07 Mar 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

www.kuwaittimes.net

RABIA ALTHANI 14, 1433 AH

Ashour files to grill PM on corruption, bedoons

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Kuwait National & Liberation Days

Sheikh Jaber vows to face grilling in open session

Max 22º Min 10º High Tide 11:32 & 22:58 Low Tide 04:52 & 16:47

By B Izzak and Agencies

ANKARA: Turkish Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Ali Babacan (center) is seen with the Kuwaiti media delegation yesterday. (Inset) Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan (right) and Kuwait’s Ambassador to Turkey Abdullah Al-Thuwaikh (left) meet Babacan yesterday.

—Photos by KUNA & Majed Al-Sabeji

KUWAIT: Barely three weeks after the new government was formed and just over a month since a new National Assembly was elected, MP Saleh Ashour yesterday carried out his threat and filed a request demanding to grill the prime minister over five violations. The 31-page grilling alleges that Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah has failed to take appropriate measures regarding two major corruption scandals - Ashour is implicated in one of them - and that his government failed to resolve the problem of stateless people or bedoons, thus putting the country’s national security at risk. Another issue is failure of the new government to submit its program of action for the current term, thus violating a key requirement under the constitution.

In an unprecedented move, the information minister late yesterday said Sheikh Jaber will answer the grilling motion in an open session and will not seek a delay.

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah, in an interview with Kuwait TV, quoted Sheikh Jaber as affirming he would not refer the interpellation to the legislative Continued on Page 13

Great potential for Kuwait-Turkey ties ANKARA: Turkish Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Ali Babacan stressed a unique level of bilateral ties with the Kuwait, terming them as “excellent” and with great potential for further growth, particularly in the economic sphere. Babacan said political ties are also excellent and constantly growing amid continued coordination at a ministerial level. He said his country is keen on bolstering trade and investment exchange and expanding horizons on economic cooperation. He said the current rate of financial exchange is disproportionate according to the strength of ties between the two countries and their continued growth.

Regarding Turkish-Kuwaiti agreements, Babacan said his country is ready to implement the agreements and is due to announce important steps later in the year.

Babacan made the remarks in a meeting with Kuwait pressmen currently visiting Ankara. The

Kuwaiti press delegation, which started its six-day visit Monday, includes Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd AlRahman Al-Alyan. Kuwait Journalists Association Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of Kuwait News Agency Ahmad Yusef Behbehani, Al-Anbaa Editor-in-Chief Yousef Khalid Al-Marzouq, KUNA Editor-in-Chief Rashid Al-Ruwaished, Al-Rai Editor-inChief Majid Al-Ali and Annahar Editor-in-Chief Emad BuKhamsin are also among the group of eminent journalists. They are joined by Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al-Anbaa and visit coordinator Adnan Al-Rashed, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al-Yaqaza magazine Dalia Behbehani and photographer Majed Al-Sabeji.

Babacan also remarked on visa exemptions for GCC nationals and allowing them to own property in the country. He said allowing GCC nationals property ownership “will attract Arab investments into the

Gulf jabs at Syria also aimed at Iran DUBAI: Around a gold-draped hall in Saudi Arabia, Gulf envoys listened to their host denounce the Syrian regime as an enemy of its people and the region. What they really heard were fresh salvos in the Arab Spring’s wider war: Saudi leaders and their Gulf partners hoping to deal crippling blows to Iran’s footholds in the Middle East. On multiple fronts, the current Arab upheavals present an opportunity for the Gulf states to bolster their influence, consolidate power and possibly leave regional rival Iran without its critical alliances that flow through Damascus.

“Nearly everywhere you look in the Middle East now, Iran is somehow in the picture,” said Sami Alfaraj, director of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies. “And where you have Iran, that means its rivalry with Saudi Arabia is also there.” Saudi Arabia already plays a white knight role as protector of the fellow Sunni monarchy in neighboring Bahrain, where a Shiite-led uprising is perceived by Gulf leaders as emboldened by Iran. Meanwhile, Gulf states

Syria faces outrage; ‘smell of death’ in Homs

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have pledged aid and other help to the Palestinian group Hamas to nudge it from Iran’s orbit.

But Syria represents a much bigger prize. Collapse of President Bashar Assad’s rule would likely end Iran’s cozy ties with Syria and potentially redraw the Mideast’s pathways of influence.

Instead of the so-called Shiite crescent from Iran through Iraq and onto Bashar’s regime led by Shiite offshoot Alawites - a new corridor of allies could be forged from Saudi Arabia, through Jordan and into Syria. It would also choke off aid channels to Tehran’s main anti-Israel faction, Hezbollah in Lebanon, which could be forced to work more closely with other, more moderate Lebanese political groups.

“The regime is insisting on imposing itself by force on the Syrian people,” said Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal in a rare televised news conference Sunday after meetings with Gulf Arab counterparts in Riyadh. He gave no direct comment on growing Gulf proposals to help arm Syrian rebels but Continued on Page 13

Indian govt, Gandhi dynasty suffer election blow

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country”. At present, such ownership is only allowed for corporate bodies but the government is in the process of ironing out legal constraints and difficulties preventing direct ownership of real estate property in Turkey by GCC citizens.

“A free trade agreement between Turkey and the GCC bloc would make things easier for both parties, particularly when it comes to cancelling the visa requirement in both directions,” and it is essential to reach visa exemption to facilitate movement of citizens as well as flow of capital and investments. As for the entry of GCC nationals into the country, he said “it only requires a pass on the borders, whereas Turkish citizens seeking entry to a GCC country are faced with many obstacles and time-consuming procedures whichever GCC country is concerned.”

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: MP Saleh Ashour addresses the media at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Saudi diplomat shot dead in Bangladesh DHAKA: A Saudi Arabian diplomat was shot in the chest and killed in an upmarket district of the Bangladeshi capital yesterday while taking a late-night walk near his home, police told AFP. Officers found badly injured 45-year-old Khalaf Al-Ali at an intersection just two buildings away from his residence in the city’s Gulshan area, Dhaka police deputy commissioner Lutful Kabir said. Ali, the head of Saudi citizen affairs at the embassy, was rushed to a local hospital after the shooting at 1.20 am, but died three hours later. “He was hit by a bullet in the left chest,” Kabir said.

The Bangladeshi foreign ministry expressed its “deep shock and sorrow” at the murder and said an investigation had begun “in order to find out the details and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice”.

The scene of the shooting was cordoned off by police yesterday and security was stepped up in the diplomatic area of the city. Another senior policeman, Nizamul Hoque, told AFP the diplomat had been living alone in a rented apartment in Gulshan for several years. “He has been a regular late-night walker. Sometimes he would walk up to 2:00 am in the night. He was wearing a jogging outfit and trainers at the time of the incident,” he said, adding that the bullet had struck his heart.

Continued on Page 13

Vale hits full capacity in Oman, opens Sohar plant

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DHAKA: Bangladeshi police officers and officials from Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Bangladesh inspect the area where a Saudi diplomat was shot dead yesterday. — AP

Milan hang on as brave Arsenal fall short

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

LOCAL

Kuwaitedu fair aims to lure prospective students Major educational establishments offer services

Some ambassadors at the booth of Kuwait Times.

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: With major educational establishments making their presence felt, the Sixth Kuwaitedu Fair was launched yesterday morning at Al Safir International Hotel. The event is being held under the patronage of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Adviser at the Diwan of Prime Minister, Sheikha Rasha Hmood AlJaber Al-Sabah. This fair will run till March 8, 2012.

The Manipal University is one of the participants this year. “The university opened its branch in Dubai 10 years ago. Experiencing an increasing interest in our university, with more than 2,000 students, we decided to shift to our own brand new campus in Dubai International Academic City with more space, more facilities and more learning.

This is our effort to keep up with increasing student enrollments, and provide world class facilities that reflect our commitment to the region. It is bigger, better and in tune with the heritage of Manipal in education,” Najmul Qamar, Manager- Admissions at Manipal University told the Kuwait Times.

It offers different majors in engineering, business management, media and communication, interior designing, IT, biotechnology. “We also offer sports facilities, workshops, labs for engineering and others. Furthermore, the cafeteria offers an international menu that satisfies palates at reasonable rates.

Also, separate accommodation facilities are offered to boys and girls. We also assist with visa facilities as well. The university provides Indian academic degrees that are internationally valid and accepted,” added Qamar.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Bahrain branch has a stall set up to woo prospective students. RCSI Bahrain was built on the

heritage of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland which was founded in 1784. It aims to enhance healthcare in Bahrain and other GCC countries, and beyond through endeavor, innovation and collaboration in education, research and service. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain was founded in 2004 under license from the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and was officially opened in October 2004. As of October 2008, there are students belonging to 34 nationalities. A vibrant School of Nursing admitted its first cohort of students in October 2006. Clinical tuition will be provided in the King Hamad General Hospital when completed, and is currently provided in the other healthcare facilities of the Ministry of Health and the Bahrain Defence Forces Hospital.

The University is staffed by academic and administrative personnel from Ireland and Bahrain.

“We receive a large volume of applicants from Kuwait, encouraging us to participate this year as well. This year, we aim to attract even more Kuwaiti students because this is the first year government scholarship is being offered to study at our university. All applications can be submitted online,” said Elaine Cabrey, Student Recruitment Officer.

Some institutions are novices in Kuwaitedu. “We are looking to serve expats in Kuwait and the Middle East who would like to study abroad. We are glad to be participating in this fair, and offer our services. We aim to let interested students know that they can complete the rest of the program in the United States while studying the first two years in Guyana. We have two students from the UAE for the next academic year, and we hope to host more students from the Middle East,” stressed Saju Bhaskar,

The Kuwait Times booth. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Chief Executive Officer of Texila American University.

The Texila American University (TAU) is listed in the World Health Organization - The AVICENNA Directories, which is a publicly accessible database of schools, colleges, and universities for education of academic professions in health. It has three missions: To establish state of the art facilities for education and create higher level of educational systems in health care, technology and management, to provide the highest standard of medical training, using an innovative program that utilizes the knowledge from highly qualified teaching professionals and resources available across the globe, and to inspire within every graduate of the university the humanity and desire to provide the highest quality of medical care to their patients.

Also the University of Sharjah is taking part for the first time. Khalid Al-Raboy, Deputy Director of the PR Department at the University stated that the university is keen to participate in different educational exhibitions in the region. “We have students from all over GCC countries.

In fact, only 50 percent of the 10,000 students are from UAE, and students from Kuwait come in the third place. We offer about 75 different programs in 14 colleges,” he pointed out.

Kuwaitedu is organized by the Kuwait Global Center for organizing exhibitions. Farah Shaban, Public Relations Officer of Kuwait Global Center stated that ‘Kuwaitedu’ has become one of the most specialized exhibitions for education in the region. The sixth educational expo introduced new participants, and for the first time in Kuwait from Qatar, South America, Malaysia, and Australia in addition to the permanent participants from the United States, United Arab Emirates,

Booth of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Students’ dreams come true in Manipal University

Manipal University Dubai booth

Texila American University booth Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, Switzerland and Canada,” she said. Farah continued by saying that the new participants aimed to highlight development and added values that can benefit students and all visitors from Kuwait and abroad. “The exhibition will provide guidelines to all high school graduates from different specialization as well as students for higher education in master’s and doctorate programs,” she further said.

The Director for the Kuwait Global Center, Ahmad Shaban noted that this exhibition continues to

focus on the latest development and advancements made in education, where responsibility lies in enabling students to fulfill their ambitions. Those interested can attend seminars and one-on-one counseling every day from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Shaban acknowledged the assistance and support given by different departments and authorities in Kuwait, and the efforts made by them in making this exhibition a success. He concluded by announcing that another educational expo will be held in Bahrain in March between 13 and 15.

KUWAIT: Manipal University’s Dubai campus is one of the reputed universities in the UAE. Initially established in the year 2000, its exponential growth saw the campus shift to Knowledge Village in September 2003 later moving to a campus of larger facilities at the Dubai International Academic City in the year 2006, before finally moving to its permanent brand-new and a sprawling campus at DIAC in 2011. Spreadout in over 750,000 square feet of infrastructure, the campus is currently facilitating over 2,000 students manifest their dreams into reality through its various programs in Engineering, Management, Information Technology, Biotechnology, Media and Communications and Interior Design at Bachelors and Masters level. Manipal UniversityDubai symbolizes the vision of its founder Dr. T.M.A. Pai, who set up the first institute at Manipal in India, to provide multiethnic, multi-discipline platform conforming to international standards. Upon successful completion of the program the final degree is awarded by the Manipal University-India, a purely Indian degree, internationally valid and accepted and attestable by the Knowledge and the Human Development Authorities - (KHDA) Dubai. At Manipal University, Dubai, respect and fellowship binds over 2,000 students who represent a wide range of cultures, backgrounds and nationalities.

The numerous organizations, events, activities at Manipal University, Dubai encourage socializing among the student community which strengthens ties and contribute towards creating a truly global society. Some of our highlighted special features are provision of Merit Scholarships, Sports Scholarships, Student Visa Facilities, Separate Hostel facility for Boys and Girls and beside these are the unmatched facilities like the state-of-the-art Engineering workshop equipped with latest CNC machinery, Professionally equipped Sport Complex with separate activity chamber for boys and girls, fully sourced Library, highly equipped Laboratories, professional and a real size Audio/Video Studio and above all Placement Assistance and Internships. If you are looking for a platform to develop and attain multi-faceted skill sets, self-confidence, intensive industry interface, in-depth knowledge, the courage to dream and pursue the dream......... then, Manipal University, Dubai is the portal for you. Whatever course you choose to pursue, your educational experience will be a unique one at Manipal University, where you chart, under the able guidance of our experienced faculty, your own path to success.

Note: “O” level students can join our one year Foundation program to continue their preferred graduation.

AUS recruiting applicants from Gulf region

Ali Shuhaimy

KUWAIT: The American University of Sharjah (AUS) is participating in the 6th Kuwait International Education Exhibition KuwaitEdu in Safir International Hotel, Kuwait.

AUS participation in this important higher education event comes within the university’s strategic initiatives to introduce its academic programs, and recruit highly qualified senior high school students from the various education systems in the region, and to foster its direct communication with the community. “AUS participation in this event supplements our annual orientation and student recruitment cam-

paign in Kuwait which we started earlier in November 2011, with an intensive program of high school visits”, said Ali Shuhaimy, AUS Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management.

“We maintain direct communication with our prospective students from Kuwait to answer their queries and facilitate their admission.” A good number of Kuwaiti and expatriate students join AUS every year. This participation reflects our commitment to outreach to those students who seek admission in our graduate and undergraduate programs in the

academic year 2012-2013. We will certainly be delighted to meet them and extend any possible help or assistant during the exhibition”, added Shuhaimy.

New programs will be announced during the exhibition, including the AUS’ Achievement Academy Summer Program for high school students, which prepares them for university life through a carefully designed and comprehensive educational, cultural and entertainment set of activities, and the intensive English courses that AUS started to offer recently for the public.

The main building of the American University of Sharjah.

New York Film Academy proud of Abu Dhabi branch KUWAIT: New York Film Academy’s programs balance the study of the craft with practical experience to train students to be the best filmmakers they can be. This is achieved by a rigorous schedule of classroom instruction, hands-on workshops, and immediate experience.

The New York Film Academy is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) with campuses in New York City, Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California and Abu Dhabi. NASAD is the only accrediting body for visual art programs recognized by the US Department of Education.

The Film Academy is honored to be the film school of choice of many Hollywood filmmakers, actors, and figures from the entertainment and media world who have sent a son, daughter or family member to study with us such as the film director Steven Speilberg and the actor AL Pacino and many more.

The New York Film Academy is proud of its branch campus in Abu Dhabi. The Academy joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Authority for

Culture and Heritage, has established a worldclass film school that will become an educational center for the rapidly growing film industry in Abu Dhabi and the region.

The academy provides different programs as shorts and degrees, and as an example in the first year, students receive over 1,000 hours of hands-on instruction and actual production experience. The curriculum integrates intensive study in all the major filmmaking disciplines including cinematography, directing, screenwriting, producing, and editing. They all write, shoot, direct, and edit eight of their own short films (including a thesis syncsound film). They shoot projects on 16mm film, 35mm film, and HD. All projects are edited digitally.

New York Film Academy has wide range of programs in all over the campuses in Filmmaking, Acting for Film, Screen writing, Photography,

Stem cell transplants for children KUWAIT: Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi, was thanked for prioritizing the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) hospital for children with leukemia. Dr. Ali Mulla Ali, head of the department for Cancer and Blood Diseases in Children, said he is very thankful to the Minister saying his visit was one of his first calls to a local hospital. Many changes have

happened since the visit, Ali said, including facilitation of the work of specialized committees at the NBK hospital, and finalizing decisions for treatment abroad without going to the supreme committee. He said the ministry promised solutions for all obstacles facing them, like a shortage of staff, equipment or medicine. —Al-Anbaa

Producing, Game design, 3D animation, Broadcast journalism and other subjects related to Cinema and Visual arts.

For more information, please check the following link: www.nyfa.edu

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

local

11 new aircraft for KAC fleet KUWAIT: Kuwait plans to buy eleven new aircraf t to add to the Kuwait Airways Corporation fleet, a Ministry of Communications official announced yesterday.

“The plan will help improve KAC’s fleet, which is suffering from the fact that many of its planes are outdated” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the MOC will soon submit an urgent request to the Cabinet and Kuwait Investment Authority to proceed with the purchase.

Many local economists have recommended that the Government update KAC’s fleet before privatizing the state-

owned corporation, as planned sometime in the future. -Al-Qabas A recent KAC flight, number 301 heading to Mumbai in India, had to make an emergency landing minutes after takeoff. Malfunctions in the aircraft’s tire prevented the plane from elevating. According to a source with knowledge of the incident, no injuries were reported among the 124 panicstricken passengers.

They were moved to the Kuwait International Airport hotel until the malfunction was fixed. The plane later took off and reached its destination without incident. —Al-Shahed

84% of Kuwaitis dissatisfied with state education KUWAIT: An aggregate of 84% of citizens who took part in a recent official survey expressed dissatisfaction at the level of educational services in Kuwait’s public schools, leading observers to urge prompt governmental measures to improve the quality of education in the country.

The survey covered 548,723 Kuwaiti citizens including middle and high school students, public school teachers and headmasters, as well as parents of students. It was carried out by a governmental team assigned to help improve educational administrations in Kuwait.

The survey showed that 19.7 percent of

people surveyed believe that public school administrations have leadership qualities, while 83 percent believe that the administration lacks strategic planning.

Moreover, the statistics show that 92 percent of citizens surveyed believe that administrations of public schools fail in labour development duties, while 85 percent argued that administrations do not put an effort to ensure that school campuses meet quality standards, including safety measures. Meanwhile, only 10.5 percent of people surveyed said that curriculums reflect the philosophy of the state precisely. — Al-Qabas

Salary raises for citizens employed in private sector KUWAIT: A proposal to raise salaries of Kuwaiti employees in the private sector, put forward by Dr Waled Al-Wahab, Chairman of Manpower Government Restructuring Program(MGRP), referred it to Civil Service Commission(CSC).

They for warded it to Council of Ministers for approval, reported AlAnba.

As per the following program: 1. University graduates in the following professions (medicine, pharmacy, engineering) will receive an increment of KD 400.

2. University graduates in following professions (law, accounting, informa-

tion technology, statistics economics, nursing and teaching) will receive an increment of KD 350.

3. University graduates in other professions will receive an increment of KD 300.

4. High school graduate (+2 years diploma) will receive an increment of KD 250.

5. High school, or diploma holder will receive an increment of KD 200.

6. Those with intermediate level schooling will receive an increment of KD 150.

7. Those without any qualification will receive an increment of KD 100.

KUWAIT: Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud, has paid a number of visits to the Municipality council election center to observe the election procedure in the fourth constituency of Hawally. He hailed the organized staff and the dedication of the security men on duty in the centers.

Unchecked sale of branded ‘killer’ food items in Kuwait Govt urged to implement strict rules

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The Greenline, a group of environmentalists from Kuwait has urged the government to act upon the rampant mislabeling of food products, urging it to perform its function properly , keeping in mind the safety and wellbeing of Kuwaiti population.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Greenline headquarters in Salmiya, Khalid Al-Hajery, Greenline director, noted that lack of government control and regulations are the reasons behind the continuous flooding of food items classified as unhealthy if not ‘killer’ food products.

“If we are not going to make noise about this issue, who will save our country, who will save and help our children and family members from the poisonous chemicals being used to preserve food items that we buy and consume every day,” he asked.

Greenline paraded some of the branded products randomly collected from supermarkets in Kuwait which it claims contains

poisonous chemicals, if not carcinogenic elements.

Most of them are well-known items from the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Some are strawberry and chocolate syrup, white cream cheese, soft drinks, jelly, noodles,

cake mix, coffee, candies, juices, etc. “These are all food products we buy everyday to feed ourselves and our children/families, but because of the lack of awareness, consumers are buying food items they don’t know much

KUWAIT: Khalid Al-Hajery, Greenline director, addressing the press conference.

about. In effect, they are killers.

There are food labels mentioned on the package but most are vague. Who will know that E122 [code] in a jelly packet is dangerous and could cause allergies in babies?,” he said. “No one knows if the government plans to take a firm stand. It could have strictly labeled food items, the way we can easily understand,” he opined.

Food items should be labeled properly, according to Al-Hajery.

“It should be understood by ordinary people. The term use should also be clear; even ordinary people must be able to understand its label. Place a code name or code number that is very clear even to lay people,” he explained. Al-Hajery asked the Kuwaiti government to implement strict rules/regulations to control the import of food products that are safe and healthy to humans.

“We are a rich country, but look at what we are feeding our children. Much of it is junk food.

We are not even conscious about whether food products are healthy,” he added.

PRATAP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

LOCAL

conspiracy theories

Entitled to an opinion

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

I

kuwait digest

Who’s responsible for educational deterioration?

By Dr Shamlan Youosif Al-Essa

T

he endless flood of statements made by state officials on the importance of education and preparing qualified and specialized manpower needed to carry out government development projects really amazes me! Those statements are way far from real life educational policies adapted by the ministry of education.

How on earth has the MoE and its minister yielded to the blackmail of MPs, parents and students who refuse to accept the results of their own exams? It appears as if they have the upper hand in deciding on the types of exams they should be subjected to for distribution of exam marks and evaluation system. If they fail to go on strikes and carry out demonstrations outside the minister’s office, many MPs rush to join them and force the minister to issue a decree on cancelling previous exam results by granting five marks per student!

Well, to show that I am not getting at the minster, let us review a lengthy report published by Al-Qabas daily on 4 March under the headline of ‘Teacher, eyewitness, school administration-patronized cheating.’

The report by Mahoud Al-Zahi said that teachers at both public and private schools are being forced by school administrations to help students pass by allowing them to cheat, even collectively. This is so that the final success rates in each school can reach the highest level possible. He added that teachers have been asked to set as easy exams that do not really evaluate students’ real comprehension of the curriculums, and do not distinguish hardworking students from lazy ones. The report justified such deterioration to the low salaries

teachers paid in Arabic private schools where parents never stop offering gifts and favors to have their children succeed at any cost. The head of an Arabic department in a public school said that there were no direct orders to allow students to cheat. ‘Yet, there is an off-record agreement to let it happen since the whole educational system needs to restructured. Only then, we’ll have real exams and results,’ he said noting that if such testing systems are applied to students, only 10 percent would pass at the end of the year.

In view of my long academic career, I believe that those teachers are being honest because, having dealt with so many first year students at Kuwait University, the outcome of our schooling system is quite incompetent, and most students do not deserve to join any university!

What can we do, then? Can our educational system be reformed? Will we be able to reform our future generations? Well, basically this requires more individual ambition, will and determination to upgrade living standards by getting proper education. Giving access to education is the responsibility of families rather than the government. A family that is keen to provide its members with good education will never force MPs nor the government to help their children succeed through cheating.

Finally, neither education nor anything else can be reformed as long as individuals depend largely on the state in such revenue-based states. Here, individuals are so dependent and want to succeed in receiving salaries without studying, demanding raises without showing any commitment or punctuality! — Al-Watan

was happy to receive such hard letters of criticism on the issue I wrote on Feb 24 in Friday Times. The topic was the incident of the burning of Qurans. As a believer of freedom of speech and writing, I am publishing mainly the letters of criticism such as from Marcel, Thomas, Dave, Jose and Just. I am publishing all the letters for our readers to see. In all justice Ms Just, I am not undermining the role of the American army in the area. You are entitled to your opinion the same way I am entitled to mine. Those who think I have a grudge against the American or Dutch nation: No. I can never do that. I grudge the person who drew the blasphemous cartoon. Maybe you are right, maybe those who burnt the Quran were illiterates who did not differentiate between Chinese or Hindi or Arabic. Also it is wrong if the prisoners were using the Holy Book as a courier service, desecrating it.

As I look with respect to the American Army institution I have always seen it as a well-organized power. We do not expect mistakes from them. Even the American nation cannot accept mistakes from them.

When an ignorant commits a mistake you accept it.

But when a highly-regarded institution or a person commits such a mistake it is a different question.

People then evaluate it differently. Unfortunately, a single person falls under harder criticism. The question is not about undermining or disrespect as many of you have taken it to be.

Letters to Badrya Darwish Dear Ms Badrya Darwish, Though I read your columns on a regular basis, I was disappointed by the one I read today (24 February 2012). ‘What an act of ignorance’.

Because of your anger at the destruction of Qurans (which I also highly disapprove of ), you decided to connect this with unrelated matters. Or even worse, incomplete or simply incorrect facts.

When you refer to the Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh (descendant of the painter Vincent van Gogh), please do not forget to mention that he made a movie in which he expressed his personal view on the role of women in Islam. I guess you have not seen it, otherwise you most likely would not react like this. Anyway, because of this movie, which almost no Muslim ever saw, he was killed by Mohammed Bouyeri in broad daylight in the streets of Amsterdam, after the director took his son to school on his bicycle. Even though only 0.001 percent of the Muslim population saw the movie, he was an instant threat. And ultimately brutally killed.

The other movie you refer to was made by a Dutch politician you most likely have heard of, Geert Wilders. Actually it was not much of a movie, but a compilation of disturbing news items from all the major news agencies. These old news flashes were interspersed with verses from the Quran. Not even edited. Geert Wilders also has to live under 24/7 security since then. He cannot visit any place without at least six bodyguards. Some offended people dragged him to court and tried to convict him for ‘insulting and spreading hatred’. Fortunately in Holland citizens (from diverse origins) can take a politician to court. Nobody is above the law in our country. The whole trial was also broadcast live on television for everyone to watch. Personally I will never vote for Geert Wilders, but his not-so-creative clip was not that much of a deal and certainly not blasphemous or spreading hatred towards Muslims.

The Court ruled in his favor and the case was dismissed.

Now about the series of blasphemous movies which were supposedly shown over here in Holland.

Can you please give me one example, because this is totally new to me?

Of course I do understand your anger at the destruction of your Holy Book. It is wrong and should not have happened. But to use this bias against my country, in which all people have the same rights, is in my opinion not justified. In my city, Rotterdam, over half of the population are Muslims and we even have a Muslim Mayor - Ahmed Aboutaleb.

We have Syrians protesting against their regime almost every week. No problem. Again, every Dutch citizen or person who lives here has the human right to protest or go to court if she/he likes. That is the nature of our society and we all benefit from it.

The Dutch Muslims (many of them refugees), are now lobbying to implement Islamic Law and abolish democracy by organizing themselves into parties. The extremists even physically attack people during debates if they don’t like their opinion.

I remember that you wrote how wrong it was that no woman was elected to your Parliament. In Holland 61 of the 150 PM’s are women. Not to mention those (also Muslims) who are members of our Government.

We have 450 mosques in Holland. There is no discussion about them because we have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Compare that to many other countries.

Have a nice weekend!

Regards, Marcel To Ms Darwish, Instead of denigrating the US forces, that are protecting and helping to establish a democratic society in Afghanistan, perhaps you should praise them.

Did they not free your country from the tyranny of Saddam? Were they vile evil monsters in that case;

to free your country from Iraq?

No, I do not think you would agree with that. You enjoy your freedom and your country’s freedom because of the US military.

One of the preferred ways to destroy Qurans is to burn them, when there are no flowing rivers nearby.

Last time I checked, there aren’t many flowing rivers in Afghanistan in the middle of winter.

Let’s tone down the rhetoric a bit, before the extremists take the wrong message from this and do something regrettable.

Kindest Regards, Thomas Dear Badrya Darwish, I read your article with great interest and I would like to add something to it. I have no personal knowledge of the Quran burning incident, but I have been following it in the American news media.

As you said, the Qurans in question were confiscated from Afghani prisoners detained at Babram Air Base. One can logically assume that the prisoners were Taliban. The reason why the Qurans were confiscated was that they had been the means through which these prisoners were communicating with each other. Now I do not know just how they used the Qurans, but I suspect they were tearing pages out of them and using the pages as writing paper.

So the Qurans were already desecrated in the first place. I truly do not know what the Islamic custom is in regards to damaged/discarded holy books.

Perhaps the American soldiers did violate protocol. I do not know. In the USA, it is protocol to burn American flags that are no longer serviceable.

Perhaps the soldiers were simply disposing of discarded and damaged items that had been used for illicit purpose.

I wish that your story had mentioned that aspect.

Yours, Dave Hood USA Dear Ms Darwish, It is always best to wait for the result of the investigation to this unfortunate incident. The initial report was that those copies of the Quran that got burned were confiscated from prisoners. These books were being used as a means of communication among prisoners according to military officials.

Of course, we should be offended if this act was done blasphemously!

But 20 people dead? ... seems not in sync with the teaching of Islam.

Salaam Alaikum, Jose de Gracia Long Island, New York, USA Dear instigator, I was extremely disappointed in your editorial on the current chaos that has enveloped Afghanistan.

You begin your text with a confusing explanation regarding your lack of interest in the issue, except when it is geographically close to home. Fine.

Then you move on to remind everyone about the other attacks on Islam that have occurred in the last few years. Now you are really heating people up.

Then you blame the entire US military, from cook to President, of complicity in this unfortunate action.

Having read extensively on the subject and having served in Afghanistan, I can speak pretty intelligently on this issue.

Afghanistan does not enjoy a regular garbage service. Refuse is therefore burned at most military locations in the country on a daily basis. This chore is conducted by the lowest ranking service members in whatever unit. This person is usually very poorly educated and has a poor grasp of the English language and absolutely no knowledge of Arabic.

Honestly ask yourself how that person is supposed to identify a Quran next to any other text? Do you actually suppose that the entire US military establishment has a working knowledge of Arabic and can distinguish a Taliban field manual from a religious text? Or do you purport that this was an intentional act of revenge, or a deliberate attempt at instigation by an educated American Arabic speaker?

No American wants this war to be over more than the poor guy who has to burn the garbage every day, and now he has blood on his hands because he can’t read Arabic.

And you seem content to stand around and poke a stick at an angry beehive of anti-American sentiment. I for one say shame on you.

Sincerely, Just Reward Hi Dear I am Moazzam Ali, journalist from Pakistan. I read your article. It is the real voice of the Muslim nation.

Moazzam Ali Burning the Quran was an ignorant thing to do.

At the same time the following story was in the paper: KUWAIT: A hairdresser, kidnapped by two unidentified men, was taken to the desert where they took turns raping her before they abandoned her in the middle of nowhere.

Why is one addressed and the conditions these people live under when working in Kuwait ignored by you.

By Anonymous

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

local

Amir’s envoy in Doha DOHA: Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah affirmed yesterday on the importance of the Connect Arab Summit 2012, due to its vital issues, which addresses the day-to-day needs of everyone.

Sheikh Sabah Khalid, who arrived here earlier yesterday, is representing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in the summit.

The Deputy Premier said topics which will be covered in the meeting will be

dealing mostly to enable Arab countries catch up with technological advancements in the communication sector, namely due for being the modern day language and the real force behind today’s economy and politics.

Sheikh Sabah noted as well on the importance of the summit because of the variety of several workshops, which would focus on the goals intended by the summit, mainly to keep up with technological requirements in the constantly and rapidly changing communications technology. — KUNA

State officials discuss housing related obstacles KUWAIT: In a recent government meeting to discuss land allotment for housing projects, Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri Minister of Housing Affairs blamed Kuwait Municipality General Director Ahmad AlSubaih for the obstacles hindering housing projects.

According to sources, Al-Subaih explained that the Municipality was accused of failing to issue licenses that can be used to build 100,000 homes. He argued that the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, which falls under the Housing Ministryís jurisdiction, failed to take proper action concerning procedures related to licensing lands. Eventually, an agreement

was reached to form a task force featuring members from the Municipality, Housing Ministry and the Ministry of Electricity and Water to find solutions to obstacles that stand in the way of housing projects in AlNaseem, Abu Halifa, sources added.

Meanwhile, sources added that Minister of Oil, Hani Husain insisted that Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) will not surrender an area it owns, west of Haddiya to be used for housing projects.

On the other hand, Sheikh Rakan AlSabah Assistant Undersecretary for Constructions Affair at the Ministry of Defense, added that military sites may be turned into a residential area. — Al-Rai

KNPC’s net profits $530m KUWAIT: Informed sources revealed that KNPC has achieved net profits amounting to $530 million during the first 10 months of the financial year 2011-12.

Sources pointed that the company’s profit has improved greatly due to the increase in oil products prices in the international press and the evaluation of the stored products.

They also said that company’s profits from operational work, and refining activities amounted to $330 million, during the 10 months and the company is planning to increase profitability during the remaining two months of the financial year. The company witnessed losses amounting to $36 million due to re-evaluation of stored products during nine months of the year. — Al-Anba

New exam evaluation KUWAIT: Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, agreed at a meeting with senior ministry officials to postpone the new exam evaluation and marking system until next year so that it can be subjected to fur ther study. MOE Undersecretar y, Tomadher AlSaidrawi, confirmed the postponement and explained that first term grades will be recalculated according to the previous marking system in both morning and afternoon schools.

Development plan to lure investments: Safar Workshop on boosting achievements KUWAIT: Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs, Dr. Fadhel Ali Safar, underlined yesterday the significance of the state planning strategy to transform the country into a lucrative investment hub. Safar, also Minister of Public Works, affirmed that the Government is pursuing the execution of development plans of the second year, in line with resolutions by the Cabinet and Supreme Planning Council (SPC). He said the National Assembly has been slack in endorsing the relevant bill, submitted in June last year. He said Parliament will be urgently addressed to bless the bill of the second year of the plan, due to expire at the end of this month.

The minister was speaking to journalists during a workshop on boosting achievements and tackling snags in the execution of annual development plans, held by the SPC Secretariat General.

He said strategists are pondering plans to avert the recurrence of problems in the third year of the plan, that existed during execution in the second year.

Safar confirmed that a draft law regarding the third year of the plan, due to begin in April, has been submitted to Parliament.

NA majority support grilling of Premier

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The parliamentary majority agreed to support the grilling motion of MP Saleh Ashour against His Highness the Premier, Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak, out of respect for the constitutional tool.

They will not support the request of non cooperation. Sources said the majority MPs believe that the grilling aims only at embarrassing them and revealing their contradictions. They said the majority will side with the grilling, but will not go for non-cooperation because the deposits issue awaits parliamentary investigations.

Sources expected some members of the majority bloc to vote differently, because MP Obeid AlWasmi may not agree with them.

Member of Parliament, Mohammad Al-Saqer, lauded the decision of the Cabinet to appoint three new commissioners at the stock market authority who are extremely competent with vast experience.

They will ensure the launch of the activities of the authority in the right way. He said this serves the national economy and preserves citizens savings.

He revealed that participants in the meeting approved a decision to grant membership to Kuwait Radio in the joint information and technical committee of the secretariat general and to the Ministry of Information for the sake of promoting the development plans.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh discussed yesterday economic and commercial ties, as well as issues of joint interest with visiting delegations from Mauritania, Algeria and the World Bank.

Emerging from the meeting with the Mauritanian delegation, headed by Minister of Economy and Development Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, Al-Saleh said the talks with the eminent guests dealt with means of enhancing the commercial ties between the two brotherly countries.

The discussions touched on prospected investments for Kuwaiti businessmen in Mauritania, the minister added, noting that he asked the Mauritanian side to activate the commercial treaty, signed in the African nation in 2010, to pave way for increasing volume of commercial and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Al-Saleh held a meeting with the special team tasked with working out an agreement for commercial cooperation with Algeria, aimed at bolstering the economic and trade ties between the two states.

Mujahed Ibrahim, the head f the visiting Algerian delegation and the manager of trademarks at the ministry of trade, told KUNA on sidelines of the meeting that the talks were crowned with a “framework commercial accord,” that had been drafted by the joint commission in 2010.

The first meeting of the committee was held in Algeria on October 19, 2010, he said, explaining that the agreement was initialed during today’s meeting.

Commercial exchanges between Kuwait and Algeria markedly grew over the past years, reaching USD 70 million, last year, compared to USD 10 million in 2005.

The initial accord is due to be ratified during a meeting of the Kuwaiti-Algeria commission, due in Algeria in June. Separately, the minister of commerce met with representatives of the World Bank at a meeting, attended

by Bassam Ramadan, the director of the WB bureau in Kuwait. — KUNA

Al-Tijari wins ‘Best Interactivity Reward’ KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait announced that it was awarded the Best Interactivity Award for 2011 for the Arab financial institutions category during the 3rd Arab Banking Web Award ceremony recently held in Beirut.

Commenting on this award, Amani Al-Waraa, assistant general manager - advertising and public relations department said “We are delighted to win the Best Interactivity Trophy for 2011 which reflect the high recognition of the Bank’s website by experts in the Region, where the website provides a range of facilities and stat-of -the-art services to ensure interactivity and present comprehensive information of the Bank’s products and services in such a user-friendly way. The Bank’s website comes in consistency with the Bank’s continued commitment to provide distinct services to our customers in addition to our on-going efforts to find new and innovative ways and means for enhancing communication with our customers.”

Amani Al-Waraa welcomed Mona Al-Ghais- the Culture attachÈ in Kuwait Embassy who offered her the Trophy and congratulated the Bank on winning this valuable award.

Amani Al-Wara concluded that this annual event organized by the Pan Arab Web Award Academy help

encourage innovation in banking sector and facilitate and expand the banking services by using modern and up-to-date means, noting that the Bank winning of this award will give us a boost for further efforts to develop the means of communication between the Bank and its customers and the society in general.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

local

Health awareness campaign

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Services Directorate’s Deputy Director General for Firefighting and Human Resources Affairs Brig Yousuf Al-Ansari opened a course in Sea Rescue Operations under the supervision of Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, England. The course is held for three weeks under the aegis of Khalid Al-Mikrad Director of Sea Rescue, Capt Mike Cowans and Capt Steve Loughlin.— Photos By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Arab man dies after AC falls on his head Asian woman tries to commit suicide KUWAIT: An Arab man was killed after an air conditioner fell on him at his home in Mangaf.

Paramedics and police rushed to the scene after the victim’s roommate reported finding him unconscious after a heavy AC unit fell on his head. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead owing to severe head injury before the body was transferred to the forensic department. An investigation was opened to determine circumstances behind the case.

Suicide attempt An Asian woman in her twenties was hospitalized in a critical condition following a suicide attempt reported recently in Salmiya.

Paramedics and police rushed to a building in the area following a report about a woman falling from a top floor window. Investigations revealed that the victim jumped intentionally following a failed escape she attempted from an apartment where she works as a domestic help. Police are waiting for the victim’s condition to stabilize before questioning.

Forgery net busted Three male suspects were arrested following investigations which revealed their activity of forging college documents to help people obtain driver’s licenses. An investigation was started after police received information about a network involved in forging official documents. The forged documents would then be sold to expatriate workers who didn’t qualify for a license. The three expat suspects

were caught with a laptop they used for this process. Meanwhile, police examined 800 driver’s licenses issued by the same university, and found 44 forged transactions, according to a security source.

Shoot and disappear Police are looking for a motorcyclist accused of shooting a citizen’s car in AlDasma before disappearing. Police rushed to a street in the area where a citizen reported being targeted by gunshots that hit his car.

Criminal investigators recovered seven bullet shells from the scene which were taken to the police station as evidence.

Policeman taught a lesson A police officer escaped with his tail between his legs after being scolded by a woman he reportedly harassed inside a co-op society in Salmiya. Shoppers rushed to an aisle in the supermarket after their attention was caught by an angry woman who sounded like she was telling a harasser off. They saw an embarrassed police officer who was caught off guard when the female shopper gave him a piece of her mind after he tried to woo her. The woman did not press any charges against the officer who bolted from the scene following the awkward situation.

Man attacks mother-in-law A Kuwaiti woman was hospitalized with injuries sustained after being assaulted by

her son-in-law at home in Al-Riqqa.

According to her statements to police, the victim said that her Kuwaiti son-in-law stormed into her house and attacked her with a sharp object and an electric taser, because of matrimonial issues between him and his wife, who is the victim’s daughter. The victim provided a medical report from AlAdan hospital proving her injuries. A case was filed for investigations.

KUWAIT: The Dasman Diabetes Institute is organizing a health campaign to spread awareness on Diabetic Ketoacidosis in children, said Tarek Aleryan, Public Relations and Media Services Director of the Institute.

The disease in children who have been newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes is generally related to a long duration of misdiagnosed hyperglycaemia-related symptoms. The campaign will take place at Al Kout Mall on 8 March from 10 am to 10 pm. Complementary educational materials, health-related brochures, blood glucose testing, medical counseling will be made available during this campaign. This event is open to the public.

Japan envoy commends Kuwaiti youth’s capabilities

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2 drug dealers busted

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Road accidents An 18-year- old Saudi national fractured his collar bone and suffered various injures, a 20-year- old Kuwaiti suffered spinal injury in a car accident that took place along Salmy road. Both were admitted to Jahra Hospital. A 17-year -old citizen sustained a head injury in a car accident that took place near Jahra Co-operative Society. He was admitted to Jahra Hospital. A 27-year- old Nepalese fractured his left thigh in a motorcycle accident that took place in Kuwait City. He was admitted to Amiri Hospital.

KUWAIT: Fawzy Al-Thunayan, general manager, board affairs, receiving a token of appreciation on behalf of Gulf Bank

Two fall from height A 40-year-old Iranian strained an already fractured left arm and a 57-year- old suffered from bruises after falling from a height. They were admitted to Doha Hospital.

Gulf Bank honoured by Kuwait Sea Sport Club

Current Parliament strongest in history KUWAIT: Member of Parliament Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash says the current National Assembly is one of the strongest in the country’s history, as it has a legislative and supervisory majority that creates a sense of responsibility in the majority of MPs. He said there are still some people who wish to end the new parliamentary term and dissolve the National Assembly.

Al-Harbash said the majority was successful when it prepared the list of priorities, coordinating between committees and the Assembly office. He warned the minority and the Government against hampering achievements with lengthy debates.

Al-Harbash said the current Assembly has a group of extremists who adopt sectarian agendas, and seek escalations in the current hotbed in the region. He said Syrian events are an Iranian devise that surround the Gulf countries, supported

by Iraq and the Hezbollah.

Al-Harbash finds it strange that some MPs sympathized with events in Bahrain, which resulted in the deaths of 35 persons, but defended the Syrian regime and the massacres it is committing which has resulted in the deaths of 15,000 people. He said if Gulf countries do not intercede now, the two regimes in Iraq and Syria will be led by extremists who will face them in the future.—Al-Watan

serve the capital and a large part of Farwaniya governorate. The station will be helpful to maintain the safety of citizens and the environment in urban regions and protect them from pollution that might be caused by sewage water,� the minister

stated. The complex was built on a 42,500 square meter plot of land at a cost of KD 74 million.

The station is linked to a network of pipes that pump water by gravity to the center. Its surroundings will be planted for beautification purposes. Once it

is fully operational, up to 29 old stations will be shut down.

Khaled Al-Khazzi, an assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said today star ts the gradual operation of the plant, and that it will be fully func tional by June. —KUNA

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C Contest ontest Rules Rules s Competition is open s Competition open to to all. taken by by the entrants entrants only. only. ss Participating Participating phot photos os should be be taken allowed per per participant. participant. ss A A maximum of ďŹ v ďŹ vee en entries tries will b bee allowed white or color, colorr, size size 30x40cm. ss Photos Photos ccan an be be in black & white copy and CD in high ss Entries Entries should b bee provided provided in hard hard copy ticipant should b rresolution. esolution. TThe he phot photo o of the par participant bee on the CD as well. well. ss Original coupon should be be stuck on the back of each photo photo Original coupon omplete inf fo ormation of the par ticipant. with ccomplete information participant. s All en tries ar eturnable and will b property of s All entries aree non-r non-returnable bee the property K uwait TTimes. imes. The The en tries ccan an be be used by by the organizer. organizer.

Kuwait entries ss Winners be chosen by by a panel of independent independent judges Winners will be judges..

Kuwait Kuwait National National & Liberation Liberation Days D ays

Riggea sewage plant replaces 29 old stations KUWAIT: M inister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, Dr. Fadhel Safar, inaugurated on Monday the new Riggea sewage plant which can treat 780,000 cubic feet of sewage each day. “ This grand struc ture will

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KUWAIT: A Syrian was arrested by airport custom officials for attempting to smuggle 15,000 keptagon tablets upon his arrival from Lebanon. He was referred to the DCGD. Meanwhile, an Asian was arrested by DCGD for possessing and selling drugs. Fifty grams of heroin was found at his place and he admitted that they were for sale. He said he peddled drugs on behalf of his friend.

achievements of the club, both locally and globally, in the field of water sports, and the acclaim it has brought Kuwait and its national flag.

Fawzy Al-Thunayan, General Manager of Board Affairs at Gulf Bank said “On behalf of the bank, I thank the Committee of the Marine Heritage of the Kuwait Sea Sport Club for its recognition of the assistance we have sought to provide KSSC over the years in preserving Kuwait’s maritime heritage.

In particular, we have been a proud supporter of the Annual Pearl Diving Journeys, which is an iconic cultural aspect of Kuwait’s past. At Gulf Bank we believe Kuwait’s traditions and heritage are an important part of our national identity and merit preser vation for the benefit of Kuwait’s youth and future generations. We feel very proud to receive this recognition today, and we hope that our close relationship and cooperation will continue in the future.�

2nd

Prize

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has been recognised by the Committee of the Marine Heritage of the Kuwait Sea Sport Club (KSSC) for its long-term support of the KSSC’s activities that aim to preserve and secure the future of Kuwait’s unique sea-faring heritage.

Gulf Bank was honoured at a special ceremony which took place at the late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Hall at the club’s grounds. Fahad Al-Fahad, the President of the Sea Sport Club, Deputy President Ahmad Al-Ghannam, General Secretary Khaled Al-Foudary, the KSSC’s Board of Directors, representatives of contributing parties and cooperative societies, and Gulf Bank’s General Manager of Board Affairs, Fawzy Al-Thunayan attended the event.

In his keynote speech, Khalid Al-Foudary thanked everyone who contributed to the success and enhancement of the club’s status through their dedicated support. He also drew attention to the efforts and

youth’s culture of manufacturing and production. Therefore, he called for allowing Kuwaiti youth to contribute to establishing industries in Kuwait, something which would make Kuwait “stronger.� He wished that Japan would receive more Kuwaiti students through scholarships, noting that they are welcome to Japanese colleges. On the forum, the Japanese ambassador said the event is meant to commend Kuwaiti students who contributed to cultural, scientific and social exchanges between Japan and Kuwait. Komizo recalled to memory Kuwait’s sympathy with, and support to, Japan during its recent natural disaster by granting it five million barrels of oil.

Japanese-Kuwaiti relations date back to over 50 years, he pointed out. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Japanese Ambassador in Kuwait Yasuyoshi Komizo said here yesterday Kuwaiti youth are capable of developing their country and reducing its reliance on oil as a main source of income through industries, especially manufacturing industries.

The ambassador was speaking on the sidelines of a forum of Kuwaiti students in Japan and visiting Japanese students taking part in a student exchange program.

He believed that the best type of investment for any country is to invest in youth, noting that the number of under-20-year-old Kuwaitis make up over 50 percent of Kuwait’s population.

Komizo said in spite of scarcity of natural resources and energy in Japan, it has become an industrialized nation thanks to supporting the

Car thief at large Search is currently ongoing for a suspect accused of stealing a citizen’s car in Gernata.

The car’s owner had reportedly left his car with the engine running for a few minutes near his home with his son inside. The suspect took the opportunity to drive away the car away before dropping the child a few meters away and disappearing. The boy called his father with the help of a pedestrian after which the incident was reported.

Passport forgers held Ahmadi investigators reportedly arrested two bedoon residents accused of selling forged Kuwaiti passports to enable travellers to bypass security procedures. A police unit from the Ali Sabah Al-Salem headed to one of the suspect’s house with a warrant in hand.

The two suspects were caught with multiple forged Kuwaiti passports. They were referred to the proper authorities for further investigations. —Al-Qabas, Al-Rai, Al-Anbaa

Tarek Aleryan

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Indian govt, Gandhi suffer election blow Page 11

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‘Smell of death’ in Homs US Senator McCain calls for air strikes in Syria BEIRUT: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad faced growing Western anger yesterday for preventing aid from entering a devastated district of Homs and over accusations of human rights abuses, including pictures said to show torture victims at a hospital in the city. Dozens of men, women and children returned on foot to Baba Amr, passing bullet-pocked and damaged buildings, days after rebel fighters pulled out after a sustained and heavy military assault. The Red Cross was awaiting approval to distribute aid to the devastated district which endured a month of siege.

Residents who fled the district spoke of bodies decomposing under rubble, sewage mixing with litter in the streets, and a campaign of arrests and executions. “The smell of death was everywhere. We could smell the bodies buried under the rubble all the time,” said Ahmad, who escaped to Lebanon. “We saw so much death that at the end the sight of a dismembered body ... stopped moving us.” Despite their chorus of outrage as Homs residents gave more detailed accounts of the siege of Baba Amr, Western leaders have ruled out a Libya-style military intervention in Syria, fearing it could trigger wider conflict in the Middle East.

Calls for action to protect civilians have grown louder as the Alawite-led security apparatus cracked down on protests and an uprising that has its roots in the majority Sunni community and which has raised the prospect of civil war in Syria. US Senator John McCain, an early advocate of the NATO no-fly zone in Libya which helped to topple Muammar Gaddafi, said the United States should lead an international effort to protect Syrian population centers through air strikes on Assad forces. “The ultimate goal of air strikes should be to establish and defend safe havens in Syria, especially in the north, in which opposition forces can organize and plan their political and military activities against Assad,” said McCain, an influential Republican and former presidential candidate.

