10 Jan 2012

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Families of Guantanamo detainees tired of waiting

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Iran condemns American to die, starts nuke bunker work

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40 PAGES

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Calls for reform, fighting graft dominate campaign Interior ministry insists it’s combating violations

By B Izzak

in the

news

Iraq urges Kuwait to review compensation KUWAIT: An Iraqi MP close to Prime Minister Nuri AlMaliki urged Kuwait to review the billions of dollars of war compensation it demands for Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion, in comments published yesterday. “Iraq has paid large compensation to our neighbour Kuwait ... and it’s time to review the details of those compensations, especially after Iraq regained its sovereignty” from the US, Abdulhadi Al-Hassani told Al-Dar daily. Hassani said that besides war reparations, Kuwait has taken over 16 oil wells in the southern border area of Safwan and additional Iraqi territory and agricultural land as a result of a 1993 UN border demarcation resolution.

Kuwait ‘interested’ in Rafale fighters PARIS: Qatar and Kuwait are interested in buying French Rafale fighter jets but are waiting to see whether the United Arab Emirates will make a purchase first, France’s defence minister said yesterday.

“They are in effect interested but they won’t know for sure until the first one jumps in,” minister Gerard Longuet said. Industry experts have estimated that Kuwait needs 18-22 new fighter jets and that Qatar needs 24. After opening talks on the purchase in 2008, the UAE said in November that the offer for Rafales from France’s Dassault Aviation was uncompetitive.

Max 19º Min 06º High Tide 13:34 Low Tide 06:34 & 17:58

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks to his supporters after coming out from the High Court where he was acquitted of sodomy yesterday. — AP (See Page 12)

KUWAIT: Calls for constitutional and other types of reforms and fighting corruption is dominating the election campaign which started to heat up as the date for the fourth general polls in less than six years draws nearer. Leading liberal candidate and former MP Mohammad Jassem Al-Saqer said constitutional reforms have become inevitable whether they relate to increasing the number of MPs from the current 50 or appointing ministers.

Speaking before the first meeting organized by youth activists, Saqer questioned why members of the ruling Al-Sabah family should continue to dominate around a third of the 15-member Cabinet. He also questioned why the ruling family should keep its grip on the so-called sovereign ministries like foreign, defence and interior, but insisted that the choice of the prime minister is the sole authority of HH the Amir.

Saqer denied that the main purpose of contesting the 2012 elections after he declined to run in the 2008 and 2009 polls is to run for the speakership post, but he kept the door open for him to contest the post. Jassem Al-Khorafi, who was the speaker between 1999 and 2011, opted out of the election race while former threetime speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun is running and is expected to contest the post.

Speaking at the same meeting, prominent liberal and former MP Meshari Al-Ossaimi attributed the deterioration of situation in Kuwait in the past several years in part to feuding within the ruling family. Saqer said that no Arab country is immune to the Arab Spring and Continued on Page 13

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

LOCAL

Parliament candidates seek political reforms ‘Only the well-to-do can live in this country’

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Former MP Mohammad Al-Saqer, a Second Constituency candidate, said it is no longer possible to remain without political parties. “Changes around the world prove our need to make some changes, including that sovereign ministries do not remain in the hands of the ruling family,” he said.

No Arab state is away from change, he said, so Gulf countries must adopt political reforms themselves.

“Kuwait is supposed to be away from the Arab Spring, especially since we are in spring since the

1962 Constitution was issued,” he said. “We saw what happened in the Arab world and we cannot be far from it. We must protect ourselves”.

Adel Al-Kharafi, a Second Constituency candidate, said the government weakness increased their fights, and only the well to-do can live in this country. “Where will the simple citizen go?” he asked.

“Our country is the Arab Spring and its flowers, so what Arab spring are they talking about? All Muslim Brotherhood, Salaf and liberals are Kuwaitis, so why the disputes and fights?” he said. “All are responsible for reform. The citizen has a big

responsibility on Feb 2, and must participate for the sake of Kuwait.

Al-Kharafi, who was speaking during the opening of his election headquarters in Shamiya, said “the government and Assembly are responsible for the low level of dialogue language, the continuous tension, and the halt of development. I am running for Parliament for the sake of reform. I salute the youth who came out to hold the briber and the bribed accountable as well as fight corruption”.

Al-Kharafi said the government “is responsible for the way it is formed, which depends on quotas

and appeasements, away from competence, and apart from being unclear”. He said “Kuwait was swept in 8 hours, and if it was not for sincere leadership, it would not have returned to us”.

He said ministers are at odds with each other and they will only meet during no confidence votes.

“The government performance was not as required and we deserve better. Where did the development plan go? Why did it disappear and not be implemented”?

Al-Kharafi said “we do not want to halt democracy. We want to participate in ruling and the choice should be for competence”.

Former MP Mikhlid Al-Azmi, a first constituency candidate, wondered about the extreme animosity adopted by some people in political action. He said he is the target of a fierce campaign, but is confident he will emerge victorious.

“They injected my name in the millions deposits and falsely accused me. I went to the public prosecution department and refuted all accusations and I am sure about innocence” he said, adding that the conspiracy started after the grilling of Ahmad Al-Fahad. “I did not back him. Sheikh Ahmad AlFahad you fought me because I told you to take the podium, and you wanted me to go behind you. Now you are fighting in the constituency to keep me from winning. ...but I will fight with my fellow citizens and constituents.”

GulfRun7 Car Show slated to begin on Thursday

KUWAIT: Ahmed Al-Mudhaf, Marzouq Al-Ghanim and Ahmed AlMajed pose for photograph yesterday.— Photos by Foaud Al-Shaikh

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Kuwaiti based-GulfRun will hold its seventh annual car show on Jan 13 and 14 at 360 Mall. The car show is a precursor to the much-hyped car race scheduled to take place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 26 and 27 January. GulfRun is managed by a group of Kuwaiti automobile enthusiasts who have been holding car race/shows annually to provide a venue for amateur drivers. Called the ‘GulfRun7 Car Show,’ the exhibition will bring together automobile enthusiasts and adventure seekers who intricately design high-speed race cars from Ferrari, Audi, Lamborghini, BMW, Honda, Mitsubishi and Mercedes at a specialized venue.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Ahmed Al-Mudhaf, CEO and Founder GulfRun said they were all [organizers and participants] excited at the upcoming event. “We are happy to be here with you today to announce the launch of GulfRun7 car show and how we strive to be a socially responsible company,” he said. “We had a successful year with the support of our sponsors, audience, bloggers, and GulfRun participants; we hope to make this year an even better one,” he added. According to Al-Mudhaf, this year’s event offered an opportunity not only to share the thrill and excitement with the drivers through the GulfRun race, but also to give back to the community and help save lives. “We hope

this year’s Car Show will raise more interest among people and help raise money for Hayatt, Ruqayah AlQatami Breast Cancer Foundation.”

The charity raffle will be held on the second day of the GulfRun7 car show. Tickets will be offered at the rate of KD 5, and all proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Hayatt. GulfRun will be raffling off a Vespa Motorcycle, with all proceeds going to Hayatt. This program highlights GulfRun’s collective dedication to raise social awareness with emphasis on social responsibility.

Over 55 cars/drivers will participate and is not exclusive to Kuwaitis. “There are other drivers from other Gulf countries too. We do not have a great track like the Bahrain International Circuit, so many participants will come from Kuwait,” he added. When asked about the progress of the annual car race, Marzouk Al-Ghanim, GulfRun Marketing Manager answered in the affirmative.

“The first year was trial and error. In fact, participants in the first year was only ten, then it increased to 15 the other year, then 40 and now we have 55 drivers. We have more than 80 applicants, but we have to limit the number to 55 because of the space at the circuit. So, it is increasing annually, and this is what we really want. We encourage more drivers to participate in order to raise awareness on safe driving,” he asserted. The 55 drivers will be classified into different categories. “In the Bahrain race track,

‘Set up independent touristic body’ KUWAIT: Kuwait needs an independent touristic body that can help improve tourism in the country by implementing strategic planning. This was stated by candidate Nabila Al-Anjari who identified tourism as the main element that can turn Kuwait into an international financial hub.

“Plans are needed to improve the touristic sector and place it on par with regional and international levels,” Al-Anjari said. This can be achieved by a ‘highly skilled and experienced’ authority. The third constituency candidate said that such an authority should be capable of hiring and training national labor forces to establish successful cooperation between the public and private sector. Al-Anjari, who previously served as an assistant undersecretary for tourism affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, says that this project will create around 30,000 job opportu-

KUWAIT: One of the race cars being displayed at the 360 Mall. This specialized race car is to participate in the seventh GulfRun.

Nabila Al-Anjari nities to provide investments worth KD 700 million.

Al-Anjari officially announced that she adopted tourism development as part of her campaign. “It is strange to see lack of commitment to improve this field when such a step can make it a major source of national income,” she said.

they’ll be separated according to their vehicles, experiences. We encouraged them to bring their families to witness the race. They can enjoy, have fun, at the same time learn and test their driving skills in the right venue,” he added. With regards to driver preparation, Al-Ghanim noted, “They are all getting the right training, they are ready.

Inspections are ongoing for tires, engines and the maintenance,” he said.

Unlike the professional car racing event Formula One, GulfRun is a fun-filled event. “No one is professional here. We may be using the professional race track, but we are not professional car racers. But it could be the ticket to starting a career. Formula One is more competitive and they race for the price tag. We don’t have that, though we have trophies and awards.

Our sponsors will be providing gifts, but it won’t be anything the cash pot offered by Formula One. We have the support from the best car dealers and they’ll be there to support us and to fix our cars when it broke,” he added.

GulfRun’s management team extends its gratitude for the continuous support provided by Kuwait’s private sector, which acknowledges the important role sport plays amongst Kuwait’s youth. GulfRun7 is supported by a wide range of sponsors like Wataniya Telecom, Jashanmal, Fasttelco and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Slider Station, Credit One and Al-Sawan Travel.

Candidate suggests bills sanctioning anti-judiciary litigation KUWAIT: Lawyer Al-Hmeidi AlSubeiei, a fifth constituency candidate, suggested the coming parliament approve bills that sanction litigation in disputes involving the judiciary and the public prosecution department.

“Such bills are the key for securing full justice to all citizens on an equal footing within the framework of the constitution,” he told a group of voters on Sunday night at his electoral campaign premises.

Al-Subeiei said his platform prioritizes amending the nationality act in a way that permits litigation in disputes resulting from nationality cancellation, law on financial statements of MPs and

political leaders, and the law of the constitutional court.

He also suggested restructuring constituencies for more equality and fairness, and criminalizing any act that could trigger sectarian tensions or harm national unity.

He also suggested amending audiovisual regulations and involving the private sector in efforts to solve housing problems. Al-Subeiei called for a radical solution to the problems of illegal residents within a clear-cut time framework. He also called for more integration among GCC member states and stepping up the transition from cooperation into a union in order to fend off any hostilities. —KUNA

KUWAIT: First Constituency candidate Mikhlid Al-Azmi addressing an election meeting yesterday. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Candidates seek governance changes KUWAIT: A leading candidate believes that while Kuwait is far from being affected by the Arab Spring, a few changes can be made in governance, including appointing ministers from among the public.

“Gulf Cooperation Council countries are encouraged to take self-motivated political reforms,” said second constituency candidate and former lawmaker Mohammad AlSaqr during a seminar held at Al-Wuqaiyan diwaniya in Al-Faiha on Sunday. He said that it is impossible for a political system to exist without political parties. Al-Saqr also called for constitutional reforms to made to guarantee more public freedoms.

Meanwhile, leading third constituency candidate and former MP Meshary AlOsaimi blamed the “continuous conflict between some ruling family members” for the parliamentary crisis. He further added that while the incident in which the Parliament’s building was raided by protestors and opposition MPs is wrong, “the fact that there is a Cabinet which pays bribes to MPs is a sin.”

Liberal political figure Dr Ahmad AlKhateeb rejected the use of the term ‘raid’ to describe the ‘spontaneous actions taken by young protestors,” explaining that their march into the Parliament was never planned. The senior political activist made these remarks on Sunday as he attended the inauguration of the election headquarter of third constituency candidate Mohammad Bushehri, explaining that his attendance out an end to all rumors about possible rifts in the National Movement,” referring to Kuwait’s Liberal front he had co-founded.

Dr Al-Khateeb urged citizens to participate in the 2012 elections, warning that boycotting elections increases the chances of ‘corrupt candidates’ being elected.

In other news, Al-Qabas daily reported yesterday that the Public Prosecution

Depar tment launched investigations Sunday in a new complaint filed against an illegal by-election held by the Rashaida tribe in the fourth constituency. The report is reportedly the eighth of its kind to be referred to Attorney General Dherar AlAsousy.

The Public Prosecution Department released nine citizens on bail following brief investigations held Sunday in connection with charges related to organizing primary elections for the Mutairi tribe in the fourth constituency, reported AlQabas.

Moving on to another subject, Al-Jarida reported yesterday, quoting sources from the Ministry of Interior that a committee assigned to look into the validity of 2012 elections nominations was pushed to as far as next week, after it was released earlier this week. The sources who spoke on condition of anonymity explained that the delay while waiting for an Appeals Court ruling in which candidate Dr Faisal AlMislem is accused of releasing a confidential bank document, reported Al-Jarida.

On that regard, Kuwait University professors Dr Mohammad Al-Feeli and Dr Obaid Al-Wasmi told Al-Rai daily on Sunday that the Elections Department in the Ministry of Interior ‘has the right’ to cancel nominations of candidates if they violate conditions for running elections.

They hinted that a candidate can be disqualified if convicted by a court ruling, although they enjoy an immunity.

Separately, a third constituency candidate and former MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabae was released on a KD 100 bail after he was briefly investigated at Al-Firdous police station on Sunday in connection with libel charges pressed by a local daily newspaper. Al-Tabtabae reportedly accused the newspaper of “promoting Iran’s policies in Kuwait, “ reported Al-Rai.

Kuwait going through tricky circumstances KUWAIT: As Kuwaitis are about to practice their unchallenged right of choosing their representatives, they must realize the homeland is going through critical and unprecedented state of affairs and that their vote would have a great effect on the course Kuwait’s future is going to take, said candidate in the National Assembly elections Naima Al-Hay. Running in the third constituency, AlHay said she has a clearly defined program that outlines the morals she would be working with and causes she would be addressing if she makes it to parliament.

Voters could get a clear idea of her stances and make their informed choices, of their own free will. Focal item in her program, she said, is the human factor and human development, since human resources are the cornerstone for a nation’s development and prosperity.

She said she would seek to engage all in the nation’s march forward, with the motto (No one left behind), and would focus on improving education, counter unemployment through nationalization of the workforce in the private sector, push for a minimum family income through restructuring of the pay and allowance system, and establish minimum pay.

Closer to voters’ daily lives, she would also address laws that protect children and other family members against domestic violence, work for means to secure social justice, and increase individual income. She stressed she would demand

Naima Al-Hay establishment of a social solidarity fund to help those in financial need and find a balance between increase in pay and increase in prices. She would also address health insurance and quality of health services. Another focal point of her program are values of accountable citizenship, justice, equality, religious tolerance, inclusion and entrenching of freedom of religion and worship in school curricula and media, and criminalization of discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, or gender. The candidate said another aspect of her program relates to housing and construction of labor cities, and another deals with legislative reform, and the last deals with improving the state’s infrastructure. — KUNA

Media tool for election rumors KUWAIT: Media academics and political activists agreed on the need for media to practice a positive role in daily life, to prevent candidates profiting in their parliamentary campaigns by spreading rumors.

Menawer Al-Rajhi, Media Professor at Kuwait University, said that media has the ability to create false crises which candidates can use to reach audiences. Fatima Al-Abdali,

political activist, believes that negative media provides an environment which accommodates politically driven rumors. The media should be responsible for carrying the truth to the public, far from personal gain or political views. Fatima Al-Naham, another activist, said that fear is spread among the public due to the flow of negative news and the absence of a sense of responsibility. —KUNA

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

local

Child molester in police net, attempts suicide Teenager killed in Hawally

By Hanaan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A child molester attempted suicide inside a police station shortly after his arrest on Sunday. Quick police intervention saved his life. The young Kuwaiti was rushed to Adan Hospital after police officers unhooked him from a noose he had created with his dishdasha (traditional dress). His condition was described as stable by medical staff. The man was placed under arrest a short while before his suicide attempt. He was caught after sexually assaulting an 11year-old Kuwaiti boy inside his car.

The incident happened in Fahd Al-Ahmad area where the child was dropped off by his father at the area co-op society branch to pick up a few items. The man grew suspicious when his son was late returning.

When he stepped out of his car to check, he spotted his son getting out of another vehicle. He rushed to prevent its driver from escaping. Police rushed to the scene within minutes of the emergency call. The suspect confessed that he raped the child after forcing him inside his car at knifepoint. The child confirmed that he was assaulted under threat.

The suspect was taken to the area police station and put in a cell pending a forensic test on the victim. Police noticed through surveillance cameras that the suspect was wrapping his dress around his neck after hanging it like a noose from the ceiling. They were too late to prevent him from hanging himself, but quick enough to save his life. He was reportedly unconscious when he was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Investigations revealed that the suspect was in line for recruitment in the Kuwaiti Army after recently qualifying in a mandatory training course. The suspect and his victim are from the same tribe. The suspect will return to police custody to face charges after he is discharged from hospital.

Teenager killed An Arab bus driver was arrested by Hawalli detectives after he hit and killed an expatriate teenager in Hawally. The body of the 15-year-old was found in Tunis Street. Information provided to detectives by a friend of the victim led to the arrest. The driver works for a private local transport company.

Two in custody A citizen and an Asian prostitute were found seminaked in a vehicle parked in a dark yard in Bnaid Al-Gar. They were recently arrested by a capital police patrol.

Security sources said the girl confessed that the citizen offered her a lift from Salhiya. On the way, he offered her KD 5 to perform sexual services. A case was filed and the suspects were referred to relevant authorities.

An expatriate was arrested in Ahmadi for selling pornographic movies to teenagers and bachelors, said security sources. The suspect also led detectives to a further 200 porno CDs he had at his residence.

A citizen reported that unidentified robbers broke into a mobile phone store he owns in Fahaheel. He said

News

in brief

No alliance for Al-Mubarak KUWAIT: Former MP Dr Maasouma Al Mubarak, a candidate in the first constituency, expressed fears of the return of MPs whom she described as crises makers.

She said that she does not intend to make an alliance with any MP, and will run for the elections alone. She criticized the dealing by the government with the case of the millions deposited in MPs accounts. She said the matter is now in the hands of the public prosecutor. She described breaking into the National Assembly as a disaster which fell upon society. She said no one will be as efficient as the former National Assembly speaker and no one will be able to fill his place.

Cuban minister due in Kuwait KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) will host the Cuban Minister of Public Health, Roberto Morales Ojeda, and his accompanying delegation during a visit to the country from January 11 to 13, according to a ministry statement released on Monday. Faisal AlDosari, in charge of the MoH department of Public Relations, said the Cuban official will inspect health clinics, centers and hospitals in the country. The visit is aimed at cementing mutual cooperation between Kuwait and Cuba, particularly in the health sector.

Cuba opened an embassy in Kuwait in 1980.

Union plans sit-in KUWAIT: Ahmad Oqla Al-Enezi, Chairman of the Customs Workers Union, said his union supports the Legal Workers Union (LWU)in its demands for the rights of its workers. Al-Enezi said that his union will participate in the LWU sit-in on Wednesday. He asked the Civil Service Commission and Justice Ministry to consider their just demands. Al-Enezi said unions in general are peaceful and have a democratic system.

“They never create crises,” he said, asking officials to face their responsibilities towards the country and its general interests. Al-Enezi said they should sit with union representatives because their demands are fair.

Al-Enezi said resorting to strikes according to the global treaties of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which Kuwait ratified in 1961, is a means to get their message across and obtain their rights.

Lari alliance with Samad KUWAIT: Former MP Ahmad Lari, a candidate in the first constituency, said the wisdom of His Highness the Amir has defused the crisis bomb shell, and returned decision into the hands of the Kuwaiti voter. Lari expected change in the first constituency to reach 40 percent and possibly 50 percent in the other constituencies. He said the number of female candidates will be less in the upcoming National Assembly than in the previous one. He said the millions deposited into MPs accounts have shocked the Kuwaiti street, and it is a very important case. He said we should not proceed with judgments, as investigations are still ongoing in the public prosecution department. He announced that he will run for election jointly with Adnan Abdul Samad in one list and no other candidate will be added to that list. They will leave the choice to voters.

they stole high end smart mobile phones worth KD 8,000.

A senior police officer reported to Jabriya police station that his own vehicle had been broken into and that his mobile phone was stolen.

A citizen reported that her vehicle was broken into and robbed at the Kuwait Central Prison parking lot where she had gone to visit her brother, said security sources.

An Egyptian reported that two people dressed in national outfits robbed him of KD 600. They searched him in Hawalli while impersonating police detectives, said security sources.

Road accidents A 33 year old female American complained of back pain after a car accident near Daher area. She was taken to Adan hospital.

A 19-year-old Kuwaiti complained of pain in the chest and back following a car accident near Farwaniya on Ghazali street. He was taken to Farwaniya hospital.

An 18-year-old Kuwaiti sustained a broken collar bone during a car accident in Qurtuba. He was taken to Amiri hospital.

A 36-year-old Kuwaiti sustained a broken back and a 37 year old stateless resident complained of pain in the neck during a car accident in Maidan Hawally. They were taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A 43- year- old Sri Lankan sustained various bruises and lacerations during a car accident on King Fahd Expressway. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

Four Egyptians were injured during a car accident on the Sixth Ring Road near Doha spur. They were taken to Farwaniya hospital. Two Indians sustained various bruises during a car accident near Sulaibiya. They were taken to Farwaniya hospital. The Interpol department of the Criminal Investigations Directorate arrested a Gulf expatriate wanted in his country for embezzling a large amount of money.

Italian cultural week aims to boost ties with Kuwait

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Connoisseurs of Italian lifestyle, art, fashion, leather goods, design, gastronomy, and luxury conveyance will enjoy the Italian Cultural Week entitled ‘Salhiya Speaks Italian 2012,’ to be held from January 13 to 19 at the Salhiya Complex.

This was announced yesterday during the press conference held in the Italian Embassy. The event is being organized under the patronage of Italian Embassy, in cooperation with the Salhiya Complex.

The closing ceremony will be marked by a charity dinner held at the J W Mariott Hotel in support of Al-Kharafi Activity Kids Center. Kuwaiti opera singer Abdulrahman AI-Mahmeed will perform, accompanied by talented, young Kuwaiti pianist Fasial Bahairi.

An exhibition will be held, so will workshops on ceramic paintings, gilding with gold and food preparation be organized to reflect the authentic Italian experience.

“I invite lovers of Italy’s artistic industries to not miss the exhibition. They will enjoy different activities every day. On the 13th, a soccer exhibition by AC Milan Academy will be held, on 14th ceramic painting and woodcarving workshops will be held. On 15th a workshop will be conducted by Solo Pizza Napulitana and piano bar, on 16th a gilding workshop be conducted, on 17th and 18th ceramic workshop will be held. The event will conclude on the 19th with a gala dinner,” said Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Nicoletti, reviewing the program of the exhibition.

Nicoletti also underscored the importance of the cultural ties between Italy and Kuwait. “The program includes Italian companies in Kuwait, in addition to companies participating for the first time and

visiting the country to take part in the exhibition. This participation aims to bring cultures together through art and style, building a bridge between Kuwait and Italy but also introducing young generations to different art disciplines,” he added.

The event will see also the presence of Telethon Italia, a non-profit organization and the second biggest biomedical charity in Italy whose mission is to assist in the growth of excellent scientific research in genetic disorders in Italy. It aims to advance biomedical research towards the diagnosis, cure and prevention of muscular dystrophies

Razam Karam, PR Manager of the AlKharafi Activity Kids Center welcomed the concept of the exhibition, and the opportunity to participate in this event and the support of the participants.

“Our Center is the first in the Middle East to provide activities for disabled children, giving them the opportunity to become one with the environment.

The disabled usually don’t have opportunity to make a difference; in this event they will meet artists and do something different. The Center will also accept donations to help these children,” she pointed out.

KUWAIT: Adel Bin Hasan, Razam Karam, Fabrizio Nicoletti, Alain Roncoletta, Jafar Behbehani, Abdulrahman Al-Mahmeed.

— Photo by Joseph Shagra and other human genetic diseases.

Alain Roncoletta, the Managing Director of ‘Sartoria Italia,’ the organizing party, said that preparations and planning for this exhibition are challenging but exciting, considering the appreciation and support provided by all the participants.

Adel Bin Hasan from the Salhiya Company noted that the company was launched in 1976. Since then, it has been cooperating with many other Italian companies. “The Salhiya Complex is proud to host this event. It’s a great place to shop and taste culture as well,” he said.

At the end of the conference, Roncoletta thanked the organizing partners Salhiya Complex and J W Mariott Hotel as well as the Gold Sponsors Wataniya Telecom, P&E Interior Architects, Hellmann worldwide Logistics, the Silver Sponsors Al-Ostoura International Company, Burgan Bank, Mercato Del Golfo, Gulf Air and Media box as Media Sponsor as well as the media channels in Kuwait and Italy, and all those who contributed in organizing this event, wishing it success with an enthusiastic public participation.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

LOCAL

In my View

kuwait digest

NA immunity and offense

Educational calamity

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

F

ellow columnist Ali Al-Baghli heavily criticized people who object to revoking the nomination of elections candidate Faisal Al-Mislem, if convicted by the Appeals court. I recall that Al-Baghli, a practicing lawyer, is also the attorney representing the local bank which accuses Al-Mislem of using a classified bank document in the Parliament.

By Abdellatif Sharaa

Columnist Al-Baghli was right when he asked oppositionists to abide by the rule of court.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that the final say about Al-Mislem’s nomination lies with the Ministry of Interior.

According to available information, Al-Mislem has been accused of using a photocopy of a check during the debate session of a grilling motion, to prove that the former premier was involved in a corruption case. Since the debate took place discreetly, this means that Al-Mislem never displayed the ‘classified banking document’ to public. Therefore, he can’t be indicted. If we say that information from the secret session - including those pertinent with the check were made public, the entire Parliament can be considered a guilty party.

In the meantime, the event can be construed to mean that a lawmaker will be held accountable for any statements made to the press on parliamentary proceedings. This would then render an MP’s immunity useless. In other words, it means that MPs cannot express their opinions freely in the Parliament because they can be prosecuted for making even the slightest criticism.

While former MP Faisal Al-Mislem can be convicted in a court verdict, I still believe that what he has done is not a criminal act. He did not use the check for blackmailing purposes or for private interests.

They used it to support what he believed was the state’s best interest, as part of his job as a lawmaker.

Many of the current candidates, press reporters and editors-in-chief have faced this in their careers.

Columnist Al-Baghli was right when he asked oppositionists to abide by the rule of court. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the final say about Al-Mislem’s nomination lies with the Ministry of Interior. I hope that the situation doesn’t reach that level, and that the court release an order to the constitutional rights of MPs. If there is a law that renders what Al-Mislem did as a crime, then there is a higher law that protects the lawmaker from prosecution. If Al-Mislem is eventually convicted, I hope that he is found guilty while expressing an opinion rather than a criminal offense. —Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Whom to vote for?

By Dr Wael Al-Hassawi

A

s a voter in the Second Constituency, I am required to choose between 76 candidates and decide whom is worthy of my four votes.

Personally, I know only twenty of these candidates, and I don’t have any background information about the 56 others. There are just a few weeks separating us from election day on Feb 2, and if I decide to attend only one seminar held by each candidate, then I need to attend two seminars a day until then.

That’s provided I can judge a candidate by attending only one seminar.

The problem is that almost all candidates are talking about the same thing: fighting corruption, endorsing reform and protection of public funds. Some of them announce programs for projects that need the efforts of an entire political party to push, let alone a single candidate.

I share this predicament with most voters, who are looking for competent candidates to give their votes to. Television stations are doing a good job interviewing candidates so that the public can get to know them better.

However, the problem is that almost all candidates are talking about the same thing: fighting corruption, endorsing reform and protection of public funds. Some of them announce programs for projects that need the efforts of an entire political party to push, let alone a single candidate.

We hear candidates talking about ‘political money’, or payments made by politicians to affect the election process. Such remarks are often countered by statements from the government and the Kuwait Transparency Society, reassuring efforts to counter vote buying. But when I see formerly convicted candidates and former MPs running again for parliamentary elections, I can’t stop but question the capability of the efforts to actually counter irregularities in the elections process.

I propose that local television stations, newspapers and civic institutions organize public debates between candidates in which they answer specific questions that form the main concerns of voters.

Their responses will be assessed by an unbiased committee.

I also hope that someone will volunteer to request financial disclosures from all candidates in order to compare between them now and after they are elected. —Al-Rai

a.sharaa@kuwaittimes.net

I

kuwait digest

Victims of ignorance

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

O

n Jan 1, 1959, forces of Fidel Castro marched into Havana, after the escape of dictator Fulgencio Batista. Since then, the United States has been trying to overthrow Communist rule in Cuba. However, numerous attempts made by eleven US presidents - including a failed invasion attempt during John F. Kennedy’s tenure - was of no avail.

The United States also failed to uproot Communist rule in Vietnam, and came out of a devastating war there which cost them trillions of dollars and thousands of lost troops. America also failed to achieve most of its goals in Iraq, while it is still suffering today along with the NATO forces - in its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The United States is also predicted to fail should they choose to join an Israeli military action against Iran.

A history of military and intelligence failures as well as a current struggling economy makes it difficult for me to believe in conspiracy theories that blame America for every bad incident that happens in the Arab World. The global superpower who took it upon itself to protect the security of Israel have failed for more than half a century to secure peace between Israel and its neighbors. Therefore, it is difficult to believe that they were the masterminds behind the Arab Spring.

It is difficult to believe that the United States convinced Mohamed Bouazizi to set himself on fire and spark a public revolution in Tunisia until the regime of former presi-

dent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled. Maybe it is the lack of trust in our own capabilities that makes it easier for people in the

A history of military and intelligence failures as well as a current struggling economy makes it difficult for me to believe in conspiracy theories that blame America for every bad incident that happens in the Arab World. The global superpower who took it upon itself to protect the security of Israel have failed for more than half a century to secure peace between Israel and its neighbors.

Therefore, it is difficult to believe that they were the masterminds behind the Arab Spring.

Arab World to speculate that the US intelligence has assigned thousands of Egyptian youths to demonstrate in Cairo and Alexandria to overthrow the USally regime of Hosni Mubarak. I don’t understand how America can be blamed for killing Gaddafi, when it hasn’t been able to assassinate Castro in Cuba, located approximately 150 km from its shores.

Such conspiracy theories are the result of an underdeveloped scientific, academic and cultural levels we find ourselves in. It has made it easier for other countries to utilize our weakness for their own benefit. Bouazizi was not a particularly wealthy man when he burnt himself to death. Tunisians didn’t leave job opportunities and decided to go on protests.

Egyptians wouldn’t have angrily protested if they didn’t suffer from increasing corruption and unemployment rates. The demonstrations were certainly not in support of demands of top movie stars to.

Libyan revolutionists didn’t burn Tripoli and sacrifice their own lives only because Gaddafi deprived them of top luxuries.

All these public revolutions happened when people found themselves in a position in which we are no longer guaranteed a chance to earn daily bread. So, all the conspiracy theorists in the Arab World, please show a little more respect because there is a difference between being a victim of foreign conspiracy and a victim of ignorance, humiliation and backwardness. — Al-Qabas

t appears that there is hardly a household that does not employ at least one private teacher for a school going child. This is a strange and amazing practice that has swept our neighborhood, with demand rising despite the existence of a law that clearly bans such activity.

Providing private tuitions is a profitable business.

It is so profitable that many teachers consider it their main job, while holding on to jobs at schools for legality sake.

Teaching in school is spiraling downwards in various ways. As an example, a colleague of mine spoke to me the other day in fear and shock, “Do you believe that my son who is in sixth grade cannot even read or write like the way a sixth grader should!

I do not believe that the problem lies only with students, teachers and curricula. In fact, if we look closely, we find that the teacher a major contributor to this predicament, and there are some teachers who speak about it openly, “Whoever wants to be good should take private lessons, bring an additional income at a very low salary. Private lessons are not limited to certain science subjects. It is applicable to almost all the subjects, except may be physical education; an indicator of how interested our children are in education.

I remember the time when I was a fourth grader.

My father, God bless his soul, used to make us read the newspaper aloud. Whenever I made a mistake, he would correct me, ask me to repeat words and sentences, but never scolded me. I remember that we were eager to go to school every morning.

Headmaster Khalil, teacher Hussein, teacher Jamil and teacher Taher taught us all they knew and made sure that we understood every single word they said.

I hear some educators complain that the classrooms accommodate too many students between 30 to 35. Well, our classrooms had up to 50 and even 60 students; hardly anyone failed and the least GPA score used to be around 2.5! Some of those students are now leaders, each in his own capacity.

Another problem that hampers education is the so-called ‘model’ questions and answers. The student buys a file from a shop in Physics, Maths, Chemistry, English, Arabic and keeps reading these folders.

During exam time, these students who rely on folders start screaming and crying and claim those who prepared questions cheated them and included questions outside the curricula. Poor things, what do they know about the curricula when they haven’t even bothered to look at the text book!

In fact, those who prepare such ‘guidebooks’ should be held responsible and made to face legal action, even considering it a felony.

Advertisements placed by teachers offering private lessons are everywhere, with phone numbers that are repeated everyday in every newspaper.

Although it is illegal, at least as I do understand, there does not appear to be any action taken by the education or interior ministries.

Apparently, there are some teachers who give private lessons to students in school during evenings.

So what is going on? Is the teacher bad in the morning, good in the evening, or does money talk?

Authorities, NGOs and parents should think seriously about finding a solution to the education calamity. We are not looking for an overnight end to the problem. In any case, let us serve justice to the teacher!

kuwait digest kuwait digest

Precautions to protect unity

Focus on serious candidates

By Sami Al-Nisf

By A. Aziz Al-Kandari

I

t is very difficult for people to agree on certain decisions without anyone objecting to it or having a different of opinion from the group. Even in most advanced democratic countries, it is very rare to find that people agree in their minds and hearts on a certain thing. However, the meeting of the Council of Ministers approved important decisions and most of the ministers, if not all, agreed to decisions that represent all political lines in Kuwait.

Starting with the formation of an independent commission for elections, and a national committee to supervise the election campaigns, to forming a team to study the relation between the National Assembly and the government.

They are trying to amend the track record of this intention, in addition to taking special precautions to protect national unity, and to strengthen media to verify national unity.

This intention by the Council of Ministers is considered a new style in all the meanings of the word. It is considered a main pillar and first serious step in the right direction.

It should be followed by several similar steps in order to not return to square one and waste a safe building which is built on solid

I have followed the social media on Twitter, including reactions to the Council of Ministers decisions, and what I have read from different law makers, former MPs, and ordinary people. All of them hailed the important decisions and expressed their feelings freely with honest words, without being ordered by anyone to do so.

ground and national pillars.

I have followed the social media on Twitter, including reactions to the Council of Ministers decisions, and what I have read from different law makers, former MPs, and ordinary people. All of them hailed the important decisions and expressed their feelings freely with honest words, without being ordered by anyone to do so.

Even the titles of most of the daily newspapers are about the decisions of the Council of Ministers, which are very important decisions for reform. Needless to say that it is time for the political blocs who want reform honestly to give at least one year for this government aand help the government in its vision towards the main issues in the state.

Without cooperation there is no success because, as they say, one hand does not clap alone. The Council of Ministers took all those reform decisions to correct the path of the political process.

They deserve this blessing and this acceptance of citizens that represent approval for this government. — Al-Anbaa

M

any democracies in the world, hold election in two phases to ensure that only the candidate earning the highest number of votes wins a parliamentary seat. Such elections should not be communal in nature. In an example, the first twenty candidates will be chosen to participate in general elections. We do not vote for those who participate in primary elections show proof that they are wanted. The matter is left to constitutional experts.

Such noble things can be achieved in different ways, by concentrating on serious candidates only and not wasting time and votes on those who do not deserve to reach Parliament.

This would mean that one would need enough votes to prove that the MP is represented in the nation. Choosing the wrong candidates always means everything ends disastrously, contrary to what is hoped. This is in addition to losing money when MPs pass elections! What a smart Kuwaiti equation!

To ensure that a strong, efficient, honest and wise person wins, questionnaires and public polls should be made available. This should accompany election campaigns. It should be done by specialized parties.

The Kuwait University or some other society can supervise the event.

Note: 1. Hope that a specialized party can train candidates on choice. Specialized doctors, ex ministers and ex MPs give proper lectures. If such a thing happens, I will only vote for a candidate who attends such training courses.

2. Medical checkups should to be performed to ensure that candidates are eligible. — Al-Anbaa

5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Local

Arab families of Guantanamo detainees tired of waiting Ten years in jail without trial KUWAIT: Families of Arab prisoners detained without trial at Guantanamo Bay since it opened 10 years ago are despairing of seeing them again soon despite US pledges to shut the facility. Fawzi Al-Odah and Fayez Al-Kandari, the only two Kuwaitis still at the centre, “may spend the rest of their lives in prison without trial,” said Odah’s father, Khaled, who heads a committee of families of detainees.

“Our life has changed for the worse since 10 years ago. I am suffering having to endure missing my son and at the same time trying to alleviate the sufferings of the rest of my family,” Al-Odah said.

The duo are among detainees who did not receive approval for transfer from the US detention centre that was built as part of Washington’s “war on terror” because they are considered too dangerous to be released, Al-Odah said.

Ten Kuwaiti detainees have been released and sent back home and all of them got married and have children and are now leading normal lives, Al-Odah said.

Except for one, Mohammad AlAjmi, who is officially listed as missing while US and Iraqi authorities say he carried out a suicide attack in northern Iraq a few years ago.

US authorities initially promised Kuwait to release Al-Odah and AlKandari, aged 34 and 35 respective-

ly, but they later retracted their pledge despite Kuwait agreeing to conditions that Al-Odah’s father described as tough.

The two were arrested in northern Pakistan in late 2001 by tribesmen who sold them to the Pakistani

from Yemen.

Some 89 inmates have already received the green light for transfer, which theoretically means that they are free. Most are Yemenis, but US President Barack Obama imposed in January 2010 a moratorium on the

KUWAIT: Khalid Al-Odah, the father of Fawzi Al-Odah, one of two Kuwaiti detainees still being held at Guantanamo Bay, holds his son’s picture, at his home in the Qurtuba district of Kuwait City yesterday. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat army who in turn handed them over to the United States, he said.

Both of them were on charity missions and were never involved in any act of fighting, he insisted.

In total, 171 men remain in detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They come from 20 countries, but around half of them are

release of Yemenis. “ There remain 90 Yemeni detainees at Guantanamo,” said Ahmed Armane, who takes care of the detainees file at the Yemeni human rights organization Hood.

“We plan to organize this year a series of demonstrations demanding their release, especially after the

US justice decided to release them, while they remain behind bars for reasons that we do not know,” he said.

In total, 66 Yemenis were released from Guantanamo and have been repatriated to Yemen where many of them rejoined the ranks of Al-Qaeda.

As for Saudi inmates, only 10 remain in custody out of 130 who passed through the detention centre, according to Kateh AlShemmari, a lawyer for the families of Saudi detainees.

“We demand either a fair civil trial, or their repatriation to Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that the families “have no clue about the US criteria for the release of the detainees.”

“I think that the delay in the release of the last detainees is linked to the fact that some released prisoners joined Al-Qaeda in Yemen,” where the jihadist network has regrouped taking advantage of the weakness of the central authority.

Some of five Saudi ex-inmates who followed a rehabilitation program set by Riyadh for returnees have rejoined Islamist militants, a Saudi interior ministry official said in 2010. The Saudi rehabilitation program is run by clerics and aims at preventing ex-inmates from been drawn back into Islamist militant groups. —AFP

RunQ8 to boost road safety KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Sudan, Dr Ibrahim Mir Ghan Ibrahim, hosted a reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of independence of his country. High ranking officials, diplomats and media persons attended the reception. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Meningitis patient credits ‘good care’ in recovery KUWAIT: An Indian patient, recovering at the Infectious Diseases Hospital after being treated for meningitis, says that the good care he received at Farwaniya Hospital was key in helping him get through his crisis.

Samine Massa, 23, said that he came to Kuwait two months ago after he was recruited by a cleaning company to work at a camp on the border with Saudi Arabia.

He had been living in Farwaniya where he shares an apartment with five other residents, he said while still in his bed at the Infectious Disease Hospital where he was moved to on Saturday.

None of his roommates have been diagnosed with the disease, he said.

The patient explained to Al-Qabas through an Indian translator that he headed to Farwaniya polyclinic with a high fever, unbearable headache, and general body aches.

He said his condition has improved sig-

nificantly and his headaches are relatively mild compared to what he felt when he was first diagnosed.

Al-Qabas also spoke with the mother of a 4-months-old baby, who was transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital for recovery following treatment at the Farwaniya Hospital for meningitis. The woman explained that the condition of her child is stable as he no longer has a high fever.

Dr. Jamaal Al-Duaij, Director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, said that a third case is expected to be transferred to the facility, pending results of a test to reveal whether the patient is suffering from kidney failure or not.

A crowd of citizens grew frustrated at Abdullah Al-Mubarak polyclinic when they learned that meningitis vaccinations are not available, Al-Rai daily reported.

Most citizens had escorted their children to be vaccinated out of concern that they might be infected in school.

Vaccinate meningitis contacts: MoH KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health yesterday urged directors in all health zones to ensure the vaccination of people who are in direct and constant contact with patients known or suspected to have meningitis.

These include staff at health facilities, as well as children aged over two.

Health ministry Undersecretary, Ibrahim Al-Abdelhadi, urged that this be ensured to maintain public safety and peace of mind, especially after the recent increase in the number of patients and some rumors that caused panic.

He said directors of health zones must verify the availability of vaccines at preventive care centers. He stated that anyone in contact with cases of confirmed meningitis are no longer at risk 24 hours after taking suitable antibiotics.

The type of meningitis recently detected, he said, can only be transmitted through droplets of respiratory secretions during close contact such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone. It cannot be spread by breathing air where a meningitis infected person has been.

Crowded living quarters are a concern, but there is no need to vaccinate anyone without prolonged close interaction with a suspected or confirmed patient, the official reiterated. —KUNA

Marriage loan increases to KD6,000 KUWAIT: The Cabinet is expecting a recommendation to increase the marriage loan given by the state to male citizens from KD4,000 to KD6,000, a report said yesterday.

Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and State Minister for Housing Affairs, Mohammad Al-Numas, will recommend adding a KD2,000 grant to the marriage loan, an informed source said.

Monthly repayments are to be simultaneously increased from KD40 to KD60, the source told Al-Rai on condition of anonymity. The source also added that the government intends to establish two state-owned corporations; one that funds building materials, and another for real estate financing which would give a citizen a KD30,000 maximum loan to build a house. —Al-Rai

KUWAIT: RunQ8, the 10km race organized by Agility and FawziaSultan Rehabilitation Institute(FSRI) under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s deputy prime minister, minister of defense and minister of interior, will be held on Jan 21 at 8 am. At a press conference held yesterday, the race organizers introduced the platinum sponsors Behbehani Motors Company, Porsche Centre Kuwait and Zain.

RunQ8 2012 promotes road traffic safety in line with the UN Decade of Road and Traffic Safety, 2011-2021 that was launched with an aim to stabilize and reduce global road traffic fatalities by 2021.

The race will benefit two initiatives; one is the Porsche Early Childhood Traffic Safety Education Project, which will teach local school children about being safe passengers and understanding road and traffic safety rules. The second is the Post-Crash Rehabilitation Training Center that helps those affected by traffic accidents to include drivers, passengers and family members that lose a loved one in an accident.

Samer Jarjouhi, Corporate Social Responsibility Associate from Agility said, “At Agility we lay a strong emphasis on road safety.

We do our best to ensure that our drivers are trained and responsi-

ble. It’s a well known fact that traffic accidents are a leading cause of mortality in Kuwait and affect a large population of the local community. This includes victims of car accidents, or their families. RunQ8 aims to raise awareness about road and traffic safety and ensure

once they are old enough to get behind the wheel.

Graeme Hunter, General Manager of Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company added, “Porsche is pleased to have the opportunity to support road and traffic safety in Kuwait. Kuwait

that our future generations grow up to be safer and more responsible drivers.”

It has been proven that children begin to shape their future driving behavior between the ages of 3 - 7 years old. The Porsche Early Childhood Traffic Safety Education Project aims to reach out to 7000 school children from that age group in Kuwait. These children will be introduced to traffic safety training in these formative years to encourage them to be safer drivers

is one of the largest and most important markets for Porsche Middle East & Africa and we have a strong sense of responsibility towards the local community. By being the official sponsors of the Porsche Early Childhood Traffic Safety Education Project, we are trying our best to ensure that we have safe drivers for our sports cars in the country.”

The Post-Crash Rehabilitation Training Center is an FSRI initiative supported by Zainthatwill offer

free training to local physiotherapists in post-crash rehabilitation assessment, case management and hands-on clinical skills. In addition, clinical psychological services will be available at the Center, as par t of the routine assessment of each patient.

Follow-up counseling services will also be provided to accident victims participating in the physiotherapy training and their families if needed.

Eleanor Burton Al Issa, Director Corporate Social Responsibility & Communications for FSRI explained, “Road accidents in Kuwait claim lives and leave people injured and devastated. They also affect the families of the victims. With the Post-Crash Rehabilitation Training Center we will be assisting patients to return to work, school and their daily routines. The goal is to establish a program that can be used by any physiotherapist to bring their applied skills up to international standards, and to offer clinical psychological support and training to improve post-crash rehabilitative care throughout the healthcare system in Kuwait.”

RunQ8 will start at the Marina Crescent on Gulf Road and will be a fun day for the entire family with a race village and other activities for kids. People are also encouraged to form groups and par ticipate together in supporting this cause.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

local

Cellmates back in custody for alcohol consumption Three hurt in Sabahiya fire

KUWAIT: Minister Safar is seen with Omran before their meeting.

Kuwait ready to host Green Building Forum KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works will focus on implementing the ‘green building’ concept, based on the use of environment-friendly material in construction as well as utilization of energysaving methods.

This was mentioned by Minister of Public Works Dr Fadhel Safar, after holding a meeting with ProMedia official Jamaal Omran, who leads the organizing committee for the first Kuwait Green Building Forum to be held on May 2012.

In a statement made to reporters

after holding a meeting with Omran, Dr Safar asserted the importance of adopting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system to help assess construction processes to make sure that they meet environmental standards. He added that the system has already been implemented in the construction of the new Kuwait International Airpor t, expected to become the first terminal in the world to be built on par with the LEED system environmental standards.

Kuwaiti charity renovates Al-Abrar Mosque in Rafah GAZA: Al-Rahma Charity for Relief and Development has ended reconstruction of Al-Abrar Mosque in Rafah city—which was destroyed by Israeli forces three years ago.

Al-Rahma’s executive director Dr Ahmad Sharaf announced that rebuilding of the mosque was completed through a grant from Kuwait’s Al-Rahma International Charity that amounts to $215,000. He added that the mosque is

ready to receive thousands of worshippers and it is considered one of the biggest mosques in Rafah.

The Al-Rahma charity is also in the first phase in renovating Salam Mosque in Jabalia, which also was damaged by recent wars, Sharaf noted.

Sharaf praised Kuwait’s efforts and its leadership in supporting the Palestinian people and charity organizations, especially Dr Waleed Al-Anjari. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Two former cellmates went too far during a reunion to reminisce their friendship in jail. They ended up in police custody for alcohol consumption. The two convicts were released recently from jail after serving time for alcohol trading. They decided to meet again and have a drink. They eventually stopped their car at a mosque parking lot in Al-Na’eem after becoming too drunk to drive. Patrol officers who approached their vehicle late at night put them under arrest after discovering they were drunk.

A homemade liquor bottle was found inside the vehicle. They were referred to Jahra police station, where investigations revealed that the two had recently finished jail sentences.

Fugitive captured Jahra patrol officers arrested a fugitive, dodging a three-year jail sentence, and referred him to relevant authorities to serve his time. The arrest took place at a street in the area where the suspect was pulled over after raising suspicions.

He was put under arrest immediately after police verified his identity.

Impersonator caught A Kuwaiti man was arrested trying to use a passport belonging to his brother. He was attempting to fool border security officers and avoid being arrested over previous charges. The man was held briefly at the Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint after suspicious behavior. Border officers double-checked his passport and dis-

covered it was not his. His true identity revealed that he is wanted for a criminal case and banned from traveling. He eventually confessed that he tried to use his brother’s passport because he needed to travel for an urgent matter. He was referred to the Criminal Investigations Department for further action.

Three hurt in fire Three women were treated for smoke inhalation they sustained in a fire that broke inside a house in Sabahiya house on Sunday morning.

Firefighters accompanied by three ambulances rushed to the scene as soon as the fire was reported. Two female citizens and one Egyptian woman were rescued from the house and treated for smoke inhalation on site. Firefighters were able to tackle the blaze before it could spread to nearby homes. Investigations are underway to detect the cause of the fire.

See ya later, alligator Three campers never thought in their wildest dreams they would encounter a 6-feet-long alligator face-to-face on a camping trip. But after a recent incident in Abdali desert, they are likely to take a rifle every time they go camping in the future. It gave them the advantage against the massive reptile.

The three citizens were resting by their tent at night when they were visited by an unwelcome guest. They became alarmed when they realized that a large alligator was crawling slowly

towards them. One of the fear-stricken men grabbed his hunting rifle from the tent, which he used to fire a fatal shot. The three men called police and informed them about the incident.

Investigators believed the alligator probably escaped from a nearby farm.

Jewelry dealer held A jewelry dealer was put under arrest after he bought jewelr y he k new was stolen.

Investigations were launched after a female citizen reported jewelry worth KD15,000 stolen from her house in Ahmadi governorate. Her housemaid eventually confessed that she stole the jewelry and handed it to the family driver.

He paid her KD1,000. The driver then sold the valuables to a jewelry dealer in the area. He knew of the theft and paid only KD3,000 for the jewelry. The dealer was arrested and referred along with the two domestic workers to the proper authorities to face charges.

Bootlegger arrested A bootlegger was arrested in Firdous where he was caught red handed by a patrol police.

