be fixed, but added that the deadline adopted by a constitutional declaration of the ruling National Transitional Council will be “respected.” Under the constitutional declaration the election for the constituent assembly will be held in June. Libya has six million residents, among them 3.4 million potential voters, according to the election commission. The 200-member assembly when elected will appoint a committee of experts to write a draft constitution which will then be submitted to a national referendum. A total of 120 seats in the assembly are reserved for independent candidates, while the remaining 80 are open to political parties.

Dozens of political parties have been formed in recent months. Since the start of the Arab Spring uprisings in several countries, elections have mostly benefited Islamists. The same trend is expected in Libya, which often projects itself as a moderate Muslim nation. -AFP

Turkish borders to remain open to fleeing Syrians: PM KILIS, Turkey: Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Sunday to keep his country’s borders open to refugees fleeing a bloody crackdown on dissent in neighbouring Syria. “God willing, a new process will begin in Syria ... sooner or later,” Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Gaziantep near the Syrian border.

“Until the will of the people comes to power in Syria, we will continue to defend the rights of our brothers coming from there, and to host and embrace them,” he added.The Turkish prime minister’s remarks came shortly before he is due to visit the Kilis refu-

gee camp bordering Syria, and which is one of several camps hosting some 23,000 Syrians who have sought refuge in Turkey. The camp was target of controversy when ricocheting bullets from crossfire between Syrian troops and rebel forces wounded four Syrians and two Turks in early April. Two of the wounded Syrians later died, witnesses had told AFP. Turkey, once a strong ally of Syria, broke with Damascus after Bashar Al-Assad’s regime began cracking down on dissent in mid-March last year. More than 11,000 people have perished in the violence, activists estimated. -AFP

ing. “They are our candidates for parliament,” said Adel, a local activist, referring to the dead. He declined to give his full name for fear of retribution.

Another activist, Fares Mohammed in the town of Zabadani northwest of Damascus, said residents there would observe a general strike to protests the elections.

“Everyone here is refusing the elections,” he said by phone.

Also on Sunday, the UN monitors were due to visit the town of Zabadani near the Lebanese border, a day after a tour of Douma, another town that at one time was known as a stronghold for the armed opposition but is now back under army control. -Agencies

Israel court slams request to delay outpost demolition JERUSALEM: Israel’s High Court on Sunday strongly criticized the state for its 11th-hour request to extend the deadline for the demolition of a settlement outpost, which was due to be razed last week.

The court last year ruled that the state must demolish five buildings in the Ulpana neighborhood of the Beit El settlement, which were built on privatelyowned Palestinian land not far from the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Late last month, the state asked the court to give it a further 90 days “to present their revised position” on the demolition order.

At the Sunday hearing, the court admonished the state for its request. “What this means is that in all of the court’s rulings the state will come and say ‘’our policy has changed and we’d like to reopen things,” judge Uzi Fogelman said, according to a court transcript.

The court did not immediately issue a ruling, and it was unclear when its decision on the request would be handed down.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that evacuating the Ulpana would be “a decree the public would not be able to endure.”

On April 4, he said he had asked the attorney general “to find a solution to the Ulpana neighborhood in order to prevent it from being demolished.”

Many in Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have called for a solution that would enable Ulpana’s 50odd residents to remain in the five structures that make up the outpost.

Israel differentiates between “legal” settlements and “illegal” outposts, but the international community views all settlement on occupied territory as a violation of international law. -AFP

Algeria campaign wraps up amid voter indifference ALGIERS: Algeria’s parties prepared their final rallies ahead of the May 10 legislative polls Sunday, after the Arab Spring sweeping the region failed to bring new faces to the campaign and spark the electorate. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s camp defended a package of cautious reforms initiated to contain revolutionary contagion, while the main Islamist alliance hoped to benefit from their counterparts’ gains in the region.

As the three-week campaign wrapped up, the North African country’s 21.6 million voters seemed underwhelmed by the choice of 44 parties.

Except for billboards plastered with ripped campaign posters, there were few signs in the streets of Algiers of the imminence of a vote Bouteflika has billed as “the dawn of a new era”.

The country’s top-selling daily carried a front-page picture of a deserted street corner littered with campaign leaflets and this headline: “Everyone was there... except the citizens.”

Algeria’s leading French-language newspaper splashed a huge picture and headline on its front page... on the French election, relegating the Algerian polls to page 5.

In another daily publication, Algeria’s top cartoonist Dilem depicted one

man asking another as they walked past the campaign posters for the May 10 vote: “So, who do you support, Sarko or Hollande?”

Turnout in the 2007 parliamentary polls slumped to a record low of 35 percent, according to official figures, and there was no sign Algerians would show more interest this year. The secretary general of Bouteflika’s National Liberation Front, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, told AFP this week he would be satisfied if 45 percent of voters cast a ballot, but some observers say official figures may conceal a projected turnout of less than 20 percent.

The regime has tried to assuage fears of fraud by inviting some 500 foreign election observers - including from the EU - but Algeria is Africa’s largest country, four times the size of France, and few voters seem convinced.

A European diplomat told AFP Sunday that the observation mission was still awaiting a copy of the voters’ roll, despite repeated requests.

The National Liberation Front, formerly the lone party, is under unprecedented strain, with rebels seeking to oust Belkhadem and sights firmly on the 2014 presidential election, after which Bouteflika, now 75, is widely expected to step down. -AFP

ALWATAN DAILY

WORLD

mondAY, may 7, 2012

Hollande set for victory in tight French vote PARIS: The French turned out Sunday for a vote tipped to make Nicolas Sarkozy the latest European leader ousted by economic crisis and Francois Hollande the country’s first Socialist president in nearly two decades.

The last opinion polls published put Hollande ahead - but with Sarkozy narrowing the gap slightly in the closing straight - as voters punish the right-wing incumbent for failing to slash stubbornly high unemployment.

Victory for Hollande would mean a shift in direction for the European Union as the Socialist has promised to renegotiate the bloc’s fiscal pact - which he accuses of stifling economies - to make it focus more on growth. Dark grey skies and rain showers greeted voters across much of France, but turnout was high by recent standards in a highly political country today split roughly 50-50 between left-leaning and right-leaning camps.

Hollande voted early in his adopted hometown Tulle, in the rural backwoods of the central Correze region, accompanied by girlfriend Valerie Trierweiler and welcomed by a crowd of supporters and journalists from around the globe. “It’s going to be a long day,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be a good day - that’s for the French to decide - but for a portion of them it will obviously be a good day, and not for the others.”

Sarkozy and his former supermodel wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy voted at a high school

Francois Hollande (left), Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, speaks with supporters as he arrives for lunch in a restaurant in Tulle during the second round of the 2012 French presidential election May 6. (Reuters)

in Paris’ chic 16th district followed by a dense pack of photographers and acclaimed by a wellheeled crowd gathered behind street barriers.

The Socialists were setting up a stage on Place de la Bastille in Paris, where Francois Mit-

terrand came to give a victory speech when he was elected president in 1981.

On Place de la Concorde, where Sarkozy delivered a speech after winning the 2007 election, a few television crews were in place but

Russians protest over Putin’s return as president MOSCOW: Russian demonstrators carried a black coffin bearing the word ‘democracy’ through the city of Vladivostok on Sunday at the start of protests against Vladimir Putin on the eve of his return to the presidency for another six years.

The opposition also planned a “march of the million” in Moscow and staged smaller rallies in other cities the day before a lavish inauguration ceremony inside the Kremlin at which the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will bless Putin.

Many Russians are angry that Putin, 59, is extending his already 12-year domination of Russia and fear he will stifle political and economic reform during his new term.

Witnesses said about 100 protesters staged a rally in a central square in the Pacific port of Vladivostok and unfurled a banner declaring “Putin is not our president”, a reference to allegations of fraud in the March 4 election that Putin won.

“Putin was illegitimately elected ...

We cannot stay silent and watch this disgrace,” Boris Nemtsov, a liberal opposition leader, said before the Moscow march got underway.

“People who are not indifferent will come to show Putin his inauguration is not a national holiday like he thinks it is, like a coronation, it is the funeral of honest politics.”

Putin has dismissed allegations that widespread fraud helped him win the presidential election and secured victory for his United Russia party in a parliamentary poll in December.

Six people were detained after the rally in Vladivostok, opposition supporters told reporters. Police also detained 10 protesters in the Urals city of Kurgan and several were led away by police in the Western Siberian city of Kemerovo, Russian media said.

Activists carry placards and flags during an opposition march in Vladivostok May 6. (Reuters)

Weeks of protests against Putin, sparked by allegations of electoral fraud, lost momentum when he was re-elected.

But the opposition hoped to draw large crowds again on Sunday to put him under more pressure at the start of his new term.

Enthusiasm for the protests could, however, be dented by the fact that the opposition called the protests on a national holiday when many people like to leave Moscow and head for the countryside.

In response to the opposition’s plans, pro-Putin supporters have announced their own rally, saying they expect 50,000 people to gather at a park in southeast Moscow.

Users of social networking sites reported attempts by the authorities in towns outside Moscow to prevent opposition supporters coming to the capital.

They said some activists were detained

Merkel’s party set for photo finish in state vote BERLIN: Voting began on Sunday in Germany’s northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, where Angela Merkel’s conservatives are neck-andneck with their Social Democrat rivals and know a loss of control of the state could dent the chancellor’s 2013 re-election hopes.

Merkel’s resolute stance through the dramas of the euro zone crisis has left her personal popularity intact. But her national centre-right coalition is in jeopardy after a slump in public support for her junior coalition partners, the Free Democrats (FDP), due to their infighting and prickly leaders.

To have any chance of fulfilling her hopes for a third-term in power, she must find new allies for her Christian Democrats (CDU) and hope a dismal run at regional level for both her party and the FDP is at an end.

Schleswig-Holstein’s voters are almost certain to eject the CDU-FDP alliance that has run Schleswig-Holstein since 2009. First exit polls are due at 1600 GMT. The most likely outcomes are a three-way coalition dubbed the “Danish traffic light” between the opposition Social Democrats SPD, Greens and the South Schleswig Party (SSW), representing the Danish minority, or a “grand coalition” of the two largest parties - CDU and SPD. The question is whether the CDU can remain the largest party in the largely rural state of 2.8 million people on the Danish border and cling to power in a different coalition. That would give the party a vital second wind, at a sensitive time for the chancellor.

With national elections in France and Greece and local elections in Italy on the same day, the vote will help provide a comprehensive snapshot of popular mood across Europe at a time when many people are struggling to cope with austerity measures.

Merkel could lose her ally Nicolas Sarkozy in France’s presidential vote on Sunday with leftist leader Francois Hollande tipped to win, who has pledged to try and temper the German-led austerity drive.

Merkel also faces a vote in Germany’s most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia, frequently a barometer of future national voting trends, where the CDU trails the SPD by 7-8 percentage points. Opinion polls for Schleswig-Holstein show the CDU and SPD neck-and-neck at 31 percent. The CDU faces an uphill struggle. Polls show SPD candidate Torsten Albig, charismatic mayor of the state capital Kiel, is twice as popular as his CDU opponent Jost de Jager. -Reuters

by police for questioning, and that some received phone calls from police suggesting they should refrain from travelling to Moscow.The reports of intimidation could not be independently confirmed.

Outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev has pushed only limited political reforms through parliament following the protests, which at their height attracted tens of thousands of people in Moscow and St Petersburg but did not spread outside big cities.

The demonstrations have deprived Putin of his aura of invincibility and opposition candidates have been trying to get a foothold on power in municipal elections, encouraged by setbacks suffered by United Russia in recent mayoral races.

City authorities approved a march of up to 5,000 people to a square across the Moscow river from the Kremlin. -Reuters

5

NEWS IN BRIEF

there was no sign of a stage being built.

More than 46 million voters were eligible to take part, and around 80 percent of them were expected to do so. Polling was to close at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) and an estimated result was to be given immediately afterwards.

Turnout was high but not at record levels with three hours to go before all voting stations shut, hitting 71.96 percent at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) according to interior ministry figures.

The French vote coincides with an election in Greece, where voters were also predicted to punish the incumbent parties for landing the country in its bleak economic state.

Anger over sputtering economies has brought down leaders from Ireland to Portugal since the debt crisis washed over the European continent. Hollande campaigned as a consensus-building moderate focused on restoring economic growth and is seen as on course to become France’s first Socialist president since Mitterrand left office in 1995.

Sarkozy has trailed consistently in opinion polls for the last six months, but fought a bruising campaign focused on mobilizing voters fearful that immigration and globalization threaten the French way of life.

Final opinion polls conducted on Friday before campaigning was officially suspended for the weekend suggested the still energetic Sarkozy may have closed the gap on the frontrunner to as little as four percent. -AFP

Fire kills nine at South Korean karaoke bar

SEOU: A fierce blaze swept through a karaoke lounge in a busy commercial district of the South Korean city of Busan, killing nine people including three Sri Lankans, police said on Sunday. The fire, which broke out on Saturday night, injured 25 others, who were taken to hospital for treatment. One is in a critical condition.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang before smoke quickly engulfed the bar, which has 28 rooms and is on the third floor of a six-storey building in the major southern port city. The dead included three Sri Lankan workers who were holding a party with Korean colleagues, a police spokesman in Busan told AFP. “Three migrant Sri Lankan workers and three Korean workers from a factory in Busan were found dead,” he said, declining to give their identities. South Korean companies hire tens of thousands of manual workers from other Asian countries because more and more South Koreans are shunning dirty and dangerous jobs. Smoke and fumes spread quickly after the blaze started in one of the karaoke rooms, making it hard for people to find the exits. The victims died from inhaling toxic gases, the police spokesman said. About 100 firefighters and 20 fire trucks battled the blaze and rescued 35 people, some of them from the top of the building, he said. Television footage showed firemen using ladders to rescue people, watched by scores of passersby.

It was not immediately clear what started the fire and an investigation is under way. “Firefighters believe the fire might have been caused by a short circuit,” the spokesman said. A fireman said the victims were trapped inside after the fire broke out near the main front door but declined to confirm TV reports that the karaoke lounge was ordered to correct its electric wiring last year. High casualties appeared to have been caused by the complicated layout of the 28 rooms and sound-insulating material in the establishment, which is located in the Busanjin district, Yonhap news agency said. In January 2009, at least eight people were killed in a fire in another karaoke lounge in Busan. Investigators blamed lax fire precautions and suspected staff negligence for the blaze, which gutted the basement bar in the Yongdo district. -AFP

North Korea vows to pursue nuclear program PYONGYANG: North Korea vowed on Sunday to push ahead with what it says are peaceful nuclear and space programs, rubbishing calls from the five permanent UN Security Council members. The communist North condemned a statement issued Thursday by the United States, ally China, Russia, France and Britain on the sidelines of a non-proliferation meeting in Vienna. They had expressed “serious concern” and urged Pyongyang to “refrain from further actions which may cause grave security concerns in the region, including any nuclear tests”. -AFP

Nepal sets up unity cabinet to agree constitution KATHMANDU: Nepal’s prime minister formed a coalition government on Sunday that includes members of the main opposition party with the hope of introducing a constitution and ending political turmoil in the impoverished Himalayan country. The cabinet of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, a former Maoist rebel leader, resigned on Thursday after a deal with opposition parties pressing for a unity government before they agree on the new constitution. Nepal, tucked between giant neighbors China and India, has been plagued by instability for years even though a Maoist insurgency ended in 2006 and the monarchy was abolished, as the rebels had demanded, two years later. -Reuters

Tornado near Tokyo kills one, injures dozens TOKYO: A tornado tore through a city northeast of Japan’s capital on Sunday, killing one person, injuring dozens of others and destroying scores of houses.

Firefighters and medical teams rushed to the area after the tornado struck Tsukuba city, 60 kilometers (40 miles) from Tokyo.

The city is a science center, with dozens of research and academic institutes, but the tornado appeared to be mostly in residential areas. A 14-year-old boy died after being injured by the storm, Tsukuba Medical Center said. More than 30 other people were injured, including at least 10 who were being treated at hospitals, fire officials said. Details of the death and injuries were not immediately available. -Reuters

Blaze at Thai chemical factory kills 12 BANGKOK: A large blaze at a chemical factory in eastern Thailand killed 12 people, injured more than 100 and spewed toxic smoke into the air, the health ministry said on Sunday. Hundreds of residents had to be evacuated after the fire, which was caused by an explosion at the factory in Rayong province, sent a plume of black acrid smoke into the sky on Saturday. Firefighters quelled the blaze but health officials continued to monitor air quality amid concerns poisonous fumes may still seep into the air. A health ministry statement said 12 people had died in the explosion and ensuing fire while 129 were injured, mainly suffering burns. The majority of the victims are believed to be factory workers. -AFP

Death toll in Nepal flash flood rises to 14

Backing EU path, Serbian right wing vies for power

BELGRADE: Serbia’s right-wing opposition vied for power on Sunday in knife-edge elections marked by an unprecedented proEuropean consensus more than a decade since the fall of nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic.

Liberals who took power in 2000 face their strongest challenge yet from the opposition led by Tomislav Nikolic, once demonized by the West as Milosevic’s spiritual heir but who says he now shares the goal of taking Serbia into the European Union. Nikolic, 60, and his populist Serbian Progressive Party are narrow favorites to win the presidential and parliamentary elections, capitalizing on voter anger over the Balkan country’s grinding transition from socialism to capitalism. “I’ve voted for Nikolic and his party. The Democrats had their chance and they failed miserably so now it’s time for a change,” said nurse Olga Nikolic, 59, one of the first Belgraders to cast her ballot after polls opened at 01:00 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT). A somber former cemetery manager, Nikolic may yet be denied the presidency in a second round on May 20, however, when unease over his past could drive undecided voters into the arms of liberal incumbent Boris Tadic, 54. No party will win an outright majority in the parliamentary vote, and most analysts predict Tadic’s Democratic Party will retain power with a rehashed version of the outgoing government.

The Socialist Party of Milosevic, who died in 2006, is polling third and likely to emerge as kingmaker. Party leader Ivica Dacic has indicated he favors a fresh coalition with the Democratic Party, but might demand the post of prime minister. Under the constitution, the prime minister is more powerful than the president.

But in a sign of how far the political landscape has shifted, analysts and diplomats say some Western capitals favor a “grand coalition” between the Tadic and Nikolic blocs, hoping that together they will quicken the pace of reform. Serbia since Milosevic has teetered between pro-Western liberals and unrepentant, pro-Russian nationalists. Nikolic says Serbia can be a bridge between East and West, but his conversion to the ultimate goal of EU membership marks a watershed. “The main parties agree on how to go forward,” a senior Western diplomat said. “That’s the major difference,” he said, but noted Nikolic would have “a lot to prove”.

Nikolic is a former deputy leader of the ultranationalist Radical Party, whose leader Vojislav Seselj is standing trial in The Hague accused of recruiting and financing Serb paramilitaries during Yugoslavia’s bloody collapse. -Reuters

Local people gather to watch the rising waters of the River Seti in Yamdi village of Kaski district, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of capital Kathmandu, Nepal, May 5. (AP)

KATHMANDU: Rescuers scoured Nepal’s central Annapurna region on Sunday for survivors of flash flooding that sent a wall of water smashing through riverside communities as the death toll rose to 14.

The Seti burst its banks near the city of Pokhara, a popular tourist hub, on Saturday, sweeping away an entire village, and swamping families enjoying picnics on the river banks.

Officials said dozens of people were still missing, and that among the dead were three Ukrainian tourists who had originally been described by rescuers as Russian.

One witness, named as Uddha Bahadur Gurung, described how the river had suddenly swollen with water and turned into a lethal surge. “There was nothing unusual. People were enjoying picnics, some were relaxing in the hot spring pools by the river and others working,” he told the Kathmandu Post.

“Out of nowhere came this swelling dark murky water with debris, sweeping away many people.”

Rajendra Singh Bhandari, the regional police chief, said that rescuers found an additional dead body on Sunday, taking the death toll 14.

“We have learned that the three foreigners who have gone missing were Ukrainian citizens of Russian origin,” he told AFP. “The prime minister, the chief of

the Maoist party and the home minister are now at the worst affected areas.

“They are scheduled to visit Kharapani village which was washed away by the flood,” he said. “The flood is now under control as the water level has come down at the river.” A landslide caused by days of heavy rain had blocked the Seti near its source in the snow fields and glaciers of the Himalayas, said army spokesman Ramindra Chhetri.

“Then there was a powerful outburst, which resulted in a flash flood in the Seti river that entered human settlements and created havoc,” he told AFP, adding some houses were covered with mud up to 12 feet (3.5 meters) deep.

“We have mobilized a company, an engineer platoon and soldiers from specialized troops for search and rescue operations,” he said. “Rescuers have recovered 14 dead bodies but still dozens are thought to be missing.”

The 8,091-metre (26,545-feet) Mount Annapurna attracts thousands of trekkers, both local and foreign, each year as well as day-trippers who enjoy picnics on the banks of the Seti river. The mountain is considered both technically difficult and avalanche-prone and has a much higher death rate among climbers than Everest, the world’s highest peak. -AFP

6

ALWATAN DAILY

OPINION

monDAY, may 7, 2012

Foes intent on annexing Bahrain with Iran Abdullah Al-Hadlaq

I

n an exclusive interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa vociferously defended and justified the way his government is currently dealing with all those terrorists who defiantly resort to violence, destruction and instilling fear and terror into the hearts and minds of innocent people by setting establishments on fire, exploding Molotov cocktails on the vehicles of security forces, in desperate and foolhardy attempts to implement and execute the orders of the high command in Tehran to turn the Kingdom of Bahrain into a Persian province.

Sheikh Khalifa has, time and again, emphasized and made it absolutely clear that his government would never tolerate acts of terrorism directed by the Iranian entity against the kingdom and its people even if the miscreants happen to hold the Bahraini citizenship as the law would be applicable to one and all without any discrimination. On the other hand, it is indeed unfortunate that this select group of citizens who hold the Bahraini citizenship; just happen to have Persian blood flowing through their veins and hence; pledge their affiliations and loyalties to the Persian regime and not to the country that nurses, nourishes and even guarantees them their livelihoods; Bahrain.

Sheikh Khalifa, in his interview with Der Spiegel, rued the fact that the terrorists stubbornly refuse to accept any of the proposals that he brings to the negotiating table simply because they are under strict orders to reject them by the ruling regime in Tehran. It is common knowledge that Sheikh Khalifa has, over the years, left no stone unturned in implementing a host of reforms and brought about several refreshing changes in the kingdom and hence; has every right to reject calls from all those who are imposing undue pressure on him to do their bidding. And with regards to the

Isn’t it really strange that Dehqan is actually not aware of the fact that the leadership that is aspiring to be the most arrogant power in the region belongs to his own country Iran?

terrorists demanding Sheikh Khalifa to step down, he made it absolutely clear, in no uncertain terms; that it was his sole prerogative to decide whether he should continue in power or step down.

Now who on earth is this Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja? Is he some sort of self-proclaimed savior of the world who’s under the erroneous impression that he can possibly save it from eternal damnation by choosing to embark on a hunger strike and when his health took a turn for the worse; his diehard followers actually went on a rampage? Al-Khawaja is not, in any way, more precious than those hundreds of martyrs (Syrian rebels) who are being butchered on a daily basis by the repressive Syrian regime headed by Bashar Al-Assad.

He is not, in any way, more valuable than all those innocent men, women and children who are massacred on the streets of Syria on a daily basis. More importantly, a single Syrian martyr -- even if he/she happens to be an innocent Syrian child is far more precious than the likes of thousands of villains like Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. It is also indeed unfortunate that all those organizations that claim to defend human rights actually turn a blind eye to all the atrocities that are being committed on innocent people. Why do these organizations look the other way when innocent people are killed and yet; strain their other eye to catch a glimpse of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja? Does there seem to be any logic in this kind of biased behavioral pattern?.

I’d like to mention here that Sheikh Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb was absolutely right when he expressed regret and

Patronizing a government that specializes in livestock

slammed the gory events that never seem to cease in Syria.

In fact, he even to the extent of criticizing the conscience of leaders of countries around the world in general and Islamic countries in particular for not playing an active role in stopping the massacres committed by Bashar Al-Assad over his own people. I am certain that if animals were slaughtered, the way innocent men, women and children are being butchered in Syria, the world’s societies for prevention of cruelty to animals would have surely taken notice and ordered an immediate stop to those killings.

In this regard, I commend the Saudi administration for voicing its concern and compelling the Syrian regime to immediately stop the massacres that are spiraling out of control. It will also help if the international community expresses its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and refrain from giving the Syrian regime any further grace period - failing which, the regime should be referred to the International Court of Justice. I’d also like to commend the stance maintained by the United Kingdom against the Syrian regime all along after it cautioned Bashar Al-Assad and his regime that the patience of the international community was wearing thin and that it would not be long before UN Security Council springs into action.

During a press conference that was held earlier, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague cautioned Bashar AlAssad against ignoring UN resolutions any further, demanded an immediate ceasefire, stop the killing of civilians and expedite the unconditional withdrawal of armed forces and

artillery from residential neighborhoods. The defiant Syrian regime, however, has yet to comply with those resolutions while it has done absolutely nothing to even facilitate the mission of international observers.

The former Prime Minister of Israel Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated on Nov. 4, 1995 was once quoted as saying: “Even Israel could not do what Hafez Al-Assad did during the Hama massacre on Feb. 2, 1982” which lasted a mere 27 days and was, by far, the bloodiest military campaign ever waged by the Baathist regime against its own people which witnessed the gory deaths of more than 40,000 civilians.

History now seems to be repeating itself as is evident in the fact that his successor Bashar Al-Assad is now following in the footsteps of his father and pursuing his approach - the magnitude of which -- far outweighs than that of his father.

The innocent people of Syria are, once again, caught in a scheming web of injustice, tyranny and arrogance of a regime that refuses to back off.

Then we have another Dehqan who recently issued a statement in which he cautioned leaders of Gulf Arab states against “circulating false allegations against Iran’s ambitions,” arguing that any such attempts “will cost the Gulf Arab states a heavy price.” In a clear and explicit threat, the (Dehqan) Iranian Deputy Chief of Staff Massoud Jazayeri also cautioned against “false allegations being leveled by countries in the Arab world concerning the “Persian Gulf” and that claims over three islands belonging to the United Arab Emirates are actually in the vested interests of arrogant colonial powers and states,” adding: “Arab governments and sheikhs must bring themselves to understand the underlying fact, that a trap is being set for them by the enemies of Islam.” Isn’t it really strange that the Dehqan is actually not aware of the fact that the biggest enemy of Islam, and the leadership that is aspiring to be the most arrogant power in the region belongs to his own country Iran?

BU QUTADA & BU NABIL Please don’t quit the company... We will urge the Civil Service Commission to raise your salary

It is indeed appalling that the government doesn’t have a clear vision over how to manage the country’s economy.

Sorry, I am just not interested in your raise!

Please, we desperately need Kuwaiti employees in the private sector... don’t leave us ... we will pay you more

I don’t care ... I just don’t want your raise

Shamlan Yousef Al-Esa

A

t this current point of time when stagnation is rampant in countries across the world and implementing austerity measures are the order of the day, we seem to be unperturbed about the state of affairs of our own economy simply because we always presume it is booming and can never be affected by crises enveloping the world. We never seem to even contemplate the fact that our resources might drain one day and hence; will have to seek alternate sources of income. Even Dubai which was hit hard by the recent global recession has put itself back on track and accrued an annual revenue crossing over a trillion dirhams last year through its open export polices.

Our wise government, on the other hand, is always busy talking about the five-year-plan while the statements of some its officials who repeatedly talk about decreasing our dependence on oil and diversifying our sources of income through other channels is nothing more than empty talk which will never be realized. They have announced umpteen times that they would lend their unstinted support to the private sector in attempts to transform Kuwait into an international financial and commercial hub, but the political circumstances surrounding such lofty promises always indicate that the government is simply not capable of executing any of those promises that it releases every once in a while.

Al-Kuwaitiya newspaper published an article last Thursday indicating that a committee that was formed by the Cabinet had submitted three effective solutions to end the crisis witnessed in livestock trading. Members of the committee carefully studied all the suggestions that were submitted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to facilitate the opening of a flourishing livestock market in Kuwait.

Those suggestions indicated that it would be far more profitable if the government personally supervises the distribution and sale of meat in attempts to ensure that price of meat should not exceed the cost of livestock imports into the country.

Want to know the reason for such a suggestion? Those that offered that suggestion aver that by selling meat with low prices (cost price) will discourage livestock importers to hike prices as and when they deem fit to fill their already overflowing coffers and that can only be done through enforce a law to that effect to protect consumers. They expect the government to maintain reasonable prices for meat through making meat available through ration cards and hence; the prices will always be constant. They also suggested laying a ban on meat imports and restructure the Kuwait Livestock and Trading Company citizens in attempts to ensure continuous and uninterrupted meat supplies.

Such inane procedures prove that the government simply doesn’t understand the principles of free economy. The government wants importing companies to sell meat at the same price that they paid to import without even bothering to check whether the companies stand to profit from such transactions. The government plans to endorse such complicated procedures while ignoring other effective solutions such as opening the market up for healthy competition particularly since such a step will certain stop the existing monopoly that is engaged in by some traders and will, on the contrary, urge companies and dealers to offer meat at competitive prices. It is evidently clear that the government does not have a clear vision in managing the economy through depending on various resources other than oil. It should also stop exercising its dominion over the economy and stop interfering in the affairs of the private sector.