In Homs, activists said security forces were carrying out raids in a district next to Baba Amr yesterday, and reported gunfire and explosions in another area. In Herak, in Deraa province

where the revolt erupted nearly a year ago, residents said armored vehicles and tanks had massed on the western fringe of the city and in parts of the centre. There were raids reported in the city of Deir Al-Zor. A Chinese diplomat arrived in Damascus yesterday to meet Syria’s foreign minister and to outline Beijing’s plan for halting the violence, while UN envoys Kofi Annan and Valerie Amos are expected in the Syrian capital this week.

The United Nations says more than 7,500 civilians have died in Syria’s crackdown on protests against Assad’s government, which portrays the nearly year-long uprising as a campaign by foreign-backed Islamist insurgents.

Authorities said in December 2,000 police and soldiers had been killed since protests, inspired

by Arab uprisings which have overthrown four veteran leaders, erupted last March. Secretly shot video footage aired on Monday by a British television station showed what it said were Syrian patients tortured by medical staff at a state-run hospital in Homs.

The video, which Channel 4 said it could not independently verify, showed wounded, blindfolded men chained to beds. A rubber whip and electrical cable lay on a table in one ward.

Patients showed what looked like signs of severe beatings. Channel 4 said the footage was filmed covertly by an employee at the Homs military hospital and smuggled out by a French photojournalist identified only as “Mani”. “I have seen detainees being tortured by electrocution, whipping, beating with batons, and by breaking their legs. They twist the feet until the leg breaks,” the employee who made the video told Mani. “They operate without anaesthetics ... I saw them slamming detainees’ heads against walls.” It was not immediately clear whether UN humanitarian affairs chief Amos would have the unhindered access she has been demanding.

Several Western diplomats said privately they were concerned Damascus appeared to have waited until it had “finished the job” of punishing Homs before allowing Amos in. Residents of Baba Amr said they knew the end was near when the army blew up a 3-km tunnel they had used to smuggle in essentials keeping them

HOMS: Blood stains the road next to a damaged vehicle in the restive city of Homs, some 160kms north of the Syrian capital Damascus. — AFP

alive. Syrian state television showed pictures of rocket-propelled grenades and guns laid out on the street, weapons the presenter said belonged to “armed terrorists”. Small remote-controlled planes and helicopters were also shown. “This is the tunnel used by the terrorists to get weapons in and out,” the presenter said, standing in a school building next to a 2-metre hole in the ground. A man who fled Baba Amr a day after the army went in said soldiers raided houses, arresting men and executed some of them.

Activists say at least 60 men were executed since Friday.

“They are cleansing the neighborhood, they are robbing houses, arresting people then executing some. Baba Amr is besieged from all

EU accepts Iran’s nuke talks offer Concerns mounting over bomb-making ability BRUSSELS: European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton wrote to Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator yesterday, accepting an offer to meet to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program. Ashton represents six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany in dealings with Iran, and her offer of talks came after weeks of consultations with them. It follows the expansion of sanctions by Europe and the United States to exert economic pressure and force Tehran to hold back on its nuclear program, which they fear aims to produce atomic weapons. I ran says it is enriching uranium for peaceful purposes only.

In a letter last month, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, proposed that negotiations with global powers should resume after more

than a year ’s standstill, and said Tehran would have “new initiatives” to bring to the table. “Today I have replied to Dr Jalili’s letter of Feb. 14,” Ashton said in a statement. “I have offered to resume talks with Iran on the nuclear issue,” she said.

Ashton’s letter proposed an initial round of talks to focus on building confidence by developing concrete steps for the future. “Our overall goal remains a comprehensive negotiated, long-term solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of I ran’s nuclear program, while respecting Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” she said in her reply to Jalili. Ashton said the time and venue for talks should now be decided but noted she wanted talks to resume as soon as possible.

“In practical terms,” she wrote, “our

deputies could get together in the near future in order to prepare for the first round of our resumed talks.”

In another possible step towards greater cooperation, Iran said yesterday it would let UN nuclear investigators visit a militar y complex where they had been refused access, to check intelligence suggesting Tehran has pursued explosives research relevant to nuclear weapons. Western states are likely to tread cautiously, mindful of past accusations that Iran’s willingness to talk has been a tool to buy time and not a path to agreement. Officials say Iran faces an unprecedented strain on its economy due to the expansion of sanctions on its oil and financial sec tors. I n July, an EU embargo on Iranian crude is due to take full effect, drastically shrinking its export markets.— Reuters

sides. It is a disaster,” said Omar, speaking by telephone from inside Homs after he fled Baba Amr. “They said they have a list of 1,500 men and they want them all ... They are shooting everything that is moving, even animals. There are bodies in the streets, some are swollen and carry signs of torture,” he said with a trembling voice.

“We were surprised to see how long it lasted. We were not ready for all of that. We thought: ‘Now Baba Amr will break the back of the regime,’ and we thought: ‘OK, let them come,’” said another resident called Omar who fled to Lebanon last week. Syria has so far brushed off international pressure to halt its violent response to the uprising, bolstered by the resistance of Russia and China to any UN resolutions which they fear

could be used to justify foreign intervention. A Chinese envoy, former ambassador to Damascus Li Huaxin, was expected to arrive in Syria later and meet Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem today. China said he would promote a plan which Beijing issued at the weekend as the basis for a solution to the violence. The UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, will also travel to Damascus on Saturday for what would be his first visit since he was named to the post last month. The appointment of Annan, who has called for all parties to cooperate to help to end the violence in Syria, offers a chance to “rescue fading prospects” for a negotiated solution to the crisis, the International Crisis Group said.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

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

Sunni tribes mete out justice to curb Iraq unrest KIRKUK: Sunni Arab tribes in central and north Iraq, long home to violent extremists such as Al-Qaeda, are taking a new approach against unrest: fining and expelling those who aid insurgents. The punishments, backed by many of Iraq’s biggest Sunni Arab tribes, mark a new level of tribal justice that was not meted out during the height of the country’s sectarian conflict as many local leaders feared retribution if they publicly opposed the insurgents.

“We agreed on a mechanism and a roadmap, to support the Iraqi security forces and the inviolability of Iraqi blood,” said Sheikh Hussein Ali Saleh Al-Juburi, head of Hawija district council which hosted a meeting of around 150 tribal leaders last week. Similar gatherings were held in Samarra and the nearby town of Ishaqi, all north of

Baghdad, and the move was backed by the powerful Jubur, Obeid and Albu Hamdan tribes, as well as dozens of others. Juburi said tribes would not tolerate those who “hide, support or provide space for armed groups to enter our areas and villages.” “Those who do will be dealt with as terrorists, and will be expelled from our land, and handed over to the judiciary.”

A document signed by tribal leaders at the three meetings in Kirkuk and Salaheddin provinces states that the families of convicted killers must pay victims’ families 100 million Iraqi dinars ($84,000), and notes that those who “assist criminals must be treated like the criminal”. It goes on to specify that if bombs or explosive materiel are found in anyone’s home, that person will be expelled from the province for five years. “We cannot accept any sup-

port for terrorism and violence, whatever its justifications, especially after the US withdrawal,” Juburi added, referring to the US military’s pullout from Iraq at the end of last year, nearly nine years after invading the country to oust Saddam Hussein.

Sunni Arabs, who dominated all the regimes of Iraq from its modern creation in 1920 until Saddam Hussein’s overthrow in 2003, largely boycotted Iraq’s first post-invasion parliamentary election in 2005. In the following two years, a violent insurgency against government forces and US troops left tens of thousands dead across Iraq.

Though Al-Qaeda frequently targeted Iraqi security forces, government institutions and Shiite Muslims, other Sunni insurgent groups stated their opposition to the American troop presence in Iraq, which they described

as an “occupation”, as justification for violence. The insurgency was only quelled when tens of thousands of extra American soldiers were sent in to Iraq, and US forces co-opted Sunni tribes which had previously sided with Al-Qaeda. Violence now remains high by international standards — 150 people were killed in attacks in February alone-but is markedly lower than in years past. Since the year-end US withdrawal, however, only one relatively minor Sunni insurgent group-Jaish AlMustafa-has publicly declared they will lay down their arms. Al-Qaeda’s front organization, the Islamic State of Iraq, has continued to claim attacks, while other insurgent groups such as Ansar al-Sunna or JRTN, which translates into English as the Army of the Followers of the Naqshbandiya Order, have made no such moves publicly.

The latest moves by Iraq’s Sunni tribes to hand out tribal justice in addition to any punishment imposed by the country’s judiciary, marks a change from relative inaction in past years, when tribal leaders were fearful of assassination at the hands of insurgent groups they opposed. “In the past, circumstances were not good for us to take this step,” said Talal AlMuttar, chief of the Albu Aswad tribe.

“At that time, we made similar calls, but some tribal leaders said we should drop the subject for the time being.

Now, we are taking advantage of a more stable security situation.” Muttar, who attended the Samarra meeting, continued: “We want to exploit this opportunity to prevent any more bloodshed.” “We want to move forward,” he said, “We do not want to go back to 2006.”—AFP

Easterners defy Tripoli Eastern Libya declares semi-autonomous region

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Leaked Stratfor email stirs Turkey’s PM cancer scare ISTANBUL: A leaked email from security analysis company Stratfor said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had terminal cancer and just two years to live, a claim denied by officials who said Turkey’s most powerful politician was in good health. Cancer rumors started after Erdogan had surgery on his lower intestine in November but did not gain media prominence until yesterday when the Taraf newspaper reported the email leak on its front page. The email, between two colleagues at US-based Stratfor, which provides geopolitical analysis to paying subscribers, was released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks as part of a massive leak of the company’s correspondence. The email said doctors had removed a 20-cm part of Erdogan’s colon during the first operation on Nov 26. He had a second procedure last month. “The prognosis is not looking good, though.

The surgeon said they were estimating 2 years for him,” said a copy of the Dec. 10 email accessed on the Internet.

The report was based on intelligence from a source identified as Faruk Demir who obtained the information from an “old classmate friend” of the lead surgeon who operated on Erdogan. Stratfor described Demir as a former National Security Council official, adviser to Erdogan and an energy expert. Demir, on his website, describes himself as an energy security analyst who has worked

for the prime minister’s office.

In a press statement on his website, Demir said the report was a lie and that all he knew about the issue was what he had read in the media. Taraf quoted the chief surgeon who operated on Erdogan as saying the cancer report was “a complete lie”. Another doctor who observed the surgery said Erdogan did not have cancer and there was no tumor, the paper said. An Erdogan aide contacted

by Reuters following the Taraf report dismissed the Stratfor email as “speculation and gossip”. “The prime minister’s health is very good,” the aide said.

Erdogan, 58, won a third consecutive term at an election last June and dominates Turkish politics. Even critics fear the void he would leave if forced to quit, as many see the ruling AK Party falling into factionalism. There has been no discernible market reaction to the rumors the lira, bonds and shares have all rallied this year. After each operation Erdogan returned to work in less than two weeks.

He has not gone on any overseas trips, though he is expected to visit Korea, Germany and Iran later this month.

Erdogan has kept up a busy schedule and appeared full of vim when he addressed AK Party parliamentarians yesterday, speaking for nearly an hour.

Loyalists in the national assembly’s public gallery applauded and chanted: “Turkey is proud of you.”—Reuters

‘Dr Doom’ sees Iran war DUBAI: Political risk in the Middle East has increased significantly with war between Iran and Israel almost inevitable, and precious metals and equities investments offer some safety, Swiss money manager and long-term bear Marc Faber said yesterday. “Political risk was high six months ago and is higher now. I think sooner or later, the US or Israel will strike Iran - it’s almost inevitable,” Faber, who publishes the widely read Gloom Boom and Doom Report said on the sidelines of an investment conference. Brent crude traded near $123 per barrel in volatile trade on Tuesday on fears of a disruption in Iranian supplies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed no signs of backing away from possible military action against

Iran following a Monday meeting with US President Barack Obama. “Say war breaks out in the Middle East or anywhere else, (US Federal Reser ve chairman) M r Bernanke will just print even more money-they have no option...they haven’t got the money to finance a war,” said Faber.

“You have to be in precious metals and equities... most wars and most social unrest haven’t destroyed corporations they usually survive,” he said. He said that Middle East markets had largely bottomed out, though regime changes from the Arab Spring revolutions were unlikely to be investor-friendly.

Faber said that in uncer tain times, investors had to reconcile themselves to volatility. “If you can’t live with volatility, stay in bed,” he said. —Reuters

News

BENGHAZI: Tribal leaders and militia commanders declared a semiautonomous region in oil-rich eastern Libya yesterday, a unilateral move that opponents fear will be the first step toward outright dividing the country six months after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. The thousands of representatives of major tribal leaders, militia commanders and politicians who made the declaration at a conference in Benghazi said the move is not intended to divide the country and that they want their state to be part of a united Libya.

The conference said the eastern state, known as Barqa, would have its own parliament, police force, courts and capital - Benghazi, the country’s second largest city - to run its own affairs. Under their plan, foreign policy, the national army and oil resources would be left to a central, federal government in Tripoli. Barqa would cover nearly half the country, from central Libya to the Egyptian border in the east and down to the borders with Chad and Sudan in the south.

Libya’s National Transitional Council, the interim central government based in the capital Tripoli, has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the creation of a partly autonomous eastern region, warning it could eventually lead to the breakup of the North African nation of 6 million.

“This is very dangerous. This is a blatant call for fragmentation. We reject it in its entirety,” said Fathi Baja, the head of political committee of the NTC. “We are against divisions and against any move that hurts the unity of the Libyan people.” The declaration underscored the weakness of the NTC, which has been largely unable to establish its authority around the country since the fall of Gaddafi in

BENGHAZI: Ahmed Zubair Al-Senussi, a member of Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council, waves to the crowd after being elected leader of the Cyrenaica region yesterday. — AFP August and his subsequent death in October. In fact, the Council holds little sway even in Tripoli, where militias that arose during the anti-Gaddafi revolt have divided neighborhoods up into fiefdoms.

The prime minister of the interim government created by the NTC, Abdel-Rahim El-Keib, admitted Monday that the government is not performing up to the task.

“The government is not doing its job. My evaluation of its performance is not good,” he said in an interview on state TV. “The steps we are taking are slow.” The Council has called for national elections in June to select a 200-member assembly that will name a prime minister to form a new govern-

ment and then write a constitution.

The Benghazi conference also illustrated one of the fundamental weaknesses in post-Gaddafi Libya the lack of political institutions.

Over 42 years in power, Gaddafi stripped the country of any credible representative bodies to concentrate power in his own hands.

As a result, since his fall in August and death in October, towns, cities, tribes and militias across Libya have largely taken authority into their own hands, acting on their own.

The local power centers - sometimes competing - have confused and often thwar ted the NTC’s attempts to establish any national control. Yesterday’s announcement aimed to pose a federal system as a

fait accompli before the National Transitional Council. The goal is to revive the system in place from 1951 until 1963, when Libya, ruled by a monarchy, was divided into three states: Tripolitania in the west, Fezzan in the southwest and Cyrenaica in the east - or Barqa, as it was called in Arabic.

Like much of how Libya is being run now, the Benghazi conference was a self-starter gathering with no official status. The impact it has depends on how much influence its participants can wield among the population of the east and how strongly they push their demands on a resistant Tripoli. So far other regions have not made any moves to create their own states or call for a federal system. —AP

Sudan fires warning shots as oil crisis talks resume EL NAR: I t is a sight the S outh Sudanese hoped had gone for good: t wisted metal shards embedded in thigh-deep bomb craters left by an airstrike blamed o n fo r m e r fo e s i n n e i g h b o r i n g Sudan. O fficials from Juba and Khartoum are due to resume talks African Union-mediated talks to resolve a furious row over oil transit fees, which many fear risks tipping the bitter rivals back into bloody war. The jet strikes last week at El Nar, an oilfield in South Sudan’s Unit y state, are a gr im reminder of what is at risk if talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa fail again, Southerners and experts warn.

“It is sending a signal before the talks,” said M ohamed Lino Benjamin, director general of the S outh’s petroleum and mining ministry, standing at the lip of the craters, some 20 kilometers from

the border with Sudan. Sudan denied any involvement with the bombing and lodged its four th complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing the breakaway fledgling nation of funding rebels in two border states and carrying out joint attacks on contested territor y. S outh Sudan split from Khartoum last July after decades of civil war, taking with it three-quarters of the oil-but all pipeline and export facilities are controlled by Sudan. It took the drastic decision to halt produc tion in Januar y, despite oil making up 98 percent of its revenue, after Sudan started seizing the crude in lieu of a deal on transit fees. “With high rhetoric, continued cross-border tensions restric t the space necessar y to advance the talks in a meaningful way,” International Crisis Group analyst Zach Ver tin said. “Both sides need a deal on the export of

KHARTOUM: Central African Republic’s Prime Minister Faustin Archang Touadera (left) meets with Sudanese President Omar AlBashir in the Sudanese capital. — AFP oil, but every provocation hardens attitudes in an environment where trust is already thin.” The crisis bet ween the t wo nations has

become a major threat to regional peace and security, United Nations chief Ban K i-moon warned in January. —AFP

in brief

65 die in Madagascar ANTANANARIVO: Tropical Storm Irina has killed at least 65 people in Madagascar, most of them residents of the Ifanadiana district in the southeast of the island, weather authorities said yesterday. Three people were also repor ted missing, according to the national bureau of natural catastrophes (BNGRC), which did not provide any other details. Earlier it was reported that only one person had been killed when the storm passed over Madagascar last week before lashing the coasts of South Africa and Mozambique, where at least one person was killed. “A tree fell on a house and the roof collapsed,” killing an elderly man in Mozambique’s southern Gaza province, said Rita Almeida, spokeswoman for the national disaster agency.

Avalanche kills 37 KABUL: An avalanche has buried a village in northeastern Afghanistan, killing at least 37 people and leaving dozens more still trapped under the snow, officials said yesterday. The avalanche slammed into the village in Shekay district of mountainous Badakhshan province late Monday after days of heavy snowfall were followed by a rise in temperature, said provincial spokesman Abdul Rauf Rasekh. Afghanistan’s harshest winter in 15 years has already claimed scores of lives, with the latest avalanche taking the total death toll to at least 80 in Badakhshan alone, he said. “Thirty-seven bodies, including women and children, have been recovered from under the snow so far,” Rasekh said, adding that search and rescue teams were desperately digging for survivors.

UAE, Canada in nuke talks OTTAWA: Canada has began talks with the United Arab Emirates on nuclear cooperation, hoping to sell the wealthy Gulf state nuclear reactors or technologies for power generation and other civilian purposes. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said he discussed the launch of negotiations with visiting Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his UAE counterpart. “Such an agreement would create business opportunities for Canada’s nuclear industry and create jobs in both our countries,” Baird said in a statement. The prospects for the nuclear power industry plunged worldwide after Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant was crippled by a nuclear meltdown and explosions caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami a year ago.

Last year, Ottawa sold its Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s money-losing nuclear reactor sales and servic-

ing division to SNC-Lavalin, the country’s largest engineering company.

Ethnic violence kills 16 LAGOS: Attackers suspected to be from a rival ethnic group have stormed a remote area of Nigeria, killing at least 16 and burning homes in the latest flare-up of tensions in the region, police said yesterday. The violence broke out on Sunday when suspected members of the Fulani ethnic group descended on communities dominated by ethnic Tivs in Benue state in eastern N igeria, Africa’s most populous nation, a police spokesman said. Local media put the death toll as high as 30, but police confirmed 16 dead. “The precise number of people that were killed were 16,” police spokesman Ejike Alaribe said.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

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

Immigrants with long-expired visas tough to track WASHINGTON: By the time the suspect in an alleged bomb plot against the US Capitol was arrested in a parking lot, wearing what he thought was an explosive-laden suicide vest, he had been living illegally in the United States for 12 years. The criminal case against Amine El Khalifi, 29, of Alexandria, Va, has renewed the debate about how the US government - a decade after the terror attacks of 2001 - routinely fails to track millions of foreign visitors who remain in the country longer than they are allowed.

The Obama administration doesn’t consider deporting people whose only offense is overstaying a visa a priority.

It has focused immigration enforcement efforts on people who have committed serious crimes or are considered a threat to public or national security. A House Homeland Security subcommittee is conducting an oversight hearing today. The panel’s chairwoman, Rep Candice Miller, R-Mich, said El Khalifi “follows a long line of terrorists, including several of the 9/11 hijackers, who overstayed their visa and went on to conduct terror attacks.”

His tourist visa expired the same year he arrived from his native Morocco as a teenager in 1999. “We

have to recognize that we do have this problem,” Miller said. “The truth is, in the 40 percentile of all the illegal (immigrants) are in this country on expired visas. They came in right through the front door.” El Khalifi, who is charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, never came to the attention of federal law enforcement agencies even after a series of minor run-ins with police in northern Virginia from 2002 to 2006, including disobeying a traffic sign and speeding.

Programs that could have identified him if he had been jailed by local authorities, including the Security Communities program that shares fingerprints from local jails with the FBI, were not in place at the time. The Moroccan national didn’t face a felony charge - possession of marijuana with intent to distribute - until last September, about nine months after he became the target of the FBI probe related to the alleged plot to destroy the Capitol. He has waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

El Khalifi, unemployed when he was arrested last month, is one of an estimated millions of illegal immigrants who came to the United States with a

government-issued visa and never left.

He never applied to become a US citizen. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency responsible for deporting illegal immigrants, has routinely combed through visa records to try to identify people who have overstayed their welcome and deport those considered threats to the community or national security. DHS officials have not said how many people have been put into deportation proceedings as a result of those reviews.

Last year, ICE reviewed a backlog of about 1.6 million suspected overstay cases involving people who had come to the US since 2004. The Homeland Security Department said the review concluded that about half of those people have either left the country or applied to change their immigration status. Of the remaining half, the cases of about 2,700 people were given further review. ICE officials have not said how many of those people were deemed a national security threat or were otherwise considered priority for deportation. For the more than 797,000 others whose cases were not reviewed further, DHS officials said their overstay status was noted in elec-

tronic files in case any of them commit crimes in the future or otherwise become a priority to be deported.

Visa overstays have long been a concern of lawmakers and law enforcement. Some estimates suggest that as many as half of the country’s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants have overstayed visas. Miller supports an exit program that uses biometric data collected when people are issued visas and when they enter the country. DHS officials, including Secretary Janet Napolitano, have agreed but say such a system is too costly. John Cohen, Homeland Security’s principal deputy coordinator for counterterrorism, said the department is using data collected under its US-Visit program, which records fingerprints, photographs and other information for nearly every nonUS citizen entering the country.

“Improvements made by ICE, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and US-Visit ... will continue to improve our efforts to better vet visa overstays,” Cohen said. “These same improvements will also enhance our exit capabilities and are an important part of our larger effort to reduce the backlog of visa overstays.” But finding illegal immigrants who, like El Khalifi, came to

the United States before biometric data was collected and records were computerized around 2004 - and who overstayed visas but haven’t committed a crime - can be difficult, if not impossible. “It’s very difficult to find those individuals, and those individuals aren’t priorities until they commit a crime,” said Julie Myers Wood, who was head of ICE from 2006 to 2008.

James Ziglar, who was head of the old Immigration and Naturalization Service from 2001 until it was folded into DHS in 2002, said immigration authorities made efforts to locate immigrants thought to be a threat to national security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

But simply having overstayed a visa wouldn’t have made illegal immigrants like El Khalifi a priority. “We were certainly focused on trying to find bad people and connecting the dots with the Department of State and their visa records,” Ziglar said. “I doubt very seriously he (El Khalifi) would have come up on the radar. He might have if you kept drilling down further and further just because of where he was from. But he would not have been, I think, an earlier target, just because there were more suspicious types.” — AP

Russian election thrusts Prokhorov into spotlight Billionaire bachelor courts middle class

PARIS: French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (left) speaks with France’s Foreign Affairs minister Alain Juppe yesterday at the National Assembly. — AFP

French Muslims used as ‘scapegoats’ in poll PARIS: The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) yesterday slammed the use of Muslims as “scapegoats” in the French election campaign in which halal slaughter has become a hot-button issue. The statement came a day after Prime Minister Francois Fillon urged Muslims and Jews to consider scrapping their “outdated” halal and kosher slaughter rules.

The CFCM, asked about Fillon’s comment on halal, said it “does not accept that Islam and Muslims be used as scapegoats in this (election) campaign”.

Richard Prasquier, head of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish organizations, said Monday that he was “shocked” by Fillon’s “stupefying” declaration. The comments came as the rightwing President Nicolas Sarkozy and his ministers kept up their efforts to woo far-right voters from the anti-immigrant National Front led by Marine Le Pen. Le Pen launched the halal debate last month when she claimed that all meat from abattoirs in the Paris region was

prepared using Islamic halal traditions. It later emerged that these abattoirs mostly supplied local Muslim butchers and that most meat sold in Paris came from outside the region. France is home to western Europe’s largest Jewish community, estimated at up to 700,000, and its largest Muslim minority, officially estimated at four million.

The country has for years been debating how far it is willing to go to accommodate Islam, now France’s second religion. Sarkozy’s government has come under fire from Muslim groups for a series of measures implemented during his five-year rule that authorities say are aimed at protecting France’s secular tradition. These include a ban on wearing full-face veils such as the Islamic niqab and the burqa.

France will vote in the first round of a presidential election on April 22, followed by a second-round run-off on May 6. The Socialist candidate Francois Hollande is well ahead of Sarkozy in the polls. — AFP

Venezuela undermining Syria sanctions, ships oil CARACAS: Venezuela is readying a third shipment of diesel to the government of Syria even as President Bashar Al-Assad intensifies a crackdown against protesters, said a Venezuelan lawmaker on Monday.

Last month, Venezuela’s government confirmed it had sent at least two shipments of fuel to Syria, potentially undermining Western sanctions as a rare supplier to the increasingly isolated Assad regime.

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, who is in Cuba recovering from surger y to remove a cancerous tumor, has been a vociferous supporter of Syria as part of a self-styled international “antiimperialist” alliance.

Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA shipped cargo in February aboard the Negra Hipolita vessel after the same tanker carried a first shipment in November. “The information we have

received is that the Negra Hipolita is on the Venezuelan coast, and according to the agreement, Venezuela is ready to continue supplying diesel,” said congressman Adel El Zabayar from the government’s socialist party.

El Zabayar did not say when the third shipment would be sent. The PDVSA shipments appeared to be carried out under a 2010 agreement between the two nations in which Venezuela provides diesel in exchange for food and commodities such as olive oil. I t is not clear if PDVSA is negotiating directly with Syria’s state oil firm Sytrol, which has been blacklisted by the United Sates and the European Union even though there is no blanket embargo on supplying fuel to Syria due to humanitarian concerns. “The decision of the government is to give all our support to Syria,” El Zabayar said. — Reuters

MOSCOW: Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov can claim a victory of sorts in Russia’s presidential election, he may have done enough to win a permanent role in Russian politics despite finishing third with less than 8 percent of the vote. Prokhorov, who entered politics only last year, was the sole liberal candidate in Sunday’s election, providing a focus for some of Russia’s middle class which has become increasingly disillusioned with the domination of Vladimir Putin.

They have driven mass protests against Putin, who won a six-year presidential term at the election the opposition said was rigged in his favor, and handed Prokhorov second place in voting in Russia’s two main cities, Moscow and St Petersburg. “If there was anything surprising about the election it was how well Prokhorov did,” said Roland Nash, chief investment strategist at Moscow-based Verno Capital. “He has now established himself as the liberal reform candidate for the opposition. Within a managed democracy he is the legitimate liberal ... it is useful for Russia to have a lightning rod for the middle class.”

Critics say that is where Putin wants him. Opposition politicians say Putin used Prokhorov to shunt anger that had poured onto the streets into a safe channel in the vote and blunt the protests’ power in its aftermath. Positive election-night coverage of Prokhorov on state-controlled television has done little to dispel such impressions. Nor has Prokhorov, who is unlikely to have been able to enter the presidential race without Putin’s approval. During the election campaign, the 204-cm metals tycoon tried to straddle the divide between Putin and the protesters, criticizing the prime minister but echoing his view that the protesters were short on strategy and ideas.

His warnings that Russia will fall irrevocably behind other countries if Putin fails to improve democracy and reform the economy appeal to urban, middle-class protesters who fear Putin will lead the country into stagnation. Tens

of thousands of protesters have turned out several times for rallies in Moscow and St Petersburg to complain about electoral fraud since a Dec 4 parliamentary election and to voice dismay that Putin could rule for years to come.

one of three losing candidates who met Putin at his residence outside Moscow on Monday for what amounted to conciliatory talks after the campaign. Hours later, however, he took a step in the opposite direction, mounting

MOSCOW: One of the former presidential candidates billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov addresses the opposition rally to demand fair elections at the Pushkinskaya Square in central Moscow. — AFP

GORKI: Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev meets United Russia political party leaders in the Gorki residence outside Moscow yesterday. —AFP The strong results in the two cities helped propel Prokhorov past nationalist candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky into third place nationwide, behind Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov.

Dogged by suspicions his reincarnation as a politician is little more than a “Putin project”, Prokhorov, 46, is trying hard to prove he is his own man. He was

the stage at an opposition protest for the first time. He called the election “dishonest” but not illegitimate, and did not mention Putin by name. “You want changes - I will do everything I can to make that happen,” he told the crowd, plugging his plan for a party “free from any chiefs. Your party, independent of political views”. Prokhorov had left by the

time helmeted riot police closed in and detained outspoken Putin critic Alexei Navalny and many others, but later criticized the police action.

On Facebook and Twitter, he said it been a peaceful protest and that “the use of force and detention of opposition politicians could have been avoided”. In contrast to opposition leaders such as Navalny, whose name Putin cannot seem to bring himself to mention, Prokhorov and the prime minister seem to get on. Putin gave Prokhorov’s presidential bid his blessing in front of the nation last year, calling him a “worthy rival” on a televised answer-and-question session. On Monday, Putin voiced support for Prokhorov’s plan to create a political party.

The party could fit into Putin’s plans for a limited liberalization of the electoral system. Putin tightened control over politics as he consolidated power during his 2000-2008 presidency, but now faces pressure to relax his grip.

Since the protests erupted in December, Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev have promised to let more parties gain the official registration they need to run.

Prokhorov, who led a Kremlinbacked pro-business party last year for a few months but quit in a conflict with the Kremlin, is trying again. On his campaign website, more than 70,000 people have clicked a blue box marked ‘Join Mikhail Prokhorov’s party’. “It’s all just beginning!!!” Prokhorov wrote in his blog on Monday.

But some political analysts say Prokhorov’s liberal politics, his riches and his reputation are a mix that blunts his chances of ever becoming a powerful independent force. “Prokhorov is in an electoral ghetto and cannot get out of it,” said Nikolai Petrov, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center. He is one of the “oligarchs” who made fortunes by snapping up assets in a controversial wave of post-Soviet privatizations in the 1990s, buying Arctic mining giant Norilsk Nickel with another businessman at a knock-down price. — Reuters

GOP leader suggests force against Iran WASHINGTON: The Senate Republican leader said Monday the United States should use overwhelming military force against Iran if American intelligence shows that Tehran has decided to build a nuclear weapon or it has started to enrich uranium to weaponsgrade level, a bold call certain to reverberate in US-Israeli talks about how to deal with an emboldened Iran. Sen Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said President Barack Obama’s repeated pronouncement that the administration keeps “all options on the table” is a talking point, not a policy, and the United States needs a straightforward, deliberate plan that would force Tehran to negotiate to preserve its survival.

McConnell was making the case for his proposal in a speech to the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday night, shortly before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to address the gathering. “If Iran, at any time, begins to enrich uranium to weapons-grade level, or decides to go forward with a weapons program, then the United States will use overwhelming force to end that program,”

McConnell said, according to an advanced text of the speech.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the speech. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and National Intelligence Director James Clapper told Congress last month that Tehran has not made a decision on whether to proceed with development of an atomic bomb amid growing fears of its disputed nuclear weapons program and the possibility of an Israeli attack that could lead to a Mideast conflagration. Prior to private talks with Netanyahu on Monday, Obama said the United States and Israel agree that diplomacy is the best way to resolve the crisis. But Netanyahu also said Israel must remain “the master of its fate.”

McConnell said that if US intelligence, at any time, informs Congress that Iran has begun to enrich uranium to weapons-grade standards or decided to develop a nuclear weapon, he would consult with the president and the joint congressional leadership on legislation authorizing the use of American military force. Congress has not voted on such a resolution since October

2002 when it gave President George W Bush the authority to use military force against Iraq. Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have been unified in pushing hard for sanctions against Tehran, including the latest round of penalties targeting Iran’s Central Bank, but a vote on using military force would test a war-weary Congress and any bipartisanship.

Rep Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that while Obama has been correct it holding out the option of military force, sanctions should be given enough time to work. “We should allow enough time to see if the sanctions and international isolation cause Iran to rethink its course of action. Taking unilateral military action at this point is unnecessary and would only serve to undermine international consensus,” Smith said. McConnell said the authorization for US military against Iran would make clear that if Iran or its proxies retaliate against the United States or its interests, they would face an overwhelming response. — AP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

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

NYPD surveillance keeps us safe: Muslims NEW YORK: Members of an Islamic coalition stood in front of police headquarters with signs to support the New York Police Department’s aggressive counterterrorism efforts, saying the agency is doing what is necessary to protect the city and Muslims. Imam Qazi Qayyoom, who was among the group Monday, said he believes the New York Police Department is keeping his community safe and if that means some Muslims are monitored, so be it. “The police, they come to us and say, ‘Is everything OK? How can we help you?” the Queens marriage officiant said Monday. “They are not trying to hurt us. For this, I want to say thank you and tell them I support them.”

Qayyoom and about three dozen other people attended the first rally held by Muslims in support of the NYPD following a series of Associated Press stories detailing the police department’s secret surveillance of mosques, Muslim-owned businesses and college campuses across the Northeast since

Muslim extremists attacked the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, killing thousands of people.

The rally, held by the American Islamic Leadership Coalition outside police headquarters in downtown Manhattan, illustrated a division even among the faith’s adherents about how far authorities should go in seeking to protect the nation’s largest city from terrorists.

Other Muslim groups were quick to say the coalition didn’t represent their views. Among the speakers was Dr Zudhi Jasser, the narrator of “ The Third Jihad,” a documentary about the dangers of radical Islam that the NYPD showed in the lobby of a police training area and has since disavowed.

“We are not here to criticize the NYPD but rather thank them for monitoring extremists, a job that Muslims should be doing,” Jasser said.

Jasser and others, including activist Manda Zand Ervin, said that the danger is clearly coming from within the Muslim

community and that it’s up to other Muslims to help law enforcement stop the threat.

They said Muslims do not want to give up civil rights and are behind transparency in police work but it is wrong to suggest that all Muslims are somehow afraid of the NYPD, the nation’s biggest police department. “In no way do we want to be spied on,” Jasser said.

“But this is not about spying.

This is about monitoring and public programs.” The NYPD didn’t comment Monday. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has said he is doing everything within the law to protect the city from another terrorist attack. The department is bound under federal guidelines, known the Handschu guidelines, on how it can do certain investigations, and Kelly said the department’s efforts follow them.

“Anyone who intimates that it is unlawful for the police department to search online, visit public places or map neighborhoods has either not read, misunderstood or inten-

Labor dispute clouds GOP, boosts Obama COLUMBUS: As Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum fight to win Ohio’s presidential primary, Republican hopes of victory here in November may be jeopardized by lingering fallout over a labor rights dispute that left blue-collar voters cold.

A failed attempt by the state’s Republican governor to limit collective bargaining rights for public unions last year altered the political landscape in this battleground state.

Ohio Democrats are enjoying greater fundraising and the unlikely return of middle class “Reagan Democrats” to the party after voters repealed a law championed by Governor John Kasich to limit collective bargaining rights for fire fighters, police officers, and other state workers. “ We had some of the best fundraising months in our state’s history in an odd year, and those dollars came from ... low dollar donors that had not par ticipated in the par ty but were drawn to it because of the attacks on collective bargaining,” said Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.

Online donations alone for the party quadrupled in 2011. “It’s indicative of a pendulum swinging in our direction, taking advantage of what occurred at the state level and now going into 2012 with a full head of steam,” Redfern said.

An average of polls by RealClearPolitics showed President Barack Obama ahead of Romney by 1.7 points and Santorum by 2.3 points in the state. That is a turnaround in sentiment from 2010 when the state swung Republican, putting Kasich in the governor’s office two years after siding with Obama over Republican John McCain.

Perhaps most worrisome to Republicans looking toward the next presidential election: the controversy upset members of their party, too. “I am socially conservative, I am a registered Republican voter and voted a strict Republican ticket in 2010 - but I am voting with Democrats in ‘12,” said Brian Barnhar t, 33, a lieutenant with the Columbus fire department.

“The main reason is the attacks on workers that I have been seeing with the Republican Party,” he said. Barnhart

voted for Obama in 2008 but favors the social policies espoused by Republicans - much like so - called Reagan Democrats, many of whom left the party for the social and economic positions put forward by the popular Republican president in the 1980s. Redfern said he is work ing to keep those transient

OHIO: Sophia Walsh, 5, stands with her father William Walsh as he fills out his ballot at a polling station setup in Froehlich’s Classic Corner yesterday. — AFP Democrats “home.” The labor issue has cast a shadow over the primary. No Republican has made it to the White House in the last century without winning Ohio and its rich cache of electoral votes in the general election.

The state holds 18 electoral votes this year; 270 are needed to win the White House. Victor y in Ohio would give Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, or Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, momentum and a claim to say he can win it again in November. — Reuters

Washington defends killing Americans who join Qaeda CHICAGO: The Obama administration asserted yesterday a right to kill Americans overseas who are plotting attacks against the United States, laying out specific details for the first time about a policy that critics argue violates US and international law. US Attorney General Eric Holder said that Americans who have joined Al-Qaeda or its affiliates can be targeted for lethal strikes if there is an imminent threat to the United States and capturing them is not feasible.

In a speech to the Northwestern University School of Law, Holder did not refer directly to the CIA drone strike last year that killed Anwar Al-Awlaki, a USborn Muslim cleric who joined AlQaeda’s Yemen affiliate and directed many attacks. “Any decision to use lethal force against a United States citizen even one intent on murdering Americans and who has become an operational leader of Al- Qaeda in a foreign land - is among the gravest that government leaders can face,” he said.

“The American people can be - and deserve to be - assured that actions taken in their defense are consistent with their values and their laws,” Holder said.

US officials have linked Awlaki to several plots against the United States, including the 2009 Christmas Day attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up a US commercial airliner as it arrived in Detroit from

Amsterdam with a bomb hidden in his underwear. Holder received a standing ovation when he entered the crowded auditorium but departed to perfunctory applause as some in the audience expressed surprise by his remarks. A question and answer session was canceled, the event organizers said.

Civil liberties groups have decried the program as effectively a green light to assassinate Americans without due process in the courts under the US Constitution, a charge that Holder flatly rejected. Court approval for such strikes was unnecessary, he said, adding “the president may use force abroad against a senior operational leader of a foreign terrorist organization with which the United States is at war - even if that individual happens to be a US citizen.”

That drew sharp criticism from some in the audience. A third-year law school student, Russell Sherman, called such strikes “assassination”. Scott Hiley, a language professor at Northwestern University, said Holder employed “endlessly circular reasoning” to try to explain the policy. President Barack Obama and his aides have fiercely defended their stand on national security in the face of criticism from Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail that terrorism suspects are treated too leniently. — Reuters

tionally obfuscated the meaning of the Handschu guidelines,” Kelly said at a weekend breakfast. Kelly planned to

T Mohammedi, president of the Association of Muslim American Lawyers and a nonsalaried commissioner on the

NEW YORK: New York University (NYU) students attend a town hall to discuss the NYPD’s surveillance of Muslim communities in this photo. — AP meet with Muslim leaders on Tuesday, said Sheik Moussa Drammeh, who received an invitation by phone. Drammeh, founder of the Islamic Leadership School in the Bronx, said he wasn’t sure what the meeting would be about. Omar

city’s Commission on Human Rights, said he was invited to the meeting but decided not to go.

Mohammedi, who was not speaking on behalf of the commission, said he did not know the meeting’s agenda or pur-

pose. Several other Muslim leaders were invited, but it was unclear how many would attend.

The police department on Monday didn’t comment on the meeting. The police department has been criticized by many civil rights groups and politicians who say its efforts go too far. Several other rallies have been held in the past months by other Muslim groups that drew hundreds of people to protest the NYPD’s tactics. Each side says it’s not being accurately represented by the other.

Critics of Monday ’s rally pointed out that there were few people in attendance and that “The Third Jihad” had been described even by city officials as “over the top.” “The few misguided individuals that showed up in support of the NYPD today do not speak on behalf of Muslim communities,” said Amna Akbar, a lawyer with the City University of New York School of Law’s Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility program.— AP

Racial divide runs deep in US schools Minority students face harsher punishments WASHINGTON: Black and Latino students across the United States are far more likely to be suspended than white students - and far less likely to have access to rigorous college-prep courses, according to a sweeping study released yesterday by the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. The trove of data, collected from 72,000 schools serving 85 percent of the nation’s students, revealed tremendous disparities in the public school experiences of minority and white students.

Some of the most striking findings involved discipline: one in five African-American boys - and one in 10 African-American girls was suspended from school during the study period, the 2009-10 school year.

Overall, African-American students are 3-1/2 times more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white peers. And 70 percent of students arrested or referred to law enforcement for disciplinary infractions are black or Latino, the study found. Other researchers have found that students who are repeatedly punished by being barred from campus are far more likely to drop out.

Academic opportunities also vary widely by race. Among high schools that serve predominately Latino and African-American students, just 29 percent offer a calculus class and only 40 percent offer physics. In some school districts, those numbers are even more glaring. In New York City, for instance, just 10 percent of the high schools with the highest black and Latino enrollment offer Algebra II. US Education Secretary Arne Duncan was careful to say that his department is “not alleging overt discrimination in some or all of these cases.”

But he said he hoped the data would prompt soul-searching as educators across the nation confront inequities. “In the big picture, this is really about self-analy-

sis,” Duncan said. He urged teachers and administrators to “look in the mirror, at the good, the bad and the ugly, and figure out what’s going on.” That may be easier said than done, said Kevin Welner, director of the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The data hint uncomfortably at

crude assumptions and enduring stereotypes about “who should be in school, who should be preparing to go to college, who can learn” - and “many of those beliefs stem back from before you or I were born,” Welner said. “That’s hard to change.” Other studies over the decades have found similar racial disparities in student

CALIFORNIA: Students protesting rising tuition rates at California’s centers of high education demonstrate at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif on Monday, March 5, 2012. — AP

discipline and academic opportunity. But the new report, which Duncan is scheduled to release today in an event at Howard University, is more detailed and comprehensive than most.

It breaks down the national data district by district and school by school. And it looks at racial disparities in realms as varied as access to pre-kindergarten programs; success in Advanced Placement courses; and the use of physical restraints on students with disabilities.

AThe release of such wideranging data “is very important for is if we’re to gain the national will to overcome our aversion to looking at race,” said Russell Skiba, who directs the Equity Project at Indiana University’s School of Education.

“It’s tough to talk about race.

It’s awkward. But this data gives us a bit of a road map.” The report, known as the Civil Rights Data Collection, seeks to prod change by calling attention to districts that have used what Duncan called “best practices” to reduce inequities.

It points, for instance, to a high school in Montgomery County, Maryland, that serves a largely black and Hispanic population and enrolls those students in physics at an impressive rate. The report also highlights an elementary school in an impoverished neighborhood of Dade County, Florida that enrolls nearly 17 percent of its black and Hispanic students in a program for gifted students, more than triple the national rate.

Duncan said he hoped administrators in other districts would ask how those schools had achieved their success, then follow suit. “There are some encouraging things in this data,” he said.

“Frankly, there are some very troubling things as well. But the only way forward is to know the truth.” — Reuters

Florida parents could decide school’s fate TALLAHASSEE: Florida has become the latest battleground state in a movement to let parents leap-frog over their elected school boards and decide the fate of schools that fail to make the grade. The Florida Senate is voting on the controversial proposal, which supporters say empowers parents to dictate recovery strategies for failing schools, and critics call a ruse to benefit for-profit companies that run charter schools. Dubbed the “Parent Empowerment Act” or “Parent Trigger,” the proposal mirrors a divisive law that won approval in California in 2010. It is backed by former Republican governor Jeb Bush, a vocal advocate for school choice and charter schools, and has already passed in the Florida House of Representatives.

Backers say the measure is a response to a recalcitrant school system that is slow to change and deaf to the needs of their respective communities. “When you have parents involved in their child’s education, it inures to the success of the child,” said Mike Trujillo, a representative of Parent Revolution, which spearheaded the California efforts. “What this is is a vehicle by

which parents can be involved in their local school community.” Critics say the measure represents yet another nail being driven into public education and teachers unions in no small part by charter school companies that lack the same accountability standards as traditional public schools.

On Monday, a coalition of opponents including teachers unions, the PTA and other parent support organizations, told reporters the real push behind the legislation was from charter school management companies that want the ability to tap into billions of dollars in taxpayer revenue. “This legislation has nothing to do with empowering parents or giving children and their parents more options for improving schools,” said Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston. “It has everything to do with laying the groundwork for the corporate takeover of public schools.” The provision says parents must be notified once a school earns an “F” grade on an A-through-F grading system based on student performance on standardized tests.

If there is no improvement within a year,

parents could dictate what would happen going forward, if 51 percent of them agree.

Parents would be limited to certain options laid out in federal law, and the plan would be subject to approval by the Florida Department of Education. Among the options, parents could force the school district to transfer students to other schools, close the school and re-open it as a charter school with a new governing board or contract with an outside management group to run it. “We are playing around with the lives of children in our schools,” said Senator Evelyn Lynn, a Republican from Ormond Beach. “And it’s time to stop.”

In hearings over the weekend, Senate Budget Committee Chairman J D Alexander, a Republican from Lake Wales, said the underlying impetus behind the charter school movement isn’t profit but the perception by parents that school officials have not addressed their needs. “I’ve been involved in charter conversion efforts and seen firsthand how districts really don’t listen to parents. In many districts, they do a very miserable job of reforming schools.” — Reuters

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i n t e r n at i o n a l

To some Indian working poor, parking lot is home NEW DELHI: There is almost no movement in the pre-dawn cold, when the winter fog sits low over the old city and the only light comes from distant street lamps. The parking lot is silent, except for the occasional hacking cough. So it takes a while to realize there are nearly 100 people in the square of dirt on the edge of the cotton-sellers’ district in the Indian capital. All are asleep in handmade wooden cots jammed one against the other. Dozens more people sleep around a battered empty fountain nearby. In a few hours, workers will haul away the cots and Meena Bazaar Park No 2 will fill with cars. By 9 am the overnight community will have disappeared. Its residents will carry their meager possessions in plastic shopping bags until nightfall, when the lot once again will turn into a makeshift outdoor motel.

This is home. Some stay for one night. Others remain for decades, raising children who in turn raise their own children here. For thousands of people struggling at the bottom of India’s working class, this bleak vision and the handful of places like it scattered across New Delhi are 60-cent-a-night refuges.

Every day, thousands of new residents arrive in this constantly growing city, part of a nationwide wave of urbanization bringing tens of mil-

lions of migrants from India’s poorest states.

In New Delhi, most of the new arrivals go into the city’s sprawling slums, or into the maze of crumbling concrete neighborhoods where rents are cheap. But many come here. Even a tin shanty can cost upward of $75 a month in New Delhi, an amount that would take many of the parking lot’s residents weeks to earn. Few of them hold regular jobs, or earn more than $4 a day. Then there are the identity documents that police demand in regular sweeps through the slums.

Anyone without proper paperwork, whether an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh or an Indian with excessively tattered documents, faces constant demands for bribes.

The police rarely bother with Meena Bazaar Park No 2, a place so cheap it largely operates off the legal radar. The people asleep in the parking lot are day laborers, professional beggars and itinerant peddlers who sell costume jewelry from vinyl suitcases. They are rural dreamers looking for better lives, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and small-town boys who fled their homes after falling in love with the wrong girls. There are pious Muslims and once-proud men stumbling into opium addiction.

While most residents are men,

there are also babies and old people and a litter of puppies huddled in one man’s blanket. They warm up by burning piles of garbage, and the stench of charred plastic clings to their clothes. “I need this place,” said Satpal Singh, a 24-year-old who

aged area about 100 miles away.

Like many residents, he spends part of the year in New Delhi, working when he can, and goes back to his home village when the jobs trail off.

If the parking lot doesn’t seem much like a home, Singh insisted it’s

NEW DELHI: Indian squatters sit together in rented blankets after waking up next to Park No 2 near Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India. —AP earns $3 a day as a waiter during the city’s tumultuous wedding season.

“Where am I going to find a house in this city?” The son of a tenant farmer, Singh came to New Delhi 10 years ago because he couldn’t find work in his home village, in a poverty-rav-

not that bad. “I’ve been here for a long time, so I’m used to it,” he said.

Plus: “For just 30 rupees (60 cents) a night I even get a blanket.” It was a cold morning, and Singh spoke with just his head poking out from beneath a thick, cotton quilt. He was

strangely oblivious to the cigarette smoke drifting from under the quilt at the foot of the cot. Eventually, another man’s head appeared, the hair greasy and mussed, and a cheap cigarette held between his lips.

It was Mohammed Rasheed, also 24. The two longtime friends share an easy camaraderie, as well as a bed on the coldest nights. It keeps them warmer, and cuts the cost to just 30 cents a person. It’s how things work in the community of migrants. “I know these people,” Singh said, nodding toward the beds around him. “ We eat food together. We sleep here together.

We know each others’ stories.” But few people would choose to live here if they had another choice, particularly the families. Parents have to take young children with them to work, often leaving them to play on construction sites or in alleyways. If there is no money for school, children are often sent to work before they even reach adolescence.

“This is not a place for a family,” said Mohammad Muzaffar, who came to the parking lot 15 or 20 years ago - he’s not sure how long it’s been - and is now raising two toddlers there with his wife, Reshma. But Muzaffar, who works as a wedding-season waiter and a rickshaw driver, has no identity

papers. He sees no way to get his family into an apartment. “We are poor people,” Reshma said, explaining why their children will grow up there. “We don’t have anything.” No one seems to know how long these outdoor motels have been around.