The Asian suspect was in the middle of an alcohol sale which caught the attention of passing patrol officers. The dealer did little to conceal his illegal trade and reportedly froze in his place when police approached him. His customer escaped. The Asian was arrested with 12 homemade liquor bottles and taken for further action.—Al-Rai, Al-Qabas, Al-Anbaa

Education ministry adopts early breast cancer detection program KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education has adopted an early breast cancer detection program, one within a package of edu-health projects for female students, Assistant Undersecretar y for Public Education Muna Al-Loughani told a conference yesterday.

The official opened a press conference to launch the program, aimed at high-school students, and noted there is a global increase in rates of cancer, which requires more care to guarantee early detection. The CAN campaign project

Al-Ghanim (third from right) seen with TEC officials.

was held in cooperation with the Health Ministry and is implemented by the Physical Education Technical Supervisors in cooperation with a group of teaching and technical staff that received training for this purpose.

Al-Loughani recalled that recovery rates are as high as 97 percent in case of early detection, and that the only way to counter the disease is to catch it early, since there are no proven means of prevention.

Head of the CAN campaign Dr Abderrahman Al-Awadhi said he

Al-Ghanim delivers a speech.

had nursed the idea for this campaign for 30 years, “and I am most pleased to see it come true after all this time.”

He said the aim is to spread awareness among young women on cancer detection, breast selfexam, and the need to maintain a healthy active lifestyle, as well as spread awareness on the role stress plays in chronic disease.

Secretary General of the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control Dr Khalid Al-Saleh said the GFCC signed a cooperation agreement

with the World Health Organization to encourage and support GCC states’ efforts and federation members, topped by Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer Prevention.

Al-Saleh noted the campaign comes as statistics indicate breast cancers constitute a third of cancer cases in Kuwait, with 320 new cases each year, meaning an average of a case a day. It is unfortunate, he added, that half these cases are only detected in late stages when chances for recovery become slimmer. — KUNA

Zinedine inaugurates the event.

Khairan Resort honors staff members KUWAIT: The Khairan Resort hosted its annual staff meeting, an event held by the management each year to appreciate employees for their efforts.

The gathering, featuring participation of staff members and families, was also

attended by top Touristic Enterprises Company officials including Deputy CEO and Managing Director Khalid Al-Ghanim, Co-Deputy Managing Directors for Entertainment Affairs, Khalid bin Sabt, Meshary Al-Sanousy, as well as General

Director of Khairan Resort, Adnan Zinedine. Several employees were rewarded during the event, including maintenance team members who received special awards for completing maintenance works, ahead of schedule.

Al-Sanousy (left) receives an award from Zinedine.

A group of Khairan Resort staff members.

A raffle draw held as part of the event.

A view of the crowd.

Assistant Chief of Maintenance at the Khairan Resort Sultan Khan (right) receives an award.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Guinea-Bissau president dies

Iranian leader arrives in Venezuela to meet Chavez Page 9

Page 10

MANILA: Filipino devotees watch as a wooden image of Jesus Christ known as the Black Nazarene passes by as they celebrate it’s feast day at Manila, Philippines yesterday.—AP

Philippinse devotees defy terror warning 15,000 policemen, army troops secure streets MANILA: Millions of Roman Catholic devotees paraded with a statue of Christ through the Philippine capital under a massive police cordon yesterday after the president warned that terrorists might target the raucous annual procession. The government did not have specific intelligence on a terrorist plot. Still, about 15,000 policemen, backed by hundreds of army troops, secured the three-mile (five-kilometer) procession route for the charred wooden Black Nazarene statue from seaside Rizal Park to a popular church in Manila’s congested Quiapo district.

Air force helicopters stood by and cellphone service was blocked in procession areas to prevent its use to trigger bombs. Despite the president’s warning, huge crowds of devotees wearing maroon shirts surged near the statue, believed to have healing powers. “It’s a choice between faith and fear,” said Rodolfo Uy, 45, a polio victim whose 12-year-old son pushed him on a wheelchair to see the Black Nazarene. “I got nervous last night when I heard the news but my devotion was stronger.”

Uy said he prayed for metal braces so he could walk and work again for his children. President Benigno Aquino III announced in a hastily called news conference Sunday that several terrorists had been reported in the capital with plans to disrupt the procession, but that the threat was not high enough to cancel the procession and that police would work to keep it safe.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the threat, involving possible bombings by two groups of Muslim militants from the country’s volatile south, prompted police to raid several suspected terrorist hideouts in the Manila area, but without any results.

Gazmin defended Aquino’s decision to announce the threat on the eve of the procession despite the absence of a specific threat, saying it underscored the president’s concern for public safety and racheted up massive security preparations. Aquino’s warning sparked one of the most elaborate security deployments for an event in the capital in recent years, but Gazmin dismissed criticisms of a security overkill.

“It’s OK if it can be described as overreacting,” Gazmin said. “But at least we won’t be sorry.” The event got under way with a morning Mass by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle at Rizal Park attended by about 3 million mostly barefoot devotees. The crowd was expected to swell to 9 million later in the day, police said. After the Mass, where prayers were offered for victims of recent deadly floods, organizers brought the life-size Black Nazarene statue down from a stage to a carriage for a procession expected to last well into the night.

Dozens were hurt when a crowd surged forward to try to touch, kiss and dab their towels on the statue, toppling iron railings and pinning other devotees. The Red Cross said it treated more than 250 people with

bruises and other minor injuries throughout the day, including some from the morning melee. The carriage’s wheels later broke, slowing the procession. Authorities said the parade might be cut short as it dragged on into the night.

In addition to hundreds of army troops, the military said it deployed 19 teams of explosive experts, 33 units with bomb-sniffing dogs, crowd-control squads and

ambulances. It put a 500-member rapid reaction force and three helicopters on standby. There were suspicions that attackers might come from two radical Muslim groups, including the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, which is on a US list of terrorist organizations for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.

The wooden statue of Christ, crowned with thorns and bearing a cross, is believed to have been brought

from Mexico to Manila in 1606 by Spanish missionaries.

The ship that carried it caught fire, but the charred statue survived and was named the Black Nazarene. Some believe the statue’s survival of fires and earthquakes through the centuries and intense bombings during World War II is a testament to its powers. The Philippines is Asia’s largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation.— AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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

Iran starts underground nuclear work, condemns American to die TEHRAN/VIENNA: Iranian and Western sources said yesterday Iran had switched on a uranium enrichment plant deep inside a mountain, a momentous step that aggravates Tehran’s nuclear dispute with the West. In a separate development that will infuriate Washington, Iran also announced that it had sentenced to death an Iranian-American dual citizen it arrested last month as a spy. The moves come at a time when new US sanctions imposed over Iran’s nuclear programme are causing real economic pain. Tehran has responded with threats to international shipping that have spooked oil markets. And a parliamentary election in two months is widening Iran’s internal political divisions.

“The enrichment in Fordow has started,” an Iranian official who asked not to be identified told Reuters. Two diplomats at the Vienna headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has inspected the site, confirmed it. Iran has long said it would begin enrichment of uranium at the site, deep under a mountain near the Shi’ite Muslim holy city of Qom, but some Western capitals may have hoped it could be persuaded to hold off to restart diplomacy to lift sanctions. Enrichment

is the most contentious part of Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran says it intends to refine uranium to 20 percent purity for use in a peaceful medical research reactor, and that it has hidden nothing from the IAEA. “All nuclear activities, including enrichment in Natanz and Fordow, are under continuous surveillance and control and safeguards of the IAEA,” Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, told Reuters in Vienna. The West says uranium of 20 percent purity is not necessary for power plants and would be a big step towards the higher purity needed for a nuclear bomb. Western officials say Iran lacks the technology to process enriched uranium into a form suitable to running a medical research reactor.

Locating the enrichment complex inside a mountain makes it harder for Israel or the United States to destroy it. Both countries say military action remains a last resort option should diplomacy and sanctions fail to rein in Tehran.

Iran disclosed to the IAEA in 2009 that it was building the facility beneath a mountain at Fordow, but only after learning that it had been detected by Western intelligence. “All of Iran’s enrichment activity is in violation of (United

Nations) Security Council resolutions and any expansion of its capacity at Fordow just compounds those violations,” said a Western diplomat in Vienna.

The death sentence for Amir Mirza Hekmati, 28, an Arizona-born former US military translator, will further rile Washington, which denies he is a spy and has demanded his immediate release since his arrest last month. Iran has aired a televised confession denounced by Washington - in which Hekmati said he worked for a New Yorkbased video company designing games to manipulate public opinion in the Middle East on behalf of US intelligence.

“Amir Mirza Hekmati was sentenced to death ... for cooperating with the hostile country America and spying for the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency),” ISNA news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei as saying.

“The court found him Corrupt on the Earth and Mohareb (one who wages war on God). Hekmati can appeal to the Supreme Court.” Hekmati’s execution could still be blocked by Iran’s highest court, which must confirm all death sentences. His family says Hekmati was visiting grandparents in Iran when he was

held. A spokesman for Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan, where Hekmati’s father works, said the family would not be commenting on the sentence “because it’s a very tricky diplomatic situation”.

Washington says he has been denied access to Swiss diplomats, who represent US interests in a country where it has had no mission since its embassy was stormed in 1979. Hekmati previously worked as a US military translator.

Iran’s Farsi language is one of the two main tongues spoken in Afghanistan, and the US militar y often deploys Americans of Iranian origin there as translators.

Tehran, which imposes the death penalty frequently for crimes such as drug dealing and murder, is not known to have executed any US citizen as a spy.

Three US backpackers jailed in Iran as spies in 2009 were freed in 2010 and 2011 in what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called a humanitarian gesture. An Iranian-American sentenced to eight years for spying in 2009 was freed after 100 days.

Iran could “hold on to Hekmati and use him - as they have with previous foreign detainees - as a pawn in their rivalry

with the United States, rather than execute him immediately and thereby raise tensions with the US even more”, said Gala Riani, an analyst at forecasting firm IHS Global Insight.

In a case apparently separate from that of Hekmati, Iran said yesterday it had broken up a US -linked spy network that planned to “fuel unrest” ahead of the March parliamentary election. “The detained spies were in contact with foreign countries through cyberspace,” Intelligence Minister Haydar Moslehi was quoted by state television as saying. He gave no information about the nationalities and the number of those detained.

The long-simmering nuclear dispute has come to a boil in recent weeks, with the West imposing new sanctions that causing real pain to Iran’s economy after years of measures that had little effect.

US President Barack Obama signed a new law on New Year’s Eve that, if fully implemented, would prevent most countries from buying Iranian oil. The European Union, which still buys about a fifth of Iran’s oil, is poised to announce an embargo at the end of this month, and other countries may have to cut purchases of Iranian crude to receive waivers from the US sanctions.—Reuters

Syrian troops fire on Protesters: Activists 165 observers monitor different parts of the country

MANAMA: Dr Fatima Haji, left, and Dr Nada Dhaif, right, leave the Manama, Bahrain, courthouse yesterday, after a trial session appealing security court convictions and sentences against them and other Bahraini medics accused in connection with the spring uprising in the Gulf island nation.—AP

Bahrain overturns death sentences for 2 protesters MANAMA: A civilian court in Bahrain overturned death sentences yesterday for two protesters convicted of murdering two policemen during a wave of anti-government demonstrations last year. Their sentences had been handed down by a special security court set up under a period of emergency law last year as Bahrain’s Sunni rulers sought to silence a Shiite-led campaign for greater civil and political rights.

International rights groups had criticized Bahrain for trying protesters, opposition leaders and activists in the military-linked tribunal, which was later abolished.

By moving their case and others to civilian courts, the government appears to be following through on at least some of the recommendations from a panel of international investigators who accused Bahrain of rights abuses during the crackdown, including denying fair trials to protesters.

Two other high-profile cases were back in court yesterday, including the retrial of doctors and other medical professionals who treated protesters injured in the crackdown.

The Shiite-led protest movement was ignited last February by the uprisings sweeping the Arab world. At least 40 people have died. Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy got help from Saudi Arabia in cracking down on the movement. Both nations fear that regional rival and Shiite power Iran is aiding the unrest. Bahrain is a critical US ally and is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Washington has taken a cautious line with authorities, urging Bahrain’s leaders to

open more dialogue with the opposition but avoiding too much public pressure.

The decision to overturn the two death sentences yesterday was made by the Cassation Court, said Hassan Radhi, a lawyer for one of the defendants. The decision moves their case to the supreme court for an appeal. In the earlier case against medical workers, more than 20 doctors and nurses had been convicted of participating in efforts to overthrow the ruling Al Khalifa family in the special security tribunal. They received prison sentences of five to 15 years. The court set another hearing in their case for March 19. In another case, five members of an alleged terror cell were arraigned yesterday. They denied charges of working with a foreign country to overthrow the ruling dynasty. Prosecutors claim they had contact with Iran’s power ful Revolutionary Guard and planned attacks against high-profile sites in the Gulf kingdom, including the Saudi Embassy and a causeway linking the island of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.

The five defendants were detained in November. Four were arrested in neighboring Qatar, and one was taken into custody in Bahrain. Another hearing in the case is set for Jan. 25. The accusations of their links to the Revolutionary Guard - which is closely tied to Iran’s ruling clerics - had drawn parallels with US claims last year that an elite unit of the Guard was involved in a foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington. Iran has denied the American charges.— AP

Israel, Palestinians spar as peace contacts resume JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman dismissed newly rekindled diplomatic contacts with the Palestinians yesterday, accusing them of poor faith in peacemaking. Firing back as Israeli and Palestinian envoys prepared a second round of the low-key but potentially decisive exploratory talks later in the day, the Palestinians said Israel was at fault for cementing its hold on the occupied West Bank. Lieberman, a hardline coalition partner to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is often sidelined in statecraft, told lawmakers in Jerusalem the Palestinians only agreed to resume contacts last week after being “dragged against their will” to Amman.

The Jordan meeting was the first since direct talks stalled in late 2010, when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded a halt to Israeli settlement building before negotiations went any further.

Israel had previously imposed a partial building freeze. “They are preparing a groundwork of excuses to shift responsibility for the talks’ failure to Israel,” Lieberman said, according to an official transcript of the parliamentary briefing. The Jordanian-hosted meeting was

attended by the so-called Quartet of peace brokers-the United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations-who on Oct. 26 gave the sides three months to submit their proposals on territory and security.

The Palestinians see an insuperable obstacle in Israel’s expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. They want their own state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip - territories Israel captured in a 1967 war. Most countries deem the settlements illegal. Israel disputes this, and says it would keep certain settlement blocs under any peace deal in accordance with understandings reached in 2004 with then-US president George W Bush.

“All sides in the Quartet and our brothers in Jordan see a complete seriousness from the Palestinian side, and an Israeli attempt to turn these negotiations into a waste of time, with an intensified campaign of settlement-building,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, senior adviser to Abbas. In Amman, a regional diplomatic source described the second round of talks, held behind closed doors, as a chance to assess longer-term prospects. —Reuters

BEIRUT: Activists say Syrian troops have fired on protesters as Arab League observers toured the area.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday’s shooting happened in the Khaldiyeh neighborhood of Homs province. Majd Amer, an activist in Khaldiyeh, confirmed the shooting and said several people were wounded. About 165 Arab League observers are in different parts of Syria to monitor the implementation of a League plan for ending the months of violence.

It was not immediately clear if the observers witnessed yesterday’s shooting. On Sunday, the Arab League demanded that the Syrian government immediately stop all violence. Syria is trying to crush an uprising that erupted in March. The UN estimates more than 5,000 people have been killed in the crackdown.

The Arab League demanded Sunday that the Syrian government immediately stop all violence and allow more monitors in, as activists reported at least 10 more civilians, including two teenagers, were killed by regime forces. Fierce clashes in the south between government troops and military defectors left 11 soldiers dead, activists said.

The Arab League also called on other armed parties to halt all bloodshed, an apparent reference to the defectors.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al Thani said the ministers did not agree to call for UN experts to join the observers’ mission in Syria, but said UN experts will train the monitors in Cairo before they leave. Even had they called for the UN experts to go in, Syria’s regime may well have blocked them. The success of the mission, said Al Thani, who heads the committee, “depends on the government of Syria, and that means stopping the killings, withdrawing troops from the cities, and allowing journalists to work and enter Syria.”

The ministerial committee called on “the Syrian government and various armed groups to immediately halt all forms of violence and to return to protesting peacefully for the success of the Arab League observers’ mission in Syria.” At the

DAMASCUS: Arab League observers, with the orange jackets, attend a mass prayer for the people and army soldiers who were killed during the violence around the country, at the Holy Cross Church, in Damascus, Syria, yesterday.—AP meeting, the head of the observers issued his first report on the mission, sharing photos, maps and initial findings. The five foreign ministers from the 22-member Arab League, who met in Cairo, said the 165 Arab League monitors now on the ground need greater independence from President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The monitors are supposed to be ensuring Syrian compliance with a plan to end the government’s crackdown on dissent. The Arab League plan calls on Syria to remove heavy weaponry, such as tanks, from all cities, free all political prisoners and allow in human rights organizations and foreign journalists. Syria agreed to the plan on Dec 19. Opposition activists say around 450 people have been killed by Assad’s regime since observers began work in Syria nearly two weeks ago.

A Syrian activist in Cairo, Thaer Al-Nashef, told The Associated Press that the regime is misleading the observers and that the mission has done nothing to resolve the crisis.

He said the issue should be dealt with at the UN Security Council.

“The monitors have not moved the situation forward or backward in Syria. At the same time the regime

is killing the Syrian revolution,” he said. “The Arab League should stop this staged performance, because the Syrian regime is not adhering to the agreement.”

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said observers will continue their monthlong mission in Syria, despite claims by activists that the mission is giving cover to Assad’s crackdown on protesters and delaying further action. He also defended the choice for head of the mission, Sudanese Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dabi, saying his military experience was useful on the ground. Al-Dabi has drawn criticism because he served in key security positions under Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Although the Arab League said it needs more monitors in Syria, ministers on Sunday did not name an exact number. Initially, the League had requested to send 500 monitors, but so far Syria has allowed in only 165. The Qatari foreign minister told reporters after the meeting that the League is aware that the mission has not fulfilled its goal of stopping the bloodshed.

“Is what happened, ideal? We

want to do more,” he said. “ We know that the Syrian people have made a decision, but what we want is to lessen the losses, human losses.” According to the UN , more than 5,000 people have been killed since March when mostly peaceful anti-government protests began and drew a harsh military response from the government. Hundreds more have been killed since the UN issued that estimate last month.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 11 soldiers died in intense fighting in the town of Basr al-Harir in southern Daraa province. More than 20 troops were wounded.

In Homs, seven civilians were killed by troops raiding houses and pro-government snipers on rooftops. A 15-year-old boy was among seven civilians killed, the Observatory said.

The Local Coordination Committees activist network and other activists confirmed the killing of civilians. In the Damascus suburb of Zabadani, two people were killed during raids that followed clashes with defectors, and in the eastern Deir el-Zour province, a 19year-old was also killed during raids in pursuit of activists, the activists said.—AP

Handover demand hurts bid to end crisis: Iraqi VP QALACHWALAN: The Iraqi Sunni vice president wanted by the Shiite-led government on terrorism charges said yesterday that a demand he be turned over for trial in Baghdad hurts efforts to end the country’s political crisis. Vice President Tariq Al-Hashemi is staying in the semiautonomous northern Kurdish region, out of reach of state security forces. He is accused by Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s government of running a hit squad that assassinated government officials - a charge he denies.

The dispute over Al-Hashemi plunged Iraq’s government into chaos just as the last American troops were leaving in December. The political crisis has been accompanied by a rise in bomb attacks targeting Shiites that have killed dozens in recent weeks. Two pilgrims were killed yesterday.

Iraq’s interior ministry, which Al-Maliki controls, on Sunday formally called on the Kurdish authorities to turn the vice president over for prosecution. They have so far not agreed to do so.

Al-Hashemi criticized that demand during an

interview in the Kurdish town of Qalachwalan, where he is staying as a guest of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. “This shows that al-Maliki lacks credibility, because at the same time he is talking about defusing tensions, he is aggravating the situation by sending this request,” al-Hashemi said.

“This new move ... will hurt efforts to defuse the current political tension.”

Al-Hashemi repeated his concern that he cannot get a fair trial in Baghdad, where he said security forces linked to Al-Maliki exert considerable influence over the justice system. Confessions by his accusers taken in Baghdad were likely coerced, he alleged. Al-Hashemi also said his security in the capital cannot be guaranteed, because bodyguards assigned to protect him have been discharged and had their weapons confiscated. “I have no protection for myself if I decided to go back to Baghdad,” he said. Instead, he wants to have the case heard in the ethnically divided city of Kirkuk. There, he can get a fairer trial and his security will be ensured, he said.

Shortly before Al-Hashemi’s arrest warrant was issued, state-run television aired what it said were confessions by men said to be working as his bodyguards. They said they killed Baghdad police officers and officials working in the health and foreign ministries in exchange for payoffs from Al-Hashemi.

The hits allegedly began during the height of the war in 2006 and 2007, when widespread violence between Iraq’s Sunnis and Shiites pitted neighbors against neighbors and killed thousands of Iraqi civilians. In the Baghdad suburb of Awairij yesterday, police and hospital officials said a roadside bomb killed two Shiite pilgrims walking to the holy Shiite city of Karbala to commemorate Arbaeen, the end of 40 days of mourning following the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, a revered Shiite figure. It was the latest in a wave of attacks targeting Shiites that have killed more than 80 people in less than a week and deepened fears of renewed sectarian fighting. —AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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

Iranian leader arrives in Venezuela to meet Chavez Ahmadinejad aims to show off allies

ALASKA: In this Saturday photo provided by the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a man stands on a house buried in snow in the fishing town of Cordova, Alaska.—AP

Alaska town tries to dig out from huge snow dump ALASKA: Dozens of National Guard troops have arrived to help the Alaska fishing town of Cordova dig out from massive snows that have collapsed roofs, trapped some people in homes, and triggered avalanches. Cordova is used to snow, but not like this season’s blanketing. The Guard reported more than 18 feet (5.5 meters) of snow has fallen in the past weeks, although the National Weather Service did not immediately have a measurement. “There’s nowhere to go with the snow because it’s piled up so high,” said Wendy Rainney, who owns the Orca Adventure Lodge. A storage building for the lodge - which offers fishing trips, hiking, kayaking and glacier tours - partially collapsed under the weight of the snow, she said. “This is more quantity than can be handled.”

Officials said at least three buildings have collapsed or partially collapsed and six homes are deemed severely stressed by heavy wet snow. The city has set up a shelter at a local recreation center, but said people leaving homes in avalancherisky areas have been staying with other residents. Cordova spokesman Allen Marquette said the town also was ready

to set up a pet shelter if necessary. The town issued a disaster proclamation last week after three weeks of relentless snow overwhelmed local crews working around the clock and filled snow dump sites.

“We had no alternative but to declare an emergency,” Cordova Mayor Jim Kallander said. “It became a life-safety issue.” Responders said Sunday that rain fell overnight, making for a slippery, treacherous mess in the Prince William Sound community of 2,000 year-round residents. The region has been pummeled by snow, but Cordova is of particular concern because there is no road access to the town, only boat and plane passage, said Maj. Gen. Thomas Katkus, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.

There have been no reported injuries, but bad weather had prevented the Guard from flying to the town, 150 miles (240 k ilometers) southeast of Anchorage. More than 70 Guard members arrived in Cordova via state ferry Sunday. About 50 of them will help clear roofs, roads, boats. The rest will provide other assistance.—AP

CARACAS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began a four-nation Latin American tour Sunday aiming to show off relationships with allies as tensions grow over Iran’s nuclear program. It is the Iranian leader ’s fifth visit to Venezuela. He will also travel to Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador.

Tensions have been rising in the Mideast as Iran has warned it could retaliate against newly tightened US sanctions by blocking shipping lanes out of the Persian Gulf. A large share of the world’s oil tanker traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Ahmadinejad smiled and waved but made no comments as he stepped off a plane Sunday evening at Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caracas.

He was greeted by Vice President Elias Jaua and other Venezuelan officials. The Iranian leader was scheduled to meet yesterday with his longtime ally President Hugo Chavez, who was on a trip in eastern Venezuela on Sunday. Several hours before Ahmadinejad’s arrival, Chavez rebuffed calls by US officials for countries to insist that Iran stop defying international efforts to assess its nuclear program.

“What the empire does is make you laugh, in its desperation to do something they won’t be able to do: dominate this world,” Chavez said. The US and its allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy program. France has been pressing the European

PHOENIX: Authorities are investigating whether a sheriff’s deputy shot to death while answering a burglar y call and a New Hampshire couple found dead in their car in Arizona were killed by the same gunman.

Deputy William Coleman was gunned down early Sunday at a north Phoenix medical building. A man got out of a van and opened fire, striking Coleman under his bulletproof vest, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. The suspect was shot and killed

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich shakes hands during a campaign stop in Dover, NH yesterday.—AP John McCain’s presidential campaign four years ago. “It comes across to everyone now. It helps Mitt Romney’s opponents. It’s not going to help him.”

Some New Hampshire voters are pushing back. At a health care event in Lebanon an attendee, Peter Miller, lectured Gingrich for “conducting politics as if you were a suicide bomber engaged in hostage negotiation.”

Gingrich demurred. “I think that’s a mythology,” he replied. Gingrich knows firsthand that attacks can be effective and risky. He made a career of attacking opponents personally, from House Speaker Jim Wright on down. Gingrich’s rhetorical aggression also helped him lead the Republicans to the House majority in 1994. But Gingrich’s style left him little goodwill among his own lieutenants. He was forced to resign as speaker after the 1998 GOP election losses.

As a presidential candidate in the 2012 election, he was bloodied in Iowa by millions of dollars in brutal television ads, many funded by a super PAC backing Romney. Once a front-runner in Iowa polls, Gingrich tumbled to a distant fourth-place finish in the state.

Now, Gingrich says that contrasting candidates’ records is fair game, but he also has issued a new pledge against slinging mud. “I don’t have the money and I will not engage in the kind of vicious negativity that, frankly, drove me down in Iowa,” he said Friday night to an overflow crowd packed into a highschool cafeteria in Salem. “I’m going to fight honestly on the facts and draw the contrasts.” But Gingrich is famous for hyperbole and a lightning-fast response reflex that, deployed effectively, can

Union to impose additional sanctions. Chavez and his allies in the left-leaning Bolivarian Alliance, or ALBA bloc, have backed Iran in the dispute.

Chavez praised Iran’s military industry, noting that it has longrange missiles. He suggested that is a major reason why the US “empire

is trying to put the brakes on them, using as an excuse the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.” He also dismissed speculation by some officials in Washington that Iran might eventually be able to use Latin American countries to stage attacks on US interests. “That must

be looked at carefully because it’s a threat against us,” Chavez said.

“We aren’t a threat to anyone. We just have rights and we’re sovereign.” Ahmadinejad and Chavez both plan to travel to Nicaragua for today’s inauguration of newly re - elected President Daniel Ortega.—AP

Authorities look for link between slayings

For Gingrich, attacks on Romney come with a risk NEW HAMPSHIRE: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich demanded yesterday that Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney tell the public more about how he operated as a venture capitalist, saying the GOP can’t have a nominee who will be vulnerable to Obama campaign charges of corporate raiding.

Gingrich said he hasn’t seen a new campaign film that will be aired by a super PAC in his behalf in South Carolina, a production that faults the former Massachusetts governor as a ruthless corporate raider whose work often led to pink slips for workers.

Gingrich said on NBC’s “Today” show that Romney “owes us a report on his stewardship” of Bain Capital in the last several years. In weekend debates, Gingrich and Romney crossed rhetorical swords over each other’s most recent past - Gingrich’s time as an author and consultant, and Romney’s as a venture capitalist.

The Georgia Republican acknowledged in yesterday’s broadcast interview that his campaign was thrown off stride by Romney’s negative ads in Iowa and said he it became clear to him that he had to more aggressively answer the charges made about him.

The former speaker has pictured his Massachusetts rival as a political moderate and a flip-flopper on abortion and gun rights. He said that Romney, as governor of Massachusetts, raised taxes and even tried to hike fees on the blind.

Gingrich over the weekend called Romney a liar full of “pious baloney.”

Gingrich seemingly has left his “positive campaign” strategy behind in the cornfields of Iowa, where Romney’s allies smacked him with a series of negative ads that helped knock Gingrich out of contention in the state’s leadoff caucuses. Now, a super PAC supporting Gingrich has purchased $3.4 million in ad buys in South Carolina, according to Rick Tyler, who is helping lead the effort.

The spots, in what is considered a critical state for the former Georgia congressman, are expected to go after Romney in connection with his record in the business world with Bain Capital.

Plowing through New Hampshire before toaday’s primary, Gingrich is indulging an innate sharp edge that has won him attention - and enemies - from his days as a back-bencher in the House in the 1980s. Now as always, he risks nicking himself in the process. “Gingrich is doing it the way you shouldn’t, which is a mean, nasty, transparently negative attack on Mitt Romney,” says Michael Dennehy, the political director for Sen.

MAIQUETIA: Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves upon his arrival at the international airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Sunday.—AP

knock a candidate as robust as Romney.

“The only reason you didn’t become a career politician is because you lost to Teddy Kennedy in 1994,” Gingrich shot across the debate stage last month, hitting a bull’s-eye with his reference to Romney’s unsuccessful Senate bid.

Other times, Gingrich’s frankness can be harsh. He has called Romney a “liar” and also said President Barack Obama would laugh at Romney if he were the nominee. And during a pair of presidential debates over the weekend, Gingrich held little back.

He called Romney “a relatively timid Massachusetts moderate who even the Wall Street Journal said had an economic plan so timid it resembled Obama.”

When Romney denied being a career politician, Gingrich chided him: “Can we drop a little bit of the pious baloney?”

It’s all left some in New Hampshire where Romney is close to a hometown boy - scratching their heads. “Is the purpose to destroy Romney? Very often this becomes a double-sided sword,” said Phyllis Woods, New Hampshire’s Republican national committeewoman, who also worries that Gingrich could be unintentionally helping Democrats.

“I think there is a danger that the negativity expressed by Newt Gingrich could work against him,” she said. “But it’s certainly not good for the party as a whole. I would hope people would count to 10 and take a deep breath.”

There’s a long and storied history of candidates in both parties ripping into each other during primary campaigns only to make up afterward. Hillary Rodham Clinton regularly attacked Obama four years ago, calling him “a hypocrite,” among other insults. —AP

by other deputies, The Arizona Republic reported that Coleman and a New Hampshire couple found dead in their parked car near the resort town of Sedona on Friday were all shot with a high-powered rifle. And the two crime scenes are connected by Interstate 17.

The theory that the two shootings may be the work of the same gunman could explain why the man decided to open fire on the deputies, Deputy Jeffrey Sprong, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office, told the

Republic. “That (a connection) is definitely something our investigators will look into,” Sprong said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be the same guy.” Yavapai County sheriff’s officials says they’re comparing evidence with Maricopa County investigators and expect to have results. Members of a Jeep club found James Johnson of Jaffrey and Carol Raynsford of Nelson, NH in their red older-model Subaru sedan at a remote turnout on Arizona 89A on Friday morning.—AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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

Guinea-Bissau president dies No immediate cause given

JUBA: Protesters march with the flag of South Sudan, appealing for peace and an end to tribal violence in South Sudan in the country’s capital Juba yesterday. —AFP

Renewed South Sudan clashes kill at least 24 JUBA: Renewed tribal clashes in South Sudan’s troubled Jonglei state have killed at least 24 people, days after a cattle vendetta rattled the stability of the world’s newest state, officials said yesterday. “In Akobo East County, the town of Deng Jok was attacked and 22 people were killed,” Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang told AFP, adding that 20 more were seriously wounded and had been taken to hospital.

“Also an attack was made in Kaikuin village, Akobo West-two women were killed and cattle taken,” he said, adding the attacks took place Sunday. South Sudan has declared Jonglei a national “disaster area” while the United Nations has said it will launch a “massive” emergency operation to help some 60,000 people affected by the violence. In a dramatic escalation of bitter tit-for-tat attacks, an 8,000-strong militia army from the Lou Nuer tribe earlier this month marched on Pibor, home to the rival Murle people, whom they blame for abductions and cattle raiding.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Lise Grande, said last week that “tens, perhaps hundreds” could have died in the latest outbreak of violence in the young country, which declared independence only six months ago. The latest clashes were in homeland areas of the Lou Nuer people, but the attackers were reported not to be Murle as they live to the south of Akobo, while the gunmen this time had come from the west.

Crops had been razed, herds of cattle stolen and houses burnt around the village of Deng Jok, said Both Jangjuol, a

local aid worker based there. “I’m looking around and there’s smoke coming from everywhere,” he said. Jangjuol said he helped bury around 20 dead on Sunday night, mostly women and children, while 11 children were still missing. Ten police officers had tried in vain to fend off the attackers but they had received no reinforcements to support them, he added. “We don’t have guns, we are pretty much sitting ducks,” he said. Two other villages in Akobo West had been attacked, Manyang added, but the number of casualties there was not known.

Some people had been shot and thrown in the river, where others had drowned.

“The people ran to the river trying to escape and drowned-most of the people missing are children,” said Wal Makwach, Chairman of Akobo’s Youth Association.

“Right now, it’s total chaos-everyone is fleeing towards Akobo town with their livestock,” he said, adding thousands of civilians were trekking into Akobo town as rumours of more attacks spread panic.

Jonglei was one of the areas hardest hit in Sudan’s two-decade-long north-south civil war, which ended in a 2005 peace deal that paved the way for South Sudan’s full independence.

The UN peacekeeping mission has sent a human rights team to investigate reports by local officials of unconfirmed large-scale killings.

Meanwhile in the capital Juba, around 100 people marched through the streets to mark six months of South Sudan’s independence on July 9, 2011, in a demonstration calling for peace and an end to tribalism. —AFP

BISSAU: President Malam Bacai Sanha, who was elected in this tiny, coup-prone nation on Africa’s western coast about two years ago after the previous leader was assassinated, died yesterday at a Paris hospital after a lengthy hospitalization. No immediate cause was given but the 64-year-old president had undergone medical treatment in both France and neighboring Senegal during his time in office. National radio announced his death yesterday afternoon.

An official at Guinea-Bissau’s embassy in Paris, Luis Mendes, said Sanha died yesterday morning at the Val de Grace hospital after being hospitalized in France “for about a month” for an unspecified ailment, Mendes said. The head of the National Assembly, Raimundo Pereira, is again expected to take over until new elections can be organized. He already has served as interim head of state after the 2009 assassination of former President Joao Bernardo “Nino” Vieira.

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, the nation has been wracked by coups and has become one of the main transit points for drug traffickers ferrying cocaine to Europe.

Just two weeks ago, the army said a top military official had attempted unsuccessfully to seize power while Sanha was ill. Sanha won the 2009 presidential election held after Vieira’s death, a peaceful transition of power that marked a rare bright spot for GuineaBissau. He became less known for what he did as president than for his frequent hospitalizations abroad, which were always described by aides as routine checkups.

In August 2009, he spent nearly three weeks hospitalized in Dakar, the capital of neighboring Senegal, where medical facilities are better equipped than in Bissau. A diplomat said at the time that the president had become a regular visitor in Dakar, arriving on a special flight each time his blood sugar was out of balance.

And a veteran observer with close ties to the president’s entourage described the illness as “advanced diabetes” combined with a hemoglobin problem. Sanha began his political career as the head of the youth wing of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, or PAIGC - the body

that fought for the country’s independence from Portugal in 1974.

He went on to become a member of its executive committee, and then served as a governor of a province. He was thrown to the fore after the March 2009 assassination of President Joao Bernardo “Nino” Vieira who was gunned down inside his home. Pereira became interim head of state until elections

BRASILIA: In this file photo of Aug 25, 2010, Guinea Bissau’s President Malam Bacai Sanha, left, embraces Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after decorating Lula with the honor medal Amilcar Cabral at the Itamaraty palace in Brasilia, Brazil. —AP were organized, which Sanha won. The circumstances of Vieira’s death have never been fully illuminated, but many speculated that his killing was related to issues surrounding drug trafficking.

In recent years, Guinea-Bissau has become a hub for drug smuggling. Cocaine flown in from South America to the archipelago of islands that dot the country’s coastline. The drugs are then moved to Europe by boats and by mules who ingest the drugs and attempt to carry them north on commercial flights.

Sanha had pledged to combat the flow of nar-

Moments before shooting himself, Przybyl read a statement to reporters in which he objected to plans by Prosecutor General Andrzej Seremet to put military prosecutors under civilian authority. Seremet said that such a decision was under discussion, but has not been made yet. Przybyl also said that military prosecutors were proving themselves competent in the many probes that they have opened into organized crime cases inside the army. The probes primarily concern suspicions of corruption in buying equipment for Poland’s troops on missions in Afghanistan and, earlier, in Iraq. Przybyl denied media suggestions that the military prosecutors broke the law while investigating the 2010 crash of the presidential plane in Russia when President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others were killed. The media have reported that the prosecutors had unlawfully sought billing lists and text message content of mobile phones of some reporters to determine the source of leaks to the media. Seremet and Parulski denied that prosecutors were eavesdropping on reporters. Seremet defended the investigators’ right to see billing lists - but not the text messages - if vital for a probe. He said a court is to decide whether the prosecutors were entitled to seek reporters’ billing lists. —AP

German prosecutors demand life for killer of US airmen FRANKFURT: Prosecutors demanded a life sentence yesterday for a man from Kosovo who has admitted killing two US soldiers headed for Afghanistan via Germany, in the first deadly jihadist attack in the country. The March 2 assault took place at Frankfurt airport, in western Germany, where Arid Uka is accused of opening fire on a group of US soldiers on their way to fight in Afghanistan. Two airmen were killed and two wounded.

Uka, 21, “wanted to make his personal contribution to the holy war” but not knowing how to get to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban, opted to act closer to home, the federal prosecutor told the court. Jochen Weingarten, one of two federal prosecutors, said Uka should remain behind bars for longer than the usual 15-year life sentence because of the severity of the case involving two murders and three

attempted murders. Uka remained silent with his eyes lowered or closed at yesterday’s hearing. Defence lawyer Michaela Roth did not contest Uka’s guilt but argued extenuating circumstances, describing the difficult background of the “shy, quiet and wellmeaning” young man who had never previously been aggressive and was “without future prospects”. At the opening of the trial in August, Uka confessed to the killings and said he wanted to apologise to his victims and their families for what he has called “total idiocy” that contradicted his religious beliefs. He said he was influenced by “lies” and “propaganda” after seeing a video on the Internet purporting to show US soldiers in Afghanistan raping a local woman. Roth also argued that the video had probably brought back a childhood trauma to Uka, who she said was molested at the age of six. — AFP

correspond to the truth,” Sanha said at Na Tchuto’s induction ceremony. Carlos Vamain, a political analyst and former justice minister, called Sanha’s presidency difficult and complex.

“Difficult in the context of narco-trafficking and also the unchanging socio-economic problems of the country,” Vamain said. “His presidency did not bring the results people had hoped.” Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, and Rukmini Callimachi and Artis Henderson in Dakar, Senegal contributed to this report.— AP

News

in brief

Polish army prosecutor shoots himself over work WARSAW: A military prosecutor in western Poland shot himself in the head yesterday after defending the work of his office and rejecting planned reforms, officials and media said yesterday. Col Mikolaj Przybyl survived the shooting that happened inside his office in the city of Poznan, minutes after he read a statement to reporters and then asked them to briefly get out.

Przybyl is a deputy head of the prosecutor’s office in Poznan and the head of a local department investigating organized crime in the army. A footage broadcast by TVN24 station, whose camera was left rolling after reporters left, shows Przybyl walking across his office and out of sight before a gunshot can be heard.

Hospital director Leslaw Lenartowicz said Przybyl is in stable condition, conscious, and his life is not in danger. Przybyl suffered injuries to the face, he said.

Chief Military Prosecutor, Krzysztof Parulski said that Przybyl was one of the “best prosecutors” and a “man of honor.”

President Bronislaw Komorowski and Justice Minister Jaroslaw Gowin were closely monitoring an investigation into the shooting, their offices said. Some lawmakers are calling for a special parliament probe into the case, saying that Przybyl’s statement suggests a massive corruption problem in the army.

cotics. “Drug trafficking must end in this country,” he told a meeting of top military officials in July. Nevertheless, he appointed Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, labeled by the U.S. Treasury Department as a drug kingpin, to head the Navy in early October. “You must prove to those who accuse you of being steeped in illicit activities that what they say does not

LAGOS: Protesters gather at Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos during a demonstration against soaring petrol prices following government’s decision to abolish decades-old fuel subsidies,yesterday. —AFP

Clashes as protesters shut down Nigeria KANO: Nigerian police and protesters clashed yesterday and three people were shot dead as tens of thousands demonstrated nationwide over fuel price hikes and a general strike shut down the country. The launch of what unions called an indefinite strike came at a crucial moment for Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, already hit by spiraling violence blamed on Islamist sect Boko Haram. Tensions particularly ran high in Kano, the largest city in Nigeria’s north, when thousands converged on the state governor’s office, prompting police to push them back as they fired tear gas and shot into the air.

Also in Kano, two vans were set ablaze and protesters tried to torch the home of central bank chief Lamido Sanusi, but police stopped them. The office of the secretary of the state government-its highest administrative officer-was also set ablaze, causing serious damage. A Red Cross official said that so far 30 injured had been counted in Kano, including 18 with gunshot wounds. A hospital source said later that two of those shot had died. In the southern city of Benin, protesters attacked a mosque and wounded several people, leading police to fire tear gas, police and witnesses said. A witness said he saw police take away a man with a machete cut on his head. Protests appeared mainly peaceful in the economic capital Lagos, the largest city in Africa’s most populous nation, but a union leader accused police of shooting dead a demonstrator there. Bonfires made of tyres burned along main roads in the megalopolis as protesters marched past, with an estimated 10,000 or more converging at a designated location for a rally.

Speakers denouncing the fuel price hike in Lagos included Femi Kuti, son of late musical icon and harsh government critic Fela Kuti, while prominent rights activists also took part. Protest leaders in Lagos were keen

to avoid provoking police after authorities were accused of using excessive force against demonstrators last week and shooting dead one person. Some people threw stones after they believed police were seeking to turn them back. Police later pulled back and calm returned.

While the main group of protesters was largely peaceful, youths on the margins of the march set bonfires and threw bottles.

Some yelled “Bad Luck Jonathan,” in reference to President Goodluck Jonathan. “This is a peaceful demonstration,” said Ishola Adebayo, a 38-year-old teacher who took part in the Lagos march. “They cannot break our resolve to compel government to drop this anti-people policy.”

The strike was widely observed, particularly in Lagos, where the usually chaotic streets were empty apart from protesters, with shops, petrol stations and other businesses shut for the day. Several thousand protesters also attended a rally in the capital Abuja despite massive security. Officials said however that oil output was not affected in a country that produces around 2.4 million barrels per day.

The strike came after the government’s deeply controversial move to end fuel subsidies on January 1, which caused petrol prices to more than double in a country where most of the 160 million population lives on less than $2 a day. Transport costs have followed suit, sharply increasing the price of commuting, and further effects were feared, especially on the cost of food. The strike comes as security forces are already under heavy pressure over spiralling violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram.

Recent deadly attacks on Christians have sparked fears of a wider religious conflict in a country whose population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south. — AFP

Chechnya clashes leave nine dead ROSTOV-ON-DON: Militants killed four police and wounded 16 after ambushing them in the mountains of southern Chechnya, the Interior Ministry said yesterday. Five militants were killed and two wounded in the ensuing firefight, the ministry said. A battalion of Interior Ministry troops patrolling with local police late Sunday tripped mines set by the militants, the ministry said. The two sides then exchanged fire, but as darkness fell the surviving militants were able to slip away.

Ministry spokesman Valentin Kalyuzhny said troops resumed their search for the militants yesterday. Chechnya fought two wars for independence against Moscow in the 1990s, but has become relatively quiet in recent years as the insurgency has largely spread to neighboring republics in Russia’s Caucasus.

Clerks’ strike in Malawi shuts down courts BLANTYRE: Malawi’s Ministry of Justice says courts across the southern African country are closed because of a strike by clerks demanding pay hikes. Austin Kamanga, a spokesman for the clerks who started striking yesterday, says they were promised 40 percent raises in 2006 and 50 percent in 2009, but the increases were never paid. He says the clerks, who earn an average of 16,200 kwacha ($100) a month, will strike until they get the raises they were previously promised, plus another unspecified increase this year. Anti-government demonstrations swept across Malawi last July amid worsening economic conditions and accusations President Bingu wa Mutharika was autocratic. At least 19 people were killed by police trying to put down last year’s protests.

Two killed, 26 injured in Moscow restaurant blast MOSCOW: Two people were killed and more than 20 were injured yesterday when a gas explosion tore through a busy restaurant in southern Moscow, news report said. The initial blast tore through the kitchen of the Italian restaurant and the resulting fire set off several other gas canisters that ended up leveling a part of the three-story building, a police official was quoted as saying. News reports said the bodies of two female workers had been found in the rubble while 26 others suffered various injuries, including cuts from shattered glass and burns. “According to initial information, the blast killed two people and injured 26, including a 16-yearold boy,” a Moscow police spokesman told Interfax. —Agencies

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Former Pakistani envoy to US defiant in coup memo hearing ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States denied any involvement in drafting a memo that accused the army of plotting a coup and suggested on the first day of a Supreme Court commission yesterday he was being framed. Former envoy Husain Haqqani struck a defiant tone that was sure to do little to quell a scandal that has dominated Pakistani politics for the past three months and destabilized the civilian government amid rumors of a military takeover.

“I had no role in creating, drafting and/or delivering the memorandum to the (US ) Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen,” Haqqani said yesterday. “I have no knowledge of the origin, authenticity or purpose of the said memo.” The murky scandal

emerged last October when businessman Mansoor Ijaz, writing in a column in the Financial Times, said a senior Pakistani diplomat had asked that the memo, seeking help to rein in the military, be sent to the US Defense Department.

Ijaz says he wrote the memo following the secret US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani garrison town, embarrassing the Pakistani military. No evidence has emerged that the military was plotting a coup and the Pentagon at the time dismissed the memo as not credible. Ijaz later identified the diplomat as Haqqani, an ally of President Asif Ali Zardari and who says he was never liked by the military because of his advocacy for civilian supremacy.

Ijaz says Haqqani conceived and dictated the memo in a May 9 phone call between the two. Haqqani denies the phone call was about the memo and says Ijaz has fabricated the controversy, which has been seized upon by Pakistani media and political opponents, for his own reasons.

“I was falsely accused in the media and (by) Mr Ijaz of being the person that communicated the contents of the memo,” said Haqqani, dressed in a grey suit with a Pakistani flag pin on his lapel. Outspoken elements of the Pakistani media, steeped in antiAmerican rhetoric, have labeled Haqqani a traitor. Haqqani returned to Pakistan in November and resigned as ambassador in a bid to end the crisis, but petitions by opposition members

to the Supreme Court led to yesterday’s judicial commission.

Ijaz has said he would appear before the commission but wants guarantees for his safety before traveling to Pakistan, he told Reuters yesterday, although he could take part via videoconference if he was unable to come in person. “I have insisted on being physically present and have instructed my counsel to not consider other options unless the government refuses permission for me to come,” he wrote in an email to Reuters.

Ijaz has said Haqqani and the government were orchestrating a cover-up of their roles in the memo controversy.

“Memogate,” as the Pakistani media have dubbed the scandal, encapsulates the two issues that have troubled

Pakistan for decades: the relationship between the military and civilian government and Pakistan’s ties with the United States. Friction between the civilian leadership and the generals has bedeviled the nuclear-armed South Asian country for almost its entire existence, with the military ruling for more than half of its 64-year history after a series of coups.

The situation is so tense that in December, when Zardari flew to Dubai for medical treatment, it sparked rumors that he had fled the country before a military coup. Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani last month dismissed the coup rumors as speculation and said the army supported democracy. Zardari returned after about two weeks. —Reuters

Pakistan takes bodies of 10 soldiers in Taleban deal Soldiers missing since December

NOIDA, India: Local officials discuss their next course of action near statues of elephants at a park in Uttar Pradesh yesterday. —AP

Indian official told to cover statues ahead of elections LUCKNOW: Workmen using truckloads of cloth raced yesterday to comply with election officials who ordered a flamboyant Indian state leader to cover up a dozen large statues she erected of herself. The Election Commission said the statues of Mayawati, who is a hero to India’s lowest castes, were built using public money and their display violates rules for next month’s election in her Uttar Pradesh state. “This is done to provide a level playing field to all the political parties,” said Umesh Sinha, the state’s chief electoral officer.

Opposition parties had complained that the statues would influence voters.

The images must be covered by tomorrow, Sinha said. The Election Commission also said that nearly 200 statues of elephants, her party’s symbol, must be covered.

Mayawati, a former school teacher and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party who uses only one name, has risen to the upper rungs of India’s political landscape by tapping into the enormous voting base of dalits, who are at the bottom of Hinduism’s caste structure.

Nine towering statues of the state leader - seven made of bronze and two of marble - and 125 statues of elephants adorn four lavish public parks in the state capital, Lucknow. Three other large statues of Mayawati and 62 more statues of elephants stand in a university and a memorial park in Noida, a suburb of New Delhi. “It is an elephantine problem to drape these statues,” Ramesh Shukla, a government officer overseeing the operations, said as workers with green and white cloth labored in parks in Lucknow.

Some of the statues are almost 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall.

Mayawati’s political opponents and critics accuse her of collecting diamond jewelry and homes and using millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to build the statues in honor of her party and herself. Her party was quick to criticize the Election Commission’s orders, asking if it would also remove lotus flowers from ponds or bar people from riding bicycles because they are symbols of rival parties. —AP

PESHAWAR: Pakistani authorities yesterday recovered the bodies of 10 soldiers in an exchange of bodies with Taleban militants following a clash two weeks ago in the northwestern tribal region. An official of the military’s media wing said the 10 soldiers had been missing in Orakzai district since December 21 when rebels attacked a checkpost and killed 13 others. One security official said the 23 soldiers were attacked in a late-night assault by up to 100 heavily armed insurgents.

Another security official said the 10 soldiers had been beheaded and their bodies recovered in an exchange with the Taleban. “They handed over the beheaded bodies of 10 officials while we handed over four bodies of militants to them,” the official said. The Pakistani Taleban claimed respon-

sibility but said 10 of their men had been killed. “We killed these soldiers during the clash. They had the bodies of our 10 people and we had in our custody the bodies of soldiers and the exchange of bodies took place today,” said Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan.