Listen Medhat ... The Kuwaiti youths have abandoned the private sector ... they only want to work in government institutions

No problem sir! Just publish an ad mentioning “Job Opportunities for Kuwaitis”

No w I Ku w a m ce r t a r u s h a i t i s wi i n p r iva t o j o i n ll te se th e ctor! !!

Required Urgently • A Kuwaiti doctor with previous experience • A Kuwaiti engineer to work as mandoub for a company • A Kuwaiti youth holding diploma to work as a building watchman

Mohmmed Thallab

mthallab@alwatan.com.kw

The universal acceptance of all religions Esam Abdluatif Al-Fulaij

S

oon after Muslims across the world expressed their rage over Terry Jones’ desecration of copies of the holy Quran, an American preacher Scott Morgan took the bold initiative and decided to teach some verses of the holy Quran inside a church in Virginia and selected two subjects about women and violence. Facing the congregation, he carefully explained both topics to the faithful present in the church in detail. An American satellite television channel then telecast Morgan’s version of some of the verses scripted in the holy Quran and mentioned the underlying fact that in the event that some priests did want to desecrate the holy Quran just like Terry Jones did in Florida then there are several other priests in the US who are more than willing to teach and preach the holy Quran. Morgan said that he selected the two most important topics for discussions bearing in mind the fact that most Americans were very interested in listening to those topics namely; women and violence. He attempted to prove through the recitation of verses from the holy Quran that Islam forbids violence against anyone - be it against Muslims themselves or non-Muslims after which he mentioned some of the attributes of Prophet Moham-

mad (Peace be upon him). Soon after he completed his discourse on violence, he then proceeded on to the topic of respecting a woman through the recitation of a number of verses that instructs us how to respect and treat women as well as how to highlight her role in building society.

He said he deliberately focused on these two topics in particular simply because he was fully aware of the fact that American people have always held these two issues close to their hearts.

The TV channel disclosed that Morgan had grown up and mingled with several Muslims throughout his childhood and especially during his formative years and hence; was very relevant with the tenets of Islam which was further enhanced when he accompanied his father in the late 1970s to Afghanistan. His father was then associated with a peacekeeping force whose mission was based in Afghanistan at that time. He grew and lived among Muslims where he learned the principles and tenets of Islam from the Muslims that he mingled with. It was from that very instant that he solemnly believed that he should convey whatever he learned in Afghanistan to members of the society that now lives among in the ardent hope of changing the erroneous concepts and sentiments that some persons and media means attempt to portray about Muslims in

general and Islam in particular.

In an emotional and touching speech Morgan said: “If I can change even an iota of misunderstanding or the erroneous notions that a person nurses about the tents of Islam, then I will surely consider that as a great achievement and tremendous success.” During a short break during the discourse a television correspondent went around asking the participants questions about the discourse wherein a visibly emotional American woman said she attended one of the preaching sessions for two long hours without even getting up once. When asked what caught her uninterrupted attention, she said: “It is the fact that Islam highlights and promulgates women’s causes,” adding “I had always nursed misconceptions about Islam, but now I am enlightened about the facts.”

However, we still need to explain the true tenets of Islam and the most qualified persons who can achieve that goal are those that speak the native language of the countries that they live in addition to understanding the cultures of their peoples well. We should always concentrate on such qualities because only those persons who have a good command of the language of the countries that they live in can convey the true message that Islam has to convey to all the faithful.

Have an opinion?

Share it with the world! The Al Watan Daily accepts articles written on any subject, expressing personal views on topics you care about or in reaction to a column already published in our pages. We will review it and then get back to you. Just email us your thoughts at opinion@alwatandaily.com If your submission grabs our attention, we’ll let you know what we think and possibly publish it on this page. Give your opinion a voice. Write for Al Watan Daily today.

Editor-IN-CHIEF

Dr. Ali Altarrah Al Sawari International for advertising & publishing

DISCLAIMER:

General Manager

Dina Al-Mallak

Editors Darlynn Amara Ali Marafie Angie Galal Halah Al Gharabally Julius Paul Coelho Amina Mustafa

To Advertise:

CONTACT US

Tel. +(965) 2249 5103 Fax. +(965) 2249 5107

To Subscribe: +(965) 2482 6780 Al Watan Hotline: 1822255

E-mail:

times@choueirigroup.com

For Press Releases: alwatandaily@alwatandaily.com or info@alwatandaily.com

for Classifieds

FAX: +(965) 2492 5797 E-mail: classifieds@alwatandaily.com

The views and opinions presented on the ‘Opinion’ & ‘Views’ page are the authors’ own, and do not necessarily represent those of Al Watan Daily and its staff.

ALWATAN DAILY

views

monDAY, may 7, 2012

The Corporate-Tax conundrum

In the absence of close and broad international cooperation, the US must join the race and lower its corporate-tax rate.

Laura Tyson Project Syndicate

T

he United States now has the highest statutory corporate-income tax rate among developed countries. Even after various deductions, credits, and other tax breaks, the effective marginal rate - the rate that corporations pay on new US investments - remains one of the highest in the world. In a world of mobile capital, corporate-tax rates matter, and business decisions about how and where to invest are increasingly sensitive to national differences.

America’s relatively high rate encourages US companies to locate their investment, production, and employment in foreign countries, and discourages foreign companies from locating in the US, which means slower growth, fewer jobs, smaller productivity gains, and lower real wages.

According to conventional wisdom, the corporate-tax burden is borne principally by the owners of capital in the form of lower returns. But, as capital becomes more mobile, relatively immobile workers are bearing more of the burden in the form of lower wages and fewer job opportunities. That is why countries around the world have been cutting their corporate-tax rates. The resulting “race to the bottom” reflects intensifying global competition for capital and technological knowhow to support local jobs and wages.

Moreover, a high corporate-tax rate is an ineffective and costly tool for producing revenues, owing to innovative financial transactions and legal tax-avoidance mechanisms.

A company’s legal residence and geographic sources of income can be and are manipulated for such purposes, and the incentives and scope for such manipulation are especially large in sectors where competitive advantage depends on intangible capital and knowledge - sectors that play a major role in the US economy’s competitiveness.

In the absence of close and broad international cooperation, the US must join the race and lower its corporate-tax rate. A lower rate would strengthen incentives for investment and job creation in the US, and weaken incentives for tax avoidance. It would also reduce numerous efficiency-reducing distortions in the US tax code, including substantial tax advantages for debt financing over equity financing and for non-corporate businesses over corporate businesses.

7

Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin speaks about tax codes and revenue during a discussion hosted by the Brookings Institute, on May 3, 2012 in Washington, DC. Brookings billed the discussion as “Economic facts about taxes, rates, revenues, and reform options.” (AFP)

But each percentage-point reduction in the corporate-tax rate would reduce federal revenues by about $12 billion per year. These revenue losses could be offset by curtailing socalled “corporate-tax expenditures” - deductions, credits, and other special tax provisions that subsidize some economic activities while penalizing others - and broadening the corporate-tax base. Both President Barack Obama’s plan for business-tax reform and the SimpsonBowles deficit-reduction plan propose reducing such expenditures to pay for a reduction in the corporate-tax rate.

Corporate-tax expenditures narrow the base, raise the cost of tax compliance, and distort decisions about investment projects, how to finance them, what form of business organization to adopt, and where to produce. As Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney show in a just-released report, the resulting differences in effective tax rates for different kinds of business activity are substantial. That said, if the goal of corporate-tax reform is to boost invest-

ment and job creation, broadening the tax base to pay for a lower rate could be counterproductive. Eliminating “special interest” loopholes, like tax breaks for oil and gas, or for corporate jets, would not yield enough revenue to pay for a meaningful rate cut.

And curtailing accelerated depreciation, the manufacturing production deduction, and the R&D tax credit - which account for about 80 percent of corporate-tax expenditures would involve significant tradeoffs. Indeed, cutting these items to “pay for” a reduction in the corporate-tax rate could end up increasing the tax on corporate economic activity in the US. Eliminating accelerated depreciation for equipment would raise the effective tax rate on new investments; repealing the domestic-production deduction would increase the effective tax rate on US manufacturing; and rescinding the R&D tax credit would reduce investment in innovation.

Instead of cutting proven tax incentives for business investment, the US should off-

set at least some of the revenue losses from a lower corporate-tax rate by raising tax rates on corporate shareholders. Most countries that reduced their corporate-tax rates have followed this path, while the US has done the opposite. At 15 percent, America’s tax rates on dividends and capital gains are at historic lows, while the profit share of national income is at an all-time high. Defenders of low rates for capital owners argue that it minimizes “double” taxation of corporate income - first of the corporation and then of its shareholders. A lower corporate-tax rate would weaken this justification. Moreover, pension funds, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations, which receive about 50 percent of all corporate dividends, do not pay tax on these earnings, and would benefit from a lower corporate-tax rate.

Although individual taxes on corporate income reduce the after-tax return to savings, they have less distorting effects on investment location than corporate taxes do, and they are

Biomedicine’s Democratic Revolution

more likely to fall on owners of capital than on workers. Moreover, it is far easier to collect taxes from individual citizens and resident shareholders than from multinational corporations.

Apple can use sophisticated techniques to manipulate the location of its corporate income, but individual US citizens who own Apple stock have to report the dividends and capital gains that they earn from it in their worldwide income.

A recent study found that taxing capital gains and dividends as ordinary income, subject to a maximum 28 percent rate on long-term capital gains (the pre-1997 rate), could finance a cut in the corporate-tax rate from 35 percent to 26 percent. Such a change would reduce corporations’ incentives to move investments abroad or shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions, while increasing the progressivity of tax outcomes by shifting more of the burden of corporate taxation from labor to capital owners.

An increase in the corporate-tax rate appeals to many US voters who believe that corporations are not paying their fair share of taxes and are worried about widening income inequality. But, in a world of mobile capital, raising the corporate tax rate - or simply leaving it at its current level - would be a bad way to generate revenue, a bad way to increase the tax system’s progressivity, and a bad way to help American workers. * Laura Tyson, a former chair of the US President’s Council of Economic Advisers, is a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

April’s jobs: Americans aren’t working

Stephen H. Friend Project Syndicate

V

ery soon, it will be economically feasible to sequence human genomes and collect massive amounts of different types of health data as standard medical practice. Already, there are remarkable examples of how these new genetic data are changing our thinking about disease and diagnosis. Consider the Beery twins, born in 1996 in San Diego, California. They suffered from chronic vomiting, seizures, and muscle weakness, sending them and their parents on an odyssey of medical examinations and tests. The first diagnosis was cerebral palsy. Then they received a diagnosis of dystonia, a rare neurological disorder. But treatments based on these diagnoses did not alleviate the children’s symptoms.

Frustrated, their parents had the twins’ genomes sequenced. The results revealed that the twins had been incompletely diagnosed. Their previously diagnosed dystonia was being caused by a genetic mutation that was interfering with the neurotransmitter serotonin. The twins’ doctors found that the dystonia could be fully treated with a readily available serotonin replacement. So why haven’t success stories like that of the Beery twins, together with the Internet’s power and increasingly affordable collection of molecular data, led to the construction of a knowledge network of disease? Why aren’t scientists and doctors turning in droves to data-intensive science in order to build better “disease maps”?

One possible answer is that there are still technical barriers that block the construction and use of such networks. With our ability to generate ever-rising oceans of molecular data - now approaching the zetabyte scale (that’s a one followed by 21 zeros) comes the challenge of storing and deciphering this information. But scientists and software engineers regularly face such daunting challenges, and, with DNA serving as the reference language of modern biomedical research, the technical barriers to constructing disease networks will be short-lived.

Cultural barriers are the real stumbling block.

As humans, we are highly evolved to adjust to our surroundings: we tend to adapt to a culture, wellconceived or not, and lose sight of its failings. But when we glimpse an alternative, our culture’s inadequacies (and even insanities) are immediately apparent, which may prompt a cultural shift, collective action, and change. The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and, more recently, the Arab Spring are clear examples of this dynamic.

Similarly, the example of the Beery twins shows us that an alternative to symptom-based medicine can be realized: the advent of genomics technology can change not just what is known, but, more importantly, how we think of ourselves. But, in order to build the disease networks of tomorrow, we will need to move beyond the current linear approaches to science and to how scientists work. We all like a good story that unfolds in a straightforward way, but the story of disease plays out across a poly-nodal information network, similar to what an air traffic controller might track in the skies above a major airport. Biomedical researchers’ “lock and key” and

Felix Salmon Reuters

It’s really hard to get a robust recovery when the number of people earning money is so anemic.

T A laboratory technician checks a slide at a biomedical laboratory in this undated file photo. Democratized medicine represents the fullest flowering of the biomedical information revolution available today, medical experts said. (Agencies)

As humans, we are highly evolved to adjust to our surroundings: we tend to adapt to a culture, well-conceived or not, and lose sight of its failings. linear-pathway representations are incomplete, and should be supplemented with disease maps that can now be built using molecular data.

We must also build the infrastructure and cultivate the relationships needed to share disease maps with basic researchers, practicing doctors, drug developers, and even the public at large. And that could prove to be even more difficult, because the current closed nature of the medical-information system and its self-directed incentive structure block such sharing. Patents, trademarks, and competition for resources (people, money, and accolades) seal off information and prevent molecular data from being analyzed and shared. Rewards in biomedical research go to “solo workers,” and do nothing to acknowledge the work that can be done only by multi-functional groups. Despite these imposing obstacles to progress, there are reasons to believe that a cultural shift is afoot: researchers from geographically distant labs are forming non-traditional “federations” to combine their data sets, work on them collaboratively, and post the results for other scientists to analyze. Crowd-sourced competitions like DREAM Challenges and FoldIt show that important scientific findings can emerge from outside of universities and pharmaceutical companies. And public-private partnerships between drug developers, basic researchers, and patient groups that share information pre-competitively (that is, with no or

limited patent filings) are an increasingly popular way to translate scientific findings into potentially meaningful clinical benefits.

But a few successful federations, competitions, and partnerships may not be enough to transform biomedical research. Disruptive change may be required, and here each of us can make a profound difference. Patient groups are already organized; their members can report their symptoms online and self-enroll in clinical trials. We can already obtain portions of our own genetic information and use it to make informed medical decisions, join existing patient groups, or create new ones. We can provide our genetic samples to data-driven trials to learn about our likelihood to respond to particular therapies. We can even organize to self-fund future studies or join only those studies that give us the legal right to say how and where our data are used.

In other words, patients can and should stop being the passive “sick” and actively engage to pressure clinicians, researchers, and drug developers to adapt or perish. Democratized medicine represents the fullest flowering of the biomedical information revolution. There are few worthier goals than a future in which citizen-patients are active participants in managing their own health. * Stephen H. Friend is President, Co-Founder, and Director of Sage Bionetworks.

here’s a lot going on in this month’s jobs report. The headline number of jobs created - 115,000 - is miserable: it’s basically just enough to keep up with population growth. That’s the number the markets look at. The number the politicians look at, however, is the unemployment rate, which ticked down to 8.1 percent. That’s still high, but it’s not a statistic to beat Obama round the head with.

The big news, however, lies elsewhere, in the fact that a whopping 522,000 people joined the “not in labor force” rolls last month. When more than half a million people in one month decide that they’re not even going to bother looking for work anymore, there’s no way you can say you’re in a healthy recovery. Zero Hedge has the two charts which matter. First you have the number of people not in the labor force, which has been climbing steadily through the recession and the recovery, and is now approaching 90 million. The only time it fell was during the first quarter of 2010 - the census-hiring boom. This chart speaks volumes to me: it says that while Capital might not be in a recession any more, Labor still isn’t working. Then there’s the even scarier one, which is the labor force participation rate - now down to 63.6 percent.

This chart is just petrifying. The participation rate started falling after the dot-com bust, leveled off during the credit boom (but never really rose much), and then fell off a cliff when the recession started. You’d think it would have started to bounce back up by now, but no. Instead, we’re now deep into pretty much unprecedented territory. Yes, the participation rate has been this low before - back in 1981. But that was during the decades when women were still properly moving into the labor force.

As Mike Konczal noted this morning, a key indicator of labor recession is still in force: if you’re unemployed, you’re still more likely to drop out of the labor force entirely than you are to find a job. And as Dan Alpert noted, in a country of 314 million people, there are only 115 million full-time workers and 27 million part-time workers. It’s really hard to get a robust recovery when the number of people earning money is so anemic.

For demographic reasons - the retirement of the baby boomers - the labor force participation rate is naturally going to fall over the next decade. But go back just one year, to March 2011, and look at the official CBO projection of the labor force participation rate. The CBO saw a rate of 64.6 percent in 2012 - a full percentage point higher than we’re at right now. The participation rate wasn’t expected to fall to today’s level of 63.6 percent until 2017.

Politically speaking, the unemployment rate is still the number that people concentrate on. But increasingly, being unemployed is little more than a halfway house between employment and dropping out of the labor force altogether. Until the labor force participation rate stops falling and starts rising, the so-called recovery will remain a theoretical economic entity and not a real-world reality for hundreds of millions of Americans. We need jobs, and we need them now. Ben Bernanke, and Congress, are you listening? * Felix Salmon is a Reuters correspondent. The views expressed here are his own.

classifieds@alwatandaily.com

monday, may 7, 2012

A 15 yr exp. Marketing professional available for part time activity for International business relations. Well versed in IT.

Call 66013056

Home Service Available

Baby Items in “Excellent Condition” For Sale 1) JUNIORS Cot (from Birth up to 5 years) 2) GRACO Baby Car Seat (designed by Laura Ashley) 3) DURELL-USA Car Seat (from Birth up to 18kgs) 4) CAM-NEONATO-Italy Baby Tub + Stand

KD 50 KD 35 KD 35 KD 10

Brand New Items...at half the Retail PRICE...!!!

5) MOTHERCARE Toilet Training Set 6) MOTHERCARE 2 position Baby Carrier 7) SCENIQUE Baby Crib Musical Mobile with Sonic Control 8) AVENT Breast Pump Set with 2 Bottles & Accessories

KD 5 KD 5 KD 5 KD 20

Slimming massage, manicure, pedicure, acrylic and nail extension. Please call

69696177

21-03/21-04

Driving Instructors Available Flexible timing Reasonable price For males and females Abu Khaled

Contact: 55224747

WDLR

We carried out all kind of electrical house holds LCD TV Telephone PBX maintenance and installation. DSL wirings trouble shootings and wireless solutions.

Required licensee for a tax business.Tel:66689802

- Flexible Timing - Reasonable Price - For all languages Mudarrib Nafais : Contact: 65553012

SLR

Kitchen Equipment repairs 24hours.

Abu Mahmud: SLR

Professional gardening services.

Tel:67058331

SLR

Garmin GPS Tel:99226042

for

sale.

Selling the numbers (90008944-5500503).

Tel:69644449 Selling the number (60601313) KD800. Tel:50250500 Used furniture’s for sale with air conditioner.

Tel:99739700 Kitchen Tel:24762688

appliances.

Carpenter.

Tel: 66291129 SLR

Westener teacher available to tutor English American and British Curriculums in English, Math and Science or Art.

For rates, please call

6068 5554

WDLR

One big room available for Keralite couple or working ladies in Hawally with Keralite family.

2 bedroom, 1 bathroom rent KD 85. Tel: 50824257

bathrooms, living room and kitchen along a maid room.

Tel: 90958689-99925977

Arabic Teacher for non-native speakers Beginners and advanced - All levels of the Arabic language - IGCSE & GCSE. Only 10 KD for an hour and free books

WDLR

Apartment in Jabriya, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living and kictehen.Tel: 66256814 Apartment in Zahra, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room and kitchene, KD360, Tel: 99725755 Apartment in Manqaf, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room and kitchen.Tel: 90958689 Studio in Salwa, block 1, street 6, house360, KD260.

Tel:66143662

Apartment in Mahboula, 4 master bedrooms with baths, living room, kitchen, maids room, laundry and storage room ,swimming pool, parking.

Tel: 65563683

Apartment in Salmiya, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, kitchen, pool, DSL and kids playground, KD475.Tel: 66297171

Apartment in Hawalli, 2 master rooms, kitchen, balcony and living room.

Tel:60001848

Chevrolet Lumina V6 2008 model done 80000 km in good condition for KD 2800, single used. Tel: 99962456

Volkswagen Touareg 2005, navy exterior in a very good condition, KD 2500.Tel: 94404405

Toyota mini buss KD2900.Tel:24747418

2005.

Ford Lincoln, grey exterior.

Tel: 99288558

2005,

Mercury Grand Marquis 2005, hardly used in great condition with valid insurance.Tel:97175533

Lexus IS400 1998, navy full option, KD 1900.Tel: 97803380 Hyundai 2000, green exterior, KD 500.Tel:99628345 BMW 2000, White exterior, beige interior, KD 1250 Tel: 97878183 Toyota Camry 2000, in great condition.Tel:99734995

Learn French, Speak French!

Private French lessons with an experienced teacher in all levels and with all age groups. Interested?

Please call: 97722008

21-03/21-04

Laptop repairs, Formats, anti-virus program and games.

A well known Bakala

located at Block 4 Mahaboula behind Alia and Galia Tower.

Floor space 5mX5m, with bathroom, include 2 chillers, 2 freezers, cash register, vegetable scale, with stocks.

SLR

Paints and wallpapers, professional work.

Tel:99795097

Interested parties may contact

60452716

SLR

20-03/20-04

I am an MBA holder with more then 23 years experience in Accounting, Analysis, and Business development. Responsibilities in India & Kuwait, now I am looking part time job after 6 pm from Sunday to Thursday, Friday & Saturdays full day free, if any suitable vacancies for me please contact 55710397.

Learn Arabic For foreigners to learn Arabic easily.

Contact: 66972388

SLR

Packing and moving services.

06-03/06-04

Required Sales person for men’s textiles shop with sales experience (speaks Arabic). Salary KD 160 + commission.

Tel: 66970789

Tel:65599091

SLR

24-01/24-02

Laptops rent,

Seeking qualified female Nail Technicians of Filipino Nationality. If interested please contact 99030565 or 25319812.

Tel: 66644270

16-01/16-02

Required sales person with knowledge of using the computer. Tel:66292269

SLR

Egyptian babysitter, baby sit kids from 1 years old to 4.

Tel:94996159

Required chef for Lebanese restaurant. Tel: 6509292697686366

SLR

Apartment in Abdullah Al Ahmad, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room and kitchen.

Tel:90958689.

Cars

30-01/30-02

Those interested can call: 97932925

Tel:97601745

Apartment in Salmiya, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, maid room, living room and kitchen, KD400.

Tel:67004704

Cars

Nissan Altima Tel:94915050

25/12 - 25-02

Super deluxe furniture apartment in Salmiya, 2 rooms, 2 baths, living room, kitchen and laundry room, KD500.Tel:25352200

Apartment in Hawalli, duplex furnished, great location, 2 master rooms, kitchen, living.

Tel: 97720081

Apartment in Manqaf, private entrance, 3 bedrooms, 3

Arabic Teacher

contact Mr. Khaled Ph: 99619998 & 55619998

FOR RENT

Deluxe villa for rent in Egila, strategic location located around 3 streets, 2 floors, 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, 4 living rooms + 2 kitchens and 2 gardens. Tel: 55969322

FOR SALE

Work/Employment

FOR RENT

Room available only for Filipino, single lady near Kuwait National English School, Hawally. Accessible to bus going to City and Sharq. New building with Pinoy TV Channel and large sala & dining area. Tel: 97197268

Investors looking to take advantage of EB-5 Investor Program to obtain US Citizenship, Investing US$ 500,000 in Approved Regional Center, investors receives “Green Card” within 4 months allowing permanent residency. Fund is placed on real estate investment for 5 years with up to 6% income per year. For appointment call: (965) 66834599, Email: nkoni@ konikonsultants.com / website: www.KoniKonsultants .com

25/12 - 25-01

SLR

TREADMILL excellent condition, high-tech screen, KD 35.

Tel:90989840 Billiard table for sale in great condiditon.Tel:66666168

1. Showcase – from Home Centre (three piece – TV unit, book case and glass case)

Price: KD. 15 each

(All three pieces for KD. 35) 2. Wooden coffee table with 4 drawers (Home Centre) Price: KD. 15 3. Side table with wooden drawers (3 shelves) Price: KD. 6 4. Dark brown three door cupboard with two full length mirrors Price: KD. 30 5. Full length light brown cupboard with mirror Price: KD. 30 6. Wooden shelves Price: 500 fills each 7. Book stand Price: KD. 5 8. Ikea Wooden crib Price: KD. 15 9. Ikea changing table Price KD 8 10. Playpen Price: KD. 5 11. Baby Pram Price: KD. 8 12. Sony Trinitron TV, 29 inches Price: KD. 25 13. Queen size bed (includes mattress) Price: KD. 30 14. Wooden Master bed (King size) Price: KD. 40

(includes mattres)

50kgs Weight lifting set of dumbbells - KD 30 Exercise bench for lifting - KD 25 AB King Pro W/C - KD 15 All the above are as good as new.

16-04/16-05

28-02/28-03

Serious buyers please contact 67002524

Tel: 9769364

WDLR

Items for sale

Tel: 93399180

Satellite service, 24hours, covers all area.

16-04/16-05

Driving Instructors available for learners

Birthdays and weddings

Satellite

Boston whalev super sport 150 boat.Tel:65880918

Contact: 67009278

02-04/02-05

EB-5 Investor Program

Pictures and Information of all items available upon request...!!!

Events planner

16-04/16-05

miscellaneous

Senior Manager available in Furniture, General Trading, FMCG, Air & Sea Freight Forwarding, Retails, Wholesales.

Can suggest acquiring profitably running Cash businesses with line-of-products.

Please Call: 9983 4436

24-04/24-05

Please contact Mr. Sabir, mobile 99509163

Tel: 60091481

30 years experienced

Exercise equipments for sale

GMC Yukon 1999, spacious and clean. KD 1700, price is negotiable. Tel:66694310 Nissan Maxima 2008, 6VS, KD 3200. Tel: 99997494 Nissan Maxima KD1500. Tel: 66565511

2004,

WDLR

Carpool service, female driver covers all Kuwait areas.

Website designer and management

Tel:60361977

SLR

Sewer system cleaning.

Tel:66070166

Tel:66238890

SLR

Paints and wallpapers.

SLR

Baraka: Tel: 99881053

SLR

UK, Korean firms picked for Saudi petchem project

BUSINESS

MONdAY, may 7, 2012

mar ket watc h KUWAIT

DUBAI

0.1% 6472

1.4% 1560

CAPITALS: Saudi Aramco and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical have issued letters of intent to at least two contractors who submitted the lowest bids to expand a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia, moving a step closer to a decision on whether to proceed with the major project, industry sources said.

British company Petrofac and South Korea’s GS Engineering and Construction were picked among contractors to be part of building the second phase of the already operational complex in Rabigh on the Red Sea coast of the world’s largest oil exporter.

QATAR 0.2% 8685

OMAN

ABU DHABI

0.3% 5847

0.3% 2495

OIL M A RKE TS BAHRAIN

EGYPT

0.3% 1162

0.9% 4974

SAUDI

1.0% 7378

US Crude $98.59 $0.10 London Brent $113.43 $0.25 Kuwait Crude $112.04 $0.87 Information Courtesy: KAMCO

CURRE NCIE S US Dollar

British Pound

Saudi Riyal

Qatari Riyal

Indian Rupee

Euro

Japanese Yen

UAE Dirham

Bahraini Dinar

Philippine Peso

Buy 0.278 Sell 0.2781

Buy 0.3637 Sell 0.3639

Kuwait national oil firm pulls Ithaca Energy bid S&P report says oil exporters are pulling ahead in the Gulf

CAPITALS: Kuwait’s national oil company has walked away from takeover talks with North Sea-focused oil and gas explorer Ithaca Energy, a Kuwaiti daily reported on Sunday.

Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration, the international arm of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), was not immediately for comment on the report in a daily newspaper which cited high-level unnamed sources in KPC. “Kuwait closed the door to negotiation completely,” the newspaper quoted a

source as saying.

London’s Sunday Times reported in March that the Kuwaiti group was in advanced takeover talks with the company, which is also listed in London.

Ithaca said in March that it had received unsolicited interest from several unnamed parties in a deal estimated to be worth 880 million US dollars.

At the close of last week, a specialized economic report forecasted that Kuwait is assumed to have achieved about 2.5 billion Kuwaiti dinars in oil revenues

by April 2012.

The report went on to say that “assuming production levels and prices would continue at the present levels -an assumption which is unrealistic on the price side at least- the value of potential

oil revenues for the entire current fiscal year would score about KD 30 billion, which is higher by approximately KD 17.2 billion than the budget estimate.”

It added that approximately KD 1.2 billion in non-oil revenues would make budget revenues for the current fiscal year reach approximately KD 31.2 billion.

Comparing this figure with expenditures allocations in the amount of KD 22.6 billion, the result will be a hypothetical surplus in the budget by approximately KD 8.6 billion for the entire fiscal year 2012-2013.

Meanwhile, as fears of political instability fan the Gulf, high hydrocarbon prices are continuing to underpin the economies of oil exporters Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates

(UAE), Oman, and Bahrain, said Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services in its report card on its rating universe in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries published Saturday, ‘High Oil Prices Are Widening The Gap Between Gulf Oil Exporters And The Region’s Other Economies,’ on RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal.

“Oil-rich economies in the Gulf are increasingly pulling ahead of the region’s other economies, on the back of continuously high oil prices,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Tommy Trask, “and the high prices support ratings across a range of corporate and infrastructure sectors, including oil & gas up- and downstream as well as sectors relying indirectly on commodity led growth such as trade.”