Many of the city’s housing advocates do not even know they exist, given the way they disappear after daybreak.

But their need is essential. With India’s surging economy drawing ever more rural residents to its cities, the country’s housing shortage has become critical.

A 2010 study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimated that India then faced a shortage of 25 million urban households, a number that could leap to 38 million by 2030. More than 8 million people or about half of New Delhi’s 16.7 million people - are believed to live in slums. “There isn’t a mechanism to house the people who are coming,” Ajit Mohan, one of the report’s authors, said in an interview. “You have to plan for something like this five, 10 or 15 years in advance, and that’s not going on.”

Government officials, he said, “haven’t embraced affordable housing as something they have to deliver.” So places like the Meena Bazaar camp have sprung up to feed the demand.—AP

Indian govt, Gandhi suffer election blow A popularity test for Singh’s scandal-tainted govt NEW DELHI: India’s ruling Congress party and its famed Gandhi political dynasty suffered a stinging election blow yesterday in crucial state polls.

Figures showed Congress, which runs the federal government in New Delhi, winning clearly in only one of five states and facing a landslide defeat in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India’s most populous and politically significant state.

The polls were a mid-term popularity test for Prime Minister Manmohan

good.” Gandhi, a 41-year-old presumed “prime-minister-in-waiting” led campaigning in Uttar Pradesh in a bid to revive Congress-his biggest challenge yet in a state where the party has a dismal record stretching back 22 years.

The first confirmed results and projections showed Congress winning just 27 out of 403 seats, representing only a small increase on their miserly tally in 2007 despite Gandhi’s tireless work at public ral-

project. “This is one of the defeats so I take it in my stride.”The tragedyplagued Gandhi family has dominated politics in India since independence in 1947, providing three prime ministers, two of whom were assassinated. Rahul’s Italian-born mother Sonia is current Congress president.

“One thing is clear, the Nehru-Gandhi charisma is no longer a major factor in winning elections,” political analyst and commentator Parsa Venkateshwar Rao said. “The opposi-

NEW DELHI: India’s ruling Congress party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi (second left) comes out from his residence to address the media in New Delhi yesterday. —AFP Singh’s scandal-tainted government ahead of 2014 elections and a first real appraisal of Rahul Gandhi, the next in line in India’s Nehru-Gandhi political family. “I stood in front, so it is my responsibility,” Gandhi told reporters as he conceded defeat.

“All of us in the Congress party fought. We fought well but the result which came was not so

lies. The failure will likely feed doubts about his ability to lead the world’s biggest democracy and might rekindle interest in his sister Priyanka, whom some Gandhi loyalists still prefer. “Certainly I expect to have victories along the way and I expect to have defeats,” Rahul added, explaining that revitalizing Congress in UP was a long-term

tion can take satisfaction from the fact that Rahul Gandhi has not really emerged as a leader of national stature.”

Even in the historic Gandhi family constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi, from where Sonia and Rahul are elected for the national parliament, non-Congress candidates looked poised for victory. Prime

Minister Singh, a 79-year-old former academic and economist, is also likely to face searching questions about his hands-off style of leadership and his stewardship of the government since his re-election in 2009.

A series of high-profile corruption scandals and a popular anti-corruption campaign led by activist Anna Hazare last summer have badly damaged Singh’s image and hurt the party in the state elections. “It is very difficult to pinpoint reasons why we didn’t do better than what we have done,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told the NDTV news channel. Following a record high turn-out of 59.5 percent in UP, incumbent Chief Minister Mayawati, a colorful low-caste leader famed for her handbags and taste for expensive statues, was also heading for a thumping defeat.

Victory appeared almost certain for the regional Samajwadi Party (SP) which is headed by a former wrestler and draws on support from lowcaste farmers and Muslims. Akhilesh Yadav, the charismatic son of SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, promised a crackdown on corruption and said the support for his party showed voters have “risen above caste and religion.” Congress lost heavily in the holiday state Goa, where it had been in power, and was struggling to regain the agricultural heartland of Punjab and the mountainous northern state of Uttarakhand. Impoverished Manipur in the far northeast of India was the bright spot for Congress, where the party retained its grip on power.

Indian shares fell 189.58 points or 1.09 percent to 17,173.29 points yesterday on concerns that the losses for Congress could hamper longdelayed economic reforms to boost economic growth. The Indian rupee slid to a five-week-low of 50.3 against the dollar, a level last seen in January.

The elections in the five states were held in stages over the last five weeks, beginning on January 28 in Manipur and finishing at the weekend in UP and Goa.—AFP

Quran burning anger hits US-Afghan strategy talks KABUL: The fallout from the burning of holy Qurans at a US base has complicated already troubled negotiations about the nature of the US-Afghan relationship once NATO combat troops leave in two years’ time. At stake is a strategic partnership deal covering the period after 2014 when the US-led coalition is due to pull out combat troops and hand responsibility for security to the Afghan government. President Hamid Karzai has used the burnings to reiterate a series of demands to be met before he signs a long-term treaty, while the US embassy has since signaled the possibility that no agreement will be reached.“We have always said it is more important to get the right agreement than to get an agreement,” US embassy spokesman Gavin Sundwall said. In Iraq, Washington abandoned its pursuit of a strategic partnership deal and pulled all its troops out after failing to get the government to confer legal immunity on the troops. Karzai told a joint news conference with visiting Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski yesterday that his government was “working with the United States” on the conditions for a deal.

“We had a meeting yesterday and we had questions and we demanded clarity, and progress was made,”

Karzai said, in an apparent reference to talks with US ambassador Ryan Crocker. The US embassy would not comment on the meeting, or even confirm it had taken place. One of Karzai’s main demands-in the name of Afghan sovereignty-is for Afghans to take control soon of the US-run prison at Bagram military base north of Kabul, where the Qurans were sent to an incinerator pit.

When a first deadline of early February was missed, Karzai gave the US one more month to transfer the jailknown as Afghanistan’s Guantanamo Bay-but that looks increasingly unlikely.

Sundwall insists the US is committed to the transition “in a manner that is safe and orderly and in accordance with our international legal obligations”. Another sticking point is whether the US will have permanent bases in Afghanistan. Despite America insisting it does not want this, a US official has said that any arrangement would probably involve “shared facilities” in order to help Afghan forces with intelligence, air power and logistics.

The Quran burning ignited days of violent anti-US protests in which some 40 people died, plunging relations between foreign forces and their Afghan allies to

an all-time low and forcing US President Barack Obama to apologize. But while the protests died out a week ago, some analysts suspect Karzai is trying to keep the issue alive as a bargaining chip in talks over a long-term deal with Washington. “I think he feels it has strengthened his position,” said Martine van Bijlert of the Afghanistan Analysts Network.

“My sense is that this was a complicated negotiation to start with. It has been made more complicated by the Quran burning and the frayed relationships, but it would have never been easy. “What makes it even more complicated is the fact that the news that comes out about the negotiations is also part of the game, with each side trying to put more pressure on the other.” Five days after the protests ended, Karzai’s office issued a statement by the government-funded Ulema Council, the country’s top religious body, which called for the public trial of the perpetrators-and again pressed for the handover of Bagram. “I believe Hamid Karzai is using this council to pressure Americans to give in to his demands for a bigger role in peace talks with the Taleban in Qatar as well as other demands,” Afghan author and analyst Ahmad Saeedi said. —AFP

GHAZIABAD: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati gesturing at a rally in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh state. —AFP

The fall of ‘Dalit queen’ NEW DELHI: Mayawati, India’s low-caste “Dalit queen” who once saw herself as a future prime minister, was dethroned yesterday after a colourful and scandal-tainted term running the country’s largest state. The firebrand chief minister of Uttar Pradesh was set to lose office after her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fell to about 79 seats in the 403-seat state assembly after winning 206 in the previous election.

Mayawati, 56, who only uses one name, rose from a community of “untouchables” (now known as Dalits) at the bottom of the Hindu caste structure to rule over Uttar Pradesh, a state with a population of 200 million. She attracted strong support from Dalits and other marginalized groups who saw her as a champion of the poor fighting against the ruling elite in New Delhi. Styling herself as a “living goddess”, she has often attacked the Congress party government as a corrupt and self-serving cabal that failed to tackle India’s endemic poverty.

But she also drew sharp criticism for her own taste for extravagance, as well as allegations of financial malpractice within her state government-both issues seen as major factors in her dramatic collapse of support. Born into a “Chamar” or leatherworkers’ family on the outskirts of New Delhi in 1956, Mayawati was studying law when she was talent-spotted by the then BSP president Kanshi Ram in the mid1980s. Ram persuaded her to join politics, telling her “she was born to rule” rather than to serve.

Within a decade, Mayawati had become chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the first of her four stints in power as she battled for control in the turbulent world of politics in the northern state.

Her latest-and by far longest-term in office, which began in 2007, has seen some economic development, as well as controversy over her building parks full of huge statutes of herself and other past low-caste icons. Public records show that more than a billion dollars was spent on the projects, but Mayawati has always

brushed off allegations of arrogance, saying the parks acted as a “lighthouse” for down-trodden Dalits. Her long-term adversary Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party (SP) defeated her by a thumping margin in the elections, has often vowed to raze the parks.

Yadav, a former wrestler now aged 72 famed for his ferocious rivalry with Mayawati, is in line to become chief minister for the fourth time since 1989. His son Akhilesh, the party’s state president and a rising star of Indian politics, told celebrating supporters that “it was only the SP which came out on the streets on issues of public interest”. In opposition, Mayawati is likely to be a dogged foe, but she will be shorn of the influence and power that critics say went to her head and turned her, in the words of a leaked US diplomatic cable, into a “first-rate egomaniac”.

The US cables released last year by the WikiLeaks website recounted a story in which she was said to have sent her private jet to pick up a pair of sandals from Mumbai. The cables also alleged that she celebrated her birthday each year by receiving millions of dollars from “sycophantic party members, civil servants and business people”, while officials vied to feed her cake. Mayawati hotly denied all the allegations and demanded that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be thrown into a mental asylum.

The former school teacher, who in recent years has toned down her dress style after previously dripping in diamonds, drew enthusiastic crowds on the campaign trail. Carrying her trademark handbag, she used her speeches to hail the improved status of Dalits and-seeking to broaden her appeal-also promised further help for the millions of often marginalized Muslims.

Mayawati, who is unmarried, may have hoped that large turnouts at her rallies pointed to another term in office and a step towards a bigger role on the national state. But Tuesday’s results showed that the reign of the “Dalit queen” is over, for now. —AFP

Nepal’s city children are ‘new underclass’ KATHMANDU: Pia Rai was 13 when she started taking drugs with her friends in lessons, unnoticed by her teacher who was struggling with a class of 75 students in an impoverished inner-city school. She had been introduced to heroin by classmates in Dharan, a city of 120,000 people in the foothills of the Mahabharat Mountains in eastern Nepal, after starting smoking and then moving onto cannabis. “What made it so simple for me to get into drugs was my family not being that aware,” said Pia. “My classroom was so big that the teacher could not pay attention to all the children, so the kids on the back benches could take drugs in class and the teacher wouldn’t

even know about it.” Pia, now 17, was one of the lucky ones. She received help from a dependence treatment centre and is catching up with her lost schooling and working as a “peer educator” to warn others of the dangers of drugs.

Police in Dharan estimate that around half of the city’s youth are drug users, part of an emerging “urban poor” often overlooked by aid agencies and government ministries focusing the fight against poverty on the countryside.

Hundreds of thousands of children like Pia are growing up in Nepal’s towns and cities unable to access basic services on their doorsteps, the United Nations Children’s Fund said in a report launched this week. —AFP

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Abuse claim clouds Indonesia-Malaysia maid deal KUALA LUMPUR: A repor t that a Malaysian official abused two Indonesian maids has thrown a potential spanner into Jakarta’s plan to resume sending maids to its neighbor following a ban imposed over abuse. Some 300,000 Indonesian women formerly worked in Malaysian households until Jakarta imposed a ban in June 2009 after a spate of severe abuse cases, leading to a shortage of maids that has hit working Malaysian parents.

The ban was lifted in December after both countries agreed on a salary increase

and measures aimed at curbing abuse.

However, Malaysian state-controlled media Sunday quoted an Indonesian embassy official saying it received a report on the alleged abuse case and had advised Jakarta to resume the ban. “We received reports that two maids were physically abused by a senior government official and his wife,” the official, Suryana Sastradiredja, was quoted saying by the New Straits Times.

He added that the maids, who had been recruited during the ban, had also not been paid. One of the maids sought shelter

at the embassy on Friday, he said. Suryana and other Indonesian embassy officials could not be reached for comment. AFP has not been able to confirm the identity of the government official being accused.

Reyna Usman, the Indonesian labor ministry’s director-general for workers abroad said in Jakarta that the Indonesian side was investigating and declined detailed comment on the case.

However, she added: “If the two maids went to Malaysia during the moratorium, that means they were breaking the law at

their own risk.” A Malaysian government official said yesterday that Indonesian embassy representatives met with those from Malaysia’s foreign ministr y on Monday to discuss the issue, but that no official protest had yet been lodged.

Malaysian Deputy Human Resources Minister Maznah Mazlan was quoted yesterday by The Star newspaper as insisting that Indonesian maids would resume arriving next month once they complete training.

The two countries have agreed to nearly

double salaries to 700 ringgit ($230) per month, forbid employers from confiscating maid passports, allow maids one day off per week, and ensure their right to communicate with relatives and Indonesian authorities. Malaysian courts have sentenced several employers to jail in recent years in cases in which maids have been assaulted with a hammer, scissors, scalding water and a hot iron. Cambodia also imposed a ban on sending domestic workers to Malaysia in October following numerous abuse complaints. —AFP

Singapore grants foreign maids a weekly day off Cheers and jeers for maids’ day off SINGAPORE: Singapore’s decision to grant foreign maids a weekly day off was welcomed yesterday by social workers and rights groups, but some employers grumbled and critics said the move falls short of international labor standards. While Singapore

ices of their maids on their rest day must compensate them.

Human Rights Watch (HRW ) described the rest day as an “important reform”. But the New York-based watchdog said the move, which came after years of lobbying by welfare groups, still

Labor Organization showed that maids in the city-state work an average of 14 hours daily while only 12 percent have at least one day off a week. Foreign maids typically earn Sg$300-450 ($238-357) a month and the employer has to pay the government a monthly

SINGAPORE: Newly arrived domestic helpers from Indonesia wait for their transportation to a maid agency after going through medical check in Singapore yesterday. —AFP is proud of its squeaky-clean image and widely admired for its economic development, it has been regularly criticized for its treatment of foreign workers.

Announcing the change, Minister of State for Manpower Minister Tan Chuan Jin said Monday the mandatory weekly rest day would apply to maids whose work permits are issued or renewed from January 1, 2013.

Employers who need the serv-

falls short of international standards as it will take effect only in 2013 and does not offer other forms of labor protection. More than 200,000 women from impoverished villages in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India work as maids in Singapore. Some do not get a single day off during their first two-year contract.

A study carried out by Singapore migrant welfare groups and funded by the International

Indonesia to ban female MPs from wearing minis JAKARTA: Women’s groups expressed outrage yesterday after Indonesia’s parliament said it would draft rules banning female lawmakers from wearing “provocative” clothing such as miniskirts to work and claimed such dress invited rape. “We know there have been a lot of rape cases and other immoral acts recently, and this is because women aren’t wearing appropriate clothes,” house of representatives speaker Marzuki Alie said.

“Women wearing inappropriate clothes arouse men, so it needs to be stopped. You know what men are like-provocative clothing will make them do things.” Refrizal, the deputy head of the household affairs committee, which is spearheading the new regulation said that “miniskirts and skimpy clothes are an invitation to male lawmakers”.

The move was also backed by two female house members who formerly worked as fashion models, local media reported. Indonesian women’s rights groups said they were outraged by the comments and called for a stop to the demonization of rape victims. “It’s ridiculous that this is again coming from the mouths of prominent people with influence,” Action for Women Against Rape founder Chicka Noya said. “We expect them to make regulations to protect women from violence, not condemn them for the way they dress.”

The comments come just six months after the Jakarta governor, Fauzi “Foke” Bowo, made similar remarks, saying that a spate of rape cases on the city’s public minibuses were triggered by victims’ miniskirts. He urged Indonesian women to refrain from wearing miniskirts on public transport. His remarks prompted a protest in which women yelled the slogan “My miniskirt, my right. Foke you”, referring to the governor’s nickname. The protest was inspired by the global “SlutWalk” phenomenon, which began in Toronto last year as hundreds protested about a comment made by a police constable that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”. —AFP

levy of Sg$265 per maid. “Many women in such situations find it difficult to cope with the social isolation and demands of the job,” said social worker Bridget Tan, founder of the private group Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics.

“As a result, many of them suffer from anxiety, depression and loneliness.” Tan cited the case of a 19-year-old Indonesian helper who was recently jailed for killing

an elderly widow because she was unable to cope with her employer’s demands and constant scolding. Nisha Varia, senior women’s rights researcher at HRW, said a day off “is critical for a domestic worker’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being”. “But this important reform should go into effect this year and apply to all domestic workers and their current contracts,” she added.

One Singaporean employer, banker Jacqueline Ng, expressed concern that some maids could abuse their freedom. She said she had to send an Indonesian maid home recently after she contracted a venereal disease. Ng said her maid, who did not have a regular day off, had refused to say how she got the disease. “Can you imagine if she has a day off. What will happen?” she said. “It’s not that we are inhumane, but they will be very difficult to control.”

Foreign maids play a crucial social and economic role in Singapore, where most couples have to work to cope with the high cost of living and where the elderly population is rising fast.

Businesswoman Poon Boon Eng told the Straits Times newspaper that the new rule “is really bad news for women who are working”. “I need to rest on Sundays too,” she said, adding that she would rather compensate her helper for a foregone rest day. But Trina Liang-Lin, president of the Singapore Committee for UN Women, said she hoped domestic workers would give up a rest day in return for cash compensation only if that was their “own choice”.

HRW said Singapore’s labor-protection rules lag behind places like Hong Kong, which also has many migrant workers but where maids are already given a day off every week. —AFP

Tibetan burns self to death Third self-immolation in 3 days BEIJING: A Tibetan youth has burned himself to death in southwestern China, the third self-immolation in three days, in what overseas Tibetan rights groups said reflects growing resentment against Beijing’s policies in the Tibetan areas of China. It was the 25th self-immolation in the past year, with at least 18 believed to have died from their injuries, according to rights groups. The latest deaths were all lay people and not, as is often the case, Buddhist monks or former clergy. Rights groups said this reflects a wider frustration among ethnic Tibetans at China’s tightening security measures in Tibetan areas.

The self-immolations pose a small but potentially destabilizing challenge to China’s regional policies and the government has branded those who set themselves alight as terrorists. Free Tibet and International Campaign for Tibet said Dorjee, 18, died after he set himself ablaze in Aba county in Sichuan province on Monday in protest at China’s policy on Tibet.

A local official and police told Reuters by telephone that they had no knowledge of the incident.

Aba has been at the forefront of many pro-Tibetan protests in recent months, including several self-immolations. Free Tibet, based in the United Kingdom, cited an eyewitness saying Dorjee set himself on fire near a bridge and then walk in flames to a government office building where he collapsed. Tibetan monks at the Kirti monastery in India’s Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said Dorjee shouted slogans against the Chinese government’s policies on Tibet as he set himself ablaze, according to the US-based International Campaign for Tibet.

Dorjee’s death came two days after two Tibetans killed themselves by setting them-

selves on fire in Sichuan and neighboring Gansu province. “This third self-immolation in as many days underlines that Tibetans will not stop protesting until their calls for freedom are heeded,” Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said in an emailed statement. “The international community must take immediate action.” Activists say China violently stamps out religious freedom and culture in Tibet, the mountainous region of western China which has been under Chinese control since 1950. China rejects criticism that it is eroding Tibetan culture and faith, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region. —Reuters

PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un aims a gun during an inspection tour of the Sporting Bullet Factory in Pyongyang. -—AFP

Pyongyang brandishes weapons, warns South PYONGYANG: North Korean troops brandished weapons given to them by new leader Kim Jong Un as they carried out livefire drills near the disputed sea border and Pyongyang expressed more anger over joint US-South Korean military exercises.

The Associated Press was among select media allowed to observe drills this week on North Korea’s southwestern coast, which faces disputed waters where the Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999. A North Korean shelling that Pyongyang said was provoked by South Korean live-fire drills on nearby Yeonpyeong Island killed four South Koreans in November 2010.

North Korea state media and senior officials have issued a string of angry statements about the US-South Korean drills set to run through April, raising worries that friction between the Koreas will complicate efforts to settle a long-running nuclear standoff. Washington has said that better inter-Korean ties are crucial to the success of nuclear diplomacy. The tension between North and South comes before envoys from the United States and North Korea meet today in Beijing to discuss technical details about the distribution of 240,000 metric tons of food aid promised by the US. In an agreement reached last week, North Korea will receive US food aid in return for it freezing nuclear activities and allowing back UN nuclear inspections.

The nuclear deal’s announcement raised hopes for improved ties between Washington and Pyongyang and for a resumption of dormant six-nation talks on curbing Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

The talks involving the Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan have been deadlocked since North Korea pulled out in April 2009. As young leader Kim Jong Un seeks to bolster support, he has toured the heavily armed border with South Korea and visited a number of military units. North Korea calls the US-South Korean maneuvers preparation for an invasion and an affront because they are happening during the semiofficial 100-day mourning period after Kim Jong Il’s death. Seoul and Washington say their exercises are routine and defensive in nature. North Korea has also threatened revenge against South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who ended a nostrings-attached aid policy when he took office in 2008. North Korea has expressed anger over a South Korean military unit near Seoul recently posting threatening slogans beneath portraits of Kim Jong Un and his father. During drills Sunday and Monday, North Korean military commanders warned of a harsher attack than the 2010 shelling. “We only fired a small number of artillery last time. We will mobilize all our corps’ artillery pieces to turn them into

a real sea of fire this time,” Col Gen Pyon In Son, commander of the 4th Corps of the Korean People’s Army said.

ONE COUNTRY, TWO GOVTS North Korea’s willingness to cut a surprise deal with the United States on the future of its nuclear program does not signal any policy shift by the reclusive state’s young new leader, a source with links to both Pyongyang and Beijing said. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, also warned against applying pressure similar to sanctions on Iran to get it to jettison its nuclear ambitions, saying any perceived insincerity from Washington would quickly drive Pyongyang from the table.

Just weeks after Kim Jong-un succeeded his father, North Korea agreed with the United States last week to suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests, uranium enrichment at a nuclear facility, and to allow nuclear inspectors back. At the same time Washington pledged to resume food aid. Despite the agreement, the source told Reuters not to read too much into it.

“There has been no change (in policy). The door has always been open” from Pyongyang’s perspective, he said. The source has correctly predicted events in the past, telling Reuters about the North’s first nuclear test in 2006 before it took place.

The latest deal came about two months after Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s, inherited the leadership to become the third member of his family to rule the state.

North Korea was founded after World War Two by Kim Il-sung, whose own son Kim Jong-il ruled for 17 years before his death in December. The US-North Korea deal could pave the way for the resumption of long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. The breakthrough has been met with guarded optimism by analysts and diplomats who noted that efforts to defuse tensions on the divided Korean peninsula had seen many false dawns. They also doubt the North will ever give up their nuclear card, which Pyongyang sees as the ultimate deterrent and bargaining chip.

Asked why the unpredictable North repeatedly reneged on past deals, the source defended Pyongyang, saying denuclearisation is “an end for the United States, but just a means for North Korea” to achieve its ultimate objective, survival. “It is not fair to wholly blame North Korea,” he said. Pyongyang’s suspicions of Washington run deep. In 2001 then US president George W Bush branded North Korea part of an “axis of evil” along with Iraq and Iran.

Pyongyang fears it could be the next after the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the continuing pressure on Iran. —Agencies

Suu Kyi woos army

NEW DELHI: Tibetan activists shout slogans during a protest outside the United Nations office in New Delhi yesterday. —AFP

NAYPYITAW: Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ended a campaign trip to Myanmar’s capital yesterday with a reassurance to the military that she seeks no confrontation with it. Suu Kyi spoke yesterday at two rallies on the outskirts of the capital, Naypyitaw, a stronghold of the ruling militar y-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Her National League for Democracy is fielding candidates for all 48 seats at stake nationwide in April 1 byelections, including four in the capital.

The seats in Naypyitaw were vacated last year by members of the ruling party who took senior government positions: President Thein Sein, Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo, Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann and Agriculture Minister Myint Hlaing. In a 30-minute speech in Pobba Thiri township, Suu Kyi reached out to members of the military, or tatmadaw, saying she welcomes them and that her

party does not oppose the institution. Suu Kyi’s father was Gen Aung San, a martyred independence hero. “I welcome the tatmadaw and I want to say that our party, the NLD, is not an organization that will confront the tatmadaw,” she said, adding that she hopes soldiers will attend her party’s meetings in the future.

Naypyitaw is stronghold of the government party. It was custom-built in a remote area a decade ago under the previous military junta. It officially replaced Yangon as the capital in 2005 after it was populated with relocated civil servants and soldiers from a large military base. Suu Kyi said the international community is watching the upcoming polls and wants to know if the country will continue down a democratic path as claimed by President Thein Sein. He initiated reforms, including the release of political prisoners, after decades of military repression. —AP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

NEWS

US robotic ‘cheetah’ breaks speed records WASHINGTON: The Pentagon’s main research agency has created the fastest-ever land robot, named “Cheetah”, which can gallop at a speed of 29 km per hour, scientists said this week. The headless robot looks to be about the size of a small dog and is shown running on a treadmill in pictures and video released Monday by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

“The robot’s movements are patterned after those of fast-running animals in nature,” DARPA said in a statement. “The robot increases its stride and running speed by flexing and unflexing its back on each step, much as an actual cheetah does.”

Cheetah’s dash has set a “new land speed record for legged robots”, besting the previous holder of 21.1 km per hour set by a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1989, the agency added. Cheetah can move significantly faster than the average human’s running pace, but it still couldn’t keep up with Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter who has clocked nearly 45 km per hour.

The robot was created by Boston Dynamics in Waltham, Massachusetts, and was funded as part of DARPA’s Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program, which seeks to advance robotic technology. Someday, such speedy robots could better help the US military with missions to dispose of roadside bombs and navigate other battlefield perils, the secretive agency said, declining an interview request for more information. “The use of ground robots in military explosive-

This video image frame grab obtained yesterday shows a demonstration of the ‘Cheetah’ robot galloping. — AFP ordinance-disposal missions already machine go,” he told AFP. DARPA has previously funded saves many lives and prevents thousands of other casualties,” the DARPA Boston Dynamics to build other rovstatement said. “If the current limita- ing robots such as the Big Dog, which tions on mobility and manipulation can travel up to 20.6 km and navigate capabilities of robots can be over- wet trails and 35 degree slopes carrycome, robots could much more ing up to 154 kg. Another robot effectively assist war fighters across a design known as LS3 aims to build on the Big Dog by carrying more greater range of missions.”

The machine is essentially a labo- weight and traveling further, going ratory animal for now, powered by an “anywhere soldiers and marines go off-board hydraulic pump. A boom- on foot,” the company said in a like device helps it stay on track in release. The driver-free LS3 will carry the center of the treadmill. But Alfred up to 181 kg of gear and enough fuel Rizzi, Boston Dynamics chief robotics to move 32 km in 24 hours, automatiscientist, said field tests for a free- cally following a designated leader, running machine are planned for lat- or using sensing and GPS equipment er this year. “This machine is really a to travel on its own. The LS3, funded mostly science-driven project to try by DARPA and the US Marines, is and understand the limits of how fast scheduled to make its first public we can actually make a legged debut later this year. — AFP

Saudi diplomat shot dead in Bangladesh Continued from Page 1 Hoque said a security guard at a house saw a man fleeing in a car immediately after the gunshot. “He could not tell whether any other person was in the car,” he told AFP. Saudi ambassador Abdullah Bin Naser Al-Busairi told private news agency UNB: “We hope the government will catch the killers. The Saudi foreign ministry confirmed the attack urging Bangladeshi authorities “to rapidly improve the protection” of all at the Saudi embassy, according to a statement carried by the official Saudi SPA news agency. Saudi Arabia is a key ally of and a major donor to Bangladesh, but ties have become strained in recent years after Riyadh tightened recruitment from the South Asian country. More than two million Bangladeshis - a quarter of the impoverished nation’s large migrant population - work in the ultracon-

servative Muslim kingdom. There was also outrage last October when eight Bangladeshis were beheaded in the Saudi capital after being convicted for robbery and murder.

Last year, the US government accused Iranian agents of being part of a foiled plot to kill Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, and Israel has accused Iran of attacks or attempted attacks on its diplomats in India, Thailand and Georgia this year. Iran has denied all of the accusations. In May 2011, gunmen in Karachi, Pakistan, killed a Saudi diplomat, and Pakistani police said they suspected that shooting was motivated by anger over Saudi Arabia’s decision to send troops to Bahrain, where the majority Shiites are challenging the rule of the Sunni monarchy. Saudi Arabia is overwhelmingly Sunni. Saudi Arabia’s recent talk about arming Syrian rebels has likely further irked Iran, which is allied with Syrian leader Bashar Assad. — Agencies

Ashour files to grill PM on corruption...

Continued from Page 1 committee of the parliament nor the constitutional court or request a closeddoor session to discuss it. The prime minister “intends to discuss the interpellation in an open session in front of the public and media”, he said.

Sheikh Mohammad quoted Sheikh Jaber as saying that “I am ready to mount the podium (to answer the questions) and I absolutely don’t have the intention to use the right to refer (the interpellation) to the constitutional court ....” Sheikh Jaber and the rest of ministers will deal with any grilling motion with a “positive and relaxed” spirit, he said. However, Sheikh Abdullah called for approving important laws “and we hope to be done with this interpellation quickly”.

The two corruption scandals were allegedly committed under the previous government of Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah of whom Ashour was a staunch supporter.

Under the first, 12 former MPs and Ashour were accused of receiving around KD 100 million in their bank accounts illegally. The opposition had charged that they were political bribes by the previous government to those MPs to buy their votes on crucial issues.

The public prosecutor had questioned Ashour and the 12 former MPs, who either lost the election or had not contested, on money laundering charges based on complaints filed by several local banks. He later freed them on bail.

Like others, Ashour had denied any wrongdoing and he initially refused to pay the bail and was detained for two days until he paid.

The second scandal alleges that the former prime minister ordered the transfer of tens of millions of dollars from public funds into his own overseas bank accounts. The two scandals triggered youth-led street protests that eventually forced the former premier to step down in late November. The Amir later dissolved the Assembly and called for fresh election which were held on Feb 2 and led to an impressive victory by the opposition.

In November, three opposition MPs had filed to grill the former prime minister on the same issues, particularly the corruption allegations, and Ashour did not support them. Additionally, he described that grilling as “unconstitu-

tional”. Still, Ashour defended his grilling at length, saying that the circumstances had changed and are not the same. He also insisted that his grilling is constitutional and legal. Ashour also stressed that the grilling is not personally-motivated and does not aim at dissolving the Assembly, appealing to MPs to read the grilling’s content before assessing it and not to judge it on the basis of personal relationships.

Ashour’s fellow Shiite MP Adnan AlMutawwa, another staunch supporter of the former prime minister, immediately welcomed the grilling as “excellent and very timely”, although he had strongly lashed out at the opposition MPs who filed to grill the former premier on the same issue. Leading opposition MP Faisal Al-Mislem said he fully respected the MPs’ right to grill any minister or the premier and that the opposition will not accept to delay the grilling or debate it behind closed doors.

The grilling is expected to be listed on the agenda of the March 13 session but the government has the right to delay the debate for two weeks. The debate could lead to a non-cooperation motion that needs at least 25 votes of the elected MPs to pass, a very unlikely if not impossible scenario since the opposition controls as many as 35 MPs who are not likely to support the grilling.

In justifying the grilling, Ashour claimed that the prime minister has been unable to perform his constitutional duties and shouldering his responsibilities as the head of the Kuwaiti government. Ashour claimed that the prime minister has failed to protect public funds by not taking prompt action against those suspected of committing corruption, thus subjecting public funds to losses. He charged that the government has failed to exercise its powers and its procedures and measures regarding the banking deposits scandal were lacking and below expectation which violates the rules of the constitution and the law.

Ashour charged that it became evident following the questioning of some MPs that legal action was taken against only some MPs and not others based on bank complaints which were selective in nature. He said that based on this, it is clear that the government is not serious in applying the law or fighting corruption. Ashour said that banks were selective in making their complaints about

the illegal deposit scandals and accordingly referred only a small number of MPs when they should have referred all ministers and MPs since 2006.

The grilling alleges that the government has failed to resolve the decadesold problem of over 100,000 bedoons and has provided wrong information to international organizations about them.

Failure to resolve the bedoon crisis endangers national security, the grilling insists. Finally, the grilling charged that the prime minister has violated the constitution because he did not submit the government program as required at the start of each Assembly term.

Separately, Refugees International, a rights body which assists displaced people, urged Kuwait yesterday to stop mistreating the more than 100,000 bedoons and to address their citizenship demands. In a report on the issue of stateless people in Kuwait, the US-based organisation RI urged US, British and UN diplomats to directly engage the Kuwaiti government on the issue. The report was prepared following a visit by a delegation from the organisation to Kuwait last month.

“The bedoon protest movement, which re-emerged last year, powerfully demonstrates this community’s desire to be treated as full and equal members of Kuwaiti society,” said RI statelessness program manager Sarnata Reynolds.

“But the Kuwaiti government’s response to their demands has been deplorable,” he said. “During their visit to Kuwait, RI advocates found that Kuwaiti special forces used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations, including beatings, tear gas, and rubber bullets,” the report said. Thousands of bedoons have staged protests in Kuwait over the past 12 months demanding citizenship and a host of basic rights they have been denied.

Riot police cracked down on the protests and arrested around 150 people who are facing trial in Kuwaiti courts.

Last month, the lower court acquitted 31 of them and yesterday opened the trial of 68 others who denied the charges of taking part in illegal protests, assaulting police and damaging public property.

The court set May 1 for the next hearing.

Kuwait says only 34,000 out of the 105,000 bedoons present in the state are eligible for citizenship, accusing the remaining 71,000 of concealing their true nationalities.

The real lives behind new hit book on Mumbai slums MUMBAI: In her Mumbai shack, Manju Waghekar wonders if she will regret revealing the grim secrets of corruption, alcoholism and death among her friends and family for a searing new book on life in an Indian slum. Manju, 23, is a central figure in “Behind the Beautiful Forevers”, a true story that reviewers have hailed as an instant classic and a ground-breaking account of modern poverty. Written by American journalist Katherine Boo, the book paints an intimate and often shocking picture of a community where rats are fried for dinner, suicide is common, sex is a commodity and one woman drowns her child.

Manju’s own mother, Asha, is exposed as a corrupt “slum boss” who sleeps with men to gain influence and who has mysterious connections with thuggish police and crooked politicians. Her father is depicted as an absent drunkard, her best friend dies by eating poison, and the innermost secrets of her heart are split onto the page. “I have read the book, and I liked it even though it made me cry,” Manju, who speaks good English, told AFP in Annawadi, a slum located next to Mumbai’s international airport and tucked behind the five-star Hyatt Regency hotel. “It is truth, not fiction,” she says. “Everyone in Annawadi knows. If I don’t say these things about my family, someone else will, so why let them gossip?”

Manju teaches at school for five hours a day as well as giving free language lessons and studying for an MA degree in English literature on a University of Mumbai correspondence course. She, like several other people featured in the book who spoke to AFP, has unshakeable faith in Boo, who visited Annawadi daily for extended periods between 2007 and 2011. “What she has written is what I am,” Manju says. The passages about her mother Asha are more sensitive territory, and Manju has not yet told her every detail of the contents of the book, which was published in February. “But the allegations are true,” Manju says shyly. “I mean her extramarital affairs and the corruption.

This is how life is here. She is a single mother and did these things as there was no other option. She protects us.”

Manju says her mother will soon chose a husband for her but that she wants to continue teaching and become a principal. She also dreams of visiting the beaches of Goa one day. The book has been called “exquisitely accomplished” by the New York Times and “the most astonishing non-fiction account of the underbelly of urban Indian life”

by India’s Business Standard daily. Whether it will have a positive or negative impact on Annawadi’s 3,000-plus resi-

dents is uncertain, but such a gripping narrative about life among the 335 ramshackle huts is set to provoke strong reactions from readers worldwide.

Manju’s mother Asha is not bothered by the fuss, even though she is aware that the book describes how she used her non-profit organisation to claim thousands of dollars from the government to fund fake schools. Sitting on the floor of the family shack in a beautiful sari and gold jewellery, she waves away specifics by explaining she does not read English. “It doesn’t make a difference to us as our lives will be the same,” she says. “Without support from a husband, whatever little I can do for my family I do, that is the story of one single woman bringing up three kids in a slum.

The only thing that I am worried about is if anyone misuses this information, for example my daughter is getting married soon. If someone helps us, then that is fine.”

The book’s main storyline revolves around an incident just around the corner from where Asha and her children live, when a one-legged woman named Fatima died after setting herself on fire. Fatima’s neighbours, the Husains, were blamed for her death, which occurred during a dispute about renovations to a wall between their two huts.

Sitting beside the same wall, Akhtar Husain explains that his parents and brother Abdul were dragged into a court case that lasted years due to endless legal delays and policemen demanding bribes. “Our family would have tea and coffee with Katherine (Boo) often,” Akhtar says. “She was here when Fatima died and she witnessed the embalming. “We are OK about the book as Katherine always told us ‘I am a writer and I want to know how you live your lives’.”

“Behind the Beautiful Forevers” - named after the slogan on an advertisement for Italian tiles used to hide the slum has attracted inevitable comparisons to the more upbeat novel and film “Slumdog Millionaire”. The parallels should perhaps worry Annawadi residents, as media attention over the Oscar-winning 2008 movie was intense and highly disruptive for the child actors still living in Mumbai’s shanty towns. But Akhtar, 18, who can read some English, finds it hard to believe Boo’s book could change his life. The men of Annawadi work as rag-pickers, stone-breakers or labourers, while women clean, cook and look after children, and he says: “Local politicians won’t read it, only foreigners will.

Anyway, the slum next to us has the same stories, we are not different from anyone else. I only hope the bits about police violence will make them improve themselves.” — AFP

Gulf jabs at Syria also aimed at Iran Continued from Page 1 noted that international ceasefire efforts have “failed to stop the massacres” after nearly a year of bloodshed, including intense shelling in an opposition stronghold in the city of Homs. The UN recently put the death toll for a year of violence in Syria at 7,500. However, activists group say the toll has already surpassed 8,000. “If the Syrian people want to defend themselves, is there something greater than the right to defend oneself and human rights?” he asked. “ The regime is not wanted by the people.” In a direct jab at Assad’s regime, he said there are Syrians “who do not represent the majority of people (and) who work with Iran”.

A move by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, such as Qatar, to funnel weapons to the Syrian rebels would mark another major step in the Gulf’s ambitious transformation into the Mideast’s clearinghouse for bold gestures and well-funded influence. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were the main Arab contingents in the NATO-led airstrikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in Libya. Regional mediation efforts included Qatar hosting talks last month between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority on a reconciliation accord.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation

Council, meanwhile, is discussing “union” plans that could mesh their defense and foreign policies - in a clear reply to Iran’s attempt at expanding its military presence in the Gulf. The GCC has offered membership to the monarchies in Morocco and Jordan in a possible bid to create to divert some of the regional clout from the Arab League. The Western-allied Gulf the base for the US Navy’s 5th Fleet and hundreds of American warplanes - could also figure prominently in any possible military attack plans on Iran’s nuclear sites.

No Gulf state has relations with Israel, but opening airspace for planes could be an option.

On Sunday, President Barack Obama said he does not want war with Iran, but insisted he would attack if it was the only alternative to stop Tehran’s development of a nuclear weapon. The remarks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee came before Monday’s White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose nation has not ruled out a possible unilateral attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US and its allies fear Iran’s uranium enrichment could eventually lead to development of nuclear weapons.

American officials have urged for time to allow international sanctions to bite deeper into Iran’s econ-

omy. Iran claims it only seeks reactors for energy and medical research.

It remains unclear how the standoff with the West could shift if Iran also must face the loss of its axis with Assad. It would, however, leave a “big hole in Iran’s Middle East network”, said Mustafa Alani, an analyst at the Gulf Research Center based in Geneva. “The US could definitely be waiting to see how Syria plays out before making any decisions,” he said. Iran has hedged on Syria as the crisis unfolded - urging for talks with the opposition, but also standing behind Assad’s legitimacy to rule. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi denounced any “interference” of foreign powers in Syria that could “complicate the status quo”, Iranian state TV reported.

David Hartwell, senior Middle East analyst at the defense and intelligence group IHS Janes, said it appears that Saudi Arabia and Qatar could eventually break with Western partners that are still hesitant to arm the Syrian rebels. “Riyadh and Doha ... remain unlikely to share Western fears about worsening the situation in Syria,” Hartwell said.

“Indeed the deteriorating position the FSA finds itself in may provide Saudi Arabia and Qatar with even more justification for supplying them with weapons.” — AP

Great potential for Kuwait-Turkey ties Continued from Page 1 He recalled efforts during his 2008 term as foreign minister to bolster ties between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Babacan recalled a Turkish-GCC cooperation agreement based on which a mechanism was worked out to conduct strategic dialogue. The agreement states that foreign ministers hold a regular annual meeting to further political, economic, cultural and security cooperation. This agreement, Babacan noted, enabled an annual forum for Turkish and GCC businessmen to discuss joint investments and ventures.

Turkey, he stressed, is keen on bolstering ties with the bloc in all feasible areas, and noted the ongoing effort aimed at a free trade agreement.

He spoke of the political and economic situation in Turkey in view of the reforms initiated by the Recep Erdogan government. He said during its three terms over the last ten years, Turkey has experienced transformation and reform in all fields, and particularly in relation to the democratic system. The government, he pointed out, seeks to establish Turkey as a state of law and institutions where all parties fully realize their rights and duties and where all citizens live in justice, security, and harmony.

As an example of specific reforms, Babacan listed changes in the banking system, social security, unemployment and wages law, and also the aim to restore balance to the state budget in terms of spending and revenue. He said Turkey imports two thirds of its crude oil requirements for power, with reserves barely covering the rest. He said the country imports its entire natural gas requirements, as ongoing explorations have not yet led to the discovery of any gas.

Babacan said that although the Turkish economy is oil and gas resource poor, it still trebled during the last ten years. This development was coupled with a similar increase in the average income of citizens. The Turkish economy is currently the 16th biggest in the world.

Babacan said Turkey aims to maintain the economic growth rate at the eight percent achieved last year, which is second in the world after China. The government has plans, he said, to place the Turkish economy among the world’s ten biggest economies by the year 2023, which would coincide with the centennial of the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.

Babacan added there are plans to transform Istanbul into an international trade and monetary center, through legislation to cut red-tape to induce international corporations to set up offices in the biggest Turkish city in terms of population and geography.

Turkey has adopted an open approach with foreign investors. It has opened up many sectors and also privatized institutions managing production and service sectors. There has been legislation to attract foreign investments, and to facilitate the flow of such investments to important sectors such as the nuclear power and petrochemical sectors. The automotive industry attracts much foreign investment, along with electronics, home appliances and military industries. Local military industries currently cover 50 percent of the Turkish Army’s requirements, he noted.

Internal reforms are of great importance to the country as well as the Arab region, Babacan stressed, and Turkey is willing to share its expertise with Arab countries that seek to reform their political and economic systems. He cited current cooperation with Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya where there has been democratic transformation. Efforts on the Turkish side take into account each country’s unique state of affairs and social makeup, he stated.

On the negative impact of recent events in Turkey’s surrounding region, Babacan admitted there has been a negative impact on the economy, as it lost important export markets in some Arab countries. He expressed optimism this will be overcome soon upon the return of stability and the initiation of reform in the concerned countries. — KUNA

14

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

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Issues

Social issues constrain GOP

By Steven R Hurst nce deeply vulnerable, President Barack Obama has seen his fortunes take a dramatic turn for the better as the Republican Party splits between its historic business-friendly establishment and the powerful tug of more conservative and social issues voters. Burdened throughout his term by the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, Obama was expected to be hard pressed to hold on the White House in November. But eight months before Election Day, things have changed. That’s partly because the economy is finally showing signs of a sustained recovery. But the new wind at Obama’s back blowing just as powerfully is the GOP nominating fight, which is dragging Republican candidates deep into conservative fights over social issues - territory from which may be hard for the final GOP nominee to escape. With divisive social issues dominating their nominating contest, will the Republicans be able to eventually win over the non-ideological independent voters deemed critical in this fall’s election?

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and once politically moderate multimillionaire venture capitalist, remains the Republican frontrunner ahead of the Super Tuesday voting in 10 states, which will allocate 419 delegates to the party convention in late August. Romney is well ahead in the battle for the 1,144 needed to capture the nomination.

But Romney has been repeatedly knocked off his economic message, especially by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum who is courting the most motivated Republican voters: the low-tax, small government tea party wing of the party and evangelical Christians who are profoundly attracted to his stands against abortion and contraception and on other social issues. Many conservative Republicans don’t trust Romney and his moderate past. But he has, so far, been able to ride out that aversion because Santorum has had to split the anti-Romney vote with rival Newt Gingrich. The latest social issue to rile the campaign has been whether religious-sponsored organizations should be required to provide their employees with health insurance coverage that includes free contraception. An uproar, mostly among Catholic leaders who reject contraception on moral grounds, forced Obama to change the birth control mandate. The new plan would require insurance companies that cover workers in religious organizations - and not the religious organizations themselves - to offer the coverage.

Just as the contentious issue started to fade a bit, Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio personality, forced it front and center once again: On the air three days last week, Limbaugh called a Georgetown University law student who had spoken out in favor of the Obama plan a “slut” and a “prostitute” who wanted the government to pay her for having sex. The counter-uproar over those remarks and a backlash among advertisers forced Limbaugh to issue a highly unusual apology Saturday. Republicans, who normally shy away from criticism of Limbaugh’s powerful voice, joined in distancing themselves from words that drew bipartisan condemnation.

But the issue seemed certain to deepen the concerns of many women voters, who - along with the broad spectrum of all independents - will likely determine the ultimate outcome in November. Polls show women are already turning back to Obama. Despite his seemingly better political position, Obama continues to face huge unknowns that could still cast a shadow over his re-election prospects: Among them, the still fragile economy and numerous foreign policy uncertainties between now and November.

The price of gasoline, driven by uncertainty over Mideast oil supplies because of a possible Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, is higher than it has ever been this time of year. That’s a ready-made line of attack for Republicans and one that Gingrich now is making the centerpiece of his campaign. And, as employers have begun hiring again, bringing the jobless rate down to 8.3 percent, it is highly likely that workers who stopped looking for a new job will re-enter the hunt and drive up that closely watched indicator of the economic recovery. When the dust settles from the Republican primary fight, odds remain heavily in favor of Romney because of his organization in what’s expected to be a lengthy fight for delegates. And if he wins the nomination, disaffected Republicans most likely will rally to his cause.

Overriding nearly every issue with Republican party voters is a dislike of Obama, particularly his healthcare law that forces all Americans to buy health insurance. And in a general election against Obama, Romney is likely to appeal to independents more than the more-conservative Santorum or Gingrich would. The question could boil down to how much the current GOP focus on social issues will alienate that key bloc of independents, once the party’s nominee turns its focus to beating Obama. —AP

O

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For Putin, dumping Assad may be step too far

By William Maclean s veteran mediator Kofi Annan prepares to visit Damascus to try to rein in Syria’s turmoil, he could be forgiven for thinking his time would be far more usefully spent in Moscow, the Arab state’s old strategic ally. Analysts say Russia is the one outside power that could determine whether the March 10 mission by the joint UN-Arab League special envoy prevents a fragmented global response from degenerating into a violent scramble for regional supremacy.

The United Nations says more than 7,500 people have been killed in a nearly year-old crackdown on demonstrators against President Bashar Al-Assad who drew inspiration from other “Arab Spring” revolts across the Middle East and North Africa.

For many, Syria’s internal conflict is turning into a proxy struggle between rival international groupings, between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in the Middle East and, globally, along Cold War lines between democracies and authoritarian leaders. The question for many, and perhaps also for Annan, a former UN Secretary-General, is whether president-elect Vladimir Putin will be ready to cut political support for his counterpart Bashar Al-Assad in return for a deal that somehow shores up Moscow’s long-term influence with its closest Arab ally.

Lamenting an international response it said veered from the ineffectual to the inflammatory, the International Crisis Group (ICG) suggested that Annan’s best hope lay in enlisting Russian support for a negotiated, orderly transition of power that preserved the integrity of Syrian state institutions. “Annan faces very long odds,” a March 5 ICG note said, noting disarray among Assad’s numerous foreign foes had allowed the government to live “in denial” about the depth of the crisis. But it suggested Russia might be persuaded to shift position, so as to convince Damascus the balance of power was tilting against it and moves on a transition should now start.

“For the regime, Moscow is key. Losing it would mean losing a significant contributing factor to internal cohesion - the

A

perception that, deep-down, the international community remains ambivalent at the prospect of real political change,” it wrote. If Annan can persuade Russia to back a transitional plan, said the ICG, “the regime would be confronted with the choice of either agreeing to negotiate in good faith or facing near-total isolation through loss of a key ally.”

There is deep scepticism about whether Putin would even remotely contemplate a policy switch that could destabilise an alliance that dates back to the Cold War and provides Russia with its only military facility outside the former Soviet Union. Smarting from the Libya and Ivory Coast crises in 2011 that saw UN Security Council-authorised military intervention, Putin’s top priority is to show that he will defy Western efforts to impose political change on sovereign states in regions of big power competition, analysts say.

And sceptics note that the Russian government has billions of dollars worth of contracts for Russian arms and point to Moscow’s veto of a resolution last month against Damascus in the UN Security Council. But since imposing the veto, Russia has said it is open to further efforts to use Security Council influence to halt the violence and has also stepped up efforts to engage with Arab states, indicating it wants a strong hand in diplomacy on Syria. Russia and China joined other Security Council powers on March 1 in issuing a rare rebuke of Damascus for failing to grant the UN humanitarian chief access to Syrian conflict zones.