The exchange comes four days after the corpses of 15 members of Pakistan’s paramilitary Frontier Constabulary (FC) were found in the small northwestern town of Shawa, in North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border, almost two weeks after they were kidnapped. The Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan claimed responsibility for those killings. The FC personnel were kidnapped late last month during a night-time attack on a checkpoint in the northwestern town of Tank. Pakistan’s seven trib-

Kashmir leader opts to shiver with the masses SRINAGAR: The chief minister of Indian Kashmir has ordered power to be cut to VIPs in the region after blackouts left locals shivering amid snow storms and sub-zero temperatures, officials said.

Omar Abdullah ordered officials from the power department to snap electricity supplies to his high-security residence in the main city of Srinagar and other homes in the exclusive Gupkar Road area.

The power will remain off “until the supply to the entire (Kashmir) valley is restored,” a statement from the state government said in Srinagar after heavy weekend snow falls toppled power transmission poles and lines.

Abdullah’s administration has faced frequent protests over the last 15 days against the power cuts, which were initially the result of disruption caused by

temperatures as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius (seven degrees Fahrenheit) at local hydroelectric plants. Last Monday, security forces antagonised angry locals further by opening fire at a a demonstration near a hydroelectric plant in northern Boniyar village. A student was killed.

“We have been without power and water for the last three days now,” Abdul Rashid, 52 from Shopian in southern Kashmir, told AFP. Rashid, who owns apple orchards, said his family had been keeping warm by burning charcoal. “We have been melting snow to obtain water for drinking as the taps have frozen in our village,” he said, adding that the roads were blocked by thick snow. The heavy snowfall has left the main highway connecting the Kashmir valley with rest of India closed since Saturday. —AFP

Waziristan, a bastion of the Afghan Taliban-allied Haqqani network, blamed for some of the worst attacks in Afghanistan. A NATO air strike on the border that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26 seriously eroded a fragile alliance between the United States and Pakistan, with Islamabad calling it a deliberate attack. Pakistan refused to take part in a NATO inquiry into the incident, having criticised previous investigations into cross-border attacks as worthless. Instead, it has sought a formal apology from US President Barack Obama.

Islamabad has kept its Afghan border closed to NATO convoys since November 26, boycotted the Bonn conference on Afghanistan and ordered Americans to leave an air base understood to have been a hub for CIA drone strikes on the Taliban. —AFP

Afghan peace council to send mission to Qatar KABUL: A senior member of Afghanistan’s peace-making body will travel to Qatar soon to gather more details about plans for a Taleban political office in the Gulf nation, the High Peace Council’s adviser on international affairs said yesterday. The Taleban said in a surprise announcement last week they had reached a preliminary agreement to set up a political address in Qatar and asked for the release of prisoners held by the US military at Guantanamo Bay. “We want to see the office with our own eyes and that’s why someone from the High Peace Council will be travelling to Qatar soon,” Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, a leading member of President Hamid Karzai’s High Peace Council, told Reuters. “We want to see how big the office is and other details.” The decision to open an office, after years of insisting the group would consider talks only when foreign troops had left Afghanistan, is seen as a crucial step forward for attempts to reach a negotiated end to a decade of war. But the announcement clearly excluded the Afghan government, describing the two parties to the conflict as the Taleban and the US -allied coalition. Karzai’s response was slow and muted. Karzai and US officials have said repeatedly any peace process must be Afghan-led and the president has been angered in the past when he felt excluded by foreign efforts to set up any kind of negotiations. “Any talks without the participation of Afghanistan are not going to succeed,” Qasimyar said. Afghan officials have also warned against allowing the Taleban to use the office to fundraise or build political clout. —Reuters

Gunman in uniform kills US soldier on base

SRINAGAR: A Kashmiri man walks on a snow covered field on the outskirts of Srinagar, India yesterday. —AP

al districts near the Afghan border, including North Waziristan, are rife with homegrown insurgents and are strongholds of Taleban and AlQaeda operatives.

Islamist militants opposed to the government, particularly the nebulous TTP network, have carried out bomb and gun attacks killing more than 4,700 people across Pakistan since July 2007. But significantly, there has been no major Islamist militant attack in Pakistan since a suicide bomber killed 46 people, targeting antiTaleban militia at a funeral in the northwestern district of Lower Dir on September 15. Pakistan has for years battled insurgents in the northwest and the tribal belt, with more than 3,000 soldiers killed in the battle against militancy.

Pakistan’s tribal regions are rife with militancy, especially in North

KABUL: A man in an Afghan army uniform opened fire on a group of Americans at a base in the south of the country, killing a US soldier and wounding another, an Afghan military spokesman said yesterday. Spokesman Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi said the gunman was also killed in the shootout on Sunday. “Right now, an investigation is going on to determine whether he really was a soldier or someone using an army uniform. And if he was a soldier, what caused the shooting,” Azimi said.

Similar attacks have raised fears of increased Taleban infiltration of the Afghan police and army as NATO speeds up the training of the security forces. In some cases the attackers were Afghan soldiers who turned on NATO troops. Others involved insurgents dressed in Afghan uniforms. A NATO statement released late Sunday said only that a coalition service member was killed in the incident, apparently by an Afghan soldier, but provided no details on the location or the victim’s nationality.

Azimi said the shooting occurred inside one of the Afghan National Army’s bases in Zabul province, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Kabul. The shooting brought to 11 the number of NATO soldiers killed this month. On Dec 29, an Afghan soldier shot and killed two members of France’s elite 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, a part of the Foreign Legion. A week earlier, an Afghan soldier opened fire on coalition troops inside an outpost in western Herat province, wounding a number of alliance troops. NATO is encouraging the rapidly expanding Afghan security forces to take more responsibility ahead of the coalition’s 2014 pullout target date. NATO’s training mission hopes have about 350,000 Afghan troops and police trained and ready by then.

Meanwhile, Taleban fighters ambushed a convoy carrying supplies for NATO in western Afghanistan, killing two private security guards and wounding three. Seven of the attacking insurgents were also killed, said deputy police chief Mohammad Ghaws Milyar. The convoy was heading toward the city of Farah, about 420 miles (700 kilometers) west of Kabul, when it was hit.— AP

BIHAR: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets Tibetan Buddhism’s third most important leader Ugyen Thinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, before a Kalachakra initiation session, in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India yesterday. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the place where Buddha attained enlightenment. —AP

Tibetan monk self-immolates in China BEIJING: A Tibetan monk died after selfimmolating in China, state media said yesterday, taking to 15 the number of people who have set themselves on fire in Tibetan areas in protest in less than a year. Nyage Sonamdrugyu, 40, set himself ablaze early Sunday morning in Qinghai in northwest China, the official Xinhua news agency reported, saying the monk was a high-ranking lama-a Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader. It is the first time the Tibetan-inhabited province has been hit by such a protest. Most selfimmolations have taken place in the neighbouring province of Sichuan, in what rights groups say are protests against perceived religious repression.

The Tibetan government-in-exile, based in India, said in a statement the victim, whom it called Sonam Wangyal, selfimmolated in Darlag county in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Golog to protest a lack of religious freedom.

“Due to his position as a local spiritual leader, approximately 2,000 local Tibetans are said to have held a candlelight vigil urging the local police authorities to release his body,” it said. It added local police “averted further tension” by agreeing to do so-a move confirmed by Xinhua, which said his body had been returned to relatives so they could hold a funeral in keeping with local customs.

Phones went unanswered at police and government offices in Darlag. The government of Golog was also unavailable for comment. The incident comes after two former monks in Sichuan set themselves on fire on Friday-one died and another is being treated in hospital. The two — 18 and 22-years-old respectivelyhad once been monks at Kirti monastery,

the scene of sporadic bouts of unrest since a young monk named Phuntsog set himself alight last March. The exiled Dalai Lama has condemned self-immolation, which many Buddhists believe are contrary to their faith, but said recently Tibetans faced “cultural genocide” under hardline Chinese rule that he blamed for the protests.

Xinhua previously reported that police believe some of the self-immolations were “masterminded and instigated by the Dalai Lama clique, which had plotted a chain of self-immolations in the past months for splitting (separatist) motives.” The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, founded the government in exile in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala after being offered refuge there.

He remains revered in China’s Tibetan areas but is vilified as a “separatist” by China’s communist authorities. Many Tibetans in China accuse the government of religious repression and eroding their culture, as the country’s majority Han ethnic group increasingly moves into historically Tibetan areas. But China rejects this, saying Tibetans enjoy religious freedom and pointing to huge ongoing investment which it says has brought modernisation and a better standard of living.

One woman working in a grocery shop in a town in Darlag, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had heard about the self-immolation. “I am Han and not long ago I came here to do business,” she told AFP. “I don’t know why he burned himself... but we generally have a good relationship with the locals.”— AFP

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Malaysia opposition’s Anwar freed of charge Verdict to pre-empt public outrage KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s surprising acquittal from sodomy charges is good news not just for him. It is a court-sent gift for the very government he wants to topple. The verdict will pre-empt public outrage that a conviction would have sparked in a likely election year and it also buttresses Prime Minister Najib Razak’s claims that he does not interfere with the judiciary and that his promises of ensuring civil liberties are serious.

After a two-year trial filled with explicit sexual allegations that captivated and polarized the country, a High Court judge took

expected sometime this year.

Many Malaysians also voiced relief.

“I hope this brings closure to the scandal. Everyone I know is sick and tired of this case. It hasn’t been healthy for our country to be obsessed about this,” said Lim Hon Choong, a project manager for a consumer goods company.

Anwar has long maintained that the charges were trumped up and that he was framed by Najib’s long-ruling coalition to prevent his opposition alliance from coming to power, not an impossible scenario.

Anwar previously was imprisoned for six years after being

Zainal Abiden said he had not decided whether to appeal. A government lawmaker, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, urged prosecutors not to appeal, warning that prolonging the case would further divide the country. He said he expects Najib’s popularity to rise.

Najib has won some praise for repealing laws that allowed indefinite detention without trial and has tried to build bridges with the country’s minority Indians and Chinese.

Within 20 minutes of the verdict, the government issued a written statement trumpeting Anwar’s acquittal as a demonstration of the judiciary’s independ-

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim celebrates the court decision with his daugther Nurul Izzah (L) outside the court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.—AFP only two minutes to deliver the verdict yesterday. He ruled that the prosecution’s DNA evidence was not enough to convict the 64year-old Anwar of sodomizing a male former aide who at the time was 23.

The judgment is “a win-win situation” for both sides, said James Chin, a political science lecturer at Monash University in Malaysia.

“It has removed a hot spot for the government. Anwar is also free to concentrate on the elections,” Chin said. The verdict also will calm foreign investors who were spooked by the possibility of political unrest had Anwar been jailed ahead of general elections

ousted as deputy prime minister in 1998 on charges of sodomizing his former family driver and abusing his power. Sodomy, even consensual, is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but the law against it is seldom enforced. Anwar was freed in 2004 after Malaysia’s top court quashed the sodomy conviction. Yesterday, Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah said he “could not with 100 percent certainty exclude the possibility that the (DNA) sample is not compromised.”

“The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offenses without corroborative evidence,” he said. Chief prosecutor Yusof

Khmer Rouge judges bicker over new cases PHNOM PENH: Two judges at Cambodia’s war crimes court traded tit-for-tat exchanges yesterday, rowing openly about possible new Khmer Rouge cases in the latest embarrassment for the UN-backed process. The argument was sparked when Swiss judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet expressed frustration that his Cambodian counterpart had blocked him from revealing “important” information about two cases strongly opposed by Phnom Penh.

Kasper-Ansermet said in a statement that co-investigating judge You Bunleng was refusing “to release information about important decisions” in the cases involving five ex-members of the brutal 1975-1979 regime. The Swiss-who took on the role after a German judge resigned unexpectedly in October citing political opposition to fur ther prosecutions-was sharply rebutted by the Cambodian judge.

You Bunleng expressed his “deep disappointment” with the Swiss judge’s “working manners” and berated him for issuing a statement on a public holiday “which reflects an intention to conceal it” from the national side. He also said the Swiss lacked the “legal accreditation” to take any procedural action or issue public information because he was just a reserve co-investigating judge until his appointment is confirmed by the government. You Bunleng sits on the government body charged with rubber-stamping such appointments.

The Swiss judge arrived in Cambodia four weeks ago, but the body has yet to convene, paralysing the work of the co-investigating judges. Observers said yesterday’s harsh exchanges dimmed hopes that Kasper-Ansermet could turn the tide in an office long accused of bowing to political pressure by failing to fully investigate the alleged crimes in the court’s final two cases.

“It confirms that they do not have a productive working relationship and bodes ill for a fruitful investigation,” said Anne Heindel, a legal advisor to the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which researches Khmer Rouge atrocities. The tribunal has so far completed just one trial-jailing Kaing Guek Eav, a former Khmer Rouge prison chief, for 30 years in July 2010 for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people. A second trial involving the regime’s four most senior surviving leaders resumes hearing testimony today.

Cambodian authorities have made no secret of their objection to pursuing new suspects, with Prime Minister Hun Sen-himself a former Khmer Rouge cadre even saying prosecutions beyond the current second trial were “not allowed”. The Khmer Rouge was responsible for one of the worst horrors of the 20th century, wiping out up to two million people through starvation, overwork and execution in a bid to forge a communist utopia. —AFP

ence. Information Minister Rais Yatim said in the statement that the acquittal “proves that the government does not hold sway over judges’ decisions.” But Anwar said he saw it as just another government strategy to avoid having a mess on its hands, similar to the one after his 2000 conviction, which attracted widespread international opprobrium.

There was international pressure on the government this time too, Anwar said. “They can illafford another case of Anwar being sent to prison ... To assume the judiciary is independent is a bit far-fetched,” Anwar told The Associated Press. Still, he said he

was “pleasantly shocked” by the verdict, which upended his worst-case scenario of a 20-year prison sentence. After his release in 2004, Anwar led a three-party opposition alliance to unprecedented gains in 2008 elections, but his future was thrown into jeopardy some months later when Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 26year-old former aide, accused Anwar of forcing him to have sex in an apartment.

Government supporters insisted that the allegations proved that Anwar was morally unfit to lead. The case hinged mainly on Saiful’s testimony and semen samples found on his body that investigators said matched Anwar’s DNA. The defense insisted Saiful’s claims were full of inconsistencies and that the DNA samples were mishandled.

Thousands of opposition supporters outside the court building cheered when they heard news of his aquittal. Inside, Anwar’s wife and children wept and hugged him, while his friends burst into shouts of “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great.”

Phil Robertson, deputy director of New York-based Human Rights Watch’s Asian division, said Anwar should never have been charged in the first place, adding that the case had been “politically motivated and plagued with irregularities.”

Saiful did not attend the hearing, but wrote on Twitter that he respected the decision and would “remain calm, continue praying and be patient.” But “I will not admit defeat,” he wrote. Anwar planned to travel to India and Turkey this week for speaking engagements before returning for his alliance’s national congress, in which the opposition will plan its strategies for elections widely expected within months.

“I am confident, God willing, that we will win if the elections are free and fair,” Anwar said. The opposition now has more than one-third of Parliament’s seats and hopes to win power by pledging to curb graft, racial discrimination and restrictions on civil liberties. Najib has announced high-profile measures recently to tackle those problems in a bid to ensure the political survival of his National Front coalition, which has governed since 1957. —AP

Myanmar cancels coal plant after opposition YANGON: Myanmar cancelled a proposed coal-fired power plant at a Thailed industrial site yesterday citing “environmental problems”, an energy official said, in the latest sign of burgeoning reform. The move echoes a decision to halt an unpopular Chinese -backed mega dam last year as Myanmar’s nominally civilian leadership looks to demonstrate its democratic credentials after taking power from the ruling junta in March.

Electricity minister Khin Maung Soe said the decision not to allow the power plant, part of the huge Dawei Development Project, was made after “listening to the people’s voice”, a senior official at the Yangon city electricity supply board told AFP. The multi-billion-dollar development in the south, run by industrial giant Italthai Group, had sparked activists’ fears about a potential influx of “dirty” industry and the displacement of thousands of people.

Thin Aung, director general of the Thai company’s Dawei development arm, said his group was not aware of such a decision, adding that a meeting between officials from Thailand and Myanmar on Saturday “went well”. He said activists were “exaggerating” the risks of the plant. “We have consulted with Chinese experts. I have to say there is no 100 percent safe coal-power plant but it will be safe enough, so there is nothing to be worried about,” Thin Aung said.

Plans for the site also include a deepsea port, steel mill, fertiliser plant and oil refinery-potential boons for energyhungry Thailand-and is likely to transform the sleepy coastal area facing the Indian Ocean. Italthai last year said about 10,000 people would be uprooted by the development, but insisted they would be provided with new settlements. Myanmar’s army-backed government has surprised observers in recent months with gestures including talks with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. In September, new President Thein Sein ordered work on the huge

$3.6-billion Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam to stop after local pressure, sparking anger in Beijing.

China has given diplomatic support to internationally isolated Myanmar and is its biggest foreign investor, followed

by Thailand. The Yangon official said the electricity minister had suggested

BEIJING: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, second from right, and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China yesterday. —AP

China nudges North and South Korea to reach out BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao yesterday nudged his visiting South Korean counterpart to seek better ties with North Korea, the official Xinhua news agency reported, ahead of meetings between envoys to discuss the North’s nuclear program. Lee Myungbak’s visit to Beijing has been overshadowed by questions about how the two sides will grapple with North Korea, where the death last month of long-time leader Kim Jong-il fanned worries about fresh regional confrontation as his successor, Kim Jong-un, consolidates power.

President Hu, whose government is the North’s sole major backer, told Lee stability was his paramount concern. Hu said “China will continue to support the improvement of relations” between the two sides of the divided Korean peninsula, Xinhua reported. “It is in line with the interests of all parties concerned to safeguard the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula,” he said. China is also willing to enhance communication and coordination with all relevant parties and make “unremitting efforts in this respect”, Xinhua reported in English.

“China hopes the parties concerned will have more moves that help promote peace and stability on the peninsula,” Hu said. The Chinese leader ’s reported remarks shed no new light on how Beijing sees the transition in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong-il was succeeded by his untested and largely unknown youngest son, Kim Jong-un. But Hu’s comments underscored Beijing’s focus on avoiding fresh flare-ups on the peninsula. Some analysts have speculated the young Kim may order a “provocation”, such as a small-scale military attack or nuclear or missile test, to burnish a hardline image with the North’s powerful military, whose support is crucial to him.

Earlier, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported Lim Sung-nam, Seoul’s top nuclear envoy, would meet Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei during Lee’s trip to discuss denuclearizing the North. The South has also said its main foreign policy goal this year is maintaining stability on the peninsula as its unpredictable neighbor embarks on a third generation of dynastic rule following Kim Jong-il’s death last month.

But Beijing has also faced growing wariness from neighbors over its military modernization and strategic intentions, especially over North Korea, a problem acknowledged by a leading Chinese newspaper. “Particularly with China’s rapid development altering the relative balance of power between the two sides, problems have arisen in Chinese-South

Korean relations that need urgent attention,” said the overseas edition of the People’s Daily, the official paper of China’s ruling Communist Party. “Above all there is the problem of mutual political trust,” said a front-page commentary in the paper by Zhang Liangui, a prominent Chinese expert on Korean affairs.

Seoul’s ambassador to China, Lee Kyuhyung, recently said the South would continue to raise the issue of China’s unwillingness to condemn North Korea when it provokes the South. Although Beijing and Seoul share broad aims on the divided Korean peninsula, Zhang said, “their different interests and positions have produced a negative impact on bilateral relations”. (For full coverage, click ) Lee angered Pyongyang by cutting off aid to its impoverished neighbor when he took office in 2008, demanding nuclear disarmament and economic reform as preconditions to reopen food assistance and political engagement.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula rose in 2010 when the North launched an artillery barrage into a South Korean island, killing civilians. The North was also blamed for a torpedo attack against a South Korean navy ship that killed 46 sailors. North and South Korea are technically still at war under a truce ending the 1950-53 Korean War. Lee’s three -day visit began after Chinese media flagged the prospect of trade pact talks in coming months, holding out closer economic ties as a way to narrow political distrust. The China Daily said the two sides are considering negotiations for a three-way free trade agreement including Japan, and a separate China-South Korea trade agreement. An unidentified source from China’s Ministry of Commerce told the paper the ChinaSouth Korea bilateral trade pact talks “will probably start in the first half of the year”.

Marking the start of the talks, Lee noted the “rapid” development of relations between South Korea and China “in all spheres” since formal ties were established 20 years ago. Despite Beijing’s political support for North Korea, Chinese economic ties with South Korea are much larger. In the first 11 months of 2011, China’s trade with the South was worth $224.8 billion, a rise of 19.5 percent on the same period in 2010, according to Chinese customs data. Its trade with North Korea was worth $5.2 billion in the first 11 months of 2011. Since 2008, South Korea and China have conducted joint studies on their possible free trade deal. —Reuters

Australia eases Myanmar sanctions

YANGON: Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi claps hands during a ceremony for a new signboard of her National League for Democracy party’s headquarters in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday. —AP another source of power for the factory would have to be found, adding the country would “seriously think” about using coal in other plants. Italthai’s Thin Aung said the initial proposal would be to build one coal and one hydroelectric power plant to generate electricity for the construction of the wider development. —AFP

YANGON: Australia said yesterday it is easing some restrictions on members of Myanmar’s ruling elite in response to political reforms by its military-backed government. The decision came as the party of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi began gearing up to contest by-elections on April 1. Her National League for Democracy party has cautiously endorsed reforms instituted by President Thein Sein that include legalizing labor unions and freeing some political prisoners.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd announced the easing of sanctions during a visit to Indonesia, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Department said. “The changes to the sanctions list are an acknowledgment that Burma is taking a number of important steps toward a more open democracy and greater engagement with the region,” the department said a statement, using the name for Myanmar preferred by the country’s democracy movement.

Australia bars visits by senior Myanmar officials and bans financial transactions with them.

Like other Western nations, it imposed the sanctions because of abuses by the previous military government. The new policy removes former Cabinet ministers who have left politics and tourism officials from the sanctions list. The statement said an arms embargo remains in place.

“We hope positive developments, such as the increased participation of opposition parties in the political process, the release of around 220 political prisoners, and new labor laws that will legalize trade unions, will continue. In this context we will keep our approach to sanctions

under review,” Rudd said in the statement. The United States and Britain, whose foreign secretary last week visited Myanmar, have not eased their sanctions, saying the release of more political prisoners is a key indicator of the progress of reforms. Between 1,000 and 2,000 political prisoners are believed to still be detained.

Thein Sein took office last year after a general election boycotted by Suu Kyi’s group, which said the polls were undemocratic. The government legally dissolved her party for falling to contest the election, but recently granted it official approval to contest the April 1 polls after it agreed to rejoin electoral politics. Suu Kyi is expected to run for a seat in parliament. Her party won a sweeping victory in a 1990 general election, but could not take power when the military refused to allow parliament to convene.

Yesterday, the party unveiled a new party logo for the upcoming polls and launched fullscale activities. The logo uses the party flag, with a yellow fighting peacock and a white star on a red background. The fighting peacock was used by student activists during pro-democracy uprisings in 1988 and became a symbol of the democracy movement. Most of the 48 seats being contested on April 1 were vacated by lawmakers who became Cabinet ministers after the first parliamentary session last January.

The military is guaranteed 110 seats in the 440-seat lower house and 56 seats in the 224seat upper house, and the main pro-military party holds 80 percent of the remaining 498 elected seats, so even if the NLD wins all 48 seats up for grabs, it will have little power in parliament.— AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

NEWS

The grounded container ship ‘Rena’ is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga yesterday after it broke in two in a storm. — AFP

Debris from ship washes onto NZ beaches WELLINGTON: Shipping containers, sacks of milk powder and other debris washed onto popular New Zealand beaches yesterday after a cargo ship stuck on an offshore reef for three months started breaking apart in heavy seas at the weekend. The 47,230-tonne Liberianflagged Rena, grounded for three months on Astrolabe Reef, finally broke in two about 22 km off Tauranga on the east coast of New Zealand yesterday after being pounded by waves of up to 6 metres. Maritime authorities and salvage crews have tried to remove fuel oil and containers from the ship, which ran aground in calm conditions on Oct 5. But fuel and cargo continued to leak in rough seas, causing New Zealand’s worst environmental disaster in decades.

At least five containers had washed ashore at Waihi Beach, a popular spot for holiday makers, Maritime New Zealand spokesman Bruce Fraser said. “There are a lot of containers and debris in the water and washing up on the beaches,” he said. An oil sheen was spreading 3

km from the stricken vessel and small amounts of oil was washing up on nearby islands and beaches, he added. Timber, plastic and dozens of sacks of milk powder also littered the beach after an estimated 200-300 containers stacked in the 236-m ship were washed into the sea when it broke apart.

Police said they had closed Waihi Beach to the public after reports of people removing items that had washed up. “The expert advice we have received is for people not to approach items washed ashore for health reasons and we appeal to those people who have taken objects to return them to the beach where they can be managed by decontamination crews,” Sergeant Dave Litton of Waihi Police said. More than 20 containers were filled with cryolite, a toxic chemical, while others held everything from meat to household goods and cases of wine. Some have been tagged with transponders and the Navy was scanning the area with sonar to ensure nearby commercial operations at the Port of Tauranga could con-

tinue, Fraser said.

Salvage teams have pumped more than 1,000 tonnes of oil out of the ship over the past three months, though some remained onboard.

Thousands of birds were killed by the earlier spill and it has taken months to clean up the shore. Half a dozen penguins were picked up overnight, some of them covered in oil, Maritime NZ said. Braemar Howells, a marine salvage firm, estimated that up to 300 containers of the some 830 left on the Rena were lost overboard when the ship broke in half. About 390 containers had been safely removed earlier.

The Rena’s captain and navigation officer, both Philippine nationals, have been charged with operating a vessel in a dangerous manner, and releasing toxic substances, which carries a maximum fine of NZ$300,000 ($234,200), or two years in prison. They are due to appear in court again next month. The vessel is owned

by Daina Shipping, a unit of Greece’s Costamare Inc and was under charter to Mediterranean Shipping. — Reuters

Calls for reform, fighting graft dominate...

Continued from Page 1 called on Kuwait to speed up political reforms. He said that if elected, he will pay special attention to Kuwait’s foreign policy amid major changes in the region with Iran possibly becoming a nuclear power and the danger of Iraq breaking up into three parts.

Ossaimi said his main priority is fighting corruption as “I have nothing more important than launching a war on corruption which has become very widespread in Kuwait during the past few years”. The two candidates, who are running from the second constituency, objected

to the storming of the National Assembly building but insisted at the same time that it is not a major offense.

Lawyer Al-Humaidi Al-Subaie, contesting the election from the fifth electoral district, insisted on the need to approve the wealth disclosure law for MPs and leading bureaucrats as a first serious step toward fighting corruption. He stressed that other anti-corruption legislations are also needed. Subaie also called for issuing a number of laws to reform the judiciary including legislation that allows people to contest judges’ and prosecutors’ decisions.

The interior ministry meanwhile strongly criticized candidates who accused official agencies of failing to combat election violations like tribal primaries and vote-buying practices. In a statement, the ministry said that such accusations are baseless and are being issued as part of the election campaign to benefit from criticizing the ministry and security agencies. The ministry insisted that its agencies have been doing their job to stop election violations, citing the ministry’s action in referring dozens of people to the public prosecution on suspicion of organizing the outlawed tribal primary elections.

NASHUA, New Hampshire: Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is reflected in a mirror as he attends a Nashua Chamber of Commerce breakfast yesterday. New Hampshire will hold its Republican primaries today. — AFP

People walk on Waihi Beach where bags of powdered milk washed up yesterday from the wrecked cargo ship Rena. — AP

Mubarak-era figures recycle careers MENYA, Egypt: Far from Egypt’s cities where Hosni Mubarak’s old allies might fear to face the electorate, figures from the deposed leader’s era have re-emerged to run for parliament in rural areas where sectarian rivalries can be played for political advantage. In Menya, 270 km south of Cairo, the Freedom Party founded by ex-Mubarak loyalists put prominent local Christian candidate Ihab Ramzy top of its list, helping it draw votes from the city’s large Coptic Christian community. Islamist parties have dominated the staggered vote, Egypt’s first free election in six decades, and a bloc of mostly newly established liberal parties is scrambling for remaining seats up for grabs in a final run-off votes tomorrow and Wednesday.

Coptic Christians make up about a tenth of Egypt’s population of 80 million and are a natural target for the liberal Egyptian Bloc, given broad Coptic suspicions of the Muslim Brotherhood and more hardline Salafi party Al-Nour. But the courting of the Christian vote by former Mubarak allies in Menya and other southern cities is posing an added headache for the liberal alliance as it struggles to respond to the well organised Islamist vote-winning machine to gain a foothold in the assembly and exert its influence in the drawing up of Egypt’s new constitution.

Ibrahim Gamil, 23, a Christian jeweller in Menya who said he voted for the Freedom Party, was unmoved by the fact that its founders were once Mubarak loyalists. “I want the guy on the top of the list. He is a good guy,” said Gamil. Leaders of the Freedom Party say they are former members of Mubarak’s defunct National Democratic Party (NDP) but want people to give them a chance in Egypt’s first free parliamentary vote since army officers overthrew the monarchy in 1952. “I was a member of the NDP and I am proud of it,” said Taher Abdel Hamid, a top Freedom Party official in Cairo.

“Those who committed wrongdoing should be punished, but it isn’t fair to generalise.”

For years, the NDP’s rivals accused it of shoving them aside by stuffing ballot boxes, buying votes or intimidating voters into choosing its candidates. Mubarak and his senior lieutenants are now on trial for corruption, abuse of power and the killing of protesters who toppled him from power last February. But people in Menya say local Mubarak-era figures - commonly known as “feloul” or remnants - have enduring clout that makes them a powerful force in some areas.

Many are wealthy businessmen, merchants and lawyers with deep roots in their home towns who offer a familiar face in a complex political landscape with thousands of parliamentary candidates and dozens of parties. “Coptic citizens don’t realise that voting for the remnants’ parties with Christians on the top of their lists will disperse their votes and none of those candidates will make it to the parliament,”

said Soliman Shafiq, a prominent local Coptic intellectual.

“Islamists will get more votes in the end.”

Freedom Party candidate Ramzy enjoys local Coptic support, residents say, because of his good relations with the church in a province where rampant poverty and widespread illiteracy gives religion a huge influence on votes.

One of the poorest parts of Egypt, Menya is also a stronghold of strict Islamist groups such as the former militant jihadist al-Gama’a al Islamiya (Islamic Group), helping put religion at the heart of the electoral battle. The Freedom Party, which identifies itself as liberal, said it had already won at least five seats in southern Egypt during the third stage of the staggered parliamentary vote before this week’s runoffs.

The new parliament’s primary task will be to appoint an assembly to draft a new constitution. Coptic Christians and many liberal Muslims say Islamists could monopolise the new assembly and threaten minority rights. The Coptic Orthodox church has urged its followers to vote for parties “calling for a civil state”, as opposed to an Islamic one, without saying which liberal parties it advocates. Some Copts in Menya were reluctant to give their votes to Mubarak loyalists. “The Freedom Party are the remnants of the previous regime and they have bad candidates in their lists ... They are splitting Coptic votes,” said Bishoy Gerges, 22, a drama teacher who said he was voting for the Egyptian Bloc.

Voting in rural areas is also influenced by tribal alignments and Mubarak loyalists rely on their well-established networks among local families in southern Egypt and charity work to guarantee them votes. Several Islamist parties also competed in last week’s third-round vote, which concludes with this week’s run-offs. Al-Gama’a al-Islamiya led an insurgency against Mubarak from the city during the 1990s before renouncing violence and claiming a stake in politics.

One candidate running under its banner in Menya, Alaa Saber, was jailed for 18 years on terrorism charges under Mubarak.

At the other end of the Islamist spectrum, the secretary general of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party Mohamed Al-Katatni and the head of the moderate Wasat Islamist party, Abul Ela Mady, also ran in the province.

Both are national political heavyweights who further complicated liberal efforts to win seats. Mady, a political veteran who founded Wasat, said he opposed the post-Mubarak game of Muslim liberals and Copts versus Islamists, appealing for votes across the religious divide. “We are against the Islamic-secular and Islamic-Coptic polarisation,” he said. That message appeared to have little resonance among voters in Menya. Mady lost his seat in last week’s third-round vote to ex-Mubarak loyalist Ramzy of the Freedom Party. — Reuters

14

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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Issues

US riddle: More guns, less violence?

By Bernd Debusmann un ownership in the United States is up. Violent crime is down. Is this a matter of cause and effect? The question merits pondering on the Jan 8 anniversary of the Arizona mass shooting which killed six people, severely injured a member of congress, Gabrielle Giffords, and rekindled the seemingly endless on-and-off debate over gun regulations in the United States, the country with the greatest number of firearms in private hands. Judging from the background checks gun dealers filed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that number jumped by around 1.5 million in December, thanks partly to a spurt of buying around Christmas. For Arizona gun enthusiasts who left firearms out of their Christmas giving, gun shows in Tucson and Phoenix provide another shopping opportunity on the Giffords shooting anniversary.

Advocates of tighter restrictions on firearms have long insisted that more guns equal more violence but a series of FBI statistics released in 2011 makes one wonder about that assumption. Gun sales have risen by twelve percent nationally over the last three years, initially spurred by mistaken fears that President Barack Obama would push for tighter controls. In the same period, violent crime (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) dropped steadily and now stands at a 37year low. Does this vindicate the school of thought that holds that armed citizens are the best defense against crime? “The numbers are consistent with what I’ve been saying for a long time,” says John Lott, author of a controversial 1997 study entitles More Guns, Less Crime.

“When bans on guns, as in Chicago and Washington DC, were lifted, murders actually declined,” he said in an interview. (Washington recorded 145 murders in 2009 and 132 in 2010).

The National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the most powerful US lobbies, noted in May, after the FBI’s initial set of 2010 crime figures, that “the decrease in crime coincided with an increase in the number of privately owned guns - particularly handguns and detachable magazine semi-automatic rifles. For example, Americans bought 400,000 AR-15s in 2009.”

With sales at a steady pace, it’s no wonder that the United States holds a commanding lead in private gun ownership - almost as many guns as there are people.

According to the 2011 Small Arms Survey by the respected Graduate Institute of Geneva, there are 270 million civilian firearms in the United States (population 312 million). Yemen comes a distant second. If the size of the arsenal served as a deterrent, as some pro-gun criminologists suggest, the country should be virtually violence-free. But despite the decline reported by the FBI, the US per capita murder rate is three times as high as that of Canada or Britain.

So, if guns are not a significant driver in the US crime statistics, what is? The experts are baffled because the trend conflicts with a number of long-held assumptions.

Criminologists thought that hard economic times and high unemployment tended to prompt crime. But robberies, for example, fell since the beginning of the recession in 2008. Similarly, many experts saw a link between crime and the number of prison inmates, the theory being that people behind bars can’t commit crimes. But because of budget cuts in several states, the prison population actually shrank.

Among several hypotheses for the drop in crime: demographics. The United States is ageing and the fastest growing segment of the population is over-50s, an age group historically less prone to violence and criminal activity than younger people. Another theory: better policing thanks to widespread use of technology to spot crimes. In short: nobody has a convincing answer and, surprisingly in a country full of experts given to predictions, there are no forecasts on how long the trend of declining crime will last.

Here’s one trend that is certain to last - an American fascination with guns and tolerance of regulations that make it easy to buy them. Opinion polls show that support for stricter gun controls has dropped over the past two decades despite mass shootings like the 1999 Columbine high school rampage, the carnage at Virginia Tech university eight years later and the Arizona massacre commemorated this weekend. — Reuters

G

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Iraq’s plight imperils US goals

By Bradley Klapper raq’s troubled start to life without US forces calls into question the Obama administration’s assertion that it has wound down America’s long war responsibly: at least 78 killed in blasts across the country in a single day last week, a protracted political crisis with no end in sight, top political leaders accusing each other of monstrous criminality. An extension of the costly and unpopular deployment of American troops to Iraq may have only temporarily suppressed some of the tensions, but the heightened violence and political dysfunction illustrate the unfinished business the United States has left behind in Iraq.

Nine years after American proponents of intervention predicted a cakewalk, a welcome mat and Iraqis singing and flying kites in a shining example of democracy for the Arab world, the US is still struggling to finish the job. It is unclear how much more help Iraq wants, either. Last month’s send-off of the last US soldiers was inauspiciously followed by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki ordering an arrest warrant for the country’s highest-ranking Sunni official, threatening to exclude the rival sect’s main political party from his government and warning of “rivers of blood” if Sunnis sought an autonomous region.

The Obama administration is defending the military withdrawal from Iraq, after the two countries were unable to agree on whether American troops should be granted legal immunity. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in an interview aired Sunday that “periodic acts of violence” in Iraq, like those seen recently, are not new and that the thousands of US civilians working there can be safe under Iraqi protection. “We’re confident that we have an Iraqi government and an Iraqi security force that is capable of dealing with the security threats that are there now,” Panetta told CBS “Face the Nation.”

I

But President Barack Obama’s decision is being attacked by critics during an election year. “In all due respect, Iraq is unraveling. It’s unraveling because we did not keep residual forces there,” said Arizona Sen John McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. McCain also spoke on CBS. Leading US efforts, the State Department got $6.2 billion in Iraq funds for the year. Some $3.8 billion is for the department’s operations, including for the deployment of several hundred diplomats, civil service experts and specialists in fields from agriculture and commerce to health and education. Hundreds more are needed for management, logistics and security support in a land still wracked by violence.

Thousands of security contractors are also being employed.

The Defense Department got an additional $11 billion to wrap up military operations and fund a leftover contingent of advisers and officials. The total is a small amount against the backdrop of $1.3 trillion spent on Afghanistan and Iraq over the past decade. Yet it belies any notion that the US and Iraq can easily - or cheaply - “normalize” a relationship that has more often than not been nonexistent over the past four decades.

In Baghdad, the Vatican-sized American Embassy stands like a city within a city, a reminder of the previous administration’s ambitious vision of an ironclad US-Iraqi alliance based on shared interests, peace and democracy. By far the biggest such US outpost overseas and costing several hundred million dollars, the danger is it ends up being a symbol of US isolation, its diplomats ensconced safely inside but unable to influence events beyond the fortress walls.

The Obama administration has maintained some of the optimistic Bush-era rhetoric for its vision of the future, while acknowledging that much depends on solving Iraq’s immediate problems. When Al-Maliki teamed up with Muqtada AlSadr’s hardline Shiite supporters, it guaranteed him the prime minister’s office. The US secured a role for Ayad Allawi’s Sunni-

led bloc after it won the most parliamentary seats, but key decisions on the legislation for the power-sharing arrangement were pushed off. Iraq’s Defense and Interior ministries were similarly left for later. Now is later.

One legacy of the occupation that costs money to maintain but could be a key diplomatic tool is the distribution of American diplomats throughout the country. Instead of having all US personnel pooled in the capital, and all its engagement efforts directed solely toward the prime minister and other central government leaders, Washington can simultaneously press the Kurds in the North and Sunnis and Shiites at the regional level. While Vice President Joe Biden mobilizes his years of personal relationship with Iraq’s political elite at the very top, officials staff consulates in Basra, Irbil and, since Christmas, Kirkuk.

The administration wants to begin lowering costs in Iraq further. The plan envisions local staff replacing Americans in security and logistics, and more food and fuel purchased on local markets. The shift would depend on a more peaceful environment prevailing and the country embarking on a surer democratic path. But the challenge remains: Can the US, with its limited capacity to shape events in Iraq, help forge a culture of nation in a place that may remain too deeply divided among themselves? Al-Maliki’s arrest warrant against Sunni Vice President and longtime critic Tariq Al-Hashemi for allegedly organizing assassinations leaves the country divided at the upper echelons of government. If the schism reaches down to street level, Iraq risks sliding back toward the civil war-like violence of 2006 and 2007.

Administration officials acknowledge that Iraq is mired in its worst government crisis since Saddam Hussein’s 2003 ouster, with no obvious answers for a political landscape crisscrossed by long-standing sectarian and regional rivalries, and newer schisms borne out of political maneuvering. —AP

Split raises calls for Syria intervention

By Mariam Karouny he collapse of a deal between Syria’s two main opposition factions shows that voices calling for foreign intervention to topple President Bashar Al-Assad have gained the upper hand over those opposing it. But the quick unravelling of the pact, which ruled out such international action, ensures that achieving that goal will remain elusive since Western powers are loath to throw their weight behind a fractured Syrian opposition.

Wary of the risks of engendering chaos and wider Middle East conflict given Syria’s internal sectarian divisions and Assad’s alliance with Iran, NATO says it has no plans to intervene as it did to back Libyan rebels who toppled Muammar Gaddafi last year.

And neighbouring Turkey, Assad’s former ally, has said any intervention must be backed by the UN Security Council with Arab League support, must be justified on humanitarian grounds and not have regime change as its goal. Ten days ago Burhan Ghalioun, head of the mostly exiled Syrian National Council (SNC), signed an accord with the mainly Syrian-based National Coordination Body (NCB) outlining a transition to a democratic post-Assad Syria. The agreement rejected “any military intervention that harms the sovereignty or stability of the country”, while leaving the door open for an Arab role to stop Assad’s military crackdown on protests in which 5,000 people have died, by a UN count.

But members of Ghalioun’s own council denounced the deal, forcing him to disavow it. Many grassroots protesters inside Syria also rejected it, saying they had lost hope that 10 months of peaceful demonstrations - now accompanied by an armed insurgency in some regions - would bring down Assad. “The paper has been cancelled after pressure from members of the council. Some threatened to resign,” said SNC member Khaled Kamal.

“Ghalioun signed it without the knowledge of council members, so after consultation he withdrew his signature.”

SNC members were holding a meeting in Turkey today to draft their own road map for change and were expected to decide whether to replace Ghalioun as council chief.

The NCB rejects foreign intervention, seeking instead a political agreement for a transitional government to replace Assad, a path it says would save Syria from disintegrating along

T

sectarian and ethnic lines. Kamal said many SNC members had originally shared the NCB’s rejection of an intervention such as a no-fly zone or buffer zone to protect Syrian civilians.

“But now all roads are blocked and the political solution did not work,” he said. “After ten months and after we knocked on all doors... foreign intervention is the only choice before us,” he said, adding that the SNC will begin a campaign to get recognition as the only opposition group representing the mass demonstrations.

has been attacking security forces. It is also seeking international steps to prevent Assad using warplanes against popular unrest and to create a buffer zone on the Turkish border, which would provide the FSA a base to escalate attacks on Assad’s forces. Such views are echoed among many activists in flashpoint cities such as Homs and Hama who say Arab League monitors assessing whether Damascus is complying with a plan to end violence are toothless and will not protect civilians. “The best thing they can do for us is

Syrian supporters of President Bashar Assad rally outside a church ahead of a mass held at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus yesterday in memory of two victims of recent fighting in the country. —AFP The protests, driven by anger and frustration at corruption, poverty and lack of freedoms over 41 years of autocratic Assad family rule, have been mainly peaceful, though rights groups say the death toll among protesters now exceeds 5,000. The revolt has become bloodier as protests have become overshadowed by armed rebels taking the fight to the security forces. Syria says it is fighting Islamist militants who it blames for killing 2,000 of its security forces and soldiers.

The National Council, ignoring Ghalioun’s concerns of possible civil war, wants to give a bigger role for the rebel Free Syrian Army that

to refer Syria to the (UN) Security Council,” said an activist called Ahmad.

Khalaf Dahowd, a member of the executive bureau of the National Coordination Body, said he had no sense during meetings held with foreign officials that the international community was ready to step in. “Syria has strong allies. The Russians told us we will not use one veto - we will use 20 vetoes in the Security Council,” he said. Assad is backed by Iran and the powerful Shiite Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. He also has allies in Russia and China, which have blocked Western-generated draft resolutions against

Damascus at the UN Security Council.

“We are against the militarisation of the revolution because it justifies the oppression and the use of force. Tens of people are getting killed now but if the revolution becomes a military one then hundreds will be killed,” Dahowd said. “Syria is a country of many sects and ethnicities. Foreign intervention will break the social infrastructure of Syria and its political borders,” he said. Already many analysts and officials have warned that the increasingly lethal armed confrontations could tip Syria into a sectarian civil war, pitting majority Sunni Muslims against Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiism.

Years of oppression under Assad’s late father, Hafez Al-Assad, have fragmented a Syrian opposition that includes liberals, Arab nationalists, Islamists and Kurds. The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, whose armed revolt was crushed with up to 30,000 deaths by the elder Assad in the city of Hama in 1982, is believed to be a major force among those in the Sunni majority keen to throw off domination by Alawites.

Over the years Syria’s intelligence agents have worked tirelessly to divide the various opposition groups, playing on their rivalries to plant seeds of doubt among them and leaving a legacy of suspicion still evident in their responses to a grassroots uprising which they played little role in creating.

“Many of the members of the Coordination Body are agents of the Syrian regime and some are scared of the regime because many of them are inside Syria,” said Kamal of the National Council. Privately other opposition figures level similar accusations against the SNC, saying it is riddled with “agents of Assad”. An opposition source familiar with talks held with Western officials said that the officials spelled out to each group they met that the Syrian opposition should unite and that none of the groups could claim to be the main opposition movement.

A Syrian opposition figure in Damascus who refused to be named said: “There is opposition inside Syria that nobody should ignore. The (National) Council is not the only representative of the opposition. Even if they rejected the deal at the end of the day the opposition has no alternative (but) to sit down and talk. They must agree. The Council is crazy to think the United Nations is going to recognise them now.” — Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

sp orts Faurlin out for the season LONDON: Queens Park Rangers’ Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, who has played every minute of his team’s Premier League campaign, will miss the rest of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The 25-year-old Argentine suffered the injury in Rangers 1-1 draw in their FA Cup third round tie at Milton Keynes Dons.

His injury means he will not feature in the immediate plans of the successor to Neil Warnock who was sacked as manager on Sunday. Faurlin confirmed the injury on his Twitter account, saying: “I just wanna let u know guys, its bad news for me I have rupture of the ACL, I’m out for the rest of the season! Really disappointed, sad.” Faurlin joined QPR from Argentine club Instituto in the summer of 2009 and the deal was subsequently found to have breached some of the English FA’s transfer rules.

QPR were fined for breaking the regulations, but did not suffer a points deduction as they feared and were promoted to the Premier League at the end of last season as Championship (second division) champions. — Reuters

Murray’s missing ingredient SYDNEY: John McEnroe was surprised when Andy Murray named Ivan Lendl as his new coach but thinks his old rival may prove to be the missing ingredient the Briton needs to take his career to the next level. World number four Murray has been runner-up in three grand slam finals, including at the last two Australian Opens, but has been blown away in them all, continuing his country’s long wait for a men’s champion in the sport’s four major tournaments. The Scot enlisted the help of eight-times grand slam winner Lendl last week and the initial results looked promising with Murray winning his opening tournament of the year in Brisbane on Sunday.

“I hate to give credit to Lendl

but (Murray) needed to do something out of the ordinary instead of going with the predictable retread,” McEnroe told reporters in Adelaide yesterday. “This is definitely something that was, to me, unexpected. I didn’t know that Lendl wanted to coach. He could bring something to the table, without a doubt.

“Lendl didn’t win a major until he was 24 and guess what?

Murray is 24 right now. “So that could provide something worth it for Murray, I’m going to be paying attention to that, see how it works out.” McEnroe, who won seven grand slam singles titles, had a fierce and unfriendly playing rivalry with Lendl, who he once described as a “scar y robot”. — Reuters

Noh set for USPGA debut KUALA LUMPUR: Korean sensation Noh Seung-Yul said yesterday he has his sights set on becoming Rookie of the Year in his debut season on the USPGA tour. The 2010 Asian Tour number one earned his PGA card through qualifying school at the end of last year, handing him the chance to play against many of the world’s leading golfers. “I have been dreaming of playing on PGA Tour since I was so young. And this year I am starting my dream,” Noh, 20, said ahead of his first event in Hawaii this week. Since bursting onto the scene with his first professional victory in 2008, Noh’s reputation has soared. He became the Asian Tour’s Rookie of the Year and then lifted the Order of Merit crown two years ago-the region’s youngest player to do so-and has now targeted a flying start to his career at the top level. “I’ll try to aim for a win and also the Rookie of the Year award. I would also like to qualify for FedEx Cup play-offs which will be my objective this year,” said Noh. — AFP

Broad and Davies give England hard earned win

Tim Bresnan

Bresnan ruled out of Pakistan series DUBAI: England will be without paceman Tim Bresnan for their forthcoming Test series against Pakistan because of injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed yesterday. The 26year-old paceman, who still has soreness in the elbow which was operated on in November, had already missed England’s opening three-day tour match against an ICC Combined XI which they won by three wickets in the United Arab Emirates yesterday. Bresnan took 16 wickets in the three Tests he played against India at home last year-a series which lifted captain Andrew Strauss’s men to number one in the Test rankings.

An ECB statement said Bresnan’s right elbow had “flared up” during his recent return to bowling following surgery to remove a bone fragment in November.

“I’m obviously gutted not to have an opportunity to play in the Test series but I knew that looking at my rehabilitation program it was always going to be touch

and go to get me ready for the series,” said Yorkshire all-rounder Bresnan. “I want to wish the squad all very best and the priority for me now is to get myself ready for the one-day series in February,” added Bresnan, who in his 10 Tests has taken 41 wickets at 23.60 apiece.

Bresnan’s place in the Test squad has gone to Durham seamer Graham Onions, already in the UAE as bowling cover.

Onions, 29, played the last of his eight Tests against South Africa in Cape Town two years ago. England are due to play a Pakistan Cricket Board XI in a second warm-up fixture, also in Dubai, from January 11-13 before the first Test of a three -match series starts there on January 17.

This Pakistan ‘home’ series is being played in the UAE because no major international cricket matches have been staged in Pakistan since an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in March 2009. — AFP

Sri Lanka in ‘crisis’ COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s sports minister yesterday blasted the national cricket team’s recent performances, saying the side was riven by politics and in “crisis”.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage vowed to deliver a stern lecture to the players when they return later this month from their tour of South Africa, where they last week lost the Test series 2-1. “The Sri Lanka cricket team is in a crisis situation.

It is very unfortunate,” Aluthgamage told reporters in Colombo. “The team is not clicking together off-field and it has shown in the results on the field.”

“Once the team returns, I plan to meet them,” Aluthgamage said. “I feel there is a lot of internal politics within the team that is spilling over to the cricket pitch.”