-Agencies

KSE ends day with 7.5 point drop, both indices in red

Buy 0.00348 Sell 0.003485

Buy 0.0741 Sell 0.0742

Buy 0.07569 Sell 0.07574

Buy 0.07638 Sell 0.07634 Buy 0.7372 Sell 0.7379

Buy 0.005201 Sell 0.005198 Buy 0.006585 Sell 0.006567

Prices in Kuwaiti fils as of May 6, 2012 Courtesy: KAMCO

BUSINESS MATTERS

Three questions to ask before buying a franchise Dr. John P. Hayes Exclusive to Al Watan Daily

KUWAIT: If you want to avoid becoming a sad statistic in franchise history, there are two questions you must answer even before you begin searching for a franchise to acquire. A third question needs to be answered when you think you’ve found the perfect franchise for you.

Answering these three questions will save you from considering the wrong franchises, and they will ultimately help you invest in the right franchise, providing that buying a franchise is the best thing for you. As I’ve written before franchising is not for most people.

Here are the three questions: Question 1: Do you know the profile of a successful franchisee?

Even before you think about writing a check to buy a franchise, you need to be absolutely certain you can describe the profile of a successful franchisee. What are the values, skills and behaviors of successful franchisees? How do they make decisions? Why are they successful? What do they do that employees don’t do?

A successful franchisee may not have been a successful employee. Just because you excelled at your government job, or you were Teacher of the Year, or a real estate tycoon, doesn’t mean you’ve got what it takes to become a successful franchisee. You must be sure to study the success traits of franchisees and identify them before you invest.This requires reading about franchising and getting answers from experts.

Be sure you got it!

A Palestinian woman harvests wheat by hand on a farm in Khan Younis on the southern Gaza Strip May 6, 2012. (Reuters)

Egypt foreign reserves see first gain since 2010

CAIRO: Egypt’s foreign reserves rose slightly last month, central bank data showed on Sunday, their first gain since a popular uprising unseated the country’s autocratic leader and sent the economy into a tailspin. The central bank has spent heavily to support Egypt’s currency through the political turmoil since Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow in February 2011, which prompted foreign investors to scurry for the exit and hammered tourism.

Foreign reserves - which stood at 36 billion US dollars in December 2010 and fell every month since the uprising began - edged up to $15.21 billion at the end of April from $15.12 billion at the end of March, the bank said. Some economists are expecting a sharp drop in the pound as reserves appear close to danger level and long-awaited help from foreign donors including the International Monetary Fund has been repeatedly delayed.

Few are willing to rule out a devaluation for now and foreign participation in Egypt’s stock mar-

Iran rejects subsidy cuts proposals DUBAI: A committee of Iranian lawmakers has rejected a government plan to increase prices for subsidized food and fuel in a move that threatens to derail a drive to rein in the country’s sanctionssqueezed budget, Iranian media reported late on Saturday.

International sanctions imposed over Iran’s nuclear program have sharply reduced the amount of money Tehran earns from oil, upping pressure on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to push through cuts in government spending worth tens of billions of dollars by scaling back subsidies for the population.

But a parliamentary committee examining this year’s budget - which the overall parliament has yet to approve - rejected the size of the proposed cuts, setting the stage for a possible compromise deal that may force the government to sign up to far less ambitious cost-savings.

“The Majlis (parliament) may agree to raise energy prices to some extent, but far less than the administration has requested,” the parliament’s Integration Committee said, according to the Mehr News agency.

The committee approved just 560 trillion Iranian rials for the program (around 44 billion US dollars), less than half the amount the government wanted to add to its coffers thanks to subsidy savings, parliament’s news agency reported.

That is the same amount allotted in 2011 and US 50 billion less than the government wanted.

Buy 0.4491 Sell 0.4494

Know the success profile

Most Gulf bourses end lower on weak US data

CAPITALS: Trading ended at Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) Sunday with the main indices in the red. The price index lost 7.5 points to reach 6,471.6 points, while the weighted index came to 419.71 points, a slip of 2.28 points. Trades came to 6,380 spot transactions worth 41,827,200 Kuwaiti dinars, with 769,302, 500 shares changing hands till end of session.

As for sector indices, six were red and two were green. Biggest loser sector was banking which shed 54.4 index points. Top share for the day was that of Gulf Franchising Holding Company, while biggest loser was Al-Safat Reat Estate Company.

Most Gulf bourses fell on Sunday, tracking losses in global markets over the weekend, as sentiment weakened after disappointing US jobs data, while Qatar’s bourse bucked the regional trend.

Markets were rattled by soft employment numbers from the United States, as much-anticipated April nonfarm payrolls rose 115,000, well below the consensus forecast of 170,000. While the unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a point to 8.1 percent, a threeyear low, that was only because the workforce shrank as people retired or stopped seeking work.

In the region, Saudi Arabia’s bourse fell for a third session in five.

The index finished 1 percent lower at 7,378 points, trimming yearto-date gains to 15 percent.

Petrochemical and banking stocks led the decline. Bellwether Saudi Basic Industries Corp slipped 1.7 percent, Al Rajhi Bank declined 1.3 percent and Banque Saudi Fransi was down 1.6 percent.

Investors sold mid-caps in heavy trade. Dar Al Arkan and Alinma Bank fell 2.1 and 1.7 percent respectively. Emaar Economic City shed 2.3 percent.

Elsewhere, Dubai’s index fell 1.4 percent to 1,560 points, its lowest close since Feb. 16.

The index broke a support level at 1,591.84 on Thursday and analysts say the next support is at 1,500 points.

Dubai Financial Market (DFM), the only listed Gulf bourse, dropped 2.7 percent, bellwether Emaar Properties shed 1.9 percent and Emirates National Bank of Dubai (NBD) slid 2.1 percent.

Contractor Arabtec recovered earlier losses and rose 1.7 percent.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company said on Sunday that a consortium including Arabtec and Turkey’s TAV were the preferred bidder for a terminal expansion contract.

Abu Dhabi’s benchmark slipped 0.3 percent. Developers fell in heavy trade, with Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate down 0.9 and 1.8 percent respectively.

In early March, Dubai’s index rose to 1,754 points and Abu Dhabi’s rallied to 2,641 points as local sentiment was lifted on an improving economy. -Agencies

See page 10

The government implemented the first-stage of its Targeted Subsidies Plan towards the end of 2010 in an attempt to wean the country off more generous food and fuel subsidies. At the time, Ahmadinejad called it the “biggest economic plan of the past 50 years”.

But the next phase of the plan needs the parliament’s approval before it can be implemented at a time when the makeup of parliament appears to be changing in

ket remains small, but a partial recovery in tourism and a tendency for Egyptians to keep bank deposits in local currency are positive signs.

“We are less worried about the decline in reserves than the markets seem to be,” Renaissance Capital said in a recent research note. “We still see a lower probability of devaluation or depreciation in the short term.”

It said it still expected Egypt to seal a long-delayed $3.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and reserves could also be helped by incoming foreign investment such as France Telecom’s planned purchase of Mobinil shares.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador was returned to Cairo on Sunday after a rare diplomatic row between the allies, caused by the arrest of an Egyptial lawyer in the kingdom. The ambassador confirmed the oil-rich Gulf state would this month provide financial assistance to Egypt that it has been promising for a year. -Reuters

favor of Ahmadinejad’s conservative critics. Prices have spiraled since the reforms were first introduced, causing serious financial problems for millions of people across the country. The price of petrol has risen three-fold and the cost of gas has soared by 500 percent.

Critics of the plan have accused Ahmadinejad of pushing through a program of wasteful public spending that has caused soaring inflation and of using the

FILE - A man leaves after shopping at a fruit store in Tehran in this January 6, 2012 file photo. A committee of Iranian lawmakers has rejected a government plan to increase prices for subsidized food and fuel in a move that threatens to derail a drive to rein in the country’s sanctions-squeezed budget. (Reuters)

reforms for his own political gain.

Under pressure

The parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani - a fierce critic of the president - said the government was now planning to triple petrol prices and to double the cost of natural gas, Mehr news reported on Friday.

Last month, the government said it would boost the monthly cash payments it gives to its poorest citizens to offset the rising prices by more than 50 percent to 730,000 rials (around $60).

Ahmadinejad wanted to introduce the second phase of his subsidy reform program last month but hostile MPs say the additional payments have not been approved and are illegal.

In a New Year speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave his backing to the reforms which he said were an important means of distributing welfare in a more balanced way.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended the Iranian government for the policy which it said had led to a reduction in fuel consumption and inflationary pressure. The reforms coincide with tightening external pressure on Iran’s economy caused by harsher sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies early this year.

The embargoes target Iran’s banking and energy sectors and have resulted in a dramatic devaluation of the rial since January. -Reuters

Question 2: Do you possess the profile of a successful franchisee?

Once you identify the profile of a successful franchisee, it’s important to make sure you’ve got the same profile. Do you have what it takes to succeed in franchising? Do you possess the profile?

Caution: Most people do not!

There are numerous ways to determine if you’ve got what it takes to succeed as a franchisee. I’ve written previously about the DISC profile. You’ll find another opportunity at Franchise-Navigator.com/connectmesurvey.php.

By the way, a good franchisor will expect you to prove that you’ve got the success profile. So will lenders if you plan to borrow money.

Match it to the business

Question 3: Does your profile match the requirements of the franchise you intend to buy?

This question is the most important of all. Once you’ve found what you believe to be the perfect franchise for you, make sure your profile matches the profile of successful franchisees in that perfect franchise. It’s not enough to say you’ve got what it takes to be a successful franchisee. There are thousands of franchise opportunities in the world, and they’re all different. Make certain that your profile matches the profile of the top franchisees in the perfect franchise for you! If you answer these questions, you’ll have a much better chance of succeeding as a franchisee.

How can you improve your business? Dr. John Hayes will help you discover points of opportunity. Free analysis for qualifying businesses. Send a paragraph describing your business; selected businesses may be featured in Business Matters. Dr. Hayes has worked with an impressive international list of independent and franchised businesses. He is a professor in the College of Business at GUST. Contact him at questions@hayesworldwide.com, or via Twitter @drjohnhayes.

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

NBK celebrates its 60th anniversary

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) celebrates this year its 60th anniversary. On May 19, 1952, the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, issued the famous Amiri Decree promulgating the incorporation of the National Bank of Kuwait as the first national bank and the first shareholding company in Kuwait and the Gulf. This was stated in a press release on Sunday. The commemoration of this inspiring and monumental anniversary comes as a culmination of a remarkable story of success, by means of which NBK has been transformed from a small bank that occupies the area of three shops and a handful of employees relying on traditional and manual banking tools to one of the largest and most profitable banks in the region. Today, NBK has the largest local and overseas banking network encompassing more than 176 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries strategically located within the main international and regional financial centers.

NBK was also recently named among the ‘World’s 50 Safest Banks’ for the fifth consecutive time, illustrating the success of the bank’s conservative strategy, prudent risk management dedication excellent customer service. NBK enjoys the highest credit ratings among all the banks in the Middle East and North Africa region by international rating agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings.

10

ALWATAN DAILY

BUSINESS

monDAY, may 7, 2012

UK, Korean firms picked for Saudi petchem project CAPITALS: Saudi Aramco and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical have issued letters of intent to at least two contractors who submitted the lowest bids to expand a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia, moving a step closer to a decision on whether to proceed with the major project, industry sources said.

British company Petrofac and South Korea’s GS Engineering and Construction were picked among contractors to be part of building the second phase of the already operational complex in Rabigh on the Red Sea coast of the world’s largest oil exporter.

The Rabigh 2 project is part of state-run Saudi Aramco’s plans to become an energy firm focusing on chemicals, unconventional gas and renewables, to diversify its business from oil alone.

Petrofac leads the race for the two packages that involve a tank farm and common utilities.

GS Engineering and Construction is front-runner for two process packages known as CP3 and CP4.

The CP3 package involves production of ethylenevinylacetate and low density polyethylene (EVA/LDPE), ethylene propylene (EPR) and others. The CP4 products include methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE/IB), methyl methacrylate (MMA).

GS is also the lowest bidder on a utilities package for interconnecting.

The letters were issued last week as the validity of bids was due to expire on April 30, sources said.

In 2010, Aramco’s chief executive Khalid Al-Falih said the estimated total budget cost of the expansion was six to eight billion US dollars, but one source with knowledge of the bidding said it would now be much lower because of fierce competition.

A spokeswoman for Sumitomo Chemical confirmed that her company and Aramco issued letters of intent to

A general view of an offshore platform at the Karan non-associated gas field in this handout picture released by Saudi Aramco on July 27, 2011. Saudi Aramco and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical have issued letters of intent to at least two contractors who submitted the lowest bids to expand a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia, moving a step closer to a decision on whether to proceed with the major project, industry sources said. (Reuters)

some engineering, procurement and construction contractors (EPC) since the end of April. She did not name the contractors involved.

She said the letters demonstrate the intentions of

Aramco and Sumitomo to conduct final negotiations, adding that this is still one of the steps in the feasibility study and does not mean a final decision on phase 2 has been made.

Tijariah achieves profit of KD 223,623 for Q1 2012

OPEC output target rise not yet on agenda, says Algeria

ALGIERS: Raising the output target set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is not on OPEC’s agenda for now but probably will be, Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Youcef Yousfi said on Sunday. Asked about the prospect of increasing the target, Yousfi told state radio: “For the moment that is not the object of our discussions, but probably that will come at the OPEC level.” Last week, OPEC stated it was working hard to bring down oil prices that jumped towards $130 a barrel earlier this year, its secretary general said on Thursday, and is pumping much more than its official target even as exports from cartel-member Iran dwindle.Oil surged in March to $128 a barrel, the highest since 2008, as increased concern over the loss of Iranian oil due to tighter sanctions combined with supply hitches elsewhere. OPEC is scheduled to meet next on June 14 in Vienna, where it is likely to focus on quotas and production. At a meeting in December last year, the organization’s production target was set at 30 million barrels per day (bpd).

This target came under pressure after oil prices in March jumped to $128 a barrel, the highest since 2008, though they have since fallen back a little. Many in OPEC believe high prices damage members’ interests by hurting economic growth in consumer countries and so driving down demand for crude long term.

Algeria, along with fellow OPEC members Iran and Venezuela, has in the passed opposed raising output, preferring instead to keep prices high. -Reuters

Air Arabia beats forecasts as Q1 net rises 11.7%

Arabtec-TAV group in final talks for Abu Dhabi airport contract Abdulfattah Marafie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Commercial Real Estate Company

the company’s performance is attributable to the far-sighted policies and strategies adopted by the Board of Directors since 2002, based on strict adherence to an attitude of conservatism, prudent risk assessment and management and avoiding highly fluctuating and potentially unsafe markets, in addition to its ethical commitment toward its shareholders and society. Indeed, this attitude has been instrumental in protecting the shareholders’ equity.

In addition to the distributions mentioned above, the Company’s achieve-

ments extended to other fields, including its ability to reduce and re-schedule debts thereby underlining the company’s strong financial position and the high value of its assets which earned it the confidence of financing organizations which seek to minimize risk by financing only the most stable companies. With the completion of the company’s major projects, this year and subsequent years will witness a remarkable growth in our operating revenues which will only serve to increase our shareholders’ equity.

Finally, the credit classification soci-

ety, Capital Standards has given Commercial Real Estate Company KCSC a credit classification of ‘BBB+’ and a regional classification of ‘A+kw’ with a stable outlook. Capital Standards’ announcement attributed this classification to a number of factors including the strength and soundness of the Company’s position in the Kuwaiti market as a major real estate dealer and developer, making it a key player in the local investment and commercial real estate development market, despite the continuing difficult market conditions.

Safe Arab tourism destinations thrive FRANCE: The Arab Spring has resulted in a sharp drop in tourism in countries at the centre of the turmoil, to the benefit of safe destinations in the region, experts say. Major tourist destinations such as Tunisia and Egypt saw the numbers of visitors plummet because of uprisings last year that spread to other nations where confrontations with autocratic regimes turned deadly.The Gulf city state of Dubai, as well as popular destinations outside the Middle East, became the focus of diverted tourism. “The Middle East and North Africa saw a drop as a whole in international arrivals, mainly in Egypt and Tunisia,” said Ahmed Youssef, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) director of marketing and operations at Amadeus.

“Tourist flows from Egypt to Turkey increased by 400 percent in 2011,” said Youssef, speaking at the Arabian Travel Market last week in Dubai. His company provides IT solutions for the travel industry. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals in the Middle East declined 8.4 percent to 54.8 million in 2011, after growing 14.9 percent the year before.

UNWTO statistics also showed that tourist inflows to North Africa slipped 9.9 percent to 16.9 million after increasing by 6.5 percent in 2010.

“Due to the social and political developments,” Syria saw a drop of 41 percent, Egypt by 32 percent, Tunisia 31 percent and Lebanon 24 percent,” UNWTO statistics showed in March.

In autumn last year Jordan reported a 16-percent drop in its tourism revenues in the first seven months of 2011. The sector contributes 14 percent to the kingdom’s gross domestic product. In Tunisia, where tourism accounted for seven percent of economic output in 2010, the sector’s receipts plunged by a third in 2011.

Syrian state newspaper Al-Baath reported last week that four million tourists visited Syria in 2011, despite insecurity in the country where thousands have been killed since anti-regime protests erupted

(Photo by D. Amara)

KUWAIT: Abdulfattah Marafie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Commercial Real Estate Company (Tijariah) has announced in a press release on Sunday the results of the company during the first quarter (Q1) of 2012 and said that Tijariah has made a net profit of 223,623 Kuwaiti dinars with earnings per share (EPS) for the period amounting to 0.13 Kuwaiti fils. He added that the shareholders equity reached KD 252 million, with a growth of 3.16 percent from the same period of 2011.

Marafie added that the ordinary General Assembly of the Commercial Real Estate Company for 2011, which met on18.4.2012 approved of distributing a cash dividend of five percent of the nominal value of the share.

With the approval of this latest batch of dividends, Tijariah will have distributed a total of KD 236.8 million ($852 million US dollars) in dividends during the period from 2002 to the end of 2011, while retained profits, including reserves amount to KD 70 million ($252 million), giving the company one of the best dividend distribution records among all other companies at the local level.

Despite the financial crisis, the disastrous impact of which affected all countries of the world, Commercial Real Estate Company maintained its steady record of achieving growing returns for its shareholders. The healthy stability of

“We have not made any decisions on Rabigh Phase 2 plan yet at the moment,” the spokeswoman said.

She did not say how long the negotiations with the contractors would take or when the final decision on Phase 2 would be made.

“We are in the stage to make final negotiations with some EPC contractors...We are still conducting the feasibility study for Rabigh phase 2”.

She said the company would not make any announcements on phase 2 until a decision had been made.

Aramco was not available for comment.

Sources in Saudi Arabia said meetings with contractors would be held towards the end of this month. “The award is coming, they need to have meetings to review some things,” said one source in Saudi Arabia.

South Korea’s Daelim Industrial has submitted the lowest bids for the CP1 package, for cumene, phenol and cyclohexanone. Aramco and Sumitomo have extended the bidding validity date of this package till June 2, industry sources said.

Italy’s Saipem is lowest bidder on an aromatics complex, known as RP2, the sources said.

Petrofac, Daelim and Saipem declined to comment.

GS was not immediately available for comment.

The deals had been expected to be awarded in the first quarter of this year but Sumitomo was unsure if it made economic sense and wanted a feasibility study to be completed, a senior executive said in February.

Sumitomo and state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco said when they signed the agreement in 2009 to expand the plant that the feasibility study would be completed by the third quarter of 2010 and Aramco officials said a final investment decision (FID) would be taken by the end of 2011. -Reuters

FILE - An aerial view of Atlantis The Palm in Dubai. The Arab Spring has resulted in a sharp drop in tourism in countries at the centre of the turmoil, to the benefit of safe destinations in the region, experts say.

in March 2011. But the number reveals a drop of more than 40 percent from the seven million tourists registered in 2010.

On the other hand, Turkey received 1.4 million Arab tourists in the first eight months of 2011: up from 1.2 million in 2010. And Dubai last year posted a 10percent rise in guests at hotels and hotel apartments, reaching 9.09 million, with revenues hitting 15.97 billion UAE dirhams (4.4 billion US dollars), 20 percent up from 2010. In the first quarter of 2012, the number of guests increased nine percent to 2.6 million guests, according to Dubai authorities. They hope the number of tourists will hit 10 million this year.

“The Arab Spring has left an impact,” said Khaled Al-Mazroui, general manager of Fujairah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Tourists look for safe destinations, in addition of course to quality services,” he told AFP, adding that the UAE had “benefited from this diversion of tourism, espe-

cially from neighboring Gulf countries.”

Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, acknowledged an increase in tourists from neighboring Gulf states who would usually travel to Egypt or other Arab countries on the Mediterranean.

“There has been a redistribution (of tourists) over the past few months,” he told reporters, pointing to a “significant surge in tourists (in Dubai) from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait” and other Gulf nations.

Dubai’s malls and restaurants have been heaving with Gulf visitors during school holidays over past months.The head of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, gave an upbeat assessment at the Arabian Travel Market, saying some of the destinations hit by last year’s uprisings were already making a comeback. “Countries directly affected like Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Yemen saw a downturn of 80 to 85 percent as political events unfolded but minimized losses considerably in 2011, closing the year down by 25 to 30 percent,” he said. -AFP

CAPITALS: United Arab Emirates (UAE) budget carrier Air Arabia said quarterly net profit rose 11.7 percent, beating analysts’ forecasts, as a hike in fuel costs was offset by a rise in number of passengers seeking low-cost flying options.

Air Arabia earned a net profit of 47.7 million UAE dirhams (13 million US dollars) for the first-quarter, it said in a statement on Sunday, compared with 42.7 million UAE dirhams profit a year earlier.

Revenues for the quarter was 621 million dirhams, an increase of 21 percent to the 513 million dirhams it posted in the same period of 2011.

The earnings beat forecasts by two analysts, who had expected an average net profit of 37.45 million dirhams for the quarter in a Reuters poll.

The carrier said a demand for low-cost transport in the region helped the airline get past the impact of rising fuel costs that has forced may airlines to hike ticket costs.

“Though political instability and sustained high fuel costs continue to challenge regional carriers, the appeal of air transport, and especially the low-cost model pioneered

by Air Arabia in the region, remains strong,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, chairman of Air Arabia.

Dubai’s Emirates, one of the world’s top airlines, said last week that fuel charges were about two billion dollars in 2011, accounting for 40-43 percent of the airline’s costs.

Emirates is expected to report its earlier later this month.

The emirate’s budget carrier flydubai also plans to increase ticket costs.

Air Arabia, headquartered in the Emirate of Sharjah, also has hubs in Egypt and Morocco. It competes with regional low cost carriers such as flydubai and Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways.

The company has earlier announced a six percent cash dividend for shareholders. Air Arabia shares closed 2.5 percent lower on the Dubai bourse Sunday prior to the results.

In more news, the Abu Dhabi government has identified an Arabtec Holding consortium that includes Greek and Turkish firms as the preferred bidders for an estimated three billion dollar contract to expand the oil-rich emirate’s international airport.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), which is awarding the contract, is in discussions to finalize details of the contract and will officially announce the agreement in June, it said in an email statement on Sunday.

The consortium, which includes Turkey’s TAV Insaat and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), were on the cusp of securing the contract, four sources told Reuters in April.

TAV Insaat is a unit of Turkish builder Akfen Holding.

“ADAC is currently in discussions with the preferred bidder to finalize all details of the contract prior to its signing, and before officially announcing the winning contractor of the Midfield Terminal Building at the capital’s airport in June this year,” the statement said.

ADAC released the tender to six pre-qualified groups of joint companies to build the midfield terminal building at the Abu Dhabi airport and received all six proposals in November last year. The race was down to three final groups.

The other three short-listed groups were Bechtel Corporation-ENKA-Al Jaber Group, Hyundai Engineering & Construction-Kumho Engineering & Construction-China State Construction Engineering Corporation-Al Shafar General Contracting Company and Samsung-ACC-Six Construct.

The 700,000-square-meter terminal building is one of the key strategic infrastructure projects to be undertaken in Abu Dhabi, and will initially handle 30 million passengers per year. It will be the future home of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways.

Shares of Arabtec, in which Abu Dhabi-owned investment fund Aabar owns a 10.45 percent stake, were trading down 1.7 percent on the Dubai bourse at 0630 GMT. The stock has more than doubled in value this year. -Agencies

ALWATAN DAILY

BUSINESS

11

monDAY, may 7, 2012

Kuwait’s 2012 real GDP growth expected to reach 5.5% KUWAIT: The following is a report prepared by Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets.

The pace of the global economic recovery remains hesitant and uncertain in the backdrop of a mixture of positive and negative indicators. The Institute of International Finance (IIF) states that “the first quarter (Q1) US economic growth was lower than anticipated and the EU crisis caused global financial markets to take a turn for the worse going into Q2”.

Many economists now anticipate that Spain will ultimately need to be bailed out, given that yields on Spanish and Italian bonds, are climbing nearly as high as they were in November 2011. Oil prices have remained firm, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) basket hovered around 112 US dollars per barrel (pb), which some see as a potential threat to global recovery, especially if oil prices were to escalate further. Meanwhile, Asia has continued to enjoy robust domestic demand amidst the fragile global recovery. This has been reflected in low unemployment rates and robust credit growth in the region. Inflation expectations also picked up and so far, capital inflows into Emerging Asia have rebounded in 2012. The economic slump in Europe is having a clear impact on the Chinese economy, as growth during Q1 2012 slowed to 8.1 percent.

China reported a trade deficit of $31.5 billion in Feb, while exports to the EU fell by 1.8 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) during Q1.

115

20%

105 100

15%

95 90

10%

85 5%

80 S&P GCC

75

0%

MSCI EM 70

MSCI World

%Chg AprͲ12

65 Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

and Qatar forecast to record 2012 rates of 3.3 percent and 2.1 percent respectively. While United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to record around 2.4 percent, it is expected to be marginally higher in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, at 4.3 percent and at 5.0 percent, due to the faster and more widespread wage and salary increases which has triggered substantial increase in food prices and rents. Firm oil prices and improved economic performance have boosted fiscal and trade surpluses, and led to an improvement in accumulated reserves. Consequently, the corpus of the regions sovereign wealth funds (SWF) are expected to grow to nearly two trillion dollars by the close of 2012, for an estimated $1.6 trillion at present.

GCC equity markets

Despite some positive surprises for the Q1 earnings season, the GCC equity markets witnessed a trend-reversal during the month of April, leading to a net decline of -2.08 percent in the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) GCC index during the month, as renewed fears of the European credit crisis pressured global equities.

The Q1 earnings season saw Saudi Banks report positive earnings surprises amidst improved traction in loan growth, a spurt in fee income, and lower provisions. Banks in Abu Dhabi witnessed positive momentum, as two of the largest Banks reported robust growth in

Nov

Dec

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

High

Low

1,060 430 270 435 730 600

1,060 425 270 435 720 590

Global Index - Banking

Kw Investment Commercial Facilit.

Int'L Financial Adv. National Invest.

Kw Projects Ahlia Holding Coast Invest.

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

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

ź

104 265 152 320 60 106 116 43.5 154 52 38 41.5 285 43.5 275.0 99.0 67.0 194 35.0 68 60 52 112

102 265 148 320 59 102 116 41.5 150 51 35 39.0 275 41.5 250.0 96.0 63.0 192 35.0 68 58 51 108

-

-

Global Index - Investment

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

-

Global Index - Insurance

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

58 112 132 246 234 134 120 44.5 93 1,000 72 25.5 65.0 89 61 70 37.0 84 38.5 87 44.5 55 95 49.5 39.0 45.0 40.5 39 58 360

Global Index - Real Estate

Nationl Ind Ind. Group Pipes Ind. & Oil Kuwait Cement Refrigeration Ind. Gulf Cables & Elec.

Heavy eng. & Ship.

