soccer
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THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com emergency number 112
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013 / RABEE’A AL-AWWAL 30, 1434 AH
NO. 14960
52 PAGES
150 FILS
US tax rules sour life for American expats Some surrender citizenship GENEVA, Feb 10, (AFP): Scott Schmith is a patriot and a US military veteran but he is no longer a US citizen: Sick of complex tax rules making his life in Switzerland miserable he recently handed back his passport. “It was a pretty big decision and there was a bit of anxiety,” said the 50-year-old photographer who served in the 1990-91 Gulf war and has been living in Switzerland since 1993. But once he received his Swiss passport and handed back his US one last September, “it was like a load of weight off my shoulders.” Schmith is one of a growing number of American expats who are opting to give up their citizenship rather than deal with the increasing difficulties imposed on them by US tax authorities, observers say. John, a 60-year-old business strategy specialist who asked that his last name not be used, told AFP he had decided to give up his US passport after losing sleep for years over the intricate tax filing requirements Washington places on all US citizens, regardless of where they live in the world and where they make their money. When the United States recently began pushing through regulations aimed at fighting offshore tax evasion, the implications for him — a “squeakyclean” law-abiding citizen — became too overwhelming, he said. The Arab Times, continues “I just got more and more its weekly series “Insight” anxious about my ability to which appears every Monday protect myself and my family and takes a close look at from the administrative overKuwait’s society, politics, scihead of the US government,” ence and technology. In said John, who has been based today’s article, Amr Hafiz in Switzerland since 2002. (above), a certified MMA Six European countries, Conditioning Coach and including Switzerland, have owner of Warlions Academy in recently agreed to comply with Salmiya, discusses how some innocent parts of the body can the 2010 US Foreign Account turn into deadly weapons Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), when applied in the right way. requiring banks to report all
insight
— Page 12
Newswatch MANAMA: Bahrain’s key political players began a new round of talks on Sunday to try to resolve the kingdom’s two-year crisis, after opposition groups made a lastminute decision to join a national dialogue. Participants gathered at a tourist resort south of Manama, where the first session of the dialogue — which will convene three times a week — were being held behind closed doors, an AFP correspondent said. Taking part were 27 government representatives, including three ministers, eight members of the opposition, and members of progovernment Sunni political groups. “We will decide today if we will continue to take part in the dialogue based on the response to the nine points,” on which the opposition is seeking clarification from the government, said opposition representative Munira Fakhro. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑ CAIRO:
Egypt’s ruling Muslim Brotherhood has nominated one of its senior leaders for the influential position of grand mufti, the nation’s top cleric, defying critics who accuse the Islamist group of seeking to dominate all institutions. Islamic scholars chaired by the head of the ancient seat of learning, Al-Azhar, are due to pick a new mufti on Monday
Continued on Page 10
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THE British Government is making important changes to the passport service for British nationals living overseas. From Feb 11, 2013, the application process will be centralised and British nationals in the State of Kuwait should submit their passport application to IPS in the UK. This important change follows reviews by the National Audit Office and is designed to achieve Continued on Page 10
Hearing today on Musallam Al-Barrak
Appeals court bails 3 former MPs By Nihal Sharaf Arab times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Feb, 10: Three opposition ex-MPs were released on Sunday by the Court of Appeals on a KD 5000 bail each after they appealed a verdict that convicted them of making statements deemed
offensive to HH the Amir. The court ordered the release of Falah Al-Sawagh, Khaled Al-Tahous and Bader Al-Dahoum pending a decision on the case and set the next hearing for March 10 to question the concerned officer on the events of the seminar where the alleged offensive statements were made.
Amidst heavy security presence, the Court of Appeals reviewed the case of the former lawmakers who were convicted on Feb 5 of the state security offense and sentenced to three years in prison. The ruling was unprecedented in the history of Kuwait. Continued on Page 10
Proposal sticks state, protector with repatriation, deportation bill MP files to grill minister By Abubakar A. Ibrahim and Nihal Sharaf Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: MP Askar Al-Anazi has presented a proposal on requiring the State or individuals who protect absconding domestic workers to
shoulder the cost for deporting the laborers to their home countries, instead of the workers’ sponsors. In his proposal, Al-Askar also suggested that in case the workers die, the State should bear the cost for the repatriation of the body and relieve the sponsors of such responsibilities. He pointed out
most Kuwaiti families, including those with limited income, hire maids or drivers to help them in their daily tasks and this becomes a heavier financial burden once the household laborers escape to work for another sponsor or in case of death. On the other hand, MP Abdullah AlTameemi has asked the government to strictly apply the law on workers unions
and syndicates that call for civil strife, because they exploit the unions to protect the welfare of their political and sectarian affiliations at the expense of the country’s higher interest. Al-Tameemi strongly condemned unions which call for civil strife and threaten to ‘paralyze’ the government work “due to their political affiliations which aim to Continued on Page 10
Continued on Page 10
Gulf force kicks off ‘war games’ KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10, (AFP): Joint Gulf force the Peninsula Shield began a 17day exercise in Kuwait on Sunday as officials said the war games were not related to unrest in the region. “The exercise was prescheduled and agreed for years. It is unrelated to any regional or political events,” the head of Kuwaiti army public relations, Brigadier Abdulaziz Al-Rayes, was cited as saying by the KUNA news agency. It aims at “activating the concept of joint defence... and implementing the unified defence strategy of the Gulf Cooperation Council states,” he said. The main part of the exercise will take place in the Kuwaiti desert, but naval and air forces will also feature in the manoeuvres slated to end on Feb 26, coinciding with Kuwait’s national day celebrations.
Details General Rayes did not give details of troop numbers taking part, but did say the exercise would include units from Kuwait’s national guard and the interior ministry. Kuwait marks its 51st independence from Britain on Feb 25 and the 22nd anniversary of liberation from seven months of Iraqi occupation on Feb 26 in which units from the Peninsula Shield took part. The Peninsula Shield force was formed by the six GCC member states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — in 1982 as a 5,000strong force but has since expanded to more than 30,000 troops. Two years ago, Peninsula Shield troops were deployed in Sunni-ruled Bahrain to help the Continued on Page 10
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Change to British passport services
A person crosses a snow-covered street on Feb 9, in New York City. A powerful winter storm knocked out power to an estimated 650,000 and dumped more than two feet of snow on parts of the northeast. (AFP) — See Page 14
Tehran rejects Western pressure DUBAI, Feb 10, (RTRS): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday Tehran would not negotiate about its disputed nuclear programme under pressure, but would talk to its adversaries if they stopped “pointing the gun”. In a speech to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, he struck a more conciliatory tone than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who on Feb 7 rebuffed a US call for direct negotiations
between the two countries. Ahmadinejad does not have the authority to authorise talks over the nuclear programme, which lies with Khamenei. Iran has already agreed to a new round of talks with world powers, but not direct US talks, in Kazakhstan on Feb 26. “You cannot point a gun at the Iranian nation and then expect them to have negotiations with you,” Ahmadinejad told a crowd gathered in the capital Tehran’s
Azadi (Freedom) Square. His speech was carried live on state television. “Talks should not be used as a lever to impose one’s opinions ... If you stop pointing the gun at the Iranian nation, I will negotiate (with you) myself,” he added. The United States and some of its allies suspect Iran may be trying to develop atomic weapons capability under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy programme, a
charge Iran has denied. Many experts believe any nuclear deal needs a US-Iranian thaw and direct talks addressing myriad sources of mutual mistrust and hostility lingering since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. Tehran wants sanctions lifted that have slashed oil exports and helped cut the value Continued on Page 10
‘Only material losses’ +28.74 pts at closing, Feb 8
Mall fire leaves no injuries
+35.51 pts at closing, Feb 8
By Joana Saba
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Arab Times Staff
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NYMEX crude $95.80 pb Brent crude $118.85 pb 3-month $ LIBOR rate 0.29%
Photos by Mesha’al Al Oklah
Left: Police and fire service vehicles parked in front of The Avenues Mall where a sportswear shop caught fire Sunday. Right: The parking lot at The Avenues.
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Police sources reported a fire breaking out in The Avenues Mall in Al-Rai on Sunday evening, with no confirmed human casualties resulting. The fire broke out at 5:00 pm in The Avenues Mall on Sunday as a result of a cable catching fire in a sportswear store. No deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, stated the Continued on Page 10
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Call to allow private sector help address ‘joblessness’ Govt must protect young Kuwaitis: experts By Najeh Bilal Special to the Arab Times
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Several academicians and politicians have stressed the need to allow the private sector to play an active role in addressing the unemployment problem of the country, especially among the youths.
Top & above: some photos from the meeting.
Direct flights to Kuwait-Mangalore sector eyed
UAKK meets chairman of Jet Airways KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: A delegation from United Associations of Karnataka, Kuwait (UAKK), a forum of several associations of Karnataka and North Kerala in Kuwait met Jaleel Khaled, General Manager of Jet Airways for Kuwait, Abudhabi and Al-Ain region in their Sharq office and submitted a memorandum on Jan 7, addressed to Naresh Goel - Chairman of Jet Airways requesting him to consider Jet Airways direct flights to Kuwait / Mangalore Sector or Kuwait / Mangalore / Bangalore Sector as soon as possible as most of the Coastal Karnataka NRIs and the NRIs from northern parts of Kerala in Kuwait prefer to travel in Jet Airways flights which will help them to fulfill their travelling/vacation commitments in time. The delegation included Hasan Yusuf and prominent Coastal Karnataka NRIs Satishchandra Shetty, Archie Menezes, Ramesh Kidiyoor, Stephen Machado, Fayaz Shaikh and James Paul. The memorandum was jointly signed by the heads of following 12 Karnataka state associations operating in Kuwait for community development projects: Karnataka Muslim Welfare Association (KMWA), Kuwait; Tulukoota Kuwait (TKK); Kuwait
Canara Welfare Association, Kuwait (KCWA); Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), Karnataka Wing; Kuwait Kannada Koota (KKK); Kasaragod Expats Association (KEA); Bantara Sangha Kuwait (BSK); Shirva Welfare Association, Kuwait (SWAK); Kundapur Varado Welfare Association, Kuwait (KVWA); St Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA), Kuwait; Kuwait Pangala Association (KPA); Agnesian Alumnae Kuwait (AAK). Copies of the memorandum have been Submitted to the Senior Management authorities of Jet Airways i.e. Nikos Kardassis - CEO, Sudheer Raghavan COO, Gaurang Shetty - Senior VP (Commercial) and Shakir Kantawala Regional Manager, Gulf, Middle East and North Africa and the Manager - Jet Airways, Mangalore. Memorandum has also been copied to prominent dignitaries HE Satish C. Mehta, Ambassador of India, Kuwait, Dr (Shree) M. Veerappa Moily, Union Cabinet Minister, Shree Jayaprakash Hegde - MP, Lok Sabha, Nalin Kumar Kateel - MP, Lok Sabha and to J.T. Radhakrishna - Airport Director, Mangalore. Jaleel Khaled advised that he will per-
sonally talk to the Jet Airways Senior Management regarding this request from UAKK Coastal Karnataka NRIs in Kuwait. UAKK has been formed to accelerate joint strategies for some common goals of Karnataka state NRIs in Kuwait. Earlier, during the month of January, UAKK heads of associations and prominent NRIs of Coastal Karnataka had discussed about the possibility of Jet Airways direct flights to Kuwait / Mangalore Sector or Kuwait / Mangalore / Bangalore Sector in a meeting held on Jan 12, 2013 at Indian Community Senior GirlsSchool in Salmiya. S.M. Basheer, Senior Official from KKMA did welcome address. Open discussion was held regarding the hurdles of our passengers in present scenario and was decided to contact with Jet Airways Management requesting them to consider direct flights to Kuwait / Mangalore sector. Heads of the Associations elected Hasan Yusuf as Chief Coordinator and prominent NRIs Satishchandra Shetty, S.M. Basheer, Archie Menezes, Ramesh Kidiyoor, Stephen Machado and Salam Kalandad as Coordinators. Vote of thanks was done by Steven Machado, President of KCWA - Kuwait.
In a recent interview, the academicians and politicians said the government should protect the young Kuwaitis employed in private companies, so they remain in the private sector and encourage others to do the same. They cited lack of job security as one of the factors discouraging Kuwaiti youths to seek employment in the sector. They believe the private sector will play a crucial role in solving the unemployment problem once the job security issue is addressed. Former Cabinet member Yahya Al-Sumait argued the State should support the private sector so it can accommodate graduates with various fields of specialization. He claimed the sector’s lack of participation in generating jobs for the nationals has resulted in ‘voluntary unemployment’ in public institutions, in which some departments have extra employees. He said the nationals prefer to work in the government sector due
KUNA photo
Sheikh Ali-Jarrah (left), with the Omani minister.
Amir’s envoy delivers letter to Sultan Qabous His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s envoy Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah forwarded a letter on Sunday from HH the Amir to the Omani Sultan Qabous Bin Said.
to lack of accountability in terms of official working hours, let alone the benefits and allowances given to civil servants. Educational expert and columnist Khaula AlAteeqi attributed the unemployment problem to the fact that the educational system does not match the actual manpower needs of the local labor market. She added if the education system corresponds with the need of the labor market, it will be easy for the youths to find jobs in private companies. College of Education Lecturer in Kuwait
The letter deals with bilateral relations and ways to boost them in various fields, in addition to recent regional and international developments. The letter was received by Omani Minister of Diwan of Royal Court Khalid bin Hilal Al-Busaidi. (KUNA)
University Dr Mohammad Al-Muhaini said the people of Kuwait in the old times, prior to the discovery of oil, valued their work and the entire community looked down on anyone who were not committed to their jobs. He pointed out Kuwaitis used to travel to far countries to do business, but in this age, after the blessings which came with the discovery of oil, they prefer to work in the government due to the benefits a civil worker gets, compared to their counterparts in the private sector. He also blamed
some private companies for their termination policies as the lack of job security discourages the nationals from working in the private sector. Former Secretary of Public Labor Union Abdulrahman Al-Ghanim asked the State to protect the rights of nationals working in the private sector, especially since the Constitution guarantees the citizens’ right to gainful employment. He said the Private Sector Labor Law has not helped in solving the unemployment crisis; hence, the need to review it.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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GCC cooperation will boost stability, security: Speaker Al-Rashed meets Sheikh Khalifa in Bahrain MANAMA, Feb 10, (KUNA): Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed stressed Sunday here importance of coordinating joint efforts among legislatures of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), so as to contribute to achieving security and stability of the region and come out with appropriate solutions to address challenges.
His Highness deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AL-Sabah received at Sief Palace on Sunday His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (top). HH the Deputy Amir also received acting Speaker of the National Assembly Mubarak Al-Khrenej. HH the Deputy Amir received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-
Hamad Al-Sabah. He also reived Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem AlHumoud Al-Sabah (below). He also received Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammed AlAbdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. Then, HH received Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Khalid Al-Saleh and Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf. (KUNA)
Al-Rashed’s statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) came after his meeting with Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Chairman of the House of Representatives Khalifa Al-Thahrani and Chairman of the Shura Council Ali Al-Saleh. ‘Fruitful’ Al-Rashed, who is, along with the delegation accompanying him, in a three-day visit to the Kingdom, said today’s meetings addressed many issues of common concern, describing his meeting with Al-Thahrani as “fruitful.” For his part, Speaker Al-Thahrani emphasized, in statements to KUNA, on the need to coordinate GCC efforts in order to achieve the unity project, explaining that the GCC countries needed more cooperation on all levels. Meanwhile, Chairman Al-Saleh said the Kuwaiti delegation’s visit comes amidst a difficult situation, both on political and security levels, witnessed by the region, calling in this regard for further coordination among GCC states. The next leg of the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation will be Saudi Arabia.
KUNA photo
The Kuwaiti delegation headed by Speaker Al-Rashed with Bahrain Amir and other dignitaries.
MoH to establish clinic at center
Shelter for domestic workers almost ready KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has completed the permanent shelter for domestic workers and it is now getting ready to serve workers who have problems with their employers, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources. Sources explained the center will be launched officially upon completion of procedures for the transfer of a clinic affiliated to the
Ministry of Health. Sources disclosed this clinic will be tasked to look after the health of the workers throughout their stay at the center. In another development, the daily has quoted Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Al-Rasheedi as saying that the incessant threats to grill ministers will not stop them from accomplishing their tasks. In a recent press statement, Al-
Rasheedi appealed to the MPs to refrain from using grilling as a tool to settle personal scores, hoping the parliamentary inquests are objective. It can be recalled that some lawmakers have threatened to grill Al-Rasheedi on the appointment and promotion of her relatives, claiming this is a grave violation of the equal opportunity policy.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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‘Kuwait govt attaches great importance to role of youth’ Youth Convention 2013 kicks off KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10, (KUNA): On behalf of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, Kuwaiti Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of Public Works Eng. Abdulaziz Abdullatif Al-Ibrahim opened the Youth Convention at the Courtyard Marriot here on Sunday.
KUNA photo
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij (right), with Dr Al-Ajmi and El-Dhab’a.
KUNA chief receives academics Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij AlIbrahim Al-Sabah received in his office media figure and lecturer at Kuwait University (KU) Dr Muhammad Muneif AlAjmi, who was accompanied by member of the board for Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities and Secretary of Faculty of
Arts in University of Sohaj Dr Abdulraouf El-Dhab’a. The Egyptian academic presented Sheikh Mubarak with a copy of his book on Kuwaiti political history and the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. Sheikh Al-Duaij lauded Dr El-Dhab’a for his outstanding effort in compiling the book, affirming that documenting historical events was vital in preserving the Arab world heritage.
Some lawmakers to meet Amir
Meeting to tackle MoD terminations KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Some lawmakers will meet HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah this week to deliberate on the termination of GCC and Bedoun military personnel from the Ministry of Defense, reports Al-Rai daily quoting MP Khaled Al-Shulaimi. Al-Shulaimi stressed the decision will be catastrophic for the concerned personnel, especially those who have obtained loans. He said it is improper to terminate the services of these people under the pretext of implementing the Kuwaitization policy in the military; considering they defended the Kuwaiti territories when Saddam Hussein invaded the country in the early 1990s and during the Liberation War. Affirming the lawmakers are optimistic about the outcome of the meeting, AlShulaimi stressed they believe the political leader-
Bid to protect consumers
Food testing lab needed: union KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: President of the Union of Cooperative Societies Federation Abdulaziz Al-Samhan reiterated the need to provide the union with a food testing laboratory to help protect the health of consumers, reports Al-Qabas daily. Al-Samhan added he had been repeatedly calling on the concerned authorities to provide the union with a lab but all his efforts have been in vain. He blamed the ministries of Health, Municipality and Social Affairs and Labor for not responding to his demand. He pointed out the union has no facility to inspect meat and the rest of the food commodities. He also stressed the country generally suffers from lack of a sophisticated mechanism to test the food. Al-Samhan said it is unbelievable that a country has only one laboratory at the Ministry of Health to examine the food. He added, lack of good screening facility has helped companies supply meat unfit for human consumption. ship will understand their demand to rescind the decision because it affects a
large number of personnel; hence, it will demoralize the Kuwaiti staff.
The event is being organized by the Young Engineers/Future Leaders (YS/FL) — the Standing Committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), under auspices of HH the Amir. Addressing the opening session, the minister said: “The State of Kuwait attaches great importance to the role of the youth and cares constantly for the engineering professions in all sectors.” “The Kuwaiti government has recently adopted a range of executive measures to put into play the role of the youth in development including the inception of a youth ministry and the opening of youth dialogue under supervision of the Amiri Diwan,” he pointed out. Al-Ibrahim urged for concerted efforts to create a promising young generation who could contribute to the country’s prosperity and welfare. Confidence He voiced confidence that the issues to be raised by speakers at the gathering will be fully debated by researchers and academics and turned into viable programs of action. Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah AlSalem Al-Sabah said the environment protection is one of the main challenges facing young engineers. “Another challenge is the cyber-attacks launched by hackers against some countries,” Sheikh Dr. Mohammad, the key speaker at the event, said in statements to KUNA on the sidelines. “The population growth in the southern part of the world, in contrast to the decline in the northern part, poses another challenge to the developing world,” he noted. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad added that the population of Europe is expected to decline from 733 million people at present to 690 million in the coming four decades. Meanwhile, Chairman of Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) Hosam Al-Kharafi voiced hope that the conferees will reach recommendations that could translate into reality the role of the youth in the development of their communities. “The newly-graduated engineers usually suffer from insufficient job opportunities, so the conference has to discuss how to employ the young engineer in voluntary organizations,” he said in an address to the gathering. The agenda of the conference includes a host of topics such as soft skills development; development of project management and finance; promotion of entrepreneurial and marketing skills; development of young engineers’ responsibility towards society; how to make science, engineering and technology education attractive to young people; how to avoid drop outs from science, engineering and technology studies; and how to promote of university/industry partnerships. The three-day event, organized in collaboration with KSE and Kuwait University, gathered a large number of engineers from the Gulf region and beyond.
legal clinic PRO BONO LEGAL ADVICE
Visa ban Has the ban on Pakistani visas been lifted in Kuwait? How long will it take for the applications to be accepted? Will the applicants get an immediate answer on the submission of the applications?
Name withheld Answer: Yes, the ban has been lifted - but so far only for dependent visas and although people think the ban has been set aside for only the government sector, applications are being accepted from all the sectors. Also this lifting of the ban is only for the immediate family — wife and children — with the maximum age for the male children set at 15 years and 18 years for the female children. While all the applications are being accepted , the authority to grant these visas rests with the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior, who may or may not delegate this authority to the heads of the Immigration Departments in the various governorates. So the acceptance of these applications could take some time - one to two weeks if these applications are quickly processed so you will not get an answer on the acceptance or rejection of the application on submission of the documents. Please remember all the applications will also go through a security check before these are sent back to the Immigration Department.
Dependent visa I am a 39-year-old man suffering from a terminal disease (cancer)and I was recently terminated from my job as I am unable to attend work regularly due to the ongoing treatment. Currently, it is not possible for me to find another suitable job but I was told (by someone) that in such cases the wife can sponsor the husband. My wife’s salary is KD 780, so is it possible for her to sponsor me. If so, I have a son who is on my residence currently. What will happen to his residence? Also in the future when, God willing , I recover will it be possible for me to switch back to visa no 18?
Name withheld Answer: Yes, it is possible for the wife to sponsor you for the duration of the treatment. The Immigration Department takes a very sympathetic view of such cases. You must apply to the head of the Immigration Department in your area and in case he rejects your application, you can go to the Director-General of Immigration of Kuwait. While there is nothing in the law on this issue, expatriates have been allowed such sponsorship for lesser problems. The issue of your child’s sponsorship is a much smaller problem and when you present your case, the Immigration Department will allow your wife to also sponsor your son. And lastly, you should have no problems in transferring back to Article 18 once you get well. Our prayers are with you.
Rent We are a group of 8 tenants of a building facing difficulties due to a regular increase in the rent by the building owner. First, he increased the rent by KD 20 before the expiry of our 5-year contract and then last year, when the contract expired, he increased rent by another KD 20 KD without giving us a new contract paper. For one full year we paid him KD 220 and got a receipt for KD 240 and from the beginning of this new year he has actually started charging KD 240 and he is still issuing the same KD 240 receipts but he has not given us the new contract papers. Upon repeated requests for the contract, he keeps telling us that the receipts are the contract documents. It is anticipated that he wants to increase the rent to KD 270 suddenly and we as tenants are helpless without the contract papers. Most of us are the salaried- class expatriates who do not want to run into legal complications due to lack of knowledge of local laws and shortage of time. Is there any help we can look forward to ? Who should we approach to obtain our contract papers and assurance that after having raised the rent by KD 40 in last two years there will be no further increase for next five years.
Name withheld Answer: You will be the losers legally if the landlord decides on another increase and you don’t have the rental contract. All you have is an old contract which shows your rent as KD 240 with the receipts just confirming the same. This means your rent has been KD240 for the last five years which legally entitles the landlord to raise the rent by as much as 100 per cent and you will not be able to do anything about it, if you don’t act now. So, if the landlord refuses to give you the new contract, you should immediately go to the Rental Court in your area and file a complaint. In this way the court will order the landlord to issue the contracts so that he can’t raise the rent again for the next five years. It is a very simple procedure and you won’t face any problems.
officials said they will only give it if he goes back to the country of origin. What do you think he should do?”
Name withheld Answer: The company is just creating hurdles for nothing and your friend should just hire a lawyer who can file a case on his behalf in court. The lawyers charges for such cases are minimal and as passports are personal documents and the companies are not allowed to retain them the court - most likely in the first hearing - will order the company to return your passport, failing which they can face legal action. In all such cases, the courts always decide in favor of the passport owners.
Salary calculations I am working in a private sector firm. Fridays and Saturdays are my weekly holidays. My salary is KD. 520/ per month and I have 40 days pending annual leave. I intend to travel out of Kuwait on Friday, 15/02/2013, but will apply for my vacation from Sunday, 17/02/2013 to Thursday, 28/02/2013, and will only report for duty Sunday, 03/03/201 as Friday and Saturday are weekly holidays. Kindly let me know what amount the company must pay me (monthly salary / leave salary) and how many days must be deducted from my annual leave. The company is calculating as follows: Salary per day KD 20/- (520/26 days) Monthly salary 1-16 (less Fridays) 13 days x 20/ = KD 260.000 Leave salary 17-21/23-24/27-28 9 days x 20/ = KD180.000 Paid holidays 25 and 26 Feb. 2 days x 20/ = KD 40.000 Total KD 480.000 Is the company correct in their calculations? Company FC, Accountant and Lawyer all say the calculation is as per new Kuwait Labor Law.
Name withheld Answer: Some part of it is correct and some part not. In fact the company is paying you KD 40 more than you are entitled. The calculations for the monthly salary are correct and so are that of the leave salary but you should not be paid for the national holidays, unless you are in the country, or these come at the end or start of your leave. It is enough that you are getting two days extra as these days are not counted in your leave. So you should not get the KD 40 and the total you should be paid is KD 440.
Indemnity I have already accumulated 18 months indemnity, which is the maximum allowed by Kuwait’s Labor Law. But I am planning to continue working for the next five years so I need your advice on the following: Will my indemnity be calculated on the salary that I am earning now, on the accumulation of the 18 months indemnity or will the salary which I will probably have five years from now be used to calculate the indemnity?
Name withheld Answer: The Labor Law is very clear on the subject. It says that the last salary of your employment will be used for the calculation of the indemnity. So it doesn’t matter what you are earning now, it is the last salary that you draw that is important. So don’t worry about the issue. If the company tries to base the calculations on any other figure you can always approach the Labor Office in your area.
Property/losses I booked some property in India through the developer’s agent in Kuwait. As per agreement I am entitled to a five per cent discount if I pay all the installments in time. A cheque was handed to the developer’s local agent in Kuwait well in time to be delivered to the developer in India but due to the negligence of the agent it was delivered late to the developer. Now I have been told that I am not entitled to the five per cent discount. What should I do? Can I sue the developer’s local agent in Kuwait to recover my losses?
Name withheld Answer: Please remember that any company which operates in Kuwait comes under this country’s laws and in this case the company’s agents and through them the developer in India. It seems that the company is trying to cheat you out of your five per cent discount. It was your responsibility to deliver the cheque in time to the agent within the stipulated time , which you did. And it was the responsibility of the agent to intimate to the developer that the cheque had been received and also deliver it to India in time. This is something the agent and the developer should settle between themselves and not transfer the losses to you. So you can sue both the agent and the company in Kuwait and also in India. You can also file a complaint with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry so that the developer, through his agent, does not have a license to operate in Kuwait.
Work permit I am an engineer with a UAE employment visa, and working in an engineering company in Kuwait for the past 1.3 years. I want to quit and in case my company does not accept my resignation and cancels my UAE visa, will it be possible for me to get a Kuwait work visa, even though the UAE visa is active? Or do I have to cancel my UAE visa properly and then only I can get the Kuwait work visa. Please suggest a solution.
Father’s dues I am from Mumbai (India) and I would like to have some advice on the following: My dad worked in Kuwait, in the Defence Ministry, from 01-09-1991 to Jan 20, 2013 because on Jan 21, 2013 my father died of a heart attack in Kuwait and our relatives passed on the information to his office. I would like to know what is the procedure to get his dues indemnity and any other money due to him.
Name withheld
Name withheld
Answer: You are legally a UAE resident residing in Kuwait but there is nothing in the law which says you can’t apply for a Kuwait work permit without cancelling the UAE residence. So just apply for the work permit although you will be required to complete all the medical and other formalities like a “new expatriate” to the country if your application is accepted, this involves leaving the country, getting all the formalities required to be done out of the country before returning to the country on the new document.
Answer: First of all, you must get someone in Kuwait to handle the issue for you — preferably a relative who can follow up the case. Your family must send him a power of attorney which he must get attested from your embassy in Kuwait. In the meantime, you must get a letter from a court which clearly shows who are your father’s heirs to receive the money and then another affidavit from all the heirs giving one of you the right to receive your father’s dues. These papers have to be presented to your dad’s office which will then start processing the papers and also direct the person with the power of attorney how to get the whole thing finalized. The money will then be sent to the person designated to receive it. There are a few other ways to go about this issue but this is the easiest and one which will produce results the quickest.
Passport/release I was reading your column in Arab Times and I thought of approaching you and asking the following question: I have a friend who was an engineer with a contracting company in Kuwait. He worked in this company for 6 long years, until eventually he found another company but had to do the same nature of work as the old one. The old company was giving him a hard time in providing a release so he decided to file a case with the Labor Department .He won the case but the company now is refusing to give him his passport. The company
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The Arab Times invites questions on all aspects of Kuwaiti law. If you face a problem, or need specific advice on any legal matter, from commercial and investment law to divorce and labour, send questions to the Managing Editor, Arab Times, P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait, or Fax to 24818267. E-mail: arabtimes@arabtimesonline.com
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ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Tougher penalties on bad food sellers: Municipality ‘Accelerate process of amending existing law’ KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10, (KUNA): Kuwait Municipality demanded passage of a law toughening penalties on spoiled food dealers who repeat the offense, with no procedure taken in this regard so far, Director General of Kuwait Mun-icipality Ahmad Al-Subeih said on Sunday. He told KUNA the current National Assembly has the duty to toughen penalties for such offenses, and called on both parliament and specialized authorities to accelerate the process of amending the existing law. KUNA photo
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Sunday former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco and the General Secretary of Assilah Form Foundation Mohammed Bin Essa. Later, Sheikh Sabah received outgoing Greece Ambassador to Kuwait Constantin Drakakis on the occasion of ending his tenure. He praised efforts of the Ambassador in strengthening ties between the two countries. (KUNA)
News in Brief Certificates to be reviewed: The Ministry of Higher Education will soon review files of graduates from foreign universities since 2000 to ensure their certificates have been accredited, reports Al-Nahar daily quoting sources. Sources said the ministry will refer files of students to the judiciary in case of forgery. Sources also unveiled a plan to form a committee which will be tasked to scrutinize the certificates obtained from foreign universities, starting from 2000 till date, to ascertain their validity. Sources clarified the ministry took this step in view of allegations that many certificates from foreign universities have been forged. ❑ ❑ ❑ ‘Open officials files’: Many Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ staff have expressed concern over rumors which say some officials seek leading positions in the ministry, affirming those officials have committed many administrative and financial violations in their current posts, reports Al-
Jarida daily. The daily quoted reliable sources as imploring the sector minister Sharida Al-Moasherji to open the file of these officials who aim to nominate themselves as assistant undersecretaries before the matter is tabled for discussion with the Council of Ministers, taking into account the legal and administrative conditions implemented before the appointment of individuals as assistant undersecretaries in all ministries. ❑ ❑ ❑
Amnesty for prisoners eyed: The Minister of Justice and Minister of Awkaf and Islamic Affairs Sharida AlMoasherji will chair a joint meeting of senior leaders in both ministries, reports Al-Qabas daily The meeting will discuss issues common to both ministries. An official source said one of the main points on the agenda is the possibility of re-applying the Amiri amnesty (which was recently suspended) for prisoners who memorize the Holy Quran.
Al-Subeih added that current penalties do not match the weight of damage and risk caused by the public consuming goods that had gone bad. He pointed out that it is only a few hundreds of dinars in fines, compared to hundreds of thousands earned through such corrupt deals. The municipality opposes putting the health and lives of citizens at risk, he said, considering this a ‘red line’. He said there is ongoing consideration of several proposals on amending articles related to food points of sale put on the table four months ago proposed by the Municipal Council. There is constant cooperation between the food import department and the six governorates across the country to organize inspection tours, and cooperative societies are also covered by the inspections. “The Municipality with its various departments is seeking to fully implement all regulations without exceptions.” In addition to the municipality’s supervising role, it also takes precautionary procedures by taking samples for analysis from imported food items and keeping goods from being sold till tests show they are fit for human consumption. Factors that cause foods to go bad and be classified as unfit for sale include improper storage at state of origin, expiration date, and the ingredients showing presence of coloring or substances banned either by world health bodies or by Islamic Shariaah, the official noted.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
LOCAL
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Before time shut down DIWANIYA at govt depts in focus
a digest of public opinion
Opposition drowning fast in political quicksand
Complaints against securitymen rise KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The number of complaints filed against securitymen from the General Supervision and Inspection Administration increased by 20 percent last year compared to the same period in 2011, reports AlQabas daily quoting informed security sources. The sources added disciplinary
fines were issued against 65 securitymen from different military ranks after they were found guilty by investigators. The sources pointed out 15 of them were imprisoned for varying periods for abusing their authority most of whom were traffic policemen and detectives. The sources added some complaints are still under investigation. This is in addition to a number of complaints which were shelved due to lack of evidence. The sources added more than 1,250
officers — low rankers and civilian employees — were absent from work during 2012 and about 50 of them had left their workplaces without acceptable reasons. The sources said Administration will organize inspection tours at the immigration and traffic departments this week since several complaints about the stoppage of work at 1:00 pm have been filed by several people. The working hours are until 2:30 pm. The sources said violators will be punished by deducting their salaries or other penalties will be imposed on them.
ICM ray of hope in darkness “THE opposition due to its mistaken calculations continues to commit mistakes one after the other,” columnist, former Minister of Education and former Minister of Higher Education and the Incumbent MP Ahmed Al-Melaifi wrote for Annahar daily Sunday. “But the problem for members of this opposition rests in the fact that they have not learned the lesson, or rather some people in the country don’t want to see them learning the lesson. “In this context, we would like to project some of the wrongdoings that have been committed by members of the opposition. Take for example the storming of the National Assembly headquarters, rejection of the verdicts issued by the Constitutional Court, boycotting the last parliamentary elections, offending the Amiri ego and so on, but the outcome was more mistakes, more damage done to the nation and aggravation and divisions in their ranks. “Speaking of the recent verdict that has been issued by the court over the case of offending HH the Amiri ego, some people believe this development constitutes an opportunity for recharging the atmospheres towards more Al-Melaifi escalation and more confrontation with the concerned authorities to enable those who are convicted by the court to benefit from the prospective anarchy that is likely to surface as a result of such escalation and confrontation and this means the problem for these people has been transformed into something personal, not public. “However, the proverb which says ‘I’m already drowning so why should I fear getting wet’ is applicable to some members of the opposition, particularly the former MP Musallam AlBarrak. Such being the case, I am not surprised by the tone of his language recently and his call to confront the security men. “Al-Barrak said his problem is with the judicial verdicts that are likely to be delivered against him in cases which have been filed against him accusing him of storming the National Assembly building and offending the Amiri ego. “In other words, he wants to transform the lawsuits which have been filed against him personally into a public issue. “It is obvious, there are two wings within the opposition — the first led by Musallam Al-Barrak supported by Mohammad Al-Jassem and Ahmad Al-Deyain in addition to a group of supporters with some of them (may be non-Kuwaitis) since they are involved in using the social networking sites such as Twitter, Youtube and WhatsApp in a bid to create an atmosphere to serve their direction and this is intellectual terrorism against those who are at loggerheads with them. “Not just that, this wing has some other supporters who play the role of fans in terms of cheering and promoting and repeating the slogans and the phrases used by Musallam Al-Barrak in his speeches. “While members of the second wing seem to be more rational and wiser and these are mostly striving to serve the public interest, but not to demolish the ‘temple’ and eventually killing the people inside. This wing is led by former MP Mohammad Hayef and some other members who are striving only to deter corruption in the framework of the existing laws. “Speaking of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), this movement actually represents a significant balance in terms of succeeding any of the two wings in question. But, I hope this movement has learnt the lesson and also realizes that its previous attempts to take over the political power motivated by mistaken calculations were totally wrong. “In the meantime, we hope this movement realizes that its activities should not be confined to politics, rather cover various communal aspects otherwise it will be the major loser if it is determined to go ahead in supporting those who will imminently get drown, but they will have nothing to lose neither now nor in the future.”
Also: “Many people are wondering what is Kuwait’s next destination? However, the answer to this question is obvious and show the political crisis currently facing the country is too deep and shall conduce to severe consequences and will have a negative effect against the country,” columnist and former MP Riyadh Al-Adsani wrote for Al-Qabas daily Sunday. “The country at the moment suffers due to a weak National Assembly and legislations which are racist and sectarian in nature. Not just that, this Assembly concentrates on toughening the penalties to curtail the freedom of expression and this was evident by the blanket media law to such an extent we at the moment prefer to revive the previous law not to enhance the margin of freedoms.
“Speaking of the government, I agree with HH the Prime Minister that the people of Kuwait respect the achievements, but the question is: Where are these achievements? “In this context, we would like to point out that the country during the past quarter century has seen the construction of only the Al-Tahreer (Liberation) Tower and the ‘suspended’ Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium. “Besides, the concerned authorities have given their consent for the citizens to build tents in front of their homes and the appointment of relatives of ministers and MPs in government institutions. Hence, we wonder, if these are the achievements which you want us to respect. “However, the government accomplishments abroad are represented by developing Jordan and evolving the health and educational services in Amman, settling the debts issue of Iraq, boosting the electricity sector of Sudan and improving the roads network in Yemen. “But unfortunately Kuwait has been ignored by our government. Hence, we call on our government to presume that Kuwait is a foreign country and work for the sake of its development and evolution. “Speaking of the application of the laws on all without discrimination, yes we definitely support this idea, but the government deals with some issues with one eye. “In other words, the government summons its components for investigation and closes an eye to the behavior of the pro-government people if these supporters face the same charge of the opponents and is something dangerous and reflects a double standard policy in terms of application of the law particularly when dealing with political issues.” ❑ ❑ ❑ “Whoever thinks that the countries in the Gulf can fully embrace the international system in details is mistaken. These countries can neither embrace facilities and quick deviation towards values of the state, political open-mindedness and human rights. At the same time, we look forward to maintain the system of political and social structure, which is deemed strict, Dr Ghanim Al-Najar wrote for Al-Jarida daily. “Now that most of the inner contradictions of every country has started to emerge as ‘calm disaster’, these contradictions are sometimes dealt with aggressively. However, it is not possible anymore to overlook international variation pressures without letting go of certain principles if the issue isn’t seriously dealt with. That’s why the fall of former Tunisian dictator Ben Ali came as a surprise and happened quickly, even though his regime was considered the most oppressive in the Arab world. “Due to lack of balance between political variation and open-mindedness, with regard to the international system, his regime couldn’t manage to fight the storm of change-even as some international factions considered the regime as a model for the rest of the Arab world. “On the other hand, the Gulf countries are completely different from one another but they have agreed on somewhat embracing each other in various aspects, in relation to the international system. Subsequent to the Cold War, the international system embraced open-mindedness in almost every aspect. Gradually, we will continue to complicate our political schizophrenic personality that equally dominates the public and private situation of our countries if this kind of embrace is not taken seriously.’’ ❑ ❑ ❑ “The National Assembly and the government are bidding over bedoun. The government wants to naturalize 2000 bedoun, while the National Assembly has put the figure at 4000. In the end, the government will agree to 4,000, however, that doesn’t mean the issue has been solved,” columnist Jaffar Rajab wrote for Al-Rai daily. “Most people might be thinking that the bedoun issue will be solved by the Parliament agreeing to naturalize 4,000 bedoun every year before the government tries to undermine the process by erecting obstacles of all kinds and long deliberations. “Once the law is endorsed, it will be kept in a safe place where no one can reach it, just like the law that stipulated the naturalization of 2,000 bedoun every year, something that no MP has tried to query the government about the seriousness to implement that law. “Assuming the law will be passed, what mechanism will be followed with regard to naturalizing the bedoun who deserve citizenship? What will the government do with those who do not deserve it? “Hundreds of questions are there to be asked, but no one would want to seek answers. In fact, the issue will continue to get more complicated to a point where everyone in authority will blame the other, and the story will go on and on and on....’’ ❑ ❑ ❑ “Personally, I have reservations over categorizing some political groups under the opposition because they have no courage to recognize the
mistakes in their narratives; unless they envisage themselves as perfect,” Dr Khalid Ayed Al-Jenfawi wrote for Al-Seyassah daily. “An opposition who sees things with one eye always regards local events in a way which contradicts the reality. This kind of opposition will never succeed. It cannot contribute to the social and economic development of the country. It does not admit mistakes and lacks the ability to present a realistic vision. It obstructs efforts to unite people and achieve social development goals. “An opposition group is supposed to be democratic with the capacity to present projects which meet the needs of the people; without forgetting the most important task – to maintain peace and national unity. Unfortunately, we don’t have this kind of opposition in Kuwait. We have no opposition that puts the welfare of the country above personal interests.” ❑ ❑ ❑ “Since October last year, the Human Rights Watch Organization has been leveling accusations against Kuwait for prosecuting about 25 people – people who were accused of transgressing the essence of HH the Amir,” columnist Basel Al-Jasser wrote for Al-Anba daily “The head of Human Rights Watch in Middle East Nadeem Huri asked the Kuwaiti authority to change its law number 31/1970, which prohibits transgression of the essence of the Amir, and also, he demanded that Kuwait’s Court of Appeals to overturn the imprisonment verdict on six people who were found guilty of infringement of that law. These directives come on behalf of the nullified 2012 National Assembly who have taken their grievances to the Human Rights Watch. “We do respect the Human Rights Watch and they should respect Kuwait’s. Those complaining about the 40-year-old law, most of them were in the Parliament; why didn’t Nadeem Huri ask them how come they didn’t change it during their tenure. “With regard to imprisonment Nadeem Huri based his directives on one side, what about the majority of Kuwaitis some of who have been judged based on that law and none have tried to condemn it? “It is clear that Nadeem Huri has lost track of his duties by becoming emotionally involved, rather than dealing with the facts. The lack of decorum and principles of mature speech is unbecoming of Nadeem, therefore, the Human Rights Watch should look for another representative who will uphold the noble goals of the organization.’’ ❑ ❑ ❑ “It’s been seven years since HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber was selected as Crown Prince for Kuwait after the entire Kuwaiti nation agreed to let him be the right hand of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Dr Essam Abdullatif Al-Fuleij wrote for AlWatan Arabic daily. “Throughout the years, Sheikh Nawaf is known to be generous and pays less attention to social status. He opens his door to all people and always shares their happy and sad moments, while encouraging and supporting many people to bring out their creativity, particularly the youth. “He is known for his cheerful smile, which shows the depth of his love for Kuwait and its people. We all know the current phase the country is passing through is a matter of transition, and we shall overcome, because there are many of us with big and kind hearts and definitely, all our problems will be resolved soon. “This was quoted by a well-known Arab scholar who has said the path leading to the truth is not one that is covered by feet, but the one covered by heart”. ❑ ❑ ❑ “I read three judgments concerning lawsuits filed by the State Security, which interpreted the meaning of the three crimes as contained in Article 25 of the law number 31/1970,” columnist Mohammad Abdul-Qader AlJassem wrote for Al-Kuwaitiah daily. “The crimes were about defaming the personality of the Amir, usurping rights and prerogatives of the Amir, as well as insulting the position of the Amir. “The court concluded that the defendants actually committed the three crimes. During examination of the judgments, I realized that the court repeatedly understood the content of the Article 25 erroneously, because it was about three crimes rather than one. Each of the crimes has concrete angle different from the other. “Therefore, the court, if it wanted to convict the defendants, was supposed to have used statements that would form a concrete angle for each of the crimes instead of summary ruling that the defendants were guilty of the three crimes. “In my personal opinion, the verdict in the case was null and void for convicting the defendants without separating angles for each of the allegations.”
— Compiled by Zaki Taleb
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
LOCAL
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Biker moving at 304 kph nabbed
Woman in custody for attempted suicide By Mishal Sanousi Special to the Arab Times
KFSD photo
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: A Pakistani woman who tried to set herself ablaze was arrested and detained by police for attempted suicide. Earlier, the woman had called the Operations Room of Interior Ministry and told securitymen she was going to end her life due to domestic issues. Then police rushed to the apartment and asked her to open the door, which she declined, so firemen were asked to
break the door open. To their surprise, the woman had soaked her clothes in fuel and was ready to set herself on fire with a lighter. She was arrested and taken to the area police station for investigation. During interrogation, officers uncovered she had some domestic problems. A case has since been registered and necessary action will be taken against her family. Meanwhile, in another similar incident, a Kuwaiti citizen was surprised when he entered his kitchen in Qurain
area and found his Asian housemaid unconscious on the floor, with pesticide beside her. He notified the Operations Room about the incident and a team of securitymen with paramedics rushed to the scene. The woman was referred to a hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. During interrogation, the sponsor said he brought the maid from a domestic recruitment agency two weeks earlier. A case was registered. ❑ ❑ ❑ Biker nabbed: Traffic men from
Hawalli Governorate initiated a campaign on the Arabian Gulf Street recently using radar and caught a motor biker who was driving 304 kilometers/hour. Two other motorists were arrested for driving beyond the speed limit. The motorbike and vehicles were impounded and towed to the ministry garages. The General Traffic Department confirmed the campaign will continue over an indeterminate period and required motorists to follow the traffic regulations and speed limit to avoid accidents.
The General Fire Department in Ahmadi recently conducted a fire drill for Mangaf and Fahaheel fire stations to enhance the skills of firefighters, test their ability to deal with fire incidents within a short period, and study ways to handle various emergency situations. Deputy Director of Fire Control and Human Resource Development Department Brigadier Khalid Al-Mikrad and Ahmadi General Fire Department Director Colonel Talal Al-Sarraf supervised the drill.
Corruption rampant in ministry Kerosene drinkers faint at camp as top official found involved Kuwaiti caught drunk
By Munaif Nayef
Caught drunk: A Kuwaiti citizen was appre-
Special to the Arab Times
hended by Hawalli Rescue Men in Salmiya area for consuming liquor. A bottle of imported gin was found in his possession. A security source said the officers were on routine patrol in the area when they came across a German-made vehicle and stopped the driver to check his details. They smelt liquor from his breath while questioning him, so went ahead to conduct a search inside his car and a bottle of gin was found. He was referred to the concerned authority for necessary action.
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Two children below two years old became unconscious at a camp in Mitla’a area after drinking a quantity of kerosene. Acting on information a team of rescue men rushed to the scene and referred them to Jahra Hospital for treatment. A case was registered. ❑
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News in Brief Minor girl missing: A 3-year-old girl identified as Zainab disappeared while she was playing in front of their family house in Area 10 three days ago. The family has since tried in vain to find the child in other relatives’ house. Father of the girl told Al-Seyassah the child was playing near the door of their home three days ago before she disappeared, and he notified security forces right away after all efforts to find her proved futile. He also said securitymen haven’t been able to trail the child and he fears that somebody may have kidnapped her. Missing girl Many users of the social networking sites are helping to find the girl by publishing her picture at various sites, and anyone with information about her is kindly requested to contact 97987779. ❑ ❑ ❑ Man dies of burns: An unidentified person who allegedly set fire to himself inside the Salmiya Police Station 10 days ago has succumbed to his injuries inside a hospital, reports Al-Rai daily. A security source said the deceased had a criminal past and was wanted by law in connection with several felons. ❑ ❑ ❑
Iranian stabbed: Police have taken into custody an unidentified Iranian man for stabbing his compatriot during a fight inside a garage, reports Al-Shahed daily. According to security sources police and paramedics acting on information rushed to the spot and referred the injured man to the Sabah Hospital.
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Cars broken into: Seven different people filed complaints with securitymen in Taima area and reported their vehicles have been raided by unknown persons. They added the thieves stole several items from their vehicles. Following the reports, Criminal Evidences Men lifted fingerprints from all crime scenes and registered a case for investigation. ❑ ❑ ❑
Duo selling drugs: Police have arrested two unidentified Egyptians for selling drugs on behalf of an inmate of the Central Prison, reports Al-Shahed daily. Initially the men were handed over to the police by three Kuwaitis. The Kuwaitis were on their way home after paying visit to the Diwaniya of their friend. They saw the suspects fiddling under a fiber glass boat which was parked in front of a house. The Kuwaitis thought the men were planning to steal the boat and wrestled them and handed over to the police. Police discovered the men were under the influence of drugs and during interrogation at the area police station they admitted to peddling in drugs. They also told police they did not intend to steal the boat but were planning to hide narcotic pills under the boat. ❑ ❑ ❑
Wasmi for DG’s job: Retired Defence Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Al-Wasmi is expected to be appointed director-general of one of the sectors in the State Security, reports a local Arabic daily. The decision to this effect is expected to be issued within two weeks. The daily said Al-Wasmi will report to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud.
Kuwait Today Prayer Timings Fajr ................................. 05:20 am Sunrise .................................. 06:31 Zohr ....................................... 12:02 Asr ....................................03:11 pm Maghrib ................................ 05:34 Isha ...................................... 06:52
Civil ID info: 1889988 Site for checking travel ban www.kuwaitcourts.gov.kw/mojweb/NGeneral/Main.jsp
deaths
Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hours: By Night: Cold with light variable wind, with speed of 06-22 km/h and some scattered clouds will appear. By Day: Party cloudy with light variable wind changing to light to moderate south easterly wind, with speed of 06-28 km/h. Station Max Min Rec Exp Kuwait City 26 14 Kuwait Airport 27 11 Nuwaiseeb 27 10 Wafra 30 09 Salmi 29 12 Abdaly 30 09 Jalaliyah 27 13 Failaka 25 13 Ahmadi Port 20 17 Qaruh Island 20 18 Umm Al-Maradem 21 17
4-days forecast - Weather Monday, Feb 11 Expected weather .......partly cloudy Max Temp .................................25C Min Temp ..................................12C Wind Direction ...................VRB-SE Wind Speed...................06-28 km/h Tuesday, Feb 12 Expected weather .unstable + rising dust Max Temp .................................26C Min Temp ..................................10C Wind Direction .....................SE-NW Wind Speed...................20-45 km/h Wednesday, Feb 13 Expected weather .sunny + blowing dust Max Temp .................................22C Min Temp ..................................09C Wind Direction ...........................NW Wind Speed...................25-45 km/h Thursday, Feb 14 Expected weather ..................sunny Max Temp .................................22C Min Temp ..................................07C Wind Direction ...........................NW Wind Speed...................20-45 km/h
Marine Forecast Station South Dolphin Ahmadi L/V Beacon M28 Beacon N6 Qaruh Island Umm Al-Maradem Sea island Buoy Salmiyah
Max Min Sea Exp Rec Surf 19 17 20 19 20 21 20 20
15 08 16 13 15 17 15 15
16 16 17 17 -
Today’s Waves Ht Direction 3ft NW 3ft NW 3ft NW 3ft NW 3ft NW 3ft NW 3ft NW 3ft NW
4-days forecast - Marine
Ghada Abdul Muhsen Ahmad Al-Nassaar, 62 years old, buried on Sunday. Condolences: (Men) Shuwaikh, Diwan Al-Nassaar, Block 2, Mansour St, Tel: 99019354. (Women) Kaifan, Block 2, Rabeah AlAdawiya St, House 1, Tel: 24835131. Ameer Mukhtar Taqi Taqi, 51 years old, buried on Sunday. Condolences: Bneid Al-Gar, Huseiniyat Sayed Ali Al-Musawi, Tel: 94475479, 66662570. Abdul Rahman Shareed Zaid Al-Mutairi, 58 years old, buried on Sunday. Condolences: (Men) Doha, Block 4, St 3, House 61, Tel: 55880021. (Women) Qairawan, Block 2, St 223, House 31, Tel: 55881733. Huda Salem Mohammad Rahma, 43 years old, wife of Jasem Mohammad Abdullah Othman Al-Dakheel, buried on Sunday. Condolences: (Men) Bayan, Block 5, St 5, House 77, Tel: 25387656, 96696637. (Women) Rehab, Block 2, St 22, House 13, Tel: 24339573, 50541644. Abdul Aziz Saud Al-Melhim, 84 years old, buried on Sunday. Condolences LMen) Mishref, Block 2, St 5, House 26, Tel: 99817763. (Women) Mishref, Block 2, St 5, House 28. Saud Mohammad Abdul Aziz AlMutairi, 23 Years old, buried on Sunday. Condolences: (Men) Jaber AlAhmad city, Avenue 5, plot 326, Tel: 55556363. (Women) Adan, Block 3, St 34, House 34, Tel: 90996399. Masoud Fehaid Demashq AlWatheen, 60 years old, buried on Sunday. Condolences: Umm AlHaiman, Block 5, St 31, House 4, Tel: 99601005, 66643610. Qatma Lami Swayan Al-Fathli, 62 years old, wife of Mefrej Mazban AlZahamil, to be buried on Munday at 09:00 am. Condolences: Fahaheel, Block 3, St 2, House 143, Tel: 60308686, 55033738.
Feb 10, 2013 Monday, Feb 11 Expected weather .......partly cloudy Sea state ............slight to moderate Wave height ............................1-4 ft Max Temp .................................25C Min Temp ..................................12C Wind Direction....................VRB-SE Wind Speed...................06-28 km/h Tuesday, Feb 12 Expected weather .unstable + rising dust Sea state ...........moderate to rough Wave height ............................3-6 ft Max Temp .................................26C Min Temp ..................................10C Wind Direction .....................SE-NW Wind Speed...................20-45 km/h Wednesday, Feb 13 Expected weather .sunny + blowing dust Sea state ...........moderate to rough Wave height ............................3-6 ft Max Temp .................................22C Min Temp ..................................09C Wind Direction ...........................NW Wind Speed...................25-45 km/h Thursday, Feb 14 Expected weather ..................sunny Sea state ...........moderate to rough Wave height ............................3-6 ft Max Temp .................................22C Min Temp ..................................07C Wind Direction ...........................NW
Wind Speed...................20-45 km/h
Tide times at Shuwaikh Port 1st high tide:...........................23:45 2nd high tide:..........................13:15 1st low tide: ............................07:00 2nd low tide: ...........................19:00 Sunrise: ..................................06:31 Sunset: ...................................17:34
Recorded yesterday at Kuwait Airport Max temp ..................................26C Min temp ...................................11C Max Rh.....................................95% Min Rh......................................24% Max Wind......................SE 21 km/h Total Rainfall in 24 hrs..........00 mm
Recorded yesterday at South Dolphin Min/Max/ Air Temp ...............15/19C Min/Max Rel Hum ...............66/94% Wind Direction/Wind Speed.....S/2 km/h Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht.N/ 1 ft Min/Max Sea Surface Temp 16/16C Sea Current .....................Upwelling — Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Department
Pakistani taxi driver in drug trafficking KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: A senior official in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor allegedly receives commission from vegetable vendors who supply their produce to cooperative societies, reports AlShahed daily quoting reliable sources. According to the same sources the official handpicks the companies which supply vegetables to cooperative societies in cooperation with board members of these societies. The sources added one of the cooperative societies is committing a lot of irregularities and asked how it can be held responsible while corruption is rampant in the Ministry itself? ❑
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Drug peddler held: Police have arrested a Pakistani taxi driver for trafficking in drugs, reports Al-Shahed daily. According to security sources the suspect was arrested while parking his vehicle on an open ground at an unidentified location. When police asked the man to show his ID, he looked confused. Police then searched the man’s vehicle and seized 22 sachets of (Ice) a kind of drug and a weighing scale from his car. The contraband and the suspect have been referred to the authorities. ❑
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Drunkards in fight: Police have arrested four Asians and are looking for others for drinking alcohol and damaging 15 vehicles which were parked on an open ground in Salhiya, reports AlWatan Arabic daily. A security source said some of the Asians who were high on alcohol were caught fighting when police arrived at the scene. The source added two groups of drunkards during a fight pelted stones and empty glass bottles at each other and damaged the cars. ❑
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Swindler in custody: Personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department have arrested an Asian man for swindling citizens, reports Al-Rai daily. Investigations conducted by police revealed the swindler, identified only as Haroun, claimed he had special powers to solve the problems. Acting on information and armed with a search and arrest warrant police raided the man’s home in Khaitan and caught him red-handed while receiving money from a police agent to solve his
A car damaged in one of the accidents on Mitla’a road.
Egyptian killed, many hurt in accidents By Munaif Nayef Special to the Arab Times An Egyptian expatriate died and many other individuals were injured in traffic accidents recorded in the last 48 hours. The Egyptian died when his vehicle crashed into another vehicle crossing a red signal in Shuwaikh area. Sources said two Kuwaitis in the other car were injured in various places of their bodies after the impact. A case was registered.
problems. The black magician has been handed over to the authorities. ❑
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Obscene adverts: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has referred seven companies to the Commercial Prosecution for publishing obscene advertisements in newspapers, reports Al-Shahed daily quoting knowledgeable sources. The sources said the companies had earlier been warned on more than one occasion. ❑
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Meanwhile, a military personal sustained serious injury and vehicle belonging to the Kuwait Army was damaged after colliding with another vehicle driven by a GCC youth on Mitla’a Motorway. The injured officer was carried to a hospital for treatment, and security sources said the other motorist tried in vain to escape after the accident but a military patrol chased him to a camp, where he drew a hammer and damaged the glass of vehicle of the patrol car.
Securitymen were called to the scene and they arrested the youth. In another incident, two cars collided on Airport Road, opposite Shuwaikh area, and resulted in injuries to two Kuwaitis. Also, an Iranian expatriate in his early 30s was injured in different places of the body when his vehicle overturned on Nuwaiseeb Motorway. And, two Kuwaitis sustained various degrees of injuries when their vehicles overturned on Kabad Motorway.
Judges, TV crew beaten: A group
was parked in front of a pharmacy in Andalus, reports Alam Alyawm daily. The Kuwaiti man said he left the car in operation and entered the pharmacy to buy medicine. When he returned after a few minutes he did not find the car.
of seven people from an unidentified tribe allegedly assaulted a panel of judges during a popular heritage competition and the Al-Shahed TV crew which was covering the event, reports Al-Shahed daily. A TV cameraman was seriously injured and had to be rushed to the Jahra Hospital. A case has been registered at the Taima Police Station. ❑
looking for an unidentified person for stealing the car of a Kuwaiti man which
Civil disobedience threatened Tabtabaei sued
Hearing March 10 By Jaber Al-Humoud Special to the Arab Times KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The Criminal Court adjourned until March 10 the hearing on a case filed by former Director General of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) Major General Jassem Al-Mansouri against ex-MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei and six firefighters accused of storming into the KFSD building to listen to the testimonies of a detective and a fireman. Al-Tabtabaei attended the session during which the judge listened to the testimony of an officer from Salhiya Police Station and then Attorney Abdullah Al-Alanda, lawyer for one of the defendants, requested for postponement of deliberations on the case to allow the detective and fireman to testify in court. In another case, the Court of Appeals postponed until March 11 deliberations on a petition filed by Twitter activist Hamad Al-Naqqi against the 10-year imprisonment sentence imposed on him for posting statements insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on his Twitter account.
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Kuwaiti’s car stolen: Police are
Workers demand pay hike
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Some labor unions and syndicates have threatened to call for civil disobedience in case the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor presses ahead with its plan to activate Article 104 of the Labor Act prohibiting unions from interfering in political, religious and sectarian issues, reports Al-Wasat daily quoting Ministry of Justice Workers Union Chairperson Ahmad Al-Mutairi. In a recent press statement, Al-Mutairi warned operations in all public utilities will be disrupted if the government decides to dissolve any union or syndicate. He asserted the government or any other entity has no right to meddle with the internal affairs of the unions. Corroborating the statement Al-Mutairi, General Customs Department Workers Union Chairperson Ahmad Al-Enezi stressed the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has no right to dissolve the board of directors of the unions. In an unrelated development, cleaning workers from a local company refused to report for work at a major corporation on Sunday. The workers were demanding hike in salaries, says a reliable source. The workers gathered at their residential building in Farwaniya to protest. One of the protesters said they have to be in their workplaces from 5:00am until 3:00pm but they are only paid KD66 for 10 hours of duty. Another protester pointed out the salary should be at least KD90 or KD100. Senior officials from the cleaning company failed to convince the protesters to go back to work, prompting them to call the police who advised the workers to stay inside their apartments. “Any kind of violence or chaos will be severely dealt with,” police warned. The company officials left promising to look into the grievances of the workers. Outcome of the standoff was not known
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Asian robbed: Two persons are said to have impersonated police and robbed an Asian expatriate of his wallet containing KD 80 and personal identity cards in Amghara area.
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Police hunt burglar: Police are looking for an unidentified burglar for breaking into the home of a Kuwaiti man in Farwaniya and stealing KD 4,000 cash and jewelry worth KD 900, reports Al-Rai daily. Personnel from the Criminal Evidences Department have lifted fingerprints to identify the culprit.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
MIDEAST
9
Germany’s council already given deal a preliminary nod
Saudi Arabia mulls buying German patrol boats BERLIN, Feb 10, (RTRS): Saudi Arabia is looking into buying patrol boats worth 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) from a German firm, and appears to have won the Berlin government’s approval despite widespread public criticism of arms deals, a newspaper reported on Sunday. The Arab kingdom was exploring a deal to buy the ships, each costing between 10 and 25 million euros, from Bremen-based dockyard Luerssen, Bild am Sonntag newspaper said. Arms exports are a sensitive issue in Germany given the country’s Nazi past and the role arms makers like Krupp played in fuelling numerous 19th and 20th century wars. Germany’s national security council, which includes Chancellor Angela Merkel and the ministers of defence, development, economy and foreign
affairs, had already given the deal a preliminary nod, according to the newspaper. The council has to approve such deals in Germany but its decisions are not made public. A spokeswoman for the economy ministry, which oversees such deals, declined to comment. No one at Luerssen was immediately available for comment. The newspaper did not say why Saudi Arabia might be seeking the vessels. But Saudi Arabia’s foe Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a route for oil exports from the Gulf, if Iranian nuclear sites are attacked by Israel, which believes Tehran is trying to develop an atomic bomb — a charge Tehran denies. While Iran’s navy lacks a modern combat capability, its Revolutionary Guards have a wide range of more mod-
ern missile patrol boats armed with Chinese and Iranian-made anti-ship missiles, Western defence analysts say. With less than eight months to go until Germany’s federal elections, the news drew criticism from opposition politicians. “The government apparently wants to totally arm Saudi Arabia and has not learned anything from the public protests against weapons deliveries to this country,” said Thomas Oppermann, parliamentary floor leader for the opposition Social Democrats. Germany has refrained from exporting heavy weapons to Gulf states in the past because of its relationship with Israel and more recently because of the Arab Spring revolts. However, according to a government report, Berlin approved the export of 5.4 billion euros worth of arms in 2011, after
Omanis protest against delays in their appeal
17 jailed cyber activists in Oman on hunger strike MUSCAT, Feb 10, (AFP): Seventeen jailed Omani cyber activists have begun a hunger strike in protest against delays in their appeals, local media reported on Sunday. The activists in Samayl central prison launched a hunger strike on Friday “to protest against what they claimed to be a delay in reviewing their appeal by the Supreme Court,” Times of Oman quoted their lawyer
Yaqoob al-Harthi as saying. “The activists will only drink water until their demands are met,” Harthi said, adding that the activists’ families had submitted a letter to the Supreme Court demanding a speedier hearing in their cases. The hunger strikers are accused of “unlawful assembly and violating the Cyber Law and are serving jail terms from six to 18 months,” the daily said.
Several groups of activists are on trial on charges of defaming or using Internet social media networks to insult Sultan Qaboos, who has ruled the Gulf sultanate for 42 years. The appeals court has so far upheld the jail terms of many activists. Many others have been tried after taking part in protests demanding political reforms that shook usually calm Oman in 2011.
studying requests from different countries, a 14 percent increase from the previous year. Of those arms, 42 percent went to countries outside the European
Union or NATO. In December, Bild am Sonntag reported the German government was close to completing a 100-million-euro arms deal
for “Dingo” armoured vehicles and Der Spiegel magazine reported Saudi Arabia wanted to buy several hundred BOXER armoured fighting vehicles.
Arms shipment damaging Sanaa: chief
Netanyahu to discuss Syria, Yemen demands Iran explanation Iran, Palestine with Obama Israel signs off on 346 new settler homes in W. Bank Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts frozen for the past two years. The White House gave no exact dates for the trip, Obama’s first to Israel since taking office. Israel’s Channel 10 television station cited unnamed sources in Washington last week saying the visit to Israel would start on March 20. In public remarks at the cabinet session, Netanyahu put Iran at the top of his list of talking points with Obama and referred only in general terms to peace efforts with the Palestinians, stopping short of setting a revival of bilateral negotiations as “It is a very important visit that will emphasise the strong alliance a specific goal of the visit. “The president and I spoke about this visit and agreed between Israel and the United States,” Netanyahu, who has had a testy that we would discuss three main issues ... Iran’s attempt to arm itself with nuclear relationship with Obama, told his cabinet. weapons, the unstable situation in Syria ... and the efforts to advance the diplomatic The White House announced on Tuesday that Obama plans to visit Israel, the process of peace between the Palestinians and us,” Netanyahu said. West Bank and Jordan this spring, raising prospects of a new US push to restart The visit will take place only after Netanyahu puts together a new governing coalition following his narrower-thanexpected victory in Israel’s Jan 22 election. Obama’s tensions with Netanyahu have been aggravated by the Israeli leader’s demands for US “red lines” on Iran’s nuclear programme - something the president has resisted, though he has said military options are on the table if sanctions and diplomacy fail. The Israeli defence ministry on Sunday confirmed it had given the green light for the construction of 346 new settler homes in two settlements in the southern West Bank, a statement said. “The defence ministry has approved plans for 200 housing units in Tekoa and 146 housing units in Nokdim,” the ministry said. Tekoa and Nokdim are two small isolated settlements deep in the southern West Bank which are located in the Gush Etzion bloc south of Jerusalem that Israel wants to keep hold of in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians. Late last year, the defence ministry approved plans for another 523 settler homes in another part of Gush Etzion, in what was the first step towards a new settlement city in the area. The latest swathe of approvals King Abdullah II of Jordan (center), reviews the honor guard on his arrival to inaugurate the newly-elected parliacame as a United Nations report ment, in Amman, Jordan, Feb 10. In a speech to Parliament Jordan’s king pledged to press ahead with democracalled on Israel to immediately start tization, but added that he will help choose the next prime minister despite the choice having been formally given withdrawing settlers from the to the legislature. (AP) Palestinian territories, saying the settlements caused the Palestinians’ human rights to be “violated consistently and on a daily basis.” Meanwhile, Israel has no chance of signing a permanent peace accord with the Palestinians and should instead seek a long-term interim deal, the most powerful political partner of AMMAN, Feb 10, (Agencies): King cess of this historic transformation parliament to “serve as an incubator of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Abdullah II on Sunday told newly towards parliamentary government national dialogue” and begin extensive said on Saturday. elected MPs that he seeks to reach and its development,” the king said. talks with local communities and politThe remarks by Avigdor “consensus” with them before naming Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur subical forces. Analysts have said loyalist Lieberman, an ultranationalist whose a prime minister, and hailed the “hismitted his cabinet’s resignation to the MPs would resist pressure for muchjoint party list with Netanyahu nartoric transformation” towards parliaking on January 29, six days after tribneeded real political reform. rowly won a Jan 22 election while mentary government in Jordan. al leaders, pro-regime loyalists and The Islamists have said the king’s centrist challengers made surprise “We will start... this new approach independent businessmen swept a genplans for a parliamentary government gains, seemed designed to dampen by consulting over the government’s eral election boycotted by the opposifall far short of true democratic change expectations at home and abroad of formation with the lower house and tion Muslim Brotherhood and others. and insist he should have no say in fresh peacemaking. parliamentary blocs as they take shape, “If a coalition of blocs that enjoys naming a premier. They also insist that A spring visit to Israel and the in order to reach consensus that leads the support of the house’s majority they will not join the government. Palestinian territories by Obama, to the designation of a prime minister,” emerges, the consultation and govern“The speech needs to be translated announced this week, has stirred speche told the opening of parliament. ment formation processes will be into practical steps in reality, on the ulation that foreign pressure for a King Abdullah said the premier quick and smooth,” the king said. ground,” said Hamzeh Mansur, chief diplomatic breakthrough could build should in turn consult parliamentary “In the absence of a majority coaliof the Islamic Action Front, the politithough Washington played down that blocs and other forces as he selects his tion, on the other hand, this process cal arm of the Brotherhood. possibility. cabinet, seeking confidence “based on will take more time and effort. This is “This parliament is like other past In a television interview, ex-foreign a policy statement resulting from the a fundamental fact of parliamentary parliaments. It will not come up with minister Lieberman linked the more consultation process, and on four-year democracy.” anything new. And the idea of parliathan two-year-old impasse to panprogrammes.” The king, who has vowed to pursue mentary government is still elusive. Arab political upheaval that has “You are also expected to shoulder democratic reforms and reach out to Again, we need a process of dialogue boosted Islamists hostile to the Jewish your responsibility towards the sucgroups such as the Brotherhood, urged led by the king himself.” state.
JERUSALEM, Feb 10, (Agencies): Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the civil war in Syria and stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts will top the agenda of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
‘New electoral rules needed for democracy’
Jordan king seeks ‘consensus’ on PM
News in Brief ‘Egyptians treated well’: Egyptian detainees held in the UAE over suspected links with President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood are being treated “well” in the Gulf country, Cairo’s envoy said on Sunday. “The Egyptian detainees are being treated well in accordance with the UAE laws,” Emirati state news agency WAM quoted Egypt’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi Tamer Mansur as saying, adding that they were receiving proper medical care. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Iraq arrests rapist: police in the north Iraqi city of Arbil said on Saturday they have arrested a teenage construction worker suspected of raping 14 young girls. Tareq Nuri, the head of “asayesh” or Kurdish internal security forces in Arbil, said the accused confessed to raping the girls, all aged between six and nine, in deserted buildings or houses under construction. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Yemen clashes kill woman: A pregnant woman was accidentally shot dead in the southern city of Aden on Saturday as protesters calling for the release of prisoners clashed with Yemeni police, government and medical officials said. “An woman eight months pregnant died of her wounds after she was shot by live rounds,” a medic told AFP. (AFP) ❑
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Iraq TV bombed: A bomb exploded on the roof of an Iraqi satellite channel’s offices a day after the broadcaster aired a caller’s criticism of a revered Kurdish leader, an official said on Sunday. The explosion in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah came as Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised the autonomous Iraqi region for infringing on free speech by wrongly detaining journalists, activists and opposition figures for insulting public figures. (AFP)
SANAA, Feb 10, (Agencies): Yemen on Sunday demanded an explanation from Tehran over an Iran-linked arms shipment seized last month and rejected interference in its internal affairs, state news agency Saba reported. “The Yemeni government will not allow interference in its internal affairs from any party, or for its territories to become a site for proxy wars,” Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi told Iran’s ambassador to Sanaa, Mahmud Hassan Zada. The foreign minister also “demanded an explanation from Iran on the vessel,” intercepted by Yemeni coast guard in coordination with the US navy on January 23 in the Arabian Sea. The Jihan II was carrying rockets and explosives, which authorities in Sanaa say came from Iran, although Tehran denies any involvement. Yemen is still investigating the shipment whose eight-strong Yemeni crew are being questioned. A security official last week said
the vessel came from Iran and that the arms “were destined for the Huthi rebels in Saada,” the stronghold of Shiite fighters in northern Yemen. United Nations sanctions experts are investigating Sanaa’s claims, according to New York-based diplomats. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland has praised the Yemeni government for its “successful and significant interdiction” of the vessel and its decision to alert the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, Yemen’s national security chief accused Iran of “damaging Yemen” as the interior ministry said it was pursuing a probe into an Iran-linked arms shipment which was seized last month. “Such a shipment cannot be made by traders or smugglers... Only an official power stands behind it,” national security chief Ali Hassan al-Ahmadi told reporters in Sanaa.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
10
PM trying to form technocrat cabinet
Tunisian president’s party quits Islamist-led government TUNIS, Feb 10, (RTRS): Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki’s secular party withdrew on Sunday from an Islamist-led government already reeling from last week’s assassination of secular opposition leader Chokri Belaid. Belaid’s killing on Wednesday — Tunisia’s first such political assassination in decades — has thrown the government and the country into turmoil, widening rifts between the dominant Islamist Ennahda party and its secular-minded foes. “We have been saying for a week that if the foreign and justice ministers were not changed, we would withdraw from the government,” Samir Ben Amor, an official
of Marzouki’s Congress for the Republic Party (CPR), told Reuters. The CPR has criticised the performance of the two ministers, one of whom, Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, is the son-in-law of Ennahda party leader Rachid Ghannouchi. Ben Amor said the CPR’s withdrawal was unconnected to Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali’s decision, announced after Belaid was killed, to form a non-partisan government of technocrats to run the country until elections can be held later in the year. Senior politicians in Ennahda, as well as in its two non-Islamist coalition partners, had criticised Jebali’s proposal, saying he
The CPR came a distant second in the election, winning 29 of the assembly’s 217 seats to Ennahda’s 89, but Marzouki was elected interim president by the assembly in a show of unity and his party entered a coalition government led by Ennahda. Marzouki had opposed former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali from exile until a popular uprising swept the long serving Tunisian leader from power in January 2011. Since then Islamists and their opponents have tussled over the role of Islam in politics, society and the constitution, while economic grievances that helped drive the revolt against Ben Ali have gone largely unaddressed.
Belaid’s killing, for which no one has claimed responsibility, shocked the nation of nearly 11 million. The politician’s widow Basma said on Saturday she was asking the government to protect her family with official protection. Some members of Belaid’s family have accused Ennahda of being behind the shooting, something the party denies. Ghannouchi, Ennahda’s leader, has threatened legal action against politicians or journalists pointing the finger at him, saying they were “exploiting the blood of the deceased for narrow political ends at the expense of the truth.”
Proposal sticks
Rebels, Syria troops battle for key Damascus highway
to remarks by Vice-President Joe Biden, who said on Feb 2 the United States was ready for direct talks if Iran was serious about negotiations. The national celebrations are taking place a week after Ahmadinejad and his political rival, parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, traded public accusations of corruption, an outbreak of infighting that is expected to grow more vicious as the country approaches presidential elections slated for June.
