06 Feb 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Romney wins big in Nevada, but Gingrich fights on

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9 Amir 20 7Cabinet 7 resigns, 14 voters challenge Juwaihel’s election

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By B Izzak conspiracy theories

We committed a self-betrayal

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

E

mbarrassing is a small word for it. It is shameless - or whatever you want to call it you can call it.

Elections are over and not a single woman has made it into parliament. How come? What does this mean? How come in a country where the female population is more, not a single woman gets enough votes. As provided by the ministry, eligible voters in Kuwait numbered 406,000. Half of those voters were women. Then why not a single woman got enough votes to enter parliament? The highest number of votes were cast for former MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak, around 7,000.

Where are the other votes from the different constituencies? Why men got around 20,000 or 30,000 votes while women could not reach even a tenth of that number? That means that as usual, women betrayed each other. Leave the men alone, if women only voted for each other, they would have gotten quite a few representatives in parliament. What is the reason? Why do women stand against each other?

Most of our women are well-educated, when we talk about degrees. But being enlightened and responsible is not related to what degrees you hold. It is something that streams in the blood. It is inherited through hundreds of years of education and culture. It seems like most of our women lack political maturity.

Unfortunately, this reminded me of an interview I did after the liberation of Kuwait with Mubarak Duwailah, an MP at that time. Women at that time did not have the right to vote, let alone be nominated. I asked him his opinion on women’s enfranchisement, and was angry with him about his remark. He told me: “I am not against women, but I don’t approve they should be allowed to vote because women in my country are tribal and they could be herded.”

Unfortunately, after what happened in these elections, I am sad to admit that might be right. While we give our votes to men, we help them all make it. Most of them, 99 percent of them, did not bother to give us their votes. We were only their sisters while they were campaigning. But come the hour to cast their votes and they ignored us totally. Why not? If we ignored ourselves, do we blame men?

Dear sisters, I hope you learnt a valuable lesson.

Men did not give a damn to vote for you while you let each other down. Enjoy a parliament without your presence in it and let’s see who will now defend our rights in parliament. Do not come and cry later! You committed self-betrayal. Congratulations!

Kuwait doesn’t care a hoot for bedoons: HRW KUWAIT: Kuwait has “little respect” for the rights of more than 100,000 stateless people, Human Rights Watch said yesterday after releasing its World Report 2012 on Kuwait. “Punishing bedoons (stateless) for protesting while refusing to act on their citizenship claims shows how little respect the government has for their rights,” HRW deputy Middle East director Joe Stork said in a statement. “Following decades of broken promises, Kuwait needs to act now to address the plight of the bedoons,” who are demanding citizenship and other basic rights, he said.

Hundreds of stateless people in Kuwait in Feb 2011 began staging demonstrations demanding citizenship, HRW said. The interior ministry warned them not to protest and violently dispersed several demonstrations using water cannons, tear gas, smoke bombs, and sound bombs, it said. Around 150 stateless protesters are facing trial for illegal assembly and assaulting policemen. The first rulings are expected next month.

Kuwait says that only 34,000 out of the 105,000 bedoons in the state are eligible for citizenship, while the remaining 71,000 are citizens of other countries who must produce their original passports. —AFP

KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (left) presents the resignation of his Cabinet to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at Seif Palace yesterday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah yesterday accepted the resignation of the government, a prerequisite under the constitution following the general election. The Amir however asked Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and the rest of the ministers to continue as a caretaker government until a new Cabinet is former. Under the Kuwaiti law, the government must step down after the announcement of the results of the general elections and the new Cabinet must be formed before the new National Assembly holds its inaugural session, which must be within two weeks of the election results.

Sheikh Jaber was appointed prime minister after former premier Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad AlSabah resigned late November following a corruption scandal and youth-led street protests demanding the government’s resignation. Later, Sheikh Jaber re-formed the outgoing Cabinet without adding any new face. The Amir is expected to start the traditional consultations with former Assembly speakers before naming a prime minister to form the new Cabinet. He can ask Sheikh Jaber to form the new Cabinet or name a new person as appointing a premier is the sole authority of the Amir under Kuwaiti law.

The resigned Cabinet meanwhile held a meeting yesterday and approved a decree to call on the new National Assembly to hold its inaugural session on Feb 15. Secretary General of the assembly Allam Al-Kandari had earlier said the session will be held on Feb 14.

In other developments, the battle for the speakership of the Assembly appears to be heating up. Many Continued on Page 13

Outrage after Syria UN move vetoed DAMASCUS: Outrage grew yesterday after Russia and China blocked a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its crackdown on protests, with the opposition saying it handed the regime a “licence to kill”. Saturday’s rare double veto drew international condemnation, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling it a “travesty” and vowing to push for new sanctions on Syria. Russia defended its veto saying Western powers refused to reach a consensus. “The authors of the draft Syria resolution, unfortunately, did not want to undertake an extra effort and come to a consensus,” Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov wrote on Twitter.

The veto came hours after the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) reported a “massacre” overnight Friday in the central flashpoint city of Homs where more than 230 civilians were killed during an assault by regime forces. On Sunday, activists reported more shelling in Homs, with the restive Baba Amro neighbourhood targeted. The death toll rose to at least 88 people reported killed over the weekend, one of the bloodiest since the uprising against President Bashar AlAssad’s regime erupted almost 11 months ago. Opposition groups say at least 6,000 people have now been killed in Syria.

The second UN double veto in four months fuelled angry reactions from Washington and fears among Syrian activists of a new surge of violence that will once again target Homs. “We have to increase diplomatic pressure on the Assad regime and work to convince those people around President Assad that he must go and that there has to be a recognition of that and a new start,” Clinton said. “We will work to seek regional and national sanctions against Syria and strengthen the ones we have,” she said, stressing the need “to dry up the sources of funding and the arms shipments that are keeping the regime’s war machine going.”

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Syrians and Kuwaiti activists protest against the Syrian regime outside Damascus’ embassy in Kuwait yesterday. (Inset) A woman flashes the victory sign with her fingers painted in the colours of the former Syrian flag during the protest. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 2)

Bahrain oppn launches weeklong reform rally MANAMA: Bahraini opposition parties, launching a weeklong ‘sit-in’ for political reforms at a mass rally, swore yesterday to take their campaign to the centre of last year’s democracy protest in the capital Manama. “This is a dress rehearsal for the return. We will return! We will return! Soon our sit-in will not be here but at the Pearl Roundabout,” said poetess Ayat AlQormozi, who became a face of the Arab Spring movement after she was jailed for reading out a poem criticising the king at Pearl Roundabout. She was addressing a crowd of over 10,000 at the rally outside Manama, where anti-government protests last year were crushed by Bahraini forces and troops from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Pearl Roundabout, a large traffic junction in Manama where the protesters camped out and rallied for a month, has since been closed off by security forces who monitor the area closely.

“The large number of people who participated yesterday (Saturday) wanted to Continued on Page 13

MUQSHA, Bahrain: Laila Al-Muhanna holds up a picture of her son, jailed Teachers’ Union leader Mahdi Abu Deeb, during an anti-government rally of tens of thousands of Bahrainis on Saturday just west of the capital Manama. — AP

Iran vows to hit any country that stages attack TEHRAN: Iran will target any country used as a launchpad for attacks against its soil, the deputy Revolutionary Guards commander said, expanding Tehran’s range of threats in an increasingly volatile stand-off with world powers over its nuclear ambitions. Last week, Iran’s supreme clerical leader threatened reprisals for the West’s new ban on Iranian oil exports and the US defence secretary was quoted as saying Israel was likely to bomb Iran within months to stop it assembling nuclear weapons.

Although broadened and sharpened financial sanctions have begun to inflict serious economic pain in Iran, its oil minister asserted on Saturday it would make no nuclear retreat even if its crude oil exports ground to a halt.

Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes. But its recent shift of uranium enrichment to a mountain bunker possibly impervious to conventional bombing, and refusal to negotiate peaceful guarantees for the program or open up to UN nuclear inspectors, have thickened an atmosphere of brewing confrontation, raising fears for Gulf oil supplies.

Continued on Page 13

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

LOCAL

Syrian detainees fear death if deported

KUWAIT: Syrians and Kuwaiti activists protest against the Syrian regime outside Damascus embassy in Kuwait yesterday. Hundreds of angry Syrians and local activists stormed the embassy, removing the flag and destroying utilities, the Interior Ministry said, adding that some 40 people were arrested. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat KUWAIT: “They killed my brother, father and mother on a single day... my blood boiled and I attacked the embassy of this bloodthirsty regime,” said one of the dozens of Syrian nationals that were arrested in connection with storming their country’s embassy on Saturday morning. At least 60 people were scrutinized for hours after being arrested by special task forces on Saturday. According to a security source, the detainees argued that they gathered at the location to stage a peaceful demonstration but vented out their pent-up rage in retaliation to the massacres that took place in their towns and villages.

Often breaking down in tears, they allegedly begged police on numerous occasions to not deport them, as the decision would mean death at the hands of the Syrian police, reported AlQabas.

Several MPs echoed demands of no repatriation in statements made shortly after the incident, exhorting the government to expel the Syrian ambassador from Kuwait. “Protestors who entered the Syrian embassy should not be treated as criminals, but as fighters against crimes against humanity,” said MP Dr Waleed AlTabtabaei.

He, along with fellow lawmakers Mubarak AlWalan, Mohammad Hayef, Osama Al-Munawer, Mohammad Al-Dallal and Mohammad AlHatlani urged the ambassador’s expulsion.

MP Abdulhameed Dashti was among another team of MPs who heavily criticized the breach,

Paper sues Interior for assaulting photographer KUWAIT: A local daily has moved the court against the Ministry of Interior (MoI) after a policeman allegedly assaulted a photographer that was covering protests staged outside the Syrian embassy in Mishref on Saturday.

“Attacks against reporters and cameramen have seen a rapid rise recently, the latest took place during the storming of the Syrian embassy. Al-Rai’s photographer Asaad Abdullah was detained by police,” read a statement published by AlRai yesterday.

According to the report, Abdullah sus-

and asked police to take all legal actions against those responsible for violating law and order. In the meantime, MP Obaid Al-Wasmi argued that support can be shown to Syrian people without violating law, yet urged the Ministry of Interior to not deport Syrian detainees.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khalid AlJarallah was present at the embassy building fol-

lowing the raid; which he described as being “brutal and uncivilized.”

Meanwhile, Syrian ambassador to Kuwait Bassam Abdulmajeed said that “true Kuwaiti citizens and officials condemn such unacceptable, cowardly attacks,” arguing that “the same barbaric approach is taken by protestors in Syria,” reported Al-Rai.

Students, parents express hope for change KUWAIT: A number of students and their parents congratulated the members of the NA Council. They said, “We have heard a lot of promises during the elections about giving rights to the students, who were affected by the results of exams during the 2nd period, and to hold those who caused that problem

accountable.” They asked that their message be conveyed to all MPs to support them in their upcoming protest. They emphasized that the message should reach MP Musallam Al-Barrak in particular, including a direct comment for him “You swore to us that you will defend our rights.”

They added that the MP’s participation in the upcoming protest will be an indicator of their creditability and whether or not they are fulfilling their promises. It will also show whether or not they understand the severity of the problem, which affects ever y Kuwaiti household, the group added.— Al-Anbaa

tained a “severe head trauma” The report further indicates that police confiscated two cameras from Abdullah, which were later returned to the daily’s building “but with memory cards missing.”

“We deeply regret the unjustified oppressive measures resorted to by the Interior Ministry to violate journalists’ constitutional freedom. Al-Rai will take legal measures against all MoI personnel who attacked its reporters and photographers, and prevented them from performing their duties freely,” the statement reads.— Al-Rai

Commercial visit visa transfer resumed KUWAIT: Kuwait has lifted a five month ban on transferring commercial visit visas to work permits yesterday.

The move was taken to regulate the influx of unskilled laborers into the country, thereby maintaining demographic balance.

According to a Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor(MSAL) official, expatriates that are academically qualified can now secure work permits, while those without qualifications are only allowed to apply for jobs in which there is a skill shortage, known as ‘rare

fields.’ The eligibility to obtain work permit (unqualified workers) will be subject to approval from a labor department’s special committee, said a source. Meanwhile, the official added that more regulations will be imposed “to ensure that human trafficking is eliminated.” These will “guarantee that expatriates are only hired in places that desperately require their services.”

The visa transfer ban was to be lifted on January 1, 2012, but was postponed until after the elections were held on Thursday.

Opposition blocs eye key Parliament posts ‘Assembly to be dissolved soon’ KUWAIT: While MP Ahmad AlSaadoun is a favorite to win the speaker’s post, reports indicate that speakership is not the only position that opposition blocs have been vying for. They plan to fill in most key posts in the Parliament.

Speaking to Al-Qabas on condition of anonymity, sources indicate that Islamist MPs and Popular Action Bloc(PAB) lawmakers are holding talks to nominate members contesting for the deputy speaker’s post, head office posts, including majority membership in parliamentary committees.

In addition to Al-Saadoun, progovernment MP Ali Al-Rashid and prominent liberal lawmaker Jassem Al-Saqr officially announced plans to run for speakership. Al-Saadoun, a veteran parliamentarian and former three-time speaker who led the opposition in the past few parliaments, is considered a favorite for the post given the complete backing he enjoys from opposition groups that gained parliamentary majority. This gives Al-Saadoun an advantage even if Al-Rashid or AlSaqr receives suppor t of the Cabinet which enjoys full voting rights in the Parliament as elected lawmakers.

MP Khalid Al-Sultan decided to not contest elections, and officially announced his bid to run for

deputy speakership. MP Adnan Abdulsamad announced his candidature for the same post. In a recent statement, Al-Sultan said that the voting for the speaker’s post will be “the first event in a series of unprecedented events unfolding in Kuwait’s political history.” He refused explain any further, but added that “carefully thinking will be done,” reported AlQabas.

Several opposition MPs including Musallam Al-Barrak and Salem Namlan announced support for AlSaadoun’s speakership bid, with the latter also seeking membership in the Parliament’s interior and defense committees and the legislative committee. But pro-government MP Nabeel Al-Fadhl said that he would definitely not vote for Al Saadoun, and formulated plans to run for committees’ membership.

Al-Fadhl made these statements on Saturday shor tly after he was escorted out of the Regency Hotel in the middle of a ceremony held to celebrate his victory. Police officers led Al-Fadhl, as well as MP Mohammad Al-Juwaihel who joined him in the celebration, out of the hotel as a safety measure. “ There have been several attempts made to intimidate me as well as drive Al-Juwaihel to resign from his post in Parliament,” Al-

Fadhl argued. Meanwhile, AlJuwaihel reportedly expressed hope that MPs will be accorded seats alphabetically, placing him between opposition figures Musallam AlBarrak and Mohammad Hayef.

In other statements, liberal MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim attacked the Parliament, which he described as “extremist in all respects,” is likely to be dissolved soon. Al-Ghanim further mentioned a “conspiracy being hatched by certain ruling family members against the National Action Bloc” during the election, but vowed to exert all efforts to promote liberalism in Parliament. AlGhanim became the only National Action Bloc(NAB) member to be reelected after colleagues Saleh AlMulla, Aseel Al-Awadhi and Abdullah Al-Roumi lost out, former MP Adel Al-Saraawi did not contest elections, reported Al-Rai. Former MP Hassan Jowhar, a popular Shiite politician whose defeat caught many by surprise, expressed hope that a new Cabinet will be formed “comprising statesmen capable of living up to meet the challenges of fighting corruption and pushing forward the development process.” He described election results as “choice made by citizens which we must respect,” Jowhar said, reported Al-Qabas.

MPs urged to start ‘economic spring’ KUWAIT: Local Economists expressed anticipation that the newly elected parliament would help start what they described as a ‘economic spring’ that would end the state of idleness various economic sectors in Kuwait have been suffering for a while. To do this, they recommended adapting a full vision to help achieve development in various fields.

Economists also expressed wish-

es that the recommendations made by the consultant economic committee to HH the Amir would be transformed to an executable law once the parliament was in session.

In this regard, investment expert, Tareq Al-Bassam said that the identity of the speaker of the newly elected parliament would have a great impact on subsidizing market indicators. On the other hand, expert, Zaid Al-Naqeeb seemed more pes-

simistic and stressed that ‘the formation of the new parliament comprising of a majority of opposition MPs indicates that the market performance will be so negative’.

On his part, Stock Exchange expert, Magdi Sabri stressed that strong government that supports economic decisions and has the capability of dealing with the strong opposition would help support KSE’s performance. —Annahar

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

local

Kuwaitis punish government, allies over corruption charges Triumph for Islamists, tribes

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah receiving Central Bank of Kuwait Governor Sheikh Salem Abdulaziz Al-Saud Al-Sabah at Seif Palace yesterday.

Cabinet reviews govt resignation KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Cabinet, in its weekly meeting at Seif Palace yesterday, approved a draft law to hold the first parliamentary ordinary session of the 14th legislative term, on Wednesday, Feb 23.

Af ter reviewing the resignation address by His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Ahmad AlSabah’s government which was referred to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah earlier today, the cabinet session, chaired by HH Sheikh Jaber, focused on the outcome of the country’s recent parliamentary elections, which were held on Februar y 2, 2012, Government spokesman, Minister of Education and Higher Education, as well as Minister of Justice Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, said after the meeting.

The electoral process and its results were reviewed by Deputy Prime

Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

He began by lauding efforts exerted by judges, public prosecutors, the staff of each of the Interior, Education, Information and Communications Ministries, as well as other governmental bodies in helping the voting process to run smoothly with “utmost” integrity and cooperation.

Sheikh Ahmad said that the elections’ results reflected the freedom and democrac y in the countr y, which allowed voters to choose their representatives, to serve the best interest of the country and its people.

He also extended his congratulations to the winners of this parliamentary race and wished them success in keeping their promises to the public and to promote construc tive cooperation between the country’s legislative and executive authorities. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The election victory by the Islamistled opposition in Kuwait reflects public frustration with corruption, coupled with the rise of tribal power and unprecedented street protests, analysts said. Voters in the Gulf emirate harshly punished the previous government and its allies over corruption charges that implicated at least 13 MPs, with fingers also pointed at senior government officials, they said.

Women, who made history in the 2009 vote by winning four seats for the first time, failed to win a single seat, paying the price for the blind support of most of the female MPs for the government, the analysts said. The Islamist-led opposition won a majority 34 seats in the 50member parliament in Thursday’s snap election, with 21 seats won by tribal candidates, half of them Islamists. Islamists won a total of 23 seats. “It’s a triumph for Islamists and tribes combining to oppose the government... and a punishment for the previous government over allegations of corruption,” independent political analyst Ayed Al-Manna said.

Tribes, who constitute 55 percent of Kuwait’s 1.17-million population, were historically the main supporters of the government and the AlSabah ruling family, but that has changed in recent years. Al-Manna said the unprecedented youth-led street protests, inspired by the Arab Spring, played a decisive role in the opposition’s victory. Islamists and the Popular Action Bloc, another major component of the opposition, strongly supported the protests which demanded far-reaching political reforms, including the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. As a result of the protests, the previous government led by Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah resigned in late November. A week later His Highness the Amir dissolved parliament and called for early polls.

“The Arab Spring has reached Kuwait, but in Kuwaiti style... calm, peaceful and legal,” former Islamist MP Mubarak al-Duwailah wrote in AlQabas daily yesterday. “ The people have expressed their support for the Islamist forces,” he said.

Pro-government MPs were reduced to a

Election camps removed ahead of ultimatum KUWAIT: Candidates started the process of removing their election camps as early as Saturday, in order to meet an ultimatum in which they were threatened with fines for every day their tents remain at their locations.

“A candidate signs a document when they receive the license for their election camp, in which they agree to remove the camp entirely within a week from election day,” explained emergenc y team leader at Hawally Governorate’s municipality branch, Riyadh Al-Rabie’a. “The municipality will remove all election camps that remain after the 1-week period”.

Meanwhile, investigations in a fire that took place at a joint election camp in AlRiqqa recently revealed that foul play is behind the incident, according to reports.

Shortly after firefighters put out flames at the camp, used by MPs Nayef Al-Merdas, Abdullah Al-Bargash, Saifi Al-Saifi and former MP Mohammad Al-Huwailah, investigations

revealed that the fire was started using a flammable objected found on the tent’s fabric. Moreover, police reportedly took footage from a nearby gas station showing the arsonists loading containers with gas-fuel shortly before the fire took place.

Firefighters also tackled a blaze reported at MP Khalid Shukhayyer’s camp minutes after the first one. Investigators at the scene said that the second fire bears similarity to the first.

Meanwhile, the Municipality plans to organize its elections in collaboration with various government bodies like the Interior Ministry, said Municipality’s Director General Ahmed Al-Subaih. “All preparations for the elections were made long enough before voting day and will be resumed immediately.

All shortcomings on future elections should b avoided,” he underlined. Furthermore, AlSubaih said that an Amiri decree will be issued, once the new Parliament and Cabinet are sworn in.

small minority, while only two of 13 former MPs questioned by the public prosecutor over corruption charges were re-elected. The remainder either lost or did not contest the poll. “The tribes are now the most powerful (group) within the opposition,” said liberal political analyst Shamlan Issa, who cautioned that the loose opposition coalition remains “divided” with different political agendas. Liberals were also big losers in the election, being reduced to just two seats from five previously. Many liberal activists and writers predict that the new parliament will not last long because it is packed with hardliners. “We are headed for an extremely hot political season after a brief honeymoon... parliament may not survive for two years,” said Issa, a political science professor at Kuwait University.

Al-Manna, however, said that Kuwait’s future hangs on the government’s ability to deal and coexist with the Islamists.” OPEC member Kuwait has been rocked by a series of political crises over the past six years, leading to the resignation of seven governments and the dissolution of parliament four times.—AFP

‘E-voting during next elections’ KUWAIT: The supreme judiciary committee that monitored parliamentary elections will prepare a report on the pros and cons of the recently concluded voting process, Ahmed Musaed Al-Ajeel, Chairman of the committee stressed.

Al-Ajeel added that the report will include a recommendation on introducing magnetic stripe identification cards and a adopting a computerized voting system.

He remarked that in case results are challenged, a recounting will be done manually, similar to the system followed in the United States, instead of waiting till midday the following day. “In case it is approved, the new system will be followed,” he stressed. — Aljarida

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

LOCAL

Local Spotlight

In my view

Is it a new dawn of hope or tyranny?

Unwanted women

By Fouad Al-Obaid

fouad@kuwaittimes.net Twitter: @Fouadalobaid

Muna Al-Fuzai

A

s the weekend ended and the election results settled in, the new composition of the National Assembly clearly shows a return to roots. The landslide win by the opposition blocs and by ‘religious’ candidate - in the sense that they adhere more closely to the scriptures than others who may have a more ‘liberal’ interpretation - will create trouble for a Cabinet who will have to outperform Parliament with serious reforms should it desire to maintain its relevance; more importantly the relevance of an outdated system.

I believe that we could be one step closer to a constitutional monarchy that would clearly lay down the separation of powers between three authorities, instilling new institutions that act as check and balances.

Though much hope is pinned on the success of the upcoming legislature to ‘fix’ the woes our country is facing, I suspect that the task ahead will prove to be hard. A new element has emerged recently that was non-existent or that had little impact in the past; the youth, and youth movements have understood that they too can play a role in politics. The youth of this country at a majority are lost between the hopes for a better future, and a reality that their lives will be much harder than that of their parents. Yet, little attention is paid to their plight by a government attempting to reward corruption rather than lay the foundation of viable future employment possibilities.

It is jobs that are starting to become scarce. It is land prices that are skyrocketing. It is the cost of construction that has boomed. It is the deteriorating educational system that is graduating under-qualified individuals. It is the higher education sector that is corrupt and incapable of undertaking serious research at a serious level. It is corruption in many ministries and departments that is forcing people to pay bribes. It is buildings that are built in public domains that are not built according to rigorous codes. Stadiums pose a risk of collapse should they be used. Airports, when compared to regional counterparts, will be akin to comparing tents to palaces.

The new Parliament will not solve the many social issues of a society in limbo. The government, unless it enacts serious efforts to root out corruption should tackle the numerous social ills that we are plagued with. An entire generation is turning into an ‘addict’ generation; addicted to vice, addicted to nicotine, addicted to endless years of strolling in malls with no perspective for useful activities. I am talking about a social malaise from within a society that pretends that the sky is blue when in reality it is of a dark murky color filled with dust fueled by rage of various sort.

Yes, our society is sick, it has been treated with tribalism, and sectarianism, and socialism, and hopelessism, with egos boosted in narcissism! I hope that the 50 MPs will go on a stroll in our country’s main shopping malls and social arteries to understand the growing malaise and to start earnestly diversifying our social and cultural venues, sports and business laws to ensure the development of a viable future for the current generation.

Letters to Badrya

Protect rights of expatriates Dear Badrya, hope many people read your article that appears in the Kuwait Times. I lived in Kuwait for two years and work with a human rights organization. People like you are much needed in Kuwait.

The way I saw low-income migrants being treated in Kuwait really made me sad.

Everyone has a right to human dignity, basic civil liberties and equal protection before the law.

Kuwait has ratified key international human rights instruments, like the Covenant on Economic and Social Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as a member of the community of nations in the United Nations, should abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Somehow, the state has forgotten that by ratifying these, it must provide these basic human rights to all people in its territory. What made me the most upset during my time there was the lack of compassion for some of the most vulnerable groups in society, and like you said, the ‘invisibilization’ of these communities.

Migrants around the world make our societies culturally richer, support our economies. They simply are seeking to make a better life for themselves and their families. I had the impression in Kuwait that many people were mistrustful towards migrants, but I really do believe that when a country fosters mutual respect, everyone benefits and a virtuous circle is created. Thanks again for the article. I hope that people like you can make a difference and I really wish the best for Kuwait..

Regards, Victoria

muna@kuwaittimes.net

T

kuwait digest

Resigning is liberals’ only hope

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

I

t’s safe to say that using the term ‘surprising’ to describe the election results would be an understatement. Yet we can’t say that the results are truly shocking, because that description belongs to the 1981 elections when all of the National Democratic candidates (liberals) failed to make it to parliament.

We can still say that the situation today is almost as tragic to nationalistic movements - and in my opinion to Kuwait in general as the situation was in the wake of the 1981 election.

While an alliance of businessmen, Islamists and the government ousted liberals from the 1981 election race, we can say that the chances of the liberals in this year’s elections suffered majorly as a result of an alliance between Islamists and various tribes, and perhaps some pro-government figures. But regardless of the shape of the coalitions, I believe that the recently elected parliament is going to lead Kuwait to suffer more setbacks.

The current majority in parliament is probably going to utilize the surplus in national income which is projected to increase due to high oil prices - in buying people’s support, simply because they have nothing to offer when it comes to development. Likewise, Islamists don’t have anything to offer; other than putting more hurdles in front of the government’s ambition to turn Kuwait into a commercial hub in the region.

I believe it’s wrong to jump to the conclusion that just because election results gave them a majority in numbers, the opposition will be stronger in the upcom-

The current majority in parliament is probably going to utilize the surplus in national income which is projected to increase due to high oil prices - in buying people’s support, simply because they have nothing to offer when it comes to development.

Likewise, Islamists don’t have anything to offer; other than putting more hurdles in front of the government’s ambition to turn Kuwait into a commercial hub in the region.

I

Assalamualaikum Badrya, I have never written to any newspaper or journalist before, so please forgive me if you have noticed any errors. I would like to send you ‘duaa’ (blessings) from the bottom of my heart. May Allah bless you and keep you safe and sound. You are at least sympathetic towards low-paid expats who are human beings. I wish there was a Badrya for Bangladesh, and for every country in the world.

Regards, Kamal Hossein

ing parliament. Their strength is actually related to the government’s policy and true desire in achieving development and diversification of sources of income.

The Cabinet can suppress the opposition and achieve a harmonious relationship with the religious-tribal majority in the parliament if they cooperate with the policy of overspending, shown previously in forms such as public sector pay increases. Adopting this policy, as well as a conservative approach, would enable the Cabinet to absorb all of the rage that the new opposition may have in store. If that happens, the opposition will slowly lose its current popularity; ultimately giving the government the opportunity to regain balance in the parliament in time for the next elections.

MPs Mohammad Al-Saqr and Marzouq Al-Ghanem, the only representatives of national political movements in the parliament, are definitely going to struggle dealing with the religious-tribal dominance in the National Assembly. They may have no other choice but to align themselves with controversial progovernment figures Mohammad Al-Juwaihel and Nabeel Al-Fadhl which would damage their popularity and political careers in the process. Therefore, I believe that resigning is Al-Ghanem and AlSaqr’s best option in order to save them the trouble of going through struggles that, most likely, are going to force them to resign eventually anyway. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Freedom to walk, not to run

By Nawaf Al Arbash

E

mpires have fallen, leaders have met their fate; be them dictators or not, the world remains spinning no matter how chaotic it seems to be. We are reaching a point nowadays where lack of awareness (or consistency of dodging it) has led us to a whole new perspective of “freedom” or “democracy”, although I do not agree that democracy is freedom.

The intended meaning of freedom, in political terms, is to be liberated and express yourself without being accounted for. You see, it does not state that one is free to invade another person’s personal space, home, lecture, concert etc.

Once people start doing that, it becomes ultimate/infinite freedom in its literal meaning. Which means no limits or boundaries to what one chooses to do.

Here comes the role of our sense of humanity. If we are patriots protecting our land and our beliefs, and supposedly our beliefs state that good prevails and evil falls, then why are we physically and violently approaching any counterpart ? Aren’t they a breathing breed? Aren’t they as “free” as

The intended meaning of freedom, in political terms, is to be liberated and express yourself without being accounted for. You see, it does not state that one is free to invade another person’s personal space, home, lecture, concert etc. Once people start doing that, it becomes ultimate/infinite freedom in its literal meaning.

Which means no limits or boundaries to what one chooses to do. you or I? Oh, they’re not?!

Well you see, that is the contradiction coated in irony when it comes to freedom. You cannot fight freedom with freedom, because there will be no right nor wrong. But you can fight unethical approaches with reason, tranquility, and the rule of the decent majority.

What I’m saying is, we do not want political ideology and terms to wipe out our sense of humanity

and love for peace. Every term has its synonym, like every story in a court case has a counter story.

Every action has its reaction. If both words and actions are positive, or even positively-negative, there will be no urge towards violence. Even freedom has its limits.

Can you punch someone that is smiling BACK at your smile? Your answer determines your positivity, hence your attitude towards the idea of harming your own race.

he election results announced this Friday came as a rude shock to supporters of women’s empowerment. The results have exposed the reality that Kuwaiti women don’t support fellow women. Voters were not only against female candidates but even appeared to be vengeful!

Now that no woman succeeded to win a seat, what steps should she take? Did Kuwaiti women act vengefully against minority MPs that steadfastly supported the government? First, it was clear that many women were seriously annoyed with the obvious lack of support. They felt left out and ignored even by the few former female lawmakers who were even more aloof during campaigning this year. Women need to know that new male candidates were understanding and great listeners.

With a new fully male-dominated National Assembly set to swear-in, women who really want change should put in new efforts. I have decided to begin working on a new agenda to call for national development so that MPs can be made to commit to promises they made.

Difficult times lay ahead for Kuwaitis and the challenge here is to unite the crew of MPs who have a history of fighting court cases, and inciting hatred. Is there something that we do not understand? I think it is the concept of democracy. What should we really do? It is really shameful that after fifty years of ‘democratic practices,’ some still don’t know what they really want. With all calls made for women’s empowerment, Kuwaiti women have showed that they prefer being marginalized to the position if mere voters! Is this part of the Arab Spring political movement? Time will tell us.

letters to Muna Al-Fuzai Dear Muna, I read your ar ticle that was posted on Facebook about a Pakistani. I really appreciate your effort and interest to let the world know that not everyone is the same.

Regards, Masood Dear Muna, An incident took place in an Asian school on the issuance of Winter Carnival raffle tickets.

Most Asian schools in Kuwait hold winter carnivals to generate additional funds by printing bulk quantity of raffle coupons; they encourage students to sell at least one booklet. The students find out the best way to finish their given booklet either by selling coupons to neighbors, their relatives or by selling them at social gatherings.

When a student was asked to sell a booklet containing 10 coupons, he responded to the class teacher saying that he was not interested because it went against his principles. His parent was called to meet with the principal. She shouted at him, “You are not a cooperative parent, it is compulsory to take part in the Carnival.

I don’t want such students in my school. You can see what I am going to do, wait outside and I will call you later.” This unexpected, rude behavior on the principal’s part upset the parent who vainly tried to clarify his point. Sadly, the principal was not quick to forgive.

He the informed the Secretary of Board Committee of the school and explained the matter in detail, including the manner in which the parent was treated by the principal. He pleaded with the concerned authority to take action so that such incidents do not take place in future, adding that at least the principal should have tackled the issue in an amicable and professional manner rather than patronizing the parent. Even though the board secretary expressed his regret, the parent learnt that he favored the principal! Needless to say, other parents have lodged complaints against the principal’s arrogance, especially when she forbade Muslim girls from wearing full-length skirts.

Many parents do not express their resentment against her attitude fearing a backlash against their children’s future. The school itself is a well-known one that has branches operating in GCC countries. It actually helps integrate the expatriate community in Kuwait irrespective of religious, linguistic differences. Unfortunately, parents are not ready to tolerate nonsense from some ill-mannered teachers!

Thank you , Insulted parents Muna’s reply: Dear parents, I agree that such behavior is unacceptable.

After inquiring with authorities of Private Education, I learnt that raffle tickets sales in schools are illegal. You can lodge a complaint with the respective embassy and keep me posted on this issue.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

local

Thukhur to help teach youth leadership skills 12 days of study, reflection

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah holding talks with Dr Mohammad Abdul Majeed.

Positive role for Arab media KUWAIT: Chairman and Director General of Kuwait News Agency Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah received at his office yesterday Editor-in-Chief of the Norwegian ‘Taeralshmal’ magazine, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Majeed, who is currently visiting Kuwait at the invitation of the Ministry of Information.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed a number of issues relating to the development of Arab media and efforts to improve the media discourse, as well as possibilities available to achieve this.

Sheikh Mubarak said that the Arab media witnessed during the past few years a remarkable development as a result of cooperation between the Arab media organizations, expressing hope that such cooperation would continue in order to meet all aspirations.

He stressed in this regard the impor-

tance of exchanging experiences and ideas, as well as continuous communication and coordination to confront campaigns aimed at the defaming Arabs.

He added that the Arab media has made use of modern capabilities, expertise and qualified personnel that enabled it to achieve a qualitative leap and compete on an international level.

For his part, Abdul Majeed praised the development witnessed by Kuwait News Agency, saying that KUNA has become an important source of Gulf and Arab news coverage.

He also praised its coverage of the legislative elections witnessed by Kuwait last week, stressing its commitment to provide adequate information and the dissemination of facts in a professional manner. The Taeralshmal magazine is an Arabic magazine published in Oslo and deals with Arab issues. — KUNA

KPC to sign MoU with total KUWAIT: The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the French Total Company to enter into a strategic partnership with a refinery and petrochemical complex in China in February.

Negotiations will be held with the

Chinese partner. Sources said that a feasibility study will be held on the project.

The Kuwaitis will provide the French company with all project development consultations.

Total’s share in the project will account for nearly 20 percent.

Minister approves tires recycling project KUWAIT: Minister of municipality affairs Dr Fadhel Safar approved a request to allocate a piece of land for the Public Authority of Industry to use as a recycling plant for worn-out tires, reported Al-Qabas recently.

“The PAI is the best candidate capable of maintaining an environmentalfriendly method of recycling tires that are regarded as hazardous waste”, Dr Safar said in a letter to the Municipal Council quoted by the news report. As per the assignment, the PAI will handle all procedures of collecting and storing

KD 1.14 billion to construct hospitals KUWAIT: A review of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) plan up to 2030 was held.

A cost of KD 1.14 billion will be incurred for construction related work. The expansion work of nine hospitals is currently taking place.

The report was prepared by a specialized company in cooperation with a number of expats and researchers in the health sector, adding that the plan is to increase the number of beds available to 3,854. It pointed out that the first phase involves spending KD 110 million over a period of five years (20102015), of which KD 68.2 million will be set aside to perform maintenance work . An additional KD 52 million will be designated to construct 27 projects in several areas.

The report stated that despite the plan’s importance, all challenges cannot be met and most focus lay on construction, without referring to other problems like : administration, planning, supervision, finance, directing resources, human resources, quality and speed of services.

The report said that the plan when finalized, aims to add 3,854 beds, 84 operation rooms, 88 emergency beds, 226 outpatient clinics and many laboratories, Xrays, physiotherapy facilities, and pharmacies. The existing medical facilities are inadequate to meet the population increase that is expected to reach 4.2 million in 2016, and 7 million in 2030. —Al-Anba

worn-out tires before the recycling process. This project is a replacement to proposal for selling used tires in public auction at a location south Jahra.

Dr Safar, who is also the state’s minister of public works, insists in the letter that best mechanisms should be found to insure safe disposal of tires, and avoid pollution created by unsafe disposal such as burning or burial in landfills. According to Kuwait Municipality records, between sixty thousand and eighty thousand worn-out tires are collected every month around Kuwait. — Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti employees working in key positions and businessmen endeavoring to be leaders in their field are invited to register in the National Project for Leaders of Development program ‘Thukhur.’ The program commences today and goes on until the 20th.

Following Thukhur’s successful initiative with its Project Executive Program and club, they launched their new Promising Leaders Program, “We have again partnered with Cornell University to address the lack of business acumen on the part of young emerging Kuwaiti leaders. This entire endeavor has been made possible through a grant given to Kuwait by SK Engineering, a division of SK Holding headquartered in Seoul, South Korea,” said Jassem Al-Safran, Executive Director of the National Project for Leaders of Development program ‘Thukhur’ during a press conference held at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel yesterday.

“A recent global study found that current corporate leaders believe the next generation of talent headed for the executive suite needs help to develop the skills necessary to lead tomorrow ’s organizations successfully.

Specifically, these same corporate leaders said that today’s high-potential young lack a strategic understanding of the total enterprise of an organization and how its parts work together,” stated Al-Safran.

The program consists of 12 rigorous days of advanced study and personal reflection on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. “ The overall objective of the Promising Leaders Program is to provide an integrated learning experience that both deepens business acumen and enhances the leadership capabilities of young high-potential Kuwaiti participants fortunate enough to be selected to attend this in-depth program,” he added.

“Following this intense period of study and reflection on Cornell’s campus, participants return to Kuwait where they put into practice the concepts learned in the Promising Leaders Program by developing innovative projects that have immediate application in

public and private sector organizations.

Participants who successfully complete all program requirements will be eligible for associate membership in the Thukhur Club,” he further commented.

“Cornell’s Program will train Kuwaiti participants to understand basic personal characteristics that will enable the person to lead so that they can become an effective person in the community. Participants will be highly qualified due to the experienced challenges that will deepen their knowledge,” explained Al-Safran. The program will be using modern methods of education, “It will include interacting guidance in classrooms, training courses,

and sponsors in the future. Cornell University was selected as the academic advisor to the initiative because of its international reputation as the most educationally diverse member of the prestigious Ivy League of American universities,” he noted.

“I want to take this opportunity to wish all participants selected for this program a memorable and deeply rewarding learning experience and, in particular, I want to express my country ’s sincerest appreciation to SK Engineering for making this entire program possible through their generous donation to develop the leadership capabilities of young Kuwaitis,” concluded Al-Safran. Candidates

KUWAIT: (From left) Jif Lim, Jassem Al-Safran, Jordan Stavicare during the press conference held yesterday at the Courtyard hotel. — Photo by Yasser Al Zayyat and other methods in different fields. The experts from different specializations will share their experience and skills, preparing the students to be dynamic leaders with a strong personality. They will learn how to analyze the case and make decisions,” stressed AlSafran. “We’d consider having more partners

can register by completing the application on the website: www.thukhur.com. Candidates must be Kuwaiti nationals aged between 25 30 with a Bachelors degree and at least two years work experience. They must speak both Arabic and English, have IT skills and a valid passport.

Arab League’s Syria plans ‘should continue’ LONDON: Arab countries should push ahead with action to end the violence in Syria, Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged, promising the backing of Western countries after Russia and China blocked United Nations support.

The Foreign Secretary told Sky News TV Sunday that he agreed that the two countries had “blood on their hands” and would embolden the Syrian regime in pursuing its deadly crackdown by vetoing a draft resolution.

Moscow and Beijing drew interna-

tional condemnation for their stance yesterday, which came hours after a bombardment by security forces of the city of Homs, which activists said killed more than 200 people.

But Hague said the setback must not halt efforts to secure a peaceful political transition in Damascus - suggesting Britain could join any Arab League move to sever diplomatic relations.

The international community was “not contemplating military action” however, he declared. “The main way forward now is for the

Arab League to pursue their plan in any case,” the Foreign Secretary added “They do not need the permission of the United Nations, although it would have been good to have a clear mandate.

“They should pursue their plan, they should intensify their own pressure on the Assad regime to stop the killing and allow a peaceful political transition. “Arab League foreign ministers are meeting in a few days’ time. “We will be having discussions with some of them and will encourage them very much to intensify their

own pressure. Western and Arab countries “will continue working very closely together on the diplomatic and economic steps we can take in the coming days.” Tunisia has declared that it is withdrawing its recognition of the Assad regime and expelling Syria’s ambassador and called on the policy to be adopted more widely by the League. “Any decision by them to do that would weigh very heavily with us,” Hague noted, though he said there were good reasons for trying to maintain a diplomatic presence in the country. — KUNA

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

local

Preparations ongoing for Sea Heritage activities

Khalid Al-Foudari

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC) will soon be introducing new enhancements including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, secretary general Khalid Al-Foudari said in a recent statement.

The KSSC is also carrying out preparations to host cultural, social and sports activities scheduled for the upcoming few months, including the ‘Sea Heritage’ activities which Al-Foudari said will start next month.

The Sea Heritage activities feature the 24th annual Pearl Diving Trip, with a training camp set to be held early March, in addition to the Kuwait Fishing Grand Competition set for March 17, Al-Foudari added.

Meanwhile, the KSSC also announced the opening of the subscription period for new members, starting from the current month until the end of March.

Great potential for Kuwaiti-Belgian exchange: ambassador BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Ambassador to the state of Kuwait, Damien Angelet, said the two countries are peace-loving nations with much in common, including a keenness to ease global tensions. The State of Kuwait “...is a very hospitable place,” Angelet said, in an interview in Brussels, speaking of his tenure in the Gulf country.

“We discovered that the Kingdom of Belgium and the State of Kuwait have lots in common. They are small countries surrounded by big countries. So they went through the trauma of war and of conflict.”

He added that “both are monarchies,” noting the simple variation in the name of the leaders between King and Amir. He recalled a recent visit by Princess Astrid of Belgium to Kuwait, and noted that “It strengthened the relations between our countries.”

He described Belgo-Kuwaiti ties as “excellent” and with potential to prosper

even further, adding “We have to work on that.”

He further added that there is room for more significant economic cooperation, “ We would like to have more Kuwaiti tourists to come to Belgium. We are also trying very hard to export our health services and healthcare products to Kuwait,” he said.

Angelet pointed out that the World Economic Forum index of 2010 ranked Belgium first in the world in quality of health products. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of an event organized by the ArabBelgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Brussels last night, the Belgian ambassador said Kuwait has a strong currency. He added, “Kuwait has a wonderful commercial situation, a good legal system, and perfect security conditions for investments.” — KUNA

Kuwait heads UNESCO Arab cultural development panel PARIS: The State of Kuwait is to chair the consultative committee of the Arab cultural development plan at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, and therefore oversee the Arab Group’s comprehensive plan which incorporates the specializations and areas of focus of all UNESCO bodies.

Kuwait’s representative to UNESCO Ambassador Dr Al-Tarrah said the Arab Group nominated Kuwait to preside the committee, and that the said plan comes part of Dialogue among Cultures and aims to shed light on Arab contributions to world civilization and other cultures. There is also the aim of bolstering constructive dialog based on respect of cultural diversity. Among the areas of focus is utilizing and incorporating modern information and

communication technologies and harnessing their vast possibilities in service of Arab identity and overall cultural advancement.

Another important aim is to enrich the modern cultural scene through encouraging creativity and openness and giving room for the diverse cultural, scientific, intellectual, and literary movements. This should be a means to counter the inherent threats and challenges of globalization, the ambassador said.

Al-Tarrah also noted that the activities planned include coordination among Arab scientific and cultural institutions and encouraging exchange and coordination among Arab libraries and with libraries abroad, as well as posting and shedding light on Arab contributions via the internet and new media. —KUNA

Kuwait offers 54 ambulances to Libya TRIPOLI: Upon instructions from His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait offered yesterday medical and relief aid to post-revolution North African Arab nation of Libya. The aid comprised 54 ambulances and firefighting and rescue vehicles. The aid was handed over to Libyan officials Sunday in a ceremony held here after the arrival of the fourth ship that carries the Kuwaiti aid. The highly-sophisticated vehicles are part of a broader Kuwaiti aid to Libya reconstruction efforts after monthslong civil war to oust former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The ceremony was attended by senior

representatives of Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC), Kuwaiti Ambassador here Mubarak Al-Adwani, Consul Hadi Al-Muttairi, several Arab ambassadors and public audience.

In statements to KUNA on sideline of the ceremony, Ambassador Al-Adwani congratulated Libyans on the victory in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

He underlined that the Libyan people have a special position at the heart of HH the Amir of Kuwait. Al-Adwani pointed out that Kuwait has offered Libya, since February 25, 2011, USD 180-million aid, including USD 50 million in cash to support the fledgling NTC. —KUNA

Three motorists dead in traffic accidents Camper assaulted in Abdaly KUWAIT: Three motorists were killed in separate accidents that took place recently in Ahmadi, Jahra and Bnaid Al-Gar. The first one took place along Jlaiah Road where a citizen lost control over his vehicle and it flipped over.

The victim was pronounced dead on the scene before criminal investigators removed the body for an autopsy. An investigation was launched to determine the cause. In another incident, a young man died at Subbiya Road after his Sports Utility Vehicle collided with a truck whose driver was not injured. The body was referred to the Forensic Department.

Also, a 17-year-old citizen was killed in Bnaid Al-Gar when the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) he had been driving met with an accident. The victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital to which he was rushed in a critical condition.

During investigations, the driver who ran over him said that he could not avert the accident owing to poor visibility. He remains in police custody pending legal procedures.

Teenager assaulted Investigations are currently ongoing into the case in which four suspects allegedly assaulted a teenager they abducted in Abdaly.

Meanwhile, a search is ongoing for three accomplices involved in the case. The victim was reportedly in the company of a friend at a camping site when the seven suspects bundled him into their black SUV and assaulted him. His friend, however, escaped. However, he did not report the incident. The crime was discovered

by the boy’s father when he tried to contact his son on his mobile phone. It was answered by a stranger who directed him to reach a particular location. Upon reaching the place, the man waited for fifteen minutes before calling up his son’s friend, who then informed him about the abduction. The victim’s father placed an emergency call and informed police. Four suspects that arrested in the tent directed police to the location where the victim lay unconscious. The suspects refused to cooperate with interrogators. They remain in custody until further action is taken. Meanwhile, the victim remains at Jahra Hospital in an unstable condition.

ATM card theft A search is ongoing to identify and arrest a thief who withdrew a sum of KD 2,250 from a local bank account after stealing its owner’s credit card. A case was filed at Hawally police station by a citizen who reported that his credit card was stolen. He added that upon checking his balance, he learnt that KD 2,250 was withdrawn. Detectives have launched an investigation into the case.

Public shooting Police are on the hunt for a male suspect who fired a weapon in public to celebrate the victory of a candidate. The incident was reported in Sulaibikhat where officials spotted the suspect firing his AK 47, standing next to his car. The suspect then clambered onto his vehicle and drove away as soon as he sensed police patrols.

News

in brief

Live ammunition exercise KUWAIT: The Kuwait Coast Guard announced that two live ammunition exercises will be carried out in regional waters near Qarouh and Um Al-Maradim Islands, one today and one on Wednesday. A statement from the Ministry of Interior cautioned seagoers yesterday from approaching the designated areas from 8:00am to 4:00pm. It noted that Coast Guard patrols will prevent anyone from getting near these areas to ensure their safety.

Detained cars up for auction KUWAIT: The General Administration for the Traffic Department announced that it will auction cars detained at car detention center in Mina Abdulla public transport garage. The details of the cars and their owners were published in the media and announced on radio and on TV in January. Because the owners have not contacted the detention center yet, the detained cars will be auctioned this Wednesday. Those interested in entering the Auction should report to the center tomorrow to review the status of cars they are interested in buying.

KD 500 for KU, PAAET students KUWAIT: Dean of Student Affairs at Kuwait University, Dr Abdul Rahim Dhiab, said yesterday that the students’ allowance would be disbursed at the end of next April retroactively from last January. Dhiab said in a statement that this information comes as a correction of a previous statement made by the Minister of Finance on Jan 31 regarding the issue, who stated that the student allowance would be disbursed retroactively from Jan 18 to March 31, saying that the disbursement will be at the end of next April. He said that each student would receive KD 500.

Following a hot pursuit, during which they exchanged fire, officers eventually let him go so as to avoid casualties. The vehicle’s license plate number was noted. Search is currently ongoing for the man who faces multiple charges.

Disgruntled candidate A former candidate, still struggling to recover from the disappointment of losing elections, accused a police officer of filing false charge owing to political disagreements. He had issued a traffic ticket to her. The female citizen was reportedly driving in Salmiya when a traffic officer asked her to pull over for using the mobile phone while driving. While proceeding to issue a traffic ticket, the woman began berating the officer and went on to say that he was trying to penalize her simply because he opposes her political point of view. The officer replied that he was not aware of her political ambitions.

— Al-Rai, Al-Anba, Al-Watan

Missing Indian boy found KUWAIT: The nine-year-old Indian boy, Abhijit, who went missing on Saturday evening from Salmiya was found. According to his father, the boy, who went out for playing with a friend, lost his way back home in the hazy weather. He told the Kuwait Times that the boy was found by the Rumaithiya police who kept him in safe custody and sent home with his parents yesterday after completion of formalities.

Pair found with 1.5kg of heroin

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: Two Asian expatriates were arrested with 1.5 kilos of heroin in their possession. They had been tipped off regarding a drug dealer, so a warrant was obtained and an undercover officer was sent in to purchase heroin from the suspect. The suspect was arrested during the handover in Jabriya. Once in custody, he told police that he had a partner in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The pair were sent to the concerned authorities.

A Kuwait municipality inspector told police that a restaurant manager in Salhiya attacked him and kept him from performing his job.

Meanwhile, a traffic policeman in Mubarak Al-Kabeer accused a female citizen of insulting him after asking for her ID. Hawally police arrested a citizen involved in more than 15 robbery cases, while in Farwaniya an Indian accused three people of robbing him of KD 130 as well as his ATM and Civil ID. In Subbiya, a citizen was killed in a traffic accident.

An Ethiopian expat committed suicide in her sponsors home in Adan. A citizen ran over his infant daughter in Salmiya. He rushed her to hospital, but she passed away.

KUWAIT: The Asian drug dealers pictured after their arrest.

Arab conference on space sciences kicks off MUSCAT: The 10th Conference of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS) launched its activities yesterday at Sultan Qaboos University’s Cultural Center, under the slogan “The role of astronomy and space in the development of modern societies”.

The event is held under the auspices of the President of the State Council of Oman Yahya bin Mahfouz Al Muntheri, with the participation of 600 representatives of 39 countries.

The Vice President of Oman Astronomical Society Saleh Bin Nasser AlShuaibi said, in remarks to the media following the opening ceremony, that this four-day conference is considered an important scientific event.

The conference will discuss several topics including astronomy projects and technology, space observatories, new methods to study and document Arab astronomy heritage, besides monitoring the Earth from outer space, he stated.

It will also tackle educational programs to encourage interest in astrology, besides leading environmental programs and astronomy tourist attractions, he said.

This event is the most prominent in the Arab region in the field of astronomy

and space sciences, and is being attended by elite international space institutions, he asserted.

The participants will tackle the visions, challenges, and techniques of peaceful space programs, research studies on stars, planets, and the atmosphere, impact craters, and solar activity and how it relates to climate change.

The participants include head of Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, along with heads of Arab and international astronomy associations and representatives of The International Astronomy Union (IAU), United Nations Foreign Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and the InterIslamic Network for Space Science and Technology (ISNET ), Al-Shuaibi mentioned.

An exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the conference, with the participation of various Arab astronomy institutions and a number of universities, schools, and science clubs.

The exhibition is divided into three pavilions focusing on space technologies, research, and astronomy activities, he added. — KUNA

KUWAIT: A total number of 3,656 citations were issued in Hawally Municipality in 2011, announced Riyadh Al-Rabee, Head of the emergency team. At least 106 stores were closed down, and 48,140 tons of spoiled food were seized. The total number of citations issued to general stores stood at 2, 277. The violations recorded were - opening a store without license, opening a store without municipality approval, possession of expired health licenses, employing workers without health certificates, failure to comply with general hygiene rules. — Photos By Hanan Al-Saadoun

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Cold snap death toll in Europe nears 300

Iran raid likely to drag in US Page 8

Page 9

LAS VEGAS: US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney hugs some of his grandchildren as he holds a Caucus election night at Red Rock Casino. — AFP

Romney wins big in Nevada Gingrich vows to battle on LAS VEGAS: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney romped to victory in the Nevada caucuses, cementing his position as frontrunner to take on President Barack Obama in November. But his main rival, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who came in second place late Saturday, vowed to fight all the way to August for his party’s nomination, which he insists he can still win. The results come as the candidates prepare for three more state polls this week, with experts predicting that Romney and Gingrich will likely duel right up to the party’s summer convention in Florida.