Marine Services Portland Cement

ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ź ź Ÿ

226 120 450 174 1,340 280 880

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

-

ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ

56 110 132 246 232 128 114 42.0 92 1,000 72 22.5 63.0 89 59 68 37.0 83 38.5 87 44.0 53 90 48.0 37.5 42.0 36.5 39 56 350

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

222 118 450 174 1,340 280 870

ź ź ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź

1060 430 800 610 890 270 435 730 600 319.28

104 265 52 150 320 13.0 59 25.0 130 25.0 230 106 116 102 52 43.0 154 51 36.5 71 41.5 48.5 68 26.0 275 51 38.5 51 43.5 100 275.0 99.0 22.0 22.5 67.0 29.0 192 265 114 35.00 72 68 59 52 64 42.50 112 83.48

300 520 460 126 220 122 40.50 42.44 58 112 132 246 28.5 234 134 114 44.5 110 93 1,000 72 23.0 64.0 89 61 70 92 37.0 83 38.5 87 17.5 44.5 53 90 160 48.0 37.5 44.5 17.5 38.5 134 134 220 56 355 59.84 226 118 450 174 1,340 280 144 880

1080 430 800 610 890 275 440 740 590 322.05 102 265 52 152 325 13.0 60 25.0 130 25.0 230 106 118 102 52 43.5 154 53 37 71 39.0 48.5 68 26.0 315 51 38.5 51 41.0 100 260.0 99.0 22.0 22.5 66.0 29.0 196.0 265 114 35.00 72 69 61 52 64 42.50 110 84.01 300 520 460 126 220 122 40.50 42.44

Previous Close Change 181.44 -0.99 6,479.10 -7.50 Trading Activity Chng Volume Tran. Value(KD)

DTD -0.55% -0.12%

Last Bid

Last Ask

MTD YTD 0.63% 0.52% 4.97% 11.31% Div. Annual Close Yield High Low P/E

32 14 33 3 55 25 162

1,637,700 335,800 1,071,900 30,450 646,000 796,600 4,518,450

1,060 425 760 590 880 265 430 730 590

1,080 430 790 610 890 270 435 740 600

3.8% 0.0% 0.0% 2.5% 1.7% 1.9% 2.3% 2.1% 0.0% 2.0%

1,220 510 800 680 930 285 480 900 600 326.42

1,040 425 700 600 790 236 410 720 530 314.20

15.26 36.98 1256.32 18.34 33.38 25.83 13.29 26.39 130.71 19.39

200,000 30,000 780,000 20,000 960,000 8,380,000 120,000 10,320,000 3,240,000 1,840,000 29,280,000 2,080,000 20,000 8,480,000 5,980,000 4,380,000 9,480,000 320,000 320,000 240,000 1,160,000 1,200,000 5,640,000 94,470,000

7 2 17 2 21 107 2 103 39 16 236 19 2 82 244 76 144 11 4 2 14 25 118

104 260 148 320 59 104 116 42.5 152 51 36 41.0 67.0 43.0 270.0 98.0 66.0 192 33 72 67 58 51 110.0

106 265 150 325 60 230 106 118 102 43.0 154 52 37 73.0 275 56 43.5 275.0 99.0 67.0 194 280 36 74 68 59 52 112.0

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.6% 4.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3%

112 285 67 182 345 18.5 69 25.0 130 36.0 230 122 120 102 52 35.5 150 65 35 71 44.0 48.5 70.0 26.0 295 65 39 51 47.5 104 270.0 130.0 25.0 33.5 96.0 29.0 190 310 114 32 89 73 60 59 64 42.5 140.0 85.99

104 255 40 144 295 11.5 50 25.0 130 21.0 230 99 102 50 52 24.0 106 47 21 71 28.5 48.5 64.0 26.0 242 51 36 51 26.0 61 99.0 19.5 19.0 16.0 38.0 29.0 154 255 114 26 58 50 51 47 64 42.5 106.0 74.96

16.16 10.02 0.00

1,293

20,760 7,950 117,040 6,400 56,720 874,200 13,920 439,440 492,480 94,320 1,066,840 85,120 5,600 363,600 1,583,650 426,380 618,680 61,840 11,200 16,320 68,320 61,680 614,160 7,106,620

Ex-D Ex-D Ex-D -

-

-

-

260 460 450 122 -

300 500 460 130 -

6.7% 3.8% 5.4% 4.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.9%

325 610 540 148 220 134 40.5 44.91

13.38 280 13.67 520 10.96 450 20.49 102 66.32 220 102 40.5 64711.96 12.95 42.22

-2 -2 -

3,480,000 180,000 60,000 160,000 60,000 140,000 700,000 9,760,000 760,000 40,000 200,000 162,800,000 18,040,000 320,000 720,000 560,000 80,000 440,000 2,880,000 40,000 1,600,000 560,000 80,000 31,720,000 3,440,000 2,400,000 82,320,000 80,000 240,000 1,600,000 325,460,000

43 5 1 6 3 5 20 78 14 4 4 780 136 4 15 12 1 9 23 1 19 12 2 166 37 29 596 1 6 27

2,059

198,400 20,000 7,920 39,360 14,000 18,240 82,960 424,760 70,240 40,000 14,400 3,874,880 1,148,520 28,480 43,480 38,440 2,960 36,840 110,880 3,480 71,080 30,400 7,400 1,540,940 130,240 105,960 3,213,120 3,080 13,560 568,650 11,902,670

57 110 130 246 26.0 230 134 120 44.5 93 1,000 72 22.5 63.0 88 61 68 95 38.0 83 38.5 86 44.0 52 85 154 48.0 36.5 43.0 38.5 37 55 355

58 112 134 248 27.5 234 94 1,020 73 23.0 64.0 89 62 70 97 39.0 84 92 44.5 54 92 170 48.5 38.0 44.5 39.0 39 58 360

0.0% 4.5% 0.0% 6.1% 0.0% 3.4% 0.0% 6.1% 0.0% 6.4% 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 5.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 5.6% 6.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9%

63 118 152 246 37.5 250 130 100 52.0 120 104 1,080 85 20.0 68.0 97 75 73 90 38.0 92 23.0 91 17.5 45.0 70 80 174 52.0 39.5 40.5 28.5 25.5 134 40 220 70 480 60.26

47 97 108 200 28.5 224 114 77 27.0 108 94 840 62 11.0 35.0 77 54 52 74 33.0 59 13.5 87 17.5 31.0 57 64 116 27.5 22.0 25.0 17.5 15.0 134 31 220 49 270 49.06

1,240,000 1 240 000 180,000 110,000 100,000 17,500 50,000 330,000

17 6 10 3 4 5 36

277,720 277 720 21,520 49,500 17,400 23,450 14,000 290,200

224 118 445 174 1,320 275 138 870

226 120 450 1,340 285 146 880

0 0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.3% 0.0% 5.4% 3.6% 0.0% 7.4%

260 136 475 158 1,480 345 222 920

214 116 415 122 1,240 290 134 660

-

2 -2 -5 -1

-2 0.5-2 -1 3 -40 2.5 15.0 1.0 4.0-1 -2 2 0.53-

58 112 134 248 28.5 234 124 110 42.0 110 93 1,020 73 24.0 65.0 89 61 68 92 38.0 83 36.0 87 17.5 45.5 55 90 160 50.0 39.0 44.0 17.5 38.0 134 134 220 58 360 60.26

10 4 2.5 -20 -1 1.01.02 1.02.5 1.0-2 -2 1.50.5 0.5 Ex-D -2 -5 0.43-

228 120 450 164 1,340 280 144 900

-2 -2 10 -20

S&P GCC

Apr

Dubai

Saudi

Abu Dhabi

tar’s QE index remained the worst-performing in the GCC, with year-to-date (YTD) losses of -0.86 percent, and -0.99 percent for the month, as the Banking and Services sectors led losses.

Investors appeared to be unenthused by the Q1 results from Qatar Banks, and the market remained out of favor with foreign investors.

Kuwait’s KWSE (Weighted) index declined by -0.65 percent, mainly dragged by the Banking sector, and Bahrain’s BSE index scraped through with a marginal advance of 0.03 percent, driven by modest gains in the Services sector. Meanwhile, Oman’s MSM 30 index recorded a more convincing gain of 3.14 percent, driven largely by the Industries and Banks sectors. Though regional equity markets could gain confidence from the strength in Oil prices during Q1 2012 that has raised the macro profile for the region, they remain susceptible to swings in sentiment in the global markets.

It is expected that rising Bank deposits and surplus liquidity will enable Banks in Saudi to sustain lending growth in the near-term. Saudi Banks could also benefit from major projects in infrastructure projects, apart from a potential increase in lending to the small and medium enterprises (SME) and retail segments.

GCC credit markets

The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Nasdaq-Dubai GCC $Su-

Date of Closing Prices:

1,545,000 790,000 3,970,000 70,000 885,000 1,350,000 8,610,000

-20 -5 -5 -10 10 2.77-

Mar

Oman

Kuwait

Bahrain

Qatar

kuk/Bond TR Index (GCCB) increased marginally m-o-m, to close at 145.21 from 143.89, and spreads tightened by 4bps, yielding 4.52 percent. The HSBC Nasdaq-Dubai $Sukuk TR Index (SKBI) advanced m-o-m from 137.01 to 137.80, while the HSBC Nasdaq-Dubai GCC Conventional $Bond TR Index (GCBI) traded in a range of 146-148, slightly underperforming the JPM EM Bond Index. Meanwhile, the credit default swaps (CDS) market saw an overall widening of spreads. Dubai was the biggest loser, with bid spreads widening by 32bps (+9.6 percent). In the IG space, Qatar was the worst performer with bid spreads widening by 6bps (+5.08 percent). The appetite for quality credit was strong in the primary market with all new issuances receiving strong subscription on the back of active participation by local investors.

The month began with a benchmark issuance by the Central Bank of Qatar (CBQ), which received orders in excess of $3.4 billion, and ended with a mega issuance from the Government of Dubai. The two-tranche, $1.25 billion Sukuk was more than 3.5x oversubscribed, attracting orders from more than 260 investors.

The 5-year tranche of $600 million was priced at 4.9 percent, while the 10-year tranche of $650 million will yield 6.45 percent. With this issuance, Dubai has lowered its cost of funding by 0.7 percent for 5Y and by 1.3 percent for the 10-year maturities.

05 / 01 / 2012

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

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

ź

Feb

Trading Prices of Kuwait Stock Exchange Date of Closig Prices: 6/05/2012

Date of Closing Prices: 06 / 05 / 2012 For more information please contact “Global” at (+965) 180 42 42 or www.globalinv.net

Company

Jan

earnings. While earnings amongst Dubai banks was mixed, the general trend in the UAE appears to be that of positive asset growth and moderating provisions. Though the results for the Petrochemicals sector was mixed, those for two of the largest players, one each in Saudi and Qatar, beat estimates by a reasonable margin. In the UAE, Real Estate majors beat analyst estimates, as property prices sustained positive growth for three consecutive months, project deliveries appeared to accelerate and some companies recorded growth in Lease & Rental income. The Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul index emerged the least-performing index during the month, declining by a net -3.53 percent, as the Insurance and Investment sectors, that had led most of the rally during the previous month, recorded sharp losses. The losses were triggered partly by indications of reform in the capital markets that could target speculative activity. The heavy-weight Petrochemicals and Banking sectors also edged down sharply.

In the UAE,Abu Dhabi’s ADSM and Dubai’s DFM indices corrected by -1.93 percent and -1.03 percent respectively. While the Services and Banks sectors were the key laggards in Dubai, it was the Investments and Real Estate sectors in Abu Dhabi that drove the decline.The Real Estate sector in Dubai emerged as the best performing, as the recovery trend appears to be firming after a prolonged period of decline. Qa-

Trading Prices of Kuwait StockStock Exchange Trading Prices of Kuwait Exchange

Last Close 180.44 6,471.60 Last Prev.

Close Close

%Chg YTM

Ͳ5% May

GCC macro

ź

Country Indices

110

Firm oil prices and continued fiscal expansionary policies have supported robust growth in the GCC during 2012. According to the EIU, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2012 is expected to reach 5.5 percent for Kuwait, 5.0 percent for Oman, 7.0 percent in Qatar and 5.5 percent for Saudi Arabia. Continuing political tensions in Bahrain is likely to constrain growth to 3.5 percent. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently revised the growth forecast of the UAE to 3.5 percent in 2012. More than 25 percent of the GCC imports originate from the EU and historically the GCC has recorded large deficits with Europe. However, the weakening of the euro is expected to soften the trade deficit and also reduce imported inflation.

Overall, inflation is expected to remain contained in the GCC region, with Bahrain

Global General Index KSE Price Index

25%

S&P GCC relative to MSCI World & EM

14.24 0.00 8.88 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 48.52 0.00 0.00 71.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 16.31 0.00 0.00 0.00 19.16 20.94 16.18 550.15

0.00 0.00 5.59 14.21

52.11 13.16 17.17 22.83 12.04 15.16 23.37 29.41 0.00 15.51 410.74

213.85 0.00 16.49 8.00 207.01 0.00 0.00 26.88 439.41 0.00 0.00 19.49

20.11 7.75 12.62 18.03 31.52

ACICO 255 248 United Industries 87 90 Company High Boubyan Petroch.

610 620 Low 1,140 - 1,120 National Bank Gulf Glass Gulf Bank 495 - 490 Hilal Cement Commercial 770 - 770 Al Kout Ind.Bank Project Ahli Bank 640 - 640 K-PAK Ahli United Bank 850 - 800 Building Material International 248 - 248 Nat. Ind.Co.Bank 460 Burgan Bank 178 Equipment Holding 186 455 890 - 880 Kw Finance Industries House Consumer Boubyan Bank 590 - 580 Kuwait Gypsum Global Qurain Index - Banking218 216 Salbookh Trading Kw Investment - - IKARUS 265 - 260 Commercial Facilit.

Boubyan Int'LAdv. Ind. 4174 4074 Int'L Financial 174 National 170 GlobalInvest.

Index - Industrial 300 Kw Projects 300 National Cinema Ahlia Holding 13.5 12.5 Kw Hotels Coast Invest.

53 52 415 Agility 410 Int'L Investor Market Complexes Securities House ZAIN Ind. & Fin. Inv. - 750 - 730 Safat Energy 86.0 83.0 Securities Group Educational - Int'L Finance Group - Indep. Petroleum 110 - 108 MARKAZ National Cleaning 160 154 KMIFIC Sultan - 110 Int'L Inv. Center Group - 106 Arabi Group 146 150 Aref Inv. Group City GroupDar Investment - - 2,280 Tele.

2,300 AlWataniya AMAN Inv. Kw Gulf Link 126 108 122 ALOLA Inv. 110 Kw Cable ALMAL Inv.Vision 50 49 Automated System - Gulf Inv. House - NAPESCO - - A'ayan Leasing KCPCInv. 340 370 31.0 32.5 Bayan GLOBAL K.S.H Inv. Osoul Eyas Inv. - 89 GULFINVEST - 93 Hits Telecom -23.0 KFIC -25.5 Al Safwa Holding KAMCO - - Human Soft Int'l Leasing & Holding Inv. 74 Privatization 75 Nat. Int'l Holding 102 Nafaaes Holding 102 - - Housing NationalFinance Slaughter MADAR 130 Aref energy 128 26.5 AlSafwan Deera Holding 570 26.5 570 AlGulf Safat Inv. 68.0 Petroleum 66.0 122.0 AlGulf Salam Group 31.5 114.0 Franchising 31.0 41.0 - 39.0 Ekttitab Holding Credit & Collection -23.0 AlNational Qurain Holding -24.5 Ranges 16.5 Sokouk Holding - 16.5 Burgan Well Drilling Al-Madina Finance 40.0 38.5 IFA H&R NOOR Combinted Group 1,760 1,720 Tamdeen Inv. 160 158 88 Jeeran Holding 90 KW BH Int'l Exch.

102 Palms Agro 104 Taiba Kuwaiti Holding 78.0 74.0 Safat TEC Kuwait Syrian Trading Mushrif 106 102 Strategia 340 325 UPACChina Inv. 53 53 Kuwait 295 ALAFCOInv. 290 Manafae Al-Muwasat - Gulf North Africa - 275 Mashaer Holding 275 Amwal Fuel AlOula Masar - 246 - 246 265 124 255 Future Comm.

Al-Imtiaz 132 120 116 Hayat Comm.

Global Index - Investment 69 67 Mubarrad Transport Kuwait --KuwaitInsurance Resorts - Gulf Insurance - Advanced Technolgy - - Ahlia Insurance Yiaco Medical 112 Warba Insurance Al Jazeera Airways 420 420 108 Kuwait Re-Ins. Al Soor Fuel 224 224 First Takaful Ins. 106 106 Future Kid Wethaq Insurance 270 275 KGL Global Index - Insurance Al Nawadi 48 Kuwait R.E. 48 Alrai Media 122 122 United R.E. 100 - 100 Zima Holding 118 National 126 GlobalR.E. Index - Services 200 Salhia R.E. 204 LiveStock Pearl R.E. Trans.

Dana Al-Safat 22498 22495 Tamdeen R.E. United Poultry Ajial R.E. - Kw FoodStuff 1,380 1,360 Massaleh R.E. United Food Arab R.E. 30.0 30.0 Kout R.E. Food - - Union 96 ERESCO Global Index - Food 98 860 840 Mabani Sharjah Cement 85 88 75 74 INJAZZAT RE Gulf Cement 97 91 12.0 11.5 Inv. Holding Grp Um Quwain Cement 71 66 Int'L Resorts 93 Fujaira Cement 87 78 77 Commercial R.E 124 116 Ras AlKheimah 70 65 Sanam R.E. 114 114 ARIG 54 53 Aa'yan R.E United Gulf Bank 170 170 Aqar Egypt R.E Kw Holding - 295 Kuwait Holding - 290 Bahrain Kw Ins. 59 AL Mazaya 60 56.0 House 58.0 14.0 AlGulf DarFin. National R.E 14.0 InovestInt'L Holding 74 73 Themar - 170 Grand R.E Projects - 170 Ahli United Bank -63.0 Tijara & R.E Invest -63.0 Ithmaar Bank AlGlobal TameerIndex - Non-Kuwaiti Arkan Al-Kuwait R.E 70 70 Markaz Real Estate Safat Global AlInvestment Argan Int'L Funds 28.5 28.0 Abyaar Al-Bareeq Holding 23.5 - 23.5 Munshaat AFAQ First Dubai 26.0 - 25.5 Al-Shamel KBT Al-Safat Real Estate 27.0 21.5 27.0 21.5 Manazel 16.532 15.532 Ajwan Real Estate REAM Specialities Group 480 510 - Mena Real Inter.

Estate - Masaken Al Moudon Intl. R.E Dulaqan R.E Markaz Real Estate 57 56 Eid Food Kuwait Remal R.E 295 285 Maidan Clinic Global Index - Real Estate Flex Nationl Ind. Group 232 Dar Al-Thuraya Real E 242 Pipes Ind. & Oil Kw Medical Services 12875 12675 Kuwait Cement 455 450 Amar For Fin. & Leas.

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

Heavy & Ship.

Totaleng.

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

Global General Index Metal Collecting Kuwait Foundry KSE Price Index

ŷ źŷ źŷ Ÿ ź Ÿ ŷŷ ŷŷ ŷŷ źŷ Ÿ ŷŷ źź źŷ ŷ źź ŷŷ źŷ źź źź Ÿ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ŷŷ ŷŷ ŷŷ ŷź ŷź ŷŷ ŷź ŷŷ źŷ ŷŷ ŷŷ ŷŸ ŷŷ ŷ ŷŷ ŷź ŷŷ ŷź ŷŸ ŷŷ ŷź ŷŸ ŷŷ ŸŸ źŷ ŷź ŷ ŷ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ź Ÿ ŷ ź ŷ Ÿ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ź ŷ ŷŷ ŷŷ ŷź ŷŷ źŷ źź ź ŷŷ ŷŷ ŷ ŷ ź ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ źŷ Ÿŷ Ÿź ź ŷŷ źŸ ŷŷ ŷŷ źŷ ŷŷ źŸ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź ŷ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ ź Ÿ ź Ÿ ŷ Ÿ ŷ ź źź ŷŷ ŷź ŷŸ ŷŸ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ źŷ źŷ ź ŷź źź ŷŸ ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ Ÿ ŷ ź źŷ ŷŷ źŷ ŷ ź ŷ ŷ ŷ ŷ ź ŷ

Last Close Previous Close - Change 216 216 177.24 -0.70 128 176.53 128 - 5,754.20 - -27.30 3455,726.90 345 4 30,000 2 7,510 248 244 Last Prev.

Trading Activity -3 1,360,000 25 121,240 89 92 Close Close Volume Chng 430,000Tran.8 Value(KD) 262,350 610 620 10 3,796,050 - 1120 1120 69 3,377,500 1,000 1,000 20 495 495 - 830,000 407,950 222 222 770 770 10,000 1 7,700 - 415 415 640 -20 2 6,400 660 10,000 275 275 800 50 850 350,000 23 282,700 224 Ex-D 224 16 248 248 - 700,000 173,600 310 310 460 465 --510 500,000 1018 229,750 188 800,000 143,320 178 890 -10 880 1,280,000 66 1,127,050 102 102 590 590 607,850 1,035,000 33 128 Ex-D 128 319.37 319.54 8,092,500 6,639,050 0.17720,000 24017 218 216 -2 155,600 41 41 106 106 - - - - 188 188 260 265 -5 250,000 14 65,750 75 74 11,840 160,000 40 1,680,000 -1-1 67,160 41 13 3 170 1,040,000 20 172 -2 177,720 1,395,650 169.15 5,527,500 154 0.27169.42 300 110,000 5 33,000 295 5 1,000 1,000 7,040,000 12.5 12.5 46 90,920 280 280 1,280,000 22 52 53 -1 67,280 110,000 415 420 -5 8 45,600 25.0 25.0 52 52 130 130 947,050 1,280,000 740 740 31.0 31.0 -40 - 9,280,000 86.0 783,360 86 2.0 84.0 230 230 110 110 -102 102 - - - 325 325 -108 112 73,920 680,000 18 90,640 580,000 160 -160 50 50 -21 106 3,800,000 403,480 111 110 44.0 44.0 - -4 2,160,000 316,880 152 146 52 52 --6 -41 550 550 74 74 - - - - 55,000 2,360 126,450 2,300 28.5 28.5 - -60 -6 129,040 1,040,000 126 126 108 1425 54,920 108 - 500,000 58 58 49 49.5 15,840 -1 320,000 4 295 295 23 - - 23 - - 330 330 71 - - 71 - - 487,650 1,340,000 25 345 370 31.0 31.0 58,760 1,840,000 2260 48.5 - 48.5 - - 255 255 - - 68 68 -Ex-D - 260 260 20.5 20.5 624,400 6,880,000 110 93 93 26.0 26.0 - -1 139,520,000 666 3,423,520 24.5 23.5 244 - 244 - - - 270 270 94 --1 94 -9 50,720 680,000 76 75 -1 51 51 -3 2,040 20,000 99 102 - 36 36 - - - 154 154 -14 51 51 --2 36,040 128 280,000 130 26.5 26.5 21 6,360 - 30 240,000 570 5,000 2,850 540 75 75 -8 68.0 29,280 440,000 -68.0 8.0 120.0 112.0 1,305,280 31.5 17,560 29.0 560,000 212 7 2.5 11,180,000 2.039.5 41.5 24 77,080 1,920,000 120 120 19.0 19.0 - 1.023.5 392 1,903,200 24.5 80,400,000 16.5 5 7,920 16.5 480,000 255 255 39.0 0.510,640,000 93 419,440 38.5 400 400 29.0 29.0 1,760 61,000 35,000 8 1,760 160 2.0158 12,680 80,000 4 2 7,120 90 86 4 80,000 255 255 8,200 102 106 -4 80,000 4 114 114 78.0 155,480 76.0 2.0 2,040,000 18 26.00 26.00 2- 0 1 320 000 136 000 106 104 2.0 1,320,000 136,000 68 -53 68 350 330 206,650 20.0630,000 53 200,000 53 10,600 217 295 295 75,650 260,000 10 60 60 168 168 46.5 - - - - 46.5 275 280 370,000 101,750 64 --5 -12 64 246 4,920 20,000 246 42.50 - 42.50 -1 265 265 70,000 18,050 128 130 -2 1,240,000 38 6 157,920 120 122 2.0- 40,720,000 132,120 1,120,000 55847 76.02 0.1275.90 2,702,550 67 69 34 -2 133,360 1,960,000 - - 325 325 - 49.0 49.0 -- - 560 560 - 810 810 -485 485 - 365 365 118 -8 120,000 110 6 13,200 420 20,000 2 425 -5 8,400 220 220 Ex-D 224 224 40,000 2 8,960 114 114 106 1 Ex-D 300,000 108 31,800 40.50 40.50 275 275 900,000 33 245,150 43.63 43.43 0.19- 120,000 6 13,200 80 80 13 3,840 49 -1 48 80,000 122 260,000 31,720 122 92,000 9 100 99 1 920,000 98 98 383,920 124 120 4 105 3,100,000 1,859 739.52 743.68 257,935,000 4.1610,786,090 12 104,680 200 204 -4 520,000 184 184 37.5 37.5 - - - - 3,920,000 97 376,240 98 360 224 10.0-1 100,000 22,400 234 136 136 120 120 - 200,000 1,380 274,000 1,380 82 - -5 82 335 335 1 30.0 80,000 30.5 0.52,400 540 540 - 108 108 - - 4,120,000 31,160 338.41 650,240 -1 320,000 0.14 98 338.26 97 865 1,656,950 10 1,935,000 850 57 860 4,520,000 64 393,800 88 83 5 2 8,960 120,000 2 75 73 12,720,000 120 97 1,217,880 92 5 15 23,960 11.5 12.0 0.52,000,000 Ex-D 26,600,000 280 70 1,845,160 66 38.0 38.0 88 5 481,960 93 5,280,000 65 3 18,520 78 77 1 240,000 2 93,720 22 118 116 780,000 67,400 17 1,000,000 65 70 -5 112 2 40,000 1 4,560 114 4 10,720 54 -1 55 200,000 3,400 170 168 20,000 90 -2 -1 90 41,200 5 295 290 140,000 4 38.0 38.0 Ex-D 455 455 11 59 26,160 440,000 -4 63 19,000,000 -1 1,083,880 57.0 58.0 180 1 80,000 1,120 14.0 14.5 0.5-23 91 91 74 108,160 74 1,480,000 - -2 -6 17.5 17.5 47,600 170 172 280,000 -22 31.0 31.058.0 63.0 2,320,000 146,160 5 59 59 5,467,480 0.58 44.63 73,180,000 788 45.22 -4 320,000 2 22,400 70 74 122 122 - - - 48.5 48.5 - - - 124 124 12 0.52,720,000 76,880 28.0 28.5 144 144 1.0- 80,000 1 1,880 23.5 24.5 106 106 0.5240,000 6,160 3 26.0 25.5 250 250 Ex-D 946,080 - 2.5- 35,040,000 41 27.0 27.0 80,000 21.5 24.0 1,720 1,200,000 81 1.019,240 16.5 15.5 32 80,000 34 -3 2,520 - 10 -5 134 134 510 500 45,000 22,050 134 134 51 51 220 220 345 345 -1 240,000 6 13,520 57 58 90 90 47 610,850 295 290 5 2,110,000 2,260 2,260 0.02- - 53,085,000 - 332 4,151,200 49.73 49.75 39.5 39.5 232 102.0 128 75 450 55 150 1,420 335 212 720 ź 180 ź 104 460 ź

242 -10 13,220,000 - 154 102.0 128 - 140,000 61 75 40,000 470 20 50,000 2 55 150 8 245,000 1,460 -40 2,500 1 335 - 769,302,5006,380 212 Close Prev. Close 720 230,000 19 190.91 180 189.65 184.733 106 183.25-2 80,000 460 569.16 570.84

DTD 216 -0.40% 132 120 335 -0.47% 360 246 255 Last Last 90 89 Bid610 Ask 620 1,120 1,140 1,100 490 495 770 780 390 640 660 300 255 840 850 246 248 300 315 460 465 178 880 870 590 580 214 216 102 10639 188 194 260 265 4073 4075 172 168 295 300 950 1,040 12.5 13.0 51 52 410 415 740 - 730 33.5 85.0 86.0 - - 300 350 106 110 158 160 - 106 - 108 146 148 560 2,300 2,320 27.0 29.5 126 124 110 108 49 50 300 320 21 24 320 - 370 31.0 32.5 - 250 64.0 - 92 - 93 - 23.5 - 24.0 - 238 275 -74 -75 - 54 102 - 184 128 130 26.0 27.0 520 580 67.0 68.0 120.0 118.0 31.5 39.0 20.0 18.0 23.0 23.5 16.0 16.5 255 38.5 39.0 400 380 1,740 1,760 156 160 89 91 270 100 108 76.0 78.0 27 104 106 63 73 330 345 53 52 290 295 61 176 47 - 270 275 69 - 238 - 250 275 124.0 128.0 120 118 68 67 325 300 51.0 48.5 610 510 750 460 500 365 370 108 114 420 425 222 226 110 102 108 43.0 270 275 78 82 49 48 116 126 100 99 126 122 202 200 37.5 22498 -97 126 146 110 130 1,400 1,380 85 360 31.5 520 112 118 95 98 860 870 88 76 71 88 11.5 12.0 97 35.5 37.0 69 70 77 79 93 65 118 120 53 54 112 116 91 176 40.5 - 170 290 300 60 14.5 13.5 9458 9057 - 74 - 73 33.5 30.0 170.0 172.0 57 70 74 116 126 28.0 28.5 25.0 23.5 25.0 25.5 255 24.5 28.0 25.0 15.533 16.034 130 475 510 29 32 50 218 55 57 90 93 290 295 2,060 37.0 3,111,120 232 -104.0 17,800 12270 13080 3,000 22,550 455 465 150 29,290 3,550 1,420 1,440 310 340 41,827,200 216 Change 710 DTD 165,600 720 -1.27 -0.66% 178 190 -1.48 104 -0.80% 8,480 108 435 -1.68 -0.30%