Continued from Page 1 impede people’s interests through their participation in political movements led by some of those who have failed to realize their political ambitions as a result of their violations against the Constitution.” He explained Article 103 of the bylaw of unions and syndicates clearly states that the unions are banned from taking part in political work. He alleged some former MPs, who belong to the so-called majority opposition, are inciting the syndicates towards civil strife which contravenes their duty to protect the rights of workers. He advised all members of syndicates and unions not to allow themselves to be a” fuel” in serving the interests of former MPs; similar to what happened to many Kuwaiti youths and bloggers who have been deceived by these former MPs and are now facing charges and sentenced to jail. Praising and expressing support for the stand of Social Affairs and Labor Minister Thikra Al-Rasheedi who promised to apply the law on the unions proven to be involved in political activities, AlTameemi urged the minister to be strict in dealing with unions that use the institutions for political work as opposed to their basic duties. Meanwhile, the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee on Sunday approved the proposed amendments to the unemployment insurance and the small and medium enterprises fund bills, which were then referred to the Parliament for discussion and approval. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Committee Rapporteur MP Safa AlHashim revealed the panel agreed to delete a clause from the unemployment insurance bill, stating that “the service of the employee shall not end by retirement” to protect the interests of those who will be forced to retire. She said the committee added the following phrase to the first article: “The provisions of this law apply on every Kuwaiti public sector employee”; while the companies, in which the government owns not more than 25 percent of the shares, were categorized under the private sector.
Amendments Al-Hashim also confirmed completion of deliberations on the small and medium enterprises fund in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Anas AlSaleh. She added the government representatives and the lawmakers recommended amendments to the bill during the meeting. She said the amendments include stipulations related to the board of directors of the fund and identifying the types of activities like craftsmanship, industrial, agricultural, services, and incubator system projects. She also mentioned that the committee has received a response from Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali on the loan interest write-off proposal and this will be discussed with the minister in the panel meeting slated for Tuesday. In the meantime, Chairman of Legal and Legislative Committee Yaqoub Al-Sanei said the panel on Sunday approved the request of the Public Prosecution to lift the immunity of MP Nabeel Al-Fadhel but eight similar requests were rejected. Al-Sanei added the committee also discussed the anti-money laundering and financing terrorism bills and presented a number of observations to the minister of justice, particularly the need to focus on non-profitable organizations. Meanwhile, MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan submitted a grilling request against Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad AlHumoud Al-Sabah on Sunday. The grilling is the second this legislative round by a Shiite lawmaker, after MP Hussein Al-Qallaf submitted his last week against Minister of Communication Salem Al-Uthaina. Both grilling requests may be up for debate on Feb 19. Al-Duwaisan’s grilling contains two proponents — “Slackness in regard to the threat of Zionist espionage to Kuwait,” and “the adoption of policies that violate the ethics and values that are upheld by security personnel, therefore compromising their role and respectability within society.” Explaining his proponents, AlDuwaisan said that the Interior Ministry is seriously considering a security deal with “‘Senstar’ security company based in Canada which is entirely owned by the Israeli security company ‘Magal’ in clear violation of a law (21/1964) on the boycott of Israel and will result in the harm of the country’s security”. The deal is in regards to an Interior Ministry project “to secure the borders of the state and develop mechanisms to reduce infiltration into the country”. The MP added that the Interior Minister “was mistaken” when he approved the publishing of the names of citizens accepted at the Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences for 2012/2013. This, he said, “led to sharp public disapproval as it was found that some of the admitted students were psychologically and health-wise unfit and the minister was forced to reconsider the list of acceptance and exclude some who’ve been accepted.” Similarly, MP Saadoun Hammad stated on Sunday that a number of MPs intend to submit a grilling request against Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khaled AlSabah on the lay-off of 79 Saudi military personnel from the army.
had failed to consult them first. Jebali said on Saturday he would unveil his new cabinet this week, but would resign if political parties did not support it. A senior Ennahda official, who asked not to be named, said the National Constituent Assembly would have the final say, but added: “We see that it will be possible to form a government of technocrats that includes political parties.” Ben Amor said Marzouki’s CPR would formally submit the resignation of its three ministers to Jebali on Monday. Political analyst Youssef Ouslati said the party was “trying to jump out of a sinking ship”, but that its decision had no great weight because Jebali was now the central
player. He said that if political uncertainty continued, “the street will be the crucial element”. Belaid’s funeral drew tens of thousands of mourners in Tunis and other cities on Friday in what turned into mass political protests against Ennahda and the government it dominates. About 6,000 Ennahda supporters took to the streets of the capital on Saturday in a peaceful show of strength. The CPR’s departure is the first major shake-up in the government set up in December 2011 after an election for a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution.
Appeals court
Mortar kills 4, injures several others
Continued from Page 1
BEIRUT, Feb 10, (AP): Opposition forces targeted Damascus with mortars, a roadside bomb and a suicide attack on Sunday as they pressed ahead in their quest for the seat of President Bashar Assad’s power. Outside the capital, government troops battled rebels for the fifth straight day for control of a key highway. Both sides consider the fight for Damascus the most likely endgame in a nearly two-year-old civil war that has already killed more than 60,000 people. Sunday’s fighting was the heaviest in Damascus since the first rebel push into the capital in July. The rebels then managed to capture several neighborhoods, but were soon bombed out during a punishing government counteroffensive.
Violene Since then, the rebels have threatened the heavily fortified capital from opposition strongholds around the city. Damascus, however, has been spared the kind of violence and destruction that has been seen in other major urban centers during the conflict. Checkpoints on the main artery into the capital have changed hands several times since Wednesday when the latest rebel campaign for Damascus started. The road is strategically important because it leads to northern Syria and the regime uses it to move troops and supplies. Rebels cut the road off from Damascus with burning tires on Friday after seizing checkpoints from regime troops in fighting that brought the civil war within a mile of the heart of the capital. A rebel fighter told The Associated Hammad and MP Abdullah AlTammimi had earlier delayed their grilling request against Minister of Oil Hani Hussein on various alleged violations within his ministry. The grilling was on Kuwait’s deal with Dow Chemical, Kuwait’s project with Shell, recent promotions at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiary companies and the partnership between Kuwait Petroleum International and Israeli fuel company Derek Group and oil refineries. Meanwhile, MP Nabil Al-Fadhl proposed the amendment of the Penal Code to stipulate the punishment of “every family head who neglects to prevent his minor son from attacking security men, state property and the disruption of traffic flow.” The proposal stipulates the punishment of imprisonment for a period of not less than three years and not more than five and/or a fine of not less than KD 5,000 and not exceeding KD 10,000. Al-Fadhl’s proposal also stipulates “the punishment of those who disrupt traffic flow in private or public roads or damaged state property with imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than two years and/or a fine of not less than KD 1,000 and not more than KD 2,000.”
Mall fire Continued from Page 1 police sources, noting that current losses are only financial. Deputy Director General for Control and Human Resources Development, Brigadier Khaled AL-Mikrad stated that the fire brigade was mobilized in the evening upon receiving a report of a fire in a sportswear shop in The Avenues Mall, leading to the direction of three Fire Stations immediately. These are Shuwaikh Industrial Area Fire Station, under the leadership of Captain Khalid Al-Maatouq, Ardiya Fire Station, under Captain Muharib AlKhurainij and the Technical Rescue Fire Station under the leadership of Captain AbdulWahab Al-Faras. He stated that the fire was on the first floor of The Avenues Mall, and that it was subdued in record time, without any human casualties. This was due to the coordination of the fire brigades through control-ventilation-evacuation techniques. He noted that there was a partial evacuation of the mall, to ensure the safety of those present. Director of the Fire Brigade, General Yousef Al-Ansari oversaw the accident. HE the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and
Photo by Mahmoud Jadeed
Kuwaiti opposition and former MPs along with supporters raise four fingers in reference to four-votes system as they leave the Palace of Justice in Kuwait City on Sunday after an appeals court bailed 3 former MPs.
Press that opposition forces on Sunday overran another roadblock, al-Adnan checkpoint in Jobar, northeast of Damascus. He spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons. But the Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-regime activist group, said that while the fight for the highway continues, government troops regained control of the area on Sunday after using fighter jets to bomb rebel positions the day before.
A mortar that hit a Damascus street near Shabandar Square killed four people and injured several others, a government official told the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to brief the media. State-run SANA news agency said a roadside bomb detonated at Arnous street, in the heart of Damascus, injuring several people. In another part of the city, a suicide bomber blew himself up. He was the only one who died in the blast in
Rouken al-Deen neighborhood, the official news service said. The rebels’ latest push for Damascus is similar to rebel offensives in other Syrian cities. The opposition controls large swathes of land outside urban centers – like Homs in central Syria and Deir elZour in the east, and even whole neighborhoods like in the northern city of Aleppo – but cannot oust all government troops because of the regime’s superior fire power.
LAPD chief orders review of disciplinary case
Hunt for ex-cop enters 4th day BIG BEAR LAKE, California, Feb 10, (AP): The hunt for a former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings entered a fourth day in snow-covered mountains Sunday, a day after the LAPD chief ordered a review of the disciplinary case that led to the fugitive’s dismissal and new details emerge of the evidence he left behind. Officials will re-examine the allegations by Christopher Dorner, 33, that his law enforcement career was undone by racist colleagues, Police Chief Charlie Beck announced Saturday. While he promised to hear out Dorner if he surrenders, Beck stressed that he was ordering a review of his 2007 case because he takes the allegation of racism in his department seriously. “I do this not to appease a murderer. I do it to reassure the public that their police department is transparent and Municipality affairs Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sabah also followed up on the fire, coordinating with General AlAnsari. Also present were the Director of the Capital Governorate Fire Brigade, Colonel Hamad Al-Hadlaq, Head of the Investigation Unit Colonel Ali AlMarzouqi, as well as various other special forces.
Gulf force Continued from Page 1 kingdom’s security forces confront protests led by the Shiite majority. Kuwait has witnessed street protests in the past several months by opposition groups calling for the dissolution of the pro-government parliament elected on Dec 1 after HH the Amir amended a controversial electoral law.
US tax Continued from Page 1 holdings by their US clients to the Internal Revenue Service. “Offshore tax evasion costs the US jobs
fair in all the things we do,” the chief said in a statement. Authorities suspect Dorner in a series of attacks in Southern California over the past week that left three people dead. Authorities say he has vowed revenge against several former LAPD colleagues whom he blames for ending his career. The killings and threats that Dorner allegedly made in an online rant have led police to provide protection to 50 families, Beck said. A captain who was named a target in the manifesto posted on Facebook told the Orange County Register he has not stepped outside his house since he learned of the threat. “From what I’ve seen of (Dorner’s) actions, he feels he can make allegations for injustice and justify killing people and that’s not reasonable,” said Capt. Phil Tingirides, who chaired a board that stripped Dorner of his and billions of dollars each year, and it puts an unfair burden on the average American taxpayer to make up the difference,” Senator Max Baucus, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and sponsored the legislation, told the New York Times last year to explain why FATCA was needed. Jackie Bugnion, a Geneva-based tax expert working for the American Citizens Abroad lobby group, however told AFP that while the aim in theory is to “go after the wealthy resident in the United States who is hiding money overseas,” only a small minority of those affected fall into that category. An estimated four to seven million Americans live outside the country, ranging from US military personnel, diplomats and others on temporary assignments, to socalled “accidental” Americans who happened to be born in the United States to foreign parents and dual citizens who may have lived most or all of their lives abroad. According to observers, most of these people don’t owe any taxes to the United States, but they still have to go through the process of filing complex IRS returns each year. “Over the past 10 years, I have paid more to tax preparers than I have in tax,” John said, insisting his decision to give up his US passport had nothing to do with the amount
badge. “The end never justifies the means.” On Saturday, the scaled-back search party took advantage of a break from stormy weather to look for Dorner in the San Bernardino mountains, about 80 miles (130 kms) northeast of downtown Los Angeles, where his burnedout pickup truck was discovered Thursday. A law enforcement officer told The Associated Press authorities found weapons in the truck. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing. Investigators have been examining the truck to determine if it broke down or was set ablaze as a diversion. Police say the truck had a broken axle. Investigators are trying to determine whether it was already broken when they found it, or whether it was damaged when it was towed away.
of tax he was being asked to pay, but rather the filing burden and fear of penalties if he messed up.
Tehran rejects Continued from Page 1 of the Iranian rial, raising inflation and weakening purchasing power for ordinary Iranians. People held banners saying “Down With USA.” at state-organised demonstrations in Tehran and other cities to mark the anniversary of the ousting of a Western-friendly monarchy in favour of clerical leadership under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Ahmadinejad did not address specifics of the planned talks in Kazakhstan. He said Iran would counter sanctions by boosting non-oil exports and weaning itself off crude oil revenues. “Enemies are trying their utmost to put pressure on the Iranian nation to stop its progress but they will not succeed,” he said. Khamenei on Thursday rejected a US offer of direct talks, saying talks and pressure were incompatible. He was believed to have been replying
The opposition ex-lawmakers, however, were only briefly detained on Sunday during the appeal session, despite the arrest warrant issued last week, and were immediately released once the bail was ordered. On Monday, Feb 11, the Criminal Court is scheduled to hold a hearing on the state security case against prominent oppositionist and former lawmaker Musallam Al-Barrak. He is also charged with making statements deemed offensive to the state’s authority during a seminar last October. If convicted, he could also face up to five years in prison. Agencies add: The former MPs were charged with undermining the status of the emir during an address at a public gathering on October 10 in which they warned that any amendment to the electoral law could lead to street protests. Kuwait later saw protests at which demonstrators said an amendment to the electoral law allowed the government to influence election results and elect a rubber-stamp assembly. The opposition boycotted a December 1 general election in protest at the amended law. The lower court sentence had sparked peaceful street protests, and dozens of youth activists have staged sit-ins every night since in protest against jail terms on Twitter users and activists. So far, Kuwaiti courts have given jail terms of between two and 10 years to at least four opposition tweeters for allegedly insulting the emir. Many more are on trial on similar charges.
Change to Continued from Page 1 economies of scale, greater security and consistency in decision making. All British passports have enhanced sophisticated security features designed to reduce the likelihood of identity theft and passport fraud. Before Feb 11, British nationals living in the State of Kuwait submitted passport applications to a regional processing hub in Dusseldorf, Germany. From Feb 11, information on the UK Government website will advise British nationals on the new passport application process. All the information required to make an application will be found at https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports Customers will be required to send applications to the Passport Customer Service Centre in Liverpool. There will be no change to processing times. Fees charged to British citizens applying overseas are based on the current costs of providing the service. As overseas volumes are much less than UK volumes it is harder to gain efficiencies overseas. That is why we have taken the decision to repatriate the issuing of passports to British nationals overseas to the UK. Once this has been completed IPS will be seeking to create closer alignment between the two sets of fees.
Newswatch Continued from Page 1 from a shortlist of three candidates and send their choice to President Mohamed Morsi to approve. The leading candidate is Abdul Rahman al-Bar, 50, a member of the Brotherhood’s decision-making Supreme Guidance Council. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
YEREVAN: Azerbaijani troops killed an Armenian soldier on Saturday on the border between the two ex-Soviet enemies locked in a dispute over the region of Nagorny Karabakh, Armenia’s defence ministry said. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑ MOSCOW: The rebels France is battling in northern Mali are some of the very same fighters it helped arm in Libya, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday. “In Mali, France is fighting against those it armed in Libya against (Moamer) Gadhafi’s regime in violation of the UN Security Council (arms) embargo,” Lavrov said in extracts of a television interview published by Russian news agencies. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island: About 310,000 homes and business remained without power Sunday as the US Northeast and Canada dug out from a blizzard that dumped up to 3 feet (a meter) of snow on the most densely populated part of the region. The death toll was at 14. (AP) Earlier Story Page 14
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
11
One of the physicians beheaded
Attackers kill 3 N. Korean doctors in Nigeria POTISKUM, Nigeria, Feb 10, (AP): Assailants in northeastern Nigeria killed three North Korean doctors, beheading one of the physicians, in the latest attack on health workers in a nation under assault by a radical Islamic sect, officials said Sunday. The deaths Saturday night of the doctors in Potiskum, a town in Yobe state long under attack by the sect known as Boko Haram, comes after gunmen killed at least nine women administering polio vaccines in Kano, the major city of Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north. The two attacks raise new questions over whether the extremist sect, targeted by Nigeria’s police and military, has picked a new soft target in its guerrilla campaign of shootings and bombings across the nation. The attackers apparently struck at the North Korean doctors inside their home, an official at General Hospital in Potiskum, a government-run health facility, told The Associated Press. The North Korean doctors had no security guards at their residence and typically traveled around the city via three-wheel taxis without a police escort, said the official who insisted upon anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to journalists. By the time soldiers arrived at the house, they found the doctors’ wives cowering in a flower bed outside their home, the official said. At the property, they found the corpses of the men, all bearing what appeared to be machete wounds.
Attack on police station foiled
Nigerian police arrest 2 gunmen in Kano KANO, Nigeria, Feb 10, (AFP): Nigerian police have arrested two gunmen following a shootout in a foiled attack on a police station outside the restive northern city of Kano, police said Saturday. Gunmen riding on motorcycles and motorised rickshaws opened fire on a police station in the town of Minjibir outside Kano on Friday, state police spokesman Magaji Majia told AFP. “The attack was repelled by the policemen at the station, who succeeded in apprehending two of the gunmen as they were retreating,” Majia said. The incident occurred hours after gunmen on tricy-
An AP journalist later saw the North Korean doctors’ corpses before they were moved to nearby Bauchi state for safe keeping. Two of the men had their throats slit. Attackers beheaded the other doctor. The doctors lived in a quiet neighborhood filled with other modest homes in the town. Yobe state police commissioner Sanusi Rufai confirmed the attack took place and said officers had begun an investigation. Rufai said officers had made some arrests after the killings, though police in Nigeria routinely round up
cles killed 10 polio vaccinators in two separate attacks in Kano on Friday, but it was unclear whether the two incidents were linked. “The two suspects are being interrogated to establish their identity and motive,” Majia said. The Islamist group Boko Haram has been active in Kano in recent months. Boko Haram has claimed to be fighting for the creation of an Islamic state, but its demands have shifted repeatedly and it is believed to include various factions. Criminal gangs and imitators are also suspected of carrying out violence under the guise of the group.
those living around the site of a crime, whether or not there is any evidence suggesting their complicity. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, though suspicion fell on the Boko Haram sect. The killings of the doctors come after the attack Friday on polio vaccinators in Kano, northern Nigeria’s most populous city. No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack either, though it follows alleged Boko Haram attacks now focusing on softer targets, like lightly guarded mobile phone towers.
Dunford assumes command of NATO coalition in Afghanistan Exiting US general says Afghan women’s rights ‘key’ KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb 10, (Agencies): Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford took over Sunday as the new and probably last commander of all US and international forces in Afghanistan. The American-led NATO coalition is entering the final stretch of its participation in a war that will have lasted more than 13 years when most foreign combat troops pull out at the end of 2014.
Dunford took over leadership of the International Security Assistance Force, and a smaller but separate detachment of American troops, from Marine Gen. John Allen, who had led them for the past 19 months. “Today is not about change, it’s about continuity,” Dunford told a gathering of coalition military leaders and Afghan officials. “What’s not changed is the growing capability of our Afghan partners, the Afghan national security forces. What’s not changed is our commitment, more importantly, what’s not changed is the inevitability of our success.” He takes charge at a critical time for President Barack Obama and the military. NATO decided at its 2010 summit in Lisbon to withdraw major combat units, but to continue training and funding Afghan troops and leave a residual force to hunt down al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said “much work lies ahead” for Dunford as he tries to meet those objectives while at the same time withdrawing about 100,000 foreign troops, including 66,000 from the United States. Dunford, from Boston, Massachusetts, will face serious challenges as he tries to accommodate an accelerated timetable for handing over the lead for security responsibility to Afghan forces this spring – instead of late summer as originally planned.
Victory
In this Jan 3, 2013 file photo, thousands of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members, who signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 1996, display their weapons during a rally on the volatile island of Jolo in southern Philippines. (AP)
Games to replace war for Aquino’s visit
Filipino militants face new foe: fellow rebels MANILA, Philippines, Feb 10, (Agencies): After years of fighting the government from hidden jungle bases in the southern Philippines, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group is facing a new adversary: fellow Muslim insurgents who can match their guerrilla battle tactics and are eager to regain their lost stature by fighting the widely condemned terrorist group. The emerging enmity between the Abu Sayyaf militants and the Moro rebels could bolster a decade-long campaign by the Philippines and Western countries to isolate the al-Qaeda offshoot Abu Sayyaf, which remains one of the most dangerous groups in Southeast Asia. In their first known major clash, Abu Sayyaf gunmen battled rebels from the larger Moro National Liberation Front in fighting early this week, leaving at least 22 combatants dead in the mountainous jungles on southern Jolo Island. A Moro rebel was beheaded — Abu Sayyaf’s sig-
nature act. Bonded by blood ties and war, the two armed groups had co-existed for years on Jolo in a predominantly Muslim region, where abject poverty, guns and weak law enforcement have combined in an explosive mix to fuel their rebellions and pockets of lawlessness. The trouble began after the Moro rebels — seeking to regain their former dominance in the region — tried to arrange the release of several hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf, including a prominent Jordanian TV journalist and two European tourists. When the Abu Sayyaf commanders refused to free the hostages, Moro rebels launched an attack. The Moro rebels are now trying to rescue the captives and end the Abu Sayyaf’s reign, Moro commander Khabier Malik told The Associated Press. “We breath the same air, speak the same language and live and fight in the same jungle,”
he said by telephone. “We’re a bigger force and we cannot allow this small group to reign with this brutality.”
Also: MANILA: Soldiers and Muslim guerrillas will meet in sporting events instead of combat when Philippine President Benigno Aquino makes a historic visit to a rebel camp to promote a peace pact, officials said Sunday. A “fluvial parade” of dozens of colourfullydecorated motorboats will also welcome Aquino on Monday when he visits the outskirts of the main base of the 12,000-member Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the country’s south. Aquino and MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim will meet in the strife-torn island of Mindanao to hand out social security benefits to impoverished Muslim residents to show their sincerity in furthering the peace process.
“I told him our victory here will never be marked by a parade or a point in time on a calendar when victory is declared. This insurgency will be defeated over time by the legitimate and well-trained Afghan forces that are emerging today and who are taking the field in full force this spring,” Allen said. He added that success would be described as an “Afghan force defending Afghan people, and enabling an Afghan government to serve its citizens. This is victory; this is what winning looks like.” Although the Afghan security forces are almost at their full strength of 352,000, it is unclear if they are yet ready to take on the fight by themselves. Before departing, Allen admitted that the Afghans still need much work to become an effective and self-sufficient fighting machine, but he said a vast improvement in their abilities was behind a decision to accelerate the timetable for putting them in the lead nationwide this spring when the traditional fighting season begins. Advancing women’s rights in Afghanistan is key to preventing the Taleban from reimposing a radical form of Islam once most foreign troops leave by the end of 2014, Allen said on Saturday.
Rebels defying security lock-down
Second suicide bombing rocks Mali GAO, Mali, Feb 10, (AFP): Northern Mali’s largest city was rocked by its second suicide bombing in two days, soldiers said Sunday, as Islamist rebels continued defying a security lock-down on territory reclaimed by French-led forces. The bomber blew himself up late Saturday at the same army checkpoint in Gao where the first such attack occurred the day before. His severed head was still lying on the ground Sunday morning. The twin suicide blasts, the first such attacks in Mali, underlined the threat of a drawn-out insurgency as France, whose warplanes were still bombing northern territory Sunday morning, tries to map an exit strategy nearly one month into its intervention in its former colony. The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one
of the Islamist groups that seized control of northern Mali for 10 months in the wake of a military coup, claimed the first attack and had threatened earlier Saturday that there would be more. “We are dedicating ourselves to carrying out more attacks against France and its allies. We ask the local population to stay far away from military zones and avoid explosions,” spokesman Abou Walid Sahraoui said. The two suicide bombers were the only fatalities in the attacks. One soldier was lightly wounded in Friday’s bombing. No one else was wounded in Saturday’s, said a soldier at the checkpoint, where troops had already placed two walls of sandbags, cut down trees to increase visibility and set up heavy machine guns after the first attack.
Former NATO commander US General John Allen (third left), hands over a flag to US General Joseph F. Dunford (second right), as he takes over as commander of NATO in Afghanistan at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul on Feb 10. (AFP)
French army deminers secure an helicopter in a hangar at the Gao airport, on Feb 9. Two Malian soldiers and four civilians have already been killed by landmines, and French troops are still fighting off what Paris called ‘residul jihadists’ in reclaimed territory. (AFP)
Number of attacks falling fast
Have ‘hired guns’ scuppered pirates? ABOARD RMS QUEEN MARY 2, Feb 10, (RTRS): Posted between septuagenarian passengers in deck chairs, lookouts stand watch over the Gulf of Aden, scanning the horizon for pirates. After more than half a decade of Somali men attacking Indian Ocean shipping from small speedboats with AK-47s, grappling hooks and ladders, the number of attacks is falling fast. The last merchant ship to be successfully hijacked, naval officers monitoring piracy say, was at least nine months ago. It’s a far cry from the height of the piracy epidemic two years ago, when several ships might be taken in a single week to be traded for airdropped multimillion dollar ransoms. But as the Queen Mary 2, one of the world’s most recognisable ocean liners, passes through the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and out towards Dubai, its owners and crew are taking few chances. “The pirates have weapons and are not afraid to use them,” Lieutenant Commander Ollie Hutchinson, the British Royal Navy liaison officer aboard the liner for its trip through the Rynd Indian Ocean, tells a briefing of passengers in the ship’s theatre. “Once the pirates have identified their target, they will try whatever means they can to get on board.” To underline his point, he displays a picture of an Italian helicopter hit by small arms fire from a pirate dhow late last year followed by assorted images of gunmen holding AK-47 assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades. In truth, the Queen Mary 2 — carrying 2,500 passengers and 1,300 crew from Southampton to Dubai on the first leg of a world cruise — is
not particularly at risk. Some 345 metres long and 14 stories high, even its promenade deck is seven floors above the sea. The liner is fast, hard to board and — on this passage at least — moderately well armed. Like many merchant vessels, the QM2 now carries armed private contractors when passing through areas of pirate risk. Cunard will not discuss precise security arrangements. But contractors on other vessels routinely carry M-16-type assault rifles and sometimes belt-fed machine guns, often picked up from ships acting as floating offshore armouries near Djibouti and Sri Lanka. Additional lookouts from the ship’s regular onboard security force — mostly Filipinos — are also posted on the main deck to give warning of any suspicious craft. “Depending on what happens with attacks, I’m hopeful we may be able to reduce our security measures when we pass through the same waters next year,” says Commodore Christopher Rynd, senior captain of the British-based Cunard line and current master of the QM2. “But that’s not a decision we will be making at this stage.” When ships do come under attack, the first phone to ring is usually in a nondescript white bungalow in the gardens of the British Embassy in Dubai. The UK Marine Transport Operation (UKMTO) was set up shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to provide security advice to British shipping in the area. As pirate attacks soared in the second half of the last decade, it found itself coordinating international shipping across much of the Indian Ocean. Most vessels passing through the area — container ships, tankers, cruise liners and dhows — now register daily with UKMTO. If they believe they are in danger, they will contact the British team to request military support.
Sidelights France charges 4 suspects: Preliminary charges have been filed against four men detained last week and suspected of links with a budding network of jihadists for Mali. A judicial official said Saturday that the four, aged 22 to 37, are being investigated for criminal association with a terrorist enterprise. Two of the four were ordered held. The others were freed but must report regularly to authorities. The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and asked not to be identified. France is fighting a military campaign in Mali aimed at routing radicals trying to impose an Islamic state. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
5 soldiers killed: Suspected militants killed five soldiers and wounded five others in two roadside attacks Sunday in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued southern provinces, police said. In one of the attacks, insurgents detonated a car bomb on a road in Raman district in Yala province as a truck carrying six soldiers passed by early Sunday, Police Maj. Torphan Pusanthia said. The militants then opened fire on the soldiers, killing five of them, and took away the dead soldiers’ rifles, he said. One wounded soldier was rushed to a hospital. The six soldiers were on their way to guard a group of local farmers on their way to work. In the other attack, insurgents set off a bomb on a road in Ra Ngae district in Narathiwat province and wounded four soldiers, Police Col. Jiradet Phrasawang said. He said the insurgents hid an improvised bomb under the road surface and detonated it as a pickup truck carrying the soldiers
Terror probe
Russia detains ‘271 Muslims’ ST PETERSBURG, Feb 10, (AFP): Russian police detained nearly 300 Muslims from several countries in Saint Petersburg as part of a probe into suspected calls to terrorism, investigators said Saturday. They said in a statement that “271 people including citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, nationals of Russia’s North Caucasus and an Egyptian and an Afghani were detained to verify their suspected involvement in terrorist activity”. The Federal Security Service (FSB) and police carried out the operation on Friday in the Apraskine Dvor central market where Muslims are known to work and pray. The authorities did not say whether they had released the people, but immigration officials said Saturday that 10 of them would be deported, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. passed by. More than 5,000 people have been killed in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces since an Islamic insurgency erupted in 2004. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Sunday that the government would examine whether curfews are needed in the restive south, especially in the areas where attacks frequently occur. (AP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
ISSUES
12
SPECIAL REPORT
insight
A conversation with Amr Hafiz
Avoiding a fight greatest test for a true martial arts champ
MMA best way to toughen up mentally By Valiya S Sajjad Arab Times Staff IN A fast world where patience is on the wane and even minor fender benders on the road lead to murders, learning some self defence techniques is extremely important. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) expert, Amr Hafiz, encourages everyone, especially women, to be equipped with fighting skills to survive in dangerous situations, which he feels women are frequently exposed to in the current times. Some unexpected lightning strikes at the right spots can destabilize even a giant, and that’s the time to make good your escape. However, the greatest test for a true martial arts champion is not about debilitating the opponent, but rather avoiding a fight. That’s the first advice he gives to all his students. Read on and learn more about MMA and how some innocent parts of your body can turn into deadly weapons when applied in the right way. Question: You are a certified trainer for MMA. What’s MMA all about? Answer: I am a Certified MMA Conditioning Coach. MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is about inventing your own style of fighting. We train in a variety of fighting styles like kickboxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu and so on. It began when experts of different martial arts challenged one another to test which fighting technique is better. Tournaments were organized where fighters were put in a cage and made to fight. The results were astounding. Many of classical martial arts didn’t stand a chance against some of other fighting forms. Karate or Kung Fu fighters wouldn’t last a round against say boxing or judo. This was a big surprise. So, then the fighters began to analyse their own fighting styles more deeply. They realized that a karate champion didn’t know how to grapple, and a wrestler didn’t know how to box. This was understood as a shortcoming, and to make up for it, wrestlers began to train in boxing, Kung Fu experts began to learn judo and so forth. So now everyone knew every fighting technique, and sort of became equals. This was the birth of Mixed Martial Arts. Dana White is generally regarded as the godfather of Mixed Martial Arts. He is the initiator of UFC, which is the most famous MMA championship in the world. Now, it is being taught in academies. I am a certified MMA conditioning coach. I am continuing to study to attain a higher grade. I am specialized in getting fighters ready for the fight, increasing their stamina, strength and the power of knockout. This involves weight training, cardio, circuit training and other methodologies to get the fighter fit and ready for the fight. I had who fought last Saturday in Crowne Plaza at the GFC, which was Gladiators Fighting Championship. This is an MMA competition. Q: Was this a local championship? A: You can’t call it local, because we had international fighters from America, Asia and other parts of the world. Q: Did you also fight? A: No. I was a fighter, fighting since 1990. But now I am focusing exclusively on training fighters. Q: Tell us about your students. What do they come here for? Is it for self defence, fitness or is it because they get inspired watching martial arts films? A: There are three types of people in general when it comes to martial arts. The first category is people who love fighting. They are crazy about fighting. They are watching fights all the time and are always occupied with fighting. The second type involves those who want to be equipped with some sort of self-defence technique so that they are more confident to face threats on the street. This type might have had some unpleasant experience of being bullied or challenged by someone and not being able to stand up to it. The third type includes those who want to stay fit. Q: How do you begin training a new comer? Do you take their level of fitness into account to come up with a schedule more suited to the person? A: I have two classes. One for beginners and one for professionals. I am going to start one for intermediates soon. If you come knowing noth-
Amr Hafiz
ing about martial arts you go to the beginners class. If you come with some experience in martial arts, then you go to the professionals’ class. However, there’s one common thing between the two classes: I focus on building stamina and fitness. 40 % of my classes involve circuit training, which has been proven to be the most effective training for losing weight, gaining stamina and becoming fit. In circuit training you work all muscles groups unlike bodybuilding where you focus on specific muscles groups on a particular day. For beginners, circuit training lasts for about a minute and half, and for professionals it’s 5 minutes. Q: Isn’t that too short a time? A: I am talking about one circuit. For beginners we do about 5 circuits, and for professionals 3 circuits. This is very intense back-to-back training. Q: Are we looking at quick running, combined with push ups and so on? A: All these are part of the exercise. Q: However, when it comes to fighting, the toughness of mind is equally important. What do you do to toughen up the mind? A: MMA is the best way to toughen you up mentally. Firstly, its energy releasing, anger releasing, stress releasing... and it makes you feel like a new person. The second part is the actual combat. Knowing how to defend yourself and a full appreciation of your own strengths makes anyone confident. Just to know that you can survive any situation on the street can make you very confident. Q: You also have a lot of girls coming to you to learn MMA? What is their motivation? A: You would be surprised, as I am, because there are a lot of girls who really want to fight and become
biography Amr Hafiz is a Certified MMA Conditioning Coach and the owner of Warlions MMA Academy in Salmiya. He is currently training 45 students under him, many of them girls, with the help of experts in other fighting techniques. Amr Hafiz is four times Kung Fu
champions. I have Pakistani, Bulgarian and Kuwaiti students, who are actually spoiling for a good fight. They are very pretty and feminine... but they have this hunger in them to be tough fighters. Then there are girls who want to be prepared to face dangerous situations on the road. Life is difficult these days for women and they want to have the skills to survive. Then there are girls who want to be fit and in shape. Q: You rightly pointed out the world is increasingly becoming a dangerous place for women to live. They are under threat and it’s not wise for women to go out at night alone. Can you give some quick tips as to how a woman can defend herself when stalked or harassed? A: The first advice I give to all my students is “Don’t fight unless you really have to.” This is for both girls and boys. If there’s a way you can wriggle out of the situation and avoid a fight then do that. If by submitting to your opponent you can pamper his ego and thereby avoid a confrontation, that’s the best technique. There’s nothing shameful in doing this. At the end of the day, our objective is to avoid trouble and not invite it. The second advice: if you can’t avoid a fight and you are pushed into a situation where you have to fight,
national champion in Egypt and has mastered a variety of martial arts and fighting styles. His student Bader Al Ramyan is a favorite in the Gladiators Fighting Championship (GFC), an international MMA tournament, currently underway in Kuwait.
then strike with all your might and try to finish the fight as soon as possible. If you dither and soften your strikes, then you are provoking your opponent, who might come at you angry and more dangerous. You don’t know how strong he is or how good a fighter he is. Therefore, show no mercy when it comes down to an actual fight. Hit hard and end the fight soon. Your first blow should be the only blow. Although in our training we are trained to carry on for a long time. A person who sincerely undergoes MMA training for 6 months can fight anyone and survive any situation. It doesn’t matter how many or how tough the opponents are. But remember, I am talking about survival, not destroying your opponents. It needs dedicated training. Let me at this point tell all the readers not to fall for those bogus ads claiming to make you a martial arts expert in 3 days. This is never possible. I actually went to one such crash course just to check out what they teach. Believe me, it’s a rip off. They are stealing people’s money. Nobody can teach you self defence in 3 classes, each 2 hours long. Do you know how many years people spend in the gym just to have their first fight. My fighter, who fought this Saturday, has been training for 1 and
half years. Q: You were telling me about your girl students. Now it’s a fact that women are by nature weaker than men. How much is it possible for women to surmount their biological challenges and overpower a man? A: We can’t ignore the truth that men are stronger than women. I don’t advice any girl to engage a man in a fight on the street or in any situation unless she is in a situation where not fighting becomes riskier than fighting. In such a situation, she has to strike with her full force, fearlessly, and at the right spots. I would like to underline in bold the word “fearlessly”, because if you are scared your strength drops down to 20 % of your full potential. Your blow becomes ineffective. But if you remain fearless and strike hard at the right spot using the right technique, you can debilitate any man irrespective of his size or strength. Because few people know how to protect themselves from an unexpected attack. So, if you execute your strikes with precision and power, then you can create an opportunity to escape the situation. If your attack throws the guy off balance, then make use of the opportunity to flee that place or call for help. Run at the first opportunity; don’t be emboldened by the initial success and try to prolong the fight, because as I said men are by nature stronger. So run as soon as possible. Q: What is the most effective way for a woman to attack a man? A: Use the four most powerful weapons that nature has gifted you. The two elbows and the two knees. Because it’s fully bone. Now if I am striking you with my elbow in your face, back, ribs or stomach, I am putting heavy bone matter into areas that are soft and weak. It can have a terrible impact. Of course, you should know how to strike. The technique is very important. Let no one, after reading this piece attempt to strike someone and think that they are going to create serious damage. Practice is a must. You got to toughen your elbows through constant practice. You should know how to strike and pull back. Speed is also important. Q: You named some vulnerable parts of the body. Which is the most vulnerable part of the human body? I heard it is the groin. Is that true? A: That’s a big mistake. 90 % of the times it difficult to make a contact with this part of the body. You miss the first time, then the guy gets alert, and there’s nothing you can do. The best place to attack is the neck. It’s the most vulnerable part of your body. An attack anywhere in the neck is enough to make the opponent lose his balance at least for 5 seconds, which is enough time to end the fight with a few more power blows or escape. Q: Tell us something about the ongoing MMA championship, GFC, in Kuwait. A: The first round of GFC was held at the International Fair Grounds in Mishref, about 5 months ago. What took place last Saturday (Feb 9, 2013) was the second round, at Crowne Plaza. GFC is organized by Adel Al Rowdhan, who is a famous fighter himself. He organized the first MMA tournament in Kuwait. We have been preparing for GFC for 5 months. My fighter, Bader Al Ramyan, trains 5 days a week, 4 hours a day. He is a Kuwaiti fighter, 20 years old. He is trained in kickboxing and jujitsu. I want to thank Mr Ahmed Al Akhmer, a judo jujitsu trainer, who is training my fighter in grappling. Now, we have stopped training and he is relaxing in the run up to the bout. Q: What are the rules in GFC? Do you fight until the opponent is floored, how does it go? A: There are two types of rules, for two categories: professionals and gladiators. Gladiators are sort of amateurs. You can win by points or knockout or tap out or TKO, which is Technical Knockout, meaning the fighter is not floored but not fit to continue the fight as per the referee’s discretion. There is a referee inside the ring and judges around the ring. Gloves, mouth guard and abdomen guard are compulsory accessories to be worn by the fighters. You are allowed to use punches, elbows, kicks and takedowns. When the opponent is down on the floor, you can’t punch or kick him. For the higher category, punching is allowed when the opponent is down.
Q: When did you start your lessons in martial arts? A: I started at the age of 5 in Egypt. Of course, back then there was no MMA. I began with Karate like most kids. I spent about a year. I didn’t like it, and so I switched to classic Kung Fu. I loved it. However, I didn’t find it very helpful when it came to real fights in my school. I tried all these fancy kicks but was ineffectual, and got easily beaten. I also became the butt of ridicule. I was told that Taekwondo is really good, and so I took up lessons in Taekwondo. Q: So, it looks like you were already on your way to becoming an MMA champion, learning so many styles? A: Yes, I guess so. And then I learnt judo, which surprisingly was the most effective fighting form. Because any fight on the street eventually ends up in clenching. Yes, you flourish your arms and throw kicks initially, but soon you will start grappling, holding each other’s bodies. So, if you know how to clench well and throw, then you can be a very effective fighter. I really enjoyed Judo. Actually grappling runs in my blood. My father and my uncles were also wrestlers. My grandfather too was a wrestler. The national wrestling coach of Egypt in fact invited me to train in wrestling instead of judo. So, I went for Graeco-Roman wrestling, which was also very useful. It was close to judo, but had its own advantages. I learnt wrestling for 3 years. And then I dabbled with boxing for a year alongside wrestling. In Egypt around that time, there was a new Kung Fu style emerging called Senshu or Senda. It’s a military type of Kung Fu. The Chinese army trains its cadets in this style. It has punching, kicking and takedowns too. This came easy to me because I was familiar with all these techniques. I was the national champion in Kung Fu 4 times in Egypt. The fifth year I lost because in the second round I broke my foot. It was swollen and blue. I was 19 then. However, I made the terrible mistake of continuing to fight. I emptied two cans of pain killers on my leg, wrapped it up and went into the ring. My opponent was an international fighter; he was very good. But then it got so worse that I couldn’t touch the ground with my leg, and pulled out. Q: If you had your fifth fight when you were 19, you would have become champion when you were 15. A: Yes. I was 15. This was under-19 category. Then, I got married, settled down in life, came to Kuwait to work in an advertising agency as art director. For six years, I forgot all about fighting. Once I was passing by a kickboxing gym in Hawally, and my interests were roused again. I joined it. My coach there was Dr Ismail Radwan, who was a kickboxing and Senda Kung Fu world champion. He has the biggest kickboxing gym in Kuwait. That was in 2006. I trained in kickboxing very intensely for 3 years and got a black belt, Dan 3. After that, the two of us, I and Dr Ismail, went to Lebanon to study Moi Tai. This is a Thai style of kickboxing. I also went to Thailand to further train in Moi Tai for about 2 months. I later moved to Canada for about a year and half. I had gone there to settle down, but it didn’t work out and I returned to Kuwait. However, in this time, I learnt Jujitsu. It’s about how to make your opponent submit to you. This was the last style I learnt. Back in Kuwait, I began my career as a full-time trainer. Initially, the going was tough. I started my gym, Warlions MMA Academy, and now things are going fine. I have 45 students from all nationalities. Q: What is your advice to the readers before we close? A: I am highly disturbed when I see a lot of obese kids around. This is a very sad situation. A boy of 9 is unable to live a normal life because he is too obese to play or do things a boy of his age does, this is a bad situation. And this is not the result of a disease, but just lifestyle. Too much TV, junk food and sedentary lifestyle. I advise our youth to be active, to be engaged in any physical activity on a regular basis. It need not necessarily be MMA. It could be some sport, or at least walking 10 minutes every day. Make it a part of your everyday life. And my second advice is “learn how to defend yourself. You will never know when you will need it.”
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
SUBCONTINENT
13
‘Pakistan’s president has immunity’
Swiss refuse to reopen Zardari graft case ISLAMABAD, Feb 10, (AFP): Switzerland has refused to reopen long-running corruption cases against Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari because he has immunity as head of state, Pakistan’s law ministry said Sunday. The development could draw a line under a three-year row that has pitted Pakistan’s top court against the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), cost a prime minister his job and threatened to bring down the government before the end of its term. At the insistence of the country’s Supreme Court, Pakistan wrote to Swiss authorities in October over the multi-milliondollar allegations against Zardari, which date back to the 1990s. He and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, were accused of using Swiss banks to launder $12 million in alleged kickbacks. Yasmin Abbasey, the top official in the law ministry, told AFP on Sunday that the Swiss had said they would not reopen the cases, which were frozen when Zardari became head of state in 2008. “They have responded to the letter and said the president has immunity,” she said. “This was the main issue and they have confirmed it, that the president enjoys immunity.” Pakistan’s top court spent nearly three years demanding that the coalition government led by Zardari’s PPP ask the Swiss to reopen the cases, before the politicians finally agreed. The tussle cost prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani his job in June last year, when the Supreme Court convicted him of contempt for refusing to obey its orders to write to the Swiss,
No reasons cited for the appointment
Pakistan president appoints new NW governor ISLAMABAD, Feb 10, (AFP): Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed a new governor of the Taleban-hit northwest province of KhyberPakhtunkhwa, an official statement said Saturday. Shaukat Ullah, who was minister for states and frontier regions before the new appointment, replaces Masood Kausar, 84, who served for two years as governor of the militancy-affected province. The statement did not cite any reasons for the new appointment just months ahead of parliamentary elections but a senior provincial government official said, “Kausar’s old age might be one of the main reasons.”
The official, who did not want to be identified, said the new governor, who hails from a prominent political family in Bajaur tribal region, was young and energetic and should be acceptable to everyone including the military. Bajaur is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal districts on the Afghan-Pakistan border where Taleban and al-Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds to plot attacks on Pakistani, Afghan and Western targets. The newly appointed governor is expected to assume office on Sunday.
forcing him out of office. Critics argued that the court’s dogged pursuit of the Swiss cases amounted to a political campaign against the PPP-led coalition government, and said the case had contributed to political instability in the restive, nuclear-armed state. After Gilani’s removal as prime minister there were fears that his successor Raja Pervez Ashraf could suffer the same fate, and that the government could fall before completing its five-year term in March. As far back as March 2010, Swiss prosecutors pointed out
that it was impossible to reopen the cases against Zardari while he was president. The PPP is facing a tough fight in the general election, which is expected in the coming months. Should it lose Zardari might lose the presidency and his immunity from prosecution, since the president is elected by parliament. Political analyst Hasan Askari said the news from Switzerland meant the chapter was closed for now, but warned the opposition would still use the issue to attack the PPP as polls approach.
At least 20 dead as stampede mars India’s Kumbh Mela fest Ganges festival draws record 30 million people ALLAHABAD, India, Feb 10, (Agencies): At least 20 people died in a stampede on Sunday, according to reports, as pilgrims headed home from India’s giant Kumbh Mela festival which drew a record 30 million people to the banks of the river Ganges.
in a critical condition.
The lives were lost at the main railway station where 10 corpses wrapped in white sheets could be seen on a train platform several hours after the incident which occurred in the early evening, an AFP photographer said.
Dozens more were injured in the crush and some local television channels put the death toll A senior police officer confirmed that 20 had been killed and scores injured in the as high as 20. stampede at Allahabad railway station, the Press Trust of India news agency said late Local officials said that the railings on a bridge at Allahabad station had given way under the pressure of the mass of people, while eyewitnesses told local media that the police had Sunday night. baton-charged the crowd leading to panic. “People were taking rest on these railings and Local television channel NDTV also reported that 20 were dead, with several of the injured the railings could not take the load. The joints broke,” a spokesman for the local Uttar Pradesh state, Ashok Sharma, told AFP. The tragedy came at the end of a day which organisers had earlier declared a success after a record number had taken a bath in the holy waters of the Ganges, which is said to cleanse pilgrims of their sins. “By afternoon over two crore (20 million) people had taken the holy dip and by evening the numbers crossed three crore (30 million),” top local official Devesh Chaturvedi told a press conference. Police had been stretched in controlling the vast crowds, he admitted, and one person had died for unknown reasons, while another later succumbed to injuries sustained in a crush. Thousands of volunteers on duty and police urged pilgrims to take one short bath and then leave the waters to make space for the flow of humanity behind them which stretched for kilometres (miles). The Kumbh Mela, which began last month and ends in March, takes place every 12 years in the northern city of Allahabad. Smaller, similar events are held every three years in other locations around India. This year’s Mela is big even Bangladeshi activists shout slogans as people gather to demand executions for people convicted of war crimes involving the nation’s indeby previous standards, with pendence war in 1971 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb 10. The protesters urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to review a verdict sentencing a astrologers saying a planetary senior leader of Bangladesh’s largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, to life in prison for killings and other crimes. (AP) alignment seen once every 147 years made it particularly auspicious for some pilgrims. “This is a rare combination of planets which would bring in good times for some zodiac signs and adverse effects for others,” said Amarpal Sharma, a local astrologer. printing presses of most local newspapers and were firing tear gas and using batons to disperse SRINAGAR, India, Feb 10, (AP): One person The bathing takes place at an asked managers not to publish Sunday editions. the mob. was killed as protests broke out in at least two area called Sangam, the confluShowkat Ahmed Motta, the editor of another In Watergam, a village near the town of parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir on Sunday ence of the rivers Ganges and English daily, Kashmir Reader, said that his Sopore, which was Guru’s home, at least four despite a strict curfew to prevent violence Yamuna and a third mythical paper published Sunday’s edition, but that police people were wounded, one critically, as police after the execution of a Kashmiri man conwaterway called the Saraswati. seized the copies. and paramilitary troops fired tear gas shells and victed in a deadly 2001 attack on India’s Devotees believe entering the A top local police official denied that any bullets to disperse an angry crowd, police said. Parliament. water cleanses them of sin and newspapers were stopped from publishing, but Four policemen were injured in separate clashes. Mohammed Afzal Guru was hanged in New frees them from the cycle of said the strict curfew may have prevented copies Police said 23 troops and 13 protesters were Delhi early Saturday. Ahead of the execution, rebirth. of the papers from reaching readers. injured in demonstrations on Saturday. authorities ordered people in most of the Indian“This is the time when the Guru’s execution is an extremely sensitive Tens of thousands of security troops were held part of the disputed Kashmir region to chances of spiritual salvation are matter in the Himalayan region, where most fanned out across the Himalayan region, and remain indoors indefinitely in anticipation of at a peak,” holyman Parushram people believe his trial was not fair. Several metal barricades and razor wire blocked all anti-India protests. Shastri explained to AFP on rights groups across India and political groups in Sunday, a day known as “Mauni major roads in the area. On Sunday, scores of people defied the curAmavasya”. Indian Kashmir have also questioned the fairCable television and mobile Internet services few and clashed with troops who fired tear gas Assorted dreadlocked holyness of his trial. were shut down in most parts of the region, and shells to disperse the crowds, a police officer men, priests and self-proclaimed Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Muslimmost local newspapers were not available said on customary condition of anonymity. saints from all over the country majority Kashmir, which is divided between Sunday. Police said a man died in Sumbal village in have assembled for the spectaHindu-dominated India and Muslim-majority Greater Kashmir, an English language newsnorthern Kashmir after he jumped into a frigid cle. Pakistan but is claimed by both nations. paper, said on its website that police went to the river while trying to run away from troops who
Security forces fire tear gas, bullets to disperse protesters
One die in Kashmir protests after Guru hanged
Talks held on judicial independence
‘Lanka ‘poor host’ for Cwealth meet’ LONDON, Feb 10, (Agencies): Commonwealth nations should move their 2013 leaders’ summit from Sri Lanka unless it makes prompt progress on its “abysmal” human rights record, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. Holding the bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the capital Colombo in November would undermine the association’s commitment to supporting human rights, it said. The appeal came days after Sri Lanka barred a human rights panel from entering the country. “The Sri Lankan government’s blatant disregard for the Commonwealth’s principles of
human rights and democratic reform makes it a poor host for this important event,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Unless the government urgently addresses abuses and ends impunity, the international recognition it will gain by hosting the Commonwealth summit while repressing its key values will be an embarrassment to the Commonwealth and its member countries,” he added. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Secretary-General opened talks with Sri Lanka on Sunday by pushing for judicial independence on the island, as Canada renewed calls to boycott the bloc’s summit in Colombo later this year.
Maoists propose CJ as Nepal PM KATHMANDU, Feb 10, (AFP): Nepal’s ruling Maoists recently proposed that the chief justice be appointed prime minister and preside over parliamentary elections, calling it the only option to resolve a long-running political crisis. The proposal was made by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known by his nom de guerre Prachanda, at the Maoists’ largest meeting since they toppled the monarchy in 2006 after a decade-long civil war and then took power in elections.
An Indian policeman questions a civilian in a deserted street on the second consecutive day of curfew imposed after the execution of a Kashmiri man convicted in a deadly 2001 attack on India’s Parliament in Srinagar, India, Feb 10. Mohammed Afzal Guru was hanged in New Delhi early Saturday, triggering protests across Indian Kashmir and prompting authorities to order people in most of the region to remain indoors indefinitely. (AP)
Members of the Chinese community perform a lion dance as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in Kolkata on Feb 10. Chinese communities worldwide are welcoming the ‘Year of the Snake.’ (AFP)
A Nepalese Hindu devotee places a red vermillion powder mark on another’s forehead at the Pashupatinath Temple during the monthlong Swasthani festival in Kathmandu on Feb 10. Scores of married and unmarried women in the Himalayan nation are marking the month-long fast in the hope of a prosperous life and conjugal happiness. (AFP)
Rape case row
Indian mother demands ‘meeting’ with Hollande PARIS, Feb 10, (AFP): The Indian wife of a French consular official charged with raping their daughter has demanded a meeting with Francois Hollande this week, presenting the French president with a thorny diplomatic dilemma on his first state visit to India. Lawyers for the official, Pascal Mazurier, were received at Hollande’s Elysee Palace last week in a move greeted with furious incomprehension by the mother, Suja Jones Mazurier, and the women’s and rights groups supporting her. They accuse France of supporting the husband at the expense of the interests of the rape victim and her two siblings, who are all French nationals. In a letter to Hollande’s minister for women, Najat VallaudBelkacem, Algerian academic Marieme Hollande Helie Lucas argues the Elysee meeting was part of an orchestrated campaign in support of the father which amounts to an attempt to interfere with a criminal case going through the Indian courts. “We were very surprised to learn, through the press, that only the advocates of the accused, the father of the young victim, have been received at the Elysee,” Helie Lucas, a prominent rights campaigner, writes in the letter.
Support “We ask that you give your support to Ms Suja Jones’s demand for a meeting with the president of the Republic during his upcoming visit to India.” Aides to Hollande now have to decide whether to grant Jones Mazurier some kind of audience. If they do, they will draw further attention to a case they would like to go away. If they don’t, they run the risk of adding to anger over how it has been handled. With emotions over the whole issue of rape running high in India because of a series of unrelated cases that have shocked the country, the timing could hardly be worse for France, which is hoping to tie the New Delhi government down on a $12-18 billion deal for Rafale fighter jets. Jones Mazurier has asked Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is due to travel with Hollande, to investigate the behaviour of senior officials at the French consulate in Bangalore. Aides to Fabius say consular support has been provided to both the father and the children. But they have refused repeated requests from AFP to respond to detailed evidence of conduct described by a British diplomat with decades of consular
experience as “unusual to say the least.” Pascal Mazurier was charged in June 2012 with the rape of his three-year-old daughter. He was released on bail in October but was forced to surrender his passport. Bangalore’s Family Court last week rejected a request for him to be granted access to his children, on the grounds he is still charged with raping one of them.
Dismissed His lawyers have filed a request to have the case dismissed that is due to go before the southern Indian city’s High Court on March 8. One of the allegations of irregularities in the consulate’s handling of the case relates to the transfer of 250,000 rupees ($4,715) from the Mazuriers’ joint account to deputy consul Vincent Caumontat, two days after Pascal was imprisoned. The foreign ministry has also not explained why Dominique Causse, the consul at the time of Mazurier’s arrest, suggested to police that Mazurier was subject to diplomatic immunity, when he knew the employee did not have a diplomatic passport. That stance delayed charges being brought for five days. Jones Mazurier has also questioned why her husband is being assisted by his former colleagues, rather than an impartial official brought in from the embassy in New Delhi. The foreign ministry will not confirm or deny paying Mazurier’s legal bills. As well as a legal team in Bangalore, he has retained the services of two of France’s leading barristers, PierreOlivier Sur and Clemence Witt, who have portrayed their client as a victim of miscarriage of justice with its roots in a family dispute.
Lowly The British diplomat AFP interviewed suggested the resources thrown at the case were not consistent with Mazurier being the lowly “Category C” employee of the foreign ministry that his passport says he is. “No matter how serious the charges against them, every national has a right to consular protection but these kind of barristers, who wouldn’t seem to be directly involved in the case, don’t come cheap,” he said. “It is unusual to say the least.” Jones Mazurier’s lawyers have denounced alleged intimidation of the doctors who testified that the girl was raped, accused police of misogynistic treatment of both the victim and her mother and hinted that corruption has led to crucial DNA evidence being tampered with. Mazurier’s French lawyers say he was framed by his wife and accuse her of fabricating evidence.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
14
World News Roundup Immigration Rare bipartisan foray
Evangelicals back immigration reform WASHINGTON, Feb 10, (RTRS): Thou shalt compromise, at least on immigration reform. That is the message being heard from some leading evangelicals in the United States. After decades of promoting traditionally conservative causes like opposition to abortion, many evangelical leaders are now wielding their formidable influence to persuade Republican lawmakers to back one of President Barack Obama’s top priorities. With Hispanic attendance at their churches rising, these evangelicals are among the loudest advocates of a US immigration reform. A group of pastors has launched a 40-day campaign to have churchgoers pray, read scripture passages about welcoming the stranger and lobby their members of Congress, many of them in the conservative South. “We have pastors preach in pulpits to parishioners in Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas — in all the wonderful red states across America,” that aiding immigrants, illegal or not, is a Christian duty, said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, one of the country’s most prominent Hispanic evangelicals. While evangelicals have been a major force in Republican politics for years, Republican lawmakers will take some persuading to back the sort of immigration reform supported by President Barack Obama, which includes a “pathway” to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally. Conservatives in the Republicancontrolled House of Representatives want to focus the debate initially on securing the border with Mexico and making sure illegal immigrants are not rewarded with an amnesty. “Some of them don’t necessarily see or acknowledge the changing demographics or the electoral merits of passing immigration reform, but I do think that many of these religious leaders could push them in that direction by really referencing the humanitarian interest, or moral argument,” said Republican strategist Ford O’Connell.
Pastors Rodriguez and other pastors are speaking to members of Congress “on a daily basis” to ask them to legalize the status of 11 million undocumented immigrants. Targeted lawmakers include Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, who chaired a House hearing on immigration last week, and Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho — a leading Tea Party thinker on immigration. Unlikely as it may have seemed at the height of the “culture wars” of the last two decades, these evangelicals are attempting to nudge Republicans to the center. The effort is well timed, coming as the Republican Party strives to improve its appeal to Hispanic voters who went solidly Democratic at 2012 elections. “This is one area where social conservative input is extremely welcomed by the Republican Party,” said O’Connell. Pastors are asking worshippers to email their lawmakers and tell them: “I am a Christian, a conservative and I vote. I want you to support immigration reform this year,” said Rodriguez. Support for an immigration overhaul among Christian conservatives has been growing over time. In 2011, the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention — the country’s largest Protestant body — called for “a just and compassionate path to legal status” for illegal immigrants while urging the government to secure US borders.
Poll A Public Religion Research Institute poll in 2010 showed white evangelicals support, by a margin of 2-1, an immigration reform that would allow illegal immigrants to become Americans. After the election, a group of evangelical leaders signed a letter to Obama endorsing “a path toward legal status and/or citizenship” for immigrants. Among the signers was Tim Daly, president of the Focus on the Family ministry. Immigration is providing a rare foray into bipartisanship for evangelical veterans of fights over gay marriage and abortion like lawyer Mathew Staver, vice president of Liberty University, founded by evangelical leader Jerry Falwell in Lynchburg, Virginia. Staver’s Liberty Counsel group threatened to sue a Florida library in 2000 for promoting witchcraft by encouraging young people to read a Harry Potter novel. As recently as last Nov. 8, Staver wrote on Liberty Counsel’s website
that Obama won re-election because, “Millions of Americans looked evil in the eye and adopted it.” But now he acknowledges that Obama deserves credit, along with the Republican head of the House Judiciary Committee and Senators from both sides of the aisle, for drawing up plans for an immigration overhaul. “I think it is incumbent upon us to work together and I applaud the bipartisan committee in the Senate and I applaud the leadership of Bob Goodlatte,” Staver said. “I applaud President Obama too, I just don’t want to use this as a political ping pong.” But any talk of an alliance between the White House and evangelicals to win immigration reform is stretching it. Christian conservatives strongly oppose a proposal by Obama to give spousal visas to same-sex foreign partners of American gays and lesbians. And evangelical leaders disagree among themselves on whether to grant undocumented immigrants the full right to US citizenship or allow them some other, more limited, legal status in the United States. Neither option is acceptable to some conservative evangelicals, like Iowa pastor Cary Gordon who opposes loosening immigration laws and accuses his co-religionists of “unbiblical naivete.”
Snow covers cars along Third Street in South Boston, Feb 9. A behemoth storm packing hurricane-force wind gusts and blizzard conditions swept through the Northeast overnight. (AP)
Blizzard claimed at least 8
Northeast digs out after storm
Case Much of the Christian case for helping illegal immigrants is based on stories of Biblical “immigrants” like Abraham and Moses and passages such as Matthew 25:35: “I was a stranger and you invited me in.” “The scriptures command us to take care of the immigrant. It’s not just one verse here or there, it’s a repeated command throughout the Biblical text,” said Matt Soerens of the World Relief organization, who lectures churches on immigration. US Representative Doug Collins, an Air Force Reserve chaplain, says hospitality to foreigners is fine but must be balanced with respect for immigration laws. “Scripture also teaches very clearly that there is government and civil authority and that there is an understanding of rule of law,” said Republican Collins, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee. He represents a strongly conservative district in Georgia which has seen a spike in undocumented workers in the poultry and construction industries and opposes giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. The evangelicals’ pro-immigration passion reflects changes in the conservative Christian movement which, while still predominantly white, has taken on a Latin tinge. Rodriguez, the pastor, who heads a US Hispanic organization with 40,000 member churches, gave a benediction at the Republican National Convention in Tampa last year. While some two-thirds of US Latinos are Catholic, Hispanics form the fastest-growing group in evangelical churches and are seen as a bulwark against dropping attendance. Rodriguez put the number of Hispanics in the United States who are either “born-again” or evangelical Christians at between 10 million and 16 million, and growing fast. While numbers are hard to come by, “there are lots of indirect pieces of evidence” that point to the growth of Latino evangelicals, said Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, who studies Hispanic politics. Six percent of evangelicals were Latinos in 2007, according to a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll. Eight percent of evangelical or “bornagain” voters in a Reuters/Ipsos exit poll at last November’s election said they were Hispanic. Worshipping together with newly arrived Christians — as well as the new emphasis on Biblical teachings on immigration — is melting conservatives’ doubts about illegal immigrants, said Danny Carroll, an Old Testament professor at an evangelical seminary in Colorado. He is part of a congregation at a church in Aurora that is attended mostly by white Americans on Sunday mornings. In the afternoons, the church then hosts separate services with their own pastors for Hispanic, Korean, Filipino and Russian immigrant groups “Once a quarter, all these congregations get together for a worship service so all of a sudden you are sitting next to someone with a different face, different color, different language. Once you put a human face on it, the whole conversation changes,” he said.
The remains of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton arrive at the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church for funeral services, Feb 9, in Chicago. (AP)
Seagal
Obama
America Seagal trains Arizona posse: Action film star Steven Seagal, who racks up big body counts in his on-screen battles with bad guys, took on a new role on Saturday, training posse volunteers for controversial Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio in how to use guns to protect schools in shooting incidents. Arpaio, who styles himself as “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” enlisted Seagal to train his Maricopa County posse members at a school in Fountain Hills, a suburb northeast of Phoenix, with children used as stand-ins for scared students. Seagal, a burly martial arts expert turned actor, guided 48 volunteers through various aspects of responding to a shooting, including room-to-room searches, and critiqued their work. “I am here to try to teach the posse firearms and martial arts to try to help them learn how to respond quicker and help protect our children,” Seagal said in Fountain Hills, Ariz. Arpaio, whose tough stances on crime and illegal immigration have made him a national figure, has dispatched the volunteer posse to patrol schools in response to the shooting rampage that killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut school in December. Those killings touched off a renewed debate over gun violence in the United States. President Barack Obama proposed a sweeping package of gun-control measures, including a ban on assault weapons. The National Rifle Association, which opposes the gun-control proposal, has advocated placing armed security guards in schools. Arpaio’s volunteers, some trained and qualified to carry the same guns as deputies, can intervene if there is an imminent threat to life. To add realism to the training event, guns firing non-lethal rounds that leave a color mark were used. “It’s important to help protect our children and our schools and we need to do that with whatever means we have,” said Rick Velotta, a posse member and retired General Electric manager who attended the training. About a dozen people protested the event. “No gun should ever be in a school,” said protester Cynthia Wharton, a Fountain Hills resident. Arpaio’s 3,450-strong posse of unpaid men and women has for years helped the sheriff target drunken drivers and illegal immigrants, and chase down fathers who are behind on child support. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑ 4 wounded in shooting: Four people were shot on a packed Bourbon Street, sending people running as revelers partied Saturday night amid the countdown to
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Feb 10, (AP): New Englanders began the backbreaking job of digging out from as much as 3 feet (a meter) of snow and emergency crews used snowmobiles to reach shivering motorists stranded overnight on New York’s Long Island after a howling storm swept through the Northeast. At least eight deaths were blamed on the storm, including three in Canada. About 475,000 homes and businesses remained without power late Saturday night, down from a peak of about 650,000, and some could be cold and dark for days. Roads across the New York-to-Boston corridor of roughly 25 million people were impassable. Cars were entombed by drifts. Some people found the wet, heavy snow packed so high against their homes they couldn’t get their doors open.”It’s like lifting cement. They say it’s 2 feet, but I think it’s more like 3 feet,” said Michael Levesque, who was shoveling snow in Quincy, Massachusetts, for a landscaping company. In Providence, where the drifts were 5 feet (1.5 meters) high and telephone lines encrusted with ice and snow drooped under the weight, Jason Harrison labored for nearly three hours to clear his blocked driveway and front walk and still had more work to do. His snowblower, he said, “has already paid for itself.” At least five deaths in the US were blamed on the overnight snowstorm, including an 11-year-old boy in Boston who was overcome by carbon monoxide as he sat in a running car to keep warm while his father shoveled Saturday morning. Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee cautioned that while the snow had stopped, the danger hadn’t passed: “People need to take this storm seriously, even after it’s over. If you have any kind of heart condition, be careful with the shoveling.”
record. Several communities in New York and across New England got more than 2 feet (.61 meters). Still, the storm was not as bad as some of the forecasts led many to fear, and not as dire as the Blizzard of ’78, used by longtime New Englanders as the benchmark by which all other winter storms are measured. By midday Saturday, the National Weather Service reported preliminary snowfall totals of 24.9 inches (63 centimeters) in Boston, or fifth on the city’s all-time list. Bradley Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, got 22 inches (56 centimeters), for the No. 2 spot in the record books there. Concord, New Hampshire, got 24 inches (61 centimeters) of snow, the second-highest amount on record and a few inches short of the reading from the great Blizzard of 1888. In New York, where Central Park recorded 11 inches (28 centimeters), not even enough to make the Top 10 list, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city “dodged a bullet” and its streets were “in great shape.” The three major airports — LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark, New Jersey — were up and running by late morning after shutting down the evening before.
Outages
Blowing with hurricane-force winds of more than 80 mph (128 kph) in places, the storm hit hard along the heavily populated Interstate 95 corridor between New York City and Maine. Milford., Connecticut, got 38 inches (96 centimeters) of snow, and Portland, Maine, recorded 31.9 inches (81 centimeters), shattering a 1979
Most of the power outages were in Massachusetts, where more than 400,000 homes and businesses were left in the dark. In Rhode Island, a peak of around 180,000 customers lost power, or about one-third of the state. By nightfall, utility crews had started to make significant progress in restoring power and bringing those numbers down. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island imposed travel bans until 4 p.m. to keep cars off the road and let plows do their work, and the National Guard helped clear highways in Connecticut, where more than 240 auto accidents were reported. The Guardsmen rescued about 90 motorists, including a few who had hypothermia and were taken to hospitals. On Long Island, which got more than 2.5 feet (.76 meters) of snow, hundreds of drivers spent a cold and scary night stuck on the highways. Even snowplows got bogged down or were blocked by stuck cars, so emergency workers used snowmobiles to try to reach motorists, many of whom were
Mardi Gras, police and bystanders said. But the party resumed in force hours later as crowds thronged the iconic French Quarter street following the shooting. Two males and two females were wounded just before 9:30 p.m. local time,
New Orleans police spokesman Frank B. Robertson told The Associated Press in New Orleans. He said one male was in critical condition and had undergone surgery, while the other three were in stable condition. He did
Winds
People stand together during the ‘March for Peace’ at Ives Estate Park in honor of the late Trayvon Martin on Feb 9, in Miami, Florida. Martin was killed by George Zimmerman on Feb 26, 2012 while Zimmerman was on neighborhood watch patrol in the gated community of The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida. (AFP)
still waiting to be rescued hours after the snow had stopped. One of those who was rescued, Priscilla Arena, prayed as she waited, took out a sheet of loose-leaf paper and wrote what she thought might be her last words to her husband and children, ages 5 and 9. Among her advice: “Remember all the things that mommy taught you. Never say you hate someone you love.” Around the New York metropolitan area, many victims of Superstorm Sandy were mercifully spared another round of flooding, property damage and power failures.
Lucky “I was very lucky and I never even lost power,” said Susan Kelly of Bayville. “We were dry as anything. My new roof was fantastic. Other than digging out, this storm was a nice storm.” As for the shoveling, “I got two hours of exercise.” At New York’s Fashion Week, women tottered on 4-inch (10.16-centimeter) heels through the snow to get to the tents to see designers’ newest collections. Across much of New England, streets were empty of cars and dotted instead with children who had never seen so much snow and were jumping into snow banks and making forts. Snow was waist-high in the streets of Boston. Plows made some thoroughfares passable but piled even more snow on cars parked on the city’s narrow streets. Boston’s Logan Airport was not expected to resume operations until late Saturday night. In Massachusetts, the National Guard and Worcester emergency workers teamed up to deliver a baby at the height of the storm at the family’s home. Everyone was fine. Some spots in Massachusetts had to be evacuated because of coastal flooding, including Salisbury Beach, where around 40 people were ordered out. In southern Ontario, an 80-year-old woman collapsed while shoveling snow from her driveway, and two men were killed in car crashes. One pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and killed Friday night in Connecticut, and a 23year-old New York man plowing his driveway with a tractor went off the edge of the road and was killed, police in those states said. not release their ages. Robertson said detectives were working to identify a suspect and determine a motive. He did not have any other details. “They’re just piecing together what happened,” he added. The streets were crawling with bar-hopping throngs taking in the last weekend before Fat Tuesday, the enormous party that engulfs New Orleans each year with parades, gaudy floats and merrymakers tossing trinkets and beads to the crowds. Bourbon Street street is home to strip clubs, watering holes and second-floor balconies lined by people who throw beads to revelers below each Mardi Gras season. The street often gets so crowded that officers have to control the crowds on horseback. Patrick Clay, 21, told The TimesPicayune he was standing on the corner of Bourbon Street when suddenly he saw a crowd running and people screaming that there was a shooting. “Everyone immediately started running and the cops immediately started running toward where people were running from,” Clay said. “I was with a group of about seven people and at that point we all just kind of grasped hands and made our way through the crowd as soon as possible.” Afterward, police moved in to investigate. Many revelers said they stayed hunkered down in bars and other establishments until police cleared them to move freely. (AP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
15
Politics
‘GOP Savior’
Rubio ‘stirs’ ’16 race talk WASHINGTON, Feb 10, (AP): A struggling Republican party is hanging ever more hope for its revitalization on Sen Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American seen by many as a top contender for its 2016 presidential nomination. Rubio is fast becoming a star. Republican leaders picked the 41-year-old to give the party’s response to President Barack Obama’s State Rubio of the Union address Tuesday. That’s an honor typically reserved for the party’s most impressive rising figures. He’s young, a deft communicator and may have the political talents needed to span a growing split in Republican ranks, to patch over divisions between the no-compromise, small-government, low-tax tea party wing and the more pragmatic, old-line establishment. He also could have the kind of national appeal that chips away at middle-of-the-road support for Democrats. But that kind of moderation might end up alienating his strong base among the most conservative Republicans and could damage his presidential aspirations in party primaries in 2016. Still, he is clearly in the political spotlight. Time magazine put Rubio’s picture on its latest cover, calling him the “Republican Savior.” A charismatic politician like Rubio embodies the skills his party sees as necessary if it is to somehow remodel its image after a poor showing in the November election. He stands out in a party that tends to hand power to older, white men. And his race and full-throated backing for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for illegal residents, could improve the party’s poor standing with Hispanics, a growing part of the electorate. In the 2012 election, Obama captured 71 percent of the Hispanic vote. Opponent Mitt Romney pulled down just 27 percent after saying he favored “selfdeportation” of illegal immigrants: making their lives in the country so difficult that they wouldn’t want to stay.
President Barack Obama stands with outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (left), and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Martin Dempsey (right), during a Farewell Tribute for Panetta, Feb 8, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Arlington, Va. (AP)
Politics State of Union to focus on gun laws, economy
Obama to devote ‘address’ to jobs In this Dec 26, 2008 file photo, president George W. Bush walks with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. A criminal investigation is under way after a hacker apparently accessed private photos and emails sent between members of the Bush family, including both former presidents, the Houston Chronicle first reported, Feb 8. (AP)
Ambitions Asked this week about his White House ambitions, Rubio was coy. “I really believe that if I do the best job that I can in the Senate, in a couple years I’ll be in a position to make a decision about whether I want to run for re-election, leave politics and give someone else a shot, or run for some other position,” he said. Rubio is unquestionably conservative, yet he avoids the divisive, over-the-top rhetoric that frightens moderates. “Ultimately, the real answer is to convince people that what we stand for, that free enterprise and limited government is the best way to create the conditions for their dreams to be possible,” he said. He proved his talent for selling himself and his immigration ideas with an appearance on the talkradio program of Rush Limbaugh, long a beacon for the most conservative Americans. Limbaugh and his admirers are intense opponents of relaxing immigration laws, particularly of offering citizenship to illegal immigrants – a move they equate with granting amnesty to criminals. But Rubio proved persuasive. When he was done, Limbaugh praised the senator. “What you are doing is admirable and noteworthy,” Limbaugh said. “You are recognizing reality. I’m just worried the president is trying to change reality.” Limbaugh didn’t note that Obama’s plan differs little from the one backed by Rubio.
Plans While being vague about his plans, Rubio has been trying to cultivate Republicans who would be critical in a presidential run. Right after the November election, he visited Iowa, the Midwestern state that holds the first-in-thenation caucus that will mark the start of the long process of choosing a presidential candidate in 2016. In December, he and other potential candidates spoke at a high-profile dinner attended by top Republicans. Rubio’s speech suggested that poverty and education might be central to a 2016 campaign.
Lew
Obama
America Obama’s pick Lew to be grilled: Jack Lew, President Barack Obama’s pick to be US treasury secretary, is expected to come under fire for the administration’s budget policies and a nearly $1 million bonus he received from bailed-out bank Citigroup when he testifies on Wednesday before a Senate panel vetting him for the job. The hearing will briefly become ground zero in the pitched political battle over the federal budget, with Republicans set to attack over what they contend is Lew’s devil-may-care attitude to reducing the US budget deficit. Republicans have signaled that Lew, Obama’s former chief of staff and budget director, will be critiqued for his role in preparing proposals that piled on deficits and probed on the president’s plans to put government-run healthcare and retirement programs on sounder footing. “He’ll be used as a political pingpong ball,” said Ted Truman, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics who served briefly as an adviser to Obama’s former treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner. Geithner left the administration in January. Lew was the administration’s point person during budget talks in 2011 that ended with a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, cap discretionary spending and put in place $1.2 trillion in automatic budget cuts over 10 years. During those negotiations, his hardline position in defense of governmentrun benefit programs angered Republicans. Most Republicans, however, have said they will reserve judgment on Lew until after Wednesday’s hearing, and he is widely expected to win the Senate’s needed backing even if he ends up facing substantial opposition. Republican lawmakers are expected to push Lew on his earlier resistance to proposed changes to the Medicare healthcare and Social Security retirement programs, such as using an slower growing inflation index to calculate retirement benefits.