Since the retirement of bowling star Muttiah Muralitharan in July 2010, Sri Lanka have won only one Test match, though they did reach the final of the one-day World Cup last year. Sri Lanka

will now play five one-day internationals in South Africa starting on Wednesday, before heading to a tri-series tournament in Australia which also includes India.

The government has often been accused of meddling in the sport and recent uncontested elections for the cricket board were mired in allegations of interference. Aluthgamage’s comments came after Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan blamed his side’s inconsistent results on the island’s weak domestic scene. “It is very difficult to find good cricketers. We have to correct our domestic structure. Coming from our club cricket to international cricket is a huge difference,” he said after losing the Test series. Some players have complained about months of unpaid wages as the Sri Lanka board struggles with debts of $69 million after building two new venues and revamping a third ground for the World Cup. — AFP

‘Results are key,’ says England’s new coach LONDON: England’s new coaching regime might want time to bed in players but they will need to hit the ground running to avoid making things tough for themselves when they host the rugby World Cup in 2015, Lawrence Dallaglio said yesterday. Seeding for the tournament will be decided on the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) rankings at the end of 2012 and former captain Dallaglio, an “ambassador” for the 2015 event, said what happens over the next few months will have a huge impact on England’s hopes.

“While performance and development are the buzzwords at the moment, results are key,” Dallaglio told reporters at the opening of the new Twickenham headquarters of the 2015 tournament. “It’s going to take a while for things to settle down but we don’t really have that time as the Six Nations, the South Africa tour and four games in the autumn will go a long way to determining England’s position in the

draw.” With England hosting all three southern hemisphere sides in November and also playing the Springboks on a tough three-test tour in June, they desperately need to build up their ranking points during the Six Nations, which begins in four weeks.

They are currently ranked fifth and if they remain outside the top four at the end of the year they face the unpleasant prospect of perhaps having New Zealand, South Africa or Australia in their pool and, if they lose a group match, facing a similarly daunting quarter-final. “Last time round we got lucky and got in a group with (seeded) Argentina but unfortunately we didn’t capitalize on that in the way we performed in the World Cup,” Dallaglio said. “Stuart Lancaster’s first training camp and that first game in Scotland (on Feb. 4) are critical for the next 12 months because if they do get off to a good start they immediately get momentum.” — Reuters

DUBAI: Steve Davies and Stuart Broad shared a resolute seventh stand of 61 to help an unimpressive England to win the three-day tour opener against ICC Combined XI by three wickets yesterday. It was a case of second batting failure for the tourists as, chasing 261 to win, England owed the win to captain Andrew Strauss (78), Ian Bell (39) and Jonathan Trott (35) on the final day at the Global Cricket Academy ground.

Kevin Pietersen (one) and Eoin Morgan (three) flopped a second time in the match and when Bell departed at 199-6, England looked down and out before Davies (37 not out) and Broad (31) saved their blushes. Despite the win England’s batting looked rusty ahead of the first of three Tests against Pakistan which starts here from January 17 in which they will also be without paceman Tim Bresnan who has been ruled out with a right elbow injury.

England will have another opportunity to settle their batting on the slow, dusty pitches here as they play the second warm-up game against a Pakistan Cricket Board XI, also in Dubai, from January 11-13. Strauss and Alastair Cook (26) looked solid during their opening stand of 63 but Afghanistan’s spinner Mohammad Nabi (3-66), George Dockrell (1-28) and Majid Haq (1-42) derailed on the run chase.

Strauss and Trott added 70 for the second wicket but England lost five more wickets before reaching the 200-mark. Strauss hit 13 boundaries and a six during his 96-ball innings but his departure put England in trouble. It was left to Broad and Davies to carry their team within one run of the victory.

Strauss admitted the Combined XI were tough. “They committed themselves fully and they gave us a thorough workout,” Strauss said.

“If we are honest, our batting in the first innings should have been better. There is plenty for us to work on, we are not going to pretend this was perfect by any means. Hopefully we can raise the level against PCB XI,” said Strauss.

Earlier, the ICC Combined XI declared their second innings at 164-9 with Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad notching a second half-century of the match with a defiant 74. Shahzad, who scored 51 in the first innings, held the Combined XI innings and added 43 for the eighth wicket with Haq who scored 256 not out. Shahzad hit 13 boundaries during his attractive 104-ball knock.

Broad finished with 3-22, a match haul of seven wickets, while James Anderson took 2-62.

Paceman Bresnan, meanwhile, has been ruled out of their forthcoming Test series because of soreness in the elbow which was operated on in November. Bresnan took 16 wickets in the three Tests he played against India at home last year-a series which lifted Strauss’s men to number one in the Test rankings. An ECB statement said Bresnan’s right elbow had “flared up” during his recent return to bowling following surgery to remove a bone fragment in November. “I’m obviously gutted not to have an opportunity to play in the Test series but I knew that looking at my rehabilitation program it was always going to be touch and go to get me ready for the series,” said Yorkshire all-rounder Bresnan. — AFP

DUBAI: England’s players Kevin Pietersen (right), James Anderson (left) and wicketkeeper Steve Davies (center) unsuccessfully appeal for the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad (2nd right) of ICC Combined XI on the last day of three-day match England Vs ICC Combined Xl at the ICC Global cricket academy ground Dubai yesterday. — AP

Scoreboard DUBAI: Full scoreboard of the three-day match between England and ICC Combined XI played at the Global Cricket Academy here yesterday: ICC Combined XI 1st innings 281 (C. Viljoen 98, Mohammad Shahzad 51, B. Rankin 43; S. Broad 4-46, G. Swann 3-99) England 1st innings 185-8 dec (A. Cook 76; Hamid Hassan 2-26) Combined XI 2nd innings W. Porterfield c Davies b Anderson 0 P. Stirling lbw b Broad 0 K. Coetzer b Anderson 31 Saqib Ali c Davies b Broad 2 C. Williams c Bell b Swann 11 M Shahzad c Broad b Pietersen 74 Mohammad Nabi c Cook b Broad 13 C. Viljoen run out 3 M. Haq not out 26 B. Rankin b Finn 0 Extras (lb1, nb3) 4 Total (for nine wkts dec) 164 Fall of wickets 1-0 (Porterfield), 2-2 (Stirling), 3-8 (Ali), 4-31 (Williams), 5-71 (Coetzer), 6101 (Nabi), 7-119 (Viljoen), 8-162 (Shahzad), 9-164 (Rankin).

Bowling: Anderson 18-7-62-2, Broad 14-7-223, Swann 10-1-33-1, Finn 10.3-4-34-1, Pietersen 3-0-12-1.

Overs: 55.3

England 2nd innings A. Strauss c Williams b Haq 78 A. Cook c Haq b Williams 26 J. Trott c Porterfield b Nabi 35 K. Pietersen c Rankin b Dockrell 1 I. Bell c Stirling b Nabi 39 E. Morgan c Shahzad b Rankin 3 S. Davies not out 37 S. Broad c Dockrell b M Nabi 31 G. Swann not out 1 Extras (b8, lb1, nb1) 10 Total: (for seven wkts) 261 Fall of wickets 1-63 (Cook), 2-133 (Strauss), 3136 (Pietersen), 4-180 ( Trott), 5-187 (Morgan), 6-199 (Bell), 7-260 (Broad).

Bowling: Rankin 15-1-58-1, Viljoen 4-0-28-0 (nb1), Nabi 17-1-66-3, Williams 4-1-20-1, Dockrell 6-0-28-1, Haq 12.1-1-42-1, Stirling 20-10-0.

Overs: 60.1 Result: England win by three wickets

Illness scare for Aussies’ Marsh SYDNEY: Australian top order batsman Shaun Marsh was unable to fulfill a media engagement ahead of the third test against India in Perth because of illness yesterday. Team officials said the 28-year-old should be fit to train with the rest of the team today ahead of Friday’s start to the test at the WACA. Marsh won a race to be fit for the first test but his form in the four-match series has been far from convincing, despite Australia making a strong start with emphatic wins in Melbourne and Sydney.

Playing at number three in the batting order, Marsh has been out for a duck twice and made three in the second innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mike Hussey, who bucked his own run of poor form with a superb 150 not out in Sydney, replaced Marsh in yesterday’s news conference and backed his fellow Western Australian to find his touch at his home ground.

“The WACA crowd always give the local guys a huge welcome and a louder roar than any other player, so he’s got plenty of motivation to play exceptionally well in this test,” Hussey told reporters.

“It’s always tough when you have been out of the game for over a month to be able to come straight back into test match cricket and perform straight away. “It does take a bit of

time. But he has been working very hard and he’s been hitting the ball very well in the nets.

“So it’s just a case of him being able to get through that first half an hour of his innings and then if he gets a start, I’m sure he’ll want

to turn it into a big hundred.” Marsh, the son of former Australia opener Geoff Marsh, made his test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year and has been included in the 12-man squad for the third test against India. — Reuters

Australian fieldsman Shaun Marsh

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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Wings down Blackhawks Red Wings take Central division lead CHICAGO: Pavel Datsyuk’s overtime winner helped the Detroit Red Wings move top of the Central division with a 3-2 victory over the reeling Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

With less than two minutes remaining in the extra period, Datsyuk gathered a rebound and lifted a wrist shot from a difficult angle into the net as the Red Wings rallied past their divisional rival, who were consigned to a fourth straight loss. “It was a good screen and I hopped on the puck,” Datsyuk told reporters. “The goalie (Corey Crawford) just fell on the ice and I just shot and made sure I didn’t miss.” Chicago led 20 on first period goals from Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp but could not hold on to the lead and are now mired in their longest losing skid since they dropped five straight in 2009.

Detroit’s Valtteri Filppula cut the deficit to 2-1 later in the first and that scoreline stood until Daniel Cleary tied the game with just under five minutes remaining in regulation. Henrik Zetterberg assisted on both goals for the Red Wings. With the win, Detroit (26-14-1) - Agencies moved into a three-way tie at the top of the division with St Louis and Chicago. “I see this battle going on all year and the conference is tightening up, as well. But we did give away a lot of ground here this week and it’s up to us to regain where we’re at,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks earned a one-goal win over the Red Wings in the United Center on Dec. 30 but have not won since. Sharp, who recorded his 20th goal of the season, left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. He will be evaluated on Monday. Chicago also had a goal disallowed early in the third when it appeared a shot hit goaltender Ty Conklin and crossed the line but it was not ruled as a score and could not be reviewed.

Conklin finished with 29 saves and stopped a penalty shot from Jimmy Hayes in the third to keep his team in the contest.

NFL results/standings NHL results and standings on Sunday. Ottawa 6, Philadelphia 4; Detroit 3, Chicago 2 (OT ); Anaheim 7, Columbus 4. (OT denotes overtime)

NY Rangers Philadelphia New Jersey Pittsburgh NY Islanders Boston Ottawa Toronto Buffalo Montreal Florida Winnipeg Washington Tampa Bay Carolina

Detroit St. Louis Chicago Nashville Columbus

CALIFORNIA: Playing in his first NHL game, Iiro Tarkki #31 of the Anaheim Ducks tends net against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Honda Center on January 8, 2012 in Anaheim, California. — AFP SENATORS 6, FLYERS 4 In Ottawa, Filip Kuba scored the goahead goal with 1:11 left as Ottawa beat Philadelphia to earn a split of the weekend series. Kuba fired a slap shot from the left point past goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, and Nick Foligno sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 45 seconds to go.Colin Greening and Erik Karlsson scored earlier in the third period for the Senators, who erased a 4-2 deficit. Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Neil had goals in the first for Ottawa, which is on a 5-

0 1 run. Matt Read scored a power-play goal in the second and assisted on one of three Flyers goals in the first. Andrej Meszaros scored 2:32 into his 500th NHL game to draw Philadelphia even at 11.

Marc-Andre Bourdon and Sean Couturier had goals 28 seconds apart to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead later in the period.

DUCKS 7, BLUE JACKETS 4 In Anaheim, Corey Perry completed his fourth NHL hat trick by scoring into an

Petkovic saves victory dance for Melbourne

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova

Kvitova shrugs off talk of number one ranking SYDNEY: Petra Kvitova will challenge Caroline Wozniacki for the world number one ranking this week, though it is a subject the Czech prefers not to discuss. “I read in the newspaper that I can be number one in Sydney so I know, but this tournament is very tough,” Kvitova told reporters ahead of her first match at the Sydney International today. “It’s not easy to win these matches and this tournament. I’m still hearing this question about the first position in (the) WTA. Sometimes it’s really crazy. Talking about the rankings - it’s only words.”

Wimbledon champion Kvitova, who plays Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru today, will replace Dane Wozniacki at the top of the rankings if she wins the Sydney title.

Wozniacki opens against Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, who beat her in straight sets at the same stage last year. Both Wozniacki and Kvitova, the top two seeds, have first-round byes. The 21-year-old Kvitova said she was feeling strong after taking to the mountains to help her cope with asthma. “I had 14 days in the mountains in Slovakia where there was snow and we did the fitness preparation,” she said. “The altitude there is very good for my asthma and I can breathe well. “We did a lot of running and we were in the gym, and of course we could take the walk to the mountains and see the beautiful places there.”

Kvitova beat Wozniacki in three sets at the Hopman Cup in Perth last week. The mixed-team event carried no rankings points but still provided a confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open starting next week. “I’m happy that I won, but it’s something different,” Kvitova said. “It’s tough to say anything because it was not about the points or rankings or anything like that. It was a good match for us to prepare for Sydney and for the grand slam. We saw a little bit how we have both prepared.” Nine of the top 10 women in the world are playing in Sydney, with the only absentee being number four Maria Sharapova, who pulled out of last week’s Brisbane International with an ankle injury. — Reuters

SYDNEY: Germany’s Andrea Petkovic did something completely out of character after winning her opening match at the Sydney International.

She simply walked to the net and shook hands. No exuberant celebration, no ‘Petko Dance,’ the sprightly jig that became her trademark way of celebrating victories when she announced herself to the tennis world by reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last year.

Having beaten Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-3 on Ken Rosewall Arena on Monday, Petkovic simply packed up her racquets and strolled away, but said she would be tripping the light fantastic again when she gets to Melbourne Park next week. One of the more effervescent characters on the WTA Tour, Petkovic is deciding whether to replace the now defunct ‘Petko Dance’ with the moon walk, or a copy of the celebrations of German soccer player Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“I always try to do something new,” she said. “Right now I have the ‘Petko Dunk’. It’s a shout-out to a fellow German athlete. It’s Bastian Schweinsteiger. We met at the awards ceremony of athlete of the year.”

Schweinsteiger had promised to do the ‘Petko Dance’ if she emulated his goal celebration. “He told me if I do that, he’s going to do the Petko Dance next time he shoots a goal. So I’m really excited if he’s going to do it. He’s practicing, I heard. So I’m probably doing the Petko Dunk now.”

Petkovic’s post-victory dancing has polarized opinion. Some found it entertaining. Others found it over-thetop for tennis and perhaps disrespectful to her defeated opponents. “After the tournament at Miami last year, I wanted to stop it at all,” she said. “I had two tournaments where I didn’t do anything and I lost two times, first and second round. “So then I brought something new back. I did the moon walk. I get annoyed and bored by myself very quickly. I don’t think the other girls on tour cared about it but there are always people who don’t like you if you’re a little extreme.

“There are always critics. But I don’t really care what people say.”

Petkovic reached the quarter-finals in Brisbane last week in her first WTA event since her knee injury in October. “I was really satisfied with the way I played today,” she said. “Last week I was really struggling with my fitness. I was having ups and downs because maybe also I didn’t play for a long time, two and a half months. “I was out since Beijing, so I was struggling with finding my way into matches again. But I was really pleased with my performance today because I really played each point with a high intensity.” — Reuters

empt y net in the final minute, as Anaheim defeated Columbus in a clash of the NHL’s t wo worst teams. Teemu Selanne had two goals and Anaheim won despite losing goalie Jonas Hiller in the first period. Saku Koivu and Andrew Cogliano also scored for the Ducks. Rick Nash had two goals, and Derick Brassard and Vinny Prospal also scored for the Blue Jackets, who missed a chance to overtake Anaheim in the battle to avoid last place in the standings.— Agencies

Vancouver Minnesota Colorado Calgary Edmonton San Jose Dallas Los Angeles Phoenix Anaheim

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF 26 9 4 116 24 12 4 137 23 16 2 114 21 15 4 123 14 19 6 91 Northeast Division 26 11 1 141 22 15 6 135 21 15 5 133 18 18 5 107 16 18 7 109 Southeast Division 20 13 8 107 20 16 5 109 21 16 2 116 17 20 3 109 14 22 7 112 Western Conference Central Division 26 14 1 134 24 12 5 107 24 13 5 134 22 15 4 111 11 25 5 99 Northwest Division 26 13 3 138 21 15 6 96 23 19 1 114 19 19 5 103 16 22 3 111 Pacific Division 23 11 4 112 23 16 1 112 20 15 7 88 20 17 5 108 12 22 6 99

GA 8256 121 117 106 125

52 48 46 34

7353 143 131 121 114

50 47 41 39

115 119 115 136 146

48 45 44 37 35

9453 8953 123 114 137

53 48 27

102 101 120 124 119

55 48 47 43 35

8950 114 9347 109 133

PTS

47 45 30

Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

Falla outsmarts Young in Auckland ATP opener AUCKLAND: Colombian Alejandro Falla recovered from a poor start to beat American Donald Young 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the Auckland ATP tournament yesterday. In one of only three matches played on the opening day as organizers rushed to complete the rain-disrupted qualifying tournament, Young broke Falla twice as he raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. The Colombian, who was only promoted to the main draw on

the weekend, fought back breaking Young twice before losing the set when he dropped his serve for the third time.

However, he then settled into the game, bustling through the last two sets 6-3, 6-3 as he grew accustomed to the windy conditions. “He played better at the beginning but then I started to move well and play better. I was fighting for every point and was focused,” Falla, the world number 80, said. “I think I’m playing well. I’m confident

with my game. Today I made some unforced errors but this was normal because it’s tough conditions to play.”

Young, ranked 40 in the world, conceded that Fella “handled the pressure situations better” in their first match of the year. In the other completed first round matches, Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil beat Portugal’s Rui Machado 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) while Santiago Giraldo of Colombia beat Michael Venus of New Zealand 6-4, 6-3. — AFP

SYDNEY: Italy’s Francesca Schiavone plays a shot in her first round match against Samantha Stosur of Australia at the Sydney International tennis tournament yesterday. — AP

Schiavone outcasts out-of-sorts Stosur SYDNEY: Francesca Schiavone upset US Open champion Samantha Stosur ’s preparations for next week’s Australian Open with a straight sets opening round win at the Sydney International yesterday. The Italian matched home favorite Stosur’s power with aggression to secure a 6-2, 6-4 win in 90 minutes in the feature match on Ken Rosewall Arena. The loss followed Stosur’s second-round exit from the Brisbane International last week and has left the world number six short of match practice heading into the season’s first grand slam starting in Melbourne yesterday.

Schiavone, ranked 11, has been a tricky opponent for Stosur, beating her in the 2010 French Open final and in last year’s Fed Cup tie in Australia. “I think I was really aggressive, and she couldn’t play her game at the best,” said Schiavone, who next plays Daniela Hantuchova. “You have to play at a top level, and I think it’s not easy for her to play here in Australia. I think to play at

home, when you love something, is tough to catch it. “For the Australian Open it will be different. She has big power and big shoulders to do it.”

Stosur, who mastered Serena Williams in last year’s US Open final, said she failed to cope with the centre court crowd’s expectations. “I think today I certainly didn’t handle that side of things at all well,” Stosur said. “I think playing in Australia, I want to play the best I can play and do it all here this month right here right now. “Then when it doesn’t happen, it’s obviously disappointing. It probably makes it more disappointing here than anywhere else.” Defending champion Li Na, third seed Victoria Azarenka and eighth seed Marion Bartoli all progressed to the last 16.

China’s Li needed just an hour to sweep past Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-3 after reeling off the first nine games of the match. The French Open champion next faces South African Chanelle Scheepers for a place in the

quarter-finals. Li, the first Asian player to win a grand slam, beat Kim Clijsters in last year’s Sydney final before losing to the Belgian two weeks later in the Australian Open final. “Last year is over,” the world number five said. “I don’t have to think about what I did already last year. I mean, everyone has to look for ward to see what you should do right now.”

Azarenka only dropped three games in a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele and takes on former world number one Jelena Jankovic in the next round. French Open semi-finalist Bartoli beat Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-3 to set up a showdown with Australian Jelena Dokic. Elsewhere, twotime grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova upstaged sixth-seeded Russian compatriot Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-2 and Dominika Cibulkova defeated China’s Peng Shuai 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to face world number one Caroline Wozniacki in Tuesday’s second round. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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Stricker in pursuit of 12th PGA Tour title Stricker preserves 5-shot lead with strong finish

LONDON: Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko (right) pose for the media with challenger British boxer Dereck Chisora outside a London hotel yesterday. The WBC World Heavyweight Champion Klitschko will fight Chisora for the title on Feb 18, in Munich, Germany.— AP

Klitschko: Age no barrier vs Chisora LONDON: Dismissing concerns about his age, veteran heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko vowed yesterday to use all his experience to snuff out the challenge of Britain’s Dereck Chisora in their WBC title fight next month and maintain his family’s domination of the division. At 40, Klitschko is the second-oldest boxer to hold a world heavyweight title behind American George Foreman, who was 45 when he knocked out Michael Moorer to reclaim the WBA belt in Las Vegas in 1994. A big underdog, the 27-year-old Chisora will look to use his agility and quick hands to get inside the Ukrainian’s massive reach in a bid to produce one of the biggest heavyweight shocks of recent times in Munich on Feb 18.

However, Klitschko has encountered few problems defending his title seven times since winning it back in 2008 and has the experience of 15 world title fights to fall back on. “I’m going to have to prove not just my boxing skills but my age against Dereck,” Klitschko said at a news conference in London. “I am 40 but I feel 25. I am in great condition, great form and have great experience. “The main thing in life is experience, in all jobs and also in boxing. I have defended my title against many styles. I don’t want to break the record of George Foreman but 40 isn’t old - I’ll show that.” Vitali - a winner of 43 of his 45 fights and brother Wladimir have held all the heavyweight belts between them since the younger sibling defeated David Haye on points in July last year to add the Briton’s WBA belt to his IBF and WBO straps.

Chisora, who has won 15 of his 17 fights, said the division had became stale and a turn-off to fans during the Klitschkos’ era of dominance. “Everybody’s tired of you and your brother,” Chisora said. “There’s no excitement in the ring. It’s time for the new king. “People want a new relief in boxing.

Him and his brother have killed the sport I love.” Chisora was scheduled to fight Wladimir last year but the Ukrainian pulled out on two occasions because of injury. The Briton has earned another shot at a world belt despite losing his last two fights, to compatriot Tyson Fur y to lose his Commonwealth and British titles and then to Finland’s Robert Helenius in Helsinki in a European Heavyweight title bout.

Vitali Klitschko added to the throng of observers who claim Chisora was unfortunate to lose against Helenius. “Many people say the fights of the Klitschko brothers are boring. That’s because we win,” Vitali said. “We need to fight someone who can beat us. I think Dereck can do that. “He beat Robert Helenius. He beat a future world champion. Can he beat a real world champion? I have studied him very well and I know the fight will be interesting.

For the crowd and for me.” The criticism of the judges’ scoring of the HeleniusChisora bout came prior to the recent furor surrounding last month’s light-welterweight fight between Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan in Washington, DC. Khan lost his IBF and WBA belts to the American on a split decision after being docked two points for pushing but the Briton has raised questions about the legitimacy of Peterson’s victory, launching an appeal with the IBF. The WBA, meanwhile, is studying images of an unidentified man that Khan has accused of interfering with the judges and leaning over a WBA supervisor during the fight. Chisora’s promoter, Frank Warren, has called for neutral judges and officials at the Olympiahalle in Munich. “We’ve seen controversial things happen in these fights,” Warren said. “I don’t want any German officials, any British officials - everything to be absolutely neutral.”— AP

HAWAII: Steve Stricker recovered from a poor run around the turn with a stunning four-birdie finish to maintain a five -shot lead after Sunday ’s third round at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Starting the round five strokes clear of the field, Stricker had his advantage trimmed to just one before he regained control with his sizzling late surge to fire a four-under-par 69. That gave the American world number six, the highest-ranked player in the elite field, a 19-under total of 200 in the PGA Tour’s season-opening event at the Kapalua Resort.

Defending champion Jonathan Byrd recovered from two early bogeys to card a six-birdie 67 for a share of second place with fellow American Webb Simpson (69) and Britain’s Martin Laird (67). Two more Americans, Bryce Molder (67) and Kevin Na (71), were tied for fifth at 11 under in the limited-field tournament which brings together PGA Tour winners from the previous season. “It was a struggle today,” Stricker said after recording five birdies and a bogey on the hilly Plantation Course. “Not a lot of good things happened but I stayed patient. “I felt like things were going to turn my way coming in, and they did. It was a good finish and put me in a good position heading into tomorrow.”

Stricker, seeking his 12th victory on the PGA Tour, found the third round especially frustrating after carding a brilliant 10-under-par 63 the previous day. “I knew it was going to be tough, it always is,” he said. “When you’re leading a golf tournament, it’s just hard to keep that momentum. “I had such a good day yesterday and when you’re not making birdies, you feel like you are letting things slip away.

I just felt like everybody was coming after me and I was kind of coming back to the pack. “Fortunately I had a good finish and we’ve got one more day. I’ve still got to come out and play good tomorrow.”

TOTAL CONTROL Another glorious day of sunshine on the Hawaiian island of

However, he was the victim of a two-shot swing at the tricky parthree eighth after three-putting from long range for bogey. Playing partner Simpson sank a 21-foot birdie putt there to cut the lead to three. They each failed to birdie the par-five ninth but Simpson closed to within two strokes of the lead at 13 under when he knocked in a 10-

12th, 13th and 14th, gave himself a much-needed boost when he birdied the par-five 15th after reaching the green in two and twoputting.

Though Stricker made a hash of his approach at the par-four 16th, where his ball pitched below the hole and spun back down the slope off the front of the green, he

HAWAII: Steve Stricker hits from the 18th tee during the third round of the Tournament of Champions PGA Tour golf tournament in Kapalua, Hawaii on Sunday, Jan 8, 2012. — AP Maui began with Stricker in total control but the 44-year-old failed to make a fast start. He parred the first six holes before making his first birdie of the round at the seventh, where he rolled in a 20-footer to regain his five-stroke cushion over the chasing pack.

footer at the par-four 10th. At the par-four 12th, Simpson’s tee shot trickled into the right rough from where he struck a brilliant approach from 61 yards to six inches.

The tap-in birdie putt put him one off the pace. Stricker, who found fairway bunkers off the tee at the

chipped in for birdie from 22 yards.

That put him at 17 under and three ahead of the chasing pack. Stricker finished in style, knocking in a fourand-a-half-foot putt at the 17th and then ending up just short of the green in two at the par-five last and two-putting.— Reuters

College Roundup

Northern Illinois beat Arkansas State 38-20 MOBILE: Northern Illinois receiver Martel Moore caught eight passes for 224 yards and a touchdown as the Huskies came back from a daunting early deficit to beat Arkansas State in college football’s GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday. The Huskies trailed 13-0 late in the first quarter, but the MidAmerican Conference champions scored 31 unanswered points on the way to their ninth straight victory. It was the third time this season Northern Illinois (11-3) rallied from a double-digit deficit to win. Arkansas State (10-3) had its nine-game winning streak snapped. The Sun Belt champions couldn’t overcome five turnovers - including three interceptions thrown by quarterback Ryan Aplin.

NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish completed 18 of 36 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns in his final college game. He came into the game as the nation’s top rushing quarterback, averaging 106.3 yards per game, but was limited to minus-3 on the ground after being slowed by an ankle injury in the second quarter.

Harnish might not have been able to run, but Moore could. His 224 yards receiving were the third-most in a game in school history. Arkansas State jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, but that was almost disappointing considering the Red Wolves had to settle for two short field goals instead of touchdowns. Brian Davis connected on field goals from 32 and 36 yards before Aplin found the end zone on a 2-yard run.

The missed opportunities kept Northern Illinois close, and after some early trouble on offense, the Huskies made their move. Harnish hit Perez Ashford on a 9-yard touchdown pass two plays after a disputed spot on

fourth down kept the drive alive, pulling the Huskies to within 13-7 just before the end of the first quarter. The Huskies briefly lost Harnish because of his injured left ankle early in the second quarter, but backup Jordan Lynch engineered a 7-play, 78-yard drive that ended on his 3-yard touchdown run to give NIU a 14-13 lead with 4:49 left in the first half.

Harnish returned to lead the Huskies on another touchdown drive just before halftime. Coach Dave Doeren gambled on the final play of the drive, going for the touchdown with 2 seconds remaining instead of a point-blank field goal try. It worked, with Jamal Womble plowing forward for a 1-yard touchdown to give Northern Illinois a 21-13 halftime lead. Arkansas State had been called for a crucial roughing-the -kicker penalty on a four th down that extended the drive. The Red Wolves were coached by David Gunn, who took over in an interim role after Hugh Freeze left for Mississippi. Both Freeze and his permanent replacement as new coach - former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn watched the game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Arkansas State briefly regained momentum early in the third quarter after Chaz Scales intercepted Harnish’s pass, but Northern Illinois got the ball back three plays later when Jhony Faustin intercepted Aplin. On the next play, Harnish threw a 43-yard touchdown to Moore to extend the lead to 28-13. Arkansas State briefly pulled within 31-20 on Aplin’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Stockemer, but Nor thern Illinois responded with an interception that Dechante Durante returned for a touchdown, effectively ending the contest.— AP

AUGUSTA: File photo shows US golfer Tiger Woods (right) and his coach Hank Haney speaking on the putting green at Augusta National Golf Club during the 2009 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. — AFP

Woods’ ex-coach writes Tiger tales CALIFORNIA: “The Big Miss”, a book written by Tiger Woods’ former swing coach Hank Haney, will be released in March and offer a personal account of the six tumultuous years they spent together before the golfer’s life imploded in scandal. The book, described as a “candid and surprisingly insightful account” by publishers Crown Archetype at Random House, Inc, reviews the highly successful partnership between Haney and Woods which led to six major championship victories.

However, the book also addresses Haney’s two biggest challenges while working as swing coach for 14-times major winner Woods arguably the greatest player of all time. “Always haunting Tiger was his fear of ‘the big miss’ - the wildly inaccurate golf shot that can ruin an otherwise solid round,” Crown Archetype said in a synopsis of the book on the Random House, Inc. website. “It was because that type of blunder was sometimes part of Tiger’s game that Hank carefully redesigned his swing mechanics.” The book will be published March 27, a week before the 2012 Masters.

Haney’s biggest task was to try and solve “the riddle of Tiger’s personality”, Crown Archetype said. “Wary of the emotional distractions that might diminish his game and put him further from his goals, Tiger had developed a variety of tactics to keep people from getting too close, and not even Hank - or Tiger’s family and friends, for that matter - was spared ‘the treatment’. “ Toward the end of Tiger and Hank’s time together, the champion’s laser-like focus began to blur and he became less willing to put in punishing hours practicing - a disappointment to Hank, who saw in Tiger’s behavior signs that his pupil had developed a conflicted relationship with the game.”

SIX-YEAR PARTNERSHIP Haney took over as Woods’ swing coach in March 2004 and over the next six years he helped the American win 31 PGA Tour events, including the six major titles. In late 2009, Woods’ life on and off the course was seismically transformed following revelations of his marital infidelities. He parted company with Haney a

month after the 2010 Masters, where he tied for fourth after a self-imposed, five-month exile from the game. During those six years, however, Haney enjoyed a unique front seat as Woods maintained his position as the world’s leading player. Haney was with Woods for 110 days a year, spoke to him for more than 200 days a year and stayed at the player’s Florida home for up to 30 days a year.

He observed Woods in a wide variety of circumstances, including during tournaments, on the practice range, over meals, with the player’s former wife and while relaxing with friends.

Haney, who had succeeded Butch Harmon as Woods’s swing coach, described his liaison with the game’s top player as “a dream come true” after the two parted ways in May 2010.

He added: “I will always appreciate the opportunity that I have had to contribute to his successes. However, I believe at this time that it is in both of our best interests for me to step aside as Tiger’s coach.” Haney has since been replaced as Woods’ swing coach by Canadian Sean Foley.—Reuters

Ferguson: Barca look unbeatable ZURICH: Alex Ferguson, rarely noted for complimenting other teams, heaped lavish praise on Barcelona yesterday, saying he could not see the Catalans failing to defend the Champions League title. “Sometimes in football, you have to hold your hand up and say: ‘They’re better than us’,” Manchester United manager Ferguson told a news conference before the FIFA Balon D’Or player of the year award. “It’s not a crime or weakness, it’s just plain facts. They are just an extraordinary team,” said Ferguson, whose side lost the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals to the Catalans. “I can’t see anyone taking the trophy from them this year. Real Madrid are probably the nearest to them,” added

Ferguson, whose side failed to reach the last 16 this season.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola, wearing a black sweater and faded jeans while Ferguson wore a suit, said Barcelona had almost forgotten that losing was part of the sport. “We have to live with the fact that, by winning so much, we lose the perception this is a game with opponents and it’s quite possible that we can win or lose,” said Guardiola, whose team trail Real Madrid by five points in La Liga. “We are competing against opponents who have a spectacular record,” he added. “If a team is five points ahead it’s because they are better, they have done things better than us. There are no secrets in

football.”

Ferguson, Guardiola and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho are candidates for the coach of the year award while Lionel Messi, Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo are on the shortlist for the player award. Ferguson also poured praise on Argentina forward Messi.

“Great players could play in any generation; Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s, Alfredo Di Stefano could have played now as could Diego Maradona, (Johann) Cruyff and Pele,” he said. “Messi comes into that category.”

Mourinho and Real winger Ronaldo would not be present at the ceremony as their side had a King’s Cup tie against Malaga on Tuesday, FIFA said.— Reuters

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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No 1 LSU right at home in Superdome - any dome NEW ORLEANS: Jordan Jefferson remembers nearly every second of the last time he played in the Superdome.

He was the starting quarterback for Destrehan High School, and like so many kids growing up in Louisiana, was awed to be playing in New Orleans’ football palace. By the end of the night, he’d led his school to its first state championship in 34 years. “I’ve been in the Superdome quite often,” said Jefferson, who will try to wrap up his college career with another title Monday night, when he leads topranked LSU against No 2 Alabama in the BCS title game. “I mean, it’s something that I would call a sanctuary for me.”

There’s a bunch of Tigers who would say that. The landmark structure just an hour’s drive down Interstate 10 from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge is tantamount to a home-field advantage, even though it’s supposed to be a neutral venue. LSU players are hoping that 90 percent of the seats are filled with purple and gold, while the Crimson Tide would be content with a 60-40 split in favor of the SEC champs.

Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain went so far as to say he’s treating it like a road game.

“I mean, I think it’s going to be really loud in there,” McElwain said.

“Obviously we’re a little on their home turf, so yes, it’s an approach like we’re on the road.” The Tigers are 13-4 alltime in the Superdome, winning their last nine games dating to a 30-15 loss

NBA results/standings NBA results and standings on Sunday. Minnesota 93, Washington 72; Minnesota 93, Washington 72; Orlando 104, Sacramento 97; Oklahoma City 108, San Antonio 96; Phoenix 109, Milwaukee 93; Portland 98, Cleveland 78; LA Lakers 90, Memphis 82.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Philadelphia 5 2 .714 NY Knicks 4 4 .500 Boston 4 4 .500 Toronto 3 5 .375 New Jersey 2 7 .222 Central Division Chicago 7 2 .778 Indiana 6 2 .750 Cleveland 4 4 .500 Milwaukee 2 6 .250 Detroit 2 6 .250 Southeast Division Miami 8 1 .889 Orlando 6 3 .667 Atlanta 6 3 .667 Charlotte 2 6 .250 Washington 0 8 0 Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 8 2 .800 Portland 6 2 .750 Denver 6 3 .667 Utah 5 3 .625 Minnesota 3 5 .375 Pacific Division LA Clippers 4 2 .667 LA Lakers 6 4 .600 Phoenix 4 4 .500 Sacramento 3 6 .333 Golden State 2 6 .250 Southwest Division San Antonio 6 3 .667 Dallas 4 5 .444 Memphis 3 5 .375 New Orleans 2 6 .250 Houston 2 6 .250

GB 1.5 1.5 2.5 4 .5 2.5 4.5 4.5 2 2 5.5 7.5

1 1.5 2 4 1 2.5 3 2 2.5 3.5 3.5

to Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1987. Along the way, a team led by current Alabama coach Nick Saban knocked off Oklahoma to win the 2003 national championship, and another led by Les Miles beat Ohio State to win the 2007 title. “I think that our players need to understand that any time you play at a neutral site or any time you play on the road it’s very challenging,” Saban said earlier this week.

It’s not just the Superdome that’s been home sweet dome, though. The Tigers beat then-No 2 Oregon at Cowboys Stadium to open the season, and then ran their record to 9-1 at the Georgia Dome when they romped to a 42-10 win over Georgia in the SEC title game. But the famous, saucer-shaped stadium in New Orleans, just a short walk from the French Quarter and the craziness of Bourbon Street, holds special meaning to so many on the LSU roster.

It depends a little on how you count, but some 74 players list their hometowns from Louisiana. Nine of them are from New Orleans, including Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, tight end Deangelo Peterson, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and offensive lineman PJ Lonergan. “It’s surreal feeling for me. It’s everything I’ve hoped and dreamed of, and it’s finally here,” Beckham said. “The feeling, I can’t even explain it.” The BCS system attempts to level the playing field.

Each team receives 17,000 tickets to the game, with the roughly 38,000

remaining divided among Sugar Bowl season-ticket holders, corporate sponsors and the 125-person Sugar Bowl

year-old arena, where state titles are bestowed each December.

Others remember it as a makeshift

NEW ORLEANS: Grounds crew workers paint the Allstate BCS Championship logo on the field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. —AFP committee. But there’s no way to know refuge during Hurricane Katrina, while how many tickets LSU faithful have their parents and grandparents snapped up on the secondary market - remember it hosting Super Bowls, Final at least, until Monday night comes, Fours and Pope John Paul II, who and an expected crowd of 72,000 fil- addressed some 80,000 children there in 1987. “It means a lot,” said cornerters through the turnstiles.

“They probably feel like it’s a home back Morris Claiborne, LSU’s Thorpe advantage for them,” conceded Award winner from Shreveport. “As a Alabama safety Mark Barron, “because kid, you just dream about these type of it’s their home state.” Several of the things, of going and playing for a bigTigers besides Jefferson played high time school and playing good opposchool games on the floor of the 36- nents. And this point here, where you

Thunder overwhelm Spurs Nash’s Suns burn Bucks OKLAHOMA CITY: Oklahoma City Thunder became the first NBA team to win three games on consecutive nights this season by beating the San Antonio Spurs 108-96 on Sunday. Kevin Durant had 21 points and 10 rebounds. He needed only three more assists to record his first career triple-double but instead sat out the entire fourth quarter with the rest of Oklahoma City’s starters. The Thunder were able to coast to the finish after outscoring the Spurs 37-21 in the third. Reserve James Harden scored 20 for the Thunder. Gary Neal scored 18 to lead the Spurs, who played without point guard Tony Parker from midway through the third quarter. A team spokesman said Parker was fine and could have played.

the bench. He entered with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter and quickly hit a 22-foot jumper to start a 17-2 run that gave Minnesota the lead for good. Nick Young and Trevor Booker scored 14 points apiece to lead the Wizards, who dropped to 0-8 to extend their franchiseworst start to a season. Washington has already lost four games by 18 or more points.

of the Suns starters sat out the fourth. In their fivegame swing through the West, the Bucks had already fallen to Denver, Utah, Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers. For the last four of those games, the Bucks were without center Andrew Bogut, who went back to his native Australia to deal with an unspecified personal matter.

TRAIL BLAZERS 98, CAVALIERS 78 In Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and eight rebounds as Portland overcame a slow start to pulled away from Cleveland. Wesley Matthews added 24 points for the Trail Blazers. Kyrie Irving, the top pick in last June’s NBA draft, had 21 points - 11 in the third quarter - to lead Cleveland, which allowed the Trail Blazers to have 22 fast-break points.

MAGIC 104, KINGS 97 In Sacramento, Orlando beat Sacramento despite playing much of the game without foul-plagued Dwight Howard. The All-Star center spent most of the first three quarters in foul trouble. He didn’t get his first rebound until 4 minutes into the fourth and was scoreless before converting a three-point play with 6:35 remaining, putting the Magic ahead 87-85. Jason Richardson scored a season-high 22 points and Glen Davis added a season-best 20 for Orlando. Tyreke Evans had a season-high 28 points and eight assists for the Kings.

LAKERS 90, GRIZZLIES 82 In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 26 points as Los Angeles struggled past Memphis to notch its sixth consecutive home win. Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who committed a seasonworst 27 turnovers and never pulled away from the injury-depleted Grizzlies. Rudy Gay scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures for Memphis, which wrapped up a three-game road trip with an unimpressive fourth quarter.

TIMBERWOLVES 93, WIZARDS 72 In Washington, Kevin Love had 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead Minnesota past winless Washington.

Ricky Rubio had 13 points and a career-high 14 assists, controlling the game during much of his 30 minutes off

LOS ANGELES: Memphis Grizzlies guard OJ Mayo (32) goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) defends during the first half of their NBA basketball game on Sunday, Jan 8, 2012 in Los Angeles. — AP Skiles confirmed that Bogut would be available to SUNS 109, BUCKS 93 In Phoenix, Steve Nash delivered 17 assists Sunday play on Tuesday when the Bucks host San Antonio. The as the Phoenix Suns beat short-handed Milwaukee Bucks were also without Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, 109-93, sending the Bucks home without a victory in Beno Udrih and Mike Dunleavy jnr because of injuries. their five-game NBA western road trip. “We were just “We’re going through a lot right now with guys being really soft on him,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said of hurt,” Bucks guard Stephen Jackson said.

“We’ve just got to figure it out.” Phoenix, who have Nash, the Suns’ veteran playmaker. “You let Steve dribhad their own struggles early in the lockout-shortened ble around like that, and he’s got such great vision.

“When we did kind of bottle him up a little bit, we season, improved to 4-4. They next face the Lakers in were just so slow to recover back to the shooters. Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Lakers overcame 27 turnovers to beat the “Obviously, it’s the worst defense we’ve played so far Memphis Grizzlies 90-82 on Sunday. Kobe Bryant led this year and it hurt us.”

Nash assisted on Phoenix’s first eight baskets and the Lakers with 26 points, with Matt Barnes and notched 10 assists just in the first quarter. With Phoenix Andrew Bynum adding 15 points apiece as Los Angeles leading 91-66 through three quarters, he and the rest improved to 6-4. — Agencies

Olympic countdown enters last 200 days LONDON: The London Olympics countdown entered its final 200 days yesterday with government and organizers talking up the legacy Britain can look forward to long after the last medal has been won and the show is over. On the day three more Games venues had their future ownership announced, Prime Minister David Cameron held his first cabinet meeting of the New Year at the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, instead of at Downing Street. “Today, as we mark 200 days to go, and six out of the eight Olympic venues having already secured their future, we are well on track to delivering a lasting legacy for the whole of Britain,” Cameron said.

The government will hold a series of business summits during the Games which it hopes will generate an additional 1 billion pounds ($1.54 billion) of revenue for British companies. “We are working hard to make sure the whole country can seize this once in a generation opportunity,” Cameron said.

Sporting legacy and the economic regeneration of a run-down area of east London, without the facilities becoming

play for a national championship, some people never get this moment in a lifetime.”

LSU offensive lineman T-Bob Hebert has special memories of the Superdome, even though he’s from Georgia. He’s the affable son of Bobby Hebert, who had some of his best years as an NFL quarterback leading the Saints during the late 1980s and early ‘90s. “When I was younger, I used to pop in those old game tapes, the old broadcasts.

Sometimes I’d turn down the volume and commentate on it, and sometimes I’d have a pen and paper and keep track of the stats,” Hebert said. “I feel like I got a good sense of how it is.”

The home-field advantage for LSU isn’t just in the stadium for LSU, but also in the fact its players can experience all that New Orleans has to offer - the clubs and restaurants, the hot spots and cool places - any time they want.

Trips to the Big Easy are a novelty for the boys from ‘Bama, who have been forced to keep their focus on the game Monday night while a neverending party swirls around them.

“We’ve played in some tough circumstances,” Saban said, “and I don’t think that that’s something that you have to look to as a challenge.

We know we’re going to have to overcome adversity in this game, and the circumstance that we play in here is just one of the adversities that we’ll have to have the mental toughness to deal with.” — AP

a drain on public finances after the Games, were central to London’s successful bid in 2005 but critics have questioned how much money the government can recoup.

Construction giant Balfour Beatty PLC will take over the running of the Olympic Park, which includes the 115 meter high AccelorMittal Orbit feature, in a 10-year 50 million pound deal. The wave-shaped Aquatics Centre and multi-use Handball Arena, where the cabinet met, will be operated by locally based Greenwich Leisure Limited. The new contracts will create at least 254 jobs on the Park, which will host many of the showcase events including athletics, track cycling and swimming when the games open on July 27. The government expects the Orbit, a landmark helter-skelter of a structure designed by artist Anish Kapoor and taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty, to attract up to a million visitors a year. They hope the Aquatics Centre could caters for 800,000 users a year as a local community facility accessible to all as well as remaining a venue for world class events. — Reuters

LONDON: A general view of the meeting of the British Cabinet in the Handball arena at the Olympic Park yesterday. Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron held a special Cabinet meeting yesterday at Olympic Park amid tight security, marking 200 days until the Summer Games and promising that the event will offer a lasting legacy for the nation. — AP

Young Napoli still have to ‘improve’ ROME: Nine goals in their last two games has done little to convince Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri that his team is capable of doing much better than their current sixth place in Serie A. Napoli earned an impressive 3-1 win at Palermo on Sunday, in the derby of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, having ended 2011 with a 6-1 demolition of Genoa. But an inconsistent start to the season has left them 10 points behind leaders AC Milan and Juventus.

Despite some eye-catching performances and results this season-they have beaten Manchester City, Milan and Inter Milan-Mazzarri still thinks his side is far from the finished article. And he wasn’t even entirely satisfied with Sunday’s performance.

“You must always give 100 percent, until we went 20 up the game was always in the balance,” he said.

“Palermo had a couple of very dangerous chances while several times in defense we were careless and that shouldn’t happen. “After the third goal Palermo’s heads dropped but we need to improve, we’re a young team and there’s still a lot to learn.”

Despite the comfortable scoreline in SicilyPalermo’s consolation came a minute from timethere was no debut for new Chile signing Eduardo Vargas. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

S P ORT S

Manchester City back in hunt for Cup glory

MONCHENGLADBACH: File photo shows Moenchengladbach’s midfielder Marco Reus. Reus will join Dortmund for 17.5 million euros this summer, his current club Moenchengladbach announced yesterday.— AFP

Bayern and Dortmund in war of words over Reus BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich and champions Borussia Dortmund were locked in a war of words yesterday days after the latter snapped up forward Marco Reus, long a target for the Bavarians. The 22-year-old Borussia Moenchengladbach and Germany forward, who has scored 10 goals this season, agreed last week to join Dortmund at the end of the season in a five-year deal that is the biggest so far in the winter transfer period.

“Dortmund have been successful in keeping up with their own understated position,” Bayern sports director Christian Nerlinger told Bild newspaper. “This is now finished with this transfer. It is a whole new step.” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said Bayern had had a string of rivals over the years but remained top of the heap as challenges from clubs such as Werder Bremen, Gladbach and Dortmund faded after a few seasons.

“Let’s wait and see how long they can keep moving on this level,” Heynckes told reporters.

Dortmund, surprisingly dominant champions last season and in second place three points behind Bayern in the current campaign, have repeatedly played down their chances of defending the title, saying they would be happy with a finish that would secure them European football next season. “Have no fear. When we decide to change our strategy we will make sure to let Mr Nerlinger know,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told reporters in response. The 1997 Champions League winners have come back from the brink of financial ruin a few years ago to become Bayern’s biggest title rivals in recent seasons. Reus’s reported 17-million-euro transfer only underlines their ambition for a more permanent place at the top of the Bundesliga.—Reuters

LONDON: In this file photo, Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes (right) and Queens Park Rangers (QPR) manager Neil Warnock address a press conference at Loftus Road in London. Neil Warnock has been sacked as manager of Premier League strugglers Queens Park Rangers, the club confirmed.—AFP

Fernandes hits back after firing Warnock LONDON: Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes has defended himself on Twitter after fans attacked the Malaysian businessman for sacking manager Neil Warnock. Fernandes dismissed Warnock on Sunday, with the west London side just a point above the Premier League relegation zone and without a win in their last eight league matches. However, many supporters felt veteran English manager Warnock should have had more time to turn the club around especially as last season he led them back to the top flight after a 15-year absence.

Responding to one angr y post, Fernandes said: “Easy to call me an idiot.

But its (it’s) harder to make decisions. (It) may be the wrong one and ill (I’ll) be the idiot and ill (I’ll) go but at least ill (I’ll) stand up and be counted.” And in another Twitter message, Fernandes, also the owner of Formula One’s Team Lotus, said: “Not expecting all to be pleased but as a leader I have to make decisions.

“Indecision will kill everything. Time will tell if its (it’s) the right decision,” said Fernandes, who made his name by buying and then reviving the fortunes of airline Air Asia.

Not all the Twitter traffic directed Fernandes’s way since Warnock’s sacking has been critical and, responding to a message of support, he said: “Thank you.

I apologize to the fans I have upset by this decision and I thank all of those who are keeping the faith.” Meanwhile QPR chief executive Philip Beard said Monday they wanted a new manager in place before this weekend’s match away to Newcastle. Beard, however, refused to confirm the identity of any of the candi-

dates even though former Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham boss Mark Hughes has emerged as a favorite with several leading British bookmakers.

“I can’t confirm anything, what I can tell every QPR fan is that we’re working extremely hard to bring in the right person to build some stability at the club and then build for the future,” Beard told BBC Radio Five. “We’ve talked to a lot of people in the game. We’ve got to get the decision absolutely right. “We’ve been working very, very hard in the last 48 hours to make sure that we can put in place a structure that we feel can deliver success to Queens Park Rangers, hopefully for this season but certainly beyond.” Beard added: “I’m hoping that in advance of our important game against Newcastle next Sunday we will have somebody in place, to be up at Newcastle.”