MTD YTD 0.0% 216 180 13.22 -1.55% -1.55% 0.0% 120 102 495 0.0% 315 -1.50% -1.50% 230 2.0% 196 30.78 Div. Annual Close 0.0% 102 79 36.43 Yield High630 Low550 P/E 88.41 0.0% 3.6% 1,120 14.74 4.0% 1,400 1,100 1,100 15.82 0.0% 510 490 33.95 6.8% 216 206 12.73 1.9% 790 770 88.62 8.4% 415 340 9.94 3.1% 660 640 17.34 0.0% 275 5.20 300 1.6% 850 790 29.68 2.2% 228 224 35.32 0.0% 255 248 23.59 3.2% 25.33 325 260 0.0% 475 46051 12.26 0.0% 152 2.3% 900 88093 25.07 0.0% 102 0.0% 590 590 112.24 5.5% 128 18.88 128 2.0% 18.61 0.0% 319.54 210 13.15 222 318.41 0.0% 0.00 0.0% 10651 10641 40.56 4.3% 214 162 16.76 8.5% 265 260 12.09 0.0% 0.0% 4288 4070 0.0% 174 170 88.93 2.7% 174.76 163.04 13.94 6.7% 305 295 12.13 910 4.2% 1,120 18.77 0.0% 13.5 12.5 1.33 0.0% 280 280 0.0% 54 52 7.2% 430 340 16.06 0.0% 25.0 25.0 0.00 0.0% 65 41 0.00 0.0% 130 130 8.8% 900 690 11.15 0.0% 36.0 31.0 0.0% 81.0 45.0 0.0% 230 230 0.0% 110 110 58.86 0.0% 102 102 0.00 0.0% 350 295 9.3% 116 108 3.1% 170 110 20.44 0.0% 50 50 0.00 0.0% 136 102 0.0% 44.0 44.0 0.00 0.0% 132 12.33 0.0% 52 5284 0.00 550 0.0% 530 0.0% 74 74 0.00 2.2% 2,440 1,920 12.01 0.0% 28.5 28.5 0.00 0.0% 132 0.0% 112 10895 0.00 0.0% 0.0% 5168 4958 8.5% 350 230 21.81 0.0% 23 22 395 7.6% 340 8.13 0.0% 71 71 0.00 305 2.7% 260 12.64 0.0% 31.5 31.0 0.0% 48.5 48.5 260 7.1% 255 12.82 0.0% 68.0 68.0 32.31 7.7% 260 260 4.79 0.0% 20.5 20.554 132 0.0% 306.51 0.0% 26.0 26.0 0.00 23.5 0.0% 14.0 0.0% 244 244 280 0.0% 270 12.91 0.0% 9484 9461 0.00 13.28 6.7% 0.0% 51 5184 116.80 104 0.0% 0.0% 36 36 0.00 154 0.0% 154 9.95 0.0% 51 5191 0.00 0.0% 120 0.0% 26.5 27.5 710 4.7% 520 13.84 0.0% 75 75 0.00 78.0 0.0% 30.0 10.56 99.0 0.0% 120.0 28.5 16.0 0.0% 19.5 0.0% 41.5 120 0.0% 140 19.0 0.0% 19.0 22.5 0.0% 12.0 0.00 0.0% 17.0 16.5 275 198 0.0% 41.84 0.0% 39.0 38.0 0.0% 490 380 87.26 0.0% 29.0 0.00 % 29.0 16.75 1,740 1,500 4.0% 156 8.28 3.8% 162 5.98 0.0% 89 73 255 22.77 255 5.1% 11.83 9.8% 126 86 11.92 114 0.0% 114 0.0% 78.0 57.0 26 0.0% 28 0 0% 0 00 0.0% 104 0.00 6880 43.00 0.0% 68 340 11.98 9.1% 270 53 0.0% 55 280 315 3.86 3.4% 60 0.0% 60 130 7.71 6.0% 168 47 10.8% 47 172 4.7% 305 9.78 64 0.0% 64 0.0% 20.98 265 305 42.5 0.00 0.0% 42.5 300 0.0% 18.62 265 0.0% 132.0 128.0 5.19 0.0% 124 75.90 70 10.01 2.4% 76.32 51 0.0% 72 16.97 6.2% 325 325 0.0% 62.0 21.34 44.0 12.90 4.5% 560 560 1.9% 770 640 33.57 9.91 5.2% 520 485 4.1% 390 11.96 345 17.37 9.1% 118 110 0.0% 485 410 9.63 296.83 220 220 2.7% 0.0% 270 236 16.48 0.0% 134 114 4.7% 14.64 98 114 40.5 0.0% 40.5 300 218 8.42 7.3% 12.60 4.7% 44.80 92 43.43 77 8.8% 6.95 37.20 0.0% 49 48 0.0% 156 22.69 114 12.83 0.0% 100 9994 0.0% 110 0.0% 120 22.21 128 12.2% 791.90 705.36 11.27 10.0% 200 17.83 208 0.0% 222 182 15.27 0.0% 37.5 37.5 0.0% 114 4.5% 234 22490 16.20 3.7% 136 126 6.02 0.0% 130 120 4.7% 1,500 1,360 11.55 6.1% 82 82 5.29 1.5% 390 43.95 340 0.0% 30.5 30.0 5.6% 610 500 9.68 6.5% 108 108 15.28 4.1% 365.22 331.33 11.49 0.0% 100 96 39.65 0.0% 860 840 21.70 0.0% 44 95 0.0% 76 73 0.0% 108 55 0.0% 0.00 12.5 11.5 10.0% 73 43 32.52 0.0% 38.0 38.0 0.0% 122 46 0.0% 78 14.56 77 8.5% 126 10.58 118 0.0% 75 65 0.0% 132 102 54 26.32 0.0% 55 0.0% 232 370.29 172 0.0% 90 90 330 250 6.57 6.8% 0.0% 38.0 38.0 0.00 455 455 5.5% 63 0.0% 59 541.46 40.5 0.0% 74.0 14.5 4.15 14.0 0.0% 0.0% 5.5% 91 91 17.5 17.5 0.0% 7.1% 9.38 0.0% 31.0 31.0 19.44 0.0% 0.0% 59 59 4.0% 40.74 47.16 8.75 0.0% 78 70 11.37 1,220 1,220 0.0% 0.00 48.5 48.5 0.0% 144 124 5.38 0.0% 29.0 28.0 27.28 0.0% 0.0% 24.5 23.5 5.03 4.7% 0.0% 26.0 25.5 13.99 6.0% 0.0% 28.5 27.0 0.0% 0.0% 16.5 15.5 0.0% 3.7% 134 134 23.07 16.37 5.6% 0.0% 32 32 0.0% 220 0.0% 220 18.82 816.78 0.0% 57 60 0.00 0.0% 8.47 0.0% 0.0% 295 270 0.00 0.0% 1.1% 49.86 49.73 16.27 0.0% 22.19 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.2% 0.0% 3.3% 0.6% 4.6% 3.0% 4.70% 2.4% 13.9% 5.6% 0.0% 4.3%

232 260 130 128 470 450 158 150 1,460 1,420 340 335 212 222 MTD 710 740 0.28% 180 180 0.01% 104 116 460 460 0.85%

70.58 18.38

14.29 6.49 8.02 14.65 193.84 YTD 96.15 0.05% 10.91 -3.60% 23.15 26.77 1.27%

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

12

ALWATAN DAILY monday, may 7, 2012

April 2009 May21, 06, 2012

2% 6%

1% 6% Oman

113

Dubai

Bahrain

-4%

Oman

-2%

Kuwait

-6%

Saudi Dubai

90

GCC Best Performers

Saudi

95 6-Feb-12 85

6-Mar-12

6-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%

6-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 7,378

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

2,495 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 420

Ba Bahrain (BSE Index)

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)

-0.3% -4.0%

3.5%

2,775 10,090

-1.0% 12.8%

8,892 5,148

2.7% 6.6%

4,974

5,478

1,681

10,302

463

1,178

2,825 467

10,621

5,067

1,094

3,282

0.2% 0.6% 0.3% 3.9% 0.9%

5.1%

-0.3%

0.4% -

-

-

2.2%

0.1% -

-

-

0.9% -

464

3.8% 9.3%

-0.3% 1.9%

546

Tu Tunisia (Tunis SE Index)* * Market Closed

-0.5%

5,847 1,745

1,971

Eg Egypt (Hermes Egypt Index (HFI))*

52 Wk 7,931 High

15.0% YTD

15.3% -0.2%

Jo Jordan (Amman General Index)

M Morocco (Casa All Shares Index)

%-1.0% Chg.

-1.4% 1.8%

8,685 2,695

1,162 5,590

OmOman (MSM Index)

YTD

1,560 406

Ba Qa Bahrain Qatar(BSE (DSMIndex) Index)

Eg Egypt (EGX 30 Index)

% Chg.

52 Wk High

1.6% -18.8%

-6.8%

-7.4%

8.5%

0.1%

2,903

12,203

2.4%

1,033

1,403

5,044 513

-3.3%

14,635

23.6%

739

6.5%

-7.2%

13.6%

5,115

2,119

3,418

Turnover 2,260 USD million

PE

Mkt. Cap. 384,802 USD million

150

65,979 264,263

Trailing

11.76 7.29

1,129 4,230

1 196

17,415 65,352

9.03 8.85

32,466 98,547

6 305

3,587

18,242 37,413

42

4,224

1,572

10,218

-

328

-

1,164

-

2,551 465

9,406

-

4,091

-

1,043

-

407

2,837

-

4

13.15

63,640

7.67

18,727

1

1.59

1.29

3.21

1.56

6.29

33,782

12.71

9,925

15.51

2,508

0.85

2.15

9.25

59,990

1.10

18.36

8,507

2

1.68

15.10

10,490

67

1.36

8.07

56,599

3.95

1.77

6.47

2,079

0.86

8.67

6,576

2.50

13.85

1.92

SAUDI ARABIA *Market Closed

Close

KAMKIPCO Asset Management Co.

SULSultan Center Food Products Co.

225 Saudi Industrial Inv. Grp.

101 Riyad Bank

Tadawul Index 52 week High / Low

115

SAR 24.70

-6.4%

110

117,367,071

Turnover (USD)

114,148,150

115 Alinma Bank (KSA)

343,553,085 111,499,493

201 201Saudi SaudiBasic BasicIndustries IndustriesCorp.

Corp.(KSA) (KSA)

119,955,261 92,951,164

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

97,126,838

NBKNational Bank of Kuwait (KUW)

88,742,222

1 Alinma Bank

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

418,156,548

20Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

6-May-12

% Chg.

34.70

1.2%

9.60

0.5%

67.75

5110.SSE Saudi Electricity Co.

0.4%

13.55

4280.SSE Kingdom Holding Co.

0.4%

11.80

Turnover (SAR) 1,037,403,361 4250.SSE Jabal Omar Development Co. 440,161,725 3030.SSE Saudi Cement Co. 428,089,808 4220.SSE Emaar the Economic City

70Zain - Saudi Arabia

6-Apr-12

Close

0.0%

Worst Performers

43Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

6-Mar-12

64,280,166

7030.SSE Zain - Saudi Arabia

Highest Turnover

105

-6.8%

276,618,767

703 Zain - Saudi Arabia (KSA)

1,443,122,016

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

111

-2.7% -8.9%

Turnover (USD)

MENA Highest Turnover

8,474,525

-12.7%

-2.6% -8.6%

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

7,931 / 5,916 2280.SSE Almarai Co.

Turnover (SAR '000)

8.0%

AED 0.42 SAR 48.00

SAR 13.70

GCC Highest Turnover

0.15

Advance/Decline Ratio

2.5%

8.0%

% Chg.

AED 1.07 SAR 22.95

83% 2050.SSE Savola Group Co.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

2.6% 8.6%

AED 1.17 -13.1% -3.3% KWD 0.265

7,378 (-1.0%)

Tadawul Index (% Chg.)

125

3.0% 8.8%

KWD -3.6% Close0.106 % Chg.

EMAEmaar Properties (UAE) Best Performers

Summary

8.0% 9.8%

KWD 0.275

KFI Kuwait Finance House (KUW)

Rebased Performance

95 6-Feb-12

MENA Worst Performers

0.89 201 UPP UnionBasic Properties 1.74 Saudi Industries Corp.

9.50

27,120

OMR 0.720

GCC Worst Performers

1.97 FAC TAM Tamweel Facilities Co. 1.37 Commercial 1.61 DFM Dubai Financial Market 0.88 238 Rabigh Petrochem.

9.84

15,024

9

1.03 1.77

10.50 6.87

56,991

46

1,921

1.95

0.73 1.52

129,513 69,783

55 718

QAR 21.60

BKMBankMuscat

PB

10.00 9.99

124 122

AED 2.05

QGTQatar Gas Transport Co.

PB1.43

8.41 10.24

AED 1.20 QAR 6.35

ADNAbu Dhabi National Hotels

PE 14.24

8,071 2,137

AED 2.78 OMR 0.703

TAQAbu Dhabi National Energy Co. KCB Al Khaliji Commercial Bank

12.53

101,288

AED 1.22 SAR 5.60

CBD Commercial Bank & of Contracting Dubai GEC Galfar Engineering

Trailing

Mkt. Cap. USD million

13 2,183

5,419 1,433

2,212

Turnover USD million

2,293 4,130

6,286 5,860

12,109

-2.1%

396

1,301 316

5,628

0.7%

-1.1%

52 Wk 5,916 Low

1,754 787

1,391 12,627

37.3%

52 Wk Low

% Chg.

USD 0.220% Chg. 10.0% Close

GCKingdom Gulf Cement 3 428 Hldg.Co. Co.

Period's Liquidity Ratio (PLR x)*

MENA Indices Highlights

Close

4 ITH Ithmaar Bank

Period's Liquidity 1 Ratio (PLR x)

-1

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi

95 100

Abu Dhabi

Palestine

0%

-2%

Dubai

0%

106

-1%

Palestine

Abu Dhabi

0%

Kuwait

Saudi Dubai

100

Bahrain Qatar

Return DailyDaily Return (%)(%)

109

105

2%

Qatar Saudi

105

110

0%

Qatar

Oman Qatar

111

4%

Kuwait Oman

115110

Jordan Kuwait

113

DailyIndex Index Performance Snapshot Daily Performance Snapshot

Egypt Jordan

120115

Bull/Bear Indicator Bull/Bear Indicator

Bahrain Bahrain

Rebased RebasedPerformance Performance

348,594,750

42Emaar the Economic City

4300.SSE Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co. 2010.SSE Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

Close

% Chg.

21.80 91.00

-2.5%

-2.4%

12.85

-2.3%

99.75

-1.7%

11.85

-2.1%

Saudi SE

Quotes Company Name 1 Al Rajhi Bank

Close 76.50

Daily % Chg. -1.3%

High 77.75

Low 76.50

Turnover (SAR '000) 80,219

1 Alinma Bank

14.55

-1.7%

14.85

14.55

428,090

1 Arab National Bank

30.10

-0.7%

30.50

30.10

3,874

2 Almarai Co.

1 Bank AlBilad

1 Bank Al Jazira

67.75

29.50

26.90

0.4%

-1.3%

-1.1%

68.00

30.20

27.20

Volume ('000) 1,041

52-Week High

% Change

Low

82.75

67.25

71.75

48.41

29,155

16.25

128

33.70

on high -7.6%

-10.7%

9.5%

-9.1%

29.30

34,491

1,159

32.90

17.20

-10.3%

48.6%

59.9%

8,478

230

40.00

30.00

-8.5%

8.7%

26,728

13.60

6.20

26.80

15,584

11.80

1,037,403

66.00

50,896

578

31.90

15.75

-15.7%

36.60

4 Emaar the Economic City

12.85

-2.3%

13.20

12.80

348,595

21.65

216,594

11.80

10,095

848

22.20

24,153

1,082

28.20

21.20

-20.9%

49.50

11,836

238

56.75

42.40

-12.6%

32.00

29,901

24.25

98.00

55.50

29.30

21.42

7 Etihad Etisalat Co.

4 Jabal Omar Development Co. 4 Jarir Marketing Co.

4 Kingdom Holding Co.

2 National Industrialization Co.

66.50

21.80

154.50 11.80

34.40

2 Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.

22.30

1 Samba Financial Grp.

49.60

1 Riyad Bank

2 Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co.

1 Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

24.50

184.50

-1.1%

-2.5%

-1.6%

0.0%

-0.3%

-0.5%

-0.4%

0.0%

418,157

0.4%

13.60

13.45

68,541

23.50

18,321

18.40

3,673

2 1 Saudi Investment Bank 2 Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. 7 Saudi Telecom Co. 2

21.50

Savola Group Co. 0 3 Southern Province Cement Co. 0 1 SABB 3 Yamama Saudi Cement Co.

2 Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co.

7 Zain - Saudi Arabia

18.45

17.15

5,790

99.25

28.00

23.60

24.50

101.50

1 Saudi Hollandi Bank

Saudi International Petrochemical Co.

24.70

50.00

34.30

37,160

-1.7%

-2.4%

22 Saudi Industrial Investment Grp.

34.80

22.45

14,384

33,774

91.00

13.55

12.00

154.25

183.50

3 Saudi Cement Co.

5 Saudi Electricity Co.

157.75

185.00

-1.2%

99.75

22.40

0.0%

32.10

2 Saudi Basic Industries Corp.

67.25

32.50

20,764

93.75

91.00

-1.4%

28.10

27.80

-0.7%

21.65

21.45

11,993

17.05

129,084

34.20

10,306

35.00

4,481

-1.5% -0.3%

-0.9%

23.95 18.65

17.35

2,614

41.80

-0.2%

41.90

41.50

30,180

104.00

-1.4%

107.00

103.50

2,523

49.00

-1.6%

49.80

48.60

48,445

9.50

440,162

34.70

35.00

50.75 9.60

1.2%

-1.7%

-1.5%

0.5%

34.90

36.00

51.75 9.80

23.6

26.60

37.40

12.30

27,100,000

31,773

-1.6%

-2.1%

28.1%

44.1%

50.00

41,708

86,080 764

9,859 93

1,077 236

13.85

165.00

105.50

13.10

50.75

26.90

7.05

34.50

7,511 724 298

24.45

21.00

21.30

42.60 35.50

-9.9%

-32.2%

11.0%

33.3%

-15.5%

55.0%

45.5%

38.0%

-10.9%

26.9%

18.0%

-7.1%

26.4%

61.1%

-4.4%

12.8%

11.6%

17.75

-12.1%

9.1%

15.50

-19.5%

23.70

-2.3%

12.85

18.55 15.55

33.00

-7.8%

-9.1%

-16.9% -9.6%

4.8%

3.6%

-2.5%

4.2%

8.8

nmf

17.2 nmf

8.0

0.8

1.5

2.6

2.2

9.5

1.6

1.6

nmf

2.4

10.4

1.6

11.7

1.2

-9.9%

299,250,000

10.4

2.1

-1.8%

56,457,346

23.4

1.1

29,692,500

13,923,000

11,113,200

48.2

14.7

11.0

1.7

4.8

1.5

24.2%

-12.3%

10,620,000

21.4

1.7

-12.1%

14.2%

-2.4%

10,147,500

14.3

1.2

-1.9%

23.7%

15.8%

-2.6%

20.9%

62.5%

-1.4%

20.9%

0.2%

20.5%

17,350,000

13.7

35,000,000

12.1

5.25

-16.5%

73.0%

38.1%

-9.8%

14.4%

15.3%

10.7

25,725,000

-14.4%

-5.4%

7,883,333

-5.8%

-30.0%

11.50

nmf

5.1

-41.1%

41.60

11.6

1.7

11.3

47.50

27.82

36,750,000

29.8

46,125,000

83.25

45,500

19,175,539

-14.4%

-5.4%

985

56.25

43,729,411

44,640,000

5.2%

63.25

817

9,270,000

-9.8%

-8.9%

106.75 37.00

20,260,920

6.4%

23.10

24

127

46,550,000

19,534,800

16.30

26.10

-6.4%

79.4%

12,798,000

-21.8%

5,067

37.50

-4.8%

8,070,000

-4.1%

87.75

198

10,922,500

27.3%

109.75

556

83.6%

26.7%

4,163

770

1.7

-4.0%

165.00

94

11.4

50.00

11.10

3.8

1.5

33,087,054

69.25

22.90

1.4

-2.2%

40.8% 33.1%

74.8%

11.8

3.5

2.6

63.4%

-5.5%

25,585,000

nmf

27.1

-14.4%

200.00

226

58.7%

21,825,000

8,850,000

6.05

183

929

18.4%

PB

15.6

55.6%

-5.6%

Trailing PE

114,750,000

67.00

471

Market Cap. (SAR '000)

1.0%

-10.5%

36.60

11.85

10.1%

12 mths

9.05

1 Banque Saudi Fransi

4 Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev. Co.

YTD

4.8%

-1.0%

83,600,000 14,560,000 9,922,500

28,546,875

13,440,000

nmf

1.5

1.7

9.7

1.7

15.3

6.0

11.8 9.0

nmf

2.1 2.0

2.9

2.5

3.4

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

13

ALWATAN DAILY monday, may 7, 2012

KUWAIT Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 6,472 (-0.1%)

KSE General Index (% Chg.)

115

420 (-0.5%)

KSE Weighted Index (% Chg.)

53%

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

0.11

Advance/Decline Ratio

110

6,523 / 5,694

KSE General Index 52 week High / Low

109

464 / 396

KSE Weighted Index 52 week High / Low

41,822

Turnover (KWD '000) 105

6-Apr-12

6-May-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

#N/A

1.6%

-

#N/A

#N/A

1.7%

0.620

0.0%

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

Worst Performers Turnover (KWD) 1,637,700

N National Bank of Kuwait

6-Mar-12

-

Highest Turnover

100

95 6-Feb-12

BPCC.KSE Boubyan Petrochemical Co. #N/A

% Chg.

0.600

28,147,930

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

103

Close BOUBYAN. Boubyan Bank

K Kuwait International Bank

1,071,900

IFInternational Finance Co.

874,200

ZA Zain Kuwait

947,050

B Boubyan Bank

796,600

Close KAMCO.KSKIPCO Asset Management Co.

% Chg.

0.275

SULTAN.KSSultan Center Food Products Co.

0.106

PCEM.KSE Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

0.880

NMTC.KSE Wataniya

-12.7% -3.6%

2.300

MABANEE. Mabanee Co.

-2.5%

-2.2%

1.000

-2.0%

KSE Weighted Index

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

A Agility

0.415

-1.2%

0.415

0.410

T Al Themar Intl. Holding Co.

0.087

0.0%

0.087

0.087

A AREF Energy Holding Co.

0.128

-1.5%

A Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

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

B Boubyan Petrochemical Co. B Burgan Bank

0.610

0.295

0.265

0.0%

0.265

0.265

0.430

0.0%

0.430

0.425

0.400

-

-

-

1.340

IK Ikarus Petroleum Industries Co.

0.188

JAJazeera Airways

0.420

K KIPCO Asset Management Co.

K Kuwait Cement Co.

0.0% -

-

1.340

-

40

646

0.270

1,072

0.320

6

1.060

1.060

N National Industries Grp. Holding

0.226

-0.9%

0.226

N National Real Estate Co.

0.132

-1.5%

0.132

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

0.310

-

0.150

-1.3%

0.246

0.740

0.0%

2.300

0.236

-12.7%

110

0.610

0.415

-26.2%

200

1.620

1.340

-14.8%

885

0.981

0.720

-25.6%

3,970

0.350

0.236

-22.9%

20

0.395

0.281

-19.0%

330

1.480

0.660

0.056

0.216

156

0.106

403

0.089

28

0.340

0.260

10.6% 3.9%

0.0%

-5.1%

2.6

-1.2%

181,553

nmf

-18.3%

-58.4%

-26.2%

-6.8%

-10.4%

947

0.730

554,763

11.6

1.9

14.2

0.7

0.0%

21,780

0.0%

-40.5%

79,996

42.9%

611,189

27.3

292,693

nmf

-21.4%

3.1%

24.5%

-12.8%

25.3

1.4

nmf

0.7

131,432 -

0.8

nmf

0.7

21.0

2.0

16.0%

126,130

17.6

1.0

1.7%

-10.0%

87,310

22.8

0.0%

0.0%

88,400

nmf

0.9%

-8.2%

15.6%

-7.3%

18.6%

-37.3%

-46.4%

0.1

2.0

85,161

0.067

0.0%

107,323

4.2

2.3

-19.3%

-8.8%

1.3

29.4

-13.1%

10.7%

1.7

31.5

-19.3%

0.097

0.690

1.9

427,704

320

1.180

20.1

-19.0%

-11.7%

1,280

286,945

10.3%

-22.1%

1.880

0.9

3.9

1.4

0.093

2.480

nmf

23.6

0.136

55

72,408

280,078

3,800

126

0.8

-20.6%

18.3%

-

9.6

nmf

5.9%

-0.8%

-

101,640

3.7

0.9

2,120,040

0.200

-

16.8

1.6

-24.2%

0.248

-

3.1

7.7

15.2

-13.3%

1.9

nmf

141,000 85,106

1.9%

160

0.216

281,308

30.6%

39

0.270

64,309

nmf

4,614,707

-4.4%

1.5

40.1

-23.1%

60

1.0

1,132,228

0.0%

-18.0%

14

36.5

-17.9%

-31.7%

0.186

53,454

0.9

0.246

0.226

1.2

13.3

10.0

0.360

720

34.3

-7.4%

-46.4%

1.4

142,242

20

0.144

4.2

nmf

300,762

1,017,618

-28.4%

5

0.280

nmf

4.2

117

780

1.5

4.1%

-8.8%

1.0

5.8

17.1

-2.2%

-12.4%

1.9

170,070

228.1%

12.7%

0.5

20.3

96,000

6.9%

-7.7%

27.9%

0.168

-

-

-5.6%

-2.0%

60

-

-

0.0%

23.9%

8

-

1.9%

-40.5%

0.132

-

2.280

0.750

0.315

11.4%

6.7%

0.148

-

-2.5%

20

-13.4%

0.192

-

-

-56.2%

0.124

0.280

0.232

0.130

0.096

0.485

1,240

0.234 0.089

0.242

20

278

0.0% 0.0%

8,380

0.222

0.234 0.089

-12.2%

-7.4%

0.246

0.110

0.138

0.909

0.246

-3.6%

0.214

-19.3%

1.145

-0.8%

0.106

1.240

1,545

0.246

0.218

1.660

-3.9%

1,638

0.246

-0.9%

0.019

0.691

0.246

0.216

18

-

274

-

0.152

0.051

-29.3%

1.020

-

-

0.930

40

0.0%

2.300

Z Zain Kuwait

-15.8%

0.720

-1.9%

N National Investments Company

-19.2%

50

1.060

N National Industries Co.

0.285

6

1.000

N National Bank of Kuwait

0.495

0.275

1.000

672,061

-

-

23

290

-

-14.9%

-15.4%

-

0.870

-

1.3%

-

-9.5%

-3.8%

-11.5%

8

-2.0%

0.033

-14.0%

1,048,941

-22.1%

0.420

1.000

M Mena Holding

0.700

-1.6%

0.425

0.880

0.320

-45.7%

0.420

1.7%

0.552

-2.2%

-1.5%

20.3%

0.530

923,076

230,033

790

1.360

0.320

-39.3%

-

0.630

-7.2%

-19.2%

336

1.380

K Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)

0.198

430

0.085

-6.3%

0.255

0.0%

0.270

10.7%

0.132

-20.3%

0.375

0.450

-1.8%

0.880

-1.6%

0.280

30

0.450

0.270

20.8%

8

0.0%

K Kuwait International Bank

1.380

-3.0%

0.370

1.300

0.285

0.730

nmf

1.945

-12.7%

-1.4%

88,088

-

-

0.420

-16.3%

-3.0%

35

-

-

1.340

-4.4%

61

874

0.450

M Mabanee Co.

-

0.102

0.730

P Kuwait Portland Cement Co.

-

0.106

-1.2%

K Kuwait Finance House F Kuwait Food Co.

-

0.0%

0.106 0.275

-

-16.3%

-17.0%

1.720

-

0.079

-7.2%

0.410

1.760 -

0.104

0.580

0.524

0.0% -

40

0.657

70

1.760

-

16.1

-1.6%

30

-

434,437

280

262

PB

-1.2%

0.530

0.435

PE

10.7%

0.610

0.610

Trailing

Market Cap. (KWD '000)

-3.5%

1,350

0.435

0.620

12 mths

0.248

-

36

0.128

YTD

0.430

260

-1.1%

1.6%

on high

76

0.435

0.620

C Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co.

IF International Finance Co.

0.130

% Change

Low

0.290

797

0.049

IF IFA Hotels & Resorts

0.295

52-Week High

110

3

0.590

0.800

G Gulf Bank

-

-

0.600

C Commercial Bank of Kuwait G Global Investment House

-

Volume ('000)

46

1.7%

0.255

F Commercial Facilities Co.

0.0%

0.600

A Burgan Co. for Well Drilling

C Combined Grp Contracting Co.

-

Turnover (KWD '000)

-17.8%

6.9%

237,600

-11.7%

61,356

23.6%

163,298

15.0%

1,159,275

-37.3%

3,187,576

13.1

1.1

nmf

1.6

0.9

15.5

0.7

7.0

3.2

1.4

11.2

1.5

UAE Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,560 (-1.4%)

DFM Index (% Chg.)

125

2,495 (-0.3%)

ADSM Index (% Chg.)

Advance/Decline Ratio

DFM Index 52 week High / Low

Highest Turnover

106

105

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

6-Apr-12

E Emaar Properties

Abu Dhabi SE

12,181,199

D Dubai Financial Market

6-May-12

1.7%

Worst Performers

E Etisalat

95 6-Feb-12

2.5%

3.50

Turnover (AED) 67,080,293 TAMWEEL Tamweel 36,569,356 DFM.DFM Dubai Financial Market 15,070,777 UPP.DFM Union Properties

A Arabtec Holding

100

2.6%

2.05

389,897,105

Market Cap. (AED '000)

109

3.0%

1.20

252,620

Turnover (AED '000)

8.0%

2.78

2,775 / 2,293 ARTC.DFM Arabtec Holding

ADSM Index 52 week High / Low

% Chg.