There is little doubt among close observers of Syria’s minority Alawite political establishment that Russia retains the clout to move its ally some way towards a negotiated solution and that the Kremlin is keenly aware that its international prestige as a diplomatic presence is at stake. And with Russia’s March 4 presidential elections complete, the victorious Putin is expected to be able to turn his attention to foreign policy priorities such as Syria.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters: “It remains to be seen how the Russians will play this going forward ... We hope that their sense of humanity and compassion will encourage them to join us in

pressing the Assad regime to silence its guns. We’re hoping for some fresh attention to the tragedy in Syria now that the elections have passed.”

The ICG noted Moscow’s priorities appeared to be less about upholding the existing Syrian leadership than ensuring some institutional continuity and preserving the state apparatus. In an interview with several foreign newspapers published on March 2, Putin said Russia has no special relationship with Assad and Syrians should decide who should rule their country. “When Bashar Al-Assad came to power he visited London and other European capitals first,” Putin said. “We don’t have a special relationship with Syria. We only have interests in the conflict being resolved.”

Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, told Reuters Putin did not regard Assad as an ally, was not beholden to him in any way, and would be prepared to talk to Annan about ways of finding a solution to the crisis. Yet while Putin “would not shed any tears” if Assad was dumped as part of an process agreed by Syrians themselves, Trenin said, as a matter of principle Putin would not allow Russia to join any effort to unseat a foreign head of state.

Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, wrote in a Feb 29 commentary that Moscow should move beyond saving “a doomed regime” to saving Syria from civil war. It could do this by becoming the architect of a positive and stable political transition, he wrote. “A ‘Russian Plan’ could have elements of other recent transitions in the Arab world. As the West did in Tunisia and Egypt, Russia could use its influence in Syria to encourage a transition without a collapse of state institutions and national order; and as Saudi Arabia and others did in Yemen, it could encourage this transition while offering an exit strategy for the ruling family and clique.”

James Sherr, Senior Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House think-tank, suggested caution was necessary in assessing the Kremlin’s position on Syria.

“Even if Russia had real influence over Assad and could push him into real change they wouldn’t do it.— Reuters

US, Israel agree to disagree on Iran

By Anne Gearan President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended two days of public posturing on Iran right where they began. Obama wants Israel to refrain from attacking Iran now, and Netanyahu pointedly refused to make that promise. Obama never made a direct, public appeal to Israel’s visiting leader, but his message was clear.

“We do believe that there is still a window that allows for a diplomatic resolution to this issue,” Obama said Monday before a twohour meeting with Netanyahu in the Oval Office.

Netanyahu thanked Obama for acknowledging that Israel will make its own choices.

Later, the hawkish Israeli leader answered some of the US arguments for waiting. Iran is already a menace, and would be a worse one with nuclear weapons, Netanyahu told a friendly crowd of American supporters of Israel. And if you think oil prices are high because of the threat of a conflict with Iran, try buying gasoline once oil-rich Iran gets the added confidence of being able to bully the world with a bomb, Netanyahu said.

“There has been a lot of talk about the cost of stopping Iran,” Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. “It is time to talk about the cost of not stopping Iran.”

The Obama administration argues it is premature to talk about attacking Iranian nuclear facilities until it has evidence that Iran has decided to develop a nuclear weapon. Israeli officials say that’s a risky game and many prefer to launch a pre-emptive strike that would cripple Iran’s ability to get to that point. Republicans have tried to cast Obama as a fair-weather friend to Israel and as weak on Iran. On Tuesday, GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich were all addressing AIPAC, the same pro-Israel conference that Netanyahu addressed Monday night.

Israeli leaders say they have not decided whether to attack Iran on their own, but say time is short to make such a strike effective.

US

US officials say they do not know what Israel will do either, and they continue to argue that a unilateral Israeli strike could actually make Israel less safe. Although US officials said several hours of closed-door White House meetings produced greater understanding, the bottom line remained a difference of opinion over whether or when to launch a strike.

Israel sees Iran as a mortal enemy that threatens the very existence of the Jewish state. Israel largely rejects the US assessment that Tehran has not decided whether to build a nuclear bomb. Iran denies its fast-

tient with the slow progress of sanctions and diplomacy, and the two nations have differing assessments of when the Iranian threat will become unmanageable by anything other than military means. Netanyahu later said that while it might be nice to hope that Iran would abandon its disputed nuclear program on its own, Israel cannot afford to hope. Waiting is a fool’s game, and Iran is stringing the world along, Netanyahu told the audience at AIPAC. US and Israeli officials said they were satisfied that the other heard and understood their position. Neither claimed any signifi-

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens as US President Barack Obama speaks during their meeting Monday in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.— AP moving nuclear development program is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Obama and Netanyahu talked about unity with one another, but in their one joint public appearance Monday they were largely talking past one another. They acknowledged that the question of Iran looms over what both described as a close alliance. Obama knew he would have a tough sell. Israel is impa-

cant change of heart. Israel did not press Obama to spell out US “red lines” that would trigger a military response, US officials said, although there had been public pressure in Israel for that. Senior Obama administration officials said the talks at the White House left the two sides closer than they were a week ago. The Israelis walked away with prominent statements from Obama that he would

not stand for just containing a nucleararmed Iran, period, and that the crisis was in the United States’ interests to solve.

In turn, Israelis did acknowledge privately they would prefer a diplomatic solution, despite enormous skepticism about the Iranian government, officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations. The United States and Israel differ over how much time they have to let economic sanctions take their toll. They also differ over exactly what Iranian action should trigger a military strike by either nation. They disagree over whether a unilateral strike now could be legitimate under international law.

And they differ over the value of a strike that US and even many Israeli experts concede would probably only damage, not eradicate, Iran’s nuclear weapons potential.

“I know that both the prime minister and I prefer to resolve this diplomatically,” Obama offered at the White House. “We understand the costs of any military action.”

Netanyahu never said he preferred any such thing. He looked on with a tight smile while Obama spoke to a room of jostling reporters, then addressed his remarks directly to Obama. His message was simple, and unchanged from the one his government delivered to three delegations of US officials who went to Israel last month to argue patience: Thanks, but no thanks. We’ll figure this out ourselves.

“Israel must have the ability always to defend itself by itself against any threat,” Netanyahu said. “When it comes to Israel’s security, Israel has the right, the sovereign right, to make its own decisions.” If there was any doubt that he was telling Obama that Israel sees the cost-benefit ratio differently, Netanyahu erased it with a historical reference to Israel’s founding after the Holocaust.

“After all, that’s the very purpose of the Jewish state,” Netanyahu said, looking Obama in the eye.

“To restore to the Jewish people control over our destiny. And that’s why my supreme responsibility as prime minister of Israel is to ensure that Israel remains the master of its fate.” — AP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

sp orts

Jenkins to lead Wales CARDIFF: Prop Gethin Jenkins will lead grand slam hopefuls Wales against Italy in their Six Nations clash in Cardiff on Saturday after Sam Warburton was ruled out with a knee problem. Flanker Warburton is replaced by Justin Tipuric who picks up his fourth cap, but makes his first start for Wales, already winners over Ireland, Scotland and England to top the standings. In the only other change from the side that overcame England 19-12 at Twickenham, Matthew Rees comes in at hooker in place of Ken Owens who moves to the bench.

Centre Jamie Roberts has recovered from a knee injury and starts in the back line. Wales coach Warren Gatland said there was no danger of his side already looking ahead to a probable title showdown with France on the final weekend.

“Italy will be hoping to find us complacent and with one eye on the French game, but nothing less than victory on Saturday will be accepted by this Wales team or satisfy the nation behind us and all of that leaves the players themselves brimming with ruthless intent,” he said in an WRU statement.—Reuters

McIlroy trades clubs

Spofforth delays retirement LONDON: World record holder Gemma Spofforth staved off retirement by digging deep to win the 100m backstroke final at the British swimming trials and qualify for her home London Olympics on Monday.

Lagging in fifth place at the turn, the former world champion heaved herself back into contention at the Olympic Aquatics Centre to beat Georgia Davies by 0.02 at the touch with a winning time of 1:00.19.

Davies also qualified for the Games.

Spofforth, who set her world record time of 58.12 at the 2009 world championships in Rome but failed to qualify for last year’s semi-finals in Shanghai, told reporters that the thought of it possibly

NEW YORK: Golf’s new world number one Rory McIlroy tried his hand at a different sport on Monday, winning a rally against Maria Sharapova during his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki’s tennis exhibition.

Dane Wozniacki summoned McIlroy from his courtside seat at Madison Square Garden and handed him the racquet in a lighthearted moment before the final game of her match, which she lost 6-3 6-4. McIlroy resisted at first but then placed the tennis ball down on the blue surface, addressed it as if hitting a golf chip shot, then picked it up and started a friendly rally with the number-two ranked Sharapova.

After trading some gentle shots, the Russian sent an overhand long to the delight of the crowd and McIlroy quit while he was ahead, scurrying back to his seat. McIlroy, who rose to the top of the world rankings after winning the Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday, told reporters at the BNP Paribas Showdown it was “nice to take a little break from golf”. —Reuters

being her last race had spurred her on.

“If I hadn’t qualified, this would have been it,” she gasped, the words spilling out in a torrent of relief and elation.

“Technically, if I hadn’t qualified that was going to be my last race... so I had to put everything in the pool and luckily I came up with that result.“I used that (the thought of it being her last race) to my advantage because if it was, I wanted to leave everything I had in the pool.”

The Florida-based swimmer has unfinished business at the Olympics after finishing an agonising fourth four years ago in Beijing by 0.04 of a second.

She still has a reminder of that fourth place on her laptop as a screensaver for motivation.—Reuters

Penguins hold off Coyotes PITTSBURGH: Zybnek Michalek and Chris Kunitz scored three minutes apart in the first period, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 36 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 on Monday night for their sixth straight victory.

The Penguins extended the NHL’s longest current winning streak by holding off a late charge from the suddenly slumping Coyotes.

Ray Whitney scored 21st goal of the season, but Phoenix dropped its third straight after going unbeaten in regulation in February to surge to the top of the Pacific Division.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Gregg Williams

Punishing Williams won’t end the real problem NEW YORK: What Gregg Williams did wasn’t all that different from what football coaches have been doing since the game was invented. He just kept detailed records.

Violence is the coin of the realm in the NFL, but based on the headlines, you would think targeting players to gain a competitive advantage - or to pocket a few extra bucks - was something Williams thought up during stints in Buffalo and Washington, then perfected as defensive coordinator in New Orleans. No. Think back six weeks to the days after the Giants beat the 49ers in the NFC championship game, in part because San Francisco return man Kyle Williams bungled one punt that yielded a touchdown and fumbled a second that set up New York’s game-winning field goal in overtime.

In the locker room afterward, two Giants special teams players boasted they knew chances were especially good they could separate Williams from the football - and maybe his senses, too.

“The thing is, we knew he had four concussions, so that was our biggest thing, was to take him outta the game,” said Jacquian Williams, who forced the second fumble.

“He’s had a lot of concussions,” echoed Devin Thomas, who recovered both fumbles. “We were just like, ‘We gotta put a hit on that guy.’”

No one asked Jacquian Williams or Thomas how they knew about Kyle Williams’ concussions, so either they scoured the NFL’s weekly injury reports, or more likely, that very topic came up for discussion in defensive meetings the week before the game. When reporters later caught up with some of their teammates, they got the equivalent of blank stares. “I never had that conversation,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “In our meetings, we do not talk about it,” concurred linebacker Michael Boley. “Concussions are a big deal and we don’t talk about it at all.”

Any lingering questions or outrage melted away when NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said officials reviewed film from the game and determined “there was no conduct by the Giants of any kind that would suggest an effort to injure Kyle Williams in any way.” And that was that.

Everybody is talking about targeting players now because the league has 18,000 emails and 50,000 documents revealing how extensive a bounty program Williams was running. A number of current and former players have weighed in, most

acknowledging that bounty offers were commonplace on their teams - though not nearly as organized and usually tied to plays, like creating a turnover, rather than players. A few said targeting specific opponents never came up because a fat paycheck incentive was enough to hit anybody in a different jersey as often and as hard as they could.

Because there’s a considerable paper trail, drawing a line on what kind of violence the NFL will tolerate is easy. Almost too easy. Commissioner Roger Goodell will hand out large fines and lengthy suspensions to Williams, some players and perhaps Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Then he’ll be applauded for upholding the integrity of the game and go back to presiding over a business that generates $9 billion in revenue annually by selling violence of the sanctioned variety.

The NFL’s biggest problem isn’t Williams, or even the informal bounty schemes or side bets hatched between players whose lockers happen to be next to each other. It’s not the quiet discussions that circulate on occasion in film rooms or even the overthe-top motivational speeches that loudmouth coaches like Williams deliver. The problem is the game itself.

Contact isn’t a byproduct of football, it’s the point. If cash makes a few players more willing to take crazy risks, or more purposeful in how they target an opponent, there are still plenty of guys who simply think of it as part of the job. The league already has its hands full trying to determine intent when there’s no evidence that money changed hands, reviewing games from every weekend and occasionally applying penalties and fines after the fact. That’s only going to get tougher as players get bigger and stronger.

If anything, the Williams case is little more than a distraction from the larger debate about player safety. It was one thing to write off career-ending hits to the knees and worse as occupational hazards because even players forced out of the game still faced the prospect of more good days ahead than bad.

Concussions have changed the equation in the most insidious way, upping the ante without disclosing the real cost until it’s too late. And the money in pro football is so good now - even without bonuses from unscrupulous coaches - that few people even bother to tote up the risk.—AP

John to defend featherweight title SINGAPORE: Undefeated WBA super world featherweight champion Chris John will defend his title against Shoji Kimura of Japan in May at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Officials at the integrated resort, which includes a casino, hotel, museum, theatre and luxury shopping mall, said in a statement yesterday that the fight was booked for May 5 and would be held at the Sands Expo and convention centre.

Indonesian John has a proud record of 46 wins and two draws from his 48 fights with 22 of those victories coming by knockout.

Undoubtedly talented, John has a victory over multiple weight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on

his resume and will be a heavy favourite to defend his title for the 16th time against his 34-year-old opponent who has a 24-4-2 record.

Despite being revered at home, John has struggled for global recognition having opted to fight mostly in Asia and resisting calls to have more bouts in America.

His last outing resulted in a unanimous points decision win over Ukrainian Stanyslav Merdov in a November bout in western Australia.

Kimura has fought the majority of his career at super bantamweight where he lost his one previous world title fight against Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym in 2010.—Reuters

Jets 3, Sabres 1 At Winnipeg, Manitoba, Blake Wheeler scored the deciding goal on a breakaway in the third period and Bryan Little had three assists in Winnipeg’s victory over Buffalo.

Andrew Ladd and Chris Thorburn also scored and Ondrej Pavelec made 23 saves for the Jets (32-27-8), who maintained their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference and stretched their lead over Washington to three points.

Corey Tropp scored for Buffalo, and Ryan Miller stopped 28 shots. The Sabres (30-28-8) are tied for 10th place with Tampa Bay, four points behind Winnipeg.

Ducks 4, Oilers 2 At Anaheim, California, Bobby Ryan scored the tiebreaking goal off a breakaway with 11:51 to play, and Corey Perry netted two goals in the frantic final minutes of Anaheim’s victory over Edmonton.

Jonas Hiller made 34 saves in his 26th consecutive start for the Ducks, who aren’t giving up on their unlikely playoff hopes. Anaheim finished a brutal stretch of six games in nine days in 12th place in the Western Conference with 68 points, five behind eighth-place San Jose.

Perry scored his 200th career goal with 3:20 to play before putting another puck into an empty net with 1:14 left. Jordan Eberle scored a power-play goal for Edmonton in between Perry’s goals, but the Ducks hung on to earn their 42nd point since Jan. 1, tying them with St. Louis for the NHL’s best record in 2012.

Jason Blake had an early power-play goal for the Ducks, who have won five straight and 10 of 11 over Edmonton. Shawn Horcoff tied it in the second period for the Oilers.—AP

PITTSBURGH: Phoenix Coyotes’ Mikkel Boedker (89) can’t get a third-period shot past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury during an NHL hockey game.—AP

NHL results/standings Pittsburgh 2, Phoenix 1; Winnipeg 3, Buffalo 1; Anaheim 4, Edmonton 2.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W NY Rangers 42 Pittsburgh 39 Philadelphia 36 New Jersey 36 NY Islanders 28

L 15 21 21 24 29

OTL 7 5 7 5 9

GF 179 209 210 180 155

GA 133 168 191 175 195

PTS 91 83 79 77 65

Boston Ottawa Buffalo Toronto Montreal

Northeast Division 38 23 3 209 150 34 25 8 202 198 30 28 8 163 186 30 28 7 194 201 25 31 10 170 184

79 76 68 67 60

Florida Winnipeg Washington Tampa Bay Carolina

Southeast Division 31 22 12 163 184 32 27 8 176 187 32 28 5 172 184 31 28 6 184 219 24 27 14 171 197

74 72 69 68 62

Detroit St. Louis Nashville Chicago Columbus

Western Conference Central Division 43 20 3 209 153 41 18 7 169 131 38 20 7 184 166 36 24 7 202 195 20 38 7 153 214

89 89 83 79 47

Vancouver Colorado Calgary Minnesota Edmonton

Northwest Division 41 17 8 209 161 34 29 4 171 180 29 25 12 159 181 28 28 10 143 180 25 34 6 172 196

90 72 70 66 56

Pacific Division Dallas 35 26 5 174 178 75 Phoenix 33 24 9 171 167 75 San Jose 33 24 7 179 163 73 Los Angeles 30 23 12 142 139 72 Anaheim 29 28 10 170 188 68 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

Wataniya Telecom sponsors Fahaheel and Al-Arabi Handball Sporting Clubs KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom continues offering all the support needed to the sport sector in Kuwait and especially to the local Kuwaiti clubs. In this context, Wataniya has announced its recent sponsorship of the Fahaheel and Al-Arabi Handball Sporting Clubs for the 33rd GCC Championship of the Gulf Handball Champions.

The two clubs are participating in many leagues and tournaments during this season on a local and GCC level of which the 33rd GCC Championship of the Gulf Handball Champions is one of the most important participations. As part of its support and motivation to the young enthusiastic players, Wataniya is honoring the best player in every match of the championship with a mobile phone.

Commenting on this significant sponsorship, Abdulaziz AlBalool Director of Public Relations at Wataniya Telecom confirmed that the initiative comes in line with the company’s CSR strategy to promote and encourage sports in Kuwait as well as supporting all

local clubs and teams. Al-Balool also added: “Wataniya displays special interest in sponsoring ball sports with football and handball sports in the forefront. Our sponsorship of the Fahaheel and Al-Arabi Sporting Club is inspired by the clubs’ exceptional performance in previous seasons which is primarily why we were very interested in building a partnership with them.

Al-Balool concluded his statement saying “In recent years, Wataniya has intensified its support to local Kuwaiti clubs and has endeavored in establishing strong ties with them. Wataniya is committed to support national clubs on a local level and help them in achieving successes internationally.”

For more information on Wataniya’s sponsorships and events, please visit www.wataniya.com, or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/wataniyatelecom , or check latest updates on www.facebook.com/wataniya or get the latest news on Wataniya’s blog www.wataniya.com/blog.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

sp orts

New Jacksonville owner has grand plans for Jaguars JACKSONVILLE: The Jacksonville Jaguars have long been in need of a boost and the struggling National Football League team may have finally found it from an unexpected source, Pakistan-born Shahid Khan.

Khan bought control of the Jaguars late last year for a reported $760 million from Wayne Weaver, who led the organization into the NFL in 1995, and has quickly set about making his presence felt, both at the club and the north Florida community.

Unsurprisingly for a man who started out “with a one way ticket and a few hundred bucks” but is now a multi-millionaire auto-parts businessman and member of the elite 32-man club of NFL owners, Khan isn’t lacking in confidence or ideas.

He was born in Lahore and like many of his countrymen, he grew up with the more genteel sport of cricket,

but fell in love with American football after moving to the United States.

“You learn to love the sport,” Khan told Reuters in an interview. “It’s a three dimensional kind of chess � first you come in as a spectator but I’ll never forget watching Walter Payton at the Chicago Bears and no matter how many times he was hit, the guy kept going.”

Inspired by what he saw on the field and what he had achieved in his own life, Khan decided to get involved. “You watch those games on a Sunday and then during the week, in your own life, you have some sort of obstacle,” he said.

“I reflected back and thought, you can’t give up. It provides some kind of inspiration.

“But it was only about six years ago when I thought, I have developed a love and affection as a fan for the

Lin Dan roars in as Chong Wei awaits BIRMINGHAM: World and Olympic champion Lin Dan roars into town on a high this week keen to retrieve the All England title he had once all but made his own.

The Chinese crushed Indonesia’s Simon Santoso 21-11 21-11 to win the German Open on Sunday, breezing through the tournament without dropping a game.

Super Dan to his fans, Lin has already won the All England, badminton’s oldest title, four times. But, as ever, world number one Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei lies in wait for his big rival.

Chong Wei lost a stunning world title final to Lin in August but beat the Chinese in last year’s All England final and again in the Korean Open in January.

However, the 29-year-old has still to win gold at Olympic or world level and, with retirement set for 2013, his focus is clear. He told reporters after his Malaysian Open triumph on home territory in January: “I have set my sights on winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal.”

Lin Dan, looking healthy and fit in Germany after various injury scares in the past 18 months, starts his campaign on today’s opening day against India’s Ajay Jayaram. Chong Wei faces unseeded Chinese Wang Zhengming.

Denmark’s Peter Gade, an All England winner back in 1999, battles on bravely at the age of 35 and is seeded four, just behind ever improving Chinese Chen Long. With time running out for Olympic qualifying points virtually every top player will be in Birmingham where home fans will be roaring on the exciting mixed doubles pair of England’s Chris Adcock and Scotland’s Imogen Bankier.

The duo surpassed all expectations to reach the world final in August only to

lose to China’s world number ones Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei.

But Adcock and Bankier got revenge in the Korean Open and are up against the Chinese again in a first round match today.

Bankier told Reuters: “We learnt a lot

Lin Dan of China at Wembley and we had a very specific game plan which we implemented extremely well in Korea.

“I think that just shows the worlds were not a fluke and if we can make a final there and go on and beat the number one pair in the world I’d say our chance in the Olympics look very good indeed.” The All England championships, which date back to 1899, have been staged at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham since 1994. —Reuters

Tine takes on the Chinese again BIRMINGHAM: Tine Baun, the only woman to have denied China an AllEngland Open singles title in the last ten years, has special reasons for wanting the chance to try again when the world’s oldest tournament gets underway here today.

The twice former champion from Denmark was unable to make a title defence last year because of a heel injury, and believes her special affinity with the century-old tournament she calls her second home offers hopes of defying the sport’s greatest nation again.

Baun, formerly Rasmussen, also wants to do well because at the age of 32 this could be her last All-England Open. She expects to retire not long after the Olympic Games in August and says: “I could do one more AllEngland, but not two.”

Despite another injury-affected season, Baun did enough at the Hong Kong Open in November to suggest her formidable smash and phases of inspirational attack can, when combined with triumphant memories, still make an impact.

There she beat Wang Shixian, the reigning All-England champion, before losing the final to Wang Xin, the Asian Games champion. Here in Birmingham, as the fifth seed she will draw hope from those matches, and from the ambience she loves.

“I feel that when I play, I play good matches,” Baun said. “I’ve been struggling with the right hip, but it’s getting better. And I feel that the spectators get behind me at All-England. This is a very special tournament for me.” Her main obstacles will be the trio of outstanding Wangs - Wang Yihan, the world champion, Wang Shixian, the AllEngland champion, and Wang Xin, the winner of several Super Series titles since last year.

The most dangerous is probably Wang Yihan, who won the 2009 All-

England and this year’s Malaysia Super Series, and is popular with European audiences both for her ability to impose a creative game and an evident range of emotions.

She should meet Baun again in the quarter-finals, and is favourite to regain the title. However the Dane may take comfort from having beaten her in a thrilling final two years ago, the last time either competed at the AllEngland.

By contrast Wang Shixian, the titleholder, is more of a running player, with consistency, good speed and excellent movement, all of which helped her win the Korea Super Series in Seoul two months ago.

And Wang Xin, the second seed, is a versatile player who attacks and defends well. However she has a possible semi-final against Saina Nehwal, the very able Commonwealth champion from India, who is probably due to make a mark in Birmingham.

Intelligent, well-ordered, and tactically astute, Nehwal has as one of her career ambitions to deny the brilliant Chinese a monopoly. Five of the eight women’s singles seeds this week are from the world’s most powerful badminton nation.

China is also very strong in all the other events, topping the seeding list in three of them. Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng head the men’s doubles, Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli the women’s doubles, and Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei the mixed doubles.

Only in men’s singles does another nation top the list - Malaysia, in the person of Lee Chong Wei, the defending All-England champion.

However China’s Olympic champion Lin Dan narrowly beat Lee in the final of the world championships at Wembley in August, suggesting that China could repeat its unique 2009 AllEngland achievement of a clean sweep of all five titles. —AFP

sport and I’d like to be part of it.”

Becoming one of the NFL’s owners was no easy task. Anyone seeking a way into the league not only needs the financial muscle but also the support of the other owners. Khan passed both tests.

“It is exclusive because you have to be accepted, you have to be able to find the opportunity and you have to be able to afford the opportunity,” he said.

“I went to the league six years ago and said ‘I have an interest, how does one get introduced?’ and they said here are some names of owners if you want to go and talk to them.”

Those talks led him to an eventually unfruitful attempt to take control of the St. Louis Rams but he eventually got his opportunity in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars, who have struggled at times to fill their stadium and have

just two divisional championships to their name, are viewed by many as one of the weaker franchises in the league and have frequently been mentioned as candidates for relocation.

There were initial fears the sale to Khan might be the prelude to a move away from the city but the new owner moved quickly to reassure everyone of his commitment to the city.

“We had a rally to meet the (new) coach on a Tuesday night at 5.30pm, almost 7,000 people turned up. They are hardcore and they are nuts,” he said.

“This isn’t South Florida or Tampa, this is North Florida-South Georgia which is football crazy. It’s the only game in town, there are no other sports.”

Khan has been embraced by the local community and become a

celebrity in his own right. “He’s done a good job of being public and visible and I think people have responded well to that,” said Tania Ganguili, Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times Union.

Khan has grand ambitions for his team. He not only wants them to excel on the field, he also wants them to become a global brand, that will promote Jacksonville.

“We have to work the territory,” he said. “There hasn’t been much success on the field � it is the most important thing, especially given this is a young franchise and we don’t have third and fourth generation fans here.

“I think we can add value by being international. I think it needs a home team that is committed there for a few years, who can go engage the fans and the community. It’s also a great way to sell the city globally.” —Reuters

Prince Harry runs with Bolt in Jamaica KINGSTON: It wasn’t much of a race, but then it really couldn’t have been as the world’s fastest man and Britain’s Prince Harry met up on a track yesterday in the Jamaican capital.

The prince got off to a false start and was about 50 meters down the track as Usain Bolt bent over with laughter. The Olympic medalist then jogged up to Harry, making one of his signature skyward points for a crowd of onlookers at the University of the West Indies in the Jamaican capital.

Later, the two exchanged pleasantries and talked about running for an audience made up mostly of university students, including many athletes. The prince noted Jamaica’s international reputation as a track and field powerhouse and said it was impressive for a small nation of nearly 3 million.

“Don’t go running off to America, because you’ve got talent your country needs.” he told the crowd. Harry is touring the Caribbean as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour in honor of Queen Elizabeth II as she celebrates 60 years on the throne. The 27-year-old prince , who made earlier stops in the Bahamas and Belize, arrived by private jet and received a 21-gun salute from members of the Jamaica Defense Force.

His visit comes as the new prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has called anew for the severing of ties with the British monarchy.

Jamaica has been independent from Britain since 1962 but still recognizes the queen of England as the titular head of state.

Simpson Miller, who was scheduled to have lunch with Prince Harry during the visit, has professed admiration for the queen, but said political change is necessary to eliminate

the vestiges of colonialism.

“I think the fact that August coming will be 50 years since we have gained our independence, that it’s time for us to sever the ties,” she said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

At the track stadium, though, there was

nothing but enthusiasm for the prince.

University students waved enthusiastically and cheered for him, calling for him to come out of his motorcade. “It’s the first time I have ever been this close to royalty,” 23-year-old medical student Shikera Fearon said as the prince pulled away. —AP

JAMAICA: Britain’s Prince Harry follows the signature victory gesture of Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt following a mock race at the University of the West Indies. —AP

Friedrich eyes elusive medal after injury BERLIN: German high jumper Ariane Friedrich is back following a 14-month injury break and ready to go after the one type of medal that is missing from her collection.

The affable 28-year-old has dominated her discipline in her country for almost a decade, winning a world championship bronze in front of a home crowd in Berlin in 2009 and a European indoor gold the same year, but has never stepped on an Olympic podium.

Her preparations to reach that goal in London this year suffered a severe blow when she ruptured her Achilles tendon in December 2010, forcing her to miss more than a year of training and competition.

She returned to action in Februar y this year, quickly clinching the German indoor title again with a jump of 1.91 metres.

“I am not at 100 percent performance -wise,” Friedrich, whose personal best stands at 2.06 metres set in June 2009, told Reuters in an interview yesterday at the star t of her Olympic preparation.

“There is still a lot of room for improvement. But I am very satisfied with my progress and I just hope I can stay healthy.

“During my injury break, (the Olympics) were a bit on the backburner so it is kind of strange to say ‘OK today I start training for the Olympics’.”

Friedrich, her trademark short blond hair now replaced by an electric pink colour, said while there was still a lot of work for her to do, anything could happen at the Games. “ The Olympics will be a tough fight. You get nothing for free at the Games, believe me,” said Friedrich, who was seventh in Beijing four years ago.

“It is the toughest competition for the last four years and everyone wants a medal. It will be high level and everyone who makes the final is a potential medal candidate,” added Friedrich, who works as a police officer.

“That is also the magic of the Games, that everyone can shine at that moment. That is beautiful ... and I would never say ‘these three are medals winners and no one else’. That’s not true.

It has never been true in the Olympic finals.”

Friedrich will come up against her old rivals Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic, silver medallist in Beijing, Russian Anna Chicherova and Belgium’s Tia Hellebaut, the surprise 2008 Olympic gold medallist, who is back after giving birth to two daughters.

The German said the winner in London would definitely need to jump over two metres.

“Forget about winning with a per formance of under two metres.

That is utopian. There has to be the number two in front,” said Friedrich, who will skip the world indoor championships in Istanbul in March to focus solely on the Games.

“That is what will happen in London, unless there is hail or snow or something. But I don’t think so. So expect to see a number two in front of the winner’s performance,” she said.

Friedrich and her team have decided to pace the athlete and gradually build her up as the Games approach. “I think Istanbul was always a problem time-wise,” she said.

“We had said from early on that we would not compete in Istanbul. We said we would draw a line after the German championships.

“I save two weeks like that and these two weeks could turn out to be two very important weeks for me. “Ahead of London I will not be hiding,” she added. “I need competitions experience and practice again

so I will be taking part in several meetings (in the run-up to the Games). “I am not an athlete who can jump ever y two or three days. I need at least a week’s break in between competitions.” —Reuters

Ariane Friedrich

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

S P ORT S

Djokovic, Wozniacki to defend Indian Wells crowns INDIAN WELLS: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and fourth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki will defend their titles at the $11 million Indian Wells ATP and WTA hardcourt event that begins today.

The record prize purse for ATP-WTA events outside majors includes $1 million for both the men’s and women’s singles champion. Women’s main draw matches begin today. The men open Thursday. High seeds have first-round byes.

Serbian star Djokovic captured Indian Wells as part of a stunning 2011 start of 41 match wins in a row.

Djokovic began 2012 by winning the Australian Open crown but he lost to Britain’s Andy Murray in last week’s Dubai Open semi-finals.

“Last year was amazing, definitely

the best year of my career,” Djokovic said. “If you ask me if I can repeat it, I don’t know. It’s going to be very, very hard obviously. It’s a new year for me. I look forward to Indian Wells. Events coming up are really important and I need to get ready.”

Djokovic, a five-time Grand Slam champion who could claim his fourth Slam title in a row by winning the French Open in June, beat Spanish World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the 2011 Indian Wells final and also took the trophy in 2008.

Nadal, the 2007 and 2009 Indian Wells champion, will threaten again, as will three-time Indian Wells winner Roger Federer, the Swiss legend who has won 33 of his past 35 matches and five titles, and Murray.

World No. 3 Federer, who has won a record 16 Grand Slam titles, beat World No. 4 Murray in last week’s Dubai Open final and hopes to bring that momentum to the California desert.

“It’s nice to win a tournament outdoors now,” Federer said. “That gives me hope that I can carry it over to Indian Wells and Miami.” Murray hopes slower courts at US events in March at Indian Wells and Miami will give him an edge. “Conditions over in Indian Wells and Miami are going to be very, very different,” Murray said. “Much slower courts, which hopefully will suit my game a little bit better.”

Denmark’s Wozniacki has lost her World No. 1 ranking and defends full points at Indian Wells, but is more con-

cerned about form than jumping back up the list and said she does not feel extra pressure defending the crown.

“Everyone has things to defend or not to defend. It’s just about playing,” she said. “You will have more points at some tournaments, a little bit less at some, so it evens out in the end.”

Venus and Serena Williams will be absent as usual. They have skipped Indian Wells since 2001, when fans booed the US sisters after an injured Venus pulled out of a scheduled final against Serena with tendinitis.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium will miss the event with a left ankle injury suffered at the Australian Open.

Reigning Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus was

forced out of last year’s Indian Wells quarter-final against Wozniacki with an injury and the World No. 1 withdrew from last month’s Dubai Open.

“Health is the most important thing,” Azarenka said. “If I’m healthy I can produce good tennis.”

World No. 2 Maria Sharapova, a three -time Grand Slam champion coming off a runner-up effort at the Australian Open, won the 2006 Indian Wells title and reached last year’s semifinals before falling to Wozniacki.

Other contenders include reigning Wimbledon champion and World No. 3 Petra Kvitova, a Czech left-hander; sixth-ranked reigning US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia and China’s eighth-ranked Li Na, the 2011 French Open winner. —AFP

Sharapova beats Wozniacki in exhibition at the MSG NEW YORK: Maria Sharapova beat Caroline Wozniacki in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden on Monday - though she lost the only point she played against Wozniacki’s boyfriend, top-ranked golfer Rory McIlroy.

With the Dane a game away from losing 63, 6-4, she invited McIlroy onto the court just hours after he won the Honda Classic to ascend to No. 1 in the world for the first time.

Andy Roddick beat Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (7) in the night’s second exhibition at the BNP Paribas Showdown. Roddick was 2-21 in his career against Federer.

“I’m obviously in Roger’s head,” Roddick joked after winning in his first appearance at the Garden. “I think Jeremy Lin wanted me to win tonight,” Roddick added.

In jeans and a sweater, McIlroy showed off a one-handed backhand, and Sharapova hit his lob wide. Asked if he was surprised, McIlroy said with a smile: “I’ve won a few off Caroline.” Wozniacki has been ranked No. 1 for 67 weeks in her career, though she’s currently down to No. 4. McIlroy knows he’ll need to stay on top for “another couple of years” to catch his girlfriend in that stat.

In between taking photos with fans after the match, McIlroy said, “It’s nice to take a little break from golf.” The couple plans to meet up in Miami before he plays a World Golf Championship event there and she heads to Indian Wells, Calif.

McIlroy stopped signing autographs for a moment to listen to Wozniacki’s on-court

interview. “He’s 100 percent against Maria,” she told the crowd.

Asked earlier Monday whether she sent him flowers after his win Sunday, Wozniacki said, “Well, I don’t want his head to become too big, so, um, no.”

Sharapova and Wozniacki got into the spirit of the exhibition at times: exchanging smiles after a well-played rally, surrendering a point to make up for a missed call, dancing with fans before the final game.

The second-ranked Sharapova wasn’t conserving energy, though.

After breaking back to 4-4 in the second set, she chased down a drop shot and then a lob, throwing her hands up in frustration when her shot ricocheted off the scoreboard. —AP

ADELAIDE: Australia’s Matthew Wade tries to stop an over throw during the One Day International series match against Sri Lanka. —AP

Sri Lanka force decider Dilshan shines AUSTRALIA: Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene shared an opening partnership of 179 as Sri Lanka hammered Australia by eight wickets yesterday to take the one-day international Tri-series final to a third and deciding match.

Dilshan smashed 106 and Jayawardene 80 to help propel Sri Lanka towards their victory target of 272 with 34 balls to spare and ensure the teams would return to the Adelaide Oval on Thursday to decide the tournament victors.

Michael Clarke earlier hit a superb 117 and David Warner backed up his 163 in the hosts’ victory in the first match of the final at the Gabba on Sunday with a more circumspect 100 in a stand of 184 for the third Australian wicket.

The Australians, both clearly hampered by injury, failed to drive home their advantage though and the tally of 271 for six from 50 overs looked under threat almost from the moment the Sri Lankans came out to bat.

Captain Jayawardene got a life on one when he was dismissed caught behind by Clint McKay but was called back to the crease after a television review revealed a no ball.

From then on it was plain-sailing and the hundred partnership came up from the first ball of the 16th over as Australia’s bowlers labored and their fielders showed a sloppiness they have avoided for most of the season.

Paceman James Pattinson finally separated the openers when he trapped Jayawardene leg before with an inswinger but by then the Sri Lankans were only 93 runs short of their victory target.

Dilshan, who scored an unbeaten

160 against India earlier in the series, took his bow for his 12th one-day international century two balls before he reached the mark but no number of scoreboard errors were going to save Australia from defeat.

Mike Hussey finally caught Dilshan at deep midwicket off the bowling of Brett Lee but Kumar Sangakkara (51 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (17 not out) comfortably accumulated the remaining 38 runs required for victory.

Sri Lanka too had been guilty of sloppy fielding and Clarke was dropped three times as he reached his seventh century in all forms of the game since he became Australia captain last March.

Quick bowler Lasith Malinga spilled one over the boundary for a six to trigger a brilliant spell where Clarke hit Farveez Maharoof for 21 off one over.

Lefthander Warner, troubled by a groin injury, was subdued by his high standards and departed as one of Malinga’s three victims with four fours and one six two his name in a 140-ball 100. Clarke followed soon afterwards, run out when his lack of mobility left him unable to race for safety at the end of his 91-ball knock, which included five fours and fours sixes.

Jayawardene was later fined 10 percent of his match fee for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision to declare a full toss delivery from Maharoof above waist height as a no-ball in the 44th over of the Australia innings.

The Sri Lanka captain argued with the on-field umpires’ decision but later pleaded guilty to the offence and apologised for his actions, the International Cricket Council said in a statement. —Reuters

SCOREBOARD Scoreboard after Sri Lanka beat Australia by eight wickets in the second final of the one-day international Tri-series final at the Adelaide Oval yesterday: Australia won the toss and chose to bat first Australia innings M. Wade b Dilshan 14 D. Warner c Dilshan b Malinga 100 S. Watson run out 15 M. Clarke run out 117 M. Hussey b Malinga 6 D. Hussey b Malinga 7 D. Christian not out 4 Extras (b-2 lb-3 w-2 nb-1) 8 Total (for six wickets, 50 overs) 271 Did not bat: B. Lee, J. Pattinson, X. Doherty, C. McKay Fall of wickets: 1-22 2-56 3-240 4-256 5266 6-271 Bowling: Dilshan 10-0-40-1, Kulasekara 10-0-57-0 (w-1), Malinga 10-1-40-3,

Maharoof 10-0-71-0 (nb-1), Herath 10-058-0 (w-1) Sri Lanka innings M. Jayawardene lbw Pattinson 80 T. Dilshan c M. Hussey b Lee 106 K. Sangakkara not out 51 D. Chandimal not out 17 Extras (b-4 lb-4 w-9 nb-3) 20 Total (for two wickets, 44.2 overs) 274 Did not bat: L. Thirimanne, U. Tharanga, C. Kapugedera, F. Maharoof, N. Kulasekara, L. Malinga, R. Herath Fall of wickets: 1-179 2-234 Bowling: Lee 8-1-41-1 (w-3), C McKay 90-51-0 (nb-1), Pattinson 8-1-47-1 (nb-2, w-3), Doherty 9-0-55-0, Christian 4-029-0, D. Hussey 1-0-8-0 (w-1), Watson 5.2-0-35-0.

Division A Winners Safety Plus Dashers

Division A Runners-up Future Stars Cricket Club

Safety Plus Dashers, YSSC and Pondicherry Tigers triumph TACK (TDL3) - Mega Cricket Festival KUWAIT: After a compelling and a thrilling four months of competitive cricket, the finals of the TACK TDL (Edition 3) were played recently at the TACK grounds. It was for the very first time that a T20 cricket tournament was played in Kuwait’s History comprising of “36 TEAMS”.

The finals were witnessed by a diverse crowd from all walks of life that only built up as the day progressed and varied from former cricketers to the present ones and from families to friends, a sight that has become increasingly common during TACK cricket tournaments.

The highlight of the day, however, was the presence of the Ambassador of India, Satish Mehta and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka CAH Wijeratne along with the ever passionate and true promoter of cricket, the platinum sponsor of all 3 TDL Editions Mahmoud Abdullah.

The dignitaries were extremely impressed and overwhelmed to see the preparations of the TACK committee who managed to conduct one of the finest finales ever to be witnessed in Kuwait.

As part of honoring past cricketers who have contributed towards this wonderful game in Kuwait, TACK recognized them with life time achievement awards: Nigel Tatham ( British Community), Andrew Pinno

(Indian Community), Ejaz Ahmad (Pakistan Community) and Cecil Jude Paiva (Srilankan Community).

The entire TDL- Edition 3 saw the participation from top 36 teams in

Kuwaiti national and also a cricketer ( TACK’s regular Platinum Sponsor), and the sheer efforts of TACK committee that enabled the 3rd edition of T-20 tournament to

Satish Mehta the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait handing the TACK winner’s trophy Kuwait who were accordingly divided into A, B, and C divisions depending on their past performance and their overall ranking in other various tournaments in Kuwait. A total of 220 matches were played in four months that not only had a prize money for each and every man of the match, but also prize money for the winners and runners-up team only seen in the tournaments conducted by “TACK” in Kuwait.

It was only with the immense support of Mahmoud Abdullah, a

Division B Winners Young SriLankan Sports Club

be conducted professionally and successfully.

The finals for TDL Division A was played between Safety Plus Dashers and Future Stars. All eyes were on the great batsman Khaled Butt who was making a comeback after his brief illness due to which he had missed the quarters and the semifinals. Safety Plus Dashers won the toss and without any hesitation decided to bat with Khaled Butt once again smashing all round the park with his little cameo of 47 runs in just 27 balls,

well supported by Yaseen scoring a quick 58 in 31 balls and Yasir scoring 44 taking SPD to a total of 199 in 20 overs.

With Asghar missing in the Future Stars batting line up, SPD had fancied their chances which proved quite right as Future Stars were bowled out for just 133 in the 15th over making SPD the winners of Division A by 66 runs.

The Division B finals between YSSC and Al-Sayer Cricket Club was quite a close encounter as AlSayer lost by 14 runs. YSSC won the toss and batted first scoring 187 runs, Thusara being the top scorer with 73 runs. Al-Sayer in reply started off well by scoring 50 for no loss, but once, the opening partnership was broken, then thereafter there was no good partnerships and Al-Sayer were finally bowled out for 173 in their 20 over’s.

Pondicherry Tigers Cricket Club pulled off a superb victory by defeating Skylark Cricket Club by 24 runs in the Division C finals.

Skylark won the toss and put Pondicherry into bat which proved very costly as they piled on 171 runs in their 20 overs. Skylark in reply played well to chase the target but some good bowling by the Pondicherry Tigers restricted Skylark to 147 runs in their 20 over’s and Amal from Pondicherry was rightly declared as the man of the match for his 48 runs.

Division B Runners-up Al-Sayer Group Cricket Team

18

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

S P ORT S

Love carries T’Wolves over Clippers as Bucks roll MINNEAPOLIS: Kevin Love had 39 points and 17 rebounds to carry the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 95-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Darko Milicic had 13 points in a spot start for the injured Nikola Pekovic and Michael Beasley scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter for the Wolves. Blake Griffin had 26 points and 12 rebounds, but

25 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who have been stuck in a funk for a little more than a month.

Since beating the Miami Heat on Feb. 1, Milwaukee had lost 12 of its last 16 games coming into Monday night’s game. Lou Williams had 26 points for the 76ers, who were coming off a narrow home loss to Chicago on Sunday and have lost eight of 10.

Bulls 92, Pacers 72 At Chicago, Luol Deng scored 20 points, teaming with Derrick Rose in a decisive third-quarter rally that sent Chicago to its seventh straight victory. Rose added 13 points and nine assists, hitting three 3-pointers while Deng had two in the third as the Bulls blew open a close game.

Joakim Noah had 17 rebounds to lead the Bulls to a dominating 60-32

Nowitzki’s fourth 3-pointer of the final period by hitting one of his own from the right wing to get the Thunder within 91-90 with 2:25 remaining, and Dallas didn’t score again. Serge Ibaka hit two free throws with 46 seconds left to give Oklahoma City the lead, and Jason Terry missed two shots down the stretch for the Mavericks.

Nowitzki finished with 27 points but didn’t touch the ball on a key possession when Dallas was down by two with 13 seconds left.

Magic 92, Raptors 88 At Toronto, Dwight Howard had 36 points and 13 rebounds, and Ryan Anderson added 19 points and 13 boards as Orlando won for the fifth time in seven games. JJ Redick scored 13 points, making a key 3 pointer in the final 10 seconds, and Jameer Nelson had 11 for the Magic, who have won nine of their last 12.

DeMar DeRozan scored 23 for the Raptors, who have not won back-toback games since road wins over Phoenix and Utah on Jan. 24 and 25.

Toronto has gone 6-13 since. Jerryd Bayless scored 15 and James Johnson had 13 for Toronto, while Aaron Gray had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

DENVER: Nuggets forward Al Harrington (left) fouls Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas (right) in the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP scored just four in the final period for the Clippers. Mo Williams scored 19 points for Los Angeles, which outrebounded Minnesota 52-43.

Three of the Clippers’ 14 losses this season have come to Minnesota.

Bucks 97, 76ers 93 At Milwaukee, Beno Udrih hit a go-ahead jumper with just under a minute left as Milwaukee held off Philadelphia’s late comeback.

Brandon Jennings had 33 points and Drew Gooden added

Nuggets 119, Kings 116 At Denver, Arron Afflalo hit three free throws with 0.6 seconds left in regulation and Ty Lawson made a 3pointer with 4 seconds to go in overtime as Denver improved to 4-0 since the All-Star break. Afflalo finished with a career-high 32 points for the Nuggets. Lawson came up with the clutch basket for the second straight night, finishing with 16 points and 13 assists. Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans each had 27 points for the Kings.

edge on the boards. Paul George scored 21 points for Indiana, which had a six-game winning streak snapped. George Hill scored 17 points off the bench.

Thunder 95, Mavericks 91 At Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook scored 24 points and Kevin Durant added 22 as Oklahoma City scored the final eight points to extend its home winning streak to 13 games.

Westbrook answered Dirk

NBA results/standings Utah 109 Cleveland 100; Orlando 92, Toronto 88; Golden State 120, Washington 100; Milwaukee 97, Philadelphia 93; Minnesota 95, LA Clippers 94; Chicago 92, Indiana 72; Oklahoma City 95, Dallas 91; Denver 119, Sacramento 116 (OT); Portland 86, New Orleans 74. (OT denotes overtime win)

Philadelphia Boston NY Knicks Toronto New Jersey

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 22 17 19 17 18 19 12 26 12 26

Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Cleveland Detroit

Central Division 32 8 23 13 15 23 13 23 12 26

Miami Orlando Atlanta Washington Charlotte

southeast Division 28 9 25 14 22 15 8 29 4 31

Western Conference Northwest Division 30 8 22 17 20 19 19 19 18 19

.789 .564 .513 .500 .486

8.5 10.5 11 11.5

.800 .639 7 .395 16 .361 17 .316 19

LA Lakers LA Clippers Phoenix Golden State Sacramento

Pacific Division 23 14 22 14 17 20 15 20 12 26

.622 .611 .459 .429 .316

.5 6 7 11.5

.757 .641 .595 .216 .114

San Antonio Memphis Dallas Houston New Orleans

Southwest Division 25 12 22 15 22 17 21 17 9 29

.676 .595 .564 .553 .237

3 4 4.5 16.5

PCT .564 .528 .486 .316 .316

GB 1.5 3 9.5 9.5

4 6 20 23

Oklahoma City Denver Minnesota Portland Utah

Jazz 109, Cavaliers 100 At Cleveland, Al Jefferson scored 25 points and Gordon Hayward added 23 as Utah handed Cleveland its sixth straight loss. Utah snapped a six-game road losing streak with only its fourth victory away from home in 17 games. Rookie Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with 22 points 21 in the second half. He scored 13 points in the third quarter.

Warriors 120, Wizards 100 At Washington, Monta Ellis scored 25 points and Klay Thompson added 18 to lead Golden State past Washington. David Lee had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who had six players in double figures. It was Golden State’s highest-scoring game since beating Toronto 138-100 on March 25, 2011.

Nick Young scored 25 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, and John Wall had 20 points and 14 assists for Washington, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

T Blazers 86, Hornets 74 At Portland, Oregon, Nicolas Batum scored 19 points as Portland snapped a three-game losing streak.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who had just two points and three rebounds in the first half, finished with 10 points and 11 boards the Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 26 points and got a morale-boosting victory before heading out on a seven-game, 12night road trip. Aldridge did not play in the fourth quarter. Marco Belinelli had 18 points for New Orleans, which has lost four of its last five games. At 9-29, the injurydepleted Hornets have the worst record in the Western Conference.

Chris Kaman had 10 points and 11 rebounds.—AP

Al-Qanaei (third from left) with the Run Kuwait team after the event’s end

Runner thanks sponsors for making Run Kuwait a success KUWAIT: Kuwaiti runner Yousuf Faisal AlQanaei released a press release yesterday to express gratitude to every person and enterprise that helped make the Run Kuwait campaign held during national celebrations a success.

Al-Qanaei led a team that includes runners Mohammad Al-Muttar, Jaafar Al-Ali, Hanaan Al-Awadhi, Faisal AlNaqeeb and Christian Krita who ran for 240 kilometers from Kuwait’s northern border to the country’s southern border on Feb 25-26.