And he defended the timing of Warnock’s departure by saying: “It’s not easy at any stage to make a decision like this but we believe it’s the right decision for the club and for the fans. “Results have not been good over the last few months and we’re now in the January transfer window, we want to do some business in that window if we can and we think if we bring somebody in now it’s the right time. “We’re sitting above the relegation zone, but that’s not where we really want to be or hoped to be at this stage of the season and we think that making the change now gives us the best chance of staying in the Premier League this season and then really kicking on and building the club in the future.”— AFP

LONDON: Manchester City ’s dreams of winning an FA Cup and League double ended on Sunday but Roberto Mancini’s men get the chance to bounce back immediately when they face Liverpool in the semi-final of the League Cup tomorrow. Whoever comes through that two-legged tie will meet the winners of the allChampionship (second division) semi-final being contested by Cardiff City and Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley on Feb 26.

City ended a 35-year wait for a trophy when they won the FA Cup last season and, although they fell at the first hurdle when Manchester United beat them 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium, they still remain in the hunt for three trophies. As well as the League Cup, they remain favorites to win the Premier League title race which they have led since mid-October.

Although they are out of the Champions League, the Europa League offers them the realistic chance of a first continental honor since they won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1970.

City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at home in the Premier League last Tuesday and will be seeking a similar scoreline to put them in a commanding position for the second leg at Anfield on Jan 25. Mancini is expected to name a strong side but will not know until Tuesday whether influential sk ipper Vincent Kompany can play following his dismissal against United which City have appealed against to the English FA. If they lose the appeal, which is likely, Kompany faces a four-match ban. Despite losing to United, Mancini was upbeat following City’s strong sec-

ond half fightback, when, with 10 men, they reduced the halftime deficit of 3-0 to 3-2 by fulltime.

Mancini said that although he was disappointed to lose and relinquish the grip on the FA Cup he was delighted they played so well.

“The players showed character and have taken a step forward. I think more than ever that we can go on and win the league,” he said. “If we show the same attitude and strength in other games that we showed against United with only 10 men then, yes, we can win the league. I said we had to improve and I think we are doing so.”

Liverpool, who have won the League Cup a record seven times, will also be taking Wednesday’s match seriously with Kenny Dalglish expected to take a strong side to Manchester as they seek their first honor since lifting the FA Cup in 2006.

Dalglish became Liverpool’s manager exactly a year ago and Ian Rush, the club’s record all-time scorer, said on Monday he thought the team had improved beyond recognition under the Scot’s influence in the last 12 months. “If you look at Liverpool Football Club when Kenny took over compared to where it is now, there’s a massive difference,” he told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv) yesterday. “With Kenny it’s all about the club. You win nothing as individuals, it’s all about the team. The squad is so much stronger than it was a year ago. The expectations are very high and that can take some getting used to...over the past year there’s been real progress. We have become a force again.”

Crystal Palace, who caused one

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini of the upsets of the season when they won 2-1 at Manchester United in the quarter-finals, host Cardiff in the first leg of their semifinal at Selhurst Park on Tuesday with their young side growing in confidence under impressive young coach Dougie Freedman.

Cardiff, who were beaten finalists in the FA Cup final in 2008 and have challenged for promotion to

the Premier League for the last three seasons, star t as slight favorites. But the tie, like the CityLiverpool clash, is finely balanced and could go either way after the second leg in Cardiff on Jan 24.

Like City, both Cardiff and Palace were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend and so have an immediate chance of redemption.—Reuters

City appeal Kompany’s red card MANCHESTER: Manchester City lodged an appeal with the Football Association yesterday as they sought to overturn the red card handed out to Vincent Kompany in their FA Cup defeat

by Manchester United. In a brief statement, Premier League leaders City said the appeal would be heard before Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Eastlands. If an appeal is rejected, City will be without star defender Kompany for both legs of the semifinal and league games against Wigan and Tottenham.

Kompany was, controversially, shown a straight red card by referee Chris Foy in the 12th minute of Cup holders’ City’s 3-2 third round loss at home to United on Sunday for a two-footed tackle on Nani even though he won the ball cleanly. City, already 1-0 down to an early Wayne Rooney goal, were 3-0 behind at the break after further goals from Danny Welbeck and Rooney.

However, despite being down to 10 men, City hit back in the second half through Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero. But it was not enough to prevent a defeat in the third roundthe stage at which top-flight clubs enter the FA Cup - and with it the defence of the trophy City won after beating Stoke in last season’s final.

City manager Roberto Mancini subsequently

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

Italian Cup Lazio v Hellas Verona

23:00

Aljazeera Sport +1 Aljazeera Sport 1 HD

Kuwait Emir Cup Alarabi v Kazma

16:20

Kuwait Sport Al Salmiyah v Al Salibikhaet 16:20 Kuwait 3 Sport Plus Al Kuwait v Al Qadsia

19:40

Kuwait Sport Al Jahra v Al Shabab

19:40

Kuwait 3 Sport

MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany (left) is shown a red card by referee Chris Foy during their FA Cup third round soccer match against Manchester United on Sunday, Jan 8, 2012.—AP

claimed United’s Wayne Rooney influenced Foy into showing Kompany a red card-something the England striker rejected emphatically yesterday. “Funny how people think i got kompany sent off. Im not ref. i didn’t give red card, said Rooney. “But it was a clear red card. 2 footed tackle.” Mancini compared the actions of Rooney, seen speaking to Foy after Kompany’s tackle and before the sending-off, to his own in waving an imaginary red card during City’s win over Liverpool last week.

“It was not a red card,” Mancini said. “Rooney told him his decision. “When I did this against

Liverpool, people told me not to do it. “I said I was sorry and made a mistake,” the Italian added. If City captain Kompany’s ban is upheld, and with Kolo Toure on African Nations Cup duty, that would leave Joleon Lescott and Stefan Savic as the club’s first-choice central defensive duo. However, Mancini was confident City would get Kompany’s ban overturned, in which case the defender would be available for Wednesday’s visit of Liverpool. “We will appeal. I am sure we will win,” he said. City lead reigning champions United by three points at the top of the Premier League table.—AFP

Malaga looking to prevent Real, Barcelona Cup clash MADRID: More than 100 million euros ($127 million) of Qatari cash and the arrival of a host of top players have given Malaga fans new belief and the team are hoping they can deliver in today’s King’s Cup last-16 second leg at home to holders Real Madrid. Led by former Real coach Manuel Pellegrini, the Andalusian club are looking to overturn a 3-2 deficit from last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu and prevent a quarter-final meeting between Real and 2011 runners-up Barcelona. Barca, who lost 1-0 to their great rivals in last year’s final thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic extra-time winner, take a healthy 4-0 advantage to Osasuna for their second leg on Thursday. Malaga supporters, whose club were bought by a member of the Qatar royal family at the end of the 2009-10 season, have been out in force this week queueing for tickets for the match. Defender Jesus Gamez said the two-goal lead the team opened up in the first half of the first leg had given the players confidence they can cause an upset. “The Cup is tough but you’ve got to believe,” Gamez said after Saturday’s 0-0 La Liga draw at home to

Real’s city neighbors Atletico. “We saw the fans queuing and we know that the supporters are going to be behind us,” he added. “If we managed that 0-2 lead at the Bernabeu, we can do it today.” Valencia, who are third behind leaders Real and second-placed Barca in La Liga, are on the same side of the draw as the big two and carved out a 1-0 advantage over Sevilla in their first leg at the Mestalla last Thursday. The side still alive after tomorrow’s second leg will play Levante or second-division Alcorcon in the quarter-finals, with Alcorcon, who eliminated Real Zaragoza in the last round, leading 2-1 ahead of their game tomorrow. On the other side of the draw, second-division Cordoba have a 2-1 advantage over top-flight side Espanyol for tomorrow’s game in Barcelona and third-tier Mirandes have a 2-0 lead when they play at Racing Santander today. Another Segunda B side, Albacete, held Athletic Bilbao to a 0-0 draw last week and travel to play the Basque side on Thursday. Real Sociedad, Cup winners in 1987, beat 2003 champions Real Mallorca 2-0 at home last week with the second leg in Mallorca today.—Reuters

Spain Copa del Rey Real Mallorca v Real Sociedad 22:00 Aljazeera Sport +4 Real Racing v Mirandes

23:00

Aljazeera Sport +6

Tomorrow Malaga v Real Madrid Aljazeera Sport +2 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD

0:00

Panathinaikos closing in on leaders Olympiakos ATHENS: A Sebastian Leto goal allowed Panathinaikos to beat Kerkyra 1-0 and move within four points of leaders Olympiakos Pireaus in the Greek Super League on Sunday. Olympiakos allowed Panathinaikos to close the gap after they were held to a goalless draw at struggling Doxa Dramas. Leto returned to the starting line-up after injury and netted the only goal of the game

after 24 minutes to take his tally to the season to 15 goals. “I am happy with the result but not with the performance, and the only way we can change that is through hard work on the training pitch,” said Panathinaikos coach Jesualdo Ferreira.

Ferreira’s men have collected 33 points from 14 games and are closing in on Olympiakos as they have two games in hand. — Reuters

Schiavone outcasts out-of-sorts Stosur

16

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Nash’s Suns burn Bucks as Thunder overwhelm Spurs

18

Barcelona look unbeatable, says Ferguson

Page 17

ZURICH: (Left to right) Barcelona’s Brazilian Dani Alves, Barcelona’s Spanish Gerard Pique, Manchester United’s Serbia Nemanja Vidic, Barcelona’s Spanish Andres Iniesta, Barcelona’s Spanish Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona’s Argentinean Lionel Messi, Manchester United’s English Wayne Rooney pose near football legends French Zinedine Zidane (2nd right) and Brazilian Pele (right) after receiving the FIFA/FIFPro World XI award yesterday at the Kongresshaus in Zurich during the FIFA Ballon d’Or event.

(Inset) Lionel Messi (right) poses near Japan’s Homare Sawa with their FIFA awards. —AFP

Messi takes his seat in pantheon of greats Japan’s Sawa ends Marta’s 5-year reign ZURICH: Already judged one of football’s alltime greats at just 24, Lionel Messi unsurprisingly extended his reign as the world’s best player for a third year yesterday. The Barcelona and Argentina forward received the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for 2011, beating his club teammate Xavi Hernandez and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid to the game’s most prestigious individual honor.

“It’s a huge pleasure for me,” Messi said, after accepting the trophy from another three-time winner, former Brazil forward Ronaldo. “It’s the third time I get this award, and it’s a huge honor.” Messi’s prolific scoring and unselfish creative play inspired Barcelona to win five trophies last year including the Champions League, Spanish League and Club World Cup. Messi is the first man to win three straight FIFA world player awards in the honor’s 21-year history. Zinedine

Zidane of France also won three FIFA player awards.

Messi received 47.88 percent of the points in votes cast by national team coaches and captains plus invited journalists. They chose from an original shortlist of 23 players. Cristiano Ronaldo finished second with 21.6 percent and Xavi got 9.23 percent to finish third for the third straight year. “This one is very special because I want to share this with my friend and teammate Xavi. He deserves it,” Messi said. On a night of Barcelona dominance, the Catalan club inflicted another defeat on its great rival Madrid in the men’s coaching award. Barca’s Pep Guardiola was chosen ahead of Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson of Manchester United.

Mourinho and Ronaldo did not attend, as Madrid plays a Spanish Cup match today in Malaga.

In the women’s award, Homare Sawa of Japan ended Brazil forward Marta’s five-year rule as the world’s best player. Abby Wambach of the United States was also shortlisted. Sawa led Japan to win the 2011 Women’s World Cup and adds the FIFA prize to her tournament best player and top scorer trophies. A major international tournament victory is all that now eludes Messi. Guardiola and Ferguson agreed at an earlier news conference that Messi should be classed alongside legends such as Pele, Diego Maradona and Alfredo di Stefano. “Now he can sit beside them. It’s a huge award, no?”

Guardiola said.

FIFA’s world player honor merged last year with the Ballon d’Or trophy awarded by France Football magazine since 1956. Messi joins Michel Platini winning the Ballon d’Or for three consecutive years, though the France great won

from 1983-85 when only European players were eligible. Netherlands forwards Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten also received three Ballons d’Or in their careers. Before starting his victory streak, Messi was runner-up twice behind Brazil’s Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, respectively.

Messi was outscored by Ronaldo in the Spanish League last season - 40 to 31 - but elevated his game to a higher level in the biggest matches. He scored twice, including a sublime individual effort, against Madrid in a bad-tempered Champions League semifinal, first-leg match, and struck with a perfectly placed shot to help Barcelona beat Man United 3-1 in the final. Xavi described his gifted teammate as “one of the best footballers in the history of the sport.” “He’s still young. I think he’s probably going to break all the record that exist in the sport,” Xavi said.— AP

Broncos OT stunner sinks Steelers DENVER: Denver quarterback Tim Tebow connected on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime to give the Broncos a stunning 29-23 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC wild-card game on Sunday. Demaryius Thomas hauled in the pass at the Denver 38, stiff-armed one defender and then outraced another to the end zone.

The whole play took just 11 seconds of overtime, making it the quickest ending to an extra period in NFL history.

Tebow, who looked as startled as everyone else, headed for his own end zone and knelt on one knee to give thanks to God - a gesture known far and wide these days as Tebowing.

Then he pounded a fist in triumph and took a victory lap. Tebow’s 316 yards passing for the game was the key to moving the Broncos (9-8) into the second round of the playoffs next Saturday, when they will travel to play the topseeded New England Patriots.

The Steelers (12-5) lost despite Ben Roethlisberger rallying injury-depleted Pittsburgh from a two-touchdown halftime deficit with 10 points in the final 10 minutes.

Pittsburgh’s rally was lost in the frenzy at Sports Authority Field as Thomas raced down the sideline for the winning score. The delirium extended to the box of Broncos executive vice president John Elway, who was the quarterback architect of so many of the great moments at the old Mile High Stadium back in the 1990s, and was literally jumping for joy Sunday.

Tebow completed only 10 of 21 passes but Thomas hauled in four of them for 204 yards after his prime receiver Eric Decker was lost to a left knee injury on the first play of the second quarter. The Broncos snapped a three-game losing streak that had many wondering if they were even worthy of their first playoff in six sea-

sons, and it kept the Steelers from their 34th playoff win, which would have broken a tie with the Cowboys for the most ever. Tebow led Denver to 20 second-quarter points but a 20-6 halftime lead didn’t last long. Steelers receiver Mike Wallace had a 1-yard TD run, Shaun

Eli Manning punctuated his best pro season Sunday by throwing for three touchdowns in New York’s rout of misfiring Atlanta in the NFC wild-card game. Manning hooked up on a 72-yard catch and run by Hakeem Nicks in the third quarter that put away the inept

DENVER: Denver Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers (91) hits Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after a throw in the first quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game on Sunday, Jan 8, 2012. — AP Suisham kicked a short field goal and Jerricho Cotchery grabbed a 31-yard TD pass with 3:48 left in regulation to tie it and send the game to overtime.

GIANTS 24, FALCONS 2 In East Rutherford, New Jersey, quarterback

Falcons (10-7). Manning also connected on a 4-yard TD with Nicks in the second perio d, a n d a 2 7 - y a rd T D t h row to M a r i o Manningham in the fourth quarter that finished it off. He also scrambled for a 14yard gain and sparked the team to their

first playoff victory since the Super Bowl victory over undefeated New England four years ago. Next up is just as big a challenge for the Giants (10-7): on the road at t h e d e fe n d i n g c h a m p i o n G re e n B ay Packers next Sunday. New York lost 38-35 to Green Bay in December.

The tempo in Sunday’s game, the first playoff game at MetLife Stadium, was set

by N e w Yo r k ’s d e fe n s e, w h i c h n e ve r allowed Atlanta to get going, and by the league’s lowest-ranked rushing game, which ran for a season-high 172 yards: 92

by B r a n d o n J a co b s a n d 6 3 by A h m a d B r a d s h aw. Fo r a l l o f J a co b s’ a n d Bradshaw ’s success, it was M anning’s escape and 14-yard dash on third down in the second period that got the Giants rolling. Jacobs soon broke a 34-yard run, and Manning hit Nicks to put the Giants up 7-2. They never had to look back as the Falcons bumbled their way to their third straight playoff loss under coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan. New York was aided greatly by Atlanta’s penchant for gambling on fourth downs - and failing. Twice the Giants st ymied the Falcons on fourth-and-1 as Ryan’s sneaks went nowhere. The defense also stopped M i c h a e l Tu r n e r, s u p p o s e d l y t h e m o s t effective runner on the field, on a thirdand-inches late in the third period. While they negated New York’s recently revitalized pass rush for much of the day, the Falcons couldn’t gain any traction on the ground, being held to 64 yards rushing.

Their only points came from a safet y, when Manning was forced back in the endzone and threw the ball away to avoid a sack.—AP

Real-Barca gap widens BARCELONA: Barcelona slipped five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid when Alvaro Vazquez netted a shock late equalizer to snatch a 1-1 draw for Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday. The champions were looking to improve their patchy away form at their local rivals and stay hard on the heels of Real, who thrashed Granada 5-1 on Saturday.

A gritty Espanyol had prepared a different script and the result leaves Barca on 38 points from 17 matches, with Real on 43. Valencia are third on 34 after they came from two goals down to draw with struggling Villarreal earlier on Sunday. “The league is not over and I don’t think we let a significant part of it slip away tonight,” Barca coach Pep Guardiola, whose side are chasing a fourth straight La Liga title, told a news conference. “We have a very strong rival ahead of us but there are still a lot of very tough stadiums to visit,” he added. “All we can do is look at ourselves. Continue doing the things we are doing well and improve those we are not.” Guardiola deployed the team that won 3-1 at Real last month and they looked to be cruising to victory when Cesc Fabregas nodded them in front in the 16th minute at a chilly Cornella-El Prat stadium to take his league tally for the season to nine. Espanyol battled hard and did well to restrict the Spanish and European champions to one goal before substitute Vazquez struck with a header four minutes from time. The equalizer stunned Barca into life and centre back Gerard Pique smashed a shot against the crossbar late on before Pedro had a shot cleared off the line, but they were unable to find a winner.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, widely expected to win a third straight World Player of the Year crown on Monday, had an anonymous match by his standards, although he struck a shot against the post in the second half. It was Barca’s fourth draw in eight away matches this term and they also crashed to a 1-0 reverse at Getafe at the end of the November. By contrast, they have taken 25 points from a possible 27 at their Nou Camp stadium, scoring 39 goals without reply.

Aritz Aduriz came off the bench to snatch a late equalizer for Valencia as they recovered to draw 2-2 at regional rivals Villarreal earlier on Sunday. Goals from Marco Ruben and Gonzalo put Villarreal two up by the 18th minute at the Madrigal before Sofiane Feghouli pulled one back just before the break. Aduriz made the most of a defensive error three minutes from time to secure a draw that leaves Valencia four points ahead of neighbors Levante, who drew 0-0 at home to Real Mallorca on Saturday. Villarreal stay in relegation trouble on 16 points after an erratic and injuryplagued campaign. Sevilla’s bid for a European qualification berth was dealt a blow when they lost 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano and slipped a point behind sixth-placed Malaga. It was a disappointing debut for Jose Antonio Reyes after the former Arsenal winger sealed a move back to Sevilla, the Andalusian club where he began his professional career, from Atletico Madrid last week. Athletic Bilbao were held 0-0 at Getafe in the fourth goalless draw of the weekend and improving Real Betis beat Sporting Gijon 2-0 to climb above Atletico into 10th.—Reuters

Saudi: ‘Internal’ matter if Japan buys Iran oil Page 22

KSE remains bearish Page 24 TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

German surplus widens

BMW aims for top spot in 2012 as luxury sales soar Page 25

Page 23

PARIS: A Rolls-Royce car is displayed at the Paris Auto Show. German-owned British luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce announced yesterday that sales rocketed to an all-time high last year, smashing its 33-year-old record, driven by demand from China and the United States. — AFP (See Page 25)

UAE delays oil pipeline to bypass Hormuz Decision could add to supply worries: Analysts ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has delayed the launch of a crucial oil pipeline to bypass the Straits of Hormuz to mid-2012, which analysts said would add to supply worries at a time when Iran threatens to block the strait for all the Gulf’s oil.

Oil prices have remained elevated in recent weeks as Iran has threatened to block the strait should the West impose tougher sanctions on its oil

industry as part of a standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program. The narrow strip of water that separates Oman and Iran is the world’s most important oil shipping lane, which connects the biggest Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates with world markets.

Flows through the strait are estimated at around 15-17 million barrels per day (bpd), or just under a fifth of

global supplies, and a new pipeline would bypass it to carry most of the UAE’s oil, 1.5 million bpd, to global markets.

“The pipeline is almost complete.

Hopefully it will be operational within six months, by May, June,” the UAE’s oil minister, Mohammed bin Dhaen AlHamli, told reporters on the sidelines of an energy conference in Abu Dhabi.

The previous deadline for the Abu

Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) project was set in April.

“There is delay; it is a lot of work. It is not only construction of the project. but it also has to be filled,” Hamli said, adding that its capacity could go up to 1.8 million bpd.

The first tests have been done on the pipeline, industry sources said, adding that the first cargo from Fujairah was scheduled for May. “Iran’s

port of Fujairah, one of the top three bunkering hubs and a major oil storage terminal outside the Straits and on the Gulf of Oman. Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) is undertaking the project, and China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor (EPC).— Reuters

Political woes drag Kuwait to 7-year low

Hyundai Elantra wins car of year DETROIT: The Hyundai Elantra edged out the Ford Focus and Volkwagen Passat yesterday to win the 2012 North American Car of the Year award.

The prestigious industry award was announced at the start of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which hosts media previews this week and opens to the public on Saturday.

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque won the North American Truck of the Year, beating the BMW X3 and Honda CR-V. Jaguar Land Rover North America President Andy Goss said it’s a tremendous honor and humbling for the company, which has had finalists but never a winner in the 19th annual independent awards program.

“We’re going to market the hell out of this,” said a smiling Goss on a stage above the four-cylinder sport-utility vehicle. The US is the world’s largest Range Rover market.

Fifty automotive journalists voted on the winning vehicles from a group of finalists, and the vehicles must be all new or substantially changed to be eligible. Organizers accept no advertising, though automakers capitalize on the marketing value of the honors.

John Krafcik, Hyundai’s North American CEO, said the award won’t help the compact’s sales much because the company already is selling as many Elantras as it can make at its factory in Montgomery, Ala. But the award should help solidify the brand’s image in the eyes of the American public, especially in the highly competitive compact car segment.

“It should be helpful for our brand going forward,” he said. The company is looking at ways to boost production at the Montgomery plant, but Krafcik said Hyundai plans to focus on maintaining quality at the factory before deciding on any increases. Hyundai sold more than 186,000 Elantras last year, nearly a 41 percent increase over 2010 figures.— AP

announcement that it will carry out another round of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz in February kept crude prices near two-month highs last week,” said David Wech from JBC Energy consultancy, adding that news about the UAE’s pipeline delay was “adding to supply concerns”.

The pipeline would link state oil firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s Habshan oilfields to the

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

DETROIT: H W Park(left-center), Hyundai managing director and chief executive and Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik(right-center) are seen as the Hyundai Elantra was awarded the 2012 North American Car of the Year Award at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.—AFP (See Page 25)

Merkel, Sarkozy stress growth BERLIN: The leaders of France and Germany said boosting economic growth across Europe is a priority in their efforts to stem the debt crisis that is showing signs of spreading across the 17 countries that use the euro. Following a meeting in Berlin yesterday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also urged Greece and its private creditors to quickly agree the restructuring of the country’s national debt if it is to receive its next batch of bailout cash. In October, the euro-zone agreed a second handout for Greece that involves the country’s private creditors accepting a 50 ercent reduction in the value of their holdings of Greek debt.

She added that both she and Sarkozy want Greece to receive the money. “We want for Greece to remain in the euro-zone,” Merkel said. The two leaders also said they would consider speeding up payments into the 17-nation euro-zone’s permanent rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism, in an effort to bolster confidence, and for a quick conclu-

sion to negotiations on a new treaty enshrining fiscal rules. Germany has insisted on austerity measures in the so-called euro-zone’s fight to lower budget deficits and regain investor confidence. Europe is working to hammer out a new treaty enshrining tougher fiscal rules, which leaders agreed at a summit in early December. Merkel added that resolving the crisis will be “step-by-step ... there’s no singledimension solution.” They also told reporters that Europe should compare countries’ labor market practices and learn from the best, and for European funds to be used in a way that could create jobs.

The French and German leaders are working to draw up new budget and fiscal guidelines by March to help contain a debt crisis that threatens to engulf the euro-zone. Greece, whose sovereign debt problems sparked the current crisis, is struggling to impose austerity measures to ensure that it secures a second, euro130 billion ($165 billion) bailout to ensure that it does not default on its debt and remain in euro-zone.— AFP

DUBAI: Kuwait’s benchmark fell to a seven-year low yesterday as bank stocks slumped, with traders pessimistic on the local economy amid political turmoil in the world’s sixthlargest oil exporter.

National Bank of Kuwait dropped 1.8 percent and Islamic lender Kuwait Finance House slid 1.1 percent. The benchmark fell 0.6 percent to its lowest close since August 2004. It is down 3 percent since Kuwait’s emir dissolved parliament on Dec. 6 following sustained protests against the prime minister.

“It looks like all investors were selling today - there are still political issues in Kuwait and the government doesn’t seem to be doing anything about helping the economy, so investors are cautious,” said a Kuwait trader who asked not to be identified.

He forecast the index would extend declines from yesterday’s close of 5,694 points, with its next support at 5,380.

“I am not optimistic - there are no stocks good enough to buy, because even if you think their fair value is higher than today’s price, you know they have further to fall,” he added.

Saudi Arabia’s index eased from Sunday’s five-month high as investors paused ahead of corporate earnings, with firms due to report within 15 working days of the start of 2012. “For blue-chip banks, I expect a modest increase in profit compared to the third quarter, while I doubt petrochemicals will see any increase from the record results of Q3 because of the decline in commodity prices,” said Hesham Tuffaha, Bakheet Investment Group’s head of asset management.

Other factors were also at play, he said. “If oil holds above $100, I think

the market will see a gradual increase, but if we have more tensions with Iran, it will have a major effect on the Gulf as a whole,” Tuffaha added.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday said it would not bow to the pressure of sanctions imposed to get the Islamic Republic to change its nuclear course.

Brent crude futures slipped yesterday, reversing earlier gains to trade below $113 a barrel.

Egypt’s benchmark index rose 0.6 percent in its first session after the Coptic Orthodox Christmas holiday.

“There is no volume, nor appetite among investors,” said Tarek Abaza of Naeem Brokerage. “Local institutions are inactive and Arabs are non-existent.” Commercial International Bank and Orascom Construction (OCI) rose 4.7 and 2.6 percent respectively, while property developer Talaat Mostafa Group lost 3.1 percent.

“A lot of investors are selling but there are no buyers. If transactions are completed we might see the market losing,” Abaza said. National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) fell 3.7 percent and telecoms operator Etisalat dropped 1.3 percent as Abu Dhabi’s index made its largest decline in two weeks.

Dubai was near-flat, but remains within 20 points of recording a new seven-year low.

“We just don’t see any appetite from investors - they have liquidity and are looking for investments, but not in equities,” said a Dubai-based trader who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“UAE stocks are in a tough spot spending is coming back from the government and consumers, but that is not being reflected in the markets.” — Reuters

22

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

business Oil speculators stay cautious on Iran risk: Analyst LONDON: Escalating tensions between Iran and the West have so far drawn only a small amount of extra speculative money into oil-linked futures and options contracts.

Far fewer hedge funds and other money managers are wagering on a big price increase than after the Libyan civil war last year, according to position data released by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and exchanges.

Money managers were running a net long position equivalent to 225 million barrels of oil in futures and options linked to US crude (WTI) at the end of Jan. 3, according to the CFTC’s commitments of traders report on Friday.

It was a marked increase from the 165 million barrel net long position money managers were running at the start of October.

But it was not significantly different from the net position run through November and December 2011, and much smaller than the net position of 340-360 million barrels funds held between February and May last year after the Libyan civil war erupted and before the flash crash on May 5.

The inflow of new hedge fund money into WTIlinked futures and options has been far smaller than in the aftermath of the Arab revolt. Hedge funds boosted their net long by around 23 million barrels in the two weeks ending Jan 3, compared with 133 million barrels as violence erupted across Libya in February 2011.

Money managers are overwhelming bullish, with long positions (290 million barrels) outnumbering shorts (65 million) by more than 4:1, but their market positioning is a long way from last year, when the long/short ratio peaked at over 10:1 (Chart 4).

The really interesting comparison would be with Brent futures, since Brent is a better marker for seaborne international oil markets, rather than landlocked WTI. Unfortunately, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has only published comparable information since August 2011.

From the available data, however, hedge fund positioning in Brent appears similarly cautious, with funds running long (122 million barrels) rather than short (40 million barrels) positions by a margin of 3:1 at the end of 2011.

In the immediate aftermath of violence disrupting Libya’s oil exports, Brent prices jumped by around $15 per barrel (15 percent). So far geopolitical risks linked to Iran seem to have boosted oil prices less than $5 (under 5 percent).

Some analysts argue the political premium could be as high as $10-15. In their view, prices would now be under $100 per barrel in the absence of Iran, as the market worries about slowing global growth, falling oil consumption in the advanced economies, and the prospect of large new tight oil supplies.

In any event, the threat of more sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, and possible military confrontation between Tehran and the United States, Israel and their allies, appears to have had a relatively modest impact on hedge fund positions and prices so far.

Hedge funds are far from fully invested in the oil market. In the event tensions rise further, there is scope for funds to boost their positions by 100-150 million barrels or more, exerting further strong upward pressure on prices.

For the time being, though, most hedge funds appear unenthusiastic about trades linked specifically to Iran risk. — Reuters

Saudi: ‘Internal’ matter if Japan buys Iran oil Riyadh, Doha to supply Japan with more oil internal matter to be decided by these countries.” The official was not identified.

Still, Saudi officials have said that Gulf oil producers are ready to step in and offset any loss of Iranian oil in the market, though it remains unclear if the necessary pipelines that would reroute the oil away from the strait are all fully operational.

One pipeline with a capacity of about 1.5 million barrels per day being built by the UAE has yet to be completed.

China, a major Iran oil importer, has resisted the sanctions effort. The Asian powerhouse’s deputy foreign minister, Cui Tiankai, said yesterday that China’s trade relations with Iran have nothing to do with Tehran’s nuclear program and that sanctions alone cannot resolve the dispute.

The West maintains that Iran is enriching uranium with an eye on developing a weapon, an allegation Tehran denies. Iran says its program is for purely peaceful purposes. The official Saudi Press Agency said Gemba’s meeting with Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi and other top officials “dealt with the current situation in the interna-

CAIRO: A Saudi oil official said that whether Japan or other countries continue to buy Iranian oil was an “internal matter,” reflecting the unease in many nations after the latest US sanctions on Tehran and Iran’s threats to choke off the Strait of Hormuz in response.

The comments by the Oil Ministry official were reported yesterday by the Saudi daily Al-Watan a day after Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba met with senior Saudi officials in the kingdom’s capital, Riyadh.

The newspaper said that Japanese officials asked Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, to make up for the potential loss of Iranian oil for Japan. The Asian nation is now even more heavily dependent on oil and natural gas imports after last year’s tsunami forced the shutdown of nuclear reactors.

The latest US sanctions target Iran’s central bank and are aimed at hindering Tehran’s ability to receive payment for its oil exports. Al-Watan quoted the senior Saudi official as saying that “the issue of buying or not buying oil from Iran is an

tional oil market and the importance of its stability.”Iran has repeatedly raised the specter of closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a sixth of the world’s oil flows, if the US and its allies impose measures targeting its oil exports.

Many analysts and officials have played down the comments as bluster by the Islamic Republic, noting that such a move would hit Iran hard given that it receives over 80 percent of its government revenue from oil sales. But on Sunday, an Iranian newspaper quoted a senior Revolutionary Guard commander as saying that the country’s leadership had decided to close off the strait if its oil exports were targeted. The remark marked an escalation of earlier warnings that Tehran could easily close the waterway if it so desired.

The threats have rattled global oil markets, with the US benchmark crude futures contract for February delivery hovering at slightly under $102 per barrel in electronic trading in Asia while its North Sea counterpart, Brent, was trading at above $113 per barrel in London. Japan has been sup-

portive of the US and its allies’ efforts to pressure Iran over its controversial nuclear program. But Asian buyers of Iranian crude, in particular Japan and South Korea, are worried about the impact of the sanctions both on international crude prices and their economies.

Gemba, who is on an eight-day Mideast tour that began Thursday, later traveled to Qatar where the emirate’s deputy prime minister said his country will “provide liquefied natural gas to Japan,” the Kyodo News agency said, citing officials. He is slated to travel to the United Arab Emirates for meetings there today.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are ready to supply Japan with more oil in the event of a shortage due to new sanctions imposed on Iran by the West, according to reports.

Saudi Arabia and Japan pledged to boost cooperation in the energy sector with a proposal to provide more oil to Tokyo in case of a shortage or supply disruptions following fresh sanctions imposed on Iran by the West, Arab News reported on Sunday without citing a source. — Agencies

Emirates NBD’s Islamic unit eyes 5-year sukuk DUBAI: Dubai lender Emirates NBD’s Islamic unit, Emirates Islamic Bank, has set an initial price whisper in the area of 350 basis points over midswaps for its five-year, benchmark-sized Islamic bond, or sukuk, lead managers said yesterday.

Books for the trade were now open, with pricing due to take place this week, they added.

Investor meetings are due to conclude in London yesterday, having previously met investors in Malaysia, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The potential sharia-compliant transaction is being issued by Emirates

Islamic Bank but is backed by its parent company ENBD, the largest bank in Dubai by assets.

Should a bond be issued, it would be the first bond sale out of the Gulf this year.

Others are expected to follow EIB into the market, with Dubai’s Majid Al Futtaim Holding one possible name after it released the base prospectus for a $1 billion sukuk program.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citi, RBS and ENBD Capital are lead managers on the EIB deal. — Reuters

Saudi pumped 9.80m bpd of oil in December ABU DHABI: A picture released by the official Emirati news agency WAM, shows the UAE Energy Minister Mohammad bin Dhaen Al-Hameli speaking to reporters at the Gulf Intelligence UAE Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi yesterday. A pipeline being built by the United Arab Emirates to export oil from east coast terminals, avoiding the Iran-threatened Strait of Hormuz, will be operational by June, Al-Hameli said. — AFP

US dollar exchange rate stable vs dinar KUWAIT: The exchange rate of the US dollar has stabilized vis-a-vis the Kuwaiti dinar, at KD 0.279, while the euro dropped to KD 0.354 compared to Sunday’s rates prices, said the daily bulletin of the Central Bank of

Kuwait (CBK) yesterday. Likewise, the sterling pound remained at KD 0.430.

Following suit, the Japanese yen was priced at KD 0.003, and the Swiss franc at KD 0.292. — KUNA

DUBAI: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia pumped 9.80 million barrels per day (bpd) in December, down from the highest rate in decades of 10.05 million bpd the previous month, an industry source said yesterday.

A Reuters survey of OPEC output estimated a slight drop in Saudi output in December but overall OPEC’s oil output rose to its highest since October 2008 that month as members showed little sign of lowering output to make room for recovering Libyan supplies. OPEC in December adopted a new 30 million bpd production ceiling aimed at healing the rift left by a bad-tempered failure to reach an output agreement when it met last June.

Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi was quot-

ed as saying on Thursday that the kingdom has a production capacity of over 12.5 million bpd while a Saudi source told Reuters Saudi Arabia is ready to fill any oil supply gaps in the market if needed following news of a European government agreement to ban imports of Iranian crude.

Senior executives of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday discussed an existing plan to release up to 14 million barrels per day (bpd) of governmentowned oil stored in the United States, Europe, Japan and other importers if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil shipping lane, through which some 16 million barrels of crude pass each day. — 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 .4270000 .3520000 .2890000 .2690000 .2830000 .0040000 .0020000 .0756480 .7370130 .3820000 .0710000 .7225090 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2786500 GB Pound/KD .4299570 Euro .3544570 Swiss francs .2917950 Canadian dollars .2711000 Danish Kroner .0476640 Swedish Kroner .0401450 Australian dlr .2850450 Hong Kong dlr .0358840 Singapore dlr .2155070 Japanese yen .0036200 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0758950 Bahraini dinars .7394190 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0743260 Omani riyals .7240480 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.598 5.337 3.154 2.436 3.341 213.250 35.672 3.580 6.336 8.873 0.271 0.273

.2820000 .4380000 .3630000 .3020000 .2780000 .2920000 .0070000 .0035000 .0764080 .7444200 .4030000 .0780000 .7297700 .0072000 .0530000 .2807500 .4331970 .3571280 .2939940 .2731430 .0480230 .0404470 .2871930 .0361550 .2171310 .0036470 .0053610 .0024730 .0031090 .0034580 .0764670 .7449910 .3971000 .0748870 .7295050 .0064050

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 74.150 76.402 722.230 738.540 75.715

Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 47.500 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.282 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.272 Tunisian Dinar 189.860 Jordanian Dinar 392.670 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.865 Syrian Lier 6.003 Morocco Dirham 33.814 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.950 Euro 370.650 Sterling Pound 431.930 Canadian dollar 268.420 Turkish lire 153.940 Swiss Franc 300.620 Australian dollar 277.000 US Dollar Buying 277.750 GOLD 315.500 159.000 81.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Bahrain Exchange Company 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

288.600 744.780 3.880 275.500 550.000 44.700 49.200 167.800 48.270 360.000 36.740 5.620 0.032 0.207 0.248 3.740 397.150 0.189 91.730 46.300 4.310 222.300 1.814 47.700 727.440

287.100 744.780 3.384 274.000

217.300 46.410 358.500 36.590 5.305 0.031

295.000 4.900 9.010 76.260 280.000

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

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 434.000 280.000

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

278.500 275.585 436.990 366.765 298.040 737.505 75.800 76.445 74.225 392.025 46.238 2.441 5.241 3.106 3.401 6.331 683.150 3.675 8.935 5.865 3.370 92.510

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 Jordanian Dinars Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

290.68 276.50 297.65 359.28

436.50 3.70 3.750 5.600 2.660 4.250 3.260 76.85 744.40 48.40 397.00 728.00 77.50 75.00

279.850 3.085 5.315 2.455 3.395 6.385 76.285 74.770 743.800 46.353 435.800 3.190 1.550 397.500 361.700 277.700 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

434.94 3.69 3.379 5.302 2.456 3.324 3.105 76.18 744.39 46.41 398.13 727.31 77.17 74.72

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Currency

727.260

3.100 6.330 77.040 74.770 217.330 36.840 2.455 434.000

GOLD 1,679.810

10 Tola

396.830 0.188 91.730 3.330 220.800

3.250 6.720 77.470 74.770 217.330 36.840 2.656 436.000 41.500 296.500 4.900 9.270 196.263 76.360 280.400 1.290

292.00 280.00 305.00 361.00

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)

278.550 362.300 436.100 277.000 3.625 5.285 46.196 2.445 3.310 6.315 3.081 741.750 75.850 74.400

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

business

German surplus widens France set for record trade gap

LONDON: Lloyds Banking Group’s chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio poses for photographers outside the Lloyds Banking Group headquarters in central London yesterday. — AFP

Lloyds boss thrilled at return, faces tough task LONDON: Lloyds Banking Group Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said yesterday he was “thrilled” to return to work after a two-month absence due to fatigue, but faces an even bigger challenge turning around the part-state-owned lender than when he left.

“I am thrilled to be back and I look forward to working with my colleagues again,” Horta-Osorio said during a brief photocall outside the bank’s head office on Gresham Street in the City of London.

Horta-Osorio, wearing a dark suit with a bright green tie, spoke quietly and declined further comment. He made a quick return into the building, watched by some staff from windows interested in his re-appearance.

Lloyds has said Horta-Osorio will change his intensive working style and will have fewer people reporting to him than the previous 13. He was known as a detailsobsessed chief. But the 47-year-old Portuguese only took over as CEO in March and needs to implement a far-reaching turnaround strategy he unveiled, including 15,000 job cuts.

He arguably faces an even tougher task than when he left, following a deterioration in the euro-zone debt crisis and worries about the pace of recovery in Britain, where Lloyds is the biggest retail bank and has more than 30 million customers. The bank said it may miss financial targets due to the economic turmoil when it posted a third-quarter loss a week after Horta-Osorio’s departure.

Its earnings are under pressure from lower margins and higher funding costs and Lloyds said it may not meet some of its medium-term income targets until after 2014. Lloyds, already saddled with tens of billions of pounds of losses from its takeover of troubled rival HBOS at the height of the 2008 crisis, could report another loss this year, analysts at Barclays Capital estimate. It could notch up another 20 billion pounds in bad debts as the fragile economy sees credit quality deteriorate again, especially for mortgages, the analysts said. Lloyds shares were down 0.4 percent at 27 pence by 1230 GMT in a FTSE 100 index which was down 0.2 percent, and have slumped almost 60 percent since the start of 2011, leaving UK taxpayers sitting on a 13 billion pound ($20 billion) loss on their 20 billion pound bailout. — Reuters

BERLIN: German exports bounced back in November boosting the country’s trade surplus, a sign that Europe’s largest economy may avoid a sharp slowdown in contrast to France which is expected to have run up a record trade deficit in 2011.

The leaders of the two countries met yesterday to find ways to create faster growth and help the euro zone out of its debt crisis. The German economy has shown resilience but France is struggling to stay competitive, a problem for President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of an April election. New data from China, one of the largest importers of German goods, showed banks racheted up lending in December, reinforcing perceptions that the central bank is gently easing policy to cushion for slower growth abroad.

“Looking ahead, external demand from outside the eurozone, with the US and Asia providing some positive news recently, and solid domestic demand have made the German economy the last stronghold of a rapidly weakening euro zone,” said ING economist Carsten Brzeski.

German exports rose 2.5 percent in November after posting their biggest fall in half a year the previous month, official data showed, easily beating the 0.7 percent forecast. The surplus widened to 15.1 billion euros.

France’s trade deficit narrowed sharply to 4.4 billion euros in

November helped by Airbus exports. It is still heading for a record in 2011, however, highlighting the decline of French competitiveness compared to its German neighbors.

“Looking ahead, we do not

although most economists are forecasting growth much closer to zero as businesses and consumers entrench for a painful downturn.

International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde was quoted as saying

HAMBURG: Containers wait in the harbor of Hamburg, Germany. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office says exports rose strongly in November, partially offsetting a sharp drop the previous month, according to provisional figures.— AP expect the trade deficit to improve significantly,” Barclays Capital wrote of the France’s trade balance. The French government expects the eurozone’s second biggest economy to grow 1.0 percent this year

yesterday Europe may avoid a recession this year and there were reasons to be more upbeat about prospects for the region.

Germany ’s export-driven economy recovered quickly from the 2008/09 financial crisis

BRUSSELS: European steel producers’ lobby Eurofer said yesterday it has filed an antisubsidy complaint against Chinese state support for exports of organic-coated steel (OCS) to Europe, adding to an existing antidumping investigation by European authorities. The steel lobby said it had evidence of a wide range of government incentives for Chinese steel production, including preferential loans, tax schemes, interest rates and grants for OCS, which were hurting the EU’s already shrinking sector. “Clearly the miracle of the Chinese steel industry which now counts for almost 50 percent of global steel production is not the result of free market forces,” Gordon Moffat, Eurofer’s director general, said in a statement. “The Chinese government at central, provincial and local level owns, directs and subsidizes virtually every aspect of its steel industry and has financed huge excess capacities,” the statement said.

Though OCS, which includes pre-painted and plastic-coated sheet metal and is used in construction, accounts for only a

small percentage of all EU steel imports, Eurofer said illegal support for the sector had contributed to inflating China’s global market share for steel production.

A European Commission official declined to confirm receipt of Eurofer’s complaint.

The EU executive is, however, already carrying out an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese OCS imports following a previous Eurofer objection. A final decision for both complaints is expected in January 2013. In November, Eurofer said it had evidence that China was selling OCS at dumped prices, elevating China’s share of the EU market to 17 percent in 2011 from 0.5 percent in 2004.

If the EU finds evidence of dumping or illegal subsidies, it could apply provisional tariffs on Chinese imports from September. In May, the EU imposed anti-subsidy duties against China for the first time on imports of glossy paper, seen as the start of an EU move to challenge what it says are unfair Chinese state subsidies in various industry sectors. China has denied giving illegal state subsidies to its industries. —Reuters

not available for public examination yesterday.

An outside investigative panel recently found former Chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, former Executive Vice President Hisashi Mori and former auditor Hideo Yamada had played leading roles in a 13-year scheme to hide losses from Olympus investors. The panel found the trio had misled investors about the company’s financial health after it suffered heavy losses on investments dating from the early 1990s. I t also found Tak ayama and other current directors had failed in their oversight. A separate, internal panel has recommended Olympus seek 90 billion yen ($1.17 billion) in damages from those involved in the scandal. This group’s report has not been made public.

The firm instead chose to sue for several billion yen, taking into account the ability to pay,

sources said. Olympus has lost nearly 60 percent of its market value since the scandal first erupted in October, when it fired Woodford, a rare foreign CEO in Japan, for questioning dodgy acquisition deals at the heart of the scandal. Woodford immediately went public with his concerns after his sacking.

Prosecutors and other authorities are still investigating the scandal, which could lead to criminal charges. Woodford, who on Friday dropped his bid to be reinstated as CEO, said he would sue Olympus for unfair dismissal and had instructed his lawyers to begin legal action in Britain.

The firm’s existing board plans to resign and aims to hold an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting in March or April where a new team of directors would be voted in.

Many investors are optimistic that Olympus can remain listed on the Tok yo exchange, and

hope that police, prosecutors and regulators do not turn up fresh evidence. Delisting would cut the firm off from equity markets and jeopardize its funding at a time when fresh capital is needed to repair its balance sheet.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange is in final talks to keep Olympus listed with a designation as a “security on alert”, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. The exchange also plans to fine the company 10 million yen ($129,700), sources added. Once classed as “on alert”, Olympus would effectively be on probation, allowed to keep its listing provided it showed steady progress on improving its internal controls, information provided on the exchange’s website shows. Once the exchange is satisfied that internal controls have been rectified, the stock can regain its normal listing status.—Reuters

Statoil makes major oil discovery in Barents Sea OSLO: Norway’s Statoil announced yesterday a major oil discovery in the Barents Sea that could contain up to 300 million barrels of crude. The Havis prospect is the twin of Skrugard, another deposit Statoil discovered in April 2011, confirming the potential of the waters as yet untapped in the Barents Sea. Together the two deposits could contain between 400 and 600 million barrels of oil equivalent, Statoil said in a statement.

“Skrugard and Havis open up a new petroleum province in the North,” Statoil chief executive Helge Lund said in the statement.

investor and consumer confidence, and most economists have cut their forecasts for 2012 growth over the past month.

The trade data showed a surprise fall in imports, reflecting weak domestic demand and

analysts said falling orders still pointed to weaker German exports in the months ahead.

Separate data showed a surprisingly sharp fall in industrial output in November. “Gross domestic product is likely to have shrunk already at the end of the year. The start of the year is like ly to have been bumpy but the feared breakdown of the German economy has not hap pened,” said Ulrike Rondorf at Commerzbank.

Demand from countries outside the euro zone, supported by a weak euro, could nonethe less support German exports this year. The euro hit a 16month low versus the dollar and an 11-year trough against the yen yesterday. “ The weakness of the euro...helps German and other European exporters dampening to some extent the conse quences of the weaker global outlook,” said Juergen Michels at Citigroup.

The Statistics Office publishes the regional breakdown of month-on-month trade data later in the month, yet unadjusted year-on-year data already showed exports to non eurozone countries rising faster than those to the currency bloc.

BMW, the world’s largest maker of premium cars, said on Monday it achieved record sales in 2011, and Volkswagen said on Sunday it aimed to sell more than half a million cars in the United States for the first time in 39 years. — Reuters

EU steel lobby files subsidy complaint against China

Olympus sues current president, ex-directors TOKYO: Japan’s Olympus Corp has sued its current president and three ex-directors for several million dollars in compensation, sources told Reuters yesterday, as the company seeks to draw a line under one of the nation’s worst accounting scandals. The maker of cameras and medical equipment filed suit against its president, Shuichi Takayama, with the Tokyo district court on Sunday, along with three former executives identified by investigators as having engineered or helped cover up a $1.7 billion fraud at the firm, the sources said.

Tak ayama is planning to resign as a result of the lawsuit, said the sources who were familiar with the matter. An Olympus spokesman confirmed on Monday that lawsuits had been filed but declined to give details, saying these would be revealed at an announcement due today.

The writs are sealed and were

and data due tomorrow is expected to show 2011 economic growth of 3.0 percent.

But the outlook has darkened as euro-zone debt worries have begun to weigh on the real economy, depressing both

The two discoveries, which are located just seven kilometers (4.3 miles) apart but are not connected, could be developed together, which would limit costs.

Covered by the same production license, the two deposits are owned by Statoil, which holds 50 percent, Eni of Italy, with 30 percent and Norwegian state-owned company Petoro which owns the remaining 20 percent.

The two deposits remain modest in size compared with massive Norwegian fields such as Statfjord, which contains some 3.6 billion barrels and was found in 1974 in the North Sea. But they indicate

there is potential for Arctic oil and gas riches for Norway, whose oil production has been on the decline for 10 years.

After a peak in 2001, oil production in the Scandinavian country-the world’s seventh-biggest exporter of black goldhas steadily decreased and is now around two million barrels per day, just two-thirds of what it was a decade ago.

The region has also become increasingly attractive after Norway and Russia in 2010 ended a 40-year maritime border dispute over 176,000 square kilometers (67,954 square miles), which paves the way for prospecting. — AFP

SHANGHAI: A worker trims branches on trees on a street in Shanghai yesterday. Beijing is anxious to prevent a sharp slowdown in the Chinese economy in 2012 but at the same time it wants to avoid reigniting inflation, which hit a more than three-year high of 6.5 percent in July.—AFP

Dubai launches $3.27bn solar energy project DUBAI: The emirate of Dubai yesterday unveiled plans to build a 12 billion dirham ($3.27 bln) solar energy park, with potential capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW) as part of its efforts to reduce its energy reliance.

Under Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, it plans to reduce energy imports and climate warming carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by 2030, using its own solar power and nuclear power imported from neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi to reduce reliance on gas.