With 71 percent of Nevada votes counted, Romney had 48 percent of the vote a decisive lead, although below his 50 percent in 2008 — followed by 23 percent for Gingrich.

Texas Representative Ron Paul was third with 18 percent, followed by religious conservative Rick Santorum, a former US senator from Pennsylvania, with 11 percent.

In his speech, Romney failed to mention a single one of his Republican rivals, training his attacks solely on Obama-in a clear sign that he wants to reassert his above-thefray frontrunner status. “This president’s misguided policies made these tough times last longer,” he said.

“America needs a president who can fix the economy because he understands the economy, and I do, and I will.” But Gingrich vowed to fight on, saying that he hopes to draw equal with frontrunner Romney in delegate numbers by April-and blamed Romney for rumors that he might

withdraw. “We will continue the campaign all the way to Tampa,” he said, referring to the Republican Party convention, which takes place in the Florida city on August 27.

He pledged to battle for “a series of victories which by the end of the Texas primary (on April 3), will leave us about at parity with governor Romney, and at that point forward to see if we can’t actually win the nomination.” The Republican candidates are fighting to win the most of the 1,144 delegates in Tampa. So far Romney has 95, Gingrich 30, Paul 13 and Santorum 10. It was not immediately clear how many each will get of Nevada’s 28 delegates.

Gingrich, who scored an upset win by taking South Carolina last month, is battling to stay in the race in the

face of Romney’s superior funds and well-oiled campaign machine. And David Damore, assistant professor of politics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, predicted that Gingrich will indeed stay the course-but warned he has to make gains by Super Tuesday on March 6 to stand a real chance. “I don’t think he will ever drop out, nor Paul. If he does not show anything then he will be irrelevant after Super Tuesday. But if he does, Tampa will be fun!” he told AFP. Romney’s win in the Silver Statehelped by a large Mormon community which shares his faith-came four days after his crushing win in Florida.

It was was his third victory over Gingrich, after New Hampshire and Florida. Then three states will vote on Tuesday-Colorado, Minnesota and

Missouri and Romney hopes the Nevada win will help him sweep into the heartland states where unemployment and the struggling economy are top issues.

He also hopes that voters will forget last week’s gaffe -his latest-in which he said he was “not concerned” about “very poor” Americans. Romney insisted the context of his comments showed he was concerned about all Americans, but his focus is on middle class voters who have been worst hit by a recession and sluggish US recovery after the 2008 global downturn.

The remarks about the poor sparked new accusations that the wealthy former venture capitalist, who lives off his investments, is out of touch with ordinary voters.

Romney also raised eyebrows after

he released tax filings showing he earned $20 million from his investments in 2010 and paid just 13.9 percent in taxes-a lower rate than many struggling Americans. But voting in Las Vegas Saturday, 73-year-old Carl Lindstrom said the former Massachusetts governor would also get his vote. “I think he has the presence, the prestige, the knowledge,” he said. None of the candidates is expected to drop out of the race soon. Paul, who already moved his campaign to Minnesota, told CNN that his campaign was “doing so well, there’s no reason to even think about” ending it.

Santorum’s main focus appeared to be Missouri, where Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot, giving Santorum a chance to bolster his claim to be the anti-Romney alternative. — AFP

Cairo protesters seek early vote CAIRO: Protesters demanding a swift presidential election and an early handover of power by the army hurled rocks at police guarding the Egyptian Interior Ministry yesterday and were forced back with volleys of teargas. It was the fourth day of clashes outside the ministry, in which seven people have died. Protesters accuse the ministry of failing to prevent the deaths last week of 74 people after a soccer match in the Mediterranean city of Port Said. Five more have died in Suez.

Some protesters believe that remnants of the government of ousted president Hosni Mubarak were behind violence that caused a stampede at the soccer match last Wednesday, and see it as part of a plot to create chaos to reassert their influence.

Political figures and a civilian advisory body to the military have suggested bringing forward a presidential vote to April or May, from the June date foreseen in the transition timetable of the army, which took power after Mubarak quit. Police and protesters, some waving flags of Al-Ahli soccer team which played in Wednesday’s match, hurled rocks at each other and police fired round after round of teargas to push the lines of mostly young

protesters back from the ministry. The authorities erected fresh barriers of big concrete blocks barring access through streets leading to the ministry. Some earlier barriers had been hauled down.

“The demand is that the army step down politically and announce the start of nominations for the presidential election immediately,” said Waleed Saleh, 30, a lawyer and activist with a mask at the ready, speaking near the ministry. The military council, which took charge when Mubarak was toppled by a popular uprising on Feb 11 last year, has promised to hand power to civilians by the end of June after an election.

But calls for a swifter handover have mounted, and the Muslim Brotherhood which has the biggest bloc in a newly elected parliament, added its voice on Saturday to calls for a faster transition. An army-appointed civilian council set up to advise the military is proposing accepting nominations for the presidency from Feb 23, nearly two months sooner than the April 15 date previously announced. This could lead to a vote in April or May. “If the army adopts that proposal, it will reduce the level of tension,” said Saleh,

though he voiced a view popular among activists that the army might still try to influence policy from behind the scenes even with a president in place. Activists have kept a permanent presence in Tahrir Square since Jan. 25, the anniversary of the eruption of protests against Mubarak. Other protesters also called for the army to quit now and demanded retribution after the soccer deaths and for those killed in protests.

There has been intense speculation about the cause of the soccer stadium disaster, Egypt’s worst. The interior minister has blamed provocations by rival fans although he said there were security shortcomings.

Protesters blame the police for allowing or even prodding the violence. “Those people over there are the reason for the deaths in Port Said,” said 25-year-old Mahmoud Gaber, pointing to the police lines moments before a police riot car advanced and fired teargas on youths in the street, briefly pushing them back.

Many are angry that there has not been a deep clear-out in the police force and that officers use the same heavy-handed tactics against protests as in Mubarak’s era. Interior

Minister Mohamed Ibrahim defended the actions of police in dealing with protests, saying officers had shown “unusual self-restraint”.

He also urged protesters to stay in Tahrir Square and identify those stirring up trouble.

Protesters and police have often negotiated brief truces to cool the situation. But at least on two occasions Reuters journalists saw police re-igniting skirmishes by firing teargas or throwing stones at lines of protesters.

Many ordinary Egyptians are increasingly worried by the continued turmoil, and some see the army as the only institution able to guard the nation against a descent into complete chaos. Near one of the streets where the clashes were occurring, one man, Waleed AlHakim, criticized the demonstration. “Those are not protesters, those are thugs,” he said.

But others snapped back at him including one youth with a scarf around his face who said: “We are peaceful protesters and they are firing teargas at us. Why? What did we do to them?” Newly elected independent parliamentarian Yasser Qadri, a member of the assembly’s national security committee, said his committee was proposing drawing lines near state buildings. — Reuters

CAIRO: Egyptian protesters throw stones to the riot police near the central Tahrir Square yesterday. — AFP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

41 in court at trial of Gaddafi loyalists BENGHAZI: Libya put 41 loyalists of dead dictator Muammar Gaddafi on trial yestrday, in the first legal proceedings launched against members of the former regime ousted last year in a bloody conflict. The accused, mostly civilians, appeared in a military court in the eastern city of Benghazi, the birthplace of the uprising against Gaddafi that ended on October 20 with his killing in his hometown of Sirte. Their trial comes as human rights groups have raised concerns over Libya’s judicial system and also accused former rebels of “torturing” Gaddafi loyalists in custody. “It is the first trial concerning the February 17 revolution,” judge Colonel Ali al-Hamida said at the start of the proceedings, referring to the day

when the anti-Gaddafi conflict erupted in Benghazi.

The 41 men are accused of “supporting the Gaddafi regime in its attempts to crush the popular revolt, killing people, breaking of national unity, as well as helping prisoners to escape and setting up criminal gangs.” An AFP correspondent attending the proceedings said the first session of the trial was held under tight security. The 15lawyer defence team for the accused contested the proceedings, saying most of the accused were civilians but that they were being prosecuted in a military court.

The case was later adjourned to February 15, with the military prosecutor saying the accused would have fair

trials. “All conditions exist to guarantee that the accused get justice,” Yusuf alAsifar told AFP. But Hussein Gheniwa, a lawyer defending five of the accused, said the military court was “not competent” to handle the case.

“We hope that in the next session the question of the court’s competency will be addressed. We are confident that the court will decide that it is not competent,” he told AFP. But he expressed optimism over Libya’s justice system, saying “the legal proceedings will not be influenced by public opinion” which at the moment is strong given the fact that it is a trial of proGaddafi men. The New-York based Human Rights Watch, in its World Report 2012, raised concerns over

Libya’s judicial system. “Libya’s interim government and its international supporters should make it an urgent priority to build a functioning justice system and begin legal reform that protects human rights after Muammar Gaddafi,” the watchdog said.

HRW has, along with Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), accused former rebels who helped topple Gaddafi’s 42-yearold rule of “torturing” their prisoners, mainly ex-regime loyalists. On Friday, HRW noted that a former ambassador to France, Omar Brebesh, died of possible “torture” in the custody of a militia less than 24 hours after his detention in Tripoli. Amnesty and MSF have also charged that the militias use “wide-

spread torture” against their prisoners in cities such as Tripoli and Misrata and in smaller towns like Ghariyan. MSF even suspended its work in Misrata over allegations of torture in prisons there. Libyan officials insist the country’s judiciary is “competent” to handle the legal cases of former regime members, including putting on trial Gaddafi’s most prominent son, Seif AlIslam. Seif, who was arrested on November 19, is in the custody of the military council of Zintan, a town 180 kilometers (110 miles), southwest of Tripoli. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during last year’s conflict. —AFP

Iran raid likely to drag in US, hurt world economy Israel, West differ over extent of retaliation

ANKARA: In this file photo, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers at the parliament. — AFP

Some see Turkey as a useful model for new Arab regimes ISTANBUL: For many in the Arab world, Turkey embodies something of an elusive ideal: an Islamist-based democracy with a strong economy. A survey published Thursday by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, a nongovernmental think-tank, found almost 80 percent of respondents in the Middle East had a favorable view of Turkey, and three out of five considered the country a model for a modern Islamic state.

Following last year ’s Arab Spring uprisings, an unprecedented wave of popular revolt that swept the Arab world and led to the ouster of a string of dictators, many analysts are wondering if Turkey serves as a useful example of what a moderate Islamist democracy looks like. The country is seen as having “reconciled two dynamics: economic growth and a democratic system put in place by an Islamist-derived party,” Turkish foreign policy expert Sinan Ulgan said. Turkey, a secular Muslim-majority country that straddles Europe and Asia, is viewed especially favourably by many in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt, countries in which Ankara backed the sprawling Arab Spring protest movements which led to the toppling of their dictators. Turkey’s economy has staged a strong recovery after a severe recession, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing 8.9 percent in 2010 following a contraction of 4.7 percent the previous year. GDP rose by a record 9.6 percent during the first nice months of 2011.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP party, the Islamist-based party that has been in power since 2002, won a broad victory in June parliamentary elections, gaining 50 percent of the votes.

But some analysts temper the notion of Turkey as a model democracy, pointing to clampdowns on journalists and ongoing problems with the country’s sizable Kurdish population. About 15 million Kurds live in Turkey, which has a total population of 73 million. The Kurdish

population has for decades been trying to establish an independent state in Turkey. Since 1984, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has led an armed rebellion in the Kurdish-majority southeast that has claimed some 45,000 lives. A 2009 attempt to grant more rights to Kurds and sap support for the PKK went nowhere, and fighting has resumed along with mass arrests. Critics also point to what they call the “Putinisation” of Erdogan, referring to the Russian prime minister’s at-times hardline stance against opponents.

“The number of those who are filling jails because of their opposing views and actions and those who are agonized by legal proceedings is increasing,” wrote university professor Ahmet Insel in the daily Radikal newspaper. “(The) number of arrested university students is increasing and except a few weak voices, academia is silent.” At least 70 journalists and writers have been arrested for articles, according to rights groups and media outlets.

Some have been in prison for four years, accused of anti-government sedition, said columnist Semih Idiz in the Milliyet daily newspaper. “They will probably get not restitution for this, if proven to be innocent in the end, unless they go to the European Court of Human Rights,” Idiz said. The journalist-defending group Reporters Without Borders said Turkey had failed to implement reforms and continued to target journalists.

“Overseas, we are well aware of these shortcomings in democracy,” Ulgen said, “but Erdogan’s regime keeps on feeding the imagination because compared to political systems in Iran or Saudi Arabia, Turkey’s is preferable.” For Tunisian academic Amor Boubakri, Turkey’s successes would not be easily replicated in Tunisia, which last year saw the overthrow of its president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, because the country has an increasingly vocal radical Islamist sector. —AFP

Morocco king pardons jailed Islamist leaders RABAT: Morocco’s King Mohammed issued pardons to several leading Islamists who rights groups say were unfairly jailed, signaling a less hardline approach after moderate Islamists came to power in an election last year. Royal pardons are customary each year to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him)which fell this weekend, but it is unusual for the monarch to pardon such high-profile detainees.

The prisoners covered by the pardon included leading figures in an Islamist group called Salafia Jihadia. Morocco’s authorities say the group helped orchestrate a coordinated wave of suicide bombings in the commercial capital, Casablanca, in 2003 which killed 45 people. But local and international human rights groups say after those attacks, Moroccan authorities jailed hundreds of Islamists on fabricated charges, some-

times torturing them to extract forced confessions. Among those who received pardons were Hassan Kettani, one of the ideological leaders of Salafia Jihadia, who was serving a 20 year sentence, and Mohamed Rafiki and Omar Haddouchi, two other leaders of the group who were each serving 30 years. The pardons are part of a changing political landscape in Morocco after an election last year which gave the north African country its first Islamist-led coalition government.

The Islamist PJD party spent years in opposition but was helped to victory by a trend in the Middle East for Islamists to gain power in the aftermath of the “Arab Spring” upheavals. Mustafa Ramid, the new justice minister and himself a PJD member, last month said he would seek royal pardons for critics of the authorities who had been unfairly jailed. Before his appointment to the government, Ramid was a lawyer who represented several jailed Islamists. — Reuters

MUNICH: An Israeli raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities would deliver a painful shock to the global economy, revive flagging Islamist militancy and possibly drag the United States into a regional war whether it backed its ally’s attack or not. As if that prospect was not alarming enough, any doubts Tehran entertained about the wisdom of building a nuclear weapon would vanish the moment the strike occurred.

These longstanding US and European assumptions about the consequences of an Israeli attack on Iran are being re-examined with greater urgency in Western capitals after repeated warnings by Israel that the chance of a peaceful resolution may be closing.

There is concern that Israel may attack in coming months to disrupt the transfer of parts of Iran’s nuclear development work to an underground site south of Tehran that may be invulnerable to conventional bombing. Western experts want Israel to think long and hard before embarking on a raid many suspect would spark a broader conflict.

“Whoever attacks Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is really making the decision to go to war with Iran,” Richard Burt, a former chief US negotiator at strategic arms reduction talks, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. “We are talking about a range of great uncertainties, all of them basically negative, so this is one reason why consistently the joint chiefs of staff of the uniformed military in the US do not like the idea of attacking Iran.”

Analysts detect a growing gap between Israeli and Western views on using force against Tehran’s nuclear program, which Tehran says is purely for peaceful purposes but the West suspects is aimed at acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. The New York Times recently reported that Israeli leaders, based on intelligence estimates and academic studies, had taken the view that an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear installations would not produce such catastrophic events as regional war, widespread attacks by

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi money dealer counts Iranian rial banknotes bearing a portrait of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at an exchange office. —AFP militants and massive oil price rises.

The newspaper said that Israeli leaders and agencies believe that Iran’s threats to retaliate against Israeli and Western targets if attacked were “overblown” and partly bluff. Asked to spell out the consequences of a strike, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that he not want to explore a hypothetical question, arguing any risks “would be dwarfed in comparison to the danger of a nuclear Iran”.

“One thing is clear,” he told Reuters. “If Iran becomes nuclear then it’s the end of world order as we know it ... This is what we have to think about, and not about what will happen in case some action is being taken. US newspaper The Washington Post reported last week that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believed Israel was likely to bomb Iran within months to stop it building a nuclear bomb. Panetta declined to comment. But his alleged remarks and other Obama administration statements indicate the White House is focused on dis-

suading Israel from taking action and distancing itself from an Israeli strike if persuasion fails. The consequences of an Israeli attack would be wide-ranging and destabilizing.

Iran expels nuclear inspectors, quits treaty Iran would expel International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and quit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, ending any possibility of a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue.

“There is not a country on Earth that is going to blame them for doing that, they are all going to blame Israel. Once Iran is out of the NPT, the sanctions are gone,” Ken Pollack, director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, told Reuters.

Leaving the NPT would disrupt the sanctions regime since its measures are predicated upon enforcing treaty compliance.

Iran decides to go for the bomb Experts say a raid would only delay, not destroy Iran’s program.

And once it had recovered, Iran would probably seek to develop

nuclear weapons. Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at Washington’s Center for International and Strategic Studies, told Reuters Iran would redouble “efforts to develop a deterrent so it never happens again.”

Oil prices soar, jolt financial markets A strike on Iran and Iran’s response, including attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for oil shipments, or an attack on Saudi oilfields, would lead to a sharp rise in oil prices that could seriously harm the US economy, jeopardizing President Barack Obama’s chances for re-election.

Saudi Arabia would be forced to use all its spare output capacity, a crucial safety cushion for oil markets. But the most serious fears debated at oil trading desks include the possibility of Iran mining the straits, attacking ships as it did during the Iran-Iraq war, or challenging the legality of the passage of some vessels through its territorial waters. —Reuters

Fighting over Yemeni city kills 5 ADEN: Four Islamists linked to Al-Qaeda and a government soldier have been killed in clashes in southern Yemen, security sources said yesterday, hours after the breakdown of a short-lived ceasefire designed to pacify the area ahead of a presidential election. The clashes between militants from Ansar AlSharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) and government forces broke out late on Saturday on the outskirts of Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province, which militants seized last May. The capture of the coastal city has increased the vulnerability of Yemen’s second city, Aden, security experts say. The United

States and Saudi Arabia are particularly concerned that emboldened militants linked to Al-Qaeda could threaten nearby oil shipping routes through the Red Sea. Zinjibar has been nearly destroyed in regular clashes between the government and Islamist militants in the past eight months. Tens of thousands fled and are now refugees in nearby Aden and Lahej.

Tribesmen and residents said government mediators on Saturday forged a ceasefire with militants in an effort to create a peaceful environment for voting on Feb. 21, but militants denied they had made any such agreement.

SANAA: A Yemeni anti-government protester raises her palms painted in the colors of the Yemeni (right) and the Syrian pre-Baath flags during a rally in solidarity with the Syrian people yesterday. — AFP

“ They (the government) wanted to hold negotiations with Ansar Al-Sharia, but (we) refused,” a representative of the Islamist group told Reuters.

Diplomats hope the elections, agreed as part of a deal to ease President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of office, will pull the country back from the brink of civil war. Over the last year, militants have exploited lawlessness that accompanied protests against Saleh’s 33-year rule to seize towns like Zinjibar and Radda in Yemen’s mountainous interior.

Authorities had opted for negotiations in Zinjibar after it became clear that the military option was “not viable”, a government official in Sanaa told Reuters, especially given that the army had been weakened by divisions between supporters of the uprising and Saleh loyalists.

“Because of the split in the army and the political crisis, the military solution did not succeed in Abyan... Tribal negotiations may help get the al Qaeda members out of Abyan as they did in the city of Radda,” he said.

Militants quit Radda, around 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Sanaa, in exchange for the release of jailed comrades and the formation of a council to govern the town.

But such a solution would be difficult to replicate in Abyan province where militants are firmly entrenched. Highlighting the fragile security situation just weeks before voting, militants on Saturday attacked a Yemeni army base in the south, and elsewhere in Abyan unknown gunmen opened fire on a group of tribesmen, killing one and wounding two.

Some tribes have joined forces with the army against the militants. — Reuters

9

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

INTERNATIONAL

Cold snap death toll in Europe nears 300 Third of flights canceled at Heathrow Airport

ESPOO: A mother and daughter cast their votes in presidential elections at a local school yesterday. —AFP

Finns unfazed by Arctic freeze in prez elections HELSINKI: Finns braved the Arctic freeze yesterday to vote in the second round of a presidential election, with conservative Sauli Niinistoe favorite to win the run-off against his green liberal opponent. Electors warmly bundled up against the cold streamed into polling stations despite the minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) freeze in Helsinki to pick the man they want to succeed President Tarja Halonen. Finland’s popular president is stepping down after serving a maximum of two consecutive terms, ending a 30-year spell of Social Democratic presidents in the small Nordic country.

In the race to replace her, the conservative National Coalition Party’s Niinistoe enjoyed 62 percent support in the latest opinion poll published Thursday, compared to 38 percent for outsider Pekka Haavisto.

The 63-year-old Niinistoe-who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand by climbing a tree-has consistently trounced Haavisto in the opinion polls. “I feel I’ve done all I could and that I waged a good campaign,” a noticeably worn-looking Haavisto told commercial broadcaster MTV3 after casting his ballot around mid-morning, adding that he hoped the sunshine would tempt voters to come out.

“It is very cold, but at least it’s sunny. And I wanted to make sure that my candidate wins,” voter Erik Holmberg told AFP at a Helsinki school which served as a voting station, pulling on a thick woolen hat as he left.

“I voted for Niinistoe in the first round, but I changed my vote to Haavisto. He represents a more tolerant Finland,” said 29-year-old radio producer Raisa Siivola, wrapped up in a long scarf and thick hooded jacket.

In spite of the deep freeze, all of the country’s 2,300 polling stations opened without problems or delays, Finland’s director of elections Arto Jaeaeskelaeinen told AFP, adding that “in previous elections people have also voted in this kind of weather”.

Analysts too were optimistic that voters would turn out despite the Arctic cold sweeping in from Siberia, bringing temperatures to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit) at the weekend.

Voter turnout in the first round was 73 percent. For the second round, some 36.5 percent of an eligible 4.4 million electors have already cast their ballots in advance voting. Both Niinistoe and Haavisto, 53, are strongly pro-Europe and agree on most aspects of foreign policy, one of the few policy areas influenced by the president, which is otherwise a largely ceremonial position.

Niinistoe’s experience as finance minister has lent his candidacy credibility amid the European debt crisis while Haavisto’s openly gay stance has lost him support among older and more traditional Finns. Niinistoe led a field of eight candidates in first round voting on January 22, garnering 37 percent of votes to the 18.8 percent secured by Haavisto, who has a registered same-sex partnership with an Ecuadorean hairdresser. —AFP

Queen set to mark 60 yrs on throne LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II braved the cold and snow to attend church yesterday on the eve of her Diamond Jubilee anniversary. Bundled in a brown coat and matching fur hat, Elizabeth was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, at the service at West Newton church on her Sandringham Estate in eastern England. Following a service that lasted less than an hour, the queen took time to greet and accept flowers from wellwishers huddled in the freezing temperatures to catch a glimpse of her.

The bitter cold and snow that blanketed much of Britain forced a change of plans for Philip. He had been due to travel to nearby Kings Lynn to participate in the 90th anniversary parade of the local Royal British Legion branch, but the event was canceled because of the snow. The 85-yearold monarch marks 60 years on the throne on Monday. The anniversary will be marked by a series of regional, national and international events throughout 2012.

Elizabeth ascended the throne when her father, George VI, died on Feb 6, 1952. She

is the longest-serving monarch after Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years. The Queen typically spends Feb. 6 privately but she has two official engagements scheduled for Monday. First, Elizabeth will visit King’s Lynn Town hall to meet staff and view historical artifacts.

Then she is expected to tour a local nursery school and meeting pupils before watching a play there about her 60 years as sovereign.

Over the course of 2012, members of the royal family - including Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge will fan out across the globe and travel to Commonwealth countries including Canada, Jamaica and Belize in honor of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen and Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, will stay closer to home, touring the UK from March to July. The 2012 Diamond Jubilee weekend will be held from June 2-5, with the main highlight likely to be a massive pageant on the Thames river featuring a 1,000-strong flotilla. —AP

Spanish Socialists pick veteran leader SEVILLE: Spain’s Socialists chose party veteran Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba as their new leader on Saturday, charging him with mending divisions and rebuilding the party just months after he suffered a crushing defeat in a general election. Rubalcaba captured a sliver over 50 percent of delegates’ votes at a party convention in the southern city of Seville, beating Carme Chacon, a 40year-old former defence minister who had cast herself as a party reformer.

Rubalcaba is a former deputy prime minister and interior minister and replaces Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero who, battered by economic crisis and sky-high unemployment, stood aside to let Rubalcaba stand as the party’s candidate in November’s election. However, the 60-year-old had trouble distancing himself from Zapatero, prime minister from 2004 to 2011, and the centreright People’s Party (PP) won an absolute majority in parliament. —Reuters

KIEV: The Arctic cold snap that has hit Europe for over a week had claimed nearly 300 lives by yesterday, brought air travel chaos to London and dumped snow as far south as Rome and even North Africa. The grim winter toll rose in Ukraine, Poland, Italy and France, where two homeless people found frozen to death were the latest victims, with authorities across the continent reporting at least 297 fatalities. London’s Heathrow Airport, the world’s busiest air hub by passenger traffic, cancelled a third of the day’s flights, while much of Britain was blanketed in snow, leaving drivers stranded on roads overnight.

In Italy, which reported a seventh victim, snow-covered Rome was virtually paralyzed, thousands of people were trapped on trains, and the weather emergency sparked runs on supermarkets. “I couldn’t get hold of any food at the supermarket, people are stocking up like they did with bread in 1943,” Rome resident Salvatore Merlo said on Twitter. “Rome has the infrastructure of a third world country.” In worst-hit Ukraine, another nine deaths raised the toll to 131 — most of them homeless people who perished on the streets-since the deep freeze started nine days ago, said the emergencies ministry.

Some 1,800 people had now been hospitalized, and 75,000 people had sought warmth and food in over 3,000 shelters. In Poland, the cold claimed eight new victims, bringing the toll to 53. In Serbia, which has recorded nine deaths, states of emergency have been declared in 32 municipalities, mostly in the south and southwest. Almost 70,000 people remained cut off in snowed-in villages, with police and military

units providing basic necessities, said Predrag Maric, the police official in charge of Serbia’s emergency services.

In Romania, six new deaths have brought the toll to 34. In Finland, overnight temperatures plummeted to minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 32 degrees

motorway drivers were forced to spend the night in their cars as drifts of up to 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) ground traffic to a halt. Air traffic was hit too, and a Heathrow spokesman told AFP: “We’ve cancelled approximately 30 percent of the day’s flights. We’re continuing to tell passengers to contact their

faced class actions after hundreds of people were trapped in trains. In France, the bodies of two homeless people were discovered-a 46-year-old woman in the town of Compiegne, north of Paris, and a 56-year-old man found on a Paris building’s fire escape-bringing the toll to five.

HAMBURG: Strollers walk on the frozen banks of the river Elbe yesterday. —AFP Fahrenheit), but did not deter many Helsinki voters from turning out to vote in a presidential election. Motorists were warned of more arctic winds and slick roads and poor visibility because of powdery snow. Similar conditions led to pile-ups Friday near Helsinki, in which more than 200 cars were involved, and which saw about 40 people taken to hospital.

Much of Britain was blanketed in snow, and in southeast England,

airline before they travel.”

Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Luton airports were brought to a standstill for part of Saturday night due to snow on the runways.

In Italy, more than 400 members of the armed forces helped clear cities after the heaviest snowfall in 27 years.

In Rome, black ice covered streets as snowed-in residents were warned of food shortages and the national rail operator

The cold front has even brought rare snow to North Africa. In Algeria, at least 16 people died and more than 100 have been injured since snow covered cities over the weekend, blocking hundreds of roads, and left villages in the mountain area of Kabylia isolated. Five of the deaths were reported to have been due to separate cases of carbon monoxide poisoning linked to gas heating. —AFP

Russia opposition vows new rallies to shake Putin

NAIROBI: This picture shows a gay couple, who wish to remain anonymous, who fled deadly persecution in their home country due to their sexual-orientation, speaking during an interview. —AFP

African homosexuals seek refuge in Kenya NAIROBI: Until a new anti-homosexuality bill caused a wave of homophobia in Uganda, John and Paul could hold hands in the streets of the capital Kampala and kiss in night clubs. Then the nightmare started-people began insulting and then assaulting them, and then they had to run away to Kenya. The couple have been in Nairobi since May of last year. Like other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, they came to this urban jungle seeking anonymity, explained the official running a program that looks after these refugees.

His organization, which last year alone looked after 67 LGBT cases in Kenya, did not want to be named for fear of endangering its refugees.

Some have fled a strict application of Islamic law in Somalia, others are running from general sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and yet others have fled a climate of growing hostility elsewhere in east Africa. Some hope to be able to find refuge in Western countries sympathetic to their plight, such as the United States.

In December, President Barack Obama said that fighting discrimination against gays should be at the forefront of American diplomacy. And last month UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told African leaders they must respect gay rights, in an unusually outspoken statement at the African Union summit. “One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said at the meeting in Addis Ababa. In Kampala, people “did not know we [gays] existed” until a member of parliament in 2009 proposed strengthening the law against homosexuality, which could already lead to a life sentence in prison. “People demonstrated against us, told us we were not human beings. We could not buy from shopkeepers,” recounted John, 26. But worse was to come. A screaming tabloid headline encouraged its readers to “hang” homosexuals and in October 2010 published the names, photos and addresses of more than 20 gays, including those

of the couple. “People started disappearing,” said John, who was beaten up several times. Then Paul was attacked. “I was watching a film when I heard a lot of noise,” said the well-built 24-yearold. “People had broken into my place, armed with stones, sticks and machetes.” John, who was on his way to his boyfriend’s home, fled when he saw the attackers.

‘Their lives are in danger’ “To me he was dead,” he remembers thinking of his partner. Paul owes his life to the intervention of the police, who however immediately jailed him. “I was physically abused, beaten, bleeding from everywhere,” he recounted with difficulty. His friend David Kato, a gay activist, intervened to get him freed. Paul, whose home had been trashed and who no longer dared set foot in his three electronics shops, kept on hoping the situation would improve. That is until Kato was brutally murdered just over a year ago, found bludgeoned to death at home outside Kampala on January 26, 2011. The killing sparked widespread international condemnation, including from Obama who decried such crimes as “unconscionable” and said: “LGBT rights are not special rights; they are human rights.” After Kato’s murder, Paul decided to join John who had gone into hiding in Busia, near the Kenyan border. Their fellow Ugandan Danie, 31, avoided getting beaten up before her arrest because she never revealed she was transgender. She was a civil servant in a prominent Ugandan institution.

She also served, clandestinely, as point of contact for American and Canadian LGBT rights groups. When her secret sideline was found out she was jailed for five weeks. “They questioned me. ‘What are your very ultimate objectives?’ (they asked). I was accused of being an enemy to the government,” she told AFP. She was freed when a powerful uncle intervened and she fled to Kenya at the end of July 2011. When she talks to people back in Kampala they tell her that Ugandan intelligence operatives have been trying to track her down in Nairobi. —AFP

MOSCOW: The movement against Vladimir Putin was yesterday preparing new rallies to loosen the Russian strongman’s 12-year grip on power after keeping up their challenge with a third mass demonstration in Moscow. Tens of thousands marched through Moscow Saturday despite bitterly cold weather to protest against Putin’s domination, with organizers disputing police claims that a proPutin rally elsewhere in the capital was even larger.

Putin is still expected to win March 4 presidential elections where he is seeking a third Kremlin term after his four year stint as premier, but protest organizers emphasized that the polls mark only the start of their challenge.

The march on Bolotnaya Square over the Moscow river from the Kremlin was the third mass rally since fraud-tainted December 4 parliamentary elections sparked demonstrations that smashed the taboo against protests in Putin’s Russia. “We will come again,” organizers wrote on their Facebook page yesterday morning under a picture of protestors sending hundreds of balloons into the Moscow winter sky.

One the chief organizers of the anti-Putin movement, politician Vladimir Ryzhkov, said he did not rule out holding a mass rally on February 26, one week before the polls, though most likely it would be a smaller “flash mob” action. “The big meeting is going to be on March 11 since, as far as I am aware, the extent of the fraud in the presidential elections is going to be huge.” Putin’s biggest challenge in the elections is likely to come from Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, who some analysts believe could push him to a second round but is an unpalatable figure for many in the protest movement.

Of the four candidates standing against Putin in the elections, only billionaire tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov attended the protest march and he did not give an address. Founder of the liberal Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky, who was disqualified from taking part in the elections on procedural grounds, said in a rousing speech at the rally that “life does not end on March 4 or even 5.”

“And perhaps our opponents and enemies will soon see and understand-perhaps-that everything is only just starting for us and for them it is ending,” he said. “We love our country and we will not give it up to thieves, fascists, Stalinists or other parasites.”

Former cabinet minister turned bitter anti-Putin critic Boris Nemtsov hailed the success of the rally but warned three mass meetings were not enough to change the grip on power of Putin’s circle.

“We are facing a prolonged, tough struggle with cynical and cruel swindlers and thieves. It is a marathon that we will certainly win,” he said. Police said that 36,000 attended the opposition meeting but Nemtsov and other anti-Putin leaders said over 100,000 had braved frigid winter temperatures of minus 17 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

By contrast, police said that 138,000 people had showed up for a pro-Putin rally in western Moscow, with Moscow deputy mayor Alexander Gorbenko saying the organizers should be fined for exceeding their planned turnout of 15,000. But the opposition rubbished that turnout estimate and also said numbers were artificially boosted by employees of state companies being offered cash incentives or even being ordered to attend the pro-Putin rally. —AFP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Republicans try hard to win over Latinos Majority of Hispanics set to vote for Democrats

CARACAS: Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (left) and Cuba’s President Raul Castro meet during the welcome ceremony for a summit by the eight-nation Bolivarian Alliance bloc, or ALBA, at Miraflores presidential palace. — AP

Chavez and allies back Argentina on Falklands CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and other leaders in the left-leaning ALBA bloc backed Argentina on Saturday in its long-running dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman thanked Chavez and other presidents for their support at the meeting in Caracas. “The issue of the Malvinas Islands is an issue that concerns us, especially with the strong language that has emerged from the British government, accusing Argentina of being colonialist,” Chavez said, calling it “the world in reverse.”

The dispute heated up recently when Prince William, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, was assigned to the islands on an upcoming military tour along with a warship in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of Argentina’s April 1982 invasion, which sparked a 10-week war.

Argentina, which claims Britain stole the archipelago from it 180 years ago, calls them the Malvinas Islands and has protested the British deployment.

The eight member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance bloc, or ALBA, approved an agreement barring any boats flying Falkland Islands flags from docking in their ports. “I’m speaking only for Venezuela, but if it occurs to the British empire to attack Argentina, Argentina won’t be alone this time,” Chavez said.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa

suggested the countries take stronger measures. “We have to talk about sanctions,” Correa said. Argentina hopes diplomatic and economic measures will pressure Britain to comply with United Nations resolutions encouraging both countries to negotiate the islands’ sovereignty. British leaders have refused to do that.

Turning to economic matters, Chavez told the group of presidents that their countries should work together to strengthen their economies to withstand global troubles. He called for “a more ambitious project” in economic cooperation. “The economic issue is first on the agenda. You all see how the world is.

There’s a terrible crisis,” Chavez told the presidents, including Cuba’s Raul Castro and Bolivia’s Evo Morales, among others.

Chavez said countries within the ALBA group should expand their use of a virtual currency known as the Sucre for trade.

Chavez has promoted the Sucre since 2010 as an accounting unit to replace the dollar for some trade. Venezuela has used the system to pay for some of its food imports from Bolivia and Ecuador.

Correa complained that thus far the bloc’s economic plans “don’t advance more quickly.” Also attending the televised meeting were the leaders of ALBA members Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, along with nonmember Haiti. — AP

Fidel Castro presents his memoirs ‘Time Guerrilla’ HAVANA: Cuban leader Fidel Castro presented two volumes of his memoir entitled “Time Guerrilla” in a ceremony that marked his first public appearance since last April, Cuban media reported. The memoirs trace his life from infancy until 1958, when he succeeded in leading a revolution that turned Cuba into a communist country aligned with the Soviet Union.

Castro’s recollection of events is reported through conversations with journalist Katiuska Blanco. “I have to seize the opportunity now because my memory is spent,” the 85-year-old Castro told guests at a presentation Friday at the Palace of Conventions in Havana.

The Cuban leader had not been seen in public since April 2011 when he attended the closing ceremony of a Communist Party congress. Among the guests on Friday was Abel Prieto, Cuba’s cultural minister; Miguel Barnet, president of the Union of Writers and Artists; and Blanco, the book’s author. “I’m willing to do everything possible to convey what I remember well,” Castro was quoted as saying in the official newspapers Granma, Young Rebel and on the website Cubadebate. “I’ve been expressing all the ideas I had and the feelings that I went through. I am aware of the importance of telling all this to pass it so that it can be useful.”

During the conversations with Blanco, which span 1,000 pages in the book, Castro said, “I prefer an old clock, old eyeglasses, old boots and in politics, everything new.” Blanco, who also authored the first official biography of Castro and his family, presents his memoirs in the form of questions and answers. The book is similar to “One Hundred Hours with Fidel,” a book of conversations between Castro and Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, published in late 2006, just after the Cuban leader turned over power to his brother, Raul, amid a health crisis.

Since then, Castro has dedicated himself to publishing a book that narrates his experiences during the Cuban revolution and writing columns in the media titled “Reflections.” The columns expound on his views on current events. Castro gave copies of his two-volume memoirs to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff during her visit to Cuba this week, according to diplomatic sources in Brazil. The memoirs are published by Editora Abril and

illustrated with photographs and drawings by the Cuban painter Ernesto Rancano.

Castro spoke about international politics during his presentation at the Palace of Conventions. He said he closely follows events in Venezuela under the government of his friend, Hugo Chavez. “No one did more for the people of Venezuela and the Bolivarian Movement,” he said. He also referred to the Chilean student protests demanding free and quality education under the guidance of their leader Camila Vallejo. “We should support the ideas of the young Chilean in the sense of fighting for education available equally to all,” Castro said. “It shouldn’t be just general education and free, but we should also worry about what is taught,” he added. Regarding the politics of Latin America and the Middle East, Castro said, “There is no longer room only for national interests.

Instead, they should be framed under world interests.” “Our duty is to fight until the last minute for our country, for our planet and for humanity.” Castro also congratulated the families of five Cuban agents convicted of espionage in the United States. The Cuban government refers to them as “heroes” and “anti-terrorists” for their work in monitoring anti-Castro groups in Miami. “You have to see what these men have endured,” he said. — AFP

HAVANA: Handout picture released shows former Cuban President Fidel Castro during the presentation of the two volumes of his new book of memories ‘Guerrillero del tiempo (Time Guerrilla)’. — AFP

LAS VEGAS: Astrid Silva came to the United States aged four with her parents from Mexico in search of “the American dream.” She’s 23 now and fears being deported every day. She is one reason Republicans are struggling to woo Latinos-key voters in heavily Hispanic states like Nevada, Colorado and Arizonadespite the economic downturn, experts say.

Ahead of Saturday’s caucuses in Nevada, Republicans trumpeted how the economic crisis-which has hit the western state worst than most-has convinced Latinos to abandon President Barack Obama’s Democrats.

But one expert said the reality is that, even if Republicans have made some progress in “outreach” into the Latino community, the majority of Hispanics will still vote Democrat come the November presidential elections.

“All the numbers show that they don’t love Obama. But they like him a lot better than they do any of the Republican candidates here,” said David Damore, associate professor of politics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“The most important issue for Latino voters is immigration and you’ve already had Mitt Romney come out and say he’d veto the DREAM Act... and that sort of ends the conversation really quickly,” he told AFP. That’s where Silva comes in-she was among a small group of young Latinos who staged a protest outside Republican frontrunner Romney’s Las Vegas campaign headquarters to protest his stance on the DREAM Act. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which Obama supports, would allow 55,000 youngsters who came to the United States illegally to go to university after completing high school here.

Silva, whose mother was born in the Mexican state of Veracruz but who has lived in Las Vegas for 19 or her 23 years, is part of those undocumented masses left in limbo-but who would be out if a president Romney vetoed the Act. “At this moment I’m up for deportation at any moment. If they were to come right now and arrest us. At any moment it’s a risk, but there would be a bigger risk if he were to veto it,” she said.

“We came for the American dream,” she said, explaining how her father is still fighting against deportation, and how she does “odd jobs” to cover the bills, while hoping that one day she will be able to graduate from college.

Speaking in the parking lot outside Romney’s suburban campaign offices with the red desert mountains surrounding Las Vegas

looming in the distance, she added: “Even if I did graduate ... I could never apply for a job.”

Rival presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has sharply criticized Romney’s plan for illegal immigrations to go back to their countries of origin voluntarily and re-apply for legal entrya move which could break up families here.

Republicans did “recognize that there are human beings involved,” Gingrich told the select group of 40 or so Latinos at a Vegas restaurant. But he said a key part of the immi-

agree, said communications director Zach Hudson. “When Nevada Latinos go to the polls this November they will have a clear choice between President Obama’s commitment to creating jobs and passing comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act,” he said.

The alternative was “a Republican like Mitt Romney who continues to insult the Hispanic community by not only saying he’d veto the DREAM Act as President, but actually derides

LAS VEGAS: Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, accompanied by his wife Callista, speaks at Stoney’s Rockin Country. — AP gration problem was the complexity of getting visas. “In many places it’s easier to come here illegally than it is to go to the State Dept to try to get a visa,” he said, saying if elected he would launch a guest worker program.

“I would have American Express, Visa or Mastercard run it, because they know how to run card programs with minimum fraud, and the federal government’s just a failure,” he said. One member of his audience was physician Annette Teijeiro, who is herself running for a state Senate seat as a Republican. She said more Latinos are realizing that the Republican Party is more for them.

In the past, “Hispanics were somewhat misled... as to what party was representing them the best... Now as they get their wake up call (they are) starting to realize that the Republican Party has more solutions.” The Nevada State Democratic Party does not

it as a ‘handout.’” Latinos constitute 26 percent of Nevada’s population and will comprise 15 percent of its registered voters in November, according to immigration reform group America’s Voice.

“If the past two election cycles... are any guide, the Latino vote and the issue of immigration reform will once again prove decisive in the 2012 general election,” it said. Four years ago 76 percent of Nevada’s Latino voters backed Obama, helping him regain the swing state from the Republicans, who had taken it in 2000 and 2004. “Mitt Romney has already seared his image as an anti-immigrant candidate into the minds of Latino voters,” said America’s Voice. “Romney’s vow to veto the DREAM Act and his continued calls for selfdeportation of undocumented immigrants are reverberating in the Latino communityand will continue through November.” — AFP

GOP race turns to Colorado LAS VEGAS: Now it’s on to Colorado, Minnesota and Maine.

With back-to-back victories fueling him, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney is looking toward the next states that hold GOP nominating contests as main rival Newt Gingrich brushes aside any talk of abandoning his White House bid - all but ensuring the battle will stretch into the spring if not beyond.

Shortly after losing big to Romney here, the former House speaker emphatically renewed his vow to campaign into the party convention in Tampa this summer.

His goal, he said, was to “find a series of victories which by the end of the Texas primary will leave us at parity” with Romney by early April. Next up to vote are Colorado and Minnesota, which both hold caucuses Tuesday. Maine follows on Saturday during a month that promises to be as plodding as

January was rapid-fire in the presidential race.

Romney will look to maintain his position of strength, if not build upon it, as his rivals continue working to derail him even as their options for doing so narrow with each victory he notches. As Saturday turned to Sunday, the former Massachusetts governor held a double-digit lead over his nearest pursuer as the totals mounted in Nevada, where fellow Mormons accounted for roughly a quarter of all caucus-goers.

Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul vied for a distant second. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum trailed the field.

Returns from 16 of 17 counties showed Romney with 42 percent support, Gingrich with 26 percent, Paul with 18 percent and Santorum with 13 percent. Yet to report its results was Clark County, which includes Las Vegas and

often accounts for half or more of the votes in a statewide election.

Officials said it could be Sunday before those were released.

Romney’s victory capped a week that began with his doubledigit win in the Florida primary.

That contest was as intense as Nevada’s caucuses were sedate so quiet that they produced little television advertising, no candidate debates and only a modest investment of time by the contenders.

A total of 28 Republican National Convention delegates were at stake in caucuses held across the sprawling state.

Romney won at least 10, Gingrich at least four, Paul at least three and Santorum at least two. Eight were still to be determined. That gives Romney a total of 97, including endorsements from Republican National Committee members who will automatically attend the

convention and can support any candidate they choose. Gingrich has 30, Santorum 16 and Paul seven. It will take 1,144 delegates to win the Republican nomination.

Preliminary results of a poll of Nevada Republicans entering their caucuses showed that nearly half said the most important consideration in their decision was a candidate’s ability to defeat President Barack Obama this fall, a finding in line with other states.

About one-quarter of those surveyed said they were Mormon, roughly the same as in 2008, when Romney won with more than a majority of the vote in a multi-candidate field.

The entrance poll was conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press at 25 randomly selected caucus sites. It included 1,553 interviews and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. —AP

In California, questions amid ‘betrayal’ LOS ANGELES: Mr. Berndt’s third-grade classroom was up on the second floor, tucked away at the rear of Miramonte Elementary School, its windows looking out onto a playground. When he locked the door, the classroom became a private sanctum where authorities allege that the 61year-old teacher spoon-fed his semen to blindfolded children in a bizarre sexual game he documented in photographs. That room’s secluded location may help explain why Mark Berndt’s “tasting game,” as he called it, wasn’t detected sooner. But a crucial question remains: Why didn’t the children, and possibly their parents, tell anyone during a period spanning from 2005 to 2010? “I’m in such shock,” Miguel Lopez, father of one of Berndt’s former pupils, said this week as he stood outside the school.

“How could this happen?”

The answer is far from clear, but may lie partly in Berndt’s classroom character and the community of Miramonte itself, where he taught for three decades. As a playful teacher, he won the confidence of children.

As an educated man, he earned the respect of parents - mostly poor Latino immigrants who are often reluctant to complain out of fear of authority and a perception they won’t be taken seriously. Miramonte Elementary strikes an imposing presence in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood, a collection of small bungalows surrounded by chain link fences. The large school is painted bright yellow and blue with murals depict-

ing world leaders and Mayan motifs.

With 1,400 students, it’s so overcrowded it operates year-round on a staggered school start date. Over half the children are learning English and all receive free or reduced-price lunches. Most of the families in this unincorporated section of Los Angeles County are immigrants from Mexico and Central America - some illegal who eke out livings mowing lawns and working on factory assembly lines. Spanish is the predominant language here - burger joints advertise 99-cent tacos, pupuserias sell El Salvador’s national food of corn-filled patties, stores display merchandise of used washing machines and plain wooden furniture on the sidewalks as in Guatemala City.

It’s an insular neighborhood where people come from societies where authority generally isn’t questioned and they don’t want to cause problems in a new place.School teachers are respected figures for local parents, many of whom have limited education.

That worked in Berndt’s favor, said Maria Polanco, who has two children at Miramonte. “People are afraid to talk. They can’t express themselves well, they’re illegal,” she said. “He took advantage of that. The school officials think we’re ignorant. What do we do to be listened to?” But the arrest of Berndt, who has been charged with 23 counts of lewd acts on children, may have spurred people to speak out. Four days after his arrest, the school was further roiled when a second teacher, Martin Springer, was

arrested on suspicion of fondling two girls in his classroom, after students came forward.

Additional complaints are coming in about Berndt, as well.

By most accounts, Berndt, who taught at the school for 32 years, was a well-liked teacher who seemed quirky but harmless.

He dressed as Mickey Mouse, complete with tail and shorts, for the school’s Halloween festival, played comical tunes in class and gave out lollipops and popsicles. He loved to teach about nature and kept a collection of exotic Madagascar hissing cockroaches in a classroom fish tank that fascinated boys.

He took children on field trips and spoke to parents in broken Spanish, often nipping out of school to buy tamales from a neighborhood peddler. When he suddenly disappeared from his classroom a year ago, parents were upset, Suarez recalled. That rapport Berndt cultivated may be the key to why he went unreported for so long, although several students had tried to complain about him decades ago to no avail.

One complaint to school officials in 1990 about his odd hand movements under his desk was treated dismissively, according to two former students who spoke to the Los Angeles Times, while the district attorney declined to prosecute a 1994 complaint that he tried to fondle a girl under her desk. In recent years, prosecutors allege, he played the “tasting game” during and after class with his own students and sometimes their friends from other classes. — AP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Pakistan vows to help Afghan peace efforts ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will support every effort to promote reconciliation in Afghanistan, a senior government official said ahead of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s visit to Qatar today to discuss peace efforts.

Gilani’s trip comes after the Taleban last month said they planned to set up a political office in Qatar ahead of possible talks with the United States. “There are certain ideas and suggestions on Afghan reconciliation and when Prime Minister Gilani meets Qatar’s leadership, these will certainly come under discussion,” the official, privy to developments on the issue, told AFP yesterday.

“Americans have been briefing us on all developments aimed at pushing forward the peace process in Afghanistan and we have clearly told them that Islamabad strictly adheres to a policy of non-interference,” the official, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “We are ready to support every effort and a process that is Afghan-led and involves all factions,” he

said, adding “it is important to engage all Afghan factions including Taleban in the process to achieve a lasting peace”.

“We have no favorites in Afghanistan and strongly believe that all Afghan factions have to be on board and agree on a certain formula”, the official stressed.

“The only favorite that we have is peace and stability in Afghanistan.” Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during a visit to Kabul last week rejected accusations that her country was secretly supporting the Taleban in Afghanistan.

The Taleban have also denied plans for peace talks with the Afghan government in Saudi Arabia. The statements came as a leaked NATO report charged that Pakistan’s security services were backing the Taleban, who consider victory inevitable once Western combat troops leave Afghanistan in 2014. Asked how Pakistan viewed the Taleban’s announcement on setting up an office in Qatar, the official said “now they have an

address and all those wanting peace can have a contact.”

Afghanistan has given its blessing to the move, but Kabul, wary of being sidelined in talks between the insurgents and Washington, has insisted on a central role in any negotiations. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are often tense. The Kabul government has accused Islamabad in the past of supporting the Taleban and sabotaging all efforts to launch peace negotiations. Pakistan’s support is therefore seen as key to forging peace in the country.

The official said Pakistan did not think it was being left out of the process. “There is nothing of the sort and we did not gather such an impression of being left out from anywhere,” he said. Asked how Pakistan viewed the possibility of Saudi Arabia as a possible facilitator in the process, the official said Islamabad was not fixed on a particular country taking the role. “The end result should be a solution and peace in Afghanistan,” he said.

“Pakistan welcomes any effort that is made from anywhere to push forward the peace process.”

Meanwhile, Gilani said during a televised media discussion in Islamabad yesterday that it was in Pakistan’s interest to see a stable Afghanistan. “We are ready to support any reconciliation process that is Afghan-led,” he said. But analysts believe that any role for Pakistan in the process is possible only after it improves ties with the United States.

“Pakistan will have to improve relations with the US Qatar is a facilitator of the dialogue between the US and the Taleban and it cannot get a seat for Pakistan at the negotiations table,” analyst Hasan Askari told AFP. Pakistan must have the confidence of the US and Afghanistan to become an active player in the dialogue process, he added. Commenting on Taleban’s decision to open a political office in Qatar, he said, “It will be a very useful contact point if it is an extension of Mullah Omar’s system”. — AFP

Car bomb kills 9 in south Afghan city Taleban slam ‘biased’ UN report

ISLAMABAD: Local residents walk on a road as snow falls in the hill town of Murree. — AP

Military comeback a distant dream for Taleban: Analysts KABUL: A secret NATO report showing the strength of confidence among the Afghan Taleban is raising concerns from Kabul to Washington that the militant group might overrun the country again when foreign combat forces finally leave. But analysts doubt the militants, who rose from the ashes of Afghanistan’s civil war, will be able to again race into the capital in pick-up trucks, hang their opponents in public and once more impose their austere brand of Islam on the country.

Although still much feared, experts say they don’t have the military capability to seize control of the whole country when NATO combat troops withdraw in 2014. Despite the bold predictions of Taleban detainees whose opinions formed the basis of the NATO report, which was leaked last week, circumstances have changed substantially. A partial comeback appears to be the best the Taleban can hope for.

“When they ruled before, many people had fled Afghanistan. There was no young generation. Without much fighting, they captured 90 percent of Afghanistan. But now the situation has completely changed,” said Waheed Mujhda, Kabul-based expert on the Taleban.