After first thanking his colleagues, AlQanaei expressed gratitude to official sponsors of Run Kuwait, including Burgan Bank, Al-Wataniya Telecom, as

well as Ali Abdulwahab and Sons Co., the official sponsor of Nike Store in Kuwait, Yaqoub Behbehani Co., the official sponsor of Luminox in Kuwait, as well as the Australian College in Kuwait.

Moreover, Al-Qanaei send special gratitude to the Ministry of Interior for securing the trip, as well as the Ministry of Information for Kuwait TV’s coverage for the event. He also thanked Al-Watan TV for their coverage as well.

In the end, Al-Qanaei announced that his Aymstrong company plans to hold the event next year, adding that companies who wish to sponsor the 2013 Run Kuwait can start contacting the company from now.

English FA considers at least 3 for coach’s job LONDON: At least three managers are on the England shortlist and the Football Association could appoint Fabio Capello’s successor as soon as next month, without conducting a job interview.

Tottenham manager Harr y Redknapp is the leading contender to lead England into the European Championship in June, but the FA is now willing to allow its new coach to start after the tournament if that is a deal-breaker.

The FA seemed to be publicly embarrassed during its search for new coaches in 2006 and 2007 when both Luiz Felipe Scolari and Jose Mourinho respectively rejected the job.

But before any official approach is made this time, the FA hopes to discover privately whether its preferred candidate wants the job. Inside knowledge from within the football community will be used to whittle down the shortlist, which includes at least three names and is not all-British.

“We are treating clubs and managers with the greatest of respect, we don’t want to disrupt the season of the clubs,” FA chairman David Bernstein said. “Most of the people we are looking at are in positions and whatever we do we ought to try and do it in a way which enables clubs to finish their season with the minimum of disruption.

“Our next step is to narrow that target list down to a very small number of key people who of course we believe actually want the position. There may be other people who don’t actually want this position.”

Bernstein leads a board of four FA

executives who will chose the coach and they have spoken to football experts and former players to gauge opinions.

Those talks have convinced Bernstein that England should be able to attract his first choice despite Chelsea now needing a new manager following the firing of Andre VillasBoas after eight months on Sunday.

“This position is so unique that the right person would want to do it on a sensible basis and for the right reasons,” Bernstein said, overlooking the Wembley Stadium pitch. “It is a very fluid situation, I am not sure if (other clubs searching for managers) helps or hinders. It depends on how the cards fall.”

When Capello was appointed at the end of 2007 to replace Steve McClaren he emerged from a four-man shortlist.

“We have now arrived at a number of target names, I would call it a flexible target list because it’s not absolutely fixed in stone and we will react to events depending how events unfold,” Bernstein said. “We would intend to deal with this at the back end of the season but it could be earlier, if certain things fell into place and the key appointment came, it could be earlier.”

If not, under-21 coach Stuart Pearce could remain in temporary charge of the senior team at Euro 2012 after overseeing last week’s 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in a friendly.

Capello quit last month after he felt he was undermined by Bernstein’s decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy due to the Chelsea defender’s pending racism trial. —AP

Italy aim to put Ireland debacle behind them

VIERZON: The pack rides in the 194 km and third stage of the 70th edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race run between Vierzon and Lac de Vassiviere. —AFP

In-form Valverde wins Paris-Nice third stage FRANCE: Spain’s Alejandro Valverde yesterday won the 194-kilometre (120-mile) third stage of the Paris-Nice race as Britain’s Bradley Wiggins kept the leader’s yellow jersey.

Valverde, 31 and who is fresh from winning the Tour of Andalusia, edged out Australia’s Simon Gerrans and Gianni Meersman from Belgium in a final sprint after a day’s racing in bracing temperatures. The Movistar rider’s Spanish compatriot Luis Leon Sanchez took fourth place ahead of Xavier Florencio.

A three -man break-away comprising Denmark’s Michael Morkov, Dutch rider Roy Curvers and France’s Jimmy Engoulvent opened up the race from the first kilometre.

The trio led the chasing pack by nearly five minutes and were only caught in the final stages, with Engoulvent holding out until six kilometres from the finish.

Uzbekistan’s Sergey Lagutin then attacked with four kilometres to go but was caught in sight of the final kilometre marker, as Valverde’s team controlled the pursuit.

Valverde, back in the peloton after serving a two-year doping ban, clawed back 10 seconds on Wiggins through bonus points and is now 20 seconds behind the Briton in the overall classification.

“Am I surprised to win after my suspension? Yes and no,” said Valverde, who was winning for the fourth time this season having opened his account at the Tour Down Under in Australia where he also beat Gerrans to the finish line. “ The important thing is to be in the required physical shape.” Labelling Paris-Nice, the first major stage race of the season, as a “very important” race, Valverde admitted he

hopes to challenge Wiggins for overall victory leading up to the finale on Sunday.

“I’m still well up in the general classification, so I’m happy. Yesterday (Monday) we had a good day and again today,” added Valverde.

Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck was forced to abandon the race on Tuesday morning after a bout of acute gastro-enteritis, his Radioshack team announced.

RadioShack sports director Alain Gallopin meanwhile admitted: “The outcome of this stage was plain to see before the finish.

“Everybody knew Sky would keep a tight rein on the breakaway and that Movistar would work hard to set up the win for Valverde. He’s unbeatable on this kind of finish.” Today, the fourth stage takes the riders on a 178-kilometre route from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Rodez. —AFP

ROME: Italy are hoping to put in a much improved performance in Cardiff this weekend as they face Six Nations favorites Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

A second half collapse in Dublin 10 days ago saw the Azzurri slump to a 4210 defeat as the men in green reeled off 25 unanswered points after the break.

That ensured Italy come into the match against the Six Nations leaders in their customary spot at the bottom of the table.

But hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini says they will be playing to restore their pride against the Welsh.

“We have a great desire to make up for (the Ireland performance) and luckily we have another match to turn things around,” he said.

“It’s a chance to take the work we’ve been doing in this Six Nations and get back our pride because in the last 20 minutes (against Ireland) we lost a bit of intensity and pride.

“We need to get that back in a very tough match against a Wales team who like to play and are confident in their ability.

“We’ll try to do everything to put them in difficulty and play our game.”

Ghiraldini recognises, however, that Italy will have their work cut out containing Wales’s vibrant three-quarter line.

“They’ve got great backs, they use their centres a lot, who are fast, strong and tall, as are their wingers. “We’ve seen

them in the videos, they’re a team who like to play with these players and they always do well one-on-one.

“They’re patient, they don’t move forward too quickly, they patiently go through many phases. “We’ll have to be careful and aggressive, we must push up high in defence, tackle and win back the ball.”

Although on paper this match should be a home banker, Ghiraldini doesn’t see it that way and believes his team can cause the favourites problems.

And he says that there is nothing new for Italy to be seen as the underdogs.

“We’ve been used for some time to playing against teams that are ahead of us in the world rankings, whether in the Six Nations or in the June and November tests,” he said.

“For the last few years we’ve always had tough matches but our aim is always to impose our game throughout the match.

“And never leave our opposition the possibility to gather themselves, to never lower our tempo or aggressiveness.

“We’ll go to Wales convinced we have a great team and can do ourselves justice. “ We played a great game against England (a 19-15 loss) and also in France (where they lost 30-12).

“Now we need to add to the good things we’ve done with some new ones and face Wales head on. “It’s a great challenge in a great stadium, one of the most beautiful in the world.” —AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

S P ORT S

Brazil says Blatter apologized over Valcke remarks SAO PAULO: FIFA President Sepp Blatter has apologized for remarks made by Secretary General Jerome Valcke about Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup, the country’s government said yesterday. Blatter apologized in a letter to the government on Monday, a day after Valcke sent his own apology.

The government officially informed FIFA that it would no longer deal with Valcke after he said: “You have to push yourself, kick your (backside)” to speed up the country’s preparations.

It remained unclear whether the government would accept the apologies and change its position regarding Valcke. The government says Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo would first answer the letters from FIFA officials before mak-

ing his decision public. Without directly mentioning Valcke’s remarks in his letter released by the sports ministr y, in Portuguese, Blatter expressed his “deepest regret” about the situation.

“I’m extremely worried about the deterioration of the relationship between FIFA and the Brazilian government,” he said. “My only comment regarding this subject is to apologize to everyone who may have had their honor and their pride hurt, especially the Brazilian government and President Dilma Rousseff.”

Blatter said Brazil and FIFA have “a goal in common” and must “work together” to organize an “extraordinary World Cup in the country of football, in the country of champions.”

He said that Brazil deserves to host the World Cup which everyone is anxiously awaiting, but warned that “time is passing by” since the country was picked to host football’s showcase event in 2007.

“We shouldn’t let conflicts make us lose time,” he said. “Instead, let’s work together to build something bigger, as promised by (former) President (Luiz Inacio) Lula (da Silva) during his term.”

Blatter, who is in Bangladesh to discuss football with national federation officials, said he hopes to be able to meet with Rousseff next week in Brazil.

Blatter’s apology came as congressmen gathered in Brasilia to vote on a key World Cup bill, which would give FIFA the necessary legal and financial guaran-

tees to organize the event. Delays by the Brazilian Congress to approve the bill was one of the reasons that caused Valcke to complain about the delays in the country’s preparations.

Many congressmen attacked Valcke this week for his comments, and resistance by those against the bill was expected to increase had FIFA not apologized.

Among the issues under consideration by lawmakers is the sale of alcoholic beverages inside stadiums, something that currently is against the law in Brazil but which FIFA supports because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.

Other matters include discounted tickets to students and the elderly, possible trademark infringements, commer-

cial rights and liability for security problems. When Brazil was picked to host the World Cup, the nation accepted FIFA’s demands to make changes to its laws to facilitate the tournament’s organization.

But the proposed bill has been contentious, with critics saying Brazilians shouldn’t bow to FIFA’s demands.

Voting on the bill has been delayed several times, but the government expects it to be approved by the congressional commission. Then it will go to the lower house and the senate before reaching Rousseff.

FIFA wanted the bill to take effect by the end of March, so the country could quickly get on with its preparations for the World Cup and next year ’s Confederations Cup.—AP

Leverkusen face uphill task against Barcelona

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Al-Qadseya player Abdulazeez Al-Meshaan (left) fights for the ball with Oman’s Al-Suwaiq player Ahmad Nasser during their AFC Cup football match at Al-Qadseya stadium yesterday. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Pohang Steelers open with 3-0 win at Gamba OSAKA: Three-time continental champion Pohang Steelers opened the 2012 Asian Champions League group stage with a convincing 3-0 away win over 2008 winners Gamba Osaka yesterday.

Kim Tae-su opened the scoring with a 19th-minute header in the Group E match and Zoran Rendulic made it 2-0 for the powerful South Korean club three minutes later when goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya’s attempted clearance hit the Serbian defender and deflected into goal. Veteran Ghana forward Derek Asamoah put the result beyond doubt for Pohang in the 79th minute.

Pohang, Asian club champions in 1997, ‘98 and 2009, had to come through a qualifying playoff win over Chonburi of Thailand to reach the group stage, while Gamba qualified automatically by placing third in the J-League.

“We played so badly tonight that I want to apologize to the fans,” said Jose Carlos Serrao, the Brazilian who has replaced Akira Nishino as Gamba coach. “We had two chances before our opponents took the lead but could not take them. We have a lot to work on if we want to advance

past the group stage.” In Group F, FC Tokyo won 2-0 away at Brisbane and Ulsan held off Beijing Guoan 2-1 at home.

It was a disappointing debut for reigning A-League champion Brisbane Roar, which fell behind Japanese Emperors Cup holder FC Tokyo seconds before halftime when Tatsuya Yazawa scored from Yuhei Tokunaga perfect cross from the right.

Ariajasuru Hasegawa made it 2-0 in the 55th when he knocked in the rebound after Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos parried a shot from Nahya Naotake in wet and slippery conditions at Suncorp Stadium.

At Ulsan, Kim Shin-wook and Ko Seul-ki gave the Korean club a 2-0 halftime lead with goals in the 25th and 35th minutes.

Cheng Piao pulled one back for Beijing in the 51st but the Chinese club was unable to find an equalizer in the last 40 minutes.

The opening night of the tournament featured eight matches across groups A, B, E and F. Action in groups C, D, G and H will star t late yesterday. The top two teams in each of the eight groups advance to a knockout round of 16 on May 29 and 30.—AP

Spurs aim to stop rot in FA Cup LONDON: Ledley King has demanded an end to Tottenham’s defensive problems ahead of today’s FA Cup fifth round replay with Stevenage.

Harry Redknapp’s side have shipped eight goals in their least two Premier League games-defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United that have dented Spurs’ bid to finish in the top three.

The Spurs manager claimed individual errors were responsible for all three of United’s goals in Sunday’s defeat, and centre-back King agrees that performances have not been up to scratch.

A repeat of those mistakes against League One Stevenage at White Hart Lane could spell embarrassment for Redknapp’s team and deny the club the chance to face top-flight strugglers Bolton Wanderers in the sixth round.

King made it clear there must be an immediate improvement if Tottenham are to maintain the progress they have made so far this season.

The defender said: “You’re not going to beat teams like United if you’re not concentrating and it was a bit of a lesson.

“You can’t fault the work rate and we gave a good account of ourselves for the majority of the game but if you fall asleep at vital moments, you get punished.

“To allow them a free header in the sixyard box on the brink of half-time was disappointing. It shouldn’t be happening.

“We lifted ourselves but we went to sleep on a throw-in for the second goal.”

Stevenage drew praise for their efforts in holding Spurs to a scoreless draw in the first leg.

With a weekend trip to follow the midweek cup clash, King knows there will be no easy games between now and the end of the season.

He added: “There are tough games all the time because there are teams in the league now that are fighting for the league,

fighting for European qualification and fighting against relegation.

“It will be a dogfight until the end. Every team wants to pick up points and we’re the same. We want to try to finish the season on a positive note. “We’ve got a chance to get through to the next round of the FA Cup this week. “We have to pick ourselves up during this week, be ready for that and keep going.”

Tottenham’s recent dip in form has not gone unnoticed by Stevenage, who currently sit in seventh spot in League One, one place outside the play-off zone.

Skipper Mark Hudson said: “We have got to capitalise on that. It has not been a great series of results for them and we have to back ourselves.

“We have to think we can go there and win the game because if we don’t we will come unstuck. “There is plenty of belief in this dressing room. It’s a big game for everyone and especially for me as I’ll be leading the team out at White Hart Lane.”

He added: “It might seem strange but there was an air of disappointment in the dressing room after the first game.

“Everyone was saying ‘well done’ and patting us on the back but that felt strange because we had only drawn the game.

There were mixed emotions to be honest.”

Striker Craig Reid warned Spurs will be making a big mistake if they underestimate their opponents, despite playing on home soil.

Reid said: “If that’s what they want to do then let them do it. We’ve beaten some big teams like Reading and Newcastle, and drawing with (Spurs) the first time just shows we can mix it with them and Wednesday will be another big test for us.

“It’s a great achievement by the club.

We’ve been used to a lot of success, especially against bigger clubs, and hopefully today will just be another stepping stone and another story to tell.”—AFP

MADRID: Bayer Leverkusen face what looks to be the near-impossible task of putting three goals past Barcelona at the Nou Camp today and to do so they will need to dethrone the undisputed passing kings of Europe.

Holders Barca, who won last month’s Champions League last16 first leg in Leverkusen 3-1, have conceded just five goals in 13 home La Liga games this season and let in only two at the Nou Camp in their three group matches in Europe’s elite competition.

A big reason opponents find it so difficult to score against Pep Guardiola’s side is that they rarely go a game without having the ball for at least 70 percent of the time, their mesmerising passing game grinding teams into submission.

In Europe’s top five leagues, Barca playmaker Xavi has completed by far the most passes in the opponents’ half this season with 1,553, Barca’s website (www.fcbarcelona.com) said.

Their World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Champions League top scorer this term with seven goals, is second with 1,351 passes while fullback Daniel Alves is fourth on 1,215 - sandwiched between Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso with 1,271 and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta on 1,207. “ The fact that it is a tough prospect is clear to all of us but it’s not over until it’s over, as the saying goes, and we’ll wait and see what happens,” Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling said in an interview on the club’s website (www.bayer04.de). “We want to go there and do ourselves justice and look for our chances.”

SPAIN: Barcelona’s players take part in a training session at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League football match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen.—AFP

The size of the task that faces the Germans is underlined by the fact that Barca are unbeaten in 13 European home matches since October 2009, with 11 wins and two draws, while Leverkusen are without an away victory in the competition in a decade.

However, they could not have wished for a better dress rehearsal for the trip to the Catalan capital after Kiessling scored in a 2-0 win against Bayern Munich on Saturday - their third straight league success.

Barca, missing the suspended Messi, had Gerard Pique sent off just after halftime at home to La Liga strugglers Sporting Gijon on Saturday but managed to grind out a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Andres Iniesta, Seydou Keita and Xavi.

“To win against Bayern is special,” Leverkusen coach Robin

Dutt said. “If we continue playing like we have done in the past few weeks then the results will come.

“Of course it’s going to be tough to win 3-0 in Barcelona but I don’t think it makes any sense to think about that.

“First of all we have to play a good game, there will be 4,000 fans coming with us to Barcelona and whether we get through or not we owe it to them to play well.” Dutt used two strikers against Bayern, switching to a 44-2 formation in the second half when they scored both goals.

Switzerland for ward Eren Derdiyok has recovered from an injury picked up on international duty last week and even made a substitute appearance against the Bavarians.

Barca will be without Alexis Sanchez, who scored twice in the first leg, after the Chile forward

damaged an adductor muscle in the Gijon game and will be sidelined for between 10 and 15 days.

Fullback Eric Abidal picked up a groin injury while on international duty with France last week and is also out.

Probable teams: Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2Daniel Alves, 14-Javier Mascherano, 3-Gerard Pique, 21Adriano; 6-Xavi, 16-Sergio Busquets, 8-Andres Iniesta; 4Cesc Fabregas, 10-Lionel Messi, 17-Pedro.

Leverkusen: 23-Bernd Leno; 2-Daniel Schwaab, 5-Manuel Friedrich, 21-Omer Toprak, 24Michal Kadlec; 8-Lars Bender, 3Stefan Reinar tz, 27- Gonzalo Castro, 10-Renato Augusto, 9Andre S chuerrle; 11-Stefan Kiessling. —Reuters

APOEL primed to test Lyon NICOSIA: The GSP stadium is set to be rocked to its foundations by 20,000 frenzied APOEL Nicosia fans yesterday when the Cypriot side bid to extend their Champions League dream beyond the last 16 by overturning a 1-0 firstleg defeat by Olympique Lyon.

Unfancied APOEL caused the surprise of the group stage by topping a quartet also featuring Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit St Petersburg and the club’s expectant fans believe a team made up mainly of Brazilian and Portuguese journeymen can cause a Cypriot sporting stir only previously achieved by tennis player Marcos Baghdatis.

“This is what the Greek spirit can do when it’s healthy,” supporter Stefan Menelaou said.

“For me personally, it is pride and satisfaction that the Greek spirit still lives even in a team full of Brazilians, Portuguese and god knows how many different nationalities.”

Lyon laboured to a first-leg victory in France with a second-half goal from Alexandre Lacazette and APOEL were strong at home in the group stage, beating both Porto and Zenit.

“It is something unprecedented for fans, not only those of APOEL,” another fan, Panayiotis Hadjiapostolou, added. “Cypriot fans have never experienced such a thing before.” For the first time in some weeks, coach Ivan Jovanovic has a fully fit squad at his disposal and spirits are high after two league wins revived title hopes for APOEL who sit third in their domestic championship.

“We will face Olympique with our morale high. We will get our chances and we are going to chase them until the end,” said Serb Jovanovic.

Lyon geared up for the return leg in the worst possible way, losing 2-0 at strugglers Nancy in Ligue 1 as their hopes of playing in the Champions League next season took another blow on Saturday.

It was Lyon’s third defeat in their last four league games. “It’s a big disappointment but ... we need to get back on track mentally and not listen to all the negative comments,” Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told reporters.

“But the team usually play well in decisive matches.” Lyon will be without playmaker

NICOSIA: Olympique Lyonnais players attend a training session at GSP Staduim on the eve of Champions League football match against Apoel Nicosia.—AFP

Yoann Gourcuff, who has been ruled out with a groin injury but has barely been playing lately after his form nosedived this season.

Coach Remi Garde, however, is expect to welcome back centre back Dejan Lovren, although the Croat is unlikely to start the game.

Probable teams: APOEL Nicosia: 22-Dionysis Chiotis; 7Savvas Poursaitides, 98-William Boaventura, 3Paulo Jorge, 6-Marcello Oliveria, 31-Helder Sousa; 26-Nuno Morais, 10-Constantinos Charalambidis, 21-Gustavo Manduca, 81Marcinhio; 11-Ivan Trickovski .

Olympique Lyon: 1-Hugo Lloris; 13Anthony Reveillere, 3-Cris, 4-Bakary Kone, 20Aly Cissokho; 21-Maxime Gonalons, 6-Kim Kallstrom, 11-Michel Bastos, 19-Jimmy Briand;

18-Bafetimbi Gomis, 9-Lisandro Lopez (Reporting By Lakis Avraamides and Julien Pretot; Editing by Justin Palmer and Sonia Oxley). —Reuters

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

UEFA Champions League Barcelona v Leverkusen Aljazeera Sport +3 Aljazeera Sport +4

22:45

Apoel v France Aljazeera Sport +5

22:45

Leverkusen face uphill task against Barcelona

Prince Harry runs with Bolt in Jamaica

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Djokovic, Wozniacki to defend Indian Wells crowns Page 17

LONDON: Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) competes with AC Milan’s Robinho during the second leg of their last-16 Champions League soccer match at Emirates Stadium. — AP

Milan stave off brave Arsenal LONDON: AC Milan advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League yesterday after Arsenal fell agonisingly short of a remarkable comeback despite an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Italian champions.

Arsenal had been left needing to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in European history after suffering a 4-0 first leg thrashing against the Serie A leaders in the San Siro last month.

But first-half goals from Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and captain Robin van Persie fired the Premier League side into an improbable 3-0 lead which left the Emirates Stadium daring to dream that a miracle was on the cards.

However Milan regrouped well after the break and Arsenal were unable to find the fourth goal that would have levelled the tie on aggregate, leaving the Premier League side to reflect on what might

have been. Arsenal had needed to make an early breakthrough to give their hopes of a miracle some momentum and they duly scored the goal they craved after only seven minutes to send the Emirates into raptures. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain swung in an inviting corner from the left, and as the jittery Milan defence appeared to be preoccupied with the position of van Persie, Koscielny popped up unmarked to head home.

The goal infused Arsenal with belief and within minutes they were sweeping forward hungrily once more. Theo Walcott surged down the right flank and fed van Persie, whose shot from a tight angle was well saved by Christian Abbiati.

Arsenal’s relentless pressing and constant harrying prevented Milan from settling into any kind of rhythm. Occasionally the home side fell foul of refer-

ee Damir Skomina, the Slovenian official showing yellow cards to Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs for fouls on Mark van Bommel and Stephan El Shaarawy respectively. Yet Arsenal remained firmly in control and van Persie drew another good save from Abbiati with a vicious curling shot that was destined for the top corner.

On 26 minutes the second goal that Arsenal had been threatening arrived when Walcott burst down the right and crossed low for van Persie.

Thiago Silva intercepted but his weak clearance found Rosicky on the edge of the area and the Czech midfielder took his time and placed his shot low past Abbiati.

Shellshocked, Milan desperately tried to steady the ship with half-time looming. But just when it looked like they had weathered the storm, Arsenal

made it 3-0 two minutes before the break.

Oxlade-Chamberlain popped up on the right flank and powered into the AC Milan penalty area.

The youngster’s pace took him through the gap presented by Antonio Nocerino and Djamel Mesbah and when the Milanese duo sandwiched the winger, Skomina looked long and hard before pointing to the spot. Van Persie stepped up to do the honours and put Arsenal within one goal of a quite sensational comeback.

But Milan returned from the break a far more organised unit, pressing Arsenal with a vigour that had been totally absent in the opening 45 minutes.

Arsenal’s best attempt to drag the tie back to 4-4 came on 59 minutes, when Gervinho raced clear down the left.

The Ivorian’s low shot took a deflection off

Benfica cruise past Zenit LISBON: Two injury-time goals courtesy of Maxi Pereira and Nelson Oliveira secured Benfica’s passage to the Champions League quarter-finals yesterday with a convincing 2-0 win over Zenit Saint-Petersburg.

Jorge Jesus’s side had succumbed 3-2 in Russia in the first leg of the knockout phase after Roman Shirokov stunned the Portuguese by scoring the second of a brace of goals in the 88th minute.

Goals from Pereira, in first-half injury time, and Oliveira, at the tail end, capped a solid performance at the Stadium of Light and sent Benfica into the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2006.

Benfica made their intentions clear from the outset, keeping visiting goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev on his toes throughout a lively first half which ended with the hosts 1-0 ahead.

Malafeev, returning for Zenit following a calf injury problem, had earlier thwarted efforts from Bruno Cesar and Pereira while Benfica keeper Artur did well to scramble away a shot by Shirokov.

However the Russian was powerless to stop Pereira when the Uruguayan defender fired home from Axel Witsel’s smart backheeler after the Belgian had picked up his own rebound from an alert Malafeev.

Benfica almost pulled ahead moments later when Oscar Cardozo narrowly missed heading home past a flailing Malafeev, the ball going just wide of the post.

Zenit came out fired up for the second half but despite beginning to show more purpose, the Russians could only watch as efforts by Jardel, with a free header that went wide of the post, then Cardozo were thwarted.

Cardozo, who with 16 league goals is joint

LISBON: Zenit St Petersburg’s Igor Denisov (left) and Sergei Semak challenge Benfica’s Rodrigo Moreno (right) from Spain during their Champions League round of 16, 2nd leg, soccer match. — AP

top scorer in Portugal this season, had reason more than most to feel aggrieved.

He missed another inviting chance in the 70th minute after holding off Nicolas Lombaerts, only succeeding in firing the ball beyond the far post with Malafeev beaten.

Five minutes later Malafeev parried a shot by Cardozo after a neat set-up by Cesar.

Late chances by Jardel and Oliveira also

went begging, while Viktor Fayzulin spurned a chance for a dramatic late equaliser when he sent his shot wide of the post in injury time.

Moments later Oliveira sealed the win when, after a swift counter from Cesar, he cushioned the pressure from Tomaz Hubocan to bundle the ball past Malafeev from close range. — AFP

Philippe Mexes and struck Abbiati’s leg, but the ball bounced only as far as van Persie.

For once though the Dutchman’s killer touch deserted him, and instead of opting for power he attempted to lift the rebound over the Milan keeper who was able to save.

At the other end, Arsenal lived dangerously, and were fortunate not to concede when Wojciech Szczesny’s slack clearance fell to Ibrahimovic, whose shot from distance flew just wide.

Szczesny was to save Arsenal twice in quick succession in the final 15 minutes as the home side poured forward for a goal, blocking Ibrahimovic’s low shot and then saving from Nocerino from pointblank range. Yet time ran out for the Gunners and Milan were through. — AFP

Chelsea start life after Villas-Boas with victory BIRMINGHAM: Chelsea secured their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win away to Birmingham City yesterday as the Blues played their first match since the sacking of manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Two goals in six second-half minutes by Juan Mata and Raul Meireles ensured Roberto di Matteo, who helped Chelsea land five trophies in six years as a player, got his reign as caretaker manager of the west London club off to a winning start.

Chelsea, who started with midfielder Frank Lampard and striker Didier Drogba on the substitutes’ bench, were sluggish in the first half before booking a last-eight tie at home to another Championship club in Leicester on March 18.

Di Matteo received a warm reception from Chelsea’s supporters. But the travelling fans at St Andrew’s made it clear whom they wanted to take permanent charge when they chanted the name of former manager Jose Mourinho during a fifth round replay caused by a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Former Italy midfielder di Matteo kept senior players Lampard and Drogba out of his starting side, with the pair on the bench alongside regular captain John Terry, who has been out since January with a knee injury.

There were five changes in all to the Chelsea side that lost 1-0 at West Brom three days earlier in Portuguese boss Villas-Boas’s final game in charge.

The di Matteo era almost got off to a dream start when Mata found himself in space inside the Birmingham penalty area in the second minute.

But instead of squaring the ball to Salomon Kalou for an easy tap-in, the Spaniard went for glory only for keeper Colin Doyle to make the save.

Birmingham lost striker Nikola Zigic for four minutes while the Serb received stitches after an accidental boot to the head from David Luiz.

Yet at times it was difficult to work out which team was from the second-tier as Chelsea struggled to hurt their opponents.

Their first-half display was summed up when Ramires burst into the Birmingham penalty area but, under pressure, the Brazilian fired his shot wide.

Birmingham, who had already claimed one top-flight FA Cup scalp in the shape of Wolves, grew more confident as the tie wore on.

Former Valencia player Zigic, recovered from his head knock, forced Petr Cech into a stunning one-handed save five minutes before the break.

Then, in the dying moments of the first half, Chelsea’s Fernando Torres spurned a great chance to fire his side ahead when he screwed his shot horribly wide from 16-yards.

It was left to Torres’s fellow Spaniard Mata to make the all-important breakthrough as Chelsea killed off Birmingham with two quick goals.

A 54th minute cross by Ramires caused major problems in the home defence and, after Kalou had an effort blocked, Mata prodded the loose ball over the line.

That may have been a scrappy goal but Meireles’s 60th minute effort was good enough to grace an FA Cup final-let alone a fifth round replay.

The Portuguese gave Doyle no chance with a 25-yard strike after more good work by Ramires.

Chelsea could even afford to miss a 69th minute penalty after Torres was brought down

by Guirane N’Daw, Doyle doing well to keep out Mata’s effort. — AFP

Dubai’s flying shoppers could ease debt burden Page 22

Automakers put snarl in small car design Page 23 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Vale hits full capacity in Oman

KSE stocks eke out gains after CMA appointments Page 24

Page 25

GENEVA: A Lamborghini Aventador J is displayed as it makes its World premiere at the Italian car maker’s booth yesterday during a press day ahead of the 82nd Geneva Car Show in Geneva. Some 700 carmakers hold a press preview of their newest batch of automobiles at the Geneva Motor Show, which opens to the public from tomorrow to March 18. — AFP (See Page 23)

Euro-zone slump points to recession Spending, exports and industry slid in fourth quarter BRUSSELS: A collapse in household spending, exports and manufacturing sucked the life out of the euro-zone’s economy in the final months of 2011, the EU said yesterday, showing the scope of the downturn that looks set to become a fully fledged recession.

Output in the 17 countries sharing the euro shrank 0.3 percent in October to December from the third quarter, the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said, confirming its estimate of last month and giving a more detailed breakdown.

The European Commission forecasts a recession of the same magnitude this year.

That would be the euro zone’s second contraction in just three years as the bloc’s debt crisis drags on a region that generates around 16 percent of the world’s economic output. Many economists expect an improvement in the second half of 2012, assuming euro zone leaders can agree a big enough financial firewall that could res-

cue indebted states. The EU’s top economic official, Olli Rehn, said yesterday he expected “a turning of the tide.”

But that is little comfort to households, whose spending accounts for more than half of euro-zone output. Suffering from stubborn inflation, government cuts and rising unemployment, households reduced their spending by 0.4 percent in the final months of the year, despite the Christmas period. “Households will remain under pressure and we don’t expect any improvement because fiscal consolidation will deepen and inflation, while falling, remains quite sticky,” said Mario Valli, chief euro zone economist at Unicredit. EU leaders signed a pact last week in Brussels to lock austerity into national budgets, signaling more cuts and more pain for European households as Germany leads a drive to reduce debt levels to regain investors’ confidence.

Many euro zone nations, including

Saudi must diversify oil industry: Naimi JUBAIL: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia must reduce its reliance on crude sales revenues and develop its downstream industry to shield its economy from international market volatility, the kingdom’s oil minister said yesterday.

“Oil, as we all know, is volatile in terms of prices and production rates,” Ali Al-Naimi told a downstream oil industry conference in Saudi Arabia. Naimi pointed to a sharp drop in crude prices from over $147 per barrel in July 2008 to nearly $35 a barrel a few months later and an accompanying fall in Saudi output from 9.5 million to 8.0 million barrels per day.

“In light of such unpredictable fluctuations, it is not appropriate to depend on the production and export of oil as a basis for national income and sustainable economic development,” he said.

Naimi said the kingdom produced many raw materials and petrochemicals but still did not invest enough in manufacturing finished products to generate jobs for Saudi youth.

“Raw, or half-manufactured materials are exported to the outside world then re-imported back into the Kingdom as finished products, thus depriving the country, the citizen and the national economy as a whole of a lot of important investment opportunities which have the potential to create new jobs,” he said.

Development of the Saudi petrochemical sector is a vital part of the government’s strategy to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on crude export revenues, he said.

“Petrochemical industries have a major and important responsibility in this respect, to support and incentivize their related conversion industries,” he said in Jubail, where Saudi Aramco is building a petrochemical complex with US-based Dow Chemical. — Reuters

Belgium and Spain, are being pressured by the Commission to find billions of euros of savings to meet fiscal targets even as their economies contract.

The battle between austerity and growth was already evident in the fourth quarter. Euro-zone government expenditure fell 0.2 percent, while industry contracted 2 percent and imports were down 1.2 percent, making for some of the worst readings since the world was dragged into the 2008/2009 financial crisis.

Business surveys from this year suggest there will be no repeat of the biggest economic downturn since the 1930s, and there are tentative signs of stabilization. The European Central Bank’s offer of a trillion euros in medium-term lending to banks and the EU’s fiscal pact have brought Italian and Spanish bond yields to manageable levels. ECB President Mario Draghi is expected to keep interest rates on hold at the bank’s monthly meeting on Thursday,

probably judging that the weak economy is offsetting concerns about high oil prices and inflation.

Draghi said last week in Brussels that he was “reassured” by the euro-zone’s commitment to fiscal discipline and reforms, although he said the economy remains fragile. That fragility is most evident in the contrasting fates of debt-stricken Greece and efficient, export-driven Germany, a gap EU leaders at last week’s summit appeared unable to resolve in the short term. Greece is likely to endure another year of recession in 2012 and probably will not return to growth until 2014, while Germany and France, the euro-zone’s biggest economies, are seen escaping a contraction this year.

The growing divergence between the eurozone’s prosperous north and poorer south was clear in the last quarter of 2011, when Italy, the euro-zone’s third largest economy, saw output shrink 0.7 percent, while France expanded 0.2 percent. — Reuters

Jazeera Airways Group posts net profit of KD10.6m for FY 2011 KUWAIT: Jazeera Airways Group yesterday announced its financial results for full year 2011, reporting a record KD10.6 million in net profit for the year with an earnings per share of 0.048 fils, a record KD57.8 million in revenue for the year, up 36% from last year, and a record KD14.9 million in operating profit for the year.

The results reflect the success of the company ’s Turn-Around Plan implemented in second quarter 2010 and steered the company into continued profitability for the last six quarters, five of which had realized recordbreaking earnings.

The company also announced its fourth quarter 2011 results, reporting a net profit before tax of KD1.4 million and revenues of KD13.3 million.

Established in 2005, Jazeera Air ways Group is a Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed company with over 12,000 shareholders. The company has a fleet of 12 fully-owned Airbus A320s, evenly distributed between its airline business, Jazeera Airways, and its leasing-arm Sahaab Aircraft Leasing.

Sahaab has assets placed with Virgin America, Sri Lank a Airlines, and Jazeera Airways.

Jazeera Airways Group Chairman Marwan Boodai said, “The year 2011 was a record-breaking year despite the continued over capacity, the impact of political unrest on travel within our network, and an increasing fuel cost.

Jazeera Airways today has a solid network, increasing load factors, reduced

cost, and high aircraft utilization, in addition the aircraft leasing arm has assets deployed across the globe, from the US to the Middle East to Asia.

Jazeera Airways Group today has a sustainable business model that has gen-

Jazeera Airways Group Chairman Marwan Boodai erated sustainable profitability quarteron-quarter for six quarters in-a-row.”

2011 in review Speaking to investors and analysts in a webcast held today to announce FY2011 results, Boodai gave an

overview of the company’s focus areas and milestones in 2011. He said, “We had three priorities in 2011. First, building on the momentum of recordbreaking returns seen in Q3 and Q4 2010.Second, successfully mitigating the impact of the political unrest on the business. And third, capturing a strong market share on the CairoKuwait route that was launched in May 2011.”

Boodai said, “2011 was a challenging year but a record-breaking year as well for Jazeera Airways. Our priorities for 2012 are to grow load factor while maintaining high yields and we believe we will be able to achieve this goal because we have the right network with the right capacity, the right product for our market, and a tried and tested team that has successfully navigated the company through the last two years with flying colors.”

2012 Outlook The company’s outlook for 2012 continues to be positive in-line with a growing Kuwaiti economy, which continues to witness higher incomes despite international and regional economic pressures. Boodai said, “ The year 2011 witnessed varying external challenges, from multiple revolutions taking place in our network to fuel price hikes at both ends of the year, despite that 2011 was a record-breaking year for us. As the region returns to calm we look forward to the continuation of our strong performance.”

No plans to rate UAE, Dubai: Fitch LONDON: Ratings agencies have no plans to give the United Arab Emirates or Dubai a credit rating because their governments have not asked to be rated, and their lack of transparency would make a credit assessment difficult, a senior analyst at Fitch said yesterday.

There has been speculation in the past year that Dubai might seek a rating, to help with the placement of its international bonds, or that UAE might seek to issue a bond of its own.

Some investors’ mandates do not allow them to buy unrated bonds. “We don’t rate UAE or Dubai, they haven’t asked us or anyone else for a rating,” Richard Fox, head of Middle East and Africa sovereigns at Fitch, told a Fitch Middle East and North Africa briefing in London.

All three major ratings agencies do rate UAE member Abu Dhabi, however. Fitch and Standard & Poor’s rate Abu Dhabi AA while Moody’s rates it Aa2 and all three ratings have stable outlooks.

Ratings agencies can make unsolicited ratings but most are made at the request of a borrower, and those assessments require access to detailed financial information, Fox added.

“Official information (on Dubai and UAE) remains very weak, we’ve downgraded our coverage,” Fox said, adding that neither published detailed external debt or budget performance data.

Fox also said Libya has not yet requested a fresh rating, after Fitch withdrew its ratings last year as political unrest spread across the North African country. Fox said that political risk was an issue for many countries in the Gulf region and such concerns could cut their ratings levels by half a notch to a full notch.

“They have a weaker score compared with their peer group on World Bank governance indicators,” he said. Most countries in the region have investment grade ratings and stable outlooks from Fitch.

ISRAEL RISK Fox said any attack by Israel or the United States on Iran was likely to have negative implications for countries such as Bahrain and Qatar, which host US bases, as well as for Israel itself and for Lebanon, due to the country ’s pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement.

Expectations of such an attack are rising, according to Dublin-based online exchange Intrade.com, which puts the chances of an attack by the end of the third quarter at more than 40 percent. For Egypt, which has a BB- rating and negative outlook following two downgrades since the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak last year, Fox reiterated comments released late on Monday that falling reserves were a concern and it was important for the country to strike a deal with the International Monetary Fund. Fitch said Egypt’s rating was due for review by December, but the review was likely to be done before then, following presidential elections in May. — Reuters

22

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

business

Iraq sets deadline for Exxon on Kurdistan deals BAGHDAD: Iraq has set a deadline of the next few days for Exxon Mobil to explain its position on oil agreements signed with the autonomous Kurdish region, which the central government considers illegal, a government spokesman said yesterday.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced in November the signing of a deal for six exploration blocs with Exxon, the first major oil company to deal directly with the Kurds in northern Iraq. Iraq’s central government has said that deal could jeopardise Exxon’s contract to develop the supergiant West

Qurna-1 oil field in southern Iraq.

Officials say they are waiting for the US firm to reply.

“Exxon came to Baghdad last month and asked for more time to return with a reply on Kurdish deals and the government decided to give them a final deadline,” said Faisal Abdullah, a spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain Al-Shahristani.

“The government is waiting for Exxon’s answers to decide its final position towards the company and its deals with Kurdistan. The deadline expires in the coming few days,” Abdullah said.

Exxon Mobil late last month disclosed its plans to explore for oil in Iraq’s Kurdistan in the company’s annual report, breaking months of silence over the investment that has outraged Baghdad.

The KRG said the production-sharing contract with Exxon was signed on Oct. 18, 2011.

The Iraqi government wants Exxon to make it clear whether it will proceed with the Kurdish deals or freeze or cancel them. Exxon’s move into Kurdistan has drawn attention to tensions between Baghdad’s Arab-dominated

central government over who has the authority to develop oilfields in the Kurdish zone. The central government gives the Kurdish authorities 17 percent of federal oil revenue and insists on a monopoly on exports.

Shahristani, architect of recent Iraqi oil deals and a strong opponent of Kurdish energy autonomy, said last month Exxon could be blocked from participating in a bidding round for exploration deals in May because of its Kurdish deal.

Iraq’s oil and gas field have suffered from decades of neglect because of war

Dubai’s flying shoppers could ease debt burden

Saudi Telecom eyes tie-up for domestic market DOHA: Saudi Telecom Co is keen to take on a partner willing to offer services over its wireless network, an executive at the former state telecoms monopoly said yesterday.

The local regulator, the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), has already indicated that it is willing to issue three licenses in 2012 to mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), which lease excess network capacity from telecoms operators in order to provide their own branded, customized mobile services.

When asked whether Saudi Telecom would like to have an MVNO partner, Saad Al-Qahtani, group chief executive for strategic operations, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Doha: “We would love to have (one).”

MVNO partnerships are common in Europe and the United States. In the Gulf, only Oman has issued MVNO licenses, with other governments seemingly keen to protect existing operators.

Qahtani also predicted termination fees - effectively the minimum local call charge - would be cut, having stayed unchanged for about four years.

“Termination fees are going to decline,” said Qahtani. “There is a

Flashy emirates seeks to raise $500m through bonds DUBAI: Dubai is relying on what it does best to help solve its debt woes: shopping. After successfully borrowing against road toll receipts last year, the flashy emirate now wants to raise at least $500 million by issuing bonds secured against future revenue from its giant airport retailer, Dubai Duty Free. Securitization is often seen as the last refuge of the cash-strapped, and is nascent in the Middle East. But as Western banks withdraw, it’s looking increasingly attractive.

In an ideal world, Dubai would stick to vanilla financing as it rebuilds credibility in financial markets. But with bank credit scarce, alternatives like Islamic bonds and securitization are coming into focus. There was plenty of appetite for the $800 million securitization of Dubai’s toll road receipts last year.

Attempting to copy the trick with Dubai Duty Free should reassure investors that the emirate is willing to put its good assets to work to manage its still-huge debts. Dubai’s core state companies owe an estimated $34 billion, according to Moody’s, with roughly $4 billion due to mature this year. Proceeds from a Dubai Duty Free securitization would help ease the pain.

The retailer-which is the biggest single airport-based operation in the world, bigger than Singapore and New York’s JFK-seems immune to its host’s woes. Revenue rose by almost 16 percent to $1.5 billion last year. And growth is set to continue. The number of passengers passing through Dubai International Airport has more than doubled in six years to 51 million in 2011,

and is expected to hit to 98.5 million by 2020.

The current 18,000 square metres of retail space will grow by 44 percent when a new concourse opens this year. In a region dominated by expatriates and where it can be difficult to buy alco-

hol, a pit stop in the scrum at duty free is a must for many.

On the surface, the risks to investors appear small. For Dubai, shopping could truly offer salvation. — Reuters

cent of revenue to the government on its 2011 profit, the firm said in February Du said the move resulted in a royalty payment of 715 million dirhams for the year, compared with 184 million dirhams for the year earlier period.

Rival Etisalat, which operates in 17 countries, usually pays 50 percent of its net profit in royalties, including money earned abroad.

Du said it added 278,100 net

net profit figure after royalty payments for the quarter.

Analysts polled by Reuters on average expected the firm to post a quarterly net profit of 270.7 million dirhams.

Du has proposed a dividend payment of 15 fils a share, its first payout to shareholders, the company said.

The UAE firm was instructed to pay a royalty of 15 percent on its 2011 net profit, plus a further 5 per-

plan with the regulator for the termination fees and we are working with them.”

The likely cut in termination fees comes after Saudi’s rival operators Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Zain Saudi became embroiled in a price war last year in what is already a highly saturated market.

Mobile penetration rates in the Gulf are among the highest in the world, with nearly two phones for each person in Saudi Arabia.

This war hurt domestic call margins and Qahtani said he hoped that the scramble for subscribers would not translate into unsustainable business models.

“If you look today at international (calls), it’s 15 halalas, it’s even cheaper than local calls,” said Qahtani. “It depends on the operators - I think they have to stop it. You cannot sell below cost.

“I’m very afraid about value erosion either in broadband or voice. We have to be mature enough to preserve value.” All this comes against the backdrop of income from data services outpacing voice services, a common trend in maturing mobile markets.

“Voice is declining every year,” said Qahtani. “My personal expectation is that within three years it will decline sharply.” — Reuters

ADNOC seeks gasoline due to refinery work

People crowd the Dubai Shopping Mall

UAE telecom du’s Q4 profit rises 15% DUBAI: UAE telecoms operator du yesterday reported a 15.4 percent rise in its fourth-quarter net profit before royalty payments, beating analysts’ estimates, as the telco added more subscribers during the quarter.

Du made a net profit before royalty of 497.4 million dirhams ($135.42 million), compared with a profit of 430.9 million dirhams in the same period a year ago, it said in a statement. It did not provide a

and economic sanctions. In the past three years it has done a raft of deals with foreign oil firms, and more deals are on offer that would make it the world’s biggest source of new oil production over the next several years.

However, Baghdad has offered feefor-service contracts rather than the production-sharing agreements which foreign firms consider more lucrative.

The Kurdish region has offered production-sharing deals to firms willing to do business directly with it, but before Exxon’s deal last year, only smaller firms had agreed to participate. — Reuters

active mobile customers in the fourth-quarter, bringing total mobile customer base to 5.2 million.

The company, which ended Etisalat’s domestic monopoly in 2007, said revenue was 2.4 billion dirhams in the quarter, up 17.9 percent from 2.05 billion dirhams a year earlier.

Du shares closed at 3.18 dirhams on the Dubai bourse on Monday. —Reuters

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is seeking 25,000 tons of 95octane gasoline in a rare purchase due to maintenance at its Ruwais refinery which is set to last until mid-April, industry sources and traders said yesterday.

The state-owned firm wants the gasoline delivered from April 16-18 in a tender closing on March 7, with offers to stay valid until March 11.

Six units at the Ruwais refinery, the largest in the OPEC member United Arab Emirates, is under maintenance, with two units-a vacuum distillation unit and hydrocracker-under maintenance since Feb 18.

The two units are expected to restart on April 8.

The crude distillation unit, with a capacity of 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) is expected to begin maintenance on March 9, along with three other units, and come back online on April 12, according to traders and industry sources.

The other three units are a catalytic reformer, kero hydrotreater and a gasoil hydrotreater which removes sulfur from diesel. The Ruwais refinery has a capacity of 415,000 bpd and expansion work is underway to more than double that by the end of next year. — 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 .4380000 .3640000 .3010000 .2760000 .2920000 .0040000 .0020000 .0753360 .7339770 .3830000 .0710000 .7195330 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2775000 GB Pound/KD .4400320 Euro .3662170 Swiss francs .3035940 Canadian dollars .2786980 Danish Kroner .0492720 Swedish Kroner .0413700 Australian dlr .2946080 Hong Kong dlr .0357480 Singapore dlr .2200290 Japanese yen .0034100 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0755820 Bahraini dinars .7363670 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0740200 Omani riyals .7210600 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 5.667 3.154 2.436 3.341 213.250 35.672 3.580 6.336 8.873 0.271 0.273

.2807500 .4470000 .3730000 .3130000 .2850000 .3040000 .0070000 .0035000 .0760930 .7413540 .4000000 .0760000 .7267640 .0070000 .0500000 .2796000 .4433620 .3689880 .3058910 .2808070 .0496450 .0416830 .2968370 .0360190 .2216940 .0034350 .0056220 .0023030 .0030880 .0034400 .0761540 .7419400 .3954740 .0745800 .7265170 .0065590

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 - Transfer46.282 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

SELL DRAFT

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

299.800 741.330 3.590 283.400 547.500 45.500 50.500 167.800 47.490 372.200 36.600 5.800 0.032 0.159 0.242 3.520 396.040 0.189 94.730 45.500 4.290 230.500 1.808 50.600 724.060

298.300 741.330 3.393 281.900

222.600 46.233 370.700 36.450 5.580 0.031

10 Tola Sterling Pound US Dollar

75.900 278.700

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

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 444.300 278.700

Selling Rate

277.750 283.990 442.665 368.570 305.435 738.165 75.870 76.515 74.295 392.380 46.222 2.286 5.633 3.069 3.398 6.533 683.765 4.405 9.195 5.870 3.640 92.240

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)

300.07 281.48 307.10 370.91

446.50 3.70 3.550 5.775 2.625 4.250 3.180 76.40 741.35 47.49 395.00 728.00 77.25 74.75

278.700 3.065 5.590 2.295 3.410 6.520 76.935 74.475 740.900 46.186 447.500 3.190 1.550 373.600 285.600 3.510

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

445.06 3.50 3.402 5.549 2.286 3.491 3.063 75.83 741.33 46.24 396.50 724.32 76.85 74.42

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Currency

723.880

307.000 3.900 9.260

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

394.990 0.188 94.730 3.510 229.000

3.075 6.500 76.680 74.430 222.560 39.350 2.290 444.300

GOLD 1,761.440

Rate for Transfer

Bahrain Exchange Company

3.140 6.770 77.110 74.430 222.560 39.350 2.656 446.300 42.500 308.500 3.900 9.450 198.263 76.000 279.100 1.350

300.00 284.00 312.00 373.00

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)

278.450 369.800 443.500 283.600 3.460 5.595 46.190 2.285 3.370 6.500 3.065 741.500 75.850 74.350

23

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

BUSINESS Geneva Auto Show

Automakers put snarl in small car design GENEVA: Small cars were looking more sleek and sporty at the Geneva Auto Show yesterday as global automakers struggling to make a profit in Europe tried to entice consumers to look past the continent’s economic gloom.