Named after Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will cover an area of 48 square km. The first solar plant of the park will have a capacity of 10 MW and is planned to commence operations by end-2013. It will cost around 120 million dirhams.

“The members of the Supreme Council of Energy are financing the project,” said Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer, vice chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy, referring to the 10 MW plant.

Among the members of the Council are various government entities such as

the Dubai Supply Authority and Dubai Petroleum Establishment as well as Dubai Aluminum Company (DUBAL) and Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC).

For the financing of the rest of the project, the Supreme Council of Energy was studying several options like developing a clean energy fund. It was also going to encourage private partnership, Nejib Zaafrani, secretary general and chief executive officer of Supreme Energy Council said.

The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, producing some 2.6 million barrels a day (bpd). But most of the UAE’s production is clustered in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, with Dubai producing only around 100,000 bpd from four existing fields, according to the US Energy Administration. The country is also one of the highest per capita electricity consumers in the world, with soaring temperatures driving up air conditioning use from June-September, forcing energy-hungry Dubai - home to nearly 2 million people - to buy ever more natural gas.— Reuters

QNB Q4 profit jumps 40% DOHA: Qatar National Bank (QNB), the Gulf Arab state’s largest lender, reported a 40 percent jump in quarterly profit yesterday on increased lending and a surge in deposits.

The bank’s fourth-quarter net profit rose to 2.1 billion riyals ($576.6 million), according to Reuters calculations, from 1.5 billion riyals a year earlier. The lender said annual net profit jumped 32 percent to 7.5 billion riyals in 2011. It earlier reported a nine-month net profit of 5.4 billion riyals.

It set a 40 percent cash dividend and plans to issue bonus shares

amounting to 10 percent of share capital, the bank said. Loans and advances grew 47 percent to 194 billion riyals, with 21 percent growth in customer deposits during 2011, QNB said. Net interest income and income from Islamic financing activities rose 37 percent to 7.8 billion riyals. QNB is the first major regional lender to report earnings and is closely watched for indications of the sector’s performance.It is 50-percent owned by sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority and has been expanding abroad, with operations in Syria, Jordan, the

United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. In October, sources told Reuters that QNB was eyeing Denizbank, the fast-growing Turkish arm of euro zone debt casualty Dexia, in a deal potentially worth up to $6 billion.

Banks in Qatar are expected to benefit as the country is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, set to spend more on infrastructure as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup. Shares in QNB closed at 152.90 riyals yesterday before the results were announced. They have risen 8 percent in the last year. — Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

business

KSE remains bearish GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) closed in negative territory for the 6th session in a row.

During the session yesterday ten stocks only closed in green, half of them from services sector.

Major indices reduced their loss after Zain closed up in the last second before market close. The scrip closed up by 1.18 percent at KD0.860.

Global General Index (GGI) ended the day down by 0.60 percent, at 175.40 point. Market capitalization was down for the day, reaching KD28.69bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,694.1 point, shedding 29.30 points (0.51 percent) from its previous close.

Market breadth During the session, 101 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 54 equities retreated versus 10 that advanced. Volume and value of shares traded on the exchange ended the day on a positive note. Total volume traded was up by 42.12 percent with 255.33mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD22.17mn (39.10 percent higher compared to Sunday’s session). Services sector was the volume leader. The sector accounted for 35.53 percent of total shares exchanges.

Trading was intense on the counter of Hits Telecom Holding Company with investors exchanging 53.32mn shares, with a total value of KD3.48mn. The same sector was the value leader, having 42.59 percent of total traded value.

In terms of top gainers, AlMadina for Finance & Investment Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 6.10 percent to its share value and closing at KD0.0435. On the other hand,

share price of 1st Takaful Insurance Company and Al-Aman Investment Company retreated by 8.77 percent each, making it the biggest decliners in the market.

Sector-wise Seven out of the eight sector indices witnessed losses during the day. The only gainer was Global Services Index, registering a marginal increase of 0.06 percent. 50 percent of the gainers during the day were from the services sector. Jazeera Airways Company led sector gainers list, registering an increase of 5.75 percent to close at KD0.460. Zain push the index to close in green after adding 1.18 percent at KD0.860.

Real Estate stocks were the session’s worst performers, as highlighted by a 1.36 percent decline in the Global Real Estate

Index. A 2.33 percent dip in the equity price of the sector’s heavyweight, Mabanee Company, as well as a 7.94 percent decline in Sanam Real Estate Company, skewed the sector index.

Global Banking Index registered a decline of 0.94 percent after the retreat of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) which lost 1.75 percent, Kuwait International Bank (-1.61 percent) and Ahli United Bank (-1.22 percent).

Global Investment Index retreated by 0.59 percent after National Investment Company witnessed a daily loss of 3.57 percent to close at KD0.162. Meanwhile, Al Salam Group Holding Company witnessed hefty trading of 22.42mn shares. The scrip ended the day at KD0.124, down 4.62 percent.

Corporate news The central Bank of Bahrain

approved United Gulf bank’s request to buy back up to 5 percent of its outstanding shares as treasury shares.

Salhia Real Estate Company announced that it has signed a KWD25mn Islamic financing agreement with two local banks as part of its plan to transform all short-term commitments into long-term commitments.

Gulf Finance House announced that the Government of Tunisia has approved the Tunis Financial Harbour (TFH) project and allocated TND50mn to complete major and strategic infrastructure works, where TFH has started selecting contractors.

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $112.23pb on Friday, compared with $113pb the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Oil declines, euro-zone fears offset Iran threat LONDON: Brent crude futures slipped yesterday, reversing earlier gains to trade below $113 a barrel, as worries about the economic health of the euro-zone offset a premium related to Iran’s threat to shut a key oil-shipping route.

A drop in German industrial output for November served as a reminder that even the European Union’s powerhouse faces challenges, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy meet to discuss measures to boost growth and fight rising unemployment.

February Brent crude futures were 47 cents lower at $112.59 a barrel by 1222 GMT, after gaining more than 5 percent last week. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, February US light crude futures were down 58 cents at $100.98 a barrel.

Commerzbank’s Carsten Fritsch said oil prices were taking their cue from the negative trend in European stock markets. Other euro-zone November data added to the gloom, with retail sales down 0.8 percent, much weaker than a Reuters poll forecast for a fall of 0.2 percent, while the number of unemployed rose for a seventh consecutive month. Tensions with Iran, which has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions imposed by the United States and planned by the European Union affect its exports, continued to lend support to prices.

“Overall the geopolitical premium is supporting amid tensions with Iran, but on the other hand the price of crude in euros remains high and will hurt demand in Europe,” Olivier Jakob from Zug-based consultancy Petromatrix said. Eyes were also on Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producing nation, where thousands of people took to the street to protest the axing of fuel subsidies.

Production of Nigeria’s average 2 million barrels of crude oil a day carried on as normal despite the strike, sources at two international oil companies and the state firm told Reuters.

The West has plans to use strategic oil stocks to offset most of the 16 mil-

lion barrels per day (bpd) of crude passing through the Strait of Hormuz should Iran block it, industry sources and diplomats told Reuters. The International Energy Agency (IEA) may release up to 14 million bpd of government-owned oil stored in the United States, Europe, Japan and other importers, a rate that could be kept up for a month.

Such a release is likely to limit the impact of any blockade of the Strait, which is unlikely to last beyond a few weeks, analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a report. “If the impact is limited to 10 million bpd for three weeks, or 210 million barrels, this loss could be easily replaced by an SPR (strategic petroleum reserves) crude release until the Strait is reopened,” the report said.

If the blockade is limited to one month, the impact is unlikely to be dramatic, according to Vienna-based JCB Energy. “If a potential blockade is limited to a maximum of one month, the physical impact would not be that dramatic, given strong IEA action and the fact that most barrels would only be delayed but not actually lost. Prices would still spike in an unpredictable way, depending on the trading community’s perception of the situation,” JBC said in a note.

India’s state -run Hindustan Petroleum Corp will double the volume of Saudi crude it imports in an annual deal beginning in April, a move that could potentially replace some of its Iranian supplies. Two sources said the new deal would be for 60,000 bpd, versus around 30,000 bpd this year.

Iran’s dispute with the West was set to escalate after diplomatic sources said the country started enriching uranium deep inside a mountain.

Markets will also be affected this week by the reweighting of the world’s biggest commodity indexes, the S&P GSCI Index and the DJ-UBS Index. This could see funds selling off more than $6 billion worth of US crude futures and buying more than $5.4 billion of Brent crude, analysts estimate, which is likely to create short-term tremors in the market. — Reuters

25

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

business

BMW aims for top spot in 2012 as luxury sales soar Analyst says sees premium carmakers winning out in 2012

SHANGHAI: Two men sit in a Rolls Royce displayed at the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai. — AFP

Rolls-Royce posts record car sales on China, US LONDON: German-owned British luxury carmaker RollsRoyce announced yesterday that sales rocketed to an all-time high last year, smashing its 33-year-old record, driven by demand from China and the United States.

The group, which is owned by German auto giant BMW, said in a statement that production leapt 31 percent to 3,538 cars in 2011.

That compared with 2,711 in the previous year and was the highest-ever output in the 107-year history of Rolls-Royce. The 2011 performance beat the previous record of 3,347 cars set in 1978. Rolls-Royce, which is based at the Goodwood factory in West Sussex, southern England, also said China and the United States were now the “most significant individual markets” for the maker of ultra-luxurious vehicles.

“We had an outstanding year in 2011 and we should take a moment to reflect on this great British success story,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive officer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“Our business is in excellent shape. We are developing our dealer network, moving into new markets like South America, expanding our manufacturing operation in West Sussex to meet global demand and have plans to develop our product range.

“At the core of this extraordinary success is a dedicated, committed and, above all, passionate workforce,” he added. The company, purchased by BMW in 1998, said sales surged last year by 47 percent across the Asia Pacific region, by 17 percent in North America and by 23 percent in the Middle East.

In September, Rolls-Royce unveiled plans to expand its Goodwood factory to meet strong global demand for the group’s personalized range of ‘Ghost’ and ‘Phantom’ models. Expansion work will start in February and take nine months to complete. — AFP

VW nears number one ranking with 8m sales DETROIT, Michigan: Germany’s Volkswagen sold more than eight million vehicles worldwide in 2011, possibly enough to grab the top spot among global automakers for the first time, chairman Martin Winterkorn said yesterday.

VW boosted sales by more than one million vehicles, or 14 percent, to 8.16 million last year, Winterkorn said on the eve of the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

That was likely enough to put it past the champion of the previous three years, Japan’s Toyota, which found production last year hobbled by the March 11 earthquake-tsunami disaster.

But total world sales for General Motors, which held the crown for 77 year until it was snatched by Toyota in 2008, have yet to be reported. VW sales include Volkswagens as well as the group’s Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini brands.

The group has aimed at capturing the title of the world’s leading vehicle maker by sales and profitability by 2018. VW recently bought the heavy truck builder MAN-sales of which are not included in the 2011 figures-and is in the process of taking over Porsche.

It also owns a 19.9 percent share of Suzuki of Japan. Winterkorn said he did not expect a recession this year to dampen auto sales.

Even if the prospects for Europe are not bright, he said, “We continue to build on the growth of North America and China.” — AFP

WOLFSBURG: A worker cleans a Volkswagen logo in the production line at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg. —AP

FRANKFURT: BMW posted record car sales for 2011 and forecast that a boom in luxury cars would keep it ahead of rivals this year as the world’s biggest maker of premium cars enjoys strong demand from China and the United States. The Munich-based company said yesterday that worldwide sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars rose 14.2 percent to 1.67 million last year as it sold more X3 sport utility vehicles , 5 Series models and MINIs. Appetite for BMW’s ultra-luxury cars reached a new high, with annual sales of Rolls-Royce vehicles in 2011 rising to the highest level in the company’s 107-year history, jumping almost 31 percent to 3,538 cars. Finance chief Friedrich Eichiner said last week he expected the global market for premium cars to grow at more than 8 percent this year, more than twice as fast as the overall car market, which should work in favor of BMW. Volkswagen said last week that 2011 sales of luxury Bentley cars rose 37 percent to 7,003 after recording the brand’s second-highest sales volume ever in December.

Credit Suisse analyst Arndt Ellinghorst raised his target price on BMW shares to 76 euros from 72 euros, saying he expects premium carmakers to come out ahead this year as the gap between the strong and the weak widens further.

“Globalization of demand and the emergence of wealth in emerging mar-

kets have widened the gap between global players with strong brand equity and weak domestically-dependent brands,” Ellinghorst said in a note one yesterday. BMW’s biggest single market is the United States, where it sells about 18 percent of its vehicles. It is followed

by Germany and China, accounting for 17.8 percent and almost 14 percent, respectively.

BMW said the rate of sales growth slowed to 11.9 percent in December. The s hares were up 1.6 percent at 56.44 euros by 1118 GMT, making them the biggest gainer on the German blue-chip index and outperforming the STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts index, which was up 0.4 percent.

BMW Chief Executive Norber t Reithofer earlier said in a newspaper interview that he was “very optimistic about the US market ’s growth prospects”, after the German carmaker’s sales there grew by almost 15 percent there in 2011. Reithofer told The Wall Street Journal he expects vehicle sales growth to be fastest in the second half of the year thanks to the market launch of the new BMW 3 Series next month.

One in three BMWs sold is a 3 Series, and the new car is crucial for BMW to fend off rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi , the premium brand of Volkswagen.

Reithofer ’s comments come as the Detroit Auto Show opens on Monday, where car makers are showing off

upcoming models such as Cadillac’s ATS, with which General Motors is squarely targeting BMW’s 3 Series.

BMW grabbed the top spot in the US luxury car market last year , edging out

Analysts are forecasting BMW’s 2012 revenues to ris e 1.5 percent to about 69 billion euros ($88 billion), according to Reuters data, while earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) are penciled in at

REGENSBURG: A BMW employee is busy at the company in Regensburg, Germany. Germany’s BMW AG sold 14.2 percent more vehicles in 2011 than the year before. The company says yesterday, it sold a record 1.67 million vehicles under its BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands. —AP Toyota’s Lexus and Daimler’s MercedesBenz. Reithofer said he expects BMW to grow faster than the overall market this year, after entering the new year with strong orders.

“We’re starting 2012 with a very good order book and very young model range ... this should provide some momentum.”

down almost 14 percent at about 6.9 billion euros, weighed down by costs for the 3 Series model changeover.

They expect BMW to have reached its target of a 2011 operating margin above 10 percent at its automotive business.

BMW is due to publish 2011 results on March 13. — Reuters

Once ailing US auto market now industry bedrock

DETROIT: (Left-Right) Don Butler VP Cadillac marketing, Daniel Akerson Chairman and CEO of General Motors, Ed Welburn Vice President Global Design and Mark Reuss, President of GM North America pose for a photo during the world premier of the new Cadillac ATS, at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan on the eve of the opening of the North American International Auto Show Sunday. —AFP

GM reports record China sales in 2011 SHANGHAI: US auto giant General Motors said yesterday its sales in China hit a record high in 2011, despite a broader slowdown in the world’s largest vehicle market. GM and its joint ventures in China sold around 2.55 million units last year, up more than 8.0 percent from the previous record of 2.35 million in 2010, the company said in a statement.

“GM stayed ahead of the competition despite a slowdown in the growth of industry demand,” Kevin Wale, president of GM China Group, said in the statement. In December alone, GM’s sales in China rose 9.8 percent annually to 196,797 units.

China, which overtook the United States to become the world’s top auto market in 2009, has become increasingly important for global players.

Another major US auto maker, Ford Motor Co, also said yesterday that its sales in China broke the half-million mark in 2011. Ford’s sales rose seven percent annually to 519,390 units, including both passenger cars and commercial vehicles, it said in a statement.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, which tracks auto sales and production in the country, has yet to release figures for all of 2011. However, association officials have forecast that annual growth for the whole of 2011 will be just five percent, down from an earlier forecast of 10-15 percent.

Sales soared more than 32 percent in 2010 but have since lost some steam amid a slowdown in economic growth and after China phased out incentives, including tax breaks for small-engine vehicles.

China has moved to protect its domestic auto industry in recent weeks, slapping import tariffs on some US passenger cars and sports utility vehicles, and saying it would “withdraw support” for foreign investment in the sector. But the lure of the massive market remains.

Germany’s Volkswagen Group said last week that it would build a new plant in the eastern city of Ningbo capable of producing 300,000 vehicles annually once the facility is completed by 2014. — AFP

DETROIT: Welcome to an unlikely beacon of hope for the global auto industryDetroit. Executives arriving this week for the Detroit auto show find a US car market that has morphed from meltdown three years ago to a safe haven as concerns grow about the stability of other big economies, from Europe to China.

Analysts and executives expect 2012 US auto sales to grow 4 percent to 9 percent, the third consecutive annual gain.

The only reason automakers are not more bullish is the risk that the sovereign debt crisis in Europe may trigger a broader slowdown.

All three US automakers took market share in the United States for the first time in 23 years. But they can expect tougher competition in 2012 as the Japanese rivals rebound, and Hyundai and Volkswagen gather steam. A return to the boom years of 17 million annual sales, however, will not happen any time soon.

“We see an exceptionally competitive market because there are now eight major manufacturers vying for share,” said Tom Libby, senior forecasting analyst at Polk, a Michigan-based automotive consulting firm.

“VW has become very aggressive in the US, and Hyundai-Kia has huge momentum that will continue into 2012.”

The crop of new vehicles at the Detroit show this week reflects the heavier competition US automakers General Motors, Ford and Fiat-controlled Chrysler can expect in their home market. Toyotawhich lost 2.3 percentage points of US market share last year-and Honda, still rebuilding inventory after Japan’s tsunami last March, are previewing 2012 updates of their key Prius and Accord models. VW and Hyundai-Kia are also getting attention after posting the biggest US sales gains of last year.

VW wants to double its US market share, said Rainer Michel, product strategy and marketing chief for Volkswagen of America. “Our aim should be being visible on the street, so every five or six cars out of 100 on the road should eventually be a Volkswagen.”

The VW brand had 2.5 percent of the US market in 2011 and its luxury brand Audi accounted for nearly 1 percent.

South Korea’s Hyundai and affiliate Kia

together matched VW’s 26 percent sales surge in a US market that expanded 10 percent in 2011.

Polk sees that growth slowing to 7 percent for 13.7 million US deliveries this year, with Europe flat or in decline.

Buckingham Research analyst Joseph Amaturo said he expects moderate growth in China, Brazil and India this year with the prospect of “very aggressive” discounting in those emerging markets.

“Europe is where we face the biggest uncertainties because of financial market volatility, and we’re having to adapt our products to increase share,” said Philippe Dehennin, head of German premium automaker BMW’s French division. “The US market, along with China, offers significant growth potential with our existing models. It’s an absolute priority.”

Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne’s investment in Chrysler, seen in 2009 as a risky distraction even with no cash outlay, now looks like a saving grace as he grapples with collapsing demand in Fiat’s core southern European markets.

“He entered Chrysler at rock bottom and will now capitalize on a US recovery the timing was perfect,” said Philippe Barrier, an automotive analyst with Societe Generale in Paris. US automakers are also counting on a domestic recovery to soften the impact of Europe’s slump, already complicating the elusive turnaround plan at Opel, GM’s regional unit.

“As I look around the world, my greatest confidence is about the US,” GM Chief Economist Mustafa Moharatem told an analyst conference in Detroit on Sunday.

“Europe is where I see the greatest uncertainty, because we don’t know how the sovereign debt issue will be handled.”

Moharatem also predicted “slower growth and more uncertainty” in major emerging markets.

While US consumer demand is rising, some analysts warn the car market will not return to the 17 million annual sales averaged before the 2008 crisis. “The growth rate looks good because we’re coming off very depressed levels, but there’s a question of the longer-term outlook,” Citigroup US auto analyst Itay Michaeli said. For the first time in history, US consumers are scrapping more vehicles than they buy. — Reuters

Fresh Iberia strikes cut over 200 flights MADRID: Spanish airline Iberia cancelled hundreds of flights scheduled yesterday and Wednesday because of fresh strikes by pilots protesting its launch of a new low-cost carrier, a spokeswoman said.

The airline scrapped 109 flights yesterday, or just over a third of the total scheduled, and a further 104 are due to be cancelled when the strike is repeated on Wednesday, she said.

Most of the flights affected are on short and medium-haul routes within Europe. “All the people affected have been contacted and offered alternatives,” the spokeswoman said, adding that switching passengers to other flights was tricky this week with lots of travelers returning from holiday.

Two strikes last month caused similar

numbers of flights to be cancelled on December 18 and 29.

Iberia, working to cut expenses after merging with British Airways last year to create International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, plans to launch its low-cost subsidiary Iberia Express by April 2012. The new budget carrier will handle short- and medium-haul flights from Madrid. Those flights have been facing heavy competition from other lowcost carriers and Spain’s high-speed trains.

The pilots’ union SEPLA called the strikes, fearing the salaries offered by the new airline will be too low. Iberia Express will start with a fleet of four Airbus 320 jets which it hopes to expand to 13 aircraft and 500 staff by the end of 2012. — AFP

DETROIT: The Toyota exhibit is shown during a media preview day at the 2012 North American International Auto Show yesterday. —AFP

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

business

NBK retains leading position in Mideast ‘Highest ratings, best bank in the region’ KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) retained its position as the leading bank in Kuwait and the region in 2011. NBK holds the highest credit ratings amongst all banks in the MENA region from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings and at the same time was named the

Best Bank in the Middle East for the second consecutive year by the world’s premier financial voices: Global Finance, Euromoney and The Banker. NBK also maintained its position as one of the 50 safest banks in the world for the fourth time in a row.

Air Arabia boosts Moscow flights to five per week KUWAIT: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, announced yesterday the expansion of services to the Russian capital, Moscow, from the carrier’s primary hub in Sharjah, UAE. Air Arabia now offers five flights per week, an addition of two flights to the existing schedule, making it easier and more convenient for passengers to visit this vibrant city.

The carrier offers direct flights to Moscow on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays departing Sharjah International Airport at 09:35AM and arriving at Moscow Domodedova Airport at 14:45PM. Return flights will depart from Moscow on the same days at 15:45PM and arrive in Sharjah at 20:50PM. “We are extremely pleased to announce the expansion of service between Sharjah and Moscow, which will further enhance travel options for the residents of both cities,” said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department,

SNB chief to face grilling over scam BERNE: Swiss parliamentarians met yesterday to grill embattled central bank chief Philipp Hildebrand over the controversial currency trade made by his wife three weeks before he imposed a cap on the soaring Swiss franc.

Hildebrand has been fighting allegations of wrongdoing after an employee of the bank used by his family leaked details of the trade to the lawyer of a political adversary from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP).

The whistleblower, who Swiss media said had been committed to a psychiatric clinic after a suicide attempt, was quoted yesterday as saying he had never wanted the private bank details made public and that he believed Hildebrand should not quit.

Hildebrand’s wife Kashya, a former hedge fund trader who now runs a Zurich art gallery, bought 400,000 Swiss francs worth of dollars on Aug. 15, three weeks before her husband oversaw steps to cap the rise of the franc. Christoph Darbellay, the Christian Democrat chairman of parliament’s economic committee, declined to comment on whether the body backed Hildebrand, but said it would be focusing on whether the Swiss National Bank should tighten up its rules.

“We’re not a court, just a parliamentary commission. I think were going to be talking about the future; is there a need to change the code?

In principle they (the trades) were according to the rules,” he told reporters as he arrived for the meeting. The scandal has raised questions about transparency at the central bank, which initially failed to publish its internal ethics codes, saying auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) had investigated the trade and found there had been no misuse of privileged information.

Hildebrand is due to appear before the committee in the afternoon alongside the head of SNB’s bank council, Hansueli Raggenbass, who is also under pressure over the affair, which has tarnished the central bank’s reputation. “For me, the absolutely key question is whether the central bank is still credible and can keep the cap on the franc,” said Social Democrat parliamentarian Susanne Leutenegger Oberholzer.—Reuters

Air Arabia. “Since the introduction of services to Moscow in October 2011, Air Arabia has seen great demand on this route. We are confident that the increase in frequency of services to the Russian capital will further enhance travel and tourism ties between the two nations by offering customers choice and great value and service.”

Moscow, with a population in excess of 10.5 million, is the most populous city in Russia, the largest nation on earth, and is the country’s economic and political centre. The UAE is home to an increasingly significant Russian expatriate community, and is also one of the preferred holiday destinations for residents of the country.

Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC).

Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a total fleet of 29 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 70 routes from three hubs in UAE, Morocco and Egypt.

NBK’s leadership is supported by its strong capitalization, prudent performance, and its disciplined approach to risk management, in addition to the stability and professionalism of its management team.

International ratings agencies Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s have all affirmed in their latest update of the credit ratings of top regional banks NBK’s long term ratings at “Aa3”, “AA-” and “A+” respectively. All NBK’s ratings carry a stable outlook.

In 2011, NBK was named the Best Bank in the Middle East for the second consecutive year by the world’s premier financial voices: Global Finance, Euromoney and The Banker. NBK was named one of the 50 safest banks in the world for the fourth time in a row and the Best Trade Finance Bank in Kuwait in 2012. NBK was also awarded the Best Investor Relations in Kuwait for the second consecutive year.

NBK also remains the bank of choice for customers and clients in Kuwait and regionally in part because it has the largest banking network in Kuwait with more than 200 ATMs, 6,000 Points of Sale and 68 branches and the largest overseas network encompassing more than 180 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries strategically located in 17 countries spread over four continents, including 10 countries in the Middle East.

IKEA Kuwait ensures exceptional quality across all its products KUWAIT: Wonder why IKEA Kuwait is always the first choice in a consumer’s mind for more functional, long-term and sturdy furniture?

The answer is simple but the process the furniture goes through is not. Achieving the highest standard of quality in every item manufactured is IKEA’s ultimate goal. ‘Low prices for low quality, does not apply to IKEA Kuwait’s nature of business, whereas, low and affordable prices for functional and well-designed furniture has always been the characteristic that sets IKEA apart from the rest.

To ensure that they endure the rigors of daily use over a long period of time, products are developed within a set of European and international quality standards and are tested to fulfill or surpass the standards IKEA product designers work hand in hand with IKEA product developers, purchasers and manufacturers to guarantee the safety and efficiency of the stock.

The IKEA test machines put the products through numerous different and tough quality tests while also considering the sustainability and environmental friendly factors.

IKEA Kuwait supports and tests a range of products starting from work chairs, armchairs, kitchen cabinets, beds, sofas to bathroom furnishings. IKEA has developed state of the art technologically empowered machines to ensure every customer receives the best treatment through its innovative products. This concept has led IKEA to the forefront of all retail developers locally and globally.

Overseas Indians’ Global Council meets with PM NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh chaired the third meeting of the Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians on January 8, 2012 at Jaipur, in Rajasthan. Thirteen eminent overseas Indians from across the world attended the meeting, and included, Lord Karan F Bilimoria, Swadesh Chatterjee, Ela Gandhi, Lord Khalid Hameed, Dr Renu Khator, Kishore Mahbubani, L N Mittal, Lord Bhikhu Chotalal Parekh, Dr Sam Pitroda, Tan Sri Dato, Ajit Singh, Neville Joseph Roach, Prof Srinivasa SR Varadhan and Yusuffali M A. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia and E Ahamad, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs and senior officials of Government of India also attended the meeting. The members of the Council emphasized the usefulness of the Global Advisory Council as a

platform for free exchange of views. The members appreciated that many of the suggestions made previously by them had been implemented and other proposals were under implementation. In the interactive session, the attending Ministers responded to some of the suggestions made by the Council members. They conveyed their readiness for further interaction in the coming months to follow-up on these suggestions.

Concluding his discussions with members of the Council, the Prime Minister thanked the members for their constructive suggestions. He emphasized that Government of India deeply valued the contribution of the Council in strengthening India’s engagement with the overseas Indian community. Prime Minister assured that the Government would reflect on all the suggestions made by the Council members, and engage proactively on all of them.

JAIPUR: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (right) talks to Indian businessman Yusuffali M A.

Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem

Burgan Bank’s CRM program achieves further success KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday that its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has recorded significant improvements. The bank recently upgraded its Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, an effort that is designed to pave the way for more enhancements in marketing its products and services.

The bank’s CRM program is aimed to increase sales revenues, improve cross sales, generate new customers and deliver better customer service. The system has been implemented across the bank’s branches, call centre and the direct sales teams.

Through CRM, the bank’s staff can get information about their customers quickly, identify sales opportunities, track their sales in progress, run sales campaigns more effectively, and much more.

Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem, Chief Retail Banking Officer -GM said: “Since the launch of our CRM program, the Retail Division at Burgan Bank has realized significant tangible results. This includes identifying successful selling opportunities, improved execution of sales campaigns as well as better

management of sales opportunities. By implementing the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 program, we believe that it will provide a strong platform for more fruitful opportunities in 2012.”

The new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 program is more user friendly, and has a wide range of efficient features that include the ability to track performance against sales targets, easily built in charts and dashboards, creating dynamic scripts for sales calls and customer service activities.

The CRM program at Burgan Bank was launched in its Retail Banking Division in 2009, in line with the bank’s strategy of adopting state-of-the-art services and technology to improve performance. The success of this program has been due to a combination of three things: the choice of a good CRM system and consultants, good team work between the bank’s Retail, IT and Project management teams, and the diligent use of the system by staff.

Burgan Bank continues to deploy stateof-the-art technology to add more value and enhance its communications with its audiences.

NEW YORK: Peter Tuchman, a trader with Quattro M Securities, works from a handheld computer during the first day of trading at the New York Stock Market.

European markets were steady yesterday, ahead of a meeting between the leaders of France and Germany on how to restore confidence in the euro. — AP

Eurotunnel offer surprises as SeaFrance flounders PARIS: A cooperative’s last-ditch bid to rescue Channel ferry operator SeaFrance got the surprise backing of competitor Eurotunnel yesterday with a Paris court to rule on the union-backed project’s viability.

Eurotunnel boss Jacques Gounon told the daily Liberation that the company was “a candidate for a majority stake ... in a transport firm which would take over the SeaFrance ferries” and then rent them to the cooperative.

The workers’ cooperative, SeaFrance SCOP, is backed by the troubled local CFDT union branch and is the only takeover bid remaining. The Paris commercial court may now delay its ruling in light of the Eurotunnel offer.

SeaFrance, the only French firm still plying the busy Calais-Dover route, employs 880 people directly and as many more indirectly. President Nicolas Sarkozy is keen to avoid job losses three months ahead of an election. Politicians hailed the offer from Eurotunnel, which operates freight and car trains under the Channel, although the head of the CFDT union was skeptical about its motivation.

“Any solution that lets us find solutions for the employees, any solution that lets the company stay in business is a solution that the court will look at,” Employment Minister Xavier Bertrand told France Inter radio. Junior Transport Minister Thierry Mariani said the offer “proves that the route between Calais and Dover has a future.”

Workers on their way to Paris for the court ruling said they were open to Eurotunnel’s offer, although one dismissed the development as just the latest act in the “SeaFrance opera.”

CFDT-SeaFrance and workers said they would ask the court to postpone its ruling after what employees’ lawyer Philippe Brun called the “excellent news.” SeaFrance has been in liquidation since the Paris commer-

cial court on November 16 rejected bids to save the firm. A joint bid by French shipping firm Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Danish ferry company DFDS was rejected because it would have seen many staff sacked and probably triggered industrial action.

A bid by SeaFrance management to buy out the firm, backed by a 160-million-euro loan from state rail firm SNCF, was blocked last year by the European Commission on competition grounds.

Workers hope to finance the 40 to 50 million euro cost of the new cooperative with their lay-off payments from their failed employer, along with 12 million euros from local authorities.

But sources close to the matter say that fewer than 250 workers have agreed to put their lay-off cash into the cooperative project because of a “real distrust” of the CFDT local branch. France’s Court of Auditors published a report in 2009 accusing the local CFDT branch of nepotism and a lack of transparency after it came to dominate SeaFrance. The CFDT’s national organization has said the local branch had a “heavy responsibility” for the company’s current predicament.

Adding to the drama, CFDT’s national boss Francois Chereque told RTL radio yesterday that the local branch was “not behaving honorably” and that some members would be kicked out.

Chereque said the cooperative’s takeover plan was not viable and pointed out that the bid by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs offered to keep 640 workers on. “ The stubbornness of our union team means that tonight unfortunately we might see 800 people unemployed rather than 640 people with a job,” he said.

Chereque accused Eurotunnel making a disingenuous offer to help and of wanting “the cooperative to fail so they have one less competitor.” — AFP

A

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Years

Isys launches ‘Pay It’ to pay through bank cards Out of its commitment to establish a quantum leap in the smart applications field Isys announced the launching of its newest cutting edge application “Pay It”.

Isys aims through this new application to create a huge leap towards pushing people to pay through bank and credit cards through their mobile phones.

The general manager and the delegated member of Isys group Eng. Mohamed Shamlan AlRishidi declared that this new service will be up to date with the latest in the international communications market and that this service is the first of its kind in the Arab world. This application is a Kuwaiti innovation with international content and its intellectual property rights are reserved in all the concerned institutes in Kuwait and the Arab World.

Eng Alrishidi added that this new application is the first outcome of the “ONE” strategy that the company adopted

in the beginning of 2010 , this strategy had a big role in raising the company’s performance and in providing solutions that left the company’s name under this huge upcoming information wave that is coming from the international online companies such as (Google- Face Book My Space -Twitter) and other companies that are now invading the communications world , identifying that “ONE” strategy is like a platform which all the content and applications providers and operators present their services to the telecom companies around the world.

And about the new application “Pay It” AlRishidi revealed that it is a list of financial services through a series of smart applications, Isys launched the first one which is paying and recharging phones for the clients of all the telecom companies in Kuwait “Zain, Wataniya, Viva” along with recharging some of the other inter-

national and Arabic countries lines for the family members of the residents in Kuwait.

AlRishidi announced that the new application will be available at iPhone App Store soon and it will be available for other smart phones in the near future “Android-Blackberry- Microsoft” , the new application will enable its users to pay through their bank cards “Visa-Master card-American Express “ and it will be available soon through ‘K Net “ card.

AlRishidi said that the residents in Kuwait will be able to charge for their family and friends through “ Top Up” through “Pay It” application in Syria, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Palestine, Philippine, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Yemen.

On how to get this application for iPhone AlRishidi said that this application is available through the App Store for free

and you can find it under “Pay it “ or “ Isys” AlRishidi continued that Isys agreed with the concerned parties in all countries regarding the intellectual property rights for this application under “ Berne International Agreement” that no one is allowed to launch an application like “Pay It” without initial approve from Isys group.

AlRishidi concluded that Isys confirms again its commitment to provide all new services and all related properties for the smart phones to its clients which will enable them to control and manage their services in a fun and easy way through giving its clients the proper option that fit their demands and wishes and to provide multiple choices for them in this field , and all that will be provided through intensive regular research that the specialized managements in the company do to identify the market needs in this field to let Kuwait always be in the front.

Mohamed Shamlan AlRishidi

Acer unveils world’s thinnest laptop

LAS VEGAS: A Gametel wireless controller by Fructel is used to play a video game on a smartphone during a press event at The Venetian for the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — AFP

Mashreq partners with Kaspersky Lab KUWAIT: Mashreq, one of the UAE’s leading financial institutions and Kaspersky Labs, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions, signed partnership to provide Mashreq Online customers with a 60 day free trial of Kaspersky Anti-Virus product and a 50% discount on the purchase of the product. Over 100,000 customers are expected to benefit from this offer.

The co-operation comes in line with Mashreq’s efforts to encourage its customers to protect their computer devices from potential security threats. In 2010, Mashreq’s online banking recorded over two million successful transactions, reflecting customers’ preferred method for their banking transactions. Due to this high traffic, online security is essential.

Aref Al Ramli, Head of Alternative Channels, Mashreq commented, “While we offer a safe and secure platform equipped with the best system for convenient banking transactions, it is critical that customers’ protect their computer devices. This partnership

is a testament of Mashreq’s commitment to offer our customers with the latest technology has to offer. Kaspersky Anti-Virus product will offer protection while browsing.”

Aref continued, “We have recently launched a newly enhanced online banking platform offering customers additional banking functionality, improved security measures and financial freedom.”

Tarek Kuzbari, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab Middle East and Turkey, “We are delighted to collaborate with Mashreq in this highly sensitive and demanding market.

Internet surfing has faced many challenges during the last period, and our goal is to provide Mashreq customers with the highest level of security on their devices.”

“As part of our 2011 plan, our partnership with Mashreq will not involve only product enhancement, but will also provide technical support, customer security and extra protection tool with minimal costs”, continued Kuzbari.

LAS VEGAS: Jackie Ballinger from GriffinTechnology displays the Helo TC Assault at CES Unveiled, ahead of the opening of the annual Consumer Electronics Show on January 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The easy-to-fly indoor remote controlled toy helicopter can be controlled with an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and will soon be available for Android devices. — AFP

LAS VEGAS: Acer unveiled the world’s thinnest laptop computer as an array of “ultrabook” rivals prepared to debut this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Taiwan-based computer titan will begin shipping Acer Aspire 5 models in the second quarter of this year, with prices to be disclosed in coming weeks.

“That S5 is quite significant,” analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies said after the Acer press event. “It looks like the thinnest and lightest, and it sets the bar for the rest of the ultrabook vendors,” he continued.

The Aspire S5 has a 34-cm (13.3-inch) screen and is 15 mm at its thickest point. The ultrabook weighs slightly less than 1.35 kg (three pounds).

“We are committed to evolving this technology,” said Acer chief executive J.T. Wang. “By the second quarter of this year we will have four models of ultrabook and more to come.”

Ultrabooks powered by Windows 8 will be released by Acer after Microsoft releases the new version of its computer operating system later this year, according to Wang. He estimated that ultrabooks would make up at least 35 percent of the Acer product line by the end of this year.

Since Aspire S5 is Windows based it is not likely to be a direct challenge to MacBook Air laptops, which have been winning converts to the sleek machines powered by Apple software, according to Bajarin. “The real battle is not with Apple, it is with all the other vendors coming out with Windows ultrabooks,” Bajarin said.

“Apple will still do great with MacBook Air, but in the Windows world it is great news that five

years after Apple set the tone the industry is finally getting something equal,” he continued.

Acer also announced plans to launch a free service that will let users of its computers store video, photos, music, and documents in the Internet “cloud” and access files from any Windows 8 or Android software powered gadgets.

“We believe Microsoft will take care of Windows devices; Google will take care of Android devices, and Acer will take care of in

between,” Wang said. “We will make Windows work very well with Android and other platforms too.” Bajarin described Aspire S5 as the first viable Windows equivalent of popular MacBook Air laptops built by California-based Apple. Acer Cloud appeared to be a Windows version of the Apple’s freshly-launched iCloud service that lets people access their content from iPads, iPhones, iPods, and Macintosh computers, according to the analyst. — AFP

Tokai Challenger set for ME debut at World Energy Summit

Coating lets smartphones survive under water LAS VEGAS: As sleek new smartphones prepared to make splashes at the Consumer Electronics Show here today, a California firm was out to prevent water from being the death of them.

Liquipel was showing off a clear coating a thousand times thinner than a human hair that shields smar tphones outside and inside from damaging effects of water.

“Water will just run through the machine,” Liquipel president Danny McPhail told AFP as he casually tossed an iPhone into a tub of water and watched it sink. “It actually beads right on top of the circuit board and rolls off.”

He plucked the unscathed iPhone from the tub and shook the water from the gadget, which continued to work. About six weeks ago, the Southern California company launched the first public service that let smartphone owners send gadgets in to be coated using the nano-technology.

Liquipel came to CES to close deals with major electronics makers to have protective coating preapplied to new smartphones. “Hopefully, the next time you purchase a phone it will already be treated,” McPhail said. “Wine spills, coffee spills, anything like that you are going to be protected,” he continued. “I don’t want to say a toilet, but that is where 50 percent of smartphone water deaths happen.” Liquipel charges $60 to coat a smartphone, with shipping adding to the cost. — AFP

KUWAIT: Tokai Challenger, winner of the 2009 and 2011 World Solar Challenge, the world’s premier race for solar cars, is set to make its Middle East debut at the World Future Energy Summit from January 16. The Tokai Challenger will be available for visitors to view in Hall 9 of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), for the duration of the Summit.

The Tokai Challenger, a high-speed solar car developed byTokai University in Japan, is equipped with Sharp-manufactured solar cells boasting the highest level of conversion efficiency in the world. The car, which has a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour, has been designed and tested by students from

Tokai University in collaboration with leading Japanese automotive companies.

In the 2011 edition of the World Solar Challenge, the Tokai Challenger covered the race distance of 2998 kilometers in 29 hours 49 minutes at an average speed of 100.54 kilometers per hour. Previously, the car was also the winner of the 2010 South African Solar Challenge, recognized by the International Solarcar Federation and the FÈdÈration Internationale de l’Automobile.

The World Future Energy Summit 2012 is being held from January 16-19 at ADNEC and is expected to see around 26,000 attendees, including including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies, and nearly 20 national pavilions.

TravelDNA seed planted on rocky honeymoon LAS VEGAS: Anishiya Taneja and her husband turned a rocky honeymoon into inspiration for a free online travel service that matches people with ideal vacation itineraries. TravelDNA has been a viral hit during an invitation-only test period and has already caught the eyes of Google, Facebook and Amazon.

“We are trying to be the Amazon.com for travel; building the perfect itinerary for every user in less than a second,” Taneja said while showing TravelDNA to reporters gathered for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

She described the service as a computer-

ized version of “a travel agent who knew you perfectly; had expertise of anywhere in the world; was open 24-seven and was free.”

TravelDNA uses algorithms and machine learning to navigate the oceans of data about flights, hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more from a cornucopia of partners such as Expedia, and Lonely Planet, Michelin, and Frommer’s guides.

“Because we do this mathematically, we can endlessly match people to places and objects to find the best results,” Taneja said. “No human could put that level of effort into it,” she contin-

ued. “Essentially, we are saying who are you, what do you like and what do you want?”

TravelDNA will cover 20 destination cities when the service opens to the public in March, and will have every city in the world by the end of the year, according to Taneja, the startup’s founder and chief executive.

TravelDNA planned to make money by getting paid for customers referred to websites where people book flights, hotel stays or other travel arrangements. The service will also get revenue from advertisements at the website and from deals to let travel planners know of bar-

gains being promoted by daily-deal operations.

TravelDNA is working on a “wallet” service that would charge users subscription fees to keep track of loyalty awards for flights or hotels and then build intineraries based on trips or stays they could get using points accrued.

TravelDNA is looking to partner with tour guides, event promoters, vacation home managers and even home room-letting sites such as AirBnB to add their offerings to itinerary options.

“My husband and I went on a honeymoon to Italy,” Taneja said when asked what led to

the company’s birth. “I was completely frustrated and we realized that every single traveler has a different DNA and their idea of a vacation is different,” she continued.

“Lots of spouses and travel partners are like that; opposites attract. We thought we could solve marital and friend discord if we surface the likes they share and use those to make a great vacation.” TravelDNA consists of seven people working out of an office in downtown San Francisco. Its advisory board includes an executive from the travel team at California Internet giant Google. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Cooperative research helps pandas and Chinese science YA’AN SICHUAN: Among all the fields of international research on giant pandas, breeding is the most prominent, experts said. Since cooperative research started in 1994, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has helped produce 13 cubs in Japan (11 survived), three in the United States and twins in Spain. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province contributed to the breeding of six cubs in the US, two in Austria and one in Thailand.

Any baby born to pandas on loan from China belongs to China, and the offspring are sent back at about age 4 to become part of the breeding population. So far, 11 of the pandas born overseas have returned. In the process, the cooperative ventures have helped China raise its own level of animal breeding, feeding and research.

Different techniques In 2006, Zoo Atlanta invited Hou Rong, director of a research center at Chengdu’s research base, to the US in spring to help a pair of pandas breed via artificial insemination.

The zoo had tried three times, unsuccessfully, to collect semen from Yang Yang.

A panda keeper later found that Yang Yang had a retrograde ejaculation problem. His semen was redirected to the urinary bladder rather than being ejaculated via the urethra. Hou suggested that semen be collected by electro-ejaculation combined with rectal massage.

A different procedure was suggested by another expert the zoo had invited - Richard Fayrer-Hosken, an animal reproductive medicine specialist with the

University of Georgia’s College of Veterinar y Medicine. He insisted on first using a pipe to extract semen from the panda’s urinary bladder and then washing urine off the sample.

After rounds of discussion, both experts succeeded in collecting sperm from Yang Yang in their own ways. But the quality of Hou’s sample was considered better because the sperm had not been stained by urine. The zoo used the fresh sperm sample collected by Hou to inseminate Lun Lun, who gave birth to Mei Lan on Sept 6, 2006. Mei Lan, whose name means “Atlanta’s Beauty”, returned to China in February 2010 and was appointed the global ambassador for Earth Hour, an event led by the WWF to fight climate change.

Hou used the same method in 2007 to help the Memphis Zoo in the US. The zoo had tried to collect sperm from a panda named Le Le five times but to no avail. When Hou succeeded, all staff workers on the scene burst into cheers and applause. “After I was done,” she said, “an American panda keeper followed me back to the laboratory. At that time, he didn’t know I speak English and bowed to me deeply. I was so impressed.” Mothering lessons Collecting sperm is not the only critical process.

So is timing. The female’s estrus period comes just once a year, and she is receptive for only a few days.

Therefore, it is crucial to seize the right moment and frequency of pairing, said Huang Zhi, animal management director of China Conservation and Research.

When mating succeeds, the job still may not be

done. The center also has sent experienced staff members abroad to help female pandas raise their cubs. Some of the mothers do not do well because they have health problems, are inexperienced or can handle only one cub at a time (twins are not rare). Chinese experts have taught their foreign colleagues how to bottle-feed and monitor cubs and how to feed the mother panda after delivery.

Getting to know you Zoo Atlanta had received Yang Yang and his mate, Lun Lun, from the Chengdu base in 1999. That is also when the facilities began cooperating to study animal behavior, something no employee of any Chinese zoo had heard of before. Many scientists and technicians at the Chengdu Zoo even questioned whether such research deserved their time and effort. They later found its value. Statistics in the 1990s showed that among more than 100 pandas raised over the years in a simulated wild environment, only seven males had been able to mate naturally.

If a female panda at Chengdu Zoo entered estrus, the zoo would borrow a male from Beijing Zoo immediately and put them together. Contrary to their keepers’ expectations of a happy couple, the two would fight ferociously. Nobody could explain why.

Through behavior studies, researchers learned that pandas need sufficient information about each other before mating. In the wild, they leave scent marks with urine and glands on their buttocks. With these marks, a male can tell a female his personal information and find the right partner.

Based on this research, panda keepers now put the male and female in adjacent enclosures before her estrus cycle to let them get to know each other.

Staff members stop washing out the enclosures, preserving the scent marks left by the pandas. Now, Hou said, 60 percent of adult male pandas worldwide have natural mating experiences. (The remaining 40 percent are used as sperm donors.) About half of pandas mate naturally every year, up from 10 percent in the 1990s. The annual breeding success rate also has doubled, reaching nearly 60 percent on average.

‘We have learned a lot’ “China’s ability to research giant pandas has substantially improved compared to 20 years ago,” Hou said. “Like other Third World countries, our level of medical care, animal protection and scientific research used to remain low, but we have learned a lot through international cooperation all these years.

“Today, our country has reached the international level in terms of animal exhibition, research, feeding and management. We absorbed the advanced technologies of other countries, applied them into our animal breeding practice and made our own renovations.” Based on her cooperation with the University of Liverpool and the National Cancer Institute in the US, Hou and her colleagues built their own research team, developed new technology to standardize paternity testing for giant pandas, and applied for a national patent in 2010. Tracking family lines is critical to maintaining genetic diversity in the endangered panda species.— dpa

Healthy eating may help ADHD kids: Study ‘Supplemental diet therapy is simple, inexpensive

GHENT: Belgian professor and surgeon Phillip Blondeel (front row-C) poses with medical staff after a press conference on the first facial composite tissue allotransplantation in Belgium, at the Ghent University hospital, in Ghent on Saturday. — AFP

Boston lawsuit claims DES-breast cancer link BOSTON: Arline MacCormack first heard about DES from her mother when she was 17. Three decades later, MacCormack believes that the drug her mother took to prevent miscarriages caused her to develop breast cancer at age 44. MacCormack, of Newton, Massachusetts, is one of 53 women from around the U.S. who are suing drug companies who made and promoted DES for millions of pregnant women from about 1938 to the early 1970s. In 1971, the US Food and Drug Administration told doctors to stop prescribing DES for their pregnant patients after a study found that taking DES during pregnancy appeared to increase the risk of developing a rare vaginal cancer years later for DES users’ daughters in their teens and 20s.

DES, or diethylstilbestrol , is a synthetic estrogen that was prescribed to millions of women in the United States, Europe and other countries to prevent miscarriages, premature birth and other problems.

The case in Boston is being closely watched by DES daughters around the country. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed since the 1970s alleging links between DES and cervical and vaginal cancer, as well as infertility problems. Many of those cases were settled before trial. The Boston case is believed to be the first major litigation alleging a link between DES and breast cancer in DES daughters over the age of 40.

MacCormack, now 50, said she was stunned when she was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago after having mammograms every six months since she turned 40 because she had had several benign cysts removed over the years. “The characteristics of my cancer were for women over 60 typically. It wasn’t the type of cancer a 40-year-old or a 44-year-old woman gets,” said MacCormack.

“When I read the research that’s been done, I found I had more chance of getting it because my mom took DES,” she said. The women’s lawyers say their case is supported by a recent study that suggests that breast cancer risk is nearly doubled in DES daughters over the age of 40. The average woman has about a 1 in 50 chance of developing breast cancer by 55. The study, led by Dr. Robert Hoover, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute, found that the chance for DES daughters is 1 in 25.

The lawsuit alleges that 14 drug manufacturers - including Eli Lilly and Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.- withheld from doctors and the FDA reports that showed DES did not prevent miscarriages and raised serious questions about the safety of the drug. “ This drug, DES, was the biggest human experiment of quackery in the history of medicine,” said Aaron Levine, a Washington, D.C., lawyer who filed the Boston lawsuit and represents another 18 DES daughters making similar claims.

Representatives and lawyers for Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb declined to comment on the lawsuit. In court and in public documents, the companies argue that a firm link between DES and breast cancer has not

been established and that the DES daughters who are suing them have not shown that DES caused their cancers.