“They accept that the time has changed. They accept that it’s impossible for one party to capture all Afghanistan and rule all over Afghanistan.” The Taleban, ousted after a US invasion in 2001, was able to sweep to power in 1996 partly because it was able to exploit the chaos gripping Afghanistan in the years following the end of the failed Soviet occupation.

Difficult to topple government The Afghan army and security forces may still be deeply flawed, but their mere size would make it difficult for the Taleban to simply topple the government when NATO troops go. With an estimated 25,000 fighters at the most, the Taleban is hugely outnumbered by NATO and Afghan forces. Its budget too is minuscule, put at just $150 million a year. By contrast, the United States has spent some $500 billion on its 10-year war there.

“The government is very fragile but we have to keep in mind it is supported by a 250,000 strong security apparatus ... which is also supported by the international community and these two big elements were missing when the Taleban seized the country in the mid-90s,” said Pakistani security analyst Imtiaz Gul. Without tanks and fighter planes, the Taleban could find itself battling government forces-and remaining Western special forces for years. And a survey by The Asia Foundation

showed that the proportion of respondents who say they had some level of sympathy with the motives of armed opposition groups reached its lowest level last year.

Also standing in the way would be the threat of a renewed civil war from the Taleban’s old ethnic foes, a small army of Western advisers likely to remain after 2014, and the opposition of many ordinary Afghans. A surge in US and NATO troop numbers that began in 2010 has suppressed the Taleban on the open battlefield, forcing the insurgency last year to turn to assassinations and audacious attacks in Kabul to regain a psychological advantage.

Taleban commanders still speak of waging jihad until Islamic rule is restored. But some militants are starting to long for a peaceful end to Afghanistan’s years of conflict. “There are fighters who had suffered losses, lost their family members in fighting and became homeless who want a peaceful solution to the long war,” said a Taleban commander who identified himself by his codename, Qari Baryal. Afghanistan’s fate after 2014 may depend on how neighboring Pakistan views the Taleban, with which it has historical ties.

The NATO report said Pakistani intelligence was supporting the Taleban, an allegation Islamabad denied. However, analysts say Pakistan does not want to see the Taleban in power again because that could embolden militants fighting the Pakistani state, though the regional power still wants a say in Afghanistan. A senior Western diplomat involved in Afghan reconciliation efforts said he detected caution among Pakistani officials.

“I got the strong impression that Pakistan does not see a Taleban takeover to be in its interests,” he told Reuters. In a surprise announcement last month, the Afghan Taleban announced it would open a political office in Qatar, suggesting the group may be willing to negotiate-for government positions or official control over much of its historical southern heartland. That also suggests it thinks the odds of a complete takeover are slim and is instead looking for major gains in the political arena. Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said it was too soon to say how political maneuvers towards peace negotiations could unfold, although the Taleban was open to conciliation. But there are questions over how cohesive the Taleban can remain. Ghulam Jelani Zwak, director of Afghan Analytical and Advisory Centre, said he believed peace talks and the NATO withdrawal would lead to the break-up of the Taleban between more extreme insurgents and those willing to accept a peace deal. —Reuters

US imams issue fatwa against honor killings MONTREAL: Over 30 American imams signed a fatwa Saturday condemning honor killings, after a Canada court convicted Afghan immigrants for murdering four female relatives accused of damaging the family’s reputation. “There is no justification for honor killings, domestic violence and misogyny in Islam,” according to the religious order issued by the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada (ISCC) and signed by 34 imams from Canada and the United States. Such violence, including spousal abuse and child abuse in all forms, is “forbidden,” it said.

“The relationship between the husband and wife is based upon mutual love and kindness.”

Imam Syed Soharwardy, the ISCC’s founder, said the group put out the fatwa “because of the Shafia trial, because it has been a large focus (for) the Islamic community and people said a lot of things,” adding that imams wanted to clear up “some misunderstandings about Islam” by non Muslims. Last week a court

in Kingston, Ontario found businessman Mohammad Shafia, 58, his 42-year-old wife Tooba Yahya and their 21-year-old son Hamed guilty of first degree murder and sentenced them to 25 years in prison.

In what the judge called “heinous” crimes and the indictment described as “honor killings,” the defendants were found guilty of the deaths of the couple’s three daughters and Shafia’s first wife in his polygamous marriage. “We are not criminals. We are not murderers,” Mohammad Shafia had told the court.

“This is unjust.”

The bodies of the victims were found in a car submerged in a canal lock near Kingston in June 2009. The defendants argued the deaths were an accident.

Canada has seen 13 such killings-which are more common in the Middle East and South Asia-since 2002, Amin Muhammed, a psychiatry professor at Memorial University in Saint John’s, Newfoundland, said. — AFP

KANDAHAR: A car bomb exploded just outside the police headquarters of a southern Afghanistan city on Sunday, killing at least nine people, officials said. The blast went off at a parking lot outside the police building in Kandahar, said Faisal Ahmad, a spokesman for the provincial government. Five police officers and two civilians were killed, and least 21 people were wounded, he added. The blast was large enough that it shattered windows in nearby buildings. It appeared the bomb was in a parked vehicle and was remotely detonated, said Zalmai Ayubi, another government spokesman.

NATO forces helped secure the area as Afghan police carried the wounded to ambulances and loaded the bodies of the dead into the back of a pickup truck. The street outside the building was spattered with blood. A hawker’s sheet of cardboard loaded with sunglasses lay abandoned in the road surrounded by charred debris. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Although the international military coalition in Afghanistan has poured resources into Kandahar city and its vicinity in recent years as part of a push to take back insurgent strongholds, the area has remained dangerous and there have been repeated attacks against government installations. The UN reported on Saturday that 2011 was the deadliest on record for civilians in the Afghan war, with 3,021 killed as insurgents ratcheted up violence with suicide attacks and roadside bombs. Civilian deaths from military or other pro-government forces decreased slightly.

Afghanistan’s largest insurgent movement, the Taleban, said yesterday the report was “biased.” In an emailed statement, Taleban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid accused the UN as a Western organization - of falsifying the figures.

The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, for his part said the report reflected the effort the international

KANDAHAR: An Afghan police truck drives a corpse away following a car bomb in a car park outside police headquarters yesterday. — AFP coalition has put into decreasing civilian casual- Afghanistan resulted from an unfortunate misunderstanding, said Sayed Jahangir, the deputy ties.

He added that international forces “will con- police chief for the province. Afghans guard the tinue to do all we can to reduce casualties that outside perimeter of the base and Americans affect the Afghan civilian population.” In the guard inside. Jahangir said that the Afghan north, meanwhile, Afghan police said that an guard - a man named Abdul Rahim - wanted to American soldier shot and killed an Afghan go into the base and started arguing with the guard at a US base, apparently because the American at the door. Rahim did not raise his American thought the guard was about to attack weapon, but the American thought he was about to do so and fired, Jahangir said. “Our inihim.

There have been a growing number of tial reports show that the American thought he attacks by Afghan soldiers against international was acting in self defense,” Jahangir said. Rahim forces in Afghanistan in recent years, some the was a private guard, not an Afghan soldier or result of arguments and others by insurgent policeman, Jahangir said. US forces were “aware infiltrators. Last month, an Afghan soldier shot of an incident in northern Afghanistan” and were and killed four unarmed French troops last investigating, said US military spokesman Lt Col month at a base in eastern Afghanistan. Friday’s Jimmie Cummings. He declined to provide furshooting in Sari Pul province in northern ther details. — AP

Gandhi gambles on poor Indian state SITAPUR: It was a small platform for a man working on the biggest political stage of his life. Rahul Gandhi, India’s political pin-up and a man who might one day lead the world’s largest democracy, sat last week on a plastic chair on a slightly cramped podium in the dusty town of Sitapur in nor thern Uttar Pradesh state. The deeply impoverished region heads to the polls next week to elect a new state assembly and Gandhi has led the campaigning for Congress, the party headed by his family that has dominated post-independence India.

Success will energize those clamoring for him to take on the prime minister’s job; failure will feed the doubters-and there are many-as well as interest in his sister Priyanka, whom some Gandhi loyalists still prefer. Standing in his path is state leader Mayawati, a 56-yearold low-caste populist with a fetish for handbags and statues, making the multi-stage UP poll one of the most politically important and fascinating Indian contests in years. After introductions from the local candidates, 41year-old Gandhi tip-toed around the chairs on the stage, wearing running shoes with his traditional white shirt and pyjamas, and grasped both sides of the lectern.

His speaking style is confident nowadays in contrast to his nervy entry into politics in 2004, although he struggled to fire up a fairly docile crowd of about 5,000 on a small school playing field. For 22 years-the time Congress has been out of power in UP-the state has lost out because of corruption and mismanagement which has worsened under Mayawati, said Gandhi, his party’s general secretary and youth leader. “I get angry when I see UP lagging behind the rest of the countr y,” he declared, referring to a state with some of the worst indicators country-wide for child mortality, life expectancy, literacy and malnutrition.

It has a population of about 200 million and poverty as bad as anything found in subSahara Africa. If it was a country in its own right it would be the fifth biggest measured by inhabitants, larger than Brazil. Mayawati, whose BSP party champions the rights of those at the bottom of India’s social ladder, had lost touch, Rahul said. He, expensively educated and the son of a prime minister, could feel their pain. “Yes I studied in England and later in the United States, but what I have learned from you over these last seven years is unparalleled,” he said.

Caste links A day later and a short distance up the road, Mayawati began her own campaign. A packed crowd of up to 50,000, many transported in on free buses by local candidates, squabbled and gossiped before she arrived by helicopter, which drew gasps and applause.

The majority of supporters were low-caste farm laborers, who earn about 100 rupees (about $2) for a grueling day’s work out in the field. Mayawati had transformed their relations with the higher castes, some said, help-

BASTI, India: India’s ruling Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi gestures as he addresses an election rally yesterday. — AP ing to ease the plight of a class of people once called “Untouchables” for their presumed physical and spiritual dirtiness. “Earlier the upper caste people used to harass us,” said Sripal, a laborer aged about 60. “Now when they do it, there is action taken against them,” he said, explaining that the police now responded to their complaints, sometimes even without money being exchanged.

Others dismissed corruption allegations that swirl around Mayawati’s administration, as well as criticism of her lavish spending on

memorials, statues and monuments to lowcaste icons-including herself. “It was only one percent of the budget on statues, and she made all these new parks,” said Kuldeep Bhati, 35, repeating Mayawati’s own defense of the vast projects. Her reputation for megalomania was enhanced by widely reported-and furiously denied-US embassy cables published by WikiLeaks which recounted “the first-rate egomaniac” sending a private jet to Mumbai to pick up some sandals. She also drew flack in 2010 after she wore a giant garland made of 1,000-rupee bank notes.

Taking to the stage, she turned the tables on the Congress-led central government, lambasting it over corruption at the national level and accusing it of blocking her attempts to draw industry to Uttar Pradesh. “It is the first time for this state that our government took up the cause of the Dalits and the deprived, as well as Muslims who were always neglected by successive regimes,” she said.

A state of joblessness Beyond the rallies, on the main street of Sitapur or in nearby villages where the fertile land produces sugar cane, mangoes and wheat, many disillusioned voters listed their grievances. Corruption blights their lives; politicians appear every election time to make promises, only to fill their pockets the rest of the time; and a moribund economy provides no job opportunities for the young. Electricity supplies are unreliable-a village AFP visited hadn’t had any in 15 days-and food inflation has caused more hardship. Somu, a 25-yearold owner of a street teashop with a calf tethered in the corner, says he has to pay off the police every time he has a problem.

“Briber y and corruption are the main issues,” he told AFP. “The trouble is that only the poor are harassed. And only during elections do the politicians talk about it.” Ravi Mishra, a 24-year-old graduate with a degree in biology, complains there are “no avenues for jobs here,” while others remember a longclosed plywood factory as the only industry nearby apart from sugar cane refineries.

UP has a legacy of mismanagement and corruption as woeful as anywhere in India, but the success of neighboring Bihar-once a byword for human misery has shown what can be achieved by forceful leadership. Under chief minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar has shed its reputation as a lawless backwater, leading to surging economic growth and the sort of development yearned for by UP’s poor. —AFP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Philippine extremist planned attacks when killed MANILA: A key Abu Sayyaf commander killed in a US-backed airstrike in the southern Philippines was planning terror attacks, including new kidnappings of foreigners and bombings, when he was slain, security officials said yesterday. The pre-dawn military bombing offensive on Thursday killed longtime Abu Sayyaf commander Umbra Jumdail and several other militants while they slept in huts and hammocks in a jungle hideout on southern Jolo island, officials said.

Military spokesman Col Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said Jumdail’s death was a major blow to his Al-Qaedalinked group because he harbored several Southeast Asian terrorist figures, who have provided funds and bomb-making trainings. He had a larger civilian following compared with

more brutal Abu Sayyaf commanders which helped him evade military offensives. “He had the charisma and was the real link used by foreign militants,” Burgos said. “He was a big loss.”

Jumdail’s group was planning some kind of terrorist attacks when he was killed, Burgos said, adding intelligence indicated that six Malaysian militants traveled to Sulu in December and joined his group for unspecified reasons. Two security officials said future plots by Jumdail’s group included kidnappings of foreigners and bombings.

A few villagers, who were secretly working for the military, traveled to Jumdail’s hideout and pretended to seek medical treatment to be able to bring in and leave some kind of sensor, which was later used by the bomber planes to zero in on the Abu

Sayyaf lair, one of the officials said.

Jumdail, who was also known as Dr Abu Pula, had knowledge of medicine and has drawn support from poor villagers and loyalty of his men partly by treating ordinary illnesses and performing surgeries on wounded combatants, the official said. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters. Philippine security officials have given different accounts on whether top Southeast Asian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir from Malaysia and Singaporean militant Abdullah Ali were also slain in the intelligence-driven offensive. Not a single body was retrieved by police in the bombed hilly jungle lair near Lanao Dakulah village, fueling different versions of who was killed. Regional military commander

Maj Gen Noel Coballes said Thursday that bin Hir, who used the guerrilla name Marwan, and Ali, also known as Muawiyah, were killed along with Jumdail and 12 other gunmen when their encampment was bombarded by two OV10 planes with 500-pound (227-kilogram) bombs at 3 a.m.

Two Philippine security officials with knowledge of the operation, however, told The Associated Press that new intelligence showed Jumdail along with his son and seven other militants were killed but Marwan and Muawiyah were not in the vicinity. The bombs destroyed huts, toppled trees and dug shallow craters in the gently sloping hills. If Marwan’s death is confirmed, it would mark a major success in further disrupting the already-weakened Jemaah Islamiyah terror net-

work, which has been blamed for some of the most spectacular bombing attacks in Southeast Asia, including the 2002 bombings that killed 202 people in the Indonesian resort of Bali.

But if the initial report proves incorrect, it would turn a largely successful strike into a partial embarrassment for the Philippine military, while burnishing the reputation of the elusive terrorist. The US has offered a $5 million reward for the capture of Marwan, a US-educated engineer accused of involvement in deadly bombings in the Philippines, organizing terror trainings and plotting attacks. Malaysia has sent a police team to the Philippines to help determine through DNA tests if some of the human flesh found at the bombed militant lair were his, Burgos said. — AP

Australian floodwaters force mass evacuation Residents scramble to leave homes

JAKARTA: Indonesian Muslim women pray during a ceremony to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) or Milad an-Nabi, locally called “Mawlid” or “Maulud” yesterday. — AFP

3 set themselves on fire in China BEIJING: Three more people have set themselves on fire to protest China’s policies toward Tibetans in a politically sensitive area that already has seen ethnic violence this year, a media report and an activist group said. The report from the US-funded Radio Free Asia said yesterday the three set themselves on fire Friday in Seda country in Sichuan province. It says one person died and the others are in serious condition.

A woman who answered the phone at the county government office yesterday said “no such thing happened.” Like many Chinese officials, she refused to give her name. Calls to county police rang unanswered, while a man at the Ganzi prefecture public security office, which oversees the county, said he had not heard of the incident. He also refused to give his name.

If confirmed, the incidents would bring to at least 19 the number of monks, nuns and lay Tibetans who have set themselves on fire, mostly in traditionally Tibetan areas of Sichuan province. Most have chanted for Tibetan freedom and the return of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled to India amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. The Radio Free Asia report quoted three sources as confirming the incidents, which they said occurred in a remote village near the border with the neighboring province of Qinghai. It did not say if the people who set themselves on fire did so as a group or separately. “The survivors are seriously injured though the details are difficult to obtain due to the shutting down of communication lines in the area,” one source told

Radio Free Asia. The London-based activist group Free Tibet also reported the incidents.

It did not provide any further details in a statement, and added that there have been substantial increases in security forces in the area recently.

It has been difficult to get news from the area because the government limited communications following bloody protests last month in Sichuan where Tibetans protested against what they say are hard-line Chinese policies. Tibetan activist groups say at least six Tibetans were killed in the clashes between police and protesters when police fired on them. The Chinese government says two rioters died and 24 police and firefighters were injured when rock-wielding Tibetan separatists attacked police stations.

The violence and self-immolations come as China enters a sensitive period: The top leaders of the ruling Communist Party will change by the end of this year. The government has condemned self-immolations and says recent violence in several counties in Sichuan, including Seda, was instigated by forces outside the country wanting to separate Tibet from China.

This has been the region’s most violent period since 2008, when deadly rioting in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, spread to Tibetan areas in adjoining provinces. China responded by flooding the area with troops and closing Tibetan regions entirely to foreigners for about a year. Western repor ters tr ying to visit that par t of Sichuan in the last several weeks have been turned away by security forces. — AP

Farmers’ rights flouted by land grabs, says Wen BEIJING: China has failed to give farmers adequate protection from arbitrary seizures of land, Premier Wen Jiabao said in comments published yesterday in which he acknowledged that the resulting discontent is fanning protests. Wen made the comments while visiting Guangdong province in southern China, where an audacious protest by residents of Wukan village in late 2011 galvanized official attention on widespread anger over farmland confiscations.

The Chinese premier, who retires later this year, said he understood why villagers were often angry about land losses, and vowed to give real bite to protections that in theory give farmers a collective say in land development. “What is the widespread problem now?

It’s the arbitrary seizure of farmers’ fields, and the farmers have complaints about this, and it’s even sparking mass incidents,” Wen said in Guangdong on Saturday, according to the Xinhua report.

“Mass incidents” is the official euphemism for protests, riots and mass petitions. “The root of the problem is that the land is the property of the farmers, but this right has not been protected in the way it should be,” said Wen. Wen, who has cast himself as a defender of the struggling farmer, also vowed to make village committee elections-seen by many residents as an empty formality under the thumb of officials-into an authentic channel for public opinion.

Neither Wen’s comments on land nor on village elections broke new policy ground, but they underscored government jitters

about rural discontent as China’s ruling Communist Party heads towards a leadership handover in late 2012. He did not mention the Wukan protests. Farmers in China do not directly own their fields. Instead, most rural land is owned collectively by a village, with farmers allocated leases for usage rights that last for decades.

In theory, villagers can collectively decide whether to apply to sell off or develop land.

In practice, however, state officials can decide-and they often override the wishes of farmers, hoping to generate investment, revenues and pay-offs. Residents of Wukan village in Guangdong threw such problems into glaring focus in late 2011, when they held a 10-day protest over confiscated land and the death of a protest organizer.

They won concessions from the province government, which promised to correct land abuses and establish a popularly elected village committee. These committees have little power and must answer to the party, but they can act as a break on land abuses by officials and oversee where village revenues go. Wen signaled that he was sympathetic to giving villagers more say over their own affairs.

“We must certainly protect the voting rights of farmers, and be unwavering in properly carrying out village self-governance and direct election of village committees,” he told villagers outside of Guangzhou, the province capital of Guangdong. On Wednesday, residents of Wukan held a symbolic election on the way towards voting for a new village committee.—Reuters

SYDNEY: Thousands of Australians were forced to abandon their homes yesterday as a record deluge swept through areas still reeling from last year’s devastating floods, claiming its first life. Police ordered the 3,800 residents of the town of St George, in northern Queensland state, to evacuate as rising floodwaters raced towards record heights, threatening to cut the one remaining exit road. In the town of Roma, further north, a woman whose car was swept from a flooded roadway became the disaster’s first official victim, with searchers finding her body two days after she went missing.

“Residents of St George are required to evacuate by road before the Moonie Highway is cut by floodwaters, which was expected to occur sometime yesterday evening,” police said in a mandatory evacuation order. “Air evacuation to Brisbane is being organized to ensure evacuations can proceed after the Moonie Highway closes.”

Police doorknocked every home in town to deliver the order and are permitted to use reasonable force if people refuse to leave, with mayor Donna Stewart warning resident safety

could no longer be guaranteed. “It’s pretty panicky here,” said St George resident Angela Doran. “I think everyone just wants to get out now.” The swollen Balonne River, flooding for the third time in less than two years, was expected to peak at 15 meters (50 feet) tomorrow night, far exceeding the previous record of 13.4 meters set in March 2010.” This is a very serious situation and I urge people to cooperate,” said Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard dispatched a military transport plane to airlift patients from the town’s hospital to the coast, and the local nursing home was also being emptied. Eight defense helicopters are already helping search and rescue efforts in the flood zone, winching people to safety and dropping food, bedding, medical supplies and other essentials such as generators. St George has seen major flooding twice in the past two years, once in March 2010 and again last year during Queensland’s flooding disaster, which claimed 35 lives and swamped vast tracts of farmland and tens of thousands of homes.

Deputy Queensland police commissioner

Ian Stewart said the situation in the region had “deteriorated” overnight with “very large spikes” in water levels south of Roma, where 200 homes flooded earlier this week. The woman who died in Roma had managed to save her seven-year-old son from the floodwaters but was swept away before she could be rescued, according to the Courier Mail newspaper. She had been helping neighbors to sandbag.

The Bureau of Meteorology said St George was expected to reach the 2010 flood level by today morning and “continue rising, possibly above 14 meters tomorrow and Wednesday.”

Residents scrambled to fortify levees still standing from last year’s floods, with some locals saying they were prepared for a peak of 14.5 meters or worse. “If it does reach the peak that they’re talking about, if it goes across into the irrigation area, it’s going to knock out thousands of hectares of cotton,” local farmer Alex Benn told Sky News. Flood defenses held overnight in nearby Charleville, where some 600 people were holed up in an evacuation centre waiting for the Warrego River to subside. —AFP

N Koreans on pilgrimage ahead of Kim’s birthday SEOUL: People across North Korea have started their pilgrimage to Kim Jong-Il’s birthplace to celebrate the dead leader’s birthday and to pledge loyalty to his son and successor, state media said yesterday.

Teenage students from across the country visited Kim’s birthplace at Mount Paekdu near the border with China, the North’s official news agency KCNA said. The young visitors laid flowers at portraits of Kim, who died in December aged 69, his mother, and his father and founding president Kim IlSung, before chanting slogans to pledge loyalty to the Kim family, KCNA said. The Kim dynasty has ruled the impoverished but nuclear-armed nation for more than six decades with an iron fist. JongIl was in charge for 17 years and Jong-Un his youngest son who is believed to be in his late 20s, was quickly proclaimed the “great successor ” and appointed as the top military commander in the second

dynastic succession. “The participants... reaffirmed a pledge to faithfully follow the leadership of respected comrade Kim Jong-Un,” KCNA said.The communist state has designated Kim’s February 16 birthday “the greatest auspicious holiday of the nation”, and named it the Day of the Shining Star.

Groups of North Korean workers across the nation also began yesterday trips to the mountain, KCNA said, adding that the birthday next week would be celebrated “lavishly.”

North Korean school children are also required to visit Paekdu, which is the highest mountain in the peninsula, to pay respect to the Kim family, called “Paekdu bloodline” by Pyongyang’s propaganda mill.

Official accounts say Kim was born at the mountain, but independent experts say his birthplace was a guerrilla camp in Russia, from where his father was fighting Japanese forces who had colonized the Korean peninsula.—AFP

This undated photo shows the medal of Kim Jong-Il Children Honor Prize. The prize was instituted on the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il as the highest prize for the Korean children along with Kim Il-Sung Children Honor Prize. — AFP

US to move 4,700 Marines

GUIZHOU: Chinese villagers perform a dragon dance along the village main street yesterday. — AFP

TOKYO: Tokyo and Washington have agreed to move 4,700 Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa to Guam in a bid to revive a stalled plan for the realignment of US forces in Japan, reports said yesterday. The two countries in 2006 agreed to the transfer of around 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to the US territory of Guam and the relocation of an air base on Okinawa but the move has been delayed as Tokyo struggles to convince Okinawans to accept the deal.

The US Defense Department is now considering shifting the remaining 3,300 Marines to elsewhere in the Pacific, such as Hawaii, Australia and the Philippines, Kyodo News reported citing unnamed diplomatic sources. Senior Japanese and US foreign and defense officials will meet in Washington on Monday, with the two governments expected to announce details of the transfer on February 13, Kyodo and the Asahi Shimbun daily said.

Tokyo has struggled to convince Okinawans to accept the plan to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, part of the realignment package. Many Okinawans, angry at having for decades shouldered the burden of hosting more than half of the 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan, oppose the plan which would relocate the US base to another part of the island.

They say another part of Japan should take the base, instead of Henoko on the east coast of Okinawa, where Tokyo and Washington have agreed to build a giant runway-on-stilts in the sea. — AFP

NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

First placed Fadri Casty, pulled by Bergonzi (left) competes during the Skijoring Grand Prix Credit Suisse race on the frozen Lake of St Moritz during the first weekend of White Turf races in St Moritz, Switzerland yesterday. — AP

Fears grow of Israeli attack on Iran JERUSALEM: For the first time in nearly two decades of escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, world leaders are genuinely concerned that an Israeli military attack on the Islamic Republic could be imminent - an action that many fear might trigger a wider war, terrorism and global economic havoc. High-level foreign dignitaries, including the UN chief and the head of the American military, have stopped in Israel in recent weeks, urging leaders to give the diplomatic process more time to work. But US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has reportedly concluded that an Israeli attack on Iran is likely in the coming months.

Despite harsh economic sanctions and international pressure, Iran is refusing to abandon its nuclear program, which it insists is purely civilian, and threatening Israel and the West. It’s beginning to cause jitters in world capitals and financial markets. “Of course I worry that there will be a military conflict,” Britain’s deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said in a magazine interview last week. He said Britain was “straining every single sinew to resolve this through a combination of pressure and engagement,” rather than military action.

Is Israel bluffing? Israeli leaders have been claiming Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons since the early 1990s, and defense officials have issued a series of ever-changing estimates on how close Iran is to the bomb. But the saber-rattling has become much more direct and vocal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu frequently draws parallels between modern-day Iran and Nazi Germany on the eve of the Holocaust. On Thursday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak claimed during a high-profile security conference that there is a “wide global understanding” that military

action may be needed. “There is no argument about the intolerable danger a nuclear Iran (would pose) to the future of the Middle East, the security of Israel and to the economic and security stability of the entire world,” Barak said. A day earlier, visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon implored Israel to find a peaceful solution to the nuclear standoff.

Israel views Iran as a mortal threat, citing Iranian calls for Israel’s destruction, Iran’s support for anti-Israel militant groups and Iranian missile technology capable of hitting Israel. On Friday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called Israel a “cancerous tumor that should be cut and will be cut,” and boasted of supporting any group that will challenge the Jewish state.

When faced with such threats, Israeli has a history of lashing out in the face of world opposition. That legacy that includes the game-changing 1967 Middle East war, which left Israel in control of vast Arab lands, a brazen 1981 airstrike that destroyed an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor, and a stealthy 2007 airstrike in Syria that is believed to have destroyed a nuclear reactor in the early stages of construction. Armed with a fleet of ultramodern US-made fighter planes and unmanned drones, and reportedly possessing intermediate-range Jericho missiles, Israel has the capability to take action against Iran too, though it would carry grave risks. It would require flying over Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria or Turkey. It is uncertain whether any of these Muslim countries would knowingly allow Israel to use their airspace.

With targets some 1,600 km away, Israeli planes would likely have the complicated task of refueling in flight. Iran’s

antiquated air force, however, is unlikely to provide much of a challenge. Many in the region cannot believe Israel would take such a step without a green light from the United States, its most important ally. That sense is deepened by the heightened stakes of a US election year and the feeling that if Israel acts alone, the West would not escape unscathed.

The US has been trying to push both sides, leading the charge for international sanctions while also pressing Israel to give the sanctions more time. In recent weeks, both the US and European Union have imposed harsher sanctions on Iran’s oil sector, the lifeblood of its economy, and its central bank. Israeli officials say they want the sanctions to be imposed faster and for more countries to join them.

Last week, AP reported that officials in Israel were concerned that the measures, while welcome, were constraining Israel in its ability to act because the world expected the effort to be given a chance.

Even a limited Israeli operation could well unleash regionwide fighting. Iran could launch its Shihab 3 missiles at Israel, and have its local proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, unleash rockets.

Israel’s military intelligence chief, Aviv Kochavi, warned last week that Israel’s enemies possess some 200,000 rockets.

While sustained rocket and missile fire would certainly make life uncomfortable in Israel, Barak himself has said he believes casualties would be low - suggesting it would be in the hundreds.

Iran might also try to attack Western targets in the region, including the thousands of US forces based in the Gulf with the 5th Fleet. An Israeli attack might have other

unintended consequences. A European diplomat based in Pakistan, permitted to speak only under condition of anonymity, said that if Israel attacks, Islamabad will have no choice but to support any Iranian retaliation. That raises the specter of putting a nuclear-armed Pakistan at odds with Israel, widely believed to have its own significant nuclear arsenal.

To some, the greatest risk is to the moribund world economy. Analysts believe an Israeli attack would cause oil prices to spike, since global markets so far have largely dismissed the Israeli threats and not “price in” the threat.

According to one poll conducted by the Rapidan Group, an energy consulting firm in Bethesda, Maryland, prices would surge by $23 a barrel. The price of oil settled Friday at $97.84 a barrel. “Traders don’t believe there’s anything but bluster going on,” said Robert McNally, president of Rapidan and an energy adviser to former President George W Bush. “A potential Israeli attack on Iran is different than almost every scenario that we’ve seen before.”

McNally said Iran could rattle oil markets by targeting oil fields in southern Iraq or export facilities in Saudi Arabia or Qatar - and withhold sales of its own oil and natural gas from countries not boycotting. Iran also could attempt to carry out its biggest threat: to shut the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes. That could send oil prices soaring beyond $200 a barrel. But analysts note Iran’s navy is overmatched. If a surge in oil prices proved lasting, financial markets would probably plummet on concerns that global economic growth would slow and on the fear that any conflict could worsen and spread. — AP

Iran vows to hit any country that stages... Cabinet resigns, Amir to begin consultations Continued from Page 1 “Any spot used by the enemy for hostile operations against Iran will be subjected to retaliatory aggression by our armed forces,” Hossein Salami, deputy head of the elite Revolutionary Guards, told the semi-official Fars news agency yesterday.

The Guards began two days of military manoeuvres in southern Iran on Saturday in another show of force for Iran’s adversaries associated with tensions over its disputed nuclear program. The United States and Israel, Iran’s arch-enemies, have not ruled out a military strike on Tehran if diplomacy fails to resolve the nuclear stalemate. Salami did not identify which countries he meant as possible hosts for military action against it. The six, US-allied Arab states in the Gulf Cooperation Council, situated on the other side of the vital oil exporting waterway from Iran, have said they would not allow their territories to be used for attacks on the Islamic Republic. But analysts say that if Iran retaliated for an attack launched from outside the region by targeting US facilities in Gulf Arab states, Washington might pressure the host nations to permit those bases to hit back, arguing they should have the right to defend themselves. The Gulf states that host US military facilities are

Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Iran has warned its response to any such strike will be “painful”, threatening to target Israel and US bases in the Gulf, along with closing the Strait of Hormuz used by one third of the world’s seaborne oil traffic. Betraying nervousness about possible blowback from any military strike on Iran, two of its neighbours - Qatar and Turkey - urged the West yesterday to make greater efforts to negotiate a solution to the nuclear row.

Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference attended by top world policymakers, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said an attack would be a “disaster” and the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program could be ended very rapidly.

“If there is strong political will and mutual confidence being established, this issue could be resolved in a few days,” he said.

“The technical disputes are not so big. The problem is mutual confidence and strong political will.” He added: “A military option will create a disaster in our region. So before that disaster, everybody must be serious in negotiations. We hope soon both sides will meet again but this time there will be a complete result.”

Turkey was the venue of the last talks between Western powers and Iran a year ago which ended in stalemate because participants could not even agree on an agenda. — Reuters

Bahrain oppn launches weeklong reform...

Continued from Page 1 deliver a message to the government that people are determined to keep up the demands that they made on February 14” last year, leading Shiite opposition activist Matar Matar told AFP. “They will use any venue available,” he added, just as the mostlyShiite protesters did last year when they occupied Pearl Square.

The “steadfast” rally began in the afternoon in Al-Muqsha village, about seven kilometers west of Manama, and continued until 11:00 pm (2000 GMT). It reconvened yesterday at the same time, according to Matar, a former MP. Bahrain, a key US and Saudi ally in their stand-off with Iran across the Gulf, has been in turmoil since the uprising broke out last year, inspired by revolts in Tunisia and Egypt. The opposition are trying to sustain pressure on the government, dominated by the Sunni Muslim Al-Khalifa family, ahead of the Feb 14 anniversary of the uprising. The reforms they want include an elected government - the first in the Gulf - and reduced powers for the AlKhalifa family.

Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of the largest opposition party Wefaq, called on activists to keep the protests peaceful but warned that intelligence agencies and pro-government militias would act as agent provocateurs in coming weeks. He called on activists to use only Bahraini flags over the coming week and to avoid using party or sectarian symbols. Opposition groups draw wide support from Bahrain’s majority Shiite population, which accuses the ruling elite of political and economic marginalisation.

The government says Shiites have a sectarian agenda coordinated with Iran - which they deny.

Salman urged demonstrators to rename the rally spot in the village as “Freedom Square,” insisting that people have decided that “there will be no return to pre-February 14”. “It is impossible that Bahrain remains without equality between its people,” he said, according to the Al-Wefaq Facebook page. But although AlWefaq said that the protest would last a week, the interior ministry announced on Friday that the demonstration had been authorised for two days only. Matar said that Al-Wefaq informed the interior ministry that it intends to hold a seven-day rally, after it did not get authorisation to organise an open-ended demonstration.

Salman said the protest movement would continue after Feb 14 and the country would not return to normal until the ruling elite ended its monopoly on power and the 14 prominent figures convicted for leading the protests, who are on hunger strike this week, were released. “This people will not calm down and there will be no calm or stability while they are behind bars,” he said.

“These symbolic figures did not call for violence or use violence.

They expressed views that you can agree with or not, but that’s part of freedom of expression. The verdicts were based on confessions under torture. The verdicts are void.” Opposition parties have tried to set themselves apart from youth activists who clash regularly with police by arranging marches and rallies in advance with the authorities. Many youths, angered by what they say is continued harsh policing, say this approach is not bringing results.

Activists say the ongoing violence has taken the total dead over the past year to more than 60, some from teargas inhalation or from being hit by cars in pursuit of youths. The government disputes the causes of death. — Agencies

Continued from Page 1 newly-elected MPs have openly declared that they will vote for veteran opposition leader and three-time former speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun, who has announced his candidacy. Liberal MP Mohammad Al-Saqer and pro-government MP Ali Al-Rashed have also announced they will stand, both banking on securing the government’s support. Leading Salafist MP Khaled Al-Sultan acknowledged yesterday that he is under pressure to contest the post, but denied reports that he has accepted to contest in principle.

The Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) which has around four MPs and the support of at least four others has unanimously decided to vote for Saadoun, significant-

ly boosting his chances. In addition, veteran Shiite MP Adnan Abdulsamad, and newly-elected opposition figure MP Obaid Al-Wasmi have said they intend to contest the post of deputy speaker, a day after Sultan said he will contest.

Two lawyers yesterday filed a petition on behalf of 14 voters from the third constituency contesting the election of the controversial figure Mohammad Al-Juwaihel. The lawsuit is based on a previous court ruling in 2008 which supported the government for disqualifying Juwaihel and also on the basis of not including his name properly in the voter rolls. A third lawyer, Mohammad Menwer, also plans to file a fresh lawsuit challenging Juwaihel’s election, as a group of activists launched a campaign to collect the signatures of 10,000 voters to reject Juwaihel’s election.

Outrage after Syria UN move vetoed Continued from Page 1 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Intelligence Service chief Mikhail Fradkov prepared to visit Damascus tomorrow, as news reports said the mission could try to push Assad to quit. “Russia strongly intends to achieve a rapid stabilisation of the situation in Syria through the rapid implementation of much-needed democratic reforms,” the Russian foreign ministry said. The state RIA Novosti news agency ran an analysis quoting Russian experts as saying Lavrov’s visit would be aimed at persuading Assad to step down. “It is possible that there will be an attempt to persuade the Syrian president to accept the variant proposed by the Arab League,” for Assad to quit, Middle East exper t Vladimir Akhmedov told the agency.

The SNC voiced dismay over the UN veto. “The SNC holds Russia and China accountable for the escalation of killings and genocide, and considers this irresponsible step a licence for the Syrian regime to kill,” it said in a statement. In Libya, crowds of Syrians chanting anti-Russian slogans entered Moscow ’s Tripoli embassy and replaced the Russian flag with the new Syrian flag in protest while hundreds protested outside the Russian embassy in Beirut. And Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse protesters seeking to storm the Syrian consulate in Istanbul.

Assad’s troops shelled Homs overnight Friday, killing at least 260 civilians, the SNC said, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said about 100 women and children were among its toll of 237 dead.

The tolls could not be independently confirmed.

Damascus denied responsibility, blaming the deaths on rebels seeking to swing the UN vote. Yesterday, activists in Homs expressed fear of a new attack on the protest hub in central Syria. “We are afraid... particularly after the Russian veto,” activist Abu Rami told AFP in Beirut by telephone. “Explosions can be heard since morning in the old district of Homs.”

Another activist, Omar Shaker, said the restive neighbourhood of Baba Amro was shelled from morning till early afternoon. “We were used to mortar shells but today they used rocket launchers.” A video posted on the Internet showed a rocket apparently slamming into Baba Amro and a man emerging from a cloud of dust carrying a wounded child. The UN resolution approved by 13 of the 15-member Security Council was proposed by European and Arab nations to give strong backing to an Arab League plan to end the crackdown.

Yesterday, League chief Nabil Al-Arabi said the bloc would press on with mediation efforts to find a political solution in Syria to avoid foreign intervention in Syria. Syrian government mouthpiece Tishrin called the veto “a catalyst” and said it would help accelerate reforms in the country. Tunisia urged other Arab nations to follow its lead after it said on Saturday it was expelling Syria’s ambassador and withdrawing its recognition of the Assad government. The Syrian Observatory said 19 civilians, including at least four children, and 21 regular army troops were killed yesterday, a day after 48 people were reported dead, raising the weekend toll to 88. — Agencies

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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Issues

Singapore faces growing pains as setbacks pile up

By Anshuman Daga and Kevin Lim enior officials arrested in a corruption investigation.

Subway commuters trapped underground without light or proper ventilation. Flooded roads in the financial district. It may sound like Indonesia or perhaps the Philippines, but this is Singapore - the wealthy island state that has long been the envy of those neighbours for its ruthless efficiency, clean government and high standard of living. The city-state remains a relative paragon of good governance but a succession of embarrassing setbacks is damaging its reputation and heaping pressure on the longruling government as it faces an unprecedented erosion of public support.

The problems highlight a growing gap between Singaporeans’ expectations of their government and the administration’s ability to deliver as it grapples with an influx of foreigners, a yawning wealth gap and strained infrastructure. Those are all problems of success, but they have fuelled perceptions that the government is out of touch with Singaporeans’ concerns at a time when public debate is flowering as never before in the tightly controlled state. That became starkly clear in elections last year when voters handed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s People’s Action Party (PAP) its lowest ever share of the popular vote.

“There is an unleashing of frustration and everything is becoming a focal point of the frustration,” said Bridget Welsh, an associate professor of political science at the Singapore Management University. “A lot of people in Singapore feel that they have to speak out to make Singapore brighter. This is actually something Singapore needs to go through to become stronger.” The PAP, which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965, responded to its election embarrassment with a series of government measures aimed at addressing citizens’ worries. It tightened the flow of foreign workers, who make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population of 5.2 million, up from about 20 percent a decade ago.

It has also pledged to strengthen a flimsy social safety net in a country that has the world’s highest proportion of millionaires but where there is no minimum wage and some jobs pay less than S$1,000 ($800) a month. In December, the government took new steps to cool surging property prices, with the toughest measures aimed at foreign buyers who have become increasingly visible in the residential sector. Most dramatically, Lee and his ministers agreed to slash their hefty seven-figure annual salaries by more than a third in a nod to growing discontent over wealth inequality. “We must uphold inclusive growth and social mobility as pillars of a united Singapore,” Lee, who remains the world’s best-paid premier, said in his New Year message.

But the government’s perception problem took a further hit last month with the arrest of the chief of civil defence and the head of its police anti-drug unit on corruption charges, the highest level graft investigation in two decades. Rather than an official announcement, the news was broken by a Chinese-language daily which felt bold enough to run the story without confirmation from the government. A few hours later, the Home Ministry confirmed that both officials were being investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog for “serious personal misconduct”. It later emerged that the first arrest had been made a month earlier but not made public.

P N Balji, a former editor of Singapore’s New Paper, says the government’s handling of the case highlighted its inability to communicate well with an increasingly demanding public.“This is not a stupid government, it has done a lot of good things for its people, it is respected overseas and its model of governance is highly sought after,” he wrote in a commentary. “Yet, one of the basic attributes of a smart government - squaring with its citizens and carrying them along-seems to be missing.”

The government regularly points to its world-class infrastructure and the top marks it scores in global surveys on the ease of doing business and low corruption levels. Many Singaporeans still count their blessings compared with more unruly, poverty-scarred neighbours and the crisis-hit economies of Europe. Gerald Toh, a graduate student in New York back in Singapore for the Chinese New Year holiday, said unhappiness with the authorities partly stemmed from high expectations. “In terms of delivery of services, Singapore’s is definitely one of the better governments in the world,” he said. “When you live overseas, you learn to appreciate Singapore better.”

But Tan Jee Say, an opposition politician, said such global accolades often had little bearing on the lives of Singaporeans, many of whom who have seen their incomes stagnate over the past decade. —Reuters

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Rumours cloud Israel’s Iran clout

By Dan Williams sked about the profusion of foreign reports that their armed forces could soon attack Iran, Israeli officials tend to smile and shrug enigmatically, seemingly content to let such guesswork simmer. The diplomatic dumbshow, which preserves military secrecy while keeping war-wary world powers negotiating for a halt to Tehran’s nuclear program, also conceals genuine bemusement in Israel at some of the assumptions abroad about its capabilities. “This is speculation which is not entirely connected to reality,” Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon, a former top Israeli general, said on Sunday when grilled over predictions by US media that Israel would assault its foe with drones, ballistic missiles, submarines and covert commandos, as well as warplanes. “It’s part of the problem, an attempt to turn the discussion into one of ‘Iran versus Israel’ instead of ‘Iran versus the West, the United States, Europe’ and so on,” he told Army Radio.

Iran denies suspicions its nuclear energy programme aims to yield bombs but its record of hiding sensitive work from U.N. inspectors and refusal to negotiate have led to a stand-off with world powers and raised talk of last-ditch military action. Israel, which sees Iran’s nuclear drive as a mortal threat, sent F-16 jets to destroy Iraq’s atomic reactor in 1981 and launched a similar sneak sortie against Syria in 2007. But Iran, more distant and with its numerous, fortified facilities and vigilance for long-threatened raids, would pose a potentially insuperable challenge for an Israeli air force that lacks heavy bombers. That has led some reports to assert that the Israelis have undisclosed capabilities that would close the tactical gap - despite the doubts of independent defence experts.

In a front-page story on Jan 25 that prophesied war this year, the New York Times magazine spoke of Israel having “unmanned aircraft capable of carrying bombs to those targets (in Iran) and remaining airborne for up to 48 hours”.

Another major US news outlet said Israel’s advanced drones could be used for the aerial refueling of fighterbombers. Both claims were ridiculed by Robert Hewson,

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editor of Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons, as “science fiction”.

While Israel is widely believed to have used drones to fire on guerrillas in Gaza and Lebanon, those targets have been close, exposed and bereft of means to shoot down the slow, propeller-driven planes. “Nobody has the ability to conduct any kind of strategic offensive warfare with drones - not the US, not Israel, not anybody,” Hewson said. “Such a task requires a level of technology and a force of UAVs (unarmed aerial vehicles) that does not exist and will not exist for decades.” As for drones being used to refuel aircraft for the 1,500 km-2,000 km journey to Iran, Hewson said: “Not a chance. Not even in theory. A total impossibility.”

Israel does, however, have a small number of jet-powered refueling planes. Another focus of foreign attention has been Israel’s three German-supplied Dolphin submarines. Citing unnamed intelligence sources, the Atlantic magazine in late 2010 said two of the subs were “currently positioned in the (Arabian) Gulf” for a potential nuclear strike on Iran. That report also said a war was likely in 2011.

The Dolphins are small, diesel-powered, designed for coastal patrols and equipped with 10 torpedo tubes - a wholly different vessel to the behemoth nuclear submarines deployed by global superpowers.

Israel neither confirms nor denies widespread assumptions it has nuclear weapons. If they are on the Dolphins, experts agree, it would be in order to allow Israel to deter enemies by signalling that it could retaliate for any catastrophic attack. But that logic would require the submarines to be able to launch the missiles at short notice, from the Mediterranean Sea where they are based. That would obviate the need to sail to the Gulf, which would take many days via Egypt’s Suez Canal and as long as a month if the Dolphins circumnavigated Africa.

“The United States is alone, perhaps in the world, in having the luxury of apportioning conventional and nuclear missions in its submarine fleet,” said James Russell, a former Pentagon aide now with the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. “The Israelis, it strikes me, don’t have that luxury.” His point was that the Dolphins are

too limited in range and payload to be able to provide a variety of services - whether conventional strikes or the latent nuclear “second strike”.

US television network NBC said last week Israel could use “long-range rockets” against Iran, an apparent allusion to its reputed intermediate-range ballistic missiles known as Jerichos. Sticking to its policy of strategic ambiguity, the Israelis have never acknowledged having these weapons, stoking public jitters when test launches have been carried out from a major air base outside Tel Aviv - most recently in November. Such high visibility in a small country with a free press may have put paid to Jerichos taking part in a surprise attack. “Even if we have these things, they would take 10 to 12 minutes to reach Iran,” said one Israeli official on condition of anonymity. “That’s plenty of time for the Iranians to listen in to our media reports about the launches.”

Sam Gardiner, a retired US air force colonel who runs war games for various Washington agencies, posited that Israel would use combinations of its known and rumoured military assets for an attack. But he doubted they could deliver lasting damage. “The number of targets that would have to be hit and the degree to which the targets are now hardened creates an overwhelming targeting problem for Israel,” he said. Gardiner has studied past far-reaching operations from Israel, from its air strikes in Iraq and Syria to its 1976 commando rescue of airliner hostages in Uganda to its 1985 bombing of the PLO headquarters in Tunis. But those, he said, had limited value as precedents when it came to formidable Iran: “It seems like the more coverage issues like the Iranian nuclear program get, the more the coverage tends toward fantasy.”

The United States says it sees military force as a last resort but wants to exhaust diplomatic pressure on Iran.

Some Israelis worry about their country’s core ties with Washington, and its own credibility. “I think we have reached a surfeit point, a climax, and it would best to lower the tone,” former military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin told Israel Radio, referring to the media reports and knockon debates about potential war against Iran. — Reuters

Romney win leaves rivals few options

By Beth Fouhy itt Romney’s decisive victory in Nevada was never much in doubt. He won the state’s caucuses four years ago, kept his organization active and he could count on support from Mormons who made up a quarter of caucus goers this year. But the former Massachusetts governor’s win here, coupled with his enormous Florida victory just days ago, proved Republicans have begun to coalesce around his candidacy in earnest. He swept nearly every voting group in Nevada including those that have been slow to come aboard, such as tea party activists and voters who describe themselves as extremely conservative.

And that spells trouble for his remaining rivals who now face a stark question: How do they stop him? It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum to break through. All trail Romney in money, momentum and organization in upcoming states. And with a calendar of primaries and caucuses favorable to Romney just ahead, no one else has a clear path to the nomination. “February is really the death march for second and third tier candidates,” Republican strategist Rich Galen said. “If Romney sweeps February, the arc of his effort will be so strong, for most Republicans it will be over.”

A handful of states hold caucuses next week, including Maine, Minnesota and Colorado. Then comes a three week lull until primaries in Feb 28 in Arizona and Michigan, where Romney grew up and where his father served as governor. Romney’s confidence was clear as he stepped before cameras to claim his Nevada win, focusing on President Barack Obama. “I’ve walked in Nevada neighborhoods, blighted by abandoned homes, where people wonder why Barack Obama failed them. Mr President, Nevada has had enough of your kind of help,” Romney said to cheers.

He barely acknowledged his GOP rivals, Gingrich included.

The former House speaker’s hope for a serious head-to-head contest with Romney

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diminishes with each loss. Gingrich is short on cash, and Southern states likely to be most receptive to his candidacy do not hold contests again until Super Tuesday, March 6.

Gingrich’s one victory so far came in South Carolina’s primary Jan 21. Restore Our Future, the deep-pocketed super PAC backing Romney, continues to pummel Gingrich with television ads attacking his record in Washington. The group has purchased advertising time in Minnesota, Michigan and Arizona.

The candidates will debate just once this

twice has made him a leader in the polls, yet left him with only one victory in five states.

Gingrich may be able to hang on if casino mogul Sheldon Adelson makes another large contribution to Winning Our Future, a super PAC supporting Gingrich. Adelson and his wife have contributed $10 million to the group so far. But even that won’t make Gingrich’s path to the nomination any more plausible. Paul, who campaigned hard in Nevada and has staked his entire strategy on winning caucus states, may be bordering on irrelevancy as a serious contender after this

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney holds a Caucus election night at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday. — AFP month, in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb 22. That hurts Gingrich, who has seen his political fortunes rise and fall on the strength of his debate performances. Nevertheless, Gingrich brushed aside all talk of quitting the race, saying he was working to “find a series of victories which by the end of Texas primary will leave us at parity” with Romney by early April.

He said he and his aides have spent much of the past four days retooling a campaign that

shellacking. By raising expectations for a strong finish in Nevada - only to place a weak third - the Texas congressman undercut himself going into the next round of caucus states. Paul’s ultimate goal - keeping his libertarian-leaning platform part of the national political conversation - could also be damaged as his losses pile up.

Santorum has watched his candidacy lose steam since his win in the Iowa caucuses early

last month. The former Pennsylvania senator spent little time campaigning in Nevada; his strong social conservatism was never a good fit in a state best known for drinking, gambling and legalized prostitution. He’s looked ahead to caucuses in Colorado and the nonbinding Missouri primary next week instead.

Santorum continues to campaign on the cheap, and is pulling in enough money - $1 million alone last week, his advisers say - to keep his shoestring operation alive. But few states outside of Iowa have proved to be receptive to Santorum’s sharp focus on social issues like abortion.

To be sure, Romney continues to face challenges of his own. He was at his best as a candidate after Gingrich won South Carolina and appeared to be a real threat going into Florida and beyond. Romney quickly retooled his approach, sharpening his attacks on Gingrich on the campaign trail and in two back-to-back debates. But without a strong rival, Romney’s weaknesses as a candidate and his propensity for gaffes become magnified. With the recession-weary public still angry at Wall Street and big business, Romney has struggled to explain how the millions he made at the venture capital firm Bain Capital make him a plausible job creator.

He made an eye-popping unforced error this week, telling CNN “I’m not concerned about the very poor”. He went on to explain himself, saying those most in need can rely on social programs and that he wants to be a champion for the middle class instead. But the comment, coming from a man of such immense wealth, struck a sour note - particularly as he campaigned into Nevada, which has the highest unemployment and home foreclosure rate in the country. Romney attempted to clarify his remark later, saying he “misspoke.” But Gingrich has already used it as an attack line, as have Democrats working to weaken Romney. Still, Romney’s position coming out of Nevada is strong and getting stronger. “When you match this up with Florida, it may well mean this is the beginning of the triumphant march to the nomination,” said Galen, the GOP strategist. — AP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

sp orts Berdych wins Montpellier title MONTPELLIER: Czech Tomas Berdych claimed his seventh career title when he defeated local favourite Gael Monfils 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier yesterday.

World number seven Berdych had too much pace for Frenchman Monfils and prevailed in two hours five minutes. “It was a great three sets, it was very close and I’m happy I was able to do it,” top seed Berdych told French TV channel Canal Plus Sport.

“He is a great player, he knows how to fight on court, but I knew that and I was ready for it.”

Monfils, who was the defending champion, admitted the better player had won.

“I tried to return his serves better, to be more aggressive but it is not easy when he steps on to the court,” he said. Berdych took the first set easily but world number 13 Montfils started to move much better in the second.