WASHINGTON, Feb 10, (AFP): President Barack Obama will build his annual State of the Union address Tuesday around a push for job creation as the fragile economy, which dogged his first term, threatens to hamper his second. Obama will lay out a governing program that he hopes to squeeze through a divided US Congress, so as to complement the soaring progressive vision he sketched for history in his inaugural address last month. Aides said Obama will seek to build support for new laws to curb gun violence, as the horror of December’s massacre of 20 school kids begins to fade, at least outside the town of Newtown, Connecticut that it blighted. The president also told Democratic lawmakers last week he would focus on job creation, new forms of energy and education reform in his ceremonial annual address delivered from the House of Representatives.
Pitch And he will make a pitch for immigration reform, the centerpiece of his second-term agenda, amid signs that Republicans keen to ease the distrust they suffer from among Hispanic voters may be ready for some rare cross-party compromise. With political capital renewed by his re-election triumph in November, Obama will retool some old suggestions for jobs programs that never made it past Republicans in Congress and add some new ideas, advisers said. After a sluggish economic recovery, there are new signs of alarm in the flat economy, after GDP contracted at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the last quarter of 2012 and “We need a better understanding ... of what kind of plan the Obama administration has to confront our skyrocketing debt and our broken entitlement
Makeover looks like a civil war within party
GOP rebrand: is it more than skin deep? WASHINGTON, Feb 10, (AFP): US Republicans are rebranding themselves in the wake of last year’s defeat, but the makeover is looking less like a genuine bid to woo women and minorities and more like a civil war within the party. The party was hammered in the November election, with voters rejecting Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s harsh rhetoric on immigration, the poor and big government. Democrats retained the White House and gained seats in both the Senate and the Republican-led House of Representatives. Republicans have now lost the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections, and demographics are against them. More than nine out of 10 blacks voted to re-elect President Barack Obama, as did 71 percent of Hispanics and a majority of women. With their traditional base — white males — ceding ground to growing
numbers of minorities, a consensus has emerged: the party must reform or risks marginalization. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s demand in a January speech for fellow Republicans to “stop being the stupid party” became the tough love heard round the political world and kicked off the reinvention. “The Republican Party must do a better job of explaining our values,” Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus acknowledged in an op-ed. “We want to be a party for everybody, but that requires earning the trust of voters who have left the party and of those who have yet to support us.” Eric Cantor, the number two House Republican, pledged a renewed commitment “to ensure every American has a fair shot at earning their success and achieving their dreams.” But it will take more than one poli-
cy speech to restore the party, and many are seeking to soften the GOP’s tone, if not its core principles. Kingpin Republican strategist Karl Rove has launched a group to push more mainstream candidates to go up against Tea Party conservatives, some of whose shocking remarks last year — think anti-abortionist Todd Akin discussing “legitimate rape” — cost Republicans two seats in the Senate. Fox News, the conservative media flagship where pundit Dick Morris had predicted a Romney “landslide,” has meanwhile dumped Morris and Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin, the failed 2008 vice presidential nominee, as contributors. And Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio, the rising star whose personal story gives Republicans cover on the all-important immigration debate, will be presenting his party’s response to Obama’s State of the Union speech Tuesday.
the unemployment rate has ticked up to 7.9 percent. Obama will not shun conflict with Republicans over taxes and spending, a spat currently being waged over huge budget cuts due to come into force on March 1, with potential to hammer the economy. “We’re going to talk about, yes, deficits and taxes and sequesters and potential government shutdowns and (the) debt ceiling,” Obama told the Democrats. “But all from the perspective of how are we making sure that somebody who works hard in this country — a cop, or a teacher, or a con-
struction worker, or a receptionist — that they can make it if they work hard?” Obama has fashioned his crusade for a more equitable economy for the middle class around higher taxes for the rich — a stance which Republicans oppose, arguing unsustainable public spending should be issue number one. The president barely mentioned foreign policy in the inaugural address which enshrined his second White House term on Jan 21. But the watching world may get a window into his thinking on
Tuesday night. Aides expect Obama to note the impending return home of the remaining 60,000 US troops in Afghanistan in 2014, but it is unclear if he will offer more details on the pace of their withdrawal. Vice President Joe Biden gave a few hints on the State of the Union address on a recent trip to Munich, Germany. He said Obama would mention his bid to reduce global nuclear stockpiles and halt the proliferation of the components of weapons of mass destruction.
programs,” said Senator Orrin Hatch, the top Republican on the finance panel. Realistically, it does not appear Lew
Values
could win confirmation earlier than Feb. 25. After the hearing, the former budget chief will need time to respond to any additional questions senators
‘Second-rate’
Obama’s picks hit
Former vice president Dick Cheney speaks during the Republican Committee Fundraising Dinner on Feb 9, at the Little American Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cheney said Saturday night that President Barack Obama has jeopardized US national security by nominating substandard candidates for key cabinet posts and by degrading the US military. (AP)
CHEYENNE, Wyoming, Feb 10, (AP): Former vice-president Dick Cheney says President Barack Obama is jeopardizing US national security by nominating substandard candidates for key cabinet posts and degrading the US military. Cheney, a Wyoming native, made his comments Saturday night to about 300 members of the state’s Republican Party in Cheyenne. He says Obama’s picks for secretary of state, CIA and secretary of defense are “second-rate people.” John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, has been confirmed as secretary of state. CIA designate John Brennan and defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel are still awaiting US Senate confirmation.
may have and Congress begins a one week break on Friday. That means the Senate would not be able to confirm Lew in time for him to attend a meeting of finance chiefs from the Group of 20 nations in Moscow on Friday and Saturday. At the hearing, Republicans plan to zero in on Lew’s short stint at Citigroup. Lew, who has publicly said that he has scant expertise in financial markets, spent two years at the bank during Wall Street’s meltdown, earning a combined $2.65 million in 2007 and 2008, according to a transcript of his confirmation hearing in 2009 for a State Department post. Hired with a recommendation from then-Citi executive and former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Lew became chief operating officer of Citigroup’s global wealth management division in July 2006. He later became COO for Citi Alternative Investments, a largely administrative role that was apart from investment decisions that hurt the bank. Republican Senator Charles Grassley said he will ask Lew about a $940,000 bonus he was given just before the bank received a taxpayer-funded bailout. The bonus came as Lew was getting ready to serve as a State Department deputy for the Obama administration. (RTRS)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
16
World News Roundup Focus ‘Not age-related’
Older workers’ cuts stir debate THE HAGUE, Feb 10, (AFP): A French multinational’s suggestion in the Netherlands to ask older workers to accept pay cuts as a cost-cutting measure has touched a raw nerve as the Dutch economy faces a slowdown and rising unemployment. Unions see the idea doing away with the principle of paying older workers more for their experience as an attack on a fundamental right, while employers see it as a solution to avoid layoffs in a crisis-hit economy. The debate has raged in the Netherlands since French IT Donner giant Capgemini’s Dutch general manager, Jeroen Versteeg, said he was looking at “calibrating” 5,000 Dutch-based employees to see if salaries matched current market value and productivity. “Previously, this branch has always done well, with skyrocketing salaries to match,” Versteeg told the Financieele Dagblad (FD) daily last month. “But the market has changed and we have to bring ourselves in line with it.” Versteeg said the relentless economic crisis raging in Europe since 2008 has changed the situation in the sector dramatically. Versteeg said in some cases, specialist fees in the IT market have dropped by as much as half over the last four years. Consequently, newspaper reports said Capgemini will ask some 400 workers who the company thinks might be earning too much, to take voluntary salary cuts of up to 10 percent. The company denies it’s about age, but spokeswoman Madelon Kaspers said: “A person aged 23 and at the start of a career is not likely to have a salary imbalance.”
People participate in a traditional carnival celebration in the small village of Luzon, Spain, on Feb 9. Preserved records from the fourteenth century document Luzon’s carnival, but the real origin of the tradition could be much older. Carnival festivals are celebrated in their own way around hundreds of villages in Spain. (AP)
Germany Chancellor deprived of key ally in election year
Merkel counts cost as minister quits
Balance “With a person aged 35 or 45, it may well be the case. It’s not about age, but about the balance between market value and reward.” Kaspers said Capgemini saw the request for a voluntary pay cut as an alternative to mass job losses, which it believed to be “socially undesirable”. Under Dutch law, a company may not force workers to accept lower salaries and those who refuse to take a voluntary cut will be offered training to broaden their skills base, Kaspers said. But, she added, “in the current financial situation it’s not possible to guarantee jobs.” In the Netherlands — as well as in France and Belgium —employees have always earned more as they grow older and Dutch workers see the principle of a salary increasing with age and experience as sacrosanct. But with ageing workforces around much of the world, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned age-linked pay scales are becoming costlier.
Sense “Seniority-pay arrangements probably make less economic sense for employers today than they did in the past,” the OECD noted in a report. In 1966, half of employees in industrialised nations were under 35 and the average age was 34. By 2011 that figure had dropped to just over a third, with the average age climbing to 40 years. By 2050, the average age will stand at 42. “It is not possible for employers to pay a growing number of older workers more than their worth in productivity terms when there is a declining number of younger workers who are paid less than their productivity,” the OECD report pointed out. A recent study by three Dutch academics found that 75 percent of the country’s employers expect the wage-productivity gap to increase further as the workforce ages. “Except for the United Kingdom, employers do not apply demotion of older workers to balance pay and productivity,” said the study by Wieteke Conen, Kene Henkens and Joop Schippers, which also looked at the situation in numerous European countries. Three years ago, then social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner mooted the idea, saying older employees’ salaries “needed to be looked at”. His comments were met by a fierce outcry from unions. Now that Capgemini has rekindled the debate, unions are once again furious and analysts sceptical.
Dressed up residents of Venlo in Southern Netherlands celebrate carnival in the centre of the city on Feb 9. (AFP)
Anastasiades
Malas
Europe Police confounded by DNA: French police investigating a series of rapes in the southern city of Marseille are confounded after tracing DNA evidence to a set of twins but not knowing which one may be to blame. With telling the difference between the twins’ DNA extremely difficult and expensive, police have in the meantime charged both men, 24-year-olds identified only as Elwin and Yohan, and are holding them without bail. “It’s a rather rare case for the alleged perpetrators to be identical twins,” chief investigator Emmanuel Kiehl said. Police admit that without far more extensive tests it will be difficult to figure out which of the twins was possibly behind the attacks or whether both men were indeed involved. The two, both unemployed delivery drivers, deny any involvement in the rapes of six women between between September and January. Police tracked them down through video footage recorded on a bus and a mobile telephone allegedly taken from one of the victims and found in the brothers’ possession. The victims’ mobile phones were taken in each of the attacks, which took place in the corridors of buildings and involved women aged 22 to 76. Police said the victims were also able to identify the suspects, but not to tell them apart. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑ 5 dead in ship accident: Five crew members died in an emergency drill on a cruise ship in the Canary Islands on Sunday, police said. Cables snapped on a lifeboat and it plunged 20 metres (65 feet) to the ocean and fell upside down, killing the five and injuring three others aboard, during the mock rescue exercise on the Thomson Majesty, operated by British travel group TUI Travel. It was in the port of La Palma.
BERLIN, Germany, Feb 10, (Agencies): German Chancellor Angela Merkel was left licking her wounds Sunday after her education minister quit amid a plagiarism scandal, depriving her of a key ally as she gears up for September elections. Merkel betrayed rare emotion as she accepted “with a very heavy heart” the resignation of Annette Schavan, a personal friend, who quit to fight charges from her former university that she plagiarised her thesis 33 years ago. Although Merkel enjoys a sizeable lead in the polls and a high level of personal popularity, this is the second body blow in recent weeks after what she termed a “painful” loss in a state election on January 20. “The year could hardly have started worse for Mrs Merkel,” gloated the chief whip of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD), Thomas Oppermann. Nevertheless, the level of alleged plagiarism in Schavan’s thesis “Person and Conscience” was thought to be much less than in a similar case two years ago when popular defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg quit. And even some opposition figures showed some sympathy for Schavan, who has vowed to fight Duesseldorf TUI, Europe’s largest tour operator, did not respond immediately to telephone calls or email requests for comment. Three of the dead were Indonesians. The other dead were a Filipino and a Ghanaian. The Thomson Majesty, with five restaurants and two swimming pools, cruises to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and
University’s decision to strip her of her doctorate in the courts. SPD head Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview in the Welt am Sonntag weekly that he valued Schavan as an “honest and competent” minister and he was “extremely sorry” to see her go but he believed it was the right decision.
Dignified The media was full of praise for the manner of Schavan’s departure, perceived as dignified, and for the way she appeared to put her party and Merkel ahead of her personal ambition. Addressing her leader and friend as “dear Angela”, Schavan said the accusations that she cheated affected her “deeply” and said her priorities had always been “first my country, then my party and then me personally.” Merkel has already survived zu Guttenberg’s more damaging resignation; the loss of another defence minister over controversial comments on Afghanistan; and the departure of party ally Christian Wulff as president over a home loan scandal. Several media reports said the loss of Schavan would not inflict too much damage on Merkel, even in the run-up to elections on September 22. “Merkel can distinguish between the demands of her office and of the Red Sea, according to Thomson’s website. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
Anastasiades leads - poll: Cyprus’ right-wing opposition leader has a substantial lead over his two main rivals in the upcoming presidential election, opinion
friendship. The office demanded a quick, concise decision. Friendship demanded glowing words. She offered... both,” said the Berlin-based Tagesspiegel daily. “That makes Merkel unassailable in this case because no-one could have done it better,” added the paper. The left-leaning Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the resignation “will not harm Merkel.” “Until now, no resignation has been seen by the people as due to her own political failings. There were always individual reasons. That is the art that Merkel has mastered. Everything bounces off her,” noted the paper. “In this case, that is completely right.” The chancellor moved quickly to mitigate the fallout, immediately appointing the 61-year-old Johanna Wanka, a mathematician with wide experience in education, as the new minister. But the influential Die Zeit weekly noted that things were getting “lonely” around Merkel, as she loses yet another ally from her own conservative ranks amid a loveless relationship with her coalition partner, the Free Democrats. “With Schavan’s resignation, Merkel loses a further faithful ally. There aren’t many people around her polls indicated Sunday, as the country struggles to overcome its worst economic crisis in decades. The poll, conducted on behalf of weekly newspaper Kathimerini, showed that Nicos Anastasiades’ support was at 41 percent, 18 points more than left-wing candidate Stavros Malas, and 20.7 points over inde-
Georgia’s leaders vow to cooperate
Jeana Bonner (left), of South Jordan, Utah, and Rebecca Preece from Nampa, Idaho, sit with their adopted children at a hotel in Moscow, Russia,on Feb 9. After weeks of anxiety, plodding through the opaque Russian legal system and suffering wallet-thinning expenses, the two US women have custody of their adopted Russian children and are preparing to take them home to start a new life together. (AP)
TBILISI, Feb 10, (AFP): Georgia’s feuding president and prime minister on Sunday said they were ready to cooperate in an attempt to defuse increasing tensions that have spilled onto the streets. Around 300 protesters, believed to be supporters of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, on Friday attacked allies of President Mikheil Saakashvili in the capital Tbilisi. The president was supposed to have given an annual address there but the incident forced him to change venues. The attack on lawmakers from Saakashvili’s United National Movement party and Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava capped months of tensions after the president’s party lost legislative elections to Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition in October.
that can help her,” said the paper. “Like (former chancellor Helmut) Kohl at the end of his long chancellorship, she’s standing almost completely on her own. There’s hardly anyone left from her Praetorian guard.”
Also: BERLIN: German prosecutors have opened preliminary proceedings against Gregor Gysi, one of the Left party’s key election campaign figures, over allegations he lied about links with the former East German secret police, the politician said on Sunday. Gysi, who leads the Left party’s parliamentary group, has repeatedly faced allegations in the past two decades that as a lawyer in former East Germany he passed information on clients — some of them known dissidents — to the Stasi secret police. He said on Sunday he was confident the case would be dropped and saw no reason to reconsider his position in a team of eight that is leading the Left party’s campaign for federal elections in September. “Of course the suit will be discontinued just like previously because I never gave a false affidavit,” he said in a post on social media site facebook. pendent Giorgos Lillikas. The telephone poll used a sample of 1,200 adults with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percent. Another poll carried for leading newspaper Phileleftheros put Anastasiades ahead with 42.1 percent, 20 points more than Malas and 22.7 more than Lillikas. That telephone poll sampled 1,188 adults. No margin of error was given. Both polls indicated that a runoff is likely. Cyprus is trying to clinch a rescue package for its ailing banks and economy from its euro area partners and the International Monetary Fund before it runs out of cash to pay its bills. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Candidate seeks election delay: An Armenian presidential candidate who was shot has appealed for this month’s election to be delayed to allow him more time to campaign, raising concerns over instability in the former Soviet republic. Paruyr Hayrikyan, who was shown on television looking pale and bedridden with his arm in a cast, had initially said he would not seek a postponement. He changed his mind just few hours before a deadline to apply to the Constitutional Court to delay the Feb 18 vote after doctors advised him to remain in hospital. “We’ve applied the Constitutional Court with a request to postpone the election for two weeks due to Paruyr Hayrikyan’s health problems and the fact that he can’t campaign,” Vrezh Zatikyan, the candidate’s aide, told Reuters. (RTRS)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Britain Scandal spreads
UK rules out EU meat ban LONDON, Feb 10, (AFP): Britain’s food minister ruled out Sunday imposing a ban on importing meat from EU countries due to the horsemeat scandal unless there was a threat to human health. Owen Paterson dismissed the idea of slapping an immediate ban on such imports but warned he would not hesitate to do so if public health was at risk. Eating horse is considered taboo in Britain and tests have found some McIntosh frozen ready meals produced in mainland Europe and labelled as processed beef actually contained up to 100 percent horsemeat, triggering a Europe-wide scandal. Asked by Sky News television about imposing a ban, he said: “Arbitrary measures like that are not actually going to help. Firstly we are bound by the rules of the European market. “Should this move from an issue of labelling and fraud and there is evidence of material which represents a serious threat to human health, I won’t hesitate to take action. “But at the moment we do not have evidence that these materials are a threat to human health; they are a case of mislabelling.
British Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson addresses the media outside his department on Feb 9, following a meeting with food retailers and the Food Standards authority (FSA) after horsemeat was found in beef ready meals. (AFP)
Britain
Conspiracy “That is not the basis for a panic measure stopping all imports which would be in breach of the rules of the market.” Paterson said he feared there could be a “criminal conspiracy” afoot to hoodwink consumers by passing off horsemeat as beef. The head of the British parliament’s food affairs scrutiny panel earlier called for a ban on EU meat imports. Anne McIntosh, chair of the lower House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, urged consumers to buy British beef to reassure themselves that it is not contaminated with equine flesh. “I believe there should be a moratorium on the movement of all meat until such time as we can trace the source of the contamination and until we can establish whether there has been fraud either of the meat or of the labelling,” she said. “None of our meat, none of our slaughter houses, are implicated and we should be buying as local as possible and we should be buying fresh meat from the butcher, farm shop and supermarket,” she said. Meanwhile Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was “very confident” that hospitals were making sure they were not providing horsemeat dressed up as beef to patients. “All hospitals have a responsibility to make sure that the food they’re serving is safe,” he told BBC television. “We don’t believe at the moment that there are public safety issues,” he said.
Don’t break UK apart: PM Cameron
Scotland urged not to go it alone
The ‘Zouave’ soldier statue, built in 1856 by artist George Diebolt on the alma bridge, is partially submerged as the river Seine’s level rose on Feb 9, in Paris. Roads along the river are closed to motorists since Feb 6 after the level of the water was reported at 3.79 meters high instead of the usual 2 meters. (AFP)
Johnson
Begg
Europe
Inquiry The Europe-wide scandal over horsemeat sold as beef spread Sunday as six French retailers pulled products from their shelves and France promised to have the results of an urgent inquiry within days. Several ranges of prepared food have been withdrawn in Britain, France and Sweden after it emerged that frozen food companies had been using horsemeat — traced back to Romania — instead of beef in making lasagnes and other pasta dishes, shepherd’s pies and moussakas. Frozen food giant Findus has lodged a legal complaint in France after evidence showed the presence of horsemeat in its supply chain “was not accidental”, while a French meat-processing firm has said it will sue its Romanian supplier. Highlighting the complexity of European food supply chains, the meat has been traced back from France through Cyprus and The Netherlands to Romanian abattoirs. Romanian officials have also announced an urgent inquiry. French retailers Auchan, Casino, Carrefour, Cora, Monoprix and Picard announced Sunday they were withdrawing products provided by Findus and French producer Comigel over the horsemeat concerns. In a statement through the FCD retail association, the retailers said the withdrawal was the result of “labelling non-compliance in regards to the nature of the meat” in the products. Consumer Affairs Minister Benoit Hamon said French authorities would have the preliminary results of their inquiry into the scandal by Wednesday. Hamon also told Le Parisien newspaper authorities “will not hesitate” to take legal action if there is evidence that companies were knowingly duping consumers.
Fox attacks baby boy: British police are investigating a fox attack on a 4-weekold baby in his home in London. Scotland Yard said the boy was admitted to a hospital Wednesday after the fox injured his hand. British media including the BBC and the Press Association reported Saturday that the fox bit one of the baby’s fingers, and that the boy was recovering after surgery. It was not clear how the fox entered the home. Mayor Boris Johnson is calling for more to be done to tackle what he called the “growing problem of urban foxes.” Some have called for a cull of the animals, which are a common sight at night in quieter areas of the capital. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ Thousands protest nationwide: Tens of thousands of people marched in six cities around Ireland on Saturday to protest against austerity measures, days after the government struck a vital deal on its bank debt. Prominent trade unionists and opposition members of parliament marched alongside citizens facing a sixth year of cuts since a financial crisis plunged Ireland’s banking system into a debt spiral. The size of the protest was reminiscent of the early days of Ireland’s financial crisis; in recent years demonstrations have waned despite ever-rising taxes and spending cuts. A deal with the European Central Bank allowing Ireland to stretch out the cost of bailing out Anglo Irish Bank did not dampen the turnout for the protests, organised weeks in advance by an umbrella group for Irish trade unions. For protesters struggling with cuts in living standards, mortgage arrears or unemployment, the deal is scant consolation. “I’ve no confidence at all in the deal, it won’t make any difference to ordinary people,” said Alfie Murray, marching in Dublin with his 8-year-old grandson. “It’s the next generation that’ll shoulder the cost,” he said. Police said around 50,000 took part in
LONDON, Feb 10, (RTRS): British Prime Minister David Cameron conceded on Sunday that Scotland had what it takes to be an independent nation, but said it currently enjoyed “the best of both worlds”, imploring it not to break the United Kingdom apart. Stepping up his government’s campaign to hold Britain together ahead of an independence referendum expected next year, Cameron urged Scotland not to sever a union with England that dates back 306 years. “Put simply: Britain works. Britain works well. Why break it?” he wrote in an article published in Scottish newspapers. “This big question is for Scotland to decide. But the answer matters to all of our United Kingdom. Scotland is better off in Britain. We’re all better off together and poorer apart.” Cameron’s political future and historic legacy are on the line. He has pledged to contest the next British general election in 2015 and his own Conservative party would never forgive him if he presided over the breakup of a United Kingdom comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. London’s main parties are campaigning jointly against independence, knowing that Alex Salmond’s Scottish National Party (SNP) is an astute and highly motivated political machine that will spare no effort to win a vote on its flagship policy. Tapping into an emotive cocktail of historical rivalry, opposing political tastes, and a perception that the British parliament in London does not nurture Scotland’s national interests, the “Yes Scotland” campaign wants independence to be a reality by 2016. Scottish secession could create serious problems for the remainder of the United Kingdom. Britain’s Trident nuclear submarine fleet is based in Scotland, revenues from Scottish North Sea oil remain the demonstrations under the banner “Lift the Burden” in Dublin and other cities, although the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), which represents nearly a fifth of Ireland’s 3.1 million electorate,
‘Intimidatory behaviour’
Britain slams Argentina bullying over Falklands LONDON, Feb 10, (AFP): Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain could never be bullied by Argentina into giving up the Falkland Islands, in an interview published Sunday. Hague told The Sun newspaper that Argentina’s “intimidatory” behaviour only fortified the 2,500odd Falkland Islanders in their determination to remain a selfgoverning British overseas territory. He also branded his Argentine counterpart Hector Timerman’s claims that the South Atlantic archipelago would be under the control of Buenos Aires within 20 years as “fantasy”. “There should never be a reward for bullying or threatening behaviour in international affairs,” Hague said. “This is a community that is nearly 200 years old. They seem very determined to remain British. “If there’s any chance they would change their minds, the approach by Argentina is completely counterproductive. “It only fortifies the islanders’
determination to stay British. It is only going to add to the decades and centuries that the Falklands will remain British.” Britain has held the barren, windswept islands since 1833, but Argentine forces invaded in 1982, prompting London to send a naval task force to reclaim control in a brief but bloody conflict. Buenos Aires claims the islands are occupied Argentinian territory. Timerman visited London last week but refused to meet Hague as the British minister insisted on Falklands government representatives being present. On his visit, Timerman shook hands with a stranger who gave him a letter, only to learn it was one of the Falklands representatives. “You would think the poor minister had suffered an electric shock judging by the way he recoiled,” Hague said. “These are people who have rights — just like those in the UK and Argentina. “There are families in the Falklands who are in their ninth generation.
“The Falklands have been there longer than Argentina has had its current boundaries or existed in its current form.” He hinted that Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner was using the Falklands as a way to divert from domestic problems. Buenos Aires has rejected the dialogue of the 1990s in favour of “a pattern of bullying and intimidatory behaviour”, he said. “It would be better to talk to the islanders rather than deny their existence or claim Argentina will have the islands within 20 years. These things are fantasy. “It would be far better for their country to be realistic.” Hague accused Kirchner and Timerman of “misreading the character” of British and Falklands people. “Everything we have seen and heard in the last week is the last thing that would ever work.” A referendum is to be held on the Falklands on March 10 and 11, asking the islanders whether they wish to retain their current status.
important to its coffers, and analysts say Britain would find it harder to maintain its voice in international bodies such as the UN Security Council as well as in European Union decisionmaking. The SNP published a document this month suggesting the transition arrangements could be made within 16 months, and that Independence Day for Scotland could come in March 2016, a timetable opponents dismissed as unrealistic. Opinion polls suggest support for independence has stalled. The latest
put it at 32 percent and opposition at 47 percent. But Cameron and politicians from other parties remain nervous. The government is expected to release the first of many policy papers on Scottish independence on Monday, analysing the legal and constitutional implications of a “Yes” vote. One of the central planks of Cameron’s argument is that Scotland already enjoys a high degree of autonomy through its own parliament, and he has hinted that it would be able to
repatriate even more powers if it rejected full independence. “I have no time for those who say there is no way Scotland could go it alone. I know first-hand the contribution Scotland and Scots make to Britain’s success - so for me there’s no question about whether Scotland could be an independent nation,” Cameron writes. “We want you to scrutinise, challenge and form your own opinion. This must not be a leap in the dark, but a decision made in the light of day.”
put the figure at over 110,000. The largest protest took place in the capital, where police said up to 25,000 people took part - a large demonstration by Irish standards.
Marches organised in Cork and Sligo had an estimated turnout of 6,000, according to police, while protests in Limerick, Galway and Waterford attracted crowds of about 2,000.
1914 truce football
Recreation eyed
Police inspect the wreckage of a crashed Cessna plane at Charleroi airport, Belgium, on Feb 9. The small passenger plane crashed at Belgium’s Charleroi airport on Saturday morning, killing five people and closing the international hub used by Ryanair and other low-cost carriers for some hours at the start of a holiday week. (AP)
LONDON, Feb 10, (AFP): Britain wants to recreate the 1914 Christmas truce football matches between British and German troops as part of the commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of World War I, a minister said Saturday. Junior defence minister Andrew Murrison, who is in charge of overseeing the commemorations, told The Guardian newspaper that it was among the initiatives in the early stages of planning. “Football has a particular part to play because of the totemic significance of the Christmas truce in 1914,” the international security strategy minister said.
Ireland’s bank debt deal, announced last week, saw the cost of bailing out Anglo Irish stretched out over 40 years rather than 10, cutting Ireland’s borrowing needs by 20 billion euros over the next decade. “The jury is out on this deal,” SIPTU trade union president Jack O’Connor told Reuters. “We anticipated a lower turnout because of it, but went ahead as planned because people clearly want to know what these agreements actually mean for them day-to-day,” he said. David Begg, the general secretary of the ICTU addressing the crowd in Dublin, said it was hugely unfair that Irish people had paid 42 percent of the European banking debt burden, drawing widespread applause from protesters. “It would be fatal for people to believe this issue is now resolved and we can all move on,” he said. In the crowd, a large number of public sector workers, frustrated by cuts in their basic pay and additional workplace demands, expressed anger at government plans to make further cuts in the sector. “They want us to pay all their bills and we’re getting tired of it now,” said Patrick Healey, 57, a teacher who has seen his wages cut by 700 euros per month, or about 20 percent, in the last five years. (RTRS)
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World News Roundup Africa New fighting in borderland: At least 24 people have been killed in fresh fighting in the volatile borderland between Sudan and South Sudan, the southern army and rebels said on Saturday. South Sudan’s army spokesman Philip Aguer said his troops killed seven fighters from a militia supported by Khartoum which had crossed the poorly-defined border. The South’s army captured a Sudanese army truck used by the fighters during the skirmish in Obed in Upper Nile state in the northeast of the country, Aguer said. Sudan’s army spokesman AlAguer Sawarmi Khalid could not be reached on his mobile phone. In separate violence on Sudan’s side of the border, rebels from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLMNorth) accused a militia from South Sudan, supported by Khartoum, of having attacked a village and killed 17 people. The militia also wounded 35 civilians during their attack in the area of Abujibeha in oil-producing South Kordofan state, SPLM-North spokesman Arnu Lodi said. Sudan and South Sudan came close to war in April, their worst fighting since southern secession in 2011 under a peace deal which ended decades of civil war. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
Landmine kills 2 in Casamance:
Performers take part in a traditional Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good fortune, during lunar new year festivities at the temple of Heaven in Beijing on Feb 10. (AFP)
Asia Zhuang Zedong dies: Zhuang Zedong, a key figure in Beijing in 1971’s groundbreaking “pingpong diplomacy” between China and the US, died Sunday, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported. He was 72 and had struggled with cancer since 2008. A three-time world champion in table tennis, Zhuang won new fame by presenting a gift to American player Glenn Cowan, who had inadvertently boarded a bus carrying the Chinese team at the World Championships in Nagoya, Japan, in 1971. Zhuang and Cowan were photographed together, creating an international sensation at a time when China and the US were bitter Cold War rivals. Under orders from Chinese leader Mao Zedong, the 15-member American team was then invited to China at the end of the Nagoya championships for an ice-breaking visit. Ten months later, President Richard Nixon made a surprise visit to China, leading to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979. Zhuang became a favorite of Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing, a member of the notorious Gang of Four, which held sway over China’s cultural scene during the radical 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. Jiang appointed Zhuang to a number of political posts in the sports ministry. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
New Year ‘Raucous celebrations’
Asia greets Year of Snake
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle visits the ancient Borobudur temple located in Magelang, in East Java province on Feb 10. A UNESCO world heritage site, the Buddhist temple was built in the eight century. Westerwelle is on a two day visit to Indonesia as part of his Southeast Asian tour. (AFP)
Tokyo man arrested: Japanese police Sunday arrested a man suspected of being behind a computer hacking campaign following an exhaustive hunt that at one stage had authorities tracking down a cat for clues, reports said. Yusuke Katayama, 30, was arrested on charges of using a remote computer and sending a mass-killing threat to a comic book event after months of evading investigators with a series of vexing cyber-riddles, according to broadcaster NHK. The channel aired footage of detectives escorting a chubby man with glasses into a police station. He is believed to have sent numerous threats from computers around the country, including against a school and a kindergarten attended by grandchildren of Emperor Akihito. The National Police Agency (NPA) was embarrassed after it emerged that officers had extracted “confessions” from four people who had nothing to do with the threats. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Aftershock rattles Islands: A powerful aftershock rattled the Solomon Islands Sunday in Honiara as aid agencies struggled to get a clear picture of the devastation four days after a 8.0-magnitude quake triggered a deadly tsunami. The confirmed death toll rose to 10 with the discovery of a child’s body in a ditch in the remote Santa Cruz Islands, while more than 3,000 people are squatting in shelters after their homes were destroyed. Two boats carrying urgently needed supplies of medicine, food, water and tents have arrived at Lata, the main town in the island group, but the fragile communications system meant further shipments were on hold. Officials in the capital Honiara said they had not been able to receive full assessments of the situation in the outlying islands. “At the moment we don’t know if we are still in the relief stage or have moved to the recovery stage,” Red Cross secretary general for the Solomon Islands, Joanne Zoleveke, told AFP. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Cash crunch threatens war: Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge war crimes court has been dogged by controversy since its creation but now the UN-backed tribunal faces a potential threat to its very existence — it has run out of money.
Park
Kim
Media accuses US A North Korean state media outlet has accused the United States of “jumping to conclusions” that the North would soon stage a nuclear test, adding to the confusion over its immediate intentions. The US and its ally South Korea which is headed by President Park Geun-Hye are “fussing over speculation” without knowing exactly what action the North plans to take, Tongil Sinbo, a Japan-based pro-North weekly magazine funded by Pyongyang, said in an editorial. “The US and enemies, based on their own hypothesis and arguments, jumped to the conclusion that we would stage a third nuclear test,” said the editorial dated Friday and posted on the North’s official website, Uriminzokkiri. “They are fussing over speculation without having a clue about what important state measures will be taken, including whether it will be a nuclear test or something worse than that,” it said. The North’s top body, the National Defence Commission, announced on January 24 it would carry out a “highlevel nuclear test” and further rocket launches, in a defiant response to tightened UN sanctions after its successful long-range rocket launch in December. The nation’s young leader Kim Jong-Un recently vowed to take “important state measures” and discussed a “great turn” in bolstering military capability. (AFP) The court’s 2013 budget still has not been approved by international donors, who have appealed in vain for Cambodia to provide extra funding before they inject more money themselves.
BEIJING, Feb 10, (Agencies): A billion-plus Asians ushered in the Year of the Snake on Sunday with a cacophony of fireworks, after a Chinese televised gala featuring megastars including Celine Dion kicked off a week of festivities. From Australia to South Korea, millions of people travelled huge distances to reunite with their families for Lunar New Year — the most important holiday of the year for many in Asia — indulging in feasts and celebrations. As the clock struck midnight, Beijing’s skyline lit up with colour as residents braved freezing temperatures to set off fireworks, traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits — a scene repeated across China. But the capital’s streets were eerily quiet on Sunday, with nine million out of 20 million residents returning to their ancestral homes for the festival, according to the state-run China Daily. This year also saw a sharp reduction in the sale of fireworks as heavy smog in recent weeks has fuelled fears that Beijing’s notorious air pollution levels could touch dangerous highs during the festival. More than 260,000 boxes of fireworks were sold in the city in the days leading up to the New Year, a 37 percent drop compared to last year’s sales, after the smog left citizens “worried”, the Beijing News reported. State broadcaster CCTV aired its annual gala variety show during the countdown to the New Year — which rakes in hundreds of millions of viewers — featuring a gamut of iconic stars including Celine Dion who sang
While the contracts of the tribunal’s international staff have been extended until June, about 270 Cambodian employees — including drivers, prosecutors and judges — have received no pay since November.
in Mandarin. Dion performed the classic Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower” in a duet with local idol Song Zuying, before launching into her global hit “My Heart Will Go On” from the Hollywood blockbuster Titanic. Celebrations were also reported aboard Chinese patrol ships in waters surrounding East China Sea islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, which are at the centre of a bitter territorial row with Japan.
Dispute According to reports, the dispute had led to a ban on sales of fireworks labelled “Tokyo Explosion”, though a stall in southern Beijing visited by AFP was still offering them on Saturday. In China the snake has traditionally been seen as a symbol of wisdom, wealth and longevity, but it is considered less auspicious than other animals in the 12-year Chinese Zodiac such as the Dragon. Children in the North Korean capital Pyongyang celebrated the new year with kite-flying and other competitions, the official news agency reported. Displayed on most kites were messages such as “Our satellite” and “Satellite launch”, it said — a reference to the country’s December rocket launch which put a satellite into orbit. The UN Security Council punished the banned launch with tighter sanctions. In Taiwan temples were thronged with the faithful seeking blessings, with President Ma Ying-jeou seen
The court, whose top donors include Japan, the European Union, Australia, France, Germany and Britain, urgently needs $9.5 million for 2013. A relatively small amount on paper but a fortune given the strained relations
handing out traditional “red envelopes” with money (a token Tw$1) to well-wishers in Taipei. People also rushed to lotto booths to buy special Lunar New Year lottery tickets with a jackpot of Tw$200 million ($6.89 million). Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used the occasion to exhort his compatriots to extend a baby boom in the just-passed Year of the Dragon, which saw a 7.4 rise in the birth-rate amid rising complaints over the number of foreign workers. “We gladly welcomed more babies during the Dragon Year and hope that this continues into the Year of the Snake,” he said. In the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city of Hong Kong, thousands of people were expected to watch the annual night parade Sunday, at which illuminated floats will be showcased in a giant outdoor party with the city’s iconic Victoria Harbour as the backdrop. In Sydney fireworks overnight welcomed the Lunar New Year though the city’s major event, the annual Twilight Parade featuring some 3,500 performers, will not be held until next weekend. Prime Minister Julia Gillard wished the country’s 900,000 people of Chinese ancestry a “healthy and prosperous Year of the Snake” on Twitter. The New Year typically marks the largest annual movement of people as millions of people across China and other Asian countries squeeze into packed trains and buses to journey home to spend the season with their families.
between the donors and the government, accused of doing nothing to save the court, which is trying top leaders of the murderous, hardline communist regime that ruled the country in the late 1970s. (AFP)
Isles tension rises
China ships spotted
Performers take part in a dragon dance on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake, in China town in Manila, on Feb 9. (AFP)
TOKYO, Feb 10, (AFP): Four Chinese ships were spotted Sunday in disputed East China Sea waters, Japanese officials said, as Tokyo considered disclosing video footage and pictures as evidence of a Chinese frigate’s alleged radar-lock incident. For the first time after Tokyo made the allegation last week, China sent maritime surveillance vessels near Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Tokyo and Diaoyu by Beijing, which also claims them. They were seen sailing in the contiguous waters near one of the outcrops as of 0000 GMT, the Japan Coast Guard said.
A landmine explosion killed a woman and a child Saturday in Senegal’s restive Casamance region, the scene of a longrunning separatist rebellion, a local resident and a security source said in Ziguinchor, Senegal. “A mine exploded when a cart drove over it. A woman was killed on the spot. A child had his feet blown off and was taken to hospital, where he died,” a villager told AFP. A security source and a hospital official confirmed the incident, which happened on a well-travelled road between the villages of Diokatou and Kassal, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of the region’s main city, Ziguinchor. The Casamance Movement for Democratic Forces (MDFC) has been fighting for independence for the region south of Gambia since 1982. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced thousands more. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Amnesty fears new executions: Amnesty International has said it fears Zimbabwe will resume executions after the state media quoted prison officials saying they have found a new hangman following a seven-year search. Since the last executioner retired in 2005, 76 prisoners have been held on Death Row. Prison officials last week said only that the search for a hangman was over and did not elaborate. Some convicts were condemned to death 12 years ago and rights groups have campaigned for all the death sentences to be commuted to life, describing years of delays as inhumane. Amnesty said in a statement the “macabre recruitment” was a disturbing sign that bucked against world trends to abolish the death penalty. After touring the main Harare prisons on Feb. 1, state media reported that the hangman signed on “mid last year” but has yet to be put to work. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Peace force gets mandate: Southern African leaders have agreed to allow a 4,000-strong regional peacekeeping force to engage directly with rebels fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said in Maputo. A regional peacekeeping force will be able to combat “whoever is trying to destabilise the situation in the eastern part of Congo,” the Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretary general Tomaz Salomao told AFP after a regional meeting last week. No deployment date has been fixed. In an extraordinary summit in the Mozambique capital Maputo, leaders of the 14-member bloc decided on a separate command structure and rules of engagement for the force, though it would nominally fall under the United Nations. The force still needs UN Security Council clearance. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Ngudjolo seeks Dutch asylum: Former Congolese militia boss Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui who was acquitted of war crimes by the International Criminal Court late last year has applied for asylum in the Netherlands where he is being held in a centre for asylum seekers, his lawyer said Saturday in The Hague. “He was arrested by the Dutch police after being freed from the ICC’s detention centre because he did not have papers allowing him to remain in the Netherlands,” Jean-Pierre Kilenda told AFP. Acquitted on Dec 18, Ngudjolo was driven to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport where officials wanted to put him on a plane back to the Democratic Republic of Congo, but Ngudjolo immediately filed for asylum, Kilenda said. He was then taken to an asylum-seekers’ detention centre near the airport, where Kilenda pointed out “conditions are much poorer than at the ICC’s detention centre,” which is situated in a seaside suburb of The Hague a few kilometres from the court. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
2,300 refugees flee: More than 2,300 refugees, including soldiers, have fled the Central African Republic (CAR) for the Democratic Republic of Congo, fearing a rebel advance, a Congolese official has said in Kinshasa. Last week, 172 men, 347 women and 1,806 children left the Central African border town of Mobay-Mbonga by boat to cross the Oubangui river for MobayMbongo in DR Congo, said Willy Isekusu, local district commissioner for North Ubangi. (AFP)
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Cuba ‘Completely novel’
Telesur offers view of world HAVANA, Feb 10, (AP): There have been some strange sights on Cuban TV sets recently. News-starved viewers watched an Ecuadorean opposition candidate liken the government of President Rafael Correa, one of Havana’s staunchest allies, to a moonwalking Michael Jackson: He walks like he’s moving ahead, but he’s actually going backward. On another day Cubans learned a quarter-billion of their fellow Latin Americans have access to the Internet — something less than 10 percent of islanders can say themselves. Cubans even watched a live broadcast of Castro U.S. President Barack Obama’s inaugural address. Such images would be unremarkable in most countries, but they’re a break from the stodgy, tightly scripted state-run television that has long been the only fare in Cuba, with its mind-numbing tributes to efficiency, constant diatribes against the U.S. economic embargo and remembrances of minor anniversaries from the early years of the 1959 revolution. The change has come not from U.S.-funded TV Marti, which few Cubans can see, but via the leftleaning Latin American news channel Telesur, which is bankrolled primarily by Venezuela. Since Jan. 20, it has broadcast live about 12 hours a day in Cuba.
A reveller of Academicos do Tucuruvi samba school performs during the second night of carnival parades at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Feb 10. (AFP)
Brazil ‘Stars by night, workers by day’
Sympathetic Telesur’s outlook may be sympathetic to Cuba’s socialist model, but it’s still a relatively unfiltered news source, and many say the decision to carry it here is as groundbreaking as other recent reforms, such as legalizing more private businesses and allowing greater travel freedom. “It’s a window onto the world. It’s a different way of seeing things,” said Marcos Guizaldivar, a 41-year-old restaurant worker in Havana who said he was fascinated by Telesur and had all but tuned out Cuban state TV. “It would be great if they had it on 24 hours a day.” Guizaldivar and many others are captivated by Telesur’s global newsgathering, fresh, real-time reports and slick production values, all novelties for an audience accustomed to low-budget weather graphics and word-for-word readings of lengthy essays by retired President Fidel Castro. Even Telesur’s critics welcome its arrival on the island. “I think it is a positive step in Cuba, where all media are controlled by the Communist Party,” said Carlos Lauria, senior Americas program director for the New Yorkbased Committee to Project Journalists, a media advocacy group. But he noted that Telesur is unlikely to report on internal issues that reflect poorly on Havana’s government, such as Cuba’s tiny dissident community or problems with the country’s crumbling housing.
Critical It’s “limited, because there is no different or critical vision where dissent is expressed,” Lauria said. Telesur was conceived as a force for regional integration and as a counterweight to Western channels such as CNN and BBC. It began broadcasting in 2005 and receives majority funding from Venezuela, with the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua contributing lesser shares. Telesur carries musical and historical programs, as well as documentaries with investigative journalism and reporters grilling their subjects. That, too, is a significant departure from the softball questions typical of Cuban news and the echo-chamber analysis of the nightly TV public affairs show. And once baseball season begins, Cubans will watch highlights by Aroldis Chapman, Yoenis Cespedes and other Cuban stars whose names disappeared from official media after their defection, even as fans continue to pass news of their exploits in Major League Baseball by word of mouth. “Telesur is something completely novel for us,” said Felipa Martinez, a 68-year-old retired government office worker. “What’s also valuable is that you can stay current on international events.” As with the recent law making it easier for Cubans to travel abroad, the government apparently is betting that familiarity with the outside world won’t make people pushier about demanding political change or material goods.
Rio’s samba dancers live double life
Women cry after recognizing the body of a relative at a crime scene next to a van in downtown Guatemala City on Feb 9. The vehicle was attacked by unidentified gunmen while traveling toward a prison; leaving two guards and a woman dead, authorities stated. (AFP)
Lat/Am Locals allege detentions: Police acting without warrants and in a violent manner detained 25 people in connection with the rape of six Spanish tourists, although most were later released, a community leader said Saturday in Acapulco, Mexico. Residents fear the arbitrary detentions will continue, said Adrian Sanchez, a community leader in Lomas de Chapultepec, near the part of Acapulco where the women were raped Monday by five armed men wearing masks. Sanchez said that of the 25 people rounded up, two were minors. After most were released, including those two, five remained in custody, he said. Sanchez said he had filed a formal complaint with the human rights commission of Guerrero state, which includes the onceglitzy resort of Acapulco. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑ Employees kidnapped, released: Five non-editorial employees of a newspaper in northern Mexico were kidnapped but released within a few hours, the company said in an editorial posted on its website Friday. It complained there is a lack of security for news workers in the violenceplagued region around the city of Torreon. The newspaper Siglo de Torreon, in the state of Coahuila, said abductors took two people who operated its online services, two employees of the advertising department and one administrative employee. It said the workers were released early Friday, but that for security reasons, it would not give any further details on the incident. Mexican newspapers and journalists have been subject to frequent attacks in areas where drug cartels are battling for control of key regions and seek to dictate news coverage. Torreon is a city where authorities say increasing violence is a product of a turf war between the Zetas and Sinaloa cartels. Juan Carlos Romero, officer for freedom of expression in Mexico’s chapter of the London-based Article 19 group, said it had received reports from news companies that drug-trafficking groups are looking to spread their threat by targeting all media employees. He said the news companies had chosen not to make the threats public. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Venezuela in suspense: Hugo Chavez vanished from public view two months ago Sunday, with Venezuela still in suspense over its political future despite assurances its cancer-stricken president is getting better and back in charge in Caracas.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 10, (AP): It’s a life of stark contrast: By day, Diana Prado is a supervisor at an insurance company’s drably lit call center cramped with blue cubicles. But when night falls, she dazzles as a scantily clad samba school dancer in over-the-top performances glittery enough for a Hollywood musical. Like many samba dancers, or “passistas” as they’re known in Portuguese, the 26-year-old splits her time between the feathers, body paint and shrunken bikinis of Carnival and the workaday office reality of headsets and cubicles. Though passistas are unquestionably the star attractions of the world’s most iconic Carnival celebrations now under way in Rio de Janeiro, they’re not on the payroll of the samba schools they represent. So when they aren’t rehearsing or tending to their sculptural figures, many passistas work as secretaries, store clerks or maids. “I get up, run to dance class, come to work, go to rehearsal and fall into bed,” Prado said at her office, looking every inch the career woman in olive slacks, demure beige sweater and dark framed glasses. Her fingernails, acrylic appliques in shimmering gold glitter that produce rapid-fire clicks as she types, are the only visible clue as to her double life. “In the run-up to Carnival, it’s pretty chaotic. I don’t sleep much at all from September through now,” she said.
Rehearsals The several-times-weekly rehearsals begin in the late evening and often drag into the wee morning hours, and there are parties and other events that she and other passistas do on the side. Then there’s her rigorous and time-consuming beauty regime of workouts, diets, hair removal, manicures and hair extensions and treatments. Prado estimates that looking her flashbulb-ready best costs her at least $150 a month. Nathalia Araujo, a passista for the storied Portela school, says that between her 9-to-5 telemarketing job and her responsibilities at the samba school, there are days during Carnival season that she doesn’t get any shuteye at all. “I can only stop by my house to take a quick shower before coming to work,” said the 20-year-old, who’s been dancing samba since she was 12. “You have to be in constant motion.” To successfully navigate these two worlds, it helps to have an under-
The latest information on Chavez’s condition came Friday from Vice President Nicolas Maduro, who read a message from the ailing leader after visiting him in the Cuban capital Havana where he has been convalescing from a fourth round of cancer surgery. “I am in a process of slow recovery, but I am in the battle,” Maduro read. In Chavez’s absence, and ostensibly with his approval, his government has begun to
Brazilians pay special tribute to S. Korea
Human tide engulfs Rio for Carnival RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 10, (AFP): Hundreds of thousands of beaming revelers in outlandish costumes poured into central Rio Saturday for wild merrymaking and beer drinking on day two of the world’s most famous Carnival. Last year, the Cordao da Bola Preta bloco, one of the Brazilian city’s oldest and most traditional street parties, attracted 2.3 million people. This year organizers expect 2.4 million, with tourism officials saying Guinness World Records representatives were on hand to check whether the 95-year-old street bash can qualify as the globe’s biggest. Black polka dots on white are the trademark style for Bola Preta (black ball) fans since, according to city lore, the bloco’s name was inspired by a stunning, curvy woman in a polka dot dress. “I come every year. The more people the merrier,” said Luiz Ornellas, a 25-year-old student disguised as a clown. The parade got under way a day after the legendary King Momo officially declared the start of the 2013 Rio Carnival after symbolically receiving a giant key to the city from Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes. Carnival is hugely popular throughout Brazil and, as is customary, Salvador led the way Thursday night, with hundreds of thousands of people partying in the streets of the Bahia state capital
and heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. This year, Brazilians are paying a special tribute to South Korea to mark the 50th anniversary of Korean immigration to the country. Samba schools in Rio and Sao Paulo are honoring the contribution the 50,000-strong Korean community has made to this vibrant and racially diverse country of 194 million people. In Salvador, South Korean popstar Psy performed to huge crowds alongside Brazilian stars Claudia Leitte, Gilberto Gil and Daniela Mercury.
standing boss. Prado said her employer, the head of a dental insurance provider, knows she is a samba dancer and allows her to work flexible hours. “I know that we have to let things slide at this time of the year so that she can realize her dream,” said Eliseo Santos, co-owner of the Sempre Odonto insurance company. “She’s good about trying to put in all her hours, but when she can’t, we kind of look the other way,” he said with a wink. The 15 employees who work under Prado also know about her other profession. It would be a difficult thing to hide, she said with a laugh: She often comes into the office carrying oversize feather headdresses or applies her fake lashes and extravagant glitter makeup in the restroom there before
rushing off to rehearsals. Prado insists her double life doesn’t detract from her authority as boss, and her staff agrees.
Wowed The rapper wowed his audience with his “Gangnam Style” hit — featuring his signature horse-riding dance — that made Internet history last December by clocking more than one billion views on YouTube. Sao Paulo, the country’s most populous city and economic capital, kicked off its elaborate Carnival parades Friday, with a tribute to popular sambista Beth Carvalho, who is in hospital recovering from spine surgery. With colorful fantasy floats and elaborate costumes, other samba schools highlighted Sao Paulo’s rich ethnic and racial diversity, recounted the story of wine and celebrated the world’s other major festivals such as the Venice Carnival, New Orleans Mardi Gras or Mexico’s Day of the Dead. On Rio’s streets Saturday, Bola
Parades “We see how determined she is, and it’s really admirable,” said saleswoman Ana Lucia Oliveira. “I’m from Rio and grew up with Carnival, loving Carnival, so it’s amazing to be this close to someone who lives Carnival every day.” Prado made her Carnival debut at age 19, after auditioning for a spot with the Sao Clemente samba school, one of the dozen top-tier schools that compete for the coveted title of the year’s best in two all-night-long parades Sunday and Monday at the city’s iconic Sambadrome. At first, she said, her moves were
move on some pressing issues, announcing a steep devaluation of the national currency on Friday. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Romero
Chavez
Jamaican police kill 3: Authorities in Jamaica say police have killed three men in a shootout near the popular tourist destination of Montego Bay. Police said in a statement Saturday that officers seized a submachine gun and a pis-
Preta fans strutted along in a variety of eccentric costumes. Spotted in the crowd was a President Barack Obama figure waving a flag proclaiming “I am the Man,” while another reveler was decked out as the late Michael Jackson. Other popular disguises featured rabbits, bees, fairies, princesses, firefighters, policemen or superheroes. The joyful merrymaking came on the eve of Rio’s eagerly-awaited parades of richly decorated floats and scantily-dressed samba queens at the Sambodrome parade ground designed by the late Oscar Niemeyer. Some 12 elite samba schools are vying for the title of Carnival champion in a fiercely contested showdown watched with the same fervor as football matches in this soccer-mad nation. While the Sambadrome parades are the highlight of the Rio Carnival, they attract mainly the wealthy and foreign tourists. The blocos, by contrast, are open to all, attracting the rich and poor from all city districts and neighboring towns. Authorities said six million people, including more than 900,000 tourists, were expected to attend some 492 street parties during the five-day Rio extravaganza. The Marvelous City, which will host next year’s World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, has mobilized 14,500 police offiers to provide security.
amateurish compared with other passistas, even though like other Rio natives she had grown up dancing the samba. “I didn’t know how to do anything — how to put on makeup, how to do my hair — and I was so embarrassed the first time I had to perform in my costume,” she said, referring to the passistas’ itsy-bitsy bikinis, which generally are kitted out with feathers, a generous sprinkling of sequins and towering platform heels. “I just broke down crying the first time.” “Even today, after seven Carnivals, the hardest part for me is separating my own personality from that of the character of the passista, who is super bubbly and sexy and engages with everyone,” Prado said at a rehearsal, where her fancy footwork and sensuous hip-shaking mesmerized a pack of photographers.
tol along with ammunition at the scene Friday afternoon. Authorities say the case has been referred to an independent panel charged with investigating fatal police shootings. Another man was killed by police on Friday in an unrelated shooting in the nearby northwest parish of Westmoreland. Human rights groups have long criticized the number of fatal shootings by Jamaica’s police officers and soldiers. (AP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
20
World News Roundup Environment Warming may help in north
Comeback cod lessens gloom ABOARD HAUNES, Norwegian Sea, Feb 10, (RTRS): It was hours before dawn on a heaving Arctic sea, and snow showers were making it hard for Kurt Ludvigsen to find his fishing buoys with the trawler’s powerful searchlight. But the 49-year-old Norwegian was less bothered by the conditions than by the large numbers of cod flailing in the nets he and his younger brother Trond winched aboard. “It’s paradoxical but we have too many fish this year,” the older Ludvigsen said. “Prices have fallen 30 percent ... We’re having to work far harder.” Just over six years ago, an article in the US journal Science projected that all fish and seafood species, on current trends, would collapse by 2048. A cod bonanza off north Norway and Russia and recovery of some fish stocks off developed nations from the United States to Australia have led many scientists to say the future for over-fished world stocks is a bit less bleak. Stocks off developing nations — from the Pacific to the Caribbean — are still in sharp decline but the recoveries give hope that the problems are not irreversible. “The outlook is improving relative to what we saw in 2006,” said Boris Worm, a professor of biology at Dalhousie University in Canada who was the lead author of the 2006 study in Science. “It’s more than isolated examples — it’s a substantial number” of successes, he said.
Fisheries A lot is at stake. Fisheries, both marine and farmed, provide livelihoods for up to 820 million people, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which emphasises that globally, over-fishing is still on the rise. Cod, the 11th most caught fish species in an FAO list led by the Peruvian anchovy, skipjack tuna and Atlantic herring, has had a mixed fate. While a 1990s moratorium off eastern Canada is still in place and European Union quotas are unchanged this year, the quota off northern Norway and Russia is a record 1.02 million tonnes, up a third from 2012 and six times as high as in 1990. Part of the reason is that global warming has expanded the cod’s habitat northwards. And strict management of quotas by Oslo and Moscow have played a role, fisheries experts say. Among other encouraging examples, fish landings off the United States rose to a 14-year-high in 2011, “thanks in part to rebuilding fish populations,” according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. US successes include Atlantic swordfish, summer flounder, New England scallops, Pacific lingcod and mid-Atlantic bluefish, the Washington-based Pew Environment Group said. In September, another study in the journal Science said catches of the best-studied stocks off developed nations were shifting towards sustainable levels. “We now know that we can make fisheries recover,” said Christopher Costello, lead author of that study and a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “That sounds obvious but even 10 years ago many people would have disagreed, saying ‘we’ve already decimated them to a point of no return’.” Many experts were now dropping a belief that over-fished stocks, like cod off Canada, can never revive. Closing fishing grounds, or cracking down on illegal catches, usually gives stocks a needed respite, he said. That is much harder for developing nations, from the Philippines to Ecuador, to enforce, with the result that better conservation in one area may simply shift problems elsewhere. The boom in cod stocks off Norway and the drop in prices, caused partly by recession in key importers Portugal and Spain, has undermined efforts to farm cod as an alternative to preserve wild stocks. Fresh cod now costs far less than farmed fish. Most revivals in fish stocks are in areas where only one or two nations set the rules, like off the United States or Australia, where stocks of prawns and tuna have risen. “And the biggest gap is still fixing the high seas — half the world’s surface,” said Amanda Nickson, director for global tuna conservation at the Pew Environment Group who said most successes were in national waters. Global warming, meanwhile, is bringing all kinds of threats. Iceland unilaterally raised its
mackerel quota in 2011, saying the fish had moved north due to warmer seas, and the European Union warned it might block imports in response. Their spat has drawn comparisons with “cod wars” between Britain and Iceland in the 1950s and 1970s, although for 2013, Iceland has cut its quota by 15 percent. One study last year said fish would shrink in coming decades because of a lack of oxygen in warming waters. And acidification caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could make it hard for creatures to form protective shells, disrupting marine food chains. So far, though, only only one semi-marine fish is known to have gone extinct, Worm said, the New Zealand grayling which lived in both rivers and the ocean. For now, Norwegian fishermen are happy to enjoy their boom. Locally known as “skrei”, the cod swim south to coastal areas to spawn in vast numbers from January to April. “Cod is king of the economy in the north,” said Svein Ove Haugland, deputy managing director of the fishermen’s sales organisation, Rafisklag, in the Arctic city of Tromso. Once landed, many are hung out to dry or salted, preservation methods dating back at least to Viking times. Nature can quickly shift from boom to bust. Female cod seek an exact blend of temperature, saltiness and water pressure to spawn — a sudden natural shift in currents can destroy their eggs, said Lise Mangseth of the Rafisklag. Marine stocks are still badly understood, which explains why fisheries went from wild optimism in the 19th century to the depths of pessimism at the beginning of the 21st. Thomas Huxley, a leading British biologist, said in 1883 that fish stocks such as cod, herring and mackerel were so plentiful as to be inexhaustible by trawlermen of the day. “Any attempt to regulate these fisheries seems consequently...to be useless,” he said in a speech often blamed for opening the way to unfettered exploitation of the seas. Huxley, a friend of naturalist Charles Darwin and a strong defender of his theory of evolution, said that only river fish like salmon or shellfish such as oyster beds needed oversight.
Wrong He was disastrously wrong. A UN Earth Summit in Johannesburg in 2002 agreed to restore world fisheries by 2015 — a goal set to be missed. And global stocks face ever more pressure, according to the UN’s FAO, as the world population rises above 7 billion. The percentage of over-exploited marine stocks has risen to about 30 percent from 10 percent in 1974. Over the same years, the percentage of fully exploited stocks, where no more fish should be caught, has risen close to 60 percent from 50. “If you look at these trends there is no good news,” said Gabriella Bianchi, coordinator of the marine and inland fisheries service at the Rome-based FAO. “Locally there are improvements but they are not enough to influence the global trends,” she said. In the latest attempt at broader action, the European parliament on Wednesday backed reforms to end decades of over-fishing and restore the region’s sea stocks to healthy levels by 2020. 27-member bloc says about 80 percent of Mediterranean stocks and 47 percent of its Atlantic stocks are over-fished. One worry for fishermen in developed nations, hit by weak economic growth or recession, is that prices and demand will fall because consumers are turning to import cheaper white fish such as farmed pangasius from Vietnam. “Conservation successes may be bought at the expense of displacing fishing to less well-regulated areas,” Worm said. In developing nations, the World Bank says granting groups of fishermen exclusive rights to catches in return for respecting “no take” zones, such as near coral reefs or mangroves that are nurseries for fish, can aid recovery. Eight Pacific island nations — including Nauru, Palau, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands — for instance, have tough regulations for skipjack tuna fishing. Norway’s fishermen complain that many European consumers think all cod stocks are in trouble. The Norwegian Seafood Council wants to persuade people in Britain, for instance, to eat more of the plentiful Barents Sea cod in fish and chips.
This image released by NASA on Feb 9, 2013 shows a fresh drill hole (center), made by the Curiosity rover on Feb 8, next to an earlier test hole. Curiosity has completed its first drill into a Martian rock, a huge milestone since landing in an ancient crater in August 2012. (AP)
NASA rover drills into its first Martian rock The Mars rover Curiosity drilled into the Martian surface for the first time as part of an effort to learn if the planet most like Earth in the solar system ever had conditions to support microbial life, NASA said on Saturday in Cape Canaveral. Pictures beamed back to Earth on Saturday showed a hole about 0.63 inches (1.6 cm) wide and 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) deep in a patch of finegrained sedimentary bedrock that appears to have been in contact with water.
The drilling, which took place on Friday, produced a small pile of powder that will be fed into two onboard laboratory instruments to determine the rock’s chemical makeup. “First drilling on Mars to collect a sample for science is a success,” NASA posted on Twitter. Engineers spent days preparing to use Curiosity’s drill, including boring practice holes earlier in the week. Previous Mars probes have had tools to scrape and grind into rock, but never a drill to collect interior samples.
Curiosity’s first drill target was a rock laced with veins of what appear to be water-deposited minerals. The rover, which landed on Mars on Aug. 6 for a two-year mission, is looking for geologic and chemical conditions needed to support and preserve microbial life. Engineers do not yet know exactly how much powder was produced, but are confident there is enough for a planned instrument cleaning and lab analysis, Avi Okon, a drill engineer with NASA’s Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said in a statement. NASA’s lead scientist, John Grunsfeld, said using the drill was “the biggest milestone accomplishment for the Curiosity team since the sky-crane landing last August.” Curiosity’s ultimate target is a 3-mile (5-km) high mound of layered sediment rising from the floor of the Gale Crater landing site. The drill is the last of the rover’s 10 science instruments to be tested. (RTRS)
Goodall aims to protect chimpanzees
‘Man, nature ties gone wrong’
This NASA handout image obtained from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE on Feb 6, 2013 features the Orion nebula. The constellation of Orion is prominent in the evening sky throughout the world from about December through April of each year. The nebula (also catalogued as Messier 42) is located in the sword of Orion, hanging from his famous belt of three stars. Because of its prominence, cultures all around the world have given special significance to Orion. The Maya of Mesoamerica envision the lower portion of Orion, his belt and feet (the stars Saiph and Rigel), as being the hearthstones of creation, similar to the triangular three-stone hearth that is at the center of all traditional Maya homes. The Orion nebula, lying at the center of the triangle, is interpreted by the Maya as the cosmic fire of creation surrounded by smoke. The Orion nebula is an enormous cloud of dust and gas where vast numbers of new stars are being forged. (AFP)
Environment EU moves to save Pompeii: The European Union launched a 105 million euro ($142.05 million) restoration of the Roman city of Pompeii last week, and said it would seek to protect conservation funds from the mafia. The project began a day after police arrested a restorer on suspicion of pocketing hugely inflated fees for work at the crumbling world heritage site that was declared to be in a state of emergency in 2008 due to its deterioration. The money will pay for a new drainage system, the reinforcement of some structures and staff training, and includes “a variety of measures to protect itself from the influence of organised crime - the Camorra - which infects many parts of the region,” the European Commission said. The Camorra is the local mafia which thrives on trafficking, extortion, and government contract frauds in and around Naples, the largest city in southern Italy, 25 kms (15 miles) from Pompeii. EU Regional Affairs Commissioner Johannes Hahn said he had taken an interest in launching the restoration plan since the 2010 collapse of the House of the Gladiators, used by the warriors before fights in the nearby amphitheatre. Police are investigating former managers at Pompeii whom they suspect of paying inflated prices for restoration work. One contract originally priced at 449,882 euros ended up costing almost 5 million euros, and many works were not essential, prosecutors said. Italy declared a state of emergency in Pompeii in 2008 after archaeologists complained about poor upkeep, mismanagement and lack of investment. The EU’s regional fund spent 7.7 mil-
NAIROBI, Feb 10, (AFP): Jane Goodall greets the audience by imitating a chimpanzee, then launches into an hour-long talk on her relationship with apes and how, from being a primatologist, she became an activist to protect them. At 78, Goodall, who has 53 years of studying chimps behind her, is still crisscrossing the planet to raise the awareness of populations and their leaders on the fate of the apes and the need to protect the environment. “I haven’t been more than two or three weeks in one place at one time,” for the past 25 years, she says. It all started with a conference on chimpanzees that she attended in the US in the 1980s. There were sessions on the ethics of chimps being used in medical research, habitat destruction and chimps caught in snares and the beginning of the bush meat trade. “I went in as a scientist happily learning about chimpanzee behaviour... but I left that conference as an activist,” she recounts.
Endangered She started her career as an activist in Africa, travelling from country to country with her exhibit — a collection of photos and some tools used by chimpanzees, who, like all the great apes, are endangered by habitat destruction and the bush meat and pet trades. “While I was travelling around in Africa, I was not only learning about the need to conserve chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos, but I was also learning about many of the problems facing African people,” she added. “I was learning more and more about the poverty and the ethnic violence and problems of that sort.” The realisation that many of the problems faced by African populations stemmed from exploitation of natural resources, first in the colonial era and then by multinational companies, led her to realise “it’s also clearly important to travel in Europe and North America, and now increasingly in Asia,” she told those gathered to listen to her at the National Museum headquarters in Nairobi. She spoke of the explosion in the planet’s human population, of the ever greater need for land, food and housing, and evoked the scarcity of water as well as global warming. “When I first came to Africa and I flew over Kilimanjaro, even in the height of the summer there was a great cap of snow. The snows of Kilimanjaro,” she recalled. “I just read the other day that we should rather be talking about the dusts of Kilimanjaro. That is just one signal
lion euro on restoration at Pompeii from 2000-2006, but today just five individual sites are open due to damage, compared to 64 in 1956. Organised crime generates an annual turnover of 140 billion euros in Italy under its PM Mario Monti, according to a 2012 study by anti-crime group SOS Impresa, generating profits equivalent to 7 percent of Italy’s national output.(RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
‘Icon of conservation’
Goodall chimp expert turned activist NAIROBI, Feb 10, (AFP): When Jane Goodall, chimpanzee activist and the first scientist to observe that apes as well as humans use tools, “knocks at somebody’s door they come,” said Ian Redmond, chair of the Ape Alliance, a coalition of conservation groups. “Jane is known by and trusted by heads of state, the Dalai Lama ... She’s become an icon of conservation,” said Redmond, who has known Goodall since the 1980s, the point at which she went from being a scientist to being an activist. Indefatigable at 78, Goodall crisscrosses the planet pleading the cause of chimpanzees — the apes she came to Africa to study more than half a century ago in what is now Tanzania — then still a British protectorate called Tanganyika. Slim, looking younger than her years and with long grey hair tied back from the face, Goodall speaks with quiet composure, sufficiently sure of her own influence not to need to charm her listeners. “She treats the audience to very accurate renditions of a chimpanzee at the start of every conference,” Redmond told AFP. A recent visit to Nairobi was no exception with Goodall regaling the assembled company with a whole variety of chimp sounds. A committed vegetarian, Goodall now spends just a few weeks a year in
the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania where she cut her teeth as a scientist — the first researcher to live year-in year-out in the bush with the apes she was studying. It was Louis Leakey, the famed paleontologist, whom Goodall met whilst visiting friends in Kenya, who suggested she go study chimpanzees, reckoning correctly that she had the right temperament for lone research in the bush. Born two years after the American Dian Fossey, who devoted her life to the study of the mountain gorilla in neighbouring DR Congo and Rwanda, Goodall started out in an age when it was unthinkable for a nice young lady to go off into the bush without a chaperone. Her mother Vanne came along and, according to Goodall, spent the better part of the day at the camp they had set up, with only the ladies’ Tanzanian cook — whom Goodall remembers chiefly for his taste for local banana alcohol — for company. Goodall recounts how, in the evenings when she gave way to despondency, feeling she was getting nowhere with her research, Vanne would encourage her, pointing out what she had accomplished. It was in the Gombe park that Goodall famously witnessed a chimpanzee she had named David Greybeard using a grass stalk to get termites out of a termite mound.
and this is all around the world that the glaciers are melting,” she went on. For Goodall, one of the world’s leading chimpanzee experts, “something has gone wrong” in the relationship between man and the planet. “We’ve just been stealing, stealing, stealing from our children, and it’s shocking. But is it true that there’s nothing that can be done? No absolutely not,” she goes on, explaining how her latest project, Roots and Shoots, began. The project, which now spans 132 countries, began in Tanzania, where Goodall, the first scientist to name the animals she was studying — a practice that sparked controversy, started observing chimpanzees, with just 12 students from nine different high schools. Roots and Shoots is aimed at sensitising young people to the importance of the environment and fauna. “Young people are influencing their parents, they are influencing their teachers, they grow up to become teachers and parents, they grow up to go into
business, to become politicians,” Goodall said. “I now look back over nearly 53 years of unbroken research in Gombe and I think the thing that strikes me most and probably that has been the most significant in enabling this study to continue is how like us chimpanzees are,” she added. “They are way more like us than we thought back then,” she said. “We didn’t know back then the DNA structure of chimps and humans differs by only just over 1%, we didn’t know to what extent the immune and blood systems and the anatomy of the brain is similar in humans and chimpanzees and we certainly didn’t know how similar our behaviour is,” she said, noting that chimpanzees are capable of altruism. “There is no sharp line dividing us from the chimpanzee or from any of the great apes,” Goodall said, whilst also dismissing the idea of a sharp distinction between the great apes and monkeys and other mammals.
Hahn
Monti
Judge issues sentence: The former CEO of an upscale jewelry manufacturing company has been fined nearly $1 million for smuggling black coral into the US Virgin Islands. The US Justice Department says a judge also ordered Ashu Bhandari to spend one month in jail, complete 300 hours of community service and pay nearly $230,000 to the University of the Virgin Islands for projects to research and protect black corals. (AP)
Some lighthearted suggestions on ‘Star Wars’ films
Disney plans spinoffs on Han Solo, Boba Fett and Yoda
Film
NEW YORK, Feb 10, (AP): Having recently purchased the “Star Wars” franchise from Lucasfilm for $4 billion, the Walt Disney Co is shifting the films into hyperdrive. Not only has Disney already begun working on a new trilogy, to start with J.J. Abrams directing episode seven, but studio chief Bob Iger said this week have said possible spinoffs are being developed for young Han Solo, the bounty hunter Boba Fett and Yoda. Obviously, the tauntaun is totally out of the bag. The “Star Wars” universe is set to rapidly expand,
with every penny drained out of George Lucas’ franchise. But why stop with a few predictable choices when there are others deserving of a close-up? Here are a few lighthearted suggestions for further “Star Wars” spinoffs. Admiral Ackbar: Sure, the leader of the Rebel Alliance’s Endor assault doesn’t exactly have the matinee looks you’d normally want in a star. Truth be told, he looks like a fish. But he’s a master tactician and no one is better at taking evasive action. An Ackbar film could revolve around his deep-seated paranoia of constantly
being ambushed. Ackbar drives into a parking garage: “It’s a trap!” Ackbar drops off his dry cleaning: “It’s a trap!” The Cantina Band: An obvious one, perhaps, but who doesn’t want to know more about the Mos Eisley Cantina Band? Technically known as Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, one can’t help but wonder about the band dynamics. Is Figrin D’an like the Sammy Hager of the outfit and Doikk Na’ts the Eddie Van Halen? Do they tour? And what about Max Rebo, the blue elephant-looking guy who plays keyboards in Jabba the Hutt’s palace. Do they ever
jam together?? Life on the Death Star: It was an entire planet (twice) created by Dark Side, but what’s it like to live there? How are property values? The whole thing looks entirely grey. Where are the parks? Where do the Stormtroopers get their helmets? This would have to be directed by the comedian Eddie Izzard, who contemplated the scene of a Death Star cafeteria in a famous stand-up bit. Izzard imagined Darth Vader ordering the penne alla arrabiata and arguing with a caterer over whether he needs a tray. C-3PO and R2D2 on Holiday:
Because droids need a vacation, too. R2D2 and C-3PO finally get away for an eventful week in the Caribbean where the two learn some lasting lessons on friendship, love and the effects of salt water on their parts. The tagline: “These ARE the droids you’re looking for.” Another Skywalker: It was long ago that on his death bed, Yoda uttered his last words: “There is another Skywalker.” It turned out, of course, that Princess Leia was that Skywalker, the twin sister of Luke. But what if Yoda came back to say, “There is another another Skywalker”?
Not twins, but triplets. Imagine the possibilities. I’m thinking the third Skywalker should be the black sheep of the family (other than, um, Darth Vader). Possible casting choices for the third, less talented Skywalker: John Goodman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jason Schwartzman. Old Han Solo: Granted, young Han Solo is probably very dashing and risk-taking. But don’t we all kind of expect old Han would end up a lot like old Elvis? His hardliving is sure to catch up with him. All that time frozen in carbonite can’t be good for your metabolism.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
Features
Variety
This film image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Alice Englert in a scene from ‘Beautiful Creatures,’ which is set to release on Feb 14. (AP)
Film Female Western hero, Russian outlaw star at Berlinale BEVERLY HILLS, Calif: Some of the most ingenious behind-the-scenes innovators, whose breakthroughs in computer technology and other fields were key to the making of movies such as “Shrek” and “Avatar,” were awarded at an early Oscar organizers’ ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday night. From the team who developed a system to bring to life computerized digital stunt doubles for fantastic creatures in movies such as “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” to the man who simply developed one of the most versatile lighting delivery systems in film production, the Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards showcased emotional speeches and lifetimes of work for those whose lives are spent behind the camera. The Beverly Hills ceremony honored 25 individuals with nine awards. Unlike the main Oscars ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24 and will only recognize movie achievements from 2012, the Scientific and Technical Awards honored those with a proven record of achievement in the process of making feature films. The ceremony was hosted by actors Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana, who respectively played Captain James T. Kirk and Uhura in “Star Trek” in 2009 and who will reprise those roles in this May’s sequel. Saldana payed tribute to the night’s honorees, saying they made it possible for life in front of the camera. Richard Mall received perhaps the greatest applause of the night, for his invention of the Matthews Max Menace Arm, a portable device which allows studio lights to be moved and positioned all over a set, often where normal lighting cannot be used because of on-site restrictions of other difficult conditions. “I am a little humbled to be up here with all this technology, because basically I built something in my garage,” Mall said to applause and cheers. He thanked his wife for all the strange noises that had come out of that garage. His invention has
‘Charlie’ takes US stars to Bucharest BERLIN, Feb 10, (AFP): A Tarantinotinged love story plunging US up-and-coming actors Shia LaBeouf and Evan Rachel Wood into the Bucharest underworld dazzled the Berlin film festival Saturday. “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” by first-time feature director Fredrik Bond drew savage reviews after screening at last month’s Sundance festival but appeared to win over the more international audience in Berlin, where it drew enthusiastic applause. The Swedish-born Bond, a successful commercial and music video director, lets his slick style shine through in the tale of US backpacker and hopeless romantic Charlie (LaBeouf), smitten at first sight with a Romanian cellist (Wood). But Wood’s Gabi has just lost her father, who happened to die while sitting next to Charlie on the plane, and is still entangled in a marriage with the brutal gangster Nigel played by Denmark’s Mads Mikkelsen (“Casino Royale”). Charlie, whose own mother (Oscar winner Melissa Leo) has just died, lets his infatuation with Gabi draw him ever deeper into Nigel’s ultraviolent milieu, in a bid to rescue her and give their budding romance a chance. German star Til Schweiger (“Inglourious Basterds”) enters the picture as Darko, the owner of a strip club who is on the hunt for an incriminating videotape he believes Gabi is holding.