1.22

46% CBD.DFM Commercial Bank of Dubai 0.41 TAQA.ADS Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. 1,754 / 1,301 ADNH.ADS Abu Dhabi National Hotels

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

115

Close GCEM.ADS Gulf Cement Co.

9,452,373

A ALDAR Properties

Close

-3.3%

0.42

-2.6%

1.07

AIRARABIA Air Arabia SIB.ADSM

% Chg.

1.17

0.59

Sharjah Islamic Bank

0.88

-2.7%

-2.5%

-2.2%

Dubai FM

Quotes Company Name

Close

Daily % Chg.

High

Low

Turnover (AED '000)

A Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

3.14

-0.6%

3.19

3.12

1,177

T Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.

1.20

2.6%

1.20

1.20

A Air Arabia

0.59

-2.5%

0.61

0.59

1.02

-

A Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

A Abu Dhabi National Hotels A ALDAR Properties A Amlak Finance

A Arabtec Holding A Aramex

3.18

2.05

1.12 3.50

0.35

3.10

2.05

1.13 -

3.16

2.05

T Tamweel

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

1,530,000

nmf

21.7%

-27.7%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

4,575,345

4.9

0.2

0.6

1.1

-38.1%

-9.9%

-38.1%

1,592,500

nmf

1.0

0.0%

0.45

0.43

1,439

3,294

0.69

0.34

-36.2%

-2.2%

-35.3%

2,904,881

-0.8%

-2.2%

2.78

0.36

3.15

1.79

2.70 0.35

3.09

-1.9%

-0.4% 0.2%

8.0% -

-

3.08

8.67 9.05

1.24 -

9.00 -

1,737 62

2,776 4,637

12,181 3,054

1.21

349

8.85

4,284

-

-

-

-

131

1.15

7,840

0.41

2,378

-

-

2.65

-39.7%

0.67

-18.7%

8.57 6.98

1.09 2.95 -

6,612 708 -

286

4.63

1.50

-

102.00

67.00

-

4.95

3.00

149

1.02

0.80

481 -

6,026 6,714 237

5,725 -

9.00

2.24

1.45 1.49

-14.6%

-12.4%

11.20 10.75

327

-22.2%

1.88

1,749 339

912

-14.1%

-18.9%

15,071 3,058

1.18 0.43

2.26

2.80

-8.2%

0.68

8.56 8.95

-3.3%

2.99

1,539

3.63

1.32

0.20

2.41

1.17

-2.6%

1,492

11,405

0.46

2.67

3.30

0.87

-0.3%

7,862

3.24

1.69

11,984

0.88 1.11

22

1.96

36,569

-2.2% -1.8%

954

3.02

0.88

3.95

0.5

-27.7%

8.2

0.71

-

U United Arab Bank

10.3

2,050,000

1.47

1.85

0.42

2,762,686

-29.3%

339

0.8%

2.98

U Union Properties

-18.9%

-6.8%

310

8.90

U Union National Bank

1.0%

-29.3%

1.1

0.85

1.83

2.78

1.10

1.0

0.93

2.81

S Sorouh Real Estate Co.

11.4

0.0%

-2.1%

S Sharjah Islamic Bank

-

7,470,000

6.5

1.8

2.79

N National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain

-

-21.6%

0.76

-16.7%

7,519,765

20.6

E Emirates NBD

4.95

-

1.55

0.57

1.98

0.0%

-1.9%

5,232,500

1.98

N National Bank of Fujairah

-

8,465

2.90

0.8

0.6%

144.8%

2.00

N National Bank of Abu Dhabi

0.76

5.4

120.1%

-1.5%

1.22

5,063

20

-14.9%

-10.4%

17,570,176

-3.6%

1.98

67.00

3,037

41

1.14

2.92

PB

8.7%

1.24

D Dubai Islamic Bank

M Mashreq

1.41

3.55

PE

3.63

1.06

G Gulf Cement Co.

764

294

13.0%

Trailing

Market Cap. (AED '000)

19,337

1.08

8.62 9.01

917

936

-5.4%

12 mths

67,080

-2.7%

E Etisalat F First Gulf Bank

2.69

YTD

3.35

1.07

3.05

3.32

9,452

D Dubai Financial Market

E Emaar Properties

on high

374

1.11 -

% Change

Low

3.53

3.0%

0.44

3.20

52-Week High

1.7%

2.78

D Dana Gas

D du

-0.9%

-0.6%

0.91

D Deyaar Development Co.

2.5%

1.80

A Arkan Building Materials Co. C Commercial Bank of Dubai

-0.3%

Volume ('000)

7.38

0.7%

66.2% 7.3%

27.4% 2.1%

-7.6%

18.7%

-23.0% -16.2%

-5.6% 16.6%

-34.3%

-34.0%

0.0%

8.8%

-1.1%

-3.2%

-4.3%

5,666,618

14,171,429

12.9

-9.2%

8,560,000

7,518,167

-16.7% -1.8%

68,150,927 27,030,000

11.7 7.2

1.8 1.0

-12.9%

-10.3%

15,506,191

1,001,738 -

6.8%

34,483,570

-3.6%

2,960,000

2,887,500

10.0%

7,436,963

8.5%

-12.2%

3,935,785

4.50

3.28

-12.2%

62.4%

4.5%

0.8

0.9

1.3

8.7

0.9

8.1

-18.4%

-15.4%

0.4

9.0

2,134,440

3.1%

-23.6%

18.2%

nmf

13.8 18.5

-23.6%

-1.1%

8.8

5,445,000

29.4%

0.24

0.8

0.6

-24.1%

2.82

1.1

9.4

71.8%

94.0%

4.7

2.3

18,578,277

0.67

-21.5%

nmf

0.4

-4.4%

2.2%

0.53

0.5

-6.1%

-30.3%

4.8%

0.9

5.7

nmf

-19.5%

1.4

7.1

2,045,412

-17.4%

-13.7%

11.8

17.2%

-5.1%

9.7%

2,635,380

1.63

3.90

0.50

0.0%

8.2

1,170,000

12.6

1,410,713

nmf

2.7

0.5

0.5

0.5

4.9

0.7

11.4

2.0

0.6

STOCKS WITH NBK CAPITAL

14

ALWATAN DAILY monday, may 7, 2012

QATAR Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 8,685 (0.2%)

DSM Index (% Chg.)

120

Advance/Decline Ratio Turnover (QAR '000)

109

471,633,817

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

QEWS.DSMQatar Electricity & Water Co.

Highest Turnover

100

Turnover (QAR) 40,573,039 VFQS.DSM Vodafone Qatar 30,418,495 QNNS.DSMQatar Navigation

MMasraf Al Rayan

IQIndustries Qatar

26,715,406

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

6-Mar-12

6-Apr-12

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

26,131,353

Q Qatar Telecom

6-May-12

2.3%

27.05

1.3%

22.20

0.9%

51.40

0.6%

141.40

0.1%

Worst Performers

100

90 6-Feb-12

% Chg.

79.80

8,892 / 8,071 ERES.DSMEzdan Real Estate Co. 449,927 QIIK.DSM Qatar International Islamic Bank

DSM 52 week High / Low

110

Close

56% QIBK.DSM Qatar Islamic Bank 0.86 MARK.DSMMasraf Al Rayan

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

17,569,319

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

Close

% Chg.

8.75

-1.7%

68.00

AHCS.DSMAamal Co.

-0.9%

17.00

QTEL.DSM Qatar Telecom

-0.8%

138.10

QGTS.DSMQatar Gas Transport Co.

-0.7%

16.34

-0.4%

Doha SM

Quotes Company Name A Aamal Co.

Close 17.00

Daily % Chg.

High

-0.8%

K Al Khalij Commercial Bank

16.38

C The Commercial Bank of Qatar

72.00

0.0%

E Ezdan Real Estate Co.

22.20

0.9%

B Barwa Real Estate Co. D Doha Bank

26.85 56.90

-0.2%

0.0% 0.0%

Low

17.49

Turnover (QAR '000)

16.90

5,079

26.65

7,550

85.50

68.00

-15.8%

-14.3%

23.95

21.80

7,614

334

24.97

18.60

-11.1%

57.40

56.80

5,438

Q Qatar Electricity & Water Co.

141.40

0.1%

141.80

141.20

2,883

0.6%

51.50

51.00

0.1%

133.70

133.00

11,201

-0.7%

139.00

137.50

26,131

Q Qatar Islamic Bank

16.34

-0.4%

79.80

2.3%

Q Qatar National Bank

133.70

Q Qatar Telecom

138.10

Q Qatar Navigation

68.00

V Vodafone Qatar

8.75

-0.9%

-1.7%

17.6%

245

30,418

51.40

-22.4%

17,569

144.10

Q Qatar International Islamic Bank

14.00

YTD

71.50

26.85

146.70

Q Qatar Gas Transport Co.

21.90

on high

72.00

-0.1%

1.3%

297

% Change

Low

1,099

146.10 27.05

High

16.35

16.40

IQIndustries Qatar

M Masraf Al Rayan

52-Week

Volume ('000)

27.15 16.40

80.10

68.90 8.90

26.65

40,573

16.20

16,081

78.50

26,715

67.60

4,644

8.60

67

18.01

282

32.55

95

67.00

50.00

148.50

118.80

20

148.00

129.50

40

56.20

45.50

84

141.73

122.73

189

140.40

64.09

986 337 68

6,481

26.80

208

1,509

2,056

16.06

744

28.10

18.47

85.30

87.50 9.22

-9.1%

-17.5% -15.1% -1.6%

22.50

-3.7%

16.34

-11.5%

76.30

-6.4%

-4.5%

-4.6%

-10.4%

-5.1%

-8.5%

5,896,800

-14.1%

10,447,997

PB

19.2

58,885,427

nmf

-2.9%

19.1%

-6.7%

-9.8%

-5.3%

0.9%

18,856,197

-11.1%

-19.4%

7,787,714

15.9%

9.8%

9.9% 1.3%

115.5%

11,761,105

0.1%

80,355,000

20,287,500

1.1%

14,140,000 9,049,811

9.4% 5.8%

97.9%

1.1

7.7

-4.7%

9.0%

1.6

12.0

0.0%

-11.2%

-3.2%

7.24

9,256,500

9.3

-5.7% -1.6%

4.2%

Trailing PE

17,816,139

-4.8%

-22.3%

Market Cap. (QAR '000)

-1.0%

-8.5%

68.00

12 mths

0.9

1.3

9.3

1.8

2.1

10.4

3.3

10.4

4.7

14.1

2.4

11.0

4.7

7,780,354

11.6

1.7

93,553,826

12.0

2.3

31,597,280 7,397,250

13.2

1.8

10.7

0.7

12.5

1.5

nmf

1.1

OMAN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 5,847 (-0.3%)

MSM Index (% Chg.)

120

42% RCCI.MSM Raysut Cement Co.

% of stocks trading above 1yr avg. price

0.40

Advance/Decline Ratio Turnover (OMR '000)

109

7,023,177

Market Cap (OMR '000)

105

176,057

O Oman Cement Co.

S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

140,771

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

6-May-12

0.7%

1.31

0.3%

0.62

-0.3%

-0.5%

0.44

Turnover (OMR) 259,423 NBOB.MSMNational Bank of Oman 178,230 OCOI.MSM Oman Cement Co.

B Bank Muscat

6-Apr-12

1.25

-0.7%

Worst Performers

R Raysut Cement Co.

6-Mar-12

% Chg.

0.61

BKDB.MSMBank Dhofar

Highest Turnover

100

90 6-Feb-12

OTEL.MSMOman Telecommunications Co.

6,286 / 5,419 BKMB.MSMBank Muscat 2,149 RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

MSM 52 week High / Low

110

Close

134,108

R Renaissance Services

Close

% Chg.

0.29

-1.3%

0.44

-0.7%

0.62

-0.3%

0.69

BKDB.MSMBank Dhofar

RNSS.MSMRenaissance Services

-0.9%

0.61

BKMB.MSMBank Muscat

-0.5%

Muscat SM

Quotes Company Name

Close

B Bank Dhofar

0.441

N National Bank of Oman

0.294

O Oman Telecommunications Co.

1.309

R Renaissance Services

0.614

B Bank Muscat

O Oman Cement Co.

R Raysut Cement Co.

Daily % Chg.

High

-0.7%

0.617

-0.3%

0.687

-0.9%

1.250

-1.3%

Low

0.441

0.441

0.619 0.294

178

0.676

176

1.239

259

1.310

1.305

141

-0.5%

0.618

0.610

134

0.7%

1.255

High

83

0.671

107

on high

0.693

-3.1%

-19.7%

0.291

-9.3%

-5.8%

-3.0%

0.416

-8.0%

59.0%

0.0%

64.5%

1.041

-8.1%

218

1.006

0.458

-39.0%

0.711

-7.4%

-0.9%

1.425 1.250

12 mths

-18.5%

108 208

YTD

0.423

0.572

0.324

256

% Change

Low

0.541

289

31

0.3%

52-Week

Volume ('000)

37

0.617 0.292

0.693

Turnover (OMR '000)

0.0%

12.7%

Market Cap. (OMR '000)

-7.6%

16.2%

15.4%

PB

12.1

325,759

9.0

1.2

8.8

2.0

16.5

250,000

16.7

173,206

2.1

9.0

227,310

981,750

-39.4%

PE

485,151

1,108,622

15.7%

Trailing

1.3

1.6

2.4

nmf

1.0

BAHRAIN Rebased Performance

Summary

Best Performers 1,162 (0.3%)

BSE Index (% Chg.)

120

Advance/Decline Ratio Turnover (BHD '000)

109

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

Highest Turnover

102

100

B Bahrain Islamic Bank

224

B Albaraka Banking Grp.

6-May-12 Bahrain SE

0.09

1.1%

0.93

0.0%

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

Turnover (BHD) 158,985 BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp. 9,240 BISB.BSE Bahrain Islamic Bank 2,505 ITHMR.BSE Ithmaar Bank

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co.

6-Mar-12 6-Apr-12 S&P GCC Large/Mid Composite

10.0%

#N/A

Worst Performers

IT Ithmaar Bank

90 6-Feb-12

% Chg.

0.22

1,391 / 1,129 BARKA.BS Albaraka Banking Grp. 239 #N/A #N/A 6,567,281 #N/A #N/A

BSE 52 week High / Low

110

Close

32% ITHMR.BSE Ithmaar Bank - BISB.BSE Bahrain Islamic Bank

% of stocks trading above 1 yr avg. price

-

A Ahli United Bank

AUB.BSE #N/A

Close

% Chg.

0.93

0.0%

0.22

10.0%

0.09

Ahli United Bank

0.62 -

#N/A

#N/A

1.1%

#N/A

Quotes Company Name

Close

A Ahli United Bank*

0.620

A Arab Banking Corp.*

0.420

B Albaraka Banking Grp.* B Bahrain Islamic Bank

B Bahrain Telecommunications Co. B BBK

IN Investcorp Bank* IT Ithmaar Bank*

N National Bank of Bahrain U United Gulf Bank

* Closing Prices, Turnover and Market Cap. in USD

Daily % Chg.

High -

-

Low -

-

-

-

0.930

0.0%

0.930

0.930

0.089

1.1%

0.089

0.089

0.400

-

-

-

0.462 797

-

0.0% -

0.220

10.0%

0.260

-

0.550

-

-

0.462 -

0.462 -

0.220

0.215

-

-

-

Turnover (BHD '000)

-

-

1 3

-

-

9

422 -

52-Week

Volume ('000)

-

-

High 1

28 20

% Change

Low

0.676

0.599

-8.3%

0.530

0.420

-20.8%

1.029

0.116 0.486

0.420 797

0.857 0.082 0.380 0.390 797

1,912

0.220

0.065

-

0.424

0.260

-

on high

0.600

0.545

YTD 2.8%

-9.6%

-0.4%

-23.3%

-1.1%

0.0%

-4.9%

17.9%

0.0%

0.0%

-4.8%

-3.4%

12 mths -8.3%

3,243,944

-26.3%

1,305,854

-12.5% -23.3% -4.5%

-6.1%

-13.3%

-30.1%

10.3

1.3

83,631

nmf

0.8

340,542

10.6

665,280

470,448

-38.7%

PB 0.8

-5.2%

144.4%

Trailing PE 8.0

637,391

238.5% -4.3%

943,212

-30.0%

0.0%

-8.3%

Market Cap. (BHD '000)

588,952

216,986

6.2

0.4

8.5

1.3

4.5

0.6

10.2

1.7

nmf

nmf

1.4 1.0

1.0

LIFE

Make TV Time Exercise Time

You don’t have to give up television watching just to lead a more active lifestyle.

The American Council on Exercise suggests these ways to exercise while you’re watching TV: * Don’t use your remote. Instead, get up off the couch to change the channel. * During commercial breaks, walk up and down the stairs, or walk around the room. * Work out using a resistance band. * Invest in a treadmill, so you can work out while you watch. * Iron your clothes while watching. * Instead of lounging on the couch, sit on a stability ball.

monDAY, may 7, 2012

ADHD drug use soars, psychologists warn off untested drug cocktails LONDON: Prescriptions of Ritalin for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have quadrupled in a decade, prompting fears it is being pushed on children at the expense of alternative treatments and without appreciation of long-term effects, reports The Guardian.

Figures released by the NHS business services authority to the Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt reveal the number of prescriptions of methylphenidate hydrochloride, the generic name for Ritalin, rose in England from 158,000 in 1999 to 661,463 in 2010.

Ritalin is a psychostimulant drug most commonly approved for treatment of ADHD in children. It is also used to treat conditions such as narcolepsy and in certain cases may also be prescribed for lethargy, depression and obesity.

The Association of Educational Psychologists said its members were reporting an increase in children with behavioral difficulties being prescribed the drug in conjunction with antidepressants, despite the fact there was “little to no evidence about the effect which these cocktails of drugs are having on the development of children’s brains”.

The association claims clinical studies show the “beneficial effects of psychostimulant medication are not sustained over the long term, necessitating stronger and stronger dosages to be prescribed over time” and that it is “becoming a common practice for children to be prescribed stronger dosages than recommended in the morning as a ‘topup’ or ‘kickstart’ dose so that medication lasts the full school day”.

Munt, who until recently sat on the education select committee, said there were natural alternatives that could help combat ADHD. She highlighted a report commissioned by the RSPB that suggested activities in a natural environment appear to improve children’s symptoms by 30% compared with urban outdoor activities, and threefold compared to playing indoors. But Munt said many young people were prevented from enjoying the outdoors because of reasons such as lack of school playing fields and the distractions posed by video games, smartphones and social networking.

“It is extremely alarming that in the decade up to 2010, prescriptions for Ritalin quadrupled,” she

FILE - More youngsters are being prescribed Ritalin for ADHD despite clinical guidelines to the contrary, say child psychologists. (Agencies)

said. “Statistics show that 90% of prescriptions for this powerful drug in 2004 were used to combat behavioral problems in school-age children. I am shocked that there has been such a huge explosion in use.”

ADHD is believed to affect between 5% and 10% of schoolchildren in the UK. Symptoms include overactive and impulsive behavior and difficulty paying attention. The increase in Ritalin prescriptions appears to mirror the US where there was an 83% increase in sales of the drug between 2006 and 2010.

How many children are being prescribed the drug is difficult to quantify from official data. Munt said: “Unless the Department of Health collects vital statistical data about prescribing habits, no one will know what is happening.

“We hear teachers tell of their students’ lack of ability to concentrate, from police about increasingly disruptive and antisocial behavior, and from

parents unable to control the actions of young family members. We need to show young people how to deal with the normal stresses and strains of growing up. Resorting to powerful drugs only stores up trouble for the future.”

The Association of Educational Psychologists said it believed guidelines were not being followed.

The guidelines recommend that ADHD medication should not be prescribed to pre-school children for the long term nor in isolation from other therapeutic interventions, without consultation But the association said it was aware of a substantial increase in the number of children aged under six, and in some cases as young as three, being prescribed ADHD drugs. It said an informal survey of educational psychology practitioners across the West Midlands had revealed there were more than 100 children under six on the medication in the area.

“This is reaffirmed across the country by our members,” the association said.

More evidence says ancient mars was really wet NEW YORK: Several studies over the past decade or so have shown Mars used to be warmer and wetter, but scientists are still trying to pin down the details of the Red Planet’s early history. A new study finds additional evidence that early Mars was wet - really wet - and also that its atmosphere was much thicker than today, reports LiveScience.

Early Mars would have been saturated, with air density 20 times what it is now, according to Georgia Tech Assistant Professor Josef Dufek. Currently, the Martian atmosphere is less than 1 percent the density of Earth’s. Liquid water can’t last long, if at all, on the surface (though other studies indicate there is much ice, and perhaps liquid water, beneath the surface). Dufek is analyzing ancient volcanic eruptions and surface observations by the Mars rover Spirit. His new findings are published by the journal Geophysical Research Letters. “Atmospheric pressure has likely played a role in developing almost all Mars’ surface features,” he said.

“The planet’s climate, the physical state of water on its surface and the potential for life are all influenced by atmospheric conditions.”

Dufek’s first research tool was a rock fragment propelled into the Martian atmosphere during a volcanic eruption roughly 3.5 billion years ago. The deposit landed in the volcanic sediment, created a divot (or bomb sag), eventually solidified and remains in the same location today.

Dufek’s next tool was the Mars rover. In 2007, Spirit landed at that site, known as Home Plate, and took a closer look at the imbedded fragment. Dufek and his collaborators at the University of California-Berkeley received enough data to determine the size, depth and shape of the bomb sag. Dufek and his team then went to the lab to create bomb sags of their own. They created beds of sand using grains the same size as those observed

by Spirit. The team propelled particles of varying materials (glass, rock and steel) at different speeds into dry, damp and

saturated sand beds before comparing the divots with the bomb sag on Mars. No matter the type of particle, the saturated beds consistently produced impact craters similar in shape to the Martian bomb sag.

By varying the propulsion speeds, Dufek’s team also determined that the lab particles must hit the sand at a speed of less than 40 meters per second to create similar penetration depths. In order for something to move through Mars’ atmosphere at that peak velocity, the pressure would have to be a minimum of 20 times more dense than current conditions, which suggests that early Mars must have had a thicker atmosphere.

“Our study is consistent with growing research that early Mars was at least a transiently watery world with a much denser atmosphere than we see today,” said Dufek. “We were only able to study one bomb sag at one location on the Red Planet. We hope to do future tests on other samples based on observations by the next rover, Curiosity.”

Cypress trees saw rupturing of Earth’s supercontinents NEWYORK: Early members of an ancient family of trees, the cypresses, grew on the supercontinent Pangaea, and when this giant continent split apart, it shaped the future of these trees, according to research that examined the evolution of these trees, which today include giant redwoods and sequoias, reports LiveScience.

More than 200 million years ago, Pan-

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2011 photo, bald cypress trees surrounded by knobby, upward-growing roots called “knees” are shown at the Twin Swamps Nature Preserve in extreme southwestern Indiana. (AP)

gaea contained all the modern continents, squished up against one another. The separation of these continents isolated populations of living things, putting them on different evolutionary paths.

Scientists have already found evidence of the separation of the continents in the family histories of reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

“Until now, there has been no equiva-

lent evidence for any plant family,” writes an international team of researchers in a study published recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The cypress family, Cupressaceae, a group of conifers with scale-like leaves, is believed to have originated more than 200 million years ago, when Pangaea was still intact, according to the researchers.

By looking at changes in the DNA of 122 species of cypress, the researchers were able to reconstruct a timeline for their evolution. They also included fossil evidence in the analysis.

The most recently evolved subfamilies of cypress, Cupressoideae and Callitroideae, split from each other about 153 million years ago, as the two remnants of Pangaea pulled away from each other. The northern half, Laurasia, contained what would become North America, Greenland, Europe and much of Asia, while the southern half, Gondwana, would later become South America, Africa, India, Antarctica and Australia.

The legacy remains. Living members of Cupressoideae occur mainly in former Laurasian continents, while Callitroideae are found on the fragments of what was Gondwana, write the researchers led by Kangshan Mao of Lanzhou University, China. Cypress are now found on all continents except Antarctica, they note.

Rising obesity rates might mean more rheumatoid arthritis CONNECTICUT: A new study suggests that severe weight gain might raise the risk for rheumatoid arthritis -- a painful, chronic ailment -- especially among obese women, reports HealthDay News.

The epidemiological research indicated that about half of the increase in rheumatoid arthritis cases in one Minnesota county may be linked to rising obesity rates there over three decades.

Moreover, the research suggested that obesity precedes the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, said Gabriel, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The impact of obesity on rheumatoid arthritis risk appeared greater for women in the study, which may be due to the fact that women get the disease three times more often than men. Men often develop the condition later in life, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

The study, conducted at the Mayo Clinic from 1985 to 2007, appeared online recently in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1.3 million Americans, or 1 percent of the US population, according to Arthritis Foundation figures. The autoimmune disorder attacks joint tissues and sometimes organs, causing swelling, inflammation, fever and fatigue. The condition can develop at any time, but it usually develops between the ages of 30 and 60.

The illness is influenced by both genetics and environmental factors, according to background information in the study.

The new research was focused on Olmsted County, Minn., where records of all medical providers have been collected on every resident in one database for decades, Gabriel said.

Adults who developed rheumatoid arthritis were matched with other people based on age, sex and year of diagnosis. Of the 813 people with the disease and another 813 without it, 68 percent were women and about 30 percent were obese. Their average age was 56.

Researchers reported that during the study the incidence of the disease increased by about nine people per 100,000, and 52 percent of the change was attributable to obesity.

Commenting on the new findings, one expert expressed concerns about increasing rates of rheumatoid arthritis fueled by rising obesity rates, but agreed with the study’s conclusion that more research was needed because the Minnesota group was not racially diverse. Olmsted County is 90 percent white, according to the study.

Ghaw said that because rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease and obesity has been linked to inflammation, a connection between rising rates of both seemed likely.

“The increase in rheumatoid arthritis is troubling,” she said. “Obesity confers a greater risk of inflammatory disease” because certain chemicals in fat cells promote inflammation in the body. Ghaw also cautioned that treating obese patients for rheumatoid arthritis might be more difficult because they may not respond as well to the medications due to “a chronic inflammatory state.”

On a positive note, she said the research showed that some patients may be able to prevent the disease by keeping their weight down. Although the study found an association between obesity rates and rheumatoid arthritis, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Keep off beaches, Peru warns after pelican deaths

Dead pelicans are displayed by conservationists at Reventazon beach, close to the Illescas peninsula in Piura April 27, 2012. (Reuters)

LIMA: Peru’s government declared a health alert along its northern coastline on Saturday and urged residents and tourists to stay away from long stretches of beach, as it investigates the unexplained deaths of hundreds of dolphins and pelicans.

At least 1,200 birds, mostly pelicans, washed up dead along a stretch of Peru’s northern Pacific coastline in recent weeks, health officials said, after an estimated 800 dolphins died in the same area in recent months. The Health Ministry recommended staying away from beaches, although it stopped short of a ban, and called on health officials to use gloves, masks and other protective gear when collecting dead birds. The peak tourism season around Lima’s beaches is over, although many surfers are still venturing into the waters near the capital. The Agriculture Ministry said preliminary tests on some dead pelicans pointed to malnourishment. Oscar

Dominguez, head of the ministry’s health department, said experts had ruled out bird flu. “The Health Ministry ... calls on the population to abstain from going to the beaches until the health alert is lifted,” the ministry said in a statement on its website, along with a photograph of a dead pelican. The ministry said officials had so far checked 18 beaches in and around Lima for dead birds, but gave no details on any findings. “We’re starting from the hypothesis that it’s because the birds are young and unable to find enough food for themselves, and also because the sea temperature has risen and anchovies have moved elsewhere,” said Deputy Agriculture Minister Juan Rheineck. A mass pelican death along Peru’s northern coast in 1997 was blamed at the time on a shortage of feeder anchovies due to the El Nino weather phenomenon. Some were undeterred by the mysterious deaths. -Reuters

The full moon rises behind the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, south east of Athens, Greece, while tourists watch, on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Saturday’s event is a “supermoon,” the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. The term supermoon has become popular in recent years to describe a situation when the full moon occurs at or near the time when the moon is closest to Earth on its noncircular orbit. This close approach, called perigee, puts the moon 356,955 kilometers away. The supermoon will bring unusually high tides because of its closeness and its alignment with the sun and Earth, but the effect will be modest, Chester said. Next year’s supermoon will be a bit farther away than this year’s. (AP)

16

ALWATAN DAILY

CULTURE

monDAY, may 7, 2012

Sri Lankans observe ‘Vesak Day’ in Kuwait Ricky Laxa Staff Writer

KUWAIT: “The core teaching of Buddhism lies in living in harmony, solidarity and peace with people and avoidance of causing harm to any living creation both seen and unseen,” commented ambassador of Sri Lanka to Kuwait C.A.H.M. Wijeratne during the celebration of “Vesak Day within the premise of the embassy Saturday morning.

The full day event started with the observance of the “Eight Precepts”. Visiting monk from Sri Lanka Reverend Eriminne Anomadassi explained that in many Buddhist countries, devout Buddhists observe the “Eight Precepts” on Full Moon and New Moon days. Believers spend 24 hours in the temple from early in the morning to break away from this material and sensual world.

The idea is to withdraw from our daily life of hustle and bustle to cultivate spiritual development, self training and peace of mind. These precepts are; Abstain from taking life, Abstain from stealing, Abstain from speaking unnecessary, Abstain from sexual activity, Abstain from taking intoxicants, Abstain from taking meals at inappropriate time, Abstain from entertaining, dancing, singing, use of beauty products and perfumes and Abstain from seating on high and luxurious chairs and beds.