He opened up a 3-1 lead and although the Czech threatened to level in the eighth game, Monfils held serve to send the match into a decider. — Reuters

NHL results/standings Pittsburgh 2, Boston 1; New Jersey 6, Philadelphia 4; Washington 3, Montreal 0; Vancouver 3, Colorado 2 (SO); Toronto 5, Ottawa 0; Buffalo 4, NY Islanders 3 (SO); Carolina 2, Los Angeles 1; Tampa Bay 6, Florida 3; Nashville 3, St. Louis 1; Dallas 2, Minnesota 1 (SO); Phoenix 5, San Jose 3; Edmonton 5, Detroit 4 (SO).

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS NY Rangers 32 12 5 136 100 69 Philadelphia 30 15 6 171 151 66 Pittsburgh 30 18 4 159 133 64 New Jersey 29 19 3 144 146 61 NY Islanders 21 22 8 125 150 50 Northeast Division Boston 32 16 2 176 110 66 27 21 7 161 171 61 Ottawa Toronto 27 19 6 161 152 60 Buffalo 22 24 6 126 154 50 Montreal 19 24 9 134 145 47 Southeast Division Florida 24 16 11 131 145 59 27 20 4 144 145 58 Washington Winnipeg 24 23 6 129 147 54 Tampa Bay 23 23 5 147 173 51 Carolina 20 25 9 137 165 49 Western Conference Central Division Detroit 35 16 2 171 126 72 32 17 4 149 136 68 Nashville St. Louis 30 14 7 126 105 67 Chicago 29 17 7 169 158 65 Columbus 14 32 6 120 174 34 Northwest Division Vancouver 32 15 5 167 130 69 25 19 8 121 133 58 Minnesota Colorado 26 25 3 135 151 55 Calgary 24 22 6 124 141 54 Edmonton 21 26 5 138 152 47 Pacific Division San Jose 29 15 6 145 117 64 25 18 10 115 116 60 Los Angeles Dallas 27 22 2 136 144 56 Phoenix 23 21 8 136 141 54 Anaheim 19 24 8 132 154 46 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

Super matchups everywhere with Pats-Giants INDIANAPOLIS: MVP quarterbacks on marquee franchises. A rematch of a nail-biter from four years ago, featuring many of the same key characters. Madonna and plenty of Manning - Eli, and Peyton, too.

This Super Bowl certainly has all the makings of another thriller, the perfect finish to a season that began in turmoil and wound up the most successful in league history. The NFL couldn’t have planned it any better. “It’s actually been a very fun week here,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, seeking his fourth Super Bowl ring in 11 seasons, and doing it in the city where archrival Peyton Manning has worked for 13 years - if not for much longer, given his health issues and disagreements with Colts management. “It’s a bit surreal to be playing in Indy’s home stadium and to be practicing at their facility.”

It’s been even weirder for Eli Manning to have led the Giants here, only to find his superb season and chase for a second championship overshadowed by big brother.

The most popular storyline this week has been Peyton’s pain in his neck. Or, rather, his status following three neck surgeries in 19 months; whether the Colts will keep him around, at the cost of a $28 million roster bonus due in March; and whether he’s truly feuding with owner Jim Irsay’s rebuilding organization.

Eli, who will surpass his brother for NFL titles with a victory Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium - yes, Peyton’s Place - claims his sibling’s issues are irrelevant to this game, in which New York (12-7) is a 3-point underdog.

“I’m proud of Peyton. I’ve talked to him this week.

None of that comes up,” Eli said. “When I talk to Peyton, he does a great job of trying to keep me relaxed. (We) talk a little football and talk about New England some.

He’s supported me this week. I know he’s just working hard trying to get healthy and I’m going to support him on that.” While Eli would own two championships with a victory, to one for Peyton, Brady could tie his childhood quarterbacking hero, Joe Montana, and Terry Bradshaw with four. Coach Bill Belichick would equal Chuck Noll with the same number.

To get it, the Patriots (15-3) must protect their crown jewel. Four years ago, Brady was banged around so much by New York that it turned the Super Bowl in the Giants’ favor. Yes, they needed David Tyree’s miracle pinthe-ball-against-the-helmet catch, then Plaxico Burress’ touchdown reception to shatter New England’s perfect season. — AP

Stoner slams rule change MADRID: Casey Stoner has hit out at a change to MotoGP regulations that forced his Repsol Honda team to add 4 kilogrammes (8.8 pounds) in weight to their new 1,000cc bikes for the 2012 season, saying its “late” introduction has caused problems in cornering.

The world champion, who was half a second clear of his rivals in testing of the new machines at Sepang this week, said the team’s bikes had been “developed with a specific weight in mind” and that the situation was “rather frustrating”. “ We already had the bike developed and then they decided to change the regulations,”

the Australian, who is due to become a father for the first time in a few weeks, said in an interview published by his team yesterday.

“This affects the bike,” added the 26-year-old. “It isn’t something that you notice much in your general riding, but unfortunately you do feel it quite a bit mid-corner. “We have to try to adapt a little more and overcome this, but it is disappointing that the decision was made so late on.”

Riders have a final series of tests in Jerez, Spain at the end of March before the opening Grand Prix of the season in Qatar on April 8. —Reuters

Yuvraj fit to play in May NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh, the hero of India’s victorious World Cup campaign last year, is being treated for lung cancer in the United States, his physiotherapist said yesterday. Jatin Choudhary told television channel Headlines Today that the all-rounder was diagnosed in October and was being treated in Boston, but said the disease was in its early stages. “Once he is done with chemo in March, his rehabilitation would be complete by April end and he would be perfectly fit to play in May,” Choudhary told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Yuvraj’s family said last November that the all-rounder had been battling a golf ball-sized non-malignant lung tumour which first affected him during the World Cup. His mother said he had been “constantly” troubled by bouts of coughing and vomiting throughout the tournament, which India won on home soil in April.

Despite this, the left-hander scored 362 runs and took 15 wickets in nine matches to earn the player of the tournament award as India took the title for the first time since 1983. — Reuters

Lightning defeat Panthers, Oilers roll TAMPA: Martin St. Louis scored three times in his 900th NHL game and Steven Stamkos added his league-leading 34th goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 6-3 on Saturday.

Nate Thompson and Vincent Lecavalier also scored for the Lightning, who have won six of seven. Lecavalier added three assists and reached 20 goals for the 12th straight season. Florida got goals from Tomas Fleischmann, Mikael Samuelsson and Sean Bergenheim. The Southeast Division-leading Panthers were coming off a 2-1 win over Winnipeg on Friday night.

Buffalo’s Paul Gaustad tied it 3-3 midway through the third period. The Islanders led 3-1 after the first period, paced by two goals from Frans Nielsen and one from Josh Bailey. Derek Roy and Nathan Gerbe also had goals for Buffalo.

Canucks 3, Avalanche 2 At Denver, Kevin Bieksa leveled the game with 34.1 seconds remaining in regulation and Mason Raymond scored the lone goal in the shootout as

close. Wayne Simmonds, Jaromir Jagr, Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek had Philadelphia’s goals.

also scored for Nashville Chris Porter had the lone goal for St. Louis. Fisher has six goals in his last five games.

Capitals 3, Canadiens 0 At Montreal, Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves for his third shutout of the season and Alexander Semin scored on the second of Washington’s two penalty shots in a win over Montreal. Alex Ovechkin returned to the Capitals’ lineup after serving a three-game suspension for his hit

Stars 2, Wild 1 At Dallas, Jamie Benn scored in the second round of the shootout to help Dallas maintain its home dominance over Minnesota. Loui Eriksson scored for Dallas in the first round, but Matt Cullen got the Wild even in the second. Benn then beat Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom with a

Oilers 5, Red Wings 4 At Edmonton, Alberta, Sam Gagner Gagner had two goals and an assist, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the shootout winner as Edmonton beat league-leading Detroit.

The Oilers blew a 3-1 lead in the third period but sent it to overtime when Jordan Eberle scored with 39 seconds left. Eberle ended up with a pair of goals for the Oilers, who have won three in a row and are 4-0-1 in their last five games.

Todd Bertuzzi had a pair of goals, and Valtteri Filppula and Drew Miller also scored for the Red Wings.

Penguins 2, Bruins 1 At Boston, Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves and Evgeni Malkin scored a powerplay goal to lift Pittsburgh over Boston for its ninth win in 10 games.

Matt Cooke had the other goal for the Penguins, who rebounded from a 1-0 loss at Toronto on Wednesday that ended a season-best eight-game winning streak.

Joe Corvo scored Boston’s goal and Tim Thomas stopped 26 shots. The Bruins hadn’t lost consecutive games since early December and dropped two in a row at home for the first time since Oct. 22nd and 27th.

Maple Leafs 5, Senators 0 At Ottawa, James Reimer posted his second straight shutout, and Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had three points to lead Toronto over Ottawa.

Kessel and Bozak each had a goal and two assists, while Dion Phaneuf, Luke Schenn and Cody Franson also scored for Toronto. Reimer stopped 49 shots for his third shutout of the season and has now made 74 saves in his last two games.

Craig Anderson, making his 17th straight start and 50th appearance, had little help from his teammates as he faced 40 shots.

Sabres 4, Islanders 3 At Uniondale, New York, Brad Boyes and Jason Pominville scored shootout goals as Buffalo rallied from an early 3-1 deficit to beat New York.

UNIONDALE: Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) blocks a shot on goal by New York Islanders’ Michael Grabner (40) as Sabres’ Mike Weber (6) defends in the third period of an NHL hockey game. —AP Vancouver rallied to beat Colorado.

Raymond sent the puck through the pads of Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Roberto Luongo stopped all three shots he faced for Vancouver, which ended the Avs’ streak of shootout wins at 10.

Ryan Kesler added a goal and Luongo had 44 saves for the Northwest Division leaders. Jay McClement and David Jones had goals for the Avalanche.

Devils 6, Flyers 4 At Philadelphia, Kurtis Foster scored a pair of power-play goals to lead New Jersey over Philadelphia for the Devils’ third straight win. Ilya Kovalchuk, Dainius Zubrus, Zach Parise and Alexei Ponikarovsky also had goals for the Devils, whose special teams scored three times on the power play and once shorthanded. Down 6-0 to start the third period, the Flyers stormed back to make it

on Pittsburgh’s Zbynek Michalek.

Dennis Wideman and Matt Hendricks also scored for Washington, which won for just the second time in its last six games (2-2-2).

Hurricanes 2, Kings 1 At Raleigh, North Carolina, Jeff Skinner scored 3:02 into the third period to lift Carolina over Los Angeles. Jiri Tlutsy also scored and Cam Ward made 24 saves for the Hurricanes, who are 8-2-1 in their last 11 home games. Anze Kopitar scored for Los Angeles and Jonathan Bernier made 20 saves as the Kings lost their second in a row.

Predators 3, Blues 1 At Nashville, Tennessee, Pekka Rinne made 41 saves, and Martin Erat had a goal and two assists to lead Nashville past St. Louis. Mike Fisher and Sergei Kostitsyn

wrist shot to give Dallas the advantage, and Kari Lehtonen denied Jared Spurgeon to gain an extra point for the Stars. Mike Ribeiro notched a power-play goal and Lehtonen made 33 saves for the Stars. Kyle Brodziak scored and Backstrom stopped 25 shots for the Wild.

Coyotes 5, Sharks 3 At Glendale, Arizona, Lauri Korpikoski scored two goals to lead Phoenix over San Jose. Down two goals late, the Sharks’ Patrick Marleau scored with 32 seconds left before Radim Vrbata quickly answered at 19:59.

Raffi Torres and Martin Hanzal also scored for the Coyotes, who got only their 11th home win (26 points) this season. Only Montreal and Columbus have fewer points at home. Jamie McGinn and Logan Couture scored goals for the Sharks. —AP

Green Bay QB Rodgers wins NFL MVP award INDIANAPOLIS: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award in a landslide.

Rodgers earned 48 votes to two for New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Packers star is the first Green Bay player honored since Brett Favre concluded a run of three straight seasons as MVP in 1997.

“It means a lot to be recognized as a consistent player and contributing on my team,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s an award that relies on a player having the support of his teammates, obviously, guys blocking, guys running, guys catching, guys making plays. But I’m very honored to receive the award.”

Rodgers led the NFL in passing with a 122.5 rating built on 45 touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 68.3 completion percentage as the Packers went 15-1 and won the NFC North. He joins former Packers Bart Starr, Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung in being selected MVP. “People really count on me to be consistent each week, to play well. Knowing that my performance, the fact that I touch the ball every play, I have a direct impact on the game, the way I play,” Rodgers said. “And if I’m playing consistent and doing things I know I’m supposed to do, we’ve been able to have some success because of it.”

Rodgers is the third consecutive quarterback voted MVP, joining New England’s Tom Brady (2007, 2010) and Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning (2008,2009).

San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh won the coach of the year award for leading the 49ers back to the playoffs.

In his first season as an NFL head coach, Harbaugh guided the 49ers to a 13-3 mark and the NFC Championship game. They beat New Orleans in the first

round of the playoffs before losing the conference title game to the New York Giants.

A former NFL quarterback and successful coach at Stanford University, Harbaugh earned 45 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. He easily outdistanced Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy, who received three votes, and Denver’s John Fox, who got two.

INDIANAPOLIS: Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers speaks after receiving the AP MVP Player of the Year during the inaugural NFL Honors show. The New York Giants will face the New England Patriots in the NFL football’s Super Bowl XLVI. —AP

Atlanta’s Mike Smith was the last man to win the award in his initial season as an NFL head coach, in 2008. Drew Brees’ record-setting season earned the New Orleans quarterback offensive player of the year award.

Brees shattered Dan Marino’s 27-year-old mark by passing for 5,476 yards, and his 468 completions broke Peyton Manning’s 2010 record of 450. Brees finished the season completing 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 NFL record (70.6). He also surpassed 300 yards passing for seven straight games and 13 times during the season, both beating league marks he already held.

Brees, the 2008 top offensive player, received 43 votes , while Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers got the other seven votes.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won the offensive rookie of the year award and Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller won a two-man race with 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith for defensive rookie of the year.

Newton is the second straight No. 1 overall draft pick to take the honor, after St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford won it last year.

The first Panther to take the award, Newton received 47 votes to three for Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. Newton set an NFL record for touchdowns rushing in a season by a quarterback with 14 and became the first player in league history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 500.

Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, sparked a defensive turnaround in Denver with his steady and sometimes spectacular play. He teamed with quarterback Tim Tebow to energize the Broncos, who rallied from a 2-5 record to the AFC West title and a playoff win over Pittsburgh. — AP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

sp orts

Lawrie wins Qatar Masters

SCOTTSDALE: Webb Simpson hits his tee shot at the 16th hole during the third round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament. — AP

Levin extends Open lead SCOTTSDALE: Little-known American Spencer Levin held his nerve over the tricky closing stretch to move six shots clear after Saturday’s third round of the frost-delayed Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The cigarette-puffing Levin recovered from a bogey at the 15th with a birdie at the brutal par-four 17th to card a threeunder-par 68 on a glorious afternoon of dazzling sunshine at the TPC Scottsdale.

In pursuit of a maiden PGA Tour victory, the 27-year-old Californian posted a 17-under total of 196 to finish six strokes in front of world number six Webb Simpson, who also carded a 68.

Long-hitting American Bubba Watson was a further shot back at 10 under, a 67 putting him level with PGA Tour rookie John Huh (69).

However no one was able to get close to the pacesetting Levin who was five strokes in front when the frost-delayed second round was completed earlier in the day.

“I hit a lot of good shots today and I didn’t get into much trouble,” Levin told reporters after recording four birdies and one bogey. “I felt like I drove it good.

Until 15, I hit a lot of solid shots, a lot of greens. It was stress-free.

“I hit a decent drive on 15, just barely left but if you hit it barely left there it just runs off (into the water hazard). So that was kind of a hiccup there but I made a nice putt for par on 16 and birdied 17.

“I came back from that bogey good,” added Levin, whose best PGA Tour finish was second place at last year’s Mayakoba Golf Classic. “Overall it was solid. I felt I played pretty well.”

Best known for finishing joint 13th as an amateur at the 2004 US Open, Levin made a solid start to the third round,

birdies at the third and fourth helping him reach the turn at 16 under, still five ahead.

He also birdied the par-five 13th, after lipping out with his eagle attempt from 22 feet, to stretch his lead to a commanding six shots.

Though Levin recorded his only bogey of the day at the par-five 15th after finding water off the tee, he birdied the driveable 17th with a deft up-and-down from a greenside bunker.

A rock-solid par at the last kept him comfortably in front of the chasing pack.

“Just go out there and try and do what I’ve been doing,” Levin said of his intentions for late yesterday’s final round.

“I know you hear guys say that all the time but if I can get out there and shoot a good score, I should be all right.” Phil Mickelson, winner of the Phoenix Open in 1996 and 2005, carded his best round of the week, a five-birdie 67 lifting him into a tie for 10th at eight under.

Though a distant eight strokes off the pace, the American left-hander was delighted with his improved form after working with his swing coach Butch Harmon in the morning “We had a really good session and I was able to feel much more confident,” Mickelson said. “I hit a lot of good shots, especially early on, and made some birdies. Asked what his strategy would be in the final round, he replied: “Just shoot a good round because out here ... when you start making mistakes or hitting a bad shot, it’s very hard to turn it around with water and trouble ever y where. “And there’s also an opportunity to make birdies and eagles so, if I get a hot hand and put on some pressure, you never know what might happen.” — Reuters

DOHA: Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to winning the wind-shortened Qatar Open yesterday, shooting a 7-under 65 to hold off the challenge of Jason Day and Peter Hanson who finished four shots back.

Lawrie finished with a 15-under total of 201 to win his seventh European Tour event and his second in Qatar. The victory is Lawrie’s second in a year - he also won the Andalucian Open after a nine-year drought. Now in the top 45, he could contend for a spot at the 2012 Ryder Cup. “I played lovely all week. But today I think tee to green, apart from my tee shot on 10th, I can’t play much better than that,” said Lawrie, who also won the tournament in 1999. “I actually felt I left three or four putts out there and got it around to 7 under on a golf course where the greens were pretty firm.”

The 1999 British Open champion came into the final round with a one-shot lead over Nicolas Colsaerts. Lawrie started slowly with only a birdie on his first eight holes but, just as several players including Sergia Garcia (68), were challenging for the lead, Lawrie sank a 20-yard chip for eagle on the 9th hole to go up by two.

He never looked back, even as Day (65) and Garcia continued sinking birdies. He ran off four birdies himself on a flawless back nine that included clutch birdie putts on 11 and 14. And when Hanson chipped in for eagle on 16 to draw within three, Lawrie responded with chip in for birdie on 17 go to up by four. He played it safe on No. 18 and closed out with a short par putt for the win.

Early on, it looked like Garcia might overtake Lawrie for the win. The Spaniard opened with six birdies on his first 11 holes, including one on 10 that tied him for the lead with Lawrie. But then Garcia’s putter went cold on the back nine, starting when he missed a two-footer for par on 13.Clearly flustered, Garcia then missed a 10-footer for birdie at the next hole. He took himself out of contention when he bogeyed the next hole and finished tied for fifth.

Day also started strong, with four birdies on his first four holes to move up the leaderboard. The 23-year-old Australian bogeyed 9 but bounced back with four straight birdies to close within two shots of the lead. But then he missed birdie putts on 15 and 17 to fall out of contention.

Hanson, who came into the final round two shots back, quietly made a move when he ran off two birdies to finish the front nine. He stumbled with a bogey on 13 only to recover with a birdie on 14 and then a chip in for eagle on 16.

First round leader John Daly (67) also remained in the hunt all day, sinking a 12-foot birdie to go 8 under and then sank a 25-footer from the fringe on 17 for another of his four birdies on the back nine. But his great putting was undone by two bogeys on the front nine.Daly ended fourth at 9-under 207, with Garcia, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (65), Ricardo Gonzalez (70) and Soren Hansen (66) a further shot back in a tie for fifth.

Fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer (69), Colsaerts (72) and Victor Dubuisson (69) were a shot behind in a tie for ninth. The tournament was disrupted by wind all week, and organizers called off Friday’s play and shortened the event to three rounds.

Conditions improved Saturday and were calm yesterday. —AP

DOHA: Paul Lawrie of Scotland poses with the trophy after winning the Qatar Masters tournament at the Doha golf club. — AP

Boeljon clinches Ladies Masters GOLD COAST: Christel Boeljon birdied the last hole to win the Australian Ladies Masters by one stroke yesterday and avoid a fourway playoff.

The 24-year-old Dutch golfer closed with a 4-under 68 in the final round to finish with a 21-under total 267 at the 5,954-meter (6,647-yard) Royal Pines course, hitting the lead for the first time on the par-five last hole. She was one shot clear of overnight leader So Yeon Ryu and Kim Ha-neul of South Korea and Italy’s Diana Luna.

“It’s never over until it’s over,” Boeljon said after overcoming a three-shot deficit to clinch the Gold Coast event, which was jointly sanctioned by the Australian Ladies Professional Golf and Ladies European tours.

“I never guessed I’d be holding this trophy, it’s very special. Starting the season off with this win, it’s amazing.”

It was a second LET victory for Boeljon, who made her debut for Europe in the Solheim Cup last year. US Open champion Ryu started the final round with a threestroke lead, due mainly to her 11-under 61 on Friday, but closed with an even-par 72 and was overtaken on the last hole.

“I think I need to trust myself more,” Ryu said. “My mind is too busy, I need to think simple.” Luna and Kim each finished with rounds of 67 to claim a share of second place. Sharing the lead with three others as she walked to the 18th tee, Boeljon reached the green in two and, with Ryu in the green-

side bunker, left her eagle putt about five feet short. She made the easy birdie putt while Ryu flew her bunker shot too far.

Lydia Ko, the 14-year-old New Zealand amateur who become the youngest winner of a professional golf tour event with her victory at the New South Wales Open last weekend, finished as the leading amateur on 6 under at the Ladies Masters.

Veteran Laura Davies of England shot a 71 and finished well off the pace at 4 under.

Seven-time champion Karrie Webb did not play and will start her 2012 season next week at the Australian Open, which is cosanctioned by the LPGA Tour. Boeljon, Ryu, Kim and Luna will all play at the Australian Ladies Open at Royal Melbourne. — AP

Donaire outpoints Vazquez

GERMANY: Cuba’s Yoan Pablo Hernandez (right) punches his challenger Steve Cunningham from the US in an IBF cruiser weight world title fight. — AP

Hernandez stops Cunningham FRANKFURT: Yoan Pablo Hernandez of Cuba successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision win over Steve Cunningham in their rematch on Saturday.

The southpaw twice had Cunningham on the canvas in the fourth round after catching the American with lefts. Cunningham remained unsteady after beating the count and Hernandez sent him down briefly again but somehow Cunningham managed to see out the round.

Hernandez tried to finish him off in the fifth but was almost caught out when Cunningham sent him reeling back. Cunningham improved in the later rounds but was unable to make up for the knockdowns. The judges awarded it 116-110, 116-110 and 115111. “He really is a courageous boxer,

you could see that. How he came back!” Hernandez said. “I gave myself a bit of breathing space in the fourth round. I caught him again nicely in the 12th.”

Hernandez was making his first defense of the title he won from Cunningham on a controversial split technical decision in October.

That bout was stopped after six rounds after Hernandez sustained two cuts from a clash of heads, and awarded to the Cuban on points.

Hernandez, based in Germany since 2005, improved his record to 26-1 (13 KOs), while Cunningham dropped to 24-4 (12 KOs).

Cunningham, who was aiming to win back the title for the third time, paid tribute to Hernandez for a deserved win and said he had no plans to retire. — AP

SAN ANTONIO: Nonito Donaire took a split decision against Wilfredo Vazquez of Puerto Rico to win the WBO junior featherweight title Saturday at the Alamodome.

Philippines-born Donaire (28-1), making his debut in the weight class, won 117-110 on two scorecards and lost 115-112. He controlled the bout despite breaking his left hand somewhere between the second and fourth rounds before a crowd of 14,120.

After capturing world titles in the flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight divisions, Donaire proved just as powerful in moving up to junior featherweight.

Vasquez (21-2-1) went down in the ninth, staggered by a left uppercut before being dropped by a left overhand. Vasquez rose quickly, smiling as the referee came over to give him a standing eight-count. Donaire also stunned Vazquez in the third with a left-handed uppercut to the right temple. —AP

TEXAS: Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. (left) and Nonito Donaire exchange punches during the fifth round of their WBO junior featherweight title fight. — AP

Boonen wins Tour of Qatar stage DOHA: Tom Boonen of Belgium won the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar yesterday, finishing four seconds ahead of Adam Blythe of Britain.

The former world road racing champion, riding for the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team, completed the 142.5-kilometer (88.5mile) first stage in 3 hours, 11 minutes, 22 seconds.

BMC Racing Team’s Blythe was followed by Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale, six seconds back in third. Tyler Farrar of GarminBarracuda was fourth.

British rider Mark Cavendish, who arrived in Doha sick and didn’t train on Saturday, fin-

ished 51st and 10 seconds behind Boonen.

Cavendish, riding for Sky Procycling, is the world road race champion.

Boonen is looking for his fourth title at the Tour of Qatar after wins in 2006, 2008 and 2009 in the Gulf nation. The win on Sunday was his 19th stage victory at the Tour of Qatar.

“It was a very good stage for me. We were working very hard and it showed,” Boonen said. “I only got here on Friday and was very tired. But I finished the day with a victory so that is pleasing.” The race came down to the last 30 meters (yards) when seven riders including Boonen were in position to go for the win. “It was unbelievable,” Boonen said.

“Near the finish you always form a group and everybody is always tired. But today that was not the case. Nobody seemed tired. It was a strong finish,” Blythe, meanwhile, said he was just happy to have finished second. “I wasn’t so sure that I’d do so well. I was hoping for a top five so I am happy,” he said. “I am sure we will be looking to finish the job in the next few days. I got the opportunity so I took it. We will see what happens. Anything can happen from now on.”

Today, the cyclists will race in an 11.3 kilometer (7 miles) time trial around Qatar’s iconic Losail International Circuit, the venue of an annual MotoGP race. —AP

17

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

SPORTS

Australia dominate India in first one-day match

DUBAI: England’s Graeme Swann (second left) celebrates with his teammates taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Abdur Rehman during the third day of the third cricket Test match. —AP

England chase 324 to win against Pakistan DUBAI: England’s opening batsmen safely negotiated the final hour’s play to close the third day of the third Test with Pakistan on 36 without loss, chasing 324 to win, after Azhar Ali’s mammoth innings of 157 put the hosts in a dominant position in Dubai.

Pakistan should have had an early breakthrough as Alastair Cook edged a simple chance off the bowling of Umar Gul but opening batsman Taufeeq Umar put it down at third slip.

Andrew Strauss also had a hairy moment — a review of the bowling off Mohammed Hafeez saw the ball strike the bat and pad simultaneously but the impact was outside the line and Simon Taufel’s original not out call remained.

Ali’s stay at the crease - he faced 424 balls over 533 minutes for his 157 runs — was finally ended as he turned a Graeme Swann delivery straight to Cook at short leg, who took a good catch just above the earth. Those in the sparse crowd rose to applaud his knock - his highest in firstclass cricket. Pakistan finished with 365.

If England are to survive a whitewash, which would be Pakistan’s first against them, they will have to make the secondhighest total to win a test match in their history - only the 332 they scored in 1928 to beat Australia in Melbourne would be better.

Pakistan are chasing a record of their own - no team has scored fewer than 100 in their first innings and won a test in more than 100 years, not since England toppled South Africa in 1907 after posting 76 in their opening knock.

Earlier in the day, Younus Khan added 12 to his overnight score to reach 127 before Stuart Broad got him leg before to end his partnership of 216 with Ali. It was the second-highest recorded in tests in the United Arab Emirates after the 242 made by the South African pair of Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis against Pakistan in Nov. 2010.

Ali said patience had paid off for him in his innings. “The wicket was slow so that’s why I opted for this (slow pace). I had to be patient to get runs here. You can’t just play all the shots. You had to concentrate on one or two shots and when it comes, you put it away. So that’s what I concentrated on. I really enjoyed it in the end as batting for long gives you pleasure.

“We’re 100 percent confident but, obviously, we have to get 10 wickets,” he added. “We can’t just sit back and relax.

You never know as one good partnership could take the game away from us.”

Swann said Strauss and Cook had set England up well for the fourth day. “It could have been a very tricky period for the openers but they have calmed the storm nicely and set us up for what will, hopefully, be a good chase tomorrow,” he said.

“On current form, it’s an absolute mountain to climb but...I think we’re due a score. I think our batsmen have got a point to prove, not just to themselves but you guys as well. I’m forever the optimist and I think a couple of them are going to go out and wow everyone tomorrow.” —Reuters

Scoreboard DUBAI: Scoreboard at the close of the third day of the third and final test between Pakistan and England at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday: Pakistan first innings: 99 all out England first innings: 141 all out Pakistan second innings: (Overnight 222-2) Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Panesar 21 Taufeeq Umar c Strauss b Anderson 6 Azhar Ali c Cook b Swann 157 Younus Khan lbw b Broad 127 Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Panesar 31 Asad Shafiq lbw b Panesar 5 Adnan Akmal b Panesar 0 Abdur Rehman c Anderson b Swann 1 Saeed Ajmal c Anderson b Swann 1 Umar Gul lbw b Panesar 4 Aizaz Cheema not out 0 Extras (b-10, lb-1, nb-1) 12 Total (all out; 152.4 overs) 365 Fall of wickets: 1-16 2-28 3-244 4-331 5-339 6-

345 7-346 8-350 9-363.

Bowling: Anderson 28-7-51-1(nb-1), Broad 247-55-1, Panesar 56.4-13-124-5, Swann 39-6101-3, Trott 2-0-14-0, Pietersen 3-0-9-0.

England second innings A. Strauss not out 19 A. Cook not out 15 Extras (nb 2) 2 Total (0 wickets; 20 overs) 36 Still to bat: J. Trott, K. Pietersen, I. Bell, E. Morgan, M. Prior, S. Broad, G. Swann, J. Anderson, M. Panesar.

Bowling: Umar Gul 4-1-11-0 (1nb), Aizaz Cheema 2-0-5-0, Mohammad Hafeez 5-2-6-0, Abdur Rehman 7-0-12-0, Saeed Ajmal 2-1-2-0.

Mancuso wins Super-G GERMANY: American Julia Mancuso won her first Super-G in five years in GarmischPartenkirchen yesterday as an error by compatriot Lindsey Vonn meant the overall World Cup leader failed to finish.

Mancuso was the only skier to fully tame the tricky Kandahar 2 course and won with a time of one minute and 20.5 seconds.

Second place went to Austria’s Anna Fenninger, 0.13 behind Mancuso, while Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein was third 0.45 behind the winner.

The cold, sticky snow, similar to conditions in North America, should also have suited favourite Vonn, who won Saturday’s downhill, but with a rare mistake she lost her balance halfway down and missed a gate.

“I’m so unused to it that I didn’t know what to do or where to go,” the 27-year-old said. “I’m not sad or disappointed. I have a right to go wrong from time to time. I could feel it coming because yesterday, I found myself on my bottom a couple of times,” she added.

Vonn’s closest rival in the overall World Cup, Slovenian Tina Maze, also failed to complete the course. Vonn has 1,350 points to Maze’s 868.

A three-times winner of the overall crystal globe, Vonn said she was looking forward to next week’s races in Soldeu with another goal in mind.

“I’m third in the giant slalom World Cup and I’ve never been in that position before.

I’m going there to win as the giant slalom World Cup is now a real goal. It would be another dream to achieve,” she said.

It was Mancuso’s sixth World Cup victory and her first in a Super-G since 2007, but hardly a surprise to the American who was silver-medallist at the world championships on the same piste a year ago.

“I discovered last year that is was a tough course, on which you need guts. And that’s what I like. The harder it is, the better I feel,” said the 2006 giant slalom Olympic champion. “The way I’m skiing at the moment I had a feeling I would not leave Garmsich emptyhanded,” she added. —Reuters

GERMANY: Julia Mancuso, of the United States, competes on her way to win an alpine ski, womenís World Cup super-G. —AP

MELBOURNE: A half-century by debutant Matt Wade and some middle-order slogging by the Hussey brothers propelled Australia to a 65-run thrashing of hapless India in the rain-shortened first one-day international yesterday. Australia recovered from an early wobble and a three-hour rain delay to post a competitive 216-5 in their allocated 32 overs, before the tourists’ batsmen crumbled to be all out for 151 under the lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Wade, touted to replace the struggling Brad Haddin as Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper, compiled an aggressive 67 in his one-day debut, following on from his swashbuckling 72 in his first Twenty20 international against India last week.

Man-of-the-match Wade combined with Mike Hussey in a 73run stand that righted Australia’s ship after fired-up seamer Vinay Kumar had put the hosts on the back foot early with two wickets in a fierce five-over spell that yielded only seven runs.

The 27-year-old bowled David Warner for six and had Ricky Ponting out for two shortly afterwards when the former skipper spooned a simple catch to Suresh Raina at short extra cover.

Wade completed the 11th over by blasting a six and a boundary to leave the hosts on 35-2 before the rain came.

He went on with the job after the break despite the quick loss of captain Michael Clarke, who went for 10 after slogging straight to Rahul Sharma at deep midwicket off the bowling of part-time spinner Rohit Sharma.

Wade smacked a second six over long-on before playing on to his stumps for 67, but the 36year-old Hussey teamed up with his brother David for another quickfire 32-run stand before becoming Vinay’s third wicket when he slashed straight to Virat Kohli at square leg.

David Hussey belted an unbeaten 61 as he and debutant allrounder Dan Christian completed Australia’s complement of overs, carting the ball to all parts of the ground.

Sachin Tendulkar, searching for an elusive 100th international century, came out to a hero’s welcome in possibly his last appearance at the MCG but was out for two. Swiping at a shortpitched Mitchell Starc delivery,

MELBOURNE: Australia’s Matthew Wade (left) hits the ball down the ground as India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni watches during their one-day international cricket match. —AP Tendulkar succeeded only in bashing the ball into Ponting’s hands, the 37-year-old diving low to his right to take a brilliant catch and foil “the little master” again.

Starc had Gambhir caught behind for five soon after, and though Kohli and Rohit Sharma cobbled together a promising 53-run stand, Clint McKay removed them both on the way to match-best figures of 4-20 from fewer than five overs.

David Hussey jogged to his right to catch a skied pull off Suresh Raina, who managed only four runs before gifting Christian his first one-day wicket.

Reeling at 77-5, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried to resurrect India’s innings but ran out of partners as allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was bought for more than $2 million in the India Premier League player auctions, fell for 19, before Ravichandran Ashwin was run

out for five attempting a foolhardy third run.

Praveen Kumar and Vinay slogged through an entertaining 23-run partnership before McKay’s fourth wicket wrapped up the match, with paceman Ryan Harris charging in from long on to take a fine low catch to dismiss Kumar for 15.

India play Sri Lanka in the second one-day match of the triangular tournament in Perth on Wednesday. —Reuters

Scoreboard MELBOURNE: Scoreboard after the first one-day international between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. The match was shortened to 32 overs a side due to a rain delay.

India won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Australia innings M. Wade b Rahul Sharma 67 D. Warner b Vinay Kumar 6 R. Ponting c Raina b Vinay Kumar 2 M. Clarke c Rahul Sharma b Rohit Sharma 10 M. Hussey c Kohli b Vinay Kumar 45 D. Hussey not out 61 D. Christian not out 17 Extras: (2-lb, w-4, nb-2) 8 Total: (five wickets, 32 overs) 216 Fall of wickets: 1-15 2-19 3-49 4-122 5-154 Did not bat: R. Harris, M. Starc, C. McKay, X. Doherty Bowling: Kumar 7-0-35-0 (w-1), Vinay Kumar 7-0-21-3, Kohli 1-0-4-0 (w-1), Raina 1-0-4-0, Ashwin 5-0-48-0, Rohit Sharma 2-0-17-1, Rahul Sharma 6.2-0-44-1 (w-1) Jadeja 2.4-0-41-0 (nb-2, w-1)

India innings G. Gambhir c Wade b Starc 5 S. Tendulkar c Ponting b Starc 2 V. Kohli c Ponting b McKay 31 RG Sharma c Wade b McKay 21 S. Raina c D. Hussey b Christian 4 M. Dhoni c Warner b Doherty 29 R. Jadeja c M. Hussey b McKay 19 R. Ashwin run out (Christian/Doherty) 5 R. Sharma b Doherty 1 P. Kumar c Harris b McKay 15 V. Kumar not out 12 Extras: (lb-2 w-5) 7 Total: (all out, 29.4 overs) 151 Fall of wickets: 1-9 2-13 3-64 4-65 5-77 6-114 7-120 8-123 9-128 10-151 Bowling: Harris 5-0-28-0 (w-2), Starc 6-0-33-2 (w-2), Christian 5-0-21-1, McKay 4.4-0-20-4, Doherty 7-0-36-2 (w1), M. Clarke 2-0-11-0.

Result: Australia won by 65 runs (D/L)

Baumann wins WCup super-combined race CHAMONIX: Romed Baumann held off a strong challenge from promising Frenchman Alexis Pinturault to win yesterday’s World Cup super-combined race in emphatic style for his second career victory and first for three years.

Baumann led Pinturault by a comfortable 3.27 seconds after posting the fastest time in the morning’s downhill run on the La Verte des Houches course, and the Austrian held firm in the afternoon slalom session to win by 1.10 seconds.

Switzerland’s Beat Feuz, tied for fifth after the downhill, was 1:19 behind Baumann in third place - his third supercombi podium so far this season.

“I’m so happy because I’ve had to wait for so long,” Baumann said. “At every single race this weekend I’ve been so close to victory. It’s finally happened.”

The 26-year-old Baumann’s previous World Cup win was also a supercombi race, in 2009 in Sestriere, Italy. “When I finished and looked at the podium and saw it was green (that he had won).

Then I looked more closely and saw that my margin was more than one second,” he said. “It’s definitely special. It’s true that I had a big lead but I’m still proud of the slalom I produced to win by such a big margin.”

Baumann also finished second in Saturday’s downhill, capping off a good race weekend for Austria after Klaus Kroell’s victory in Friday’s downhill, where Baumann was tied for fourth. “I looked at the video from yesterday (Saturday), and I don’t know where I could have beaten Jan Hudec, but I was mad at myself for Friday’s downhill,” said Baumann, who was just .08 seconds behind Kroell. “I made a big mistake (on Friday) and yet I was still close.

It’s been a great three days.”

Baumann has two other career podiums in supercombi, finishing second in Reiteralm, Austria in 2006 and third in the French resort of Val d’Isere in 2009.

He was also third in a combined race last year in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

CHAMONIX: Austria’s Romed Baumann slaloms past a pole on his way to win an alpine ski, men’s World Cup super-combined. —AP Baumann finished the downhill run 0.70 seconds ahead of Frenchman Adrien Theaux, with Dominik Paris of Italy 0.90 behind in third. Theaux skied aggressively in the slalom, and finished level with Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal in fourth, while Paris skied off the course.

The 20-year-old Pinturault, meanwhile, was down in 27th and seemingly had little chance of even making the podium. But he flew down the course to secure his third career podium, with the other two in giant slalom last year.

“I was in a bad position after my downhill and I’m glad I managed to take my chance in the slalom,” Pinturault said. “ It’s certainly a great moment for me to get a podium in front of my fans, to please the French.

“It’s frustrating not to be first,” he

added. “But you have to be realistic, and when your rival is more than three seconds ahead of you then it’s going to be difficult.” Feuz, who finished way down in 21st place in Friday’s downhill, was pleased at how he bounced back.

“I’m happy with how I raced,” Feuz said.

“I’m proud of my fourth place (in Saturday’s downhill) and my podium today.”

Overall World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic had too much to do after finishing the downhill 2.81 seconds behind in 19th spot. Despite his superb slalom skills - he won silver at the last Winter Games - the Croatian finished in seventh place. Kostelic won last year’s super combi in Chamonix, after erasing a deficit of 2.50 from the downhill, but could not settle into a rhythm this time

after an awkward start.

Temperatures plummeted to minus 23 degrees Celsius (minus 9 F), making for icy conditions and American skier Bode Miller was one of several racers who failed to finish the downhill. Miller crashed but got back up. He sustained no injuries. The slalom also took its toll as the afternoon light started to fade, forcing those starting their runs late to take big risks.

Paris set off on a wild and bumpy ride, somehow keeping his balance before finally skiing off course. His countryman Mattia Casse’s right ski came off and sent him tumbling backward into the snow. Austrian Joachim Puchner, tied with Feuz after the downhill, also went too wide and out of contention. —AP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

S P ORT S

Spurs silence Thunder SAN ANTONIO: Tony Parker scored 42 points and broke the Spurs’ franchise record for career assists, leading San Antonio to a 107-96 win over the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.

The Thunder (18-5) narrowly averted their worst loss this season, while the convincing win was just the springboard San Antonio needed before spending next three weeks on the road - where the Spurs have hardly been as dominant. All-Star Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Parker scored a season high and had nine assists. The record-breaker was a dish to Tim Duncan - appropriately enough- in the third quarter that put him past Avery Johnson for the all-time franchise mark.

DUBLIN: Ireland’s Stephen Ferris (centre) is tackled by Wales Justin Tipuric (left) and Jamie Roberts (right) during their Six Nations Rugby Union match.—AP

Welsh win thriller against Ireland DUBLIN: Wales recorded their third successive victory over Ireland yesterday with a last minute penalty by Leigh Halfpenny giving them a 23-21 victory in their Six Nations opener.

The Welsh scored three tries to the hosts two with centre Jonathan Davies getting two of them while Irish wing Tommy Bowe brought up a century of test points with his 20th try.

“That was the hardest kick I’ve had to take in all my life and I was very pleased to see it go over and get the win for Wales,” said Halfpenny of his match-winning effort.

“It was end-to-end stuff - an exciting game and all credit to Ireland. They went out and gave us a tough game.” Ireland coach Declan Kidney was downcast.

“It is extremely disappointing but Wales took their opportunities,” he said.

“We didn’t build on our lead in the second-half and when we go ahead we have to go for the jugular.”

Jonathan Sexton got his first shot at goal in the fourth minute and showed no nerves after a poor World Cup kicking as he slotted it over for an early 3-0 lead.

The hosts were caught out down the left flank in the 14th minute, this time Jonathan Davies touching down in the corner after a superb pass by Rhys Priestland as he was smothered by Tommy Bowe. Priestland, though, failed to convert Davies’s sixth test try but the Irish were rattled.

The hosts should have gone further behind in the 19th minute but Priestland’s kick in front of the posts rebounded off them and into a grateful Sean O’Brien’s hands leaving the visiting fly-half shaking his head in disbelief.

The Welsh, though, had managed to completely silence the home crowd and their gloom deepened when Sexton sent a relatively simple penalty wide of the posts just before the half hour mark.

They were on their feet though three minutes before the break as an incisive break from Bowe fatally drew right wing Alex Cuthbert in and his pass set up hooker Rory Best for his sixth test try Sexton converted and incredibly the Irish were 10-5 ahead.

There was a further blow for the Welsh

at half-time as their skipper Sam Warburton was unable to come out because of a dead leg and was replaced by 22-year-old Justin Tipuric while Cuthbert was removed as well from the fray and James Hook came on for his 60th cap.

Ireland extended their lead three minutes into the second period as Sexton landed a penalty from the left to make it 13-5 and Priestland, clearly lacking sharpness after being out with a knee injury, missed a chance to reduce it with a 49th minute attempt.

He was relieved of kicking duties when the Irish conceded their next penalty and Halfpenny stepped up to slot it over for 13-8.

The visitors were ahead barely a minute later as from a Welsh lineout the ball moved quickly down the backline and a superb offload by George North released Davies, who needed no invitation to run it in for his second try.

Halfpenny converted for 15-13 but the Irish came storming back prompted by a brilliant catch by Rob Kearney which failed to produce a try but Sexton converted a penalty to restore the lead to Ireland, 16-15.

The Welsh were reduced to 14 men with 15 minutes remaining as Bradley Davies was yellow carded - fortunate not to see red - as off the ball he lifted replacement lock Donncha Ryan up in the air and brought him crashing down all but head first.

The hosts made them pay dearly for that as Bowe went in in the right hand corner after great Irish pressure, set up

by Sexton’s long pass to Kearney, who floated it out to the Ospreys star after Ryan had won the ball in the line-out.

Sexton failed to convert to leave the Irish 21-15 ahead. However, back came the Welsh and North was rewarded for a super performance by going in in the left hand corner but Halfpenny was unable to convert to leave the Welsh trailing by a point.

But he was not to be found wanting in the final minute as Barnes sent over a penalty after the admirable Stephen Ferris was also adjudged guilty of a spear tackle and yellow-carded.—AFP

Farah falls in Boston mile BOSTON: British 5,000 metres world champion Mo Farah recovered from an opening lap fall to set a personal best while finishing fourth in the featured mile won by Ireland’s Ciaran O’Lionaird at the Boston indoor grand prix on Saturday.

The meeting also produced season’s bests in the 400 metres, where world champion Kirani James of Grenada stormed to victory, and in the women’s pole vault and men’s 3,000 metres.

Farah, a contender for gold in the London Olympics later this year, fell while in a crowded pack, but bounced back to run a personal best three minutes, 57.92 seconds.

“Somebody just caught my leg,” he told reporters. “Once I fell, I had to get back in as quickly as possible. It wasn’t easy.” O’Lionaird, a Farah training partner, claimed the win in 3:56.01, followed by Canadian Taylor Milne in 3:56.40.

American Galen Rupp, who led much of the race, took third in 3:57.10 with Farah fourth. James, who hopes to duplicate his 2011 world title at the Olympics, clocked 45.96 seconds to beat American Josh Scott in his first race of the season.

“I think the race was exceptional,” James said. “I just competed to see where I’m at. I’m happy with my conditioning and I’m happy with my opening time.”

Olympic silver medallist Jenn Suhr soared a U.S. record 4.88 metres in the women’s pole vault, then made one attempt at a world indoors record 5.01 metres before retiring.

Only Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, whose record is 5.00 metres, has ever jumped higher than Suhr, doing so seven times.

Kenya’s Caleb Ndiku outk icked Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel to win the men’s 3,000 in 7:38.29. Talented Ethiopians Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba won the women’s distance events.

World record holder Defar dominated the 3,000, winning in 8:33.57, with Dibaba, the Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medallist, taking the two mile race in 9:21.60.

The women’s 800 metres went to a photo finish with American Maggie Vessey bursting through in the final stride to shock compatriot Erica Moore by four-thousandths of a second. Vessey clocked 2:02.361 and Moore 2:02.365.—Reuters

Kings 114, Warriors 106 At Sacramento, California, Marcus Thornton scored 28 points and Tyreke Evans had 26 points and nine assists to help Sacramento beat Golden State in overtime.

Dorrell Wright scored 24 points for Golden State, which made a season-high 16 3-pointers. Nate Robinson had 20 points, Monta Ellis scored 18, Klay Thompson had 16, and Stephen Curry finished with 11.

DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, the first 20-20 game for the Kings since Brad Miller did it on Jan. 14, 2009. Jason Thompson added 15 points and 16 rebounds, and John Salmons contributed 15 points.

Magic 85, Pacers 81 At Indianapolis, Dwight Howard had 27 points and eight rebounds to lead Orlando over Indiana after the Magic were forced to stay in Cincinnati by the Super Bowl.

Danny Granger had 19 points and seven rebounds and Tyler Hansbrough had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost two of three to the Magic in less than two weeks. Jason Richardson scored 17 points and Ryan Anderson scored 12 for the Magic, who have won three straight.

Pistons 89, Hornets 87 At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Greg Monroe had 24 points and 16 rebounds as Detroit won a matchup of two of the NBA’s worst teams.

Rodney Stuckey added 17 for Detroit (6-20), which won consecutive games for the second time this season and had five scorers in double figures. New Orleans (4-20) lost its fifth straight.

Trevor Ariza led the Hornets with 26.

Suns 95, Bobcats 89 At Phoenix, rarely used Robin Lopez scored nine consecutive points to spark a 12-2 run starting the fourth quarter as Phoenix handed Charlotte its 11th consecutive loss.

Michael Redd scored 17 points in his first start in nearly two years, Lopez finished with 13 and Marcin Gortat added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns, who have won two of three. Kemba Walker had 22 points and Reggie Williams added 11 for the Bobcats.

Jazz 96, Lakers 87 At Salt Lake City, Al Jefferson scored 18 points, Paul Millsap had 16, and Earl Watson keyed a game-clinching 14-0 fourth quarter run for Utah.

Watson scored eight points and had six assists in the fourth quarter as the Jazz beat the Lakers for the first time in three tries this season. Kobe Bryant scored 26 points and Gasol had 24 points and 16 rebounds but the Lakers dropped to 3-8 on the road.—AP

Bulls 113, Bucks 90 At Milwaukee, Derrick Rose scored 26 points and had 13 assists, and Luol Deng added 21 points in his return after missing seven games due to injur y as Chicago downed Milwaukee.

Playing before a sellout Bradley Center crowd that seemed to be filled with more fans rooting for the Bulls, Deng scored on a layup from Rose just 76 seconds into the game.

The Bucks trailed by 24 at halftime and never threatened in the second half, resting all five starters in the fourth quarter.

Deng was averaging 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds before tearing a ligament in his left wrist Jan. 21 against Charlotte.

Knicks 99, Nets 22 At New York, Jeremy Lin scored a careerhigh 25 points as New York salvaged the finale of a back-to-back-to-back set against New Jersey. Lin came off the bench to control a struggling offense, adding seven assists while outplaying Nets All-Star point guard Deron Williams.

Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler each added 17 points for the Knicks, who won for just the third time in 14 games. They fell just short in losses to Chicago and Boston over the last two nights before picking up a much-needed victory Saturday.

Williams had 21 points and 11 assists for the Nets, while Kris Humphries added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Clippers 107, Wizards 81 At Washington, Blake Griffin had 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and DeAndre Jordan had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers over Washington.

Mo Williams added 17 for the Clippers, who won for the fifth time in six games. Nick Young and John Wall each scored 14 for Washington, which lost its fourth game in a row and dropped to 4-20 this season.

Griffin narrowly missed his second career triple-double, despite not playing in the fourth quarter as Los Angeles rested its starters.

Griffin had a number of his usual crowdpleasing dunks, saving his best for last. With a minute to play in the third quarter, Griffin soared high for an alley-oop dunk from Williams.

76ers 98, Hawks 87 At Atlanta, rookie Nikola Vucevic set a career high with 15 points to lead six Philadelphia scorers in double figures as the Sixers dodged back-to-back losses once again by beating Atlanta.

Jeff Teague had 21 points to lead Atlanta.

The Sixers led by 20 in the third period and kept the lead in double figures until the Hawks staged a final comeback attempt. Joe Johnson’s basket with 1:45 remaining cut Philadelphia’s lead to 94-85. Lou Williams, who had 14 points, answered with back-toback baskets for the Sixers.

Cavaliers 91, Mavericks 88 At Cleveland, rookie Kyrie Irving made a driving layup in traffic with 15.8 seconds left to give Cleveland a win over the defending NBA champion Mavericks.

Irving, who is showing a knack for last-second drama in his first season, finished with 20 points and Anderson Varejao added 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Cavs. Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and passed Elgin Baylor for 22nd place on the NBA’s scoring list.

T’wolves 100, Rockets 91 At Minneapolis, Kevin Love had 25 and 18 rebounds, and Luke Ridnour added 22 points to help Minnesota win for the fifth time in seven games to reach .500 (12-12).

Kyle Lowry had 24 points and 11 assists for Houston and Luis Scola also had 24 points, but Kevin Martin scored a season-low two points on 1-for-10 shooting.

It was only the second time this season Martin, who entered the game averaging 20.7 points, didn’t score in double figures. It was his fewest point total since March of 2007, when he scored one point for Sacramento against Phoenix.

SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (center) drives to the basket between Golden State Warriors’ Ekpe Udoh (left), Klay Thompson (background) and David Lee (right) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game.—AP

NBA results/standings Philadelphia 98, Atlanta 87; Orlando 85, Indiana 81; LA Clippers 107, Washington 81; Cleveland 91, Dallas 88; NY Knicks 99, New Jersey 92; Detroit 89, New Orleans 87; Minnesota 100, Houston 91; Chicago 113, Milwaukee 90; San Antonio 107, Oklahoma City 96; Utah 96, LA Lakers 87; Phoenix 95, Charlotte 89; Portland 117, Denver 97; Sacramento 114, Golden State 106 (OT).