“We believe these claims are without merit and are prepared to defend against them vigorously,” Eli Lilly said in its most recent annual report. The drug companies also argue that the medical community does not generally accept that fetal exposure to DES causes breast cancer.

“There is not a single published study, a respected medical treatise or textbook, nor a pronouncement by one of the prominent societies dedicated to the discovery of cancer causes which claims a causal link between prenatal DES exposure and breast cancer has been proven,” Bristol-Myers Squibb argued in a motion to exclude the testimony of the plaintiffs’ experts.

US Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler has heard testimony from a dozen experts on both sides during a hearing on the drug companies’ motions, which argue that the opinions of the women’s experts are not based on reliable science. If Bowler grants the drug companies’ motion, the case will not go to trial, Levine said. But if she allows the plaintiffs’ experts to testify, the case can proceed to trial. Final arguments on the motion are scheduled for Jan. 19 in US District Court.

DES was prescribed at a time when medical advice was rarely questioned and drugs were not subjected to the kinds of rigorous clinical trials they are today, said Dr. Michael Grodin, a professor of medical ethics at Boston University’s School of Public Health.

Grodin said proving a link between DES and the plaintiffs’ breast cancer could be difficult.

“There’s an issue of causation, but even if it did cause the cancer, that doesn’t mean there was negligence,” Grodin said. “The question of negligence is what did they know, when did they know it and what did they do about it? Those are all in contention,” he said.

Jackie White, 48, of Centerburg, Ohio, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at age 47. Tests showed 20 tumors in one breast and two pre-cancerous lumps in the other. The cancer had also spread to her lymph nodes. She had a double mastectomy, and did six months of chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiation. White said her mother, a nurse, told her at age 13 that she had taken DES while pregnant, prompting White to get regular gynecological exams and mammograms over the years. She said she has no family history of breast cancer. White said it wasn’t until she saw high estrogen levels in her pathology reports that she began to wonder whether DES could have caused her cancer. “I exercise daily. I ate healthy, low-fat, did all of the maintenance screenings that a person needs - self-exams, mammograms, OB-GYN appointments - eliminated the exposure to birth control or things like that, just like doctors recommended,” she said.

“I’m not any of the things that are the highest-known reasons for risk factors for breast cancer.”—AP

WASHINGTON: Simply eating healthier may improve the behavior of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if therapy and medication fail, said a study published yesterday in the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers, however, said that their review of recent controlled scientific studies had shown conflicting evidence on the impact of supplements and restricted dietsin some cases they were no better than the placebo effect.

Nutritional inter ventions should therefore be considered an alternative or secondary approach to treating ADHD, not a first-line attack, said the review by doctors at Nor thwestern University Medical School in Chicago.

“Supplemental diet therapy is simple, relatively inexpensive, and more acceptable to patient and parent,” than strict additive-free diets that have been popular in the past, said the study.

“Public education regarding a healthy diet pattern and lifestyle to prevent or control ADHD may have greater long-term success.”

The study reviewed research published on the sugar-restricted, additive -free Feingold Diet, megavitamin therapies, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and

the suspected link between ADHD and a “Western-style” high-fat, lowfiber diet.

Three to five percent of US schoolchildren, or nearly five million youths, are diagnosed with ADHD, which involves hyperactive behavior, inability to pay attention, and impulsivity. It is often treated with stimulant medications such as the controversial Ritalin drug.

The precise causes of ADHD are unknown, although studies have pointed to hereditary factors as well as social and environmental influences. Eating high-sugar and high-fat foods may exacerbate symptoms, some research has shown. But while proposed interventions such as giving iron supplements or cutting out additives and food dyes have soared in popularity in recent years, the Pediatrics article said there is little solid science to back up those claims. For instance, the muchhyped Feingold Diet which advocates no red or orange color dyes in food as well as no apples, grapes, deli, sausage or hot dogs, was highly touted in the 1970s and 80s for improving symptoms in more than half of ADHD children.

“Controlled studies failed to confirm the effectiveness of the diet to the extent claimed,” said

the Pediatrics review, also noting that the regimen was very difficult for many parents to follow.

Similarly, studies focused on getting rid of potential allergens in the diet such as wheat, eggs, chocolate, cheese and nuts, have shown limited success with some ADHD kids “but a placebo effect could not be excluded,” said the study. Even when it comes to sugar and diet soda, two elements which many parents believe can trigger hyperactivity in children, scientific studies have been unable to prove a definitive link. “ The majority of controlled studies fail to demonstrate a significant adverse effect of sucrose or aspartame,” said the study. The authors noted that avoiding high sugar foods in young children “may prevent diet-related exacerbations of ADHD.” But when parents restrict a child’s sugar intake in order to ward off bad behavior, their inherent belief that it will work is likely to blur any objective assessment of whether it works or not. “In practice, the link between sugar and hyperactive behavior is so universal in the opinion of parents of children with ADHD that no controlled study or physician counsel is likely to change this perception.”

The suspected role of zinc and

iron-deficiency deserves further study, while megavitamin therapy has not been proven to work and may even be dangerous in the long term, it said. For many parents, simply paying more attention to feeding their kids a healthy diet, rich in fish, vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole-grains, is likely to help.

“A greater attention to the education of parents and children in a healthy dietary pattern, omitting items shown to predispose to ADHD, is perhaps the most promising and practical complementary or alternative treatment of ADHD,” said the study.

Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, who was not part of the study, said more research is needed into dietar y treatments for ADHD. “We have more questions than answers,” he said. “It is unfortunate that more research is not being done to examine the role of dietary interventions for the treatment of ADHD. “Since some of these nutritional interventions cannot be patented, drug companies are not willing to underwrite the costs of the needed research.” — AFP

Fish, whole grains improve concentration MUNICH: On our way to a business meeting we often grab some chocolate, during the short break a sweetened coffee and for lunch a snack like a hot dog with ketchup. Life is stressful, and eating is often reduced to simply taking in nutrients. The brain needs sufficient energy in order to kick into gear when you hit the button.

All too frequently the energy is sourced from sweet and fatty foods, as they are readily available and have an appealing taste - but is this real brain food? The brain does tend to prefer a bar of chocolate to an apple, as apples contain less of the glucose that is a major source of energy for the brain.

“In situations of stress, the desire for something sweet increases with the quantity of stress hormones produced,” says Ingrid Kiefer, a Vienna-based dietary expert.

Sugars are divided into monosaccharides and polysaccharides, depending on the length of the carbon chain. Monosaccharides, of which the most important is glucose, are contained in sweets, which provide a rapid supply of sugar to the bloodstream.

“If you eat a chocolate, your blood sugar level soars quickly and a lot of the happy hormone serotonin is formed in the brain. But this effect also falls away rapidly,” Kiefer says. The result is a sudden feeling of fatigue, with a resulting effect on the body that is anything but energizing.

Sugars should thus be taken in the form of polysaccharides, or so-called complex carbohydrates. “Because they still have to be broken down in the digestive system, the blood sugar level is kept more constant, and with it the ability to concentrate,” Kiefer says.

Complex carbohydrates are primarily to be found in whole grain products, oats, potatoes, legumes like peas and beans, and in fruit and vegetables.

The nerve cells in the brain need unsaturated fatty acids if they are to provide a free flow of information. “Omega-3 fatty acids in particular help ward off events like strokes and clogged arteries,” says Andrea Flemmer, a Munich-based biologist. These “good” fatty acids are to be found in many nuts and in peanuts, oils like linseed, rape and nut oils, as well as in cold water

fish like herring, mackerel, tuna and salmon.

The vitamins A, C and E - the antioxidant vitamins - also form an important component of brain food. “They eliminate the oxygen radicals that are held responsible for damaging cells and thus offer protection to nerves and blood vessels,” says Berlin-based dietician Manuela Marin.

Deficiency in these vitamins can lead to nervousness, irritability, fatigue and lack of drive.

“Strawberries and kiwi fruit are ideal, as they contain more Vitamin C than oranges,” Flemmer says. The Vitamin B Group is also essential for good nerves, as they protect brain and nerve cells and stimulate the formation of new nerve tissue. Vitamin B can be found in yeast, wheat germ and beansprouts, liver and in avocados and bananas. Bananas effectively counter stress, as they, like chocolate, contain the protein tryptophan, which the body converts into serotonin.

“But, by contrast with chocolate, bananas contain complex carbohydrates, and this lends them a relaxing effect and provides the basis for more long-lasting ability to concentrate,” Flemmer says. — dpa

Children more susceptible to food poisoning

SINGAPORE: A vendor sits behind the counter selling barbequed crocodile meat at the bazaar in Singapore yesterday. According to the vendor, eating crocodile meat helps to cure asthma, a chronic respiratory disease. — AFP

BERLIN: Children are particularly susceptible to food poisoning, with around half of food-related illnesses affecting them, particularly those younger than four. The German Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) attributes this primarily to inadequate refrigeration, cooling food incorrectly or failing to heat it properly, allowing viruses or bacteria to multiply and produce toxins. “Children are more susceptible to food-related infections, as a smaller quantity of germs are needed to cause illness, as a result of their lower body weight,” BVKJ spokesman Ulrich Fegeler said.

“Their stomachs produce less in the way of the acids that could neutralize them,” he said, adding that the immune systems of small children are also not fully developed. Among the symptoms typical of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fever. Measures to avoid food poisoning in children include avoiding unpasteurized milk and dairy products, raw and incompletely cooked meat, raw fish and uncooked crustaceans. Eggs should be cooked hard before given to children. Fridge temperatures should not go above 5 degrees Celsius, and when serving warm left-overs, they should be heated through to at least 70 degrees in order to eliminate certain germs. Fruit should be washed in warm water and dried with a kitchen towel. —dpa

H E A LT H

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

India, the pharmacy of the developing world Poser over medicine supplies KUALA LUMPUR: India may be more famous for the Taj Mahal, its religious ceremonies, Bollywood films and one of the highest economic growth rates in recent years. But more than all these, India has had positive worldwide impact through its large supplies of lowcost, good quality generic medicines. Millions of lives have been saved or prolonged by this.

Many people go to India to buy life-saving generic medicines from pharmacies and bring them back in suitcases to give to relatives who cannot afford the expensive original products. A decade ago, an Indian company called Cipla produced HIV-AIDS generic drugs that could treat a patient for US$300 a year, far cheaper than the branded product’s cost of $10,000 a patient a year. Today, the Indian drug cost has been cut further to below $80. This has enabled millions more AIDS patients to be treated. India supplies 70% of the HIVAIDS drugs obtained by Unicef, the Global Fund and Clinton Foundation for developing countries. And 75%80% of medicines (not only for AIDS) distributed by the International Dispensary Association to developing countries come from India. No wonder India has been termed the pharmacy of the developing world.

Last week, the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), which has 700 drug companies as members, celebrated its 50th anniversary. There was much to celebrate, including the industry’s high growth, wide range of medicines, and its contribution to good affordable drugs. But there are also many factors that may hinder the continuation of the companies’ role as chief supplier of medicines for developing countries.

A main factor of the industry’s success has been the government’s move in 1970 to exclude pharmaceutical drugs from product patents. This paved the way for local companies to produce generic versions of the expensive foreign drugs, and within a few decades they had taken over 80% of the local market, while also sup-

plying cheap medicines abroad.

The situation took a negative turn when the intellectual property agreement known as TRIPS was established in 1995 together with the World Trade Organisation. It disallowed countries from excluding medicines from patentability.

However, TRIPS allowed countries to determine the criteria for an invention that can be granted a patent, and the ability of the government to grant a compulsory licence to local companies to produce the patented products if their requests to patent owners to give a voluntary licence do not succeed.

To implement its TRIPS obligations, India passed changes to its patent law in 2005 so drugs could now be patented. However, the new law also contained flexibilities such as strict criteria for patentability (trivial changes to a patent-expired product would not qualify for a new patent), allowance for public opposition to a patent application before a decision is made, and compulsory licensing. India has one of the best patent laws in the world that still gives some space to its producers to make generic drugs. But it is also true that the old policy space has been eroded because many new drugs since 2005 have been patented by multinational companies which are selling them at exorbitant prices.

Indian companies can no longer make their own generic versions of these new medicines unless they successfully apply to the government for compulsory licences, and that is quite cumbersome; or unless they obtain a licence from the patent-owning multinational, and that usually comes with stringent conditions, especially for export. Another worry is that India is negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union.

Such agreements usually contain provisions such as data exclusivity and extension of the patent term, which prevents or hinders generic production. Finally, six Indian companies have recently been bought up by

large foreign firms. If this trend continues, the Indian drug market may be dominated by multinationals again. It is uncertain whether they will continue to supply the developing world with cheap generic medicines when this may be in conflict with their own branded products. International health organisations such as Unaids, Unitaid and Doctors Without Borders have raised their serious concerns that these recent trends may threaten India’s role as the chief supplier of affordable medicines to Africa and other developing countries. “Millions will die if India cannot produce the new HIV-AIDS medicines in future, it is a matter of life and

death,” said Michel Sidibe, Unaids executive director, during a visit to India last year.

Thus, a strategy is needed that involves the government and the drug companies, that ensures the local drug industry continues to thrive, that it produces not only the existing medicines but also new medicines even if they are patented, and that they are supplied at cheap prices not only in India but to the developing world, too. That was the sobering message that emerged at last week’s 50th anniversary conference of the Indian drug association, even in the midst of congratulations on the achievements of the past. —dpa

DORTMUND: A two month old small anteater climbs on its mother’s back at the zoo in Dortmund, western Germany, yesterday. — AP

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Upcoming events Aware Center Arabic lessons The AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Winter 1 Arabic language courses will be on until January 12th, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind. The environment is relaxed and courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers, travelers & those working in the private business sector. Arabic classes at the AWARE Center are unique because students are provided with the chance to practice their Arabic through various social activities that aim at bringing Arabs and Westerners together.

AWARE Arabic courses highlight: lIntroductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics lBetter prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic lCombine language learning with cultural insights lTaught in multi-nationality group settings lProvide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.

For more information or registration, call 25335260/80 ext 105/104/0 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.

Get ready get set - RunQ8 Registrations are now open for RunQ8, the annual 10km charity race to be held on January 21, 2012. Organized by the Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI) and Agility, the race route will run from Marina Crescent in Salmiya along the Gulf Road up to the Third Ring Road and back. The race is aimed at supporting health issues affecting our community and raising awareness around them. In its second year, RunQ8 is promoting road traffic safety. 20112021 has been named the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety with a goal to stabilize and then reduce global road traffic fatalities by 2021. In Kuwait, traffic accidents are the third leading cause of mortality and a large number of people and their families are affected by the debilitating effects of injuries caused by road accidents. Last year, the race raised over KWD 50,000 for the Kuwait University’s Community Eye Health Care Initiative that supports Vision 2020, a joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). RunQ8 invites all members of the community to join in this initiative and help support road traffic safety in Kuwait. To register contact the FSRI office 25720338 or visit the race websitewww.Runq8.org for more details.

There are also pre-race articles and videos produced by FSRI’s specialized sports trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists and psychologists to help get you ready for the race. Please see our website www.runQ8.org and our Facebook page for updates on our running and walking clinic, race events, and other initiatives.

KKMA Chairman selected for Pravasi Bharati award

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he 10th Pravasi Bharati (Kerala) Awards 2011 for people excellence have been announced in Trivandrum. Sageer Trikarpur, Chairman of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association, the largest social welfare association of Indian nationals in Kuwait was selected for the Pravasi Bharati Karma Shreshta Award 2011 for his exemplary leadership contribution to the non resident Indians in Kuwait.

These awards have been instituted by Pravasi Bharati Association based in Thiruvananthapuram to honor individuals including of NRIs active in socio cultural and economic activities who have contributed their might for the upliftment of society in their place of residence and have achieved success in life through their ingenuity and hard work.

Kerala Legislative assembly speaker G Kartikeyan will be presenting the award during a function to be held at Muscat Hotel Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in India.

Adieu Mama Adekile

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riends and well-wishers gathered at the Kuwait University on Saturday to hold a requiem/prayer as they join the family of Prof Adekile to mourn the demise of his wife Gladys Adekile who died after a brief illness at the age of 60. The burial will be on January 28, after a funeral service at the Lighthouse Church Kuwait City.

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angladesh Cultural Festival was held at Kaifan Liberation Theater from 29-31 December 2011, where a large number people attended to see the various cultural events. It was also attended by diplomats and top dignitaries.

KERA Winter Fest on Jan 13

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uwait Ernakulam Residents Association (KERA) is conducting a Winter Fest on Friday, January 13, 2012 at Mangaf Auditorium from 5pm onwards. KERA family members will present cultural programs. For more details call Jomy Augustine (General Convener) 66874364, 66900455

Vichar Bharati seminar on Swami Vivekananda

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n the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary, Vichar Bharati, an affiliate of Seva Darshan Kuwait, will hold a seminar on Swami Vivekananda on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the Indian Central School, Abbasiya.

Vivekananda is regarded as the patriot saint of modern India and an inspirer of her dormant national consciousness. His Philosophy and vision became the eyeopener for millions across the world. Vivekananda’s unique message still remains as “an unopened gift” to mankind and Vichar Bharati aims to enlighten its members and well wishers with the message of this great visionary.

Eminent speakers from the Indian community in Kuwait will deliver thoughts on various aspects of Vivekananda’s life.

Suresh V Balakrishnan, HOD, English Department at Bharatheeya Vidhya Bhavan will deliver a speech on Swami Vivekananda and Man-making. Sajeev K Peter, Business Editor, Kuwait Times will speak on the role of Swami Vivekananda in propagating Indian culture and heritage. Dr Srikumar T S, Scientific Consultant, Kuwait Foundation For The Advancement Of Science, will deliver a speech on ‘Swami Vivekananda, the Patriot and the Voice of India.’ Krishno Sarkar (Planning Engineer, KNPC) will talk on ‘Swami Vivekananda - The Role model of the Youth’ while Satyanarayanan S, Electrical Supervisor, Al Julaih Petroleum Company, will speak on Spiritual Perceptiveness of Swami Vivekananda. For more details and information please contact vbkuwait@gmail.com

KDA Christmas, New Year celebration

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ozhikode District Association (KDA), Fahaheel area organised Christmas- New Year celebration at Kohinoor Auditorium, Souk Sabah, Fahaheel.

Various entertainment programmes including mimics parade led by Subash and musical programme led by

Muhammed Rafi Kozhikode were staged as a part of the celebration.

Muneer Marackan, Fahaheel Area President presided over the meeting held in connection with the celebration.

Rajagopalan.E, President of the Association inaugurated the celebration.

Christmas & New Year message was giv-

en by Hameed Keloth. Afsal Khan (Malabar Gold), Rishi Jacob, Hassankoya.

K, Najeeb.P.V, Shaji.K.V, Sreeja Santhakumar, Asma Abdulla offered felicitation.

The VCD of “Rafi-Kishore Nite 2011”, conducted by the Association was released at the occasion by handing over

first VCD to Zubair Parakkadvu by the Association President.

Santhakumar. M, Jayaprakash. P, Siraj Eranhikkal, Sakeer Hussain, Jayakrishnan, Sudheesh Poovangal, Jinu controlled the meeting. Anil kumar welcomed the gathering and Thaha Koyilandy proposed vote of thanks.

KIG Kuwait new office bearers

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irector Mokter Hussain along with friends held a cultural ceremony at the residence of Minar in Hawally to celebrate the birthday of Mokter Hussain and Minar. Many well wishers from Kuwait gathered on this occasion and also to greet the New Year.

JaPa celebrates 26th anniversary

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atiya Party Kuwait branch celebrated their 26th anniversary on 01-012012 at Gulshan Hotel, Kuwait City with a meeting followed by a cultural and musical show. The meeting was presided by Chairperson Mahmud Ali Haji and was presented by its General Secretary Mohammed Ismail. The celebration started with recitation of the Holy Quran by Qari Moulvi Abdul Ahad.

The chief guest of the celebrity was His Excellency the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait Sayed Shahed Reja.

erala Islamic Group elected its office bearers for the new term 2012-2013. Sakkeer Hussain Thuvvoor was elected as president, Anwar Sayeed as General Secretary and Najeeb MK as the treasurer. Faisal Manjery, Shoukath Koroth(Vice Presidents), NP Abdul Razak, Muhammad Shareef PT, Aysha Faisal (Secretaries), PK Manaf(Asst.

Treasurer) are the other-office bearers for the next two year term.

The following are the list of executive members with their departments. VP Shoukath Ali(Daawa), SAP Azad (Projects and resources), K Abdurahman (Oruma), Abdul Razak Nadvi (Masjid Council), PP Abdul Razak (Rresearch and Development), Khaleelurahman (Mymana), KV Mohamed Faisal (Islamika Samooham), Ansar KM (Quran Study Centre), VV Noushad (Publication), Feroz Hameed (Dharma Dhara), KA Zubair (Education Board), Niyas Islahi (Hajj and Umra), Fazalul Haq (Auditor), K Moidu, VS Najeeb, Anees Farooqi, Anwar Abdulla SAP and Warda Anwar.

Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala Assistant Ameer MK Mohamed Ali conducted the election process held in Abbasiya Pravasi Auditorium. The Executive Committee was elected by representative from the various areas of Kuwait and the office bearers by the Executive Committee.

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Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

IMWA award conferral 2011

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MWA’s Award Conferral of Quran Competitions 2011 was held on Friday, 30th Dec 2011 at Jamiat AlIslah, Rawda, Kuwait.

Br Mohammed Manshauddin, the President of IMWA welcomed the Chief Guest, Satish C. Mehta, Ambassador of India to Kuwait and the Guest of Honor Abdul Aziz Al-Duaij, Deputy General Manager of Islam Presentation Committee (IPC), Kuwait. He also welcomed the guests, dignitaries, IMWA members and its executive committee and more importantly, the winners of the Quran competition. He highlighted the difficulties encountered by the association in organizing the competition and requested the parents to encourage the children to participate in the Competition and take advantage of the same. He also informed the audience about introduction of the “Islamic Calligraphy” in this year’s competition, which was well received by the children.

The President requested the Indian ambassador to release this year’s IMWA souvenir. During his speech, the ambassador acknowledged the importance of understanding the Holy Quran and appreciated IMWA’s ambitious plans in this regard and quoted “The seeds we sow today in this direction will bring fruits tomorrow in the form of good Citizens of India.

This year IMWA also started a new “Academic Excellence Award” in the name of late Abdullah Hamza Dalwi. The Awards Conferral, started by the ambassador giving the first Academic Excellence Award to Sharifa Alimiya Tiklye, who achieved the 2nd rank in the Xth Standard, CBSE Exams 2010 from Jabriya Indian School.

This was followed by Conferring Awards to the winners. Before leaving the venue, the ambassador congratulated IMWA for conducting such a program and expressed good wishes for IMWA’s

success in its future endeavors.

Br Abdulazeem kept the audience fully engaged and invited IEAS (Don Bosco) students to present a Choral Recitation, brief biography of the Holy Prophet (SAW). It was very well choreographed and all the audience, of over 350 people applauded the skit and for that the entire team and the teachers were appreciated.

Abdul Aziz Al-Duaij, Deputy General Manager of IPC gave speech which was quite inspiring. He said that “these days there are no boundaries for cultures to expand and knowledge to reach to any part of the world” He further emphasized that the small children laden with true understanding of Islam will lead the entire world and paves the way for peace and harmony. He gave the Certificates of appreciation to the respected judges of the Quran Competition. A speech by Mohammed Kotob on the topic “Advice to Parents”

was very informative in which he advised parents to have trust in their children and to invest in them with time and money. The award distribution continued and the certificates were awarded by the President and senior members of IMWA as well as by other dignitaries.

Br Mujeebullah KV, the convener of the event gave a short and impressive speech and requested the parents to encourage the children to participate in Quran competition.

The students of IEAS (Don Bosco) continued the program by presenting a skit on “Science and Sunnah” which was well received by the audience. The Award Conferral continued till all the certificates were awarded.

The program concluded with a vote of thanks offered by IMWA’s General Secretary, Br Israr Ahmed to all those who took time to attend this conferral.

KDA financial assistance under Karunyam welfare scheme

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inancial assistance under Karunyam, the social welfare scheme of Kozhikode District Association, was inaugurated by Mrs Kanathil Jameela, Kozhikode District Panchayat President at a function held at Thalakulathur, near Atholi in Kozhikode District. A widow suffering from severe cancer ailment who is to undergo a major surgery was provided the financial assistance. Mrs Jameela opined that the expatriate associations in Kuwait are playing an important role in providing timely financial aid to poor people for meeting exorbitant medical expenses incurred for treatment of severe

EMBASSY OF GERMANY The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application.

Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax- 25387719.

Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

Get-together with music director Bharadwaj in Kuwait

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ailments.

Besides the family welfare schemes intended for the members of the Association Karunyam Scheme was started recently Abdul Najeeb.T.K, Vice President of the association presided over the meeting.

Malayil Moosakoya was the chief guest. Thalakulathur Panchayat president K.T.Prameela, P.K. Santhosh, Chandran Nair, Prakasan Master, Veeran Koya, Biju.P.V and Koya Master spoke on the occasion. Jayaprakash.P. offered the welcome speech and Santhakumar.M expressed the vote of thanks.

usic director Bharadwaj was on a personal visit to Kuwait and Frontliners arranged for a face-toface get-together. Singaravelu, VicePresident welcomed the gathering; President Mrs Shantha Maria introduced his achievements. N.C.Mohandoss, G Rajasekar & K.Mathi, secretary ensured the guests care.

Bharadwaj, music director for more than 80 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam languages and for many jingles and serial songs gave a vivid account of his long journey in this music world. Starting his career as a Chartered Accountant, his passion saw him switch his career to music industry over a period of time and he never looked back after his entry.

He won many awards for his wonderfully composed songs and to name a few are: Ggnabagam varudhe, ovvoru pookalume (autograph), Sathamilladha thanimai ketten, Unnai paartha piragudhan, O podu, etc .

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca.

The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

He was narrating his loving experience with music and his acquaintances in the process in a casual conversation that took the audience into spellbound attention.

About his new experimental album on ‘Tirukkural’ for all the 1330 Kuralgal, he was upbeat about the release in April 14 and he said it is a unique experience to do music for entire volume as no one attempted such a feat so far.

Also, he encouraged the local amateur singers to be part of this mega project and he would divulge the details. During the function, Bharadwaj released ‘Meendum Meendum Pirandhu Vaa’ book penned by P. S. Kandanathan.

Bharadwaj and he handled the questions with consummate ease and poise that touched the hearts of many present there. A photo session followed by sumptuous Bollywood Restaurant dinner ended the day filled with thoughts of music and pride.

St Basil Orthodox Church to celebrate Harvest Festival

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he coupon for Harvest Festival of St Basil Indian Orthodox Church was released by Sultan Battery Diocesse Metropolitan His Grace Abraham Mar Ephiphanous on 6th January 2012 after the Holy Qurbana at St. Basil Church. During the same occasion His Grace also officially inaugurated the website of St. Basil Indian Orthodox Church www.basilchurch.org The Church will be celebrating its first Harvest Festival on 27th April, Friday 2012 at Indian Central School, Jaleeb Al Shuyokh. Under the leader ship of Vicar Rev. Fr. Saju Philip a committee has been formed to overlook the harvest festival 2012 with Binu Chempalayam as General Convenor, Joint Convener James Varghese and Finance Convener Alex P George. The committe will be also assisted by Church Trustee Honey P Kurien and

Secretary Thomas P Koshy.

A public function will be held on the same day at 10.30 am which will be adorned by social, cultural, political and religious luminaries locally and from India. A variety of programme will be performed by church members of different ages and group to thank God’s outpouring over our lives and on our church. The event will be adorned by well known south Indian Cine playback singers to add more colour for the joyous atmosphere.

The proceeds generated through the harvest festival will enable the church to financially bless the poor and for the development needs of our nascent parish. To commemorate the event a souvenir with history of Malankara Indian Orthodox Community in Kuwait and their till date activities will be published.

EMBASSY OF PERU Peruvian Permanent Expo will be temporarily closed from December 2lst 2011 to January 21st 2012. The Expo will reopen on January 22nd 2012 and offer once again “Peruvian Private Gastronomy Tasting Lunches” and much more like Peruvian culture, tourism, trade and great possibilities of investment. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF RUSSIA Embassy of the Russian Federation invites all the Russian residents in Kuwait to visit the Consulate for registration and updating your database. This information is necessary for prompt notice, assistance and warning in case of emergency. The consulate reception hours: 10:00 - 13:00, Sunday - Wednesday. The Embassy is located in Kuwait City, Daiya, Block 5, Diplomatic campus, Plot 17. Tel: (+965) 22560427, 22560428. Fax: (+965) 22524969, e-mail: rusposkuw@mail.ru, consdepkuw@mail.ru Information also available on the website: www.kuwait.mid.ru nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206.

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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00:50 01:45 02:40 03:35 04:30 05:25 06:20 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:10 11:05 12:00 12:55 13:20 13:50 14:45 15:40 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:25 19:20 20:15 20:40 21:10 22:05 23:00 23:55

Human Prey Animal Cops Houston Wildest Africa Must Love Cats Human Prey Dogs 101 Animal Cops Houston Monkey Life Wildlife SOS Gorilla School Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Talk To The Animals Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife Breed All About It My Cat From Hell Dogs 101 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip Bondi Vet Wildlife SOS Miami Animal Police Animal Cops Houston Wildest Africa Monkey Life Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Talk To The Animals Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife Dogs 101 America’s Cutest...

Bondi Vet Breed All About It Dogs 101 Wildest Africa Big Five Challenge Untamed & Uncut

00:45 01:35 02:35 03:05 03:30 04:00 04:20 04:35 04:50 05:00 05:05 05:25 05:35 05:50 06:10 06:25 06:35 06:45 06:50 07:10 07:20 07:35 08:05 08:35 09:20 09:50 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:45 14:15 14:45 15:35 16:25 17:10 17:40 18:10 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:50 21:20 21:50 23:10 23:55

Life On Air Monarch Of The Glen Big Top After You’ve Gone The Green Green Grass Balamory Jackanory Junior Penelope K, By The Way The Large Family Buzz & Tell Tweenies 3rd & Bird Nina And The Neurons Balamory Jackanory Junior Penelope K, By The Way The Large Family Buzz & Tell Tweenies 3rd & Bird Nina And The Neurons Big Top After You’ve Gone The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Holby City Mutual Friends The Green Green Grass Big Top The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Holby City Mutual Friends The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Holby City Big Top One Foot In The Grave New Tricks After You’ve Gone The Green Green Grass Small Island The Weakest Link Holby City

00:35 01:30 02:20 02:45 03:40 04:30 05:15 06:00

Masterchef Masterchef Masterchef 10 Years Younger Celebrity Fantasy Homes Celebrity Fantasy Homes House Swap Bargain Hunt

06:45 07:40 08:05 08:25 09:15 10:00 10:25 11:10 12:05 12:55 13:45 15:20 15:45 16:35 17:25 18:10 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:10 20:35 21:30 23:05 23:30

Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic USA Cash In The Attic USA Antiques Roadshow Masterchef Australia Masterchef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger The Boss Is Coming To Dinner The Boss Is Coming To Dinner Celebrity Fantasy Homes House Swap Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow James Martin’s Brittany James Martin’s Brittany James Martin’s Champagne James Martin’s Champagne Antiques Roadshow The Boss Is Coming To Dinner The Boss Is Coming To Dinner Bargain Hunt

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:00 09:25 09:50 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:30 11:55 12:20 12:35 13:00 13:15 13:40 13:55 14:20 14:45 15:15 15:40 16:05 16:30 16:55 17:45 18:20 18:45 Doo 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:15 20:40 21:05 21:30 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:55

Johnny Bravo Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry Dastardly And Muttley Top Cat New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Puppy In My Pocket Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And ScrappyScooby Doo Where Are You! A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas New Yogi Bear Show Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Dexters Laboratory

00:40 Samurai Jack 01:05 Samurai Jack 01:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 02:20 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:45 Bakugan Battle Brawlers

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

Years

03:10 Best Ed 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Adventure Time 04:50 Generator Rex 05:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 05:40 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:55 Powerpuff Girls 07:45 Angelo Rules 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:30 The Amazing World Of Gumball 08:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 09:15 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 09:40 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:05 Angelo Rules 10:30 Chowder 10:55 Adventure Time 11:20 Eliot Kid 11:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 12:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 13:15 I Am Weasel 13:40 Best Ed 14:05 Cow & Chicken 14:30 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:50 Eliot Kid 15:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 15:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 16:05 Courage The Cowardly Dog 16:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 16:55 The Amazing World Of Gumball 17:10 Adventure Time 17:35 Regular Show 18:00 Cow & Chicken 18:25 Generator Rex 18:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:15 Angelo Rules 19:30 Total Drama World Tour 19:55 Hero 108 20:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 20:50 Adventure Time 21:25 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 21:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 22:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 22:50 Cow & Chicken 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Ben 10 23:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25

RETURNER ON OSN ACTION HD

Connect The World Backstory World Sport The Situation Room World Report Anderson Cooper 360 Piers Morgan Tonight Quest Means Business Erin Burnett Outfront World Sport African Voices World Report World Report World Sport Talk Asia World Business Today Backstory News Special World One Piers Morgan Tonight News Stream World Business Today International Desk Global Exchange World Sport News Special International Desk Quest Means Business Piers Morgan Tonight

Destroyed In Seconds Animal Cops South Africa Dirty Jobs Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival

04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 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

Mythbusters How It’s Made How It’s Made Dirty Jobs Mythbusters Wreckreation Nation One Man Army How It’s Made Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters Desert Car Kings Desert Car Kings Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Cash Cab Us Border Security Auction Hunters How It’s Made How It’s Made Cake Boss One Man Army An Idiot Abroad Freddie Flintoff vs The World

00:40 The Gadget Show 01:05 The Gadget Show 01:35 The Colony 02:25 The Tech Show 02:50 Building The Biggest 03:40 Mighty Ships 04:35 How Does That Work?

05:00 How Stuff’s Made 05:25 Engineered 06:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 07:10 The Future Of...

08:00 The World’s Strangest UFO Stories 08:50 How Does That Work?

09:15 How Stuff’s Made 09:40 Building The Biggest 10:35 Mighty Ships 11:25 Engineered 12:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 13:15 The Gadget Show 13:40 The Gadget Show 14:05 The Future Of...

14:55 How Does That Work?

15:20 How Stuff’s Made 15:50 The World’s Strangest UFO Stories 16:40 The Tech Show 17:05 Da Vinci’s Machines 18:00 The Gadget Show 18:25 The Gadget Show 18:50 Engineered 19:40 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 20:30 Nasa’s Greatest Missions 21:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 22:10 The World’s Strangest UFO Stories 23:00 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 23:50 Nasa’s Greatest Missions

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 06:45 CODY 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:10 08:35 09:00 10:30 10:36 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:20 14:45 15:00 16:30 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:35 18:41 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:35

00:20 00:35 00:50 01:05 01:15 01:40 01:55 02:10 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:15 03:25 03:50 04:05 04:20 04:40 04:55 05:10 05:25 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:50

KIM POSSIBLE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS FAIRLY ODD PARENTS STITCH STITCH REPLACEMENTS REPLACEMENTS EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL STITCH STITCH REPLACEMENTS REPLACEMENTS FAIRLY ODD PARENTS FAIRLY ODD PARENTS HANNAH MONTANA RECESS THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE PHINEAS AND FERB SHAKE IT UP SHAKE IT UP THIRTEENTH YEAR HAVE A LAUGH HAVE A LAUGH SUITE LIFE ON DECK SUITE LIFE ON DECK SUITE LIFE ON DECK SHAKE IT UP SHAKE IT UP Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie SUITE LIFE ON DECK SUITE LIFE ON DECK WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE FISH HOOKS CADET KELLY HAVE A LAUGH SUITE LIFE ON DECK FAIRLY ODD PARENTS Good Luck Charlie SHAKE IT UP SHAKE IT UP HAVE A LAUGH MY BABYSITTER’S A VAMPIRE MY BABYSITTER’S A VAMPIRE MY BABYSITTER’S A VAMPIRE Good Luck Charlie HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA SUITE LIFE ON DECK SUITE LIFE ON DECK SONNY WITH A CHANCE SHAKE IT UP SHAKE IT UP WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE

SPECIAL AGENT OSO SPECIAL AGENT OSO JUNGLE JUNCTION JUNGLE JUNCTION LITTLE EINSTEINS HIGGLYTOWN HEROES HIGGLYTOWN HEROES JO JO’S CIRCUS SPECIAL AGENT OSO SPECIAL AGENT OSO JUNGLE JUNCTION JUNGLE JUNCTION LITTLE EINSTEINS HIGGLYTOWN HEROES HIGGLYTOWN HEROES JO JO’S CIRCUS SPECIAL AGENT OSO SPECIAL AGENT OSO JUNGLE JUNCTION JUNGLE JUNCTION LITTLE EINSTEINS HIGGLYTOWN HEROES HIGGLYTOWN HEROES JO JO’S CIRCUS JUNGLE JUNCTION

07:00 JUNGLE JUNCTION 07:15 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 07:30 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 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 09:50 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 10:05 THE HIVE 10:15 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 10:25 TIMON AND PUMBAA 10:45 THE HIVE 10:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 11:20 IMAGINATION MOVERS 11:45 ART ATTACK 12:10 IMAGINATION MOVERS 12:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 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 15:40 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 15:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 16:05 HANDY MANNY 16:20 HANDY MANNY 16:30 THE HIVE 16:40 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 16:55 IMAGINATION MOVERS 17:20 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 17:30 HANDY MANNY 17:45 ART ATTACK 18:10 THE HIVE 18:20 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 18:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 18:45 HANDY MANNY 18:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 19:10 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 19:25 THE HIVE 19:35 LITTLE EINSTEINS 20:00 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 20:05 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 20:30 ANIMATED STORIES 20:35 HANDY MANNY 20:50 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:05 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:20 THE HIVE 21:30 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 21:33 A POEM IS...

21:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 21:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 22:20 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 22:35 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 22:50 LITTLE EINSTEINS 23:15 TIMMY TIME 23:25 HANDY MANNY 23:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 23:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 E!es 02:20 THS 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Scouted 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Kendra 13:35 Kendra 14:05 Keeping Up With Kardashians 14:35 Keeping Up With Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Khloe And Lamar 17:25 Khloe And Lamar 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Kourtney & Kim Take York 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Kendra 21:55 Kendra 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With 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 Jones 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

The The

New

The

Extreme Forensics Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Nightmare Next Door Nightmare Next Door Extreme Forensics Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Killer Outbreaks FBI Files Forensic Detectives Undercover Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Undercover Killer Outbreaks Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared FBI Files Forensic Detectives Undercover Real Emergency Calls Killer Outbreaks Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Couples Who Kill Deadly Women

00:00 Racing To America 00:30 Master of Disaster 01:00 Banged Up Abroad

I AM NUMBER FOUR ON OSN CINEMA 01:30 Is It Real?

02:00 Banged Up Abroad 02:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 03:00 Finding Genghis 03:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 03:30 Deadliest Journeys 03:30 Is It Real?

04:00 Ultimate Traveller 04:30 Brilliant Beasts 05:00 Long Way Down 05:30 Shark Nicole 06:00 Racing To America 06:30 Great Migrations 07:00 Banged Up Abroad 07:30 Master of Disaster 08:00 Banged Up Abroad 08:30 Is It Real?

09:00 Finding Genghis 09:30 Brilliant Beasts 09:30 Deadliest Journeys 10:00 Ultimate Traveller 10:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 11:00 Long Way Down 11:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 11:30 Is It Real?

12:00 Racing To America 12:30 My Brilliant Brain 13:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 13:30 Secret Shark Pits 14:00 Treks In A Wild World 14:30 Megastructures 15:00 Racing Around The Clock 15:30 Deadliest Journeys 15:30 Master of Disaster 16:00 Eccentric Uk 16:30 Is It Real?

16:30 Which Way To 17:30 Brilliant Beasts 17:30 Graham’s World 18:00 Meet The Natives: USA 18:30 Secret Shark Pits 19:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 19:30 Hunter Hunted 20:00 Treks In A Wild World 20:30 Lockdown 21:00 Racing Around The Clock 21:30 Air Crash Investigation 21:30 Deadliest Journeys 22:00 Eccentric Uk 22:30 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 22:30 Which Way To 23:30 Graham’s World 23:30 Naked Science

00:00 Legion-18 02:00 Cross-PG15 04:00 Tupac: Resurrection-18 06:00 Blue Crush 2-PG15 08:00 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 10:00 Tracker-PG15 12:00 Universal Soldier: Regeneration-PG15 14:00 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 16:00 Rocky III-PG15 18:00 Universal Soldier: Regeneration-PG15 20:00 Homecoming-18 22:00 Returner-PG15

01:00 Mr. Nice-18 03:00 The Boys Are Back-PG 05:00 Planet 51-PG 07:00 The Nanny Express-PG15 09:00 The Boys Are Back-PG 11:00 The Open Road-PG15 13:00 The Flyboys-PG15 15:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 17:00 The Open Road-PG15 19:00 From Paris With Love-PG15 21:00 I Am Number Four-PG15 23:00 A Way With Murder-18

12:00 Two And A Half Men 12:30 Will And Grace 13:00 Melissa And Joey 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 16:30 The Office 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 Modern Family 19:30 Parks And Recreation 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Weeds 22:30 The Ricky Gervais Show 23:00 The Cleveland Show

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

Desperate Housewives Breaking Bad Top Gear (US) Revenge White Collar Good Morning America Law & Order: Los Angeles Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Desperate Housewives Revenge Law & Order: Los Angeles Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice Royal Pains Terriers White Collar

00:00 01:00 02:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

C.S.I. Top Gear (US) Breaking Bad Surface C.S.I. How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street House Top Gear (US) How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House C.S.I. How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House Grey’s Anatomy Royal Pains Off The Map In Plain Sight

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Talento De Barrio-PG15 Tupac: Resurrection-18 The Morgue-18 Arctic Predator-PG15 You Got Served-PG15 Iron Man 2-PG15 Staten Island-PG15 You Got Served-PG15 Ballistica-PG15 Fear Island-PG15 Returner-PG15 Dead Snow-PG15

01:15 03:15 05:15 06:45 09:00 11:00 12:30 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Gigli-18 Antwone Fisher-PG15 The Eclipse-PG15 Robin Hood (2010)-PG15 The Bounty Hunter-PG15 Big Fat Liar-PG Forrest Gump-PG15 Up In The Air-PG15 The Bounty Hunter-PG15 Country Strong-PG15 The Town-18 One Hour Photo-18

01:15 Gladiators: The Conspiracy-PG 03:30 The Spy Next Door-PG 05:45 Open Season 3-FAM 07:45 Gladiators: The TournamentPG 10:00 The Spy Next Door-PG 12:15 Dennis The Menace: Cruise Control-FAM 14:15 The Thief Of Baghdad-PG 16:00 Toy Story 3-FAM 18:00 Dennis The Menace: Cruise Control-FAM 20:00 Marmaduke-PG 22:00 The Thief Of Baghdad-PG 23:45 Toy Story 3-FAM

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00

The Girl In The Park-PG15 Cross-PG15 A Fork In The Road-PG15 The Lightkeepers-PG15 Bustin’ Down The Door-PG15

10:00 Double Wedding-PG15 11:45 South Solitary-PG15 14:00 Get Low-PG15 16:00 Double Wedding-PG15 18:00 Remember Me-PG15 20:00 The Other Guys-PG15 22:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG

00:00 01:00 02:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 11:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 22:00 23:00

Trans World Sport Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Cricket Twenty20 WWE Experience WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT Cricket Twenty20 LIVE Cricket Twenty20 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Trans World Sport Powerboats WWE Experience WWE NXT Cricket Twenty20 UFC 142 Countdown UFC 141

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 07:00 09:00 09:30 11:30 14:30 18:30 19:00 22:00 22:30 23:00

European PGA Tour Highlights Trans World Sport World Hockey ICC Cricket World Dubai World Cup Scottish Cup ICC Cricket World Pro 12 Celtic League Live Cricket Twenty20 Dubai World Cup Futbol Mundial Cricket Twenty20 ICC Cricket World Futbol Mundial Pro 12 Celtic League

00:00 Scottish Cup 02:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 03:00 World Cup of Pool 04:00 World Pool Masters 05:00 US Bass Fishing 06:00 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 06:30 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 09:00 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 09:30 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 10:00 World Cup of Pool 11:00 World Pool Masters 12:00 US Bass Fishing 13:00 World Hockey 13:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 14:30 Scottish Cup 16:30 Pro 12 Celtic League 18:30 World Hockey 19:00 Trans World Sport 20:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 21:00 Futbol Mundial 21:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 22:30 PDC World Darts Championship

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

WWE Experience V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Championship Speedway FIM World Le Mans Series Highlights UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE NXT WWE Bottom Line Speedway FIM World Intercontinental Le Mans Cup V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Championship WWE Bottom Line WWE Vintage Collection Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Speedway FIM World Aquabikes Aquabikes WWE NXT WWE Experience UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed UFC 142 Countdown UFC The Ultimate Fighter

Classifieds TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR JZR ETH THY UAE QTR OMA DHX MSR ETD RJA GFA KAC DHX FCX JZR KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB IRA GFA IRA JZR RKM MEA MSR MSR JZR GFA KAC FDB UAL GRF QTR SVA KAC RJA KAC KAC JZR QTR KAC JZR ETD UAE GFA SVA ABY JZR ALK JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC JAI OMA MLR DHX MEA GFA QTR UAE JZR KAC KLM AIC JZR UAL AXB BBC DLH

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 10/1/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 539 CAIRO 620 ADDIS ABABA 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 138 DOHA 641 MUSCAT 370 BAHRAIN 612 CAIRO 305 ABU DHABI 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 544 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 529 ASSIUT 416 JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 503 LUXOR 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 213 BAHRAIN 619 LAR 165 DUBAI 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 404 BEIRUT 623 SOHAG 610 CAIRO 201 DAMASCUS 219 BAHRAIN 512 TEHRAN 57 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 93 KANDAHAR/DUBAI 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 546 ALEXANDRIA 640 AMMAN 562 AMMAN 284 DHAKA 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 678 ABU DHABI/MUSCAT 561 SOHAG 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 227 COLOMBO/DUBAI 177 DUBAI 614 BAHRAIN 63 DUBAI 542 CAIRO 744 DAMMAM 787 RIYADH 786 JEDDAH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 166 PARIS/ROME 104 LONDON 774 RIYADH 61 DUBAI 552 DAMASCUS 572 MUMBAI 647 MUSCAT 1405 COLOMBO/DUBAI 372 BAHRAIN 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 502 BEIRUT 443 AMSTERDAM 981 CHENNAI/HYDERABAD 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 389 KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE 43 DHAKA 636 FRANKFURT

Time 0:20 0:50 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:50 2:55 3:00 3:10 3:10 3:15 4:40 5:15 5:30 6:20 6:25 6:40 6:45 7:25 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:45 9:55 10:50 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:25 13:40 13:50 14:05 14:15 14:20 14:30 14:30 14:40 14:45 15:00 15:00 15:25 15:30 16:10 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:35 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:05 22:45 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:50

Airlines UAL AIC BBC JZR PIA DLH KAC KAC ETH THY UAE OMA DHX MSR ETD QTR JZR GFA RJA JZR KAC KAC FDB BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC JZR KAC UAE ABY ETD FDB QTR GFA IRA KAC IRA KAC JZR RKM MEA MSR KAC JZR MSR GFA FDB KAC KAC UAL KAC RJA SVA KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC QTR JZR ETD JZR QTR GRF UAE GFA ABY SVA JZR ALK FDB JZR KAC FDB KAC DHX KAC JAI OMA MLR KAC DHX MEA GFA FCX QTR KAC JZR UAE KAC KLM JZR KAC

Departure Flights on Tuesday 10/1/2012 Flt Route 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 976 GOA/CHENNAI 44 DHAKA 502 LUXOR 240 SIALKOT 637 FRANKFURT 283 DHAKA 283 DHAKA 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 642 MUSCAT 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 200 DAMASCUS 545 ALEXANDRIA 545 ALEXANDRIA 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 677 ABU DHABI/MUSCAT 256 BEIRUT 511 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 560 SOHAG 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 165 ROME/PARIS 618 LAR 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 624 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 551 DAMASCUS 673 DUBAI 982 BAHRAIN 613 BAHRAIN 641 AMMAN 501 JEDDAH 617 DOHA 786 RIYADH 743 DAMMAM 501 BEIRUT 773 RIYADH 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 135 DOHA 82 BAGHDAD 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 511 RIYADH 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI/COLOMBO 64 DUBAI 184 DUBAI 361 COLOMBO 62 DUBAI 343 CHENNAI 171 BAHRAIN 351 COCHIN 571 MUMBAI 648 MUSCAT 1405 COLOMBO 543 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 102 BAHRAIN 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 554 ALEXANDRIA 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 443 BAHRAIN/AMSTERDAM 528 ASSIUT 411 BANGKOK/MANILA

Time 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:05 1:10 1:20 2:40 2:40 2:45 3:15 3:50 3:55 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:30 7:40 7:40 8:25 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:30 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:40 10:45 11:45 11:50 12:00 12:15 12:50 12:55 13:30 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:35 14:40 15:05 15:20 15:35 15:35 15:45 15:50 15:50 16:15 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:35 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:55 20:20 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:35 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

FOR SALE Toyota Corolla 2012 model, gray color, alloys wheel, sensor, mileage 5000km, under warranty 3 years, price KD 4,950/-. Contact: 55522942. (C 3818) Mitsubishi Lancer 2004 GLX, Price KD 850/-, Mitsubishi Box 2006, Price KD 2,000/-. Contact: 66052331. (C 3820) Jeep GMC Envoy 2004, black color, very good condition, Price KD 2,200/-.

Contact: 50699345.

(C 3821) 10-1-2012 Used furniture for immediate sale, Salmiya, wardrobe, bed (queen size without mattress) with 2 side drawers, TV table and computer table. Please contact 66589044. (C 3810) 5-1-2012

CHANGE OF NAME I, MARTHA ANGELINA LAWRENCE, holder of Indian Passport No: H5962906 hereby change my name to MARTA ANGELINA RAMOS. (C 3816) 8-1-2012 CATARINA JOSEFINA DE SOUZA Passport No: E0787712 would like to state that I am known as CATARINA JOSEFINA DE SOUZA and in all my dealings and documents I am known by name CATARINA JOSEFINA DE SOUZA only.