Ford premiered the B-Max, a subcompact aimed at families, while Mercedes is looking for younger buyers - read under 50 - for the new A Class. Audi rolled out the thirdgeneration in its A3 series, which 15 years ago was the first compact in the premium market.

Fiat launched its 500L, an elongated version of the tiny 500 city car that is being made in Serbia, and Toyota has put a little snarl on the hybrid version its best-selling Yaris to give it a more aggressive look.

Peugeot is setting an automotive standard by making its new 208 smaller than its predecessor.

The launches are a far cry from the days when small cars were spartan money-savers. While remaining easy on fuel consumption and light on emissions, these models are tooled with the latest safety features and touches of luxury to spruce up the compact and subcompact segments that comprise some 80 percent of the European market.

“Remember when smaller cars used to be cheap and cheerful? Now the consumers want the finest quality, the finest fuel efficiency, safety

and design,” said Ford CEO Alan Mulally.

The problem for European mass market automakers is that consumer demand has shriveled under the pressure of the sovereign debt crisis: this year sales are expected shrink nearly 5 percent to 12.9 million

get a bonus to buy a new car if they junked an old one. The incentives propped up the industry and delayed the inevitable reckoning with the fact that Europe has too many idle factories - something most European auto executives say shouldn’t be repeated.

GENEVA: The New Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is shown during the press day at the Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva yesterday.

The Motor Show will open its gates to the public from tomorrow to March18, presenting more than 260 exhibitors and more than 180 world and European premieres. —AP units, according to the Center for Automotive Research.

The onset of the financial crisis in 2008 brought cash-for-clunker incentives that allowed drivers to

“I don’t want incentives or financial assistance,” said Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters. “Fiat is financially solid and opposes any intervention to prop up the market.”

Fiat is among a long list of European automakers that is losing money in Europe that includes Peugeot-Citroen PSA, General Motors’ Adam Opel, and Renault.

Fiat is aiming to build cars in Italy for export to the United States, where it has a 58.8 percent share in Chrysler

automotive. Idle production lines cut profits, and European automakers frequently have faced national resistance to any moves to close factories in response. Stephen Odell, CEO of Ford of Europe, said European policymakers should stop getting in the way of plant closures

GENEVA: A Peugeot 4008 is displayed at French car maker’s booth. —AFP

through a nearly three-year-old alliance. But it first needs to streamline its Italian factories, which are operating at just 60 percent capacity, according to figures from IHS

as the industry seeks to balance supply with shrinking demand.

Ford plants are running above 90 percent, thanks to closures in 2008 and 2009.

“I believe policymakers can stop making statements that they understand capacity should be taken out - but not in my country,” Odell said.

A fresh alliance inked last week between General Motors Peugeot is a sign that the industry is looking at ways to cut costs. GM will take a 7 percent stake in Peugeot, Europe’s No. 2 automaker, in a deal that foresees a common platform by 2016 and synergies in the purchase of parts. The carmakers say it will save them $2 billion a year within five years, split roughly equally.

So far, the automakers have not discussed the possibility of job cuts and factory closures - moves expected by analysts. The head of General Motors Europe, KarlFriedrich Stracke, yesterday tried to dampen fears of mass job cuts in Europe, but didn’t rule them out.

“We need a sustainable setup. No company can keep making a loss,” Stracke said. Meanwhile, Japanese car maker Nissan, which is in an alliance with French automaker Renault, announced it is investing 125 million pounds ($198 million) to build the new Invitation compact car at its British factory - a rare expansion of auto production in western Europe. Nissan said the Invitation will compete with Ford’s Fiesta and Volkswagen’s Polo models, and debut next year. —AP

Nissan to build new hatchback car in UK Investment to create 2,000 jobs

GENEVA: A TV reporter explains the features of the new Mercedes A-Class yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show. —AP

Mercedes-Benz unveils family car with ‘bubblegum’ grip GENEVA: Mercedes-Benz unveiled at the motor show here a five-door hatchback for European sale in September, intended to ramp up its A-series from a family hatchback to a car with sporty flair.

Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Diamler AG, said late on Monday that he expected the car to go on sale in September and that it would be made first in Germany, then Hungary and later in China.

Speaking at an unveiling of the car on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, he said it was powered in part by engineering by British sports car firm MG and was 18 centimetres (seven inches) closer to the road than its predecessor.

“This car will stick to the street like bub-

blegum,” said Zetsche introducing the car to journalists on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show which runs to 18 March.

Zetsche said that 25,000 cars had been delivered and 100,000 had been ordered in advance and were being built, and that eventual global production was expected to amount to 4.0 million vehicles. The car, he said, offered safety at a premium and with attractive looks, and within reach of lower budgets.

The new model is the third-generation of the Mercedes A-class. Car analysts said the car, which is not yet planned for the US market, would compete against the new Audi A3, the BMW 1-series, the Volvo V40 and the perennial Volkswagen Golf. —AFP

India’s Tata Motors places bid for Saab MUMBAI: India’s Tata Motors has placed a $350 million bid to buy bankrupt Swedish carmaker Saab Automobile, a newspaper report said yesterday, citing people it said were aware of the matter.

“Tata’s global acquisition team has been in negotiations with Saab and private equity players for a prospective acquisition by its Jaguar-Land Rover unit,” the Financial Express newspaper reported, quoting an unnamed source.

Tata Motors’ spokesman declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Last month, Saab officials said that at least four companies had placed preliminary bids for a buy-out-most of them from outside Sweden. Saab, owned by Dutch

company Swedish Automobile, filed for bankruptcy in December after numerous failed deals to keep it afloat. All of Saab’s assets would be for sale, the company has said. Tata Motors, which also makes the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, bought British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover from US Ford Motor in 2008 for $2.3 billion as part of its plans to expand beyond Asia. Tata Motors is likely to face competition from China’s Youngman, which has been keen to buy Saab and is reported to have made a preliminary bid of about $300 million. Indian auto and farm equipment maker Mahindra and Mahindra is also reported to have placed a bid for Saab. —AFP

India’s minister hits out at cotton export ban NEW DELHI: India’s Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said yesterday he had asked the prime minister to reverse a ban on cotton exports and complained that he had been kept in the dark about the move.

India, the world’s second-largest producer of the fibre after China, unexpectedly announced an immediate ban on exports of the commodity Monday, saying it wanted to protect supplies for domestic mills.

The decision sent cotton prices soaring on New York’s commodity markets and is expected to send buyers in China flocking to the US market for supplies.

“This is a very serious issue,” Pawar told

reporters, adding that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue. “I was kept in dark on the issue and have requested the prime minister for revocation of the ban as our production is higher this year and farmers are complaining of falling prices.”

India already has exported 8.5 million bales in the fiscal year ending March 31, more than the government’s target of 8.4 million bales. The ban comes just six months after India completely freed cotton export controls. India had banned cotton exports in April 2010 and lifted the ban in the same year. —AFP

LONDON: Nissan is to build a new hatchback compact car in Britain, in a £125-million investment that will create 2,000 jobs, the Japanese auto giant said yesterday. The new vehicle, called ‘Invitation’, will be built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in northeastern England from mid-2013 thanks to investment equivalent to $198 million or 150 million euros. The project, worth 150 million euros or $198 million, will meanwhile receive a British government grant of £9.3 million, the firm said in a statement.

“As well as playing a key role in Nissan’s market expansion within Europe, the new model will also have a significant benefit in terms of jobs with around 2,000 new posts created at Nissan and amongst its UK supplier base,” it added.

The hatchback car, which will compete with models such as the Ford Fiesta and the VW Polo, was unveiled on Tuesday at the Geneva Motor Show by Nissan Executive Vice President Andy Palmer.

Britain’s Business Secretary Vince Cable welcomed the news as a “clear vote of confidence” in the country ’s manufacturing industry, while one trade union described the announcement as a “ray of sunshine” for the flagging economy. “It is fantastic news that Nissan will be building the new model in Sunderland,” Cable said.

“The investment is a boost for jobs at Nissan’s plant as well as the wider supply chain.”

Tommy Brennan, regional official of the GMB union, added: “This is really good news for the North

East and all the suppliers to Nissan where GMB members work. It is a ray of sunshine.” Yesterday’s announcement will cement Sunderland’s place as the largest car factory in Britain-a position it has held for the last 14 years.

“I’m delighted that Sunderland

regional partners and suppliers.

“The additional volume will maintain Sunderland as the country’s largest car plant and we expect and look forward to a very busy future.” The Sunderland plant produced more than 480,000 cars last year, a record high for a British

Traders (SMMT) hailed yesterday’s announcement.

“Nissan’s commitment to manufacture the all-new Invitation at its Sunderland plant is another vote of confidence in the UK auto industry and excellent news for the broader economy,” said SMMT

GENEVA: Executive Vice President of Nissan Andy Palmer (left) and Vince Cable, British Minister of Industry (right) during a presentation of the Nissan five-door concept car during a press day ahead of the 82nd Geneva Motor Show yesterday. —AFP has secured what will be another very important model for Nissan in Europe,” said Trevor Mann, Nissan Senior Vice President for Manufacturing in Europe.

“It is a testament to the workforce, the ongoing support from the UK government and all of our

plant, as the group was boosted by strong demand for its Qashqai, Juke and Note car models, many of which are sold outside of Britain. Nissan plans to build up to 100,000 Invitation cars per year.

British industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and

chief executive Paul Everitt. “The UK remains a globally competitive base for automotive manufacturing with its highly-skilled, flexible workforce and advanced productivity levels continuing to attract major international investment.” —AFP

More optimism about US jobs and economy: Survey WASHINGTON: The US economy is improving faster than economists had expected. They now foresee slightly stronger growth and hiring than they did two months earlier - trends that would help President Barack Obama’s re-election hopes. Those are among the findings of an Associated Press survey late last month of leading economists. The economists think the unemployment rate will fall from its current 8.3 percent to 8 percent by Election Day. That’s better than their 8.4 percent estimate when surveyed in late December.

By the end of 2013, they predict unemployment will drop to 7.4 percent, down from their earlier estimate of 7.8 percent, according to the AP Economy Survey. The US economy has been improving steadily for months. Industrial output jumped in January after surging in December by the most in five years. Auto sales are booming. Consumer confidence has reached its highest point in a year. Even the housing market is showing signs of turning around.

“The economy is finally starting to gain some steam, with consumers and businesses more optimistic about prospects in 2012,” said Chad Moutray, chief economist at the National Association of Manufacturers. On Friday, the government will issue the jobs report for February. Economists expect it to show that employers added a net 210,000 jobs and

that the unemployment rate remained 8.3 percent.

The AP survey collected the views of two dozen private, corporate and academic economists on a range of indicators. Among their forecasts: Americans will save gradually less and borrow more, reversing a shift toward frugality that followed the financial crisis and the start of the Great Recession.

Obama deserves little or no credit for declining unemployment. Only one of the 19 economists who answered the question said Obama should get “a lot” of credit. They give most of the credit to US consumers, who account for about 70 percent of economic growth, and businesses. The economy has begun a self-sustaining period in which job growth is fueling more consumer spending, which should lead to further hiring. European leaders will manage to defuse their continent’s debt crisis and prevent a global recession. But the economists think Europe’s economy will shrink for all of 2012. The economy will grow 2.5 percent this year, up from the economists’ earlier forecast of 2.4 percent. In 2011, the economy grew 1.7 percent.

The brighter outlook for jobs follows five straight months of declining unemployment. Employers added more than 200,000 net jobs in both December and January. The unemployment rate is at its lowest level in nearly three years. One reason the rate has fallen so fast is that fewer out-of-work Americans have

started looking for jobs. People out of work aren’t counted by the Labor Department as unemployed unless they’re actively seeking jobs.

Many economists have been surprised that the stronger economy hasn’t led more people without jobs to start looking for work. If many more were looking, the unemployment rate would likely be higher.

Manufacturers have been hiring more consistently than other employers. Moutray expects factory output to rise 4 percent this year, better than in 2011.

Manufacturers will have to continue hiring to keep up with demand, he said. That will help lower the unemployment rate to 8 percent by Election Day, he predicts. “Manufacturers are relatively upbeat about production this year,” Moutray said. That will require expanding factories and buying more machinery. “All that plays into a better year than some people might have been expecting,” he added.

The economists forecast that employers will add nearly 1.9 million jobs by Election Day, up from their December projection of nearly 1.8 million. But Mike Englund of Action Economics is among those who noted that the declining unemployment is due, in part, to fewer people seeking work. Millions of those out of work remain too discouraged to start looking again, or, in the case of many young adults, haven’t begun to do so. —AP

24

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

business

KSE stocks eke out gains after CMA appointments GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) picked up where they left off yesterday after the government named three new commissioners to the state’s fledging Capital Markets Authority (CMA).

All major indices made modest gains.

Global General Index (GGI) ended the day up by 0.19 percent, at 184.37 point. Market capitalization was up for the day, reaching KD30bn, its highest level since November 16, 2011. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 6,227.9 point, its highest close since July 2011.

The day saw steady trading activity. The market as a whole saw 707.41mn shares traded, down by a marginal 11.52 percent from Monday’s level.

The value of shares traded on the exchange saw a 10.3 percent decline at KD62.38mn. Services companies accounted for KD19.98mn (32.03 percent) of the total value traded yesterday.

In terms of top gainers, Kuwait National Cinema Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 9.8 percent. On the other side, Al-Ahlia Holding Company was the biggest loser, as its share price fell by 9.68 percent to close at KD0.014.

Sectors The gains in the Global General Index were bolstered by a 1.31 percent climb in the Global Investment Index. The sector’s performance was highlighted by a 5.81 percent gain in National Investment Company stock. Investors traded 8.94mn of the company’s shares in the KSE. Manafae Investment Company was the biggest gainer in the sector, adding 7.84 percent. The sector

as a whole accounted for 214.71mn (30.35 percent) of the total volume traded on the exchange yesterday. Non Kuwaiti scrips nudged out of their recent bearish form, with the sector index expanding by 0.69 percent. Ahli United Bank edged higher by 1.06 percent, whilst the Egypt Kuwait Holding Company added 1.54 percent.

However, the banking sector was hit by a round of selling that drove the sector index down by 0.10

percent. Boubyan Bank and Burgan were the sole decliners with losses of 1.79 percent & 1.08 percent respectively.

Oil news Oil eased in volatile trading towards $123pb yesterday as concerns over global economic growth trumped the supply risks and tension associated with Iran’s controversial nuclear work.

Thamer Al-Ghadban

Iraq nominates ex-oil minister as OPEC chief BAGHDAD: Iraq yesterday nominated ex-oil minister Thamer Al-Ghadban, now Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s chief adviser, as the next secretary general of OPEC, the government spokesman said.

“The Council of Ministers approved the nomination of Thamer Al-Ghadban as secretary general of OPEC,” an emailed statement from Ali Al-Dabbagh said.

Ghadban, a technocrat, was appointed to head the ministry during the premiership of Iyad Allawi in 2004, in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion. He left the ministry in 2005 and, if successful, would take up the OPEC

post once current Secretary General Abdullah El-Badri’s second three-year term expires at the end of the year.

Ghadban’s nomination comes a day after Iraq said oil production rose above three million barrels per day (bpd) for the first time since 1979, with plans for output to rise to 3.4 million bpd later this year.

Iraqi officials have said the country will be able to produce around 12 million bpd by 2017, though the IMF has said these projections are too high. Iraq relies on oil sales for the vast majority of government income. —AFP

Oil eases as investors eye economic growth LONDON: Oil eased in volatile trading towards $123 a barrel yesterday as concerns over global economic growth trumped the supply risks and tension associated with Iran’s controversial nuclear work.

Brent crude fell 66 cents to $123.12 a barrel by 1009 GMT after climbing to a daily high of $124.39. US crude slid 62 cents to $106.09.“On the one hand, the market is trading already on the expensive side. Given mixed econom-

ic data, the upside potential for prices from here should be limited,” said Tobias Merath, head of Global Commodity Research at Credit Suisse Private Banking.

“At the same time, geopolitical risks are a growing concern, preventing prices from easing. Overall, we think price risks are slightly skewed to the upside due to strong technical momentum and a positive trend.”

Israel’s increasingly strident stance

towards Iran over its nuclear program is keeping oil markets on edge.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed no sign of backing away from possible military action against the OPEC member after a meeting with US President Barack Obama on Monday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised the alarm over Iran’s nuclear work on Monday, saying there were indications of activities at

Parchin, an Iranian military site its inspectors want to visit.

Tehran said yesterday it would give the UN nuclear watchdog access to Parchin. It did not give a date for such a visit.

Investors are also watching out for China’s industrial output, investment and retail sales data due on Friday to see how the world’s second-largest economy is weathering the global downturn.

Beijing cut its 2012 economic growth target to an eight-year low of 7.5 percent from its long-standing annual goal of 8 percent, raising the specter of slower oil consumption.

Evidence of sluggish demand in top consumer the United States could emerge later yesterday. US crude oil stockpiles have risen for three straight weeks. The weekly report from the American Petroleum Institute is due later yesterday.— Reuters

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

BUSINESS

Vale hits full capacity in Oman

By Shakir Reshamwala SOHAR, Oman: Vale - the world’s largest producer of iron ore and pellets and second largest diversified mining company - has achieved full production capacity of 9 million metric tons per year at its $1.36 billion industrial complex in the Port of Sohar, where the company inaugurated a distribution center and pelletizing plant on March 3. By creating a ‘virtual iron ore mine’, Vale’s operations in the Sultanate of Oman will contribute to solidifying the country’s frontier market status and competitiveness in the global economy as a base for integrated steel production in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, including India.

At the inauguration ceremony, attended by its top management, local dignitaries and a gaggle of media from around the region, Vale focused on its commitment to the region and Oman, its environmentally-friendly operations and its future plans. Traditional Omani ardha and Brazilian capoeira dancers regaled the attendees in a demonstration of Brazil-Oman ties after officials launched the plant.

In a press statement, Vale said the company’s operations in Oman employ 1,200 people of which 450 are Vale direct employees and 750 are contractors working on site, with another 3,120 jobs generated indirectly. The company has achieved an Omanization rate of more than 60 percent amongst its direct employees. Vale’s industrial complex comprises of two pelletizing units, each with a nominal production capacity of 4.5 million metric tons of direct-reduction pellets per year, and a distribution center with a throughput capacity of 40 million metric tons per year. The company’s first production line commenced operations in April 2011, successfully supplying pellets to key steel producers in the region.

To maximize its distribution center capabilities, Vale partnered with Sohar Industrial Port Company to build a 1.4 km deep-water terminal. This terminal is one of the first ports in the world to receive Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs) that boast a capacity of 400,000 tons and are responsible for transporting the world’s purest iron ore from Brazil to the shores of the sultanate. The pelletizing plant and distribution center in Oman, together with a floating transfer station in Subic Bay in the Philippines, a distribution center and port under construction in Malaysia and the VLOCs, are part of Vale’s strategy to increase its flexibility and competitiveness in serving the world’s fastest growing markets, on an equal footing with its closest competitors.

“We have a solid commitment to Oman,” said Vale President & CEO, Murilo Ferreira. “We have joined forces with the government, the private sector and the community where we operate to catalyze sustainable development.

At each stage, we ensure that our relationships with our partners are based on transparency, respect and trust.”

Vale has invested $40 million in technologies to reduce the project’s environmental impact, such as electrostatic precipitators and a 3,150 m wind fence to control particulate matter emissions. The site also has a continuous emissions monitoring system and 100 percent of the water used is recycled. To augment its highly efficient logistics system, Vale has signed an agreement with Oman Shipping

Company to build four chartered ships exclusively for the company’s use. Two vessels are scheduled to become operational by mid 2012 while the other two by the end of 2012.

“Over the last 41 years, Oman has established itself as a unique development model amongst its neighbors,” said Marcos Beluco, Vale’s Country Manager. “His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s Vision 2020 is based on selfsustained growth in a private sector-led and export-oriented economy. In line with this vision, we have created a virtual iron ore mine in the sultanate that will support its steel intensive phase of economic development and serve the growing demand in the region.”

Beluco explained that Vale is dedicated to realizing the nation’s efforts to significantly reduce its dependence on oil by diversifying economic resources. The company’s pelletizing plant and distribution center will assist in creating a natural pull for downstream industries, attracting large multinational companies to the region which will in turn provide a greater incentive for service industries to capitalize on the sultanate’s competitive advantage.

From the onset, Vale has played an instrumental role in building a solid industrial infrastructure by positively promoting the development of the local economy through extensive social, economic and environmental investments. These investments are not only limited to physical assets but extend to sustainable social development, environment protection and preservation, job generation and advancement of the local supply chain. Creating a compounding effect, approximately $420 million worth of contracts were awarded to local companies during the construction phase as

(From left) Marco Beluco, Country Manager, Marcelo Figueiredo, Vale Project Portfolio Director - Oman & Malaysia, Ahmed Al-Wahaibi, CEO Oman Oil Company, Jose Carlos Martins, Vale Executive Director of Ferrous and Strategy, Nasser Al-Jashmi, Omani Undersecretary of Oil & Gas, Murilo Ferreira, Vale CEO and Ahmed Al-Futaisi, Omani Minister of Transport & Communications launch the plant in Sohar.

— Photo by Shakir Reshamwala part of the company’s promise to invest in the development of its local supply chain.

As part of its social responsibility and sustainability agenda, Vale has completed an indepth socio-economic study of Al Batinah which will form the blueprint for the implementation of community empowerment programs in partnership with Sohar Aluminium and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (ORPIC). The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Vicosa Federal University, the leading agricultural educational institute in South America, to conduct agronomic studies in Oman. Scientific research is currently underway to investigate and identify preventative measures to combat diseases and pests that effect mango, lime and date plantations in the sultanate.

26

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

BUSINESS

SAKAI Heavy Industries, Al-Sayer Group join hands SAKAI for road building worldwide — a step ahead always KUWAIT: Pioneering road construction equipment manufacturer SAKAI Heavy Industries Ltd, Japan and Bahrah Trading Company (Al-Sayer Group) joined hands to relaunch SAKAI soil and asphalt compaction machineries in Kuwait.

In a recently held meeting between SAKAI senior executives and Bahrah management team, the partnership was officially announced.

SAKAI enjoys strong recognition

in Kuwait and the region for decades as a reliable source for road construction equipment. Building on this, with the well established position of Bahrah as a one stop source for a wide range of heavy equipment in Kuwait, the combine look forward to a very active role in support of customers engaged in infra structure and associated projects.

SAKAI Heavy Industries, who pioneered road roller making in Japan with 70 years of history and experi-

ence as one of the foremost specialists in road construction equipment on a global scale, are poised to contribute their might in the ongoing and upcoming infrastructure and road rebuild plans in Kuwait. SAKAI, over the decades endeavored to develop innovative products together with technological research to meet the increasing sophistication of modern high way construction, maintenance and repair.

While the inherent strength and

popularity of SAKAI compactors (for soil and asphalt applications) are well known, the association with Bahrah Trading Company (Al Sayer Group) conjures up a pragmatic outreach to the customers by providing state of the art equipment, reliable after sales service and parts support.

SAKAI - Bahrah combine with well defined partnership is all set to address the growing needs of valuable clients in passing times as well to help face the challenges of tomor-

rows ever mindful of the increased refinement in road construction and greater consideration of the conservation of the environment.

Mubarak Al-Sayer, CEO of Al-Sayer Group warmly welcomed the SAKAI Team led by R Watanabe, DirectorInternational Sales, A Iso and K Nakagawa, managers responsible for the Middle East and congratulated them on the resurgence of SAKAI in Kuwait.

Steve Shaw, Sr General Manager

and Hamza Melakandy, General Manager, Operations of the Bahrah Management team attended the meeting.

In conclusion, Mubarak reiterated the strong commitment that’s the hallmark of Al-Sayer Group and Bahrah to customer satisfaction by providing the customers with high quality products and after sales support that our valuable customers have come to expect from Al-Sayer Group companies.

Asia fills aviation funding gap amid Europe’s woes Another sign of world’s shifting economic focus SINGAPORE: Capital-starved airlines worldwide are turning to Asian lenders to fund their ambitious fleet upgrades as the industry’s traditional streams of financing in the West dry up, experts say. In another sign of the world’s shifting economic fortunes, Asian banks, capital markets and leasing firms are stepping in to help airlines cope with rapid growth in travel, according to industry executives and analysts.

“In this part of the world there is a lot of financing,” Jim Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airlines, told reporters during a visit to Singapore last month. “If you talk to the leasing companies... they will tell you that they think the capital is out there to finance the planes that are going to be sold over the next several years,” he said.

Boeing estimates that in 2012, commercial airlines worldwide will need about $100 billion to finance new plane deliveries, up from $75 billion last year, in large measure due to surging Asian demand. Europe’s debt crisis is curtailing lending from regular funding sources, mostly French and German banks, but Asia is helping to plug the gap with industry estimates projecting an annual demand for 1,000 new planes over this decade.

Of that projection, which runs through to 2021, 500 new planes will be added in Asia each year, David Stewart, vice president of aviation consultancy ICF, said on the sidelines of last month’s Singapore Airshow.

Underscoring Asia’s growing muscle in aviation finance, Britain’s Royal Bank of Scotland

Group in January sold its aircraft leasing division to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. for 4.7 billion pounds ($7.3 billion). Paul Ng, global head of aviation at the law firm Stephenson Harwood, said banks in China, which have been financing domestic carriers for over a decade, are now “starting to look overseas for potential clients”.

US and European carriers “are starting to appear” at airplane financing conferences in Asia “to speak with Asian banks and lessors, which would be quite a rare sight just a few years ago”, Ng told AFP. Robert Martin, chief executive of Singapore-based BOC Aviation, said the aircraft leasing firm raised $1.7 billion last year, with 70 percent of the money coming from Asian banks. They included DBS, OCBC and UOB-all Singapore lenders-along with Malaysia’s Maybank and the Development Bank of Japan.

BOC Aviation, wholly owned by Bank of China, aims to raise $1.5 billion-$2.0 billion this year, with most of the funds again sourced from Asia, Martin told AFP. “The real issue over the last year and going forward is access to US dollars,” he said at a Singapore Airshow forum, projecting global demand for aircraft financing to rise 42 percent between 2011 and 2013 alone. “But the good news is that we’ve seen a lot of Asian institutions that are very active in this market.

We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the wide array of institutions all over Asia that are

involved in this business.”

David Brotherton, an asset finance partner at international law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, which helps arrange deals in the industry, said Chinese and Singapore aircraft leasing firms in particular are emerging as a force.

Brotherton said one of his firm’s clients, China’s ICBC Financial Leasing, has “a number of financial leasing relationships with airlines worldwide”, among them Air Berlin for Airbus A319 aircraft.

Aviation Capital Group, a California-based aircraft leasing firm, raised Sg$150 million (US$120 million) from the Singapore bond market recently, and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways also tapped the Singapore market for Sg$100 million last month, industry sources said.

But less established players are also thinking big. In February, Boeing and Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air signed a $22.4 billion deal for 230 aircraft-the single largest contract in commercial aviation history. Lion Air said the purchases would be financed by funds from the US Export Import Bank, private lenders such as the French bank BNP Paribas and the carrier’s owners, the wealthy Kirana family. But Nicolas Parrot, managing director and head of aviation finance for the AsiaPacific at BNP Paribas, said “a quite dramatic change to the geographical weight” of Europe and Asia in terms of financing plane purchases was underway. —AFP

Mazin Khoury, CEO of American Express ME

BEIJING: A migrant worker smokes next to his belongings near a bus stop in Beijing yesterday.

China will cut income taxes on companies and import duties on energy and raw materials as part of efforts to spur domestic consumption and reduce reliance on exports and investment, the finance minister said yesterday. —AP

Australia leaves rates on hold at 4.25% SYDNEY: Australia’s central bank left official interest rates on hold at 4.25 percent yesterday, saying there did not appear to be a deep global downturn, while the local economy was growing close to trend. Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens said the board had judged “the setting of monetary policy remained appropriate for the moment”, with some improvement in Europe, moderate growth in the US and Asia holding steady.

“Recent information is consistent with the expectation that the world economy will grow at a below-trend pace this year, but does not suggest that a deep downturn is occurring,” Stevens said following the bank’s monthly meeting on interest rates. It is the second consecutive month rates have been kept on hold, following two rounds of 25-basis-point cuts in November and December. The bank did not hold a meeting in January. Stevens said Europe “will remain a potential source of shocks for some time yet” as it battles its debt crisis but policy moves had alleviated the acute financial pressures on the region’s banks.

Financial market sentiment was improving and interbank and corporate lending was flowing once again.

Locally, commodity prices were “noticeably off their peaks” but had rebounded from a period of decline and were at quite high levels, he added. Australia was seen as growing close to trend, with structural changes to the economy due to a national pollution tax and other reforms expected to boost productivity, keeping inflation in check. “Should demand conditions weaken materially, the inflation outlook would provide scope for easier monetary policy,” Stevens said.

“The board will continue to monitor information on economic and financial conditions and adjust the cash rate as necessary to foster sustainable growth and low inflation.”

Rates had been widely expected to stay on hold but the Australian dollar slipped to a two-week low of 106.10 US cents from 106.53 prior to the news, with analysts saying the bank’s statement had not precluded further rate cuts.

“Most of the text is unchanged from the last time, particularly in their discussion of the Australian economy and the globe as well,” said RBC economist Su-Lin Ong of the central bank’s wait-and-see approach. “They continue to note that financial pressures have declined a bit, but there are still some challenges to growth globally.” —AFP

KUWAIT: American Express Middle East (AEME) yesterday announced the appointment of Mazin Khoury as Chief Executive Officer. Khoury, who first joined AEME in 1989 and has served as the company ’s Chief Operating Officer for the past two years, takes over as CEO from William Keliehor.

Since 2010, Khoury has ser ved as Chief Operating Officer of AEME with a wide-ranging remit to manage the company’s business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In his new role, Khoury will focus on continuing to grow the company’s existing corporate and premium cards business across 18 markets in the MENA region, while maintaining the unparalleled levels of service, payment flexibility and daily rewards associated with the

American Express Middle East brand.

Commenting on his new appointment, Khoury said: “By providing reliable, convenient and rewarding solutions for our Cardmembers and business partners, American Express Middle East continues to go from strength-to-strength in the MENA region. I look forward to continue working with an outstanding team as we cement our market leading position and develop new growth opportunities for the company.”

Khoury has had a long and distinguished career in the financial services industry. He has held a number of senior level positions over the past two decades, including CEO of Amex (Saudi Arabia) Limited and Vice-President of AEME. A Bahraini national, Khoury will continue to be based in Manama.

Zain unveils ‘Zain Campus’ service Calls and SMS will be free on campus KUWAIT: Zain, the largest mobile network operator in Kuwait, yesterday announced the ‘Zain Campus’ offering, which is the first service of its kind ever in Kuwait, targeted at students and the youth segments.

Zain said that the new service reaffirms the company’s strategy to develop and deploy innovative products, indicating that ‘Zain Campus’ is aimed at encouraging the student community and youth to improve their academic lifestyles, through their ability to communicate and exchange information with their peers.

The new service, which will completely transform the way in which students and the youth segment communicate, will permit calls and text messages to be sent and received free of charge from inside campus grounds, allowing students at Kuwait University and other private universities to communicate actively at no charge.

The service will be available to university students between the ages of 18 and 24, and provides free voice and text messages to them on campus between

the hours of 8 am to 8 pm. Outside of these hours students will only be charged 20 fils per minute for calls made while still on campus premises.

Students and youth can subscribe immediately to this service and take advantage of this special offer through subscribing to any of the ‘Wiyana’ packages.

Zain is the first operator in Kuwait to introduce this innovative ser vice, which enhances communication amongst students while at the same time enriching their interaction and academic exposure. ‘Zain Campus’ will also allow participating students not just to benefit from free voice and text messages on campus, but will also put them in line to win exciting prizes from Zain, including the chance to win tickets to popular activities and programs that Zain will be organizing.

Zain has pledged to continue leading the way in innovations that improve the quality of life of all Kuwait residents, and has plans to introduce more non-traditional communications services that will benefit its customers significantly.

KUWAIT: SAKAI senior executives and Bahrah management team after the partnership was officially announced.

Britain faces 4th year of record-low interest rates LONDON: The Bank of England is widely expected to hold its key interest rate at 0.50 percent at a meeting tomorrow, three years after deciding to slash borrowing costs to the current record-low level.

With Britain facing a possible return to recession, analysts expect the BoE to again sit tight over the level of its main lending rate, which over the past three years has favored people with home loans but disadvantaged savers.

“With the housing market and wider economy already looking weak, there is actually very little scope for raising interest rates as it would almost certainly trigger a double-dip recession,” said Phil McHugh, an analyst at trading group Currencies Direct.

The BoE’s key rate has stood at 0.50 percent since March 2009 when the central bank also began to inject the British economy with £200 billion under a radical policy known as quantitative easing (QE).

The amount has since been raised to £325 billion following two further interventions-the most recent of which was last month with an increase of £50 billion. Under QE, the central bank creates new cash that is used to purchase assets such as government and corporate bonds in the hope of giving a boost to lending and economic activity.

Whether or not the Bank of England announces further QE in the coming

months depends on a series of factors, according to economists. “With concerns over a euro-area-based downturn having abated for now, the key questions concern whether the domestic recovery is gaining genuine momentum; whether UK inflation will prove relatively ‘sticky’; and the role played by oil prices,” said economist Philip Shaw at Investec financial group.

The BoE’s main task is to use monetar y polic y tools to tr y and keep Britain’s annual inflation rate close to a government-set target of 2.0 percent.

This has proved tricky in recent times owing to high oil prices, although consumer prices are now rising at a slower pace across the country.

The latest data showed that Britain’s 12-month inflation rate fell sharply in January to 3.6 percent from 4.2 percent, as the previous year’s sales tax hike fell out of the year-on-year comparison.

Britain’s economy meanwhile shrank 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year compared with the third, according to recent official data. A further contraction in the first quarter of 2012 would place Britain back in recession, defined as two successive negative quarters.

Britain’s economy is faltering amid harsh state austerity measures, falling consumer spending, elevated oil prices and the ongoing fallout from the long-running sovereign debt crisis in key trading partner the euro-zone. —AFP

Greek pension funds to decide on debt rollover ATHENS: Greece’s struggling pension funds faced a decision yesterday on participating in a huge state debt swap which unions say means disaster for the savings of millions of pensioners. The Greek government has given holders of state debt until Thursday to decide whether to join the initiative, which aims to cut 107 billion euros ($142 billion) from Greece’s total 350-billion-euro debt mountain.

The civil servants’ union Adedy has scheduled a protest at its own pension fund, Teady, later yesterday. “We call on fund boards to refrain from a new crime against their members,” the union said, terming the debt write-down “a coup de grace to fund reserves.” Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos last month told parliament that pension funds hold 27 billion euros in state debt, and that these holdings were fully protected.

“Debt restructuring will not affect pensions,” Venizelos said. “Each year the state gives the funds over 13 billion euros in subsidies,” he said. “Hence, in two years, the state budget pays out the entire value of their holdings...we will restore fund possessions to the full.”

The debt rollover, supported by a major bank association, is tied to a 130billion-euro euro-zone bailout that will enable Greece to avert default in two weeks when it must repay a maturing bond worth over 14.4 billion euros. The Institute of International Finance, which

represents leading banks and investors, on Monday said key holders of Greek debt had accepted the plan.

Members of the IIF steering committee that accepted the deal include AXA, BNP Paribas et CNP Assurances of France; Germany’s Allianz, Commerzbank et Deutsche Bank; Italy’s Intesa San Paolo; ING of the Netherlands; and Greylock Capital Management of the United States.

Greece’s Alpha Bank, Eurobank EFG et National Bank of Greece have also accepted the terms.

The only steering committee member not on the list is Germany’s biggest regional bank Landesbank BadenWuerttemberg (LBBW), although the IIF said the approval process was still underway. Greece has enacted legislation on a so-called collective action clause to force bondholders to accept the exchange if a majority approves the terms. According to Germany’s Der Spiegel weekly, the European Central Bank expects this clause will have to be activated owing to low investor demand.

The clause can be invoked if at least 66 percent of banks agree to it. This socalled super-majority then forces all creditors to go along with the deal.

Athens has also warned that 75 percent of eligible investors had to participate or the exercise would be called off. The deadline for accepting the bond swap offer is Thursday at 2000 GMT. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Kaspersky Lab to host two CeBIT booths HANNOVER: This year, Kaspersky Lab will showcase its products at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, under the theme of “Continuous Protection from Home to Work - Be Ready for What’s Next”. At the company’s booth (Booth C65 in Hall 12), the IT security experts will work with their distribution partners to provide information on Kaspersky Lab’s current product portfolio and the latest trends in IT threats - for both companies and for home users. Kaspersky Lab will, for the first time, also have its own booth in Planet Reseller. This will be Booth H36 in Hall 14. The company will also present its new and revised security solutions, Kaspersky Security for Virtualization, Kaspersky Security 8.0 for SharePoint Server and Kaspersky Hosted Security.

One of the events at the company’s main booth in Hall 12 will be the presentation of Kaspersky Lab security solutions with live demos. For corporate

users, the company will focus on its newly released solutions, Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 for Windows, Kaspersky Security Center 9 and the revised Kaspersky Hosted Security, which will be presented to a wider audience for the first time. Two new products, Kaspersky Security for Virtualization and Kaspersky Security 8.0 for SharePoint Server, will also be showcased. Kaspersky Security for Virtualization protects virtual machines running under VMware. With the release of Kaspersky Security 8.0 for SharePoint Server, the company now offers the latest protection technologies for customers who use Microsoft’s SharePoint platform for collaboration and file storage. In addition, the product supports effective implementation of internal communication policies as well as content storage policies by introducing appropriate content filtering.

One of the highlights for home users will be the new Kaspersky ONE Universal Security suite, a cross-platform solution which protects smartphones, Macs and tablets in addition to desktops. The Kaspersky Lab booth can also be visited as part of the daily guided tours.

In Hall 12, Kaspersky Lab will be supported by its partners B¸cker EDVBeratung, CyProtect AG, ED Computer, Ewicom, Helmich IT-Security GmbH, IFS, Jo-Soft and Software One. In Hall 14, the IT security experts will be partnered by distributors 8Soft, Ectacom and Wick Hill, and will showcase their new partner program, which was launched in January with the theme “Mit Sicherheit Ihr Partner” [“Your Partner in Security”]. “We are very excited to be involved in Planet Reseller for the first time,” says Walter J?ger, General Manager at Kaspersky Lab DACH. “This will enable us and our distributors to contact specific partners and

interested resellers and to provide targeted information to them. Our presence in Hall 14 will allow us to hold discussions in a peaceful setting.”

Further information on Kaspersky Lab’s CeBIT presence is available at www.kaspersky-cebit.com. Interested parties can also use this site to make appointments with Kaspersky Lab and its partners.

The major hacker attacks on companies and public authorities over the past year have shown that the Internet is being increasingly abused by cybercriminals for targeted attacks. At the press breakfast (yesterday, 10:00 am) Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab, will present his views on why the IT security industry, international authorities, national governments and companies should join forces to focus on cyber security. In addition, Ilijana Vavan, Executive Vice President Kaspersky Lab

Europe, will provide an update on the status quo and on the company’s future plans. The press conference will be held in English in the Saal Berlin (Berlin Room) on the ground floor of the Convention Center.

As is traditional on the second day of the trade fair, Kaspersky Lab will hold its Analysts’ Roundtable. This year, Kaspersky Lab experts Magnus Kalkuhl, Marco Preu, Christian Funk, Vicente Diaz and David Emm will discuss current and future IT threats for corporations and personal users. The discussion will take place at 10:00 am today. The discussion will center on the topics of mobile threats, targeted attacks and the cyber economy (the value of personal data, or its price on the cybercriminals’ black market). The roundtable will take place in the Saal Bonn 2 (Bonn Room 2) of the Convention Center and will be held in English.

Pole-dancing robots wow world’s biggest tech fair ‘Shrinkable car’ makes parking a breeze

HANNOVER: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff (L) look at aircraft models at the Embraer Aerospace booth during a joint tour of the exhibitions at the world’s biggest high-tech fair, the CeBIT.— AFP

Apple expected to unveil new iPad SAN FRANCISCO: Apple is expected to reveal a new version of its coveted iPad today in its first major media event since the death of legendary founder and beloved pitchman Steve Jobs. I n t ypical Apple st yle, the California-based company has offered the scantest of hints as to what it will unveil on the stage of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, igniting a wildfire of rumor in the online technology world.

A picture on press invitations, and Apple’s usual product cycle, made it a virtually sure bet that the star of the event will be a third-generation model of its market-ruling iPad tablet computer. “All signs point to a new version o f i Pa d,” G a r t n e r a n al yst M ichael Gartenberg told AFP. Speculation is that the “iPad 3’ will feature a higher resolution display closer to the quality of Apple’s popular iPhone 4S; a faster processor, and perhaps an improved camera. Rumors have also been circulating that Apple might make its Siri artificial intelligence assistant software available on the iPad. Siri has been a hit on the iPhone 4S. Apple may introduce a version of the iPad with a smaller screen and lower price to fend off competition from Amazon’s Kindle Fire and the Nook f ro m b o o k- s e l l e r B a r n e s & N o b l e, according to independent Silicon Valley analyst Rod Enderle.

An Apple TV announcement could also be in store, given that it has been a while since the company has upgraded its offering in an Internet television market being heated up by offerings f ro m G o o g l e a n d m a k e r s o f m a j o r videogame consoles.

While much of the world will be mesmerized by slick gadgets unveiled

by Apple, Gartenberg will be paying close attention to software and services integrated to make devices “stand out from the crowd.”

People’s devotion to gadgets is tied more to fun or useful ways they can be used than to the slickness of the hardware, according to analysts. “There are

great Android tablets on the market from a hardware perspective but they don’t sell worth a damn because they don’t have the ecosystem that Apple has,” Gartner analyst Van Baker said, referring to the cornucopia of applications, ser vices and content such as music and films available for Apple gadgets.

“Ap p l e is in such good sh ape already in the tablet space that they don’t need to do anything Earth-shattering to maintain momentum.” Baker said he will keenly watch how well Apple’s new chief executive Tim Cook per forms in the on-stage shoes of Jobs, who was a wizard at getting people to see the company’s innovations as magical.

“People love to talk about Steve Jobs’ reality distor tion field,” Baker said. “It wasn’t a reality distortion field, it was amazing marketing. “This event is going to give insight into how Tim is at doing what Steve did so well.”

Cook is a proven master at managing Apple’s supply chain, but has a more reser ved style than Jobs. The Apple co-founder and mind behind t he w il dl y popular iPod, iPad an d iPhone devices died in October after battling pancreatic cancer.

“Apple is still operating under the false assumption that they don’t need to backfill Steve,” Enderle said. “He had an ability to let people see the magic, and they have lost that.” In the meantime, Enderle expects Apple to sell every iPad they build and for the habit of hordes rushing out to buy the company’s new gadgets to linger.

Another Apple executive, perhaps iPhone software senior vice president Scott Forstall or product design senior vice president Jonathan Ive, could yet step up as a charismatic company frontman, according to analysts.

“Does the company still need someone at the helm to get people excited about things that aren’t that exciting?”

Baker asked rhetorically. “Yes, they do.

“I am going to be looking for that sizzle, that magic-is it there and who is doing it.” — AFP

The new iPad 3

HANOVER: Of all the weird and wacky futuristic gadgets and inventions at this year’s CeBIT, the world’s biggest high-tech fair, few have turned heads like a pair of pole-dancing robots.

The sleek, white, life -sized humanoids, with camera-shaped lights as heads, gyrate suggestively to the music, provided by a third “DJ” robot, with a megaphone for a head, who bops around the stage in time to the beat. The stand was already proving one of the most popular at the CeBIT, which threw open its door to exhibitors yesterday.

The trio were manufactured from old car parts, explained Julian Hangschlitt, 19, who described himself as “event manager by day and part-time DJ by night.”

“Last year, we had a pair of real dancers. This year, we thought, ‘well, we’re coming to CeBIT, it’s a tech fair, we should have some robots instead’,” he added. The “dancers”, designed by British robot-maker-cum-ar tist Giles Walker, are driven by old car motors and their moves are controlled by computer via wireless technology.

But despite being made from scrap, the robots don’t come cheap. If you want to hire these very exotic dancers for your next party, it will set you back around 30,000 euros ($40,000).

CeBIT is the world’s top IT fair, this year pulling in 4,200 exhibitors from 70 countries ranging from tech giants like Microsoft, Facebook and Google to single entrepreneurs with a bright idea.

The two main themes of the fair, which runs until March 10, are cloud computing-or storing your data remotely-and “managing trust”, the hot-topic of Internet security.

Meanwhile, scientists at the world’s biggest IT fair unveiled yesterday what they hope is the car of

HANNOVER: Brazilian President Dilma Roussef, center, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, watch the manager of Fujitsu Technology Solutions Rolf Schwirz as he takes a water proof tablet PC out of an aquarium at the Hannover Tech Fair CeBIT, one of the World’s biggest computer fairs for digital innovations and trends, in Hannover, northern Germany, yesterday. — AP the future that can shrink to fit tight parking spaces and pick you up at the touch of a button. At just 2.10 metres (seven feet) long, the futuristic cobalt-blue two-seater “pod” is not exactly roomy but was pulling in the crowds nevertheless with its extraordinary features.

If a parking space looks too small, drivers can reduce the car’s length by 50 centimetres. For further ease, the wheels can turn in a full circle, allowing a driver to pull up to a space and then move sideways into it. With built-in sensors to avoid collisions, the car can also drive itself and can be summoned by smartphone, explained Timo

Birnschein, the project leader, from the German Centre for Artificial Intelligence.

“If you are in the office, you can press a button on your smar tphone and it will come and pick you up. We already have the technology to do this. It will be happening in five to six years,” he said.

His team of 10 has been working on the car for 15 months and hope to make it roadworthy in the very near future.

It has a top speed of 55 kilometres (35 miles) per hour and a range of 100 kilometres when its two batteries are fully charged. It creates additional energy from the

turning of its wheels. But the real innovation, explained Birnschein, is its ability to “dock” with other similar cars to create what he called “road trains” of up to 20 cars, driven by just the person at the front.In this configuration, all the cars automatically share the energy available At the moment, it is just a prototype, so there is no estimate on the potential cost of the technology.

And with space at a premium, there is currently no room for storage.

“We’re working on that,” promised Birnschein. The CeBIT runs until March 10, with around 4,200 exhibitors from 70 countries showcasing the latest technology. —AFP

iPad dispute signals new era in trademark troubles SHANGHAI: iPotato, isock, icouch, istove, i-you-name-it. An Internet search for “i” words from A to Z will turn up just about any combination you might think up, from all over the world, only a handful of them related to Apple Inc. Given its penchant for “iproducts,” Apple’s current troubles in China over the iPad trademark are not its first, and are unlikely to be its last. China’s importance as a major consumer market is bringing fresh headaches for companies, and even celebrities, seeking to protect and claim brand names.

That’s apart from the usual problems with piracy and other infringements.

Financially troubled Proview Electronics Co., a computer monitor and LED light maker, says it registered the iPad trademark in China and elsewhere more than a decade ago and wants Apple to stop selling or making the popular tablet computers under that name. Apple says Proview sold it worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 2009, though in China the registration was never transferred.

The number and variety of such disputes is rising as Chinese companies seek to leverage trademarks to their advantage, either for the sake of acquiring attractive brand names or for financial gain, said You Yunting, a lawyer with the Debund Law Office in Shanghai, which specializes in trademarks and patents.

“This is an era of development and people are paying more atten-

tion to brand names now,” said You. “China is not good at innovation. I’d say Proview would not be suing Apple if its financial situation was fine.”

Apple and Proview are battling in Chinese and U.S. courts. Apple’s right to make and market the iPad under that name in China may hinge on a pending ruling from the High Court in Guangdong, in southern China. Over the past month, the conflict has escalated with Proview challenging not only Apple’s use of the mainland Chinese trademark but also the 2009 deal, which involved worldwide rights to the iPad name.

Whatever the outcome, the dispute highlights the rising stakes of the trademark name game in the increasingly lucrative China consumer market, one that most global companies cannot afford to miss out on regardless of the risks.

“China’s been infringing on patents and copyrights and so on from the beginning. Now, it’s a globally important market and this is where a lot of companies are depending on for growth,” said James McGregor, a senior counselor for consulting firm APCO Worldwide and a former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

“It’s getting more attention now, and maybe some of these infringers are getting more aggressive,” he said. The issue touches practically every type of product or industry. Former NBA star Michael

SHANGHAI: In this March 2, 2012 photo, a man walks past an advertisement of Apple’s iPad in Shanghai, China. Apple’s troubles in China over the iPad trademark are not its first, and given its penchant for “iproducts” they are unlikely to be its last. China’s importance as a major consumer market is bringing fresh headaches for companies, and even celebrities, seeking to protect and claim brand names.—AP Jordan is suing a Chinese sportswear maker, Qiaodan Sports Company Ltd., for unauthorized use of his name and images associated with his own brand, such as his old jersey number, “23”.

“Qiaodan,” pronounced “CHEEOWdan,” is the moniker Jordan has been known by in China since he gained widespread popularity in the mid-1980s.

“I am taking this action to preserve the ownership of my name and my brand,” Jordan said in a video clip on his website. “No one should lose control of their own

name.” Qiaodan said in a statement that its brand has no direct relationship with Michael Jordan and professed to respect his “athletic achievements and contributions” in basketball.

“I would not say Proview registered its trademarks maliciously, since it did it more than 10 years ago. But I would say that the Qiaodan company did, since Jordan was famous before the company was even founded,” said Tao Xinliang, president of the Intellectual Property Institute at Shanghai University. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Japan too slow in Fukushima health checks: Rights group TOKYO: A year after the Fukushima nuclear crisis, Japan’s government is still too slow in providing health checks and information to residents, leaving them confused and suspicious of authorities, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.

“A year on, we are really not seeing basic health services being offered in an accessible way and we are not seeing accurate, consistent, non-contradictory information being disclosed to people on a regular basis,” Jane Cohen, a researcher at the New York-based rights group, told Reuters.

“People have to at least be equipped with accurate information so that they

are evaluating their situation based on real facts.” The tsunami that hit Japan’s Pacific coast last March 11 devastated the Fukushima nuclear power plant, 240 km (150 miles) northeast of Tokyo, causing radiation leaks that contaminated land, air and water and forced tens of thousands to flee.