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Philadelphia Boston NY Knicks Toronto New Jersey

W 17 12 9 8 8

L 7 10 15 16 17

PCT .708 .545 .375 .333 .320

Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Cleveland Detroit

Central Division 20 6 .769 16 7 .696 10 13 .435 9 13 .409 6 20 .231

Miami Atlanta Orlando Washington Charlotte

Southeast Division 17 6 .739 16 8 .667 15 9 .625 4 20 .167 3 21 .125

GB 4 8 9 9.5 2.5 8.5 9 14 1.5 2.5 13.5 14.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 18 5 .783 15 9 .625 Denver Utah 13 9 .591 Portland 14 10 .583 Minnesota 12 12 .500

3.5 4.5 4.5 6.5

LA Clippers LA Lakers Phoenix Golden State Sacramento

Pacific Division 14 7 .667 14 10 .583 9 14 .391 8 13 .381 8 15 .348

1.5 6 6 7

San Antonio Dallas Houston Memphis New Orleans

Southwest Division 16 9 .640 14 11 .560 13 11 .542 12 11 .522 4 20 .167

2 2.5 3 11.5

Al-Rashidi tops shooting rankings KUWAIT: The Asian Shooting Confederation issued its February 2012 rankings, placing Kuwaiti shooter Abdullah Al-Rashidi first with 2223 points, followed by UAE’s Saeed bin Maktoum with 1611 and Qatar’s Nasser Al Atiyah third with 1450 points. UAE’s Seif bin Futais was fourth with 1031 points, India’s Man Singh was fifth with 614 and Kuwait’s Zaid Al-Mutairi sixth with 563 points.

The rankings followed the Asian championship that was held in Qatar between Jan 1122, 2012, during which Al-Rashidi qualified for the London 2012 Olympics.

Shooting club secretary general Obaid AlOsaimi said the shooting community is proud of its shooters and congratulated Al-Rashidi for his continued outstanding performance, along with other shooters who keep the name of their country, Kuwait, in prominence.

Abdullah Al-Rashidi

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

S P ORT S

Mali ruin Gabon’s Cup party

TURIN: Juventus striker Alessandro Matri heads the ball past Siena’s defense, during a Serie A soccer match. —AP

Serie A leaders stumble ROME: Juventus and AC Milan were held to draws to keep things tight at the Serie A summit as only one of the top seven teams managed to win yesterday.

Sixth-placed Roma’s 4-0 thrashing of fifth-placed Inter Milan was the lone success for the leading teams. Leaders Juve were held 0-0 at home to lowly Siena while second-placed Milan shared a goalless stalemate with seventh-placed Napoli.

Udinese, in third, and Lazio, fourth, both lost in a terrible day for the country’s top brass, although it wasn’t a great day for entertainment either with four scoreless stalemates.

At the San Siro, Milan had Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent-off for violent conduct but still came closest to winning, leaving coach Massimiliano Allegri satisfied.

“We had several chances and even with 10 men we didn’t risk much, to get a point with 10 men is an important signal,” he said.

“Creating a lot we continued to play without fear, being clinical in attack and defending well.”

Robinho wasted a glorious chance to give Milan the lead from Ibrahimovic’s flick when he was through one-on-one with goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis but he screwed his effort wide of the upright.

Midway through the second half Ibrahimovic was shown his marching orders for petulantly and needlessly slapping Salvatore Aronica, who responded, almost comically, by slapping Antonio Nocerino, behind whom the big Swede had been standing when he launched the intital assault.

Aronica, however, escaped punishment.

Juve dominated throughout against Siena in Turin but it was the visitors who should have won it when Gianluigi Buffon made amends for spilling Reginaldo’s shot by somehow keeping out Alessandro Gazzi’s follow-up from five yards out.

It may be a missed opportunity for the leaders but they still have a point advan-

tage on Milan and with a game in hand and coach Antonio Conte refused to blame his players.

“I have nothing to say to the lads, they gave their all. When you don’t win you’re always judged by the result,” he said. Roma kept themselves in the Champions League hunt by hammering Inter Milan 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

It was a miserable return to the Italian capital for Inter boss Claudio Ranieri, who resigned from Roma a year ago. His side have now picked up only one point from three games following a run of seven straight wins.

Juan opened the scoring on 13 minutes with a towering header from a Francesco Totti corner. Fabio Borini doubled the lead four minutes before the break as he ran onto Miralem Pjanic’s flick, cut inside Walter Samuel and then shot through Julio Cesar’s legs. And four minutes after the break he beat the offside trap to race onto Juan’s through ball, held off Lucio and again shot home between Cesar’s legs.

Bojan Krkic wrapped up the scoring, and a shambolic defensive performance from the visitors, a minute from time as the diminutive striker held off the attentions of three defenders on the edge of the box before firing home into the corner.

Udinese held onto third spot despite losing 3-2 at Fiorentina. Emblematic captain Alessandro Di Natale gave them a 14th-minute lead but Mehdi Benatia, on his return from African Cup of Nations duty with Morocco, gave away two penalties, both converted by Stevan Jovetic.

In between, Mattia Cassani headed home Manuel Pasqual’s cross for the hosts before Gabriel Torje scored Udinese’s second in the last minute.

Genoa beat Lazio 3-2 in yesterday’s early match to boost their own European qualification hopes while denting their visitors’ prospects of securing a Champions League finish.—AFP

Italian Serie A results/standings Cesena v Catania - postponed; Chievo 1 (Thereau 50) Parma 2 (Giovinco 46, Luciano 69-og); Fiorentina 3 (Jovetic 39-pen, 84-pen, Cassani 56) Udinese 2 (Di Natale 14, Torje 90); Genoa 3 (Palacio 9, Jankovic 24, 46) Lazio 2 (Ledesma 54-pen, Gonzalez 90); Juventus 0 Siena 0; Lecce 0 Bologna 0; AC Milan 0 Napoli 0; Novara 0 Cagliari 0; Palermo 2 (Miccoli 29-pen, Budan 49) Atalanta 1 (Moralez 56); Roma 4 (Juan 13, Borini 41, 49, Bojan 89) Inter Milan 0.

Italian Serie A table yesterday (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Juventus AC Milan Udinese Lazio Inter Milan Roma Napoli Palermo Genoa Fiorentina Cagliari

21 22 22 22 22 21 22 22 21 21 22

12 9 13 5 12 5 11 6 11 3 10 4 7 10 9 4 9 3 7 7 6 9

0 4 5 5 8 7 5 9 9 7 7

33 43 33 33 34 35 36 32 31 23 20

13 19 20 23 29 25 24 32 38 19 23

45 44 41 39 36 34 31 31 30 28 27

Parma 21 7 6 8 27 34 27 Chievo 21 6 6 9 17 27 24 Atalanta 21 7 8 6 25 27 23 Catania 19 5 8 6 22 28 23 Bologna 21 5 7 9 18 26 22 Siena 21 4 8 9 21 22 20 Lecce 22 4 5 13 22 38 17 Cesena 21 4 4 13 13 31 16 Novara 21 2 7 12 18 40 13 Note: Atalanta deducted six points at start of season for match-fixing

Cologne win, Bremen held BERLIN: Substitute Odise Roshi scored 99 seconds after coming on to help Cologne end its three-game losing streak with a 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga yesterday.

Roshi headed a corner past Kevin Trapp in the 72nd minute, having earned the corner by drawing a save from the goalkeeper with his first touch of the ball a minute before.

Kaiserslautern winter signing Ariel Borysiuk was sent off on his Bundesliga debut in the 40th, after earning a second yellow card for bringing down Slawomir Peszko, five minutes after he was shown his first.

The red card led to a disagreement between Cologne coach Stake Solbakken and his counterpart Marco Kurz on the sideline.

Cologne is ninth after its first Bundesliga win since December, while Kaiserslautern remains in the relegation playoff place after its 10th game without a win. Peszko should have scored in the 13th, and Kevin McKenna went even closer 10 minutes later when his header crashed back off the right post. It was the Canadian defender’s 100th Bundesliga game.

The visitors missed topscorer Lukas Podolski through injury, but Roshi got his chance when Solbakken brought on the 20-year-old player in the 70th.

Earlier, two goals from Peru striker Claudio Pizarro weren’t enough for

Werder Bremen as goalkeeper Tim Wiese allowed bottom side Freiburg to equalize in a 2-2 draw.

Wiese failed to stop a shot from Jonathan Schmid going through his hands and in off the post in the 70th minute, giving the 21-year-old midfielder his first ever Bundesliga goal.

Pizarro opened the scoring in the 29th with a volley under the goalkeeper off a cross from Bremen winter signing Zlatko Januzovic. Freiburg midfielder Cedrick Makiadi equalized with a header from a corner three minutes later.

Pizarro displayed his class again when he controlled Mehmet Ekici’s pass before flicking the ball with the outside of his foot past Baumann into the far corner in the 47th. It was the Peruvian’s 15th goal of the season.

Markus Rosenberg hit the post in the 53rd as Werder tried to kill off the game, but Schmid grabbed an unlikely point for his side, which remains level with Augsburg a point behind Kaiserslautern.

Bremen remains fifth after its third draw in a row.

Borussia Dortmund was the big winner from the weekend’s round of games, beating Nuremberg 2-0 on Friday before watching title rivals Bayern Munich, Schalke and Borussia Moenchengladbach all drop points on Saturday. The defending champion leads Bayern and Schalke by two points, with Moenchengladbach a point further back.—AP

LIBREVILLE: Mali beat Gabon 5-4 on penalties here yesterday after this finely balanced Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final ended 1-1 following extra time.

Barcelona star Seydou Keita converted the decisive spot kick after the co-hosts’ top striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang watched in disbelief as Mali keeper Soumaila Diakite saved his effort.

The Eagles’ reward is a semi-final date with Ivory Coast back at Libreville’s L’Amitie stadium on Wednesday. For Gabon, who were unbeaten in the first round, this was a cruel end to their campaign, reviving as it did memories of their defeat on penalties to Tunisia in their only other quarter-final appearance in 1996.

Gabon’s attempted charge into the last four was spearheaded by the 2012 Nations Cup joint top scorer Aubameyang and Daniel Cousin, the captain, retaining his place.

Mali welcomed back midfielder Samba Diakite from suspension, with Garre Dembele dropping to the bench, and keeper Diakite coming on for Oumar Sissoko.

Among the crowd were the Gabon president and his First Lady sporting as usual the Panthers’ yellow shirt. The Panthers, displaying their customary zest and endeavour, were showing good early pace down the wings, especially Eric Mouloungui on the right, with the ever dangerous presence of Cousin waiting to pounce in the Mali box.

Aubameyang had the first giltedged chance appproaching the half hour, beating the offside trap to flick the ball past Soumaila Diakite only to see his effort hit the far post.

As the first half wore on Gabon

LIBREVILLE: Gabon Pierre Eymerick Aubameyang (left) is challenged by Mali Ousmane Berthe during their African Cup of Nations quarter final soccer match.—AP began to look the more dangerous - the Mali keeper did well to keep tabs on Mouloungui’s menacing low 25m freekick in the 42nd minute.

Gabon got the goal they deserved in the 55th minute when Aubameyang raced onto a high ball from the left, his back pass across the box falling to Mouloungui to slam past Diakite.

That was the Nice forward with the mohican haircut’s fifth and most important international goal.

Seconds later down at the other end Didier Ovono Ebang’s gloves punched away Mali striker Modibo Maiga’s attempt at an equaliser.

As the game exploded Cousin almost bagged Gabon’s second on 58 minutes, the unmarked former Hull City forward’s shot skimming past Diakite to hit the far post.

Mali coach Alain Giresse tried to shake things up after the hour, introducing striker Mustapha Yatabare for Abdou Traore, and shortly after Rohr surprisingly replaced captain Cousin with Fabrice Do Marcolino.

Mali were fighting for their Nations Cup existence and with six minutes left in regulation time Diabate levelled not long after entering the fray in place of Samba Sow, the Bordeaux striker turning

to shrug off his markers in the box and leaving Ovono with little chance.

Rohr knows Diabete only too well, having signed him during his days as coach of Ajaccio. The two sides were still deadlocked after extra time - Keita shot high in the last seconds - and Algerian referee Haimoudi Djameil pointed to the spot for the nerve jingling climax.

After Diakite had saved Aubameyang’s kick it was left to Keita to step up and coolly slot home Mali’s fifth to send the Eagles’ spirits soaring while the Gabon team rushed to console a tearful Aubameyang.—AFP

Ghana march into semi-finals FRANCEVILLE: Ghana continued their march to a fifth Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 extra time win over Tunisia in the quarter-finals here yesterday.

The Black Stars will on Wednesday battle Zambia in Bata to determine who plays in the final against the winners of the other semi-final between the Ivory Coast and Mali.

Skipper John Mensah opened the scoring for Ghana in the 10th minute, when he headed home at the near post off a corner from the left.

The 29-year-old Lyon defender was a doubt for this game as he was nursing a thigh muscle injury, but he passed a late fitness test to score his second goal of the tournament.

Tunisia drew level in the 42nd minute through Evian striker Sabeur Khalifa when he headed bravely past Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey off a clever cross by Zouhaier Dhaouadi from the right flank.

Ghana regained the lead in the 101th minute after Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi dropped a harmless-looking cross for Andre Ayew to roll home from five yards out.

Toulouse centre half Aymen Abdennour was sent off in the 108th minute for an elbow on goal scorer Ayew to reduce Tunisia to 10 men.

It was a mostly cautious start by both teams as attack swung from both ends of the pitch in the early minutes, before Ghana took the lead.

In the 17th minute, Badu’s flicked header missed narrowly off yet another corner as Ghana were quicker to settle down in this encounter.

They dictated proceedings in the first half hour as Tunisia struggled to find a rhythm and their attacking play was disjointed.

However, the 2004 champions soon after began to force issues as half time approached with Jamel Saihi firing a decent shot at the Ghana goal in the 38th minute.

Their more positive approach will earn them the equaliser three minutes from the break to set the tone for the second half.

On 70 minutes Tunisia dangerman Youssef Msakni’s shot was deflected for a corner by defender Isaac Vorsah. Andre Ayew’s corner was sailing directly into the net a minute later before Mathlouthi scrambled it away for another corner. And soon after the Marseille forward saw his header sail over the bar as he out jumped the entire Tunisia defence.

Ghana piled on more pressure for Kwadwo Asamoah to set up Gyan, whose low volley from point-blank range in the 75th minute was blocked by a diving Mathlouthi.

Moments later, substitute Jordan Ayew also ran at the Tunisia defence before he released a low shot, which the Tunisia goalkeeper saved at first attempt.

FRANCEVILLE: Ghana’s Emmanuel Badu (right) is challenged by Tunisia’s Jamel Saihi (left) during their African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match.—AP In the 85th minute, Brest new signing Issam tion against Jordan Ayew before Msakni’s tap Jemaa fired from distance, but Kwarasey was right inside the box missed the Ghana goal narequal to the task as he produces a fine save. At rowly in additional time of extra time.

In second half extra time, Andre Ayew again the start of extra-time, Jemaa found the back of came close, before Tunisia launched a late rally the net but his effort was disallowed for off side.

Mathlouthi then saved a one-on-one situa- that failed to yield any rewards.—AFP

Villarreal defeat Sevilla BARCELONA: Villarreal won its first away match of the season season by beating Sevilla 2-1 yesterday from Javier Camunas’ late goal, exacerbating the Andalusian club’s struggles in the Spanish league.

Villarreal caught the hosts outnumbered on a counterattack, allowing Camunas to bend a shot into the left side of the net for the 81st-minute winner.

Sevilla had been aiming for a top-four finish to return to the Champions League come next season but hasn’t won in seven straight league matches to slide into the middle part of the standings. Borja Valero gave Villarreal the lead in the 23rd minute, the midfielder passing to Angel

Lopez wide on the right flank and then racing through the middle of Sevilla’s passive defense to volley the cross beyond the goalkeeper. Moments after Sevilla forward Frederic Kanoute’s header was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Diego Lopez, the hosts pulled level in the 33rd when Villarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano deflected Jesus Navas’ hard blast from edge of area into his own net.

Looking to spark his stagnant attack, Sevilla coach Marcelino Garcia sent on forward Jose Antonio Reyes for a defender after the interval. But Lopez made a number of saves to deny Sevilla and Villarreal went up the other end to score a late goal. Villarreal

climbed out of the drop zone with its first win in 11 away games in the league this season.

Earlier in northern Spain, Sporting Gijon was held to a 1-1 home draw by Osasuna in the debut of coach Inaki Tejada.

Sporting took the lead at the rainy El Molinon stadium in the 32nd minute when midfielder Carmelo Gonzalez volleyed in a cross from Roberto Canella.

But Osasuna showed more attacking intent after halftime, and striker Dejan Lekic turned a header past goalkeeper Juan Colinas to level the score in the 78th.

“I am the coach until they tell me otherwise, and I’m not thinking about anything besides next

week’s game,” said Tejada, who took over from Manolo Preciado after he was fired earlier this week. Preciado’s five-plus seasons on Sporting’s sidelines had made him the longest-reigning coach in Spain’s top flight. Sporting has won one of its last six games and remains in the relegation zone.

Last-place Zaragoza hosts Rayo Vallecano later, while third-place Valencia is at Atletico Madrid.

On Saturday, leader Real Madrid edged out Getafe 1-0 to remain seven points clear of Barcelona, which beat Real Sociedad 2-1. Also, it was: Mallorca 1, Real Betis 0; Athletic Bilbao 3, Espanyol 3 and Levante 1, Racing Santander 1. Malaga play Granada today. —AP

Mali ruin Gabon’s Cup party

Lawrie wins Qatar Masters

19

16

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Australia dominate India in first one-day match

Page 17

LONDON: Chelsea’s Michael Essien (left) competes with Manchester United’s Ashley Young during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge.—AP

United stage stunning fightback Chelsea 3

Man United 3

LONDON: Javier Hernandez scored a late equaliser as Manchester United staged a stunning three-goal comeback to claim a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side looked destined for defeat when a Jonny Evans own goal and strikes from Juan Mata and David Luiz put Chelsea three up by the 50th minute.

But United were handed a route back into the game thanks to two controversial penalties, both converted by Wayne Rooney, before Mexican substitute Hernandez headed the equaliser with six minutes remaining.

The result left Ferguson’s secondplaced side two points behind Manchester City at the head of the Premier League table, but the manner in

which they claimed a point meant they left west London in buoyant mood. For Chelsea, a draw felt like defeat, a feeling reflected in the boos that greeted the final whistle after they had conceded a threegoal lead for the first time since the inception of the Premier League in 1992. Andre Villas-Boas’s side now sit just one point ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle and face a testing challenge if they are to hold onto a top four place. The build-up to the game had been dominated by the FA’s decision to strip Chelsea skipper John Terry of the England captaincy for a second time, but the way events unravelled quickly diverted attention back to the game.

The FA acted after it became clear Terry will face trial on charges of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand would be held in July after Euro 2012. Terry was missing with a knee injury but the fall-out continued with some home supporters booing Rio Ferdinand, Anton’s brother, whenever the Manchester United defender touched the ball. Terry’s absence paved the way for Gary Cahill to make his Chelsea debut following his £7 million transfer from Bolton alongside Luiz at the heart of the Blues defence.

And the centre back quickly found

himself at the centre of controversy when his last-ditch challenge sent Danny Welbeck tumbling on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area with 11 minutes gone. Referee Howard Webb waved away claims for a penalty, just as had two minutes earlier when Ashley Young went down under a challenge from Jose Bosingwa.

It was little wonder, then, that Ferguson was showing signs of frustration although for 36 minutes his side looked in control of the game and were creating the better chances.

The balance of the game swung, however, when Sturridge prised open the United defence, easily rounding Patrice Evra before delivering a hard, low cross from close to De Gea’s near post. De Gea stuck out a leg to block the cross but succeeded only in deflecting it against Evans and off his stomach into the goal. And any hopes United had of quickly getting back on level terms disappeared 30 seconds after the restart when Mata met Torres’s right wing cross with an unstoppable volley that flew past De Gea. The visitors again contributed to their own downfall as Chelsea scored again five minutes later.

Sturridge out-foxed Evra once again,

this time drawing a foul from the United full back. From Mata’s resulting free-kick, Luiz headed goalwards and his effort deflected off Ferdinand and past De Gea. United looked dead and buried but Ferguson’s side were given a route back into the game in the 58th minute when Sturridge and Evra again clashed-this time in the Chelsea area-and Webb decided to award a spot-kick that was clinically converted by Rooney.

The introduction of Paul Scholes added to the sense the visitors could regain control of central midfield. And United scored again in the 68th minute when Webb decided in their favor after Welbeck tumbled over the out-stretched leg of Branislav Ivanovic.

Welbeck seemed as though he was looking for the foul but that made no difference to Rooney, who converted his second penalty of the game. The comeback was complete in the 84th minute when Hernandez headed home from Giggs’ cross after Cech had parried Rooney’s powerful shot. There was still time for Chelsea to threaten a winner and de Gea made two superb saves to keep out Mata’s free-kick and Cahill’s drive.—AFP

EPL results/standings Chelsea 3 (Evans 36-og, Mata 46, Luiz 50) Manchester United 3 (Rooney 58-pen, 69-pen, Hernandez 84); Newcastle 2 (Ba 30, Cisse 71) Aston Villa 1 (Keane 45).

Playing today Liverpool v Tottenham English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Man City Man Utd Tottenham Chelsea Newcastle Arsenal Liverpool Sunderland Norwich Swansea Everton Stoke Aston Villa Fulham West Brom QPR Wolves Bolton Blackburn Wigan

Cisse sinks Villa on dream debut Newcastle 2

Aston Villa 1

NEWCASTLE: Papiss Demba Cisse marked his Newcastle debut in spectacular fashion as the Senegal striker’s ferocious finish clinched a 2-1 win over Aston Villa yesterday.

Cisse has been handed Newcastle’s iconic number nine shirt following his £10 million transfer from German club Freiburg and, while it is too soon to compare him to Magpies legends like Alan Shearer and Malcolm Macdonald, this was the perfect way to launch his career at St James’ Park.

After missing several matches following his transfer due to international commitments with Senegal at the African Nations Cup, Cisse finally made his debut as he came off the bench in the first half following an injury to Leon Best.

The burly forward saw his compatriot Demba Ba mark his own return from the African Nations Cup by firing Newcastle ahead in the first half before Robbie Keane equalised for

Villa. Cisse took centre-stage after that and his winner with 19 minutes remaining moved Newcastle above Arsenal into fifth place and level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.

Alan Pardew’s side have won four of their last five league games and a challenge for the Champions League places can’t be ruled out if Ba and Cisse can continue to provide such a lethal cutting edge.

Newcastle goalkeepeer Tim Krul came to his side’s rescue twice in quick succession early on when Darren Bent beat the offside trap and shot from a tight angle, and then Stiliyan Petrov followed up from distance. Cisse was cheered onto the pitch after Best’s injury and he was quickly into the action as his glancing header tested Shay Given.

Bent found himself in on goal once again seconds later, this time from Richard Dunne’s pass, only for Krul to make a fine stop. Newcastle took advantage of that escape to snatch the lead with a typically predatory finish from Ba in the 30th minute.

Danny Guthrie’s cross was headed down to Ryan Taylor, who smashed a shot across the face of goal under pressure from Stephen Warnock, and the ball fell perfectly for Ba to blast home his 16th goal of the season.

However, Taylor was injured in the challenge with Warnock and had to be stretchered off with his right leg in a brace.

That seemed to unsettle Newcastle’s defence and Villa, growing in confidence despite Ba’s goal, equalised five minutes into the stoppage time added on for Taylor’s injury when N’Zogbia crossed back into the six-yard box for Keane to volley home in emphatic fashion. Newcastle nearly made the perfect start to the second half when Given and his defenders failed to deal with Guthrie’s cross, but although the ball fell towards both Ba and Cisse neither could capitalise.

Gabriel Obertan broke free once again three minutes later and ran at Dunne, but the winger sliced his rightfooted effort well wide.

When Cisse headed over from Guthrie’s cross it looked like Newcastle’s luck might be out, but the new boy triggered wild celebrations in the 71st minute when he controlled a Jonas Gutierrez on his chest before lashing a left-foot volley high into the top corner. Krul made a fine reaction save to deny Ciaran Clark a late equaliser and the Dutchman had to be even more alert to keep out substitute Gary Gardner’s header with just two minutes left.—AFP

24 24 23 24 24 24 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

18 17 15 12 12 12 10 9 8 7 8 8 6 6 7 5 5 6 4 3

3 4 4 7 6 4 8 6 8 9 6 6 10 9 5 6 6 2 6 7

3 3 4 5 6 8 5 9 8 8 10 10 8 9 12 13 13 16 14 14

63 59 44 44 36 46 28 33 34 26 24 23 29 29 24 25 27 28 34 21

19 24 25 29 31 34 21 24 39 29 27 36 33 35 34 41 44 49 54 49

57 55 49 43 42 40 38 33 32 30 30 30 28 27 26 21 21 20 18 16

Cup gloom for Rangers

LONDON: Newcastle United’s Papiss Demba Cisse (left) vies for the ball with Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne, during their English Premier League soccer match.—AP

GLASGOW: Rangers crashed out of the Scottish Cup as they produced a lacklustre display in a 2-0 defeat by a determined Dundee United side in their fifth round clash at Ibrox.

With the sale of Nikica Jelavic to Everton in midweek all the focus before the game was on the Rangers forward line but it was United’s attackers who dominated with an impressive first-half display. Jonny Russell had an effort ruled out as early as the second minute when Jon Daly fouled keeper Allan McGregor in the build-up before Gavin Gunning headed United into a 15th minute lead. Sone Aluko and David Healy came close to an equaliser before Russell doubled United’s advantage in the 35th minute when he finished a flowing move. Rangers manager Ally McCoist used all three substitutes in an attempt to find a way back into the game, with both sides picking up five bookings apiece as tempers flared, but keeper Dusan Pernis didn’t have a save to make in a quiet second half. McCoist felt it had been a disappointing defensive display. “You have to give credit where it is due and I thought United, especially in the first half, played well,” McCoist, whose side now only have the SPL title to play for, said. “But in terms of our defending for both goals it was really poor and I think it was far too easy.

That is part of our game that we do take pride in but it was poor today.” His United counterpart Peter Houston hailed a fantastic day for his club. “What I was worried about at the start was a wounded Rangers coming out and taking the game to us but I don’t think we gave them that opportunity,” Houston said.

“Right from the off we took the game to Rangers and deservedly scored a couple of good goals. In the second half we stopped Rangers from creating the chances we know they can do and got in their faces and stopped them playing.”—AFP

Sri Lanka may drop dollar to meet Iran oil sanctions Page 22

Greek leaders in crisis meeting for debt deal Page 23

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

ECB to bide its time on rates this week

Kuwait equities steady after assembly election Page 24

Page 25

ANHUI: Chinese jobseekers gather at an employment fair in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province. China’s economy grew 9.2 percent in 2011, well down from 10.4 percent growth in 2010, and most forecasts put 2012’s expansion at between 8.0 percent and 8.5 percent. —AFP

‘Messy politics’ could halt Kuwait growth KSE stocks steady after Islamist win • State may spike spending DUBAI: Kuwaiti financial markets were steady yesterday after the Islamist-led opposition won control of parliament in an election, a victory which could worsen political tensions but conceivably also lead to fresh government spending measures.

The main stock market index, which has been edging up from multi-year lows over the past three weeks, was up 0.03 percent during the early afternoon in fairly active turnover. Trade in the Kuwaiti dinar, which is pegged to a dollar-dominated currenc y basket, was quiet.

Candidates from the loose, Islamistled opposition bloc took about twothirds of the assembly’s 50 seats in Thursday’s election, eroding the position of parliamentarians who had generally sided with the Cabinet.

“The opposition will now feel it has a democratic and moral mandate to push further against the government and what they see as official

corruption,” said Farouk Soussa, Middle East chief economist at Citi.

He said Kuwait might enter “a period of more messy politics”, during which policymaking gridlock and tensions between parliament and the Cabinet could continue to deter investment and block big economic development projects, as has been the case for several years.

However, it is possible that the opposition and the Cabinet might push for further increases in government spending on welfare projects and infrastructure to ease social discontent, similar to measures introduced by Kuwait and other Gulf governments in the wake of last year’s uprisings in the Arab world. This could stimulate the economy.

If Kuwait did decide on this course, it could probably do so without any serious damage to its finances; the International Monetary Fund estimates that thanks to low costs for exploiting its oil reserves,

the Kuwaiti government ran a budget surplus of about 24 percent of gross domestic product last year, by far the highest in the Gulf.

“The main question after the elections is whether anybody who has been newly elected will actually bring about any change,” said a Kuwait-based equities trader. “There is an indirect impact on market sentiment, but so far there is no direct impact.” The trader said there was talk in the market of the possibility of the government spending money to help pay the debts of local citizens, as the government of the United Arab Emirates announced last November it would do. But he said it was too early to predict the direction of economic policy.

“It also depends on the type of social spending...If there is more spending on infrastructure and other social projects, then of course this would benefit the economy longterm.” — Reuters

Govt pulls out of $10bn Dubai Group debt talks DUBAI: The Dubai government has walked away from talks about a $10 billion debt restructuring of Dubai Group, leaving the firm, part of the ruler of the emirate’s personal empire, to deal directly with creditors and dashing hopes of a state-backed rescue.

Dubai’s Supreme Fiscal Committee (SFC), the high-level group that oversaw Dubai’s finances during the 2009 debt crisis and is headed by the ruler’s uncle, had been helping Dubai Group address debt issues that have left interest unpaid for more than a year. But in a letter this week, Dubai Group told the banks’ committee of unsecured creditors that the SFC had ended its involvement in negotiations, and that no financial support would be coming from the government, according to two sources who have seen the letter.

“If the government has stepped away from the table, all the things which we have asked for are impossible because they (Dubai Group) don’t have the ability to give us anything,” one of the sources said. The unsecured creditors want $2 billion in financial support including a backstop guarantee of $1.8 billion from “the Dubai government or other equivalent quality entity ”according to a Dec. 4 letter signed by five of the six members of the committee, sent to Dubai Group, and seen by Reuters.

The letter from Dubai Group, part of Dubai Holding, the personal investment vehicle of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was a response to the Dec. 4 demand.

According to the sources, Dubai

Group now plans to table a proposal independently of the SFC to the creditor committee by the end of February, with a deal likely put to the rest of the unsecured group in March. The 44member bank group of secured and unsecured creditors consists mostly of lenders based in the Gulf and Egypt but also includes Royal Bank of Scotland and France’s Natixis.

A Dubai Group spokeswoman said the firm, whose mainly financial assets include stakes in Cypriot and Malaysian banks, was still in talks with lenders and “fully committed to reaching a consensual agreement reasonable for all stakeholders.”

Creditors insist government support is essential to any deal because the firm’s financial position-limited cash flow and assets with sharply reduced values-raised the “considerable risk” of default on a renegotiated structure.

“The banks are not expecting the government to come and write them a cheque for $6 billion,” the source said, citing the amount owed to banks.

Inter-company loans within Dubai state entities account for the remainder of the group’s $10 billion outstanding debts “(The letter) was very much a last roll of the dice in terms of the banks putting their hands up and saying we want to do a consensual deal and these are the terms we think are fair and reasonable.”

The creditors’ letter also warned a number of banks are considering legal action to secure their dues.

“We haven’t given up but there is a considerable amount of impa-

tience,” said a second source.

Al Hilal Bank, Noor Islamic Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland all signed the letter but declined to comment. Other signees Emirates NBD and Union National Bank did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Commercial Bank of Qatar, the sixth member of the creditor committee, which did not sign the letter, also declined to comment. Dubai Group has not paid interest on its debt pile since August 2010, sources told Reuters in November.

The amount outstanding is likely to top $1 billion by the time any deal is reached, two of the sources said. In November, the firm said it will roll interest payments into the principal owed. Dubai rattled global markets with its 2009 request for a standstill on flagship conglomerate Dubai World’s $25 billion debt pile.

The emirate has since completed several restructurings at state-linked entities with help from neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi, including Dubai International Capital and Dubai World itself, while others have dragged on.

Deals which have been completed featured some form of government involvement at the table -the SFC directly oversaw Dubai World’s for instance-but many of the unresolved debt restructurings, such as Dubai World property unit Limitless, have not benefitted from such oversight.

The SFC is chaired by the ruler’s uncle, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is also chairman of the state airline Emirates. — Reuters

22

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

business

UAE Jan business activity improves

Sri Lanka may drop dollar to meet Iran oil sanctions

Saudi PMI rises to 6-month high

India in talks to upgrade Sri Lanka refinery

DUBAI: Growth in business activity in the United Arab Emirates’ non-oil private sector rose slightly in January after slipping to a four-month low in the previous month, a purchasing managers’ survey showed yesterday.

The HSBC UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index, which measures the performance of the manufacturing and services sectors, increased to 52.4 points last month from 51.7 in December.

The adjusted index remains above the 50-point mark which separates growth from contraction, the survey of 400 private sector firms showed. “The headline number points to greater stability after a run of declines and it’s encouraging to see the uptick in new orders,” said Simon Williams, chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa at HSBC. “Employment still looks soft, though, and continued weak output prices despite further gains in costs suggests there continues to be significant spare capacity in the domestic economy.”

UAE firms saw a robust rise in new orders at the start of 2012, reaching 57.5 points in January after a fall to a four-month low of 56.0 in December.

Non-oil private sector companies registered a solid increase in output in January, the data showed: the secondfastest in the last six months.

New export orders accelerated in January for the first time in four months, though survey participants reported that the purchasing activity of European customers remained subdued.

Overall input price pressures eased for the second successive month to the slowest rate recorded in the last 11 months, the survey showed.

A Reuters poll of economists in December estimated gross domestic product grew 3.9 percent in 2011 and would expand 3.1 percent this year. In 2011, UAE inflation remained at 0.9 percent on average, the lowest rate since 1990. Meanwhile, growth in business activity in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector rose to a six-month high in January, backed by expansion in new orders and output, said a survey of over 400 private companies published yesterday.

The SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index, which measures activity in the manufacturing and services sectors, rose to 60.04 in January from 57.66 in December. It was well above the 50 mark distinguishing growth from contraction.

Output jumped to a seven-month high of 66.61 in January from 62.62 in the previous month.

New orders also increased sharply, reaching 68.90 in January from 65.44 in December. The seasonally adjusted index indicated the quickest expansion in new business for six months; many respondents said the rise was mainly driven by domestic clients.

Meanwhile, the employment index rose to 53.22, just below the average for the series, from 52.05. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter and the Middle East’s largest economy, is enjoying strong economic growth as it implements multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects. — Reuters

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka may avoid a costly squeeze by the United States sanctions on Iranian crude by purchasing it in a currency other than dollars, following India’s lead, officials said yesterday.

The Indian Ocean island nation is facing the most potential collateral damage from the sanctions, which are meant to cut off the dollars Washington believes are being used to fund Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Sri Lanka imports 93 percent of its oil from Iran, OPEC’s second biggest producer, and its sole refinery, the 50,000 barrel-per-day Sapugaskanda plant, can only refine Iranian crude and three or four others that are in short supply. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing, Luke Bronin, flew in for a one-day visit on Thursday to meet a host of government officials to explain the options available and the impact on Sri Lanka.

A senior government official directly involved in Sri Lanka’s payments to Iran who met with Bronin said he offered a potential solution. “I don’t know whether it was deliberate or it was accidental, but he said they are only concerned about transactions done in dollars, so that was a hint to us,” the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Sri Lanka’s central bank pays its Iranian counterpart on behalf of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), a nine-nation trade clearing house set up in Tehran in 1974.

The ACU method would run afoul of the sanctions, which were signed into law on Dec 31 and are due to take effect after a six-month deadline. India already ruled out the ACU last year.

The fact the United States appears only to be concerned with dollars opens up an opportunity for Sri Lanka to follow India’s lead. India is considering rupee-denominated transactions and other similar options to pay for its Iranian crude needs.

“It gives us the option of doing it in Indian

Slowing growth weighs on Mideast M&A values ABU DHABI: Mergers and acquisitions in the Middle East and North Africa rose slightly in 2011, but the combined value of deals fell by more than a quarter as slower economic growth weighed on prices, Ernst & Young said yesterday.

Deal values fell to $31.7 billion in 2011 compared to $44.1 billion a year earlier, but the number of deals rose 4 percent to 416 from 401 over the same period, a statement said. The United Arab Emirates took the lead with 49 deals followed by Saudi Arabia’s 44.

“A larger number of deals at smaller valuations signifies that asset values across the region have taken a tumble in light of lower regional economic growth and also projections for future growth,” said Phil Gandier, regional head of transactions advisory services at Ernst & Young.

Analysts polled by Reuters in December expected Saudi economic growth to slow to 4.0 percent in 2012 from about 6.7 percent in 2011. A valuation gap between buyers and sellers is slowing deal closures, he said, adding sellers have acknowledged future cash flows from business stakes will

not be strong and are re-evaluating their options.

“These numbers indicate that 2012 will be favorable to buyers if they can add substantial value,” said Gandier. Volumes-wise, domestic transactions outnumbered inbound and outbound deals, comprising about 54 percent of total announced deals last year.

But in value terms, outbound deals were higher, comprising $16.3 billion or 51 percent of the total.

“A drop in inbound deals directly correlates with the decreasing levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) the region is able to attract. This was to a large extent driven by the uncertainty caused by the changes in the region,” added Gandier.

The outlook should improve in the latter half of 2012 as global investors return to the region to up their emerging market exposure, he said.

Diversified industrial products accounted for 37 deals worth approximately $680 million and real estate 28 deals worth $3.6 billion. Sovereign wealth funds accounted for 11 percent of deals. — Reuters

rupees or some other currency, although we would prefer to do it in Sri Lankan rupees,” the official said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week complained Sri Lanka and other small nations were being unfairly squeezed in a fight not of

BAGHDAD: A money dealer counts Iranian Rial banknotes with a portrait of Iran’s late founder of Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini in an exchange office in Baghdad yesterday. The Iraqi central bank has enacted measures to identify those who buy dollars, as some are believed to be front men at a time when Iran and Syria are facing foreign currency shortages due to sanctions. — AFP

Syria, Iraq to exchange transit points for imports DAMASCUS: The Syrian-Iraqi transport and communication committee agreed that each state is to function as transit portal for the other’s imports, both destined for the local market or regional outlets, and to facilitate transit of goods by sea between the two nations.

The agreement was reached at conclusion of the meeting held in the Syrian capital, and followed discussion of bolstering cooperation and implementing agreements.

In the field of air transport, the agreement stated upon the cancelation of bank guarantees for payment of land services.

In terms of land transport, it stated upon increase of traffic volume through existing crossing points, as well as on coordination and drafting of a mechanism to facilitate rail transport.

It also stated on setting a date for official announcement of a rail connection point before the end of February.

Concerning motorway traffic, the two sides agreed upon equal volume of traffic of goods in either direction, as well as on discussion and consideration of specific transit routes.

The two sides also agreed on follow up meetings in Baghdad later this month to finalize the recommendations and resolutions of the joint ministerial committee, including those relating to setting up joint free trade zones.

Iraq is Syria’s top trade partner, most specifically in terms of export destination. Iraqi sources had recently declared the value of Syrian exports to the country at over $5 billion, with a forecast of increase to seven billion in 2012. —KUNA

their making, and said he had asked his officials to find out what alternatives the United States could offer.

A US official speaking on condition of anonymity said the United States was mainly concerned with dollar transactions, and had not attempted to extract a political price from Sri Lanka, which is separately under pressure from Washington over war crimes allegations and the slow pace of reconciliation following the end of its civil war.

“The point is to try and choke some dollars off, so we want to know what the Sri Lankan government is going to do in terms of a workaround,” a US embassy official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “At least they are trying, so that’s good.” Bronin declined to speak to a Reuters reporter on Thursday.

“He came to explain the act, the meaning of the act and what options are available to us,” Foreign Secretary Karunaratne Amunugama told Reuters. “We are aware of the seriousness of the act, and government agencies are discussing what options we could take.”

Sri Lanka has already said it was looking at buying crude from Oman and Saudi Arabia, both of whom can supply something the Sapugaskanda refinery can handle. The possibility of a waiver from the United States, which requires a demonstration of lessened ties with Iran, is also under consideration.

Meanwhile, an Indian petroleum ministry delegation visited on Friday and expressed formal interest in taking over the upgrade of the Sapugaskanda refinery.

“We already have interests here with Lanka Indian Oil Corporation, so it would fit in that context, and a technical-level team will be coming,” an Indian diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Iran had initially proposed a $2 billion upgrade, but it fell apart when the government was unable or unwilling to contribute $500 million to it. —Reuters

Syrian sugar refiner halts production DUBAI: Syria’s National Sugar Co, a privately owned refiner with a capacity of 1 million tons a year, has halted production because of the poor security situation in the country, its chairman said yesterday. “Of course we have been greatly affected. We have stopped production now at the refinery due to the events,” Mohamad Najib Assaf told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Kingsman Dubai sugar industry conference. “We stopped operations nearly two months ago,” he said. The refinery, which used to produce around 2,500 tons of white sugar a day, is located 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the city of Homs, where hundreds were reported killed over the weekend by shelling in one of the bloodiest episodes of the nearly yearlong revolt against President Bashar Al Assad. Syrians consume around 800,000 tons of sugar a year.

Assaf said the two other sugar refineries in Syria, one state-owned and the other privately owned, were also suffering because of the unrest. “White sugar is now mainly being imported by traders in small quantities, maybe 1,000 to 2,000 tons, to supply the local market as no one is willing to take a risk and import huge quantities,” he said. National Sugar Co, which also exports sugar to neighboring countries such as Iraq, does not have a schedule for re-starting operations. “It all depends on events,” Assaf said. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4350000 .3610000 .3000000 .2750000 .2930000 .0040000 .0020000 .0752140 .7327900 .3830000 .0720000 .7183680 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2760500 GB Pound/KD .4365320 Euro .3629370 Swiss francs .3005930 Canadian dollars .2778280 Danish Kroner .0488160 Swedish Kroner .0413340 Australian dlr .2973890 Hong Kong dlr .0356010 Singapore dlr .2223160 Japanese yen .0036050 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0751870 Bahraini dinars .7325200 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0736330 Omani riyals .7172920 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.598 5.337 3.154 2.436 3.341 213.250 35.672 3.580 6.336 8.873 0.271 0.273

.2800000 .4440000 .3690000 .3090000 .2840000 .3040000 .0070000 .0035000 .0759020 .7394880 .4000000 .0760000 .7249340 .0072000 .0500000 .2796500 .4422250 .3676700 .3045140 .2814510 .0494530 .0418730 .3012670 .0360650 .2252150 .0036520 .0057900 .0024610 .0031040 .0033290 .0761680 .7420720 .3955450 .0745930 .7266470 .0066140

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 74.150 76.402 722.230 738.540 75.715

Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 47.500 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.282 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.272 Tunisian Dinar 189.860 Jordanian Dinar 392.670 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.865 Syrian Lier 6.003 Morocco Dirham 33.814 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.950 Euro 370.650 Sterling Pound 431.930 Canadian dollar 268.420 Turkish lire 153.940 Swiss Franc 300.620 Australian dollar 277.000 US Dollar Buying 277.750 GOLD 315.500 159.000 81.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

COUNTRY

SELL CASH

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal

303.100 739.480 3.650 283.500 546.100 45.400 50.100 167.800 48.060 370.500 36.540 5.860 0.032 0.194 0.249 3.730 394.330 0.188 94.500 46.500 4.280 236.000 1.802 49.200 722.240

SELL DRAFT

301.600 739.480 3.304 282.000

225.500 46.136 369.000 36.390 5.705 0.032

10 Tola

75.710 278.000

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

277.950 278.929 440.359 367.969 301.892 736.042 75.652 76.291 74.080 391.251 46.127 2.437 5.713 3.081 3.304 6.506 681.799 3.674 8.881 5.851 3.569 92.325

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

303.76 284.15 307.61 368.97

445.00 3.70 3.600 5.840 2.650 4.250 3.240 76.30 739.48 48.20 394.50 728.00 77.25 74.60

278.000 3.078 5.715 2.450 3.305 6.540 75.790 74.290 739.100 46.080 445.200 3.190 1.550 371.600 285.600 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

442.76 3.69 3.301 5.701 2.440 3.576 3.077 75.67 739.47 46.14 395.51 722.50 76.66 74.23

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 442.500 278.000

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Currency

722.060

305.600 4.300 9.210

Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

Currency

394.000 0.187 94.500 3.570 234.500

3.085 6.525 76.490 74.240 225.470 39.400 2.437 442.500

GOLD 1,797.760

Rate for Transfer

Bahrain Exchange Company

3.160 6.770 76.920 74.240 225.470 39.400 2.655 444.500 42.600 307.100 4.300 9.360 198.263 75.810 278.400 1.300

304.00 284.00 309.00 371.00

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

277.850 368.900 442.300 282.100 3.650 5.688 46.110 2.436 3.265 6.500 3.078 740.050 75.700 74.250

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

business

China snubs debt in European spending spree BEIJING: Chinese companies and funds have ramped up investment in crisis-hit Europe, buying utilities, energy firms and even luxury yacht makers, but are steering clear of euro-zone debt.

Analysts say bargain-hunting-and not the secret hand of Beijing-is driving the recent wave of acquisitions as Chinese companies seek to expand overseas and the country’s sovereign wealth fund diversifies away from US bonds. Chinese direct investment in Europe more than doubled to $6.7 billion in 2010 from the previous year, latest official figures show, and analysts expect the recent flurry of deals to continue as euro-zone economies deteriorate. “At a time of severe economic and financial stress in the euro-zone there are inevitably some great buying opportunities for cash-rich Chinese firms,” said Alistair Thornton, an analyst at IHS Global Insight in Beijing.

Chinese firms have been targeting a range of sectors, including engineering, high-tech, energy, finance and utilities, as intense domestic competition forces them to look for new markets around the world. The investment has fuelled concerns in Europe that Beijing could gain too much influence over debt-stricken economies. But Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday China had neither the ability nor the intention to “buy Europe”.

China is “willing to cooperate with Europe to fight the current crisis. Some people say this means China wants to buy Europe”, Wen told a German-China business forum in the southern city of Guangzhou.

“This a concern and doesn’t fit reality. China doesn’t have this intention and doesn’t have this ability.” Mark Williams, an economist at Capital Economics in London, said the recent deals were fuelled by cheap credit offered by Chinese banks and the fact that China’s foreign asset managers were “stuffed to the gills with bonds”.

“This isn’t China Inc ordering the overall strategy,” Williams told AFP. “Most of China’s recent purchases are exactly the sort of deals you’d expect any big

investors to be doing.” In the latest deal, China State Grid has agreed to pay 387 million euros ($508.2 million) for a 25 percent stake in the national electricity grid of debt-stricken Portugal, Treasury Secretary Maria Albuquerque said Thursday.

Earlier last week, Chinese construction equipment giant Sany Heavy Industry agreed to acquire German family-owned engineering firm Putzmeister for an undisclosed sum. That came hot on the heels of China

Investment Corp, the country’s $400-billion sovereign wealth fund set up in 2007 to invest some of China’s huge foreign exchange stockpile, buying a stake in British utility Thames Water. China Three Gorges in December beat competitors to a 21.35 percent stake in Energias de Portugal, paying 2.7 billion euros as Portugal sold assets to bolster state coffers. And Shandong Heavy Industry agreed last month to pay 374 million euros ($491 million) for a 75 percent stake

BEIJING: A Chinese paramilitary policeman standing guard outside the European Union Delegation in Beijing. Chinese companies and funds have ramped up investment in crisis-hit Europe, buying utilities, energy firms and even luxury yacht makers, but are steering clear of euro— zone debt.—AFP

in debt-laden Italian luxury yacht maker Ferretti Group.

But Jonathan Holslag of the Brussels Institute of Contemporary Chinese Studies cautioned that total Chinese investment in Europe still lagged far behind that of other countries such as the United States and Japan. “If one factors in Hong Kong, China might have invested around $40 billion since 2007 ... (but it) still represents only one to two percent of total investments,” Holslag told AFP. Commerce Minister Chen Deming said in November that the government would lead an investment delegation to Europe this year, signalling Beijing was more interested in owning real assets than risky sovereign debt. “Some European countries are facing a debt crisis and hope to convert their assets to cash, so we will push forward more Chinese companies to acquire European enterprises,” Chen was quoted by state media saying.

European leaders have called on China, which has the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves, to invest in a bailout fund, but China has so far made no firm commitment to provide financial assistance.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel began a threeday visit to Beijing on Thursday aimed in part at boosting confidence in the euro-zone after a sovereign debt crisis that has seen a wave of credit-rating downgrades.

Premier Wen said Beijing was looking at ways it could contribute to Europe’s bailout funds and warned of an “urgent” need to solve the region’s woes, after holding talks with Merkel.

Christopher Hughes, an expert in international relations at the London School of Economics, said Beijing might be more willing to buy euro-zone debt “if the Europeans got their act together but that seems a long way off”. “It is hard to see why anybody would want to buy euro-zone sovereign debt-even the Europeans do not want to do it,” Hughes said. “So why should they risk that when they can carry on buying US debt and when buying into profitable EU companies is much less risky.” — AFP

Greek leaders in crisis meeting for debt deal EU-IMF talks fail to break impasse

WASHINGTON: US Park Police maintain a perimeter around McPherson Square in Washington, DC yesterday as National Park Service employees begin removing tents and other debris, after Park Police removed the Occupiers from the encampment. — AFP

With job spurt, US economy races ahead of Europe WASHINGTON: The latest surge in US job creation suggests the world’s biggest economy is gathering momentum-in contrast with the recession taking hold in parts of Europe. Analysts said that in the United States, where the economy added 243,000 net new jobs in January to pull down the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent, the flexibility of the labor market was key.

Economists said the American economy is shaking off the debt woes of the eurozone, where unemployment has hit 10.4 percent, the highest since the creation of the single currency. Some 1.9 million US jobs have been created in the past five months, bringing the number of people working nearly back to the levels of late 2008. Jacob Kirkegaard, economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the latest developments in the labor market show the resilience of the US economic model. “When you’re a US employer, you barely hesitate to hire because you know if you take a worker for a peak in business, you can easily lay off that person if it doesn’t turn out as planned,” he said.

“In Italy, in Spain, in France, in Greece, the costs for that are high.” The National Association of Manufacturers said the latest US numbers “show renewed strength in the domestic economy, with employment growth in almost every major industrial sector except information, financial services and government.” Alexandre Douzet, president of recruitment firm TheLadders, said he sees considerable momentum in the United States, with many companies planning increased hiring in the coming 12 months. “This is true for sectors which up to now have been retrenching or cutting

their staffs,” such as retailing and construction, he told AFP. “No one wants to say this in public, but all the US chief executives are saying privately that 2012 will be a good year.” Job gains have averaged 201,000 a month the past three months and some economists say the broad improvement reflects a rebound from the woes that derailed last year’s labor recovery, including the Japanese earthquake and the federal debt battle in Congress.

Alexei Monsarrat, a global economist at the Atlantic Council, said he also sees a potential for more improvement.

“Companies put aside a lot of cash during the crisis,” he said. “The US corporate bond market has also been good. Now that confidence is back, they have the financial capacity to increase their payrolls.” In Europe, by contrast, Monsarrat said, the challenges are still formidable. “First the initial shock of the financial crisis and then the impact of the sovereign debt crisis, are much more severe than for the US,” he said.

“It’s not surprising that it takes longer to recover.” Monsarrat added that European firms are highly dependent for financing on banks, which have been hardest hid by the euro-zone debt crisis. Kirkegaard said the latest developments show the US economy leading the global business cycle. “So it’s logical that the US gives the impression of coming out of recessions quicker,” he said. But the two major economic blocs are not completely delinked. A study by International Monetary Fund economists Tamim Bayoumi and Trung Bui suggested that a rise in US gross domestic product of 0.8 percent over two years will add 0.6 percent to the euro-zone economy.— AFP

EU-IMF to let Ireland invest privatization cash DUBLIN: Ireland’s EU/IMF lenders have agreed to let it invest much of the cash it gets from privatization rather than use it to pay down debts, if the proceeds are substantial, the Irish prime minister said yesterday.

Ireland’s troika of lenders, the European Central Bank, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, earlier indicated that privatization proceeds should be used to cut the national debt.

“The troika are agreed that depending on the scale of these sale of assets ... that a substantial amount of the assets received ... can be invested in job creation,” Prime Minister Enda Kenny told state broadcaster

RTE yesterday.

“That is a significant change from where the troika were when these discussions started.”

Kenny’s government has a target of raising 2 billion euros in asset sales. However, it has said it would consider raising its target if it could use some of the proceeds to stimulate its economy rather than channelling it all into debt reduction.

In a staff report last year, the IMF said Dublin should consider an asset disposal program of up to 5 billion euros. The troika have not, however, imposed a deadline on selling off the assets, given volatile global market conditions.— Reuters

ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos held an emergency meeting with political allies yesterday after hours of “superhuman” negotiations with EU-IMF bailout auditors failed to produce a rescue deal.

George Papandreou, Antonis Samaras and George Karatzaferis-the leaders of the socialist, conservative and far-right parties backing the government-will have to overcome objections to new austerity measures demanded

by Greece’s creditors.

“I come with the hope that I will not have to repeat what former German chancellor (Helmut) Schmidt recently said,” Karatzaferis told reporters, hours after warning that he would not bow to pressure from Berlin and “blackmail conditions”.

Schmidt in December had warned that Germany needed to tread carefully in handling the euro-zone crisis and avoid alienating its fellow EU partners. An accord has to emerge Sunday for Greece to avert a disorderly default in March, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos warned ahead of the meeting. And Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker piled further pressure on Athens, threatening to cut off funds if reforms were seen to stall. “If we were to see that everything was failing in Greece then there wouldn’t be a new (refinance) program,” Juncker told German magazine Spiegel.