(C 3814) 7-1-2012 I, Pokala Eswara Reddy, Passport No: E1090304,

hereby declare that with my free consent I have embraced Islam on 22-52006 in the state of Kuwait and I have changed my name as MUHAMMED ISLAM. (C 3811) I, Modem Ramanjaneyulu, Passport No: J5550040, hereby declare that with my free consent I have embraced Islam on 26-72010 in the State of Kuwait and I have changed my name as SUHAIL. (C 3812)

No: 15324

BABY SITTING Baby sitting available in Khaitan area, Kuwait.

Contact: 66436924.

(C 3819) 10-1-2012 LOST

It is notified for information that my original certificate of secondary school exam

year 2001 roll no. 6101726 pass out from CBSE, Delhi has been actually lost.

Saima Niamatullah. Mobile: 96566495067.

(C 3808)

SITUATION VACANT Required two drivers for a Kuwaiti family at monthly salary KD 100 and must be having at least five years experience. Call 97554010.

(C 3815) 7-1-2012

34

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 553

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) You will find communication problems of the past seem to magically clear up. Papers lost are found, etc. At this time, you may actively be concerned about the welfare of others in your business or people who work under you. Try listening to their needs before deciding for yourself how best to help them. You may react suddenly against things that previously seemed to be the normal thing to do. Also, this is a good time to lead the way on a project, for your originality is strong. You may need to feel more secure now, perhaps through some material or sentimental objects that you possess. There may be a great deal of financial panic with your monetary situation and it may be difficult to gauge as an elevator going up and down.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is a productive working day—an excellent time to get many things accomplished. You are self-assertive but if you find yourself working on a project, it would prove favorable for all if you elicited the aid of associates. It is also a good time to take stock of your career or work up to now.

Additionally, you may find it advantageous to voice new ideas to others in hopes of making a positive difference. You should take care to rely on your own natural abilities to succeed. You may find yourself enjoying a long conversation, writing a letter, or making a special phone call this afternoon. Mental endeavors are favored as is communication with friends and loved ones this evening—it is best to go with the flow.

Music will lift your spirit tonight.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. An Indian unit of length having different values in different localities.

4. A member of the eastern branch of the Sioux.

10. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

13. The second larges of the four main islands of Japan.

14. Discrimination against middle-aged and elderly people.

15. The 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.

16. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity equal to 10 decibels.

17. The capital of the Bahamas.

18. An ugly evil-looking old woman.

19. Squash bugs.

21. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet.

23. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

25. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

30. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

32. The state of owing money.

34. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else.

36. Liquid containing proteins and electrolytes including the liquid in blood plasma and interstitial fluid.

37. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

39. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

40. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

42. A deep bow.

46. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

47. Type genus of the Anatidae.

49. God of love and erotic desire.

55. At a great distance in time or space or degree.

57. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

59. Make amends for.

60. A port city in southwestern Iran.

62. Being one more than two.

63. European strong-scented perennial herb with gray-green bitter-tasting leaves.

64. A workplace where baked goods (breads and cakes and pastries) are produced or sold.

65. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

DOWN 1. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

2. A chronic disease of the nose characterized by a foulsmelling nasal discharge and atrophy of nasal structures.

3. The comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment.

4. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

5. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

6. A structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young.

7. Infusion of e.g. dried or fresh flowers or leaves.

8. (Old Testament) The eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the Covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac.

9. Any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism.

10. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure equal to about a bushel.

11. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

12. Port city that is the capital and largest city of Latvia.

20. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

22. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

24. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

26. An anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized by such symptoms as guilt about surviving or reliving the trauma in dreams or numbness and lack of involvement with reality or recurrent thoughts and images.

27. By bad luck.

28. A small cake leavened with yeast.

29. Adopted in order to deceive.

31. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

33. Suggestive of the supernatural.

35. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

38. The cry made by sheep.

41. An associate degree in applied science.

43. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

44. The absolute unit of pressure equal to one dyne per square centimeter.

45. Jordan's port.

48. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture and patron of scribes and schools.

49. (informal) Of the highest quality.

50. Any of various strong liquors distilled from the fermented sap of toddy palms or from fermented molasses.

51. Produced by a manufacturing process.

52. The sixth month of the civil year.

53. Harsh or corrosive in tone.

54. Type genus of the Majidae.

56. Extremely pleasing.

58. Being two more than fifty.

61. A Mid-Atlantic state.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Tensions between you and a partner or loved one this morning may increase because of a difference of opinion. You may need to take the first step in some sort of negotiations—agree to disagree first and then sit down and write out what each of you want for an end result. Before making decisions, give this some time to develop, you will be pleased with the outcome. This is also a good day for planning, writing or expanding your intellectual horizons whether you are in the work place or at home. You should rely on your natural abilities to succeed.

After work this afternoon you may decide to sign up for a class or start writing that book. Getting out into the countryside should be fun too, especially if your mode of transportation requires a helmet.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may find the need to reorganize and be more conservative in the workplace. All of this should go rather smoothly. Your more commonsense qualities are obvious and found to be valuable. You have the foresight to write out an outline before you give a lecture or advise others. If you are not in charge, you could find yourself running your family or your personal life as finely tuned as those running a big company. You usually have the zest and enthusiasm that is necessary accomplish many things. Also, this is a time to clear up differences with a friend by speaking your mind. You express inner confidence and assertiveness in approaching and communicating with others.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Your actions may be slowed today, helping you to be more realistic about your abilities and expectations for success. You take a serious attitude to just about all aspects of your life. This is an excellent time to sit down and get many things accomplished. You should take note to make sure that you are clearly understood when speaking with superiors—there could be misunderstandings. If needed, make this a day to do your research. Interactions with the opposite sex on a professional level may occur often this next week; dress for success. Take the time before making any major decisions about your or someone else’s careerfuture. This afternoon you will be visiting with old friends. Grab a party hat, there are celebrations to enjoy.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This may not be a good time to try new things or break away from the old routine. There may be a heavy burden of responsibility just now—you will probably have to work hard to make yourself understood.

However, this period also marks a time when many projects come to fruition, especially large ones. Clear thinking and communication among co-workers is important. You should not hesitate in going great lengths to make yourself clear—this could prove very productive. If you are into some sort of educational studies, this afternoon, studying and research are highly favored. Exchanging stories with old chums this afternoon is easy and extremely pleasant. There is a chance to have a special time with someone you love this evening.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Now is the time to make time for a special date, apply for a job or otherwise make yourself known. You may spend a great deal of time engaged in intellectual pursuits in the home. You may even decide to establish a business or use your home and family members in some manner to succeed financially—perhaps a family business. There is an air of seriousness to all your dealings with partners now. You are concerned more about the future of business, than at any other time. Later today you will be able to separate yourself from business. There is not only a desire for outdoor, physical activity this afternoon, but there is ample opportunity to partake in it. You truly enjoy crowds—watching others and learning about people.

Love is in bloom this evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You should find no problem in communicating with regar This is a positive day! Schedule that conference; give that party; plan for the future. There are emotional beginnings—a new attitude—perhaps the establishment of new habit patterns that will set the tone for you for quite some time to come! This could mean an addition to the family—a birth or a wedding. Your ability to make things run smoothly should produce excellent results. You are extremely communicative to associates around you. This is a most positive time to exchange ideas and seek new business—not necessarily a job position. You may find yourself running errands for others this afternoon. This evening is yours to enjoy. This could mean a dinner date or a soak in the tub. Enjoy your surroundings this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Yesterday’s Solution

Everything points to you making more and more decisions. You have sufficient energy to apply yourself to the workplace as well as an additional job that could help to bring in extra money. If you need the support, psychological or physical, the support will be there for you. Clear decisions affecting others could be made. You put forth an effort to improve your income, through physical or manual activity. This is a time when the desire for material success and considerable monetary gain is great. Perhaps it is time to purchase a home instead of renting apartments. This is a great time to plan future entertainment with loved ones, perhaps a concert, museum trip, art showing or a play with your loved one. Your powers of creativity are great.

This is a busy day! Concentrate on your own goals—firm up ongoing projects or begin new ones. Working alone today is not a problem for you. The encouragement or advice of others is not really necessary for now. Now is your chance to be yourself—for yourself. Good communication is at a high just now. Your timing should be perfect and those around you should find you most natural. You could come up with new solutions. Do not forget to include some physical activity in your day. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. General good feeling and harmony among family members and friends make this a happy time. A change of scenery may be in order soon.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) There is much contemplative thinking about your work at this time. There should also be a great deal of communication about ways in which you can help improve working conditions for a particular group of people. You should find this a good day to communicate with members of the opposite sex. Your disposition is open and welcome to all you meet.

You are filled with energy that is best applied in your work or in accomplishing your goals. This is also a most favorable time to work in a group of close associates. Changes at home should be undertaken soon and this will secure your peace of mind. Relations with a spouse or business partner are on solid ground. Expressing affection should come easily.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

This is a good day to start new projects—your instinct for success is in full bloom. If you must explain any motivations, be sure you are on solid ground—be self-critical. Make sure others understand your position as well as you. Your communicative abilities are accented. This is an excellent time to sway others to your cause through speeches or clever arguments; your thinking is most lucid and grasping. Be careful, though, of taking arguments to the extreme in trying to find a logical reason for every event that occurs—especially the actions of loved ones. Companionship with others is most rewarding at this time and you should take every opportunity to be with friends. You can be helping them as much as their presence is helping you.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE STATE ST TAT TE OF KUW K KUWAIT WA AIT

112

DA AY: Y Monday DAY:

Ext.: 262 2627 27 - 2630

Fax: 24348714 WWW .MET.GOV V.KW . W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

09/01/2012

Ministry of Interior

07:00

Time Issue T ime

Expected Weather Weather for the Next 24 4 Hours Partly cloudy with a chance for sca scattered attered rain might be thunde thundery ery at times with light to mod moderate derate freshening gradua gradually northerly blowing ally north westerly to norther rly wind, with speed of 15 - 40 4 km/h with a chance for b lowing dust

BY Y DAY: DA AY:

website: www.moi.gov.kw

Cloudss will decrease gradually wit th light to moderate northerly y to north westerly wind, wi th speed of 15 - 35 with with km/h

BY Y NIGHT: NIGHT:

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Thunder rain

WARNING W A ARNING STATION ST TAT TION

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

Tel.: T el.: 161 e

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE ATE T GENE GENERAL ERAL OF CIVIL A AVIATION VIA V ATION T METEOROLOGICAL DEP D PA ARTMENT DEPARTMENT

24812000

MAX. EXP. EXP P.

MIN.. REC.

KUWAIT KUW WA AIT CITY

21 °C

15 °C

KUWAIT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT AIRPOR RT

21 °C

14 °C

22 °C C

16 °C C

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUWAISEEB NUW WA AISEEB

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WAFRA W A AFRA

22 °C

15 °C

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

21 °C

11 1 1 °C

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDALY ABDAL LY

21 °C

12 °C

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

JAL ALIYAH ALIY YA AH

21 °C

12 °C

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA F A AILAKA

19 °C

16 °C

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

PORT AHMADI POR RT

18 °C

16 °C

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

UMM AL-MARADEM M

20 °C

19 °C

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

WARBA W A ARBA A - BUBYAN BUBY YA AN

17 °C

16 °C

Clinics

SFC. CHAR CHART T

09/01/2012 0000 UTC

4 DAYS DA AY YS FORECAST

4732263

Roudha

22517733

DAY DA AY

DA DATE AT TE

WEA WEATHER AT THER

Adhaliya

22517144

T uesday Tuesday

10/01

Khaldiya

24848075

W eednesday Wednesday

Keifan

24849807

Thursday

Shamiya

24848913

Friday

13/01

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Fajr

05:20

MAX. MA AX. Temp.

Temp.

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Sunrise S i

06:44 06 44

MIIN. IN Temp.

Temp.

MIN.

11 1 1 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

11:55 1 1:55

M RH MAX.

93 %

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462 25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

POLICE STATION

Rabiya

Mishref

Al-Madena

Temperatures T emperratures MAX.

MIN.

Wind Wind Direction Direction

Wind Wind Speed

clouds to increa ase increase

20 °C

09 °C

NW -N NW-N

20 - 40 km/h

11/01 1 1/01

partly cloudy + scatte ered rain scattered

21 °C

10 °C

NE-SE

15 - 35 km/h

12/01

raising clouds to decrease + rai ising dust

19 °C

08 °C

NW

22 - 42 km/h

Cool

18 °C

07 °C

NW -N NW-N

08 - 30 km/h

PRAYER PR RA AYER Y TIMES

RECORDED D YESTERDAY YESTERDA AY AT AT KUWAIT KUW WA AIT T AIRPORT AIRPORT 23 °C

14:48

MIN. M RH

17:07

MAX. MA AX. Wind Wind

Isha

18:29

TOT TA AL L RAINFALL RAIINF FALL A L IN 24 HR. TOTAL

unless All times are local time un nless otherwise stated.

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry

45 %

Asr Sunset

Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

SE E 43 km/h

about the Civil ID card is 1889988

1.69 mm

09/01/12 02:36 UTC

V1.00

T1.06

PHARMACIES

AIRLINES

ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

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25655535

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22525888

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25620111

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22666300 25728004

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Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

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Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

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Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

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ady Antebellum singer Hillary Scott has gotten married. She and new husband Chris Tyrrell announced the news in a 20-second video message on Lady Antebellum’s official website. The couple tied the knot on Jan. 7 in upstate New York. They appear wearing matching T-shirts. Tyrrell hugs his new bride and introduces her as “Miss Hillary Scott Tyrrell.” Scott flashes her wedding ring and explains how they wanted fans to hear it from them first, adding, “We’re so excited to be starting our life

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together.” Video clips of the wedding day show Scott wearing a strapless Vera Wang mermaid dress and a mantilla veil with lace applique. Tyrrell sports a gray Ermenegildo Zegna suit. Lady Antebellum’s hits include the Grammywinning song “Need You Now.” The group resumes its “Own The Night” tour Jan 27 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

ctor Gary Sinise, known for playing a soldier who loses his legs in the film “Forrest Gump,” wants to stage a benefit concert to raise money to build a home in Temecula, Calif, for a Marine who lost his limbs in Afghanistan. The Los Angeles Times reports (http://lat.ms/Aw0bi1 ) that Sinise, now starring in TV’s “CSI New York,” is expected to ask the Temecula City Council on Tuesday if he can hold a concert tentatively on March 1. Sinise’s Lt Dan Band, named for his movie character, would perform and raise money for Marine Lance Cpl Juan Dominguez, who lost his legs and right arm in 2010. The Gary Sinise Foundation and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation have built several such homes for wounded veterans.

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indsay Lohan has a new tattoo to mark a “great point in her life”. The troubled actress - who has endured several stints in rehab and various legal woes in recent years - visited a Los Angeles tattoo parlour on Friday to get ‘Live Without Regrets’ etched on her left wrist, and friends told website TMZ she wanted the inking to remind her of how good she is feeling at the moment. The insider claimed Lindsay is particularly excited about March 29, the date she will finally finish her stint of court ordered community service which she was made to undertake after breaching the terms of probation which were set following a 2007 driving under the influence conviction. The ‘Mean Girls’ star has several other quotation tattoos already, recently getting the Billy Joel lyric “clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife, I feel like I’m in the prime of my life”, from the song ‘I Go to Extremes’, inked onto her rib cage. On her inner right wrist, Lindsay has the word ‘Breathe’, close to where she had the Marilyn Monroe quote ‘I restore myself when I’m alone’ inked after splitting from Samantha Ronson in 2009. She also has ‘La Bella Vita’ etched on her back.

he ‘X Factor’ judge and Jeff Bratton called time on their 18 month relationship in November and the record label owner has revealed it was due to work commitments. He said: “Paula and I split in November. It was an amicable thing. But between the final months of ‘X Factor’ and my responsibilities with (my label) Cascine, there was little time for us.” The distance in their relationship is also said to have been a contributing factor, with Paula based in Los Angeles, while Jeff spends most of his time in New York. The pair first met on a flight in 2010, but always made a joint effort to keep their romance out of the spotlight. And Jeff is adamant he and Paula are still on good terms.

He explained: “We’re still close. And I’ll always be grateful for the time we shared as a couple.”Paula, 49, isn’t the only judge on the new US version of ‘The X Factor’ to split from their boyfriend. Nicole Scherzinger and her partner, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, ended their four year relationship in October due to work pressures. However, the pair spent New Year’s Eve together at a ski resort in Vail, Colorado, and have both admitted since the break-up that they still have very strong feelings for one another.

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aty Perry has thanked fans for their support following her split from Russell Brand. The ‘Firework’ hitmaker - who broke up with the actor on December 30, 2011 when he filed for divorce - took to her twitter account after a two-week break to pay tribute to her supporters and reassure them she has a “happy heart” again. She tweeted yesterday : “I am so grateful for all the love and support I’ve had from people around the world. You guys have made my heart happy again.” The pop star - whose last twitter entry was on December 27 - also insisted she is the only person who speaks for herself after her evangelical mother and father spoke about the split last week. She tweeted: “Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me. Not a blog, magazine, “close sources” or my family.” Last week, Katy’s parents Christian pastors Keith and Mary Hudson spoke about the pair’s break up for the first time from the pulpit of their church. Mary said: “I’m sure that Katy’s trending on the Internet was to get you here to church tonight. “I mean all over the world, who knows how God is bringing them in? The most important thing is you are here and God wants to put the fire in you in 2012.” Since filing for divorce, Russell has been residing in the UK, while Katy has been staying with her grandmother in Santa Barbara. — Agencies

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rad Pitt injured his knee during a fall with his three-year-old daughter. The ‘Moneyball’ actor has been walking with a cane after sustaining ligament damage when he slipped whilst carrying Vivienne and put his body on the line to protect his child. He explained: “I was carrying my daughter Vivienne down the hill and I slipped. It was either her or me.” Brad’s partner Angelina revealed the actor’s actions ensured the youngster escaped the tumble unscathed. She said: “Vivie’s OK. She was absolutely fine.” The ‘Tourist’ actress admitted she liked Brad’s new adornment and insisted his injury has not slowed him down. Speaking on the red carpet at the 23rd International Palm Springs Film Festival in California, she said: “I like the cane. He’s not that kind of guy. He does everything still.” The brunette beauty - who raises six children with Brad - admitted she has also suffered injuries caring for their kids. She recalled: “I think all parents get injured in the line of fire. When Maddox was young, I fell and hurt my elbow. It’s a pretty common occurrence.” The couple were not planning on enjoying any after-parties at the festival because of their family commitments. Angelina explained: “We are rushing back to the kids tonight. We have a birthday party in the morning with our daughter.”

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Beyonce’s sister: Baby ‘most beautiful girl in the world’ eyonce Knowles’ sister has described her newborn baby as the “the most beautiful girl in the world”. The ‘Halo’ hitmaker gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter - her first child with rapper husband Jay-Z - at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York on Saturday and proud aunt Solange took to twitter yesterday to reveal her delight. She tweeted: “The most beautiful girl in the world.” After initial confusion over the tot’s name, with initial reports claiming it was Ivy Ivy Blue, Gwyneth Paltrow confirmed the correct moniker on the micro-blogging site. The actress - who along with her husband Chris Martin is close friends with Jay-Z and Beyonce - wrote: “Welcome to the world Blue! We love you already. (sic)” Following an inquiry from a confused user who wrote : “Is it ivy blue, or blue ivy? so confused”, Gwyneth replied “It’s Blue Ivy Carter!” Jay - real name Shawn Carter - was by his wife’s side as she delivered the tot via Caesarean section, after checking in under the pseudonym Ingrid Jackson and they are thought to have paid $1.3 million to rent out the entire fourth floor of the hospital. Security was tight at Lenox Hill Hospital with staff reportedly being asked to turn in their phones and security cameras were covered with tape.

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So called Nuessler, men or boys in traditional costumes and masks that are derived from those worn by the characters in the Venetian Commedia dell’ Arte, parade through the streets of Brunnen, Switzerland, yesterday, marking the opening of the carnival season. —AP

Civil War museums changing as view on war changes nside Louisiana’s Civil War Museum, battle flags line the walls. Uniforms, swords and long-barreled guns fill museum cases beside homespun knapsacks, dented canteens and tiny framed pictures of wives that soldiers carried into battle. In the back, there’s a collection devoted to Jefferson Davis, one-time president of the Confederacy, complete with his top hat and fancy shoes at the spot where his body once lay in state.

It’s all housed in a little red stone building next door to the bigger and much more heavily visited Ogden Museum of Southern Art and near the National World War II Museum. Yet 150 years after the Civil War, the little museum finds itself struggling - like others both in the North and South - to make changes and stay relevant with new generations.

For some museums, that means more displays on African-Americans or exhibits on the roles women played as combatants and spies.

For others, it means adding digital maps and electronic displays to attract tech-savvy youth for whom the war holds no memories. Or it may simply mean adopting a wider, more holistic approach to the war - without taking sides.

But it’s not always easy for museums to update their exhibits because of the high costs, curators say. And some would-be visitors’ dollars are kept away by the perception that southern Civil War museums are one-sided - or even racist.

“It’s a challenge on several fronts, one is getting enough money for it,” said John Coski, historian and library director at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va. “Most have recognized the need to make the transition to a more modern perspective, but for some that’s a struggle. Especially in the South, there are still strong feelings about some of these museums.”

Louisiana’s museum opened in 1891, then called “Confederate Memorial Hall: The Battle Abbey of the South.” The combative name was dropped in the 1960s and today it’s seeking a “more inclusive, broader” perspective, museum

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Photo shows the uniform of Confederate Gen P.G.T. Beauregard on display.

curator Patricia Ricci said. It has been invited to become affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, which will further spur the effort to showcase a more modern interpretation of the war.

“I think we will add some information on the Union effort here,” Ricci said. “And we will prob-

“I think it’s a very important part of our history,” said Rose Adams, 47, visiting from Dallas.

“This is a wonderful display, full of such interesting things. I just happened on it after going to the World War II museum.” Interest in the Civil War got a huge boost in 1990 with the airing of Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on the war, still

In this undated photo, infantry items appear on display at Louisiana’s Civil War Museum in New Orleans. —AP photos ably make some other additions with it. It always comes down to money, and we never have enough.” Today, the museum has the second largest collection of Confederate artifacts in the nation. Visitors can view the uniforms of eight Confederate generals from Louisiana, rare swords and rifles, more than 125 original battle flags and rare photographs.

Ricci, the museum’s curator of 31 years, notes that fewer people have visited the museum with each decade since the 1950s. But the 150th anniversary offers hope that a tide of new visitors will arrive. Attendance in December was up by 800 people over 2010, Ricci said.The 150th began in April with the commemoration of the first shots fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC It will end in four years with remembrances of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox in Virginia.

For now, the Confederate Museum draws just a fraction of the visitors who flock to bigger museums nearby, averaging about 16,000 people a year. That’s down from some 20,000 visitors before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.

The museum’s main revenue source is the $7 fee collected from each visitor, leaving it forever scrambling to make ends meet. Many of the artifacts are in need of restoration; the building needs a new slate roof and still hasn’t added the handicapped facilities it wants.”We have to be very frugal,” Ricci said. “I look at the World War II museum which gets millions of visitors and wish we could get just part of that.”Some visitors do stumble upon the museum after visiting the others nearby - and are surprised by its scope.

the most-watched public television series ever.

“One of the interesting things is that the series did in the North was it really provided a sense of ownership of the Civil War, which had been since 1865 the province of the South,” Burns said. “We ceded the interest generally to the South, which is unusual, because it’s usually the winners who write the history, not the losers.” But he notes museums that may have once been shrines to one side or another are adapting new kinds of displays exploring the war from new angles.

“I think a lot of that is changing and getting more centered on the war and not a distorted idea of it,” Burns said. “Basically museums have

Photo shows a cutout of a stained glass window with the Great Seal of the Confederacy.

Photo shows the museum in New Orleans. started to interpret a more holistic look of the war.” In Charleston, The National Park Service has worked to make anniversary events more hospitable to blacks, offering events featuring Gullah story tellers and basket weavers, discussions of slavery and programs with re-enactors portraying black units that fought for the North.

Gullah is the culture of the descendants of slaves who live on the region’s sea islands.

Later this year the Charleston Museum mounts an exhibition about Robert Smalls, the slave who commandeered a Confederate transport vessel and piloted it past Southern batteries to the blockading Union fleet. He later served five terms in Congress from South Carolina. Still, the feeling that southern museums dedicated to the war are racist is a lingering problem, said President and CEO of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va, Waite Rawls. “It’s still one of the greatest challenges Confederate museums face, and we are all working on it,” he said. “Unfortunately the Confederate flag was used as a symbol of white supremacy in the civil rights era. We got hit with a double whammy of the 1860s and the 1960s.” —AP

A portrait of General Robert E

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Imagine this: ‘American Idol’ without Seacrest?

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oth Fox and Ryan Seacrest say they want Seacrest to stay as host of “American Idol” after this year. Whether that will happen was unclear Sunday even as both sides promoted this month’s launch of the 11th season of the country’s most popular television show. “It’s a tough negotiation and one that will come to conclusion, I think, pretty quickly,” Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly said.

Seacrest is not signed beyond this season and is also involved in talks with corporate owners of NBC Universal, where he has a contract at E! Entertainment. There have been several reports that NBC is considering Seacrest as a potential replacement if Matt Lauer decides to leave the “Today” show.

Seacrest had little to say Sunday about the possibility of moving into a new morning job. While such talk is “flattering,” he said, “that job will be that person’s job as long as that person wants the job.”“American Idol” continues to be a TV steamroller.

Yet network TV is in tough economic straits, and many millions of dollars are tied up in contracts with Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson.

As for Seacrest’s contractual status, the key word Sunday was “imagine.” “It’s very hard to imagine the show without Ryan,” Reilly said. “We certainly want to keep him. There’s no creative discussion there whatsoever. It is a deal issue.”Said Seacrest: “I’ve done this for the last decade. I love doing it, so I can’t imagine not being on every week.”Added Fox alternative show chief Mike Darnell: “We love Ryan and I can’t imagine the show without him.” The next few weeks will show whether love translates to a deal.

Darnell said that after major changes on “Idol” last year with the additions of Tyler and Lopez and some revamping of the middle weeks of the competition, this year there will be relatively minor tweaks. Two big challenges when competitors reach the Hollywood stage will be requiring them to sing some 1950s era songs, and sing with the accompaniment of only one instrument. And a healthy rivalry seems to be building with NBC’s moderately successful new competition “The Voice,” as “Idol” panelists made a handful of snarky remarks about the other show.”We will definitely never, ever rip off ‘Star Trek’ like ‘The Voice’ did with spinning chairs,” Jackson said.”American Idol” returns on Jan. 18.

(From left) Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest participate in the American Idol panel at the Fox Broadcasting Company Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena , Calif on Sunday. — AP photos

Host Ryan Seacrest, left, and executive producer Ken Warwick, right, participate in the American Idol panel.

New York City Opera announces

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bitter contract dispute has led to a lockout of musicians at the New York City Opera, a possible “death knell” for a company that’s nurtured such singers as Renee Fleming, Placido Domingo and Beverly Sills. On Sunday, hours after talks broke down, the cash-strapped company canceled Monday rehearsals for a Feb 12 opening production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” in Brooklyn. “This is a very sad day for what once was a spectacular cultural icon and for the people who performed its music,” said Alan Gordon, national executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists representing the chorus, stage directors and principal singers.

Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians represents the orchestra. Both unions have been without a contract since the spring. Gail Kruvand, chairwoman of the orchestra union’s negotiating committee and its assistant principal bass player, said union members “made a goodfaith effort to say that, yes, we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of ensuring that the grand tradition of the City Opera lives on.” But she said the company’s rejection of union proposals could be “the death knell for one of New York’s cultural treasures.”

In this Oct 27, 1980 file photo, Beverly Sills takes her bows on the stage of the City Opera at New York’s Lincoln Center after her final performance in “Die Fledermaus”. — AP City Opera is now operating on a shoestring, offering orchestra and chorus members minimum fees for an already abbreviated season. City Opera moved out of its longtime home at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts last year, citing financial troubles, and cut back its usual schedule of 12 to 16 operas per season, with a peak of about 130 performances. In a statement, the company said it had “no choice but to lock out” union members because they rejected the company’s economic offer and had threatened to strike when performances began, according to a statement released Sunday. Both labor unions have passed strike-authorization votes.

City Opera General Manager George Steel said his company couldn’t enter rehearsals with a musician strike looming for performances scheduled in February at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, one of

the various venues around New York booked for 16 shows of four productions. However, “we have no intention of hiring replacement workers,” company spokeswoman Risa Heller said. She didn’t know whether that meant the season wouldn’t open next month. The opera and the unions have been in talks with Allison Beck, deputy director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, since mid-December. Those negotiations broke down Saturday night.

The musicians rejected the company’s offer, saying the financially diminished company doesn’t guarantee work or pay. Steel said the company, facing “economic constraints,” can only afford to pay people “for the work that they do.” Under a contract management proposed in early December, the musicians’ average annual income would drop from about $40,000 to as little as $5,000 for two productions. For decades, musicians were guaranteed at least 22 weeks’ work. City Opera’s troubles started about a decade ago with multimillion-dollar deficits, followed by the appointment of Belgian director Gerard Mortier as general manager and artistic director, effective as of the 2009-2010 season. Accustomed to staging expensive, cutting-edge extravaganzas in Europe, he insisted that City Opera’s theater be renovated, forcing the company to go dark for the 2008-2009 season, with only six unstaged performances elsewhere.

The economy’s free-fall was a last straw for the 69-year-old company that former New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia dubbed “the people’s opera.”

Income from ticket sales during the dark season plunged to about $186,000, down from $12 million. And the company raided its endowment to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Mortier resigned from his position about six months before he was officially to start, on grounds that the operating budget had dwindled. “We’re heartbroken, but we cannot save the company,” said Kruvand, the bass player.

She said City Opera has been “unable to sell tickets or attract donors” - mostly because Steel abandoned the company’s longtime practice of staging surefire operas along with pioneering new works. Recently, the company has presented mostly 20th-century operas that are a box office challenge. Kruvand noted that the current general manager still makes more than $300,000 after a 10 percent pay cut, while the musicians face about a 90 percent cut in earnings. “We don’t feel George Steel is capable of running an opera company,” said Kruvand, adding that when the star soprano Sills became general manager in the 1980s, she led a company “that was a platform for nurturing careers.”

Speaking for Steel, Heller said that the unions “have repeatedly vilified George.” But the negotiating process is “not about any one person,” she said.

“This is about whether the unions will finally recognize that the City Opera needs to make fundamental changes in the way it operates so that it only pays people for work they perform.” Gordon, the union leader, called the latest labor impasse “City Opera’s death.” — AP

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om Hanks’ long gestating Web series is coming to Yahoo. “Electric City,” an animated futuristic series Hanks has been developing for years, will premiere on Yahoo this spring. The series includes 20 episodes, each three- or four-minutes long. Yahoo, along with Hanks and production partners Playtone and Reliance Entertainment, are set to formally announce plans for the series Tuesday at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. For Hanks, the release of “Electric City” caps the actor’s efforts to find the right avenue for the project. He first tried to make the series using puppets. He earlier announced it would be released in early 2011.

The series is set in a seemingly peaceful city situated in a post-apocalyptic world. Many of its themes are socially conscious topics relevant to today, including energy consumption. “It was always our intent to have this project live and breathe online, and we felt Yahoo would be the perfect home,” said Gary Goetzman, cofounder of Playtone, Hanks’ production company. For Yahoo, “Electric City” is its first entry into scripted original programming. Yahoo has been beefing up its online video with reality series and wrap-up news shows, many of which rank among the most-viewed series online.

“Electric City” will be distributed online and through tablet devices with the usual interactivity and social

Actor Tom Hanks attends the premiere of “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” at the Ziegfeld Theater on Thursday in New York. — AP media connections, but also a few new features. Most notably, it will be available in several languages, including Spanish and French. Along with producing, Hanks will voice a character. —AP

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ollywood, that mythic land where movie drama was invented, suddenly finds itself caught up in its own real-life drama, one involving high priced real estate and people taking on City Hall.

In this storyline, the issue is whether it is time for a famously spread-out, freeway-centric city’s best known tourist destination to begin looking a little more like New York City by adding a towering skyline and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. The city Planning Commission recently gave its unanimous blessing to a new Hollywood Community Plan that would allow buildings of 50 stories or more in some areas. The sky-

File photo shows traffic moving along Hollywood Boulevard, with most structures along the route topping out at about a dozen storeys, with many much smaller, in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. — AP

scrapers, which planners see someday dotting what they call the Hollywood Corridor, would be linked by a section of subway that runs right underneath the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Planning Commissioner Michael Woo says the proposal is likely to come before the City Council in February or March for the first of several public hearings before a vote is taken. But in the canyons and along the hillsides that make up much of Hollywood’s more quiet residential areas, the plan is already getting a raucous public hearing from people who live in homes that run the gamut from sprawling mansions to small century-old apartments. Several neighborhood associations are banding together, vowing to fight the plan. The plan’s opponents worry that bringing skyscrapers to a section of the city that already has seen traffic proliferate with the arrival in recent years of trendy hotels like the W and hot-spot nightclubs like the SkyBar will destroy the ambiance of their neighborhoods as well as compromise safety.

They will become prisoners in their homes, they say, their narrow, winding streets blocked day and night by the cars of outsiders while emergency vehicles are unable to reach them. “I love living in Hollywood. I love the craziness,” said Patti Negri, president of the Hollywood Dell Civic Association. “I don’t care when they close Hollywood and Highland for a premiere or when they close the streets for a show at the Hollywood Bowl. That’s why I live here and I’ll take the little inconvenience that goes with it. That’s part of the deal. But this is not part of the deal.” Negri, who has lived for 20 years just up the hill from Hollywood Boulevard and around the corner from the Hollywood Bowl, says this deal would gridlock her neighborhood at all hours, every day, not to mention blocking the neighborhood’s views of the city.—AP

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n what would have been Elvis Presley’s 77th birthday on Sunday, hundreds of fans from around the world made the annual pilgrimage to the Graceland mansion where the “King of Rock and Roll” lived. This year, the birthday celebration also served as the kick off to what is expected to be a year of global Elvis mania marking the 35th anniversary of the beloved icon’s death. Memphis officials expect record numbers of visitors all year, leading to the August 16 anniversary commemoration of his death at Graceland, where Presley is also buried.

In Dusseldorf, Germany a new Elvis Presley museum opened its doors in December; an “Elvis Cruise” departs from Florida to the Bahamas next week; and in Sao Paulo, Brazilian officials are planning one of the largest exhibits of Elvis memorabilia outside of the United States to open in September. “Every five years, we see history repeat itself and we expect that to happen again this year as fans remember Elvis Presley,” said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, who added that the city is preparing for a wave of visitors to exceed the typical 600,000 to 700,000 fans who visit Graceland each year.

Georgina Trejo, 55, from Mexico City is among the singer’s diehard fans who flew to Memphis to attend Presley’s birthday celebration, and plans to return with friends-all members of the Mexico City “Forever For Elvis Fan Club”-in August to observe his memorial ceremony. “He sang the sound track of my life,” said Trejo,

who was bundled up against the blustery Memphis morning in an Elvis-illustrated jacket and carried a black purse painted with dancing Elvises. “All the important moments in my life, I can remember Elvis’ songs playing.” Trejo said she has lost count of the number of times she has visited Graceland since the site first opened to the public in 1978.

Presley’s popularity has endured since he released “Blue Suede Shoes” on his first studio album “Elvis Presley” in 1954. He has sold more than a billion albums since then and continues to out-earn many other living celebrities. Forbes Magazine estimated Presley’s earnings at $55 million in 2011, exceeding contemporary superstars such as Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. Graceland will open three exhibits to mark the 35th anniversary of Presley’s death.—AFP

Elvis Presley fans leave mementos at his grave at the Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee January 8, 2012 on what would have been Presley’s 77th birthday.

— AFP

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Executive producer and cast member Kiefer Sutherland, right, and co-star David Mazouz smile during the panel discussion for the Fox television show “Touch” at the Fox Broadcasting Company Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif on Sunday.—AP

Actor Elijah Wood arrives at the FOX All-Star Party for the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. — AP photos

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ans of Jack Bauer have something to look forward to.

A movie based on the old Fox series “24” is scheduled to begin shooting this spring. Actor Kiefer Sutherland said Sunday that he expects to go to work on the movie in late April or May. Sutherland played Bauer, the centerpiece on the pulse-quickening adventure series that ended its television run in 2010.

Even with the movie ahead of him, Sutherland is already working on a new Fox series. “Touch” features him as the father of a super-intelligent son able to understand odd connections in the world and even predict the future.

After portraying Bauer, a character who is often required to repress emotions, his new character Martin Bohm shows his feelings. Sutherland said he hadn’t expected to be doing a new TV series so soon, and wasn’t specifically looking for a character as different from Bauer as possible. “The reason I wanted to do this is it really spoke to me,” he said.

Fox will offer a sneak preview of the show Jan. 25 before it joins the network schedule in March. — AP

Actress Lea Michele arrives at the FOX All-Star Party.

ong known for its Sunday night cartoons headlined by “The Simpsons,” Fox is planning to offer new animated material late on Saturday nights and on an experimental new digital channel. The network said Sunday that the new effort will be led by Nick Weidenfeld, the former head of program development for the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim series. The cable network has run a popular series of late-night cartoons on weekdays that has successfully reached a young male audience that TV executives consider valuable and elusive.

Saturday ’s 90-minute car toon block would begin at 11 pm ET Fox hasn’t programmed aggressively in late nights and hopes the new series will provide some competition for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” said Kevin Reilly, Fox entertainment president. It will start in January 2013. Reilly, during a news conference, offered hints but left an air of mystery around the future of some popular Fox prime-time shows like “House,” “Glee,” “Fringe” and “Terra Nova.”

Fox appreciates its Sunday cartoons like “ The Simpsons,” which will soon air its 500th episode. But success there left relatively little room for experimentation.

“There has been a lot of talent and a lot of product that we’ve wanted to pursue over the years that did not fit the prime-time mold,” Reilly said. The digital channel would be available online, through cable on demand, as mobile applications and on game consoles, and it’s somewhat experimental, Reilly said. It would allow Fox to take chances on programming of different lengths, he said. Reilly conceded he’s put off some decisions on prime-time shows that have doubts about their future. One is the long-running medical drama “House,”

Actor Josh Jackson arrives at the FOX All-Star Party.

which Reilly said months ago was probably in its last year.

He said he will meet soon with the show’s producers to decide; he did say it’s very unlikely any of the show’s characters would be spun off into a new series. He praised producers of “Fringe” for helping Fox drum up some interest in its Friday night schedule. But he noted the show is expensive to produce and at its current ratings, it ’s a money-loser for the network.”Please don’t start the letter-writing campaign right now,” Reilly said. “I can’t take that.” The prehistoric adventure series “Terra Nova” is doing moderately well, but Fox had been hoping for more. Reilly said the show has struggled creatively in its first season and will face tough competition for a time slot. “If we had more holes on our network, we would be thrilled to lock that in,” he said. “We’re going to decide very soon.”“Glee” will be back next season, despite some early ratings troubles, he said. The current high school students will be graduating, said Reilly, who left unanswered how many of those cast members will be returning. — AP

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he fright film “The Devil Inside” scared up a monstrous $34.5 million opening weekend to help Hollywood exorcise its recent box-office demons, according to studio estimates Sunday. The surprise hit from Paramount Pictures debuted well above industry expectations as horror fans crowded theaters for the lowbudget tale about exorcists trying to free a woman possessed by evil spirits. Between “The Devil Inside” and solid results for holdover films, Hollywood’s business soared over the first full weekend of 2012 after a sluggish holiday season that ended a ho-hum year at the box office.

Overall domestic revenues totaled $144 million, up 29 percent from the same weekend last year, when “True Grit” led with $14.6 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com. Paramount already is well into profit with “The Devil Inside,” an independently produced movie that the studio bought for $1 million. It’s the latest such lowbudgeted horror acquisition for the studio, which bought “Paranormal Activity” cheaply and turned it into a $100 million sensation that was followed by two hit sequels.

Like “Paranormal Activity” and another Paramount hit released in January, “Cloverfield,” “The Devil Inside” is a fictional tale shot in a mock documentary style.

According to Paramount, 59 percent of viewers for “The Devil Inside” were under 25 and 85 percent were under 35, prime viewers for Hollywood who had not turned up in their usual numbers for much of last year. With a sales campaign that bypassed traditional newspaper and TV advertising in favor of online teasers and cryptic marketing, Paramount managed to intrigue young adults who have not been all that interested in the rush of family films and Academy Awards contenders that crowded into theaters over the holidays. “The Devil Inside” was the only new wide release of the weekend after the holiday crush, historically a good time for something different to sneak in and become an unexpected hit, said Don Harris, head of distribution for Paramount.

“For that under-25, under-35 audience that’s looking for something else, that first weekend in January has always been a great weekend to release a movie,” Harris said. “When we saw that weekend open, we took it.” “The Devil Inside” bumped another Paramount hit, Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,” out of the top spot after two weekends at No 1. “Ghost Protocol” slipped to No 2 with $20.5 million, raising its domestic total to $170.2 million. Just a day before “The Devil Inside” opened Friday, industry analysts had expected “Ghost Protocol” would remain No. 1 this weekend. The most optimistic forecasters figured “The Devil Inside” might manage $15 million, less than half the business it actually did.

“This one caught everyone looking, but the devil got his due,” Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian said.

“It’s just very difficult to track the horror fan base, no question about it.” “The Devil Inside” is following the pattern of many horror movies, which pack in crowds on opening day then tumble quickly after that. With $16.85 million on Friday, “The Devil Inside” did nearly half of its business in

the first day, with revenues falling to $11.75 million Saturday and an estimated $5.9 million Sunday.

Critics trashed “The Devil Inside,” and even the fans who came out to see it gave it mixed to bad reviews.

Paramount reported that 16 percent of the audience gave it an A grade, while 19 percent gave it an F. Two-thirds of the audience gave the movie a grade of C or lower.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com.

Where available, latest international numbers are also included. `1. “The Devil Inside,” $34.5 million.

2. “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,” $20.5 million ($27.7 million international).

3. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” $14.1 million ($43.4 million international).

4. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” $11.3 million ($12.6 million international).

5. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,” $9.5 million ($30.1 million international).

6. “War Horse,” $8.6 million.

7. “We Bought a Zoo,” $8.5 million.

8. “The Adventures of Tintin,” $6.6 million ($5.3 million international).

9. “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” $5.8 million.

10. “New Year’s Eve,” $3.3 million ($5.3 million international).

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the US and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak: 1. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” $43.4 million.

2. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,” $30.1 million.

3. “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,” $27.7 million.

4. “Puss in Boots,” $18.2 million.

5. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” $12.6 million.

6. “The Iron Lady,” $6.2 million.

7. “J. Edgar,” $6.1 million.

8. “The Darkest Hour,” $5.6 million.

9. “The Adventures of Tintin,” $5.3 million.

10. “New Year’s Eve,” $5.3 million. — AP

In this film image released by Paramount Pictures, Suzan Crowley plays Maria, left, and Fernanda Andrade plays Isabella Rossi in a scene from ‘The Devil Inside.’ — AP

Imagine this: ‘American Idol’ without Seacrest?

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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A man performs a bungee jumping from the top of a thermal power plant, (above and right) closed 13 years ago, in Soweto on December 29, 2011. —AFP photos

Adrenaline rush with a township view at Soweto’s towers P

oupienah Makgatho drove 100 kilometers (65 miles) from Pretoria to help his terrified wife to overcome her fear of heights-by bungee jumping off the iconic cooling towers that dominate Soweto’s skyline.

“She is afraid of heights, but she wanted to try it, to see how it feels”, he said, camera around the neck, waiting for her to appear on the footbridge stretching between the two towers, 100 meters (330 feet) above the ground.

The power station built in 1942 once hosted a tiny, fortified white enclave in the black township, with homes, tennis courts and a pool for employees at the plant. The electricity they generated went to Johannesburg rather than the black township of Soweto on their doorstep. Blacks moved into the housing there

after the plant was decommissioned in 1998, but it was another decade before the complex was reinvented as the Vertical Adventure Centre.

The aim was to draw visitors to the historic township, a focal point of the anti-Apartheid struggle, as it tried to redefine itself after the end of white rule. The extreme sports centre “introduces Soweto to a lot of people who didn’t dare” to venture into Johannesburg’s most famous township, said site supervisor Lawrence Sithole. “The towers are at the edge and not deep in Soweto, near the highway.

From the top, they see what’s possible. They see the beautiful view, and they want to experience more.” Adrenaline junkies can bungee jump between the twin Orlando Towers or

even inside them. Others prefer abseiling to the bottom, scrambling up the climbing wall on the side-or shooting it out in paintball battles on the ground below.

As the tallest structures in Soweto, the brightly painted towers are a landmark for the township. Originally painted in the 1990s as a marketing gimmick for a South African bank, they now feature images of Nelson Mandela, a black Madonna, footballers, a commuter train and jazz musicians. At their foot a small restaurant entertains both locals and visitors. Bungee jumping was the “crazy idea” of the person in charge of the scaffolding during painting operations, Sithole said. “He had to wait almost 10 years for approval. Then it was a foreign thing bungee jumping in Soweto,” he said.

Tour operators daily bring tourists who rise to the top of the towers in an external elevator, giving them a panorama of the city and the gold mines it was founded on. Not everyone jumps. Some, especially the olders ones, travel back down with the lift and are then whisked off to Mandela’s former home, now a small museum, and a major tourist attraction. Up to 100 people jump from the towers on busy Saturdays: South Africans from all walks of life as well as tourists attracted by the exotic area and the relatively low price tag — 480 rands ($60, 45 euros) for a jump.

Accountant Shaun Naidoo from the nearby Indian neighborhood of Lenasia brought a group of friends for his 26th birthday. “It’s amazing, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Looking down before you jump is very scary,” he said breathlessly after his plunge. “You think you are going to die, and then it goes up again.

At least it’s something you can say you did.” The gang’s next big challenge is an even higher jump, off the Bloukrans Bridge that spans the river of the same name 216 metres below in the Western Cape province. Meanwhile, in Soweto, a Greenpeace ad is taped against the Orlando Towers reception office. The environmental campaigners are recruiting climbers and daredevils for their direct action. —AFP

RI art woven across river in early textile city

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A worker of National Art Gallery exits the building in Athens, yesterday.—AP

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Two artworks stolen from Athens’ gallery

wo artworks were stolen from Athens’ National Gallery overnight, police said yesterday, with the Greek semi-state Athens News Agency identifying one of them as a 1934 painting by Pablo Picasso.

The Picasso, on which ANA did not give further detail, had been gifted to the gallery by a French association in the 1940s. The agency did not identify the second artwork that was stolen, but said it was of “particularly high value” and noted that the thieves had

attempted to steal a third painting.

The police said the theft occurred on the final day of an exhibition titled “Unknown Treasures” that included prints and etchings by Duerer and Rembrandt. The police did not identify the missing works. A guard told police that a burglar alarm went off shortly before 5:00 am and that he saw the silhouette of a person running from the building. The ANA agency said the thieves had forced open a balcony door at the back of

the building, which is situated across from one of Athens’ top hotels.

The gallery in the centre of the Greek capital planned to close its doors following the exhibition for expansion and renovation work. It has a vast permanent collection of postByzantine Greek art, as well as a small collection of Renaissance works and some El Greco paintings. —AFP

he Rhode Island city that was home to the nation’s first successful textile mill is showcasing its fibers once again. A sculptor in Pawtucket has stretched thousands of feet of synthetic fabric cords across the Blackstone River in a suspended display of color that is equal parts art and engineering. The installation, in the shadow of the Slater Mill, draws on the city’s history as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and its modern-day incarnation as a sort of artists’ colony. According to the city and artist Donald Gerola, who finished the work late last month, such a weaving has never been done.

“This is the first river that was ever woven in the United States,” said Gerola. “This is history.” The “Weaving the Blackstone” project - reminiscent of the massive environmental “wrappings” done by the artist Christo - consists of nearly 30,000 feet of polyester, nylon and polypropylene cords stretched across the river. The brightly colored cables are suspended anywhere from 3 feet above the water to nearly three dozen; they cross in places, and at their longest, run 400 feet. In three spots, they are threaded through oversized heddles Gerola built to highlight the weaving theme. The heddle is the part of a loom through which all threads pass.

It took two archers with high-powered bows - normally used to hunt bear - to get the cords from one side of the river to the other. Later, vandals would

cut them twice, forcing Gerola back to the drawing board. He says he spent countless hours with a machete and chain saw clearing brush and trees along the river to make the installation possible. He has a long list of gripes with the city and calls the project - for which he’s being paid $22,000 - a “total financial loss.” But it has mesmerized him. “It just drew me in,” said Gerola. He notes that the march of light across the cords throughout the day creates an ever-changing look, capped off at night when floodlights leave the cables looking like laser beams.

“I believe in Walt Disney: If you have a dream, make it come true,” he said.

The project is at the center - literally - of a gritty, struggling city of more than 70,000 that has spent years trying to reinvent itself as a community of artists.

It created an arts district more than a decade ago, with special state income tax exemptions for artists, and redeveloped many of its dormant mills into artist studios and living spaces.

(Gerola’s 3,500-square-foot studio is in one such building dating to 1868.) In 2008, the publication Art Calendar named Pawtucket to its list of 10 Great Towns for artists, saying the city “just might be God’s Mecca for working artists.”

Congress is also considering designating Slater Mill, the Blackstone River and several mill towns a national historic park. John Baxter, chairman of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, said that, aside from its feat of engineering, the beauty

of the installation is how it blends the city’s industrial past with its artistic present. He hopes it will remain up at least through this year’s festival in the fall. While the arts festival provided $5,000 for the project, the rest of the financing came from a local printing company, Baxter said. No city money was used. Pawtucket’s economic and cultural affairs officer, Herb Weiss, said he’d like to get representatives from the Smithsonian and the National Endowment for the Arts to attend the project’s formal dedication.

Gerola, 62, studied physics at the University of Dayton, but realized his calling at age 24 as an artist. He started as a muralist in New York and, in 1978, opened his first studio, across the Hudson River in New Jersey. He has worked extensively in steel, creating sculptures that tower as many as 40 feet, including centerpieces for international expos. His kinetic wind sculptures are on view on Cape Cod, including at the National Seashore, and elsewhere. He describes himself as having been “endlessly fascinated” with weaving, which has figured in his works since the 1980s. The Blackstone project includes a 25-foot, 2,500-pound sculpture of a spool of thread - called The Bobbin - that required a crane to install. —AP