The observance of the Eight Precepts was followed by a discussion of The “Dharma”. Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save him from degradation and suffering. Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one’s life. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life. It means “that which holds” the people of this world and the whole creation. Dharma is the “law of being” without which things cannot exist and sequenced by an hour of meditation.

One of the highlights of the event was the “Bhudda Puja” and “Dharma Activities”. The Buddha Puja is expres-

A parade to start the Buddha Puja Activities during the Vesak Day celebration at the Sri Lankan Embassy.

(Al Watan Daily)

sions of “honor, worship and devotional attention.” Activities include bowing, making offerings and chanting. These devotional acts are generally performed daily at home (either in the morning or evening or both) as well as during communal festivals and Uposatha days at a temple. The highlight of the occasion is the special chanting performed

Korean Embassy organizes week of culture and heritage

by the visiting Monk Reverend Anomadassi. He explained that the core beliefs of Buddhism are like most of the great religions of the world, it is divided into a number of different traditions. However, most traditions share a common set of fundamental beliefs. One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation, the concept that people

are reborn after dying. In fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and rebirth. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. In rebirth, a person does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a tree. When the withering leaf falls off, a new leaf will eventually replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical to the original leaf. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.

The event culminated with a film showing the life of Bhudda. In about the sixth century B.C. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a royal family. When he was a young adult his experiences with the outside world drove him to seek out a greater understanding of life and spiritual fulfillment.

Through seeking guidance and meditation, Siddhartha achieved Enlightenment. From that point, he was known as the Buddha, which means ‘Enlightened One’. For the rest of his life, the Buddha travelled great distances teaching people about one path to salvation. After the Buddha’s death, his pupils continued to spread his teachings. Buddhism developed at a time when Hinduism, the most widespread religion in India, had become tightly controlled by priests and the upper classes. Buddhism offered hope and access to spiritual understanding and satisfaction to ordinary people.

Throughout the world today, people still follow the teachings of the Buddha.

“The observance of the Vesak Day is essential for all Buddhists and most especially for our children to be able to learn, understand and live their lives to the core of our beliefs.

The Vesak Day also teaches us to respect and honor every living creature both unseen and seen. I wish every Sri Lankan in Kuwait and Buddhist brothers and sisters a blessed day,” concluded Ambassador Wijeratne.

Gulf Theatre offers Jordanians glimpse of Kuwaiti folklore AMMAN: Arabian Gulf Theatre troupe of the State of Kuwait offers Jordanian spectators in the ongoing Free Theatre Festival in Jordan, a glimpse of Kuwaiti folklore and traditions, along with groups seeking to introduce the audiences to Tunisia, Palestine, Libya, the host state Jordan, Holland, and Austria.

Director of Kuwaiti contribution in the festival, the play called Al-Boshiyyah - meaning the veil covering the face - told KUNA, Sunday, his play is an attempt to recapture Kuwaiti tradition and present it to the Jordanian audiences within a modern approach. Abdullah Al-Aber added the

play deals with social classification. The script presents a society that unites against an “outsider” who in fact is a descendant of a “true member” of that same society.

With 22 people acting, playing the music score, and other technicians, the director feels confident the play would be well received, due to the great amount of shared values and cultural and social traits between Kuwait and the host state. The festival kicked off Saturday under the auspices of Princess Reem Ali at the Royal Cultural Center.

Festival chairman Ali Elayyan said theatre as

an art form is a reading of history and a tentative forecast of the future. It is an art form that keeps abreast of the current state of affairs and stays alive and thrives despite the great challenge of poor inadequate support.

The first performance in the festival was a dance by a Palestinian Ramallah group.

The festival lasts till May 10, and the main activities and attractions include a symposium on the theme “Is the golden triangle losing one of its components? Audience, Text, and Artist.” The Free Theatre’s troupe is also presenting two productions. -KUNA

Ivory Coast has its first all-women band

Photo of the Kuwaiti corner taken on the recent 3rd Korean Diwaniya, held at the Embassy premises. (Al Watan Daily) Ricky Laxa Staff Writer

KUWAIT: With the success of the recent Korean “diwaniya” held at the premises of the embassy, the Embassy of Korea organizes and announces its week long interesting activities that further promote the Korean culture and heritage.

In a press release issued by the embassy, it states; “As part of its ongoing effort to increase the level of contacts and interaction between the Koreans and Kuwaiti people, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kuwait is organizing the Korea Week from May 8 to 11 in the Korean Embassy located in the diplomatic zone 2 in Mishref”.

The Korea Week will provide a one of a kind opportunity for Kuwaiti people and foreign residents to get to know Korea. The week program will include Korean food taste, Korean art crafts and products for sale, learn about Korean Culture, meet and get acquainted with Korean people. The Korea Week promises to be full of excitement and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the entertainment.

The week will be made-up of various programs that will include Korean food festival (May 8), Korean traditional wedding

ceremony and Kids Hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) fashion show (May 8 and 9) and K-Pop Contest (May 10). And also Korean Markets selling Korean food, Korean foodstuff, Korean art craft and stationery will be organized while charity bazaar will sell small items donated from the Korean Community and Kuwaiti volunteers. In addition to this, participants will be able to try beautiful Hanbok, Korean calligraphy, Hanji (Korean traditional paper) art craft, and Tal (Korean traditional Mask) making.

The week of events will highlight the Kuwaiti culture with participation of forty Kuwaiti volunteers from the Korean Culture Diwaniya. The group also makes-up a corner for Kuwaiti culture in addition to a charity bazaar. To perk the events galore, dance teams from the Kuwaiti side such as the B-boy, Electrik crew, Hip hop dance team, 965 crew, will also join the K-pop contest as special guests.

To culminate the occasion, a classical music concert will be held in Abdulaziz Theater and middle and high school Korean students who are living in Kuwait will play classical music on May 11. “We are really confident that our guests will enjoy all activities. Come and enjoy Korean Culture nights,” concluded the press release.

ABIDJAN: It took a mother’s last wish, and a man to make it happen, but Ivory Coast now has its first all-women musical ensemble in what is hailed as a little “revolution” in this fiercely patriarchal society. “Why is it so surprising to see women play instruments?” asked Landry Louoba, one of the 10 women in the Bella Mondo band.

The energetic Louoba plays percussion – and has the biceps to prove it – alongside a drummer, a pianist, a bassist, singers and other musicians, most in their 30s. The man who got things started is promoter Charly Maiwan, a Canadian from Montreal who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and made a promise to his mother, a passionate music lover, on her deathbed. “You always told me you’d have me sing, but my time has come, I’m leaving. Promise me that now you’ll make the women of the world sing,” he told AFP, recalling his mother’s words.

In 2007, Maiwan, who travels regularly to Africa, contacted Nadine Levry, an Ivorian singing in nightclubs in the economic capital Abidjan.

She liked the idea and contacted bass player Prisca Allou. Bella Mondo was born, and quickly recruited eight other members with a repertoire that ranges from reggae, afro-zouk and a local dance music called zouglou, to oldies and some of their own compositions. “This adventure must continue and attract other women,” said percussionist Louoba.

“It’s the right time for our revolution,” added Josiane Labi Luo, one of the group’s four singers whose goes by the stage name “Jo Labi”.

“Revolution”, in fact, is the title the women chose for their first album, scheduled for release in 2013 and a testament to their will to overcome both the country’s unbending macho ethic and the turmoil from a decade of armed rebellion and political conflict that claimed 3,000 lives last year alone. A hairdresser by trade, Levry, the band leader and a mother, recalls the difficulty she had selling the idea to her own family. Through sheer perseverance she finally obtained their “blessing”, but blamed such trouble on Ivorian society as a whole. Women remain sidelined in both political and economic circles in the Ivory Coast, said Salimata Porquet, a women’s rights activist who heads a non-governmental organization called the Peace and Security Network for Women in ECOWAS (the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States).

“There is still much to do to reach male-female parity, a promise that was never kept” by President Alassane Ouattara since he took office last May, she charged, noting there are only six women in the 35-member government and 30 in the 253-member parliament. Yet “in Ivory Coast, 60% of households are headed by women, after a decade of political, military and socio-economic turbulence that has disrupted social structures, triggered layoffs, closed factories and torn apart families,” Porquet said, adding: “This is the state of affairs in much of the continent.” As for the ensemble, “the

The 10-member Ivorian women’s band Bella Mondo performs on March 8, 2012 to mark International Women’s Day at the Golfe Hotel in Abidjan. (AFP)

attitude of men was oppressive at first,” said Levry. “Society viewed us so badly... Women are only meant to cook, make children and take care of the house.” The “revolution” they’ve undertaken is “to show that women can play instruments, sometimes even better than men!” she said.

The women perform in elegant dresses of African wax cloth and have played across Abidjan, but their “headquarters”, as they call it, is a club called “Pams” in the trendy district of Il-Plateaux. March 8, International Women’s Day, brought an official “blessing” of sorts when they were asked to perform at a government-planned gala hosted by former prime minister and now speaker of parliament Guillaume Soro. And the milestones continue. In July the band is scheduled to play in Montreal at a women’s music festival organized by Maiwan, as well as some gigs in Europe. Other requests are coming in but the group’s manager, Dominique Tahi, said the band “lacks instruments” and is pressing authorities for help. For band leader Levry, there’s another wish: “If Ivorian people would have a positive attitude towards what we’re doing and support us that would really help.” -AFP

Maya exhibit in Philly seeks to dispel 2012 myths

The stone Copan Stela 11 is shown at the Maya 2012: Lords of Time exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP)

PHILADELPHIA: If the world ends on Dec. 21, 2012 - as some believe the Maya predicted - that leaves plenty of opportunity to see a new exhibit that examines the civilization’s ancient kingdoms, intricate calendar systems and current culture. Experts at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia apparently give little credence to the apocalypse myth, considering the show runs through early 2013. But they say the legend, which has been perpetuated in pop culture through disaster movies and sensational tabloid headlines, offers a chance to engage people about ancient and modern Maya society.

“Maya 2012: Lords of Time” features artifacts excavated from the historic Maya ruins of Copan in Honduras, including burial jewelry, food vessels and ceramic figures. Honduras President Porfirio Lobo Sosa is scheduled to cut the ribbon when the exhibit opens on Saturday. The show also uses interactive displays to explain the culture’s glyph writing and sophisticated timetables. The upshot is that while it’s human nature to seek ancient insight into the current world, people should not interpret the Maya calendar as predicting a cataclysmic event. “It’s just

a turn of a cycle,” said curator Loa Traxler.

Regarded as one of the world’s greatest early societies, the Maya lived for centuries in parts of Mexico and Central America. Many of their iconic pyramids and other city remnants still stand in places like Copan, where 16 Maya kings ruled for about 400 years. As early astronomers, the Maya devised various types of calendars by observing celestial movements. Their “Long Count” calendar begins in 3114 B.C. and marks time in roughly 394-year periods known as baktuns. Thirteen was a sacred number for the Maya, and some scholars believe the 13th baktun ends on Dec. 21, 2012. Penn Museum experts say it ends Dec. 23, but that then another calendar cycle will begin - not Armageddon.

Traxler said while it’s hard to trace the origin of the apocalypse prophecy, she described it as “a conflation of a lot of different ideas,” including Aztec lore, Judeo-Christian end-of-days rhetoric and millennial hype. (Remember Y2K?) Honduran officials don’t seem concerned.

Norma Cerrato, minister counselor of legal affairs for the country’s US embassy, said during a recent exhibit preview that she hopes it encour-

ages people to visit the actual ruins. The show includes replicas of large stone carvings too delicate or unwieldy to leave Copan, designated a world heritage site by the United Nations’ cultural agency. “Regardless of what some may say about the December 2012 phenomenon, the people of Honduras are certain that this year provides us a unique opportunity to share a part of our history and culture with the world,” Cerrato said. Mexico, too, has designed a tourism campaign around the 2012 date. It’s expected to bring an extra 12 million visitors to the country, possibly boosting tourism revenue by $14.6 billion, according to officials there.

Though the last independent Maya city was conquered by the Spanish in 1697, Traxler said about 7 million people currently identify as Maya. The exhibit ends with translated video interviews with a half-dozen Maya, some of whom are bemused by the hype. Jose Huchim Herrera, a Yucatec Maya and archaeologist, said in a video that anyone talking about a 2012 catastrophe is clearly an outsider. “The Maya say nothing,” he said. “The Maya are very peaceful.

They are not worried.” -AP

A ceramic Censer Lid with Founder Portrait is shown at the Maya 2012: Lords of Time exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Thursday, May 3, 2012. (AP)

ALWATAN DAILY

entertainment Song Of The Day

MONDAY, may 7, 2012

17

The benevolent Beastie: Adam Yauch remembered

Fahad AlSabah Staff Writer

Song: Time Artist: Pink Floyd Album: The Dark Side of the Moon Genre: Rock/Alternative In short: Released almost 40 years ago, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon keeps giving unconditionally. “Time” used many sound effects, which wasn’t the norm back in the day, to create the desired ambience that paves the way for the song itself, resulting into a timeless rock number that befits any era anywhere.

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

The Buzz Cooper suggests Limbaugh go to the gym CNN’s Anderson Cooper answered criticisms from Rush Limbaugh with some health advice for the cigar-loving, often-sedentary radio host. Limbaugh responded to reports of lower CNN ratings by saying on his show that Cooper may be spending too much time in bars, restaurants and the gym.

“I swear. That guy is reported more in gossip columns to be at the gym, or that bar, or restaurant, than he is at the studio,” Limbaugh said. Said Cooper on his CNN show Thursday: “I don’t know if you noticed, but he spoke for quite a while there and didn’t call me a slut even one time. Now, I don’t have my Rush-to-English dictionary handy, but I’m pretty sure that means we’re best friends now.” Cooper said he rarely goes to restaurants or bars, but conceded that he does go to the gym - and suggested Limbaugh do the same.

He also poked Limbaugh for his apparent interest in gossip columns. “I’m concerned about heart disease, I’ve raised money to fight heart disease, my dad died of it. And yeah, I try to take care of myself. Mr. Limbaugh, I can only hope that you’re taking care of yourself as well. You might try the gym from time to time. It really is something you can incorporate into your life pretty seamlessly,” he said. -AP

Southland renewed by TNT TNT’s cop drama “Southland” has been renewed for a fifth season, the network said Friday. The 10-episode season will premiere in February 2013. The series, which stars Michael Cudlitz as Los Angeles police officer John Cooper, who struggled to beat an addiction to painkillers following back surgery, featured a number of notable guest appearances its fourth season, including Lucy Liu, Lou Diamond Phillips and C. Thomas Howell. “We are very proud of ‘Southland’ and grateful to everyone involved in the series, including executive producers John Wells, Chris Chulack and Jonathan Lisco; creator Ann Biderman; and our partners at Warner Bros. Television,” Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT,TBS and Turner Classic Movies, said of the renewal. “We look forward to going deeper into the lives of ‘Southland’’s extraordinary characters and the streets they struggle to keep safe next year.” The series was initially aired by NBC but was cancelled by the network before finding a second home at TNT. -Reuters

Miss America, Miranda Lambert at Kentucky Derby The horses and roses weren’t the only famous attractions at the 138th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Actors, musicians and even Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler, strutted down the red carpet leading into the historic racetrack on Saturday. The Run for the Roses usually draws those looking to be seen. Country singer Miranda Lambert, former University of Kentucky basketball star Anthony Davis and Terry O’Quinn, noted for his role as “John Locke” on the television series “Lost,” also made the walk of the famous.

O’Quinn appeared a bit lost when quizzed about his betting plans. When asked which horse he would bet on, O’Quinn replied: “You tell me.” New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and defensive linemen Chris Canty, Amobi Okoye and Connor Barwin arrived later in the day. -AP

MTV O Music Awards to set new concert record MTV and the Viacom Music Group are returning to the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll for the third O Music Awards, staging a road trip from Memphis to New Orleans in which one band will break the Guinness World Record for “Most Live Concerts” in 24 hours.That record currently belongs to Jay-Z.The awards show, which honors music but with a focus on digital, will combine 24 hours of both awards and musical performances - all of it live. A bus of musicians will travel from Elvis Presley’s home city through the Mississippi Delta to The Big Easy with performances along the way. Robyn headlined the second O Music Awards, and this time MTV promises a worthy band to set the record. Some of the broadcast may air on MTV - exact programming details are still in the works - but all of it will stream online. The second edition of the O Music Awards, which took place in West Hollywood on Halloween night of 2011, garnered 1.4 million live streams, the second biggest live stream in MTV history. Categories will be announced May 23, but past winners include Kanye West for “Best Tweet,” Nirvana for “Best Vintage Viral Video” and Spotify for “Most Addictive Social Music Service.” -Reuters

No Doubt announces new album release date After multiple delays, No Doubt has announced the release date of their highly anticipated sixth studio album, reports Access Hollywood. The rockers dropped the news in a video posted on their YouTube page on Friday. “Our record is coming out on September 26th,” No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani announced in the video (surrounded by bandmates Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont), before bursting into laughter as the boys pointed out she got the date wrong.

“I mean... September 25!” Gwen quickly corrected herself.

FILE - In this 1989 file photo originally provided by Capitol Records, members of the Beastie Boys, from left, from left, Adam Horovitz, known as Adrock, Michael Diamond, known as Mike D and Adam Yauch, known as MCA, are shown. (AP)

FILE - The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, aka MCA, onstage in San Francisco in 2007.

(Agencies)

They are truly rock’s most realized group - not hip-hop but all music, really NEW YORK: When the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just weeks ago, the New York trio was down a man.

Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz took the stage with a letter from their missing band mate: Adam “MCA” Yauch, who was too ill to attend. He was suffering from a cancerous salivary gland first diagnosed in 2009.

In the letter, which Horovitz read, Yauch dedicated the honor to his fellow B-Boys, “who have walked the globe with me.”

“To anyone who has been touched by our band, who our music has meant something to, this induction is as much ours as it is yours,” said Yauch.

It was typical generosity from Yauch, the gravelly-voiced rapper who helped make the Beastie Boys one of the seminal groups in hip-hop and whose good-hearted nature led him to humanistic causes and made him beloved in hip-hop. One of his most famous rhymes was a sweet ode to women, which he called “long overdue”: “To all the mothers and sisters and wives and friends/ I want to offer my love and respect to the end.”

When the news came Friday that earlier that morning, Yauch, 47, had died after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, the words from his letter felt particularly apt. The outpouring of sadness at the loss, and celebration of the music Yauch helped created, was immediate and vast, shared across social media by those close to him, rappers influenced by “Paul’s Boutique” and hip-hop listeners raised on Beastie Boys videos. The rapper Q-Tip, a member of another major New York hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest, recalled that the Beastie Boys “showed us the ropes.” Sean “Diddy” Combs called Yauch “a true pioneer and a creative force who paved the way for so many of us.” The rapper Nas lamented the loss of a “brother”: “MCA was so cool,” he said.

For Eminem, Yauch was an undeniable touchstone: “I think it’s obvious to anyone how big an influence the Beastie Boys were on me and so many others.”

Yauch was an integral, founding member to the ever-weaving trio: three Jewish kids from New York who found widespread respect in a hip-hop world with few credible white performers.

In a span of more than a quarter century that covered four No. 1 albums and more than 40 million records sold, the Beastie Boys played both prankster and pioneer- a simultaneously goofy and groundbreaking act that helped bring hip-hop to the mainstream.

The demure, gray-haired Yauch wasn’t the most boastful B-Boy; he was the thoughtful one and a steady source of the trio’s innovative spirit. A practicing Buddhist, he led the group in performing concerts to benefit Tibet and, as a filmmaker, he helped create their imagery.

“The group’s music crossed genres and color lines, and helped bring rap to a wider audience,” said Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy. “Yauch was an immense talent and creative visionary.”

Adam Nathanial Yauch, born in Brooklyn, formed the Beastie Boys with high school friend Diamond. Originally conceived as a hardcore punk group, they played their first show on Yauch’s 17th birthday.

In the letter read at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induc-

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2010 file photo, musician Adam Yauch, from the Beastie Boys, attends the National Board of Review of motion pictures awards gala in New York.

(AP)

tion, Yauch recalled their early days at his parents’ home in Brooklyn, “where we used to practice on hot Brooklyn summer days after school, windows open to disturb the neighborhood.”

The group became a hip-hop trio soon after Horovitz joined and coalesced after Yauch dropped out of Bard College two years into his studies. They released their chart-topping debut “Licensed to Ill” in 1986, a raucous album led by the anthem “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”.

It was the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard chart, and while it remains popular, its irreverent rock-rap fusion bore few hints of an act with staying power.

“Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly,” Russell Simmons, whose Def Jam label released “Licensed to Ill,” said on his website.

In the seven studio albums that followed, the Beastie Boys expanded sonically and grew more musically ambitious.

Their follow-up, 1989’s “Paul’s Boutique,” ended any suggestion that the group was a one-hit wonder. Extreme in its sampling and thoroughly layered, the album (produced by the Dust Brothers) was ranked the 156th greatest album ever by Rolling Stone magazine in 2003.

The Beastie Boys would later take up their own instruments - a rarity in hip-hop - on the album “Check Your Head” and subsequent releases. Yauch played bass. Later, they would

Mystikal gives a bit of NO flavor to Jazz Fest NEW ORLEANS: Thousands turned out Friday to see New Orleans rapper Mystikal perform one last time before returning to jail on a probation violation.

The rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was released from a Louisiana prison in 2010 after serving six years for sexual battery and extortion. He returns to jail May 14 following a February arrest on a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse battery.

In April, the rapper’s attorney, Roy Maughan Jr., said Tyler and the victim in the domestic battery case were longtime domestic partners.

The rapper alluded to his legal problems on stage Friday “I’m going through some things, but it’s gonna be all right,” Mystikal said to cheering fans. “Fellas if you get into it with your girl, just walk away. Me? I’m gonna run.”

He also shouted: “Eighty-one days and I will be back,” referring to the length of his pending jail term. State District Judge Tony Marabella of Baton Rouge ordered Tyler to serve 90 days in jail for the violation but gave him credit for the nine days he was detained after his Feb. 22 arrest.

Mystikal thanked his fans for their continued support and, in between a few water breaks, pushed through a set list that included fan favorites “Bouncin’ Back, “Danger (Been So Long),” and “Here I Go.” Tony Jones, visiting from Hawaii, said he didn’t know what happened to get Mystikal a return ticket to prison, but hoped “the

Mystikal performs at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Friday, May 4, 2012. (AP)

judge was lenient.” Jason Foster, a Charlotte, N.C. native now living in New Orleans, said he grew up with Mystikal. This was his first time at the Jazz Fest and his first time seeing the rapper’s live show, which included music by his full brass band “Hot Sausage.” Tyler pleaded guilty in 2003 to forcing his hairstylist to perform what a judge called “continuous sex acts.” The victim in that case accused Tyler and two bodyguards of making her perform oral sex after accusing her of stealing $80,000 worth of his checks. The woman denied stealing any money. -AP

even release an album of instrumentals, which won one of their three Grammys in 2007.

On “Pass the Mic,” he rapped: “If you can feel what I’m feeling then it’s a musical masterpiece / If you can hear what I’m dealing with then that’s cool at least / What’s running through my mind comes through in my walk / True feelings are shown from the way that I talk.”

For many, the Beastie Boys’ lyrics - overflowing torrents of wit, humor and rhyme - were always the main draw. While other forms of hip-hop celebrated individualism, the Beastie Boys were a verbal tag team. Yauch once rapped, “on the tough guy style I’m not too keen.”

Their popularity perhaps peaked with 1994’s “Ill Communication,” which spawned several of their most famous music videos, including “Sure Shot” and the Spike Jonze-directed “Sabotage” - a hit highlighted by Yauch’s bass solo. (MTV, which played a key role in the Beasties’ rise, hurriedly assembled an hour-long tribute show to Yauch on Friday night.)

Yauch used the group’s growing fame to attract awareness for Tibetan Buddhists. He founded the Milarepa Fund to promote activism for Tibet in defense of what the nonprofit considered China’s occupational government.

In 1996, Yauch and Milarepa produced a hugely popular benefit concert for Tibet in San Francisco, which was followed by more international concerts over the next decade.

“He was a goofball and behind a lot of their prankiness, but if you wanted to talk to him about what was going on in the world and social issues and everything, you got a totally different guy,” said Rick Krim, executive vice president of music and talent relations at Vh1.

Introducing the group at the Rock Hall, Public Enemy rapper Chuck D said the Beastie Boys “broke the mold.”

“The Beastie Boys are indeed three bad brothers who made history,” Chuck D said. “They brought a whole new look to rap and hip-hop. They proved that rap could come from any street - not just a few.”

Yauch also went under the pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower when working as a filmmaker. He directed numerous videos for the group, as well as the 2006 concert film “Awesome: I F-----’ Shot That!” (shot entirely by fans given cameras) and the basketball documentary, “Gunnin’ for that (No.) 1 Spot.” In 2008, he co-founded the noted independent film distribution company Osciolloscope Laboratories, named after his New York studio.

Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen Wangdu, and his daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch.

Yauch’s illness, about which he first expressed hope that it was “very treatable,” forced the group to cancel shows and delayed the release of their last album, “Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.” He hadn’t performed in public since 2009.

But the enduring popularity of the Beastie Boys across some 28 years is one of the steadiest paths of success in pop music - a time remarkable for the constant, warm camaraderie between Yauch, Horovitz and Diamond.

“They are truly rock’s most realized group - not hip-hop but all music, really,” wrote Questlove, the drummer for the Roots, who toured with the Beastie Boys. “I mean, did we really expect the most thoughtful, mature, considerate act in music to be the same brats who gave us ‘Licensed To Ill’?”

-AP

‘Avengers’ scores No. 2 opening day with $80.5M LOS ANGELES: Lots of superheroes add up to lots of money for “The Avengers.”

The film featuring a team of Marvel Comics heroes pulled in $80.5 million in its domestic debut Friday, the second-best haul ever on opening day.

“The Avengers” trails only last year’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” which took in $91.1 million in its first day on the way to a record weekend of $169.2 million.

The huge opening for “The Avengers” launches what’s expected to be a colossal summer for Hollywood, whose domestic revenues already were running 14 percent ahead of last year’s going into the weekend.

Summer season began a year ago with the Marvel Comics adventure “Thor,” one of the solo superhero sagas that led to “The Avengers.” ‘’Thor” earned a respectable $65.7 million for the entire weekend, while “The Avengers” brought in far more than that in a single day. The superhero summer continues through July with two more blockbusters in the making: “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” Produced by Disney’s Marvel Studios unit, “The Avengers” already is more than halfway toward beating the opening weekends of the second and third films on the debut charts.

At No. 2 is “The Dark Knight” with $158.4 million in its first three days, while this spring’s blockbuster “The Hunger Games” is No. 3 with $152.5 million.

“The Avengers” opened a week earlier in many overseas markets, where it has pulled in blockbuster cash in a matter of days. The film added $30.3 million internationally Friday, bringing its overseas haul to $334.3 million. Adding in its first-day domestic receipts, “The Avengers” has climbed to a worldwide total of $414.8 million. -AP

18

ALWATAN DAILY

AROUND TOWN / TIME OUT

MONDAY, MAY 7, 2012

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

Feature o f

graffiti

the day

moderately confused

FAIPS organized educational trip to Paris

Sudoku

Elementary KUWAIT: The French Department of FAIPS organized an educational trip to Paris for French students from March 27 April 4, 2012. The trip was arranged with a view to showcase the French way of life and aspects of social behavior including language.

The students visited places of interest in Paris like la Concorde, l’Arc de Triomphe, l’avenue des ChampsElysees, etc.The Louvre museum was breathtaking with its collection of paintings and sculptures from different periods. They were thrilled to see the famous ‘Mona Lisa’. The visit to Versailles Palace and Fontaine Bleu castle gave them a glimpse of sublime architecture.

Month a t

Intermediate

Advanced

The highlights of the trip were the visit to the cheese factory where they were exposed to process of cheese making and its preservation with a chance to taste the King of Cheese “le brie”. A fun filled day spent at Disney Land and a trip to OTIS factory in Giens were both memorable and informative. Students got a chance to taste the delectable French cuisine and also hone their French language skills.

The students came away with a sense of wonder and amazement at the different facets of French life and culture- it inspired curiosity to learn more and appreciate other cultures.

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

a glance

Bread baking course April 19- May 10/ 6 p.m.-8 p.m. /TIES Center: TIES Ladies Club invites all ladies the unique course of preparing the ancient traditional food “The Bread Baking”. Baking of different kinds of breads will be demonstrated including Old English Toast, Italian Bread Stick, Strawberry Sweet Heart and many more.

For more information please contact us on 97228860/2523015/6 or emailinfo@tiescenter.net.

Aim high 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

Diwaniya presentation May 8/ 7 p.m. / The AWARE Center: AWARE Center cordially invites interested Western expatriates to its diwaniya presentation entitled, “E-Marketing: How to Make Money on the Internet,” By An Swinnen on Tuesday. An Swinnen is the Owner and Managing Director of BECS, a British training company that specializes in business skills and management training and train the trainer. BECS has been established in Kuwait and the Gulf for five years. For more information, call 25335260/80

Annual lecture May 9/ 7 p.m. / AWARE Center: As the 22nd anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait approaches, the AWARE Center cordially invites all interested western expatriates to its annual lecture entitled, “Kuwait before and after: a photographic document,” presented by Gustavo Ferrari - Journalist and photographer. For more information, call 25335260/80

May 10/ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m./ Jabriya: Toastmasters Club would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a showcase meeting which is a part of a membership campaign drive to be held on Thursday at the Jabriya Public Library. The goals of the membership drive are; to promote Aim High meetings, to attract new members and to encourage members to invite guests to the club. This is a great opportunity for members and guests to meet and network with a cross section of individuals in Kuwait with common interest of improving their communications and leadership skills.