“Ever ything must be concluded by (Sunday) night... so that we can be within the

timetable given the bond maturities in March,” Venizelos said.

“We are on a knife edge,” the minister warned. Athens has been in talks with the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank-known as the ‘troika’ here-on further action needed to unlock a new euro-zone rescue deal worth 130 billion euros ($171 billion) pending since October. A further round of negotiations with the public lenders was held earlier yesterday, Papademos’ office said. Pressure was also mounting for an agreement with private lenders to wipe out part of the 350-billioneuro Greek debt, as Athens faces loan repayments of 14.4 billion euros ($19 billion) on March 20.

French Economy Minister Francois Baroin yesterday said talks were “difficult” but progress had been made on the privatelyheld debt swap. “In any case, the rendezvous is on February 13 at the latest,” Baroin said, referring to the tentative deadline for a deal.

A senior government official yesterday said “superhuman” negotiations with auditors from the troika had made progress but that certain gaps remained.

Chief among them is the public creditors’ demand for labor cost cuts, rejected by unions and by the three-party coalition backing Papademos’ government. Opponents argue that further reductions will exacerbate a recession already fueled by two years of aus-

terity measures. Wage costs to Greek businesses fell by 9.2 billion euros or 25 percent from 2009, Labour Minister George Koutroumanis told parliament last week.

The fall caused a 4.2-billion-euro drop in contributions to the country’s main social insurance fund IKA, he said. George Karatzaferis, whose far-right party LAOS is one of the coalition’s three partners, on Saturday threatened to reject the euro-zone bailout deal. “I do not function well under conditions of blackmail,” Karatzaferis told a party gathering in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

“If the package is not to our liking, we will not accept it,” he said. Papademos has reportedly threatened to resign if his coalition backers reject the demanded austerity measures, but government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis refused to confirm this.

Most contentious are proposed additional civil service cuts, now reportedly affecting teachers and military staff, and a reduction in the minimum monthly wage which now stands at 750 euros. Europe’s commissioner for maritime affairs Maria Damanaki, who is Greek, said the country has been on a “disastrous path”. “For two years we have promised changes which we failed to pursue, or failed to complete,” she told To Vima weekly.

“We say much and do little. We agree to timetables we do not keep. Hence we have created the image of a state that is systematically unreliable,” Damanaki said. —AFP

Spanish economy to shrink 1.5% in 2012

MANDALAY: Men standing on cargo boats docked on the bank of the Ayeyarwady (formerly known as Irrawady) river in Mandalay, northern Myanmar. Myanmar is emerging from political and economic isolation after decades of military rule since a nominally civilian government took power last year. — AFP

Swiss banks to outline steps in US tax row GENEVA: Two of Switzerland’s oldest banks will this week outline their response to growing US pressure to give up tax-evading American customers and the bankers who helped them.

Senior executives of Julius Baer Group will detail the Zurich-listed bank’s position when its full-year results are released today. State-owned Zuercher Kantonalbank presents its

annual results Friday. Last month St. Gallen-based Wegelin & Co. announced it was selling most of its business after US authorities indicted Switzerland’s oldest private bank with conspiring to help American clients hide more than $1.2 billion from the US Internal Revenue Service. US authorities are targeting at least 11 Swiss banks suspected of helping American clients cheat on their taxes. — AP

MADRID: The Spanish economy will shrink by around 1.5 percent this year as a contraction that began last quarter deepens, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said in an interview published yesterday.

“The first quarter of the year is going to be hard, even harder than the last quarter of 2011, with a decline in GDP of more than 0.3 percent. I think the second quarter will also be negative,” he told daily newspaper El Pais. “The government believes that the economic contraction this year will be around the 1.5 percent which the Bank of Spain has estimated,” he added.

Gross domestic product (GDP) declined 0.3 percent in last quarter of 2011 from the previous three months, the first such contraction since the end of 2009, official data showed last week, as Spain slipped towards its second recession in two years. Over the year as a whole, GDP rose just by 0.7 percent in 2011. Last month the Bank of Spain predicted the economy would contract by 1.5 percent in 2012, before posting a modest recovery of 0.2 percent in 2013. The central bank had previously estimated in March that the economy would expand by 1.5 percent this year.

The International Monetary Fund has forecast a deeper contraction of 1.7 percent in 2012 and a further decline of 0.3 percent in 2013. Spain emerged only at the start of 2010 from an 18-month recession triggered by a global financial crisis and a property bubble collapse that destroyed millions of jobs and left behind huge bad loans and debts.

The country’s jobless total hit 5.27 million people at the end of 2011, pushing the unemployment rate to 22.85 percent, the highest level among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

De Guindos called the Spain’s unemployment rate its “greatest social scourge”. “This is why the government’s top priority is to strengthen hiring. Everything has to be focused on ensuring that in Spain, people are hired once again. The creation of jobs has disappeared,” he added.

Spain’s new right-leaning Popular Party government is struggling to slash a bloated public deficit and revive growth to avoid being dragged back to the centre stage of the euro-zone debt crisis. A recession and more jobless people make it harder to balance the books because the state must pay more in unemployment benefits while receiving less income from taxes. The government plans to introduce a draft reform of the country’s labor laws later this month as part of its agenda to repair the damaged economy. —AFP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

business

Kuwait equities steady after assembly elections GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwaiti equities ended yesterday’s session on a steady note as investors started looking ahead of the fourth quarter’s earnings results. They also focus more on what’s happening in local bourse after National Assembly elections.

Global General Index (GGI) ended the day up by 0.38 percent, at 179.64 point. Market capitalization was up for the day, reaching KD29.4bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,858 point, adding 1.6 points (0.03 percent) from its previous close.

Market breadth On the broader market for equities, advancing stocks outnumbered advancing stocks by a margin of 40 to 30. Volume and value of the shares traded on the exchange increased by 23.04 percent and 4.88 percent respectively.

Investment groups accounted for 42.78 percent (109.71mn shares) of the market’s total volume. Hits Telecom Holding Company continued to trade intensely, with 31.64mn shares changing hands.

The scrip reported a 5.05 percent climb. In terms of top gainers, Arkan Al-Kuwait Real Estate Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 7.81 percent to its share value and closing at KD0.069.

On the other hand, share price of Al Safat Investment Company retreated by 12 percent and closed at KD0.066, making it the biggest decliners in the market for the day in a row.

Sector wise Sector-wise, five out of the eight sectors moved northward during the day. Services stocks led the pack of advancers, with a 1.71 per-

cent. Zain witnessed increased interest, with KD3.5mn changing hands. The company saw its stock grow by 3.53 percent during yesterday’s session, to close at KD0.880. On February 1, 2012 the company announced that Sheikh Khalifa Ali Khalifa Al-Sabah submitted a cassation appeal against the court’s previous ruling. Elsewhere in services sector, National Cleaning Company and Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company were up by 3.22 percent and 1.96 percent respectively. Sultan Center Food Products Company remained buoyant, staging its second straight winning session, adding 1.85 percent.

Real estate stocks too were

notable advancers, up 1.6 percent.

Kuwait Remal Real Estate Company inched 5.17 percent higher. In sector related news, Injazzat Real Estate Development Company signed a preliminary agreement with a local bank to sell one of its assets for a total value of KD11.75mn, with an expected profit of KD0.20mn, to settle part of its debt obligations. Injazzat Real Estate Development saw its stock price jump by 2.74 percent during yesterday’s trading. Global Banking Index was the major loser, registering a decline of 0.36 percent mainly on the back of the 1.16 percent loss in Kuwait Finance House stock.

Boubyan Bank also registered a daily loss of 1.69 percent to close at

KD0.580. Commercial Bank of Kuwait was the only gainer within the sector. The scrip closed up by 1.35 percent.

Corporate news Heavy Engineering and Shipbuilding Company (HEISCO) signed a sub-contracting agreement worth KD1.72mn to carry out electrical and micro-equipment works in liquefied gas filling laboratory in Om Al Aish area. The contract will last for 13 months starting from January 22, 2012. The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $110.82pb on Thursday, compared with $110.62pb the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

GCC markets kick of 2012 with mixed trends KUWAIT: GCC markets started 2012 showing mixed trends as Saudi and UAE bourses recorded monthly gains, while Bahrain, Qatar and Oman repor ted monthly declines at the end of Januar y 2012, an economic report said yesterday.

The repor t, by Global Investment House (Global), said that in Kuwait, the weighted index was flat though the price index made good gains.

However the trading activity in GCC region increased as the investors tried to position themselves ahead of the earnings announcement and also take advantage of the low valuation prevailing in the markets.

Overall the GCC markets showed 17.7 billion shares changing hands at a value of USD 46.4 billion.

The market cap of the GCC region reached $705.4 billion at the end of January 2012 as compared to $697.2 billion reported at the end of 2011, registering a monthly gain of one percent.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest market in terms of market capitalization, registered a growth of 2.5 percent as its market capitalization reached $347.3 billion at the end of the month.

Kuwait market ended the month on a mixed note with the benchmark Global General

index registering a monthly loss of -0.06 percent. However, the KSE Price index repor ted a monthly gain of 0.94 percent, indicating buying interests in mid-cap and small cap stocks.

Among the big names, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), reported a profit of KD 302.4 million for 2011, exhibiting stagnancy over 2010. The results were in line with Global’s estimates for the period. Among the major gainers was Al Madina for Finance and Hits Telecom, which gained around 80 percent in the month. The real estate stocks witnessed some selling pressure with Sanam Real Estate, Marakez Real Estate and Alargan International Real Estate down by more than 18 percent each during the month.

Qatar index repor ted a monthly decline of 2.4 percent.

On the corporate profits, Qatari banks came up with strong profitability growth with the 4Q11 sector profitability increasing by 20.1 percent Year Over Year but down five percent Quarter on Quarter.

Highest index growth was seen in Dubai’s DFM index, as it notched an impressive monthly growth of 6.08 percent in January 2012. ADX index too registered a growth of 2.15 percent. — KUNA

Dinar firms against dollar KUWAIT: Exchange rate of the US dollar against the Kuwaiti dinar stayed unchanged at KD 0.277 while the euro went up to KD 0.364 compared to last week’s rates, said the daily bulletin of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) yesterday.

The Sterling pound went up to KD 0.438. The Japanese yen was unchanged at KD 0.003, while the Swiss franc came up to KD 0.302.

The international currency spectrum stood in awe when the US employment grew by 200,000 last month, reducing the jobless rate to 8.5 percent and significantly surpassing the expectations of economists. The data released by the US Labor Department last month marked a six-month period, in which the economy added 100,000 jobs or more in each month. The US jobless rate was 8.7 percent in November 2011. —KUNA

25

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

business

Volatility spikes in FX markets as Greek woes persist KUWAIT: Last week the US dollar had a mixed performance across the board as the European debt crisis intensified, driving markets to react in a volatile manner. The euro opened at its highest level of the week at 1.3230, but plummeted during the first day to a low of 1.3074 as German and Greek talks faltered in the weekend before the European Union leaders met in Brussels.

The single currency regained considerably the next day as German officials said that the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) is able to sustain liquidity in the markets until the deadline on the 20th of March. The Euro then plummeted to a low of 1.3023 only to recoup again after strong PMI data.

The single currency closed the week at 1.3152. The Sterling Pound opened at 1.5724, and surged during the week to a high of 1.5882 after positive economic data from the UK. The pound closed the week at 1.5820. The Swiss franc followed the euro, opening the week at 0.9120 to reach a high of 0.9249 amid rumors of a Swiss National Bank intervention as the EUR/CHF hovers around the 1.2000 floor level. The Franc then dropped to a low of 0.9110 after strong European data undermined the US dollar. The Swiss Franc closed the week at 0.9186. The Japanese Yen opened the week at 76.67, range traded throughout the week between 76.00 and 76.42, only to move slightly higher on Friday as the US unemployment declined pushing the Yen to close at 76.55.

Personal spending drops Consumer income has jumped significantly to 0.5%, from last months’ 0.1%, exceeding economists’ expectations of a 0.4% increase. On the other hand, consumer spending declined below expectations to 0.0% from November’s 0.2%. The drop in spending opposed to the increase in income, signals that Americans have used most of the increase in savings, as fear of a recession still overshadows the American public. The drop in spending translates that the biggest part of the economy will not be a driver of the recovery.

ISM manufacturing Manufacturing in the US grew in January at the fastest pace in more than six months, indicating a global econom-

NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKETS REPORT ic pickup from leading economies, as Germany and China. The ISM Manufacturing index rose from December’s 53.9, to 54.1 this month.

Factory production, led by inventory rebuilding at the end of 2011, is poised to keep expanding as the need to

unemployment benefits last week, indicating an improvement in the labor market. Applications for jobless benefits decreased last week by 12,000 claims to 367,000, against market expectations of 373,000. The decrease in claims indicates that American businesses have

reach agreement on the toughest possible rules in the fiscal treaty before it is prepared to consider any concession over the size of the rescue fund.

European consumer confidence picked up for the first time since June, with the headline measure rising to -20.7

Managers’ Index (PMI) rose more than expected to 56.0 from Decembers’ 54.0, promoting optimism that the UK economy might avoid a double-dip recession.

On the other hand, concerns about the UK economy were likely to persist after the UK economy contracted in the final quarter of 2011. Moreover, the Bank of England is widely expected to announce an increase in its asset purchase program, with the prospect of quantitative easing, where the central bank floods the economy with Pounds to stimulate demand.

HPI drops UK house prices fell for a second month in January to the lowest level in almost a year as dimming economic outlook and rising unemployment falters consumer demand. The cost of a UK home dropped 0.2% from last month, lowest since February 2011 when it rose 0.6%. The drop in house prices can be attributed to the economic contraction in the third quarter last year.

update equipment drives orders from big construction companies. US manufacturing accounts for about 12% of the economy and was at the forefront of the recovery that began in June 2009.

Bernanke testimony The Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the banks’ decision to hold interest rates at record-low levels, during a debatable hearing before federal lawmakers. The Federal Reserve Chairman told the House Budget Committee that the central bank’s plan is an appropriate step to combat high unemployment while inflation is stable.

The Fed reiterated that it does not plan to raise its benchmark interest rate from the record low before late 2014.

Bernanke has stated that the Fed was trying to get the weak economy moving and that raising interest rates could trigger a recession, which would hurt investors, urging lawmakers to balance their desire to cut deficits with policies that could help boost the weak US economy in the short run.

Unemployment claims Fewer Americans have filed for

slowed the rate of firings and are taking on more staff as they gain confidence that the recovery will be sustained.

Moreover, the US unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in January to 8.3% from 8.5%, the lowest in three years, as payrolls climbed more than forecast.

The 243,000 increase in jobs was the biggest in 9-months, exceeding expectations.

Europe Germany Vs Europe Resistance has been growing in Berlin in the face of widespread calls for Germany to do more to stem the eurozone crisis, both by increasing its guarantees for euro-zone rescue funds and paying more towards the second Greek bailout. The German Parliament have raised the issue to impose tougher conditions on any new rescue package for Greece, including the appointment of an outside enforcer with the power to veto national spending decisions.

Germany’s call for an EU-appointed supervisor of Greece’s budget provoked distress in Athens and led other European governments to warn against treating Greece differently than other countries. The German strategy is to

from -21.3. This indicates that consumers are less pessimistic about the outlook for the economy over the next 12 months, and less fearful of losing their jobs. The modest rise in euro-zone consumer confidence in January signals that the ECB might hold off from cutting interest rates again in February, in a way to monitor and stabilize the economic activity.

Retails sales Retail sales in the euro-zone surprisingly tumbled during the Christmas season last month, as a 14-year high unemployment rate and stubborn inflation combined with government spending cuts, have slowed down consumers’ demand. Sales across the 17-nation union dropped 0.4% in December, lower than the forecasted rise of 0.3%.

European households retained from spending, as governments step up austerity measures to maintain the regions fiscal crisis. The regions uncertainty is promoting companies to cut jobs, placing the unemployment rate at a 14-year high of 10.4%.

The UK’s dominant services sector surged in January, at the fastest pace since January. The Services Purchasing

Japan Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi piled pressure on the Bank of Japan to consider easing policy further, as the Japanese Yen climbs back to levels that led to Tokyo to intervene heavily in currency markets last year to protect its export-reliant economy. Azumi have added that he is ready to act decisively to respond to “one-sided” moves. Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Hirohide Yamaguchi responded that, “there is no need to ease policy right away, but the central bank could face growing calls to offer more monetary stimulus to help exporters through any prolonged slump, even though it has limited options remaining to support the faltering economy.”

Moreover, Economics Minister Motohisa Furukawa also called on the central bank to ensure that real interest rates remain low, as the Federal Reserve’s commitment to keep its nominal benchmark rate near zero for nearly three more years pushes the US Dollar lower against the Yen. Kuwaiti dinar at 0.27735 The USDKWD opened at 0.27735 yesterday morning.

ECB to bide its time on rates this week Bank assesses impact of previous measures

JAKARTA: About 20,000 Indonesian workers occupy Jakarta’s main toll road in Bekasi during a protest to demand a minimum wage increase while a police helicopter flies overhead. For years big-name manufacturers like Honda, Samsung and Nike have quietly harvested profits from factories in Indonesia, where wages are even lower than in China or India. — AFP

Indonesian workers agitate for bigger slice of boom economy JAKARTA: For years big-name manufacturers including Honda, Samsung and Nike have quietly harvested profits from factories in Indonesia, where wages are even lower than in China or India.

Now, Indonesian workers are hitting back with a wave of industrial strikes, demanding a bigger chunk of profits in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies. In the latest major strike factories on the outskirts of Jakarta, producing car parts, electronics and big-brand trainers, fell silent on January 27, when more than 20,000 workers walked off the job. Demanding a minimum wage increase, the Bekasi-based workers blocked a toll road to the capital, leaving trucks and traffic snarled for 10 hours.

“We had no choice but to stop everything and block this road,” said 37-yearold Sarjo Suragil, who makes McDonald’s and KFC packaging for Australian company Detpak & Detmold.

“We’ve already met with the local government and authorities, but no one listened to us. We can’t get by on these wages.” As industrial action spreads across the vast archipelago of 240 million people, workers realise the more disruptive their protests, the more likely they are to be heard. Factories in the Bekasi zone make products for global car, electronics and fashion firms, churning out $4.5 billion in goods a year, government figures show. The Bekasi workers were enraged after a court annulled a provincial minimum wage increase from 1.29 million rupiah ($143) per month to 1.49 million rupiah ($165). After the workers hit the streets, the governor reissued the wage increase that same night. The govern-

ment, celebrating a record $20 billion in foreign investment last year, is keen to keep a lid on industrial action that could scare away investors.

The Indonesian Employers Association argues that quick wage hikes could do just that. “If wages go up that quickly, foreign investors in several industries might start looking elsewhere,” warned Franky Sibarani, the association’s secretary-general. West Java is the eighth province where workers have won a major wage hike of more than 14 percent in recent months, and those in other provinces are planning similar action.

Workers have been emboldened by the success of a three-month strike at a giant gold and copper mine owned by US company Freeport that ended in December, with a 37 percent pay rise on the $1.50 hourly minimum wage, analysts say. It was the longest strike in Indonesia’s recent history. “After the Freeport case, workers around Jakarta and West Java started looking at what was going on there and thought perhaps we can get wages a good deal higher too,” Chris Manning from the Australian National University said. In another case last month, an Indonesian factory producing Nike shoes agreed to the demands of thousands of disgruntled employees and shelled out $1 million in unpaid overtime wages. The Indonesian Workers Association said recently it would target all pressure points of Indonesia’s economy to win more wage increases. “We will shut down the stock exchange next if we have to. We’ve been inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement,” chairman Timbul Siregar said. — AFP

FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank, after two rate cuts and a series of unprecedented liquidity measures, will hold its fire this month, as it assesses the impact of those previous measures, analysts say.

The recent raft of economic data, notably in Europe’s economic powerhouse Germany, has been surprisingly positive, so the bank at its meeting on Thursday looks set to wait and see how its past moves to prevent a credit crunch and boost the economy in the 17 countries are actually panning out. In December, the ECB brought euro-zone borrowing costs back down to their previous historical low of 1.0 percent, effectively reversing last year’s two earlier rate hikes. On top of that, it offered banks in the region an unlimited pool of liquidity by loosening collateral rules, cutting the minimum reserve ratio and launching new three-year loans at supercheap rates. With a second such bond auction scheduled at the end of February, “the ECB seems happy to wait and see how these measures unfold,” said Commerzbank economist Michael Schubert.

Last month, ECB chief Mario Draghi insisted the liquidity measures were proving effective in tackling the debt crisis. But so far, banks appear to be sitting on the unprecedented 489 billion euros ($643 billion) that the ECB pumped into the system, instead of lending it out to households and businesses as the central bank had hoped.

Banks’ deposits with the ECB’s overnight facility have soared to record highs in recent weeks and, in its latest regular quarterly bank lending survey, the ECB found that banks have tightened credit conditions for both households and businesses even as demand for loans is falling.

Nevertheless, analysts say the data do not fully take into account the ECB’s liquidity measures. At the same time, there has been a raft of better-than-expected economic data recently. In Germany, the single currency area’s biggest economy, for example, unemployment is at all-time lows, inflation appears

to be in check and both household and business confidence is buoyant. That has led to two consecutive monthly rises in the allimportant Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the entire euro-zone, a key barometer of sentiment.

So even if credit aggregates are witnessing intensified downward pressure, “indicators of economic activity suggest that the cyclical low may be behind us and improved sentiment in financial markets bodes well for the sustainability of this moderate recovery in the real economy,” said UniCredit economist Marco Valli. Given this somewhat mixed picture, the most likely outcome of this week’s ECB meeting “is a steady refi rate and no new

ting or raising rates for the rest of the year,” Bayer said.

Commerzbank’s Schubert agreed that “the hurdle for further rate cuts continues to be high.” The ECB’s new chief economist, Peter Praet, had made it clear that the ECB had already done “very much” and also pointed to the negative side effects of historically low interest rates, Schubert noted. Valli at UniCredit suggested the ECB would most likely leave its key interest rate at 1.0 percent “throughout 2012”. Also predicting no change in rates, Capital Economics chief European economist Jonathan Loynes said he would be listening for what Draghi had to say about the possibility of the bank writing down parts of

ECB chief Mario Draghi announcements of unconventional measures,” Valli said.

Postbank Research economist Heinrich Bayer agreed. “ The euro-zone recession should be short and mild,” he said. “Nothing has changed since January in the ECB’s views with regard to inflation and the economy.” In fact, he predicted that with the economy still weak but showing signs of gradual improvement, “the ECB will hold off from either cut-

its holdings of Greek bonds as supposedly demanded by private creditors negotiating a restructuring of Athens’ debt.

“Draghi seems very likely to dismiss the idea,” Loynes said. “The overall message is likely to be that, while the ECB is happy to provide further significant support for the eurozone’s banks, it remains very reluctant to take any more direct action to tackle the region’s fiscal crisis,” the analyst said. — AFP

Argentina wants oil, gas fields run at full output BUENOS AIRES: Argentina will demand that oil companies in the country operate oil and gas fields at full output, state news agency Telam said, a day after the government cut $461 million in annual tax breaks for big fuel firms amid wider austerity.

President Cristina Fernandez’ government blames private sector oil companies for the country’s waning

crude production. Latin America’s No 3 economy is increasingly dependent on energy imports to meet demand for natural gas and oil, which has surged since 2003, rebounding from a deep economic crisis.

“They should reach full output at gas and oil fields,” Telam cited Planning Minister Julio De Vido as

saying. Argentina is preparing for a challenging year as Europe’s debt crisis and the sluggish world economy bite into the finances of commodities-producing countries in South America.

Friday’s reduction in tax breaks affects companies such as Panamerican Energy, owned by BP and local firm Bridas; YPF, the local

unit of Spain’s Repsol ; China’s Sinopec; and Brazil’s Petrobras.Argentina is cutting some popular transportation and energy subsidies in a bid to shore up its financial position.

The South American country has been shut out of the international capital markets since its 2001/02 debt default. — Reuters

26

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

business

KOG Summit & Exhibition introduces new features for 2012 KUWAIT: The CWC Group Limited organizers of the Kuwait Oil and Gas (KOG) Summit & Exhibition hosted by KPC and leading government representatives from the 12th to the 15th of February at the Regency Hotel, have announced the new activities and features that will take place during KOG 2012.

All participants will be registered on Sunday 12th February at 5.00 pm at the Regency Hotel; a drink reception hosted by Baker Botts will be available for all attendees while waiting for the official opening ceremony of KOG 2012. The Welcoming Address and Opening Ceremony presented by the CWC Group will take place at 6.30 pm in the Exhibition Hall at the Regency Hotel, followed by a VIP Tour of the Exhibition led by CWC Group.

KOG 2012 together with KPC will host a special evening at the Al-Hashemi II Grand Ballroom.

The Gala Dinner, reserved for delegates only, will take place at the Al Hashemi II, the largest wooden boat in the world, on Monday 13 February.

New features at this year’s Kuwait Oil and Gas Summit & Exhibition include new seminars, panels and workshops. Technical Seminars will be held at the Exhibition on 13-14 February showcasing the cutting edge technology being developed in Kuwait’s energy industry.

Interested individuals and organizations were invited to submit an extract by Wednesday 25 January via the official website www.cwckuwait.com/contact to be able present a paper for the Technical Sessions. Two new panels will be introduced to the forum taking place from 13-14 February, the interactive panel discussions will focus on Regional Cooperation and Environmental Sustainability. This year’s Summit Workshop ‘Strategic & Legal Fundamentals of Oil

& Gas in Kuwait’ is hosted by SNR Denton, and will take place on Wednesday 15 February at the Regency Hotel.

On February 15, two VIP tours will be organized and available free of charge to all delegates.

The first one will be a VIP tour of the KNPC Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery built in 1949, one of the world’s most modern refineries in terms of refining capacity and advanced technology employed. The second VIP tour will be of the unique Burgan’s Oasis. Usually restricted to KOC’s employees only, delegates are invited to attend this site visit hosted by Kuwait Oil Company of the Oasis.

The latest exhibitors and sponsors to have joined the Kuwait Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition include: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Petrochemical Industries Company,

Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, Kuwait Aviation Fuelling Company, Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, Kuwait Petroleum International, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company, Shell, Heston, Total, Veoilia Water & VWS Oil & Gas, Oil Services Company, Oil Development Company, Wildwell Control, Kuwait Dana Lubes Company, Impact Special Metals, Sandvik Process Systems, vMonitor, CGG Veritas, Gulf International Pipe, Petroleum Coke Industries Co, A Marshall Moffat, ZL Petrochemicals Co, National Petroleum Services - National Gulf Petroleum Services (Kuwait), Heston, Veolia Water Services - Oil & Gas, Boushahri Group, Kuwait Drilling Company, Yoke, Jassim Transport & Steverdering, IPS Trade BV & Maverick Valves BV, Red Sea Remotesite, Draeger Fire & Gas Detection Systems, Isisan, Al Hokook, S B Co WLL, Bertling, Al Zahem, Technogas, NAFFCO.

IBQ posts 25% rise in 2011 net profits to QAR 573m NBK’s strategic partner in Qatar

‘Nissan Champion Distributor’ for Abdul Mohsen Abdul Aziz Al Babtain KUWAIT: Abdul Mohsen Abdul Aziz Al Babtain Co, the exclusive dealer for Nissan in Kuwait has been recognized as the “Nissan Champion Distributor” for the year 2011 by Nissan Motor Company, and has earned a new feather in its cap by achieving a great accomplishment that contributes to the success of the State of Kuwait. The company has actually received the award for the first time for displaying excellence in performance, processes and management, and for increasing Nissan share market share in Kuwait, and also for its outstanding sales, marketing, after sales and customer services performances, in comparison with other Nissan dealers around the world.

Nasser Watar, CEO of Nissan Motor Co in the Gulf handed the award to Khaled Al-Babtain, Head of Al-Babtain Group in a ceremony held in Kuwait in the presence of Saleh Al-Babtain, Al-Babtain CEO and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Nasser AlBabtain, Member of the Board, Mohamad Shalabi, Group Chief Operating Officer, Issan Salameh, Cars Sales General Manager, Mounir Sawaya, Infiniti Sales General Manager, Bilal AlKharoubi, Nissan Sales Manager, Mohamad raouf, After-Sales Manager, Shaher Wassef, Procurement Manager, Hoda Al-Nabris, Supply Chain Manager, Hani Ghazi, Customer Relationship Manager, as well as many other employees of Al-Babtain Group.

From their side, Nissan Motor Company were represented by Nasser Watar, CEO of Nissan Motor Company in the Gulf and Cameron Queen, Sales and Marketing Manager at Nissan Motor Co in the Gulf.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Khalid Al-Babtain welcomed all guests and thanked Nissan Motor Company for this valuable award which he sees as an honorable certificate that will encourage the company to continuously develop its performance and achieve its main goals.

Adding that the success achieved was mainly due to the professionalism and mutual understanding between both teams Nissan Motor Company & Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Co. which is bound to grow in years to come.

In his turn, Saleh Al-Babtain, CEO and Vice-Chairman of the Board congratulated the company for this accomplishment

and affirmed that this success was definitely due to the corporate bonds between Nissan Motor Company and Abdulmohen Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Company.

On the other hand, Mohamad Shalabi, Group Chief Opearting Officer, and Issam Salameh, Sales General Manager reviewed last year’s outstanding performance and accomplishments of Nissan Motor Company in Kuwait which were all due to the sales performance and after-sales operations, as well as to the successful marketing plans adopted.

In this way, Nissan Motor Company has become a leading brand in the Kuwaiti market.

Speaking on behalf of Nissan Company, Nasser Awtar, CEO of Nissan Motor Company commented: “We congratulate Abdul Mohsen Abdul Aziz Al Babtain Co for winning the “Champion Distributor Award” and praise the working team for their best practices and continuous efforts that come in accordance with the Board of Directors endless support.”

The “Champion Distributor Award” went to Abdul Mohsen Abdul Aziz Al Babtain Co in recognition of its performance and accomplishments achieved over the last years by adopting flexible strategies and efficiently managing its various divisions in order to best serve its customers. The company had also demonstrated expertise and success by achieving outstanding sales performance and carefully selecting its services according to its customers’ different tastes and levels.

In addition, a closing ceremony lunch was hosted in honor of Al-Babtain Co guests. On this occasion, Khalid AlBabtain, Head of Al-Babtain Group, distributed Kuwait souvenir gifts to the representatives of Nissan Motor Company and praised their efforts and continuous support, and insisted on the importance of the mutual understanding between both teams Nissan Motor Company & Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Co. At the end, Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Co is considered the second oldest Nissan dealer outside Japan after Taiwan and is one of the leading companies whose activities extended to the United States and the Middle East.

Al Tijari announces Winners of daily draw with Najma Account KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al Najma Account draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Saquer Al Manaie. The winners of the Al Najma daily draw are: Abdul Jaleel Ghuloum Hussain RamadhanKD 7000, Zahra’a Ahmad Shehab BouftainKD 7000, Ahlam Ali Mohammed AliKD 7000, Fayez Ibrahem Hussain ShanabKD 7000.

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 June 19 which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

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 for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

DOHA: IBQ, the strategic partner of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) in Qatar, reported a 25% rise in net profits to QAR 573 million for the year ending 31 December 2011. The figure compares with profits of QAR 458 million recorded in the previous year.

The 25% increase means that IBQ achieved the 2nd highest year on year growth in profits among all banks operating in Qatar. Growth was witnessed across all IBQ business lines as total customer deposits enjoyed a considerable rise of 22% on the previous year, finishing at QAR 19.4 Billion while the Bank’s customer loan portfolio reached QAR 16.7 Billion, a 9% increase over 2010. Non-interest income was equally strong compared with the same period in the previous year growing to QAR 233 million, a 32% increase.

Commenting on the results, George Nasra, Managing Director of IBQ said: “We are delighted with what has been yet another very successful year for IBQ.” Nasra continued: “We are particularly pleased that IBQ was able to achieve such results from its core banking operations while at the same time maintaining high quality

loan and investment portfolios.”

“Our partnership with National Bank of Kuwait (“NBK”) has also continued to fuel IBQ’s success with the Bank having seen net profits and total assets growing at an average annual rate of 48% and 45% respectively since the relationship with NBK was established in late 2004”.

“In addition to a strong financial performance last year, we were also very proud to be named Best Retail Bank in Qatar by Arabian Business as well as to be awarded the Best Customer Service Award by Banker Middle East magazine for the fourth year in a row.

These two prestigious accolades are testament to our position as one of Qatar’s leading banks.”

Nasra concluded: “As we move into 2012, we will continue to look at new and innovative ways to develop our services and product offerings to best meet our customers’ needs and to provide them with the unrivalled and quality services that they have come to expect from IBQ.” IBQ has recently added an additional location to its branch Network with the opening of

George Nasra, Managing Director of IBQ a new branch in the Lagoona mall and was the first bank in Qatar to comply fully with Qatar Central Bank’s instructions to dispose of its Islamic business.

Gulf Bank in strategic tie-up with Teshkeel Media Group KUWAIT: Gulf Bank yesterday announced that it has agreed on a strategic partnership with Teshkeel Media Group (TMG), creators of ‘THE 99’. The agreement was signed by Gulf Bank’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief General Manager, Michel Accad and TMG’s Founder, Dr Naif Al-Mutawa at a ceremony held at Gulf Bank’s head office. This partnership allows Gulf Bank the right to use TMG trademarks, in particular ‘THE 99’ characters, in the Bank’s marketing and promotional activities.

Commenting on the agreement, Accad said: “At Gulf Bank, we are committed to supporting strong cultural and ethical values within the community, especially amongst young people, and I know we share these objectives with TMG and its Kuwaiti founder, Dr Al-Mutawa. ‘THE 99’ has grown into an international phenomenon, using a new generation of teenage superheroes from around the world to spread globally acknowledged values; so it is only natural for Gulf Bank to step forward and show its support for this initiative. The premier of TMG’s new movie, ‘THE 99: Unbound’, will take place tomorrow, and will be put on general release in Kuwait’s movie theaters from 23 February which provides an ideal platform to announce our partnership with TMG and champion the presence of ‘THE 99’ in Kuwait.”

Dr Naif Al-Mutawa said: “We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with Gulf Bank, one of Kuwait’s leading financial institutions. The bank’s record of supporting the wellbeing and development of young

Michel Accad (right) and Dr Naif Al-Mutawa people in Kuwait is in line with the spirit of ‘THE 99’ and TMG’s social objectives, so it is beneficial that both organizations are able to work in tandem to further these vital mutual objectives. We look forward to further developing our relationship with Gulf Bank in the future.”

Dr Naif Al-Mutawa, author of ‘THE 99’, was praised by US President Barack Obama as the most innovative of the thousands of new entrepreneurs that took part in the

Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in 2010. Since its introduction in 2006, ‘THE 99’ phenomenon has featured heavily in international media, including recognition by Forbes Magazine, one of the world’s most influential publications, as one of the top 20 trends sweeping the globe. Yesterday’s announcement is one of the many initiatives which Gulf Bank is supporting and launching to encourage the development of Kuwait’s next generations.

Joyalukkas announces Valentine’s Day specials KUWAIT: Joyalukkas has unveiled their Valentine’s Day celebration collections. The collections under their world-renowned branded offering ie BeMine and Masaaki have been created by the Joyalukkas design team exclusively for Valentine’s Day celebration.

“Valentine’s Day is a big occasion to express

ones love and affection and to compliment this beautiful sentiment we have designed exclusive pendants under our renowned BeMine Diamond and Masaaki Pearl jewellery brands. The BeMine pendants are crafted in yellow, white and rose gold studded with exquisite diamonds and with Masaaki we have studded beautiful pearl creations with diamonds. We are sure our exquisite designs and collections will be much appreciated by women as gifts for Valentine’s Day,” said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group.

Under the BeMine collection, Joyalukkas will offer 3 exquisite creations ie Queen of hearts, which features a delicate crown top with a diamond studded heart, priced at KD 80 only. The Romantic Trio pendant, which is a design featuring 3 filigreed hearts in white, yellow and rose gold and studded with diamonds and topped with a crown of white diamonds on a butterfly motif necklace, priced at KD 240 only. The Twin hearts pendant, a delicate pendant featuring two complementary stylized hearts in white and yellow gold, around two sparkling diamonds, priced at KD 105 only. The Joyalukkas BeMine collection range will start from KD 65 onwards.

The very popular Joyalukkas Masaaki pearl brand will offer 2 exclusive necklace designs and

2 exquisite pendants for Valentine’s Day celebrations. The price range for the Masaaki Valentine’s collection will range from KD60 to KD155.

The celebration will be made extra special with a 50% discount on Polki & Diamond jewelry during the Valentine’s Day offer period ie Feb 6th to 15th, 2012.

27

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

New PC games bring golfing worms and garbage dump heroes HAMBURG: PC players will have a choice this month between their old favourites and a host of new heroes as they decide whether to embark on an action adventure, a strategy game or a round of golf involving exploding sheep.

Lovers of tactical missions can look forward to Renegade X: Black Dawn or Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, while serious adventurers can focus on the Lost Chronicles of Zerzura, set during the Inquisition. Or, if you like your games sporty with a little silliness, wait for the return of the world’s strangest worms in Worms Crazy Golf.

In Deponia, from Daedelic Entertainment, players are taken to unknown planets in a faraway galaxy.

Done in comic style, it focuses on Rufus, who lives in a garbage dump. Always illtempered, he dreams of a better life in a

city above the clouds. His life is thrown upside down when he meets Goal, who comes from that city and mistakenly lands in the dump.

Deponia’s developers have promised a game with unexpected twists and turns, during which players have to solve multiple puzzles. The game’s numerous unique characters are all hand-drawn. Recommended for players aged 6 and up, it sells for about 29 euros (38 dollars).

Also with a fair share of humour, Worms Crazy Golf from Rondomedia sees the crazy worms returning.

However, this time, the worms aren’t attacking each other: they’re playing golf.

Players have to pick the right swing and can influence the arc of the ball with implements like parachutes.

Exploding sheep and thieving moles

add some challenges to the three different courses, each with 18 holes. A multiplayer mode allows several players to attempt the same hole one after another. Worms Crazy Gold costs 15 euros and is recommended for players starting at age 6.

Renegade X: Black Dawn has an unlikely development cycle behind it.

Developed by fans as a successor to the shooting game C&C: Renegade, from Totem Arts, it was then released as a modification of Unreal Tournament 3 and is now available as a free download.

Many of the familiar elements of the Command & Conquer series can still be recognized, with the battle for Tiberium still central. This time, the player doesn’t lead his troops from a bird’s eye perspective, but steps into the skin of the elite commando Havoc, experiencing Havoc’s perspective as he runs or pilots

vehicles through the battlefield.

The fans who developed the game were trying to merge shooter and tactical elements. For now, Renegade X: Black Dawn is only available as a singleplayer game, though a multi-player version is expected later in the year. It’s available at www.renegade-x.com.

Unlike Renegade X, the adventure The Lost Chronicles of Zerzura from dtp Entertainment isn’t set upon a futuristic battlefield, but in 16th century Barcelona.

The puzzle game focuses on two brothers, Ramon and Feodor, and the mysterious oasis city of Zerzura in the Nile Valley. Across 50 scenes, the players meet more than 50 characters during the course of the game, solving puzzles the whole way. The hand-drawn backgrounds help enhance the mood.

Adventure fans know the game’s devel-

opers from their previous release, Black Mirror III. Zerzura is recommended for players aged 16 and up. It’s out now and costs about 34 euros.

Distant banana republics, tough mercenaries and tactical shoot-outs - that’s the stuff of Jagged Alliance: Back in Action. From bitComposer Games, the game will hit shelves with its mix of tactics, strategy and action on February 9.

Unlike its predecessors, the game is no longer round-based, but runs in realtime. If people want to stop and catch their breath, there’s also a Plan&Go mode that lets players stop the fighting and plan the moves of individual players into the future, laying out complex tactical manoeuvres.

Jagged Alliance will appear in standard and special editions and should cost about 42 euros. No age recommendation has been set. —dpa

Dual-use

Smartphones for work, private use SAN FRANCISCO: This Oct 15, 2011 file photo shows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg smiling during a meeting. —AP

For Facebook ‘Hacker Way’ is way of life NEW YORK: Facebook’s billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls himself a hacker. For most people, that word means something malicious shady criminals who listen in on private voicemails, or anonymous villains who cripple websites and break into email accounts.

For Facebook, though, hacker means something different. It’s an ideal that permeates the company’s culture. It explains the push to try new ideas (even if they fail), and to promote new products quickly (even if they’re imperfect). The hacker approach has made Facebook one of the world’s most valuable Internet companies.

Hackers “believe that something can always be better, and that nothing is ever complete,” Zuckerberg explains. “They just have to go fix it often in the face of people who say it’s impossible or are content with the status quo.”

Zuckerberg penned those words in a 479word essay called “The Hacker Way”, which he included in the document the company filed with government regulators about its plans for an initial public offering. The company is seeking $5 billion from investors in a deal that could value Facebook at as much as $100 billion.

The 27-year-old, who has a $28.4 billion stake in the stock deal, uses the H-word 12 times in the essay; “shareholder” appears just once. Should Zuckerberg have left those references out of his IPO manifesto, knowing fullwell it could scare off potential investors? He could easily have described Facebook as “nimble” or “agile” instead.

“Symbolically, it doesn’t bode well to Facebook and to potential investors,” says Robert D’Ovidio, an associate professor of criminal justice at Drexel University in Philadelphia who studies computer crime. “I think it shows maybe an immaturity on his part. He should definitely know better.”

By using the word, Zuckerberg is also trying to reclaim it. To him, Steve Jobs and the founders of many of the world’s biggest technology companies were hackers.

“The word ‘hacker’ has an unfairly negative connotation from being portrayed in the media as people who break into computers,” Zuckerberg writes. “In reality, hacking just means building something quickly or testing the boundaries of what can be done.”

To be fair, the meaning has become complicated. Bad hackers destroy things with evil intentions. They break into the voicemails of crime victims and celebrities in search of a hot news story. They breach security systems to steal credit card data. Just this week, members of the loose-knit group Anonymous hacked into law enforcement websites around the world and gained access to information about government informants and other sensitive information.

Good hackers break things, too, sometimes.

But they do it in the name of innovation. They call themselves “white hat” hackers to counter the criminal “black hats.” Often, they’re hired to expose security vulnerabilities at big corporations. Kevin Mitnick, who was convicted and sent to prison in the 1990s for computer hacking, now works as a security consultant. It’s the flip side of his past life, when he spent years stealing secrets from some of the world’s largest corporations.

“I break into computers to find holes before the bad guys do,” he says. To Mitnick, Zuckerberg’s “Hacker Way” is about finding clever ways to fix problems. It can also mean identifying a new use for something old.

Nathan Hamblen, who works for the website Meetup.com, says the best hacks are those that

do something unexpected, something surprising that no one else has thought of.

The term “hacking” dates back more than half a century, when geeks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were tweaking telephone systems and computers. “MIT was the Mesopotamia of hacking. That’s where hacking culture began,” says Steven Levy, the Wired Magazine writer who authored the 1984 book “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution.”

The small community of hackers in the 1950s and ‘60s judged one another on their creative and technical abilities, and wore the term as a badge of honor, says Levy, in much the same way that Zuckerberg does today.

“They were the ones who did what you weren’t supposed to do on a computer,” Levy explains.

Some were pranksters, too. In the 1970s, before they founded Apple, Steve Jobs and his buddy Steve Wozniak figured out how to break into telephone systems and make free phone calls. In one infamous prank, the two Steves dialed up the Vatican to find out who would pick up.

“Wozniak pretended to be Henry Kissinger wanting to speak to the pope. ‘Ve are at de summit meeting in Moscow, and we need to talk to the pope,’ Woz intoned. He was told that it was 5:30 am and the pope was sleeping,” writes Walter Isaacson in his recent biography of Jobs.

It wasn’t until the 1980s and ‘90s that hacking took a bad turn. Some blame Robert Morris, a computer science student who discovered a vulnerability in the Internet’s inner workings and unleashed the world’s first computer worm in 1988.

“He essentially brought the Internet to a grinding halt,” says D’Ovidio, the criminal justice professor. Morris was the first person charged under the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act that had been enacted two years earlier.

Movies like 1983’s “War Games” also fueled the public’s fear of hacking. In the film, a hacker unwittingly comes close to starting the next World War, thinking it’s all a computer game.

“It happened because of Hollywood and because there was no other word out there,” says Andrew Howard, 28, a research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. “Hacker is a cool word, right? It’s a neat-sounding word.”

The ‘80s and ‘90s were also a time when computers spread from geek circles to office cubicles and home desktops. They were becoming mainstream. But they were still mysterious to most people. They wondered: “How do they work? Is someone going to break into them?”

Zuckerberg’s hacker manifesto is a nod to Levy, who codified “The Hacker Ethic” in his book about the subculture. Among the principles: “Hackers should be judged by their hacking” and “Always yield to the hands-on imperative.”

The hands-on imperative is important to Facebook. Zuckerberg still spends hours writing computer code, even though he has hired hundreds of engineers.

That ethos helped Zuckerberg’s social network to prosper. As the once mighty MySpace stopped innovating, its users flocked to the cleaner, crisper, always-changing Facebook.

News Corp. gave up on MySpace and sold it for $35 million last June. Meanwhile, Facebook’s user base ballooned to 845 million, even as the website has gone through changes and redesigns that have angered members and privacy advocates.

Zuckerberg and others may yet be able to clean up the term. Meetup’s Hamblen thinks it’s already happening. —AP

BERLIN: Nobody enjoys juggling mobile phones, but many are finding they have to in order to keep their work phone separate from their personal phone. Many employers leave people little choice. There are too many concerns that confidential data might leak out if a person also uses a company smartphone or tablet containing that data for private communication. After all, the devices make tempting targets for internet attack.

But there is hope that the days of juggling could be coming to an end, allowing one device to multitask between private and professional use.

Special software for Mobile Device Management (MDM) allows mobile devices to be centrally controlled, meaning administrators can remotely protect files or install updates. If lost, the device can be remotely locked or have its data wiped. Some even allow users to be monitored or rights to be managed remotely.

Research in Motion (RIM), which makes the Blackberry, has gone a step further, offering the Balance system to companies to allow them to separate private and work life. An administrator determines which apps may be accessed, reviewing everything from the email inbox to the address book.

“Privately installed applications have no access to the professional files. Even copying information from the work area to private applications or emails is impossible,” says RIM. VMWare presented its solution at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: a

secure, encrypted virtual smartphone for business needs that starts up as an app. Dubbed Horizon Mobile, it is being developed for Android devices.

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute’s Centre for Advanced Security Research (SIT) has also come up with a virtual solution for the problem, but chose not to pursue it. “With virtualization, the battery is drained more quickly.

There are also usability problems,” says Ahmad-Reza Sadeghi, who runs the centre’s mobile systems department.

Instead, developers at SIT cracked Android open and came up with Bizztrust, which separates business and private functions into two logical containers on the operating system level. “There can be no information flow between the two areas,” says Sadeghi. “It doesn’t matter if you install a game with a Trojan in the private area,” he adds. The malware cannot make the jump between segments.

And users don’t have to worry about storing private details on the phone, because administrators have no access to the personal area, even as they retain full control of the business area, which is connected to the company’s infrastructure with an encrypted virtual private network (VPN).

Bizztrust puts a lot of emphasis on user friendliness, says Sadeghi. Users can tell which segment they’re in by looking at the background colour. Green denotes business, while red means private. Users can switch between systems with a two-finger flick. Private applications, like games, browsers or even Facebook

run without hindrance, but absolutely independently of the firm’s VPN. “Bizztrust supports the most popular Android devices,” says Sadeghi. He says about 150 firms have registered interest in the system, including 20 large ones. “We never counted on serious interest.”

The new solutions mean companies don’t have to think twice about letting employees use their mobile devices for private activities.

Several US companies have already implemented Bring Your Own Device policies. Some even sponsor the purchase of private gadgets, figuring that people who enjoy their mobile device and work well with it will be more productive.

And the practice isn’t just picking up in the United States. A quarter of German tablet users told a study conducted by consulting firm Accenture they used their mobile device in the office. Almost another quarter of those who said they planned to buy a tablet said they would use it for work.

The numbers are even starker with mobile phones. Another German survey showed that a third of workers use their private mobiles for work. In some cases, it was a must, since only one in every 12 workers said they had a work mobile.

Of course, having an office phone does not necessarily give one licence to use the phone for private calls. Laws vary from country to country, but the onus is usually on the employer to set standards, which must then be followed. —dpa

Streaming makes music available anywhere BERLIN: Music streaming is pretty old hat these days. Internet radio stations have been up and running for a decade, but new advances mean listeners have many more options, being able to pick precisely which songs they want, not just a basic music genre. The music can also go with them wherever they want, so long as they have internet access.

It’s a change for people who spent years accumulating CDs and MP3 hard drives, which suddenly look outdated. And the switch opens up questions about legal issues. But the trend seems here to stay.

On the one hand, there are pure online storage services for a person’s own music collection. Users load their music up to the service’s server so they can then access it from any computer or smartphone.

Providers include MP3Tunes, mSpot, TelekomCloud, TunesBag or Google Music, though the last one is only available in the United States for now.

But there are drawbacks.

Uploads can take a while. Some, like Amazon and Android, limit service outside of the United States, though that hurdle is easily beaten by providing some kind of US mailing address.

Other services come with flat rate listening deals, like Simfy (16 million titles), Napster (15 million), Juke (15 million), Deezer (13 million) or Musicload Nonstop (5.5 million). You can listen to the songs as often as you want.

Downloading is usually not an option, though there is sometimes the option of listening offline.

Prices vary, depending upon whether you’re looking for music storage space or full access to a service’s database. Some are free.

The Internet jukebox Others demand monthly or annual subscription fees. Most include services for blocking advertisements; apps for mobile use of the services with a smartphone or tablet; parallel use on multiple devices; or extra storage space.

“Basically, it depends on whether you want to ‘own’ the music or if right of use is enough,” commented German computer magazine c’t, which has tested a dozen such services.

If you’re not sure which service is right for you, experts recommend reviewing your music consumption for the last few months.

Did you buy a lot of CDs or MP3s?

Did you listen to them? Or were you more occupied with multistreaming services?

Further service models include Sony’s Music Unlimited (7 million titles) and Apple’s iTunes Match (20 million), which combine a little of both services. They make all the music files on your computer available for streaming from the service, provided they’re included on the database. Itunes Match, which costs 25 euros (32 dollars) a year, even uploads songs from your music collection if they’re not in the iTunes database.

Grooveshark goes one step further. The US service reports 30 million users and a large variety of songs. Users are allowed to upload songs so anyone can listen to them. Grooveshark makes money with advertising and subscriptions.

Unlike other services,

Grooveshark makes available all uploaded files. The obligation falls on artists or labels to demand license fees or the removal of a song. It’s a business model that invites legal contest, but doesn’t necessarily make it illegal or subject to fines.

“As a user, I just assume you have the proper rights,” says Astrid Auer-Reinsdorff, a German lawyer who specializes in IT law. But she advises against using “clearly illegal sources.” And there is a responsibility for the user to figure out what is in the clear.

The same rules apply to video or audio uploads. “You should keep away from uploading,” she says. “Private copy privilege doesn’t apply on the net.” —dpa

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

New inner-city health center opens in Boston BOSTON: Bob Thompson learned he had prostate cancer after routine screening at the Whittier Street Health Center, a community-based facility that has long served serving thousands of residents of the inner-city Roxbury neighborhood.

The screening probably saved his life, said Thompson, 60, a long-time Roxbury resident who had surgery for the cancer last May. “Without it I probably would not have discovered that I had cancer, it would have gone on for a number of years and the cancer would have gotten worse,” he said.

Later yesterday, Gov. Deval Patrick and others would attend a ceremony dedicating Whittier’s new, $35 million state-of-the-art facility viewed by many as a model for efficient health care delivery to traditionally underserved urban residents. The six-story, 79,000-squarefoot building has been described as a “one-stop” center for health care and social services, offering 19,000 residents everything from cancer screening to dental care to violence prevention programs. Patrick said community health centers like Whittier are critical to the state’s twin goals of providing universal

care while reducing costs. “Part of the way to assure access and also part of the way to assure cost-containment is encouraging as many people as possible to get their care in lower-cost community centers,” he said in an interview last week. Patrick has been pushing lawmakers to approve a payment reform bill that would shift the health care industry away from a fee-for-service system based on individual tests and procedures and toward a so-called global payment system that stresses a teamoriented approach to patient care.

Construction of the new facility was largely enabled by a portion of the $80 million in federal stimulus funds the state received for eight communitybased health centers, four in Boston and one each in New Bedford, Fall River, Fitchburg and Lowell.

Nationally, community-based health centers received about $2 billion in federal stimulus grants over the past two years, according to the US Health Resources and Services Administration.

Whittier first opened in 1933 to help care for newborn babies in a public housing development. The new building keeps the center’s original name

though it is now located on a former vacant lot on nearby Tremont Street, with more than twice the size and capacity of the previous facility.