Hopes Meanwhile Charlie meets up at a youth hostel with two British party animals including the Karl — ginger-haired Rupert Grint from the “Harry Potter” movies — who hopes to make a start in the eastern European industry with a character called
been sold to over 40 countries and used in more than 300 films. The evening was also devoted to people who had invented systems such as “Tissue: A Physically-Based Character Simulation Framework,” which has made huge advances in bringing to life computer-gener-
Boris Pecker. A gravel-voiced narration by English actor John Hurt gives Charlie’s quest a mythical quality Bond said he had sought. The director said he took inspiration from Quentin Tarantino scripts such as “Pulp Fiction” and “True Romance” that could pivot from humour to horror and back again, with a tender love story at the heart of the action. The picture also drew comparisons with Emir Kusturica’s Balkan romps. Bond said the rollicking mix of cultures on screen and on set had appealed to him, as well as a chance to show off one of eastern Europe’s most beautiful cities that is still off the beaten tourist track. “I felt like Bucharest had something that was quite similar to the characters Charlie and Gabi,” he said. “It’s kind of a broken city that has gone through a lot of abuse.” Bond said a scouting trip through eastern Europe led him to zero in on the city. “Everything from all the wild dogs on the streets to people’s hardened personalities...” he said. “They’re very tough in Romania... there’s a sense of protection I think because they’ve been exposed to dictators and so forth. But once you get to know them they’re the most dedicated, amazing, lovely people, very much like Gabi’s character.” “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” is one of 19 films vying for the Golden and Silver Bear top prizes at the 63rd Berlinale, the first major European film festival of the year. ❑
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Snapping bear traps, howling wolf packs and an amateur amputation in a Canadian forest await 1890s German fortune hunters in “Gold”, one of two Western-themed con-
ated characters such as Gollum in “The Hobbit”. An Academy Plaque for Scientific and Engineering went to Simon Clutterbuck, James Jacobs and Dr. Richard Dorling for this technique. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑ Pine
Grint
BERLIN: Harry Potter star
tenders premiering at the Berlin film festival Saturday. Like Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-nominated “Django Unchained” and its former slave hero, “Gold” subverts the classic Western by putting a woman (Nina Hoss) at the centre of the frontier quest. Hoss, one of Germany’s top actresses who drew rave reviews last year for her portrayal in “Barbara” of a 1980s doctor plotting to escape the communist East, plays a divorcee who joins the Klondike gold rush in 1898. She was working as a housemaid in Chicago “for a dollar a day” and has little to lose when she breaks off on horseback with an expedition of six other Germans led by an unscrupulous profiteer. Director Thomas Arslan said he developed the screenplay after finding a book of photographs from the era and journals by Germans who saw the vast North American continent as a chance for a fresh start.
Cheers “There was a huge amount of material, particularly from German emigrants — it was an enormous movement — so I incorporated it into the script,” he told reporters after a press preview that drew cheers. The motley group, including a father of four from a New York hovel hoping to strike it rich for his family, set off north of Vancouver for what is meant to be a sixweek journey overland. But the posse, including a dozen horses, dwindles as the treacherous terrain claims victim after victim. In one excruciating scene that drew peals of nervous laughter at the screening, a member of the expedition stumbles into a bear trap’s iron jaws and, after Hoss’s character Emily frees him, undergoes a brutal amputation with only whisky to dull the pain.
Rupert Grint says he enjoyed a change of scene from the young wizard’s adventures when he starred alongside Shia LaBeouf in “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman,” one of the competitors at this year’s Berlin film festival. Grint plays a drug-addled traveler in the movie, set in
Arslan, who called two months of onlocation filming in the Canadian wilderness a challenge, said he had wanted to put a woman at the heart of his Western as the ultimate outsider in such a setting while linking the story to his native Germany. “I need to have a way into a story,” he said. “It would be a little absurd or at least random to have our actors playing Calamity Jane.” Also in competition Saturday was “A Long and Happy Life” by Russian director Boris Khlebnikov about a young businessman who moves to the countryside to operate a farm and mounts resistance when an investor backed by public officials forces him to sell his land. At first a hero to the residents of the depressed village who see him as a potential saviour, Sascha refuses to give up the fight long after it is lost and turns to increasingly desperate means to stand his ground. Khlebnikov said he saw his film as a kind of contemporary Western featuring a man trapped by circumstances and driven by vengeance who becomes a gun-slinging outlaw to wrest back power from those trying to keep him down. But he said the movie, which received public funding and in which civil servants come across as corrupt and unfeeling, was primarily a social commentary on rural life in today’s Russia. “If you’re travelling around from one farm to another in remote Russia, they can’t make a living,” he said. “You have a sense that those villages are sort of dying because there’s no work.” “Gold” and “A Long and Happy Life” are among 19 films vying for the 63rd Berlinale’s Golden and Silver Bear top prizes, to be handed out by a jury led by Chinese director Wong Kar Wai on Feb 16.
Bucharest, which screened at the festival Saturday. One of 19 competing for the event’s Golden Bear award, it centers on an improbable romance between an American traveler played by LaBeouf and a troubled Romanian musician, played by Evan Rachel Wood. Grint played Harry’s faithful
friend Ron in the Potter films. He told reporters: “After playing the same character for 11 years, it’s nice to do something completely different.” He added: “The character was someone who’s completely the opposite of Ron.” (AP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
NEWS/FEATURES
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People & Places
Music Capshaw No. 2
Universal chief tops power list LOS ANGELES, Feb 10, (RTRS): Lucian Grainge, chairman of Universal Music Group, beat out “X Factor” host Simon Cowell and the manager for teen pop sensation Justin Bieber as the most powerful person in the music industry, according to a list released by Billboard magazine. The second annual list left off music stars such as rappermogul Jay-Z, his wife and singer, Beyonce, and Irish rock group U2, all of which placed on the Power 100 list last year. Billboard put Grainge Grainge atop the list in part for Universal Music Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition of record label EMI last September and the spinning off of part of that purchase to privately-held Warner Music for $762 million. The industry magazine called the executive a “tireless advocate for the recorded-music business,” who took the top spot from Irving Azoff, the former chairman of ticket sales and concert promoting company Live Nation. Grainge placed third last year. Stakes Coran Capshaw, the manager to pop singer Miley Cyrus and rock group Dave Matthews Band, ranked No. 2 for the second straight year. Capshaw’s privately-held Starr Hill Presents has stakes in live music festivals Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo among others. Behind Capshaw was Martin Bandier, CEO of publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing, at No. 3, while Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino placed fourth and Doug Morris, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, rounded out the top five. Cowell, creator of television talent shows “America’s Got Talent” and “The X Factor,” placed at No. 30, a giant leap from his No. 100 ranking on the inaugural list. L.A. Reid, a former “X Factor” host and current chairman and CEO of Sony Music’s Epic Records, ranked No. 40, while “American Idol” host and TV producer Ryan Seacrest climbed up to No. 59 from No. 64 last year. Streaming Scooter Braun, the manager of teen pop star Justin Bieber and British-Irish boy band The Wanted, was No. 42 on the list. Digital music pioneer Sean Parker, who co-founded musicsharing program Napster and invested in music streaming service Spotify, was No. 71. This year’s list was largely absent of performers, drawing primarily from industry executives, music producers and talent managers. Last year, country-pop singer Taylor Swift and pop singer Lady Gaga both made the list, but they were excluded this year. The full list can be viewed at Billboard.biz. Universal Music Group is a subsidiary of France’s Vivendi SA . “American Idol” and “The X Factor” are broadcast by Fox, which is owned by News Corp. The top 10 on the list: 1. Lucian Grainge, Chairman, Universal Music Group 2. Coran Capshaw, Founder/ Owner, Red Light Management and Starr Hill Presents 3. Martin Bandier, CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing 4. Michael Rapino, CEO, Live Nation Entertainment 5. Doug Morris, Chairman/ CEO, Sony Music Entertainment 6. Len Blavatnik, Founder/ Chairman, Access Industries 7. Rob Light, music head, Creative Artists Agency 8. Tim Leiweke, President/ CEO, Anschutz Entertainment Group 9. Marc Geiger, music head, William Morris Endeavor 10. Jimmy Iovine, Chairman, Interscope Geffen A&M
Actors Hugh Jackman (left), and Anne Hathaway pose during the photocall of the film Les Miserables at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, on Feb 9. (AP)
Film Berlinale in need of a hit after series of flops
‘Gloria’ cheered at Berlin fest French actress Marion Cotillard, who is nominated in the Leading Actress category for her role in the film ‘Rust and Bone,’ poses for photographs arriving for the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards nominees party in central London on Feb 9. (AFP)
Jay-Z
Snoop Dogg
BERLIN, Feb 10, (RTRS): There were cheers for Chilean drama “Gloria” at the Berlin film festival on Sunday, partly out of relief as the annual cinema showcase finally got its first hit after a series of critical misses. The touching story of a middle aged woman’s quest for love and adventure in modern-day Santiago drew comparisons to Woody Allen for the intimacy of the relationships and to Meryl Streep for the arresting performance of actress Paulina Garcia. Garcia plays Gloria, a bespectacled 58-year-old divorcee whose children have left home and who goes out to singles night discos, where she dances and refuses to retreat quietly into the old age. There she meets Rodolfo, a charming but complex former naval officer in his 60s, who sweeps her off her feet in a whirlwind romance that Gloria believes may turn into something permanent. As they try to forge a lasting bond,
their past lives constantly intrude, in what critics saw as a metaphor for Chile as it emerges from the dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet. Director Sebastian Lelio’s inspiration was his mother and her generation, which is rarely tackled in an industry obsessed with youth.
Popular “I would say that we are all facing what Gloria is facing, but it just happens to some people sooner than others,” he told reporters in Berlin, where Gloria is one of 19 movies in the main competition lineup and the most popular so far. “We all face crossroads in our lives where we can retreat into ourselves or we can hit the dancefloor.” He likened Gloria to the movie character Rocky Balboa. “The world strikes at her and beats her down, but she manages to get up once more and carry on forward, holding her head up high.” Lelio is unflinching in his portrayal of the romance between Gloria and Rodolfo, which includes pas-
sionate sex scenes normally reserved for younger actors. Actor Sergio Hernandez said he expected people in Chile would be shocked by the graphic nature of some scenes. “We live in a hypocritical society, but I don’t think people should be shocked,” he said. “It’s always been there ... adults making love as they never have before, perhaps better than they ever have before.”
Appeal Lelio believed his movie had universal appeal as well as portraying Chilean society today. “We have increased life expectancy,” he said. “Hitting your 60s doesn’t mean the same thing that it used to in the old days. A new chapter of your life can begin and that’s what I wanted to look at in this film. That’s not Chile, it’s happening in lots of countries around the world.” It was welcome in Berlin, where it was the seventh competition film to screen at the Feb 7-17 event. The
first six, including US entries “Promised Land” and “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman”, failed to impress critics. Though not a comedy, Gloria’s zest for life ensures plenty of laughs. Her revenge at being jilted comes in the form of a paintball attack on her target in a spoof of mob movies where enemies are gunned down in the street in broad daylight. For Garcia it also has an upbeat message for Latin American audiences, because her character would have lived through the military coup of 1973 which placed Pinochet in power and the human rights abuses that followed. “I think we are seeing a new society emerging in Chile and I think this is linked to what happens in Gloria,” she said. “Sometimes people are gloomy and cynical and I think it’s important to say there is another way of looking at life — seeing the light and not just the dark.”
Variety LOS ANGELES: “Anger Management” star Charlie Sheen released an online video Saturday urging an ex-cop accused of three killings to call him, after the actor was named in the man’s chilling online manifesto. Police are hunting for Christopher Dorner, a 33-year-old disgruntled former LA Police Department officer who threatened to go on a murder spree against police and their families to avenge his sacking five years ago. In a rambling online statement — in which Dorner threatened “unconventional and asymmetrical warfare” against the LAPD — he at one point describes Sheen as “awesome.” Sheen — who was fired from the hit US sitcom “Two and a Half Men” in 2011 and has a long history of hard partying and scandal — addressed Dorner directly in a brief video posted at TMZ.com. “Christopher Dorner? Charlie Sheen,” the actor says. “You mentioned me in your manifesto, so thank you for your kind words. “I am urging you to call me. Let’s figure out together how to end this thing. Call me, I look forward to talking to you.” Dorner, who police say is “armed and extremely dangerous,” is suspected of killing a couple on Feb 3 and then ambushing two policemen early Thursday, killing one. He also injured another officer in a separate incident. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Jill Scott and Kylie Mingoue also attended the exclusive event. Jay-Z is one of six acts nominated for six awards at Sunday’s Grammys. Rihanna is up for three trophies, and Beyonce is nominated for one award. The crowd Saturday was full of members of music industry, who mingled with performers like The-Dream, Jordin Sparks, Melanie Fiona, Diane Warren, Christina Milian, MC Lyte and Santigold. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
LOS ANGELES: Music fans who turned
out to BMI’s annual pre-Grammy Awards “How I Wrote That Song” discussion got a little more than they expected thanks to Snoop Dogg — a contact high. The rapper smoked marijuana during Saturday’s panel discussion, lighting up a large, Kush-filled blunt on stage at The Roxy. He briefly passed it off to B.o.B before methodically reducing it to ash over a 15-minute period. The panel also included Busta Rhymes and songwriters Luke Laird and Evan Bogart, all of whom abstained — at least on stage. Fittingly, the conversation eventually
Hathaway big fan
‘More musicals’
LOS ANGELES: Jay-Z and Beyonce sat tightly with Solange. Kelly Rowland embraced Beyonce with a huge hug. And Rihanna spilled some of her drink laughing with Rowland. Music’s top stars attended the annual pre-Grammy Roc Nation brunch Saturday at the Soho House. Grammy nominee Miguel, Timbaland,
turned to Snoop’s groundbreaking work on “The Chronic.” Laird recalled growing up at the end of a dirt road in a small town of 700 in rural Pennsylvania. Yet Snoop’s work with Dr. Dre still infiltrated his world and that of all the other country kids around him. “Let me just say, the album everyone was listening to was ‘The Chronic,’” Laird said, noting how surreal it was to be sitting on stage with Snoop. With acoustic guitar in hand, he played a bit of his Blake Shelton hit “Hillbilly Bone” in its original form: a rap song. The Nashville-based songwriter had
Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science, (right), presents the person of the year award to Bruce Springsteen during the MusiCares tribute in Springsteen’s honor at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in Los Angeles. (AP)
BERLIN, Feb 10, (AP): Anne Hathaway says she’d like to do more musicals after the Oscarnominated “Les Miserables” but don’t expect her to launch into a singing career. Director Tom Hooper on Saturday presented his movie, an adaptation of a Broadway musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel, at the Berlin film festival. Hathaway’s role as an outcast mother reduced to prostitution has won her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. She told reporters she hopes to do more musicals and would like more to be made - “I’m a big fan of them, so that would make me very happy both as an actress and as an audience member.”
everyone bobbing their heads to the beat. “Now I feel like more than ever you see these influences crossing genres,” Laird said. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
LOS ANGELES: LL Cool J spent the night before the Grammy Awards with some of his famous friends. The 45-year-old rapper-actor and returning Grammy host was the guest of honor Saturday at a private dinner with celebrities such as Mark Cuban, Michael Bolton, Neil Patrick Harris, Mark Burnett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Gene Simmons. LL Cool J proposed a toast to “success in every form.” “All kinds of wealth. Not just money, but the wealth of wisdom, the wealth of happiness, the wealth of joy, the wealth of love. That’s why we’re here,” he said at the intimate gathering. “We want to have a good time, we want to enjoy ourselves, and we want to have some fun tomorrow as we celebrate music.” LL Cool J is set to host the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. He’ll also perform on the show, debuting a song from his forthcoming album, “Authentic,” due in May. He’ll be joined on stage by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, DJ Z-Trip and Chuck D of Public Enemy, who also appear on the album. The album, his first in five years, is taking him in new directions musically. “It doesn’t sound like I’m playing catch-up with what’s going on now. It doesn’t sound like I’m trying to do whatever it is that one would think hip-hop is doing now. It’s just me being LL,” he said. “I made an LL Cool J album. There’s no limits. The governor’s off. I’m going to experiment. I’m going to work with different people — people you would expect, people you wouldn’t expect — and just do some great stuff, hopefully.” (AP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
NEWS/FEATURES
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Fashio n
Prabal Gurung
Ruffia n Prabal Gurung
NEW YORK: Remember clapping? As in when a fashion designer puts on his runway finale and then takes a bow before an adoring crowd. The fashion hordes these days are way too busy tweeting, Instagramming and taking video with their smartphones to put those busy hands together. But more often than not, so are the fashion houses. Technology has taken over in important ways for designers and was ready made for this New York Fashion Week as the huge storm had the elite teetering around Manhattan in blowing snow, clutching those phones. Audiences had already been on the bandwagon, taking phone pics from their seats and posting reviews online before the models were off the runway, but designers are figuring out how to use all the instant feedback to their advantage. Before the snow hit, information went out to retailers, editors, stylists and bloggers on how to view the Donna Karan and Helmut Lang shows online and through phone apps for those unable to attend in person. Rachel Roy and Peter Som switched to entirely digital catwalk shows. Rebecca Minkoff and Kenneth Cole beamed live tweets on the walls, with Cole pledging donations to amFAR if a certain hashtag was used during the show. Tommy Hilfiger collected curated interactions — and added some himself — that were shared with guests entering and exiting his menswear show. He planned to do the same Sunday for his women’s collection. Still clutching those phones, the crowds dealt Saturday — Day 3 of the eight days of fall previews — with the storm’s mush of an aftermath in their dash around town and at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week tents at Lincoln Center. The industry will shift to Milan, London and then Paris after the shows close here Feb 14.
Lacost e
NEW YORK Above and below: Models wear creations by Prabal Gurung; Lacoste; Mara Hoffman; Ruffian; Libertine and Second/Layer at the MercedesBenz Fashion Week, in New York, Feb 9. (AFP)
Mara H offman
Alexander Wang With buzz and anticipation building for his debut collection for Balenciaga, Wang used his own show to make the statement that his signature line is still very much on his mind. The collection of finely tailored pieces in luxe and lush textured fabrics seemed elevated from the more casual and funky styles he’s turned out the past few seasons, although there was the sportswear twist he is best known for woven into every look. It was a sophisticated turn — and trick — to pull off. The song “Eye of the Tiger” of “Rocky III” fame was the underlying theme music as the models stepped onto the runway in the lobby of the ornate Cunard Building at the southern tip of Manhattan. (It was a drastic change in vibe from the airplanehanger feel of the pier he had shown in for years that now is hosting the Westminster Dog Show.)
an Hoffm a r a M
Prabal Gurung Military touches are shorthand in high fashion for strength and confidence. Gurung added some exclamation points, specifically citing as his muse a woman in combat. There has been much in the news — and Gurung is a newshound — about the Pentagon’s decision to open more on-the-
an Ruffi rung al Gu b a r P ground options to women and also technological advances in women’s body armor. “They’re redesigning the whole uniform for women because all this while
they’ve been wearing men’s uniform,” he said backstage.
an Hoffm Mara That led Gurung to think about women’s empowerment, all the way to women he read about from the Ukraine who are coming together in self-defense
against human trafficking. There were smart jackets with gold hardware and some with red-and-black brocades, crisp navy suits, and leather harnesses over stretch-crepe dresses with sexy slashes on the bodice and asymmetric peplums and hemlines. There had to be a little femininity mixed in with the aggressiveness, Gurung explained, because it’s femininity that gives women their best tool “to rule a man’s world.”
Band of Outsiders Scott Sternberg’s womenswear customer likes her jackets, especially blazers.
For fall, they’re getting them with a little 1940s flair. The designer would like to see her wearing them with great trousers like the women of the era who knew how to work — with feminine wiles — the borrowedfrom-the-boys look. But, Sternberg said, he doesn’t want her to be cliched, either, so he tossed some 1980s videogame references for good measure. He had been in contact with Atari to partner on some holiday r menswear e y a nd/L gifty Seco items when the light bulb went off for more refined women’s clothes, Sternberg explained. Monique Lhuillier Opulent Touches and intense tones of malachite green, tine oxblood red and Liber amethyst were Lhuillier’s red carpet calling cards. With the Oscars around the corner, the drama on Lhuillier’s runway was wrapped in beads on lace and punctuated by malachite, with illusion effects, plunging backs and strapless glamour. Lhuillier has been lucky in Hollywood (Julianne Hough at the Golden Globes) and hopes these gowns will help continue her run. “Well you know, every time I start a collection I always say, ‘What haven’t I don’t before, what’s exciting, what’s new, what do I want to accomplish this season?’ So I wanted this girl to be super sexy. It’s dramatic, mixed in with a little Art Deco, and just really intense color and intense structure.” While she didn’t skimp on comfy, everyday looks for fall, sending out cable knit dresses in bone and shaggy fur coats, her gowns stole the show — though her roomy cocktail dresses with high-low hemlines and swingy sheer overlays were pleasers, too. (AP)
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‘Add healthy veggies for natural sweetness’
Speedy and light chicken curry with savory flavor By J.M. Hirsch
I
t didn’t seem too much to ask for. I wanted a coconut chicken curry that is fast, delicious and not loaded with fat. Turned out to be easier than I expected. Let’s start with the sauce. The key is to make it rich and flavorful without resorting to the usual culprit — fullfat coconut milk. I considered using light coconut milk, but generally have found curries made with it to be thin and uninspiring. Fat, after all, is mighty yummy. My solution was to start with a small amount of light coconut milk,
In this image taken on Jan 21, 2013 speedy and light chicken curry is shown in a serving dish in Concord, NH. (AP)
but then doctor it up. Pureeing into it a jar of roasted red peppers and a small onion was just the trick. This provided the sauce with body, as well as both sweet and savory flavors. A hefty dose of curry powder and some lemon grass added during cooking rounded it all out. To cook, all I did was bring my sauce to a simmer in a large saute pan, then add my chicken. To bulk out the recipe with good lean protein, I also added a can of chickpeas. I tasted it as it cooked and felt it was missing something... sweet. But I wanted to avoid the obvious — sugar, honey, etc. — if I could. So I tried added grated
carrots. Perfect! More healthy veggies and just the right amount of natural sweetness. While you could use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, I prefer thighs. They have a richer flavor and don’t get tough the way breasts can. Speedy and light chicken curry Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 6 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained 1 small yellow onion, chopped 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup light coconut milk
2 teaspoons curry powder Three 3-inch lengths fresh lemon grass 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained 1 cup grated carrots 1 3/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs In a blender or food processor, combine the red peppers, onion, broth, coconut milk and curry powder. Process or puree until completely smooth. Pour the sauce into a large, deep saute pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Use a rolling pin or meat mallet to lightly crush the lemon
grass, then add to the sauce. Stir in the chickpeas and carrots. Nestle the chicken thighs into the sauce, being sure the tops are covered. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove and discard the lemon grass. Serve the chicken with chickpeas, carrots and sauce spooned over it. Nutrition information per serving: 320 calories; 110 calories from fat (34 percent of total calories); 12 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 90 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 30 g protein; 600 mg sodium. (AP)
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Senior students get advice on end-of-semester projects
ABS 12 graders learn lesson from Kuwait entrepreneurs KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10, As part of their Introduction to Economics elective, The American Baccalaureate School (ABS) 12th graders have been meeting with Kuwaiti entrepreneurs for the past several weeks to work on their end-of-semester projects. The entrepreneurs, who were recently hosted at a reception by the United States Embassy in Kuwait, have graciously taken time out of their busy schedules to attend multiple classes per week in which they have mentored and advised the students on their projects. After a semester in which the seniors studied the basics of economics, evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of command and market-based economies, and examined the role of the Kuwaiti government in the national economy, they are developing businesses that would fill a specific gap in the Kuwaiti market. It was thought that this project would allow students to apply the basic economic principles they learned to reallife entrepreneurship as well as allowing students to seriously consider, with the guidance of the entrepreneurs, how
Some photos from the event
to establish and run a profitable and successful business in Kuwait. During Semester One students became aware of the extent to which the Kuwaiti economy depends on the
export of oil and the benefits to be gained from diversifying the national economy and strengthening Kuwait’s private sector; this end-of-semester project provided the seniors the chance
to consider how they could contribute toward that end. The seven young entrepreneurs, all of whom are Kuwaiti, have successfully founded and run event management
companies, a restaurant, a multi-brand store, various consultancies, an athletic foundation, and one of Kuwait’s bestknown bakeries. They have brought with them invaluable sector-specific
expertise that they have employed to mentor the ABS seniors over weeks of contact in the classroom. The students’ ideas have developed in previouslyunforeseeable ways to include smartphone apps, wholesale import companies, a website that matches individuals with service providers, a smartphone app, and more. One of the most memorable moments to date has been being told by the entrepreneurs that they have witnessed a significant development in the students’ ability to think as entrepreneurs navigating Kuwait’s private sector. As the entrepreneurs youth attests to, Kuwait is a place where, with the correct attitude and approach, individuals with an innovative idea and a passion can succeed in the private sector. The hope is that the entrepreneurially-inclined ABS seniors can now take the lessons learned in school and apply them professionally post-graduation. ABS would like to express its deep gratitude to the entrepreneurs who have mentored, taught, and guided our students with such professionalism and humility.
KNES Foundation on Friday, Feb 15 at Indian Central School, Abbassia from 9am to 1pm. For registration and other details contact Mathai T. Varghese - 97442630, Jose Kunju - 66392358; Johnson Zacharia - 66347396; Mathew K.A. - 66504107; John K.V. - 66151095; Roy N.K. 66396204; Anu Varghese - 97474649; Varghese Mathew - 97901528. Note: 1. Those who need diabetes and cholesterol test have to come with 12 hours fasting. 2. Those who are not able to attend this camp after registration are requested to inform us at least one day before, so that we can accommodate somebody else in your place. ❑ ❑ ❑
click Drinking problem?: You are no longer alone! Confidential helpline 99641389. ❑ ❑ ❑ Narcotics Anonymous: NA can help with addiction problems. Totally confidential: 94087800 English/Arabic. ❑ ❑ ❑ Cancer online support group: If you are Cancer patient or family member fighting with this deadly disease, come join our online support group. Best way of dealing with this disease is providing support and share our experience with each other. There are lot of things which even doctors can’t tell so be member of this website and start sharing your experiences which may help others. October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). The primary purpose is to promote self examination and screening mammography as the most effective way to save lives by detecting breast cancer at early stage. For more information visit: http://fightingwithcancer.webs.com/
Go Healthy with TIES: ‘Why say so!! Join our healthy cooking classes to discover the beautiful taste of healthy bite!! For reservation please call us on 25231015/6 or 97228860 or visit our website www.tiescenter.net. Thursday Feb 14, 2013, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Feb 15
TKK picnic: Tulu Koota Kuwait under the leadership of Ramesh Kidiyoor is proud to announce the “Family Picnic” scheduled to be held on Friday 15th February 2013 at Mishref Garden from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Tulu Koota Kuwait will assure you a day of outing with your family with fun, refreshing memories of Tulunadu sports and games in addition with some innovative outdoor games. Please plan your day ahead and don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to participate and applaud our enthusiastic members as they strive to show excellence on the ground. You can sign up your teams in advance for the kabaddi, volleyball and throw ball and ensure your participation with our Sports Secretary Ronald D’Souza Tel: 99865712 and membership renewal. Please contact TKK Pro Paustine Pinto, Tel: 66614622 For more details pls. contact 97875789 Our Web www.tulukootakuwait.org Mail ID info@tulukootakuwait.org ❑ ❑ ❑
Latest Feb 12
AWARE diwaniya: You are cordially invited to our diwaniya presentation entitled, “Subsidizing energy products in Arab countries; pros and cons,” by Dr Mohammed Al-Forgi after tomorrow, Tuesday February 12, 2013 at 7:00pm. Dr Alforgi will address issues involved in energy consumption in the Arab World and whether it should be subsidized. Revenues derived from oil and gas exports represent the major portion of the total revenues for many Arab countries and constitute the backbone of their economy. Domestic consumption if not carefully monitored, could quietly “eat-up” a large portion of oil and gas production and deprive these countries of an essential income. Dr Alforgi will examine the current trend of domestic consumption in the Arab World and look at the long term effects of subsidizing energy prices on oil and gas revenues. Dr Alforgi graduated from the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Oklahoma with a BSc. in Petroleum Engineering and an M.S in engineering management. He also holds a PhD. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming, USA. Dr Alforgi has taught petroleum engineering at the College of Technological Studies in Kuwait, University of Al- Fateh in Libya, United Arab Emirates University, and the University of Wyoming. For more information, please call 25335260/80 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw
The Kuwait Aquarium provides an excellent opportunity for children of all ages to investigate, examine and discuss a variety of sea creatures and their environments.
The Early Years Pupils of Kuwait National English School recently took advantage of this Kuwaiti treasure to expand their Understanding of the World around them and to build respect for
their Earth Home. Our appreciation to the staff of the Kuwait Science Centre for their hospitality and assistance during our visits.
SIK presents Art: SIK (Staged in Kuwait Productions), presents the Tony award winning comedy ART, by Yasmina Reza, at the Mousetrap theatre in Jabriya (NES campus) from Wednesday, Feb 13 to Friday Feb 15 at 7:30 pm. Tim Waddell, Hassan Rawas and El Elsharif star as the three friends whose relationships go awry when one spends a small fortune on a piece of abstract, modern art. Tickets for each production can be booked via our website at www.StagedinKuwait.com.
Feb 13
KLT presents Daisy Pulls It Off: Kuwait Little Theatre (KLT) is proud to present Daisy Pulls It Off by Denise Deegan. Daisy Pulls It Off is a hilarious parody of wholesome adventure stories. Set in a 1920s girls’ English boarding school, new girl Daisy Meredith, a girl from a poor background, is forced to face and overcome snobbish prejudice and schoolgirl pranks from the wealthier girls. Along the way she and her new best friend Trixie Martin, search for missing treasure, perform a daring rescue, and make an amazing discovery. Come and join Daisy and Trixie on Wednesday 13th February, Thursday 14th February and Friday 15th February at 7.30pm. To book your tickets, please email www.klt.boxoffice@gmail.com. Don’t forget to include which show date you are booking for, how many tickets you require, your full name, contact number and e-mail. Alternatively, you can call our Box Office on 99373678 between 9am and 4pm or send us a text anytime! Feb 14
AAM medical camp: Anti Alcoholic Movement (AAM), a spiritual organisation of Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka, Kuwait is conducting a seminar on common cardiovascular problems in NRIs by Dr Madhu Paulose MD DM (Head St Gregorios Cardio-Vascular Centre, Parumala) on Thursday, Feb 14, 2013 at Indian Central School, Abbassia and a free medical camp in association with Indian Doctors Forum and Kuwait Heart
Valentine Dance 2013: Come 15th February to celebrate the most awaited musical presentation ‘A Valentine Dance 2013’ will be organized by ‘Kitchen of RockBank’ with special guests. Musicians and bands: New Version Band, Selda Band, and Free Fall Band at the Asia Asia Royal Hall, Al Watiya Complex, Kuwait City from 7:00 pm onwards. The event is sponsored by KORG. For more info, please contact 55633740, 90098427 or 50942441. Celebrate the day with music and songs to meet the sentiments. ❑ ❑ ❑
Feb 16
TIES Book Club: Join our first Book Club session on Saturday, Feb 16, 2013, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. For all Passionate Readers are welcome!! Stop in and meet new friends and welcoming environment. To sign up or for more information contact us on 97228860 or email us tiesbookclub@gmail.com. ❑ ❑ ❑ A photo from the event
‘Premier govt simulation for int’l students’
ABS attends Harvard Model Congress in Dubai KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: From 24th – 26th January a delegation of High School students from The American Baccalaureate School will travel to the UAE to participate in the prestigious Harvard Model Congress conference hosted at the American University of Dubai. Organized and run by Harvard University students, the conference is billed as “the premier government simulation for international students”, and offers delegates the opportunity to actively engage in debate on alternative energy, bioterrorism, nuclear proliferation, women’s health, the conflict in Syria, immigration, and a range of other
subjects that preoccupy world leaders and affect millions around the globe today. Drawing on the personal research conducted into the subjects and countries assigned in December, the ABS delegates will attend meetings and debates in Dubai with their peers from schools in Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Kazakhstan. As representatives of their assigned countries the students will learn how to speak and conduct themselves in a public forum while grappling with contentious, transnational, and time-sensi-
tive issues. At no point does any delegate break character and proceedings mirror real-life diplomacy in action. ABS is taking Latifah Al-Kandari, Khulood Al-Asfoor, Mariam Al-Qadfan, Nora Al-Kulaib, Nora Al-Halabi, Samarah Al-Ali, Nawal Al-Ibrahim, Munira Al-Qudabi, and Khaled AlRoomi from the 12th grade and Dana Al-Refai, Sarah Al-Mohaisen, and Suleiman Al-Ghenaiman from the 11th grade. Collectively, the ABS delegates will represent Syria, Tunisia, Russia, Brazil, and Malaysia at the Arab League, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the World Health
Organization. Additionally, several of our students will take on the personas of representatives of the United States House of Representatives to debate U.S. domestic issues. The conference offers our students the opportunity to meet peers from diverse backgrounds, learn how to conduct research and formulate arguments and political motions, and to hone public speaking skills. Managed entirely by students from Harvard University, the conference is the intersection of classroom-based education and its real-world applicability.
TIES Desert Camp: All are welcome for an outdoor event like never before! Its TIES Center all day Desert Camp on Saturday, Feb 16, 2013 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Transportation will be provided. Don’t miss out!! For reservation please call us on 25231015/6 or 97228860 or visit our website www.tiescenter.net Feb 17
AWARE eighth diwaniya: You are cordially invited to AWARE’s eighth monthly diwaniya presentation entitled, “The meaning of “As-Shakour = ready to appreciate service,” which is among the 99 names and attributes of Allah on Sunday February 17, 2013 at 7:00pm.
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‘I don’t want to be a taxidermist’
Playwright David Ives finds his timing perfectly NEW YORK, Feb 10, (AP): There was a moment this past December in Paris when playwright David Ives achieved what he calls “a moment of maximum fabulosity.” Film director Roman Polanski had invited him to a snazzy cafe to talk more about adapting his Tony Awardnominated play “Venus in Fur” into a movie when the pair spotted the chic “... of Carnage” playwright Yasmina Reza sitting with a distinguished-looking gentleman. After the trio exchanged greetings, the mysterious man was introduced as renowned writer Milan Kundera, whose books include “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.” It was all a little surreal for Ives, who maintains a down-to-earth modesty even though he’s kind of a big thing, too. “You feel like your brain is going to start on fire. You feel like burning phosphorous in company like that,” he recalls of the meeting, laughing. “What do you say to Milan Kundera? ‘How is your crepe?’”
Collection Heady stuff indeed, but Ives, a wirethin man is enjoying quite a bit of limelight after steadily building an unorthodox career first as a playwright of oneact comedies and lately as a soughtafter theatrical medic.
‘Work Like a Spy’ a terrific read
Carleson captures a spy’s eye in the workplace By Martin Langfield
getry, car chases and stealing secrets. Intelligence nerds might want to read about working the “dark side” through Dumpster-diving, coercion and other black arts. J.C. Carleson’s book “Work Like a Spy” smartly does neither. Instead, she mostly concentrates on the psychological and behavioral tricks that intelligence officers use to winkle out secrets. Carleson, who worked for the CIA’s clandestine service for eight years, clearly has a terrific book in her, though “Work Like a Spy” is only intermittently it.
The book waters down some clandestine techniques till they seem merely bland. Others, though, fizz with insight, and the dabs of color and adventure she throws in, from her time in Afghanistan after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks to her stint in Iraq looking for non-existent weapons of mass destruction, add drama and exoticism. The reader longs for more of this stirring stuff. Carleson explains that much intelligence work is in fact more like the average workplace than a Hollywood adventure film. Workers and businesses can learn from CIA tricks of the trade – at least the legal ones. Among the tips she provides are: how to elicit useful information about rival firms or workplace colleagues using CIA
source-cultivation techniques; how to set up meetings to foster the most favorable outcome; how to build networks of informants at all levels of an organization to maximize good information; how to target potential “defectors” or key rivals one would like to hire away; how to minimize the risk of being spied on by rivals; and some handy CIA approaches to negotiation. Carleson even includes some exercises to try in the workplace. She makes it sound easy. “There is information for the taking that can change the entire playing field for you and your organization,” she writes. Sometimes this is no more than clever tactics: “asking the right people the right questions in the right way.” Sometimes it
sounds a little underhand, requiring “manipulation of individuals and exploitation of ... vulnerabilities.” But Carleson makes clear, repeatedly, that she does not endorse effective but illegal techniques such as bribery and hacking. At least, not in the business world. Actually, some of the book’s high points come in passing. It is refreshing to read that the agency’s field employees can be heard referring to headquarters at Langley as the “Death Star.” She also says that CIA officers are regularly required to undergo excruciatingly detailed questioning about their personal lives while wired to polygraphs. She stops short of recommending that management technique for business. (RTRS)
The playwright is this month celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first big success - “All in the Timing” - a collection of six short plays that he jokes “catapulted me into obscurity.” Primary Stages, which produced the plays in 1993, is once again mounting
them, this time at 59E59 Theatres. Twenty years ago, the show was popular enough to run over 600 performances off-Broadway and became a favorite for amateur and college theaters. “All in the Timing” is a candy sampler of Ives’ special humor, a half-
dozen absurdist plays that twist time and language. In one, three monkeys try to produce “Hamlet” on typewriters; in another, a man teaches gibberish to a woman with a stutter. A third has Marxist leader Leon Trotsky contemplating life while having a mountain
climber’s ax buried in his head. Director John Rando, who has worked with Ives on many of his plays and concert shows since they first collaborated in the mid-1990s, calls the playwright “our generation’s George S. Kaufman.”
ames Bond fans would expect a forJ mer spy’s book of business tips to offer a crash-course in whiz-bang gad-
“He’s a funny guy. He loves a good laugh. He loves a good joke and yet he’s incredibly intelligent and he’s an amazing wordsmith,” says Rando, who directs the revival. “He creates theatrical language at its most playful.” Each of the six plays was written at different times for a now-defunct humor festival, but all shared a goal: Ives had just met his future wife, Martha, an illustrator whom he married in 1997. “In many ways I wrote these plays to amuse this woman that I was in love with,” he says. “She continues to be the best audience in the world.”
Fixes In the two decades since his humor took center stage, Ives is now a playwright who dives into failed plays or musicals and fixes them, whether they’re a stage version of the Irving Berlin film “White Christmas,” a French farce about marital mayhem from the early 1900s, or a work by a 17th-century French dramatist. “I don’t want to be a taxidermist. I would rather be the mad scientist who attaches the electrodes that actually brings these characters to life,” he says. “What I try to find is what that human story is in the middle of them that can still speak to us.”
Lifestyle click Latest Continued from Page 26 Knowing Allah necessitates knowing the meanings of His names, being affected by them and applying those meanings in your daily life. Knowing and understating those beautiful names and attributes will have a strong impact on your life in this ephemeral world. It will also determine your destiny in the Hereafter. The more you delve into the names and attributes of Allah, the more you love Him, which leads to exerting your utmost efforts in getting closer to Him in worship. Among Allah’s 99 attributes is As- Shakur is translated into “The Appreciative”. What are the other meanings of As-Shakour? What are the implications of understanding and putting into action this realization? How does Allah thank us yet He is our creator, cherisher and sustainer? Everything we enjoy is given to us by Him. To learn more about this beautiful attribute of Allah (SWT), you are welcome to the AWARE Center on February 17, at 7:00pm. The speaker will be Hassan Twaha (AWARE Education Manager.) For more information, please call 25335260/80 or e-mail: Htaware.hassan@gmail.com Feb 25
India Embassy closure: The Embassy of India will remain closed on the following days during the month of February 2013: Feb 25, 2013 – Monday, National Day of Kuwait Feb 26, 2013 – Tuesday, Liberation Day of Kuwait ❑ ❑ ❑
HMWA organizes grand prog: Hyderabad Muslim Welfare Association is going to organize a grand yearly programme on the life of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) titled “Prophet Mohammed Greatest Social Reformer on 25th feb 2013 soon after Friday prayer in Masjid-e-Abdullah Al Mehri next to famous Edi Stores and in front of Titanic building in Salmiya. Prominent scholars from kuwait will speak on the selected topics focusing life of Prophet (PBUH) and his message to whole humanity and in particular to Muslim Umma. Dear Brothers it is yet again a great opportunity to learn more and more about Seerah of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). And to show our Passion, love and respect to our beloved religion of Islam and enlightened our lives with good deeds preached by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) HMWA executive committee request all the members and people from Hyderabad and other areas to participate in great numbers and bring your near and dear ones and get educated ourself with the message of Islam which is Peace, love and service to humanity. For further details Contact 99481599, 50605074, 66605881 Feb 28
YMCA membership campaign: YMCA Kuwait is conducting membership Campaign until Feb 28. Persons who wish to become a member of YMCA Kuwait and persons who would like to contribute their time, efforts and services for the society and humanitarian causes may please contact – 97542985. Aug 30
Konkani Drama: M.A. Production is all set to present a Konkani Drama (Tiatr) “MOJE DHUVENCHEM KAZAR” to be staged on 30 August 2013 with an emotionally charged storyline, humour and music, written by M.Dias and directed by Sylvester Vaz & M.Dias to be held at Kuwait Medical Association Auditorium (near Blood Bank), Jabriya. Popular actors and singers will be flown from India including Seby de Divar – Goa’s singing sensation, John D’Silva – Goa’s best known comedian and character artiste, Yvonne – new sensation in comedy, Fr Nevel Gracias (Vell’lekar) – well
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An Iraqi model sits in front of a painting featuring Burqa clad woman as she waits backstage before a show during a hairdressers and make up artists festival on Feb 9, in Baghdad. It is the first time that this kind of festival takes place in the Iraqi capital since 1999. (AFP)
‘They need more software’
Sony faces challenge with new PlayStation SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 10, (AFP): When Sony pulls back the curtain on the next-generation PlayStation videogame console, the world will see how much the Japanese consumer electronics titan has been paying attention. Sony could double-down on hardware to power even more realistic graphics and rich game play than the impressive specifications of PlayStation 3 consoles nearing the end of a life cycle started in 2006. Or, Sony may step toward a vision outlined by chief executive Kazuo Hirai by introducing an improved console as part of an ecosystem that weaves the company’s film, music, games and electronics together with the trend toward getting home entertainment online. “Sony needs a living room experience,” Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said while discussing expectations that a PlayStation 4 will be showcased at an event being hosted by Sony on Feb 20 in New York City. “They need more software, not more hardware.” The PlayStation 3 launched as an engineering triumph complete with Bluray high-definition disk player capabilities only to see rival Microsoft score with Xbox 360 consoles for gaming as well as online films, music and more.
Bridge “Sony can’t build a company on those few people who are hardcore gamers, so they have to figure out how to bridge to the all-purpose consumer who likes games, which is most of us,” McQuivey said. “If they emphasize how this is really a television set-top box with your favorite channels and Netflix, it will mean Sony has paid attention.” Sony has remained mum, but that hasn’t stopped talk of hardware upgrades such as improved graphics and controllers with touchpads, and chatter of
Subscribers lured with unique content
Original programs beef up streaming video sites NEW YORK, Feb 10, (AFP): The bigbudget original series “House of Cards” launched this month on Netflix highlights the growing importance of streaming video, which is ramping up competition against traditional TV. With stars including Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, the new 13-episode series estimated by some to cost $100 million is a sign of the clout of Netflix, which claims 30 million members in 40 countries and a large chunk of the streaming video market. “‘House of Cards’ illustrates how Netflix is transforming into a digital/Internet only cable network,” said Richard Greenfield, analyst at BTIG Research. Analysts say these types of services will become more important as consumers receive streaming Internet directly on their television, or through adapter boxes, for watching at their convenience on demand. This means programming from
Netflix and others can compete with cable or satellite television and overthe-air broadcasts, and even with premium TV outlets like HBO and Showtime. Netflix, which launched its first original series called “Lillyhammer” last year in a Norwegian-American project, is not the only streaming service to offer its own programs. Its chief rival Hulu, which is backed by some of the largest US broadcasters, has produced four original series in the past two years and has three more on the way. And Amazon, which operates its own instant video service, has 11 projects in the works, including original comedies and children’s programs. These streaming services “are trying to attract subscribers with unique content,” said Michael Corty, a Morningstar analyst. “Consumers will go where they see the best value: it can be the quality of
the content, or the price you pay.” Up to now, Netflix and its rivals have been competing for content from the major television and film studios. Netflix recently signed a deal with Disney for its films, while Amazon has secured rights for British-produced “Downton Abbey,” which has a following among US viewers. But these deals push up costs for the streaming outlets, which could be spent on original programs, which would eliminate the middle man for services like Netflix. “With the cost of exclusive syndicated content escalating as competition builds... success in original programming, which by definition is exclusive, should help Netflix better manage/leverage its content spending,” said BTIG’s Greenfield. Morningstar’s Corty said that “the long-term battle that is going on is how much time people spend on current pay TV, and watching programs on
services like Amazon and Netflix.” “For now watching on Amazon or Netflix really hasn’t cut into the traditional viewing,” Corty said. “But if Amazon and Netflix continue to get more subscribers, it will increase the competition for consumers’ time.” A research note from Morgan Stanley said that “an expanding original content portfolio will allow Netflix to expand its (subscriber) base beyond HBO’s, over time.” “Netflix will throw out the rule book for writers, directors and producers alike,” said the Morgan Stanley note from analyst Scott Devitt, who estimated that Netflix will be spending $200 million to $300 million annually on original programs. “During 2013, Netflix will have six original series debut, a major milestone for the company.” But the traditional names in the entertainment sector do not appear worried for now.
Sony announcing its own cable-style service to route film or music content to PlayStation consoles. Sony needs to adapt to changing lifestyles while not alienating videogame lovers devoted to its hardware. Low-cost or free games on smartphones or tablet computers are increasing the pressure on videogame companies to deliver experiences worth players’ time and money. New generation consoles are typically priced in the $400 to $500 range, and blockbuster game titles hit the market at $60 each. “Sony is under a lot of pressure,” said National Alliance Capital Markets analyst Mike Hickey. “Gamers are desperate
for innovation and better games.” While Sony is tethered to “legacy” hardware, companies such as Apple and Google are driving innovation with tablets, smartphones, and ways to route Internet offerings to television sets, according to Hickey. While ramping up content and services for PlayStation, Sony also needs to motivate people to upgrade from the current model. “If Sony wants to win it, they need to show some killer games to get people to go out and spend a lot of money for the core game experience,” Hickey said. He blamed a dearth of compelling titles as a reason for disappointing sales of Nintendo’s innovative Wii U consoles
introduced late last year. “The Wii U is a case study you can’t ignore,” Hickey said. “Sony at least has to nail it with the games; the core market can drive the mass market.” Industry tracker NPD Group reported that just shy of $9 billion was spent in the United States last year on purchasing or renting video or computer games. Another $5.92 billion was spent on game downloads, subscriptions, and play on mobile games or at social networks, according to NPD. French videogame star Ubisoft reported that sales surged 23 percent overall in the final quarter of last year with hit installments of its “Assassin’s Creed” and “Far Cry” franchises while online
revenue leapt 143 percent. “People are gaming more now than they ever have,” McQuivey said. “More minutes on more devices over more types of games from consoles to mobile phones.” “Console gaming is going to face challenge because you can pull out your tablet and have some pretty amazing gaming experiences for $1.99 or free with ads,” he added. Forrester predicts that while US households will turn increasingly to accessing the Internet through videogame consoles and smart televisions, games on smartphones and tables will “negatively impact” the console market.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Annual screening for men at age of 50 recommended
Prostate carcinoma 2nd most prevalent cancer in men By Valiya S. Sajjad Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Prostate carcinoma is the second most prevalent cancer in men worldwide, usually affecting men above 50 years. Dr. Ehab Elmallah, Consultant and Head of Urology and Andrology Department, Taiba Hospital, Kuwait, was talking to the Arab Times in a recent interview on prostate related diseases. Before dwelling on the disease aspects, Dr Ehab explained that prostate is a glandular organ in men located below the urinary bladder and surrounding the bladder neck. The posterior urethra and two ejaculatory ducts pass through it. The prostate secretes many of the enzymes and nutrients of the seminal fluid and shares by 30% of the semen. Many disorders might affect the prostate including prostatitis, benign enlargement and cancer. On the subject of prostate cancer, Dr Ehab said the American and European Urologic Associations recommend annual screening of prostate cancer for all men from the age of 50. For men with a positive family history of prostate cancer annual evaluation should begin from 40 onwards.
Detection Screening of prostate cancer is the cornerstone of early detection of the prostate
cancer. Annual Screening includes digital rectal examination and total and free prostate specific antigen (PSA). Any suspicion rising after a digital examination of the prostate or elevation in PSA might need transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) with anatomically oriented prostatic core biopsies and histopathology, Dr Ehab noted. Many investigations are required for the accurate staging of the tumor such as Pelvic MRI, Bone isotope scan, Ultrasound or CT of the Abdomen and Chest CT scan. Prostate cancer is classified according to many parameters to locally confined or metastatic tumor. Treatment of prostate cancer depends on many factors and ranges from watchful waiting, radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, hormonal ablation therapy and many recently introduced therapies. Treatment and cure depends on detection of the locally confined prostate cancer in early stages and grade. Another common prostate-related disease is Prostatitis, which is an inflammatory process that affects men of all ages, but more commonly seen in young men. Prostatitis can be acute or chronic, chronic prostatitis being either bacterial or non bacterial. Acute prostatitis might be presented by severe burning micturition, increased urine frequency, pain in the tip of the genital, perineal pain, suprapubic pain and urethral pain. Fever and difficult voiding is usually associated with the ill-
watchful waiting up to open prostatectomy.
ness, while urinary retention is the worst complication of acute prostatitis. Management of acute prostatitis should start once it is clinically established and in certain situations patient might need hospitalization with intravenous antibiotics and good analgesics with antipyretics. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a disease that might be hidden for months or years and could present with mild or moderate pain of the tip of the genital, urethra, perineum, suprapubic area, testes and low back.
Complications
Treatment It could also have symptoms like frequent voiding, urine or sex related abnormalities. Prostatic or seminal fluid should be investigated to isolate possible organism. Treatment includes proper antibiotic according to the culture and sensitivity test for a proper time which should not be less than 28 days; some patients need analgesics and or anticholinergic drugs. Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH) affects men above 50 years but could not be symptomatic. BPH is a benign condition and is related to age and there is no other definite cause. Patient may complain of nocturia (waking from sleep to void), increased urine frequency during day time, hesitancy, weak urine stream and force, interruption, dribbling of the urine, incomplete emptying of the bladder, urgency, urge incontinence or retention of urine.
Dr Ehab Elmallah
XPS Green Laser
Some patients with neglected BPH might develop repeated urinary tract infection, hematuria, stone bladder, retention of urine or impairment of the kidney function. Any patient suffering from BPH should be evaluated through detailed history, international prostate symptoms score and quality of life score, general examination, focal neurologic examination of the saddle shape area and digital rectal examination. Investigations which should be done
include urinalysis, total and free prostate specific antigen (PSA). Other investigations that include fasting blood sugar, kidney function tests, urine culture and sensitivity, Uroflowmetry (computerized assessment of the urine stream and strength) and abdominal and pelvic ultrasound with measurement of the post void urine residue are helpful to categorize the severity of the condition. Treatment modalities are many and depend on the degree of obstruction and ranges from
Talking of the treatment methodologies, Dr Ehab spoke about the Green Laser Vaporization of the prostate which has been in use for some time. It is a less invasive treatment procedure with no serious complications. Advances in the technology of the Green LASER is regularly introduced for better results and is equal to the open prostatectomy and TURP; however of minimal side effects. The most recent advances are increased power of the LASER beam to reach 180 Watt which gives the maximum vaporization effect of the prostate adenoma in conjunction with the best coagulation results with minimal bleeding and no TUR-syndrome. XPS Green LASER is the most advanced machine in the world manufactured by AMS-USA and introduced in the American hospitals in 2010. Dr Ehab said that this technology is now available in Taiba Hospital. Also, this treatment entails short hospital stay, minimal or nil side effects, rapid convalescence and no serious complications. Due to its high safety it is the only definitive treatment option for high risk patients with cardiac, hypertensive, diabetic and geriatric problems and who are receiving anticoagulants.
IDF
IDF members and guests during health guide launch.
Childhood obesity on the rise GIS
IDF issues health guide ‘Globesity’ By Valiya S. Sajjad Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The Indian Doctors Forum (IDF) distributed the recently released Health Guide, Volume 9, at a special ceremony held at Kuwait Medical Association, Jabriya, Friday, in the presence of Vidhu Nair, Charge D’Affairs, Embassy of India. Leaders of around 50 Indian organizations registered with the Indian Embassy also took part in the event and received copies of the Health Guide, creatively titled “Globesity.” Vidhu Nair praised the activities of IDF carried out either towards its members or the community at large. He said that he was fascinated to see so much of talent displayed by the Indian Doctors Forum in carrying out any activity they undertake, be it cultural or quiz or community service. He further endorsed IDF as one of the leading associations in Kuwait which has set an example for other like minded associations to follow.
Lifestyle
Gulf Indian School organized a workshop for all its Pre-Primary and Primary teachers on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the school auditorium. The main resource person for the workshop was the renowned educationist Mrs Manjushree Patil. She was assisted by Mrs Shilpa Vaidya, a spe99616965, 65095345. http://goablog100.blogspot.com/2013/02/ moje-dhuvenchem-kazar.html
click Latest Continued from Page 27 known actor and writer, Sylvester Vaz – Hitman of Konkani stage, besides a few prominent well established actors and singers from the tiatrist fraternity in Kuwait. The proceeds of this drama will be sent to Old Goa Retreat Centre. Please make note in your diary to attend this must-to-see by all parents and children, and support this noble cause. Await for more details how to obtain your entry passes or email: dias_q8@yahoo.com Tel: +965 66698257,
April 12
Konkani drama: Comedian Agostinho will present in Kuwait his new Konkani drama ‘Corruption Kabar?’ on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 4:30 pm at the Kuwait Medical Association Hall, Jabriya. The star cast includes veteran Sabina Fernandes, Jessica Gomes, comedian Janet, Jr Nelson, Salu de Loutolim, Jaju Fernandes, Filipe Almeida, Sylvester Vaz, comedian Selvy Correia, comedian Agostinho Temudo and above all the singing sensation Seby de Divar. For more details, contact tel 99923176, 99540232 or e-mail flexq8@yahoo.com
cialist in Pre-Primary education. The focus of the workshop was on sensitizing teachers towards the needs of individual children and helping them maintain a happy and healthy classroom atmosphere. The session succeeded in empowering the teachers through sound and thorough theoretical and practical inputs.
Sports Football Coaching Course: The next P.G.A. Everton Football Coaching Course at the new location by Abdullah Al-Rujaib High School, Bayan Block 7, Masjed Al-Aqsa Street. Courses are available for boys and girls aged from 3 to 18 years. For further details see http://www.pga-kuwait.com.kw/ or contact academy Director Mike on 99981327 or Executive Director Baker on 66918666. ❑ ❑ ❑ KLL registration: Kuwait Little League (KLL) has kicked off registration for the 2012-2013 baseball and softball season. The various divisions and corresponding age groups are as follows:
Tee Ball: Boys and Girls — 5 to 7 years old; Minors: Boys and Girls — 8 to 10 years old; Majors: Boys and Girls — 11 to 12 years old; Juniors: Boys and Girls — 13 to 14 years old; Seniors: Boys and Girls —15 to 18 years old; Softball: Girls only — 11 to 18 years old. Challenger* – Boys and Girls — 7 to 12 years old (for children with special needs). Persons who deem themselves eligible as volunteer baseball coaches, umpires or team parents are also welcome to register. For registration and more information please visit www.Q8LL.ORG. ❑ ❑ ❑
Kwt-Brits football supporters: A new football supporters website for British expats living and working in
Prof P.S.N. Menon introduced the Health Guide touching on the seriousness of obesity and the various avoidable damage that it does. He also stressed on the rising incidence of Childhood Obesity that is being seen at an alarming rate not only in Kuwait but also in India and many other parts of the world. He emphasized that healthy lifestyle and eating habits are the two strong pillars that could prevent obesity in most of the cases.
Kuwait has been set up by an Everton supporter, Trevor Powell. The Kuwait Brits Football Supporters Association (KBFSA) site aims to provide contact information for supporters of each others’ whereabouts and also in the future hopes to organise social events such as quizzes and even five-a-side matches on a home international teams basis. We need expats to register their support and hence we can then start to cast around for a suitable meeting venue. The site can be accessed at www.kbfsa.co.uk. ❑ ❑ ❑
IBL commences registration:
Dr Jaganath R.C., General Secretary of IDF, gave the welcome address. In the Presidential Address given by Dr Amir Ahmed, the activities of IDF were detailed. He referred to the recent recognition that IDF received in the form of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, which is the highest order to be given by the Government of India to any NRI Association. Dr Amir further stated the award was meant for all the members of IDF and thanked all the Indian Associations for their cooperation in making IDF’s social activities a success, especially the Health Screening Camps, which are very popular in Kuwait. In the interactive session that followed, representatives of various associations were given an opportunity to provide suggestions or ask questions related to any community service activity carried out by IDF. SiddiqueValiykad, Former President of Federation of Indian Muslim Associations, Muriel Alphonso, President of Indian Women’s Association, Dinesh Kamtekar from Maharashtra Mandal and other leaders from different associations hailed the services of IDF, alongside voicing their opinions, comments and suggestions on the health camps. In the vote of thanks delivered by Dr Vinod Grover, IDF’s Vice President, he expressed gratitude to the Indian Embassy and all the Indian associations for their support. The health guide can be accessed on IDF website — www.indiandoctorsforum.org
Indian Bowling League (IBL) – Kuwait. Team registration begins for season 2. Kindly email uly334@gmail.com for registration forms or contact 99503348 after 6 pm only. ❑ ❑ ❑
Kuwait Cricket for schools: Kuwait Cricket, the apex body of cricket in Kuwait would like to invite school cricket teams to participate in their tournaments which are planned to be held at the turf ground at Sulaibiya. Kuwait Cricket intends to conduct two cricket tournaments for U-15 and U-18 school children
Continued on Page 31
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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High note
Cezary’s Picks Young musicians dream big
Kuwait to ‘stage’ int’l music concert By Cezary Owerkowicz Special to the Arab Times onflicts, or rather contradictions exist as long as we as humans exist - young and old, progress and backwardness, modern and conservative and so on. Sometimes these coexist more or less peacefully and sometimes they struggle savagely. It applies to all époques and fields of life – behavioural, business, politics as well as art, including music. However, I believe that there comes a point in one’s life, even if you are old enough but still able to look and see, when this contradiction looks less like animosity and more of a natural engine of moving forward as a continuation when we consider that revolutionists like Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin or Liszt became noble Great Grandfathers with special altars in Musical Pantheon. Debussy, Stravinsky, Bartok, Schonberg, Britten or Lutoslawski, recognized as Anarchists became Classics and we celebrate their centenary (or longer) anniversaries. Let us remember it whatever we are angry oldboys or furious Youth. Sometimes, I am shocked by new compositions, performances and musical ideas but I try to remember that life is a Owerkowicz melange of old and young, modern and classical; classical seems to be better word than backwardness or even — conservative. Even so, even the most shocking modernism, after passing throughout merciless time filters, becomes classical. Performance Let me introduce to you a strange idea of one young and talented pianist. His name is Marcin Masecki, who wants to do something new. Previously, he edited a CD with ‘Art of Fugue’ by J.S. Bach recorded on the Dictaphone. And he dreams to perform it on the huge stage of Opener Festival; a live performance on the youth stage of ‘rebellious’ music. If anybody would do it, it is that man. ‘Die Kunst der Fuge’ (The Art of Fugue) was started by the grandfather of all musicians, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) in 1740 and published in 1751 after his death. It contains 14 fugues and 4 canons. The governing idea of the work is an in depth exploration of the contrapuntal possibilities inherent in a single musical subject. Pianist Angela Hewitt adds: ‘The Art of Fugue makes ‘Goldberg Variations’ look like child’s play.’The latter is recognized as one of the most difficult pieces in piano literature. Our young man worked on that piece five years only. He listened to hundreds of records, digging up literature on the subject, performed hundreds of own solo concerts. He was looking for a unique record. Initially he considered electric piano without electricity but sound looked as mosquito song. He liked for listener to create in his mind the shape of the piece. However it was impossible to tune such an item. The next were old clavichord, harpsichord, organs and the up-right piano. Finally he decided to do it in the simplest and radical method: he switched on the Dictaphone and recorded it on his Grandma’s old grand-piano. Fans of rock music recognize 29year-old Marcin as an extravagant pianist dressed in hot-pants, slippers and pulled out shirt. Last year, he performed on Opener Festival with alternative groups just after successes at the Edinburgh Festival. He debuted as a young jazz piano genius, complemented by Pat Metheny. Now, thanks to Art of Fugue record he contests for popularity between classical music amateurs. Natural Is it possible for one young musician to do so many such different things? “What to wonder?” answers Marcin Masecki, “50 years ago it was possible to separate myself at the Academy and to play Bach only. Musicians from Harlem whole life played jazz only. But nowadays everybody knows everything, having attempted different music styles. This is a natural way to taste everything. For me all those projects are not turning points of career but just stages of the way.” He plans to make live recordings of his Variations on Scarlatti’s Sonatas themes and set of his own Polonaises for a brass band. The future plan is a record of Beethoven’s three Piano Sonatas with ear stoppers, because late composer was completely deaf and was not able to hear any sound from his adult works. Some wonder if this is just a projection of mind or just looking to get into super pure originality. He recollects that his father began his musical education before he was
C
even born - playing records of classical music or directing his clarinet to his mother stomach to play some tunes for his unborn child. “When I was two or three, he started to develop my hearing and imagination with simple plays. At my seven or eight I knew already all harmonies, scales, I sung and wrote down notes. I am grateful to him and I am doing the same with my two-month-old daughter. I would not force her but I’d support if she’d wish. Time being I hum her Opera arias, play Mozart records and take to the concerts.” “Father was very conservative: he divided the world for just classical and entertaining music. If my parents would not divorce I’d win Chopin Competition. But at my seven year, under influence of pianist from Disneyland, I started to play also ragtime. Now I dream to make my author fusion of classical music and American jazz. I am free enough to look at the mirror and to say: there are my two passions; why not to connect them?” “Then, struggling for progress yes, but not killing anybody. Harmony in music (and life) this is agreement from different sound: not only consonances but dissonances as well. And it is beautiful!” Concert Contrary to Marcin’s experiments, you would enjoy traditional, however also unique concert. On Friday, Feb 15, at 8:00 at Al-Hashemi II (Radisson Blu) two parts concert opens 2013 season of Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia. This concert shows how international music is. Mezzo soprano singer, Hanan ElGuindi is a soloist of Cairo Opera House. She graduated from Music Conservatory in Cairo, Egypt and Mozarteum in Salzburg. She has participated in the most prestigious Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Germany and performed several concerts in Italy, Austria. In Cairo Opera House she performed several leading roles in Operas by Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Massenet and Gounod. Her partner will be renowned Polish pianist, composer and pedagogue settled in Kuwait – Batlomiej Rybak. In sort of contrary to Marcin, I would like to expose also very much other hero of the Inauguration, young, very talented soloist pianist, Sid Ramchander. Sid is very much international as well as a Gulf Pianist, who grew here and later moved on to study music in Europe at the age of 16. As a young prodigy and winner of the Young Musicians of the Gulf Award in 2008, Sid chose a career as a soloist and enrolled at Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels where he has been a student for the past four years under Serbian Professor Aleksander Madzar and is currently doing his Master’s degree.
Competitions Sid regularly attends Master Classes in Europe and has been tutored by the late German pedagogue Karl-Heinz Kammerling, leading Polish Professor Andrzej Jasinski and American Maestro Eugen Indjic. He has performed in concerts in France, Italy, Austria, Spain and Bahrain and has been counted among the youngest entrants in prestigious International Music Competitions. A familiar face in Bahrain, Sid’s first performance as a Soloist with Orchestra was when he was 13, at Bahrain’s illustrious Festival of Culture, with the visiting Belorussian Minsk Youth Orchestra, under Conductor Vladimir Perlin. Performing in Kuwait is an opportunity that Sid greatly looks forward to showcase his talent as one of the recognized pianist from the Gulf Region. His favourites on Facebook are Kristian Zimmerman, Frederic Chopin, Sviatoslav Richter, Alfred Brendel, Vladimir Horowitz, Martha Argerich, Sergey Rachmaninoff. And he finishes, do not shoot the pianist! How many countries, nationalities, generally roots I have to mention to describe the way of this young talented man? And this is a very short way because he is so young. It tells so much about our future, also cultural and — musical future. We have to continue about this and I have something to pass to you. On Feb 8 Chinese Hai Wei Li, 9 years old student of Kuwait Music Academy won 1st Prize on Young Musicians of the Gulf Competition in Dubai.
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Editor’s
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Note:
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Cezary Owerkowicz is the chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Philharmonia and talented pianist. He regularly organises concerts by well-known musicians for the benefit of music lovers and to widen the knowledge of music in Kuwait. His email address is: cowerkowicz @yahoo.com and cowerkowicz@hotmail.com
Photo courtesy of ‘Failaka Island: The Ikaros of the Arabian Gulf Book’ by Jehan Sayid Rajab
A small shooa’i with a sail and oars used for fishing around the Island of Failaka. They were usually built on the island itself.
Pioneers of Kuwait Invasion tests her skills
Jehan resourceful, brave woman This is the second and last in a series of articles on Jehan Rajeb, a remarkable woman. — Editor ❑
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By Lidia Qattan Special to the Arab Times
D
uring the first decade she spent in Kuwait Jehan was missing the social involvements, to which she was accustomed, especially the gathering at cafes, so prominent a feature in the West where people socialize. She was therefore quite thrilled when the first family section for social gathering was opened in 1961 in the Fahad Al Salem Street, the main artery street in town at that time. She was yet more delighted when the first ‘Fast –food restaurant’ opened in 1971; then hotels began to appear for a whole new social life to open up. Before then Jehan enjoyed the morning tea-gathering of women in their homes, a prominent feature of social life in the old days, which slowly disappeared as modernization set in and women began engaging in career jobs. Incidentally it was during those gathering that Jehan got to know the culture and spirit of the true Kuwaiti people. In 1961 when Tareq went to Denmark for his post-graduate studies on Archaeology, Conservation and Restoration, Jehan and the children went along with him. In 1962, when he was back supervising on the diggings in Failaka Jehan was with him. The ten years Tareq spend in the Ministry were at once exciting and exasperating; that was the time in which Jehan was closest to him, comforting him, stilling the tempest within him, strengthening his fighting spirit, while encouraging him to pin his frustration on painting. Some of his most beautiful paintings are of this period. When her children began their schooling Jehan enrolled them in a government school, then in the following year she taught them at home then enrolled them in the American school in which in 1965 she took a job in the administration. The American school the children attended was one of the two international enterprises of the kind in Kuwait at that time. Other two private schools — Fejer Al Sabah and Jeel Al Jadeed - were open only for Arab nationals. In 1969 when her husband hired a building in Da’iyha Abdullah Al Salem district to open one under the name “New English School”, Jehan left her job to take over the administration.
Project The project was so successful that from the second year the school had to be expanded to encompass other grades. Noor, their daughter, was one of the first girls completing her high education in it. When the school was transferred to its new location in Jabriya the original project was expanded to encompass all grades from kindergarten to University. It was the first of its kind in
Kuwait, soon followed by other international schools mushrooming through town and suburbs. The growing success of the New English School spurred Tareq to open branches in other Arabian countries, Jordan included. Incidentally it was while Jehan was in Jordan that she started her collection of the Palestinian costumes, travelling through the region looking for artifacts. With her husband or with her son Ziad she used to go into the countryside to meet villagers, sometime with a guide, sometime or on their own. During her travelling she gained a wealth of information on the folklore of the region as well as an affluence of artifacts. The collection consisted mainly of jewellery and customs. Bridal dresses handed down from mother to daughter through generations were a specialty of her collection. The wealth of artifacts she gathered with her son or with her husband led to the foundation of the museum., which Tareq thought to establish when he and his son, Ziad were building their villas, one close to the other in the Jabriya area, near their school. Reserving the entire basements to hold the exhibits, in 1980 the “Tareq Ethnographic Museum “ was opened to the public with a large collection of costumes and jewellery from India, Palestine, Syrian and from other Arab countries, except from the Gulf region; many consisting of a variety of valuable artifacts in ivory, gold and precious stones; others are a rich collection of guns, shields and armors, besides a rich collection of Islamic manuscripts. The whole range of exhibits were divided and displayed in special section to enhance their purpose as a tangible guide of knowledge. The establishment of the museum was the realization of both Tareq and Jehan’s dream, which they had been nurturing for some time. Indeed Jehan’s old interest in folklore that began in Gibraltar with her fascination of Gypsy life, took a fresh new start Lidia Qattan when collecting for the museum. Everywhere she went in her search she was recording valuable data on how and when the artifacts were made and the use they served. That information, together with her research formed the bulk of two books she wrote. The one on Palestinian customs was published before the Iraqi invasion; the other on the Syrian costumes was lost when the Iraqi invaders stormed her school and destroyed all the paper-work she labored for months write
Iraqi Invasion The Iraqi invasion tested Jehan’s resourcefulness and courage ;for she was alone with her younger son to deal with the situation and save the
Jehan Rajeb
museum. Barely on the day before her husband flew to Jordan in business, their daughter Noor had already gone to England for a course in ceramic, and Ziad was in the USA with his family in the first part of his world tour, only Nader, her younger boy was with her in Kuwait. On that eventful day, Thursday the second of August 1990, Jehan woke up surprised to see Iraqi soldiers swarming through the area; the whole country was being invaded. On the wake of the invading army the destruction, the killing and looting terrorized the population to the point that thousands were fleeing for their life. Immediately realizing what was happening Jehan took prompt action to protect the museum; she was also concerned about the school but the invaders had already taken over the place turning it into one of their headquarters. In her predicament Jehan was lucky to get hold of her carpenters before they fled with the rest of thousands of refugees crowding at the frontier trying to leave the country.
Museum Whatever artifacts could be removed she carefully put them away, others were left in their place and the whole section sealed-off with false walls to fool intruders. Exhibits of not great importance to the Iraqis were left in their show-cases to give the impression they were the only artifacts in the museum; then as soon as the works were finished, she closed it, hoping it would not attract the attention of the Iraqis in the area. During the first four months Jehan risked Iraqi’s reprisal by giving sanctuary to an American friend who could not escape during the first hours, till the sanction against foreigners was lifted and he could leave the country. Through the whole seven months of invasion she kept a diary, which she was hiding away as soon as she noted down a paragraph; later the diary was published in book form under the title “Invasion Kuwait” (An English woman’s tale). The time the Iraqis burst into her house was on the 20th of February (1991), on the eve of liberation, when a group of soldiers demanded to inspect the museum. Jehan was with her son, Nader when they came.
Their leader, a brutal man with apparently not a scruple or human feeling, was particular vicious with Nader as he thrusting his gun on him while going through the exhibits. Finding nothing of value to them the men were getting edgy; Jehan was worried about her son; for he could have been taken away as many were. Noticing a gold and enamel necklace in a show-case projecting from the low ceiling, which Jehan had completely forgotten to hide away, one of the soldiers asked if it was of gold. Nader calmly replied : Gold? No...It is an old brass necklace. ...No much value in that! Disappointed the soldiers finally left. The moment Jehan and Nader saw them disappearing they felt so relieved that they started laughing. Six days later when Kuwait was liberated they removed the false walls and welcomed the American soldiers, the first to visit the museum. On the first days of liberation Jehan had the warming surprise of embracing her son, Ziad who had joined the British Army as an interpreter. In that moment though she was not easily prone to show her emotions, her heart melted while tears washed away the anguish she had been hiding for so long. Sometime later when she flew to Failaka aboard an helicopter, to investigate what happened in the island, she found complete desolation; keeping on a beaten path to avoid stepping on any mine she was almost overpowered by anger and disgust when she saw that all the three museums her husband established were completely destroyed, their content were in piles of burned trash; even the pottery did not escape the vandalism; as for the inhabitants they all left when the Iraqis occupied the island, only one elderly man refused to leave. The rainfall had been exceptional that early spring; blades of freshgreen grass were sprouting everywhere, as if nature was trying to cover the desecration done by brutal men. After two decades since then the island remains as it was left at the moment of liberation, exempt for a small village built to attract holiday makers on weekend. Even the original inhabitants have not been allowed to return home, after settling on the mainland during the invasion. Jehan hoped the whole experience of the invasion and aftermath would had redeemed the old Kuwaiti spirit and brought back a new era of prosperity in the country, instead she witnessed a progressive downfall engendered by local politics causing a lethargy that has been affecting everyone. Though she is still passionately involved in the administration of the school whose high standard she helped to create; her efforts through the years of active involvement is taking a toll on her; her ebullient spirit for research and writing has acquiesced; time has come for her to take life on an easier tone.
Concluded
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Horoscope By Jacqueline Bigar Happy birthday for Monday, Feb 11, 2013: This year you have a lot to say, and you’ll say just that ... provided you have a receptive audience. Your way of thinking changes in the course of the year, and something that irked you in the past no longer will be an issue by 2014. Curb any sarcasm if you want your message to be heard. If you are single, you could meet someone unexpectedly. Check out this person carefully, as he or she might be emotionally unavailable. If you are attached, avoid struggling over money by keeping separate checking accounts. Understand the role that jealousy plays in your relationship. PISCES knows how to evoke a response. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1Difficult
Capricorn - (Dec 22 - Jan 19) **** You will say what you need or want to say, but be sure to choose your words carefully in order
to prevent triggering someone. This person could have a strong reaction anyway, but the effort is good practice. Keep communication open. Tonight: Hang out with a friend.