Mny residents in Fukushima prefecture have since been living with fears about the health effects from radiation.

“There should be a clear plan and place for testing everyone in Fukushima for radiation,” said Cohen, who studied the conditions of residents. She suggested the local government may have to bor-

row medical equipment or bring in more doctors. The prefectural government is providing health checks for children and pregnant women, who tend to be more vulnerable to radiation, but the process is taking time. The 360,000 children aged up to 18 at the time of the disaster, will be subject to thyroid checks for the rest of their lives. So far, 40,000 have been screened, an official at the Fukushima government said.

About 380,000 children and pregnant women are eligible to have internal radiation exposure levels checked and 15,400 have done so as of Januar y, according to the government’s website.

Fukushima residents’ worries are exacerbated by the lack of reliable information about their situation, Cohen said, a problem that erupted at an early stage of the nuclear crisis. The prime minister’s office gradually expanded the forced evacuation zone to 20 km in the first two days after the crisis.

But it failed at the time to quickly disclose computer forecasts-named SPEEDI-showing the direction in which radioactive materials would disseminate, due to poor internal communication.

The result was that thousands fled in the direction radioactive materials were flying.

Former trade minister Banri Kaieda, who oversaw energy policy at the time, has said that he felt a “sense of shame” about the lack of disclosure. Cohen said mistrust of authorities had grown. She urged the government to explain the reasoning behind its decisions.

“People don’t feel that they have a real picture of what their safety situation is,” she said. “By not disclosing reliable, accurate information in a transparent way, which is a very important component to the right to health, we are really seeing the government not fulfilling its duty to protect the right to health to its people.” — Reuters

50 years since warning, smoking still big killer Smoking killed more than six million Britons

PORTLAND: In this Feb. 23, 2012 photo, family nurse practitioner Terrance James, left, examines Kamiyan Cooper, 1, as his mother Kesha Wilson holds him at the Multnomah County’s Mid County Health Center, in Portland, Ore. An overhaul of the Medicaid system just approved in Oregon aims to improve coordination of care between county-run health clinics, hospitals, doctorís offices and mental health providers. — AP

Taiwan plans to lift ban on most drug-treated US beef TAIPEI: Taiwan said yesterday it plans to lift a ban on most US beef containing a controversial growth drug in an apparent bid to facilitate trade talks with Washington, triggering a protest from opponents.

The plan, pending parliament ’s approval, will allow the import of beef treated with ractopamine, a feed additive used to promote leanness in animals raised for meat, a cabinet statement said.

However, internal organs from cattle containing ractopamine will still be banned, as will ractopamine-treated pork products, the cabinet said.

The decision appeared to have backfired with some members of the public, as scores of protesters rallied outside the presidential office in downtown Taipei to demand the government back down. “Bureaucrats kill people,” shouted the protesters, mostly students, as they threw raw beef at a portrait they had brought of President Ma Ying-jeou.

The island’s pig farmers have also been vocal opponents of lifting the ban, vowing to stage a mass protest on Thursday despite the decision. The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) threatened to boycott the plan and even to “dismiss” the cabinet by proposing a no-confidence vote in parliament. “The government claimed there was no timetable but has made this sneaky announcement before public consensus was even reached... The DPP will firmly stick to its stance of opposing the import of beef with rac-

topamine,” it said. The cabinet’s move came after a top US trade official put off a scheduled visit to Taiwan as local health authorities intensified checks on US beef imports containing the growth drug banned in Taiwan.

Washington has recently urged Taipei to ease restrictions on US beef, while some local officials have said that stalled free trade talks between the two sides hinge on the issue. “Since the US has repeatedly stressed that the beef issue is linked to trade talks, it will affect Taiwan-US ties if the issue remains unsolved,” vice economics minister Lin Sheng-chung said according to the United Daily News. Last year, Taiwan pulled from the market US meat with ractopamine, which is also banned in China and the European Union but allowed in countries such as the US, Canada and Brazil.

The American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in Taipei in the absence of formal relations, has defended the safety of US beef. “Countries that banned ractopamine were “unable to document any legitimate food safety risk and used non-scientific reasons to justify their bans,” it said in a statement last week. Taiwan banned all US beef imports in December 2003 over concerns about mad cow disease. In 2006, Taipei relaxed the rules to permit imports of boneless beef. Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but has remained a key ally and a leading arms supplier to the island. —AFP

Vitamin D tied to fewer stress fractures in girls BOSTON: Girls and young women who took lots of vitamin D were half as likely to suffer a stress fracture as those who didn’t get much of the vitamin, according to a US study that followed thousands of girls.

Stress fractures are small cracks in the bones that typically affect people who do lots of high-impact exercise, such as running or gymnastics. They’re especially a concern for teen girls because bone strength at that age is tied to the risk of osteoporosis and more serious injuries later on. “ This study can add to the existing thought that adolescent girls and young women should be particularly cognizant of getting their vitamin D,” said Kendrin Sonneville, from Children’s Hospital Boston, who worked on the study.

Vitamin D is naturally present in fatty fish, but is also added to dairy products like milk and yogurt. Since it’s not always easy to get enough through food, doctors recommend tak ing supplements.

Researchers have wondered whether eating a high-calcium diet with lots of dairy products might protect against stress fractures, but in the study it was high levels of vitamin D that were tied to fewer fractures, not calcium.

For the study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the researchers followed close to 7,000 girls who were the daughters of women participating in the long-term Nurses’ Health Study. Star ting when the girls were between nine and 15-years- old, the researchers surveyed them every year or so between 1996 and 2001 about their

typical eating habits and use of vitamin supplements. From that information they calculated how much vitamin D each girl got in a typical day.

Then, in 2004, Sonneville’s team asked the girls’ mothers whether their daughter had been diagnosed with a stress fracture from 1997. Just under four percent of the girls said they had a stress fracture, with a much higher risk seen among those who did high-impact exercise for at least an hour a day.

While there was no link between how much calcium girls and young women received from their diets and their chance of getting injured, those with the greatest daily vitamin D intake were half as likely to have a stress fracture as those who got the least.

“We know that calcium is important for bone health, so we were surprised to find that vitamin D was only found to be protective,” Sonneville told Reuters Health, adding that vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption.

The findings can’t prove that the vitamin itself prevents fractures, since it’s possible there were other differences between girls who ate high- and low-vitamin D diets that the researchers couldn’t measure. But exper ts said they have found that patients who are taking a longer time to heal from stress fractures often have low levels of vitamin D in their blood, and checking it has become more common. The Institute of Medicine recommends that children and adults get 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. — Reuters

LONDON: Fifty years after top doctors issued their first stark warning about the dangers of cigarettes, more than 20 percent of Britons still smoke - and unless they quit, half of them will die from the habit, health experts yesterday.

Smoking has killed more than six million people in Britain since 1962, when the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published a landmark repor t about the health risks of tobacco.

In a new report to mark the anniversary, the RCP said smoking rates have fallen substantially in Britain the past 50 years, and at least 360,000 deaths from smoking have been prevented as people have accepted health advice and quit. Yet smoking is still the biggest avoidable killer in the UK, said the head of the RCP’s tobacco advisory group John Britton, and some 10 million people are still addicted.

“Smokers smoke because of an addiction to nicotine that is usually established before adulthood. There is so much more that can and should be done to prevent the death, disease and human miser y that smok ing causes,” he said in a statement.

Unless they quit, half of all smokers will die from their habit, which the RCP said equates to a loss of one hundred million years of life in Britain. The World Health Organization ( WHO) describes smoking as “one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced”. It causes lung cancer, which is often fatal, and other chronic respiratory diseases and is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular dis-

eases, the world’s number one killers. The United Nations health body predicts that smok ing could be killing 8 million people every year by 2030 if governments don’t take more action to help people quit. The RCP’s 1962

rette smoking is a cause of lung cancer and bronchitis, and probably contributes to the development of coronary heart disease and various other less common diseases” and “the number of deaths caused by diseases asso-

report on “smoking and health” was the first time senior doctors in Britain had drawn a causal link between smoking and lung cancer, as well as a host of other illnesses. Its conclusion said “ciga-

ciated with smoking is large”.

Two years later in the United States, the Surgeon General’s office issued its 1964 report also warning for the first time that “cigarette smoking is causally

related to lung cancer” and that “the risk of developing lung cancer increases with duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day”.

In Britain, there have been several policy changes aimed at reducing the burden of tobaccorelated death and disease, including a ban on smoking in public places, a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, cigarette price rises, a growth of smoking cessation services and restrictions on the sale of cigarettes to children.

The RCP said while these changes have made a difference, there was much more to be done. Britton called for higher tobacco taxes, noting that although cigarettes are heavily taxed, they are still 50 percent more affordable now in Britain than they were in 1965.

H e s a i d t he gove r nm e nt should also extend smoke-free policies to parks and other public areas, and provide legal prote c t i on for c hi l d re n a ga i ns t smoke in cars and houses. He also called for plain cigarette packaging to remove branding.

Australia is seek ing to become the first nation to introduce plain packaging on tobacco products by the end of 2012. The p a c ks w i l l s how graphic health warnings and banish attractive colours and logos, which particularly attract young p e op l e. Three of the world’s four largest tobacco firms, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco are fighting that move in Australia’s High Court. — Reuters

Cuba to test new AIDS vaccine on humans HAVANA: Cuba’s top biotech teams have successfully tested a new AIDS vaccine on mice, and are ready to soon begin human testing, a leading researcher told a biotechnology conference in Havana on Monday.

“The new AIDS trial vaccine already was tested successfully (on mice) and now we are preparing a very small, tightly controlled phase one clinical trial” with HIV-positive patients who are not in the advanced stages of disease, researcher Enrique Iglesias said.

Iglesias, who heads up the vaccine development team at the Biotech and Genetic Engineering Center (CIGB) here, was speaking at

the International Biotech Conference-Havana 2012, which started Monday in Cuba’s capital.

He told the crowd at the convention center that the vaccine TERAVAC-HIV-1 was made from recombinant proteins aiming “to cause a cellular response against the (HIV) virus.”

While upbeat, the Cuban expert was quick to downplay high hopes for a long-awaited successful AIDS vaccine. “So far, there have been more than 100 clinical tests (on humans) with HIV” in Cuba and other countries, “and all of them have failed,” he stressed.

Cuba, the Americas’ only one -party Communist-ruled state, spends more than $200

Australian floods to bring bumper farming year SYDNEY: Drenching rains that have caused widespread flooding in southeastern Australia will bring a bumper year for farmers, the agriculture minister said yesterday, with forecasts at their best in 30 years. ABARES, Australia’s commodities forecaster, said farm production would jump by 4.2 percent in the 2011-12 financial year and be 5.4 percent higher than that by 2016-17 as the climate moderated and crops thrived due to moist soil.

“Following the wettest two-year period on record during 2010 and 2011 and generally wet conditions in early 2012, the climate is expected to move to neutral or drier conditions in the next few years,” ABARES said in its quarterly agricultural commodities outlook.

“The widespread rainfall of the past two years has replenished soil moisture and water storages, which is expected to support agricultural production in most areas of Australia in the short-term.” ABARES said agricultural exports would be worth Aus$35.5 billion in 2011-12 and ease to Aus$35.1 billion in 2012-13. Cotton, grain sorghum, wine, canola, beef, veal and sheep meat would have the best seasons. Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the sector could expect a strong year. “For the first time in more than 30 years the ABARES survey data shows both strong average farm business profits and positive rates of return for broadacre farms in all states and all broadacre industries,” Ludwig said.

“Farm cash incomes in a number of eastern states are projected to be between 20 to 70 percent higher than the average over the past 10 years.” ABARES said the Australian dollar, which has traded near or above parity with the greenback for 18 months, was likely to remain “relatively high” in the next two years at an average US$1.04 in 2011-12 and $1.03 in 201213. “Assumed strong commodity demand, especially for mineral resources, will likely provide support for world commodity prices and, hence, Australia’s export earnings and terms of trade,” the forecaster said. — AFP

million a year on its AIDS prevention and care programs, including free care with antiretrovirals, some of them Cuban-made. The CIGB, which groups about 20 research units on Havana’s leafy western end, is the engine behind a major Cuban export: biotech products including vaccines and other drugs.

The Caribbean country exports $400 million a year in these products, making them its official number-two export after nickel. Some 600 scientists from about 38 countries are taking part in the event including Nobel-winning US chemist Peter Agre, also a medical doctor and molecular biologist. — AFP

California’s cellphone restrictions save lives SACRAMENTO: California’s nearly four-year-old ban on drivers using handheld cellphones is saving lives, according to a University of California, Berkeley, study released Monday.

The study found that overall traffic deaths dropped 22 percent, while deaths blamed on drivers using hand-held cellphones were down 47 percent. Deaths among drivers who use hands-free phones dropped at a similar rate.

The university’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center examined deaths for two years before and two years after the cellphone ban took effect in July 2008. It found a similar drop in injuries attributed to drivers’ cellphone use. The number of deaths among drivers using hand-held phones fell from 100 to 53 during that period, while the number of injuries dropped from 7,720 to 3,862. The California Office of Traffic Safety, which sought the study, said deaths and injuries are declining in part because of an overall decrease in drivers using cellphones.

An unrelated survey commissioned by the state last summer found 40 percent of drivers say they talk less while driving since the ban took effect, even if they have a legal hands-free device. The California survey, which included 1,801 drivers 18 and over at gas stations in 15 counties, tracked a similar finding in 2010 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The institute’s survey found that 44 percent of drivers in states with cellphone bans said they don’t use their phones while driving, compared with 30 percent in states that let drivers use hand-held cellphones.

Two previous studies, one by the nonprofit

RAND Corp. and another by an affiliate of the insurance institute, found no overall reduction in vehicle crashes after the cellphone law took effect. The university said its study is the first to look specifically at collisions involving cellphone use. The university findings surprised neither critics nor supporters of the state law.

“When you ban something, you’re going to have less of it,” said Sen. Doug LaMalfa, RWillows. “Of course the numbers are going to go down.”

Instead of looking for illegal cellphone use, LaMalfa said police should be on watch for erratic drivers no matter if they are distracted by cellphones, putting on makeup, shaving, or changing compact discs in a stereo system. The Department of Motor Vehicles reported 460,487 handheld cellphone convictions last year, up 52 percent from the 301,833 convictions in 2009. Sen Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, who authored the cellphone law, said he was gratified by the study’s findings but thinks the state could do better if the financial penalty was higher. He plans to amend his SB1310 to raise the current base penalty for a first offense from $20 to $30, with the additional $10 going to driver education programs. With court and other fees, a first offense currently costs drivers at least $159. Gov Jerry Brown last year vetoed a bill, SB28, that would have raised the base fine to $50. Brown said current penalties should be enough to deter illegal cellphone use.

“Distracted driving laws can and do save lives,” said Simitian, adding that, “as good as these numbers are, they could be better” with a higher fine and more education.— AP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

H E A LT H

Alien invasion a threat to Antarctic ecosystem SYDNEY: In the pristine frozen continent of Antarctica scientists fear an alien invasion-not from outer space, but carried in people’s pockets and bags.

Seeds and plants accidentally brought to Antarctica by tourists and scientists may introduce alien plant species which could threaten the survival of native plants in the finely balanced ecosystem.

Invasive alien plants are amongst the most significant conservation threat to Antarctica, especially as climate change warms the ice continent, said a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Journal published yesterday. More than 33,000 tourists and 7,000 scientists visit Antarctica each year by ship and aircraft, and a two month survey of visitors has found that many are carr ying plant seeds picked up from other countries they have already visited.

The study vacuumed travelers’ pockets, trouser and sleeve cuffs, shoes and inside their bags, and used tweezers to pry out accidentally hidden seeds. On average each person checked had just 9.5 seeds in clothing and equipment.

“The people that were carrying the most had lots and lots of seeds. They really were substantial threats,” said Dana Bergstrom, from the Australian Antarc tic Division. “ When we take things in through hitchhiking then we get species which are competitive. The plants and animals there are not necessarily competitive, so there’s a good chance... we’d start losing various precious biodiversity on the (Antarctic)

continent”, Bergstrom told Reuters.

Amongst the alien species discovered were the Iceland Poppy, Tall Fescue Velvet grass and Annual Winter Grassall from cold climates and capable of growing in Antarctica. The Antarctic Peninsula, where most tourists travel, is now considered a “hot spot” on the frozen continent and the warmer the climate, the easier for seeds to propagate.

“The peninsula is warming at some of the greatest rates on the planet,” said Bergstrom. The study, the first continent-wide assessment of invasive species in Antarctica, surveyed about 1,000 passengers during 2007-2008, the first year of the International Polar Year, an international effort to research the polar regions. It has taken almost three years to identify the seed species and their effects on the ic y continent.

Bergstrom said the one alien seed that had gained a foothold is Annual Winter Grass . It is a substantial weed in the sub-Antarctic and is on the Antarctic island of King George. It has also made its way to the tail part of the Antarctic continent. “ That ’s just one example of the weeds we picked up and a population of it has just been found in the last couple of seasons,” she said. Annual Winter Grass grows very well in disturbed areas like seal and penguin areas, and could propagate amongst the slow growing mosses around those colonies. “If it got into those areas in the peninsula it would have the potential to overrun things,” Bergstrom said. — Reuters

Normal protein levels are enough to build muscles BERLIN: Many health-conscious men want the body of a Mister Universe, but the common conception that muscles are built up by consuming protein before or after training is not entirely correct.

This is according to Professor Ingo Froboese from the Centre for Health at the German Sport High School in Cologne. “Of course your body should get a well balanced diet, with enough protein, during intensive training.” But Froboese says normal, everyday foods contain all the protein you need.

Protein is a very important part of our nutritional intake. Not only bodybuilders but ordinary athletes need to make sure they get enough of it. According to Froboese, between 0.8 and 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight are enough to cover the needs of the average sportsperson per day.

“But anyone who goes above that is not only wasting money, they are also ‘displacing’ their normal metabolic function towards protein-metabolism.” That can be a problem, especially for the kidneys. “The best thing to do is to eat a balanced diet. Ordinary food will have enough protein in it.”

Broadly speaking, protein cannot be stored by the body. That explains why it should be a part of every meal, especially evening meals.

At night time the human body requires lots of protein. “Only when your body has been exposed to an extremely high form of strain, such as running a marathon or during a very intense period of muscle training, should you increase your protein intake - and then only for a maximum of between two and four weeks,” says Froboese. In that period you are

allowed between two and three grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. After that phase you should quickly reduce intake to a normal level.

The body increases muscle mass by applying protein structures to each individual muscle fibre, which make it seem “thicker.”

Muscles change their size by letting each fibre grow bigger. Training causes this by stimulating the body to store more protein

than it normally would. “This happens most efficiently during very intense exercise.”

Taking muscles to the edge of their capacity is the best method.

“This form of training determines what happens next,” says Froboese. “Without this, we could take in as much protein as we want, but the only thing that would grow on our bodies are our stomachs. That’s because excess protein is converted into fat.” — dpa

High protein foods.

US insurers to cover women’s contraception choice ALBANY: New York state warned health insurers they would lose state contracts if women on Medicaid are denied their choice of higher-cost, brand-name contraceptives unless cheaper, generic methods “fail first.”

The move comes after The Associated Press reported Monday that some New York Medicaid patients were told they had to switch to lower-cost contraceptives unless the cheaper measures failed, resulting in pregnancy, bleeding or nausea. The conflict stems from an apparently unintended consequence of a cost-cutting measure in effect since October. That state measure sought to substitute a cheaper, generic birth control pill for contraceptives such as the monthly NuvaRing or weekly patch. “If a health plan is not attentive to the needs of

its patients, they will no longer be a contracted health plan with New York’s Medicaid program,” said James Introne, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s deputy secretary for health. “If there is resulting patient discomfort with a health care plan or its policies, it is a situation that the state will remedy.”

Introne said that although he sees no “significant level of complaints,” it is critical for women to be comfortable with their birth control method. “A woman’s ability to access birth control is a priority for New York’s Medicaid program,” Introne said.

Leslie Moran of the New York Health Plan Association, a statewide health insurance industry lobbying group, said companies are working to resolve disputes. “Plans have worked with the state, and continue

working with the Department of Health, to both assure access and to address any issues that might arise in a timely manner,” Moran said. “As previously indicated, all plans cover a variety of contraceptive methods - generics, brand name or both because they are committed to ensuring women have access to this important coverage.”

The state, women’s health advocates and insurance companies had been working on the issue since shortly after Oct. 1 when the change took effect.

Contraceptives work best when women are comfortable with them, and a change can trigger adverse physical reactions, said M. Tracey Brooks, CEO of Family Planning Advocates in Albany. In addition, telling a

woman she must stop using her weekly or monthly contraceptive and instead take a daily pill could lead to a greater chance of forgetting to take the daily dose, which must be done at the same time of day.

“Once again, Governor Cuomo has stood up for the women of New York State and has ensured that Medicaid meets their family planning needs,” Brooks said in a statement reacting to Introne’s announcement. The state’s Medicaid cost-cutting effort, which has reduced billions of dollars in government costs for the federal-state health care program for the poor. Before the state undertook the effort, it had been spending as much as $53 billion annually on a program that was the most expensive and most generous in the nation in terms

of optional services for its nearly 5 million residents on Medicaid. One measure that took effect Oct. 1 required private insurers in the managed care program to use generic prescriptions whenever possible.

Not all participating private insurers cover the once-a-month NuvaRing or weekly patch contraceptives, which would leave some women who receive Medicaid unable to get those devices. Further, the insurers that do offer one or more of the newer contraceptives have denied the doctor-prescribed contraceptive under the directive.

Some women appealed the decision, which is allowed under the state regulations, although the state has no data on how many have done so.

30

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N Kuwait KMCC new committee 2012-13

K

uwait Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KKMCC) National Council has elected its new National Committee office bearers for the year 2012-2013.

Sharafuddeen Kanneth is elected as president, Basheer Batha as General Secretary and Nazeer Khan as Treasurer.

Sayed Naser Mashhoor Thangal is the chairman. Abdul Raheem, H. Ibrahim Kutty, Azeez Thikkodi and KTP Abdul Rahiman are vice presidents. Hussain Pattambi, Iqbal Maviladam, Habeeb Muttichoor and Saleem Kottayil are secretaries. P. Abdul Rasheed is the auditor. T.T. Saleem , Siddeeque Valiyakath, Sayed Ghalib Mashoor Thangal and A.K. Mahmoud are advisory board members.

IUML state secretary Adv. K.N.A. Khader supervised the election procedure. Kuwait KMCC is in the forefront of social activities for more than 35years and serving the society appreciably. Its unique ventures like social security scheme, student adoption scheme, house construction aid, Shihab Thangal Relief and other relief and social activities are acknowledged and appreciated by society. It extends helping hand to the less privileged in Kuwait and India. It supported the poor and needy, and intervenes in many issues of lay men in Kuwait and back home. Helping the sick, especially with kidney problems through CH center, is another major venture taken up by the association. Kuwait KMCC consists of 12 area committees and 70plus unit committees. As an extension of IUML, it also conducts other public programs as well.

Announcements Desert get-together A full day in the desert with the collaboration of the BBF (British Business Forum), BLS (British Ladies Society), ANZAK (Australians & New Zealanders), Diwaniya Italia (Italians in Kuwait), UFE (French Community in Kuwait), and the Lebanese community as well. It’s a get together day with loads of fun and a chance to compete in a real Paint Ball arena in the desert, participate in a mini football tournament & volley ball tournament, and there will also be many other activities such as ATV (Quads) Karaoke and more! A BBQ buffet catering will be provided by Holiday Inn Salmiya, and entertainment will be provided by DJ Shatti and Chromatic Band). For more information and early booking please call 5010-0734.

Latin Party Sizzling Latin Party at the Swiss Hotel Plaza†in Kuwait CIty (next to Al-Mouthana Complex)! The “fiesta” will be on March 16th, beginning at 8:30pm and will continue until 1:30am. For more information call Yolanda at 9922-4228 or Frank at 97396187.

TIES Ladies Club The TIES Ladies Club invites you to their Kuwaiti cuisine cooking classes which will start soon. Join them for a one month cooking program where you will learn to cook real Kuwaiti food. All ladies are invited to join their classes and let your family enjoy mouth watering Kuwaiti cuisine! on March 15th - April 5th frpm 6 pm to 8 pm. For more information/ registration: 2523-1015/6 or 9722-8860/9779-3440.

Quiz night The TIES Center Ladies Club invites all ladies to an educational and entertaining quiz night session. Feel free to come with†your family and enjoy this fun night together.

Refreshments will be provided on March 14th from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. For more information/ registration: 2523-1015/6 or 9722-8860/9779-3440.

What do you get...

When you mix African drums with a herd of elephants and delicious food, to which you add lots of African music & rhythms, unique fashion in a flavor of colors, a few drops of a sleepy panther, a mini African market and just the right amount of leopard spots... all sprinkled with inimitable African spirit? Come and find out on Thursday, 22 March At Holiday Inn Hotel (Salmiya), Al Dana Ballroom from 7 pm - 10 pm For details regarding participation in the kids’ contest “Best African Costume”, e contact Lorie Beverly at lorie@indigoshadowsevents.com Kuwait Improv Fun lovers of Kuwait unite. A get together by people who love to surprise, be surprised and just be about at anything are welcome to Kuwait Improv, a gathering, reminiscent of the famous American TV program Whose Line is it Anyway, informally organized by American School of Kuwait teacher Brad Manker. No histrionic talent required, but a willingness to share. Please contact: mankerb@ask.edu Mega musical program in April Pravasaandhra Telugu Desam, Kuwait released publicity material and poster for prominent Telugu film hero Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Kuwait visit and upcoming mega musical program on April 6. Pravasaandhra Telugu Desam, NBK Seva Samithi organizing mega musical program with famous Telugu singers Simha and Kosalya troupe in Abbasiya open park next month. Balakrishna will be participating as the chief guest at this event. Nandamuri Balakrishna is popularly known as “Balayya” and “NBK” by his fans and admirers. He is the son of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu film legend Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. 7th annual PAWS dog show Registration is now open for entry into the 2012 ‘PAWS for the Cause’ Kuwait Dog Show. The show will take place in the beautiful gardens of the British Embassy on Friday March 9th from 11 - 4pm. Join us for a variety of lighthearted dog shows, Best junior Handler, Most Mysterious Heritage and the Pet Pageant, (to name but a few). Shop for pet products, visit a variety of stalls, strut your mutt for others to admire or enjoy a tasty lunch in the gardens.

PAWS’ Dog Show is always a fun filled event for all the family, whether or not you own a pet’ If you wish to enter your dog into the show, or attend without pets, download the registration form from the PAWS’ website www.paws-kuwait.org This is strictly a pre registered event and no ‘walk-ins’ by un registered guests can be permitted. Full names of all attendees must be submitted in advance via the show registration form (on website). All participating dogs must be pre registered and adult Civil ID (or passport) must be shown on entrance.

Completed registration forms can be left at drop off points on certain days, details of these will be found on our website.

Please ensure you bring your form with correct admission fee to one of these venues. Registration closes March 3rd. It is not necessary to own or bring a dog in order to enjoy a fun-filled family day out. Entry is strictly by pre-registration of pets and people. Please read show rules and regulations on the Registration Form carefully. No mobile phones or cameras will be allowed into the embassy.

Jordan Engineers’ Union holds annual spring break

J

ordan Engineers Union, Kuwait, held its third annual spring break for its members, their families and guests. Deputy Chairman Engineer Rasheed Al-Najjar, welcomed the guests and in his opening speech wished them a good day. He said he was happy with the annual gathering,

which engineers are getting used to. AlNajjar congratulated HH the Amir, government and people on the occasion of National and Liberation days and wished Kuwait continued success under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad and the wise government. He also

thanked sponsor companies Kuwait Times, Al-Sanabel Al-Thahabeyah Est., Dark of Scull Co, Off Shore Safety Equipment, SKM Air Conditioning Equipment, Al-Ahlia Contracting Group, U-Mark Electronics & Electrical Appliances and Al-Taibawi Sweets.

Al-Najjar also thanked union committee

members in Kuwait: Chairman Eng. Ghassan Thiyab, Chairman of Subscribers Services Committee Eng. Wael Eid, Treasurer and Secretary Eng. Hilda Abdelqader, Chairman of Science Committee Eng. Nahal Kamal and committee member Eng. Emad Abu Shanab.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

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

Beach outing for The Sunshine Kindergarten

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he children from the Creche, PreKindergarten and Kindergarten classes at The Sunshine Kindergarten (TSK) in Salwa, enjoyed a trip out to the beach last week.

Every day between 70 and 100 children packed up their sand toys, balls, hoops and skipping ropes and boarded the bus to go to Egaila Beach for a cou-

ple of hours of fun in the sun!

Although the weather wasn’t always hot, the children didn’t mind. They ran around on the sand, built sand castles, collected shells, played on the slides and swings and worked up an appetite ready for snack time back at TSK. Going on out of school trips as part of a group builds up a real sense of com-

munity in our nursery children. They learn to be part of a larger family unit and start to enjoy spending time with their friends in a different setting. Outof-school trips are not just fun, they are part of the Personal, Social & Emotional Development (PSED) of young children and are an integral part of The Early Years Foundation Stage. At The

Sunshine Kindergarten, the teaching team plans for at least one trip per term and you can count on them all being fun and full of active learning experiences!

As you can see from the photographs, the children at The Sunshine Kindergarten are always smiling, and who can blame them!

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 A.M until 12:00 P.M 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 CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy has moved. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies. Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine). nnnnnnn

GUST welcomes Legend Andy Cole from Manchester United

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed tomorrow, March 8, 2012 on account of ‘Holi’”. 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

T

hanks to Turkish Airlines, the official partner of Manchester United, the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST)was honored to welcome former Manchester United Striker Andrew Cole, known to his fans as Andy Cole for an autograph opportunity for the GUST students and employees.

Turkish Airlines prides itself as being “The Wings of Champions - Uniting Fans Globally,” and that they have! The students were ecstatic. They waited for Cole to arrive and werequeued in line with their memorabiliaeagerly waiting

for them to be signed including of course their Manchester United jerseys!

It was a moment none of them will forget, neither will GUST, who has also hosted former Brazilian super-footballers, Bebeto, Aldair, Marcelo and Ricardo Rocha. But Cole is part of the students’ generation; they group up with him as leader in the football arena and respect him for it.

A retired footballer, Cole currently works as a football coach. In his career, Cole was the second-highest goal scorer in Premier League history where he scored a total of 187 league goals. Cole

is one of the few players in England to have swept all honors in the English game, including the PFA Young Player of the Year award and the coveted UEFA Champions League title. Cole was also capped fifteen times for England between 1995 and 2001, scoring once, against Albania in a World Cup Qualifier. He announced his retirement from football on 11 November 2008.

GUST would like to thank the renowned Andrew Cole and Turkish Airlines for their visit immensely and hope for more collaborations in the future.

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved 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.

Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com 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 VENEZUELA Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, request Venezuelan citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy, This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Venezuelan citizens in cases os emergencies. Registration Information 25324367 or by email: embavenez@gmail.com. Our time is from Sunday to Thursday from 8.30am till 2 pm. 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.

PGA Everton teams compete in UAE

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he Premier GOAL Academy in association with Everton F.C. and sponsored by Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Co. enjoyed a trip to Dubai recently where they participated in an International Football Tournament at Sharjah University. Three PGA teams competed at Under 10, 11 and 13 age groups with over 40 young players taking part. Each team played 6 matches in the leagues with the teams from Kuwait all finishing in a very creditable 3rd place against strong opposi-

tion from throughout the UAE. Following a full day of football, the players then enjoyed some well earned leisure time with visits to the Shopping Malls, the Aquarium and finally a Hawaii Bowling Tournament. The next PGA coaching course begins this coming Friday 9th March at Shaab Park, registrations for all interested boys and girls aged 3 to 17 years are taking place at the PGA Shaab Park office from 5-7pm daily. For further information visit; www.PGA-kuwait.com.kw

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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00:20 Karina: Wild On Safari 00:50 Animal Cops Specials 2009 01:45 Untamed & Uncut 02:40 Shark Attack Survival Guide 03:35 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer 04:30 Karina: Wild On Safari 05:25 Swarm Chasers 06:20 Escape To Chimp Eden 06:45 In Too Deep 07:10 Animal Precinct 08:00 Orangutan Island 08:25 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 08:50 Talk To The Animals 09:15 The Really Wild Show 09:40 Cats Of Claw Hill 10:10 My Cat From Hell 11:05 Swarm Chasers 12:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 12:55 RSPCA: On The Frontline 13:20 Wildlife SOS 13:50 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer 14:45 Animal Cops Houston 15:40 Swarm Chasers 16:30 Shamwari: A Wild Life 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 18:00 Talk To The Animals 18:25 Dogs 101 19:20 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 20:15 Orangutan Island 20:40 Wildlife SOS 21:10 Escape To Chimp Eden 21:35 Planet Wild 22:05 Swarm Chasers 23:00 Wild Animal Orphans 23:55 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz

00:00 00:50 01:20 01:50 02:40 03:10 03:45 04:15 04:35 04:45 05:00 05:05 05:25 05:35 05:50 06:10 06:20 06:35 06:45 06:50 07:10 07:20 07:35 08:05 08:35 09:20 09:50 10:20 11:10 11:40 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:45 14:15 14:45 15:35 16:05 16:25 17:10 17:40 18:10 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:50 21:25 21:55 22:45 23:15

Holby City Eastenders Doctors Red Cap 2 Point 4 Children dinnerladies My Family Me Too! Charlie and Lola Gigglebiz Poetry Pie Fimbles 3rd & Bird Nina And The Neurons Me Too! Charlie and Lola Gigglebiz Boogie Beebies Poetry Pie Fimbles 3rd & Bird Nina And The Neurons 2 Point 4 Children dinnerladies The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Holby City Mastermind Doctor Who Confidential My Family 2 Point 4 Children The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Holby City Mastermind Doctor Who Confidential The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Casualty 2 Point 4 Children One Foot In The Grave Lark Rise to Candleford dinnerladies My Family Last Woman Standing One Foot In The Grave The Weakest Link

00:00 00:50 02:30 02:50 03:40

Antiques Roadshow French Food At Home French Food At Home 10 Years Younger Celebrity Fantasy Homes

04:25 05:15 06:00 08:50 09:10 10:00 10:25 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:35 14:25 15:15 16:00 16:45 17:30 18:20 18:40 19:00 20:40 21:05 21:55 22:45 23:35

Celebrity Fantasy Homes House Swap French Food At Home French Food At Home MasterChef Australia MasterChef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger What Not To Wear What Not To Wear Fantasy Homes By The Sea House Swap Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic USA Cash In The Attic USA French Food At Home French Food At Home 10 Years Younger What Not To Wear What Not To Wear Bargain Hunt

00:00 BBC World News America 00:30 Hardtalk 01:00 BBC World News 01:30 World Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News America 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 BBC World News 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Asia Business Report 06:45 Sport Today 07:00 Newsday 07:30 Hardtalk 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 World Business Report 11:45 Sport Today 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 Hardtalk 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 BBC World News 15:00 GMT With George Alagiah 15:30 GMT With George Alagiah 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 BBC World News 21:30 World Business Report 21:45 Sport Today 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 23:30 World Business Report 23:45 Sport Today

00:00 00:20 00:45 01:10 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:40 04:00

Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley New Yogi Bear Show Duck Dodgers The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Jetsons Puppy In My Pocket Popeye Tom & Jerry

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

Years

04:25 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:00 06:25 06:50 07:00 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:00 09:25 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 17:15 17:40 18:05 18:20 19:10 19:35 Doo 20:00 20:15 20:40 21:05 21:30 21:55 22:20 22:45 23:10

Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races The Flintstones A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye Classics The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals 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 Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry 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! Droopy: Master Detective

00:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson 01:00 Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 The Situation Room 03:00 World Report 04:00 Anderson Cooper 360 05:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 06:00 Quest Means Business 07:00 Erin Burnett Outfront 08:00 World Sport 08:30 News Special 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Report 11:00 World Sport 11:30 Inside Africa 12:00 World Business Today 13:00 Backstory 13:30 Inside The Middle East 14:00 World One 15:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 16:00 News Stream 17:00 World Business Today 18:00 International Desk 19:00 Global Exchange 20:00 World Sport 20:30 Inside The Middle East 21:00 International Desk 22:00 Quest Means Business 23:00 Piers Morgan Tonight

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25

X-MEN ON OSN ACTION HD

Destroyed In Seconds Get Out Alive Dirty Jobs Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How Does It Work How It’s Made Dirty Jobs Mythbusters Deception With Keith Barry Mythbusters How Does It Work Cake Boss Border Security Dirty Money Extreme Loggers

15:05 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Extreme Loggers Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Cash Cab Us Border Security Dirty Money How It’s Made How Does It Work Cake Boss The Future Of...

Mythbusters Deception With Keith Barry

00:40 Engineered 01:35 Moon Machines 02:25 The Tech Show 02:50 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 03:40 Meteorite Men 04:35 How Does That Work?

05:00 How Stuff’s Made 05:25 Science Of The Movies 06:20 Thunder Races 07:10 Moon Machines 08:00 The Gadget Show 08:25 The Gadget Show 08:50 How Does That Work?

09:15 How Stuff’s Made 09:40 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 10:35 Meteorite Men 11:25 Engineered 12:20 Thunder Races 13:15 Moon Machines 14:05 Science Of The Movies 14:55 How Does That Work?

15:20 How Stuff’s Made 15:50 The Gadget Show 16:15 The Gadget Show 16:40 The Tech Show 17:05 Thunder Races 18:00 Engineered 18:50 Moon Machines 19:40 Weird Or What?

20:30 What’s That About?

21:20 The Gadget Show 21:45 The Gadget Show 22:10 Thunder Races 23:00 Weird Or What?

23:50 What’s That About?

00:15 Fairly Odd Parents 00:40 Fairly Odd Parents 01:05 BRANDY & MR WHISKERS 01:30 BRANDY & MR WHISKERS 01:55 REPLACEMENTS 02:20 REPLACEMENTS 02:45 EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL 03:10 EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL 03:35 BRANDY & MR WHISKERS 04:00 BRANDY & MR WHISKERS 04:25 REPLACEMENTS 04:50 REPLACEMENTS 05:15 Fairly Odd Parents 05:35 Fairly Odd Parents 06:00 FISH HOOKS 06:15 RECESS 06:40 TIMON AND PUMBAA 07:05 PHINEAS AND FERB 07:30 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 07:55 FISH HOOKS 08:20 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 08:45 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 09:10 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 09:25 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 09:35 HANDY MANNY 09:49 THE HIVE 10:00 RECESS 10:25 SO RANDOM 10:45 HAVE A LAUGH 10:50 HANNAH MONTANA 11:15 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 11:40 JAKE & BLAKE 12:05 SONNY WITH A CHANCE 12:30 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 12:55 PHINEAS AND FERB 13:20 SO RANDOM 13:45 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 14:10 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 14:35 SHAKE IT UP 15:00 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 15:25 A.N.T. FARM 15:50 PHINEAS AND FERB 16:15 RECESS 16:40 SO RANDOM 17:05 FISH HOOKS S2 SPLITS 17:16 FISH HOOKS S2 SPLITS 17:30 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 17:55 SHAKE IT UP 18:20 A.N.T. FARM 18:45 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 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 21:40 RECESS 22:05 Good Luck Charlie 22:30 Good Luck Charlie 22:55 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 23:20 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 23:45 KIM POSSIBLE

00:20 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 00:35 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 00:50 LazyTown 01:15 LITTLE EINSTEINS 01:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 01:55 JUNGLE JUNCTION 02:10 LITTLE EINSTEINS 02:30 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 02:45 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 03:00 LazyTown 03:25 LITTLE EINSTEINS 03:50 JUNGLE JUNCTION 04:05 JUNGLE JUNCTION 04:20 LITTLE EINSTEINS 04:40 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 04:55 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 05:10 LazyTown 05:35 LITTLE EINSTEINS 06:00 JUNGLE JUNCTION 06:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 06:30 LITTLE EINSTEINS 06:50 LazyTown 07:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 07:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 07:45 HANDY MANNY 08:00 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 08:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 08:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 08:45 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 09:10 THE HIVE 09:20 HANDY MANNY 09:35 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 09:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND

PIRATES 10:15 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 10:20 MOUK 10:32 MOUK 10:45 THE HIVE 10:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 11:20 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 11:45 ART ATTACK 12:10 IMAGINATION MOVERS 12:35 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 12:45 LazyTown 13:10 HANDY MANNY 13:25 JUNGLE JUNCTION 13:40 IMAGINATION MOVERS 14:05 THE HIVE 14:15 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 14:25 LITTLE EINSTEINS 14:50 LazyTown 15:15 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 15:45 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 16:05 MOUK 16:25 HANDY MANNY 16:40 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 16:55 IMAGINATION MOVERS 17:20 LazyTown 17:45 ART ATTACK 18:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 18:35 HANDY MANNY 18:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 19:10 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 19:35 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 20:00 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 20:05 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 20:25 101 DALMATIANS 20:50 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:05 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:20 THE HIVE 21:30 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 21:35 A POEM IS...

21:40 ANIMATED STORIES 21:45 MOUK 22:00 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 22:25 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 22:40 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 22:55 LITTLE EINSTEINS 23:20 TIMMY TIME 23:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 23:45 HANDY MANNY 23:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 20 Hottest Women Of The Web 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 20 Acts Of Love Gone Wrong 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Bridalplasty 10:15 50 Most Insane Celebrity Oops 12:05 E! News 13:05 Ice Loves Coco 13:35 Ice Loves Coco 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Dirty Soap 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Khloe And Lamar 20:25 Khloe And Lamar 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:40 01:30 02:15 03:05 03:50 04:40 05:25 06:15 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:25 11:10 11:35 11:55 12:40 13:25 14:15 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:35 17:20 18:10 19:00 19:45 20:10 20:55 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

Extreme Forensics The Haunted A Haunting Couples Who Kill Deadly Women Extreme Forensics The Haunted A Haunting Killer Outbreaks FBI Case Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Killer Outbreaks Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Murder Shift Killer Outbreaks Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared FBI Case Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Killer Outbreaks Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared I Almost Got Away With It Cuff Me If You Can

01:10 01:25 03:10 05:00 06:40 08:30 10:35 12:15 14:20 16:00 17:50 18:05 20:25 22:00 23:35

Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM The Red Shoe Diaries-18 Cop Dangerous Game After Dark, My Sweet Man Of LA Mancha-PG Halls Of Anger-PG Asteroid-U Big Stickup At Brink’s-PG Inherit The Wind-PG Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM Avanti-PG Marshal Law-18 Miami Blues-18 Stay Hungry

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00

Dive Detectives A World Apart Treks In A Wild World Endurance Traveller On The Camino De Santiago

BURLESQUE ON OSN CINEMA 04:30 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

Warrior Road Trip Sahara Sprinters Dive Detectives A World Apart Treks In A Wild World Endurance Traveller On The Camino De Santiago Warrior Road Trip Sahara Sprinters Dive Detectives On Surfari Word of Mouth The Frankincense Trail Don’t Tell My Mother Don’t Tell My Mother Adventure Wanted A World Apart Treks In A Wild World Treks In A Wild World On Surfari Word of Mouth The Frankincense Trail Don’t Tell My Mother Don’t Tell My Mother Adventure Wanted A World Apart

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:15 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Survival Of The Dead-18 The Silence Of The Lambs-18 So Close-PG15 Ong Bak 2-PG15 The Next Karate Kid-PG Coach Carter-PG15 X-Men-PG15 The Next Karate Kid-PG Largo Winch 2-PG15 X-Men-PG15 Let Me In-R The Grudge 3-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 PG15 15:00 17:00 18:45 21:00 23:00

Pete Smalls Is Dead-18 Green Zone-PG15 My Sassy Girl-PG15 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 Ramona And Beezus-PG The 19th Wife-PG15 Justice For Natalee HollowayMy Dog Tulip-PG15 Mars Needs Moms-PG Burlesque-PG15 Middle Men-18 A Perfect Getaway-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Weeds 02:00 The Ricky Gervais Show 02:30 The Cleveland Show 03:00 The Simpsons 03:30 Mr. Sunshine 04:00 Dharma And Greg 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Seinfeld 06:00 Just Shoot Me 06:30 Til Death 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Dharma And Greg 08:30 The Simpsons 09:00 Seinfeld 09:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 10:30 Til Death 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Just Shoot Me 12:30 Dharma And Greg 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Til Death 14:00 Mr. Sunshine 14:30 Hot In Cleveland 15:00 Two And A Half Men 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Just Shoot Me 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Mr. Sunshine 19:00 Two And A Half Men 19:30 Hot In Cleveland 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Angry Boys 22:30 The Ricky Gervais Show 23:00 The Cleveland Show 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Private Practice Royal Pains Pillars Of The Earth Grey’s Anatomy Bones Live Good Morning America The Good Guys Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Private Practice Grey’s Anatomy The Good Guys Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Once Upon A Time Falling Skies Strike Back Luck Bones

00:00 01:00 02:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:10

Smallville Pillars Of The Earth Royal Pains One Tree Hill Smallville Emmerdale Coronation Street Parenthood Royal Pains Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Parenthood Smallville Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Parenthood Once Upon A Time Falling Skies Strike Back Luck Game Of Thrones

01:00 Fear Island-PG15 03:00 So Close-PG15 05:00 Dead Presidents-18 07:00 Arctic Predator-PG15 09:00 The Three Musketeers-PG15 11:00 Star Trek: First Contact-PG 13:00 The Haunting Of Molly Hartley-18 14:30 The Three Musketeers-PG15 16:15 2012-PG15 19:00 Child’s Play 2-18 21:00 Icarus-18 23:00 Maximum Risk-18

00:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 02:00 Kuffs-PG 04:00 Frank McKlusky, C.I.-PG15 06:00 Sgt. Bilko-PG 08:00 Did You Hear About The Morgans?-PG15 10:00 Bubble Boy-PG15 12:00 Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement-FAM 14:00 Roommates-PG15 16:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 18:00 The Lonely Guy-PG15 20:00 Idle Hands-18 22:00 The Slammin’ Salmon-18

00:45 Sideways-18 03:00 The Silence Of The Lambs-18 05:00 Ma Vie N’est Pas Une Comedie Romantique-PG15 07:00 Return To Rajapur-PG15 09:00 Who Is Clark Rockefeller-PG 10:45 Mary, Queen Of Scots-PG15 13:00 Bond Of Silence-PG15 15:00 Free Style (2008)-PG15 17:00 Timeline-PG15 19:00 Oscar And The Lady In PinkPG15 21:00 Grace Of My Heart-PG15 23:00 Agora-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 PG15 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Shanghai-PG15 Love Happens-PG15 Waiting For Superman-PG15 Dear John-PG15 Cinema Verite-PG15 My Girlfriend’s BoyfriendHow To Train Your Dragon-PG Remember Me-PG15 Cinema Verite-PG15 Cop Out-PG15 Middle Men-18 Idle Hands-18

01:00 02:00 02:30 03:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:30 13:00 16:30 17:30 18:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Super Rugby Highlights Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport Premier League Darts Super Rugby Highlights Futbol Mundial Super Rugby ODI Cricket Highlights Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Premier League Darts Super Rugby Highlights Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport UFC Super League Trans World Sport

00:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 ICC Cricket World 02:00 Super Rugby 04:00 Super Rugby 06:00 ICC Cricket World 06:30 ODI Cricket Highlights 07:00 Futbol Mundial 07:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 08:00 Scottish Premier League 10:00 World Cup Of Pool 11:00 World Pool Masters 12:00 Ping Pong World Championship 13:00 ODI Cricket Highlights 13:30 NRL Premiership 15:30 Futbol Mundial 16:00 Golfing World 17:00 Super Rugby Highlights 18:00 Trans World Sport 19:00 ODI Cricket Highlights 19:30 Top 14 Highlights 20:00 Super Rugby 22:00 NRL Premiership

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:30

World Cup of Pool World Pool Masters US Bass Fishing NRL Full time Top 14 Highlights Golfing World ICC Cricket World Cricket ODI Highlights Asian Tour Highlights Golfing World Super Rugby Top 14 Highlights Cricket ODI Highlights Golfing World Asian Tour Highlights Mobil 1 The Grid NRL Premiership Golfing World Trans World Sports Cricket ODI Highlights NRL Full time Top 14 Highlights Total Rugby Super League

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 13:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

UFC Unleashed V8 Supercars Speedway UFC Unleashed WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT Speedway FIM World Mobil 1 The Grid WWE This Week V8 Supercars WWE SmackDown This Week in WWE Mobil 1 The Grid Speedway WWE Vintage Collection V8 Supercars Highlights UFC UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines QTR JZR PIA JZR JZR QTR ETH THY UAE DHX QTR MSR FDB GFA RBG KAC THY ETD DHX FAH JZR JZR BAW KAC AFR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB BAB GFA FCX IRA KNE JZR RBG RKM IRM MEA MSR JZR CLX KAC GFA MSR SYR FDB KAC UAL IRC QTR KNE SVA RJA ABY KAC QTR JZR IYE JZR ETD UAE KAC GFA SVA ABY JZR BAB ALK JZR FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC AIC KAC KAC KAC FDB JAI OMA AXB DHX GRF MEA GFA QTR UAE JZR SAI JZR UAL DLH

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 7/3/2012 Flt Route 138 DOHA 185 DUBAI 205 LAHORE 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 6130 DOHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 370 BAHRAIN 148 DOHA 612 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 211 BAHRAIN 3965 ALEXANDRIA 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 305 ABU DHABI 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASSIUT 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 6702 PARIS 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 382 DELHI 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 284 DHAKA 362 COLOMBO 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 203 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 839 JEDDAH 165 DUBAI 3553 ALEXANDRIA 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 5066 MASHAD 404 BEIRUT 610 CAIRO 561 SOHAG 792 LUXEMBOURG 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 621 ASSIUT 341 DAMASCUS 57 DUBAI 790 MEDINAH 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 6791 MASHAD 140 DOHA 745 JEDDAH 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 123 SHARJAH 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 1535 CAIRO 824 SANAA 213 DEIREZZOR 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 550 SHARM EL SHEIKH 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 437 BEIRUT 227 COLOMBO 177 DUBAI 63 DUBAI 542 CAIRO 618 DOHA 787 RIYADH 786 JEDDAH 614 BAHRAIN 674 DUBAI 975 CHENNAI 166 PARIS 102 NEW YORK 774 RIYADH 61 DUBAI 572 MUMBAI 647 MUSCAT 393 KOZHIKODE 372 BAHRAIN 81 BAGHDAD 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 441 LAHORE 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 636 FRANKFURT

Time 0:20 0:20 0:25 0:45 0:50 1:20 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:55 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:15 4:20 4:40 4:50 4:55 5:15 5:30 6:00 6:20 6:40 6:45 7:00 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:50 7:55 8:15 8:20 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:40 9:55 10:30 10:40 11:05 11:20 11:35 11:45 11:50 11:55 12:55 13:00 13:15 13:20 13:25 13:30 13:45 13:50 14:00 14:05 14:20 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:40 14:45 15:20 15:25 16:25 16:35 16:45 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:40 21:00 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:50

Airlines AXB UAL BBC AIC DLH PIA ETH QTR THY FDB UAE DHX MSR QTR RBG ETD QTR THY JZR JZR GFA FDB KAC BAW AFR KAC KAC JZR KAC JZR UAE ABY ETD KAC FDB QTR BAB KAC GFA IRA FCX KNE KAC RBG JZR KAC RKM MEA IRM KAC JZR MSR GFA MSR FDB CLX SYR KAC KNE UAL IRC ABY RJA KAC SVA JZR KAC KAC QTR JZR QTR IYE ETD JZR UAE GFA ABY KAC SVA JZR BAB JZR ALK FDB JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC DHX KAC JAI OMA KAC DHX MEA GFA KAC QTR KAC JZR UAE KAC JZR KAC SAI

Departure Flights on Wednesday 7/3/2012 Flt Route 390 KOZHIKODE 981 WASHINGTON 44 DHAKA 982 AHMEDABAD 637 FRANKFURT 206 LAHORE 621 ADDIS ABABA 6131 DOHA 773 ISTANBUL 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 3556 ALEXANDRIA 306 ABU DHABI 149 DOHA 771 ISTANBUL 560 SOHAG 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 54 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 6702 DUBAI 671 DUBAI 549 SHARM EL SHEIKH 1534 CAIRO 789 MADINAH 212 ALEPPO 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 117 NEW YORK 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 436 BEIRUT 177 FRANKFURT 214 BAHRAIN 602 SHIRAZ 204 DUBAI 840 MADINAH 541 CAIRO 3554 ALEXANDRIA 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 5065 MASHHAD 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 622 ASSIUT 58 DUBAI 792 GIALAM 342 DAMASCUS 673 DUBAI 746 JEDDAH 982 BAHRAIN 6792 MASHHAD 124 SHARJAH 641 AMMAN 617 DOHA 503 MADINAH 786 RIYADH 613 BAHRAIN 773 RIYADH 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 135 DOHA 824 SANAA 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 153 ISTANBUL 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 437 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI 64 DUBAI 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 361 COLOMBO 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 171 BAHRAIN 351 KOCHI 571 MUMBAI 648 MUSCAT 543 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 381 DELHI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 554 ALEXANDRIA 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 502 LUXOR 415 KUALA LUMPUR 442 LAHORE

Time 0:05 0:45 1:00 1:05 1:20 1:25 2:45 2:50 3:15 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:40 5:00 5:35 5:40 5:50 6:20 6:55 7:00 8:25 8:30 8:40 8:45 9:00 9:15 9:15 9:25 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:25 10:35 10:40 11:40 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:15 12:15 12:30 12:50 12:55 13:20 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14:45 15:05 15:10 15:20 15:20 15:25 15:35 15:40 15:45 15:50 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:25 17:35 17:35 17:40 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:45 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:55 20:15 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:55 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:50

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

ACCOMMODATION Need executive bachelors with clean habits male/female or issueless couples to share accommodation with S Indian family, near 6th Ring Road, petrol pump, Touristic park, Indian Central School. Contact: 97534176 / 24312943.