Situated just a few miles from, but in many ways a world removed from, Boston’s renowned Longwood medical district, it has faced enormous challenges serving the diverse and largely low-income neighborhood. “When you look at our mission statement it is about eliminating health and social disparities,” said Frederica Williams, Whittier’s president and chief executive. “You cannot cure someone’s illness and make them engaged if they are dealing with pover ty or not making sustainable wages.”

Center officials say 60 percent of their patients live below the poverty level and 85 percent live in public housing. Fewer than one in four patients have private insurance and about half receive Medicaid. And 23 percent have no health insurance at all - a startling figure in Massachusetts, where 98 percent of all residents have health insurance because of the state’s landmark 2006 health care law.

The socio-economic disparities

appear to translate directly to health disparities. About 70 percent of Whittier’s patients have been diagnosed with at least one chronic medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension , asthma or obesity. Many live with more than one such disease.

The neighborhood’s 1-in-10 infant mortality rate also far exceeds state and national averages. Four in five patients also have “psycho-social” issues, center officials say, often stemming from violence or substance abuse prevalent in their lives or families. “If other stressors in your life are preventing you from addressing care or seeing your doctors on a regular basis, then it’s hard to stay connected,” said Dr. Christopher Lathan, director of the cancer care equity program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Lathan is one of five oncologists assigned on a rotating basis to a cancer clinic at Whittier that is run by DanaFarber, one of the nation’s most prestigious cancer research and treatment centers.

Lathan pointed to statistics showing that African-American men have the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world, and African-American women in

the US have higher breast cancer mortality rates. He said Dana-Farber tries to provide Roxbury residents with access to similar care that patients would receive at the institute’s main campus in the Longwood medical area.

The clinic, originally funded by a 2008 gift from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his late wife, Myra, may be the first example of a major US cancer center operating in a community-based setting, Williams said.

Monday’s dedication culminates a nearly decade-long quest by Williams to find a permanent home for Whittier, yet she understands the building itself doesn’t guarantee that all in the community will take advantage of its offerings. That’s why, she said, the center employs roving “health ambassadors” in the neighborhood to seek out residents - particularly men - who might otherwise have no contact with doctors until a crisis lands them in a hospital emergency room. “We are relentless in getting you in here,” said Williams. “Once we screen you for the first time, if there is an abnormal result, our patient navigators will follow you and call you until you have no choice but to come in.” — AP

Mass hysteria rare, usually seen in girls Tests find nothing physically wrong

BELGRADE: A swan swims on the frozen Ada Ciganlija Lake in Belgrade yesterday. In Serbia, almost 70,000 people are still cut off from their villages and 32 municipalities have declared state of emergency, mostly in the south and southwest of the country. So far, nine people have died of cold in the country. — AFP

Latest illnesses point to raw milk’s popularity WASHINGTON: An outbreak of bacterial infections on the East Coast illustrates the popularity of raw, unpasteurized milk despite strong warnings from public health officials about the potential danger.

Even presidential candidate Ron Paul has joined the cause of consumers looking to buy unprocessed “real foods” straight from the farm, saying government shouldn’t deny them that choice.

An outbreak of campylobacter illness is a reminder of the potential hazards, however. Raw milk from a dairy in Pennsylvania is now linked to 38 cases in four states, and the farm has temporarily suspended sales.

Campylobacter can cause diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever and can be life-threatening if it spreads to the bloodstream. Consumers who want unpasteurized milk have to work to find it. It’s against federal law to transport it across state lines, and most states don’t allow it to be sold in stores off the farm. Twenty states prohibit raw milk sales altogether.

The government says the milk is unsafe because of the pathogens cows may encounter on the farm. A wide variety of pathogens besides campylobacter, can be found in raw milk - including salmonella, listeria, E. coli and others - and those sickened could suffer from stroke, kidney failure, paralysis or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency points out that raw milk killed many people - especially young children before the onset of pasteurization, which kills disease-causing germs by heating milk to high temperatures for a specific period of time.

The CDC says pasteurized milk is rich in proteins, carbohydrates and other nutri-

ents, and that heat only slightly decreases thiamine, vitamin B12, and vitamin C. While the government contends that milk is a minor source of those nutrients, raw milk advocates say that’s proof that pasteurization makes milk less wholesome and pure.

The government doesn’t keep records of raw milk consumption or sales, but it’s clear that the product is popularized by a larger food movement that encourages less processing and more “real food.” Raw milk goes a step further than organic milk free of added growth hormones. Organic milk, too, has enjoyed a sales boost in recent years.

“We are pushing for consumer choice and freedom and a variety of dairy options for people,” said Kimberly Hartke of the Weston A. Price Foundation, an activist group that advocates “restoring nutrientdense foods to the human diet.” Price was a dentist who studied global nutrition around the turn of the 20th century.

Advocates say far more illnesses are caused each year by leafy greens, deli meats and other products produced in much larger quantities than raw milk. “To outlaw or ban any natural food because it could possibly make you sick is an extreme position, because there is no safe food,” Hartke said.

That’s a position that presidential contender Paul, a physician, understands. He appears to have acknowledged the potential risks of raw milk when he said last summer that “what I’m doing in politics is not exactly the medical opinion.”

Still, he said, “as long as you don’t force other people, and as long as you don’t defraud people, you ought to have a choice.” — AP

EU mulls microchips on breast implants BRUSSELS: The European Union’s executive is considering a requirement to equip breast implants with microchips as part of a safety review following an international health scare, officials said. Meanwhile, a study by EU experts said there was not enough evidence to say whether women who received implants from French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) were at greater risk of health problems than women who received other implants.

Since it was discovered that PIP used industrial silicone for its breast implants, in order to cut costs, authorities around the world have been scrambling to determine health risks for patients. “The anxieties generated by this PIP affair have shown that the traceability of these products could be improved,” Frederic Vincent, spokesman for EU Health Commissioner John Dalli, told reporters in Brussels.

He mentioned that Denmark was quickly able to identify patients with PIP implants, as it had a national register, while other countries did not. “One of the options which the European Commission is exploring is the

introduction of a so-called a UDI - Unique Device Identifier - which ... could be a microchip,” Vincent explained.

A similar system is already in place in the United States. Meanwhile, EU experts from the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) delivered their first, inconclusive, report on the dangers posed by PIP breast implants.

There was “insufficient evidence to warrant a conclusion that women with PIP silicone breast implants have a greater risk to their health than women with breast implants from other manufacturers,” SCENIHR said.

The commission asked the committee to keep exploring the issue, Vincent said. So far, only five EU member states - Germany, France, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Belgium - have recommended the removal of PIP implants, the spokesman indicated.

According to estimates, around 400,000 PIP implants were sold worldwide, including 40,000 in Britain, 30,000 in France, 10,000 in Spain and 7,500 in Germany, the commission said. — dpa

ATLANTA: Fifteen teenage girls report a mysterious outbreak of spasms, tics and seizures in upstate New York. But tests find nothing physically wrong. Scores of adults in Northern California report crawling skin sensations and other bizarre symptoms. Government doctors find no physical cause after an extensive study.

The conclusion by experts is that these are just the latest examples of what used to be called mass hysteria.

Now known as conversion disorder, sufferers experience real, but psychologically triggered symptoms.

It’s rare, but scores or even hundreds of outbreaks have been recorded through the decades around the world. It’s a diagnosis that’s often reached after other causes are ruled out, and is usually traced to a stresscausing trigger. Individual cases are common, even the kind involving tics and other movement-related symptoms. On average, the National Institutes of Health gets reports of two such cases each week, said Dr. Mark Hallett, who heads the branch that fields those calls.

Outbreaks, however, are unusual.

Most involve females, often teenagers. Why is not clear. Some think it has to do with the way girls are socialized to deal with stress.

Others say that females are just more likely to seek medical help - and thus appear in medical reports.

Symptoms seen in outbreaks vary, and cases have included blindness, headaches, nausea, paralysis and inability to speak. As in infectious disease outbreaks, they often seem to begin with one person who gets the symptoms and then it spreads to people she knows. Experts believe that these first “index” cases often are people who have symptoms caused by a physical illness, but subsequent cases are subconscious mimicry.

Recent examples include: In the fall of 2007, at least eight girls at a Roanoke, Va., high school developed strange twitching symptoms similar to those in upstate New York. The school district spent $30,000 to check the school, but investigators found no environmental cause.

Earlier in 2007, a mysterious illness swept through a Catholic boarding school in Chalco, Mexico, causing 600 girls to suffer fever, nausea and buckling knees that left many unable to walk. Batteries of tests found no physical cause.

In 2002, 10 teenage girls at a small, rural North Carolina high school had epileptic-like seizures and fainting. The school buildings were inspected, but nothing was found to

explain the outbreak. Allegations of fakery sometimes surface, but most experts believe these patients have real symptoms that they can’t consciously control.

One thing they often have in common, is some kind of precipitating stress in their lives.

That was the case in Le Roy, NY, the site of the latest example of this disorder. Dr Jennifer McVige, a pediatric neurologist based in nearby Batavia, has seen 10 of the teens. “All of the kids had something big that happened,” like divorcing parents or some other upsetting situation, McVige said, declining to go into detail.

The Le Roy Central School District paid for an inspection of the school, checking for formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, molds,

point where she couldn’t even attend class. She had some psychological counseling, which she says didn’t resolve her condition. “I want an answer. A straight answer,” she said on the show.

Doctors familiar with the girls’ treatment say the continuing news coverage has slowed progress they were making. They have recommended that all the girls see therapists. But that’s easier said than done. There’s a shortage of pediatric psychologists in that part of the state, McVige said.

Experts elsewhere have looked on curiously at the Le Roy story. One piece of footage prompted laughter this week among a group of physicians.

They were watching a BBC report on the cases, which showed one girl with a jerking arm that suddenly

solvents and other volatile organic compounds and even lighting levels.

No environmental cause for the cases was found.

But the belief that there must be a physical cause drew national news attention, and finally, California environmental activist Erin Brockovich.

She wanted to investigate whether a 1970 derailed train carrying chemicals may have contaminated groundwater with trichloroethene, or TCE. State health officials say no TCE was found at the school, and on Wednesday they reported no sign of that chemical or other threatening contaminants in the school or village water supply. The idea that it’s a stress-induced psychological disorder has been hard for some of the girls and their parents to swallow. Some have appeared on national and international TV voicing that view.

On NBC’s Today Show last month, senior Thera Sanchez told how her Tourette-like tics worsened to the

became very controlled as she applied eyeliner and then jerked around again when she was done.

“It’s almost impossible to conceive of a true neurological disorder that can allow for that complexity of switching back and forth,” said Dr. Jose Maldonado, chief of psychosomatic medicine at Stanford University, who mentioned the group’s reaction. “It also looks very purposeful. I’m not saying she’s making it up. I’m just saying that it doesn’t look neurological.”

The AP was unable to reach the girl or her mother. McVige acknowledged the other doctors’ reaction.

She recalled one examination in which the tic in one girl’s arm stopped when a doctor forcefully held it, but then the other arm started moving.

That also is not something generally seen in neurological disorders.

She said the Le Roy outbreak, at its core, is no hoax. But “now I think

there’s an overlay of some of the girls trying to prove ‘there’s something wrong with me,’” she added.

Calls from the AP to three of the girls were not returned. Brockovich did not respond to an email request for an interview, either. Last week, while those cases were in the news, government doctors coincidentally released a long-awaited report on their investigation into an illness known as Morgellons (mor-GELLuns).

The condition is marked by some bizarre symptoms, including sores, crawling sensations on the skin and perhaps worst of all - mysterious fibers that the patients believe sprout from their skin. Anecdotal and media reports about cases six years ago led to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency found no environmental or physical cause for the cases; tests showed the fibers came from fabric, like clothing or blankets.

Psychological evaluations suggested conversion disorder, said a neurologist who worked on the study.

Some specialists argue it doesn’t fit in that category. Some believe Morgellons is a form of psychosis.

Others insist these patients are not psychotic, but suffer from a less severe kind of psychological disorder which isn’t well understood yet.

Also, at least some of the Morgellons patients probably don’t have a psychological problem at all, said Dr. J. Michael Bostwick, a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic who has studied delusions of infestation.

It turned out one woman had itchy skin that was caused by high calcium levels that developed from parathyroid tumors. In past outbreaks, the symptoms of conversion disorder have tended to disappear in a matter of weeks or a few months. In Le Roy, many of the cases appeared around the beginning of the school year and were improving, but about half of the girls got worse after the wave of media attention and disputes about the cause of the illness.

Indeed, McVige said she has stopped forwarding media requests to her patients. Anxiety and suspicion are continuing, fueled by YouTube, Facebook and other social media that weren’t prevalent in earlier outbreaks, observed Robert Bartholomew, a sociologist who has studied mass hysteria for many years.

“There is a good chance that symptoms could spread to other students and last for several more months even years,” Bartholomew said in an email from New Zealand, where he teaches at a university. — AP

Proposed autism criteria roil medical community WASHINGTON: A proposal to use new diagnostic criteria for autism has roiled the US medical community, with many experts concerned that the move could exclude children affected by some forms of the disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association recommended last month that a new category called “autism spectrum disorder” be established to incorporate several forms of autism which were previously considered separately.

These include autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder. Under this new approach, all four would be considered a variation of autism.

But critics are concerned that this may deprive patients of access to welfare, educational and health services that are based on the old definition set by the APA. The APA defended its decision, saying that the new criteria establishes degrees of severity for the disorder and would help provide more targetted treatment for patients.

“The proposed criteria will lead to more accurate diagnosis and will help physicians and therapists design better treatment interventions for children who suffer from autism spectrum disorder,” argued Doctor James Scully, medical director of the association.

But Fred Volkmar, head of the Children’s Psychiatry Department at Yale University, believes this revision would exclude up to 60 percent of children now suffering from Asperger’s disorder.

Volkmar said he came to this conclusion by applying the new criteria to a study he conducted in 1993 on children suffering from Asperger’s and other forms of autism.

“We went back to the old data, and we looked at the new definition, and we were worried, actually,” he told AFP. “In our work we looked at our preliminary data in high functioning children, Asperger children, and about 60 percent lose their diagnostic. It’s huge!”

“They (American Psychiatric Association) say it’s not true. I hope it’s not true, but they are now in a

position of having to respond to this.” According to Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, the largest private foundation in the world dedicated to research of the disorder, it is too early to know “whether there will be or not excluding people who do really have autism spectrum.”

But she said her foundation is “committed to funding research that will explore whether or not the criteria are excluding people, and our goal is to insure that ultimately no one is excluded or is denied services.”

The proposed changes have been in the works for the past 15 years because studies “show well now that Asperger’s disorder is a form of autism,” noted Eric Fombonne, chair of the Children’s Psychiatry Department at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. And if the APA decided in 1994 to consider Asperger’s separately, it was simply because “at that point we did not know if it was different or just a variation of autism.” Therefore, it was necessary to categorise it separately to study it, he said. — AFP

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

H E A LT H

Children near French nuke plants run greater leukaemia risk PARIS: Children living near French nuclear power plants may run a greater risk of contracting leukaemia, French media reported last week, quoting a study published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Cancer.

The study carried out by INSERM, France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research between 2002 and 2007 found that children under the age of 15 living within 5 kilometres of a nuclear plant were twice as likely to have acute leukaemia as other children.

The study found 14 cases of childhood acute leukaemia in areas around the country’s 19 nuclear power plants. Based on national figures, researchers had expected to find 7.4 cases, out of a total 2,753 cases countrywide.

“The results suggest a possible excess risk of acute leukaemia in the close vicinity of French nuclear power plants in 2002- 2007,” the report said. The head of the study, Jacqueline Clavel, told Le Figaro newspaper the findings came as a surprise, after a study carried out between 1990 and 2001 had found no increased risk of childhood leukaemia around nuclear plants.

But she also cautioned against drawing hasty conclusions. There was “no way” of knowing what caused the increased leukemia risk, she told the paper. The survey sample was too small to draw conclusions. Plus, when the results

of the 1990-2001 and 2002-2007 studies were combined, the increased risk of childhood leukaemia near nuclear plants was nil. “We must now get down to researching parameters that could explain this increase, namely through international cooperations which will allow us to work on a bigger scale” Clavel said.

Anti-nuclear groups said the findings vindicated their fears over the safety of nuclear power. France gets 75 per cent of its electricity from 58 nuclear reactors. “Even in a nonaccident situation, the proof is again there that nuclear technology doesn’t belong in a civilized world,” the Reseau Sortir du Nucleaire (Exit Nuclear Network) said in a statement.

The network drew a line between the findings of the Inserm study, which was carried out in collaboration with the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, and two previous studies that found a potentially higher risk of childhood leukemia near nuclear plants.

A 1995 French study found a potential link between an increased incidence of childhood leukaemia in the area around La Hague nuclear plant and discharges from the plant. In 2008, a study commissioned by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BFS) found clusters of leukaemia cases among children aged under 5 living near 16 power stations in the country. — dpa

WHO warns of alarming rise in cancer cases MANILA: The number of cancer cases worldwide are increasing at an alarming rate and governments must strengthen national programmes to raise awareness and reduce risks and suffering from the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday.

By 2030, there could be 21.4 million people with cancer worldwide, up from 12.7 million in 2008, with nearly two-thirds of the patients coming from low- and medium-income countries, the WHO warned on the eve of World Cancer Day. Shin Young Soo, WHO’s regional director for the Western Pacific, said well-organized national programmes could help reduce the burden of cancer, which falls heaviest on the poor, who are more exposed to risk factors

and have less access to preventive services.

“We need to put our knowledge into action,” he said. “Cancer control should become everyone’s responsibility. To win the battle against cancer, the health sector must join hands with other sectors, such as agriculture, education, the environment, the food industry, trade and transportation.”

The WHO’s Western Pacific Region, which covers 37 countries in Asia and the Pacific, accounted for 32 per cent of all cancers in 2008. “There were slightly more than 4 million new cases of cancer in the region in 2008 2.31 million in men and 1.75 million in women,” the WHO said. “Nearly 2.6 million people in the region died from cancer in that year.” — dpa

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Upcoming events Palpak 4th AGM Palakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait (Palpak) is conducting its Fourth Annual General Body Meeting on Februar y 24, Friday at Hiphop Auditorium, Fahaheel from 10 am. The main agenda include as following, annual report on the activities during the year of 2011, the audited accounts report for the year of 2011. All members of Palpak are kindly requested to treat this as an official Invitation and attend the said Annual Genera1 body meeting on time. For more details please contact President P.N.Kumar (99771830) and General Secretar y Aravindha Shan (66535989).

White Day celebration at ABS

Lecture on construction Lecture on Do you wonder why Kuwait is always “under construction?” Dr. Farah Al-Nakib will be discussing her theories on why Kuwait City is forever being demolished and built anew since the 1950’s.

Mark your calendar, tell your friends - because this is a talk you will not want to miss on Tuesday, February 7 at 7 pm at the Dar Al-Athar-Al-Islamiy yah’s Amricani Cultural Center.

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he American Baccalaureate School celebrated White Day on January 19. A great time was had by the students and teachers. The KG students sang along with Matt and James, from the High School Department, all about white things (ghosts, monsters and snowmen).

The great folks at KD Cow brought in yummy milk to drink and the students were able to pretend to milk a cow! They also took turns naming white foods that they like... popcorn was the favorite!! It was another great day at ABS filled with learning and fun!

Spiritual experience For a rewarding, spiritual and informative experience. This is a 1 1/2 tour of one of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks ladies are required to cover (long sleeves and long ankle length skirt, otherwise the mosque will provide a cloak; If you have your own scar f you’re welcome to bring it). Cameras are allowed and children are welcome. This tour meets directly at the Grand Mosque at 9:15am on February 11. Directions to the Grand Mosque: Take Gulf Street towards the Kuwait Towers. Pass Souq Sharq with it on your right. Pass the Dickson House and Ministry of Planning with them on your left. By Seif Palace there is a large roundabout. Take the 2nd exit off the roundabout. The Grand Mosque is now on your left.

At traffic lights turn left. Grand Mosque is on your left.

French concert Don’t miss the 1st concert of 2012 organized by the French Institute in Kuwait featuring talented musicians Smadj (Oud - Electro), Orhan Osman (Bouzouki) & Eric Gaulthier (Clarinet)! Sure to be a fantastic crowd pleaser! Ne manquez pas le 1er concert de l’annÈe 2012 organisÈ par l’Institut franÁais du Koweit. avec Smadj (Oud - electro), Orhan Osman (Bouzouki) et Eric Gaulthier (Clarinette)! On Monday, February 13 at the Kuwait Boy Scout Theater from 7:30pm - 9pm.

Golden Era Club On February 10, the Golden Era Club will hold a workshop on “Positive Think ing & The Law of Attraction” to be conducted by ardent and successful practitioner, Wilson Crawford D’Souza (of Lemonade International Fame). The workshop will be followed by a unique ‘Human Bingo’ session. As always, all seniors (60+ years) are invited to join in the fun, frolic and friendship! From 5 pm - 7pm at Rumaithya, Block 2, Sate Al-Husari Street, House #34, Next to AbuTammam I ntermediate School for Boys Registration/more info: goldenera60@yahoo.com or 9717-2788/6620-8183.

HMWA seerat programme Hyderabad Muslim Welfare Association (HMWA) will hold a yearly programme on the life of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) titled “Rafanaka Laka Zikrak” on 10th Feb soon after Friday prayer in Masjid-eAbdullah 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.

For details call 99481599, 50605074, 66605881.

Al-Shaya & Al-Sager (KAICO) organizes blood donation drive

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uwait Automotive Imports Co. KAICO (Al Shaya & Al Sagar), Kuwait’s leading automotive distributor of international brands like Mazda, Peugeot, Eicher, Geely, BAW, Michelin, Mobil and Apollo, in collaboration with the Kuwait Central Blood bank recently organized a Blood Donation Drive at Al-Rai on January 15, that witnessed a very positive response from the management and staff.

Yousef Al-Shaya, KAICO’s CEO explained, “The Blood Donation Drive is held as a part of KAICO’s commitment as a responsible corporate citizen. He mentioned that Kuwait has one of the highest road accidents in the world and all drivers should drive safe and adhere to all the traffic rules. He added that KAICO conducts a “Blood Donation Drive” bi-annually.

KAICO’s senior management and staff enthusiastically

Starwood shakes up the status quo by introducing ‘round-the-clock’ check-in For most loyal Starwood preferred guest members

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ith Your24, a groundbreaking new benefit announced yesterday, Starwood Hotels & Resorts will abolish set check-in and checkout times for select Starwood Preferred Guest elite members - and introduce ‘round-theclock’ check-in at all Starwood hotels and resorts.

While tradition has long held hotel check-in to 3 pm, Starwood is bucking convention to give its most frequent travelers complete control of their check-in and checkout times. A member who chooses to check in at 10 pm won’t have to check out until 10 p.m. on their day of departure, 24 hours later. Platinum SPG members who spend 75+ nights at Starwood hotels can request Your24 service.

“We’re constantly striving to make travel as personalized as possible for Starwood Preferred Guest Members, and that means fresh thinking around long-standing industry practices,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President for Distribution, Loyalty & Partnership Marketing at

Comedy play Indian Cultural Society proudly presents new concept of comedy play “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi” with Bhagyashree & Akshay Ananad along with Krutika Sharma, Prairna & Navin Agarwal on 17th Feb at 7 pm sharp at Dr Kamil Al Rays auditorium American International School near Police station Maidan Hawally Kuwait. The Chief Guest for the event will be Ambassador of India, Kuwait and the guest of honor will be prominent personalities from Kuwait. For more information contact: 97270386, 67030839, 66127231, or log on to ics.kuwait@gmail.com Music festival On March 1, 2012, the “Blend Music Festival,” a mellow acoustic get-together of several local musicians, will take place in Bayt Lothan, the official sponsor, host, and curator of the event. This event will be FREE of charge and open to everyone to attend. We hope to see you all there, and here’s to a great start to 2012! The “Blend Music Festival” will be the first of many concerts to be held; there are a handful of musicians on board, and more will be added to the sets at a later stage. Here is the program for March 1st: 1- Ali Sleeq with Gary Ruston & Kevin Owen = JAZZ; 2- Hadi Sarieddine, Bader Nana, & Sarj = ROCK; 3- Lewis Chapman - FOLK / ROCK. GLEE-esque show choir This Valentine’s Day step into a musical Love Story performed by Vocal Rhapsody, KLT’s first ever GLEEesque show choir. Vocal Rhapsody’s “Love Story” - is a show choir production with hit songs from artists such as Journey, Queen, Katy Perry and Meatloaf. It promises to be an exciting evening for all with some classic songs that everyone will enjoy. contact: http://www.theklt.com Cultural program On the 10th of February 2012, Friday at 3:30 pm. A cultural program will be staged at the Carmel School Kuwait, Khaitan. This will include a Book Fair and an Art Competition with a Musical Drama (JanatarDak).

It is written n Directed by Rafiqul Islam Bulu and organized by the Bangladesh Udjapon Committee Kuwait. This is an open invitation, All are welcome.

Sadu weaving workshop This workshop is of four weeks duration, and it will be held twice a week. The morning group sessions are on Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 12pm.

The evening group are on Sunday and Tuesday from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. A total of 8 sessions of three hours each.

This workshop will be held from January 22nd to February 18th.

For more Information kindly contact Sadu House at: info@alsadu.org.kw SaduWeaving@gmail.com 2243-2395 or 9959-7983

volunteered and donated 22L of blood to the Kuwait Central Blood Bank.

Ashish Tandon, KAICO’s General Manger mentioned, “Donated blood can save up to 3 lives.”

Each unit of donated blood can be divided for three life saving purposes. He mentioned that this is just one of the many CSR activities that KAICO undertakes. He also thanked Kuwait Central Bank for their constant support.

Starwood. “Your24 reflects very clearly that the preferences of our guests drive how we do business, and that’s another reason why Starwood and SPG have earned such intense loyalty with global travelers.”

Your24 is part of a suite of new elite benefits that make the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest the richest elite program in the industry. With the new SPG enhancements, the more you stay, the richer it gets with more points, first of its kind benefits such as confirmable 24-hour check-in, the addition of lifetime status, access to a dedicated Starwood ambassador, confirmable upgrades and free breakfast.

Starwood recently reported that elite membership in Starwood Preferred Guest has doubled over the past five years. Elite members represent 1% of the membership and drive 20% of member revenue. What’s more, they are spending 60% more than they did five years ago.

IMAX film program Effective 5th Feb. until 11th Feb. 2012 Monday ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Born to be Wild 3D10:30am, 4:30pm, 10:30pm The Last Reef 3D 11:30am, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm Arabia 3D 12:30pm Sea Rex 3D 1:30pm, 7:30pm Tuesday ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups The Last Reef 3D 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm,7:30pm, 9:30pm Sea Rex 3D 12:30pm, 10:30pm Into The Deep 3D 3:30pm Journey to Mecca 5:30pm Born to be Wild 3D8:30pm Wednesday ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Into The Deep 3D 10:30am The Last Reef 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, 10:30pm Sea Rex 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pm Born to be Wild 3D3:30am, 9:30pm Journey to Mecca 5:30pm

Thursday ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups The Last Reef 3D 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 10:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 12:30pm, 9:30pm Sea Rex 3D 3:30pm Into The Deep 3D 6:30pm Friday Fires of Kuwait 2:30pm The Last Reef 3D 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm Into The Deep 3D 4:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 7:30pm Sea Rex 3D 10:30pm Saturday ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups The Last Reef 3D 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm Into The Deep 3D 12:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 3:30pm, 9:30pm Sea Rex 3D 6:30pm 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 visit www.tsck.org.kw

MUKAM-Kuwait hosts Pongal festival

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uthamizh Kalai Mandram (MUKAM), Kuwait hosted the Pongal & Cultural Arts Festival at Indian Central School, Abbasiya on January 27, 5:30 pm. The meeting was presiding by Neravi Er. Rajasekaran as (President).

The Chief Guest Dr Ulaganayagi MA, M.Phil, Phd, was honored with special title ‘Muthamizh Naayagi” by the honorable guest Er. Muthukrishnan, Rama

Muthukrishnan and Senthamizh Arasu.

The program was well organized by K. Jayabalan (General Secretary) and K. Natarajan (Treasurer) Mohandas & Venkadamathy (Frontliners) participated and enchanted the function Shajahan, Al Maas Mustafa, Balusamy Palani, Rajendran, Tamizhnadan (Pongu Tamzhil), AKS Abdul Nazar & H.M. Nasar (K-Tic), Arif Maricar, Zahirudeen & Zahir Hussain (TMCA), Vote of thanks by Gandhi (P.R.S.)

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Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

Excellence celebrated at BSK

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he British School of Kuwait’s Middle Department (Years 6 - 8) recently celebrated the success of its top ten students who achieved the most housepoints in the Middle Department during Terms 1 and 2. At their recent assembly these hardworking students were each presented with a complimentary Alshaya Card from M.H. Alshaya Co. The Alshaya

Card can be used at any of Alshaya retail stores and restaurants, and were presented during the ceremony by BSK Principal Mr. Paul Shropshire.

Students at The British School of Kuwait are given housepoints as a reward for academic achievement and effort. A maximum of two housepoints are given out every lesson. Students can also earn

housepoints for service to the school, participation in afterschool sports events and taking part in assemblies. BSK is grateful to AlShaya Company for supporting academic excellence by honouring the great efforts and achievements of this elite group of BSK students.

Partnership between education and business will ensure that future entrepre-

neurs are encouraged and rewarded at every level.

The top ten students who were awarded Alshaya Cards were: Jessica Yousef, Johnny Ghosn, Natasha Roy, Shahad Al-Melhem, Abdulrahman Nadeem, Yousef Mahmoud, Rayan Abdul-baki, Ali Mohammadi, Edgar Baladi and Max Mayer.

GUST celebrates Recycling Day

ESF IGCSE options evening

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he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) Business Operations Department put together a recycling program for the university to make it easier for students, staff and faculty alike to recycle paper and more importantly - confidential excess paper.

The Operations Department put together a program where anyone can send in their confidential paper, sealed.

The paper is then placed in a secure storage area. The papers are then taken out with facility employees every Friday and are overseen by security officers to ensure that all papers are shredded securely.

The shredding machine is top of its line and ensures that all paper is secured in a plastic bag. All bags are then sent to a recycling facility.

This initiative is part of the university’s many goals to help and safe-guard its surrounding environment and for its students, staff and faculty to be as environmentally aware as possible.

T

he English School Fahaheel will hold an “Options Evening” on Tuesday February 7, for prospective IGCSE students in the Lloyd Webber Theatre. ESF gallery presents ‘flowers’: The English School Fahaheel is proud to announce the opening of a new art exhibition at the ESF Gallery. “Flowers” will run through to February 18th. ESF Gallery timings 8am-2pm.

Kuwait Marriott Hotels upgrade internet offerings

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uwait Marriott Hotels recently deployed upgraded Wi-Fi services to equip guests with convenience and the ability to stay connected seamlessly during their stay. As part of the wave of new facilities and features introduced recently across Marriott’s three properties in Kuwait, each well-appointed room, suite and meeting space now has Wi-Fi internet access - an effort to provide a wholesome and comfortable experience while surfing the web using laptops, smart phones or the latest internet-enabled gadgets.

“In an effort to provide our

customers with enhanced levels of comfort and privacy, we sought and established an efficient Wi-Fi upgrade as part of our many newly developed initiatives for 2012. Our guests can surf, work or voice and video chat comfortably with family, friends and colleagues while basking in the 8 storey-high panoramic breathtaking view of the Courtyard by Marriott lobby or the luxurious elegance of the JW Marriott lobby,” said George Aoun, General Manager for Kuwait Marriott Hotels.

For those that are seeking high performance, the speed

itself has been upgraded to 20 Mbps at the modern Courtyard

by Marriott and the prestigious Arraya Ballroom, and the five-star JW Marriott hotel will see speeds up to 24 Mbps being offered.

Guests can now enjoy highspeed internet access within their own rooms and across all 9 international restaurants.

“Our new high speed Wi-Fi system will also prove to be beneficial during large meetings, events or conferences. At Marriott, we constantly strive to meet our guests’ increased needs, whether they are business or leisure travelers”, added Aoun.

Mock parliament at ICSK

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an 29th 2012 will go down in the history of ICSK as a red letter day. Thirty five students selected from all the three branches of the school went through the first stage of selection for Mock Parliament at the Senior School Auditorium. The concept of Mock Parliament at ICSK is the brain child of Honorary Secretary Rajan Daniel who is reputed for his dynamic views on leadership. He has time and again reiterated that the youngsters will take our country to glorious heights. Sherin Thomas Mani, the Head of CCA Committee of the ICSK played a vital role in the organization and execution of this historic event.

A special assembly was conducted in honour of the Chief Guest, the Honourable former MP Shri. Francis George, one of the most versatile and leading parliamentarians from the Idukki district of the State of Kerala. The Honorary Secretary Rajan Daniel and Sherin Thomas Mani, Head of CCA Committee graced the occasion.

Rajan Daniel introduced & welcomed

the chief guest, in his own inimitable style.

The chief guest then formally inaugurated the first stage of the Mock Parliament and briefed the audience about a typical day in the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament. He also showed a few video clippings of the Parliamentary proceedings explaining the protocol involved in the day to day affairs of the Temple of Democracy. The introduction of the day’s proceedings was done in an exemplary manner by Mrs Sridevi Pradeep, Principal of the Amman Branch who also coordinated the event.

The special feature of the day was the interactive session that the children had with the chief guest. The children enthusiastically asked quite a number of questions ranging from corruption in public life to the Right to Education Act and the discipline of the MPs to the role of media. The chief guest with equal fervor and enthusiasm and inspired by his in depth knowledge of the parliamentar y affairs answered all the questions. He was so pleased by the interest of the children that

he extended the session beyond the intended one hour. Many students felt highly motivated after the session and said that the Mock Parliament has encouraged them to enter politics in future and run for various ministries. The session was

an eye opener since it made them aware of various problems facing our country and society and spurred them to take the step in the right direction to find solutions for them.

After the interactive session the chief guest was presented with a memento to

show the sincere appreciation and gratitude of the ICSK fraternity by our beloved Secretary and the dignitaries left the hall to a standing ovation given by the audience.

The students had earlier participated in an extempore competition based on topics related to the parliamentary affairs and the democratic system of government.

The best 15 speakers were chosen for the next stage of selection by a panel of judges. The day came to an end with the announcement of the selected participants for the next stage. The winners of the next stage would be assigned roles of popular politicians and later taken to the Indian Parliament in New Delhi to watch the Parliamentary proceedings live. It is an excellent first step towards a greater goal.

There are ver y few young politicians presently and sessions such as these will surely encourage more youngsters to venture into politics. The session was a truly “a session of the students, by the students and for the students.”

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah.

Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca.

The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea wishes to inform that it has moved to Mishref.

New Address: Embassy of the Republic of Korea Mishref, Block 7A, Diplomatic Area 2, Plot 6 The Embassy also wishes to inform that it will be opened to the public on the following office hours: Saturdays to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on the following dates during the month of February 2012.

National Day of Kuwait - Feb 25, - Saturday.

Liberation Day of Kuwait - Feb 26, - Sunday. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy will move its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location from 26 January, 2012. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, e-mail:myankuwait11@gmai1.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES For emergency, please contact the Consular hotline at 65184433. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office and other attached agencies shall continue to operate and hold office in Jabriya until 15 March 2012. All your passports and other consular concerns will be processed at our new location, except of course labor issues.

Regular working hours of the Embassy shall resume in Faiha. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF RUSSIA Embassy of the Russian Federation invites all the Russian residents in Kuwait to visit the Consulate for registration and updating your database. This information is necessary for prompt notice, assistance and warning in case of emergency. The consulate reception hours: 10:00 - 13:00, Sunday - Wednesday. The Embassy is located in Kuwait City, Daiya, Block 5, Diplomatic campus, Plot 17. Tel: (+965) 22560427, 22560428. Fax: (+965) 22524969, e-mail: rusposkuw@mail.ru, consdepkuw@mail.ru Information also available on the website: www.kuwait.mid.ru nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206. nnnnnnn

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

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:50 Untamed & Uncut 01:45 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 02:40 Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous...

03:35 Shark Attack File 2 04:30 Last Feast Of The Crocodile 05:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 06:20 Animal Cops Phoenix 07:10 Night 07:35 In Too Deep 08:00 Monkey Life 08:25 Growing Up...

09:15 The Really Wild Show 09:40 Breed All About It 10:10 World’s Ugliest Dog Competition 11:05 Dogs 101: Specials 12:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 12:55 SSPCA: On The Wildside 13:20 Wildlife SOS 13:50 Animal Precinct 14:45 Animal Cops Philadelphia 15:40 Speed Of Life 16:30 Echo And The Elephants Of Amboseli 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 18:00 Talk To The Animals 18:25 Dogs 101: Specials 19:20 Must Love Cats 20:15 Gorilla School 20:40 Wildlife SOS 21:10 Escape To Chimp Eden 21:35 Dolphin Days

00:10 Chimp Family Fortunes 00:40 Lark Rise to Candleford 01:30 Monarch Of The Glen 02:20 The World’s Toughest Driving Tests 03:10 As Time Goes By 03:40 Big Top 04:10 Balamory 04:30 The Large Family 04:45 Bobinogs 05:00 Buzz & Tell 05:05 Tweenies 05:25 Little Prairie Dogs 05:35 Nina And The Neurons 05:50 Balamory 06:10 Charlie and Lola 06:20 The Large Family 06:30 Bobinogs 06:45 Buzz & Tell 06:50 Tweenies 07:10 Little Prairie Dogs 07:20 Nina And The Neurons 07:35 Last Of The Summer Wine 08:05 As Time Goes By 08:35 The Weakest Link 09:20 Keeping Up Appearances 09:50 Doctors 10:20 Ray Mears’ Northern Wilderness 11:10 Monarch Of The Glen 12:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 12:30 As Time Goes By 13:00 The Weakest Link 13:45 Keeping Up Appearances 14:15 Doctors 14:45 Ray Mears’ Northern Wilderness 15:35 Monarch Of The Glen 16:25 The Weakest Link 17:10 Eastenders 17:40 Doctors 18:10 Holby City 19:00 As Time Goes By 19:30 Supernova 20:00 Waking The Dead 20:50 Last Of The Summer Wine 21:20 Keeping Up Appearances 21:50 New Tricks 22:40 Supernova

00:10 00:50 01:40 03:50 04:40 05:25

Cash In The Attic USA Antiques Roadshow Masterchef Gok’s Fashion Fix Cash In The Attic USA Antiques Roadshow

06:15 08:00 08:45 09:35 10:25 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:45 18:35 19:00 21:15 21:45 23:25

Masterchef Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Masterchef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger Gok’s Fashion Fix Fantasy Homes By The Sea Holmes On Homes Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic USA Masterchef What To Eat Now - Summer Gok’s Fashion Fix Bargain Hunt

00:00 00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:00 09:50 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:40 13:00 13:15 13:40 13:55 14:45 15:10 Doo 15:35 16:00 16:50 17:40 18:20 19:10 19:35 Doo 20:00 20:15 20:40 21:05 21:30 21:55 22:20 22:45

Dexters Laboratory The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals Puppy In My Pocket The Scooby Doo Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Duck Dodgers Tom & Jerry Kids Pink Panther And Pals Wacky Races Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Garfield Show A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo And ScrappyLooney Tunes Puppy In My Pocket Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And ScrappyJelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You!

00:40 Samurai Jack 01:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 02:20 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 03:10 Best Ed 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Adventure Time 04:50 Generator Rex 05:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 05:40 Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:55 Powerpuff Girls 07:45 Angelo Rules 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:30 The Amazing World Of

Gumball 08:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 09:15 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 09:40 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:05 Angelo Rules 10:30 Chowder 10:55 Adventure Time 11:20 Eliot Kid 11:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 12:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 13:15 I Am Weasel 13:40 Best Ed 14:05 Cow & Chicken 14:30 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:50 Eliot Kid 15:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 15:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 16:05 Courage The Cowardly Dog 16:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 16:55 The Amazing World Of Gumball 17:10 Adventure Time 17:35 Regular Show 18:00 Cow & Chicken 18:25 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 18:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:15 Angelo Rules 19:30 Total Drama World Tour 19:55 Hero 108 20:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 20:50 Adventure Time 21:25 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 21:50 Courage 22:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 22:50 Cow And Chicken 23:00 Ben 10 23:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog

00:20 Replacements 01:10 Fairly Odd Parents 02:00 A Kind Of Magic 02:45 Stitch 03:35 Replacements 04:25 Fairly Odd Parents 05:15 Stitch 06:00 Hannah Montana 06:20 Recess 06:45 Timon And Pumbaa 07:05 Phineas And Ferb 07:30 Good Luck Charlie 07:55 Fish Hooks 08:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 08:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:00 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:15 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:25 Handy Manny 09:40 The Hive 09:47 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 09:50 Recess 10:15 So Random 10:40 Have A Laugh 10:45 Hannah Montana 11:10 Suite Life On Deck 11:35 Jake & Blake 12:00 Sonny With A Chance 12:25 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:45 Phineas And Ferb 13:10 So Random 13:30 Suite Life On Deck 13:55 Wizards Of Waverly Place 14:20 Have A Laugh 14:30 Phineas And Ferb 14:55 Good Luck Charlie 15:20 My Babysitter’s A Vampire 15:45 Fish Hooks 16:10 Suite Life On Deck 17:30 Avalon High 18:55 Phineas And Ferb 19:10 Good Luck Charlie 19:30 Have A Laugh 19:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 20:00 Hannah Montana 20:25 Phineas And Ferb 20:50 Shake It Up 21:15 Fish Hooks 21:35 Recess 22:00 Shake It Up 22:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:35 Sonny With A Chance

THE WOLFMAN ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

00:40 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

An Idiot Abroad Mythbusters Coal Swords: Life On The Line How Stuff Works Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Really Big Things Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Cash Cab Us Border Security Auction Kings How It’s Made How Does It Work?

Cake Boss Gold Rush - Season 2 Specials Swords: Life On The Line Swamp Loggers

00:40 Sci-Fi Science 02:25 The Tech Show 02:50 Weird Connections 07:10 How Techies Changed the World 08:00 The Gadget Show 08:50 How Does That Work?

09:15 How Stuff’s Made 09:40 Meteorite Men 10:35 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 11:25 Kings of Construction 12:20 Prototype This 13:15 Race to Mars 14:05 Eco-Tech 14:55 How Does That Work?

15:20 How Stuff’s Made 15:50 The Gadget Show 16:40 The Tech Show 17:05 Prototype This 18:00 Race to Mars 18:50 The Kustomizer 19:40 Building the Biggest 20:30 Mighty Ships 21:20 Prototype This 22:10 The Gadget Show 23:00 Building the Biggest 23:50 Mighty Ships

00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:05 Andy Bates Street Feasts 01:30 Unique Sweets 01:55 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 02:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 04:25 Chopped 05:15 Kid In A Candy Store 05:40 Unique Sweets 06:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 06:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 06:50 Food Network Challenge 07:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 08:00 Food Network Challenge 08:50 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 09:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:40 Good Eats 10:05 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 10:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 10:55 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 11:20 World Cafe Asia 11:45 30 Minute Meals 12:10 Unwrapped 12:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 13:00 Good Eats 13:25 Guy’s Big Bite 13:50 Aarti Party 14:15 World Cafe Asia 14:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 15:05 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 15:30 Unwrapped 15:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 16:20 Mexican Made Easy 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Andy Bates Street Feasts 18:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:50 Aarti Party 19:15 Good Eats 19:40 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 20:05 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 20:30 Restaurant: Impossible 21:20 Andy Bates Street Feasts 22:10 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 23:00 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 23:50 Mexican Made Easy

00:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 00:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 00:40 Special Agent Oso 00:55 Little Einsteins 01:20 Timmy Time 01:30 Jungle Junction 01:45 Handy Manny 01:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:20 Special Agent Oso 02:50 Jungle Junction 03:15 Little Einsteins 03:40 Higglytown Heroes 04:10 Jo Jo’s Circus 04:30 Special Agent Oso 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:25 Little Einsteins 05:50 Higglytown Heroes 06:20 Jo Jo’s Circus 06:40 Special Agent Oso 07:10 Jungle Junction 07:35 Little Einsteins 08:00 Higglytown Heroes 08:30 Jo Jo’s Circus 08:50 Jungle Junction 09:15 Higglytown Heroes 09:45 Handy Manny 10:00 Special Agent Oso 10:15 Jungle Junction 10:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:10 The Hive 11:20 Handy Manny 11:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 12:05 The Hive 12:15 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 12:20 Lazytown 12:45 The Hive 12:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:20 Imagination Movers 13:45 Little Einsteins 14:10 Imagination Movers 14:35 Special Agent Oso

14:45 Lazytown 15:10 Handy Manny 15:25 Jungle Junction 15:40 Imagination Movers 16:05 The Hive 16:15 Special Agent Oso 16:25 Little Einsteins 16:50 Lazytown 17:15 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 17:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:05 Handy Manny 18:30 The Hive 18:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:55 Imagination Movers 19:20 Lazytown 19:45 Imagination Movers In Concert (Cema) 20:30 Jungle Junction 20:45 Handy Manny 20:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:25 The Hive 21:35 Little Einsteins 22:00 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 22:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 101 Dalmatians 22:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 23:20 The Hive

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 40 Smokin’ On Set Hookups 03:15 E! Investigates 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Then And Now 05:30 Wildest TV Show Moments 06:00 25 Hottest Hollywood Cougar Tales 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 10:15 15 Most Infamous Child Star Mugshots 12:05 Fashion Police 13:05 Dirty Soap 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Bridalplasty 17:55 E!es 18:25 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 18:55 E!es

00:00 Cowboy U 00:50 Wrestling With Reality 02:30 Ed’s Up 03:20 Gumball 3000: 2008 05:50 AMA Motocross 2011 07:30 Ride Guide Snow 2008 09:00 FIM World Motocross MX3 2011 09:25 Alli Presents 11:55 Glutton For Punishment 12:45 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 13:10 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 13:35 Dr Danger 14:00 Dr Danger 14:25 I’ll Do Anything 15:15 World Combat League 16:05 Glutton For Punishment 16:55 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 17:45 FIM World Motocross MX3 2011 18:10 Alli Presents 20:40 I’ll Do Anything 21:30 Dr Danger 22:20 Ed’s Up 23:10 World Combat League

00:40 Couples Who Kill 01:30 True CSI 02:15 The Will: Family Secrets Revealed 03:05 Kidnap And Rescue 03:50 Couples Who Kill 04:40 True CSI 05:25 On The Case With Paula Zahn 06:15 Disappeared 07:10 Mystery ER 08:00 FBI Files 08:50 Forensic Detectives 09:40 Murder Shift 10:25 Mystery Diagnosis 11:10 Real Emergency Calls 11:35 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

11:55 On The Case With Paula Zahn 12:40 Disappeared 13:25 Murder Shift 14:15 Mystery Diagnosis 15:00 Real Emergency Calls 15:25 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

15:50 On The Case With Paula Zahn 16:35 Disappeared 17:20 FBI Files 18:10 Forensic Detectives 19:00 Murder Shift 19:45 Real Emergency Calls 20:10 Mystery Diagnosis 20:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

21:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn 22:10 Disappeared

00:00 Travel Madness 00:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 01:00 Meet The Amish 02:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 03:00 Bondi Rescue 03:30 Endurance Traveller 04:30 Long Way Down 05:30 Destination Extreme 06:00 Travel Madness 06:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 07:00 Meet The Amish 08:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 09:00 Bondi Rescue 09:30 Endurance Traveller 10:30 Long Way Down 11:30 Destination Extreme 12:00 Travel Madness 12:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 13:00 Banged Up Abroad 15:00 Finding Genghis 15:30 Destination Extreme 16:00 Somewhere In China 17:00 Long Way Down 18:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 19:00 Banged Up Abroad 21:00 Finding Genghis 21:30 Destination Extreme 22:00 Somewhere In China

THE WAY BACK ON OSN CINEMA

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00

Dead Presidents-18 Sniper: Reloaded-18 Dad Savage-PG15 Legendary-PG15 Rocky-PG15 Arlington Road-PG15 The Warlords-PG15 Rocky-PG15 Last Breath-PG15 The Warlords-PG15 Let Me In-R

01:15 Jackass 3-R 03:15 My Dog Tulip-PG15 05:00 The Way Back-PG15 07:15 The 19th Wife-PG15 09:00 Flipped-PG 10:45 My Name Is Khan-PG15 13:45 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 15:30 Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale-PG15 17:15 Tomorrow, When The War Began-PG15 19:00 Prom-PG15 21:00 Red-PG15 23:15 True Grit-PG15

03:00 Friends 04:00 Dharma And Greg 05:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 06:00 Malcolm In The Middle 08:30 Friends 09:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 12:00 Malcolm In The Middle 12:30 Dharma And Greg 13:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 13:30 Just Shoot Me 14:00 Friends 16:30 How I Met Your Mother 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 Modern Family 19:30 Parks And Recreation 20:00 Community 20:30 Wilfred 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 Enlightened 22:30 Hung

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00

Unforgettable Pan Am Top Gear (US) Body Of Proof The Gates Pan Am Good Morning America Kojak Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show Good Morning America

01:00 03:15 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Alive-PG15 Dad Savage-PG15 Deadly Impact-18 The Devil’s Teardrop-PG15 Tracker-PG15 Bodyguard: A New Beginning A Lonely Place For Dying Tracker-PG15 Planet Of The Apes-PG15 The Wolfman-18 RoboCop-PG15 Medium Raw-PG15

01:00 On Strike For Christmas-PG15 03:00 What’s The Worst That Could Happen?-PG15 05:00 Valentine’s Day-PG15 07:15 Megamind-FAM 09:00 Strength And Honour-PG15 11:00 Antwone Fisher-PG15 13:00 Flash Of Genius-PG15 15:00 Knucklehead-PG15 17:00 Strength And Honour-PG15 19:00 Little Fockers-PG15 21:00 Babies-PG15 23:00 Beavis And Butt-Head Do America-PG15

00:00 Slappy And The Stinkers-FAM 02:00 Pocahontas & The Spider Woman-PG 04:00 Shipwrecked-PG 06:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 08:15 Last Of The Mohicans-PG 10:15 Slappy And The Stinkers-FAM 12:15 Young Fisherman-PG 13:45 Shipwrecked-PG 16:00 The Prince Of Dinosaurs-PG 18:00 The Country Bears-PG 20:00 Time Kid-FAM

01:00 01:30 05:30 06:30 07:00 11:30 12:00 16:00 20:30 21:00

ODI Cricket Highlights Scottish Cup Trans World Sport ODI Cricket Highlights European PGA Tour ODI Cricket Highlights Scottish Cup European PGA Tour ODI Cricket Highlights Scottish Cup

01:00 02:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 22:00 23:00

WWE Bottom Line UFC 143 Prelims UFC 143 WWE Bottom Line WWE Experience Speedway Le Mans Series Highlights V8 Supercars Championship WWE NXT WWE Experience WWE SmackDown UFC 143 Prelims UFC 143 UFC Unleashed UFC The Ultimate Fighter

00:30 Anglo Welsh Cup 02:30 Sevens World Series 05:30 ODI Cricket Highlights 06:00 ICC Cricket World 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 Scottish Cup 11:00 World Cup Of Pool 12:00 World Pool Masters 13:00 Bass Fishing 14:00 Anglo Welsh Cup 16:00 Scottish Cup 20:00 Trans World Sport 21:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 21:30 Super League 23:30 European PGA Tour Highlights

01:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 00:00 The Making Of Plus One-PG15 06:30 02:00 Roommates-PG15 08:00 04:00 Renaissance Man-PG15 10:00 06:15 13 Going On 30-PG15 10:30 08:00 Checking Out-PG15 11:00 10:00 Born Yesterday-PG15 12:00 12:00 My Father The Hero-PG15 13:30 14:00 Princess Diaries 2: Royal 14:00 Engagement-FAM 17:00 16:00 The Making Of Plus One-PG15 19:00 18:00 Cop Out-PG15 21:00 20:00 Beavis And Butt-Head Do 21:30 22:00 America-PG15

Scottish FA Cup Super League Trans World Sport FIVB Beach Volley Ball FIVB Beach Volley Ball Anglo Welsh Cup ODI Cricket Highlights ICC Cricket World Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial ODI Cricket Highlights Sevens World Series Super League Golfing World ODI Cricket Highlights ICC Cricket World Anglo Welsh Cup

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00

UFO Hunters The Universe Pub Dig Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens The Universe UFO Hunters The Universe Pub Dig Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens The Universe UFO Hunters The Universe Pub Dig Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens The Universe UFO Hunters

00:05 01:00 02:00 02:25 02:55 03:50 04:20 05:15 06:10 07:05 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:55 11:50 12:50 13:50 14:15 14:45 15:45 16:40 17:35 18:30 19:25 21:20 22:15 23:10

Glam Fairy Open House Homes With Style Open House Videofashion Daily Videofashion News How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Married Away Clean House Videofashion News Videofashion Daily Open House How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Clean House Dress My Nest Mel B: It’s A Scary World How Do I Look?