Aquarius - (Jan
20 - Feb 18)
*** Your hand is forced. You have a lot to do that you would prefer to postpone. No such luck! You need to deal with these matters here and now. Understand that you will feel better as a result. Loosen up, and get to the bottom of your resistance. Tonight: Take care of your bills.
Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20) ***** You might be capable of nearly anything right now. Settle in by organizing your priorities and by understanding what is happening with others. Emphasize the group, but do not lose sight of the fact that this is your life. You need to take charge. Tonight: Where the action is.
home decor
golden rays Supplies: 2 canvases Art tape X-acto blade Gold spray paint Grey spray paint Instructions: To start, spray paint the edges of both canvases gold. Next, tape the two canvases together and continued spraying them gold. Next cut the art tape in half using an x-acto blade. After about 10 minutes stick the tape onto the canvases in a pattern that you enjoy. Paint all over the canvas after taping the edges off to keep the gold edges intact. After a little time peel the tape off.
Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19) *** Know that much is brewing behind the scenes. You might not know any or all of the details, but you sense that something has changed. Trying to get to the bottom of the situation might not work. Step back and observe; allow the information to come to you. Tonight: Not to be found.
Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20) **** Many ideas come from you, but keep in mind that just as many ideas come to you. This ebb and flow could interfere with your normal schedule. Decide what your priorities are as others seek you out. Consider postponing a discussion till late afternoon. Tonight: Chat with a friend.
Gemini - (May 21 - June 20) **** Issues seem to be contagious today. Don’t
fight the inevitable — just choose to work through it. By late afternoon, you’ll see the dust start to settle, and you’ll feel a greater sense of self-worth. You feel accomplished and satisfied. Tonight: Get a head start on tomorrow.
Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) **** Keep reaching out for new ideas, where you are forced to break the ice. Accept what is happening, and try taking a new path. Experiment with different directions before making a final decision. Information keeps coming in. Tonight: Let your imagination run wild.
Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22) **** Take news with a grain of salt, especially if it comes from an associate. You usually take this person at his or her word, but if you ask more questions, you’ll build a more solid relationship. Don’t challenge him or her — just demonstrate more inter-
indoor gardening
freesia Funnel-shaped freesia flowers are sweetly-scented and available in single- and double-flowered varieties. Hybrids offer a big range of gorgeous colors – lavender, pink, orange, red, yellow, white and bicolors. Surrounding the flower stems are long, straplike leaves. Freesia bulbs are actually corms, and are easy to force into bloom. Start planting freesia in late summer or early fall for winter or early-spring blooms. Site: When in full bloom, keep freesias in a bright location out of direct sun to prolong the bloom. Temperature: 60-65°F. Water: Water minimally until you see new growth.
est. Tonight: Out late.
Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22): *** Others will find you, even if you close your door and pretend you’re not there. You are needed for feedback. Be flattered and understand your worth to others. Events taking place now will reveal others’ opinions. Tonight: Visit with a loved one, and catch up on news.
Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) *** Recognize your physical limits. You are a wise sign, and you’ll work on organization and priorities right now. Accept your limitations, and others will, too. You can’t expect people to respect your boundaries if you don’t. Tonight: Finish up work, but get much-needed sleep.
Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
beauty tips
**** You have the creativity and knowledge to come up with the right solution and make it work. You might hesitate to take an active role, as others want to brainstorm. Welcome this exchange of ideas. It will help you to think outside the box. Tonight: Fun and games.
Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21) *** Stay centered, and know what you need to accomplish. You have many ideas brewing right now. See if they are workable before deciding to put them into action; you will be a lot happier as a result. Understanding evolves. Tonight: A roommate and/or family member needs your time.
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Born today: Actress Jennifer Aniston (1969), inventor Thomas Edison (1847), singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow (1962)
taste buds
tea tree oil for dandruff
baked peaches ‘n’ cream
Mix a few drops (1 or 2) of essential oil of tea tree oil in your shampoo. Wash your hair and leave the shampoo on your head for 2 or 3 minutes. Add 10 to 15 drops of tea tree oil per eight ounces to your favorite shampoo and then mix well. Shampoo your hair as usual, and allow the shampoo to sit on your scalp for at least a minute or so. For individual applications you may apply the tea tree oil a few drops at a time directly to the scalp and massage in prior to shampooing. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and soak into the scalp and then proceed with shampoo as usual.
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups peaches, peeled and thinly sliced 2 egg whites 3 cups skim milk 1-1/2 cups rolled oats 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon almond extract Method: Preheat oven to 350’F. Spray an 8-9 inch square baking pan with a nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine oats, peaches, and sugar. In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Beat with a fork or wire whisk until blended. Add to oat mixture, mixing well. Place mixture in prepared pan and bake uncovered 45-55 minutes. Serve hot.
Dear Abby This Valentine’s reach out to someone lonely By Abigail Van Buren Dear Abby: Valentine’s Day is approaching, and I wanted to write concerning those of us who are single by choice, by circumstance, because of the death of a spouse or divorce. This holiday was set aside to celebrate love and lovers, but it can be a lonely time for people who find themselves without a significant other. Valentine’s Day is so commercialized that one is bombarded by ads for gifts, candy, etc., from every angle, which only enforces one’s aloneness. The message is subtly sent — but received loud and clear — that an individual without a partner is worthless. I would like to urge your readers this year to include those who are alone through divorce or widowhood in their celebration of this day. Make it a day on which they too can feel special, loved, and a part of things rather than isolated, forgotten and alone. And don’t stop there. All holidays can be lonely for those who have lost loved ones. Include these people in your holiday plans. You will be blessed by sharing, and they will be uplifted to know someone cares. — Solo in Texas Dear Solo: Thank you for your letter. Readers, if you’re feeling down because you don’t have a special valentine, the surest cure for the blues is to do something for someone else. Call someone who’s alone to say, “I’m thinking about you.” If you know someone who’s in a Abigail Van Buren nursing home, take some flowers. Put your discarded items in a box and call your favorite charity. Donate some blood. Listen to your teenager. Tell your parents you think they’re great. Forgive an enemy. Send a donation to a food program that benefits the needy. And if you love someone, tell him or her NOW; please don’t wait until next Valentine’s Day to be a sweetheart again. ❑ ❑ ❑ Dear Abby: I have had an embarrassing problem ever since grammar school. I bite my nails and cuticles until they bleed. If the pain is severe, or I see a piece of cuticle hanging, I stop until it heals. But then I start up again. How can quit this ugly habit — Manic in Grandview, Mo. Dear Manic: You have a problem that I’m told is shared by one in 12 adults. There is more than one solution for it, and the common denominator in all of them is motivation. Some helpful suggestions submitted by readers in years past: (1) “What helped me to finally stop at age 45 was that I sat down and tried to figure out why I kept biting my nails. I finally realized it was because I couldn’t stand the feel of a rough nail catching on the fabric of my clothing. “Now I keep emery boards, from coarse to fine, beside my favorite chair, in my purse, in my glove compartment and by my bed. If I feel a snag, I immediately smooth the offending nail. It has eliminated my need to bite.” (2) “My high school teacher included some interesting lessons in personal hygiene in his biology class. One day, he asked us to scrape under our fingernails and look at what we removed under a microscope. Seeing face to face what had collected under there was enough to stop me from biting my nails. I haven’t chewed them in nearly 30 years.” (3) “What stopped me was a job I landed as a teenager. I became an usher at a movie theater. My job required wearing a uniform, including white gloves. Not long after I landed the job, I noticed I had nice nails. The gloves were what did it.” (4) “Finally, when I was in my 30s, I asked my doctor to suggest a cure. He talked to me about obsessive-compulsive disorder and prescribed a low dose of a very safe drug used by people with O.C.D. In three weeks my nail-biting stopped for good.” ❑ ❑ ❑ Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. (Source: Universal Uclick)
Some photos from the event
ABS holds Black and White Day The American Baccalaureate School held another enthusiastic theme day filled with many smiles and laughter was celebrated on Thursday, Jan 31, 2013. Our KG department dressed all out for Black & White Day and participated in many class activities and
fun festivities at our morning assembly! We kicked off our Black and White Assembly with a cow-milking demonstration, an Oreo stacking contest between KG2 students and, best of all, a “Best Hairdo” competition out of shave cream and black accessories
added for the final touch. Team Ms Amal and Ruben won it! Our lovely moo-cow mascot was on hand for picture taking and fun was had by all! Staff and students all dressed in black and white with matching accessories; cow costumes,
what’s on today ■ DAI lecture: Dai hosts lecture (in English) by Bernard O’Kane (Medium and Message in the Monumental Epigraphy of Medieval Cairo today at 07:00 pm at AlMaidan Cultural Centre. ❑ ❑ ❑
■ El Shaddai weekly fellowship: The El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI Kuwait Chapter invites all the Filipino in our weekly fellowship. ● Every Monday, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Left; Happy birthday to our dearest son M. Aasim Hussain. You are an awesome and valuable gift given by God on this special day. My little baby boy isn’t a little boy anymore. He is now 4 years old today! We wish you very brightest future ahead. Love you lottts. Wishes from Ammi, Abba,
emergency number 112
St Joseph Hall (Basement), Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City. ● Every Friday (except 1st Friday), 12:30 pm to 4 pm, Sacred Heart Hall, Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City.
For more information please call any of the following nos: 66758948, 66523946, 99615956, 99495832, 66078953 and 67067956. ❑ ❑ ❑
Khalid bhaiya, Walid papa, Aalem papa, dhadi, nana and nani, mamu and mami, aunty, thaya’s, thayamma’s, didi’s, bhaiyyas. Right: Happy birthday to our dear daughter Gael Leira Austria Corocoto. We love you so much. From mommy and daddy.
■ Father’s Love Int’l Ministries: Have you had a challenging week? Want to hear something different for a change? Something positive and energizing? At Father’s Love International Ministries, you will find all these and much more … Love, Laughter, Life, Liberty. You will find a community of God-loving believers, who come every Friday, Saturday and Monday to praise and worship together, pray together and listen to God’s word together at the Father’s House. There is always a word of blessing and edification for everyone who comes to Father’s House. So don’t be left out! Come join the family! You will be restored, revived, and renewed and greatly rewarded! Father’s Love Encounter Services on Fridays — 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Bible Study on Saturdays — 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Empowerment Services on Mondays — 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For directions please call 99664030, 66550209. www.fathersloveim.com
■ BLS host Valentine bazaar: The British Ladies Society (BLS) will hold a Valentine mini bazaar today from 10am to 1pm at their premises at Shaikha Complex, 1 Bahrain st, Salmiya Cost — 1 KD to members 2 KD non members. ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Latino dancing classes: Salsa & Bachata classes learn the moves, unleash your potential live the experience of true Latin dancing. We provide individual attention to students. You can join as an individual or as a couple. Salsa classes on Monday and Wednesday from 8 pm to 9 pm. Bachata classes every Sunday from 8 pm to 9 pm. For details contact: 55885102, 99885102. ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Free fitness classes: Free fitness classes at B.FIT studio in Salmiya! Classes include Zumba, Masala Bhangra workout, aerobics, toning & much more. Contact +965-65077062 for further information. Hurry and enroll now !” ❑ ❑ ❑
Minnie and Mickey Mouse were even seen in their black and white attire. Milk was generously provided by KD Cow for all of the classes to enjoy during snack time. Lots of photos were taken of this exciting Black and White event and memories made!
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
31
click
AUK lecture Sports
Continued from Page 28
THE Center of Gulf Studies (CGS) at AUK will be holding a lecture about the transformation of the political landscape in Egypt and its challenges to adapt to the changes caused by the revolution. The talk will be held on Wednesday on February 13 at 6:30 p.m. and will take place at the AUK Auditorium. The lecture is open to public. The talk will be presented by Dr Ann Lesch, professor of Political Science and the Associate Provost of International Programs at the American University of Cairo (AUC). The lecture will highlight and address the struggles and obstacles faced by the Egyptian people and the region’s attempts to transition. Dr Lesch acquired her doctorate from Columbia University and joined AUC as Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2004. As cofounder of the Palestinian American Research Center, Dr Lesch’s research interests cover Palestinian, Egyptian, and Sudanese politics. Dr Lesch has published 60 academic articles and book chapters, and authored 10 books that focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict and inter-Arab relations.
who should have valid Kuwait residence and be a student of their respective school. Physical Education officials or Managers of various schools in Kuwait are hereby requested to contact Murali Kutticode on 99542107 for more information. The tournaments will be played on Saturdays at Sulaibiya grounds and the matches will be 30 overs. Participation of school cricket teams will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the open cricket tournament and we look forward to your confirmation of attendance. Any inquiries may be directed to the contact phone numbers or email addresses mentioned below: A meeting of School representatives will be arranged shortly and please feel free to contact Kuwait cricket with your positive feedback. Contact details: Murali Kutticode, Director, Junior & Corporate cricket Tel: 99542107 or kutticode@yahoo.com
Courses NYF – yoga classes: Yoga classes available for all age groups and different health problems, weight reduction, depression etc by well experienced Indian female yoga teacher near Al-Rashid Hospital, Salmiya. Separate workshop, meditation, advanced breathing exercise classes, healing courses available according to the requirements of different schools, hospitals and organizations at your place. For more details contact 99838117, 99315825. ❑ ❑ ❑ Salsa & jive classes: If you want to stay fit – Take the dive, with salsa and jive, two left feet won’t stop the beat. Join now as individual or couple. Unleash your potential. Individual attention to all students guaranteed. For details contact: 97979816/94445711. ❑ ❑ ❑
Free Arabic course: IPC and all its
A flyer of the event branches is opening Free Arabic Language Course for non-Arab Ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Class in Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Rawdah: Offers 2 alternatives for Level 1 — Call: 22512257. 1. Once a week class (4-month
A flyer of the event
course); 2. Twice a week class (2-month course) Salmiyah: 25733263, 97533263; Kheitan: 24730137, 99285459; Mangaf: 23723002 ext 124/123; Jahra: 24558830, 97533948. ❑ ❑ ❑
TIES Russian Classes: TIES Center
Russian Club is glad to announce the start of Russian Language Courses. We offer classes for all levels, from beginners to advance level. TIES Russian Courses are intended for all Arabic speakers who wish to learn Russian as a second language or simply as a hobby. Throughout the course the students will learn how to read and write in a friendly, relaxed and welcoming
environment. For more information/registration kindly contact us 97226650. ❑ ❑ ❑
TIES Arabic course: TIES Center offers Arabic classes. We offer classes for all levels, from beginners to advance. TIES Arabic classes are intended for all
expatriates who wish to learn Arabic (business, basic communication, hobby, fun, etc…). Throughout the course the students will learn how to read, write and speak Arabic in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. For more information please contact 25231015-6; mobile 97228860/96682792 or visit our website at www.tiescenter.net.
Cinema Cinema programme from Thursday 07/2/2013 to Wednesday 13/2/2013
Bullet to the Head (DIG) (Sylvester Stallone, Jason Momoa) Sharqia 1
13.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 20.00 (Daily) 00.05 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Muhalab 1 12.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 15.45 (Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu) 19.45 (Daily) 23.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Fanar 1 13.00 (Thu, Sat, Mon) 19.00, 23.00 (Daily) Marina 2 13.30 (Fri) 20.00 (Daily) 00.15 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Avenues 3 13.15 (Thu, Sat, Mon, Tue) 15.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 17.15, 19.15, 21.15, 23.15 (Daily) 01.15 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Avenues 5 18.30 (Daily) 360° 8 14.15, 16.15, 18.15, 20.15, 22.15 (Daily) 01.15 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Al-Kout 4 17.30, 21.45 (Daily) 00.05 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 360° 10 00.45 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Bairaq 2 16.15, 20.15 (Daily) 00.15 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Grand Cine 13.30, 16.00, 18.30, 20.30, 22.30 (Daily) 00.30 (Thu, Fri)
The Guilt Trip (DIG) (Barbara Streisand, Seth Roger) Sharqia 1 Muhalab 1
15.45, 22.00 (Daily) 14.45 (Fri, Sat, Mon) 17.45 (Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu) 21.45 (Daily) Fanar 1 15.00, 21.00 (Daily) 01.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Marina 1 13.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 17.30, 22.45 (Daily) Avenues 4 17.30 (Daily) Avenues 10 14.00, 16.15, 18.30, 20.45 23.00 (Daily) 01.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 360° 10 13.45, 16.00, 18.15, 20.30, 22.45 (Daily) 360° 11 12.45, 15.00, 17.15, 19.45 (Daily) 00.05 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Al Kout 2 13.00 (Thu, Sat, Mon) 20.15, 22.15 (Daily) Bairaq 2 14.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 18.15, 22.15 (Daily) Grand Cine 14.00, 16.00, 18.00, 20.00, 22.15 (Daily)
Warm Bodies (Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer) Sharqia 1 Muhalab 2 Fanar 1 Marina 1
17.45 (Daily) 20.00 (Daily) 17.00 (Daily) 15.30 (Daily) 00.45 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Avenues 1 13.15 (Thu, Sat, Mon, Tue) 15.30, 17.45, 20.00, 22.15 (Daily) 00.30 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 360° 2 14.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 16.45, 17.00, 21.15 (Daily) 23.30 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Al Kout 3 16.15, 20.30 (Daily) Grand Cine 13.00, 15.30, 18.00, 20.30, 22.30 (Daily)
21.45 (Daily) 13.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 15.45 (Daily) Bairaq 3 13.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat,Mon) 15.30, 17.30 (Daily) Ajial 2 16.00, 18.00 (Daily) Grand Cine 13.00, 15.00, 17.00, 20.00, 22.00 (Daily)
1. 360°
Zahra’a Area, South Surra, 6th Ring Road, corner of King Faisal Highway
2. Ajial
Ajial Complex, Fahaheel
3. Al Bairaq
Between Jaber Al Ali East & Al Agalia West
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (DIG)
4. Al Fanar
Al Fanar Complex, Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya
5. Al Kout
Al-Kout Complex, at the end of the Coastal Road, Fahaheel
6. Al Muhalab
Al Muhalab Complex, Behind Hawalli Clinic, Hawalli
7. Al Sharqiya
Arabian Gulf Street, Souq Sharq, near the Amiri Hospital
8. Granada
Abraq Khaitan, off the Old Airport Road
9. Laila Gallery
Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya
10. Marina
Marina Mall, Between Salem Al Mubarak Street & Arabian Gulf Street, Salmiya
11. Metro
Metro Complex, Farwaniya, near Crowne Plaza Hotel & Farwaniya Garden
12. Plaza
Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya
13. The Avenues
The Avenues Mall, Al Reggai near Al Rai, 5th Ring Road & Ghazali Road Intersection
How to find us
Al-Kout 4
(Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton) Sharqia 2
14.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 22.30 (Daily) Muhalab 3 18.15 (Daily) 00.45 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) Fanar 2 16.15, 20.30 (Daily) Marina 3 22.30 (Daily) Avenues 9 14.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 16.45, 19.00, 21.15, 23.30 (Daily) 360° 6 13.15, 15.30, 17.45, 20, 22.15 (Daily) 00.30 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 360° 13 14.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 16.30, 18.45, 21.00, 23.15 (Daily) Al-Kout 1 13.30 (Fri) 17.45 (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu) Bairaq 1 14.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 19.45 (Daily) Laila 18.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue) Grand Cine 13.00, 15.00, 17.30, 20.30, 22.30 (Daily) 00.15 (Thu, Fri)
3Ala Gosety (Dig) (Ahmed Helmi, Ghada Adel) 18.00, 20.15 (Daily) 00.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Muhalab 3 14.15, 20.15, 22.30 (Daily) Fanar 4 12.45, 15.00, 19.30, 21.45 (Daily) 00.05 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Marina 2 13.00 (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu) 15.30, 17.45, 22.00 (Daily) Avenues 4 12.30, 20.00, 22.30 (Daily) 01.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Avenues 11 13.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 16.15, 18.45, 21.15 (Daily) 23.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 360° 4 13.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 16.00, 18.30, 21.00 (Daily) 23.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 360° 9 20.00 (Daily) 360° 12 12.30, 15.00, 17.30, 20.00, 22.30 (Daily) 01.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Al-Kout 1 13.15 (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu) 15.30, 19.45, 22.00 (Daily) Bairaq 1 12.30 (Thu, Sat, Mon) 16.45, 21.15 (Daily) 23.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) Laila 16.00, 20.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue) Ajial 2 19.45, 22.00 (Daily) Metro 1 21.30 (Daily)
Sharqia 2
Broken City (Dig)
360° 1
360° 9
(Mark Wahlberg, Russel Crowe) Sharqia 3 Muhalab 2
Fanar 2 Marina 3 Avenues 5
Avenues 6
16.00, 20.30, 22.45 (Daily) 01.00 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 13.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 15.45, 22.00 (Daily) 00.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 18.15, 22.30 (Daily) 00.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 14.15, 20.15 (Daily) 00.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 13.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 16.00, 21.00 (Daily) 23.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 12.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 15.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 17.30, 20.00, 22.30 (Daily)
Al-Kout 3
Bairaq 3 Laila Grand Cine
01.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 13.45, 16.15, 18.45, 21.15 (Daily) 23.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 12.30, 15.00, 17.30, 22.30 (Daily) 01.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 14.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 18.15, 22.30 (Daily) 12.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 19.30, 21.45 (Daily) 00.05 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 22.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue 14.00, 17.00, 20.00, 22.15, (Daily) 00.30 (Thu, Sat, Mon, Tue)
The Last Stand (Dig) (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eduardo Noriega) Fanar 3 Avenues 7
12.30 (Mon, Thur, Fri, Sat) 13.15 (Daily) 0030 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat)
(Claudia Abate, Pere Ponce) Sharqia 2 Muhalab 2 Fanar 3
Marina 3 Avenues 2 360° 3
12.30 (Thu, Sat, Mon) 16.15 (Daily) 20.00 (Daily) 13.00 (Thu, Sat, Mon) 15.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 16.45 (Daily) 12.30, 16.30 (Daily) 12.45, 14.45, 16.45, 18.45 (Daily) 13.45, 15.45, 17.45, 19.45,
Gangster Squad (Dig) (Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling) Fanar 4 Avenues 8 360° 15 Al-Kout 4 Grand Cine
Muhalab 2 Fanar 2 Marina 3 Avenues 2 360° 5
14.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 18.30 (Daily) 18.00 (Daily) 14.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 18.15 (Daily) 20.45, 22.45 (Daily) 00.45 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 13.00 (Sat) 15.00 (Fri & Sat) 17.00 (Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat) 21.15, 23.15 (Daily)
17.15 (Daily) 12.45 (Thu, Sat, Mon, Tue) 14.00 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue) 00.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 19.30 (Daily) 14.30, 17.00, 20.00, 22.30 (Daily)
Lincoln (Dig) (Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field) Fanar 5 Marina 1 Avenues 8 00.15 360° 7
14.45, 17.45, 20.45 (Daily) 23.45 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 19.45 (Daily) 15.15, 18.15, 21.15 (Daily) (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 14.00, 17.00, 20.00 23.00 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 17.15 (Daily)
(Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon) 360° 15
ABCD (Dig) Hindi (Prabhu Deva, Salman Khan) 16.30, 21.30 (Daily)
Mirchi (Dig) (Telugu) (Prabhas, Anushka, Shetty) Muhalab 1 Plaza Ajial 1 Metro 2
16.45 (Fri, Sat, Mon) 15.30, 18.30, 21.30 (Daily) 15.30, 18.30, 21.30 (Daily) 15.45, 18.45, 22.00 (Daily)
Special 26 (Dig) Hindi) (Kajal Agarwal, Manoj Bajpai)
‘The Guilt Trip,’ starring Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen, Julene ReneePreciado is now showing in Kuwait cinemas.
IMAX Imax film programme at The Scientific Centre Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Born to be Wild 3D 10:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm To The Arctic 3D 11:30am, 5:30pm, 8:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 6:30pm, 9:30pm The Last Reef 3D 2:30pm Journey to Mecca 4:30pm
Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am To The Arctic 3D 10:30am, 4:30pm, 9:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 11:30am, 2:30pm, 7:30pm Born to be Wild 3D12:30pm, 5:30pm, 8:30pm The Last Reef 3D 3:30pm, 6:30pm
Tuesday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 5:30pm, 8:30pm The Last Reef 3D 11:30am, 3:30pm, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 2:30pm, 7:30pm
Wednesday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am To The Arctic 3D 10:30am, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 9:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 11:30am, 6:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 12:30pm, 8:30pm Journey to Mecca 3:30pm The Last Reef 3D 4:30pm, 7:30pm
Thursday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Born to be Wild 3D 10:30am, 3:30pm, 6:30pm To The Arctic 3D 11:30am, 5:30pm, 8:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm The Last Reef 3D 2:30pm
Friday Fires of Kuwait Flight of Butterflies 3D Born to be Wild 3D The Last Reef 3D To The Arctic 3D
2:30pm 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 8:30pm 4:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm, 9:30pm
19.30 (Daily)
360° 15
Sharqia 3
23.45 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 19.00 (Daily) 13.00, 15.00, 17.30, 20.00, 22.15 (Daily)
Quartet (Dig)
(Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington)
Snowflake, The White Gorilla (DIG)
360° 3 360° 5 Grand Cine
Al-Kout 2
Silent Hill: Revelation (Dig)
15.45, 18.45, 21.45 (Daily) 15.30, 18.30 (Daily)
Monday
Grand Al-Hamra, tel: 22270333, www.grandcinemas.com
01.15 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat) 15.15 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon) 00.30 (Thu, Fri, Sat, Mon))
(Mammotty, Dileep)
Sunday
NB: Friday no show before 1:30 pm On Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday no show before 3.30 pm and after 11.15 pm in Sharq, Mohalab, Fanar, Marina, Al Kout, Bairaq, 360 and Avenues. On Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday no show before 5:30 pm in Plaza, Laila, Ajial, Metro and Granada. Regular show KD3:000; 3D-Digital — KD3.500; VIP show — KD6.000. ‘On Monday, price is KD1.500 except Digital movies. Movies inquiries and Fax Back hotline 1803456
Al-Kout 2
Kammath & Kammath (Dig) Ajial 4 Metro 1
14. The Scientific Center Opp Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Gulf Road IMAX
15. Grand Cinemas
Sun) 15.45, 18.45, 21.45 (Daily)
Ajial 3
Fanar 3 Avenues 7 360° 14
18.30, 21.30 (Daily) 15.30, 21.30 (Daily) 14.30, 17.30, 20.30 (Daily) 23.30 (Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat,
Saturday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am To The Arctic 3D 10:30am, 1:30pm, 7:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 11:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 9:30pm Journey to Mecca 4:30pm The Last Reef 3D 5:30pm Notes: All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are available upon request. “Fires of Kuwait” is in English. Arabic headsets are available upon request. Film schedule is subject to changes without notice. For information call 1848888 or visit www.tsck.org.kw
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
32
Couch slouch ‘Energy Survival’ receives award for non-scripted entertainment
British TV kids’ shows win three International Emmys NEW YORK, Feb 10, (AP): “The Amazing World of Gumball” and two other British TV productions were among the winners at the 1st International Emmy Kids Awards. Other awards went to children’s programs from Argentina, Japan and Norway.
The inaugural Kids Awards ceremony took place Friday night in New York City, despite a major snowstorm. In previous years, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences had presented a single award for children’s programming at its main International
Emmy gala in November. This year, the academy decided to set up a separate ceremony, with International Emmy Kids Awards handed out in six categories to honor outstanding children’s TV programming outside the U.S. “The Amazing World of Gumball,” a show created by
Cartoon Network Europe about the misadventures of a blue cat whose weird classmates include a banana, a female T-Rex and a cheerleading peanut, won in the animation category. The show is also broadcast on Cartoon Network in the US. The other British winners were
“Newsround: My Autism and Me,” the story of a 13-year-old girl who shows what it’s like to grow up with autism, in the factual category, and “Lost Christmas,” an urban fairy tale about a mysterious stranger played by Eddie Izzard who arrives on Christmas Eve to
help heal a young boy with a tragic past, in the TV movie/mini-series category. The Norwegian reality-based competition “Energy Survival,” in which children’s teams compete in tasks related to energy and the environment, received the award for non-scripted entertainment.
tv highlights Animal Planet 05:55 Animal Cops Houston 06:45 Wildest Arctic 07:35 Wildlife SOS 08:00 The Really Wild Show 08:25 Bad Dog 09:15 Dogs 101: Specials 10:10 Baby Planet 11:05 Wildest Africa 12:00 Animal Cops Phoenix 12:55 Call Of The Wildman 13:20 Wildlife SOS 13:50 Clinically Wild: Alaska 14:15 Clinically Wild: Alaska 14:45 Animal Precinct 15:40 Wildest Africa 16:35 Escape To Chimp Eden 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Dogs 101: Specials 18:25 Crocodile Hunter 19:20 Too Cute! 20:15 Bondi Vet 20:40 Safari Vet School 21:10 Call Of The Wildman 21:35 Escape To Chimp Eden 22:05 Wildest Africa 23:00 Karina: Wild On Safari 23:25 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer 23:55 My Cat From Hell 00:50 Animal Cops South Africa 01:45 Human Prey 02:35 I'm Alive 03:25 Wildest Africa 04:15 Karina: Wild On Safari 04:40 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer 05:05 My Cat From Hell 05:55 Call Of The Wildman
BBC Lifestyle 06:15 MasterChef 07:05 Design Rules 07:35 Design Rules 08:05 Homes Under The Hammer 08:55 Bargain Hunt 09:40 Antiques Roadshow 10:30 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 11:50 Come Dine With Me: Supersize 13:25 Come Dine With Me: South Africa 14:20 Gok's Clothes Roadshow 15:05 Bargain Hunt 15:50 Antiques Roadshow 16:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 18:00 Homes Under The Hammer 18:50 The Hairy Bikers USA 19:15 Home Cooking Made Easy 19:40 Home Cooking Made Easy 20:10 New Scandinavian Cooking 20:35 Come Dine With Me: South Africa 21:30 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 23:10 Bargain Hunt 00:00 Homes Under The Hammer 00:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 02:10 Come Dine With Me: South Africa 03:05 Antiques Roadshow 03:55 Ty's Great British Adventure 04:20 Ty's Great British Adventure 04:45 Bargain Hunt 05:30 Living In The Sun 06:20 House Swap
General
Boomerang 06:00 Bananas In Pyjamas 06:25 Jelly Jamm 07:00 Ha Ha Hairies 07:25 Baby Looney Tunes 07:50 Lazy Town 08:15 Krypto The Superdog 08:40 Jelly Jamm 09:05 Gerald McBoing Boing 09:30 Cartoonito Tales 09:55 Bananas In Pyjamas 10:20 Ha Ha Hairies 10:45 Lazy Town 11:10 Krypto The Superdog 11:35 Baby Looney Tunes 12:00 Jelly Jamm 12:25 Gerald McBoing Boing 12:50 Cartoonito Tales 13:15 Krypto The Superdog 13:40 Lazy Town 14:00 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 14:25 Tom And Jerry Tales 14:50 Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries 15:20 Johnny Bravo 15:45 Tom & Jerry 16:10 Pink Panther And Pals 16:35 The Garfield Show 17:00 What's New Scooby-Doo? 17:25 Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries 17:50 Tom And Jerry Tales 18:15 The Looney Tunes Show 18:40 Taz-Mania 19:05 Moomins 19:30 Pink Panther & Pals 19:45 The Garfield Show 20:00 Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries 20:20 Tom And Jerry Tales 20:45 Moomins 21:10 Dexters Laboratory 21:20 Johnny Bravo 21:35 Puppy In My Pocket 22:00 The Garfield Show 22:25 What's New Scooby-Doo? 22:50 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries 23:15 Tom & Jerry Tales 23:40 The Looney Tunes Show 00:05 Taz-Mania 00:30 Pink Panther And Pals 00:55 Moomins 01:20 Tom & Jerry Kids 01:45 A Pup Named ScoobyDoo 02:10 Puppy In My Pocket 02:35 Wacky Races 03:00 Looney Tunes 03:25 Duck Dodgers 03:50 Dastardly And Muttley 04:00 Dexter's Laboratory 04:30 Wacky Races 04:55 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries 05:20 Tom & Jerry 05:45 The Garfield Show 06:00 Bananas In Pyjamas
Discovery Channel 06:05 World's Top 5 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 The Will: Family Secrets Revealed 08:45 Finding Bigfoot 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Kings 10:30 Auction Kings 10:55 How Do They Do It? 11:25 How It's Made 11:50 Fast N' Loud 12:45 Jesse James: Outlaw Garage 13:40 American Chopper 14:35 Border Security 15:05 Auction Kings 15:30 Auction Kings 16:00 Life On A Wire 16:55 Finding Bigfoot 17:50 Mythbusters 18:45 American Guns 19:40 How Do They Do It? 20:05 How It's Made 20:35 Auction Kings 21:00 Auction Kings 21:30 Gold Rush 22:25 Gold Divers 23:20 Around The World In 80 Ways 00:15 Gold Rush 01:10 Gold Divers 02:05 Around The World In 80 Ways 03:00 Mythbusters 03:55 Border Security 04:20 Auction Kings 04:50 Auction Kings 05:15 How Do They Do It? 05:40 How It's Made 06:05 American Guns
Disney Channel 06:00 Phineas And Ferb 06:15 Suite Life On Deck 06:40 My Babysitter's A Vampire 07:05 Phineas And Ferb 07:15 Phineas And Ferb 07:30 Phineas And Ferb 07:40 Phineas And Ferb 07:55 Jessie 08:20 Good Luck Charlie 08:45 Doc McStuffins 09:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:35 The Hive 09:45 Mouk 10:00 Jonas 10:25 So Random 10:50 Hannah Montana 11:15 Sonny With A Chance 11:40 Kim Possible 12:05 Shake It Up 12:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:55 Phineas And Ferb 13:20 Austin And Ally 13:45 Suite Life On Deck 14:10 A.N.T. Farm 14:35 Phineas And Ferb 14:45 Phineas And Ferb 15:00 Phineas And Ferb 15:10 Phineas And Ferb 15:25 Shake It Up 15:50 Austin And Ally 16:15 Jessie 16:40 A.N.T. Farm 17:00 Good Luck Charlie 17:30 Gravity Falls 17:55 Suite Life On Deck 18:20 Austin And Ally 18:45 Lemonade Mouth 20:30 That's So Raven 20:50 Cory In The House 21:15 Phil Of The Future 21:40 Hannah Montana 22:05 Good Luck Charlie 22:30 Good Luck Charlie 22:55 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:45 Hannah Montana Forever 00:10 Hannah Montana Forever 00:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 01:00 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 01:25 Replacements 01:50 Replacements 02:15 Emperor's New School 02:40 Emperor's New School 03:05 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 03:30 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 03:55 Replacements 04:20 Replacements 04:45 Emperor's New School 05:10 Emperor's New School 05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 06:00 Phineas And Ferb
Disney Junior
06:00 Evil Up Close 07:00 Crime Stories
Al-Jazeera/English
BBC World
00:00 NEWSHOUR 01:00 News 01:30 People & Power 02:00 NEWSHOUR 03:00 News 03:30 Inside Story 04:00 Al Jazeera World 05:00 NEWSHOUR 06:00 News 06:30 Earthrise 07:00 News 07:30 Listening Post 08:00 News 08:30 News 09:00 Indian Hospital 10:00 News 10:30 Inside Story 11:00 News 11:30 South2North 12:00 News 12:30 People & Power 13:00 NEWSHOUR 14:00 News 14:30 Inside Story 15:00 Witness 16:00 NEWSHOUR 17:00 News 17:30 Talk to Al Jazeera 18:00 NEWSHOUR 19:00 News 19:30 Counting the Cost 20:00 News 20:30 Inside Story 21:00 NEWSHOUR 22:00 News 22:30 The Stream 23:00 Revolution Through Arab Eyes
06:00 BBC World News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC World News 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 Hardtalk 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 BBC World News 11:00 GMT With George Alagiah 11:30 GMT With George Alagiah 12:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 12:30 Impact With Mishal Husain 13:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 13:30 Hardtalk 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 BBC World News 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 BBC World News 16:30 BBC Focus On Africa 17:00
MBC action
National Treasure 21:00 Swordfish 23:00 Eat Pray Love 02:00 Eraser 04:00 The Postman 07:00 Relative Strangers
06:05 Ben 10 06:30 Ben 10 06:55 Angelo Rules 07:00 Casper's Scare School 07:30 Casper's Scare School 08:00 Mucha Lucha 08:25 Johnny Test 08:45 Adventure Time 09:05 Total Drama World Tour 09:30 Total Drama World Tour 09:55 Ben 10: Omniverse 10:20 Young Justice 10:45 Thundercats 11:10 Regular Show 12:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 12:50 Foster's Home For... 13:15 Foster's Home For... 13:40 Courage The Cowardly Dog 14:30 Powerpuff Girls 15:20 Angelo Rules 16:10 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 16:35 Young Justice 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 17:20 Transformers Prime 17:40 Johnny Test 18:00 Level Up 18:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 18:50 Adventure Time 19:15 Regular Show 19:40 Mucha Lucha 20:05 Total Drama World Tour 20:30 Total Drama World Tour 20:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 21:20 Hero 108 21:45 Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge 22:10 Grim Adventures Of... 23:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 23:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 23:50 The Powerpuff Girls 00:40 Chowder 01:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 01:55 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:20 Foster's Home For... 02:45 Foster's Home For... 03:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 04:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 04:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Powerpuff Girls 05:40 Generator Rex 06:05 Ben 10
Crime & Investigation
News
08:00 The FBI Files 09:00 Psychic Detectives 09:30 Psychic Detectives 10:00 Crime Stories 11:00 Evil Up Close 12:00 Snapped: Women Who Kill 12:30 Snapped: Women Who Kill 13:00 The Devil You Know 14:00 Crime Stories 15:00 Murder Casebook With Fred Dinenage 16:00 The FBI Files 17:00 Psychic Detectives 17:30 Psychic Detectives 18:00 Crime Stories 19:00 The FBI Files 20:00 Murder Casebook With Fred Dinenage 21:00 Snapped: Women Who Kill 22:00 The Devil You Know 23:00 I Survived 00:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths 00:30 Curious & Unusual Deaths 01:00 The Washington Snipers 02:00 Watching The Detectives 03:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths 03:30 Curious & Unusual Deaths 04:00 I Survived 05:00 Snapped: Women Who Kill 06:00 Watching The Detectives
06:00 Jungle Junction 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Little Einsteins 06:50 Special Agent Oso 07:05 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Jungle Junction 07:45 Handy Manny 08:00 Special Agent Oso 08:15 Imagination Movers 08:40 Cars Toons 08:45 Handy Manny 09:00 The Hive 09:10 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 09:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:05 Doc McStuffins 10:20 Doc McStuffins 10:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:00 Lilo And Stitch 11:30 Cars Toons 11:35 Mouk 11:45 Art Attack 12:10 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 12:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 13:10 Doc McStuffins 13:25 Handy Manny 13:40 Jungle Junction 13:55 Timmy Time 14:05 The Hive 14:15 Mouk 14:30 Little Einsteins 14:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 15:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:00 The Little Mermaid 16:25 Lilo And Stitch 16:55 Imagination Movers 17:20 Handy Manny 17:35 The Hive 17:45 Lilo And Stitch 18:10 Doc McStuffins 18:25 Doc McStuffins 18:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 19:10 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 19:35 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 20:05 Timmy Time 20:15 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 20:25 Doc McStuffins 20:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:10 The Hive 21:20 Timmy Time 21:30 Mouk 21:45 Handy Manny 22:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 The Hive 22:35 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 23:00
Cartoon Network
Movies
tv today
09:00 Cold Case 09:45 CSI 10:30 Bones 11:15 Tapout 12:00 WWE Afterburm 13:00 CSI 13:45 Cold Case 14:30 Bones 15:30 Knockout Sportsworld 16:30 Gladiator 18:00 WWE Afterburm 19:00 Driven 20:00 Armored 22:00 WWE Raw 23:00 Top Gear USA 00:00 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 02:00 WWE Raw 04:00 Armored 05:30 Driven 06:30 Eureka 07:45 Bones 08:15 Law & Order
06:00 Restitution 08:00 Tank Girl 10:00 Batman: Year One 12:00 Hackers 14:00 Tank Girl 16:00 The Stool Pigeon 18:00 Hackers 20:00 Seventh Moon 22:00 Ronin 00:00 The Thaw 02:00 Seventh Moon 04:00 Tank Girl 06:00 Hackers
MBC 2
OSN Cinema
08:00 Scoop With Riya 08:30 Monster-inLaw 10:15 Two Weeks 12:00 Man Of The Year 14:00 Scoop With Riya 14:30 Step up 2: The Streets 16:30 Monster-in-Law 18:30
05:00 Blank Slate 07:00 The Dragon Chronicles: Fire & Ice 09:00 Soldier Love Story 11:00 Water For Elephants 13:00 The Deep End Of The Ocean 15:00
OSN Movies Action HD
Sports TV listings — See Page 44 — Timmy Time 23:10 Animated Stories 23:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 23:30 Jungle Junction 23:45 Handy Manny 23:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 00:20 Little Einsteins 00:50 Special Agent Oso 01:00 Special Agent Oso 01:15 Lazytown 01:40 Jungle Junction 01:55 Jungle Junction 02:10 Handy Manny 02:20 Handy Manny 02:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 03:00 Lazytown 03:25 Special Agent Oso 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Imagination Movers 04:20 Handy Manny 04:30 Handy Manny 04:40 Special Agent Oso 04:50 Special Agent Oso 05:00 Timmy Time 05:10 Lazytown 05:35 Little Einsteins 06:00 Jungle Junction
Disney XD 07:00 Kickin It 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Almost Naked Animals 08:15 Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies 08:40 Slugterra 09:05 Scaredy Squirrel 09:30 Ultimate Spider-Man 09:55 Zeke & Luther 10:20 Kick Buttowski 10:45 I'm In The Band 11:10 Rekkit Rabbit 11:35 Rated A For Awesome 12:00 Iron Man Armored Adventures 12:25 American Dragon 12:50 Kick Buttowski 13:20 Pair Of Kings 13:45 Zeke & Luther 14:10 Rekkit Rabbit 14:35 I'm In The Band 15:00 Kick Buttowski 15:25 Pair Of Kings 15:50 Phineas And Ferb 16:15 Phineas And Ferb 16:40 Kickin It 17:05 Crash & Bernstein 17:30 Slugterra 18:00 Kickin It 18:25 Scaredy Squirrel 18:50 Phineas And Ferb 19:00 Phineas And Ferb 19:15 Phineas And Ferb 19:40 Mr. Young 20:05 Slugterra 20:30 Zeke & Luther 20:55 I'm In The Band 21:20 Rated A For Awesome 21:45 Rekkit Rabbit 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Ultimate SpiderMan 23:05 Kick Buttowski 23:30 Scaredy Squirrel 07:00 Kickin It
E! Entertainment 06:00 THS 08:00 E! News 08:55 Married To Jonas 09:20 Married To Jonas 09:45 E!es 10:15 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body Bouncebacks 12:05 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:30 Behind The Scenes 17:00 THS 19:00 THS 20:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:00 Live From The Red Carpet 23:00 THS 00:00 Dirty Soap 00:55 Style Star 01:25 THS 03:15 Behind The Scenes 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 E!es 05:05 THS 06:00 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies
Food Network 05:40 Chopped 06:30 Iron Chef America 07:10 Unwrapped 07:35 Unwrapped 08:00 Food Network Challenge 08:50 Kid In A Candy Store 09:15 Unwrapped 09:40 Food Crafters 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:55 Cooking For Real 11:20 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 11:45 Easy Chinese 12:10 Mexican Made Easy 12:35 Mexican Made Easy 13:00 Iron Chef America 13:50 Tyler's Ultimate 14:15 Unique Sweets 14:40 Unique Sweets 15:05 World Cafe Asia 15:30 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 15:55 Easy Chinese 16:20 Food Crafters 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 19:40 Charly's Cake Angels 20:05 Guy's Big Bite 20:30 Chopped 21:20 Chopped 22:10 Iron Chef America 23:00 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 23:25 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 23:50 World Cafe Asia 00:15 World Cafe Asia 00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 01:55 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 02:20 Unwrapped 02:45 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 03:10 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 03:35 World Cafe Asia 04:00 World Cafe Asia 04:20 Kid In A Candy Store 04:50 Unique Sweets 05:15 Charly's Cake Angels 05:40 Chopped
Fox TV 7:00 Baby TV 8:00 Ghost Whisperer 9:00 AlMaw3ed Al2emyani 10:00 Flash Forward 11:00 CSI Miami 12:00 The Block 13:00 Al Qaib Al Maftooh 14:00 Junior Masterchef Australia 15:00 Chef Bila 7dood 16:00 Lost 17:00 Scrubs 17:30 CSI Miami 18:30 The Block 19:15 Al Qaib Al Maftooh 20:00 Chef Bila 7dood 21:00 The Killing 22:00 Scrubs 22:30 CSI Miami 23:30 Chef Bila 7dood 00:30 Al Qaib Al Maftoh 01:30 What About Brian 02:30 The Killing 03:30 Ghost Whisperer 04:30 CSI Miami 05:30 What About Brian 06:30 Flash Forward
Investigation Discovery 06:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 07:10 Disappeared 08:00 Mystery Diagnosis 08:50 Street Patrol 09:15 Street Patrol 09:40 Real Emergency Calls 10:05 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 10:30 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 11:20 Murder Shift 12:10 Disappeared 13:00 Mystery Diagnosis 13:50 Street Patrol 14:15 Street Patrol 14:40 Forensic Detectives 15:30 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 16:20 Real Emergency Calls 16:45 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 17:10 Disappeared 18:00
BBC World News 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 18:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 19:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 Business Edition With Tanya Beckett 20:30 Hardtalk 21:00 BBC World News America 21:30 BBC World News America 22:00 Newsday 22:30 Asia Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 Newsday 23:30 Asia Business Report 23:45 Sport Today 00:00 Newsday 00:30 Asia Business Report 00:45 Sport Today 01:00 BBC World News 01:30 Asia Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 BBC World News 03:30
Certain Prey 17:00 Love Finds A Home 19:00 We Bought A Zoo 21:15 Leaves Of Grass 23:00 City Rats 01:00 Husk 03:00 Love Finds A Home 05:00 The Deep End Of The Ocean
OSN Movies Comedy 06:00 Despicable Me 08:00 Elf 10:00 The Breakfast Club 12:00 The Ladykillers 14:00 Robots 16:00 The Breakfast Club 18:00 Zathura: A Space Adventure 20:00 SpreadR 22:00 The Switch 00:00 Stuck On You 02:00 Spread-R 04:00 Zathura: A Space Adventure 06:00 The Breakfast Club
OSN Movies Festival 05:00 Cruel Intentions 07:00 Paws 09:00
Murder Shift 18:50 Forensic Detectives 19:40 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 20:30 Disappeared 21:20 Nightmare Next Door 22:10 Couples Who Kill 23:00 I Married A Mobster 23:25 I Married A Mobster 23:50 Blood Relatives 00:40 I Almost Got Away With It 01:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 02:20 Ghost Lab 03:05 I Married A Mobster 03:30 I Married A Mobster 03:55 Blood Relatives 04:45 I Almost Got Away With It 05:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 06:20 Ghost Lab
ITV Granada 06:00 Dirk Gently 07:00 Monroe 08:00 The Jonathan Ross Show 2013 09:00 Britain's Best Dish - Celebrity Special 10:00 Emmerdale 11:00 Coronation Street 12:00 The Royal Variety Show 2012 14:30 The Adventurer's Guide To Britain 15:00 Dirk Gently 16:00 The Jonathan Ross Show 2013 17:00 Jeremy Kyle USA 18:00 Emmerdale 19:00 Coronation Street 20:00 Come Dine With Me Ireland 20:30 Coach Trip 21:00 Agatha Christie's Marple 23:00 Durham County 00:00 60 Minute Makeover 01:00 Jeremy Kyle USA 02:00 Emmerdale 03:00 Coronation Street 04:00 Come Dine With Me Ireland 04:30 Coach Trip 05:00 Agatha Christie's Marple 07:00 Durham County
Nat Geo Adventure HD 06:15 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 3 06:40 Food Lover's Guide To The Planet 07:10 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 1 07:35 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 1 08:05 Ultimate Traveller 09:00 Walking The World 09:55 Roam 10:20 The Ride: Alaska To Patagonia 10:50 The Green Way Up 11:15 Graham's World 11:45 The Frankincense Trail 12:40 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 13:35 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 3 14:00 Food Lover's Guide To The Planet 14:30 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 1 14:55 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 1 15:25 Ultimate Traveller 16:20 Walking The World 17:15 Roam 17:40 The Ride: Alaska To Patagonia 18:10 The Green Way Up 18:35 Graham's World 19:05 The Frankincense Trail 20:00 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 1 20:30 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 1 21:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 3 21:30 Food Lover's Guide To The Planet 22:00 A World Apart 22:55 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 3 23:20 Food Lover's Guide To The Planet 23:50 Delinquent Gourmet 00:15 Delinquent Gourmet 00:45 Adventure Wanted 01:40 Bondi Rescue: Bali 02:05 On Surfari 02:35 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 03:00 Destination Extreme 03:30 Racing To America 04:25 Market Values 04:50 The Best Job In The World 05:20 A World Apart 06:15 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 3
Nat Geo Channel HD 06:00 The Border 07:00 Engineering Connections 08:00 Family Guns (Aka Family Combat) 09:00 Nazi Temple of Doom 10:00 Master of Disaster 11:00 The Border 12:00 My Brilliant Brain 13:00 Shark Men 14:00 The Border 15:00 Engineering Connections 16:00 Family Guns (Aka Family Combat) 17:00 Secrets of The Great Escape Revealed 18:00 Machines Of War 19:00 Alaskan Killer Shark 20:00 Engineering Connections 21:00 Shark Men 22:00 Adventure Wanted 23:00 Engineering Connections 00:00 Naked Science S2.5 01:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 02:00 Great Migrations 03:00 Alaskan Killer Shark 04:00 Engineering Connections 05:00 Shark Men 06:00 Adventure Wanted
Nat Geo Wild HD 05:35 Untamed Americas 06:30 Journey Into Amazonia 07:25 Night Stalkers 08:20 Caught In The Act 09:15 Big Cat Wars (aka Lion vs Cheetah) 10:10 Kenny And Zoltan's Venom Quest 11:05 Striker! 12:00 Planet Carnivore 13:00 Journey Into Amazonia 14:00 Kenny And Zoltan's Venom Quest 15:00 Secrets Of The King Cobra 16:00 Crocodile King 17:00 Hippo Hell 18:00 Crimes Against Nature 19:00 Fish Warrior 20:00 Night Stalkers 21:00 Caught In The Act 22:00 Big Cat Wars (aka Lion vs Cheetah) 23:00 Africa's Lost Eden 00:00 Crimes Against Nature 01:00 Planet Carnivore 01:55 Expedition Wild 02:50 Swamp Men 03:45 Caught In The Act 04:40 Strike Force 05:35 Untamed Americas 06:30 Expedition Wild
NDTV Good Times 06:00 X5 Steam Mop Elite 25 06:30 Yogacity 07:00 Chakh Le India 07:30 Gourmet Central 08:00 Whatever Whenever Wherever 08:30 Love Bites With Joey 09:00 Royal Reservation Project Living 09:30 The Muse 10:00 Highway On My Plate 10:30 Vicky Goes Veg 11:00 A Whole New World 11:30 A Whole New World 12:00 Heavy Petting 12:30 Gadget Guru 13:00 Chakh Le India Kacha Rasta 13:30 Highway On My Plate 14:00 Yogacity 14:30 Love Bite s With Joey 15:00 Custom Made For Vir Sanghvi 15:30 Free Fall 16:00 Lock Stock And Two Smoking Tikkas 16:30 Vicky Goes Foreign Canada Tadka 17:00 2 For The Road 17:30 Highway On My Plate 18:00 Chakh Le India Kacha Rasta 18:00 No Big Deal 19:00 Royal
Hardtalk 04:00 BBC World News World Business Report 04:45 BBC News 05:00 BBC World News World Business Report 05:45 BBC News 06:00 BBC World News
04:30 World 05:30 World
CNN International 06:00 CNN Newsroom 07:00 Business Traveller 07:30 News Special 08:00 World Sport 08:30 Inside Africa 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Report 11:00 World Sport 11:30 News Special 12:00 World Business Today 13:00 Backstory 13:30 African Voices 14:00 World One 15:00 Fareed Zakaria GPS 16:00 News Stream 17:00 World Business Today 18:00 International Desk 19:00 Global Exchange 20:00 World Sport 20:30 African Voices 21:00 International Desk 22:00 Quest
Certified Copy 10:45 Film Socialisme 12:30 Hindenburg 15:30 Certified Copy 17:15 Quiz Show 19:30 The Roommate 21:00 Master And Commander 23:15 Somewhere 01:00 The Alamo 03:15 Master And Commander 05:30 The Roommate
OSN Movies HD 05:00 I Don't Know How She Does It 07:00 Glee: The Concert Movie 09:00 The Artist 11:00 I Don't Know How She Does It 13:00 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song 15:00 33 Postcards 17:00 The Artist 18:45 X-Men: First Class 21:00 The Woman In Black 23:00 Hall Pass 01:00 127 Hours 03:00 The Artist 05:00 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song
Reservation Project Living 19:30 10 Things To Do Around The World 20:00 Ten Things To Do Around The World 20:30 Life Is a Beach 21:00 Model TV Classic 21:30 Bikini Destinations 22:00 Aire New Rev - 27 22:30 Aire New Rev - 27 23:00 x5 Steam Mop Elite 23:30 Aire New Rev - 27 00:00 Aire New Rev - 27 01:00 Aire New Rev - 27 01:30 Aire New Rev - 27 02:00 Aire New Rev - 27 02:30 Aire New Rev - 27 03:30 Aire New Rev - 27 04:00 Tele shopping 04:00 Tele shopping 04:30 Tele shopping 05:00 Tele shopping 05:30 Tele shopping 06:00 Tele shopping
OSN Comedy 06:00 Seinfeld 06:30 Hope & Faith 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Less Than Perfect 08:30 Less Than Perfect 09:00 The Simpsons 09:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 10:30 Hope & Faith 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 12:30 Less Than Perfect 13:00 Less Than Perfect 13:30 Hope & Faith 14:00 Baby Daddy 14:30 Hot In Cleveland 15:00 Two And A Half Men 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Raising Hope 19:00 How I Met Your Mother 19:30 Modern Family 20:00 The Cleveland Show 20:30 Wilfred 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 The League 22:30 Unsupervised 23:00 Eastbound & Down 23:30 The Cleveland Show 00:00 Wilfred 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 The League 02:00 Unsupervised 02:30 Eastbound & Down 03:00 The Simpsons 03:30 Raising Hope 04:00 Less Than Perfect 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Less Than Perfect 06:00 Seinfeld
OSN First 06:00 Good Morning America 08:00 Emmerdale 08:30 Coronation Street 10:00 Jane By Design 12:00 Eureka 13:00 Top Gear (UK) 14:00 Jane By Design 15:00 Live Good Morning America 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Private Practice 21:00 Once Upon A Time Special 22:00 Banshee 23:00 Six Feet Under 00:00 Once Upon A Time Special 02:00 Banshee 03:00 Private Practice 04:00 Six Feet Under 05:00 Good Morning America
OSN Aksyon TV 06:15 Healing Galing 07:15 Buhay OFW 08:15 Dokumentado 08:45 Crime Klasik 09:15 USI (Under Special Investigation) 09:45 Punto Asintado 11:45 Aksyon Solusyon 13:45 Cristy Ferminute 14:45 T3 Reload: Balita't Serbisyo, Ora Mismo! 15:15 Aksyon 16:00 Rescue 5 16:30 Wasak 17:00 Astig 17:15 Andar Ng Mga Balita 18:15 NCAA Games 23:00 Pilipinas News 23:30 Baluarte 00:30 Chink Positive 01:30 Bilang Tao 01:45 Good Morning Club 03:45 Andar Ng Mga Balita 04:45 T3 Reload: Balita't Serbisyo, Ora Mismo! 05:15 Pilipinas News 05:40 Astig 05:45 Relasyon
OSN GMA Life TV 06:40 Life And Style With Ricky Reyes 07:25 Home Base 07:55 Follow That Star 08:25 Ang Pinaka 08:55 Life Tunes 09:20 Pinoy M.D. 10:05 Tropang Pochi 10:30 Balitanghali 11:40 Quickfire 11:50 Sarap At Home 12:00 Golden Heart 12:30 When All Is Gone 13:00 Reel Life 1 14:50 Balitanghali 16:00 Camera Cafe 16:05 Personalan 16:50 Kusina Master 17:10 Reel Life 2 19:00 The 700 Club Asia 20:00 Mars 20:35 Personalan 21:20 Tim Yap Show 21:40 Balitanghali 22:45 Golden Heart 23:15 When All Is Gone 23:45 Camera Cafe 23:50 Kusina Master 00:10 Reel Life 1 02:05 The 700 Club Asia 03:05 Reel Life 2 05:00 Camera Cafe 05:05 Mars 05:40 Personalan 06:25 Tim Yap Show
GMA Pinoy TV 05:10 Unang Hirit 07:45 Rescue 08:20 Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga 08:50 Forever 09:20 I-Witness 09:50 Paroa 10:20 Yesterday's Bride 10:50 Pahiram Ng Sandali 11:25 Eat Bulaga 13:20 Magpakailanman 14:10 24 Oras 15:20 Forever 15:50 Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga 16:20 Tunay Na Buhay 16:50 Paroa 17:20 Temptation Of Wife 17:50 Indio 18:20 24 Oras 19:30 Pahiram Ng Sandali 20:00 Yesterday's Bride 20:30 Eat Bulaga 22:15 Tunay Na Buhay 23:05 Rescue 23:40 Saksi 00:15 Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho 00:50 Temptation Of Wife 01:25 Indio 02:00 Yesterday's Bride 02:35 Pahiram Ng Sandali 03:10 Born To Be Wild 03:55 Teen Gen 04:45 Saksi 05:10 Unang Hirit
OSN Kapatid TV5 06:15 Wow Mali Vignettes 06:30 Good Morning Club 08:30 Dokumentado 09:00 USI (Under Special Investigation) 09:30 Sharon 10:30 Wasak 11:00 Kung May Hirap, May Ginhawa 12:00 Kwentong Kanto 12:15 Kanta Pilipinas 13:15 Talentadong Pinoy 14:15 Takeout 14:30 Loko Moko U 15:30 Face To Face 16:30 Alabang Housewives 17:00 Jeepney Jackpot: Pera O Para 17:30 Aksyon 18:15 T3 Reload: Balita't Serbisyo, Ora Mismo! 18:45 Wowowillie 20:45 Never Say
Means Business 23:00 Amanpour 23:30 CNN Newscenter 00:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson 01:00 Amanpour 01:30 World Sport 02:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 03:00 World Report 03:30 World Sport 04:00 Anderson Cooper 360 05:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 06:00 Quest Means Business
OSN News 06:00 Live NBC Meet The Press 07:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 07:30 Live NBC Nightly News (Sat-Sun) 08:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 08:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 09:00 ABC This Week With G Stephanopoulos 10:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 10:30 Live NBC Nightly News (Sat-Sun) 11:00 ABC World
OSN Movies Kids 06:00 The Nimbols: Part II 08:00 The Ugly Duckling In Tales Of Mystery 10:00 A Very Fairy Christmas 11:30 Alpha And Omega 13:00 Micropolis 14:30 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 16:15 Puss In Boots 18:00 A Very Fairy Christmas 20:00 Twigson 22:00 Micropolis 23:30 The Ugly Duckling In Tales Of Mystery 01:00 A Very Fairy Christmas 02:45 Twigson 04:30 Micropolis 06:00 A Very Fairy Christmas
OSN Premiere 06:00 New Year's Eve 08:00 The Tree Of Life 10:15 Jetsons: The Movie 11:45 Captain America: The First Avenger 14:00 The Borrowers 15:45 The Tree Of Life
Goodbye 21:30 Kidlat 22:15 Pilipinas News 22:40 Reaksyon 23:00 Baluarte 23:45 Dokumentado 00:15 USI (Under Special Investigation) 00:45 Rescue 5 01:15 Wasak 01:45 Istorifik! Pidol's Kwentong Fantastik 02:45 Pilipinas News 03:45 T3 Reload: Balita't Serbisyo, Ora Mismo! 04:15 Aksyon 05:00 Sharon 06:00 Ang Latest
OSN MnITV 06:30 Ikaw SA Puso Ko 07:00 Especially For You 07:30 The Daily Top 10 08:30 M&L Presents 10:30 Mga Sulok SA Tatsulok 11:30 Kalipay SA Kasakit 12:00 Honorabol 12:30 Ikaw SA Puso Ko 13:00 Pinoy Movie Fiesta 15:00 Sabarday Night 16:00 The OPM Show 16:30 Stop, Talk And Listen 17:30 Kalipay SA Kasakit 18:00 Honorabol 18:30 Iskul Bukol 19:30 Ikaw SA Puso Ko 20:00 Pinoy Movie Fiesta 22:00 Especially For You 22:30 The Daily Top 10 23:30 The OPM Show 00:00 Iskul Bukol 01:00 Stop, Talk And Listen 02:00 Pinoy Movie Fiesta 04:00 Kalipay SA Kasakit 04:30 Honorabol 05:00 The Daily Top 10 05:30 In The Fishbowl 06:30 Ikaw SA Puso Ko
OSN Pinoy Extreme 06:00 Greatest Games MVP 07:00 Inside Grand Prix 07:30 Motoring Canada 08:00 PBA Classics 09:00 Road To Bakbakan 11:00 Greatest Games MVP 12:30 PBA Greatest Games 14:30 Kamao Kontra Kamao 15:30 Stoplight TV 17:00 Greatest Games MVP 19:00 Greatest Games MVP 21:00 Stoplight TV 22:00 Kamao Kontra Kamao 23:00 Greatest Games MVP 01:00 Greatest Games MVP 03:00 Oras Ng Himala 04:00 Kamao Kontra Kamao 05:00 PBA Greatest Games
The History Channel 05:00 Mankind The Story Of All Of Us 07:00 Ancient Aliens 08:00 Pawn Stars 08:30 Storage Wars 09:00 Seeking Salvage 10:00 Pawn Stars 10:30 American Restoration 11:00 Pawn Stars 11:30 Storage Wars 12:00 Soviet Storm: WWII In The East 13:00 Ancient Aliens 14:00 Ancient Aliens 15:00 Pawn Stars 15:30 American Restoration 16:00 Seeking Salvage 17:00 Ancient Aliens 18:00 Ancient Aliens 19:00 Pawn Stars 19:30 American Restoration 20:00 Seeking Salvage 21:00 Pawn Stars 21:30 Storage Wars 22:00 Soviet Storm: WWII In The East 23:00 Pawn Stars 23:30 Cajun Pawn Stars 00:00 American Restoration 00:30 American Restoration 01:00 Pawn Stars 01:30 Storage Wars 02:00 Soviet Storm: WWII In The East 03:00 Pawn Stars 03:30 Cajun Pawn Stars 04:00 American Restoration 04:30 American Restoration 05:00 Seeking Salvage 06:00 Pawn Stars
The Style Network 06:10 Married Away 07:05 Open House 07:30 Open House 08:00 Videofashion News 08:30 Videofashion News 09:00 Videofashion Daily 10:00 Open House 10:30 Big Boutique In The City 11:00 Top 10 11:25 Top 10 11:55 Giuliana & Bill 12:55 Tia And Tamera 13:50 Videofashion News 14:20 Videofashion Collections 14:50 Dress My Nest 15:15 Dress My Nest 15:45 How Do I Look? 16:40 How Do I Look? 17:35 Big Rich Texas 18:30 Big Rich Texas 19:25 Tia And Tamera 20:25 Tia And Tamera 21:20 Giuliana & Bill 22:15 Giuliana & Bill 23:10 Empire Girls: Julissa And Adrienne 00:05 Empire Girls: Julissa And Adrienne 01:00 Jerseylicious 02:00 Videofashion News 02:25 Videofashion Collections 02:55 Big Rich Texas 03:50 Big Boutique In The City 04:20 Jerseylicious 05:15 Glam Fairy 06:10 Chicagolicious
Travel Channel 06:00 Bizarre Foods America 07:00 Bizarre Foods America 08:00 Globe Trekker 09:00 Off Limits 10:00 Departures 11:00 Globe Trekker 12:00 World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides 13:00 Planet Food 14:00 Sophie Grigson In Thailand 14:30 Sophie Grigson In Thailand 15:00 International House Hunters 15:30 International House Hunters 16:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 17:00 Globe Trekker 18:00 World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides 19:00 Cruising Around Cape Horn 20:00 Globe Trekker 21:00 Off Limits 22:00 Bert The Conqueror 22:30 Xtreme Waterparks 23:00 Xtreme Waterparks 23:30 Bert The Conqueror 00:00 World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides 01:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 02:00 Off Limits 03:00 Bert The Conqueror 03:30 Xtreme Waterparks 04:00 Xtreme Waterparks 04:30 Bert The Conqueror 05:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 06:00 Planet Food
TFC Kapamilya Channel 2 05:00 Umagang Kay Ganda 08:00 Kris TV 09:00 Inazuma 11 09:30 Blue Dragon 09:45 You’re Still The One 10:20 Oh La La Couple 11:00 Minute To Win it 11:30 Be Careful with my Heart 12:30 It’s Showtime 02:30 May Isang Pangarap 03:30 Precious Hearts Romance: Paraiso 04:15 A Gentleman’s Dignity 04:45 Pinoy True Stories 05:15 Rooftop Prince 05:45 Kahit Konting Pagtingin 06:30 TV Patrol World 07:30 Juan dela Cruz 08:15 Ina Kapatid Anak 09:00 Apoy Sa Dagat 09:45 Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw 10:15 Bandila 11:00 Patrol ng Pilipino 04:15 XXX 05:00 Umagang Kay Ganda 08:00 Kris TV
News Now 11:30 Live ABC World News Now 12:00 NBC Early Today 12:30 ABC America This Morning 13:00 ABC America This Morning 13:30 Live ABC America This Morning 14:00 Live ABC America This Morning 14:30 MSNBC First Look 15:00 Live NBC Today Show 19:00 MSNBC News 20:00 MSNBC Now With Alex Wagner 21:00 Live MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports 22:00 MSNBC Newsnation 23:00 MSNBC The Cycle 00:00 MSNBC Martin Bashir 01:00 MSNBC Hardball With Chris Matthews 02:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 03:00 Live NBC Nightly News 03:30 ABC World News With Diane Sawyer 04:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 05:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 06:00 MSNBC The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell
18:00 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt.2 20:15 Ondine 22:00 The Resident 00:00 Summer Coda 02:00 The Tree Of Life 04:15 Jetsons: The Movie 06:00 The Borrowers
TCM 05:10 Lovely To Look At 06:55 TCM Presents Under...-U 07:25 TCM Presents Under The...-U 08:00 ...Tick...Tick...Tick 09:35 Some Came Running 11:50 April In Paris 13:25 Gone With The Wind 17:00 The Fighting 69th 18:20 Clash By Night 20:05 The Rounders 21:30 Postman's Knock 23:00 Ryan's Daughter 02:10 Get Carter 04:10 Bombshell-U 05:45 The Brothers Karamazov
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
LEISURE
33
Sherman’s Lagoon — By J. P. Toomey
N E W
Y O R K
T I M E S
CROSSWORD
Mutts — By Patrick McDonnell
Hagar The Horrible — By Chris Browne
Beetle Bailey — By Mort Walker
Scratch pad
odds ’n’ ends AYACUCHO, Argentina:
Garfield — By Jim Davis
Baby Blues — By Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott
Conceptis Sudoku
Challenger
The grid must be so completed that every row, column and 3x3 box has every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive.
contract b r i d g e
DIRECTIONS: Fill each square with a number, one through nine. ■ Horizontal squares should add to totals on right. ■ Vertical squares should add to totals on bottom. ■ Diagonal squares through center should add to total in upper and lower right.
By Steve Becker
Yesterday’s solution
THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION.
Answer to yesterday’s puzzle
Today’s Challenge Time 8 Minutes 6 Seconds Your Working Time __ Minutes __ Seconds
Word by Word
Cross
(Tabour)
Do not cross the bridge before you come to it. La tabour al jasr qabla an tabloghah.
Numbers
6040
Josephine Sipayung and her son Eric, 6, sled down an empty street past snow covered vehicles on Feb 9, in Boston, Massachusetts. The powerful storm has knocked out power to 650,000 and dumped more than two feet of snow in parts of New England. (AFP)
Six thousand and forty Setat alaaf wa arbaoun
Argentina’s gauchos, or cowboys, are a proud lot. As economic forces trigger changes in agriculture — namely a big rise in soybean farming — they try to preserve their century-old lifestyle, including the trademark “bombacha” or baggy riding pants. Famed for their horsemanship, these rugged cowboys of the central ‘Pampas’ — vast, fertile plains and grasslands — helped defeat Spanish troops and win Argentine independence in the 19th century. But today, as mechanized soybean farming increasingly encroaches on pasture land, the gauchos are under pressure and doggedly trying to keep alive the bombacha-making business. “There is a deep loss of identity, but people are resisting. They want to preserve this lifestyle,” said 74-year-old Jose Peluffo as he showed off his collections of “bombachas” in his homestead in Ayacucho, 366 kms (225 miles) south of Buenos Aires in the heart of the Pampas. From his grandfather Serafin, he picked up a taste for the most traditional form of the loose pants, still tailor-made by a Buenos Aires store called “Carpenters” and founded in 1888 by a French family. “I am used to wearing the “bombacha”. It is really comfortable and I wear it with pride,” he added, recalling that he ordered his first pair in that store at the age of 16. “This suit, with the waisted jacket and bombacha, is my favorite to go to farm meetings,” he added. Since 2003, skyrocketing soybean prices have led to 11 million hectares of arable land being switched from cattle-raising to farming, threatening the gaucho culture. In the central plains, chief herdsmen and horse tamers are now hard to find. These skilled jobs are now being pushed to peripheral regions, less adapted to soybean growing, such as the northeastern province of Corrientes. But bombacha-making is holding firm, even in the middle of the Pampas, in large part due to the popularity of the “Carpenters” store which even attracts foreign tourists. “I sense that it will never disappear,” said 57-year-old store owner Juan Robiglio said of the garment as he stood behind a quaint, wooden counter in Buenos Aires’s old Montserrat district. “The bombacha requires a lot of work,” said a seamstress named Carmen, who would not give her last name. (AFP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
HEALTH
34
Food production responsible for greenhouse gas emissions
Are plant-based diets environmentally friendly? NEW YORK, Feb 10, (Agencies): A nutritious diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables might not be the greenest in its environmental impact, according to a new study from France. After analyzing the eating habits of about 2,000 French adults, and the greenhouse gas emissions generated by producing the plants, fish, meat, fowl and other ingredients, researchers concluded that widely embraced goals for the health of people and for the health of the planet are not necessarily perfectly compatible. Growing fruit and vegetables doesn’t produce as much greenhouse gas as raising cattle or livestock, the study confirms, but people who eat a primarily plant-based diet make up for that by eating more of those foods. “When you eat healthy, you have to eat a lot of food that has a low content of energy. You have to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables,” said Nicole Darmon, the study’s senior author from the National Research Institute of Agronomy in Marseille, France.
Equipment Greenhouse gases — which include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — are produced by machines that burn fossil fuels. That gas is then released into the atmosphere, where it contributes to climate change. Food production — including the use of farming equipment and transportation — is estimated to be responsible for 15
percent to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries, the authors write in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Scientists have long advised people to switch to a plant-based diet to benefit the environment and their own health. To more closely examine that premise, Darmon and her colleagues used food diaries from 1,918 French adults to compare the nutritional quality of people’s real-world diets and how much greenhouse gas they produced. From the diaries that were kept for seven days between 2006 and 2007, the researchers identified the 400 most commonly consumed foods. They then used a database to find out how much greenhouse gas was emitted to produce each one — measured as the grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per 100 grams of food. All aspects of a food’s lifecycle were taken into account, including how it was cooked, Darmon said. “The only step that wasn’t taken into account was the transport from the supermarket to the home,” she added. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average car emits about 423 grams of carbon dioxide every mile. Overall, about 1,600 grams of carbon dioxide were emitted for every 100 grams of meat produced. That’s more than 14 times the amount of greenhouse gas emitted during the production of fruit, vegetables and starches. It’s also
contributes to climate change but was not involved with the new study. But Neff, the director of research and policy at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Livable Future, cautioned against taking the findings too literally. “It’s a lot more complex than that,” she added. For example, she pointed out that according to the study’s calculations, people would need to eat about nine pounds of fruit and vegetables to make up for a smaller serving of meat, and that may be unrealisticBut, Neff said, “I think they’re raising a lot of important questions that need further investigation.”
about 2.5 times as much greenhouse gas as that generated by fish, pork, poultry and eggs.
Researchers That gap narrowed, however, when the researchers looked at how many grams of carbon dioxide were emitted per 100 kilocalories (kcal) — a measure of energy in food. The most greenhouse gas — 857 grams — was still emitted to produce 100 kcal of meat, but it was only about three times the emissions from a comparable amount of energy from fruit and vegetables. Greens also ended up emitting more gas for the calories than starches, sweets, salty snacks, dairy and fats. It was also about as much gas as pork, poultry and eggs. And when Darmon and her colleagues looked at what people actually ate to get a certain amount of energy from food every day, they found that the “highestquality” diets in health terms — those high in fruit, vegetables and fish — were linked to about as much, if not more, greenhouse gas emissions as low-quality diets that were high in sweets and salts. Overall, the documented diets were responsible for around 5,000 grams of greenhouse gas emissions per day per person. Darmon said that’s because people who eat a plant-based diet need to eat more produce to get the amount of ener-
Also: PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Legisla-
This photo taken Jan 30, 2013 shows a Health Buddy electronic monitoring device sitting on the bed as patient Marlena Bechtel-Rysdam (left), from Elgin, Ore, goes over training materials with registered nurse Christina Leese at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Ore. A program at Oregon Health & Science University aims to reduce rehospitalizations of patients with heart failure, and is pilot-testing whether a high-tech option called the Health Buddy might help track those who need a little extra attention. Patients record their weight, blood pressure and heart rate every morning, and nurses can check from afar for early signs of worsening. (AP)
gy they’d have in a piece of meat. “I think to any reader it’s surprising. One of the standard things we hear is
that meat — particularly red meat — has the greatest greenhouse gas emissions,” said Roni Neff, who studies how food
tors in the South American country of Suriname have approved a bill that could mean jail time for people who smoke in public. President Desi Bouterse is expected to sign the bill in upcoming weeks. People caught smoking outside their homes, cars or other private places could be put behind bars. The bill approved Thursday also bans tobacco advertising and requires that tobacco packages carry graphic warnings about the dangers of smoking. The World Health Organization found that nearly 40 percent of men in Suriname smoke cigarettes. Among them is Bouterse, a well-known heavy smoker.
Al Tijari announces winners of Al Najma Daily draw
Photo shows a promo poster of Al Najma account draw.
Market Movements AUSTRALIA PHILIPPINES HONG KONG GERMANY FRANCE EUROPE
-
All Ordinaries All Shares Hang Seng DAX CAC 40 Euro Stoxx 50
Mohammed Al Sagir. The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and on the 19th of June which is the date of the bank’s establishment.
Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al Najma Account Daily draw on Feb 10, 2013. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani. The winners of the KD 7,000 Najma Daily Draw are: Abdulla Jerri Fahad Al Jerri, Mahmoud Yousef Motlaq, Salah Abu Al Majed Diab, Mohammed Arshad Mohammed Hayat, Mohammed Ahmad
Change
Closing pts
+33.60 +1.71 +38.16 +61.29 +48.45 +32.38
4,989.40 4064.41 23,215.16 7,652.14 3,649.50 2,630.30
With a minimum balance of KD 500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD 50. Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Egypt T-bills fall The average yield fell on Egyptian 91day and 273-day treasury bills auctioned on Sunday, figures released by the central bank showed. The average yield on 91-day T-bills for issue on Feb 12 slid to 12.872 percent, compared with 12.914 in the previous issue on Feb 5. The average yield on 273-day Tbills, also for issue on Feb 12, fell to 13.974 from 14.02 at the previous issue on Jan 31. (RTRS)
08-02-2013 INDIA JAPAN S. KOREA
-
Sensex Nikkei KRX 100
Change
Closing pts
-95.55 -203.91 -3.40
19,484.77 11,153.16 4,180.78
Business
CBK’s EOGM approves increase in BoD 83.78% shareholders present KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Fowzi Abdulmohsen Al-Ateeqi, General Manager of Investments — Secretary to the Board and official spokesman of Commercial Bank of Kuwait said that the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EOGM) of the Bank was held on 10/2/2013 with 83.78% presence of shareholders representing 1,065,642,337 shares of the original 1,272,022,346 shares comprising the share capital of Commercial Bank of Kuwait. The shareholders approved the amendment of Item (13) of the Bank’s Memorandum of Association, namely to increase the number of the Bank’s board of directors from (7) members to (10) members. As such, the text of Item 13 of the Bank’s Memorandum of Association will read as follows: “The Company shall be administered by a Board of Directors comprising at least ten members elected in General Meeting by secret ballot from amongst its members, having due regard to the provisions of related Articles of the Decree Law No. 25/2012. The Company’s General Meeting may also increase the number of the Board Members as deemed appropriate for the interest of the Company along with adhering to the instructions issued by the regulators. If an elected member declines he must inform the Board of Directors in writing within seven days from the date of his election, otherwise he shall
Ernst & Young holds seminar on HR By Iddris Seidu Arab Times Staff
Fowzi Abdulmohsen Al-Ateeqi
assume all the obligations of membership as set out in the Law”. Al -Ateeqi explained that the ExtraOrdinary General Meeting was held with the objective of obtaining the shareholders’ approval to increase the number of the Bank’s Board of Directors from seven members to ten members so as to allow the Board of Directors form the adequate numbers of board related committees within the requirements of sound corporate governance. “Subsequent to the approval of the shareholders on the amendment of the above Item and after obtaining the approvals of the regulators and completing the required procedures as per the Central Bank of Kuwait’s instructions in this regard, the Bank will invite for election to select additional nominees for the board membership”, added Al Ateeqi.
Pound weakness creates uncertainties
Egypt’s turmoil slows European bank selloffs DUBAI, Feb 10, (RTRS): Go back a few months and the disposal of Egyptian assets seemed like a good option for European banks desperate to raise funds by selling non-core operations. Flash forward and Egypt’s deteriorating political situation, together with the resultant sharp drop in its currency, threaten to hamper further selloffs, with international banks unwilling to accept the fire-sale prices that are increasingly on offer. For investment bankers on the hunt for fees, it threatens to be a lengthy wait for dealmaking to revive. And last year’s flurry of activity may start to look like no more than a blip. “People who sold last year appear a lot smarter now than those who waited,” said one financial institutions group banker, asking not to be quoted because of the sensitivity of his position advising clients. “Clearly, the current situation in Egypt does not look like it would lure even the most bullish of investors,” the banker said. “Clients are not asking about buying opportunities now but want to know how (much) worse the situation may get.” European banks, under pressure to cut costs and bolster their capital levels in the post-credit crunch regulatory clampdown, have been looking to sell Egyptian operations to regional banks more familiar with the country’s politics and bullish on its longterm prospects. French banks Societe Generale and larger rival BNP Paribas agreed to sell their banking arms in Egypt to Qatar National Bank and Dubai’s Emirates NBD respectively in 2012. Some had expected other deals to follow.
Stake Those at the top of the list were France’s Credit Agricole , which holds a 61 percent stake in Credit Agricole Egypt, and Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo, which has a 70 percent stake in Bank of Alexandria. But neither has yet raised a “for sale” sign. Intesa Sanpaolo Chief Executive Enrico Cucchiani said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, two weeks ago: “Egypt is a country to be monitored. However at the moment Bank of Alexandria is having positive results. We look at it carefully.” A Credit Agricole spokeswoman in Paris declined comment. Already at least one mooted deal has not gone ahead.
Event aims to introduce new trends in Human Resource & Training Management
Piraeus Bank, Greece’s fifth-largest lender by market value, halted the sale of its Egyptian subsidiary valued at more than $200 million in July last year. And a dramatic worsening of Egypt’s political situation in recent weeks has hurt investor sentiment, making disposals increasingly difficult, bankers say. Protests marking the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak have led to nearly 60 deaths since Jan 25, prompting the head of the army to warn that the state was on the verge of collapse if immediate action was not taken. “The government has not done as well as most expected and the transition to democracy has not been smooth,” Jaap Meijer, an equity research director at Dubai-based Arqaam Capital, said. Meanwhile, the Egyptian pound has dropped sharply and the central bank stepped in this week with measures to protect the currency.
Weakness The currency’s weakness creates uncertainties for any acquisitions in Egypt. “In the short term, a drop in the value of the pound makes it cheaper for the buyer, especially on the public equities side,” said one Egyptian banking source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But if the situation continues and the pound continues to fall, then it impacts your profitability in the long-term. You have to view it from either side.” Another potential concern for European banks is the shrinking pool of potential regional buyers. Qatar National Bank for instance has been on an acquisition drive but now has its sights set on Turkey, having paid $2.2 billion for the majority stake in Societe Generale Egypt. Emirates NBD probably has its hands full after shelling out $500 million for BNP’s business in Egypt, a deal which marks a major strategy shift for the bank which has been hard hit by exposure to Dubai’s state entities. Other regional banks, such as Dubai’s Mashreq, Morocco’s Attijariwafabank and Lebanon’s Audi Bank, are keen on gaining exposure to Egypt, bankers say, but most are looking for mid-sized transactions and not big-ticket ones. All three looked at BNP’s business and Attijari hired UBS as an advisor before losing out to ENBD, a Dubaibased banking source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Ernst & Young organized a complimentary seminar for local Human Resource (HR) professionals titled “New Era of Human Resource & Training Management” on Sunday at Holiday Inn Hotel in Salmiya. The half-day breakfast event, aimed at introducing new trends in Human Resource and Training Management, was attended by over one hundred people, mostly top and mid-level HR professionals, managers and other interested parties. Issues covered included talent development, the new direction of corporate training as well as measuring the return on investment on corporate training programs. Speaking to Arab Times on the sidelines of the seminar, Ernst & Young Audit Partner in charge of Middle East and North Africa, Nadeem Shafi while expressing his firm’s delight to offer such a unique and leading edge event to the HR professional community in Kuwait, also reiterated that Ernst & Young has taken this initiative to provide a learning platform on a regular basis for the firm’s valuable Human Resource executives to gain some benefit its experienced subject matter experts as well as some other colleagues to exchange views on best local practices. “We hope that this will make them take steps to make changes in respect of certain HR practices in their organizations,” Shafi added. In his intro to the seminar, Shafi indicated that globally HR departments are going through a time of tightening budgets against increased demands from executive management, an environment which dictates that today’s HR professionals need to expand their traditional administrative-focused roles and acquire skills that will enable them to strategically align HR operations with corporate goals.
Skills And to achieve this, the Ernst & Young MENA boss stated that it’s vital that HR managers have the ability to develop staff skills based on companyspecific competency frameworks and implement targeted corporate training programs in the most appropriate format-classroom, e-learning or blended. Ensuring that training is efficient and effective is also one of the key parameters in the context of the new role assumed by the HR professionals. Setting measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) throughout the organization will also allow for all training initiatives to be targeting specific outcomes, which can be evaluated and presented in the form of monetary return on investment (ROI). On other reasons for the event, Shafi noted that historically “we’ve felt that HR professionals in Kuwait don’t get trained in the latest methods of how an HR function should be. This seminar is to introduce them to some of the latest thinking in HR practices because at the end of the day, organization is about people. They need to focus on how people are developed, through learning development, especially in Kuwait and the GCC region there is a huge focus on nationalization and increasing the skills of the local populations that they really need to play a key role in developing these people to become the future leaders in Kuwait and the wider GCC region”. While Ernst & operates in over 150 countries with total manpower strength of one hundred and sixty seven thousand people worldwide, the Kuwait office, in its 60th year, is one of the firm’s offices worldwide to have organized such complimentary seminars for HR professionals as part of its effort in training locals in HR. The three key speakers at the seminar included Ms. Nadia Hashem, Dimitris Tolis and Yiannos Ashiotis who with their international and local experience addressed all the topics providing global best practices and trends. Ernst & Young (Al Aiban, Al Osaimi & Partners), the largest professional services firm in Kuwait auditing onethird of all listed companies including all commercial banks and providing tax services to approximately 70% of the market, was established in Kuwait in 1952. Today, it operates with 9 partners, and over 300 professional staff. The Kuwait office, now in its 60th year, offers a wide variety of professional services, including Assurance Services, Business Risk Services as well as Tax and Business Advisory Solutions. The firm’s client base covers several industries including energy, banking, trading and telecom, manufacturing, service and government sectors.
Photos by Ahmed Nakib
(Top): A section of seminar attendees (above left) Nadia Hashem speaking at the event (above right), Dimitris Tolis, one of the speakers.
Touma handled key relationships including sovereign wealth fund QIA
C. Suisse’s investment head resigns DUBAI, Feb 10, (RTRS): Credit Suisse’s top investment banker for Qatar has resigned, three banking sources said, in a move that comes as the Swiss bank tries to bolster operations in the Gulf state, home to its second-largest shareholder. Rami Touma, a director at the bank, has been running Credit Suisse’s Qatar investment banking business since 2007. Touma handled relationships with key clients, primarily the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund, one of the banking sources said. Credit Suisse was not immediately available to comment. The sources, who are familiar with the matter, spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the matter. QIA owns a 6.2-percent stake in Credit Suisse through its investment arm Qatar Holding, making it the second-largest shareholder after Saudi Arabia’s Olayan Group, which has a 6.6 percent stake, according to Reuters data.
Asset The Swiss bank’s Qatar operations are headed by Aladdin Hangari, who also runs an asset management venture with the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund. Like its peers, Credit Suisse is cutting back on riskier assets and reducing costs to meet tougher regulations aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis. The Zurich-based bank planned to trim its investment banking team in Dubai and move some of its staff to Qatar, as part of efforts to cut costs and focus on niche markets, sources told Reuters in September last year. “I am not sure how well that plan is working, at least on the investment banking side. They haven’t been able to move any of the senior bankers to Doha so far,” a second banking source said late last week. Other senior bankers have left the bank’s Dubai office in recent months, the three sources said. Mumtaz Kazmi, a director and head of the bank’s mergers and acquisitions business for the Middle East, left the bank late in 2012. Kazmi, who worked at the bank
A deal could worry other importers
Japan has not asked Saudi for more oil: trade minister ABU DHABI, Feb 10, (RTRS): Japan has not asked Saudi Arabia to supply more oil, the Japanese trade minister said on Sunday after media reports that he had flown to the world’s largest oil exporter to sign an emergency supply pact. Japan’s Nikkei newspaper said last week that Toshimitsu Motegi would sign an agreement during a visit to Saudi Arabia to allow Tokyo to call for more oil in the event of emergency shortages. Japan’s reliance on oil imports has intensified since the shutdown of many nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, but any deal to give Japan priority access to Saudi crude in the event of supply shortages would worry other oil importers. Motegi met Saudi Deputy Oil Minister Abdul Aziz Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. “At the moment, there is no concern whatsoever that Japan is under supplied in terms of oil,” Motegi told journalists on Sunday when asked whether he had sought assurances that Riyadh would sell Japan more oil in the event of a supply crisis. “It was not that we have asked for any specific request for increase of production or supply. It was just the confirmation of the relationship we have,”
he said through an interpreter in the United Arab Emirates. He gave no further details. Crude imports from Saudi Arabia accounted for 31 percent of Japan’s total in 2012, with shipments rising 5 percent from a year earlier to 1.14 million barrels per day, partly offseting a 39.5 percent decline in Iranian crude imports due to sanctions. State-run Saudi Aramco signed a deal with Japan in 2010 to store 3.8 million barrels of crude in the Asian nation’s Okinawa Oil Base for emergency supplies to the kingdom’s customers in the region. Saudi Arabia is the only country with enough spare oil production capacity to compensate for any significant global supply disruptions. If Japan were to secure priority access to it, that could concern other buyers. Oil markets have been on edge because of tensions between the West and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, following disruptions in Libya in 2011 and attacks on oil facilities in Yemen. OPEC heavyweight Saudi Arabia has repeatedly pledged to supply its customers with all the oil they need. With a stated capacity to produce up to 12.5 million barrels per day (bpd), it could pump nearly 3.5 million bpd more than it did last month.
since 2001, was named M&A head for the region in 2011. Michael Katounas, another Dubaibased investment banking director, who joined Credit Suisse in 2005, has resigned and will leave the bank shortly. The departures follow that of senior banker Bassam Yammine’s resignation last October. Yammine was co-head of
Middle East investment banking and co-chief executive for the bank’s operations in the region. Last week, the bank said it would cut costs by 4.4 billion francs by the end of 2015, up from a previous 4 billion target, by folding its asset management unit into its private bank and by moving some jobs offshore. Credit Suisse cut 2,300 jobs in 2012.
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‘Express your love to Kuwait’ contest Bloomberg 06:00 Asia Edge 07:00 West 08:00 Bloomberg West 09:00 Countdown 10:00 Countdown 11:00 On The Move 12:00 The Pulse 13:00 The Pulse 14:00 Bloomberg Surveillance 15:00 Bloomberg Surveillance 16:00 In The Loop With Betty Liu 17:00 In The Loop With Betty Liu 18:00 Market Makers 19:00 Market Makers 20:00 Lunch Money 21:00 Money Moves With Deirdre Bolton 22:00 Charlie Rose 23:00 Street Smart 00:00 Street Smart 01:00 Charlie Rose 02:00 Bloomberg West 03:00 First Up 04:00 On The Move Asia 05:00 On The Move Asia 06:00 Asia Edge
07:00 Meet The Press 08:00 Capital Connection 09:00 Squawk Box Europe 12:00 Worldwide Exchange 14:00 Us Squawk Box 17:00 Squawk On The Street 19:00 European Closing Bell 20:00 Fast Money: Half Time Report 21:00 Us Power Lunch 22:00 Us Street Signs 23:00 Us Closing Bell 01:00 Money In Motion: Currency Trading 01:30 Straight Talk 02:00 Us Street Signs 03:00 Asia Squawk Box 04:00 The Call Asia 05:00 Cash Flow 07:00 Fast Money: Half Time Report
To celebrate the upcoming National Day and Liberation Day for Kuwait, Burgan Bank launches the painting competition “Express your love to Kuwait” for its BuBa Kids Account holders. The competition runs from Feb 10th-28th. Participants are required to draw BuBa the parrot celebrating Kuwait’s National Day and the winner will receive a mini I-Pad. Paintings have to be submitted to
the Burgan Bank branch in Discovery Center during its working hours. The BuBa Kids Account is for children up to 14 years of age and has benefits and merchant’s discounts. To find out more about Burgan Bank’s “BuBa” Kids Account, customers are urged to visit any of Burgan Bank’s conveniently located branches, or call the bank’s call center on 1804080, or log on to Burgan Bank’s website at www.burgan.com.
The visual shows a promo poster of Burgan Bank’s painting competition.
Indonesia economy Kuwait China Investment Company
GDP growth pegged above 6% in 2013 ndonesia’s economic growth rate was Islightly resilient in the fourth quarter. It eased from 6.2% year-on-year (YoY) to 6.1%. The biggest drag on growth was the strong rebound in imports, which grew 14.5% from the third quarter. However, this is a sign that the domestic economy is still robust, as private consumption and investments continue to drive the economy. For instance, investments grew sequentially for the third quarter in a row, and auto sales set a record of 1 million vehicles in 2012. This is a clear sign of the transformation of the economy, as higher internal demand more than offset falling exports, which have been weakening throughout 2012. The fall in export growth numbers was already expected at the beginning of the year due to industrial policy measures. Indonesia, whose main exports are commodities, imposed export taxes on raw materials such as unprocessed metal ores with the goal
of forcing its industry to move up on the supply chain. With commodity prices overall lower than in 2011, and global demand still weak, exports of the country’s main materials steeply fell. However, exports showed signs of a gradual recovery in the fourth quarter, as they grew 6.9% from the previous quarter. Interest rates have been set at a historical low, at 5.75% since last year, and this has helped prop up domestic consumption and private investments. Accordingly, credit to the private sector is still growing above 20% YoY. Given the current global environment, the current growth levels are relatively high and resilient, especially as the economy is undergoing a structural shift. However, one of the main risks for this year is inflation, which stood at 4.6% in January, up from 4.3% the previous month. Real GDP is a measure of the economic output or of the size of the econ-
omy - adjusted for inflation or deflation. It is the sum of the values of all final goods and services produced by that country or region over a given time period. The values depend on the quantities (volume) of the goods produced and their prices. Real GDP is a measure that holds prices constant by using a
given year’s value (the base date) for all items and services. Then these values are used to calculate GDP for years prior to the base year and subsequent years. GDP can be measured in several ways, and Statistics Indonesia, the government body responsible for national accounts data, publishes GDP by
GCC equity markets overview KAMCO Research
Gulf bourses kick off 2013 with record high performance KSE Price Index ends 2012 as third best gainer KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Improved global financial market conditions, intensified central bank intervention through large-scale asset-purchase programs, prolonged global liquidity injection and renewed pursuit of high-yielding assets helped ease concerns of another global economic slowdown. Increasing stabilization of financial market conditions in Europe together with less fiscalrelated tension in US markets and on-going signs of economic recovery in China have contributed to a moderation in risk aversion globally. As a result, investors’ risk appetite in the GCC replenished on hopes that a recovery in economies that have been experiencing a slowdown after the global financial crisis may show signs of improvement in the near future. All combined, this pushed GCC equity markets to record highs in what seems to be a strong and positive beginning for 2013. Catalyst GCC Bourses began 2013 on the upside with all markets recording healthy gains during January 2013. Dubai Financial Market was the best performer for the month adding 16.34 percent following a solid year 2012 which witnessed the DFM General Index leading the GCC Bourses benchmarks with an annual return of 20 percent. Recovery in the property market, acceleration in business activities driven by tourism and increasing trade volume, along with the benefits of the Arab spring that triggered a flow of capital to Dubai are the major catalyst that are driving DFM. Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange is benefiting from the government’s massive capital spending plan to develop the emirate by investing in infrastructure and real estate projects along with robust oil prices and healthy corporate profits; ADX General Index followed with a monthly gain of 9.54 percent compared to 9.52 percent gain in full year 2012. Qatar Exchange, TADAWUL and Kuwait Stock Exchange also recorded corresponding healthy gains of 4.38 percent, 3.56 percent and 3.48 percent, respectively during January-13 driven by the positive market sentiment, improvement in business environment, healthy corporate earnings and governments’ backup of key economic sectors and capital spending. During January, the combined market capitalization of the 7 GCC bourses added $29.7 bn to record $792.5 bn driven by the gains witnessed by TADAWUL and the UAE markets which mounted to $10.7 bn and $11.2 bn, respectively.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai witnessed a surge in market performance during the month on clear signs that both economies are witnessing strong recovery fuelled by the government attempting to diversify the economy through the record spending plans. Although TADAWUL remains the main driver for market growth in the GCC region, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange was able to add $5.8 bn to its market cap while Dubai Financial Market gained $5.2 bn. Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 6.8 percent in 2012 compared with the 8.5 percent growth in 2011, data from the Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI) showed. The statistics depart-
ment has revised the 2011 GDP figure upward to 8.5 percent from the earlier 7.1 percent. The world’s largest crude exporter saw growth in the oil sector slow to 5.5 percent in 2012 compared to 10.4 percent in 2011 when the Kingdom ramped up production to make up for disruptions in Libyan output. Elsewhere, Oman’s gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, grew an estimated 8.3 percent in 2012, faster than the government’s target of 7 percent on the back of heavy government spending which boosted growth, according to the Ministry of Finance; while Qatar’s GDP grew by around 3.9 percent in Q3-12, helped by a surge in manufacturing and other nonhydrocarbon sectors. Kuwait’s budget surplus for the first 8
months (April 2012 — November 2012) of fiscal year 2012/2013 reached KD 14.7 billion, exceeding the KD 11.6 bn surplus recorded during the same period of FY 2011/2012. Revenue stood at KD 21.6 bn, far exceeding the budgeted amount of KD 9.3 bn. Oil revenue continues to make up almost all of the government’s income, accounting for nearly 95 percent of total revenue. In Saudi Arabia, although the Saudi economy slowed down in 2012 compared to 2011 and FY-12 earnings were not up to expectations, the Saudi Market was able to follow its GCC peers and end the month of January on a positive note on speculations that the recent budget announced will help support the economy continue to post growth. As a result, the TASI was up 3.56 percent in January to breach the psychological 7,000 mark and end at 7,043.55 points. By the end of the month, market breadth skewed heavily towards the gainers with an advancer-to-decliner ratio of 101-to-49 and 7 stocks unchanged. Accordingly, TADAWUL market capitalization rose 2.85 percent adding SAR 40 bn ($10.7 bn) to reach SAR 1.44 trillion ($383.9 bn) as compared to SAR 1. 4 trillion ($373.3 bn) recorded at the end of December-12, as all sectors in the market increased with the exception of Insurance and multi-investment sectors. Market heavyweight Petrochemical Industries added 3.83 percent to its market cap to reach SAR 456.8 bn ($121.8 bn) while the Banks and Financial sector was up 4.35 percent to SAR 320.8 bn ($85.5 bn) and the Telecommunications & IT sector gained 0.46 percent to SAR 153.5 bn ($40.9 bn). Trading indicators rose during the month with volume traded increasing 6 percent to 4.7 bn shares distributed over 2.8 mn transactions while value traded gained 3.4 percent to SAR 128.1 bn from SAR 124 bn in December-12. While in Kuwait, despite the lack of economic fundamentals from the country and the lower than expected FY-12 earnings announced so far, the Kuwaiti bourse was able to reverse last month’s fall and begin the year to the upside, trailing its GCC peers. Although trading was focused on small cap stocks as investors were targeting quick gains, the KSE Price Index ended as the third best performing market following Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange to end the month gaining 5.24 percent. On the other hand, the KSE Weighted Index rose 3.48 percent while the KAMCO TRW Index advanced 2.42 percent. During the month of January 2013, the market capitalization of Kuwait Stock Exchange added 3.12 percent or around KD 909 mn ($3.2 bn) to record KD 30 billion ($106.1 bn) at the end of the month, supported by heavyweight Banking and Telecom sectors adding KD 257.4 mn ($910.7 mn) and KD 249.5 mn ($882.8 mn), respectively.
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expenditure and sector output. The graph illustrates the expenditure breakdown of GDP, which consists of private consumption, government expenditure, fixed capital investments, exports and imports. Private consumption is a strong driver of growth in the domestic-oriented nation, but exports have traditionally contributed more to GDP growth. Growth is likely to remain above 6% in 2013. While the government is expected to continue to enforce structural reforms this year, we still expect some strong investment inflows in the growing economy. A ban on all raw materials is coming up in 2014, and major companies are already setting up mines and processing plants in order to benefit from the lack of competitiveness in the processing industry. The rising minimum wage will also support the growing middle class and drive consumption. The main risk is the rising inflation, exacerbated by the weakening currency
(already fell 8% YoY) which makes imports more expensive. On the domestic side, the increased minimum wage will also fuel core inflation. This is why we think Bank Indonesia could raise the interest rate. However it is unlikely that it be a large rise given growth will still be their main priority as the nation becomes less reliant on commodity exports. In the short term, the minimum wage should support consumption, and the prospective ban should boost investment as it encourages firms to build smelters. The main risk will be inflation in 2013. In the medium term, if the ban gets implemented in 2014, the main question will be whether Indonesia can carry on growing at 6% levels without its commodity export industry. However, if not plausible, we expect the government to delay the ban beyond 2014. Overall, our outlook for Indonesia is very positive, both for the short and medium term, given our view that reforms won’t hamper growth.
Airline eyes more A380s
Emirates see 18-20% increase in net profit DUBAI, Feb 10, (Agencies): Dubai’s Emirates Airlines said Sunday its year to March 2013 income is seen rising by 18 to 20 percent, as the emirate officially opened the world’s first concourse dedicated to Airbus A380 superjumbos. The Middle East’s biggest carrier expects to see “an 18 to 20 percent” income rise this year, Emirates president Tim Clark told reporters. For the first six months of the current fiscal year its net profit jumped by 104 percent to 1.7 billion dirhams ($464 million) from 836 million dirhams in the corresponding period of the previous year. In the year to March 2012, Emirates had posted a net profit of 1.5 billion dirhams, down from 5.4 billion dirhams in the previous accounting year. Clark said the fastgrowing airline expects to have a fleet of 210 aircraft by spring 2014. He said the carrier “would buy more A380s” if there was space at its hub to accommodate them.
Facility Dubai Airports, meanwhile, said its Concourse A, the world’s first facility built to serve the superjumbo, had become fully operational. It has 20 gates compatible with the double-deck aircraft for which Emirates is the largest single customer with 31 planes in service and 59 more on order. Boeing’s largest customer also expressed confidence in US manufacturer’s ability to solve technical problems regarding battery fires that have led to the grounding of its 787 Dreamliners. “Boeing will sort this out. It is a formidable corporation. It has a track record of building superb aircraft,” said Clark, whose company has not bought any 787s but has largest fleet of Boeing 777s.
the
“What you see in the 787 design platforms today is the future of aircraft. There are hiccups. This one is unfortunate. I am confident they will sort this out.” The 11-floor Concourse A facility, which will be used by Emirates like the rest of Terminal 3, increases Dubai International’s capacity from 60 million passengers a year to 75 million. The concourse will also be available for Australia’s Qantas A380s flights to Europe, under a global partnership agreed last year between the two carriers which awaits final approval from Australia’s competition watchdog. The building is part of a $7.8 billion strategic plan by Dubai Airports to bring the capacity of the travel hub to 90 million passengers by 2018. Emirates, which began operations in 1985 with two leased planes, has become a major competitor of legacy airlines, turning Dubai into a major transit hub for travel between Europe, Asia and Australasia. It operates a fleet of 197 wide-bodied Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In the year 2011-2012, the carrier transported 34 million passengers and 1.8 million tonnes of cargo. Clark said problems arising out of a series of battery-related issues that led to grounding of Boeing’s 50 Dreamliner aircraft in commercial service in the last three to four weeks is likely to worsen in the short-term but he expressed confidence that the company would address it. “The problem is extremely challenging for the planemaker and its customers but Boeing will sort it out. It will get worse before getting better. They’ll overcome it,” Clark said. The groundings have cost airlines tens of millions of dollars, with no solution in sight. Emirates does not own any Dreamliners and it has no orders for it.
bottomline
DUBAI: Shuaa Capital, a Dubai investment bank hard hit by the global financial crisis, on Sunday said its fourth-quarter net loss narrowed as it cut costs and reduced non-core assets amid a shift in strategy. Shuaa, which has laid off a third of its staff since 2011 and slashed operating costs, posted a quarterly net loss of 20.7 million dirhams ($5.64 million), compared with a net loss of 111.9 million dirhams a year earlier, it said in a bourse statement. One of the Arab world’s largest investment banks and once a symbol of the sector’s potential in the region, Shuaa is among a group of regional investment firms struggling to stay afloat after a slump in the value of its investment portfolio. The firm hired ex-ABN Amro banker Colin MacDonald as chief executive in April and is counting on the lending business as part of a turnaround plan under Chairman Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher al-Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s ruling family. Fourth-quarter revenue rose slightly to 25.2 million dirhams from 20.1 million dirhams a year earlier, Shuaa said. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
DUBAI: Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest lender, expects its credit growth to be around 14-15 percent this year, driven by high government spending and higher wages for local citizens, local media quoted its chief operating officer as saying. Oman will again spend heavily in 2013 on job creation and infrastructure projects, as authorities aim to avoid a repeat of the scattered street protests over economic conditions and political issues which hit the country in 2011. On Saturday, parliament approved a more than 60-percent increase in the minimum wage for Omanis in the private sector, part of the country’s plan to raise living standards and push more locals into the private sector. Both factors will help to drive lending growth for Bank Muscat, COO Ahmed Al Abri told an investor meeting at the end of last week, according to a report in the Times of Oman newspaper. “The opportunities identified by the bank include major infrastructure development projects and government focus on economic diversification and tourism development,” he added. The bank reported 16.2 percent growth in lending in 2012, which helped boost annual net profit by 18.5 percent over the previous year. (RTRS)
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KFH to launch national activities Public Relations and Media Senior Manager at Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Saeed Tawfiqi said that KFH began launching its national activities that will take place in February on the sideline of the 52nd Independence Day, and 22nd Liberation Day anniversaries. He added that KFH has taken part in such events and festivals during the past years, and explained that KFH will launch a photography competition on its Instagram account kfhgroup this month. All people from all ages and nationalities
Saeed Tawfiqi, Public Relations and Media Senior Manager at KFH
Burgan Bank names Yawmi winners
can take part in the competition, if the pictures taken are related to the independence and liberation. This will encourage people who are talented in photography, and deepen their loyalty and pride for the country. In addition, KFH will illuminate its main office, Baitok Tower, and other strategic buildings using the colours of the Kuwaiti flag, not to mention congratulation messages on billboards at malls. KFH vehicles have also been decorated to suit the event.
Burgan Bank announced today the names of the five lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000. The lucky winners for the daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5,000 each, and they are: Fatma Faisal Alqatan, Rashed Mubarek Alsaif, Mohammed Ahmed Stareian Asfahani, Claude Antoine Yammine, Hanaa Abdulrazzaq Yousef Alkhamis.
With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account. Customers are also required to deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD 10.
Germany and ECB keen to nip debate in the bud
‘Currency wars’ back on international agenda as G20 meets PARIS, Feb 10, (AFP): The strength of the euro, the state of the global monetary system and controversy over a so-called “currency war” will dominate the economic stage at eurozone and G20 ministerial meetings this week. The currency issue has been revived by Japan and is beginning to cause concern in some quarters in Europe. France will raise the issue of the strengthening euro at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Monday. Then a meeting of G20 ministers is likely to focus on the big picture in Moscow on Friday and Saturday. Eurozone finance ministers, meeting as the Eurogroup in Brussels on Monday, hold their first session under their new president Jeroen Dijsselbloem of the
Netherlands, against a background of calmer conditions for their debt crisis. Dijsselbloem has taken over from Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg who chaired the meetings throughout the global financial crisis and then the eurozone debt turmoil. This meeting is not expected to take any decisions either on help to debtstricken Cyprus in the run-up to next week’s presidential election there; or on the creation of a banking union, still the subject of intense negotiations. The main focus of discussion is likely to be the rise of the euro: French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici called last week for a debate on the euro’s exchange rate. France is worried that the strengthen-
Cameron, Merkel seek cuts
France, Germany divided over EU policy on growth PARIS, Feb 10, (RTRS): French efforts to divert Europe from economic austerity have foundered twice in a week due to German resistance, underlining a growing policy divide that is hobbling the core partnership. Berlin rejected President Francois Hollande’s call on Tuesday to set a mid-term target for the euro, a move he hoped would bring the single currency down to a level that would make it easier for French industry to sell its goods abroad. Three days later, German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined forces with Britain’s David Cameron at a Brussels summit to push through the first ever cut in the 27-nation’s budget, taking an axe to spending on infrastructure projects backed by Paris. “Is it the budget I would have liked if it was just up to me? No. But the problem with Europe is that there are others involved,” a resigned Hollande told reporters after all-night talks secured a deal on EU funding from 2014-2020. Both Hollande and Merkel have insisted that the Franco-German motor is still driving EU integration 50 years after the friendship pact between the former World War Two foes. But while they say achievements such as last year’s deal on EU banking supervision show that Paris and Berlin can still overcome their differences to forge compromises, the French voice is increasingly struggling to make itself heard. “EU budget: Hollande left out of pocket”, ran the headline of the leftleaning Liberation newspaper on the roughly three-percent cut in EU spending, mainly at the expense of transport, energy and telecoms projects which Paris has argued would foster growth and make Europe’s economy more competitive.
Austerity “Cameron and Merkel impose austerity on Hollande” was how the conservative Le Figaro summed up the meeting. Hollande could have expected a hero’s welcome in Brussels for his handling of his first war in the African state of Mali, where French forces have driven al Qaeda-linked rebels out of its main northern towns and into the hills. Moreover, with Cameron having put Britain’s EU membership on the line by promising a referendum on it if re-elected, last week’s summit could have offered France and Germany the stage to rally together in a demonstration of European solidarity. But in the budget wrangling that ensued, it was Hollande who looked
isolated as his efforts to forge a coalition of southern and eastern European states demanding more generous spending were quashed by Germany, Britain and other northern countries. EU officials were mystified when Hollande, citing other engagements, chose not to attend a pre-summit huddle with Cameron, Merkel and EU President Herman Van Rompuy on Thursday afternoon where key details of the deal were hammered out. From then on, what Cameron called the band of “like-minded budget disciplinarians” including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland had the upper hand and for France, it was a matter of salvaging what it could from the summit. While the overall EU farm spending of which France is the main beneficiary will fall sharply from its 2007-2013 level, Hollande managed to limit the damage to French farmers with a small rise in related funds for rural development.
Rebate But he had to concede that Britain’s cherished 29-year-old rebate from EU spending, about which he had noisily complained in the run-up to the summit, would have to remain untouched. “We are seeing the Germans extending a hand more and more often to the British than to us,” French political analyst Eric Zemmour said, suggesting Merkel’s priority was to give Cameron ammunition at home to defend Britain’s membership in the EU. Ultimately, cuts to an EU budget which in total represents barely one percent of the region’s economic output are unlikely to influence how quickly it comes out of the current downturn. However the clash between Paris and Berlin on the level of the euro currency points at deep-rooted differences in the national interests of the two countries that may prove more telling in the long run. A study by Deutsche Bank last month calculated that France’s exporters start being priced out of world markets when the euro rises above 1.22-1.24 dollars — a level it has already long left behind to trade at $1.33 now. Germany’s higher value-added export products, however, only start to be disadvantaged when the exchange rate is above $1.54. Until that point, there is little damage to the German economy and indeed some benefit in a strong euro because it keeps the prices of imported goods and hence inflation in check.
ing euro makes eurozone exports look more expensive and could undermine government efforts to improve the competitive position of French industry and services. The Socialist administration is already grappling with weak growth and a big trade deficit. France wants the eurozone to arm itself with a policy for the foreign exchange rate. The external value of the euro should not be left to market forces of the moment, French President Francois Hollande has argued. Germany and the European Central Bank however, are keen to nip the debate in the bud, arguing that the European currency is not over-valued. The ECB has statutory independence in managing monetary policy and its
main obligation is to ensure price stability. While the exchange rate is one of many factors affecting inflationary pressures, any targeting of an exchange rate would potentially interfere with the money supply and therefore monetary policy. ECB president Mario Draghi was nevertheless cautious on Thursday about the strength of economic recovery in the eurozone. Many analysts saw his remarks as an attempt to talk down the rise of the euro. If so, he succeeded: the euro was being quoted at $1.33 at the end of the week having risen a few days earlier to the highest level for 14 months and above $1.37. The subject is expected to be on the
agenda at the end of the week in Moscow, where finance ministers and central bankers from the leading rich and emerging economies, the Group of Twenty (G20), meet with a Russian as president for the first time. With the economic recovery struggling to gain momentum globally, Russia has set as the main target in the run-up to a G20 summit in Saint Petersburg on September 5 and 6, the search for new sources of growth. Rich countries, forced to contain or reduce debt, are injecting huge amounts of money into their economies to support activity. Leading central banks have used various levers to this end, notably the United States. The Japanese government has just
Swiss private banking sector faces ‘spectre’ of revolution Move seen as part of drive to improve transparency GENEVA, Feb 10, (AFP): The spectre of revolution is stalking the world of Swiss private banking, as two paragons of discretion, Pictet and Lombard Odier, prepare to open their books. The Geneva-based operations, founded over 200 years ago, have both decided to drop their special statutes and transform themselves into banks almost like any other. The move is seen as part of a drive to improve transparency and protect the sector from risks associated with scandals such as the Madoff case in the United States, analysts say. Swiss private banks operate under rules which make the wealthy managing partners personally responsible for the money they manage. In other words, if the bank gets into trouble, the managing partners can lose all their assets, not just those they have invested in the operation. Drawn from an elite social circle of Geneva Protestants — the city was the hub of the Reformation five centuries ago — the private bankers have over the centuries refreshed their ranks by tapping wealthy, likeminded members from their own community.
Comfort That tradition of unlimited responsibility for those who run private banks has long been seen as a commercial argument for rich customers who want the comfort such a guarantee provides. Not being listed on the stock exchange, they do not have to publish their results, meaning their business is the preserve of a closed circle of clients. But from next year, both Pictet and Lombard Odier are to recast themselves as a “corporate partnership”, a hybrid status that will make it easier to compare them with fully-listed Swiss players such as Credit Suisse and UBS. Similar to the “limited company” structure in the British Isles — with its well-known “Ltd.” label — the structure will enable the banks to tap the investment market while maintaining the managing partners’ responsiblity. According to a Pictet spokesman, neither bank will be publicly-listed, and only private investors are to be tapped for capital. After the reform is in place, the managing partners will only risk the funds they have invested in the bank, rather than having to put all of their personal
Cos warned of trampling land rights
Land acquisition pose risks: report PARIS, Feb 10, (AFP): Companies that invest in land and resources in emerging economies risk financial and public relations disasters if local inhabitants feel they are getting ripped off, consultants warned in a report last week. The report was released by a group known as the Munden Project and founder Lou Munden said: “When we looked at companies involved in international land acquisitions, we found that they experience an astonishing amount of financial damage.” This ranged from “massively increased operating costs, as much as 29 times above a normal baseline scenario, to outright abandonment of functional operations when they ignore pre-existing or customary local land rights.” The report was entitled “The Financial Risks of Insecure Land Tenure: An Investment View,” and Munden emphasised that the financial risks were many and varied from delays in construction timetables to the expropriation of assets “following the loss of insurance coverage.” He commented that “even more troubling, the escalation of risk can be extremely rapid”, and that conventional techniques for managing risk were inadequate for coping with insecure local land tenure. Projects go wrong when local peo-
ple feel they have not been adequately compensated and are being deprived of their land, jobs, water and forests. This can lead to disruption of many kinds, from roadblocks to frequent acts of sabotage and other forms of violence. An investing company which then turns to local authorities to put down the resistance can find that its international image is badly damaged. The report cited the case of Malaysian industrial group Sime Darby in Liberia which had to suspend the plantation of oil-bearing palm trees in the north of the country under pressure from local communities, and had to renegotiate the amounts paid for land. Another example occurred in Chile where Chilean company SN Power had to abandon a hydroelectric project with the loss of $23 million already invested because it had not obtained approval from native populations. An attempt by a biofuels company SEKAB to buy land in Tanzania for a huge plantation which would affect the environment ran into controversy and cost the company more than $20 million. For Andy White, the coordinator of Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI)
in Washington, “the mining sector is the most exposed because it needs a lot of investments.” He told AFP: “The mining sector is a ticking time bomb all across Africa and now in Myanmar.” RRI said that “the pace of deforestation in the country (Myanmar)...has raced forward unabated.” The project coordinator for the Center for People and Forests, Maung Maung Than, said that a conflict in the north of Myanmar “like so many around the world, has its roots in community forest rights and land tenure.” White said: “It is hard to believe that national governments still embrace unfettered natural resource extraction, turning over valuable land to international investors and domestic elite. “In this equation, long-term economic gain is often sacrificed for short-term cash.” Referring to the example of Liberia, and to a failed venture in Orissa, India, by the mining firm Vedanta which damaged its credit rating, White told AFP: “we have a turning point...investors will have to go to London or New York to borrow money.” He commented: “The financial sector will eventually understand that all this is unsound, it’s a house of cards.”
assets on the line. “This legal structure allows us to maintain the benefits of a private partnership, such as our independence, strict sense of responsibilities and our long-term management outlook while ensuring that our interests remain aligned with those of our clients,” Patrick Odier, senior partner of Lombard Odier, said in a statement. “The Lombard Odier Group will continue to be distinguished by its partnership structure, which offers a personal and lasting commitment on behalf of all of the partners to the management of the group,” he added. Pictet described the change as a logical step. “Over the past 20 years the Pictet Group has experienced an internationalisation and, in addition to its traditional
private banking business, a major diversification of its activities, notably with the growth of institutional asset management, mutual fund distribution and asset services,” a company statement said. According to Luc Thevenoz, a law professor at the University of Geneva, a swathe of financial sector scandals have put the focus on the personal risks of the private bankers’ profession. The high-profile Bernard Madoff fraud case in the United States was a prime example. “US liquidators demanded 150 million Swiss francs from Pictet,” he told the Swiss daily Le Temps. “The price for winning legal protection is transparency, as they will now have to publish their accounts,” he added. Also fresh in the Swiss bankers’ minds
is the ongoing case of Italy’s Banco Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), where losses linked to risky investments could hit 730 million euros ($989 million). Italy’s government has granted a 3.9 billion euro bailout to BMPS, the world’s oldest bank, and investigators there have seized its directors’ personal assets. Complex global finance has made it hard for private bankers to feel safe with a traditional approach that puts all their assets on the line as they expand their operations. Both Pictet and Lombard Odier have seen major growth in the past few decades. According to Pictet, staff numbers have soared from 300 in 1980 to 3,300 last year, while wealth under management has leapt from 9.0 billion Swiss francs (7.2 billion euros, $10 billion) to 374 billion over the same period.
the heavyweight Banking sector which gained 2.3 percent to QAR 183.7 billion followed by the industrial sector adding 7.14 percent to its market cap to reach QAR 134 billion in January. Liquidity measures showed improvement as trading priced up during the month with volume increasing 49 percent to 90.7 mn shares, while value traded was up by 56 percent to QAR 4.6 bn spread over 64,943 transactions. In Bahrain, The Bahrain All Share Index continued its upward trend for the second consecutive month and started 2013 on a positive note to post a gain of 1.83 percent in January and closed the month at 1,085.14 points. Gains for the
month stemmed from the heavyweight Commercial Banks and Service sectors, which saw returns of 6.76 percent and 4.65 percent, respectively, while the Insurance sector also gained 1.45 percent. Whereas market heavyweight Investment sector which represents 29 percent of the total market cap shed 4.51 percent during the month. Trading indicators were also up significantly with volume, value and trades increasing 337.03 percent, 198.07 percent and 92.39 percent, respectively, to record 149.91 mn shares with a value of BHD 15.47 mn exchanging hands through 1,618 trades. In the GCC, DFM topped the list as the best performer with monthly gains of 16.34 percent followed by ADX with a gain of 9.37 percent, respectively. Finally in Oman, strong economic growth data coupled with robust growth in FY-12 earnings support the Omani Bourse during the first trading month of 2013 as it increased for the second consecutive month to follow its GCC peers and end on a positive note. The MSM 30 index ended the month advancing 0.68 percent to 5,799.79 yet was at the bottom of the list within the region as other markets outperformed Oman.
Abandon
Gulf bourses Continued from Page 37 Compared to December-12, trading indicators ended the month mixed with volume increasing 15 percent to 8.24 bn shares from 7.16 bn shares in December12; while value traded decreased 11 percent to KD 651 mn down from KD 730 mn in December-12. As for Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, as measured by ADX General Index, jumped 9.54 percent in January to end as the second best performing market following neighbour Dubai, on the back of a AED 330 billion spending drive announced by the Abu Dhabi government which added to investor confidence on speculation that the Emirate will witness a prosperous economic recovery. Accordingly, market breadth was heavily skewed towards the gainers with advancers-to-decliners ratio of 42-to-12 while 9 companies remained unchanged from last month. Liquidity indicator surged during the month as volume jumped a whopping 151 percent to 3.3 bn shares while value rose 143 percent AED
4.5 bn from AED 1.8 bn in December-11. Total market capitalization added 7.36 percent to AED 311.6 bn ($85 bn) in January supported by the 9.66 percent increase in heavyweight banking sector to reach AED 146.5 bn and the telecommunication sector adding 4.65 percent to its value to stand at AED 112.2 bn in January-13. In Dubai, Expectations of an economic recovery in the Emirate, coupled with strong earnings in FY-12 helped push the index higher to end as the best performing market in the GCC with a whopping 16.34 percent gain during January to end as the best performing market among its GCC peers. Boosted investor sentiment
convinced its central bank to go down this road in an attempt to arrest a deflationary spiral that has sapped its economy. But this use of the monetary lever has had the effect of pushing down the yen. That may be a relief for Japanese industrialists, but it is a problem for countries such as Germany, one of the biggest exporting countries in the world. For some analysts, the main is problem is a lack of coordinated decision-making, running against the spirit of the G20, which is intended to coordinate economic policies around the world. The Japanese policy is also likely to worry South Korea: its currency, the won, has risen commensurately against the yen.
resulted in a buying spree taking the DFM General Index to a fresh 34 month high as foreign investors buy into the Emirate’s blue-chips. In line with the positive performance during the month, the bourse’s market cap added 11 percent to its value to reach AED 193.8 bn ($52.8 bn) supported by the banking and real estate & construction sectors gaining 15.13 percent and 27.19 percent to AED 52.4 bn ($14.3 bn) and AED 40.5 bn ($11 bn), respectively. Liquidity surged during the month of January, with volume and value jumping 211 percent and 213 percent to 7.6 bn shares and AED 8.7 bn, respectively, over 93,969 transactions.
In Qatar, the Qatar Exchange snapped a two month losing streak and began 2013 on a positive note to end as the fourth best performing market among its peers in the GCC region. Strong FY-12 corporate earnings and positive economic fundamentals helped boost investor confidence to nearly wipe out 2012 losses. As a result, the QE 20 index added 4.38 percent to end the month of January at 8,724.77 points and recover the majority of the 4.79 percent slump witnessed in 2012. Market capitalization for the month was up by 3.37 percent to QAR 475.4 billion as compared to QAR 459.9 billion in December-12 supported by the jump in
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2013
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US S&P suit points to industry’s role in crisis Govt main focus on integrity in the ratings process NEW YORK, Feb 10, (AFP): The US government’s $5 billion lawsuit against Standard & Poor’s for exaggerating mortgage bond ratings in 2007 has cast a pall over the ratings industry and exposed its role in the financial crisis. S&P competitors Moody’s and Fitch find themselves potentially facing penalties after the Justice Department alleged S&P knowingly kept ratings on high-risk mortgage securities high in order to win revenues from issuers. The Justice Department has not said
whether it has the other two ratings agencies in its sights, but Moody’s spent much of the week fending off questions about whether it faces similar action following the S&P suit. The New York Attorney General has meanwhile launched an investigation into all three companies over their ratings prior to the 2008 crisis, sources close to the matter told AFP. S&P parent McGraw-Hill’s shares plunged 27 percent after the suit was filed, and Moody’s dropped 22 percent for the week, underscoring the market’s worry that the crackdown on S&P may be just the tip of the iceberg. “Investors have been selling those stocks aggressively this week and keep doing so out of fear that the situation with
the Department of Justice could get a lot worse in the future,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Michael James. “They think there is probably more bad news to come.” The government’s case argues that S&P knowingly placed triple-A ratings on billions of dollars worth of mortgagebased financial securities even as the US housing market collapsed, misrepresenting their true credit risk. Many of the top-rated issues cited in the suit were in default within one year or less. S&P exaggerated the ratings in part to please clients and keep issuer revenues high, the suit alleges. US Attorney General Eric Holder called S&P’s conduct “egregious,” saying “it goes to the very heart of the recent
financial crisis.” S&P has dismissed the lawsuit as “meritless” and said it plans to vigorously contest the claims. The litigation, which reportedly came after settlement talks failed, poses a huge financial challenge to S&P and McGrawHill. Justice Department officials said they intend to press for at least $5 billion in civil penalties to match the losses suffered by investors on the securities. S&P is also being sued by 13 states, adding to the potential damages. The attorney general of California cited two large institutional investors, the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System, which lost approxi-
mately $1 billion on the high-rated mortgage bonds. A California statement said the suit claims triple damages. To put those figures in context, McGraw-Hill earned $911 million in all of 2011. Many were wondering if or when the government will take action against Moody’s. A multi-billion dollar suit could devastate that company as well: on Friday Moody’s reported 2012 earnings of $690 million. Jacob Frenkel, a former federal criminal prosecutor now in private practice with Shulman Rogers, said S&P could possibly settle the case in the range of “hundreds of millions of dollars.” But he said that the terms of a settle-
ment — what the company admits to, in addition to paying fines — are crucial. Charles Elson, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, thinks the government could have a hard time proving its case against S&P. That would raise the stakes: the 2002 US criminal conviction of former accounting giant Arthur Andersen in the aftermath of the Enron scandal eventually led to the firm’s demise. But Frenkel said the government is mainly focused on “integrity in the ratings process.” “The government would prefer to win a civil case than lose a criminal case,” he said, “particularly where there is a concern about vaporizing the company.”
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Bank of Italy seeks more powers in wake of Monte Paschi troubles Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco called on Saturday for more powers for bank regulators to step in and dismiss bad managers but defended his institution’s oversight of the troubled Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Responding to criticism about banking oversight in the case of the Tuscan lender, Visco repeated that central bank supervisors had acted appropriately but asked for more scope to act in exceptional cases. “The supervisor should have the power to intervene when — based on solid evidence —
it believes it is necessary to oppose the appointment of (bank) executives or to remove them,” Visco, who also sits on the European Central Bank governing council, said in a speech to the Assiom-Forex conference in Bergamo. The comments echoed remarks from ECB President Mario Draghi, who also called for regulators to be able to force out top executives in cases where a bank had run into trouble through the fault of its management.
Barclays axes tax advisory unit
Monte dei Paschi, Italy’s third largest bank, has been at the centre of a financial and political storm over a series of problematic derivatives contracts which has widened into a probe by magistrates into suspected bribery and false accounting. The Bank of Italy has defended its handling of the scandal, which emerged in the wake of Monte dei Paschi’s 9-billion-euro ($12.04 billion) acquisition of smaller rival Antonveneta just before the global financial crisis erupted in 2008. (RTRS)
British bank Barclays is to close a profitable but controversial tax advisory business, it said on Sunday, as part of an attempt by its new chief executive to clean up the bank’s image. Antony Jenkins will say on Tuesday the bank is closing the Structured Capital Markets (SCM) business unit, the bank said. He had already indicated it would go or be scaled back as he ends activities that could cause reputational damage. “The old ways weren’t
the right way to behave nor did they deliver the right results — for banks themselves or for wider society ... banks that fail to change will become failing banks,” Jenkins says in the draft of a speech due to be delivered on Tuesday laying out his future strategy. Extracts of the text were provided by the bank on Sunday. SCM has long been controversial, but has delivered hundreds of million of pounds in profits. (RTRS)
weekly report on FX markets Swiss International Financial Brokerage Co
Dollar gains on weakness of counterparts Report Prepared by Ahmed Shibley
A
trace of dovishness from the ECB and an early session dive in capital markets drove the US dollar materially higher Thursday. Putting aside the greenback’s extended performance against counterparts like the Australian dollar, we garner a far better picture of the benchmark’s more recent strength when we look to the more mainstream pairings. Most notable is the world’s most liquid currency pair – EURUSD – which had deviated from the broader performance of the dollar since midDecember. Since topping at the end of last week, though, both EURUSD and the Dollar Index have slowly begun to realign. And, with the additional support of this particularly important pair, we have seen the USDollar overtake 2012’s high and close at its highest level since November 30, 2010. As is the case in the Forex market, much of the dollar’s strength is derived from the relative weakness of its counterparts rather than a serious strengthening of its own accord. The fundamental depreciation the greenback experienced against the Euro has proven its greatest hurdle. From the reduced tail risk of a
Eurozone crisis, the currency’s recovery (and consequential subverting of the dollar) shifted to the realization that the European Central bank (ECB) was actually reducing its balance sheet through regional banks’ early repayment of the Long-Term Refinancing Operation (LTRO) program. That is a dramatic contrast to the Fed’s persistent $85-billion-per-month purchases. On that point, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans – amongst the most committed dove – said the stimulus purchases could potentially continue for over a year. However, his allowance that the program can be capped before the jobless rate hit 7 percent was still seen as a moderating of the Fed’s dovish extremes. Pulling the EURUSD into the fold with the rest of the majors resolves a serious complication to the fundamental backdrop and can offer the dollar additional strength. Yet, bullish momentum for the dollar will continue to find some measure of restraint unless the most primal of fundamental drivers throws in its weight: risk trends. There are plenty of early signs of souring sentiment, but full-blown risk aversion
(where the dollar’s safe haven status really stands out) won’t be fully convincing until stimulus-supported US equities and yen crosses reverse. Euro: A True Turn as ECB’s Draghi Hints at Intervention? The euro took a dive against all of its major counterparts this past trading session. Progress behind the shared currency’s decline has brought us to the point where we have to wonder whether we’ve seen a permanent shift to bear trend. As discussed above, the most remarkable turn comes via the EURUSD’s 2.3 percent drop from 14month highs set last Friday. Given the stubbornness of sentiment and the blatant improvement in relative, central bank balance sheets; a turn from this particular pair carries significant fundamental weight for the euro. So, where does this possible break in euro bullishness come from? Key was this past sessions, ECB policy meeting. At first glance, the group didn’t cut rates, adopt a new stimulus program or move to offset the LTRO liquidity drain. That said, President Draghi did hint– to a highly sensitive market – that conditions could warrant an easing
effort in the future. Along with reiterating a weak growth forecast, the central banker remarked that the policy authority would monitor the euro’s level for its contributions to inflation risk. There is little action behind this threat as of yet, but traders recognize that the ECB has room to cut the benchmark rate – an easier move than adopting new stimulus measures. In other news, a significant burden for Ireland – a bailout member – was lifted when the ECB approved a swap of promissory notes to longer-term (30year) government bonds. That will reduce the total costs of its rescue; but note their declaration that this was a one-off. British Pound Rallies as BoE Easing Expectations Prove Unfounded The sterling played out exactly the opposite performance that the euro had this past session. A market-wide advance was derived from unrealized speculation. Heading into the Bank of England’s policy meeting, there was a growing belief amongst bears that the policy body would upgrade its policy efforts to bring it more inline with the
accommodative BoJ or Fed. Instead, the group was mum aside from a statement that maturating gilts would be reinvested. Another big sterling booster was future governor Cassey suggestion that current policy may be enough. Japanese Yen: Risk Trends Putting Pressure on Japanese Officials This isn’t what Japanese policy officials want to see. The yen advanced against all of its major counterparts with the exception of the British pound this past session. The concerted and consistent effort by the government and central bank to devalue their currency has been awe-inspiring. Canadian Dollar Traders Prepare for Jobs Data, Volatility We shouldn’t expect standard fundamental indicators to determine lasting trend from the Canadian dollar at this point – that is something only monetary policy and risk trends can successfully accomplish. That said, meaningful data and substantive surprise can produce serious volatility. That said, tomorrow brings December trade and January Job Statistics Australian Dollar Takes Another
Hit as RBA Lowers Growth Forecast It seemed as if the heavy fundamental flow of the week had passed for the Aussie dollar. However, there was another fundamental driver for the currency to absorb this morning. Instead of being fully discounted by the rate decision, the RBA’s monetary policy report weighed AUDUSD further below 1.0300 by lowering the June (2.5 from 2.75 percent) and December (2-3 from 2.25-3.25 percent) growth forecasts. Gold Unimpressed by ECB Tone, Drops to Support Though it was veiled in central bankspeak, ECB President Draghi essentially said the policy group was watching and willing to act on the rising euro. The currency devaluation threat isn’t too be taken lightly after five years of Fed stimulus and the BoJ’s rapid ascent in the currency war. And yet, gold wasn’t convinced. The precious metal – an alternative to currencies – actually dropped back to tightening support at 1,665. ❑ ❑ ❑ For more information please visit www.swissfs.com
International Markets Weekly US natural gas futures end lower as colder trend helps limit downside
Crude futures drop on inventories rise expectations By Global Investment House
350,500. The claims report showed the number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid increased 8,000 to 3.22mn in the week ended January 26.
Energy/Currencies US crude futures ended the week lower, as expectations that crude oil inventories will continue to rise widened the spread between US and Brent crude futures, increasing Brent’s premium. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil <CLc1> settled at USD95.72 a barrel, dropping by USD2.05 for the week. In London, Brent crude <LCOc1>, settled at USD118.90, up by USD2.14. NYMEX RBOB gasoline <RBc1> settled at USD3.0588 a gallon, for the week, the contract rose slightly by 0.05 cents. NYMEX heating oil <HOc1> closed slightly up at USD3.2384. For the week, it gained 0.78 cents. Energy/Precious Close Metals Oil - WTI 95.83 Oil - Brent 118.90 Gold (USD/t oz.) 1,666.89 Silver (USD/t oz.) 31.39
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Weekly Performance -1.98% 1.83% 0.02% -1.29%
Y-T-D performance 4.37% 10.73% -0.44% 3.56%
Saudi Arabia kept oil output steady in January, after two months of sharp reductions that surprised oil traders and coincided with a rise in crude oil prices. Saudi produced 9.05mn barrels a day (bpd) in January, from 9.025mn bpd in December, but supplemented that with deliveries out of storage. OPEC’s leading producer responded to slower demand at home and abroad by lowering supply by around 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) over the last two months of 2012, more than a million barrels a day below peak production last summer. Iraq’s oil exports climbed to 2.359mn barrels per day (bpd) in January from 2.340mn bpd the previous month, oil ministry officials said. Iraq shipped 2.095mn bpd from the southern oil hub of Basra and 264,000 bpd from the northern fields around Kirkuk, including 11,000 barrels trucked to Jordan, they said. Currency
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USD -EUR USD - GBR JPY - USD
1.3363 1.5796 92.66
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Weekly Performance -2.02% 0.68% -0.06%
Y-T-D performance 1.28% -2.80% 6.82%
US crude stocks rose 2.62mn barrels in the week to February 01, compared with expectations for a 2.8mn barrel rise, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed. Crude stocks rose to 371.7mn barrels last week and have been building to near-record seasonal highs. Crude stocks at delivery hub Cushing, Oklahoma, fell 315,000 barrels to 51.36mn barrels. US refinery utilization fell 0.8 percentage point to 84.2 percent of total capacity. Gasoline stocks rose 1.74mn barrels, compared with analyst expectations in a Reuters poll for no change. Four-week average gasoline demand was up 4.7 percent from yearago levels. Distillate fuels, which include diesel and heating oil, fell 1.04mn barrels, in line with expectations for a 1mn barrel fall. The builds have come in part due to higher domestic oil production, which has risen to
Europe The European Central Bank held its main interest rate at a record low of 0.75 percent, maintaining its policy in order to see whether an economic recovery sets in later this year or is derailed by the Euro’s rise. The ECB left its main interest rate on hold for the seventh month running. It also left the interest rate on its deposit facility at 0.0 percent and held its marginal lending facility - or emergency borrowing rate at 1.50 percent.
Specialists Gregg Maloney (left), and trader Tom Ferrigno work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. (AP)
near 18-year highs. US crude imports fell 499,000 bpd to 7.53mn bpd last week. US natural gas futures ended lower but a powerful blizzard pounding the Northeast and the colder trend in extended weather forecasts helped limit the downside. On the New York Mercantile Exchange <NGc1> settled down at USD3.272 per million British thermal units (mmbtu). The EIA gas storage report showed total domestic gas inventories fell by 118 billion cubic feet (bcf) to 2.684 trillion cubic feet (tcf). While the withdrawal widened the deficit relative to last year to 226 bcf, or 8 percent, it left storage relatively high at 351 bcf, or 15 percent, above the five-year average for that time of year. Estimates for next week’s inventory report range from 128 bcf to 180 bcf. Storage fell 113 bcf during the same week last year. The five-year average decline for that week is 154 bcf. The Euro declined the most since July versus the US Dollar after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said a strong currency could slow the regionís economic recovery, lifting bets the bank may lower interest rates. The Yen rose against the greenback for the first time in 13 weeks as the Bank of Japan governor said he will step down early, accelerating a transition that may aid the prime ministerís plan for monetary easing.
US The US trade deficit shrank in December to its narrowest in nearly three years, suggesting the economy did much better in the fourth quarter than initially estimated. The country’s trade gap narrowed to USD38.5bn during the month. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a deficit of USD46bn. Friday’s data showed US exports surged by USD8.6bn during the month, boosted by sales of industrial supplies, including a USD1.2bn increase of non-
monetary gold. In a reflection of a boom in oil output driven by hydraulic fracturing technologies, petroleum exports rose by nearly USD1bn during the month to a record high level. Index
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US - DJ Average 13,992.97 ▼ US - Nasdaq Comp. 3,193.87 ▲ US - S&P500 1,517.93 ▲
Weekly Performance -0.12% 0.46% 0.31%
Y-T-D performance 6.78% 5.77% 6.43%
US New orders for capital goods outside of the defense and aircraft industries declined 0.3 percent during the month, according to revised data. That breaks some of the momentum from two prior months of strong gains in the reading, which is seen as a proxy for investment plans. Overall factory orders rose 1.8 percent in December. That was below the median forecast of 2.2 percent by analysts polled by Reuters. The US services sector grew in January for a third year of back-to-back monthly expansion, although the pace of growth slowed slightly from the previous month. The Institute for Supply Management said its services sector index eased slightly to 55.2 last month from 55.7 in December. The reading was in line with economists’ forecasts, according to a Reuters survey. The business activity index also fell, dipping to 56.4 from 60.8 the month before and hitting its lowest since August 2012. The employment index, however, was at highest since February 2006. The index rose to 57.5 in January from 55.3 in December. The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week and a trend reading hit a near five-year low. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 366,000. The prior week’s claims figure was revised to show 3,000 more new claims than initially reported. Economists polled by Reuters had expected 360,000 claims last week. The four-week moving average for new claims dropped 2,250 to
Index
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England - FTSE 100 Germany - DAX France - CAC 40
6,263.93 ▼ 7,652.14 ▼ 3,649.50 ▼
Weekly Performance -1.31% -2.31% -3.29%
Y-T-D performance 6.21% 0.52% 0.23%
Euro-zone sentiment improved for a sixth consecutive month in February with expectations rising to their highest level since June 2007, before the financial and debt crises, Sentix said. The research group said its monthly index tracking investor sentiment in the 17nation currency bloc climbed to -3.9 in February from -7.0 in January, compared to a Reuters consensus forecast of -3.0. A sub-index of expectations rose to 15.8 in February, its highest level since June 2007, from 12.0 in January. Current conditions rose to -21.8 in February from -24.3. Trade in Euro-zone shops fell by the largest margin in eight months in December, as falling sales of drinks and Christmas dinners reflected the recession in the currency bloc. The retail trade volume for the 17 countries using the Euro was down by 0.8 percent in December from November, the biggest drop since April, EU statistics office Eurostat said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a fall of only 0.5 percent. Eurostat also revised down November’s MoM retail sales figure to a fall of 0.1 percent from a previously reported rise of 0.1 percent, meaning sales have now fallen for the last five reported months. Germany’s trade surplus hit its second highest level in more than 60 years in 2012, pointing to the underlying strength of Europe’s largest economy even as many of its Euro-zone peers lingered in recession. Europe’s economic powerhouse posted a trade surplus of EUR188.1bn last year, its second highest since records began in 1950. German exports in December increased by 0.3 percent in seasonally adjusted terms and imports fell by 1.3 percent, widening the trade surplus to EUR16.8bn from an upwardly revised EUR15.6bn in November. Economists had expected imports to increase by 1.4 percent and shipments abroad to be up 1.3 percent, according to a Reuters poll. Stronger manufacturing helped German industrial output to improve slightly in December, boding well for
expectations that Europe’s largest economy may be rebounding from a weak quarter. Data from the Economy Ministry showed that output climbed by 0.3 percent on the month, just above the mid-range in a Reuters poll of 40 economists for a 0.2 percent rise. Forecasts ranged from -1.3 to +1.0 percent. While manufacturing output increased 1.2 on the month in December, energy and construction activities fell, by 3.4 and 8.9 percent respectively. German industrial orders rose in December as orders from the Euro-zone rebounded, Economy Ministry data showed, demonstrating the resilience of Europe’s largest economy and improved conditions in the common currency area. Seasonally and price-adjusted order intake climbed by 0.8 percent on the month. It was slightly below the mid-range forecast in a Reuters poll of 38 economists that had seen contracts up 0.9 percent on the month. Orders from abroad rose by 2.4 percent, helped by a 7.0 percent increase in contracts from the Euro-zone. The Bank of England made no change to its amount of stimulus for the economy at a policy meeting on Thursday though it voted to reinvest GBP6.6bn of its current bond holdings due to mature in March. After a twoday meeting, the BoE’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee said its main interest rate would stay at 0.5 percent and that it would keep its gilt purchases at the GBP375bn worth bought so far. Britain’s dominant service sector unexpectedly returned to growth in January and optimism among firms jumped. The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for services rose to 51.5 from 48.9 in December when the sector shrank for the first time in two years. January’s reading was the strongest since September and beat the median forecast of 49.5 in a Reuters poll of economists. However, the survey highlighted growing inflation pressures. British industrial output rose more than expected in December, although oil field shutdowns drove the biggest quarterly fall since early 2009. Within that, manufacturing output climbed 1.6 percent on the month in December after a fall of 0.3 percent in November, the Office for National Statistics said. Industrial output, which includes energy production and mining, grew 1.1 percent after a revised 0.2 percent monthly rise in November. Economists had predicted a monthly rise of 0.9 percent in industrial production and a 0.8 percent tick-up in manufacturing output.
Japan Japan posted its smallest annual current account surplus on record in 2012 after weak global demand and a rise in energy imports pushed its monthly balance into deficit for a second straight month in December. The monthly deficit was JPY264.1bn (USD2.83bn), much larger than a median estimate of
JPY144.2bn in a Reuters poll. That cut the full-year current account surplus to JPY4.7tn, down by more than half from 2011 and the smallest since 1985 when Japan started compiling comparable data. Index
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Weekly Performance Japan - Nikkei 225 11,153.16 ▼ -0.34% Japan - Topix 957.35 ▼ 1.56%
Y-T-D performance 7.29% 11.35%
Japan’s core machinery orders rose 2.8 percent in December, up for a third straight month. The rise in core orders, which exclude those of ships and power utilities, compared with a median market forecast for a 0.7 percent MoM decline. It followed a 3.9 percent rise in November and a 2.6 percent increase in October. Compared with a year earlier, core orders, a highly volatile data series regarded as an indicator of capital spending in the coming six to nine months, fell 3.4 percent in December. Manufacturers surveyed by the Cabinet Office forecast that core orders will rise 0.8 percent in January-March after rising 2.0 percent in October-December.
Emerging Markets China China’s exports grew 25.0 percent in January from a year ago, the strongest showing since April 2011 and well ahead of market expectations for a 17 percent rise. Imports surged 28.8 percent on the year in January, also comfortably ahead of market forecasts of a 23.3 percent rise. That left the country with a trade surplus of USD29.2bn in January, compared with a forecast of USD22.0bn and December’s USD31.6bn. Index
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HK - Hang Seng Korea - KOSPI India - BSE Pakistan - KSE Brazil - BVSP Mexico - INMX China - SSE180 Russia - IRTS
23,215.16 1,950.90 19,484.77 17,477.94 58,497.83 45,089.36 6,070.07 1,590.13
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Weekly Performance -2.14% -0.35% -1.50% 1.23% -3.07% -1.48% 0.27% -2.34%
Y-T-D performance 2.46% -2.31% 0.30% 3.39% -4.03% 3.17% 9.37% 4.14%
China’s official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the non-manufacturing sector rose marginally to 56.2 in January from 56.1 in December. The services sector index follows the bureau’s manufacturing PMI, which eased to 50.4 in January, missing market expectations and underscoring that the economy is making only a mild recovery from its weakest year since 1999.
India India’s economy will grow by 5.5 percent this fiscal year and 6-7 percent in the next fiscal year, as Asia’s thirdlargest economy shows signs of reviving, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said. Chidambaram said the economy would perform better than the 5 percent growth forecast by the government’s Central Statistical Organization (CSO) last week. The 5 percent figure had been taken as an indication that the economy, growing at its slowest pace in a decade, could be in a worse state than anticipated.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
BUSINESS
41
DEWA posts 6 pct profit increase State utility Dubai Electricity and Water Authority reported a 6 percent increase in annual profit for 2012 on Sunday, after sales revenues and cash generated from core operations rose. The monopoly, fully-owned by the government, made a net profit of 4.65 billion dirhams ($1.27 billion) in 2012, up from 4.37 billion dirhams in the prior-year period, its financial statement showed. Cash generated from opera-
BKI earns BHD 4.21 mln in 2012 Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) announced that the board of the Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKI) had met on Feb 7, 2013, and adopted the annual financial statements of the company for the year ending Dec 31, 2012.
tions rose to 7.5 billion dirhams, up from 7.4 billion dirhams in 2011, and sales revenue increased 7 percent over the previous year. “The healthy cash generation from operations was adequate to fund all capital investment requirements and also to pre-pay some of the loans maturing in future,” a directors’ report, posted on the Nasdaq Dubai bourse, said. (RTRS)
Particulars Profit (Loss) (BHD) Profit (Loss) (KD) Earnings per share (BHD) Earnings per share (fils) Total current assets (BHD) Total current assets (KD) Total assets (BHD) Total assets (KD)
Dec 31, 2012 4,215,874 59 3,134,479 44 47,338,674 35,196,041 88,339,855 65,680,190
Smartphone patent wars grinding toward stalemate
Apple, Samsung, frenemies for life SAN FRANCISCO/SEOUL, Feb 10, (RTRS): It was the late Steve Jobs’ worst nightmare. A powerful Asian manufacturer, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, uses Google Inc’s Android software to create smartphones and tablets that closely resemble the iPhone and the iPad. Samsung starts gaining market share, hurting Apple Inc’s margins and stock price and threatening its reign as the king of cool in consumer electronics. Jobs, of course, had an answer to all this: a “thermo-nuclear” legal war that would keep clones off the market. Yet nearly two years after Apple first filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Samsung, and six months after it won a huge legal victory over its South Korean rival, Apple’s chances of blocking the sale of Samsung products are growing dimmer by the day. Indeed, a series of recent court rulings suggests that the smartphone patent wars are now grinding toward a stalemate, with Apple unable to show that its sales have been seriously damaged when rivals, notably Samsung, imitated its products. That, in turn, may usher in a new phase in the complex relationship between the two dominant companies in the growing mobile computing business. Tim Cook, Jobs’ successor as Apple chief executive, was opposed to suing Samsung in the first place, according to people with knowledge of the matter, largely because of that company’s critical role as a supplier of components for the iPhone and the iPad. Apple bought some $8 billion worth of parts from Samsung last year, analysts estimate. Samsung, meanwhile, has benefited immensely from the market insight it gained from the Apple relationship, and from producing smartphones and tablets that closely resemble Apple’s. While the two companies compete fiercely in the high-end smartphone business – where together they control half the sales and virtually all of the profits – their strengths and weaknesses are in many ways complementary. Apple’s operations chief, Jeff Williams, told Reuters last month that Samsung was an important partner and they had a strong relationship on the supply side, but declined to elaborate. As their legal war winds down, it is increasingly clear that Apple and Samsung have plenty of common interests as they work to beat back other potential challengers, such as BlackBerry or Microsoft.
Historic The contrast with other historic tech industry rivalries is stark. When Apple accused Microsoft in the 1980s of ripping off the Macintosh to create the Windows operating system, Apple’s very existence was at stake. Apple lost, the Mac became a niche product, and the company came close to extinction before Jobs
tomer. As for Apple, it reaped the benefit of Samsung’s heavy investments in research and development, tooling equipment and production facilities. Samsung spent $21 billion (23 trillion won) on capital expenditures in 2012 alone, and plans to spend a similar amount this year. By comparison, Intel Corp spent around $11 billion in 2012, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) expects to spend $9 billion in 2013. But component expertise, cash and good market intelligence did not assure success when Samsung launched its own foray into the smartphone market. The Omnia, a Windows-based product introduced in 2009, was so reviled that some customers hammered it to bits in public displays of dissatisfaction.
returned to Apple in late 1996 and saved it with the iPod and the iPhone. Jobs died in October 2011. Similarly, the Internet browser wars of the late 1990s that pitted Microsoft against Netscape ended with Netscape being sold for scrap and its flagship product abandoned. Apple and Samsung, on the other hand, are not engaged in a corporate death match so much as a multi-layered rivalry that is by turns both friendly and hard-edged. For competitors like Nokia, BlackBerry, Sony, HTC and even Google – whose Motorola unit is expected to launch new smartphones later this year – they are a formidable duo. The partnership piece of the Apple-Samsung relationship dates to 2005, when the Cupertino, California-based giant was looking for a stable supplier of flash memory. Apple had decided to jettison the hard disc drive in creating the iPod shuffle, iPod nano and then-upcoming iPhone, and it needed huge volumes of flash memory chips to provide storage for the devices. The memory market in 2005 was extremely unstable, and Apple wanted to lock in a supplier that was rock-solid financially, people familiar with the relationship said. Samsung held about 50 percent of the NAND flash memory market at that time. “Whoever controls flash is going to control this space in consumer electronics,” Jobs said at the time, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
Dismissed Meanwhile, Samsung publicly dismissed the iPhone’s success. “The popularity of iPhone is a mere result of excitement caused by some (Apple) fanatics,” Samsung’s then-president, G.S. Choi, told reporters in January 2010. Privately, though, Samsung had other plans. “The iPhone’s emergence means the time we have to change our methods has arrived,” Samsung mobile business head J.K. Shin told his staff in early 2010, according to an internal email filed in US court. Later that year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S, which sported the Android operating system and a look and feel very similar to the iPhone. Jobs and Cook complained to top Samsung executives when they were visiting Cupertino. Apple expected, incorrectly, that Samsung would modify its design in response to the concerns, people familiar with the situation said. Apple’s worst fears were confirmed with the early 2011 release of the Galaxy Tab, which Jobs and others regarded as a clear rip-off of the iPad. Cook, worried about the critical supplier relationship, was opposed to suing Samsung. But Jobs had run out of patience, suspecting that Samsung was counting on the supplier relationship to shield it from retribution. Apple filed suit in April 2011, and the conflagration soon spread to courts in Europe, Asia and Australia. When Apple won its blockbuster billion-dollar jury verdict against Samsung last August, it appeared that it might be able to achieve an outright ban on the offending products – which would have dramatically altered the smartphone competition. But Apple has failed to convince US judges to uphold those crucial sales bans – in large part because the extraordinary profitability and market power of the iPhone made it all but impossible for Apple to show it was suffering irreparable harm.