For information please call: Khaled Al-Hashem - President at 65588824 or Rhea Usman - VP Membership at 90024115.

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

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

Fayre trade May 12/ 10 a.m. -4 p.m. / Sadu House: Welcome to the fayre! A great day out for all the family. Do your summer souvenir shopping in the wonderful surroundings of Sadu house. Games for the kids, raffle, free admission. Relax after shopping with a scone and a nice cup of tea in the Diwaniya coffee shop.

Art and photography, handicrafts and gifts, jewelry rugs and carpets, sadu weaving, frankincense and myrrh, books, fashion. Supporting 5 charities. For more info: Fayretradeq8@yahoo.com Facebook: Fayre Trade Kuwait.

Embassy of the Slovak Republic The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Kuwait would like to inform the public that on the occasion of the Liberation Day, the Embassy will be closed on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

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.

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.

Nancy

Horoscopes Aries: March 21 - April 19

Stimulation that you could receive today from group activities might open doors to a wealth of rich experiences, Aries. Your innate organizing talents may be called on. Discussions with others lead to a new understanding of social, spiritual, or political philosophies and expand your intellectual horizons. An increased ability to concentrate can lead to success. Go for it!

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Uncertainty about professional matters can lead to increased determination to get ahead, Taurus, despite confusion as to how to do it exactly. It might be wise to do some research, organize your information and use that to formulate a plan of action. Resulting advancement may be slow moving but sure and steady. A wealth of experience enriching your life follows.

Gemini: May 21- June 21

The opportunity to travel, perhaps with friends or a group you belong to, will come your way today, Gemini. Discussions with others will lead to a confirmation of practical arrangements. You will also seek to advance your education as your intellect is active now.Whatever new experiences come your way will lead to new opportunities.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22

An increased focus, clarity of mind, and sense of concentration could lead to success in career matters and increased income, Cancer. Intuition can provide practical guidance to help you advance. A male friend might give you some good advice with regard to savings plans, investments or a more efficient use of resources.

Make the most of the situation!

Leo: July 23 - August 22

Invitations to attend social events, perhaps business related, could bring surprising results, Leo.You might meet more than one person who share some of your interests and you could become friends. An opportunity to travel abroad or to a distant state might open up for you. This could prove to be a most exciting and stimulating day. Make the most of the situation!

Virgo: August 23 - September 22

While you may not have been feeling quite your usual self over the past day or two, Virgo, today you’re likely to be feeling mentally and physically stronger and more focused. You’ll discuss new ideas for future projects, either personal or business, and formulate plans of action. Your financial future could be on your mind.

Libra: September 23 - October 22

A date with a significant other could bring up discussions about plans for the future, Libra. Talk could run the gamut of all your concerns, from the practical to the artistic to business to philosophical matters. The overall impact of this might be that it brings the two of you closer together. You’ll decide to partner some kind of creative project and will meet with success.

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21

A number of visitors could come to your home today, Scorpio, and a number of fascinating subjects could come up in the course of your conversation.

Some interesting ideas will come directly or indirectly from these discussions. You might want to put them to use formulating plans of action. Professional, financial and spiritual opportunities could also open up for you.

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

Some short trips in your neighborhood and contact with some neighbors or visitors in your community could bring some interesting information your way.

It will get you thinking about ways to improve your socioeconomic status and probably your professional standing.

Spiritual and philosophical discussions could also take place.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

A talent for interior decoration that you may or may not have been aware of could inspire you to do some work on your home. You’ll probably consider a lot of different options and make long lists of possibilities, Capricorn. Discussions with friends and family members can bring new ideas to mind. Take a chance and try something little different. Go for it and have fun.

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

Spiritual and intellectual matters may be very much on your mind, Aquarius. A lot of ideas could have come your way, although until now they may not have been very focused. Today, however, your mind should be clear enough to write down thoughts and read the works of others in order to gain more insight. A short trip out of town could also arise. Enjoy your day.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20

Although your mind may have been a bit clouded over the past few days, today the fog will clear and you’ll feel more focused. Money matters might need some attention, Pisces, and you’re in just the right space to dig in and take care of them. This is a great day for spiritual studies or meditation.

ALWATAN DAILY

SPORTS

monDAY, may 7, 2012

19

Basketball

Paul, Griffin lead Clippers 87-86 over Griz Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (right) dunks during the second half of Game 3 in their firstround NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP)

LOS ANGELES: If the Los Angeles Clippers hadn’t been so inept at the free throw line, Rudy Gay’s last-second shot wouldn’t have mattered.

Chris Paul had 24 points and 11 assists and high-flying Blake Griffin added 17 points for the Clippers, who beat the Memphis Grizzlies 87-86 Saturday only after Gay missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

“That’s the way we planned it,” Paul joked. “They aren’t going to give us anything. They’re never out of the game with an electrifying scorer like Rudy Gay.” The Clippers won their first home playoff game in six seasons to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference playoffs. Game 4 is Monday night.

The long-suffering Clippers fans, who turned Staples Center into a sea of red, very easily could have gone home disappointed.

Paul hit a fade-away jumper with 2:02 left for an 82-80 lead. On the next possession he had a no-look bounce pass to Griffin coming in off the baseline for a monster slam.

Trailing 86-80 after two free throws

by Paul, Gay hit a 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds left, Memphis’ first field goal since 7:10. After Los Angeles missed three of four free throws, Gay hit another 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds to hush the

crowd. Eric Bledsoe missed two more free throws, Gilbert Arenas rebounded for Memphis to set up Gay’s final shot.

Gay, who had 24 points, got some room to shoot, and quickly let go. But it the shot bounced off the rim.

“At the end of the game I wanted to make a quick play,” Gay said.

Memphis had another big advantage at the free throw line, like it did in winning Game 2, but couldn’t capitalize. The Grizzlies made 30 of 39 while the Clippers were just 13 of 30.

Paul did his part at the line, making, seven of eight. But Griffin missed six of nine while Reggie Evans missed six of eight.

Memphis had seemingly taken the crowd out of the game in the third quarter, when it outscored the Clippers 25-14 to take a 71-64 lead. The Clippers’ lull extended into the fourth quarter. Marc Gasol made a field goal with 7:10 left for a 77-71 lead, but that was Memphis’ last basket until the first of Gay’s two 3-pointers in the closing seconds.

Said Gay: “We missed a couple plays we wish we had back. We had a couple letdowns.”

The Clippers, who rallied from 27 down to win the opener on Sunday night at Memphis, started this comeback with just more than four minutes to go.

Evans made a strong inside move against Marreese Speights to rebound Bledsoe’s missed free throw and score to pull LA to 79-77 with 4:08 left. Randy Foye then hit a huge 3-point shot from the left side with 3:13 left to tie it at 80 before Paul and Griffin took over.

Forward Caron Butler started for the Clippers, wearing a splint on his broken left, or non-shooting, hand. He was hurt in Game 1, and missed the next game. He scored four points.

The Clippers used an 18-1 run spanning the first and second quarter to take a 36-23 lead, but the Grizzlies turned around and dropped a 13-0 run on Los Angeles to tie it.

Griffin put an exclamation point on the first half when he stole the inbounds pass from Speights and swooped in for a dunk at the buzzer to give the Clippers a 50-46 lead.

It was the first home playoff game as Clippers for Paul and Griffin.

“I won’t forget my first playoff in this building,” Paul said. “The energy in the crowd and seeing fans celebrating motivate us. The crowd won the game for us,” said Griffin. Zach Randolph scored 17 for Memphis while Gasol had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Quincy Pondexter had 11 points.

Foye had 16 for LA -AP

Track and field

Tennis

Bolt speeds to year’s fastest 100 meters

Federer fresh for clay swing after much-needed break

Usain Bolt (center) of Jamaica sprints to win the men’s 100 meters event at the Jamaica International Invitational track and field meet in Kingston, May 5, 2012.

(Reuters)

KINGSTON: Jamaican Olympic champion Usain Bolt held his nerve after two false starts by competitors and powered to the year’s fastest 100 meters at the Jamaica International Invitational on Saturday.

The 100 and 200 world record holder clocked a dazzling 9.82 seconds in his first individual race of 2012, exploding from the blocks to take control at 40 meters.

“It’s a good start, I would say,” said Bolt, who erased the previous season-leading time of 9.90 by his training partner and world champion Yohan Blake three weeks ago. “I feel better than last year, so I’m definitely happy with myself,” Bolt added.

“I don’t think my execution was perfect, but I think for my first race it was good.” Michael Frater, a member of Jamaica’s world record 4x100 relay team, finished a distant second in exactly 10 seconds. Bolt was disqualified from last year’s 100 final at the world championships because of a false start, but was not perturbed by the delays.

“A couple of false starts will throw you off, but I stayed focused and went out there and executed as best as possible, so I’m just happy with myself,” he said.

Although pleased with the last 50 meters of the race, the lanky sprinter, who owns world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100 and 19.19 in the 200, said he must continue to work on the first phase of the shorter race.

“I always try to work on my first 40 meters because the last 40 meters is always the best part of my race,” he said.

“So over the season as I get more fit and

get more fluent it will definitely get better.” Blake also added a season-leading performance, one of four in the meeting.

The world 100 champion clocked 19.91 seconds in the 200.

“Bolt erased my world lead in the 100 so I thought I would set a world lead in the 200,” the Jamaican said.

Top performances of the year also came in the women’s 100 and 400.

World champion Carmelita Jeter took the shorter race in 10.81 seconds, finishing ahead of Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago, who ran 10.86. Jamaican Olympic silver medalist Kerron Stewart was third in 10.98. “I feel good with that win,” Jeter said. “I know there’s some things I didn’t do right and I’m sure my coach is going to get on me, but it’s a long season. “Right now I just have to stay healthy, to stay humble, stay focused, I can’t get ahead of myself, I can’t get bigheaded because you never know who is going to show up.”

Jamaican Novelene Williams-Mills, the 2007 world bronze medalist, held off US world indoor champion Sanya Richards-Ross in the last 50 to win the women’s 400 in 49.99 seconds.

Richards-Ross, who had the previous world leader of 50.18, took second in 50.11. Jamaican Brigitte Foster Hilton, the 2009 world champion who struggled in 2011, appeared to have regained her form in the 100 hurdles, winning in 12.51 seconds. The time was just 0.02 behind the world leading performance of 12.49 by current world champion Sally Pearson of Australia. -Reuters

MADRID: In fine fettle after a monthlong rest, Roger Federer is ready to get his clay season underway and continue his bid to recapture the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic. The 30year-old Swiss maestro has not played since losing to Andy Roddick at the Sony Ericsson Open at the end of March. He said he needed some time away from tennis to recharge his batteries and rid himself of one or two niggling injuries.

Federer has played some of his best tennis in years in winning three titles this year, including the Indian Wells Masters event, but knows that challenging Rafa Nadal on the Spaniard’s favored clay and stealing his French Open crown in Paris starting at the end of this month will be a tall order. “I feel good about my chances of playing well in the next few months,” the world number three told a news conference at the Madrid Open on Sunday.

“But then again I am coming back on clay and Rafa has been so dominant on this surface for so many years so I know the task ahead of me,” added the 16-times grand slam singles champion.

Federer said he had needed time out after an intense start to the year when he played 23 matches and lost just three, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open before falling to Nadal. He won events in Rotterdam and Dubai to add to his success in Indian Wells. He also had a busy end to 2011, triumphing at the World Tour finals in London in November after victories at the Paris Masters and his home event in Basel.

The rest was vital, said Federer If Federer can leapfrog number two Nadal and topple Djokovic he would equal Pete Sampras’s record of 286 weeks at the top of the rankings and the Swiss said he was in a “pretty good position” to do it over the coming months.

“All of a sudden if you do win a grand slam again you have a shot and if I do I’ll probably be extremely close to world number one,” he said. Federer, who has a bye into the second round, begins his Madrid Open campaign on Wednesday against the winner of the first-round match between fast-rising Canadian Milos Raonic and former world number three David Nalbandian of Argentina. -Reuters

Thunder rally to complete first-round sweep of Mavs DALLAS: Down by 13 points with less than 10 minutes remaining, youthful Oklahoma City could have easily have been content knowing they could go home for a Game 5 still needing to win only one more game.

The Thunder, with their 20-something All-Star duo Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, are instead going home to wait and see who they will play next.

And it was their other emerging star who led the way.

James Harden scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, including nine in a 12-0 run, and the Thunder rallied for a 103-97 victory Saturday night to complete a first-round series sweep of the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas led 86-73 after Jason Terry hit a 3-pointer with 9:44 left before the Harden-fueled surge over 3 minutes when the only other score was a 3-poitner by Durant.

Oklahoma City finally took the lead, and kept it, after Westbrook stole the ball from Dirk Nowitzki and passed to Serge Ibaka for a two-handed slam that made it 92-91 with 5:17 left.

Durant had 11 rebounds, while Westbrook and Fisher had 12 points each.

Oklahoma City plays the winner of the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver. The Lakers lead that first-round series 2-1 going into Game 4 on Sunday night in Denver.

It was the first four-game postseason sweep for the Oklahoma City franchise since 1996, when they were still the Seattle SuperSonics and swept the Houston Rockets in the second round.

Dallas is the second defending champion in five years to be swept in the first round. Miami lost in four games to Chicago in 2007, after beating the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals.

Dallas had never been swept in a best-of-seven series. And the Mavericks hadn’t lost four playoff games in a row since 2006 against the Heat.

But now they are the oldest team in the NBA, and vastly changed from last year’s championship squad.

Even when Harden bobbled the ball after Oklahoma City took the lead for good, Fisher ended up with it and drove for a layup to make it 96-91.

Fisher, a late-season addition to the young Thunder,

won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nowitzki then had a shot that hit the rim a couple of times before falling out, among several near misses for him down the stretch.

Oklahoma City finished off the Mavs without starting center Kendrick Perkins, who left the game with 4:09 left in the first quarter with a right hip strain. He had two rebounds, two assists and missed his only shot in his 8 minutes.

Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ 39-year-old point guard, had 16 points and eight assists. Jason Terry had 11 points in what might have also been his last game in Dallas.

After Terry’s 3-pointer, Harden scored seven in a row - on a three-point play and two other baskets.

Durant then made a 3-pointer. After Nowitzki was short on a 14-footer, Harden drove for a powerful two-handed slam that got the Thunder within 86-85.

The Mavs had looked like they were ready after halftime to at least force the series back to Oklahoma City, where they opened the series with two losses by a combined four points before losing by 16 at home in Game 3.

The game was tied at halftime before Nowitzki had 12 points and Kidd made three 3-pointers in the third quarter, when the Mavs scored 34 points to take an 81-68 lead.

Nowitzki drove around Ibaka for a tiebreaking one-handed reverse layup less than a minute into the second half, and the lead was up to 64-54 when Shawn Marion had a slam.

Carlisle had talked about the Mavericks controlling their emotions after his outburst in the first quarter of Game 3. He had to be held back by an assistant coach when he charged onto the court and was pointing and screaming at an official because of what he said were three missed calls on one possession, ending with Oklahoma City scoring on what appeared to be basket interference.

Before the end of the first quarter Saturday night, Carlisle was mad again - and for good reason.

Kidd had bad pass that went out of bounds, but officials missed that the ball was deflected in the air by Harden. Replays showed clearly that Carlisle had a gripe and that the loud boos were warranted.

Fisher then made a 22-foot jumper. -AP

Formula one

Championship remains unpredictable, says Hamilton

McLaren Formula One driver Oliver Turvey of Britain drives during an official F1 test session at the Mugello race track in central Italy May 3, 2012. (Reuters)

LONDON: A week before the start of the European section of the Formula One world championship, Lewis Hamilton believes this year’s scrap for glory next weekend, in Spain, and beyond is virtually impossible to forecast. The 27-year-old Briton, who has finished third three times this season for McLaren and lies second in the embryonic drivers’’ title race, said the tussle to win the Spanish Grand Prix is wide open.

Refreshed after a two-week break following the Bahrain Grand Prix, the 2008 world champion will go into next Sunday’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya seeking his first win of the year to overhaul defending double champion Sebastian Vettel.

German Vettel leapt to the top of the early-season standings with his first triumph of the season for Red Bull in Bahrain. “It is all so hard to read,” said Hamilton. “It is so difficult to predict who will be at the front because of the form this year.

“We did well in winter testing at Barcelona and that was good for us, but Red Bull won last year’s race.

We had a great race in Spain last time and I pushed Sebastian all the way to the finish. On top of that, I feel we have a comparatively strong car this year so I am hoping we will have another strong race.” Hamilton and his McLaren team-mate and fellow-Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, will fly to Barcelona confident that they have a package to set the pace after a strong start to the year. But he knows that any repeat of the failings the team has shown recently with their pitstops, or a technical problem like the imperfect choice of gear ratios last year in Spain, could leave him struggling. As often, Hamilton indicated that he believes he

will be fast enough in qualifying, but could struggle for race performance - and pointed at a need for good overtaking to take advantage of strong car potential.

“It’ll be interesting to see how straightforward overtaking will be this year. It’s always been a tough place for passing - as I found out last year - but I really hope that our DRS (Drag Reduction System) and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) combined will make it a little easier,” he explained. “I think it’s going to be one of the toughest tracks of the year for overtaking, but I’ll be hoping for a strong performance in qualifying in order to make it as straightforward as possible in the race.” While most of the top teams and drivers were in Mugello, Italy, this week for an official in-season test session, Hamilton and Button were rested - giving test drivers Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey a chance to do their work - ahead of next week’s key race, the fifth of this year’s 20-race season. McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said he believed the Spanish race would give a good indication of the relative strengths of the teams and their prospects. He said: “Barcelona should give all the teams a clearer understanding of how the tires behave in what’s likely to be a ‘’typical’’ European race climate, but there will still be plenty to learn.” Like most close observers, he will expect a resurgence from Ferrari in Spain where two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso will be bidding to rediscover his best form in front of his home fans - and to prove that the Italian team have what it takes to mount a title challenge this year. “You can never right them off,” said Hamilton. “It is going to be very tight all the way this year.” -AFP

monDAY, may 7, 2012

SPORTS

Sports Editors Highlight LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr. used his speed and accuracy to win a unanimous decisionSaturday night over a game Miguel Cotto in one of his toughest fights ever.

Mayweather dominated late, rocking Cotto in the 12th round to pull out a win and remain unbeaten in 43 fights. But it wasn’t easy, with Mayweather getting his nose bloodied and Cotto fighting until the final bell.

Mayweather won Cotto’s 154-pound title in the fight, which two judges scored 117111 and the third 118-110.

The decision was roundly booed by the crowd at the MGM Grand arena, which cheered wildly every time Cotto landed a punch. -AP

Football

Toure double leaves City on brink of title glory NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Manchester City are on the verge of winning the Premier League title for the first time in 44 years after Yaya Toure’s brilliant double clinched a crucial 2-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday.

Ivory Coast midfielder Toure struck twice in the second half at St James Park to move Premier League leaders City three points clear of secondplaced Manchester United, who face Swansea at Old Trafford later on Sunday.

Roberto Mancini’s men now know that they will be champions for the first time since 1968 if they win their remaining game at home to Queens Park Rangers next Sunday, unless United can somehow bridge City’s plus-10 advantage over their local rivals in the goal difference column.

By coincidence, City’s 1968 title triumph was confirmed by a 4-3 victory at Newcastle and the reaction of their supporters on the final whistle suggested they have already anointed Mancini’s team as the new champions.

Toure’s goals also had significance for Newcastle, who began this game with an eye on a place in next season’s Champions League in the wake of Arsenal’s failure to beat Norwich. Now, facing an awkward final game at Everton, Alan Pardew’s team may have to be content with a place in the Europa League.

City certainly warranted their success, but they were far from fluent as Newcastle frustrated them for long periods and looked equipped to emerge with a point until Toure’s crucial contributions.

With so much at stake for both teams, it was

never likely to be a classic encounter, but it was a passionate, highly-charged affair after a slow start.

That early caution was swept away, though, by the mobility and attacking instincts of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri.

All contributed to a ten-minute spell when City could have taken the lead on three occasions, starting with Silva’s angled shot that was saved by Tim Krul in the 11th minute.

The Dutch goalkeeper was equally alert when he dealt with Aguero’s effort six minutes later before he was rescued by Mike Williamson after the striker beat him to Vincent Kompany’s through ball. Newcastle finally threatened when Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa combined to create an opening which Ba drove over the bar from 25 yards.

Then, with 34 minutes gone, Newcastle carved out their best opportunity of the opening half after Jonas Gutierrez seized on a rare mistake by Pablo Zabaleta.

Tevez steered a shot straight at Krul in the 55th minute, but Newcastle were otherwise untroubled, prompting action by Mancini, who withdrew Nasri and Tevez.

And, only seconds after the departure of Tevez in the 70th minute, Mancini’s team were ahead when Toure steered his shot inside the post from nearly 25 yards following neat approach play from City.

Toure was deprived of a second goal when he slipped after going clear in the 75th minute, but he grabbed the clincher with a close-range strike in the 89th minute after good work by Gael Clichy. -AFP

France coach Blanc says Ben Arfa back in contention

FRANCE: France coach Laurent Blanc told television station TF1 on Sunday that Newcastle United’s Hatem Ben Arfa has played himself back into contention for a place in his squad at Euro 2012. Ben Arfa, 25, won the last of his eight caps in August 2010 before suffering a badly broken leg playing for the English side.However, he has since returned to full fitness and has been outstanding in Newcastle’s charge for Champions League qualification. Blanc will name an initial list of foreignbased players selected for the squad on May 9, before announcing the domestic candidates on May 15. A final list of 23 players will then be named by the UEFA deadline of May 29. Another player trying to work his way back into Blanc’s thoughts is Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.

He has had a wretched time with injuries this season, starting just seven league games, but Blanc admits a lack of alternatives in the final third of the field means the door is still open for Gourcuff.

“His season has been chaotic,” Blanc said of

the 25-year-old, who played under him at Bordeaux. He has a chance of going to the Euros because we realize that we don’t have many certainties in the attacking domain, so that still leaves him with a little opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Blanc has admitted that he could be tempted by a return to coaching at club level abroad when his contract with France expires after the European Championship.

“It is possible that I will sign with a foreign club if I am approached, and if the challenge interests me but I am not forgetting that my priority is the Euros,” said Blanc, who would be happy to remain in his current position but will only be offered an extension by the French Football Federation if Les Bleus perform well in Poland and Ukraine.

“I still want to remain as France coach, that is clear. It doesn’t matter (that no new deal has been signed) but we need to make sure that the situation does not fester and poison the atmosphere in the squad.” -AFP

Udinese on Champions League brink after win ROME: Udinese took charge of the race for a Champions League finish as they beat Genoa 2-0 on Sunday and closest rivals Napoli fell by the same score line at Bologna.The two sides were level on points coming into the match but this result means Udinese will guarantee third spot if they avoid defeat away to Catania next weekend.

Lazio are still in the race after their 2-0 win at Atalanta while Inter Milan could also stick with it if they win their city derby later on Sunday night. But the big losers were Napoli who were disjointed in a poor performance at Bologna. Alessandro Diamanti exploited a massive hole in their defense to clip the opener past Morgan De Sanctis on 17 minutes. And Napoli conceded a second on the counter-attack after going hell for leather early in the second half, with Matteo Rubin firing home off the underside of the bar. Napoli had come into the match in third place with the better head-to-head record than Udinese but now they must hope for several results to go their way if they are to snatch third spot. Udinese’s task was made much the easier by Genoa having two players sent off in the first half. Juraj Kucka was dismissed for a second yellow card in giving away the free-kick from which Antonio Di Natale fired the hosts in front. And when Rodrigo Palacio was shown a straight red later in the half, Genoa’’s task appeared hopeless.

Udinese labored to break down their now ultra-de-

Giovanni Pasquale of Udinese Calcio competes for the ball with Giandomenico Mesto of Genoa CFC during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Genoa CFC, May 6, 2012.

(AFP)

fensive opponents while they had a goal ruled out for a foul when Michele Pazienza had found the net. But the second came when Antonio Floro Flores got on the end of Dusan Basta’s cross at the back post to find the top corner. Genoa’s defeat means they are still not safe from relegation despite Lecce’s 1-0 home defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday. Genoa need a point from their final game of the season to survive. Lazio moved up to fourth and are two points behind Udinese after Liubor Kozak’s deflected shot and Lorik Cana’s last gasp strike gave them victory in Bergamo. They have the toughest final match of the season, though, as they host Inter knowing that they must win and hope Udinese lose to take third spot.

Parma’s revival under former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni continued with a 2-0 victory at Siena on Sunday.

The result kept Parma in with an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Europa League, although to do so they would still require a collapse from either Inter Milan or Lazio. Diminutive forward Sebastian Giovinco scored the opener with a stunning volley from distance while Sergio Floccari added the second in injury time.

Parma were deep in relegation trouble and hovering just above the drop zone when Donadoni took over in January. But this success was their sixth in a row and has propelled them from relegation candidates to a possible, although unlikely, place in Europe next season. -AFP

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure (2nd left) scores his second goal as Newcastle United’s Jonas Gutierrez tries to block his shot during their English Premier League soccer match, May 6, 2012. (Reuters)

Old guard are picture perfect in Chelsea renaissance LONDON: If a picture is worth a thousand words then the sight of Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry standing side by side to lift the FA Cup on Saturday neatly encapsulated the story of a season in which the old guard have confounded their critics to revitalise the club.

The three Chelsea players, who were first up the Wembley steps to collect the trophy following their 2-1 win over Liverpool, represented part of the club that many had written off at the start of the campaign as part of a successful past rather than the future.

Saturday’s win, in which Terry, 31, gave an inspired performance as skipper, Lampard, 33, shone in the midfield battle with Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Drogba, 34, netted with a clinical secondhalf strike, was a startling role reversal from earlier in the season.

Then Chelsea’s senior players were frequently sidelined under former manager Andre Villas-Boas, who is only 34 himself. Lampard and Drogba were the principal victims of the Portuguese’s unsuccessful efforts to breathe new life into the club but that changed following his departure in March when the managerial reins were handed to former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo.

Under the Italian, both have played a major role in a remarkable renaissance that could yet deliver the coveted and elusive Champions League trophy in two weeks’ time.

The Ivorian striker, in particular, has rediscovered his menacing physicality and form and the FA Cup was delivered thanks in large part to his left-footed finish that opened up a two-goal advantage, following Ramires’s early opener.

Chelsea’s coach Roberto Di Matteo (2nd left) is carried by players after their FA Cup final soccer match against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London, May 5, 2012. (Reuters)

Drogba, whose recent displays have included crucial FA Cup and Champions League semi-final goals against Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona, entered the FA Cup record books as the first player to score in four finals.

After a season-long jostle with 50million-pound ($80.79-million) newcomer Fernando Torres for the right to lead the Chelsea line, he is now a certainty to start the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on May 19.

Such has been Di Matteo’s impact since assuming control, that the players hoisted him into the air in an impromptu celebration following Saturday’s triumph.

The Italian, who won the FA Cup with

Chelsea in 1997 and 2000 as a player, has been credited with restoring the team’s confidence and repairing their fractured spirit.

While his arrival was unheralded and he follows in the shadow of more illustrious names such as Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, he is now one match away from taking Chelsea to the pinnacle of the European game.

The impressive turnaround in the club’s fortunes would appear to have improved his chances of getting the position on a permanent basis but, such is owner Roman Abramovich’s reputation for wanting only A-list managers, that even victory in Munich would not guarantee him the job. -Reuters

Hilal Al-Quds wins 2nd annual Kuwait Creativity Youth Football Tournament KUWAIT: The Jerusalem hailed Hilal Club participated in a two day Creativity Youth Tournament at Salmyia club under the patronage of the General Manager of Public Youth & Sport Mr. Faisal AlJazzaf.

In an electrifying atmosphere, and with the participation of 21 additional Kuwaiti Clubs and Academies, the team from Palestine was able to win all six matches including a semifinal that was decided on penalties against Kuwait Club, to carry the trophy back to Jerusalem as a reminder of their achievement.

The players were thrilled and honored to represent their team and country in this tournament, and showcase to all the hidden talent in a country living under occupation. For all ten kids, this was their first experience out of Palestine, and the aim was for them to see how the future can be bright and rewarding with some hard work and commitment.

Hilal Al-Quds were also entertained by the Premier Goal Academy, sponsored

by Porsche centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, on Saturday morning, where they played a series of matches,

Hilal Club pose with their trophy after winning a two day Kuwait Creativity Youth Tournament at the Salmiya club.

then were presented with individual Everton Playing Strips to take back with them as souvenirs. In addition, friendly matches against Yarmouk and Kuwait clubs were organized to complete an eventful five day journey.

Special thanks to Mr. Ahmed

Medeath Creativity Festival organizer, Naser Dakak Hilal Al Quds trip Coordinator & Holiday Inn Salmyia for hosting the team during their stay in Kuwait The official sponsor of Hilal Al Quds club visit to Kuwait is Gulf Cable & Electrical Industry Co. -Agencies