Giuliana & Bill Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Jerseylicious Designer Marathon Tia And Tamera Clean House: New York Giuliana & Bill Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane

00:00 Globe Trekker 01:00 Rivers Of The World 02:00 Planet Food 03:00 Globe Trekker 04:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 05:00 Globe Trekker 07:00 Planet Food 08:00 Globe Trekker 09:00 Planet Sports 10:00 Intrepid Journeys 11:00 Planet Food 12:00 Opening Soon 12:30 Wild At Heart 13:00 Globe Trekker 14:00 Sophie Grigson In The Souk 14:30 Chef Abroad 15:00 Globe Trekker 16:00 The Ethical Hedonist 17:00 Globe Trekker 18:00 Wild At Heart 18:30 Opening Soon 19:00 Sophie Grigson In The Souk 19:30 Chef Abroad 20:00 Globe Trekker 21:00 Essential 21:30 Travel Today 22:00 Tall Ship Explorers 23:00 Going South 23:30 Essential

00:40 02:30 04:05 05:45 07:30 08:00 09:25 11:20 13:00 14:50 16:40 18:30 19:50 21:15

Diner Gaby-PG It’s Always Fair Weather-FAM Show Boat-FAM TCM Presents Under...-U G-Men-FAM All The Fine Young Cannibals Son Of Lassie-FAM The Band Wagon-FAM Dark Passage-FAM The Happy Years-FAM Bad Day At Black Rock-PG The Honeymoon Machine Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Classifieds MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR KLM PIA JZR JZR ETH THY UAE DHX QTR MSR FDB ETD GFA KAC FAH FCX JZR JZR BAW DHX KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB BAB GFA KAC JZR RKM MEA IRC MSR MSR KAC GFA SYR FDB UAL OMA QTR KNE SVA RJA KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC QTR JZR JZR ETD KAC UAE FDB GFA SVA ABY JZR RBG BAB ALK JZR FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC AIC KAC KAC FDB KAC JAI MSR DHX GRF MEA GFA QTR UAE JZR KLM TAR JZR UAL BBC DLH PIA

Arrival Flights on Monday 6/2/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 138 DOHA 447 AMSTERDAM/BAHRAIN 205 LAHORE 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 620 ADDIS ABABA 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 370 BAHRAIN 148 DOHA 612 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 211 BAHRAIN 544 CAIRO 201 DUBAI 201 DUBAI 503 LUXOR 555 ALEXANDRIA 157 LONDON 170 BAHRAIN 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 344 CHENNAI 165 DUBAI 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 404 BEIRUT 6521 LAMERD 623 SOHAG 610 CAIRO 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 341 DAMASCUS 57 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 645 MUSCAT 140 DOHA 745 JEDDAH 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 284 DHAKA 257 BEIRUT 550 SOHAG 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 561 SOHAG 535 CAIRO 303 ABU DHABI 118 NEW YORK 857 DUBAI 59 DUBAI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 3561 ALEXANDRIA 437 BEIRUT 227 COLOMBO/DUBAI 177 DUBAI 63 DUBAI 542 CAIRO 744 DAMMAM 787 RIYADH 786 JEDDAH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 975 CHENNAI/GOA 104 LONDON 774 RIYADH 61 DUBAI 552 DAMASCUS 572 MUMBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 372 BAHRAIN 81 BAGHDAD 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 445 AMSTERDAM 327 TUNIS 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 43 DHAKA 636 FRANKFURT 239 SIALKOT

Time 0:20 0:20 0:30 0:40 0:45 0:50 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:55 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:15 4:40 5:30 5:30 5:55 6:00 6:40 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:20 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:40 9:55 10:35 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:30 12:55 13:20 13:25 13:45 13:50 14:05 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:40 14:50 15:00 15:00 15:15 15:20 15:25 16:10 16:25 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:45 21:00 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:05 22:35 22:45 23:00 23:45 23:50 23:55

Airlines UAL AXB AIC DLH PIA KLM KAC ETH THY FDB UAE ETD MSR DHX QTR QTR JZR GFA FDB KAC BAW KAC KAC JZR JZR KAC JZR UAE ABY ETD FDB QTR BAB GFA KAC KAC JZR KAC RKM MEA IRC MSR KAC JZR MSR GFA FDB KAC SYR KAC KNE OMA UAL RJA SVA JZR KAC KAC KAC QTR JZR QTR ETD JZR FDB UAE GFA ABY RBG SVA BAB JZR ALK FDB JZR FDB KAC KAC JAI MSR DHX KAC DHX MEA GFA FAH FCX QTR KAC JZR UAE KAC KLM TAR JZR KAC

Departure Flights on Monday 6/2/2012 Flt Route 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 390 MANGALORE/KOZHIKODE 982 AHMEDABAD/HYDERABAD/CHENNAI 637 FRANKFURT 206 PESHAWER/LAHORE 447 AMSTERDAM 283 DHAKA 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 371 BAHRAIN 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 54 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 549 SOHAG 671 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 787 JEDDAH 560 SOHAG 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 436 BEIRUT 214 BAHRAIN 165 ROME/PARIS 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 6522 LAMERD 624 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 551 DAMASCUS 342 DAMASCUS 673 DUBAI 746 JEDDAH 646 MUSCAT 982 BAHRAIN 641 AMMAN 501 JEDDAH 786 RIYADH 617 DOHA 743 DAMMAM 773 RIYADH 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 135 DOHA 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 60 DUBAI 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 3563 ASSIUT 511 RIYADH 437 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI/COLOMBO 64 DUBAI 184 DUBAI 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 351 COCHIN 571 MUMBAI 619 ALEXANDRIA 171 BAHRAIN 543 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 102 DUBAI 102 BAHRAIN 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 554 ALEXANDRIA 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 445 BAHRAIN/AMSTERDAM 327 DUBAI/TUNIS 528 ASSIUT 411 BANGKOK/MANILA

Time 0:45 0:50 1:05 1:20 1:40 1:45 2:40 2:45 3:15 3:45 3:50 4:00 4:00 4:30 4:40 5:40 6:55 7:00 8:25 8:30 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:15 9:25 9:30 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:25 10:40 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:50 12:55 13:00 13:30 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:35 14:40 14:45 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:20 15:35 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:50 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:55 20:40 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:45 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:35 23:35 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

9989018-99169016 FOR SALE Honda Accord 2003, sky blue color, mileage 300,000 kms, owner driven, excellent condition, new tires, registered up to Dec 2012.

Contact 99456340 (C 3857) 5-2-2012

CHANGE OF NAME I, M. Madhavan, holder of Indian Passport No. H5961296, son of M. Muthukrishanan, converted in Islam and do now hereafter be known by my new name M. MOHAMED SHARIF. (C 3855) 1-2-2012

A camp for rent in Kabed including five tents with all services. Complete privacy + game arcade. Tel: 97177714 Size 36 air pressure gun for sale in addition to a scope, safety lock. Shooting range 350 meters +bag+25 shots.

Price KD 70. Tel: 97790478 A 3700 watt, 2012 model ASTRA generator for sale.

Japanese parts assembled in China with pressure and gas meters. Price KD 85. Tel: 60066891 For rent in Hawalli a one bedroom (4x4m) and a 7x3.5 m reception+ terrace, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Tunis street, behind Al-Andalus pharmacy. Tel: 99683200

LOST Policy No. 633000545 issued by the State Life Insurance, Gulf Zone on the Life of Mr. Riaz Ahmed is reported to have been lost.

Anyone finding the same or claiming any interest in it should communicate with the State Life office. Tel: 22452208/9. (C 3856) 2-2-2012

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited for Keralite Orthodox Christian boy (38, 5 7” whitish), God fearing Computer Engineering diploma working in Kuwait having family visa status seeking alliance from nurses and other professionals. The boy will be coming to Kerala in the middle of March. Contact email: dilkoshy@asianetindia.com (C 3858) 5-2-2012

MISCELLANEOUS Original guaranteed Palestinian virgin olive oil, large black and green olives for sale. Tel: 66517417 Whole Floor or small villa needed for rent in Shaab, Mansoriya, Nozha, Abdullah Al-Salem or Shamiya. Direct contact with owner. Tel:

A 2008 white, 1600 CC Nissan Sunny. Price KD 1700. Tel: 99553221 A 2008 dark blue 6 cylinder Toyota Prado with Beige sued interior, low mileage, touch A/C, CD, cruise control, front and rear sensors for sale. Price KD 6650. Tel: 99275550 A 2009 white, 6 cylinder Toyota Prado with 40,000 mileage touch A/C, CD, cruise control, front and rear sensors for sale. Price KD 7850. Tel: 9747750855809093

No: 15351

FOR RENT For rent at Salmiya, Apt 3 BR + 3 toilets + hall + kitchen + satellite, excellent location. Foreigners and expats only, no mediators.

Tel: 66060299. (14183) For rent commercial Apt at the sea, excellent location, 190 square meter, suitable for (beauty saloon, consulting office, lawyers office).

Tel: 66060299. (15004) For rent Apt at Salmiya 2 BR + 2 toilets + maid room + hall + kitchen and balcony for families only. Rent KD 280/-. Tel: 66980123.

(15007) For rent basement at Hawalli, excellent location, plastic floor, C-A/C, for serious only, please call: 66980123. (C 25997) Furnished Apt for rent in Salmiya 2 BR + hall + kitchen + satellite & DSL + parking, families only. Rent KD 450/-. Tel: 66297171. (C

14941) For rent, one floor in a commercial complex in Salmiya, at main street suitable for Coffee Shop or Restaurant for serious only call: 66980123. (15006) For rent floor at South of Surra, 4 BR + maid room + 4 toilets, hall and elevator. KD 800/-. Tel: 66604095.

(15041) For rent complete floor at Jabriya, 5 BR out of which 4 are master BR + 5 toilets + hall and elevator KD 750/-.

Tel: 66604095. (15103)

34

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 580

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Everything points to your taking over some project today.

Whatever you decide to do, you will feel great support from others. You feel healthy and natural and there is a feeling that anything is possible.

There is optimism, faith and a tendency to take chances at the deepest emotional levels. This is a time of exploring your feelings, as well as a kind of restlessness for new emotional experiences . . . divine wanderlust, if you will. You may find yourself enjoying a visit with close friends. You can appreciate feelings and movement—learning a new dance step perhaps. You may want to just get out and walk or exercise. Figuring out ways to make your nest egg grow can be a preoccupation this evening. There is help available.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You are coming into a creative and competitive phase now, one in which you want to be admired and appreciated for what you do and who you are. A lover or child may enjoy being with you while you work on your hobby or some creative project. You may be pleased at the attention but you will be wise to interest them in their own creative expression. This is a time when your path of self-development and expression becomes more and more unusual—setting you apart from the crowd and from all that is traditional. Self-discipline and a sense of self-worth become important issues in your life now. A fear of asserting yourself can hold you back—as can coming on too strong. The trick is learning to make the most of your personal talents and abilities.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Enlarged prostate.

4. The terminal section of the alimentary canal.

10. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

13. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

14. Causing a dull and steady pain.

15. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

16. A silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion.

17. An African river that flows northwest into Lake Chad.

18. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system.

19. Severe diabetes mellitus with an early onset.

21. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

22. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

23. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

24. A doctor's degree in education.

26. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

32. Mentally or physically infirm with age.

34. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

35. A republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea.

36. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

38. (physics and chemistry) The smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element.

39. Tag the base runner to get him out.

40. Characteristic of a baby.

44. Squash bugs.

46. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

49. Surpassing the ordinary especially in size or scale.

51. Injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation.

56. Stopping short and refusing to go on.

58. Someone who buys old buildings or ships and breaks them up to recover the materials in them.

59. Used of a single unit or thing.

60. The superior of a group of nuns.

63. An ugly evil-looking old woman.

64. (meaning literally `born') Used to indicate the maiden or family name of a married woman.

65. New Zealand timber tree resembling the cypress.

66. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

DOWN 1. A dyed fabric.

2. A feeling of self-respect and personal worth.

3. A bag used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women).

4. The network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal function.

5. The persistence of a sound after its source has stopped.

6. A boy or man.

7. Hoop that covers a wheel.

8. An agency of the United Nations responsible for programs to aid education and the health of children and mothers in developing countries.

9. 1/1000 gram.

10. An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight).

11. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

12. The biblical name for ancient Syria.

20. Type genus of the Majidae.

25. A religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof.

27. Not only so, but.

28. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

29. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

30. Type genus of the Anatidae.

31. A small cake leavened with yeast.

33. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

37. Nonresinous wood of a fir tree.

41. The agent to whom property involved in a bailment is delivered.

42. Noisy talk.

43. A toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium.

45. A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion.

47. Australian shrubs and small trees with evergreen usually spiny leaves and dense clusters of showy flowers.

48. The capital of Belarus and of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

50. Sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors.

52. An independent group of closely related Chadic languages spoken in the area between the Biu-Mandara and East Chadic languages.

53. A Loloish language.

54. English actor noted for his portrayals of Shakespeare's great tragic characters (1789-1833).

55. The capital and largest city of Mongolia.

57. Noisy talk.

61. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

62. The use of bacteria or viruses of toxins to destroy men and animals or food.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Be prepared for slowdowns, delays and cancellations today—patience. You may be able to take on two jobs during this time since business and work itself will slow during the next couple of months—now is the time to plan ahead. When you see the unusual delays begin to happen, you will have other avenues to keep you busy. You may be asked to advise someone regarding some very personal and emotional issues. You will easily handle this sensitive material. You can cut through the confusing and find the truth in a matter. Clear decisions affecting others could be made now. Enjoy the evening meal with the family. Tell your lover just how much he or she means to you and enjoy the closeness that the evening’s aspects offer.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

This is an excellent time for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the forces that move the world. Moral issues and the love of others are much more important now than material concerns. You have a great deal of energy today and may find yourself volunteering in some way to help within your religious or spiritual group. This afternoon is a good time for surrounding yourself with friends and for having a good time. You appreciate your particular situation and enjoy support from those around you. The formation of your creative energy with a partner’s sincerity and practicality could prove most rewarding. You are filled with the desire to succeed in all areas of your life. Leave yourself time to play and just hang out with friends; relax.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You have a great love for your fellow man. Spiritual interests are high and you may be of tremendous emotional help to a friend or family member and not even realize it today. Unusual ideas and novel ways of expressing them are experiences that are just waiting to happen. A neighbor could play a part in this, or perhaps a brother or sister. The ways you get around and stay in touch at the everyday level are changed by technology or social circumstances. This could mean a new car or a set of tickets for the newest mode of transportation in your city. This is also a good time to learn how to meditate, particularly if you find yourself waiting for one of those forms of transportation today. Perhaps you can find a meditation tape with gentle music.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Becoming more practical and reliable takes on a special importance now. Taking care of the necessary underpinnings of life— health, work and such—becomes a greater preoccupation. Sorting things out and getting them organized to utmost efficiency keeps you busy this day. Perhaps you are just now getting to some tough cleaning jobs you have previously ignored. A clean fireplace, a clean oven—there is a feeling that anything is possible. This is also a time of exploring your feelings, a kind of restlessness for new emotional experiences.

Writing could be a fun way to relax particularly if you are writing in the style of prose or have thoughts about some comedy theater. You gain insight in a social surrounding with friends this afternoon.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

This is a time when your path of self-development and expression becomes more and more unusual—setting you apart from the crowd and from all that is traditional. Tie up any loose ends before moving into new directions just now. The new, the futuristic, the high tech are the hallmarks of your lifestyle as the cycle gets underway. Ideas and technologies that change the way people live—not just one person, but many—are a major new focus in your life. You may decide to join a group of people that are interested in a new type of power for vehicles. Meetings, advertisement and talking with all sorts of people fill much of your time. Being appreciated and admired for your talents and ambitious nature is wonderful. Taking chances equals big rewards.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) All manner of hot spots may be discovered and have to be worked through today. Don’t worry; the difficulties have to do with schedules, contacts with people and perhaps purchasing the right size of an item and these are all things you can handle. The biggest problem is the time element in which you have to work. You have insight into your emotions and drive and you can talk about your feelings with great insight. Doing unto others as you would want them to do to you may be the best road to take and teach at this time. This evening you have optimism, making it a good time to evaluate and modify existing relationships. You greatly desire peace and quiet in the family setting and will do everything to keep it that way.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Take a deep breath and count to ten when dealing with friends or family this morning—impatience could be a problem.

You greatly enjoy social and romantic activities today. You should put forth great effort to get to know new people and form new acquaintances. The exchange of ideas becomes a focal point in your life. Learning and knowing a little about a lot of things, staying in touch and on top of the latest developments help to satisfy a need for mental stimulation. Also, love is in full bloom now and it’s a good time to fully demonstrate the depth of affection to loved ones. This is a good day—your powers of creativity are great—you are able to solve problems easily, should they occur. Enjoy a romantic evening tonight.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Today may bring an opportunity to reflect about what you do for a living. You may want to cut loose and try something completely different with regard to your profession. Perhaps ideas will come as you look through the employment advertisements in the paper today. It is a good time to think about where your professional life is heading. Listen with an open mind to the advice of others. This afternoon you may use your home to entertain family members and friends.

This is an excellent time to reciprocate for the kind things others have done for you.

Communication is favored this evening. This period can have a profound effect on your psyche—it marks a time when faith in your higher power as well as your fellow man will be favorable.

To

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Getting people and things organized may be best handled in a group meeting so that everyone can be expressive. Diplomatic organizational steps are best conducted at this time. If there is no time for a meeting, make yourself available to help and follow the leader; you can lead another time. It is good to take a step back and let someone else take on the challenges of the day. This afternoon there are great opportunities to spend quality time with your loved ones and family. You are becoming more practical and conscientious. You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your feelings and your ability to allow someone else control, or—the last word. Someone expresses understanding of your point of view this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Having and appreciating things of beauty and value play a big role in your life now. Stop and ask yourself if you really, really will appreciate the item a year from now and then make your purchase decision. You will be pleased with your financial results when you follow this plan. You may find that someone close to you understands and is supportive of your eccentricities. You could come up with new solutions or inventions. Your confidence is high and you should be able to accomplish much during this time. Now is a good time to do those things that you previously put off, whether from fear of failure or lack of motivation. Your disposition is open and welcome to all you meet. Interaction with the opposite sex is stimulating and delightful.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE STATE ST TAT TE OF KUWAIT K KUW WAIT A

112

Tel.: T e el.: 161

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE ATE T GENE GENERAL ERAL OF CIVIL A AVIATION V VIA ATION T DEPARTMENT METEOROLOGICAL DEP D PARTMENT A DAY: DA AY: Y Sunday

WWW .MET.GOV V.KW . W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

05/02/2012

Ministry of Interior

Ext.: 2627 262 27 - 2630

Fax: 24348714

07:00

Issue T Time ime

Expected Weather Weather for the Next 24 4 Hours Sunny with light to moderate north h westerly wind, with speed of 12 - 35 km/h

BY Y DA DAY: AY:

website: www.moi.gov.kw wind, with speed off 10 - 32 km/h Cold with w light to moderate north westerly w

NIGHT:: BY Y NIGHT

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

No Current Warnings Warnin a gs

WARNING W ARNING A STATION ST TATION T

MAX. EXP EXP. P.

MIN.. REC.

KUWAIT KUW WAIT A CITY

19 °C

10 °C

24812000

KUWAIT AIRPORT KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

19 °C

05 °C

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUWAISEEB NUW WAISEEB A

19 °C C

07 °C C

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WAFRA W AFRA A

19 °C

07 °C

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

16 °C

03 °C

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDALY ABDAL LY

19 °C

04 °C

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

ALIYAH JAL ALIY YA AH

18 °C

04 °C

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA F AILAKA A

18 °C

07 °C

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

PORT AHMADI POR RT

18 °C

09 °C

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

UMM AL-MARADEM M

16 °C

13 °C

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

WARBA BUBYAN W ARBA A A - BUBY YA AN

19 °C

04 °C

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

Clinics

SFC. CHAR CHART T

05/02/2012 0000 0 UTC

4 DA DAYS AYS Y FORECAST

4732263

Roudha

22517733

DAY DA AY

DA DATE AT TE

WEA WEATHER ATHER T

Adhaliya

22517144

Monday

06/02

Khaldiya

24848075

Tuesday Tuesday

Keifan

24849807

Wednesday Wednesday e

Shamiya

24848913

Thursday

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Fajr

05:14

MAX. Temp.

MA AX. T emp.

18 °C

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Sunrise S i

06 36 06:36

MIIN. IN Temp.

Temp.

MIN.

06 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

12:02

MAX. RH M

70 %

Asr

15:07

M RH MIN.

18 %

Sunset

17:29

MA AX. W ind MAX. Wind

Isha

18:48

TOT TAL AL RAI INF FA ALL L IN 24 HR. TOTAL RAINFALL

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

POLICE STATION

Rabiya

Al-Khadissiya

Al-Madena

Temperratures Temperatures MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction Direction Wind

Wind Wind Speed

cool + high clou uds clouds

18 °C

06 °C

NW -VRB NW-VRB

06 - 28 km/h

07/02

partly cloudy

20 °C

05 °C

S-SE

08 - 30 km/h

08/02

partly cloudy to cloudy + scattered s rain

21 °C

09 °C

S-SE

20 - 45 km/h

09/02

cloudy + scattered d rain

22 °C

10 °C

SE

15 - 40 km/h

PRAYER PR RA AYER Y TIMES

RECORDED D YESTERDAY YESTERDA AY AT AT KUWAIT KUW WAIT A T AIRPORT AIRPORT

unless All times are local time un nless otherwise stated.

Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry

NW W 46 km/h

about the Civil ID card is 1889988

00 mm

05/02/12 03:12 UTC

V1.00

T1.06

PHARMACIES

AIRLINES

ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689

36

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Depardieu to star in film on Strauss-Kahn scandal ontroversial US director Abel Ferrara says he is to make a film on the sex scandal that destroyed Frenchman Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s political careerwith Gerard Depardieu in the starring role.

A film about sex and politics, it would costar Isabelle Adjani as Strauss-Kahn’s wife Anne Sinclair, Ferrara told French newspaper Le Monde. Strauss-Kahn, who was seen as a Socialist contender for the French presidency, was forced to resign as head of the International Monetary Fund last May after he was charged with sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid.

Charges were later dropped, but he remains dogged by sexual scandal in France. Sinclair, a former television anchor and the multi-millionaire heiress to an art fortune, has stood by her husband throughout. Ferrara told Le Monde the

C

film would be shot in New York, Paris and Washington. In recent months, the project had been frequently rumored-and just as frequently denied by Ferrara’s producers Wildbunch. This time however Ferrara told Le Monde that he was the director and no one was going to stop him talking about his film. He had met Depardieu at the Deauville film festival last September and said he was everything a filmmaker could expect from an actor. The script was already written, he added. Ferrara is perhaps best known for the hard-hitting 1992 film “Bad Lieutenant,” starring Harvey Keitel as a corrupt New York cop. His films are often dark, violent stories dealing with the underside of life. He frequently works with actors who themselves have an edgy reputation such as Keitel, Christopher Walken and Willem Dafoe.

US, Australian filmmakers die in helicopter crash ational Geographic says award-winning American cinematographer Mike deGruy and Australian television writer-producer Andrew Wight have died in a helicopter crash in eastern Australia. Police say an Australian helicopter pilot and his American passenger died at the scene Saturday when they crashed soon after takeoff from an airstrip near Nowra, 97 miles (156 kilometers) north of Sydney. National Geographic and Australian director David Cameron confirmed in a statement yesterday the victims’ identities and said “the deep-sea community lost two of its finest” with the deaths of the two underwater documentary specialists. David Bennett, president of Australia’s South Coast Recreational Flying Club, said the pair had set off to film a documentary when they crashed.

N

Urban makes return from vocal surgery eith Urban is back. The country star returned to the stage during The Grand Ole Opry on Friday night, hitting a few high notes in his first public appearance since vocal surgery late last year. Urban let loose with a “Yeehaw!” after a standing-room only crowd at Ryman Auditorium leapt to its feet when he took the stage. He played three songs and an unexpected encore. He was joined by a string quartet on “Long Hot Summer,” then turned down the volume and sang “Making Memories of Us” microphone-free with the audience. His full band then joined him on stage for “You Gonna Fly” and “I Wanna

K

Love Somebody Like You.” Urban didn’t address the surgery while speaking with the crowd. The 44-year-old Australian had a polyp removed from a vocal cord last November. His last public performance was at a taping for the “CMA Country Christmas” television special in midNovember. The surgery forced Urban to postpone the tail end of his 2011 tour and his “All For The Hall” benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame. That star-studded event is now being held April 10.

Reid to still judge on ‘X Factor’ A Reid has reportedly signed up to be a judge on the second series of US ‘X Factor’. The music mogul is thought to have signed a contract on Friday to reprise his position on the panel following the exits of fellow judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as host Steve Jones. A source told The Hollywood Reporter that the Epic Records chief was the one judge that audiences seemed to embrace. Beyonce Knowles and Mariah Carey have both been talked about as possible new panelists on the Fox show, and boss Simon Cowell is believed to have offered the ‘Single Ladies’ hitmaker $500 million for five seasons on the program as he aims to beat rival show ‘American Idol’ in the ratings battle. A source explained: “He wants a big name female star on the panel.

Mariah [Carey] is good, but she’s not that hot today. He wants Beyonce because that would immediately give him the bounce needed to beat ‘American Idol’.” Randy Jackson - who judges on ‘American Idol’ - believes Mariah, who he manages, would be an “amazing” addition to US ‘X Factor’. He said: “She’d be amazing. I mean, I manage her, so of course I’m going to say that. She’d be amazing.”

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Moore checks into rehab emi Moore has checked into rehab in the US. The 49-year-old actress - who was hospitalized last week after she suffered a seizure - is reportedly “on total lockdown” at the 1,000-a-night Cirque Lodge addiction treatment centre in Sundance, Utah, where she is said to be receiving treatment for “eating disorder and addiction issues”. A source told E!: “She’s on total lockdown and only talking to a small group of people.” Demi - who split from husband Ashton Kutcher in November amid speculation he had cheated on her - is recently thought to have been struggling with the fact that her troubles, which are rumoured to include anorexia and substance abuse, have been under so much scrutiny which has led to her seeking help. The source added: “It became clear to her that her way of coping with her stress was not working and she needed more help.” Last week, Demi’s three daughters, Scout, 20, Tallulah, 16, and 23-year-old Rumer, as well as ex-husband Bruce Willis, were said to have encouraged the ‘Striptease’ star to professional seek help, but she reportedly refused to go to rehab. Ashton Kutcher is also thought to have urged Demi to go to rehab following her hospitalization. A source told RadarOnline: “Ashton has had loved ones in his life that have dealt with addiction issues, and he realizes that it’s counterproductive for someone to be forced to go to rehab. ”Ashton knows the addict has to want to get help for themselves. There is a lot of noise around Demi right now, and Ashton wants her to knowhe is there for her and supports her no matter what.”

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Pitt calls last 12 months best in long time rad Pitt doesn’t think he’ll have as successful a year as the last 12 months have been for some time. The 48year-old actor has seen his two latest movies, ‘Moneyball’ and ‘The Tree of Life’, nominated for a string of awards - including six and three Academy Awards respectively - and while he thinks too much emphasis is placed on winning or losing prizes, he knows he has enjoyed a particularly fruitful period of work. He said: “We’re so defined by the last success or the last failure that we even start to see ourselves that way. “You’ve got these awards and there’s going to be one winner and four losers, but the four losers made great films. A subtle point of ‘Moneyball’ is that we’re a string of successes and failures. “Odds are I won’t have another year like this one for a while.” Brad who shot to fame after appearing in 1991 movie ‘Thelma and Louise’ - believes he is a “good” actor now but there are still things he wants to learn. He added: “I think I’ve become a good actor. I’m very sporadic but I think I’ve got some skills now. “What I’m lacking is the weight of some of the actors I like and maybe I’ll focus on that.” —Agencies

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Radcliffe’s celebrity obligation aniel Radcliffe feels obliged to speak to other celebrities. The 22year-old actor admits he finds it “weird” that famous people feel the urge to connect with one another, even when they have never met. He said: “I still go, ‘It’s you!’, I can’t help it. But there’s this weird thing sometimes between celebrities who don’t know each other. You have a shared experience of something so there’s kind of an obligation to say hello. “I was in a coffee shop once and Jack Black came in and sat down and we did a, ‘Hey mate’. It was so weird. I’ve never even met the guy.”

Despite his fame, Daniel insists he finds it easy to make friends as he can always tell if someone is only interested in his success. He told the new issue of Esquire magazine: “It’s easy to tell if people are genuine or not. Sometimes they’re a bit too interested. If you take a step back and they pursue, then they’re probably just a little bit too keen.”

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

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M o v i e s

Lebanese singer Julia Butros performs at Lebanon’s new state-of-art Platea theatre in Sahel Alma north of the capital Beirut late on February 4, 2012. —AFP

Jolie, Streep join Arab Spring at Berlin film fest he Arab Spring uprisings and political turmoil in the West will dominate the 62nd Berlin film festival starting Thursday, as Hollywood royalty sprinkles stardust in the frigid German capital. Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, Robert Pattinson, Antonio Banderas and Christian Bale are due in town to present new films at the first major European festival of the year, and arguably its most topical. “Farewell My Queen”, a drama starring Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette on the eve of the French Revolution and told from the point of view of the underclass-a kind of “Occupy Versailles”-will set the tone for 11 days of world premieres.

“There is a clear theme running through the Berlinale this year and that is upheaval,” festival director Dieter Kosslick told reporters as he unveiled the line-up featuring nearly 400 films. “A lot of stories are seen from the perspective of the underdog and that theme of radical change and political awakening applies to our opening film too.”“Farewell My Queen”

by French director Benoit Jacquot is one of 18 pictures vying for the Golden Bear top prize, to be awarded by a jury led by British director Mike Leigh and including US actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Franco-British actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn and French director Francois Ozon.

Also on the panel is Iran’s Asghar Farhadi, who took home the Golden Bear and swept the acting prizes last year for his wrenching drama “A Separation”, setting the film on a trajectory that has now seen it nominated for a foreign-language Oscar. Berlin prides itself on being “edgier” than its chief competitors, Cannes and Venice, with a more overtly political pro-

T

Dieter Kosslick, director of the Berlin film festival Berlinale, holds a teddy bear as he presents merchandising products during a press conference on the upcoming festival’s program on January 31, 2012 in Berlin. —AFP gram. This year’s event will spotlight the Arab Spring one year after the fall of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak with documentaries shot on the ground, panel discussions and feature films dealing with the region’s history and cultures. And three films in the festival’s Forum section will spotlight the nuclear disaster at Fukushima last March, including “No Man’s Zone” which takes viewers into the contaminated area around the stricken reactors.

Jolie is to present her directorial debut “In the Land of Blood and Honey”, a Bosnian wartime love story, and participate in an audience discussion after the

The 47th Golden

screening. Streep will pick up an honorary Golden Bear for her life’s work and the festival will show the top films of her career culminating in a gala screening of her new Margaret Thatcher biopic “The Iron Lady”.

In the competition, 2007 Golden Bear winner Wang Quan’an will unveil his sweeping Chinese epic, “White Deer Plain”, based on “one of the most controversial novels in modern Chinese literature,” Kosslick said.

Chen Zhongshi’s prize-winning bestseller depicts the hardscrabble lives of generations of families in the countryside before the rise of communism.

Filipino art-house star Brillante Mendoza’s will join the running with “Captive”, starring French screen icon Isabelle Huppert as an aid worker kidnapped by Islamic extremist group Abu Sayyaf. US actor and filmmaker Billy Bob Thornton, who won a screenwriting Oscar for his own first outing as a feature film director, 1996’s “Sling Blade”, will premiere the Vietnam War-era drama “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” in the competition.

Other entries in the main showcase include British drama “Bel Ami”, based on a Guy de Maupassant novel and starring Pattinson of “Twilight” fame as a young man who manipulates Paris’s wealthiest women to realize his ambitions. Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci co-star in the picture, which will appear out of competition. Bale will also appear out of competition in “The Flowers of War” by Chinese master Zhang Yimou. British Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald will unveil his keenly anticipated documentary on the life of the late reggae superstar Bob Marley. And Shah Rukh Khan will delight Bollywood fans at a screening of the German-India co-production “Don - The King is Back”. —AFP

Winners of the Berlin film fest’s Golden Bear since 1992 l l

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1992: “Grand Canyon” by Lawrence Kasdan (US) 1993: Tie between “Xian Hun Nu” (The Woman from the Lake of Scented Souls) by Xie Fei (China) and “Hsi Yen” (The Wedding Banquet) by Ang Lee (Taiwan) 1994: “In the Name of the Father” by Jim Sheridan (Ireland/Britain) 1995: “L’appat” (Fresh Bait) by Bertrand Tavernier (France) 1996: “Sense and Sensibility” by Ang Lee (US) 1997: “The People vs. Larry Flint” by Milos Forman (US) 1998: “Central do Brasil” (Central Station) by Walter Salles (Brazil) 1999: “The Thin Red Line” by Terence Malick (US) 2000: “Magnolia” by Paul Thomas Anderson (US) 2001: “Intimacy” by Patrice Chereau (France) 2002: “Bloody Sunday” by Paul Greengrass (Britain/Ireland) and “Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi” (Spirited Away) by Hayao Miyazaki (Japan) 2003: “In This World” by Michael Winterbottom (Britain) 2004: “Gegen die Wand” (Head-On) by Fatih Akin (Germany/Turkey) 2005: “U-Carmen eKhayelitsha” (Carmen In Khayelitsha) by Mark Dornford-May (South Africa) 2006: “Grbavica” by Jasmila Zbanic (Bosnia-Hercegovina) 2007: “Tuya De Hunshi” (Tuya’s Marriage) by Wang Quan’an (China) 2008: “Tropa de Elite” (Elite Squad) by Jose Padilha (Brazil/Argentina) 2009: “La teta asustada” (The Milk of Sorrow) by Claudia Llosa (Spain/Peru) 2010: “Bal” (Honey) by Semih Kaplanoglu (Turkey/Germany) 2011: “Jodaeiye Nader Az Simin” (A Separation) by Asghar Farhadi (Iran) —AFP

Camera awards

German singer Helene Fischer holds her trophy for Category “Best National Music Artist”.

US-actor Morgan Freeman holds his trophy for Category “International Lifetime Achievement” during the 47th Golden Camera award ceremony in Berlin, Germany, on February 4, 2012. The award of the Axel Springer Verlag publishing house honors outstanding achievements in television, film and entertainment. —AFP Photos

US actor Denzel Washington holds his trophy for Category “Best International Actor”.

US actress Scarlett Johansson holds her trophy for Category “Best International Actress”.

US singer Dionne Warwick holds her trophy for “Musical Lifetime Achievement”.

German actor Dieter Baer holds his trophy for Category “Best German Actor”.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

lifestyle

Copenhagen F A S H I O N

Fashion Week

Children model clothes for the Autumn-Winter 2012 collections during the CIFF Kids Trend Show during Copenhagen Fashion Week in Copenhagen on February 4, 2012. —AFP photos

As prices are dropping, men customize shirts C

ustom-made men’s dress shirts were once considered the privileged peacockery of the moneyed set-a dash of sartorial swagger that could be afforded only by Hollywood A-listers, Wall Street bankers and monocle-wearing aristocrats of a bygone era. But today, thanks to advances in technology, a competitive market and consumer demand, custom clothing has moved within the barrelcuffed arm’s reach of the common man.

Click a button in Burbank and a factory in Beijing can cut and sew a dress shirt made to specification-not just in size, shape and fabric, but with a mindboggling number of other options as well (including mitered pockets, contrasting buttonholes, French cuffs and rounded collar points). And it can be delivered to your doorstep in less than three weeks for the sum of $100 — less than half the price of an off-the-peg luxury brand using the same high-end Italian fabrics.

That’s the business model of 5-yearold, Dallas-based custom clothier JHilburn, which couples e-commerce with a nationwide direct-sales team of

“style advisors” armed with fabric swatches and tape measures who do initial in-person consultations. The company has gone from selling $1 million worth of custom dress shirts in 2008 to more than 10 times that last year, according to co-founder Veeral Rathod. “We sold 100,000 custom dress shirts in 2011,” Rathod said. “Up from 60,000 in 2010.”

JHilburn isn’t the only crafter of custom shir ts to repor t growth. Peter Crawfurd, the co-founder and chief executive of 3-year-old website ShirtsMyWay.com, declined to provide specific figures, but he said 2011 sales were up 91 percent over 2010. A similar online purveyor, Indochino (which also sells custom men’s suits and outerwear), has seen sales triple over the last three years, according to its co-founder

Jack Sepetjian, from left, and Luis Solis, of Anto Distinctive Shirtmaker, discuss what would make a proper color shirt to match a tie for Richard Chesterfield and Donna Averna.

Fabric and custom shirts are seen at Anto Distinctive Shirt maker.

Custom men’s dress shirts used to be considered an extravagance reserved for the fashion forward or the wealthy, but not anymore.

and chief executive, Kyle Vucko.

Even some in the old-school bricksand-mortar custom shirt business-such as Anto Distinctive Shir tmaker in Beverly Hills, where the shirts cost $325 each, require at least two fittings and are made no fur ther afield than Sherman Oaks-report a bump in business.

“Knock on wood, we’ve seen sales increasing ever y year,” said Jack Sepetjian, a partner with his brother Ken in the family business named for their father. “The last five or six years we’ve noticed more of the younger guys-in their 30s and 40s-coming in.

That’s a good sign for us.”

Although it doesn’t track custom dress shirts specifically, market research firm NPD Group reports that sales in the men’s dress shir t categor y jumped 13.49 percent to $2.78 billion in the 12month period ending Nov. 30 (compared with a 2.26 percent increase in the overall men’s shirt and sweater business in the same period).

Paulo Goncalves, a partner and codesigner of New York City-based readyto-wear label Bespoken Clothiers, which rolled out a Web-based made-tomeasure program in October, explained why the brand decided to enter an increasingly crowded arena.

“We’re living in a world where people are customizing everything from their cars to their computers to their phones and the skins on their phones,” Goncalves said. “But it’s been really slow to translate to clothing. We figured that if we could do it-in the proper mannerit’d be a good opportunity.” Bespoken’s idea of the “proper manner” helps illustrate how the custom shirt business has changed since the days when the words “custom shirt” meant one thing: a truly handmade garment, cut from a pattern made specifically for a single individual (the way Anto’s still does today) for which the customer could specify any number of details.

At Bespoken’s website, for $245 a customer can specify fabric, collar and cuff style, enter four measurements (collar, chest, waist and sleeve) and three weeks later receive a shirt featuring Thomas Mason fabric that’s been handmade in the same UK factory that makes shirts for venerable British clothier Turnbull & Asser.

“There’s storytelling that goes along with it as well,” Goncalves said. “It takes 16 people to construct a single shirt, we use only mother-of-pearl buttons, and the shirts are all made in the same factory that made the famous James Bond shirts. Someone who wants made-to-

A worker at Anto Distinctive Shirt maker hand sews monograms onto shirts. measure wants a story to go along with it, something they can sit in a bar and talk to their mates about.”

If you’re working with a clothing budget that’s more “savings” than “story,” websites like the aforementioned Shir tsMyWay (star ting at $75) or Indochino ($79 and up) exchange pedigree for price tag, offering shirts in less expensive fabrics and made in Asia instead of England.

But in reality, none of these options is truly “custom” in the strictest sense of the word. A custom garment is based on an individual pattern made from scratch, while these newer options are made-to-measure-based on a standard, existing shirt pattern which is then sized up or down to fit.

“If you’re paying $125 to $225 for a shirt and you’re going by four or five measurements, that’s fine, that’s understandable,” said Anto’s Jack Sepetjian, who says his shop has more than

10,300 patterns on file. “But the more measurements you take, the better a shirt’s going to fit. We take over 21 different measurements-six different measurements for the collar itself-to build each person an individual pattern based on their exact posture down to the sixteenth of an inch. If they are going through that process, then that’s a perfect custom shirt.”

That brings us back to J.Hilburn’s hybrid approach, which is neither as cold and impersonal as the straight etail model nor as expansive and expensive as a traditional tailor such as Anto.

Every prospective customer is required to meet with a style adviser at least once (after that orders can be placed online). It’s not just for a detailed measuring (six for a dress shirt) but also to rifle through closets looking for favorite shirts, discuss preferences and talk over the myriad options (four options for the button placket alone) before placing an initial order for a shirt priced from $89 to $159, depending on fabric and details.

Studio City, Calif., resident Chip Meehan, a J.Hilburn customer for the last year and a half, says having a style adviser has not only been helpful, it’s made the shopping experience enjoyable. “There were questions asked to which I guess I had an opinion, but I hadn’t formulated it,” he said. “For example, I prefer the button-down collars where the button is hidden underneath. When I was asked if I’d like that I was like: ‘Why yes, I would!’”

He works in sales at Comcast, so the 56-year-old Meehan isn’t required to dress up on a daily basis. “But when I do, it’s nice to have something that fits me better-there’s not fabric in the wrong place and things aren’t short where they should be longer. I used to wear traditional shirts that were so blousy I felt like I could have had other people in there with me. Now, it’s not like I get a flood of comments, but I’ve definitely had people ask me if I’ve lost weight or say things like I seem more fit.”

Meehan says he orders about four times a year. “Usually for the change of the season,” he said. “Think I’ll try some casual shirts next. I see a time when two-thirds of my closet is filled with custom stuff.”

Rathod says that average customer spending has been increasing by about $200 a year. And in addition to helping create a lucrative and long-lasting customer relationship, style advisors serve another practical purpose-keeping custom shir t remakes down to, in his words, “a phenomenally low 3 percent.”

“I can see the younger guys, who are maybe a little more fashion-forward, trying to take their own measurements, giving it a shot online, maybe looking for the best price,” he said. “But our guy is a 45-year-old professional-a doctor, lawyer or banker, and he appreciates this concierge-type service.” — MCT

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Models display creations by Spanish designer Carlos Diez.

Madrid Fashion Week

Models display creations by Spanish designer Maria Escote during the presentation of the Autumn/Winter collections, at Madrid fashion week in Madrid on February 4, 2012.

— AFP photos

Models display creations by Spanish designer Jesus Lorenzo.

Watson believes her fashion sense is boring T

he ‘Harry Potter’ actress - who has fronted campaigns for Burberry and designed her own range of clothes for People Tree - is renowned for her fashion acumen but she claims she has a casual style which isn’t very exciting. She told French Elle magazine: “My problem is that I am a little bit boring. I don’t wear designer bags or big sunglasses. When I don’t have to play Emma Watson in public, I’d rather not put myself out there. I have to be more careful with my look in my everyday life.”

Chung fashion confusion

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lexa Chung feels like she is “blagging it” in the fashion stakes. The TV presenter - who won the public-voted British Style Award at the recent British Fashion Awards feels bemused that she is regularly praised as a style icon but knows her status won’t last forever. Alexa - who has just been named an ambassador for the British Fashion Council - said: “I feel like I’m blagging it, even now. On stage at the Fashion Awards, standing with the other winners who worked really hard to achieve their success, it was like I’d been given a prize for having a pretty face.

“Obviously it’s a window in time. I don’t think anyone can maintain this sort of spotlight - there’s always a new girl on the scene in fashion, another girl of the moment - and I’m certainly not going to be great forever. So while I’ve got it, it’s good to use it.” The 28-year-old beauty also admits she doesn’t often notice if people copy her style. She added in an interview with Britain’s Elle magazine: “I don’t ever presume that people have copied the way I dress. “I comment that I like what someone’s wearing and then a friend will say, ‘What? Your outfit?’ and I realize that’s why I like it. My mum always points out girls who sort of look the same as me.” — Bang Showbiz

Emma is also the face of and ambassador for Lancome beauty and says the brand embodies “everything I like”.

She explained: “I would have never lent my image to a brand if I didn’t feel in perfect harmony with it! LancÙme embodies everything I like: France, where I was born, quality and stars who I admire for their sincerity and charm, like Julia Roberts or Penelope Cruz. “And, most of all, LancÙme allowed me to work the way I wanted to. I appreciated that a lot.” — Bang Showbiz

Duchess Catherine’s strong style

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ritain’s Duchess Catherine has “strength” in her style.

Designer Katherine Hooker has previously created clothes worn by the royal and her sister Pippa Middleton, and she admits despite her “conservative” exterior she continues to stay true to herself and what she likes. She said: “She does have quite a strength in her style.

Although it’s very conservative, there is something that sets her apart from just your average nice, conservative, well-brought-up girl. She’s managed to do something and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.

“I think a lot of people think that she dresses very boringly, that she should be more fashion-forward and all that, but I think that she’s a very strong person, she has a strong personality.” Despite having dressed her previously, she admits she does not know Kate - who is a fan of wearing both high-street and high-end fashion - too well, but thinks of her as a “lovely girl”. She added to New York magazine: “I’ve spoken about Kate a bit, but I’ve nothing really to say except that she’s a lovely girl. She’s not my best friend.” —Bang Showbiz

Jolie, Streep join Arab Spring at Berlin film fest

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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People line up to walk under a dragon-shaped lantern on the square of the Taipei city government yesterday on the eve of the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon. The festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the Chinese calendar, or the last day of the lunisolar Chinese New Year celebrations. —AFP

11 injured in massive crowd for band LMFAO O

verwhelming “human gridlock” in Indianapolis’ Super Bowl Village was causing police to rethink crowd control Saturday on the eve of the National Football League championship game.

Eleven people were injured Friday night as an estimated 50,000 people flooded downtown streets for a free outdoor concert by the band LMFAO. Two other people were injured Friday separate from the concertgoing group. Indianapolis Public Safety Director Frank Straub said none of the injuries were serious, most involving shortness of breath or scraped knees.

Officials were still tweaking their downtown plan Saturday as they prepared for more concerts and activities before kickoff, and they seemed to be pleased with the early results. “The crowd, everything is great,” Indianapolis Department of Public Safety Capt. Kevin Givens said Saturday night.

“We’ve not having any problems with overcrowding.” The less-favorable weather conditions Saturday might have had something to do with that as mist changed to drizzling rain, with temperatures in the low 30s Fahrenheit (around 0 Celsius). There was bumper-to-bumper traffic on some streets heading into downtown, but as of 10 pm, police had not reported any injuries or arrests.

Police made a total of 22 arrests Friday night, mostly for public intoxication. One police car was damaged after concert-goers climbed on top of it to get a better view of the stage. To make more room for people downtown, police closed down some streets completely and others just to inbound traffic.

Additional officers were stationed near Super Bowl Village. Rumors of stampedes, stage collapses and gunshots abounded on socialnetworking site Twitter as crowds grew

Friday, and Straub said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers investigated them all and found no problems. He said reports of officers using pepper spray, Tasers or force of any kind to control the crowd were all false.

Super Bowl Host Committee spokeswoman Dianna Boyce said despite its overwhelming size, the crowd was good-natured and caused few problems. “It looked like a lot of people having a good time,” Boyce said.

“When you have 200,000 people, you have to continue to keep everyone safe.” Kaitlyn Blacha of West Lafayette and her friends went downtown to see LMFAO Friday night, but Georgia Street was already so packed that they couldn’t even see the stage. She said the crowd trying to get to the stage was mostly young, drunk, college-age kids. In the span of an hour, she was able to move about a block and was pushed from behind several

times.

“At times, I was pinned so tightly I didn’t even have to hold my body up,” Blacha said. “Nobody could turn back. We were just stuck.” About an hour after arriving, she said security officers began ushering crowds down nearby alleys to alleviate some of the pressure on Georgia Street. She went down an alley and tried to return to Super Bowl Village but entrances were blocked off. She and her friends instead headed for a nearby bar. “I never felt scared for my safety,” she said. “It was Friday night and we were going downtown. We got what we deserved.” In preparation for free outdoor concerts from the bands Umphrey’s McGee and O.A.R. on Saturday, Straub said between 650 and 700 officers will be on duty in the downtown area, 50 more than originally planned.

Officers were prepared to close off access to the Super Bowl Village if crowds became too unruly. — AP

Leather upholstery, accessories are at home throughout the house LMFAO band

The Dezza armchair by Poltrona Frau features hairy cowhide.

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hether it resembles a well-traveled saddle or a buttery smooth burst of cherry red or lime green, leather furniture is classic and strong. As upholstery, leather lasts four times as long as fabric, according to American Leather. The Dallas-based manufacturer creates furniture in fabric and leather for stores including Crate & Barrel, Design Within Reach and Macy’s. “Try to tear this,” says Lonnie McDonald of Grandview, Mo, holding a tanned leather hide. He cleans, repairs and refinishes leather furniture and leads maintenance sessions for the Leather Pro division of the Textile Care Group. He has served as liaison between the American furniture and cleaning industries to rewrite labels on leather care.

The leather in McDonald’s hands is resistant. “It has a tensile strength of more than 200 pounds per square inch,” he says. “So yes, it’s durable.”

Doctors also recommend leather furniture for allergy sufferers because fabric harbors dust mites. Besides swapping carpet for tile or wood flooring, the Mayo Clinic’s website recommends replacing fabric-upholstered items such as sofas, chairs and headboards with leather. The look and feel of leather are the characteristics that draw most people. For more than two decades, Steve Maturo has sold leather furniture at Museo, a midtown store in Kansas City, Mo. He has a 20year-old black leather sofa and Mario Bellini leather dining chairs in his own home.

“They get better- and better-looking with age,” Maturo says. In Europe, leather is used in wall coverings, flooring, tables and even countertops. Maturo and Museo employees have toured leather furniture factories in Italy and the Netherlands. The experience has given

him an appreciation for how each cowhide is unique, similar to fingerprints and wood grains.

Under a magnifying glass, you can even see pores. Leather is so comfortable and soothing because it is skin, McDonald says. Through the natural process of transpiration, leather absorbs and releases moisture through fibers and pores.

Leather can absorb and release about 15 percent of its weight in water. And it becomes more supple and comfortable with use.

However, leather furniture is not for everyone. For starters, it costs 25 percent to 50 percent more than fabric upholstery. Because of the expense and lifestyle considerations, interior designer Sallie Kytt Redd of Lenexa, Kan, isn’t a fan. “Buckles in children’s shoes can scratch and puncture it,” she says. “In the summer, if you have bare legs, it can feel sticky, even in an air-conditioned room. And it’s not cuddly and warm in the winter; it’s stiff. I don’t have many clients who use leather.”

On the plus side, Redd says leather can simply be wiped off, and it does look nice.

Occasionally her clients will insist on leather.

One bought a dark smoky blue leather lounge chair and ottoman that were things of beauty.

“But a year later, I got a call from the client who said he needed a different chair, something in fabric,” Redd says. “Leather is slippery. If you have posture issues, it just doesn’t allow you to sit straight up.”

McDonald appreciates the positive characteristics of leather and owns a leather sofa with fabric seat cushions. Over the years he has learned the tricks of the trade and is now teaching others. For example, if a ballpoint pen leaves a tiny ink mark on nubuck leather, you can lightly sand it and feather it out to camouflage the stain.

(Don’t try this on aniline or pigmented leathers.)

The biggest problem McDonald sees is that people tend not to clean their leather and protect it from body oil stains on head and arm rests.

“Leather is the Mercedes of furniture,” he says.

“My dad was a mechanic, and he taught me that when you take care of a car, it lasts longer.”

An example of poorly kept leather if people tend not to clean their leather and protect it from stains.

Although leather is a luxury product, sales were up 20 percent in 2011 at American Leather, spokeswoman Jennifer Green says. Customers are looking for more environmentally friendly furniture. Modern tanneries now use closedwater systems and private water treatment plants to prevent the pollution of surrounding water supplies. At American Leather, the dying process involves water-based products that are chrome-free. Trends in leather include gray as a neutral as well as metallic and pearl finishes. And cowhide in furniture upholstery and rugs transcends Wild West looks.

“They add texture and warmth whether

they’re in downtown lofts, (suburban) houses or country kitchens,” says Fancy Smith, owner of home furnishings store Cactus Creek in Weston, Mo. Cowhide rugs at the store are typically $250.

“They’re good on their own or as a layer with another rug on carpet,” Smith says. They’re also unique. Some want the cowhide to look like its natural self in pure white, black, reddish brown, black and white, or brown and white. Others want their hides to not resemble cows at all; they can be dyed and stamped to look like tiger or zebra stripes.

“You can even get hot-pink zebra stripes,” Smith says. Cowhide pillows, lampshades and even window treatments and wall coverings are gaining steam. Using tiny tacks, Smith hung a brown-on-white cowhide that weighed more than 12 pounds on the wall of her son’s nursery.

She displayed framed art on top. Smith can easily tell the differences in cowhide rug quality: The bad ones are hard, and the good ones are soft and shouldn’t shed hair.

High-quality versions can take a beating, too.

She has spilled red wine and food on them, which can be wiped off with a damp rag and then vacuumed. When a customer spilled hot wax on a rug, Smith removed it with a fine-tooth comb. “They look so beautiful and exotic,” Smith says. “But they come from cows that we see every day.”

Know what you’re getting Aniline: A hide that has been treated with aniline dye, either organic or inorganic. The dye is transparent and allows the grain and natural characteristics to come through. If you scratch it, it should retain the top color of the leather. It feels buttery soft to the touch.

Bi-cast: Leather particles with a polyurethane coating.

Leatherette: A material, most likely vinyl, that resembles leather. Other imitation leathers are ultra-suede and pleather.

Nubuck: The top grain of leather that has been brushed or sanded. It feels like velvet to the touch. —MCT