Success The success of that deal led to Samsung supplying the crucial application processors for the iPhone and iPad. Initially, the two companies jointly developed the processors based on a design from ARM Holdings Plc, but Apple gradually took full control over development of the chip. Now Samsung merely builds the components at a Texas factory. The companies built a close relationship that extended to the very top: in 2005, Jay Y. Lee, whose grandfather founded the Samsung Group, visited Jobs’ home in Palo Alto, California, after the two signed the flash memory deal. The partnership gave Apple and Samsung insight into each other’s strategies and operations. In particular, Samsung’s position as the sole supplier of iPhone processors gave it valuable data on just how big Apple thought the smartphone market was going to be. “Having a relationship with Apple as a supplier, I am sure, helped the whole group see where the puck was going,” said Horace Dediu, a former analyst at Nokia who now works as a consultant and runs an influential blog. “It’s a very important advantage in this business if you know where to commit capital.” Samsung declined to comment on its relationship with a specific cus-
Dec 31, 2011 4,149,052 58 3,041,827 43 40,970,630 30,037,119 83,805,815 61,441,213
Total current liabilities (BHD) Total current liabilities (KD) Total liabilities (BHD) Total liabilities (KD) Total shareholders’ equity (BHD) Total shareholders’ equity (KD)
Aayan posts KD 3.72m profit
17,235,805 12,814,725 57,285,227 42,591,247 31,054,628 23,088,943
The Board of Directors approved Aayan Real Estate Company’s (AAYANRE) annual financial statements of the company for the year ending Dec 31, 2012, dated Feb 7, 2013.
14,208,524 10,416,806 55,227,740 40,489,545 28,578,075 20,951,668
Particulars Dec 31, 2012 Profit (Loss) (KD) 3,725,858 Earnings per share (fils) 9.5 Total current assets 64,768,534 Total assets 112,908,218 Total current liabilities 23,216,338 Total liabilities 37,435,450 Total shareholders’ equity 73,913,503
The Board of Directors of the company recommended cash dividends of 30% of the nominal value of the shares i.e. 22.305 fils per share for the year ending Dec 31, 2012 to shareholders registered in the company’s records. Note that these recommendations are subject to approval by the shareholders and the competent authorities.
Dec 31, 2011 67,462 0.2 70,635,461 122,059,531 34,911,569 50,596,434 70,130,857
The total income from transactions with related parties is worth KD 241,571.
Euro declines in volatile trade; pound follows suit Yen weakens against greenback Rates – 10 February 2013
By National Bank of Kuwait United States
Currencies EUR GBP JPY CHF
Currency Wars arise again The European Central Bank became the center in the financial scene last week, as FX markets anticipate a justification from ECB President Mario Draghi over the currency’s 14-month high levels. With the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan are on loose monetary policies, weakening their currencies to boost growth, Mr. Draghi stated that the Euro’s value is broadly reflected on the economic fundamental after talks of “currency wars” resurfaced. Moreover, Bank of England Governorelect Mark Carney, had testified to UK lawmakers on the country’s economy, adding that “central banks should be flexible in meeting inflation targets and that any change to monetary regimes should not be made lightly”. The Euro started the week on a negative note at 1.3640, as the currency lost steam ahead of the ECB meeting on Thursday. The single currency dropped to 1.3459 levels, on renewed concern about Europe’s debt crisis. The Euro climbed to 1.3597 after a report showed that European services and factory output contracted less than initially estimated in January. The Euro collapsed following the ECB press conference, after President Mario Draghi suggested that its recent appreciation could damp inflation. The single currency dropped to a low 1.3370, and closed the week at 1.3365. The Sterling Pound endured a volatile week, as the market turns its focus to the EUR and the JPY. Cable opened the week at 1.5693, only to rise to 1.5805 as political turmoil pressured Spanish and Italian government bonds and boosted the relative appeal of the British currency. The Sterling Pound dropped significantly against the US Dollar, ahead of the Bank of England meeting. The Sterling Pound then surged to 1.5845 after the BoE refrained from boosting its asset purchase target. The Pound closed the week at 1.5801. The Japanese Yen opened the week at 92.77, weakening against the US Dollar throughout the week, to touch a high of 94.06 on Wednesday. The Japanese Yen then gained the most since March 2011 against the USD on Friday, after Finance Minister Aso spoke at the lower house of the parliament to answer opposition questions, stating that the USDJPY weakened more than intended. The JPY dropped to a low 92.17, and closed the week at 92.68. The Swiss Franc weakened against the greenback since the beginning of the week. The CHF opened the week at 0.9080, weakening to a high of 0.9202 on Thursday, in tandem with the Euro, after investors switched to risk aversion mode following the ECB Press conference. The Swiss Franc closed the week at 0.9174. ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI Cooled Manufacturing industry in the United
Previous Week Levels Open Low High 1.3640 1.3353 1.3660 1.5693 1.5630 1.5845 92.77 92.17 94.06 0.9080 0.9057 0.9202
States slightly slowed in January, but came better than forecasted, hiking demand for labor, and assisting to moderate the economy ahead of the upcoming budget talks. More jobs, is most likely to equate to a rise in consumer spending, which counts for 70% of the US economy. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index slipped to 55.2 from a 10-month high in December. As the number above 50 signals expansion, the index surpassed the expected 55.0. A continuous hike in the manufacturing industries will make-up for three straight months of contraction, and will create more jobs. Unemployment Claims Drop Fewer Americans filed for first-time claims for unemployment last week, indicating that demand is still resilient enough to maintain current employment levels. The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell by 5,000 to 366,000, although higher than the expected 360,000. As the US government suffered trouble adjusting the data for seasonal swings, claims have fluctuated in prior weeks. Unemployment claims are now at levels that show that the pace of dismissals only slightly changed, compared to the previous year. The pace of dismissals may indicate that companies are poised to boost hiring’s as demand holds up.
Europe The High Euro could Damp Inflation To no one’s surprise, the European Central Bank have kept the key benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.75%. The Euro dropped the most in 7-months, after ECB President Mario Draghi suggested that its recent appreciation could damp inflation, which raises the speculation that interest rate cuts are a possibility in the future. Draghi signaled that policy makers are concerned that the singlecurrency’s strength will block their efforts to pull the economy out of a recession. “The exchange rate is not a policy target, buy it is important for growth and price stability” said the ECB President, explaining that the central bank would “want to see if the appreciation is sustained, and if it alters the assessment of the risks to price stability”. Moreover, Mario Draghi noted that the ECB will publish new economic projections next month, and stressed that officials will “maintain our accommodative monetary stance”. Mr. Draghi reiterated that in the early part of 2013, economic weakness will overcome, and that “later in 2013, economic activity should gradually recover”. While the US and Japan expand their balance sheets, the ECBs’ is shrinking, as banks have start-
Close 1.3365 1.5801 92.68 0.9174
This Week’s Expected Range Minimum Maximum 1.3260 1.3640 1.5550 1.5880 91.20 94.40 0.9015 0.9300
3-Month Forward 1.3405 1.5855 92.15 0.9130
ed paying back the 3-year emergency loans early, while the Euro fueled to 14months high. This raised talks of a “currency war” between central banks to boost growth through devaluation of their currency. Although, ECB President Draghi dismissed such talks, and stated that the value of the Euro reflects largely the economic fundamentals. But in retrospect, Mr. Draghi affirmed that “if monetary policies created consequences on the exchange rate that do not reflect the G20 consensus, we will have to discuss this”. Spanish Unemployment Increases The number of Spaniards applying for jobless benefits increased dramatically to 132,000 in January, significantly higher than the drop of 59,000 in December. The unemployed reached 4.98 million, with the country’s unemployment rate reached a record of 26%. The increase in the unemployment rate left Spain with a third of the Euro-area’s jobless.
United Kingdom BOE Rate Unchanged The Bank of England left its monetary policy unchanged on Thursday, as policy makers kept focus on a credit- boosting program to aid the recovery. Bank of England policymakers left the key benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.5%. The Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Mervyn King, said the target for its bond purchases will remain at 375 billion pounds. Officials are monitoring the impact of their Funding for Lending Scheme, which started in August. There are signs the program is helping the mortgage market, and Governor King said that lending conditions should improve further as it “kicks in”. Manufacturing Production Grew UK’s manufacturing production grew more than expected in December, ending its worst quarter since 2009, signaling hope for a struggling government to avoid slipping back into recession. The manufacturing output grew by 1.6%, against a forecasted gain of 0.7%, following a -0.3% drop in November.
Commodities Oil West Texas oil was little changed as an Energy Information Administration report showed supplies dropped at the biggest US storage hub and delivery point for the New York-traded crude. Crude slipped 2 cents after stockpiles declined 315,000 barrels last week to 51.4 million, a one-month low.
Kuwait Kuwaiti Dinar at 0.28190 The USDKWD opened at 0.28190 on Sunday morning.
exchange rates – Feb 10 US dollar BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK Oman KBE
Buy Sell Sell Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Sell
Cash .278100 .283000 .281250 .283500 .274000 .284000 .278850 .285450 .276350 .284950 .276200 .274800 .278850 .284950 — — —
Buy Sell Sell Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Sell
Cash .467000 .517000 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Buy Sell Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Sell
Cash .542000 .555000 — — — — — —
Draft .280400 .282600 .282450 .282200 .281350 .283450 .281350 .283450 .281350 .283450 .281200 .283300 .281350 .283450 .287900 .287900 .282500
Sterling pound
Transfer .280400 .282600 .282450 .282200 .281350 .283450 .281350 .283450 .281350 .283450 .281200 .283300 .281350 .283450 — — .282500
Cash .440500 .450500 — .445000 .442000 .455000 .438458 .454921 .442050 .451840 .434500 .443530 .439050 .451790 — .467000 —
Danish kroner BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK Oman KBE
Draft — — — — .050441 .050818 .050365 .050945 .050360 .050890 .046462 .046997 .049540 .051930 — — —
Cash .004930 .005370 – .005450 .004000 .006750 — — — — — — — — — — —
Cyprus Pound BEC Muzaini Gulf Bank ABK KBE
travellers cheques BEC Commercial Bank Gulf Bank Al-Ahli Bank
Transfer .439500 .448500 .444150 .443065 .444491 .447808 .442389 .451734 .443550 .448840 .436000 .440530 .443610 .448690 — .475000 .451700
Indian rupee
Transfer — — — — .050441 .050818 .050365 .050945 .050360 .050890 .046462 .046997 .049540 .051930 — — —
Draft — — — — — — — —
Draft .439500 .448500 .444150 .443065 .444491 .447808 .442389 .451734 .443550 .448840 .444600 .436000 .443610 .448690 .444400 .475000 .451700
Transfer — — — — — — — —
Draft .005204 .005268 .005302 .005310 — .005320 — .005401 — — .005094 .005093 .005214 .005304 — — .005281
Transfer .005204 .005268 .005302 .005310 — .005320 — .005401 — — .005094 .005093 .005214 .005304 — — .005281
Euro Cash .373100 .382100 — .385000 .374000 .384000 .370729 .385312 .373620 .382910 .339010 .347320 .371290 .382550 — — —
Draft .373100 .380600 .384270 .382705 .376010 .378817 .374053 .382612 .375120 .379910 .385330 .340510 .375150 .379920 .378620 .382570 .383200
Japanese yen Transfer .373100 .380600 .384270 .382705 .376010 .378817 .374053 .382612 .375120 .379910 .385330 .344320 .375150 .379920 .378620 .382570 .383200
Pakistani rupee Cash .002720 .003000 — .003100 — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Draft .002860 .002889 .002882 .002882 — .002907 — .002933 — — .003233 — — .002948 — .003175 .002885
Cash .297000 .315000 — .004550 — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Draft — — .003022 .004015 .003034 .003057 .003015 .003069 .030233 .030690 .003588 .003636 .030227 .030724 — .003200 —
Transfer — — .003022 .004015 .003034 .003057 .003015 .003069 .030233 .030690 .003588 .003636 .030227 .030724 — .003200 —
Sri Lanka rupee
Transfer .002860 .002889 .002882 .002882 — .002907 — .002933 — — .003233 — — ..002948 — 003175 .002885
Cash .002112 .002692 — .002950 .002000 .003500 — — — — — — — — — — —
Draft .001934 .002233 .002238 .002238 — .002251 — .002272 — — .002546 — — .002307 — .002510 .002245
Transfer .001934 .002233 .002238 .002238 — .002251 — .002272 — — .002546 — .002307 — .002510 .002245
Yemeni riyal
Thai baht
South African rand
Cash Draft Transfer .128000 — — .136000 — — — .001318 .001318 — — — — — — — — — — — — — .001550 .001550
Cash Draft Transfer .091100 .090800 .090800 .098100 .096800 .096800 — .094780 .094780 — — — — — — — – — — — – — — —
Cash Draft Transfer .025340 .025340 .025340 .033840 .033840 .033840 — — — — — — — .032138 .032138 — — — — — — — — —
US dollar .2825000 .2840000 .2854580 .2831500
Sterling .4485000 .4510000 .4549210 .4444000
Euro — .3870000 .3853120 .3836200
local gold BEC Muzaini Exchange
Swiss franc Cash .302300 .311800 — .313000 .305000 .315000 — — .301450 .312590 .279180 .289100 — — — — —
Draft .303300 .310300 .311750 .310390 .306665 .308954 .304532 .313133 .305450 .310090 .283180 .286600 .305420 .310470 — — —
Transfer .303300 .310300 .311750 .310390 .306665 .308954 .304532 .313133 .305450 .310090 .297119 .299506 .305420 .310470 — — —
Bangladesh taka Cash .003320 .003970 — .003850 — — — — — — — — — — — .004250 —
Draft .003517 .003553 .354900 .003553 — .003644 — .003684 — — .004017 — — — — .004170 .003565
Transfer .003517 .003553 .354900 .003553 — .003644 — .003684 — — .004017 — — — — .004170 .003565
Korean won Cash — — — — — — — —
Draft — — — — — — — —
Gold 999 kg — 15,060.000
Transfer — — — — — — — —
Canadian dollar Cash .276800 .285300 — .286000 .279000 .288000 — — — — .277897 .282890 — — — — —
Draft .274800 .283800 .284580 .283835 .280648 .282743 .278908 .286387 .279640 .283710 .286988 .277020 .279790 .284130 — — .287600
Transfer .274800 .283800 .284580 .283835 .280648 .282743 .278908 .286387 .279640 .283710 .286988 .277020 .279790 .284130 — .267000 .287600
Philippine peso Cash .006940 .007220 — .007200 — —
Draft .006492 .006946 .006946 .006931 — .007023 — — .007161 — — — — — .006449 — — — — — .007288 .006000 .006467 — — — .006990
Transfer .006492 .006946 .006946 .006931 — .007023 — .007161 — — .006449 — — .007288 .006467 — .006990
Syrian pound Cash Draft Transfer .003200 .003200 .003200 .003400 .003400 .003400 — .003070 .003070 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Gold 999 10 tola 1,800.750 1,800.000
Gold ounce — 483.000
Swedish kroner Cash .401000 .451000 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Draft — — — — .043706 .044032 .043437 .044558 .043640 .044120 .041155 .041482 .042940 .044800 — — —
Transfer — — — — .043706 .044032 .043437 .044558 .043640 .044120 .041155 .041482 .042940 .044800 — — —
Saudi riyal Cash .074760 .075450 — .077000 .072000 .076000 .074201 .076262 .073960 .076650 .073684 .075774 .074040 .076140 — .076800 —
Australian dollar Cash .283600 .295100 — — .288000 .300000 — — — — — — — — — — —
Draft .281600 .293600 — — .290353 .292520 .289917 .293251 .298420 .293570 .284712 .286988 .289300 .293810 .237000 — —
Transfer .281600 .293600 — — .290353 .292520 .289917 .293251 .298420 .293570 .284712 .289490 .289300 .293810 .237000 — —
Draft — — — — — — — —
Gold gm 22k — 13.785
Transfer — — — — — — — —
Transfer .074810 .075450 .075350 .075215 .075047 .075607 .074933 .075728 .074960 .075650 .074280 .075640 .074810 .075610 .076800 — .075490
Hong Kong dollar Cash .034380 .037130 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Iranian tuman Cash .000161 .000161 — — — — — —
Draft .074810 .075450 .075350 .075215 .075047 .075607 .074933 .075728 .074960 .075650 .075640 .072340 .074810 .075610 .076800 — .075490
Draft .033880 .036980 .036427 — .036281 .036552 .036112 .036700 — — — — .036280 .036550 — — —
Transfer .033880 .036980 .036427 — .036281 .036552 .036112 .036700 — — — — .036280 .036550 — — —
UAE dirham Cash .076600 .077050 — .077200 .076379 .077147 .075774 .077885 .076380 .077150 .075223 .077374 — — — .078600 —
Draft .075500 .076950 .076941 .076810 .076631 .077203 .076521 .077339 .076550 .077220 .077237 .074510 .076330 .077230 .078390 — .077020
Transfer .075500 .076950 .076941 .076810 .076631 .077203 .076521 .077339 .076550 .077220 .075832 .077237 .076330 .077230 — .078390 .077020
Singapore dollar Cash .225290 .229790 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Draft .224290 .229790 .228430 — .227207 .228903 .226866 .229476 .226570 .229550 .216673 .218433 .226520 .229610 — — —
Transfer .224290 .229790 .228430 — .227207 .228903 .226866 .229476 .226570 .229550 .222630 .216673 .226520 .229610 — — —
Lebanese pound
Malaysian ringgit
Cash Draft Transfer .000179 .000183 .000183 .000191 .000190 .000190 — .189600 .189600 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Cash Draft Transfer .090020 .089020 .089020 .096020 .096020 .096020 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Gold gm 21k — 13.150
Gold gm 18k — 11.275
100 gm 999 – —
10 gm 999 – 157.000
Bahraini dinar Cash .743540 .751540 — .749000 .744139 .751617 .738088 .758570 .744140 .751620 — — — — — — —
Draft .743040 .751540 .750500 .747120 .746584 .752156 .745367 .753255 .745790 .752560 .740873 .750398 .744320 .752700 — — .751000
Transfer .743040 .751540 .750500 .747120 .746584 .752156 .745367 .753255 .745790 .752560 .740873 .750398 .744320 .752700 — — .751000
Jordanian dinar Cash .392970 .400470 — .400000 .390000 .405000 — — — — — — — — — .415000 —
Transfer .392940 .400440 .398940 .397805 — .400919 — .401487 — — .394853 .398939 .395430 .402020 .401670 .415000 —
Transfer .392940 .400440 .398940 .397805 — .400919 — .401487 — — .394853 .398939 .395430 .402020 .401670 .415000 —
Indonesian rupiah Cash .026000 .032000 — — — — — —
Draft .025000 .031000 — — .000030 — — .000029
Transfer .025000 .031000 — — .000030 — — .000029
Omani riyal Cash .728380 .734060 — — .729496 .736827 .722690 .742972 .728720 .736040 .735741 — — — .752000 — —
Draft .722880 .733880 .733920 — .731064 .736521 .729817 .737766 .729530 .736030 .734440 .722120 .728720 .738000 .748000 — —
Transfer .722880 .733880 .733920 — .731064 .736521 .729817 .737766 .729530 .736030 .734440 .719020 .728720 .738000 .759930 — —
Egyptian pound Cash .039250 .042350 .042450 .043000 .042000 .047000 — — — — — — — — — .056000 —
Draft .040009 .042029 .041991 .041993 — — — .042417 — — .047830 .049026 — .042650 — — .042020
Transfer .040009 .042029 .041991 .041993 — — — .042417 — — .047830 .049026 — . 042650 — — .042020
New Zealand dollar Cash .230200 .239700 — — — — — —
Draft .228200 .238200 — .234897 .237599 .234130 .238280 —
Transfer .228200 .238200 — .234897 .237599 .234130 .238280 —
All rates in KD per unit of foreign currency
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
BUSINESS
42
2013 outlook for MENA markets cautiously optimistic Most regional markets continued their positive start to the year, with some analysts confident that 2013 will see markets return to more stable ground than at any time in the past five years. However, analysts have cautioned that it would be unrealistic to expect pre-crisis highs. The ongoing recovery is being led by the Dubai Financial Market, where share trading volumes soared to 600 million shares a day — a 1,000 percent increase on weak periods last year. Meanwhile, the continuing boom of the tourism sector, added to the returning confidence in real estate, saw the market
Malek Kanawati, CEO of Mubasher
reach three-year highs. AElalfy, Global Head of Research at Mubasher Financial Services, pointed out: “In sharp contrast to the gloomy outlook elsewhere in global markets, Dubai has seen concrete evidence of a rise in investor confidence — as shown by gains in real estate, credit and equities. The recovery of property prices is particularly encouraging, considering the heavy losses this sector incurred in the correction.” The recovery has not only been limited to Dubai, as the EGX in Egypt has defied the ongoing political uncertainty. Elsewhere, the IMF expects Qatar real
GDP growth to approach the 4.9 percent mark. Further underlining the view that the region’s economy is in healthier shape, a rise in Year-on-Year institutional trading volumes was recorded by Mubasher, one of the region’s leading brokerage firms. In the UAE, 2012 volumes were 56 percent higher than 2011 figures. The firm’s highest percentage growth in the region was recorded in Egypt, up 334 percent. This upward trend is also reflected in Saudi Arabia, where volumes rose 47 percent, Bahrain up 156 percent and Kuwait up 14 percent. Volumes in Europe soared by 536 percent.
Oil price gains help lift most Mideast markets
Dubai index climbs 2.2 pct; Abu Dhabi, Bahrain slide DUBAI, Feb 10, (RTRS): Dubai’s Emaar Properties surged to a four-year high on Sunday as upbeat research reports from international banks bolstered demand from local and foreign investors, while oil price gains helped lift most Middle East markets. Emaar, the Dubai Financial Market’s largest listed company, climbed 5.7 percent to 5.01 dirhams, its highest finish since November 2008. Since that peak, Dubai property prices have slumped, ravaging the sector and leading to a slew of cancelled or postponed projects. Emaar has sought to offset this slump by diversifying into retail and hospitality and its shares are up 34 percent in 2013. In a Feb 4 report, Bank of America Merrill Lynch gave Emaar a buy rating and a target price of 5.3 dirhams, while
HSBC’s Feb 7 report set the developer a target price of 6 dirhams and an overweight rating. “We continue to be surprised by the strength in the Dubai property market, on the residential, hotel, and retail side,” HSBC wrote. “Supply additions are still a concern but not as much as in the past.” Traders say these reports have buoyed sentiment for Emaar, with property prices also bottoming out and even increasing in some districts after declines of about 60 percent from their 2008 peaks. Investors also seem to have shrugged off Emaar’s 28 percent drop in fourthquarter profit. “The market saw a lot of institutional interest in Emaar today, which is mainly due to its potential upside in revenue in 2013 and expectations for high dividend
yields,” said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president at Gulfmena Investments. “We’ve been seeing a lot of (analyst) upgrades from major houses and that’s helping raise interest from institutional investors abroad, bringing in new cash to our market.” Dubai’s index climbed 2.2 percent to its highest finish since Nov 30, 2009 and up 17.1 percent this year. The benchmark now has a relative strength index reading of 75.2 — a value above 70 typically indicates it is overbought — and it followed a similar pattern last year when an early-year surge petered out from early March. Yet 2013’s rally appears more convincing, said Sebastien Henin, portfolio manager at The National Investor in Abu Dhabi. “It’s very different from last year,
which was extremely speculative with movement in penny stocks and high-beta names — this time it’s mainly driven by bluechip stocks,” he said. Oil price gains — Brent crude hit a nine-month high on Friday — have underpinned foreign interest in regional equities and stocks from the United Arab Emirates in particular. “This will be the main theme in the coming days,” said Henin. “We’re starting to see sector rotation towards banks — results were pretty good and their dividend yields are extremely attractive in the current world of low interest rates.” In Kuwait, late buying helped the main price index rise 0.07 percent, nearing Tuesday’s nine-month peak. “Speculation is the driving force behind the appreciation in stock prices,” said Naser al-Nafisi, general manager for
Al Joman Center for Economic Consultancy in Kuwait. The market slumped to an eight-year low in November as Kuwaitis took to the streets to demonstrate against changes to electoral rules that opponents said would benefit the government and sideline critics. Since then, the political temperature has cooled and shares have rallied, helped by equity buying by state-linked institutions.
Dubai ■ The index climbed 2.2 percent to 1,900 points.
Abu Dhabi ■ The index fell 0.5 percent to 2,894 points.
Kuwait ■ The index edged up 0.07 percent to 6,293 points.
Saudi Arabia ■ The index rose 0.2 percent to 7,012 points.
Egypt ■ The index climbed 0.2 percent to 5,713 points.
Qatar ■ The index rose 0.1 percent to 8,770 points.
Oman ■ The index advanced 0.2 percent to 5,862 points.
Bahrain ■ The index slipped 0.2 percent to 1,086 points.
See Also Page 43
investment funds Funds Fund Manager Valution Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
National Bank of Kuwait
Private Equity Funds
Money Market Funds
Watani KD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Feb 5, 2013 KD 1.377 1.377 Jan 29, 2013 Watani KD Money Market Fund (Islamic) NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Feb 5, 2013 KD 1.161 1.161 Jan 29, 2013 Watani Foreign Currency Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Feb 5, 2013 USD 1.284 1.284 Jan 29, 2013 Watani Foreign Currency Money Market Fund (Euro) NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Feb 5, 2013 Euro 1.236 1.237 Jan 29, 2013 Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Feb 5, 2013 USD 1.091 1.090 Jan 29, 2013 to Islamic Shariah principles) Equity Funds NBK Gulf Equity Fund NBK Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 1.049 1.038 Jan 23, 2013 NBK Kuwait Equity Fund NBK Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.656 0.653 Jan 23, 2013 NBK Qatar Equity Fund NBK Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 1.357 1.342 Jan 23, 2013 Islamic Ijara Fund IX Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 USD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic Ijara Fund X Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 USD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic Ijara Fund XI Wafra Capital Partners LP Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 USD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Thahabi Ijara Fund V Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 USD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Thahabi Ijara Fund VI Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 USD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Thahabi Ijara Fund VII Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Nov 30, 2012 USD 10.000 10.000 Oct 31, 2012 Islamic KD Ijara Fund I Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 KD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic KD Ijara Fund II Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic KD Ijara Fund III Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic KD Ijara Fund IV Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 KD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic KD Ijara Fund V Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly Dec 31 2012 KD 10.000 10.000 Nov 30, 2012 Alternative Funds Watani US Real Estate Income & Growth Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Monthly Sept 30, 2012 USD 1,000.000 1,000.000 June 30, 2012 Watani European Real Estate Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Quarterly Sept 30, 2012 Euro 1,000.000 1,000.000 June 30, 2012 Central European Real Estate Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Quarterly Sept 30, 2012 Euro 10,000.000 10,000.000 June 30, 2012 Islamic European Real Estate Fund – A Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Quarterly Sept 30, 2012 USD 1,000.000 1,000.000 June 30, 2012 Islamic European Real Estate Fund – B Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Quarterly Sept 30, 2012 USD 1,000.000 1,000.000 June 30, 2012 Islamic Asian Real Estate Fund Wafra Investment Advisory Group Inc Quarterly Sept 30, 2012 USD 1,000.000 1,000.000 June 30, 2012 Islamic China India Real Estate Fund Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Quarterly Sept 30, 2012 USD 1,000.000 1,000.000 June 30, 2012 R.Estate Security Funds Islamic Global RE Securities Fund Class A Wafra Capital Partners L.P. Monthly Dec 31, 2012 USD 1,062.376 1,048.180 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic Global RE Securities Fund Class B Wafra Capital Partners L.P. Monthly Dec 31, 2012 USD 1.017.974 1.013.814 Nov 30, 2012 Islamic Turkey Real Estate Fund Wafra Capital Partners L.P. March 19, 2008 USD 1,000.000 Multi Asset Funds Thahabi Multi Asset Fund – Con Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly Dec 31, 2012 USD 93.044 92.730 Nov 30, 2012 Thahabi Multi Asset Fund – Mo Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly Dec 31, 2012 USD 82.671 82.140 Nov 30, 2012 NBK Frontier Multi Asset Fund – Con Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly Nov 30, 2012 USD 92.730 92.410 Oct 31, 2012 NBK Frontier Multi Asset Fund – Mo Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly Nov 30, 2012 USD 82.140 81.586 Oct 31, 2012 NBK Frontier Multi Asset Fund – Plus Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly Nov 30, 2012 USD 66.330 65.623 Oct 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Gulf Bank Al Basha’er GCC Equity Fund Kwt. Fin. & Inv. Co. & Gulf Fin. House Monthly Jan 31, 2013 USD 7.270 6.9878 Dec 31, 2012 Coast Fund Coast Investment Co. Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.644 0.643 Dec 31, 2012 Sanaya Dow Jones Kuwait Index Fund Industrial & Financial Investment Co. Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.629 0.614 Dec 31, 2012 Markaz Capital Preservation Programs 1 Monthly Nov 30, 2012 KD 0.959 0.959 Oct 31, 2012 Markaz Capital Preservation Programs 2 Monthly Nov 30, 2012 KD 0.960 0.995 Oct 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Commercial Bank Tijari Islamic Fund Commercial Bank of Kuwait Tw. Monthly Feb 7, 2013 KD 0.325 0.325 Jan 23, 2013 Tijari Indian Fund Commercial Bank of Kuwait Weekly Feb 5, 2013 KD 0.841 0.841 Jan 31, 2013 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Al Ahli Kuwaiti Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly Dec 26, 2012 KD 0.928 0.937 Nov 28, 2012 Al Ahli Gulf Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.794 0.788 Nov 26, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Boubyan Bank Boubyan KD Money Market Fund Boubyan Bank Weekly Feb 5, 2013 KD 1.021 1.021 Jan 29, 2013 Boubyan Sukuk Fund Boubyan Bank Daily Dec 25, 2013 USD 770.110 1,001.180 May 11, 2011 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Burgan Bank Burgan Financial Fund Burgan Bank Daily Jan 2, 2013 KD 1.009 1.009 Dec 31, 2012 Burgan Equity Fund Burgan Bank Monthly Jan 27, 2012 KD 1.845 1.828 Dec 23, 2012 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Local Fund
Al Raed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Feb 7, 2013 KD 0.991 0.998 Jan 31, 2013 Kuwait Investment Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.651 0.624 Dec 31, 2012 Al Hilal Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Feb 4, 2013 KD 0.583 0.583 Jan 31, 2013 KIC Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.930 0.929 Dec 31, 2012 Al Atheer Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.072 1.044 Dec 31, 2012 International Global Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Jan 30, 2013 USD 22.400 22.870 Jan 16, 2013 Diversified Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Jan 30, 2013 USD 17.440 17.310 Jan 16, 2013 European Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Dec 31, 2012 Euro 15.500 15.320 Nov 30, 2012 Pacific Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Jan 30, 2013 USD 32.550 32.280 Jan 16, 2013 Al-Awaed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2012 KD 0.917 0.914 Dec 31, 2012 North American Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Tw. Monthly Dec 31, 2012 USD 13.210 13.090 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
lnternational Financial Advisors Local Fund
IFA Islamic Fund International Financial Advisors Monthly Oct 21 2012 KD 0.200 0.195 Sept 30, 2012 IFA Investment Fund International Financial Advisors Monthly Oct 22, 2012 KD 0.284 0.275 Sept 18, 2012 International IFA International Guaranteed Fund International Financial Advisors Monthly Dec 31, 2010 KD 9.040 0.703 Nov 30, 2010 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
National Investment Co. (NIC) Equity Funds
Al- Wataniya Fund NIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.617 0.599 Dec 31, 2012 Al-Safwa Fund NIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.461 0.457 Dec 31, 2012 Al-Darji Fund NIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.461 0.453 Dec 31, 2012 Mawarid Fund NIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.555 0.537 Dec 31, 2012 Zajil Fund NIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.745 0.733 Dec 31, 2012 Al Mada Investment Fund NIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 USD 0.650 0.615 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Mal Investment Al Huda Islamic Fund Al Mal Investment Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.399 0.395 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Coast Investment Co. Coast Investment Fund Coast Investment Co Daily Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.664 0.643 Dec 31, 2012 Coast Pearl Fund Coast Investment Co Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.790 0.789 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) Mumtaz Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 4.250 4.250 Jan 24, 2013 MIDAF Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 3.116 3.114 Jan 24, 2013 Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.657 1.660 Jan 24, 2013 Markaz Arabian Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 2.860 2.840 Jan 24, 2013 FORSA Financial Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 3.996 0.963 Dec 31, 2012 Energy Fund Kuwait Financial Center Quarterly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.772 0.759 Nov 30, 2012 Real Estate Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 1.375 1.376 Nov 30, 2012 Markaz Fixed Income Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 10.740 10.750 Jan 24, 2013 Markaz Idikhar Fund Kuwait Financial Center Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.446 0.444 Nov 30, 2012 Markaz Islamic Income Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Oct 31, 2012 KD 0.219 0.218 Sept 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait & Middle East Financial & Inv. Co. Al Rou’yah Fund KMEFIC Monthly Jan 21, 2013 KD 1.423 1.367 Dec 31, 2012 Gulf Gate Fund KMEFIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.857 0.824 Dec 31, 2012 Al Awsat Money Market Fund (USD) KMEFIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.688 0.688 Dec 31, 2012 Al Awsat Money Market Fund (USD) KMEFIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 USD 4.787 4.784 Dec 31, 2012 Amwal Islamic Money Market Fund KMEFIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.549 0.549 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Global Investment House
Money Market Funds Islamic Real E. Funds
Kuwait Finance & Investment Co (KFIC) Al Wasm Fund KFIC Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.396 0.384 Nov 30, 2012 Al Basha’er GCC Equity Fund KFIC & Gulf Finance House Quarterly Jan 31, 2013 USD 7.270 6.988 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
KAMCO KAMCO Investment Fund KAMCO Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.977 0.940 Dec 31, 2012 Kuwait Private Equity Opportunities Fund KAMCO Quarterly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.678 0.678 Dec 31, 2012 Kuwait Education Fund KAMCO Quarterly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.428 1.428 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Madar Finance Shuwaikh Real Estate Fund Al Madar Bi-weekly Dec 31, 2012 KD 1.438 1.486 Sept 30, 2012 US Index Fund Al Madar Monthly Jan 25, 2013 KD 1.825 1.653 Nov 23, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Madina Finance & Investment Co. India Fund Al Madina Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.873 0.845 Dec 31, 2012 Al Madina Fund Al Madina Quarterly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.473 0.473 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Wafra International Investment Co. Wafra Equity Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.855 0.819 Dec 31, 2012 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.001 0.998 Dec 31, 2012 Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.619 0.589 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Shuaa Capital Co. Saudi Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Jan 28, 2013 USD 8.470 8.470 Dec 20, 2012 The Arab Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Monthly Feb 05, 2013 USD 24.180 24.160 Jan 29, 2013 Emirates Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Monthly Feb 05, 2013 AED 7.340 7.270 Jan 29, 2013 Qatar Gate Fund (Q) Shuaa Capital Monthly Jan 31, 2013 QAR 94.840 89.110 Dec 31, 2012 Qatar Gate Fund (N) Shuaa Capital Monthly Jan 31, 2013 QAR 93.200 87.830 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Investment Dar Co. Al Dar Real Estate Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.134 1.133 Dec 31, 2012 Al Dar Funds of Fund Al Dar Asset Management Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.470 0.470 Dec 31, 2012 Al Dar Money Market Fund Al Dar Asset Management Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.872 0.868 Jan 21, 2013 Al Dar Securities Fund Al Dar Asset Management Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.550 0.524 Dec 31, 2012 Al Nokhba Fund Al Dar Asset Management Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.406 0.408 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Global Umbrella Fund - US Global Umbrella Fund - Asia/Japan Global Distressed Fund Zenith Fund Mayur Hedge Fund Global KD Bond Fund GCC Large Cap Index Fund Al-Mamoun Fund A Al-Mamoun Fund B GCC Large Cap Fund Al-Noor Fund Global Saudi Equity Fund Global KD Money Market Fund Global USD Money Market Fund Global US Real Estate Fund GCC Real Estate Fund Global Asia Real Estate Fund Global Real Estate Ijarah Fund
Al Aman Islamic Fund Al Aman Investment Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.471 0.452 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Housing Finance Co (ISKAN) Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly Feb 7, 2013 KD 0.911 0.906 Jan 31, 2013 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Gulf Investment Corp. Gulf Bond Fund Gulf Investment Corp Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 13.910 13.950 Jan 25, 2013 Gulf Premier Fund Gulf Investment Corp Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 21.630 21.460 Jan 27, 2013 Gulf Islamic Fund Gulf Investment Corp Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 6.700 6.650 Jan 24, 2013 GIC KD Bond Fund Gulf Investment Corp Monthly Jan 31, 2013 USD 0.980 0.980 Jan 24, 2013 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Ahli United Bank (formerly BKME)
Kuwait Investment Co.
Fixed Income Funds Index Funds Equity Funds
Global Opportunistic Fund Global Quarterly Sept 30, 2009 USD 106.060 107.180 Global Opportunistic Fund II Global Quarterly Sept 22, 2009 USD 110.920 110.390 June 30, 2009 Private Equity Fund Global Quarterly Sept 30, 2009 KD 0.829 0.859 June 30, 2009 Global Buyout Fund Global Monthly Sept 30, 2009 USD 564.740 603.390 June 30, 2009 Country Fund Palestine Dedicated Fund Global Monthly Dec 31, 2012 USD 86.740 91.810 Sept 30, 2011 Global Egypt Fund Global Monthly Jan 31, 2012 USD 38.740 38.110 Dec 31, 2011 Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly Jan 29, 2013 USD 108.550 107.870 Jan 22, 2013 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly Jan 29, 2013 USD 89.250 88.450 Jan 22, 2013 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.190 1.193 Jan 23, 2013 Global Islamic Fund of Funds Global Weekly Dec 31, 2012 USD 67.276 76.860 Aug 31, 2011 Global Islamic Fund Global Monthly June 28, 2012 KD 1.271 1.286 March 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Aman Investment
Al Ahli Bank
Hedge Funds
Funds Fund Manager Valution Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global Global
Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Weekly Monthly Weekly Weekly Weekly Bi-weekly Bi-weekly Bi-weekly Weekly Monthly Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly
Sept 30, 2012 Sept 30, 2012 Sept 30, 2012 Nov 30, 2012 Nov 30, 2012 Dec 31, 2012 Jan 31, 2013 Jan 31, 2013 Jan 31, 2013 Jan 29, 2013 Feb 05, 2013 Feb 05, 2013 Feb 5, 2013 Jan 29, 2013 June 30, 2012 June 30, 2009 June 30, 2009 Dec 31, 2008
USD USD USD USD USD KD KD KD KD USD SAR SAR KD USD USD USD USD USD
152.630 117.130 167.850 94.840 92.180 0.819 1.331 0.539 0.539 120.160 168.573 166.016 1.114 134.440 0.265 0.675 0.850 850.790
151.150 128.400 166.740 94.910 89.400 0.815 1.334 0.535 0.535 118.210 168.967 166.598 1.112 134.690 0.378 0.710 0.857
Aug 31, 2012 Aug 31, 2012 Aug 31, 2012 Oct 30, 2012 Oct 30, 2012 Nov 29, 2012 Jan 23, 2013 Jan 23, 2013 Jan 23, 2013 Jan 22, 2013 Feb 03, 2013 Feb 03, 2013 Jan 30, 2013 Jan 22, 2013 March 31, 2009 March 31, 2009 March 31, 2009
Al Awasat Money Market Fund Ahli United Bank Monthly April 30, 2012 KD 1.132 1.104 Sept 30, 2010 Al Amin Islamic Market Fund Ahli United Bank Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.142 1.142 Dec 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Bayan Investment Co Ea’mmar and Estethmar Fund Bayan Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.442 0.411 Dec 31, 2012 Al Themar Securities Fund Bayan Investment Co Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.452 0.445 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Tharwa Investment Co. Tharwa Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.212 1.193 Jan 10, 2013 Tharwa Islamic Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly Jan 31 2013 KD 0.683 0.682 Jan 10, 2013 Tharwa Arab Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 USD 1.422 1.251 Jan 10, 2013 Tharwa World Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly Jan 31, 2013 USD 1.080 1.042 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Bank Al-Bilad Al Seef Fund Bank Al-Bilad Daily Feb 3, 2013 KD 0.524 0.528 Jan 27, 2013 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Commercial International Bank Commercial Int’t Bank Fund I CI Asset Management Weekly Feb 06, 2013 EGP 194.4450 196.390 Feb 05, 2013 Commercial Int’t Bank Fund II (Istethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly Jan 17, 2013 EGP 61.760 63.260 Jan 10, 2013 CIB and Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt Fund CI Asset Management Weekly Jan 24, 2013 EGP 42.620 42.540 Jan 17, 2013 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Noor Financial Inv. Co. Noor Islamic Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 1.678 0.676 Dec 31, 2012 Noor Real Estate Income Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly July 31, 2013 KD 1.124 1.126 June 30, 2012 Noor Kuwait Islamic Equity Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly June 30, 2013 KD 0.633 0.636 May 31, 2011 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait Real Estate Investment Consortium Kuwait Real Estate Fund Kuwait Real Estate Investment Consortium Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 1.685 1.685 Oct 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Manafae Investment Co. Manafae First Fund Manafae Investment Co Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.665 0.665 Dec 26, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Zumorroda Investment Co. Zumorroda GCC Fund Al Zumorroda Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.558 0.528 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Safat Investment Co. Al Safat Local Shares Equity Fund Al Safat Investment Co. Monthly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.201 0.204 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al-Imtiaz Investment Co. Al-Imtiaz Investment Fund Al-Imtiaz Investment Company Quarterly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.847 0.847 Nov 30, 2012 Al-Imtiaz Real Estate Fund Al-Imtiaz Investment Company Quarterly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.889 0.937 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
BankMuscat BankMuscat MSCI Kuwait Fund BankMuscat Daily Feb 6, 2013 USD 0.429 0.431 Feb 5, 2013 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al-Muthana Investment Co. Muthanna Islamic Index Fund (MUDX) Al-Muthana Investment Company Daily Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.384 0.376 Dec 31, 2012 Muthanna GCC Islamic Banks Fund Al-Muthana Investment Company Weekly Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.636 0.615 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
CapCorp Investment Co. CapCorp Local Fund CapCorp Investment Company Weekly Feb 7, 2013 KD 0.924 0.936 Jan 31, 2013 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Amar Finance & Leasing Co. Amar Real Estate Fund Amar Finance & Leasing Company Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.901 0.901 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al-Dhow Investment Co.
Waed Real Estate Fund Al-Dhow Real Estate Company Jan 31, 2013 KD 0.906 0.922 Dec 31, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al-Fouz Investment Co.
Al-Fouz Real Estate Fund Al-Fouz Investment Company Annual Sept 30, 2012 KD 0.997 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Securities House Co.
Diyar Real Estate Investment Fund Securities House Company Monthly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.991 1.002 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A’ayan Leasing & Investment Company
Awa’ed Real Estate Fund A’ayan Leasing & Investment Co. Quarterly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.680 0.677 Nov 30, 2012 Makaseb Estate Fund A’ayan Leasing & Investment Co. Quarterly Dec 31, 2012 KD 0.724 0.724 Nov 30, 2012 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Industrial & Financial Investment Company Direct investment Fund
Industrial and Financial Investment Co. (IFIC)
Dec 31, 2012
KD
1.179
1.402
March 31, 2012
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
BUSINESS
43
Name: Kuwait Sharia Compatible Indices
Providers: Al Madar Finance & Investment Co.
Description: Index of Sharia compatible companies traded on the KSE
Website: www.almadar-fi.com
Index name Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Composite Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price S&P 500 DJ Islamic Index.
Bloomberg ticker AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC KWSEIDX SPX DJIM
Today’s value as of February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 9, 2013 February 9, 2013
Today’s closing value 203.02 198.48 85.12 337.64 92.13 23.43 55.08 142.41 281.64 278.63 153.99 245.86 6,292.97 1,517.93 2,396.28
Prev closing value 203.85 199.32 84.79 341.73 90.73 23.03 54.80 143.62 282.06 278.73 155.29 245.44 6,288.72 1,517.93 2,397.18
% change -0.41% -0.42% 0.39% -1.20% 1.54% 1.74% 0.51% -0.84% -0.15% -0.03% -0.84% 0.17% 0.07% 0.00% -0.04%
1-week change -0.91% -0.92% -0.33% -0.92% -0.39% 1.74% -0.39% -1.97% -0.95% 0.02% -0.84% -0.29% 0.29% 0.31% -2.61%
3-month change 5.56% 4.96% 17.42% 4.22% 20.06% 19.41% 1.22% 5.95% 6.15% 12.85% 5.31% 3.35% 8.74% 10.01% 8.34%
YTD change 2.48% 2.40% 11.05% 1.46% 4.21% 9.36% 2.84% 1.12% 2.86% 5.13% 2.49% 5.47% 6.04% 8.24% 5.29%
12-month change 9.01% 7.24% 27.40% 6.25% 46.42% -27.97% 29.04% -2.59% 7.50% 22.68% 9.22% 39.24% 7.32% 13.06% 7.03%
24-month change -9.67% -11.26% 12.49% -9.30% 83.18% -4.09% 24.14% -18.62% -16.70% 12.19% -6.35% 15.94% -6.62% 14.92% 4.43%
dinar
report released The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)’s Economic and Petroleum Affairs Department released Sunday a new report on the latest economic developments in the oil-exporting Gulf nation. In a press statement, Awatef AlHasawi, director of the KUNA’s Economic and Petroleum Affairs Department, pointed out that the report includes reliable information and statistics on the performance of the different sectors of the national economy, together with interviews with relevant experts and specialists.(KUNA)
Exchange rate of the US dollar against the Kuwaiti dinar remained stable at KD 0.281, while the euro went down to KD 0.376 compared to Thursday’s figures, said the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) on Sunday. The exchange rate of the sterling is up to KD 0.445. (KUNA)
NBK gains 10 fils; Gulf Cables tumbles
Kuwait bourse ticks up as volume slumps By John Mathews Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: Kuwait stocks edged higher Sunday after posting gains in the previous week. The rose 4.25 pts in to close at 6,292.97 pts as the market meandered between small losses and gains. Some of the mid-caps saw strong buying interest whereas the blue chips closed mixed. The KSX 15 gauge eased 1.1 pts to 1038.58 points and the weighted index erased 0.55 pts to settle at 428.51 points. The volume turnover meanwhile slumped from the one-year high reached in the earlier session. 360.08 million shares changed hands — a sharp 58.35 percent decline from Thursday. The sectors closed mixed during the session. Technology outshone the rest with 2.52 percent gain whereas oil and gas dropped 1.37 percent, the biggest loser of the day. In terms of volume, real estate garnered the highest volume share of 50.63 percent, while industrials and basic materials followed with 23.92 percent and 19.24 percent respectively. Kuwait National Cinema Co jumped 50 fils extending an identical gain in the previous session and Automated Systems Co climbed 25 fils to KD 0.500. NAPESCO rose 15 fils to KD 0.410 and
dropped 6 fils to KD 0.222. In the banking sector, National Bank of Kuwait rose 10 fils to KD 0.990 while Gulf Bank was flat at KD 0.415 off early lows. Ahli United Bank shed 10 fils to KD 0.820. The bank has recorded a net profit of KD 38.53 million and earnings per share 36.2 fils in the year ending 31/12/2012. The Board of Directors has recommended a dividend payout of cash 18 percent and 10 percent bonus shares.
Boubyan Petrochemical Co was up 10 fils at KD 0.580. Aref Energy Holding Co added 5 fils. Zain held the ground unchanged at KD 0.800 and Wataniya Telecom too was unchanged at KD 2.380 off earlier highs. Agility fell 10 fils to KD 0.550 reversing the gains in the previous session. The stock has rallied 60 fils so far during the month and is up 40 fils from the start of the year.
Retreated
Downgraded
The market opened flat and edged slightly higher in early trade. The index retreated and slipped briefly into the red before clawing back to peak at 6,300.67 pts almost half way into the session. It pulled lower again as sentiment turned negative and hit the day’s lowest level of 6,269.41 pts. It clawed back in the final minutes and managed to close in the positive region. Top performer of the day, Tahssilat spiked 10 percent to 55 fils while Metal and Recycling Co rose 8.33 percent to stand next. Al Aqaria dived over 9 percent , the steepest decliner of the day and Investors Holding Group topped the volume 107.77 million shares. The market spread was almost even during the session. 46 stocks advanced whereas 47 closed lower. Of the 133 counters active on Sunday, 40 closed flat. 5267 deals worth KD 23.24 million were transacted — a 40.93 percent drop in value from the day before. “Speculation is the driving force
Burgan Bank clipped off 10 fils while Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait and Commercial Bank of Kuwait was not traded during the session . Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the global local and foreign-currency deposit ratings of CBK to ‘A3/Prime-2’ from ‘A2/Prime-1’. Kuwait Finance House fell 10 fils after trading 1.23 million shares and Boubyan Bank followed suit. Kuwait International Bank paused at KD 0.300. The bank has recorded a net profit of KD 13.16 million and earnings per share of 14.1 fils in 2012. The Board of Directors has recommended a cash dividend payout of 7 percent. International Financial Advisors was flat at 51 fils with volume of 1.87 million shares and National Investment Co slipped 2 fils to KD 0.150. KIPCO stagnated at KD 0.405 and Securities House Co eased 5 fils . The counter saw a volume of 16.96 million. National Real Estate Co eased 2 fils to
Photo by Anwar Daifallah
Seen in the photo, investors at KSE trading floor on Sunday. The bourse closed 4.25 pts higher.
behind the appreciation in stock prices,” Reuters quoted Naser al-Nafisi, general manager for Al Joman Center for Economic Consultancy in Kuwait. “There’s a focus on small cap stocks.” “There’s a good opportunity for speculation as there is tension and relaxation in the political situation from time to time, which creates market volatility,” he added. Kuwait Gulf Links rose 2 fils to KD 0.102 and Kuwait Cable Vision Co was up 2 fils on back of 2.74 million shares to close at KD 0.102. Gulf Glass
Manufacturing Co soared 40 fils to KD 0.930. The company has posted a net profit of KD 2.60 million and earnings per share of 64.69 fils in 2012 and the Board of Directors recommended has cash dividend 45 percent or 45 fils per share plus 5 pct bonus shares. On the downside, Gulf Cables tumbled 100 fils to KD 1.060 and Kuwait Portland Cement dropped 20 fils after stagnating in the previous session. Gulf Petroleum Investment Co fell 10 fils and National Industries Group was down 4 fils at KD 0.216. ACICO Industries Co
KD 0.122 while Mabanee Co climbed 20 fils to KD 1.200. Mazaya Holding Co pared early session losses to close flat at 84 fils. Bayan Investment Co inched 0.5 fils lower. The company has won the approval of the Capital Market Authority on its request to sell own shares amounting to 34,499,385 over a period of 6 months. The bourse has been upbeat during last week. It closed higher in 3 of the 5 sessions and has added 43.61 pts weekon-week. The index has climbed 47.86 pts from start of the month and is trading over 6 percent higher year-to-date. KSE, with 213 listed companies, is the second largest bourse in the region. In the bourse related news, Mashaer Holding has announced a net profit of KD 4.31 million and earnings per share of 25 fils in the 2012 as against KD 5,20 profit and earnings per share of 29 fils in the year before. The Board of Directors recommended a dividend payout of: cash 15 percent (Fils 15). Independent Petroleum Group has posted a net profit of KD 5.83 million and earnings per share of 40.35 fils in 2012 as against KD 6.05 million and loss per share of 41.89 fils during last year. The Board has recommended a cash dividend payout of 30 percent or 30 fils. INOVEST has logged an annual net loss KD 2.53 million and loss per share of 8.91 fils in 2012 as compared to KD 6.54 loss and 22.96 fils LPS in 2011.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
SPORTS
44
Lydia Ko wins New Zealand Women’s Open
S. Africa’s Sterne cruises to Joburg Open title JOHANNESBURG, Feb 10, (Agencies): South African Richard Sterne cruised to a seven-stroke victory over former US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel Sunday in the Joburg Open. Sterne, runner-up behind Stephen Gallacher of Scotland in the Dubai Desert Classic last weekend, fired an eight-under final-round 64 for a total of 260 in overcast conditions at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. Pre-tournament favourite Schwartzel,
who won the Joburg Open in 2010 and 2011 before relinquishing the title to Branden Grace last year, finished with a 66 for a 267 total over the 6942-metre course.
GOLF Chilean Felipe Aguilar (67), South African George Coetzee (67) and Portuguese Ricardo Santos (64) shared third place on 268 in the 1.3 million euro
($1,758 million) event co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Sunshine Tour. South Africans Thomas Aiken (66), joint overnight leader Trevor Fisher junior (73) and Keith Horne (65) were a shot further back and Italian Lorenzo Gagli (67) and South African Garth Mulroy (67) ended with 270 totals. The final round at a course in an upscale north-eastern Johannesburg suburb was disappointing with the expected showdown between overnight leaders Sterne and
Fisher failing to materialise. Fisher fell away badly after an eagle on the opening hole and a bogey-free eightunder round brought a sixth European Tour title to Sterne, who has been hampered by back problems. ❑ ❑ ❑ Top-ranked amateur Lydia Ko captured her third win in a professional tournament on Sunday when she took out her home championships, the 54-hole New Zealand
Aussies whitewash Windies in final ODI MELBOURNE, Feb 10, (RTRS): Adam Voges scored his maiden one-day international century as a depleted Australia secured a 5-0 series
whitewash by beating West Indies by 17 runs in the final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. The 33-year-old middle order batsman blasted an unbeaten 112 off 106 balls to propel Australia to a commanding total of 274 for five, before the tourists’ promising chase stumbled in the final overs with late wickets. Johnson Charles, who replaced injured opener Chris Gayle, also scored a maiden ODI ton to give West Indies hope of hauling in the total, but the innings quickly petered out when allrounder James Faulkner had the hard-hitting Kieron Pollard caught for 45. That left the Caribbeans at 234-7, still needing 41 with less than four overs to spare, and seamer Clint McKay wrapped up the match on the second last ball when tailender Tino Best slogged straight to a man at deep midwicket. Australia completed the victory without injured captain Michael Clarke and several
CRICKET
Australian batsman Adam Voges steers a ball fine on the way to scoring his 50 against the West Indies in their one-day cricket international played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), on Feb 10. (AFP)
Mickelson takes spill on the rocks
Snedeker, Hahn share lead PEBBLE BEACH, California, Feb 10, (AP): Brandt Snedeker ran off four straight birdies along the prettiest part of Pebble Beach and wound up tied for the lead with rookie James Hahn in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Snedeker had his ninth consecutive round in the 60s. One more and he might really have reason to celebrate. He’s been runner-up in his last two tournaments to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. “You never know what tomorrow holds, but I feel like I’m in great position, and I’m going to be surely more prepared, no matter who is around me in the last group,” Snedeker said. “I’m probably going to have the most experience of anybody in those last couple groups of winning a golf tournament.” The 31-year-old Hahn had a 66 at Spyglass Hill, making birdie on the last three holes to join Snedeker at 12-under 202. Chris Kirk birdied his last hole at Monterey Peninsula for a 64 and was one shot behind the leaders. For all the celebrity antics that are part of the Saturday show at Pebble Beach, the video most likely to go viral belonged to Mickelson. The defending champion took a spill on the rocks below the 18th fairway. Mickelson was looking to see if his tee shot could be found — and played — when his right foot gave way and he landed hard on his back side, bracing the fall with his hands. “I got lucky,” Mickelson said. “I didn’t get hurt.” Mickelson hit his next shot into the
Pacific Ocean and had to scramble for a triple bogey, leaving him 11 shots behind and ending his hopes of a record-tying fifth win at Pebble Beach. Snedeker hasn’t had a better chance to win all year. He was seven shots behind Woods and six shots behind Mickelson going into the final round. Now he is tied with Hahn, who until now was best known for “Gangnam” celebration of his birdie on the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open. “He’s been playing great golf these last couple of weeks ... and it looks like this could be his week,” Mickelson said of Snedeker. “But final round at Pebble Beach, a lot of things happen and he has to play one more good round. I know he
GOLF has it in him, but he still has to go do it.” Snedeker, who missed a pair of birdie putts inside 10 feet early in the round, began his big run with a 3-wood up the hill and onto the green at the par-5 sixth for a two-putt birdie. He followed with a 10-foot birdie on the seventh, and then hit two of his best shots on two of the toughest holes at Pebble — a 7-iron over a corner of the ocean to about 5 feet below the hole on the eighth, and a baby cut with an 8-iron that plopped down 4 feet away for a birdie on the ninth. He didn’t make many putts the rest of the way, however, and had to settle for a 68.
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other first-choice players, who were rested to head over to India early to prepare for a four-Test tour. “They were cruising along pretty much without taking too many risks,” stand-in captain Shane Watson said pitch-side in a television interview. “I think we held them out really well.” Watson scored a century and half-century to set up victory in the previous two matches, but was bowled for a duck with the first ball of the innings by paceman Best. Best dismissed Watson’s fellow opener Aaron Finch for one in his second over, but finished with an expensive 2-71. Australia’s top order crumbled to 82-4, but man-of-the-match Voges and Brad Haddin, recalled to the side in the absence of regular wicketkeeper Matt Wade, combined for a 111-run stand to steady the ship. After Haddin’s dismissal for 43, Faulkner added an unbeaten 31, teaming up with Voges to plunder another 81 runs in less than nine overs to set up the win. After Kieran Powell was out for two in the second over, Charles and number three batsman Darren Bravo (33) added 106 runs before the latter was sharply caught at midoff by Faulkner off the bowling of spinner Xavier Doherty.
Scoreboard West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first. AUSTRALIA innings S. Watson b Best ..............................................0 A. Finch c Narine b Best ..................................1 P. Hughes c Pollard b DJ Bravo.....................29 S. Marsh c Thomas b DJ Bravo.....................40 A. Voges not out............................................112 B. Haddin c Powell b Roach ..........................43 J. Faulkner not out..........................................31 Extras (b-1 lb-9, w-7, nb-1).............................18 Total (five wickets, 50 overs) ........................274 Did not bat: M. Johnson, B. Cutting, C. McKay, X. Doherty Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-2 3-63 4-82 5-193 Bowling: Best 10-1-71-2 (w-5), D. Sammy 10-1-37-0, Roach 10-0-52-1 (1-nb), Narine 101-27-0, DJ Bravo 8-0-62-2 (1-w), Pollard 2-015-0 WEST INDIES innings J. Charles c Cutting b McKay.......................100 K. Powell c Finch b Johnson............................2 DM Bravo c Faulkner b Doherty ....................33 DJ Bravo b Johnson .......................................13 K. Pollard c Finch b Faulkner.........................45 N. Deonarine c Haddin b Cutting .....................4 D. Thomas run out..........................................19 D. Sammy c Haddin b McKay........................23 S. Narine b Johnson .........................................0 K. Roach not out...............................................2 T. Best c Coulter-Nile (sub) b McKay...............0 Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-9) .....................................16 Total (all out, 49.5 overs) ..............................257 Fall of wickets: 1-7 2-113 3-129 4-182 5-186 6-228 7-234 8-246 9-257 Bowling: McKay 9.5-0-52-3 (w-3), Johnson 10-1-50-3 (w-2), Cutting 10-0-53-1 (w-1), Faulkner 10-0-47-1 (w-1), Doherty 9-0-46-1 (w1), Finch 1-0-2-0.
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Canadian Open so I’ve got no idea why I cried here, I guess it meant more. “It’s our national open so to win it means a lot. I’m not the sort of person who shows expression or feelings that much but I guess I did here.” The 15-year-old Korean-born New Zealander approached the last hole in a tie for the lead at 10-under par with American Amelia Lewis. But Lewis, in the penultimate group, three-putted from 25 feet for bogey and Ko, playing in the last group, made par to complete a final round 68.
Keeping Fit How to build more muscles?
Make your workout count By Lisa Roach
Voges scores century
Women’s Golf Open, by one stroke. In an outstanding 13-month spell, the world’s No.1 amateur has now won the New South Wales Open to become the youngest player, male or female, to win a professional event, the Canadian Open to become the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA Tour, and now the sentimental satisfaction of a professional victory at home. “It was a pretty good day out there and I’m pretty excited to have my name on this trophy,” she said. “I didn’t cry at the
Special to the Arab Times e have had one month training in the “New Year” and now you need to know how to build more muscle and with this post exercise protein and essential amino acids. Many of us throughout our training periods, we all have different goals one area that crosses over to both population of everyday people and the professional training athletes is the need to add lean muscle growth. This is important for athlete wanting to build strength, speed and endurance, while many everyday clients are trying to lose weight and improve overall health. We are all looking to find the right combination of exercise, nutrition and supplements that help prevent muscle breakdown and promote muscle gain. A fascinating research paper presented at the September American College of Sports Medicine integrative Physiology of Exercise Conference reported on this very topic and had interesting conclusions. The study was done examined the effects of proteins and amino acids taken postex-exercise had on muscle breakdown and growth across different age groups. The overall conclusion was that combining resistance exercise with essential amino acids should be effective in improving muscle repair and growth in response to training in athletes but may also be a useful countermeasure to the clinical conditions associated with muscle wasting. Building Muscle at Any Age Let us examine what this means in practical terms and how the study arrived at this conclusion. The problem the study looked at was essentially actually two. The first part was how younger people and athletes who are in training could be more effective in increasing muscle protein synthesis to build muscle mass. The other side of this looked at how older adults could stop sarcopenia, or the chronic loss of muscle associated with aging. Essentially, could both distinctly different populations equally benefit from the same principles of combining exercise with essential amino acids? You are probably already aware of the younger athletic person and how they would fit into this category, however, you may be less familiar with the inactive individuals. This is a very real problem for society as a whole Baby Boomers are now hitting retirement age and older people are experiencing increased numbers of chronic illnesses and an overall loss of functionality. Many medical experts believe that the gradual loss of muscle mass is a significant contributor to the decline of overall health in any part of the world. In general terms, muscle protein synthesis can start within the first hour after resistance and aerobic exercise and can last up to 48 hours. The avenue for increased strength and muscle mass is to have a higher rate of muscle protein synthesis compared to the rate of protein breakdown. Interestingly, low intensity resistance workouts yield similar increases in muscle size and strength as traditional high intensity resistance exercises. The initial results citied that older population did not seem to experience the same level of muscle protein synthesis response as younger demographics after exercise by itself. It was not until proteins (about 20g) and essential amino acids containing leucine (about 6 g)
W
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were added within an hour of finishing resistance workouts that both younger and older groups seemed to have significant and comparable results. Leucine seems to be a key component, as this addition may significantly boost the entire process. This is important because both groups seemed to have a net positive gain by adding the protein and amino acids immediately after a workout. Take Advantage Of The OneHour Window Although research is ongoing the results seem to indicate that ingesting protein and amino acids high in leucine within an hour of your workout may fire up the muscle building process and give a net gain in muscle mass, regardless of your age. Incorporating this knowledge can give you immediate results now while also helping to avoid muscle loss down the road as you age. As we are seeing retaining vital muscle function can help to improve quality of life later on and may even help to avoid many of the chronic illnesses plaguing society today. Since we are on the subject of Amino Acids, I have had several questions about BCAA’s. This is the latest research found the number one amino acid on the list of aminos is actually a group of three that are the most important amino acids for the manufacturre, maintenance and repair of muscle tissue. Branched chain amino acids include leucine, isoleucine and valine. Of the three, leucine appears to be the MVP. Research on this single BCAA shows that it can stimulate protein synthesis (the process in muscle cells that builds up muscle protein and therefore creates muscle growth). Yet, the three work even better together to provide a host of benefits. First and foremost, they stimulate protein synthesis and, therefore, drive muscle growth. This is particularly critical after weight training workouts. BCAAs also help boost insulin release, which is what you want to do after workouts. This anabolic hormone stimulates muscle growth and drives nutrients such as glucose for restoring muscle glycogen after workouts and creatine into muscle cells. A recent study by the US Army reveals that leucine increased muscle protein synthesis by an amazing 33% in men who exercised. Another study found that as little as 3g of BCAAs taken per day blunts cortisol levels after exercise. Cortosol is a catabolic hormone that blocks testosterone’s anabolic effects and leads to increased muscle break down. Research from Japan has found that 5g of BCAAs taken around workout time helps to decrease delayed onset muscle soreness. Creatine known as a muscle energy strength is another one many question about. The only reason that creatine is second instead of first on this list is that typically it is not considered to be an amino acid. That’s because few people realize that creatine is made from the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine. So, technically, it is an amino acid supplement, not an individual amino acid. Taking creatine before workouts helps keep your muscles saturated with creatine, producing the rapid energy your muscles need to perform rep after rep in the gym. It also makes muscles stronger by pulling more water into the muscle cells, which give them a biomechanical advantage, helping you lift more weight or squeeze out an extra rep or two. Arginine is another awesome amino
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acid that every bodybuilder needs to have in his supplement cabinet. As you may know, Arginine is the main ingredient in almost every nitric oxide supplement on the market today. Arginine is readily converted in the body which regulates muscle growth, as well as dilates blood vessels. This last function helps to increase blood flow to muscles, which results in the delivery of more blood to the muscles along with more oxygen, nutrients and anabolic hormones, as well as bigger muscle pumps. Arginine is also effective in boosting growth hormone levels, critical for stimulating muscle growth, although scientists long doubted the effectiveness of arginine for muscle growth and strength. I hope the information above has given you a better understanding of how and what amino acids are and what they can do for you. Regardless if you are a senior doing exercises or a pro athlete, always check with your doctor before you take any type of supplement. Be aware of your supplements and understand what they can and are doing for you to improve your quality of life. This week I have been asked what the most popular fee weight exercise is and believe it or not the “bench press” is unquestionably the most popular free-weight exercise of all time. However, many people often use too much weight and poor technique. Follow the directions below and never use a weight that forces you to need a spotter throughout the entire rep. Forced reps are not the way to build strength. How To Bench Press ■ Lie on the bench with a natural arch in your back, your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. ■ Your head, upper back and glutes should be the only parts on the bench. ■ Grip the bar shoulder width apart or slightly wider and wrap your thumbs around the bar. ■ Lift the bar out of the rack and directly over your middle chest. On heavy sets, have a spotter give you a lift-off. ■ In a controlled move, lower the bar until it almost touches your lower chest. Do not bounce the weight. ■ The angle of your elbows should be between 90 and 120 degrees of flexion. ■ Push the bar up off your chest in an explosive manner to the original starting position. Remember the bar should move upward with the finishing position directly over your chest. Do not push the bar back. Again, do not bounce the weight off your chest. Always touch and press up. Keep your glutes and upper back on the bench throughout the entire exercise. When working with any free weights, always use controlled and weight that you can actually lift. Do not risk injury just to lift heavier. I hope this week has helped you to understand more regarding the Amino’s and how to train smart when doing the “bench press”. If you have questions email me at ldsist@aol.com Have a great week, Lisa, Your Personal Trainer ❑ ❑ ❑ Lisa is a certified fitness consultant, personal trainer, and cardio kickboxing and aerobic instructress. Lisa is a professional competitor and holds several titles. She also holds health and fitness seminars for children and adults.
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ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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45
UAE’s Al Balooshi finishes second
Al Ansari wins ‘Qatar Enduro’ 1st round DOHA, Feb 10: The new season for the Qatar International Enduro, organized by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation, kicked off recently at Sealine.
Best of the Rest Zoggeler leads Italian sweep: Olympic and world champion Armin Zoggeler earned his 55th title in World Cup luge on Saturday, leading an Italian sweep of the men’s event at Mount Van Hoevenberg. The 39-year-old Zoggeler had a tworun combined time of 1 minute, 44.655 seconds in his 99th podium finish. He beat 19-year-old Dominik Fischnaller by .212 seconds, and David Mair was third. World champion and World Cup leader Felix Loch of Germany injured a hand during training and did not compete in Lake Placid. Loch takes a 63point lead over his German teammate David Moller into the final World Cup race of the season at Sochi, Russia. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
As in the previous season, there were three different categories for bikes (E1, E2 and E3) and quads with four rounds that will compose the championship. 26 riders registered for the 2013 opening round from Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Germany, Great Britain, Australia and France. The Kuwaiti rider Moaath Al Ansari crossed in first position the checkered flag in the first race, with a total time of 38.53.208. The KTM rider rode in the E2 category. Al Ansari was riding in the E1 category in the previous season, but he feels more comfortable with the E2 category and hopes to have a nice battle with Mohammed Al Balooshi who was also competing in the E2 category. Al Balooshi from UAE finished in the second position with a gap of 17.272. The KTM rider had a mechanical problem with his bike just some minutes before the
Bieler Race winners, participants seen posing for a group shot.
MOTORCYCLING start of the race one, but luckily he sort it out riding a second bike. The defendant champion in the quads category, Obaid Al Kitbe from UAE finished in third position in the overall, being the first quad rider to cross the finishing line. Al Kitbe riding a Honda quad made a total timing of 39.03.530. ‘I am very happy to win the championship yesterday and leading again the Quads category even the track was a bit hard as yesterday track activity’ Al Kitbe said at the end of the podium ceremony. In the second race, the emirati rider Mohammed Al Balooshi managed to fix his bike on time for the race and crossed the finishing line in first position with a time of 38.01.732, leading the race from the beginning to the end. ‘I am very happy with this result being in the first step in the podium and thank my team for the great job in fixing the bike on time to achieve this result. For sure Al Ansari and me will have tough and exciting battles in the coming rounds’ Al Balooshi said at the end of the second race. The Kuwaiti rider Abdullah Al Shatti crossed the line in second position with a gap of only 2.087 behind Al Balooshi. Al Shatti is competing in the E1 category. The winner of the first race, Moath Al Ansari crossed the line in third place. The first quad to finish the race was again Obaid Al Kitibe in the 5th position. Regarding the championship standings, in the E1 category, Abdulla Al Shatti from Kuwait is leading with 50 points. Mubarak Al Ali, Tariq Al Hattab and Barrack Al Jasmi have 40 points. Moaath Al Ansari and Mohammad Al Balooshi are leading the E2 category with 47 points both of them. Ali Al Kubaisi with 40 points is in third place. In quads, the leader of this category is Obaid Al Kitibe and the Qatari
wins
WCup
event:
Christoph Bieler of Austria capped off a successful weekend Sunday with a win at the Nordic combined World Cup individual event in Almaty. Bieler completed the 10-kilometer cross-country race on a winding course in 25:31 minutes, edging out Japan’s powerful skier Akito Watabe by 4.4 seconds, whittled down from a 52-second deficit. The 35-year old Austrian began first off the starting line after reaching 135 meters to garner 136.4 points in the ski jumping phase. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Ireen Wust wins again: Olympic
Mohammed Al Balooshi in action.
Moaath Al Ansari in action.
champion Ireen Wust beat Dutch teammate Diane Valkenburg for the second time in two days to win the 3,000-meter race at a speedskating World Cup meet on Sunday. Wust and Valkenburg also had the identical 1-2 finish in the 1,500 meters a day earlier. Wust dominated Sunday’s race, winning by 3.08 seconds, for her first victory of the season over the distance. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Byrne lends hand: Ferrari are tapping the talents of Rory Byrne, the South African designer whose cars took Michael Schumacher to seven Formula One drivers’ titles with Benetton and Ferrari, to help with development of their 2014 car. Byrne was spotted at the launch of the team’s 2013 car, the F138, at the Maranello factory this month, and Ferrari confirmed on Sunday that he was also involved - at a distance - in next year’s challenger. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
Mohammed Abu Issa in action.
Mohammed Abu Issa is second with 44 points. The third place is for Abdulla Nasser Al Ali. After each race, Alfardan Automobiles awarded to all the winners in the podium ceremony. Trophies were presented by Rashid Al Sulaiti (QMMF Public
Relations Manager), Iain Black (Clerk of Course) and Isa Al Awadi (Steward of the meeting). After the Qatar International Enduro races, it was the turn for the new championship, QMMF T3 Challenge This new championship for off road
Abdullah Al Shatti in action.
buggy vehicles is formed by four rounds, and similar to the National Sprint but in the desert. Each buggy starts individually at one minute interval completing one round of the endure course. The first winner of the T3 Challenge was the Qatari Hamad Al Ali with 7.03
minutes. Khalid al Mohannadi and Abdulazez al Sada finished in second and third place respectively. Trophies were given by Marwan Musabeh (Clerk of Course), Iain Black (Deputy Clerk of Course) and Clive Jacobsen (Sportive technical advisor).
Cubs welcome Fujikawa: Former Hanshin Tigers closing relief ace Kyuji Fujikawa will officially join his new Chicago Cubs teammates on Sunday when the Major League Baseball club’s pitchers and catchers report for pre-season camp. Fujikawa has spent the past week in Arizona ahead of Tuesday’s start of workouts with the team after signing a two-year deal with the Cubs in December. His family has remained in Japan while he adjusts to America. (AFP)
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
SPORTS
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Ogier takes first win for new VW team in Sweden LONDON, Feb 10, (RTRS): French driver Sebastien Ogier won Rally Sweden, the second round of the season, to take the world championship
lead on Sunday in the first victory for his Volkswagen team and their Polo car. Ogier, 29, took the lead from
Citroen’s nine-times world champion compatriot Sebastien Loeb on Friday and stayed ahead for the rest of the event on snow and ice, rounding out the
final leg with a win in the power stage for bonus points. Monte Carlo winner Loeb, who is not defending his title and is competing in
only four events this season, finished runner-up and 41.8 seconds behind his former team mate. Norwegian Mads Ostberg was third
for Ford, 42.7 seconds behind Loeb, with Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala - last year’s winner with Ford - fourth for Volkswagen.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Roland wins downhill title; Fanchini second SCHLADMING, Austria, Feb 10, (AP): Marion Rolland of France beat all the favorites to win the world downhill title on Sunday, mastering an icy course that left most of her rivals struggling to find the right race line. Rolland, who has yet to win a World Cup race after 15 top-10 finishes in downhill, earned her first medal at a major championship after charging down the 3.05-kilometer (1.9-mile) Streicher course in 1 minute, 50.00 seconds. Nadia Fanchini of Italy trailed Rolland by 0.16 in second. Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, who won the super-combined title Friday, came 0.70 back in third. “As a child I wanted to become a world champion one day,” Rolland said. “Now it has become reality but it still feels like a dream.” The 30-year-old Rolland was sidelined with injuries several times during her career, and saw the world title as a reward for fighting back. “This is life, you have to believe to reach your goals one day,” said Rolland, who fell four seconds into her run in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics downhill. “I wanted this medal today. I told myself before the start, ‘Go fast, then you’ll get it.’” Going fast is exactly what Rolland did when she started as the final racer of the elite group. She beat then-leader Fanchini at every intermediate time.
Nadal reaches final in comeback tournament
Gasquet overpowers Paire in Open Sud final MONTPELLIER, France, Feb 10, (Agencies): Frenchman Richard Gasquet beat compatriot Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-3 Sunday in the Open Sud de France final to win his second title this season. “It’s fabulous to win two titles in a season, especially so early,” Gasquet told Canal Plus television. “I’m very motivated for the remainder of the season. I hope I’ll win some more titles this season.”