(C 3890) 3-3-2012 Sharing accommodation available in 2BHK fully furnished, luxury flat, for decent couples or two working ladies near Hadi Hospital, backside to fire station, Bugaira Bin-Shada St., Salmiya. Contact: 25618576/ 66373409 after 2 pm.

1-3-2012 Immediate sharing accommodation available for a decent Indian Christian couple or bachelor near Salmiya Garden. Contact: 25657832/ 66884273.

(C 3888) 29-2-2012 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya near United Indian School, new building/ separate room/ toilet/ balcony for decent executive bachelor. Contact: 97208351.

(C 3885) Sharing accommodation available in Khaitan, behind old Pakistani School, big room with separate bathroom for small family or two working ladies. Contact: 55847242.

28-2-2012 Required sharing accommodation with separate toilet for a small Sri Lankan family, within Abbassiya or near Indian Central School.

Contact: 66552905.

(C 3883) 26-2-2012 Accommodation available with separate attached bathroom for couple, decent lady or decent bachelor with kitchen, drawing satellite facilities in C-A/C flat new building in Salmiya, Amman Street. Contact: 99678634.

(C 3878) Room available in Salmiya near City Center for a decent bachelor. Rent KD 75/-.

Contact: 99959140.

FOR SALE Furniture for sale in good condition, sofa set (3+1+1), dining table, table 2 no, shoe rack, gas stove, fridge, washing machine, etc at very good price. Contact: 99172842.

(C 3892) 3-3-2012 Toyota Prado 2006, golden color, 4 doors, 6 cylinder, 101000km done, full options, Price KD 5,250/-.

Contact: 66729295.

(C 3886) Mitsubishi Lancer 2009, golden color, GLX, 75000km, Price KD 1,900/-.

Contact: 50699345.

(C 3887) 28-2-2012

SITUATION WANTED Storekeeper, PDC passed, 10 years experience in Kuwait (Track, Oracle based application, stock inventory. Visa No. 18, transferable, expired date 16/05/2012.

Mob: 66039535, 67084832.

(C 3894) 6-3-2012

SITUATION VACANT Maid required for a family, couple only, in Shaab from 9 am to 6 pm only Sri Lankan nationals with valid residency may call: 97285837. (C 3896) 7-3-2012 Professional cook for house good experience all kind of food, hard work, good salary, good accommodation, full time or part time. Call 66519719 / 23901053.

(C 3891) 3-3-2012

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited for a Keralite Marthoma girl 24/154, BBA, working in India (Baroda), seeks alliance from God fearing, well-educated employed boys (Kuwait/ India). Email: sunilvgs73@gmail.com (C 3898) 7-3-2012 An Indian man from Kokan (Ratnagiri) wants to marry an Indian lady (40-45 years) preferably from Kokan (Ratnagiri), Muslim, educated, (divorced or widow alone). Contact: P.O. Box 41529, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Kuwait 85856. Email: mohd_younas59@yahoo.com (C 3895) 6-3-2012 Proposals invited for a Keralite Marthoma boy 27/179, MCA, working in Kuwait as Software Engineer, seeks alliance from God fearing, well educated / Kuwait employed girls. Contact: proposal84kwt@gmail.com 29-2-2012

TUITION Tuition for IGCSE /IOEFL/IELTS (in short time) / American English, Bilingual schools students.

Spoken English-for-Arabs.

GMAT/SAT. English teacher.

Call 66948099. (C 3893)

5-3-2012 Business management teacher with doctoral degree for universities, institutions, corporate & all student levels.

Over 10 years experience. Call 66495951. (C 3817) Mathematics teacher, Intermediate and secondary Exams models, Easy method, Exams from past years with solutions. 97301901 English teacher (3) years experience, looking for a job

and ready to start with all educational stages. 55963993 Mathematics teacher for Universities, Institutions, Foreign Schools, Administrative, American, English, Australian, Bahrain, Electric and Gulf Sciences, Algbra Prel, Mathematics, intermediate, gmat, sat college, math98, 110 pre calculus geometry.

97619261 A Syrian Arabic language teacher. Masters in methods of teaching and follow up of 10th grade and 11th grade students. 97934291 Islamic education teacher for elementary and intermediate stages. Experienced in Kuwait curricula. Easy explanation, and summary of the subject, training for exams. 66292985 Syrian Arabic language teacher for elementary and intermediate stages.

Experienced in following learning difficulties, and those weak in reading and writing. 97264100 Female senior Mathematics teacher with more that 30 years experience in Kuwait, to teach secondary, intermediate and elementary stages.

Religious and applied, communications and navigation institutions, special courses and secretariat institution.

97926737 Computer teacher for secondary and intermediate.

Practical on laptop, power point projects, front page, visual basic data, universities and applied institutions.

50603063 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: 9989018-99169016 A camp for rent in Kabed

No: 15380

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 For rent a two storey villa and a basement in Mangaf including 8 rooms, laundry room, yard, parking. Rent value KD 1000. Tel: 97996900 A storey and half for rent in Mangaf including two 3 bedroom apartments with 2 baths, reception, kitchen, driver room each. Tel: 66989887 For rent a ground floor in Qurain comprising of four rooms, large reception, 5 baths, maid room, courtyard, parking. Rent value KD 550. Tel: 66989887 A fully central air-conditioned two room annex in Mangaf with separate exit and shaded car parking for rent to expatriates. Tel: 67753557 For rent in Ashbelia: two apartments with 3 bedrooms, bath, kitchen and maid room each plus a yard in between. Tel: 90001594 A 2005 Mini Cooper for sale. Tel: 99224855 A 2006 Lumina for sale with genuine factory paint.

Price KD 2100. Tel: 69945429 A 2009 Touareg for sale.

Price 6350. Tel: 96670777 Senior English teacher for Pakistani, bilingual schools, T.M.A., Ielts, Toefl, IBT K.S.S., social studies and math. Tel: 99577430

34

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 609

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Everything works well today! Your self-confidence and courage enable you to pursue any objective with success. Your directional abilities are in high focus. Events may make it easy for you to find new solutions to old problems. Independence, originality and eccentricity are obvious to your friends and co-workers. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. Your analytical abilities are fine-tuned. Quick answers, great wit and a surplus of insights and solutions are present. This is a good time to communicate with real originality. New ideas, inventions and an independent or pioneering mental attitude take on a great deal of importance in your life at this time. You can count this day as a successful day.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) New ideas and an independent mental orientation take on more importance in your life at this time. Teaching, learning, communicating and social contact has a way of outlining new directions in your life. A visitor to your place of business could bring you a great deal of insight about your professional future with only a small amount of words. This is a great time to be with others and to work in the profession you have chosen. You may be sought after as just the right person for a particular job. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus. Others may find you especially witty and helpful to their professional focus just now. You may have insights or breakthroughs regarding life circumstances. Good news comes at the end of the day.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A unit of electrical resistance equal to the resistance between two points on a conductor when a potential difference of one volt between them produces a current of one ampere.

4. A cotton fabric with a satiny finish.

10. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

13. Seed of a pea plant.

14. Traveling on horseback.

15. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

16. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

17. Not wide.

18. Thigh of a hog (usually smoked).

19. A person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishywashy.

22. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

25. A Spanish unit of length (about a yard) having different values in different localities.

30. Do wrongly or improperly.

34. Resembling or characteristic of or appropriate to an elegy.

35. A visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance.

36. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

37. A Hindu prince or king in India.

39. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

40. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

42. Constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic.

45. A doctor's degree in dental surgery.

47. Electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities.

48. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

51. Call upon in supplication.

54. Having come or been brought to a conclusion.

58. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue.

60. A musical notation written on a staff indicating the pitch of the notes following it.

62. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

63. Someone who engages in arbitrage (who purchases securities in one market for immediate resale in another in the hope of profiting from the price differential).

64. Canna grown especially for its edible rootstock from which arrowroot starch is obtained.

66. Alternative names for the body of a human being.

67. A unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity.

68. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

69. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

DOWN 1. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

2. Perceive sound.

3. The mother of Jesus.

4. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

5. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

6. An American who favored the British side during the American Revolution.

7. To make a mistake or be incorrect.

8. A program under which employees regularly accumulate shares and may ultimately assume control of the company.

9. Not of long duration.

10. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

11. Divulge information or secrets.

12. Fallow deer.

20. (informal) Exceptionally good.

21. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

23. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

24. The widely studied plant virus that causes tobacco mosaic.

26. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

27. Located in or toward the back or rear.

28. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

29. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

31. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

32. Amino acid that is formed in the liver and converted into dopamine in the brain.

33. Using speech rather than writing.

38. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

41. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

43. Manufactured in standard sizes to be shipped and assembled elsewhere.

44. An electrically charged particle.

46. A metallic element having four allotropic forms.

49. The work of caring for or attending to someone or something.

50. A French abbot.

52. The persistence of a sound after its source has stopped.

53. Marked by lack of intellectual depth.

55. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

56. Very dark black.

57. An informal term for a father.

59. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

61. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

65. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is an energized day! You have the world on a string and that string is quite securely tied around your finger! A day like this affords a rare opportunity for quick progress. You will make the most of this day.

Innovation, reform and idealism are your paths to growth and gain now. New, futuristic ideas are part of this and putting them into practice is essential. Inventions and creative adventures are a part of this; whether you encourage others or push yourself.

You have a willingness to break away from old habits and make positive changes in your life. Challenging authority and striving for success could be on your agenda.

Ambition is a powerful motivation and can lead you into conflict; careful. Properly channeled, ambition brings recognition.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

Tedious work is accomplished quickly today. You seem to be in a good stage of concentration. Any kind of intricate, though unglamorous, work that requires perseverance and attention to meticulous detail has found its day. You have the patience to work slowly and carefully; your goals are modest and well defined. Such diligence has its rewards! Your work is all-consuming and days for rest and being with the family or your loved ones are close at hand. There will come a time to exert your energies in places other than work. Some quiet time for creativity and exercise is helpful now. Plan or begin to plant a spring garden—order herbs while you are at it! There are several people that want you to join them; go.

Leo (July 23-August 22) If you are in a workplace today you will share some innovative ideas with higher-ups. If you are at home, you may decide that now is the time to begin your own business. Your health is exceptionally good and you will have enough energy for a full day of work—whether you are at home or in a workplace away from home. Whatever you begin now will be successful and you will see monetary rewards for your creative endeavors; if that is what you want. Everything conspires to reveal you at your most elegant, particularly in social situations. You will have a grasp for abstract and spiritual ideas and the ability to present or communicate these to others. You may have an overdue conversation with an older person this evening—a new understanding.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You love people today! Any excuse for a get-together with your co-worker friends away from the workplace is welcome. This could be a luncheon together. Work issues are improved and this is an excellent time to sit back and think on accomplishments and failures relating to your professional life.

Financial opportunities come through friends now. You may feel that you can give more generously to others, such as charities and friends. Communicating and getting your message across to others is at a high. You have a natural sense for communicating with others, especially those younger than yourself. Perhaps some of your young friends will help you with a garden this year. You may want to suggest a combined garden with neighbors.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

You may be bored with the daily grind and itch to find a way out of the rut. Also, independence seems more attractive than discipline. It is a time for original thinking, or perhaps for seeking new or more daring associations. You are held to your promises today at work—be very careful what it is you promise. You will find this a great time to be with others and to work together. Stop by the hobby shop on the way home today. Future relations with friends are strong and carefree. You are learning not to put off until tomorrow what you can do today . . . for then you can become truly relaxed while visiting with friends. This evening is a great time to plant flowers outside or begin the seeds inside your home. A pay raise or a job promotion is in the works.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Working as a team in a problem-solving situation today will be quite successful. No particular person is the winner here—this is a real time to feel the old team spirit. You make a big contribution to the completion of projects in profitable and positive ways. It may soon be time to cash in on some of your overtime or at least enjoy a few days of vacation for some well-earned relaxation.

A little travel is also in the forecast. A shared interest in travel or cultural events may offer new energy in your love life for the rest of this month. There is talk about where and when a trip might take place. This is the perfect time to build upon your love relationship. Balance, harmony and domestic tranquility are the things you work to achieve and maintain.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Guiding a new person in the workplace is commendable and your contribution does not go unnoticed. Your acute sensitivity and sympathy with others’ needs and feelings could make this a fantastic day for leading groups or making presentations. On the other hand, if you are not feeling secure, it could have the opposite effect. Your super sensitivity could make you feel very vulnerable and you might rather shy away from people. In any case, it is not a good day for any planning or decisions that require intricate analysis or logic. Try to keep some of the reality into your interactions with friends. You have a kind and loving attitude in your contact with loved ones. Close personal ties to the young people in your life may create opportunities for growth.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Work, achievement and ambition are uppermost in your mind today. Communicating and being well understood are important factors. You might teach or even find you are wanting to help people that are in need of your special talents. Your timing should be perfect and those around you should find you most helpful, easily understood and have a good attitude. A new sense of self, a more assertive personal style and a more dynamic approach to life is the hallmark of the cycle that begins now. Doubts fade into the background and reserve is more a thing of the past. It’s time for action—your destiny is in your hands. Your relationship with others, especially female friends, is harmonious. You will make a positive difference just because you care.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Today is a good time to work out a difficult situation with a friend or associate. Cooperation and flexibility are the keys. It is also a great day to clean up those pesky little jobs that have been nagging at you for so long.

Taking chances in positive pursuits can bring big rewards, but you should be aware of tendencies to believe too quickly. Connections with people on a grand scale—for example, at a distance or en masse—play a bigger part in your life now. Education, advertising and travel could play a part in this development. Law and philosophy or religion have a great deal of potential to impact your lifestyle. Loved ones are uppermost in your mind this evening. You appreciate them and want to express your appreciation; they appreciate you.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Although the temptation may present itself for you to make decisions of some magnitude—hedge, if at all possible. Political problems may occur if you speak your mind and have no proof—careful! Ambition and achievement are qualities you hold in special regard. This is a time for getting ahead, a time for combining business and pleasure, a time to enjoy your career and savor its rewards. The social graces pave your path to success. Our capacity to be happy and useful cannot truly be hampered by external conditions. You show a propensity to engage in hard work—to obtain financial security. You may actively be concerned about the welfare of others in your business or people who work with or under you. Try listening to their needs before taking action.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

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3900322

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36

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

lifest yle G o s s i p

ir Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell were in the front row to watch his daughter Stella MCartney’s Paris Fashion Week show. The Beatles legend and his third spouse were joined by the likes of AliciaKeys and Salma Hayek at the show, in which Stella presented her ready-to-wear Autumn/Winter 2012/13 collection. The clothes were young, fun, feminine and light, while collars, flouncy skirts, tailoring and rich country tweeds played a big part. Speaking about the collection, Stella said: “It’s English countryside meets urban energy, color and shine.”It was very much the country girl discovering the urban edge. I

S

Snooki shows off engagement ring nooki has been pictured wearing her engagement ring. The ‘Jersey Store’ star - real name Nicole Polizzi showed off the huge diamond band while out walking her dog in Jersey City, confirming reports her boyfriend Jionni LaVille has proposed to her. In addition to now making wedding plans, the couple are also expecting their first baby together, and she is going to star in an MTV spin-off of the show which made her famous. A source said: “She is pregnant and has only told her closest friends and some family. She’s been telling people that she has a big announcement coming. “They are having to redo the creative direction of her spin-off because of her pregnancy.”

Recently Snooki - who rose to fame for her excessive partying and drinking - revealed she was expecting a proposal from Jionni at some point in the near future. She said: “I know he’s the one so I know the ring’s gonna come soon.

Well, not soon-soon. He knows it should be big, because if it’s small I’m saying no. Like, ‘Get another ring!’ “

S

tried mix the two worlds together but in an unexpected way.”Although she is pro at showing her collections, Stella recently revealed she still finds fashion “intimidating”. She said: “I don’t go into shops much now, but I used to find it really daunting. And it is really important to me that we make clothes that bring out the best in women. I want them to come into our shops, throw their handbags on the sofa and get stuck in.”

Sheridan testifies against ‘Housewives’ creator N

icollette Sheridan claims she was fired from ‘Desperate Housewives’ after she complained about creator Marc Cherry hitting her. The actress - whose character Edie Britt was written out of the show in 2009 took to the stand in her wrongful termination trial in Los Angeles to allege that Marc hit her “hard” when she questioned him about a script change on September 24, 2008. She claimed she was fired five months later in “retaliation” for kicking up a fuss about the incident.

However, Marc denied the allegations, saying he merely “tapped her head” with his fingers as part of a “demonstration of a pinch” he wanted her character to give her onscreen husband. He said: “I felt I had permission,” but admitted, “I didn’t get a verbal OK.” Marc also claimed the decision to kill off Nicollette’s character came during a private, five-minute conversation with

then ABC executive Mark Pedowitz on May 22, 2008, in a studio hallway, four months before the alleged hitting incident occurred. He also cited a number of reasons for letting her go, the most important one being “cost-saving” but admitted her “unprofessional behavior” was also a factor. He explained: “It wasn’t the primary reason for my decision. But it was something I was aware of.” He added that there was no documentation of the decision to kill Edie after it was made, but he did let his writing staff know and swore them to secrecy. Several writers and producers from the series are expected to be called to testify later this week.

Nicollette first filed her lawsuit in April 2010.

Brown to claim Whitney got him into drugs hitney Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown is set to claim she got him into drugs. The 43year-old rapper is planning to reveal the details of his life with the late singer in a book about Whitney in a follow up to the 2008 tome, ‘Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But’, written after their divorce in 2007 which contained secrets about their relationship. A gagging clause meant he could not say everything he wanted to in the first time, but insiders now believe he is going to “cleanse himself of all responsibility” over the ‘I Will Always Love You’ hitmaker’s drug use in his forthcoming release following her death last month. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “Bobby knows people will buy the book, whatever it says. And unlike last time, Whitney is not here to defend herself. “He’s free to say whatever he wants and will undoubtedly paint himself as a grieving saint.” He has previously claimed: “I

W

mily Blunt’s wedding was the most “beautiful and romantic” moment of her life. The ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ actress tied the knot with John Krasinski in July 2010 and says it was a day she’ll never forget. She said: “Our wedding in Italy is still one of the most beautiful and romantic events of my life. It can never be topped. “We were invited by George Clooney to stay at his villa in Lake Como and we were married at a very historic villa in the area, which was so heavenly. “It’s something one never forgets.” Emily finds her relationship with John to be a “great comfort” and says he can always cheer her up when she is feeling down. She told Britain’s OK! magazine: “He’s a wonderful man and we are just so happy to have found each other. “It’s also a great comfort to be with someone who is good-natured and very pleasant to be around and won’t let me stay in a dark mood for very long.” The 29-year-old beauty admits she gets “worked up” a lot so it is important to her to have a partner who doesn’t take life so seriously.

She added: “A man who makes me laugh always stands a good chance. I’ve always had a weakness for men who can look at life with an ironic perspective and not take things too seriously. “I’m often

E

rince Harry reportedly wants a date with Katy Perry.

The second in line to the throne apparently hopes to sign the ‘Firework’ singer up for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert so that he can make his move.

Harry, 27, is even said to have turned to event organizer and Take That star Gary Barlow to help get 27-year-old Katy - who is back on the market after splitting with husband Russell Brand - on board. A source told the Daily

P

worked up about something, so I need to be with someone who can make me feel at ease and secure.”

Star newspaper: “Harry has a double reason for targeting Katy. First he thinks she is a rocking artist with great songs. But secondly she is single and very sexy. “He sees this as an opportunity to get close to Katy. And he is confident his charm will win her over. “And although Katy may have ended it with Russell, she still has a soft spot for wild boys.” According to the report, the hook-up become a reality with Katy having previously admitted

never used cocaine until after I met Whitney. She used code words when ordering drugs like ‘boy’ for heroin and ‘girl’ for cocaine. “I was using everything I could get my hands on, from cocaine to heroin.” Bobby - who had daughter, Bobbi Kristina Houston, 18, with Whitney also claims he will divulge details about a previous relationship with Madonna. He is quoted as saying: “By the time I brought out my third single I was one of the biggest stars in the world. “Madonna used to open up shows for New Edition in New York. “Running into her and getting to know her better at the height of my success was like a reunion.” Whitney confessed to using “rock cocaine” and marijuana during a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2009, it is believed her shock death at the age of 48 was caused by a lethal combination of alcohol and prescription drugs.

shton Kutcher has been spotted playing laser tag with rumored girlfriend Lorene Scafaria. The 34-year-old ‘Two and a Half Men’ actor whose six-year marriage to Demi Moore collapsed last November amid allegations he was unfaithful was photographed sporting matching face paint with Lorene on their way Los Angeles Ultrazone on Saturday. Ashton insists his relationship with the screenwriter is purely platonic, although according to RadarOnline.com they attended Madonna’s postOscars party together. A source also claims the duo seemed to be romantically involved at a charity function on February 25. A fellow partygoer told US Weekly: “They were affectionate.

When they thought no one was watching, they held hands, and she rubbed his back and his neck. Meanwhile, Demi has returned home from a Caribbean break following her stint in rehab where she reportedly received treatment for addiction and an eating disorder. The 49-year-old ‘Ghost’ actress was photographed looking ‘tan and healthy’ as she boarded a private plan, according to TMZ.com.

A

to fancying the royal bachelor. However. Buckingham Palace spokesman denied either Harry or his big brother Prince William have had anything to do with the line-up for the June 4 event, which will feature performances by Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder and Elton John.

— Bang Showbiz

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

lifestyle F e a t u r e s

J

ennifer Westfeldt seems interested in exploring the complications that come with pondering parenthood with a mix of candor and heart in “Friends With Kids.” She touches on the stages so many of us find ourselves going through in our 30s: steadfast reluctance, vaguely nagging interest, strong yearning and, eventually, the whatthe-hell-have-we-done? realism of it all.

Unfortunately, as writer, producer, star and (for the first time) director, Westfeldt takes a topic full of complex emotional shadings and turns it into something that is, for the most part, reductive, cliched and even sitcommy. You want to believe she means well, that perhaps she has experienced some of these stages herself. She’s so adorably neurotic here (as she was in her acclaimed screenwriting debut “Kissing Jessica Stein”), and she’s amassed such a strong supporting cast, including her real-life romantic partner Jon Hamm, that you wish “Friends With Kids” were better, truer.

With its Manhattan setting filled with hyper-verbal people struggling to find happiness and love, “Friends With Kids” owes a great debt to Woody Allen, but it’s also too frequently interested in the easy, raunchy laugh. Westfeldt stars as the prim Julie, who lives in the same building as her college best friend, the glib Jason (Adam Scott in an impressive, rare leading-man role). They know everything about each other, have an incredible comfort level and (supposedly) aren’t even remotely attracted to each other. This means, of course, that they are destined to be together. Over the next few years, Julie and Jason see the married couples in their clique fall one by one into the parent trap. Leslie and Alex (Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd) end up having two kids and moving to Brooklyn (the horror!). Missy and Ben (Kristen Wiig

and Hamm) used to paw at each other insatiably, but now find that their passion has cooled with the arrival of a newborn. With the exception of O’Dowd’s character, who is the voice of reason, all of these people come off as shrill and unlikable as the couples bicker constantly.

Julie and Jason believe there has to be a better way, so they decide to have a baby together, share joint custody but still maintain separate romantic lives. They figure they can enjoy all the pride and fulfillment of being a parent without all the emotional entanglements that come with actually being in love. Their plan hums along smoothly for a while, with Julie being set up with the too-goodto-be-true single dad Kirk (Edward Burns, a welcome source of calm) and Jason hooking up with the gorgeous, vibrant Broadway dancer Mary Jane (Megan Fox, sufficiently sexy and vapid). The little boy they share is an angel - except for the obligatory exploding poop gag, that is. (The stuff doesn’t really come out that way, FYI.) But naturally, the long-simmering feelings Julie and Jason discover they’ve had for each other begin to boil over, and they don’t always do so at the right time.

The volatility of all these couples’ relationships explodes when they travel with their kids for a New Year’s ski trip in Vermont. This produces the one piercing moment of truth: a painfully awkward dinner in which everyone says too much. It’s an example of Westfeldt’s generosity - she gives her co-stars the best lines - but it also makes you realize how underused her co-stars have been to that point, especially brilliant comics Wiig and Rudolph. We don’t know these people nearly as well as we should, which is a problem in a film in which everyone talks non-stop. And along those lines, “Friends With Kids” ends with what is quite possibly the

Tim Burton’s monster carousel comes to Paris

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eopled with lonely little monsters, dancing corpses and boggle-eyed creatures from the underworld, Tim Burton’s cult universe comes to Paris this week with a show that journeys through his life’s work.

Some 500 sketches-the starting point for all Burton’s films-whisk visitors deep into the US director’s surreal inner world, with gothic doodles dating back to his misfit childhood in Burbank, a bland suburb of Los Angeles.

“These are things that were never meant to be seen by anyone,” the filmmaker told a press conference introducing the travelling exhibit, titled “Tim Burton” and first set up for New York’s MoMa in 2009.

“But I am so grateful to the creators!” Film clips, photos and props complete the picture, from a pumpkin-headed scarecrow from the 1999 “Sleepy Hollow”, to a life-sized “Martian Anatomy” chart from the 1996 “Mars Attacks”, or black rubber masks from “Batman” in 1989. When Ronald Magliozzi went rifling through Burton’s accumulated possessions, the curator initially planned a show looking back at his career. “We discovered he had these vast archives,” he told AFP. “His parents had saved every last drawing he had ever done. We realized this would be an exhibit of Tim Burton’s art-art that we didn’t even know existed.”

Gems include Burton’s earliest animated film, made in 1974 and unearthed by a former art teacher: a 33-second long, gory attack by a pair of pliers on a green plasticine monster. Burton’s world is always shot through with humor. “I never try to make it just dark. I’m always drawn to material that’s both funny and sad, light and dark,” he said. Paired with witty little poems, his sketches come under headings like “Childhood”, full of bandaged little mummies, or “Couples”, one of them of a man and woman tucking gorily into each other’s shins.

“Drawing keeps your hands busy. And it keeps depression at bay,” said Burton, who doodles constantly, including on restaurant napkins-with dozens from the Paris Ritz lined upon display. Glow-in-the-dark creatures, all eyes and tentacles, spin on a carousel like a kind of “monster-go-round”, while a gallery of polaroids from the 1990s features a macabre mother and child, deathly blue and covered in Frankenstein stitches.

“My three-year old loved the scary bits” When the show was unveiled in New York, “the art world was a little rude-perhaps that’s the best way of putting it,” said the director. “But the best compliment I got was from kids, who thought ‘Well if he can do it, maybe I can as well.” Looking back to his own childhood in Burbank, home to both Disney and Warner film studios, he remembers a deadening place to live, “with no sense of history, no sense of culture, no sense of passion for anything.” “Growing up, I was made to feel like an alien,” said the director, who sought refuge in B-movies and horror stories-in which “the monsters were the most interesting characters.”

Burton sees a kinship between his work and Europe’s fairy tale tradition, and insists that when it comes to scariness, “Kids are the best judge of what they can take.” “Fairy tales are basically horror stories. They have always been a way for kids-in a symbolic way-to start to understand the world.”

“My three-year-old watched ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and loved the scary parts!” Today, Burton gives thanks for crossing the path of inspiring art teachers, “Ones who just said ‘Draw what you feel, draw what you can.’”

“That changed my life,” he said. Later on, working as an animator at Disney-during a period when he now reckons he was suffering from depression-Burton would hide in closets to nap during the day. But he also remembers that time, in the early 1980s, as “a fertile period”: “They sort of locked me in a room and let me draw whatever I wanted.” Thirty years on, Magliozzi says Burton’s ability “to work as an independent filmmaker within the Hollywood system, is what makes him unique.” Burton himself says he “realized very early on that every film is a struggle to make-which is a good thing in a way”. —AFP

Filmmaker Tim Burton, left, and his wife Helena Bonham-Carter, pose as they arrive for the opening of his exhibition, a retrospective of his work, in Paris. — AP

clunkiest closing line in movie history. Try using it on someone you love and see how it goes. “Friends With Kids,” a Roadside Attractions release, is rated R for language. Running time: 102 minutes. Two stars out of four.

Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: G - General audiences. All ages admitted.

PG - Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

PG-13 - Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.

R - Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

NC-17 - No one under 17 admitted. — AP

In this film image released by Roadside Attractions, Maya Rudolph, left, and Jennifer Westfeldt are shown in a scene from “Friends with Kids.” — AP

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r Seuss’ The Lorax,” the animated fable about the hazards of industrialized society, topped the North American box office on its debut weekend, taking in a stunning $70.7 million, industry figures showed Sunday. The Seuss movie, featuring the voices of Danny DeVito, Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, set a record for the highest non-sequel animated film debut, ahead of “The Incredibles.”

“Project X,” a coarse comedy about a high school party that gets out of control, opened in second place with $20.8 million, according to initial data from Exhibitor Relations. “Act of Valor,” a war film starring active duty US Navy SEALs, slipped from the top spot to third place with $13.7 million. CIA-based thriller “Safe House,” starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, was fourth with $7.2 million in estimated weekend receipts.

The comedy-drama “Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds,” was fifth with $7 million, followed by “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” a family-friendly 3D adventure starring former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, with $6.9 million, the romantic drama “The Vow,” with $6.1 million, “This Means War,” ($5.6 million) and

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hink tattoos are mostly for tough-looking men and only a few women? Think again. The fair sex is getting inked more often these days, according to a poll set for release yesterday. The TV network behind new show “Best Ink” and Light speed Research asked just over 1000 people across the United States about their perceptions of body art, and it turned out 59 percent of women have tattoos compared to 41 percent of men.

But women get their ink in different shapes and sizes than men, and the act of putting a piece of art on their skin is often a shared experience. The number of tattooed celebrities and TV shows have increased cultural acceptance and spurred more people to not only get them, but display them openly.

“It’s become more acceptable for people to ... step into the tattoo world,” said Joe Capobianco, a tattoo artist with almost 20 years of experience and the head judge on the Oxygen network’s upcoming program, “Best Ink.” But Capobianco adds this advice: “If you’re going to do it, do it, but be smart about it, make an educated decision.” The Light speed survey found that 89 percent of those people who had tattoos said they did not care if people disproved of their body ink and 46 percent said they’d proudly show their tattoo to their bosses at work. The poll revealed that 40 percent of women made the tattoo experience a shared one, often getting inked with friends and loved ones, They also took the experience “a little more seriously” than their male counterparts.

“Women have a tendency sometimes of getting that little souvenir keepsake tattoo with deeper meaning, whereas men tend to go a little overboard and fill themselves up with larger pieces,” said Capobianco. The tattoo artist also saw a growing trend toward traditional ‘Americana’ tattoos, such as ‘Mom,’ with simple colors and bold bright styles in a homage to the working classes of early 20th

“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” ($4.7 million). “The Artist,” riding its Oscars’ success, jumped back up the ratings from 13th to 10th, earning $3.9 million at the weekend. — AFP

century.Sabina Kelley, a tattooed fashion model and also a judge on “Best Ink,” said the popularity of reality TV shows such as TLC’s “LA Ink” and Spike TV’s “Ink Master” has made the tattoo tradition more acceptable within the mainstream audience.

“It’s becoming a little more acceptable, and looking at how popular the tattoo shows on TV have gotten, more of the mainstream want to be tattooed,” she said. Stars such as Angelina Jolie and David Beckham have led the way in displaying their body art in public, and younger celebrities have followed their lead, especially women. Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and former Disney channel stars Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens have posted their tattoos on Twitter, often getting inked with friends or relaying the meaning behind it.

Actor Danny DeVito poses with the figure The Lorax to promote the premiere of the animated feature film “The Lorax” in Berlin, Germany, Monday yesterday.—AP

“The younger crowd, especially girls, are getting more rebellious, doing it more for shock value,” said Kelley, who has noticed more girls getting tattoos on necks and chests that are more visible and less easy to hide. But Capobianco said there is one type of tattoo that, perhaps, may be better left untouched by human skin: a loved one’s name. He calls it the “kiss of death” in a relationship. “Names really are the big one I have to talk people out of, not a child’s name ... but a loved one, because there are no guarantees in life,” he said. More results of the poll can be found at Oxygen.com on Tuesday. Oxygen’s new series, “Best Ink” will premiere on March 27. — Reuters

Tattoo artist known as “Pajarote” works on a man’s chest during the San Salvador Tattoo Fest in San Salvador on March 3, 2012. The tattoo festival aims to promote tattoo art in the rather conservative Salvadorean society. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

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he standing ovation from Anna Wintour said it all. Such rare, visible acclaim from the powerful US Vogue editor capped Monday’s Yves Saint Laurent show, an emotional farewell to designer Stefano Pilati after more than a decade at the helm of one of the fashion world’s most famous brands. The sometimes temperamental Italian designer divided critics from the start of his tenure as creative director in 2004. He had a tough act to follow, stepping in then for Tom Ford. After months of speculation, Pilati’s departure was only confirmed a week ago. The house credited him for “rebuilding and repositioning” the brand, and its parent company, PPR, pointed to a “giant step” up in profits last year.

Actress Catherine Deneuve, the longtime muse of the late, legendary Saint Laurent, was among the celebrities on hand for the final Pilati bow. In other shows, Day 7 of Paris’ fall-winter collection saw Stella McCartney gave the English country manor a sporty revamp - just in time for the London Olympics. Chloe, the house where ready-to wear started, produced a wearable tale of two cities: London and Paris.

YVES SAINT LAURENT Pilati’s final YSL collection was stronger and sharper than last season. Perhaps fittingly, it channeled black - the color of mourning - and chainmail, redolent of combat and self-defense. From the outset, a tangibly fatalistic mood hovered in the air: the first model strode slowly down the 100-meter (328foot) catwalk in a simple black hood. But the seeming lightness of the materials diluted the fierceness of the clothes: Sharp-shouldered silhouettes with cinched waists managed to have an element of fragility. A long black coat could have been inspired by the Matrix, but had the feel of a kimono and a softness in the leather. A chainmail dress looked delicate - like the skin of a fish - later echoed with finesse in chainmail printing. A subdued mood with slimmer forms replaced the free volumes of previous seasons. Also gone were the palazzo pants and the Prince of Wales check of last fall, and with it most of the house’s DNA. “Stefano has given them lot of iconic things,” said actress Salma Hayek, on hand for the show. “This show was a homage not to the house, but to himself.” The last piece was the exception that proved this rule. A gorgeous 1970s tuxedo suit, a single generous tribute from Pilati to the late, great Saint Laurent.

Models present creations by Italian designer Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent during the Fall/Winter 2012-2013 ready-to-wear collection show yesterday. — AP/AFP photos

Ch l o e CHLOE Wearability and light shone from Chloe’s fallwinter collection Monday - unsurprising, perhaps, from the house whose founder coined the original phrase “ready-to-wear” more than 60 years ago. A sense of spring, not fall, bloomed from the largely off-white array of diaphanous silk blouses, scattered pearls and applique lace flowers on display at a sky-lit showroom in Paris’ central Tuileries garden.

Dimensional patchwork in wool that was felted gave the knitwear a playful, sporty ease, with airy lace sweaters.

Even the British military parka constructions were cushioned by padding and soft-quilted silks. One knit effect Teddy shearling in a leather V-neck captured the bohemian chic look of the Glastonbury music festival - all with a Parisian neatness and sophistication. Clare Waight Keller, who became Chloe’s new creative director in June, conceded that her move to Paris six

months ago could help explain the crossChannel contrasts in Monday’s collection. “I’ve just come from London where there’s a different spirit,” she said backstage. “I love Paris, but the Chloe girl is somewhere in between.” — AP

S t e l l a M c Ca r t n e y STELLA McCARTNEY McCartney went to the heart of the English countryside in a sporty show that mixed posh furniture patterns with stretchy tweeds and zipper - and the London Olympics on her mind.

“Everyone has to bring in a touch of the Games, don’t they?” said the designer backstage, referring to the Olympics media frenzy that has taken over her home city. Tweed short dresses were fit for the tennis court as stretchy inserts in ultra-white and blue contoured a silhouette that flared. Models in tightly pulled, gymnastic buns looked ready to forward flip down the catwalk.

This style worked well with the jackets’ athletic shoulders and necklines, accentuated by jacquards with graphic silk. Softer knitwear provided a halftime

break from the sporty look. A cardigan dress twin-set in soft washed out blue, and a palette of pinky and dusty rose added a feminine touch. However, in a couple of pieces, the hourglass shape in thick knit made bottoms look overly bulky. One person who didn’t seemed to mind was Stella’s father, Paul McCartney, looking on from the siderow. “It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” said the former Beatle, “but I suppose I’m probably biased!”

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Rose”, her autumn-winter collection centres on body-hugging sheath dresses and long skirts, with curved flounces at the hem, paired with structured little tops and jackets and high leather gloves. “I aim for a modern femininity, but not your grandmother’s vintage,” Ma said. Twenty-two shades of whites, layered for full effect, run down into royal blue and blacks via a signature nightingale plumage print, used on ankle-length silk jersey dresses.

Gold zippers run around the clothes, up the sleeves of a little jacket, perfecto-style, or fastening a curvy flounce across the hips of a baby lamb bodice-which unzips to create a simple everyday top. “You can see this woman go shopping or go to a Sunday flower market, she can go to a movie, or be sitting in a bar or cafe-in all types of situations.” While Western designers regularly mine Asian traditions for ideas, with Belgium’s Dries Van Noten building his look this week on antique Chinese prints, Ma does not claim a specific Chinese lineage.

“People will ask me ‘How is this Chinese’?” she said. “It’s true my aesthetics were shaped by my Chinese roots, but I wasn’t really brought up with the Mao suit jacket.”

With a mother who worked at the United Nations, a university professor father, and a grandmother who “played the piano and made me toast,” she explains hers was “not a typical Chinese life.” “Some people think I’m from London, others from Chinabut that’s the point, fashion is international.”

She also points out that Shanghai-where France ruled a large concession until 1946 — was heavily influenced by Paris in the jazz age. “You use your language in a modern way. Is it China? Is it not China? It is, and it is not at the same time. And that’s what makes it modern.” What Ma does feel, however, is the need to counter the notion of “Made in China” as a byword for lower-grade goods.

Archana Kochhar

Masha Ma works on one of her creations worn by a model.

hen Masha Ma first came to Paris the Chinese designer, who today holds her first Fashion Week show in the city, had a style revelation as she was sipping coffee on a street corner. “Just next to me, I saw this woman dressed exactly in my look, sitting there looking absolutely stunning in a beautiful blouse and long skirt,” the vivacious 30-year-old told AFP. “Now if I can see my woman just like that on the street, then I guess this is my city,” said the petite designer, bobbed jet black hair parted over one eye and long navy silk coat above black boots. Ma was invited by the French fashion federation to join the official Paris Fashion Week calendar this year, as one of 22 nationalities in the line-up.

She arrived from London where she trained at Central Saint Martin’s school of fashion, working as a student for Alexander McQueen among others, and going on to show three seasons at London Fashion Week. Raised by her grandmother in Shanghai, she left for the British capital aged just 16, having decided, inspired by an article about McQueen, that she wanted to “paint people with fabric”. While London, she says, is the perfect place for a young designer, after a decade in the city, “it was about time for Paris.” “London is all about originality. They are always looking for the next new thing, and you get right up there, really quickly. But it’s all about the looks, the level of finish is not so important.

“Paris is more about authenticity. They really appreciate quality,” said the designer, who sees pristine finishings as key for her young ready-to-wear brand, snapped up by Dolce and Gabbana’s Milan designer store among others. “London was for the cool young girl, now my woman has an understanding of her body, she wants to portray herself with more depth.” Inspired by an Oscar Wilde poem, “The Nightingale and the

Models showcase creations by Indian designer Abhishek Dutta on the final day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) summer resort 2012 in Mumbai yesterday. The LFW, held twice annually, features creations by over 83 designers and culminates with a grand finale yesterday.

— AFP

“It’s approachable, but it’s difficult,” she said. Two years ago, Ma showed her work as part of an event dubbed “China in Paris”, backed by the China National Garment Association and the French fashion federa-

Chinese fashion designer Masha Ma poses next to her creations in Paris. — AFP photos tion, that aims to introduce young Chinese designers to Paris. But she later decided she would rather go it alone. “I want people to come to the show, and judge the clothes in a fair way, not because of a Chinese connection.” That said, Ma admits she has received welcome support from the fashion media in China, with the Chinese editions of Vogue, Marie-Claire and Elle signing up to her Paris show. — AFP

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File photos show Rafaela Carrasco performs at the Flamenco Festival 2012 at City Center in New York.

— AP photos

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ou suspect you’re not seeing a run-of-the-mill flamenco performance when Rafaela Carrasco begins her routine in sleek black leather pants and shoes of fire-engine red. Your suspicion is confirmed when her four male partners - brimming with machismo, all of them - come out in shimmering, silvery flamenco skirts with dramatic trains. The role reversal doesn’t feel gimmicky, though - it’s just plain entertaining, and impressive.

Those long flamenco skirts aren’t just for show, after all: They must be navigated in the choreography, with expert kicks and turns. Carrasco’s male partners, performing with her Sunday at New York City Center’s Flamenco Festival 2012, did the job with passion and precision. Flamenco is one of those dance forms that a lot of people seemingly know just a little

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idel Castro, Winston Churchill, Jack Nicholson, Groucho Marx and Arnold Schwarzenegger-meet the cast of notables Janio Nunez has sculpted entirely out of Cuba’s famed tobacco. The Cuban sculptor uses the same sticky leaves and time-honored rolling techniques that go into the famed cigars enjoyed by his subjects, and which was celebrated at last week’s 14th annual Havana Festival. Using the locally-grown tobacco made world-famous by Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta cigars, Nunez has molded a Churchill in coat and fedora, a Nicholson sprawled on a chair and a Schwarzenegger in full “Terminator” gear.

The leaves-from the western Vuelta Abajo region-have been relished by cigar aficionados for decades, but Nunez’s interest in them goes much further. “I saw my friends in tobacco, dressed in tobacco leaves. I dreamed of tobacco. I

bit about. Ruffled skirts, black shoes tapping, castanets - yes, they’re all there. But flamenco can be a lot more varied than that, as New York audiences learned during the four-day festival. The Sevillebased Carrasco, whose company closed out the festival, is one of those flamenco interpreters who incorporate modern elements into their routines; hence the nontraditional costume choices early in the show.

But Carrasco also was paying homage to the past and to the popular songs recorded by Federico Garcia Lorca, the poet who was executed at the start of the Spanish Civil War. While a flamenco band played at the back of the stage, Carrasco and the four men joined with singers Manuel Gago and Gema Caballero to perform 12 songs adapted from Lorca’s work. (A scratchy original recording from 1931 also

had to go to a psychologist,” Nunez says, referring to his time as a “torcedor,” or cigar-roller, at Cuba’s sprawling Varadero tourist resort. “So as a remedy, one night, I started rolling shapes, objects out of raw tobacco. My first real piece was the Indian head on the Cohiba label.” Nunez then spent three weeks struggling to get a meeting with the director of Habanos SA, the staterun cigar monopoly, in order to present his work.

“Tell me what it’s worth,” he recalls telling the director. “If you say it is worthless, I will destroy it immediately.”

The works were a hit. The director invited him to present them at the Havana Trade Fair at 1998 and at the first Havana Festival the following year. From then on, indulging in his strange obsession with tobacco, Nunez began his “Celebrity Smokers” series, sculpting the miniature likeness of Che Guevara, Charlie Chaplin and

was used at the end.) All the dancers wore distinctive red shoes, whether with a flowing white gown, as Carrasco wore, or with her sharp leather look, or, on the men, in their sleek black suits or those shiny skirts. At times, Carrasco’s male cohorts - David Coria, Ricardo Lopez, Jose Maldonado and Pedro Cordoba seemed to be veering into jazz; at others, their constant turning and balancing required the precision of ballet dancers.

But the real focus this year was on female flamenco stars, and the festival began Thursday evening with a gala featuring the veteran dancer Carmen Cortes, known for her pure flamenco (flamenco puro), along with Carrasco and the lovely Olga Pericet, both stars of the younger generation. For the flamenco aficionados in the crowd, and there

Luciano Pavarotti, among others. Then he went bigger, sculpting his first life-sized sculpture-of Churchill-in 2000 and showing it to the British wartime leader’s granddaughter Celia Sandys during her visit to Cuba.

The tobacco statue of the World War II-era British prime minister, who went to Cuba in 1895 as a freshly-minted military officer, now belongs to an Italian art collector living in Venezuela.

Nicholson and Schwarzenegger followed, but Nunez had to leave them behind during an exhibition in the Dominican Republic and has not been able to recover them although the circumstances of their loss remain unclear. A few years later he discovered God and briefly abandoned sculpting.

“I wanted to become famous, but when celebrity came to me I was not ready,” he says. He studied to become an evangelical pastor and graduated in 2006. But like so many tobaccolovers, he was unable to quit. In 2008 he went back to sculpting, and last year he set up a workshop a half-hour outside of Havana, near the sea, where he raises his own crop. These days he molds mainly smaller pieces for tourists, but has also been inspired by his newfound faith. His next project will be a fresco entitled “Foundations of Humanity,” he says. “God will reveal it to me.” —AFP

US actor Jim Belushi participates in the final session of the XIV Cigar Festival on March 2, 2012 in Havana. The session finished with an auction of Habanos humidors with some 963,000 USD raised for Cuban hospitals. — AFP

seemed to be many, there was a style to fit every taste. Another nice touch: the tapas and Spanish wine on sale at the concession stands. Not to mention the free flamenco lessons before the performances, similar to lessons in other styles given at City Center’s autumn Fall for Dance festival. The lovely music and the passionate vocals must be mentioned, and even though there were no translations available - and why not, we ask - the gut-wrenching emotion came through loud and clear. — AP

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Japanese scientist said yesterday he has made violin strings out of spider silk and claims that-in the right hands-they produce a beautiful sound. Thousands of the tiny strands can be wound together to produce a strong but flexible string that is perfect for the instrument, said Shigeyoshi Osaki, professor of polymer chemistry at Nara Medical University. Osaki, who has been working with spider silk for 35 years, has previously suggested the material could be used for surgical sutures or for bullet proof vests, but his passion for the violin inspired him to create something with a musical twist.

In the process of weaving the threads, their shape changes from cylindrical to polygonal, which means they fit together much better, Osaki told AFP. “During the assembly of normal threads there are many spaces between individual fibres,” he said.” What we achieved left no space among the filaments. It made the strings stronger. This can have all sorts of applications in our day-to-day lives,” he said, adding 300 female Nephila maculata spiders had provided his raw materials. The strength and durability of spider silk is not a new discovery, with previous studies showing it can withstand high temperatures and the effects of ultraviolet light.—AFP

Photo shows Nara Medical University professor Shigeyoshi Osaki playing a violin which has strings made of spider silk at his laboratory. — AFP photos