TENNIS Gasquet broke Paire twice for a 5-2 lead and took the opening set when a backhand return from Paire sailed wide. The third-seeded Frenchman dropped serve once in the second set, but broke Paire three times. He clinched victory when Paire netted a backhand. It is Gasquet’s ninth career singles title. He also won the Qatar Open in January. “I knew I could rely on my experience. He
was playing his first final in France, it’s always a tricky situation,” Gasquet said. “Benoit is a very dangerous player. He has a very special game that can be disconcerting. Therefore I’m very happy to have won here in front of my friends and family.” Paire was appearing in only his second final on the main tour. He was a runner-up in Belgrade last year, losing in straight sets to Andreas Seppi of Italy. “I rushed a lot of my shots,” Paire said. “I thought about the final in Belgrade where things went bad for me. When I lost the first set 6-2, I told myself ‘it’s happening again.’ I think the result is a bit normal. You must play a few finals to know how it feels.” In Vina Del Mar, Chile, Rafael Nadal looked sharp Saturday as he booked a finals berth in an ATP South American clay court tournament, his first event back from a seven-month injury absence. Nadal, seeded number one as a wildcard in the $410,200 tournament, needed just 64 min-
utes to defeat third-seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2. Former world number one Nadal, currently ranked fifth in the world, raced to a 4-0 lead before Chardy was finally able to hold serve. Nadal closed out the opening set after little more than half an hour, pulling Chardy wide with a deep ball to the corner then blasting an overhead winner into the open court to end the rally on set point. He broke Chardy at love in the third game of the second set to gain the upper hand, then saved three break points in the sixth game to maintain his advantage. He broke Chardy for a 5-2 lead and took the contest with an ace on his second match point to book a title clash with Argentinian Horacio Zeballos. Zeballos, ranked 73rd in the world, reached the second ATP final of his career with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory over eighth-seeded compatriot Carlos Berlocq. Zeballos has beaten three straight seeded opponents en route to the title match, which will
be his first appearance in a final since he was runner-up at St. Petersburg in 2009. Nadal and Zeballos have met once before. Nadal beat the Argentinian in straight sets in the round of 64 at Roland Garros in 2010 en route to one of the seven French Open titles he counts among his 11 Grand Slam triumphs. Nadal’s 2012 triumph at Roland Garros was his last title. Until this week the Spaniard had not played since a shock second-round exit from Wimbledon in June at the hands of Czech journeyman Lukas Rosol. A torn tendon and inflammation in his left knee kept Nadal out of the London Olympics and the 2012 US Open. A virus delayed his return, which he had hoped to make at the Australian Open last month. Nadal, 26, plans to compete in claycourt events in Brazil and Mexico before playing ATP Masters hardcourt events at Indian Wells and Miami and then heading to Europe for clay events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome ahead of the French Open.
Russia ‘outlasts’ Japan in Fed Cup Czechs breeze into semis MOSCOW, Feb 10, (Agencies): Ekaterina Makarova won the second reverse singles match and paired with Elena Vesnina to secure Russia a 3-2 victory over Japan in the Fed Cup on Sunday. Makarova and Vesnina beat Japan’s Ayumi Morita and Misaki Doi 6-2, 6-2. Earlier Sunday, Morita put Japan in a 2-1 lead by beating Vesnina 6-4, 6-1 in the first reverse singles, but Makarova put Russia back on track by routing veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-1, 61. The two teams split Saturday’s opening singles when Maria Kirilenko won the first point for Russia by defeating Date-Krumm, while Morita downed Makarova to even the tie at oneall. The Russian pair of doubles specialists — with both in the top 10 on the WTA Tour doubles rankings — won four consecutive games in the first set and jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second to leave no doubts about the outcome on a hard court at the Olympic indoor stadium. “I really wanted to win this clash to rehabilitate myself for a defeat in today’s singles,” Vesnina said. “We were a bit nervous at the beginning of the match but in the late stages we found our normal play.” Makarova dominated the match against Date-
TENNIS
Philippines’ Melissa Bulanhagui performs in the ladies free skating event at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Osaka on Feb 10. (AFP)
Suzuki finishes second overall
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Asada leads Japan sweep at Four Continents OSAKA, Japan, Feb 10, (AFP): Former two-time world champion Mao Asada led Japan’s medal sweep in the women’s singles at the Four Continents championships, remaining unbeaten with five wins in the pre-Olympic season. Cushioned by a comfortable lead from the short programme and skating to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”, the 2012 Grand Prix Final winner topped the free skating table with 130.96 points for a two-day total of 205.45. But Asada, who landed her trademark triple axel for the first time in two years in the short programme, underrotated the high-scoring 3.5-revolution jump as one of a few flaws in her long programme. Akiko Suzuki, the 2012 world bronze medallist, marked the second best free-skate score of 124.43 points to finish second overall at 190.08.
Japan’s Takanashi racks up wins in Zao ZAO, Japan, Feb 10, (AFP): World Cup points leader Sara Takanashi of Japan chalked up her fifth and sixth victories of the season in the ski jumping events in Zao, north of Tokyo, on Sunday. The 16-year-old leaped the longest jumps of 95.5 metres and 93.5m for 228.0 points among the
to show that Asada, the only female skater who regularly attempts the jump, has work to do.
33 athletes to win the 11th leg, which had been postponed from Saturday due to strong winds. Jacqueline Seifriedsberger of Austria was second on 212.0 points, followed by Carina Vogt of Germany on 207.1 points. Sarah Hendrickson of the United States, last year’s World Cup overall champion, was fourth
Her triple-triple attempt stopped short by under-rotating the second jump, and used the wrong edge in land-
FIGURE SKATING Another Japanese national Kanako Murakami, the 2010 world junior champion, came in third overall as she did in the short programme with a total of 181.03. Asada’s winning total was the season’s best in the world and close to her personal best of 205.50 scored at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where the 2008 and 2010 world champion finished runner-up to South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na. “I performed superbly in the short programme but I skated the free programme just like I did in training. I should still aim higher,” 22-year-old Asada said. Just after opening her free skate with a clean triple loop, she under-rotated and two-footed on landing a triple axel
Winner Mao Asada (center), second-placed, Akiko Suzuki (left), and thirdplaced Kanako Murakami, all of Japan, pose for photographers after the awarding ceremony of women’s events of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Osaka, Japan, on Feb 10. (AP)
Krumm with her Japanese opponent able to hold serve only once in each set. “I felt some extra responsibility today as the result of this rubber could have decided the entire match,” Makarova said. Morita broke Vesnina in the fourth game and rallied from 40-love down in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead. The Russian broke back for 5-4 but was broken on her next serve to lose the set. Vesnina, who substituted for originally drawn Kirilenko, broke Morita in the opening game of the second set but Morita dominated the rest of the games and served the match out at love to record her 14th straight Fed Cup victory. “I played well in both my matches here and I’m really pleased with my performance this weekend,” Morita said. “The fact that I managed to win two points for my team boosted my selfconfidence a great deal.” Vesnina could not match her opponent’s form. “She is feeling confident right now and she likes this surface,” Vesnina said. “Ayumi is playing her best tennis right now.” Four-time winner Russia was without Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva. Russia will host Slovakia or travel to Serbia in the semifinals on April 20-21.
after jumps of 88.0m and 85.0m for 205.4 points. In the 12th leg of the 16-round World Cup series, Takanashi marked an amazing 102.0m and then added a 94.0m jump for 240.4 points, beating Seifriedsberger into second on 229.4 points and Hendrickson into third on 222.6 points.
ing a triple lutz. But she hit a maximum level-four in three spins along the way to top the field in both technical and artistic elements. Asada had refrained from attempting the triple axel this season until the Four Continents because she frequently bungled the high-scoring jump in the past two seasons after her duel with Kim in Vancouver. “I want to jump the triple axel at the world championships. I will work hard so that I may be able to perform better still,” she said. She will clash with Kim at the worlds next month in London, Ontario. The South Korean, also 22, hailed at home as “Queen Yu-Na”, made her comeback after a break of two seasons in a second-tier competition in December. But she skipped this annual event which brings together talent from the non-European continents. It was the third Four Continents title for Asada and the first in three years. Asada has won two Grand Prix titles in China and Japan as well as the Grand Prix Final and the national championship so far this season.
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Petra Kvitova led holders Czech Republic into the Fed Cup semifinals by giving them an unbeatable 3-0 lead with a three-set win over Australia’s Samantha Stosur in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Sunday. In the clash of the teams’ number-one players, Kvitova, the world No.8, needed two hours and five minutes to beat 9th-ranked Stosur 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4. On the hardcourt in Ostrava, about 320 kilometres (200 miles) east of Prague, Stosur took the first set easily, then had a match point in the second, but Kvitova fought back to take the set in a tie-break. In the decisive set, she gave up a break leading 5-3 but immediately took it back to give the Czechs a seventh straight Fed Cup win. On Saturday, Kvitova beat Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, before Lucie Safarova handed the Czechs a second point against Stosur in two tie-breaks — 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4). Czechs Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, the world numbers three and four in the format, will now face Australian Open finalists Casey Dellacqua and 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty in a dead doubles rubber. Kvitova and Safarova led the Czechs to Fed Cup victories in 2011 and 2012 and are eyeing a treble, something the former Czechoslovakia — which split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993 — achieved in 1983-1985. In the semifinals, the Czechs will face either Italy or the United States, who were tied 1-1 after Saturday. ❑
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Germany completed a 3-0 win over France in a Fed Cup World Group II tie here on Sunday when Julia Goerges defeated Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-2. The Germans had already won both of Saturday’s opening singles, also in straight sets, and they will now go forward to play one of the losing teams from the top group in a promotion/relegation playoff in April. France on the other hand will need to win a play-off against one of the teams from the lower division which could be Canada, Britain, Poland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belgium or the loser in the tie between Argentina and Sweden.
Germany’s Julia Goerges celebrates winning the third match of the Feb Cup 2013 between France Pauline Parmentier and Germany’s Julia Goerges at the Beaublanc courts in Limogeson on Feb 10. (AFP)
Serena aims to regain top spot DOHA, Feb 10, (AFP): Serena Williams will complete another remarkable achievement if she can regain the world number one ranking at the Qatar Open starting on Monday. The holder of 15 Grand Slam titles has not occupied the top spot for more than two and a half years after a series of injuries during 2010 and 2011 plunged her below the top 100, bringing predictions of a career end. However, Williams was clearly the world’s best player again during the second half of last year when she won the Wimbledon, Olympic, US Open and WTA Championship season-end titles. The pinnacle seemed within reach until she was struck by multiple setbacks during last month’s Australian Open. Williams turned her right ankle in her open-
WTA Qatar Open Aljazeera sport +10 (15:00 Local) ing round, hurt her back while running for a drop shot during her second, and exited in the quarter-finals after one of the most startling defeats of her career, to Sloane Stephens, then outside the top 30. It was Williams’ first ever loss to a younger American and also, she asserted, her “worst two weeks.” It will have made her keener than ever to return to something nearer her true self during the $2,369,000 event in Doha, her first outing since that debacle. She is seeded second, and could have a semifinal with Maria Sharapova, the French Open champion who gave her a very hard final in their last encounter, at the WTA Championships in Istanbul three months ago. Sharapova has a particularly tough quarter, which contains two former Grand Slam winners — Samantha Stosur of Australia and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, and a former world number one, Jelena Jankovic, of Serbia. A further incentive is that Williams is only 355 ranking points behind Victoria Azarenka, the world number one, and is offered leapfrogging opportunities by the 900 points which are awarded to the winner. The defeat was a bitter blow for Amelie Mauresmo, the former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, who was captaining the team for the first time but had to do without her top player Marion Bartoli, who had a viral condition. ❑
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Jana Cepelova rallied to defeat Bojana Jovanovski 5-7, 7-5, 11-9 and give Slovakia a 21 lead over Serbia in the first round of the Fed Cup on Sunday. The 98th-ranked Cepelova, who replaced Dominika Cibulkova in the reverse singles, repeatedly exchanged breaks with Jovanovski who played with a back injury during the match which lasted more than three hours. Jovanovski saved two match points in the third set before Cepelova converted the third. On Saturday, Cibulkova retired hurt with a leg muscle strain while leading her singles match against Vesna Dolonc. Serbia is missing leading players Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic because of injuries.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
SPORTS
48
Nuggets beat Cavs 111-103 Mavs subdue Warriors CLEVELAND, Feb 10, (Agencies): The Denver Nuggets have continued their sparkling form with a 111-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, extending their winning streak to nine games.
UIS, Carmel players pose for a group shot with the event officials.
Denver have averaged 114.6 points per game during the streak to move to 33-18, and fourth overall in the Western Conference.
James D’sa hands champions trophy to the 6 team captains of UIS
ICSK girls U/12 Runners Up, trophy presented by Leslie D’Souza.
IEAS boy’s U/16 team 3rd place
Under 12 boy’s runners up — DPS
The nine games are the longest streak for Denver since winning 10 on the trot in 2005. Danilo Gallinari led the Nuggets with 19 points and nine rebounds while Kenneth Faried scored 17 points and added seven rebounds. Eight of Denver’s nine players scored in double figures in a great team effort. Denver have been near unstoppable at home with a 22-3 record but have been criticised for their inability to lift on the road. The win in Cleveland pushed them to 11-15 away from home. “It was a very important win for us,” Faried told reporters “A lot of people say we go in a slump once we get on the road, we’re not going to have that energy, that motivation to run, that focus we have at home but tonight we proved that wrong. “But we have another one tomorrow we have to worry about against a great Boston team that’s playing wonderful.” Kyrie Irving produced a game high 26 points and added seven assists while Alonzo Gee added 20 points for the Cavaliers, who had been seeking their fourth successive win but the loss dropped them to 16-35. 76ers 87, Bobcats 76 In Philadelphia, Lavoy Allen had 14 points and a career-high 22 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday scored 20 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the Charlotte Bobcats.
BASKETBALL
Chief guest James D’sa presented with token of appreciation by Fr Franco Pereira (SDB).
Players seen during the event
Best player U/14 Hamza (IIS-m)
Organisers promise more excitement in the future
UIS dominates DBO Interschool champ’ship KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The United Indian School (UIS) once again made a clean sweep in the Ninth Don Bosco Oratory Interschool Basketball Championship.
BASKETBALL In addition to the UIS, the Fahaheel Wataniya Indian School (DPS), Carmel School Kuwait (CSK), Indian Community School Kuwait (ICSK), Indian English Academy School (IEAS), Indian International School, Mangaf (IIS-M) and Indian English School had qualified for the final round. The tournament was played on the newly-laid basketball rubber
court sponsored by Don Bosco Oratory and the Indian English Academy School. A similar court is now being used at various international events in Europe. The DBO takes this opportunity to thank the IEAS management for support and permission granted to use its premises to conduct the tournament, the PBA officials led by Jessie and his team, sponsors Ajay Kumar of the Boodai Aviation, James D’sa of the National Aviation Services, Kenneth Remedios of DBPPA and Shabbir Fakhruddin (Golden Medals). The organizers also thank the schools for participating in the championship and special thanks to the coaches for “standing by us with the constant change in fixture
and dates.” The performance of all those who took part was extraordinary. Some of them displayed excellent leadership skills. Though for some it was hard team work for others it was just one-man show. The tournament is organized keeping in mind it is part of education which helps the young to develop themselves both mentally and physically and make them better citizens of tomorrow. According to organizers next year the tournament will be played on a different note and will bring lot of excitement for those taking part. Parent who saw their children taking part went home with heads help up irrespective whether they won or lost. For them what was
important was the sportsmanship displayed by the young participants. All praise for DBO members — Ivan D’souza, Michael Dias, Penny Rebello, Philip Duarte, Stephen Fernandes, Ronny Fernandes, Loyd Mascarenhas, Alex Sequeira, Hamza, Galvin D’Sliva, Christopher Regan, Anand D’Souza (Projector) — for organizing this event and our delegate Rev. Fr. Francisco Pereira, SDB, for all the assistance and. The organizing committee has vowed to make this sport more interesting, with a proper timetable, more gifts, basketball clinic before the tournament for coaches and captains and surprise gifts for the audience.
Best of the Rest Lions win: Highveld Lions defeated Warriors by 125 runs Sunday to finish second behind Cape Cobras in the South African Cricket Series championship. It was a hollow consolation prize for the Johannesburg side, though, as they led with two rounds left only to draw at the Knights last weekend and cede first place to the Cape Town-based Cobras. Lions scored 157 and 367 and Warriors 135 and 264 in a four-day match that began as a potential title decider had the Cobras lost at the Knights, instead of winning by 10 wickets. Warriors entered the final day at their Port Elizabeth home needing 271 runs to win with six wickets intact, but impressive bowling from Chris Morris (4-31) and Cliffe Deacon (3-70) ensured the Lions emerged victorious. Defeat relegated the Warriors to fourth place on the final standings behind the Dolphins, who trounced
Police ‘contain’ racist supporters JERUSALEM, Feb 10, (AFP): More than 600 Israeli police deployed on Sunday outside Jerusalem’s Teddy stadium to contain possible racist protests by football supporters during a visit by an Arab team, a security spokesman said. “We put 600 to 700 uniformed and plain clothes policemen in place to avoid any disorder and restrain any racist protest,” Micky Rosenfeld told AFP. Teddy stadium’s Beitar Jerusalem football club was hosting a match against the Arab Israeli team Benei Sakhnin. A fortnight ago, security was deployed for a match between Beitar and another Arab team, which ended without incident. defending champions Titans by 393 runs within three days at Centurion. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Mediate leads Allianz: Rocco Mediate shot an 11-under 61, setting a course record and building a threeshot lead over Tom Pernice Jr heading into the final round of the Allianz Championship on Saturday. Mediate is trying to become the 16th player to win his first start on the Champions Tour. He won six times on the US PGA Tour and is probably best remembered for losing a playoff to Tiger Woods in the 2008 US Open.
Sakhnin supporters arriving on buses for Sunday’s match were to be given police escort to Jerusalem, Rosenfeld said. Interior Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch told military radio that racism “must be dealt with at the root. We have a policy of zero tolerance against these kinds of criminals.” His comments came after Beitar’s offices were torched on Friday, after it signed up two Chechnyan Muslim players. The attack took place hours after prosecutors on Thursday filed charges against four Beitar supporters accused of racist chants aimed at the Muslim players during a match and at a training session.
Mediate had five consecutive birdies on the front nine, highlighted by a drive to the green at the par-4 seventh hole. He added three more birdies after the turn and closed with a birdie at the 17th and a 10-foot eagle at the 18th. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Svendsen wins biathlon pursuit: Emil Hegle Svendsen won the men’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit race on Sunday for his third gold medal in as many races at the biathlon world championships. Svendsen overcame one penalty
lap to cover the distance in 32 minutes, 35.5 seconds for his third triumph in four days, after anchoring Norway to the gold in the mixed relay on Thursday in the opening event and winning Saturday’s sprint. “This is a dream and I am very thankful and very lucky,” said Svendsen who has already won 10 medals at world championships. Due to the sprint victory, Svendsen started the race eight seconds ahead of defending champion and overall World Cup leader Martin Fourcade of France. (AP)
Evan Turner had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeremy Pargo scored 12 points in his Sixers debut. Pargo signed a 10-day contract this week after he was waived by Cleveland. The Sixers improved to 5-2 on their eightgame homestand that ends Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The solid showing at home has helped the Sixers inch closer to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Ramon Sessions scored 20 points, Byron Mullens had 16 and Gerald Henderson 13 as the NBA-worst Bobcats lost their seventh straight. Mavericks 116, Warriors 91 In Dallas, Shawn Marion scored a seasonhigh 26 points, O.J. Mayo added 19 and the Dallas Mavericks handed the Golden State Warriors their fourth straight loss. Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 points and Darren Collison keyed a first-quarter run for Dallas, which beat Golden State for the first time this season after dropping their first two meetings to the Warriors by a combined seven points. The Mavericks built a 27-point lead in the second quarter to put away the Warriors early. Golden State’s Stephen Curry had 18 points on 8-of-23 shooting and Carl Landry added 13. Pistons 105, Bucks 100 In Milwaukee, Charlie Villanueva hit a 3pointer with 9.7 seconds left and Rodney Stuckey sealed the win with two free throws as the Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks. Brandon Jennings, who scored 26 points, took an inbounds pass from Monta Ellis and made a tough fadeaway shot with 47.8 seconds left. But Jose Calderon, who tied his season high with 23 points, came back with a running layup for Detroit that tied it at 100. After a timeout, the Pistons worked the ball to Villanueva, who got it at the top of the key and swished a 3. On the Bucks’ next possession, Jennings fired up a 31-foot 3point attempt with 3.2 seconds left. Stuckey’s two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining were the final margin. Kings 120, Jazz 109 In Sacramento, California, Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points and Marcus Thornton had 24 for the Sacramento Kings in a victory over the Utah Jazz. It was a boisterous crowd of 16,193 that
Darren Collison #4 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center on Feb 9, in Dallas, Texas. (AFP)
Season of Alice
LA Lakers ‘fans’ ponder what next LOS ANGELES, Feb 10, (RTRS): Friday’s come-from-behind victory over the lowly Charlotte Bobcats was the latest chapter in an ‘Alice in Wonderland’-style season for the Los Angeles Lakers where very little has turned out to be what it seems. Ace closer Kobe Bryant, held scoreless by Charlotte in the first half, finished with 20 points on six-of-15 shooting and eight assists as the Lakers overcame a 20-point deficit in the third quarter to win 100-93. Once again, though, Lakers fans were left to wonder what would happen next in a bitterly disappointing campaign which began with lofty expectations after the off-season acquisitions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. With that duo linking up with fellow AllStars Bryant and Pau Gasol, many pundits instantly installed the Los Angeles franchise as the main threat this season to the NBA champion Miami Heat, and Lakers fans licked their lips in anticipation. However, Bryant and company have since limped their way to a bitterly disappointing 2427 record to sit 10th in the 15-team Western Conference, outside the top eight playoff spots. They have not been helped by an ageing line-up, along with a spate of injuries and three different head coaches this season, and Bryant expressed his frustration after Friday’s desperate win against the (11-38) Bobcats, the NBA’s worst team. “We have to play the right way,” Bryant told reporters after saying he had been “irritated” by the team’s all-round display in Charlotte. “When we have shots available, we take them. “If we don’t, move the ball on. It can’t be about individual touches. If we lose the game, everybody points the finger at me for not shooting the ball. And that’s fine. “As long as I’m confident that I make the right play to help as a team, that’s the most important thing. We all need to follow that example and just play for each other.” Unpredictable fashion With Nash, Howard and Gasol having all missed several games this season due to assorted injuries, the 16-times NBA champion Lakers have tried to adapt - and often in unpredictable fashion. Spanish forward Gasol, one of the most gifted players in the NBA, has struggled to mesh with fellow post player Howard in coach Mike D’Antoni’s free-flowing system, prompting calls by some fans for the return of Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson.
was chanting “Sacramento!” just before tipoff in support of the Kings, who could be sold and move to Seattle next season. Alec Burks had a career-high 24 points and Al Jefferson scored 16 for the Jazz, who dropped their second straight game. Enes Kantor had 15 points and DeMare Carroll had 14.
NBA Results/Standings WASHINGTON, Feb 10, (RTRS): Results from the NBA games on Saturday: Denver 111 Cleveland 103 Philadelphia 87 Charlotte 76
Detroit
105
Milwaukee
Dallas
116
Golden State
Sacramento
120
Utah
Northwest Division
Atlantic Division NY Knicks Brooklyn Boston Philadelphia Toronto
L 16 21 23 27 32
PCT .667 .580 .531 .449 .360
GB 4 6-1/2 10-1/2 15
PCT .608 .600 .510 .385 .314
GB 0-1/2 5 11-1/2 15
Oklahoma City Denver Utah Portland Minnesota
Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland
L 20 20 24 32 35
LA Clippers Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento Phoenix
Miami Atlanta Washington Orlando Charlotte
L 14 22 35 36 39
L 12 18 24 25 29
PCT .760 .647 .538 .500 .383
GB 5-1/2 11 13 18-1/2
PCT .702 .551 .286 .280 .220
W 35 30 24 18 17
L 17 21 27 33 34
PCT .673 .588 .471 .353 .333
GB 4-1/2 10-1/2 16-1/2 17-1/2
Southwest Division
Southeast Division W 33 27 14 14 11
W 38 33 28 25 18
Pacific Division
Central Division W 31 30 25 20 16
91 109
Western Conference
Eastern Conference
W 32 29 26 22 18
100
GB 7 20 20-1/2 23-1/2
San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans
W 39 31 28 22 17
L 12 18 24 28 33
PCT .765 .633 .538 .440 .340
GB 7 11-1/2 16-1/2 21-1/2
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
SPORTS
49
Sprint hero excited about NBA All-Star appearance
Bolt opens season with solid 400m at Camperdown KINGSTON, Feb 10, (Agencies): Jamaican sprint hero Usain Bolt won his 400-metre heat while Yohan Blake was beaten by Warren Weir on Saturday as the athletes opened their 2013 season at the Camperdown Classic. Weir, the 200m bronze medallist at the London Olympics last year, emerged with the meet’s overall 400m title with a time of 46.23sec. Blake, the double Olympic sprint silver medallist, clocked 46.77 in the same heat.
In an earlier heat, Bolt trailed Riker Hylton — a genuine quarter-miler — into the last 40m but won the heat in 46.74. “I felt a bit nervous,” Bolt, the 100m and 200m world record-holder, said of his sea-
ATHLETICS son opener. “I just came out here to win and I’m glad I won injury free.” Bolt, who spectacularly defended his
three gold medals — in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m — at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, said he might run a couple more 400m races this season, and that his time so early in the season “shows that I am in good shape.” Blake, who said he started training a little late, was also pleased with his performance. “I’m happy with the run, despite the time,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile, over in Montego Bay, Asafa Powell teamed with Winston Barnes, Nesta Carter and Roman Nichol to win the men’s 4x100m relay at the Milo Western Relays in 38.62. Two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce anchored an MVP club quartet to victory in the women’s relay in 44.03. Meanwhile, the world’s best basketballers have little hope of catching him in a race up the court and now Jamaican
Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt is getting to ready to show them he can jump as well when he appears at the NBA’s AllStar weekend in Houston. Bolt was invited to play in the Celebrity Game, featuring a mixture of well-known people from all walks of life, including some former NBA players at the showcase weekend from Feb. 15-17. “I’m very excited, you know,” Bolt said after opening his track and field season with a low-key race in his hometown of
Kingston on Saturday. “It’s something big and something good for me, so I’m just going to go out there to try and enjoy myself, try to dunk a few times. “(I’m) not a good shooter, but hey.” Bolt, who won three gold medals at each of the last two Olympics and holds the world record for 100 and 200 metres, has all the physical attributes of an athlete who could make it in several sports and his appearance in Houston is sure to attract plenty of interest.
Devils snap Penguins’ 5-game winning streak Canucks outclass Flames 5-1
Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi poses with his Citroen.
Al Qassimi targets victory in Kuwait after return The UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi is targeting a victory on his return to Middle East action in Kuwait next month after suffering a disappointing exit from Rally Sweden in his first World Championship outing for 16 months. Al Qassimi and British co-driver Scott Martin in their Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team DS3 WRC were denied a reward for their climb through the field in Sweden by a third leg setback which put them out of the event on Saturday night. But within a few hours. the Emirati driver was already planning ahead for the Kuwait International Rally, second round of the 2013 FIA Middle East Rally Championship on 2123 March, where he will be looking to go one better after his second place finish in Qatar last month. “For sure we will be looking for a win in Kuwait,” said Al Qassimi, who was flying home from Sweden overnight, and looking forward to the warm UAE winter sunshine after the sub zero temperatures of the last week. “I have already sat down with the team to put together a strategy for Kuwait where we will be doing as much testing as possible to make sure we are as well prepared as we can be.” After a second day slide into a snow bank sent him plummeting down the field in Rally Sweden, Al Qassimi showed his determina-
tion by fighting back from that disappointment and half way through Saturday’s third leg he had risen 20 places to 19th in his Abu Dhabi Citroën DS3 WRC. But Al Qassimi, who scored a top ten finish in Rally Sweden on his last visit two years ago, went off the road on a treacherous corner on special stage 15, and was unable to start the final leg today because of an overheated engine. “It’s a real shame, because I had found decent pace,” he said. “The stages were quicker than Friday, and I felt good. I knew that if I’d continued I might have been able to finish higher, maybe in the top 12, and I’ve been happy with that after the bad start I had on Friday. “But these things happen. The last time I was in a World Rally Car in a WRC event was October 2011 and I’m now I have a new team and a new car, and the conditions in Sweden are never easy for me. But I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.” With four stages remaining in Rally Sweden ahead of the finish in Karlstad, ninetime world champion Sébastien Loeb was still fighting to produce a second successive WRC win for the new partnership between Abu Dhabi Racing and Citroën. Monte Carlo Rally winner Loeb in the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team DS3 WRC was 22.2 seconds behind Sebastien Ogier.
Blatter surprised at advisers’ criticism
FIFA former security chief plays down ‘fixing’ fears LONDON, Feb 10, (Agencies): FIFA’s former head of security Chris Eaton insists there is no credible evidence of match-fixing in England, but he warned the sport’s authorities to remain on red alert. A report released earlier this week by enforcement agency Europol said 380 matches were under investigation for match-fixing, including the 2009 Champions League clash between Liverpool and Hungarian club Debrecen at Anfield. There has never been any suspicion of wrongdoing by anyone at Liverpool, who won the match 1-0, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger this week claimed the Blatter whole situation must act as a wake-up call to the English game. Eaton, who left his post at FIFA in March 2012 and is now director of sport integrity at the International Centre for Sports Security in Qatar, believes the Premier League, as the world’s most watched football competition and biggest gambling market, remains a potential target. “You hear a lot of allegations, but I have
SOCCER never had any credible evidence about fixing in the English Premier League or the Champions League - that does not mean you should not be vigilant,” Eaton told the BBC’s Sportsweek programme on Sunday. “You must be vigilant, this is the most watched league in the world, the most gambled league in the world and therefore the one who has to be the most vigilant.” Eaton revealed there are many different ways matches could be rigged, with the “five star fixes” those involving players from both teams as well as officials. “There is no standard form, with a lot of different styles engaged by match-fixers over the years, including ghost games which did not exist in reality, but were called by the monitoring agencies,” he said. “There was the fake Togo team in Africa. Mostly it is about compromising players or officials, referees. “Organised crime take an interest in this, which is not because of the growth of match-fixing, but because of the great growth of gambling in south-east Asia, particularly on European football, we also saw this with the Mafia being involved in matchfixing in Italy. The betting fraud is the main purpose.”
In Johannesburg, FIFA President Sepp Blatter expressed his surprise Sunday at public criticism of the world football body by its own anti-corruption advisers and said they were sometimes working outside their mandate. Blatter said in South Africa that the independent advisers, who Blatter invited in to help FIFA reform in 2011, were sometimes making demands and not recommendations. “From time to time I realized that it is a deviation of the original objective and they are not coming with solutions, not recommendations, they are coming with decisions that we have (to take) ... and we must,” Blatter told a small group of reporters. “But that is not what we have asked for. “We have asked (them) to give us solutions and we bring these solutions to the (FIFA) congress. The panel of advisers, chaired by Mark Pieth, said in a report last week that the European body UEFA, in particular, was resisting reform and called on FIFA to “demonstrate leadership” and not undermine efforts to reform the body. That report identifying problems in the process to put in place anti-corruption measures was sent to FIFA’s executive committee, but also made available to the media, Blatter said. “His (Pieth’s) reaction and going to the media with that, he sends a letter to the FIFA executive committee and then publishing this letter. I think it is a little bit over the objective that I personally have fixed for the proposal of solutions,” Blatter said. The FIFA President maintained he still had a good relationship with Pieth despite apparent disagreements on reforming the world football body, which is under pressure to change after damaging bribery and votebuying allegations. “I have a very good contact with Mark Pieth. You see, I called him in to help us at the origin,” Blatter said. Some of the advisers’ proposals include term limits for the FIFA president and board members, and it has suggested all FIFA committee members should be vetted for integrity by an independent group at its Zurich headquarters. Blatter agreed with the integrity check for FIFA members, but said it would be by FIFA’s ethics committee. Blatter also said Sunday that he thought FIFA presidents should get eight-year terms like the head of the International Olympic Committee, and not the current four-year terms world football’s boss gets before he has to stand for re-election. The president could then stand for an extra four years. “If he has done a good job, he stops (after eight years),” Blatter said, “if he has done a very good job, he can go four more years.”
NEWARK, New Jersey, Feb 10, (AP): Adam Henrique and Bobby Butler scored powerplay goals 2:12 apart in the third period, and the New Jersey Devils extended their winning streak to four games with a 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday that snapped the Penguins’ fivegame winning streak. Ilya Kovalchuk assisted on the late goals, and defenseman Andy Greene had two assists, including the primary one on rookie Stefan Matteau’s first NHL goal. Martin Brodeur made 24 saves and provided a little humor by chasing his stick late in the second period of his 1,200th career game. He became the first NHL goalie to reach the milestone. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a six-game point streak snapped, his longest since a career-high, 25-game run in 2010. Brandon Sutter scored early for the Penguins, who gave the Devils 10 power-play chances. The teams will play again Sunday in Pittsburgh. Flyers 4, Hurricanes 3, OT In Philadelphia, Danny Briere scored 1:47 into overtime to lift Philadelphia over Carolina. Jakub Voracek, Matt Read and Brayden Schenn also scored for Philadelphia, which went 3-0-1 on a four-game homestand. Joe Corvo scored the tying goal in the third period, and Jiri Tlusty and Jeff Skinner also had goals for the Hurricanes, who had won two in a row. The Flyers have gone 24-4-4 against
ICE HOCKEY the Hurricanes since Nov. 28, 2003. Philadelphia is 5-6-1 at the quarter point of the lockout-shortened 48-game schedule. Carolina fell to 5-4-1. Ilya Bryzgalov made 30 saves in the victory and earned his third assist of the season. Red Wings 2, Oilers In Detroit, Niklas Kronwall’s thirdperiod goal broke a tie, and Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist in Detroit’s narrow win over Edmonton. Henrik Zetterberg had two assists, and Jimmy Howard made 23 saves for Detroit (6-4-1). Rookie defenseman Justin Schultz scored the lone goal for Edmonton (4-43), and 40-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 28 shots in his first game of the season. The Red Wings killed off a two-man disadvantage that lasted 1:07 early in the third period. Jets 1, Senators 0 In Ottawa, Al Montoya made 33 saves, and Alex Ponikarovsky scored the only goal in Winnipeg’s win over Ottawa. Ponikarovsky broke the scoreless deadlock 5:57 into the third period. The Senators had no answer against Montoya, who replaced an ailing Ondrej Pavelec (flu) and posted his first shutout of the season and third of his NHL career. The Jets (5-5-1) won for the second time in six games and snapped a threegame road skid. Ottawa backup Ben Bishop made his second start of the season and was solid in stopping 36 shots. The Senators (6-42) have scored just seven goals in past five games, including four in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Canucks 5, Flames 1 In Vancouver, British Columbia, Rookie Jordan Schroeder scored his first two NHL goals and Cory Schneider stopped 33 shots and Vancouver rallied to defeat Calgary for its fifth consecutive victory. Schroeder and Alex Burrows scored just 27 seconds apart in the second period to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead. Schroeder scored his second goal late in the third period off a Mason Raymond rebound. Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin added two assists to give him 755 career points. That leaves him one point behind former captain Markus Naslund’s franchise-leading total of 756. Lightning-Bruins, PPD, Snow In Boston, the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the host Bruins was postponed because of the blizzard that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on the Boston area. No makeup date had been scheduled
Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild tries to get the puck away from Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators during the first period of the game on Feb 9, at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (AFP)
yet. Originally scheduled for 1 p.m., the game was pushed back until 7 p.m. to allow the storm to pass. But public transportation was not expected to resume on Saturday, and roads were still being cleared. Capitals 5, Panthers 0 In Washington, Troy Brouwer scored two goals and Braden Holtby stopped 27 shots and assisted on Brouwer’s second goal and Washington shut out Florida in the opener of a home-and-home series. Mathieu Perreault and Joel Ward each added a goal and an assist, and Alex Ovechkin also scored for Washington (3-8-1), which snapped a three-game losing streak. It was the first time Washington has scored more than three goals in a game this season. Coyotes 1 Sharks 0, SO In San Jose, Calif, Mike Smith made 33 saves through overtime and then turned aside two more shots in the shootout to carry Phoenix past San Jose. The only offense in the entire game
that snapped the Wild’s three-game losing streak. Setoguchi took a pass from Mikko Koivu and fired a shot past Chris Mason for his first goal of the season and the Wild’s 23rd in 11 games. Cal Clutterbuck also scored, and Niklas Backstrom stopped 25 shots for Minnesota. Paul Gaustad scored for Nashville, which had a four-game winning streak broken. Gaustad was whistled for a hand-pass penalty on a faceoff at 2:48 of overtime that led to the winning goal. Ducks 6, Blues 5, SO In St Louis, Viktor Fasth stopped three of six shootout attempts to become the first NHL goalie in eight years to win his first five starts, and Bobby Ryan had two goals and two assists as Anaheim beat struggling St. Louis. Fasth, who began the game first in the NHL with a 1.06 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage, allowed five goals on 31 shots. Nolan Schaefer won his first five starts for San Jose in 2005.
was provided by Phoenix’s Mikkel Boedker and Radium Vrbata, who both netted shootout goals against Sharks goalie Antii Niemi. Smith, who recorded his fourth shutout of the season, made several acrobatic saves, including one in the shootout. Smith has 21 career NHL shutouts. Niemi stopped 21 shots before the shootout to earn his first shutout of the season and 20th in the NHL. Maple Leafs 6, Canadiens 0 In Montreal, James Reimer made 37 saves, Phil Kessel had a goal and two assists, and Toronto defeated Montreal. Leo Komarov added his first NHL goal 59 seconds into the game. Tyler Bozak scored later in the first period, and James van Riemsdyk and Kessel added second-period goals. Korbinian Holzer and Dion Phaneuf scored in the third for Toronto. Wild 2, Predators 1, OT St Paul, Minn, Devin Setoguchi’s power-play goal at 4:21 of overtime gave Minnesota a win over Nashville
NHL Results/Standings WASHINGTON, Feb 10, (RTRS): Results and Standings from the NHL games on Saturday. New Jersey 3 Pittsburgh 1 Philadelphia 4 Carolina 3 (OT) Winnipeg 1 Ottawa 0 Detroit 2 Edmonton 1 Phoenix 1 San Jose 0 (SO) Eastern Conference
Toronto Buffalo Washington Anaheim Minnesota Vancouver
Atlantic Division New Jersey Pittsburgh Philadelphia NY Rangers NY Islanders
W 7 8 5 5 4
Boston Toronto Ottawa Montreal Buffalo
W 7 7 6 6 5
L 1 4 6 5 6
OTL 3 0 1 0 1
OTL 1 0 2 1 1
Southeast Division
0 2 0 5 (SO) 1 (OT) 1
Central Division GF 30 40 29 24 32
GA 23 29 33 26 37
PTS 17 16 11 10 9
GF 26 34 31 31 38
GA 20 31 23 30 43
PTS 15 14 14 13 11
Chicago Nashville Detroit St. Louis Columbus
W 9 5 6 6 3
Vancouver Minnesota Edmonton Calgary Colorado
W 7 5 4 3 4
Northeast Division L 1 5 4 4 6
6 Montreal 3 NY Islanders 5 Florida 6 St. Louis 2 Nashville 5 Calgary Western Conference
L 0 2 4 4 6
OTL 2 4 1 1 2
GF 39 24 30 38 23
GA 25 23 30 36 36
PTS 20 14 13 13 8
GF 33 24 25 25 21
GA 24 29 29 33 26
PTS 16 11 11 8 8
GF 39 34 26 32 20
GA 31 22 28 33 28
PTS 17 16 13 12 8
Northwest Division L 2 5 4 4 6
OTL 2 1 3 2 0
Pacific Division
W L OTL GF GA PTS W Tampa Bay 6 4 0 42 27 12 Anaheim 8 Carolina 5 4 1 28 30 11 San Jose 7 Winnipeg 5 5 1 30 37 11 Dallas 6 Florida 4 6 1 25 40 9 Phoenix 5 Washington 3 8 1 30 41 7 Los Angeles 3 Note: Overtime losses (OL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)
L 2 2 5 5 4
OTL 1 2 1 2 2
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
SPORTS
50
Mind-Web keep playoffs chase on track
Resurgent Vipers outlast On-Time By Iddris Seidu
‘Culture will die hard’
Arab Times Staff
Kuwait City, Feb 10: GCCVipers and Mind-Web won their matches on Friday to keep their chase to the playoffs on track at the UAE Exchange/Xpress Money Transfer Philippines Amateur Basketball Association of Kuwait (PABAK) 30th Conference tournament played at the Hawally Disabled Sports Club. Despite GCC-Vipers’ recent loses, the Gulf Catering Company (GCC) squad this week put together one of the best lineups in the league and managed to spring a narrow win, 8483 against On-Time in the opening encounter of the day as the two leaguers category teams went head to head.
Bullying exposes ‘military tradition’
ATC Team
Marine Spa Team
Global Care Team
Eagles Alliance Team
Paul Andrade and James Perdido showed their top pedigrees as their side battled the On-Time squad to a near standoff as Erwin Bartolome shot the final two points to secure the Vipers single point win in the final seconds of the game.
BASKETBALL The opening round saw On-Time get off to a roaring start with JJ Pascual, Benjie Pascasio and Perciano at the business end of things. Perciano’s 3-pointer in the early going was quickly followed by Pascual and Pascasio who alternated in scoring to close the first round with a gaping 9-point lead against a slow-starting Vipers side, 18-9. Veteran point-guard Norman Rustia joined the ranks of Bartolome, Andrade and Mac Cabico in the rally to challenge the OnTime onslaught, leading to a 40-40 standoff at the second half mark. Bartolome alone accounted for 12 of the 31 points scored by Vipers in the second quarter. With both teams in top flight going into the final quarter, Villanueva butted into the field as a substitute to boost the On-Time attack. He scored 14 points totally in the fourth quarter alone, giving his side a onepoint edge over Vipers, 83-82. But it was Bartolome’s two-point jumper in the final seconds that proved the decider, tipping the scale in favor of the catering specialists, 84-83 at the buzzer. On the other hand Marlon Bautista and captain Archie Juvillo led Mind-Web to shoot down the high-flying Chicken-Inasal Shooters in the second game of the day, 8567. The two stalwarts guided their team past the shooters, with Arthur Pamatmat quarterbacking the offense while also delivering clutch hits with perimeter threat Mac Mariano playing decoy to set up Jun Aninon and Jeff Luage. Allan Yap also led the Shooters in defense that denied Mind-Web hit men from getting good looks at the basket. With veteran Shane Coppin leading the offense, Inasal led in the early going, taking the first quarter 25-10 with support from Leo Reyes, Benjie Garabel and Vince Vidal the captain of the side. The shooters’ initial momentum seemed to have fizzled out after their first round surge, thus leaving the Mind-Web scorers to have a field day in the rest of the game to the end. Juvillo led Mind-Web scorers in double figures with 24 points followed by Pamatmat at 14 with Luage and Mariano lobbing in 9 apiece. Coppin tallied 22 with Yap adding 9 points for the losing Inasal Shooters squad. Marina Volts meanwhile put up a bril-
TOKYO, Feb 10, (AFP): The resignation of the national women’s judo coach who beat athletes with a bamboo sword was a nasty reminder of how Japan’s sporting world still draws on the traditions that led the country to war last century, experts say. And, they say, despite the bravery of the judokas who risked their careers to bring it to light, the culture of coercion and corporal punishment is so ingrained that it will die hard. Ryuji Sonoda quit in disgrace on February 1 after 15 of his charges accused him and his staff of slapping, kicking and beating them during training in the run up to the London Olympics. Sonoda, 39, who doubles as a judo instructor for Tokyo police, was also heard telling members of the squad to “drop dead” during humiliating dressing downs. His boss Kazuo Yoshimura, the technical director at the All-Japan Judo Federation, also stepped down later along with one of Sonoda’s assistant coaches. But the women, none of whom has been named publicly, say despite the seriousness of the charges, multiple complaints were only acted on by the maledominated federation and the Japanese
JUDO
FBC-SMDC Team
liant performance to soften the tough KOC-EMS squad in a dominating fashion, leaving no room for doubt as to who was the better side. They pulled off the victory with a combination of smothering defense and a well-oiled offense that left the KOC boys seemingly dazed, especially in the second round where the Volts overcame a one point deficit in the first to open an 8point lead, 19-20, 22-13. The 41-33 second half lead behind the derring-do of Captain Sam Sahagun and Jay Valencia with help from James Funtanares, Kim Legaspi and Charlie Hipayo. As both teams won their games last week, there was the determination on both sides to win this game to keep the momentum flowing. And despite fielding a full complement and enjoying a ceiling advantage with their twin towers in George Lorenzo and Paul Duma and high-scoring Rchard Ison, KOC didn’t always have their way against the plucky and smaller Marina Volts. Both squads finished the third quarter dead even at 72-72 before Volts’ hulking De La Rosa started to assert himself in the paint, while Sahagun and Hipayo took
KOC EMS Team
care of the perimeter while clamping down on defense en route to a tight 96-94 win at the buzzer. Advanced Technology Company (ATC) clinched a cool default win and 20
points as their opponents, The-One, failed to show up on the hard court for their scheduled encounter of the Ajwaa Travel & Tours/TFC/FONZ co-sponsored tournament.
Marina Volts Team
In the final game of the day, BarangaySalmiya went down 70-75 against MarineSpa. Although both squads applied tough defense, Marine-Spa did it with such telling effect that only two Salmiya players managed to come up with double figures, leaving the latter’s marksmen no clear looks with their leech-like marking. Though the Salmiya succeeded in slowing down Alvin Apalin, they had no solution against the deadly trio of Freddie Eugenio, Marlon Batino and Javier Jeminez who took turns tormenting them, raining baskets from virtually all angles. Salmiya however stayed on the heels of the Spa with Jayson Santillan the substitute offense player leading the charge to push them into a third quarter lead. Salmiya were left floundering after their brief lead in the third quarter as the Spa tightened the screws to break the game wide open with a blitz that sent them slightly ahead 72-69 with 4 minutes remaining on the clock. Spa continued piling on the pressure till the buzzer sounded to Salmiya’s rescue at 75-70 for Marine-Spa.
Olympic Committee when the scandal was exposed by the media in late January. “We were deeply hurt both physically and mentally. Some of us were reduced to tears and others were exhausted,” they said in a statement, adding they took a stand “for the future of women’s judo”. The explosive case came weeks after a teenager killed himself following repeated physical abuse from his high school basketball coach, reigniting a national debate on widespread corporal punishment in schools and sport. Worried about negative fallout from these incidents on Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the government announced an independent body to investigate and prevent the abuse of athletes by their coaches in all sports. But, says Hidenori Tomozoe, a professor of sports ethics at Tokyo’s Waseda University, the problem is a systemic one. Sonoda, the judo coach, said he had been beaten himself by coaches but “I never took it as physical punishment.” He added he had struck his judokas “as I wished them to stay strong and overcome mental barriers”. Physical punishment is frequently tolerated in schools — nurturing grounds for sports in Japan — as an effective tool to produce athletes, says Tomozoe. He said the tradition dates to 1925 when the government started sending military officers into schools as drill instructors to provide jobs for them after World War I. This coincided with Japan’s march towards militarism and the acquisitive and brutal warring of the following two decades. “They beat students and otherwise acted violently against them in the name of training,” he told AFP. “After the war, they were purged but the atmosphere or ethos they created has remained in school culture.
AFL aware of breaches
Australia football codes in doping scandal SYDNEY, Feb 10, (AFP): Australian Rules football on Sunday admitted involvement in a bombshell nationwide sports doping scandal, saying two clubs and a number of individual players had been implicated. The sensational Australian Crime Commission report, released Thursday, said use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs was common across multiple sporting codes, sending shockwaves through Australia. Australian Football League (AFL) deputy CEO Gill McLachlan revealed Sunday that the ACC report had identified “two specific cases where WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited performance-enhancing
SOCCER drugs may have been used”. He said the AFL was aware of “potential multiple breaches” at Melbourne’s Essendon Bombers, where “it is possible that players were administered the WADA-prohibited performance-enhancing drugs without their knowledge or consent”. One player at another club had also been identified, he added, declining to identify the individual or their franchise. “All possible instances of WADAprohibited performance-enhancing drug use identified will be investigated fully in co-operation with ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority) to determine whether in fact there have been any breaches of the AFL’s anti-doping code,” McLachlan told reporters. However, he said the AFL was not aware of “any instance of suspected match fixing in the AFL competition”. Separately, News Limited reported that six of Australia’s 16 National Rugby League sides had been named in the
Botha fails dope test — report
‘Cipollini lawyer threatens to sue newspaper’ MILAN, Feb 10, (Agencies): A lawyer for retired Italian cycling star Mario Cipollini threatened to sue Italy’s biggest-seling newspaper over “false and absurd” allegations that he was a client of a sports doctor currently standing trial on doping charges. “We refute these false and absurd allegations,” lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone said in a statement published in La Gazzetta dello Sport on Sunday. “In light of these (allegations) I have been instructed to protect the rights of my client whether in a civil court or a court of law.” Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes is currently standing trial in Madrid on charges of supplying and administering banned doping
products to a number of top cyclists and athetes. Cipollini, a former star sprinter who was crowned world champion in 2002, was accused Saturday by La Gazzetta dello Sport of being one of Fuentes’ clients. The report claims to have solid evidence of the doping programme Fuentes prepared for Cipollini during the period 20012004, which included the use of the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin), blood transfusions and growth hormones. ❑ ❑ ❑ Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams’s opponent Francois Botha failed a dope test before their heavyweight bout, local media reported on Sunday,
adding further doubts to the credibility of the controversial fight. Botha, who was beaten on points by Williams on Friday, had tested positive for phentermine, a banned appetite suppressant, the Sydney Morning Herald said in a report. Williams (6-0) took his unbeaten record to six wins in farcical circumstances when he was awarded the victory over the 44-year-old South African in a bout reduced to 10 rounds from the original 12 at the last minute. Doubts also surfaced over the fight’s status as a purported World Boxing Association (WBA) international heavyweight title bout after local media reported that no officials from the organisation were present.
probe, citing confidential sources. NRL chief Dave Smith would not confirm the report but said the sport was working closely with the ACC to “inform individual clubs that they have been the subject of intelligence-gathering”. “While acknowledging media speculation about the number of clubs today the NRL remains bound by strict legal constraints,” said Smith. “The NRL accepts that there are frustrations for players, clubs and fans. However, the significance of these matters demands they are dealt with through a proper process.” Justice Minister Jason Clare stressed it was up to individual clubs
to come clean on their involvement and not the place of the government or ACC — a stance backed by Smith. “It’ll be up to the clubs to put their hand up and say yes, we are one of the clubs that are affected by this investigation,” Clare told ABC television. Clare said the “veil of suspicion is hanging over all clubs” and “silence is not going to be the solution here”. “I encourage all clubs that are affected to put their hand up and work with the authorities to make sure that we get this out of the game,” the minister said. Prime Minister Julia Gillard — a renowned AFL fan — echoed the calls, urging transparency to restore trust in the sports-mad nation.
“I think fans are anxious to get to the bottom of this and fans are very anxious to know what the circumstances of their own club are,” said Gillard. “So I would say to clubs, please come clean; make sure that you tell your fans what is going on.” High-profile doping cases have been rare in Australia, with bans for cricketer Shane Warne in 2003 and rugby’s Wendell Sailor in 2006 among the exceptions. Cycling Australia officials Stephen Hodge and Matt White departed the body in October in the wake of the scandal involving disgraced US cycling star Lance Armstrong, when they admitted taking drugs during their riding careers.
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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51
Woeful Ireland outclassed
Cool Farrell puts England in Six Nations control DUBLIN, Feb 10, (Agencies): England won a Six Nations match in Dublin for the first time in ten years on Sunday when Owen Farrell kicked them to a 12-6 victory to become the only team capable of winning a Grand Slam after just two rounds of matches. Ireland, who lost flyhalf Jonathan Sexton and wing Simon Zebo to injury in a first half in which the host’s handling was simply abysmal, briefly drew level with England in the second half but Farrell’s ever-reliable boot proved the difference. Stuart Lancaster’s men, whose last championship victory in Ireland also coincided with their last Grand Slam win, imposed themselves from the off
and handed the 21-year-old Farrell a straightforward early penalty opportunity to give them the lead. “If you practise enough it’s only another kick,” Farrell said in a pitchside interview. “I was unbelievably
RUGBY excited to come over here and get stuck into this game,” he added. It was 26 minutes before another score came as both sides dealt with the damp conditions by launching up-andunder after up-and-under, with Ireland far the sloppier from hand, knocking on almost every time they ventured into
England territory. Despite the Irish pressure, it was Farrell again who slotted over a penalty from distance to double the lead. To add to the host’s wows, Sexton was carried off moments later, joining Zebo in the treatment room after his day lasted just 10 minutes. Sexton’s replacement Ronan O’Gara, making a record 126th appearance for his country, was penalised for holding on amid fierce England pressure on the stroke of halftime but luckily for the hosts, Farrell missed a rare shot at goal. There was yet another knock on from an Irish hand three minutes into the second half but their scrum, obliterated in last year’s corresponding fixture, mus-
tered a huge push and O’Gara halved the deficit from the resulting penalty. Brian O’Driscoll, who rushed to hospital earlier in the day for the birth of his first child, looked like he might have to join Sexton and Zebo on the sidelines but as has been the case on more than one occasion, the former captain limped on. O’Gara, the only Irishman to have played more times for his country than O’Driscoll, drew the scores level just before the hour after England flanker James Haskell was sent to the sin bin for kicking the ball away illegally. However Ireland had little chance to take advantage of the extra man as Farrell, who quickly put the hosts in trouble with a superb kick in behind,
coolly slotted over two more penalties to restore his side’s six-point lead. “I thought the way we managed the sinbin period was critical and we deserved the win. I’m chuffed for the maturity of the whole team,” said Lancaster. The choruses of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ began among the away fans and as much as the noisy home support tried to drown them out, their team could not and O’Gara missed a very good chance to close the gap with ten minutes to go. Standings P W D L PF PA Pts England 2 2 0 0 50 24 4 Scotland 2 1 0 1 52 48 2 Wales 2 1 0 1 38 36 2
Ireland Italy France
2 1 0 1 36 34 2 2 1 0 1 33 52 2 2 0 0 2 24 39 2 Fixtures Feb 23: Italy vs Wales, Rome Feb 23: England vs France, Twickenham Feb 24: Scotland vs Ireland, Murrayfield Mar 09: Scotland vs Wales, Murrayfield Mar 09: Ireland vs France, Paris Mar 10: England vs Italy, Twickenham Mar 16: Italy vs Ireland, Rome Mar 16: Wales vs England, Cardiff Mar 16: France vs Scotland, Paris
Juve go 5-point clear
Balotelli saves Milan ‘blushes’ at Cagliari MILAN, Feb 10, (AFP): Mario Balotelli scored his third goal in two games for AC Milan to snatch a share of the points in a 1-1 draw at Cagliari on Sunday as Roma’s slump continued with a 3-1 defeat to Sampdoria. AC Milan remain fourth, 14 points behind leaders Juventus but will drop to fifth if city rivals Inter account for Chievo at the San Siro in Sunday’s late game. Balotelli, signed from Manchester City 10 days ago, grabbed a brace, including one goal from the penalty spot, in a 2-1 win over Udinese last week. But despite securing a share of the points in Sardinia, the striker spurned several chances to secure all three points for Milan during a finale in which the visitors belatedly laid siege to the Cagliari goal. Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted: “It was a tight game and we did well to hold out in the first half before we conceded the goal right just before half-time. “We pulled our socks up in the second half and after the penalty when we created a few chances we should have put the match beyond reach. But overall it was a good point for us.” Cagliari, who won a last gasp bid to stage the match at their new Is Arenas stadium despite official fears over security, dominated the first half and took a 45th-minute lead through Victory Ibarbo’s close range header. It was the Colombian’s first goal this season for Cagliari, who looked set to grab a precious victory until Milan levelled late in the match. In a goalmouth melee, Balotelli prepared for an overhead kick but was impeded by AC Milan’s Sulley Muntari (left), and Cagliari defender Davide Astori, who was Cagliari’s Andrea Cossu vie for the ball dursent off for a second bookable offence as the ing a Serie A soccer match, in Cagliari, referee pointed to the spot. Italy, on Feb 10. The match ended in a 1-1 The Italy international stepped up to send draw. (AP) Michael Agazzi the wrong way to level and claim his third goal in two games. Yet the 22-year-old was guilty of missing a superb chance to put the visitors ahead, and twice found himself offside while presented with goal-scoring chances in the final 10 minutes. BERLIN, Feb 10, (Agencies): Mainz 05 failed to strengthen their grip on a European SOCCER spot on Sunday after drawing 1-1 at relegation-threatened Augsburg, who have now First, Balotelli’s attempt to head Philippe gone five games without a loss. Mainz, who are fifth on 31 points, strug- Mexes’s header from the edge of the area gled to settle into the game with Augsburg past Agazzi from close in went straight at the who were out to extend their four-game ‘keeper. He was then offside when Bojan flicked unbeaten run that has helped them off the bottom spot and close in on the relegation the ball into his path, and offside again when he tried to nod home the rebound from the playoff berth. The visitors broke the deadlock just before Spain international’s probing 20-metre the break, taking advantage of a lapse of drive. Roma suffered their 10th defeat of the concentration in the Augsburg defence after right back Ronny Philip was stretchered off campaign, a result, which coupled with and American Michael Parkhurst replaced Udinese’s 1-0 home win over Torino, dropped them to ninth place. him. Roma sacked coach Zdenek Zeman last Adam Szalai was left unmarked, lurking at the far post when two defenders week after a humiliating 4-2 home reverse to failed to clear a seemingly harmless cross Cagliari. However, caretaker coach Aurelio and the Hungarian drilled in for the lead with his 12th league goal of the cam- Andreazzoli has work to do if he is to plug the holes in Roma’s defence which has now paign. Mainz, however, were left with 10 men conceded 45 goals. Paraguayan midfielder Marcelo minutes later when Shawn Parker was sent off for a rough challenge on Parkhurst and Estigarribia broke the deadlock on 56 minthe hosts quickly made the extra man count utes with a low angled drive and the hosts when Sascha Moelders headed in from 10 doubled their lead on 73 minutes when second-half substitute Gianluca Sansone rifled a metres to level in the 57th. Augsburg are still 17th in the league but freekick past Maarten Stekelenburg. Argentine midfielder Erik Lamela reduced have now moved to within a point of arrears two minutes later, however Hoffenheim, in 16th. Bayern Munich are cruising towards their Sampdoria secured the win when Argentine first Bundesliga title since 2010 after crush- Emanuele Icardi was left unmarked to beat ing Schalke 04 4-0 on Saturday to open up a Stekelenburg at the back post from a 77th 15-point lead over champions Borussia minute corner. “Sampdoria deserved the win,” said Dortmund, who suffered a 4-1 home loss to Andreazzoli. Hamburg SV and have 39 points. “A few decisions could have gone our way Bayer Leverkusen stayed in third place on 38 after conceding a late equaliser in and I’m satisfied with how the lads played, their 3-3 draw at Borussia but I’m not happy with the result.” Juventus, who face Celtic in Glasgow in Moenchengladbach. Meanwhile, defender Pavel Krmas scored the first leg of their Champions League last late in the match to give surprising Freiburg 16 tie on Tuesday, beat Fiorentina 2-0 on a 1-0 victory over Fortuna Duesseldorf and Saturday and now have a five-point lead on move his team up to fifth in the Bundesliga Napoli after they could only sneak a 1-1 draw at Lazio. on Sunday.
Mainz stumble to draw at Augsburg
Marseille pair see red in stumble at Evian PARIS, Feb 10, (AFP): Marseille’s hopes of catching French pace-setters Paris Saint Germain took a knock on Sunday after the 2010 champions could only manage a 1-1 draw at modest Evian after finishing with nine men. Andre-Pierre Gignac scored five minutes after the break, playing a one-two with Mathieu Valbuena, for the 1993 European champions for his eighth goal of the season. But their hopes of a win bonus evaporated when Yannick Sagbo levelled on the hour from the penalty spot. The spotkick came following a foul on Saber Khlifa by Kassim Abdallah, for which the latter, an international defender for the Comoros Islands, saw red as the last defender. Marseille also had Ghanaian star Jordan Ayew sent off with 15 minutes remaining for two yellow cards in quick succession after coming on as a substitute and were unable to do
better than glean only their second point in their last three league matches, leaving coach Elie Baup frustrated. The draw leaves Marseille eight points adrift of PSG and two behind second-placed Lyon, who later Sunday were up against Lille while European hopefuls Rennes were hosting Toulouse. Evian meanwhile exited the bottom three on goal average as they moved above Sochaux, level on points with Reims. On Saturday, former giants Saint-Etienne overcame blizzard-like conditions in the RhoneAlpes region to move fourth with a 4-1 home win over reigning champions Montpellier. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his 11th goal of the campaign and Brandao, Yohan Mollo and Mathieu Bodmer helping extend Les Verts’ winning streak to four games and they now stand just three points behind Marseille.
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (right), vies with Gatafe’s defender Albert Lopo Garcia during the Spanish League football match FC Barcelona vs Getafe at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on Feb 10. (AFP)
Barcelona extend lead with ‘rout’ over Getafe Ronaldo-inspired Madrid ready for United MADRID, Feb 10, (AFP): Barcelona extended their advantage at the top of La Liga to 12 points with an easy 6-1 win over Getafe on Sunday. The game was over as a contest inside 13 minutes as Alexis Sanchez slotted home from Andres Iniesta’s through ball before Lionel Messi fired in his 46th goal of the season. David Villa and Cristian Tello then added further goals after halftime before Alvaro Vasquez pulled one back for the visitors with a calm finish. However, Barca continued to pour forward and goals from Iniesta and Gerard Pique in stoppage time gave the scoreline a fairer reflection of their dominance. In the continued absence of Tito Vilanova through illness, Barca assistant boss Jordi Roura made six changes to the side that started last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Valencia. Out went the injured Xavi along with Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro as Alex Song, Thiago Alcantara, Alexis Sanchez and David Villa were given rare starts. And it was Sanchez who made the breakthrough after just five minutes as a wonderful defence splitting pass from Iniesta put the Chilean through on goal and he slotted the ball past Jordi Codina to register his first league goal of the season. Seven minutes later it was two as another magnificent pass from Iniesta was knocked into Messi’s path by Thiago and the Argentine
found the bottom corner to continue Manchester United on Wednesday in his record streak of scoring in 13 the first-leg of their Champions straight league games. League last-16 tie and Karanka is The waves of Barcelona attack hoping Ronaldo can carry his recent continued to pound the Getafe form into the clash against his fordefence and Codina did well to mer club. block Sanchez’s effort from a narCoach Jose Mourinho had taken row angle before Messi nearly con- the chance to rest a few important nected with players with Villa’s fine Wednesday’s Betis vs Valladolid Aljazeera cross. game in mind, Sport +3 (23:30 Local) Real Madrid but it mattered assistant manlittle as Karim ager Aitor Karanka believes his side Benzema put the hosts in front from are hitting form at the right time as barely a yard on 17 minutes before they swept aside Sevilla 4-1 thanks Ronaldo fired a fierce drive past to a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick. Beto in the Sevilla goal eight minThe Spanish champions take on utes later.
Marseille’s French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou (left), vies with Evian’s Serbian midfielder Milos Ninkovic during their French L1 football match Evian (ETGFC) vs Marseille (OM) Feb 10, at the Parc des sports in Annecy, eastern France. (AFP)
The Portuguese captain rounded off his 20th hat-trick in a Madrid jersey with two goals in 14 minutes after half-time before a red card for Gonzalo Higuain and Manu del Moral’s late consolation soured an otherwise comfortable night for Mourinho’s men. Thoughts now turn to their attempt at a 10th European crown and Karanka is hopeful that playing 18 hours ahead of United this weekend could make a difference. “You notice a day extra rest and it has been good with the changes we made to also give a rest to some important players. We will see what players they play tomorrow,” said Karanka, a reference to United’s league clash with Everton on Sunday. Sevilla boss Unai Emery was far more concerned at what he saw as his side making things easy for Madrid.” The win moved Madrid back to within four points of city rivals Atletico and 13 off Barcelona, with the top two set to take on Rayo Vallecano and Getafe respectively on Sunday. Malaga maintained their place in fourth after they came from behind to beat Levante 2-1 thanks to two goals from Isco. Valencia, who have a Champions League date against Paris SaintGermain on Tuesday, remain just two points adrift of the Andalusians as Nelson Valdez’s stoppage time header handed them a 1-0 away win at Celta Vigo. Mallorca began life under Gregorio Manzano with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna but Deportivo La Coruna lost 3-0 at home to Granada to remain bottom.
PRIME TIME
ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013 monday— (all times are kuwait local) 06:30 futboll mundial ................................... osn sport 1HD 11:30 premiere league darts .............................. osn sport 2 14:00 wwe nxt ................................................ osn sport 4 15:00 wta qatar open tennis .................. aljazeera sport+10 17:00 womens basketball ............................. fox sports ME 18:30 qatar stars league-football .............. aljazeera sport 1 21:30 colombia vs paraguay ..................... aljazeera sport+7 23:30 betis vs valladolid-football .............. aljazeera sport+3
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Sports
Super Eagles win $1.5 mln 1st prize, place at FIFA Confed Cup
Nigeria end 19-yr title drought Burkina miss out SOWETO, South Africa, Feb 10, (AFP): Nigeria ended a 19year Africa Cup of Nations title drought Sunday with a 10 final victory over Burkina Faso at Soccer City thanks to a late first-half goal from Sunday Mba. It was a result that took winning coach Stephen Keshi into the record books as he equalled the feat of late Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary by winning gold medals as a player and a coach. Among the rewards for the Super Eagles was a $1.5 million first prize and a place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they will face world and European champions Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay. Nigeria were forced into a late prematch change when striker and four-goal leading scorer Keshi Emmanuel Emenike was ruled out by a hamstring injury sustained in the semi-final rout of Mali and experienced Ikechukwu Uche took his place. Burkina Faso were able to retain the team that started against Ghana in a semi-final settled by a shoot-out after the red card given to midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa was rescinded when the referee admitted he erred. It was only the third time the countries
SOCCER have met in the 56-year competition with Nigeria beating then-Upper Volta 4-2 in 1978 and Burkina Faso snatching a stoppage-time 1-1 draw in a Nelspruit group game last month. The Mba goal gave the Super Eagles a deserved 1-0 half-time lead after 45 minutes that followed a predictable script with Nigeria dominating possession and scoring chances while the Burkinabe relied largely on counter-attacks. Mba, one of two home-based stars in the starting line-up, struck on 40 minutes with a penalty-box flick over Mohamed Koffi and a left-foot shot into the far corner past helpless goalkeeper Daouda Diakite. It was an opportunist goal by Mba and his second of the tournament, having struck a superb match-winner in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat of pre-tournament title favourites Ivory Coast. Nigeria should have taken the lead much earlier as Diakite spilled a cross on 10 minutes into the path of Brown Ideye, whose shot at an unguarded goal was just too high. A combination of Nigerian midfield creativity and a couple of defensive howlers by the Burkinabe offered several half chances to the Super Eagles that were squandered. The early second-half exchanges mirrored the first period with the Nigerians pressing for a second goal that would leave opponents fielding a lone striker in Aristide Bance with a mountain to scale. Diakiate did well to push away a hard, low Ideye cross-cum-shot and Moses should have done better in a two-on-one situation that favoured the Eagles only to timidly surrender possession with the Burkinabe goal in sight. Although Spain-based Uche was a goal-scoring star of the qualifying campaign, he was making no impact on the final and gave way to Ahmed Musa nine minutes after half-time. There was another Nigerian substitution not long after — this time enfored — with full-back Elderson Echiejile limping off to be replaced by Juwon Oshaniwa, while the Burkinabe introduced Wilfried Sanou for Florent Rouamba. As the game moved into the final quarter there were chances at both ends with unmarked Musa slipping as he was poised to shoot inside the box and a Sanou drive at the other end finishing just wide of the far post. Urban Africa with noisy crowds, taxis and flames set the beat for a rising continent at the Africa Cup of Nations closing ceremony in Soweto on Sunday. Dancers grooved to house and electronic music against city skylines as a three-quarter full 90,000-seater Soccer City cheered ahead of the showdown between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. A few clouds dotted the Soweto sky as four Hawks fighter jets streaked past, showing the might of one of the continent’s strongest militaries.
Nigeria’s soccer team hold the trophy as they celebrate after winning the African Cup of Nations final soccer match against Burkina Faso at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb 10. (AP)
N’Zogbia downs Hammers to boost Villa survival bid
‘Gazza is struggling’
United open 12-point lead, eye title
Gascoigne in intensive care
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Feb 10, (AFP): Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie scored the goals as Manchester United opened up a commanding 12point lead at the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Everton on Sunday. With Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho watching from the directors’ box at Old Trafford ahead of his team’s Champions League tie against Alex Ferguson’s side at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, United took full advantage of second placed Manchester City’s surprise defeat at Southampton on Saturday. Giggs opened the scoring early on with his first league goal of the season, maintaining his astonishing record of having scored a league goal in each of his 23 seasons as a United player, a sequence which now covers every year in Premier League history. Van Persie got the second just before the break and, with City stumbling of late, the destiny of the title is firmly in United’s hands once again. United should have taken the lead after 10 minutes and would have done so but for an uncharacteristic error by the prolific van Persie, who collected Wayne Rooney’s through ball and rounded goalkeeper Tim Howard only to hit the outside of the post as he attempted to convert. It was a rare slip by a forward just two goals shy of the 20-league goal barrier, but it did not take the Dutchman long to make amends as he set up Giggs for a 13th minute opening goal. Antonio Valencia out-jumped Leighton Baines to head on a long ball from Jonny Evans which van Persie collected. His pass was perfect for Giggs, who had the time to steady himself before clinically placing the ball past Howard. In response, until Leon Osman’s weak, off-balance shot dribbled into David de Gea’s grasp after 24 minutes, Everton generated little to worry the home defence. De Gea was required to be far more alert just before the half hour, however, when he dived acrobatically to his left to keep out an Osman volley from the edge of the area which appeared destined for the corner of the United goal.
EPL Results & Standings LONDON, Feb 10, (AFP): English Premier League Results and Standings after Sunday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): United Man Utd Man City Chelsea Tottenham Arsenal Everton Swansea Liverpool West Brom Stoke
2 Everton P 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 25 25 26
W D L 21 2 3 15 8 3 14 7 5 14 6 6 12 8 6 10 12 4 9 10 7 9 9 7 10 4 11 7 12 7
0 GF 62 48 55 44 50 40 38 44 34 26
GA 31 24 28 30 29 32 29 32 35 31
Pts 65 53 49 48 44 42 37 36 34 33
Buoyed by their best passage of the game, Everton also asked questions of the United defence when Rafael da Silva was forced into a goal-saving challenge on Victor Anichebe, who looked poised to covert a Kevin Mirallas cross and, again, when Osman flashed a hopeful volley wide after a poor punch from de Gea. But, on the stroke of half-time, Everton’s tactic of playing a high defensive line to try and catch van Persie offside failed as Rafael played through a
Aston Villa West Ham Fulham Sunderland Norwich Southam. Newcastle Aston Villa Reading Wigan QPR
2 West Ham P W D L 26 8 6 12 26 7 8 11 26 7 8 11 26 6 11 9 26 6 9 11 26 7 6 13 26 5 9 12 26 5 8 13 26 5 6 15 26 2 11 13
GF 29 36 28 25 36 34 25 33 30 19
1 GA 38 42 34 40 45 46 50 48 51 41
Pts 30 29 29 29 27 27 24 23 21 17
perfectly-weighted pass and the Dutchman timed his run superbly. In Birmingham, United Kingdom, Charles N’Zogbia inspired Aston Villa to a crucial 2-1 win over West Ham as the Premier League strugglers climbed out of the relegation zone on Sunday. Paul Lambert’s team have endured a miserable campaign filled with embarrassing cup exits and woeful league defeats, but N’Zogbia’s influential display gave Villa renewed hope that they can at least avoid sinking into the
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (top), gets a hold of Everton’s Phil Neville during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Feb 10. (AP)
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Liverpool vs West Brom Abu Dhabi Sports 3, 5 (23:00 Local) teams around us this weekend.” After squandering a 3-1 lead in their previous match at Everton last weekend, it was hardly surprising that Villa’s players and fans seemed wracked by nerves in the early stages. They should have been ahead after just two minutes but when Jussi Jaaskelainen spilled Benteke’s shot into Andreas Weimann’s path the Austrian forward somehow fired wide. Villa defender Ron Vlaar came close to opening the scoring with a half-volley from a corner but his effort was narrowly off target. Sam Allardyce’s visitors were slightly more threatening after the break and Villa fans’ anxiety was clear to see when Ciaran Clark headed clear from a corner, prompting ironic cheers from supporters still scarred by their team’s shocking defending from set-pieces this season. But Villa gradually regained the momentum and Benteke lashed just wide before the hosts finally took the lead in the 74th minute.
LONDON, Feb 10, (AFP): Former England star Paul Gascoigne is in intensive care in the United States after being diagnosed as not well enough to begin his treatment for alcoholism it was reported by the Mail on Sunday. The 45-year-old — capped 57 times but who has battled alcoholism for years and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008 — had been due to receive treatment at a rehabilitation clinic in Arizona at a cost of around US $30,000 for a two month stay there. However, according to the Mail on Sunday he became seriously ill on Saturday and doctors had him moved from his hospital room to intensive care, although now it is believed his life is not in danger. Former England and Spurs team-mate Gary Lineker — who along with other friends of Gascoigne have helped pay for the cost of the clinic as the former footballer is virtually penniless — said that his friend is ‘struggling’. ‘Gazza is struggling, Let’s hope he can hang on in there,’ tweeted Lineker. Gascoigne, whose talent shone at the 1990 World Cup finals where England reached the semi-finals, agreed to seek help after video footage emerged of a shambling public appearance he made at a charity event. However, Gascoigne, who was pictured drinking a pint of beer immediately after arriving at the airport bar in Arizona, has been in hospital for the past four days with his condition deteriorating markedly on Saturday. Gascoigne has also received the support both personally and financially from present England players such as Wayen Rooney and captain Steven Gerrard. Rooney said things could have worked out differently for Gascoigne had he been at Manchester United and taken care of by manager Alex Ferguson, who has aside from winning endless titles also gained credit for handling players personal problems. “You never know what would have happened but I know Alex Ferguson is the best in looking after his players and making sure his players are doing the right thing,” the United forward told Daily Star Sunday.
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Championship. N’Zogbia won the penalty that Christian Benteke converted to break the deadlock in the closing stages at Villa Park and the former Wigan winger then curled in a superb free-kick to give the hosts much-needed breathing space. An own goal from Villa’s Ashley Westwood ensured a nervous finale, but Lambert’s men held on for their first league win in 10 matches, a dismal run that stretched back to a victory at Liverpool in December. Villa now sit one point clear of the bottom three but their battle to preserve their long-held top-flight status looks certain to go down to the wire. “I think it will be huge for us. We’ve taken a lot of knocks but football is a funny game and we are only three points behind Newcastle now,” Lambert said. “We know what we have got to do and there’s 12 games to go. Every game is really tough, but that was a huge win for us, especially with the results for the
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